AUGUST 12, 2010

The Palmer Lake Town Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Cressman at 7:11 p.m., August 12, 2010.

 Attendees:   

Mayor John Cressman                

 Trustees:  

 Coleman

Jack

 McDonald

Polonsky    

Stafford  

Attorney:  Kin

Audience: 11

Pledge of Alliance:  Mayor Cressman

October Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee McDonald

November Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee Polonsky

December Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee Stafford

Item #2:  Approval of Agenda:

Trustee McDonald made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Trustee Jack.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #3:  Consent Items:

1. Approval of Minutes –July 8, 2010
2. Payment\Ratification of Bills – July 2010

Trustee Jack made a motion to approve the Consent Items as presented, Seconded by Trustee Stafford.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #4:  Ted Bauman – School District 38

District 38 interim Superintendent Ted Bauman addressed the council about his return to the district.  Ted stated he was pleased to be part of the community again.

Due to the increased number of students, the district should meet the 2010-11 budget.

This year Palmer Ridge High School will offer grades nine through 12.  Enrollment is at 1,150 students.

Lewis-Palmer High School has slightly less than 900 students.

Rumors that Palmer Ridge High School will be closed are not true.

The district did very well in state test scores.

The district had $3.5 million in budget cuts last year.

The school district wants to have cooperative spirit with the Town of Palmer Lake.

Trustee McDonald thanked Ted for returning to the district.  Ted stated the district will be starting the selection process for a new superintendent for 2011 and beyond.

Item #5:  Committee Reports

Mayor Cressman – Mayor’s Report

Mayor Cressman stated he has been very busy attending meetings regarding the issues with the curb & gutter for the sidewalk.  Everyone is working well together to get the project completed.

Trustees Coleman and Polonsky – Parks\Rec and EDC

Trustee Polonsky

- Spoke with Christie Ramshur about the Gazebo. Apparently, the GSD committee only had two volunteers. Will need to advertise for volunteers to get the burnt wood replaced, wood sanded, and repainted.  Hopefully this can be accomplished before fall.

- Have an email in to Tamra Hooper, Program Manager, Conservation Trust Fund, to find out the process for applying for funds from the program: 8 forms we need to complete; will get with Della.

- Meeting to discuss baseball field (George Stamper, Bob Radosevich, myself) Good time?

- Participated in the Chautauqua Old Time Baseball Game. We lost 11-5, but performed much better than last year.

Trustee Coleman

-         Attended 3 meetings with the Chautauqua Group – everything is on target

-         Attended the Planning Commission meeting

-         Met with Susan Adams, regarding the Fall Festival.

-         Travis and I set up the Town Hall for the Chautauqua Fire Department Breakfast.

-         Helped with the concession and selling during the ball game.

-         Set up a model train display for the dinner show on Saturday night.

It was good to see members of council in attendance, either as participants or observers.

Attended the car show and bikini bike wash.  Travis had his picture taken with a couple of the bikini babes, the photo can be viewed on Pinz Bowling Alley Facebook.

Trustee Jack –

Calls for the month of July- 34

Total calls for the year to date- 183

Volunteer Hours-1,333.5

-         PLVFD attended the Estemere Open House by supplying an Engine.

-         S130/190 class and field day produced 3 new red card wildland certifications:

Tyler Brown, Steven Lodwig and Richard Wolfe.

-         PLVFD Chief Ball and firefighter Lodwig attend the BFFD dedication ceremony for their new fire station.

-         Chief Ball and members attended the After Action Review for the Active Shooter Training.

-         PLFVD and the Association worked together on the pancake breakfast and the hot dog sales for the Chautauqua Revival.

-         Officers are putting together a fitness program with challenges to increase fitness within the department.

-         Members will be participating in the 9-11 stair climb at the Denver Qwest building and having the fire engine in the Memorial to Fall Firefighters Parade.

-         The new INFIRS program has been purchased with funds from the Association, $395.  INFIRS are now being inputted.

-         Members will be participating in the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association boot drive.

-         A change has been made to the line up of department officers.  There is now 1 Captain and 2 Lieutenants.

Trustee McDonald – Police

Crime:

A year-to-date, monthly low of only 13 Case Report numbers were used by PLPD Officers.  Reports were for relatively minor matters only, with no pattern discernable indicating any crime trends.

Highlights:

Independence Day Fireworks – On July 4^th several thousand visitors attended the TOPL annual fireworks event.  Traffic and parking issues were kept to a minimum.  Only one suspect was detained for public intoxication and transported to El Paso County Detox.  PLPD was only able to maintain the peace and the traffic flow with the assistance of the Monument PD Officers and Explorers, Colorado Mounted Rangers, and the El Paso County Reserve Unit.  Weather became an issue, with high winds, heavy rain, and hailstones ranging from pea to marble-sized.  At the end of the night however, no injuries or traffic collisions were reported in connection with the event. 

Missing person found by PLPD Officers – On July 28^th, Palmer Lake PD was notified of a missing person, a female resident of Palmer Lake.  The woman had gone horseback riding in the afternoon and her rider-less horse returned some time after dark.  Her husband recovered the horse and called the police.  A command post was established and the El Paso County Search & Rescue team responded to start search operations.  At 2:20 a.m. PLPD Officers Koski and Ringler found the missing woman walking on Spruce Mountain.  She was transported to the command post where she made comments indicating suicidal ideation.  She was placed on a 72-hour hold.     

Traffic:

• 18 Traffic Summonses were issued by PLPD Officers for a variety of offenses.
• Four DUI drivers were arrested. 

Dispatch Statistics:

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) Dispatch reported that PLPD Officers self-initiated, or responded to:

• 60 incidents, considered “high-risk”
• Three Priority 2 or “emergent” calls.
• 17 Priority 3 or “urgent” calls.
• 53 non-emergent calls.
• Overall, PLPD Officers handled a combined total of 178 calls for service/self-initiated activities.

The EPSO does not indicate how many calls for service were for areas outside of TOPL, where PLPD officers provided “cover” for EPSO Deputies/Monument PD or other L/E agencies; or “held the scene” before another agency responded to take over the call/investigation.

(Page three is attached – EPSO Dispatch Report)

Administrative & Training:

• Sergeant Nikki Tezak and Chief Moreland attended hostage negotiation training, put on by the Rocky Mountain Hostage Negotiators Association, at the Highlands Ranch Public Safety Training Institute in Sedalia. 
• Former PLPD officer Terri Lenhard found out that her new employer would not allow her to have outside/part-time employment with PLPD.  She turned in her badge, ID, and keys.
• Part-time Officer Michael Greeder resigned his position citing inability to help us fill shifts in conflict with his full-time police officer position with the Victor Police Department.
• Two new part-time officers, both experienced, seasoned officers are slated to join us in August.   

Chief’s Activities:

07/04 – Along with PLVFD Chief Shana Ball, served as Co-Incident Commander and PIO for Independence Day Fireworks events.  

07/06 – Responded to I-25 and Baptist Road to assist with traffic control and evidence marking at the scene where suicidal woman jumped from the overpass in the path of oncoming traffic.

07/22 – Attended Independence Day Fireworks debriefing at PLVFD HQ.

07/26 – Bean bag shotgun deployed on a bear rutting through garbage in the area of Highland and Milton.

Eight days, total, spent on patrol as primary responding patrol officer for PLPD.

Trustee Stafford – Water

The plans for the Surface water treatment plant have been completed and forwarded to the state for approval process.

I was unable to attend the 21 July 2010 PPRWA meeting. The next meeting will be 20 August 2010 at 8:30 AM at the Monument Town Hall. The PPRWA will be briefing new candidates for public office of water issues in the Pikes Peak region.

I was unable to attend the Fountain Creek Watershed meeting 23 July 2010. The next Meeting will be 27 August 2010 in Pueblo. District bylaws will be discussed and approvals are anticipated at this meeting.

Trustee Stern – Roads

• Finalized road prep for July 4^th
• Installed perimeter snow fencing for July 4^th
• Remove perimeter snow fencing after July 4^th
• Supervised tree branch removal on Glenway for sidewalk construction
• Major road and ditch repairs after heavy rains

Safe Routes to School

As many have noticed the project started July 6^th. On July 20^th, the curb & gutter was poured. Shortly after the pour, it was discovered that there was an error in the engineering and the curb was too high in many places. Mayor John and Council members Dennis & Bryan had many meetings with the contractors and engineers. After many options were discussed, it was determined that the best course of action would be to remove the curb in its entirety and regrade and replace it at the proper elevation with no financial obligation of the Town. We will assist in any way possible. This is currently being done. The new curb is scheduled to be poured next Monday.

A short discussion was held regarding the drainage issues along Greeley Blvd.  In an effort to help relieve some of the workload from the roads department due to the sidewalk project, Mayor Cressman had instructed Water Supervisor Orcutt to take charge of this project that included the installation of concrete ditches.  Financial responsibility lies with the roads department.

Staff:  

The tree located in front of the town office will need to be removed.  It suggested that a good sized stump be left for some chain art.  Trustees Coleman and Polonsky agreed but would like to view what the art will consist of.

Library roof – Council is requiring 3 bids for the replacement.  Trustee Jack stated he could find out how much the library spent on the ramp.

A meeting has been set for Monday, 3:30 pm, to meet with Josh McCann to discuss an Eagle Scout Project.  Trustee Coleman can be in attendance.  An on-site meeting will be scheduled later in the month for both trustees to be able to attend.

Planning Commission Secretary Berreth presented a letter from the commission requesting a revision to the sign ordinance that would allow PC members to vote on signs after viewing the applications either electronically, hand delivered or in the office, with the caveat that any sign they felt uncomfortable with would be sent on to council.

It was the opinion of council members that at least one meeting needed to be held in order to allow public input.  Staff was directed to contact the town attorney to allow PC to approve signs with the understanding that either the PC or the applicant could refer the decision to the town board.

Item #6:  Ron Heard – Crawford Memorial Update – not present

Item #7:  Employee Insurance – Discussion – Bryan Jack

Dick Welch, Benefit Design, briefly explained the premium cost and the saving.  Trustee Jack gave a short overview regarding the budget 2010 request to increase employee benefits and that it was felt that the better way to achieve relief for the employees was to investigation different options.  Deputy Clerk Berreth, after analyzing other insurance options, stated the plan presented by Welch was the best option for the employees and the town.

Trustee Stern asked what the procedure was to implement the new benefit package.  Clerk Gray stated that since there is no change to the amount of employee benefits it is simply put to the employees and they decide who wants to join, they sign the papers and we go from there.

Item #8:   Public Input

Attorney Kin stated legal council needed to hear if the Sidewalk Maintenance Ordinance and the fees structure for the Medical Marijuana Ordinance were ready to be finalized. Council responded the sidewalk ordinance was ready and that the fees for the medical marijuana ordinance were to be set at $500 for an application, $500 for a license with a reduced application fee of $250 if the second application is operating under the same name.

Trustee McDonald made a motion to adjourn at 8:20 pm, seconded by Trustee Polonsky.  Motion carried unanimously.

Approved as written or amended this 9^th day of September, 2010.

John Cressman, Mayor                                                        Della Gray, Town Clerk