2-7-2023 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:
Summary of the Evening Agenda & Afternoon Agenda
How to Participate
Where to Watch
Agenda Summary
Afternoon Agenda: 2/7/2023 Vail Town Council
Housing Update by VLHA: (Memo) The housing department has been crushing it.
ECO Housing Policy & Land Use Report: (Memo; Presentation) This is a fascinating look at how housing policy compares across communities in Eagle County; as well as a review of lands that would be appropriate for housing within Vail. The image below details parcels deemed acceptable for workforce housing development. This analysis was funded by Avon.
Several of these parcels were deemed necessary to preserve as open space by TOV during previous land use analysis projects. It’s interesting to see how results differ when the project is funded by a sufficiently disinterested 3rd party. Keep this in mind when you hear about the biodiversity study on the agenda this evening.
Green - Suitable for Workforce Housing Development per 2022 Eagle County Workforce Housing Inventory Analysis (Link)
Timber Ridge Update: (Memo; Pricing set) Timber ridge is becoming super exciting. Exciting enough that it deserves a rebranding at this stage….Think up some cool names and submit them here.
Design Concepts for Timber Ridge
Naming Process for Public Spaces: (Memo; Naming Process) use this form to recommend someone for having a Vail place/thing named after them. There isn’t any insight into what is next in line to be named, so we’ll just have to use our imagination. For the record: the helicopter pad cannot to be dedicated to Merv Lapin because it is not a Town of Vail public space.
Strategic Planning Session Recap: (Memo; Goals & Action Plan) MUST READ! This is what VTC is going to deliver on by November. Specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-bound. It’s SMART!
Peer Resort and Global Friendship Exchange: (Memo) Council is brainstorming where they want to visit next to learn from…Telluride would be an interesting option: Telluride also has first hand experience with condemnation, e-delivery, and controversial housing projects.
Gore Creek Promenade Renewal Update: (Memo; Presentation). Survey Results are in: More/varied seating options, natural features, firepit, and rad events like white water are generally supported. The Up-the creek short-cut idea is popular but isn’t supported by the private land owners that own the cut-through.
Information updates:
Matters from Mayor, Council and Committee Reports: This is like open mic night for council/mayor. You never know what you’re gonna hear. It’s usually a short conversation and interesting to watch.
Executive Session: Closed door business.
Evening Agenda: 2/7/2023 Vail Town Council
Citizen Participation: a.k.a open mic night - PREACH
National Brotherhood of Skiers Golden 5Oth Anniversary Summit is officially February 4-11th 2023. (Memo).
Trailblazer: Marka Moser
Naming Vail stuff after Vail folks: (Resolution 4, 2023)
ECO/TOV intergovernmental agreement for fuels reductions. (Resolution 5, 2023) ECO’s chipping in $55k in support. (Memo).
Biodiversity Study: $150k awarded to Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). (Memo). Project Scope Letter.
It is unclear exactly what this study is going to be used to accomplish - aside from being a more recent study than the last study. What would be interesting for this study to capture is what impact the previous studies have had on policy, land use, critical habitat, and species.
There is a palpable lack of public trust when it comes to the Town of Vail’s motives for evaluating open space for preservation. Some of Vail’s open lands designations supported by Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) in 1994 were very clearly invoked to protect certain backyards and property values - not species. Those findings resulted in open space designations that have prevented the development of affordable housing on land perfectly suited for it. Those same open lands studies failed to curb development of any kind on land that is not owned by the Town of Vail.
It is possible that this biodiversity study is intended to support the Dowd Junction Wildlife Crossing (DJWC) project. Although DJWC is not specifically sited in the scope of this study, it should be. Wildlife migration corridors are critical to the survival of Vail’s elk and deer. The area of Dowd Junction in need of enhanced wildlife crossings is predominately comprised of lands that the Town of Vail does not own.
In order for this study to be relevant and impactful for DJWC, TOV should ensure that Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP)’s findings in relation to this study will be accepted by ECO, USFS, CDOT, CPW, and the State of Colorado. If the other stakeholders aren’t on board with CNHP conducting this survey in relation to Dowd Junction; it would be helpful to know that before spending TOV’s $175k on that area. If they are on board - that would be helpful to have in writing to move the Dowd Junction Wildlife Crossing (DJWC) project forward.
To understand the context of biodiversity studies in Vail you’ll have to look back at the where these previous studies were used:
Bus Stop Signage: $150k awarded to GMV for 14 new LED bus stop signs. (Memo).
Expand Acceptable Insurance Types for the Licensing of Short-Term Rental Properties: (Memo; Ordinance No. 1, Series 2023).
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:
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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