HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19700205~ecial Meeting Aspen City. Councit February 5~ 1.970
Special meeting called by Mayor Eve Homeyer and Councilmen Jack Walls, Fitzhugh Scott III,
and Francis Whitaker for the purpose of considering purchase of Rubey Park by the City.
Meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m., Hotel Jerome Dinin~giRoom by Mayor. Eve Homeyer
with Councilmen Francis Whitaker, Jack Walls, Fitzhugh Scott III, Ross Griffin~ Ned Vare
and City Attorney Albert Kern present.
Mayor HOmeyer reported she had met with Attorney Nelson who is representing the new owners Rubey Park
of Rubey Park. The prise would be $285,000 plus their costs. Costs would depend at what
point the City purchased the land and how much the new owners had expended.
City Attorney Kern stated tO purchase the land, the City would be required to holda bond
election. It is possible to have a group of citizens .purchase the land and then either
donate it to the City of the City buy it from them.
New owners request to have first refusal if the City decides to sell the land.
Diseus~sed businesses and citizens who might be interested in donating or contributing to
this cause.
Suggestion was made this land be used for parking or open space.
Mayor Homeyer reported and gave an outline of the present payment schedule on the land:
January 19th $10,000
February 4th 50,000
March 1st 15,000
October 30th 100,000
January 4th, 1971 110,000
8-1/2& interest. Costs expended by the new owners to date $10,000.
City would need to have $75,000 by the first of March to co~er the, first three payments
obligated to the new owners.~Entire amount becomes due at the time of construction. New
owners informed the City they intend to do something this summer with the land.
Mr. Dunaway of the Aspen Times was present amd suggest the Cit.y inquire if .the people
paying franchise tax to the City would do so in advance. Stated Columbia Cable would be
willing to do so which would be about $20,000. City Attorney Kern stated this would be
legal as long as the money pertained to the franchise period.
Mayor Homeyer reported Mr. Pabst, Dr. J. Sterling Baxter are willing to give money for
this purchase. Councilman Whitaker stated he would give~
Suggestion was made the City back the formation of a separate corporation t~hat would buy
the land. Everyone putting money into this would own a share of the corporation,
It was noted the election could not be held until after thehome rule final election.
Councilman Griffin moved the City of Aspen support formmtion of a private entity to buy th~
9 lots know as Rubey Park to hold for the City of. Aspen to purchase by bond issue upon
approval of the' voters of the City of Aspen at a special election. Seconded by Councilman
Walls.
It was agreed to call this the Rubey Park ~rust Fund and City Attorney Kern to handle the
details
Roll call rot Councilmen Walls aye; Whitaker aye; Griffin aye; Vare aye; ~Scott aye.
Councilman Whitaker moved to adjourn at 8:45 a.m., seconded by Councilman Vare. Ail in
favor, meeting adjourned.