HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19880125Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES 1
LIQUOR LICENSE HEARING - Les Chefs D'Aspen 4
LIQUOR LICENSE HEARING - Aspen Improv 4
ORDINANCE #65, SERIES OF 1987 - Non-Conformities 4
ORDINANCE #1, SERIES OF 1988 - Senior Citizens Water Rates 7
SPA AMENDMENT - Fire Station 8
CODE ADOPTION SCHEDULE & FUNDING 9
PM10 STANDARDS PLAN 10
GMP EXTENSION - Hotel Aspen 17
GMP/PUD AMENDMENT - 700 South Galena/Summit Street 18
RESOLUTION #4, SERIES OF 1988 - Colorado Department of
Highways 22
GALENA STREET IMPROVEMENTS 24
RESOLUTION #5, SERIES OF 1988 - Supporting the Central
American Peace Process 25
RESOLUTION #3, SERIES OF 1988 - Ballot Questions 25
BOARD AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS 25
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Regular Meeting Aspen Ci_t~Council January 25, 1988
Mayor Stirling called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. with
Councilmembers Isaac, Tuite, Fallin and Gassman present.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
1. Walter Ganz asked whether Council would be willing to meet
next Monday with Ken Torp, the person who will conduct further
study on consolidation. Torp will be in town Monday and will be
available to meet with city officials. Council agreed to meet
with Torp at 6:30 on February 1 after the study session with
CCLC.
SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES
1. Mayor Stirling said Council will acknowledge the Aspen
Restaurant Association and all that they have done for the
community at the next Council meeting.
2. Council presented the award of financial report achievement,
an award presented by the Government Finance Officers Association
to those individuals who have been instrumental in their governm-
ental unit in achieving excellence in financial reporting.
Mayor Stirling said this is the fourth year this award has been
received by the city. Mayor Stirling presented the award to
finance director Cindy Shafer.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
1. Mayor Stirling said the CAST meeting in Aspen last weekend
showed off Aspen in a very positive way. Mayor Stirling thanked
Patsy Malone who did a thorough job of organizing the entire
event, and Bob Anderson who organized the program. Mayor
Stirling said this was the first CAST legislative tour held in
Aspen; there was a lot of positive feedback from all people who
attended it.
2. Mayor Stirling said the Mayor and City Manager of Park City,
Utah, attended this meeting. They have a lot of interest in
coming to Aspen the week of April 4 and would like to have a work
session with Council to share ideas and exchange thoughts. Mayor
Stirling said he will set this up if Council is interested.
Council indicated they were.
3. Mayor Stirling said Council ought to have a separate meeting
on the joint manager evaluation. Council scheduled a work
session for February 15 at 5 p.m.
4. Mayor Stirling said he received a draft from Dwight Shellman
on RFTA and would like it as an agenda item for the February 8th
meeting. Mayor Stirling said he will circulate this to Council.
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
5. Mayor Stirling said he has had calls from citizens about
cars that are snowed in around town. These cars are taking away
parking spaces and making it hard to plow the streets. Mayor
Stirling said the impound lot is filled. John Goodwin, police
department, said they may offer a deal on storage for people who
already have their cars in the impound lot. City Manager Bob
Anderson asked about the status of the secondary impound lot.
Jay Hammond, city engineer, told Council he will have to check on
the impound lot and report back.
6. Councilman Tuite said he talked about parking with the Mayor
of Snowmass, who suggested Council look at putting plywood sheets
on Wagner Park and using it as temporary parking as an experi-
ment. Councilman Tuite said he discussed this with staff, who
feel there is a potential danger to the field and would not want
to use Wagner Park in that manner. Councilman Tuite suggested
pursing this idea on the Rio Grande playing field and would like
to know if there is support for this idea, and if the city can do
it legally. City Manager Bob Anderson said it would be dangerous
to use Wagner park f or the experiment but will look into using
Rio Grande. Councilmembers Fallin and Gassman agreed staff
should pursue looking at using the Rio Grande field for parking.
7. Councilman Tuite asked for an update on traffic signals on
the highways and if there has been any progress with the state.
City Manager Bob Anderson said there used to be a traffic control
box the city could open and manually control the lights. When
the state coordinated the signals, they took this box off.
Anderson said staff intends to petition the highway department to
see if the city can get some control of the signals back.
Anderson told Council he will pursue this.
8. Councilman Isaac said he is not in favor of using the Rio
Grande or Wagner f or parking.
9. Councilwoman Fallin brought up the construction on Hyman
Avenue which is very cluttered with trailers and porta potties
and out on to the street. Councilwoman Fallin said earlier
Council discussed having all construction off the streets by
December 1st or 15th. Alan Richman, planning director, told
Council there ought to be an ordinance to effect this. Vail has
an administrative policy that all construction should be off the
streets by Thanksgiving. Councilwoman Fallin pointed out this
site is taking up 6 parking spaces in a critical area of town.
Councilwoman Fallin said she would like to have an ordinance to
have this enforceable and that construction equipment cannot be
in the city-right-of-way after a certain date.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council January 25, 1988
10. City Manager Bob Anderson told Council there was some
unclarity whether Council wanted to have joint meetings with
P & Z on the Hadid Aspen Mountain Lodge or whether Council wanted
to be there as observers. Anderson told Council the original
date for the P & Z meeting was February 16; however, the
applicant has not given the city necessary documents. The
tentative P & Z meeting is March 1st. Councilman Isaac said he
would prefer to be invited on an informal basis to give P & Z the
right to make their own decision. Councilmembers Fallin and
Gassman agreed. Councilwoman Fallin said to avoid having the
applicant make two lengthy presentations, Council can attend the
P & Z meeting. Alan Richman told Council there is still no
application into the city, and the first P & Z meeting will be
March lst.
11. City Manager Bob Anderson said Council and the Commissioners
should have a joint meeting on joint law enforcement and on joint
office space. Council scheduled this for February 9th at 4:00
p.m.
12. Mayor Stirling brought up (h) 1010 Ute height variation on
the consent agenda. Mayor Stirling said the applicants have
recontoured the property dramatically. The staff says that the
elevation was omitted on the final plat. Alan Richman, planning
director, told Council the Code says for a variation to be
granted by the city, it must be granted explicitly. The plat
must state the city has granted a height variation. This
requirement was not recognized on the plat, but it was clear
throughout the discussion that a height variation would be
required.
Gideon Kaufman, representing the applicant, told Council the
planning office was concerned about the grading plan. The
applicants gave a grading plan early and the pad elevation was
shown from the very beginning. It was assumed by showing the pad
elevation from the beginning that that was going to be the height
shown. The Code states it has to be shown on the plat, and it
was not shown on the plat. Kaufman pointed out it was shown as
the pad elevation at all the meetings. Richman said Council is
not granting a variation in the size of the building but a
variation in the point at which the building is measured.
13. Councilman Isaac said he would like to take Bass park off
the consent agenda. Councilman Isaac said he would like to
request that the agreement be for 20 years in exchange for paying
all the taxes. Assistant City Manager Mitchell told Council the
city is paying the taxes now. City Attorney Taddune told Council
the city tried to get a longer lease. Taddune told Council the
Basses wanted to be indemnified outright for all liabilities.
Taddune said the city should only be liable for those things they
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
have control over, so an insurance solution was worked out.
Councilman Isaac and Mayor Stirling in favor of taking this off
the consent agenda; Councilmembers Tuite, Gassman and Fallin
opposed. Motion NOT carried.
14. City Attorney Taddune told Council he needs an executive
session to discussion the Aspen Post case and the Castle Ridge
lawsuit.
Councilman Tuite moved to have an executive session on those two
issues on February 8; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin.
Taddune told Council these both involve strategies and Council
will have to give some direction on how to proceed. These
directions may have financial consequences. Taddune said it will
be in the people's best interest to discuss this in executive
session so the monetary aspects are not public. Council
requested the executive session be scheduled at 4:30 p.m.
All in favor, motion carried.
LIQUOR LICENSE HEARING - Les Chefs D'Aspen
Mayor Stirling said the applicants have withdrawn their applica-
tion.
LIQUOR LICENSE HEARING - Aspen Improv
Councilman Tuite moved to table this to February 8, 1988;
seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried.
ORDINANCE #65, SERIES OF 1987 - Non-Conformities
Alan Richman, planning director, presented a memorandum outlining
the changes made since the last Council meeting including making
the entire ordinance consistent with the philosophy provided by
Council. Richman said in the purpose section it is made clear
this is not an abatement ordinance and integrated some language
from the prior ordinance. Some new language specifically say s
this should not be construed as an abatement provision.
Richman said in 24.13-2(g) there is clarity about the restoration
provisions regarding non-conforming uses. The restoration
provisions were to be deleted from non-conforming structures but
to remain in non-conforming uses. Richman said it should be very
clear from reading this how the willful and non-willful destruc-
tion work together. Richman said in 24-13.3 there was concern
about a non-conforming structure left vacant f or a year . The
abandonment provision has been deleted for non-conforming
structures but remains in non-conforming uses.
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
Richman said the major change is deleting all language regarding
willful and non-willful destruction. Richman said he does not
fully support this direction. Richman agreed that the abatement
provisions could be very damaging to the small homeowners. The
50 percent provision was too strict and may hurt those that want
to restore a small non-conforming house. Richman said for some
structures that are too large for the present Code, in 20 years
when the useful life of the structure is over and the owner wants
to bulldoze it, the structure should not be rebuilt to its
current size. Richman pointed out the way this section is
written, structures will be rebuilt back to their existing size.
Richman said he has some ideas that will insure that small
rehabilitation of structures is not effected but t otal demoli-
tion will give the community an opportunity to see its regula-
tions complied with. Richman said the neighborhood has the right
to expect some day regulations will be complied with.
Richman said at the last meeting Council brought up the single
family homes in the CC zone district. Richman said staff
concurs that they are not interested in seeing the non-conforming
use provisions result in these houses being taken down. Richman
said this affords another opportunity to provide a historic
incentive. Richman suggested adding to the permitted use list
that single family houses which are historic landmarks would be
permitted uses. Richman said this will have to be brought to P &
Z in another ordinance for their recommendation. Council agreed
with this amendment.
Craig, code consultant, said Council was interested in knowing
why staff recommended phasing out of non-conformities in willful
destruction. Craig said staff looked at Council's policy
regarding non-conformities to see if it was their desire to see
these phased out over time or was it Council' s desire to
maintain status quo. Craig said generally in non-conforming
provisions the intent is to allow structures that are non-
conforming to continue through their life and not create a
hardship on a property owner. Craig said this is a good mechan-
ism to phase out non-conforming uses and that is why the provis-
ion was drafted that way. Craig pointed out Council could
potentially put these non-conforming structures at a competitive
advantage in the future. Craig said if a person is allowed to
redevelop a structure that is substantially larger than the
regulations allow, the value of that property right is greater.
Mayor Stirling opened the public hearing.
Gideon Kaufman noted there were a lot of people present for the
last public hearing who got an impression of the direction
Council wanted to take. Kaufman said a lot of those people are
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council January 25. 1988
not present at this Council, and it would be unfair to change the
philosophy from last meeting. Kaufman said an 8,000 square foot
house has so much value in it today that no one is going to tear
that structure down and rebuild it. Kaufman said the likelihood
of that happening is 20 years away. Kaufman said this ordinance
addresses a continuing philosophy the city has had for the last
10 years, which is that as changes are made to the area and bulk
requirements, this is imposing hardship on the structures that
the city wants to help. The people who have just built struc-
tures have maximum value in their houses, as well has having
built to the latest series of regulations. Kaufman said the city
should allow people to continue to expand as long as it does not
increase the non-conformity.
Mayor Stirling closed the public hearing.
Councilman Isaac asked if someone has a non-conforming house
because of setbacks and they want to redo 90 percent of the
house, can they keep it as a non-conforming house. Richman said
the way the ordinance reads now, they can do that as long as they
do not increase the degree to which it is non-conforming.
Richman said they can rebuild in the encroachment because they
are not expanding the degree of the non-conformity. Councilwoman
Fallin said she interprets it that if the house were torn down,
the owner would not be able to build in the encroachment.
Richman said originally, when the 50 percent was in the ordinance
that was a standard to say beyond where a person had to come back
into conformance. Richman said the city has to have a standard
in order to measure. Richman said if the standard is complete
tear down, there will not be any tear downs of a structure.
Richman agreed that if the 50 percent standard happens when a
person adds a bedroom or remodels a kitchen, that is not what the
city was after. That is far too stringent.
Richman told Council the previous approach looked at the value of
the structure, there may be an approach to look at the value of
the structure and the land together. Councilman Isaac said he is
interested in eliminating a non-conforming structure if that
structure is gone. Councilman Isaac said he cannot see continu-
ing a non-conformity if there is nothing to continue. Richman
said he will look at alternatives, and it would be most fair to
bring it back to the next Council meeting. Council indicated
they are interested in looking at some alternatives.
Mayor Stirling moved to continue the public hearing to February
8, 1988; seconded by Councilman Gassman.
Councilman Gassman said tying replacement to the land cost does
not make sense because they are independent things. Councilman
Gassman said now there is some relationship between land costs
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
and construction costs but that may not be the case in the
future. Richman said some alternatives may be percentage of the
structure.
All in favor, motion carried.
ORDINANCE #1, SERIES OF_1988 - Senior Citizens Water Rates
Cindy Shafer, finance director, told Council these rates were
necessitated by going to the new water management rate system.
The rates identified in the current Code no longer apply because
they are calculated on a different basis. Ms. Shafer said the
ordinance addresses senior citizens rates for those people on
meters and those not on meters. The ordinance assesses senior
citizens on meters only for the demand charge and not for the
variable charge. Ms. Shafer said if usage is the same, this will
result in no greater than about a $5 a month increase for a
senior citizen on a meter.
Ms. Shafer told Council there are 5 seniors on flat rates.
Under the ordinance, the proposed rate is 50 percent of what the
rate would be if these people were not senior citizens. If this
is the adopted method, 2 people would have an average increase of
less than $5; the remaining 4 would have an average increase of
$7 to $14.50 per month. Ms. Shafer said Council could consider
reducing the flat rate charge from 50 to 35 percent. Ms. Shafer
told Council the difference to the city using the 35 percent is
about $600 annually.
Mayor Stirling opened the public hearing.
Margaret Albouy asked if this applies to water users in the
county. Ms. Shafer told Council this applies to any water user
who is qualified under the guidelines set up by the senior
services administrator. Ms. Shafer said this ordinance proposes
no more than a $14.50 increase for any senior.
Mayor Stirling closed the public hearing.
Councilman I saac asked if other people can qualify under thi s
hardship provision. Ms. Shafer said this identifies senior
citizens and hardship cases as approved by the finance director
and water superintendent.
Mayor Stirling moved to adopt Ordinance #1, Series of 1988,
amending it to reflect that change from 50 percent to 35 percent
for the total charge for unmetered water service; seconded by
Councilman Tuite. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Isaac, yes;
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~_Council January 25, 1988
Gassman, yes; Fallin, yes; Tuite, yes; Mayor Stirling, yes.
Motion carried.
SPA AMENDMENT - Fire Station
Steve Burstein, planning office, told Council this is a proposal
to build an office addition of less than 700 square feet in
between the Thrift Shop and the fire station for the fire marshal
and fire chief. Burstein said this is an SPA plan for the entire
property as well as a GMP exemption for an essential public
facility. In 1982 the land was zoned SPA, at which time area and
bulk requirements were set for the parcel. This addition does
meet these requirements.
Burstein told Council the engineering department has raised some
concerns about the parking on Hopkins avenue that is for fire
department personnel only. Burstein told Council the plat issues
are resolved at this point. The parks department thinks the
landscaping plan is satisfactory and has recommended an irriga-
tion system. HPC and P & Z have both reviewed this proposal; HPC
has given conceptual approval. P & Z has recommended approval
subject to 5 conditions. Burstein pointed out there is a 58 foot
setback that will retain the Willard Clapper park. The fire
department is going to make some landscape improvements to that
area. Burstein said more on-site parking cannot be provided
without change to the property. The applicants have agreed to
mark 5 parking spaces in the alley. Burstein said staff recom-
mends approval subject to the 5 conditions listed in the memoran-
dum.
Mayor Stirling opened the public hearing. There were no
comments. Mayor Stirling closed the public hearing.
Councilwoman Fallin asked if the fire department is going to give
up some of the on-street parking on Hopkins. Councilwoman Fallin
said if there are going to be 5 spaces in back of the building,
2 of them designated, then they should give up 3 spaces on the
street to public parking. Daryl Grob, fire department, told
Council these on-street parking spaces are a consequence of
having a volunteer fire department and bringing people in from
the outside rather than having them inside the station. Council-
woman Fallin said right now the fire station is existing without
the 5 spaces in back of the building and will be getting 3 extra
spaces. Grob said the fire protection board feels the parking at
present is inadequate.
Councilwoman Fallin moved to adopt the SPA as outlined in the
planning office memorandum of January 20, 1988, with the condi-
tion that 3 of the parking spaces reserved f or the fire district
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
on the street be relinquished back to the city; seconded by
Councilman Gassman.
Councilman Isaac said he is not interested in taking away any
parking spaces. The volunteer firemen have to be able to get
into the station and into the trucks as fast as they can.
Councilman Isaac said the current parking is barely adequate.
Councilman Tuite said he would rather discuss the parking spaces
at another time when the fire district is prepared to do so. Bob
Walker, contractor, told Council the 5 parking spaces behind are
not being added in this proposal. What was added was that the
spaces for the fire chief and fire marshal will be designated.
When the original SPA was granted, the engineering department
required there be a minimum of 5 parking spaces created in the
alley and they have been there since 1982.
City Manager Bob Anderson asked if the trees that are going to be
lost will be saved. Walker some junipers and tiny aspen trees
were removed. There was a large blue spruce trees that was moved
to another part of the site. There was a cherry tree that the
parks department moved to another city property.
Councilmembers Fallin and Gassman in favor; Councilmembers Isaac,
Tuite and Mayor Stirling opposed. Motion NOT carried.
Councilman Isaac moved to approve the SPA plan and GMP exemption
for essential public facilities at the fire station subject to
conditions 1 through 4 in the planning office memorandum;
seconded by Councilman Tuite.
Councilman Tuite said he would like the input from the fire
district on the parking spaces.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilwoman Fallin. Motion
carried.
CODE ADOPTION SCHEDULE & FUNDING
Alan Richman, planning director, said Council needs to select a
strategy and time f or adopting the new code as well as address
funding requests. Richman recommended Council move forward with
an intense adoption process. Richman said Council will have the
code for first reading on February 22, 1988 with public input
throughout the month of March. Richman said staff feels if the
process is too spread out, continuity will be lost. Richman
requested two work sessions March 7 and 21 with 2 or 3 hours, the
rest of the schedule is for regular Council meetings.
Richman told Council staff and P & Z has moved through every item
and has made the changes requested by Council. Richman told
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Regular Meeting Aspen Ci. tS~_Council January 25, 1988
Council the publication requirements for this ordinance will cost
money. Richman said staff has tried to come up with a strategy
to avoid this cost to the taxpayers but cannot recommend any
option other than publication. The Charter is quite specific
about publication following first reading of an ordinance.
Richman said the Charter also states if there are any amendments,
the ordinance will have to be published in f ull after adoption.
City Manager Bob Anderson said there is an election scheduled
before adoption of this ordinance, and Council could have a
Charter amendment regarding publication of these types of
ordinances. Anderson told Council there is a question in front
of the state legislature to allow statutory cities to have the
power to publish by reference. City Attorney Taddune told
Council there are exceptions in the Charter for adopting stan-
dard Codes, which this is not. Councilman Isaac said it makes
sense to delay adoption of this ordinance a few weeks and putting
on a ballot question about publication of ordinances.
Taddune pointed out state law requires, in order to change the
Charter, Council must enact an ordinance and submit it to the
electors. Taddune said there are a lot of proposed questions to
be submitted to the electors at a special election.
Councilwoman Fallin moved to discuss this item under VII (i)
Ballot Questions; seconded by Councilman Tuite. All in favor,
motion carried.
Richman said this will have to be printed as part of the code
after it is adopted. Money for this has not been budgeted.
Mayor Stirling moved to allocated from contingency a ceiling of
$10,000 for codification; seconded by Councilman Isaac. All in
favor, motion carried.
PM10 STANDARDS PLAN
Mayor Stirling said the purpose of this item is for Council to
establish a draft plan. Council will have a public hearing o n
that draf t plan February 8th. Lee Cassin, environmental health
department, told Council the health standards are not arbitrary
standards. These standards are what the body can stand, and are
based on studies done on increased illness associated with high
pollution levels and reviewed by scientists and physicians. From
these studies, scientists have determined what they think are
healthful levels of different types of pollution. Ms. Cassin
stated the 24 hour standards are just as important to health as
the annual average level.
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~_Council January 25, 1988
Ms. Cassin said another issue that comes up is the sufficiency of
the data. Ms. Cassin said Aspen has had consistent violations of
the health standards over the last 11 years. Aspen is in the
group 1 category not due to one high days but due to the highest
days over the last 3 years; due to the annual averages over the
last 3 years, and due to the moderately high days. These 3
things combine to put Aspen in the high priority group.
Ms. Cassin said someone has mentioned that Aspen's pollution
levels might have been going down. Ms. Cassin said staff asked
the state health department to do an analysis to determine if the
pollution levels are going up or down. Ms. Cassin said the state
health department looked at the second highest level days, and
these have gone strongly upward over the last 5 years.
Ms. Cassin said another issue that comes up is if there are just
a few bad days, why not do something on those days. The primary
reason is the total inability, technically, to predict when these
days happen. Ms. Cassin said the bad pollution days are random,
they are not associated with the same weather patterns. Ms.
Cassin said another issue when Council is picking the program s
they want to implement is whether they are more concerned about
the 33.2 percent, just meeting the standard on paper, or at the
end of 3 years meeting the health standard. Ms. Cassin said the
city could find lots of ways to make the numbers add up to 33
percent, but if the Council does not think a certain element of
the plan can be done, it should not be included because at the
end of 3 years, the city will not be in compliance. Ms. Cassin
said it is important to focus on things in the plan are things
Council really believes will happen.
Ms. Cassin said another issue is are toxics more important than
less toxic parts of the PM10. Ms. Cassin said another issue is
the importance of individuals to do what they want with their
property versus the rights of the public to have their health
protected. This is a fundamental issue in determining what
Council would like to do with the plan.
Ms. Cassin told Council another issue is the equity and fairness
of sharing the burden among the population. If Council feels
that equity is important, they would want to share the burden
with fireplaces and stoves and all types of units. Another issue
is the county versus city. Ms. Cassin said the Council should
come up with the 33 percent entirely within the city and not
count on the county. Ms. Cassin said the county seems to have
reservations about some elements of the plan. The county seems
to be interested in finding out what is the least they can commit
to.
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
Ms. Cassin told Council she tried to think of all the ways the
Council could come up with 33 percent. Putting gas logs in all
the fireplaces and replacing all the uncertified stoves would
give 40 percent compliance. Requiring gas logs in all the
fireplaces alone would give 34 percent compliance. Another
option would be replacing or removing uncertified stoves, an
approved aggressive street cleaning program, and only putting gas
logs in multi-family and lodge projects would achieve 33 percent
compliance. This is not being advocated by staff or the Clean
Air Board. A fourth option would be gas logs in multi-family and
lodge fireplaces, a very aggressive street cleaning program,
which would get at 33 percent if Council is optimistic about how
much benefit the city would get from the street cleaning program.
Ms. Cassin said she tried to come up with 33 percent not doing
the gas log conversion. Ms. Cassin said if the city replaces
uncertified stoves, pursues an aggressive street cleaning
program, and tries to gain credit from voluntary gas log conver-
sion and a voluntary no burn program, the plan would still have
to come up with 10.5 percent.
Councilman Isaac asked why the city should have a plan if the
county is not going to adopt a plan. Ms. Cassin said the EPA
would say that the city has to do something at least in propor-
tion to its contribution. Ms. Cassin told Council the city
contributes most of the street sanding and most of the restaurant
grill emissions and most of the fireplace and stove emissions.
Councilwoman Fallin asked why the EPA is saying the city has to
do this program, and do they understand where the boundaries
between the city and county are. Ms. Cassin said Pitkin County
is listed as an entity in the group 1 category. The EPA does not
care how the 33 percent compliance is come up with. If the
county had a program to take care of the entire 33 percent, the
EPA would not care. Ms. Cassin pointed out the county only has
to do what it contributes; they cannot be responsible f or the
city's share.
Councilwoman Fallin said if the city did everything on the
program and the county did nothing, is there going to be a
significant clean up. Ms. Cassin said if the city adopts a
program to come up with 33 percent compliance and the county
maintains the air quality, the city and county will be in
compliance. Ms. Cassin said the county will not have to do much
to maintain compliance with their existing laws. City Manager
Bob Anderson said he senses that the county will be reasonably
consistent with the city's plans within the metro area.
Mayor Stirling said the city should not just be seeking 33
percent. Mayor Stirling said the city should come up with a
program because it is the right thing to do; it is a safety,
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Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~,.Council January 25, 1988
health and welfare issue. Mayor Stirling said some good work has
been done by citizens critiqueing the methods of testing;
however, there is a problem, which is not going to go away.
Mayor Stirling said Aspen should address the issue of depletion
of f orests world wide. Mayor Stirling said the Council is not
talking about tearing out fireplaces but changing the source of
fuel in fireplaces.
Mayor Stirling said the hot house effect is being documented
world wide. If the city is not a player, they are a part of the
problem. Mayor Stirling said other communities have taken more
radical approaches. These communities were warned they would lose
tourists and businesses. Mayor Stirling said if the Council is
not willing to address the RFTA and the polluting buses and make
this part of the plan, then Council cannot ask citizens to
participate in the program. Mayor Stirling said all the buses
should be retrofitted, small more efficient buses should be used,
the fuel in all the buses should be changed, and there should be
a downtown shuttle.
Mayor Stirling said there has to be some level of cooperation
between the city and county. Mayor Stirling said he does not
want to wait for the county; the city needs to set the standard.
Mayor Stirling said he does not feel a voluntary program will
allow the city to get the level of clean air they want. Mayor
Stirling said he does feel Aspen has the opportunity to hav e a
more successful voluntary program because of the size and the
efforts to raise consciousness in the community.
Ms. Cassin said one part would be handled by the environmental
health department, brochures, technical information. There are
some efforts that are more effective when they come from the
grassroots. Tom Dunlop, environmental health department, said
the realtors have been taking out ads in the paper. Mayor
Stirling suggested adding under 1(e) voluntary no burn days by
lodges and condominium complexes. Mayor Stirling said the Clean
Air Board should take the leadership in this type of effort and
work with other citizen groups. Councilman Tuite said he would
like to see the lodging community, who would be most effected,
get involved in the voluntary effort. Council indicated they are
in favor of a continuing voluntary education program, and to
instruct the environmental health department to follow up on
that.
Number 2 is a proposal to adopt ordinances that would require the
installation of gas logs in all fireplaces installed in any new
construction. Councilwoman Fallin said if a person were to
install gas logs, could they have a fireplace in every room. Ms.
Cassin said the Clean Air Board felt that given the fact that gas
logs go only in wood burning fireplaces, they were reluctant to
13
Reqular_Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
come up with a number of how many extra gas fireplaces should be
allowed. Ms. Cassin said the Clean Air Board wants the ability
to come back to Council to make this law more lenient after it
can be seen how much compliance there is and how much cleaner
there air is getting. Ms. Cassin explained the CAB did not want
to permit extra fireplaces when the city is not in compliance.
Ms. Cassin said allowing one extra per building does not help the
multi-family dwellings, and allowing one per unit may be getting
too many fireplaces.
Mayor Stirling moved to initiate ordinances in the spring of 1988
by the first meeting in April requiring the installation of gas
logs in all fireplaces of all new construction; seconded by
Councilman Isaac.
Councilman Gassman said he has had reservations about this
program and that the city has been operating on incomplete data
and is not sure exactly what the problem is. Councilman Gassman
charted 1984 and 1985 showing daily precipitation, high and low
temperature, and total solid particulates. Councilman Gassman
said there is only one case in 3 winters of exceeding any
pollution standard when the daily high is below 32 degrees; there
is no instance in 3 years when there is cold whether when the
city has exceeded the pollution standard. Councilman Gassman
said if the majority of the problem is fireplaces, this does not
make any sense. People do not stop using their fireplaces at 32
degrees. Councilman Gassman said if the problem is fireplaces,
the pollution should get worse when its cold. According to this
chart, it is better when it is cold. Councilman Gassman pointed
out in December 1984, it rarely got above freezing and the
pollution is below summer levels.
Councilman Gassman said there is only one case in 3 years, June
1984 when it snowed 2 feet, that the city exceeded a pollution
level before the streets were being sanded. Every case of
exceeding a pollution level in 3 years, except one, occurs after
the streets are being sanded. Councilman Gassman said the peaks
of total solid particulates always follow within 4 to 6 days a
major snow storm, which is when the streets are sanded. Council-
man Gassman said it looks as if street sanding is much more a
contributing factor. Councilman Gassman said the estimates of
changing all the fireplaces to gas logs is $3,000,000. If the
community is going to spend that kind of money to do something
about pollution, and the major sources of pollution is street
sanding, the money should be spent where it gives the most
impact. Councilman Gassman said he is not advocating doing
nothing but feels that the distribution is not right.
Councilman Gassman pointed out this chart would also suggest why
voluntary programs have not worked. If fireplaces are not
14
Regular Meeting. Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
contributing the major pollution, then a voluntary program will
not work because it is not solving the right problem. Councilman
Gassman said the new PM10 test filters will be able to tell the
sources of pollution. Ms. Cassin pointed out that sanding
material is almost exclusively large particles; wood burning is
exclusively small particles, PM10 particles. High levels of
total particles will track more closely with road sanding than
PM10 levels do.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilman Gassman. Motion
carried.
Mayor Stirling moved to adopt an ordinance in May 1988 requiring
all existing fireplaces and stoves to be registered; seconded by
Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Stirling moved to adopt ordinances by August 1, 1988,
requiring that existing f i replaces have gas logs installed in
them or that they be removed or permanently sealed b y 3 years
after the EPA approves this strategy; seconded by Councilman
Isaac. All in favor, with the exception of Councilmembers Tuite
and Gassman. Motion carried.
Mayor Stirling moved to adopt ordinances that existing stoves be
replaced with certified stoves within 3 years of approval of
this strategy by the EPA; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. All
in favor, with the exception of Councilman Gassman. Motion
carried.
Ms. Cassin explained #6, which is to require that all stoves
purchased also purchase 4 replacement catalysts, is recommended
by the Clean Air Board for the metro area. When a person buys a
certified stove with a catalyst in it, it is clean for 3 to 5
years. After that, it is very littler cleaner than a dirty
stove. The idea is if a person has extra catalysts, they will
put them in and the stove will stay clean. Councilman Tuite said
these catalysts are not cheap and having them does not mean
people will change them. Councilwoman Fallin said technology
will change and people may be stuck with these catalysts.
Mayor Stirling moved the city will use the hardest available
sanding material that is safe and at a reasonable cost; seconded
by Councilman Tuite.
Councilman Gassman said the city does not know what a reasonable
cost is because the contribution of sand versus fireplaces is not
known.
All in favor, motion carried.
15
Regular Meeting Aspen City_Council January 25, 1988
Storing the flusher truck at the RFTA barn is being done and the
city will continue to do so.
#9 is to evaluate a parking restriction program on Main street to
determine whether this improves street cleaning effectiveness.
Ms. Cassin told Council she made this very general so the city is
not closing down Main f or a winter. The staff has plans to do
this block by bock, experiment and see if it improves the
effectiveness. Mayor Stirling said he is not in favor of closing
all of one side of Main street for an entire winter. Anderson
said the data may help the city be more strategic with the
closing of Main street and help do a more thorough job of snow
clearance. Councilman Isaac said he is not in favor of this
until there is an alternative location for the cars. Ms. Cassin
said the plan is to only take one block and see if having no cars
for a few weeks makes cleaning easier. Councilwoman Fallin said
closing Main street for certain days or hours will not make a
serious impact. Council agreed to pursue this item.
#10 is to require pollution controls on new charbroilers and
require charbroilers in new and extensively remodelled res-
taurants and restaurants that change hands. Councilman Isaac
said he has problems with the last category in an instance where
just the ownership structure changes. Council agreed they were
in favor of new and extensively remodelled restaurants installing
charbroilers. Councilman Tuite said if the program to put
charbroilers in sold restaurants is very effective, he would
support it; however, if the results are questionable and the
costs are very high to restaurants, can the money be better used
somewhere else. Dunlop said the restaurant contribution to the
pollution problem is much smaller than other sources. Dunlop
said pollution controls on new and extensively remodelled
restaurants is already on the books.
Mayor Stirling proposed a new item, that Council work with the
Commissioners to accomplish items including retrofitting all the
buses, going to smaller buses wherever possible particularly the
in-town routes, implementing a downtown shuttle system, changing
the fuel and continuing to work with fuel technology to get less
polluting f uel, not allow the buses to idle any longer than 5
minutes, follow up the down valley frequency to 30 minute
headways, have the RFTA go after more aggressive public informa-
tion and marketing, pursue the issue of high occupancy vehicle
lanes, continue to pursue Aspen - Snowmass transit concept until
Council decides this is not viable, and work on other service
improvements. Council requested a resolution be drafted to go to
the Commissioners and RFTA.
Councilman Isaac moved to add to the plan to construct a parking
structure per the transportation plan; seconded by Councilwoman
16
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council January 25, 1988
Fallin. Ms. Cassin said the plan should state Council is taking
this to the voters for funding rather than Council is going to
build a parking structure. All in favor, with the exception of
Councilman Gassman and Mayor Stirling. Motion carried.
Councilman Tuite asked why wood for fireplaces is not addressed
in this plan. Ms. Cassin said wood does not make enough dif-
ference in the air to come close to complying with the plan. The
enforcement is tough. Councilman Tuite said he would like to see
a wood management program included in this plan. The city should
try everything they can. Council agreed they want staff to
pursue this as part of the overall program. Mayor Stirling said
he would like the program to state the city is actively seeking
the cooperation of Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties. Mayor
Stirling said there are some theories that the wind brings in a
certain amount of pollution. Mayor Stirling suggested the plan
state the city is seeking the cooperation of Pitkin county only.
Council agreed with that.
Mayor Stirling moved to table the public hearing on the PM10
implementation plan to Tuesday, February 9, 1988 at 5:00 p.m.;
seconded by Councilman Tuite. All in favor, motion carried.
GMP EXTENSION - Hotel Aspen
Cindy Houben, planning office, told Council this is a request for
extension of time for the Hotel Aspen to submit their building
plans for their 1984 growth management allotment f or additional
units. Ms. Houben told Council in 1987 Council gave the Hotel
Aspen an extension to January 1, 1988, and they are requesting an
additional 90 day extension to get the financing in order. Staff
recommends an extension to April 1, 1988, with the condition they
deed restrict the employee unit and file that restriction with
the housing authority within 30 days of this approval. Ms.
Houben explained the section that allows extensions to take place
states an applicant has to comply with any conditions placed on
the agreement. The applicants have not yet filed the deed
restriction with the housing authority.
Councilwoman Fallin said the applicants have had 33 months, what
will be accomplished in the next 90 days to get the project
going. Rich Luhman, representing the applicant, t old Council
there is a signed contract, there are completed plans. This
matter is in front of the bankruptcy court and needs the approval
of the creditors to complete a sales transaction. Luhman said
this can all be accomplished within this extension period.
Luhman said the applicants did the renovation of the existing
units without building the units allocated in the GMP.
17
Regular Meeting Aspen Ci_ t~Council January 25, 1988
Councilman Gassman moved to approve the extension for the Hotel
Aspen for 90 days; seconded by Councilman Isaac. All in favor,
motion carried.
GMP/PUD AMENDMENT - 700 South Galena/Summit Street
Cindy Houben, planning office, told Council this is a request for
amendment of two projects within the Aspen Mountain Lodge PUD.
700 South Galena project requires rescoring of the growth
management application, which was originally scored in 1985.
Both 700 S. Galena and Summit Street require PUD amendments. Ms.
Houben told Council staff and P & Z recommend approval of the PUD
amendments with conditions. P & Z also recommends Council accept
the rescoring of 700 S. Galena project. This is the same score
that was given in 1985; the project has not significantly
changed in the items that are scored in the growth management
process.
Ms. Houben told Council staff feels the residential portions can
be dealt with separately from the hotel project as staff
encouraged that the residential portion be separate from the
hotel to break up the single ownership in the mountain. Ms.
Houben said with the appropriate conditions placed on the
application, the commitments originally provided by the applicant
will be maintained.
Ms. Houben told Council 700 South Galena is two duplexes with 4
units. There are some minor modifications, changing bedrooms
counts from 4 bedrooms to 3 bedrooms in each unit as well as
changing the number of parking spaces from 20 to 16 spaces, which
is relative to the number of bedrooms provided. Ms. Houben said
the architects will show Council the approved project as well as
the amended project. Ms. Houben said the major issue with 700
South Galena is whether to calculate the height of this project
from either street grade, existing grade, or undisturbed natural
slope, and how the height of a structure is calculated.
Ms. Houben told Council staff supports the requests of the
applicant, which is that the .project be measured from final grade
of Galena street. Galena street will be undergoing improvements
with the improvement district. The maximum height that will
increase in that area is 18 inches on the street, according to
the engineering department. The reasons the applicants are
requesting to build to grade are safety factors, getting into the
parking ramp and not having the slope of ramp exceed 10 percent,
drainage on site, visual perspective from the right-of-way, and
open space rather than a dug out open space.
Ms. Houben told Council the best information staff has are the
1974 topographic maps. The code states one is to work from an
18
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council January 25, 1988
undisturbed natural slope to calculate where building heights
should start. This site has been changed over the years and the
natural grade has changed. The applicant is relying on the 1974
topographic maps in terms of being within the height limit in the
area. Ms. Houben said with the estimated 18 inch height dif -
ference on Galena street, the buildings could be 2 to 2.5 feet
higher than what was approved in 1985. It appears the height
approved in 1985 was taken from the 1974 topographic maps. Ms.
Houben said from a site visit, it is apparent the site has been
changed. The natural undisturbed slope appears to be higher than
the 1974 topographic maps. Ms. Houben said it is a good com-
promise to allow the applicants to work from street grade
because the slope has been disturbed over the years. Ms. Houben
said the 1974 topographic maps show this as 7958 feet at the
highest point on the parcel. Ms. Houben said if one took a
natural grade, by looking at the cut, it would substantially
higher.
Ms. Houben told Council Summit Place requests some changes
regarding the setbacks that were granted as well as the architec-
tural design of the building. The proposal is an upgrading of an
existing approved design. This is a less non-conforming struc-
ture than the existing proposals. The applicant's request still
does not meet the setbacks for the zone district. Staff and P &
Z recommend approval of this project with conditions.
Michael Thompson, architect, presented a drawing of the two
duplexes for 700 South Galena. Thompson said these units relate
nicely to the reconfigured Galena street. There is a hidden
area for the driveway with a full parking garage underground.
There is an open space area between the buildings which is
visible from the street. The courtyard is at street grade and
the buildings are sunken into the hill to lessen the perception
of the buildings. Thompson showed elevations of the building
and 28 feet height in relation to the property line. Perry
Harvey, representing the applicant, told Council if the street is
raised 12 inches, they would like to be able to raise the
building 12 inches, up to a maximum of 18 inches. Harvey told
Council the engineering department has not finished their
studies of what they want to do on Galena. Harvey said they want
to raise the building so there is not a vertical drop off to the
garage so that people will use the garage.
Don Bain, representing George and Joan Anderman, told Council his
client s have a house immediately to the east of this property.
Bain submitted to the record photographs and other documents.
Bain said if the building were built as shown, they would have no
problems with it; however, they have a serious problem with the
uncertainty of how the elevations may be measured if a floating
base from which to measure the 28 feet is selected. Bain said
19
Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
the applicants have indicated they will limit this to 18 inches,
which is a concession, but the Andermans are entitled to have the
elevation measured from the actual existing grade on the land.
Bain said the applicants should take the land as they find it,
and that is natural grade. The plan as shown is satisfactory,
but if the building goes up 18 to 24 inches, it will cause a
problem for the Andermans.
Bain pointed out the prior approved plan had a higher elevation
on some of the gables, but it was a steeply gabled building with
a different visual of f ect than thi s proposal . Bain said the
impact on the developer not raising the house if the street is
raised will be to raise the pitch of the driveway to no more
than 13 percent. Bain pointed out the prior plan from another
applicant did have a 13 percent grade. Bain said this approval
should be postponed until the street grade is determined, or the
applicant should be required to stay with the elevations shown to
Council.
Jay Hammond, city engineer, told Council anticipates a 45 day
design phase from approval to go ahead with the contract.
Councilman Isaac asked why the Andermans have not paid their
assessment f or the special improvement district. Bain said the
Andermans want to see what the city is going to do. The Ander-
mans did not want to agree to something that will automatically
ruin their view. Councilman Tuite said if Council guarantees
the difference will not exceed 18 inches, would be Andermans be
satisfied. Bain said they would not be satisfied with 18 inches.
Bain said this project may not get built, and his clients need
some certainty. Bil Dunaway pointed out the existing law allows
one to build to natural grade, which would result in a higher
building. Bain stated the buyer of property takes grades as he
buys it.
City Manager Bob Anderson asked if the road goes up 18 inches,
would the applicant be satisfied keeping the elevations as
currently planned. Harvey said there are other complicated
problems like ground water. Harvey said 'if the applicants have
to deal with that kind of grade, it is inconvenient expensive and
not the best solution f or the use of that garage, which is going
to contain 16 underground parking spaces. Harvey said this
project is entirely within the zoning code. Harvey said they are
willing to make a concession and not to go the natural undis-
turbed grade but will go to the street as it is reconfigured.
Councilman Gassman said as long as the eventual height is within
28 feet of natural undisturbed grade, that is what the code says
and that is what this building should meet. Bain said if this is
capped at 10 inches, his clients could live with that. 18 inches
is too much.
20
Regular Meeting Aspen Ci~_Council January 25, 1988
John Sarpa, representing the applicant, told Council they were
able to meet 4 out of the 5 concerns listed by the Andermans.
Sarpa said at 18 inches, this building is below the previous
design. Joe Wells pointed out there were two prior approvals of
this project. Both approvals were tied to the current defini-
tion of the Code, and it was assumed that the project would be
built in compliance with the definition of natural grade.
Regardless of what the city decides about the road, this will be
a lower project than the currently approval project.
Councilman Isaac moved to approve the PUD amendment for 700 South
Galena with the 4 conditions as outlined in the planning office
memorandum and that this project be constructed with an 18 inch
cap on the street. Motion DIES for lack of a second.
City Attorney Taddune recommended Council require any amendment
or additional conditions to this project be recorded independent
to a major rewrite of the PUD agreement.
Mayor Stirling moved to accept the 700 South Galena amendment s
confirming the 1985 growth management plan allocations, to amend
the PUD with 5 conditions, 1 through 4 of the planning office
memo, and #5 there be a 12 inch cap in the issue of grade related
to the new street improvements. Motion DIES for lack of a
second.
Mayor Stirling moved to approve the amendments to the PUD for
700 South Galena with 4 conditions in the planning office
memorandum, adding condition #5, that the applicants be required
to go no higher in their grade than the final grade of the newly
improved Galena street; seconded by Councilman Tuite. All in
favor, motion carried.
Council was all in favor of accepting the rescoring for 700 South
Galena.
Perry Harvey told Summit Place is a change in design; the heights
are lower, the setbacks are better than originally planned.
Charles Cunniffee, architect, showed plans of the existing
building, told Council they are proposing to replace the existing
units with construction better suited for the site. The
applicants are proposing 3 two-bedroom units, three stories,
south facing. These units fall within the height restrictions;
there is some variation in setback required.
Mayor Stirling asked why not make correct the encroachment if
the applicants are going to tear the existing building down.
Harvey told Council this lot is substandard, 5400 square f eet.
Harvey said the plan does not work if the building is brought
entirely into conformity. Harvey told Council the applicants
21
ReQUlar Meeting Aspen Cit~Council January 25, 1988
have pushed this as much as possible to get a livable unit.
Harvey said even the PUD did not deal with setback variations.
Joe Wells told Council there was no easement and the area wa s
under one ownership when the project was started. In the review
process, the engineering department insisted on an easement,
which is what established the southerly property line. Wells
told Council the applicants failed to note the variation that
resulted from this.
City Attorney Taddune told Council the city wanted a right-of-
way. If Cantrup continued Summit street, there would be a
problem with the front setback. Taddune said the city decided
an easement would be granted so there would be no impact on the
front yard setback. Cindy Houben, planning office, told Council
on the PUD plats that were filed, noting the variance was
neglected. This needs to be indicated on the plat.
Councilman Gassman moved to approve Summit Place, with the 4
conditions in the planning office memorandum, and the requirement
of recording this document; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. Ms.
Houben recommended since the driveway issue has not been resolved
that it be done prior to issuance of a building permit. All in
favor, with the exception of Mayor Stirling. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION #4, SERIES OF 1988 - Colorado Department of Highways
Jay Hammond, city engineer, reminded Council at their last
meeting they discussed a list of issues to be included in a
resolution to the department of highways. Hammond told Council
the EIS is currently in the scoping phase and alternatives. This
is an alternative for the city to provide the department of
highways with information. Hammond said they will be in Aspen to
deal with this end of the highway in February or early March.
Hammond said there are recommendations in the resolution f or a
variety of alignments, including the direct connection, the
existing alignment, the Alan Blomquist proposal, and a one-way
pair alternative. The resolution discusses landscaping and
aesthetic considerations, including the idea that the city may
sell open space land necessary for the highway as a means of
generating revenue for landscaping. The resolution also contains
alternative funding possibilities, pedestrian bicycle trail
continuity and safety, transit amenities, HOV and bus lanes, and
supporting the Aspen to Brush Creek section as the first
priority, and flexible design considerations like reduced speed,
reduced pavement widths, reduced right-of-way.
Councilwoman Fallin said the sale of open space has to be
contingent on approval by the electorate. Hammond said he
addresses the issue of whether the city can sell open space in
order to fund landscaping. Hammond said how the department of
22
Regular Meeting Aspen Ci,~t~r Council January 25, 1988
highways responds may affect whether the city even wants to take
this to the voters. Council requested that Hammond add to the
resolution that any use of open space has to be approved by the
voters.
Mayor Stirling said the highway was discussed at the CAST meeting
over the weekend. Mayor Stirling said he and the president of
the Skiing Company have discussed going to Denver with the
Chairman of the Commissioners, the Mayor of Snowmass and presi-
dent of Highlands Skiing Corporation to see Governor Romer.
Mayor Stirling requested Council's approval of this trip to meet
with the Governor and to discuss high occupancy vehicle lanes.
Mayor Stirling told Council the legislators he talked to have no
interest in funding roads at this time. Council agreed with this
proposed trip.
Mayor Stirling moved to approve Resolution #4, Series of 1988,
amending Section 1 to eliminate all alternatives except the
existing alignment; seconded by Councilman Gassman.
Mayor Stirling said he is trying to give a signal from this
Council that one alternative is preferred, otherwise this will
remain as an open issue. Councilman Gassman agreed with taking
out the direct approach but would like to leave in Blomquist's
proposal. Mayor Stirling said he would leave that alternative in
the resolution and would amend the resolution to clarify the
language about open space. Hammond pointed out the scoping phase
of the EIS is the opportunity to deal with a variety of alterna-
tives. Hammond told Council in August 1986 there was an elec-
tion, and neither alignment received a simple majority. The
direct connection was defeated 421 to 411; the existing alignment
was defeated 603 to 213.
Peter Forsch said it would irresponsible to not include the
straight alignment that has been recommended by the traffic
committee, that the voters expressed greater favor for. Forsch
said the scoping session is not a recommendation for a specific
alignment. Councilman Gassman said this is a resolution of the
Council. Councilman Gassman said the city has been discussing
this for years, and no one has been willing to make a decision on
the highway. Councilman Gassman said he feels the direct
alignment is a disaster and does not want to waste time and money
discussing it.
Councilman Isaac supported leaving all the alternatives in the
resolution. The city has to work with the highway department on
a creative approach to Main street. This has to be looked at
through the EIS process. Councilwoman Fallin said she thinks it
is wrong to be too limiting in this document. The Council can
get more specific in the scoping sessions. Councilman Tuite said
23
Regular Meeting Aspen Cit~_Council January 25, 1988
he is in favor of four-laning the highway. Councilman Tuite said
he does not favor the straight shot because of loss of open space
and because of speed. Forsch said the public is expecting to see
the straight shot as one of the alternatives, and to not look at
it would cause controversy within the community. Forsch said the
straight shot may not be the right alternative, but this is not
the time to make that decision.
Co uncilmembers Tuite, Gassman and Mayor Stirling in favor;
Councilmembers Isaac and Fallin opposed. Motion carried.
Mayor Stirling moved. to suspend the rules and meet f or 15 more
minutes; seconded by Councilman Isaac. All in favor, with the
exception of Councilman Gassman. Motion carried.
GALENA STREET IMPROVEMENTS
Jay Hammond, city engineer, reminded Council Ordinance #41, 1987,
set criteria for the f ormation of a public/private partnership
for improvements on south Galena and south Mill. These criteria
included donation by the homeowners of $292,600 by January 2,
1988. Hammond told Council the homeowners have made a payment of
$264,788. Hammond pointed out to f ormally change the conditions
of Ordinance #41 would require a subsequent ordinance. Hammond
requested approval in concept to accept the money donated by the
homeowners and to proceed with the design phase of the project.
Hammond told Council as the project is designed, the city may
find they can do the project with the current funds, or they may
trim the project to the $27,000 that is short.
Councilwoman Fallin moved to accept the $264,788 and to authorize
staff to proceed with detail design and cost estimating; seconded
by Councilman Gassman.
Councilwoman Fallin asked if there is any hope of getting the
balance of the money from the homeowners. Mayor Stirling said
one of the properties is under contract, and the buyer has agreed
to pay his contribution when the property closes. Councilman
Isaac said he would like to see the city try and get the delin-
quent landowners to pay their share. Councilwoman Fallin agreed
with the philosophy but questioned whether the city had any legal
rights. City Manager Bob Anderson said the concept of this
project was a volunteer effort by homeowners. Mayor Stirling
said his only concern is that he does not want the city paying
any more than the appropriated $125,000. Lee Miller said there
are only 4 homeowners who have not participated in this process.
Miller said he would hate to see the project stopped because only
4 people did not participate.
All in favor, motion carried.
24
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council January 25, 1988
RESOLUTION #5, SERIES OF 1988 - Supporting the Central American
Peace Process
Councilwoman Fallin moved to adopt Resolution #5, Series of 1988;
seconded by Councilman Gassman. All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #3, SERIES OF 1988 - Ballot Questions
City Manager Bob Anderson told Council if the question regarding
publication of ordinances is to be on the ballot, it would be
substantially better to have the election March 29 rather than
April 5. Councilwoman Fallin said the week of March 29 is spring
break and wants to stay with April 5 election date. City
Attorney Taddune told Council the concern is that the land use
code rewrite be adopted prior to the building season. The
planning office feels there will be a lot of confusion if the new
code is not adopted until late April.
Taddune told Council he has been working on ballot language to
amend Section 4.13 of the Charter. Taddune said when the Council
adopts standard codes by reference, there is an ordinance to
adopt this code, and the code is easily available to citizens.
Taddune said Council would still want to invite the public t o
participate in a public hearing. Taddune recommended an approv-
ing resolution with a public hearing as an approval mechanism.
Taddune gave Council a memorandum with proposed ballot questions
and the procedure to amend the Charter. Taddune prepared a draft
ordinance proposing to limit the terms of Council to 2 terms
consecutively.
Councilmembers Fallin, Gassman and Isaac said they do not want to
meet past 9:15.
Councilwoman Fallin moved to read Ordinance #2, Series of 1988;
seconded by Councilman Tuite. Councilmembers Fallin and Tuite in
favor; Councilmembers Gassman, Isaac and Mayor Stirling opposed.
Motion NOT carried.
Council said they do not want to change the election from April
5th to March 29th.
Council agreed to continue the meeting to Tuesday, January 26,
1988, at 5:00 p.m. to consider the ballot issues only.
BOARD AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS
Mayor Stirling moved to appoint Mary Faulkner and Don Swales to
Commercial Core and Lodging Commission; Jane Erb, Bill Shorr and
Ellen Kohner to the Wheeler Board, and Joe Krabacher as an
25
Regular Meeting Aspen Ci_ ty_Council January 25, 1988
alternate to the Historic Preservation Commission; seconded by
Councilman Isaac. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilwoman Fallin moved to approve the consent agenda; seconded
by Councilman Isaac. The consent agenda is Minutes December 21,
1987; Liquor License Renewal - Hotel Lenado, Sardy House,
Crossroad Drug, Greenhouse Diner, Poppies Bistro Cafe; Special
Event Permit - St. Mary's Catholic Church; Bass Park Agreement;
Resolution #6, 1988 - Electric Undergrounding Improvement Dis-
trict; Brush Creek Hydro Project Letter of Intent; Aspen Concert
Association Request; 1010 Ute Avenue Height Variation Confirma-
tion. All in favor, motion carried.
Council left Council Chambers at 9:22 p.m.
' ~1 ~?
Kathryn :. Koch, City Clerk
26