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AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
November 9, 2020
4:00 PM, City Council Chambers
130 S Galena Street, Aspen
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I.WORK SESSION
I.A.Nordic Council/Trails and Open Space – Request for Cross Country Ski on Rio
Grande Trail
I.B.Winter Response Planning for Downtown Retail
I.C.2021 Recommended Budget Review -- 491 & 492 Truscott & Marolt Funds;
Smuggler, TII, ACI
1
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Chris Petersen – Nordic Coordinator
THROUGH: Matt Kuhn – Interim Parks and Open Space Director
MEMO DATE: November 5, 2020
MEETING DATE: November 9, 2020
RE: Rio Grande Trail winter maintenance
REQUEST OF COUNCIL:
The Aspen Snowmass Nordic Council has requested that City staff discontinue the plowing of
the paved portion of the Rio Grande Trail from the Aspen Post Office to Cemetery Lane during
the winter season, and that the Rio Grande Trail be groomed to provide a better trail experience
for both Nordic skiers and other trail users.
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The Rio Grande Trail (RGT) from Stein Park to the Aspen Post Office is a wonderful, year-round
amenity for Aspen residents and visitors. This section of trail is the up-valley terminus of the
Nordic Trail alignment running from Emma to Aspen, helping to fulfil the Aspen Snowmass
Nordic Trail System (ASNTS) concept of connecting our communities to one another through ski
trails.
This section of the RGT was originally left in its natural snow-covered state during the winter
until 2008 when a plan was put in place to groom half, and plow half to facilitate an alternate
bicycle commuter corridor.
At the January 28th, 2020, regular City Council meeting, representatives of the Aspen Snowmass
Nordic Council spoke during public comment, requesting the City to consider discontinuing the
plowing of this section of the Rio Grande Trail, in order to provide for a better experience for all
trail users.
DISCUSSION:
The idea of changing our current winter maintenance plan for this section of the RGT has been
under consideration for several seasons.
o Almost all commuter bike traffic in the winter utilizes the ABC trail and the Castle Creek
and Marolt pedestrian bridges.
o ASNTS grooming operators have had many difficult and dangerous experiences
grooming this section of trail. The raised, narrow nature of the compacted snow trail allows
for snowmobile grooming only, causing a steep drop on either side. Machinery has been
damaged multiple times while grooming this section.
2
o There are numerous utility vault covers along the trail alignment that cause the
surrounding snow to melt creating a “well effect” in the middle of the trail. This is not only
dangerous for the grooming operator but for skiers using the trail causing equipment
damage for skiers and machinery.
o Due to the narrow nature of this trail, there is only room for a set of classic ski tracks,
reducing the ability for skate skiers to enjoy this section of the Nordic trail system.
o Due to melting of the adjacent snow, black ice regularly forms on the plowed portion of
the trail creating a dangerous slip hazard for the hard-surface trail users.
The Aspen Snowmass Nordic Council, along with staff, began looking at alternatives to the
current RGT winter maintenance plan. The proposed plan follows the trend of other snow-
covered multi-use trails. There are currently four snow covered, multi-use trails within our Nordic
trail system: Marolt Trail, Labrador Lane at Snowmass, Bernese Boulevard on the Aspen Golf
Course, and the Rio Grande Trail. These trails are arguably some of our most used trail sections,
where people ski or walk on these dog-friendly trails, and can ride a fat bike on the Marolt and
RGT.
We have watched as The Town of Snowmass Village has successfully shifted from plowing trails
to leaving them as a groomed, packed-snow surface, helping to reduce the slip and fall factor
related to ice.
By grooming the Aspen section of the RGT and providing a packed trail surface we accomplish
several things:
Provide a safer multi-use surface for trail users
Provide a safer work environment for grooming operators and their equipment
Provide a higher quality Nordic skiing experience with a seamless connection of the full-
length, full-width groomed Nordic trail from Emma to Aspen
Provide another section of trail for fat bike use
A survey was initiated in March to gauge the response of trail users to the proposed changes
but was cut short due to Covid-19. Initial conversations indicated a broad spectrum of feelings
from “No, don’t change” to “Yes, this sounds great.” Unfortunately, it was a very small sample
size.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
By shifting to a trail wide packed snow platform, the Parks Department would decrease total man
hours needed to maintain the trail by eliminating the hours spent on snow removal. The Nordic
program already has budget approval for equipment capable of maintaining the packed snow
platform.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
Fuel consumption will likely be reduced by shifting to one piece of machinery.
3
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Continue to maintain the trail as we are currently with a 50/50 split between plowed trail
surface and Nordic groomed surface.
2. Use Nordic grooming techniques to provide a firmly packed snow surface across the full
width of the trail.
3. Eliminate the Nordic grooming and plow the trail down to the asphalt across the full width
of the trail after each snowstorm.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Nordic staff recommend leaving snow on the RGT beginning December 1st with the
understanding that this is a season-long trial. Staff do not recommend that a shorter trial be
considered due to uncertainty on snow depths and the time associated with developing a
compacted surface.
Snow will be groomed regularly and after each snow event to provide a multi-use packed snow
surface for trail users. Staff will evaluate trail conditions and monitor trail use as the season
progresses to determine if any alterations need to be made. We will continue to groom the
snowpacked trail if it is practical, plowing the trail to asphalt around April 1st.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
4
MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor and City Council
FROM:Mitch Osur, Director of Parking and Downtown Services
Tish Aragon, P.E. City Engineer
THRU: Scott Miller, Public Works Director
DATE OF MEMO: November 5, 2020
MEETING DATE: November 9, 2020
RE:Retail Activation in the Right of Way
REQUEST OF COUNCIL:
Provide the City Council with an update regarding retail activation in the Right of Way for the
winter season and seek City Council consensus to allow additional warming stations, paid by
retailers to occupancy space on the street.
BACKGROUND:
In early June City Council approved activation on the city streets for both retailers and
restaurants. This activation was in effect from early June through November 1, 2020 and has
helped local businesses navigate through the initial economic impact caused by the COVID 19
Pandemic.
As part of this program eleven (11) restaurants were permitted to activate in the street and seven
(7) restaurants activated on the sidewalk utilizing 30 parking spaces. The experience of these
restaurants was very positive from both a business and visitor perspective. Based on what was
learned during the summer, the WAV Team presented a plan to allow restaurants to activate in a
similar fashion during the winter season. On October 7th City Council agreed with the staff
recommendation.
Also, as part of the program there were nine (9) retailers that activated in the street using 17
parking spaces. In contrast to the restaurants the experiences with the retailers was not as well
received. From a staff perspective, the majority of retailers took advantage of the situation and
violated the spirt of the plan. For example, many of the retailers only activated two or three days
5
a week. Some retailers actually rented their outdoor space to another business. Conflicts were
created when a retailer was placed on the street which interfered with other businesses on the
street level.
The summer experience for retail businesses informed the WAV Team to recommend that no
retail be placed in the public Right of Way this winter. City Council suggested that staff consider
retail use of the public Right of Way on a short-term basis to promote events such as a winter
market, sidewalk sales, etc. Staff agrees this is possible on the sidewalk under certain
circumstances. However, the planning and execution of short-term activation in the street Right
of Way may be cost prohibited. The logistics of moving parked vehicles and setting up protective
barriers in the short term is labor intensive and can be inhibited by weather events.
Through the public engagement efforts of the City and ACRA, it was discovered that many
retailers with small floor areas and high-end merchandise are concerned about limits to the
number of customers who can occupy the retail space. Staff would like to accommodate these
requests as long as public safety can be maintained.
Staff is recommending a creative solution that preserves public safety, is cost neutral to the City,
and provides a warm waiting area for potential consumers. This solution entails allowing
retailers to construct warming stations, which would be open to the public, built at their own
expense. For example, Kemo Sabe presented a proposal to construct a warming station in front
of their business, occupying the parking spaces they utilized this summer. This warming station
would be constructed at the owner’s expense with no City funds involved. As a condition of
approval, any member of the public would be allowed to use this space. The schematic of this
proposal is attached.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS:
None, no city funds would be involved.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The WAV team recommends that additional warming stations, paid for by a retail establishment
and open to the general public, be permitted to occupy the Right of Way in strategic locations
throughout the Downtown Core.
ALTERNATIVES:
1.Allow retail in the public Right of Way throughout the Downtown Core this
winter.
2.Permit retail to fund additional warming stations open to the general public in the
Downtown Core.
3.Do nothing
ATTACHMENTS:
Schematic drawing of Kemo Sabe proposal
Winter Activation Map
6
.
7
STRUCTURAL DIMENSIONS: 26’ X 12’
OUR ORIGINAL PLANS FOR THE OUTDOOR SPACE WE CURRENTLY HAVE ARE 4’ FROM THE NORTHERLY PARKIKNG SPACE AND 2’ FROM THE
SOUTHERLY ALLEY –LATERALLY WE ARE 18” FROM THE CURB
I MEASURED THE INTERIOR OF THE HAY (WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 20” WIDE) TO GIVE US SOME ROOM FOR THE JERSEY BARRIER –IT LOOKS
LIKE THE STANDARD BASE WIDTH IS 24” SO WE CAN BRING IN THE DIMENSIONS SOME FOR THIS IF NEEDED.
BENCH SEATING WILL GO ALONG THE INTERIOR WALL WITH 6’ DISTANCE BETWEEN EACH –WITH SMALL COFFEE TABLES IN EACH SEATING AREA
8
9
2021 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT
Smuggler, Truscott II, Aspen Country Inn
10
Changes to Original 2021 Proposed Budget
2
•Proposed Council Salary Changes Worked in for 2021
o $29,000 from General Fund –75% in Year 1 + Taxes
•Increase Payment to APCHA for City’s Share of Subsidy
o $70,450 increase in 150 Housing Development Fund
•Adjust Property Management Costs Paid to APCHA
o $20,090 increase in Truscott I Fund
o $30,000 decrease in Marolt Fund
•Updated CIRSA Premium
o $15,720 Increase Citywide (most funds
•Tobacco Tax Funding to Aspen School District
o $250,000 increase to General Fund
•2021 Projected Opening Balances (Increased $76K)
11
2020 Orig.
Budget 2021 Budget $ Change %
Change
Revenues $151,495,585 $136,886,998 ($14,608,587)(9.6%)
Base Operating: On-Going $75,985,910 $74,884,300 ($1,101,610)(1.4%)
Base Operating: One-Time $891,000 N/A ($891,000)N/A
Supplementals N/A $1,329,240 $1,329,240 N/A
Reductions $0 ($1,975,410)($1,975,410)N/A
Total Operating $76,876,910 $74,238,130 ($2,638,780)(3.4%)
Capital Outlay $28,660,750 $59,426,280 $30,765,530 107.3%
Debt Service $7,408,320 $7,294,958 ($113,362)(1.5%)
Net Appropriations $112,945,980 $140,959,368 $28,013,388 24.8%
Transfers $34,501,270 $27,054,440 ($7,446,830)(21.6%)
Total Appropriations $147,447,250 $168,013,808 $20,566,558 13.9%
Ending Fund Balance $127,354,152 $129,640,748 $2,286,596 1.8%
Adoption Meetings
3
•Tues. Nov 10:
o 1st Reading of Fee Ordinance & Investment Policies Resolutions
•Tues. Nov 24:
o 2nd Reading of Fee Ordinance, Budget Resolutions, & Mill Levy Resolution
12
2021 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT
Smuggler Housing Fund (622 Fund)
NOVEMBER 9, 2020Cindy Christensen / Andrew Kramer 13
The Property
5
•11 Low Income Units
14
Revenues and Expenditures
6
$75,134
$78,530
$0
$20,000
$40,000
$60,000
$80,000
$100,000
$120,000
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Revenues Expenditures 15
Fund Balance
7
$397,434
$9,816
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
$250,000
$300,000
$350,000
$400,000
$450,000
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Funds Available 12.5% Uses Reserve
Low Operating and
No Capital =
Low Target Reserve
16
Revenues Sources
8
$130
$2,004
$73,000
$0 $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000
Other Revenues
Investment Income
Rental Income -
Permanent
17
Expenditures by Program
9
$3,000
$8,760
$9,360
$15,320
$42,090
$0 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 $40,000 $45,000
GF Overhead
Property Management
General Administration
Capital
Property Maintenance
0.17 FTE
18
2021 Capital Projects
10
$1,620
$4,400
$4,600
$4,700
$0 $1,000 $2,000 $3,000 $4,000 $5,000
Individual Hot Water Heater
Replacement
Carpet & Vinyl Replacement
Appliance Replacement
Asphalt Seal Coat
19
11
Questions?
20
2021 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT
Truscott II Housing Fund (641 Fund)
NOVEMBER 9, 2020Cindy Christensen/ Andrew Kramer 21
The Property
13
•87 Long-Term Units
•Previously Funded Tax Credit Project
22
On The Horizon
14
•Structural Concerns @ 200 & 300 Buildings
•LURA Restrictions Through 2032
•Redevelopment Opportunity & Outstanding CHFA Loan
•Partnership Structure
23
Revenues & Expenditures
15
$1,162,180
$1,328,880
$0
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$800,000
$1,000,000
$1,200,000
$1,400,000
$1,600,000
$1,800,000
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Revenues Expenditures 24
Fund Balance
16
$368,304
$166,110
$0
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$800,000
$1,000,000
$1,200,000
$1,400,000
$1,600,000
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Funds Available 12.5% Uses Reserve
Building
Reserves for
Future
Capital
Projects
25
Revenue Sources
17
$3,800
$7,000
$29,380
$1,122,000
$0 $300,000 $600,000 $900,000 $1,200,000
Investment Income
Section 8 Housing
Assistance
Other Revenues
Rental Income -
Permanent
26
Expenditures By Program
18
$83,280
$134,760
$313,900
$396,940
$400,000
$0 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000
General Administration
Property Management
Property Maintenance
Debt Service
Capital
27
2021 Capital Projects
19
$400,000
$0 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000
Painting 10-70 and 200-300
Buildings
28
20
Questions?
29
2021 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT
Aspen Country Inn Housing Fund (642 Fund)
NOVEMBER 9, 2020Cindy Christensen/ Andrew Kramer 30
The Property
22
•40 Long-Term Units with Senior Priority
•Tax Credit Project (2019 Final Payment Received)
31
Revenues & Expenditures
23
$373,020
$359,810
$0
$100,000
$200,000
$300,000
$400,000
$500,000
$600,000
$700,000
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Revenues Expenditures 32
Fund Balance
24
Works Differently from Other City Funds
•Required Operating Reserve of $122,190
•Increasing Replacement Reserve of $14,000 / Yr.Fully
Funded
Additional Operating Revenues
•Deferred Developer Fee: $60K
•City Loan ($2.583M)
33
Revenue Sources
25
$2,650
$4,650
$10,380
$355,340
$0 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000
Other Revenues
Laundry
Section 8 Housing
Assistance
Rental Income -
Permanent
34
Expenditures By Program
26
$27,260
$42,740
$138,270
$151,540
$0 $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 $120,000 $140,000 $160,000
General Administration
Property Management
Debt Service
Property Maintenance
35
27
Questions?
36