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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/03/2020CITY COUNCIL 3 FEBRUARY 2020 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 3 February 2020, at 6:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: H. Riehle, Chair (via phone); M. Emery, acting Chair; T. Barritt, T. Chittenden, D. Kaufman Also Present: K. Dorn, City Manager; T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; I Blanchard, Project Manager; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; M. Ostby, Planning Commission; E. Schait, J. Simson, S. Dooley, E. Langfeldt, P. O’Brien 1. Instructions on exiting building in case of emergency: Mr. Dorn provided instructions on emergency evacuation of the building. 2. Agenda Review: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items: Mr. Dorn asked for a brief executive session at the end of the meeting related to a public records issue. 3. Comments and Questions from the public not related to the agenda: No issues were raised. 4. Announcements and City Manager’s Report: Council members reported on meetings and events they had attended in recent weeks. Mr. Dorn: Attended the Economic Development Committee meeting, the I-89 Corridor Study meeting, and a Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce event featuring a presentation by Governor Scott. SBBA will meet on 11 February, 7:30 a.m. Staff will be making a presentation regarding reappraisal and the status of City Center. Met with the Energy Committee last week. They want the city to concentrate on transportation and other electric equipment which could be paid for from the revolving fund. Mr. Kaufman noted a request from “Raise the Blade” regarding conservation issues. They would like to make a brief presentation at the Council’s next meeting. Mr. Dorn noted that Mr. Rabidoux has said the city is by and large compliant with “Raise the Blade” issues. There will be a Special City Council meeting with the Planning Commission, 11 February, 6:30 p.m., to hear from the Commission and Interim Zoning Committees. The meeting warned as a public hearing. CITY COUNCIL 3 FEBRUARY 2020 PAGE 2 The Economic Development Committee has received a lot of input from the public and city committees. They have agreed on priorities to address: some level of advocacy for Exit 12B, re-use (commercial uses) of properties purchased by the Airport, the Open Space report. 5. Consent Agenda: A. Approve and Sign Disbursement B. Approve Minutes for 21 October, 11 and 16 December, 13 and 21 January C. Approve the Stormwater System Maintenance Agreement with Dorset Street Associates, LLC, in connection with Sommerfield Avenue D. Accept Irrevocable Offer of Dedication for Sommerfield Avenue E. Accept Presentation of the TIF Annual Report and certification of the increase in taxable value of the City Center Tax Increment Financing district Mr. Barritt suggested a one-page summary of the TIF report. Mr. Hubbard said that can be done. Mr. Barritt moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Ms. Riehle seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Presentation of the Status of the South Burlington Retirement Plan: Mr. Schait said the current funding policy is appropriate for an open plan with new employees. However, as of 1 July 2019, no new employees are participating in the plan. At some point, there will be no employees at all in the plan, and the plan should be 100% funded at that time. As of 30 December 2019, the plan is 85% funded. Mr. Schait said this is a good number compared to other plans in Vermont. He recommended the city set an end date and time and be 100% funded at that time. Mr. Schait then showed a graph of the comparison of projected city contributions. This would have the plan fully funded by 2039. This assumes all assumptions are met. They also did a projection if all assumptions are not met and contributions would have to be higher. He showed this graph as well. Mr. Barritt noted that any changes to the plan would have to be done in conjunction with contracts. Ms. Emery felt they have to look 20 years out because people are saying that sooner or later there will be a downturn. Mr. Chittenden noted the executive summary said there are no immediate concerns. Mr. Schait said the issue is staying “ahead of the game.” CITY COUNCIL 3 FEBRUARY 2020 PAGE 3 Mr. Hubbard said that staff is not looking for any action. They will come back with further information from management and from the Pension Advisory Committee. Mr. Dorn asked if there is any need or plan for the city to take out another loan for the plan. Mr. Schait said that would not solve anything. There is no need for the money in the plan at this time. Mr. Barritt asked what would have to happen for the State to take over all of the plan and transfer everyone to the VMERs plan and whether this would be feasible or desirable. 7. Presentation on a Recommendation by the South Burlington Public Art Selection Committee and consider approval of a resolution to commission a work for 180 Market Street from Philip Godenschwager: The Public Art Committee received 31 submissions from around the country. They also got 76 public comments from the community. The number of submissions was narrowed to 4, and the committee met with each of the artists. They eventually chose Philip Godenschwager, who is a Vermont artist. The Council was shown a model for a clock that would be located on the column that goes up stairs to the second floor. It will be made of stained glass with a steel frame. The op is a moonscape, and the bottom leaves will have some relief to them. In the very center is a shape of the State of Vermont with a star to locate South Burlington. The Committee was unanimous in its selection of this design. Ms. Riehle asked about the cost. The budget allows for 2% or $50,000 whichever is less. The city will be paying $45,000.00 which includes materials and installation. It should not require a lot of maintenance. Ms. Riehle then moved to authorize the City Manager to negotiate a contract with Philip Godenschwager for the art work for 180 Market Street as presented. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Council Discussion and Possible Action Committing Local Option Tax Revenues derived from the Tax on Aviation Fuel and further consideration of a proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the cities of South Burlington, Winooski and Burlington related to matters concerning airport operations and noise: CITY COUNCIL 3 FEBRUARY 2020 PAGE 4 Mr. Dorn noted that each year the city gets between $70,000 and $80,000 from the local option tax on aviation fuel. This money needs to be reinvested in an Airport use. Since the there is a noise abatement program, one possible investment could be to address noise issues. There is also the issue of the local match for insulation and other programs. He felt it was a good time to begin this discussion. Mr. Dorn noted there is now $90,000 in this account. Mr. Chittenden said he still feels that obligation falls to the Airport. He felt the local option tax money should be used to pay for staff time for managing Airport related issues. He was also not opposed to using the money to help fund noise abatement. Ms. Riehle explained how the State distributes its 30% share of the tax to other State airports. She didn’t think the FAA would consider paying for administrative time an acceptable use for this money. Mr. Dorn asked Ms. Riehle where the local match money for the existing NCP and demolition of homes come from. Ms. Riehle recalled it came from the State. Mr. Chittenden said he thought it came from the Airport because the Airport would own the property. Ms. Emery suggested language be modified to “commit to explore allocation of some portion of the local option funds from the sale of aviation fuel to noise abatement programs.” She felt this would provide more latitude. Mr. Barritt said he would also like some of the money to go to noise monitoring devices. 9. Receive proposed amendments to Land Development Regulations #LDR-19-13A and LDR-13B from Planning Commission; consider warning public hearing on same: Mr. Conner recognized Mr. Simson and Ms. Dooley of the Affordable Housing Committee for their work on these amendments. He noted that the amendments expand the Inclusionary Zoning requirements to the Transit Overlay District and modify how this applies. In a development of 12 or more units, 10% of owned units and/or 15% of rental units would have to be affordable. There are also offsets required by Vermont law. For each affordable unit, an additional market rate unit could be built for rentals and 2 offset units for home ownership. Mr. Simson thanked the CCRPC, Champlain Housing, the Planning Commission, and members of the development community for their input and assistance. He felt the city will see housing built to comply with the regulations. Mr. Barritt asked about adequate vetting to insure that people are truly eligible for the affordable units. Mr. Conner said this would be done by experienced people. CITY COUNCIL 3 FEBRUARY 2020 PAGE 5 Mr. Chittenden then moved to set a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Land Development Regulations for 16 March, 7:30 p.m. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Council discussion on a request from residents for the construction of a noise barrier along I-89: Mr. Dorn referred to information provided from the Federal Highway Administration. Their preference is to do this when there is actual construction. It is less of a priority when a highway already exists. Reports are also mixed as to the effectiveness. Mr. Dorn suggested this could be added to an already proposed CCRPC 2050 study. He noted that the area involved is between UMall and Brookwood. Members of the Council fully supported the idea and wanted to explore the costs. Ms. Riehle suggested consulting with VTrans to see if there are any highway projects being planned. 11. December Financials: Mr. Hubbard said things are in good shape. Halfway through the fiscal year expenditures are at 50% and revenues at 54%. He noted managers’ reports and detailing of higher expenditures. Mr. Dorn noted that the new snowplow blades are having the desired effect. 12. Reports from Councilors on Committee assignments: Mr. Chittenden: The assessment for urban communities will go up 4%. There are 13 candidates for General Manager. A decision should be made by March. There are also 2 new electric buses. Mr. Kaufman noted that some communities are going with smaller buses and doing neighborhood routes. Mr. Chittenden said there is grant money to do that in Montpelier. It would be a “demand service.” He wasn’t sure that would make sense in Burlington. He also noted there is discussion of increasing the car registration fees for communities where people don’t pay into a public transit system. Ms. Emery: The IZ Open Space Committee pubic hearing was well attended with good discussions and a lot of questions. She stressed that the report is by no means a planning document. CITY COUNCIL 3 FEBRUARY 2020 PAGE 6 13. Consider Convening as Liquor Control Commission to approve the following: Green Mountain Suites Hotel – First Class Restaurant/Bar License Mr. Chittenden moved the Council convene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Chittenden moved to approve the First Class Restaurant/Bar License for Green Mountain Suites Hotel as presented. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Chittenden moved that the Board reconvene as City Council. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 14. Other Business: No other business was presented. 15. Executive Session: Mr. Barritt moved that the Council meet in executive session to discuss a public records issue and to invite Messrs. Dorn and Hubbard to the session. Mr. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Members entered executive session at 9:01 p.m. and resumed regular session at 9:12 p.m. As there was no further business to come before the Council, Mr. Kaufman moved to adjourn. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.