“There are no properties within the Estes Valley Fire Protection District that are below moderate fire risk,” said Jon Landkamer, Estes Valley Fire Protection District’s division chief of support services, while presenting on a community wildfire defense grant at the April 22 Town of Estes Park board meeting.
Last year, the Town put up the required $175,000 match for the grant to fund fire mitigation efforts in Thunder Mountain, a neighborhood near Windcliff Estates, however, based on Estes Valley’s low median incomes and a large senior population, EVFPD was recently granted a match waiver.
“Can we keep the match and complete the full project?” asked Landkamer, as only 75% of the project can be completed without it.
The Thunder Mountain area is rated one of the most extreme fire risks in the Estes Valley, according to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, adopted by EVFPD in 2022.
The area is located just east of the YMCA of the Rockies, along Highway 66 and surrounded by Rocky Mountain National Park on all other sides.
A wildland fire that started in the Park or in the rural landscape of the Y, could funnel and intensify in that area before exploding into west Estes Park. Thus, mitigation is a high priority.
“I just want to say that as Fire Chief, I hope this moves forward and the Town can help us get his project 100% funded,” said EVFPD Chief Paul Capo in an interview with the Estes Valley Voice after the meeting.
Capo said while the Thunder Mountain area is out of Town limits, “fire doesn’t know that.”
“We will be adopting our strategic plan with the new board,” Capo added. Included in the plan is feedback from the community, whose highest concerns are wildfire mitigation and suppression, he said.
The Town Trustees had various opinions on the matter but no action was taken on the request since it was presented as a report, rather than an action item.
“Would you necessarily need to have all those funds now?” asked Trustee Cindy Younglund, who noted the mitigation work is predicted to last several years.
“What a threatening area that is,” remarked Trustee Kirby Hazelton, who supports allowing EVFPD to keep the money.
“This is Town money. It’s money that was allocated in a pinch to help get this grant landed,” said Trustee Mark Igel, who noted that while he spent 30 years as a volunteer fire fighter, he also has a fiduciary responsibility to the community while allocating funds.
“The money is already spent,” said Trustee Bill Brown, who noted “if it was a good idea at the time, it’s still a good idea. I don’t want to be second-guessing a previous board.”
“Over the last 30 years, I’ve seen the fire district grow substantially,” Trustee Marie Cenac who also serves as mayor pro tem. “I would like to have more information before I make a decision. But I don’t agree the money is already spent.”
This matter will be taken up as an action item at a future Town Board meeting.
Training opportunities for EPPD approved
An intergovernmental agreement between the Larimer County Sherrif and Estes Park Police Department will allow EPPD officers to assist with security for large events in unincorporated Larimer County and at the Larimer County Fairgrounds. Police Chief Ian Stewart was at the board meeting to present the IGA, which garnered full support from the board.
$150K of 6E funds to be used for childcare center startup costs
Susan Castillo-Lugo and Sael Lugo of Estes Park were granted $150,000 in 6E funds to expand the Little Kids Montesorri Childcare and Preschool from their home into the basement of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Estes Park.
This move will help the school serve more infants and young children; the applicants noted that they have two infants, six toddlers, and two preschoolers on a wait list at this time. With these funds and the relocation, the center will be able to serve up to 26 children in those age ranges.
Parking lot, parking structure, and overnight parking changes
The Post Office Parking Lot is now officially named the Baldwin Parking Lot, agreed the board unanimously. Presented by Town Administrator Travis Machalek, the name change “recognizes that the parking lot serves many more businesses and functions, more than just the post office located close to Baldwin Park,” he said, “it’s a town owned parking lot, not a lot belonging to the post office.”
A large bull elk feasts on early June grass in Baldwin Park. The post office parking lot is now “Baldwin Parking Lot” in honor of this public space downtown.
The Town has engaged DESMAN, Inc. to complete the design for a new parking structure at the Big Horn Parking Lot for $456,882. This project is budgeted up to $500,000, said Dana Klein, the Town’s parking and transit manager, which allows for contingency funds if needed. The designer will begin the initial conceptual designs within two weeks and the final set of plans is expected to be finished by the first quarter of 2026.
Parking overnight will now be allowed on some Town streets and in the Events Center parking lot, with the adoption of Ordinance 06-25 which amends the Town’s municipal code. Overnight parking in the downtown corridor is still prohibited. This change will go into effect on May 22.
In other Town Board news
John Cullen of JWC Elevation, Inc. was granted a liquor license and the permission to have an indoor carousel at The Stanley Chocolate Factory in downtown Estes Park., and the Estes Valley Crisis Advocates gave a base funding report to the Trustees.
The board was split on whether to extend the meeting past 10 p.m. but ultimately voted not to. Several reports scheduled on the agenda will be moved to a future board meeting.
The next Town of Estes Park board meeting will be on May 13 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall, 170 MacGregor Ave.