HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.20090824Regular Meeting Aspen City Council August 24 2009
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION .............................................................................................. 2
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS .................................................................................. 2
CONSENT CALENDAR ................................................................................................... 3
• Resolution #60, 2009 -Rocky Mountain Water Consultants Geothermal
investigation Services ..................................................................................................... 4
• Resolution #61, 2009 -Contract Purchase Betz Electric Transformers ................. 4
• Resolution #62, 2009 -Contract Purchase Electric Pad-mount Switchgear.......... 4
• Resolution #63, 2009 -Contract Purchase Underground Primary Cable ............... 4
Minutes -August 10, 11, 2009 ............................................................................... 4
• ARC Advisory Board Appointments ...................................................................... 4
ORDINANCE #18, SERIES OF 2009 -City Water Place 500 Doolittle SPA Amendment
............................................................................................................................................. 4
ORDINANCE #19, SERIES OF 2009 -Aspen Local Marketing District ......................... 4
RESOLUTION #64, SERIES OF 2009 -Ballot Question ................................................. 6
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council August 24, 2009
Mayor Ireland called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. with Councilmembers Johnson,
Skadron, Romero and Torre present.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
1. Toni Kronberg noted there is a site visit for Council tomorrow at the parking
plaza. Ms. Kronberg said she has had a long term goal of extending the roof of the
parking plaza to make this area more inviting and to connect the lower and upper
downtown. Ms. Kronberg said she would like the recycling center, skateboazd park and a
Huck Finn poolincluded.
2. Paula Eaton, 725 West Bleeker, told Council last spring they had a sewer problem
and had a plumber come who told them to repair it. Ms. Eaton said they tore up the
asphalt and when it was opened and exposed, the utility lines put in by the city had been
damaged and pushed away, which caused the sewer problems. Ms. Eaton told Council
they put a claim into the city because this was not their fault. The Eatons were informed
by the city that the city was not responsible and was not going to pay. This sewer
problem was not on their property but was in the alley behind their property. Steve
Barwick, city manager, told Council he will meet with the city's risk manager and report
back.
3. Bill Wiener said there is an opportunity for the city that may not happen again.
Wiener told Council he is familiar with both the expanded Art Museum program and the
Wheeler expansion. Wiener said he sees a potential for an arts center by using the space
to the west of the Wheeler for a common entry to art museum and a performing arts
center. Mayor Ireland said he will bring this up with the Art Museum.
4. Casey McConnell, who owns Kittle, a mobile marketing company told Council he
is working with the city, ACR.~, the Ski Company. McConnell said he would like to
discuss with Council a contest to market Aspen. McConnell said he works with
companies to do marketing via cell phones, mobile websites, text message marketing.
Mayor Ireland said this looks like a private sector initiative. McConnell said working
with Snowmass, Aspen and Ski Company, they are building a campaign "Win the Best
Job in the World" and think this benefits Aspen. Council directed staff to put this on a
work session in September.
5. Emzy Veazy said the city should have a Christmas market for the month of
December to create traffic coming into Aspen for an extended period before the holidays.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
1. Councilman Romero said the Ride for the Cure had a good turnout and he thanked
the volunteers for this great event.
2. Councilman Johnson noted school is starting; kids are on the street and riding
bicycles. Councilman Johnson asked the community to support their local athletic teams.
ReQUlar Meetin¢ Aspen City Council August 24, 2009
3. Councilman Torre said he is going to the RWAPA meeting Thursday.
Councilman Torre said he will discuss pine beetles and the effect on Ruedi, this could
potentially affect down valley flows and drinking water.
4. Mayor Ireland thanked everyone who rode in Ride for the Cure. Mayor Ireland
asked about the impact on the aspen trees from pine beetles, which could affect tourism
as well as the water supply.
5. Steve Barwick, city manager, asked Council to add the ARC Advisory Board
appointments to the consent calendar.
6. Councilman Romero told Council at the RFTA board, they voted in favor of
combining service reductions as well as fare increases to help offset the operating deficit.
The Board will look at the same types of reductions and fare increases for next year.
7. Kathryn Koch, city clerk, brought up the request from Councilman Torre to allow
shopping al fresco. Ms. Koch suggested 3 weekends, starting with Labor Day weekend,
some simple guidelines to include a 5' walkway space, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., no amplified
music. Ms. Koch told Council staff discussed this with CCLC and with ACRA. CCLC
felt it should be kept to 2 weekends and there should be marketing to the front range.
Staff is recommending the first 3 weekends in September be "shopping al fresco". Ms.
Koch told Council there is a work session scheduled September 21 to discuss the future
of outdoor vending.
Councilman Skadron said he has some concerns about boundary creep from restaurants,
especially in the mall. Councilman Skadron asked about enforcement. Chris Bendon,
community development department, told Council staff enforces on a complaint basis.
Councilman Skadron noted there are some walkways that have become difficult to
navigate.
Councilman Johnson said he favors the first 3 weekends in September. This will help the
business community with not a lot of cash outlay. Council supports this for 3 weekends
and gave the city clerk the discretion to extend shopping al fresco.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Ireland moved to add the ARC advisory board appointments to the consent
calendar; seconded by Councilman Tone. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Torre moved to approve the consent calendar as amended; seconded by
Mayor Ireland. The consent calendar is:
Regular Meetine Aspen City Council August 24, 2009
• Resolution #60, 2009 -Rocky Mountain Water Consultants Geothermal
investigation Services
• Resolution #61, 2009 -Contract Purchase Betz Electric Transformers
• Resolution #62, 2009 -Contract Purchase Electric Pad-mount Switchgear
• Resolution #63, 2009 -Contract Purchase Underground Primary Cable
• Minutes -August 10, 11, 2009
• ARC Advisory Board Appointments
All in favor, motion carried.
ORDINANCE #18. SERIES OF 2009 -City Water Place 500 Doolittle SPA
Amendment
Errin Evans, community development department, told Council this is being reviewed
under essential public facilities for a fapade remodel and addition of a carport at the city's
water treatment plant. Evans said the carport will cover a crane by extending an eave.
P&Z recommended approval and approved the 8040 greenline review. John Hines,
water department, told Council the crane is an expensive piece of equipment and needs to
be stored under cover. Councilman Skadron asked if this impacts the neighbors. Ms.
Evans said she received one call asking for more information.
Mayor Ireland opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Ireland
closed the public hearing.
Councilman Romero moved to adopt Ordinance #18, Series of 2009, on second reading;
seconded by Councilman Johnson. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Romero, yes;
Skadron, yes; Johnson, yes; Torre, yes; Mayor Ireland, yes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #19. SERIES OF 2009 -Aspen Local Marketing District
Mayor Ireland opened the public hearing.
Jim True, special counsel, reminded Council there has been discussion of the composition
of the Board and recommended a Section 5 be added to acknowledge that Council is the
ex officio board and Council may appoint a board of directors consisting of members of
electors of the district that they reside within the district. True said if this district passes,
staff will draft a resolution outlining the process to recruit board members who are
residents of the district. True pointed out on the district map it appears the Ritz Carlton
Club is outside the district; however, it should be within the district.
Kathryn Koch, city clerk, told Council she used GIS and the assessor's assessed valuation
of commercial property in the proposed local marketing district, compared the petitions
Reeular Meeting Aspen City Council Aueust 24, 2009
to the spread sheet, the signatures of commercial property owners, and determined that
58.53% of the commercial real property owners of the assessed value in the proposed
district signed the petitions.
Warren Klug told Council he supports the recommendations from the city attorney's
office about the boazd of directors. Klug said there aze very few rental properties outside
the district, which was designed to include most of the rental properties. Those outside
will not be paying the tax. Klug said they anticipate $1 million/yeaz in collections from
the rental properties. Kim Allen told Council she supports this new lodge tax. Ms. Allen
said she is fine not getting to vote on it. Ms. Allen said she feels it will be great for the
community.
John Spears, general manager of the Little Nell, stated they support the mazketing
initiative and that Aspen needs to become more competitive in the mountain
environment. Erin Heck said today's travelers are research savvy and they know the
price of a trip before they arrive. Ms. Heck said she does not feel this 1 % tax will inhibit
people from coming to Aspen. Ms. Heck said this tax will benefit hotels, their
employees, and visitors to Aspen.
Cassandra, L'Auberge and Innsbruck, said a lot of the smaller lodges do not do any
marketing and this tax is needed to help smaller lodges. Jeannie Walla said in this
economy, failing to market is insanity and this seems like a logical way to fund that
mazketing. Ms. Koch entered a-mails in support of this district from Alan Fletcher -
Music School, Diana Sirko of the School District, Paige Price -Theatre Aspen, Bradley
Jasicki -Replay Sports, Jim Horowitz -Jazz Aspen and Gina Francis, into the record.
Councilman Romero moved to adopt Ordinance #19, Series of 2009, as amended, on
second reading; seconded by Councilman Johnson.
Councilman Torre said he feels this is a moderate tax increase for a good cause.
Councilman Torre noted there is a petition process to get out of the district. The district is
going to sunset in 5 years. Councilman Johnson asked if staff will be able to do some
marketing between the election and 2010. Steve Barwick, city manager, said staff is
working on that to find some funding ways.
Councilman Skadron stated he supports the local marketing district but does have an
issue with the segregation where a minority group is making a decision that may impact
the greater community without the benefit of the comments. Councilman Skadron said
this should be acommunity-wide vote, not a district vote. Mayor Ireland said he feels
tourism can be a sustainable industry. Mayor Ireland agreed the whole community
should make the decision to modify the direction toward tourism over development and
real estate. Mayor Ireland said the proposed tax is reasonable. Mayor Ireland said he is
concerned that this tax is about taking Aspen in a direction of sustainability and toward
tourism.
Reeular Meetine Aspen Citv Council August 24 2009
Councilman Romero noted there is a sunset provision and Council will review this
annually to assess the impacts of this initiative. Councilman Romero said with those
safeguards, he can support a limited vote on the tax and will support it. Councilman
Romero agreed real estate and construction are not something the community can depend
on for the long term. Councilman Tone noted there is a sunset in 5 years and the tax will
come back to Council and the citizens at that time. Councilman Johnson said the sunset
provides assurance. Councilman Johnson pointed out this tax came from a grassroots
effort and from the people who this economy is affecting. Councilman Johnson said he
would like Council to support this and to get to the business of marketing Aspen.
Roll call vote; Councilmembers Romero, yes; Skadron, no; Tone, yes; Johnson, yes;
Mayor Ireland, no.
RESOLUTION #64, SERIES OF 2009 -Ballot Question
Councilman Tone said he does not like the word "retain" and would like the question as
clear as possible. Jim True, special counsel, suggested "continue to use". Mayor Ireland
said he has been through both run off elections and instant run off elections and they both
have advantages and disadvantages.
Marilyn Marks said she had hoped for a different style question. Ms. Marks noted the
questions ask about "retention of the procedures". Ms. Marks said even proponents of
IRV would vote against this because the procedures will have to be changed. Council
agreed to eliminate the word procedures.
The question will be Shall the City of Aspen continue to use Instant Runoff Voting
Method for the Election of Mayor and City Council Members.
Mayor Ireland moved to approve Resolution #64, Series of 2009, as amended; seconded
by Councilman Tone. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Tone moved to adjourn at 6:15 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Romero. All
in favor, motion carved.
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Kathy S. Koc ,City Clerk
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