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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 1 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 17 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 19 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 22 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