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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/21/2000CITY COUNCIL 21 FEBRUARY 2000 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 21 February, 2000, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members present: Jim Condos, Chair; Terry Sheahan, David Austin, Chris Smith Also present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Joe Weith, Director of Planning & Zoning; Steve Stitzel, City Attorney; Lee Graham, Police Chief; Bruce Chattman, Ted Manazir, School District; Jim Fay, CWD; Maryann Danahy, CCTA; Anna Johnston, The Other Paper; Greg Rabideau, George Fon, Sonny Audette 1. Comments & questions from the audience not related to Agenda items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's report: Council members announced the following: Mr. Sheahan -- A meeting of the Regional Planning Commission on 28 February. Mr. Condos -- A meeting of the Solid Waste District on 23 February. Mr. Hafter reported on the following: He thanked the Public Works Dept. for the fine job they have done during the recent snowstorms. The Council will hold 2 meetings to review the proposed 2000-2001 City Budget. These will occur on 24 February and 2 March. Mr. Hafter advised that the municipal tax rate is proposed at 52.9 cents, up .9 cents from last year. Mr. Stitzel and Mr. Hafter will testify on Wednesday regarding the city's ability to regulate density at the Corrections facility. The Dorset Park Facility Committee will meet on 29 February at 7 p.m. The Railroad Steering Committee will meet on 28 February at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Hafter advised that the state has another new manager for the rail project. 3. Presentation from regional agencies seeking bonding authority: a. CCTA: Ms. Danahy said CCTA is asking for a $460,000. bond from the 5 member communities. South Burlington's share would be $108,500. It would be a 10- year bond for new buses. In addition to replacing buses which are 20+ years old, the new buses will also reduce pollutants by 90%. Mr. Sheahan asked if there will be a reduction in the maintenance budget since the new buses will be less costly to maintain. Mr. Hafter said there is already such a reduction. b. CWD: Mr. Fay said there will be voting in the 8 member communities for funds to recoat storage tanks (one of which is in South Burlington). Underground power cables will also be replaced, and a new 30 inch pipe line put in. The bond would authorize up to $1,300,000 for these projects and would not impact water rates. Mr. Condos advised that both of these bond issues would be on the March 7th ballot. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 4. Discussion with South Burlington Education Fund reference golf course membership raffle: Mr. Condos explained that the city received a life membership to the Vermont Country Club which it will raffle off on an annual basis to support some worthy cause. This year the income from the raffle will go the Education Fund to be matched by the Freeman Foundation. The Education Fund people will work with the City Manager on details and publicity. Ms. Bresnahan thanked the Council on behalf of the Education Fund. 5. First reading of amendments to the Zoning Ordinance: Mr. Weith explained that the amendments are an attempt to address variance requests. He noted that most requests have been for setback variances in older neighborhoods and from residents in the CO District near the Lake. a. Establish new Section 25.118 exceptions to yard setback and lot coverage requirements: Mr. Weith said this deals with older neighborhoods where lots are smaller than today's minimum lot sizes and are closer to adjacent properties. To be eligible for inclusion under this section, the residence would have to have been built before 28 February 1974. It must be a single or two-family home. The character of the neighborhood will determine how much into the setback they can go. Mr. Condos asked about structures that already received variances. Mr. Weith said there are limits as to how close a structure can go to the property line, and that would cover structures that have already been increased. As part of this amendment, the rule limiting improvements to 35% of the property value wouldn't apply to structures built before 2/28/74. b. Establish new article XIX, lakeshore neighborhood district: Mr. Weith noted that currently this is an R-1 district which requires a minimum 1-acre lot size and large setbacks. Most of these properties are smaller than 1 acre. In the amendment, the minimum lot size would be 12,000 sq. ft. Setbacks would be 20 ft. in front and 10 feet on the sides. c. Amendment to CO district -- pre-existing structures in CO district along Lake Champlain: Mr. Weith said this amendment would allow limited expansion and water-oriented improvements in this district. There are limitations: a property can't get any closer to the lake and improvements must not increase the possibility of erosion. There must also be a minimal removal of trees, shrubs, etc. Development Review Board approval is required in these instances. Mr. Austin moved to waive the first reading of the proposed amendments, approve the first reading, and set a public hearing for 3 April 2000. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Consider request from Planning Director for orthophoto funding commitment: Mr. Weith said the city has the chance to share in this project with the cities of Burlington and Winooski and with UVM. He said this is a great planning tool to have. It can produce maps in both mylar and digital formats. Mr. Weith then showed an exhibit comparing the 1 to 12.50 map the new orthophoto would produce and the 1 to 5000 the city currently gets. He noted the maps could be used by Police, Fire, Public Works and Assessor in addition to the Planning Office. To do the whole city, it would cost $75,000. To do the "core area" would cost $40,000. Members felt that though they wished they could do the whole city, the cost would be too much at this time. Mr. Hafter said he hoped the first year of the $40,000 could be funded out of a fund balance. Mr. Rabideau suggested that members of the private sector would probably buy maps from the city which could help defray the cost over a period of time. Mr. Weith said there is a public records law which limits what the city can charge. Mr. Stitzel said he would look into that. Mr. Austin moved to authorize the spending of $40,000 for orthophotoing, as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Consideration of request from John Larkin, Inc, for License Agreement to permit installation of a canopy over rec path between Harbor View and Allenwood apartments: Mr. Hafter reviewed the history of the request and recommended approval of the agreement in concept. If the City Attorney has no problem with the draft, the Council would authorize Mr. Hafter to sign the agreement. Mr. Rabideau noted that the Rec Path Committee supports this and that the land for the Rec Path in this area was donated by Mr. Larkin. He said that the aim is to make passage between buildings as safe as possible for elderly residents. Mr. Austin felt that the more flexible the city is with landowners who donate easements, the more likely it is that the city will get the easements it wants. Mr. Hafter suggested the agreement have a 25-year term. Mr. Sheahan moved to approve a 25-year agreement contingent on the City Attorney's review and approval and to then authorize the City Manager to sign. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Discussion of potential ballot items for May vote: a. Confirmation of vote for new Public Works facility: Mr. Hafter explained that a publication date was missed so the vote needs to be confirmed. He then read the ballot item. Mr. Austin moved to put the confirmation vote for the Public Works facility on the May ballot. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. b. Adoption of a 1 cent tax for purchase of open space: Mr. Hafter said this would yield about $125,000. a year. The Council would need to decide on this by April 2. Members indicated their desire to proceed with wording for this. c. Establishing a local development corporation: Mr. Hafter said there may a question as to whether the city wants to do this given the impacts of Act 60. He noted that if it is for development in the City Center, this was a goal of the Town Meeting series. d. Transfer $300,000 from school to city side of budget: Mr. Hafter said this would save taxpayers about $80,000. The school would have to have these items in their budget and then reduce the budget by that amount if the ballot item passed. Supt. Chattman said the intent is to reduce the tax burden on taxpayers. Mr. Stitzel noted that this was contemplated when Act 60 was enacted. Mr. Hafter said the city would meet with the State Dept. of Education to be sure the transfers are allowed. Mr. Stitzel said he had some issues with the tax anticipation borrowing. There is about $121,000 interest expense a year. The School district would continue to do this but the city would carry a $121,000. item to reimburse the school for that interest. Mr. Stitzel was not sure this would pass the state. Mr. Stitzel suggested the city could undertake tax anticipation against its budget and then lend it to the school so the city would pay the interest, but he was not sure the city has the authority to make that kind of loan. Mr. Stitzel said the city could make payments to the school as soon as the money is received. Mr. Hafter noted that the city invests that money and it would be losing the interest money for the taxpayers. It was agreed that Mr. Hafter, Mr. Bestenbostel, Mr. Stitzel and Ms. Frederick will discuss this and see what alternatives would be best. e. Residential and commercial growth management: Mr. Hafter said that because of Act 60 impacts, there is a question as to why the city is still growing at the same rate. He noted the city doesn't usually put advisory items on the ballot and suggested the possibility of a Planning Commission study on this issue. Members felt they did not want to get into advisory ballot items. 9. Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission request for 5 most pressing needs: On the local level, members listed: Exit 13, City Center, Act 60, Route 7, and Williston Road. On the regional level, members listed: public transit funding, protection of Lake Champlain, county/arterial roads, affordable housing, adequate growth centers. 10. Review Planning Commission agenda for 2/22/00: No issues were raised. 11. Review minutes of 7 February 2000: Mr. Austin moved to approve the Minutes of 7 February as written. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 12. Sign disbursement orders: Disbursement orders were signed. Executive Session: Mr. Austin moved the Council meet in executive session to discuss a step III grievance and to resume regular session only for the purpose of adjournment. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The council returned to regular session. Mr. Austin moved adjournment, Ms. Britt seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The Council adjourned at 11 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.