HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-21 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Evening Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
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
Farrow Hitt, Mayor Pro -Tern
Kent Logan
Greg Moffet
Kim Newbury
Mark Gordon
Kevin Foley
Staff Members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager
Matt Mire, Town Attorney
Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Bill Jewitt stated he had recently
heard complaints regarding timeliness of bus service to the lifts from Ford Park. Vail
Transit manager Mike Rose informed Council buses are picking up those who park at
Ford Park as buses go into service in the morning. Jewitt also requested consideration
of lighting the LionsHead holiday tree earlier in the season.
Vail Recreation District board member Rick Sackbauer requested Council consider using
the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) funds to redesign and build a new Vail Golf Course
irrigation system that would run more efficiently and save water. Currently the Vail Golf
Course is the largest user of water from the Gore Creek. Sackbauer also requested a
solution to the standing water issue on Alpine Drive. Zemler said the town would resolve
the water issue by Nov. 27.
Robert Aikens, owner of Verbatim Booksellers, asked Council to add street lights at the
crosswalks leading from town hall to the future Four Seasons site. Aikens also asked
Council to include more representatives from the retail sector to participate in drafting
the town's sign ordinance text amendments.
Billy Suarez, owner of Billy's Island Grill, requested the lighting of the LionsHead holiday
tree occur at an earlier date. Suarez also requested increased bus service during the
beginning of the season if the town is going to charge for parking, to which Council
replied had already been funded.
The second item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report.
• Relocation of Checkpoint Charlie.
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• Zemler reported the relocation of Checkpoint Charlie would go before the Planning and
Environmental Commission (PEC) next week.
Aspen/Snowmass Work Force Housing.
Zemler reported the town's department heads had recently toured the Snowmass base
village construction site and work force housing in both Aspen and Snowmass.
The third item on the agenda was a LionsHead Parking Structure Request for Proposals
discussion. Due to a predetermined conflict of interest (East West Partners affiliation)
Council member Rod Slifer recused himself from the item and left the Council chambers.
Town of Vail Community Development Director Russell Forrest provided Council with a
brief review of how the LionsHead parking structure redevelopment process is moving
forward and that the purpose of the evening meeting with Council is to receive feedback
from community members on the two development proposals from East West Partners
and Open Hospitality Partners/Hillwood Partners. Each proposal team received ten
minutes at the end of public input to respond to questions and comments. During public
comment, Billy Suarez, owner of Billy's Island Grill, encouraged Council to pursue
affordable housing and better parking on the site and encouraged the town to take a
step back and review other opportunities for the site. Representing the Eagle County
Economic Council, Don Cohen announced the Urban Land Institute would be hosting a
conference in Vail early in December. Cohen said there is a need for global (county-
wide) solutions regarding work force housing and not to ignore that issue during the
redevelopment process. Cohen requested Council also pay close attention to
capitalization and transportation when studying the two LionsHead proposals. Stan
• Cope said he supported the proposed 25,000 square foot continuous ball room
contained in the East West proposal as a public benefit. Cope also encouraged the town
to avoid looking at the brand names of the proposals and to focus on defining goals for
the redevelopment. Vail Valley Chamber and Tourism Bureau (WCTB) Director of
Quality Assurance Katie Barnes read a letter composed by the WCTB Executive
Director Michael Robinson supporting redevelopment of the parking structure and
encouraged Council to move forward with the process and create a community center
for both visitors and residents. Pam Stenmark informed Council she supported the
conference center concept provided by East West as a means to generate group
business. LionsHead business owner Tommy Neyens supported the music hall concept
of Hillwood but also encouraged Council to consider other uses for the land that might
be different for the community. A representative from Sonnenalp Real Estate said she
supported the W Hotel and St. Regis concept as it will meet the needs of many
demographics. Rick Stevens urged Council to use caution redeveloping town owned
land. Robert Aikens asked Council to consider one year without redevelopment but said
he supported Council moving forward with the redevelopment process. Ghigui Koffman,
Laughing Monkey owner, asked if the need for additional employees might create more
housing and parking problems. Representing the Vail Village Homeowners Association,
Jim Lamont requested Council continue to move forward through the process and keep
the public informed. Lamont encouraged Council aid developers with design and
creation of an economic development plan. Lamont concluded his comments by asking
the developers to reconsider the location, the size and scale of the project and add a
cross-section of on -site work force and free market housing opportunities. Representing
herself Kaye Ferry informed Council of her concerns regarding transferring the title of
• public land to a private entity. Ferry encouraged Council to take a step back and allow
current projects to be completed prior to starting a new project. Ferry also encouraged
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. Council look at other uses for the site and review requests made during the 2020 and
recreation and parks master plan processes. Local developer Rick Pylman endorsed
East West Partners. Representing East West Partners, Harry Frampton explained the
proposal includes many different aspects and not to get caught up in the large meeting
space. Frampton explained the large ball room will be flexible and perfect for all types of
uses. Frampton also said he envisions hosting several non-profit organizations in the
facility that would help bond the community. Frampton informed Council and those
present that this is an opportunity to invest in the community. President of Hillwood
Partners Jonas Wood explained the timing of the project would not take place until 2009-
10 at the earliest. Wood also explained that employee housing will be addressed during
the redevelopment. Wood also informed the group to look forward to a unique retail
experience. Logan responded to the public comment and proposal representatives that
the process will continue but there are many aspects that need to be addressed
including working with Vail Resorts, Inc. Logan said parking continues to be a priority
and concern and the LionsHead parking structure will eventually need to be replaced as
it depreciates. Moffet explained it is early in the process and it is too soon to choose a
developer. Gordon agreed with Moffet explaining the project has to take place as the
right project at right time. Hitt reviewed the next steps, which include a second appraisal,
financial analysis of both proposals, a meeting with Vail Resorts, on Dec. 12, and
additional community meetings.
The fourth item on the agenda was the first reading of the 2007 Budget Ordinance No.
28, Series 2006. Finance Director Judy Camp introduced the budget and explained it
was built on conservative assumptions. She then said the employee merit increase
pool of five percent is being recommended to retain employees. Representing the Vail
• Chamber and Business Association (VCBA) Richard Tenbraak requested Council
reconsider funding of the Vail Guide at its requested $58,000 level. Zemler stated the
town's Community Information Office committed to $5,000 worth of advertising in the
publication. Vail Guide publisher Mike Campbell described the proposed detailed 2007
Vail Guide and the need for the $58,000 in advertising is to provide complete business
listings. Representing the VCBA Kaye Ferry also explained the additional advertising
dollars would be use to add important phone numbers and information including hospital
contacts and bus schedules. Ferry reported local business owners Tom Higgins, Dan
Beard, John Cogswell, Robert Aikens, and Samantha Wright were in attendance during
the Work Session to support the publication. Tom Neyens, owner of Ski Valet, spoke in
support of the Vail Guide and urged Council to use a portion of the Town of Vail
business license fees to support the guide. Colorado Footwear owner Steve Rosenthal
and Nicole Hoffman, manager of the Laughing Monkey and General Store, also spoke in
support of the Vail Guide. Commission on Special Event (CSE) member Steve Connolly
thanked Council for additional funding for 2007. Moffet moved to approve the ordinance
with Newbury seconding. Newbury added that the town's Public Information Officer
Suzanne Silverthorn is the town's expert and should be responsible for where the town
advertises. Foley questioned whether Council could raise the mill levy. Camp reported
any mill levy increase would require a TABOR election. Zemler explained an Art in
Public Places (AIPP) funding increase would be evaluated every year and not dedicated.
Hall spoke in support of the AIPP board and encouraged Council to provide increased
ongoing funding. The majority of Council agreed to maintain AIPP funding at $75,000.
Moffet and Newbury amended the motion to reflect the decrease in AIPP funding. The
motion passed 6-1, with Foley opposed. Foley encouraged Council to hold several work
• sessions to evaluate specific departments and specific items during the 2008 budget
process.
110 The fifth item on the agenda was the First Reading of Ordinance No. 30, Series of 2006, an
ordinance establishing Special Development District (SDD) No. 40, The Willows, Pursuant to
Article A, SDD District, Chapter 9, Title 12, Zoning Title, Town Code of Vail. Town Planner
Elizabeth Reed stated that on November 13, 2006, the PEC held a public hearing on a
request to establish SDD No. 40, The Willows. The purpose of the new SDD is to facilitate
the redevelopment of The Willows Condominiums, located at 74 Willow Road. Upon review
of the request, the PEC voted 4-1-0 (Pierce opposed) to forward a recommendation of
approval of the request to establish SDD No. 40, The Willows, to Council. Representing the
applicant Steve Restin and Rick Pylman outlined the proposal. Pylman said a public art
contribution and on -site employee housing unit should be considered public benefits. The
redevelopment would create a decrease in employees. Representing the Vail Village
Homeowners Association, Jim Lamont requested the public benefits include a more
adequate streetscape safety plan (adding a walkway at least on one side of Vail Road).
Speaking on his own behalf Bill Jewitt recommended employee housing be provided for
families. Representing the Riva Ridge Homeowner's Association Art Abplanalf explained the
adopted plans contained an error (the inclusion of a non -conforming deck on the southern
part of the property) and asked Council to reflect the error in the ordinance. Moffet
encouraged the purchase of three to four bedroom units to offset the employee housing
need. Moffet moved to adopt the ordinance with two additional conditions, the balconies off
the master bedrooms will be deleted and added to the south east corner off the living rooms
and the setbacks will become defined by the building footprint and that housing would be
provided off -site in the Town of Vail with Logan seconding. Newbury encouraged
consistency in regard to employee housing requirements. Slifer said he believed the
proposed 12 foot wide roadway on Willow Road was inadequate and said the focus should
be road improvements on Vail Road. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
The sixth item on the agenda was the first Reading of Ordinance No. 31, Series of
2006, An Ordinance Amending Section 2-6-9 of the Vail Town Code, Concerning use of
the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) Fund. Council voted 7-0 to approve usage of
RETT funds to include expenditures related to environmentally sustainable practices.
Hitt encouraged adding a spending cap on the RETT fund to avoid the money being
used as slush fund. Moffet moved to approve the ordinance upon the condition the
existing four uses be satisfied before any funds are released to enhance environmental
sustainability, with Foley seconding. Gordon said the action was satisfying the desire of
town residents following responses from the 2020 process.
The seventh item on the agenda was the first Reading of Mill Levy Certification,
Ordinance No. 32, Series 2006. Mill Levy Assessments must be certified to the County
for collection annually; this ordinance authorized certification. Moffet moved to approve
this ordinance with Logan seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
The eighth item on the agenda was Resolution Number 22, Series 2006. A resolution
declaring the intent of the Town of Vail to acquire a fee simple interest in the property
located at 2399 North Frontage Road West for Fire Protection facilities, further
continuance of good faith negotiations to acquire said property interest, and
authorization to initiate an action in eminent domain to acquire said property in the event
good faith negotiations do not result in an agreement to acquire said property interest
Town Attorney Matt Mire said the town has negotiated in good faith with the record
. owner and others having an ownership interest in the property commonly known as
Wendy's, located at 2399 N. Frontage Road West, and legally described as Parcel A, a
resubdivision of Tract D, a resubdivision of Vail Schone Filing 1, Town of Vail, Eagle
10 County, Colorado (the "Property"). Negotiations to purchase the Property have, to this
point, been unsuccessful. This resolution represents Council's formal determination that
it is necessary to acquire a fee simple interest in the property, and that, in the event the
good faith negotiations do not result in voluntary granting of the property, it is necessary
the town acquire said interest in the property through the use of the town's power of
eminent domain as provided for in the Town Charter. Moffet moved to adopt with
Newbury seconding. Logan expressed displeasure with the use of eminent domain.
The motion passed, 5-2 with Logan and Hitt opposed.
The ninth item on the agenda was Adjournment. Moffet moved to adjourn with Newbury
seconding at approximately 10:45 p.m. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
Rodney E. Slifer, Mayor
ATTEST -
Lorelei onaldson, Town Clerk
Minutes provided by Corey Swisher.