HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-18 Town Council Minutes• TOWN COUNCIL
EVENING MEETING
TUESDAY, February 18, 2003
7:00 P.M.
TOV COUNCIL CHAMBERS
The regular meeting of the Vail Town Council was called to order at 7:00 P.M. in
the Town of Vail Council Chambers by Mayor Ludwig Kurz.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ludwig Kurz, Mayor
Rod Slifer, Mayor Pro-Tem
Dick Cleveland
Diana Donovan
Bill Jewitt
Greg Moffet
Chuck Ogilby
STAFF PRESENT: Bob McLaurin, Town Manager
Pam Brandmeyer, Asst. Town Mgr.
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Rick Mueller, owner of
• the Vista Bahn building in Vail Village, addressed the Council, requesting
assistance with a signage issue for a tenant (Alta Sports) in his building. Mueller
stated the process for approval was such that the sign would not be approved
until the end of the season, and asked for help with a temporary sign. Mayor
Kurz asked Town Manager Bob McLaurin to follow up on the request.
Tim Lynn of Intermountain, addressed the Council, regarding the proposed leash
free designation at Stephens Park. Mayor Kurz stated this item was scheduled
on this evening's agenda and invited Lynn to stay for this discussion.
The second item on the agenda was a proclamation regarding National Athletic
Training Month. Greg Moffet read the proclamation into the record. Moffet then
moved to adopt the proclamation. Rod Slifer seconded the motion. A vote was
taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
The third item on the agenda was a request for Dobson ice time by Vail Junior
Hockey and the Children's Learning Center. Andy Clark, Vail Junior Hockey
program, made a presentation to the Council, promoting a "Skate for a Cause"
fundraising event featuring the Detroit Red Wings alumni. Clark stated the
fundraiser had the potential of raising $15,000 for the two organizations.
Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer informed the Council the donation of
free ice time requested by Clark would save a portion of Dobson's $3,500 daily
fee. After further discussion, Greg Moffet moved to grant the request for ice time
out of the Council's allocation. Chuck Ogilby seconded the motion. Sybill Navas,
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• representativg the Commission on Special Events, asked for a minute of the
Council's time after the vote. Mayor Kurz referred to the usual procedure for
requests such as this, but understood why it was being done at this time, as the
event was just now being offered. A vote was taken on the motion and motion
passed unanimously, 7-0.
Sybill Navas, Commission on Special Events representative, then addressed the
Council, stating the committee's meeting this morning centered around the Vail
Recreation District and how the CSE could assist in getting the two groups on the
same wave length. Navas requested a joint meeting between the CSE, the Vail
Recreation District and the Town Council.
The fourth item on the agenda was the approval of the January 7 & 21, 2003,
meeting minutes. Rod Slifer made a motion to approve the minutes. Dick
Cleveland seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed
unanimously, 7-0.
The fifth item on the agenda was a discussion regarding the Donovan Park
Pavilion Use of Facility. Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager, informed
the Council of two items on which the committee was asking direction, those
being the issuance of the liquor license and the price -setting schedule for the
pavilion. Brandmeyer stated the sub -committee's recommendation was to issue
• the liquor license for the pavilion and grounds to the Town of Vail, thereby
reducing the town's liability when hosting events at the pavilion, and setting the
price and use to approach "break even" status. Rod Slifer referred to the Ford
Amphitheater who holds their own liquor license, stating the pavilion would be
similarly run. Brandmeyer noted the sub -committee's recommendation was that
the town license the premises for the first year. It was also noted the
Silverthorne pavilion had been in operation for over two years and had yet to see
a break-even year. After further discussion, Greg Moffet made a motion to direct
staff to move through the liquor licensing process. Rod Slifer seconded the
motion. Bill Jewitt stated that although he was uncomfortable in not allowing the
public to use the facility and the grounds whenever they wanted to have a get
together, he would support the motion. Several Councilmembers also
encouraged the committee to continue researching a "break-even" philosophy for
the park that would include a different rate structure for community members,
non-profit users and full paying customers. A vote was taken on the motion and
the motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
The sixth item on the agenda was a Dog Park Discussion. Mayor Kurz referred
to the memo the Council had received from Todd Oppenheimer, the town's
project coordinator, outlining the history of the leash -free status of Bighorn Park,
noting this had been done on a trial basis, and the need to have the code
amended if the park was to keep as a leash -free status. Comments were heard
from several audience participants, in support of retaining the leash -free status at
• Bighorn Park, as well as establishing a leash -free, voice command area at
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Stephens Park in Intermountain. There were also comments from the audience
expressing concern regarding having areas for children to play without the fear of
dogs running at large. Sybill Navas spoke in support of leash -free status in
Bighorn Park, noting she had met several people while walking her dog in
Bighorn Park and had not seen any dog fights there. Navas encouraged a fence
be put around the play ground for the children's safety. Liz Supton, long time
east Vail resident, addressed the Council, advising King Arthur's park was not a
safe place for a dog park, as it would impact wild life in the area. Other
comments from the audience included problems with out-of-town people with
children that come up for the weekend and are not aware of the lease -free parks,
over aggressive enforcement at the park, children's play area separated from the
dog area, and the need to pick up after their dogs. Oppenheimer stated a
portion of Stephens Park needed to be designated for the dog run area Chuck
Ogilby commented on a very convenient loop in the area of Stephens Park that
should not be fenced off the dog area, but recommended designating the park
lease -free, voice command for a 6 month to 1 year trial period and then bringing
it back to the Council for consideration of a change in the designation of the park.
Dick Cleveland moved to designate Bighorn Park as a leash free. voice
command park, as it currently exists and amend the leash law to change in
designation The motion was seconded by Greg Moffet. A vote was taken on the
motion and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Cleveland then moved to
designate all of Stephens Park as a leash free, voice command park for 12
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months, with a review by the Council at the end of that period. Bill Jewitt
seconded the motion. There was thank you applause from the audience.
Cleveland also recommended that clean up materials be well -stocked at these
parks. A vote was taken on the motion and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
The seventh item on the agenda was the appointment of Pamela A. Brandmeyer
as Interim Town Manager. Mayor Kurz stated for the record that Town Manager
Bob McLaurin had resigned his position and was moving back to Wyoming. Kurz
read McLaurin's letter of resignation into the record, stating that Friday, April 11,
2003, would be his last day of employment. Mayor Kurz thanked Bob for a job
well done and for all the work he has done for the community. Greg Moffet made
a motion to approve with extreme reluctance the acceptance of McLaurin's
resignation. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. Michael Cacioppo addressed the
Council, stating for the record, he would like the Council to vote against
approving this resignation, stating McLaurin has been the best town manager
Vail has ever had. Secondly, Moffet moved to appoint Pamela A. Brandmeyer as
interim town manager. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and
the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Brandmeyer stated she was not looking
forward to April 11th, however, she and the staff would do their best to rise to the
challenge of this interim time.
The eighth item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report. Town
Manager McLaurin stated he had received copies of an Intergovernmental
• Agreement (IGA) from Eagle County regarding the finalization of the Berry Creek
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• property, paying the Town of Vail $1 million, thereby releasing the Town of Vail
from any further obligation to the development of this property. McLaurin stated
he needed clarification of two points contained in the agreement, and had an
appointment on Wednesday, February 19, 2003, to resolve these issues.
McLaurin then asked for approval from the Council to execute the agreement,
pending the meeting on Wednesday. Greg Moffet moved to authorize the town
manager to enter into the IGA agreement with Eagle County, subject to final
review by the Town Manager. Dick Cleveland seconded the motion. Cleveland
asked McLaurin if he anticipated any problems with the agreement. McLaurin's
answer was no. A vote was taken on the motion and the motion passed
unanimously, 7-0.
Chuck Ogilby stated he would like to make a motion on a gymnastics issue,
directing the town manager to draft a letter to the Eagle County School Board for
$600,000 for a gymnastics center at Red Sandstone Elementary School with a
separate room for training and large parking lot at grade, to start construction this
summer. Ogilby stated his motion included an enhancement of $400,000 paid by
the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and an additional $250,000
contributed by Vail Resorts Inc., $150.000 from the Town of Vail, as well as an
in -kind contribution by the town's public works department. Ogilby stated this
request still needed approval by the Eagle County School District, as well as the
Vail Recreation District, who would run the facility. Ogilby requested the town
• manager draft a letter to this affect to begin formal discussions with the parties
involved. Greg Moffet seconded the motion. Dick Cleveland expressed
concerns regarding obligating the town staff to do the construction of the facility,
expressing concern about digging into the hillside. McLaurin stated the town had
dealt with these same issues during construction of the soccer field at Red
Sandstone. McLaurin stated he would draft a letter to the school district, but felt
the district would be hard pressed to come up with $600,000. A vote was taken
on the motion and the motion passed 6-1, Cleveland opposed.
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Police Chief Dwight Henninger passed out "Stay out of jail" cards to the Council,
stating the purpose of these cards was to educate the public on drinking and
driving. Henninger stated these cards would be distributed to bars and
restaurants throught Vail and hoped to find partners for the next purchase of the
cards, which cost $1.19 each for the information card and strip, and 60 cents for
the strips only. McLaurin jokingly stated if his deal in Wyoming fell through, he
might return to Vail as a bartender at the Donovan Park Pavilion.
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 was approved
unanimously, 7-0, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.
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:
onaldson, Town Clerk
Minutes taken by Mary A. Caster
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Ily submitted,
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Ludwig Kurz, Qlayor