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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2016-08-09 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado August 9, 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 the Board Room in said Town of Estes Park on the 9th day of August, 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, Director Hunt and Town Clerk Williamson Absent: None Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. DISCUSSION OF TOWN FUNDING FOR ESTES VALLEY INVESTMENT IN CHILDHOOD SUCCESS (EVICS). Nancy Almond/EVICS Director presented the Board with an overview of EVICS stating the agency provides information, assistance, and support regarding childcare, parenting, and early childhood services in the community. EVICS was formed through the partnership between the Town of Estes Park and the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County in 2006 with the primary focus of providing scholarships. The program has grown over the last 10 years and has expanded its services to meet the basic needs of families, including connecting families to food, clothing, etc. The organization has been receiving Community Service grant funding over the past 10 years from the Town, which has decreased from 75% to 19% of the operational budget. The funds from the Town help leverage the scholarship funds EVICS receives from other organizations. Other communities in Colorado have provide support for childcare ranging from a sales tax, General Fund, and the building of a childcare facility. Dependable and consistent funding from the Town would provide additional leverage for other funding sources, aid in expanding services to meet the needs of the community, allow EVICS to plan for the future, save time in preparing annual grant application, and provide access to greater county, state and federal resources. EVICS requested the Town consider a separate budget line item of approximately $50,000 to $60,000 for the services provided by EVICS through the development and execution of a Memorandum of Agreement or provide EVICS with a three-year funding cycle through the grant process. The funding would support the economic health of the community and sustainability of the community through the retention of working families. Board discussion followed and has been summarized: questioned if EVICS reaches out to other organizations in town for support such as service groups and the business community; questioned the number of kids being served through EVICS; if the Town funds EVICS it would have to reduce funding for other entities in town; and workforce housing and childcare are the biggest need in the community. Staff has begun work on the development of the 2017 budget which is currently $750,000 over budgeted revenues. A recommended budget would be reviewed with the Board during the October budget study sessions and staff would take direction from the Board on items to be added and deleted from the proposed budget. The request would be reviewed by the Board during the budget sessions. Town Board Study Session – August 9, 2016 – Page 2 UPDATE ON HOUSING NEEDS AND RESPONSE Administrator Lancaster stated the Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) housing study demonstrated most resort communities allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to aid in providing additional workforce housing. Staff would propose amending the Estes Valley Development Code to allow ADUs in all zoning districts with the exception of RM – Residential Multi-Family, require them to be attached, limited to 800 sq. ft., one per lot and limit the use to long term rentals, no vacation rentals permitted. The current code requires the lot to be 1.33 times the size of the minimum lot size for the zoning district. Homeowners could rent the basement apartment to help them afford a house in Estes Park as a side benefit to allowing ADUs. Concern was raised on the need to enforce the use of the units as vacation homes and the need to add additional staff. Staff stated enforcement would be complaint based. Staff confirmed the Town could adopt the provisions within Town limits if the County Commissioners do not agree with the amendments to allow ADUs. The code change would legalize the current existing units and make it easier for people to advertise and find available units to rent. The Board agreed to move the code amendments forward to allow ADUs as outlined with the exception of removing the lot size requirement of 1.33 and use the percentage of the lot coverage to determine the size of the unit rather than limit it to 800 sq. ft. Director Hunt stated the code amendments would be heard by the Planning Commission at their August meeting and be brought forward for the Board’s consideration at the second meeting in September. An additional item being considered by staff is an increase to the density bonus of 8 units per acre to 12-15 units per acre for affordable and workforce housing developments with deed restrictions to limit the use and prohibit short-term vacation rentals. The developments would be approved through a review process and would not be a use by right. Board comments followed: Town needs to review density and whether or not to allow vertical building to increase density; each development should be reviewed to determine the number of units per acre rather than setting a limit; include wildlife corridor for each development to address the wildlife concerns; and concerned with the length and cost of the review process for the developers before the development may be approved or denied. The Board consensus was to move forward with reviewing barriers to development such as those outlined by staff. Staff has found resources through Alliance for Innovation to aid in the development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) and a decision making matrix for the development of the Fish Hatchery property. Mayor Pro Tem Koenig requested the RFP include the developer build a childcare facility onsite. Staff stated the item would be added to the decision making matrix and those developments that include a facility would have additional points. TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS. The Board discussed the next steps once the comment period has concluded for the Loop EA. Mayor Jirsa suggested the Board hold a special meeting to discuss the final document, including the addendum with the public comment. The Board agreed to set a special meeting after the final EA has been issued. Administrator Lancaster stated the Town would begin discussions with the Estes Valley Fire Protection District on turning over the Fire Station to the District. The current lease does not clearly address the responsibility of building maintenance. The building was built on federal land through a Special Use Agreement, which would need to be converted to the District if the building become District property. Town Board Study Session – August 9, 2016 – Page 3 Administrator Lancaster reviewed a memo prepared and presented to the Town Board in May 2015 outlining the possibility of Estes Park joining the Regional Transportation District (RTD). FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. Mayor Jirsa requested the Board consider amending Policy Governance to include the evaluation of the Town Attorney and the Municipal Judge, discuss the monitoring report format used by the Town Administrator, and the evaluation of the Boards own policies. There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk