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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 09/11/2000CITY COUNCIL 11 SEPTEMBER 2000 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 11 September 2000, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members present: J. Condos, Chair; T. Sheahan, S. Magowan Also present: C. Hafter, City Manager; P. Bestenbostel, Asst. City Manager; R. Belair, Zoning Administrator; B. O'Neill, Recreation Director; B. Hoar, Public Works Director; A. Johnston, The Other Paper; Channel 17; Rep. S. Wheeler; Mr. & Mrs. Hallam, G. Moltras, L. Bresee, J. Giesen, D. Rafael, L. Seavey, S. Fortier, L. Budd, S. Audette 1. Comments & questions from the audience not related to agenda items: Gabriel Moltras, an exchange student from Italy who is spending his senior year at South Burlington High School, presented the Council with a gift from his town. Mr. Condos read a letter from the mayor of Gabriel's town thanking South Burlington for the opportunity it is giving Gabriel. 2. Announcements and City Manager's report: Mr. Sheahan: This month's meeting of the Regional Planning Commission has been changed to 3 October. Mr. Condos: He will attend tomorrow's Smart Growth Planning Session with the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Hafter: The Town Fair will be held on 28 September. Mr. Hafter will attend. The Supreme Court has denied the appeal on the Shelburne Rd. project. The process of land taking will begin now. The feasibility study for the proposed aquatic/community center will begin on 21 September with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The Coalition of Municipalities will have its annual meeting on 13 September, 1-4 p.m. in Rutland. Mr. Hafter will attend. There will be a special City Council Executive Session on 25 September, 7 p.m., for contract negotiations. Mr. Hafter will be gone from Thursday for 6 days to attend the City Manager's conference in Cincinnati. 3. Review of proposed paving plans for rec path section from Farrell Park to Lindenwood Drive: Mr. Hoar said they have created two 90-degree turns to slow people down and put in a raised asphalt pavement (like a speed bump). Mr. Bresee suggested an alternative that would be easier to construct and would have the same result. The committee will work on this and develop a plan. Council authorized the paving to proceed. Mr. Hafter noted that he and Mr. Hoar have laid out a path to connect the rec path to Farrell Park. This has been given to the committee to review. 4. Interview with Jack Giesen for appointment to the Library Board of Trustees: Mr. Giesen said he wants to contribute to the community. He felt there should be a separate community and school library and felt a new facility could be a community asset. He particularly felt the children's reading room should be expanded. 5. Consideration of approval of payment in lieu of taxes agreement between City of South Burlington and South Burlington Community Housing for 10-unit affordable housing for people with mobility impairment: Mr. Hafter said the agreement would cease if the use of the building changes. Mr. Condos recommended a minor change and suggested the City Manager check with the City Attorney on this. Mr. Sheahan moved to approve the payment in lieu of taxes agreement between the City of South Burlington and South Burlington Community Housing and to authorize Peter Bestenbostel to sign the final document. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Consideration of request from UVM to install community directory sign for Athletic Campus on Spear Street: Mr. Rafael reviewed the campus sign/"wayfinding" efforts. He noted that the proposed Spear St. sign is a very important part of this effort. He showed photos of what the sign would look like. Ms. Fortier said the sign would be 9 ft. 10 inches tall, 60 inches wide. The characters in the display box would be 5 inches high. The logo would be 24 inches high. Originally, the location proposed was the most northerly access to the athletic campus. A prototype was done. It is now felt that it would be best to leave the sign just outside of the right of way. UVM is requesting an exemption from the city's sign ordinance. They feel the sign will provide a community service and will help manage traffic at large events. It was noted that the UVM facilities are located in both Burlington and South Burlington and that access requires going through South Burlington. UVM is willing to address traffic concerns and safety concerns the city may have. The sign would display up to 5 events over a weekend. Mr. Condos said he would like not to have to issue a variance but to consider amending the ordinance instead. He questioned how bright the bulbs would be and whether they would create a problem for residents across the street. Ms. Fortier said neighbors have been contacted and have not had objections. Mr. Magowan said Dr. Crooks doesn't like the sign and one resident he talked with doesn't like the lighting. Ms. Fortier said that Dr. Crooks, through his caregiver, had said he had no objections. Mr. Hafter suggested a time limit for how late the sign can be lit. An agreement was reached on midnight. Mr. Belair reviewed the package proposed. He said that when he reviewed it, he found it did not meet the requirement for an exempt sign (the facility to which the sign directs people is not in South Burlington). This sign is also an animated sign that can't be an exempt sign. The location is in an R-4 district that allows a sign to be a maximum of 4 sq. feet. This sign would be 45 sq. ft. Signs over 40 sq. ft. must be 20 ft. back from the edge of the right-of-way. Mr. Belair said he suggests an amendment to the sign ordinance and to craft wording that will apply only to UVM. Mr. Sheahan said he agrees with Mr. Belair. He had no problem with the proposed sign. Mr. Magowan said he would be OK to move forward to see how a revised ordinance would look. Mr. Hafter said he would want to prohibit commercial messages. Ms. Seavey said their policy specifically prohibits commercial messages. Mr. Hafter also felt there should be a maximum size indicated in the ordinance. Mr. Bestenbostel asked about signs for other UVM facilities in South Burlington. Ms. Fortier said UVM has permits for the signs at the Hort Farm, East Woods, etc. Mr. Hafter said there could be a hearing on this by the first meeting in November. Mr. Magowan suggested some kind of indemnity. 7. Consideration of Entertainment License application for special event permits for Magic Hat Brewing Company: 1) birthday party for Magic Hat, 27 October 2000; 2) reception for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, 2 November 2000; and 3) Chamber of Commerce Mixer, 23 January 2001: Members were concerned with the 2 a.m. end time for the party. Mr. Condos said he has had complaints from neighbors about events at Magic Hat, especially with regard to parking. Mr. Hafter felt parking should be allowed on only one side of the road. Mr. Sheahan said that pushes vehicles down nearer to residences. Mr. Condos suggested a condition that there be no parking beyond the railroad tracks. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the application for a special event permit for Magic Hat Brewing Company for the birthday party on 27 October, subject to a condition that there be no parking west of the railroad tracks and that there be parking on only one side of the road. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Sheahan moved to approve the applications for the 2 November reception and the 23 January mixer as presented. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Review Planning Commission agenda for 13 September meeting: No issues were raised. 9. Review minutes of 21 August 2000: Mr. Magowan moved to approve the minutes of 21 August as written. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Sign disbursement orders: Disbursement orders were signed. 11. Executive Session: Mr. Magowan moved the Council meet in executive session to discuss appointments to Boards and Commissions and to resume regular session only for the purpose of making such appointments and/or adjournment. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: the City Council returned to regular session. Terry Sheahan moved the appointment of Jack Giesen to the Library Board for a three-year term (2003). Steve Magowan seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Magowan moved adjournment. Mr. Sheahan seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.