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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19860127Regular Meeting Aspen- City Council January 27 . 1986 CITIZENS COMMENTS 1 INDEPENDENCE SQUARE LODGE CONDOMINIUMIZATION 1 AIR QUALITY VOLUNTARY PROGRAM 3 ORDINANCE #5, 1986 - Woodburning Ame-ndments 3 AIR QUALITY VOLUNTARY PROGRAM 5 ELECTION PARTICIPATION 5 VOLK PROPERTY REPORT/BALLOT QUESTION 5 HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT BALLOT QUESTION 7 ORDINANCE #3, SERIES OF 1986 - Setting Election Precincts 8 JOHNSON PROPERTY REPORT 9 REQUEST FOR ENCROACHMENT - Edel 10 WILLOUGHBY PARK CONCEPTUAL SPA 11 TRAFFIC CONTROL OFFICER POSITIONS 13 FINANCE DEPARTMENT STAFFING 13 ORDINANCE #4, SERIES OF 1986 - Building Department Fees 14 CONTRACT WITH STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 15 PARTICIPATION IN THE MOUNTAIN BELL RATE PROCEEDINGS 15 PLANNING OFFICE WORK PROGRAM 1986 15 REPORT ON PROPOSED ASPEN DELEGATION TO HOKKAIDO, JAPAN 16 REPORT ON CHAMONIX VISIT 17 COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS 17 18 Reaul ar Meeting AsAerr_- Ci~t~t Council Januarv 27 . 198 Mayor Pro Tem Walls called the meeting to order at 5:05 p. m. with Councilmembers isaac and Collins present. CITIZ ENS COMMENTS 1. Jim Martin brought up Ordinance #47, woodburning amendments, and told Council he has met with the environmental health department and the petitioners' committee. They feel there is common ground to resolve the differences over Ordinance # 47, as well as benefit the community. Martin said they feel a special election would be counter productive for Aspen. Martin recommended Council repeal the existing ordinance and adopt a compromise ordinance, which would allow one fireplace and one certified device per building. Martin told Council the petitioners' committee is prepared to go through the election process but feel everyone would spend a lot of non-productive energy going to an election. Martin told Council the environmental health department has prepared a compromise ordinance, and requested Council consider this ordinance tonight because time is running out. (Mayor Stirling and Councilwoman Fall in came into the meeting) Councilman Isaac moved to suspend the rules and add this to the agenda at item VI (a) ; seconded by Councilman Coll ins. All i n favor, motion carried. 2. Kevin Patrick, representing the Grand Champion Club, presented a proposed Code amendment regarding water connection charges. Patrick said this code amendment deals with an undue restriction regarding holding charitable benefits. Patrick said anyone using a structure for a secondary purpose would have to comply with an additional water tap fee sometimes as high as $50,000. This Code amendment exempts up to 12 functions per year from the utility connection charge. Patrick said to curtail charitable events is not the Council's intention, and there are various provisions in the Code that deal with exemptions for charitable functions. Mayor Stirling said the staff has reported that they have no interest in supporting this amendment. Councilman Isaac moved Council examine this proposed ordinance at the February 10 meeting and have a staff report on this ordinance; seconded by Mayor Stirling. All in favor, motion carried. 3. Herb Klein requested his agenda item be moved due to a family emergency. Councilman Isaac moved to make Independence Square Lodge Condominiumization the first item; seconded by Councilman Coll ins. All in favor, motion carried. INDEPENDENCE SQUARE LODGE CONDOMINIUMIZ ATION 1 Re u~. ar Meeting AsAen City Co~~cil Janu~X 27 , 1986 Mayor Stirling said the City Council has had no previous action on this new hotel. City Attorney Taddune said this is a renovation and this went through the building permit process rather than a land use approval process. The request to condominiumize does require Council approval. Taddune told Council there was documentation presented to staff about the use as short term accommodations. Steve Burstein, planning office, told Council this is a request to condominiumize the Independence Square Lodge to create 28 hotel and 8 commercial spaces. Burstein told Council this application meets the Code requirements and the P & Z and planning office recommend approval. Two pillows of employee housing are being provided. Councilwoman Walls said this entire building used to be empl oyee housing. Herb Klein said the rental records indicate this has mostly been a short term boarding house and used as inexpensive transient housing. Klein told Council there were no leases for these units. Councilwoman Walls said this previous use was the type of dormitory housing that the town lacks. Klein said the application complied with all the procedures necessary to make this conversion. Taddune told Council change in use is analyzed by the planning office and documents provided show this was a short term accommodation. Klein told Council this building was very much under utilized in the 1 ast few years and they a 5 0 per cent o r less occupancy. Councilman Isaac said he would hope that major changes in use in the future will come to Council before the project is done. Burstein noted the recommendation for approval contains 4 conditions and an added condition from the attorney stating the applicant shall submit the condominium declarations to the city attorney's office for approval. Councilwoman Fallin asked about commitment to a future parking district for the commercial core. Klein said if it were formed by a special district, they would participate. Mayor Stirling asked about parking requirements in a condominiumization. Burstein said the Code does not address parking in a condominiumization and pointed out there are no off- street parking requirements in the commercial core. Mayor Stirling said the empl oyee housing unit is very small and would be difficult to accommodate two persons. Klein said the requirement is 150 square feet per person, and showed the unit 012 and an added empl oyee use area totalling more than 300 square feet. Klein said in the past there has only been one employee on site, and Council may want to look at the reality of on-site employee housing in a conversion. Councilman Isaac asked if there is handicap access to the elevator in the building. Klein 2 Reavl ar Me~t~ n4 Aspen Citv Council .Tanta rv 27 . 198 told Council the applicant went to the Board of Appeals and because this is a historic structure, they would have had to put an elevator station on the ground floor and there was something that prevented them from doing that. There is an exemption in the Code for historic structures. Councilwoman Fallin moved to approve the requested subdivision exception for the purpose of condominiumizing the Independence Square Hotel subject to the five conditions recommended by staff ; seconded by Councilman Coll ins. Mayor Stirling said issues have been raised that are of concern to Council ; perceived change of use and no P & Z or Council review; handicap access, and whether the definition of dormitory employee housing is adequate. Mayor Stirling requested staff follow up these issues. All in favor, with the exception of Councilmembers Walls and Isaac. Motion carried. AIR DUALITY VOLUNTARY PROGRAM Mayor Stirling said the environmental health department has presented a memorandum with specific requests and lists of suggested voluntary programs. Tom Dunlop, environmental health department, said staff has drafted a compromise ordinance to repeal Ordinance # 47 , which should be addressed first. Mayor Stirling said whenever Council deals with woodburning amendments, they never return to the voluntary air quality program. ORDINANCE ~5. 1986 - Woodburning Amendments Tom Dunlop, environmental health department, said this ordinance repeals Ordinance X47, Series of 1985, allows one certified woodburning device per building as well as one fireplace per building. The ordinance modifies the procedure for certifying woodburning devices to be compatible with the state standards. Lee Cassin, environmental health department, told Council between now and second reading, the staff will meet with the petitioners' committee and work out the details. Dunlop reiterated this is a compromise and the environmental concerns are not being absolutely met, nor are the concerns of the petitioners' being absolutely met. Dunlop said he is in favor of this because working together can create community unity on this issue. Dunlop told Council the voluntary program does address existing woodburning devices. Sally Roach, petitioners' committee told Council this is a compromise that they can live with and feel this is a step in the right direction. Jim Martin 3 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council Januarv 27. 198 told Council they feel everyone can better spend their energy, time and money working together to solve this problems. Martin said Aspen does not need national publicity about the a i r quality. Dunlop agreed it would be more beneficial to have a group of people working together to find a solution to the problem. Councilman Isaac asked if the petitioners' committee would be willing to withdraw their petitions. Ms. Roach told Council if they adopt this proposed ordinance, they petitions are inval id and there would not be a need to have the petitions withdrawn nor to have a special election. City Attorney Taddune .suggested that the petitioners submit their position in writing. Councilwoman Fallin moved to read Ordinance #5, Series of 1986; seconded by Councilman Isaac. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE N0. 5 (Series of 1986 ) AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 47 (SERIES OF 1985) PERTAINING TO WOODBURNING DEVICES AND REENACTING SECTION 11-2.3 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, TO PROHIBIT THE INSTALLATION OF MORE THAN ONE UNCERTIFIED WOODBURNING DEVICE AND MORE THAN ONE CERTIFIED WOODBURNING DEVICE IN ANY BUILDING was read by the city clerk Councilwoman Fallin moved to adopt Ordinance #5, Series of 1986, on first reading; seconded by Councilman Isaac. Ms. Cassin said this ordinance allows one dirty device and one clean burning device per building. The pass/fail requirements have been changed to equal the state of Colorado testing methods. Councilman Collins asked how this ordinance compares with the county's standard. Ms. Cassin said this is identical to the county except the size of a duplex in the county is 2,000 square feet and the county allows unlimited certified devices. Council made it clear that hotels and 1 odges could have one uncertified device per building not per lobby. Mayor Stirling suggested leaving in subsections (1) and (4) and deleting 2, 3, and 5 and changing it to say a building may have one solid fuel burning device. Councilman Isaac moved to amend Ordinance # 5, Series of 1985 , to state any building may have one solid fuel burning device and delete subsections 2, 3, and 5; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried. 4 Regular Meeti,~ Aspen City (~~uncil J~nua 27. 1986 Councilman Isaac said there are no abatement or trade provisions in this ordinance. Dunlop said this provision was not palatable to anyone and it does not disappoint him to remove it because it is difficult to administer and is difficult for the real estate community to convey. Councilman Isaac asked about natural gas burning stoves. Dunlop said these are certified devices. Dunlop said there is a concern about promoting gas burning logs because these may not be the best alternative. Suzanne Caskey told Council she is pleased about this compromise; however, everyone has to give something up. Ms. Caskey told Council Aspen is already exceeding its heal th standards and this will allow the air in the community to get dirtier. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Collins, yes; Walls, yes; Fallin, yes; Isaac, yes; Mayor Stirling, yes. Motion carried. AIR DUALITY VOLUNTARY PROGRAM Tom Dunlop, environmental health department director, showed four films his department put together in coordination with Council of Governments to teach people to "learn to burn". Dunlop told Council these 4 spots cost $2,000 and took about 150 hours of staff time. Council continued this item to February 10, 1986 agenda. ELECTION PARTICIPATI0~1. Mayor Stirling said Council received a memorandum from the City Attorney about the propriety of municipal expenditures in support or against referendum measures. Mayor Stirl ing said the city can spend money to provide information on an issue but not take an advocacy role. Councilman Isaac said he is in favor of spending money to get information to the community; however, if the election is not needed, he would rather see the money go to a voluntary program. VOLR PROPERTY REPORT/BALLOT QUESTION (Councilwoman Fall in 1 of t the room due to a conflict of interest) . City Attorney Taddune presented a draft resolution for the proposed question on the purchase of this property. Taddune said Council will have to decide whether or not they are going to have a special election. This will be decided at the February 10th meeting. Taddune told Council the proponents feel the proposed ballot question is too advisory. Taddune said there are unknowns in this issue, like the price, and what the owner would be willing to do. Taddune told Council he drafted the ballot question to give Council flexibility. Councilman Isaac said he would like to leave this as an advisory question. 5 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council ~ anuarv 2Z. 1986 Stacy Standley said the proponents circulated petitions at the post off ice for 4 days. The petition reads, "If you would 1 ike to see the Sinclair corner (Independence Square) remain open space for public enjoyment please sign this petition, Sincerely Jon Busch, Robin Mol ny, Stacy Standley, and Andre Ul rych. We the undersigned petition the Aspen City Council to purchase Independence Square (Sinclair corner) for open space or to place the issue before the City of Aspen voters at the March 18th election. We understand that the purchase price may exceed $500,000." Standley told Council they got 1692 signature and 65$ are from people within the city, 33$ were from the rest of Colorado. The petition measures over 80 feet long. This is an issue that people are interested in and strongly support. Therese Carroll, who circulated the petition, said everyone who signed it wanted it either the way it is or for open space. Councilwoman Walls asked if the city could use open space monies to purchase developed property. Taddune said the 6th penny ordinance says open space and other capital expenditures. Therese Carroll told Council all different types of people signed these petitions. Standley said the citizens are informed and have spoken on this subject very strongly. Standley urged Council, based on these petitions, to make the decision to purchase the property. If Council does put this issue to the electorate, the proponents would like the question to be stronger than the one drafted by the city attorney, as they do not feel the question reflects the strength of the interest of the community. Standley said the proponents have tried to avoid the issues of the pros and cons, what fund this should come out of, whether the land ought to be condemned, the tax ramifications, any negotiations. Standley urged Council to ask the city manager to contact Mr. Volk directly to see what kind of deal could be worked out. Jon Busch said what is exciting about the petitions is that the signers transcend all political lines and has broad support throughout the community. Mayor Stirling entered into the record a letter from David White indicating his support for purchase of this property. Hans Gramiger told Council this petition is not accurate because the petitioners were telling people by signing this petition they would save the Popcorn Wagon. Gramiger said it is absurd to expend so much energy for a 4, 000 square feet parcel. Gramiger said the Council should be focusing on the Little Nell property and require the Skiing Company to give the city a park that is 4 to 8 times larger. Nahoom said bigger is not necessarily better. Nahoom said the most important reason to purchase this property is sociology of the town and social interaction. This site is a most significant 6 Regular Meeting _ A-sAen Citv Council January 27. 198 center of activity in this town. Heinz Wolf, adjacent property owner, said the city would be foolish not to buy this corner. Dan Arrow, owner of Popcorn Wagon, told Council they would be interested staying at this location. Arrow told Council in the plans for development, there is no restaurant space. Arrow said this corner is where people congregate and people sitting down to eat on this corner is beneficial to Aspen. Al Blomquist told Council he looked at the open space plan for the city of Aspen, and the Volk property is not in this plan. Blomquist said if land fund monies are used, any commercial uses would be inappropriate. Blomquist said between purchase and development, at least $1,000,000 would be spent that could not be spent on other open space priorities. Heinz Wolf told Council he has received no notification as an adjacent property owner of the hearings on this property. Assistant City Manager Mitchell told Council the city will be receiving a written opinion of value next week. Councilwoman Walls said she would like a report on the loss of property and sales taxes if this corner is not developed. Mayor Stirling said the Council should respond to public expression. This is a complex issue. Mayor Stirling pointed out the Council has allocated $650,000 for the purchase of open space in a 5 year plan. The Council has been working on a lot of open space priorities, like the trails system, which is a high priority of the community and a maj or amenity to the town. Mayor Stirling said purchasing this property would and to spend $750, 000 to purchase only 4, 000 square feet limit the opportunities to complete other open space priorities. Robin Molny said no one knows what kind of sale terms Volk would be interested in. Standley said once this property is gone, it is gone forever and this is a small price to pay to preserve the quality of 1 if a in Aspen. Mayor Stirling asked how important this property is to the expansion of the mall. Molny told Council Independence Square is critical to the expansion of the mall. Council will discuss this at the February 10 meeting with the opinion of value and whether this will be a ballot issue and have the proponents suggest language for the ballot HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT BALLOT QUESTION City Manager Schilling told Council the staff is recommending not to proceed with a ballot question at this time because there is not sufficient time to inform the electorate on this issue. Mayor Stirling compl emented the staff on the amount and quality of work that has been done with the highway department. Mayor Stirling asked why the city may be delayed 1 or 2 years if a community consensus is not given. Schilling told Council one of the preferred alignments submitted by the city involves open 7 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council January 27. 198 space and, and the highway department cannot consider an open space alignment unless they have the support of the community. Schilling told Council it is the position of the highway department that if a community expresses a preference, that will be the alternative selected by the highway department. Councilman Isaac moved that staff proceed and make a ballot issue for the August primary election and prepare as much information as possible; seconded by Councilwoman Walls. Councilman Isaac said he would 1 ike staff to put together what the different alternatives are. Councilman Coll ins said there should be enough information to show if there are frontage roads, how to get to the golf course and to Buttermilk, not just a generic question of do the voters want a 4-lane. Schilling said the state is looking for an expression of a corridor preference, not detailed engineering. Schilling said staff will prepare ballot titles with graphic representations of exactly what the voters are being asked to chose. Councilman Isaac amended his motion to have this information back to Council on or before June 1st; seconded by Councilwoman Walls. Councilman Collins said he would like the scope of information defined, how do the major elements of the highway fit together to make the system work. Including what happens in the open space, will there be clover leafs and grade separation, traffic lights. Mayor Stirling suggested staff articulate the scope of information and bring it back to Council. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE #3. SERIES OF 1986 - Setting Election Precincts Councilwoman Walls moved to read Ordinance #3, Series of 1986; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE #3 (Series of 1986) AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TWO (2 ) PRECINCTS FOR THE SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MARCH 18, 1986, AND SETTING FORTH THE DESCRIPTION OF THOSE PRECINCTS was read by the city clerk Councilwoman Walls moved to adopt Ordinance #8, Series of 1986, on first reading; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Collins, yes; Isaac, yes; Walls, yes; Fallin, yes; Mayor Stirling, yes. Motion carried. 8 Regular Me~ting Aspen City Council ~.~~~arv 27. 198 JOHNSON PROPER~_ REPORT City Attorney Taddune said he has met to work out an acceptable arrangement between the Ski Company and Stan Johnson. No decisions were made because Johnson was not present. The Skiing Company in a letter to the City has expressed an interest in funding and holding the city harmless from any and all expenses associated with a condemnation on the subject property on the premise this would serve as a view plane for the mountain, which is an important local asset. Taddune said if Council is serious about condemning this property, they should direct staff to pursue the upside and downsides of condemnation and to analyze the consequences and advantages of the condemnation. Gideon Kaufman, representing the applicant, told Council said in the Skiing Company's GMP application, it was identified that it is very important to preserve the view and access up Hunter street and up Aspen Mountain. Kaufman told Council Johnson has a proposal to build a stilted building on this property. Johnson has an application before the Board of Adjustment, and if thi s should be denied, Johnson will claim inverse condemnation, that the city is denying him the right to do anything with the property. Kaufman pointed out the Council just sat through the Volk hearing where the city would like to acquire the property but doesn't have the money to acquire it. In this situation, before it becomes a crisis, the money will be made available to preserve this important piece of property. Kaufman said because of the importance of this property he is asking the city to do some action on condemnation. Raufman said this property will be used as pedestrian access and view corridor to the mountain, as well as the site of a gondola, should the Ski Company choose that type of lift. Raufman said the decision of whether the mountain has a gondola or not may be dictated by who owns the tip of this property. Raufman said he feels the applicant can provide the city attorney's off ice with sufficient justification for publ i c purpose to justify the city acquiring this property. Raufman said the applicant is negotiating with Johnson. This provides an opportunity for the city to move forward and take care of a problem before it arises. Kaufman said whether the city approves the Skiing Company's application or not, there is an application to build a residence on this location. Mayor Stirling moved to direct the city attorney to research the arguments related to condemnation concerning the Johnson property and report back by February 10; seconded by Councilwoman Walls. City Attorney Taddune said he has discussed a firm commitment by the Skiing Company to a resolution of a partnership confirming the proposal that is being made. Taddune said they are also 9 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council ~anuarv 27. 1986 looking at the possibility that the Skiing Company can collaterize its commitment. Peter Forsch, Skiing Company, said they are willing to do that. Forsch told Council the lift has to be built by 1987 in order to use the industrial revenues bonds. Forsch told Council there is significant work that has to be done in the area this summer, and the applicant would 1 ike the city to move as quickly as possible. Mayor Stirling said condemnations take time and the participants are at the mercy of the courts. Councilman Isaac said he does not know what the downside of condemnation is. Taddune told Council the city will have a preliminary opinion of value in a few days as well as the intentions of Johnson. Taddune recommended if there is an interest on the Ski Company to purchase and on Johnson to sell, they should agree on a mechanism for determining value. Forsch told Council the crux of the problem is that they have been negotiating to purchase this property for two years. Kaufman said if Council is going to put this off for two weeks, he would 1 ike Council to be ready to move forward. Forsch told Council the alignment for the gondola is critical and is at the tip of Johnson's property. All in favor, with the exception of Councilman Collins. Motion carried. REQUEST FOR ENCROACHMENT - Edel Marty Rahn, representing the Edels, told Council these structures have existed since 1951 and there are encroachments on to both Fourth and North street by a concrete wall and the house. Kahn explained Edel is trying to sell the house and is concerned the city may some day try to take the part of the house that encroaches down. Kahn requested an encroachment license for these two structures as well as an indication of Council they would consider a vacation for the 31 square feet of the house that encroaches on North street. Councilwoman Walls moved to approve the Edel encroachment license for the property location at 602 North Fourth street; seconded by Councilwoman Fal l in. Jay Hammond, engineering department, told Council the existing encroachments do not cause the staff problems. Councilman Collins asked what the right-of-way is on Fourth street. Hammond said Fourth street is in excess of 60 feet and North street is over 70 feet. Councilman Isaac asked if there are modifications to the fence, would Edel lose his encroachment 1 icense. Kahn said if they repaired the fence, they would do it in the same 10 Regular Meeting. As~~n Citv Council ~~nuary 27. 1986 location. If they had to redo the fence, they should not encroach in the city's right-of-way. Councilwoman Walls amended her motion to state that any major alteration, change or modification of the fence the license would be revoked; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried. Rahn said he will ask Council to entertain a vacation for the portion of the house that is in Fourth Street. Kahn pointed out Fourth street does not use all 60 feet of the right of way. There i s at 1 east 8 feet between the edge of the house and the street. Hammond said he is concerned about placing sidewalks and utilities in this right-of-way. Councilman Collins said he would like to see what is going on with the right-of-way on Fourth street before Council makes a decision. Councilman Collins asked why the city should vacate this when they can grant an encroachment license. Mayor Stirling said the applicant is looking for some stability. WILLOUGHBY PARK CONCEPTUAL SPA Steve Burstein, planning office, told Council this is a conceptual SPA for the ski club building and a possible location for the ski museum. Burstein said the staff and P & Z feel these uses can be accommodated on the site. The architect has developed 4 schemes for the site. Burstein presented these 4 plans to Council. The main problem with plan #1 is that it blocks the view of the bullwheel. In plan #2 the museum encroaches on the volleyball courts. This plan breaks up the open space and puts the ski club in the most visible place. Plan #3 was recommended by the P & Z and has a building envelope for the ski club of 1400 square feet. Plan #4 puts the ski museum on the volleyball courts. Burstein said the engineering department is requesting Dean street have a pavement width of 30 feet to accommodate two 1 anes of traffic and a pull off for 21 cars. A detail ed 1 andscape plan will be submitted as part of the precise plan. Burstein told Council if the ski museum were to occur, this property should be rezoned "public" as it does not appear to be an appropriate use in the "park" zone. Burstein told Council there is also a proposal to locate the ski museum at the Stallard house. Councilman Isaac asked why staff is proceeding with this due to the situation with the Aspen Mountain Lodge. Lennie Oates, ski club, said they feel the PUD will go forward and the ski club does not want to be in a position of not having an office. Councilwoman Walls agreed the city should have a plan for the ski 11 Regular Meeti_nQ_ Aspen Citv Council ~Tanl ~y 27. 198 club in case the project moves forward. Oates told Council the ski club is out of space at its present location, and may have to ask Council for some temporary space. Mayor Stirling said he likes plan #3 and 4 for the footprint for the ski club. It is less critical to determine where the ski museum will be located. Plan 3 does not require the volleyball courts to be moved. Councilman Isaac said he prefers plan 1. Councilman Collins said he thought the old 1 if t 1 building was going to be removed. Burstein said this has not been determined. Bill Poss, architect, told Council these buildings will meet the Code and the envel ope for the ski club i s a 2 story 1400 square feet each story. Mayor Stirl ing said he likes scheme 3 because it creates a better open space feel for the entire property. Gideon Kaufman, ski club, said keeping the volleyball courts on this parcel compromises the entire design. Oates said the ski club prefers plans 3 and 4. Poss said one of the requirements of Council was that the volleyball courts were to remain. Al Blomquist told Council he voted against plan 3 at P & Z because the building is located where the trees and grass are the prettiest. Blomquist said the ski club building should go on the Aspen street side of the 1 ot. B1 omq ui st pointed out in plan 3 the ski club building i s 1 ocated right where people ski down the mountain. Councilwoman Wal 1 s moved that the ski cl ub building be sited as in plan 1 deleting condition #l; seconded by Councilman Isaac. Burstein told Council one of the disadvantages of plan 1 is that it blocks the view of one of the more historic sites and it will constrain the landscaping that can be done around it. Poss said of all the plans, plan 1 i s the 1 ea st desirable and has the most disadvantages. Poss told Council this is the tightest site. Oates told Council from the ski club's point of view plan 1 would be the least desirable from the parking standpoint. Oates said plan 1 does not work with the type of traffic and congestion the ski club has. Councilmembers Collins and Walls in favor; Councilmembers Fallin, Isaac and Mayor Stirling. Motion NOT carried. Mayor Stirling moved to adopt scheme #3 with 10 conditions listed in the memorandum; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin. Councilwoman Fallin asked if the architect had a preference. Poss said he prefers plan 4 because it preserves the park for the city and it would be easier to add on to the ski club building in the future. 12 Regular Meeting Ashen Citv Council ~~nu~rv 27. 198 Mayor Stirling and Councilwoman Fallin in favor; Councilmembers Isaac and Walls opposed. Motion NOT carried. Councilwoman Fallin moved to adopt scheme 4 with the conditions listed; seconded by Mayor Stirling. All in favor, with the exception of Councilwoman Walls. Motion carried. TRAFFIC CONTROL- OFFICER POSITIONS This is a proposal to substitute two traffic control officers in 1 ieu of an approved additional police officer. Rich Rianoshek told Council he is requesting to hire one officer now and one just before the summer season. This would come within the approved budget and not need a supplementary allocation. Assistant City Manager Mitchell said both officers could be hired by March and probably still fit within the budget. Council 1 eft this flexible for staff to decide. Rocky Whitford, police department, told Council he has talked to business owners in the commercial core and they seem pleased to be getting two traffic control officers rather than one police officer. Whitford said he feels this will make the public relations a lot better. Mayor Stirling moved to alter the 1986 budget proposal allowing one full officer to be substituted for 2 tco's to be hired when the chief deems appropriate; seconded by Councilman Isaac. FINANCE DEPARTMENT STAFFING Cindy Shafer, finance director, told Council that business license revenue collections have been decreasing over the last few years. Ms. Shafer said staff feels if more time was spent in a collection effort, these revenues could be increased. Ms. Shafer said the work 1 oad of the finance department precludes any collection effort. Ms. Shafer said there are anticipated payroll savings in the 1986 budget in the finance department. Ms. Shafer would like to be able to hire one person on a temporary basis, this person can be paid for from payroll savings. If the person does generate additional revenues, these revenues would continue the person for 1986. City Manager Schilling said he likes the policy of coming to Council when adding staff. Councilman Isaac said if the city is not getting business license fees, are they perhaps missing sales tax. Ms. Shafer said that could be possible. Schilling tol d Council the staff is doing prel iminary work on whether it would be advantageous for the city to collect sales tax. Schilling said cities that have changed to collecting their own sales tax have increased their revenues. Schilling said this is an issue of people paying their fair share. 13 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council anuarv 27, 1986 Mayor Stirling moved to approve the addition of one position in the finance department on a temporary basis with a review of the situation after three months; seconded by Councilman Isaac. All in favor, motion carried. ORDIi~1ANCE #4. -SERIES OF 1986 -Building Department Fees Councilwoman Walls moved to read Ordinance #4, Series of 1986; seconded by Mayor Stirling. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE #4 (Series of 1986) AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUILDING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 7-141 (E) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, TO INCREASE BUILDING PERMIT FEES was read by the city clerk Councilwoman Walls moved to adopt Ordinance #4, Series of 1986, on first reading; seconded by Councilman Collins. Councilwoman Fallin asked if the county will be raising the fees. Jim Wilson, building department, told Council the BOCC rejected this and has asked for lower fees in the lower end and higher fees in the higher end. Councilman Isaac asked how the building department fees compare to other communities. Wilson told Council most other communities are on the UBC schedule. This proposal will be catching up to the UBC. Wilson told Council in 1985 his department was $30,000 short of revenues. City Manager Schilling told Council the 1986 budget was predicated on this increase. Cindy Shafer, finance director, told Council if these fees are not adopted it will substantially impact the building department budget. Councilman Collins said these fees should be taken up during budget time. Schilling agreed it is a good idea to look at the fees in conjunction with budget time. Wil son told Council the building department fee s have not been increased since 1981, and this proposed increase catches up to the current UBC. Councilwoman Fallin asked what would happen if the building department fees were the 1985 UBC fees. Wilson said at the higher end of valuation, the fees would drop. Wilson explained that higher end project contributes to the overall budget. Councilwoman Walls said if it takes this increase to fund the building department out of fees rather than the general fund, they should be adopted. Counc ilwoman Wall s said Council has wanted the development to pay their own way rather than have the average citizen paying for the building department. Roll call vote; Council members Isaac, yes; Fallin, yes; Walls, yes; Collins, yes; Mayor Stirling, no. Motion carried. 14 Regular Meeting --- Aspen City Council ~anuarv 27: 1986 CONTRACT WITH STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Steve Burstein, planning office, asked Council to adopt Resolution #3 to adopt this contract. Burstein told Council it is a grant of $4900 to operate a program of about $7,000. None of this will be out of pocket expenditures for the city. It will be reimbursed by the state. Burstein said this is a multi- resource nomination to register about 20 properties for the National Register. Councilman Isaac moved to adopt Resolution #3, Series of 1986; seconded by Councilwoman Walls. Mayor Stirling said this is an important step in getting recognition, and the assistance is important. All in favor, motion carried. PARTICIPATION ~ IN THE MOUNTAIN BELL RATE PROCEEDINGS City Manager Schilling told Council since 1953 the Colorado Municipal League has intervened on behalf of cities before the Public Utility Commission on rate increase requests by the telephone. Schilling said the telephone company has filed a $143.5 million rate increase, about a 40$ impact to both cities and citizens. Schilling said the hearing is in April, and the Municipal League has asked cities to help off set the legal costs. Schilling told Council the CML will pay for this defense with some leftover funds from 1983 and a 7 cents per capita. Aspen' s share will be $264.04. Councilwoman Fall in moved to arrange payment of the city's share in the 1985 Mountain Bell rate increase proceedings of $264.04; seconded by Councilwoman Walls. All in favor, motion carried. pj ANNING OFFICE WORK PROGRAM X986 Alan Richman, planning director, said this is an opportunity for Council to review the work program, to identify the major items for 1986. This is also an opportunity for Council to give the planning office new direction. Richman said the work program consists of case load, advance planning, and administration. Richman said the intent of the work program is to be more heavily balanced toward long range planning than case load. Richman told Council some of the major activities are the Aspen area comprehensive plan consisting of transportation, land use, annexation, and historic preservation. Richman told Council they are working well on transportation, and working with P & Z and 15 Regular -Meeting Aspen City Council 27. 1986 the Commissioners. Richman said the planning on annexation and historic preservation will be complete in the first half of the year. The city can then move into the impl ementation side. Richman said the current planning work is streamlining the city code. The major case load activities are Little Nell, Aspen Highlands resort and Buttermilk master plan. Richman sa id the Aspen Mountain Lodge will take a lot of time during 1986. There is the possibility this project could start over from ground zero. Richman said he is al so working on reorganizing the zoning function. Richman told Council the planning office has generated excess revenues of $3300 in the city and $6500 in the county in 1985. Richman told Council in the past the county has earmarked excess revenues to buy the planning office computers. Richman told Council the county is willing to fund an intern on a 3 month basis. Richman said he would 1 ike to see the city match the $1500 to jointly fund an intern. Mayor Stirling asked about the Rio Grande planning. Richman said this will be incorporated in the downtown 1 and use plan, and the planning office wil 1 do plans for the Rio Grande and Rubey park 1 ike have been done for other city property. Councilman Collins asked what the transportation element included. Richman said they will be looking at highways, transit opportunities, entrance to town, pedestrian circulation, parking facilities, transit terminals. Richman told Council the trails element was completed 1 ast year as apart of the open space and a report is available. Also complete are the Roaring Fork East plan and the Downvalley existing condition report. Richman said the staff will do an identification of easements the city currently has for trails. Schilling suggested Council allow staff to identify the jobs an intern would do for the city and report back to Council. Councilman Isaac moved to have the staff identify what an intern would do for the city; seconded by Mayor Stirling. All in favor, with the exception of Councilman Collins. Motion carried. REPORT ON PROPOSED ASPEN DELEGATION TO HOKKAIDO. JAPAN Mayor Stirling told Council the Hokkaido government has an interest in Aspen and visited in 1984. Mayor Stirling said the sister city committee is in favor of an Aspen visit to Japan but suggested being careful about discussions about becoming sister cities as this is premature. The delegation is Mayor Stirling, Dennis Harmon, Ski Company, Spence Videon, ARA, and Andy Mill. Mayor Stirling told Council an Aspen video is being shown 16 Regular--Meeting - AsAe~ City Council January 27, 1986 currently in Japan. The expense for this trip is being paid by the Hokkaido government. Mayor Stirling said this is a great opportunity for Aspen to connect with Japan's skiing industry. REPORT - ON CHAMON IX it IS IT Mayor Stirling said this was an excellent visit by the Mayor and Director of Tourism for Chamonix. Mayor Stirling said Chamonix is interesting in pursuing the concept of sister cities, and is taking this back to their Council for discussion and will report back to Aspen. Councilwoman Walls moved to approve the consent calendar; seconded by Councilman Collins. The consent calendar is liquor 1 icense renewal - Greenhouse Diner; Minutes - November 11, 1985; January 6, 13, 1986. All in favor, motion carried. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS 1. Mayor Stirling reminded Council of Board interviews January 28 at 4: 00 at city hall ; January 29 at 5 p. m. for the City Hall presentation. The work session on the Hotel Jerome will be February 3 at 5:00 at city hall. There will be a study session with the Commissioners February 17 at the community center. Council decided to have an executive session January 29th after the study session. 2. Councilman Isaac asked the staff to look into the Gramm- Rudman bill to see the effect of lost revenue sharing on the city. Mayor Stirling moved to continue the meeting until Wednesday, January 29 , 1986 at 7 p, m. for an executive session on personnel ; seconded by Councilwoman Walls. All in favor, motion carried. Council 1 of t the meeting at 9:10 p. m. ~~ Kathryn S. Koch, ity Clerk 17