HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19860113Regular Meeting Aspen Citv Council January 13, 1986
TABLE OF CONTENTS
January 13 , 1986
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION 1
ORDINANCE #67, SERIES OF 1985 - Timeshare Amendments 2
ORDINANCE #68, SERIES OF 1985 - Land Use Application Fees 2
QUILLEN RECONSIDERATION 4
ENGINEERING CONTRACT LODGE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT 4
ORDINANCE #1, SERIES OF 1986 - Baar Street Vacation 7
ORDINANCE #2, SERIES OF 1985 - Employee Housing Code
Amendments 9
REQUEST FOR FUNDS - Wheeler Opera House Air Conditioning
Study 12
LIQUOR LICENSE HEARING - Club Paradise 13
RESOLUTION #1, SERIES OF 1986 - L-3 GMP Allocation
Crestahaus 13
CONVEYANCE OF ARTHUR'S 16
MAINTENANCE FACILITY STUDY 16
WATER RIGHTS REPORT 17
VOLR PROPERTY REPORT 18
REPORT ON CHAMON I X DELEGATION 19
PROPOSED AGENDA_ COUNCIL GOA,~S SESSION 1/17/86 19
CONSENT CALENDAR 19
MAYORS COMMENTS 2 0
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Regular Meeti.Bg Aspen Citv Council January 13. 1986
Mayor Stirling called the meeting to order at 5:07 with
Council members Isaac, Fallin, Walls, and Collins present.
CITIZ EN PARTICIPATION
1. Jon Seigle petitioned Council to reverse its decision
denying the Quillen subdivision. Seigle said he has until
Wednesday January 15 to file a lawsuit. Seigle told Council he
was out of town during the hearing and feels this is solvable.
Seigle said rather than have to file a lawsuit to preserve his
clients rights, if Council would reverse their decision, not
approve the application but table it to another meeting because
this i s the only Council meeting since the Quillen decision, a
lawsuit could be put off Mayor Stirling said there was
considerable citizen interest in this application, and it has not
been noticed for this meeting. Seigle said he is not asking for
approval but only that this be placed in a posture where a
1 aw su i t does not have to be filed and schedule it for future
proceedings. City Attorney Taddune said Council would be saying
they wil 1 toll the statute of 1 imitations for purposes of filing
a lawsuit.
Councilman Isaac moved to add this to the agenda as VI (a);
seconded by Mayor Stirling. All in favor, with the exception of
Councilwoman Walls. Motion carried.
2. Andrew Dracopoli, representing the Unicorn Balloon Company,
told Council they have been using facilities offered by the parks
department at the Rio Grande park to do sunrise launches of their
balloons. Dracopoli said they feel this was a success, and they
would 1 ike to continue this process. Dracopoli said as a token
of their appreciation, they would 1 ike to make a donation of
$1,000 to the parks and recreation department. Dracopoli said
they use the Rio Grande when it is not being used by anyone else,
and they feel the balloon rides are an amenity to the town.
Council thanked Dracopoli for the donation and referred a follow
up to the city manager's office.
3. Andrew Dracopol i brought up the power outages the city has
been experiencing. Dracopoli told Council the building he
manages on Cooper Avenue has been experiencing about one power
outage a month for the last six months. Dracopoli told Council
there are parts of the city that have been experiencing severe
probl ems and some businesses have had equipment damage resulting
from these outages. Dracopoli said the electric department
should put some funding into fixing this problem. City Manager
Schilling told Council the previous director of the electric
department identified a prel iminary work plan. Schilling said
___ staff is working on this problem; there is a deficiency in the
system that causes these probl ems.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council January 13. 1986
4. Suzanne Caskey, representing the Clean Air Advisory Board,
said it is not clear how the CAAB should deal with the March
ref erendum regarding f fireplaces. It is not clear if the CAAB
should act as an advocate, which requires money, or the Council
should act as the advocates and the CAAB act as advisors. Mayor
Stirling said he is not in favor of government spending money in
an advocacy role in political issues. Councilman Collins said it
seems an appropriate role for the CAAB to make information
available to the electorate, which may require spending some
money. Mayor Stirling suggested discussing this during
Councilmember Comments. City Attorney Taddune told Council
governments are more and more being precluded by the courts from
taking advocacy roles in a referendum situation. Taddune said
information items are appropriate. Ms. Caskey said the CAAB does
not want to sit idle if they are supposed to be doing something,
and they feel responsible for educating the public about the
ordinance.
ORDINANCE #67. SERIES OF 1985 - Timeshare Amendments
Steve Burstein, planning office, said these amendments to
timesharing allow for inspection trips and change the annual
licensing fee structure. Burstein said this ordinance reflects
Council desire for changes. A change in the ordinance since
first reading makes it clear that inspection of timeshare
projects i s specifically not included in the definition of giving
of gifts.
Mayor Stirling opened the public hearing.
Nick McGrath, representing Security Pacific, told Council they
support this ordinance. Bil Dunaway asked about the number of
units that have to be sold before a unit can close. Burstein
said that is a condition of approval rather than part of the
timeshare ordinance, and an application has been made to the
planning office and should be before Council next month.
Mayor Stirling closed the public hearing.
Councilman Isaac moved to adopt Ordinance #67, Series of 1985, as
amended, on second reading; seconded by Counc ilwoman Fall in.
Roll call vote; Councilmembers Walls, yes; Collins, no; Isaac,
yes; Fallin, yes; Mayor Stirling, yes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #68, SERIES OF 1985 - Land Use Application Fees
Mayor Stirling opened the public hearing.
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cites Council January 13, 1.9.86_
Alan Richman, planning office, pointed out the ordinance has been
changed, as requested by Council , to remove the requirement that
the fee ordinance be revised every year and that the fees will be
addressed as part of the budget process. Richman told Council
these fees are the same as those for 1984 and 1985. Richman said
a change this year is adding a land use referral fee for
environmental health and housing. Staff has expressed an
interest in including an engineering department referral fee.
Jay Hammond, engineering director, told Council the engineering
department serves as a referral agency on land use issues and
also works w ith all agencies in public service. Hammond
suggested a referral fee for engineering work of minor
application 2 hours at $80; major application 5 hours at $200.
Hammond told Council he has based these numbers on his 1986
budget and what the referrals actually cost the department.
Richman told Council this fee will be collected at one time by
the planning office. Councilman Isaac said he agrees with the
structure of the developer paying for the services they are
receiving so that the taxpayers do not have to pay the cost of
development.
Richman said this increase is to recapture a cost the city has
not tried to recover before. Richman told Council their approved
1986 budget reflects the fees referral for environmental health
and housing as revenue. Richman pointed out there are no rebates
nor additional billing on referral fees because of their limited
size. City Manager Schilling told Council one of the 3 principle
ways of cutting cost of government is user fees, to place the
cost of service on the users. Schilling said not charging for
engineering services is subsidizing the developers in the plan
check process. Schilling said most cities charge for these
services. Schilling encouraged Council to keep this on a
business basis as to what the costs are.
Bil Dunaway said when the fees were first adopted, it was
understood these fees were covering all the city's costs. This
is raising the fees. Assistant City Manager Mitchell said when
these fees were first proposed, it was only to cover planning' s
costs. Councilwoman Walls said one of Council ' s goals is that
developers will have to pay their own way. If the engineering
costs are not included in the ordinance, they should be.
Councilwoman Walls moved to amend Ordinance #68, Series of 1985,
by adding a VI in Section 1 for referral fees - engineering Minor
applications 2 hours at $ 80.0 0; Major application 5 hours at
$200, and to add "engineering" to #6, Section 3; seconded by
Councilman Isaac. All in favor, with the exception of Councilman
Coll ins and Mayor Stirling. Motion carried.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council January 13. 198
Mayor Stirling closed the public hearing.
Councilman Isaac moved to adopt Ordinance #68, Series of 1985, as
amended; seconded by Councilwoman Walls. Roll call vote;
Councilmembers Isaac, yes; Fallin, yes; Collins, no; Walls, yes;
Mayor Stirling, no. Motion carried.
QUILLEN RECONSIDERATION
Councilwoman Fallin moved to reconsider the denial of the Quillen
lot split; seconded by Mayor Stirling. All in favor, with the
exception of Councilwoman Walls. Motion carried.
Alan Richman, planning director, told Council they should
schedule this far enough ahead to allow for public notice both in
the newspaper and to the property owners.
Councilman Isaac moved to table this until February 10, 1986;
seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried.
ENGINEERING CONTRACT LODGE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Jay Hammond, engineering director, told Council this is a
contract with Schmueser & Associates for engineering and
preliminary design of the lodge special improvement district.
The landscape architect for the project will be a subcontractor,
Winston & Associates of Boulder. This contract will take the
lodge improvement to the public hearing for the stage. At that
point, if it is decided to go forward, another contract will be
issued to get to final design stage. The fees in this contract
will be deferred until the district is formed, or if the district
is not formed, the city will be responsible to pay off the
contract. Hammond told Council the 1 iab it i ty to the city for
this contract will be $38,500.
Hammond told Council this contract does not include assessment
engineering as a separate service. The staff is looking at firms
who do assessment engineering. This district is very complex,
there are different improvements proposed for different areas of
the district. The estimated cost of assessment engineering
would be $15,000, and if it is decided assessment engineering is
needed, the contract will be brought back to Council for
approval. Mayor Stirling said there i s a concern about the
ownership of the Aspen Mountain Lodge property. If this district
is to go forward, the owner or owners might be different and the
previous agreements might not be valid.
Hammond said the PUD agreement ties the project to the
improvement district and the PUD agreement runs with the
property. Now there is a discussion of splitting ownership of
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council January 13, 1986
the parcels, which may be a problem. Hammond said i t i s
difficult to design around the lodge project, not knowing what
will happen there. Hammond said Aspen Mountain Lodge property
represents about 20 percent of the improvement district. Hammond
told Council since initial discussions about the improvement
district, the district has been expanded to include other major
lodge and condominium projects, like Aspen Alps, The Gant, the
bloodstone, and is now about twice as big as originally presented.
Councilman Collins asked if there is a map of the district that
has been officially approved. Hammond said staff has an assessor' s
map indicating the boundary of the district. Hammond told
Council he held a public meeting and open house on December 20,
1985. There were a number of residents from the east end who are
concerned about the district, and there is some indication they
may want to petition out of the district. Hammond said fringe
areas can back out of the district; however, a pocket area within
the district cannot be taken out.
Hammond told Council there is a task force that has been meeting
weekly working on the details of design and contracts. There are
representatives of the Lodge project, Little Nell, the Gant, the
Aspen Club Lodge, Aspen Alps, and Lee Miller on the task force.
Hammond said the task force has been useful in communicating with
adjacent property owners. Hammond told Council that Calderwood,
who may not want to be in the district, has a homeowner's
association and Hammond will make a presentation to them.
Hammond said there has been some misconception, that the
homeowners would be subsidizing more elaborate improvements in
the lodge district. Hammond explained people will only be
assessed for improvements directly associated with their
property. Hammond said this plan makes the district complicated
and there could be four different assessment formulas in the
district.
Hammond said the Council is sponsoring the improvement district.
The Council will decide to form the district by ordinance. At
that time, the owners within the district have the ability to
petition out. If over 50 percent of the land owners within the
district petitions out, a district cannot be formed. Councilman
Collins asked how ownership is figured. Hammond said that is
tied to the size of one's property, for instance 10 condominium
owners on one acre of land wield as much power as a single family
resident on one acre of land.
Councilwoman Walls said when Council first started talking about
a lodge improvement district, it was very simple with basic
improvements like curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. Council is
looking at a contract which addresses skier access for trails.
transit, landscaping, lighting, circulation, etc. Hammond said
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Reaul ar Meetina _ Aspen Citv Council January 13 . 198
when the task force starting discussing the district, they felt
it was important to consider the urban design aspects of the
district. Hammond said the district will be molded to the
desires of the people within the district. This contract will
give staff the ability to respond to any items the residents
within the district may desire. Hammond said he wants the design
team to be prepared at cover all bases.
Mayor Stirling said this is one of the most dilapidated areas in
the city. Mayor Stirling said this i s the final step to set the
district in motion. Schilling said this is the essential step to
get to the point where Council can find out if there is
sufficient support from the residents. Mayor Stirling said it is
imperative to move to the next step. Council has been working on
this for 2 years, and citizens have been appealing to Council for
10 years to get improvements in the lodge areas.
Councilman Collins asked where the funds would come if Schmueser
has to use independent consultants as referenced in the contract.
Hammond said any additional consultants not bound by attachments
A and B of this contract, would be by addendum to the contract,
which would have to come back to Council . Hammond said he is
sure he will have to return to Council for approval of an
assessment engineering contract because at the public hearing,
the staff will need to have both a formula and an assessment
mechanism for the district to present. Hammond told Council in a
simple one improvement, one assessment district it is not
necessary to have an assessment engineer. This district has a
combination of property types as well as a combination of
proposed improvements. Councilman Isaac agreed if the city is
going to go ahead with the improvement district, they need to
take this additional step
Councilman Isaac moved to approve the engineering contract with
Schmueser for the improvement district; seconded by Councilwoman
Fall in.
Councilman Coll ins asked if there is going to be any construction
in 1986. Hammond said if there is any construction, it will be
subgrade related to util ities or storm sewer in the late summer.
Councilman Collins said he has supported this improvement
district, but he feels there are too many loose ends and there
ought to be a fixed cost. Councilman Collins said $22 , 000 of
this $38,500 contract is going to the landscape architect and
that is a lot of money. Hammond said the city has the ability
with their topo mapping to plot rights-of-way and to determine
where rights-of-way and easements may be needed. Councilman
Coll ins asked where the money to cover this contract is coming
from. Mayor Stirling said it will be included in the overall
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Regul ar Meeting_ Aspen Citv Counc, i~ Januarv 13 . 1986
district bonds, if one is formed. It the district does not go
through, it will have to come out of the general fund.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilman Coll ins. Motion
carried.
Bil Dunaway asked what other costs the city faces before the
public hearing stage besides the assessment engineer contract.
Hammond said before the first public hearing, there will be no
other costs.
ORDINANCE #1. SERIES OF 1986 -Baar Street Vacation
Councilwoman Fall in moved to read Ordinance # 1, Series of 1986;
seconded by Councilwoman Walls. All in favor, motion carried.
ORDINANCE # 1
(Series of 1986)
AN ORDINANCE VACATING A PORT ION OF THE MEADOWS ROAD
RIGHT-OF-WAY CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 1820 SQUARE FEET
ADJACENT TO LOT 1 OF THE BAAR SUBDIVISION, ALL WITHIN
THE CITY OF ASPEN, PITRIN COUNTY, COLORADO was read by
the city clerk
Councilman Isaac moved to adopt Ordinance ~l, Series of 1986, on
first reading; seconded by Counc ilwoman Fall in.
Steve Burstein, planning office, entered into the record a letter
received from George Relly, an adjacent property owner. Burstein
said this is an application for a lot split as well as a street
vacation. Burstein showed on the map the existing and proposed
right-of-way. The applicant is requesting vacation of a 12 foot
strip. The planning office recommends the vacation be approved.
There is some uncertainty about what is going on on the east side
of the road. There are some property disputes on the east side
as well as the point there is not enough property for a 60 foot
right-of-way on the east side.
Burstein told Council there are many trees on the Baar property
as well as on the entire westerly alignment, and the staff does
not feel it likely that the Meadows road will be widened to the
west. Burstein said the engineering department has requested
that an easement be placed on the 12 foot strip. Burstein said
staff feels the vacation allows for the most advantageous
placement of a house, should the lot split be approved. Burstein
pointed out without this vacation the lot split is still
possible. The applicant has more than 30,000 square feet that he
can configure two lots without the vacated property. Burstein
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R,~aular Meeting Aspen City Council January 13. 1986
said the zoning code prohibits using a vacated parcel to
constitute new development rights and the vacated parcel is
exempt from the calculation of FAR.
Burstein said staff feels it is reasonable for compensation to be
given for the property and suggested Council consider adding this
to the ordinance as an inducement for the vacation. Hal Clark,
representing the applicant, told Council Mr. Baar could have
split this into 3 lots in 1966, but did not. The applicant can
build 3,000 square feet more on lot 1 by merely getting a
building permit. Baar would prefer to have a lot split and sell
the separate lot. The reason for the vacation request is the
setback. The setback is 30 feet, it is measured from the right-
of-way. Without the vacation, it will be difficult to configure
a house on the new lot. Clark told Council they feel it was
unfair to take the entire 30 feet for the right-of-way from Mr.
Baar in 1966 as it was measured from the side of the road.
Normally the 30 feet is measured from the centerline of a road.
Clark said what they are requesting is a partial vacation of the
30 foot right-of-way given by Mr. Baar. Clark said there are
approximately 75 cottonwood trees in the extra 12 feet and all
the utilities are located in the remaining 18 feet that the city
would retain. Clark said he feels there is very little chance
for the city to relocate the road in this area. Clark requested
the city vacate this 12 feet, not ask for the easement. Clark
disagreed with the compensation request; the city's procedures do
not mention anything about compensation.
Lennie Oates, representing the applicant, said in looking at the
original plat of the Baar subdivision, there is a question
whether the land the applicant is asking to be vacated was ever
dedicated to the city. Oates said there is an argument that what
they are asking for is already Mr. Baar's property. Oates showed
a plat from the original subdivision and pointed out what was
given was not identified on the plat. Mayor Stirling said the
presumption is that this land is the city's territory. Oates
told Council the state statute regulating public roads does not
make any provision to the paying of compensation nor does it make
any provision for the reservation of an easement except for
existing utilities. Oates said the state statutes say a city or
municipality may vacate a road but may only do it in accordance
with the state statutes and the provision of a city charter.
Oates said the city's Charter does not address street vacations.
Clark said the applicant feels this request is to get back land
he dedicated to the city inappropriately in 1966. Clark said the
applicant does not agree with giving the city an easement. Mayor
Stirling said he is not an advocate for the city vacating its
property. Mayor Stirling said the public has enjoyed this right-
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ReQular_ Meetincr Aspen Citv Council Januarv _13, __1986
of-way for 20 years. Mayor Stirling said the purpose of setbacks
is to keep properties from being overdeveloped. Mayor Stirling
said he does not feel this vacation gives the general public a
specific benefit. Clark said the city has 42 feet right-of-way,
and in giving the applicant 12 feet the city will still maintain
their 30 foot right-of-way. Clark said this particular situation
is very unfair to this applicant. Curt Baar said he has 40 , 000
square feet in an R-15 zone, and there is no other property
around that is this large. Baar said it is nice to have open
space but he cannot afford to keep it open any longer. Baar told
Council he gave this land away in 1966 without knowing what he
was doing.
Councilman Collins asked if the applicant could get a variance.
Clark said he felt the vacation was the more straightforward way
to go; Baar gave the land away and he created the hardship.
Clark said they feel the city has more right-of-way than they
need and the city will not use it, and it is unfair. Clark
pointed out other property owners in this area were not asked to
give this type of right-of-way. Councilman Isaac said he feels
the city has adequate room with the 18 feet right-of-way here.
Roll call vote; Council members Coll ins, yes; Walls, yes; Isaac,
yes; Fallin, yes; Mayor Stirling, yes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #2, SERIES OF 1985 - Employee Housing Code Amendments
Councilwoman Fallin moved to read Ordinance #2, Series of 1986;
seconded by Councilman Isaac. All in favor, motion carried.
ORDINANCE #2
(Series of 1986)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE ASPEN CITY COUNCIL REPEALING
SECTION 24-11.4 (b) (5) , 24-11.5 (b) (4) AND 24-
11. 6 (b) (4) (bb) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF
ASPEN, COLORADO, WITH RESPECT TO THE AWARD OF POINTS
FOR CONVERTING EXISTING UNITS TO DEED RESTRICTED
STATUS; AND REPEALING AND RE-ENACTING SECTIONS 24-
11. 10 (d) , 24-11.10 (e) AND 24-11.4 (b) (4) (bb) OF THE
MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, TO
CLARIFY VARIOUS PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO EMPLOYEE
HOUSING was read by the city clerk
Councilman Isaac moved to adopt Ordinance #2, Series of 1986, on
first reading; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin.
Alan Richman, planning director, told Council two of these code
amendments were initiated by Council in October 1985. These are
repeal of points for conversion of existing units to deed
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Reaul ar Meetina Aspen__C~ tv Council Januarv 13 . 1986
restricted status and to provide a cash-in-lieu option for
providing for employee housing. The other amendments have arisen
from administering the employee housing system and are supported
by the staff. Richman said the option of conversion of existing
units should be continued. It is an incentive to upgrade units
and does not cause growth. However, there should not be extra
points awarded for conversion.
Richman said the second amendment deals with off-site housing.
Richman said there have been problems with vagueness, applicants
not even having an option on property. This makes it difficult
for the housing authority to review a proposal. The amendment in
the ordinance says "Applicants proposing to provide employee
housing on an alternative site shall be required to demonstrate
the feasibility of their proposal through having an interest in
the property and/or units and by specifying the size and type of
units to be provided, and the level of upgrade to be
accomplished". Council agreed with this amendment.
Richman pointed out another recommendation is that there is an
over-emphasis in the residential scoring system on employee
housing. Richman noted that more than half the points in the
residential scoring system come from employee housing, which
means for an applicant to be competitive they have to go above
and beyond the minimum thresholds that have been set for housing.
Richman said under the current scoring system, a project could
get an allocation that does not even mitigate its service
impacts. Richman recommended reducing the amount of points for
employee housing in residential scoring from 40 to 20 points,
about 38$ of the total points. This would bring residential
scoring in line with the other competitions and would provide
developers the incentive to spend their money on design and
services rather than on employee housing.
Richman told Council under the current Code, FAR bonuses are
being given in the downtown area and the city receives nothing in
return. Richman said he has a problem with the community giving
extra density and not getting anything in return. Richman
recommended that the FAR bonus be eliminated in CC, C-1, Office,
and L-1/L-2. Richman has a replacement program; however, it is
not included in this ordinance. The concept is if one is given a
FAR bonus, the city should get something they need in return.
Richman recommended money towards a transportation program, like
parking or a downtown shuttle. P & Z suggested waiting until the
city receives the transportation element of the land use plan
before implementing this plan. Richman said if the city is going
to have a fund, they should have a plan to back it up. P & Z has
recommended that if an applicant is providing housing off-site,
they not be awarded an FAR bonus. If an applicant is providing
housing on-site, they should be eligible for the FAR bonus. P &
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Requl ar Meetinct Asnen Citv Council Janua~rv_ 13 , 1986
Z feels it is appropriate to have that type of mix in the
downtown area.
Richman told Council the fifth proposed Code amendment was not
adopted by the P & Z, and is not included in the ordinance.
Richman said the planning office and housing authority both feel
very strongly that the cash-in-1 ieu option should be added.
Richman said cash-in-lieu provides an option not something that
has to be accepted. Richman said this puts Council in more of a
leadership role in housing. The employee housing guidelines
provide a certain price for rental or sales of a unit. That
price is substantially less in the market than it costs to create
the units. The difference between the housing price guidelines
and what it would cost to build the unit is the cash-in-lieu
price. The applicant would pay the cash-i n-1 ie u and put the
public sector in a position to build employee housing, either
rentals or sales, and come out even. Richman included language
in the memorandum which could be included in the Code and in the
employee housing guidelines. Richman told Council the dollar
values would not be included in the Code as they may change
annually, like the employee housing price guidelines.
Councilman Isaac said the problem he has with the cash-in-lieu
concept is that it puts government in the position of having to
build and maintain employee housing. Richman said that is one of
the reasons the P & Z recommended against it. The other reason P
& Z voted against this is that it is conceivable an employee
project could come on 1 ine after the free market and the impacts
of growth might not be met in a timely fashion. Councilwoman
Fallin said she would like to see this added as another employee
housing option. Jim Adamski said cash-in-lieu gives Council a
proactive posture in housing. Adamski said government is in
every bit of housing in one form or another. Adamski said cash-
in-lieu gives the developer an option to meet the needs of the
community at the time of his application. This gives the city
more flexibility, like an innovative financing program.
Councilwoman Walls said Council has been talking for years about
providing housing for the seasonal employees and no one has
provided that type of housing. Councilwoman Walls said this
concept may be one way to get dormitory-type housing.
Councilwoman Walls moved to amend Ordinance # 2, Series of 1986 ,
to add cash-in-lieu as section 5; seconded by Councilwoman
Fallin.
Mayor Stirling said he is not enthusiastic about getting
government into the housing business. Mayor Stirling said he
would rather see the money retained in the private sector.
Gideon Raufman said when the GMP was adopted, the only thing the
city cared about was getting employee housing. Raufman said now
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Regular Meeting Aspen Citv Council Januarv 13L 198
there are different types of employee housing that are needed.
Kaufman said cash-in-lieu gives the city the flexibility to
select which types of housing are needed. Councilman Isaac said
he feels the flexibility aspect could also be a negative aspect.
Adamski said this option would give Council the ability to
address needs that can never be addressed by the private sector,
like senior housing and dormitories.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilmembers Collins and
Isaac. Motion carried.
Roll call vote; Councilmembers Collins, yes; Isaac, no; Fallin,
yes; Walls, yes; Mayor Stirling, yes. Motion carried.
MINUTES
Councilman Isaac moved to approve the minutes of December 2, 9,
16, 30, 1985; seconded by Counc ilwoman Walls. All in favor,
motion carried.
REQUEST FOR FUNDS -Wheeler Opera House Air Conditioning Study
Mayor Stirling asked why a study is needed when the Wheeler has
had engineering groups come in. Mayor Stirling said it appear s
that all that is needed is to go to bids. Bob Murray said this
study is needed to make sure the Wheeler can afford to do thi s
and to make sure the Wheeler does not need to be closed for a
long time. Murray said before the Wheeler was finished, he
brought up that the air ventilation system may not be adequate
because of the additional theatrical lighting and the crowds.
Murray said the RMH group will do a study and come up with two
alternatives, air conditioning or air cooling, with costs and
downtime for each system. Murray said they must study if these
systems would hurt the acoustics of the Wheeler.
Murray told Council one of the problems is this is the one set of
"as-builts" that do not exist. Murray said the air conditioning
was cut from the original Wheeler budget. Murray said they need
more information before this project is started. Councilman
Collins said he feels the firm of Potapa Mancini, the original
mechanical engineer, would be able to provide the information
much more quickly. Murray told Council their number one capital
priority for the Wheeler is the roofing~ather than air
conditioning. Murray said several individuals and groups have
told the Wheeler Board that they will help finance the air
conditioning if the Council will help get to the next stage.
Mayor Stirling asked why the Wheeler Board is requesting $4,000.
Murray said that would be an absolute limit, including travel
12
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council ,~~nuarv 13 f 1986
time, expenses, etc. Murray said the $4, 000 would cover the two
alternatives, air cooling and air conditioning, from the same
group. Murray said the reason the air ventilation system does
not work is the western exposure, the building retains heat, and
the intense lighting system. Murray said the study may find that
air cooling i s much more economical to run. Councilman Collins
said that Potopa did the work, and he should be asked to come out
and look at this. Murray said he would be willing to ask Potopa
if he would come out here and do this study.
Mayor Stirling moved to allocate out of the 1986 contingency fund
a ceiling of $3,000 for the research to be done in order to
determine the type of air cooling system and the preliminary
studies related to this, and secondly the Wheeler Board seek more
information, before granting this work to anyone, from the potopa
group; seconded by Councilwoman Walls.
Councilman Isaac said he would like to amend the motion to
include a staff member to oversee this work. City Manager
Schilling agreed that the Wheeler Board should not be soliciting
bids. Schilling said using the original mechanical engineering
firm may get a lot more information for less money.
Mayor Stirling amended his motion to include that Murray work
with Jay Hammond, city engineer, on this project; seconded by
Councilwoman Walls. All in favor, motion carried.
L IQUOR LICENSE HEARING - Club Paradise
Mayor Stirling opened the public hearing. City C1 erk Koch
reported the file, posting and publication to be in order. John
Gilmore, applicant, told Council this request is for a 3-way
1 iquor license to be located at 450 South Galena. This space has
had a liquor license over the last 10 years but has been inactive
for 2 years. Gilmore told Council he plans to operate a high
class night club with live entertainment. Mayor Stirling asked
for opponents. There were none. Mayor Stirling closed the
public hearing.
Councilman Isaac moved that based on the evidence presented at
the public hearing relating to the application of John Gilmore
for a hotel and restaurant liquor license, the City Council finds
that the needs of the community have not been met and the 1 icense
as applied for is hereby granted; seconded by Councilman Collins.
All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #1, SERIES OF 1986 - L-3 GMP Allocation Crestahaus
(Councilman Coll ins left Chamber due to conflict of interest) .
13
Reaul ar Meeting Aspen City Council Januarv 13, 1986
Councilwoman Walls moved to adopt Resolution #1, Series of 1986;
seconded by Councilwoman Fallin.
Steve Burstein, planning office, told Council this resolution
contains the representations made by the applicant in hi s
application as well as conditions of approval by the P & Z.
Council approved this allocation at their December 16, 1985,
meeting. Gideon Raufman, representing the applicant, told
Council he would like to discuss some of the conditions. Number
1 states "the drainage system shall be designed and constructed
to absolutely eliminate the possibility of any increase in runoff
to adjacent properties". Raufman said they would prefer the
condition to state "will not increase groundwater problems on
adjacent sites. " Raufman said the important issue is that this
will not increase groundwater problems, and the condition as
stated will allow no flexibility.
Raufman said in condition #2 about the engineering report states
that the applicant "agrees to comply with the findings of the
study". Raufman said the original engineering report stated
there will be no significant impact on traffic flows on highway
82. The planning off ice objected to this, and Kaufman said the
applicant said they would be happy to implement a study. Kaufman
objected to agreeing to comply with a study because they have no
idea what the study will find. Raufman said the applicant is
willing to discuss with the engineering department any reasonable
findings of the study. Mayor Stirling suggested changing the
1 anguage to "and implement any reasonable findings from that
study ". Raufman read to Council from the pl anning office
memorandum of November 5, 1985, "the applicant shall present an
engineering report with respect to improving the intersection
site distance ". It does not say anything about agreeing to
comply with the study. Mayor Stirl ing said the language should
be the same as approved by P & Z.
Kaufman said condition number 6 states the dormitory employee
unit shall be deed-restricted to low income employee housing
guidelines. Raufman said they would be willing to charge the
rents of low income guidelines but the key is to be able to have
employees of the lodge living in this unit even though they may
make more than the 1 ow income guidelines. Raufman requested thi s
be amended to include "and employees of the lodge be allowed to
live in the units". Mayor Stirling said that seems to be
reasonable.
Raufman said condition #7 should read 3 feet lower than allowable
under zoning requirements rather than 6 feet. Helen Rlanderud,
adjacent property owner, told Council she agrees with the change
in condition # 1 because the probl ems have been more groundwater.
Ms. Rlanderud asked what is the clout in the second condition
14
Regul ar Meetin-q Aspen City Council January 13 , 1986
about what is practical. Ms. Klanderud said there is concern
about the site distance and traffic flow in this area,
particularly with the increase in parking at the Crestahaus. Ms.
Rlanderud said in terms of a formal process of the neighbors
being included in a condition like #2, how do they get included.
Mayor Stirling said the neighbors will have to rely on the
engineering staff.
Ms. Rlanderud said the condition about landscaping does not have
a deadline. Kaufman said if the project is completed in January
or February, the landscaping cannot be started at that time.
Mayor Stirling suggested adding the plan be implemented within a
reasonable amount of time not to exceed one year after the
issuance of a c/o.
Mayor Stirling moved to amend Resolution #l, Series of 1986,
condition #1 change to groundwater, condition #2 comply with
practical findings of the study, condition #4 to be completed
within a year after c/o; condition #6 allowing employees of the
lodge to live in the employee units, and change 6 feet to 3 feet
in condition #7; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin.
City Attorney Taddune said Council is conditioning the GMP award
to these 8 conditions, and the applicant should agree that
performance of these items are entwined with the award of the GMP
allotment. Taddune said this should be added to Section 1, a s
conditional upon fulfillment of the representations set forth
hereinabove. Kaufman said he has a probl em with that because
condition #3 may never happen. The applicant is supposed to
contribute money for construction of a bike path when the city
decides where to build the path. Kaufman said it is not fair to
tie the GMP allotment to something that may never happen.
Kaufman objected to this because if the applicant does everything
they have been requested to do and 10 years from now there is a
dispute over condition #3, what happens to the lodge.
Councilwoman Walls suggested that the $4, 000 be collected now.
Taddune suggested contribution at the time of the building
permit, the city would put this in an interest bearing account,
and if the bike path is not constructed, the money will be
returned.
Mayor Stirling amended the motion to add language this money will
be deposited into an interest bearing account in order to fulfill
the GMP allotment, and if not used within 10 years the pr incipl e
sum plus all interest will be returned and add to Section 1 that
this is conditioned upon the fulfillment of these 8 conditions;
seconded by Councilwoman Fallin.
Councilwoman Walls asked why the bicycle path cannot be buil t
when this lodge is torn up for construction. Kaufman said there
15
Regular Meeting Asper Citv Council Januarv 13,E 1986
is a conflict between the engineering department, planning
office, and highway department as to whether this is a desirable
thing to happen.
All in favor, motion carried.
All in favor, motion carried.
CONVEYANCE OF ARTHUR' S
City Attorney Taddune told Council David Z gagman filed a lien
against Arthur's. Taddune told Council he has prepared a quit
claim deed to go to the present owners upon payment to the city
of $24,000 plus the outstanding arrearages, which are $5,000.
The owners are objecting to payment of the $5,000 since they have
brought the lease current twice and the building has been vacant
for 8 months. Taddune said the 1 ien is filed against municipally
owned property, and Taddune is designated as the contracting
party for $80,000 involving some construction agreement Zaagman
had with the Cantrups. Mayor Stirling said this does not affect
what the city is trying to accomplish.
MAINTENANCE FACILITY STUDY
Mayor Stirling said the city knows the sites possible for the
maintenance facility, the current site or the sanitation district
site. Assistant City Manager Mitchell told Council the
sanitation district plans to build a facility on their property.
Jay Hammond is at their meeting investigating the possibility of
a joint facility for the city's operation center. Mitchell said
when the joint maintenance facility study was done, it did not
answer the question what size facility the city needs. Council
has $750,000 in the capital improvement program to build a
maintenance facility. Mitchell said the city needs this
information to move ahead to determine the size of the facility,
any other possible locations. The city needs to have an
operations service center to operate. Mayor Stirling said it is
important to know what the sanitation district says about sharing
a facility. Mitchell said the city needs the information from
this study no matter where the facility will be located.
Councilman Isaac moved to allocate up to $4,000 for a maintenance
facility study; seconded by Councilman Collins.
Mayor Stirling said the only two possibilities are the cur rent
site and the sanitation district site. Mitchell said if the
current site is only 50 per cent of the needed operations
facility, Council needs to know that. Councilman Isaac said
there is the probl em with the F. A. A. as well as the fact that the
present facility is inadequate. Helen Klanderud said the
16
Regular Meeting - Aspen City Council January 13 . 1986
sanitation district should be included in the joint maintenance
facility. Mitchell said the sanitation district plans more of an
operation center than maintenance facility.
Councilman Isaac in favor, everyone else opposed. Motion NOT
carried.
Mayor Stirling said the city is proceeding to write the F. A. A.
and the city and county met with Congressman Strang and appealed
to him to help the city and county delaying getting pressure off
the county from the F. A. A, for removing the maintenance facility.
Mayor Stirling said the city, at this point, is concentrating on
their own operations center. Mitchell said this study has to be
done before anything can be done on the operations center. Mayor
Stirling suggested this be done when Council approves the 5 year
capital improvement program.
WATER RIGHTS RESORT
John Musick, city's water counsel, told Council the work on the
Hunter Creek minimum stream flow preservation is mostly complete.
This work was part of a larger program of preserving minimum
stream flows and acquiring water rights on the Roaring Fork,
Frying Pan and Ruedi reservoir. Musick filed two separate
actions on Hunter Creek; one to change the city's 16 cf s
municipal water right on Hunter Creek to minimum stream flow and
all other municipal purposes. This decree was awarded, which
means the city can call for is water at any time it wants for
municipal purposes or 1 eave it in the stream for minimum stream
flow purposes.
Musick told Council the city has a 1 icense with the Colorado
Water Conservation Board, and it was through their auspices this
decree was made possible. Musick said he received a decree
transferring the city's 1/2 second foot of Red Mountain water to
the same purposes, municipal all beneficial uses and minimum
stream flow. The Water Conservation Board secured a decree of 14
cf s of minimum stream flow on Hunter Creek as well. There is one
decree which has not been completed, to change the McCullough
water rights. These water rights were transferred from
McCullough to the Forest Service to the Water Conservation Board.
Musick told Council it appears the Frying Pan/Arkansas project
has diverted more than their allocation on a 10 year running
average. Musick told Council in dry years, the Council will be
able to call for their water and keep the stream al ive. Thi s
will also keep the decrees not subject to abandonment. City
Manager Schilling asked the mechanism for enforcement for calling
the city's water. Musick said the city could contact the water
commissioner for this district or the BOR in Pueblo and tell them
17
Regular Meeting -___ _ _P~~~aen Citv Council Janu~rv 13, 186
to bypass water from the Hunter Creek facility. Musick said the
BOR has this all electronically controlled and they will honor
the call very quickly. Musick told Council to own water rights,
one has to be aware of their rights and exercise them.
VQLK PROPERTY REPORT
(Councilwoman Fallin left the room due to conflict of interest) .
Assistant ~ City Manager Mitchell reminded Council they has asked
staff to look at some comparabl es. Staff determined based on
these comparables the Volk property value at a minimum is
$500,000. Mitchell said staff determined the owner of the
property is not a w ill ing seller, and if Council wants to pursue
this, it will have to be done based on eminent domain or
condemnation. Mitchell said the staff has not obtained a full
appraisal .
Stacy Standley told Council citizens continue to be enthusiastic
about the city purchasing this property and urged Council not to
close the doors on buy ing the property. Standley said they plan
to circulate petitions to show community support to give Council
the strength they need to make a positive decision on purchasing
the property. Standley suggested Council could put this on the
March ballot by resolution as an information ballot item rather
than a binding ballot item. Mayor Stirling said he has been
skeptical about this because of the cost, and the city faces many
potential open space purchases. Mayor Stirling said later there
will be a report on the land Mrs. Paepcke has just donated down
by A. C. E. S. Mayor Stirling said beside purchase cost for this
parcel, there are development and maintenance costs. Mayor
Stirling said the city is faced with maintenance problems on
already purchased open space. Council is considering changing
the 75/25 ordinance to get more money for maintenance.
Mayor Stirling said he has called people who have indicated
support for this purchase, and half of them did not know it would
cost as much as it does. Mitchell told Council has allocated
$650, 000 in 1986 for open space acquisition. Purchase of the
Volk property would use up a 1 arge piece of that. Standley said
Council has a mechanism with the election in March, and land
purchases have always been a high priority in the community. If
the community interest is there, that should be guidelines for
Council to operate on.
Councilman Coll ins moved to direct staff to prepare draft
language on this for a ballot question March 18; seconded by
Councilman Isaac.
City Manager Schilling told Council if they do decide to take
this to the electorate, Council should be in a position to tell
18
Regular Meeting Aspen Cit. Council January 13, 1986
the voters what this would cost. Schilling said he feels it
would be desirable to have an appraisal on this property.
Schilling said the loss of revenues and taxes must al so be looked
at. Mayor Stirling said staff should also address the cost of an
appraisal at the next meeting.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilwoman Walls. Motion
carried.
REPORT ON C~iAMON IX DELEGATION
Mayor Stirling said the Mayor of Chamonix and the director of
tourism are arriving in Aspen tomorrow in relation to the idea of
international partnership. Mayor Stirling told Council Chamonix
is already a sister city with Garmisch-Partenkirchen, as is
Aspen, so this seems a logical step. There is a reception
January 14 at the Wheeler sponsored by the ARA. January 16th at
3 at the Institute will be a discussion of what will be involved
in the affiliation, what would be possible out of this. Friday
January 17 at 7:30 p. m. there will be a dinner at the Hotel
Jerome sponsored by the Jerome and Council. Councilman Isaac
asked when Council approved the funding for this dinner. Mayor
Stirling suggested this come out of Council's 1986 budget.
Councilman Isaac objected to arranging the dinner without Council
voting on the allocation. Mayor Stirling said this agenda was
put together since the last Council meeting.
Mayor Stirling moved to approve an allocation out of Council's
1986 budget to co-sponsor a dinner to welcome the Chamonix
delegation to cover half the cost of the dinner; seconded by
Councilwoman Fall in. All in favor, with the exception of
Councilman Isaac. Motion carried.
PROPOSED AGENDA COUNCIL GOALS SESSION 1/17 86
Mayor Stirling said he would like to add the preservation issue,
making the entire town a historic overlay, air quality issues,
drug use in the community, capital improvement program and
continued evaluation on personnel on this agenda. Mayor Stirling
said he and the city manager will work off the list from the last
goals session.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilwoman Walls moved to approve the
by Councilman Collins. All in favor
consent calendar is a) liquor license
Hotel Lenado; b) 1 iq uor 1 icense transfer
c) Special Event Permit - Rugby Cl ub.
consent agenda; seconded
motion carried. The
renewals - The Soupe r ;
- Town & Country Lodge;
19
Regular MeetiBg l As~e~ City Council January 13, 1986
ORS COMMEN
1. Mayor Stirling said the Council needs to have a capital
improvement work session as soon as possible. January 20th,
Council is meeting at City Hall on the code simplification report
from the task force. February 3 at 5 p. m. is a work session with
the Hotel Jerome about proposed changes to their PUD on
recommendations from the Department of the Interior. February 17
Council is meeting with the Commissioners on a follow up on water
issues. January 29 at 5 p. m. Council will be meeting with the
architects on city hall at city hall . Council scheduled a
meeting with the fire district Board January 20 at 4 p. m.
2. Mayor Stirling told Council he has met with the city manager
on air quality in Aspen and would like the manager to come in two
weeks with a full program about air quality, what could be done
and what a program like this would cost with an emphasis on
working with the community. Mayor Stirling suggested in the
discussion at the next meeting, Council should discuss the role
of the CAAB in the election. Councilman Isaac said the CAAB
brought the ordinance to Council, and they should have the right
and obligation to go out and get support for the ordinance.
Councilman Isaac suggested CAAB members could solicit funds but
it is not fair for taxpayers to pay for this.
City Attorney Taddune said informational items are appropriate
but there are some cases that preclude taking an advocacy
position and spending taxpayers money in referendum issues.
Suzanne Caskey, representing CAAB, said the Board does not feel
comf ortable setting out on their own. Mayor Stirling suggested
putting this on the next agenda and having the CAAB discuss what
their appropriate role should be. Ms. Caskey said the CAAB is
looking to the Council for leadership to decide what strategy
should be taken to defend this ordinance that was passed by
Council .
Mayor Stirling moved that the Council do nothing in relation to
advocating for or against the ordinance at the March 18 , 19 86,
election. Motion DIES for 1 ack of a second.
Counc ilman Coll ins said in the past the city has financed
informational material. To be consistent with that policy, some
funds should be made available to get the information out from
the environmental health department to the electorate.
Counc ilwoman Walls said Counc it has taken a stand for thi s
ordinance by passing it and voting not to repeal it. Taddune
told Council he would have a report for them in two weeks about
what can and cannot be done in terms of campaign expenditures.
20
Regular Meeting _- Aspen Citv Council Januarv 13, 1986
Mayor Stirling moved to direct the city attorney to disperse
information on this topic and schedule it on the January 27
agenda; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion
carried.
Mayor Stirling moved to direct the city manager to bring as soon
as possible in concert with the environmental health department
information on a voluntary program regarding air quality, and
involving the CRAB and community at large; seconded by Councilman
Isaac. All in favor, motion carried.
3. Mayor Stirling told Council Mrs. Paepcke has donated another
parcel down by A. C. E. S. and would like a demonstration so that
Council can make open space decisions.
Mayor Stirling moved to suspend the rules to go past 9 p. m. ;
seconded by Councilman Isaac. Councilman Isaac and Mayor
Stirling in favor ; Councilmember s Walls, Fallin and Collins
opposed. Motion NOT carried. Tom Cardamone, A. C. E. S director,
showed Council the 3/4 acres property given in 1985 and the
proposed 3/4 acre gift in 1986.
Councilwoman Walls moved to adjourn at 9: 06 p. m. ; seconded by
Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried.
-~ ~
~__.__ .__~T ~~
Rathryn S Roch, City Clerk
21