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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 08/18/1998CITY COUNCIL 18 AUGUST 1998 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 18 August 1998, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset S Members Present: William Cimonetti, Chair; James Condos, Terrence Sheahan, David Austin. Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Albert Audette, Highway Dept; Bill Schuele, Shelley Snyder, Natural Resources Committee; Rep. Susan Wheeler; Anna K. Johnston, The Other Paper; Anne Geggis, Free Press; Richard Cassidy, Ed Darling, Roger Farley, Mark Cutler. 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience (not related to Agenda items): a. Rep. Wheeler congratulated the city on its National Night Out event. b. Mr. Cassidy expressed concern with the recent reappraisal of property in the city. He said it appears that commercial properties were appraised at a lower percentage of fair market value than residential property. Mr. Cassidy said his information came from several clients who own commercial businesses in the city and feel their properties were undervalued. Mr. Cimonetti said the Council appreciates the concern and suggested that Mr. Cassidy sit down with the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and appraiser and further discuss the concerns. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: a. Mr. Sheahan advised that the Regional Planning Commission will hold its annual meeting on Monday, 24 Aug. at 7:30 at Mona's. b. Mr. Cimonetti noted that the scoping study is underway on the Exit 13 initiative. Webster-Martin has the contract and has scheduled a public meeting on Thursday, 20 August at 7 p.m. at City Hall. AOT representatives will be present. c. Mr. Hafter introduced Ann Geggis, new Free Press reporter covering South Burlington. d. Mr. Hafter reported on the following: i. On 20 August, Sen. Jeffords will be holding a meeting on the issue of sprawl, 1-3 p.m. at the Boathouse. ii. Mr. Hafter will attend the next meeting of the Coalition of Towns in Sherburne, 2 September, 1 p.m. iii. A notice was received from the League of Cities and Towns for items on the agenda for their 24 September meeting. Included are proposed changes to Act 60. iv. The Steering Committee will meet on Thursday, 17 September at 7:30 p.m. v. The work in the lake in connection with the Bartlett Bay Sewage Treatment Plant expansion is complete, and they are now working on the pipe from the lake to the plant. vi. Frustration continues about Phase 3 of the bikepath. Mr. Hafter read a letter from the AOT to the UVM Board regarding lease of the land. They now say it only has to be a 25 year lease. In the past, the city was told it had to be 50 years. Years were wasted on this issue. Mr. Hafter felt that concerns on easements are now wrapped up and the project can go out to bid in the fall. 3. Interviews for City Boards & Commissions: a. Rec Path Committee: The Council interviewed Ed Darling and Mark Cutler Mr. Darling has lived in South Burlington since 1976 and is a frequent user of the path. He feels it is one of the best things the city has to offer and would like to see it extended. Mr. Cutler has been a city resident for 14 years and is an avid user of the path. He is frustrated by the delay in getting further sections finished and is also concerned with maintenance of existing sections. He noted the Dorset St. part is now barely usable. Mr. Audette noted it will be repaved within the next few days. b. Planning Commission: The Council interviewed Roger Farley Mr. Farley has been covering the Planning Commission for the Other Paper for over a year and has become fascinated by the process. He is retired and would now like to serve the city. Mr. Sheahan asked what Mr. Farley thought about the growth pattern in the Southeast Quadrant. Mr. Farley said it seems to be orderly but felt there might be more thought to traffic controls. Mr. Condos asked if anything Mr. Farley has observed at the Planning Commission has concerned or disturbed him. Mr. Farley said he felt the Commission was doing an excellent job and used logic rather than emotion to make decisions. Mr. Austin noted the Council is considering a new systems which would result in a Development Review Board and a Planning Board. He asked which Mr. Farley would prefer. Mr. Farley said he would serve wherever he could do the best job for the city. 4. Review and Discussion of Street Tree Inventory and Master Plan: Mr. Hafter noted the inventory was a project of the Natural Resources Committee and is very timely. The state recently got an $800,000 grant for landscaping from FEMA, and the city will be considering a plan by which it can apply for some of this funding. Ms. Snyder said the Natural Resources Committee identified some areas for possible plantings including Kennedy Drive and Kimball Avenue. There are also a lot of privately owned trees in neighborhoods which are serving as street trees. Mr. Cimonetti asked if there is notification when Green Mountain Power will be pruning trees. Mr. Audette said they are usually very good about notification. State law says they don't have to tell the city. Mr. Schuele said the Committee's concern is with people who trim trees and don't know what they are doing and wind up killing the trees. Mr. Cimonetti asked if the city has recourse if a tree is cut down illegally. Mr. Audette said it does, and there is a developer who will be replacing a city tree that was cut down and will be adding more trees. Mr. Condos felt there may be room for more plantings on the Dorset St. median and in the green belt. He also felt Kennedy Dr. and Kimball Ave. could be improved. Mr. Audette noted that University Mall moved many trees to Dorset Park, and it looks like most of them will survive. 5. Discussion of Planning Commission recommendation on amendment to Sign Ordinance to permit signs not visible off premises: Mr. Hafter said a question arose about a sandwich board sign that has lettering not visible from the street. The City Attorney said it came under the sign ordinance and was a public sign. The Planning Commission recommended an amendment to exempt signs not visible off premises. Mr. Hafter said there are a number of things to consider in this issue: could signs be any size (a billboard?); can the back of the sign be visible if it doesn't carry any message; how many such signs on a property; can signs promote a product not related to the business; setbacks; signs on sidewalks; does "visible off premises" apply only to public property off premises or other private property as well. Mr. Sheahan said he would be concerned with the number of signs that might be generated in a multiple use establishment and also with the size of signs. He was also concerned with someone selling sign space to another business. Mr. Condos had no problem with "an out of sight sign." Mr. Cimonetti stressed the need for an ordinance that can be enforced. Mr. Bissonette said he supports the Sign Ordinance and agreed the City Manager has raised a litany of valid issues. He asked if they can be addressed in a law. Mr. Cimonetti said size and frequency of occurrence would be an issue for him. 6. Discussion of issues that would benefit from regional collaboration of Chittenden County Municipal Officials: Mr. Cimonetti said this item is a result of a meeting held recently. He asked Council members to come in with their three highest priorities for the next meeting. 7. Approval of 1992 Series Capital Refunding Municipal Certificate: Mr. Hafter explained that the city issued $700,000 in bonds on Dorset Park. Refunding will save the city $14,000 over the next three years. Mr. Condos moved to approve and sign the certificate as presented. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Consideration of approval of Capital Equipment Refunding Note and Resolution for sidewalk plow: Mr. Cimonetti said the note is for $55,200 at 4.3% interest. Mr. Austin moved to approve the resolution and note as presented. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Review Planning Commission Agenda for 18 August 1998: No issues were raised. 10. Review Zoning Notice for Public Hearing to be held on 24 August 1998: No issues were raised. 11. Review Minutes of 3 August: Mr. Austin noted he was not present at this meeting. Mr. Austin moved to approve the Minutes of 3 August as amended. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed 3-0 with Mr. Austin abstaining. 12. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. Executive Session: Mr. Condos moved the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session to discuss real property acquisition and appointments to boards and commissions and to resume regular session only to a make appointments and/or adjourn. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The City Council returned to regular session. Jim Condos moved appointments to the following Boards and Commissions. Terry Sheahan seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Planning Commission: John Dinklage, 4 year term, 2002; Roger Farley, 3 year term, 2001 Recreation Path Committee: Marc Kutler, 3 yr. term, 2001; Edward Darling, 3 yr. term, 2001 Zoning Board of Adjustment: Randall Kay, 4 yr. term, 2002 Terry Sheahan moved adjournment. Jim Condos seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.