Red Feather Lakes (RFL) Planning Advisory Committee Meeting 9/26/24

Main Ideas

• There will be a November ballot measure proposing an increase of the Larimer County sales tax by 0.15% to meet the county's future transportation plan. 
• The Larimer County Planning department is encouraging RFLPAC to adopt a quarterly meeting schedule instead of monthly. A final vote will be taken at the Oct. 24 meeting. 

Commissioner Kefalas said a draft copy of the proposed 2025 budget should be ready for review soon with final approval expected by end of year 2024. Kefalas also reminded the committee of the proposed 0.15% sales tax increase on the November ballot. He said if the measure is passed by voters, it will bring in approximately $15M per year in additional revenue to be used for the county’s transportation projects. Committee member Zigray asked if RFL would receive any benefit from the tax increase. Kefalas told Zigray to go to the transportation website where there is a list of planned Larimer County Transportation projects (page 12-14 of 17).  

Community Development Director Everette said she has been updating the bylaws of all the Larimer County boards, commissions, and committees. Everette said she wants to get feedback from the Red Feather Lakes Planning Advisory Committee (RFLPAC) about their perceived role and purpose to the community. She said it’s important for the county to understand the expectations from the LaPorte, RFL, and Estes Park PAC’s.

Everette said the Planning Department is proposing changes to the PAC to provide a more organized forum and facilitate better communication between the county and RFL on land use planning and development issues. She wants to chart a clear path of duties for the committees.

Changing the PAC’s meeting schedule from monthly to quarterly was the main item of discussion. This is a request by the Planning department and County Commissioner Kefalas.  According to Everette, the PAC should only be focused on the following:

1. Land Use development in RFL
2. Communicating re-zoning concerns and issues
3. Land Use Code amendments
4. Periodically review and update the vision, goals, and policies of the RFL area plan. 

Vice Chair Hughes said the committee has already cut down meeting times during the winter holidays and again during the year if there isn’t any business to discuss. Hughes said she gets frustrated that nothing gets done, and she’s concerned that if the committee doesn’t meet often enough, the PAC will fold. Several other committee members agreed that nothing will get done if they don’t meet regularly.

Staff Liaison Fior said they are wanting to rescope this committee as planning and land use only. Fior said the PAC is not for community services such as schools, safety issues, and bad drivers. She said there are other avenues for community concerns. 

Commissioner Kefalas added that items such as healthcare access, or public restrooms are also community issues, not PAC issues to solve. Kefalas made the following recommendations:

1. Hold neighborhood meetings to have conversations about needs
2. Create a webpage on the Larimer County website with links, resources and community forums like Livermore has done. 
3. Encourage the creation of a community led non-profit group that can provide leadership and advocacy to the community.
4. Kefalas said there are 9 seats on the County Planning Commission. A seat could be reserved for a representative from Red Feather Lakes area. 

Larimer County Planning Engineer Lafferty suggested the RFLPAC try meeting quarterly. He said if the committee members don’t like it, they can always change it back to monthly. 

The Commissioner and Planning Liaisons were reminded by committee members that the RFLPAC doesn’t meet in November or December due to the holidays. Commissioner Kefalas and Liaison Fior said they want the committee to read the new draft bylaws and be prepared to discuss and vote on the proposed quarterly schedule at the October meeting.    

The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

Documenter Nanci Wendland

Next meeting – Oct. 24, 2024, 1:30 p.m. in-person at the Firehouse meeting room, 44 Firehouse Lane, Red Feather Lakes, CO., or online via Zoom. 

Members Present  

Lora Gaskill, Ryan Zigray, Roger Svendsen, Vice Chair Caryn Hughes, James Cates, Larimer County Liaison Commissioner John Kefalas. Absent: John Johnson, Lucille Schmidt and Chair Janice Weixelman.

Others Present  

Administrator Christina Scrutchins, Larimer County Planning Engineer Matthew Lafferty, and Larimer County Staff Liaison Kassidee Fior, Larimer County Community Development Director Rebecca Everette, and 2 residents.  

Meeting Agenda & Packet.

Recorded Meeting: Videos are not posted. 

From the Larimer County Boards & Commissions website:“The Red Feather Lakes Planning Advisory Committee (RFLPAC) is a committee of citizens who live, work/volunteer or own property within the Red Feather Lakes Plan Area, appointed by the Larimer County Board of Commissioners. Its purpose is to provide an organized forum to facilitate communication with the County and within the community on issues that impact Red Feather Lakes (RFL).”