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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 08/05/2002CITY COUNCIL 5 AUGUST 2002 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 5 August 2002, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: J. Condos, Chair; C. Smith, T. Sheahan, S. Magowan, D. O'Rourke Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; Rep. A. Audette, Sen. J. Leddy, Rep. F. Mazur; T. Hubbard, Recreation Dept; L. Murphy, M. Von Ohlsen, S. Smith, P. Reed, P. Steinman, M. Feitelberg, A. DeMag, K. McCrae, M. Mazur, M. J. Reale, J. Riordan, M & H. Rivers, J. Helmstetter, C. Leddy, S. Ray, H. Horowitz, J. Cousino, M. Khouri, K. Killian Pawlaczyk 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience not related to agenda items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements and City Manager's Report: Mr. Sheahan: Attended a joint executive committee of the Regional Planning Commission and MPO. Groups plan to co-locate and are looking for a site. Mr. Condos: Tomorrow is National Night Out which will include a parade and activities in Dorset Park. Read a letter to Police Chief Graham advising that the Police Department has been accredited for the third time. On 9 August, 10 a.m., the Bartlett Brook Stormwater Treatment Facility will be officially completed. The facility treats stormwater before it goes to the lake and removes pollutants. It was funded by grants, and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps has been doing a lot of the plantings. Mr. Hafter: Sewer work is just about done on Hinesburg Rd. Bids have been requested for the new culvert on Dorset Street. On 29 August, there will be a meeting with Shunpike Rd. neighbors regarding traffic calming. A letter from Chief Graham was read concerning a training exercise at the High School on 14 August. The exercise will simulate response to an active shooter at the school. Tom Hubbard of the Recreation Department has been elected as one of 24 directors of a national recreation organization. Mr. Condos: Read the Proclamation for National Night Out. Mr. O'Rourke moved to approve the Proclamation. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 3. Consideration of Proclamation designating 31 October 2002 as UNICEF Day in South Burlington: Mr. Sheahan read the Proclamation. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Proclamation as read. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Discussion of Community Center Project and Funding Alternatives: Mr. Condos stressed that this is just a discussion and that no decision would be made at this meeting. He also stressed that the proposed facility is not an aquatic center, not a fitness center, it is a community center. The project is an initiative started by a citizen group in 1998. It has been a lengthy and public process with the committee representing all aspects of the community. Mr. Condos then explained the city's need for an emergency/public works communication system which is estimated to cost $1,300,000. This will be on the November ballot as it is too important to let go. The existing system is 15-20 years old, and there are areas of the city where officers can't talk to headquarters. Mr. Smith asked that people keep the discussion to the facts and not resort to the personal things that have been in the newspapers. Mr. Sheahan recognized Pat Reed and the committee members who have been working on this project. Mr. Reed reviewed the history of the project. He, too, stressed that the committee was comprised of members of all age groups, interests, and backgrounds. They met first in January, 1999 and began their work with a study community centers in other communities. They then presented a proposal to the City Council for a center for youth, teens, seniors, families. It would include a gym, walking track, and aquatic area. The city then hired a consulting firm which did a community survey and studied the area. Focus groups were held to establish community interests. The consultant then put a $11,500,000. cost estimate to the proposed facility. Discussion began last September about putting the issue on the ballot. The last time this was discussed, the thought was to put it on the November ballot. Mr. Condos said the Master Plan for Dorset Park was begun more than 12 years ago and included this type of facility. He also noted the changes that have happened world-wide since the last discussion of this proposed facility including an unstable economy (IBM layoffs, etc.). The issue was then opened for public comment. Ms. Reale asked what the ballot item would contain. Mr. Hafter said the language would be as simple as possible: Should the City issue bonds not to exceed $11,500,000 for building a community center? Ms. Reale asked if any funds have been raised privately. Rep. Audette said they started to raise money and got many positive responses and many donations. People are willing to donate money when there is something definite and a firm date for a bond vote. Ms. Killian-Pawlaczyk asked if the amount of money raised would be publicized. She also expressed concern with having a cost for residents to use the facility. Mr. Reed stressed that some of the facility would be free and open to the public (teen center, meeting rooms, senior center, etc.). The consultant indicated that some uses of the facility could produce income, but this has never been fixed and depends on the city's philosophy and what facilities are included in the building. Mr. Reed also stressed that the consultants are very well respected and their projections in other communities have been very accurate. They estimated that 92% of operating costs could be returned to the city from fees. Mr. Feitelberg of Twin Oaks Fitness said people should know that 92% would only be realized if things go as planned. He asked how any loss would be paid for. Mr. Condos said it would be in the City budget. Mr. Feitelberg felt it was hard to predict as there will be competitors in the open market. Ms. Killian-Pawlaczyk asked about furnishing the facility and whether that would cost more. Mr. Reed said that amount is included in the estimate as "furnishings and fixtures." Ms. Ray asked how much has been spent so far. Mr. Condos said about $70,000. It has come from impact fees, not from the general fund. Sen. Leddy said the City Council has been very responsible in managing the City's affairs and has never been frivolous. He felt people in the city are wise enough to make a sound decision. He asked what the Council needs before it decides whether to go forward with this. Mr. Condos said the main issue is the need to put the communications system on the November ballot. Mr. Smith asked whether the project could be scaled down and how long it would take to do this. Mr. Hubbard estimated 6 months. Ms. Ray said she would like to know exactly what the tax burden would be for homeowners. Mr. Hafter said when a final figure is reached, that information would be made public. He stressed that commercial properties also would pay taxes on this so the burden would not fall only on homeowners. Mr. Reed noted that $11,500,000 would be paid for over 20 years and noted that the budget for the schools is $24,000,000 every year. Mr. Feitelburg noted that Colchester and Burlington are talking about building their own facility. Mr. Condos said that will be taken into account. Ms. Helmstetter, a member of the committee, said she is dismayed at the level this has gotten to. The aim was to build community in the city. She felt the problems began when the private sector got involved. She said that in order to build community in South Burlington you have to spend money. Mr. Cousino asked what an $11,500,000 bond would cost an average homeowner. Mr. Hafter estimated about $14.00 a year for a home valued at $100,000. Mr. Corey asked if money that is raised privately will be subtracted from the bond. Mr. Condos said yes, that is why the question reads "not to exceed $11,500,000." Mr. Corey said he lived in Ohio and found that community centers are the best thing for communities because they are for the whole family. A member of the audience suggested building just a community center without the aquatic and fitness elements. Mr. Condos said that ultimately that would cost the citizens more since the total cost of operation would be borne by the taxpayers. Rep. Audette suggested citizens look at the annual city report to see how the city plans ahead. Mr. Magowan felt the Council has to take ownership of this project and decide what to do and not bounce it back to the committee. He was concerned with competing with the communications bond. Mr. Hafter agreed. He felt the city should check to see how valid the numbers still are and also if there are options to begin with a smaller facility while keeping the $11,500,000 as a long term goal. Mr. Condos said the intent was to put this on the November ballot, but he was not sure this is now possible. He did not like the idea of competing issues on a ballot especially when one issue is critical to safety. Mr. Condos also expressed distress at the personal attacks on Recreation Department head Bruce O'Neill. He said this initiative was intended to bring the community together and it is being used by some people to tear the community apart. He stressed that this has been as open and public a process as possible. Mr. Sheahan agreed and felt the momentum should not be lost and that the community should be able to have the kind of facility it deserves. He said he would like to use some additional funds to continue the feasibility study for a scaled down facility, whatever that means. Mr. Magowan felt 2 Council members should head a committee to look at options and come back in 2 weeks and decide what to do. 5. Discussion of CCTA funding assessment for FY 2003; reduction in local assessment: Mr. Magowan noted that both Essex and Winooski defeated the increased budget. After this, Mr. Cole got $180,000 from the state to cover this. It will be used to reduce the assessment for all members of the district. Mr. Condos said the city is already collecting the tax on the higher amount and suggested putting the money in the bank to earn interest and to use it to help pay for next year. Members agreed. 6. Consideration of approval of Resolution establishing special assessment districts for sanitary sewer improvements: Mr. Hafter said there were bids received that were slightly higher than the estimates, but he was comfortable with the bids. He noted the costs will be paid 50% by residents and 50% by the city. Mr. Smith moved to approve the resolution establishing the Spear Street Northeast and Spear Street South sanitary sewer districts as presented. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Review Agenda for Development Review Board meeting of 6 August 2002: No issues were raised. 8. Minutes of 15 July 2002: Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Minutes of 15 July as written. Mr. O'Rourke Seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement orders were signed. 10. Executive Session: Mr. Smith moved that the Council adjourn and reconvene in executive session to discuss litigation and to resume regular session only for the purpose of adjournment. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Regular Session: On motion duly made and seconded, the Council returned to open meeting. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.