HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-08-01 Town Council Minutess
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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.
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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..
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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.
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