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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 09/14/1998CITY COUNCIL 14 SEPTEMBER 1998 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 14 September 1998, at 6:30 p.m., at Garvey Park and in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: William Cimonetti, Chair; Terrence Sheahan, James Condos, Joan Britt, David Austin. Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Dept; Stephen Stitzel, City Attorney; Anne Geggis, Pat & Heather McCreedy, Carmine Sargent, Karen Paige, Harry Behney, Gary & Elizabeth Lacey, Pat Barra, Jay Morris, Rose Cote, Walter Kuentzel, Lou Bresee, Gwen & Everett Mitchell, Ed Darling, Lee Wrigley, Dan and Lisa Tinis, Art & Sue Sabriski, Charles Amblo, Elizabeth Downer, Mary & Ed Schirmer, Mr. & Mrs. David O'Grady, Agnes and John Clift, Sharon & Greg Stine, Cindy O'Farrell, George Sporynski, Dan & Jeff Deslauriers; Anna Johnston, The Other Paper. 1. Meet at Lutheran Church, Williston Rd, for site visit to Garvey Park Recreation Path: Members met with community members at the site of the proposed recreation path. Regular Meeting: 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience (not related to items on the Agenda): No issues were raised. 2. Announcements and City Manager's Report: a. Mr. Sheahan noted a Regional Planning Commission meeting on 28 September at 7:30 p.m. b. Mr. Cimonetti advised that the MPO will meet on Wednesday, 16 September, at 7 p.m. at Contois Auditorium in Burlington. c. Mr. Hafter reported on the following: 1. The Steering Committee will meet on Thursday, 17 September, at 7 p.m. 2. City staff and the Recreation Dept. are meeting on 8 October to discuss recreation needs/interests, including a community swimming pool. 3. There will be a meeting in Montpelier on Sunday, 27 September, regarding Act 60 concerns and impacts. 4. The Correction Center Liaison Committee met at the facility. The State has agreed to a cap of 197 inmates and has said they will reach this when the next group of prisoners is sent out of state. The State has also agreed to the landscape plan proposed by Terry Boyle in connection with the recently installed fence. d. Mr. Cimonetti noted there will be an informal meeting on 8 October at 7 p.m. at the Shelburne Farms Coach Barn for all elected officials in the County. South Burlington officials will lobby for a study group to assist the state in siting the next Regional Corrections Center to replace the current facility. Public input and participation is encouraged. 3. Consideration of approval of proposed recreation path link between Williston Rd. and Barber Terrace: Mr. Cimonetti said the Council has received a proposal from the Rec Path Committee to build a bike/recreation path between Williston Rd. and Barber Terr. on an easement from the Lutheran Church. The site was visited earlier in the evening. Mr. Cimonetti noted that the path would have a gravel sub- base with adequate drainage so there would be no bumps or puddles on the path. Brush and overhanging branches would also be cleared. The top surface of the path would be determined later but would probably be a hardpack substance, not necessarily asphalt. The City would provide the same level of maintenance as on other paths, including sweeping and patrols. Mr. Cimonetti also noted that a removable barrier would be put in the center of the path at the path ends to prevent vehicular traffic from entering. This will also tend to stop cyclists before they enter the street. Ms. Johnston noted that a petition opposing the location of the path was signed by 101 people and asked what recourse people have if they don't want the path. Mr. Cimonetti said the Council did receive the petition and it will be included in their decision making process. Mr. Morris of Victory Drive felt that traffic would override the benefits of the path. He was also concerned with noise and increased sidewalk bike traffic on Williston Rd. He didn't feel the patrols would take care of problems from increased used of the area. Ms. O'Farrell said there has been a rec path in the location and she would like to keep it as it is, in a natural state. Ms. Sargeant said it would be nice to have the path near her home so her handicapped daughter can experience the natural area. Ms. Page said it would also be a way for her to get her wheelchair to an area where relatives live. Mr. Behney said that the original plan was for the area to be a park. He said he raised 3 children there who never used the park. He felt a rec path is premature as it would go from "nowhere to nowhere." There is no controlled access at the Williston Rd. end of the path which is unsafe for a child. He also felt Lynn Ave. where the path comes out is also unsafe as cars go through there at high speeds and there are no stop signs to slow people down. Mr. Behney also noted there is often illegal parking on Barber Terrace. He suggested lowering the speed limit on that street. Mr. Amblo said his children have enjoyed the park and it is a great place just the way it is. Ms. McCreedy said she would like to see the bike path happen in a safe way. She noted it is very bumpy now. Ms. Clift said she also wanted to see the path happen so she could enjoy it more. She felt a lot of the bad things that go on back there would go away if the path is upgraded. Mr. Sporzynski said he has lived in the area for 30 years and never knew the path existed until tonight. He noted the land was bought with city tax money and felt the whole city should have access to it and be able to enjoy it. Mr. McCreedy said he would like to see the path happen. It is getting harder to use now because of the bumps. He noted there have been no problems on other areas of the rec path in the city. Mr. Schirmer opposed the path for safety and environmental reasons. He felt it doesn't connect one neighborhood to another and felt that was important. He felt upgrading the Neighborhood Watch Program was more important than building the path. Mr. O'Grady said one of the perks of buying his home was the undeveloped park. He added that he has almost hit people on bicycles, and felt that even lower speed limits won't slow them down. He felt the area should be fenced off to protect people's homes. Mr. Cimonetti made several observations: a. The city owns the property and there is an easement from the Church for alignment of the proposed path. b. The City has no plans at present for additional recreation use of the park, although it would like to. c. The path would have the same safety and security as other rec paths in the city. d. The Council will ask the City Manager to look at some of the issues raised about traffic in the area, specifically stop signs and speed limits. The city can change speed limits following an engineering study that recommends such a change. Such a study will be done for Barber Terrace. e. The general direction the Council gives to the Rec Path Committee is to link the different public facilities in the city (schools, playgrounds, etc.) and, where possible, to make inter-neighborhood connections, preferably off-street. Mr. Cimonetti felt this can be considered a neighborhood connection. Ms. Lacy noted that the city bought the property after residents in the area urged them to in order to prevent low income housing from going in. Mr. Stein asked if it's legal to have bikes on the sidewalk in South Burlington. Mr. Cimonetti said it is. Dan Deslauriers said he would not want to see the path paved. Kids just like to go in there and have fun. Jeff Deslauriers added they like to go over the bumps and would get hurt if it were asphalt. Ms. Downer said she enjoys seeing children play back there and would like to see them keep what they have. Ms. Britt said it was her understanding the bumps were going to be kept for the children. Mr. Bresee said he saw no reason why that activity should be reduced, and it could even be enhanced. Ms. Britt added that now people with strollers and on foot will be able to enjoy the area as it will be much more pedestrian friendly. Mr. Austin said there is one path back there now that would not be paved. He noted that bike/rec paths trigger negative reactions until they are built. Many realtors use it as a positive selling point. He felt the nice thing about this property is that it is shielded from the homes by trees. Mr. Condos felt the path would improve safety and the city environment. Bike/rec paths have been proved to make neighborhoods safer and to result in less vandalism. Mr. Condos noted that crime in South Burlington is actually decreasing, and violent crime is down considerably. Mr. Condos then moved the Council proceed with the recreation path as proposed across the Garvey property between Williston Road and Barber Terrace/Lynn Avenue. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Designation of Official Voting Delegate to VLCT Town Fair Business Meeting: Mr. Sheahan moved that Mr. Condos be named as official voting delegate to the VLCT Town Fair. Ms. Britt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Discussion of Council Priorities on Regional Issues: Members indicated their priorities, with the Correctional Facility and equity in the funding of the bus system getting consensus as the major interests of the city. 6. Consideration of approval of Capital Equipment Refunding Note and Resolution for Purchase of Loader: Mr. Condos moved to approve the Capital Equipment Refunding Note and Resolution in the amount of $26,800. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Consideration of Approval of Capital Equipment Note and Resolution for purchase of Two Police Cruisers: Mr. Condos moved to approve the Capital Equipment Note and Resolution for the purchase of two police cruisers in the amount of $45,000. Ms. Britt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Information on 17 September Steering Committee Meeting and Discussion of VLCT 1999 Policy on Education Finance: Mr. Cimonetti noted it is the Council's turn to chair the Steering Committee. 9. Review Zoning Notices for Meetings on 14 and 28 September: Mr. Cimonetti noted it is a condition of the Golf Course approval that the bike path must be built before homes are occupied. This needs to be brought to resolution. He noted there is a proposal for changes which is being discussed tonight by the Rec Path Committee. 10. Review City Council Minutes of 18 August: Mr. Austin moved to approve the Minutes of 18 August as written.Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed 4-0 with Ms. Britt abstaining. 11. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Condos moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented a first class license application from Gourmet Chinese Cuisine on Williston Rd. He said all was in order. Mr. Austin moved to approve the first class liquor license for Gourmet Chinese Cuisine as presented. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session: Mr. Austin moved the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session to discuss personnel issues, land acquisition, appointments to boards and committees, and contract negotiations and to resume regular session only to take possible action on a personnel issue, make appointments, and/or adjourn. Ms. Britt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The City Council returned to regular session. Jim Condos moved the appointment of Dr. Maria Franca Morselli to the Natural Resources Committee for a three year term ending in 2001. The motion passed unanimously. Terry Sheahan moved adjournment. Jim Condos seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.