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TC Minutes 04-14-2020 AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2020 SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19 AND TOWN HALL CLOSURE 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was hosted in a virtual format, using Zoom.us. Mayor Smith Hymes called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. A roll call was taken, and Council members present by video/audio were Amy Phillips, Tamra Underwood, Scott Prince, Jennie Fancher, and Jake Wolf. Councilor Chico Thuon was absent. Also present were Town Attorney Paul Wisor, Police Chief Greg Daly, Executive Assistant to the Town Manager Ineke de Jong, Town Manager Eric Heil, and Town Clerk Brenda Torres. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Video Start Time: 00:00:34 Councilor Thuon joined the meeting by video/audio at 4:01 p.m. right after the Roll Call. Town Manager Eric Heil mentioned that material for item 5.3 was not included in the packet, but it could still be discussed as scheduled in the agenda. Councilor Fancher moved to approve the agenda as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Phillips seconded the motion and the motion passed on a vote of 6 to 1. Councilor Wolf voted no. 3. DISCLOSURE OF ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS Video Start Time: 00:02:10 No conflicts of interest were disclosed. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Video Start Time: 00:02:20 Mayor Smith Hymes explained to the public how to participate via video/audio or via phone or via email for public comments. Michael Cacioppo asked two questions, why does Councilor Wolf always vote ‘Nay’ on the approving of the agenda and why the bag ban was not included in the agenda as he thought that Councilor Thuon requested it at the last meeting. Mayor Smith Hymes and Councilor Thuon responded to his comment and agreed this had not been made clear between the two of them and to put this item on the next agenda. Mr. Cacioppo said he ‘raised his hand’ during the approval of the agenda but he was not given the opportunity to speak. Town Attorney Paul Wisor pointed out that there is no obligation to have Public Comments and our Policies provide that we will allow Public Comments at the beginning of the meetings only. 5. BUSINESS ITEMS 5.1. NOTICE OF AWARD NOTTINGHAM PARK UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (TOWN ENGINEER JUSTIN HILDRETH) Video Start Time: 00:08:12 Town Engineer Justin Hildreth presented and answered questions from Council. Councilor Fancher moved to authorize issuance of Notice of Award for the Nottingham Park Utility improvements Project contract to the low bidder, Solar Valley Enterprises, in the amount of $264,364 as approved in the Town of Avon 2020 Capital Projects Fund. Mayor Pro Tem Phillips seconded the motion and the motion passed by a vote of 6 to 1. Councilor Wolf voted no as he thinks this is not the right moment given the current situation with the pandemic. AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2020 SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19 AND TOWN HALL CLOSURE 5.2. WORK SESSION TO REVIEW 2020 AVON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT PLAN AND FUND (TOWN MANAGER ERIC HEIL AND TOWN ENGINEER JUSTIN HILDRETH) Video Start Time: 00:25:55 Town Manager Eric Heil presented a review of the 2020 Avon Capital Improvements Project Plan to discuss with Council whether to proceed or defer with various planned capital improvements projects. Council gave direction for staff to move forward with various projects, including the Nottingham Park Pavilion floor replacement, restrooms- Nottingham Park old Town Hall site (Design), restrooms- Nottingham Lake (screening 3 porta-lets & schematic design new restrooms), Mall activation elements (music display), the I-70 Interchange Pedestrian Enhancement (design), East Stormwater Vault (Design and Installation), West Stormwater Vault (design), and prioritize for this year calendar Avon Road pedestrian safety improvements. Council also gave direction to staff to defer the restoration and remodel of Nottingham Park Cabin (Design). Mayor Smith Hymes asked for Public Comment and no Public Comments were made. 5.3. DISCUSSION OF AVON BUSINESS RELIEF (TOWN MANAGER ERIC HEIL) Video Start Time: 02:27:51 Town Manager Eric Heil talked about the Avon Business Relief. He said a report on what other communities are doing for business assistance will be presented, along with the reusable bags item, at the next Council meetings on Thursday April 23, 2020. Councilor Wolf mentioned that the Cultural, Arts and Special Events committee meeting will be held on Thursday April 16, 2020. He asked Council and members of the community for input on new ideas to be shared at the meeting. Alex Bolla made a Public Comment about his company, InfraHeat, Co’s, products. They could help projects like some of the ones presented on the Avon Capital Improvements plan. He will send more information on the different products they have and how they can be used in different areas. 5.4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM APRIL 9, 2020 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING (TOWN CLERK BRENDA TORRES) Video Start Time: 02:40:21 Mayor Smith Hymes made a minor amendment. Councilor Underwood requested, as a general protocol during virtual meetings, to make a notation every time a Council member drops-off due to technical difficulties. Councilor Underwood moved to approve the minutes from April 9, 2020 as amended and adding her notation. Councilor Fancher seconded the motion and the motion passed on a vote of 6 to 1. Councilor Wolf voted no. 6. MAYOR & C OUNCIL COMMENTS & MEETING UPDATES Video Start Time: 02:43:44 Councilor Thuon mentioned he went to Northside Kitchen to use one of the Avon Meal Vouchers and the restaurant and Staff were very appreciative. He said he watched staff in the process of making his food and he felt very comfortable and the floor is very well marked for social distancing. He wants to send the word AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2020 SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19 AND TOWN HALL CLOSURE out to support the restaurants that are open and for their great efforts. He closed his comments saying that Pavalici’s Pizza is outstanding. Mayor Pro Tem Phillips seconded the Pavalici’s Pizza endorsement and commented about the Avon In- Deed program. She said this is a really good way to make it easier for people that live and work here to buy a place. Councilor Thuon requested to put it in the agenda to be discussed. She said it would be great if Council comes to a resolution and had it in place by the end of May. Councilor Wolf agreed on the Pavalici’s Pizza comments. He thanked Arjun Kale and High Five Media for the incredible job they are doing during these virtual meetings and keeping the community connected. He also thanked Town Staff. Councilor Wolf requested to have Chief Daly unmuted. Chief Daly answered several questions from Council. Councilor Wolf asked him about crimes and police reports received under the given situation. Chief Daly compared calls for service from last year in relation to the same period this year (March 1-April 14) and reported there is approximately a 58% increase, including Domestic violence incident reports that were doubled from 4 in 2019 to 8 in 2020. He said that overall our community is doing good with social distancing and provided information for help centers for people to reach out, including Non-emergency Vail Dispatch number, (970) 479-2201, to get in touch with an officer and/or the Hope Center. Mayor Smith Hymes asked Chief Daly if any call of the increased calls had been COVID-19 related. He said some of them have, but the protocol has changed, and they have been working in collaboration with other departments. Councilor Underwood asked Chief Daly clarification about social distancing in the park, as the signage looks confusing to her. Chief Daly said the park itself is open to exercise, per the public order, but areas considered ‘high-touch’ are closed, like the fitness courts, picnic and playground areas. The lake is also closed. Councilor Underwood asked Staff to update signage to make clear what activities are allowed. Councilor Wolf mentioned Council received a message that the testing in Eagle County has caught up. He said more information on the list of testing centers is available on their website and mentioned that they are encouraging people to get properly tested as soon as they have symptoms. Councilor Thuon thanked Town of Avon essential workers. Mayor Smith Hymes thanked Councilor Underwood for her hard work on the food security and rent relief. She said that she and the Town Manager Eric Heil were part of a call set up by the Vail Valley Foundation and it was mentioned that the rate of testing positive this week went down from 35% to 7% of the people that are tested and 4.5% of the population has been tested; hospitals are in good shape and some of our urgent care nurses have been sent to Denver to help. She mentioned a comment from Vail Health CEO Will Cook made on the call, that “more people are going to get poor than they are going to get sick.” She said that liaison people contacting communities for healthy meals distribution mentioned that the message they are getting back is that the food piece is getting solved, but rent relief is the real pressing need. Councilor Underwood asked Mayor Smith Hymes about the anti-body testing. She responded that this was addressed in the call and it is her understanding that is not available yet. AVON REGULAR MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2020 SETUP AS A VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19 AND TOWN HALL CLOSURE Mayor Smith Hymes pointed out that the MIRA bus had gone to do free COVID-19 testing at The Aspens and Eaglebend Apartments. They did 100 tests 3 weeks ago, down to 50 last week and 25 this week, and the infection rate has been under 15% for that population. 7. ADJOURN There being no further business before Council, Mayor Smith Hymes moved to adjourn the regular meeting. The time was 7:19 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 Jake Wolf Chico Thuon Jennie Fancher Scott Prince Tamra Underwood