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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 09/19/2005CITY COUNCIL 19 SEPTEMBER 2005 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 19 September 2005, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: J. Condos, Chair; C. Smith, M. Boucher, D. O'Rourke Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; J. B. Hinds, Director of Planning & Zoning; A. Parent, The Other Paper; N. Wasserman, A. Bolden, P. Dettman, G. Mott, G. Brown, B. Chittenden, Jr. 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience not related to Agenda Items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. Condos: Will attend MPO meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m. Mr. Hafter: There will be a presentation on the city's preparedness, including an "open house" at the new Emergency Center (Audette Building), 20 October, 7:00. There will be a public presentation of the City Center plans on 17 November, 7 p.m. CCTA Board Retreat, Wednesday afternoon. CUSI Board meeting, Wednesday, noon. Mr. Hafter will attend the International City Manager's Conference in Minneapolis next week. The 3 October City Council meeting has been rescheduled to 4 October due to the Jewish New Year. Reappraisal update: all condos are completed; work continues on single family homes and is getting started on commercial properties. There will be a mailing to the community re: results. Ambulance Service update: the service is averaging 152 responses a month. Billing was estimated at $36,000/month; the actual is $42,000. The estimated collection percentage is 72%. Mr. Condos called members attention to the booklet which includes an article on South Burlington's Storm Water Utility. 3. Consideration of Adoption of Resolution Excluding Vehicles from a Portion of Old Farm Road During Construction of Kennedy Drive: Mr. Hafter explained that there was a 25% increase in traffic in this area even before construction began. Closing part of the road is the only option. It will be closed in 2 places: near Kimball Avenue and along the long, uninhabited area. A neighborhood resident said all the neighbors support this action. Since construction began, there has been so much more traffic, and it has become a safety issue. Ms. Bolden added there are a lot of runners through the area, and it is very dangerous for them. She felt it was only a matter of time before there is a serious accident. Mr. Boucher moved to approve adoption of the Resolution Excluding Vehicles from a Portion of Old Farm Road during construction of Kennedy Drive. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Presentation of Housing Plan for Offenders Returning to Chittenden County; Request for Endorsement of Recommendations: Ms. Wasserman said the ultimate goal is to be sure everyone is safe. To do this, they looked at how offenders move through the system. She stressed that the offenders in this program have done their minimum time; this is not an "early release" program. Currently, 17-20 offenders come back to South Burlington, many to their local families. Their release is dependent on housing being provided for them. 12% of the offenders are women; 11% are under the age of 22. About half will live with a family member or partner and half in some kind of transitional housing. 40% have employment. About 25% live in housing that includes school-age children. Ms. Wasserman stressed that most of these people need support mechanisms as they have many issues to deal with. Mr. Dettman said the costs for the program will be borne by the state. This is actually less expensive than keeping the offenders in jail in Vermont, but more expensive than sending them to Kentucky prisons. Mr. Dettman stressed the importance of having a proper transition back into the community as this results in less of a chance of them winding up in prison again. Mr. Condos said his major concern was with prison "furloughees" and those on probation who are still under supervision. Mr. Hafter stressed that any endorsement by the city must be contingent upon funding by the State. He added that whether or not the city endorses this action, these people will be coming back to the city. Mr. Condos stressed that the use of motel units for housing those on furloughs or early release is a violation of the city's zoning laws. He asked how zoning issues will be dealt with. Mr. Dettman said these people are now being placed all over; with this new program, zoning regulations will be adhered to. Mr. Condos noted that the State has traditionally felt they are exempt from zoning review. Ms. Wasserman said the State is not interested in providing housing for offenders. She added that landlords will have the right to evict people who violate the terms of their tenancy. Mr. Boucher said he would like to see a tangible savings analysis. Ms. Wasserman said it may not cost less, but the Corrections Department thinks it will. Mr. Condos noted that nothing in the report indicates the State will pay for this. Mr. Dettman said that is just a "template" to use as a draft. Mr. Condos said his biggest concern is that the prison facility in South Burlington has gone from a minimum security facility to a maximum. There is a number cap on in mates which means they are being shipped all over the state. He felt the facility will always be full, no matter how many beds it has. He said he could support the concept, but he was a long way from a Memorandum of Understanding. Mr. O'Rourke moved to endorse conceptually the plan to house offenders returning to Chittenden County contingent upon State funding the obligations contained in the report. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Presentation on Proposed Regional Plan: Mr. Mott introduced himself as the Commissioner from Buell's Gore, Vice Chair of the Regional Planning Commission, and Chair of the committee writing the plan. He stressed that this is an initial draft and there is still time to make changes. There will be an intermediate draft about the first of the new year followed by a public hearing draft in June, 2006. Mr. Mott noted the negative responses received from Underhill and South Burlington. The major area of concern was the "substantial regional impact" section. Mr. Mott said this needs to be totally redone and will be. He then asked what other issues the city has. Mr. Hafter said the maps don't communicate what the RPC wants them to communicate. Ms. Hinds added that the Open Space map is so difficult to read, it is impossible to make Helpful comments. Mr. Hafter felt the scale of the map makes it impossible to use. Ms. Hinds said: "Match the scale and level of detail to the story you're trying to tell." Mr. Condos felt the RPC should update the current plan, not come up with a new one. Mr. Brown said the 2001 plan is grossly inaccurate; it confuses goals & objective, has inadequate substantive data, and the Energy section is very deficient. Mr. Condos suggested bringing in energy people to help write the energy section. Mr. O'Rouke felt the way to deal with the plan's disjointedness is to have only one editor. Mr. Hafter felt the writing is much too "dense." Mr. Brown cited the desire of the RPC to know about projects earlier on. Mr. O'Rourke asked if the RPC wants to be "involved." Mr. Brown said no. Mr. Mott added they might want to help support a plan. Mr. Condos said that coming to such a large body with such a diversity of opinion for an endorsement was not likely. He could see the RPC being involved as an arbiter in a boundary issue. Mr. Smith asked if there have been comments from GBIC on economic development. Mr. Brown said not yet. They are trying to coordinate the 2 documents GBIC produced. Mr. Brown expressed willingness to come back to the Council after the intermediate draft is out. 6. Discussion of Sign Ordinance Reference Non-Residential Uses in Southeast Quadrant: Ms. Hinds noted that in the process of working with the Sign Ordinance, a "chronic" issue has arisen: signage for existing non-conforming uses. Temporary signage is one of the major area of sign violations. The Blue Mall says temporary signs are one of the most critical ways to increase/develop business. Staff does not feel temporary sign regulations should be relaxed in the City Center. They tend to have a big visual impact. The area where staff does feel more temporary signs are OK is in the SEQ, specifically the Auclair Farm and Chittenden Cider Mill area. Ms. Hinds noted the rewrite of the SEQ zoning will allow a small commercial area around the Cider Mill. At present, the sign ordinance allows temporary signs only for churches. Another issue is whether free-standing signs should be allowed in the SEQ. At present, Only a 3'x4' sign is allowed. If a larger sign were allowed, Chittenden Cider Mill could do a new sign and put their two uses on it. Mr. Hafter asked if temporary signs would then be consistent with other areas of the city. Ms. Hinds said absolutely. Members felt it was fair to level the playing field. Ms. Hinds said that within the SEQ, a sign up to 40 sq. ft. would be allowed, the same as in the rest of the city. Temporary signage would also be allowed as in the rest of the city. Bed & breakfast signs are limited to 8 sq. ft., and there are some specific businesses with such limitations. Ms. Hinds noted that UMall has asked for a directory sign at each of its entrances. Mr. Chittenden said that temporary signs are a huge help for a new business and he appreciated the Council's willingness to consider this. 7. Consideration of Approval of FY06 Municipal Planning Grant: Ms. Hinds said the Planning Commission wants endorsement to apply for $10,000 for Commercial District design guidelines for the City Center. Ms. Hinds noted the potential to make the Design Review Committee into an overall design/art committee (a City Center Commission with a focus on public art). This could include students with an interest in art and also a faculty member. Mr. Smith moved to approve the application for an FY06 Municipal Planning Grant as presented. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Review Design Review Board Agenda for Meeting of 20 September 2005: Mr. Condos asked about the appeal on the agenda. Mr. O'Rourke recused himself during this discussion due to a conflict of interest. Ms. Hinds explained that there is a question of the footprint of a lot in the Village at Dorset Park. Mr. O'Rourke then returned to the Council. 9. Review Minutes of 6 September 2005: Mr. O'Rourke moved to approve the Minutes of 6 September as written. Mr. Smith Seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement orders were signed. Executive Session: Mr. Boucher moved the Board meet in executive session to discuss personnel issues and real property acquisition, and to resume regular session only for the purpose of adjournment. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The City Council returned to regular session. Mr. Smith moved adjournment. Mr. Boucher seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:00pm. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.