HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2011-06-14
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, June 14, 2011
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
Rooms 202 & 203 in said Town of Estes Park on the 14th day of June,
2011.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Levine, Trustees
Blackhurst, Eisenlauer, Ericson, Homeier and Miller
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Halburnt Town Attorney White, Directors
Bergsten, Kilsdonk, McFarland, and Zurn, Manager Winslow
and Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: Deputy Town Administrator Richardson
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN.
Administrator Halburnt stated the document was developed to provide the Board with a
comprehensive process to identify the Town’s capital assets, i.e. roads, drainage
systems, bridges, buildings, parks, water distribution system and electrical distribution
systems and the costs associated with maintaining, repairing and replacing the assets.
The plan would also identify new capital projects. The plan would be updated on an
annual basis during the budget process. Only projects requiring more public input
would be brought forward for review, while others such as street improvements would
not require public comment.
Trustee Miller commented the plan does not meet expectations as a planning tool. The
plan does not clearly outline the projects being proposed for the upcoming year and
does not provide the Board or the community the ability to make suggestions on the
order. The document is a good start but needs revisions to become a financial planning
tool. It was noted a spreadsheet at the beginning of the document outlines the projects
by year.
Trustee Koenig stated the information provided allows the Board to review the projects
without micro-managing the staff. It is staff’s responsibility to outline priorities because
they are the trained professionals and engineers.
Trustee Blackhurst was impressed by the document and thanked staff for a high quality
document. The document would allow the Board to address the different infrastructure
components and provide a good overview of the needs including the utilities.
Additional comments are summarized: the spreadsheet is useful, preferred the order by
department rather than by year, and the pictures are helpful to understanding the
current conditions.
Trustee Miller stated he agrees not all items need to have public comment; however, he
would suggest street improvements be reviewed by the public because they are highly
visible. He would suggest items such as utility improvements not receive public
comment.
Public Works
Director Zurn reviewed items including the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) street
replacement, annual Street Improvement Program (STIP); Public Works shop remodel,
Municipal building reroof, Town owned annual building maintenance, Elm Road
Town Board Study Session – June 14, 2011 – Page 2
drainage water quality, Dry Gulch Road replacement, reconstruction of Dark Horse
parking lot, Conference Center roof replacement, and annual trail maintenance.
The BOR replacement program would be completed in conjunction with a water project
to separate the water and sewer lines to address public health concerns. The item
remains a high priority because of the combined efforts of multiply utilities and the need
to coordinate. Staff would review the narratives for Public Works and Water to ensure
they are the same for the project, and would review a form of notation illustrating to the
Board items that are related, i.e. a numbering system.
The Public Works shop was built in 1970 and since that time the needs of the Town
have outgrown the facility. Additional space would provide a more efficient, safe and
productive work environment. Funds of $100,000 are budgeted each year for the
maintenance of the Town owned building on an as needed basis. The Board discussed
the value of having maintenance items included in the CAMP. The inclusion clarifies
the funds needed to maintain the current infrastructure. Staff would separate the
maintenance items from the capital and either add them to the front or back of each
section.
The Elm Road drainage would address the need to control quality, volume, runoff and
sediment entering into the Big Thompson River. Currently the Town does not have a
municipal storm water permit; however, the EPA could place the entire Estes Valley
under a permit requiring the Town to test water quality and install improvements.
The Dark Horse parking lot has been separated out from the annual STIP because
parking lots are held to a different level of importance. Trustee Koenig stated the Wiest
Parking lot should be reviewed because the properties adjacent are experiencing water
issues.
Utilities
Director Bergsten reviewed the utility items including the Allenspark circuit overhead
rebuild, Beaver Point circuit overhead line rebuild, Big Thompson circuit overhead
rebuild, Mall Road circuit overhead rebuild, Moraine Avenue circuit overhead to
underground, Fall River circuit overhead rebuild, Moraine circuit underground loop,
South Line circuit overhead to underground conversion, Marys Lake Water Treatment
Plan third stage treatment, Big Horn Drive water main replacement, Virginia Drive/Park
Lane water line replacement, Stanley Circle Drive water main replacement, BOR
distribution system replacement, Panorama Circle water main replacement, Hill Street
water main replacement, Spruce Drive water main replacement, Park View/Cyteworth
water main replacement, Thunder Mountain Pump House expansion, and Prospect
Mountain pressure reducing valve. The Board requested staff provided clearer
explanation of projects including a start and stop point for the project.
The third stage water treatment at Marys Lake would decrease the effluent discharged
to Upper Thompson. The Town would need to buy additional taps when the Town
increases to 4 MGD or add the third stage.
Virginia Drive/Park Lane would be a project in conjunction with the replacement of the
sewer line by Estes Park Sanitation. Public Works would replace the roadway and
sidewalk. The system is well past the useful life.
Phase I of the Bureau of Reclamation line replacement would be the most critical to
address in order to allow Estes Park Sanitation to replace the sewer line. The water
lines would be relocated and the old lines abandoned.
The pumps for Thunder Mountain are needed to increase the pressure for water serving
Thunder Mountain and Windcliff. The Prospect pressure reducing valve was identified
in a study and replacement would increase capacity.
Town Board Study Session – June 14, 2011 – Page 3
Glacier Basin water treatment was not included because staff was preparing items for
the next 5 years and this item has been identified for 2020.
The Board requested staff include the MPEC and SOPA infrastructure improvements in
for the next study session.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Mayor Pinkham stated Kathay Rennels discussed economic sustainability with member
of the Board, staff and School Board President Todd Jirsa. There are several local
groups trying to lead the charge and it needs to be a focused effort. Ms. Rennels would
provide the Town with a process and resources to move the issue forward. He stated
Ms. Rennels would meet with the Board to discuss economic development. The 2017
initiative may be implemented again and allow the Town to look out another 10 years.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
The next study session would include the continued review of the CAMP and an update
from the Transportation Visioning Committee.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6: 32 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk