HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-23 Town Council MinutesWORK SESSION MINUTES
Tuesday, March 23, 1999
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 23, 1999. All members were present with the exception of Mike Arnett.
Item No. 3, End of Season Bus Service Update. In response to community concern about paid
parking continuing past the winter bus schedule, staff presented a variety of information showing
cost of operating the structures, amount of revenue raised and cost of savings from lessening the
bus schedules. By Council consensus, it was agreed to move to the summer schedule as of
Monday, April 5, 1999, through April 18, 1999. At this time on the 19"' of April, the Town will
move to off-season bus service to continue through the 15" of June, 1999. From the 15'h of June
up until the beginning of the season in December or Thanksgiving, Council will continue with
summer bus service. Council also urged staff to take a closer look at developing a hybrid that
would more appropriately suit our current needs as far as in -town transportation.
Item No. 5, Council Reports. Sybill Navas, on behalf of the Chamber, requested a $500.00
contribution for the employee survey that is currently funded by Vail Associates and the
Chamber. It was indicated a Chamber member was also going to approach the Town of Avon for
a like amount. Bob Armour moved, with a second from Kevin, to approve the $500.00 from
Council contingency. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
PAB/aw
xc: Steve Thompson
Christine Anderson — billing address for the Chamber is P.O. Box 1437, Avon, CO
81620, Attention: Jen Brown.
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75 South Frontage Road
Vail, Colorado 81657
970-479-2100
FAX 970-479-2157
MEDIA ADVISORY
March 24, 1999
Contact: Suzanne Silverthorn, 479-2115
Community Information Office
VAIL TOWN COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS FOR MARCH 23
Work Session Briefs
Council members present: Armour, Foley, Ford, Jewett, Kurz, Navas
--Discussion of City Market/Bright Horizon Space
Representing City Market, John Caldwell briefly explained the company's attempts to find a new
day care operator for the 3,500 sq. ft. Vail Commons space vacated by Bright Horizons.
Although several entities had expressed interest, Caldwell said the space remains vacant with
no additional leads for a day care operator. That left Councilmembers wondering if there's a
so demand for additional day care in Vail. The ABC and Learning Tree preschools are each
operating about 10 spaces below their state license (although both operators prefer these
operating levels), according to Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer. Also yesterday, the
Council heard from Martha Peck who operates a Montessori school in Edwards. Peck told the
Council she developed a business plan for the space that would include caring for infants and
toddlers. But the plan was soon abandoned after a weeklong marketing campaign generated 6
inquires, compared to 70 phone calls she'd received during a similar campaign for her current
,facility. The Council also heard from Ulana Bihun, program coordinator for the Resource
Center,"a childcare resource and referral agency for Eagle and Garfield counties. Bihun urged
the Council to keep its options open, noting the supply of childcare slots in Vail for children 2
and under is "woefully inadequate" in Vail. Also yesterday, Anne Esson, representing the Vail
Tomorrow expanded Affordable Housing Team, asked Council to keep its options open until
plans are finalized for the town -owned Mountain Bell site, which currently houses the ABC
School and Learning Tree preschool. The Affordable Housing Team is pushing for
development of seasonal housing on the site, which could displace the two preschools. Dawes
Wilson, representing the Vail Commons Homeowners Association, shared the neighborhood's
concerns about traffic and parking impacts when assessing the possibility of a new use for the
space. Wilson said the association wants to be involved in the decision -making process. Later
in the afternoon, the Council toured the facility, but no decisions or conclusions were reached.
The former Bright Horizons space has been added to the inventory of townwide sites to be
considered for a community facilities plan that will be developed this spring.
--End of Season Bus Service Update
After reviewing several options for end of season bus service, the Council agreed to implement
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TOV Council Highlights/Add 113-23-99
a "summer" service schedule April 5-18 and to continue with paid parking in the structures
through April 18. The bus service plan will cut $50,000 from the town's operating budget. In
addition, Councilmembers Kevin Foley and Sybill Navas suggested extending a reduced bus
service schedule from April 19 to mid -June. During discussion, Councilman Michael Jewett
suggested offering a program that would allow free parking during the last two weeks of ski
season for vehicles with local license plates. But other Councilmembers, noting that free
parking would still be available at Ford Park and the soccer field, as well as the "Free After
Three".program in the structures, said Jewett's suggestion would be too difficult to implement at
the end of the season.
--Information Update
Announcements included: following complaints by an East Vail resident, several abandoned
vehicles have been towed from the trailhead parking area north of the East Vail interchange;
dinner with the Avon Town Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 1 at Gratzie; the Vail Town
Manager's staff breakfast also is April 1.
--Council Reports
Kevin Foley encouraged Councilmembers to visit with members of the Vail Recreation District
(VRD) Board of Directors in preparation for a VRD retreat on April 12-13. Discussion items will
include long range planning and regional expansion. (Foley serves as the Vail Town Council's
liaison to the VRD.) Also yesterday, Foley said he had been re-elected to serve as chairman of
the Eagle County Regional Transportation Authority for another year,
--Michael Jewett reported on his attendance at the March 17 West Vail neighborhood parks
meeting (Arosa/Garmisch and Buffehr Creek). Jewett said residents of the Buffehr Creek so
neighborhood expressed interest in preserving the town -owned lot adjacent to Buffehr Creek
Park as a dedicated open space parcel, while adding a small tot lot to the existing park. Jewett
also said residents complained about an abundance of dog feces that has been accumulating
on both parcels,
--Sybill Navas said a community facilities selection team spent last Friday interviewing 5 of the
10 design teams who had responded to the Town of Vail -Vail Recreation District request for
proposals to develop a conceptual siting plan for community facilities. Following reference
checks, Navas said the selection group will invite three teams to participate in a four -day
planning charette later this spring. Each of the three teams consists of multiple firms, with
national and local representation. They are:
EDAW; Zehren & Associates; and Hammel, Green & Abrahamson
IQ Magic; Orne & Associates; and Oz Architecture
Otis Architecture; Sasaki Associates; and Design Workshop
Bob Armour gave an update on the most recent meeting of the Colorado Association of Ski
Towns (CAST). The meeting included an annual legislative update with the Colorado Municipal
League as well as candid discussions with Tom Norton, director of the Colorado Department of
Transportation.
--Other
Sybill Navas, who represents the Town Council on the Chamber of Commerce Board of
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Directors, described scheduling conflicts that have prevented her from attending recent
Chamber meetings. It was suggested that Navas ask a town staff member to fill in for her
during the conflicting meeting dates. Also, in response to a Chamber request forwarded by
Navas, the Council voted 6-0 to approve a $500 contribution out of the Council contingency
budget to help fund a valleywide employee survey that will probe issues related to working in
the Vail Valley. On a related note, Navas expressed concerns about the status of the regional
marketing district discussions. In particular, Navas said she was concerned about Avon's ability
to opt out of the marketing district. In response, Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer
reported on a recent meeting of the Business Alliance group during which the issue of "opting
out" was discussed. Enabling legislation for the proposed special marketing district already
allows for this provision, based on submittal of petitions and a public vote, therefore allowing
any participating entity to avail themselves of the same opportunity, she said. Additionally,
board membership was discussed. Allowing 1 vote per participating entity (BCRC, Avon, Vail,
unincorporated Eagle County, Minturn), and then adding to based on percentage of funding
collected from the proposed lodging tax, would result in the following total number of votes per
entity: BCRC - 3; Avon - 1; unincorporated Eagle County - 1; Minturn - 1; Vail - 6.
Navas also inquired about the status of a dumpster near the Wall Street Building in Vail Village
and the timing of a Council review of the employee housing guidelines. Navas expressed
interest in strengthening the eligibility guidelines to reflect employment within Vail's boundaries
rather than within Eagle County.
Kevin Foley inquired about the status of a constituent's complaint about overnight RV camping
Alhft on the Lionshead charter lot (which is prohibited). In addition, Foley suggested the town lobby
to improve its placement of the proposed Cascade pedestrian overpass on the Intermountain
Regional Transportation high priority project list . During an overview of the selection process,
Acting Public Works Director Greg Hall said the town has 3 other projects that made the list (in
addition to the overpass): Lionshead intermodai center, Simba Run underpass and Frontage
Road improvements. Also yesterday, Foley gave Council a heads up that parents and teachers
from Red Sandstone Elementary School are interested in developing an athletic field near the
school. And lastly, with an election coming up in November, Foley suggested the town purge
the voter registration list. Although Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer said previous
efforts have been unsuccessful due to state purging requirements (voters must miss 2 general
elections in order to be purged from the list), efforts will be resumed by the Vail Town Clerk's
Office.
Next, Councilmembers presented Sybill Navas with birthday greetings.
Kaye Ferry of the Vail Village Merchants Association announced that a series of employee
forums are being held next Monday for workers under 30 to probe attitudes and needs that
might address improved guest services.
Next, Vail Town Manager Bob McLaurin commended Bob Armour for his leadership as
president of the Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) for the past three years. McLaurin
said Armour's efforts have resulted in elevating CAST's presence and credibility statewide.
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TOV Council Highlights/Add 3/3-23-99
UPCOMING DISCUSSION TOPICS
April 6 Work Session
Discussion of Ordinance re: Rezoning Arosa/Garmisch Housing & Park Site
Interview for 3 PEC Positions
Interview for 2 DRB Positions
Discussion of Model Traffic Code
Changes to Spring Clean -Up
April 6 Evening Meeting
Appoint 3 PEC Members
Appoint 2 DRB Members
First Reading, Ordinance re: Rezoning Arosa/Garmisch Housing & Park Site
Second Reading, Ordinance re: Lionshead Code Amendment
Second Reading, Ordinance re: Lionshead Rezoning
Second Reading, Ordinance re: Exempt PEC Member from DRB
Update on U.S. Forest Service Controlled Burn
April 93 Work Session
PEC/DRB Review
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