PALMER LAKE, COLORADO
Town Council Meeting - Record of Proceedings

October 11 , 2007

The Palmer Lake Town Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Parker at 7:05 p.m., October 11, 2007.

Attendees:

Trustees:
Mayor Parker
Allen
Coleman
Flake
Jack
Miner
Stafford

Attorney: Gaddis
Audience: 10

Pledge of Alliance: Trustee Miner

November Planning Commission Liaison - Trustee Coleman (Nov. 12 and 19, 2007)
December Planning Commission Liaison - Trustee Flake (December 12 and 19, 2007)
January Planning Commission Liaison - Trustee Jack (January 10 and 17, 2008)

Item #3:  Approval of Agenda

Trustee Allen made a motion to amend the agenda with the addition of 8A - Sundance Kennel Agreement and to approve the amended agenda, seconded by Trustee Jack.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #4:  Consent Items:

1. Approval of Minutes - September 13, 2007
2. Payment\Ratification of Bills - Aug 2007
3. Business License - The Fresh Cup Roasting Company
4. Business License - Pacific Rim Interiors and Marce's Collection

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

Item #5:  Senior Citizen Center - Chuck Roberts
Chuck gave a report on the status of the Senior Citizen Center.  A new business plan will be available for review in the near future.

Trustee Allen made a motion to take $10,000 from the Lucy Owen fund and present it to the Senior Citizen Center in fulfillment of our pledge and to allow the Center to use at their discretion, seconded by Trustee Coleman.  Motion carried unanimously.

Funds are to be made out to the Tri-Lakes Health Advocacy Partnership, PO Box 2931, Monument, Colorado.

Item #6:  Committee Reports
Mayor Parker - Mayor's Report
Mayor Parker proclaimed October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

1. Attended a special meeting with Jim Reed, El Paso County Fire Marshall, Tim Wolken, El Paso County Parks and Recreation Director, Ms.  Carrie Johnson and Mr. Duncan Bremer representing Herb Rae, Fire Chief Beckman, Trustee Allen, and citizens regarding the Lake View Heights Filing #2 and the use of the Santa Fe Trail for emergency access.  Mr. Reed stated that access would have to be improved to Monument as well as County Line Road.  The resulting discussion with Ms. Johnson and Mr. Bremer resulted in their stating that this would be cost prohibitive to execute.  No further action on the Town's part is required until we are approached with subsequent suggestions.
2. Met with Police Chief Gilliana and Police Trustee Allen.
3. Attended the monthly meeting of the Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority.  Topics discussed at this meeting included a presentation from INVEnergy regarding their proposed project, negotiations with the Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District, initial 2008 budget discussions, and an update on the WIPS study.  Lead engineers from Bishop and Brogden asked for some additional funding for cost overruns covering out-of-scope items requested by the Authority.  The final phase of the study has started, and the draft data from the first 5 phases should be available by the middle of October.  It was agreed to cover these costs, and to continue our negotiations with INVEnergy and Lower Ark.
4. Met with Gary Barber, Mr. Leroy Tobler, an engineering consultant for INVEnergy, and Town Staff to discuss connections between INVEnergy's well field in the proximity of Spruce Mountain and the Palmer Lake water system and Monument Creek.  This is in support of a draft deal between Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority and INVEnergy to operate their wells and deliver water to their gas-fired electric plant in Fountain.  The concept is for the Authority to have first use of this water so long as demands for the plant are met.  This has significant ramifications for the Authority members to include Palmer Lake.  The potential for using the water in our potable water system or to even supplement the lake are an impetus to continue to coordinate in this effort.

Trustee Allen - Police
Chief Gilliana has completed the new Memorandum of Understanding with the El Paso County Sheriff's office for the year 2007.

The month was fairly normal from last month in traffic, dog related issues and domestic complaints. Assists with Monument PD as needed and follow up on ongoing case work with the DA's office and investigating officers.

Significant trend this month: Suicide attempts are up.
There were 5 suicide attempts in the last few weeks. Two of them were the same person.   Each person that attempted suicide did not succeed due to the intervention of police and rescue personnel.

1. Weapons are not returned without a court order.
2. A person is automatically transported to the hospital on an M1 Hold-Mental
Health Hold so that the hospital can do a complete evaluation and provide referrals for treatment.
3. The police department also provides referrals for the family members in addition to the hospital. This also applies to victims of other crimes.
4. Drugs and alcohol related cases that involve weapons or public endangerment require that charges be investigated.

Trustee Coleman - Fire

1. PLVFD trained with Larkspur Fire Department practicing auto extrication.
2. PLVFD participated in the Tri-Lakes Emergency Preparedness Fair on September 15th at Lewis-Palmer High School.
3. PLVFD trained with other North Group Fire Departments at the US Air Force Academy burn tower on September 30th.
4. PLVFD Fire Chief Phillip Beckman participated on a controlled burn with Fort Carson in Pinon Canyon.
5. PLVFD Assistant Fire Chief Dan Reynolds and Firefighter/EMT Alex Farr responded to the Incline Fire in Manitou Springs.
6. PLVFD's annual Open House is scheduled for Saturday, October 6th.
7. Fire Prevention Week is October 7th through October 13th.
8. PLVFD will host a screening of "Into the Fire", the highly acclaimed documentary about America's firefighters. Screening will be held on Friday, October 12th at 7:00pm at the Palmer Lake Town Hall. Admission is free to the public.
9. PLVFD will teach fire safety to schoolchildren on Thursday, October 18th at the Fire Station.

3-4 Address signs have been sold.
The Depot Restaurant has offered to allow the use of their establishment for this year's Christmas Train Display

Trustee Flake - Parks and Recreation/Buildings   
BUILDINGS
The combined bids for the concrete work at the Town Hall and Library/Museum buildings' handicap ramps and stairs totals $14, 000.

PARKS & RECREATION

• The Palmer Lake Recreation Area Master Plan Steering Committee held a meeting this month to review the revisions to the site plan. 
• Met with Phil Underwood, Tri-Lakes Little League.  Mr. Underwood proposed some major improvements to the field and has financial backing from a landscaper and a builder.  A meeting of the Parks & Recreation will be scheduled to review their plans.  If possible, Masterbilt Homes, financial backer, would like to put up a banner on the outfield fence during baseball season.
• Anthony Munk and his Eagle Scout Troop began his project at the ball field.
• Everyone is everyone invited to our community appreciation event at the lake.  The event will start at noon.

Trustee Jack - Roads

• Cleaned out ditch through park on Walnut
• Graded roads
• Met with Town Engineers re: Drainage issues around Town. Solutions are being discussed.
• Attended a CDOT Traffic/Safety seminar - (MUTCD) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Began winter preparations.
• Put new tires on backhoe
• F-550 to Phil Long for repairs
• Windshield replacements 5 vehicles     
• Chipper repairs
• Backhoe -$1,100 - so far - needs more repair (approx). $4,000) - excellent time to upgrade 1991 Hoe (16 yrs/old) & 1986 Loader (21 yrs/old) - - with trade-ins, we can get both new for $180,000. Now is the time to appropriate $$ from budget.  Looking into creative financing.

Trustee Miner - Economic and Community Development
Streetscape meeting was held with no significant new input at this time.  We are waiting
for the State to finalize the IGA for the Sidewalk Grant.

Trustee Stafford - Water

Town of Palmer Lake water production statistics

On the 5th of Oct 2007 Mr. Snyder we were directed to shut off the water to Palmer Lake.

I discussed the Excess credit / deficit information that we provide to the state on the weekly basis with Mr. Orcutt. I was told that these figures are "not part of our decree" and therefore cannot be used. I have received a copy of District Court, Water Division No. 2 Case No. 98CW069, Findings of fact, Conclusions of Law, Judgment and Decree of Water Court on 10 Oct 2007 and I am in the process of reviewing this document. So far I have not found any mention of our A2 well or flow credits that could be used from it. I assume that this is due to the date of this well is after the date of the last update of this document.

I attended a meeting of the ATL on 9 Oct 2007. I was given data from ATL that discusses this part of the decree.

Mayor Parker stated that the State had given permission to take the final 5 acre feet from the Town's stored water.  This is a limited case and will not be allowed again until such time as the town has storage rights on the lake and a supplemental plan.

Bob Miner - Fountain Creek Watershed
Bob provided council with copies of the Fountain Creek Watershed Technical Advisor Committee minutes from July and August 2007.  He referenced the FCW Study Initial Recommendations.  This study will be complied data from member entities with the intention of creating a unified developmental policy pertaining to the reduction in flood risk, sedimentation and erosion.

Jeff Hulsmann - Awake the Lake
Mayor Parker reported the town engineer, Paul Gilbert, RTW, at the direction of his superior, Mike Rothberg, has withdrawn as engineer in issues pertaining to the filing of junior storage rights citing possible conflict of interest.  The town will be looking for a replacement engineer.

Jeff stated that the Lake look in very good shape, but that he would like to be notified directly when the water was turned off and on.

Jeff, on behalf of the Awake the Lake Committee, strongly urged members of the board to remove Water Attorney Sperling. 

Trustee Flake made a motion to prepare and post a Request for Proposal for a water attorney, seconded by trustee Jack.  Amended by Trustee Jack ‘not to release Attorney Sperling at this time, but develop a scope of service with the anticipation to post an RFP', accepted by Trustee Flake.  Poll vote:  Aye, Jack, Flake, Allen, Stafford, Miner.  Nay, Parker, Coleman.  Motion carried 5 ayes, 2 nays.

Item #7:  Sign Request - Historic Pinecrest - Nikki McDonald/Jess Smith
Applicants are asking for two signs, one on property either owned by Orcutt and/or the Town.  The sign second being located on Highway 105.
The banner currently in the location of the sign request will be removed. 
The Planning Commission and Streetscape Committee both approved this type of sign, but it is prohibited since it is a backlit sign.
Staff was directed to contact CDOT regarding a multi-use sign at the Highway 105 location.

Trustee Miner made a motion to approve the Sign Request for Historic Pinecrest with the removal of the solar light for both locations pending on the input from the State, seconded by Trustee Coleman.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #8:  Ordinance 6-2007 - Vacating a Portion of Clifton Hills Road.
Attorney Gaddis stated this was a clean-up ordinance from a previous mediation issue.

Trustee Allen made a motion to approve Ordinance 6-2007 - Vacating a Portion of Clifton Hills Road, seconded by Trustee Stafford.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #8A:  Sundance Kennel Agreement
Clerk Gray stated this agreement had been approved by Attorney Gaddis with the addition of a paragraph relating to release of liability for the Town.  Sundance Kennel is operational once again and is willing to offer to house stray animals.

Trustee Flake asked about the current Human Society Agreement.  Clerk Gray responded it is being looked into.

Trustee Allen made a motion to approve the agreement between the Town of Palmer Lake and Sundance Kennel, seconded by Trustee Miner.  Motion carried unanimously.

Item #9:  Preliminary Budget - 2008
Clerk Gray presented the preliminary budget for 2008 and asked all Trustees, with their respective department heads, to set a time to meet.

Item #10:  Public Input
Trustee Flake stated a benefit for Lindsay Dierk will be held on November 4, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Pinecrest.  There will be food and 5 different entertainers.

Trustee Miner made a motion to adjourn at 10:38 pm, seconded by Trustee Coleman.  Motion carried unanimously.

Approved as written or amended this 8th day of November, 2007.

                                                                                                              
Max Parker, Mayor                                                      Della Gray, Town Clerk

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