PALMER LAKE, COLORADO
Town Council Meeting - Record of Proceedings

APRIL 18, 2007

The Palmer Lake Town Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Parker at 7:10 p.m., April 18, 2007.

Attendees:

Trustees: 
Mayor Parker
Allen
Coleman - excused
Finan - excused
Flake
Girlando
Miner

Attorney: Gaddis
Audience: 13

Pledge of Allegiance:  Trustee Girlando

May Planning Commission Liaison – Mayor Parker (no meetings)
June Planning Commission Liaison- Trustee Allen (June 13 and 20, 2007)
July Planning Commission Liaison – Trustee Coleman (July 11 and 18, 2007)

Item 3:  Approval of the Agenda

Trustee Allen made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Trustee Girlando.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #4:  Consent Items

• Approval of Minutes – March 8, 2007
• Payment\Ratification of Bills – March 2007

Trustee Allen made a motion to approve the consent items, as written, seconded by Trustee Flake.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #5: Approval of Sign Permit –Stellar Styles Salon – Melissa Cowan & Cheryl Breeding

Ms. Breeding stated she understood that if 3 signs are requested at 790 Highway 105 then a marquee style sign will need to be constructed.   Ms. Breeding stated her sign is the 2nd in this area.

Trustee Allen made a motion to approve the sign request for Stellar Styles Salon, seconded by Trustee Girlando.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #6:   Committee Reports

Mayor Parker – Mayor’s Report

• Attended a meeting of the Tri-Lakes Economic Development Council.  Planning is in the works for the next Leadership Development Conference which is tentatively scheduled for sometime in July.
• Attended the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments meeting.
• Attended the monthly meeting with members of the Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority.  The engineering projects to determine the scope of obtaining and distributing a renewable water source from south of Colorado Springs is on schedule.

Trustee Allen – Roads

• Equipment repair was at the top of the list for this month.  The snow plows and related equipment, from the rough winter began to take its toll.  We are prepared for this recent bout with “winter”.
• We have also started pothole repairs and some road grading.  The ground is finally thawed in most areas.  We first intend on checking & repairing the drainage areas damaged by winter.
• We have received the 1st load (4,500 gallons) of mag chloride in anticipation of beginning our dust control program on schedule (late May).
• We assisted the water department on a massive break along Hwy 105.
• We hope to meet with the residents of Lake Shadows and Lakeview Heights in the near future for the formation of their Special Improvement District.  The citizens in this area want the roads paved.  Attorney Gaddis will be involved in the initial stage.
• We have received the bid on asphalting Lower Glenway, $77.400. We would anticipate construction completion by the end of June.  Our goals and objectives are to dress up the downtown corridor.

Trustee Coleman – Fire (presented by Mayor Parker)

• We have received burn permits to perform controlled burns for the next several weeks.  Extra precaution will be taken due to the high winds.
• PLVFD has been given a house for training.  We will schedule training for a controlled burn of the house.  All the North Group will participate.
• Wildland Refresher course took place March 24th.  6 members of the PLVFD participated.
• Firefighter I class has started.  8 members from Palmer Lake and 2 from Black Forest FD are participating.
• Please place house numbers so they are visible from the street.  Wal-Mart sells large house numbers at a cost of approximately $11.00 per set.

Trustee Finan  – Police

• Mayor Parker offered information from County Health and Sheriff Makita indicating that CJC is becoming overcrowded; this will affect all Municipalities including Colorado Springs.

Trustee Flake – Parks and Recreation and Buildings

Buildings

• None

Parks and Recreation

• Easter Egg Hunt was a success although the weather was bad.  Games were held in the Town Hall and the turn out was good.  Special thanks goes out to Eileen Facinelli who produces the event every year, her children, Gia, Lucy & Mario and also, Jennifer Martin and her children, Jessie, Jenna & Jill, as well as Kate Holley who was the Easter Bunny.
• Springs Sports & Recreation Session with Great Starts Sports Camps is under way. As winter session concluded, we were presented with our first check from Great Starts.  Summer programs include trail running, parents\children classes such as hip-hop dance or hiking, adult volleyball, tennis for all levels, youth cheerleading, soccer, dance, flag football and dance.  Registration can be done through the Great Starts web page www.gscamps.com or by calling 488-9370.
• As the summer session is approaching, we will once again revisit the option of getting the courts at Glen Park resurfaced.
• We had our second Steering Committee meeting with El Paso County Parks Board to continue work on the Palmer Lake/Centennial Park Master Plan update process.
• Completed the survey and it has been launched on the internet and hard copies are available at the Town Office and local businesses.  Surveys need to be returned by May 4.
• Later this month, El Paso County will develop staff recommendations from both the County and the Town and the Steering Committee will review the recommendations.
• During June, we will develop the Master Plan Update and obtain endorsement from the Steering Committee.
• Over the month of July we will seek endorsements from the El Paso County Park Advisory Board, the Town of Palmer Lake Planning Commission and the Town Council and we will attend a work session with the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC)
• In August, we will continue the work session with the BoCC and get the Master Plan Update approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
• The Columbine Festival will take place on Saturday, June 9th, at the Town Hall and Village Green.  We are attempting to have the Blue Seal Air Force Band as live entertainment.

Trustee Girlando – Water

• A meeting of the Water Committee will be scheduled early next week to discuss responses from the job announcement for the Responsible Operator in Charge position vacated by Steve Orcutt.
• The water break on Hwy 105 washed out a portion of the rock wall at Willow Creek.  The anticipated cost to the town is $835.

Trustee Miner – Economic and Community Development

• Held the regular monthly meeting of the Streetscape Committee.  The committee is working on an organization chart, what types of committees, establishing the channels of communication and the method of voting on issues to be presented to the council.
• A meeting was held with CDOT regarding Highway 105 Streetscape, the sidewalk grant and the rules and regulations needed to make changes.

Bob Miner – Fountain Creek Watershed

• Presented the minutes from the January 19, 2007 meeting.. 
• The Visioning Committee is asking for funding from all associated entities.  As requested, information was presented establishing the manner in which funds will be monitored and used by the committee.

Trustee Miner made a motion to approve the expenditure of $500 from the Drainage Fund, to become be an active partner in the Fountain Creek Visioning Committee, seconded by Trustee Girlando.  Motion carried unanimously.

Fireworks Committee – Carol DeBlois by Jeff Hulsmann

Jeff asked for permission to use Centennial Park for the weekend of June 30 and July 1 and also for the fourth of July.  Permission was granted by Trustee Flake.

The committee has plans on selling booth space on these three days. 

Trustee Flake made a motion to waive the need for a Peddler’s License for June 30th, July 1 and July 4, for participants through the committee, seconded by Trustee Miner.  Motion carried unanimously.

A preliminary safety meeting has been held with Chief Gillianna.

This year the Sertoma’s, Tri-lakes Chamber and the Fireworks Committee will be producing 1 poster for all groups along with a 32 page booklet with information, maps and short histories of the different activities.  They are actively seeking sponsors – cost is $100 for a quarter page ad, $400 for a full page ad.

Jeff asked and was granted permission to place letters of solicitations for the fireworks in the June water bills.  The committee is also asking for consideration on lighting the Star on the Mountain after the fireworks show.  Mayor Parker will ask Trustee Coleman for his input.

This year’s theme – ‘Tri-Lakes on Fire’.

Awake the Lake – Jeff Hulsmann

Jeff presented a paper authored by Kim Makower regarding the town’s water rights and usages.

A discussion was held regarding an update on the status of filing for junior storage rights on Palmer Lake.  Attorney Sperling has been unavailable.  Mayor Parker, Attorney Gaddis and staff will increase attempts to contact Attorney Sperling requesting either the information be available by next council meeting or be given an explanation as to why the information is not available.

Trustee Flake made a motion to direct our water attorney to go forward with fililing for water rights for the lake at the expense of the Awake the Lake Committee, seconded by Trustee Miner.  1 aye, 4 nays.  motion failed.

Trustee Girlando opposed the above motion citing it would be foolish to direct Attorney Sperling to file for rights without the cost for the augmentation plan being presented to the Awake the Lake Committee.  Trustee Allen recommended the above motion be delayed for 30 days awaiting a response from the attorney.  Mayor Parker and Attorney Gaddis supported both these recommendations.

Staff Report:

Trustee Allen referenced the death of Lucy Owen in 1996 and the council’s resolution setting aside $30,000 to be used toward the purchase of Ben Lomand.  Ben Lomand is no longer an option and Trustee Allen proposed a motion to reverse this decision and return the money to the General Fund.  Trustee Allen would make a recommendation at next month’s meeting as to how this money could be used.  Attorney Gaddis stated he would like an opportunity to review Lucy’s will before any decisions where made.  Trustee Allen withdrew his proposed motion.

Clerk Gray asked for the interest on the Lucy Owen money to be used to conduct a flyover of the Town of Palmer Lake including all of Highway 105.  This flyover would be instrumental in the implementation of the Sidewalk Grant, the current Streetscape plan and any future streetscape plan for the east end of Palmer Lake and for other purposes such as identifying drainage problems.

Trustee Allen made a motion to use the interest from the Lucy Owen Fund, not to exceed $3,000, to complete a flyover survey, seconded by Trustee Miner.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #7:  Presentation – Tri-Lakes Senior Center Business Plan – Chuck Roberts

Chuck presented an in depth overview of the Senior Center Business Plan, citing the proposed location as being the Monument Bowling Alley at Palmer Lake.  Copies are available at the Town Office upon request.

Discussion was held regarding the town pledging money to support the initial startup and the continued funding of the senior center in the event that additional funding is obtained from other sources.

Trustee Miner made a motion to commit to pledge an undetermined amount for the initial funding of the develop of the Senior Center at the Bowling Alley, seconded by Trustee Allen.  Motion carried unanimously.

Trustee Miner made a motion to pledge a funding line item, starting in 2008, to fund the ongoing funding for operations for the Senior Center, seconded by Trustee Allen.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #8:  Arbor Day Proclamation

Mayor Parker read the Arbor Day Proclamation proclaiming April 20, 2007 as the official Arbor Day and inviting citizens to attended the 25th year as Tree City USA Arbor Day Celebration to be held during the Columbine Festival at the Village Green on June 9, 2007.

Item #12:  Public Input – None

Trustee Miner made a motion to adjourn at 9:45 pm, seconded by Trustee Girlando.  Motion carried unanmously.

Approved as written or amended this 10th day of May, 2007.

Max Parker, Mayor
Della Gray, Town Clerk

Return to Palmer Lake Town Council page