HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-04 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
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
Kevin Foley
Margaret Rogers
Andy Daly
Kim Newbury
Not present: Farrow Hitt
Staff Members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager
Matt Mire, Town Attorney
Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation
Local contractor Russ Varley complained that he was not allowed to park in the
LionsHead parking structure between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. He then
asked that van pools be allowed in the structures in the morning.
The second item on agenda was the Town Manager's Report.
a. Revenue Update.
Budget and Financial Reporting Manager Kathleen Halloran reported that when all sales
tax returns are received for the month of June, collections for the month are expected to
be $711,149, down 22.5% from June, 2008. Year-to-date total sales tax collections are
down 15.4% from 2008 and flat with the budget. Inflation as measured by the consumer
price index was down (-1.4%) for the month of June compared to 2008. Use tax
collections as of July 28, 2009 total $242,567, a 39% decrease from this time last year.
Construction permit revenue through July 28 totals $469,897, down 71 % from 2008.
The 2009 budget assumed a 66% drop. The decrease in activity from the prior year is
due to both major and non -major redevelopment projects underway in 2008. Major
redevelopment projects so far this year make up 62% of the total. Revenue from non -
major projects is down 49% from 2008. Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) collections
through July 28, 2009, total $1.3 million. This amount is a 75% decrease from last year
due to both major and non -major redevelopment projects. Eagle County as of May,
2009, is down 67% in sales dollars and down 54% in the number of sales transactions.
At this time last year, the town had collected over $5.1 million in RETT from sales of
major redevelopment projects such as Arrabelle, Forest Place, One Willow and the Vail
Plaza. Year-to-date 2009 has seen limited sales from major redevelopment projects and
is down 84%. Collections not related to major projects year-to-date are 54% down from
this time last year.
Community Development Director George Ruther provided an update on a recent retreat
taken with the Vail Resorts Development Company (VRDC). The proposed EverVail
development was the primary subject matter. The greatest amount of discussion was
centered around phasing of the project. "Each phase should be able to stand alone as
an individual project... It was a productive use of time." Ruther then reported the North
Day Lot employee housing development continued down the approval path. "They
(VRDC) are required to have a building permit by April of 2010." Cleveland clarified a
construction parking plan would be a part of the permitting process. Rogers made clear
the town continued to hold a VRDC letter of credit ($17+ million) if the North Day Lot is
not developed.
The third item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda:
a. Approval of 07.07.09 and 07.21.09 Town Council Minutes.
Foley moved to approve the consent agenda without amendments with Newbury
seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
The fourth item on the agenda was the Dobson Ice Arena roof replacement bid award
Town Engineer Tom Kassmel explained The Dobson Ice Arena has been in need of
replacement. "This project was delayed from 2008 to 2009." The project was bid out,
after the Council reviewed the third budget supplemental for 2009. The apparent low
bidder is Roofmasters Roofing. The town performed reference checks on the contractor.
The replacement material will be metal and has received Design Review Board
approval. The town received five bids as outlined below.
Roofmasters Roofing, Hays KS Base Bid - $555,000
B & M Roofing, Fredrick, CO Base Bid - $638,945
Turner Morris, Silverthorne, CO Base Bid - $678,143
Progressive Roofing, Denver, CO Base Bid - $709,245
Weathercraft, Colorado Springs, CO Base Bid - $881,108
The contract is within the budget for the project. Construction is to begin once the
contract is signed. A request to instruct the Town Manger to enter into a contract with
Roofmasters Roofing of Hays, KS for $555,000 in a form approved by the Town
Attorney. Daly moved to instruct the Town Manger to enter into a contract with
Roofmasters Roofing of Hays, KS for $555,000 in a form approved by the Town
Attorney, with Rogers seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
The fifth item on the agenda was a review of LionsHead Transit Center Conceptual
Scenarios.
2
An open house for the public to view the concepts took place outside of the Council
Chambers prior to the Evening Session. The Town of Vail and the Vail Reinvestment
Authority (VRA) are in the process of studying the feasibility of constructing a LionsHead
Transit Center in response to past planning efforts including the LionsHead Master Plan.
The VRA contracted with the 4240 Architecture team to complete this design study.
Since the project kick-off with the public and stakeholder groups on May 20th, the design
team has:
Established the givens, goals and measurable criteria of the project (6/2/09).
Outlined the current conditions, defined study areas, and tested "carrying
capacity" of various study areas to accommodate program components.
(6/16/09).
Completed a transit analysis determining what transit elements need to be
accommodated now and in the future (7/7/09).
The design team then presented ten conceptual scenarios that were based on the
established givens, goals, measurable criteria, transit operations, program component
needs, the LionsHead Masterplan and other past LionsHead Transit Center related
study efforts, and the public, stake holder's and Council's input. The ten scenarios were
categorized in incremental improvement ranges that address the short, mid, and long
range transit needs. It was discussed that Vail should anticipate the need to carry more
passengers throughout Vail if Eagle County Transit (ECO) is successful in implementing
the desire to only make one stop in LionsHead and one stop a the Vail Village Transit
Center. Passengers would then have to transfer from ECO to the Town of Vail bus
system. Cleveland expressed concern that the 4240 recommendations may possibly
sacrifice the guest experience. Town Engineer Tom Kassmel recommended beginning
by focusing on the short term so as to perform some qualitative improvements that don't
substantially impact the LionsHead parking structure. Rogers clarified the town had
federal transit dollars that must begin to be used by 2010. Hall recognized the parking
structures' transit related upgrades would also qualify for use of Vail Reinvestment
Authority tax increment financing (TIF) dollars. Newbury questioned the value of having
two large transit centers within a mile of each other. During a pause for public comment
Vail Homeowner's Association representative Jim Lamont asked for more
comprehensive cost estimates. 4240 representative Lou Bieker said the group had
focused more on conceptual design and relative costs as opposed to detailed design
and explicit costs, which would be the next step. Lamont said the proposed scenarios
were not world class solutions. Bieker said putting transit on the south side of the
structure created a fracture between the two Villages. Daly asked to minimize what
takes place but to achieve the maximum impact and phase the implementation. Gordon
asked for a fiscal analysis of the bonding capacity of the Vail Reinvestment Authority.
Foley encouraged staff to return with a more detailed financial analysis. Newbury said
she felt like Council was trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Cleveland
commented, "I do not want the federal money to dictate what we are going to build."
Zemler said he would also return with a long term sustainability analysis.
The sixth item on the agenda was the First Reading of Ordinance No. 17, Series of
2009, an Ordinance Submitting to the Registered Electors of The Town of Vail,
Colorado, at a Regular Municipal Election Held on November 3, 2009 a Ballot Question
to Amend Section 3.2 of the Town of Vail Charter Regarding Town Council member
Terms of Office.
3
On July 21 st the Town Council directed the Town Attorney to prepare a ballot question
to submit to the registered electors of the Town of Vail for the November 3, 2009 regular
municipal election amending Section 3.2 of the Town of Vail Home Rule Charter as it
relates to terms of council members. The proposed amendment is meant to address
ambiguities and conflicts previously identified regarding the town's terms and term limits
provisions for council members as currently set forth in Section 3.2 of the Charter.
Rogers spoke in support of establishing only four year terms. "There are only two
communities in the entire state that have two year terms ... the voting public does not
vote because they think some people should get four years and someone should get
two." During a pause for public comment, former Councilman Greg Moffet spoke in
support of maintaining two year terms. "We have a better system here." Vail
Homeowner's Association representative Jim Lamont said the original intent of the Town
Charter was to change four seats every two years. Newbury moved to approve the
ordinance on first reading with an amendment retaining the two-year term provision. The
proposed amendment would also limit a council member to three consecutive terms,
regardless of their length and would require a councilmember be out of office for two
years after they have been term limited. Daly seconded the motion and it passed 4-2
with Rogers and Gordon opposed. The final public hearing on the ordinance is
scheduled for August 18'h
The seventh item on the agenda was Resolution No. 21, Series of 2009, A resolution
approving the purchase of Gore Range Condo II Unit #2-W, with a physical address of
2189 Chamonix Lane Unit #2-W, Vail, Colorado.
Community Development Director George Ruther announced that Council approved the
2009 Town of Vail Budget with $500,000 allocated to the Buy Down Program. The Buy
Down Program is designed to purchase existing dwelling units within Vail and
permanently establish them as employee housing units. The acquisition of Gore Range
Condos # 2W is in keeping with the established goal and actions identified in the Town
of Vail Employee Housing Strategic Plan. Rogers moved to approve the Resolution with
Newbury seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
The eighth item on the agenda was Adjournment.
Foley moved to adjourn at approximately 9:05 p.m. with Newbury seconding. The
motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
ATTEST:
OF
al re
• J •
• •O
Cp�O
Lorelei Donaldson, Town Clerk
Dick Cleveland, Mayor
4