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HomeMy WebLinkAboutbocc.min.ws.08062002 TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2002 (Patti Clapper not Present) Please Note Location: Board Room in Courthouse NOON 1. 1041 Discussion(no packet material) 12:30 PM 2. Base Village Discussion, Jack Hatfield 1:00 PM 3. Ongoing Caucus Feedback Discussion 1:30 PM 4. Non Health& Human Service Non Profit Budget Discussion, Nan Sundeen 3:00 5. Ballot Strategy with Elected Officials (no packet material) 4:00 6. Memos of Interest Future Agendas/Agenda Requests Board Membership Reports RTA, Housing, NWCCOG & QQ, ACRA, CCI, RRR, RWPA Open Discussion 5:00 PM ADJOURN MINUTES OF WORK SESSION APPROVED BY BOCC ON Date: August 6, 2002 Meeting Start Time: 12:05 pm 7• S�Q L Commissioners present: Commissioners not present: X Jack Hatfield ❑ Jack Hatfield X Dorothea Farris ❑ Dorothea Farris X Michael Ireland ❑ Michael Ireland X Shellie Roy ❑ Shellie Roy Patti Clapper X Patti Clapper WORK SESSION ITEM: 1041 Discussion STAFF DIRECTION: Commissioner Roy requested that staff be directed to issue an educational press release regarding the Board's direction to streamline the 1041 process under rules of general applicability. Discussion ensued regarding wildlife, wildfire, slope issues and returning code to what was similar under 1993 code, creating criteria in the land use code, eliminating the takings process. Changes will address administrative process, wildfire and slope, with continued prohibition for avalanche, rockslide and wildlife. Commissioner Roy withdrew her press release request. Paul Taddune requested consideration for review process for undeveloped lots of an entire subdivision, rather than specific lot review, such as Starwood. Board agreed to consider such process. WORK SESSION ITEM: Base Village Discussion STAFF DIRECTION: Commissioner Hatfield updated current Base Village process. Council has agreed to 100,000 square feet of commercial. Board agreed to raise issues of road impacts, housing, water quality& quantity and wildlife issues. Commissioner Hatfield asked the Board to be a cohesive Board on the issues. Commissioner Ireland requested we be more specific about the quantity of mitigation that is not being proposed as part of the development. Studies indicate 1.5 employees per unit to construct and maintain, therefore an additional 1,000 employees (not including commercial development or residents) to support the residential development creating an enormous load on the capacity of Brush Creek Road. Commissioner Ireland also raised the issue of community character and the impact of housing stock(limited supply, increasing prices or commuting on Highway 82). Board requested the following information: likely construction and service job generation,job generation in luxury timeshare. Commissioner Roy inquired about the County's ability to audit analysis and how can Pitkin County not be impacted if Snowmass Village fails to adequately assess for impacts. Staff will forward Roy's questions to the County Attorney. WORK SESSION ITEM: Ongoing Caucus Feedback Discussion STAFF DIRECTION: Board reviewed feedback and discussion ensued regarding several issues. Commissioner Farris preferred a combination of use tax and property tax. Commissioner Ireland raised the problem of not having the time to negotiate the retention of the use tax share with other municipalities. Commissioners indicated that property tax was the appropriate form for the tax. Discussion ensued regarding possibility of dedicated tax. Farris, Ireland, Hatfield favored non-dedicated and agreed with Ireland who suggested that the public is clearly informed about how the money will be spent. Commissioner Ireland reviewed the history of the City tax questions. Commissioners Hatfield and Farris do not support a time limited tax. Commissioner Ireland is open to either. Amount of the tax questions and services at risk will be part of the ongoing questions. WORK SESSION ITEM: Non Health and Human Services Non Profit Budget Discussion STAFF DIRECTION: The Board posed five strategic questions for the non-profits: how will your agencies be affected by the loss of funding,how do you use Pitkin County funds in your budget plans, do you think the government should be responsible for this level of funding, how do you think we should manage the competing needs of mandated and desirable services and do you have ideas, comments, suggestions or solutions we should be considering as we determine how to increase our revenues to pay a portion of your valuable services? The Feedback: Independence Pass Foundation—Mark Fuller. Contributions are used as leverage so reduce rather than cut entirely(even $100) so the County could be identified as a funding partner, there may be services that can be provided by the county at less cost than the non-profit (ready access to compost piles). Commissioner Ireland responded in regard to whether or not a minimal contribution would provide such leverage and also, that in-kind services do cost the County or fosters a rescue, free-ride perception. Grassroots—Amy Margerum. $35,000 is a large part of the Grassroots funding. It will create a severe funding shortfall and will not allow much of the community work to be broadcast to the community. Should re-examine priorities with Translator Board and reduce their money. Commissioner Roy supports a change to the enabling legislation to support Grassroots and 911. Ms. Margerum also would like the Board to sponsor a surcharge or dedication of the franchise fees. Aspen Institute—Amy Margerum. The Community Forum provides an opportunity for discussion and debate of community issues. The loss of funding will close the Forum. Wilderness Workshop—Dottie Fox. The Workshop monitors acid rain and watershed quality. Has collected data for 15 years in partnership with the Forest Service (50%partner) and will have to seek other funding options. Ms. Fox thanked the Board for their support and encouraged others to support the property tax question. Ms. Fox suggested that each non-profit take out an ad to support the ballot question. Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club—Mark Cole. There is no slack in their budget and the $1500 cannot be replaced and means five kids will not receive scholarships. 700 residents of Pitkin County participate in their programs. Most of revenue sources are also be eroded and donations are greatly reduced. Every dollar is important and the non-profits need it more than ever. Recreation is about developing the character of the youth of the valley—citizenship, discipline, goal setting, self-confidence. Funding model provides that 50% of the program is covered by fees and the balance by fund-raising. Participation has expanded at a rate faster than their ability to fund the program. Jason Project—Linda Singer-Froning. It will definitely affect the program but it will continue to exist. Ms. Froning also requested that if there is no cash contribution they still need the satellite. Everyone needs to step up and fund these desirable services. A suggestion was made for a box on the ballot to check off$20 for the non- profits. Commissioner Ireland challenged attendees that they need to participate in their own rescue. The Board cannot do this alone. Grassroots - Richard Sherman. Grassroots was the first community television in the world. They broadcast programs that cannot be seen anywhere else (Givens Institute, Physics Institute, etc.). Mr. Sherman asked that the cable franchise fee dedication be reconsidered. Community TV is not eligible for federal funding, unlike radio. He also suggested a temporary surcharge per year ($20) until better times come. Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers—David Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton suggested that the value of what is being provided greatly outweighs what is being provided. Being a volunteer organization, they typically do not advocate a political position and they do not want to lose volunteers because they advocate a different position. The Board clarified that they are seeking individual participation. Commissioner Hatfield supported the great value that the non-profits provide to the community. Healthy Mountain Communities—Colin Laird. Most of the benefits extend beyond the county boundaries such as the transportation authority and the lower valley regional housing authority. The problems do not go away, we live in a regional valley. The Board expressed a desire to ask for additional monies to reinstate the non-health and human service non- profits and directed staff to initiate a grant cycle. WORK SESSION ITEM: Ballot Strategy with Elected Officials STAFF DIRECTION: Sheriff Braudis suggested that the elected officials need to take an active role in selling a tax increase. He suggested a need to look at all other tax districts and what they have successfully sold over the past ten years. He feels that Pitkin County needs to be decently funded and is unclear about the success of the August primary. Commissioner Farris inquired as to why there is a sentiment against the tax increase. Braudis responded about declining wages/eamings that seems prelevant. He suggested it is a selling challenge. Commissioner Farris stated that she is hearing support but negativity does exist regarding the August question. Braudis suggested that the elected officials need to spend more time and energy to sell it—it cannot be sold if we don't believe in it. It is senseless to put it out there if it is not needed—it is needed and the elected officials need to beg for it. It is not automatic. Commissioner Hatfield stated it is winnable and doable and he is personally committed. Education, plowed roads and public safety are essential. Per Mr. Isaac, our mill levy is the lowest in the state. Commissioner Farris suggested the networking with individuals is how this community works. Mr. Isaac is hearing that citizens do not want a property tax increase and there is confusion about the August question—the community really believes it is a tax increase. It will not be a slam-dunk. Perception is we are trying to tax and spend. The community needs to hear that we are trying to maintain current taxes and citizens do not understand why their tax bill has risen. Commissioner Roy feels resistance to a general fund increase and would we be better off seeking a dedicated fund? Mr. Isaac responded saying citizens do not want to fund the bureaucracy. There is a need to provide clarity regarding the August question. Commissioner Roy inquired about the success of a sunset provision. Braudis responded that a sunset provision might be more successful. Mr. Isaac advocated a dedicated sunset tax because there is very little trust. Commissioner Ireland stated that a three-year funding scheme would not be enough and we are experiencing a long-term problem with an aging, shrinking population base, not a dynamic expanding population. He further stated that people do not like taxes and disputed that it may not be an issue of trust,but rather an issue of government being perceived as inefficient and wasteful. Sheriff Braudis stated that we have operated under the Fenton Amendment since 1980 and TABOR since 1991while the prosperity of the community has not been shared with the county. hi addition, sales tax should not be funded for basic services such as property tax. The question is a practical, well thought out, modest increase and we need to sell it. Commissioner Hatfield has been impressed with the work that has been done in anticipation of this problem and the predictions that he heard from the Board years ago. Commissioner Ireland stated that the actual value of property has tripled since 1994 but county revenues have only increased 60% therefore the tax burden has actually decreased. Mr. Isaac suggested that the citizens need to know that the organization is lean and we are trying to retain basic services. Mr. Barry Gordon suggested that there is no chance of the ballot issue passing and this will be over the top. He suggested that rather than increasing the tax, we should go after the money in areas that do not pay the tax, referring to non-sales tax generating business in the core (real estate offices). He further suggested that non-retail business be taxed. Commissioner Roy inquired about our ability to abate property taxes to sales tax generating businesses. Mr. Isaac thought it might be possible. Mr. Gordon indicated that a recent citizen petition to rezone the business core has been very successful. 3 Mr. Jerry Bovino agreed that while taxes are"dirt-cheap" and the voters perceive it as anti populist issue—the marginal dollar would put citizens over the limit. He suggested that the Commissioners consider cutting services and not putting forth a ballot question and wait until next year when the voters come and ask for the tax increase. The perception is inefficiencies and citizens must feel the pain. Mr. Bovino suggested that losing an election this year will impair our ability for any future increases. Commissioner Farris suggested that it was a subversive approach and mismanagement. Commissioner Hatfield suggested one must analyze the problem and understand the consequences and then got,for it. Mr. Bovino suggested while you might win it after a bitter fight, it will do irreparable harm and that the timing could not be worse. Commissioner Roy suggested that the Board should approach this differently and focus on what we do well and talk more about what we need to continue the services that we do well. hi addition, Commissioner Roy suggested that possibly we do not ask for a property tax increase this year. Mr. Isaac stated that the Commissioners need to separate the ballot issues and explain the August and November issues. Commissioner Ireland agreed with Mr. Bovino that voters vote on perception, however Mr. Ireland believes they are rational and they can understand the issue. Mr. Ireland stated his concern about having the resources and the ability to get the information to the voters and we have to think about the long-term impacts on our community and he is not optimistic about sales tax as a long term funding mechanism. Sheriff Braudis suggested all the elected officials should put the key points on a 3x5 card and focus the discussions. He stated that the reason there is prosperity is because the quality of life is still very high. Mr. Bovino again stated that it would be a powerful statement to significantly reduce services and then ask for an increase next year. WORK SESSION ITEM: Memos of Interest STAFF DIRECTION: 1. Elk Mountain Lodge Compliance Check, Suzanne Wolff—information only. 2. Mountain Resort Planning&Development Conference—Commissioners Farris, Ireland, and Roy will attend. WORK SESSION ITEM: Future Agendas/Agenda Requests STAFF DIRECTION: Commissioner Ireland will not be present on August 14`n regular meeting to attend CDOT meeting in Denver. Preferred EOTC meeting dates are Sept. 12`n or 19`n WORK SESSION ITEM: Board Reports STAFF DIRECTION: Commissioners Farris, Hatfield, Roy will attend the CCI Mountain District meeting. WORK SESSION ITEM: Open Discussion STAFF DIRECTION: Commissioner Farris: Coke Oven grant was awarded Redstone. Mr. Ech of Redstone is interested in a conservation easement to Open Space—referred to Dale Will. Frying Pan Caucus would like to maintain Sonnydale Tavern property as open space—referred to Dale Will. Commissioner Ireland raised issue of Lazy Glen request regarding reduction of road impact—Board directed staff to expedite request. Staff received second request from Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus to request BLM to close Lighthill Road due to high fire danger—Board directed staff to prepare letter to BLM. Board received request from Jim Austin to reconsider recent bus pass policy change -Board directed staff to notify Mr. Austin that the new policy will not be reconsidered. Adjourned at: 5:05 pm Prepar d by: Respectfully submitted: Hilary Flekher Smith, Coun y Manager Silvia Davis, Clerk and Recorder