HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-04 Town Council Minutes•
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TOWN COUNCIL
EVENING MEETING
TUESDAY, March 4, 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. on
Tuesday, March 4, 2003, by Mayor Ludwig Kurz.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
Ludwig Kurz, Mayor
Dick Cleveland
Diana Donovan
Bill Jewitt
Chuck Ogibly
Rod Slifer, Mayor Pro-Tem
Greg Moffet
Bob McLaurin, Town Manager
Pam Brandmeyer, Interim Town Mgr.
Matt Mire, Town Attorney
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Kaye Ferry, representing
the One Valley Leadership Coalition, addressed the Council, encouraging their
attendance at the second of a three-part series on economics within the Vail
Valley, on March 6th at the Singletree Community Center. Ferry stated
attendance had been good at the previous meeting and consolidation of county
services would be discussed at this meeting.
The second item on the agenda was Nottingham Environmental Quality Award.
Bill Carlson, Senior environmental Planner, and Mauri Nottingham presented the
2002 award winners . Carlson stated the award program was established in
1994, and named after Mauri Nottingham and the We Recycle program. Carlson
thanked Alpine Bank, WestStar Bank, Vail Resorts, City Market, Holy Cross
Energy and City Market for sponsoring the award program, as well as Russ
Forrest and Diana Donovan for their participation in the program. Awards were
presented to Susan Pollack of Vail for her contributions to environmental
education programs throughout the Eagle County; R. A. Nelson for its
commitment to environmentally -friendly practices; Vail Honeywagon for
encouraging residents to use wildlife -resistant trash containers; and 15-year old
Will James of Eagle Valley Middle School for undertaking an effort to maintain
open space in the Eby Creek Mesa subdivision.
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• The third item on the agenda was the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Year End
Review. Leslie Fickling, AIPP Coordinator, introduced the AIPP board and made
a presentation of their 2002 accomplishments. Mayor Kurz thanked Fickling and
the board for their contributions to Vail.
The fourth item on the agenda was a discussion on the Multi -Jurisdictional
Forest Fuels Reduction Project in Intermix Areas. Cal Wettstein from the U.S.
Forest Service and Ron Cousineau from the State Forest Service gave an
overview to the Council regarding planning efforts for the upcoming wildfire
season. Wettstein said the Vail Valley Forest Health Project, which covers
100,000 acres of surrounding area, would continue to address pine beetle
outbreak problems. Wettstein stated for every tree infected by pine beetles last
year, three more would be infected this year. Wettstein also spoke about the
impacts of the drought, saying the Chamonix, Davos, Streamside, Intermountain
and Bighorn neighborhoods were at high risk for wildfires. The Forest Service
will be conducting an environmental assessment of these high -risk areas to
determine what preventative measures would be needed to help spare homes if
a wildfire were to occur. Ron Cousineau presented information on defensible
space to the Council. Cousineau stated defensible space consisted of an area
surrounding a structure where the vegetation had been modified to mitigate the
fire hazard and provided an opportunity for fireighters to safely defend a structure
in the path of an approaching fire. Cousineau stated the State Forest Service
would be working with the Vail Fire Service and the Town of Vail this spring to
• help educate the Vail community about defensible space and what homeowners
can do to protect their property from wildfires. Local publisher Michael Cacioppo
inquired about the opportunity for logging companies to take out trees killed by
pine beetles. Wettstein explained that occasionally logging companies are used
to remove trees killed by pine beetles, but it depended on how accessible an
area was and how economically feasible it was for the company. Kaye Ferry
questioned the ability for residents to remove trees on their property to create
defensible space. Community Development Director Russ Forrest explained the
town allows homeowners to remove trees killed by pine beetles, but required a
permit from the Design Review Board for removal of healthy trees. Diana
Donovan questioned the guidelines used to create defensible space. Cousineau
explained the State Forest Service used specific guidelines based on items such
as fuel types surrounding the area, winds, slope -sides, roofing on homes and
whether the home was accessible for emergency service vehicles.
The fifth item on the agenda was the Investment Policy Report. Bob McLaurin,
Town Manager, presented the annual report on the town's investments as
required by town code. Cash and investments at December 31, 2002, totaled
$23 million. McLaurin stated the town's funds were invested first for safety, then
liquidity and finally return. Bill Jewitt raised a question in relation to government
securities. McLaurin responded he would have Judy Camp, the town's Finance
Director, research his question and get back to him.
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e The sixth item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report. Greg Hall,
Public Works Director, informed the Council that portions of the equipment and
the structure at Pirate Ship Park were in need of repair or replacement. Hall
stated that replacement of the park's equipment was included in the 2003 Real
Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) budget and could be coordinated with Vail Resorts'
"Front Door" project. Councilmember Diana Donovan encouraged the town to
keep the new equipment visually similar to the current structure. The Council
was in agreement to have staff begin the review process for the park.
Under Matters from the Mayor and Council, acknowledging a discussion during
the work session earlier in the day, Chuck Ogilby made a motion to authorize the
Children's Garden of Learning to proceed through the process with the Design
Review Board and Planning Commission to approve the center to be relocated to
the Hud Wirth site for 18 months. Dick Cleveland seconded the motion. Diana
Donovan expressed reservations in doing this, trusting the boards will watch out
for the town's best interests. Town Manager McLaurin reminded the Council
permission to proceed through the process did not necessarily mean approval
would be given. A vote was taken on the motion and the motion passed
unanimously, 5-0.
Assistant Town Manager Brandmeyer asked for volunteers from the Council to
be hosts at the Wednesday night Streetbeat series. Dick Cleveland volunteered
for this week's concert and Mayor Kurz volunteered for a concert in April. Bill
• Jewitt asked for a schedule of the upcoming concerts.
Brandmeyer stated the Vail Chamber and Business Association (VCBA) would
be discussing Business Improvement District (BID) questions at the April 1 st
2003, meeting.
Chuck Ogilby made a motion to increase the number of dedicated parking spots
at the Spraddle Creek trailhead for users of the 10th Mountain Division but
system from two to eight spaces. Ogilby explained that during busy weeks and
weekends, but users have been forced to park elsewhere due to lack of available
parking. Bill Jewitt seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion
passed unanimously, 5-0.
Brandmeyer reminded the Council of the joint meeting with the Eagle County
Commissioners on Thursday, March 13th,, at noon, at the Chop House
restaurant in Beaver Creek. Brandmeyer stated the discussions would include
funding for capital and other projects, as well as possible consolidation of
services. Mayor Kurz urged as many Council members as possible to attend.
Brandmeyer also informed the Council of a letter received from the Vail
Recreation District (VRD) regarding Vail Ice Dome issues. Brandmeyer stated
this issue would be discussed at the March 18th work session.
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• Chuck Ogilby proposed the Council allocate $5,000 from the escrowed $400,000
the town could receive from the sale of the Old Town Shops to pay for a basic
design concept for the proposed indoor recreation facility at Red Sandstone
Elementary School. Ogilby expressed his concern that unless the town took
action soon, the gymnastics program would be left without a permanent home
after its lease expires in Avon next year. Town Manager McLaurin stated the
funds were presently held by the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District.
Attorney Matt Mire advised Ogilby he would like to review the agreement before
any allocation on the funds was made. Ogilby then made a motion to set aside
$5,000 with the two contingencies mentioned above. The motion failed for lack
of a second. Diana Donovan stated she felt the school district should be
contacted first. Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer advised the Council
she left a message with the Superintendent of Schools after the Council's last
meeting, but had not received a reply to date. Dick Cleveland suggested waiting
for two weeks on Ogilby's motion and to contact the school district again.
Dick Cleveland reported the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments
(NWCCOG) gave the Community Development Department a $3,000 technical
grant for a 3D program that will assist with base mapping.
Bill Jewitt gave an update on the Vail Recreation District's proposed redesign of
the Vail Gofl Course greens and tee boxes Jewitt stated the VRD had
• interviewed 2 architects and had recommended hiring Dick Bailey, a former Vail
resident, for the redesign.
Council was advised a Donovan Park Pavilion meeting was scheduled for next
Monday at 8:15 a.m.
As there was no further business, Bill Jewitt made a motion to adjourn the
meeting. Dick Cleveland seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the
motion passed unanimously, 5-0, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:30
P.M.
SEAL
,ot q
ATTEST:
l �
�*I i �onaldson, Town Clerk
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Respectfully submitted,
✓ullo ,�
Ludwig Ku9, Mayor
• Minutes taken by Mary A. Caster
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