HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-24 Town Council MinutesWORK SESSION MINUTES
Tuesday, March 24, 1998
2:00 P.M.
Town of Vail Council Chambers
What follows will reflect motions and actions taken by the Vail Town. Council at their regular
work session on March 24, 1998. All members were present with the exception of Michael
Arnett and Kevin Foley.
1. Item No. 7, Other. Larry Grafel approached the Council about a 1995 agreement with a
neighborhood in Vail to underground power lines from Buffher Creek to Red Sandstone.
He explained at the time the project was approved, Council had approved a contribution
of up to $25,000 for undergrounding the power lines. Further contributions are being
made as follows:
$22,500 from Holy Cross
$25,000 from Briarpatch
$18,500 raised from adjacent property owners
$25,000 from the Town of Vail.
Mike Jewett moved to approve, taking the $25,000 for the Town's share from fund
balance of the capital projects fund, with a second coming from Sybili Navas. A vote was taken
and the motion passed 5-0.
MEDIA ADVISORY
March 25, 1998
Contact: Suzanne Silverthorn, 479-2115
Community Information Office
VAIL TOWN COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS FOR MARCH 24
Please note: The start time of the evening meeting has been changed to 7 p.m.
(30 minutes earlier than the previous start time).
Work Session Briefs
Council members present: Armour, Ford, Jewett, Kurz, Navas
*Arrived late
--PEC/DRB Report
During a review of Monday's meeting of the Planning and Environmental Commission,
Councilman Michael Jewett inquired about the status of a request by City Market to increase the
size of their sign. Jewett was assured by Mike Mollica of the Community Development
Department that City Market's request was in no way a special consideration, but rather anyone
could have made the same request application. Staff also indicated that the proposed sign
change would conform to the Town code.
--Summer Marketing Presentation
Ross Boyle, chairman of the Vail Valley Marketing Board, along with other VVMB
representatives, presented an overview of the summer marketing effort. The group said the
$925,000 annual budget, although small, is producing a strong message in key domestic
markets. Although summer tourism has been disappointing in many parts of the state since the
Colorado Tourism marketing program was terminated in the early 1990s, sales tax revenues in
the Vail Valley have continued to grow at an average annual rate of more than six percent since
1991, according to Boyle. Spending by summer visitors has been especially important to
merchants and restaurants in the Town of Vail where the number of permanent residents has
grown by only 200 persons in the 1990s, he said. Since local resident spending in the town is
flat, almost all of the six percent annual increase in sales and sales tax revenues is attributable to
increased visitor spending, he said. Market research finds that the Town of Vail captured 57
percent of 1997 overnight stays by visitors drawn to the valley by VVMB marketing efforts. This
is about the share of the total VVMB budget provided by the Town of Vail through business
license fees and general fund investments, he said. This investment has paid strong dividends,
according to Boyle. Since 1993, visitors who come to the valley in direct response to VVMB
marketing initiatives spend about $25 here for every marketing dollar spent. When asked
whether Vail should spend its marketing dollars to promote the town alone, Boyle said that
fragmenting the regional marketing program would have the same negative impact as the
elimination of the Colorado marketing program several years ago. At best, he said the town
would capture a larger share of a smaller pie and smaller overall sales revenues. Vail and other
communities in the valley compete with cruise ships, theme parks, and other destination resorts
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throughout the world for tourist dollars. The combined resources of all investors in the VVMB
program are barely enough to get our message out, he said. Several smaller programs would
not only have less impact; they would also confuse the customer who views the valley as a single
destination. Boyle said that if enabling legislation that has recently been approved by the
Colorado House and Senate becomes law, voters will be asked to approve the creation of a new
marketing district, similar to the transportation district, and fund it with a lodging tax. This, he
said, would create a permanent and equitable funding source for summer marketing. He added
that if this new district cannot be put in place before the end of the year, it will still be in the best
interests of the town and of its merchants to continue supporting the VVMB through business
license fees and general fund investments. For more information, contact Boyle at 479-9164.
--Vail Valley Centre Presentation
Councilmembers heard an overview of the Vail Valley Centre development proposed for the
Stolport property between Avon and Eagle -Vail. The proposal includes 2,400 housing units and
close to 1 million square feet of retail space during a 15 to 20 year build -out period. The
development's presentation team said the Eagle County master plan and the Town of Avon's
master plan were used as a roadmap in determining development characteristics of the property.
They said the project would have the following positive impacts on the Town of Vail: 1) provides
for multiple levels of housing for those who work in the Town of Vail; 2) creates housing as close
to the Town of Vail as possible, thus cutting down on transportation demands; 3) absorbs the
demand for additional commercial space close to the valley's urban center, also cutting down on
transportation demands; and 4) provides amenities (ice skate rink, cultural center, parks, etc.)
. that contribute to Vail's goal of a world class resort. The Vail Town Council has previously sent a
letter to the Eagle County outlining its concerns about the proposal. Yesterday, Councilmembers
reiterated those concerns which included traffic impacts, the volume of commercial space, quality
of life impacts and the potential to negatively impact Vail's sense of community. Also, the
development team was encouraged yesterday to put its inventory of affordable housing units
(about 700 units) into a deed -restriction classification to ensure long-term affordability. The
proposal will be heard by the Eagle County Planning Commission on April 1. In the meantime,
the Vail Town Council will prepare another letter to the county outlining its concerns. That letter
will be read into the public record at the April 7 evening Town Council meeting.
--Discussion of Eagle County Recreation Authority/School District Intergovernmental Agreement
for Berry Creek Fifth
A decision on the Berry Creek Fifth property was postponed yesterday so that all seven
Councilmembers can be present to discuss the matter (Arnett and Foley were absent Tuesday).
At issue is whether to approve a conceptual plan for the property that would including pooling the
105-acre Berry Creek Fifth property with the adjacent 108-acre Miller Ranch property (owned by
the school district), to be followed by an intergovernmental agreement that would allow for the
redistribution of the parcels' ownership for development. The conceptual plan currently calls for
an equestrian center a 25-acre high school; a 40-acre recreation parcel; 28 acres of housing; an
elementary school; the current middle school; 40 acres of open space on the easternmost edge
of the Miller Ranch property; plus two alternative use sites as determined by the school district
for such uses as a charter school, administration building, bus barn, or other educational uses.
Although the other funding partners have approved the concept, Vail has veto power over the
plan because of its 60 percent ownership status. Councilmembers yesterday said they were
struggling with the options since several Councilmembers have advocated selling the property to
another party. The question is whether approval of the conceptual plan would make it easier or
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• more difficult to sell the town's asset. The Council will revisit the topic prior to an April
10 meeting of the Eagle County Recreation Authority. Other partners formed by the authority in
1989 include the Town of Avon, Eagle County and four metropolitan districts (Arrowhead, Beaver
Creek, Eagle -Vail and Singletree). For more information, contact Tom Moorhead, Vail town
attorney (who also serves as the recreation authority attorney), at 479-2107.
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--Information Update
Councilmembers were briefed on the next community mixer which will be held from 5:15 to 7:15
p.m. April 14 at the Kaltenberg Castle Brewery in Lionshead. Councilmembers also received a
reminder about the Common Ground public involvement process which will include public
workshops on April 14 and 16, as well as June 3 and 4.
After hearing a presentation from Larry Grafei, public works/transportation director, the Council
voted 5-0 to allocate $25,000 from 1997 capital project savings to help fund the undergrounding
of overhead power lines from Buffehr Creek to Red Sandstone. Other funding partners include
Holy Cross Electric, Briar Patch development and adjacent property owners. The town's share
had been funded in the 1995 capital projects budget but was removed pending build -out of the
development.
Councilmembers were encouraged to attend a contractors meeting for those who'll be doing
construction work in the Vail Village core this season. The meeting, at 2 p.m. March 31, will be
used to coordinate staging plans, communications and other requirements.
There also was an announcement that a five -member delegation from the Sister Cities Delatite
Shire region (Mt. Buller, Australia) will be arriving March 27. The group will be touring Eagle
County over the next week. A reception is scheduled for Sunday evening at the Colorado Ski
Museum, to be followed by a dinner hosted by the Vail Town Council. Also included that day will
be a tour of Vail and its public facilities.
--Council Reports
Bob Armour reported on the Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) meeting with the state
legislators last week. Both Armour and Couricilmember Sybil! Navas were recognized for their
outstanding efforts in helping to win legislative approval of the regional marketing district
legislation (HB 1200).
Town Manager Bob McLaurin was asked to write a letter regarding the reauthorization of ISTEA
(federal transportation) funding for the mayor's signature.
Mayor Rob Ford announced that a leadership breakfast that would focus on the Lionshead
Redevelopment Master Plan has been organized for March 31 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Marriott.
Representatives from the Vail Valley Tourism and Convention Bureau, Lodging Advisory
Committee, Vail Valley Marketing Board, Chamber of Commerce, Vail Board of Realtors,
Community Task Force, Rotary Club and other organizations have been encouraged to attend.
Ford also inquired about the status of the U.S. Forest Service proposed Booth Creek burn. Staff
will follow-up. In addition, Ford reported on a joint session with the Eagle County
Commissioners, mayors and managers that occurred March 23 regarding a discussion of a
construction moratorium. He noted there are currently over 1,400 MLS listings countywide (the
local realtor's guide to available for -sale properties), as well as numerous approved but unbuilt
units on the county's drawing board. This precludes current projects still moving through the
process.
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--Other
Sybill Navas indicated the Vail Valley Exchange (our local Sister Cities International group) is
looking for office space. She said the need creates an opportunity to increase the community's
awareness of the exchange program. Navas also inquired about the possibility of finding space
for Councilmembers' office needs. Additionally, Navas asked whether yesterday's work session
agenda items should have been reserved for presentation at an evening meeting. She said
Berry Creek Fifth and the Vail Valley Centre are two projects that impact residents not only in
Vail, but valleywide. In the case of the Vail Valley Centre, because the project does not require
approval from the Vail Town Council, it was agreed by Council to schedule five minutes at its
next evening meeting to provide an overview of the Council's position on the proposed
development. Additionally, the Council rescheduled its discussion of the Berry Creek Fifth
conceptual plan to the April 7 work session.
Councilmembers also issued a reminder to the community about the change in the start-up time
for the evening meeting (7 p.m. rather than 7:30 p.m.).
Also yesterday, Councilmembers asked that developers be reminded that future development or
redevelopment in Vail must carry its own weight. The reference was made in response to a
presentation last week by the Vail Plaza Hotel in which representatives asked the town for help in
acquiring land for employee housing. Councilmembers said there should be no general
assumption that the town's open space will automatically be turned over for employee housing
needs. Also, staff was asked to clarify as quickly as possible the number of employee housing
units required by the Vail Plaza Hotel concept, as well as redevelopment in Lionshead.
• A "thank you" was issued to the Public Works Department for installation of painted crosswalks
and pedestrian crossing signs leading from the Municipal Building across South Frontage Road.
Although it may not protect pedestrians from speeding cars, Councilman Michael Jewett noted
that it should help with increased visibility.
•
Ludwig Kurz asked if Vail's mayor and town manager would be on hand to visit with the mayor of
an Austrian community who will be visiting Vail on Friday.
Michael Jewett inquired when the "open house/garage sale" signs ordinance would have its first
reading. Town Attorney Tom Moorhead said it had been set for first reading April 21. Jewett
also inquired about guard rails being installed on the South Frontage Road adjacent to the
"ruins." He was informed by Town Manager Bob McLaurin that the retiring CDOT district
engineer, Bob Mosten, had turned this project over to his replacement. McLaurin will follow up.
Also, Jewett asked if other Councilmembers had viewed the signs and lights at the Austria Haus
construction site. He was told by other Councilmembers that the site is acceptable. (This is in
response to a local retailer who has been dissatisfied with signs and lighting on that site).
The final item mentioned by Jewett was his interest in attending a seminar sponsored by the
Secretary of State's Office on the Campaign Reform Act. Jewett's colleagues encouraged him to
attend.
It was also noted by Councilmembers Navas and Ford that in light of this week's passage of HB-
1200, it would be appropriate to ask the Vail Valley Marketing Board to make a presentation at an
upcoming evening meeting similar to what was presented yesterday afternoon.
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! UPCOMING DISCUSSION TOPICS
March 31 (Fifth Tuesday)
No Work Session
April 7 Work Session
Mike Warren 10 Year Anniversary
Brad Baldwin 10 Year Anniversary
DRB Review
Discussion of Inclusionary Zoning by Chuck Ogilby
Discussion of Eagle County Recreation Authority/School District IGA for Berry Creek Fifth
April 7 Evening Meeting
First Reading, Ordinance on Model Traffic Code
Second Reading, Ordinance No. 3
Proclamation No. 2, Teacher Appreciation Week
Proclamation No. 3, Honoring American Athletes from Olympic Competition
Vail Valley Centre Presentation
April 14 Work Session
PEC Review
Reallocation of Business License Fee Based on Legislative Passage of HB98-1200 (Marketing
District)
Additional Tax, re: Infrastructure Added to Proposed Lodging Tax
Lionshead Master Plan, Stage 3 (Height and Mass)
Selection and Distribution of Red Sandstone Units/Lottery
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