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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19850829Continued Meeting Aspen City Council August 29, 1985 Table of Contents REOUEST FOR FUNDS.-.N~r~i~ Council 1 REOUEST FOR FUNDS - Commercial Core and Lodging Commission 3 Continued Meeting Aspen City Council August 29, 1985 Councilman Collins called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m. with Councilmembers Isaac and Fallin present. REOUEST FOR FUNDS - Nordic Council Craig Ward, representing the Nordic Council, presented several projects to be jointly funded by the city~nd Aspen/Snowmass Nordic Council. For example, the total cost for the Sawmill - Marolt/Thomas project is $100,000; $90,000 funded by the city and $10,000 by the Nordic Council. The total for all projects is $161,000 for the city, and the Nordic Council has come up with $49,000. One of the projects in this list is a winter/ summer trails brochure. The city cannot fund a summer brochure out of the 6th penny, so it should be deleted from this list. Ward told Council the Nordic Council is in the process of doing their winter brochure. Councilman Isaac asked if all the projects can be done before winter. Ward said the walking bridge from the Rio Grande to the Institute and the skiing/biking bridge at the confluence of Castle/Roaring Fork are two bridges that the Meadows project is doing a master plan for. Ward told Council the Nordic Council has money appropriated from people for those bridges, they can keep the money in trust that has been pledged from individuals until the master plan is completed. The two projects that could be completed this year are the Sawmill to Marolt/Thomas and the Aspen Club to Little Nell trails, which are the most important. Councilwoman Fallin asked where the Rio Grande to Institute two walking bridges are to be located. Ward said one will be at the east end of Pitkin Reserve project, and the other will be at the west end of the project. Mayor Stifling asked if the developer of the Pitkin Reserve project had been approached about helping fund the bridges. Ward said he had not approached the developer. Betty Grindlay is approaching property owners that would benefit from these bridges. Ward said in two previous work sessions $200,000 had been approved unanimously for bridges and trails. Ward said he would like a strong commitment from the city to fund the first two projects as outlined, as there is a strong commitment from individuals and the Nordic Council to get these projects done. Ward said the Sawmill project needs an assessment of future plans, the consensus of Council was to get the bridge and trail in. Ward said this is an important link, and he would like to see the work done this fall. Councilman Isaac said the city does not have the easement across the Sawmill property. City Manager Schilling told Council he has presumed that this project will end up being a city project with the assistance of the PCPA and Nordic Council, on items the city has neither the time nor 1 Continued Meeting Aspen City Council August 29, 1985 expertise to do. Wards said the Nordic Council would build the bridge and the city will do the trail and the easement. Ward said he would be willing to sign off on the bridge once it is built and give it to the city. Mayor Stirling said when Council passed the money for trails, Council asked for recommendations in terms of demands on the trails and on-going maintenance. Schil- ling told Council through the process to acquire the trails, the staff was constantly re-evaluating the trails system. The planning office has gone through the planning process for the trails and the proposals are consummate with the plan in progress. Herb Klein, representing Dick Berk and Ron Seedman who own a house right next to the Sawmill property, told Council the trail alignment would be about 15 feet from the house. The cut into the hillside would direct skiers right at their house. Klein said an appraiser said there would be about a $50,000 diminution value to their property as a result of the trail alignment. Klein said there are additional costs in condemnation that are not reflected in staff's memo. Klein said there is no house presently on the Sawmill property, and his clients would like to see the trail on the other side of the property. Klein said if the trail were to be in another location on the Sawmill property, it would cost about $120,000 rather than $78,000 in the present location. Klein pointed out if the diminution to his client's property is added, the figure would be about $128,000. Klein said the owner of Sawmill property has the ability to build his house to mitigate the impact of the trail. Klein said relocating the trail may eliminate very substantial costs in excavating across the bank. Klein said there is extreme visual impact with the proposed cut. Klein requested Council make a site visit to see the impact, view the crossing, the slope. Klein said there are numerous alternatives for this trail. Klein said his clients are not against the concept of the trail, but this is moving too fast. Klein said A.C.E.S is concerned about a low bridge because of the river bottom ecology. Hal Clark said he does not support building the low bridge because it will not get a lot of use. Clark said he does not believe the cost estimates are valid nor is the cross cut valid, it will be a 5 to 1 slope when it should be a 2 to 1 slope. Clark said he feels the community will benefit from a high bridge across the river at this point. Clark told Council he agreed with Klein that where the easement should go has not been defined. Clark said he feels this needs more thought before anything is built. Councilman Collins said it is almost September and there are many matters that should be resolved before anything is con- structed. Ward told Council many people and foundations have 2 Continued Meeting Aspen City Council August 29, 1985 contributed money to specific projects on this list. Mayor Stirling suggested if this money is not allocated for 1985, Ward should be present at the budget hearings to reaffirm that money is kept for trails and bridges. Council scheduled a site visit for Monday September 2 at 12:30 p.m. Ward said the project that remains is connecting above the Aspen Alps to the Aspen Club. This project has been bid on by Aspen Earthmoving. This project was started last year with high school students and is about half complete. The Nordic Council is working on easements for the trail west of this. Ward said $16,000 is needed from the city for excavation and removal. Ward showed Council where the existing trail is; they plan to improve it and build a bridge. Mayor Stifling moved to allocate $16,000 from the monies in the capital improvement trails toward the Aspen Club/Little Nell trail to be completed in the fall of 1985; seconded by Council- woman Fallin. Councilman Isaac asked that Ward talk to the Aspen Club owner and try to get a contribution to this trail. Councilman Collins asks if the city contributes funds, is it necessary for the Nordic Council to follow city procedures and get three bids, etc. Ward said he would be willing to report to the city manager or to have a city staff person on the project. City Manager Schilling told Council the Nordic Council will have to get permits from the city for this project, or the city itself could be the contractor. Schilling said he would like the latitude to work this out the most straightforward way so that everyone is protected. Councilman Collins said if the city is giving the Nordic Council money, there should be a procedure. Mayor Stifling amended his motion to direct the city manager to work with the Nordic Council to establish procedures and to have accountability; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried. REOUEST FOR FUNDS - Commercial Core and Lodging Commission Elyse Elliott, engineering department, reminded Council at the August 6 work session, CCLC presented plans for phase II of the lighting project, which is the Main street corridor and the commercial core. The CCLC proposes to place refurbished antique lights along Main street. These antique lights were removed from the mall. In the commercial core, the CCLC proposes to install new antique fixtures from the same manufacturer as those installed in the mall. Ms. Elliott told Council they are requested funds for implementation of phase II, $20,000 for the refurbishing of 60 city-owned antique lights, which is about 3 Continued Meeting Aspen City Council August 29. 1985 $300 each. Councilman Isaac asked if the CCLC got bids on this project. Ms. Elliott told Council the Welding Company is the only firm in town that can do this work. Councilman Collins suggested this work should be advertised. Gary Plumley, chairman of CCLC, said the Welding company has repaired these in the past and has done a good job. Councilwoman Fallin said she would rather have the money spent locally. Council suggested advertis- ing to see if any other firms are interested. Mayor Stirling moved to allocate up to $20,000 to begin refur- bishing the city's antique lights, ask the engineering department to solicit additional bids and to make the decision within these financial guidelines; seconded by Councilman Isaac. All in favor, motion carried. Plumley said this is a good investment for valuable lights that the city owns. The light fixtures will be covered and ready for installation next spring. Ms. Elliott told Council the CCLC is asking for $48,000 to do a sample block in the commercial core. The CCLC feels it is necessary to do a sample block before construction next spring. This block will produce information on construction problems and determine the aesthetics of the different lighting standards. Ms. Elliott told Council doing this sample block is no more costly than doing the entire co~nercial core. Councilman Isaac moved to approve the mock block of $48,000; seconded by Mayor Stifling Councilman Collins said he would like to know what is going on with the contractual arrangements with the design team, construc- tion manager, and contractors. Councilman Collins said he would like to see the original contract with the architect, and where the city is with the various phases of this project. Plumley told Council because of problems in the first phase, the CCLC has been cautious in the relationship with the architect. Plumley said the second phase takes block by block planning because each block is different. Plumley said an electrical engineer will do the working drawings for this phase. Plumley said the architects have offered to reimburse the city for some monies received. Ms. Elliott told Council staff has solicited construction management teams, and they all feel a mock up block is a good idea. All in favor, motion carried. Diane Newhoff, South Carolina, complained to Council about Don Lemos' parking lot. Ms. Newhoff parked there, there was no sign at the entrance to the parking lot, a boot was placed on her car, and she was required to pay cash to have the car released. 4 Continued Meeting Aspen City Council August 29, 1985 Mayor Stifling said this is a private lot, Council has had complaints before. Council asked City Manager Schilling to m meet with Lemos to see if anything could be worked out. Councilman Isaac moved to adjourn at 4:40 p.m.; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried. City Clerk