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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-19 Town Council MinutesTOWN COUNCIL EVENING MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2002 7:00 P.M. TOV COUNCIL CHAMBERS The regularly scheduled Vail Town Council meeting was convened at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 19, 2002. In Mayor Kurz's and Mayor Pro-Tem. Rod Slifer's ' absence, Councilmember Diana Donovan presided over the meeting. MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Diana Donovan Dick Cleveland Bill Jewitt Greg Moffet Chuck Ogilby Ludwig Kurz, Mayor Rod Slifer, Mayor Pro-Tem STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Pam Brandmeyer, Asst. Town Manager • Matt Mire, Town Attorney The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Kaye Ferry of the Vail Chamber and Business Association (VCBA) informed the Council 8 ski racks had been donated from Bill Jensen of Vail Resorts. Ferry stated she would be working with town employees to determine the best placement of the racks, including Lionshead. The second item on the agenda was the appointment to the Building & Fire Appeals Board. Diana Donovan stated 3 of the 5 candidates had been interviewed earlier at the work session, the remaining 2 were well known by the Council. Greg Moffetthen moved to appoint the following members as follows:.Kyle Webb - 1 year term; Thomas DuBois - 2 year term; Timothy Losa - 3 year term; Roberto Conrique 4 year term; Mark Mueller - 5 year term. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 5-0. The third item on the agenda was the discussion of Eagle River Water & Sanitation District Replacement of Water Lines and, in particular, the scheduled start date. There was discussion regarding the outcome of the meeting held on February 6h, regarding what date the replacement was to be completed. Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer stated she would confirm what date was decided on for completion of the project - Memorial Day Weekend or 4t" of July. Lynn Schorr from Eagle River Water and Sanitation • District addressed the Council, stating it was her understanding from the previous meeting 1 that work could begin on April 1511 with plans to be out of Hanson Ranch Road 5y May 241h. It was agreed that most merchants would prefer the April 15'h start date. Additional discussion will be held on the March 5'h evening meeting. The fourth item on the agenda was a request to place additional "food, lodging and gas" signs along 1-70 at the West Vail exit. George Ruther addressed the Council, stating this request had originated from Rick Scalpello and interested West Vail business owners. Ruther informed the Council a similar request had been denied in 1995 and again in 1999 when the wayfinding signs were incorporated into the town. Ruther stated the logo signs violated the town's side code which prohibited off -site advertising and did not fit into Vail's "premiere" image, and staff was recommending denial of the request. Ruther stated he had invited representatives from Colorado Logos, Inc. to give a presentation to the Council. Colorado Logos, Inc., stating they had worked with 20 states in the country, gave an overview of how the company worked and what was being proposed for the West Vail area. Rick Scalpello, of Vail Today, addressed the Council stating he had been working along with several of the restaurant, lodging and gas station owners in West Vail to request permission from the Vail Town Council to place additional informational signs along 1-70 in the vicinity of the Vilest Vail exit. Scalpello stated the informational signs were blue in color and intended to inform motorists of the services available at the upcoming interstate exit. Scalpello stated 35,000 motorists pass by Vail everyday. Not all these people were coming to Vail to visit, but were passing through town towards other destinations. Scalpello was proposing two signs in each direction, 6 restaurants and 6 gas/lodging signs. Eric Knox, general manager of Colorado Logos, Inc., addressed the Council stating his company has managed sign programs for the state of Colorado. Knox gave an overview of how the program worked, stating businesses were selected on a first come first served basis, and applications were sent to the city for approval, with businesses being put on a rotational schedule, with contracts being award for a year's term. Knox stated the largest sign would be 15 by 10 feet. Knox stated his company would pay all costs to have structure built, including maintenance and washing in the spring. Scalpello stated the group was proposing two signs in each direction, businesses will pay for signs and any local business can participate. Scalpello staffed main Vail businesses were adequately addressed already, with two information booths accommodating Vail proper. Scalpello stated he had learned late in the process of two councilmembers not being in attendance at this evening's meeting, asking that a motion or vote be deferred to the next meeting.. Greg Moffet commented the West Vail merchants were in a different situation, being more of a community, attracting a different group of customers. Bill Jewitt agreed with Moffet's comments. Dick Cleveland expressed his desire to wait until the entire Council was present before voting on this matter, stating he was reluctant to support the idea because of it being in violation of the town's sign code and the town should not make an exception to the sign code proliferation. Chuck Ogilby stated he would go along with the majority and was not opposed to the logo signs, feeling it was beneficial to the West Vail merchants. Ogilby also stated the Council has received an e-mail from Rod Slifer expressing his support of logo signage. Diana Donovan then asked for comments from the audience in support of logo signs. 2 Paul Nelson_ , franchise owner of McDonald's in West Vail, stated signs advertising his restaurants in other areas resulted in double-digit increases, increasing revenues and the town's tax base. Mike Cacioppo from Speakout newspaper, spoke in support of logo signage, stating it was time to help businesses. Farrow Hitt, manager of Park Meadows Lodge in Vail, spoke in favor of the logo signs. Joseph Wood, Taco Bell Operations Manager, stated he was allowed to put up a sign in Eagle in 1998 and reported his sales were up 91 percent, where his West Vail business was down. Sonny Caster, owner of Vail Conoco, stated he was forced to remove his pole sign when his business logo changed, although code was not enforced in other West Vail locations. Caster also stated international signs did not advertise 24 hour service, which is offered at his place of business. Justin Hurley, from the Half Moon Saloon, stated West Vail businesses do not get the same benefit of special events that Vail Village and Lionshead merchants do. Mike Arnett, Vail local and former Councilmember, expressed his support in seeing some sort of signage for West Vail. Greg Moffet thanked the public for their input and made a motion to move forward to request to change the sign ordinance as it relates to outdoor signs to allow for off -site signage in West Vail. Chuck Ogilby seconded the motion. Diana Donovan asked for clarification of changing the code. Dick Cleveland stated he would support a motion to begin the process to change the zoning ordinance to allow for signage in West Vail. Discussion followed regarding the number of signs to be allowed in West Vail, Town Attorney Mire informed Council of the need to change the ordinance as a first step. Greg Moffet then amended his motion to direct staff to change the'zoning ordinance to allow for two signs ionly. Chuck Ogilby amended his second. Diana Donovan stated she will want to look at the ordinance closely before first reading. Dick Cleveland expressed his desire to have the staff explore it and have staff bring them an ordinance which the Council will evaluate. Ruther asked for clarification of the Council regarding the signs. Attorney Mire stated if the ordinance was passed, the public would not need to come back to the town for approval. A vote was taken on the motion and the motion passed 4-1, Donovan opposing. Ruther informed the Council this matter would be brought before the Planning and Environmental Commission on March 25 and two readings of the ordinance would be scheduled for April, 2002. The fifth item on the agenda was the Lionshead Overview. Diana Donovan stated Council had directed staff to shorten the LionsHead overview discussion to include only information on what the next steps will be for the redevelopment. Director of Community Development, Russell Forrest, said the next steps will include a meeting between town staff and Vail Resorts, Inc. (VRI) representatives to discuss loading and delivery issues on the north -day lot; a presentation to Council regarding VRI's redevelopment proposal and its relevance to the LionsHead Masterplan; a series of discussions regarding public projects and financing tools to cover public projects; and discussions regarding the proposed conference facility. Chuck Ogilby urged Council to meet prior to the above steps to discuss Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Ogilby said TIF will be a key part of the LionsHead public improvement financing and Council • should meet specifically to discuss its importance. Dick Cleveland agreed stating that 3 financing in general will be a very important issue and there is a need to discuss what role the town will play and how much money will be needed. Council heard comments from Farrow Hitt of Park Meadows Lodge who expressed his concerns about interval time-share units and the impact they have on lodging and sales tax. Hitt asked Council to research how time-share programs are taxed and also how the town will accommodate time-share owner's parking needs. Former Councilmember Michael Arnett spoke to Council about the need to provide more employee housing in the redevelopment to accommodate the extra jobs the redevelopment will create. Kaye Ferry of the Vail Chamber & Business Association also encouraged Council to consider including an ice rink in the LionsHead area when the redevelopment occurs. The Council will take this matter up in future discussions. The sixth item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report. The matter of Uniforms for Host Program was discussed. Diana Donovan stated she felt the need for more visible hats. Dick Cleveland felt through attrition, the jackets should be replaced with something that stood out more. Bill Jewitt thought new hats were a good idea. Human Resources Director John Power has been scheduled for a Council CPl discussion at the March 5th work session. Art Abplanalp addressed the Council, representing his applicant regarding a 13 acre parcel of land on the south side of the Lionshead redevelopment land that is designated . open space. Abplanalp requested the Council stay focused on what Lionshead encompassed with regarding to the open space he represents. 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, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 P.M. Respectfully submitted, sue- 111"an,_J71 Oti a*J Diana DonovActing Mayor ATTEST: L relei onaldson, Town Clerk Minutes taken by Mary A. Caster 0 4