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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-01-19 Town Council MinutesOFFICE COPY DO NOT REMOVE MINUTES OF THE MEETING VAIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES 10 JANUARY 19, 1970 Mayor Dobson called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. in the Manor Vail Conference Room. ROLL CALL found the following members present: Mayor John Dobson Trustee Johnny Kaemmer Trustee Joseph Langmaid Trustee Thomas Steinberg Trustee C. E. Kindel Trustee Richard Bailey Trustee John Donovan Others present: Blake Lynch, Larry Robinson, Charles Bynum I. CONSIDERATION OF REFUSE DISPOSAL PROBLEM. Deferred until later in the meeting. II. DISCUSSION OF BUILDING INSPECTION PROBLEMS. Deferred until later in the meeting. III. DISCUSSION OF BUS SITUATION. Blake Lynch reported that the Town has terminated the San Juan Tours, Inc., shuttle bus contract, per mutual agreement between Clay Simein of Vail Associates and Blake. He remarked that at the end of the two -week Christmas period, the buses had broken down constantly and the Town had expended many hours attempting to repair them and recruit drivers --the contract provided for a professional San Juan recruiter to find suitable drivers. At the end of the Christmas-. New Year period they were given a 15-day trial period -- during which they replaced the original buses with two diesel buses, which were no better than the previous two for operability. The Recreation District mechanic, spent 25 hours attempting to repair and start them. Hop Rudder spent 36 hours coordinating drivers, repairs, etc. Under the San Juan contract we were paying $160 per day for the two buses. Upon termination of the contract on January 3.5, we rented two school buses from Weiss, a Denver company, for $150 each per month. Blake noted that after some dis- cussion with Clay on thissituation, it was decided to purchase buses for operation by the Town, with Vail Associates splitting administrative and operating costs 50-50. Under Town operation the buses could run on more flexible schedules --depending on demand, instead of the flat eight -hour shifts prescribed by San Juan. Blake said he and Clay planned to be in Denver on Thursday, January 22, to scout around for the best new bus buys. He added that he would like general Trustee approval to make tentative commitment at that time if a suitable buy were found. He noted that the two school buses were also available :nor purchase at this time --both going for $2,500. We have had an offer from Weiss for two new school buses, painted blue, 32•-passenger, ski racks, for $7,000 each. When queried, Citizen Bob Mayne stated that the presently rented school buses do not reflect what he considered to be the best image for Vail; but he added that, if the Town were thinking of just the next year or two, they would be a fairly practical buy, if they were painted- which would cost approximately $300 each. The Town has been using his bus for $30 per day when the San Juan buses were not operating. Blake remarked that VRA has expressed a definite need for summer bus service to transport conventioners to activities at the new LionsPead area. The Board authorized Blake to purchase the two presently rented buses for $2,500, to be split with Vail Associates. I. CONSIDER4TION OF REFUSE DISPOSAL PROBLEM. Mayor Dobson introduced father 'Thomas Stone, -who briefed the • Trustees on the status of Leo Duran's business problems. Father Stone feels that the size of the business is en- tirety beyond Leo's personal capabilities. He said he had found two or three interested parties who wanted to buy Leo out and put him to work on a salary and profit-sharing basis. He noted that Leo had something to sell at this time, but that it might not be equally as saleable in the near future if service continues to deteriorate. Intan- gible assets include Leo's established good will and his PUC permit, which has certain negotiable value, per Father Stone. Leo is opposed to taking in a partner. The par- ties interested in buying Leo out want a guaranteed fran- chise before doing so. When asked if Leo intended to dis- continue service, Father Stone replied that he did not. Father Stone suggested that the Trustees formally advise Leo to sell his business while it was still valuable. There was some discussion regarding Leo's PUC license; rather Stone noted that it covered a 25-mile radius which encompasses all of Vail Valley. Trustee Donovan commented that there was a B Permit presently available for this area for $2,000. Blake added that, in Terry Minger's discussion with the PUC, they informed him that a temporary permit could be issued almost immediately upon processing of application and that no great delay would be involved. Citizen Hans Weibel, one of the parties interested in assuming the trash -hauling function for the area, remarked that he couldn't afford to buy Leo out if the Town were going to ultimately invite competitive bidding. He had to know one way or the other before he could commit him- self. Mr. Collister of Winter -Weiss Company in Denver noted that, if an outsider came into Vail and bid on this business, he would find that within three months' time he was losing money. He thought any bidder should specify his plan and method of operation; because performance is the main issue he should state in detail how such an operation would be managed. At this point Mr. Orville Stoddard of Colorado State Department of Health (Engi- neering Section) introduced himself and stressed that the department is concerned that all refuse be collected regularly. He had read Terry Minger's report and felt it to be a good summary of the problem, from a public health point of view. Trustee Kindel asked him if he could be of assistance in encouraging the County to plow the access road to the Sanitary Fill at Wolcott. He re- plied that he would be happy to meet with them and make it clear that the County should provide usable facilities and make them accessible during all weather conditions. Blake added that the County Commissioners claim they maintain this rand. He noted that the company doing the hauling should attempt to establish some rapport with the Commissioners and the person in charge of the Sanitary Fill facility before the Town steps in. Blake will inves- tigate this further to ascertain if conditions are as bad as reported. If that is the case, the Board will lodge a strong complaint with the County Commissioners. Bob Mayne, who was present to tender his proposal for service, said that he wouldn't do so if Leo were taken advantage of in the process. He proposed to buy Leo out and take over service on a one-year, non -franchise, trial basis. Father Stone offered to arrange negotiations between Leo and any and all interested parties. He asked that Mrs. Trujillo's statement on January 12 that the Crossroads paid only $8.00 per month for trash hauling for the entire complex be noted as highly erroneous --they pay considerably more. Mayor Dobson concluded that all pro- posals for assumption of the trash -hauling service will be accepted in the Town Office until Close -of -Business, Monday, January 26. All proposals will be given individual consideration by the Board. They should include a state- ment of intent regarding service outside the confines of Vail proper. -2- II. DISCUSSION OF BUILDING INSPECTION PROBLEMS. A. Permit for Skartvedt Residence (Claude Martin): Deferred to a later meeting. B. Variance Granted to Sink Condominium (LionsHead Center: Charles Bynum, Building Official, briefed the Board on the history of this construction. Mershon-Gimeno, the contractor, inkially started construction without obtaining a building permit. They submitted partial plans when asked for same in complete form. Mr. Bynum wrote them defining what was necessary to comply with the Building Code. When it was evident that they were proceeding and not complying, he and the Town administration con- sidered suspending construction; however, they did not. The plans were transmitted to the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) for plan check; they found 30 discrepancies with the Building Code. Mr. Charles Sink, the architect for the structure, requested the Board of Building Appeals to grant several variances after their physical installation. A Board meeting was held (with Building Official, Charles Bynum, unable to attend); and, almost all the variances were granted. Mr. Bynum feels that the Board had no authority to grant cer- tain of these variances; he had informed them in a memorandum previous to the meeting of the areas in which they could and could not act. Mr. Bynum does not feel inclined to issue a Certificate of Occupancy for this building because it will definitely be a non -conforming structure when completed. Blake Lynch noted that the Town should have gone ahead with suspension when it was being originally considered; however, we didn't in a spirit of cooperation. He added that Mr. Bynum was informed by the builder that he would proceed with construction according to plans regardless of anything the Building Offi- cial might say. Blake suggested that after review of the file, the Trustees send a strong letter setting forth this history, voicing their displeasure, and noting that in the future we will not grant temporary construction permits to this builder. The lower gondola terminal is nearing completion, and we still don't have on file complete architectural and structural plans. The developer, Vail Associates, was assured by the architect, Charles Sink, that the buiiding was in compliance with the Code. Some discussion ensued among the Trustees regarding the importance of stressing Building Code requirements to the developer in his initial stage of development. It was suggested that the Architectural Control Committee, which sees the plans long before building permit application is made, could strongly advise the developer of these obligations. Blake will draft a letter to Vail Associates for Trustee consideration at their next meeting. IV. DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL VAIL ASSOCIATES SHOP PURCHASE. Blake reviewed Clay Simon's most recent correspondence on this subject. In his letter to the Board of January 19 he noted that the purchase price for the maintenance shop bad been set at $90,000. Building costs at time of con- struction were $77,000; the increase in price takes into consideration today's replacement costs, the actual appraised value of the building and a nominal cost of land underneath the building. An appraisal requested of Carver Architects by the Town concluded that the building is worth $70,000. In his written comments to the Board, Pete Burnett stressed that there is a pressing need for storage space for the numerous items of equipment currently owned by the various districts to prolong their life. -3- There is no dry, heated repair area for the Town mechanic at this time. He estimates that the proposed shop would more than furnish ample storage for the present fleet of equipment. An additional advantage is its proximity to the Sewer Plant. Blake noted that it would also provide storage and maintenance area for the buses which the Town anticipates purchasing very shortly. Mr. Simon has asked for a firm commitment for the Monday, January 26, Vail Associates Board of Directors' meeting. There was some discussion regarding the alternative methods for financing such purchase. V. CASINO VAIL LIQUOR VIOLATION_. With the Police Depart- ment s Duty Officer's Notice of Violating in hand, Blake asked the Trustees whether they wanted to suspend license or hold a hearing on the violation, which occurred January 18, 1970. Hearing was set for February 9, at 8:30 p.m. in the Manor Vail Conference Room. Mr. and Mrs. Ranald MacDonald, dba Casino Partners Ltd.. --the licensees, will be notified of the hearing via certified mail. With no further, business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. -4-