HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-09-22 Town Council MinutesWORK SESSION MINUTES
Tuesday, September 22, 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 September 22, 1998. All members were present with the exception of Rob Ford.
1. Item No. 1, Request for Funding Partnership Dollars for a Senior Survey and Study.
Kathleen Forinash, the Eagle County Health and Human Service Director, requested that
the Town become a partner in the implementation of a comprehensive senior study and
survey for Eagle County through a grant of up to $2,500. The request was made to
approve funding of $1,500 for the Town of Vail's participation and $500 each to
represent Minturn and Red Cliff. Council felt that it was inappropriate to fund the two
adjoining cities until their Council's had responded to the request. Therefore, Bob
Armour made a motion, with a,second coming from Mike Jewett, to approve up to $1,500
for the study. A vote was taken and motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
2. Item No. 3, Extend Bus Service IGA to Gypsum with Eagle County Regional
Transportation Authority past December 31, 1998. Jim Shrum was in attendance to
discuss the IGA with ECRTA expiring 12/31/98. ECHO (as this organization is now
called) had requested an extension of service until April 15, 1999. Although staff had
requested a denial because of the impact this would have on in town regular services and
the 1999 Championships, Kevin Foley moved to extend the ECHO IGA through the end
of the ski season (as opposed to April 15th), with a second from Mike Jewett.
Additionally, Kevin moved and Mike seconded that if prior to that both parties agree on a
mutually acceptable plan to provide bus drivers through ECHO, but to still use our
maintenance facility through the end of the season, that this will be acceptable to the
Town of Vail. Council specifically directed Jim Shrum to take on the responsibility of
looking into other resolutions to his staffing and maintenance issues. The motion made,
the motion was passed unanimously, 6-0.
3. Item No. 5, Appeal of a Design Review Board Decision Denying the Applicant's Request
to construct a detached accessory storage unit adjacent to an existing duplex located at
5064 Black Gore Drive/Lot 4, Vail Meadows, First Filing, applicant: Patrick Padden.
Bob Armour moved, with a second from Mike Arnett, to table one final time to October
20th this appeal. Council was clear that this would be the final request for a tabling of
this particular DRB decision. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
is
75 South Frontage Road
Vail, -.Colorado 81657
970-479-2100
FAX 970-479-2157
MEDIA ADVISORY
September 23, 1998
Contact: Suzanne Siiverthorn; 479-2115
Community Information Office
VAIL TOWN COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS FOR SEPTEMBER 22
Work Session Briefs
Council members present: Armour, Arnett, Foley, Jewett, Kurz, Navas
--Request for Funding Partnership Dollars for a Senior Survey and Study
Noting that Eagle County's senior population (60 years and older) is projected to grow
significantly in the next decade, Kathleen Forinash, Health and Human Services director with
Eagle County, asked the Town Council to contribute $1,500 towards a $28,000 study to assess
current and future needs of Eagle County's senior population. The study, to be conducted this
fall, will survey registered voters over the age of 60, as well as a random sample of residents in
• the 50 to 60 age bracket. The Council voted 6-0 to approve the request by using funds from the
Council contingency budget. A suggestion that TOV consider contributing an additional $1,000
to cover contributions requested of Minturn and Red Cliff was deemed to be premature by
Council since Minturn and Red Cliff hadn't yet responded to the contribution requests by
Forinash. During discussion, Councilmember Sybill Navas suggested probing cemetery needs
as part of the study. Forinash said the sfudy's funding partners would have a chance to review
the survey and add pertinent questions. For more information, contact Forinash at 328-8858.
--Contribution Requests with Additional Discussion RE: Business License Fee and Vail First
Request
In preparation for a decision at its Oct. 6 evening meeting, the Council took public comment
yesterday on the "Vail 1 st" proposal which would earmark Vail's $300,000 business license fees
toward a marketing program focused exclusively on Vail. For the past decade, those business
license fees have been used to help fund the Vail Valley Marketing Board, which spends $1
million annually on a Vail Valley summer campaign. Among the comments yesterday (this is not
an inclusive list):
• Joe Staufer of the Vail 1 st group said that while merchants don't want to put an end to
valleywide marketing, they do want to control how their business license fees are spent.
In that spirit, he said the proposal offered to allocate $75,000 of the business license
fees toward the VVMB. However, he said the Vail 1 st group doesn't want any additional
business license fee revenue used to "help the competition" downvalley. Additional
dollars, he said, should come from Edwards and Avon.
• A letter from Andy Daly of Vail Resorts was presented offering the company's continued
support of the Vail Valley Marketing Board on behalf of the 22 business in which Vail
• Resorts pays a Town of Vail business license fee. Additionally, Vail Resorts voluntarily
contributes $100,000 to the VVMB each year to help leverage other funds, which Daly
says provides a solid return on investment.
• Howard Gardner, owner of the West Vail Liquor Mart, said he was opposed to turning
(more)
ow RECYCLEDPAPER
Add 1/TOV Council Highlights/9/22/98
over funds to Vail 1 st. Instead, he encouraged the Vail Valley Tourism and Convention •
Bureau to hold events within Vail that are proportionate to the funds coming from the
Town of Vail.
• Jeff Gorsuch, representing the second -generation business in Vail, urged the Council
against "fragmenting" the area's marketing dollars. Gorsuch said it would be wrong to
dismantle the Marketing Board.
• Bill Brice, director of special events and communications for the VVTCB, explained the
differences between the role of the VVMB and the VVTCB. He suggested the need for
all groups to work together to, approve a permanent funding source for regional
marketing. Later during the discussion, Brice thanked the Council and the business
community for supporting the recent Oktoberfest event.
• Pat Peeples, who contracts with the VVMB as the public relations arm, presented
examples of successful print coverage of "Summer Vail" to show how the VVMB
campaign has been productive in generating stories about Vail.
• Frank Johnson, president of the VVTCB, also explained the differences between the role
of the VVTCB and the VVMB. Johnson asked the Council to address VVTCB's contracts
for special events and operation of the visitors center through a separate discussion.
Regarding the, VVMB, Johnson asked the Council not to tamper with a program that
works, especially when attempts to create a regional marketing district are beginning to
take hold.
• Stan Cope, a former chairman of the VVTCB, told of how the organization had been
fragmented years ago and was unsuccessful as a result. He urged the Council to retain
funding for the VVMB, noting that the two hotels he manages are having record summers
due to the VVMB's efforts.
• Rob Levine, representing the Lionshead Merchant Association, asked that the Council .
maintain consistency and work toward a successful election next year that could supply
permanent funding for the Marketing Board and free up funding for Vail 1st.
• Carol Johnson, who has participated in strategic planning sessions with the VVMB in the
past, said she wondered how the Vail 1 st organization would be equipped to generate
strategies and plans.
• Jack Curtin of Curtin -Hill Sports offered support for the Vail 1 st proposal. He said Vail
should no longer shoulder the burden for the success of other towns at a time when
sales taxes in Vail are flat and skier numbers are down. Charity, he said, starts at home.
• Kaye Ferry of Vail 1st said the group supports valleywide marketing, but not with
revenues from the Vail business license fee. Ferry's group has long maintained that the
business license fee contribution to regional marketing is inequitable. Instead, Ferry
said, the Council has "lots of choices" to fund the Vail Valley Marketing Board through
other revenues.
In concluding the discussion on the Vail 1st proposal, Mayor Pro-Tem Ludwig Kurz said he
hoped the Council's decision won't create a fragmentation of efforts. He said he remained
hopeful the town can find a way to create a favorable outcome for both interests. For
information on the other contribution requests, please see last page of the Council Highlights.
--Request to Extend Dotsero-to-Vail Bus Service IGA with Regional Transportation Authority
from December 31, 1998 to April 15, 1999
The Council voted 6-0 to extend the town's intergovernmental agreement with the Eagle County
Regional Transportation Authority (ECO) for operation of the Dotsero-to-Vail bus route through
the end of the 98-99 ski season unless both parties agree that other arrangements can be made
sooner. The current IGA was set to expire on Dec. 31, 1998, but Jim Shrum of ECO, told the
Council it would be difficult for the authority to take over operation of the Dotsero-to-Vail route
during the height of ski season due to complications with staffing, equipment and a maintenance
facility. He said the authority won't have access to a maintenance facility with doors high
(more)
Add 2/TOV Council Highlights/9-22-98
enough to accommodate the Dotsero-to-Vail fleet until April. Town Manager Bob McLaurin had
' recommended ending Vail's contractual operation when the IGA expires at the end of
December, due to pressing commitments during the World Alpine Ski Championships and
because of the increasing stability of the Transportation Authority. That promoted
Councilmembers to express interest in continuing to look at options that might shift more
operational responsibility to the Transportation Authority during a transition period, so long as it
doesn't jeopardize operation of the service, which Councilmembers deemed extremely
important. Councilman Kevin Foley, who serves as chairman of the Transit Authority, offered
support for the EGA extension, stressing the importance of service continuity throughout the ski
season. For more information, contact Bob McLaurin at 479-2105.
--Presentation by Community For Our Kids Future
Shawn Boris and Jack Lewis, representing the Committee For Our Kids' Future, presented an
overview of the school bond and operating revenue questions that will appear on the November
ballot. They also asked for Council's support of the measure. After the brief presentation,
Councilmembers said they wanted to study the issue in more detail and to hear from others
before responding to the Committee's request for support. In particular, Councilmember Sybill
Navas wanted to know what the School District's commitment is to Red Sandstone School,
which has been experiencing declining enrollment.
--DRB Appeal by Patrick Padden for Detached Accessory Storage Unit
At the request of the applicant, the Council voted 6-0 to table this item to the Oct. 20 meeting.
Council made it clear there would be no additional postponements.
--DRB Review
During an overview of the recent Design Review Board meeting, Councilmembers inquired
about proposed design improvements at Checkpoint Charlie as well as the "Ruins" site at
Cascade Village. Neither proposal was accepted by the DRB.
--Eagle County Recreation Authority Update
In preparation for consideration of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the Eagle
County Recreation Authority (Berry Creek Fifth) and the Eagle County School District, Town
Attorney Tom Moorhead reviewed a concept plan that involves joint planning of the Berry Creek
Fifth and adjoining Miller Ranch properties in Edwards. As proposed, the IGA would enable the
School District to convey specific portions of the Miller Ranch land to the Recreation Authority
and the Recreation Authority would convey specific portions of its land to the School District.
Overall, the two parcels would contain the following uses: an equestrian center; a high school; a
40-acre recreation parcel; 30 acres of housing (16 acres on the Berry Creek Fifth site, 14 acres
on the School District site); an elementary school; the current middle school; 37 acres of open
space on the easternmost edge of the Miller Ranch property; a charter school; plus an
alternative use site as determined by the school district. During yesterday's discussion, the
Council reviewed the property's history, along with housing densities approved by Eagle County,
the latest of which was 91 units per acre approved in 1993-94 (down from 198 units approved in
1983), as well as other density comparisons. Under the current IGA scenario, Moorhead said
the Authority is currently reviewing what the development approval process will be and what role
Eagle County will have in that process. Regarding the Authority's housing component,
Councilman Bob Armour said it would be important to permanently deed -restrict the housing.
Andy Knudtsen, the town's senior housing policy planner, said the site would lend itself well for
mostly for -sale housing, with some rental mixed in, similar to the "New Urbanism" concept.
• Councilman Michael Jewett expressed concerns about the lack of a park and ride component,
which had been discussed previously. Jewett also suggested the open space parcel be
protected in perpetuity, as well as creating a mechanism to ensure that some form of housing
(more)
Add 3/TOV Council Highlights/9-22-98 .
eventually gets built on the site. Councilman Michael Arnett said he'd prefer housing densities to
be similar to the original sketch plan approval. Meanwhile, Bob Armour reiterated a point he's
made previously: that Vail should sell the land due to its convoluted ownership and decision -
making authority. While Vail owns a 60 percent share in the property, the Authority requires two-
thirds approval to take action on the property, which ties Vail's hands, Armour said. In addition, .
Armour said the property's ongoing operating costs, as well as future costs for road
improvements, design and other cost -sharing agreements, are a drain on the town's resources.
Councilmember Sybill Navas also expressed concern about future infrastructure costs,
wondering if the town's role and/or investment is sound. According to Moorhead, the Town of
Vail first purchased the 105-acre property in 1990 for $1.8 million, then sold 40 percent to the 6
other partners for $1 million in 1991. Moorhead then described how the partnership has evolved
over the years as it attempts to meet a wide range of community needs that will be of direct
benefit to all of the partners. Also speaking yesterday was Chuck Powers, who represents the
Berry Creek Metro District on the Authority. Powers stressed the importance of creating a
process in designing the housing component that will be both suitable to the Singletree
neighborhood, the Town of Vail and the other partners. Councilman Kevin Foley said he
supported as much housing on the site as possible and that a park and ride component should
be seriously considered. Both Navas and Armour asked that information about the town's future
financial commitment be presented to the Council in the next few weeks prior to Council's vote
on the IGA. In addition to the Town of Vail, the other partners in the Authority include the Town
of Avon, Eagle County and four metro districts (Arrowhead, Beaver Creek, Eagle -Vail and
Singletree). For more information, contact Tom Moorhead at 479-2107.
--Continuation of Contribution Requests Discussion •
After deciding to defer a discussion on the $493,500 funding request by the Vail Valley Tourism
and Convention Bureau, the Council reviewed the remaining funding requests from outside
agencies and agreed to include the following contributions in the 1999 budget: Colorado Ski
Museum, 2 blue parking passes; Bravo! Colorado, $28,500; Chamber of Commerce, $6,000;
Vail Village/Lionshead Merchant Associations, $15,000; Vail Jazz Foundation, $7,500; Vail
Valley Arts Council, $3,000; Vail Valley Foundation American Ski Classic, $25,000; Vail Valley
Foundation, 450 parking debits; Vail Valley Foundation Vail International Dance Festival,
$12,500.; Vail Valley Foundation Hot Summer Nights Concert, $5,000; Jimmie Heuga Center,
$500; Rotary Club, 1 blue parking pass; United Way of Eagle River Valley, $5,000; Vail
Mountain Rescue Group, $2,000; Ski Club Vail, 4 ice days at Dobson Arena; and Vail Alpine
Garden Foundation, $10,000 (from the Real Estate Transfer Tax funds). A discussion on the
Vail Valley Tourism and Convention Bureau requests will take place at the Oct. 6 evening
meeting. For more information, contact Pam Brandmeyer at 479-2113.
--Information Update
Councilmembers were invited to attend the 5-year TOV Employee Recognition Dinner Oct. 15 at
Russell's.
--Council Reports
Bob Armour indicated that he and Town Manager Bob McLaurin and Community Development
Director Russell Forrest attended a meeting of the Vail 99 Organizing Committee,
Sybill Navas reported on a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce in which the school bond
issue was discussed, as well as announcement of the resignation of Kate Carey as the
Chamber's director.
(more)
Add 4/TOV Council Highlights/9-22-98
--Other
Kevin Foley asked that a discussion be scheduled regarding recycling efforts, including options
for cardboard. Foley also clarified a request he made last week to inquire if Vail Associates is
paying sales tax on food delivered to its Lionshead warehouse.
Sybill Navas stressed the importance of creating a pocket park in the Matterhorn neighborhood
before the year 2005.
Bob Armour suggested the town write a letter to Eagle County to protest use of the landfill by
haulers from outside Eagle County.
UPCOMING DISCUSSION TOPICS
September 29--5th Tuesday
No Meeting
October 6 Work Session
Update of Building Codes
Discussion of Multi -Family GRFA Ordinance
Lionshead Master Plan Content Overview
Discussion of Ordinance RE: Implementing Lionshead Master Plan
Site Visit and Appeal of PEC Decision by Greg Amsden, RE: Timber Falls
• October 6 Evening Meeting
First Reading, Ordinance on Multi -Family GRFA
Second Reading, Ordinance No. 14, Supplemental Budget
Decision on Business License Fee Distribution, VVTCB Funding Request
•