Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.cclc.min.021611 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2011 Chairperson, Terry Butler called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Commissioners in attendance were Bill Dinsmoor, Andrew Kole, Fred Ayarza, Don Sheeley and Mark Zitelli. The board welcomed our two new members, Siam Castillo and Jim Pomeroy. Staff: Kathy Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk We Cycle Mirte Mallory Philip Jeffries. Mirte said we as a community want to figure out how we retain our sense of character as a community. Bike sharing helps the quality of our air. In aspen we want to remove ourselves from the city life. Bike sharing also alleviates congestion in our downtown core. We want to become the first small resort to do a bike share program. The kiosks are solar powered so no digging or trenching will be necessary. The bikes would be available from March through October and removed in the winter. The bike is a transportation solution. Philip said they have worked out a lot of the kinks. We are looking at a 5 a day pass, a 5 day pass and a season pass. This is a point to point bike. We have also been working with the bike shops. Mirte said the bike share is a point to point program. The minute you re -doc the bike your time has ended, you have 30 minutes. Four rides per day per bike. Philip said there would be a fleet manager that goes around and checks the bikes. He would have regular schedules for maintenance. We can end the 30 minutes for special events. The helmet is not included but we will promote them through the bike shops. Through the program 85,000 lbs of carbon could be saved per year. The bikes have built in GPS's. Mirte said they have talked to the ACRA, Rotary and restaurants. One idea would be to bike to the restaurant and get a free desert. 1 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2011 Mirte said they would need sponsors and you can adopt a bike in memory of someone. There is also underwriting on the baskets. Our partners are RFTA, the City, Aspen institute and meadows and Manaus fund. Bill and Don requested financial information. Andrew said conceptually it sounds fabulous. Because the malls are non - bike areas you are pushing bikes off the malls. One of my biggest assets as a retailer is walking on the malls. Not having helmets is an issue. A visitor will not buy a helmet. Terry pointed out that you can't explore Aspen in 30 minutes. Fred said the idea has a ton of advantages. Helmets need included and most visitors are not interested in a half hour. Philip said the set up cost is $250,000. Bill said four years ago we looked at bike sharing. What have you looked at in comparison? Philip said they are interested in the longest term for our community. Other systems are not reliable and you don't know where the bikes will be. They don't have the back infill structure and with this program the bikes are sturdy. Don said he likes the energy in doing this. 90% of people will want a helmet. Don said he likes the idea but would like to see the financials. Fred said the bike share is a good program. We need to understand it and want to help you succeed with it. Terry asked the cost of the bikes. Mirte said the bikes are $5,000 each. Jim said he can see a lot of positives. Jim asked about a kid's size bike. Mirte said they aren't available due to insurance. Jim also mentioned about hotels buying passes. There could be a surcharge on the room to use the bike. 2 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2011 Jim also suggested flags for bikes. You need a guarantee that the bike is there. Jim also suggested incorporating a family plan as he lives at the Highlands. Jeffrey said if it rains you would ride RFTA as an alternative. We do not want to compete with bike shops that do day rentals. Jim said if the city dollars are going in and you don't have a helmet can you sue the city. Jeffrey mentioned that when you sign up you sign a waiver. Terry said we are excited about the program. The more people riding a bike, the better. Debbie Braun, ACRA The 12 days of Aspen cost $15,000 through the destination marketing fund. CCLC said they would like to be augmented in and to add something new and exciting to the event. Debbie said all suggestions are welcome. We want to have an added value for our guests. Bill mentioned a website in Strasbourg France that has had a XMAS market since 1570. Christmas has feeling, Christmas has a heart, and Christmas is for children. The town is visually gorgeous with bows, etc. The decorations are the calling cards for the event. We should decorate our town to look like a XMAS package. Bill suggested that the CCLC members review the site for ideas. Fred said it needs to be a collaboration pf the entire town and local businesses in order for this to work. Andrew said the CCLC asked for the funding from the stimulus program and were denied because the event is funded by the ACRA. Terry mentioned that the owner of her building goes out of his way to decorate it. Possibly we could have a contest for the best decorated building in Aspen. 3 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2011 Jim said we need to integrate the store as it was mostly for the hotels. We also need more outdoor events. Debbie mentioned several outdoor events including the live reindeer. Fred suggested an ice palace and slides for the kids. We have opened up a great idea for our town. Andrew said you are talking about creating a signature piece. Create some signature piece like Denver has which is the festival of lights. Terry suggested that each member go to a block and explain things about the contest and get national recognition. Andrew said we need the Ski Co., City, hotels and the ARA to work together. Andrew said there is a XMAS walk in Florida and Virginia Beach does the same thing. It is a walking light show. We could use Wagner and create an outdoor lighting festival. Debbie said she likes the idea of a month long lighting festival. We want to increase occupancy on the tenth of December. Debbie mentioned Winterskol for next year and they will do ice sculptures instead of snow sculptures. The idea would be to bring the parade at night and make it an electric light parade. Add dogs and lights. Debbie said we need to bring in all our partners at a meeting. Debbie also recommended that the airport be involved. Andrew said Dec. 15 through January 15 might be a better time idea. Bill said you focus on the buying time. Andrew said maybe the month of December and January. Fred said the month of December is the best time to get your money. 4 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2011 Debbie brought up the mining for ideas money. Those people are going to the mining for ideas and getting money from the city and then coming to the ACRA for matching funds. Debbie also said she is concerned about the bigger picture for our community. A meeting should be scheduled to talk about bigger ideas and include all the players. Debbie also brought up that the section on economy was removed from the AACP new plan. It is important that a section on our resort economy be retained. The CCLC agreed with the ACRA's position that the AACP should contain more substance in respect to a sustainable resort economy. MOTION: Andrew made the motion that a standalone Resort Economy section be developed as part of the AACP to be presented to the Planning & Zoning; second by Don. All in favor, motion carried 7 -0. Debbie Braun said the ACRA would like to work with the boards for the best possible outcome. Election of chair and vice -chair Don and Andrew desired to be the chair for a year. Don said he feels he will be able to move the meetings along a little quicker. Don also mentioned that he has a good raptor with the community. Andrew said he has been here for 12 years and knows people in town as well as Don. Andrew also said he is tied with the best attendance. Outcome: Andrew chair — don vice -chair Meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m. Kathleen J. Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk 5