Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force

Meetings & Minutes

The Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force has sunset. A final report was presented to the Board of County Commissioners, Town of Estes Park Trustees and Visit Estes Park Board of Directors on August 1, 2022. See the final report.

 

Past Meetings

 

Members

Advisory members

  • Jody Shadduck-McNally, Larimer County Commissioner
  • Laura Walker, Larimer County
  • Alea Rodriguez, Larimer County
  • Scott Webermeier, Town of Estes Park Trustee
  • Cindy Younglund, Town of Estes Park Trustee
  • Jason Damweber, Town of Estes Park
  • Visit Estes Park Board of Directors
  • Adam Shake, Estes Park Economic Development Corporation

Voting members

  • Michael Andrzejek, Elk Meadow And Spruce Lake RV Parks
  • David Batey, Estes Park Health Board of Directors, Estes Park EDC Strategic Planning Committee, Historic Stanley Home Foundation Board, Estes Park Trail Gazette Editorial Board
  • Austen Bierl, Estes Park Resort, Mountain Village Management and Voyago Vacation Rentals
  • Dan Centurione, Estes Park Housing Authority
  • Teresa Commerford, Stonebrook Resort
  • John Cullen, The Stanley Hotel, Grand Heritage Management LLC and Grand Holdings
  • Pep Dekker, EstesPark.com
  • Richard James, Mountain Rendezvous Vacation Rental
  • Dzidra Junior, YMCA of the Rockies
  • Laurie Dale Marshall, EVICS Family Resource Center
  • Trevor Scott McGuire, Elkhorn Law Office
  • Michael Romero, Estes Park Trail Gazette
  • Greg Rosener, SkyRun Estes Park
  • Suzanne Smikahl, WorldMark Estes Park
  • Seth Smith, Ponderosa Realty & Management
  • Scott Thompson, Thompson Group/Keller Williams

Community Consultation Committee

  • Maria Brownell, vacation home owner
  • Bob Fixter, Fall River Lodge
  • Marvin R Hart, vacation home owner
  • Gerald Mayo, Estes Park Team Realty
  • Lowell Richardson, PMI Estes Park
  • Becky Robbins, vacation home owner

 

Research & Resources

Please find a list of relevant studies, data and resources reviewed by the Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force and the Visit Estes Park Board of Directors.

Resources
Housing
Childcare
Taxes & Funding
Studies & Reports
Draft Plans for Reference

 

What is the Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force?

Larimer County, the Town of Estes Park, and the Estes Park Local Marketing District (a.k.a. Visit Estes Park) are working together to help ensure that community members have access to affordable workforce housing and childcare options. One of the most significant barriers to ensuring this access is a consistent and meaningfully-sized funding mechanism.

During the 2022 Colorado Legislative Session, a mechanism has emerged for the Estes Park Local Marketing District, in collaboration with Larimer County and the Town of Estes Park, to expand the use of local lodging tax revenue to address gaps in the need for workforce housing and childcare.

Known as HB22-1117, the Colorado House passed the bill in February and the Colorado Senate passed it in March. The governor signed the bill into law on March 31, 2022. The bill is scheduled to become law 90 days after the end of the legislative session. For the legislation to be applicable to the local community, there must be a ballot initiative where voters in the local marketing district decide whether to authorize the use of new or existing lodging tax revenue for investments in workforce housing and childcare.

In response, a Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force has been formed in order to foster regional coordination and cooperation and to:

  • Provide an organizational framework to ensure effective communication and coordination among representatives of Larimer County, the Town of Estes Park, the Local Marketing District, lodging partners, workforce housing and childcare advocates and other local leaders in the district.
  • Serve as a vehicle for the collection and exchange of information and expertise and representation of the interests of the residents and businesses inside the Estes Park Local Marketing District boundaries.
  • Provide a forum to identify, discuss, study and collectively endorse solutions to regional workforce housing and childcare initiatives for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners, Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees and Visit Estes Park Board of Directors.
  • Present recommendations to Visit Estes Park Board members, Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees, and the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.

 

Questions?

Contact Rachel Ward Oppermann, Senior Manager of Community Relations & Sustainability: rachel@visitestespark.com or 970-586-0500x 1221.