MINUTES CARBONDALE BOARD OF TRUSTEES VIRTUAL WORK SESSION APRIL 21, 2020  Mayor Dan Richardson called the April 21, 2020, virtual Work Session to order at 6:00  p.m.  ROLL CALL:  The following members were present for roll call:  Mayor Trustees  Dan Richardson Lani Kitching Ben Bohmfalk Marty Silverstein Heather Henry Erica Sparhawk Luis Yllanes Jay Harrington Cathy Derby  Staff Present: Town Manager Town Clerk COVID-19 UPDATE  Jay informed the Board that Governor Polis has changed the COVID-19 order from "Stay at Home" to "Safe at Home." Jay is waiting on an interpretation of the order. Some businesses (e.g. dentist, hair salons) will open with extensive safety protocols in place. Businesses should follow a 65% social distancing rule which will likely last through the end of the year. Garfield County is approximately two weeks behind Eagle Staff will soon have the March sales tax report; it will likely be flat or there will be a slight decrease. Staff is anticipating a significant decrease in sales tax for April. Itis forecasted that tax revenue for grocery stores, marijuana shops, and liquor stores will experience an increase in revenue while restaurants and hotels will continue to see a drop. The Town has not cut back on spending and staff is not taking any drastic financial action at this time. The police are healthy. Three employees have been out of As businesses re-open staff will gauge what Town facilities should open. Jay stated that the Recreation Center should probably remain closed in conjunction with school closures. Staff is waiting to see if the pool can re-open. The off-lease dog parks remain  County in control measures.  work due to COVID-19.  open. The park picnic tables are being isolated or relocated.    Trustee Meeting Minutes April 21, 2020  Page 2  Dan gave an update on the Task Force. The following points were made:  Members of the Task Force are helping people with advanced directives (power They are ramping up communications on the Governor's new Safe at Home  of attorney, do not resuscitate, etc.)  orders  Neighborhood heroes continue to do great work More and more meals are being delivered to seniors AARP has donated 2,000 masks to seniors The Task Force wants to launch a dashboard  The Task Force has been informing people whenever they receive reliable data Trustee Silverstein stated that Lift-Up is going to provide him with the numbers as to how much food has been distributed in Carbondale. Last week they ran out of food because Basalt was sending people to Carbondale. This week there was food left over. Jay stated that they will have plenty of food available on Thursday as they are coordinating with Basalt. The Aspen Community Foundation has provided information Mayor Richardson informed the Board that the State has launched a COVID-19 web page; it's a one stop list of resources, you type in your zip code and the site provides a list of charitable organizations. The Department of Local Affairs has a map where you click on your county and it lists the organizations that are providing help. Mayor Richardson stated that Andrea Stewart, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, has a good understanding of what businesses are experiencing. Mayor Richardson stated that he is making it a priority to better understand what local Trustee Bohmfalk stated that he was unsuccessful in finding information where to donate money. He asked if it would be possible to put a donation link on the Town's website. He asked the Board what is the Town's role during the pandemic. The Town's Trustee Yllanes stated that a local business owner attended a protest in Denver and he may have been exposed to the virus. Jay told the Board that the County Health Department has been asked to recommend how to handle the situation if the business  on how they are spending their donations.  businesses need.  major role is to provide essential services (water, public safety, etc.).  is found to be unsafe. FOOD SECURITY DISCUSSION  Mayor Richardson told the Board that it has come to the Task Force's attention that people want to discuss and advocate for food security. Iffood production is changed this season some residents want to give everyone tools to start a vegetable garden. He asked if the Town should to get involved. The Town has been asked if it has the ability    Trustee Meeting Minutes April 21, 2020  Page 3  to prevent Homeowner's Associations (HOA) and Planned Unit Developments from prohibiting food infrastructure (green houses, raised vegetable beds, etc.). Steev Wilson told the Board that there are a lot of HOA's that prohibit food infrastructures including Sopris Townhomes, Crystal River, RVR requires approval, and Wheel Circle only allows certain types of greenhouses. Trustee Bohmfalk asked if it's a big problem Trustee Kitching stated that in RVR raised beds must meet RVR's design criteria and a resident cannot have a garden if it requires additional irrigation. Chicken Coops are not Trustee Silverstein asked if the community gardens are maxed out? Do we need additional community gardens? There is still space available at the Bonnie Fisher Trustee Sparhawk asked if it's possible for homeowners to relinquish their HOA's and PUD's and abide by the Town's Unified Development Code. Could the Town advocate to the State to pass legislation that prevents the prohibition of food infrastructure? Steve suggested the Town talk to HOA's and tell them that the Town supports food production. He noted that growing food requires less water than growing grass. Mayor Richardson said if people are being prevented from growing gardens they should Steve asked if the Town could put a garden guide on the Town website which would include instructions on how to grow a garden. He asked if the Town would consider changes to the building code (e.g. a 42 inch chicken wire fence around a garden shouldn't require a building permit). Trustee Bohmfalk replied that this issue doesn't seem urgent and that it could be handled during the next round of building code Colin Quinn suggested that the Town website could include information on where to buy plant starters. The Environmental Board could play a role by placing ads in the newspaper listing plant sales. Trustee Sparhawk noted that Austin, Texas has a Local Food Policy Council and their website has links to garden resources. It would be great Itv was recommended that the Town could develop more resources (create a tool library). Trustee Silverstein stated that most tool libraries are run out of local libraries. Trustee Henry stated that the Task Force has identified 100 neighborhoods. They could Trustee Bohmfalk noted that food production is not a new concept - it's in the Comprehensive Plan. He said that he doesn't see barriers in the way of growing food.  - we should hear from people sO we get a good sense ifi it's an issue.  approved mainly because they attract predators.  Community Garden.  let the Town know.  revisions.  ifChamber businesses could get involved in creating a food council.  build on infrastructure already in place and add resources to it.    Trustee Meeting Minutes April 21, 2020  Page 4  Trustee Sparhawk asked if there is anything the Town can do to make the Bonnie Fisher Community Garden more productive. Trustee Henry suggested talking to people The Board agreed that the Food Community should develop a strategy for food production. The Town is here to help but the Town isn'tgoing to lead the effort. Trustee Silverstein announced that today is the 75th anniversary of Holocaust Day and  who have/had plots there.  tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.  ADJOURNMENT  The April 21, 2020, work session adjourned at 7:30 p.m. The next regularly scheduled  meeting will be held on April 28, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.  APPROVED AND, ACCEPTED Dan Richardson, Mayor AL  ATTEST:  BI.  CNEOCN SEAL COLORADO  Cathy Derby, Town Clerk)