HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2018-01-23
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado January 23, 2018
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town
of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in
the Board Room and Rooms 202/203 in said Town of Estes Park on the
23rd day of January, 2018.
Board: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Holcomb,
Martchink, Nelson, Norris and Walker
Attending: Mayor Jirsa, Trustees Holcomb, Martchink, Nelson, Norris
and Walker
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town
Administrator Machalek, Town Attorney White, and Town
Clerk Williamson
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Koenig
Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
FIRE DISTRICT’S REQUEST TO COLLECT IMPACT FEES.
Fire Chief Wolf provided background on the impact fees and the 2016 legislation that
allows Special Districts to implement and collect the fees without a vote. The District
must receive approval from the municipality/county involved to implement the fees. If
approved, an Intergovernmental Agreement between the District, Larimer County and
the Town would be executed. The fees would provide funding for ongoing needs of the
District and the growing demand for service. The establishment of impact fees on new
development would allow the District to operate with the current mil levy of 1.95 mils.
Pinnacol Consulting Group, Inc. was hired to complete a Nexus study to establish
appropriate impact fees. Amanda Castle/Pinnacle Consulting Group, Inc. reviewed the
need for the impact fees to be directly attributable to the growth of new development,
thereby demonstrating a nexus and rough proportionality to the growths impact on the
District. The study utilized a Plan Based approach in deriving the proposed fees. A
growth projection for both residential and commercial through 2032 was used to project
further demand on service. The study proposed a fee of $784.10 for a single-family
unit, $419.10 per multi-family unit and $0.74 per square foot of commercial. Fire Chief
Wolf recommended the fees with the exception of reducing the commercial fee to $0.37
per square foot for commercial. The fees are anticipated to produce $56,482 annually
and would be implemented on April 1, 2018.
Board questions have been summarized: why implement fees over the passage of a
new mil levy; questioned the impact on the citizens if the impact fees were not
implemented; and how long would the impact fees meet the needs of the community.
Chief Wolf stated the funding raised from the impact fees would have amounted to a
percentage too small to take to the voters. The fees are also being paid by new
development causing the need for additional resources. The impact fees are estimated
to meet the needs of the community for the next 15 years; however, the fees would be
reviewed every three to five years.
FUTURE USE OF THE SENIOR CENTER BUILDING.
Facilities Manager Landkamer reviewed the three potential options being considered by
the Town Board for future use of the current Senior Center located at 220 4th Street.
Town Board Study Session – January 23, 2018 – Page 2
Facilities developed a list of potential general remodeling items, life safety upgrades,
kitchen upgrades, and exterior needs for each option under consideration with cost
estimates ranging from $58,000 to $378,000 depending on options selected.
Childcare Proposal
Nancy Almond/EVICS Director and Marion Stallworth/EVICS Childcare Task Force
member presented a presentation to use the current facility as a child development and
recreation center. The facility would include 3,000 square feet of licensed childcare
services for up to 40 infant/toddlers and 1,500 square feet of inclusive recreational
space. The presenters stated the project would meet the intent of the Stanley deed
restriction with the additional of the indoor/outdoor recreation space free of charge or at
a low cost. The proposal would advance a number of the Town Board’s Strategic Plan
objectives, including Robust Economy, Infrastructure, Exceptional Guest Services,
Public Safety, Health, and Environment, and Outstanding Community Service. The
facility would be renovated by the provider at an estimated cost of $70,000 to meet
licensing requirements, and all operational costs would be the sole responsibility of the
provider. EVICS would request the Town lease the facility for $1 per year to the
provider to reduce the operating costs of the facility.
Senior Center Proposal
Betty Hull/Finance Director Senior Citizen Center Inc. and Nancy Hire/President Senior
Citizen Center Inc. presented a proposal for a multi-year lease at $1 per year to
continue providing senior services at the location. The new Community Center would
offer classes and trips and would not be an actual Senior Center providing a relaxing
area for seniors to gather, socialize, enjoy lunch, watch tv, do art projects, and play their
favorite games. The continued use of the building as a Senior Center would advance
the Town’s unfulfilled 2017 Strategic Plan to have an actual center, not merely senior
programming at the Community Center, and would meet the restrictive covenants on
the Stanley property. The organization would be responsible for the ongoing
operational expenses of the facility. The proposal would meet the needs of the
community and provide needed services. They further requested the Town allow Senior
Citizens Center Inc. to operate the Senior Center while a decision on the future use of
the building continues to be evaluated.
Trustee questions have been summarized: questioned if the overall senior population
would be supportive of the proposal to have two functioning centers in Town;
questioned how the services at the two centers would be different; and a number of
comments have been heard on seniors not wanting to be around kids, germs, loud
noises, etc. at the Community Center yet the current Senior Center has no age limits
and has encouraged members to bring their younger family members to the center.
Museum Proposal
Museum Director Fortini reviewed a proposal to utilize the facility for temporary storage
of the Museum’s collection currently stored at the Light and Power warehouse on Elm
Road. The warehouse does not provide the appropriate environment (light,
temperature, humidity and pest control) to properly preserve the artifacts for posterity.
The removal of the collection would also allow Light and Power to fully utilize their
warehouse storage space needed for in-house construction and reduce its annual
expenses, a benefit to its customers and the Town. The move would provide a facility
that not only improves the environment for the storage of the artifacts but provides staff
a space to offer higher quality services to the public and basic resources to care for
artifacts. The temporary housing of artifacts would allow the Estes Park Museum
Friends and Foundation additional time to raise funds to build the permanent storage
and research center. The collection building would advance the Town Board’s Strategic
Plan objectives of Infrastructure, Public Safety, Health, and Environment, and
Governmental Services and Internal Support. Staff anticipates the building being
utilized for five to seven years as temporary storage. The cost to convert the building
has not been budgeted in 2018.
Town Board Study Session – January 23, 2018 – Page 3
Children’s Museum Proposal
Doyle Baker presented a concept for a Children’s Museum at the existing Senior Center
site. The museum would address a major gap in Estes valley and provide parents,
grandparents and other care givers options for providing young children with
entertaining and learning experiences. Establishing the museum next to the Estes Park
Museum would be a logical and invaluable complement to the existing museum. The
mission of the Children’s Museum would be to inspire learning and growth, strengthen
social and cognitive skills, and connect young people and community through hands-on
exhibits and other interactive activities. As this proposal has not been fully developed,
the management and oversight of the facility has not been established; however, it
could be overseen by the current museum staff or a separate management board could
run the operations. Funding for the museum would require a combination of crowd
sourcing, grants and sponsorships. The museum would start small and operate on a
fee basis. The museum would not be prepared to open for a number of months or
maybe not until 2019.
Board discussion followed at the end of the presentations and has been summarized:
the Board needs to discuss the Friday closure of the current Senior Center; be prepared
to take action at the February 13, 2018 meeting; further clarification would be needed
on the deed restriction prior to the meeting; the final childcare survey results should be
reviewed; costs of each proposal should be considered; the Senior Center should
remain open until a final decision has been made; clarity on the use of the Community
Center; and a second opinion on the deed may be needed. The Board requested an
Executive Session prior to the Town Board meeting to discuss the deed further.
The Mayor called a break at 6:08 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 6:25 p.m. in
Rooms 202/203 to complete the meeting.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS
Administrator Lancaster reviewed the plan to fill the Municipal Court Judge position in
March with the resignation of Judge Gary Brown in April. Mayor Jirsa and Trustees
Holcomb and Walker would serve on the interview panel.
Town Clerk Williamson stated the Town received two applications, both incumbents, for
the two openings on the Board of Adjustment. Staff supports the reappointment of the
two members and requested foregoing the interview process. The Board agreed to
bring the two appointments forward for consideration at the next Board meeting.
Community Development continues to develop the definition of workforce housing and
who would qualify; i.e. income level, definition of employment, etc. The Estes Park
Housing Authority would be used to qualify individuals.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS
Administrator Lancaster requested the Board consider discussing the 2018 Street
Improvement Plan at the February 27, 2018 study session. The Rocky Mountain
Performing Art Center would like to present the option of moving back to the
Fairgrounds at the March 13, 2018 meeting. The Board agreed to add both discussion
items.
There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:44 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk