HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.20120910 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council September 10,2012
COUNTY CLERK INFORMATION ITEMS ................................................................................2
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ..........................................................................................................2
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS ..............................................................................................2
CONSENTCALENDAR................................................................................................................3
❑ Resolution#86, 2012—Contract with Heyl—Conduit for City Electrical Systems............4
❑ Resolution#87, 2012—Contract Vehicle for APCHA—Ford Fusion.................................4
❑ Resolution#88, 2012—Lindsay parcel acquisition for open space .....................................4
ORDINANCE #21, SERIES OF 2012—Hume Subdivision..........................................................4
ORDINANCE #22, SERIES OF 2012— Sales Tax Bonds Parks Projects......................................4
435 WEST MAIN CALL UP..........................................................................................................5
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council September 10,2012
Mayor Ireland called the meeting to order at 5:08 PM with Councilmembers Skadron, Torre,
Frisch and Johnson present.
COUNTY CLERK INFORMATION ITEMS
Pitkin County Clerk Janice Vos-Caudill pointed out postcards for vehicle registration renewal no
longer has a blue label and are plain white post cards. People are used to seeing the blue label
and Ms. Vos-Caudill wanted to alert citizens of the change.
Ms. Vos-Caudill brought up the November election and noted anyone can go online to
govotecolorado.org to check their voter information and to update it if necessary. Dwight
Shellman, election manager, outlined the upcoming deadlines—October 9 to register to vote;
mail ballots being sent out October 15; early voting at the Pitkin County Clerk's office October
22 to November 2; last day to apply for a mail-in ballot to be mailed is October 30th; last day to
apply for a mail-in ballot to be picked up is November 2°d.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
1. Karinjo Devore, on behalf of Friends of Africa International, founded in Aspen in 1987,
told Council that organization is working within Africa on conservation issues. Suzy Weeks,
Mount Kenya Trust,told Council Mount Kenya supplies Kenya with water and with electricity
and is a world heritage site. The poaching of elephants for ivory is increasing. Ms. Weeks told
council her organization has been working with Friends of Africa for 12 years to generate funds
and work on conservation.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
1. Councilman Johnson reported the Aspen High School football team is undefeated and
thanked Council for helping with the game last Friday. There is another home game this Friday.
2. Councilman Frisch commended city staff on the community picnic; it was great to see
lots of community out to celebrate and have fun.
3. Councilman Frisch said the Maroon Bridge dedication was today and a plaque honoring
DRC Brown Sr. who came to Aspen in 1880 and bought the bridge for $1. There were 4
generations of the Brown family at the dedication.
4. Councilman Frisch brought up the housing work session September 27 and October 11.
Councilman Frisch said there are governance issues; decisions have to be made by City Council
and County Commissioners who only meet together 4 times/year, not enough time to address the
big issues. These two days are intended to cover 4 issues; retirement in affordable housing;
governance; who should be able to get into APCHA housing; capital reserve program. The
housing work session will be 5 Council, 5 BOCC, and 5 APCHA board members to work on
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council September 10,2012
these 4 issues and to outline possible solutions. The housing work sessions will not talk about
any specific HOAs and their issues.
5. Councilman Skadron thanked the Aspen Police Department for their gathering with
Council last week. It was informative, successful and Torre got tased.
6. Councilman Skadron thanked the volunteers and staff who made the picnic successful.
Councilman Skadron thanked the restaurants who participated in the second Mac `n' cheese
event.
7. Councilman Torre noted Little Annie's 401h anniversary was a community event and
brought together generations and generations of Aspenites.
8. Mayor Ireland noted the Brown family started Aspen down the path to using hydropower.
Aspen was the first lighted city west of the Mississippi. Ruth Brown is working on a committee
for the city's Castle Creek hydropower project.
9. Mayor Ireland reiterated the housing conference is not about any specific projects.
10. Ellen Hunt congratulated Council for the lessee at Justice Snow where there was a salon;
more than 75 people attended and it was wonderful.
11. Randy Ready, assistant city manager, thanked Council for serving at the community
picnic and the parks, golf and special event staff for putting the picnic together, and all the
employees who volunteered to work the picnic.
12. Randy Ready, assistant city manager, reminded Council the Healthy Mountain
Communities 8th annual State of the Valley conference is in Glenwood Springs Friday. The
focus is regional economic development.
14. Councilman Skadron reported he attended the Colorado Association of Ski Towns
meeting in Minturn last week. There were discussion on special events and multi-seasonal
planning and a panel discussion of the pro cycling challenge.
15. Councilman Torre announced the Sister Cities committee is meeting tomorrow and
encouraged people to attend and to hear from students who have been on exchanges.
16. Councilman Johnson noted Ruedi Reservoir is down about 25% from full capacity and
Roaring Fork Conservancy did not receive a grant they were anticipating and has requested
RWAPA grant that organization $9,000 to be considered by the board in the future.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Ireland moved to adopt the consent calendar; seconded by Councilman Johnson. The
consent calendar is:
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council September 10,2012
• Resolution#86, 2012—Contract with Heyl—Conduit for City Electrical Systems.
• Resolution#87, 2012—Contract Vehicle for APCHA—Ford Fusion
• Resolution#88, 2012—Lindsay parcel acquisition for open space
Councilman Skadron pointed out the memorandum regarding the contract with Heyl states this
will provide for more efficient operation of the city electrical system and asked what the
quantifiers are, what is the percentage of increase of efficiency. Andy Rossello, utility
department, told Council there have been system failures and the department has to cut open the
Durant street vault to find out what is broken. This will be more efficient for operations and
maintenance. The wire can be pulled out and spliced without shutting the whole area down.
All in favor, motion carried.
ORDINANCE 921, SERIES OF 2012—Hume Subdivision
This application is an amendment to a subdivision requesting that the current language in the
land use code apply regarding affordable housing mitigation.
Mayor Ireland opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Ireland closed the
public hearing.
Councilman Johnson moved to adopt Ordinance #21, Series of 2012, on second reading;
seconded by Mayor Ireland. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Torre, yes; Johnson, yes; Skadron,
yes; Frisch, yes; Mayor Ireland, yes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #22, SERIES OF 2012— Sales Tax Bonds Parks Projects
Stephen Ellsperman, parks department, told Council this is a$5.25 million bond issue to finance
capital improvements for parks and open space. Councilman Johnson agreed with the list of
projects but requested Council has input on the projects. Ellsperman said the projects will have
public input and Council review. Don Taylor, finance director, noted that the bond ordinance is
worded so that if the Council wants to re-allocate the money to different projects, it can be done
without an election.
Mayor Ireland opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Ireland closed the
public hearing.
Taylor pointed out this is set up as an emergency ordinance so that the city can take advantage of
the market. Councilman Frisch asked what the emergency is. Taylor said emergency ordinances
take effect immediately, no 30 day waiting period. Section 42 delineates the reason for the
emergency.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council September 10, 2012
Mayor Ireland moved to adopt Ordinance #22, Series of 2012, on second reading; seconded by
Councilman Skadron. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Johnson, yes; Torre, yes; Skadron, yes;
Frisch, yes; Mayor Ireland,yes. Motion carried.
435 WEST MAIN CALL UP
Amy Guthrie, community development department, reminded Council they requested the call up
of HPC's decision on the Jewish Community Center at 435 W. Main. Part of the original
approval was for a social hall; the applicants have amended the application to change that to a
parsonage for the Rabbi on site as a better us of the space and for the project. HPC reviewed the
amendment and approved the separate structure with some discussion about where this structure
should sit on the site. Staff supports this amendment. Councilman Skadron asked about scale
and mass and impact on the historic cabins. Ms. Guthrie said the historic cabins are about 300
square feet and the proposed structure is taller and larger; however, the new structure is stand
alone and the previous approval was for a continuous building across most of the block. HPC
feels this allows more yard and open space and is sympathetic to the historic cabins. HPC's
debate is how close the parsonage should be to the historic cabins. Councilman Skadron asked
the allowable height. Ms. Guthrie said it is 28' to the 1/3 point on the roof.
Alan Richman, representing the applicant, said the Rabbi's house will be used for other things,
like meals after services. Richman showed renderings of the Jewish Community Center and the
Rabbi's house and the relationship to the historic cabins. Richman showed where the pre-school
will be and the open space that would be used as the playground. Moving the parsonage
comprises the open space but protects the cabins. HPC's approval was for the parsonage to be
moved to the west, closer to the Community Center. Councilman Skadron asked if there is a
reduction in square footage from the original approval. Richman noted the original approval in
2006 was 20,000 square feet, which included a full basement, cabins and this proposal is 17,000
square feet and the community center is 12,000 square feet which will only be 85% of the
original approval. The spaces and uses are rearranged on site. Ms. Guthrie pointed out there will
be more reviews, essential public facility, growth management, to come before Council.
Councilman Skadron said he feels the overall site is improved.
Councilman Torre moved to accept HPC's recommendation; seconded by Councilman Skadron.
All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Ireland moved to go into executive session at 6:20 PM pursuant to C.R.S. 24-6-402(4) (b)
Conferences with an attorney for the local public body for the purposes of receiving legal advice
on specific legal questions and e) Determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to
negotiations; developing strategy for negotiations; and instructing negotiators; seconded by
Councilman Skadron. Jim True, city attorney, stated this is to discuss litigation on matters he
does not want to disclose. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Johnson moved to come out of executive session at 6:53 PM; seconded by
Councilman Torre. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Johnson moved to adjourn at 6:53 PM; seconded by Councilman Torre. All in
favor, motion carried.
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