The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - City Council - 06/19/2023 CITY COUNCIL 19 JUNE 2023 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 19 June 2023,at 6:00 p.m., in the Auditorium, 180 Market Street, and by Go to Meeting remote participation. MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Riehle, Chair; M. Emery,T. Barritt, T. Barnes, A. Chalnick ALSO PRESENT: J. Baker, City Manager; Chief S. Locke, Deputy City Manager; T. DiPietro, Public Works Director; C. Lambert, City Arborist; B. Denham, R. Greco, R. Ambaye,T. Cleary, M. Jackson, N. Chaulot, B. Cinti, A. Corbett, A. Donahue, R. Fitzgerald,J. Holmes, M. McCaffrey, M. Pels, members of the public 1. Instructions on exiting building in case of emergency and review of technology option: Ms. Baker provided instructions on emergency exit from the building and reviewed technology options. 2. Additions, deletions or changes in the order of Agenda items: Ms. Emery asked to add a Resolution under the Juneteenth portion of the Agenda. 3. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda: Mr. Denham of the HOA Board at South Village spoke regarding a parcel of land to be deeded to the city for recreation. On the current map, this land is shown as a soccer field with parking for 60 cars and an access road. The residents feel this is not the best use for that land. Members of the Parks and Recreation Committee agree. This is a City Council call, and Mr. Denham asked that the Council change that proposal. He noted there is money in escrow that could be used for consultation. Ms. Baker noted that staff has been meeting with the developer to put together a plan. South Village will be involved in that discussion. 4. Announcements and City Manager's Report: Members of the Council reported on meetings and events they had attended in the previous weeks. Ms. Baker: Nick Atherton has joined the staff as another City Planner. CITY COUNCIL 19 JUNE 2023 PAGE 2 5. Consent Agenda: a. Approve and Sign Disbursements b. May Financials c. Appoint Paul Conner& Kelsey Peterson to the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission's Planning Advisory Committee as representative and alternate respectively d. Approve the lease agreement with Chittenden Solid Waste District to continue the use of City-owned land to operate the Environmental Depot,the Pump Station agreement, and authorize the City Manager to execute the related documents e. Approve Resolution #2023-10 to expand the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee to 10 members by adding one new 3-year seat f. Approve Resolution#2023-11 to expand the City Charter Committee to eight members by adding one new 3-year seat g. Appoint candidates to all boards and committees as presented h. Appoint Michael Scanlan to serve as the South Burlington Commissioner to the Green Mountain Transit Board The appointed candidates to boards and committees included the following: Affordable Housing Committee: Noah Hyman, Vince Bolduc, Chris Trombly, Nora Senecal Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee: Dana Farr, Nic Anderson, Mark E. Pasanen, Ken Burkman Chit Charter Committee: Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Paul Engels Common Area for Dogs: Elan Curran,Jason Smith Development Review Board: Quinn Mann Economic Development: Michael Scanlan Energy Committee: Samuel Lipschutz Library Board of Trustees: Anne Gilson Lalonde, Margery Vagt, Theresa Joan Eirmann CITY COUNCIL 19 JUNE 2023 PAGE 3 Natural Resources Committee:Julian Keenan, Christine Badalamenti Smith, Larry Kupferman, Linda Bailey Planning Commission: Duncan MacDonald, Michael Mittag, Paul Engels Pension Advisory Committee: Matt Sleeman Public Art Committee: Sebastian Ryder, Penelope Tompkins Recreation & Parks Committee: Brett Visger, Will Sudbay, Alastair Hayes Sextons:Jason Kirchick, John Simson Mr. Barritt moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Discuss the City's approach to Ash Trees and provide direction to staff: Ms. Riehle reviewed the history. Mr. DiPietro noted that$74,000 has been set aside for ash tree removal and replanting, $50,000 of which is a capital expense. Mr. Lambert added that there is a $12,000 grant to be used for replanting. Mr. DiPietro said there are 581 ash trees left in the city. He shared concerns with moving too slow and hoped to move forward with a program. Ms. Riehle noted that the Natural Resources Committee has recommended a hybrid plan which involves treating some trees and also allows for replacement. They also advised that there is an alternative which is being tested. Mr. Chalnick said the Committee's plan would eventually result in the replacement of all ash trees. Mr. DiPietro said he is not opposed to treatment, but they would have to identify the trees to be treated as some ash trees are not thriving and should be removed. If the number to be treated is low, treatment could be done in-house. There is the added question of using an insecticide in a public right-of-way. The City Council would have to be OK with that. Ms. Riehle noted the insecticide is an injection, not a spray, so that should not be an issue. CITY COUNCIL 19 JUNE 2023 PAGE 4 Mr. Barnes asked whether they would need to increase the budgeted amount for tree care. Mr. DiPietro said the annual tree maintenance budget is$10,000. The injection budget would be $58,000 a year, and they would have to re-inject in 3 years. He added that use of ARPA money would help. Ms. Emery asked if that is cheaper than removing and replacing trees. Mr. DiPietro said it is a little more expensive since it has to be done every three years. Mr. Lambert said they would not want to inject any trees under 10 inches in diameter. About 160 of those trees were planted 10 years ago and are not doing well. Most of them are in the Golf Course neighborhood, a lot on Nowland Farm Road. Mr. Barritt asked why they are not thriving. Mr. Lambert said the subsoil is very compacted, and the trees were never taken out of their wire baskets. The new trees that are being planted are being removed from wire baskets. Mr. DiPietro said they will need some time to put together a hybrid plan. He also noted that before trees are taken down, there is some interplanting. Mr. Chalnick moved that the city consider a hybrid plan to address the ash bore problem. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Greco said neighbors in her area are willing to chip in to help save trees. 7. Approve a Resolution to Declare Major Jackson an Honorary Native Son: Ms. Emery read the Resolution honoring Major Jackson for his contributions to education and culture. Mr. Barritt moved to approve the Resolution as read. Mr. Barnes seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Juneteenth Acknowledgement and Celebration: Poetry by Major Jackson; Music by Rachel Ambaye; a Polyvocal Reading by Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School and South Burlington High School students of Frederic Douglass's 1852 speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?", and an opportunity for the community to share perspectives on Juneteenth: The following program was presented: CITY COUNCIL 19 JUNE 2023 PAGE 5 1. "Come Sunday" by Duke Ellington performed by Rachel Ambaye with Tom Cleary on Keyboard 2. Freedom and the Practice of Poetry— Readings in honor of Frederick Douglass by Major Jackson: "Frederick Douglass" by Paul Laurence Dunbar "Frederick Douglass" by Robert Hayden "Stand Your Ground" by Major Jackson 3. "Something to Live For" by Billy Strayhorn performed by Rachel Ambaye with Tom Cleary on Keyboard 4. "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July"—a reading of Frederick Douglass's 1852 speech performed by South Burlington Middle and High School students: Naomi Chaulot, Bryce Cinti, Alannah Corbett, Abby Donahue, Ria Fitzgerald, Meghan McCaffrey, Molly Pels 5. "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free: by Billy Taylor performed by Rachel Ambaye with Tom Cleary on Keyboard Following the performances, members of the audience thanked the performers, "our future," for their dedication, their diction, their focus so eloquently. One member felt blessed in the presence of the musical performers. As there was no further business to come before the Council,the meeting was adjourned by common consent at 8:50 p.m., and the public was invited to enjoy refreshments provided by Ms. Riehle. ZA.,,Lra_ Clerk