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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session Budget Meeting 10-29-2004 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 29, 2004 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD BUDGET STUDY SESSION of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 29th day of October, 2004. Committee: Mayor Baudek, Trustees Doylen, Habecker, Jeffrey-Clark, Levine, Newsom (delayed) and Pinkham Attending: All Also Attending: Town Administrator Repola, Finance Officer Brandjord, Clerk O’Connor Absent: None Mayor Baudek called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. 2005-2006 BUDGET PRESENTATION – OTHER FUNDS. COMMUNITY SERVICES FUNDING REQUESTS (General Fund). The Town budgets financial assistance to various community organizations of cultural and human services, and funding levels are not a guarantee of funding in future budgets. Additionally, continued funding is contingent upon full and open disclosure of financial information by funded groups and agencies. Amber Johnson, Intern, was commended for the collection and preparation of statistical data. Trustees cast Community Services Priority Ranking Ballots, and Trustees Levine and Newsom reviewed all grant applications in detail, and provided recommended funding levels to staff. Funding requests were categorized as follows: ORGANIZATION 2005 BUDGET Arts & Education: Chamber Music Festival, $2,500 Art Center, $2,500 Community Jazz Concert Series, $2,000 Estes Village Band, $1,250 Oratorio Society of Estes Park, $1,250 Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park, $1,500 $11,000 Transportation: Door to Door Transportation Service, $21,800 $21,800 School District: Child Care Program, $6,000 $6,000 Housing: Estes Park Housing Authority, $234,700 Habitat for Humanity, $7,500 $242,200 E. V. Public Library District $27,600 Town Board Budget Study Session – October 29, 2004 – Page 2 Administrator Repola reported that contingent upon PaCK providing an update on how the Town’s funding subsidy was allocated in 2004, $7,500 would be included in the 2005 Budget. Additionally, (1) staff is reviewing ways to assist the Estes Valley Child Care Advocates, and (2) the Sister Cities International line item of $3,500 will be increased by $12,225 for a total of $15,725. Comments to the Town Board are summarized below:  Kay Rosenthal/Parish Nursing Program – 4 components of her wellness program; working with two parishes at this time and would like to expand; this service is available to anyone who belongs to a church. Acknowledging Trustee Habecker’s comments regarding separation between church and state, Ms. Rosenthal noted that any approved Town funding could be allocated to “options for healthy living.”  Russell Fruits/Cub & Boy Scouts – funding is intended for 180 Estes Park children; a sample of training programs alcohol awareness, role model teaching, and community involvement. (In Loveland, the Boy Scouts are the largest contributor to the food drive program.)  Kay Lawson, Dir./circle of Friends Montessori School – briefed the Trustees on the need for toddler care and her program that has been supported by the YMCA. YMCA employees receive this service at half-price and anyone residing in the Estes Valley is eligible. Trustee Jeffrey-Clark recommended consideration be given toward funding the Montessori School in the amount of $5,000.  Fr. Rorex/Crossroads Ministry – Open to any an all, without discrimination, and they serve approximately 800-1,000 people who live within the Estes Park area. Crossroads would like to implement a literacy program for the illiterate and literate, and establish a central communications center for employment and housing. With the exception of food donors, the business community offers little assistance. Trustee Jeffrey-Clark suggested Fr, Rorex meet with her to discuss funding options that may available through NLC.  Louise Olsen/Multicultural Connections Brd. – Commented on similar programs that are already being provided by Multicultural Connections. Trustee Doylen noted the appearance of overlapping programs, suggesting a clearinghouse approach be considered.  Katie Speer and Frank Shavlik/Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center – Expressed their appreciation to Mayor Baudek for his start-up grant, and reviewed their role in offering guidance in grant applications, training, etc. to enable non-profit groups to become financially ORGANIZATION 2005 BUDGET Youth: Cub & Boy Scout Program, $5,000 Sister Cities Int’l. Conf. Student Participation, $3,500 Partners of Estes Park, $5,000 Kreative Kids Day Kamp, $10,000 $23,500 Food Tax Refund $20,500 Human Services: E.V. Multicultural Connections, $6,020 E.P. Non-profit Resource Center, $3,000 E.P. Parish nursing Program, $2,500 Radio Reading Service, $500 Crossroads Ministry, $22,500 Salud Clinic, $20,500 $58,020 Town Board Budget Study Session – October 29, 2004 – Page 3 independent. Administrator Repola noted the absence of a Town staff representative on the Community Services Coalition, adding that he will fill this void.  Wendell Amos/Habitat – expressed the Board’s appreciation for previous funding, and reported that he is a member of an AdHoc Committee working on coordinating all groups Concluding all public comment, the Board expressed their appreciation to all those in attendance, noting their good work in the community. Mayor Baudek declared a recess at 9:35 a.m. The meeting was reconvened at 9:45 a.m. FLEET INTERNAL SERVICE FUND (other depts.. pay into this fund for their services). Fleet Mgr. Mahany reviewed historic and current staffing levels, and budget comments. The Dept. maintains a fleet of 105 road vehicles, and a total of 375 pieces of equipment. Staff verified hop rates with commercial shops and the Fleet Dept. is very competitive. Utilities Supt. Goehring distributed copies of the Public Works/Utilities Cash Flow Analysis. MEDICAL INSURANCE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND. Finance Officer Brandjord health insurance coverage and post employment benefits (for qualifying retirees). Administrator Repola reported that staff would be researching other similar post employment benefits that could be less expensive for the Town. Phasing and/or migration to another package could take place over the next two years. Funds are included in the 2005 Budget for bidding medical insurance services. PARK ENTRANCE ESTATES FUND. This fund is nearing closure, with 80% of the assessment being collected. BUILDING AUTHORITY FUND. Certificates of Participation were issued to fund golf course improvements; the golf fee revenue stream was pledged to pay the debt service. CATASTROPHIC LOSS FUND. This fund (reserve account) maintains a $2 Million fund balance. 3% of all funds that qualify under TABOR are deposited into this fund for emergencies. Finance Officer Brandjord will calculate the required 3% amount and disclose in the “program purpose” portion of this budget. FIRE PENSION/POLICE PENSION FUNDS. Fire: Retired firefighters currently receive a $350 pension, and this fund is evaluated every two years. Funding ($4,000) for an Actuarial Study is planned in 2005. In 2003, there were 31 active firefighters, 24 retirees and beneficiaries, and 3 inactive. The Actuarial Study expense could be included in the Health Insurance Fund as is the actuarial study for post-employment benefit. Police: There is one surviving spouse receiving a benefit of $214/mo. and this allocation could be added to the Police Department expense budget when the fund is depleted. Town Board Budget Study Session – October 29, 2004 – Page 4 MISCELLANEOUS. Vehicle Replacement Fund. In 2005, an expense will be included in all budgets and funds will be collected in the Vehicle Replacement Fund for vehicle purchases. Inter-departmental loans may occur in the future. Merit Pool: Administrator Repola distributed memos on the 2004 Merit Pool (paid in 2005) and 2004 Salary Adjustments. Discussion followed on cost of living adjustment, Mountain State Employers Council, comparison cities, how merit builds the salary base, one-time bonuses, and the Compensation Policy. Town Board consensus was reached to: (1) direct staff to provide trend line for the past 10 years, and projections for the next 5 years to ensure affordability of escalating salary bases, and (2) scenarios for a 2% one-time bonus and a 2% salary adjustment. MISCELLANEOUS: Fund balances for the General Fund and how they impact Community Reinvestment were reviewed. Eminent commercial annexations have not been included; however, it is important to track and pinpoint sales tax revenues in the CVB budget. The telephone expense at the Fall River Hydro Plant will be reduced to $600 in the Museum budget; and ½-time program coordinator position remains in the Senior Center Fund budget; and the Utilities (Water and Light and Power) fund balances were reviewed. WRAP UP:  Staff will provide an aggregate of all fund balances, with caution expressed on inter-fund transfers.  Filming of the Rooftop Rodeo will be included.  $40,000 over 2 years will be added for a new street sign replacement project. Privatizing could affect the cost estimate and funding could be cited in the street or community reinvestment fund.  Funding was previously increased (PaCK/$7500 and Montessori School/$5,000) to the Community Services Funding and concern was expressed that internal costs and structures of each organization was not provided. Executive Summaries will be provided to all interested parties by fund type in final form following the public hearing on November 9th. Appreciation was expressed to the entire staff for their work on preparing and submitting their budgets, and to Administrator Repola and Finance Officer Brandjord for their participation and presentation. There being no further business, Mayor Baudek adjourned the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Vickie O’Connor, CMC, Town Clerk