The NoCo Herald

Larimer and Weld counties, Colorado

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Estes Park

Estes Park board takes up Visit Estes Park's 2027 operating plan

·Estes Park·Larimer County

From the Estes Park Town Board meeting of

The town and Larimer County can approve, change or reject the plan through Dec. 5; without action by then, the tourism organization cannot collect tax revenue. A final budget will go to both governing bodies after its board adopts it.

The Estes Park Town Board considered the 2027 Visit Estes Park operating plan, and the town and Larimer County must act on the plan by Dec. 5.

The town and county must approve, modify or disapprove the plan no later than Dec. 5, or Visit Estes Park cannot collect tax revenue. The staff member said the group submitted the plan to the town and the county before Sept. 30, as the intergovernmental agreement with the county requires.

A town staff member presenting the plan said the plan would be sent, copying CEO Leonard, to the county manager, who would schedule a county commissioners' hearing. The staff member said the plan moves forward once the commissioners are done. The staff member said the Town Board and the county commissioners reviewed the plan at their Oct. 27 joint study session.

The operating plan must identify Visit Estes Park's services, marketing or promotions, tax and other information the town and county need to act on it. The staff member said the Town Board received a draft budget this year and the final budget will go to the board and the commissioners after the Visit Estes Park Board of Directors adopts it.

Trustee Bill Brown said the plan addressed environmental issues and sustainability more robustly than in the past. "I appreciate how, uh, this year the operating plan has really addressed environmental issues and sustainability in a way that much more robust than it has in the past," Brown said, adding that this was part of why he believed everyone supported it.

Mayor Gary Hall praised the organization's work and credited CEO Sarah Leonard and the staff for its progress. "I really think they have a very solid staff, very stable Organization for the future," Hall said. He noted Leonard was approaching her one-year anniversary with Visit Estes Park.

Hall also said the reformation of the Visit Estes Park board and its marketing advisory were good steps that had moved the organization in a good direction.

More from this meeting

  1. Estes Park Town Board, Nov. 10, 2026

    Estes Park raises water rates 15% a year for three years; Estes Park board takes up Visit Estes Park's 2027 operating plan; Estes Park board fails to approve $600,000 flood channel design contract, 3-2; 7 consent items adopted.

  2. Item 1Estes Park raises water rates 15% a year for three years

    The rate plan comes as the town plans water-system upgrades, including replacing the Thunder Mountain tank and planning a new treatment plant. The full master-plan work is estimated at $110 million to $150 million.

  3. Item 4Estes Park board fails to approve $600,000 flood channel design contract

    The phase would move engineering from 30% to 90%, supporting permitting and possible grant applications, but excludes Riverside Bridge. It would require removal of the restroom building; the playground would be removed for staging.

  4. Item 7Estes Park board denies refund of license fees for 440 Valley Road

    The proposed payment would have covered part of the August-through-December fees, after a rezoning took effect and the owners applied for an accommodations business license.

  5. Item 1Estes Park trustee backs early contractor role in public safety building design

    The CMGC process would bring a contractor in during design to review plans and materials, without locking the town into a guaranteed maximum price. Staff tentatively plans to issue a solicitation soon and return with a recommendation by early February.