HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2014-11-11
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado November 11, 2014
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
Rooms 202/203 in said Town of Estes Park on the 11th day of November,
2014.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Ericson,
Holcomb, Nelson, Norris and Phipps
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Town Attorney White,
Superintendent Boles and Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: None.
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
Administrator Lancaster stated the pre-bid meeting for the Estes Park Transit Hub
Parking Structure would take place November 12, 2014 with bids due back on
November 25, 2014. Staff has concerns the original design would not be possible with
the current construction costs and funds granted to the Town. The bids are being
requested with a number of deduct items for the Board to consider. Staff would
recommend any significant design changes be discussed during a public meeting. A
contract for construction would need to be approved at the December 9, 2014 Town
Board meeting in order to complete the structure by June 30, 2015. If approval slips a
month or two, staff would recommend construction begin in September 2015.
The Board requested staff provide a report of the preliminary bids at the November 25,
2014 Town Board meeting, set a special study session for December 2, 2014 at 5:00
p.m. to discussion the bids further, hold a special meeting if deemed necessary to
outline the significant changes to the public on December 4, 2014 and review a possible
contract at the December 9, 2014 meeting.
Mayor Pinkham stated the Planning Commission has one vacant position currently
advertised. Per Policy Governance two members of the Town Board are to be
appointed to the interview team. Trustee Phipps and Mayor Pro Tem Koenig stated
their willingness to serve on the team. Formal approval by the Board would be heard at
the Board meeting.
The Board of Appeals has a vacancy. As the positions on the Board require very
specific qualifications and the members were recently appointed in 2013, staff
requested reappointment of the current member John Spooner for an additional term.
This would forego the advertising and interviewing process and have the Board member
reappointed in December. The Board stated some concern regarding following Policy
Governance. Staff suggested the position could be advertised and if no other
applications are received John Spooner would be considered for reappointment.
Trustee Norris suggested the Town Board provide WAPA with an additional letter
requesting proposed wooden towers for the Flatiron project be replaced with fire proof
steel towers and that clear-cut areas should be reforested or mitigated to improve the
approach to town. The Board recommend Mayor Pinkham and Administrator Lancaster
should discuss further and respond if appropriate.
Town Board Study Session – November 11, 2014 – Page 2
Trustee Norris stated the newly formed steering committee for the Community Center
has requested the participation of a Town Board member in order to have a
communication link and to have participation in determining fundraising for the project.
The Board discussed the item and it was decided the Board should not participate in the
committee and Executive Director Skyler Rorabaugh should provide steering committee
updates to the full Board.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Administrator Lancaster stated the future agenda list would contain scheduled items,
items to be scheduled and items for consideration moving forward. This would allow the
Board to review the items prior to discussion at the upcoming study session. Trustee
Ericson thanked staff for the new outline.
Trustee Nelson stated there is significant concern from the community on the future of
the downtown area. He suggested the Town could be the catalyst for discussing the
issues, however, he does not see it as a governmental project. He would recommend
the Board add the item to the study session on January 13, 2015, and depending on the
outcome hold a follow up study session with the community. The Board agreed to add
the item to the January 13, 2015 study session and suggested a discussion on a
downtown development authority could be added as well.
UTILITY RATES 101.
Cil Pierce/HDR Senior Project Manager and Financial Analyst provided a water rate
study 101 presentation. The study would evaluate the adequacy of existing water rates,
review the cost of service, review current water rate structures, develop proposed rate
structure recommendations and to maintain a financially healthy and sustainable utility.
Key assumptions being used to analysis revenues include a projected revenue growth
rate of 1%, O&M expenses escalating on average 3% annually, new staffing positions in
2016 and 2017 to complete projects in house, a possible 3.5% to 5% rate adjustment
for new staffing, and analyze the potential for new debt and projects estimated at $1
million a year. The cost of service would be reviewed to determine if revenues are
equitably allocated amongst the customer classes and to avoid subsidies between
customer classes. The rate design would address revenue sufficiency, revenue
stability, should be easy to understand and administer, affordable, consider economic
development, encourage efficient use of water, equitable and non-discriminating and
legally defensible. Water rate design options may consider increasing the meter
charges to increase revenue stability, implement meter equivalencies and review option
of private fire sprinkler rates. The proposed rates would be for 2015 through 2017. The
next steps would could the development of a draft water rate proposal to present to the
Public Safety, Utilities and Public Works committee in December 2014 and a final
proposal to the Town Board in January 2015.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk