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Home My WebLink About2002-11-19 Town Council MinutesVAIL TOWN COUNCIL EVENING MEETING TUESDAY, November 19, 2002 7:00 P.M. TOV COUNCIL CHAMBERS The regular meeting of the Vail Town Council was called to order at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 by Mayor Kurz. MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Ludwig Kurz, Mayor Diana Donovan Dick Cleveland Bill Jewitt Greg Moffet Chuck Ogilby Rod Slifer, Mayor Pro-Tem Bob McLaurin, Town Manager Matt Mire, Town Attorney • The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Ken Sortland, A 2-year Vail resident, addressed the Council, speaking in regard to parking "ata-boys and fix its". Sortland acknowledged the Bubble being back in place, which was a good thing and hoped a permanent location could be found. Regarding parking, Sortland stated he couldn't find a place to park to go to work. Sortland cited pressure by VRI, but felt the town needed to do something for locals to get to work. A locals' parking area was suggested. Mayor Kurz stated he also hoped we had a great season and suggested Sortland serve on the parking task force which will be meeting in January to review the parking policies. Also, Sonny Lawrence, 15 year resident and businessman, addressed the Council inquiring as to a commercial space in Lionshead that has been vacant for over a year. Lawrence was proposing opening a family arcade center and asked if the Council could help with some of the zoning regulations, stating it would take at least two months to go through the process. Russ Forrest, Community Development Director, responded the time necessary for approval was dictated by town code and it would be inappropriate to deviate from those regulations. Lawrence also suggested putting plywood down on Ford Park during the winter to allow for additional parking during the ski season. The second item on the agenda was a discussion of the Conference Center. Mayor Kurz stated that now the center had been approved by the voters, it was time to figure out when, what and how this project would be completed. Items to Rmcasterlminl20021111902 1 r� u be discussed included the merits of an owner's representative to help the town thru the project, preliminary time frame, review available data, look at potential schematic plans, and decide on an RFP for contractors. Discussion followed regarding design/build or bid project options. Town Manager McLaurin stated in order for the half -cent sales tax and 1.5 percent lodging tax to be effective January 1, 2003, an ordinance would need to be presented to the Council for first reading at the December 3, 2002, evening meeting. Other documents needed for December 3`d included a request for proposal (RFP) for an owner's representative, an RFP for a project developer, and a document outlining a structure and selection process for a project oversight steering committee to include two councilmembers, representatives from small and large lodges and several local citizens. It was also suggested using additional outside expertise to negotiate conveyance of the land for the conference center from Vail Resorts to the town. Another suggestion was to visit conference centers in the surrounding areas to acquire some indication of how they functioned. Diana Donovan suggested the possibility of designing one of the two 20,000 sq. ft. spaces for multi -purpose use to address the need for a gymnastics center and other indoor recreational needs. Other councilmembers were not in agreement, stating the voters had voted on a conference center and that should be the main focus of the space. Donovan also expressed frustration on the result of the election, feeling she was not totally informed on the process. The Council also discussed the results of the 4 mill levy tax increase that was defeated for capital projects and increased fire protection. Councilmembers expressed their feeling that they had started too late in the year getting the word out on what the increase would be used for and how important it was to the 5- year capital plan. Greg Moffet; the single Councilmember not supporting the increase, stated he felt the tax had a chance of passing next year if the Council started now to educate the public on the need for the increase. Chuck Ogilby suggested moving forward in authorizing a debt service mill levy that would raise $1.2 million in 2003, another $1.3 million in 2004 and $793,000 in 2005, with a sunset provision to 2003, assuming the voters passed a mill levy increase in 2003. Town Manager McLaurin stated the town's ability to assess a mill levy equal to the debt service on 1992-A bonds for a three year period dates back to a bond election in 1985 and does not require voter approval. Bill Jewitt felt it inappropriate to authorize a tax increase after voters have said no. Several suggestions followed including pursuing a use tax, reviewing Vail Tomorrow objectives, examining and fine-tuning town expenses, and a recommendation by Town Manager McLaurin to continue to focus on funding capital improvements in Vail Village and Lionshead to retain Vail's status in the skiing community. Paul Rondeau, Vail local, suggested the formation of a citizens' advisory group to provide options for the Council to consider. All suggestions and ideas will be discussed at the December Y' Council meeting, along with a suggestion to include this as an agenda item on all upcoming meetings. Rmcasterlmin/2002/111902 2 The third item on the agenda was Ordinance #31, Series of 2002, first reading, an ordinance amending Title 3, Chapter 6 of the Vail Town code (Commission on Special Events). Town Attorney Mire stated this ordinance was written to remove a provision for the appointment of 10 non -voting honorary advisory members. The Council encouraged those members being removed to continue attending the meeting as interested parties and recommended the advisory members receive the benefit package they were entitled to as members of the board for this year. Mayor Kurz inquired as to how this ordinance came about. Attorney Mire stated he was advised to draft the ordinance after a discussion between Mayor Kurz, Bill Jewitt and staff. Bill Jewitt moved to approve Ordinance #31 on first reading, requesting former members be extended the benefit they were entitled to. Greg Moffet seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. The fourth item on the agenda was the second reading of Ordinance #30, an 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, 2003 through December 31, 2003. Judy Camp, Finance Director, stated no changes had been made to the ordinance from first reading. Diana Donovan stated she would be voting in favor of the ordinance reluctantly, feeling the need for additional cost savings and reductions in 2003. Greg Moffet made a motion to approve Ordinance #30 on second reading. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. The fifth item on the agenda was the approval of a Buy/Sell Agreement with Eagle River Water and Sanitation District. Town Attorney Mire stated the town had reached terms with the Eagle River Water District that would allow the town manager to sell the property. Greg Moffet moved to approve the buy -sell agreement, stating the document had been reviewed by the Council earlier in executive session. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. The sixth item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report. Town Manager McLaurin requested approval from the Council to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Eagle County for animal control services. Diana Donovan suggested the county should provide the service at no charge to the town in exchange for the amount of tax revenues the town generated for the county. Mayor Kurz stated he felt it was more expensive for the town to provide these services. Town Manager McLaurin agreed with Mayor Kurz, stating he felt this was the appropriate way to go. Greg Moffet moved to approve the intergovernmental agreement. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 5-1, Donovan opposed. Mayor Kurz congratulated the town for a reduction in water use of 34.5 percent F: mcasterlm i n120021111902 3 • for the period May through September 2002, compared with the same period in 2001. This also translated into a savings to the town of $14,381 over 2001. L' • As there was no further business, Greg Moffet made a motion to adjourn. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0 and the meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M. ,N OF,% Respectfully submitted, S�'�"' Ludwig KurzWayor ATTEST: r.oreI onaldson, Town Clerk Minutes taken by Mary A. Caster F:mcasterlmin/20021111902 4