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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 08/07/2023 CITY COUNCIL 7 AUGUST 2023 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 7 August 2023, at 6:30 p.m., in the Auditorium, 180 Market Street, and by Go to Meeting remote participation. MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Riehle, Chair; M. Emery, T. Barritt, A. Chalnick ALSO PRESENT: J. Baker, City Manager; Chief S. Locke, Deputy City Manager;J. Murray, Librarian; S. Pape, Library Board of Directors; D. Bugbee, M. Mittag, B. Sirvis, R. Doyle, Rep. B. Cina, L. Bailey, L. Diamond, 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 to Other Business a discussion of post cards members received and a discussion of City Center housing design. Ms. Baker asked to add as Item 10B a Resolution honoring City Clerk Donna Kinville. 3. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda: Ms. Diamond spoke regarding a showing of the film "Abolition and Revolution" which will be hosted by the Library on 1 September from 6-8 p.m. She hoped Council members would attend to show their support. Mr. Mittag questioned the status of the conservation easement for the Wheeler Nature Park and asked why it has taken so long. Ms. Baker said it is being worked on. Mr. Mittag asked that it be on the top of the list. Rep. Cina thanked Ms. Diamond for her ongoing efforts to make things better for everyone. He said he hoped Burlington and South Burlington can show how to build housing with equity and to bring the most impacted people into the discussion when designing new neighborhoods. 4. Announcements and City Manager's Report: Council members reported on meetings and events they had attended. CITY COUNCIL 7 AUGUST 2023 PAGE 2 Ms. Emery also spoke to the issue of people in City Center housing being intimidated because of their gender choice and of the need for the Council to listen to them. Ms. Emery also suggested that the empty China Palace building could be a good site for a child care facility. Ms. Baker: The City has received a Municipal Planning Grant to address housing equity. On 21 August, 4 p.m., the Council will have a walking tour of City Center. This will be warned as a meeting. The FY24 paving schedule has been completed. It will focus on Dorset St. Paving on Route 7 is ongoing, weather permitting. Signal work is on-going on Dorset Street. The site plan for Lot N on Market Street has gotten approval. There are 3 buildings, each 4 stories high, with first floor commercial and 210 rental housing units. This is a UVM investment. Meetings are ongoing with the School District regarding transfer of 575 Dorset Street. This is a very complex issue. The City hosted the State Treasurer last week along with bond bank representatives. Ms. Baker said she spoke to the group regarding workforce needs. The visitors also toured Beta. There have been number of car break-ins, and residents are urged to keep their cars locked. City Hall will be closed on Bennington Battle Day. Mr. Barritt noted traffic backing up on Williston Road where the repaving of the new Beta entrance is going on. Mr. Chalnick noted recent digging up of Spear Street which is a mess. Ms. Baker said the city is CITY COUNCIL 7 AUGUST 2023 PAGE 3 aware of this, and Mr. DiPietro is working with the developer to fix the road. 5. Consent Agenda: a. Approve and Sign Disbursements b. Approve Minutes from the 10 July Special City Council meeting and 17 July regular Council meeting c. Approve applications for 2023-2024 US Department of Transportation Discretionary Grant funds to support the Bike and Pedestrian bridge over 1-89 d. Approve the allocation of up to $35,000 in ARPA dollars to fund placemaking and planning work to create a City Green" in City Center Mr. Chalnick asked to hold out the 17 June minutes. Ms. Emery asked about "Pride Parade." Ms. Murray said this year they will be in the Pride Parade with a banner. Next year, they hope to have a "book cart drill team." Mr. Barritt asked about the repair of the elevator. Ms. Baker said it has been functional for 5 days. The issue was a ribbon cable which had to be ordered. Ms. Emery moved to approve the Consent Agenda minus the 17 July minutes. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed 4-0. 6. Introduce Andy Brumbaugh, Communication and Outreach Coordinator for the City: Ms. Baker introduced Mr. Brumbaugh and noted he has 20 years of experience in the TV industry and has won numerous awards from the Vermont Broadcasters' Association. Mr. Brumbaugh said that everyone he has talked to has said "I have a long list of things for you"! 7. Receive the Library Board presentation on their Strategic Plan: Ms. Pape said the Library Board is the governing body of the Library and is there to support the staff. CITY COUNCIL 7 AUGUST 2023 PAGE 4 Ms. Murray reviewed the main categories of the Strategic Plan and said they are in keeping with all equity/inclusion priorities. They are also committed to addressing climate change. Being in the "Pride Parade" is part of that. Ms. Murray also noted that displays in the Library are reflective of different parts of the community. Mr. Pape said the plan is a 5-year plan, so they can see if the goals are being met. Ms. Emery asked if there is help for people with hearing, speaking and writing issues. Ms. Murray said all of the computers can be programmed to do that, and one is large print. She was not familiar with any equipment that deals with writing. The building also has hearing loops in various rooms. Mr. Barritt noted that CBS News did a story of a Florida high school next door to senior housing where the students went in and helped residents learn to use their phones. Ms. Emery noted that South Burlington's Tech Club also does that. Ms. Murray said the Library has helped committees do a reading plan and has done programs at Allard Square, which they can do again. Ms. Baker said she appreciates the partnership between the Library and the City and noted that Ms. Murray is on the City's Leadership Team. 8. Receive the Fire Department's Strategic Plan: Chief Locke said this is also a 5-year plan with goals that are internally focused to address quality of life issues. Now that they are at full staffing, quality of life has improved. Ms. Baker stressed the importance of this as Firefighters are responding to public needs. Chief Locke said the Strategic Plan was a 3-day facilitated process which included a Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Core Values, and the identification of goals. The Chief then reviewed the Mission and Vision Statements, both of which stress professionalism and integrity. The 5 department goals are: a. Utilize technology to enhance employee well-being b. Create an environment that embraces employee satisfaction for members of the organization, resulting in increased career fulfillment and longevity CITY COUNCIL 7 AUGUST 2023 PAGE 5 c. Develop a comprehensive e staffing model to fulfill the needs of the community that aligns with national standards d. Create and implement a professional development program for all personnel e. Develop and implement a flexible and strategic model for alternative responses to substance abuse disorder, behavioral health and other high-frequency response types Chief Locke noted that 1/3 of his staff have less than one year on the job, so there is a lot of training. Mr. Chalnick asked if there are mental health professionals on staff. Chief Locke said they use the City's team that is housed at the Police Department. Chief Locke noted that they are creating a document as to where their call volume comes from. He said Market Street has a very high volume of calls, some people calling every day. Ms. Emery asked if they ever see people sleeping on the street. The Chief said they do but not in the same spot. They will interact with these people when someone calls 911, often in a medical emergency, but the people often walk away. 9. Convene as South Burlington Liquor Control Commission to consider the following: Myer's Wood Fired,Third Class Restaurant and Outside Consumption: Ms. Emery moved that the Council convene as Liquor Control Commission. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed 4-0. Ms. Emery moved to approve the Third Class Restaurant and Outside Consumption permit for Myer's Wood Fired, as presented. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed 4-0. Ms. Emery moved to reconvene as City Council. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed 4-0. 10. Consider a Resolution Honoring the Service of City Clerk Donna Kinville: Ms. Baker said she hoped the community will join the celebration of Ms. Kinville's service on 17 August, 5 p.m., at Veterans' Memorial Park. If there is rain, the ceremony will take place the following morning at City Hall. CITY COUNCIL 7 AUGUST 2023 PAGE 6 Mr. Barritt moved to approve the Resolution honoring Donna Kinville as presented. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed 4-0. 11. Other Business: It was noted that members had received post cards regarding traffic concerns on Midland Avenue. People feel there is speeding which is making the road unsafe. Mr. Barritt noted there is also a dangerous turn, and the streetscape is not very well designed. He added that the road is also very narrow. Ms. Riehle said she couldn't drive fast there because of the narrowness. She also noted it is a new cut-through from Spear to Dorset Street. Mr. Barritt suggested this be given to Public Works to go through their evaluation process. Mr. Barritt noted that people in Cider Mill are also concerned with speeding and the new cut- through from Hinesburg Road to Dorset St. Ms. Riehle said the problem is where Nadeau Drive goes into Hinesburg Road. This concern was presented to the State, but they didn't seem to be concerned. Regarding City Center architectural design, Ms. Emery hoped the Council could follow up on this concern. She was pleased to see balconies at Catamount Run. Ms. Riehle said she doesn't share the concern with Market Street. Ms. Emery said she would like more variety. Ms. Baker said perhaps the walking tour will help. Ms. Riehle said "sameness" applies to other developments as well. She said 150 homes with only 3 designs makes things look alike. 12. Consider entering executive session for the purpose of discussing contracts and the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options: Mr. Barritt moved that the Council make a specific finding that premature general public knowledge of the Council's discussion of real estate purchase or lease options would clearly place this public body at a substantial disadvantage. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed 4-0. Mr. Barritt then moved that the Board enter into Executive Session under V.S.A. Section 513(a)(1)(a) and 2 for the purpose of discussion contracts and the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options, inviting into the session Ms. Baker and Mr. McNeil. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed 4-0. The Council entered executive session at 8:15 p.m. CITY COUNCIL 7 AUGUST 2023 PAGE 7 Following the Executive Session, as there was no further business to come before the Council Mr. Barritt moved to adjourn. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at p.m. Clerk