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HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20080506Memorandum To: Mayor and City Council From: Tim Ware, Director of Pazking Date: May 2, 2008 RE: One Way Street Experiment Request of Council: The Commercial Core and Lodging Commission has requested that the City implement one-way traffic in two areas of the commercial core on a trial basis. The two areas identified were: •200 South Mill to 300 East Hyman (around the Wheeler Opera House); and • and 200, 300 S Galena to 500 E. Copper. In addition, the CCLC requests that parking on both sides of the one-way streets be converted to angle parking. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: There has been no previous council action on this request. BACKGROUND: The CCLC made this request of Pazking Department staff at a recent meeting. Staff surveyed and evaluated the feasibility of both locations. DISCUSSION: After evaluating both locations, staff has determined that the streets around the Wheeler Opera House do not have the required distance to convert the existing pazallel pazking spaces to angle pazking, even if the streets were one way. The current width of 300 E. Hyman is 39' 4" and 200 S. Mill is 39'5". Chapter five of the Fire Services Features section 503.2.1 requires that no less than 20' in width be available for fire apparatus. Angle parking would require 15' of width on each side of the street which would leave 9' for a traffic lane. Given the distances requirements, even converting one side of the streets to angle would not be possible. The area of Galena and Cooper on the other hand, does have the required distance from curb to curb to covert both sides to angle parking and still provide the required width for fire vehicles if these streets were to be one way. This would produce a net gain of approximately 20 parking spaces. Converting this area to one-way would however require a rerouting of the Galena Street Shuttle in one direction. FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS: The Parking Department has all the traffic control devices in inventory to convert the required signage to perform this experiment and funds to communicate this information (newspaper, etc)? The would be a small increase to pazking revenue due to the gain of 20 pazking spaces on the streets. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: This experiment could possibly decrease the amount of traffic circling the area looking for available pazking spaces. RECOMMENDED ACTION: If Council would like to conduct the one way street experiment, staff recommends that only the area of 200, 300 South Galena and 500 East Cooper be used. Staff also recommends that the experiment start June 1, 2008 and conclude to September. Staff would then report back to Council with results and comments. ALTERNATIVES: Council could direct staff to look at other areas or to not conduct the requested one way street experiment. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: ATTACHMENTS: Map of the proposed one way area Fire Services Features CHAPTER 5 FIRE SERVICE FEATURES SECTION 501 GENERAL 501.1 Scope. Fire service features for buildings, structures and premises sha0 comply with this chapter. 501.2 Permits. A permit shall be required as set forth in Sec- tions 105.6 and 105.7. 5013 Cons4vction documents. Construction documents for proposed fire apparatus access, location of fire lanes and con- strucdondocuments and hydraulic calculations for fire hydrant systems shall be submitted to the fire department for review and approval prior to consruction. 501.4 Thning of installation. When fire apparatus access roads of a water supply for fire protection is required to be in- stalled, such protection shall be installed and made serviceable prior to and during tite time of construction except when ap- proved al[emativemethods ofprotection aze provided. Tempo- rary sheet signs shall be installed at each street intersection when constrcuction of new roadways allows passage by vehicles in accordance with Section 505.2. SECTION 502 DEFINITIONS 502.1 Definitions. The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this chapter and as used etlsewhere in this code, have the meanings shown herein. FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROAD. A mad that provides fire apparatus access from a Ere station to a facility, building or portion thereof. This is a general term inclusive of all other terms such as fire lane, public street, private street, parking lot lane and access roadway. FIRE COMMAND CENTER. The principal attended or un- attendedlocation where the stems of the detection, alarnt com- munications and control systems is displayed, and from which the system(s) can be manually controlled. FIRE DEPARTMENT MASTER KEY. A limited issue key of special or controlled design to be carried by fire depaztment officials in command which will open key boxes on specified properties. FIRE LANE. A road or other passageway developed to allow the passage of fire appamtus. A fire lane is not necessarily in- tended for vehiculaz traffic other than fire appamtus. KEY BOX. A secure, tamperproof device witir a lock operable only by a fire department master key, and containing building entry keys and other keys that may be required for access in an emergency. 2003 INTERNATIONtI~ ~ CODE® SECTION 503 FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS 503.1 Where requhed. Fire apparatus access roads'shall be provided and maintained in accordance with Sections 503.1. I through 503.1.3. 503.1.1 Buildings and facilities. Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be provided for every facility, building or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction. The fire apparatus access road shall comply with the requirements of this section and shall ex- tend to within 150 feet (45 720 mm) of all portions of the fa- cilityand all portions of the exterior walls of the fast story of the building as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility. Exception: The fire code official is authorized to in- crease the dimension of 150 feet (45 720 tnm) where: 1. The building is equipped throughout with an ap- proved automatic sprinkler system installed in ac- cordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3. 2. Fire apparatus access roads cannot be installed be- cause of location on property, topography, water- ways, nonnegotiable grades or other similar conditions, and an approved alternative means of fue protection is provided. 3. ThereazenotmorethantwoGroupR-3 orGroupU occupancies. 503.1.2 Additional access. The fire code official is autho- rized to require more than one fire apparatus access road based on the potential for impairment of a single road by ve- hiclecongestion, condition of terrain, climatic conditions or other factors that could limit access. 503.13High-piled storage. Fire department vehicle access [o buildings used for high-piled combustible storage shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 23. 503.2 Specifications. Fire apparatus access roads shall be in- stalled and arranged in accordance with Sections 503.2.1 through 503.2.7. moire appamtus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6096 mm), except far approved security gates in accordance with Sec- tion 503.6, and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches (4115 mm). 503.2.2 Authority. The fire code official shall have the au- thority [o require an increase in the minimum access widths where they are inadequate for fire or rescue operations. 503.23 Surface. Fae apparatus .access roads shall be de- signed and maintained to support [he imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be surfaced so as [o provide all-weather driving capabilities. 39 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Ben Gagnon, Special Projects Planner THRU: N/A DATE OF MEMO: May 2, 2008 MEETING DATE: May 6, 2008 RE; ZG Master Plan Report REQUEST OF COUNCIL: Staff is requesting that the Council review and discuss the information provided and provide direction for the future regarding a formal land use review process. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: At the Apri128 Council meeting, Council requested a report on the ZG Master Plan process, starting with the appropriation of $50,000 for the project, as well as a focus on how uses were established. BACKGROUND: Staff has provided eight exhibits showing various key stages of the process since May 2006. These memos reflect what staff believes to be a consistent goal of moving toward a COWOP process. The memos also contain information on certain uses and when they entered the process. For example, both the 5/15/06 (Exhibit A) and the 8/15/06 memo (Exhibit B) identifies "potential applicants." A memo from November 2006 (Exhibit C) includes the $50,000 request from Council to launch a "master planning" process. Staff had originally envisioned hiring an outside consultant to run this process, and a draft scope of work from RNL Design is attached to the 11/06 memo. Staff subsequently decided that the master planning work could be done in-house, more efficiently and more cost-effectively, especially considering the abilities of Jason Lasser of Community Development. An Agreement to Initiate Joint Planning (Exhibit D/Resolution No. 19, Series of 2007) was the next step toward a planning process. Rather than enter into a major contract with RNL Design, staff simply asked them to run atwo-day chan•ette, leaving further planning steps to be determined. This document includes a document attached that lists the parties and a timeline. Page I of 7 The work accomplished at the charrette is reflected in Exhibit E, which shows several different versions of a site plan, as well as different uses in different locations. The document also shows "pros and cons" discussed by the chan•ette members, which included about 35 people. The five parties identified in Resolution No. 19, Series of 2007, met together after the charrette and determined that the best way to move forward was through an informal public process intended to involve as broad across-section of the public as possible. The next public meeting was held in August 2007, and focused on the at-grade site plan -including pedestrian movement, open space and view corridors rather than massing and heights of buildings. Exhibit F shows the notes that were taken from that meeting, when approximately 55 people attended. In November 2007, another public meeting was held so the parties could talk about "why they should be located at this site and why the space is needed," according to the newspaper advertisement (Exhibit G). Approximately 75 people jammed into the Council Chambers for this meeting, and almost all the parties took more than the 10 minutes allotted to go through their powerpoints (and a DVD for the Chamber). Some technical problems delayed the meeting, and because we didn't expect that many people, the food ran out quickly. Once we had taken several questions and comments, the crowd began to leave. There was no "thumbs exercise" at this meeting, and staff can't locate any notes on the meeting. Staff does recall Kent Reid and Junee Kirk objecting to the design for Galena Plaza, wanting more open space and fewer buildings; and Steve Seyffert objecting to the size of government offices; as well as an audience member who wanted the Art Museum to remain at its current site. There was also a strongly supportive comment from Sue Smedstad, a former Civic Master Plan Advisory Group member. The ZG Partnership then produced a 55-minute version of the presentations made at this meeting that was shown extensively on GrassRootsTV (Exhibit G). In Mazch 2008, a large public meeting was held at the Jerome Hotel to show a 3D version of the site plan, with results from the "thumbs exercise" attached as Exhibit H. DISCUSSION: This portion of the memo will focus on how the various uses at the ZG site evolved into the ZG Partnership. In all cases, the parties emerged from the Civic Master Plan. Exhibit F contains excerpts from the Civic Master Plan regarding these uses -this document was a hand-out at the August 2007 public meeting. Pitkin County In 2005, the Pitkin County Facility Feasibility Analysis generated an alternative option that would locate a substantial amount of County offices just west of the Aspen Airport Business Center, along Highway 82. The CMPAG found that, "Removing civic functions from the downtown will tend to reduce the kind of community character that still makes the core of Aspen a `traditional' downtown, surrounded by a resort environment." Page 2 of 7 The CMPAG recommended that "the City of Aspen collaborate with Pitkin County during the Facility Feasibility Analysis in order to review and evaluate the scope of potential civic uses at the Zupancis property." The CMPAG recommended that "the City of Aspen collaborate with Pitkin County during the Facility Feasibility Analysis in order to review and evaluate the scope of potential civic uses ... including ... the former Youth Center." During the charrette process, some proposals showed Pitkin County offices at the former Youth Center site and on the Rio Grande Parking lots, but the majority of the attendees ultimately preferred the Zupancis site. The County also prefers the Zupancis site, partly because it can be consolidated with the County-owned County Plaza site next door, and is therefore large enough to accommodate a consolidate County campus. Also critical is that the topography allows for substantial underground parking. This is an important part of the County program, not only to accommodate judges and juries and County residents coming to Aspen to do County business, but also to accommodate County fleet vehicles. Finally, the sub-grade area can also accommodate public safety vehicles and public safety functions such as evidence storage, interview rooms, a forensic lab, alocker/exercise room and possibly jail-related functions. Based on the County's work with RNL Design regarding space needs - as well as the ZG Partnership's examination of a responsible level of development at the Zupancis site - it appears that the space needs of the County, the 9`h Judicial District, the Aspen Police Department and the Housing Authority can be accommodated on the Zupancis Property. However, the ZG Partnership has proposed as part of a potential COWOP process to revisit these space needs in anticipation of the higher level of public scrutiny that comes with the potential use of public land. City of Aspen With regard to the City of Aspen's office space, the Civic Master Plan recognized that "The City of Aspen's space limitations require along-term solution to ensure quality service." At this time, the City operates out of 6 different downtown sites. There is about 20,000 squaze feet at City Hall, and approximately 15,000 square feet spread out at the Hopkins St. Building/Engineering Dept, the Transportation Dept in the basement of the Yellow Brick, the GIS and Asset Departments at the Rio Grande building, the Parking Department in a ranch house at the Zupancis property and the Canary Initiative and others at an office above Asie Restaurant on Main Street. This "leakage" from City Hall is not entirely surprising, as City government has been located at City Hall since the 1950s -and much has changed since that time. The City's situation minors the problem the County has faced over the years: As services expanded to meet complex community needs, government offices have been located haphazardly. Both the City and County are now looking to consolidate their operations in a more rational way, both for greater customer service and internal efficiencies that ultimately serve the public better. Page 3 of 7 While the City is considering office space in an expanded version of the current ACRA building site, the City is also exploring options closer to City Hall - seeking a City Hall Annex solution. This effort is ongoing. Shared Meeting Hall The CMPAG made the following findings: 1. The existing meeting space for the City of Aspen and Pitkin County is not adequate. 2. The design of meeting space currently used by the City and the County do not reflect the importance of the discussions, debates and decisions being made. 3. ACity-County Meeting Hall is an appropriate shazed use, considering the existing need and the similar purpose of the use. A shared Meeting Hall would avoid a duplication of costs. 4. A Civic Meeting Hall should be close to downtown government offices, adjacent to outdoor public space and at a prominent site that conveys a sense of significance. 5. A Civic Meeting Hall should be designed so that it can be available for a variety of uses by the general public as well as government meetings. 6. Logistical issues between the City and the County regarding a shazed Meeting Hall will need to be addressed. Considering the fourth finding (above), the CMPAG recommended the following sites as "appropriate for a Meeting Hall": • The former Youth Center The north edge of Galena Plaza The Zupancis Property Since the Civic Master Plan was adopted, there have not been extensive discussion regarding the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners attempting to share a meeting hall, but the few discussions that have occurred do not strongly support the idea. However, the ZG Site plan currently includes a large multi-purpose meeting room at the north edge of Galena Plaza that would function much as the Rio Grande Meeting Room functions today but in a substantially lazger and more functional space. Aspen Art Museum In 2005, the CMPAG made the following recommendation: "The CMPAG supports the Aspen Art Museum's exploration of downtown locations in collaboration with the City of Aspen." During the chan•ette process, one scenario showed the Art Museum at the Zupancis site, while the three others showed it bordering Galena Plaza in various configurations. Ultimately the majority of the chan•ette attendees preferred seeing the Art Museum next to Galena Plaza largely because of the vitality the museum could being to the site. There was also a recognition that nighttime events at the museum would make good use of the Rio Grande Gazage, which is typically empty at night. The Art Museum came to prefer the Youth Center site for a variety of reasons, including one that was suggested by the Civic Master Plan. The CMPAG recommended that, "In conjunction with Page 4 of 7 the future renovation or replacement of the former Youth Center, the CMPAG recommends that the east edge of Galena Plaza be considered in the future as a built edge, extending to the existing stairwell/elevator feature, and including compelling architectural elements intended to draw pedestrians across Main Street." The museum intends to engage an architect with an international profile to work with a local architect on a museum at this site to build a "signature building," recalling the effort to bring renowned architects like Herbert Bayer and Eero Saarinen to Aspen in the late 1940s. This reflects Core Principle #8 in the Civic Master Plan: "The display and presentation of arts and cultural events is a core element of Aspen's identity as a unique community in a competitive resort environment, and Aspen should build upon this intrinsic asset at every opportunity." Other non profit arts groups have been involved in the discussion about locating around Galena Plaza. During the Civic Master Plan process, Theatre Aspen led an effort to plan for ashared-use arts facility, and while Filmfest and the Writers Foundation showed some interest, the effort dissolved when Theatre Aspen dropped the idea in favor of trying to replace its existing tent. At times during the Civic Master Plan process, various different board members of the Santa Fe Ballet visited City staff to talk about the potential of working with Theatre Aspen. During these discussions, it became clear that the two groups needed dramatically different designs for the stage area. AToronto-based consultant working for the Wheeler Opera House at the time also advised staff that trying to accommodate dance and theatre uses at one site was rarely, if ever, successful. Also, the Civic Master Plan stated that if the Wheeler Opera House was to move forwazd with a proposal to build on the vacant lot next door, that site would likely accommodate the needs of local arts groups. In addition, a consultant hired by the Wheeler -- Michael Strong -warned of too much performance space, saying "Any plans to expand the Wheeler ... should only be done ... with an eye toward partnerships that will severely limit or eliminate the threat of significant dark periods for all of its performance and usage spaces." The Art Museum emerged as an organization that is already staffed and programmed to operate a facility on a day-to-day basis consistently throughout the year. This is in contrast to many other arts groups, who organize their staff azound two or more major special events per year. This state of affairs places the Art Museum in the position of partnering with arts groups to use the facility. A list of partnerships is included as Exhibit I. Finally, the topography of the former Youth Center site is an important consideration. The site plan has calculate that approximately 10,400 square feet of sub-grade space can be used at the site. For other users, such as government, this vast amount of sub-grade space would have limited uses - it would not be used for office space, nor for affordable housing, and the engineering needed would not make it cost-effective to expand the garage. On the other hand, such sub-grade space is ideal for a museum that likes to control temperature and light in its gallery spaces. Page 5 of 7 The CMPAG recommended that if the Art Museum relinquishes its lease (on the current site) in the future, the City "should identify a new use that allows for public interaction; that builds on the intrinsic assets of the site and the building; and that recognizes the challenges of the site." Pitkin County Library When the Rio Grande Garage was built in the mid-1990s, the City of Aspen and Pitkin County exchanged land at the Galena Plaza site. Part of that agreement set aside 44-feet of land to the east of the library -into Galena Plaza - for a future library expansion. The CMPAG supported an expansion of the Pitkin County Library to the east, and recommended that "the design of the building be coordinated with other built edges around Galena Plaza, to the extent possible." During the charrette process, the concept of designing a "frame" around the west and south edges of the plaza emerged, and has remained the best concept so far. Rather than building a rectangular expansion directly east into the open space area, this concept would give the library the same amount of space, but in a configuration that respects and even enhances the open space. ACRA Offices and Visitor Center Although the Aspen Chamber Resort Association signed afive-year lease with the City in 2005 for its current site on Rio Grande Place, several problems remain. The CMPAG found that: • The constrained office space and lack of basic amenities remain challenges at the existing Visitor Center. • The lack of visibility, lack of wayfinding and inconvenient location of the existing Visitor Center remain major obstacles to providing optimal services to visitors. In addition, The CMPAG found that, "An optimal location for a Visitor Center would be close to parking and the downtown, and recommended that appropriate sites for a Visitor Center include: • The former Youth Center • The north edge of Galena Plaza More recently, the Chamber has expressed an interest in remaining on the same level with Rio Grande Park, partly so people can park and walk in to the Visitors Center rather than having to enter the garage in order to reach a Visitors Center at the Galena Plaza level. FINANCIALBUDGET IMPACTS: The City set aside $50,000 for the ZG Master Plan effort in the 2007 budget. The ZG partners split the cost of the $25,500 chan•ette roughly according to the size of each party's interest in space at the ZG site (see Exhibit D/Resolution No. 19, Series of 2007). The City's share was $8,925. Since then, the ZG Partnership has spent $16,463.54 on the three public meetings, with the largest amount spent on lunch at the Jerome Hotel Ballroom for the Mazch 12 meeting ($8,462). These funds have not yet been reconciled, but the parties have agreed to pay the $3,300 each to Page 6 of 7 reimburse the City. However, the chamber has stated from the beginning that it is not willing to contribute funds to the process. The City has told the Chamber that when a new lease is negotiated, these costs will be negotiated as part of a new lease agreement. Once the City has been reimbursed, the City will have spent about $12,300 as its share of the informal public process in the past 13 months. In addition, the City has spent $12,650 in order to get accurate and up-to-date floor plans for all City office spaces as part of an in-house space needs study, as well as $1,275 on an analysis of the Zupancis-McMurtchy cabins that predated the ZG Partnership. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: EXHIBITS: A -Staff memo 5/15/06 B -Staff memo 8/15/06 C -Staff memo 11 /30/06 D -Resolution No. 19, Series of 2007 E - Charrette materials 3/22-23/07 F -Notes from public meeting 8/15/07 G - AdvertisemenUTV schedule for public meeting 11/15/07 H - Advertisement/feedback results from 3/12/08 I -Aspen Art Museum Partnerships Page 7 of 7 ~ x ~i~b~~f ~} MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Klanderud and City Council FROM: Ben Gagnon, Special Projects Planner THROUGH: Chris Bendon, Director, Community Development RE: Potential Review Process for Future Civic Projects between Main Street and Rio Grande Place DATE: May 15, 2006 SUMMARY: There are several potential applicants for land use projects in the azea ranging from the Zupancis property, the former Youth Center, the north and west edges of Galena Plaza and the plaza itself. Each potential applicant is at a different phase ofpre-planning, ranging from expressions of interest to working groups to the pre-application phase. In at least one case, two potential applicants have expressed interest in the same site. The potential applicants, potential sites, projects and the various planning phases aze as follows: Potential A licant Potential Sites + Pro'ect Plannin Phase City of Aspen Galena Plaza Design funds in 2007 AMP; expect replacement Garage roof replacement & in 2008. O en S ace pro ammin Pitkin County Librazy West Edge-Galena Plaza Library Boazd desire to proceed. Pre-application Library ex ansion discussions held. City of Aspen/Pitkin County Zupancis property City-County direction to proceed from elected Civic building officials. City-County staff working group convened 4/06. City ofAspen/Pitkin County Former Youth Center Pitkin County and RNL expressed interest; may be part of new County Civic buildin ro osal. Arts Center Group North Edge-Galena Plaza, Several non-profit arts City-owned pazking lots, groups have expressed Former Youth Center interest; board members and consultants have done Arts Center preliminary scoping. Considering the potential for at least four different applicants, a series of inter-related sites and the possibility of competing interests, staff believes that a comprehensive and coordinated process is necessary to achieve an optimal outcome. REVIEW PROCEDURE: Staff is recommending the following steps: - Public feedback process and adoption of the Civic Master Plan; - Completion of the Arts Sector Facilities Analysis; - A COWOP Task Force for the limited purpose of establishing pazameters for appropriate uses, massing and pedestrian movement in this geographic azea; - Individual projects emerge from the COWOP Task Force according to individual timetables, to be further developed through appropriate land use applications. Staff believes that the Civic~Master Plan must be resolved prior to proceeding with a COWOP, or any of these potential projects. Staff believes a COWOP process can "stand on the shoulders" of the Civic Master Plan and take several critical steps to coordinate future development of the closely inter-related sites in this area. For example, a COWOP could explore the infrastructure capabilities of the various sites, including soil and geological conditions as well as potential loads on the gazage. Using this information, a COWOP could then establish pazameters for appropriate massing and pedestrian movement for this azea, as well as the efficient coordination of sub-grade programming. Using the Civic Master Plan as a guide, the COWOP could also prescribe appropriate uses for the various sites. Establishing these elements could represent the conclusion of the COWOP, at which time vazious applicants could move forward on their own timetable with land use applications that comply with the COWOP's parameters. For example, the area encompassing the Pitkin County Library, Galena Plaza and the former Youth Center is a Special Planned Area (SPA), and individual applicants within this area could come forward with separate SPA Amendments that comply with COWOP parameters. Because the Zupancis property features three different zoning designations, the applicant or co-applicants may request a rezoning process. Assuming the Zupancis property is to be used as aCity-County building, a more traditional COWOP resulting in a specific development plan may be appropriate. This approach is similaz to that undertaken through the Rio Grande Master Plan in the early 1990s. In that case, a coordinated planning effort recommended different uses for various inter-related sites in close proximity to each other. After the Rio Grande Master Plan was adopted, various applicants proceeded according to their individual timetables. Please see next page for flow chart. Civic Master Plan Guidance for the use of public property ZG COWOP Task Force Conceptual phase establishes future massing, scale, heights, building footprints, pedestrian routes, open space, public infrastructure and uses of various sites. Land Use Applications 1 Galena Plaza Zupancis West Edge of Former North Edge of City-owned Open Space Property Galena Plaza Youth Galena Plaza Parking Lots Center ~'~l,~b~`-I ~ MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Klanderud and City Council FROM: Ben Gagnon, Special Projects Planner THROUGH: Chris Bendon, Director, Community Development RE: Galena Block Conceptual Plan process DATE: Aug. I5, 2006 SUMMARY: There are several potential applicants for land use projects in the area ranging from the Zupancis property to the Pitkin County Library. Each potential applicant is at a different phase of pre-planning. In at least one case, two potential applicants have expressed interest in the same site. The potential applicants, sites, projects and status follows: Pn4nn4iol Annlin~nt Pntvnfial Cite+Prniect StatnS City of Aspen Galena Plaza Design funds in 2007 AMP; expect replacement Garage roof replacement & in 2008. O en S ace rogrammin Pitkin County Library West Edge-Galena Plaza Library Board desire to proceed with Library ex ansion infrastructure planning. City of Aspen/Pitkin County Zupancis property City-County direction to proceed from elected officials. City-County staff working group Civic buildin convened 4/06. City of Aspen/Pitkin County Former Youth Center Pitkin County has expressed interest. Incorporated in RNL Civic buildin stud . Arts Center Group North Edge-Galena Plaza, Several non-profit arts City-owned parking lots, groups have expressed Former Youth Center interest; board members and consultants have done Per ormin Arts Center relimin seo ing. Aspen Art Museum Zupancis Property Executive Session with Council held 5/15. Council direction to New Art Museum explore possibilities. Considering the potential for at least five different applicants, a series of closely inter- related sites and the possibility of competing interests, staff believes that a comprehensive and coordinated planning process is necessary to achieve an optimal outcome. At the May 15 work session with Council on the draft Civic Master Plan, there appeazed to be a consensus by Council that some kind of more detailed Master Plan for this azea would be appropriate. REVIEW PROCEDURE: Staff is suggesting that the City initiate the Galena Block Conceptual Plan (GBCP), which would be based on the recommendations of the Civic Master Plan, but would include a more detailed level of planning. The GBCP would be guided by a Task Force made up of the various potential applicants, neighbors, representatives of relevant local government agencies and citizens-at-large. Staff believes the GBCP can "stand on the shoulders" of the Civic Master Plan and take several critical steps to coordinate future development of the closely inter-related sites in this area. For example, the GBCP could explore the infrastructure capabilities of the vazious sites, including soil and geological conditions as well as potential loads on the garage. Using this information, the Task Force could then establish: • Pazameters for appropriate massing, scale and location of buildings; ^ Pedestrian movement through the azea; ^ Sub-grade relationships + programming of sub-grade space; ^ Appropriate uses for the vazious sites. Establishing these elements would represent the conclusion of the GBCP, at which time vazious applicants could move forwazd on their own timetable with land use applications that aze appropriate for individual sites, considering the different existing zone districts and existing zoning overlays. In order to move forward and begin this GBCP Task Force process, staff has identified several tasks and/or studies that are either ongoing or should be undertaken as soon as possible. These "critical path" tasks include: ^ Outlining options for the Zupancis historic cabins • Arts Sector Facilities Analysis Update of County Facilities Feasibility Analysis ^ City Space Needs Analysis ^ Geo-tech analysis • Pitkin County Library pre-planning materials ^ Compilation of information from Aspen Art Museum These various studies and information gathering efforts could proceed immediately, while the public feedback process and ultimate P & Z and Council review and adoption of the Civic Master Plan goes forward. Please see flow chart on the next page. Civic Master Plan Guidance for the use of public property Galena Block Conceptual Plan Establishes future massing of buildings, sub-grade relationships + programming, pedestrian movement + future uses of various sites. Potential Land Use Applications 1 Galena Plaza Zupancis West Edge of Former North Edge of City-owned Open Space Property Galena Plaza Youth Galena Plaza Parking Lots Center MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and Council, Board of County Commissioners FROM : Bentley Henderson THRU: Steve Barwick DATE OF MEMO: 11-30-06 MEETING DATE: 12-5-06 RE: Galena Block Master Plan Process Update SUMMARY: At the last quarterly joint meeting between the BOCC and the Aspen City Council both entities unanimously supported the expenditure of funds to facilitate a master planning process (Galena Block Master Plan) for the azeas north of Main Street bordered by the Zupancis parcel and Mill Street to the east and west (respectively), and Rio Grande Place to the south. Provided for your information is a summary of a proposal submitted by RNL Design, and an anticipated timeline for the completion of the work. BACKGROUND: Following the completion of the Draft Civic Master Plan, The Pitkin County Boazd of County Commissioners and the City of Aspen City Council agreed that the Civic Master Plan established an effective framework from which to start a master planning process for civic buildings located along both Main Street and Rio Grande Plaza. To further that effort each entity agreed to contribute $50,000. The intention will be to analyze all of the civic owned properties and formulate a conceptual development composition for the area that focused primarily on space needs for the City of Aspen, and Pitkin County. Further, additional consideration will be given to identified non-profit, and arts groups. Since that time, respective staff members have met and initiated a process intended to move forwazd with the master planning process. DISCUSSION: The intent of this memorandum is to provide the elected officials with an update on the status of the project, and to "check-in" to ensure that staff continues to proceed as envisioned at the projects' inception. General• We expect this process to require anywhere from 12 to 18 meetings. This number was arrived at based upon the fact that the Obermeyer COWOP required 16 meetings. Timeline: 2007/2008 Mid February -Establish master plan process. Eazly Mazch - lst meeting to establish protocol, process, goals, and identify issues. April - At least 2 meetings to begin space needs planning. May -Sept. -Review and refine alternatives. February 2008 -Conceptual plans Mazch 2008 -Adoption Deliverables will include conceptual site plans, computer generated massing models, and conceptual building designs that both show modifications to existing buildings and proposed new buildings. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: As is evidenced by the attachment, the fee for the work identified in the scope is quite a bit higher than the funds that have been allocated. We have already, and will continue to work to keep expenses down however, given the breadth of the analysis staff anticipated that supplemental funding would probably be necessary. Authorization to move forward at this point by no means fixes the cost shown in the proposal. Staff will work with the consultants to further refine costs and scope. Final authorization will be in the form of a contract to be approved by both governing bodies. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: None at this point. RECOMMENDATION: As stated above, the intent of this memo is to ensure that the elected officials aze awaze of the work to date on this project, and to further confirm that we aze still moving in the right direction with respect to process and outcomes. City of Aspen/Pitkin County Civic Center Master Plan PRELIMINARY SCOPE ASSUMPTIONS Space Needs Programming • Confirm City of Aspen's space needs (under separate contract) • Utilize County space needs study data (completed previously by RNL for the Pitkin County Twenty-Year Facilities Master Plan) • Adjust programming as necessary as evaluations of options are explored Master Facilities and Site Planning (Assumes each step is done in conjunction with the COWOP Task Force) • Collect, review and evaluate existing information regarding the Civic Center City and County functions, facilities, and site including existing master plan, documents, Library expansion plans, information regarding neighboring properties and land use issues etc. • Identify additional information that may be required for the master planning process. • Conduct kick-off and visioning session with the newly established COWOP group. Identify goals and objectives. Create a vision statement. Review project schedule, tasks, activities and roles and responsibilities of team members. • Identify opportunities and constraints, known community issues, known budgeting issues etc. Establish which areas within the Civic Center are potential sites/opportunities far expansion (define boundaries, opportunities and constraints, zoning issues etc.). Use the on-site charette process as the format for this session. • The Team will identify potential alternatives to meet the requirements established in the previous tasks utilizing a 4 to 5 day onsite design charrette working directly with COWOP Group stakeholders to develop alternative site master plan concepts for site configuration and general building footprint and massing. Each day of the "charrette", COWOP Group stakeholders will review alternatives during a facilitated review session. Based on review comments, selected alternatives will be refined and presented for additional review. A final review session will result in a selected Site Master Plan and Conceptual Building footprints showing build out potential. Primary goals will include analyzing and quantifying the amount of SF available for expansion in all potential locations, evaluating how the potential SF available fits with the programmed space needs for the City and County, and exploring what functions could go where to arrive at a consensus on preferred function locations. • Develop block plans (not detailed space plans) diagramming how the functions would fit on each floor of the buildings included in the study (Jail, Courthouse, Plaza Building, Rio Grande Building, potential new buildings/expansions). Present and discuss in an on-site charette format. Refine and modify based on feedback. • Develop conceptual design drawings of the Civic Center area showing modifications to existing buildings and proposed new buildings as well as modifications/improvements to the site. Develop a Master Plan Massing Model (Computer Generated in Sketch-Up) illustrating the development proposed under the selected master plan. Present and discuss at an interactive COWOP task force meeting and modify based on feedback. Please find attached examples of a variety of master plan massing models in Sketch-Up illustrating the different DRAFT Prepared By RNL Design October 23, 2006 levels of development and illustration techniques that can be provided for your consideration and comment. Develop preliminary estimates of probable cost and phased implementation recommendations. Finalize documentation. Deliverables: o Selected Site Master Plan (w/Conceptual Landscape Design) o Conceptual Building Floor Plans (w/ block space plans at a departmental level) o Preliminary Phasing Plans o Master Plan Massing Model (Computer Generated in Sketch-Up) o Preliminary Building Code Analysis and Zoning Compliance Summary o Sustainable Design Recommendations o Preliminary Project Schedule o Preliminary Project Cost Estimate Overall Assumptions • RNL will meet with the COWOP task force an estimated 18-20 times. • Of those meetings, 3-4 of them will be on-site planning/design charettes. • RNL will prepare materials for the COWOP Task Force to use in their presentations to the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners. It is recommended that some or all of RNL's team members be present at these presentations in order to be a resource and to hear feedback firstharid, but it is assumed that the RNL team will not be presenting. The scope assumes preparing for up to three presentations during the project. • RNL will use the existing Civic Center Master Plan (to be approved in December, 2006) as a guiding framework for this study. • RNL will have access to available City and County records and documents pertinent to the project including drawings, previous planning documents, capital budgets, planning and zoning information, etc. • The project schedule is anticipated to be approximately January 2006 -January 2007. ~""' --'~ Formatted: Bullets and Numbering "- - ~ Formatted: Bullets and Numbering DRAFT Prepared By RNL Design October 23, 2006 RESOLUTION NO. LL Series of 2007 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCII, OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, APPROVING AN AGREEMENT TO INITIATE A JOINT' PLANNING PROCESS FOR PHASE I ZUPANCIS GALENA BLOCK MASTER PLAN, BETWEEN THE CITY OF ASPEN, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN COUNTY, ASPEN ART MUSEUM, ASPEN CHAMBER RESORT ASSOCIATION AND PITKIN COUNTY LIBRARY, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CTTY OF ASPEN, COLORADO. WHEREAS, there has been submitted to the City Council an agreement to initiate a joint planning process known as Phase I: Zupancis/Galena Block Master Plan with the intent to generate plan scenarios for the publicly-owned properties, between the City of Aspen, Board of County Commissioners, Aspen Art Museum, Aspen Chamber Resort Association, and the Pitkin County Library, a true and accurate copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A"; NOW, THEREFORE, BE TT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO: That the City Council of the City of Aspen hereby approves that agreement for a joint planning process for Phase I: Zupancis/Galena Block Master Plan of which is annexed hereto and incorporated herein, and does hereby authorize the Mayor or City Manager to execute said agreement on behalf of the City of Aspen. INTRODU,C,E,D•,-RDEAD AND ADOPTED by the City Council of e City of Aspen on the ~ day of NIWWI/l 2007. , TTT~~~~ / Mayor I, Kathryn S. Koch, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting held on the day hereinabove stated. Kathryn S. K ,City Clerk G:\taraU2ES05\chazette.doc AGREEMENT TO INITIATE JOINT PLANNING CITY OF ASPEN - PITKIN COUNTY -ASPEN ART MUSEUM - ACRA - PITKIN COUNTY LIBRARY PHASE I - ZUPANCIS GALENA BLOCK MASTER PLAN THIS AGREEMENT was made and entered into this ~a day of 2007, by and between the CITY OF ASPEN, Colorado, a municipal corporation (hereinafter referred to as "City"); the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS of Pitkin County, Colorado, a body corporate and politic (hereinafter referred to as "County"); the ASPEN ART MUSEUM, of Aspen, Colorado, a c(3) non-profit corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Museum"); the ASPEN CHAMBER RESORT ASSOCIATION, of Aspen, Colorado, a c(3)non-profit organization (hereinafter referred to as "ACRA"); and the PITKIN COUNTY LIBRARY, a body corporate and politic (hereinafter referred to as "Library"). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the parties aze each authorized to enter into this Agreement to contract with each other; and WHEREAS, the parties desire to cooperate for the purpose of initiating a joint planning process known as Phase I: Zupancis /Galena Master Plan (the "ZG-Phase I"). NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits to be derived hereby, the parties enter into this Agreement to cooperatively shaze the costs associated with ZG-Phase I as follows: 1. The parties shall work together to establish the scope of ZG-Phase I, with the general intent of holding atwo-day chazette on or about March 22-23, 2007, to generate two or more physical plan scenarios for the publicly-owned properties bounded on the east by the Zupancis property, on the west by Mill Street, on the north by Rio Grande Place, and on the south by Main Street. The two-day charette may also include a recommendation for the method and/or scope of the subsequent planning process. 2. The initial cost to be shazed among the parties will be $25,500. The cost to the City will be 35% ($8,925); the cost to the County will be 35% ($8,925); the cost to the Museum will be 20% ($5,100); the cost to ACRA will be 8% ($2,040); and the cost to the Library will be 2% ($510). The City shall waive any planning fees associated with Phase I. Any additional costs of ZG-Phase I, consisting of the two-day chazette, will be shazed at the same ratio. 3. All cost sharing related to subsequent phases of the Master Plan process, including the contributions for ZG-Phase I, shall be reconciled at a later time and defined £ Pitkin County Jail and immediate area surrounding facility. g. Portions of Galena Plaza recommended for potential future development in Civic Center Master Plan; 9. Parties agree that the following properties/pazcels shall be excluded from the planning process: a. Pitkin County Courthouse and parcel perimeter. b. Veteran's Memorial Park. 10. Parties hereto understand that any future land use application must demonstrate consistency with the findings and recommendations of the Civic Master Plan (Please see Exhibit B.) This document will be utilized as part of Phase I, and subsequent phases of planning. 11. The term of this Agreement shall be from the effective date hereof to the point at which a subsequent Agreement is executed. Any party thereto may petition to terminate this Agreement for any reason upon ninety (90) days' v,¢itten notice. All parties must , agree to terminate this Agreement, provided, however, that this Agreement may not be terminated or rescinded so long as the Project has outstanding obligations, unless provision for full payment of such obligations, by escrow or otherwise, has been made pursuant to the terms of such obligations. 12. This Agreement maybe modified by written amendment approved by joint assent of all parties. 13. Any formal notice, demand or request provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shal] be deemed properly given if deposited in the United States Mail, postage prepaid to: City of Aspen, Colorado c/o City Manager 130 South Galena Street Aspen, Colorado 81611 Boazd of County Commissioners of Pitkin County, Colorado c/o County Manager 506 East Main Street Aspen, Colorado 81611 Aspen Art Museum c/o Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson 590 N. Mill St. Aspen, CO 81611 Aspen Chamber Resort Association c/o Deb Braun 425 Rio Grande Place Aspen, CO 81611 Pitkin County Library c/o Board of Trustees 120 N. Mill St Aspen, CO 81611 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and yeaz first above written. ATTEST: Clerk and Recorder APPROVED AS TO FORM: ~y mey ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO Clerk and Recorder APPROVED AS TO FORM: County Attorney ATTEST: ~ti~ti Chairman Executive Director Board Chair ATTEST: ASPEN CHAMBER RESORT ASSOCIATION fJ~ Executive Director Board PITKIN COUNTY LIBRARY Boar~~ Executive Director Board Chair ATTEST: ASPEN CLAMBER RESORT ASSOCIATION Executive Director Board Chair ATTEST: Director PITKIN COUNTY LIBRARY Boazd Chair LAN D Zupancis Plaza One Old Youth Center ACRA offices Vacant lands Parking areas Jail PARTIES Pitkin County City of Aspen Aspen Art Museum ACRA Pitkin County Library 6-Mar-07 PHASE I AGREEMENT Initial cost sharing of 2-day charrette Deliverables: Agreement on land included in study Agreement on land not included in study Two or more physical planning scenarios Proposal for subsequent public process Apr-07 JOINT MEETING OF PARTIES Review and adopt method of public process Review physical planning scenarios Direct staff re: parameters of Phase II Agreen ment to include: Development of Preferred Alternative May-07 JOINT MEETING OF PARTIES Review and adopt Phase II Agrees ment, to include: Consulting services estimate Phase II cost-sharing Jun-07 CHARRETTE Review options for fitting program on site considering constraints Refne facilities' design, location, and function Identify 2-3 physical planning scenarios to be further explored, i.e. fui Sep-07 JOINT MEETING OF PARTIES Identify Preferred Alternative Direct staff re: Phase I III Agreement, to include: Cost-sharing reconciliation Long-term leases, land costsftrades, condominium agreements etc. Shared use agreements Timing of development Temporary moves Nov-07 JOINT MEETING OF PARTIES Review and adopt Phase III Agreement Program phasing Land Use Application process Feb-08 LAND USE APPLICATIONS Apr-08 FINAL APPROVAL ~_ a a~ u c 0 V k1 ~~ E~ k~ . v` -~~,~ .~ -[a9x~s ~~w Concept #1 Review Comments Round #2 Pros: 1. Good modest step back of County building. 2. Good exposure for Aspen Art museum. 3. Better connection to the Rio Grande Park. 4. Good mix of uses in the central core area. 5. Nice informal plaza design, less formal, less grid like. 6. Overall layout good. (60% of the people in the room agreed.) Cons: 1. ACRA too buried. 2. Not enough green space/ plaza area. 3. No E/W connection to Obermeyer. (50% of the people in the room agreed.) 4. Not good to separate City/ County uses. (10% of the people in the room agreed.) O N ~.+ a a~ u c O V ~~ ~: Concept #2 Review Comments Round #2 Pros: 1. The program fits. 2. Good-shifting of Galena St. 3. Good- courthouse program. 4. Good- connection between library and county. 5. Good- E/W pedestrian corridor. Cons: 1. Too rectangular in concept. 2. Not good to have ACRA and the Art Museum on Main St. (60% of the people agreed.) 3. Art Museum building appears to be too long. (50% of the people agreed.) 4. Too many government offices on the plaza. 5. It's awkward to have the jail entry in such close proximity to the housing. N C O M a a~ u c 0 V ~, Concept #3 Review Comments Round #2 Pros: 1. Integration of open space and Art Museum. 2. Lots of green space; functional space. 3. Preservation of Courthouse. 4. Consolidation of County functions. Cons: 1. Not the place for historic cabins. 2. Not enough space for City offices. 3. Too far from City Hall. 4. Not clustered together. 5. Too much green space/ need building space. 6. Not enough housing. .. 4 r. O a a~ u O V ~? ~~ ~~ ~~. ._~ t; ~.*~ ~ ~ ~~ '~' .' }~ Concept #4 Review Comments Round #2 Pros: 1. Good connection between Art Museum and open space. 2. Good relationship between plaza and Art Museum. 3. Good-library expansion forms edge of plaza. 4. Good- ENV pedestrian route which also breaks up the size of the building on the Zupancis parcel. 5. Museum on axis with Galena St... requires shifting of the elevator core. Cons: 1. Building on Zupancis lot should be set back from the street. 2. Not enough affordable housing. 3. Limited connection to Rio Grande Park. ~ x h,~ I ~ F ZG PUBLIC MEETING - 8-15-07 Ben, Jason, Leslie 11.45 start - 40 attendees -Say 20 from charette -Coneptual site plan, not master plan -A couple more meetings ahead -Space needs, 3D model - upcoming topics -sketch up model too -city, county election -Civic master plan drives concept-mixed use areas, basic principals. -walk thru 3D- uses -exploring offices closer to City Hall -oreintation, problems- Galena roundabout, remove public safety -stair connection, underground parking -connection to park, plaza -HPcabins remain -e/w ped. Connection -Ped. Value to plaza, connect parks -annex discussion? View to HP from main -hot spots, atrium, view (add to tower?) -examples of transparency, rooftoops -indoor/outdoor, views from upper floors- feels significant -architectural elements compelling -core denstity -82 -ZG density- 50 percent -questions Rachel, how big is museum? Not defined yet, numbers are prelim M/U - S/C/I or something else. -Jack Hatfield- location of museum? Transparency, -Paul M- palza has no bldg, why? Open space underutiized-snow? Black hole? Fluidity b/w spaces. Garage issues -Sue- ACRA location? Not exact Howie's flip w/ bank. No discussion -Andrew Cole-office space for city/county, library area? -Elizabeth Boyle- conned transportation Internet cafe- sequence -Reed open space, Julius Cesaer- just needs vision. Issue of rehearsal space. Meeting, shared space. Performance. Lawn for presentations. Bleachers -Toni- CMP voter approval. County voters say no, then what? Financial analysis not complete. Open space must remain without vote. M/U lots require vote -Jack H. Cabins? Pocket parks are goal, maintain. Decision of parties. Sept. 4 @ 4pm chambers joint mtg. -Jackie- looks great -john L green roof? Yes -Obermeyer not shown?, but will be 3D Crescent building -concern, scale -Rachel -site plan has grown, 3D will be the discussion, not plan. Flesh out needs, vitality b/w local, govt and visitor for public meaning. Does it fit? -Andrew- county space vs. AH? Next meeting is for users- this fall -Toni- users, user group for parks needs to be included. Density addressed. Parks is in City. Friends of Rio Grande park included? -lack county has not talked about area, county needs, or with counci.. -Eliz. Future of existing Art Museum -Georgia would like presence, partner with ACRA? -Judy Rigley cabins have valuable dots inside Asset has funding to stabilize cabins. -feedback Cabins- move to Marolt? 3 Up Parking Stairs County seat in town, office at AABC-5 up -Site Plan to see sizes, scale continue- Yes AH- NC- yes Live in aspen Move art museum to City spot- 2 up -explore the bank M/U- yes -does it affect park? 50 percent grass -350 spaces now, 70 to Zup for Fleet. Don- art museum gap b/w bldgs? -Toni existing ratio? Calc -limting height on Main st to 2 story? Civic Master Plan fExcerptsl ~~~ S~ ~in~ -w -~'" Summary: The following are excerpts from the Civic Master Plan (CMP), adopted by City Council in December 2006. These excerpts are relevant to future uses at the Zupancis-Galena Site. The CMP is a regulatory document, meaning any future development applications for the properties reviewed in the CMP must "demonstrate consistency" with the recommendations in the CMP. To the extent that a future application is not clearly consistent with one or more recommendations, the application must demonstrate consistency with the 8 Core Principles of the CMP. Former Youth Center Buildin:: (Rio Grande Buildint=l The former Youth Center is a City-owned building that currently houses City employees, including the Asset Management Department and the GIS Department -with meeting space on the top floor. (The ground floor is ]eased as a restaurant.) The CMPAG found that, "The former Youth Center building was designed as a Youth Center and is relatively inflexible in accommodating new uses. The future renovation or replacement of this building could allow for new uses that could increase vitality at Galena Plaza. The size of the building was limited by funds available, and a future structure could be larger, if funds are available to address engineering issues related to topography." The CMPAG recommended that, "the former Youth Center building be considered for renovation or replacement in the future. A new or renovated building could be a welcoming and interactive destination point that capitalizes on the vista, creates vitality and could include mixed uses and/or a range of civic and/or cultural uses." Aspen Art Museum In 2005, the CMPAG made the following recommendation: "The CMPAG supports the Aspen Art Museum's exploration of downtown locations in collaboration with the City of Aspen." The CMPAG recommended that if the Art Museum relinquishes its lease (on the current site) in the future, the City "should identify a new use that allows for public interaction; that builds on the intrinsic assets of the site and the building; and that recognizes the challenges of the site. Shared Meeting Hall The CMPAG made the following findings: 1. The existing meeting space for the City of Aspen and Pitkin County is not adequate. 2. The design of meeting space currently used by the City and the County do not reflect the importance of the discussions, debates and decisions being made. 3. ACity-County Meeting Hall is an appropriate shazed use, considering the existing need and the similar purpose of the use. A shazed Meeting Hall would avoid a duplication of costs. 4. A Civic Meeting Hall should be close to downtown government offices, adjacent to outdoor public space and at a prominent site that conveys a sense of significance. 5. A Civic Meeting Hall should be designed so that it can be available for a variety of uses by the general public as well as government meetings. 6. Logistical issues between the City and the County regazding a shared Meeting Hall will need to be addressed. Considering the fourth finding (above), the CMPAG recommended the following sites as "appropriate for a Meeting Hall": • The former Youth Center • The north edge of Galena Plaza • The Zupancis Property The ACRA Offices and Visitor Center Although the Aspen Chamber Resort Association signed afive-yeaz lease with the City in 2005 for its current site on Rio Grande Place, several problems remain. The CMPAG found that: • The constrained office space and lack of basic amenities remain challenges at the existing Visitor Center. • The lack of visibility, lack of wayfinding and inconvenient location of the existing Visitor Center remain major obstacles to providing optimal services to visitors. In addition, The CMPAG found that, "An optimal location for a Visitor Center would be close to parking and the downtown, and recommended that appropriate sites for a Visitor Center include: • The former Youth Center • The north edge of Galena Plaza Pitkin County Library When the Rio Grande Garage was built in the mid-1990s, the City of Aspen and Pitkin County exchanged land at the Galena Plaza site. Part of that agreement set aside 44-feet of land to the east of the library -into Galena Plaza - for a future library expansion. The CMPAG recommended that, "Staff representatives of the Pitkin County Library, Pitkin County and the City of Aspen meet to discuss the Library's short-term infrastruc- ture planning and long-term facility goals, and identify an appropriate public review process that will address both short-term and long-term goals." The CMPAG supports an expansion of the Pitkin County Library to the east, and recommended that "the design of the building be coordinated with other built edges around Galena Plaza, to the extent possible." The CMPAG also recommended that "a meeting room be located on the ground level of the library expansion, to allow for public access to the meeting room at any time, and to increase the use and vitality of Galena Plaza." Galena Plaza The West Edge The CMPAG supports an expansion of the Pitkin County Library, and found that, "in combination with other new `built edges' the library expansion would contribute to a vibrant and memorable mixed-use area." The East Edge The CMPAG recommended that the east built edge should extend "to the existing stairwell/elevator feature, and feature compelling architectural elements intended to draw pedestrians across Main Street." The North Edge The CMPAG recommended that, "the north edge of Galena Plaza be considered in the future for ashazed-use arts facility, with the bulk of the building extending down to Rio Grande Place, pending the outcome of the Arts Sector Facilities Analysis (please see Section II). However, the CMPAG anticipated that a new arts facility may not become a reality. In Section III (Local Government), The CMPAG recommended that the north edge of Galena Plaza is an "appropriate site" for a Visitor Center or a shazed Public Meeting Hall. But the CMPAG did not rule out other uses, and also recommended that, "If a shazed- use arts facility is not constructed at Galena Plaza/Rio Grande Place, a building at the north edge of Galena Plaza could be a welcoming and interactive destination point that capitalizes on the vista, creates vitality and could feature a range of civic and/or cultural uses." The South Edge /Pedestrian Movement The CMPAG recommended that, "the design of a dramatically improved pedestrian way from Main Street, through the Galena St. Extension, Galena Plaza and stairway down to and through Rio Grande Pazk." Open Space The CMPAG recommended that, "In conjunction with future built edges at Galena Plaza, the open space at the center of Galena Plaza should be designed to animate the site in relation to new uses." Rio Grande Parking Lots /Rio Grande Park The CMPAG found that, "Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zoning is a rare commercial use in the City of Aspen and is primarily intended to serve the local, year-round population. Neighborhood Commercial uses tend to be successful in azeas that locals frequent, including the North Mill Street corridor." In addition, the 2002 EPS Housing Study rated this site #1 out of 11 sites for the development of affordable housing, largely because of reduced costs due to City ownership and because of its walk-to-work potential. The CMPAG recommended a mixed-use project with Neighborhood Commercial uses on the ground floor and affordable housing on upper floors. `Compelling Architectural Elements' At the east edge of Galena Plaza, the CMPAG specifically cited an opportunity to make the design of buildings a method of inviting pedestrians through the Plaza. The CMPAG recommended that, "In conjunction with the future renovation or replacement of the former Youth Center, the CMPAG recommends that the east edge of Galena Plaza be considered in the future as a built edge, extending to the existing stairwell/elevator feature, and including compelling architectural elements intended to draw pedestrians across Main Street." A future one-story building at the north edge of Galena Plaza might also serve as an architecturally compelling visual element that could draw pedestrians into Galena Plaza. The CMPAG recommended that, " ... a building at the north edge of Galena Plaza could be a welcoming and interactive destination point that capitalizes on the vista (and) creates vitality ... " Keeping Pitkin County Office in Downtown Area In 2005, the Pitkin County Facility Feasibility Analysis generated an alternative option that would locate a substantial amount of County offices just west of the Aspen Airport Business Center, along Highway 82. The CMPAG found that, "Removing civic fixnctions from the downtown will tend to reduce the kind of community character that still makes the core of Aspen a `traditional' downtown, surrounded by a resort environment." The CMPAG also found that, "The City of Aspen and Pitkin County have a long history of considering both quantitative measurements and qualitative elements in their decision-making processes -both function and character are important in shaping the future.>, 9~7!{2i~l1~17~`II AN OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ON THE ZUPANCIS-GALENA CONCEPTUAL PLAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS • LUNCH PROVIDED The Zupancis-Galena Conceptual Plan is focused on the future use of publicly-owned properties between the Zupancis Property (540 East Main; currently the City Parking Department) through Galena Plaza and the corner of Rio Grande Place and N. Mill St. In August, a public meeting was held to describe a broad outline of the conceptual site plan. The November 15 meeting will focus on the five members of the ZG Partnership: The City of Aspen, the Chamber, Pitkin County, the Aspen Art Museum and the Pitkin County Library. Each party will take ten minutes to explain why they should be located at this site, and why the space is needed. There will be opportunity for public feedback, and lunch will be provided. FOR MORE INFORMATION please e-mail Ben Gagnon, Special Projects Planner at bengQci.aspen.co.us, or call at 429-2755. ~ ~ ~ AN OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ON =~`~~'°'`~ C THE ZUPANCIS-GALENA CONCEPTUAL PLAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS • LUNCH PROVIDED The Zupancis-Galena Conceptual Plan is focused on the future use of publicly-owned properties between the Zupancis Property (540 East Main; currently the City Parking Department) through Galena Plaza and the corner of Rio Grande Place and N. Mill St. In August, a public meeting was held to describe a broad outline of the conceptual site plan. The November 15 meeting will focus on the five members of the ZG Partnership: The City of Aspen, the Chamber, Pitkin County, the Aspen Art Museum and the Pitkin County Library. Each party will take ten minutes to explain why they should be located at this site, and why the space is needed. There will be opportunity for public feedback, and lunch will be provided. FOR MORE INFORMATION please e-mail Ben Gagnon, Special Projects Planner at beng@ci.aspen.co.us, or call at 429-2755. SEF iNE Z6 MASTER PLAN IN THE ZUPANCIS-GALENA (ZG) MASTER PLAN is focused on the future use of publicly-owned prop- erties between Main Street and Rio Grande Park and between N. Mill Street and Obermeyer Place. _ ~ MIND UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN THIS! `~ DDN'T MAKE UP YOUR Aspen Art Museum Partnerships Anderson Ranch Arts Center In October 2008, the Aspen Art Museum will organize an exhibition, in collaboration with the Anderson Ranch Arts Center, which will highlight the Anderson Ranch's rich history of art making. This juried exhibition will be open to all former Anderson Ranch artists-in-residence, all Anderson Ranch workshop faculty who have taught two or more classes since 1999, all former Anderson Ranch visiting artists and critics, and all former and current Anderson Ranch staff. Dan Cameron, the director of visual arts at New Orleans' Contemporary Arts Center; Laura Hoptman, the senior curator at the New Museum in New York; and Lauri Firstenberg, Director/Curator of LA><ART in Los Angeles, will serve as jurors. The exhibition will be accompanied by afully-illustrated catalogue. Aspen Center for Environmental Studies AAM collaborations with ACES were introduced during the summer of 2007 with the "Earthworks" class, which explored the concept of the natural world as both a canvas and an artistic medium. Summer 2008's collaborative class offering is in the planning stages and will be announced by the AAM in March. Aspen Institute/Aspen Ideas Festival Beginning in the spring of 2007, the AAM began a partnership with the Aspen Institute and the Aspen Ideas Festival to present the AAM Architecture Lecture Series (ALS)-four annual lectures and Q&A sessions with internationally renowned architects from around the globe. Summer 2007 also featured "Redesign, Reconsider, and Recreate," a children's art workshop held during the Aspen Ideas Festival. In February 2008, the Aspen Institute will be the venue for AAM exhibiting artist Jeremy Deller's interdisciplinary Mar/on Brando, Pocahontas, and Mesymposium, which will address a number of Deller and musician Neil Young's overlapping thematic concerns, including American identity, history, politics, war, medical innovation, information technologies, and music. Key speakers scheduled for the symposium include Marine Captain Rye Barcott, Time Magazine and Gates Foundation "Hero of Global Health;" and, Jonathan Kuniholm, a U.S. Marine Veteran of the war in Iraq, co-founder of Tackle Design-an industrial design and technology firm-and the non-profit Open Prosthetics Project, an organization that puts its research on prosthetic hardware designs on the Internet and allows the public to access it free of charge. Aspen Music Festival and School The AAM began its collaboration with the AMFS with "Color the music," an in- school program that offers live musical performances to arts classes and other visual arts-related projects. Aspen Music Festival and School student composers and musicians have also collaborated with the AAM for a performance of original compositions during the opening reception for Avner Ben-Gal's Sudden Poverty exhibition in August 2007. AMFS Musicians performed student-composed works inspired by specific paintings within the exhibition itself. Aspen Skiing Company As part of the Aspen Art Museum's ongoing commitment to bring contemporary art to the community in innovative and unexpected ways, the AAM and The Aspen Skiing Company (SkiCo) collaborate to select unique artist images for all SkiCo day lift ticket products. The collaboration began in the 2005/2006 season with Yutaka Sone's Ski Madonna image, and also included Sone's large-scale dice toss down the Buttermilk half-pipe in February as part of the artist's AAM X-Art Show. Peter Doig's Study for Olin Mark /Vwas the choice for the '06/'07 ski season, and Karen Kilimnik's Ge/sey Stuck on the Matterhorn currently adorns the '07/'08 day ticket. Beyond the aesthetic and recreational value, the tickets entitle museum visitors to receive a 50% discount on AAM admission. The AAM/SkiCo collaboration also includes the NEPSA Awards, which take place annually at Aspen's historic Wheeler Opera House, and offer athletes, filmmakers and artists from around the country the opportunity to showcase their talents using music, video, photography, and other artistic mediums, and the annual "Create-Your-Own-Lift-Ticket" event, in which participants of all ages create their own lift ticket template at either Buttermilk, or the Snowmass Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center. Each participant's artistically rendered ski ticket can then be redeemed for a free gift at the AAM bookstore. Aspen Writer's Foundation The AAM has partnered with the AWF for a number of projects, beginning with the Night of Young Poets-an evening poetry reading accompanying works in Simon Evans"05/06 exhibition How to getabout,~and, the collaborative summer class "Picture Your Words," which features a combination of creative writing and book-related artistic projects inspired by current AAM exhibitions. Aspen Young Professional Association The AAM collaborates with the Aspen Young Professional Association (AYPA) with an especially close tie with Aspen Art Museum membership group the AAMContemporaries. Many members of both the AYPA and the AAMContemporaries share similar goals, and both groups seek to enhance the quality of life of Aspen's growing number of young professionals by providing educational, social, and networking opportunities to their individual members. Examples of how the AAM and AYPA work together to accomplish this include providing access to group discussions with AAM visiting international artists; in-depth previews of upcoming museum exhibitions with AAM Director and Chief Curator Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson; and, private art collection tours with important Aspen-area art patrons and collectors. This partnership provides very special occasions to share Aspen's vibrant art scene with culturally engaged young locals, and expose them to opportunities very often solely associated with those in larger cities. The Buddy Program The AAM has partnered with the Buddy Program as one of the Buddy Program activity hosts. The AAM has given tours and led activities for groups of Buddy Program pairs during the 2006 Yutaka Sone: X-Art Showand 2007 Amy Adler: Make-Be/ieve exhibitions, and is planning a future activity with the Buddy Program in March 2008 to coincide with Jeremy Deller's Marlon Brando, Pocahontas, and Me exhibition. City of Aspen, Community Development Department The AAM also partners with the City of Aspen Community Development Department as part of the AAM Architecture Lecture Series (ALS), which brings world-renowned architects to Aspen to present slide-illustrated talks on the role of public architecture in society, and how architectural form and style inform and relate to specific community needs and institutional goals. Colorado Mountain College The AAM is proud to be working on a collaboration with Colorado Mountain College to offer summer children's workshops at their Aspen Campus. GrassRoots Television The AAM is proud to partner with local non-profit Aspen community broadcasters GrassRoots TV Channel 12 for ART MATTERS!, the Aspen Art Museum's look at contemporary art throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and around the globe. Hosted by AAM Director and Chief Curator Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson, ART MATTERS! features conversations with locally and internationally recognized artists, patrons, curators and gallerists, and features AAM Art Trip video content and exclusive collection tours. ART MATTERS! airs five times per week, with new shows airing approximately every two weeks. ART MATTERS! was voted "Best Non-Profit Show" by GrassRoots viewers in 2006. Pitkin County Jail Beginning in 2007, the AAM began a new educational public outreach partnership with the Pitkin County Jail which engages interested guests with both hands-on creative projects and access to a visual arts-centered dialogue. Of the impetus for the program, AAM Director and Chief Curator Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson comments: "A key focus of the AAM is presenting art in unexpected places. Our belief in the role of contemporary art as a vital and positive component of life cannot be overstated. We know that'Art Saves Lives.' By providing access to both the tools for exploring the creative process and the chance to dialogue about art, we can foster the most important aspect of building good communities-communication. Through the chance to experience art we become better citizens, both locally and globally." Pitkin County Library Beginning in summer 2008, the AAM will partner with the Pitkin County Library to create a visual art based literacy program. Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day 2007 Beginning on September 29, 2007, the Aspen Art Museum participated in "Museum Day," presented by Smithsonian magazine. Museum Day is a day when museums and cultural institutions nationwide open their doors free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.comuisitors. Celebrating culture, learning and knowledge, Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, DC-based facilities. The AAM Launches Scholarship Program Beginning in 2008, the Aspen Art Museum will award two annual $5,000 scholarships to two high school seniors to study art. The Aspen Art Museum Scholarship will be awarded to two successful college-bound nominees continuing on in the fine arts who also demonstrate financial need. The AAM will work with Roaring Fork Valley high school art teachers to identify the best candidates, one from Aspen High School and one from the larger valley area.