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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcclc.min.101718 REGULAR MEETING COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION OCTOBER 17, 2018 Chairperson Steve Fante opened the meeting at 8:33 a.m. Commissioners in attendance: Steve Fante, Terry Butler, Amanda Tanaka, Angi Wang, Bill Dinsmoor, Jeb Ball. Absent were: Charles Cunniffe and Kiki Raj. Staff present: Jeannine Stickle, Records Manager Mitch Osur, Parking Services Director Councilman Ward Hauenstein PUBLIC COMMENT: Toni Kronberg presented on Ballot Question 2D, which regards the location of the new City offices. Ms. Kronberg focused on the benefits of Option A, which involves purchasing office space on Hopkins Avenue from developer Mark Hunt, over Option B, which involves the City building new offices on the Rio Grande Plaza. Tom Yoder thanked the commissioners for their writeup about Kemo Sabe in the new CCLC newsletter. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Mr. Fante thanked Mr. Yoder for attending the meeting. Ms. Tanaka commented that the newsletter looks great. All commissioners agreed. Mr. Ball stated that the Commission should decide when to distribute the next newsletter. The commissioners agreed on January 15th. Ms. Wang suggested adding A map of THE core retail businesses to the back of the newsletter. Ms. Butler asked if CCLC had gotten feedback on welcome baskets. Mr. Fante replied that they have not gone out yet, but that he will check with Nicole Henning when she returns from her conference. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mr. Dinsmoor motioned to approve the minutes from October 3rd, 2018. Ms. Butler seconded. All in favor, motion carried. PRESENTATION: Dan Blankenship CEO of RFTA & Michael Miracle of Aspen Ski Co Michael Miracle presented for Dan Blankenship, who was stuck in traffic. He encouraged everyone to vote yes on ballot measure 7A to pass a 2.65 mill property tax to fund a 30-year plan for repairs and improvements to RFTA services. He stated that, besides busses around the valley, RFTA also caretakes the Rio Grande corridor and trail, WE-Cycle, the shuttle system to the Maroon Bells and special events. Bus fleet will be slowly electrified to reduce noise and pollution. He stated that, as the Director of Community Engagement for Aspen Skiing Company, he endorses this ballot measure even though Aspen Skiing Company will be one of the biggest payers of the tax. Mr. Miracle stated that it is something that Aspen Skiing Company believes in and that their business benefits greatly from RFTA’s services. He stated that this mill levy is about laying groundwork for the future and that the number of bus commuters has the potential to increase by 36% increase by 2038. Mr. Blankenship entered the meeting at 9:07 am. Mr. Miracle stated that, if the measure fails, RFTA will reduce regional services by as much as 20% in the next several years, which will have large effects for traffic, Aspen businesses and the environment. He gave the commissioners the address of the website and social media channels where they can go for more information. REGULAR MEETING COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION OCTOBER 17, 2018 REVIEW: Mr. Dinsmoor expressed concern that Pitkin County picks up most of the tab for RFTA services and that Garfield and Eagle counties do not pay their fair share, especially since the mid-valley is where the increase in commuters will come from. He stated that the burden is not proportionally shared. Mr. Blankenship stated that Mr. Dinsmoor’s information is correct. However, while Aspen is the largest funder of all towns, Glenwood Springs is the second largest. He stated that the busses terminate in Aspen and Snowmass, and those towns greatly benefit from that. Mr. Hauenstein agreed that Aspen benefits from the bus system, bringing workers and consumers. Mr. Dinsmoor expressed concerns about the amount of tax increases on the ballot and their potential impact on personal and business income. He questioned the wisdom of not charging bus fare in Aspen and Snowmass. Mr. Blankenship explained that the money to provide free bus services comes from a different pot of funding. Mr. Miracle explained that fares would create barrier to use beyond merely financial. It also requires riders to figure out how to have the right amount of money on hand and figure out how to buy tickets. Free fare makes things as seamless as possible. Mr. Hauenstein stated that one of City Council’s goals is to decrease the amount of cars in town and supporting RFTA services greatly supports that. Mr. Blankenship stated that RFTA services are value-added as they make it possible for people to come here without their cars. No other rural or resort areas that have the system that we’ve got. RFTA wouldn’t be asking if they didn’t think it was necessary. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: City Building Options – Letter to the Editor: Mr. Fante stated that he would like to get a sense of where commissioners stand on Options A and B for Ballot Question 2D. From that point, they could determine if they would like to endorse one of the options and by what method. Ms. Tanaka stated that she supports Option B, new offices on Rio Grande Plaza. She stated her belief that having city offices in core area where we’re trying to get more shops and retail would hamper the vibrancy. Mr. Hauenstein stated that the City is under contract to buy the office space for 35% more than appraisal. Ms. Butler asked how that happened and Mr. Hauenstein gave the history of the purchase from his perspective on City Council. Ms. Butler asked Mr. Osur if more parking spaces could be added under the new building, should that option pass. REGULAR MEETING COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION OCTOBER 17, 2018 Mr. Osur replied that there is the option to add 30 spaces in the parking garage, at the expense of price. He stated that CCLC should weigh the effect on the core. He stated that, on one hand, the office space in the core would take space that could be used by retail and restaurants. On the other hand, it would add employees to the core. Mr. Hauenstein also encouraged the commissioners to think about how they want Rio Grande Park to be. He stated that he personally supports Option B. Ms. Wang stated that she believes it is not beneficial for CLCC to take a stance on this ballot question. She stated that she is in favor of Option B due to the amount of money above the appraisal cost that the City would pay and her belief that City offices do not need to be in the core. Mr. Hauenstein stated that City Council has the option to take a stance on all ballot issues. This time they chose four to take a stance on. He stated that CCLC does not need to take a stance. Mr. Osur read from Council Ordinance 24, series of 1986, which suggests that part of CCLC’s role is to take a stance on political issues as they affect the core. He suggested the possibility of a letter to the editor that lists key facts about each option. All commissioners agreed on an informative letter to the editor with facts about each option. Mr. Fante asked the commissioners to send him a list of things that they would like to see in the letter and he will put together a draft for their review. He then stated that their second regular November meeting would fall on the day before Thanksgiving and asked if commissioners would like to keep that date or move it to the week before or after. The commissioners agreed to move the meeting that would fall on November 21st to November 28th. MOTION: Mr. Fante motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:59 a.m., Ms. Butler seconded. All in favor, motion carried. __________________________________ Jeannine Stickle, Records Manager