HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-02-15 Town Council MinutesR .
' 1
YI
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF VAIL
• FEBRUARY 15, 1972
A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Vail was
convened at 7:45 p.m., February 15, 1972, in the Council Room of the
Vail Municipal Building.
Mayor John A. Dobson and the following trustees were present:
C. P. Tod Anderson
Richard Bailey
John Donovan
Dr. Thomas I. Steinberg
Albert G. White
Also present were:
Terrell Minger, Town Manager
Larry Robinson, Town Attorney
• Dan Schler, Director of Urban Studies, University of Colorado
Denver Center
George Thurston, Manager, Holy Cross Electric
The meeting was opened by Mayor Dobson, and after a brief introduction
by Mr. Minger, Mr. Schler began a presentation regarding Vail institute,
its proposed goals and organization. A central theme of this presentation
was that the relationship with the community was hoped to be a cooperative
one. In terms of organization, the program will be administered by the
Center for Urban Affairs of Colorado University. Gene Kaprowski, who
will serve as director of the Vail Institute, was introduced and spoke briefly.
Jim Lamont added that this summer there would probably be about 150
students. At the end of the 8-week course, a specialist degree will be
awarded. Mr. Nuzum, another member of this group, made the sugges-
tion that, as there is no history of Vail as a new town or of how it evolved
from Vail Associates, this would be an area their students could study.
The Mayor added to the foregoing that the group would be housed and hold
most of their sessions in the Lion's Head area. Also, this institute does
not involve a financial involvement of the Town. One question asked of the
. group was whether they would be involved in specific problems of the Town.
The general response was that such interest on the part of students is likely.
The Mayor then introduced George Thurston of Holy Cross Electric who
prefaced his group's remarks with an explanation of the delay in presenting
a franchise proposal. Mr. Parkinson, the attorney for the group, stated
that two important aspects of any franchise agreement were the franchise
tax and the length of time of the agreement. An exception to the latter was
that at the end of ten years and every five years thereafter, the Town does
have the legal privilege of ending the agreement. An additional item of inter-
est in Vail is the provision of underground equipment. Mr. Parkinson then
stated that Holy Cross Electric would like a 15-year agreement. In regard
to the franchise tax, the Public Utilities Commission has set a pattern of
not allowing more than a 3% tax; due to unique factors in this case and if both
the Town and the company would agree to it, the PUC might be willing to
allow 5/0 or more. Holy Cross was also willing to agree to put all existing
above -ground equipment underground within 1972 if an agreement was soon
reached. In the matter of extension of the lines, if the area served had little
density, these lines would be above --ground; a formula would be worked out
that would require Holy Cross to put these lines underground when a certain
density level was reached.
Mayor Dobson asked what basic power sources they were now using and
when other sources would be available. The new source their wholesale
supplier is trying to develop is the Hayden Plant. There has been some
controversy over the location and environmental effect of this plant, but
Mr. Thurston felt that it should be ready at least by the summer of 1973.
After this new facility is completed, the old source would still be retained.
Mayor Dobson inquired whether the franchise agreement would mention
the dates for completion of the new source. Mr. Thurston felt they would
not be adverse to it if they could get a guarantee from their wholesale
supplier. An additional topic of interest was whether the franchise agree-
ment could require that areas outside of Vail bury their lines. The legal
opinion given was that this could not be written into the franchise between
Vail and Holy Cross. Trustee Anderson asked what was the formula to
determine when the lines were to be buried. This is a matter that would
be determined in further meetings with the Electric Study Committee.
Trustee Donovan asked why they wanted a 15-year contract when the Town
could revoke it after 10 years. The reasoning is that after TO years it
would still require a positive step for the Town to take this action.
Mr. Hills of the Vail Trail suggested that it would seem to be a wise step
to begin putting wires underground in advance of growth in some areas.
The Public Utilities Commission would probably frown on such action on
the basis of its requirement that there be as equitable an apportionment
of costs among all members as possible. The costs of going underground
in areas of little population would be borne by users in other areas. Mr.
Clark asked who paid the franchise tax. This is ultimately borne by the
consumer and paid out of the general operating budget of Holy Cross. The
Town could, if it so desired, impose a surcharge on utility bills. Trustee
Steinberg inquired what percentage of sales in Eagle County come from the
Gore Valley; this figure is roughly 70/0. He then asked if the franchise were
granted would it be possible to have another service person in Vail. It
appeared this request could be accommodated. The Board was then provided
with the information that it would cost approximately $200,000. to place
underground the wires that had not yet been done in Vail. Mayor Dobson
then asked if the Board wanted the matter, as presented to the meeting,
considered by the Electric Study Commission; there was unanimous agree-
ment on this course of action. The proposal should be submitted in writing.
Further suggestions were made that this group be given an idea of the amount
that would be generated by the 5% tax and that they could consider the ques-
tion of whether a surcharge should be imposed by the Town.
• The next item of business was a proposed ordinance amending Ordinance No. 7
(Series of 1969), Article III, Section 3 (a) as follows:
•
(a) The minimum number of off-street spaces required of every
new or substantially reconstructed building shall be as follows:
ZONE PARKING REQUIREMENT
Residential District 2 spaces per dwelling unit
Multi -family District 1-1/2 spaces per dwelling unit
High Density Multi -family District )
Public Accommodations District )
Commercial Core District )
Commercial Core II' District )
Commercial Service Center District )
Heavy Service District )
-2-
Floor Area-
0 to 600 sq. ft.
I space
601 to 1000 sq. ft.
1-1/4 spaces
1001 to 1300 sq. ft.
1-1/2 spaces
1301 and more sq. ft.
2 spaces
The Mayor commented that although we are going to do a study of parking
problems, it was felt a firm answer, was needed at this time for those with
building projects pending. Mr. Robinson noted that as this proposal was an
amendment, we would need to publish notice of its proposal before it could
be formally adopted. Mayor Dobson asked for a motion to the effect that
this be published; Trustee White made this motion; Trustee Anderson seconded
and the motion was unanimously passed.
The minutes from past -regular and special meetings held on July 12, 1971;
September 7, 1971; September 16, 1971; October 12, 1971; November 2, 1971;
November 23, 1971; December 1, 1971; December 7, 1971, December 21, 1971;
January 3, 7972; January 4, 1972; February 1, 1972; and February 8, 1972;
had been previously sent to the Trustees. The Trustees, having read these
minutes, made one correction; Trustee Bailey was present at the September
meeting, although not listed in the minutes as sent. Trustee Anderson made
the motion that these minutes be approved as corrected; Trustee Bailey
seconded; passage was unanimous,
Trustee Bailey moved that the Voucher Lists from September, 1971, to
January, 1972, inclusive, having been previously sent to the Trustees and
read by them, be approved as prepared. This motion was unanimously passed.
is Mr. Elias then brought before the Board the fact that some citizens have been
meeting to discuss a common problem of people parking on private property.
The question was to what extent the Town can be of service to them in solving
this problem. Mayor Dobson suggested they meet with the Board and the
Town Administration at some later date to discuss this. Mr. Elias agreed
and said his group would work through the Town Manager.
As there was no Further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p. m.
lh
•
•
-3-
To n erk /