During a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 5, the town council selected Sara Ott as the interim town manager while the search continues for a permanent replacement. The council also approved several resolutions involving parks and trails development, as well as funding for other town projects.

After Keith Riesberg’s resignation last month as town manager, Winter Park has appointed Sara Ott to serve during the transitional period. Ott previously served in administrative roles in the cities of Aspen, Colorado, and Dublin, Ohio. Her appointment will ensure that there is a single point of contact for city management over the coming months in order to avoid disrupting large projects such as the Winter Park Resort development.

The council approved a resolution adopting the master plan for the development and improvement of parks and trails within Winter Park. The development of the plan took place over a two-year period beginning in 2023. The purpose of the master plan is to assess the town’s existing recreational resources including parks, trails, campgrounds, and open spaces, and guide future planning while maintaining scenic character and protecting natural resources.

Other action items included several resolutions involving funding projects and future construction. Council members passed a resolution approving a final plat, which is a legal map showing property divisions, in order to eventually build out the Rendezvous Filing No. 2A.

The council passed a resolution authorizing the town to enter into a professional services agreement with WSP USA, Inc. for strategic consulting on the future gondola connecting downtown and the Winter Park Resort base area.

Other resolutions included an approval for the town to enter into an agreement with Kimley-Horn, the town’s engineering firm, to evaluate two existing parking garage sites: Cooper Creek Square and Hideaway Place. The council also gave authorization to Mountain Parks Electric for easements for electrical infrastructure along Arapahoe Road and along Lions Gate Drive.

In other business, the council approved two special events permits. The first, for Tacos and Margs, will allow a tasting and live music event at Winter Park Resort on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The second event, also at Winter Park Resort, is the Elevation Everest race. On Saturday, Sept. 27, participants will race up the Ute Trail and take the gondola down until they accumulate 14,000 feet of total elevation gain as a team. The event will go from 7 a.m. to midnight.

For more information about the hiring process for town manager or the outdoor space development plans, access the full meeting agenda and minutes at WPGov.com.