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What's happening...
(ACC - Aspen City Council, BOCC - Pitkin Board of County Commissioners)
✨🔥 AI Helps Wildfire Protection & Planning
On Monday, the COA receives an update on AI technology that the Police Department is proposing for improving wildfire preparation and evacuation planning.
- Lardis - Artificial Intelligence-supported traffic analysis for evacuation planning. The cost is $49,000.
- Genasys - Evacuation zone mapping/planning software.
- Pano - Artificial Intelligence wildfire detection camera system.
🚦 Lumberyard Lumbers Along
The ACC receives an update on the Lumberyard, which outlines the highest "initial" investment by the city being $221M. It's unclear whether that figure includes project costs to date and ongoing operational expenses post completion.
The longest proposed timeline by developer applicants extends the project to 2033.
Phase 0, which includes the horizontal infrastructure for the project and a new traffic intersection at Hyw 82, is now projected to be more than 3x over the previous budget. The memo outlines 53% attribution to added scope and 47% to construction inflation.
Council will decide whether to add Phase 0 to the developer's scope or proceed with the city managing the work. 12 developers submitted proposals for the vertical development of the Lumberyard. Developer selection is planned to be completed by the end of January.
⚡️ $9.8M Ruedi Hydroelectric Powerplant Upgrade
The COA leases a site from the U.S Bureau of Reclamation at the Ruedi Dam and Reservoir, which was constructed between 1964 and 1968. The COA seeks to update and modernize the hydroelectric powerplant with a second 1.2 MW turbine that will optimize the amount of energy produced from each acre foot of water released from the dam. The capacity of the powerplant will increase by 32%.
Half of the $9.8M project will be funded by federal grants. The Aspen Electric utility serves 3,138 customers and the city's target of 100% renewable energy is made up of 46% hydroelectric power and 54% wind. The Ruedi Powerplant production has steadily been declining to less than 30% due largely to new dam release patterns that release large volumes intended to aid the recovery of endangered fish species in the Colorado River downstream. The new turbine will help to reverse hydro production decline.
🏚️ Demolition Derby for Allotments
There were 10 applicants for 4 "non local" Demolition Allotments for 2024. After the 4 were awarded by lottery last February, the other 6 applicants appealed and were awarded allotments by settlement using all of the allocated allotments for 2025. Additionally, there are 2 "local" Demolition Allotments available each year. On Tuesday, council will be asked to approve 2 "local" allotments for 2025, leaving zero "non local" and "local" allotments available for 2025. There's no clarity on how the program will accommodate applications for next year.
🗳️ Move City Elections from March to November?
Aspen Daily News recently featured an excellent article, Aspen officials to consider another change of election date, that talks about the potential change to the local municipal election date from March to November that could go into effect in 2026. An Election White Paper examines the pros and cons. One positive to moving the local elections to November is that voter turnout is consistently higher than March, especially in Presidential Election years. The downside concern is that a crowded November ballot may overshadow local candidates and ballot measures.
🍽️ Opening Has Been No Picnic for Yogi's
The city-owned space formerly occupied by Taster's Pizza has sat empty for 5 years. It was supposed to be operational in the summer of 2023. At Tuesday's council meeting, Yogi's lease delinquency will be discussed in executive session. Hopefully, the planned affordable restaurant can open soon.
