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HomeMy WebLinkAboutbocc.work.session.mins.06152004PITKIN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 15, 2004 MINUTES OF WORK SESSION Date: June 15, 2004 Commissioners present: [] Jack Hatfield [] Dorothea Farris [] Michael Ireland [] Shellie Roy [] Patti Clapper APPROVED BY BOCC Meeting Start Tin~[~0:10 an~_ Commissioners not present: [] Jack Hatfield [] Dorothea Farris [] Michael Ireland [] Shellie Roy [] Patti Clapper WORK SESSION ITEM: Meeting with Lobbyist STAFF DIRECTION: John Ely, County Attorney, introduced the Board to Danny Tomlinson with Tomlinson & Associates who lobbied against Senate Bill 215 on behalf of the County. Mr. Ely reviewed the legislative events of the past session. Commissioners Roy and Hatfield requested Mr. Tomlinson to provide an overview of the rules. Mr. Tomlinson informed the Board of his lobbying background and focus on local government and higher education and reviewed some of the circumstances facing the State (TABOR, Gallagher and Amendment 23). He also reviewed the current partisan status of the legislators, upcoming elections and legislative procedures and process. He cautioned the Board that conversations with legislators should and need to take place after first reading and not to wait until second reading occurs. Discussion moved to the possibility of a ballot question in November on TABOR and the impacts on the state budget. Mr. Tomlinson encouraged the Board to focus their position on the enabling powers of 1034. Discussion ensued and moved to the need to building relationships with state legislators. The Board concurred on three items: 1) a bullet sheet outlining key points on the Droste issue, 2) visiting legislators and building relationships, and 3) invite legislators to tour the area and see what the Board is trying to do. Commissioner Hatfield inquired about key players that the County should focus upon. Mr. Tomlinson will provide such a list. Discussion followed. He suggested email and phone calls as the best method to contact legislators when the session is out. Mr. Tomlinson challenged the Board to take a leadership role in the need to reform TABOR and Amendment 23. Discussion ensued. WORK SESSION ITEM: Meeting with Bill Westbrook, USFS STAFF DIRECTION: Also attending: Linda Wilson, USFS Interim Supervisor and Don Carol, Deputy Forest Supervisor. Commissioner Farris requested a letter to Martha Kettelle congratulating her on her recent promotion. She also stated that Frying Pan Caucus members expressed concern about the use expansion of the l0th Mtn Huts for weddings and special events. Wildfire fuel reduction plan has been completed and other communities are expressing an interest in the plan. Commissioner Farris inquired about availability of grant funds and suggested that Kelly Rogers of the State Forest Service be asked about funding options and present to the Wildfire committee working with the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments grant. Discussion followed. Mr. Westbrook indicated that Encana has inquired about an exploratory well in Pitkin County above Thompson Creek. Commissioner Farris inquired about our land use regulation rewrite in this area. Commissioner Farris indicated that she is meeting with Forest Service and BLM staff regarding the oil and gas leasing. Commissioner Hatfield inquired about the alabaster mine and reopening the NEPA process. Mr. Westbrook responded that they have requested further information from Mr. Congdon by July 5th and once they review the supplemental information they will make an administrative decision about reopening the NEPA process or amending the existing approval. Discussion ensued and Mr. Westbrook stated that he would include a County representative at the meeting on Mr. Congdon's supplemental information. Discussion moved to Coal Basin and requests for recreational activities. None are being considered at this time. Commissioner Hatfield inquired about discussions about linking Buttermilk and Snowmass with a gondola. Mr. Westbrook indicated there have been no discussions. Commissioner Clapper inquired about the visitor center. Mr. Westbrook stated that they will maintain a presence in Aspen and will leave Carbondale to develop a joint facility at the Tree Farm location. Discussion moved to the Basalt Mountain prescribed burn, public fishing access points, west nile I virus and weed management. Commissioner Hatfield thanked the Forest Service and acknowledged the cooperative relationship. The Board concurred. ADJOURN FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 1:30 PM. RECONVENED WORK SESSION AT 2:53 PM. WORK SESSION ITEM: Memos of Interest STAFF DIRECTION: 1. Comcast letter-informational only, no direction needed. 2. Land Use Code Revision monthly update-informational only, no direction needed. 3. Request for letter of support for Colorado Trust Initiative. Approved. Commissioner Roy expressed concern regarding Susan Berdahl's workload - staff will monitor. 4. Youth representative for Grant Review Committee. Approved. The Board expressed an interest in meeting Ms. Lacy at a future date. 5. Thomasville Lime Kilns-informational only, no direction needed. Approved. Commissioner Farris inquired if staff has requested emergency funds from the Historical Society. Staff will follow up. 6. CMAQ grant funds. Approved. The Board inquired if the State would be contributing to the shed due to the proposed sharing of the building. Staff will follow up. 7. North Ramp Berm and Temporary Schedule - informational only, no direction needed. WORK SESSION ITEM: Future Agendas/Agenda Requests STAFF DIRECTION: 1. Land Use Consultant Meeting - July 7th. 2. Frying Pan Caucus Meeting - July 12th' 3. Commissioner Ireland will be out July 12th through July 28th. WORK SESSION ITEM: Open Discussion STAFF DIRECTION: 1. Commissioner Farris advised staff that Dale Coombs is the official contact person for the Frying Pan Caucus and requested that all pertinent staff be notified. 2. Mercury Poisoning Letter to EPA. Commissioner Clapper requested copies of all supporting scientific studies referred to by Lee Cassin. She will evaluate and advise the Board. 3. Commissioner Ireland indicated that the Library Board wants to set time with FAB and then BOCC to discuss a possible November ballot question. 4. 2003 FTE Compliment - no questions from the Board. 5. Willoughby Way Tent update - scheduled at the 6/23 meeting. 6. Owl Creek speed bumps have been completed. 7. CCI request for comment on NACO resolutions - no comment from the Board. 8. Commissioner Ireland requested $1000 donation to the Town of Granby community fund. The Board concurred. 9. Commissioner Roy updated the Board that Midnight Mine Road is scheduled for caucus consideration. 10. Commissioner Farris requested that the Redstone HPC be forwarded the Yarolt letter for consideration and set up a joint meeting if necessary. 11. Commissioner Fan:is updated the Board that Garfield County has agreed to consider an IGA before they place the question on the ballot in Garfield. Meetings are occurring with Rifle and New Castle. 12. August 25th Leadville 9:30am regional CCI meeting - start at 3:00 pm. Commissioners Farris, Roy and Hatfield will be attending. 13. Commissioner Farris advised the Board that the CCI dues structure has been amended and Pitkin County will see a decrease. Also being considered is whether the CCI general fund to cover travel expenses thus increasing dues. Further discussions will occur during the 2005 budget process. 2 WORK SESSION ITEM: ACDS Request for Housing Mitigation, Suzanne Wolff STAFF DIRECTION: Suzanne Wolff opened the discussion by summarizing the issue. Skye Skinner from COMPASS' and Aspen Country Day Asst. Headmaster Scott Hicks were present. Alan Schwartz explained that Country Day has provided housing in different increments over the years and would just like the situation to be equitable. He stressed that the public schools were not subject to the same requirement, and that providing the best education possible took most of their dollars. They currently house 4- 1/2 employees this year and will house two next year. They stressed that currently their employees are buying home downvalley. Ms. Skinner stressed that the Aspen Community School is a public school. Commissioner Farris inquired whether any other entities (other than schools) are exempt from housing mitigation and the land use code. Ms. Wolff indicated that any jurisdiction of the state was exempt, such as the post office. Commissioner Farris preference was that small charter schools go through some kind of land use process, but felt that the rules for housing mitigation should be the same for all schools. Commissioner Ireland pointed out that the application for COMPASS was approved contingent on providing housing, although conceding that the situation at Country Day is different. He also said that.just because we can't require the public schools to provide housing does not mean that we shouldn't require other schools to. The burden to provide housing is still there. Commissioner Hatfield said he did not agree with eliminating the need for mitigation, but would like the requirement to be more flexible in coming in with large sums of money or building a specific number of units. Commissioner Farris expressed her desire that school funds go to providing a quality education and teacher salaries, not housing. Cindy Christensen from the Housing Office explained that Country Day meets with the Housing Office annually with a plan to meet its current mitigation requirement. Mr. Schwartz indicated that the dollars are simply not there and if mitigation were required at certain levels, their only solution to come up with funding would be to let staff go. Commissioner Clapper inquired whether the Music Associates could share the burden of the mitigation requirement. The Board felt sympathetic to the financial constraints of Country Day, but also felt that tax money for education should not go to housing. The Board requested further discussion with the Housing Board and Aspen Country Day. Mr. Schwartz will document how the mitigation plan currently works. Further discussions will be scheduled to address and understand the issues. Commissioner Farris will work with the County Manager, Country Day and Housing to have another work session to understand housing mitigation for public entities as a whole. In the meantime, placement of the modular unit that was held up until the housing mitigation issue was resolved, will be allowed. CONTINUED OPEN DISCUSSION 14. Commissioner Hatfield inquired about the stability of CCOERRA. Commissioner Clapper stated that staff had responded earlier that the program is stable. 15. Commissioner Hatfield requested a copy of the letter to Snowmass Village from,joint meeting. 16. Commissioner Hatfield requested time for discussion of the S curve enhancement request coming to EOTC. Time will be scheduled prior to the July 1 EOTC meeting. 17. Commissioner Hatfield requested staff to evaluate the road shoulder on the Redstone Boulevard. 18. Commissioner Hatfield requested a copy of the RFP for the RFTA efficiency study agreed to at EOTC. The Board requested copies of the RFP and scope of services. Staff advised the Board that the final report would be presented to the EOTC. 19. Commissioner Hatfield requested a thank you letter to Harvey, McBride, Child and Vidal for SB215 support. 20. Commissioner Hatfield requested a status report on the Redstone utility cut. 21. Commissioner Fan-is requested a three day pass to the State of the World conference. Adjourned at 4:55. Prepared by: Hilary F~e~cher Smith, C""6'unty Manager Respectfully submitted: Silvia Davis, Clerk and Recorder 4