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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 08/03/2020CITY COUNCIL 3 AUGUST 2020 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 3 August 2020, via Go to Meeting remote technology. MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Riehle, Chair; M. Emery, T. Barritt, T. Chittenden, D. Kaufman ALSO PRESENT: K. Dorn, City Manager; T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; S. Dooley, L. Black-Plumeau, R. Groenevald, B. Sirvis, M. Mittag, D. Leban, P. Plumeau, K. Ryder 1. Welcome: Ms. Riehle explained the new process for public participation and asked that those other than Council members turn their cameras off unless they wish to speak. 2. Additions, deletions or changes in the order of Agenda items: Mr. Dorn noted that Agenda item #6 will be postponed until the next Council meeting due to a death in Chief Burke’s family. 3. Comments and Questions from the public not related to the Agenda: Ms. Black-Plumeau of the Affordable Housing Committee asked that the Council review the report that she sent last week regarding housing needs. She felt the report should be considered before the Council takes any more land off the table for housing. Ms. Dooley echoed Ms. Black-Plumeau’s concerns regarding housing. 4. Announcements and City Manager’s Report: There were no Councilor announcements. Mr. Dorn: The entire City team was back to work today. The City will do its best to accommodate staff members who have challenges (e.g., children out of school). The Public Works team is turning its attention to deferred maintenance of roads this week and addressing call regarding those concerns. On Thursday, Congressman Welch and VLCT will by hosting a Town Meeting for City Government. Council members can log in to participate. CITY COUNCIL 3 AUGUST 2020 PAGE 2 The Chittenden Employers Health Clinic is up and running and things are going very well. The Steering Committee for the Outreach Program is talking about expanding the program to the “outer ring” of communities and is considering how to fund this expansion. The next Council meeting is scheduled on a State holiday (Bennington Battle Day). Members agreed to meet on the 18th instead of the Monday holiday. 5. Consent Agenda: a. Approve and Sign Disbursements b. Approve Grant Application for Design of Stormwater Treatment Practices at Grandview Drive c. Accept Cider Mill 1, Pond 1 Stormwater System and Easements Mr. Kaufman moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously via a rollcall vote. 6. Overview of current issues related to policy, operations and budget at the South Burlington Police Department: As noted above, this item will be heard at the next Council meeting due a death in the Police Chief’s family. 7. Presentation and Council discussion about the history and current plans for East- West connecting roads in South Burlington: Mr. Conner provided a history of planning for east-west connecting roads beginning with the Beers Atlas map of 1869 following the Burlington/South Burlington “split.” That map indicated major roads that still exist. He then showed an aerial photo from 1942 indicating the same roads in the same positions. Mr. Conner noted that the city’s 2 major planning tools are the Comprehensive Plan and the Official Map. The Comprehensive Plan is a vision for the future which is not regulatory. The Official Map falls midway between a “plan” and “zoning.” Development must be consistent with the map. If a development proposal is not consistent, the city has 120 days to take action to acquire the land. If it does not take that action, the land goes back to being developable. Mr. Conner said this is something like “a right of first refusal.” CITY COUNCIL 3 AUGUST 2020 PAGE 3 Mr. Conner noted there have been 2 instances where a requirement for City Council action has been triggered: the land behind Healthy Living (where the Council felt it was not a likely place for a road) and Hinesburg Road north of the Interstate (where the Council chose not to initiate proceedings). Mr. Conner then showed a 1962 aerial photo which included 2 planned roads along Muddy Brook that have now disappeared. In 1972, the Comprehensive Plan showed both Swift Street and Allen Road going all the way to the town line. After the Southeast Quadrant study was done, the 1991 Comprehensive Plan included roads from Village at Dorset Park and other north/south connectors. A 1999 aerial photo includes Nowland Farm Road, Midland Road and Golf Course Road. The first Official Map was done in 2000 and highlighted built and planned road. In 2004, that map changed a roadway at the end of Vale Drive to go up Swift Street. For the most part, this is the current Official Map with just a few minor changes. An aerial map in 2013 includes part of South Village and part of Cider Mill Road. The 2016 Comprehensive Plan includes a connection from South Village to Cider Mill and keeps the right- of-way for Old Cross Road “reserved for future use.” It also includes sections approved for development but not yet built. A 2019 aerial photo essentially shows existing conditions including road connections approved but not yet built (Cider Mill 2 and Spear Meadows). The 2016 Comprehensive Plan makes note of a lack of east-west roads and also indicated “connections” rather than “cut-throughs” (roads with no homes fronting them). Mr. Conner showed objectives from that Comprehensive Plan including being mindful of natural resources and the need to update the 2001 east-west roads study. Mr. Conner noted that the current Tilley Drive study shows that Swift Street Extension would significantly reduce traffic on Kennedy Drive. Mr. Chittenden asked what the “shelf life” of a study is and whether it is time to refresh the 2001 study. Mr. Conner said he thought the 2001 study is probably out of date. The 2007 study is still very current. CITY COUNCIL 3 AUGUST 2020 PAGE 4 Mr. Conner noted that the Official Map is not a static document. He considers the Official Map and Comprehensive Plan the best information to provide the public and development community with information. He noted that the Planning Office uses those documents very often to answer questions from people moving into the community who ask “what can I expect?” Ms. Emery noted receiving a call from a Butler Farms resident regarding noise from Long Drive. Mr. Conner said that is a dead end road off golf Course Road which was approved by the Court. It will serve 10 dwelling units near the 13th hole. Mr. Barritt said that one thing probably not taken into account in the past studies was the concern for wildlife corridors. He cited roads that go through those corridors which is antithetical to what the city is trying to do. He said the question is how to accommodate both conservation and the need for east-west roads. Mr. Conner said the question is about the long term planning objective regarding the need for land use. Roads were originally planned to serve this need. He stressed that the city doesn’t want to be in a position where it has to widen Spear Street to 4 lanes because there are no alternatives. Mr. Kaufman felt there is a need to bring things up to date. Mr. Chittenden asked if there is a cost to update the east-west corridor study. Mr. Conner said it depends on what the city wants to study. He said the Council could ask the Planning Commission to have it as part of its annual work plan and have them apply for funding in January for work to begin in July. He also noted that the final report on Tilley Drive is due at the end of this month. Ms. Riehle said the question is “what is enough regarding east-west connectors and whether the city wants “city centers all over the city.” Mr. Barritt said you can’t see the future. He cited property that could be developed in the future and roads that might be important for future planning purposes. Mr. Conner said roadways tend to be there forever. He cited ancient Roman roads that still exist. He felt that rather than “big connections,” “micro connections” may be more common in the future. Mr. Plumeau noted that if the city doesn’t build east-west roads, it will force more traffic onto the smaller roads and increase greenhouse gase3s. He also asked the Council to consider how CITY COUNCIL 3 AUGUST 2020 PAGE 5 connectivity supports access to economic opportunity across the spectrum. He stressed that these are regional issues. Ms. Emery felt it would be good to reach out to the business community. She noted that some business has continued during the pandemic via alternate forms of working. Mr. Mittag felt the residential community should also be involved in the discussion. 8. Review prioritization of issues in the Bike Rack: a. Streetlight policy: Mr. Dorn noted that with LED lights the city can now leave all streetlights on. He suggested taking this off the list. b. Airport Noise Survey: Ms. Emery asked about an electronic comment box for people to indicate noise concerns. Mr. Chittenden noted that other cities have a “concern form” on their website. This could be for things other than noise concerns. Mr. Dorn said he would talk to Ms. Holm about how to do this and report back at the next meeting. c. Evaluate water billing and rate structure: Ms. Sirvis said there is no incentive to save water, and people are paying for water they don’t use. Ms. Riehle felt this would be an issue to go back to when COVID is under control. Mr. Kaufman noted the expense of infrastructure. Ms. Dooley noted the Green Mountain Power used to have an incentive if you used less. She felt this would be great for water as well. Mr. Barritt noted that if you decrease costs for some people, you have to increase the cost for others. Ms. Sirvis said she understood about infrastructure, but she shouldn’t have to be subsidizing a family of 5. d. Declaring racism a health emergency: Ms. Dooley said there is a lot of research to support this. She will provide information to the Council. Mr. Chittenden felt it was worth the Council’s attention. CITY COUNCIL 3 AUGUST 2020 PAGE 6 Mr. Barritt asked if city employees have had any diversity training or exploration of issues with a consultant. He noted this has happened at his workplace. Mr. Dorn said the Police Department has had that training and it is ongoing. The rest of city employees have not. He said it is something to be considered. e. Allowing the painting of a “Black Lives Matter” on a city street: Mr. Dorn noted the Council has the right to authorize this on a city street. Ms. Emery cited the rallying around the Middle School banner and the response of a protester who was told “this is a peaceful protest and it can go on.” Mr. Riehle noted that more and more people are coming to the Wednesday gatherings at the Middle School. Ms. Dooley suggested a street mural on Market Street, the city’s center. 9. Councilors’ Reports from Committee Assignments: Mr. Barritt: The Pension Advisory Committee met and had reports from Pat Blizard and Eric Shait. The second quarter saw a rebound from a bad first quarter. The fund is at $36,600,000. Interest rates are way down. Mr. Shait has a new idea regarding level contributions until 2040 and then a dive down instead of a steady decline. Mr. Hubbard will forward that presentation to the Council. 10. Other Business: Mr. Barritt noted that the delay at the Trader Joe’s intersection has been reduced from 40 seconds to 15 seconds, and traffic now flows better. 11. Possible Executive Session to discuss negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options where premature disclosure would put the city at a competitive disadvantage: Mr. Barritt moved that the Council meet in executive session to discuss negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options where premature disclosure would put the city at a competitive disadvantage and to invite Messrs. Dorn, Hubbard and Conner into the session. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. CITY COUNCIL 3 AUGUST 2020 PAGE 7 The Council entered executive session at 8:31 p.m. Following the executive session, as there was no further business to come before the Council Ms. Emery moved to adjourn. Mr. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at p.m.