HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.20020513Regular Meeting Aspen Ci.ty Council May 13, 2002
CITIZEN COMMENTS .................................................................................. 2
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS .............................................................. 7
CONSENT CALENDAR ................................................................................ 7
[] Resolution #37, 2002 - Contract Schlumberger Parking Meters ........ 8
[] Resolution #39, 2002 - Contract - Asphalt Improvement Grand River
Construction ................................................................................................ 8
rq Resolution #41, 2002 - Contract - Dredging Leonard Thomas
Reservoir ..................................................................................................... 8
[21 Resolution #40, 2002 - Contract - Renovation of West Plan Clarifier8
[] Resolution #42, 2002 - East and West Filter Plant Modifications ...... 8
[] Resolution #36, 2002 - ACRA Request for Directional Signs .......... 8
[] Resolution #43, 2002 - Contract to Purchase Ice Resurfacer ............. 8
[] Supplemental Budget Request for Burlingame/MAA Housing ......... 8
[] Appointment to Grassroots Board - Linda Gerdenich ........................ 8
[] 2002 School Resource Officer & Universal Hiring Grants ................ 8
[] Minutes - April 22, 2002 ..................................................................... 8
RESOLUTION #38, 2002 - Contract - Maroon Creek Pedestrian Bridge ..... 8
REQUEST FOR FUNDS - Iselin Construction .............................................. 9
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES .......................................................... 9
[] Ordinance #14, 2002 - 320 W. Main Historic Landmark Lot Split.... 9
[] Ordinance # 15, 2002 - Aspen Mountain PUD; Section M
Amendment ................................................................................................. 9
El Ordinance #16, 2002 - Galena Street Vacation and Right-of-Way.... 9
EXPANSION OF SATURDAY MARKET ................................................. 10
RESOLUTION #44, SERIES OF 2002 - Aspen Valley Hospital Annexation
RESOLUTION #45, SERIES OF 2002 - Amend Obermeyer COWOP
Eligibility to Include Additional Lands ........................................................ 12
OBERMEYER COST SHARING AGREEMENT ...................................... 13
ASPEN WILDERNESS WORKSHOP ROADLESS LEGISLATION ...... 13
2002 WATER SUPPLY FORECAST .......................................................... 14
RESOLUTION #32, 2002 - Mall Leases ...................................................... 15
PROPOSAL FOR WILDFIRE FUELS REDUCTION PROGRAM ........ ... 16
Regular Meeting Aspen Ci.ty Council May 13, 2002
Mayor Klanderud called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with
Councilmembers Hershey and McCabe present.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
I. Mark Hesselschwerdt, Smuggler Mobile Home Park, told Council
Holy Cross is in the process of finishing the power loop around the city, and
in front of Smuggler they need power poles and wires. Hesselschwerdt said
it does not make sense to put in these power poles because the residents
would like the electric lines undergrounded. Hesselschwerdt said Holy
Cross gives the city $36,000/year, which might be used for underground
projects. Hesselschwerdt said the cost of this undergrounding is $60,000.
Steve Barwick, city manager, said the request for $60,000 is to underground
two poles. Barwick said this does not Constitute enough of an emergency to
be looked at out of the usual budget process. Barwick recommended this
request be submitted as part of the 2003 budget.
Mayor Klanderud said Council needs to have a discussion on using $60,000
for this request as well as what does Council want to do with the community
enhancement funds in the future. Hesselschwerdt said the residents wanted
t° take advantage of the timing with Holy croSs. C°uncil agreed this will be
discussed at budget time.
2. CliffWeiss, representing Citizens for a Small Town Entrance, asked
Council to reconsider the conveyance of open space to CDOT. Weiss said
this issue should be brought before the voters, as prior votes have not
yielded a result that represents a majority. Weiss said the voters should be
given a fairly worded ballot and a chance to choose the entrance they want
and not to change the small town atmosphere forever. Weiss requested
reconsideration of Resolution #34, Series of 2002, passed at the last Council
meeting. Mayor Klanderud nOted there are only 3 Council present at this
meeting. Only a Councilmember on the prevailing side can make a motion
for reconsideration.
3. Bill Stirling said the goals of the citizens requesting reconsideration
are a respect for open space and not to invite the possibility of a four-lane.
Another goal is not to lose more visitors coming to town and visitors come
to Aspen to get away from urbanization. The meandering entrance to town
appeals to visitors. Another goal is to enhance and protect that entrance.
Stirling said citizens are interested in seeing pollution and traffic reduced.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council May 13, 2002
Stifling said in the last two e!ections, there has been a shift away from the
i996 decision. Stifling said part of the proposed agreement is a trade of $
acres of open space in town for 31 acres located 6 miles out of town.
Stifling said the CoUncil shOUld buy more time for a decisi°n that will affect
this community.
4. Bonnie Murry, west end resident, reminded Council she worked on
this project for 15 years. Council has reviewed all the work. Ms. Murry
said people are saying the S-curves can be widened. In the early 1990's,
money was spent to bring in Swiss experts on widening the S-curves and it
was determined these cannot be widened. Council should stick with their
decision.
5. Camilla Sparlin said Aspen has a program to de-emphasize cars, the
mall, decreasing parking spaces, and the proposal is pro-auto.
6. Connie Harvey said she likes the S-curves; they slow things down.
Ms. Harvey suggested a straight shot going out of town and S-curves coming
into town.
7. Don Theiss Villas of ASPen, said he does not have a lot of faith that
CDOT will design something that actually works for Aspen. Theiss said if
there is anything done with CDOT, there ShOuld be a design and approval
process in place. Theiss said a highway in Aspen will further decrease the
quality of life in Aspen. Theiss said he would like to see a reconsideration
of the entry plan.
8. Ramon Duvemay supports Council and the new entrance to Aspen.
Duvemay pointed out there are already 6 lanes running out of town.
Duvemay said previous agreements Should be honored and get on with the
entrance.
9. Diane Stouffer said she is against the Council vote about the S-curves
being opened again. Ms. Stouffer said the S-curves have been in existence
for years and they act as a natural slow down. Ms. Stouffer said she would
not like to see the open space destroyed for two or four-lanes.
10. Wendy Nevins said the Marolt barn and the open space should not be
compromised.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council May 13, 2002
11. Richard Gordon said half thc valley has been paved and the other half
has been torn up and bermed. Gordon stated he is against 4-1anes.
12. Armand Gamache said the entrance to Aspen is 200 yards west of the
Maroon Creek bridge.
13. Mary Dominic said she does not want to see the history changed.
14. Carol Daggs supports keeping the S-curves and cannot see what the
big rush is to get in and out of town. The S-curves cause people to slow
down and feel as if they are entering someplace special.
15. Bill Wesson said CounCil has the power to control the spirit of this
place. Wesson said Aspen does not have billboards and neon signs, which
adds an ambience. The entrance adds to the spirit and is rustic. Wesson said
changing the entrance will have a major effect on the attitudes people have
about Aspen. A sense of place means a lOt of people and a two-lane road
has a different feel to it than a four-lane. Wesson suggested there is an
alternative that has not yet been thought of.
16. Richie Cohen Said the S-CurVes have turned into a traffic nightmare.
There are bus stops, cars slow down and speed up through the curves.
Cohen said the community has not endorsed whether they want a 4-lane, a
rail corridor, or a bus corridor.
17. Toni Kronberg asked Council to reconsider the decision of April 22nd
on Resolution #34. Ms. Kronberg noted that two forms of mass transit, rail
and bus, have been turned down by the voters. Ms. Kronberg said a two-
lane parkway is 4 lanes of asphalt.
18. Don Swales said things have changed and there is an acute traffic
problem at the S-curVes. The city has to solve that prOblem today.
19. Jerry Rubino thanked City Council Who has been listening to this
problem for 30 years. Rubino said there is no movement on the city voters
to change the existing entrance to Aspen. Rubino said changing the entrance
to Aspen will irretrievably change the character of Aspen.
20. Greg Poschman said entering Aspen through a tunnel is a bad idea.
Poschman said being stuck in this tunnel would be not a good experience for
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council May 13, 2002
residents or visitors. Poschman said this tunnel will not solve the problem of
Cars 60ming in~0
2 I. Jim Markalunas submitted a letter for the record. Markalunas stated
he supports the 1998 Record of Decision, calling for a two-lane parkway
with a platform for light raill Markalunas said diesel trucks and buses going
through a tunnel is a fatal flaTM of the entrance to Aspen.
22. Jack dePagter said leave the entrance the way it is. Do not turn Aspen
into Vail or the Main street of Glenwood Springs.
23. David Guthrie said the 1996 vote was the 30 year chance to solve the
transportation problems in Aspen. The citizens were told that was it for
choice on the entrance to Aspen. Guthrie told CoUncil people do not slow
down for the S-curves.
24. Christie Kienast said every town that has a straight shot 4 lane through
the center of town is destroyed,
25. RamOna Markalunas said she has been working on transportation
SOlutionS for 30 ye~s. Ms. Markalunas favors going with the 1996 vote for
the entrance to Aspen, two-lanes with a rail platform. Ms. MarkalUnas said
she does not want a four-lane rammed into town.
26. Lenir Drake said the city should not fix what doesn't need to be fixed
and do not fix something with destructive measures. The proposed entrance
to town would destroy open space, would destroy the elegance of Aspen.
27. Ed Zasacky said he feels it would be a mistake to give Aspen's
entrance to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Zasacky said until
there is general agreement on the entrance to Aspen, the problem won't be
solved.
28 Helen Palmer said it is difficUlt to know what the right solution is and
if a mistake is made, the town will have to live with it for a century.
29. Lisa Markalunas said a four-lane across the Marolt property will have
irreparable damage to the character of Aspen. Until there is mass transit that
solves transportation problems, there is no point in destroying the entrance
to Aspen. The entrance is a big component to what makes Aspen special.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council May 13, 2002
30. Marian Ferrara agreed the S-curves should stay the way they are.
Aspen talks about not having parking, not letting cars into town and on the
other hand they talk about a four-lane coming into Aspen.
Councilman Hershey said this is a divisive issue with many opinions. Man)J
people worked hard to come to a decision on the entrance to Aspen.
Councilman Hershey said the Record of Decision includes building a land
bridge, rather than taking up open space. Councilman Hershey said this plan
creates a better pedestrian route. The straight shot is about mass transit.
Councilman Hershey said he is not interested in reconsidering.
Councilman McCabe said he is not interested in reconsidering his vote on
Resolution #34. CounCilman McCabe said he has listened to all .sides of
these arguments and has read many of the studies. Councilman McCabe
said CDOT and local citizens came up with this solution for the entrance to
Aspen. This was a long and tedious process and this solution was brought to
the local government and to the federal government. Councilman McCabe
noted people said the real estate transfer tax would ruin the real estate
market in Aspen. Councilman McCabe noted one of the reasons it is
necessary to provide a safe highway is the fact the real estate market is so
successful, driving the number of workers coming into town.
Councilman McCabe said other things involved in this decision are clean air
and the environmental protection act. Councilman McCabe said Council is
trying to do the best for the most of the people in the community.
Councilman McCabe said he does not favor the tunnel; however, the
community garden people, the Marolt barn representatives and the hang
gliders did not want to have this property covered in concrete.
Mayor Klanderud noted many alternatives have been proposed on the
entrance to Aspen. Mayor Klanderud said she was on the Entrance to Aspen
task force and was a minority against the consensus from that committee.
Mayor Klandernd Said her position on the Marolt property has not changed.
Mayor Klanderud said the entrance to Aspen has been an issue for 30 years
and what is impressive about it is the amount of passion on all sides. Mayor
Klandernd said there is no Councilperson that will reconsider the motion to
adopt Resolution #34.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council May 13, 2002
31. Toni Kronberg requested Request for Funds - Iselin Construction be
removed fr°m the consent calendar and that Council approve Resolution
#38, Series of 2002.
COUNCILMEMBE,R COMMENTS
1. Councilman Hershey congratulated John Sarpa on his election to the
Aspen Hospital Board.
2. Mayor Klanderud congratulated all those elected to the Hospital
Board. Mayor Klanderud thanked the Hospital board members who are
going off the board for all their years of service to the community.
3. Mayor Klandemd thanked the parks department for the great Earth
Day celebration last weekend.
4. Councilman McCabe congratulated the high school girls' tennis team
who came in 4th in the state.
5. Assistant City Manager Randy Ready told Council he and John
Krueger will be staffing, as city representatives, the Pitkin County Airport
master plan. This committee is hoping to guide the airport through the next
20 years, rather than piecemeal. Mayor Klanderud suggested staff report
back to Council on a regular basis. Mayor Klanderud said Council needs to
make their concerns and suggestions known to this committee.
6. Councilman Hershey said this week RFTA is having a planning and
development meeting. Councilman Hershey said if a rail system is ever to
be completed, the entrance across the Marolt property is an important part of
that project.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Klanderud requested Resolution #38, Series of 2002, be pulled from
the consent calendar.
Councilman Hershey moved to approve the consent calendar as amended;
seconded by Councilman McCabe. All in favor, motion carried. The
consent calendar is:
Regular Meetin~ Aspen City Council May 13, 2002
Resolution #37, 2002 - Contract Schlumberger Parking Meters
Resolution #39, 2002 - Contract - Asphalt Improvement Grand River
Construction
Resolution #41, 2002 - Contract - Dredging Leonard Thomas Reservoir
Resolution #40, 2002 - Contract - Renovation of West Plan Clarifier
Resolution #42, 2002 - East and West Filter Plant Modifications
ca Resolution #36, 2002 - ACRA Request for Directional Signs
Resolution #43, 2002 - Contract to Purchase Ice Resurfacer
Supplemental Budget Request for Burlingame/MAA Housing
Appointment to Grassroots Board - Linda Gerdenich
2002 School Resource Officer & Universal Hiring Grants
Minutes - April 22, 2002
RESOLUTION #38, 2002 ' Contract - MarOon Creek Pedestrian Bridge
Mayor Klanderud asked if the increased funds are associated with
development at Burlingame and Zoline properties. Phil Overeynder, water
department, recommended these come out of the water fund as even without
additional development, there is a need for a line to provide redundant
service. Jeff Woods, parks director, told Council staff worked out a
construction license agreement with the MaroOn Creek Club to'use their
property as a staging area at a small cost. Woods said staff had received
strong support for this project from the Maroon Creek property owners.
Councilman McCabe asked about using this bridge for Mountain Rescue to
practice rappelling. Woods said there is no reason that cannot be done.
Woods told Council staff worked with emergency services to make sure this
bridge can carry a fire truck or an ambulance.
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council May 13~ 2002
Councilman Hershey moved to approve Resolution #38, Series of 2002,
seconded by Councilman McCabe. All in favor, motion carried.
REQUEST FOR FUNDS - Iselin Construction
Toni Kronberg noted there is a letter from Industrial Inspection Services in
the packet talking about the need to have an inspector on site to monitor the
pre-heating of the steel bolts to make sure they did not crack. Ms. Kronberg
said this company initially declined to accept the job because of concerns
with plan deficiencies. Ed Sadler, asset manager, told Council there are two
different pieces of metal building; one is designed by the engineers and the
ice portion was a design/bulld. The designs were not complete because this
was a design/build job by the successful steel fabricator. That company
designed a portion of the building so the original plans did not have all the
details because it was design/build.
Councilman Hershey moved to approve the request for funds for Iselin
construction; seconded by Councilman McCabe. All in favor, motion
carried.
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES
Ordinance #14, 2002 - 320 W. Main Historic Landmark Lot Split
Ordinance #15, 2002 Aspen Mountain PUD; Section M Amendment
Ordinance # 16, 2002 - Galena Street Vacation and Right-of-Way
Councilman Hershey moved to read Ordinances #14, 15 and 16, Series of
2002; seconded by Councilman McCabe. All in favor, motion carded.
ORDINANCE #14
Series of 2002
AN ORDINANCE OF THE ASPEN CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ASPEN, COLORADO, TO GRANT APPROVAL FOR A SUBDIVISION
EXEMPTION FOR AN HISTORIC LANDMARK LOT SPLIT AT 320 W.
MAIN STREET, LOTS N, O, AND P, BLOCK 44, CITY AND
TOWNSITE OF ASPEN
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Regular Meeting Aspen City CoUncil May 13~ 2002
ORDINANCE No. 15
(SERIES OF 2002)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE ASPEN CITY cOUNCIL GRANTING AN
EXTENSION OF THE CONSTRUCTION DEADLINES THEREBY
AMENDING THE SECTION M AMENDMENT TOTHE ~gT
AMENDED AND RESTATED PLANNED UNiT
DEVELOPMENT/SUBDIVISiON AG~MENT F~R T~E ASpEN
MOUNTAIN SUBDIVISION, ASPEN, COLO~DO.
ORDINANCE N0. 16
(SERIES OF 2002)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN
VACATING A PORTION OF GALENA s~ET ~GHT-0F~wAY
LYING NORTH OF THE GALENA STREET TuRN-AROUND,
DEDICATING AS RIGHT:OF2WAY X PORTION OFRIO GRANDE
SUBDIVISION LOT #2, CURRENTLY FUNC~iONIN~ ~kS PkRTOF
THE GALENA STREET TURN,ARO~D, AND ACcePTING A
DEDICATION OF RIGHT-OF-wAY A PORTION OF PITKIN COUNTY
CENTER SUBDIVISION CURRENTLy F~CTIONIN~ AS PART OF
THE GALENA STREET T~-AROUND, ALL WITHIN BLOCK 86,
CITY AND TOWNSITE OF ASPEN, PITKIN CoUNTY.
Councilman McCabe moved to adopt Ordinances #14, 15 and 16, Series of
2002, on first reading; seconded by Councilman Hershey. Roll call vote;
Councilmembers McCabe, yes; Hershey, yes; Mayor Klanderud, yes.
Motion carded.
EXPANSION OF SATURDAY MAR~T
Charles Kennedy, CCLC representative, requested Council's approval to
expand into Conner park and the alley behind city hall. Kennedy said the
farmer's market on Hopkins will be full. Kennedy said the farmers plan on
starting June 15th to see how the spaces work out. There will need for a 20
foot path through Conner park'for access. Kennedy said there will be a dog
adoption or rent-a-dog booth in Conner park. They will also use the park or
the alley for non-profits booths. Mayor Klanderud noted the alley has to
remain open.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council May 13, 2002
Eric Cohen, representing CCLC, told Council they would like to have an
airstream that has pottery displays and sales in the alley behind Conner park.
This person represents 3 local potters. Cohen told Council applications for
the locals/non-profit/crafts has been publicized and the CCLC will review
these and decide in early June the most appropriate uses.
Mayor Klanderud opened the public hearing.
Toni Kronberg supported this request for expansion of the farmer's market.
Ms. Kronberg suggested the alley be closed offto traffic with sawhorses to
keep the area safe and not mix people and cars.
Mayor Klanderud closed the Public hearing.
Councilman Hershey moved to approve the request for expansion for the
Saturday market into Conner park and the alley behind City Hall with the
direction to keep the alley clear and to work with St. Mary's Church on
music in the market and not competing with the wedding dates and times;
seconded by Councilman McCabe. All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #44; SERIES OF 2002 -AsPen Valley HoSpital
Annexation
John Worcester, city attorney, reminded Council they approved a resolution
in April to initiate annexation proceedings and to set this date as the public
hearing. AVH filed a petition for annexation and staff is working on a pre-
annexation agreement to resolve some issues, which will be discussed at
length between the hospital and city staff. City Clerk Kathryn Koch told
Council this has been properly noticed and certified mail sent to Pitkin
County and the School DistriCt.
Worcester told Council this property is at least 1/6 contiguous with the city;
a community of interest exists between this area and the city of Aspen; the
property is not divided into separate parts, and the owners have consented in
writing to this annexation. This annexation will not extend the boundaries of
the city 3 miles in any direction. This annexation is consistent with the
Aspen Area Conmaunity Plan annexation element. The City has no intent to
deny reasonable access to any homeowners.
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Regular Meeting AsPen CiW COuncil May 13, 2002
Mayor Klanderud opened the public hearing. There were no comments.
Mayor Klanderud closed the public hearing.
Mayor Klanderud asked if this include the Shultz building. Paul Taddune,
representing the hospital, told Council the county leases this building from
the AVH and it is included in the annexation.
Councilman Hershey moved to adopt Resolution #44, Series of 2002;
seconded by Councilman McCabe.
John Sarpa, AVH Board, told Council 3 new members were elected to the
board and are trying to catch UP on this issue. Sarpa said they intend to
continue conversations with city staff.
All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #45~ SERIES OF 2002 - Amend Obermeyer COWOP
Eligibility to Include Additional Lands
Julie Ann Woods, community development department, reminded Council
When this process started, an area was defined which focused on the
properties where the existing Obermeyer buildings are located. Ms. Woods
said the COWOP group feels additional lands should be included. These
lands are a parcel just north of the jail owned bY Pitkin County, the
snowmelt and recycling area and Rio Grande street. Ms. Woods said the
main reason for inclusion of these lands is to look at realignment of streets
and including affordable housing on the snowmelt or recycling property.
Ms. Woods asked that Council formally appoint Neil Hirst, HPC member, to
the COWOP team.
Mayor Klanderud opened the publiC heating.
Toni Kronberg supports including these additional lands. Ms. Kronberg said
this is an exciting development and is a win/win situation. Tim Bellinski,
Obermeyer, noted COWOP has included a neighborhood open house in a
mailing to adjacent property owners.
Mayor Klanderud closed the public hearing.
12
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council , May 13, 2002
Councilman McCabe moved to approve Resolution #45, Series of 2002;
SeConded by CoUncilman Hershey. All in favor, motion carried.
OBERMEYER COST SHARING AGREEMENT
Julie Ann Woods, community development department, told Council this
agreement puts in writing who will be resPonsible for what aspects of the
COWOP. Ms. Woods said this process will be two phases; the first phase is
a planning phase including studies and background information; the second
phase is the actual capital construction. Ms. Woods told Council the
COWOP has been discussing a partnership with Obermeyer for the second
phase. For this first phase, it is agreed that any experts hired by either side
would be on their own. There are costs to be shared for the first phase like
the survey, model geotechnical analysis, traffic analysis, printing and
publishing. Ms. Woods said this supplemental request will be on Council's
agenda in June.
Mayor Klanderud opened the public hearing.
Toni Kronberg supports this cost sharing between the city and Obermeyer.
Mayor Klanderud closed the public hearing.
Councilman McCabe moved to approve the cost sharing agreement for
planning phase of the Obermeyer COWOP project; seconded by Councilman
Hershey. All in favor, motion carried.
ASPEN WILDERNESS WORKSHOP ROADLESS LEGISLATION
Jamey Fidel, conservation direction Aspen Wilderness Workshop, thanked
Council for their support in water monitoring work over the year. Fidel
asked Council to support the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation
Act. Fidel said the bill has not yet been introduced. It will be an initiative to
protect 58,500,000 acres of National Forest roadless areas and there are
4,400,000 million acres in Colorado There are roadless areas close to the
city of Aspen. Fidel said a lot of this area's tourism is based on the natural
beauty and adjacent public lands. This act will prohibit road construction,
some logging and some mining in the roadless areas of national forests.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council May 13, 2002
Fidel said there are roadless lands up Hunter Creek and up Independence
pass. The Foresi service feels they need to stop road construction until they
can get a handle on the existing roads. Fidel pointed out several years ago,
Council endorsed protection for all roadless areas in Pitkin Cotmty.
Councilman Hershey said Congressman Mclnnis is concerned about locking
up federal land and denying access to people who own it. Councilman
McCabe and Mayor Klanderud said they support this; however, Council
suggested this be continued until the entire Council is present.
Councilman Hershey moved to continue this item to June 10, 2002;
seconded by Councilman McCabe. All in favor, motion carried.
2002 WATER SUPPLY FO~CAST
Phil Overeynder, water depathnent director, reminded Council the Governor
of Colorado has declared a drought emergency and has asked all
communities to help towards conservation efforts. Overeynder
recommended a voluntary conservation program. Overeynder told Council
the streamflows in the Roaring Fork Valley are slightly above normal;
however, staff cannot accurately forecast until the peak runoff is hit, which
is later in the summer. The city is dependent on runoff from snowmelt to
produce the city's municipal water supply.
Overeynder presented a graph of the years and the peak flows. To date,
1977 has been the lowest water on record. Staff uses this year as a basis of
supply forecasting. Overeynder told Council staff used 1994 usage, which
was peak water use, as a basis for planning into the future of full buildout.
Overeynder reminded Council staff has plugged a lot of leaks in the water
system; the system has grown 25%, however usage has not grown 25%. The
city has a policy of not allowing diversions to limit stream flows to less than
'the amount necessary to protect the fisheries. OVereynder noted it takes 60
days before the city gets into the base flow conditions, which means if the
peak flow is in May, it will not be until July when the flows are critical.
Overeynder recommended Council implement a voluntary water
conservation program. This program would include public education about
outdoor water use. Overeynder said water use doubles in the sumtner
months of June, July and August. Overeynder said irrigation demands
during those months drive that increase. The public education would let
people know how to water to get the beSt results.
14
RegUlar Meetin~ Aspen City Council May 13, 2002
ovCreYnder t°ld Council there is a provision in the water pricing structure to
allow for higher water rate for extraordinary water use. The city charges
$1.17 for 30,000 gallons per month per ECU. MOst houses have at least 2
ECUs, which allows 60,000 gallons per month. Overeynder recommended
lowering that number, which would impose a penalty for use in excess of
11,000 to 15,000 gallons per month.
Overeynder suggested Council implement an odd/even watering schedule
which would be most effective to cut back on outdoor use of water.
Overeynder is not recommending going into Stage One, Two and Three of
the water shortage plan. Overeynder told Council the city operates many
ditches around town. Some city facilities are watered from these ditches.
Overeynder said a policy decision is whether C°uncil wants the city
facilities watered from ditches to be treated the same as water customers of
potable water. There are parks using the potable water system. Overeynder
told Council the city's facilities use a sophisticated water monitoring
program that measures the actual water demand at each site and prescribes
when water should be applied.
MayOr Klanderud asked about Watering the streets every day. Overeynder
said this is addreSsed in stage one of the water plan and it states one cannot
water the streets unless ordered to do so by the environmental health
department. Overeynder recommended the voluntary program go into effect
June 1st. Steve Barwick, city manager, suggested staff report back to
Council at their June 3rd work session to see if stronger measures need to be
taken.
RESOLUTION #32, 2002 - Mall Leases
City Clerk Kathryn Koch told Council 5 establishments, The Colony, NXT,
Red Onion, The Grottoes and Pacifica, have applied for mall leases for the
period from Memorial Day to the end of September. Ms. Koch told Council
that the original mall agreements call for a 6% annual increase. Ms. Koch
noted Council approved a 3% increase last year. The rental rate is up to
Council. Council approved the mall leases without any increase.
Councilman Hershey moved to approved Resolution #35, Series of 2002, at
$3.90/square foot/month, the same as 2001; seconded by Councilman
Mccabe. Ail in faVor, motion carried.
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Regular Meeting Aspen Ci,ty Council May 13, 2002
PROPOSAL FOR WILDFIRE FUELS REDUCTION PROGRAM
Steve Barwick, city manager, pointed out n there is an over-abundance of
fire fuels in town, especially in the areas adjacent to the forest, like
Smuggler Mountain, Eastwood/Knollwood, and Five Trees. Staff is
proposing a voluntary program, which would include public education,
hiring people to work with homeowners to educate them in fuels reduction,
and the city will haul away or chip those fuels removed from property at no
charge to the homeowner. Barwick told Council his request for $36,000 is
an estimate.
Darryl Grob, fire chief, told Council the ColOrado State Forest Service has
had a program where they provide wildfire fuels mitigation experts who
examine properties and make recommendations on how to improve
defensibility. Grob noted the conditions this year will be extreme and every
community throughout the state will want to use the Forest Service
personnel. This program will expand the available personnel to work with
homeowners on mitigation.
Barwick clarified his proposal only applies to those areas of town identified
by the fire district as the highest priority, only where there is an interface
with the forest and residential areas. Barwick requested authority to start
this program. Barwick said the money for this program can come from the
general fund or the water fund. Council authorized starting the program.
Barwick tOld Council he will report progress. Ed Van Walraven, fire
marshal, said this should be thOUght of as an on-going program, not just
because of the fire danger. Mayor Klanderud said building applications
should also be looked at in light of this program. Barwick told Council there
will be no tree removal in contradiction to the city's tree ordinance.
Councilman Hershey moved to adjourn at 8:35 p.m.; seconded by
Councilman McCabe. All in favor, motion carried.
Kathryn S. Koch, City Clerk
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