HomeMy WebLinkAboutChristina MattarPlanning and Environmental Commission (PEC) Application
The Planning and Environmental Commission (PEC) is a seven-member volunteer board.
The PEC is responsible for the review and determination of requests for variances and conditional use permits, and
recommendation to Town Council on special development districts, subdivisions, rezonings, various Town of Vail proposed
plans and other community matters per the Town Charter and ordinances.
The PEC meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 1 p.m. in the Vail Municipal Building.
Name of Applicant *
Phone Number *
Email *
Is the Town of Vail
considered your
primary residence?*
Proof of Residence *
Are you a registered
voter in the Town of
Vail?*
Section 3-2-6 of the Vail Town Code prescribes the function of the PEC. According to the Town Code, The PEC shall have the
following function and duties:
a. Make and adoption of master plans for approval by the Town Council,
b. Review and recommend zoning regulations and subdivision regulations to the Town Council,
c. Review and approve environmental impact reports and mitigation measures as required by the Zoning Regulations, review
and comment on programs and studies of environmental issues,
d. Conduct research of environmental issues,
e. Make recommendations to the Town Council for control of pollution and the protection of the environment, Advise the
Town Council on appropriate actions when air and water quality standards are violated, and
f. Consider other matters pertaining to the Commission and to act in an advisory role to the Town Council.
Christina Mattar
9704013701
clmattar@yahoo.com
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No
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PEC Responsibilities
Given the above
prescribed role of the
PEC, what makes you
uniquely qualified to
serve on the
Commission?*
Please provide an
example from your
past which
demonstrates your
qualifications and
explain why you are
interested in serving
on the PEC?*
5000 Characters Max
My education and career path as a young adult makes me uniquely qualified to
serve the PEC. I received a BS in Geology from Vanderbilt University in 1995 and a
Masters in Environmental Policy (with a focus on water policy) from Johns Hopkins
University in 1999. I used these degrees in many roles including staff at the Senate
Environment and Public Works, Legislative Assistant for a Member of Congress
focused on Environmental and Wildlife issues, and as a partner at lobbying firm (The
Ferguson Group) in Washington, DC where I exclusively represented local
governments and municipalities for 10 years working on environmental issues. My
clients ranged in size from smaller water and sanitation districts (Sonoma County
Water Agency) all the way to large counties like King County, Washington. During
this time, I also represented Jefferson County, CO and Commerce City, CO where I
gained experience with many issues affecting the state of Colorado.
5000 Characters Max
My family and I moved to Colorado full-time almost 3 years ago so my kids could
attend Vail Mountain School. Prior to moving here full-time, we spent every summer
(and winter and spring breaks) in the Colorado mountains. We are now 'home'. We
love the mountains and I feel strongly about protecting the environment, scarce
water resources and, especially as more people move here, wildlife and their
habitat. I am also now a residential real estate agent and know that people need
places to live so I know there needs to be a thoughtful balance on how we plan
communities. I am a strong believe there are often win-win opportunities that are
sometimes overlooked.
One example of a win-win solution from my past, is a program that I helped write
and develop called the North Bay Water Reuse Program (a multi-faceted
partnership that included the Bureau of Reclamation) in California. I worked on this
legislation/program for over 10 years negotiating with and ultimately gaining the
support of many different stakeholders. Today it is a successful program that uses
very high levels of treated wastewater and provides a dedicated source of water to
high value (mostly grapes) crops in California. This infrastructure permanently
removes these crops off of surface water diversions, leaving more water in streams
and rivers for aquatic life. This is specifically critical in that region for anadromous
fish (like Steelhead) who need certain levels of water flows in streams and rivers for
spawning. In 2001, the concept of using treated wastewater to irrigate vineyards
was a unique (and somewhat controversial) idea that, twenty plus years later, has
proven to be a win-win solution to a major water shortage problem in Napa, Sonoma
and Marin counties. Ultimately, I believe that many of conflicts between human
needs and environmental protection can be addressed with innovative ideas and out
of the box thinking. While I don't have much experience with planning (a. and b.
above), I have had experience with c.-f. in my role as a lobbyist for local
governments.
The PEC meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Meetings begin at
1:00 pm and typically adjourn by 5:00 pm. PEC members shall be appointed to a 2
year term. Attendance at meetings is critical as it provides a broad representation on
matters before the PEC and promotes a fair and equitable development review
process.
Please describe your
availability to attend
PEC meetings for the
duration of your term
and identify any
conflicts of interest
that may arise as a
result of your
employment,
personal and/or
professional
relationships or
financial interests in
the Town of Vail.*
Vail is a small
community and
everyone seems to
know each other in
one form or another.
Please describe your
abilities to act in a
quasi-judicial role
and provide at least
one example where
you had to make and
unpopular decision
on an issued based
upon a set of criteria
or other certain
considerations.*
Resume (optional)
Letter of Interest
(optional)
5000 Characters Max
I should be able to attend all meetings unless I am out of town.
I am now a residential real estate agent but I do not believe this will create a conflict
of interest. I have never worked for or represented a developer or builder. And I
have no financial interests in the Town.
The PEC is often asked to act in a quasi-judicial (like a judge) on development
applications. Decision making is guided by review criteria and findings of fact. The
review criteria are prescribed by the Vail Town Code.
5000 Characters Max
I feel very confident that I can make impartial decisions based on facts, rules and
regulations. I am comfortable making unpopular decisions when needed but I don't
believe I have a good example of making an unpopular decision professionally.