PALMER LAKE, COLORADO
Town Council Meeting - Record of Proceedings

APRIL 14, 2008

The Palmer Lake Town Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Parker at 7:08 p.m., April 14, 2008.

Attendees:

Trustees:
Mayor Parker
Allen
Coleman
Flake - excused
Jack
Miner
Stafford

Attorney: Gaddis
Audience: 27

Pledge of Alliance:  Trustee Stafford

May Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee Allen (May 14 and 21, 2008)
June Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee Coleman (June 11 and 18, 2008)
July Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee Jack (July 9 and 16, 2008)

Item #3:  Approval of Agenda
Trustee Allen requested New council Item #4:  Introduction of Kathleen Chacon and Eugene Ferrin be moved to Police Committee reports and to allow a 15 minute break between council meetings.

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

Item #4:  Consent Items:

1. Approval of Minutes -March 13, 2008
2. Payment/Ratification of Bills - March 2008

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

Item #5:  Committee Reports
Mayor Parker – Mayor’s Report
 
At the monthly PPACG meeting it was reconfirmed that the status of the priority of I-25 will be preserved.

Trustee Allen – Police

Trustee Allen stated that the selection board for the Police Records Technician met on March 28th with 30 applications to review.  Three applicants were selected for board interviews.  A unanimous choice was made.  The applicant was given a typing test to determine her words per minute and accuracy.  Selected for the position was Kathleen Chacon.  Kathleen presently works for El Paso County Parks and has extensive Administrative and Computer experience.  She will be ready to begin work April 14, 2008.

Trustee Allen made a motion to hire Kathleen Chacon as the Palmer Lake Police Records Technician, seconded by Trustee Stafford.  Motion carried unanimously.

The selection board met on April 9, 2008, to begin the process and recommendation of the Palmer Lake Chief of Police.  A total of 8 applications were received.  Five applicants were selected for board interviews.  The selection board unanimously chose Eugene Ferrin.  Mr. Ferrin is currently employed by the 4th Judicial District, but his main background consists of 30 years of experience mainly in a small town near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  A background check, physical and physiological testing will take place with an anticipated motion to employee Mr. Ferrin at the May 2008 meeting.

Trustee Coleman - Fire
2008 CALLS:

1. The Annual Easter Pancake Breakfast was hosted by PLVFD Members at the Town Hall on Sunday, March 23rd. Junior Helpers were awarded Certificates of Appreciation for their help:
   Jessie Martin, Jill Martin, Jenna Martin, Brianna DeBlois, Zachary DeBlois, Austin Dail, and Kelly Armbrust

2. Community Wildland Protection Plan: The PLVFD has held 2 planning meetings with multiple agencies. Informational meetings with the community will begin sometime in May. Notices will be sent with the water bills and posted in the Post Office. Flyers will be available in the Town Office and the Fire Station from 8:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays.  In addition, a postal patron mailing will be sent out informing the public of upcoming meetings.

3. FEMA Grant – Regional: Tri-Lakes Monument Fire District, acting as host agency, has
   applied for a Regional Grant to provide Mobile Data Terminals to fire departments in El Paso
   County. These will consist of a ruggedized laptop, software and a mount base. Palmer Lake
   has requested 3 of these terminals.

4. FEMA Grant – Assistance to Firefighters Grants: We have applied for 10 sets of
   Bunker Gear, 1 Thermal Imaging Camera, and a new Brush/Wildland Truck.

5. Tri-Lakes Women’s Club Grant: We have applied for 2 Ice Rescue Suits, 2 Flotation Vests, 1 Throw-bag.

6. Controlled Burns: The PLVFD will be doing some controlled burns in the parks and around the Lake, time and weather permitting.

REMINDERS:
***Place house numbers so they are visible from the street.***
For a $20 donation, the PLVFD will install address signs for Palmer Lake residents. Call 481-2902 for appointment.

Trustee Flake – Parks and Recreation\Buildings  (by Mayor Parker)
BUILDINGS

PARKS & RECREATION

• The Palmer Lake Recreation Area Master Plan Steering Committee will hold an open house on April 30th at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall.  Public is encouraged to attend.
• Anthony Munk, Eagle Scout, has completed his project at Centennial Field.
• Scenic View Landscaping and Masterbilt Homes, weather permitting, is continuing work on the ball field.
• $1,000 has been allocated as 'seed' money for the Chautauqua Revival.  Mary Meyer is the point of contact.  The Program is scheduled for August 3rd at Pinecrest.  Please watch for updates on this exciting local and historic event.

In closing, I would like to thank the Town Staff, Town Council and town volunteers for helping to make Palmer Lake a beautiful place to live.  Best wishes to the new board!

Trustee Jack – Roads

• Plowed and sanded 26" of snow bringing the total for the season to 85”.
• Completed major repairs to all snow plows. Special thanks to Phillip & Steve for the welding.
• Repairs to the shop air compressor. Special thanks to Austin & Jeremie for their assistance.
• Continued road repairs with loader and grader. The ground is beginning to thaw.
• Attended a UNCC seminar on locates with Della.
• Attended a PL Sanitation meeting concerning the possibility of the sewer line extension on County Line Road.
• Attended the joint T/C-P/C meeting re: the sign ordinance.
• With the assistance of Bryan, we have procured 500 tons of millings from El Paso County DOT at a substantial savings.  In addition to the millings from EPC, there is a possibility that we will received approximately 10,000 tons from CDOT from the repaving of I-25.  Belly-dumps will be dumping millings directly on selected roadways within Palmer Lake during the nighttime hours.  Effected residents will be notified of the possible timeframes.
• We reviewed and tested several applicants for the position of Road Technician. We have decided to ask the Council to approve the hire of Daniel Orcutt.

FINALLY - -The Road Department would like to thank the retiring Mayor and the members of Council for their support. Sometimes we fail to realize that you are volunteers and that you have sacrificed countless hours to the Town in order to make Palmer Lake a better place to live. 

Trustee Jack made a motion to approve Daniel Orcutt as Palmer Lake Road Technician, seconded by Trustee Stafford.  Motion carried unanimously.

Trustee Miner – Economic and Community Development

Trustee Miner presented a brief outline of Duties, Meetings to Attend and Recommendations for future plans.  A copy is available upon request.

The Fishing Derby will be held June 7th.

The Safe Routes to Schools Grant is on track.

Trustee Stafford - Water
2008 March Water Report

I have received a letter from Rose Dumphrey and a great deal of information about the gas drilling that is proposed in the Mount Herman area.  She requests the Town of Palmer Lake will “take preventative measures on behalf of the constituents that are impacted.”  A meeting was held on April 1, 2008 by the Front Range Environmental Resource Coalition.  This is an agenda item for the Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority scheduled for April 16, 2008.

Bob Miner – Fountain Creek Watershed – by Trustee Miner

The Army Corp of Engineers are willing to redo the study to include Palmer Lake.  The previously requested letter from the town is no longer necessary.

Jeff Hulsmann – Awake the Lake - excused

Staff:  Clerk Gray

Thank you to the following people for a successful Easter Egg Hunt:
Coordinator – Melissa Gray
Easter Bunny – Valerie Ibarra
Volunteers from MTI:
            Jeweleena Whitehouse
            Dixie DelFaro
            Kaitlin O’Connor
            Cristy Suelwski
            Zach Smith
Shana Ball, PLVFD
Officer Lenhard, PLPD
Devin Wood

Saturday, April 26, 2008, 11 am – 3 pm, will be the 1st Annual Palmer Lake Kite Day.

Trustee Jack shared pictures of Squadron 26, Air Force Academy.  The Air Force Cadets cleaned up trash along Highway 105 from approximately Spring Street to County Line Road, including the Centennial Park area.  A letter of thank you will be sent to the Cadets.

Item #6:  Arbor Day Proclamation

Mayor Parker read the Arbor Day Proclamation proclaiming April 18 as the official Arbor Day.  This is Palmer Lake’s 26th year of achieving the status of Tree City USA.  Everyone is invited to attend the Arbor Day/Earth Day celebration planned for April 25 at the Palmer Lake Elementary School.

Item #7:  Discussion - Meadow Lane Extension (including the crossover) Randy Jones

Randy Jones asked for a waiver of the 8" of concrete over the crossover, stating the there was concern that the concrete would freeze and crack.  Options were discussed to include asphalting the aprons on either end. 

Trustee Jack made a motion to approve the amended plans contingent upon approval of Regional Building, seconded by Trustee Coleman.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #8:  Conservation Easement – Babyshoe Subdivision – Lot 9

Ron Burnett, owner of Lot 9, has spoken with Attorney Gaddis and Clerk Gray regarding creating a conservation easement to consist of 4.86 acres.  All of the paperwork is in order making this land an open space wilderness, scenic area.

Trustee Stafford made a motion to accept the proposal of a conservation easement for Babyshoe Subdivision, Lot 9, seconded by Trustee Miner.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #9:  Rocky Mountain Rail Authority

This item had been discussed by the Town Board in August 2007.  Trustee Miner has stated she will be willing to attend the meetings as a citizen volunteer.

Trustee Miner made a motion to approve the IGA for the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority with a fee of $500 and reseving to the next board who will be the representative, seconded by Trustee Coleman.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #10:  Personnel Manual/Job Descriptions

Trustee Jack pointed out an error on page 14 – the word 'not' needs to be inserted.

Trustee Jack made a motion to approve the Personnel Manual, with the correction, and the Job Descriptions, as presented, seconded by Trustee Stafford.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #10A:  Natural Gas Drilling

With Board approval, New council agenda Item 5 was moved.

A representative of the newly formed group, Front Range Environmental Resource Coalition, spoke regarding the potential damage that the area could sustain if drilling is allowed along the front range.  The group has hired Jeff Hovermale to conduct an environmental assessment once the official report has been released.  The cost of the assessment has been quoted as between $35,000 and $40,000.  At this time, the group has raised $5,000 from private citizens.  A town meeting will be scheduled in the near future for any interested citizens to learn more about this issue.

Item #11:  Public Input – None

Trustee Allen made the following presentations:

Mayor Max Parker
On behalf of this Board of Trustees and on behalf of a grateful town, I want to thank you, Mayor Max Parker, for your tireless and selfless service not only to Palmer Lake but to the entire Tri-Lakes community and beyond.
If anyone thinks this is an easy or simple responsibility, they are wrong.  No one knows better than Max Parker that it requires juggling several balls at the same time and recognizing the blinding truth that you will never to able to satisfy everyone no matter how hard you try.  In this case, this all took place while working a full-time job.
We, on this board, have witnessed on several occasions, Max being our leader, facilitator and referee all within a matter of seconds or minutes.  Sound easy?  It is not.
Max, on behalf of this Board and our citizens you so wisely served, we thank you, thank you for your public service and for your love of Palmer Lake.  Please accept this plaque as an expression of our sincere gratitude.

Jaqui Parker
Thanks also to the other half of this deal.  Jaqui has been constantly by Max’s side and given her support in good times and bad.  It takes a special loyalty and understanding on the part of a supporting spouse to assist in helping make the Town run smoothly.  You are loyal, Jaqui, and you are understanding and for that we all thank you.  Please accept this small gift to remember us by.

Trustee Susan Miner
Susan Miner had a vision for Palmer Lake for years.  The trouble is that change, even in a small Town like Palmer Lake, takes time.  More time than most realize.  Susan started to influence change several years ago when she served on this very board.  When she went out of office, she didn’t loose sight of her vision.  She didn’t accomplish all she wanted the first go round so she came back for two more challenging years.  Susan, you have made significant progress and this Board is grateful, our small business community is grateful and our Town is grateful.  It is our hope that you will allow us to call on you in the future for your advice and as a calibrator on how we are progressing toward achieving your vision.  Hopefully, this small and simple gift will remind you to keep smiling and not to loose faith.

Trustee Coleman then presented Mayor Parker with a shadow box of a train entitled ‘El Capitan’ and thanked him for all of his guidance.

Mayor Parker stated it has been an honor to serve with the current and previous Board members and extended a special thank you to Della, Bob and his wife, Jaqui, for all of their support.

Trustee Miner made a motion to adjourn at  8:55 pm, seconded by Trustee Coleman.  Motion carried unanimously.

Judge Ciccolella administered the Oath of Office to incomming Board members:
John Cressman – Mayor
Gary Coleman – Trustee
Bryan Jack – Trustee
Nikki McDonald- Trustee
Dan Reynolds – Trustee
Max Stafford – Trustee

The Palmer Lake Town Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Cressman at 9:01 p.m., April 14, 2008.  All council members were present.

Item #2:  Motion to Approve Appointed Officials
            Attorney Larry Gaddis
            Municipal Judge John Ciccolella
            Town Clerk\Treasurer Della Gray
            Deputy Court Clerk Tara Berreth
            Fire Chief Phillip Beckman

Clerk Gray administered the Oath of Office to Municipal Judge Ciccolella.  Judge Ciccolella then administered the Oath of Office to the remainder of the Appointed Officials, with the exclusion of Deputy Court Clerk Berreth and Fire Chief Beckman.  The Oath of Office will be administered to these to at a later date.

Item #3:  Mayor’s Comments – Mayor Cressman

Mayor Cressman stated he will do his best to be a good mayor.   He stated he had been the Planning Commission Chairman and his goals had always been to serve the Town of Palmer Lake to the best of his ability.

The council positions will be announced at the May meeting of the Town Council.

Approved as written or amended this 8th day of May, 2008.

John Cressman, Mayor
Della Gray, Town Clerk

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