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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2016-06-14 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado June 14, 2016 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, 2016. Board: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Holcomb, Martchink, Nelson, Norris and Walker Attending: All Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator Machalek, Town Attorney White, and Town Clerk Williamson Absent: None Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE. Chuck Jordan/Project Manager for the Community Center project presented an update on the Community Center related to design and cost. The site plan has decreased in size from the plan presented to the Town in March due to a budget shortfall of nearly $6 million. He stated there has been an increase in construction costs from $270 sq. ft. to an estimated $412 sq. ft., forcing the District to redesign and decrease the scope of the building. Value engineering reviewed the scope, quality and market to lower the cost of construction. The proposed design has removed the warm water pool and reduced a number of areas including the locker rooms by 25%, the family room, fitness area, gym, exercise area around the gym, office space for the District and the Senior Center, and the multi-purpose rooms and Senior Center kitchen are add alternates to the bid. The overall square footage of the building has decreased with the new design to 49,300 sq. ft. The building would contain less peaked roofs and more flat roofs. Board discussion has been summarized: stated concern the Senior Center without the multipurpose spaces and kitchen would be the same size or smaller than the current facility; the Senior Center kitchen was to provide a back-up kitchen for the community if the Community Center was used as an evacuation center in the future; and the proposed site plan does not meet the requirements of the Senior Center Master Plan and the growing need for Senior services. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek stated the reduction of the Senior Center facility would not meet either the current or future needs of the Center. Placing the kitchen and multipurpose rooms on the alternate list would effectively reduce the Senior Center by 4,100 sq. ft. and guarantee the Center 5,500 sq. ft. of dedicated space. This would be 1,000 sq. ft. less than the current Center. There would be no guarantee the add alternates would be added back into the project. The Town would pay a lease for the new space in addition to the contribution of approximately $5 million in 1A sales tax money for construction. The Town Board policy guidance at the March 2016 meeting was no further reduction of the space for the Senior Center. The proposed site plan would not allow the Senior Center to grow or conduct the services currently offered. Tom Carosello/Estes Valley Recreation and Park District (EVRPD) Executive Director stated the Town’s funds of approximately $5 million would be over a 10-year horizon, therefore, the EVRPD has been reviewing the option of a lease purchase agreement using District collateral to front the funds needed to build the Community Center. The dedicated space for the Senior Center has not changed from the March meeting as it depends on your definition of dedicated space, i.e. gym space, walking track, etc. would Town Board Study Session – June 14, 2016 – Page 2 be available to the Senior Center. The lease for the Senior Center facilities would be dependent on the square footage and would not be known until August or September. Discussion followed on the possibility of the Town pulling its funding for an integrated Senior Center and using the funds to improve the current facilities or build a new standalone Senior Center. Executive Director Carosello stated the EVRPD would move forward and build a Community Center without a Senior Center if the Town pulled its funding. The Board requested staff review options for the current Senior Center and provide the Board with the pros and cons of each alternative. Further Board discussion followed: the reduction of the Senior Center would not achieve the Boards objectives for the Center; without the Senior Center the multi-generational concept would be lost; the District has not mentioned the other items not included in the design such as daycare facilities; without the multipurpose rooms the Town should not move forward with the Senior Center as part of the Community Center; and the Town has too many unknowns such as timeline, capital cost, operational cost, lease, and other terms and conditions that would impact programming at the Senior Center. Mayor Jirsa requested a special meeting be scheduled as soon as possible to discuss options for the Senior Center. DISCUSSION OF ITEMS TO BE PRESENTED TO COMMITTEE PRIOR TO TOWN BOARD REVIEW. At the recent Public Safety, Utilities, and Public Works Committee, staff requested the Board provide staff with direction on what items should be presented to the Committee for review prior to Town Board action. After discussion, the Board consensus was to place budgeted items on the consent agenda for Town Board approval. A policy would be drafted for review by the Town Board to outline the items that would require Committee review prior to Town Board action. TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS. Trustees Martchink and Norris met with members of the community to discuss the formation of a Family Advisory Board. There were 8 different organizations in attendance and all expressed strong interest in the formation of the Advisory Board to discuss mutigenerational issues and concerns. A formal letter would be provided for the Board’s consideration at the upcoming Board Retreat meeting on June 16, 2016. Mayor Jirsa stated Larimer County Commissioner Tom Donnelly would be convening a working group to discuss ways to make housing more affordable in Larimer County and would like a representative of the Town to serve on the working group. Trustees Norris and Walker stated interest in participating. Trustee Norris commented there has been concern raised by those living in the Lone Tree apartments that everyone would have to move out during the renovation of the units by the Loveland Housing Authority. The units would be done one at a time and the resident would be provided assistance for alternate housing. Trustee Norris stated there has been confusion on the date and location of the Mayor Chats. Citizens have been showing up at the Senior Center for the meetings. Staff would post the date, time and location of the upcoming Mayor Chats at the Senior Center. Trustee Norris commented the feedback on the Barnes Dance has been positive. He would like to receive additional data on how the traffic has flowed through the intersections with the addition of the Barnes Dance. Trustee Nelson commented the Downtown Visioning Committee is not a Planning Committee for the Town. They are to provide a vision for the downtown. The group is not directly affiliated with the ongoing transportation discussion. Town Board Study Session – June 14, 2016 – Page 3 FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. Administrator Lancaster stated the Downtown Visioning process has been placed on hold until the Town can receive approval from DOLA on the extension of the grant funding. The staff would bring forward possible implications and impacts to the community with the closure of Hwy 34. Possible suggestions on how to lessen the impact would be brought forward and discussed with the Board. Trustee Martchink stated the Town should discuss the traffic impact at the intersection of Mall Road and Hwy 36. There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m. Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk