HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformation Only 041624AGENDA
INFORMATION UPDATE
April 16, 2024
5:00 PM,
I.Information Update
I.A
Work Session Follow Up - Possible Ballot Questions for 2024 and Food Tax Refund
Awards in the Future
I.B March 2024 Aspen Destination Marketing Report
I.C ACRA Relocation
I.D Work Session Follow Up - Board & Commission Expectations
WorkSession FollowUp Memo 3-25-24.docx
March2024_DM Report.pdf
Dashboard_March.pdf
Information Update_ACRA relocation_2024.04.16.pdf
City Council Boards and Commissions Expectations Follow Up Memo.docx
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INFORMATION ONLY MEMORANDUM
WORK SESSION MEETING DATE:March 25, 2024
FOLLOW-UP MEMO DATE:April 1, 2024
AGENDA TOPICS:Possible Ballot Questions for 2024 and Food
Tax Refund Awards in the Future
PRESENTED BY:Pete Strecker, Finance Director
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:All Members Present
_______________________________________________________________________
This information only memo is to help document staff’s understanding of the March 25
work session discussion. If there are perceptions that deviate significantly to what is
noted in the narrative below, please let staff know.
(1) Possible Ballot Questions for 2024: Staff provided context for three possible ballot
questions to consider for the upcoming November 2024 election and sought informal
direction from the Council regarding whether or not to advance these questions for
consideration and whether there was a need for polling to be performed. The three
questions surrounded (a) the extension of existing sunset dates on the 1.0% housing real
estate transfer tax (HRETT) and 0.45% sales tax for affordable housing and childcare; (b)
changing the existing sales tax application on motor vehicle sales to instead be reflected
as a use tax, consistent with the boarder taxing practice within the state; and (c) seeking
voter approval of a new franchise agreement with Holy Cross to utilize public right-of-way
in order to deliver electrical service to its customer base within Aspen.
Majority consensus. Council direction on each of the potential ballot issues is noted in
the following:
(a) At least three Council members supported moving forward with adding questions
to the November ballot to extend the current sunset dates on both the HRETT and
sales tax supporting affordable housing and childcare. One member was not
inclined to move forward with these questions at this time. Included with this
direction, Council members overwhelmingly stated that polling was not necessary
as a precursor to including these questions on the ballot.
(b) All members of the Council supported adding a question to the November 2024
ballot to align the City’s taxation of motor vehicles with that of the rest of Colorado
taxing authorities that levy a use tax on such purchases.
(c) All five Council members supported adding a ballot question seeking voter
approval of a new franchise agreement to allow use of the right-of-way by Holy
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Cross Electric. Staff believes Council was supportive of staff’s recommendation
for a 10-year term on a new agreement.
Next Steps: Staff feels there is still an outstanding question needing clarification around
both the tax rate in the future and how future tax receipts from a use tax on motor vehicles
should be applied. Some Council members noted that they would support a shift in the
application of tax dollars away from the current sales tax funds and may wish to consider
applying those collections to perhaps roads/bridges or other transportation infrastructure
needs. Staff would like further clarification on whether Council supports a change in where
tax collections are dedicated in the future.
(2) Food Tax Refund Awards in the Future: Staff provided a historical summary of the
City’s food tax refund program that began in 1970 when the City adopted is first 1.0%
sales tax. At that time, voters approved a $7 refund to offset the sales tax paid on food
purchases at that time. Since its initial adoption, the refund amount has been increased
multiple times and currently (2023) stands at $55 per individual (more for seniors and
those legally blind). Staff analysis of the refund amount, adjusted over time for changes
in inflation and change in the City’s sales tax rate, supports that a future refund of roughly
$132 per person is appropriate.
Majority consensus. At least three Council members supported consideration of the
$132 per approved applicant for this refund and to incorporate this increase into the 2025
budget; two Council members suggested an incremental increase method. Council
members largely also supported incorporating and adopting an escalator to this refund
amount so that the refund continues to align with taxation on food purchases within the
City of Aspen.
Next Steps: Staff anticipates that Council would appreciate a follow up communication on
this refund amount during the 2025 Proposed Budget. Components to the refund program
that require further discussion include (a) should the additional benefit for seniors and
legally blind applicants continue; (b) should there be any additional consideration for
younger peoples that may experience a greater impact from this program?
CITY MANAGER NOTES:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
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March 2024 Destination Marketing Report for Council
Destination Marketing Staff Report:
The team is in the middle of planning summer media buys with both BVK and TwoSix Digital. Campaigns will be live in April to
promote summer visitation. Maroon Bells Reservations went live for the summer season on March 4 th . Information on the
Maroon Bells summer season is available on our website. The community wide Leap Day Collaboration between Snowmass
Tourism, Aspen Skiing Company and ACRA concluded on March 8th and was a success creating bookings for winter 2024-2025.
We launched the DEIA Survey, in collaboration with Colorado Tourism Office, Snowmass Tourism & Challenge Aspen. This
survey will provide a baseline for tourism entities to understand how we can support the business communities in DEIA
initiatives to ensure a welcoming guest experience. Please take the survey! We hosted the Marketing Advisory Committee
Meeting on March 19th. .
Event coordination is ongoing this month in preparation for hosting the Fora Travel Advisor fam in April. Work has begun
on the summer rack brochure. Invitations have been sent out for the August wedding planner fam. Nichole sent out the
Q1 group e-news, it had an open rate of 32%.
FOOD & WINE: The events team has brought on Shelley Roy and Gretchjen Smith to manage the FOOD & WINE volunteer
program. They have been working diligently to update the online registration platform and launched the first round of
volunteer sign ups (for returning volunteers) on March 15th. Online volunteer registration will be open to NEW volunteers
starting April 2nd. There are still a handful of F&W passes on sale, but we do anticipate them selling out soon. Classic
Countdown: 79 days!
WINTERSKÖL: We have closed The Ode to Wintersköl Survey which asked the community for feedback on their participation
and their thoughts on moving the event dates to December. These results have shown about 70% in favor of the date
change. Results also revealed the top 3 reasons people attend Wintersköl 1. sense of community, 2. socializing, and 3.
supporting Aspen’s small town character and top 3 events 1. Soupsköl, 2. Torchlight & Fireworks, 3. Snow
sculptures. With final approval from our partners – TOSV, COA, ASC – the event will take place Dec. 14 – 16, 2024.
Sales Tax Reports:
As of the January 2024 Consumption Tax Report, released in March, the 2024 Tourism Promotion Fund is coming in just
4% behind 2023 collections and -8.6% behind projections.
Recent Press Coverage
Occupancy statistics and commentary, as well as visitor center counts, website data and air service information can now
be found on the following page in the Defy Ordinary Dashboard. All data points are sourced from our monthly report
with Blue Room Research and can be found in the Data Center on the website.
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HOTEL
OCCUPANCY
ASE
PASSENGER
DATA
VISITOR
CENTER
COUNTS
KEY
TAKEAWAYS
WEBSITE
STATS
ACRA's 4 Visitor Information Centers saw a 38%
increase in traffic in February 2024 as
compared to February 2023. Staff assisted
10,242 individuals this year.
MARCH 20 24
In February 2024, Aspen's lodging properties reported
the following:
•Occupancy fell 1.9% YOY to 77.5%
•Average Daily Rate was just about flat YOY $1108
•Room Nights Available increased 12.3% YOY
•Room Nights Booked increased 10.2% YOY
February was a record month for ASE in terms of total
passenger traffic, exceeding the prior record set in
2020 just before the pandemic shut-down. Total
deplanements and enplanements were up +10.2% over
last February, and up +2.5% over the prior February
record set in 2020, another leap year.
Aspen website top performing blogs and pages for Feb 2024
Blogs:
1./blog/5-reasons-ski-aspen-march (3,716 views)
2./blog/winter-family-fun-aspen-colorado (2,689 views)
3./blog/10-advantages-using-aspen-chamber-resort-
association-dmo-your-groups-travel-aspen (1,318
views)
4./blog/5-reasons-consider-aspen-wedding (1,189 views)
5./blog/week-aspen (970views)
Pages:
1./plan-trip/how-to/enjoy-aspen (29,708 views)2./plan-trip/trip-highlights/maroon-bells/reservations
(10,560 views)3./plan-trip/trip-highlights (10,158 views)4./plan-trip/how-to/enjoy-aspen/seasons/winter (6,816
views)
•Room Nights sold were up over last year as a result of adding Leap Day into the
count along with the additional inventory available.•The U.S. is experiencing a highly unusual travel trade surplus with outbound travel
outpacing inbound travel.•“Demand for short-term rental (STR) accommodations in the U.S. grew at a brisk
rate of 15.6% year-over-year (YOY) in February.”
o “While this high growth rate reflects how weak demand was in February
2023 and comes at a seasonal low point, hosts appreciated the abrupt
change of pace after dismal weather around the country nearly screeched
January’s growth to a halt.”
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Work Session
FOLLOW-UP MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Torre and City Council
FROM: Jen Phelan, Development Manager
THROUGH: Scott Miller, Public Works Director
MEMO DATE: April 5, 2024
PUBLISH DATE : April 16, 2024
RE: March 25 work session follow-up: Aspen Chamber Resort Association
(ACRA) temporary relocation
As a result of the March 25th work session, staff is providing the following information to City
Council:
1. The current square footage ACRA occupies in the Old Power House (OPH).
2. The square footage ACRA is expected to temporarily occupy in Armory Hall when the OPH
is remodeled.
3. The square footage noted in the master lease agreement between ACRA and the City.
4. Available commercial space in and around town, as well as associated pricing.
1. Old Power House. ACRA is located on the
ground floor of the OPH. Back of house,
inclusive of office space, storage and a
kitchenette, equals +/-2,309 sq. ft. The visitor
center is comprised of a service desk area,
informational displays and common
circulation to the building equaling +/-427 sq.
ft. with about +/- 100 sq. ft. being used for two
reception desks. Figure 1 shows the current
layout with the back of house in blue and
visitor center in yellow.
Figure 1: ACRA floor plan at the OPH
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Page 2 of 3
2. Armory Hall, Temporary Relocation. Resolution No. 46 (Series of 2023), approves the City
of Aspen and ACRA Tourism Promotion Fund Agreement (hereafter master lease)
between the city and ACRA. The master lease allows for ACRA to exclusively use the
ground floor of Armory Hall on an interim basis prior to remodel/reuse of the building. Not
all of the ground floor will be leased by ACRA. Figure 2, shows the current proposal. Back
of house, inclusive of office space and storage equals +/-2,453 sq. ft. The visitor center is
comprised of a service window area, equaling +/-195 sq. ft. Common to the building, an
entry lobby, circulation corridor, bathrooms, and kitchenette will be shared with other
building occupants or users. This area will also include informational displays for the public
and a small lounge area. The common area is +/- 1,278 sq. ft. Figure 2 shows the current
layout with back of house in blue, visitor center in yellow, and common area in green.
3. ACRA/City Master Lease. Once Armory Hall is remodeled, the master lease1 allows ACRA
exclusive use of not less than 2,500 sq. ft. of finished office space. It also notes that the
building will include “common bathrooms, kitchen, elevator and meeting rooms” for use by
ACRA. Provision of an additional, approximately 1,000 sq. ft. for a visitor center on the
first floor is also included in the master lease.
1 The resolution and lease agreement can be reviewed at:
https://records.aspen.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=2036228&dbid=0&repo=LFRecords,
Figure 2: ACRA temporary floor plan at Armory Hall
Visitor Center
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4.Office space rental options. Staff reached out to a local realtor and asked for information
pertaining to the ability to locate ACRA in leasable space outside of Armory Hall, assuming
the need for approximately 3,000 - 3,500 sq. ft. Below, Table 1 provides available listings
within the Aspen area.
Table 1: Active Listings
Active Click to view listing(s)
MLS Address List Date
Lease
Date List $
Unit
SF
Monthly
Base Rent
Monthly
NNN
Total
Monthly
167817 201 N Mill Street 101 12/9/2020 NA $65 4,062 $22,003 $8,463 $30,465
177327 120 E Main Street 10/31/2022 NA $65 5,710 $30,929 $18,082 $49,011
175459
332 W Main Street 101
A 6/8/2022 NA $50 2,225 $9,271 $2,410 $11,681
182213 210 AABC AA 1/9/2024 NA $45 4,554 $17,078 Gross Lease $17,078
Notes: 332 W. Main is available through August 2025
Summary/Requested Direction. To date, approximately $20,000.00 has either been spent or
earmarked for design and cost estimating services associated with ACRA’s temporary relocation
to the Armory, leaving $180,000.00 in unspent funds.
Staff has targeted a fall, off-season move of ACRA into the Armory. A building permit has been
accepted by the building department. To maintain this schedule, it is necessary to promptly
release a RFP for contractor services. Continued postponement of procurement of contractor
services will delay the organization’s move, potentially resulting in impacts to the schedule of
the OPH remodel. Staff requests confirmation to temporarily relocate ACRA to the Armory.
Please inform Scott Miller by Tuesday, April 16th if relocation and expenditure of the balance of
funds is not supported.
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FOLLOW-UP MEMORANDUM
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
WORK SESSION MEETING DATE:March 18, 2024
FOLLOW-UP MEMO DATE:April 16, 2024
AGENDA TOPIC:Boards and Commissions Expectations
PRESENTED BY:Jenn Ooton, Senior Project Manager
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:Mayor Torre, Councilmembers John Doyle, Sam
Rose, Bill Guth and Ward Hauenstein
______________________________________________________________________
WORK SESSION DISCUSSION SUMMARY: During this work session Council discussed
the ongoing work of boards and commissions, including on the topic of hybrid meetings,
communication with and from these boards, and general best practices in governance for
boards and commissions. Council also discussed increased transparency through the
implementation of a software solution that allows people to access Council emails without
filing a Colorado Open Records Act request.
Following the discussion, Council provided the following direction:
1.Topic:Confirmation that bylaws and the Municipal Code language should
be updated to be more uniform and to be in accordance with best practices for
boards and commissions.
Council majority consensus. Council agreed with this approach.
2.Topic:Establish expectations for written and in-person communications
from boards and commission with Council
Council majority consensus. Council agreed with this approach.
3.Topic:Support for moving toward having all boards and commissions hold
hybrid meetings.
Council majority consensus. Council agreed with this approach.
4.Topic:Implementation of an email transparency solution that limits staff
time to respond to Colorado Open Records Act requests and that allows the public
to review nearly all emails sent to and from Councilors in real time. Only limited
emails such as those that are attorney client privileged would be withheld from the
system.
Council majority consensus. Council agreed with this approach.
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NEXT STEPS:
1.Staff will work on uniform set of bylaws and proposed changes to the
Municipal Code to bring back for Council discussion. These changes will address
consistent expectations for boards and commissions including for interaction with
the public, hybrid meetings and communication with Council.
2.Staff will work on implementing an email transparency software solution for
Council emails.
CITY MANAGER NOTES:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
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