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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 11/18/1985CITY COUNCIL 18 NOVEMBER 1985 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 18 November 1985, at 7:30 pm, in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Michael Flaherty, George Mona, Francis Murray, Leona Lansing Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Sid Poger, The Other Paper; Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Dept; David Boehm, Zoning Board; Margaret Picard, City Clerk/Treasurer; Jane Bechtel, City Planner; Mary-Barbara Maher, William Burgess, Planning Commission; Albert Audette, Street Dept; Bill Schuele, Ethel Schuele, Carol Schlunk, Marcella Mack, Jim Condos; Art Hogan, Regional Planning Commission; Rick Carbin, Ottauquechee Land Trust Comments & Questions from the Public (not related to items on the agenda) Jim Condos advised that because of the considerations now underway in the Dorset Street Committee, it will be recommended to the Council that interim zoning be adopted for Dorset Street. Mr. Boehm said that the Zoning Board had approved this recommendation unanimously. Mr. Szymanski will schedule this item for the first December meeting. Interview Candidates for Appointment to Library Board of Trustees The Council interviewed Carol Schlunk and Marcella Mack. Ms. Schlunk summarized her background and indicated she is now working at Ira Allen in Burlington's Early Essential Ed program. She would like to see a little more computer work in the Library program and more publicity for the Library. Ms. Mack is new to S. Burlington having moved from Winooski where she served on their Library Board for 7 years. She is very impressed with S. Burlington's Library and would like to see it become even better. Mr. Farrar noted there are 2 openings on the Board. Mrs. Schuele said she didn't see how either candidate could be turned away. Mr. Flaherty moved that Carol Schlunk and Marcella Mack be appointed to the Library Board of Trustees. Ms. Lansing seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Accept resignations of Nancy McClary from the Fine Arts Committee and James McClary from the Planning Commission Mr. Flaherty moved that the Council accept the resignations of Nancy and James McClary with regret, and that the City Manager write letters of appreciation. Ms. Lansing seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Review Recreation Department recommended 10-year capital improvement program Mr. O'Neill noted that as the City grows, they are continuing to put in place open space and/or parkland. The department's major goals are: 1) to acquire a large tract of land for a centralized recreation area in the Southeast Quadrant; 2) to acquire neighborhood sites for neighborhood parks and to maintain these facilities; 3) to put funds aside to develop a centralized recreation area, including more sophisticated facilities (possibly a rink or a pool or a community center); 4) to continue the bike and trail system. He presented the capital program which would move toward these goals (see attached). Mr. Farrar asked the basis for assuming that 15 acres would service a 1-mile radius of 1,000-2,000 people. Mr. O'Neill said these figures come from the National Recreation/Parks Association which provides national standards. The figures are not cast in stone but are recommendations. Mr. Mona asked whether neighborhood parks have lived up to their potential. Mr. O'Neill said 3 park sites bought at the request of neighbors who didn't want the land developed did turn into junk areas. He said the city has to determine they will not allow this to happen. He felt it was possible to combine open space and play areas in these small parks. He felt that the Iby Street park may be able to be accessed from San Remo Drive under the new Dorset St. plans and could become a downtown park with a lot of open space and a green. Mr. Mona asked how the trail easements become trails instead of overgrown brush. He felt part of the budget should go to that. Mr. O'Neill said there is a small amount in the Natural Resources budget and some substantial work was down near Farrell Street Continue Review of updated City Master Plan Mr. Farrar questioned Mrs. Lafleur on the 2 graphs (pp. 91-92). She indicated that there are some residential condos which are classified as commercial. Mr. Farrar felt this should be looked into so that the 2 graphs measure the same thing. Mr. Farrar asked if there is sufficient capacity in the expanded Airport Parkway Sewer Plant to cover everything to be built in the area it covers with the present 2 per acre density in the Southeast quadrant. Mr. Szymanski said the capacity was figured at 2 per acre. Mrs. Lafleur wasn't sure the figures included developable land in other areas presently served by the Plant. She noted that the only way to actually get 2 units per acre is to have a 50-acre parcel and not everyone can do that. Mr. Farrar said that if sewer capacity is supposed to last 20 years, how easy should the city make it to build in the Southeast Quadrant or how soon should planning begin for additional capacity. Mrs. Lafleur presented Bill Smith who has done population research for the School Dept. Mr. Smith noted that the State's data is really off, and his research assumes growth data in absolute numbers. He projects that by the year 2000, the City will have 18,500 people, and by the year 2010, there will be 23,000 plus. He estimates 12,000 at the end of 1985. Mr. Smith said his projections assume the same rate of growth. He indicated that by the end of the decade, the schools will be out of capacity, especially Orchard School which will be out of capacity in 1987. He felt that the K-5 capacity will run out in 1991, the Middle School never, and the High School in 1998. Mr. Smith indicated he would work with Mrs. Lafleur on estimating how many children there will be if the City is built to capacity. In discussing the Southeast Quadrant, the question of agricultural land again arose. Mr. Murray said he felt farming deserved more of a chance and a commitment and should be part of the overall use of the city. He felt the city didn't have to give in to the pressures of development and that the Council and the Master Plan should outline what the city should be and not what pressure wants it to be. Mr. Farrar said the question is how does one preserve farm land. Mr. Murray introduced Rick Carbin of the Ottauquechee Land Trust who outlined the work of the Trust in preserving farm and open land in various communities in the State. Since 1980, the Trust has completed 60 projects and protected over 20,000 acres of farmland. Mr. Flaherty noted that South Burlington has two "social goods" first protecting farming and second, finding affordable housing. He said that if land is taken out for farming, it raises the price of land for housing. Mr. Carbin said it is possible to get the price of farm land down and also the price of land for housing. The Trust has worked with non-profit housing groups in several areas. Mr. Flaherty said he was afraid the pressures for development would still be there and development would only move to surrounding communities. He felt a regional approach was needed. Mr. Carbin agreed. He said their group is working more and more with developers. Mrs. Maher said the Planning Document says the right things, but this is not supported by zoning. She said that Butler Farms has shown that if care isn't taken, the City will get grids all the way to the Shelburne border. Mr. Carbin said zoning alone can't protect open space. Mr. Mona said the City's geographical position in the region, it is faced with providing housing and quality job opportunities, and this makes S. Burlington different from other areas. Mr. Carbin said there are ways of dealing with those issues in S. Burlington in unique ways. Ideas can be tailored to meet the City's needs. Mr. Hogan gave Council members information on a TDR development based on an Act 250 that originated in South Burlington. He said he would be willing to work out a TDR with the City and felt the City has areas that are prime for this and that there are ways of doing it that do make sense. Mrs. Lafleur noted that one consideration was to trade off open space in the Southeast quadrant for more density in the Dorset Street area, to support a city center. Members agreed to continue discussion on the Master Plan until December 2, 1985. Review Planning Agenda No issues were raised. Sign Disbursement Orders Disbursement orders were signed. Review Minutes of November 4, 1985 and November 12, 1985 Mr. Flaherty moved that the Minutes of November 4, and November 12, 1985 be approved as written. Ms. Lansing seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Review Job Description for Business Manager Position Members approved the job description and appointed an interviewing committee comprised of: Fred Tuttle, Chairman; Frank Murray, Mike Flaherty, Charles Murray (of G.E.), and Bill Szymanski. Sign City Hall Employees Contract Mr. Flaherty moved that the Council sign the city Hall Employees Contract. Mr. Mona seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Liquor Control Board Mr. Flaherty moved that the Council meet as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Mona seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Szymanski presented 7 catering requests from Tygate Corporation/Windjammer for Christmas parties in December. Mr. Flaherty moved that the Board approve the catering requests as presented by the City Manager. Mr. Murray seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm. Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works. SOUTH BURLINGTON RECREATION DEPARTMENT 575 DORSET ST. SOUTH BURLINGTON. VT OW1 TEL: (802)65b7956 BRUCE O'NEILL DIRECTOR THOMAS HUBBARD ASS7 DIRECTOR RECREATION DEPARTMENT CAPITAL PROGRAM 1. Purchase a centralized recreation area in the Southeast Quadrant, isolated from a existing neighborhood. $1,000,000. 1985-86 $200,000 1986-87 $200,000 1987-88 $200,000 1988-89 $200,000 1989-90 $200,000 2. Acquire neighborhood park sites as new development takes place primarily in Southeast Quadrant, serving approximately 1 mile radius, 1,000-2,000 people and should be 15+ acres in size. Assuming that land had to be purchased, the cost would be approximately $135,000 per site. 3. Develop centralized Recreation Area, Parking, 1 ights, tennis courts, ball fields. playing fields. 1986-87 $35,000 1987-88 $10,000 1988-89 $15,000 1989-90 $15,000 1990-91 $50 ,OOO* 1991-92 $50,000* 1992-93 $50,000* 1993-94 $50,000* 1994-95 $50,000* 1995-96 $50,000' * towards pool, rink, Center Complex 4. Establish a parks or recreation maintenance division, either within the Street Department or the Recreation Department, solely responsible for Recreation Main- tenance work. The rationale behind this proposal is to make manpower available at a time more convenient to the use of recreation facilities. Many activities are run in the evening and on weekends where personnal could be most useful. If the acquisition of additional neighborhood parks and a large centralized a recreation area in the Southeast Quadrant, substantially more demands are going to be made for maintenacne, landscaping, etc., on the system currently in existence. I would think that two full-time people and a couple of part-time seasonal people would be required. 1988-89 $75 ,OOO* * manpower and necessary equipment and supplies to start this project. 5. Continuation of implementation of the existing Capital Budget for the developing of a bicycle trail system.