HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.20180709Regular Meeting Aspen City Council July 9 2018
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CITIZEN COMMENTS ............................................................................................................................... 2
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS ................................................................................................................... 2
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS ................................................................................................................ 3
CONSENT CALENDAR ............................................................................................................................. 4
Resolution #86, Series of 2018 – Colorado Water Conservation Board grant and contract award to
Element Water Inc ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Resolution #100, Series of 2018 – As-Needed Dredging Services ....................................................... 4
Resolution #101, Series of 2018 – contract for Construction Rubey Subdivision 12” waterline ......... 4
Resolution #104, Series of 2018 – Renaming the alley behind City Hall to “Warren’s Alley” ........... 4
Minutes – June 25, 2018 ....................................................................................................................... 4
RESOLUTION #102, SERIES OF 2018 – 315 E Dean St – St. Regis – Temporary Use ............................ 4
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council July 9 2018
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At 5:00 p.m. Mayor Skadron called the regular meeting to order with Councilmembers Hauenstein, Frisch
and Myrin present.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
1. Lee Mulcahy said he arrived here in December 1995. APCHA employees are classified as city
employees. They are under your jurisdiction. I’ve collected over 2000 signatures for a peaceful
resolution. I’m here to ask if there is support for a work session on my and Amanda’s eviction.
He submitted additional signatures and an email.
2. Janet Moohrman said she is living on a fixed income and wants to protest the 40% tobacco tax. It
is unnecessary and won’t change her mind at 67. It doubles the amount of money she has to pay
on a fixed income. She asked where the $325,000 is going. Steve Barwick, city manager, replied
that is part of the budget discussion. Councilman Hauenstein said it is earmarked to health and
human services and to prevent tobacco use in children. She also spoke against the food tax and
said it may be illegal as well.
3. Amanda Tucker said on July 4th she volunteered at the Buddy’s race then at the Wheeler. She
found her car was booted after that in the Clark’s parking lot. She was told the only way to get
her car back was to pay $200. She was told it was a private parking lot and the owners can do
whatever they want. She said she is not here to talk about her APCHA eviction but the tax credit
program. If at any time the city is in violation with the program they lose the subsidy then have
to repay any monies given to the city. She has information on 14 violations that are without
question violation of the program.
4. Sandy Mulcahy spoke about Lee and his housing situation and the process he has been through.
5. Mike Maple said he spoke a few weeks ago about the police signage and it seemed like there was
some willingness to re-visit it. He has received some additional info from Jessica about it.
Mayor Skadron said he agrees with you on it. Staff is waiting for council direction on this. Mr.
Maple said when was the last time you heard of someone running into the police station. Now we
have a gigantic building that is well situated and not hard to find. I find the justification for the
sign as public safety not credible. He would like the sign to comply with code. It is 2.8 times the
permitted size. The lighting for it is appropriate for retail but not for a governmental sign.
6. Toni Kronberg said she would like council to draw up a letter of appreciation for the first
responders to the fire response down valley. On July 30th there is a work session for the 517
Hopkins project. Mayor Skadron said we are still not sure what is going to happen at that
meeting. We may notice a special meeting for that night. Mr. Barwick said there will be some
discussion on the financing on the 30th. Ms. Kronberg asked what properties are really being
looked at as part of the due diligence. You are not going to move the water, parks and public
works. Councilman Hauenstein said there are two things. The due diligence is for 517. As I also
understand it in the absence of any special meeting and action by council we bought that building.
Ms. Kronberg said on the cost, will you be comparing the land value. The square footage will be
factored. Mayor Skadron said we are acting in accordance with a land purchase. Ms. Kronberg
said one of the things the county did to reduce the square footage is to use a hybrid office space.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilman Hauenstein said he wants it on record that I failed to mention last time that with any property
purchase I want 517 to be appraised. Bert brought that to my attention last time and it slipped my mind.
Mr. Barwick said you brought that up and there was general consensus and I have ordered an appraisal.
Councilman Hauenstein said we have a growing population. Christine Benedetti gave birth and Ali Crum
Johnson also gave birth. TJ Van Garderen is one of our locals. TJ is on team BMC and they won the
time trial by seconds. I want to add my praise to the first responders in Basalt. I talked to Patti Clapper
today who spoke to a firefighter who said this is the first fire they are going to go away weighing more
than when they started.
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council July 9 2018
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Mayor Skadron said we can add Curtis to the list of growing families.
Councilman Myrin said thanks for continuing to work on the police department sign. He asked about a
power outage. Mr. Barwick said the likelihood is decreasing but still possible. Holy Cross will be
working for weeks. At this point it is looking a lot better. At this point they are not planning any outages
that I’ve been told. Councilman Myrin said there was a question of support of a work session on
APCHA. Mr. Barwick said there is an upcoming BOCC work session that I’m assuming will be on
APCHA in August. The working group is meeting this Friday. Councilman Myrin said along with
planning for city offices there is discussion of county com dev moving out of the armory. There is an
open house tomorrow from 4:30-6:30 on the Marolt open space. Ben Carlson, parks, said it is for the
Marolt single track trail open house. We are in the conceptual stage right now. It will be a better
connection for kids going to school and beginning mountain bike riders. We want public feedback. It
could be wrapped in to a management plan for next year. Mayor Skadron said if one trail provides a safe
an obvious throughway that doesn’t create more crossings I can support this. If this undermines the
principle open space I have an issue with this. Councilman Myrin said on the Wagner park money for
grass and parking waivers, I would like it added to the to be added section of the work sessions. I went to
the chamber meeting and invited them to an upcoming meeting. The flip side to Ward mentioning the
births has been some early suicides. I think we need to lean in to that a little more.
Councilman Frisch gave a hats off to the first responders and my heart goes out to all those effected. On
the Jazz Aspen and Wheeler RETT discussion, there has been emphasis on diving in on a proposal Jim
Horowitz made for equity and rent for a building that would be managed by the Wheeler for a black box
test. The concerned I raised to Jim was as soon as we start these discussions others will start the
conversation. Sure enough, the school district and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet have come forward. I want to
make sure if the council direction is to have a public vote on one entity I still think that having a variety of
choices is what will end up happening. The sooner we realize there will be more people at the table and
this is not about the schools but the community having a choice.
Mayor Skadron said thank heavens for rain storms and fire fighters. Big congrats to the Aspen Institute
for the IDEAS fest. It makes you proud to be part of this community. Big nod to the Chamber for
hosting the 4th.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Mr. Barwick said there have been lots of questions about the airport operations. There are flights going
out early in the morning and late at night. On Wednesday there may be some limited mid day operations.
The best info is still through the airlines. On the Basalt fire, everyone has been fixated on the source of
ignition. I want to remind everyone there is more than ignition. Fire happens. How much damage they
do is the weather and fuel. A lot can be done to remove excess fuel. I want to remind everyone that the
fire district will do a free fire wise assessment of your property. Do the work before hand. Once we get a
few days of rain the phones stop ringing. Don’t get complacent. If we don’t continue with our monsoons
and get in a situation where we are really concerned with fire, during those times people ring our phones a
lot. We have a program pretty well established. Councilman Myrin said maybe we could fund a program
for affordable housing properties. Mr. Barwick said we have a program for city owned facilities and
properties. We can’t make properties do it
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council July 9 2018
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CONSENT CALENDAR
• Resolution #86, Series of 2018 – Colorado Water Conservation Board grant and contract award to
Element Water Inc
• Resolution #100, Series of 2018 – As-Needed Dredging Services
• Resolution #101, Series of 2018 – contract for Construction Rubey Subdivision 12” waterline
• Resolution #104, Series of 2018 – Renaming the alley behind City Hall to “Warren’s Alley”
• Minutes – June 25, 2018
Councilman Frisch moved to adopt the consent calendar with correction to the minutes; seconded by
Councilman Hauenstein. All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #102, SERIES OF 2018 – 315 E Dean St – St. Regis – Temporary Use
Garrett Larimer, community development, stated this is a temporary use application for yurts for the
Chef’s Club court yard. They would be located in the north east corner of the property adjacent to Mill
Street. The court yard is sunken and recessed about 10 feet. They are requesting use for 135 days,
December 1, 2018 through April 14, 2019. There are no annual recurrences. The yurts would range from
8 to 12 feet in diameter. The total square footage is 800 accommodating 60 to 64 guests. It would be a
dining alternative for the Chef’s Club restaurant. This is consistent with what you would expect to find in
a mountain lodge. There is limited impact since the location is in a sunken courtyard. The property is
surrounded on three sides by the St. Regis. It is consistent materials with other temporary use structures.
Limited if any outdoor lighting. Any music will be at an appropriate level. As a condition we ask they
provide accessible seating. The mitigation calculation application received a 14 day credit in a previous
approval so they did not receive the credit for this request. Staff is recommending approval. There is an
updated resolution due to an error in the affordable housing calculation.
Alan Richman representing the applicant, said he has reviewed the staff report and resolution and they
appreciate the staff recommendation. They are proposing a small yurt village. It is a one of a kind
addition to an Aspen tourist amenity. The location is in the heart of the lodge yet conspicuous. It will be
a winter only operation. The court yard is already in use for dining during the summer. 10 yurts of
varying sizes with the same operating hours of the Chef’s Club. There will be no outdoor lighting. We
will use small electric heaters for heat. We are not asking for this to be recurring. This is unique and we
want to see how it works and how the neighbors adapt to the experience.
Councilman Frisch said we have to check all the time the monetarization of outdoor space in the winter.
Whether it was the Grey Lady or this. The reason this is supported is the hidden factor. Is that the
precedent we are setting for the restaurant sector. As long as there are visualization issues that is where
there is a higher bar. Jessica Garrow, community development, replied the short answer is yes. Some of
the commercial design standards updates that is one of the key differences between here and the Grey
Lady. We are looking for a work session in the fall to discuss tents more broadly.
Councilman Myrin said the memo mentions it is an alternative dining option. Ms. Garrow said it is
increasing. Councilman Myrin said I will support this because it meets the code. $6,700 is rent for
maybe one person over the term. I think the code needs to be adjusted to meet the job demand for what
we are creating. Thank you for the electric heaters. Ms. Garrow said that is part of what we want to talk
about with council. What is the basis for the current mitigation rate. As well as do you want to continue
to see these at council.
Councilman Frisch said the one number says they are solving for .9 FTEs.
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council July 9 2018
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Mayor Skadron said does this generate more customers or just shift them. Mr. Richman replied clearly
both operations are going on at the same time. Mayor Skadron said it generates two more employees.
Are you hiring or scheduling two more employees. Josh replied for our busiest nights it would require
additional servers. 11 Madison Park is coming in this winter and running the Chef’s Club. As far as
them hiring more employees that remains to be seen.
Mayor Skadron opened the public comment. There was none. Mayor Skadron closed the public
comment.
Councilman Myrin moved to adopt Resolution #102, Series of 2018 with modifications; seconded by
Councilman Hauenstein. All in favor, motion carried.
At 6:55 p.m. Councilman Hauenstein moved to adjourn; seconded by Councilman Frisch. All in favor,
motion carried.
Linda Manning
City Clerk