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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-04-03 Town Council MinutesMINUTES REGULAR MEETING TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF VAI L APRIL3, 1973 A regular meeting of the 'Town Council of the Town of Vail was convened • at 7:40 p. m. , April 3, 1973, in the Council Room of the Vail Municipal Building. Mayor John A. Dobson and the following Councilmen were present: Richard Bailey John Donovan Joseph Langmaid Josef Staufer Tom Steinberg Gerry White Also present were: Terry Minger, Town Manager Larry Robinson, Town Attorney Stan Bernstein, Finance Director Gary Wall, Police Chief Bob Manzanares, Administrative Assistant The Town of Vail Audit Report was presented by Jerry McMahan, a represen= tative of McClave, Wall and McMahan. Mr. Minger noted that copies of this report will be available in the Town Office. He also mentioned that the Finance Department had won a certificate from the Municipal Finance Officers Association for the 1971 financial report. Mr. McMahan explained that the auditors' function is to ascertain whether the Town has support for all trans- actions during the year. The summary of their report on the Town is that there are no insolvent funds. As soon as the Vail Water and Sanitation District report is completed, a consolidated financial statement will be. prepared. Mr. Bernstein reported on the general fund statement of revenue. There was a substantial increase in sales tax collections over 1971; sales tax comprises 57% of this fund. Mr. Bernstein explained some of the budget items from this fund and the actual expenditures as related to these budget items. Although there was a surplus at the end of the year, this is needed to. help ease the cash flow problems. Other funds explained by Mr. Bernstein were: the additional cent sales tax fund; the general fixed assets fund; the heavy equipment fund; the central stores fund; the revenue sharing fund (a decision needs to be made on the expenditures from this fund); the library fund; and the retirement plans fund. Ordinance No. 6 (Series of 1973) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CONDEMNATION OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE LOCATED WITHIN THE TOWN OF VAIL, COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO; DESCRIB- ING THE REAL ESTATE TO BE ACQUIRED BY EMINENT DOMAIN AND CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS; AUTHORIZING THE TOWN ATTORNEY AND SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL TO INSTITUTE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS FOR THE CONDEMNATION OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY; SETTING FORTH PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL PURPOSES AND USES FOR THE REAL ESTATE TO BE CONDEMNED; AND SETTING FORTH MATTERS AND DETAILS IN RELATION THERETO was introduced for second reading. The title was read in full by the Mayor, and the audience advised that copies were available. Mr. Robinson noted that the legal description had been amended 0 after the first reading. The Council was polled as to whether they had read and understood the ordinance; each indicated that he had. Councilman Staufer moved that Ordinance No. 6 be adopted as amended; Councilman Steinberg seconded; Councilmen Bailey, Donovan, Langmaid, Staufer, Steinberg, White and Dobson voted in favor; the Mayor declared that the motion carried and the ordinance was adopted. In regard to a request for a franchise from the Eagle County Trash Service, the first question to be answered is whether or not a franchise is desirable. Mr. Minger noted that any refuse hauler is controlled by the P. U. C. , irre- gardless of a franchise. This control extends to the control of rates. Council- man Langmaid was of the opinion that the Town should not grant a franchise to a private individual. If the consequence is that the individual must raise his rates, then another company should be able to come in with lower rates, or the Town should establish its own operation. Mayor Dobson noted that two of the presumed advantages to the Town would be having more control over the operation of the trash business and making feasible lower rates by making a lower interest rate possible. Councilman Bailey inquired of Mr. Lapin what the actual money saving from a favorable interest rate would be. As a constant expenditure is necessary in order, to replace trucks, the annual saving for a number of years would be $14,000. Mr. Lapin noted that his company charges either on a per unit basis or on a volume basis. Councilman Donovan expressed his concern that the Town might enter into an agreement favorable to itself but detrimental to outlying areas. Councilman Steinberg expressed the opinion that the argument regarding free competition is somewhat fallacious, as, for practical purposes, it would be very difficult for another company to go'into the business in Vail at this point. Councilman Steinberg's concern is to stabilize the rates; the only means he sees as available is to grant a franchise. Mr.'Evancho, of the trash company, stated that the best way to ensure the enforcement of rules and improvements.. like the enclosure of containers is to grant the franchise. He also noted that one of the problems of a trash company in an area like Vail is the differential voturre of business between summer and winter. Mr. Elias expressed his satisfaction with the operation .of the trash business this past winter. He was concerned, however, that the franchise not be for too tong a period and also that the problems with compactors, bundles, etc.', be taken into consideration. Mr. Nottingham agreed that the service had been good, but felt the rates were rath✓r high. If a franchise would save him money., he would be in favor. Mike Carlisle noted that the Eagle County Trash company.had been cooperative with fire prevention programs. After some further discussion, Councilman Steinberg moved that a proposed franchise be considered at the next meeting; Councilman Donovan seconded; Councilmen Bailey, Donovan, Staufer, Steinberg, White and Dobso n voted in favor; Councilman Langmaid voted against; the motion carried. Mr. Minger reported that the new zoning ordinance is ready and is being typed. It will be presented at the study session next Tuesday at 2 p.m. and copies will be available to the public. A letter from the Planning Commission recommending approval of the plat of Vail Village loth Filing was read. Jen Wright explained that the filing contains 11 single family lots. The major access is Ptarmigan Road. The filing is 40 within the Town of Vail and zoned Residential. .Jim Viele noted that 2 acres of the land has been dedicated to the Town for open space. Councilman Bailey moved that the plat of Vail Village 10th Filing be approved; Councilman Dmovan seconded; Councilmen Bailey, Donovan, Staufer, Lang maid, Steinberg; White and Dobson voted in favor, the motion carried. The minutes of the meetings of March 6, 7, and 13, 1973, had been previously submitted to the Council. Councilman White moved they be approved; Council- man Staufer seconded; approval was unanimous. Gary Wall, Police Chief, modeled the proposed new police uniform. It was noted that the new uniform is being introduced in order to get away from the militaristic appearance. In regard to the Police Station remodeling, Mr. Minger explained that it is being financed by a $40;000 grant from CLLEA. One feature will be a county -wide communications system.. Also to be added are lab facilities, showers and lockers. In regard to the communications system, it was explained that the current facilities are overloaded and there are black --out areas, in which the Town has in the past acted as a relay. In additi on, the Town will no longer be on the same frequency as Vail Associates. The Town has been asked by Vail Associates if they would accept the dedication of the 5-B area (the pond and surrounding area). Mr. Minger expressed his -2- opinion that, if the dedication was accepted, VA should be asked to participate in a financial way in providing some of the needed landscaping. Mr. Nott.of VA noted that they had already done considerable work in this area. He also brought out the liability situation of the area; the steps are rather dangerous. Work will be continued to reach a satisfactory agreement. An additional report from Mr. Minger was that negotiations with Cable TV are. to begin shortly. The Town has been approached by several other television companies. Mr. Robinson reported that the Town is currently involved in more litigation than ever before in its history. Chuck Ogilby of Trout Unlimited reported that this group had been approached by scm e kayakers with a request that large snags and dams be removed from Gore Creek. He requested that the Town become involved and he 1p to decide what possible adverse effects would occur. Mr. Ogilby recommended Council- man Donovan as the Council representative. Councilman Donovan accepted the appointment and inquired if there is an ordinance preventing this type of stream maintenance. He suggested that if there is .not such an ordinance, one should be created. �_arry Benway reported that the Colorado. White Water Association would like to have a slalom race on Gore Creek, which would originate in Town. The Mayor suggested that they appear before the Council with their request. Rob Garton asked if the allocation of "Donations to Organizations" had yet been made. It had not, one reason for the delay being that the current VRA • Board is a lame duck board. After some discussion Councilman Donovan moved that the Colorado Rivers Council be given $8,000 to be paid at the rate of $1,000 per month for 8 months and the donation to the VRA be con- sidered at a later time; Councilman Staufer seconded; approval was unanimous. Councilman Steinberg requested that the Council be kept posted on the way the money is used. Mr.. Richard Hart presented the Council with petitions signed by people who were concerned about the costs and benefits of the Ginkelvan and who also felt that more public exposure and discussion were needed. Councilman White noted that the wording of the petition was somewhat vague. Mayor Dobson read the petition statement in full. He noted that one point which seems to have been misunderstood is that the Ginkelvan is not the solution, but only a portion of the total solution. Mr. Hart stated that he thought the concern was over the cost of the van and the number contemplated. Further exchanges brought out the point that few of the signers of the petition had ever attended any meetings of the Council: The Mayor noted that no additional Ginkelvan will be purchased untilthe questions over the present one are resolved. Mr. McLaughlin disagreed that communications problems could be solved by attending meetings; he stated that he had attended every meeting and still had not heard the Ginkelvan compared to other viable alternatives. It was brought out that the Ginkelvan is an experimental vehicle; and, hence, much data is not yet available and will only be available after it has been in operation. Mr. McLaughlin stated that he was not quite sure what "the whole deal is all about.." Mayor Dobson suggested that perhaps the Ginkelvan had been too much promoted as an exciting."symbol of the. proposed transporta- tion system;, the main thrust is to encourage people to address themselves to the transportation problem in Vail: A member of the audience asked if the Ginkelvan were .the least polluting vehicle �avatlable. If the use of the Ginkelvan keeps a number of cars from being used, the pollution has been lessened to a certain extent. In regard to questions about a comparison with the currently - used blue school buses, Mr. Minger noted that the school bus is expensive in terms of maintenance and operation. Comparisons have been made with other buses and rigid tests are being made on the Ginkelvan in operation. Mr. Minger was of the opinion that a few modifications are needed. The actual cost of the Ginkelvan is not yet known as it is not in production; however, Mr. Minger was of the opinion that it would be competitive with the Mercedes bus and less of a polluter. Councilman White added that, in his opinion, the blue school buses are visually polluting to Vail. The Mayor urged that people either d€s- agree or agree with the idea that there is a transportation problem in Vail and proceed from that point. -3- • so In further discussion, Mr. Minger noted that it is possible that the Ginkelvan can actually carry more people, in greater comfort, and in a shorter time than the school buses. The question of an electric bus was raised. The Ginkelvan is ultimately convertible to electric power; however, at this time, electric power is not practical. In summary, the Mayor expressed his regret at the breakdown in communications; however, it would seem the only way the Council has of communicating at this time is by either the written word or meetings. As there was no further business, Councilman Donovan moved the meeting adjourn at 10:30 p.m. -4- C� Vim.( Town Clerk