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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19750721182 0 Special Meeting Aspen City Council July 21, 1975 Mayor Standley called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. with Councilmembars Johnston, Wishart, De Gregorio, City Manager Mahoney, and City Attorney Stuller present. ORDINANCE #41, SERIES OF 1975 Ord.41,1975 Federal funds Mayor Standley opened the public hearing. There were no commen~s. Mayor Standley closed received and the public hearing, dispersed Councilwoman Johnston moved to read Ordinance ~41, Series of 1975; seconded by Councilman Wishart. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE ~41 (Series of 1975) AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE RECOGNIZING RECEIPT OF $18,606.02 REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUS TRAIL CONSTRUCTION; APPROPRIATING THE S~AME AS FOLLOWS: $6,400.00 FOR PENAPRIME; $1,400.00 FOR PENAPRIME BASE; $3,606.02 FOR GRAVEL; $1,000.00 FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RED MOUNTAIN PARKING LOT; $3,500.00 FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS FOR THE BASEBALL FIELDS WITH AN ADDITIONAL $500.00 FOR BASEBALL NETS; $2,200.00 TO COVER PREVIOUSLY APPROVED INCREASED COUNCIL SALARIES; AND FURTHER DECLARING THAT AN EMERGENCY EXISTS MANDATING THAT THE ORDINANCE TAKE EFFECT UPON FINAL PASSAGE was read by the deputy city clerk. Councilwoman Johnston asked to be put on record that the money being reimbursed came from the general fund and not from transportation; otherwise it looks like the City is using the money for something else. Councilman De Gregorio moved to adopt Ordinance ~41, Series of 1975; seconded by Councilmai Wishart. All in favor, motion carried. Roll call vote: Councilmembers Johnston, aye; Wishart, aye; De Gregorio, aye; Mayor Standley, aye. Motion carried. Counciwoman Johnston moved to adjourn the Special Meeting at 5:15 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Wishart. All in favor, motion carried. Elizabeth M. /~, 'Deputy City Clerk Present from the Council was Councilwoman Johnston, Councilwoman Pedersen, Councilman De Gregorio, Councilman Wishart, Councilman Parry, Councilman Behrendt, and Mayor Standley. Present from the Planning and Zoning Commission to continue to discuss with the Council- members the uses of the Rio Grande Property was Mike Otte, Jack Jenkins, Roger Hunt, Brian Goodheim, and Danny Abbott. Also present was City Manager Mahoney, and City Attorney Stuller along with City/County Planner Bill Kane and John Stanford from the Planning Department. Mayor Standley told members of a confidential memo that he had received from Bob Grueter, Attorney for Aspen One, stating that if the City was interested Aspen One is willing to sell the other 8 acres of the Trueman property. Mayor Standley suggested that if the City did purchase the other 8 acres it would be possible to do commercial buildings on the property such as another City Market or perhaps a price could be negotiated with the Post Office. Kane said that the entire site must be planned for as one unit and mentioned that the Post Office was under the assumption that they could buy just one plot of land and begin the development process. However, Kane said that they couldn't do that because the Planning Department is still waiting for a master plan and a firm committment by the United States Postal Service to override the zoning ordinance to have a legal defense for burying our requirements for specially planned area. Councilman Parry arrived at 5:10 p.m. City Manager Mahoney felt that if City Market did move down to the Trueman Property that the City would be left in a less competitve situation because City Market was asked what they would do with the building that the would vacate. City Market said that they would maintain it or would not allow competitors to enter. City Manager Mahoney has set up a meeting with Safeway to see what their desires would be. Mike Otte arrived at 5:20 p.m. Kane went over what has been discussed at the previous study sessions of the Rio Grande. What the Planning Department is trying to do is to 1) identify appropriate uses for the Rio Grande and try and identify if there should be private lease space to generate revenue in that area and 2) apply uses into physical planning process. So far there has been a consensus to have a performing arts center and no need to plan for City Hall space, a Conference center is desirable but would share space with a performing arts center and community meeting space provided, and capital planning for both the school district and CMC and City/County should be included, and a fire station would be better situated on Rio Grande if substantial space be required. Behrendt arrived at 5-25 p.m. Mayor Standley mentioned that when Edgar Stern came to the previous study session on the Rio Grande and talked for MAA they had expressed no interest in getting out of the tent and felt 500 to 600 seats would be good and the MAA had no interest in occupying a 2,000 seat auditorium. Kane mentioned that he had met with Dick Lee of the School District; L.B. Dann, President of the School District; City Manager Mahoney; County Manager A1 Bloomquist; Steve Mills of Colorado Mountain College; and John Stanford of the Planning Department and talked about certain things being considered by the School District and CMC. Colorado Mountain College is involved in a general program which will allow them to have a revolving capital accOunt and will have a program that will allow them to invest up to $160,000 a year in each one of the communities by town basis. Kane said that the City is still involved in a process of trying to identify capital needs with City/County and trying to integrate as much as possible with capital program. City/County met and agreed that the Planning office, as a result of this process, put together a building program for this site and then investigated to what extent this could be integrated with some needs of the school district and CMC. Kane felt that the development may spark a public facility planning process that would involve this whole end of town. If the City takes steps forward then maybe the school will take the inititive to make a move on their property. There would be a playground facilities, connecting with trails and some space for adult education programs for both CMC and the school distrit. Councilman Parry felt that the high school is alread being used night and day and CMC uses that for classes every night and if the existing buildings are already being used it is better to have them used instead of building new buildings and having the old ones sit vacant. The kids would go to the Rio Grande for recreational facilities. Kane said that he would like to explore the though of expanding a library facility. Kane continued saying what is going to be discussed is transportation related uses, publi facilities related uses, recreational realated uses and whether the Rio Grande should be considered for private use or public supporting uses that would attract people and generate revenue. RECREATION Horse and bike trails - the use haS already been approved. Open space - Should the Rio Grande site be used for carnivals and fair grounds. Mayor Standley felt that if the parking lot is a lot and not a parking structure, that it would be alright to do a carnival down in the lot. Consensus was that a carnival and fairgrounds should be planned for if available space is a by-product of the plan. Active recreation field needs i.e. sOftball, soccer, football - Mayor Standley asked Kane how he felt from a Planning Point of vew. Kane felt that more intensive less space demanding recreation would be more appropriate like tennis. Kane would like to see tennis courts and they would attract alot of people. Councilman De Gregorio suggested that if baskets were set up for basketball there could still be open space for a carnival or fair grounds and felt that all the recreational activities should be in one central area which is Islin and the golf course area. Councilman De Gregorio also suggested that possik.y a a summer recreation area and winter recreation area could somehow be combined. Mayor Standley said that he felt that Ted Armstrong, Director of Parks and Recreation, should bepresent to discuss some type of recreational facility for the Rio Grande. Councilman De Gregorio mentioned that he would like to be present to discuss with Armstrong some type of recreational faCility in the Rio Grande Lot. Amplitheatre - The Sinclair site, which was being considered by the Mall Commission for an amplitheatre, was decided that it was not an appropriate site for the amplitheatre. Mayor Standley questioned the realities of using an amplitheatre. Councilwoman Johnston said that her idea of an amplitheatre was a very small one and that the seats could be used for people milling around the area to sit down and perhaps have thier lunch and enjoy the sun. Councilwoman Pedersen arrived at 5:40 p.m. Councilman De Gregorio felt that it could present police problems because of people sleepil overnight and playing music all night. Mayor Standley asked if anyone was opposed to having an amplitheatre on the site. No one was opposed. Councilman Parry asked Kane what he was going to do after the liSt is finished. Kane said that what they will do is to identify to see if each use is appropriate and then come back with alternative concepts those being: alternative development programs, different conceptual plans, different ways to phase them, and different financial packages. The Planning Department will get together a list of approved uses and then come back and talk to Council and show them exactly what they look like. Riverfront promenade - Stanford explaiRod what a Riverfront promenade was saying that what it implies is having a larger number of people along the river front; and at the same time have uses down Close to the river and an example would be eating facilities. Mayor Standley questioned what the adopted greenway plan says. Stanford said that the greenway plan basically says to orient things towards the natural environment. Councilman De Gregorio agreed with the restaurants on the site but not close to the ri~er. Councilmal Behrendt said that he didn't want to see alot of construction on the river. Kane said that what is needed is relatively intensive mand made uses and yet still make the river behave in a natural way. Kane went on to say that it would be compatible with the public invention of the property and would allow the City to do some interesting things like perhaps we could generate enough revenue for more land acquisition or for further imple- mentation of the greenway plan or some uses that would actually enhance and make more attractive some of the public facilities. Kane feels that the greatest fear is that it be exclusively public and used daring rigid fixed hours during the day and will sit dark during certain nights and unused and will become a patrolled police libility which may create other problems. Often the right elements can have appropriate and private uses and can lend vitality and bring people in off-hours when other public things wouldn't be going~ Councilman Behrendt mentioned the unappropriate buildings which are presently on the site such as the garages on Mill street and suggested to allow people owning those buildings to convert over to restaurant uses and this might be a good way to solve potential public private conflict. If they could develop some uses that would help the property and not detract from it the City could pay for operating expenses and maybe generate some surplus revenue that the City could apply and pledge towards bonding and as far as land the City cou]d produce revenue for other things; for example, we could pledge that revenue for other things and the closes thing is to implement the greenway plan and to do that the City will need the riverside trailer site and the Aspen One property. Mayor Standley asked City Attorney Stuller what the constraint,s are on the City in terms of leasing commercial space,~under tke seventh penny acquisition. Councilwoman Johnston ask if it becomes a restraint on the performing arts center also. City Attorney Stuller said that when the 7th penny was adopted the City gave itself a wide enough description of what the uses should be; for example, capital improvements, land acquisition, almost anything that the general fund uses. Just before the election th City Council by Resoltuion pledged to do some 7th penny monies to implementation of the Vohrees transportation plan and that is very specific--malls, underground parking, bus transport. The question is how binding that election is when there is no raw issue on something that has no consciousness. If the Council feels that the committment is binding and should be on consideration of the 7th penny is what has to be considered. Mayor Standley suggested that if there is a problem of using the 7th penny that it can be repaid with funds from another source. City Attorney Stuller said that it can be refinanced and suggested that it be discussed thour~hly~ Councilman Behrendt asked Kane if he had talked with City Manager Mahoney and the Transportation Department as to what is going to be done with the City garages and if they were aware of some land near Overmyers or near the bus area that might be appropriate for those uses. Mayor Standley said that the backgroung for Kane's edification was that a couple years ago the Council got into a discussion about the existing location of the City shops and the fact that that was a historical building al basically would be used as a shop and was right on the river and perhaps would have better uses and discussed at that time the idea of moving the shops down to the Rio Grande propertI It wasn't a decision or a discussion but was an element of disucssion that would be planned around budget time. Kane suggested that there should be a thourgh investigation on all space available publicly owned land and look at the water plar~, Mayor Standley objected to the idea because he said that he spends alot of time down at the shops and there a dump trucks that are left open, 50 to 60 spools of electrical cables, alot of thin. s in terms of what a shop is really about; and it seems like if the City started a facility at the water plant and really integrated it , it will get to the point that we will be the purchasing officer to keep it so we don't get ripped off. If the City had a controlled access inventory yard it would be good, but it is inappropriate down there. Continuing with Riverfront promenade - Councilman De Gregorio would like to see some restaurants that serve breakfast and lunch for those who cross country ski and kayak. It was decided to have this as a consideration. Study Session Aspen City Council July 21, 1975 Commercial Recreation - (bowling, ice skating) Councilman De Gregorio liked the idea of having a bowling alley. Councilwoman Johnston felt that it was not compatible with the Aspen area. Councilwoman Pedersen didn't like the idea. As far as commercial recreation Councilman De Gregorio suggested that there should be an ice skating rink; because there is a special interest group involved in ice skating and hockey just as there is an interest group involved in a performing arts center. Councilman Parry fel% that it should be a consideration. Mayor Standley said that a bowling alley doesn't have to be one building whereas a rink would have to be because it is a structure and would have to be one building Councilman De Gregorio suggested that if the City could find someone to put up a skating rink to finance it then it wouldn't cost the City anything but space. Otte said that by having a skating rink it will be used 24 hours a day and will generate traffic down to the property which is something that would be nice to see because they will also take in whatever else is down on the property and will be compatible with the other things down in the property. It was decided that there will have to be some judgement to this consideration when the plan is being put together. Ma~cr Standley said that he didn't object to it as a consideration. Service Station - There is a duplication Office and art supply - Kane said that when Stanford was putting this list together what he was trying to do is conceive of limited commercial things that would be compatible with a joint public safety building or some other City public uses; however, since they have dropped out of consi~ration there is no point in having this on the list. We would give any retail business an advantage down there because he would have automobile access; however a good example would be a ski rental facility because the transportation system would make it possible for the people who rent their ski equipment to get a ride to the base of little nell and wouldn't have to deal with downtown. Mayor Standley catagorized what he sees as commercial uses down in the property. That is commercial uses that involve people interacting with people as opposed to people doing businss whether it be service or doing business and feels that the City should do more with people interacting with people or enjoying people type of thing and have it basically non competitive with the commercial core and would like to see the Rio Grande being used along that line rather than along a retail commercial center. Mayor Standley went on to say that the property should be people generating, low garbage and low traffic delivery service generating and when anything is happening it is of a person type activity. It should be a place where things are happening other than where a person goes to purchase. Otte felt that that was a good idea and in the planning of the property try to prevent a shopping center from spring up; this would make the middle of town deterioratewhich could happen and that would be a suberb shopping center down by the river along the river with parking and would really be a drain on the other downtown businesses. Otte would like to see the downtown area preserved because that is what people think Aspen is. Kane gave a Conclusion saying that the performing, arts center is the heart of the project. Even the list of uses there is a performing arts center around a 15,000 sq.ft, building with supporting lease space and alot of subordinated public facilities. It is going to be minimized with respect to the impact on transportation which excludes commercial buses. Kane feels that everyone is open to adopting the greenway plan and having a nice transi- tion from downtown public facilities to an open space. The next step will be to investi- gate the urban design budget and hiring some consulting help. Kane will write up a program and solicite responses from a cross section of people and will talk to a number of people. Hunt moved to adjourn, seconded by Jenkins. Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Elizabe~ M. Kl~m~, ~Dep~y City Clerk