Town Manager Recruitment
Town Council discussed the process for the recruitment, selection, and appointment of the Frisco Town Manager, and supported utilizing the services of a professional recruitment firm after the resignation of Town Manager Tony O’Rourke on January 17, 2022.
Municipalities regularly contract with executive search firms, particularly those that specialize in public-sector recruitment, because they have verifiable track records, knowledge of candidates, objectivity, and external expertise. Additionally, search firms understand how to optimally advertise executive positions, screen applicants, and can offer expert advice about interviewing candidates and negotiating with the final candidate.
Diane McBride, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Recreation and Culture, has been serving as the Interim Town Manager since January 18, 2022.
Arts and Culture Strategic Plan RFP
Town Council has approved a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be released in early February, to identify a consultant who would be best suited to create a clear and actionable five-year arts and culture strategic plan that would express the mission, vision, and path to implementation of arts and culture programming in Frisco. The RFP is a result of Council’s direction given to staff during the November 9, 2021 arts and culture discussion. The project scope for this RFP would include a comprehensive public process and the delivery of a clear and actionable plan that reflects the community’s values and priorities.
Later this year, staff will also be bringing Town Council an ordinance establishing the Frisco Arts Council. The strategic planning process will serve to involve the public, attract interest in the Arts Council, and provide direction on the formation of the arts council.
The 2022 approved budget includes $50,000 for public art in the capital improvement fund.
Piotr Kopytek Memorial Art Scholarship
Council approved an annual $2,500 visual arts scholarship in memory of Piotr Kopytek, who the community lost to colon cancer in July 2021. Piotr Kopytek, owner of Blue Heron Tattoo in Frisco since 2015, settled in Colorado because he considered it “his place on earth”. Piotr inspired countless others through his work and art and participated as an artist in Frisco’s first major street mural in July 2020.
The scholarship would benefit a graduating student within the Tenmile Basin who is pursuing an arts education after high school graduation, and who demonstrates an ongoing interest and pursuit of the visual arts as well as shows involvement in community organizations and activities that focus on the visual arts.
Amendment to Agreement with CDOT for 619 Granite
Council approved an amendment to the 619 Granite Street Workforce Housing agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), which will extend the contract with Studio Architecture to produce the 100% construction documents necessary to put the workforce housing build out to bid. Completing the bid-ready construction drawings by the time the Town and CDOT complete their Project Agreement, which documents the roles and responsibilities for construction and future operation and ownership of the property, will expedite the bidding process and construction processes by approximately two months.
The most recent cost estimate to build the project, dated December 20, 2021, was $6.75 million, was prepared by sub-consultant Taylor Kohrs and based on the 80% construction drawings. Based on the current project cost estimate, and apportioning the value of the land to CDOT’s half of the cost, the Town’s portion of the $6.75 million construction cost would be $4.6 million.
Ballot Question: STR Excise Tax
Council approved on second reading an ordinance to place a question regarding a 5% short-term rental excise tax on the ballot for the April 5, 2022 municipal election. At the November 30, 2021 Town Council meeting, Town Council discussed the impact of short-term rentals on the community, specifically the impacts of short-term rentals on housing affordability and availability for the local workforce. The cost of developing new housing and purchasing existing housing stock in order to place a deed restriction far exceeds the available funding the Town has dedicated towards housing.
Adding a new 5% excise tax to the current taxes applied to STRs (10.725%) would bring the total tax for STRs to 15.725% and is estimated to generate between $1.2 million – $1.5 million of additional revenue each year. This funding would be used for programs that support workforce housing.
Frisco Town Council Meetings: Ways to Participate
Frisco Town Council meetings are available to view via Zoom and YouTube, and are also held in person to make Town Council meetings easier to access for everyone.
The public can provide comment during meetings via Zoom or in person (not YouTube), and a public comment period will be available at 7:00pm; during the consideration of ordinances; and at the discretion of Town Council during work session items, which are discussions that don’t require a formal vote by Town Council and do not require public comment.
Again, this hybrid approach is intended to make Town Council meetings more accessible, and meeting recordings will typically also be made available the day after a meeting in the meeting archive with agenda topics bookmarked to the discussions in the video.
Watch the Meeting/Download the Meeting Packet