Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19971124Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 Mayor Pro Tem Richards called the meeting to order at 5:10 with Councilmembers Paulson, Markalunas, and Vickery present. OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE BONUS AWARD Mayor Pro Tem Richards and Council presented Julie Lampton, Wheeler Opera House, with an outstanding employee bonus award. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were none. COUNCILMEMBERS COMMENTS 1. Mayor Pro Tem Richards thanked Council for bearing the load while she was out of town. 2. Councilman Markalunas noted this week is Thanksgiving and Council should give thanks to all the people who contribute their time to Aspen. 3. Randy Ready, assistant city manager, announced that Barbara Umbreit, community relations director, has accepted a position in Snowmass and will be leaving the city December 19th. Also, the city' s asset manager, David Hauter, will be leaving this week. He will stay on a contract basis through 2 remaining major projects. 4. Randy Ready, assistant city manager, said there is a meeting December 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. to look at the question of how to move skiers and commuters between Aspen and Snowmass. 5. Randy Ready, assistant city manager, announced an open house November 251h at the Wheeler Opera House to look at all the work on the downtown Enhancement Plan done by the citizen's committee. 6. City Attorney John Worcester asked Council to move Ordinance #43, Series of 1997, Tennis Townhomes Extension of Vested Rights, to the consent calendar. Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 Councilman Markalunas moved to move Ordinance #43, Series of 1997, Tennis Townhomes Extension of Vested Rights, to the consent calendar; seconded by Councilman Vickery. All in favor, motion carried. 7. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said Council needs to set up interviews for the joint housing board appointment. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Markalunas moved to read Ordinances #37, 41, 40, 42 and 43; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE N0. 37 (SERIES OF 1997) AN ORDINANCE OF THE ASPEN CITY COUNCIL APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 26 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, LAND USE REGULATIONS, SECTION 26.100.040 "ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT ALLOTMENTS"; SECTION 26.100.060 "DEVELOPMENT ALLOTMENT PROCEDURES"; AND SECTION 26.102.060 "PROCEDURE AND STANDARDS FOR DEVELOPMENT ALLOTMENT" RELATED TO THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT QUOTA SYSTEM. ORDINANCE NO. 41 Series of 1997 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, APPROVING A WATER SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH DR. RICHARD C. PHIl LIPS, RAYMOND N. AUGER, AND ALBERT G. TIMROTH AND DONNA M. TIMROTH FOR PROVISION OF TREATED WATER SERVICE TO A PRIVATE WATER SYSTEM TO SERVE THEIR PROPERTIES LOCATED ON NORTH SPRUCE STREET AND KNOWN AS 709, 770, AND 777 NORTH SPRUCE STREET. ORDINANCE NO 40 (Series of 1997) 2 Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 AN ORDINANCE RECOGNIZING GENERAL FUND REVENUE OF $10,000; APPROPRIATING GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES OF $185,686; TRANSFERRING $10,000 FROM THE HOUSING/DAYCARE FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND; RECOGNIZING WHEELER REVENUES OF $156,000; APPROPRIATING WHEELER FUND EXPENDITURES OF $264,032; APPROPRIATING PARKS & OPEN SPACE FUND EXPENDITURES OF $64,300; APPROPRIATING HOUSING/DAYCARE FUND EXPENDITURES OF $5,000; APPROPRIATING WATER FUND EXPENSES OF $10,000; APPROPRIATING WATER PLACE HOUSING FUND EXPENDITURES OF $4,353,415; RECOGNIZING LOTTERY FUND REVENUES OF $144,910. ORDINANCE NO. 42 Series of 1997 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF ASPEN BY AMENDING SECTIONS 2.12.020, 2.12.030, 2.12.040, 2.12.050(b), 2.12.050(d), 2.12.060, 2.12.080, 2.12.090,2.12.100, AND 26.04.060 TO INCREASE LAND USE APPLICATION FEES, I-HSTORIC PRESERVATION APPLICATION FEES, ZONING PROCESSING AND ENFORCEMENT FEES, ASPEN ICE GARDEN USER FEES, JAMES E. MOORE POOL USER FEES, MISCELLANEOUS LEISURE AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT USER FEES, MISCELLANEOUS POLICE DEPARTMENT FEES, MISCELLANEOUS DOG LICENSING FEES, AND PARKING FEES ORDINANCE #43 (Series of 1997) AN ORDINANCE OF THE ASPEN CITY COUNCIL GRANTING A ONE MONTH EXTENSION OF THE 1990 RESIDENTIAL GMQS ALLOTMENTS AND VESTED RIGHTS GRANTED BY ORDINANCE NO. 14, SERIES OF 1991, AND EXTENDED BY ORDINANCE NO. 22, SERIES OF 1994, ORDINANCES NO. 10, SERIES OF 1995, ORDINANCE 39, SERIES OF 1995, ORDINANCE NO. 6, SERIES OF 1996, ORDINANCE NO. 27, SERIES OF 1996, ORDINANCE NO. 5, SERIES OF 1997, AND ORDINANCE NO. 30 SERIES OF 1997, OF LOT 6 OF THE ASPEN MEADOWS SPECIALLY PLANNED AREA, CITY OF ASPEN, PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO were read by the city clerk Councilman Vickery requested Ordinance #37, Series of 1997, be put on action items. 3 Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 Councilman Markalunas moved to adopt the consent calendar as amended; seconded by Councilman Paulson. The consent calendar is: Minutes - November 10, 1997 Kids' First Board Appointments - Jeff Hanle, Heather Morse, Erlinda Moorehead Ordinance #41, 1997 - North Spruce Street Water Extension Ordinance #40, 1997 - Appropriations Fee Waiver Request - Kids' Stuff Foundation Silver Lining Ranch Resolution #85, 1997 - 1/2 Cent Transportation Expenditures Ordinance #42, 1997 - 1998 Fees Ordinance #43, 1997 - Tennis Townhomes Extension of Vested rights All in favor, motion carried. RESOLUTION #83, SERIES OF 1997 - 1998 Budget Sheila Steinauer, budget director, reminded Council this is the second year of a two year and formula based budget. The formula in the expenditures is a $.5% increase over 1997. Revenues are $35,439,038 and expenditures are $33,915,979. Ms. Steinauer told Council sales tax revenues account for 33% of city revenue. Ms. Steinauer noted the additions to the 1998 budget in the general fitnd are recreation program of $27,000; two employees going from part time to fidl time in personnel and community development; an engineering intern and a temporary treasurer. Ms. Steinauer told Council the general fitnd has a healthy cash over reserve balance of $609,000. All city fitnds are in excellent conditions with 1998 cash balances surpassing required reserves. Mayor Pro Tem Richards opened the public hearing. There were no comments. 4 Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 Council continued the public hearing and the budget to the December 15th Council meeting. RESOLUTION #84, SERIES OF 1997 - 1998 Mill Levy Sheila Steinauer, budget director, told Council this proposes the mill levy be the same as last year at 5.401 mills. The assessed valuation of Aspen is $463,891,000 and earns revenue of $2,505,477, of which $1,925,613 is for the general asset management fitnd. Mayor Pro Tem Richards opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Council continued this to the December 15th Council meeting. COZY POINT REOUEST FOR PROPOSALS Rebecca Schickling, parks department, reminded Council the city has owned Cozy Point for 3 years. It was purchased for affordable housing, to preserve open space at the entrance to Aspen, and to preserve equestrian facilities. The city purchased this very quickly to see what the possibilities were and to prevent possible development. No master plan has been done for this area. Ms. Schickling noted some private parties have approached the city to purchase Cozy Point. At that time, the city decided to develop an RFP to see what proposals for the property might be. The city formed a task force to review the RFPs to see if it included everything the city wanted to preserve for Cozy Point. Ms. Schickling said there are strong feelings to preserve the equestrian uses as one of the last publicly accessed facilities in the valley. A majority of the task force feels the city should retain ownership of Cozy Point. The task force is recommending to proceed with the RFPs but with more flexibility and to see what creative solutions there may be in the community. Ms. Schickling introduced the task force members present; Tim McFlynn, Monroe Summers, Randy Bolton, Cathy Honea, the manager of Cozy Point. McFlynn said this 205 acres were purchased for $3 million. McFlynn said there has been a chunk taken out of the property for the highway. Since this is just being complete, McFlynn requested Council take more time on the disposition of this property. McFlynn said one idea is the resurrection of the recreation district for this Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 property. McFlynn said the task force can do more work, if there is more time. The task force members have indicated they are willing to continue to participate. Steve Barwick, assistant city manager, said this is not a decision to sell but is merely the issuance of a request for proposal for sale of the property. This will help the city look at what to do with Cozy Point. Ed Korn said he feels it would be a mistake for the city to sell the property without a very set plan. Korn said he does not feel this property should be developed except for some small amount of affordable housing. Councilman Paulson said he is not anxious to sell the property bm to hold onto it for the fitture. Councilman Paulson said he would like the property be available to the public. Mayor Pro Tem Richards agreed this is a land banking type of purchase in an area that would be under development potential. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said the original thought was 17 acres on the downvalley side for affordable housing, which is still a valid site for affordable housing. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said if the city does go forward with a RFP, she would like to see this in a long time line. Mayor Pro Tem Richards noted the county is doing a mid-valley master plan; the city is updating the AACP housing component. There will be a housing roundtable discussion in the next several months. How Cozy Point fits into all this should not be decided before all this work. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said one issue is the money to operate an equestrian center. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said the city does not have money set aside for operation of an equestrian center, like operating an ice rink. Without county-wide participation, the city is unable to expand any recreation programs. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said she does not feel this would be a good site for a recreation center; it is in the highway corridor; the view plane is essential. The housing envisioned for this location was very small scale, compact and clustered. Councilman Markalunas agreed the preservation of this property is very important; however, a key player has been left out - the Town of Snowmass Village. Councilman Markalunas said he favors keeping the property and trying to work with a private equestrian operation and to plan some housing units. Councilman Markalunas thanked Tim McFlynn for all his efforts on this property and on the Hummingbird open space as well. Councilman Vickery said this is a strategic parcel and it was a wise purchase of the city. Councilman Vickery said he supports keeping the parcel as long as there is a long range plan for the property. Councilman Vickery supports going forward with the requests for proposals just looking for options of what to do with the property. 6 Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 Cathy Honea, manager of the property, told Council she feels Cozy Point ranch can stand on its own. It cannot pay its debt service but could operate without a subsidy. An operator with a long term lease could do some of the repairs. Mayor Pro Tem Richards pointed out there is no long term capital analysis for Cozy Point, what the repairs in 5 or 10 years will be. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said Council needs this information before they can make decisions. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said she would also like to know what trails could be accessed from this ranch for equestrian riders. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said there is going to be a housing symposium which might give some clarity to affordable housing and the county' s goals for that, it might give Council more information with which to evaluate the proposals for this property. Council agreed the request for proposal should give at least a 90 day time frame. Mayor Pro Tem suggested having the task force continue and refine the ideas. Ms. Margemm recommended Council officially appoint a task force as the previous group was self-elected. Ms. Margemm suggested someone from the asset planning committee be added to the group. The task force should be as broad based as possible. This task force can also help Council evaluate the RFPs. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said Council may also want to look at different financing scenarios if the city decides to keep Cozy Point. Councilman Vickery said he is interested in a long range vision for Cozy Point, what is the long range value of the property, what could be done with the property as well as technical master planning of the property. Ms. Margemm said Council needs to answer policy questions, such as how much public access would the Council expect from a private purchaser, can free market rates be charged for horses. Ms. Margemm said staff can do the master planning and come back to Council and find out the policy answers on housing, how much housing, where would the housing be located. Councilman Vickery said Council should open the process to anyone who is interested and then Council can look at which proposal suits the long term goals of the City. McFlynn said there are a lot of restrictions on this property and anyone interested would have to do a lot of research to find all these restrictions. McFlynn said people interested should know Council' s minimum matrix of conditions. Mayor Pro Tem Richards agreed there should be a packet of material available that is all the technical information, the restrictions on the land, what is known about operations, maintenance capital and the county process. Ms. Margemm suggested a 7 Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 representative of the county on the task force so that the master plan will fit that of Pitkin County. Cathy Honea, operator, told Council she has worked hard on public access in all equestrian disciplines and making it open for everyone. People who do not board horses there can bring them in for riding. Ms. Margemm suggested staff take this information, brainstorm and come back to Council with a specific process, a one page outline of where the city is going with Cozy Point. Mayor Pro Tem suggested contacting the county to see if they are interested in a master plan process with the city. Councilman Markalunas said the city should not lose sight of the fact that the property was purchased to preserve it from inappropriate development. The city should develop a long range plan for the property. Councilman Markalunas said this property may include a rail envelope. ORDINANCE #37, SERIES OF 1997 - Code Amendment GMQS Julie Ann Woods, community development department, recommended 3 changes to the growth management section of the code. These are (1) streamline the appeal process; (2) allow for amendment to the application when there is no competition, and (3) allow certain exempt flee market and affordable projects to get multi-year allotments. Ms. Woods said this will allow for more consistency with the county code. Councilman Vickery asked if there is a definition for "exceptional" projects. Ms. Woods said there are standards listed; staff evaluates whether a project gets to the scoring process. Councilman Vickery said a minimum standard in each category is established and it seems that an exceptional project could be numerically quantified. John Worcester suggested when the city goes through the AACP review, they may want to discuss quantifying exceptional projects. Worcester said there are standards and criteria the growth management commission uses to decide what an exceptional project is. Council agreed that "exceptional" ought to be defined. Councilman Vickery moved to adopt Ordinance #37, Series of 1997, on first reading; seconded by Councilman Paulson. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Markalunas, yes; Vickery, yes; Paulson, yes; Mayor Pro Tem Richards, yes. Motion carried Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 RESOLUTION #86, 1997 - Independence Pass Plaza Project Councilman Paulson said he has more of a conflict of interest on this project than he did 4 years ago. Councilman Paulson said he is concerned about where the city is headed with this project and if this is the right way for the city to go. Councilman Paulson said he will step aside for this subject. Stan Clauson, community development director, said staff is pursuing the appropriateness of this project as directed by Council. Clauson said over the years, citizens committees have recommended to the city that this is a project worth considering. Staff is working to form it into a userid project for the community. Clauson reminded Council the city received a scaled down plan in late 1995. A number of meetings on that plan was held during 1996. Staff did two studies with consultants, the economic basis for the project to determine if it is feasible, and an urban design study to look at bulk and massing in the latest version. Clauson said staff is here to present the design charette findings, to request design review committee approval, and to request a small budget for this process. Clauson noted a list of names for potential members to the design review committee is included in Council's packet. Bob Nevins, community development department, presented a model which illustrates the current build out and the current zoning, the adjoining properties. The Independence Place Project consists of the Bell Mountain site of 21,000 square feet, zoned RMF with a LP (lodge preservation) overlay; existing FAR of 1:1, maximum height 25 feet and City Market 27,000 square feet, zoned neighborhood commercial, maximum FAR 1:1, height limit 28 feet, special review to 32 feet. Nevins said the recommendation is to rezone the property to neighborhood commercial and NC+. Neighborhood commercial will be locally serving, similar to those uses found in the Durant Mall; NC+ is locally owned businesses with a larger variety of services they can provide; the rents will be capped comparable with those in E1 Jebel. The allowable floor area will be 1:1 with a bonus of .35:1 for affordable housing. The height limit will be 28 feet with 32 feet by special review. The businesses will be on the first floor with a combination of free market residential on second and third floors on the Bell Mountain site; the affordable housing will be located to the east of the free market housing. City Market will be placed one level 9 Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 below grade and will take up the entire site. There will be 228 parking spaces. The current design proposal contains 25 per cent open space. Nevins told Council the consultants found the proposal fits within the existing environment. There is a potential for an increased development program of affordable housing. Another finding is that transportation and circulation should be more fidly researched, either closing Cooper Avenue or making it a special transit street. Another recommendation is to change the garage entry perpendicular to Cooper Avenue. The financial consultants found the project to be financially feasible, there should be sufficient fitnds to subsidize the cost of the below grade City Market based on revenues from free market housing. Fees generated by public parking would cover the cost of development and the sale of affordable housing would cover their development costs. Public financial participation would be limited to public improvements. Nevins recommended staff accept the DWI and ETS reports and that a citizen review committee be appointed to make a recommendation to Council on whether the city should proceed with the preparation of a land use application. Nevins told Council this has been reviewed and approved by DEPP and by HPC. Nevins said the original plan was to close Cooper Avenue and have it be a plaza. After review by DEPP and HPC, it was felt a plaza was not in keeping with locally serving businesses and was not consistent with the original town form. The traffic engineers stated the traffic is well balanced on the existing city streets; eliminating the traffic on this block of Cooper Avenue would crowd other streets. Councilman Markalunas asked how many parking spaces will be displaced by this project. Clauson said the net increase will be 128 spaces. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said she has supported this project based on no net new parking; this will be curbside parking replacement. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said she is not sold on the loss of the plaza. She would like to have more conversation about this design change. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said Cooper Avenue in this block could become an extremely busy street if it is not a public space. There is the idea of making this a turn around for the Galena street shuttle, or it could be one- lane. Mayor Pro Tem Richards suggested it would be a good idea of have a DEPP member continue on the Plaza work; a representative from the Chamber would also be good, as well as an original member who developed the downtown parking 10 Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 recommendations. Mayor Pro Tem Richards supports spending $2,000 and accepts the findings of the two reports. Mayor Pro Tem Richards asked if these reports have been reviewed by the other two participants. Nevins said City Market does not have any problems with the report as drafted. There are conversations with Bell Mountain. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said the members of this task force should make sure the groups they represent get feedback from this process. Mayor Pro Tem Richards pointed out both Bell Mountain and City Market have rights to build on their respective properties without the benefit of extra public parking. Councilman Vickery asked if there is an itemization of the proposed public improvements. Clauson said there is an itemization of those costs in the report. Staff plans to review these more closely. Amy Margemm, city manager, said these costs are related to relocation of the water line, electric transformers, street lights and street improvements. Councilman Vickery asked for details on the costs of planning and land use application that the city is to cover. Clauson said this detail, too, needs to be refined. Clauson said the proposal is that the city will handle the infrastructure costs and the land use application. Clauson said the other applicants have requested the city be the applicant for the project in the landuse process. Mayor Pro Tem Richards pointed out that the financial analysis discusses the sales tax increase generated by this project. Mayor Pro Tem Richards also noted this project calls for the city' s partners to pay for 100 percent of the parking spaces. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said Council is approving a budget of $2,000 in order to get more detail and review from a task force. Councilman Markalunas moved to approve Resolution #86, Series of 1997, to allocates $2,000; and Resolution #87, 1998, to accept the 2 reports and to formulate a Citizen Review Committee; seconded by Councilman Vickery. All in favor, motion carried. Councilman Vickery moved to approve Resolution #87, Series of 1997; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. All in favor, motion carried. Councilman Markalunas moved to go into executive session to discuss real property acquisition at 8:30 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Vickery. All in favor, motion carried. Councilman Markalunas moved to extend the meeting to 9:30 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor, motion carried. 11 Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 Councilman Markalunas moved to come om of execmive session at 9:25 p.m; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor, motion carried. Councilman Markalunas moved to adjourn at 9:25 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor, motion carried. Kathryn S. Koch, City Clerk 12 Regular Meetin~ Asoen City Council November 24, 1997 OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE BONUS AWARD .................................................1 CITIZEN COMMENTS ..........................................................................................1 COUNCILMEMBERS COMMENTS .....................................................................1 CONSENT CALENDAR ........................................................................................2 Minutes - November 10, 1997 .............................................................................4 Kids' First Board Appointments - Jeff Hanle, Heather Morse, Erlinda Moorehead4 Ordinance #41, 1997 - North Spruce Street Water Extension ...............................4 Ordinance #40, 1997 - Appropriations .................................................................4 Fee Waiver Request - Kids' Stuff Foundation Silver Lining Ranch ......................4 Resolution #85, 1997 - 1/2 Cent Transportation Expenditures .............................4 Ordinance #42, 1997 - 1998 Fees ........................................................................4 Ordinance #43, 1997 - Tennis Townhomes Extension of Vested rights ................4 RESOLUTION #83, SERIES OF 1997 - 1998 Budget ............................................4 RESOLUTION #84, SERIES OF 1997 - 1998 Mill Levy ........................................5 COZY POINT REOUEST FOR PROPOSALS .......................................................5 ORDINANCE #37, SERIES OF 1997 - Code Amendment GMQS ......................... 8 RESOLUTION #86, 1997 - Independence Pass Plaza Project .................................9 13