Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 01/03/2005CITY COUNCIL 3 JANUARY 2005 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 3 January 2005, 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; A. Wright, K. Dunn, S. Watson; A. Johnston, The Other Paper; Channel 17 1. Comments & Questions from the Public (not related to Agenda items): No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. O'Rourke: Police Building Committee meeting, Friday, 8:30 a.m. Mr. Condos: Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, Monday, 7:30 a.m. at the Sheraton. A meeting to receive the final report of the arena study will follow this. Mr. Hafter: Reminded members of the Council's annual retreat, 24 January, 5:30 p.m., at the Clarion. Many good comments have been received regarding the stormwater utility meeting. Tapes of the meeting are available to any who would like them. The next Council meeting will be on Tuesday, 18 January, due to the Martin Luther King holiday on the 17th. A letter was distributed from the state regarding property valuation in South Burlington. The equalized Grand List for education is above $2,000,000. The CLA is down from last year. The citywide reappraisal process will begin this month. A letter from the Town of Williston (R. McGuire, Town Manager) was also distributed. Williston is planning another expansion of its sewer treatment plant. They want to know whether South Burlington has changed its policy. Mr. Condos suggested this be a brief discussion item at the Retreat. 3. Update on Senior Housing and Resource Center Planning Grant (Farrell Street): Mr. Condos read an announcement of a HUD grant received by South Burlington for $3,500,000 for construction of affordable senior housing in the Farrell Street neighborhood. Ms. Dunn reviewed the history of the project. She then outlined some of the goals of the grant as follows: 1. Determine the cost and funding for developing affordable senior housing. 2. Determine cost and funding for personal care service plan. 3. Conduct a market study. 4. Design building to meet requirement of new assisted living regulations 5. Design a resource center to put all services under one roof. Ms. Dunn noted that in a recent study, affordable housing was indicted as the #1 community problem, especially affordable housing for seniors. Ms. Wright then reviewed the process involved in addressing the goals. A phone survey of 400 area seniors was conducted relative to: retirement community preference, location preference, services desired and ability to pay. 88% of those surveyed said that maintaining independence was important to them. Ms. Wright said affordable assisted living is not feasible in South Burlington at this time. The HUD grant does not allow a licensed facility to be included in the building initially. Because of this, the design goals were modified to achieve different standards. New goals included: 1. "Universal Design" (barrier free construction) 2. Building for additional services (possible future inclusions such as a commercial kitchen) The proposed facility will have "congregate housing services" including: 1. 24-hour emergency response 2. on-site staffing 3. VNA visits 4. beauty salon 5. transportation coordination 6. housekeeping services 7. one meal per day Ms. Wright showed the building location on a plan. It will be a large L-shaped building behind Ben Franklin. Ms. Wright also showed a rough rendering of the building. Funding sources for the project include: the HUD grant, tax credit equity, a developer loan, and state resources. Exploration is continuing relative to a senior housing resource center. The vision is for a one-stop-shop where seniors and their families can get information about housing and service options in Chittenden County. The Resource Center would provide: consultations and workshops, information on rental vacancies, floor plans, etc., "360-degree tours," applications, scheduling information, etc. Ms. Watson said the VNA is also interested in a 4th adult day center. They are currently working on a plan for a space that might be available at this site. 4. Review of Draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan: Comments: Mr. Condos reviewed the history of the plan and noted they are now down to "tweaking." The MPO is looking for communities to sign off on the plan in a formal approval process. Mr. O'Rourke commented on how difficult the plan is to read. Mr. Hafter said South Burlington doesn't know what comments other communities are making. He felt that if there were substantive changes, South Burlington would want to see the plan again. Mr. Hafter also said his major concern is with Section 722 (p. 82) regarding the relationship between MTP and Act 250. He said the MTP is a "planning document" as opposed to a development document, and should not be considered as "cast in stone." Mr. Sheahan agreed and felt a strong statement to that affect should be made. Mr. O'Rourke felt that section should be deleted as such wording tends to get used as a sword and not as a shield. Mr. Smith agreed. He felt this should be a "minimalist" document and that there should be a strong statement that if this is to be used as indicated, it should be the Regional Planning Commission that is involved, not the MPO. Mr. Hafter noted there is no language included to improve Shelburne Road north. He also noted that on p.63 there is reference to passenger rail service returning. Mr. Condos said there is no money for this. Mr. Hafter said he didn't understand the process of coming up with "alternatives," "refined alternatives," etc. Mr. Condos said that next Friday there would be a matrix of comments from all communities. A public hearing will then be held followed by deliberations. So far, there have been only 2 major issues raised: Winooski is concerned that there is no full interchange at Exit 15, and Colchester is concerned with the completion of the Circ Highway. Mr. Magowan felt there has to be an overall statement of what this document is trying to do. He found the structure hard to follow. 5. Review Development Review Board Agenda for 4 January 2005: Mr. Sheahan asked about Council comments relative to the road issue with the Retrovest proposed project. Mr. Hafter said he relayed the Council's comments at a meeting with the developer and Planning people. Mr. O'Rourke suggested the comments also be given to the DRB. 6. Review Minutes of 13 December 2004: Mr. Sheahan moved to approve the Minutes of 13 December as written. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed 4-0 with Mr. Smith abstaining. 7. Review Minutes of 20 December 2004: Mr. O'Rourke moved to approve the Minutes of 20 December as written. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed 3-0 with Messrs. Magowan and Sheahan abstaining. 8. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 9. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Smith moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented a liquor license request from the new owners of Pizza Putt, New Entertainment Unlimited LLC. He indicated that the application was all in order. Mr. Sheahan moved to approve the liquor license for New Entertainment Unlimited, LLC as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session: Mr. Sheahan moved the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in executive Session to discuss appointments, contract negotiations and litigation and to resume regular session only for the purpose of making appointments and/or approving a contract and/or adjourning. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The City Council returned to Regular Session. Steve Magowan moved approval of the Amendment to the Fire Association contract to incorporate the new ambulance service employees. Mr. Smith seconded the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Magowan moved the following appointments to City Boards: Planning Commission: Robert McDonald to fill the unexpired portion of a three-year term, ending in 2006. Design Review Committee: Mark Smith to fill the unexpired portion of a two-year term, ending in 2005. John Zvick to fill the unexpired portion of a two-year term, ending in 2006. Mr. Smith seconded the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Sheahan moved adjournment. Mr. O'Rourke seconded, the motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.