HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19961028Aspen City Council Regular Meeting October 28, 1996
Mayor Bennett called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. with Councilmembers
Paulson, Waggaman, Richards and Marolt present.
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE BONUS AWARDS
Mayor Bennett and Council presented outstanding employee bonus awards to
Rhonda Harris and Larry Doble of the community development department; Betsey
Kipp of the environment health department and the entire parks department for the
work they have done on the Rio Grande park and trail.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
1. Charles Smith asked if Council could address the problem of light pollution
within the city limits, especially in the residential areas. Amy Margerum, city
manager, said Pitkin County and the Town of Snowmass Village have adopted some
regulations addressing light pollution. Mayor Bennett requested staff to look at
these and bring something to Council at a brown bag lunch.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
1. Councilwoman Waggaman moved to support the Pitkin County Ballot
measure to increase the property tax levy for the purpose of open space and trails;
seconded by Councilwoman Richards.
Councilman Marolt said he does not feel it is appropriate for Council to support a
ballot measure like this. Councilman Marolt said if every tax on the ballot passes,
his property taxes will go up quite a bit. Councilman Marolt said he has a problem
with taxes. Councilwoman Waggaman said she supports Marolt’s position in
general; however, this tax increase only brings it up to where it was before the
Bruce amendment.
Councilwoman Richards said she supports this issue because the county does not
have the ability to raise revenue through sales tax. Councilwoman Richards pointed
out the county has helped with the purchase of the Moore open space.
Councilwoman Richards noted the benefit of property tax over sales tax is that it
can be deducted from one’s income taxes. Councilman Paulson said he feels one
cannot do enough to support open space. Mayor Bennett agreed there are a lot of
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Aspen City Council Regular Meeting October 28, 1996
tax issues on this ballot. None of the tax issues are city issues and this is the only
issue the city is endorsing. Mayor Bennett said he could support this because it is
for open space and trails.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilman Marolt. Motion carried.
2. Councilwoman Richards requested staff look into the issue of the Post Office
changing their traffic flow signs. Councilwoman Richards said the traffic patterns
are the Post Office since they took down the one-way signs are disastrous.
3. Mayor Bennett noted the funding in opposition to city ballot issue 2A is 68
percent out of state residents. Most of the money supporting 2A has come from
local residents. Mayor Bennett said one committee has been bankrolled 100 percent
by John Fox of St. Louis, Missouri, who has not been in Aspen for several years.
Mayor Bennett said he would like to know who John Fox is and what his interest in
this issue is.
4. Mayor Bennett said he and Councilmembers Waggaman and Richards will be
at the Jerome Bar Tuesday from 5 to 7 and the Little Nell Wednesday from 5 to 7 to
answer any questions about ballot issue 2A and the entrance to Aspen. Councilman
Paulson said voters with questions about the entrance to town can call him at home.
5. Councilman Marolt said he has some concern about the Maroon Creek
bicycle bridge. It seems to be settling. City Manager Amy Margerum told Council
the city engineer inspected this bridge and sent a letter to the County outlining his
concerns before they make final payment to the contractor. Ms. Margerum said she
will give Council a copy of the engineer’s memo.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilman Marolt said he would like to remove Resolution #61, Series of 1996,
Agreement with Pitkin County on the Use Tax. Council said they will address this
on the action items.
Councilman Paulson moved to adopt the consent calendar as amended; seconded by
Councilwoman Richards. The consent calendar is:
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Aspen City Council Regular Meeting October 28, 1996
·
Minutes - October 15, 1996
·
Resolution #62, 1996 - Accepting GOCO Grant for Moore Playing Fields
·
Resolution #63, 1996 - Purchase of Anderson Property
All in favor, motion carried.
ORDINANCE #40, SERIES OF 1996
- Maroon Creek Rezoning
Councilwoman Waggaman moved to read Ordinance #40, Series of 1996; seconded
by Councilwoman Richards. All in favor, motion carried.
ORDINANCE #40
(Series of 1996)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE ASPEN CITY COUNCIL GRANTING A
REZONING FOR THE MAROON CREEK SUBDIVISION IN CONJUNCTION
WITH ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY OF ASPEN was read by the city clerk
Mary Lackner, community development department, told Council staff is
recommending a PUD overlay over the entire subdivision and a SPA overlay on the
lot that contains club facility. Ms. Lackner said everything else is zoned to allow
development that is currently approved on the lot. Councilman Paulson said he is
concerned about the Nordic trails. Ms. Lackner said the existing obligations of the
development are being maintained. This rezoning is occurring because of the recent
annexation.
Councilman Paulson asked about the bridge to the Moore property. Amy
Margerum, city manager, said the commitment the developer made is to the county.
The parks director feels the city is better equipped to follow through with the
planning and design of this bridge. George Robinson will start working on this.
Ms. Margerum said this project will probably take more money than has been
committed by the development. It will be a wonderful amenity to the community.
Councilman Paulson moved to adopt Ordinance #40, Series of 1996, on first
reading; seconded by Councilman Marolt. Roll call vote; Councilmembers
Waggaman, yes; Richards, yes; Paulson, yes; Marolt, yes; Mayor Bennett, yes.
Motion carried.
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Aspen City Council Regular Meeting October 28, 1996
RESOLUTION #61, SERIES OF 1996
- City County Use Tax Agreement
Steve Barwick, assistant city manager, told Council this is an agreement between
city and county relating to the use of the tax proceeds if the use tax passes
November 5th. Barwick said the county is requiring this be adopted before the
election. John Worcester, city attorney, said it is important for the county to have
an agreement on how the tax proceeds will be spent so that they can tell the voters.
Councilman Marolt said he does not feel it is in order to pass this resolution now.
Amy Margerum, city manager, pointed out this is a legal agreement with the county
on how much the city will get and where the city’s share of the tax will be spent.
Councilman Marolt reiterated his objection to passing this resolution before there is
even a tax. Councilwoman Richards noted this was discussed and voted on by
Council before the ballot was finalized. Worcester said he feels it would be unfair
to voters not to have this agreement in place.
Mayor Bennett said this is keeping a promise the city already made to the county.
Councilman Paulson asked if passing this might be perceived as an endorsement of
the tax extension. Mayor Bennett said it is just an intergovernmental agreement and
is dividing up the proceeds. Councilwoman Waggaman pointed out the voters have
a right to know on what the money will be spent. It would be irresponsible to the
city voters if the tax passes not to know how much is the city share.
Councilwoman Richards moved to approved Resolution #61, Series of 1996;
seconded by Councilwoman Waggaman. All in favor with the exception of
Councilman Marolt. Motion carried.
Councilwoman Richards moved to go into executive session for the purpose of
discussing real property acquisition; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor,
motion carried. Council went into executive session at 6:10 p.m.
Councilwoman Richards moved to come out of executive session at 7:30 p.m.;
seconded by Councilwoman Waggaman. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilwoman Richards moved to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.; seconded by
Councilwoman Waggaman. Motion carried.
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Aspen City Council Regular Meeting October 28, 1996
Kathryn S. Koch, City Clerk
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Aspen City Council Regular Meeting October 28, 1996
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE BONUS AWARDS ................................ ............... 1
CITIZEN COMMENTS ................................ ................................ .......................... 1
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS ................................ ................................ ....... 1
CONSENT CALENDAR ................................ ................................ ........................ 2
Minutes - October 15, 1996 ................................ ................................ ................. 3
Resolution #62, 1996 - Accepting GOCO Grant for Moore Playing Fields .......... 3
Resolution #63, 1996 - Purchase of Anderson Property ................................ ....... 3
ORDINANCE #40, SERIES OF 1996 - Maroon Creek Rezoning ........................... 3
RESOLUTION #61, SERIES OF 1996 - City County Use Tax Agreement ............. 4
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