Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutcclc.min.12192007COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 19, 2007 Chairperson, Bill Dinsmoor called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m. Commissioners in attendance: Terry Butler, Mark Goodman, Shae Singer, Fred Ayarza and Don Sheeley. John Starr and Roger Haneman were excused. Commissioner comments: Bill said the election should occur when John Starr is back from Australia. Bill said he talked to human services at the hospital to see if they could come to town and give flue shots to the people who need them the most and didn't get them. That would be the service workers who will not go to a clinic or spend $20. They said they would do the shots and charge $ 15. a piece. Bill said there are 400 shots left which would be around $6,000. J. E. and Mick said they agreed to fund some money. Little Annie's and myself will try to get donations. We will provide two locations, Little Annie's in the morning and the bakery in the afternoon. Bill ask that the PR person for the City get involved and begin to write a bi- lingual announcement. Don said he was driving through town and the construction workers are taking over the parking across from Terry's hotel, the Crystal Palace, the corner of S. Hunter, ISIS etc. Why do they get permits at this time of the year? It is hard enough to find a parking space but during the holidays etc. it is ludicrous. Don said we are loosing at least 20 spaces. Bill said we have a construction mitigation officer and maybe he should come to a meeting to explain our concerns. Terry Butler said she doesn't have parking at her hotel and she drives over with the person to park in section a or b. At least half our parking has been taken away. I'm trying to get people checked in and we can't find parking. This is an emergency and 10% of our parking is missing. Don said he is going to talk to Steve Barwick about the parking situation. From block to block there is construction parking and there is no place for anyone else to park. Shae said if you have a hybrid you used to be able to park in residential areas two blocks over and apparently in January they are eliminating that. 1 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 19.2007 Don requested that someone come regarding construction parking and parking in general. Fred said the argument with construction workers is that they need their tools in their trucks. If you look at the pickups there are no tools in them. Terry pointed out that the person across the street in charge of the remodel said they paid very little for the five parking spaces in front of Ute City. They are taking up space that could bring in a thousand dollars. Aaron Reed, construction mitigation officer. Bill asked Aaron if he is responsible for construction mitigation. Aaron said somewhat through the permitting process. The permitting that Ute City Banque has during height season was supposed to be suspended. They weren't supposed to use those spaces. Aaron explained that the Ute City was an emergency because the roof is leaking. Don said the Ute City is just one issue, there are construction spaces all over town. Terry said she right across the street and if you look in the trucks there is not a tool there. Don said it is hard enough to find parking when the tourist come into town. Conner Park, Isis, Ute City, Mezzaluna area etc. During the busy time of year something needs to happen. They should drive up and drop their tools off. Aaron said permits are all different. Terry said she goes to section A and it is almost impossible to park. Shae said regardless that they are permitted is it possible for you to look at your rules and permitting process for next year and other holidays such as President's week etc. Aaron said the dates that you cannot get a permit are listed in the code and they are designated as no construction days. Aaron said the spaces are determined with the Parking Department and what kind of work they are doing. If they are doing a gut and remodel and need room for a dumpster etc. they might get six instead of someone who is doing an interior remodel done out of the back of a truck. Shae asked if that parking is for 24 hours a day. Aaron said they pay for it on a daily basis. Construction hours are 7:00 to 5:00 Monday through Saturday. Terry said they leave the signs up and it is intimidating. Aaron said the core area is $25. a day per spot. Eventually the permitting will be online. 2 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 19, 2007 Mark said Aspen holidays are XMAS and New Years and a few days before and after. If you consider Food and Wine a holiday then we could make a good argument that the code needs changed. Aaron said the CCLC and Engineering could go to Cit~ Council and asks for no construction; let's say from Dec. 20`h to January 7` . If Council agrees then it would have to be codified. Shae suggested going to Randy Ready and ask for an emergency suspension for this holiday. Andrew Kole said technically Steve Barwick could suspend the ordinance. Shae asked if Aaron through this was an issue or problem. Aaron said it is a double edge sword. You can't tell a contractor that they can't do work to support the economics of this community and at the same time saying that we need these spots open because we have to support the economics. Those people doing this work are eventually going to provide a service based on the work that they conduct. Getting it done quickly is always an issue and not impacting the city is second. Shae said the reality is the spots are blocked off Saturday and Sunday. The spaces are not open at night they are still blocked up. When anyone is shopping there first statement is that parking is a problem in Aspen. XMAS to New Years they still have the spaces blocked. Aaron said he agrees and will ask the construction workers to not park during the weekend etc. Tony Kornasiewicz, Engineering said some of the parking spaces are being held as place holders so that shipments etc. can come in a short period of time. Terry said the sign at the Lime Lite is not taken down. The sign says no parking construction area. Fred said he feels policing construction parking probably falls through the cracks and some of the people take advantage of it. If this is something that needs taken on for next year we need to get ahead of it. Bill said we need to make a list and prioritize it for 2008. 3 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 19.2007 Lighting Mark said we are trying to get our lighting improved in the downtown core. Basically the current lighting shines light up and causes light pollution and has 19`h century incandescent light bulbs. They got some lenses but they do not do much. New lights utilize LED's which is 80% less electricity and they require a lot less service. There is probably a ten year payback between service and the reduction of carbon output and we would have improved lighting. The current lighting you look at it and your pupils go small and you don't see anything else. The newer lights help with night vision and also with lighting up the concrete itself. We did have some initial approval for a prototype and we are trying to get the thing going again. Mark also mentioned that the City has a mandate to reduce electricity. Shae said we need to take up the next step to get through the process. Bill said the city manager last week said if we want things done we need to go to council's work sessions and begin lobbying for line items. Bill suggested he contact Dwayne Romero to be aware of what we want to go forward with: No department head unless he is told by a council person to take the next step and go forward. Cooking Demonstration Shae said the Saturday market applications need to be received by Jan. 3`a Jackie Lothian said Kathy e-mailed all the previous vendors. Bill said we need to decide on a cooking demonstration and get an article in the paper. We are looking for a cooking demonstration to feature seasonal produce that is available at the market. Shae said the Taste of Colo. wanted a permit for the same weekend as food and wine. They wanted on the street but no more permits are available that weekend. We could use Conner Park. Bill said he couldn't imagine a worst weekend to try and do the Taste of Colorado. Shae said they are only here for food and wine. Bill said it doesn't work for anyone else. Doing satellite stuff would get totally lost. Fred said having the ability to taste wine when you cannot get into Food and Wine is a good thing. 4 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 19.2007 Mark also felt that it is deserves to be looked at. Bill said we need further information. MOTION: Don moved to look at going forward with the Taste of Colorado; second by Mark. All in favor, motion carried. Bike program: A bike program etc. was brought up at one point and got stalled. There is a security and mechanism to get the bike. There is an enormous project in Paris. I have been told by our lodges that they are required to provide bikes to patrons. The lodges could be access points for the public to go to. You use your credit card get a bike and then you return it. Everything would be free. It could be underwritten by the real estate community. The two manufacturers we talked to are very eager to participate. In every city where this happens the first thing that happens is that the bike shops are opposed but in actuality people who would never consider riding a bike try it out and then buy a helmet and bike for the entire family. It creates a whole new market for customers that they never had before. Is this something that the board wants to talk about and take on? MOTION: Don moved to adjourn; second by Mark. All in favor, motion carried. Meetin adjourned at 10:30 a.m. __ 1 Kathleen J. Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk