HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2013-02-12Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, February 12, 2013
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD STUDY SESSION
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 12th
day of February, 2013.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst, Trustees Elrod,
Ericson, Koenig, Norris, and Phipps
Attending: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst, Trustees Elrod,
Ericson, Koenig, Norris, and Phipps
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator
Richardson, Town Attorney White, and Deputy Town Clerk
Deats
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
TOWN REAL PROPERTY ASSETS POLICY DISCUSSION.
Town Administrator Lancaster opened discussion related to the real properties owned
by the Town of Estes Park to address and identify what properties are owned; why the
Town owns the properties; and to determine whether the properties should continue to
be held by the Town for its use, or sold and returned to the tax rolls. He noted that
some of the properties represent unused or unneeded assets and said the Town is
liable for the properties and responsible for maintenance and care. He suggested
categorizing the parcels as active use; utility use; rental properties; parking; open
space; recreational; property used by other entities; and vacant land; and encouraged
discussion about why the Town would hold a piece of land, what the land is needed for
either now or in the future, why the Town would obtain a property or accept a donation
of property, and criteria for selling or disposing of land. He said options for properties
currently owned by the Town include selling, leasing for revenue, keeping for future
Town facilities or open space, and selling to a developer for economic development
opportunities.
Attorney White said Colorado state statute identifies two classifications of property, one
being property used for public use such as utilities, public buildings, parks or any other
real property used or held for any governmental purpose which would require a vote of
the electorate prior to its sale or disposition; and other real estate which can be sold or
disposed of by ordinance. He noted that due to the success of an initiated ordinance in
2008, the sale of any property owned by the Town within the Stanley Historic District
must be submitted to a vote. Stanley Historic District lots 5, 6, and 8 and the
Knolls/Willows properties have conservation easements on them in perpetuity and
cannot be developed. In addition, deeds for the properties donated to the Town by F.O.
Stanley at Stanley Park contain a reverter clause disallowing sale or disposal of the
property and restrictions on allowable uses.
Discussion is summarized: do a title search to ensure the list of Town-owned properties
is accurate and complete; sell unneeded properties and use cash to address needs in
the community; the Town should not be managing rental properties; allow the Estes
Park Housing Authority (EPHA) to take over rental management responsibilities; identify
properties that could be rezoned and utilized for economic development; identify
properties that could be used for work force housing and let EPHA develop/manage;
use caution when putting properties under conservation easements; and get an idea of
the value of the Town-owned properties.
Staff will proceed in verifying the list of Town-owned properties, determining property
Town Board Study Session – February 12, 2013 – Page 2
values, and developing criteria for owning and divesting of property, and work on a real
property policy.
Mayor Pinkham recessed the meeting for a dinner break at 5:25 p.m.
The meeting resumed at 5:40 p.m.
POLICY GOVERNANCE III – STAFF LIMITATIONS (Part 1).
The Board reviewed the first draft of the second section of the Town’s Policy
Governance manual. The section defines the roles and limitations of the Town
Administrator as it relates to the management of Town activities and implementation of
Board policies. He said the policy is written to provide boundaries for staff and at the
same time allow for the use of creativity and flexibility to meet the goals of the Board.
Town Administrator Lancaster presented Policy 3.0 – General Town Administrator
Constraint noting comments by the Board as follows:
Policy 3.1 – Customer Service –
• #3.3 and #3.5 basically state the same information
• #3.1.2.5 change “untimely manner” to “fail to address in a timely manner.”
Policy 3.3 – Financial Planning –
• 3.3.9 remove “additions to staffing levels”
Policy 3.6 – Emergency Town Administrator Replacement and Backup
• 3.6.1. Rotate designated replacement between department heads
Policy 3.7 – Emergency Preparedness
• 3.7.1 and 3.7.2 break out the Emergency Operations Plan and the Business
Continuity Plan
Town Administrator Lancaster asked that the Trustees forward to him any additional
comments related to the policy. Changes to the document will be made and a final
version brought to the Board at the March 12, 2013, Study Session.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
Topics to be removed –
• Board Training – Quasi-judicial
Topics to add –
• Process for adding an agenda item to the Town Board agenda
• Mayor’s Contingency Fund
Future Agenda Items will be moved to the beginning of the Study Session agendas.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Cynthia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk