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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2018-02-13 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado February 13, 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 13th day of February, 2018. Board: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Holcomb, Martchink, Nelson, Norris and Walker Attending: All Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator Machalek, Town Attorney White, and Town Clerk Williamson Absent: None Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. PRESENTATION ON COUNTYWIDE WASTESHED STUDY. Ron Gilkerson/Larimer County Project Manager provided a presentation of the North Front Range Regional Wasteshed Planning Study. Larimer County Solid Waste services currently incorporates residential waste, commercial waste, recycling, household hazardous waste disposal, public education center, and organic material diversion. The remaining airspace in the current landfill with the annual volumes have the landfill full by 2025. Solid waste challenges identified include increasing the volume of solid waste, need for consistent goals and programs, anticipated closure of the County landfill, and balancing economic, environmental and social costs. To accomplish the goals the County established a five-phase approach. A policy advisory committee and a technical advisory committee were formed with members from Larimer County, Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park. Goals were established by the committees as follows: Goal #1 - Establish a comprehensive, regional solid waste materials management system by 2025 that is implemented in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable manner; Goal #2 - Create a comprehensive solid waste materials management plan and implement programs and facilities that reflect the needs and desires of users; Goal #3 - Develop a set of waste diversion/reduction goals that are adopted and implemented by all jurisdictions in the wasteshed; and Goal #4 - Develop a strong public education and outreach program that is consistent throughout the wasteshed. Infrastructure options under consideration by the study included status quo with no action taken upon closure of the landfill, a new County Landfill, Materials Recovery Facility (Clean), Central Transfer Station, Yard, Waste Organics Processing Facility, Construction & Demolition (C&D), Processing Facility, Energy From Waste Facility – Direct Combustion , Mixed Waste Processing – Dirty MRF, Anaerobic Digestion, Aerobic Composting Including Food Waste, and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Processing. HDR was hired to complete an evaluation of the 11 options utilizing a Sustainability Value Assessment approach, including a review of lifecycle costs, the environment, social impact and economic costs. The County has a replacement fund of $40 million to fund future infrastructure costs identified by the study. The study received 96% approval by the committee members. The future facilities were broken down into three tiers with Tier 1 identified as a Central Transfer Station, New Landfill, Construction and Demolition Waste Processing, Yard Waste Composting and Food Waste Composting at a cost of approximately $61 million. The tipping fee costs and the average residential household impact was considered in developing the tier projects and identifying markets for the facilities to ensure utilization Town Board Study Session – February 13, 2018 – Page 2 to decrease costs. In addition, a number of regulatory options could be considered to ensure volumes are maintained and tipping fees are low, including hauling agreements, agreements with municipalities that collect their own waste, ordinances, etc. The next steps for the process would include a stakeholder meeting in March, an infrastructure capture rate study and blended infrastructure options, and public information meetings throughout Larimer County. IMPLEMENTATION OF STORMWATER MASTER PLAN/STORMWATER UTILITY. Director Muhonen stated the purpose of the presentation would be to introduce the Estes Valley Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study and a draft Intergovernmental Agreement between the Town of Estes Park and Larimer County because a large portion of the stormwater area would be within the unincorporated portion of Larimer County. The study utilizes the projects identified through the Stormwater Master Plan presented previously to the Town Board in October 2017. George Oamek/Headwaters Corporation reviewed the feasibility study focusing on fee structure scenarios and planning assumptions, and potential stormwater entity/organizational structure. The cost of the master plan capital improvements has been estimated at $79.1 million in 2017 dollars with Priority 1 projects at $44.2 million, Priority 2 projects at $23.3 million and Priority 3 projects at $11.6 million. Financing the utility could be accomplished through a number of avenues, including a monthly stormwater user fee, impact fees, sales tax, grants, etc. As the valley has little future growth it was determined impact fees would not be a good source of revenue. Monthly fees were reviewed and would be determined by the zoning, land use type, and impervious area on the lot, i.e. the more impervious coverage the larger the monthly charge. The study analyzed nine scenarios with varying implementation periods, varying financing sources, and user charges were adjusted to meet desired implementation period and availability of other funds. Scenario 1A outlined financing the improvements over 30 years with user fees only with high priority projects constructed between 2024 – 2036 and a total cost of $128 million. The monthly fees for a single- family 1-acre lot would range from $15 to $35 by 2028. Scenario 3A outlined financing the improvements over 30 years with user fees and a 0.4% local sales tax beginning in 2024 with construction of the most high priority projects in 2024 – 2035 at a cost of $128 million. The monthly fees for a single-family 1-acre lot would range from $15 to $26 by 2028. Scenario 5A outlined financing the improvements over 30 years with user fees, a 0.4% local sales tax beginning in 2024, and grant assistance for major projects with construction of the most high priority projects in 2023 – 2032 at a cost of $102 million. The monthly fees for a single-family 1-acre lot would range from $15 to $20 by 2028. The utility could be formed as a Town department funded by the General fund, an Enterprise fund similar to Light and Power or Water, or a Regional Stormwater Authority. Attorney White stated the formation of a stormwater utility would require an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Town and Larimer County, the adoption of a fee schedule, and approval of an annual budget by the Town and County. The formation of a utility would not require a vote. Board discussion followed on the topic of establishing a utility and has been summarized: the overall benefit to property owners would be significant because of the reduction to flood insurance costs; the Board has received no public feedback on the topic and it was noted the public does not know about the proposed utility; additional public outreach would be needed before moving forward; and the Master Plan would likely receive negative public feedback once the proposed fee structure has been introduced. Staff would conduct public outreach on the formation of an enterprise fund and the proposed fee structure outlined in the feasibility study. The feedback would be brought back to the Town Board for consideration of the Stormwater Master Plan. Town Board Study Session – February 13, 2018 – Page 3 TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS Mayor Jirsa informed the Board he contacted the Mayor of Grand Junction to notify him of the upcoming article in the Trail Gazette concerning their new hire for Visit Grand Junction. He stated he had been interviewed for the article and wanted to make them aware as to not have Grand Junction caught off guard. FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS Administrator Lancaster stated a study session would not be held on April 24, 2018. The study sessions in May would provide a review of policy governance and legal issues to orient the new Board. He questioned if the Board would like to discuss RTA and the next steps. Trustee Holcomb stated he would like to discuss it further. The item would be scheduled for a study session in June. There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 5:43 p.m. Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk