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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - City Council - 01/06/2014 44 AGENDA SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL City Hall Conference Room 575 Dorset Street SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT Executive Session 6:00 P.M. Monday, January 6, 2014 Consider entering executive session to discuss pending litigation and real estate issues where premature public knowledge would place the City of South Burlington at a substantial disadvantage. Regular Session 7:00P.M. Monday, January 6, 2014 1. Agenda Review: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items. (7:00—7:02 PM) 2. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda. (7:02— 7:12 PM) 3. Announcements and City Manager's Report. (7:12—7:22 PM) 4. Consent Agenda: (7:22 —7:24 PM) A. *** Sign Disbursement B. ***Approve Minutes for December 14 and December 16 Council meetings. C. ***Accept letter of resignation from Jim Duncan, Natural Resource Committee. 5. ***Discussion on 3 year term for City Clerk (Donna Kinville, Jim Barlow) (7:24—7:39 PM) 6. ***Presentation City Center Public Facilities Task Force Recommendation (Bobbe Maynes, Ilona Blanchard) (7:39 —8:09 PM) 7. Consider and possibly approve draft FY 2015 City budget. (Tom Hubbard, Sue Dorey) (8:09— 10:09 PM) 8. Other Business: (10:09 — 10:11 PM) A. Items held from the Consent Agenda B. Bike Rack— items Council may wish to place on a future agenda: i. City Street Lights (adequacy/number) at various locations. ii. East Terrace Ordinance iii. Policy regarding landscaping City-owned land and request from Hadley Road. iv. Report on status of City owned structure next to Wheeler House v. Electronic distribution of Annual Report C. Other? 9. Adjourn (10:11 PM) Respectfully Submitted: Kevin Dorn, City Manager ***Attachments Included South Burlington City Council Meeting Participation Guidelines City Council meetings are the only time we have to discuss and decide on City matters. We want to be as open and informal as possible; but Council meetings are not town meetings. In an effort to conduct orderly and efficient meetings, we kindly request your cooperation and compliance with the following guidelines. 1. Please be respectful of each other(Council members, staff, and the public). 2. Please raise your hand to be recognized by the Chair. Once recognized please state your name and address. 3. Please address the Chair and not other members of the public, staff, or presenters. 4. Please abide by any time limits that have been set. Time limits will be used to insure everyone is heard and there is sufficient time for the Council to conduct all the business on the agenda. 5. The Chair will make a reasonable effort to allow everyone to speak once before speakers address the Council a second time. 6. The Chair may ask that discussion be limited to the Councilors once the public input has been heard. 7. Please do not interrupt when others are speaking. 8. Please do not repeat the points made by others, except to briefly say whether you agree or disagree with others views. 9. Please use the outside hallway for side conversations. It is difficult to hear speaker remarks when there are other conversations occurring. CITY COUNCIL 16 DECEMBER 2013 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 16 December 2013, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall,575 Dorset St. Members Present: P. Mackenzie, Chair; R. Greco, H. Riehle, P.Nowak, C. Shaw Also Present: K. Dorn, City Manager; T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; P. Taylor, Board of Civil Authority; J. Zaetz 1. Agenda Review: No changes were made to the Agenda. 2. Comments & Questions from the Audience, not related to agenda items: No issues were raised. 3. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. Dorn: A. The City Center Task Force has completed its work and will report to the Council on 6 January 2014. B. There is now a"Records Retention Policy." C. Building renovations continue. A space behind the main wall that was the dispatch area for the police will be opened up. D. Staff is working on the committee structure issue. E. The transition to an in-house City Attorney is completed and the contract with Stitzel &Page has been redone. There is a protocol for staff access to Stitzel and Page. Council members reported on meetings and events they had attended. 4. Consent Agenda: A. Sign Disbursement B. Approve Minutes of 2 December 2013 C. Consider approval of VT Homeland Security Grant Program for Mobile Data Terminals and VT Homeland Security Grant Program for Two-Way radios for the Police Dept. D. Approve Special Events Permits: Magic Hat Brewing- 1/3/14 Art Openings - 1/16/14 CITY COUNCIL 16 DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 3 7. Interim Zoning- Continued Public Hearing,Interim Zoning Application#IZ-13- 06 of O'Brien Brothers Agency,Inc.,for a planned unit development consisting of: 1) razing an existing single family dwelling,2) constructing a 3-unit multi-family dwelling, and 3) constructing a 4-unit multi-family dwelling, 638 Hinesburg Road: It was noted that the applicant had requested a continuance. Ms. Nowak moved to continue IZ-13-06 until the first meeting in February. Ms. Riehle seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Discuss 3-year Term for City Clerk: Mr. Dorn drew attention to the memo from City Attorney Barlow. Due to a mistake made by the Legislature,the current City Clerk term is one year. This issue could go back to the City Charter Committee or can be corrected by a vote of the citizens without a Charter amendment. He encouraged the Council to consider the latter option. Mr. Taylor said he would keep the 3-year term. Mr. Dorn said they can't because the Charter is silent on the Clerk's term and the city has to default to the state term, which is one year. Mr. Taylor agreed to speak with Mr. Barlow on this to see if the Legislature could resolve the issue. 9. Update from Veteran's Memorial Committee: Mr. Zaetz said the memorial is 98%completed. The Committee raised about $80,000 in in-kind donations and more than $90,000 in cash donations from citizens. The memorial is open 24/7. The Committee is planning for a dedication on 17 May 2014, 2 p.m. Mr. Zaetz said he would like to speak with the Council about changing the name of Dorset Park to Veterans Memorial Park. 10. Other Business: A. Items Held from Consent Agenda No items were withheld. CITY COUNCIL 14 DECEMBER 2013 The South Burlington City Council held a budget workshop on Saturday, 14 December 2013, at 9:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: P. Mackenzie, Chair; R. Greco, H. Riehle, P.Nowak, C. Shaw Also Present: K. Dorn, City Manager; T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; D. Kinville, City Clerk; P. Conner,Director of Planning&Zoning; J. Rabidoux,Public Works Director; Chief T. Whipple, Police Department; Chief D. Brent, Fire Department; L. Murphy, Librarian; I. Blanchard, Project Manager; S. Dory, Finance Officer; T. Goodwin, Recreation Department; J. Ladd, Human Resources; M. Simoneau, S. Swanson 1. Introduction: Mr. Dorn and Ms. Mackenzie thanked Mr. Hubbard and Ms. Dory and the entire staff for work on the budget. Mr. Hubbard noted they were given the charge of producing a level funded budget, and that is what is being presented. Mr. Hubbard then enumerated areas of increased funding including: 1. A 19.81% increase ($102,000) in health insurance 2. A 38%increase ($156,000) in property insurance due to a rate change 3.Negotiated salary increases Mr. Hubbard then enumerated the budget impacts of these increases, including: 1. Paving: Took$350,000 to help level fund 2. Capital Improvement Fund: reduced by$213,000 3. Payment to Sick Bank: reduced by $150,000 4. Contingency Fund: reduced by$125,000 5. Winooski Valley Fund: eliminated($54,000) 6. Energy efficiency projects: eliminated($42,500) 7. Police cruiser: eliminated($37,000) 8. City Hall improvements reduced($35,000) 9. Facility Assessment Phase 2: eliminated($30,000) 10. Signage: eliminated ($14,000) The total in reductions amounts to $1,500,000. Supplemental requests that were not funded include: 1. Additional Police Officer($96,000) CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP 14 DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 3 5. City Clerk: Ms. Kinville noted the Clerk's office is funded by what they take in. The proposed budget increases by$9000 due to a part time person(8 hours per week) and the more scheduled elections in the coming year. This still leaves the department expenditures under the revenue. Ms. Kinville said the department is at the bare minimum and could use more than 2 full time positions in addition to the Clerk. She stressed that the "zero budget"takes a toll on services that can be provided. 6. Enterprise Funds: A. Sewer: Mr. Rabidoux stressed that the city needs to comply with operating permits. The Airport Parkway Treatment Plant has just been upgraded, which needs to be done every 20 years. Technology evolves rapidly, and the aim is to have sufficient funds when the Bartlett Bay Plant is due for upgrading in 2022-23. Mr. Rabidoux explained that the Hadley Road neighborhood discharges to the City of Burlington, for which South Burlington pays Burlington. With the new rates,this will cost South Burlington$200,000 a year. Mr. Rabidoux said the city will need to spend money to save money. The department is now scoping and researching the possibility of getting state money at a low interest rate so that this neighborhood can discharge to the Bartlett Bay Plant. The proposed budget includes a 2% increase in sewer rates. This will cost the average homeowner about $7.00 more a year. B. Water: Meter replacement will continue to be funded. The proposed budget includes a 1.59%rate increase which will cost the average homeowner about$4.32 a year. Mr. Rabidoux noted South Burlington has the second lowest water rate in the County. CITY COUNCIL (BUDGET WORKSHOP) 14 DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 5 8. Planning & Zoning: Mr. Conner enumerated budget deletions include: legal reviews (not going through the budget because they are paid for by the developers),planning grants (switched to a 200 fund), and GIS services (now a part time position). 9. Fire Department and EMS: Chief Brent said Fire Department goals include: replacing a pumper,properly categorizing personnel (i.e., fire and ambulance), and sustaining levels. No new services are projected. He stressed that the budget is lean, and this can't be sustained. Revenues are forecasted to stay level. The Chief noted that 532 inspections have been done since June,resulting in income of$125,000. A huge amount of information is being gathered from this program. Regarding EMS services, the budget includes replacement of the 2004 ambulance. The Chief noted there is now a joint purchasing agreement with the City of Burlington, resulting in savings. Projected revenues are up slightly. The Chief cited a problem with publishing proposed budgets for fire trucks. Bidders see these numbers and"bid to the amount budgeted." 10. Police Department: Chief Whipple explained the use of grant moneys for staffing. He noted they are still down one officer from 2 years ago. Budget changes include: moving the per diem dispatcher and drug task force officer to personnel; a slight increase in gas/oil; decrease in magazines/subscriptions (can be obtained on- line), slight increase in uniform cleaning(dispatchers are now in uniform), slight decrease in computer connection system; drug forfeiture funds used for training, if needed; tuition reimbursement down slightly,purchase of vehicle deferred. The Chief explained they are entering the area of"evidence based policing." This can result in slightly longer response time to some calls. The Chief also noted there is a"prescription return box"which has been ordered and will be located at the police station. People can come in any time to deposit old prescriptions. Chief Whipple said there are times of the day when call volume exceeds staffing. In an CITY COUNCIL (BUDGET WORKSHOP) 14 DECEMBER 2013 PAGE 7 jeopardizing the city which will have to pay the bill eventually, resulting in"sticker shock." She specifically cited the Public Works, Police, Planning/Zoning, and Energy Efficiency areas. Ms. Riehle cited the increased public interest in crime/safety and the city's commitment to do something about it. She felt there is need for additional funding for Police/public safety and energy efficiency. Ms. Nowak said the level budget is"what could be done if necessary." She did not like the idea of future sticker shock, but was not ready for specific increases at the moment. She felt the School budget also has to be considered and noted the proposed increase in the state education tax. Mr. Shaw felt the Schools did a tough job in savings last year and the city has to try to do the same this year. He felt increases for the Police need to be evaluated and questioned not having consultants for City Center. He also felt very strongly about energy efficiency. Ms. Blanchard noted the city is in Phase I of an energy audit of city buildings. Next year's fund would be for higher ticketed items (e.g., replacing heaters in the Fire Station bays with more modern equipment at a 5-year payback of$30,000). Mr. Swanson,representing the Energy Committee, appealed to the Council to help them find a way to save the city huge amounts of money through energy efficiency. He felt it was a"silly discussion"to eliminate $40,000 from the proposed budget. He said that anything with a 5-year payback is a"no-brainer." Council members wanted to know a process by which this could be done,possibly via a loan. Ms. Mackenzie suggested looking at 2 projects, looking at the capital expense,borrowing money to fund the projects, and paying the loan back from the savings. Ms. Blanchard noted that this is how the solar array at Dorset Park was accomplished. Mr. Dorn asked if the Energy Committee were to identify$400,000 in projects, the city could bond or find some other source for funds, is there a plan for what to do with the money. Ms. Blanchard said there is not, but there are some projects identified and there are many different models to do this. It would require staffing to accomplish. Mr. Dorn said a long-term, carefully thought out program that results in institutional savings makes more sense that a one-time/one- year thing. Mr. Swanson felt the city could get help from Efficiency Vermont. He felt a modest budget for technical assistance and clear direction to move forward would be all that is needed. Ms. Riehle said she would support a small tax increase to accomplish this as it would be paid back in spades.