HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2018-08-14
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado August 14, 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 in said Town of Estes Park on the 14th day of August, 2018.
Board: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Walker, and Trustees Bangs,
Cenac, Martchink, Norris and Zornes
Attending: Mayor Jirsa, and Trustees Bangs, Cenac, Martchink, Norris
and Zornes
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town
Administrator Machalek, Town Attorney White, Director
Hunt, Estes Valley Planning Commissioners Leavitt and
White, and Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Walker
Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
FAMILY ADVISORY BOARD CHILD CARE RECOMMENDATION.
Karen Randinitis and Laurie Dale Marshall/Family Advisory Board (FAB) members
presented FAB’s recommendations for inclusions in the 2019 Strategic Plan to address
childcare in the Estes Valley because the lack of childcare options impacts a large
percentage of working families and impacts the ability of employers to find and maintain
employees. The recommendations included: 1) advocate for the passage of a childcare
taxing district at the 2019 state legislature and other legislation supporting childcare; 2)
establish a community fund to collect seed funds in the amount of $2 million to provide
startup costs for a new childcare center within 2 years, contribute to the fund, and
coordinate efforts to engage others to contribute to the fund; 3) dedicate Town property,
such as Stanley Park, to build a community-based, high-quality childcare facility with
approximately 4 acres; 4) identify and create multiple sustainable funding sources for
ongoing investments in quality childcare; and 5) dedicate Town staff time to coordinate
quality childcare initiatives in cooperation with FAB and other community organizations.
It was further mentioned the seed funds would not fully fund the building of a center but
would provide matching funds for grant to build the center to serve 40 – 50 children.
Board comments were heard and summarized: Mayor Jirsa stated a committee should
review the FAB proposal to determine if the recommendations would be viable. Trustee
Bangs stated the recommendations would be a starting point to address the childcare
issue within the community, and would support the formation of a committee of the
Town Board to address both childcare and housing needs in the community. Trustee
Martchink questioned what percentage the Town should contribute to the seed funds,
and if a list of other community groups has been developed to contribute to the fund.
After further discussion, the Board consensus was to have an adhoc committee headed
up by Trustee Norris to bring back a proposal for a formal committee to address
childcare and housing.
REVIEW 2016 HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT.
Eric Blackhurst/Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA) Board member provided an
overview of the housing needs assessments completed over the years with the first
occurring in 1990 commissioned by Forward Estes Park. A second study was
completed in 1999 and from it the formation of the Estes Park Housing Authority with
the Town Board acting as the Board through 2000. Additional studies have been
completed over the years to validate the previous studies and have demonstrated a
Town Board Study Session – August 14, 2018 – Page 2
continued need for additional workforce housing. He stated the studies are valid for
eight years.
Rita Kurelja/Former EPHA Executive Director reviewed the 2015 Housing Needs
Assessment RFP to provide an analysis of current and future needs for affordable and
other housing options, develop recommendations to bridge those identified gaps and
form a foundation for strategic planning. The study was focused on year-round needs.
The RFP was prepared with the assistance of the Loveland Housing Authority and two
EPHA Board members. Three responses were received with two having experience
outside of Colorado or within larger metropolitan areas. The third company Rees
Consulting Inc. & WSW Consulting had extensive experience in Colorado and small
Colorado communities and counties.
Naomi Hawf/ EPHA Executive Director reviewed the data sources used to complete the
2016 assessment, including two surveys, employee and household survey and
employer survey and interviews. Focus groups were held to gain additional information.
EPHA heard employers have unfilled jobs, employers have high turnover, less
applicants and less qualified applicants, employees are living in their cars due to the
lack of housing, not enough affordable units, services are impacted due to
understaffing, families leave Estes due to a lack of housing and childcare, and those
that commute can afford the $600 a month commuting costs and are likely to look for
other employment after a year of commuting. The study demonstrated a catch up need
of approximately 670 units and a keep up need of approximately 810-1020 units. The
keep up included 85% of retiring employees remaining in Estes Park and remaining in
their housing units. The breakdown further indicated 40% of housing would be need for
purchase ranging form $115,000 at 50% AMI and $350,000 at 150% AMI and 60% as
rentals at all income levels.
Scott Moulton/EPHA Housing Supervisor reviewed the strategic recommendations,
including the development of a strategic plan, creation of a workforce housing fund with
dedicated revenue sources, code amendments to encourage housing development,
utilize Town-owned land, apartment development and redevelopment, ADU regulations
for workforce housing rentals, draft and adopt workforce housing guidelines, encourage
downtown housing, hire a town housing coordinator, establish workforce housing
requirements on new development and support and expand employer assisted housing
efforts. Over the years the number of housing units needed was met and exceed by the
number of units built through 2008. From 2009 to 2018 there was a need for twice as
many units as were built.
After discussion the Board consensus was there continues to be an affordable and
workforce housing need within the community. The Board requested staff continue to
develop a housing strategic plan to address the issue.
PARCELS INAPPROPRIATELY LABELED AS OPEN SPACE ON ZONING MAPS.
Director Hunt stated open-space symbols were placed on the zoning map in 2007. In
2017, staff determined the cross hatching identifying properties as open space had no
basis and no authorization in the Estes Valley Development Code or any other adopted
zoning regulations. The zoning map has been updated to remove the open space
designation. Staff recommends the Town Board and County Commissioners re-adopt
an official zoning map. The process would begin with the official zoning map adopted in
1999 and update the map with each rezoning adopted through 2018 by each entity to
accurately reflect a current official adopted zoning map. The Board stated consensus in
the re-adoption of the zoning map utilizing a third party to review the changes to add
credibility to the final map.
Director Hunt stated the Town owned Dry Gulch property was labeled open space and
some citizens were advised the property would be perpetual open space. The Town is
the owner and has the legal right and privilege to propose appropriate land use for the
Town Board Study Session – August 14, 2018 – Page 3
property. The specific uses of the property would be a policy decision of the Town
Board.
The Board discussed the need for a thorough study of all options for the Dry Gulch
property. It was further stated there was never a definition of open space in the Estes
Valley Development Code. The Board requested a broader discussion occur on the
open space designation placed on the zoning map.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS
Trustee Norris stated as leaders the Board has an obligation to address the mountain
coaster concerns, not in terms of the merit of the project, but to address concerns and
allow the Board a chance to address the concerns brought up by the community. He
stated he would make a motion during the Board meeting to place the item on the
August 28, 2018 meeting. Mayor Jirsa and Trustee Cenac disagreed with the need to
discuss the item further because the county project is the purview of the County
Commissioners and the Town would be setting a dangerous precedent in discussing the
county issue.
Mayor Jirsa requested usage numbers for the parking garage, a discussion on the
number of parking spaces reserved and why they are reserved, and how many parking
spaces are being taken up by events downtown. All items should be added to the
ongoing parking discussions.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS
The Board agreed to hold a discussion with the Town Prosecutor and to place the item
on the unscheduled list.
The Board requested a discussion of Visit Estes Park be scheduled to discuss a
decrease in the number of board members from seven to five members and the need to
discuss the future of the organization’s structure.
There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk