HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-07 Town Council Minutes• Vail Town Council Evening Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 7, 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-Tem
Kent Logan
Greg Moffet
Kim Ruotolo
Mark Gordon
Kevin Foley
Staff Members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager
Matt Mire, Town Attorney
Pam Brandmeyer, Asst. Town Manager
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Representing the Cardon
• Condominium Association, Wendy Gustafson and Bob Schwaiger questioned the safety
of a boulder retaining wall in West Vail, and asked for Council to investigate the matter.
Slifer reported the town would be involved in recognizing the local Olympic athletes at an
event later in the spring, likely to be held as part of a Wednesday night Street Beat
Concert.
The second item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda.
A. 02.07.06 & 02.21.06 Minutes.
B. Copper Mountain Fire Inter -Governmental Agreement.
Moffet moved to approve the consent agenda with Foley seconding. The motion passed
unanimously, 7-0.
The third item on the agenda was the East Meadow Drive Streetscape Construction
Contract. Public Works Director Greg Hall asked Council to approve a request by staff
to negotiate a construction contract for East Meadow Drive streetscape improvements
scheduled for 2006 and 2007. The Department of Public Works and Transportation
received preliminary pricing for the project from B&B Excavating Inc. and Weitz
Construction. According to Hall, preliminary pricing from both general contractors is
favorable to the town and consistent with the construction estimates and project budget.
Hall asked to return to Council on March 21 with a request to enter into a contract with
the successful general contractor. Moffet moved to approve the contract negotiation
• request with Gordon seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Moffet did
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• comment that installing snowmelt on East Meadow Drive is fiscally and environmentally
irresponsible. For more information, contact Hall at 479-2160.
The fourth item on the agenda was the Pine Beetle Mitigation Update. Cal Wettstein
and Phil Bowden (Wildland Fuels Fire Specialist) of the United States Forest Service
provided an overview of the pine beetle epidemic. Wettstein reported every lodge pole
pine in Grand and Summit County will be dead in the next few years. "We can't stop the
epidemic... Controlling the fire hazards created by this epidemic will require a
cooperative, comprehensive and long term approach." He then discussed a recent surge
in spruce beetle population. This beetle will primarily impact high -country forests and will
not affect homeowners to a large degree. The two were encouraged by the formation of
the Northern Colorado Bark Beetle Coalition. Bowden explained it would take 20-25
years for the trees to fall after they are dead. It would take an additional 20-25 years for
the forest to revegetate itself. He then described various fire hazards being created by
the dying trees. Gordon clarified that Vail is the only town in Eagle County with an active
forest fire mitigation program. He then said budgeting at $250,000 a year should not be
the driving issue behind the mitigation plan; it should be creating the right plan in the first
place. Wettstein clarified Vail Resorts would continue to treat dead trees within the ski
area boundary. Ruotolo and Zemler recommended a scan of the town's building code to
ensure the most fire retardant building standards are allowed to be utilized.
Representing the Vail Village Homeowners Association, Jim Lamont expressed outrage
and disgust over the lack of concern shown to the issue by the federal government. He
then asked Council to match fire mitigation dollars for exploration of a bio-mass plant.
Hitt asked if planting new trees would be beneficial. Wettstein said he would investigate
• the matter. Zemler thanked town Environmental Officer Bill Carlson and Fire Technician
Tom Talbot for their assistance in development of an urban interface plan.
The fifth item on the agenda was the Town of Vail Vision and Community Plan:
Presentation and Interview with Design Workshop. Community Development Director
Russ Forrest reported that on February 21, the Town of Vail Community Visioning
Selection Committee interviewed four finalists from proposals received in response to
the scope of work soliciting assistance with the facilitation and development of the Town
of Vail Vision and Community Plan. The Committee identified the Design Workshop
team as the top candidate. Design Workshop has extensive experience working in
mountain resort communities on similar projects and has been highly successful at their
work. The proposal submitted to the town was exemplary and illustrated how Design
Workshop can bring knowledge and experience to the Vision and Community Plan
process. The Community Visioning Selection Committee recommended Council listen to
the presentation by Design Workshop, and ask any questions of the team and provide
feedback on the process. In addition, staff requested Council approve the budget
presented by Design Workshop. Representing Design Workshop, Pam Britton, Becky
Zimmerman and Rebecca Leonard introduced themselves and outlined their
professional experience. Zimmerman explained the group would investigate, "What
trends really mean to the town." They then reported resort communities are, "innovating,
repositioning and maximizing... Actionable vision is a matter of tradeoffs." Forrest said
the final product will be a strategic plan that goes from values to vision. Hitt asked how
the product would be different from Vail Tomorrow (a similar program undertaken in the
1990's). Forrest said Vail Tomorrow served its purpose, and perhaps many values, for
instance, will have remained the same. Moffet asked if Council had a leadership role in
• the process. Forrest stated Council would actively participate as an advisory group and
deal with specific action plans. "Also sharing notes about conflicts and opportunities
. about actions....and realty prioritizing action plans and finally approving them." Logan
emphasized the importance of the awareness level of the community for the process.
Foley moved to approve the budget of $125,100 and enter into an agreement with
Design Workshop. Logan seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
The sixth item on the agenda was the Award of Construction Mitigation Funding. Public
Information Officer Suzanne Silverthorn reported during the 2006 budget process,
Council set aside $50,000 in the Town Manager's budget for the purpose of increasing
the viability of Vail's business community during the 2006 construction season. An
application process occurred in January with proposals from qualified applicants due
February 15. As part of the submission process, applicants were asked to explain how
their proposal addresses evaluation criteria developed by the town -appointed
Construction Mitigation Group:
• Creates excitement and energy.
• Creates potential for positive economic impact to the retail, restaurant and
lodging sectors of the community.
• Generates sustained visitation and interest by guests and locals.
• Enhances the guest experience.
• Incorporates matching funds, sponsorships partnerships.
• Complements other mitigation efforts implemented by Vail Commission on
Special Events, Vail Local Marketing District, Vail Chamber & Business
Association, Vail Valley Chamber & Tourism Bureau, Town of Vail, Vail Resorts
Development Company, etc.
• Includes a communications component to build local and guest awareness.
• Meets town permit process and construction staging requirements.
The Construction Mitigation Group met on February 16 and again on March 2 to review
four funding applications and to prepare a recommendation for Town Council funding
awards as follows:
❖ $16,000 to Resort Events Inc. for Busker Village activities in LionsHead (and
elsewhere where feasible) to be augmented by $30,000 awarded by the Commission
on Special Events for LionsHead-specific busker events.
❖ Up to $12,000 for local radio advertising (KZYR, KTUN, KSKE and JACK) with
specifics to be determined by the Construction Mitigation Group radio subcommittee.
❖ $27,000 income guarantee to LMG Inc. for free or discounted climbing wall activities
in LionsHead with a minimum of $5,000 returned to the town via merchant
participation.
Additionally, the Construction Mitigation Group requests Council's support in
recommending consideration by the Commission on Special Events for additional
funding of the Busker Village activity to disperse the event more fully throughout Vail.
Representing LMG, Charlie Alexander said there is not enough space for a climbing wall
to be established in Sundial Plaza within LionsHead, as had been originally proposed.
Zemler said he would investigate other areas large enough to facilitate the climbing wall.
Logan moved to approve the recommendations with Ruotolo seconding. The motion
passed unanimously, 7-0. For more information, contact Silverthorn at 479-2115.
--Second Reading of Ordinance No. 5, Series of 2006, AN ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHING SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT (SDD) NO. 39, CROSSROADS,
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE A, SDD, CHAPTER 9, TITLE 12, ZONING TITLE, TOWN
is CODE OF VAIL
• On January 23, 2006, the PEC held a public hearing on a request to establish SDD No.
39, Crossroads. The purpose of the new SDD is to facilitate the redevelopment of
Crossroads, located at 141 and 143 Meadow Drive. Upon review of the request, the
PEC voted 5-2-0 (Viele and Lamb opposed) to forward a recommendation of approval of
the request to establish SDD No. 39, Crossroads, to the Vail Town Council. On February
7, 2006, Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 5, Series of 2006, by a vote of
4-3-0 (Logan, Foley, Slifer opposed). On February 21, 2006, Council tabled the second
reading of Ordinance 5, Series of 2006, by unanimous vote to the March 7, 2006,
hearing. The Community Development Department recommended Council table
Ordinance No. 5, Series of 2006, on second reading to the March 21, 2006 hearing.
Moffet moved with Hitt seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. For details,
contact Warren Campbell at 479-2148.
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--Resolution No. 3, Series of 2006, a resolution amending certain portions of the Vail
Land Use Plan text and map to identify those properties regulated by the LionsHead
Redevelopment Master Plan, and setting forth details in regard thereto.
On February 7, 2006, the Community Development Department presented an
application to the PEC to amended certain portions of the Vail Land Use Plan text and
map to identify those properties regulated by the LionsHead Redevelopment Master
Plan. The PEC forwarded a recommendation of approval to Council by a vote of 6-0-0.
Forrest asked Council to table the item until 03.21.06. Moffet moved to table the item
with Hitt seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. For more information, contact
Warren Campbell at 479-2148.
--Town Manager's Report
❖ TOVNRD STEERING COMMITTEE FOR COMPREHENSIVE RECREATION
MASTER PLAN
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Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer reported staff met with the consulting firm
Greenplay the week of February 20 and would like to continue to work on the scope of
the assessment using a steering committee made up of two members from the Vail
Recreation District (Michelle Hall and Scott Proper) and two members from Council,
along with appropriate staff. Staff asked for two Council members to volunteer to serve
in this capacity. Moffet and Gordon volunteered to participate on the committee.
--Adjournment.
Moffet moved to adjourn with Logan seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
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ATTEST:
Lorelei Donaldson, Town Clerk
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Rodney E. Slifer, Mayor