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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-08-01 Town Council Minutess • MINUTES REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF VAI L AUGUST 1, 1972 A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Vail was convened at 7:50 p.m., August 1, 1972, in the Council Room of the Vail Municipal Building. Mayor John A . Dobson and the following Trustees were present: Richard Bailey John Donovan Josef Staufer Gerry White Terrell J. Minger, Town Manager, was also present. Trustee Charles E. Kindel had submitted his resignation on July 19. The Board accepted it with deep regret. Trustee Staufer nominated Tom Steinberg to fill the vacancy, Trustee White seconded. Mayor Dobson indicated that Dr. Steinberg would be asked to fill the unexpired term. �\ The Home Rule Charter was submitted to the Trustees. The election was set for September 12, 1972. Trustee White, Chairman of the Charter Commission, pointed out several changes: 1'. Section 3.7 had been changed to reflect the fact that you cannot hold securities, only interest, in a partnership or firm. 2. In Section 10.4, only improving and extending of utilities will not require an election; the acquisition of utilities will be only with an election. 3. a line of succession had been added -to Section 13.6. 4. throughout the charter, "regular" has been substituted for "general" in regard to the elections conducted by the Town.. The voucher list for June, 1972, had been submitted to the Trustees. Trustee Bailey moved approval; the list was unanimously approved. The minutes of the meeting of June 27 had been previously sent to the Trustees. .Trustee Donovan, moved they be approved; Trustee Staufer seconded; approval was unanimous. Mr. Robert Howlett presented a proposal for the licensing of horse-drawn sleighs For the 1972-73 season. His group would like to operate a scheduled sleigh service to a restaurant about one mile west of Vail. They would also service Lionshead. Each sleigh would have a capacity of 25 people; they anticipate using 5 sleighs. They would like to be licensed to be the only such facility in Vail; or they would propose a limit of 8 sleighs in Town. Mr. Howlett felt that the quality of any one operation would decline if there were an unlimited number of sleighs. Trustee Staufer pointed out that the horses would create a cleaning problem for the Town of Vail while the restaurant operation would pay no direct taxes to the Town. Mr. Howlett felt, however, that it could create indirect revenue because it would draw people to Vail. Mayor Dobson suggested that Mr. Howlett submit a written proposal outlining what they would like to do, what their experience has been, what routes would be taken, etc. When this has been received, the Board will study the proposal and conceivably decide at the next meeting. Mr. Minger reported on the status of the employee retirement plan. The Town is considering working with the Prudential Life Insurance Company. Mr. Minger also reported on the Eagle County Housing Report prepared by Jerry Brown and a proposal from Mr. Artie Wachter to conduct a summer soccer camp in.Vail next year. In regard to the former, it is available to the public through the Eagle County offices. Trustee Donovan objected to one of the conclusions of •the report; however, it was emphasized that these had been written by the planner not 'the Town. A final point was to urge the public to attend the Vail Symposium to be held on the coming weekend. ■ A joint meeting with the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Recreation. District was convened at 8:20 p.m. Chairman Rod Sliferand the Following members of the Recreation District Board were present; C.E. Ted Kindel Jerry Muth Gerry White Mr. Slifer explained that the Recreation District is in a position to consider additional bond funding. They have no dollar figure as yet, but would like to have a discussion of priorities. One possibility would be the expansion of the golf club. An expanded facility, could. provide storage for golf carts (Which generate 50% of the revenue of the golf course at, present) as well: as provide expanded restaurant facilities which would hopefully be used in the winter. An approximate cost would be $100,000, exclusive: of kitchen and -,dining room equipment. If leased, a condition of the lease could be to install this equipment. A second project might be the installation of an automatic sprinkling systern on the golf course plus the finishing of some of the unfinished areas. Such a sprinkling system would save both man-hours and water; the entire project contemplated would cost approximately $100,000. A third proposal would be to install 3 new tennis courts south of the present 4-court complex. This would cost approxi- mately $40,000. A bubble for 2 tennis courts for the.winter would cost approxi- mately $40,000. IF there was the bonding capacity,, it was suggested that an ice rink be attempted. In order to build, it would be necessary to obtain the land at no cost. Mr. Nott of Vail Associates noted that his Firm would be amenable to discussions on the matter. Mr. Bernstein, the finance director, reported that discussions With the operators of the Broadmoor skating facility had produced the information that: 1. costs of operation 18 hours a day, 12 months a year ran $100,000 exclusive of debt service; 2. a professional ice skating manager for promotional activities is needed; 3. a rink might be paying for itself within two to three years. Mr. White stated that he Felt such a facility would fill the needs of young people under 18, especially if a game room were included in the ice rink. Mr. Slifer explained that the mill levy is currently 4 mills. .As the tax base has increased substantially and the tennis and golf operations are now paying for themselves, the financing becomes possible. Mr. Lapin felt the Recreation. District should look for a private group willing to undertake the same projects. Also, he would prefer a 20% reduction in the mill levy. He suggested that the cost of storing the golf carts as projected was excessive; rather the District should store them in warehouses in Wolcott for a much lower cost per cart. However, Mr. Slifer noted this would not solve the problem of needed summer storage. In regard to a suggestion that portions of the building be leased to a private individual to handle storage, Mr. Slifer responded that, as the Recrea- tion District leases the property itself, this might create some problems. Mr. Lapin suggested that the new proposed tennis courts be done by Vail Associates, as they are contemplating courts at Lionshead. However, as the District already, runs 9 courts in the area proposed, it is logical for them to run an additional 3. At the same time, private facilities elsewhere are needed. ' The possibility of over -building seemed remote when it was considered that the present golf and tennis facilities can handle 500 or 600 people while there are 8,000 beds. There was some discussion of whether it would be economically feasible to install lights on the present tennis courts, and whether the adjoining property owners would object. A study will be made of the factors .surrounding such a step. Trustee Donovan inquired if fishing was a priority of the Recreation District: He . noted that the Town owns or controls 4 miles of stream tract. Although the use of -this asset would not provide direct revenue, it would provide customer satisfaction. Trustee Donovan felt it could be developed for a very reasonable cost. Walking and bicycling paths could also be developed. In regard to the . argument that it would be difficult to do anything in the stream until construction is finished, he felt that if this argument is used nothing will ever be done. Trustee White pointed out that both Trout Unlimited and the Fish and Game Department had vetoed such plans in the past as they disrupted the natural quality of, the stream.. Page 2 Trustee Donovan suggested that if the stream were going to be disrupted by construction, that would be a good time to also disrupt it for improvements. Mr. Parker criticized the plans set forth by the Recreation Board on the,grounds A& that each of them involved more paving and building rather. than the enhancement of the natural environment of Vail. He also felt that most of 'the things proposed were not 'For the benefit of the guest, but":rather for local residents. He would" object to a continuance of the present mill levy unless the projects being funded were for the benefit of the guest. Mr. Parker also thought that the proposal for an ice rink needed more study to show it to. be financially profitable; if 'this we re the case, why had not private individuals -entered the field'to build such a facility. He wondered if the guest would use the facility._ Also, whether children using the facility for hockey camps, etc., would bring in the same revenues as adult guests. His comments were countered by audience reaction to the effect that the environment and the paying guest are not synonymous; also, that many of the individuals who use ice rinks spend heavily on the "activity. Mr. Bernstein contributed that the cost of an Olympic size rink including equipment would run from $200,000 to $800,000. The amount of the subsidy would perhaps be $50,000 the first year, with the debt service being paid out of operating "Funds. Chairman Slifer noted that they would break down the daily records of the golf and tennis facilities to ascertain the proportion of tourtAts and residents using them. In response to a question regarding the areas in which the Recreation District could operate, Mr. Minger explained that with 4 governmental entities operating, a high degree of coordination and division of function was necessary. In the division of functions, Mr. Minger saw the Recreation District as engaging in projects more traditionally "recreational." It is more logical For the Town to undertake bike paths, for example, because "they control the greenbelt and also have wider resources. Trustee Staufer noted, in response to Mr. Parker, that Vail is a community in addition to being a resort. He would like to see tennis courts just for local residents as well as more courts For the tourist. Mayor Dobson noted that the Facilities of the Town also serve those who live outside its boundaries. .It is apparent that someone must build summer amenities; although attempts have been made to convince developers to provide these -things, there seems to be little interest among them. Mr. Penwill suggested that a gymnasium idea be considered which could serve both physical and cultural needs. Mr. Lapin. urged that the Recreation District undertake projects different from the activities they already provide. He also suggested that it would be illegal to have a bond.issue at this -time. • In regard to a June 20 directive to firms along the green belt to erect a fence to protect same, Mr. Minger noted that two of the projects appear to be acceptable without the fence. In the future, fences will be required as a matter of course; in these particular examples, the projects were too far advanced to enforce the requirement. Chairman Slifer noted that there will not be a decision on these matters in the near future and that there will be more discussion of the points raised. As there was no Further business, the joint meeting adjourned at 10:00 P. M. lh • Town C er Page 3