10-18-22 Vail Town Council Agenda Breakdown
A VailSticky guide to Vail Town Council Meetings: for folks that don’t have time for that.
Participation in government is a luxury - by making participation more accessible and understandable, we can make it less exclusive. Here you’ll find:
Key Issues: What to know & why care
Budget Stuff - (Afternoon Meeting)
Summary of the Evening Agenda & Afternoon Agenda
Key Issues
Budget Stuff
Budget setting is exciting because we get to see how our actions follow our stated priorities - a.k.a. “to put one's money where one's mouth is”. Vail’s Town Staff presents a budget to the Town Council who then provides feedback on what gets funded, delayed, or cancelled. As our chosen leaders, ultimately it’s all up to the Town Council.
Two very important things to pay attention to:
Which '“unfunded” projects does the Town Council prioritize:
Housing: West Middle Creek Development, Timber Ridge Redevelopment, CDOT
Childcare: Permanent CGL Location
Economic Development: West Vail Master Plan
Recreation: Outcomes from Ford Park Master Plan, Lot 10 Park(?), Gore Valley Trail near the LH Gondola, Tennis Center/VRD Office Renovations
Pet Projects: Library Energy Enhancements, Nature Center
Which “funded” projects get punted.
The budget approval process happens every year so this is routine.
What is not routine is the unexpected and still unknown line item that could represent the largest cash money purchase the Town of Vail has ever made. Remember when we were talking about the Cost of Condemnation? This is when we start to learn what impacts it will have on all the other things that are important to us like infrastructure, housing, events, parks, etc. The actual cost of the land, the legal fees, court costs, and even the date the bill might come due is unknown.
There is a $12,000,000 placeholder expense for “Booth Heights Open Space” stuffed into the “Community” expenditure of the R.E.T.T budget - which was relocated from the “Environmental” expenditure since the last meeting about funding it. The shift doesn’t have an actual financial impact… but it might have a psychological impact on decision makers. When looking at a significant and controversial line item, a fiscally conservative eye might be inclined to wander towards other initiatives in the same category that might warrant increased scrutiny. A little space might have a big impact on the environment…or not.
Theoretically the budget would not be impacted if the Town of Vail raises enough money from private donors to pay for the cost of condemnation and acquisition of Booth Heights property. It’s certainly possible that generous benefactors contribute tens of millions to the effort. Maybe we’ll find out how much money has been raised so far during this meeting.
Links to Official “Budget Stuff” Material
Agenda Summary
Afternoon Agenda: 10/18/22 Vail Town Council
Town Manager Budget Preview - key issue
Capital Projects Discussion - key issue
Economic Development Update: Early Season Events & Concerts
DRB & PEC Updates: including P.E.C. not rezoning West Middle Creek for affordable housing
Info Updates: Art in Public Places, Wildfire Protection Plan Cost/Timeline, Congressman Neguse begging USFS for wildfire mitigation funding
Evening Agenda: 10/18/22 Vail Town Council
Citizen Participation: a.k.a open mic night - PREACH
Executive Session Action: a.k.a. moves made behind closed doors.
Proclaiming October 16-22 Friends of National Library week
Buying a Brush Truck for wildfire fighting - 46% more expensive than anticipated
Vail Après Village Concerts and Vail's 60th Birthday Bash Contract: Exciting producers w/ cool events experience like Powabunga, Winter Wondergrass, Block Party.
Cultural Alliance Group Presentation: Don’t be fooled by lame name - this project has potential for cool shit & housing - IF we make it so.
Support of Eagle Valley Transportation Authority: Vail Vote YES on 2H!
Support of 2I - Keep the change for housing! Vail Vote YES on 2I -
Buy a SWAT Robot with a flame thrower add on.
Diseased Trees & Fuels Reduction Stuff: An attempt to make it a little harder for our town to burn down.
How to Participate & Comment at Vail Town Council Meetings:
The first 10 minutes of every Evening Vail Town Council starting at 6pm is Citizen Participation (a.k.a Open mic night). You get 3 minutes to preach to a captive audience of your leaders – in person or over Zoom. This is the most powerful and underutilized channel of government engagement in Vail. USE IT!
Public comment pertaining to extra spicy issues that appear agenda may be held later on in the evening prior to a vote by the Council Members. If you have comments regarding an item on the agenda and you are not sure if public comment will be called at that time - just ask them during citizen participation at the beginning of the meeting.
Register in advance to participate by Zoom. Quick links to registration pages:
register for 10/18/22 afternoon session
register the 10/18/22 evening session
Show up to the Vail Town Council Chambers before the 6:00pm start to comment in person.
Email your input for the public record to publicinput.vailtowncouncil@vailgov.com and CC: TownCouncil@vailgov.com before 12:00pm on Tuesday. Your emails will be part of the public record, but will not be read aloud at the meeting.
Where to Watch Vail Town Council Meetings:
Catch the livestream on Town of Vail’s Facebook Page
Follow the Twitter feed @VailTownCouncil
Show up to the Vail Town Council Chambers
Watch the recording on HighFive (it takes a day or two for the recordings to be posted. Facebook is better.)
NOTE: Comments on social aren’t really read or responded to in real time. If you have something to say see the above section on How to Comment.
Reference Links
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10/18/22 Vail Town Council Afternoon Agenda (Official)
10/18/22 Vail Town Council Evening Agenda (Official)
