HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Steering Committee - 07/07/2014 AGENDA
SOUTH BURLINGTON STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014, 5:30 P.M.
City Hall Conference Room
575 Dorset Street
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT
1. Agenda Review: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items.
2. Approval of minutes of April 9, 2014 Steering Committee Meeting
3. City/School Financial Stewardship Collaborative - Status
4. Presentation by Gene Beaudoin of Saxon Partners regarding a proposed
development in the South Burlington City Center TIF District
5. Other items to come before the Committee
6. Adjourn
STEERING COMMITTEE 9 APRIL 2014
The South Burlington Steering Committee held a quarterly meeting on Wednesday, 9 April
2014, at 6:00 p.m., in the Library, Tuttle Middle School, Dorset Street.
MEMBERS PRESENT: City Council: P. Mackenzie, H. Riehle, P. Nowak, C. Shaw, M. Emery; K.
Dorn, City Manager; School District: E. Fitzgerald, M. LaLonde,J. Beatty, D. Bugbee, D. Fleming;
D. Young, Superintendent of Schools
ALSO PRESENT: T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; I. Blanchard, Program Manager;J. Rabidoux,
Public Works Director;J. Stewart, School District
1. Election of Officers:
Ms. Fitzgerald presided over the election of a Chair. She noted that there had been discussion
of having the Chairs of the two boards alternate as Steering Committee Chair. She then opened
the floor for nominations for Chair.
Ms. Nowak nominated Ms. Mackenzie. Ms. Riehle seconded. There were no further
nominations and Ms. Mackenzie was elected unanimously.
She then presided over the remainder of the meeting and opened the floor for nominations for
Vice Chair.
Mr. LaLonde nominated Ms. Fitzgerald. Ms. Beatty seconded. There were no further
nominations, and Ms. Fitzgerald was elected unanimously.
Ms. Nowak then nominated Mr. Dorn for Clerk. Mr. Fleming seconded. There were no further
nominations, and Mr. Dorn was elected unanimously.
2. Minutes of 22 January 2014:
It was noted that on p. 3, the year of the bond should be 2005.
Ms. Nowak moved to approve the Minutes of 22 January 2014 as amended. Mr. LaLonde
seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
3. City Center/Market Street Schedule:
Mr. Rabidoux said the expectation is that reconstruction/rebuilding of Market Street will occur
in 2017. By the end of April, the city should have detailed engineering plans. Ms. Blanchard
added that all financing should be secured by March 2017. The city has been told it will be a 2-
season construction project.
STEERING COMMITTEE, 9 APRIL 2014, PAGE 2
Mr. Rabidoux noted they can't do any work of substance after 30 October as permitting beyond
that date is very difficult.
Market Street will be a drastically different road from what it is now. An old sewer line down
the middle of the road will have to be replaced. This will result in one lane of traffic and
possibly a full shut down of the road for a short time. A traffic control plan will be proposed.
Access to Central School would not be affected during the school year. There will, however, be
truck traffic for delivery and unloading of equipment, etc. This can cause noise and dust.
Mr. Rabidoux also noted that this summer, Route 2 (Williston Road)from the Sheraton to the
"jughandle" will be widened. This will give an idea of what Market Street will look like.
Mr. Rabidoux reminded the School Board that the School District owns a large piece of land
next to the Market St. project. This might be appropriate for use to stockpile materials, etc.
The city is also working on design for Garden Street, which runs perpendicular to Market St.
from behind Healthy Living. It will eventually tie into the back of Midas Drive. This project is
several years away. Mr. LaLonde said it is their understanding that Garden St. will cut through
the southeast corner of school property. The School District needs to understand what this will
mean. Ms. Fitzgerald asked to be informed as to when the District needs to get involved.
Ms. Fitzgerald then outlined the major concerns of the School District with regard to the road
project(s). These include:
1. Disruption of utilities
2. Disruption of bus access
3. Disruption of summer school programs
4. Interaction with construction equipment, etc.
Mr. Rabidoux said there is usually a public relations person as part of the project.
Supt.Young said it will be important for the schools to communicate with their constituents
with regard to traffic flow, noise, dust, after school activities, etc.
Mr. Dorn said the city would not rule out Garden Street beginning before Market Street. Ms.
Blanchard added that 1/3 of the property is owned by one landowner, so at least part of it
could get started. Mr. Dorn said the road could touch the southeast corner of school property.
Mr. Rabidoux said that as the projects get closer,the school district could participate in
monthly meetings and receive the minutes of those meetings. Ms. Fitzgerald said "We don't
know what we don't know," and asked for the city to reach out to them.
STEERING COMMITTEE, 9 APRIL 2014, PAGE 3
5. City/School Financial Stewardship Collaborative:
Ms. Mackenzie cited the need for discussion on how schools are funded. She noted there are
now 2 bills in the Legislature to this end. She cited the need to form a collaborative to present
recommendations to help the state solve this problem.
Supt. Young then outlined the 2 bills in the Legislature:
H889 has been passed by the House and is in the process of going to the Senate. The bill
adjusts the homestead rate in a favorable way for taxpayers. It also requires that a budget vote
include per pupil spending. Supt. Young said excess spending calculations are likely to change
and would require schools to stay within a spending threshold which is being adjusted
downward. Mr. Stewart noted that in 2017, if the South Burlington school budget increases at
the same rate as in past years, they will be at the limit and will be above it in 2018.
H883 is related to Pre-K-12 governance. It would result in some efficiencies that would give
some revenue relief and would put budgets and tax rates more in line. This bill has passed
through committee but is "stuck" in Ways& Means. Supt. Young said the School Board will
discuss the implications of this with Chittenden County legislators.
Ms. Mackenzie said the Business Roundtable is willing to partner with the city to understand
what is happening and what can be done about it. They are looking for direction and
volunteers to work on this. Mr. Shaw and Mr. Fleming agreed to represent the city and schools.
6. Voter Information:
Supt. Young directed attention to a handout of 2009-2014 voter data and cited concern with
the number of voters at the March election. He was equally concerned that this year's budget
passed by only 133 votes. He cited this as an opportunity to improve communications.
7. Other Business:
No issues were raised.
As there was no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at
7:00 p.m.
, Clerk
Public Sign-In
July 7, 2014, Steering Committee Meeting
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