Board of Trustees - Regular Meeting

Not now, but he did make it into the workshop. All right. Ready to go. Call to order the Town of Frasier board meeting Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 at 6 PM. Can I have a roll call, please? Katie Fischer, Peggy Smith, Julie White, Katie Souls, uh Lewis Gregory, Brian Cirven, and Adam should be joining uh momentarily. Um could I have a motion to approve the agenda? So moved. Second.

All uh any further discussion? All in favor? I I Any opposed? Okay. Could I have a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes the minutes from January 21st, 2026? So moved. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor? I I.

Any opposed? Okay, we'll move on to open forum. This is for business not on the agenda. If you'd like to approach the town board, feel free to raise your hand online or come to the podium. Seeing none, we will move on to discussion and possible action regarding purchase of Crescendo sculpture at the historic church.

Mayor Sbanick, trustees, I'm Sarah Wick, a marketing and communications manager, um, and also the staff leazison for the public arts committee, which is why I'm here. So, the pack uh is making a recommendation to buy the Crescendo sculpture which is at the church. Antonet, can you pull up a picture real quick? Um just a little background um on the sculpture and the the price the $10,000 price. So, the actual price of the sculpture before we leased it is $15,000. We leased it for three years, which made it $12,000. Um the artist when the lease came up asked if we were interested in purchasing it. The pack was um and then we offered the artist $10,000 and he was okay with that price.

So that is where we are right now. Sharing the wrong screen. Um what was the statue though that was there before? I can't remember what it was. Uh, I feel like it was a I feel like it was a piece. It was also a piece of wood and it had it kind of like went like this and in between like in that um like it had like bases or something on it. That's what was there before. Okay. Is it cheaper? Will the packs spend their own money on this or

Yeah, there is money in the budget for this too. So, how is it holding up over with the elements? You know, I just you would think that because it was wood, it would be, you know, destroyed. But I don't know what the artist uses to treat it, but it's it still looks in great I mean, it's in great condition still. Looks really Yeah. And Sarah, it might be worth noting that he deliberately chooses exotic woods that are extremely durable. Sort of like the way teik stands up to the sun. Mhm. So I guess I just thought that purpose of that area was to rotate through stuff. So is this going to stay at the Frasier Church or It would stay there. Okay. So we're not going to rotate through new or

It was one of our leased pieces and that we would be buying it. Mhm. So, should we just keep leasing cool things or do they do they think about that? They don't want to lease it and rotate anymore. They'd rather have a permanent. They really like this one. Or there are a couple other lease sculptures that were that they are going to replace like the fish that's um over by the bike park. It's like a big metal Yeah.

fish. They're going to replace that one. That was one of the least ones that they decided to swap out. I guess I was just looking forward to looking at something else here over there. I don't know. I mean, it's ultimately up to them. It's their money. I mean, Steve, is there a possibility of rotating some of the art pieces between the least ones and the one that we own?

You absolutely. not only um continuing to do the lease program, which I do think I I'm not going to speak on behalf of the whole pack, but I I do think that the pack would um wish to continue to do, but also there is the possibility of just because we purchased this sculpture doesn't necessarily mean it has to remain in that location forever. We could always move it uh which I actually I kind of like. So that um there is some refreshing of that location and we still have that sculpture elsewhere. And we can also find other locations for other lease sculptures too. So um we can in theory put them wherever we want.

Okay. This cool sculpture. Yeah, it's unique. Um yeah, I mean if you guys have it in the budget, I I'm fine with it, I guess. seems expensive, but I don't know anything about art and so it's cheap. Did I see somewhere that they're actually getting a credit for the lease payments over the last three years?

Yeah. So, the the price of the sculpture is $15,000 and then we leased it for three years um which made it 12,000 and then the pack actually offered the artist 10,000 and he accepted that price. Gotcha. So, saving two grand but not s not it's not $7,000. Right. Right. Yeah. I worded that weird in the the memo. That's why I was Katie Souls asked me about that. Gotcha. Okay. All right. Well, I'm an art person, but I'm more concerned about uh Eisenhower's fishing pole. I can hear you getting your mic closer.

Oh, sorry. Sorry. So, I'm just more concerned about Eisenhower's fishing pole. He's getting fixed. Yeah, he's getting fixed and he'll probably be done in April. Perfect. Let's Okay. Awesome. Yeah, go for it. Sweet. Great. All right. Do you need a motion to approve this or I think we do. Yeah. Okay. I'd like to make a motion to approve the purchase of Cresendo Sculpture at the historic church. I'll second. Any further discussion? All in favor? I I Any opposed? Okay. Thank you. Don't forget about fire and ice February 14th. Thanks. Thank you, Steve, Sarah.

Thank you. Okay. Next up, East Grand School District overview and update. Brad Ray and Mark Ryberg. Can you hear me? Okay. Mhm.

Good. Thanks for having us. We appreciate it. Um, we just want to give you an update of what's happening at school. um we want to do a better job getting out um explaining to people what our focus is, what we're doing. And now that construction's done, we have time to breathe and can actually do that. So um while back, uh this is my fourth year uh as the superintendent, there was um a lack of having some focus for the future, just to be honest. So, we um through the Colorado Education Initiative uh worked on a strategic plan for the district that is a 5-year strategic plan that has a lot of lofty goals in it. And um Courtney's going to come up here and update you a little bit on what we've been able to accomplish. It was co-created by people throughout the community. We had about 50 people um who showed up for the first meetings. Um, we spent a ton of hours throughout the process, uh, trying to get it done and then a lot of time figuring out what were those goals and how are we going to measure them and report them out. So, Courtney, I'll update you.

All right. To pass that able to put the slideshow up. Awesome. Um, so I'm Courtney Lincoln. I'm the assistant superintendent for East Grand and I um have worked uh with the district since 2008. I left for uh four years and then I just started back in this role this year. So when I came on board um I one of the charges was to work on moving the strategic plan forward. Um can you advance or is there a clicker? Perfect. Oh, look at that. Great. So, um I Brad spoke a little bit about how it came to be. I was not in the district during the time when it was created. Um but there was um a whole lot of community input, parent teacher support that created it. So, I'm going to do just kind of a brief overview and then talk about the work that we've been doing this year. Um so, updated mission and vision for East Grand. and I'll let you guys read it um just so that you're aware and I can let me know if I'm going too quickly. And then the plan called out some community values that we focus on and this was all from feedback from those initial sessions. So grand balance, grand connection, grand focus and grand commitment. From there, we developed a graduate profile. So, in East Grand, we are working to have all of our graduates be lifelong learners, adaptable individuals, critical thinkers, creative innovators, effective communicators, engaged collaborators, and responsible citizens. So those are kind of some of the big pieces of the plan, but the largest piece and the part that um we

are really trying to make um forward motion on this year are around the goals that Brad talked about and they are some pretty lofty goals, but they are um good goals for us to focus our work on. So the strategic plan has three main strategic priorities. There's the student success priority, uh there's the sustain and develop staff priority, and then there's the community and family partnerships. Um and then each of those priorities has um anywhere from two to three specific goals under it. So subsets. Um our strategic plan advisory council, we call it the SPAC, is what's working on these strategic priorities to move them forward. So the SPAC meets the second Monday of every month. And they have taken each of those goals and made a one-year goal. And then we've divided the goals out into what we call three sprints. So every three months we have um a measure that we're trying to meet. And then the goal would be at the end of the year we'd make progress on the one-year goal and then we'll plan for what it looks like next year. So right now we're in year two of the strategic plan of moving it forward. Um and the ESPAC started last year and then um we have continued it this year and and grown the involvement. And so I bring that up because we welcome parents and community members to come join us. If anybody's interested, I can add you guys to the invite. Um it would be great to have feedback. Um but everybody works on a task force to move one of these priorities forward. I'm not advancing. Um so so we meet the second Monday of every month. If you're interested, let me know and I will add you. Um, but really what I wanted to get to was um, if you scan that QR code, it'll take us to take to or take you guys to our uh, website and we just pushed out this snapshot report. And so this is the first report of our progress that we have put out um, related to strategic

plan and our goal is to do it twice a year. So within this snapshot report, each one of those strategic priority goals has three data points. And so there's a data point about where we're um meeting that goal or really being successful. We have a data point around where we're making progress. And then we have a data point on something that we are focused on or moving to next. Um and there's a little bit of information describing all of it. And so this got pushed out last week to uh all of our parents and our teachers and we're just trying to share share the the news about it. So um I'm open to questions. Um, really I would recommend if you're interested in learning more, click on the QR code and and open up the PDF on our website so that you can see it and feel free to share it.

I'm curious about student counts in general in the district. Um, just with cost of living and all that, are we starting to lose our student base? Um, yeah, we're getting smaller. Um, I think we're down. Well, there's a couple ways to look at it. So, I keep an eye on where are we in May when we finish school

and what shows up in October. Now, CDE keeps track of that from October 1st to October 1st and says where are we? And I would say last year we were up 11 and then right at the end of the school year we were right back to where we started. So, it es and flows throughout the course. I would say we have one building that has a decent bit of mobility. students that move out and new ones move in. Um, a lot more than others, but this year we were currently down 88 students and we have dug into why. Um, we have folks who are choosing online options now. Um, we have like students who want to competitively mountain bike. It's really hard for them to do that while they're in school. And so we have people who choose different options. Um, we're looking at maybe creating our own online platform that we host. Um, and you gota I'm old school. Like I'm old uh and I'm a teacher and my family's teachers. I still think coming to school in brick and mortar is the best way to do it. Um, but there is different lifestyles and different things people want to do. So we're trying to figure out what's the best avenue.

Okay. And I think if you get to the demographic study that that'll explain some of it too. And one of the things in the back of my mind is one of our hopes is someday that we have a K through 12 school. Yeah. Here at this end of the valley. So can I blend this into the next topic? Go for it. Sure.

Yeah. So when we talk about fee in lie of land which you are not allowed to call impact fee or the attorney gives me a dirty look when I say that but basically it's like when a subdivision is built and I have no idea how much background you all have on my three and a half year journey through this. Um, basically it's like, okay, how many students are going to be created for us based on what you're developing? And, um, when I got here, it was done very differently in different towns. And the county did it one way, Grammy did it a different way. It was very And I asked, why do we do it this way? And I was told, that's what we always have done. And I really don't like that answer sometimes because it makes it a pattern. It doesn't make it good practice. Um and so started digging into and then you know sub people in a subdivision who was developing something would come into me and say I don't want to pay these fees. Can you reduce them? And I'm like um I was a teacher. Uh so it was very hard to keep track in our office with our size. and so started meeting with all the town managers at the time um and just said can we come up with a cohesive way that we do this uniformally um and in a process that makes sense. So like one municipality had us collect the fee. I think you guys collected the fee um and imposed the fee. So it was just different and even the calculations of how it was done was different. So we commissioned a demography study to say what is the true impact of what's being developed and what are we really seeing from it. Um and if you go through that study you'll find out that actually modular units or trailer parks are creating more students for us than subdivision of single family houses. And um so we now have in that demographic study something that says this is what

we're basing these fees on and it's been researched to say this is what's happening. Now in conversations with the board I'm really getting to this point I promise. No this is good. in conversations with the board it was like yes but the landscape in Grant County is changing pretty fast and it's like what's it going to look like in x amount of time and so we are currently passing a policy that says we will do this study every four years to see what is the impact what is changing and not just keep this for 20 years like it was maybe done before. So that will give you a good idea of what that growing looks like. And um I would love to have a piece of land here for a future school without blinking. Um it's just we have to be able to populate it,

right? And the demographic study every four years will be put public and come back here every four years and talk about here's where it is, here's what's moving in, here's what it looks like. That was a very long answer. I apologize. No, that's good. And I'm sure I can hear their eyes rolling right now because I'm still talking, but that's okay. Okay. You mentioned you're down 88 students. Is that right? Um how of is that K through 12 or is that Yes. Okay.

Um and honestly, some of it was expected. I expected to be down some because in a district our size, if you have a senior class that leaves and a kindergarten class that comes in, that was going to be 27. Um just based on what our new average class size is that we looked at. Um and we were saying the new class was about 80. Uh, and it used to be about 111. So, you can kind of see big senior class graduate, small kindergarten class comes in. Um, right now we do have one grade level that I always call bubbles. We got one that's small and we got one that's really big. Um, and so you just kind of keep an eye and have to deal as they go through the K12 system. I think 06 was really or the year they were I think was last year's graduating class was really big.

It was a big class. It was my son's class. I remember they always had to add an extra teacher throughout the years and stuff like that. It was a big class and our kindergarten class came in about where we expected it to be. Um and others we have I mean we have people with bonafide moves, right? Um I say there's people who have um made money on their house and they want to cash it in and so they move to Nebraska. Um it's just kind of what it is for some of it. Um some of it is it's school of choice in Colorado and we need to make ours better. I have no doubt about it. like that's something we should work on every day um to make sure we are something people choose.

It's a very specific question, but the second grade in Frasier Valley Elementary is very small. Is that are you seeing that across all of these grand or is that just Frasier? That's a bubble in Frasier. Okay. Yeah. All right. How many kids are in it? Just curious. 21. The whole class.

Whole class. And you got to realize in a system as kids move through that if you have three teachers it's like we don't get rid of one. Uh you know it's kind of like how do you staff and it's kind of hard to predict but uh I do think long term this study is going to give us a pretty good idea of how it's developing across the county and our district. So in this process, the IGA is the last step um that's in front of you tonight and um Keith Riceberg volunteered to go first and I think it's because he knew he was leaving.

Um and so our attorney and uh their attorney worked out theou you have in front of you that covers um basically everything we've talked about for three and a half years. Um, and we've given it to our attorney to put it into language that affects your account. Got it. It's definitely way overdue and it seems really consistent and people can plan for it. So, is there a trigger like a number of acres or something that throws you into the Yeah. We want land, not money?

Yes. I mean, it's usually it's the transaction. Um typically I mean I if you going to incorporate some land someday and it's going to be you know headed towards Tabernach we'll gladly take some of that in terms of and if you go through that study um that's attached and I can't remember it off the top of my head but there is a definite number of acres per school site. Okay that's we we missed the window the last time.

Yeah. Um, okay. Uh, any questions before we officially move to the next topic, which is the IG? No. Okay. Well, thanks guys. I'm sure we'll have more questions for you in the next spot. Um, Garrett, are you kind of presenting?

Uh, yes. I'll I'll kick us off and then Michael can join in and certainly staff from East Grand can jump in if needed. Um Garrett Scott, town planner. So um don't have a formal presentation. Just wanted to talk briefly through the staff memo that was prepared. Uh so as Superintendent Ray mentioned, the school district prepared a new um Nexus study or um kind of land land dedication vianl study. Um staff presented this to the board back in August of last year if you remember. Um at the time no action was taken to update the town's um you know development procedures as it relates to school land dedication or fee and loo um but now at the point that we are at today with this new IGA that um better formalizes the process and and makes it consistent um between the the county and the m municipalities within east grand. Um we are now at the point where if that is approved tonight then we would start implementing this new methodology uh for school land dedication or fee and loo. So um uh essentially there will be just an extra step for staff to amend our land development code to reflect that study. Uh it's anticipated that um you know every four years when that study is revisited and modified we would make conforming changes to our land development code to reflect that study. Um and and really the purpose of that is just because you know our land development code. It is the kind of um public reference for land owners, developers etc to understand our regulations of which include this school land dedication or fee and loo requirement. So um just for the sake of having that information readily available and instead of having you know developers hunt down that study or ask

staff for it um that's why we want to update our land development code. So um that will start with the planning commission first and then we'll come back to the board for final adoption. Just follow the procedure as all our other land development code amendments take. So any questions with that piece of it? I'm sure it's in here, but as I'm looking at the um summary of proposed B and new, but just a little chart. So, is that per unit? It is. Fees per unit. Yes. Um I'll go ahead and just share my makes sense. And it probably says it somewhere, but it's just not. It does. Right up front and center. I didn't read it closely enough.

So, effectively, this this table here is what will be adopted in the town code. This is um wholly consistent with the the study that Eastran produced. So um these would be the either acreage amounts or what will likely be more common, the fee that is paid per residential unit as broken down based on the type of residential unit. So there was never any this was this is all new, right? Because I I don't remember.

Sure. I I can at least speak to my understanding in Frraasier. Our current regulations date from 1998 and a study that was conducted by Eastrand at that time. I do believe there have been subsequent studies that the town had not adopted, but methodology goes back further. It goes back to the 80s we discovered. Um, and so basically it was saying that they were going to start the calculation of what the impact would be at um, $20,000 an acre and it was raw land, not engineered land.

And so this kind of updates it. I think us and one other district in the state were still doing it that way. Um, so we just updated it to where now it's engineered land and it's based on what is actually being produced based upon what is getting developed. So, it's always been there. It's just been It's just Yeah, because it's a little It was a little antiquated. I thought I heard that we had collected this fee and I thought, well, I don't know. I've pulled a bunch of building permits and I've never paid this fee. So, yeah. So, good. I think we need to have this. But this is lower than it used to be. Yeah, it is. It truly represents what the impact is.

Right. Right. I'm just, you know, if if we are hoping to dedicate land in the future, that land is just going to be more expensive. So, is that factored in the the cost of But if you if wanted to donate land, they don't have to pay a fee. Got it. But because you're paying a fee, it blew up the land that be there for right. But does the fee in Lou match what an acre of land costs or whatever? Depends.

I mean, yeah, it's gonna cost different in Kremling than it does here. Um, I'm just wondering if that's can that be factored in cuz like, you know, everybody's for lowering taxes and fees, but we're already kind of paying it. You know, so if we if the goal is to eventually put a, you know, 6 through 12 in this area, shouldn't we be basing it off of what the forecasted prices of this area will be in 10 years, 5 years? Well, yeah. To make it more lucrative for that developer to donate the land, right, instead of pay the fee.

Yeah. Well, yeah. I guess I'm I'm thinking of fe and Lou whatever that equates to can that buy an acre or 30 acres of land in you know when you add it all together I mean honestly you're going to I mean the the school district's going to have to bond someday to do that. There's really no way around it. Um so this represents the statute of what we're allowed to collect and why we're allowed to collect it. And so for us, the demographic study in that number is defensible. When developers want to say we are doing it wrong, we now can say no, we're doing it based upon what this study says it is. So we needed that. So you're saying we can't change the amount.

Okay. We can't change the amount. Well, we can. You guys can do what you want as long as your attorney says it's okay. Um I just know ours said we have to base it based upon what is the impact we're seeing from students based upon what the development is and this represents that. Okay. If you want to do something else for us, we'll gladly let you. Yeah. Yeah. So you're basically leaving it to the town to say

we're negotiating with a developer and he's bringing in 250 acres and he might say let me get my checkbook out and I just want to do that fee and Lou and we have to be the ones that say no we want the land. No, that would be um I think in an agreement that could be a three-way conversation. Mhm. Um I think so my time in the Roaring Fork Valley uh subdivide people with subdivisions would come in and say we want a school here.

Um and uh they became really good stewards of the community by saying yes in this neighborhood we think a school would make it more attractive of what we want to do and there was always like an elementary school site based in every subdivision that was coming in. Um that was done differently than it's done here. So, I don't think it's up to you. I think it's up to the sub uh whoever the developer is to say, yeah, I think it's a good conversation that y'all could be a part of. Um, but it really had better developers in Aspen, I think. What's that? They must have had better developers.

Um, it was it honestly it was somewhat of an expectation and it depended on the size of the development. So, if you have a very large one coming, um it's really a good conversation to say, "We'd like to have 30 acres." Mhm. Um and here's how it's going to benefit what you're building. And how many acres do you need for a secondary? 35. 30 is kind of the minimum, right? Yes. You prefer like 40. 45 is ideal. Okay. Um especially with athletic fields. Okay.

And those kind of things. Um, I mean it doesn't have to be. I mean, tell I can tell you Glowman Springs High School is built on nothing. Um, it was but it was a whole different reason and I don't want to get into that because I just finally got over it. But it's uh, it depends on the design and what you want, but ideally 40 45. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Uh yeah, thank you. Um Garrett, anything else regarding the IG? Um I don't have anything. I think Michael was going to speak to maybe some of the specific terms of the IG.

Everybody, can you hear me? All right. Hey, Michael.

Hey y'all. This is Michael Brack, Fraser Town Manager. Sorry I can't be there tonight. Um just going through uh what this newer IG does look like. Uh it is very well written. Um I'm glad that um Mr. Ray was was um open to letting the town of Winter Park draft this initial IGA. Um it just kind of buttoned up a lot of the key concerns from the municipalities standpoint. Um but just looking between the 2026 IGA and the previous which is from 2006 uh you know we're we're 20 years here uh coming up for an update. So, uh, the the impact fee structure is way more defined. It's legally defensible. You know, some of the discussions about could we take a larger fee. I know that's the reason that, you know, we didn't adopt these fees the last time that this came to the board. Uh, but we have worked with our attorneys and we've div, you know, we've done the research on this just to understand that it does have to be legally defensible just like any impact fee that you impose. um which is that that impact fee study that East Grand School District has completed and is in the packet uh for this item. Um additionally, just you know, it's great that they're able to actually uh formulate review um development applications as they come through um for the correct fee that's appropriate for that development and actually collecting that fee versus what Brad had had mentioned before. uh the town had collected that fee, had to formulate that fee, had to come up with a a value per acre that was kind of loosely defined. Um so we really appreciate the collaboration with East Grand School District to bring this forward with these newer impact fees. Um so those are really the main things. There's also a part of this that

provides for financial transparency with the school district. Um part of this IGA does require uh separate accounting, annual reporting and audits and refunds if if funds are not used within 20 years. So u there will be a lot more financial transparency which I think is great. Brad's been at the helm of that which has been f fantastic and uh all around this is just a very a very good IGA. We don't see any concerns with it. Uh as Garrett mentioned, we will do some code amendments that will go through the planning commission process and then to the board for final approval just to accommodate this IGA and that formulation of impact fees. Um, you know, in the past we have plowed like uh the the elementary school here um and we are no longer doing that and we've kind of separated out some of the other responsibilities and and gone more independent both with the school district and with the town which I think just makes sense um given when we actually do have snow. Uh plowing snow is definitely one of our biggest priorities and being able to get to that sooner than later is is great for all the residents of Frraasier. Um to that point, I I think those are the really the main highlights and differences between the older IG and this new IG. Um again, very thoughtfully crafted and happy to answer any questions you may have.

Michael's been a great partner through this whole thing. what that's worth is a good guy. It's been great to work with. Right. Good to hear. All right. Any questions for anyone? Lewis?

Yeah. I just wonder who is subject to this these impact fees? Is it any new development? Is a rendevu in Grand Park subject to these impact fees when a new uh subdivision has come online or new houses are built? Um Lewis, I can answer that. It's Garrett. Um it's part of the 2003 rendevous annexation agreement. Um they prepaid their be in lie of of land for a school site. Um so all properties that you know are subdivided or developed in rendevous or grand park do not um need to pay these fees.

Okay. So, it's any new development that comes online or any new any new uh houses or apartments or whatever that are built subject to these fees.

Yes. So long as they are not within Rendev or Grand Park, given that as part of that annexation, they prepaid those fees. um elsewhere in the town of Frraasier and certainly any future potential areas that are annexed into the town would fall under these regulations unless uh similar similarly to rendevous and Grand Park unless some other arrangement was um agreed to at time of annexation. But um you know recent developments within our standard zone districts such as um Kosagon main the strong town homes um they have paid these fee in loo for school sites as part of their development approval. Okay. Yeah. All right. Thank you.

Just one last note you know with the discussion about annexation you know the way that valuation appreciates and everything else. Um, you know, that's why we're really focused on collaborating with the East Grand School District on a land dedication that will increase with value in time versus an impact fee that may seem like a decent amount now, but 20 years from now, 30 years from now, it's extremely, you know, nominal amount that can't really support new facilities. So, um, just given that, um, looking into the future and and pos potential annexation in the future, that's just something we want to keep to continue to promote.

Any other questions? This is a can of worms, but what about our new housing development that the town of Frasier's building going to have impacts? Are we subject to that as a municipality? And we kind of should pay in because they need it, but sorry throw that in, but pretty sure we're paying those impact fees. Yes. Yes, we we've paid those impact fees, Katie. Okay, great. Perfect. Thank you. Y All right. Any other questions?

Anyone like to make a motion? Uh, I would like to make a motion to approve the impact. Is your mic on, Peggy? Yes. She's just um the intergovernmental agreement. Intergovernmental agreement concerning land dedication for payments in lie of school for purp for school purposes. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor? I I Any opposed? Okay, motion passes. Thanks. Thanks, guys. Yeah, appreciate your time and think. Good work.

Yeah. All right, moving on to Frasier Valley Arts update. Steve Fitzgerald.

Great. Thank you, Brian. Uh, for those of you who I I haven't yet met, I'm Steve Fitzgerald. I run the Frasier Valley Arts, which is the 501c3 that was set up uh at the request of the town in 2021 to fund, build, and operate the future Frasier uh Center for the Arts. Um and um I'm here to do two things here in a in a very brief time. Give you an update as to where we are in that effort. Um and then um secondly talk a little bit about a project we have coming um that will require your approval in two weeks. Um and then Lori will uh take us through a memorand memorandum of understanding proposal that I'll allude to in a minute. There's nothing to be decided in my portion but there will be in Lorie's. So um let me just first of all give you some background as to where we um came from in 2025. Uh when I was here a year ago, I talked a little bit about some events we were introducing. We did manage to um introduce a full calendar year of events, most of which are in the town of Frraasier. Uh things like National Theater Live complemented um the things we have done in the past. And all of those events are designed to help us drive the fundraising that we do to achieve the center. Uh we raised over half a million dollars in 2025 and ended the year with about $3.3 million dedicated towards the center. Uh that includes the value of the land. Um events however also drive economic development as most of you are aware. Uh people who attend arts performances spend money uh on average about 50 bucks beyond the ticket for their show or or or event that they show up to. And we imp we estimate the impact the center to be worth about $2 million per year aside

from the revenue that the the center will um uh incur. So that's very exciting for us. uh as is the fact that our founder circle which are individuals in our community or or um foundations and organizations who have committed at least $30,000 has grown to 22 of the 25 um slots available um including one Frasier resident who is matching every donation up to $1 million. And um we are uh in the final stages of completing a second donor who will be uh contributing uh half a million dollars that is not yet included in our $3.3 million of assets. So we're making a lot of progress. Um in 202026 um we're going to start with a bang. As I said when I finally have everything buttoned down I will announce the um the half million dollar contribution. So look forward to that soon. Uh we're currently running National Theater Live at the Foundry. Um we're expecting probably 50 to 60 people on Friday for Life of Pie if you're looking for something to do. And then we will continue this year with Dr. Strange Love um as as part of National Theater Live, which if folks aren't familiar, these are live plays filmed on the West End in London. Um we have winter plane air this year where we're going to be having our um our stable of painters uh who jury in who are going to be painting winter scenes and we'll be hosting a reception in March. We'll also be hosting in March a event focused on uh women, which I'm really excited about because it will be not only um an opportunity to share some uh really cool quote unquote goddess banners from the collection at Northern Colorado University, but we're also doing a local production of the vagina

monologues at the old church um on two nights in March. and it will be our first um what I hope to be many many opportunities to get local residents involved in producing art events. And then we go through our our typical schedule with the Alpine Art Affair in June, the Frasier Mountain Mural Festival where we collaborate with the town in August, September Plane Air. Um and that's our typically our our major fundraiser. Why do I tell you all that? because um it will likely lead us to a position that is pretty exciting. I expect to end this year with over $4 million in um committed assets. We're going to be applying for the Colorado Colorado Creative Industries Tax Credit Program, which is up to a $3 million opportunity. And I'm um I'm not I'm not ever going to say I'm confident that we're going to get a grant, but man, the criteria match our um community's challenge uh both with regard to the arts center, but also how it ties into economic development. And if we were to secure say $2 and a half million dollars from that tax credit uh program at the state level, that coupled with our our organic fundraising would put us in a very likely position that we would start designing a building and breaking ground as soon as next year. um maybe more realistically the the spring after, but it would be imminent, which of course is something that we're all excited about that. We're still looking for naming sponsors. Um and that could accelerate it even further. Um so, how can you help? There's really several ways. First of all, the financial support now and in the past from the town has been uh deeply appreciated. has been our catalyst. Our partnership with the the town on things like Frasier Mountain

Mural Festival re really raises the visibility and helps our fundraising. Um secondly, there's going to be a discussion here in a little bit about a memorandum of understanding that would allow us, we're about to hire our first uh full-time employee, a director. And it's very hard when you only have one or two employees to be able to offer good health care and other benefits. And so um I've modeled aou after what the town of Winter Park does with the housing authority where they become the payroll and benefits provider for um that small staff which is what we're asking Frasier to do and Lori will take you through that while we still remain the employer and have all the responsibilities uh in that regard. So that's one way you can help help us uh achieve the mission. Secondly, um we do have a proposal in for a business enhancement grant um which the uh committee doing that has met on and you will see their recommendations in two weeks. The reason I bring that up early though is our um uh request is we we have a an agreement with the owner of the post office property and she's willing to let us change the um dilapidated Hilly Hooker sign into a electronic event sign on that sign would be able to promote events that are happening in town uh for Frasier Valley Arts and with the um grant would be um perfectly happy to include town events, so things like the mural festival, fire and ice, etc. Um the um advantage of that of course is 14,000 people a day drive past that site and it is um you know an incredibly powerful way of getting the word out as to what's happening in Frraasier. The reason I bring that up to you is it is

technically off our premise because it would be at the post office and not on the center site and as an off-renise um uh sign. You will be asked to formally uh approve that because um apparently that's part of the town code. We'll get into that next week, but I just wanted to call that to your attention. So before we move to the payroll and benefits um question uh issue, I just thought I'd pause here and see if you have any questions about our progress today. Steve, remind me of the goal for that you guys are looking for to start building.

Yeah, it's about 10 million bucks. Um and we're we're the reason I say about is um we have refrained from doing final construction drawings because we will size the building to that money. Um and I want to make sure that part of the the uh initial assets that we have um are inclusive of enough of a slush fund or an endowment to continue the staffing um and the needs of the center once it's operating. So, what the way it would work is I'll close this year with about 4 million bucks. We're hoping to get the tax credit thing. Say we get two and a half and um we also have another team working on a bond issuance. That would be the remainder. Um and we're pretty confident that we can we can structure that so that it's attractive. So, those three things in combination could get us there. And if we are to secure some additional major donors, which we're increasingly getting some real traction with, um, that could accelerate it even further.

So, wasn't the original price about 20 million? It was a very different building. Um, and it was a very expensive building. Yeah. So, you're scaling it back to about 10 is what you're kind of your goal. Yeah. And I don't think anybody actually ever priced out that building. Um, you know, honestly, and if you look at those old designs, it had um architecturally challenging things like an entry in the round, an enormous amount of glass, things of that nature. So, Steve, why is now the time to hire someone?

Yeah. Well, uh, for for several reasons. Um, one, we've done all of this um, on the backs of volunteers, myself included. Um, other than last year, we've finally started paying someone whom you all know um, on a part-time basis to run events. Um, and we now have we've gone from no assets and no events to a full calendar year of events and a significant amount of money, a significant amount of fundraising. We're working on bond issuances. We're dealing with um the state government, etc., etc. Um and so we need someone whose job it is to do this. Two, I'm really tired. Um and I I have uh I will tell you I spend 10 to 20, sometimes 30 hours a week on this effort. um and I've been privileged to do so, but at the same time, it's time to pass that baton. And three, we we have gaps. Uh I I've recruited a very capable board, but um for instance, we we don't really have anybody who has run an art center, who has um done the programming, has signed deals with agents, has reached out to the artistic community to bring in comedians, plays, etc. And um one of the things we're hoping to achieve with uh doing the director now is someone who fills that gap because we're on the cusp of it. Fourth, we're about to build a building. Um and that's that's real work. That's going to take somebody who is, you know, at work every day doing something, not somebody who's calling into town meetings from Casper, Wyoming because they're on a trip

lot. Yep. And I know I sure appreciate all that you have done. Philip put you on the line and you have risen to the occasion and it's really pretty remarkable how far that everything's come. So it's exciting.

It Thank you. It It's been a joy. It's been a learning experience for me. Um I have no intention of not being involved in the future. just in a, you know, more of a run the board capacity and and really dedicate a lot more of my efforts to the the fundraising thing so we can get this across the line. And I will say if anyone knows of folks um who may be interested um you know we've got the job posted on frraaserval arts.org or um it it is a healthy wage up to six figures because we're adamant about providing a living wage and a great experience for people. And it will be the first of a full staff of folks. Um and like always, we'd love to find high quality talent from our community first.

Great questions. All right. Thanks, Steve. You bet. You're sticking around for the next part here. Yeah. Um, all right. Fraser Valley Arts Memorandum of Understanding for payroll and healthc care coverage. Lori,

they're used to giving me something so I can give you good news or news. Anyway, um, good evening, mayor and trustees. Lori Waters, finance director for the town of Frraasier. Um, the matter brought before the board is discussion discussion and possible motion to move forward with a memorandum of understanding pro for providing and paying for employment benefits of an executive director and up to two additional staff of Frasier Valley Arts. Frraasier Valley Arts was formed at the request of the town of Frraasier in 2021 to fund, build, and operate the Frasier Center of Creative Arts. Frasier Valley Arts is a 501c3 nonprofit established to support and grow culture throughout the Frasier Valley. um for consideration. The Frasier Valley Arts is in the early stages of reaching their goal and currently lacks administrative services such as human resources and employee benefits to attract and incentivize top quality applicants. With help from the town of Frraasier, Frasier Valley Arts will be able to hire, employ, and provide benefits. This will also help the FBA to retain quality candidates while continuing the mission that they are dedicated to achieving. Subject to the terms of theou, Frasier Valley Arts will reimburse the town of Frraasier for staff salary and benefits up to such a time that Frasier Valley Arts exceeds three employees. So recommendation from town staff um is that we recommend that the board of trustees discuss and evaluate theou with the Frasier Valley Arts. The services from the town will be reimbursed and the benefits to the Frasier Valley Arts will

enable the necessary growth toward the completion and benefits of creation of the Frasier Valley Center for the Creative Arts. And any questions? Um, I'm correct in thinking that the more employees the town has under their benefits umbrella, the better benefits everyone can get, right?

Um, we'd have to kind of really jump up by maybe 15 to 20 to be seeing impacts like that. Um, but this is this benefit of being able to offer the health insurance and just the services of not needing to hire, say, an accounting firm to do their payroll. Um, even though they're going to reimburse us, um, we're set up to basically handle this. Um, no, I don't see any great big benefit that we're going to leap up in our um, health insurance pools. uh the you know we're we're pretty we're little fish in that big pond but we're pretty lucky to be in that big pond. Um so we're able to um you know offer this uh we already you know technically already do this for the JFOC. So, this is no big surprise or heavy lift on the part of uh Becky and I as far as, you know, we bring them in, set them up, um knock out the payroll. Um I've already had a meeting and discussion with Steve about, you know, we we don't take kindly to chasing anybody down to get their hours from them. Um, I have also learned in my history that, you know, sometimes it only takes once when they go, I didn't get paid my full hours and you go see your next payroll. So, um, that usually takes care of itself pretty quickly. So, this is not um, like I said, I I think this would be a big benefit to help Frasier Valley Arts get going um, get off the ground. Um, as far as like any kind of uh we we've run this by the town attorneys. They're like, "Yep, pretty standard. Not a big deal." Um, and um,

so I don't see it as being a big issue. Uh, as far as, you know, our staff or this is not a heavy lift. Lori, I think Lewis has a question.

Yeah. Hey, uh, thank you. I just want to clarify. So basically the Frasier Valley Arts uh is going to make the town hall for salary benefits. Um we're just providing administrative services. So what if it goes beyond three employees? Is that something that would have to be renegotiated or are you planning on bringing on staff that would handle your own accounting and payroll and benefits?

Yeah. And Lori, if I may, um, that would, Lewis, that would exactly be my my thinking is by then, you know, we'll have had a director and presumably several new staff members on board. We'll have an accountant. We'll have the ability to then negotiate a a rate and it would be likely to coincide with building the center where our staff is going to grow a little bit. So, we'd want to have our own pay and benefits. If for some reason that um this arrangement um you know is something we still wanted to pursue, then we would come back to this body and and request that. But it would be my intention to not need that. Okay, great. Thank you.

Yeah. And by the way, I'm a former chief HR officer and I am very sympathetic to Lor's comments. So, any other questions? Feel like it's kind of a no-brainer. Yeah, I mean, all right. You need a motion? Yep. We need a motion. I can feel Alen's question, but I'll make a motion to approve Persia Valley Arts Memorandum of understanding for payroll and healthc care services coverage. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Thanks. Great.

Thanks, Lori. Thanks, Steve. Thank you very much, everyone, and have a wonderful evening. Thank you, Steve. You, too. Cheers. All right. Moving on to opportunity zone.

Good evening, mayor and trustees. Garrett Scott, town planner. I just have a brief presentation that mirrors the staff report that's in the packet, but this item relates to the federal opportunity zone program and the potential designation of an opportunity zone within the town of Frasier. So, uh, staff has been made aware of this, uh, federal tax incentive program called opportunity zones. Essentially, the idea behind this incentive is to uh spur long-term investment in economically distressed communities. The program was originally created in 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the first Trump administration and the original geographic areas that were designated as opportunity zones and those tax benefits uh will sunset in 2028. However, with the passage of HR1 uh last July, uh sometimes called the big beautiful bill, this tax incentive program was made permanent and it creates these 10-year cycles in which the geographic opportunity zone areas will be designated and redesated into the future. Uh as part of this federal uh program, it's actually administered by the states. So here in Colorado, uh, OEEdit or the Office of Economic Development and International Trade is the state agency that assists with administering um this program. So this map shows um the census tracks in southeast Grand County here in the Fraser Valley area. Um I show this map because one important aspect of it is that the geographic areas that can receive this designation are census tracks. So it's not based on the municipal boundary or a county boundary

or something like that. It is census tracks. And in this area um Frasier is actually split between two. One on the east side of Highway 40 and one on the west side. So at this time the federal government has not published an official list of which census tracks in every state in the country um are eligible for this opportunity zone designation. However um some various entities some economic consulting groups have published uh unofficial maps that utilize the data that the federal government will use kind of in anticipation of the official list. Um, and as a correction to the staff report, um, it appears that there are no eligible census tracks in Grand County per the most recently published census data that this program will almost certainly be using. So, what I mean by this, um, the map on the left uses census data that was published in January of 2025 last year. And that data showed that um the census track that covers the east side of Frasier would have likely been eligible. Uh I believe just like a week or two ago um the census published the most current set of data um called the American Community Survey. And per this data uh no census tracks in Grand County appear to be eligible. Um, so I know there's no county lines on the map to the right, but uh this is Jackson County up here and this is um the extreme west portion of Lammer County. You can kind of see the outline of northn northeast Grand County up here and the Frasier Valley is down in this area. So it appears highly likely that census tracks in the Frasier

area not eligible for this program. Uh, but that is awaiting confirmation from the official list published by the federal government. I would say it's possible, but not very likely that the federal government would use last year's data to determine eligibility, but I think it's almost certain that they'll use this year's. So, interesting.

Yeah. Um, so given that really that kind of shortened this discussion and presentation, but I think really the only input that staff is seeking at this time is whenever that official list is published, if there are eligible census tracks in Frraasier, is this something that um, town staff should advocate for? Uh, the reason why this is asked is just because of the eligible census tracks within each state, only 25% of them actually get this designation. So it is a somewhat competitive process where um you know local governments, municipalities and counties have to kind of advocate and lobby for this designation by the state. Um but again it seems likely that we're not even eligible. So

gota I mean I think it's something that we could go for if somehow got it given the opportunity. I think we should agree. Sure. Great. Well, I think um whenever that official list is published um I will communicate that to you all whether there are eligible tracks or not. If not um oh well if there are then we'll pursue it. Sounds good. Thanks G. Thank you. All right. Public works drop attendant Paul and Michael

mayor board of trustees Paul Johnson public works director. uh matter before you tonight is approval to change the currently budgeted drop part-time employee position to a full-time position uh that not require a CDL or commercial driver's license for that position. Uh therefore the automatic pay increase for obtaining a se commercial driver's license would not apply to this position. Um some background um since the opening of the drop in 2018 has been operated by a part-time employee on Wednesdays and then on the weekends. The change to a full-time position will allow for additional street operations when not manning the drop. The drop position is currently unoccupied and current street staff are manning the facility on a rotating basis in two shifts when it's open. Um the budget uh this would change to the change to a full-time position would increase the budgeted amount of uh fund 106110 which is the employee um general uh public works um salaries uh by approximately $30,000 due to the increased uh 16 hours and then the um the added healthc care benefits that would be offered as a full-time position. Um the position has a tendency to wear the employee down over time. Um I think since 2018 we've gone through three employees. Um and all of them have mentioned the struggles of working there. There's the only bathroom is a portaotti on site. There's no water on site. It uses solar batteries to stay in charge. And then it does it just sort of wears all them to be there all the time by themselves. um last employee um I think made it six months before we lost that employee. So the idea would be to have them um in talking with Jeff the street superintendent um to have sort of a Wednesday through Sunday um shift. So on those Thursdays and Fridays they'd be doing street operations. So that'd either be in the side by side uh you know helping with snow during the winter

or helping with the gardening crew on those days but then they're available for the weekend and then on Wednesday um that's just a conversation with Jeff so that um that position always has direct supervision from the street superintendent since they don't have a CDL and more of a labor position. So staff is recommending uh moving the drop attendant position to a full-time position that will perform other street operator activities during the day and when on the days when not working at the drop. So we're just looking for board approval to do that. Um uh we do have at least one candidate um who is interested and we have another candidate who we had interviewed right before we decided to pursue this to make it a more attractable position um and maybe keep somebody longer term but also give them the benefits of having to work that position.

So you see this as one person not a shared three people get to share one day a week? No, it's I think the continuity of having the same employee. Uh there is there is the potential to maybe have them do the weekends and then try and fit the Wednesday through existing street staff. It would just require a change in operating hours. They only work till 4:30. Drops open till 6. So it would mess with that uh normal workflow that they have for their families. But um we can make that work, but I would like to see them at least work the weekend. so it's consistent and then the Wednesday we can work with but this frees up them to do other work for us as well. Um so I was up there today and Ryan Turk was running it and uh I got there at 10:05 and there was five cars in front of me and it's just one of those things that it runs in really really heavy shifts and at Thanksgiving it was um overwhelming when Jeff was there after we lost the employee. So right now you don't have an employee running off.

There is nobody at Right now the drop is open by street staff. One street staff works the morning shift and somebody takes the evening shift on the weekends and on Wednesdays. So we're trying to rotate everybody through but that generally costs me an operator. So if it were to snow on the weekend or a Saturday right now I would be down a snowpaw driver. Right. Well let's do it then. Lewis, you had a question? Yeah. Hey Paul. So, the commercial driver's license, what what exactly does that entail? Whoever is driving the plow trucks, are they required to have a commercial driver's license or?

Yeah. So, if they're driving the the big plow trucks with the sand spreaders on the back, that requires a CDL. Um, driving the the loaders doesn't, but it's also an incentive for employees. If they get a CDL, they get an automatic pay raise. So, this position would not be eligible for that. So, what would this person be doing when they're not at the drop? So they'd be doing whatever streets operator, what the street superintendent needed. So they could be driving a side by side um that's normally used to clear the sidewalks on Highway 40 or um just the things that we're normally doing that's not in a piece of heavy equipment. Okay. CDL to be there, right?

We're paying CDL drivers currently everybody in the street staff but two have their CDL and those two have their permits. They're waiting for testing. But right now, we're paying a CDL driver to to man the drop. So there there's enough work for this person to do when they're not at the drop. Yes. Uh in a typical snow season, yes. This year has been a little odd, but generally we have more work to do than we get to in the in those shifts. Yes. Okay. Thanks. Yeah. Yeah, I was kind of thinking it was going to be like one person on Wednesdays, one on Saturdays, one on Sundays.

I think we we had originally talked about that, but in talking with Jeff, it really messes with the schedule of the 410s that if they're working the one day, then when do they come in? When do they leave? Or do we pay them two hours of overtime because they're normally coming in at 6. Um, gotcha. But I it gives a variety to this employee that they're not just always at the drop, always having to deal with some of the situations that arise. Um so gives a change of pace. Yeah,

there obviously be times when, you know, they're going to go on vacation or, you know, have sick leave or something like that that they'll have to do and have covered down. So, I think just having that flexibility to have that additional FTE just it protects our ability to to do the snow management operations plan and service all the streets that we have in town and not have to conflict with that if we have a major like snowstorm event. Great. Sounds good. I like it. So we'll make a motion.

I think I made two or three. Yes, there's there's no just a briefing staff briefing. Yeah, there's no Couldn't you say that? I just make a motion. I I'll make a motion to approve uh the staff briefing do drop attendant proposal to add a part-time employee to make it full. Make it fulltime. It's a fulltime part-time at the drop. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor? I Okay, motion carries. Thank you.

Yes. Okay. Moving on to updates. Um, there's some committee minutes under there people can take a look at if they'd like. Any other updates?

I've got one, Mr. Mayor. Um, for

we have uh Sarah let me know today. Sarah Katan's writer, assistant town manager, let me know that we have formally been awarded the congressionally directed spending um uh funds there. So, we are going to get a formal application to fill out for the federal funds. This is for $2 million that will go towards phase 2 of St. Louis Landing. Uh that is currently planned for 13 town homes. Uh so that that $2 million will subsidize each town home about $150,000. Um so it's it's it's gone through its I believe its fourth and final round as far as getting getting to the final award point. Um, so we'll be working with the uh some federal administrators for that funding mechanism, which is exciting. If you see Sarah, please uh give her a a nice jumping high five.

All right, that's awesome. That's great news. That's great news. Got a girl, Sarah. All right, any other updates? Can't think of any for me. Senator Bennett's visit was over two weeks ago, wasn't it? Yeah. All right. Oh, we did go to cast. Yeah, that cast was good. Um, was good.

Yeah, good good conversations. Good to hear from towns with similar issues. Um, talked through um the missing middle piece and we talked through when to do elections based on who votes in what years. It was pretty interesting. Um, and yeah, just kind of general getting together with people. It was it was a good conference. Salida was a good host and uh we skied at Monarch for a couple hours on Friday morning. Anything else to add?

No, I the school they had a good presentation. The Summit County Superintendent was there and sounds like they're doing some exciting things at the school. So, yeah, I talked to Carissa and she assures me that they're we're doing the same thing. So we are good. Um, one of the presidents of Colorado Mountain College is there and he was talking about the demographics of students and he he said, I'll paraphrase, but he said co really made young people realize that adults don't know what the heck they're doing.

So they're all seeking different paths for the future. So it's pretty pretty funny. So, is there um student population dropped like No, I think it's increased. Like the age of people going back to school has increased or just the overall I don't remember him saying anything about the age. Um it was just people looking for different ways to get educated and and into the workforce. Interesting. So, yeah. Yeah, it was neat. Good. Um any other updates from staff? Okay. Well, we have an executive session on the table. That's right. Um, do we have the verbiage anywhere?

Who's got it? Do you have the language? Yeah. Well, we will um Oh, you got something. Thanks for coming. Thank you.

Thanks. I make a motion to move into the to an executive session for the purpose of determining positions relative to the matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategies or negotiations and or instructing negotiators under CRS section 24642 or E regarding facilities oversight committee agenda review. And this will include Michael Brack and you Paul and anybody else? No. No, that's it. Okay. Second. Right.

Any further discussion? All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. So, we will um go into executive session. We will come out and immediately adjourn the meeting. So, no need to stick around or be continue recording, I guess, or being on YouTube, whatever. It's probably still recorded because we don't have we don't have a attorney here, so it'll be recorded in some sense, but showing. Yeah, exactly. All right, I'll break. Yeah.