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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 06/06/2022 CITY COUNCIL 6 JUNE 2022 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 6 June 2022,at 6:30 p.m., in the Auditorium, 180 Market Street, and by Go to Meeting remote participation. MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Riehle, Chair; M. Emery,T. Barritt, Sen. T. Chittenden, M. Cota ALSO PRESENT:J. Baker, City Manager; C. McNeil, City Attorney; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; D. Wheeler, Public Works Department; M. Machar, Finance Officer; M. Lyons, City Assessor; J. Murray, Librarian, I. Blanchard, Project Manager; B. Sirvis, R. Greco, L. Bailey, J. Simson, J. S. Chaulot, N. Senecal, R. Birgisson, K. Epstein, E. Goldman, A. Abdel-Fattah, L. Yandowski, J. Klug, L. Stutzman, S. Dopp, S. Reeves, A. Costa, A. Dahlstrom, P. Stabler, E. Buzby, R. Meader, C. Mcaughlin, F. VanBoden 1. Instructions on exiting building in case of emergency and review of technology option: Ms. Baker provided instructions on emergency exit from the building and reviewed technology options. 2. Additions, deletions or changes in the order of Agenda items: No changes were made to the Agenda. 3. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda: Ms. Greco asked the Council to hold off of destruction of any more ash trees until there is more information about new methods to save the trees from destruction by the ash borer. 4. Announcements and City Manager's Report: Councilors reported on meetings and events they had attended. Ms. Baker: She and Burlington Mayor Weinberg have announced the appointment of Steve Locke as South Burlington's new Fire Chief. Former Chief Francis will now serve as Fire Marshal. The interim School Superintendent search committee will be interviewing 4 candidates. There will be a community forum on 13 June, from 6-8 p.m., to introduce the 2 final candidates. CITY COUNCIL 6 JUNE 2022 PAGE 2 The Solar panels will be reinstalled on City Hall, and the whole system will be shored up. This will require scaffolding around the building while the work is being done. The Muddy Brook culvert is substantially complete. The Wheeler Dog Park fence has been ordered. The hope is to have the work done by early July. The city is waiting for a permit from VTrans for the Dorset Street signal project. There is verbal confirmation. The first planning workshop for the bike/ped bridge will be held on 13 June, at 5:30 p.m. The Grand List has been locked for the year. The grievance period will be from 2- 16 June. Library hours will increase in July. Staff is being hired to accommodate the extended hours. Police are now being trained on the use of the new body cameras. The affordable housing RFP is now out. 5. Consent Agenda: a. Approve and Sign Disbursements b. Stormwater System Improvement Agreement with Burlington Country Club c. Accept and approve for recording in the South Burlington Land Records the Warranty Deed of Easement from South Burlington City Center, LLC,for a multi- use path Mr. Barritt said he would like to see a diagram for item "b." Mr. Wheeler said the project is located on Spear Street near the maple research facility. It is mostly on the Country Club property. Ms. Emery moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. CITY COUNCIL 6 JUNE 2022 PAGE 3 6. Public Hearing on proposed amendment to Official Map,#OM-22-01: Mr. Conner said the Planning Commission approve minor amendments to the city's Official Map. He showed a map of the area and indicated where the bike/ped bridge will be. The amendment provides a basic structure of where it will connect. Mr. Conner noted that the city has secured easement from some of the private property owners involved. All property owners are aware of the coming bridge and are excited about it. A more robust design plan will be worked on this year. Mr. Barritt questioned whether any of the federal configuration is compromised by this. Mr. Conner said the project is outside of their boundaries, but this will be looked at further in the design phase. There was no public comment. Ms. Emery moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Possible Action to approve proposed amendment to Official Map#OM-22-01: Ms. Emery moved to approve the proposed amendment to Official Map #OM-22-01 as presented. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Interviews with applicants to City Boards and Committees: The Council interviewed the following applicants for positions on boards and committees: a. Jon Simson Affordable Housing Committee b. Nora Senecal Affordable Housing Committee (second choice Recreation/Parks Committee) c. Donna Leban Bike/Ped Committee d. Joel Klug Bike/Ped Committee e. Lisa Yankowski Common Area for Dogs Committee f. Robin Birgisson Natural Resources Committee or Common Area for Dogs Committee or Recreation/Parks Committee g. Les Stutzman Common Area for Dogs Committee h. Keith Epstein Energy Committee CITY COUNCIL 6 JUNE 2022 PAGE 4 i. Ethan Goldman Energy Committee j. Ahmad Abdel-Fattah Energy Committee k. Carrie McLaughlin Energy Committee I. Tyler VanBoden Energy Committee m. Rob Meader Energy Committee n. Erin Buzby Library Board of Trustees o. Jean-Sebastien Chalot Natural Resources Committee and Public Art Committee p. John Killacky Public Art Committee q. Rick Dahlstrom Development Review Board or Planning Commission 9. Review and Approve a Declaration of Inclusion: Ms. Baker cited the work of Ms. Murray, Ms. Lyons and Ms. Machar in drafting the Declaration. She noted this is just one more step toward making the community more inclusive. Ms. Emery said she would like to see the word "race" eliminated in favor of"color." She also felt the document could talk about ageism and sexism. Mr. Cota and Mr. Chittenden would approve the document as is. Ms. Baker said she will bring it back to the Council will possible additions. 10. Receive a presentation on Chittenden Solid Waste District's FY23 Budget: Mr. Stabler said there is no assessment to member municipalities. The solid waste management feel won't change nor will fees at the drop-off center. Tipping fees at the organic facility will increase as they are close to breaking even there. Mr. Stabler said the next project will be a new materials recovery facility as the old one is showing its age. The new facility will have higher quality sorting. There will be a bond vote in November. The anticipated cost is $22,000,000. The facility will be in Williston. Ms. Reeves of CSWD said the anticipated FY23 revenues are $14,000,000. Anticipated expenses are $13,800,000. The solid waste management fee is down significantly from just a few years ago as they have seen a significant drop in residential waste. CITY COUNCIL 6 JUNE 2022 PAGE 5 Ms. Reeves noted that some tonnage was lost at the organics diversion facility as it was diverted elsewhere. They are getting some of it back and are just under where they feel they should be. Ms. Reeves also noted that COVID has greatly impacted composting as they are not seeing new gardens being built. Some things that were put on hold are now starting to come back. Although fees at the drop-off centers are not being increased, they are being looked at. They have received a grant from the Agency of Natural Resources to help offset costs. Ms. Reeves then reviewed the capital plan including plans for a new administrative building and land prep for the project Mr. Stabler mentioned. There is a grant to help offset the cost of the new MRF. The bond could be as high as $22,000,000. Sen. Chittenden said he fully supports the new MRF. He noted that even though there is no plan to charge people for that debt, that could change in the future if the outlook changes. Ms. Reeves said that will be explained to voters. Mr. Barritt spoke to the tonnage that goes to Coventry that shouldn't and the cost of that. He said the public needs to be aware of that. Ms. Reeves said the hope is to keep everything as local as possible. Mr. Stabler said they still have one of the highest diversion rates in the country. 11. Award the Preliminary Engineering contract for the East West Crossing(Bike and Pedestrian Bridge over 1-89): Ms. Blanchard said the city received a $7,000,000 grant from the Federal Government. As the project moves forward, the city can contract with VTrans to get payment. The city got less of a local match than they asked for. They will make up some of that with local staffing, but not all. Ms. Blanchard cited the time-line importance. The city can bring a TIF issue for a town meeting ballot. There can be 4 potential projects on that vote. Mr. Barritt then moved to approve the resolution for the awareness of a preliminary engineering contract for the east-west crossing over 1-89 as presented. Sen. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. CITY COUNCIL 6 JUNE 2022 PAGE 6 Ms. Blanchard noted the first public workshop for this project will be held on 15 June. There is a request to include an artist in the project team (the same artist who did the park project). He will attend all workshops. 12. Review and Approve the final survey for public outreach on the use of ARPA funds: Sen. Chittenden suggested the option to include the name of the responder. Ms. Emery was concerned people might not respond. Ms. Riehle supported adding that option. Mr. Barritt moved to approve the final survey for public outreach on the use of ARPA funds with the additional option to include the name of the responder. Sen. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 13. Appoint Council Liaisons for Committees: Ms. Baker said there is no rush to do this. Members were OK with the list. Ms. Riehle moved to approve the Council Liaisons for Committees as presented. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 14. Consider entering executive session for the purpose of discussing labor relations agreements with Police Department, Fire Department and city hall/Public Works employees: Mr. Barritt moved that the Council make a specific finding that premature general public knowledge of the Council's discussions regarding the negotiation of labor agreements with City employees would clearly place the public at a substantial disadvantage. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Barritt moved that the Council enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing the negotiation of labor agreements with City Employees. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The Council entered executive session at 10:47 p.m. and resumed open session at 11:05 p.m. CITY COUNCIL 6 JUNE 2022 PAGE 7 15. Consider and Possible Approval of collective bargaining agreement between City and South Burlington Police Officers Association: Ms. Emery moved to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the South Burlington Police Officers Association as presented. Sen. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 16. Consider and Possible Approval of collective bargaining agreement between City and South Burlington Career Firefighters Association: Ms. Emery moved to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the South Burlington Career Firefighters Association as presented. Sen. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 17. Consider and Possible Approval of collective bargaining agreement between City and South Burlington City Hall and Public Works Employees Association: Ms. Emery moved to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the South Burlington City Hall and Public Works Employees Association as presented. Sen. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Emery then moved to authorize City Manager Jessie Baker to sign the agreements with the South Burlington Police Officers Association, the South Burlington Career Firefighters Association, and the South Burlington City Hall and Public Works Employees Association. Sen. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 18. Councilors' Reports from Committee Assignments: Ms. Riehle: Climate Task Force: The Task Force will be getting the final numbers regarding goals. Airport Commission:Things are getting back to pre-COVID numbers, and there are meetings with proposed additional airlines. The Airport received a $13,000,000 contract regarding trees. The insulation grant estimate was low ($50,000) and has come in at $110,000, so they won't be able to do as many houses to start with. Two Commissioners will be included in the search for a new Airport Director. CITY COUNCIL 6 June 2022 PAGE 8 City/School Leadership: The final details of the lease have been set. Supt. Young talked about the impact of the meeting with Jonathan Dayton regarding demographics. Mr. Cota: GMT has agreed to no bus fares for FY23. They need to upgrade the fare collection method. They have stressed they can't survive this way in perpetuity and are taking a year to figure things out. They need to build back ridership, especially on Link buses. Ms. Baker noted the GMT General Manager is coming to a July meeting. 19. Other Business: Ms. Emery said she hoped they can slow down the process of removing ash trees until the Council hears from the Natural Resources Committee and about viable alternatives. Ms. Baker noted the city is under contract to finish the process by the end of the fiscal year. That contract will have to be paid regardless of what decision is made. Mr. Barritt noted that he got a call regarding speed bumps that were taken out when Harbor View Road was repaved. Residents are concerned because speeds are up. 20. Consider entering executive session for the purposes of: a. Discussing the appeal of the burton Corporation/Higher Ground Act 250 Permit at the Environmental Court to which the City is a party b. Considering applications for appointment to South Burlington Boards, Commissions and Committees and deliberative session Mr. Barritt moved that the Council make a specific find that premature general public knowledge of the discussion about the Burton Corporation/Higher Ground Environmental Court appeal to which the City is a party and Committee Appointments would clearly place the City at a substantial disadvantage. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Barritt then moved that the Board enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing Burton Corporation/Higher Ground Environmental Court appeal to which the City is a party and Committee Appointments and to invite into the session Ms. Baker and Mr. O'Neil. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The Council entered executive session at 11:26 p.m. CITY COUNCIL 6 JULY 2022 PAGE 9 Following the executive session, as there was no further business to come before the Council Mr. Barritt moved to adjourn. Sen. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 p.m. Clerk