HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-16 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
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 Andy Daly.
Members present: Andy Daly, Mayor
Ludwig Kurz, Mayor Pro Tern
Jenn Bruno
Dale Bugby
Dave Chapin
Greg Moffet
Margaret Rogers
Staff members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager
Matt Mire, Town Attorney
Patty McKenny, Town Clerk
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation with input from several people as follows:
Lance Thompson, Vail Chamber and Business Association, spoke about an upcoming
golf tournament to benefit the Tom Slaughter Jr. Fund which helps support youth programming
in Vail. He encouraged everyone to join in the fun!
Dick Cleveland, resident and former councilor, congratulated the town on the recent
closing to redevelop the Timber Ridge project. He also spoke about an issue on the Vail Valley
Drive bike path noting some confusion about having to dismount bikes at the street and path.
And finally, he complimented the town for all the work being done on the Frontage Roads with
high praise for CDOT's cooperation to create the bike lanes.
Jonathan Levine, Hummers of Vail, distributed another document and continued to
express his concern with the Police Chief and his disappointment about a prior incident that he
was involved in.
John Gottlieb, resident, spoke about his support of pickle ball and encouragement that
the town continues to support the game by converting some tennis courts to pickle ball courts.
He thought offering this type of court to this group (many of who were in attendance at the
meeting) would be a tremendous community asset for such a growing demand of the sport.
Mayor Daly summarized some of the progress being made on the topic by the Vail Recreation
District subcommittee. There is a recommendation from the group to increase the number of
courts to a total of eight at Golden Peak. Daly encouraged their group to contact Todd
Oppenheimer with some of their recommendations as well. Jim Lamont, representing Vail
Homeowners Association, encouraged the group to work with and inform the area homeowners
as well since it seemed parking and noise may be negative factors to the residents. There were
comments from the group that some neighborhood contacts have already been completed.
Jim Lamont, Vail Homeowners Association, spoke about prior council meeting discussion
related to PEC's consideration of the Vail Valley Medical Center project as follows:
✓ the context surrounding his "moonlighting" comment, and related questions by and about
homeowner's concerns about the town serving as a partner with the developer or not with
the project,
Town Council Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2014 Page 1
✓ requested that an element of a traffic study include Vail Valley Drive and intersection of
West Meadow Drive with a scope that would include a review of the pedestrian cross traffic,
✓ requested notification of the timeline of the project development listing topics & dates.
George Ruther, Director of Community Development, provided some comments and noted that
a timeline would be finalized and publicized in the very near future in order to meet some
predictability and transparency to the project. Chapin clarified his comment made earlier in the
day and spoke about the town's commitment to ensuring all those interested have access to the
information and public input similar to how they have approached the planning of the project up
to this point in time.
The second item on the agendas was the Consent Agenda as follows:
1. Minutes from August 5, 2014, Council meeting
Moffet moved to approve the August 5, 2014, minutes; Kurz seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
2. Minutes from August 19, 2014, Council meeting
Bugby had suggested some changes be made to the minutes related to his comments on the
Timber Ridge redevelopment. Moffet moved to approve the August 19, 2014, minutes which
included the changes; Bugby seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
3. Resolution No. 25, Series of 2014, A Resolution in Support of the Great Outdoors Colorado
Grant Application for the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Education Center; and Setting Forth
Details in Regard Thereto
Moffet moved to approve Resolution No. 25; Rogers seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
4. Resolution No. 26, Series of 2014, A Resolution Establishing the Timber Ridge Operations
Committee and Setting Forth Its Purpose and Duties
Moffet moved to approve Resolution No. 26; Kurz seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
5. 12-13-5 Employee Housing Unit Exchange Program - A Request Authorizing the Town
Manager to Execute a Release of a Deed Restriction from an Existing Employee Housing
Unit Pending Verification of Compliance with the Prescribed Development Standards
Moffet moved to authorize the Town Manager to execute a deed restriction release and approve
the request for an exchange of employee housing units, pursuant to Section 12-13-5, Employee
Housing Unit Exchange Program, Vail Town Code, to allow for the release of an employee
housing unit deed restriction at Lot 3, Block 7, Vail Village First Filing, pending verification of
compliance with the prescribed development standards in exchange for a fee in lieu payment of
$174,910.35, and setting forth details in regard thereto. Kurz seconded the motion and it
passed unanimously.
The third item on the agenda was action as a result of the executive session. Town Manager
Stan Zemler requested council's direction to enter into a Memo of Understanding between the
Vail Valley Foundation (VVF) and the Town of Vail related to an automobile sponsorship which
was part of the earlier discussion during the executive session. It was noted that the VVF would
be entering into an arrangement with Volvo Cars of North America, and what would follow is an
agreement between VVF and Town of Vail. Zemler provided some highlights about the history
of the town's relationship with Volvo and some of the benefits in working with the group. Moffet
moved to authorize the Town Manager to enter into the agreement with Vail Valley Foundation
for the automobile sponsorship; Rogers seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Town Council Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2014 Page 2
The fourth item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report which included an update
(W about two senior management resignations, first from Finance Director Judy Camp, and
secondly from Fire Chief Mark Miller. He explained some of the transitioning and succession
planning that is occurring with the positions noting a promotion of Kathleen Halloran to Finance
Director, the use of an outside recruiting company to help hire an Assistant Town Manager as
well as an in-house hiring process to begin immediately looking for a Fire Chief.
The fifth item on the agenda was the discussion on the Ford Park lower bench with information
presented by Greg Hall, Public Works Director and Todd Oppenheimer, Public Works Capital
Projects Manager and Landscape Architect. The purpose of this discussion was to update the
Town Council on certain elements related to the Ford Park lower bench improvements including
the 1) Restroom/Picnic shelter, 2) Playground Modifications, 3) Accessible route between Upper
and Lower Benches, 4) Completion of the Lower Bench Water Line Loop/Paver Enhancements
and 5) Electrical Transformer Screen near the Nature Center Bridge. Staff requested council's
direction noting item options and the need to also coordinate the Town of Vail's project
construction with the anticipated construction of the Betty Ford Alpine Garden Education Center
(BFAGEC) this fall. As items were presented and council's input included some of the following
comments:
■ Concerns about the sidewalk along the playground area
■ Restrooms should not be so visible; the new design seems to continue to place the RR front
& center
■ Keep the basketball courts vs. remove the court
■ Build an elevated sidewalk to accommodate the trees
■ Create a walkway, not a ramp, since the existing route is not in compliance for the ramp
■ How does the master plan address ADA compliance
■ Add more ADA parking spaces on lower bench
■ What does the ADA coordinator and Chief building Official favor with regard to the options
■ How to balance ADA compliance with ability to fund
There was a detailed review of item numbers 3 and 4 above, with staff presenting some ideas
about how to solve the ADA compliance concerns as well as an explanation about the
completion of the looped water main as a condition of approval by the Eagle River Water and
Sanitation District on the BFAG EC project. It was also noted that installing the concrete pavers
on the central part of Betty Ford Way would be accomplished most cost effectively while
rebuilding the roadway following the water line installation. The majority of council members
supported the Central Betty Ford Way water main installation and the Central Betty Ford Way
pavers installation (up to Manor Vail Bridge). At this time Mayor Daly also requested more
information about options for solving some of the ADA access concerns and layout of the path
on the south side of the park. Rogers noted that she did not want to delay any of the BFAG
construction projects. There was interest by Mayor Daly to tour the site one more time in order
to help them determine the best ADA option balanced with the appropriate funding level. He
then requested the final decision be postponed to a future meeting.
The sixth item on the agenda was Capital Projects Fund and the Real Estate Transfer Tax
Fund in preparation for the first reading of the budget ordinance scheduled for November 4.
The summary of spending in the Capital Projects Fund and RETT Fund (including projects
funded by the Vail Reinvestment Authority) were organized by functionality of the project:
whether it maintains town assets, enhances town assets, or is a new asset. Assistant Finance
Director Kathleen Halloran presented the CIP and RETT proposals and requested input from
the town council. The plan revisions and additional items were noted in the memo with a recap
Town Council Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2014 Page 3
of what projects were delayed. It was noted that the annual revenue for this fund is projected at
an average of $12.9 million per year, which mainly consists of sales tax revenues (projected at
an average of $10.3 million per year for the next five years) assuming the same split of sales tax
revenue with 62% going to the General Fund and 38% to the Capital Projects Fund. Revenue
streams over the next five years also include $785,000 of continued federal grants for bridge
reconstruction and $356,000 of state (CDOT) funding for planning and design of the 1-70
underpass project. Annual capital maintenance of town assets averages a cost of $2.8 million
per year, leaving approximately $10.1 million of cash funding available annually for larger
projects such as road reconstruction, parking improvements, facility renovations, variable
message signs, etc. The five-year strategic capital plan presented today results in an ending
fund balance of nearly $13.7 million in 2019 before inclusion of any projects considered
"unfunded". Plan revisions/additions were noted in the memo and the specific discussion topics
included 1) increase Funding for Chamonix Housing, 2) a possible reprioritizing of uses for town
owned land related to municipal building redevelopment, 3) include the Data Center to muni
building redevelopment, 4) reconcile projects with transit facilities master plan, 4) delay any
Dobson Arena funding to coincide with the WMC redevelopment project.
The RETT Fund was also part of the evening discussion, a fund with annual revenue projected
at an average of $5.9 million per year. Annual capital maintenance, parks and landscaping,
public art, programming for environmental sustainability, forest health management and support
of partnering service organizations costs an average of $2.8 million per year. This leaves
approximately $3.1 million per year of cash funding available for larger projects without the
utilization of fund balance. The RETT fund balance is projected to be $8.6 million by the end of
2019. This includes an infusion of $3.9 million in 2016 from the Capital Projects Fund to be used
for the Golf Clubhouse and Nordic Center project and savings of $1.3 million from bike lanes
that were completed during 2014. With other large projects recently funded from RETT such as
the Ford Park Fields, Amphitheater infrastructure, Booth Creek Park redevelopment, Library
recreation path and stream bank mitigation, staff recommends an inflow of funding from the
Capital Projects Fund to supplement the Golf Clubhouse project, an updated cost estimates
currently totaling $10.8 million. Plan revisions/additions were highlighted in the memo and
specific discussion topics included Glen Lyon Bridge, library path reconstruction, Booth Creek
Park funding and projections, bike lanes and AIPP funding.
There was finally a review of the unfunded projects lists, which represents projects not currently
included in the five-year capital plan, but with potential funding sources identified. The list had
been updated for projects that are now budgeted or completed. Some discussion took place
about the main Vail roundabouts, Lionshead parking structure enhancements and Skate Park,
street lights and alternative fuel infrastructure. There were several suggestions made to add to
the "unfunded project list" as follows:
1. Funding for open space property acquisitions identified in master plan
2. Funding for the Town's share of WMC project roundabout funding (not currently included)
3. Funding for stream bank stabilization projects, some of which is already budgeted
4. Funding for Phase 2 Timber Ridge redevelopment
5. Funding to add back the 2001 budgeted amount of $250K allocated as the "buy down
program". Zemler noted some problems with the program in their inability to find any people
who could afford to make the purchase even with the buy down feature of the program
6. Funding for additional hiking & biking trails as well as additional pickle ball courts
Town Council Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2014 Page 4
The seventh item on the agenda was adjournment. There being no further business to come
before the council, Moffet moved to adjourn the meeting and Bugby seconded. The motion
passed unanimously, (7-0) and the meeting adjourned 8:30 p.m.
Attest:
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Patty M ny, lerk
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Respectf Submitted,
Andy Daly, Mayor �J
(W Town Council Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2014 Page 5