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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.regular.20200811 1 REGULAR MEETING ASPEN CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 11, 2020 At 5:00 p.m. Mayor Torre called the regular meeting to order with Councilmembers Richards, Mesirow, Mullins and Hauenstein joining via video conference. SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCE: Rich Englehart, Interim Airport Director Mr. Englehart said this past week, there was a meeting with the board of directors’ recently and there will be a meeting this Thursday, as a :rolling meeting” with public comment, and we are offering a sign up on the Pitkin county website. We are encouraging as much input as we possibly can. People are welcome to come, but only a limited number are allowed to be in person. Councilwoman Richards said the airport couldn’t be in better hands and asked where the viewing public could find documents. Mr. Englehart directed folks to www.pitkincounty.com/signup and said all of the information is there, including a full report, addendums, etc. Councilman Mesirow mentioned the huge reduction in traffic and how those systemic changes are being worked into this process and asked if those things are being considered to alter the path we were on previously. Mr. Englehart said they’ve taken a look and are anticipating a dip for a four-year path. The project has definitely been kicked out for at least two years. This may be an 11-year project now. It’s changed the timeframe. CITIZEN COMMENTS: None. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilman Hauenstein said you can’t go anywhere without face coverings anymore and we’re all in this together. We all wish we had a playbook, but we’re writing as we go. Councilman Mesirow said the valley is rallying behind public health. We are all being each other’s keepers in a more comprehensive way. We need to be proactively thinking about the winter and mountain constraints. He is eager to get these conversations rolling. Councilwoman Mullins said they finished the final review of the arts and nonprofit grants. It’s a fun thing to be able to do during a trying time. She doesn’t know what the next round is going to look like. There won’t be much relaxing but digging in more. Mayor Torre said we’ve all received a stark reminder about fire safety. There is a lot of acreage being burned currently in Glenwood Springs. The hot and dry conditions outside with a little breeze is perfect for wildfire. We need to be vigilant and observe all fire restrictions. He wished all the best to Glenwood and the surrounding areas. This community has done a great job dealing with the pandemic. He wants to remind businesses and visitors that we are in this together. You can see some places doing it well and examples of places getting lax. Continue your vigilance. We have to work together in the spirit of fairness. This is a call out to the community to do your part. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Sara Ott said the health protection team that the city developed is up and running. She is still seeking applicants. Mike Sear is a recent hire and is a citizen academy graduate, who also has a lot of retail experience here in Aspen. ACRA is moving forward well with the street team and have made a lot of 2 REGULAR MEETING ASPEN CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 11, 2020 contact on masks. The APD has had contact with over 4000 individuals so far. They are seeing 90-95% compliance at this time, which is a big success. There is still additional signage and resources going out and we are purchasing furniture to compliment what we already have downtown. We are looking to future and are focused on two main areas: strategic testing and the ski season and what the state’s role is. The governor took swift actions effecting our ski season initially, but we are looking at whether local public health agencies can have these controls moving forward. We will be digging into this later this week and will be coordinating with our partners at the county. We need to know expectations. Staff is currently working on a virtual town hall conversation. We want to know what the business experience has been like so far this summer and what do they see as the opportunity and challenges as we move into winter. We are putting this together to work closely with everyone and will have a listening session. We need to get a sense of how people are feeling before the next big push. BOARD REPORTS: Councilwoman Mullins said there will be a RFTA meeting on Thursday and a CAST meeting regarding ski areas, as well as a Reudi Water and Power Authority meeting coming up. Councilman Hauenstein said there is a CCLC meeting coming up focused on the Saturday market for the most part. Our is looking better than other towns who’ve had to shut down their markets recently. Hats off to Mitch and CCLC with some hard-working members. Mayor Torre said we don’t have the manpower to run another block of vendors right now for the market, but maybe CCLC should think about virtual marketplace. This may be another opportunity to discuss some other ideas. Councilman Hauenstein said the will is there will CCLC and there has been some uptick in positive tests recently, which is working against us but the will is there. Councilman Mesirow said it seems to him that we have a huge challenge going into the winter going from outdoor to indoor environments. We need to find tools to increase people or we need to find ways to provide outdoor space in the winter. He said he’s already heard a few ideas and possibly a winter market taking over Wagner Park. We need to encourage these conversations and start soon and creatively. Councilwoman Richards said that in thinking about the winter, years ago, there was an event at the ARC with a large fundraiser. There was a large tent in Wagner park where a band played. We need to think about these ideas for this winter. She’s open to taking a look at these opportunities. CONSENT CALENDAR: Councilman Mesirow pulled resolution #068 and Mayor Torre pulled #051 and #063. Mayor Torre asked Tyler Christoff about resolution #051, and Mr. Christoff explained the resolution numbers as contracts, vendors and acceptance of a grant. Jim True said they were a part of the packet and all can be approved. Councilman Hauenstein said he supports this. Mayor Torre said it’s a large project, and he’s lucky to get some funding resources. This seems to be a total package here. He asked if there will be further annual costs and Mr. Christoff said yes, but relatively minor. There will be software costs as well. Councilwoman Mullins asked about a completion date and Mr. Christoff said it will run from November 2020 through November 2021. Councilwoman Mullins said she is very supportive. Regarding resolution #063, Mayor Torre asked about design elements, but looking through this contract, he didn’t really see this represented again. He’s wondering if all of this is still in place with the vendor. 3 REGULAR MEETING ASPEN CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 11, 2020 Chris Everson said all of those elements are part of the site-built components for the building and will be included in the general contractor’s scope of work. Councilman Hauenstein said he is still interested in doing a site visit. He hasn’t ruled out a road trip to Boise. Councilman Mesirow said we are choosing the best option and most affordable. Councilwoman Mullins said she is fascinated by this and asked if our city staff been to any completed projects by these people. Mr. Everson said he has been to the factory and has seen their quality control process. He’s only seen pictures of projects but going to the plant and seeing the work that occurs and how each module moves from station to station, and how the quality assurance happens as it goes, is really fascinating. Councilwoman Richards said this type of construction modular are faster and quicker. We drilled down on the noise transmission and she is comfortable with the contract. Regarding resolution #068, Councilman Mesirow said there is a huge hunger from a lot of expert individuals on this project. This next phase in talking to Sara and Chris, is the time when these ideas can best filter in. Councilwoman Richards said she wants to go forward with what we have on the table tonight. She doesn’t want to start over on this. There are some opportunities for what Skippy is talking about regarding the lumberyard and other projects. She spoke about the design competition with Mayor Klanderud at the time for the Burlingame project. Councilwoman Mullins said she is supportive. Mayor Torre said he has one concern regarding the parameters of what DHM will present after public input because they may be limiting the creative nature. He’s hopeful, however. Mr. Everson said this contract is designed to take council comments provided on July 6th in the work session as a jumping off point and then get community feedback based on those comments. Mayor Torre asked if this was put out to bid and Scott Miller said this was part of an RFP process when DHM was originally selected for this and there has been some aggressive public input on this. Councilwoman Mullins motioned to approve the consent calendar, Councilman Mesirow seconded. Roll call vote: Hauenstein, yes; Mesirow, yes; Mullins, yes; Richards, yes; Torre, yes. All in favor, motion carried. FIRST READING – ORDINANCE #10, SERIES OF 2020 – Water Shortages Code Steve Hunter, Utility Resource Manager, said staff is seeking approval for Ordinance #10. Council saw this in draft format at the July 13th work session. This provides staff with a strategic plan for drought and water shortages. Councilwoman Mullins motioned to read, Councilman Hauenstein seconded. Roll call vote: Hauenstein, yes; Mesirow, yes; Mullins, yes; Richards, yes; Torre, yes. All in favor, motion carried. City Clerk, Nicole Henning read the ordinance. Mr. Hunter gave a little history on this as compared to 2018. Councilwoman Mullins encouraged stricter water restrictions if necessary. Councilwoman Richards motioned to approve; Councilwoman Mullins seconded. 4 REGULAR MEETING ASPEN CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 11, 2020 Roll call vote: Hauenstein, yes; Mesirow, yes; Mullins, yes; Richards, yes; Torre, yes. All in favor, motion carried. ACTION ITEMS – Resolution #067, Series of 2020 - Extension of Silver Circle Temporary Use Continuation Councilman Hauenstein motioned to continue to August 25th, 2020, Councilwoman Mullins seconded. Roll call vote: Hauenstein, yes; Mesirow, yes; Mullins, yes; Richards, yes; Torre, yes. All in favor, motion carried. ISIS Theater Building Debt Service – Pete Strecker said he is looking for direction with how to proceed. Last we spoke together; it was around the aspect of Aspen Film renewing an extension of their operating lease with Metropolitan Film. The theatre doors are not open yet and they are having some difficulty making lease payments at this time. The debt obligation is due on September 1st, and we would take the existing balance of $49,000 and would use 80,000 from general fund to make the debt payment. Council could approve a short-term loan. Councilwoman Richards said she believes it was discussed that the note itself might be potentially re- financeable at a lower rate and asked if that is still in the works and Mr. Strecker said yes, and that it has taken time to get some additional bank bids. We do have a very viable bid at this point in time, which would enable us to move forward and save some money. Councilwoman Richards said it’s far too great an asset to let go of, and she supports staff’s recommendation. She said that every cultural institution in our country is suffering right now and we need to step up. Councilman Hauenstein said what an asset the Isis is and that it is his responsibility to ask some questions. The Isis group sold a couple of commercial units and he asked where the funds have gone. He also asked if the Metropolitan has made any payments thus far and what the guarantee is that we get paid back. Mr. Strecker said the payments for the retail spaces, there was a separate transaction with the buyer and the Isis retail group for market value and they had to pay off the remaining debt placed on that property and the city was reimbursed. There is a question of how we want this repaid if it’s a loan or a grant and that is up to council at this point. There is no absolute or guarantees at this point. We can always make modifications to the lease for payback as well. Susan Wrubel said that Metropolitan has not paid anything so far since the theater has not been allowed to open. Councilwoman Mullins said she is supportive of putting the money forward from the general fund and supportive of the refinance and hopes we can open up the Isis sooner than later. Mayor Torre summed up that we support using the 80k from the general fund and we do also support the refinance. At this time, we are looking to modify the sublease for a deferral period of two years for the 80k as direction for Mr. Strecker to move forward with. Resolution #070, Series of 2020 – IGA for Inspection Services Mayor Torre and Phillip Supino both voiced their pleasure at seeing Stephen Kanipe back in the fold. Mr. Kanipe said this is an agreement between the town of Snowmass Village and the town of Basalt and we have a lot in common with them. We all need this mutual aid when we are in these times of 5 REGULAR MEETING ASPEN CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 11, 2020 uncertainty. We may be able to turn this into a more efficient and effective way to do inspections as we have been crazy busy lately with 30 to 40 inspections a day. Councilman Hauenstein motioned to adopt resolution #070, Councilwoman Mullins seconded. Roll call vote: Hauenstein, yes; Mesirow, yes; Mullins, yes; Richards, yes; Torre, yes. All in favor, motion carried. Ms. Ott asked to give an update on the Grizzly Creek fire. She said the fire has grown today and is at 0% containment and jumped the Colorado river today and is now on the south side. There are evacuations happening at No Name and Bear Ranch. We are in touch with Glenwood partners to provide remote help and I-70 is closed until further notice. Glenwood has also changed their water source to the Roaring Fork River due to concerns over contamination. Councilwoman Richards motioned to adjourn; Councilman Mesirow seconded. Roll call vote: Hauenstein, yes; Mesirow, yes; Mullins, yes; Richards, yes; Torre, yes. All in favor, motion carried. ______________________ Nicole Henning, City Clerk