HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19860602Conti~nue~d Meeting Aspen Citv Council_ _ June 2 , 1986
Mayor Pro Tem Walls called the continued meeting to order at 4:40
p. m. with Councilmembers Collins, Isaac and Fallin present.
ASPEN - MOfi3NTAIN LANDSLIDE REPORT
Jay Hammond, city engineer, told Council the evidence to date
does not indicate significant movement of the large landslide
mass. There is some movement in some of the peripheral areas.
The Skiing Company has been moving material in the area of Dago
cut and in some other areas that may have problems. Hammond
reminded Council in a joint session with the Commissioners, they
discussed doing further work on the debris flow analysis for
510 , 000; however, Chen & Associates submitted a proposal f o r
$40,000. The staff felt the cost was too high and that it did
not deal with the landslide issue.
Hammond said the city had a debris flow and flash flooding study
done in the early '70s by Wright McLaughlin. Some of the data
from this study is no longer current; however, the evidence
indicates the figures they used were conservative. Hammond told
Council staff has solicited from Wright McLaughlin a cost to
update their work but has not received a cost for this. Hammond
told Council the Chen report did recommend some mitigation
measures for the landslide area. Hammond said he would like to
continue to work with the Skiing Company to implement some of the
recommendations from the Chen report. Hammond said there is
support from the Colorado Geological survey that the Chen report
is substantial and adequate to address the situation. Hammon d
said if anything develops that raises additional concern, the
staff will pursue further work.
Jim Blanning said he feels the landslide is moving and moving the
same way it has been in the lat two years. Blanning illustrated
where cracks have developed and where the land is moving.
Blanning said he is asking 52 , 000 each from the city, county and
Skiing Company to bring in Barry Vought from Pennsylvania, a
world renown expert on landslides. Blanning said the Chen
studies only went down 60 feet, and he feels there is movement
200 feet with a top sheer zone. There are cracks across Norway
slope. Blanning told Council of the $6,000 51,500 would go to
him to continue to work on the landslide area. Blanning said
this land could release catastrophically. This is a unique
geological phenomena.
Bud Eylar, county works director, asked what the city, county and
Skiing Company would get for 56,000. Blanning said this report
will establish whether there is a problem in this area or not.
Blanning pointed out the sewer pipe that is inhibiting the
movement of the landslide and questioned what will happen if the
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Continued-Meeting Aspen Citv Council _ June 2. 1-98
sewer line parts. Blanning told Council he has records to prove
this land does not stop moving.
Councilman Collins asked if Chen has responded to Blanning's
information. Hammond said Chen's involvement was under contract
with the Aspen Mountain Lodge project, and they are not currently
involved. Hammond said Chen's cross section and profile show s
they went to bedrock. Hammond pointed out the landslide has been
identified in some form for a number of years. The Colorado
Geological Survey did surface surveys in the late '60s, they
showed this area as a landslide. Hammond told Council as the
weather conditions and amount of water goes through a cyclic
process, the land moves and then ceases. Councilman Collins
asked if Chen addressed the change with added snowmaking.
Hammond said Chen recommended that the snow be removed in the
spring, which the Skiing Company has been doing along with some
other measures. Blanning said nothing has been done in the
landslide area this year except what he has done.
Councilwoman Fallin said she would like to see an outline of the
scope of work, what this consultant is going to report that
hasn't already been done. Blanning said he wants a qualified
opinion. Don Rayburn, Skiing Company, told Council they have not
allocated any money for this study. Hammond told Council he has
authorized Chen to do remeasuring. Hammond suggested sending
Vought all the reports available, and ask him if there is
something going on that has not been seen. Rayburn told Council
he has talked to Vought on the phone, who said he could review
the materials in about two days. Rayburn said Blanning f eels
this wold pre-prejudice Vought.
Councilman Collins asked if the report from Chen and from Seattle
are consistent with each other. Rayburn said they are consistent
and Seattle was more firm that this was a shallow mass and very
unlikely to make a quick movement. Hammond told Council Chen's
report recommended removal of the over burden, drilling of the
lower slope areas to provide drainage. Councilman Isaac said the
city should get a proposal from Vought to know what he will do
before committing the funds. The city should get proposals both
on having Vought come out here and study the area, and sending
the reports to him.
Mayor Pro Tem Walls said the there are recommendations that are
not currently being followed. Acting City Manager Mitchell said
staf f is getting measurements and requesting an update f rom
Wright McLaughlin. The work on the mountain is the Skiing
Company's responsibility. Councilman Isaac asked if staff has
investigated state or federal funds. Hammond told Council he has
contacted the CGS, who does not have funds available, and FEMA,
who does not view this as an emergency.
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Cvntrn~rec~- Meeting Aspen City CQUncil June ~; 1986
Councilman Isaac moved the staff and county, approach Vought and
get in writing a proposal, report back to Council, Commissioners
and Skiing Company; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin.
Hammond said staff knows what they can supply Vought, what Vought
ought to do for this study. Mitchell said staff ought to verify
Vought's credentials.
All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Collins said he has be requested by RFTA to extend
golf passes to their employees one more year. Councilman Collins
said the city is allowing golf passes for one last year, and is
requesting twilight passes for RFTA employees. Mitchell told
Council city employees can chose golf passes as part of the
wellness fitness program. Council agreed and requested this be
on the next agenda.
Mitchell told Council he will report at the next meeting the cost
to make the first floor area a presentable meeting room. Council
agreed they would like to meet in one central location.
Councilman Collins moved to adjourn at 5:15 p.m.; seconded by
Councilwoman Fallin. All in favor, motion carried.
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Kathryn S.s och, City Clerk
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