Recording in progress,
Good. Okay, do we have everybody? One, two, three, four. Yeah, that's it.
Wow, this is it. Who's following? All right, everyone. We're going to get started today.
This is the city of steamboat springs, regular city council meeting number 202616 Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Julie, would you honor us with roll call, please? Steve Mantine. Yeah. Yeah, Gary.
John Augusta is absent, Dave Barnes. Yeah. Michael Baccino. Here. Amy Dixon. Here.
And Brian Swinn Tech is absent. Okay, let's say the pledge of allegiance. There's a flag in the back.
On up front, I pledge allegiance to the flag in the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.
One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay.
We have a very packed agenda tonight and we are going to move into and to our liquor license authority in a second here.
I just wanted to make a couple of announcements that we will have public comment tonight on items not on the agenda at around 6 p.m.
Or prior to that, if we finish the city managers report.
And then we will also have public item come in on items on the agenda as those items come up.
So with that in mind, I would like to have a motion.
For applicant, if you want to do. Yes, sorry for. Okay. We can do SSR. I don't see.
Don't talk about SSR. All right, let's can we have a motion to adjourn from our regular meeting and reconvene for SSR.
So moved.
Okay, we have motion from Council of Gary, second by Council of Barnes, all those in favor say aye.
Okay. So we will now reconvene as the steamboat springs redevelopment authority.
And John, you are on for a resolution.
Yes, John Snyder Public Works Director, the resolution under consideration tonight is to acknowledge appointments to the urban redevelopment authority advisory committee.
These were vetted by council's interview team.
So if there are questions about the interviews, I would encourage a questions to be directed towards those folks on the team.
Otherwise, I will answer any other questions you might have.
Okay, everybody has a copy of the people who are up for appointment as well as the others.
Are there any questions for John on any of the candidates?
If not, then I'll take a motion to approve the resolution appointing those five candidates to the Eureka.
So moved.
Okay, we have motion from Council of Gary.
Second by Council of Dixon, all those in favor say aye.
Opposed.
Okay, motion passes five zero. Thank you, John.
And we also have the minutes from our SSRA meeting to approve. You should have received those via email correctly.
Yes.
Does anybody have any questions on the minutes?
And if not, if somebody would make a motion to approve those.
Motion to approve.
Okay, we've got a motion when Council of Barnes.
Second by Council of Dixon.
All those in favor.
Sorry.
That's fine.
Let's work.
Okay.
So all those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Opposed.
Okay.
Motion passes five zero.
And that is the end of our SSRA meeting.
So, last for a motion to adjourn from our SSR A meeting and reconvene to our liquor license authority meeting.
So moved. Okay, we have a second by Council of Pogino, all those of favor say aye.
Okay, we are now reconvene as the liquor license authority. Hello there.
We're doing well. Thanks for joining us tonight.
Okay. Can we use our, I didn't say that for SSR A, but we're good on roll call. Okay.
So, this is a public hearing before the liquor license scene authority.
The city of steamboat springs to determine whether or not the application of steamboat southwest ink to be located at 1760 Central Park Drive.
We have steamboat springs Colorado for our hotel and restaurant liquor license should be granted or denied.
The hearing is conducted in person into the laws of the state of Colorado and the rules of the local or the liquor license authority of the city of steamboat springs.
The purpose of this hearing is to receive information data and testimony by interested parties in order to enable the city council to make findings and reach conclusions required to be made by state law.
This is to whether or not the liquor license applied for should be issued.
A record is being made of these proceedings so that those who desire to be heard must identify themselves by name and address.
In arrested parties are residents of the neighborhood under consideration or owners or managers of any business located in the neighborhood.
The neighborhood has preliminarily been established as follows. The relevant neighborhood is highway 40 corridor.
Any challenges to members of council conducting this hearing must be stated at the onset of the hearing.
The burden is upon the applicant to satisfy the council, not the reasonable requirements of the relevant neighborhood for this kind of license applied for are not presently being adequately satisfied.
The burden is also upon the applicant to show the council that he she is a person of good moral character entitled to hold a liquor license.
Okay, is the applicant ready to proceed.
Okay, please come up and identify yourself for the record by giving your name and address.
I think I know most of you Paul underwood. This is my business partner Ryan Fowler. You may be less familiar with him, but he's helping me in this endeavor.
Okay, thank you. Raise your right hand, please.
Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give before the council is the truth?
Yes. Yes. Okay. Do you wish to make a statement regarding your liquor license application?
Just a very brief one. First of all, thank you for inviting us here tonight.
Secondly, I feel blessed in a couple of respects as it relates to this that I found my calling in life and I am able to pursue that calling and steamboats brings.
So I'm here tonight to ask you respectfully to give me the opportunity to continue that calling and be a mentor to the youngsters in our community to help them be.
Restaurant tours as well. Okay. Thank you Paul.
Julie does a city have an exhibits to introduce. Yes, we have exhibits A through G documents required by the Colorado liquor enforcement division.
Okay, is there any objection to the omission of the city's exhibits A through G?
Okay.
Julie does the applicant have an exhibits to introduce. Yes, they submitted a petition containing 37 signatures in support of the application, which is exhibit.
Okay. Are there any objections to the omission of applicants exhibit D?
Seeing none exhibit D shall be a minute. Are there any other interested parties who wish to be recognized?
Either in the room or online.
I don't see anyone.
Okay.
So with that at this time, the council may immediately make a decision, provide for public discussion of consideration of documents or testimony or table this matter.
Any motion to approve or deny must contain findings and conclusions. The city attorney has prepared an outline of findings to assist in a motion to approve or deny.
Or deny.
So the with that, I will ask someone to make a motion either for the liquor license to be granted or denied.
Okay. Okay. As a sound move approval of the liquor license.
Okay. We have a motion by Councillor Gary to approve the liquor license. Do we have a second?
Okay.
We have a second from Councillor Barnes any discussion.
If not, all those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Opposed.
Motion passes five to zero.
We look forward to eating at your latest incarnation.
What's heard any all there?
Steve Outsouth West is our corporate name. The restaurant is.
Alta Mesa Southwest Grill.
Well, good luck. And when is opening night?
Boy, that is a great question.
As long as we're off the record.
We're shooting for around the first to July.
Okay.
Good luck to both of you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay.
Good.
With that, we also need to approve the minutes from our last liquor license authority.
Meaning on May 5th.
Are there any questions?
Comments to approve.
Okay. We have a motion to approve the minutes from May 5th.
Do we have a second?
Second.
A motion from Councillor Barnes.
Second from Councillor Dixon.
All those in favor of approving the minutes from May 5th.
Say aye.
Aye.
Opposed.
Okay. Motion passes five zero.
With that, I will entertain one more motion to adjourn from our liquor license authority and reconvene
to our regular meeting tonight.
Motion to adjourn.
Second.
Okay. We have a motion by Councillor Barnes.
Second.
All right. We're back to our regular meeting.
And next on our agenda is we have a proclamation tonight.
A proclamation recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQ plus Pride Month in steamboat Springs, Colorado.
So, Councillor Dixon, and if you would like to come on down here, that would be great.
And if you wouldn't mind just stating your name and address for the record.
All right.
My name is Kayden Hatfield, and I am a resident in Hayden, but I work for steamboat's queer features
and steamboat Springs.
Thank you.
We probably need to move that microphone a little bit now.
So I was just saying how honored I am to be able to read this proclamation tonight.
And this work is really year round worked at champion, the rights and dignity for all.
So thank you for all that you do.
So the proclamation, a proclamation recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQ plus Pride Month in steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Roughly one in 18 adults in United States, including one in six people between 18 and 23 years old,
identifies lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersects, a sexual, a romantic or other gender,
and sexual minorities or LGBTQ plus.
And this is a show that LGBTQ plus people are substantially more likely to experience discrimination, violence, sexual assault,
and poverty than their cisgender and heterosexual peers.
And LGBTQ plus youth are particularly vulnerable to bullying, homelessness, suicide, and other social ills.
And regardless of the sexual orientation or gender identity, every person deserves to live openly, authentically, free from harm and discrimination,
and the social stigma that continues to endanger the well-being of LGBTQ plus people must be eradicated to ensure that all members of our community can thrive together.
And we pledge to celebrate all LGBTQ plus people and to foster a supportive environment that condemns any and all bias against the LGBTQ plus population.
Therefore, be a proclaimed that the City of Steamboat Springs City Council joins with his partners to proclaim June 2026 as LGBTQ plus Pride Month.
Thank you.
Yeah.
That was a type one.
I was looking to get to know a lot.
But if you want to listen to me.
Well, hello and good evening Steamboat Springs City Council.
Thank you so much for your consideration for this proclamation in recognition of June 2026 as LGBTQ IA to S plus Pride Month.
As mentioned, my name is Canaan Hatfield.
I go by he him pronouns and I am the program coordinator at queer futures, the LGBTQ IA to S plus resource center that serves community residents in Steamboat Springs and the F of Ally.
I am also the chair of volunteers and entertainment committee, which is a volunteer led or of the Amp Valley Pride, which is a volunteer led organization that plans our local pride festivities.
Pride Month is an opportunity to recognize the contributions and existence of the LGBTQ IA to S plus folks that reside in our community.
If a chance for our leaders to affirm that every resident of Steamboat Springs deserves to feel safe.
Welcome to Amvalued, where they live.
As someone who has worked closely with and gotten to know the LGBTQ IA to S plus community in Steamboat Springs over the past year, I have seen first hand the difference that it makes especially for young people.
When local leaders send the clear message that they belong here.
We are all stronger when we are we and our neighbors can participate fully and authentically in our civic life.
Recognizing Pride Month is one way we can celebrate and nurture the diversity that makes this beautiful town vibrant and special.
We hope you can make it to the Amp Valley Pride Festival on June 13 from 12 to 4 in the Route County Historic Route County Courthouse Line and we hope to see you there.
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Thank you.
Okay. Next on our agenda are city council reports.
We would like to go first.
Hello.
Okay.
I had the look so.
So the only update is we have a year act meeting after our last SSRA meeting.
And the conversation they were updated on where SSRA was directing.
We have a meeting on Thursday of this week.
And so I think we can report out.
At our next city council meeting how that meeting goes.
I worry that we may have to provide more direction to your rack.
No, we may have to.
At your next city council meeting.
The seats are barren see your president as well.
There seems to be still a lot of someplace to surround the outdoor snowmout.
When that's not the direction ski core or the city like that's not even part of the conversation.
So.
We'll see how Thursday goes but I may come back and ask SSLAM that well, see how that works.
The SSRA or council to help provide more direction for the group.
So.
Okay. Thank you.
Thank you. That was it. Okay. Well, as a report. Just a quick update that I think that will be meeting with postmaster tomorrow morning to continue the conversation about cluster boxes and old town. So just kind of an announcement to everybody in old town that, you know, this is under kind of discussion and consideration moving forward. So we'll keep you posted on what progress is made.
Good. Thank you.
Count to the Barnes anything from you?
Count to let Puccino anything from you?
Let's see. No. Nothing major.
I do want to apologize to our staff. I'm in jail. I've missed the house and he'll use a group meeting yesterday.
I came up on my screen at four o'clock and it was, I'm in the east coast right now and I thought it was six o'clock your time. Anyway, I'm going to forward you guys over the minutes from our conversation today that I got from Brad Center.
But I did not make that meeting yesterday, but other than that, I have no report.
Okay. Thank you. I just have a couple of things to update everybody on. The first farmer's market is this Saturday June six myself and right now, Council of Brachino.
I believe are going to be there.
And we do have a nice board that was created by Mike, which is really nice that will have and some other stuff. So we look forward to that.
We also had the you bear dance celebration and proclamation last week. Thank you Kelly for all your hard work on that. I don't know how many people there.
What a couple hundred. Yeah, something like that. So learned a new dance step there. So that was that was fun.
And we also had the ribbon cutting a cotton woods last week the same day just earlier in the day and there was good attendance there as well as some people have already moved in there. So that's that's exciting.
Also just to update you on a couple things. I was at the Main Street steamboat meeting this morning and most of the business owners are saying may was a little
In terms of visitor volume. They're not quite sure on the revenue side of things, but they said that the volume of visitors was a bit light. As far as the bid is concerned, you remember we authorized them to see if there was interest in that. They have four people who are interested in being on that board. They're trying to get any five. So if they get a fifth one, they'll be back to us with that.
And the final thing is on the winter parking program. You know, we had another meeting last week, and as most of you had meeting with the altera VP of community development, I believe most of you met with her.
And so next week we have another meeting on this, and maybe it ties in a little bit with your talking about too, but.
And it's hope that this is our last meeting. This will be our fourth meeting next week. And so we hope to come to council after that with whatever options have been identified and agreed upon. So we'll see how that goes.
Was that VP at the of altera at your. No, okay.
She had meetings with, I think, with council of bacino, council of barns. We met with with Tom with her. And I think councilor Schwintek also met and I'm not sure. I think councilor goes to do.
I have a meeting tomorrow with them. Okay, yeah.
So she's met with everyone and except you.
But it was separate.
Yeah. So with that, any questions from anyone on anything?
I think I only just wanted to comment. I guess the council of barns and the councilor Dixon regarding your comment about SSRA.
And I mean, I would think right, maybe if we could get councils agreement that I would hope I would hate to waste another meeting of SSRA.
Right. So I, I would hope that you guys would come out strong in terms of the fact that SSRA needs to move on and that.
Snowmelt should not be part of the discussion any longer.
Yeah. Yeah. Well, we'll see how the services goes.
Okay. Thank you for that.
Okay. We're going to move on and we have two other items under here to a and to be to a city council housing subcommittee.
You all should have have received a copy of that from Brad and I just want to draw your attention to one thing because councilor Swintek and I meet with Brad and Tom and Kelly and Rebecca and whatnot and gates on just kind of filtering through and vetting some things before they move on to the ad hoc committee and one of the things that came up was this request.
That is for
If you look down here, it'll it says that the well if you're on page two a one, it'll say,
Should City should staff encourage Gorman and company to submit a request for funds.
And this is for a project Prairie run in Hayden and in the past city council is previously directed staff that projects located in Rao County are eligible for STR tax funds.
And however, these locations have viewed as a lowest priority. In other words, we start with the city and the urban growth boundary.
Go to the YVHA service area in the rest of Rao County. So before we get the ad hoc committee subcommittee working on this and spending too much energy on this.
We just want to make sure that everyone is okay with starting at discussion about utilizing STR funds in Hayden and obviously that also opens up to the rest of Rao County.
Such as Oak Creek or Yampo or whatever, so just want to throw that out there.
Consular Swintek and I supported bringing this to you all because we think that that's the way the STR language is red.
It's the region, right, Dan the entire Yampavalley.
The bell question itself doesn't address any geographic constraints, but the recitals of the ordinance that refer to the bell question.
Do you talk about regional impacts and talk about the Yampavalley community, so I think it's safe to say that you can you can use the funds outside of sea limits.
So I just opened it up to anybody's opinion on this.
I guess I had a I have a question right, I mean to the extent that is there a way to tie it back or basically to say that the amount of you know the fund that there does have to be.
Some sort of requirement that anybody who lives there works in steamboat.
Sure, I think you can attach any kind of reasonable condition that you want to grant the funds and that could include the terms of the deed restriction or use covenant the governance the units.
Yeah, I think that that gets into, I mean obviously there's a number of people in Hayden who work in steamboat, but they could also work in Craig for that matter.
And so then you're into how do you determine.
The STR allocation upfront.
With that in mind.
I believe it's a slippery slope to start.
Given STR funds not just out of our city, but also to projects has already been developed.
I think it's especially a affordable project. It just feels like.
There could be a stand new way to say the circumstances going on where we have an over supply of product and people are looking to lower the rent.
And it just seems like we have a whole lot of these requests coming into pipeline and I think we have to be super careful.
While we do want to increase the supply of de-restricted houses, we don't want to bail out developers nor looking like we bail out developers.
I don't know any of the financial of the capital stack that Gorman has in that project.
I mean, could be worth looking at, but I think it's outside of our district, at least in my mind.
And I think the voters would would have a hard time looking outside of the city with city tax hours that are collected.
Okay.
I have a point. Thank you.
And Dave, I kind of agree, but I kind of don't. I think that.
You know, part of the impact of steamboat springs and the rentals that are created in the sales tax run all that's being created is directly corresponds to our need for workforce housing.
And as much as I loved your comment saying we would have an over the abundance or a product.
That hasn't happened for a few years.
And so I want to encourage us to allow our ad hoc to look at this.
We don't know what the bill is or the opportunity is for this prairie run, but I think we can at least look at it in that same hierarchy that you've ordered determined.
I think that hierarchy is very justified, but we want to look at every project.
It was brought up during their RTA formation committee that what would it take to help Craig get part of, you know, supporting the RTA as they were trying to build housing in Craig.
It was brought up that, you know, they feel that steamboat is their impact because all their workforce does have to come this way.
And it was brought up that hey, what happens if we can, you know, help subsidize some of their housing to offset some of the impacts they're having.
I don't know what it would look like in the future, but I think that we've been remiss if we didn't include those impacts to our neighbor and community and consider it all yamp of value.
Okay, thank you.
And I was just going to add, I mean, thank you, Councillor Barnes, or pointing that out. I absolutely agree with you from the perspective of the developers coming back in terms of projects that are already completed in terms of looking for additional funding or subsidization.
And then also concur that my, you know, my preference would be that we spend the money on housing here in steamboat.
Absolutely in the sense that that's, you know, I think what we want to do to the extent that, you know, one of the things we heard is people are concerned about our community character, our neighborhoods.
You know, and we know that we have an exodus of the of the vital people members of our community that we want to make sure that they stay here and we don't want to contribute to the traffic problems on highway 40.
So in terms of prioritization, I mean, that's where I land.
Yeah, and I appreciate Michael your responses.
I guess I feel like we should at least ask the voter whether they would want to go outside of city limits with those funds.
Okay, Councillor Dixon.
I agree with both Councillor Barnes and Councillor Gary.
And we have actually had a developer who could not rent their units that access this year.
And I know that because I was watching their vacancy rates.
So yeah, I don't want any perception that we're somehow subsidizing developers.
So I prefer to make sure that we can meet all of our goals that we have for the city for housing.
And then possibly look outside, but Councillor Gary's point with Kathy out of working in steamboat.
Because that's what we heard from folks is that people could not hire staff or workers because there's no place for them to live.
Well, if we take out the notion that we're subsidizing developers here who can sell their product and move away from that for a minute.
Then the real question is, do we evaluate these opportunities within Rao County outside of the city of steamboat?
Understanding that we have a prioritization matrix, or are we which would prioritize within the city limits for example first.
And do we want to at least investigate or leave that open or do we want to say that under no circumstances would we want to go outside either the city limits or the UGB or whatever.
So I think that's really because it's very hard to say, you know, if it's all the money allocated well it might not be allocated today it might be allocated two years or no I don't know I guess what I'm trying to.
Yeah, it gives some direction to Brad and whatnot around is should this still go forward though under those guidelines.
I would ask Brad if their staff has the bandwidth to look at all these projects and can they self prioritize.
Well, Brad.
This is we haven't gotten very many of these requests so.
Even everyone Brad covered in the planning department in general council of orange yes we mean these things come in at a relatively reasonable pace.
We are typically seeing one or two new applications that then sort of kicks off the evaluation process so it's not like there tends to be a crunch where we're at we're sitting on six applications and then I've got a schedule three meetings there there's a relatively sort of smooth curve here in terms of when the applications flow in.
So and you know to to the earlier conversation.
You know the general expectation of is that if they were if they were the worthwhile application walks in the door we should review it but obviously the question before you all is if you really sort of want to have.
Provide guidance that that that third tier priority area outside of the housing authorities services for just simply isn't really a priority.
The president means a point I want to save the applicant time I want to save the ad hoc committee time.
Because it seems like if it's going to find its way to you all and may not result in an appropriation I think everybody would prefer to have that answer versus the the old long maybe which no one likes that's the just of it.
I'm not opposed to looking into it but.
I have reservations which I stated but I don't.
Opposed looking into it.
Well it are we saying that it's a tier three priority but it's worth giving to the ad hoc committee and getting a recommendation on it or or not I to Brad's point I don't want to do it if we're going to say no automatically without having.
At least an open mind we don't know how much it is or what the am I mean we really don't have any information.
I think Gorman has a good track record for delivering affordable housing community right.
Yes yes.
Okay so.
I mean it's a bit of a chicken in an egg right I mean in the sense of I totally respect not wanting anybody to spend resources on something that's a hard no I don't I think we're not hearing potentially that there's a hard.
No up here but I do believe that given what we know is in the pipeline.
I've it with potentially slight creek neighborhood potentially Campbell you know in terms of the rainbow that came in of all the other projects that we're anticipating.
I don't know that I see it I you know it's definitely that third tier.
Okay so you know since we haven't gotten this is our really first discussion on this.
I think.
What I would like to suggest that if you're all open to it is that we consider this.
Send it to the ad hoc committee we're very familiar with a developer and what a good job.
They've done in the community and then once we get that information that maybe that can set us up for a better discussion about where we want to go in the future as well.
Is that okay.
Michael.
You're okay.
With that, you're on me. Sounds good. We go with that on for. Yes? Okay. All right. Second thing on here is I believe
Gail or Dave, a little bit on the tentative of upcoming agendas for this. I'm sorry. Before we move off from the subcommittee, one request.
Maybe this happens. I don't want to go into discussion about it. But I see we have some large organizations on the list, possibly inquiring.
I think we have some other choir financials from these organizations when they're requesting STR funds. And if not, again, I have to answer tonight. But if not, I think it'd be worth having a conversation, any grant that organizations apply for.
They have to submit financials, usually. So I think that would be a worthwhile conversation to have it your subcommittee meeting.
But as you see, health is on here. The ski corps has ever to come back.
I think most of these things, Brad, correct me if I'm wrong, Brad, but most of these come with financials attached to them.
That's correct, again, Brad. I got a planning department. And we are working with our financial services partner to stand up that standardized underwriting process.
So all of those basic requirements in terms of expectations of information provided to us will be sort of hammered out over the next couple of months.
We have some of the president's point, typically we see project level, performa details, as well as financial statements related to particularly sort of community partners that are applying for funds.
So I am not asking for financials on the project and what like AMI and the financials of that, I'm asking for financials of the organization.
We are typically requesting both. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Brad.
And then kind of one more question on this again, really appreciate the memos that we're getting now in terms of reporting out on the housing subcommittee.
I think this is a great step in the right direction in terms of informing council about kind of what actions are being taken.
It might be good in some instances, Brad, to have a little more detail. I mean, you know, for example, and again, we can follow up with this at a later date.
But item four, where we're talking about staff, you know, was directed not to introduce duration of retirement limitations for individuals that qualify as retired.
I'd love to understand that better. So again, I know we've got a busy full agenda for this evening, but I'll.
Maybe follow up on that one.
We will follow up on that one. Okay. Thank you.
The rationale on what that is. Okay. Perfect.
All right. Thank you for that.
Are you up next on the, or are you going to talk about the.
Oh, sure. I think we're in committee. Yeah, I think what we just want to call out is that in the packet is the agenda for the next slate.
Slight Creek neighborhood meeting, which happens on I think it's the 17th and the 18th.
So take a look at the agenda and we do have a meeting on the Tuesday night before.
So I think we can have a more detailed conversation at that point. Hopefully the materials will be out in advance of those meetings. So everybody on council has the opportunity to look at the.
And then bring forth any sort of questions or comments that you have.
Okay. So we also have community builders what their timeline is or what how far they see this process going because I think we got a lot of that sort of comments.
Why you know when this with this phase would be over.
We ask them for that for next Tuesday's meeting.
I think the intent is that the June meetings are the last.
So I think there is absolutely to your point a conversation about what's next, right? I mean, I think this sets a foundation for what net what's next, but how do we move forward.
I still talking about July as a possibility having another set of meetings.
I believe the understanding is that the 17th and 18th of the last two meetings and that's why we're developing the timeline miles challenge for annexation to carry that forward.
Some way, but this process in terms of identifying the next steps is concluded in June.
Okay. Any other questions?
All right, we'll move on and quickly we'll go through agenda review here.
The next meeting is June 9th.
We do have a regular meeting scheduled up front of that.
And we're going to adopt the 2026 2027 City Council goals.
And we're going to get a strategic plan update at that point in time.
And then we will also have City 101 participant recognition from that last class.
So that'll happen at five o'clock and then about an hour later.
When we'll move into our work session, you can see that.
We have three topics on there, our housing needs assessment and housing action plan.
The steam bus brings downtown plan review and community design standards update.
Any questions on those?
Okay, June 16th.
So regular meeting on June 16th will also have a liquor license authority meeting to kick things off.
And then under community reports, we're going to have both Senator Roberts and representative Luke and Sir to give us a letter.
To give us a letter legislative update, a wrap up of the session that was just completed.
And so that should be interesting.
And then we will get an update from Kelly on the stock bridge housing project update.
Which just so we know that is the name of this now stock bridge.
So we don't have to call a Campbell or CDOT or what is called stock bridge.
And steam will for all is also going to come in and give us an update on what they're all about and what they're doing.
And then you can see we are also going to have the chief theater development plan on that night as well.
And you can see a number of second readings.
Any questions on that one?
Okay.
July 7th.
I hate to go to July already when it's June 2nd.
But anyway.
Did you have something council addiction?
Well, July 7th.
If you look at that, you will see that again.
We have a number of resolutions.
Some new stuff, including the Voodoo water ramp jump complex, which will be fun to talk about over at the mountain.
And the Western Resilience Center is going to be also having a development plan.
And you can see some other ones, some flat stuff and whatnot.
The waste volume base pricing is going to be pulled from that agenda.
That's going to be later on.
And you can see what else is on there.
And then finally, on July 14th, we have a work session.
We have three topics, multimodal transportation initiatives update, physical sustainability,
and the marijuana local production requirement.
Any questions on any of those?
Okay.
With that in mind, then I think we have enough time time to go through the City Manager report.
The floor public comment.
Thank you.
President Monteen.
City managers report.
As a reminder to the community, can be found on our website,
demotesbrings.net.
And just scroll down to City Manager report.
Tonight's report is on there, as well as all the previous city managers report.
Also, just a reminder for folks that we have sort of reformatted this report to be consistent with our strategic plan in the outcome.
So you will see that the report is is organized by the outcome areas identified in our strategic plan.
So starting off with thriving community.
As the mentioned stock bridge project is moving forward, we did close on the Campbell property at the end of April,
which really takes the first step in completing the land bank for this future campus development.
Next, the city will work to complete due diligence on the remaining two C dot parcels.
Closing on the C dot parcels should occur in the third or fourth quarter of this year.
And in the meantime, the city issued a request for proposal for an overall development plan on May 12.
We have had it says 150.
I think the numbers actually have to about 200 firms now that have downloaded that RFP from BidNet.
And the proposals are due next week, June 11th.
So we will be working on to formalize both an internal staff working group as well as an advisory committee to assist with the project over the next several months.
And we are providing a detailed update to you on that on June 16th.
City Council approved the fundraising agreement supporting the second sheet of ice at the house on ice reiner.
This is a major milestone for this long standing community priority.
Following council's action, the RFP for a design built contractor was posted with targeted contract award at the end of June.
So glad to see that project continued to move forward.
Under connected and engaged community, there's a lot of information on all of our website in social media activity as well as the city's new city connection newsletter.
Which is sort of an outcome of this city manager report.
We're putting it into a newsletter that can be subscribed to and I'll just go right to your email, whoever's interested in.
And you can sign up online as well for that.
Seema Thring's police department sergeants.
Puccino Shirley and Andrews detective Barnett and she far back at attended the annual mother's against track dunk driving sea dot, which is the College Department of Transportation award ceremony.
We're sergeant Puccino was awarded the Andrew Dwarthe person of impact award for his combating DUIs and substance related crimes in the yampe valley.
So, a very good award for Mr. Puccino.
So, thank you for your efforts in that and glad to see them get the Cudos and acclades that he deserves.
A lot of info on all of the steamboat Springs Police Department outreach efforts.
It also included the community service officers partnering with Rout County riders participating in several street smart bike safety events at local schools.
So we are continuing to try to educate folks about being safe on their bikes of all types.
So glad to see that that is continuing. I know that that is a priority of this council to get the word out.
In healthy environment, we did do a spring tree to reach a thing event on Friday May 15th.
May it about 150 vehicles passed through the metals parking lot, bringing tree limbs, leaves and twigs.
And the steamboat springs wildly and fire crew as well as parks and wrecks seasonal staff assisted by shipping all the debris creating about 90 cubic yards of wood chips to be used in local composting programs.
So glad to see that effort letting people kind of clear out their gardens and debris and turning that into a positive use.
The first video in the city's water wise series launched highlighting how parks and wrecks uses smart irrigation technology to monitor and reduce water uses efficiently during ongoing state to drought conditions.
If you have not seen this, it's to short video, but it's very informative and it can be found on the city's YouTube site.
So I recommend people going to look at that. It's actually a great little video and is a very telling on on the efforts that we're using to conserve our water and our parks.
Under high performing government facilities staff are advancing both short and long term planning efforts to address city wide workspace operational growth and facility safety needs.
This includes looking at the new public work building the mountain fire station, the police department operational growth and future building needs transit operations center needs tied to fleet expansion and staffing growth and ongoing evaluation of parks and wrecks.
So I just note that because as the community continues to grow and expand so does the city organization and kudos to facilities and staff for really being proactive and looking at all of our facilities needs so appreciate that.
The HR and risk team is excited to launch steamboat learning.
It's an internally later in June to provide training contacts across various topics.
Steamboat Springs employees training courses will span across compliance leadership and development safety and even include an AI coach to equipment employees with conversations guidance in a variety of situations.
This is a this has been a goal of ours for a while really to advance comes sort of training of employees and providing a large.
Number over a thousand videos that can be watched training modules that can be watched so kudos to that team that has been a big effort between.
IT and HR. So really really good efforts to see that move for so congratulations.
Under safe community the fire department received delivery of the 2023 Rosenbauer type one engines some of you may have seen this driving around town is kind of a sleek looking modern looking fire engine.
It's pretty cool looking the crews are working hard to get trained on the apparatus as well as equipment with all the necessary equipment.
The department expects to have an official ceremony sometime here soon to celebrate it's arrival as well as the return of ladder truck 62.
So we will let you know on that they call it a some sort of like pushing in they push actually push the thing into the apparatus bay and it's kind of a ceremony.
We will invite you to that and it's got a really cool looking truck so keep your eyes open for that you will not be able to miss it it's very distinct looking.
The procurement team worked with the fire department to renew the classic air care contract for ground ambulance ambulant services including inter facility transfers because of our remote location and mountain weather.
Often limit air medical transport this contract ensures reliable ground transportation for critically ill or injured patients when air transport isn't possible so.
Just to the team for being proactive and making sure we have that ability since we are.
Along ways for many sort of major.
The hospitals are in the Epivalent Medical Center. Under reliable and resilient infrastructure, the contract for vegetation removal and spillway maintenance at the fish creek reservoir system is currently progressing through procurement. This work is essential to maintain dam safety and structural integrity, and includes removing woody vegetation from embankments, clearing spillways and rebuilding the emergency spillway log structure at Long Lake, and there will be crews will be disrupting natural water flow. We'll try to avoid disrupting natural water flow.
And larger cheese will be carefully reclocated within nearby forest areas. I bring that up because it's just an example of the extent of work that we do with the city and extends all the way up on top of our past for our water, our water system. So I'm glad to see that moving forward.
That concludes my report other than the list of upcoming meetings and events for yours and the community's information, and I am happy to answer any questions.
Thank you, Tom. Any questions for Tom?
Yes, one question, Tom. I was not able to attend the meeting where Alicia presented the survey results.
The Western resilience meeting, sorry, let me find it. Yeah, I'm talking about.
Is she able to send that out to council?
She being Michelle Stewart, is that what you're asking?
Sorry, Alicia.
Well, Alicia for me, I don't even find it.
Yes, I know you're referring to.
Yes, we can get the results from that and send that out to council.
Okay. Thank you. Sorry, that was really.
I'm not clear, but you know what I'm talking about.
Yeah, and those weren't presented during that meeting.
So, right during the community report, we're during the community meeting meeting so.
We'll get that out.
That would be good to have those survey results.
Okay. Other questions?
All right. Thank you, Tom.
And before we go to your other report, Tom, I'm going to open it up for public comment.
And city council will make no decision or take any action accepted direct the city manager.
This public comment is open for all items that are not on the agenda for tonight.
And those addressing city council are requested to identify themselves by name and address.
And please take no longer than three minutes.
So with that, is there anybody?
What?
And I just asked for a point of clarification.
I had received some inquiries.
And I don't know if anybody will, but if there's anybody here to testify or provide public comment on the slight
Creek and straight analysis that Dan, you said that would now would be the time to do that, right?
Yes, public comment on staff report matters are taking the general public comment.
Yes. So if you're here to comment on the constraint analysis, which will be coming up next.
Now is the time.
So with that.
Bill, come on down.
Bill pass 18 to 7500 strive.
I'm here tonight to talk about the report that hasn't been discussed yet.
We'll be discussed next.
Regarding the drinking water, the 400 EQR amount that we've been using is the acceptable amount that we can provide to the West team boat.
And that we're spending considerable amount of money to improve infrastructure so that we can supply that amount of water to the West side of town.
I want to talk about water in general for a moment.
You know, currently we're under a stage two drought restrictions and you know, we've done a lot.
There was a report done back in December of this past year that was presented to council about from the Plumber organization.
And in it, they said that the safe conservative risk-free amount of water that the city could plan for is a 2.8 million gallons per day.
That comes out of the wells in the event of a fire.
And the amount that we had, the current amount being used in that same report was about 2.65 million.
So we're about 150,000 gallons a day away from what would be considered the maximum amount of water we could use safely without in the event of a fire in the fish creek area.
So my question is, in that same report, they were like years one through four in your years five through ten amount of allocation of the water commercial sites as well as affordable housing sites.
And if you just look at the years one through four, we've already consumed that 150,000 gallons in current projects.
You know, the stopman is 300 EQR, 305 EQR. You're talking about 400 for the West side. So do we build a stopman or do we build affordable housing?
Do we, what is the absolute safe amount of water that we have to consume here in the city?
Is it the 2.8 million gallons a day and do we not exceed that?
The city council at some point put a halt to construction.
And if it's going to exceed that amount of water or are they going to go, well, you know, we'll be okay.
Well, there's the questions I won't counsel to ask themselves. I would like the city to really define what they consider to be a safe amount of water to consume for the city.
So that we know what to shoot for and we know who we've gone over.
Thank you.
Thank you, Bill. And we will have more discussion on that bill before the night is over.
In fact, in a very short period of time, is there anybody else on the in the audience who'd like to make a public comment tonight?
John.
Good evening. I'm John Tomasini.
I live on Mark Twain Lane.
And it's a very interesting progression of being able to speak behind you because what you have
to say is very important in the future of what I am trying to address for those of the people behind me that don't know me.
I was Mary Brown's husband until eight years ago. So I'm going to put that up in front.
She served this community and never quit serving this community.
I'm a little bit distressed as the community is from the feedback that I'm getting that after employing two consulting groups with taxpayers money to try and develop brown ranch that you would possibly consider renaming at slate creek ranch.
And I might add, slate creek, if I'm not mistaken, is the water that passes through the property.
And I just want you all to know that when that property was sold, Steve Brown donated the water rates, which are the senior water rates of slate creek to the city.
And if you put a valuation on that today in the real estate market, water usually equals at least half the value of the property, that's at stake.
So I just want to put that out because you don't have that history. You don't know that history.
But if you look into the archives of what the Brown's did for this city, I think you should really reconsider keeping the brown ranch going forward.
Plus from a marketing standpoint to abandon the brand brown ranch, you're going backwards 20 years in funding and in a progress of maybe breaking dirt on this someday.
I think you should jet-ass in both of your consulting groups and take the money that you're paying them for job security and put it into going back to Mr. Peter Patton's master plan and the people that worked with him.
You can contact some of these people with a lot less of the budget that you're spending on consulting groups.
When you have a master plan that shows density up to well over 2000 units and I suggest to you that when you contact these people who were the developers of the master plan that you cut this density back to 800 units total.
And then bring in your mixed use development of commercial and fire departments and waters.
What waters is huge and I think you verified that tonight.
Where are we going to get the water for 2000 units?
Is going to happen.
So please consider reevaluating your budget and where that money is being spent because it's all of our money.
Everybody in this room, everybody in this community and everybody sitting in front of me.
It's your tax dollars we're spending.
And you know why you're getting nowhere.
You're going backwards 20 years.
Thank you.
Thank you, John.
Is there anyone else in the room or is there anyone online?
Please raise your hand or come on down.
Seeing nobody in the audience.
Nobody online.
We will close public.
There's no plans up.
There is.
Yeah.
You know what we're not seeing them on our screen.
So like, Elliot Lawrence.
I'll just hand out, Elliot.
Why don't you, can you unmute Elliot?
Yep.
Sorry.
We didn't see you on our screen here.
That's all right.
Good evening.
I just wanted to take a few minutes and.
Talk a little bit about our ribbon cutting ceremony last week at the cotton woods.
I also would like to just say thank you to.
The city counselors that were there at the event and and who attended it.
Also an invitation to anyone who hasn't seen the project yet.
Cotton woods to reach out to us here at the housing authority.
We would be happy to set up a time and and give a tour.
I know.
Councillor Baccino is expressed interest in that so.
Would be happy to get that set up for him.
It was just a really great event.
Getting to see owners move in as we were having.
The ribbon cutting ceremony there.
And I just also wanted to highlight.
The relationship here again with the city and the housing authority.
And just how critical the 10 million dollars in the STR grant that the city gave the cotton woods project was in.
Allowing that to be a successful affordable project for our workforce here in town.
It's been tremendously rewarding and end up really.
Great pleasure to see all of these new owners moving into the cotton woods to.
Just see that joy on their face and the excitement when we make a phone call after they've won a unit in the lottery.
And anyway, that a lot of that has to do with the work that that we've done kind of collaboratively here on this project.
So I wanted to just highlight that as part of this public comment.
And and also that a lot of the people that are purchasing at the cotton woods are below the 100% AMI level.
And a lot of that has to do with the STR grant that that you folks there in city council gave to the project.
And just a couple little updates on sales.
We finished up our last lotteries for the 130 and 140% AMI units last week.
So still sorting through some of that and working with owner or new owners on picking out the unit that they'd like to that they'd like to purchase.
And as of last Friday we've had 19 closings.
We have four more closing scheduled for this week.
We currently have 24 units under contract with a total of $8.5 million in sales so far.
And just a quick thing about the the buyer pull if you will.
99% of our buyers are first time home buyers.
So this is a truly a meaningful project and home ownership opportunity for our workforce here in steamboat and route county.
And then just from a demographics perspective.
You know we have school district employees as first time home buyers.
And employees who work in the health care field.
That work for the resort.
That also work for in retail non profit.
Hospitality work for the county.
The city.
Work in finance and construction so that gives you a little bit of an idea of the background of the people who are purchasing at the cotton woods.
So anyway, I just wanted to jump.
And again, say thank you for the partnership and thanks for supporting this project with STR dollars. And yeah, looking forward to working collaboratively in the future with the city on slate creek and any other project that may come our way. So just want to say thank you for that.
Thank you, Elliot. Appreciate that. Bill, can you unmute and state your name and address, please?
Bill Jamison, Berges Creek Road. Can you hear me? I can hear you, Bill. We can't see you, but we can hear you.
Yeah, excellent. Good evening. Well, I'd like to talk about your water report and update. It should be no surprise. This number hasn't changed in the last few years.
It's 400 EQRs. I don't know what the surprise is.
It was that number on the last annexation. It was probably the last number before all based on the additional infrastructure to be added to even supply that amount west of the Alp River Road.
The real question is, is it really that number when you take into effect account the, what's it called overlook or what it used to be the overlook project?
If those home sites are coming out of that 400 EQR, there's substantially less than 400.
So, I don't know why somebody would present a plan for 2000 units of maybe 1500 EQRs when there's no ability to service them with water.
And the cost of an Alp River treatment plant is only going up. As I recall some months ago, the city manager and staff is supposed to be presenting a report as to what if the area west of steamboat to be next isn't going to pay for that Alp River treatment plant.
What the cost is to the current rate pairs in the city.
And if what portion of that is going to be put to the rate pairs of mountain water water.
This is this proposed annexation, if it ever comes, is just looking uglier and uglier from a financial point of view.
So, I think it's time to take a serious pause as to when the city can actually service anything west of their current boundaries.
Thank you.
Thank you Bill. Is there anyone else online?
I don't think I see anyone. Anybody in the audience?
Okay, with that we'll close public comment and I just want to summarize a couple things.
I know we're going to move into the constraint analysis and that's going to get into a lot of discussion on this water thing.
But I think a couple things here is that no one is advocating 2,000 units out of Brown Ranch or 1,500 units out of Brown Ranch.
In fact, the discussion has been far smaller to see if we could possibly do something maybe in the 200, 300 type of range.
So there has been absolutely no discussion about that and that discussion about 200, 300 or whatever is all predicated off of this analysis that we're going to hear in a few minutes here because we can't have to not just water.
There's other things involved in this analysis too. So we will we will get to that as far as the cost John of these consultants and whatnot that was a grant.
Okay, this money is not coming out of steamboats taxpayer dollars. It is a grant money that we've been using for that. So I just wanted to clarify that as well.
No, we cannot.
Okay, with that in mind Tom, I'm going to turn it over to you for the municipal services analysis.
I, A, K, A, the constraints of the analysis, right? Yes.
Thank you, President Monteen.
And I just want to start off by saying that this this report is a represents a moment of time.
It is a what we're calling a municipal services analysis because it does not include an analysis of other utilities like gas and electric.
It is municipal services only and it is intended to be for the slate Creek neighborhood and it is intended to be an introduction.
So I know we have, you know, roughly 30 minutes for this discussion tonight.
We are fully aware we being staff that this will generate a lot of questions and we welcome the questions and we'll we'll dive into it.
I also want to say that there's a lot of, there's a lot of background information.
We, we wanted to present this information in a way that was easily digestible clear to the city council to the public.
And there's a lot of information that has come from the disparate departments and their analysis that we will be trying to put into sort of a single voice.
It came in a lot of different forms and it came in a lot of different voices if you will.
So we are working to kind of put that into one consolidated and clearly legible document that will sort of provide a little bit of background information on the analysis that went through.
This will be further discussed by the slate Creek Stairing Committee on June 17th and 18th at their last meetings because this is really going to help informs or the next steps for that potential annexation.
It also represents the collective professional judgment of the city staff.
And it is those departments that will be primarily serving slate Creek neighborhood.
So in many respects it is based on purely empirical data and in some respects it's based on professional opinion based on their current operations.
And it provides council with kind of what we're calling a current snapshot of our municipal service capacity.
And really is intended to identify the point at which additional significant additional investment staffing or infrastructure updates would be needed.
This is the point at which we could accommodate development and essentially a simulated into our current services above this.
It's sort of a stair step if you will we can we can accommodate it but at that point there would be significant infrastructure upgrades.
So that's why we're trying to present this as this is what we could do now at the point of time.
It really represents kind of our operational conditions it includes staffing levels.
Our infrastructure capacity and those take into consideration recent development activity.
And it's important to know the decisions about future growth and it's stated in here.
It's not solely about how many homes can we build.
It's about how that growth is phased, how it's financed, how it's serviced and how it's integrated into the community over time.
And there will be changing conditions it was referenced that for instance the water is based on EQRs for west of.
Elk River Road if we see further development between now and when we want annex at west of steam but west of Elk River Road it will lower this number the answer is yes this is any development for the water.
That's why we say it's based on a point of time in two months three months six months in a year we probably have to reevaluate it.
So with that the analysis that we did was given where we are today in our municipal services we feel we could accommodate about 400 to 500 housing units.
The types of housing units will impact that number.
The housing units if they are all single family and have yards that we have to irrigate that's going to lower the number if it's high density housing without irrigation without yards that will increase the number.
If we have commercial space out there that will lower the number of units.
So there's a lot of factors that are going to affect this number and that's why we provided try to provide you with a range of what we think is a reasonable number given the assumption that we will have other uses and we don't quite know what the program of that project would be.
So just very quickly going through the various services you know wastewater wastewater does not really have any significant constraints you can see that we could accommodate.
3,000 equivalent residential units or about 3,500 homes out there.
Future development throughout sort of the broader service area including including steam boats to Metro district the treehouse will affect that.
And we'll affect when a new water treatment plant will be needed but.
For all instance the purpose wastewater is not a constraint.
Trinking water is probably our biggest constraint as was mentioned.
That is based on what we say think is a 400 additional equivalent residential residential units.
Minus anything that's developed west of Elk River Road.
And that does depend on some several planned upgrades which includes the low at height pump station.
Upgrades the pressure reducing valves and the creation of a new pressure zone for the sunlight neighborhood.
Those are planned projects and expected to occur within the next two to three years.
I will have John Schneider answer Mister passes questions about the water treatment.
EMS fire.
We continue to see significant growth with call levels for EMS and fire.
They did an analysis of what we anticipate future growth to be based on current projections.
And when we would really need to develop a second or in this case third fire station west team boat and there analysis was about 670 homes.
So again that's higher than the four to 500 units that we can see from water.
So water being the primary constraint.
Transportation you've noticed it says one bus stop and traffic light transit is we can accommodate transit.
But it means developing probably a around about at the future slate Creek connector road and highway 40.
A place for a bus can turn in and pick up folks and come out.
We do not have the capacity at this point to bring service up into the brown ash neighborhood or slate Creek neighborhood.
So it would be we could provide transit but without as we all know we've talked about transit in the constraints with our transit system right now.
That would require a also additional funding so at this point we can accommodate it with one bus stop one traffic light and around about.
Highway traffic.
We do not think based on sort of projections and in the number of the amount of traffic that a modest development would occur is really going to have a significant impact on traffic levels and highway 40 so we do not feel at this point.
We are but that's a major constraint.
Police is really a matter of trying to keep up with our goal of having 3.5 officers per 1000 that is a goal that is not where we are today but that is what we're trying to achieve.
From a staffing level that just means that for every about 200 homes that we develop.
That we would need to additional two police officers in a patrol car so not a significant constraint but it does you know it it matches it up.
Staffing that we will need for that.
Finally parks you know parks obviously was a big discussion during the original brown ranch we have level of service standards for parks and new development.
This is trying to address those level of service standards so based on roughly 500 homes a minimum of six and a half acres of neighborhood park land would be needed across.
Two to four locations along with 21 acres of a community park land across one to three locations some of this could be land that's dedicated.
For for development in the future the parks could be developed but we at least need the land dedicated and some of those small parks would need to be part of it.
Developers do have park requirements we have requirements in our in our transit neighborhood development that will require park land.
This is city owned city operated park land that we're talking about so that's in addition to what would be required of developers as part of the development process.
The other significant constraint sides water is streets and fleet.
The streets department we know and I mentioned earlier in my city manager report that we are looking at a new public works facility and that is because we are bursting at the seams in our public works building.
And we are we will with significant increase in what we call lane miles or additional streets basically that just takes more time to for our plow routes and so talking to our streets division there's like we can probably handle about another.
mile and a half of roadway which is really three miles of lane miles before we're we're going beyond our capacity to be able to provide a level of service and plow the streets in a way that this community expects.
So we can accommodate another mile and a half of streets that's not a lot when you think about that.
That's a pretty small development. But I think between a mile and half of streets and 4,500 units, that's probably a pretty small contained annexation, adjacent to the existing city limits, adjacent to what would be this late Creek connector, or where gossip park comes through the Glen. And that's kind of where we are today without, as I said before, additional significant infrastructure upgrades.
We have staff that can answer questions. Again, I'm trying to emphasize that this is an introduction. We will have a lot of questions. We'll be able to provide more information. And this is the beginnings of a community conversation. And we'll certainly be part of the conversation at the Slake Creek Neighborhood Staring Committee, in terms of next steps of what we think we're going to accommodate.
So that is it. And I might just have John John. Do you want to just come down and address the question, because I know that council's going to be asking that. So we might as well just try to answer Mr. Passes question.
Good evening, John Snyder Public Works Director. So to start with addressing water. Let me first start with, there are two water districts in Steamboats Springs. There's a malwarner district and there's the city district.
We do not allocate any water of that we anticipate malwarner to use over and our system and vice versa. So for instance, the stockman is in the malwarner district that.
There, there'd be a fed from outweir there being fed from outweir's allocation. The development of the stockman does not affect our ability to serve a west side annexation.
The other thing I'll say is working with our partners in malwarner. We're planning on stressing the yampo wells treatment plant later this year.
We suspect that the firm yield of the yampo wells treatment plant is actually higher than was previously reported that will give us more flexibility to serve more homes.
And then the other thing I'll say is just so everybody understands it's not like we're keeping a general ledger where if one unit gets built over here we subtract one future unit over here that's not how it works.
We're instead measuring you know 30 to 40 different parameters throughout the system and then we're backing into those numbers in order to present something that's a little bit more digestible so.
If I see a house get built in the Glenn I'm not going to come over and say okay we're going to have a race a potential house in brown ranch what we're going to do instead is we're going to keep an eye on overall usage peak day usage things of that nature.
Are there specific questions about water I can answer.
John I had one that I kind of think we really need to address can you give the definition of an EQR.
And then also when I got on council six years ago we had 800 EQRs when we were doing that first one and can we just take a moment to explain what that equivalent means.
Great question I should have let off with that EQR stands for equivalent residential unit you can break down any usage of water into some form of equivalent residential unit.
As staff we call it 140 fixture unit points but for discussion we call it a 2500 square foot house with three bathrooms and a modest yard.
When we were going through the brown ranch discussions in 2023 we are using 800 EQRs are threshold we have back that down to 400 and it is mostly due to.
The Apple wells treatment capacity potentially not being able to perform as high as we would have liked it to as well as some distribution system constraints that we see more on the west side of town.
And you John talk a little bit about redundancy and risk.
Yes so we have two water treatment plants and steamboat springs which is great there are towns all over America that only have one water treatment plant.
We have to and one of the great things about that is that if we ever were to get a forest fire in the fish creek drainage basin that would cause us to shut down the fish tree plant.
We would have another plant to draw off of that is treatment capacity redundancy right there in a nutshell so this 400 unit that we're proposing tonight is a relatively low risk number that we believe we could feed indoor use for the entire city off of the Apple wells plant in the event that there is a shutdown at the fish tree plant for a prolonged period of time.
We have invested heavily in the fish creek plant over the last several years to try to minimize the chance that we have to shut down that plant after a fire but it is still a possibility that we always have to be mindful of.
And as that redundancy the limiting factor on the EQRs in other words if we were just relying on a total water number from the fish creek what would that be in EQRs.
Oh, it's north of a thousand in fact if we were to expand fish creek I think we could feed all of it if we weren't worried about redundancy at all so that 400 EQRs a combination of the.
Yampo wells plant output and the distribution system that we have on the west side of town.
Yep, I had a question so you mentioned kind of distribution and strains and I think you know when you talk about your four to five hundred homes it is dependent upon planned upgrades right replacement of the will at heights pump station upgrades to the pressure reducing valves.
And the new pressure zone for the sunlight neighborhood so putting you know what could we do today without those upgrades we really shouldn't do any further west annexation without those upgrades.
Now also say though that we have to do those upgrades whether or not we annex or we don't we need to do those even if we know we're never going to annex.
Right so that that's I guess there is my question right I mean so to the extent that we know that we need to do these anyway.
So so that really isn't as we say the analysis isn't specific to slight creek I mean it's really should be taken into consideration in terms of anything on the west side.
We're comfortable with our existing city limits without those but.
The problem with the will heights pump station and the pressure reducing valves is they are beyond their useful life so we have to replace those.
And then the sunlight booster station that is just so that that neighborhood doesn't ever get their pressure drawn down too much in the event that there is a fire or a major water break on the west side of town.
And why why is that an issue today why wasn't that handled when sunlight was built.
Staff advocated that that be handled when sunlight was built.
There were other pressures at the pressures are wrong word there were other issues going on at the time and staff was overruled and we were told that no they did not have to build their own pressure station at the time.
And so let's go back to your comment about there is kind of you're not worried about any other development on the west side but I think it goes back to the comment made by Bill pass right I mean in terms of as a council I think there's decisions that need to be made up here in terms of where if we want to see development do we want how to what development is acceptable to this community so kind of you know goes back to.
Are you saying you're that in terms of what's planned or to the extent that there might be future plans not including slate Creek you're comfortable with that and this you're only not comfortable with moving forward with slate Creek.
comfortable moving forward to slate Creek and that 400 EQ our number I gave you is 400 minus anything that might get developed at west of Elk River road corridor between now and then so.
If there are new subdivisions that come online and I'll give you an example of a huge one that could come our way.
West takers ranch it's like an 80 some odd acre parcel south west of the airport if they come in with a development plan that could wipe out a lot of our development potential for slate Creek in and of itself.
Okay thank you.
If you could just share where we talked about a little earlier today around.
You know all these fixes need to be done before we have people move in let's say out at slate Creek.
So based on that though the timing around making all those upgrades is such that we're talking about moving in the earliest would be 2029.
Correct we're open to be done with these three upgrades by the end of 2029 okay so what we're really saying is where we stand today which is somewhere around three years which is kind of what it takes to go through that entire process of.
Design development bill and everything else so basically what we're talking about is that it's not like we have to delay that are thinking or strategies or options today.
Because it's going to run pretty much.
In parallel with those things being done that yes that's accurate I'd you could certainly start construction could certainly start building I wouldn't I just wouldn't want anybody moving in out there until we're done but I think we can be done with our stuff before there's any houses finished out there.
John I have a question for you.
If we were to move forward with an annexation in build four to five hundred units and projects like wex restakers didn't come through but they came through in five or six or seven years from now.
And we're in the same situation what would be our circumstance then.
If we're in the same situation then I think we would probably have to halt development so what we are always doing is we're always keeping our eye on that dashboard and if we get to a point where we think we're.
Starting to get in a precarious position we're going to come to you and we're going to say hey we think you should enact some sort of legislation that slows our halt development so if nothing changes that's what we would do I this but it's always changing.
The dash lights are always changing assumptions are always changing outside factors are always changing so I don't think we're always going to be in the same situation we are at this moment in time.
Where to annex and put four to five hundred units out there before Western years ranch came in without effect in any way the development is not pretty far.
No no I that's far enough east I don't think it would affect it.
This is a distribution problem.
Yeah distribution with treatment also involved but when you're that far east I don't think you're going to have the same issues.
So let's ask the big question who totally unconstrained our system looking 10 20 years down the road what has to happen.
To totally unconstrained your system we need a third source that increases our redundant treatment capacity and solve our distribution system and that source should be on the west side of town.
Ideally near the Elk River somewhere.
Correct yeah ideally it would be an Elk River water treatment plant but again that's at a significant cost significant cost and significant time frame yes five to seven years.
By the time you start sampling your raw water to the time you have a new building in place.
John can you clarify one more thing.
You would stated that and he said this a couple of times really the 400 EQRs is from Elk River road west so this does not have an effect truly on a lot of the infill development that's going on the rest of the city explain to me that capacity.
That's where your distribution system starts to really matter so in between let's call it the.
11th Street or maybe 13th Street and highway 40 intersection and then the third and then the highway 40 Elk River road intersection.
Our distribution system gets pretty small because the topography kind of arrows and then once you get out towards Elk River the topography opens up our distribution system opens up as well and so that's where the distribution system pressures start to see more constraints with additional development.
So I'm not worried at all about inflow in downtown or at the mountain or you know in the Will it heights area.
And explain for the citizens just the regulation regulatory oversight EQRs does there is there's something that would trigger us that would force us to get a third treatment facility.
No, no that the state doesn't really look into that that's more based off of the comfort of the community.
Well I wanted to follow up on that alone one question is when should ideally money is no object when should we be starting the process of designing them locating and everything else for a new water treatment plan.
Money no object I would say once or maybe half to two thirds built out of any future.
Anxation of 400 EQRs so once we start to maybe 300 if we think we're going to keep going past 400 I'd want to start then.
But if we also know we have West acres in there and even sooner.
But then joy yeah, but then also we got to consider are we able to drive our Elkiver or I'm sorry are you have a river plant harder okay and will that fill in some of that access.
And if I think if I heard you correctly I mean that is not just specific to development on the West end right I mean the water treatment plant we're talking about is for redundancy for the entire city that's correct for the entire city.
And yeah the third plant we would we would size so that it can help.
The entire city, including that one, and just a follow up question in terms of just clarification. So when you're talking about distribution constraints, I mean, is that incumbent in terms are inclusive of what we're talking about with the Willow Heights pump station upgrades to the pressure and those sunlight neighborhood is that more when I think about the actual pipes or this kind of the system that we currently have in place. It's all that it's all that although we don't really talk about, right?
I mean, it were focused on these three and not necessarily kind of fixing, you know, for lack of a better sophisticated were the pipes.
So that's one of the things Plumber looked into is are there other distribution system improvements we can or should make that improve the distribution system performance above and beyond these three items here and there are things that we could do, but the impact would be negligible to the point that it's really not worth funding.
Okay, thanks.
One question. The four to five hundred five hundred homes. There's lots of variables.
We talk about commercial lawns. So is this number the four to five hundred.
Did you consider the parks.
Yes.
Okay.
Yeah.
Sure.
Okay. And I'll have a question for Angela on that.
Okay.
Yeah. We anticipate.
We plug some assumptions into this, you know, for park land and for maybe 30,000 to 50,000 square feet a commercial.
And that helped get us to the 400 to 500 homes number that we're presenting to you tonight.
But maybe you know this because we're talking about water. If not, we can I can ask Angela, but for our irrigation systems.
Are we using non potable water for whatever we can.
That could potentially.
Help.
Now there's not great opportunities to use non potable water at that particular location.
We are using non potable and Angela can hit me and find lying too much.
But we're using it at Emerald at House and at several of our larger parks.
Okay.
And then maybe just following up on on Councillor Dickson's question.
Really as we look at this kind of it.
It's totality moving away from just the drinking water specifically.
When we talk about transportation, when we talk about police and all these other needs.
And after that into kind of the today's developments proposals that are coming before us.
Yes. So those that affect sort of the community wide like the streets department, fleet department.
Parks, parks, fire, police, yes.
So we're we're we're looking at all of those as well.
So when we talk to the when we talk about the Glen or when we talk about base camp,
we're looking at a contribution like we're asking the creek neighborhood to do.
Well, if the subdivision if the if the standards apply to that type of development.
Yes, but the parkland I believe the parkland requirement is a subdivision requirement not a development requirement.
So for a multi family development, we don't require a parkland.
If they did a subdivision of some kind, we would require some sort of open space or.
So base base camp was a development within an already existing subdivision so they probably didn't have parkland requirement if that's your question.
That's my question, but what about police.
Well, police, you know, you've heard Mark Beckett, chief Beckett talk about how we're trying to achieve that 3.5 officers for a thousand were not there yet, but the more development that we have.
And as we continue to grow as a community, we are trying to look at that and that's why we get the staffing requests that we're getting and that was really the point I tried to make in my third paragraph of this is that this is a.
This raises a larger question for this city then just late creek in terms of municipal services and where we are I mean we are we are at the top and so there are several areas that we need significant infrastructure.
Improvements and upgrades and investment in order to achieve the levels of service we want just for the development that's occurring within the existing city limits.
Yeah, no I mean I think that's an important point that it's not this is not just like creek right that this is not.
This is with any new development with any sort of growth right these are the needs.
These are the needs and this is why councils having the conversations about fiscal sustainability that you're having because.
We are not able to achieve the levels of service or we're getting to the point where we're not able to meet the levels of service that the community expects as we continue to grow and our revenue sources are not meeting our expenses.
Yeah.
Any other questions for John.
Yeah, just one last one Steve, thank you.
John originally when we were doing the first annexation with.
Well, the one that failed the brown ranch.
What I was curious on is that we passed this 9% sales tax for short term rental license and during that process we were looking at a 200 million dollar portion.
But the city of steamboat would have to bill pay for and that's infrastructure roads and transportation a lot of that.
That's how we came up with the 9% and the roughly the 20 or 200 million dollars over the course of the term of the ballot language.
In that if I'm not mistaken included the anticipation of a new water treatment facility.
As we're moving forward with a people see 30 million dollars in the short term rental fund.
I just isn't some of that money anticipated by 2029 could be used on a new water treatment facility.
Yeah, I think in the brown ranch agreement.
Two thirds of the money for that treatment facility was included in that but not the whole of the treatment facility.
I'll refer to damn but if it is indirect support of affordable housing then we can use us to our money for any of the structure upgrades.
That is correct.
Yeah, and I just I just I bring it up thank you and we'll have more of a discussion but as we move forward with the need for a water treatment facility on Elk River.
And we keep wanting to spend a lot of this money for affordable housing opportunities that are coming up with the ad hoc committee.
We really have to start putting some of that money away.
And I know business owners are talking about lowering that 4% sales tax but don't you think it would be prudent to start talking some of that money away now for 2029 build.
If we're confident we're going to and extend I think that would be prudent.
Okay, thank you.
Okay, lots to think about John.
Do you have questions for Angela.
Councillor Dixon.
No, I think.
Well, Angela maybe.
Yeah, just if you want to talk about the irrigation.
This is we're talking about water.
And how you all evaluate using pot of water for irrigation.
Angela, cause me your Parks and Recreation Director.
Wherever we have access to non-potable water we do have water rights on the AMPA that we manage very closely.
It is always our preference to use non-potable water first.
We do have a few sites left within our existing inventory that we're still looking to convert to raw water.
We have prioritized which locations we convert first based upon consumption and use.
So some of our sites left are a bit smaller.
Okay.
Does that answer all your questions?
Yeah.
Thank you.
Okay.
Any other questions for Tom?
Thank you for that.
Okay.
We are going to move on here.
And next item on the agenda.
And we will take a break after this item as the community reports.
And items on the community report may be commented on the same manner as consent calendar and public hearing items.
So after we go through the community report we will also ask if anybody has public comment about those.
So we're going to start with the educational fund board and your report.
Adam, you want to come on down?
Yeah.
Thanks everyone.
Adam Osball, current acting president of the education fund board.
Just here to give the state of the fund report for you.
A little lighter than the previous conversation hopefully.
So did try to put it up there for everybody to see.
And then see if we can do that.
Perfect.
So there's our mission to enhance the academic accomplishments and route county through student facing investment and staff facilities infrastructure technologies curriculum.
Made available through our public schools.
The government documents.
We incorporated 1994 the agreements between the fund board and the city of steamboat.
Was re-adopted in March of 2024.
It was actually negotiated a little bit before that.
But we got it signed in 2024.
By laws we do the by laws and policies and procedures every other year review those last year.
We did the by laws which were updated in September.
The share will do the policies and procedures so those will be updated in 26 or this summer.
Most of the time.
Recent changes those top two we really gone over that last ones get to be the big change here pretty quick.
And we're hiring a new account and we're in that process right now.
I've going through that and we have a group that is interviewing new accountants.
Linda Thompson was our current accountant.
She was actually brought on by my predecessor Sam Jones.
When she was brought on we actually hadn't filed tax returns for three years.
So she had a pretty heavy lift when as soon as she came on.
And she's been fantastic but she is retiring.
So if you do see her around tell her that she did a wonderful job for that fund.
Educational board.
We're made up of 11 voting members three year terms.
We're appointed by the board.
We have four officer positions.
Right there's our rules.
Review and vet all grants set the annual budget.
Management of the legitimacy of potential recipients.
Board governance accountability of spending in cash flows.
Coordinated the annual audits and the tax filings and the liais on between the district's community and the city.
There's our current board members as you can see there.
We are adding three new members this summer.
All three of those people have accepted.
We did have I think eight applicants issue, which was fantastic.
The interview all those and we threw all those and get the best people.
So that was a good.
Good.
Change the pace for the last couple years.
District advisors.
District advisors pretty much advise the Ed fund board on kind of communication.
Set expectations on where they see funds that they want to use or any changes that they want to to the Ed fund.
And kind of will work those out together as well as their you know involved in our grant review process and provide us with any details that we need.
How we're funded.
This is more for people of the city instead of the council here, but city of the steamboat collects the sales and use tax.
And half the half percent is paid to the Ed fund as a monthly as approved by the voters.
And then the city as steamboat springs assesses 1% fee against those payments for their administration of the fee.
And then seem about education funds sets a final budget in May for the following school year based on projected projected revenues through the end of the fiscal year, which is June for us.
Big part of what we do is review and receive in that all grants based on district school needs and priorities.
All grants request must align with the mission of the fund community grants must be non profit organizations and provide school based programming and school districts included our school districts include the steamboat school district north route chatter.
South route Hayden and steamboat Montessori.
There's our granting history as you can see there.
We are projecting a drop and the money that we're giving out this year that we budgeted this year for 2022 to 2022 7.
We did follow the city's guidelines as far as the two two and a half percent drop.
Some of that as Kim's probably calculating by behind me is that that is a little bit more than two and a half percent.
But we actually this year we didn't looks like we're not meeting all our funding obligations and so we had to dip into what we're calling our cash flow cushion.
We can't call it a reserve account because there's accounting implications for that and so we'll have to put money into that for our cash flow purposes and so that number is a little bit lower than we have seen in the past.
We'll be a little bit there but that's exactly what we find most of our money that we've do fund still goes to student facing staff the next is technology and then 6% there goes to the programming.
Community grants we do fund community grants mostly non profit organizations or all non profit organizations I say.
This is what kind of what they do provide experimental learning and broad and scope of student knowledge based on life skills support students and families outside of the school environment.
Community grants need collaboration.
Which is a part of our grant application process, and then below there you can see kind of some of the organizations that we do fund.
Community buy-in, a lot of what the fund board does, and especially coming up here as we get closer.
The voting cycle is community buy-in, just letting people know that this is their money and where it goes, and how it's being spent, and so everybody gets behind that as everybody knows.
Last time I was approved at 85% approval rate.
It's been renewed now for 25 years. Next one, next time it'll come up as 2029, so we'll probably start that process in 2028.
Here's just a foul language on the last election cycle. I'm not going to read that, but it'll look very similar to the next time through.
And then here's all the resources that we have to provide you per our agreement. Those last three are the big ones. Obviously the cannon bill or reports.
If you guys ever get bored and need to read something or want to know more about the fund that is, that's the meat and potatoes of what we do and what we fund.
And so go ahead and read through those. And then obviously if you need some sleeping material, the auto reports.
And then the grant write reports are the best money that the fund spends.
When I will go ahead and open it up for questions. Thanks Adam. Anyone have any questions for Adam?
Thanks Adam. I might have a quick question. When we look at the pie chart on the distribution of grants.
This team of springs, 78%. How do you determine the percentage for distribution for the different school districts?
It's just based on what comes in or do you all say up to a certain percentage?
So for a long time, the Ed fund funded what came in. So we had essentially a 20 some years worth of data of where we were funding grants that came in.
What we found out during that process was that was a lot of additional work for our teachers and administration within the school district.
We got to the point where that actually dropped off quite a bit as far as the grants that were coming in.
So we actually had money left over at the end of the year, which is not what we want and it's not the idea behind the fund.
And so we went to a categorical granting model based off of what was historically funded to each district.
Obviously, they had to change when steamboat Montessori came on, but we kind of worked it in there. It loosely kind of works into a peer pupil basis.
But as we know, those numbers change year to year so.
Perfect. Thank you.
Yeah.
Hey, Adam. My question.
Yeah, well, I had Michael.
Explain to me in the group.
The, um, the you are a fund.
The tiff that's being used to the base of the ski mountain.
How is that could affect this budget in your budget when that sunsets?
Who, I don't, I don't know how that, as far as the, your, your gap to explain a little bit more on the tiff fund.
Adam, I might have came wherever our finance director, she probably can answer that question for council.
But, you know,
Yeah, I just keep it in context that even though you're under, right now with some of the future money that's coming in,
we know coming down the pipe could be some additional funds for the school.
Can we ever find answer from the education fund board perspective?
It's not subject to the tiff.
There's no, um, there's no tiff for sales tax.
Now for the school district on the property tax.
That's a different story.
But, um, the half percent school tax is not subject to the tiff.
So there will be no change for the education fund board.
Okay. Thank you.
Any other questions for Adam?
Okay. Thanks for everything you do Adam and your team.
Yeah, appreciate it.
Yeah.
We will open Adam.
Yeah, we will open up the public comment.
Does anybody have a public comment addressing this?
In the room or online?
See, no, we'll close public comment.
It's about five of seven.
I think what we'll do is take a quick 10 minute break.
We'll come back and handle the chamber update from Laura.
And then we'll move into our, um, consent calendar, which is why I believe most of the rest of you are here.
So we'll see you in 10 minutes.
Thank you.
minutes.
Okay, we're all back, all right. We're going to move on to our second community report
26 chamber destination stewardship update. Laura, come on down.
You have to tell everybody else how you made that change so quickly. I mean, you're
down here eight seconds and it came up practice. Okay, good evening council. I am Laura
Sword, the senior director of marketing and communications for the steamboat spring's chamber,
and I am excited to share with you some of our efforts and give you a preview of the work that we're
doing in our destination stewardship work for 26. So I always like to start with why we are doing
what we do. So tourism is a large economic driver for our area. We know that the numbers on the right
are from our Dean Runyon report from 2024. We should be getting those new 2025 numbers soon.
But for right now, we have 2024 and we can see over 5,000 jobs in Rout County around and
direct earnings tax receipts. These are all critical numbers for our community. And we know that
because of our tourism economy, our business is ripe. But beyond that, our downtown is vibrant,
arts and cultures flourish. Public services schools and outdoor spaces receives funding. We've been
hearing a lot about that tonight. And our community is energized with a diverse dining scene.
Sustainable jobs and flexibility and a high quality of life. And at the end of the day, the goal of
a healthy tourism economy is a net benefit. tourism is a net benefit for our community. And that's what
we're looking to. So we are in our second year of our destination stewardship action plan. And that is a
three year roadmap. We established to really guide all of our efforts as the destination organization for
the area. And within that plan, we have three kind of pillars heritage, environment, and economy.
And all of these things together need to work in harmony to have this really healthy tourism economy.
Based on the community needs and our requests from council and direction, we have focused on
some of these pillars more than others as certain times. But ideally, they all need to work in harmony
for this all to be that net benefit. So the three goals we have, and again, these are three
year goals, one for each of those pillars. So first, economic goal is to leverage tourism to support this
economy. The environmental goal to encourage responsible and respectful use. And finally, the
cultural goal to protect and enhance Steamboats brings cultural identity. And all of these things,
everything I'm going to show you all the work that we're doing ladders up to these efforts.
So going into what is new for 20, 26, I'm excited to share that we have gone through a visit Steamboats
brings rebrand. And this is something I showed to council last fall kind of proposed that this
is something that we thought was really important. The brand that we have as a destination is how we tell our
story to the entire world. And these stories need to evolve as things change like traveler behaviors.
And I mean, the entire world has changed dramatically since we developed this branding back in 2018.
So it's really time to evolve this, how we give our message to the world. And it is a collaborative
process, lots of research, lots of surveys and interviews that we did with people to come to this
really creative new approach. So I'm really pleased to present to you. Steamboats brings genuine
West. This is our new branding that we are moving forward with in 2026.
So I like to set the stage a little bit because it gives me goosebumps kind of to just read
our brand manifesto. And before we go into anything, we have to set the groundwork for what we want this
brand to look like and sound like and how it comes to life. So I'm going to read this to you real quickly.
The West. You read about in books, you watch it in movies, you picture it in your mind. And some of it
is what you'd expect. Wandering rivers, golden meadows, clear mountain lakes, cowboys,
weirking, the hills. We've got all of that in Simboats brings is who we are. But here the West
of Genuine beyond expectation. You find to talking with people you just met, you admire in the art
across town who here in the music drifting down Main Street on a summer night or rodeo announcers
drifting throughout town. Always something happening never out of reach. The way we see it,
there's nowhere better. We'll let you see for yourself. Steamboat springs, Genuine West.
So that's what we sound like. How do we bring this to life?
Oh, I think I got a boar at.
I got kicked off the zooms, so just bear with me here a minute.
Any questions so far? We just a minute here as I get back on the internet. This always seems
to happen to me. I got kicked off too. The new one else got kicked off.
You'll kind of. Now I'm back on.
Do you need some help in the back room there?
No, I've got the zoom opening.
Let me know.
All right. Okay, there we go. Thank you. Sorry about that. All right. So we are bringing the
brand to life and what this looks like and you know we talked about what it sounds like. So what it
looks like is a new color palette that we've worked with. We also are looking at our brand personality.
So the four squares that I have here, well I had here. I will just do that. Grounded,
quietly confidence, unhurried and inviting. It looks like typical headlines with just a little bit
of a genuine West wink to them. For example, hustle and bustle not included. This has been one of
our more popular headlines that we've been testing out recently. Okay. So when we look at our overall
marketing plan based on all of that branding, when we look at our plan for 2026,
we there are a lot of elements that we look at a lot of indicators and some headwinds and some
tailwinds. So I'm just going to touch on a few real quickly. So headwinds consumer confidence as well.
No changes a lot, but it's at a low point right now. Snowpack as we know this is very impactful on
not just our winter, visitation, but all throughout the summer and fall as well. We're going to
feel this all year. Geopolitical price volatility, things we have no control over, but we need to be
aware of and respond to appropriately. So tailwinds, things that are really working in our favor,
our domestic travel, Americans are traveling, and especially internally, not as much international travel.
So especially with a lot of the celebrations we have this year with America 250, call it a 150,
that kind of thing. I call that luxury travel because it is still a really important element for us
as far as that higher income bracket travel goes. But we also are seeing not traditional high
income bracket travelers, but some other lower income travel bracket travelers that are really
prioritizing, spending their resources on travel. And so there's definitely a lot of opportunity
there for us to bring up a new consumer. Of course establish destination, steamboat, as well known.
Establish events, I mentioned as well because they definitely drive predictable visitation.
We know when an event is happening, especially when it's ticketed, we that is predictable visitation.
And finally, visiting friends and relatives is a huge part of our visitor economy and really those
are our repeat visitors are coming from and some really valuable guests.
So in terms of our paid media campaign, really what we're looking to do is to drive visitation across
these markets, which I'll show you in a minute. The travel journey right now is very fragmented. It's
a completely different landscape than we even saw a year ago or even a month ago. There are so many
new tools and ways people are searching for these things that we're looking to create that full funnel
using lots of different channels to find these visitors. And using those channels together to
both generate and capture the demand. Okay, so what we're looking to accomplish with this paid media
campaign is to increase the visitors spending of the people that are already here and that is this is
based on the percentage of visa spending by visitors that information we get from Zardico. So that's the
same as we've have done before. Increase August and September lodging tax collection. So increasing
that late summer and fall visitor. Imagine stabilize the average length of stay because we've seen
that decline over the past couple of years and we want to get that back into a place where we can grow that.
We have a lot of opportunity with do steamboats springs right and that stewardship message.
Our visitor center is a very important part of our efforts. I'll talk a little bit more about that in a minute.
And then as I mentioned, the 251-50 activations, there are a lot of opportunities there that we have.
The drone show we had at Winter Carnival was a great example of that.
We work with the state to bring that to the area. So we really want to highlight the unique character of our area.
So the target audiences, we have identified we've got two main audiences, our empty
investors, and that's more of our fall visitor. And then our families that's going to be more of our
summer visitor. And the four basic markets we're looking at Chicago and then within Colorado front range
from Fort Collins down to Colorado Springs. And then it takes his Houston and Dallas Fort
Worth. And these are all established markets for us. With the resources that we have, we are not going to
spread too far. So we need to be really concentrated at where our efforts are going. So that's why we've chosen
these markets, their fly markets, and all can also be drive markets in the summer.
And how that looks across the calendar, paid search is going on now and we'll go on through September.
That's your Google search. We're going to focus on the families in May and June. So that has
already started. And then the empty investors, that's going to layer in in the fall.
So I'll show just a few creative slides with you. And this is an example of a social media ad in the
ideas. That's a carousel that you scroll through. And the first frame is just a nice town shot with a
headline. And then the middle is that kind of grounding picture that shows that this is an actual
place. And we identify what the place is. In this case it's Lincoln Avenue. And then the payoff at the end
with that genuine West tag. This is an Instagram ad. And the headline here says, even kids these days love it.
Steamboat Springs identifies the place and then the tag. This one has been our highest performers so far
the first month of our campaign. First rodeoers, rodeoers, welcome. Identifies the rodeo and then
that last frame. So this one has been performing very well across all markets. So in addition to our
paid campaign we have what I'm considering kind of our always online channels. And these are our
visit Steamboat Springs, social channels, Instagram, Facebook, our website of course. And the emails that we
send out. We have a visitors guide that comes out twice a year. We just got the newer version out.
I have some of anyone wants to see one. We just distribute those out to the community. The visitor center,
the visitor center is a critical piece of the work that we do. And it's so interesting the trends that we see
in travel.
There are so many tools out there, especially digital tools. And we're not attempting to replace those. We really want our visitor center to augment some of those. And really be that source of local knowledge for people. And then we are always, we always have a presence on colorout.com. And that is the states tourism website. And then the messaging that we have year round, this is mostly our stewardship messaging. So they do seem both springs right, support local, adventure responsibly.
And then celebrate the culture. And again, these all ladder up to what is in our destination stewardship action plan.
So in terms of the different campaigns, we have. So as I mentioned, the national campaign, that is the genuine west. And that's going to be in those several national markets.
Regional campaigns, we have genuine west. And then we layer back in it that do seem both springs right, which is the, this is the second full year we've been doing that one in partnership with the state tourism office.
And then our local market and those are for people who are already here in the area.
We serve the do spin, steamboat springs right message, as well as layering and some care for Colorado.
That is kind of a separate component of stewardship messaging.
Okay, so I'm going to show a share a bit of data information. We use some data in research and on the left, those are some of the platforms that we use.
That we use some are forward-looking and some are historic data serving really different purposes.
And the distribution channel for that data is that's what's in those images there. And the tourism data dashboard lives on our website.
And I just saw the April tax information come in today. So I'll add that in and we'll have that live on our site soon.
And then the local link is our local, local newsletter.
That shares events and happenings and really what locals should be aware of so that they can make informed decisions and know what's going on the community as well as our efforts and what we're doing.
So how does spring summer fall look so far. I ran these numbers last week.
And this is information from key data, which is our lodging occupancy platform that we use.
So these numbers are June 1st to September 21st. And I guess overall I would say things look okay.
They don't look great, but they also don't look dismal. So it's kind of steady year over year at this point.
When we look at paid occupancy, it's pretty much flat. That's that first square on the left.
But we see guests nights or down and nights available or down.
And that tells me that there are fewer units, fewer properties to rent this summer.
So that's either because of renovations at properties or individual property owners have taken their properties off the market this summer.
So while the percentage is flat, the actual numbers that of units being booked is down a little bit.
Rev. that's what really lodgers look to for as far as revenue goes and that's up just a little bit.
When we look at the average, the adjusted paid in owner occupancy, that's the one I have kind of highlighted the bottom.
That's up just slightly and that's for the entire season.
If we want to look at a monthly kind of outlook, this starts with June.
That's on the left. So the darker is the current year, the one in the middle is last year bookings at the same time.
And the bar on the right, that is actuals from last year. So as you can see, we're kind of on par with the bookings from last year.
But we do have some room to grow as far as where we landed last year.
And that top bar is at 40%. So just for perspective, there's a lot of room there in terms of people still to book and before we reach a uncomfortable capacity.
So lastly, I'll just mention some of the destination stewardship work we've been partnering with the state of Colorado on and I've mentioned to this group for the past couple years.
I've been a part of this stewardship council and we've been working on ways to create a statewide understanding of destination stewardship and then how to measure it, which has proved extremely complex.
So as you can see, there are four categories there, and this is how we're going to identify destination stewardship and then beneath it, this is all the measurements that we can have.
So choosing KPIs based on the topics at the top.
So we have a lot of work to do in this, but excited to be a part of that process and how it can trickle down into our area.
And the state also just released their year in review review and that is on the state's website.
So that is all I have. I apologize. I should have booted myself from the internet before it booted me, but appreciate your patience and time and I'm happy to answer any questions.
Okay, thank you, Laura. Who has a question.
I have one. How is our mountain competitive.
Resorts, what are they doing differently? Because of the downturn, this winter and even spring.
I do notice any differences in terms of what they're doing spending wise or anything like that.
Yeah, I mean for the most parts, they're spending more money.
So one of our, one of our challenges is our budget as much smaller than our competitive set, which means they can respond with bigger buys more, you know, more assets.
So they're out in the market more than we are. So I would say that's the biggest difference.
Some other differences could be just in terms of international promotions.
That's one thing that we're just doing a little bit of the skier is a great job at that, but we are not nearly at that level.
So a lot of our competitors are doing that. I think we're seeing the international market as really that important thing.
That's that we need to be on now and get in front of.
So that was would be two of the big differences. I think what our competitors are doing.
So we're falling behind. You would say.
Yes, I mean, in terms of yes, what we can be doing to attract these different demographics. Yes.
Thank you.
Other questions?
Anyone?
For summer lodging, do you find that folks are more willing to book more short notice?
Because there's been a few articles out there saying I think actually,
see my pilot had a couple months ago about summer tourism, possibly going to pick up based on
No, a great snowier.
And I saw even a national report out.
But will you, do you expect these, I'm looking at the summer lodging outlook?
Do you expect these to fluctuate in people possibly booking short notice?
Yes, and that's definitely a trend in the summer.
Our winter visitors book further out in advance.
Our summer visitors tend to book a shorter booking window for sure.
So that is something that we expect and anticipate.
That's why it's helpful to look at those charts that compare our bookings,
you know, reservations on the books now versus where they were last year at this point.
So that's a good comparison point for us.
We are finding a slight uptick in the length of a booking window.
So people are booking slightly further in advance.
Which is why we started our media campaign a little bit earlier.
So yes, and we did see a May actually some occupancy was pretty good.
It was stronger than we expected.
So we did maybe see that up front in May and then June not as much.
And then we're looking to fill those other months as well.
So yes, I do think that's going to happen.
I don't think it's going to be exponentially bigger than what we have seen before.
And I know one of the articles actually hit on with you talks about where that folks are looking to travel
for summer and have a slower type of vacation, meaning they want to go one place,
stay for longer and really explore that one area.
Yes, and that was one of the reasons we thought we needed to update the branding.
That concept of more didn't resonate as much anymore and didn't feel quite right.
So that was a big piece of that.
Also, we have a great destination for people who are looking for that wellness vacation.
And in fact, a lot of the public relations work we're doing is on that wellness front.
So hot springs going hiking, being outside.
The last really nice press hit that we had was in the AAA magazine and it was called The Road to Well and it was all about hot springs and it had a nice feature on steamboat.
So yeah, that is definitely a strength for us right now that we are working on promoting.
Thank you.
Any other questions for Laura.
Okay, thank you, Laura.
Appreciate it.
Thank you.
Okay.
We're going to move on to item G our consent calendar motions resolutions ordinances.
Oh, that's right.
Thank you public comment first anybody want to make a public comment related to what you just heard.
Anybody online.
I see no one so we will close public comment.
So let's move on to our items on the consent calendar, which may be reviewed and commented upon the same manner as other gender items.
Any member of the council or the public may request withdrawal of any item from the consent calendar for further discussion at any time prior to approval.
If items are not removed, they may be approved with a single motion.
So I'm going to read through items number seven all the way up through number 12 and then we'll come back and we'll see which ones we want to pull and which ones we want to leave on the.
consent agenda.
The first one is item seven a resolution approving a development plan major variance PL 2 0 2 5 0 3 3 9 12th and Yampa residences number eight is an ordinance rezoning a portion of land as described in exhibit a depicted in exhibit be and located on 10 21 merit street from residential neighborhood one R and one zone district to residential residential neighborhood two R and two zone district.
Item nine first reading of an ordinance PL 2 0 2 5 0 2 6 0 river view PUD sub zone D amendment item 10 a resolution approving the air program.
Contribution agreement for 2026 between the steamboat Springs local marketing district and steamboat ski and resort corporate corporation item 11 a resolution approving the amendment of the 2017 IGA between the city of steamboat Springs and the steamboat Springs local marketing district.
Item 12 is the first reading of an ordinance approving a deed of conservation easements Lake Creek property between the city of steamboat Springs and Colorado open lands I will say we will be pulling item number nine because that's going to be postponed indefinitely.
So we will be pulling item number nine and I would ask council of the other items on there, which ones would you like to pull.
I would like to pull seven resolution for the development plan okay number seven.
10 and 11 10 and 11.
Anything else.
Consolabicino are you okay.
Okay.
Look like it.
Okay, so we're pulling anyone's to pull seven we're going to pull nine and 10 and 11 is that right.
So that leaves we will leave on the consent agenda number eight and number 12.
Is that correct unless there's anybody in the audience or online first that's what we're left eight and 12 anybody want to pull later 12.
Anybody online.
Seeing none I'll ask for a motion to approve.
I cannot consent agenda items eight and 12.
So moved.
I got a motion by council of Gary.
I can I can buy councilor Dixon all those in favor say I.
I opposed.
Okay items eight and 12 remain on the consent calendar.
Okay.
We're going back to number seven a resolution approval and development plan major variance field two zero two five zero three three nine.
12th and yampa.
Toby.
So we've heard from you before in this we were reminded it back to the planning commission they heard it again.
So council would you like to hear a short presentation would you like to hear changes from the last time what would you like to hear.
Well, I think a short presentation would be appropriate because that would incorporate.
But we're.
The voting on tonight which changes.
Okay.
Okay, I'll provide Toby software senior planner.
I'll provide a short presentation about sort of the process of the project and then the applicant is here and they can tell you.
More detail about the project.
The variance is the changes that happened between this hearing and the last one.
So this slot is at the corner of 12th in yampa.
It's in the s t r green zone and it's within the hundred year floodplain of the yampa river.
There have been public comments provided in support and in opposition.
Project was heard by planning commission on March 12th received no recommendation at a vote of two two.
It came to city council on April 7th and was reminded back to planning commission with direction to provide more discussion and consideration.
Which of the variances and to review the cumulative impact of the variances together.
The second planning commission hearing was on May 14th where the planning commission recommended approval three two.
For staff, we were put we relied on some of the plans to address criteria in criteria for approval to recommend support of the project but our recommendation is based on.
The development meeting standards and acceptable alternatives to the standards that allow the project to meet criteria for approval.
The project does include variances that all together lead to a larger building in mass and scale.
However, we find that the project is consistent with future plans for the area.
It meets development plan criteria for approval and it has characteristics that are similar to other.
Mayor, downtown urban development. So I'll let the applicant describe their project.
I can't say me. Okay. Come on up and name an address, please.
No, I'm applicant. Oh, you want, I have to do that too. I don't call the applicant, do 35th Street.
So I just wanted to thank you. I'm going to let the experts, you know, do their presentation.
I wanted to thank you guys as a body for reminding us and given us the opportunity to come back through.
Because simply, but I wish Councillor Augusta was here because it was at this podium last time.
We were here that I realized we made a giant mistake on something and it gave us the opportunity to fix that.
And I'm confident I can stand before you today and say we're back with a significantly better project that accomplishes everything we were asked both at Council and at Planning Commission.
And I just thank you for for affording us that that opportunity.
So what's there to thank you?
I'm just logged in under Tandlers name if I can share my screen then I can present to everyone.
All right, who should he look for?
Yes, I'm going to share and then let me get this up and then I will introduce myself.
I am Sarah Tidecan.
I am with vertical arts architecture.
I'm going to present to you.
Let me just see how it looks.
Here.
Sorry.
Okay, I'm just going to give you guys a brief overview obviously you know where the project site is.
Just next to water side at the important junction of 12th and Yampa.
And just to reorient everyone, I think it's relevant to the discussion.
The restaurant wraps the Yampa street facade as well as about 30% of the 12th street facade.
The restaurant entrance is right off Yampa and then there in the middle is the entry to the residential units.
You can also get into the restaurant that way and then you know.
50% ish of that 12th street maybe 40% is the parking garage at the back just to kind of reorient everyone.
We talked a lot about this last time other similar developments that are on the industry currently under construction or have been built you know for however long.
20 years or so, but I didn't talk about this piece in our design process that I think is really important when we were thinking about the massing materials details.
We really did try to look to that surrounding context of historic scene boat and like what were some pivotal detailing moments materials to try to make this building authentic in a new way on the industry.
So just to point out a few of the things that we're trying to achieve before I get into the you know changes.
We really wanted to follow some of these guidelines from the CDC to complement that traditional character of the district while encouraging this contemporary uses and architecture.
The B men's on our you know covered decks are referencing some of those old core-bling elements in downtown.
We've got this like heavy masonry with a true timber headers, masonry is a huge part of steamboat history and really like encouraging the western motif with timber screens and specialty kind of western motif designs.
And I think we're trying to really activate that street facade in different ways.
I don't think this was totally clear in our last presentation but that whole middle section of the yampus street facade is an outdoor patio that has these kind of opening windows and a railing that's all kind of open air.
So we're inviting kind of people in on the street level there while still kind of creating these mass elements that can cap off yampus street in a really important way.
As we know this junction is you know critical to kind of the end of that street skating.
And these are some of those material palettes that I was mentioning really authentic to that western character while obviously being applied to a new building.
So we're really trying to be sensitive to call back that you know heritage and motif of downtown steamboat.
So here's just a few other perspectives obviously it's showing this corner element that I'm going to highlight in a second and what the changes we made there.
And then kind of looking back towards the parking off the alley off the little coups park.
Just to kind of also I wanted to just clarify something although the community plan and downtown plan are one item of the variance criteria you have to you know.
For approval.
Through that your project is compatible with the preferred direction but you also have to not adversely impact.
Conforming usants and also proven acceptable alternative.
So I just want to you know clarify that each of our vans is individually meet all three of those things so although we talked a lot about those other plans last time.
That's just one component of getting staffs approval to meet the CDC you know 719 point D criteria for approval.
So what we're asking for these vans has been supported by staff per this exact section in the CDC.
But we heard you like there were things that you know I think the building is mass and how to address the corner as con reference councilman Augusta.
The glazing and the setbacks obviously we discussed all these last time so we made some significant changes to especially this kind of front corner of the building of 12th in the amp but we really increased the.
Using as you can see not only on the corner massing here, but we also pulled it around kind of where the ADA ramp comes up and took down we kind of had a screen element there to allow the visibility to open up at that corner that actually allowed us to totally remove the glazing variance at the west facade.
And then we are also able to reduce the building by 9% FAR we eliminated the lot coverage variance and the plate height variance by lowering the building 18 inches.
And then we also increased the setback at the corner by about 18 inches to help you know alleviate a little bit of that mass at the corner in addition to just how it feels massy.
So getting back to the lot coverage we went from 95% to 84% no variance needed anymore and really kind of gave some breath to that alley facade and really are activating it with a secondary entrance there allowing some permeability into that piece of the building which is also part of the CDC's recommendations relative to the alley designs.
The FAR we almost reduced to 10% 9.6% although we are still asking for that variance related specifically to parking we're even further under you know the 200% FAR when you take out the parking so you know we did our best to really reduce the mass as much as we could at this stage and think it made it big impact.
Additionally, this slide kind of details what we did at the corner more I think one thing that makes it feel more inviting is just taking on that parapet mass.
So we really were cognizant about how the public skin aeronautic with that corner I know Councilman Augustine noted kind of the rendering with the people's heads and how there wasn't that permeability so we lowered the windows still all the way down to the floor at the corner.
We also added these awnings that wrap all the way around and all the way over to the ADA entrance that's really going to add to that pedestrian scale and like reach out and grab the public at that sidewalk.
And with the height we were able to lower the 18 inches so now our proposed height ranges from 37 and a half to 39 and a half essentially because it's all measured from existing grade so.
Without the floodplain requirement we would be able to lower the building like 4 feet and so we would be well under the height limit if that wasn't a restriction on that lowest corners so that red wedge there.
Diffics are main level and kind of where the high limit or sorry where the floodplain which is our main floor level but I think what's imperative to note here.
Is that we're not taller than water side of anything we're a little bit lower and I know that height is a four letter word like.
We're not trying to be not sensitive to the surroundings but we feel like the ask although is you know we're still asking for 18 inches essentially we really are you know relating to the context and so you can kind of see this even more.
And that little wedge the public experiences is you know less than 36 feet from the floodplain it's just that corner where we can't push down the building anymore.
Due to those you know flash flood kind of risks that are really you know we're being sensitive to.
And with the setbacks this is something that you know remain the same from the last time except for that corner but I think something again that wasn't clear is that almost 44% of the campus three is that back over the 10 feet because of our main level patio.
So what we're really trying to do is align with water sides to keep you know that nice street front edge give that relief in the middle of the building activate the ground level with that outdoor patio and then create that corner element.
To really you know give that kind of.
And to yamp of street and there's some you know language in the community or I mean in the CDC that talks about corner tower forms and those being considered.
And here's some you know street perspectives you can see how we align right with the water side of the side.
And the yamp of street sidewalk at that point is 18 feet wide so it's very generous.
Which makes it feel like water side is that back when you walk over there right because their whole outside patio area is in the public right away and so.
We feel like that generous sidewalk that are building you know will feel similar and scale mass to a lot of buildings that sit on these like narrower lots that didn't have as wide of a.
Right away on the ampah because of that you know where our property line is relative to that 18 foot sidewalk there.
And then as you wrap around 12 you can see we've stepped back that 10 feet where we've got our ramp and another 17 feet at our entrance to really welcome people in.
But that full like north area is the parking garage so that was the area we weren't able to step back at the main level.
But we really took that to heart and did you know generous patio's.
The timber screening to help lighten it.
The lad is saying you know in the windows to try and lighten that and activate the facade with some architectural elements as best as we could.
While still you know meeting our parking requirement that is so critical and so you know we really did try to activate the facade in different ways.
Not just like a strip strict application of kind of like that wedding cake form but we think that this was a good improvement with the lightning of the corner and the additional set back as a corner.
So really what we're asking for is.
You know the FAR two set back experiences and the height but we think that it was you know great that we removed three variances two that specifically related to the mass of the building the lot coverage and the plate height along with the west glazing.
We are still asking for the east glazing which is like just because we're just like right adjacent to a building.
And then the 25 foot increments just because our lot with this like 125 feet that can't be followed to the letter of the code.
So we kind of feel like those are a little bit more technical relative to the primary variances which is why separated them so ultimately we still feel that like our ask for the variances is fully justified by the existing code.
It's in line with the future community plans and think this would be a really excellent project to cap off the industry.
So that's kind of the quick but I'm here to answer any questions.
Okay thank you for your presentation we appreciate it.
We would like to go first.
I'll go.
Thank you for that presentation.
We talked about the floodplain last time in my understanding it's really not the floodplain it's a design and I believe the architect last time considered and say yes yes because actually lower the sealings and come into compliance which we know that was related to the plate height.
So we were able to lower 18 inches but because we're you know still that excess over the floodplain you know with the requirements of the ground story level you know getting underneath the full.
High limit was not achievable with just lowering the ceiling heights relative to remember differently.
Okay that's fair.
Yeah.
Beauty disagree on that one.
And then the second question is around.
Let me pull it real quick here.
First go around you had the variance with the.
Lot coverage.
So you've covered it here that you went down from the originally proposed 95% and you're at 84% now.
Right.
And I heard you say that you were able to achieve that on the alleyway of I think 12th and the alley.
Right.
It's not it's not the alley correct.
Okay.
Is that the only place or is there somewhere else in the design that you were able to also the front as we increase some of those setbacks that also reduced our lock coverage.
And the front is that was that part of was that part of the restaurant and the outdoor dining or any related to that it was just part of this restaurant corner here.
There is where we were able to reduce the lock coverage, correct? Yes, okay. So the outsource case was always there before. I think it was just not called out where, you know, as being truly outdoors relative to the setback discussion.
Okay. So what specific is easy change for the restaurant to achieve the reduction in lock coverage? I'm just going to go back to the corner because I think that, you know.
Here, the reduction in, as you can see previously, like the stone masses in corner came all the way out. So we were able to reduce lock coverage in that corner by reducing, you know, by increasing those setbacks here.
The outdoor patio and everything is consistent with the previous proposal. Okay.
I think those are my two main questions for you. Thank you.
Okay. Other questions? Councilor Gary.
No, I don't have any questions.
Councilor Barnes. Councilor Pichino.
I'm good.
Okay. I am too. Thank you.
Thank you guys. Appreciate it.
Okay. Let's open it up for public comment. Is there anybody in the room who would like to make a public comment?
You're welcome to come down, state your name and address and you have up to three minutes.
Okay. Here comes someone.
Hi. Kim Haggerty. 74 Park place.
I don't know if you guys know, but I am very, very passionate about the industry.
I own 811 Yampo, which is the arm building. I'm also part owners with Phil Armstrong.
I was on the URA that we tried to get the sidewalks and streetlands put in.
The city just funded us the money for it and we were able to do that project.
I was also on another committee where we got part of the login tax dollars and built the park right next to boathouse and develop that entire park.
So Yampo is very, very, very special to me.
And I think what Colin and Emily are doing is absolutely amazing.
When I first did warm, well, it was sweet water.
That was like a project where people are like, what are you doing?
Then all of a sudden E3 shows up and then Carl shows up and then boathouse and then ice house.
This project is just going to add to the ongoing amazing, which I think it's so like a eclectic and different and amazing Yampo.
And I just think this is going to add to that entire feel of what we've been creating for so many years on Yampo.
I'm 100% behind this project. I think they've jumped through so many hoops to do this amazing thing and I think that you guys should approve it.
Thanks.
Thank you Kim.
Anyone else in the audience want to make a public comment.
Okay, is there anybody online? Please raise your hand.
There's one. Who is that?
Sanders.
John, John, you want to unmute yourself and state your name and address please. You have up to three minutes.
You need to unmute yourself, John.
We still can't hear you.
No, still don't have any audio.
Okay, well, up try again. Now shows that you're muted.
So, so.
No, we still don't hear you.
Okay, I think we got that.
Okay, well, thank you, John.
Okay, is there anybody else online?
See, no one. We will close public comment and bring it back to council for the little deliberations end or emotion.
I actually still had some questions for Toby.
Okay.
That's okay, Toby. I want to just go back to the setbacks.
I think we talked about this last time, but I think it's important for you to expand or describe why we have setbacks in our code.
Yeah, so the just of the setbacks.
We believe we can let him talk.
I can come back and answer.
I got to figure it out.
Okay, John, state your name and address.
Did you have up to three minutes? Go ahead.
Sorry to say we don't hear you, John.
Almost.
John, we're going to have to let you go.
Because we still don't hear you.
Sorry.
But we got your message, I think.
Okay.
Toby.
And Toby, when you talk about the setbacks, since we have two variances regarding setbacks, maybe dress each one.
Yeah, so the purpose of the intent of the setbacks, at least on the ground floor, to start.
So that's zero feet to up to 28 feet, so that's usually about two stories.
Purpose of those setbacks.
There are 10 foot off of the front setback and there's the front setback on Yampai and 12.
Those are both front setbacks.
We believe that purpose is to provide vitality, pedestrian interest activity on Yampai street as we've.
We've discussed and we know Yampai street is our retail restaurant entertainment district.
So the purpose is to have those buildings and those uses be interacting with the with the people on the street contributing to an overall atmosphere on Yampai street.
So that's why we have some buildings setback or why we have a 10 foot setback on Yampai street.
On Yampai street in actuality, there's been a variety of projects that have been approved over the years.
The only reason I mention that is because there's not a lot of consistent character.
There's some buildings that are zero foot setback, some buildings that are 10 foot setbacks, some buildings that have activity within their building.
Like this one is proposing like the building at fifth in Yampai.
It has some activity within the building, so there's like this building, there are some walls that are at zero feet, but some patio areas.
And then there's other buildings like house and place that are setback 10 feet and have an open air patio.
So there is a variety and that's just sort of on the north side of Yampai.
I'm sorry if that's not the north side, but the non river side of Yampai.
The river side of Yampai has different zoning different requirements.
So not looking at that side, but looking at the non river side for character comparison.
So all of that contributes to the character of Yampai.
So on this building we found our analysis found that on the ground floors on Yampai and on 12 there was some distinctions and breaking up of the architecture, some articulation on both those frontages.
That met the intent of those standards that allowed us to support those experiences as with acceptable alternatives by providing some of that activity.
Meeting the purpose of those standards. On the upper stories, again the upper stories on the front setback only again, so we're still just talking about 12th in Yampai not on the other side of the alley or the water side side.
To step back from the from the property line up to 25 feet. So if a building had been set back 10 feet, the rest of the building would have to be set back 15 additional feet, so total of 25 from the property building.
If we wanted to bring the building up and move it to zero like this building is proposed, you're sort of then going to be looking for about a 15 foot setback.
If that makes sense from the building frontage on the upper stories.
And with this building again, again, the intention of that standard is to provide some articulations and interest to reduce the mass and scale of those buildings.
As you're looking up, you're not feeling like you're in a large city or that those buildings are too imposing or towering over you.
This building on the upper stories does move in and out. There's some 10 to 25 foot distances among all of the building features. So there's some walls at 10 feet from the property line and 10 foot from the front of the building line and other features that are 25 feet or more back.
Again, we felt that that was an acceptable alternative to that variance because it's providing some articulation minimizing the mass and scale on those upper levels.
And then our contextually they did make some changes to some of those to that corner as they mentioned in particular, and I think on we saw the 12 side they would have to tell you on the you have the side, but there's some glass railings.
For those patios, which does add some interest in articulation, it sort of visually reduces some mass, even though there is still a railing there, but a glass railing does have a different feel than the.
You know, a solid railing. So those those aspects of this project allowed us to find that it meets the criteria for approval.
And then my other question is around.
Did I want to talk about the massing.
So my understanding is massing is essentially how much building you feel.
Understanding on the sidewalk, looking at it is not so much about how the building looks in terms of style or materials.
It's more about size, shape and book.
So let's talk about that variance across number six, the building, massing variance across.
So that's for the mass of the building to have 25 25 increments.
So typically a downtown lot would be about 25 feet wide, and would have a building mass, and you see that.
That break up of different buildings in some 25 that increments sometimes on Lincoln, that particular standard does carry over into yampa.
I don't have that same type of development that has historically happened on that side of yampa and we don't have the same property wits on that side of yampa.
So while our standard says 20 building increment needs to be 25 feet wide.
It is pretty challenging to provide that because if you have a lot that is 130 feet, let's say you couldn't provide exactly 25 feet.
You didn't up with a five foot section or a couple of 17 foot sections.
And with that very specific standard, it's really difficult to achieve the the letter of that standard.
So what the purpose of that standard is again the intent is to sort of break up the feel of that building from a pedestrian scale and as it relates to other buildings.
So again, our analysis of the massing and increments on both sides 12th and yet again, that's where it's going to be.
Where we're talking about those massing impacts the building does have some articulation and some design within the building.
There are elements that show that it's broken up.
It's not one big large repeating face you might this is not a perfect example, but something like the jail where it's one big face and very repeating.
Windows that is a type of architecture, but not the desired character downtown.
So this building does provide some increments within the building some breaking up of the field of that building some design elements and some articulation that.
Reduce the impact of mass and scale design standards like anything else are subjective, but.
This one has a very specific numeric value that this project doesn't meet, but we believe that they're design meets the intent of this standard and provides an acceptable alternative to that variance.
One last question and then done.
Okay, I'm being hard on the problem now in the people are you.
Why don't we just change our code.
I have a hard time.
Comparing will this property did this 10 years ago, this one of this, this one meets code, why are we not changing our code them.
We're working on it.
So we have recognized that we have problems and concerns on our side from the development side with our design standards, they are challenging to apply.
They can have some impacts on the development, but they also have some impacts on the character so while some design standards, you know, bring.
Some more inspiration and curiosity of the buildings, they do provide some constraints and some limitations and they are hard to achieve all of those standards and really achieve maybe some density and some mass.
We're also trying to get towards because I think one thing that we are always on the lookout for is not underdeveloping a lot.
We have very few downtown lots or yampo lots left for development or redevelopment.
So we also want to sort of maximize and make sure that we're achieving a good potential for our downtown.
So not really letting go of all of those standards too much, but we are trying to work towards some changes in our design standards.
We know that they're challenging to achieve.
We're trying to, we're working for a process right now to see if there is a better way to envision our downtown on our buildings so that we can balance character, economics, you know, enjoyment, all of those things that we need to, we need to balance.
But it is always a trade-off, but we are working on it.
It's always, sometimes our wheels of government don't move as fast as we want.
I know.
And if we were to change it, that would require, not require, but we would enable public comment, though.
Like what's called, code changes.
Okay, thank you.
Okay. Any other questions?
If not, let's bring it back to console.
Where are we gang?
I'd like to thank the applicant for going back to the drawing table and coming with your best football forward.
Project Flee feels it looks different than when you were here a month ago.
I appreciate the effort.
I'm in favor of improving the project.
Okay.
Yeah, I just want to add in.
Colin, thank you.
And thank you for working for Toby.
And, you know, taking the time as a developer to go back and re-look at some of these issues.
And a lot of times we get developers up here who have their opinion and bring the project to us.
And I just, you know, really appreciate you and the community at large.
That was really supported this project.
But more importantly, you guys, we have to recognize that you took it back.
Made some positive changes.
And, you know, hopefully it'll get past it.
It's going to get my support tonight.
But I just want to make a point of saying that, you know, going back to the drawing board isn't always a bad thing.
And taking the extra money.
Thank you.
To go through that is going to be beneficial for the whole community.
And I do think it's a better building because of it.
Okay.
Thank you.
Councillor Garrier, Dixon.
I'm.
Yep.
Easy.
Easy for me to say.
I mean, I do appreciate all the changes that you have made.
I do think that what's come back before us is a better project.
I do still feel like it is pretty big in size and mass.
But probably not enough to say that I won't support or on the project set another way.
My I'm supportive of the project as it's come back.
So, thank you.
So, I never had a problem with a glazing like I got that that's just part of where the building's located.
What's next is a building like that was never a concern of mine.
I never raised it the last meeting either.
The one variant that I raised last time that is no longer is a lot coverage.
Which was achieved really by reconfiguring the alleyway.
And to say a part of a corner of the building.
But my other big concerns that the last meeting.
Were the variances which are now variances one overall height.
Two.
The principal building front step back.
Variances three.
The other step back.
Variances four again glazing fine.
No problem.
And then variance five and six five being the floor area ratio.
And six being the building massing.
I do appreciate going back and listening to what we said and trying to find ways to modify it.
And you did so with a lot coverage but still did not address my other concerns that the other variances.
We have zero step backs on two two streets.
We talk about vitality of a community.
Step backs are really important.
Our code is really important.
The floor area ratio is still I think if I remember correctly 37% above the standard.
It starts at the sidewalk edge.
The step back standards exist to get pedestrians.
Pedestrians bleeding room.
When they're walking down the amp and to prevent upper floors from moving.
Loom in over the street, which I appreciate.
The work on the.
Set backs are talking about work, but we're still.
They're so requesting a set back.
And the massing standard exists to ensure large buildings.
And we're going to be able to create that visually into human scale.
That respects the historic rhythm of downtown.
Seeing both.
So.
Those only one variance that I had considered the last sign has been removed.
And there are still.
For variance as I am very concerned about.
I think it's too big for.
That size that lots.
So I'm still I know tonight.
Okay. Thank you.
And I would just say that I appreciate what you've done here and making the changes.
I think this is consistent with the character of the amp.
I appreciate what you've done with the corner of 12th in the amp.
It's often that up and and.
Take the.
Maybe the harshness off of there a little bit and set back and whatnot.
And I think it adds a lot to the restaurant and entertainment area of that road.
So I am also supportive of this project.
So given where we are here.
As a council, I would ask for someone to make a motion.
Make a motion to approve.
Okay.
We have a motion to come.
From counselor barns a second by council.
For Chino any more discussion.
If not, I'll call the question.
All those in favor say aye.
I oppose say aye.
No.
Okay.
Motion passes for one.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Okay.
We're on to number nine and Dan.
I would just ask you.
So this is being postponed indefinitely.
What is the motion that's appropriate for number nine?
Motion to postpone it indefinitely.
Thank you.
With somebody like to make a motion.
Definitely.
So moved.
So council again.
Exemotion to postpone indefinitely.
Second by councilor Barnes.
All those of favor.
Aye.
Opposed.
Okay.
Number nine passes five zero.
Number ten.
A resolution approving the program contribution agreement.
Twenty twenty six between a local marketing district and
steamboat scheme resort.
Cooperation.
Mr. Millon, you're going to come down.
Okay.
That's.
And you have a presentation for worse.
I believe I do.
Okay.
I think Sarah has it here is what.
I think we're good.
Please give us your name and address.
Please.
Yes.
This is Bob Miln.
2350 Clubhouse Drive.
I'm currently here.
As the chairman of the local marketing district.
So Mr. Chairman and council members.
Thank you for having us here.
I'll try to keep my comments relatively brief.
But I think there's enough here for probably to.
To give us some idea of exactly what we're going to ask tonight.
So the real ask tonight is that you approve two agreements.
And I know they're both in one after the other here.
But they kind of are tied together.
So my presentation will probably kind of go.
A little bit in between both here is we kind of.
I'm going to look to get approval of the agreement between the LMD and the steamboat scheme resort corporation as well as a new agreement and IGA with the city of steamboat Springs.
Before I get into it, I do want to make sure that, you know, we have a minute to kind of acknowledge some of the folks here that are contributed.
Our LMD board.
We're very lucky to have an LMD board that's got so much experience.
Chuck Porter, who's here.
Jack Macken Crow, Stephen Birch, who's also on the, the Yampavali airport committee.
Michael fan is also on our committee and a board member and also Tom Sharp, who's been our council for I think since the beginning 21 years ago.
Also, we're very lucky to have the steamboat scheme resort corporation.
So Janet Fisher has been, you know, guiding this program since its inception.
Katie Brown is the vice president of marketing.
She's been instrumental in the marketing and the success of this program.
And I think all of you know, Dave Hunter, he stepped in when Rob got promoted and he's been really doing a great job working with us as well.
You know, we're partners with the chamber.
We're going to probably strengthen that partnership.
If this all goes through, but Sarah Leonard and Catherine Barnes have been so helpful in terms of just the administration.
We're going to go into this. This is a big program.
And then, of course, you know, the city during this process, you know, Steve's given us a lot of time.
Michael's given us a lot of time.
Dan, food's given us a lot of time. Tom, Lisa's given us a lot of time.
Kim Weber is always available and so Sarah, Brianna.
So it's a great, I think it's a great thing.
And I really want to also again, the county.
And, and with, uh, Teniel Gerber, I mean, you wouldn't see them putting 86 million dollars into a new facility if they didn't have the support of all of us that are here.
So it's, I think it's a classic example of a team effort here.
And I'll get into some of the successes here.
But if you think back 21 years ago, when the local marketing district was formed, we've accumulated, you know, 6.1 million dollars in reserves, which I think is probably why I'm standing here to kind of understand,
if you understand why that is.
But it comes, and, and, and it, it comes at, um, at about $290,000 a year that we've been able to manage.
And this reflects the two decades of discipline budgeting, um, conservative financial management and careful oversight of the air program.
By not just the steamboat scheme, resort corporation, not just the LMD, but as you know, we present an operating plan to the city every single year that you hold us to.
And so I think it's really kind of that, that partnership between the ski company, the LMD and the city that has made this so successful.
I really do think that we're probably could be considered the envy of of the airports in the mountains, right now, and probably there's a reason that that we could refer to ourselves as the jam here.
The reserve exists today because this program has historically remained below maximum contractual exposure.
And because both organizations have consistently prioritized long-term financial sustainability.
The proposed agreements are a strategic decision to utilize a portion of the accumulated financial strength to support expanded year-round destination development.
Initiatives while preserving a meaningful reserve for for future years.
The reserve should not be viewed as only a fine should not be almost only a financial asset.
But as evidence that long-term stewardship and partnership that have supported a highly successful destination air service program and contributed significantly to the growth of steamboat springs and the economy here.
So some things that I think are nice to see here is we kind of celebrate this.
Is steamboat right now, we have the second number of second greatest number of non-stop destinations out of our ski market.
So only Boseman has more destination non-stop than steamboat springs in Hayden.
That's pretty impressive when you look at the common more than eagle, more than Jackson, more than Montrose, more than Aspen, more than San Valley and more than Gunnison.
Not too shabby.
Let me go backwards here.
Sarah.
Thank you.
So, and also I think what's really important is you look at this.
Like we have the second highest number of airlines in pure skier markets too.
So you think about it, we have right now.
We have six of the, there's really eight airlines left in the United States.
We have six of them flying in here, right? Again, pretty impressive.
And so part of the reason that we're here tonight is also not to just realize some of the funding to make sure that we have this program continue.
But also to celebrate a little bit of the sick.
So, the other thing that I want to point out is that with the stewardship of the ski company and all the hard work of Janet and her team, you look at the available seats and passengers that are coming into Hayden.
This interesting about this is if you look at when all the seats we were kind of pretty stable and then all of a sudden guess what, self-west decides to fly in here.
And self-west decided to fly in here without any MRG. And again, in typical competition, that drove down and it caused the other airlines to wake up a little bit.
To see them be a little bit more flexible in terms of some of their revenue guarantees and also they were willing to fly in some flights without a guarantee.
So that's why you see when you go look at 2021, you start to see the seats come up and the guarantee come down.
So that's been also contributing to our success, but competition is a good thing.
So before I get into the actual financial analysis, which is up here, I do want to say, so that there's two agreements that are kind of intertwined here.
There's the agreement with the Stembo Skin Resort Corporation.
And when I want to talk about here and I'll go through some of these numbers under the new agreements, so there's some changes under the new agreement.
In the past, the LMD and the ski company have shared all of the costs for the revenue guarantees.
So whether it's summer or winter, which we call non-winter now, in the split of two thirds one third.
So the LMD paid two thirds, the ski company paid one third.
And as we started to look at this and we started to say, okay, well, here's some things, the ski company said, hey, maybe we should start to look at.
Is this really the right, the right formula? Maybe it should be 80, 20, maybe it should be maybe only 90, 10.
We stopped that discussion and said, look, maybe we should start really thinking about this in two chunks winter and summer, the ski company taking continue to take on their responsibility for the winter.
And then this, the LMD could start to take on more responsibility of the summer, which would also play in to how we might be able to contribute to the city, some additional funds here, to be able to kind of support the summer and also free up the a little bit of the budget, the annual operating budget for the city.
So when we looked at that, we said, okay, so how about, so here's what's new under the proposed agreement.
SSRC will continue to pay 33.33% of the actual winter program costs.
The LMD will pay 66.7% of the actual winter costs. So the winter stays the same.
The big difference is the LMD will bear the responsibility for 100% of non winter air programs.
So, and then tied to this, in the agreement, the LMD will also assume responsibility for reimbursement to the city for 75% of the prior year non winter city chamber marketing expenses.
And that was a came out of some work sessions with members of the city council and the ski company and the LMD.
And we think that this is a fair arrangement. I'll get into the numbers in a second.
The LMD will also remain responsible for all administrative costs and management fees.
And those are kind of the key components of what is what is changed here.
So when you think about that, what does it actually do? So if you look, this is it, I wish I had my little pointer thing here here in my red little light light highlighter.
Because if you look at here, so if you look back to 2024 and hopefully everyone sees it. So if you look at that first line in 2024, the total cap, and we always budget to cap.
And the word cap, you know, again, has different meanings, but cap is the actual what the airline says that you can't pay a nickel more than that.
So that's what we budget for, and it's part of our operating plan. I think it was really wise.
Back when we first did, um, created the LMD, the city made sure. And I believe Tommy, it's, it's by statute that you have to budget for the full maximum exposure.
And that's been interesting. That's how we've been able to build the reserve. So see in 2024 total cap was 4.2 actual was 3.57.
It was about 84% of the, of the cap was spent.
Winner was 94%. So winner, of course, is our biggest, biggest exposure, summer was 44%.
2025, the cap went up a little bit. We actually had a great year. We only spent 3.15 million dollars, which is 62% winner was 68, summer was 38.
So to 2026, which were, which were in right now. So we still have to forecast the cap was 4.9 million were forecasting 3.9 million.
That's 80% utilization. Again, 94% winter, 32% summer.
And then 2027 is 4, you know, again, forecast. This is just, again, we're, we're trying to give everybody an opportunity to kind of look at the numbers to understand how these agreements,
and how they're ultimately going to impact the reserve. So 2027, if you say, okay, we're going to look at a 4.98 million dollar cap, look at kind of an 86% utilization, 94% winter, 44% summer.
So what a four year average, and a four year average, the actual, you know, is the utilization is about 78% 88% winter, 40% summer.
So if you now look over to the next column to the right.
You'll be able to see. So if you look at now, the air cost split actual versus forecast. So you can see up until 2027, which when this new agreement starts, it's 66, 33 all the way down. That's what, that's what the agreement says.
Now, when you shift to the new agreement, you say, the ski company is going to still pay to one third of winter, LMB is going to pay 2 thirds of winter plus 100% of summer.
That changes the effective split. If you go to the column that says on the right hand side, the first column after the date shows the LMB, that's the actual cap.
So if we had to pay the full cap, then the actual split would be 72% for the LMB and 28% for the ski company.
If you only pay the, you know, what we've historically done is under cap, the, the number goes to 69.4 to 30.6.
So it's not a huge adjustment from 66 to 33. It's just more of a shift of how that's happening from the focus on the ski company being winter and the LMB taking more on the responsibilities of this summer.
This is just another way to look at it and we went back a little bit farther, Janet was kind enough to pull some of this, you know, data all the way back, but you can see here the, the green line is winter summer total cap.
We lose how much the ski companies historically paid and the, the red is how much the LMB is paid, which again by definition would be more because the green is that we would pay 2 thirds and the ski company would pay 1 third.
Just another way to look at that.
So then how does this actually kind of impact the reserve, which I think is the most important thing.
Right, so when you think about what's happening right now and with the, with the city agreement as well.
The LMB accumulates approximately 6.1 over 21 years as I pointed out. So the beginning reserve balance, if for starting in 2027 is for successful will be 6.1 million.
Here's the difference, the operating change is going to be 1.4 million dollars difference in terms of our operating budget.
So because of the contribution to the chamber, because of the shift in the funding, because of some additional, you know, increases in our operating expenses, which I'll touch on at the very end.
We're going to have about another 1.4 million dollars in expenses in 27 that we did not have in 26.
Some of it's related to just, you know, operating costs that have gone up.
Some of it's related to us forecasting a little bit of a higher revenue guarantee, higher cat.
With everything that's gone on with fuel, etc. We don't think the airlines are going to just walk in and not have any increases.
And then, and then half a million dollars of it is related to the contribution to the city for the chamber.
So when you take that into consideration, our ending reserve balance at the end of 27 will be 4.7 million dollars.
We put in, we put in there, we've had discussions both with our working group with the city as well as with this this area, we put in a floor for the reserve of 4.5 million dollars.
Because we wanted to kind of protect as much as we could, this ability to be able to negotiate with the airlines a year in advance.
So if you look at the scenario for 2027 on full budget, if we had to go straight to the full cap, we'd end it in our prognostication and forecasting was good.
We ended 27 with $4.7 million dollars, $200,000 above the agreed upon floor.
We moved to 2027 forecast, that's saying, okay, if we actually be, you know, come in under the cap, which historically we do, you apply that same roughly percentage.
And it says, okay, we'll so we'll only be spending $821,000 more than 26.
And that'll leave our reserve at $5.3 million dollars.
Now, forecast out one more year, forecast out one more year. So three year agreement only go to 28. You say, okay, 28.
We're going to forecast the 5.3 million.
And then if we say that, you know, with everything else that happens, we're going to have an operational change of $844,000.
Again, the biggest chunk of that being the contribution to the city, our reserve comes in at 4.41 million.
And so we're right at that 4.5 level floor that we put in.
Okay, so here's where again, Steve told me to watch out for the slides with all the numbers on.
So I had to, I had to put one in here. So here's if you look at the last column on the right, and that's where I can show you some things in the highlight.
So you're probably asking, okay, so what is the difference? Like so before we were able to put away on average $290,000 a year into the reserve.
But with this new change with this new change, because we've heard enough from people like, oh my gosh, that reserve is so big. What are we doing with it? We, you know, we need to do something with.
We've, we've come in with a program that will give this city backs contribution for some remarketing, but it does impact the, the amount of dollars in the reserve.
So if you look at the yellow, what I highlighted in yellow are these are the changes that are in either the agreement with the city or the agreement with the steamboat's game resort corporation.
So the first one is the LMDA service cost. So that goes from two thirds to 100%. So if you forecast all the way over to 27 and 28, that's roughly $352,000 more of what what what we'll have to have in our budget.
The next thing that's in any agreement with this with this e company is the air service management agreement.
We're not coming together to coming to you tonight with an operating plan we will, but in the agreement, we've agreed that we will pay this e company $150,000 for the air service management agreement instead of $100,000.
That number has been $100,000 for seven years. I think we get an unbelievable deal with the ski company with Janet's time, how much time she and Katie and you know the the ski company put into this.
I mean, that's a, that's a, that's a good deal. So $150,000 or $50,000 increase over seven years, you know, we agree to that.
The next item is one that's got, you know, a little bit of flexibility into it. The ski company asked us if they could hire a air consultant company to help with some of the strategic planning, some of the things that we think are going to be important as we move forward.
And they asked us to put in $100,000. So we in the agreement, we agreed that we would look at hiring a consultant, but it would have to be agreed upon by both the LMD board and the ski company and of course then come to the city and our operating plan for approval.
So that's $100,000 that's in there. And then the last thing that's in the yellow is the $525,000, which is the contribution, which is based off of 75% of the chambers contribution to the chamber for the prior year.
So this was based off of $650,000 contribution in 2026 and the $525,000 would be paid in 2027. So those are the key expenses that cause us to go from a $6.1 million reserve at the end of 26 to forecasting a $4.4 million reserve at the end of 2028.
That concludes my overall narrative and would be happy to answer any questions. Okay. Thank you, Bob. Anyone have questions for Bob.
No question.
I do.
It's really unfortunate because this is the first time I'm seeing it.
We have a standard where we don't get rainbow items after noon of our council meetings because many of us have time to have other jobs.
And so we're trying to digest this really important information on.
The bill, as they're talking about it. So it's really unfortunate. But gale, if you have Councillor Garry, if you have questions, you can start.
Oh, sure. I mean, again, I mean, again, kind of just echoing Councillor Dickson's comments because I was trying to thank you for the red line. Again, I was trying to kind of compare in terms of what the differences are.
And so, you know, I think, again, you've put a lot of that in the presentation that you have. I think maybe a general question that I had is what all, what else could have, what else could have, could have the reserve has been spent on.
I'm sorry.
What could the reserves have spent on been spent on within the parameters and the operating agreement of LMD, IE transportation.
I know, that's one of the things that I'm talking about.
I'm sorry, Kit Tom, can you kind of address all the things that are that are that can be, it can be spent on and it can't be spent on.
So Tom, hopefully that was clear. I right, I mean, in terms of kind of the parameters of LMD, what else could the reserves have been spent on.
IE transportation, right, one of the things we talk about is the need for transportation between kind of the city and the airport.
Tom Sharp, 60 Highland Circle, singboat.
Thank you for your question.
The district is limited by two factors on what it conspend its money.
One of them is the statutory provisions that existed in 2004.
And they described that the purposes of the LMD of a local market history include organization, promotion, marketing and management of public events.
Number one, number two, activities in support of business, recruitment, management and development.
And then this city added in its creation ordinance, the words, including the current and future direct air program at the Yadavali Regional Airport.
The third one was coordinating tourism, promotion activities.
Those were the provisions that were both in the statute in 2004 and in the original resolution.
In 2022, the state legislature amended the statute to provide two additional provisions.
One of which was housing and one of which was, I don't remember the exact wording, was very broadboarding.
But in that legislation, they made it clear that you can't spend money under a prior ballot issue for attacks.
For these new activities, unless you resubmit it to your constituents for that.
So the LMD board has always taken the position, we're still restricted by what was permitted by the statute in 2004 and what the city council included in its creation ordinance.
Which would not include housing, which would not include transportation and which does not include capital expenses for things like.
Abelving, for example, those are not permitted.
So both agreements that you're looking at this evening, those are called the permitted activities are permitted authorities.
Got an exact word. And both agreements say that's what we're limited to.
And in fact, in the reimbursement of the city in a governmental agreement, it says that you need to certify before we give before we authorize you to take from the money that you control from the LMD into the general fund.
That what you've given to the chamber fits this definition. So we don't have anybody coming back and saying you are now spending our entire accommodation tax money is on purposes that are not permitted.
So the answer to your question is, we can't contribute reserves to housing. We can't contribute reserves to transportation because they aren't permitted under our authorities.
But so when we're working with the work the committee, the work in committee.
What we in because that's come up, we said, but we can by giving this contribution to the city.
It frees up other funds that you have that you could use for other things and that was kind of how we worked around that kind of legislative ordinance.
And I guess I would be interested also just to follow up in terms of, you know, and again, I mean, I think one of the things, you know, that was in the original one of the original agreements was that there was some reference to ski core committing like 2.68 million.
I mean, there's a, you know, a lot of changes right in here. And so trying to understand potentially to what the impact is to ski ski core right. I mean, especially as we talk about this percentage change.
Yeah, so so if you the monetary change for this for this ski company, if you were to look at just looking at the exact monetary change forecasting out for 20, you know, for 27 in terms of their actual, you know, change here.
It's really not that big of a dollar amount, they're shifting from in 26 the total contribution from this key company was 1.324 million dollars.
And in 27 under the new arrangement, it will be 1 point, you know, again, this is forecasting and and I do, again, I go back to we've been doing this for a while with a pretty good discipline and the forecast for 27 and they would they would contribute 1.315 million.
So a difference of $9,000 roughly as far as they're actual total contribution for the, for the airline program with risk with risk that on that slide, I'm trying to find it.
No, it's not I mean, I think I can find it the numbers the numbers are there just give me a second.
I also carry um, and I will find where they are which which sheet they are on here because, because we've also got the change from 100 to 150,000 right.
And also the consultant we're hiring for an additional 100,000 so I assume that's not potentially new work maybe new work but a shift of work.
So yeah so so I don't know if I have it actually I'm just trying to look on the sheet that I that I prepared here.
I don't think that this sheet shows the exact numbers that I just referenced here but.
That's that's the difference.
Causic area is that in 2026 because you just take their total expenses that they paid for the for the.
The guarantee it was it was you know 1.324 and the forecast is 1.315 again because their contribution is still the same for winner and winner historically is you know 80 to 90% of the total carry right.
So the numbers don't it doesn't translate into big dollars and and if we if we didn't change a thing we didn't change a thing with the revenue split.
We still becoming with the air service management agreement change of 50,000 we still be coming with the change in the consultant and we still be coming with the.
Marketing those are the big heavy lifts of what's changing in the agreement here the heavy lift in terms of actual dollars isn't in the change in terms of the split.
Just because the volume and the the winner carries so much of the way of the entire spend.
Okay but I think as you did say as a hundred to 150 and then you've got I don't know what's the you know the again the additional 100,000 for the consultant.
So so they for they propose and and I think Katie can can can speak a little bit more about exactly what they want to do.
Which I think is is it makes a lot of sense but again we agreed to put in the agreement with the language is in the agreement it says we'll put it in there.
But on the condition that the LMD board and the ski company have to approve who the consultants what the scope of work is and then we'll put it in our operating plan and come to you.
So there's no kind of guarantee that that's going to happen if anything it's you know it's still a discussion item, but we put in there that we would consider having a consultant and this would be the price that.
I Katie Brown for 20 short street.
Yeah so this consultant seems really important to us because as we look at the long term success of this program we are bringing in this consultant to give us deeper expertise.
Better tools and stronger airline connections so that we can execute this model at an even higher level other amount resorts are currently using this model is matter fact most other communities are.
And the combinations of those resources from the ski area LMD and the consultant can give us a competitive edge that the consultant can help with right now we almost have a single point of failure managing this program with one person.
At antiquated excel sheets we need to evolve we need to be able to touch and to maybe potential AI technologies these consultants do this for a living they look out for new flights new opportunities to come in so we do nothing but enhance the program itself and probably even keep a better eye on it for any cost management.
So we feel strongly that is really a good spend and it's the future of this program because right now having it on truly almost a single point of failure at this area is probably not the smartest structure.
Thank you.
I want to just to since I used to be with the LMD I just wanted to share in context here we are kind of mixing things here.
Because item number 11 is really the IGA and the IGA is for us to get over half a million dollars more in our general fund that we can use how we want to use it and that's using some of the excess money that is in the reserve for the LMD so that is that by itself.
This other one number 10 is really the changes between the LMD and SSRC and there are agreements.
I know that as I look back on council I think we've approved their budgets many times on just consent.
I don't know I think we did a couple less couple but so this agreement changes every three years I think what's happened is that there's the changes in there you saw is who's paying for summer.
And the situation has evolved into their saying that the LMD is going to pay for summer the administrative fee was ski core was the same for seven years so you added up and it's probably a three percent or four percent increase a year type of thing.
And then that leaves the consultant at a hundred thousand dollars a year which is the other chain so those are kind of like all the all this all the shifts in that.
So I just wanted to make sure that we didn't convolut the the IGA piece with the agreement between ski core and the LMD piece.
Right okay well I think for item 10.
Does have the agreements so looking at the red line version.
What I don't know maybe Bob I can actually says it's what has been removed is that.
SSRC will provide a value of a minimum $2.8 million dollars of its funds on marketing of the winter air program.
Bob I Bob I Bob I.
So that's been take destiny red lines so why so so that is it's basically redundant that's in the operating plan so when we bring the operating plan every year they put in you know the what the dollar amount is going to be the range.
For example in twenty twenty six the operating plan included range of two point five to three million dollars.
So and there was more detail in there so I mean we could certainly put that back in I'm sure there'd be no but it was just more redundancy is in the operating plan it spells that out.
Okay.
And also then in the operating plan we spell out what because that if you see in this budget right here there's six hundred thousand dollars for air service marketing winter and summer.
For the LMD that's discretionary on our part two that's what we come to you within the in the fall with our operating plans and okay this this key companies going to commit acts and we're going to commit acts okay.
So I'd like to address that if yeah.
That was a statement three years ago that we didn't independently verify this was just a representation made by the ski company.
But it had some impact and in so far as the winter air programming included both the MRGs and marketing.
So with that being taken out because it makes fluctuate and obviously the ski corpus going to pay for winter marketing whatever it chooses to pay we can't tell them what that is.
We put in a provision and section one be that says in terms of our contribution from the LMD towards winter marketing not MRGs.
It's subject to what we as a board decide to put in our budget and what you'll see in the budget.
So it could be anywhere from part of 600 thousand to zero.
And now clerks since it's they aren't representing any more what they're going to spend in winter marketing we aren't representing any more how much work.
So, it'll be, whatever, the public, and it's put in the operating agreement, and you'll approve.
Yeah, it'll be whatever we come to within the fall, and we do the operating plan one year.
So, we'll have that discussion when we bring the budget.
Okay, I always feel like this is a down question where we have an actual formal agreement.
That to me is more of a legal document versus what are you calling it an operating plan or I'm sorry, what do you call it?
They're budget operating by operating plan.
Yeah, like to me, I see a formal agreement as more of a legal.
And so, in what context are you asking me that question?
Oh, for the 2.8 million.
Because I guess the key core could technically come back when you try to negotiate the operating plan.
And if it's not in an agreement, we don't have any guarantees.
Like when I read that, I thought.
You know, if you read that last sentence is Tom pointed out, there's no real guarantee in there that they'll spend 2.8 million.
I think the last thing it said is that the last.
I don't mean either, you know, confirms or, you know, denies that that amount of money is spent.
So, the reason why it's in the operating plan is that's where the budget is and that's where you approve it.
So, I mean, again, I think I don't, I can't speak for the speaker.
Bob, Bob, keep your, keep trying to stay in front of the microphone if you can.
Yeah, I'll explain a little bit that 2.8 is it's a value.
So, it's not like we're writing a check necessarily for that.
For the value that you get from the spirit of what we're doing, everything we do together is to get people on those planes and get them here.
So, that takes quite a bit of marketing around it.
So, there's a donation or, you know, they give in whatever that is, 5, 600, whatever.
But the rest of all the marketing for the airline program is on the spirit.
And that does come to a value of at least 4.2.8.
You consider our database.
You consider this huge event we do for our airline partners.
We pay for everything, the lodging, the activities, the all the food.
I mean, it just adds up really quickly.
So, really, it could be pretty conservative.
But in a way, it kind of feels like in kind, but it's not.
It's our responsibility and it's in our best interest along with the LMD to make sure this program is successful.
Yeah.
It makes sense.
Yeah, it totally does.
Okay.
Yeah.
Is your question answered?
Thank you.
We question.
Thanks.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
My last.
It's fine.
I think hard on the problem or the issue.
Please don't take it.
I'm being part on you.
Not a problem.
I'm just trying to understand.
Totally.
Yeah.
It's a lot of numbers.
But again, I think the thing that for historical, I mean,
it's been a successful program because of, I think, the way it's set up.
I mean, you've got the ski company to Allen B.
And then ultimately, the city's got the oversight and approval of the budget every year.
Yeah.
Okay.
And the reason to Steve's point.
The only reason I'm, I'm mingling them both is because the ski company wanted to make sure that in their agreement,
we documented that we were going to have this contribution to the city.
All right.
Okay.
One last question.
Sorry.
Why to change for the.
The 100% of non-winter to Allen D.
That's a change, right?
Yeah.
That's the change, right.
So the thought process is the ski company is going to continue.
They're, you know, their focuses on the winter, of course.
They still, of course, they're, they're very interested in the summer as well.
Their primary focus is winter.
And then based on what we see is that there's a, you know,
need, because this isn't just the visitors that take advantage of this is the locals as well.
And we've heard many times that the locals want to see us have a more expanded summer program.
And so we felt this was a great opportunity to kind of make that shift right now with the, with the contribution to the city as well for summer.
So that was the tie in.
Okay.
Thank you.
I'll line there on the air service cost summer two thirds.
Is that the 100% number of the 2025 actual.
The 2025 that in the yellow line air service management.
Yeah.
Is that the 100% or is that the two?
No, that's a 100%.
Yeah.
And the other questions.
Not right now, but I guess I think this comes back to us again, right.
So I would love to be able to spend a little bit more time with kind of the red lines.
I mean, the only thing is the agreement expires June 30.
So.
Yeah.
TikTok.
It's a hit.
I said TikTok.
Yeah.
Well, welcome back.
What is your understanding of this coming back?
Is it coming back?
No, no, no, no.
I thought it doesn't come back for a second reading resolution.
It says down.
It's a resolution.
Thank you.
I miss that.
So this this won't come back.
Thank you for clarifying.
It's not that I don't want to come for you.
I don't know that you write exactly.
Do you agree with the interpretation?
I mean, because I got a little I got a little confused, right?
I mean, in terms of what this what this can or can't be spent on.
From the perspective of not not certainly proposing housing, but from the
transportation, because I know you talked about kind of the statutory authority, but you also talked about ordinances.
So the question that you asked in that Mr. Sharpen said earlier, yes, I agree with his answer.
Okay.
So we, I mean, that could be changed, but it would require some process and it can't be changed tonight.
But about the people or an ordinance.
I would need to get back to you on that.
Okay.
It would.
It would take some doing.
I mean, council, one of the things that that again, the working group is talked with.
And the LMB is talk about is, I mean, ultimately.
The win here is to try to expand the district, right?
That's ultimately the win and that will generate more money.
It'll generate more money for the reserves.
This three year agreement, I think is a win win for now for now because it's three years.
It gives us a chance to kind of see how this new funding arrangement works out.
It gives you all a chance to see, you know, it's this contribution to the cities that is the right amount.
And it gives us time to work as a group on, do we how we would go about potentially expanding the district as Dan said.
It requires some, there's some political navigation that has to happen.
But I think that's why a three year kind of window here gives us time to do that.
So that in three years, by then, we'll either know that yes, we can expand the district and maybe we have, right?
That'll change the funding, you know, quite a bit because it'll give us more money to collect.
And then if not, if that doesn't work, we'll know whether this is the right split and if everything's working.
Right.
No, I appreciate that.
And I guess my issue more is as we look at this holistically in terms of the other potential issues that are created, that need to be addressed, right?
So, you know, whether that's housing or, you know, specifically from my perspective, you know, it's transportation.
We know in terms of getting people back and forth through the airport, right?
That, that's, I guess, the lens from which I was, you know, looking at this in terms of, you know, in terms of what the opportunities were there.
And really understanding, you know, that the ski core contribution and the impact on that.
Yeah, I mean, look, I think that everyone has their own kind of thoughts on this.
But the ski company does so much and they've been such a great partner with us in terms of just everything that we do together.
They really have.
And I think we're fortunate that we have a, a leadership team that does that.
But getting back to kind of the, the, the, the expansion of the LMD.
If we were to do that, I think that in the working group with the two attorneys present, I think we said, okay, if we did that, we would then.
Get the new at the expanded district under the new provisions, which would then allow some of these broader uses of the funds.
So that would be kind of like kind of the, but that's the, again, if I had my vision, we'd say, okay, let's try to get to where we expand the district under the new terms.
We get more money coming in and then we have a more flexibility on what we can do that with transportation be it the rail, the bus, whatever, but that would give us more flexibility.
I appreciate that. Thank you.
Yeah, and that is the goal.
I would add to that that because this contribution will be reimbursing the city for, for chamber funding, the city is already spending that is effectively.
Bring up money in the general fund that could be used for these other purposes.
So it indirectly gets to, to that result of changing the permitted purposes of the, of the LMD.
Right.
Right. I totally understand that right from the potential.
But there's probably going to be a lot of other asks for that 500,000.
There could be, but the expansion piece of this is worth at least a million dollars a year.
Roughly.
And so that changes, that's a new LMD.
So that changes the rules too. So that would be another discussion at that point.
But for right now, we're getting, you know, an extra 5,600,000 dollars and you're right.
Console will decide where it goes.
Thank you.
Okay. Where are we gang?
Probably public comment.
Yeah. Are you done questions? We done.
Okay.
Thank you.
Is there anyone in the room who would like to make a public comment on this?
Please come down.
Is there anybody online raise your hand? Would you like to make a public comment?
Seeing none hearing none.
We will close public comment.
Bring it back to council for emotion or further discussion.
Council of machino, I see you've lit up over there.
Would you like to make a comment?
No, no.
I just, yeah, I mean, I just wanted to follow up with where we are in this.
Yeah, I've been pulled into these conversations with the LMD board probably the last six months.
And this, this move was a very good gesture.
And I think it really helps out getting us focused on the chamber funding, which we've been kind of working with them on.
So these minor changes we did talk about the three year as a good pilot program, so we can evaluate it for both sides.
And so I'm in approval of this project going through it.
Thank you.
Do we have to do both separately?
Probably.
Yes, please.
There's several.
Yes.
Okay.
So it makes sense to me.
It's unfortunate that you all had to suffer through my.
Some frustration trying to understand it.
So I just ask council and Tom.
Please make the commitment to get the material before Tuesday.
So we have a chance to review it.
And the red lines version based on the summer sheet.
I had no idea that there were those other changes in the.
I'm in the.
I'm fine with them, but it's not fair to them to have me have to sit here and work through it up here when I should have been, you know, got that earlier.
That's it, make it.
You make a relevant point in a good one.
Thank you.
Vice, apart.
Okay, what's up, will you like to make a motion.
Motion to approve as.
I am 10.
Okay.
We have motion from council to Dixon to we have a second.
Second, by Councillor Barnes, all of those in favor say aye, I pose motion passes, five zero.
Okay, next one, number 11, a resolution of proving the amendment of the 2017 IGA between the city of
King Boat Springs.
Is that?
Can I hear some?
You did.
You're hearing voices.
Okay, a resolution of proving the I don't doubt it.
A resolution of proving the amendment of the 2017 IGA between the city of
Steam Boat Springs and this Steam Boat Springs local marketing district.
Is there any more to say from you Dan or Kim about this one?
I don't have anything to add to that discussion, but of course, I'm here for questions.
Okay.
So this is this is the three year pilot around 75% of the previous year's
Chamber of Funds will be generated and by the LMD.
Do we have any questions?
Anybody in the room want to make public comment regarding this one?
Anybody online?
Please raise your hand.
See, none will close private comment.
Bring it back to council for emotion or deliberations.
Motion to approve.
We got a motion from Councillor Barnes.
Second.
Second from Councillor Dixon.
All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Opposed.
Motion passes five zero.
Thank you very much.
Thanks all.
Okay.
We're moving on to item 13.
Resolution of polling.
The planning director's decision of legal non-conforming use.
Abandonment related to PL202 20343 and denying the associate appeal.
Rebecca.
Good evening.
Rebecca Bassie.
Playing director.
I'm just going to share my screen.
Thank you.
Okay. I have a short presentation. This appeal is a little bit different than some of the others
that you've heard in the past. And then I believe that there is someone here representing the
property owner either online and or in person. Okay. So, this property is located in over
the zone B3. That's one of the restricted or yellow zones. And so to be eligible and to maintain
eligibility for a short term rental license, the property has to have been
roughly used as a vacation rental prior to June 15th, 2022. And that legal non-conforming
status use status has to be maintained over time and must not be abandoned. And we use the
STR license and renewal process to request information from the Apple can to demonstrate
that that status has been maintained and that their eligibility for an STR license continues.
So, this section of code 103D2, this is what you're pretty familiar with. This is the section of code that
states that a legal non-conforming use shall be terminated immediately upon certain circumstances.
So, all prior appeals have come before you, per this section 103D2, in which the short term rental
use was abandoned or discontinued for a period of 12 consecutive months, regardless of any intent
to resume operation of the use. This section of the code is applicable in this case. There's also
a second section of code that is applicable in this case and you have not seen an appeal per this
section prior to this evening. So, section 103D is the portion of the CDC that speaks to termination
of legal non-conforming use status. There are five circumstances by which legal non-conforming status
terminates. One is that abandonment clause that you saw on the prior slide. The second that applies
the evening's case is 103D5, which speaks to damage to the structure that houses the legal
non-conforming use. So, I'll go through this language and how it does or doesn't apply to this situation
in a couple of slides. The relevant dates that pertain to this case are summarized here. So,
the property was registered as legally not conforming in December of 22. SCR license was issued
in 2023 and renewed in 2024 and 2025. Noted in red are the last documented SCR stay that occurred in
2024 that ended on October 27th and then you'll see the first the next documented stay or first
documents stay that occurred in 2025. Didn't occur until December 13th of 25. So, that obviously exceeds
that 12-month period. So, that's the first criteria by which we determine that the legal non-conforming
use status terminated was that abandonment clause of over 12 consecutive months. Noted in orange are the
dates that are relevant to that second criteria that we've applied to this case. Part of the property owner,
the property suffered some water damage on November 15th of 2024 and the repair of that damage
was not completed until December of 2025 and that time period also exceeds 12 months and I'll walk you through
that in a little more detail. So, again, that first section that you're pretty familiar with,
there was 12 consecutive months gap in short-term rental occurrences and so per section 103D2,
we have determined that the use was abandoned because of that gap in use. Our finding is also based on
this second criteria that 105, I'm sorry, 103D5 and I'll walk you through this. So, that's the
section that speaks to damage to the structure that houses a legal non-conforming use. There are
two parts to this section. So, it's there's two criteria and these are or statements. So, they don't both
have to be met. Only one has to be met for this section to apply. So, the first is that the first
would say that the legal non-conforming status terminates if the structure housing that use is damaged
and that damage exceeds 50% of the current reconstruction costs. Per the information that we receive
from the property owner, the repair costs totaled about $130,000 in so staff does not believe that that
amount exceeds the 50% of the current reconstruction costs of that property. So, that first part of
this, that first test is not met and so we do not believe that the legal non-conforming use would
terminate under that first test. The second test is that second bullet on the bottom of the slide which
states that the damage to the structure is not restored within 12 months. So, this is not in addition to
the 50% 50% test. This is a separate test. The repair was completed 13 months after the damage and
so per section 103d5, we have determined that the legal non-conforming use terminated as the
structure was damaged and not restored within that 12 month reconstruction time period.
The code does include a provision that would authorize the planning direction to grant an extension
to that 12 month restoration time period. This is also a two-part test and this is these are
and statements. So, both of these have to be true for this to apply. So, the code states that we can grant
an extension to the 12 month restoration time period. If we find that the structure is of a large scale
and requires changes to comply with the building code. It goes on to state that the building, a building
permit application has to be applied for a permit has to be obtained within 12 months and the only
changes that can be made to the structure are those that are needed to comply with the building code.
This particular property, the structure that was damaged is about 1,500 square feet and the only
building permit that was issued for this property in this time period was to install an electric vehicle
charger in the garage. So, based on that, I don't believe that they meet the
qualifications for an extension of that 12 month restoration time period. So, based on those
two sections of code, 103, D1 and 5, we have determined that the status of the legal non-conforming
use has terminated. I am happy to answer any questions. Thank you. I just thought of one of the
things. You all did receive some public comment late today. I did reply to council
to provide some context of that comment. I'm happy to speak to that. I know that probably came out
to you all pretty late in the day. I think it was after three o'clock. So, happy to answer any
questions that you have for regard to that comment. And are you saying is the appellant here in the room?
I believe there's a representative. Meredith was intending to be online. I don't know. She's in
a different time zone. I know it was going to be really late for her. But I think she also said
somebody would be here in person to represent online if you can hear me. Oh, great. Okay. Would you like to
hear from your palant now before I see questions? Okay. Can you unmute and share your name in address?
And you have 15 up to 15 minutes. Okay. Are you able to hear me? Yes. Okay. I'm Meredith from Z. You said
address is a 3365 Sky Valley Drive in steamboat 80487. So, we're going to go ahead and just kind of,
I wanted to, owner was not able to be here for this. She's on the east coast and this is way past her
bedtime. So, she's having me read a letter for you all that was from her to sort of introduce her as a
person and kind of give you a little bit of her person, her involvement in steamboat. First of all,
this is so starting to rehearse. First of all, thank you for your service to the community. I've
done time on the school board and also know how important and difficult the work can be. I would like to tell
you how and why we chose steamboat is a second home and perhaps one day our residents. 1962, my parents
took our family on a cross country driving trip to see national parks, national natural wonders
and the Seattle World's Fair. We spent at night at the Ravidiers Motel, adventure to cross the street
to the hot springs. I left town with a bandana skirt from FM light and a town map now framed
on the wall of 1160 Nature's Lane. I had found memories as well. In 2010, when our niece was married
on the front-range family gathered, we then invited our young adult children and our daughter's boyfriend
now, our son-in-law to steamboat for a week. We biked to the ramp of visited both hot springs, shop,
dined out and generally loved being in the town again. In 2017, when it became clear that our
Vermont race children were permanently settled on the front-range, both married to Colorado
and we wanted a place where the family could gather to ski, visit and be together. We bought 1160 Nature's Lane.
Why did we choose steamboat? It made us think of our community in Vermont. Yes, there was there. Yes,
there was skiing but also a town rich with robust culture, non-profits, the incredible library
in a rich history. I've served on boards including Hungerfree Vermont and Burlington's community
mental, a health agency. John, her husband, is devoted, is a devoted, retiree, and we get it.
Community works when people contribute. We saw and see steamboat as a similar place. We support,
financially, a number of non-profits in town, those are our values. Meanwhile, my husband was still working
part-time in 2017 and we immersed in our Vermont lives. It made sense to rent nature's Lane
as we would only be there a few months each year, at least for a while. We figured out one day
we might migrate to steamboat where we thought we would fit in. In recent years, despite our two
children and poor grandchildren in Colorado, my mother and her late 90s lived independently in Vermont
with a fair amount of support from her two children. There was no way John and I were leaving Vermont and my
mother behind. On November 15th, the same day that this water damage occurred after we could
hospice care. My mother breathed her last at 9 a.m., we were with her, of course, a 12-5 p.m. that day.
I received an urgent email from Retreatia. Basically, I won't read that whole message, but
alerting them as to what had happened, which was a fridge line or a freezer line had been hooked up
despite the fact that the owner is specifically told the property management company to never hook up
that line. It was hooked up and then basically two weeks later they came back and there was water flooding
out the front door, so that was kind of the way that, in that that point, service master was called
a mislimitation. So they were at that service master was at the house through December the final billing
data January 2nd, 2025. It was only at this point that we had our document of destruction to present
to our insurance company more weeks to lapse before the HOA insurance agreed to fund at least some
other reconstruction. Meredith Rumsie sent you a copy of the service master report, which was in
the original reports. Um, with scores of photographs, the invoice only part of which was covered
by insurance was more than $46,000. I believe that that invoice was sent also, which it was.
Meredith also provided the city with a list of bookings for the house from the date of the
November flood into at least March of 2025. But of course, there was no house to rent.
Blaps and renters was due to the fact that there was no habitable house, not because we chose to
renovate our home. In January of 2025, we hired Roggen, a Robin Higgenbatham, a general contractor,
Robin will attend the hearing tonight. She will be able to tell you about the rebuilding process
in our house. My understanding is that if we are being penalized due to the lack of permits,
if Roggen, who has a business in steamboat for some years, was a one-aware of the requirement,
it seemed inappropriate that we should be victims of this lapse. We certainly hope that our STR
licensed will be restored. We are now spending more time and steamboat when we have not migrated full
time. The family has been living in Vermont since 1770. It's not a small thing to consider leaving here.
Thank you again for your time. So that's an introduction of Elizabeth's sort of my main points in this,
or really that issue before city council is whether this owner abandoned her legal non-conforming STR use.
The non-conforming use was never abandoned nor was there an intent to abandon it in the first place.
This was a temporary interruption caused by circumstances outside of the owner's control
when the property, but coming physically unhabitable due to catastrophic water damage caused by a third
party. The evidence shows she spent approximately $130,000 restoring the property,
maintained insurance and ownership, canceled existing reservations because the home was unhabitable
and relisted the property as soon as it could be occupied. Those actions demonstrate continuous
effort to preserve the use not abandon it. I went ahead and put together a timeline of what I saw
were kind of the most important dates off the bat here and basically talking about the purchase in
2017 that you all do have a copy of that timeline also. So it was basically 1030 is when the
October 30th, 2024 is when that line was hooked up. November 15th is when it was reported to the owner
that there was a flood due to that hooking up with a line that shouldn't have been hooked up.
There was a guest booking from the 15th of November to the 24th that had to be canceled obviously because
the home was not habitable and at that point the company, the property manager went ahead and
canceled all the bookings for the rest of the entire winter. At that I was under the impression that
last booking was 1231-2024 based on retreatias lists that they gave me but the owner just told me
there were also ones in March that were canceled in addition. So on January 2nd service
And then on the 17th of January is when the contract starts between Robin with our Homes for the remediation process. Robin has outlined a detailed timeline, also that we submitted earlier today for the actual, like, how long the process took in the previous meeting with the planning commission, they very much questioned why the process took so long.
And so Robin's gone ahead and laid that out in terms of much of that, once again, being outside of the owner's control, outside of our control would just how contractors and shipping, et cetera, mail works to seem.
On January 22nd, that was the unsolvable on salvageable contents report submitted by service master on February 12th was after the insurance approval delays, that's a rough date.
Robin with our Homes was able to start the remediation process. So even just right there from November 15th to February 12th, it was all just red tape and trying to get the process going as quickly as possible being held up by insurance.
It's et cetera. So on in June, Robin signed on with my company on the owner of vacation rental code in steamboat, stating that she wanted to, you know, get the property going as soon as it was ready.
So we started getting the ball rolling on our end there on at 828. It was finally ready for photos. So we got in their right away took photos and had it listed within a little over a week of that point in time.
We had our first booking came in just a week after that on September 15th. The booking was made.
The state dates were not until February, but what we did knowing that we wanted to get it booked as soon as possible. We offered a 20% discount for the first six guests.
But you know, we're, it's out of our control is to when the guests are going to come stay. You know, so they booked first one was booked on 915 on 1031 was when the project closing date was with Robin on then on 1213 was when the first guest was in house.
But that one was booked back on November 7th. So number one had the original reservations that were planned in house not have had to have been canceled because of the flood.
There would have never been a year long gap. In addition, even with the canceled bookings, we still had our first booking booked on September 15th. So once again our argument is that it was not abandoned at all for 12 month time period.
I'd like to give I know that the time here is dwindling down. So I would like to give Robin an opportunity to kind of talk through quickly the process or the her timeline there to say like some of the things that were hold up and Robin is there in house.
Hi, how are you? Robin Hagenbatham, 1350 Blue Sage Drive, steamboat.
Was the project manager on this project? I would like to say that I typically do not have to pull any permits from the building department for the scope of work that I had performed.
Kitchen mostly cosmetic. The flood was from an appliance being the freezer being turned on and causing damage.
Several factors came in as we've heard time and time over again this evening along construction takes and you know budgets and dealing with insurance and getting approvals and whatnot.
So when I entered into the project in November service master. I'm sorry in December service master had already come in and performed mitigation of the water and the drywall.
And you know things that to get the property. So it's not continually molding the damage did extend from the top of the home into the garage being its three levels.
So I'm not sure the 1500 square feet includes the garage level or not.
We did have some stuff going into the attic it was as things developed it just got more and more you know insurance from personal and then the HOA insurance.
So we had a variety of issues to deal with.
On my end. I don't like I said usually have to pull a permit and I did speak with Todd who did confirm that the scope of work was not what I did was not required to pull a permit I did see that in your legal non conforming in the building code.
Just kind of completely separate I've never seen it in the STR I don't deal with the STR so I don't really know about it and I didn't I don't even think I knew that it was legal not conforming it so on the mountain.
So really anything any permits that should have been pulled I don't usually pull them on this scope of work that we had to perform so don't know if that's super fair to uphold that to this property as it wasn't required to for building code.
Thank you. We appreciate it of course.
Do you have questions for me?
Well I want to ask who do we have questions for at this point in time do you have any questions anybody have any questions for Rebecca or for either one of these two ladies.
I do for Rebecca.
Okay.
So is there a process for somebody who's got a damage SCR that they can go to the city and ask for an extension to the 12 months.
Do we have a process?
Yeah I mean or is there I mean has that.
I mean there's not like a formal application.
No.
Okay. I'm just curious if that was ever come up before.
We've got a damage property and somebody asked for an extension.
This is the first time that we've seen this type of a scenario.
And if I can clarify one thing that was just stated I have but I was confirmed to me from Todd Car the building official that the work that was performed did require a permit per the building code.
Because we have a code enforcement case where they are now getting the permit for the work that's already been performed.
So that's just a little bit different than what I heard from the building official.
Can I clarify something with you?
Let's say this property.
I think it was October it had to be rented by let's say and about October or middle of October whatever the day was something like that right?
November 15th.
The last document say it was October 27th, 2024.
When did it need to be rented by in order to be within the one year stipulation?
So it would have needed to have been rented by October 27th of 2025 to avoid the abandonment through the 12 month clause.
Okay. So my question is let's say that they get this property done before 12 months.
Let's say it's done by September. Let's say they take pictures and put it on the market.
But nobody rents anything in October and steamboat.
And so what happens if although it's available to rent if nobody rents it and let's say you only have that one month there because you're not sure when it's going to be available to be rented.
You're not sure when the work is going to be done.
So if somebody has that property and is October or early November and the rentals aren't very popular then.
So basically it's just bad luck that you're a 12 month period ended then instead of ending in like January or February where there's tremendous amount of rentals.
Would that be a fair statement?
Fair. You're asking me if that's bad luck.
Well, I'm trying to understand what it is.
So this the code section talks about discontinuance for a period of 12 consecutive months regardless of any intent to resume operation of the use.
Okay. So we can't really control how people are advertising.
I mean, you could have somebody, for example, advertising for a ridiculous price and never rent.
You what happens though if somebody is doing everything right, but it's just that nobody wants rent the place in October.
I'm looking at this as we talk about use. I mean, they could they could take it to deposit for outside of the 12 month period.
But we don't want to call that use and I understand that that's a very strict interpretation because marketing commercial marketing.
One could argue is use of the property, but we take a much more strict view and I understand why we do.
I'm just trying to understand that why is it fair if somebody just happens to be at a time a year when rentals aren't popular and that's when their year is up or more importantly that's when their remodel is going to be finished.
And they let's say the remodel was finished a week before, you know, the end of their 12 month period. If it just happened, it seems like it's pretty bad luck based on what we're saying by not having any way to address that.
And that's why we did offer that discount off the bat was to try to get the bookings.
As quickly as possible, because we knew we needed to get this going and wanted to get it going for the owner after they had such a long time period without rentals.
So that was our goal. I mean, we had it like I said, we took pictures on 828 and then had it listed the next week and then had a booking within a week.
But the booking was for popular dates, you know, in February.
It was end with a snow that came so late this year. Usually we would see more if we had early snow, you know.
Was your did you understand that you needed a booking by the middle of October?
No.
No, not at that point. It was just more thinking this owner had been without funds for so long and had been dealing with these problems.
We came on board kind of towards the end of all of what had happened.
You know, we were just thinking let's get her some bookings on the books.
You know, she's ready to get back to make it some money here.
When she's been, you know, hurt so bad from a year of expected income that she did not get in addition to having to pay a bunch of money on top of what insurance paid to have her house fixed for something that she was not in control of in the first place.
So basically what we're saying is that a deposit or contract is an intent to use the property in the future, but it is not an act of physical use of the property.
It's an intent to you a deposit if you take it a deposit within the 12 months for outside the 12 months.
That's an intended use, but it's not an act of physical use.
You would argue with that if it's not a physical use an intent to use by having a deposit wouldn't meet your criteria.
I would agree that that speaks to intent, but the criteria that I am bound to make decisions based upon is the code and the code says regardless of any intent to resume operation of the use.
When was the last reservation on the books for the got canceled.
What I'm sorry.
I don't have that right immediately in front of me, so I would I think if Meredith has that available I'd ask that she answer.
Yep, so the last one that I had on record from Retrieia when they sent me to reports that you all have in your files.
The last one that was canceled was for the last date was 1231 of 2025.
The owner today said that she just told me that there was one that was supposed to be in March that was canceled that those people went to Retrieia and they ended up getting moved over to Trappers crossing.
That one was not on my report from Retrieia, but that was just brought to my attention today.
So the only one that we actually have physically recorded is the last one was canceled it ended on that December 31.
So I'm assuming maybe they just gave me that year versus the next year when they gave me that report.
And that document that Meredith is referring to as attachment three in your packet.
Thank you.
Rebecca.
I feel like we're maybe talking about issues that don't pertain to what we are looking at tonight.
Can you just go back to the slide that talks about the dates because I'm looking at it right now and I want to make sure.
I'm fully tracking and the.
The few really important dates to me is that.
The repair the last documents say wasn't was October 2077.
2024.
And then the the property's damage.
The next important date is the repair was completed December 25 and they actually had an SDR stay in December.
Is that right.
That's correct.
So as I hope I was trying to describe there are two.
Criteria by which the legal the code would says that the legal not conforming use has terminated so one are the dates noted in red that's that greater than 12 consecutive month gap and use.
The second one is the criteria that speaks to damage to the structure.
And so they're both relevant and they are both independent of each other in terms of terminating the the status of the use.
So really they repairs or completing December and they had a booking in December.
Perfect.
Yeah.
Okay.
And it's on the information that I was provided.
And can you maybe go back, you know, again, since I think really it's just Councillor Buccino and I that were on council when these rules were adopted.
So can you go back to, and I think there's discussion somewhere about the intent of legal non-conforming and the fact that this is in a yellow zone where with the number of STRs were limited, right,
and the whole kind of, you know, maybe the rationale behind this and the language that's in the ordinance specific to the basis for the decision.
So the legal non-conforming use language applies to all types of uses.
When we adopted the short term rental code, we did amend section 103D, which is the language, a portion of that language is on this slide.
So I've omitted the first sentence of 103D2, that sentence talks about when a legal non-conforming use has been abandoned and just continued for a period of 12 consecutive months.
We added the second sentence, which is what you see here on this slide that speaks to what we called intermittent legal non-conforming uses.
And we extended that typical six month abandonment period to 12 months and we did that.
Because council had a lot of discussion and we were very well aware that short term rentals.
I don't know that I could possibly be a short term rental that exists, that's rented 365 days a year.
They're often used by the owner, owners, guests, you know, the stays are dependent on who books the use and when.
And so and we also recognize I think council recognized at that time when the code was written that there are some property owners that only rent during certain time periods.
For example, the holidays when it's the peak time or something like that.
I wanted to so we extended the typical timeframe from six months to 12 to accommodate for though that sort of variation in use.
Is that do I answer your question.
Yes, but I think I mean I think it goes beyond that right I mean and in this maybe more of a probably a discussion point when we get to it in terms of, you know, the intent, you know again in response to the community and the proliferation of the short term rentals and so.
That's was kind of specifically why there's the requirement for the usage right within the 12 months and not the intent right to use it as a short term rental.
So that's that's where I think I was going more to and it came out in the discussion at the planning commission.
So this property is located in the yellow zone short it's not prohibited.
We call that the restricted zone because as you're well aware there's six different yellow zones or or be overlays zones and each of those zones has a specific cap of the number of licenses that.
We will issue because this is part of the zoning code and we changed the rules of the use.
We did grant legal non-conforming status to any property that was used lawfully prior to the effect of date of that code so.
We have issued more licenses than the caps in all of the zones at some point or another.
So if you maintain that legal non-conforming status you maintain eligibility for a license but the intention of the CDC is pretty clear I think there is a purpose statement that I probably included in your.
The report or in the planning commission report that speaks to.
The intention of the CDC is is to eliminate.
Legal non-conforming uses overtime and I think that's why the code includes the language about intent.
That intent does not come into play when we're looking at termination of of that status.
And I'm trying to remember to from the discussion I mean we talk about the 12 months and the intermittent use but I think we also had the conversation right about if like a somebody wants to do any sort of improvements or repairs right on their STR that was also.
The factored in.
Yes that was talked about and in fact there was a time where there was some discussion about whether.
Renovation should be exempted from that and I think the and that was not where council landed that is not included in the code.
And I think the reason for that is that the legal non-conforming status is intended to sort of protect or allow the continued lawful use of of a use that was established prior to the code change.
It's not intended to.
Ensure additional improvement or.
Expansion of the use in the future.
And so I think there could be an argument made that a remodel just for the sake of a remodel.
I mean I don't think that's what occurred here so I want to be clear about that but like just there an upgrade and a remodel to make it more up to date and.
More attractive as a short term rental would not be something that we would want to.
Accomedy unless it could be done within that you know unless it could be done and still avoid the abandonment under the 12 months clause.
I just heard from Robin as I made a statement earlier that something that I said was inaccurate and I feel like I.
My presentation was based on the information that I was provided by the appellant but certainly if some of its incorrect I would.
Feel like we should provide you the opportunity to correct that with that.
If that's appropriate.
Sure.
I'm on up.
Actually I'm just going to ask Meredith because my remodel was not it was completed prior to December I believe that the when you're asking if.
December 13th of the remodel was completed in December and then rented on the 13th.
Meredith had taken her first reservation in I believe she said September.
Correct me if I'm incorrect.
But I feel like the as far as intent goes like it wasn't intention to rent.
She did take a reservation so that is an act of I feel like it's an act of reservation.
You take somebody's money you take you you they commit to their family having a vacation they come out they book their tickets they plan things that I don't feel like that's an intention obviously it's interpretation of law but I don't see that as an intent I see that as active participation in the rental program.
And as far as the open permits that I just alerted Greg and Todd to having a little bit of an argument with service master who removed the drywall and to was supposed to pull out the permit I have to the fifth to get that settled and Greg said once a file for that it would be asked and everything would move on just a little disagreement with service master.
But it was intent she was an intending on resort on doing it she was actively doing it and participating in the process.
Okay.
Thank you for disappointed in this process.
Rebecca for more I have a more question for Rebecca.
This has been three Rebecca what I think came from the appellant.
Correct.
Page two on it has.
Booking numbers has a status, gas listing site, arrival date, departure date.
That info that you all get I'm reading this that people were I'm reading it that the owner actually stayed there in November.
And then there were people saying there in November and January.
People were there.
That's correct.
Page two so you're seeing people yes that's twenty twenty twenty twenty six.
So it looks like the owner there was an owner stay.
Yeah.
November.
Eight.
Nineteenth.
Yeah.
I can't.
No number nineteen through the twenty six.
Yeah.
And then there was the first day which was what I had noted on my slide.
Began on December 13th of twenty twenty five.
But yes that is those are the that's the more recent booking report.
I believe that.
Meredith submitted to demonstrate that there's been active use of the property since it was renovated.
Okay.
Thanks.
We need to go information that we receive although.
We don't require this exact format it often depends on what platform they advertise on or whether they do it themselves.
And so we get various forms of these reports.
Okay.
Exit stayed if they hadn't had the damage or the last booking that was on the books that we see is the 1231 and 24.
That got canceled.
Right.
They would have been within their 12 months even at this timeline and they rented on that December.
With the December 13th rental.
Right.
They would have been within that 12 months.
Yes.
They would have because that.
Last booking that was canceled in twenty twenty four ended.
That was had was scheduled for a check out of twelve thirty one twenty twenty four.
But I mean I would have to imagine if there wasn't water damage there.
There.
They would have been additional rentals in twenty twenty five.
It wouldn't have taken till December 13th to have the next rental.
But that's just assumptions based on their prior rental activity.
Right.
I'm just saying that there was evidence that that was booked within that.
I mean the timeframe was less than that.
That's the only thing.
Yeah.
I think that that's an accurate statement.
The I got a question.
Go ahead Michael.
Rebecca.
In 103.D dot 2 and dot 4 on your.
The.
103 is the one you've referenced a couple times regarding the termination legal non-conforming
And then you talk about being abandoned and discontinued.
You also then had one and I think one or three d five talking about the structural housing.
Being twelve months getting restored.
This.
There are bits that's in the CDC.
With that was approved by city council correct after the meeting.
After the passing of the short term rental licensing.
Is that one.
Section 103 d existed in the code prior to the STR license.
The only section that we amended when we adopted the STR overly zone was 103 d two,
which is what I described earlier where we extended the abandonment period from six to 12 months.
But section 103 d five has been unchanged.
That existed prior to STR code and has not been amended.
So.
First of all this is kind of unfortunate because I would never want to say to a citizen and my town.
Bad luck.
That's just not right.
Right now we have another situation with short term rental licensing.
That I think goes back to the way.
The code was presented to council and approved by council to make the changes to reflect the short term rental licensing.
In doing that your department came up with those code changes.
And in those a lot of those things, especially in the minutes there's times where it's referenced.
Where you stated to Rich Levy that you did not have the authority to make that.
That authority make that change and yet a minute or two later.
You were stating that you do have that authority to make that determination.
Whether they should get an extension from the 12 or 13 months.
And so I'm looking at a little bit of a conflicting in your statement.
When you do have the authority and then it got me to really look at the code that we adopted.
And really put in question with all due respect, Rebecca, your department wrote the code, but you actually have the authority to agree or extend or change that code.
And yet we continually are having problems with citizens bringing appeals to us that were related directly to the process of the policy that we put together.
And I really do think that this appeal is one of the worst examples that we have of trying to screw a neighbor out of their short term rental license when the quote unquote intent.
The intent of the code is to let people rent their unit, but yet clearly there's a faction you have stated that the intent is to stop having rentals in this property in the yellow zones completely.
So I'm really concerned at this point, you know, looking for your guidance on your direction of a code that you codified.
We had to approve it, but there's been some discrepancies that we really need to stop and we need to look at a lot of these consistent issues.
And which really frustrating for me is when we sit there and throw out well 2700 people got it right one or two people didn't get it right.
That's so disingenuous. I hope we stop using that. But I really feel just gave me I will I'm almost done.
I've been sitting here a long time waiting to talk about this because I was trying to wait.
Listen, to hear what's going on in consistently, this is a problem with the way you have implemented our code. And this appealing has a right to appeal this, because there's nothing that their intent has proven that they couldn't rent the place. I'm in the business of remodel and I'm sorry things do take that long. But the circumstances of saying this was bad luck is just disingenuous from the city council perspective. And I think we need to look at the code that you gave to us.
That we need to read and approve it and make some changes.
So Mike, that was a little bit chino. I just want to say, I don't think Rebecca ever said.
Tough luck, bad luck.
No, Steve said that.
No, I should write, but the way you're coming after Rebecca, when this is a city council issue, not a staff.
This is part of our show giving us documentation that we had approved to put in the code.
Now, I'm looking at the code and so is our costs are consistent and the code has some discrepancies that we need to change.
Councillor Dixon, there are areas that are not fair and we can familiar hearing reasons.
Okay.
John, I agree. Let's let's make sure that we stick to the the present case tonight. And we can have a broader discussion on this.
We've had instances, council, but you know, you're correct. We've had instances one-offs like this before.
Different circumstances, of course, but we've had these one-offs and we discuss and make decisions about them.
I think the code overall, though, has, you know, function well. And so, but there's always exceptions to the rules.
So, let's.
And I'm, and just let me, let me respond, right? I mean, from the perspective of council routine, and I have long standing disagreed on kind of the short-term rental ordinances.
And, you know, quite frankly, you know, I was part of those discussions. You were, you mean, you were not part of those discussions, right?
So, I just wanted to, I just want to make sure that everybody here in council and that a parent understands that staff is,
and is basically adhering to council's direction at the time. And so, you know what? So, and again, I'll stop there because we're getting more into discussion.
I know what you're saying is that. So, gave us the policy, the process of what how they implemented that is what I have in question.
Okay, well, but we, we need to finish up the questions here.
If we have any more questions on this, we have to go to public comment, and then we'll come back and deliberate on this. So, is there any other questions?
For anyone.
Hearing none.
I'm only going to go back to the fact that I don't think, I mean, we're getting hung up on the building permit, but that doesn't really apply, right? I mean, to the extent that that was an end criteria, right?
That it's a building permit if, in fact, one is required, and the structure is large enough. So, I think the first criteria doesn't.
Work, I mean, right, in terms of sorry.
So, the one with an end that includes the building permit. So, I don't think that that's relevant here.
Although, you know, I mean, I think my determination was that the structure was did not meet the criteria for an extension.
That was, that is an end criteria, the criteria are.
It says the structure is of a large scale. There is no definition of that in the code.
Right. So, that was my interpretation of that.
Cartieria, and then the second was that it end.
It requires changes to comply with the building code.
So, I would say that based on the information that I had when I reviewed this, there were no building permits applied for.
We have since learned that a building permit would have been required.
So, you know, I don't know if the code goes on to say that in that circumstance.
A permit has to be applied for and the only changes needed are those that the only changes made are those that are needed to comply with the building code.
I don't have, I didn't have a means to evaluate that because no permit was applied for.
There was no permit of record at that time.
So, I don't know if Council of Ruchino was, I don't, I don't quite know the references you're speaking to from the Planning Commission minutes.
If there were contradictions, but I don't have the authority to change the code.
In this particular section of code, it does explicitly grant the Planning Director authority to grant an extension.
Based on my review of information that was provided to me, I did not think that they met the criteria for an extension.
Certainly, that's all before you tonight, you all could feel differently.
Because you feel that they should have applied for a building permit, correct?
Correct.
So, the fact that they didn't, what is the penalty for that?
For sometimes, I believe the building department will charge a double permit fee.
If it's just egregious, I don't know that they do it all the time.
In this case, I don't think it's that unusual for a company like service master, where they come in to remediate.
This is what I've heard from the building official.
I'm just restating what he told me.
It's not that unusual for those companies to come in in their remediation of water damage.
They will start ripping out drywall.
Unfortunately, you know, there was there's a threshold on how much drywall you can remove before triggers of building permit.
So, I mean, I think the, the applicants have been working in good faith with the building department.
We only opened the code enforcement case, because that's just the way we operate.
Todd asks us to do that to document that there was work without a permit, but we're not aggressively pursuing enforcement.
We understand that the permit will eventually be issued and that the work will be done in compliance with the building code.
The black permit wasn't reason to terminate the license.
No, my decision was not because there wasn't the fact that they did unpermitted work.
It was that I had no permit to reference to make the findings that the extension was warranted.
So you're saying if they had applied for a permit, and there's a, you may have given them an extension.
You don't know, though, because you don't.
I mean, maybe, but I, you know, in my opinion, I didn't think a 1500 square foot unit was of a large scale.
Again, that is a subjective standard that's not to find that a code.
Thank you.
Okay.
And that was the point.
I think that was what I was trying to ask, right?
I have done it so clearly is the first criteria is of a large scale.
And I think you had referenced that 1500 square foot feet is not a large scale.
And so again, back to the planning commission conversation was comparing this to a struct, you know, something done at the grand.
And and requires, you know, changes to comply with the building code.
But I was concerned in the minutes that it's that it's been stated that a year is enough time to build a home.
Let alone fix this one up.
And I find that a year is plenty of time to build a home if you start digging the hole that day.
But it takes, it takes years, it takes years in many cases to design a home, let alone to put a shovel in the ground.
So I don't agree with that that it only takes a year necessarily in this town because I can tell you right now if you apply to get a new roof it could take you two years to get the new roof.
So that's a whole another story.
Okay, no more questions.
Is anybody want to make a public comment in the room or online, please raise your hand.
So you know, we'll close public comment, comment, bring it back for deliberations.
And I go.
And Rebecca, I apologize, I'm not trying to go at you directly.
I'm looking at the code that we have written and then I was reading the minutes of the notes basically around pages eight and nine and ten.
And you can read it later, but it basically was talking when you were talking to rich leaving bright atoms after their deliberation when they went to the code.
You said you don't think you have the authority to make the exception and yet there's other conversation that rich had a specifically talking about the size of the building.
And back into that you were saying, oh, but I do have that authority to make that because the decision maker you quote and quote said the decision maker what I'm saying is that I understand it's put you in a precarious location.
I think that for us to protect you and take care of you as a staff employee for us is to really clarify this code and really go in there and make it a little better.
And so I apologize that I'm using this in coming up, a computational, it's not the intent of that is to prove that the code is actually got some holes in it and we really need to shore them up for our citizens.
This continually happens and it has some animosity I've heard from planning commissioners that any STR regulation appeal is one of their worst parts of their job.
So we need to solve those.
So I really you have a perspective here that you're leading towards.
I will I would like to make a motion to side with the appellant.
Absolutely. I think that that this circumstance being in the business of construction and remodeled exactly what is yes.
Yes, Gale I was accused from the meeting and you may have had a better perspective had I been in the meeting with these but you guys refused me because I was talking about specifically owners like this.
And my defense is that I don't know this person I'm not making any money on it.
It's just not fair to the people that bought property in our town.
Okay, so you know you are Michael is a councilor Puccino is making a motion to.
To.
Thank you very much.
Grand the appeal.
I'd like to make a comment.
Because staff has an impossible job and sort of is planning to go through all these appeals and to try to uphold the letter of the code.
I do feel that regardless of intent they had they had rentals on the books they put somebody back into the building with inside of that year period.
And that to me is that is the difference in this one versus people that are not using their unit and trying to retain their license.
I think they had every intention of meeting that one year deadline they just weren't aware of it.
Well, exactly that I mean and this is a slippery slope in my mind right and I'm 100% sympathetic.
I totally understand and I know that I always come up really you know come off as the hard you know kind of the hard line or in terms of the rules.
But the rules are the rules right I mean and the appellant says that we always you know intent you know and again always follow the rules and we'll continue to do so we did everything within our control.
But again the rules are that this needed to be done within 12 months and so from my perspective it's a slippery slope right I mean everybody that has come before us has said you know our intention was right and we don't really know what the what the.
You know what happened here right I mean we can speculate we've got one side.
You know we just recently had a major flood in terms of renovations we were able to get things done right within 12 months so like you know I go back to looking at all of the people in our community we say we have a affordable housing crisis right.
And to the and again specifically the yellow zone was the intention to try to bring the more homes back into the market for our local workforce so as I say you know my apologies I'm totally you know sympathetic to the appellant.
But I'm also more sympathetic to our locals who don't have a place to live.
And so the rules the rules the rules the rules are the rules the rental tax which is going into the very fun that you're talking about.
Well the rules are the rules we're losing people by the drove right I mean in terms of we know what we're hearing from 25 to 44 year olds every time you turn around there's another family that's moving away from this community so.
That's my you know again my perspective and having lived through we all you know a lot of us who live through the short term rental conversations.
You know we know that there's going to be hard decisions and absolutely do we you know are it isn't it or process are the ways to do improvements sure.
But to the extent that we start and kind of put a whole you know start opening up the door.
How are we going to say well this intention you know this it was an exception and this is we're not going to side with this exception.
Well that's okay why we hear everyone of these appeals right that make those decisions I second Michaels.
So council Gary I appreciate what you're saying rules are rules and we need to follow the rules correct.
However you're going to tell me that we got it a hundred percent right when we pass these and put these rules in place because.
I don't agree with that at all we have we do not have the rules correct and yet you're telling us that we need to stick to rules that.
I mean I mean you gotta agree some of this doesn't make sense like we need to look at this.
Well and I think we're going to right but right I mean I think that's one of the things that we have talked about is let's go back let's get some let's get.
Some more information from our plan you know from the planning department in terms of what we're seeing what's working what's not working.
You know what we have left of our caps maybe we're closer than we think because so many people we can get it we're if we're going to get into a policy changing the policies here I don't think we're going to do that at the clock right well the clock.
In your case tonight this is not on the planning department though I mean you can't foresee every single circumstance.
That is impossible. Nobody can. And so, you know, you've done an exceptional job. And, you know, 90, what? 9% of the gazes or whatever. We don't hear about that. So this certainly is an indictment on the planning department at all.
I agree. Oh, so we question. What's that? Did the appellant contact you about the water damage?
Both. And within the 12 month period.
No, we weren't made aware of it until they came through to renew for 2026. And we asked for those booking reports that we get.
And that's where we found the 12 month gap. And then we got the additional information about the, you know, sort of the background in the reasoning for that.
Okay, I want to hear from. We have a motion from Michael. We have a second from David. We've heard from councilor Gary. I'd like to hear from councilor Dixon. And then we'll hear from myself. And then we'll take a vote.
Short term rentals are a business. And owners are required to understand our code. And whether we think that's fair or not.
It's a business. Any other business has to follow our code.
And so and to hear that someone didn't even reach out to our planning director.
If they were actually looking at the code that regulates their short term rental, like that were the different story, but completely disregard it all together.
That's a problem. And I don't see this code being confusing. It's pretty clear.
So per section one zero three point d point two.
12 month period has to be, there's a consecutive 12 month period. And now we're as being ruled as abandoned because it was not booking that's 12 month period.
And it's really clear section one zero three point d point five. The authorizes we're back at your grand extension is really clear. I don't know.
I don't understand why we're going back and forth on this. The oneness is on the owner of the property.
So it's a business and I will not be supporting the motion on this.
Absolutely. Dixon. I just have to say and I appreciate your comment because I see where you're coming from.
But on 103 d five with the planning directors decision. She is now subjective decision maker for this issue.
That one person is made the difference in this thing succeeding or failing. Now with the data that she got may have been inconsistent.
But there's some subjectivity in 103 d five that we need to shore up.
But it doesn't matter because we're making the ruling based on section one zero three point d point two.
And you even said that 12 months or 13 months you couldn't made a difference.
Okay. I don't. I don't.
You know, I have feelings on both sides on this, but to be honest, totally honest with you. I think that, you know, the interpretation here.
And you can say it's not an interpretation. It's just a rule just just this.
I'm coming down that we are looking at this.
Two strict interpretation here. I don't think it's the intent of the rules here of what we're trying to do in this case.
And I just don't think it's when I talk about use and they talked about it in a planning commission.
I don't do not need to take that rigid of an interpretation of use around a contract around a deposit versus actually staying in the house.
So I am going to.
Also vote to grant the appeal.
So you have just opened a door.
I have an open the door at all.
Oh, yes, you have. You just based the base upon what you just said.
Gayle, you can't say you can't say that I open the door here with the vote is going to be the vote.
Whatever it is, you can say you close the door.
I have an open any door.
I just don't feel that based on what we've looked at here.
That how we define certain terms I don't agree with.
Not in this case.
Well, I, as I say, I respectfully disagree in the sense that the word of you just use and we're going to have a lot more appeals come in.
And the ground is going to be a lot more temporary.
You can maybe have a lot more appeals to come in, but I'm that's not my purpose here at all to get more appeals.
If we have to change the definition or we have to clarify the definition or whatever.
Let's do it.
I don't want to see any more appeals.
I don't want to see one appeal.
We've seen enough of these appeals in my view.
And you know, we can sit here and try to figure out what people were thinking, whether they're being honest,
whether being candid, whether they're being real and everything else.
And we don't know the answer to those questions in every single case.
And we can come back and say, these are the rules and this is what we're going to do.
But I think there are times when we have to look back and say,
okay, how do we want to define these terms?
And yes, the planning commission voted 42 on this.
Two people voted against it.
Okay, so it's not a slam dunk here.
And yes, I wasn't involved when you did this.
I know you have more ownership in this than I do because I wasn't involved in it.
Okay, but I still don't think that what's happening with this particular case is the intent of the rules.
I don't feel that way.
So we have a motion.
We have a second.
All those in favor.
Say aye.
Aye.
Opposed.
No.
Okay.
Passes.
Three to two.
I will bring back a revised resolution for you at your next meeting.
Thank you.
Thanks for back on.
Thank you.
All right.
Number 14.
An ordinance fake head in a portion of utility and drainage instruments.
Located on lots 46 47 48 49 50 51 58 59 to Glen sub division PL 202 50 402.
Second reading of this ordinance.
Is that you were back up for Jeremy?
It is.
I let Jeremy go home.
This is a pretty straightforward.
Excuse me.
Vacation requests it's a long.
Road rear lot lines of a row of lots in the.
In the Glen subdivision.
We are retaining wall was constructed and it encroaches into some utility and existing utility and drainage machines.
So to correct that and bring that wall into compliant.
Compliance theory.
vacation of portions of those easements and all of the utility providers have signed off on that and so staff is recommending approval.
Any questions?
I just didn't realize on the first go around that the retaining wall had already been built and it was an error.
Yeah.
Okay.
Is there anybody in the room who would like to make a public comment?
There are online.
Raise your hand.
Seeing none.
We'll close public comment.
Bring it back for a motion.
Oh.
I'm so moved.
Yep.
Okay.
We have a motion.
Council of Gary.
Second by Council of Barnes.
All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Opposed.
That's a five zero.
Number 15.
I'm reading an ordinance for supplemental budget appropriation ordinance of 2026.
In Webber Finance Director, this is the force supplemental budget appropriation.
It appropriates about five point six million dollars of expenditures.
Use of reserves two point seven million.
The majority of that or about one point four million of that is transferring money from the accommodation tax fund.
To the capital fund to for the slate Creek property acquisition and the rest of them are mostly grants and have course funding revenue.
But I'm happy to answer any questions regarding the detail.
Thank you.
Do we have any questions for Kim on this for supplemental.
No questions.
But once again, I want to thank our staff for the grant writing and how we got those CEO grants.
To get so much done on the supplemental.
We let it fly through on the consent agenda, but really if you look at the numbers.
They made us almost two million dollars in grant.
So thank you, staff.
Okay.
We'll open it up for any public comment in the room or any public comment online.
Please raise your hand.
Seeing now.
We'll close public comment.
Bring it back.
For a motion.
Motion to approve.
Second motion from Councillor Dixon.
Second.
From Councillor Gary.
All those in favor say aye.
I opposed.
Motion passes five zero.
Dan you have a draft on the administrative lease letter.
I do have a letter.
Briefly.
You all may be familiar with the fact that we've encountered some problems with the for service lease.
In connection with the Hilltop project.
And the essence of the problem is that the for service regulations require that their
leases include human lateral termination language.
That is, you know, it's problematic.
I think we would have a hard time entering into it.
And in the commercial lending world, it's just, it's a deal breaker.
So the for services proposing to change the rules to allow for leases that are more acceptable to commercial
lenders.
And this proposed letter would be a comment to encourage the for service to proceed with that.
Now, I do want to say that this role probably is is a good idea.
I mean, it's intended to protect the for service from, you know, basically giving away property without getting a corresponding public interest.
So I think there is sort of a needle to be threaded here with this regulation.
The letter attempts to balance, you know, our interest in in supporting this initiative by the for service and the USDA, which is the agency that we'd approve this.
With, you know, not not going too far.
So that being said, that's what we tried to do.
We tried to strike a balance for this letter.
And when I say we actually mean, Jim Bach wrote this to give credit where it's due.
But if you want to try to change that balance, we can, we can amend this thing tonight.
But it does have to go out by the fifth to make the deadline.
So if you want to make changes, we have to do it on the flight tonight.
And this is what we need in order to get that hill top lease in place.
Yes, this would remove the the principal impediment to proceeding.
And there are some other issues relating to the terms of assignments and so forth.
But we should be able to work around those if if this piece gets fixed.
And I also want to manage expectations.
I don't know how long it's going to take before they actually move proceed with this rule change.
So this doesn't mean it's going to happen, you know, next week or next month, but hopefully at some point.
I feel like that first the opening paragraph in the last few sentences really hit on.
That balance or trying to achieve.
I'm not sure how else we could say it, you know, without.
Not sending a letter.
Yeah, yes, I mean, I had kind of suggested to Dan that maybe we expand on the fourth paragraph a little bit, right?
I mean, more not to address, I mean, I understand where the four services coming from, but really to address.
This comment one which is, you know, I think the people who are opposed to this really are responding to the administration's intent to try to sell public lands.
And so my thought was maybe just trying to clarify a little bit more.
And take the opportunity to talk about the housing crisis and how this would help, you know, is one tool in the toolkit, but if we have to.
It submitted by Friday, I think the final, you know, comment regarding the definition, you know, including affordable housing partnerships with local and state governments.
I mean, just being clear that the intent here is.
That, you know, wanting to use this for affordable housing.
So I think the letter is fine as is.
Okay, any other thoughts, and it's even.
I'd say affordable housing is that and and no, the affordable housing is already there.
I, but I look at four, 10, 10, 10.
Again, it's in the last, the last paragraph on the screen, the underlying is, is Jen's proposed edition.
Got it.
To the, including those affordable housing, right?
Yep.
Yeah.
Yeah, I like it.
I just got a little bit hung up on or thought that anybody who kind of scans is a reads that when we talk about.
You know, this provision would never be acceptable in a commercial lease where investors would need to be reliant upon the good, well, you know, of the forest service, you know.
I just thought that caused a little bit of doubt, but as I say.
I don't think it's worth holding up.
Anyone else have a thought.
Okay.
We've given Dan a thumbs up on this then since it has to be in by the fifth.
Thank you.
That's all every tonight.
Thank you, Dan.
Thanks, Dan.
And finally, minutes from May 12th.
Anybody have any revisions or comments about that or would like to.
We have to make a motion to approve those.
Motion to approve? Second.
Motion by Councillor Dixon, second by Councillor Garry, all those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes five zero.
Is there any other business for tonight?
And let's have a motion to adjourn.
Motion to adjourn. All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Good night, everyone.
Recording.