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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-06 Town Council Minutesr� VAIL TOWN COUNCIL EVENING MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2004 6:00 P.M. The regular meeting of the Vail Town Council was called to order at approximately 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Rod Slifer. Council members present: Staff members present: Rod Slifer, Mayor Dick Cleveland, Mayor Pro-Tem Kim Ruotolo Kent Logan Diana Donovan Farrow Hitt Greg Moffet Stan Zemler, Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager Matt Mire, Town Attorney • The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Bob Fritch, owner/operator of the Sitzmark Lodge, stated he was distressed and disappointed with the Council and felt they'd let him, and other core business operators down, by allowing another big concert, Blues Traveler, to perform a free concert at Checkpoint Charlie this coming weekend. He said just last Wednesday night at StreetBeat, patrons of the concert would not clear retail shop doorways and when forced to move, spit on display windows. Next, Michael Cacioppo, publisher of SpeakOut, stated he had some comments to make about the upcoming speech and agenda of Elizabeth Hoffman, President of the University of Colorado. He stated government schools should not be looking for ways to circumvent the TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights) Amendment. Through good management, money is saved for rainy days. Further, he stated, because Colorado has TABOR in place, it's much better off than most other states. Cacioppo suggested the registered Democrats and liberals in Boulder should stop trying to skirt the law and respect the effort that he and others have put forth to help strengthen the state's financial position. Kaye Ferry, representing the Vail Chamber and Business Association, and backed up by the President of the VCBA, Steve Rosenthal, requested Council re -visit its decision on the Vail Farmers' Market being operational on July 4th, stating that improper notice had been given for this decision. Councilman Kent Logan replied Council had made the best decision based on the information at hand. Following a spontaneous Executive Session with the motion made by Greg Moffet, with a second by Farrow Hitt, which passed unanimously, 7-0, Kent Logan moved, with a second from Kim Ruotolo, to revisit this item at the April 20 evening meeting. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. • • The last citizen participation item came from former Councilman Bill Jewitt, who on behalf of an attendee who had to excuse himself early, was asking when GRFA (Gross Residential Floor Area) would be revisited and was told the item was scheduled for April 20. The second item on the agenda was an Update of the Economic Development Efforts and Financial Challenges Facing Colorado Public Higher Education. In providing an update to the Town Council, Dr. Betsy Hoffman, President of the University of Colorado, first clarified that CU funding is not in danger, since the university has the option of becoming an "enterprise zone" under TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights). Instead, she said, it will be the community colleges that will struggle with funding due to TABOR implications. She went on to state CU's tuition is among the lowest in the country. She encouraged those in attendance to review and ultimately support House Bill 189 to protect state institutions. Honoring a request from Council during the afternoon work session, Public Works Director Greg Hall gave an overview of the Village Streetscape project, due to start construction on April 19. Hall summarized communication efforts with merchants and affected parties ranging from weekly meetings at the Christiania to distribution of weekly pedestrian maps, and the use of community hosts, flaggers, bus drivers, and concierges to distribute information. It was noted that this agenda item would be a regular update through the close of the first phase of construction which runs from April 19 to June 25. • The third item was the Consent Agenda, including the minutes from the March 2 and March 16 meetings. Greg Moffet amended his motion, and Kim Ruotolo amended her second, to approve the minutes as corrected by Diana Donovan. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The fourth item on the agenda was a request for approval of the final design for the Pirateship Park. Following a more expansive work session discussion earlier in the day, Greg Moffet moved, with a second from Kent Logan, to approve the design for Pirateship Park that will include no lighting, will be limited to two tot swings, and through the construction will attempt to minimize site disturbance. At the request of Council, both members agreed to amend their motion and second to also include, in alignment with the Village Streetscape project, that no construction will occur in July and August, only the spring and fall. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The fifth item on the agenda was a request to proceed through the development review process with a proposal to construct private improvements on town property as part of Manor Vail's proposed redevelopment. Greg Moffet moved, with a second from Rod Slifer, to authorize the Town Manager to sign the application. A vote was taken and the motion passed 5-2, with Dick Cleveland and Diana Donovan in opposition. As an introduction to the discussion, Town Attorney Matt Mire explained that Council's role was not to review the full application, but merely to inform the applicant whether it was a worthwhile endeavor to continue through the process since the Town of Vail, as the property owner, must sign the application. Chuck Madison of East West Partners, representing the applicant, Manor Vail, outlined the scope of the proposed Manor Vail redevelopment project, which includes exterior improvements, adding new roof lines and new deck rails, replacing surface parking with an underground structure, and providing a garden area. When questioned about the public improvements to be gained by the 0 1, proposal, Madison offered a list of benefits to include the following: pedestrian access to Ford Park would be a more direct route; public access to Mill Creek would be upgraded; landscaping around the tennis courts would be added; loading and delivery would be moved to the rear of the facility out of the public eye; direct access from Ford Park back to Manor Vail would be provided; tennis courts would be resurfaced; vehicular access from both entrances would be improved to diminish stacking on Vail Valley Drive --all resulting in an increase in lodging occupancy, thus increasing sales tax. Councilman Dick Cleveland questioned why landscaping around the tennis courts was necessary and how it would benefit the public. He also asked why Manor Vail should be allowed to stage off -site when all other construction projects must fulfill that obligation on -site. He also stated cantilevering over the stream tract provided no public benefit and the route through Manor Vail and over the Manor Vail Bridge into Ford Park already seemed very direct. Prior to the vote, Councilmember Diana Donovan also raised concerns, questioning the tennis court staging area use, the private footpath through the stream tract and proposed closure of Chalet Road. Following the vote, the Council urged the applicant to return to an upcoming work session for an update. The sixth item on the agenda was an appeal of the March 8, 2004, Planning and Environmental Commission approval of a request for a variance from Chapter 14.6, Grading Standards, Vail Town Code, to allow for retaining walls in excess of six (6) feet in height located at Tract K, Glen Lyon Subdivision and Unplatted Parcels. The variance request is associated with Vail Resorts Development's snowcat access relocation proposal. At the applicant's request, Community Development Director Russell Forrest asked Council to table the appeal to enable the parties to gather additional information. • Greg Moffet moved to continue this item to April 20, with a second from Dick Cleveland. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The seventh item on the agenda was an update on the Vail Conference Center and a request to issue an RFP (request for proposal) for an owner's representative. Greg Moffet moved, with a second from Kent Logan, to issue an RFP for an owner's representative. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-1, Diana Donovan opposed. Community Development Director Russell Forrest discussed financing options and the need to insulate the town's financial position and revenue stream. Councilman Kent Logan stated presentations by four investment bankers had been reviewed and the Conference Center Committee was moving forward, with the near prospect of having the proposal hammered out soon. Councilmember Diana Donovan expressed concerns about the ability of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to pay the bills and the continuing subsidy from the town needed to offset losses. She also urged not rushing forward without further public discussion and closing the door on other important amenities that could be built on the charter bus lot. Mayor Rod Slifer confirmed the LionsHead parking structure is structurally sound to support another layer of parking/conference center and the total size of the facility is recommended to be 45,000 sq. ft. Proposed next steps, to include a recommendation to Council on financing the project, interviews with owners responding to the RFP on April 20, and hiring the owner's representative by the first or second meeting in May, were also discussed. The eighth item was first reading of Ordinance No. 7, Series of 2004, an ordinance making supplemental appropriations to the Town of Vail General Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Real Estate Transfer Tax Fund, Dispatch Services Fund and Marketing Fund for the 2004 Budget for the Town of Vail, Colorado; and authorizing expenditures of said appropriations. Greg Moffet moved, with a second from Kim Ruotolo, to approve first • reading of Ordinance 7. A vote was taken and the motion passed, 6-1, Dick Cleveland opposed. Dick Ceveland read the title in full. Judy Camp, Finance Director, explained that most of the items on the list were roll -forwards from projects budgeted in 2003, but not completed. Also, it was noted that an appropriation for $325,000 for the East Vail repeater site was now included, based on Eagle County's decision not to fund the project. When questioned by Council on the possibility of raising dispatch per -call fees, Police Chief Dwight Henninger responded the majority of the dispatch system was originally funded by the county, possibly at a level of $10 million. Councilmember Diana Donovan inquired about a line item for traffic enforcement on the interstate, which requires the hiring of an additional patrol officer, to which Henninger responded the State Patrol has denied the town's request to provide increased enforcement and the additional expenditure would be used to direct 21 hours of patrol time a week toward 1-70 enforcement. Public Works Director Greg Hall indicated a study and pilot program for noise mitigation had already been authorized by Council in conjunction with the Motor Carriers Association and was underway. Henninger concluded that the additional officer hours would be spread amongst the rest of the police staff and would bolster a more positive and friendlier response to the public. Donovan also inquired about line items for wayfinding, laptops and smoke mitigation at Dobson Arena. In explaining his vote, Cleveland stated that at a time the town is cutting positions, it seemed counterintuitive to add a position to the Police Department. It was requested that funding for the police position be adjusted via a transfer from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund. Kent Logan requested there be a full budget adjustment prior to the second reading. Staff was also asked to review all line items to make certain the requests are accurate and still needed. • The ninth item on the agenda was first reading of Ordinance No. 11, Series of 2004, an ordinance vacating a certain part of the system of public ways of the Town of Vail, Colorado; i.e., a subterranean portion of Hanson Ranch Road continuous to Lot P-3, according to the subdivision plat entitled "Lot P-3, Vail Village Fifth Filing." Councilman Dick Cleveland read the title in full. Cleveland then moved to approve Ordinance 7 on first reading, with a second from Greg Moffet, as read. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The tenth item on the agenda was second reading of Ordinance 8, Series of 2004, an ordinance amending Title 6, Chapter 3, "GENERAL OFFENSES," of the municipal Code of the Town of Vail; providing for the addition of "Article I. Violation of Restraining Order." Councilman Dick Cleveland read the title and Greg Moffet moved to approve Ordinance 8 on second reading as read, with a second from Diana Donovan. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The eleventh item on the agenda was second reading of Ordinance 9, Series of 2004, an ordinance amending Title 6, Chapter 3, Article A, of the Municipal Code of the Town of Vail, Colorado; providing for certain amendments to the Town of Vail Police Regulations relating to offenses by or against public officers and government. Dick Cleveland read the title and was followed by a motion by Greg Moffet to approve this ordinance on second reading as read, with a second from Diana Donovan. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The twelfth item on the agenda was a proclamation designating April 11, 2004, through April 17, 2004, to be National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. Greg Moffet 0 I • read the title in full and then moved to approve the proclamation as read, with a second from Farrow Hitt. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The thirteenth item on the agenda included appointments to two town boards. Greg Moffet moved and Kim Ruotolo seconded to appoint Diana Mathias to a one year unexpired term to the Design Review Board. The council approved the motion 7-0. Dick Cleveland made a motion to appoint Millie Aldrich to a one-year unexpired term to the Art in Public Places Board. The motion was second by Greg Moffet and approved unanimously, 7-0. With no further questions under the Town Manager's Report (Item 14), the meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Rod Slifer, Mayor ATT ST: (�Corel i Donaldson, Town Clerk • •