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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19770208 Special Meeting ..... Aspen City Council February 8, 1977 Mayor Standley called the special meeting to order at 6:55 p.m. with Councilmembers Behrendt, Johnston, Pedersen, and City Manager Mahoney present. Mayor Standley announcedll the only agenda item was the weather modification agreement contract. County Attorney Stuller told the Council this agreement is between the City of Aspen and Larry Hjermstad. The County has withdrawn their participation and request to parti- Weather cipate only on an advisory board. The County recommends that Commissioner Child be Modifica- the rspresentative to the advisory board. The County would like to be indemnified agains~ tion Agre~ any future suit as a result of this contract. ment Contract Councilwoman Johnston stated that the City and County w~nt into this for $2,000 each, and it seems that the City and County should have a mutual responsibility. There is no way that th~s should land only on the City. Councilwoman Johnston asked why the County should be indemnified when they agreed to go into the permit with the City. Special Meeting Aspen City Council February 8, 1977 Councilwoman Johnston asked what happened if there were no clouds to seed. H. J. Stalf answered that the City would be able to sell back the silver iodine and propane. Couhcil. woman Johnston said she did not like the~figure of $27,000 in the contract. Stalf pointed out this figure was wrong; the contract is for the first $20,000 of the project. Weather Anything over that will be picked up by the State no matter what the cost runs. Stalf Modificatio! told Council the project has received $6,000 from the Chamber of Commerce, $6,000 from the Ski Corporation, $2,000 each from the City and County. The Ski Corp has said they will match any locally raised money Up to $13,000. Mayor Standley pointed out if the area gets snow over the next couple of weeks, there won't be any trouble raising the $4,000. If there are no clouds to see, the City won't have to spend all of the money on the contract. Mayor Standley noted the City has the right to terminate in 24 hours. Councilman Wishart came in. Councilwoman Johnston pointed out for the regionaly permits issued there will be an advisory committee. The state has put a limit.on the permits through March. Ms. Stulle] stated that both permits will not exceed the March 15th deadline. Councilwoman Johnston said she had problems with the Commissioners withdrawing~ this should be a community effort. Councilwoman Johnston state d the City and County went into this quickly without knowing what they were doing. Councilwoman Johnston said she felt uncomfortable with this but feels that for two months it will not be of any harm. Councilwoman Johnston said she would like the part about the feasibility study taken out of the contract, and does not want to see the County indemnified. Commissioner Kinsley told Council he:-,had changed his mind about this project during the public hearing. Kinsley pointed out that Pitkin County is not in a survival situation this time. Man is continually pu~i~g his productivity with artificial means, and this is part of that. Kinsley stated that Pitkin County's economy is ~rea%ed based:~upon expecta- tions about snow. The problem now is not no snow, but that people expect there will be snow. Councilwoman Pedersen asked about animal life this late in the season. County Attorney Stuller said that one of the conditions imposed is that there be a person from the Division of Wildlife on the advisory board. Ms. Stuller stated that the Division of Wildlife posited that drought years are needed. They also stated that impacts on animal life from programs like this are marginal. Stalf pointed out this will not change the weather patterns but will only increase the amount of snow. Commissioner Child told Council that all the farmers either reject the idea of modifying the weather or would take their chances or are indifferent. Child stated he had asked for funds for the project. The Holy Cross Cattleman's Association cannot contribute - funds because the ~epresent a much larger area than just Pitkin County. Child stated that his investigation into this, and going back ~o basic beliefs brought him to change his mind about weather modification. Councilwoman Johnston said she was opposed to this program personally but felt as a Council there would be some responsibility to the community and the businesses. Cloud seeding may be important to the community as a morale booster a~ this point. Councilman Behrendt pointed out that the business community has responded very strongly to this proposal and raised most of the money. Councilwoman Pedersen stated she had not defined the rationale of this program in her mind. This winter season Pitkin County has not really suffered; the east has really suffered. Councilwoman Pedersen stated she could not rationalize monkeying around with natural phenomen. Councilwoman Johnston ~tated she would vote for the contract if (1) the feasibility study clause were removed, (2) the contract goes not beyond March 31 and (3) the City put no more money into it. Councilman Behrendt moved to adopt the contract ~s.amended and modified; seconded by Councilwoman Johnston. Mayor Standley, Councilmembers Behrendt and Johnston in favor; Councilmembers wishart and Pedersen opposed. Motion carried. Councilman Behrendt moved to adjourn the special meeting at 7:40 p.m.; seconded by Counci~ man Wishart. All in favor, motion carried.