HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-08-05 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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 Dick Cleveland.
Members present: Dick Cleveland, Mayor
Mark Gordon
Farrow Hitt
Kevin Foley
Kim Newbury
Margaret Rogers
Andy Daly
Staff Members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager
Matt Mire, Town Attorney
Pam Brandmeyer
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Input.
Newly appointed Vail Chamber and Business Association Executive Director Michael
Norton introduced himself.
Sarah Will, Executive Director of AXS Vail Valley, said her organization is hoping to
connect with the Town of Vail's website to allow disabled individuals better access to
information in regard to handicapped facilities within the town. She then reported very
poor ADA access existed between the Solaris construction site and Vail Village Inn.
The second item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report.
➢ Revenue Update.
Budget and Finance Reporting Manager Kathleen Halloran reported than when all sales
tax returns are received for the month of June, collections for the month are expected to
be $918,570, down 3.6% from June, 2007. Year-to-date sales tax collections of $12
million are up 6.0% from 2007. For comparison, inflation as measured by the consumer
price index was up 5.0% for the month of June compared to prior year. Use tax
collections began as of January 1, 2008. As of July 31, collections total $429,570 of
unbudgeted revenue. Construction permit revenue currently totals $1.6 million, down
17% from this time last year. The decrease is due to both major and non -major
redevelopment projects. Major redevelopment projects make up 78% of the total, and
construction permit fee revenue from those projects is down by 14% from prior year.
Revenue from non -major projects is down 26% from this time last year. Real Estate
Transfer Tax (RETT) collections through July 17, 2008, total $4.3 million. This amount is
a 19% increase from this time last year primarily due to recent sales of major
redevelopment projects. The overall real estate market in Eagle County is down 30% in
sales dollars and down 47% in sales transactions as of May, 2008. Major
redevelopment projects such as Arrabelle, Forest Place, One Willow Bridge and Vail
Plaza account for 55% of year-to-date 2008 collections. This is significantly higher than
the 24% from July 2007, and is the reason Vail's RETT revenue is performing much
better than the rest of the county. RETT collections from property transfers not related to
major redevelopment projects dropped by 29% year-to-date as of July, 2008 compared
with 2007. This is more in line with the sales decrease across the county. Daly asked
what alternative investments were available for the town's fund balance. Halloran
responded that the town will invest future available funds in short-term products such as
government securities or CDs with the hope that rates will turn around in the near future.
➢ Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program.
Public Works Director Greg Hall explained the town receives federal funding for transit,
therefore the town "agrees" to a goal of providing up to one percent of the town's
contracted business to "disadvantaged businesses." This ensures Council is aware of
the eligibility guidelines and has established such a goal. This is a requirement to
receive funding for proposed intermodel transit sites. Cleveland asked if a list of
disadvantaged businesses existed for the mountain region. Town Attorney Matt Mire
then explained the purposed of the update was a federal requirement.
The third item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda.
a. Approval of 07.01.08 and 07.15.08 Minutes
Hitt moved to approve the minutes with Daly seconding. Both Cleveland and Hitt
provided minor modifications to the 07.15.06 minutes. The motion passed unanimously,
7-0.
The fourth item on the agenda was the Wildlife Protection Awareness Campaign Award.
The Town of Vail's Wildlife Protection regulations, which require bear -proof and/or bear -
resistant containers in residential and commercial areas, continues to be applauded as a
model program by state wildlife officials. Compliance is estimated to be as high as 90
percent in the neighborhoods and the number of human -bear conflicts in Vail has been
reduced since the regulations became effective in 2007. The extremely effective
campaign used to generate the community awareness has been recognized for its
creativity. Linda Hill, president of Hill & Company, along with Tim Campbell, which
created the "Get a Nicer Can" campaign logo in collaboration with the town, presented
the International Summit Creative Award to Vail Police Officer Ryan Millbern, who serves
as the point of contact for the Wildlife Protection program.
The fifth item on the agenda was a Chamonix Site Planning update.
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Senior Planner Scot Hunn provided Council with an update on progress made in
developing and reviewing three (3) site plan options for the proposed Chamonix property
fire station and affordable housing project. Studio B Architects representative Gilbert
Sanchez then presented preliminary cost estimates for the Chamonix Site master plan
and explained a formal recommendation from the Chamonix Site Master Plan Advisory
Committee regarding:
➢ A preferred site plan option that best meets the planning goals and design
parameters approved for the project;
➢ Seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification; and
➢ Pursuing "Off -site, Factory Built" (modular) construction.
Hunn then asked Council to provide staff and the design team with direction and
feedback regarding a preferred site plan option for the Chamonix Site in relation to the
approved master planning goals and design parameters for the project. He also asked
Council to provide direction and feedback regarding the pursuit of LEED certification and
"Off -site, Factory Built" construction for the project. Hunn clarified LEED construction
costs could be managed to only one or two percent more than traditional construction.
Off site construction was presented as costing considerably less than using traditional
methods. Sanchez and Fenton Construction owner Pat Fenton described a modular
affordable housing project currently under construction in Telluride. Rogers asked for
clarification of the cost per square foot for "off -site, factory built" units, comparing the
projected Chamonix Site costs to those of Stratton Flats, an affordable housing
development in Gypsum that is reported to have per square foot costs of $100. Fenton
explained that due to extensive site development required on the parcel, construction
costs for the Chamonix Site will exceed $100 per square foot. Newbury asked if the
costs of the proposed housing units would be affordable to those seeking an opportunity
to live there. Neighborhood representative and former Vail Mayor Bob Armour
commented, "If you are going to build it green, why not get some sort of certification."
He strongly supported the proposal of modular construction. He also encouraged
obtaining more accurate pricing estimates. Newbury expressed concern that
construction costs would be prohibitive to potential and targeted buyers. Gordon
expressed concern the proposal included too many two -bedroom units and did not meet
the initial goal of providing family housing. "This is not family housing ... This is workforce
housing." Advisory committee member Jack Bergey said he believed the highest
density option, "Village Neighborhood," would be too expensive for targeted purchasers.
"Affordable housing has to be affordable." AXS Vail Valley representative Sara Will
spoke in support of making the project as ADA accessible as possible. Eagle River
Water & Sanitation District Community Relations Manager Diane Johnson said three -
bedroom homes were most desirable for the district's potential buyers. It was then
clarified ADA accessibility had been included in the initial estimates and four -bedroom
units had been contemplated. Gilbert said the schemes were conceptual and there was
considerable flexibility built into them. Daly said he believed the proposal was to provide
a family environment. Hitt said he supposed it was a mistake to not include drive -
through fire station bays (as back-up warning signals are very disruptive to a
community). "I'm just not feeling warm and fuzzy about this particular design," Hitt said.
Rogers said she was happy with the mix of units. Rogers moved to approve a medium
density, modular built, neighborhood block design with LEED certified construction with
Daly seconding. Cleveland said the recent mortgage crisis lays claim to the fact that not
every person will be able to own a home. "Factory built is the only thing that makes
economic sense right now ... I hope the quality is there." Foley encouraged a drive-
through fire station. The motion passed 6-1, with Gordon opposed. The medium density
option, known as the "Neighborhood Block" option, would provide a total of 58 units on
the site, for an average of 16 units per acre. In rejecting a higher density option, which
would have accommodated 67 units on the site, the Council expressed concerns about a
parking structure component included in the option and associated costs. A third option
which was also rejected was a low density site plan that called for a total of 50 units on
the site. Following the vote, Community Development Director George Ruther
announced Hunn would be leaving the town for a position with Eagle County and
thanked him for all his hard work. The current planning process for the Chamonix parcel
has been taking place for eight months.
The sixth item on the agenda was the Second reading of Ordinance 15, Series of 2008,
an ordinance amending Section 10-1-2, Adopted Codes, Vail Town Code, in order to
adopt the 2008 National Electrical Code, and Section 10-1-9, Electrical Code
Amendments, Vail Town Code, in order to adopt amendments to the 2008 National
Electrical Code.
Every three years, the administrator of the National Electrical Code (NEC), the National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) conducts a pubic review process to update the NEC.
This year, the NFPA adopted the 2008 NEC, which will be officially adopted by the State
of Colorado on August 1, 2008. On July 15, 2008, the Vail Town Council unanimously
approved Ordinance No. 15, Series of 2008, on first reading. Newbury moved to approve
the ordinance on second reading with Rogers seconding. The motion passed
unanimously, 7-0.
The seventh item on the agenda was Resolution No. 15, Series of 2008, a Resolution
Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Town of Vail and Summit
County Government for the Provision of Emergency Dispatch Services Staffing.
Police Chief Dwight Henninger explained the Town of Vail and Summit County
Government each maintain and operate radio and communication systems for the
transmission and dispatching of messages relating to fire and/or police protection and
other public safety services. Summit County is currently in need of additional emergency
dispatching staff at the Summit County Communication Center. By entering into this
Intergovernmental Agreement, the town may agree to assign one or more of the town's
dispatch employees to provide dispatch services for Summit County and the County will
compensate the town $37.00 per hour per dispatch employee. Henninger confirmed with
Council that staffing demands in Eagle County remained the top priority. Daly moved to
approve the resolution with Hitt seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
The eighth item on the agenda was Adjournment.
Newbury moved to adjourn with Foley seconding at approximately 8:00 p.m. The motion
passed unanimously, 7-0.
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Dick Cleveland, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Lorelei Donaldson, Town Clerk