HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-02 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
6:00 P.M.
Vail Town Council Chambers
Members present: Dick Cleveland, Mayor
Susie Tjossem
Kevin Foley
Margaret Rogers
Andy Daly
Kerry Donovan
Kim Newbury
Staff Members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager
Matt Mire, Town Attorney
Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation.
There was none.
The second item on the agenda was a review and approval of recommendations
for minor modifications from the Parking Task Force for the remainder of the
2009-2010 season.
Public Works Director Greg Hall asked Council to review the recommendations of
the parking Task Force and approve/disapprove or modify the changes to the
parking program for the remainder of the 2009 -2010. Council established the
parking task force to provide direction to the Council regarding parking operation
policies for each year. The task force meets annually after the Martin Luther King
Holiday to evaluate the results of the operational changes implemented, review
trends and see if any changes need to be addressed and recommends possible
changes to the operating policies if needed. The two areas focused on were the
value pass lot and trailhead and park parking. The parking task force
recommended the following changes to the parking policies for the remainder of
the 2009-2010 season:
Open the value pass qualification to Eagle County residents, employees or
property owners on an experimental basis for the remainder of this season.
The value (discount) would only apply Monday -Thursday. The discount
would allow access at a rate of $15 for a full day of parking.
• The second issue was trailhead and park parking. The recommendation was
to sign a portion of each trailhead and Stephens Park parking spaces with a
three hour limit only restriction.
Tjossem said there were too many parking rules and regulations. "It's (parking
regulations) so complicated it's no wonder things don't get filled up." Rogers
moved to accept the value pass recommendations including Sunday with Foley
seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The motion opened to Eagle
County residents, employees or property owners, a pass previously open only to
Vail residents, employees and business owners. The pass is good for an off-
peak rate, Sundays through Thursdays, at $12 for Vail residents and business
owners and $15 for Eagle County residents and business owners. The peak
prices, on Fridays and Saturdays, are now $20 and $22 respectively. The spaces
are located on the top deck of the Vail Village parking structure and another 75
spaces are on the southern middle deck of LionsHead. All spaces are allocated
on a first -come, first -served basis. Cleveland commented, "We have to stop
punishing people for driving to Vail." Parking at trailheads will now include signs
indicating half the spaces are for day skiers, while the other half are for those
using the trails. Daly then moved to designate all parking spaces at Stephens
Park for park use only while trailheads will post half with three hour parking with
the rest for skiers. Tjossem seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
During a pause for public comment, Michael Cacioppo said he would avoid
paying for parking like the plague and suggested lengthening the 90 minute
shopper parking time limit. Hall clarified that 25% of all parking transactions are
under 90 minutes. Rogers suggested offering reduced rate parking coupons for
merchants who could provide them to customers. Vail Chamber & Business
Association representative Rich tenBraak said local merchants would favor two
hours as opposed to the 90 minutes. Kaye Ferry cautioned Council to avoid
making too many changes.
The third item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report.
a. Revenue Update
Budget & Financial Reporting Manager Kathleen Halloran reported when all
sales tax returns are received for the month of December, collections for the
month are expected to be $2,542,446 up 12.8% from budget (down 4.2% from
December, 2008). Year-to-date total sales tax collections of $16.9 million
exceeded the annual budget by 1.8% (down 13.9% from 2008). Inflation as
measured by the consumer price index was up 2.7% for the month of December,
and down 0.4% for all of 2009 compared to 2008. Use tax collections as of
January 26, 2010, total $13,353, a 44% increase from last January. Collections
for 2009, totaled $714,784, exceeding the $700,000 budget. The budget for
2010 is $500,000. 2009 lift tax collections total $3,048,011, down 2.2% from the
annual budget of $3,115,000 (down 7.0% from 2008). 2009 construction permit
revenue totals $794,181, down 7.4% from a budget of $858,000 and down 68%
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from full year 2008. The decrease in activity from the prior year is due to both
major and non -major redevelopment projects. Major redevelopment projects
make up 48% of the total, and construction permit fee revenue from those
projects is down by 81 % from prior year. Revenue from non -major projects is
down 23% from 2008. January 2010 construction permit revenue totals $8,018,
down 50% from January, 2009. With a majority of 2009 transactions recorded,
year-to-date Real Estate Transfer Tax collections through December 31, 2009,
total $2,508,099, an increase of 3.6% over the annual budget of $2,420,000.
This amount is a 72% decrease from 2008, a record year, due to both major and
non -major redevelopment projects. Eagle County as of November, 2009 was
down 60% in sales dollars and down 45% in the number of sales transactions.
2009 collections not related to major projects year-to-date are 39% down from
this time last year. January 2010 RETT collections total approximately $205,463.
This is 14% less than collections in January of 2009. Total parking revenue of
$4,975,795 exceeded 2008 by 5.7%, but was down 8.4% from 2009 budget.
This revenue consists of both revenue from pass sales and daily sales from the
parking structures: Parking Pass sales for 2009, total $701,813, a 12.4%
decrease from full year 2008, and a 21.7% decrease (or $195,000) from the 2009
budget. Daily sales from the parking structures total $4.3 million for 2009, up
9.4% from full year 2008, and down 5.8% from budget. Daily sales started strong
early in 2009, but have lagged so far this season. As of January 18, daily sales
total approximately $659,496. Although sales were lean the early part of the
month, this past weekend showed improvement with an 8% increase over the
same weekend last year. Across all funds for 2009, total revenue of $42.5 million
met the annual budget (down only 0.8%). Town reserves total an estimated
$50.6 million. During a pause for public comment, Vail Homeowner's Association
representative Jim Lamont clarified a revenue figure.
c. Rocky Mountain Rail Feasibility Update
Public Works Director Greg presented Council with an update on the current
status of a rail line access to Vail from the Front Range. The preferred plan at
the moment includes running the line from Copper Mountain to Camp Hale,
subsequently skipping Vail. During a pause for public comment, Vail
Homeowner's Association Jim Lamont asked if any environmental studies had
been performed and asked Council to look long term. Hall said no studies had
yet been performed. Michael Cacioppo expressed concern over the potential
noise impacts.
The fourth item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda.
a. Approval of the 01.05.10 & 01.19.10 Vail Town Council Minutes.
Rogers moved to approve the minutes with minor amendments with Foley
seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
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The fifth item on the agenda was Resolution No. 4, Series of 2010, a resolution
authorizing the Town of Vail to apply for a Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation
grant from the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Trust Fund
for the Red Sandstone Elementary School (RSES) playground renovation.
Gregg Barrie and Eagle County School District representatives informed Council
that the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund ("GOCO")
assists local governments in acquiring, expanding, enhancing and improving
parks, outdoor recreation and environmental education facilities. The town has a
30 year lease with Eagle County School District for the elementary school known
as Red Sandstone Elementary School. The Town has requested $200,000 from
GOCO to sponsor the relocation and renovation of the RSES playground on
behalf of the District. Cleveland clarified the cost estimate for the total project
was for $264,000. Cleveland clarified that use of the playground will be limited to
non -school hours. LionsHead hotelier and Red Sandstone Elementary parent
Keith Ozda spoke in support of the project. Daly moved to approve the
resolution with Rogers seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Foley
and Newbury said the park was an excellent addition to the community.
The sixth item on the agenda was a presentation of three alternatives for
considering a request to extend the approval periods for four existing
development review application approvals which are presently set to expire.
Community Development Director George Ruther explained Council has
approved four development plans for the Cascade Residences, Cornerstone
Residences, Strata and Timberline Roost Lodge. Since those approvals
however, the United States entered into a deep recession and the town has
adopted a construction use tax, 50 percent on -site employee housing
requirements and new international building codes. The three new laws would
place further financial hardship on the four approved developments. Ruther
asked Council if they wished to pursue any of the three alternatives outlined in a
memorandum provided to Council. The Community Development Department
recommended Council instruct staff to pursue Alternative #1:
#1: Extend the Approvals for 12 months Subject to an Administrative Action
Given the unique circumstances of the present conditions of the economy and
other factors out of the control of the applicants, the Vail Town Council may
conclude that an extension is warranted. With this in mind, the Town Council
could choose to instruct staff to grant an extension to the approvals for the four
specific projects in question, subject to the following terms:
1) One-time 12 month extension from the date of the expiration date.
2) The extension shall only be valid for the approved development plan(s)
that was granted. Any request for a change to the approved plans (i.e.,
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any change that requires a review by the PEC), except for a design review
change to approved plans request, shall cause the extension to be void.
3) Any application that has not ye
t
4) The granting of the extension shall be by administrative action.
Ruther clarified the 12 month extension was not arbitrary. Daly said, "We are
fooling ourselves if we think things (current economic situation) will work
themselves out in one year." Rogers suggested making the extension 18
months. Timber Line representative Greg Gastineau said there was not
construction financing available. "We aren't waiting for market conditions to get
better ... We are waiting for banks to start lending money again." Michael
Cacioppo asked Council to consider approving the projects as it may take years
for some of them to continue. Strata representative Rocky Cortina said the
addition of the use tax would add another line -item to the construction budget
making financing even more difficult. Daly moved to approve alternative number
one with the change from 12 to 18 months with Rogers seconding. Cleveland
said his best judgment told him he could not support any extension ever. "It
seems to me we had limits on a approval for a reason ... I will be voting against
the motion due to the time limit." Rogers said she wanted the projects to go
forward because construction creates jobs. "This is a much bigger issue than
these four projects." The motion passed unanimously, 6-1 with Cleveland
opposed.
The seventh item on the agenda was Adjournment.
Foley moved to adjourn with Daly seconding at 7:46 p.m. The motion passed
unanimously, 7-0.
Dick Cleveland, Mayor
ATTEST: ......•.
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Vorelei Donaldson, Town Clerk