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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.cclc.min.07022008COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 2, 2008 Terry Butler called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Commissioners in attendance: Fred Ayarza, Bill Dinsmoor, Mark Goodman and Roger Haneman. Don Sheeley and John Starr were excused. Brian Pettit -County road and bridge. Brian did a power point presentation on the potential election question. Brian said they polled 381 residence in the county to see if they would support raising property taxes. On proposal was for raising property taxes 8 million and the other was for 5.4 million. 65 percent of those polled supported the 5.4. Brian also said that the BOCC asked for a county wide survey which is being conducted presented to see who supports the property tax increase. The increase would be for paving shoulders for bikes. We would build wider shoulders for bikes to travel on. The worse area is Woody Creek tavern area, Smith Way and McClains flat. Brian pointed out that in France the bike shoulders are colored to identify them better. The remainder of the increase would be for capital improvements. Bill said the Woody Creek caucus has recommended the trail be dual surfaced. If it was surfaced we would get the tourists off the road. There are cyclists that don't use the Rio Grande trail. Fred agreed that the lower Rio Grande trail should be dual surfaced. Roger inquired about the funding source. Brian said right now it is funded through the County Open space and trails fund. Brian said another project would be rock fall mitigation: The hospital and music school are the worse places. Brian said we spend $35,000 a year on the Woody Creek area etc. There are many ways to mitigate the rock fall. A retaining wall etc. would be one recommended. Bill said we are talking millions of dollars to get the rocks away for a solution as opposed to $35,000 a year. Bill said he is not sure if it is worth increasing property taxes. COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 2, 2008 Mark asked about deaths from rocks. Brian said none in the county but on I 70 several have died from rock falls. Brian said another area is the airport business center in which the infill structure has out grown the roads. Terry suggested to Brian if the property taxis on the ballot you need to make sure you have good PR put out to the public in order to get it passed by the voters. Bill said the tax increase would go to the general fund and who knows what it is spent on. Brian said the increase would be $16.00 per $100,000 in value which would equal the 5.4 million proposed. Bill said he would like to know what percentage of the annual budget has been used for road and bridge and has it been increased or decreased. Terry said the General fund has 1.9 million and if the ballot question passes does that 1.9 go back to the general fund and if so what is it used for. That information should be in the ballot question. RFTA -Bus rapid transit. Kristin Kenyon -planner Sylvia Cramer -communication manager A power point presentation was done on the ballot question of BRT which will go to vote in November. Kristin pointed out that Silt and Rifle are not contributing and New castle justjoined. Garfield doesn't contribute but they give money from the general fund. We will get to 5,500,000 riders by the end of 2008. BRT will get also get funds from the federal government. BRT will limit the number of spots and revamp our service system. On certain buses you will be able to get up and down the valley faster. COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 2. 2008 BRT is majority funded by sales tax, fairs and operating grants. They also have contracts with the City of Aspen and City of Glenwood Springs. RFTA intends to go to a vote in November to increase sales tax. The federal grant will be for the purchase of new vehicles. A local match helps with increased operating costs. Dish Aspen, owned by Mitchell Sheer Terry said two weeks ago we viewed the location and made suggestions regarding the layout of the mall lease. Kathy said she had two complaints regarding the south side where it is not ADA compliant and you can't walk through because the tables and chairs are too close to the Swale. Karen Setterfield said the sandwich board sets right in the middle of the pathway. Mitchell said he will be glad to move the sandwich board. Mitchell said it is true that the south side is not ADA compliant but the north is compliant. Jim True, Special Counsel for the City of Aspen said he is not sure if an encroachment license is required by the city. The other issue is who has the ability to extend the mall lease and how far out. Terry pointed out that the CCLC has changed the dimension in the past to encourage outdoor dining. Randy Woods said he owns the building and rents to Mitchell. Steve said he is the owner of the Sunglass place. Steve said people move away from the area due to the dining. If he had known before he might not have rented the space. Andrew Kole, public pointed out that Steve from the Sunglass place is leaving. Outdoor dining is a far more benefit to businesses than a walkway. Andrew said he supports all outside dining. Ed Foreign said he is working with Montclair who is subleasing from the Sunglass place. Ed said there is the issue of the Swale. We don't want to unravel what we have come up with. COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 2, 2008 Fred said his concern is the Swale. Fred said he would like to see the mall lease contiguous. Someone is going to fall in the swale. MOTION: Fred moved to pull back the mall lease to the property line and to whatever the appropriate distance is, second by Roger. A site visit will occur after the meeting. Bill pointed out that CCLC had the same concerns at the Paragon with their corners. Fred said from an overall operational sense people should not walk into the Swale. Mark said everyone believes that dining brings in foot traffic and people don't want their windows blocked. Bill also mentioned the second access issue. Mark said the tables seem clunky and large and possibly Mitchell should get smaller tables. VOTE: Fred, yes; Roger, no; Mark, yes; Terry, yes; Bill, yes. Motion carried 4-1. Site visit -CCLC determination: Two two tops on either side of the entrance to Dish. Walkway, four four tops going east and west and maintaining 8 feet from the Swale to the tables. Trish Aragon, City Engineer said 8 feet must be maintained. Mark recommended that more tables are needed all over the mall. Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m. Kathleen J. Strickland, Chief Deputy City Clerk 4