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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19981207Aspen City Council Regular Meeting December 7, 1998 Mayor Bennett called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. with Councilmembers Paulson, Richards, Vickery and Markalunas present. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION There were no comments COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS 1. Councilman Vickery said the city is working on the Aspen Area Community Plan and encouraged citizens to participation and to take the AACP seriously. This is a policy document that will be in place for the next 5 to 10 years. Councilman Vickery said he is interested in the benefit public arts brings to the community and to see where that program can be expanded. Councilman Vickery suggested this might be part of the DEPP. 2. Councilman Markalunas noted toady is Pearl Harbor day and everyone should reflect on the sacrifices made by those, both at home and in the war. 3. City Manager Margerum requested Council add to the consent calendar a request for funds to Grassroots for their funds raiser, Roots Jam, in January. Ms. Margerum said the request is for $2500 from Council’s contingency. Councilwoman Richards moved to add to the consent calendar a request for $2500 from Council’s contingency to fund “Roots Jam”; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor, motion carried. 4. City Manager Margerum noted that Ordinance #50, Code amendment regarding security signs, should be moved to action items rather than consent calendar as their are 3 options of the ordinance to chose from. 5. Steve Barwick, assistant city manager, told Council staff conducted a mail survey of citizens, which was followed up with a telephone survey. Barwick said a telephone survey is more statistically accurate, and staff feels this is the way to go in the future. Barwick said many department’s outcome measures are review by citizens of their department performance. Barwick said future mail surveys will deal with projects citizens might like to see or how to spend taxes. Barwick told Council the citizens are quite satisfied with city services. 1 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting December 7, 1998 CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Markalunas moved to adopt the consent calendar as amended; seconded by Councilman Paulson. The consent calendar is: · Minutes - November 23, 1998 · Request for Funds - Grassroots Fund-raiser “Roots Jam” $2500 Council Contingency Councilwoman Richards said she would like a report before the last Council meeting of the year on how much is left in Council contingency so Council could consider what projects might be funded. All in favor, motion carried. RESOLUTION #84, 1998 - 1999 Budget Sheila Steinauer, budget director, told Council the city’s community relations officer is meeting with a crew about the historic video. They plan on hiring a consultant and looking at teaming up with ACRA or the Ski Company. There currently is no a budget; they will present this project next year for possible funding. Councilwoman Richards said she would like some equipment for the drop in kids’ day care program at the Red Brick. Tabatha Miller, finance director, noted this has been added to the 1999 budget. The west end traffic committee funds have been included in the budget. Ms. Steinauer told Council since the electric superintendent left, Phil Overeynder has been negotiating on renewable energy. Staff will report back to Council on renewable energy. Ms. Miller told Council $100,000 has been spent on Main Street. The food tax refunds have been raised from $39 to $50 per year. Ms. Miller said one issue is additional funding for arts, non-profits and human service organizations. Ms. Miller said there is enough money in the general fund and Wheeler budget to add funding. Ms. Miller noted only arts grants can be funded from the Wheeler. Ms. Miller suggested looking at this extra funding next year and that it be done retroactively and be based on how well sales tax or the real estate transfer tax do and this money is “given back”. This will not be adding a growth factor but will be passing on additional revenues to arts, non-profits and human service groups. Ms. Miller said this amount can be a percentage or a set figure, which could be reviewed every year after the year’s books are closed out. The figure could be added to the grant process as one-time money. 2 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting December 7, 1998 Ms. Miller told Council Aspen Ballet is not comfortable putting on the summer dance festival with $20,000. They say their programming is more extensive. Ms. Miller said the city gave Dance Aspen $39,000 in 1998; staff recommends granting Aspen Ballet $40,500 as a grant for the summer dance festival. Richie Cohen, Aspen Ballet board, said early on Aspen Ballet was told the city would give $50,000 to anyone willing to put on the summer dance program. Cohen said they have planned a unique and exciting summer dance program. Cohen told Council they are raising money and the city money will be used as seed money. This dance program will be in addition to Aspen Ballet’s regular year-round school and program. Cohen requested the city fund a total of $50,000. Jean Paul told Council the companies they hope to bring in this summer would like to have half of their payment up front. Jean Paul said they plan on having children’s programs as well as some programs in a venue that is not the theatre. Mayor Bennett suggested approving a $40,500 grant and a $9500 one-time grant to be reviewed again next year. There may be the possibility that the entire amount would be an on-going grant. Council agreed with the suiggestion. Ms. Steinauer noted there are two additions to the asset management plan; $220,000 in parks and open space for the pool design and $50,000 in the golf department for the club house design. Councilwoman Richards asked if this includes additional funds for Little Feet. Ms. Steinauer said it does. Councilwoman Richards said there was no money recommended for the Aspen Institute Community Forum for their housing study. Councilwoman Richards said the non-profit committee recommended Council review the topic and what the Institute Forum is doing before granting money. Councilwoman Richards suggested funding this for $10,000. Council agreed. Mayor Bennett opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Bennett closed the public hearing. Councilwoman Richards asked about a budget for improving Main street referred to by Councilman Vickery. Amy Margerum, city manager, said staff would like a direction from Council on what they want done with Main street. Councilman Vickery said he would like $30,000 as a place holder in the 1999 for addressing Main street. Councilman Vickery said he feels this is an important but neglected part of Aspen. 3 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting December 7, 1998 Councilwoman Richards moved to approve an addition to the budget of $40,500 to Aspen Ballet for a summer dance festival plus a one-time start up grant of $9,500; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. All in favor, motion carried. Councilwoman Richards moved to support a one-time grant to the Aspen Institute Community Forum of $10,000; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. All in favor, with the exception of Mayor Bennett who abstained because of future employment; motion carried. Councilwoman Richards moved to spend up to $30,000 to study Main street in the 1999 budget; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. Councilman Paulson asked why this is being pursued when the community is still working on the Entrance to Aspen. Councilwoman Richards said there are lots of issues that can be addressed in the city’s right-of-way, and also short term improvements that will improve the look. All in favor, with the exception of Councilman Paulson. Motion carried. Councilman Markalunas moved to adopt Resolution #84, Series of 1998, as amended; seconded by Councilwoman Richards. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE #47, SERIES OF 1998 - Appropriations Sheila Steinauer, budget director, told Council there are 4 new requests since first reading. The community development requested $21,258 - $17386 for DEPP close out costs; $2200 initial scoping on the floor area ratio amendment process and $2,000 for the resident free market study. The streets department requested $22,126 for retirement costs; recreation department requested $20,000 revenues and $20,000 expenditures for the pool. Amy Margerum, city manager, noted there are new state regulations requiring additional personnel be on deck at the pool. Additional staff was hired this year without asking Council for the additional funding. The housing/day care fund requests $10,000 for W/J legal fees, which may be able to be absorbed in the current public. These legal fees result from a lawsuit by a current tenant of W/J. Mayor Bennett opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Bennett closed the public hearing. Councilman Vickery noted the increase in the Design Workshop contract on the DEPP project; professional services should be kept within the contract amount. Ms. 4 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting December 7, 1998 Margerum agreed but said with the change in staff in the community development department and commitments made by departing personnel, these costs were approved as change orders to the contract and not brought forward to Council. DWI did perform the work at the request of city staff. Councilwoman Richards moved to adopt Ordinance #47, Series of 1998, as amended; seconded by Councilman Paulson . Roll call vote: Councilmembers Markalunas, yes; Richards, yes; Paulson, yes; Vickery, yes; Mayor Bennett, yes. Motion carried. ORDINANCE #49, SERIES OF 1998 - 1999 Fees John Worcester, city attorney, reminded Council staff looks at all the city fees annually to make sure they keep place with inflation and that the programs are being covered. Worcester pointed out the fee scheduled of the Wheeler Opera House has been clarified and streamlined; there is a rate reduction for non-profit users. The golf fees have been increased about 11 percent because they have not had a fee increase in 4 years. In the parking department, the deposit for in-car meters will be increased to $35 and the daily residential parking permits will be $5/day rather than $3/day. Councilman Vickery questioned the construction parking in residential zones. Tim Ware, director of parking, said the only two parking fees that are being changed are the deposit on in-car meters and the daily residential parking permits. The construction parking permits are issued to companies working in the residential zones instead of having the employees move their cars every two hours and not pay for parking at all. Councilman Markalunas suggested having people pay more per car for residential parking permits after the first car. Randy Ready, assistant city manager, said this is an idea worth looking into but the parking permit process for 1999 has already been done so this will be for 2000. Mayor Bennett opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Bennett closed the public hearing. Councilman Markalunas moved to adopt Ordinance #49, Series of 1998, on second reading as amended; seconded by Councilman Paulson. Roll call vote: Councilmembers Markalunas, yes; Paulson, yes; Richards, yes; Vickery, yes; Mayor Bennett, yes. Motion carried. 5 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting December 7, 1998 RFTA 1999 BUDGET Resolutions 98-7 and 98-8 Dan Blankenship, general manager, told Council the proposed operating revenues for 1999 are $10.5 million and the expenses will be $10.4 million with $101,000 projected surplus to be added to the reserve. Total capital expenditures are projected at $1.7 million. The service levels will be the same in 1999 with 3.26 million miles and a 6 percent increase in ridership. Mayor Bennett opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Bennett closed the public hearing. Councilman Markalunas commended RFTA on the work on the bus shelters throughout the valley. Councilman Paulson suggested there may be something to put in the new shelters in the winter to cut down on the wind blowing through the shelters. Councilman Paulson said he is concerned about the slip lanes and that they will be used by cars rather than by buses. Blankenship said the city and county have been working with CDOT on the plan. Councilman Paulson said there is an enforcement issue to make sure this does not become just a four-lane. Blankenship said the city’s long range plan is light rail and not a four-lane. In the interim, the goal is to get people to use the transit and to make the trip time on transit more convenient than in cars. Blankenship said there has been improvement in trip times with these slip lanes and it is making a difference. Councilwoman Richards moved to adopt the RFTA budget through Resolutions #87-7 and 98-8; seconded by Mayor Bennett . Councilman Vickery would like to see some money set aside for staff to travel to some cities that use electric buses. Councilman Vickery said by the year 2000 he would like to see the system using electric buses on the more sensitive routes. Blankenship said he plans on putting together a staff group to work on moving the city fleet toward alternative fuels, talking about all issues associated with that. Amy Margerum, city manager, noted the city is funding a full time planning position at RFTA to focus on city issues. All in favor, motion carried. 1999 HOUSING BUDGET 6 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting December 7, 1998 Mary Roberts, housing office, said there are two resolutions, 98-4, which is the expenditures and 98-5, which is the revenues. The budget has been slightly adjusted since work sessions with Council. The bottom line has not changed. The two issues changed were salary related. Ms. Roberts said not in the budget is the repayment of the refinancing of the Marolt and Truscott bonds. The housing office recollects this money was not a loan, in order to keep the rents at Marolt and Truscott affordable. If the money is to be repaid to the housing/day care fund, the Marolt and Truscott funds will be in a deficient situation without a rent increase. Mayor Bennett opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Bennett closed the public hearing. Councilwoman Richards said she supports a review of the Marolt rent structure and repayment of the housing/day care fund. John Worcester, city attorney, asked about housing assistance clause. Terry Kappeli, housing office, said this is the voucher program for rental assistance. The housing office pays Garfield county to administer the program. Councilwoman Richards moved to adopt the 1999 housing budget resolutions 98-4 and 98-5; seconded by Councilman Vickery . All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE #50, SERIES OF 1998 - Code Amendment Security Signs Councilman Paulson moved to read Ordinance #50, Series of 1998; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE #50 Series of 1998 AN ORDINANCE OF THE ASPEN CITY COUNCIL APPROVING TEXT AMENDMENT TO SECTION 26.36.030(B)(17) RESIDENTIAL NAME AND ADDRESS SIGNS, AND 26.36.040(B), BILLBOARDS AND OTHER OFF- PREMISE SIGNS, OF THE ASPEN MUNICIPAL CODE, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 26.92, AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND USE REGULATIONS AND OFFICIAL ZONE DISTRICT MAP, OF THE ASPEN MUNICIPAL CODE was read by the city clerk Mitch Haas, community development department, told Council there are 3 options to the security sign section of the code; Option A is staff’s recommendation; Option 7 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting December 7, 1998 B is the recommendation from P & Z and Option C is the proposal from a security company. Haas noted the main differences are that Option A differentiates between security signs and security company signs. The security company signs have advertising and security signs do not. Options B and C do not make the differentiation. Option A allows for security signs up to 6 by 6 inches as part of the allowable 2 square feet of residential name and address signs. Options B and C allow the 6 by 6 inches in addition to the 2 feet for residential name and address signs. Option A eliminates the advertising element but would continue to allow the identification of security companies on window stickers. These decals are not regulated. Options B and C would require the identification of a specific security company and their phone number on the sign. Options A and B require the 6 by 6 inch sign be placed on the wall of a residence; option C would allow free standing signs within the setback of the property. Councilman Paulson said he supports signs on the buildings only. Mayor Bennett said he would prefer the least regulation as possible and would support Option C. Haas said currently security signs are prohibited by the municipal code. These ordinances would allow the signs and would regulate them. Councilwoman Richards asked if this code amendment has been reviewed by HPC for the character issue of attaching these type of signs to a historic house. Councilman Paulson moved to adopt option B, Ordinance #50, Series of 1998, on first reading; seconded by Councilwoman Richards. Roll call vote: Councilmembers Markalunas, yes; Vickery, no; Richards, yes; Paulson, yes; Mayor Bennett, no. Motion carried. Councilwoman Richards moved to adjourn at 8:05 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. All in favor, motion carried. Kathryn S. Koch, City Clerk 8