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HomeMy WebLinkAboutbocc.min.ws.10222002 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2002 Location: BOARD ROOM IN COURTHOUSE 11:00 AM Noon Special Meeting—Executive Session Adjourn Special Meeting 12:00-1:15 PM LUNCH BREAK 1:15 PHOTOS with Pat Bingham 1:30 1. BUDGET District Attorney 2:00 Coroner 2:30—2:45 BREAK 2:45 2. Impact Analysis Base Village Development, Bud Eylar 3:30 3. Memos of Interest Future Agendas/Agenda Requests BOCC Open Discussion 4:00 JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL at City Council Chambers Health and Human Service Agencies Budget 5:00 JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSING BOARD Special Meeting—Executive Session 5:30 PM ADJOURN MINUTES OF WORK SESSION APPROVED BY BOCC Date: October 22, 2002 Meeting Start Time: 1:30 pm ON -per 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 X Patti Clapper ❑ Patti Clapper WORK SESSION ITEM: 2003 Budget/District Attorney STAFF DIRECTION: District Attorney Mac Myers reviewed revised budget numbers as a result of changes from the Garfield County Commissioner review. The largest increase is with the health insurance costs for employees. Large trial costs have been covered by a state revenue source. Commissioner Roy inquired about staffing levels. Mr. Meyers indicated that there are currently 27 full time staff members and 2 part time employees. Future needs include a third investigator and a third case lawyer for Garfield County. He further stated that the caseload is down to 16% and the County's share, by population, is 22% of the budget. Commissioner Farris stated her concern is that the degree of violence is increasing. Commissioner Hatfield inquired what is included in professional services. This covers special investigators, translation, audits, etc. Labor increases are set for 4% for staff. Commissioner Roy stated that while we are balancing the budget, it is clear that there is a need for another investigator. Mr. Meyers indicated that the need has been for approximately ten years and that his predecessor had cut the position during prior budget constraints. Commissioners Roy and Farris asked Mr. Meyers to provide an optimum budget for 2004. Mr. Meyers also indicated a space need for any additional staff. In addition, Mr. Meyers stated that Sheriff's Investigator Ron Ryan did an exemplary job on the Thomasville murder case. Mr. Meyers indicated that he feels there is the right mix in the Aspen office and the Aspen office currently has staff dedicated to victim's assistance. Commissioner Roy inquired if any additional judicial judges are going to be appointed. Mr. Meyers suggested that Commissioner Roy speak with Judge Ossola. He further stated that the Rifle caseload now exceeds the Glenwood caseload. The funding cuts for youth programs have impacted staff. Some cases are being referred to municipal courts if appropriate and the others are being filed and enter the judicial system. Discussion ensued regarding these state reductions. WORK SESSION ITEM: 2003 Budget/Coroner STAFF DIRECTION: Coroner Steve Ayers presented changes from the prior year. He updated the Board on the goals set last year. Mr. Ayers reviewed the coroner certification that is set for the November election. Mr. Ayers is presenting the same budget and is satisfied with current conditions. WORK SESSION ITEM: Impact Analysis/Base Village Development, Bud Eylar STAFF DIRECTION: Bud Eylar presented an analysis of the base village development with regard to road impact fees collected by the County. Mr. Eylar indicated that current demand on Brush Creek Road today could call for an expansion the current road. $3.6 million will not cover the cost of four-laning the road. That amount may not cover acquisition costs and structural costs. Mr. Eylar indicated that it is not an easy option to accomplish. Commissioner Farris inquired if a four lane is something that needs to be considered. She further stated that transit options need to be considered. Commissioner Ireland stated that he believes that the luxury units will create transit impacts. Commissioner Hatfield stated he agreed that a significant number of workers would be traveling daily on Brush Creek Road. He indicated that Snowmass Council members are considering further lessening of mitigation for housing impacts. He also indicated an interest in a fixed guideway. Commissioner Ireland responded that a fixed guideway will not address service industry trips and that these are the type of infrastructure costs that necessitate tax increases. Commissioner Clapper inquired as to the ability of the County to require mitigation. Mr. Eylar responded that certain limits were placed on the Highlands project for Maroon Creek Road impacts, such as hauling restrictions. Commissioner Hatfield pointed out that these types of restrictions assist during construction but not for the long-term occupancy. Mr. Eylar stated that the Brush Creek Corridor study utilized a lower development scheme, and the study recommendation stated that without mitigation and transit system, the system would fail. The plan contemplates one-third less unit development. Commissioner Clapper inquired if a transportation study should be required. Mr. Eylar stated that there are two key issues—construction and build-out. The first phase will dramatically impact the community(assuming a ten-year build-out). Currently morning and evening ski season travel produces significant traffic. Commissioner Clapper felt that there were options utilized during the construction of the Snowmass Club. Items suggested for the Highlands project included setting up batch plants, crushing operations on site to reduce the number of vehicle trips. Commissioner Roy inquired as to what the County could ask of the developer. Mr. Eylar stated that the County could request a traffic analysis and the impact for both construction and long-term build-out to Brush Creek and Owl Creek roads. Staff would need to determine construction mitigation and future build-out maintenance. Mr. Eylar went on to state that it might be necessary to create a transit connection for Owl Creek road to offset the impacts to Brush Creek road. Improvements to create a transit corridor were at one time contemplated at approximately$3 million. Commissioner Farris urged Board members to think beyond bus lanes for a transit solution. Ellen Sassano reminded the Board that the County has requested that County staff participate in the selection of the consultant for the traffic analysis. Commissioner Hatfield suggested staff work with the Town Manager to follow-up on the referral request. Commissioner Hatfield stated that a majority of Snowmass citizens desire a revitalization of the core village and will weigh in on the discussion. He further stated that the County would be left with huge traffic impacts and costs. Brian Pettet inquired if the Board still desires jurisdictional control of Brush Creek Road. Commissioner Farris stated her belief that Snowmass must have some idea of a desired transit plan and would like to have that information. Discussion ensued regarding the cost of remedying the transportation problem and the ongoing need. Commissioner Ireland stated that down the road, future commissioners would be seeking a property tax increase. Commissioner Hatfield suggested that County staff needs to help work with the traffic study and that the assumptions are accurate. Commissioner Clapper stated her desire to meet jointly with Council. The Board directed staff to request 1) participation in the traffic analysis and 2) a joint meeting to discuss traffic study assumptions. WORK SESSION ITEM: Memos of Interest STAFF DIRECTION: 1. Economic Indicators—discussion ensued regarding the indicators. The Board inquired if staff can extrapolate what a 1% RETT would generate. Commissioner Hatfield requested that Snowmass Village sales tax collections be included in future reports. WORK SESSION ITEM: Future Agendas/Agenda Requests STAFF DIRECTION: 1. Commissioners Farris and Hatfield will not be present for the 10/29/02 work session and special meeting. 2. Woody Creek caucus meeting set for 10/30/02 will be added to the agenda. WORK SESSION ITEM: BOCC Open Discussion STAFF DIRECTION: 1. NWCOG Dues—2002/2003 membership dues. Board directed payment at the 2003 due level. 2. Coal bed Methane Production/EPA public comment—public comment is due 10/28/02. WORK SESSION ITEM: 2003 Budget/Health and Human Service Agencies STAFF DIRECTION: Agency representatives presented an overview of successes and challenges in these areas. Family Well-Being Services has faced increasingly complex needs, significant reduction of state funding and fundraising reductions. In addition, bi-lingual services have presented challenges and identified a consistent need for such bi-lingual services. Youth Services has worked on areas of parenting and increased services from just serving youth to serving entire families. Other demands include bi-lingual services and translation of program material. Challenges for youth services include funding and need for volunteers—doing more with less. There has been an over-reliance on fundraising and it is key to have local community support to gain matching funds. Fundraising and maintaining staff of caregivers challenge physical health agencies such as Community Health, Aspen-Basalt Care Clinic, and Hospice. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention agencies (Valley Partnership and Aspen Counseling Center) have experienced increased requests for training and workshops and are seeing the value of education as a prevention tool. Successes include the establishment of smoking areas for large special events. The Counseling Center has the lowest number of staff in recent history and is serving the highest level of clients in entire history of the Center. Challenges include further budget reductions. There is currently a bill pending before the state legislature to allow the governor to remove the tobacco settlement funds to balance the State budget. Agencies are seeing fundraising reductions of 40-50%. Financial constraints are leading to staff burnout. Legal Services and the Courts (Youth Zone, Roaring Fork Legal Services and Catholic Charities) cited challenges such as the closure of Assistencia Para Latinos, state funding cuts (complete elimination of Youth Zones youth diversion programs) and staff departures. Trends indicate a need for full family services. The Well-Being of Seniors demographics show a 109% growth in the population age of 65+. A high number of residents need outside assistance of six months or longer. Fundraising will have serious impacts on the ability to provide homemaker care for seniors who are maintaining their independence. 90% of the Pitkin County seniors who access the homemaker services are greatly assisted by the sliding fee scale (true cost is $30 per hour and some seniors are able to receive services at $5-6 per hour. Home meal delivery services have doubled and other increases are in information and referral calls. Commissioner Farris inquired about Eagle County reductions. Staff responded that agencies' contributions were reduced across the board by 4% and they are preparing for further reductions. Commissioner Hatfield thanked the agency staff for their work. Council members inquired about the participation of the other down valley governments. Discussion ensued regarding the need for local matches to access other funding opportunities. Adjourned at 5:00 pm Prepared by: Respectfully submitted: A 44,&S�a Hilary Fle er Smith, County Manager Silvia Davis, Clerk and Recorder L( I