Aspen Chamber Resort Association, Pitkin County Choose Stances on November Ballot Measures

Polling from the Chamber found that 75% of its members are eager to participate in programs that will allow them to secure housing for their employees.

— The Board of Directors also chose to support Question 1C, which seeks to amend Article II of the county’s governing document, the Home Rule Charter, to reaffirm Pitkin County’s power to approve and carry out the layout plan for the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport.

The board believes this ballot measure “could impose overly restrictive conditions, potentially hindering the airport’s ability to comply with (Federal Aviation Administration) safety standards, meet the community’s air service needs, and manage the airport facility,” a news release from the organization states.

“Ensuring that our airport can continue to evolve and meet the needs of both residents and visitors is essential to the long-term vitality of Aspen,” said Cristal Logan, Chair of the board.

— The board chose to oppose Question 200, which seeks to amend the Home Rule Charter to restrict county officials’ decision-making power regarding the expansion or relocation of any runway at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport beyond the dimensions and locations that existed on Jan. 1 without voter approval in their ballot question. It also clearly defines “runway.”

Once these two ballot questions were certified, ACRA conducted outreach to its members through virtual listening sessions and a member survey. There was support for the updated airport layout plan submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and for Question 1C.

The survey was presented to Chamber members in emails, newsletters, and social media from Sept. 2-23. Almost 150 individuals participated in the survey, with 116 separate businesses cited. Most responses came from direct emails, with the next most responses coming from election-specific and membership newsletters.

For the airport-related ballot measures, 73% of the respondents support Question 1C. Around 12% of the respondents support Question 200, and another 12% remain undecided. Three respondents said they do not support either measure. Around 93% of respondents indicated they are familiar with their airport issues, with none indicating they are “not at all” familiar with the issues.

Pitkin County commissioners

During Tuesday’s Pitkin County commissioner work session, commissioners informally chose their stances for both local and state questions on the November ballot. The commissioners, however, chose to not take a stance on Question 200, the citizen-backed airport ballot issue brought on by Citizens Against Bigger Planes.

Commissioners did back the county’s other three ballot questions: Question 1A, Question 1C, and Question 1B — the latter of which is a Pitkin County Solid Waste Center question that looks to issue revenue bonds for $22 million, not to exceed $37 million in repayment, in order to finance the expansion of the area where waste is deposited at the county landfill.

The board also supported the city of Aspen’s proposed extension of the 1% real estate transfer tax and the 0.45% sales tax, as well as the Town of Snowmass Village’s ballot measure that asks voters to decide on the Draw Site affordable housing projects, which will build 79 workforce housing units containing 118 bedrooms near Town Hall for $86 million.

The board directed staff to ask the city of Aspen for more information on Question 2C, which is the imposition of a use tax on motor vehicles.