HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformation Only 20250325AGENDA
INFORMATION UPDATE
March 25, 2025
5:00 PM,
I.Information Update
I.A Kids First Provider Survey and Annual Report
I.B Electrification of the Built Environment Winter 2025 Update
I.C Work Session Summary - Aspen Gets Us There March 10, 2025
3.25.25 Kids First Info Only Memo.docx
KF-Provider Survey and Annual Summary.pdf
Electrification Update Winter 2025_ Council Info-Only Memo.pdf
work session meeting notes gets us there 3-10-25.pdf
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1
INFORMATION ONLY MEMORANDUM
TO:Aspen City Council
FROM:Megan Monaghan and Nancy Nichols
THROUGH:Megan Monaghan and Nancy Nichols
MEMO DATE:3.11.25
RE: Info Only Memo: Kids First Provider Survey and Annual Report
PURPOSE:
This memorandum is to provide Council with the Kids First 2024 Provider Survey and
Annual Report.
No action is requested of Council.
SUMMARY:
Kids First, in partnership with the City of Aspen, dedicates significant time and resources to
ensure that families have access to funding and high-quality early education and care within our
local childcare programs.
The 2024 Provider Survey and Annual Report details the work that Kids First has accomplished
in 2024, focusing on financial assistance and quality improvement. It highlights their
programmatic successes in five key areas: quality, affordability, availability, education and
public awareness, and work force supports.
This report serves as an educational resource for Aspen City Council members, community
members, childcare providers, and families to enhance their understanding and bring
awareness to the ongoing efforts of Kids First in supporting our community.
NEXT STEPS:
No action is requested of Council.
ATTACHMENTS: PDF of the Provider Survey and Annual Report
2
CITY MANAGER NOTES:
Please contact the City Manager if there are questions or follow up needed regarding
the information provided.
3
2024
PROVIDER SURVEY
AND ANNUAL REPORT
4
AVAILABILITY
WORK
FORCE
SUPPORTS
MISSION
Promote the availability of quality, affordable
early childhood care & education.
Provide access to childcare
information and resources.
Maintain affordability of programs and provide information regarding the true cost of childcare.
In scholarships provided by Kids First in 2024 to families with children
attending 12 of the 13 childcare programs in Pitkin County. $615,409
This includes emergency financial aid and funding for high needs families in the summer.
Increase the quality of early childhood education and care.
Nurse Consultant for
all childcare providers
in Pitkin County.
In Quality Improvement grants and
Professional Development grants to
childcare providers and teachers.
$44,000+200
HOURS
of Quality Improvement
coaching with
credentialed coaches.
Funds Mental
Health Consultant
providing wellness
supports to 15
families in need.
Increase and maintain the availability of childcare programs.
In Infant and Toddler Subsidies
provided by Kids First.$281,514 Provided in start-up
funding for a new program.$30,000
GOAL 1
QUALITY
GOAL 2
GOAL 3
GOAL 4
GOAL 5
EDUCATION
& PUBLIC
AWARENESS
Support the recruitment and retention of qualified early childhood education teachers.
Kids First funds teacher
growth and sustainability.
Funds: TEACHER WAGE ENHANCEMENT | STAFF STIPENDS | HIRING BONUS | SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
For VIP Staff Incentives
to 89 teachers based on
professional growth. $467,107
Increase public education and awareness about the importance of early childhood education.
TEACHER TRAININGS
PARENT WORKSHOP
MONTH OF THE YOUNG CHILD
READ WITH ME DAY
CHILDREN’S PARADE
SATURDAY MARKET
COMMUNITY PICNIC
ADVERTISING AND PROMOTING
CHILDCARE AVAILABILITY
2024
AFFORDABILITY
Kids First is supported by a dedicated sales tax that
provides funding for affordable housing and childcare.
5
2024 Pitkin County Early Childhood Program Survey and Funding Summary 3
CHILDCARE STAFF
There are a total of
128 FULL-TIME
STAFF MEMBERS
in the Childcare Centers
within Pitkin County.
66 people
are lead teacher/ECT
Qualified- Level 2 and
up
20 people
are Director Qualified
42 people
are assistant teacher/
Qualified- Level 1
QUALITY
Kids First supports quality childcare staffing.
What do you consider on your salary scale when
you hire new staff? Check all that apply.
(10 responses)
Level of education
Job duties - role
Years of Experience working with young children
Specialized training
PDIS Credential Level
Time worked with us
8 (80%)
9 (90%)
6 (60%)
1 (10%)
7 (70%)
7 (70%)
How often are staff formally evaluated?
(10 responses)
Once a year
Twice a year
Quarterly
Monthly
There is not a set schedule for evaluations
60%
10%
30%
6
2024 Pitkin County Early Childhood Program Survey and Funding Summary 4
Kids First Financial Aid awarded $615,409.00 in 2024.
Kids First Childcare Financial Aid supports families that live or work in the Aspen
Urban Growth Boundary up to 600% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Kids First Financial Aid begins where CCCAP stops. In Nov 2024 the CCCAP
poverty level was raised to 300%. This increase will allow for more families to
qualify. Without these programs families would be facing childcare costs that
are higher than rent. In some cases, childcare costs are 55% of a family’s gross
income.
All licensed Pitkin County childcare centers receive financial assistance for families in the community.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Kids First Financial Aid
12 programs
receive financial aid
from Kids First with
50 children currently
receiving financial
support.
9 programs
have CCCAP fiscal agreements
with Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield
Counties, 43 children are
currently receiving financial
support.
10 programs
participate in UPP 4 years
with 115 children
currently receiving 10-30
hours of funded care.
10 programs
participate in UPP 3
years with 27 children
receiving 10-30 hours of
funded care.
$281,514.00 Awarded to 6 qualified childcare centers for operational
support through the Infant/Toddler grant.
Infant Toddler Grant
AFFORDABILITY
Kids First provides financial supports to childcare programs and families in the community.
7
2024 Pitkin County Early Childhood Program Survey and Funding Summary 5
INFANT CARE | Up to 18 months
• There are currently 7 infant classrooms
• Staff ratios 1:3 to 1:5
• Licensed capacity is 8-10 children
• Desired Capacity ranges from 8-9 children
CURRENT NUMBER OF
CLASSROOMS AND
COST OF CARE
Range $82.00 - $100.00
Average cost $86.28
COST OF
CARE FOR
ONE DAY
TODDLER CARE | 18 to 36 months
• There are currently 13 toddler classrooms
• Staff ratios 1:4 to 1:6
• Licensed capacity is 10-15 children
• Desired capacity ranges from 8-14 children
Range from $82.00 to $95.00
Average cost $86.28
COST OF
CARE FOR
ONE DAY
PRESCHOOL CARE | 3-5 years
• There are currently 17 preschool classrooms
• Staff ratios 1:6 to 1:10
• Licensed capacity is 8-25 children
• Desired capacity is 8-18 children
Range $76.19 - $95.00
Average cost $84.52
COST OF
CARE FOR
ONE DAY
Do you have an infant room(s)?
Serving children under 18 months
10 responses
Do you have a toddler room(s)?
Serving children 19-36 months
70%
Yes
30%
No
10 responses
Do you have a preschool room(s)?
Serving children 3-5 years
70%
Yes
30%
No
10 responses
40%
No60%
Yes
AVAILABILITY
Kids First supports programs to maintain and increase available space for children.
8
2024 Pitkin County Early Childhood Program Survey and Funding Summary 6
TRACKING AVAILABILITY IN PITKIN
COUNTY CHILDCARE PROGRAMS
11 of 12 programs maintain a waitlist
ON AVERAGE THERE ARE
4.8
unborn children on the waitlist
19.6
children under 18 months on the waitlist
18.1
children 18-36 months on the waitlist
11.8
children between 3-5yrs on the waitlist
Childcare providers
continually review and
update their waitlists.
This would include things like
calling families, removing families,
etc. (9 responses)
45%33%
11%11%
Weekly
Daily
Only when
we have an
opening
Monthly
9
2024 Pitkin County Early Childhood Program Survey and Funding Summary 7
WORKFORCE BENEFITS
Childcare programs reported a large variety of paid benefits including:
;Paid time off
;Paid holidays
;Paid planning time
;Childcare discounts
;All or partial health benefits
;Life Insurance benefits
;Retirement benefits
;Background checks
;CPR/First aid certification
;Ski pass
;Bus pass
Which benefits do you offer to all staff at your program?
Check all that apply.
(10 responses)
Health Insurance - partially paid by program
Paid sick time off
Paid vacation time off
Paid time off (PTO) in place of sick and vacation time off
Paid Holidays
Meals provided during work hours
Staff meals or after hours activities (dinner, a show, or other team building activity)
Paid Planning time
Life insurance
Retirement plan - no program contribution
Retirement plan including a % contributed by the program
HSA or FSA pre-tax plan
Paid education - above what is required, and that the staff person may choose
Ski Pass
Childcare discount
Bus pass = paid for in part by the program
Background check, CPR/1st Aid paid for by the program
Other
6 (60%)
8 (80%)
8 (80%)
8 (80%)
8 (80%)
4 (40%)
4 (40%)
5 (50%)
6 (60%)
4 (40%)
3 (30%)
7 (70%)
6 (60%)
6 (60%)
7 (70%)
10 (100%)
2 (20%)
0 (0%)
WORKFORCE
SUPPORTS
Kids First increased the focus on workforce issues in 2024.
10
2024 Pitkin County Early Childhood Program Survey and Funding Summary 8
Hiring Bonus: Individual hiring bonuses are paid to individual teachers once they have worked for 30 days in
a program. During 2023, 43 individuals received a hiring bonus with 21 of these receiving the second pay-
ment. This means that 21 of the new hired individuals were still employed 6 months after hiring. In 2024 there
were 10 new hire bonuses, down from 21, which reflects a decrease in staff turnover.
Conference Stipend: 3 childcare centers received conference stipends in 2024. 12 staff members attended
The Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference with total funds of $5,770.69 awarded.
WORKFORCE SUPPORTS
Wage Supplement: Pitkin County and Kids First support individual childcare staff members through a wage
supplement program. This program awards full-time and part-time staff with a monthly payment of $500
or $400 for full time employees and $250 or $200 for part-time staff. Funding varies based on the funding
source, either Pitkin County or The City of Aspen. The program has supported 184 teachers for the past two
years.
VIP Award: Childcare staff members are awarded for professional development efforts twice a year through
the VIP Incentive. This award is designed to support childcare staff in their pursuit to become highly quali-
fied early childhood educators. 89 individual teachers received the award with a total payout of $162,200.00
in 2024.
Fall 2024 VIP Payout by Program
$0
$8750
$17500
$26250
$35000
$43750
$52500
$61250
$70000
Woody
Creek
Kids
WildwoodJCCLittle
Red
School
House
Growing
Years
First
Steps
College
Early
Learning
Center
Basalt
Preschool
Aspen
School
District
Aspen
Mountain
Tots
Aspen
Country
Day
Ajax
Cubs
Early Learning Center
Aspen School District
Growing Years
Wildwood
Ajax Cubs
Aspen Country Day
Woody Creek Kids
Basalt Elementary Preschool
Aspen Mountain Tots
Little Red Schoolhouse
JCC
First Steps College
36.4%
16.9%12%
9%
7.1%
4.9%
4.9%
1.3%
2.7%
2.1%
1.7%0.8%
11
2024 Pitkin County Early Childhood Program Survey and Funding Summary 9
WORKFORCE QUALITY
Quality Improvement Grants: Childcare providers receive Quality Improvement Grants on a yearly
basis. Each program that participates in Colorado Shines can complete the grant application and include
requests for materials and supports. A large portion of the grant funding is applied towards materials that
are referenced in a childcare center’s Colorado Shines Rating. Grant funding is allocated in the six targeted
areas: 1. Family Partnership, 2. Leadership, Management and Administration, 3. Learning Environment, 4.
Child Health, 5. Other Quality Improvements, 6. Bus Passes. In 2024 grant funding was approved for 7
programs with a total of $30,437.15.
Professional Development Grants: Professional Development funding is a partnership between Kids First
and the Pitkin County childcare centers. Childcare staff members complete a professional development plan
for the year. This plan can include college level classes, workshops, trainings and on-line learning. Each staff
member’s plan is evaluated, and the costs are determined. Childcare programs can be reimbursed for costs
associated with staff workplans. In 2024 Kids First awarded $13,723.00 in professional development grants.
Kids First annual in-service provides childcare professionals in Pitkin County with a day focused on learning
and celebrating their hard work and dedication to the early childhood profession. Participants enjoy
specialized training led by an experienced childcare expert, along with food and gifts to mark the occasion.
This unique event is highly anticipated each year by childcare staff, with 80-100 teachers participating
annually.
Health Consultant and Mental Health Consultant: Aligned with the Colorado Strengthening Families
Framework, Kids First employs an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant and a Nurse Consultant for
childcare centers, staff, and families to access for all necessary wellness supports. These resources are
available to childcare centers and families to ensure each program has guidance with licensing regulations,
state regulations, mental health and day to day childcare health and wellness.
Resource Teacher: This individual demonstrates best practices while substitute teaching and supporting
educators in childcare centers throughout Pitkin County. In 2024, the Kids First resource teacher dedicated
over 1,600 hours substitute teaching.
Intern Teacher: This is a temporary, supervised learning role aimed at training and supporting an individual
in gaining qualifications to become an early childhood teacher. Once the intern shows readiness, they step in
as a substitute teacher, allowing full-time teachers release time. After achieving their qualifications, the intern
is encouraged and incentivized to seek employment in a local childcare center.
Quality Improvement Coaching: Kids First employs two Early Childhood coaches who perform certified
assessments, offer coaching and training, and organize professional development opportunities for early
childhood educators and directors. Furthermore, the coaches help strengthen families by offering workshops
for parents and caregivers. In 2024, Kids First provided over 200 coaching hours in 10 childcare programs.
12
2024 Pitkin County Early Childhood Program Survey and Funding Summary 10
CHILDCARE STAFF SURVEY RESULTS
HOUSING - Where do you currently live?
63 people | Pitkin County
23 people | Garfield County
27 people | Eagle County
EMPLOYMENT - Why did you take your current job? Pick your top 3 reasons.
27 responded most important reason was, “Better working conditions than my former job.”
26 responded most important reason was, “Better schedule.”
18 responded most important reason was, “I have my own young child and wanted to work with
this age group.”
17 responded most important reason was, “I received my degree in early childhood.”
STAYING - What are the most important reasons that you stay in your current job? Pick your top 3 reasons.
60 responded most important reason was, “I look forward to coming to work every day, working
with young children gives me great satisfaction.”
13 responded most important reason was, “I like the hours, it works for me.”
12 responded most important reason was, “I’ve studied brain development and to support that
day to day is exciting.”
12 responded most important reason was, “I like the people I work with.”
12 responded most important reason was, “The wages and benefits are good.”
LEAVING - Have you considered leaving your job? What are the biggest reasons you would consider leaving
your job? Pick your top 3 reasons.
37 responded most important reason was, “I need to make more money to help support my
family.”
13 responded most important reason was, “I don’t feel listened to when I have a question or
concern.”
11 responded most important reason was, "It’s too far from my home to work, the commute is too
hard."
Low High Average
Current Directors Hourly
(reported and figured based on 40hr/52weeks)$21.63 $45.00 $35.87
Current Directors Salary
(reported and figured based on 40hrs/52weeks)$45,000.00 $93,600.00 $74,605.00
Assistant Teacher ECT Level 1 $20.00 $27.00 $22.20
Lead Teacher or ECT Level 2 or higher $22.00 $30.00 $26.42
Substitute/Float $20.00 $35.00 $24.90
WORKFORCE SALARY
13
2024 Pitkin County Early Childhood Program Survey and Funding Summary 11
EDUCATION &
PUBLIC AWARENESS
Kids First supports learning by holding parent workshops and teacher trainings like the annual in-service to
increase knowledge and skills to benefit young children and families. The state of Colorado promotes the
Colorado Shines Professional Development System and credentials teachers. Our programs help teachers
to increase their state credentials. Teachers who have an increased understanding of child development
provide a higher quality of care in their classrooms.
Teachers statewide receive credential levels based on experience, formal education and trainings. The
statewide average of teachers with a credential level 3 or higher is close to 50% whereas 61% of teachers in
Pitkin County have earned a credential level 3 or higher.
EDUCATION
What is your current
PDIS Credential Level?
(Colorado Professional Development
Information systems)
Credential Level 1
Credential Level 2
Credential Level 3
Credential Level 4
Credential Level 5
Credential Level 6
In Process
None
PUBLIC AWARENESS
Kids First actively works to raise public awareness by engaging the community by hosting activities, and
initiatives such as Month of the Young Child, events like Read with me Day, Annual Children's Parade, the
Community Picnic, and the Saturday Market.
Kids First supports professional development and recognizes the importance of increasing the
community's awareness of early childhood development.
32%
16%16%
15%
9%
5%
4%
3%
14
Kids First is committed to providing each childcare center with
essential resources and funding. This support positively impacts
workforce quality of life, strengthens and sustains high standards
in childcare centers, and makes care more affordable through
family scholarships.
Looking ahead to 2025, we aim to expand these supports,
pursue new funding sources, and introduce additional grants
and programs tailored to the needs of families, childcare staff,
and centers. We are also conducting a Community Childcare
Needs Assessment to evaluate demand for the Burlingame Early
Childhood Education Center and exploring housing solutions as
part of our early childhood educator housing initiative plan. We
welcome your input and look forward to collaborating with the
Aspen/Pitkin community for shared success.
FUTURE
Questions or feedback?
KidsFirst@aspen.gov
15
Information Only Memo – Electrification and Building IQ
Page 1 of 5
INFORMATION ONLY MEMORANDUM
TO: Aspen City Council
FROM: Tessa Schreiner, Environmental Health & Sustainability Manager
Bonnie Muhigirwa, Chief Building Official
Justin Forman, Director of Utilities
Tricia Aragon, Director of Engineering
THROUGH: CJ Oliver, Deputy Director of Community Development
Ben Anderson, Director of Community Development
Tyler Christoff, Public Works Director
MEMO DATE: March 17, 2025
MEETING DATE: March 25, 2025
RE: Electrification and Building IQ Update
______________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this memo is to provide Council with an informational update on work
towards enabling electrification in the Aspen community and the intersection with further
development of Building IQ. Electrification refers to the transition towards electric-
powered buildings and vehicles. This memo focuses on electrification of the built
environment. Through council-directed actions, including Building IQ and the
Electrification Task Force, staff have been investigating electrification in the Aspen
context and will present these findings at a later work session.
BACKGROUND:
Why Electrification Matters. Buildings account for the largest portion of the Aspen
community’s emissions, at 47%. Aspen Utilities’ electric grid has been 100% renewable
since 2015, and Holy Cross Energy will provide 100% renewable energy by 2030. Thus,
most emissions from the built environment, by 2030, will be from gas equipment. This
provides a unique opportunity for the Aspen community to reach emissions goals in the
built environment by incrementally converting gas equipment to electric equipment. In
addition, builders, tenants, and developers are voluntarily and increasingly choosing to
go all-electric.
16
Information Only Memo – Electrification and Building IQ
Page 2 of 5
Previous Council Direction:
Aspen’s Science-based Targets. In January 2022, Aspen City Council signed on to
Race to Zero and adopted new science-based targets, or greenhouse gas emissions
reduction goals, that reflect Aspen’s fair share of global greenhouse gas emissions
needed to keep global heating below 1.5 degrees Celsius. These targets use 2017 as the
baseline year and are:
• 63.4% reduction by 2030
• 100% reduction by 2050
City Council Carbon Goal. In August 2023, Council adopted a 2-year Protect Our
Environment Goal:
• Take meaningful action and provide leadership in protecting the natural
environment, reducing Aspen’s greenhouse gas emissions by the amount that is
scientifically proven to limit global temperature change, and supporting community
resilience to climate change and natural disasters.
Customer-Focused Government Goal. In August 2023, Council adopted a 2-year
Customer-Focused Government Goal to improve customer service, services, and
processes with our customers in mind through:
• Assessing customer service standards for the organization;
• Continuing to optimize development review processes;
• Amending the Land Use Code to simplify processes and improve coordination
between agencies;
• Ensuring meaningful access to services and information for all members of the
community through a focus on accessible and multi-lingual communications; and
• Developing policies and/or regulations to ensure the review of Land Use and
Permitting applications is administered in reasonable, fair, and appropriate periods
of time.
Aspen Sustainability Action Plan (ASAP). In February 2023, Council approved the
updated Aspen Sustainability Action Plan that incorporates the City’s updated
greenhouse gas reduction goals (science-based targets) and stakeholder input.
Building IQ. In April 2022, Aspen City Council passed the Building IQ ordinance. This
addresses emissions from existing buildings in a two-phased approach: benchmarking
and building performance standard. Building IQ overlaps with electrification in multiple
ways.
Electrification Task Force. In January 2023, as part of the 2021 building and energy
code adoption, Council directed staff to create an Electrification Task Force, whose
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Information Only Memo – Electrification and Building IQ
Page 3 of 5
charge is to research and provide recommendations for a comprehensive building
electrification roadmap.
DISCUSSION:
Where we’ve been:
The city operates several efficient, all-electric facilities, such as Burlingame Phase III and
City Hall, and there are other all-electric buildings in the community. However, through
the development review process (feedback from developers and builders), cross-
departmental staff meetings, and the Council-directed initiatives of the Building IQ
program’s stakeholder engagement and the Electrification Task Force, staff and
stakeholders have noted a need for the City of Aspen to address existing and future
barriers to electrification and the potential pathways to increasing electrification.
There are various benefits and opportunities of electrification, including reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, increasing comfort, and improving health outcomes. Staff and
stakeholders have also uncovered key barriers to enabling electrification in the
community, and specifically in the Aspen context, which include additional costs for
existing buildings to go electric through infrastructure upgrades and utilities, higher-than-
average load requests for homes and businesses in Aspen, and policy trade-off questions
within the City of Aspen’s municipal code which will need eventual Council direction.
Even if the City of Aspen does not consider future policy or programs that incentivize,
further encourage, or eventually mandate some electrification, these barriers are currently
felt by the development community and residents who are proactively trying to electrify
their buildings. City staff believe that minimizing the barriers that the city controls through
codes and programs is a way to enact Council’s Customer-Focused Government goal
and Protect Our Environment goal simultaneously.
Where we are:
Electrification Task Force: The Electrification Task Force has reviewed potential
pathways to move towards an all-electric or electric-preferred new construction code. This
has included comparative research, modeling cost and energy use impacts of various
code options, and exploring potential impacts to utility infrastructure, resilience, and
emergency preparedness. The Task Force has identified a few key barriers to
electrification in the Aspen-specific context and is identifying solutions to these barriers
through innovative code and policy approaches.
Building Performance Standard (BPS) Stakeholder Committee: As directed by Council in
the Building IQ ordinance, staff formed the BPS Stakeholder Committee to provide input
on policy options to decarbonize existing buildings. The Committee has met six times
since 2023. Comprised of a broad range of industries, property owners, building users,
18
Information Only Memo – Electrification and Building IQ
Page 4 of 5
climate organizations, affordable housing representatives, and the community at large,
the Committee is considering a spectrum of building decarbonization policy options to
bring to council for direction. These include incentive-only based policies and target-
based policies. The next step is for stakeholders to review a forthcoming cost-benefit
analysis to contemplate cost implications of various policy options and then for staff to
bring potential options to Council for a work session for direction.
Internal City of Aspen Code Alignment Group: Given the feedback from the BPS
Committee, the Electrification Task Force, and the development community (through the
ongoing development review process), staff have identified three priority topics within the
City of Aspen’s span of control that are the most impactful barriers to electrification:
1. Location of transformers, sized for all-electric buildings
2. Zoning, including location for all- electric equipment conflicting with setback and
height requirements
3. Noise impacts of electric equipment vs. gas equipment
In Q1 and Q2 of 2025, staff will focus on unpacking and creating potential solutions for
these three barriers and bring this information, along with policy questions, to council for
a work session in Q2 2025.
Where we’re going:
The Electrification Task Force, Building Performance Standards Stakeholder Committee,
and Internal City Code Alignment Group will continue to work on developing potential
solutions to address the priority barriers to electrification and identify potential pathways
to increase electrification through research, cross-departmental collaboration, and
stakeholder engagement. Staff will provide an update to council to discuss
recommendations for removing barriers and creating potential pathways to increasing
electrification. Recommendations will include an update to building and energy codes in
2025. Recommendations will have to meet state minimum building and energy code
electric-ready requirements.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
Electrification has potential financial impacts on and benefits to building owners and the
development community. Staff and stakeholders, through the Electrification Task Force
and Building Performance Standard stakeholder process, are considering these impacts
and ways to enhance the benefits and mitigate costs. These considerations will be
brought to Council as a part of the upcoming work session discussions.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
Buildings account for the largest portion of the Aspen community’s emissions, at 47%.
Aspen Utilities electric grid has been 100% renewable since 2015, and Holy Cross Energy
will provide 100% renewable energy by 2030. Aspen’s renewably powered electricity
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Information Only Memo – Electrification and Building IQ
Page 5 of 5
means that electrification or shifting over time away from fossil-fuel powered equipment,
is a key pathway to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reaching Aspen’s climate
goals. Electrification is also important to improve environmental and human health
outcomes by reducing gas pollution and improving air quality.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
20
FOLLOW-UP MEMORANDUM
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
WORK SESSION MEETING DATE: March 10, 2025
FOLLOW-UP MEMO DATE: March 17, 2025
AGENDA TOPIC: Gets Us There Planning Strategy Discussion
PRESENTED BY: Ben Weber, Walker Consultants
Tyler Christoff, P.E., Director of Public Works
Lynn Rumbaugh, TDM-cp, Interim Director of
Transportation,
Blake Fitch, Interim Director of Parking
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Torre, Doyle, Guth, Hauenstein, Rose
______________________________________________________________________
WORK SESSION DISCUSSION SUMMARY:
Walker Consultants and City staff presented a review of the Aspen Gets Us There
planning process and community outreach followed by a review of the recommended
transportation and parking strategies.
Following the presentation, staff requested Council’s direction as to which strategies
should be incorporated into departmental work plans. A summary of Council direction
appears as Attachment A. Staff has also summarized the necessary next steps for each
item. Several items will require further discussion of budgetary impacts as noted in
Attachment A.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
21
ATTACHMENT A: Aspen Gets Us There Summary Tables
TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY ADVANCE TO WORK PLAN
(Majority YES/NO)
NEXT STEPS
Fixed route service changes
• combine Mountain Valley and Cross Town routes
• reduce Cemetery Lane evening service
YES
• focus on combined routes that do not reduce
service levels
• continue modeling and pricing options with RFTA
• conduct neighborhood outreach
• return to Council with proposed options and budget
impacts
Maintain Downtowner service
• focus future expansion on current service area or first/last
mile gaps in fixed route service
YES
• focus on door-to-door service rather than
hubbing
• add Music/Institute campus to expansion
options
• review options and pricing with Downtowner
• return to Council with options and budget impacts
Explore Car To Go privatization YES • issue RFP to determine outsource options and
pricing
• return to Council with options and budget impacts
Expand employer services YES
• review efficacy of cargo bike options
• review expansion of free bus pass programs
through employer granting
• poll business group regarding cargo/delivery bikes
• return to Council with options for expanding
employer grant programs including bus pass
subsidies
Continue support of the WE-cycle
• support electrification
• densify in the core
YES
• review business delivery partnership options
• develop core expansion plan and electrification plan
with WE-cycle
• return to Council with budget impacts
Longer-term items
• continued exploration of service standards
• resume Galena Street Shuttle
YES
• interest in creative vehicle options for Galena
Street Shuttle vehicles
• price options for resuming summer Galena Street
Shuttle
• review options for alternative vehicles
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PARKING STRATEGY ADVANCE TO WORK PLAN
(Majority YES/NO)
NEXT STEPS
Update Rio Grande Garage pricing YES
• Focus on options that incentivize usage
• Develop pricing options
Modernize City parking code YES • Issue RFP for code updating services
Improve parking wayfinding YES
• Include days/hours parking payment is required
• Prepare signage plan and pricing
Resume Smart Loading Zones YES
• Evaluate options for returning loading zones to
public parking at specified times
• Explore educating and encouragement for use
of designated loading zones
• Develop specifications for loading zone monitoring
and payment system.
Execute a regular data collection and analysis process YES • Initiate data collection schedule.
• Compile collected data and review results
Longer-term items
• Explore location-based demand pricing
• Consider expansion of enforcement hours
• Revise permit options
YES
• Continue discussions on these topics
• Possible interest in modifying some parking
permits
• Review real time technology options
• Assess options and staffing needs related to
expanded enforcement hours
• Develop a multi-year plan for updating permit
options
23