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INFORMATION UPDATE
November 19, 2024
5:00 PM,
I.Information Update
I.A Snowmaking for SnowPolo
MOI_2024_SnowPolo_snowmaking.docx
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MEMORANDUM OF INFORMATION
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM:Nancy Lesley,Director of Special Events
Erin Loughlin Molliconi,Utilities Field
Operations Manager
Steve Barr,Parks,Operations Manager
THROUGH: Austin Weiss, Director of Parks & Recreation
Tyler Christoff, Public Works Director
MEMO DATE: November 8, 2024
RE: 2024 World Snow Polo Championships- Snowmaking
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
City staff has reviewed and approved the special event application for Snow Polo to
be heldDecember 18th and 19th in Rio Grande Park. The Aspen Valley Polo Club
signs a park lease which requires that a certain amount of snow must cover the park
to protect the grass during the event. To meet the terms of the lease, the Club has
requested the option to make snow,if necessary, for the event.
Forthe past eleven out of twelve years, Mother Nature hasn't provided sufficient
natural snow for the event to beheld. Inthose cases, the Club has contracted with
the Aspen Skiing Company and made snow specifically for the event. There is a
strong chance that snowmaking will need to happen for this event to move forward.
Snowmaking dates are dependent upon outdoor temperature and river flow
requirements.
The water source requested by the Ski Company for snowmaking is located on the
south side of Rio Grande Place (City Hall side). This requires a street closure from
the east side of the City Hall/bank entrance to the west side of the parking garage
entrance to ensure the hose connection remains intact during snowmaking. There
is still access to the City Hall and Bank parking lot and Parking Garage. Staff will
work with the Ski Company to take advantage of optimal temperatures overnight to
lessen the impact and hopefully only have closed streets 7pm to 7am, unless
extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise. Staff will also require a traffic control
plan, traffic control personnel and a Ski Company liaison on site during
snowmaking.
DISCUSSION:
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The Utilities Department requires the following conditions in order to use
Aspen's water supply for snowmaking at this event:
•Sufficient water must be available in the system at the time of snowmaking.
Water Department staff will evaluate the following criteria to
make this determination immediately prior to the event:
o Ability to meet Aspen's existing customer demands
o Ability to meet existing in-stream flow requirements for Maroon
Creek and Castle Creek.
o Ability to meet all existing water contracts.
•Cost of the water, materials for safe connection,and associated staff labor
will be covered by the event.
•Water Department staff will manage the water system connection and
work with the Parks Department and Aspen Skiing Company to ensure
safe and effective operations.
•Snowmaking operations will use water efficiently and not allow water to
puddle or runoff the Rio Grande Park into the streets.
•Water use will have an appropriate backflow prevention device and will
be metered to accurately account for the water used.
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FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The cost of the Water Department staff time, materials for safe connection, and
metered water will be billed to the event.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
The process of snowmaking involves electricity and treated water. In prior years, this
event was held when the city was under water shortage restrictions. On September
24, 2024, Council approved a resolution rescinding the Stage One Water Shortage
declaration (Resolution #116, Series of 2024), which went into effect on October 1st,
2024.
Snow making can also create noise issues when done in close proximity to residential
or commercial operations. The use of the quieter types of snow making equipment
for this event in recent years has been successful in mitigating this impact.
No direction is needed from Council.
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