HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-11 Town Council MinutesTOWN OF VAILjy
05 South Frontage Road
Vail, Colorado 81657
970-479-2100
FAX 970-479-2157
MEDIA ADVISORY
August 11, 1999
Contact: Suzanne Silverthorn, 479-2115
Community Information Office
Media Note: We are unable to provide Council Highlights for the Aug. 3 meetings, due
to a miscommunication. The minutes of the August 3 evening meeting will be available
on our website (ci. vail. co. us) following Council approval on Sept. 7. if you have questions
about the Aug. 3 work session, please contact Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager,
at 479-2113.
VAIL TOWN COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS FOR AUGUST 10
Work Session Briefs
Council members present: Armour', Arnett, Foley, Navas
'Presided
--PECIDRB Report
During a review of the most recent meetings of the Planning and Environmental Commission
and the Design Review Board, Councilmembers inquired about approval of the Arosa-Garmisch
Park plan, which will be reviewed by the Town Council at its Aug. 17 work session.
--Discussion of Newly Formed Vail Chamber of Commerce
Representing the new Vail Community Chamber, Joe Staufer provided the Council with a brief
overview of the group. He said the goal of the new Chamber is to refocus Vail's promotional
efforts to serve the Vail business community and thereby stimulate the growth of sales tax for the
Town. Staufer distributed an information sheet containing six objectives: 1) overhaul
management of the Vail Visitors' Centers to eliminate favoritism; 2) create a website for online
reservations; 3) use Town -of Vail marketing funds for Vail -specific programs; 4) expand Vail
marketing efforts to year-round effort; 5) educate the local consumer of the importance of
supporting locally owned businesses; 6) create a long range business development plan.
During questioning by the Councilmembers, Staufer said he couldn't speak for his membership
yet regarding support for a potential lodging tax on the November ballot. Staufer said the
organization currently represents nearly 100 businesses. Only those who pay business license
fees to the Town of Vail are eligible for full membership in the organization. Others, he said, can
join as associate members. Staufer said the group will hold its first annual meeting in the fail.
Councilman Kevin Foley asked Staufer to keep the Council posted on the efforts, while
Councilman Michael Arnett thanked Staufer for taking the initiative.
--Employee Generation Public Discussion Format
After reviewing a format for upcoming community discussions on Council's pursuit of an
employee generation policy, the Council gave its authorization to move forward. Employee
generation requires developments to provide a percentage of employee housing units based on
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the number of new employees generated by the development. Meetings will be held in .
September with representatives from the major business sectors in Vail, including general retail,
bars and restaurants, hotels, and property management and real estate offices. The
discussions will explain the concept of employee generation, as well as implementation
examples from other resort communities. Participants also will be asked to offer ideas on the
following questions: 1) What types of businesses should generation rates be based upon; 2)
What are the differences in the number of employees needed to operate each business type
(retail, hotels, restaurants and bars, property management offices, real estate offices); 3) What
percentage of newly generated employees should housing be required for; and 4) What ,
constitutes an employee housing unit. Once compiled, the information will be forwarded to the.
Town Council as it contemplates the specifics of an employee generation requirement for Vail.
In addition, the information will also be made available to the Eagle County Commissioners, who
have expressed interest in pursuing a countywide initiative. During discussion yesterday, Chuck
Ogilby, a member of the Vail Tomorrow Affordable Housing Task Force, urged the Council to
avoid burdening small business owners with employee generation. Instead, he said, it should be
aimed at larger scale developments and redevelopments. For more information, contact Nina
Timm, Town of Vail housing coordinator, at 479-2444.
--Development Review Process Improvements for Commercial and Multi -Family
Due to time considerations in retaining a quorum, this item was tabled to a future work session.
--Public Accommodation Zone District Text Amendments
The Council continued its review of a proposal to amend the town's Public Accommodation Zone
District which is,intended to codify development standards that were approved through recent
Special Development Districts. Proposed by Johannes Faessler of the Sonnanalp, the
amendment would impact 17 lodge properties, mostly in the Vail Village area. The updated
development standards would clarify future development potential, thereby reducing the
uncertainty of 11th hour negotiations which currently occur during the Special Development
District process, according to the applicant. During Council's review yesterday, several
scenarios were presented by the applicant's consultant, Tom Braun, showing the degree to
which buildings could attain proposed ratio increases in the areas of square footage, setbacks
and other development standards. In addition, the Council reviewed the relationship between
the proposed development standards and the Vail Village Urban Design Guide Plan which,
when applied together, would reduce excessive bulk and mass, according to Braun.
Councilmembers continued to express some uneasiness about the proposal. Michael Arnett
suggested the need for more specific design standards, similar to the new standards contained
in the Lionshead Master Plan, while Bob Armour repeated concerns about the potential for more
condominiums to be added rather than the Council's goal of more lodging units. Kevin Foley
inquired about the impact to the new Vail Village Inn redevelopment proposal, while Sybill Navas
offered a reminder about the need to address parking requirements. The discussion will
continue at the Aug. 24 work session when Braun will return with proposed modifications to
address Council's concerns. The ordinance will be considered for first reading at the Sept. 21
evening meeting.
--Information Update
Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer presented a logistics update on the WestFest event
to be held over Labor Day weekend at Ford Park. Rather than a full street closure, organizers
have agreed to a request by the town to allow one-way eastbound residential traffic on Vail
Valley Drive from Golden Peak to the Soccer Field during the event. Motorists will be
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. encouraged to use the Pulis Bridge entrance to Vail Valley Drive. In addition, WestFest will
relocate two refrigerated trucks from the soccer field area to the Public Works shops to reduce
noise impacts in the residential neighborhood. A third refrigerated truck will be located at the
soccer field, but will be turned off overnight so as to minimize disturbances. Due to the
modifications, a special event ordinance (similar to legislation used for the World Alpine Ski
Championships} that addresses signs, temporary improvements and other items associated with
the event, will not be needed, according to Brandmeyer, since all. other requests will be handled
under existing regulations. The ordinance received first reading approval at the Aug. 3 meeting.
Brandmeyer says she'll recommend denial of the ordinance at the Aug. 17 second reading. For
details, contact Brandmeyer at 479-2113.
Also yesterday, Councilmembers received word that a petition to request placement of a Vail
lodging tax on the Nov. 2 election ballot is proceeding. According to state legislation that will
authorize such a vote, the petition must be signed by property owners representing more than 50
percent of the commercial property holdings within the Town of Vail. For details, contact
Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer at 479-2113.
--Council Reports
Sybill Navas, who represents the Council on the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments,
noted that a GIS informational seminar will be held in Vail from 10 am to 3 pm Aug. 18 for
elected officials and others interested in the technology. Navas said the agency has received a
grant for a regional GIS system that will be useful to Vail and other local governments.
--Other
. At the request of Councilman Michael Arnett, who shared concerns from a constituent, the
Council agreed to discontinue use of magnesium chloride as a dust abatement on summer
construction projects in the Town of Vail. The decision is effective immediately. A decision on
the use of magnesium chloride as a winter snowmelt is still awaiting completion of a
comprehensive study by the Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Association of
Ski Towns and other agencies.
Kaye Ferry, representing the Vail Village Merchants Association and the Vail Restaurant
-Association, urged the Council to join those organizations in sending a letter of support for the
Vail campus of Johnson & Wales culinary school. The future of the Vail campus is in jeopardy,
she said, because of plans to open a campus in Denver. The Council agreed to send a letter
offering its support for continuation of the Vail campus.
Kevin Foley noted parking problems at Ford Park this past Sunday during the soccer
tournament, while Michael Arnett said he noticed that additional trash removal efforts were in
order following completion of the event.
UPCOMING DISCUSSION TOPICS
August 17 Work Session
Pine Beetle Update
VVMB Presentation on Summer Marketing 2000
Discussion of Newspaper Box Codification Ordinance
Arosa/Garmisch Park Plan
Ford Park Playground Plan
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August 17 Evening Meeting
First Reading, Newspaper Box Codification Ordinance
August 24 Work Session
PEC/DRB Report
Bike Path Tour
PEC/DRB ,Joint Site Visit & Work Session re: Vail Plaza Hotel
Capital Projects & RETT Budgets for 2000
Second Quarter Financial Report
PA Text Amendments
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