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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-01-12 Town Council MinutesOFFICE Copy DO NOT REMOV MINUTES OF THE MEETING VAIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES/VAIL PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 12, 1970 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Gerry White of the Planning Commission at 7:30 p.m. in the Manor Vail Conference Room; he announced that he would entertain a motion to defer the business of the Commission until the Trustee meeting had adjourned. Commissioner Donovan moved to adjourn until that time; Commissioner Clark seconded; and the Planning Commission unanimously approved the temporary adjournment. Mayor Dobson called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:45 p.m. ROLL CALL found the following members present: Mayor John Dobson Trustee John Donovan Trustee Joseph Langmaid Trustee Thomas Steinberg Trustee C. E. Kindel Trustee Richard Bailey Absent: Trustee Johnny Kaemmer Others present:Blake Lynch, Terry Minger. I. PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. 2 OF 1970: Consideration of an ordinance accepting the dedication of certain parks and public land from Vail Associates, Inc., and accepting conditions relating to the use of same; and setting forth details in relation thereto. Blake Lynch polled the Trustees as to whether they had read and understood the proposed ordinance; the poll was unanimously affirmative. VOTE: Approve Ordinance No. 2 of 1970. Mayor Dobson YES Trustee Donovan YES Trustee Bailey YES Trustee Steinberg YES Trustee Kindel YES Trustee Langmaid YES Ordinance No. 2 of 1970 is hereby approved. 11. PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. 3 OF 1970: Consideration of an ordinance authorizing execution of a ground lease with Vail Associates, Inc., and setting forth matters relating thereto (main parking lot). Blake Lynch polled the Trustees as to whether they had read and understood the proposed ordinance; the poll was unanimously affirmative. VOTE: Approve Ordinance No. 3 of 1970. Mayor Dobson YES Trustee Donovan YES Trustee Bailey YES Trustee Steinberg YES Trustee Kindel YES Trustee Langmaid YES Ordinance No. 3 of 1970 is hereby approved. III. DISCUSSION OF REFUSE COLLECTION. Mayor Dobson intro- duced this item, stressing its complexity to date. He then asked Terry Minger to give the audience a history of the problem. In September the Trustees requested that Terry get together with Leo Duran to discuss what might be done to improve his service; Terry had done so by October. In mid -October Terry made a report to the Trustees out- lining the several alternatives open to the Town in select- ing the most effective method of refuse removal. During these meetings with Mr. Duran and Mrs. Trujillo, it was apparent that their billing procedures were inadequate and that there weren't sufficient records; an analysis of the equipment showed that trucks were obsolete. There was no existing management concept. Around December 22, the trash problem reached crisis proportions; great quantities were piling up in the commercial area, as well as lesser amounts in the residential areas. The municipality of Vail had, and has, no control over the situation. By December 29 the trash in the core area was in quanitites that would have created a health problem had it occurred in summer. Mr. Duran's trucks were out of service during this period. The Town of Vail recruited laborers and, utilizing its dump trucks, collected 70 loads of trash --and this was only in the Commercial area. On January 9 Terry presented his findings and recommendations to Mr. Duran. Terry then outlined the three alternatives open to the Town for recti- fying the existing situation: (1) Continue with existing situation, perhaps in a different manner of franchise, establishing controls and guidelines. Terry personally feels that the present system is ineffective and inade- quate. (2) Solicit other private haulers. However, our problem is of an immediate nature--competetive bidding process and PUC application would be very time consuming, not to mention physical organization of the business. It would probably take six months. (3) Municipal collection -- on a two- to three-year trial basis. Terry believes this to be the most immediate and most effective way to solve the problem at this time, stating that we could be in the municipal trash business in two months or perhaps sooner. During meetings with Mr. Duran, Terry proposed that he take over supervision of the Town of Vail's municipal refuse operation. This would allow him fringe benefits and a better work week. Mr. Duran could retain areas east and west of the corporate limits of Vail on a private - hauler basis. Terry noted that Leo has cost problems in terms of equipment and labor force. The Town already has in existence facilities for repair and maintenance of • equipment, plus accounting procedures and a billing sys- tem already established. The Town could place stronger emphasis on sanitation service to Vail; a municipality can demonstrate greater responsibility for appearance, too. With municipal collection service, the Town could legiti- mately respond immediately to complaints. Through use of police power, the Town would be able to enforce coopera- tion by citizens. A survey of 20 Colorado communities shows that every city in municipal collection is considerably lower in operating cost than a private hauler, with a higher level of service. Some are picking up twice a week at the same operating cost as private haulers picking up once a week. The Town could break even in one year, and realize a profit thereafter --which could be used to expand and improve the service. Terry summarized by say- ing that if the Town is to be held responsible for this service, it will need the tools with which to deal with problems and complaints inherent in such service; it will need control over such an operation. Blake Lynch then spoke briefly on the three major considera- tions of this problem: (1) Is the existing service adequate? (2) Why are we proposing municipal collection? (3) If present system is inadequate and we propose municipal collec- tion, are we able to do so? The first year of municipal operation would require many adjustments on rates and policies regarding disposal of unusual types of rubble, etc. Definite standards would have to be spelled out in an exclusive franchise. It's not that much more difficult for us to do it ourselves than it is to go after the fran- chisee to get him going. We would be able to enforce any -2- regulations made in regard to refuse pickup. If we go into municipal collection now, we will be better able to 40 go into a franchise agreement in one or two years because we will have figures with which to establish standards. We have the management ability, accounting personnel and some maintenance capability to go into operation. The Town has built-in cost -saving features: no tax on gaso- line, and no sales tax on equipment purchase. Blake said that the Town should be concerned primarily with guaran- teeing the best service possible to our guests. Also, municipal collection could serve as incentive to private land owners in the adjacent areas to annex to the Town. Mayor Dobson asked if anyone had a question regarding the history of the problem as reflected by Blake and Terry. Citizen Ted Poliac noted that Mr. Duran has provided this service since Vail's inception, and that it is only recently that a breakdown has occurred. He doubts that it would be financially feasible for Leo to collect trash only outside of Vail. Citizen Bill Holland inquired as to why the crisis had occurred --was the equipment inoperable? During this period one of Leo's trucks was in Denver for • repairs; and another truck broke down simultaneously. The trucks are old and difficult to keep running. Trustee Donovan asked if the Town was anticipating the problem in its entire complexity --considering the outlying areas --or just the Town of Vail. Mayor Dobson noted that, by law, the Trustees could concern themselves only with the corporate limits of Vail, but that there is certainly an obligation to consider the environs. Service provided witPiout the Town would come under the regulations of the PUC. Trustee Steinberg remarked that one of the reasons for truck breakdown during this period was that the County did not maintain the road to the Sanitary Landfill near Wolcott. Under a municipal collection system, we could put pressure on the County to plow this road on a timely basis. Trustee Kindel raised an open question of the adequacy of service prior to the crises. Some of the comments were that Leo doesn't charge enough in some instances; his billing system is poor; his actual removal service is good. Trus- tee Kindel then reported that one of the key personnel in a local management firm noted that the second largest source of complaints in the past several years was in re- gard to trash pickup. Citizen Robert Parker noted that a great many of the local homes and condominiums were not properly designed for the handling of trash. Management of these dwellings has been totally inadequate in some instances, he stated; and these same managers are res- ponsible for placement of trash barrels. Attorney James Mosley of Denver stressed Vail's moral obligation to Leo because of the service he has rendered in the past. He doesn't think the alternatives need result in putting Leo out of business. Mr. Bill Peterson, a trash businessman from Illinois, stated that many towns would-be happy to send their franchise to us and help us set one up. Father Thomas Stone of Minturn made the statement that if Mr. Duran couldn't handle the business, he shouldn't be in it. He noted that Leo had an inadequate bookkeeping system, poor management and poor equipment. For the Town to hire Leo under the present conditions would be just as foolish as having him remain in business. With a better bookkeep- ing/billing system, Leo could triple his income and put it back into newer and better equipment. He doesn't think another company, or the Town, could set up and be opera- tional as quickly as Leo could improve his billing system. Citizen Ted Poliac asserted that billing under a municipal system should be on an individual collection basis. Bill- ing would be incorporated in the monthly water and sanita- tion statement. Town collection would be mandatory, or residents could dispose of trash personally. Trustee Donovan asked if the Town could franchise itself, and if it could force Townspeople to use only its system. Attorney -3- Robinson noted that through an ordinance the Town could • prohibit other companies from serving in the corporate limits. Citizen Roger Brown noted that the newly formed Homeowners' Association would prefer private enterprise over a Town -operated system. Dr. Draper, with Agri -Vet of Colorado Springs --a consultant firm, proposed taking over Leo's operation and setting up management and billing guidelines. He was under the impression that landfills could be found closer to Vail. Trustee Steinberg informed him that there is no land available in the County for this, other than the Wolcott Landfill and another more distant. Mayor Dobson asked Dr. Draper to submit a detailed proposal, stressing that no decision will be made until all proposals have been considered. At this point, Citizen Flans Weibel proposed to set up a franchise, establishing rates at the outset and maintaining them throughout the duration of the contract. He introduced Mr. Ralph Collister, of Winter - Weiss Co. in Denver, which is currently conducting a two - week survey for presentation to the Board of Trustees. Included will be recommended equipment requirements and a complete proposal on method of operation. Hans noted that any franchise agreement should have an accompanying per= formance bond requirement. He has approached Leo several times to become a partner, but has received no response. Citizen Ted Poliac stated that the people should have the option on choosing the franchisee. Citizen Gerry White reflected that, if private enterprise took over, which appeared to be the only way to him, it would be appropriate to discern if Leo could meet the standard requirements of a franchisee. Gerry asked Leo what the customer could expect in the way of improved service; Leo replied that an effort would be made to meet former standards and collec- tions made from customers reluctant to pay. Citizen Robert Parker suggested that the Town give Leo a deadline by which time he would present to the Town a plan which would show how he plans to improve service, how he would handle billing and other administrative matters, and show equipment he might purchase and rates he would charge. Perhaps this should be a 60- or 90-day ultimatum during which time Leo is given an opportunity to present a trash hauling scheme that would be satisfactory to the Board. If he cannot do so, then perhaps it should be • opened up to other interested parties. Only at that time should the Town consider assuming the operation itself, per Mr. Parker. Citizen Clay Simon asked what would be done during the interim 3-to-4-week period and what tem- porary solution could be looked forward to. Father Stone remarked that he is on his way to Denver tomorrow to arrange for a lease agreement for additional equipment. He added that, with cooperation from the Town, perhaps a collection system could be worked out. Hans Weibel offered to provide equipment and labor assistance. Mayor Dobson reiterated that we are ready to assist Leo in any way possible to reach a satisfactory solution to this problem. The matter will be taken under advisement; and a report will be made at the next Trustee meeting to be held January 19. With no further business to be discussed, the meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. -4- I 1 _ _ IJIIIIII