HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19860317Continued Meeting Aspen City Council March 17, 1986
JAMES E. MOORE POOL IMPROVEMENTS 1
RFTA CITY ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS 5
ASPEN MOUNTAIN LODGE GMP DATE EXPANSION 5
CITY HALL RENOVATION 6
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Continued Meeting Aspen__Clty Council - March ~7 . 1986
Mayor Stirling called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. with
Councilmembers Fallin, Isaac, Collins and Walls present.
JAMES E. MOORE POOL IMPROVEMENTS
City Manager Schilling reminded Council in September 1984, they
were presented with a petition signed by 150 citizen soliciting
Council's support in a pool improvement project as well as
covering the pool to make it a year round facility. Council
created a study committee, who recommended to Council in spring
1985 that the city move on with a f easibility study. Schilling
told Council the committee was Clark Smythe, George Madsen, and
Jim Burks, who worked through the selection process, made field
trips, and did a lot of work on this project.
Clark Smythe told Council the committee gathered a lot of
knowledge about similar types of facilities. Smythe said the
committee met with the architects and engineers to go over the
various alternatives. Smythe said this process eliminated a lot
of the alternatives which did not seem to work. Michael Ernemann
said the consultants first examined the existing facility to
determine whether the facility was worth expanding and improving.
Ernemann presented a slide show of the existing facility
illustrating the areas that seem to need remedial work. Ernemann
said the consultants met with the pool maintenance and manager
staff. Ernemann told Council the pool is in reasonably good
shape. Ernemann said a cost estimate for replacing the pool is
about 5400,000. This cost indicates it does not make sense to
require the redevelopment of the existing pool.
Ernemann said there is no handicap access route to the pool
currently. Ernemann showed the cosmetic work to be done to the
exterior wood. Water is entering the structure and the soffit is
pealing and deteriorating. There are some operational problems
with the irrigating system. Ernemann told Council there are a
lot of little problems that can easily be cleaned up. The pool
basin needs to be replastered, which should be done every 5
years. The tiles around the pool need to be replaced. Ernemann
pointed out the pool has neither a gutter nor a surge tank.
These findings indicate it made sense to go on exploring covering
the pool.
Ernemann said the inside of the facility needs cosmetic work,
some mechanical and plumbing work. Ernemann said they looked at
the site, set backs, and ownership. There is a 100 foot setback
from Maroon Creek road which comes between the pool and existing
building. The pool cover will be within the setback. The city
owns an acre to the west of the existing building. The land to
the north is owned by James Moore, and the land to the south is a
parking lot and playing facilities. The consultants looked at
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Ccmtinued Meeting Aspen City Council March 17 , 1986
the site to see what they could do to make it a more complete
facility. Ernemann said they have also looked at what to do with
the pool cover during the summer months. An idea is to take the
pool enclosure in the summer months and move it elsewhere for
other uses, conferences, ballet practice space.
Ernemann pointed out two alternatives of where to move the
enclosure; either property currently owned by the city or to the
north on land owned by the Moores. Alternative A would allow the
enclosure to be placed on tracks and slide it over. Alternative
B would mean it would have to be a deflatable structure that
could be moved. Ernemann said they f eel using the city's 1 and
(B) makes more sense than trying to acquire the land from Moore.
Alternative B would necessitate the removal of some vegetation
but is in better proximity to the existing buildings and parking
lot.
Ernemann said the consultants looked at three alternative
structures. One is a rigid structure with a space frame; 2 is an
inflated bubble going all the way to the pool deck; 3 is an
inflated bubble which sits on a post and beam system. Ernemann
told Council they evaluated each alternative for cost, lif e cycle
costs, energy use, and determined alternative 3 makes the most
sense. Ernemann said alternatives 2 and 3 are one-third the cost
of alternative 1. Ernemann showed slides of some examples of the
3 alternatives looked at. The roof of this structure does not
exceed 28 feet f rom the pool deck and would not be 12 or 15 feet
higher than the road going by. Ernemann told Council the
consultants investigated adding to the heating of the pool with
solar energy. They are proposing using the existing building to
support solar collectors. Ernemann recommended the existing
building be added on to expand the shower and locker facilities,
to provide handicap access and to add a storage and mechanical
building for the expandable bubble.
Ernemann said this type bubble is designed not to hold snow.
They are translucent at night. Ernemann told Council the
Snowmass bubble recently supported men shoveling snow off t he
bubble in a very heavy storm. Pat Dobie, Banner Associates, said
the pool has to be resurfaced. Dobie told Council the city is
paying $16,000 in natural gas to heat the pool for 6 months of
the year. Dobie said without a solar heating system to operate
the pool year round, the heating bill will increase
substantially. Dobie said he f eels the city can save $8500 year
in natural gas costs by adding solar heating.
Dobie said they are proposing modifications to the pool,
upgrading the plumbing, insulating the building, structural
improvements to the roof to support the solar collectors at
$15,000. The other major expense will be $24,000 to add 600
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Continued Meeting Aspen City Council March 17. 1986
additional square feet for shower and locker areas. Dobie
presented a break down of the costs to cover the pool into
foundation, backfill, the membrane, heating and lighting systems,
the mechanical system and a storage room for the membrane during
the summer. Ernemann said the costs to move and use the bubble
during the summer months have not been included. Dobie pointed
out the mechanical and inflating systems would be located to
service the bubble in either location. The total estimated costs
for the 12,000 square feet structure is $295,000. Additional
improvements are site work, access ramp, landscaping for a total
of $484,000 with 556,000 f or design and construction management
fees totalling 5540,000.
Dobie told Council the consultants looked at the cost of
deepening and lengthening the pool. The pool is 9 feet deep, and
the recommended depth for a 1 meter board is 12 feet deep. The
pool is a 25 yard pool, and they have recommended changing it to
a 25 meter pool. Dobie said if the city were to have competitive
events at the pool, racers in the outside lanes would have a
handicap because of the lack of gutters, which causes a backwash.
Dobie said a gutter would also act as a surge tank. The pool is
currently consuming about 100,000 gallons of water a month, which
is primarily to due the lack of a surge tank in the pool. A
surge tank would act to hold the water in the pool rather than
having it run out of the system. Dobie said installing a surge
tan k should cause a savings of about 50,000 gallons of water a
month.
Dobie said the consultants recommended putting new the in the
pool to delineate the lane markers and racing targets. A
recommended addition as an alternative is a score board and
electronic timing system. Dobie suggested this item could be
donated by a local business. Replacing the deck around the pool
with a new concrete slab has been recommended as an alternate
item. Dobie presented operating costs for a 4 month season
versus a 12 month season from 522,000 to 559,000 factoring in the
cost savings from the solar collectors.
Schilling said the committee is recommending that items like
extension and deepening the pool be bid as additive alternatives
and not be included in the base project to find out what the
market will charge to do the alternative work. Mayor Stirling
said the Council has budgeted 5500,000 in the capital improvement
program for this project. Mayor Stirling asked the height of the
proposed enclosure in alternative #3. Ernemann said the plan
shows 28 feet from the pool to the top of the bubble, which will
be 20 feet above Maroon creek road. Ernemann said when they
designed this, not everything has to be done at once. Ernemann
pointed out the 28 foot bubble allows head clearance for a 3
meter board. Ernemann told Council to go lower than 28 feet
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Continued Meeting Aspen City Council March 17. 1986
creates a structure which gets flat in terms of snow sliding off.
Ernemann said a lower building would cost more to operate. Dobie
told Council this is within the height limitations f or the zone
district. Mayor Stirling asked about the humidity. Dobie said
the humidity will be taken care of through the heat exchanging
system.
Mayor Stirling asked the costs of moving the structure to site B,
if Council were to do that. Dobie said it will cost about $1400
a year in labor to take down and put up the structure. Ernemann
said when folded up, this bubble will occupy a volume of a 6 foot
cube. Ernemann said in order to store the bubble, it has to be
dry. Ernemann told Council there is a bubble like this at the
Broadmoor, which has been there for 15 years and is still in good
shape. Ernemann told Council the bubble will have a 5 year
warranty and a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. Smythe said
the recommendation of the committee is not to keep the cover up
all year because of the ambience and the temperature factor.
Councilman Collins asked about the acoustics in the bubble.
Dobie said these can be improved by texturing the concrete walls,
and this should not be as loud as a traditional tennis bubble.
Ernemann said they are advising the apron around the pool be
expanded to accommodate teaching seasons and team gatherings.
Jim Burks, school district, told Council they school used the
pool during this year's expanded season and the physical
education teachers were very encouraged about using the pool.
Mayor Stirling asked if the school district will participate in
the annual operating costs of the pool. Burks said the 1987
budget will not allow them to increase any programs. Burks said
the city and the school have several reciprocal programs, sharing
facilities. Burks said they will have to re-evaluate these
programs to see the equity. Schilling said there will be
additional revenue from increased usage; however, the pool will
not pay its own way.
Council asked for figures of usage during the summer, as well as
how much revenue may be generated from year-round use.
Councilman Collins asked if there is a preliminary construction
schedule. Dobie said the best situation would be to start
construction in the fall so the pool could be open for the summer
of 1987. Dobie said he feels it will take 3 months to do the
exterior work. Schilling said the committee has done a great
deal to keep this project going f orward. Mayor Stirling said the
capital improvement program will be discussed and decided upon
March 24, 1986.
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Continued Meeting Aspen City Council March 17, 1986
RFTA CITY ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
Mayor Stirling said the public hearing has been put off until
March 25 and Council could discuss this at their March 24th
regular meeting. Councilman Collins requested Council get copies
of the detailed analysis with passengers per mile for each
different city route before the next Council meeting.
ASPEN MOUNTAIN LODGE GMP DATE- EX-PANSION
John Doremus is requesting Council to extend the GMP deadline for
obtaining a building permit for the Aspen Mountain Lodge project.
Doremus said the project has been going through some
tribulations, and the applicant feels that a strict
interpretation of the Code could be construed that their deadline
is March 24, which is the next Council meeting. Doremus said
their only alternative is to obtain a building permit, which does
not make sense because it is not known who will build the
project. Doremus said they were not able to submit this request
earlier because of circumstances of ownership and the
foreclosure, which only happened last week. Doremus said the
letter outlines a showing of diligence, which is required for a
GMP extension. They have spent over $1,000,000 on the demolition
and upgrading of the Continental inn. Doremus said he feels this
extension is in the best interests of the community. City
Manager Schilling said the community has a big investment in this
project. Schilling said he feels it would be a shame to have
this project expire on a bureaucratic technicality.
Mayor Stirling moved to suspend the rules and regulations and
make a decision on the request from the Aspen Mountain Lodge for
an extension; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin.
Councilman Isaac said he is concerned about the community not
having any notice on this issue. City Attorney Taddune read
Section 24-11.7(4) stating the Council may grant an extension in
the GMP deadline by a showing of diligence and good cause by the
applicant and based on a finding that the extension is in the
best interest of the community, which action is within the sole
discretion of the Council. Mayor Stirling asked if the community
would be disadvantaged by Council taking this action. Taddune
told Council the planning office does not have a problem with
this request; however, because it came up at the last moment,
there was no opportunity to comment.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilman Collins. Motion
carried.
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Continued Meetin4 Aspen City Council ~ March- 17 . --1986
Mayor Stirling pointed out the redemption period is 75 days, so a
180 day extension is not unreasonable. Mayor Stirling asked if
there is a precedence f or this extension. Taddune said Council
has granted several extension, most recently the Carriage House.
Mayor Stirling said there has been a great investment in this
project, and it is in the community's interest that Council grant
an extension to give the applicants an opportunity to move
forward with thi s project . Councilman Collins why the applicant
does not get a building permit now. Doremus said pulling a
permit does not make sense on a project where the ownership is in
jeopardy and every time another element comes into the
application, there will be changes or redesign. Doremus said in
a PUD any changes calls for an amended approval. Bob Hughes,
representing Commerce Savings, told Council there are so many
people with a legitimate interest in the project, everyone has to
review every request .
Councilman Isaac moved to extend the GMP allotment deadline for
180 days for the Aspen Mountain Lodge project; seconded by
Councilwoman Fallin.
Councilman Collins asked if there are other extension available.
Taddune said there is extension after an applicant submits a
building permit. Doremus told Council once this project breaks
ground, they are in a non-stop situation.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilman Collins. Motion
carried.
CITY HALL RENOVATION
Mayor Stirling said Council needs to determine whether to proceed
with an addition to the east of city hall or go into the basement
alternative. City Hall is part of the capital improvement
program which will be decided on at the March 24th Council
meeting.
Councilwoman Fallin moved to adopt the annex plan for city hall;
seconded by Councilwoman Walls.
Mayor Stirling asked if the decision is to build the annex, what
more would happen in the basement of existing city hall. D av e
Gibson said they plan to underpin the floor in a better fashion
than it is now. This will not require any more digging. Mayor
Stirling asked about a cost of a basement under the annex.
Gibson said to do a raw basement under city hall would be $75 per
square foot. Gibson said a storage basement under the annex
would be S54 a square foot; a raw basement would be $41 per
square foot. The annex is 3200 square feet. A raw basement has
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Continued Meet' n As en Ci Counc' - ~ Mar h-_1~`,__ 1986
no slab, no code required fireproofing on the stairs; a storage
basement would have lights, fireproofed stairs, elevator stop and
a slab. Gibson told Council the 5170,000 for the basement under
the annex would be an additive cost.
Gibson said the high cost to create a raw basement under the
existing city hall is due to underpinning, which is time
consuming. Assistant City Manager Mitchell pointed out that the
difference between the basement plan and the annex plan is
590,000. Councilwoman Fallin said if the annex plan is picked,
city offices can stay where they are without interruption, then
the city offices can be moved into the annex while the work is
done on city hall. Councilwoman Fallin said she feels digging a
basement under the existing city hall and trying to improve it
will cost more money in the long run. More difficulties are run
into in that type construction. Councilwoman Fallin said city
hall may need the space in the basement under the existing hall
in the near future. Councilwoman Walls agreed that it is not
known what construction people will run into when they try to dig
under an old building.
Mayor Stirling said the annex plan costs more than the basement.
Mayor Stirling said the additional space may invite growth rather
than invite the challenge of efficiency and productivity. Mayor
Stirling said the annex would be putting a building into open
space. Mayor Stirling said he feels the basement plan retains
the integrity of the existing building. Assistant City Manager
Mitchell said either plan, the basement or the annex, would add
exactly the same square f ootage not counting the basement under
the annex. Councilwoman Walls said she feels it would be
important to add storage space for city records.
All in f avor, with the exception of Councilman Isaac and Mayor
Stirling. Motion carried.
Mitchell suggested having the architects do the schematics for
the basement under the annex, and bid this as an alternate.
Council can make the decision about the basement at a later time,
after seeing the costs. Clark Smythe said he feels the city
should build an entirely new city hall, with better and more
efficient space, and use the existing city hall for other things.
Councilwoman Fallin asked if the staff is continuing with the
privatization concept. Mitchell said the staff will hav a more
information in about a month, and there are some good
possibilities.
Councilwoman Fallin moved to adjourn at 6:50 p.m.; seconded by
Councilwoman Walls. All in favor, motion carried.
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