HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.110-04RESOLUTION NO. t tO
(Series of 2004)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ASPEN, COLORADO URGING THE
ELECTORATE TO VOTE "YES" ON PITKIN COUNTY REFERENDUM lA,
WHICH IF APPROVED WOULD DEDICATE WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN TAX
RATES AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE PROCEEDS OF A TAX RATE OF 0.165%
FROM PITKIN COUNTY'S EXISTING 0.5% TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX.
WHEREAS, the City of Aspen has been working diligently and cooperatively with
the Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) and its member jurisdictions over many years to
address the Valley's mobility, congestion, air quality and livability; and
WHEREAS, in November 1993, the Pitkin County electorate approved a 1/2 cern
sales and use tax for the purposes of increasing bus service, constructing park-and-ride
facilities, acquiring the valley rail right-of-way, and developing a fixed guideway
transportation solution to connect Aspen, Snowmass Village and downvalley locations; and
WHEREAS, in November 2000, voters of the Roaring Fork Valley approved the
establishment of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority with an expanded tax base and
participation by five towns and two counties that include the City of Glenwood Springs,
Town of Carbondale, Town of Basalt, Town of Snowmass, a portion of Eagle County, as
well as the original members of the Roaring Fork Transit Agency--City of Aspen and Pitldn
County--to create an equitable, permanent funding mechanism for long-term sustainability
of a regional public transit system; and
WHEREAS, the City Council fully recognizes and appreciates RFTA's
responsiveness to address the Valley's mobility concerns as demonstrated by its potential in
2005 to carry more than 3.5 million passengers throughout the Valley, with an annual
operating budget of $15 million; and
WHEREAS, due to the downturn in the regional economy, RFTA only received
approximately 50% of the additional sales tax funding that it was projected to receive when
the Authority was created in 2000; and
WHEREAS, a RFTA Efficiency Review has just been completed to identify areas
where RFTA could become more efficient and effective; and
WHEREAS, the Efficiency Review recommends several organizational and
administrative changes, but finds that, "Overall, RFTA is providing service that is as
efficiently delivered as its peers," and that RFTA definitely needs more resources to
adequately maintain its fleet, programs and services at current levels; and
WHEREAS, current regional transit services cannot be sustained with current
funding levels and there is insufficient revenue available to complete the regional trail
system in a timely fashion; and
WHEREAS, significant service reductions and fare increases will be inevitable
without the passage of the proposed tax measures; and
WHEREAS, the Pitkin County tax commitment question is contingent upon the
passage of a RFTA ballot question asking voters in Basalt, Eagle County, Carbondale, and
Glenwood Springs to approve a 0.2% RFTA Sales and Use Tax increase; and
WHEREAS, the RFTA ballot question in Pitkin County would not increase existing
tax rates, but would authorize the County to enter into a multiple fiscal year financial
obligation to contribute to RFTA an additional amount, equal to the proceeds of a tax rate of
0.165% from Pitkin County's existing 0.5% Transportation Sales Tax; and
WHEREAS, passage of the proposed sales tax measures would keep RFTA running
at present levels; would allow for modest increases in services until at least 2014; would
provide $4m more for trails; would allow for the timely replacement of obsolete, less fuel-
efficient, and more polluting transit vehicles; and would provide more resources for bus stop
and park and ride improvements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ASPEN, COLORADO, THAT:
The City Council of the City of Aspen, Colorado hereby urges the electorate to vote
"yes" on Pitkin County Referendum lA, which if approved along with passage ofa RFTA
ballot question elsewhere in the Authority, would sustain current transit service levels,
replace old buses and ensure completion of the Valley trail system.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Aspen on
the 25th day of October, 2004
I, Kathryn S. Koch, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing is a
true and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of
Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting held on the day hereinabove stated.
~}h, City Clerk