HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2015-12-08
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado December 8, 2015
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 8th day of December,
2015.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Ericson,
Holcomb, Nelson, Norris and Phipps
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator
Machalek, Director Bergsten and Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:45 p.m.
BRIEFING ON FINANCING OF IMPROVEMENTS TO SMALL WATER SYSTEMS.
Director Bergsten provided the Board with an overview on how the Town can provide
assistance to small drinking water systems to improve their quality and reliability within
the Estes Valley. In the past staff has assisted the small systems through the State
Drinking Water Revolving fund loan program. This program has been updated and now
requires a detailed design to be completed prior to funding a project. The change
places significant cost on the small water systems. Staff has been reviewing other
options including USDA Rural Development financing. The financing would allow for
upfront funding for detailed design and requires the Town to be the applicant for the
USDA RD project financing.
There are currently four systems considering improvements, including Park Entrance
Mutual Pipeline & Water Company, Hondius Water System, Charles Heights, and
Prospect Mountain Water Company. The systems will have the option to form an
Improvement District using the State program if the private nonprofit water system can
provide upfront funding of the detailed design; seek out financing for system
improvements and continue to own and operate their own systems; or request the Town
Board enter into a Voluntary Water System Transfer and the Town become the
applicant for the USDA RD project financing. The USDA option eliminates the need for
an Improvement District vote which speeds up the process; eliminates the need for
property liens; the USDA RD program requirements do not require the Davis Bacon and
Related Acts, and therefore, reduces the construction costs; and the program has a 40
year loan paid through revenue bonds which reduces the annual cost to the property
owner with no administrative costs and no penalty if it is paid off early. Staff would
recommend the implementation of a signed petition by a minimum percentage of
affected property owners before the Town would move forward with a revenue bond.
This percentage would be established by the Board. A new enterprise fund would be
established for each new system and a corresponding new rate would be collected.
Those wanting to join the new system would pay a connection fee and pay the new
water rate established. A NEPA process would be completed with public meetings
required. The Town’s Water fund would not be impacted by the separate enterprise
funds.
Ed Schemm/Larimer County Health Department stated the Improvement District
process takes considerable time to process due to the need for an election. The USDA
process eliminates the need for an election and could save approximately a year. He
Town Board Study Session – December 8, 2015 – Page 2
would encourage the Town hold public meetings to educate individuals of the USDA
program.
Attorney White stated through the establishment of an Improvement District the new
improvements would be owned by the district while the bonds are paid off. The USDA
option would require the Town to own the facilities and to take into account the facility
capital improvement costs in establishing the rates.
Board discussion was heard on the need for a petition and the appropriate percentage
needed to move forward with the USDA RD loan program. Board consensus was 51%
of the affected property owners must sign the petition to move the process forward.
AGENDA POLICY.
Administrator Lancaster presented the Board with an Agenda Policy outlining how items
are placed on the Town Board agendas and Standing Committees. The policy would
not only clarify how items are placed on the agendas but remove ambiguity for staff
preparing the agendas, and prevent items from appearing on the agendas that the
majority of the Board does not want to consider or discuss. The policy would require
additional lead time before items could be added to the agenda with the exception of
emergency situations. The Board requested the policy be added to an upcoming Board
agenda for consideration.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
None.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Trustee Norris questioned if the Town would receive an interim NEPA report for the
Loop project. Administrator Lancaster stated there would not be any interim reports and
the NEPA report would likely be released in April 2016.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:23 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk