Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-16 Town Council MinutesCJ C, VAIL TOWN COUNCIL EVENING MEETING - MINUTES OCTOBER 16, 2001 6:30 P.M. Members Present: Staff Members Present: Ludwig Kurz, Mayor Sybill Navas, Mayor Pro -Tern Diana Donovan Kevin Foley Greg Moffet Chuck Ogilby Rod Slifer Bob McLaurin, Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer, Asst. Town Manager The Vail Town Council first convened as the Vail Local Marketing District (VLMD) to approve Resolution #1, Series of 2001, a resolution adopting a budget and making appropriations to pay the costs, expenses and liabilities of the Vail Local Marketing District, for its fiscal year January 2, 2002, through December 31, 2002. Mayor Kurz introduced Resolution #1 into the record, asking Finance Director Steve Thompson to concur that the town budget had been reduced by 10%, although the town was keeping the marketing district budget in tact as written, not knowing what the season would bring. Kurz expressed his concern that the highest priority should be given to marketing the town during the summer and shoulder seasons and asked that the marketing board look for ways to save dollars. Thompson stated the budget numbers were the same as those presented in the budget hearings. Ross Boyle, chairman of the marketing district, addressed the Council, stating the board had been looking at the changing market and given the events of September 11kh, realizing the tourism industry would most likely be affected. Boyle stated the international market would most likely be the first to feel the effects. After further discussion, Greg Moffet made a motion to approve Resolution #1, Series of 2001. Rod Slifer seconded the motion. Mayor Pro - Tern Sybill Navas stated the marketing board needed to be very clear on the fact that the income to this group does not come out of the town's general fund. It was also pointed out that the lodging tax was a Vail -only tax and the marketing board should become independent of the town in the near future. Foley stated that all marketing groups, including the Vail Chamber and Business Association and the combined chamber should come together to unify their message and avoid duplication. Navas stated the special events committee will be meeting twice next week to put together a proposal on how these relationships can be organized. Diana Donovan stated she would be looking for improved accountability of the administrative funds. Greg Moffet then made a motion to adjourn to regular session. Rod Slifer seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The regular meeting of the Vail Town Council convened at approximately 7-00 P.M. All members of the Vail Town Council were present. Also in attendance were Bob McLaurin, Town Manager, and Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager. The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Mayor Kurz reminded the public to keep their items to a minimum time period and any items requiring further discussion would be scheduled for a future meeting. Kurz also asked that any items pertaining to the up -corning municipal election be held for the scheduled debates. There was no citizen participation. The second item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. The first item on the consent agenda was the approval of the September 4th and 18th minutes. Sybill Navas made two corrections to the September 18th minutes. Greg Moffet made a motion to approve the September 4th and 18th minutes as revised. Kevin Foley seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The second item on the consent agenda was the second reading of Ordinance No. 25, Series of 2001, an ordinance amending the Vail Town Code, Title 14, Development Standards Handbook, Section 10, Design Review Standards and Guidelines, D. Building Materials and Design. George Ruther, head of planning, presented the ordinance to the Council, stating on Tuesday, October 2, 2001, the Council approved by • a vote of 6-1 (Navas opposed) the first reading of this ordinance. Gibson stated the Council had requested the phrase 'over time" be added to the proposed text amendments during the worksession on October 2Id. After further discussion, Moffet made a motion to approve Ordinance #25, Series of 2001, on second reading, with the addition of "over time" in the appropriate sections. Diana Donovan seconded the motion. Sybill Navas stated she voted no on this ordinance on first reading and would be voting no on second reading because she felt the use of the word "may" within the ordinance eliminated any degree of certainty during the application process, relying too much on subjectivity by the Design Review Board. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-1, Navas opposing. The third item under the Consent Agenda was the second reading of Ordinance No. 29, Series of 2001, an ordinance amending the official zoning map for the Town of Vail in accordance with Title 12, Zoning Regulations, Chapter 5, Zoning Map, Rezoning Lot 1, Middle Creek Subdivision (Mountain Bell Site) to housing Zone District. Allison Ochs, town planner, addressed the Council, stating there had been no changes from first reading but Council had requested additional time to read the staff memo pertaining to the rezoning. Rod Slifer asked Ochs if all affected property owners had been notified of this proposal. Ochs stated yes, they had been. After further discussion, Kevin Foley made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 29 on second reading. Greg Moffet seconded the motion. Diana Donovan expressed her concerns over the rezoning, in particular, notification of the community beyond the adjacent property owners, and the housing . rezoning issues. Donovan felt that the public had not been given sufficient information as to what was being proposed for this site. Sybill Navas disagreed, stating the Council had continuing discussions regarding this site over the last several years. Also, the fact that there was little public input showed that the community realized there were few alternatives for the housing situation. Slifer expressed his concern on the preliminary design of the project, encouraging the development team to keep in close contact with the Council during the design phase. Foley thanked the housing authority for their work on this project and expressed his faith in all of the town boards to see this project through. A vote was taken on the motion and the motion passed 6-1, Donovan opposing. The third item on the agenda was a Proposed Fee Schedule for Development Review. Russell Forrest, Community Development Director, addressed the Council, stating on September 18, 2001, staff had asked Council whether development review fees should reflect the cost of providing those services. At that meeting the Council directed staff to develop a proposed fee structure that more accurately reflected the true cost of providing those services. Forrest stated a focus group had met earlier in the year to address the issue of better serving the customer. Forrest reported the town's fee structure was relatively low compared with other jurisdictions in the state. Discussion followed regarding what fees were being charged for different applications. It was felt by the Council that the process should be as "user-friendly" as possible, encouraging Vail homeowners to upgrade and maintain their homes with as little hassle as possible. The Council requested Russ return to a future meeting with a fee schedule with definitions that would be given out to applicants for further review. • The fourth item on the agenda was the second reading of Ordinance #30, Series of 2001, an ordinance adopting the Annual Appropriation Ordinance, adopting a budget and financial plan and making appropriations to pay the costs, expenses, and liabilities of the Town of Vail, Colorado, for its fiscal year January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002. Mayor Kurz opened the discussion by stating the Council had directed Town Manager Bob McLaurin and Finance Director Steve Thompson to prepare a budget that reduced sales tax and lift tax revenue estimated for 2001 by 10%. McLaurin stated the revenue budgets were decreased by 10 percent in the sales tax and lift tax revenues. Greg Moffet made a motion to approve Ordinance #30, Series of 2001, on second reading. Sybill Navas seconded the motion. Diana Donovan stated she would be voting against the budget, stating it was not conservative enough, she was not in support of using Real Estate Transfer Tax funds for the entire park, and accusing the Council, staff and consultants of being deceptive in its dealings with Donovan Park. Kevin Foley stated he would also be voting no on the budget, citing the cost of Donovan Park pavilion as the main reason. Rod Slifer expressed his continuing concern over the design of the pavilion, but in favor of the concept of a pavilion. Chuck Ogilby reaffirmed his support of the pavilion, feeling it would make an architectural statement for Vail. Kurz agreed with Ogilby's comments, but felt it was difficult to take the comments made by Donovan, stating they were not reasonable or fair. Tom Steinberg, former councilmember and long time Vail resident, requested the Council voluntarily cut their salaries in half in response to the budget cuts. Reaction from the Council included . Slifer's comment that he had always donated his salary to charity, and Navas stating that when she began her first term as a councilmember, her daughter was three years old, and she has used her salary to subsidize childcare expenses. Other councilmembers agreed that their salaries were not large enough to make a difference in the overall budget. Rick Scalpello, Vail resident and Vail Today founder, addressed the Council, asking what was in the budget that would drive an increase in business revenues. Navas responded that the Council was contributing increased funding for special events and contributions in the 2002 Budget. Town Manager McLaurin stated the town was not in a position to guarantee the success of private enterprises, and the town had cut or elected not to fill positions and cut projects from its budget. Slifer felt the nation was already in a recession before the events of September 111h and felt the community needed to do everything it could to get people here. Moffet stated he was proud to sit on a council that supported the community and felt the town was working as a partner with the community and the ski company. Long time Vail resident Flo Steinberg stated she felt the Donovan Park pavilion and the proposed Vail Center conference center were in competition with private Vail businesses. Foley reminded the public that an election for 4 new council seats would be held in three weeks, and encouraged everyone to get out and vote. A vote was taken on the motion and the motion passed 5-2, Foley and Donovan opposing. The fifth item on the agenda was Information Update. Councilmembers were reminded of a dinner with the Eagle County Commissioners scheduled in Eagle at 5:00 P.M. on October 18th, as well as Friday's Colorado Ski Hall of Fame dinner. As a follow up to an earlier discussion, Councilmembers expressed no interest in pursuing a suggestion by Sybill Navas to consider increases to the Council compensation and benefits package. The sixth item on the agenda was Council Reports. Kevin Foley complimented the library staff for its coordination of a children's scarecrow -making party. Greg Moffet noted the annual Matterhorn/Highland Meadows neighborhood trick -or -treat party would be taking place at dusk on Halloween. Sybill Navas said recipients of the Vail Youth Award and Vail Youth Ambassador Award had been selected. The honorees, juniors from Vail Mountain School and Battle Mountain High School, will be introduced at the November 6th Council meeting. Diana Donovan inquired about the status of the athletic fields at Red Sandstone Elementary School. Todd Oppenheimer stated the project was 80% complete and the field should be sodded this fall, weather permitting. Items under Other included: Ogilby suggested the need to discuss coordination between the town and the Vail Recreation District in pursuit of a new gymnastics center. Ogilby stated the center was in jeopardy of being displaced as a result of efforts by the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District to acquire the town -owned facility for expansion of its water treatment plant. 4 • 0 Foley announced the upcoming Trick -or -Treat Trot event scheduled for October 315t, sponsored by the Vail Recreation District and the Vail Public Library. Foley also expressed his condolences to the family of Dan Mulrooney, who passed away this week. The ninth item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report. Town Manager McLaurin invited the Council to attend the Colorado Association of Ski Towns meeting held October 24th and 25th in Minturn. McLaurin presented the Council with an update on the Donovan Park project and asked for authorization to enter into a contract with J. L. Viele Construction for $3.4 million to construct the park components identified in the Donovan Park Master Plan to include a soccer field, restrooms, playground and on -site parking. The contract, to be completed by next Sept. 15, provided for a fully -functional park but does not include construction of the community pavilion. Greg Moffet made a motion to approve the contract. Chuck Ogilby seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7- 0. In voting in favor of the contract, Donovan asked for assurances that use of funds from the Real Estate Transfer Tax be monitored closely and designated for park use only. Navas emphasized the need to create a unique design for the playground to avoid the colored plastic look. Moffet then moved to adjourn to move to Executive Session. Slifer seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. At 9:/6" P.M., Council returned to regular session to adjourn the meeting. ATTEST: /", , Ir b9t" Lb.rerei 91 • •Town Clerk Minutes taken by Mary A. Caster Respectfully submitted, )�Z)L�l ��� Ludwig Kurz, faayor