TC Minutes 04-27-2021
AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2021
SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Video Start Time: 00:00:01 Part One
The meeting was hosted in a virtual format, using Zoom.us. Mayor Smith Hymes called the meeting to
order at 5:00 p.m. A roll call was taken, and Council members present by video/audio were Lindsay
Hardy, Scott Prince, Tamra Underwood, RJ Andrade, Amy Phillips, and Chico Thuon. Also present were
Town Manager Eric Heil, Town Attorney Paul Wisor, Chief of Police Greg Daily, Mobility Director Eva
Wilson, HR Director Lance Richards, General Government Manager Ineke de Jong, and Town Clerk Brenda
Torres.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Video Start Time: 00:00:29 Part One
Mayor Pro Tem Phillips moved to approve the agenda as presented. Councilor Hardy seconded the
motion and the motion passed with a vote of 7 to 0.
3. DISCLOSURE OF ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS
Video Start Time: 00:01:06 Part One
No conflicts of interest were disclosed.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Video Start Time: 00:01:21 Part One
Mayor Smith Hymes explained to the public how to participate via video/audio, via telephone, or via
email for public comments.
No public comments were made.
5. BUSINESS ITEMS
5.3. PUBLIC HEARING: SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 21-06 AMENDING CHAPTER 13.04 OF THE AVON MUNICIPAL
CODE PERTAINING TO WATER USE RESTRICTIONS (TOWN ATTORNEY PAUL WISOR)
Video Start Time: 00:02:22 Part One
Not all the presenters had joined the meeting by the time agenda item 5.1 was up. Council decided
to start with the discussion of agenda item 5.3.
Town Attorney Paul Wisor explained that the Water Authority asked for more time to update their
Response Plan. However, as this is a public hearing that was noticed for April 27, Council has to open
the public hearing and then move to continue this to a future agenda.
Mayor Smith Hymes asked for public comments and no public comments were made.
Mayor Pro Tem Phillips moved to continue Second Reading of Ordinance 21-06 Amending Chapter
13.04 of the Avon Municipal Code Pertaining to Water Use Restrictions to the May 11th, 2021
meeting. Councilor Underwood seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2021
SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19
5.1. WORK SESSION: US6 PEDESTRIAN CROSSING (MOBILITY DIRECTOR EVA WILSON)
Video Start Time: 00:09:16 Part One
Mobility Director Eva Wilson joined the meeting and was joined by Eagle County attendees Kelly
Collier, Tanya Allen, and Ben Gerdes, Eagle-Vail Metro District Manager Steven Barber, CDOT
attendees Region 3 Traffic and Safety Manager Zane Znamenacek, Region 3 Traffic Operations
Engineer Andi Staley, Resident Engineer Karen Berdoulay, and legislator Representative Dylan
Roberts.
Mobility Director Eva took Council through the PPT presentation included in the packet and she and
the other attendees of the work session answered Council questions.
Mayor Smith Hymes asked for public comments and she started by reading a public comment from
former Avon Mayor Jennie Fancher expressing how she thinks that spending $2.5M on a roundabout
is an excessive amount of money, when there are many other simpler and cheaper solutions.
Matt Abramowitz, resident of the River Oaks Complex, commented that he is disappointed the Eagle
County Commissioners are not present this evening. He is in favor of a roundabout to slow cars down
and said he is also disappointed that this is the only solution, as it is expensive and will take time,
and he cannot stress enough how important this safety issue is.
Kelley Collier apologized that County Commissioners were not present, she clarified that she
understood this was a presentation, not a stakeholder meeting to get feedback and discuss support.
Representative Roberts expressed that he is supportive and can take this into legislative session in
January.
Steve Coyer commented that he does not use this stretch often, but he supports this to make it safer.
5.2. PRESENTATION: WATER SUPPLY MASTER PLANNING #2 (LINN BROOKS, GENERAL MANAGER AT THE ERWSD)
Video Start Time: 0 1:28:43 Part One
Linn Brooks, Diane Johnson and Steve Coyer joined the meeting. Linn Brooks, General Manager at
the Eagle River Water and Sanitation Department, presented the second part of the Water Resources
Masterplan presentation and answered Council questions. Diane Johnson and Steve Coyer
mentioned that this is an educational effort on water usage for the community.
Councilor Thuon got disconnected at 6:36 p.m. and rejoined the meeting at 6:42 p.m.
Mayor Smith Hymes asked for public comments and no public comments were made.
5.4. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS (PLANNING DIRECTOR MATT PIELSTICKER)
Video Start Time: 02:18:24 Part One
Planning Director Matt Pielsticker joined the meeting and explained that all four commissioners
reapplied. Mayor Smith Hymes proposed to not discuss the reducing of members tonight , and
to focus on the appointments.
AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2021
SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19
Commissioners Jared Barnes and Steven Nusbaum joined the meeting and Councilors
Underwood and Hardy thanked them for serving, giving back to the community , and reapplying.
The other two Commissioners reapplying are Anthony Sekinger and Martin Golembiewski who
could not attend the meeting this evening .
Councilor Prince moved to approve the four applicants for continuing terms . Mayor Pro Tem
Phillips seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
5.5. WORK SESSION: COMMUNITY SURVEY (COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER ELIZABETH WOOD)
Video Start Time: 00:00:10 Part Two
Communications Manager Elizabeth Wood joined the meeting and expressed that she is excited
to launch the community survey next month. She mentioned that she received input/feedback
from several members of Council and welcome d everyone to email her with more comments
and suggestions , as it is a lengthy survey.
Council made suggestions for additions/changes in different questions of the survey, including
some regarding special events, police use of force and presence, and the railroad.
Communications Manager Liz Wood thanked Council for all the great suggestions and expressed
that she is looking forward to b ringing back a revised copy of the survey for the second Council
work session in May.
5.6. PUBLIC HEARING: RESOLUTION 21-10, AMENDING THE 2021 TOWN OF AVON BUDGET (ASSISTANT TOWN
MANAGER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR SCOTT WRIGHT )
Video Start Time: 00:22:21 Part Two
Assistant Town Manager and Finance Director Scott Wright joined the meeting and explained the
amendments before Council this evening. Town Manager Eric Heil expressed that Council can choose
to increase the reserves to 30%. Councilor Prince said it is amazing that the Town did not dip into the
reserves during a global pandemic, and he would rather see the debt reduce, than over-reserving
and having reserves that are never used.
Mayor Smith Hymes asked for public comments and no public comments were made.
Councilor Underwood asked to discuss Councilor Prince's suggestion to reduce debt at a future
meeting.
Councilor Underwood moved to approve the Resolution 21-10 Amending the 2021 Town of
Avon Budget as presented in the packet . Councilor Hardy seconded th e motion. Councilor Prince
asked if Councilor s Underwood and Hardy would be willing to ame nd the motion to exclude
approval of the I -70 underpass aesthetic improvements from the motion and vote on that
separately. Councilor Underwood did not want to amend her motion. The motion passed with
a vote of 4 to 3. Councilors Prince, Thuon and Andrade voted no , as they do not support a
budget amendment for the I-70 underpass aesthetic improvements.
AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2021
SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19
5.7. WORK SESSION: WEST BEAVER CREEK BOULEVARD , ON-STREET PARKING (TOWN E NGINEER JUSTIN HILDRETH
AND MOBILITY D IRECTOR EVA WILSON)
Video Start Time: 00:46:56 Part Two
Town Manager Eric Heil introduced the topic and explained that Council tasked staff to work on
improving the safety by Memorial Day weekend, and to make sure to get input from residents
that live in the neighborhood. He explained the Town hosted a neighborhood meeting last night
and summarized comments were emailed to Council this morning. The main takeaway was
trespassing concerns and concerns about more congestion/user numbers in the park.
Different options were discussed. The first option was parallel gravel parking with less spots
than currently allowed. The second option was to shrink the parking area to 300 feet. The third
option was to eliminate on-street parking, encourage drop-off at lot 16 , and parking elsewhere.
Councilor Thuon expressed that the Town should consider paid parking on the street , as well as
free parking on Lake Street and at old T own Hall. Councilor Hardy expressed how the Town
needs to disperse activities and consider moving the SUP activity to the other side of the lake,
away from the beach. Councilor Andrade is all about safety and making it pedestrian friendly
and supports no parking o n the road. Mayor Smith Hymes said she does not think spending
money really improves the safety, the existing parking elsewhere is not utilized, and the Town
can make lot 16 drop off only in the summer and hire a parking attendant for the summer
months . Councilor Thuon said that maybe a valet service company in the valley can jump in.
Mayor Smith Hymes asked for public comments and several public comments were made.
Deb McBride thanked Council for listening and said it is lovely to see the park being utilized so much.
She likes the idea of a parking attendant, taking branches of the bottom of trees, and creating more
bathrooms.
Ruth Stanley expressed she wants to keep stressing that this area is a residential neighborhood and
said she feels like the comments last night were heard and really appreciates Council listening.
Jake Wolf said he agrees with the majority of what was said, he suggested shutting down parking this
summer and studying the situation. He mentioned how Michael Cacioppo is not in good health and
asked for good vibes for him.
Deb McBride made a second comment and thanked Councilors Hardy and Andrade for really listening
and asked to please consider homeowners, not just the SUP vendor. She would like to see it more
managed and less of a "free for all".
Sarah Straub said she attended last night and would like to hold off on parallel parking. She said there
are other priorities like infrastructure and order. She requested to pay more attention to the usage
of the park and the lake.
AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2021
SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19
Mayor Pro Tem Phillips supports eliminating the parking but wants Council to be ready to take the
heat from out-of-town guests. Councilor Underwood supports a small amount of parking on the
north side, right where it accesses lot 16. Councilor Thuon supports no parking on the road. Councilor
Prince is about alternative parking and advertising/educating people on walking times. He said the
idea of offering public carts can still be explored, but he will go along with the rest of Council.
Councilor Hardy is open to some parking but siding on no.
Kathy Ryan commented and apologized for missing part of the discussion due to technical difficulties.
She supports no parking on the street and moving the SUP rentals back to the log cabin. She also
expressed concerns about bio-diversity.
Kris Miller, a Homestead resident, made one final public comment and said she supports people
parking farther and walking a little bit longer and said it is a non-issue.
Staff will come back with a written report to discuss implementation before Memorial Day weekend.
6. MINUTES
6.1. APPROVAL OF APRIL 13, 2021 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES (TOWN CLERK BRENDA TORRES)
Video Start Time: 01:52:30 Part Two
Councilor Underwood moved to approve the minutes from the April 13, 2021 regular meeting as
presented. Mayor Pro Tem Phillips seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
7. WRITTEN REPORTS
7.1. April 20th Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Abstract (Planner David McWilliams)
7.2. April 15th CASE Committee Draft Meeting Minutes (General Government Intern Emily Myler)
7.3. Monthly Financial Report (Senior Accountant Joel McCracken)
7.4. Quarterly RETT Report (Senior Accountant Joel McCracken)
8. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS & MEETING UPDATES
Video Start Time: 01:53:24 Part Two
Councilor Thuon asked when Council will return to meeting in-person in Council Chambers. Town
Manager Eric Heil explained that Eagle County is on track to rescind the Public Health Orders on May 27th
so we would go back to meeting in-person starting in June. IT is working on technology to accommodate
a blended remote/in-person meeting format. Councilor Thuon requested to start receiving a paper
Council packet.
Mayor Smith Hymes said Council can schedule a discussion on whether Councilors can participate remote
and what that would look like, and to put this on a future agenda for discussion.
Mayor Pro Tem Phillips requested a staff report from Town Attorney Paul Wisor and Town Manager Eric
Heil with options on guidance for remote participation.
AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2021
SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19
9. ADJOURN
There being no further business before Council, Mayor Smith Hymes moved to adjourn the regular
meeting. The time was 9:26 p.m.
These minutes are only a summary of the proceedings of the meeting. They are not intended to be
comprehensive or to include each statement, person speaking or to portray with complete accuracy. The
most accurate records of the meeting are the audio of the meeting, which is housed in the Town Clerk' s
office, and the video of the meeting, which is available at www.highfivemedia.org.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Brenda Torres, Town Clerk
APPROVED:
Sarah Smith Hymes ___________________________________
Amy Phillips
Chico Thuon
Scott Prince
Tamra Underwood
Lindsay Hardy
RJ Andrade