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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 10/04/1993CITY COUNCIL 4 OCTOBER 1993 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday 4 October 1993, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: Michael Flaherty, Chairman; James Condos, Robert Chittenden, John Dinklage, William Cimonetti Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Joe Weith, City Planner; Sonny Audette, Street Dept; Peg Strait, Asst. City Manager; Dick Ward, Zoning Administrator; Margaret Picard, City Clerk; James Goddette, Fire Chief; Brian Searles, Police Chief; Police Officers Fraga and Rodd; K.J. Martin, Fire Dept; Ann Hallowell, State Representative Dist. 7-7; Michael Sheridan, Channel 17; Madonna Wright, Mary Roy, Monica & Russell Tilley; Larry Webster, Jeffrey Tucker, David Grass, Andrew Price, Olivia & Duncan Brown, Christos Condos, Pat Iafrate, Randall Corey, Marlene Sorrell, Dave Maclaughlin, Barbara Hibbitts 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience, not related to Agenda Items: Mr. Condos noted that the Central School Playground was built last Saturday with a total volunteer effort. 2. Demonstration of Computer Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) system by Police & Fire Depts: Officer Fraga noted there had been concern with the capability of handling a major disaster. The CAMEO system is an effort to address this concern. The short term goals of the project are for training and planning for response to a major disaster. In the long term, the goals are for full use of the system with all fire and police personnel trained and with county-wide support. Firefighter Martin then demonstrated the use of the system. He said it is primarily a tool to manage information about hazardous substances and to help emergency personnel handle these substances. He noted there are as many as 4300 different chemicals identified in the system which also contained information on all facilities which have reportable quantities of hazardous materials. There is also information on transportation of these materials and regional information. He noted that all citizens now have the right to know if they are living near a plant that uses hazardous chemicals. Mr. Martin then demonstrated the use of the system's maps and showned how an incident would be handled. Officer Rodd said the system is designed for response in emergency situation which involve gaseous, airborn particles and is set up to estimate the movement and dispersal of a chemical cloud. Firefighter Martin noted that the city's personnel are not allowed to take "aggressive action" in such an incident, but they can contain and evacuate citizens from affected areas. 3. Presentation of Transportation Planning Conceptual Design Projects for Kimball Ave/Hinesburg Road Connector Road and Swift St./ Spear St. Intersection Improvements: Mr. Tucker of Dubois and King said the company was asked by Regional Planning to evaluate various possible alignments to connect Kimball Ave. and Hinesburg Rd. He then showed two possible alternatives. The first would be close to the bridge over I-189. The road would be about 3700 ft. long and would tie into Kimball Ave just west of Potash Brook. The second alternative would be at the same location at Kimball Ave. but would intersect with Hinesburg Rd. utilizing the existing interchange about 500 ft. from I-189. The consultants also considered a third possibility which would connect with Marshall Ave. in Williston and would have a spur road connecting with Kimball Ave. The advantages to the first alternative are that it minimizes the impact on residences. The disadvantage is that it impacts on the potential I-89 interchange, but this could be overcome. It could also impact the bridge over I-89. The advantage to the second alternative is that there would be no conflict with the I-89 ramp. It would, however, impact on residential areas. The third alternative would provide a direct link to Rt. 2A and would be a highly used road. The disadvantage is that S. Burlington would have to work with another community to do the project. Both alternatives 1 and 2 have minimal environmental impacts. There are some archeological sites involved and historic impacts near the Tilley land. The costs for alternatives 1 & 2 are just over a million dollars while alternative 3 is almost double that. With regard to traffic impacts, the consultants feel there would be no change in level of service at different interchanges in the year 2,000. Dubois & King recommends alternative #1 but feels the city should look into alternative #3. Mr. Cimonetti noted that Rt. 116 is in good repair and will continue to be a main north/south arterial. He also noted the city has determined the benefit of a full interchange at Rt. 116 and that project is in the 5-year plan. This could be a threat to Old Farm Rd., which is a residential neighborhood. The city's aim is to preserve that neighborhood and still service a potential industrial area. He said the report will be given to the Agency of Transportation, but added that it would be a while before the need for a road could be justified. Mr. Dinklage said it is appropriate now for the City Council and public to give input. He said he was concerned that there would be only one entrance onto Hinesburg Rd. He said he wanted to be sure exiting traffic from the Interstate can flow smoothly and that there would be no widening of the bridge. Mr. Fisk questioned the need for a road and felt other areas of the city would benefit more from road work. Mr. Tilley said he prefers plan #1 as he wouldn't like to see his property divided and noted that 12 acres of that property is zoned for residential use. Mr. Brown praised the efforts of the Council and Planning Commission in consulting Old Farm Rd. residents. Mr. Hafter said the Planning Commission should be asked to look at the report with an eye toward amending the official city map. Mr. Webster then outlined the results of the Swift/Spear study. They found the level of service to be at "D" with very high left turn volumes. They felt there was a high warrant for lane separation. All work for widening could be done in the right of way. This would bring the intersection to LOS "C" at an approximate cost of $300,000. Mr. Hafter asked what this improvement would mean to through traffic on Spear St. Mr. Webster said this would just increase the efficiency of the intersection and its current potential for accidents. Mr. Hafter felt a substantial amount of traffic would shift to Spear St. from Shelburne Rd. Mr. Cimonetti agreed. He also noted that de facto turning lanes have emerged. He felt the intersection may not need this much improvement but agreed there is a problem that has not been addressed. 4. Recommendation from Chittenden Community Correctional Center Liaison Committee: Mr. Flaherty noted there had been a recent escape from the center and related fires set at the facility. Mr. Hafter said he had spoken with the Superintendent who will provide a full report this week. Mr. Flaherty said there has been a suggestion to increase the size of the committee. Mr. Cimonetti noted there are many residents who volunteer at the center who might be interested. Also, Rep. Hallowell has volunteered to be on the committee. Ms. Hallowell said she has spoken with the Burlington Police Commissioner and they are also interested in this problem. Mr. Cimonetti acknowledged there are some security problems today which are recognized by the state, and he didn't want to see this issue set aside. He also noted there have been discussions raised by nearby residents as to whether there should be a public warning, such as a siren, when an escape occurs. The committee felt this was a good idea but wants more information. Mr. Condos said he was very disturbed that it was more than an hour before the S. Burlington Police Dept. was notified of the escape, and felt that this lack of communication needs to be addressed. Mr. Dinklage moved the City Council formally request from the Corrections Department a report on the breakout and increased security data, specifically warning to the community. Mr. Cimonetti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Cimonetti then moved to increase the Corrections Center Liaison Committee to at least 7 members and to welcome applications from the City of Burlington. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Consideration of Request for Proposals for a Feasibility and Economic Study of a Proposed Municipal Golf Course: Mr. Cimonetti felt the Council should take a formal position on this. He said he was satisfied with the RFP at this point. Mr. Cimonetti moved to direct the City Manager to release. the RFP for a Feasibility and Economic Study for a Proposed Municipal Golf Course, as proposed in the City Manager's memo of 1 October 1993. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed 4-1 with Mr. Chittenden opposing. 6. Request for Approval of Capital Equipment Refunding Note and Resolution for Purchase of Fuel Storage & Dispensing System: Mr. Hafter said this is the second year of the note. The interest rate for this year would be 3.25%. Mr. Condos moved to approve the note and Resolution as presented. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Request for Consideration of Proposed Land Swap from Community Lutheran Church: Mr. O'Neill noted the city acquired what is called the "Garvey Property" as open space. The Lutheran Church is interested in that land. Because of the funding by which the land was acquired, the land would have to be surveyed and appraised and there would have to be a substitute piece of land given to the city which has also been surveyed and appraised. The Church would bear all costs, but the city has to initiate the process. Mr. Hafter said staff has no problem with the swap. There are no abutting landowners. Mr. Dinklage moved the Council support in concept the proposed landswap with the Community Lutheran Church involving the Garvey property as depicted in the plan presented to the Council. Mr. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Continued discussion of proposed capital budget; consideration of adoption of same: Mr. Hafter said he would like to remove the City Center Parking Authority from the budget as he felt it needs more work. Mr. Flaherty stressed that this is a planning tool, not a concrete plan. Mr. Weith reminded the Council of the parking study done a few years ago and that the whole City Center plan depends on structured parking with the city involved in the financing. He asked that there be some recognition of this in the capital budget. Mr. Cimonetti suggested keeping the item in but instead of a dollar figure using "to be determined." Mr. Hafter said the only problem he could foresee would occur if the Council decided to impose an impact fee. Mr. Dinklage suggested keeping in the $840,000 in line item A and listing the others as "to be determined." Other members agreed. Mr. Dinklage moved to approve the planned Capital Budget as presented with the following alteration: Under City Center Parking Authority, Item A for $840,000 would be moved to 1999-2000 and dollar amounts for items B and C in that section would be changed to "to be determined." Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Review Planning Commission and Zoning Board agendas: No issues were raised. 10. Review Minutes of 13 September and 20 September: Mr. Chittenden noted that on 20 September, in the vote on the last page, he had abstained, not voted against, so that the vote was 4-0 with 1 abstention. Mr. Chittenden then moved to approve the Minutes of 13 September as written and the Minutes of 20 September as amended. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Liquor Control Board; Mr. Chittenden moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter noted that Bambino's has requested a waiver of parking lot security conditions attached to their liquor license. He said he feels it is important to continue the parking lot security on Friday nights but to allow for a trial period of using Bambino's personnel in the lot on Saturday nights when there is country music. Mr. Dinklage, moved that, the Liquor Control Board go on record as insisting that permit conditions be maintained on Friday nights at Bambino's and that Bambino's be allowed to have 2 of their own personnel in the parking lot on Saturday nights provided they are in the parking lot continuously and provided that country music entertainment is being presented at Bambinos. Mr. Dinklage further moved that this arrangement be reviewed in three months. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session: Mr. Dinklage moved the Board adjourn and reconvene in Execute Session to discuss contract negotiations and to resume regular session only to approve a contract and/or adjourn. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The Council reconvened in regular session. Bob Chittenden moved adjournment, John Dinklage seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.