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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Steering Committee - 12/13/2007 AGENDA SOUTH BURLINGTON STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2007 7:00 P.M. SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY HALL 575 DORSET STREET SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 1. Approval of minutes of September 27, 2007 Steering Committee Meeting 2. Review and discuss findings from Town Visioning Meeting held on November 29 3. Discuss interface between Act 82 state-wide school budget adoption regulations and city charter provisions 4. Discuss proposed city and school ballot items planned for 2008 voting dates 5. Discuss budget adoption schedule and ideas for Town Meeting on the budget for March 3, 2008 (day before Town Meeting date) 6. Discuss upcoming legislative breakfast series and ideas to make them more effective 7. Other items to come before the Committee 8. Adjournment If you are interested in having an item placed on a future agenda, please contact the superintendent. Any person requiring special accommodations to attend this meeting should contact the superintendent's office at 652-7252 at least 72 hours before the meeting. STEERING COMMITTEE 27 SEPTEMBER 2007 The South Burlington Steering Committee held a meeting on Thursday, 27 September 2007, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: City Council: C. Smith, M. Boucher, S. Dooley, D. O'Rourke; C. Hafter, City Manager; School Board: A. Clift, E. Fitzgerald; J. Everitt, Superintendent of Schools Also Present: C. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; T. Whipple, Police Chief; J. Simson, City Charter Review Committee; D. Young, J. Canning, J. Boone, H. Rivers 1. Election of Officers: Mr. Hafter presided over the election of officer. He opened the floor for nominations for Chair of the Steering Committee. Ms. Clift nominated Ms. Fitzgerald. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. There were no further nominations, and Ms. Fitzgerald was elected unanimously. Mr. Boucher nominated Ms. Dooley for Vice Chair. Ms. Clift seconded. There were no further nominations, and Ms. Dooley was elected unanimously. Supt. Everitt will serve as Clerk. Ms. Fitzgerald presided over the remainder of the meeting. 2. Approval of Minutes of 5 April 2007: Mr. Smith moved to approve the Minutes of 5 April as written. Mr. Boucher seconded. Motion passed 6-0 with Ms. Clift and Ms. Dooley abstaining. 3. Report from the City Charter Review Committee: Mr. Simson said the Committee is meeting twice a month. They began their review with a microscopic editing job. They then held several brainstorming sessions to identify issues. Mr. Simson distributed the list of issues raised by the Committee. These issues were then "ranked" and later divided into categories for further discussion. Mr. Simson noted that the School Board is not given much attention in the Charter, and this will be a discussion item. When the Committee has reached its points of view on each of the categories, it will hold forums to encourage public participation. Both majority and minority positions will be presented to the public for discussion. STEERING COMMITTEE 27 SEPTEMBER 2007 PAGE 2 The Committee considered a public survey,possibly done by a UVM class, but it may be too late to initiate that process. Following the public forums, the Committee will finalize its positions and draft a report in a narrative format. The City Council can then hire someone to draft the final language. The Committee hopes to get its report to the Council in March. Mr. Hafter noted that under the present Charter, the City and Schools have to share Steering Committee expenses. Under the new Charter, the costs will be borne by the City. Ms. Dooley said she has a discomfort with asking for public discussion after the Committee states its position. 4. Presentation of School Master Planning Draft Document and Visioning Activities: Supt. Everitt noted that because one of the City's schools is on the edge of the proposed City Center, the School District took a look at all of its facilities and how they match with City plans. Mr. Boone then reviewed the Master Planning document. He noted that the process began by examining existing documents, floor plans, students expectations, etc. This led to the formulating of goals including: small learning communities, individual learning plans and distributed leadership. Schools were then evaluated to see how they accommodated those goals. Some issues that arose included the Library, whether the 2 remaining elementary schools could absorb the Central School populations, and the shortage of administrative space. Each school was then reviewed individually. All of the schools were found to be in good shape and under capacity. Mr. Boone stressed the difference between"design capacity" and"program capacity." In looking at administrative space, it was found that there is space in each school,but there is a need to bring those spaces together in one facility(offices, etc.). These uses would fit in what is now being occupied by the Police Department, but a detailed analysis would have to be done to see whether it would work. Seven possible options were considered for reorganization of the elementary school system: STEERING COMMITTEE 27 SEPTEMBER 2007 PAGE 3 1. 3 elementary schools, K-5 option 2. 3 elementary schools, K-4 option with Grade 5 joining the Middle School 3. 2 elementary schools, K-5 option 4. 2 elementary schools, K-4 option with Grade 5 at the Middle School 5. High School if the City Library remains and doesn't expand 6. High School if the City Library remains and does expand 7. High School if the City Library leaves the site completely Mr. Boone said the next step will be to take these ideas to the community. Mr. Hafter said that what is heartening is to see the City and School District working together better than ever. 5. Update on Police Facility/City Hall Administrative Building and Potential Joint Venture with School District: Chief Whipple said that joint communication is helping to move the process forward. The Chief then cited current deficiencies: a. inadequate space for basic Police operations (a 4-person unit has been moved across the street to the School) b. health/privacy of employees c. safety to citizens and employees d. separation of detention area and operations e. privacy and dignity of victims f. evidence handling, processing & storage g. substandard working conditions h. lack of space to handle hostile prisoners Building concerns include: a. mold b. heating and ventilation c. animals in walls and roof The Chief then reviewed statistics in light of a growing community. As of 2008, there will be 41 Police officers, and in 2006 the Department handled almost 20,000 calls. Chief Whipple noted the Police Station Committee involved significant citizen participation. Their report recommends the Swift St/Dorset St. site. The City Council has approved funds for bids for site exploration, conceptual design and program based STEERING COMMITTEE 27 SEPTEMBER 2007 PAGE 4 Cost estimates. Six bids were received and will be reviewed by the Committee. They are hoping for a vote in May, 2008. As part of the process, Tim Duff did an analysis of the current City Hall Building. There is now discussion of sharing administrative space in a renovated City Hall building with the School District. Mr. Hafter added that the Recreation Department could move to space within the School District. Mr. Boucher felt there are 2 discussions that need to take place before there is a vote: a. What is going on in South Burlington in the next 5 years? b. Can the Police Facility be phased. It was noted that there are potential ballot items for the sewer facility, Police station, and City Charter. 6. Update on Woodchip Heating Facility: Supt. Everitt said the purpose of the facility would be to heat the Middle School and High School. 90% of the funding would come from the State. There is a site design and a construction manager. The School District is talking with concerned nearby residents. The intent would be to begin the permitting process in late fall/early winter. Mr. Smith commented that the project doesn't appear to be cost effective. Mr. O'Rourke said that setting aside the financial concerns, he felt the School District had to wrestle with the amount of political capital this may cost. A resident felt that since the existing system is only 15 years old, there is no need change it. Ms. Fitzgerald said the School Board's thinking was to provide an alternative sustainable fuel system. They currently have a$150,000 heating bill which is anticipated to increase about 30% in the next few years. Ms. Fitzgerald did feel that the State's incentive system should have been targeted toward schools that were replacing heating systems. Ms. Rivers felt that the project being considered is not the same project people voted for. It's in a different location and has different funding. 7. Discussion of New Budgeting Procedure Based on City Charter Amendment: Supt. Everitt said that for this year the School Board would like to stay with a May STEERING COMMITTEE 27 SEPTEMBER 2007 PAGE 5 Vote so they can come up with a thoughtful budget. Mr. Smith said the City Council has the same concern. He asked when the School Board would have to know if a switch to a March vote is considered. Supt. Everitt said the previous spring. Mr. Boucher cited the need for a communications plan and suggested a Steering Committee meeting on Town Meeting Day. Mr. Hafter suggested forming a joint City/School citizens' committee to come up with a communications plan. 8. Other Business: Mr. Boucher cited the need to stop "piecemealing" costs and come up with a total picture. Mr. O'Rourke said that can be done with capital costs, but when the State changes the playing field on a daily basis, it is very hard to do. Ms. Fitzgerald noted the School Board is close to approving a strategic plan that has been 3 years in the making. That can be communicated to the public. Members agreed the capital plans of the City and School District should dovetail so there isn't so much happening at once. Mr. Hafter stressed that a"capital plan" is just a plan. As there was no further business to come before the Steering Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Clerk