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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-05 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 5, 2011 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 Andy Daly Kerry Donovan Kevin Foley Kim Newbury Margaret Rogers Susie Tjossem Staff members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager Matt Mire, Town Attorney Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Rich Ten Braak, with the Vail Chamber and Business Association (VCBA), asked the Council to consider local purchasing preferences as any assistance for locals. He also invited the Council to the Premier Impression event on April 7, 2011, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Eagles Nest. T.J. Slaggert, with Blue Sky Pedi Cabs, asked Council to allow a pedicab service to run from Cascade Village to the Vail Golf course through the end of the night. He also requested the Council direct staff to change the regulations to have off -site advertising on the Pedi cabs. The second item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda: 1) Approval of Release Town of Vail v. WENK et al. Case number 08CV467 and Settlement Amount of Nine Hundred Thousand dollars ($900,000); Cleveland stated this is a settlement regarding the streetscape project. Rogers made a motion to approve the release and accept the settlement amount, and directed the Town Manager to sign the agreement, and the motion was seconded by Daly. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. 2) Approval of Findings of the Vail Town Council for Real Estate Transfer Tax Appeal Hearing March 15, 2011. Newbury made a motion to uphold the findings Town Council Meeting Minutes for April 5, 2011 Page 1 and the motion was seconded by Daly. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The third item on the agenda was the Town Manager Report: Kathleen Halloran, Budget Manager, discussed the Revenue Highlights through February, 2011, with the Town Council. She said upon receipt of all sales tax returns, February collections are expected to be up 11% from budget and 7.9% from last year. The Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) collections through March 30 totaled $1,062,254 which is flat from this time last year. Approximately $466,203, or 44%, is from major redevelopment projects. Collections not related to major redevelopment is currently down $604,079 or 14% from this time last year. She said the parking revenue is down from last year. Pass sales are down 5.8%; daily sales are down 5.6% and parking transactions were down in Lionshead by 3.7% and up in Vail Village by 4.9% from last season. The number of season pass sales fluctuated as well; 802 passes were sold, down 8.7% from last season; value cards increased by 74% due to the inclusion of Eagle County residents. The number of value cards sold to Vail residents increased by 48.7%. The fourth item on the agenda was an update on the Conference Center Funds. Kent Logan stated that with the upcoming 2012 50t' Anniversary and 2015 World Championships, this was the time to get the conference center funds used prior to these events. He said an important theme that has emerged is the completion of Vail's Renaissance. The funds should be used for capital assets, providing long-term benefit to the town. Some of the community comments were to use funds for the Vail Golf Course Clubhouse, a Vail Village Welcome Center and the Ford Park fields expansion and possibly the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. He said the list could be refined after the vote of the electorate. Logan said he would request an August 23, 2011, election and not the November election date. He said a ballot initiative could be specific to each project and not to bundle them together. These proposals can be refined and don't have to be all-inclusive. The town could reduce costs for each project. Stan Zemler said they needed to discuss a refund methodology, ballot language, time of election and next steps. He stated David Viele and Bill Pierce have worked pro bono on several of the projects to date. The projects have been "vetted" and he is confident these are projects the town can do. The total for the Vail Golf Course Clubhouse, Ford Park field expansion and the Welcome and Heritage Center projects total approximately $16.1 million and there is $9.4 million in conference center funds. Other funding options for the golf course that are committed are $1.5 million from the town and $1 million from the Vail Recreation District (VRD), leaving an unfunded amount of $400,000. The Welcome Center has $566,000 potential funding from the town's capital Town Council Meeting Minutes for April 5, 2011 Page 2 projects fund with an unfunded portion of $734,000; and Ford Park has $2.5 million budgeted from RETT and more can be added to the funds. Each project was discussed in further detail. The Golf Course Clubhouse renovation would build on top of the existing structure. These are preliminary concepts and additions could include a new events pavilion, new entrance to pro shop and restaurant, updated locker rooms, cart barn improvements, new welcome area and expanded deck area. Rogers asked about the increase of meeting and event space and wanted to know if increasing the square footage from 18,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet is enough. She said this space should have three levels instead of two. More conference, meeting and technology spaces on a third floor should be included to accommodate conference needs. Bill Pierce said this is possible but they were using the current space. He stated the space could accommodate 200 people. Rogers said this isn't enough. Zemler said the biggest issue will be parking which will be a challenge. Daly said he had been talking to many people in town and this didn't make the list. Logan said they spoke to many lodging folks and they were specific that conference space had to be centered in town. That's why the original suggestion was to use Dobson Ice Arena. He felt the original conference center space could be in the project that is between the hospital and the Steadman clinic. He feels that would be the place for conference and meeting facilities. Cleveland said to skip to the big picture and to use future meetings to delve into the pros and cons of each project. Cleveland asked for public comment on the golf course project. There was none. Logan said the Welcome Center and guest services initiative would include a state-of- the-art Guest Service Home Page portal via a 3,000 square foot building expansion. This would include new restrooms, interactive multimedia displays, space for Vail heritage exhibits, gatherings, presentations, and have an interior connection to the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum. It would also provide a full service clearinghouse to book activities, lodging and other resort services. It would create an atmosphere of well informed, comfortable and relaxed visitors and contribute to increased visitation in all seasons and extended visitor stays. A possible 120-seat area could be used by the Colorado Ski Museum or the Vail Symposium and other entities wanting to host events. The expansion could be used at the current Vail Transportation Center. Daly said adding more meeting space could be redundant space since the Lionshead Welcome Center has this in the space already. Town Council Meeting Minutes for April S, 2011 Page 3 Erica, with the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum, said more professional space and technology would be useful for several entities in town. The museum heritage center would connect with Vail's history and build on that, offer a teacher's curriculum and school programs. Robin Litt, development director with the Colorado Ski Museum, said cultural tourism is a tremendous benefit to the Town of Vail. As of 2009, cultural tour participants are more affluent, educated and they stay longer. She said cultural tourism has contributed $3.1 billion in direct and indirect funding. Logan said the ski museum is currently not world class for Vail. The museum needs a space that is worthy of Vail as one of the premier ski resorts in the world. The Ford Park field expansion proposed upgrades include an addition of one full sized soccer field, an increase of the size of the west softball field, a new storage facility and two new restrooms. This does not include the lower bench, Ford Amphitheater, Alpine Gardens, artificial turf or parking. Mike Ortiz, Director of the Vail Recreation District (VRD), stated every weekend but one was full with events at the fields. Fields have been so busy they have had to use down valley fields; thus people stayed down valley. Both fields would be artificial turf. Daly asked how the cost changed from $1 million to $4.5 million. Zemler said the $1 million was the minimum and now there are additions of restrooms, walls and added turf. Logan said these proposals can be refined because $4 million to add a soccer field and walls would be hard to justify. He said with no construction going on in Colorado, these figures should go down. Daly asked Zemler to talk about how each project should be self supporting; covering its operating costs and generating cash flow to cover capital costs. Ortiz said the Ford Park field expansion would include a vendor that would hold a liquor license or the VRD would hold the liquor license. They could shrink the restaurant and give someone an opportunity to run the event space proposed. VRD would retain the rental fee and a profit from the food vendor. The revenue to operate the additional space and pay for capital improvements would come from adding 40 new events that could be generated by the facility. Daly said the town doesn't have any responsibility to fund deficits. Zemler said this would be a VRD operated facility and it would be their responsibility. Zemler said the Welcome Center has not been discussed as to who would operate this facility or what the role the town would play. VRD is not saying the fields will generate more heads in beds. They will generate people staying in Vail. As the town continues creating new events, it will be attractive to event producers to use the fields. Town Council Meeting Minutes for April 5, 2011 Page 4 Rob Levine, the Antlers General Manager, said he was involved in getting the conference center funding in place. The idea was more than heads in beds; and the purpose was to round out the economy. Their facility currently generates two thirds of their revenue from four months of the year. In the lodging business, 80% of business comes from those four months. This is not good. He personally believes the conference center had the ability to bring new markets to Vail at other times of the year. He is disappointed in this outcome as these projects will improve what we have but will not bring in diverse markets to Vail and expand our economy in diverse ways. Medical, recreational and business tourism is what we are good at, but he is disappointed we haven't figured out how to have a year `round economy. This should be part of the community conversations. The conference center was the most logical solution that would have been significantly impactful. He said the town and its residents and business owners should have greater vision and a 10 to 20-year horizon. Pete Hayda said he was in the lodging business in Vail, and was around when the conference center funding was approved. He said the meeting business season takes place April, May, June, September, October and November. We are missing out on that business. Rob Levine said the conference center was meant to address 1,200 universal meeting groups. This isn't happening so don't try to force that idea on any of these projects. Cleveland said Council is trying to get feedback from the community and now is the time to get other ideas. He said now is the time to get the community's ideas out and if they have comments about the current projects suggested, now is the time to voice them. Ann Kurronen, with the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens (BFAG), said they would like to see improvements on the lower bench of Ford Park. She stated the BFAG have not seen the Vail Valley Foundation (VVF) proposal; however, the groups in the Lower Bench need to work together. Rogers said she wants to see all Ford Park users be in on these conversations: the Art in Public Places, BFAG, Vail Amphitheater, the VRD and town all need to get involved together. Gwen Scapello, resident, asked when they talk about Ford Park, why aren't they also looking at the parking at Ford Park. Parking is strained for any activity at the park. Daly said there was a study done and it added $10 million to the cost of Ford Park, with two parking garages that are already underutilized in the summer. If the town upgrades bus service, this should help with the parking. Stephen Connolly said these are all good ideas but they don't attract the larger numbers to make an impact. He said the clubhouse makes the most sense but it won't bring more people to town. He said the town doesn't have a space for a music venue to hold Town Council Meeting Minutes for April 5, 2011 Page 5 concerts to bring in guests. He suggested Council look at the Ford Amphitheater to see if it could be enclosed and to add space to have a conference facility. Making it year 'round for many people to use would make sense. Paul Rondeau, a Vail resident, said clearly a lot of work has been done. Council needs a vision process to rate each project on its merits. He said making Vail a center for health is a high level vision; making Vail more than a four month place to be is a high level vision. There needs to be a list of criteria for project review. Then rate each project against the criteria to find out which project comes out on top. The public needs to have more input. There needs to be transparency. Logan said that for $9.4 million, there is just not one great idea. He said this is about holding on to what we have and building incrementally. Zemler said Council needs to make a decision on how to move forward on the ballot language and cautioned that if the Council goes to the voters, and the ballot fails, the conference center funds will have to be refunded. If that happens, the Council would need to pick a time and reduce the sales tax or lodging tax over a period of time. If the initiative loses, there needs to be a refund methodology. Zemler said next steps include a variety of opportunities to host meetings to present projects and get feedback and structure from the community to the Council. Ballot timing and language will be at the next meeting. Cleveland said proposed projects need specific budgets and costs when they are proposed at these meetings. Newbury said they need general costs and what the mechanism will be to fund the projects because it doesn't do anyone any good to have a ballot question on the projects and then not be able to fund it. Tjossem asked if there was a marriage of funds to support these projects from other fund accounts that could be utilized or bonded or other partners involved. The fifth item on the agenda was a review of the proposed Lionshead Redevelopment Master Plan amendments to facilitate the Ever Vail project. The main discussion centered around Resolution No. 6, Series of 2011, a request for a recommendation to the Vail Town Council for an amendment to the Lionshead Redevelopment Master Plan, pursuant to Section 2.8, Adoption and Amendment of the Master Plan, Lionshead Redevelopment Master Plan, to amend the detailed plan recommendations for West Lionshead (Ever Vail), and setting forth details in regard thereto. Warren Campbell said the first memorandum attached was a response to the questions Council asked at the last meeting regarding Manor Vail, conference groups and Arrabelle. The second memorandum was regarding Resolution No. 6, which amends Chapter 4 and 5 of the town code with recommendations. He reviewed the Town Council Meeting Minutes for April 5, 2011 Page 6 memorandum with Council on the findings, criteria, roles and responsibilities. He made an overall review of what will be presented to Council during the coming. Campbell also requested Council continue the public hearing on the request for the Major Amendment, Ordinance Nos. 7, 8, and 9, Series of 2011, and Resolution No. 6, Series of 2011 to the April 19, 2011 public hearing. Dominic Mauriello, on behalf of Vail Resorts, paraphrased the purpose of Resolution No. 6. Daly said some concerns are the view corridors because some of the property has been built to the property lines, particularly view corridors 6 and 7. He asked that in the future, full documents be submitted. Mauriello said this is an overview flavor of the whole project. Daly said the document doesn't speak to no net loss of parking. This is critical and there was nothing submitted. He wants the full document in front of Council so they can see the changes. Mauriello said he can do that in the future. Rogers said if it's not in the memorandum, there are no changes. The town's Master Plan of May 2010 should be kept in front of Council as well. Rogers asked if the 400 public parking spaces are enough based on current changes. Mauriello said they took their figures off the current Master Plan. Greg Hall said they updated the transportation plan in 2008 and at that time the recommendation was ok. Daly said he disagreed and said the need could potentially be 1,000 parking spaces needed. Mauriello said the 400 spaces is complete surplus parking above and beyond the project needs. Rogers asked how many parking spaces will be generated by the new gondola. Mauriello said the ski resort is not generating new skier capacity with the gondola. They are generating new skiers who are staying in the project themselves. That's why they are generating 400 additional parking spaces so the guests can stay at Ever Vail. Rogers asked if the 400 spaces are above and beyond and does the parking include serving the gondola. Tjossem said they are counting on about 10% of skiers migrating to this new lift and it`s a redistribution of current skiers, not new skiers. Newbury stated people parking on the Frontage Road will now be concentrated at Ever Vail due to available parking. Zemler stated this is a fundamental question: are the 400 spaces serving the lift or is this a separate parking component. Rogers stated there has been a need for new parking if there are retail stores. Mauriello said there are 350 spaces that serve the Town Council Meeting Minutes for April 5, 2011 Page 7 need for shops and stores and requirements could be addressed when conditional uses are sought at a later date. He said the Planning and Environmental Commission (PEC) could say the gondola parking needs could be 600 parking spaces. Mauriello stated the applicant wants parking needs to be discussed now and not later. Daly said it's obvious there's anxiety from the Council. In the community survey, the town was criticized about not enough parking. Council is concerned more parking demand will be required. Daly said 400 parking spaces is what is needed right now. He can't agree to additional congestion without having an immediate solution to parking needs now. Newbury asked why the PEC was told it would be considered at the time of the conditional use process. She said clearly the applicant was told this would be addressed at the conditional use permit discussion. Ruther said the nexus of the appropriate time is at the conditional use permit application. He also said within the conditional use review, the PEC will discuss what the impacts of this use are on parking, traffic, etc. Newbury said the applicant needs to understand the Master Plan gives direction. There is still an opportunity for the PEC to determine a different number of parking spaces that will be required. Cleveland said this process would be better served if the Council submits questions they have to staff and the applicant so they can facilitate the meeting quicker. Further discussion ensued regarding the view corridors 6 and 7. Daly said people thought they were getting a better view corridor between Garfinkel's and Arrabelle and they didn't. Daly asked how they make sure the view corridors are protected. Ruther said the view corridors are two different types. Ever Vail, as proposed, has most of the view corridor as a contemplated view corridor. They look at what is important to identify and protect. Daly said he is trying to make the town and applicant protect the view corridors. Ruther said the contemplated view corridors will have to use 3D modeling to anticipate the view corridors at Ever Vail. Daly prefers to have a GPS location and specification of the view corridor. Ruther said they can research that and include it into the master plan. Mauriello said the view corridor is already protected by an open space easement. The contemplated view they are trying to capture is when folks come out of the parking structure. The view the PEC captured is how to approach and exit out of the parking structure so you can orient yourself to the mountain. Additional discussion about the view corridors, heads in beds, traffic and parking ensued. Town Council Meeting Minutes for April 5, 2011 Page 8 Cleveland opened up the floor for public comment. Jim Lamont, representing the Vail Homeowners Association, said there needs to be a requirement that the Frontage Road cannot be a means to resolve any unpredictable parking needs for this portal or any other portal. He said the town needs to make sure there is enough parking planned. This project needs to be a well planned community, with enough setbacks, open space and landscaping area around and between the project and the Frontage Road. He said there needs to be a strong landscape corridor or it will look too sterile and urban. He said Council is doing an admirable job remembering a lot and they need to remember to error in more landscaping and less parking on the Frontage Road. He said he has sewer treatment plant concerns. Rogers said the treatment plant has vested rights to their property. She said they are a private landowner and Council can't tell them to move the plant. Lamont said they need to clean up their act and upgrade it, cover it or move it. He said the town has a right to change the Master Plan. Change around the sewer treatment plant is everywhere and over time, as the area changes, the plant should change and be more appropriate and compatible with the neighborhood. He suggested using TIF funds to beautify the site could be a possibility. Daly made a motion to continue all Ever Vail items to the May 3, 2011, Council meeting, and Donovan seconded the motion. A vote was taken and passed 7-0. A ten minute recess was taken at 9:10 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 9:20 p.m. Cleveland said several members were uncomfortable with the way the previous public hearing went. In the future, Council agreed there will be consensus on specific items and will then move forward. Cleveland stated Council needs to address issues, assess them as they go along but still move forward and get through the process. Zemler suggested they think about adding a separate Tuesday meeting to discuss the Ever Vail project since this process could take a lot of time. Tjossem said when they start at 10 a.m. or so and the meetings go late into the evening, Council can start getting crabby and make poor decisions. The Council needs to take the time to go through the master plan in order, stay on task and stay focused. Zemler said they could frame some questions. Rogers said she bases her vacations around the Council meeting dates and doesn't want to add more dates. Donovan said she isn't opposed to adding more dates. Cleveland said they may have to take things off the meetings to get this done. Zemler said another possibility is to start the evening meetings at 4 P.M. or earlier and add Ever Vail later in the evening. Town Council Meeting Minutes for April 5, 2011 Page 9 The sixth item on the agenda was a discussion regarding the Lionshead Transit Welcome Center Construction Contract Award. Tom Kassmel, Town Engineer, said the Town of Vail and the Vail Reinvestment Authority are in the process of completing the Lionshead Transit Center Project. The purpose of this Council session is to award the construction contract for the Lionshead Transit Welcome Center (LHTWC) Phase II Improvements. The Town received six bids through a public bid process with R.A. Nelson the lowest responsible bid aft6m detailed evaluation of scope, schedule, logistics and cost during a subsequent two week process. Daly stated that operations and maintenance should not be included but should be self supporting. Kassmel said next steps are for staff to figure out how to involve others to manage it with a goal of being revenue neutral or providing a profit. Newbury suggests having developers, including the town developers, submit a construction parking plan. If construction goes into ski season, it needs to be part of the contract. Foley said the Lions Head merchant's greatest concern is for their customer's to access Lionshead without going all the way to the Dobson/Library exit. Rogers made a motion to approve the award to R. A. Nelson per the town staff recommendation and the motion was seconded by Tjossem. A vote was taken, and the motion passed 7-0. Daly thanked Tom Kassmel and Greg Hall for working through the process and commended them for doing a great job. The seventh item on the agenda was adjournment. Foley made a motion to adjourn, and the motion was seconded by Tjossem. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. OF Attest: •Vq�� L` EA • S ` 1 'O Attest: CVP rfe�eiDonaldson, Town Clerk Respectfully submitted, 01 Dick Cleve Mayor Town Council Meeting Minutes for April 5, 2011 Page 10