Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.cclc.min.011812 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 18, 2011 Chairperson, Andrew Kole called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Commissioners in attendance: Bill Dinsmoor, Riley Tippet, Fred Ayarza, Don Sheeley, Terry Butler and Kiki Raj. Excused was Siam Castillo. Castle Creek Energy Center — CCEC - Steve Barwick Steve pointed out that the city is estimating 10.5 million and we started with 6.2 million. We are over budget. The proposal was originally based from a company out of Fort Collins. The study was not detailed enough and we should have had a price by local companies. At this point 6.9 has been spent today. We are 2/3 away from finishing. A trail race 300 feet to the creek needs completed. There is also the FERC application process. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. We are working with FERC and requesting a traditional licensing. Steve said one question asked is the project infeasible. We are one of the cheaper electrical services in Colorado due to hydropower from Ruedi reservoir. It is reliable and doesn't cause pollution. It has long payback periods over the long run. Hydropower is gravity and water. We get 2 center per kilowatt out of Ruedi for the next 50 years. The EPA came out with a ruling that they are going to enforce the 1990 regulations and that means several energy plants will be closing. We are 75 percent renewable energy and 25 coal. We get 30% out of Ruedi. With the new energy center we will get 8% more. So with MEAN we will be close to 50 %. Steve said legally the option is to either withdraw the land use approval or set it to a vote with a narrow time period. There are a lot of issues out there such as why not buy wind. The problem is they don't have the hydro life. The dam that sat above Smuggler Mountain washed out the valley by Smuggler. You can see the scar. Wind power last for 20 to 30 years only. On the panels they only last around 20 years. This is non - consumptive use of water but it moves it around. Dr.Miller has done analysis of our streams for the past two years and there is no danger of stream pollution. 1 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 18, 2011 Andrew said the CCEC is 8% of the power. How much would that 8% cost. The opposers are concerned about the numbers. Steve said it is around 10% per kilowatt hours vs. 6% that we could buy. Steve said you lose money paying off the bonds but at the end you get more. Steve said we will not start at full production we will start slower. The benefit is that we don't have to pay MEAN Municipal Energy Association of Nebraska for the costs of energy because we will have our own. Steve said we have been asking for flow changes at Ruedi for 20 years without any success. Riley asked what happens if this doesn't go through. Steve said the electric rates will go up and we would have to sell the turbine. I don't know where they would go for power. Andrew asked about the cost of FERC. Steve said they are presently in negotiations. Steve said old cheap power plants are going to be shut down. Bill said a change from coal power to natural gas is in the future for the federal government. Terry suggested Steve give numbers at the luncheon. Fred said he thinks the public doesn't have enough knowledge and everything always seems to double in cost around here. Is there really a payback. Lighting update Stephen Elsperman and Dan Nelson, lighting coordinator for the city. Kale Lacrous, LacrousStreeb lighting design Stephen said the CCLC has been involved with starting the lighting this year. $30,000 was spent in permanent improvements that are reusable and $5,000 for infill structure. We are also doing one more improvement which is the projector yet to come which is included in the costs. 2 " COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 18, 2011 Kale said we have fixtures selected and then we can get them installed. We can also get custom logos. Terry asked if there is a master plan. Stephen said we have a master plan. The plan includes the entire core. As products arrive we installed them. Kale said it is his desire to have pedestrian lighting on the malls for the future. Don said he would like to have a lighting opening next year. Andrew said we need to be careful as Council is concerned that the lighting doesn't look like Disneyland. Jeff Woods said the infill structure has to be changed and done in the summer. Andrew said since there is a bond could the City put up the money and then Parks pay for it over the years. Jeff said the projects are already allocated for. Andrew said there is also an environmental argument which is good. Kiki said it is great and the only thing she has heard is that there are too many different colors on the trees. Jeff said those colors are old and will be changed out as the project progresses. Jeff said it was a challenge working with private businesses with lighting. We also talked about the spruce trees on Wagner Park. The lighting is changeable and we can make it all one color. Fred said we need a master plan and see it and determine how we get there. Andrew asked Jeff to keep in mind the electricity down Hyman. Don asked about Snow Polo and he still feels it should be at the driving range. Stephen said Snow Polo was successful with the new venue. Andrew asked what the CCLC can do to keep this up lighting moving. 3 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 18, 2011 Stephen said there is a work session January 31' 4:30 with parks which includes the lighting. We are asking for 4 million dollars in a bond to redo Wagner and Rio Grande Park. Kale pointed out that they accomplished a good goal with the infill structure and we can change the colors periodically. Terry said the CCLC feels the malls can be pushed further and there is no limit and we love the new direction. Andrew said we had 25 dismissed from the market applications; we had 13 food vendors apply and 12 applications didn't' meet the qualifications. We had a request for a petting zoo. Bill requested that Eden Vardy come to the next meeting to discuss his proposal for the petting zoo. Terry said she is concerned about the odor as it is close to Louis Swiss. Andrew said Escobar, Finbar, Bud's. are requesting to come out into the center next year. Bill said he wants involved in the on -going management of the mall leases. Who is in charge. What is our role in alfresco dining. Kathy pointed out that photographs and diagrams will be available online and a form ready for the CCLC with guidelines. Fred said Finbar did an incredible job and they are well organized. Don brought up the article in the paper regarding Galena Street and the proposal to widen the sidewalks and the fact that 24 parking spaces will be lost. Don requested that the advocate for this project come to the next meeting. Bill what is our role in alfresco dining? Andrew moved to adjourn; second by Bill. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at10:30 a.m. Kathy Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk 4