Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-15 Town Council Minutesn . is Vail Town Council Evening Meeting Minutes Tuesday, March 15, 2005 6:00 P.M. Vail Town Council Chambers The regular meeting of the Vail Town Council was called to order at approximately 6:00 P.M. by Mayor Rod Slifer. Members present: Rod Slifer, Mayor Dick Cleveland, Mayor Pro -Tern Diana Donovan Farrow Hitt Kent Logan Greg Moffet Kim Ruotolo Staff Members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager Matt Mire, Town Attorney Pam Brandmeyer, Asst. Town Manager Slifer called the meeting to order at approximately 6:05 p.m. The first item on the agenda was Citizen Input. Former Vail Mayor Kent Rose requested Council petition the Vail Recreation District (VRD) to dissolve. Rose stated the VRD is continually criticized for not being responsive to citizens or being fiscally responsible. Rose then said elimination of the VRD would end duplicate functions and make the town ultimately responsible for recreation programming. Rose finished by reporting three more golf courses were being located in the Vail Valley this summer, only increasing competition for the Vail Golf Course. Mark Gordon thanked Council for conducting an orderly public comment session during a recent informational session for the proposed Crossroads redevelopment. Gordon then encouraged Council to maintain the same comment restrictions during the evening's conference center update. Scott Proper, VRD Board Member, spoke to make Vail residents aware the VRD wants to see changes and any avenue potentially leading to better recreation services in Vail will be explored. The second item on the agenda was the Conference Center Update. Community Development Director Russ Forrest announced on February 24 the Vail Conference Oversight Committee met to review progress on the conference center design. The committee voted to recommend forwarding the design to three general contractors for cost estimates. Forrest then provided the audience and Council with a comprehensive review of progress to date on the conference center, subsequently requesting Council to review: ➢ Progress and public input on the design and review of the capital budget for the project. ➢ Grant permission to forward the design to the three general contractors. 1i .16 ➢ Grant permission to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for operation and management of the facility. Forrest stated the primary objective of the RFP for operations was to minimize operational deficit, seamlessly integrate marketing, operation, and management of the facility and to leverage existing resources in the town. Forrest then focused on a recently provided HVS study emphasizing study results of market demand, and review of estimated operation costs. Curt Fentress, principal in charge of design, representing Fentress Bradburn, stated the center's schematic designs were completed and 80% of the structural design had been finished. Fentress provided an overview of floor plans and potential ballroom layouts while also reporting design refinements were made based on Council and public input. During an opportunity for public comment, Rob LeVine stated the opportunity to create a conference center provided a very exciting time for the town. Jim Feldhaus, representing Colorado Mountain Express, encouraged Council to move forward on the project post haste. Ed O'Brien, Chairman of the Vail Valley Medical Center, also encouraged Council to move forward with the proposed project. Stan Cope, Conference Center Oversight Committee member, reported the committee had found no fatal flaws in the proposed project. Mark Gordon applauded the functional design of the center and the potential creation of 329 jobs. Logan stated a reserve fund had been accumulated to help offset introductory operating deficits. Donovan said she believed the process was out of sync, and the reported facts did not support moving forward on this project. She also stated the architectural design of the proposed center is terrible and is not iconic for Vail, Colorado. She expressed concern the RFP for operations was a "fishing trip." Slifer stated the Oversight Committee had spent significant time discussing governance of the facility. Ruotolo asked how many responses were anticipated from interested operators. Chris Squadra, representing Architectural Research Consultants (ARC), stated a half -dozen companies have expressed interest. The question was asked whether three weeks is adequate to respond to an RFP. Cleveland emphasized staff requests were only requests for proposals and provided a jumping off point. Moffet moved and Hitt seconded a motion to approve. The motion passed 6-1, Donovan opposed. The third item on the agenda was a presentation by the 1-70 Central Mountain Transportation Corridor Coalition. Gary Suitor, independent consultant hired by the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG) began the presentation by explaining the purpose of the 1-70 Coalition was to prepare a regionally preferred alternative for the 1-70 corridor that could be presented to Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). In an attempt to influence CDOT, the Colorado State Legislature, the U.S. Congress, and other Federal and state entities having jurisdiction over planning, implementation, or operation of the corridor transportation project to provide resources to build a regionally preferred alternative to meet the transportation goals of the corridor communities. Public Works Director Greg Hall then presented a synopsis of CDOT's Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PETS), which outlines possible improvement alternatives for 1-70 between C-470 and Glenwood Springs. As a member of the 1-70 Coalition, the group sought Council and community input on a preferred option for highway improvements. Hall explained various proposed alternatives listed in the PEIS including: rail, monorail, buses, additional lanes and high - occupancy vehicle lanes. Jeff Coleman, Region 1 Transportation Director for CDOT, explained potential variances in construction times. He noted any improvements to the interstate would most likely first occur on the Front Range. Moffet questioned the programmatic timing component of the PEIS and stated a belief people living in the 2 mountains will not use transit to go to Denver. He then recommended the investigation of transporting vehicles via freight through the area. Moffet concluded his comments by stating, "Our problem is not congestion it is noise." Ruotolo agreed with Moffet. Cleveland stressed the necessity for subsidizing flights into Eagle County airport because it would decrease congestion throughout the corridor. Hitt also encouraged moving freight instead of people and seconded flight subsidies for the airport. Slifer expressed concern about potential parking issues if more vehicles arrive in the Valley. Jim Lamont, representing the Vail Village Homeowners Association, stated Vail can not remain the same community with more asphalt (traffic lanes) and encouraged Council to be more forward thinking. Kelly Davis, Rocky Mountain Sierra Club Executive Committee Member, emphasized the environmental importance of incorporating fixed guide -way transit. Bert Melcher encouraged the use of new technologies not included in the CDOT inventory of alternatives. Robert Friis offered his professional services as a transportation consultant. Suzanne Mueller said the highway noise is very loud and she would like the noise to be taken care of. She also expressed concern about vehicles leaving the highway and ending up on the South Frontage Road. Gwen Scalpello encouraged investigating what is causing the bulk of the traffic. It was reported Robert Aikens had notified Council of his support for guide -way systems. The fourth item on the agenda was a Village Streetscape Phase II Construction contract Award for 2005-2006. The Town of Vail and Eagle River Water and Sanitation District (ERW&SD) cooperatively designed and have received a proposal for construction improvements in Vail Village. Council previously directed the Town Manger to negotiate a price for the improvements. These improvements included the replacement of utility lines, drainage system improvements, installation of a snowmelt system and final streetscape treatment for the Children's Fountain, Gore Creek Drive from Mill Creek to Hanson Ranch Chute, Gore Creek from Children's Fountain to Checkpoint Charlie, the Gore Creek Promenade, and Willow Bridge Road from Checkpoint Charlie to and including the International Bridge. The project will continue in a spring and fall construction sequence for the next two years, 2005-2006. Staff recommended Council direct the Town Manager to execute a contract with B & B Excavating for an amount up to $5,765,000. The project falls within the budget established within the capital projects and Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) budgets approved for 2005 and recommended for 2006. Ruotolo moved and Donovan seconded the motion to approve the request. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Cleveland asked about the contributions of private property owners benefiting from the improvements and was told those negotiations were continuing. Slifer announced an open house had been hosted by the town earlier in the evening for the purpose of explaining construction scope and impact. Zemler stated a meeting of a similar nature had also been held on March 11 and was well attended. The fifth item on the agenda was the first reading of Ordinance No. #5, Series of 2005, an ordinance amending Section 6-3C-5C of the Vail Town Code, concerning the possession of liquor by underage persons. Town Attorney Matt Mire asked Council to consider text amendments necessary to the Town of Vail Police Regulations, as they relate to the possession or consumption of liquor by underage persons, to be consistent with the Colorado Revised Statutes. Mire stated town code does not currently address the possession/consumption of liquor by underage persons on private property and the current loophole in the town code would be addressed by the proposed legislation. Mire emphasized the language of the ordinance mirrored state statute. Buck Allen, Vail Municipal Judge, reported to Council a minor in possession is not normally an arrestable 7 offense. Moffet moved and Ruotolo seconded a motion to approve. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The sixth item on the agenda was the first reading of Ordinance No. #8, Series of 2005, an ordinance for the conveyance to the Vail Corporation, d/b/a Vail Associates, Inc., of certain portions of Tract C, Vail/LionsHead first filing, and Tract C, Vail/LionsHead third filing, which are owned by the Town of Vail, and for the vacation and termination of certain existing public utility and drainage easements within Vail/LionsHead, first and third filings, all in connection with the development of the LionsHead "Core" site, a/k/a Arrabelle at Vail Square. Due to a predetermined conflict of interest, Slifer recused himself from the item. Town Attorney Matt Mire stated the ordinance contemplates closing requirements made by Council several months ago for the LionsHead Core Site. Mire then stated this ordinance was for the purpose of (i) authorizing the conveyance by the Town of Vail to The Vail Corporation, d/b/a Vail Associates, Inc., of those portions owned by the town of the approved development site for the Lionshead "Core," also having the project name of "Arrabelle at Vail Square," such conveyance being conditioned upon the closing under the Core Site Development Agreement, and (ii) terminating pre-existing platted easements within the Core development site, conditioned upon the closing under the Core Site Development Agreement and the provision of necessary replacement easements. Moffet moved and Hitt seconded to approve the ordinance. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0. The seventh item on the agenda was the second reading of Ordinance # 7, Series of 2005: Consideration of a recommendation by the Open Space Board of Trustees to include 20 parcels of land in 16 areas as designated open space. On January 25, 2005, the Vail Open Space Board of Trustees met at a scheduled meeting and unanimously voted to recommend 20 properties (16 areas) to Council for Open Space Designation. Furthermore, the Open Space Board of Trustees voted unanimously to forward a recommendation to the Vail Town Council that the properties in Attachment B referenced as A, B, & C be considered for designation as parks so that they could be considered for designated open space in the future. On February 15, 2005, Council requested staff determine the appropriate steps to designate a parcel of land as a park. The town attorney since then concluded the action should be done through the approval of an ordinance. Subsequently, Russ Forrest requested Council approve all or a portion of the recommended parcels of land for designated open space. In addition, staff requested direction on whether an ordinance should be developed and presented to the Council, designating three separate properties as parks, including the Middle Bench at Donovan Park. Forrest reported no changes had been made to the ordinance since first reading, other than the inclusion of a legal description of Pirate Ship Park. Hitt emphasized the three other parcels under consideration for park designation had been purchased with funds from the Real Estate Transfer Tax. Ruotolo asked that parcel five on Spraddle Creek be removed from consideration for open space because of its close proximity to I- 70 and potential for other uses, such as an information center. Cleveland moved and Hitt seconded a motion to approve. The motion passed 6-1, with Ruotolo dissenting. The eighth item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report. ➢ Revenue Recovery Group Town Manager Stan Zemler explained staff planned to engage the Revenue Recovery Group (RRG), an organization that provides consulting and audit service to municipalities for sales and lodging taxes, franchise fees, and other tax issues. The primary service staff plans to use is a group audit in which RRG audits companies doing business in multiple jurisdictions to assure they are paying the proper amount of tax to each. Costs of the audit are shared among the agencies involved. Aspen recently recovered $165,000 from one company as a result of a group audit performed by RRG. Donovan asked that if approved, a letter be sent to all business license holders in the town notifying them of the action. Moffet urged caution and asked staff to carefully monitor how RRG's compensation schedule is determined. The ninth item on the agenda was Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:25 p.m. Moffet moved and Ruotolo seconded the motion to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Respectfully Submitted, Rodney E. Slifer, Mayor ATTEST: SEAL 00 Lorelei Donaldson, Town Clerk S • Minutes provided by Corey Swisher. 1