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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 05/01/1995CITY COUNCIL 1 May 1995 The South Burlington City Council held a meeting on Monday, 1 May 1995, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: Robert Chittenden, Acting Chair; David Maclaughlin, James Condos, Michael Flaherty Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Margaret Picard, City Clerk/Treasurer; Peg Strait, Asst. City Manager; Joe Weith, City Planner; Bill Burgess, Planning Commission; Albert Audette, Street Dept; Tim Budell, Ann Savitt, Michael Orman, Peter Keating, Rick Scott, Tom Chittenden, Lisa Yankowski, John Dinklage, Frank Mazur 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience (not related to Agenda Items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. Hafter announced the following meetings and events: a. Water Commission meeting, 9 May, 5 p.m., City Hall b. Grand Opening of Dorset Park, 13 May. Events will include a parade, Little League games, Bike Safety program, bands, Girls' Softball, magicians, clowns. The dedication will be at noon followed at 12:20 by the groundbreaking for the ice facility. Mr. Hafter thanked the Vt. National Guard for their assistance with this program. c. City Election, 5/16. Mr. Hafter gave members a flyer explaining the ballot issues. There is a Charter Amendment to encourage development of commercial/industrial land and an item on the expansion of the Bartlett Bay Sewage Treatment Plant. The cost of the expansion is $4.9 million. The city can get a no interest loan from the state for 20 years and save $3.6 million in interest costs. User fees will be increased about $25 a year to cover repayment of the loan. South Burlington will still have about the lowest rate in the county. d. Ray Belaire received a letter from the Agency of Natural Resources approving a grant of $4,000 for a tree inventory. 3. Transportation Forum on Future of Transportation in Chittenden County: Mr. Orman of Regional Planning said they have been putting together a long-range transportation plan for the county. He noted many roads in the county are in bad shape; there is a backlog of work totalling between $125 and $145 million just to maintain roads and bridges. The future shows a 15% increase in congestion leading to a judgment that that county is on the "brink of a change." Several alternatives exist for solving the problems. These include just maintaining what currently exists, building highways, devoting money to improving transportation, and changing development patterns to growth center concepts. Mr. Orman said that no matter what transportation modes are used, the most important thing is how land is developed. The study looked at the county in detail via a corridor analysis. South Burlington falls in a number of corridors, but the main problem corridor is Williston Road/I-89. South Burlington also has a number of growth centers. The study then went on to develop and overall strategy for the county. Primary in this is a growth center land use. Other strategies include maintenance of existing road systems, improvement of efficiency of corridors (progressive signals, access management, etc.), increased transit systems, improvement of bike/pedestrian facilities, and the completion of key highway projects. Growth centers would be mixed use areas with street parking. Also considered were more modernized intersections, possibly roundabouts, with timed signals. There would be expanded public transit in downtown/core areas, possibly including express service to and from these areas. The study recommended the Shelburne Rd. rail line as a mitigation for Shelburne Rd. reconstruction. The study saw a shift in costs from the private to public expenditures. 56% of costs would be for maintenance, 22% for highway building, 15% for public transit, 4% for enhancement, and .5% for intermodal. The study felt strongly that public transportation should not be funded on the property tax. Alternatives would be a gas tax, sales tax, or other tax. There are two studies being done on this now. Mr. Audette said if any of this is to work Montpelier has to stop using transportation funds for a "bail out." Mr. Scott asked about the impact of the rail line on the Shelburne Rd. project. Mr. Orman said it will provide an alternative for those who choose to use it. He estimated 300-500 people a day would use it. He noted the road work will take two construction seasons. Mr. Budell asked how mobility of people fits into this. Mr. Orman said that by providing greater opportunity through growth patterns, there will be attractive alternatives to going some-place in a car. He said they are talking about a 6% reduction in peak hour trips, not the abandonment of automobile use. Mr. Hafter noted there has to be a road system for transportation of goods so there can be jobs and products available. Mr. Maclaughlin asked the Commission's position on light rail and commuter rail. Mr. Orman said that they are participating in both studies. There has been a staff recommendation that commuter rail be pursued as construction mitigation. He noted that light rail is very expensive, but the Commission is considering it with an open mind. Mr. Flaherty asked if 60% of the budget will address the road maintenance deficiency. Mr. Orman said they are still addressing that. He noted the plan has to be updated every 5 years, and if it isn't working, changes can be made. Mr. Condos noted that S. Burlington gets shorted because it's a "pass through" community. He asked what recognition exists for such communities. Mr. Orman said their study was done from the point of view of transportation systems, not communities. He said they recognize there are issues to be addressed (e.g., Shelburne Rd, Williston Rd, etc). He said they are trying to stay away from a "this community-that community" approach. Mr. Condos asked what is being spent on the rail studies. Mr. Orman said the aim of the studies is a clear yes-no answer. The commuter rail study is costing about the amount of money in the contingency budget for the Shelburne Rd. project. The light rail study is a big investment. Mr. Condos asked at what level the Commission has had conversations with CCTA. He noted that CCTA is one of the best run systems but is still a "hub and spoke" system. Mr. Orman said the Commission is working with CCTA. Mr. Condos then expressed concern with the I-89 studies which are holding up work in South Burlington (Exit 13 and Hinesburg Rd. interchanges). Mr. Orman said the I-89 study has not yet begun. Mr. Condos said there has to be a way to speed up Agency of Transportation to get projects done. 4. Public Hearing on No Parking Ordinance for Dorset Street from Grandview Drive to a Point 550 ft. South of the Intersection of Dorset Street and Swift Street; second reading of same: Mr. Flaherty moved to waive reading of the proposed Ordinance and to adopt it as written. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Interview for Town Service Officer: The Council interviewed incumbent Thomas Chittenden. Mr. Chittenden said that fortunately he hasn't been called on to take action in this position. Mr. Hafter noted South Burlington doesn't have the transient population that other towns may have and thus doesn't have the problems that the Officer would be called on to address. The position is required by State law. 6. Consideration of Approval of Capital Equipment Refunding Note and Resolution for Road Sweeper: Mr. Condos moved that the Council approve and sign the refunding note and resolution for the road sweeper as presented. Mr. Flaherty seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. CCTA Update: Mr. Mazur said a rider survey has just been completed showing that from July-December ridership was up 8-9% in one year. The two South Burlington routes are up significantly. Mr. Mazur was optimistic they will hit over 1.6 million ridership this year. Revenue is up about $70-80,000. Regarding expansion of the facility, after Burlington gave CCTA planning approvals, the City of Burlington took CCTA to court. Results from Superior Court were in CCTA's favor. CCTA had been working on a payment in lieu of taxes plan which had been agreed to by handshake. The Burlington City Council rejected it and wanted 4 times as much. Mr. Mazur asked if South Burlington still wants to see a payment in lieu of taxes negotiation now that the court decision has been won. Mr. Flaherty said it wouldn't make much sense since Burlington has no bargaining position. Mr. Condos added it would just increase amount paid by S. Burlington taxpayers. Mr. Maclaughlin agreed CCTA should hold the line. He felt Burlington needs to be more realistic. Mr. Mazur showed members a draft of a resolution favoring continuation and growth of a single, locally based, regional transportation authority and asked if they felt it was worthwhile. Mr. Hafter favored changing "locally based" to "locally accountable." Mr. Flaherty said he would cautiously support it but didn't want to see it get too big. He also felt it should be made obvious that this refers to CCTA. Queen City Park residents expressed concern with traffic going over the bridge and down Industrial Rd. at very high speeds. They said this was becoming very dangerous. They felt the city needs to address use of the bridge, noting it is the only entrance to QCP for emergency vehicles. Mr. Mazur then gave a brief review of the Legislative session. He noted there has been a $17.5 million increase in property tax relief, mostly rebates. He felt that further reform would jeopardize programs. He noted that South Burlington got $246,000 in special funding for education this year. 8. Review Zoning Board Agenda for 5/8/95: Mr. Maclaughlin questioned "testing and research" in item #2. Mr. Hafter will check on this. 9. Review Minutes of 4/10/95 and 4/17/95: In the Minutes of 4/10, Mr. Maclaughlin noted that on p. 2, paragraph 1 the word "this" should be "these." Mr. Flaherty then moved to approve the Minutes of April 10 as amended and April 17 as written. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Flaherty moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Chittenden stepped down from the Board as operator of a business that has a liquor permit. Mr. Flaherty chaired the discussion that followed. Mr. Hafter presented liquor license renewals from the following establishments and said that all had been checked and met all requirements: Lums, Airport Mobil, The Net Result, and Spillanes Service Centers. Mr. Condos moved to approve the liquor license renewals as presented by the City Manager. Mr. Maclaughlin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session: Mr. Condos moved the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session to consider contract negotiations and appointments and to resume regular session only to make such appointments and/or adjourn. Mr. Maclaughlin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The Council returned to regular session. Mike Flaherty moved the appointment of Thomas Chittenden as Town Service Officer. Jim Condos seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Mike Flaherty moved adjournment. Dave MacLaughlin seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.