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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcclc.min.10091996 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION OCT. 9, 1996 Special Meeting - Delivery/Merchants was called to order. Jack Stanford and Bill Dinsmoor presided. Jack stated that he and Bill represent the Commercial Core & Lodging Commission and were directed to ~t. udy the feasibility of having some type of del!very policy or ordinance. Two meetings with the Delivery people have occurred and they were successful. The study cannot occur without the cooperation of the drivers and merchants. The one goal is improving the atmosphere in the commercial core. If consensus can occur with the vendors and vendees, delivery people and merchants this program can be successful. There is the pOssibility that nothing can come out of these meetings. The study is being done by volunteer business people who have the same interest in delivery and receiving that everyone here is involved in, rather than a Staffperson sitting here. We need to kn°w what the problems are and if they are solvable and if the solutions are acceptable. A parmership needs to be formed. This is an informal meeting. He also stated at the past meetings they met with vendors and told them about ideas that they had which are limited axle size, limiting hours, deliveries for certain type of products at a certain time Of day. They have learned that it is almost impossible to limit the times. The restaurants have another set of problems, the bars have/a particular set of problems and the retailers have their own. There are now three or four alleys with compactors in them. They are generally picking up once a week instead of two trucks coming in seven days a week to pick up trash. CCLC has gotten them off the highway and have improved the pollution problem and have cut down on the noise. They are making room in the alleys to go on with this program. The delivery people want to see this work and they have far less to gain. At the meeting certain issues were brought up. Limiting the axle size is not the answer even though we have certain vehicles coming into town half full. If we can get the larger trucks in and out their size will not be a major factor. Designated door drops will be a problem. There was talk about having an area out by the airport as a central dropping area. That seemed far off. Tim Ware from Parking is here and alley enforcement has to be beefed up. Numerous trucks use the alleYs and we need to get the smaller vehicles back 1 COMMERCIAL CORE& LODGING COMMISSION OCT. 9, 1996 out on the street so that they do not hold up the larger trucks. Every vehicle needs accommodated. There are certain problems with timing restrictions. When the tunnel closes deliveries are late and if we had a curfew they would not make it. An idea came up with certain products being delivered at certain times. Heather Isberian asked about the history of this issue. Jack stated the DEPP committee talked about the issue and there have been complaints at all different times about noise and trucks in the alleys. There is an experiment about widening the sidewalks. This issue has long been a concern of the CCLC. Lily Garfield, Cos Bar asked who had problems with restrictions? Fed X stated they do. Lily stated UPS has to make all of their deliveries in Vail in the morning. The downtown Vail area will close off during high season at 2:00 p.m. Anything that comes in after that hour they have side areas along the peripheral area of the village where the delivery people parl~ and then hand cart it to the stores. In the Village she knows that her merchandise comes in between 10:00 and 11:00. Here in Aspen she has a problem because it can come from 10:00 to 6:00 p.m. Whatever we can do to tell UPS that you have to make your deliveries and do your pickups by a certain time, she feels UPS should accommodate us because they do it in other areas. Jack stated LIPS assured us that they would work with us and we understand that it is a concern. He also stated that he has studied Vail's infil structure and it is a lot easier to wheel around Vail Village than it is in Aspen. Lily suggested looking at different sections of Aspen, such as a AAA location, AA, and A locations where you put restrictions on certain areas where the deliveries have to be done at certain times as opposed to making everything one specific time. Most restaurants are on the outside. Bill stated that he did not know of one alley in the core that didn't have restaurant pickups and drops. The alleys are being used but where it says 2 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING coMMIssIoN OCT. 9, 1996 trucks only on the street, they are hardly ever used. Tim Ware has taken numerous steps to build up the enforcement. Jack asked if there was anyone that would be severely impacted if you had certain hours of the day that you received goods. Stefan Isberian stated that he is a service business as well as a sales business in town and they pick up and deliver rugs all day long. They also have people who drop off their rugs any time during the day. The businesses keep this town alive and people drive down town to do their business. Lily stated that she is on the DEPP and is in favor of widening the sidewalks and narrowing the streets. No parking spaces were eliminated and the entire idea was slowing the traffic down. Stefan stated that the parallel parking is a hazard. He also stated that possibly some revisions to the truck loading zones would be helpful and it could be organized better. Bill Dinsmoor stated with the growth of businesses delivery truck congestion has occurred. The town is full of trucks all day long. How do we orchestrate this issue to be more efficient. We desire to free up the alleys and deliveries so other people can use the space downtown. People pull into the alleys and park for five minutes and that precludes anyone from doing business in the alleys. The alleys should be for commerce. The downtown pedestrian core should be more friendly. There is more and more conflict with trucks and there are safely issues involved about turning and backing including noise. Jack stated trucks circle and circle waiting to get into the alleys. Bill stated if the trucks can come in early and get their deliveries done it would free up the alleys. After 10:00 a.m. is the time that our customers start coming into town. Heather asked if the truck loading areas would become parking spaces. 3 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING CO~ISSION OCT. 9, 1996 Jack stated that after a certain hour he thought they woUld but that has not been determined. Bill stated that UPS and FEDX who are priority people and deliver at the front door like to be on the street and not in the alleys. If we can free the alleys then they can park there and get off the street. Lily stated that a new survey needs to be done regarding the loading zones. A survey should be done with the merchants as to which areas are more sensible for loading zones. Other areas are more sensible and merchants were not consulted. Tim Ware stated that they were existing but there is the possibility that the zones can be reviewed. Lily stated that the DEPP is, trying to take the alleys and turn them into business sections again similar to behind the Howling Wolf. Jack stated that we need to look at the truck loading zones and that is part of the purpose of this meeting. Mark from Sandy's Office Supply stated that there are some National companies that cannot change their hours to accommodate what we are trying to do on a restrictive level in our town. They won't deliver. Bill stated that he doubted if we could regulate time but a suggestion was made to have a depot outside of town for businesses to pick up their merchandise. We need to know the pros and cons of that. Mark stated that the depot is not a solution as he would have to take his employees out to the depot and you increase the workman's comp situation. Bill stated the liquor and produce trucks could get done before noon everyday that would free up a lot of the downtown. Public stated that at the last meeting it was discussed that the greatest impact is the food and beer trucks. The biggest problem those people have is access to the restaurants and businesses. Most of them don't come in 4 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION OCT. 9, 1996 until after NOON and it is hard to get in the locations to deliver. That issue needs addressed to the merchants about early delivery. If we can reduce the impact of beer, food and wine trucks it would go a long way in reducing the congestion. Also clearing the alleys in the winter would help. Stefan stated clearing of the snow and ice is critical. Possibly a small crawler could keep the alleys clean. If the alleys were clean you could get two cars in. Bill stated that the city is reluctant to pave a lot of the alleys because at some point the utilities will have to be dug up and replaced. Another issue is that people who live in the alleys do not want woken up by a street cleaner. ' Jack stated with the new compactor program the alleys will have to be brought up to date in order for people to cart their trash to the compactor. Maybe repaying of the alleys will have to occur. Public stated that he lives in the alley and feels that there is not enough use by the right vehicles in the alleys. The wrong 7vehicles are in the alleys. Enforcement is a problem. There are too many little cars biocking the alleys. If the beer trucks were in the alleys and people could get by then there isn't a problem. There are too many times that a pickup is in the alley and a little car and then the alley is blocked. Flagstaffhas narrow streets and out in front for the little cars they have a vehicle length limited loading zone and it is a time zone also. That eliminates the little cars from blocking the alleys and frees them for the larger trucks. Jack stated in order for this to work the smaller vehicles need to be out of the alley and we have alternatives. We may gain back some of the loading zones and have smaller vehicles park there. It is more palatable to have the larger vehicles in the alleys. Heather indicated that the cars and trucks parked in the alleys need addressed. Enforcement must occur. She also inquired about the parking spaces in the alleys that people are renting, and where does that fit in the program. 5 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION OCT. 9, 1996 Jack stated that there is a 20 foot easement in the alleys. Tim Ware stated that if the alleys are striped they can be enforced, Stefan stated that in his parking area in the alley there are numerous times that he cannot get out due tOtrucks parking there. The majority of truckers are very courteous but some just park in the middle of the alley. Mark stated that we need to have a policy on alley etiquette. Tim stated that the model traffic code says anyone can load and unload in the alley. It is primarily used for emergency use, Main Street in 1997 will be turned into paid parking. One car loading zones will also be added. We 'will also shorten up the Hotel Jerome loading zone. If we can get businesses to open up earlier for deliveries that will be an improvement. Vin Lou, Pitkin County Dry Goods stated that they use the small car in the alleys. They receive merchandise behind McDonald's and then transfer it to the store. If a small vehicle cannot park in the alley that will effect ottr business. They check in merchandise every day. We have a sticker for the window. Sometimes McDOnald's vehicle parks us in all day. 'Jack stated that will have to be addressed when you are unloading merchandise. Bill stated that flexibility is the key. Public stated that one way alleys need inforced. Tim stated that enforcement of the one way alley is a moving violation and the police have to issue the ticket. Jack asked if anyone was violently opposed to the the idea (none). With reservations businesses and deliveries would support a program. Public stated that current enforcement is more of an issue to him. There is not enough enforcement. COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION OCT. 9, !996 Jack stated that one of the problems with enforcement is that they do not have enough teeth. Parking officer would have to have the teeth to ticket someone who is going the wrong way in an alley and right now they cannot do that. It will not work just by tightening up enforcement as we have tried that already. Lily stated that if UPS deliveries could occur between 9:00 and Noon it will help the merchants out. Possibly having the food and beverage trucks deliver at a certain time also. That should help out the merchants. Jack stated that a strUctured time was addressed and delivery people see an advantage to a structured delivery time. They can get in and out faster. Public stated that he found it interesting about never knowing when the UPS truck was going to deliver because his deliveries are always consistent. Stefan said that everyone has to keep an open mind to the idea and all want it to be a better system. Jack stated that the general consensus is that people are positive about the program. Meeting adjourned at NOON 7