HomeMy WebLinkAboutTBSS 12-12-17Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado December 12, 2017
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 12th day of December,
2017.
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 Bergsten and
Recording Secretary Beers
Absent: None
Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
FINAL REVIEW OF 2017 STRATEGIC PLAN.
Administrator Lancaster reported on progress, completion of objectives and projects
placed on hold in the 2017 Strategic Plan. He stated staff utilized the information as a
guideline for priorities when drafting the 2018 budget. Major project priorities included
sidewalks and trail connectivity, and development of a Financial Reserve policy.
Strategic plan maps would be updated and posted on the website and distributed to the
public.
DOWNTOWN PLAN FINAL DRAFT DISCUSSION.
Planner Gonzales introduced consultants Noré Winter and Nicholas Difrank with Winter
and Company, and Steve Lane with BASIS Architecture. Mr. Winter highlighted key
features of the plan and an overview of the process. The plan would extend from
Elkhorn Lodge to Stanley Village and Piccadilly Square and properties flanking Elkhorn
and Moraine. The plan would be a policy document setting a long-term plan and
alternatives as a guide for future investment for the public and private sectors and
provides an implementation strategy. He added the plan would not dictate specific
outcomes, commit the community to specific projects, create construction documents or
change regulations. Plan concepts were targeted to benefit and serve everyone. He
stated they are nearing the final stages of development of the plan and with Board
direction would move into the implementation stage targeted for early 2018. The
process involved the Downtown Plan Steering committee’s feedback on issues and
concepts and involved the public through community workshops, an onsite work
session, focus group meetings, and comment forms and surveys. The plan concept is
portrayed in a series of maps which highlight concept framework and areas of
opportunity for enhancement and the potential to address flood mitigation. The plan
outlines a cooperative opportunity to expand a parkway around Performance park which
could act as an amenity and flood mitigation device. The plan included technical
aspects where intersection improvements could occur. Mr. Winter reviewed the flood
mitigation plan overview which included three levels of consideration at the regional,
Town and property levels. The implementation chapter recommended organizational
improvements. Monies generated could leverage grants for more ambitious projects. He
stated the next steps would be collecting final comments, preparation of a memo to the
Board, outline final changes and adoption.
Trustee Norris questioned if staff has a plan in place to receive public comment and
apply comments to the plan. Planner Gonzales stated staff would update the website to
collect comments.
Board comments were heard and have been summarized: questioned the level of public
interest and involvement throughout the process; if multi-generational input was
received, and if the plan had gained the attention or interest of architects, business
people or planners.
ZERO NET CARBON (ZNC) STUDY RESULTS.
Director Bergsten introduced Brad Dekker, Dave Smalley, and Andy Butcher with Platte
River Power Authority (PRPA). Mr. Butcher provided a background on the founding of
PRPA. In July 2017, the PRPA Board contracted with Pace Global to provide an
independent assessment of the feasibility of PRPA achieving and maintaining a ZNC
generation supply portfolio by 2030 with the principal change being the reduction in coal
capacity. Michael Mount and Paul Sharpe with Pace Global were introduced and
presented an overview of the analysis. A ZNC plan would use carbon emitting
resources and counter the emission by utilizing more zero emitting resources to offset
any carbon produced. Pace Global used the PRPA Integrated Resource Plan and
researched transitioning existing resources to the ZNC portfolio by 2030 and
investigated the least-cost means of meeting ZNC production. Five steps were
established in the study:
1. Define the “market” carbon emission rate.
2. Assume an initial renewable energy requirement as a percent of load.
3. Determine the least-cost portfolio that meets PRPA’s defined reserve margin
requirements (15%).
4. Determine if ZNC requirement is met in 2030 and beyond.
5. Adjust renewable energy requirements as a percent of load and repeat steps 3
and 4 until the ZNC requirement is met.
Based on the plan, carbon production would drop by 2030 and the carbon accounting
methodology estimated the over production of renewable generation and exporting
resources achieves a net reduction in the carbon market for Colorado. Continued use of
combined cycles and combustion turbines were determined to be the least cost option.
Overall the plan would put in 600mw of solar, 350mw of wind and 286mw of gas fired
turbine. He stated between the IRP and the carbon neutral plan there would be a 20%
increase in cost expected for individual years and an 8% increase over the life of the
study.
Board comments were heard and have been summarized: if sensitivity analysis has
been conducted on the effects of fuel prices or carbon regulatory prices; whether zero
carbon can be met; the method of distributing the information to the public; the need for
transmission and costs, and whether customers have the ability to elect solar and wind
services.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
Trustee Martchink requested a review of vacation home rental licensing fees due to
public interest. Trustee Nelson commented other communities license vacation homes
for a portion of the year for homeowners who rent properties for shorter periods of time.
The Board requested staff conduct the research and expand the criteria to include
business licensing fees.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
None.
There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m.
Bunny Victoria Beers, Recording Secretary