HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-01 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Evening Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
6:00 P.M.
Vail Town Council Chambers
The regular meeting of the Vail Town Council was called to order at approximately 6:05
P.M. by Mayor Rod Slifer.
Members present: Rod Slifer, Mayor
Dick Cleveland, Mayor Pro-Tem
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
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Input. Code Enforcement Officer Moses
Gonzales updated Council on the "Freedom Rock Tour." Gonzales reported a piece of
the Pentagon damaged in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Washington, D.C., would become
a part of Freedom Park in Edwards. Prior to arriving in Edwards, the building fragment
will be paraded and displayed throughout the county.
The second item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. Council unanimously
approved the 02.01.05 and 02.15.05 minutes with no modifications. Cleveland moved
and Moffet seconded a motion to approve. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
The third item on the agenda was the award of a bus bid. Fleet Manager Todd Scholl
reported the town sent out nine Request For Proposals (RFP) to bus manufacturers on
November 30, 2004, and received one proposal on the due date of January 21, 2005,
from Gillig Corporation. The Gillig proposal was reported to be responsive to the bid
requirements. Staff negotiated with Gillig over requests for deviations from the technical
specifications which resulted in a final price of $282,850 per bus. The total cost for the
bus bid was $1,758,000; however, a federal 80/20 split grant led to the reported final
price to the town. Cleveland clarified the expense was budgeted and all town buses are
now Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. Zemler asked Scholl to update
Council on the integration of hybrid buses into the town's transit fleet. Scholl stated it
(hybrid technology) was an evolving industry, and the town would progressively grow the
fleet, as more analysis of the vehicle's performance became available. Moffet moved
and Logan seconded a motion to approve. Council unanimously approved the Gillig
proposal, 7-0.
The fourth item on the agenda was a Conference Center Update. Community
Development Director Russ Forrest announced the purpose of the update was to review
progress of the design of the Conference Center as well as the projected costs and
1
•
0
7
budget for the construction of the conference center. Kurt Fentress, representing
Fentress Bradburn, lead project designers, provided an overview of:
• Floor Plans
• Building Sections
• Design Process
• Ballroom Configuration
• Advisory Committee Design
Direction
Following the building elevation update, Chris Squadra, representing Architectural
Research Consultants (ARC), project coordinators, provided a budget overview.
Squadra reported Piper Jaffray, project bond counsel, estimated $45,940,000 would be
available for the project, $2 million more than originally anticipated. Squadra then
presented industry standard contingency estimates and five construction estimates that
had been reconciled to one number. Squadra assured Council ARC had received
detailed schedules, and the project could be built in 20 months. Unresolved capital
budget issues were then outlined. Cost escalation, interest rates, sustainable design or
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, affordable
housing, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) approval of South Frontage
Road right-of-way and building code/zoning Issues were reported to remain as
unresolved capital issues. Ruotolo asked how affordable housing would be tied to the
project. Forrest responded the issue would first be brought to the Planning and
Environmental Commission (PEC) and Design Review Board (DRB), and also stated
options may exist for "pay -in -lieu," and the consideration of a further town investment in
Timber Ridge and Middle Creek (affordable housing projects). In reviewing the
architectural design, Ruotolo expressed concern about the transition from the LionsHead
parking garage to the west side of the conference center. Moffet and Slifer commended
the Conference Center Advisory Committee for the immense amount of time spent on
the project. Moffet offered support for the design, saying it is dynamic and goes with the
town. Donovan noted her continued objections to the design style, saying it won't meet
approval by the DRB or PEC. She also expressed her philosophical opposition to the
project, saying it would compete with the "glut" of conference centers existing in the
United States. Hitt asked to see financial projections prior to Council presentations,
although he did articulate he liked the direction the project design is taking. Logan stated
the advisory committee had the months of March and April to clear up significant
questions. He also reported the committee had slowed the project down to review the
operating model and is now receiving bids and proposals from entities proposing to
operate the facility, as opposed to only consultant studies. Forrest then asked for
approval to hold a series of community update meetings. These would occur at the
upcoming Vail Valley Chamber and Tourism Bureau (VVCTB) and Vail Chamber and
Business Association (VCBA) meetings, as well as a community meeting to be held at
the Vail Public Library. Forrest then asked for approval to return to Council on March 15
for presentation of a request to take the design to contractors to receive actual bids.
Donovan asked about the type of and subject matter of the proposed public meetings,
saying they must have more substance than what has been presented in the past. She
said citizens need to have a clear understanding of what the purpose of the conference
center is and how it will function, such as the food and beverage component. Logan
requested a fact sheet be compiled defining specific project goals and the document
receive wider circulation than to just those who show up to the meetings. Council
ultimately directed staff to move forward as requested.
The fifth item on the agenda was the Vail Village Streetscape Phase 2 Construction
Contract. Public Works Director Greg Hall requested permission from Council to forego
competitive bidding and to negotiate the construction price for the Phase 2 Vail Village
Streetscape improvements with B&B Excavating and change order that work into the
current Phase 1 construction contract. The general contractor for Phase 1 of the Vail
Village Streetscape Project, B&B Excavating, completed the first year of the two-year
construction contract. Hall noted the town was pleased with the performance of B&B
Excavating and would like to accelerate a portion of the work scheduled for 2006 into the
2005 construction season. The Phase 2 improvements include the following areas:
• Children's Fountain.
• Gore Creek Drive, Children's Fountain to (but not including) Checkpoint Charlie.
• Gore Creek Promenade.
Hitt, Cleveland, and Logan asked if the town received a negotiated, competitive or per
square foot cost. Hall stated B&B's original 2004 bid had been very competitive and the
town continued to negotiate terms based on the past year's costs and performance.
Logan asked for a schedule to be provided, outlining the budget/actual costs of the 2004
streetscape improvements. Moffet moved and Logan seconded a motion to approve.
Hall then clarified the recommended approval dealt with a 2005-06 contract. Council
unanimously approved, 7-0, the request to grant permission to negotiate a contract.
The sixth item on the agenda was the second reading of Ordinance No. #3, Series of
2005, an ordinance amending Section 12-11-4, Material To Be Submitted; Procedure,
Vail Town Code, Chapter 14-2, Definitions, Vail Town Code, and Chapter 14-6, Grading
Standards, Vail Town Code. On November 8, 2004, the PEC voted 7-0 to forward a
recommendation of approval for the proposed text amendments. On February 1, 2005,
the Council approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 3, Series of 2005, by a vote of 7-
0. Cleveland requested staff provide a separate summary or highlights be provided in
Council memorandums documenting requested changes to ordinances between first and
second readings of ordinances. Hitt questioned the difference between new construction
and redevelopment. Mire clarified the ordinance referenced a development plan which
applied to both new and redevelopment. Cleveland emphasized the ordinance would
give the town standards regarding erosion control, "We aren't regulating anything
differently than we are already doing." Moffet asked who would enforce the ordinance
and what is the applicant's appeal process if a permit is not approved. Forrest
responded normal code enforcement measures/procedures/personnel would be utilized.
Donovan asked why the ordinance was needed at this point and time. Town
Environmental Officer Bill Carlson stated federal clean water standards are becoming
more stringent. Carlson also emphasized the town pays the Eagle River Watershed
Council (ERWC) more than $100,000 per year to protect Gore Creek and the ordinance
would enhance water quality protection efforts. Moffet moved and Cleveland seconded a
motion to approve. The ordinance passed, 6-1, with Slifer opposed. Slifer was
concerned the ordinance would serve as a hindrance to the building permitting process.
Slifer concluded, "I'm afraid we are just creating another layer of cost and delay."
The seventh item on the agenda was the second reading of Ordinance No. #6, Series of
2005, an ordinance adopting a revised approved development plan for Special
Development District (SDD) No. 6, Vail Village Inn (WI), Phase I, to allow for
modifications to Units 16, 17 and 29, Vail Village Plaza Condominiums, pursuant to
Section 12-9A-10, Amendment Procedures, Vail Town Code, located at 100 East
Meadow Drive (Vail Village Inn), Lots M and O, Block 5D, Vail Village 1st Filing. On Jan.
24, 2005, the PEC forwarded a recommendation of approval, with conditions, to the
3
Council for the proposed major amendment to SDD No. 6, WI. Town Planner Bill
Gibson clarified a parking issue and the related condition of approval that surfaced
during first reading of the ordinance. Gibson stated there is currently a parking deficiency
at the WI, which will be resolved with the construction of the Vail Plaza Hotel. This
request by the applicant Luc Meyer will reduce the parking requirement for this site by
one parking space. Bill Pierce, representing the applicant, noted that Meyer has agreed
to tie the title of an existing parking space to the new condominium to further address
any concerns about parking. Moffet moved and Ruotolo seconded a motion to approve.
The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
The eighth item on the agenda was the second reading, Ord. #7, Series of 2005. An
ordinance to designate 21 parcels of land (16 areas) in the Town of Vail as open space
as per section 13.11 of the Town of Vail Charter. Due to a publication error, staff
recommended Ord. #7, Series of 2005, be tabled until the March 15 Evening Session
meeting. Cleveland moved and Moffet seconded a motion to approve. Council
unanimously approved the recommendation, 7-0. Hitt asked about the designation of
three separate parcels as parks. Mire stated, if the Council chooses to do so, he would
advise Council to use the ordinance process for park designation.
The ninth item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report. There was no report.
The tenth item on the agenda was Adjournment. Moffet moved and Cleveland
seconded a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:20 p.m.
0 Respectfully Submitted,
Rodney E. Slifer, Mayor
ATTEST:
} C"SEAL
or
6
LorL�ei Donaldson, Town Clerk •
Minutes provided by Corey Swisher.