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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-12-04 Town Council MinutesVAIL TOWN COUNCIL EVENING MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2001 7:00 P.M. TOV COUNCIL CHAMBERS The regularly scheduled meeting of the Vail Town Council commenced at approximately 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 04, 2001. Members Present: Ludwig Kurz, Mayor Rod Slifer, Mayor Pro -Tern Dick Cleveland Diana Donovan Bill Jewitt Greg Moffet Chuck Ogilby Staff Present: Bob McLaurin, Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager Matt Mire, Town Attorney The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Ghiqui Hoffmann, owner of the Laughing Monkey clothing store in Vail, appeared before the Council, expressing her concern about parking in Vail, shopping buses, and taking customers to near -by discount stores. Hoffmann suggested the town allow for a parking discount for not leaving the parking structures until after 7:00 p.m. Hoffmann also suggested Christmas carolers, Santa Claus, and other attractions to keep shoppers in Vail. Hoffman asked for a response from the Council. Mayor Kurz stated the Council could not make a response at this time but would schedule her concerns for discussion. Hoffman encouraged the Council not to wait, that the merchants needed immediate help. Town Manager McLaurin suggested Stephen Connolly, Vail Chamber and Business Association, take a leadership role in this effort, Kaye Ferry, Vail Chamber and Business Association, expressed complaints she had heard over the weekend regarding parking, Ferry urged the Council to begin immediately on a summer marketing plan to offset what she predicted to be a devasting winter season for Vail businesses. Gretta Burke from Cabbage and Kings in Lionshead, expressed her concerns regarding sales in her business in ratio to the cars on the Frontage Road. Burke urged the town to come forward to do what it can to help local businesses come • up with a solution as soon as possible. Jim Lamont, Vail Village Homeowners 1 Association, stated his Board was scheduled to meet on December 27", and expressed their concerns about the economy in Vail. Lamont also called upon the elected officials and the business community to come up with a creative short-term plan for the business owners. Rick Sackbauer, Vail Valley Exchange Sister Cities program, announced that two Australian exchange students were on their way to Vail this week to spend the winter season with a host family in Vail. The second item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. Under the Consent Agenda, Greg Moffet made a motion to approve the November 6 and 20, 2001, minutes, as corrected. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The next item under the Consent Agenda was Ordinance #32, SDD#6, Second Reading, an ordinance amending the approved uses of Special Development District O. No. 6, Vail Village Inn, Phase IV, to allow for the conversion of accommodation units to Type Ill Employee Housing Units, and setting forth details in regard thereto. Greg Moffet made a motion to approve Ordinance #32, on second reading. Chuck Ogilby seconded the motion. A discussion followed regarding the reason behind the ordinance. A suggestion was made to move the information in Section 4 of the ordinance to Section 5, regarding expiration dates. Greg Moffet amended his motion to include the suggested change. Chuck Ogilby amended his second. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The third item on the agenda was the appointment of one Planning and Environmental Commission (PEC) member. Council had interviewed the applicants at the work session earlier in the afternoon. A secret ballot was conducted by the Council. Greg, Moffet then moved to appoint Eric Shirley to the PEC Board. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Mayor Kurz thanked the other applicants for applying and encouraged those not selected to express their interest in March when several vacancies would occur on the board. The fourth item on the agenda was a presentation on the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2001. George Ruther, head of planning, addressed the Council stating the staff had been invited on tours of the areas of concern. A presentation was mde by Chris Aaron of Congresswoman Diana DeGette's office. Arn Menconi, County Commissioner, also spoke in support of the program and asked for support of Council by resolution to express exactly how the town feels about wilderness, Diana Donovan expressed her hope that the town would support a resolution. Chuck Ogilby seconded Diana's comments. Rod Slifer agreed with what had been said and requested staff to prepare a resolution supporting the Wilderness Act. The fifth item on the agenda was the first reading of Ordinance #33, Property Tax Ordinance, an ordinance providing for the levy assessment and collection of town ad 2 valorem property taxes due for the 2001 tax year and payable in the 2002 fiscal year. Steve Thompson, Finance Director, stated this ordinance was required to adopt the mill levy and collect property taxes in 2002. Thompson stated that because the final , numbers from the county would not be available until December 15, 2001 the mill levy was set at a different time than the approval of the budget. Greg Moffet made a motion to approve Ordinance #33, and Rod Slifer seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously. Thompson stated the total revenue to the town would be approximately $200,000. The sixth item on the agenda was the first reading of Ordinance #34, Supplemental Appropriation #3, an ordinance making supplemental appropriations to the Town of Vail General Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Dispatch Services Fund, and the Real Estate Transfer Tax Fund for the 2001 Budget for the Town of Vail, Colorado; and authorizing the expenditures of said appropriations as set forth herein; and setting forth details in regard thereto. Steve Thompson, Finance Director, presented this ordinance to the Council, stating this supplemental appropriation was for $333,243 which would be partially funded by $136,425 in additional revenues. Thompson stated a supplemental appropriation was needed to fund new projects or programs, like the Dobson Ice Arena doors and Vail standards or to fund unanticipated expenses like the excess natural gas costs. After some discussion, Dick Cleveland made a motion to approve Ordinance #34, Series of 2001, on first reading. Greg Moffet seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The seventh item on the agenda was the first reading of Ordinance #35,.Series of' 2001, 457 Resolution - First Amendment To The Town Of Vail Deferred . Compensation Plan. Finance Director Steve Thompson presented this ordinance, stating it was effective January 1, 2000. Greg Moffet moved to approve Ordinance #35, on first reading. Rod Slifer seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The eighth item on the agenda was Resolution #12, Redemption of Town of Vail, Colorado Single Family Revenue Refunding Bonds. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REDEMPTION OF THE TOWN OF VAIL, COLORADO, SINGLE FAMILY REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, 1992 SERIES A (THE "BONDS")- AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF THE MORTGAGE LOANS HELD WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDS; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS AND INSTRUMENTS NECESSARY OR CONVENIENT TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS RESOLUTION; MAKING CERTAIN APPOINTMENTS AND DESIGNATIONS; AND CONTAINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING THERETO. Mayor Kurz advised the Council had a detailed discussion at last meeting. Steve Thompson, Finance Director, gave an overview, stating this resolution would authorize the redemption of the town's single family mortgage revenue bonds which were issued in 1979 on the Pitkin Creek project and refinanced in 1992. The liquidation, scheduled ito occur on December 11, 2001, would allow the town to retire the bonds eight years 3 C. early for a net savings of $215,000. Steve Jeffers, of George K. Baum, addressed the Council regarding the background behind this resolution, stating the town had little to no risk in moving forward with the transaction and that the mortgage holders would be unaffected by the transaction. Greg Moffet made a motion to approve Resolution #12, and Dick Cleveland seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Jeffers stated he would be getting back to staff in approximately a week to present a final amount. Greg Moffet then brought up the topic of the Vail Bike Taxi management plan as discussed in the afternoon work session. Operated by Adam Palmer, director of the Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability, and Jim Mortenson, Vail mountain bike race series pro champion, the bike taxi plans to give visitors an alternate environmentally - friendly way to be transported to and from the ski lifts. Greg Moffet made a motion to approve the proposed operating plan with the additional approval of Hanson Ranch Road, Willow Bridge. and Meadow Drive as proposed. Rod Slifer seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion and the motion passed unanimously. The ninth item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report. Bob McLaurin stated he had nothing to add to the report. Diana Donovan suggested having the packet out on Thursday rather than Wednesday. Mayor Kurz stated he felt having the packet ready closer to the meeting date would include most of the information relating to the upcoming meeting. Greg Moffet suggested having some items sent to Councilmenbers earlier (by fax or e-mail). McLaurin requested Councilmembers let him know if they wanted their packets delivered to them. Chuck Ogilby brought up the discussion earlier in the meeting with Stephen Connolly regarding the assignment given today at work session. Bob McLaurin stated he felt it was appropriate for the business community to take the lead in "jump starting" the Village marketing. Suggestions from the Council included asking Stephen Connelly to be the guru to go out and get ideas. Rod Slifer stated the town had committed a lot of money to marketing which may need to be reallocated. Chuck Ogilby suggested making the VCBA an ad hoc committee for economic development. Ogilby stated he was a little uncomfortable with not helping more with VCBA. Diana Donovan suggested bringing the commercial property owners on board in the discussions and asked Stephen to invite them to participate. As there was no further business, Greg Moffet made a motion to adjourn and Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 P.M. 4 • ATTEST: I�L/Or ei Donaldson, Town Clerk Minutes taken by Mary A. Caster • 0 Respectfully submitted, Ludwig K, Mayor