Report from the May 23^rd Avon Town Council Meeting

Music Event Funding, Creative District Designation and Future Uses of Town Fire Stations Discussed

• Officials from Eagle River Fire Protection District (ERFPD) gave a presentation about general preparedness for wildfire in Avon, and specifically, the Wildridge Subdivision. Their presentation touched on procedures for evacuation as well as communication between ERFPD and local residents in the event of a fire-related emergency.

• Council approved a rebate of Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) to Walking Mountains Science Center in the amount of $38,000. The RETT amount was paid to the Town by Walking Mountains for the recent acquisition of Lot 2, Buck Creek Subdivision. The funds will be placed in Walking Mountains Capital Improvement Fund. 

• Council approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 17-06, thereby approving the Town of Avon Comprehensive Plan, dated May 2017, a Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application. Since the first reading of the Ordinance on April 11, 2017, further changes to the document have been incorporated, including the consolidation of Planning Districts from a total of twenty-eight (28) to eleven (11). Additionally, editorial and grammatical edits were made throughout the document for correctness and readability.

• In support of the Ad Hoc Special Events Committee’s recommendation made on May 3, 2017, Council approved the appropriation of $70,000 from the General Fund Special Event Reserve Budget to underwrite a one day and/or two-day major music event at the Avon Pavilion this summer. Council elected to leave rest of the details to the Ad Hoc Special Events Committee. The eligible dates are as follows:
  • August 11 – 13
  • August 26
  • September 1 – 3
  • September 15-17
  • September 22-24

• Council authorized Mayor Jennie Fancher to sign a Letter of Support for a nonbinding future renewable energy purchase from the 2018 Community Solar Project. Clean Energy Collective (CEC), a developer of community solar solutions, approached the Town to participate in a community solar facility. The Town has stated a commitment to use renewable energy, as indicated by the adoption of the Climate Action Plan for the Eagle County Community.

• A work session was held to present a strategy to pursue a Creative District Designation, added as a Tier One Priority in the Town of Avon 2017-18 Strategic Plan. Specifically, Council discussed repurposing the Avon Fire Station as an Art space. A site tour by Town staff showed promise that the facility, in whole or in part, could be transitioned into an Art space for a community of artists with live/work options, affordable housing, artist in residence programs and creative entrepreneurialism. The Avon Fire Station building will be returned to the Town by ERFPD on or before January 1, 2018.

• Council discussed future uses of the Wildridge Fire Station, which will be returned to the Town of Avon by ERFPD on or before January 1, 2018. While it is an important property being evaluated for future uses through the Town Owned Properties Study, it appears an interim use should be considered. Town staff toured the property recently, and determined the building is in good shape and the second floor, complete with two housing units, could be used for employee housing. Council felt that the first floor should be a community space of some sort.