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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 05/05/1997CITY COUNCIL 5 MAY 1997 The South Burlington City Council held a meeting on Monday, 5 May 1997, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: William Cimonetti, Chair; James Condos, Robert Chittenden, David Austin, Terrence Sheahan Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Peg Strait, Assistant City Manager; Margaret Picard, City Clerk/Treasurer; Albert Audette, Highway Dept; Anna Johnston, The Other Paper; Susan Deacon, Ed Wolfstein, George Holcomb 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience (not related to Agenda items): Mr. Holcomb presented a petition from residents of Meadow Road asking for a sidewalk on one side of the street. Mr. Chittenden asked if the "neckdowns" were helping the traffic situation. Mr. Holcomb said they didn't seem to be helping much, and drivers seem to be racing to get through them first. Mr. Cimonetti read the petition which made reference to the fact that there is a day care in the area now and also the new Paine-Webber building. Residents don't want curbs and don't want the street dug up. All but two residents want the sidewalk on the east side; the other two want sidewalks on both sides. Mr. Hafter suggested the city stake where the sidewalk would go and see if residents still want it. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: a. Mr. Condos noted that he saw a tape of Williston's Planning Commission meeting during which their City Planner showed proposed roads which are being designed to avoid Taft Corners and bring traffic to Shunpike and Williston Roads. Mr. Condos felt it might be a good idea to have Joe Weith get in touch with the Williston Planner and be sure both communities are "on the same page." Mr. Sheahan said he couldn't believe the amount of traffic on Brownell Road going to Shunpike this weekend. b. Mr. Condos also noted that when Williston Rd. was redone 2 years ago, the green belt between the curb and sidewalk was skimmed off, and there is no grass growing there now. He felt the State should be contacted to address the problem. c. Mr. Cimonetti updated the recent MPO meeting. Despite ads run for the Executive Director position, no candidate was found and the search will be reopened. A proposal was made to offer the position of Technical Director of the MPO to John Booth. This was approved. The MPO will open its separate office in June. d. Mr. Hafter reported on the following: 1. The City Council reorganization meeting will be held on 27 May at 7:00 p.m. 2. A meeting on the Lime Kiln Bridge was held with the state and consulting engineer. Mr. Hafter and Mr. Audette attended along with Colchester representatives. The State will not let the old, historic bridge be torn down, but there is a question of who will maintain it. There was a memo of understanding that if no one could be found to maintain it, it would be torn down, but that memorandum was never signed. Progress was made this week when $1.5 million was requested to repair and maintain the bridge for 10 years. Design will begin for a new bridge with construction scheduled for the year 2000. The new bridge would cost $4 million, with an 80-10-10 split and the city share split between S. Burlington and Colchester. The state has done another inspection of the bridge, and it is clear they are going to force the community to do something or close it. Mr. Hafter suggested that closing it may be a way to get something done. Mr. Audette added that there could be an attempt to get federal legislators involved. The bridge is unique in the country, and there are not many of them left. 3. Phase III of the Rec Path is proceeding, but there is still no word on turning the project over to the city. Work on acquiring rights-of-way is now in progress, and the work should get started in 1998. 4. Mr. Hafter attended the first day of hearings on the Rt. 7 project. Hearings will continue on 8 May at the Regional Planning Offices. 5. Sears and Finard have filed for reconsideration of the Act 250 action. 6. Interviews for the Fire Chief position will be held this week. 3. Consideration of action on proposed FY 1997-8 budget for the Chittenden Solid Waste District: Mr. Cimonetti said that if a community does not take action on the budget, it counts as an approval vote. He noted that the City Manager recommends approving the budget as presented. Mr. Condos noted that CSWD took action this week to put the transfer station in private hands. Mr. Chittenden moved to approve the proposed FY 1997-8 Chittenden Solid Waste District budget. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Review of Design Guidelines for Parking Structures: Mr. Cimonetti said it became obvious a few years ago that South Burlington was going to have at least 3 parking structures built in a short period of time. Two now exist and one is planned soon at the Airport. The Planning Commission isn't asking for design review but is suggesting guidelines for design. Mr. Sheahan noted that applicants have been very receptive to ideas from the Planning Commission. Mr. Austin agreed but did not like the idea that if the city didn't like what was being proposed it could get involved in the Act 250 process on the basis of aesthetic considerations. He felt this was a "back door" action. Mr. Cimonetti noted that unless a structure is over 35 ft. high, the only consideration the Planning Commission can have is landscaping. Mr. Austin said that's true of every building that goes up. Mr. Hafter advised that the first meeting of volunteers for City Center design review will be held soon. 5. Consideration of land swap between city property on Holmes Road (Fire Station #2) and Lewis Motors including approximately 1500 sq. ft.: Mr. Hafter advised that when Lewis Motors did a recent survey, they found that part of the wall from the Fire Station had been built on the Lewis property. He then showed members the "swap" plan. Members had no problem with the plan. Mr. Condos moved that the Council notice the intent to make a land exchange between the city and Lewis Motors as presented. Mr. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Consideration of First Reading of an Amendment to the Ordinance Regulating the Use of Firearms to Permit Educational and Training Programs Approved by City police, Recreation or School Dept; Schedule second reading: Mr. Cimonetti said the amendment will allow a bow and arrow training program to be held. That is covered under this ordinance. There will also be a redrafting of the ordinance so that violations will be civil, not criminal, violations. Mr. Condos asked what the thinking on this is if someone uses a weapon for criminal purposes. Mr. Hafter said there are other statutes to cover such situations. Mr. Condos moved to waive the reading of the proposed amendment and to approve the first reading as presented and schedule a second public hearing on 2 June 1997. Mr. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Information Items: Mr. Cimonetti directed members' attention to a memo from Bruce O'Neill regarding planning for the Shrine Circus. Mr. Condos raised the question of parking on the bike path adjacent to Swift St., noting that this causes bikers to have to go onto the road on Swift St. He suggested the possibility of a "No Parking" designation on the path and also a wider line to define where the bike path is. Mr. Audette said the circus will have security people to try to take care of that and other concerns. 8. Review Zoning Board agenda for 12 May: No issues were raised. 9. Review City Council Minutes of 17 April and 21 April: Mr. Austin moved to approve the Minutes of 17 April as written. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed 4-0 with Mr. Sheahan abstaining. Mr. Austin moved to approve the Minutes of 21 April as written. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed 4-0 with Mr. Sheahan abstaining. 10. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 11. Consideration of Entertainment Permit for Cheers!: Mr. Hafter introduced Ed Wolfstein, Vice President of Cheers! which will be going into the former Bambino's site. They are asking for a nightly DJ and musicians for Friday and Saturday nights. Mr. Wolfstein said Cheers! will be a pub in the British style. There are three such clubs in Montreal. There will be dancing. Mr. Cimonetti noted the history of noise problems for the adjacent residential neighborhood. Mr. Wolfstein said they are not targeting a younger crowd and do not anticipate ear-splitting music. He said they would do whatever is necessary to meet the concerns of the neighbors. Mr. Cimonetti said if there are problems, the Council would contact the club and expect the issues to be handled quickly. Mr. Wolfstein said they will have their own security people. He then asked about the possibility of a road going through the area. Mr. Cimonetti explained that this has been talked about for many years but is not in the works now. There are, however, plans for expansion of uses on the adjacent property, and when that gets to the Planning Commission, the subject of the road may come up again. He added that there has been mixed reaction from the residential community. Mr. Wolfstein felt it might be a good place for a sidewalk and could also slow down traffic that whips onto Farrell. Mr. Cimonetti added that one end of the rec path will be very near this property, and the intention is that it will connect through to Shelburne Road. Mr. Hafter said that if a road is built to go through, it will be built to city standards. Mr. Chittenden moved to approve the entertainment permit for Cheers! as presented. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 12. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Austin moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed. Mr. Hafter presented First and Second Class Liquor License renewals from the following establishments: Breakers Entertainment Club/Cafe Cheers! J & L Sav Mor Variety Kwan's Restaurant Lilydale, Inc. The Pour House (former Chicken Luigi's) What's Your Beef He indicated that all applications were in order. Mr. Condos moved to approve the First and Second Class Liquor Licenses as presented. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed 4-0. As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.