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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 06/18/2007CITY COUNCIL 18 JUNE 2007 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday 18 June 2007, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: C. Smith, Chair; M. Boucher, D. O'Rourke, S. Dooley Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; T. Whipple, Police Chief; D. Kinville, City Clerk; J. B. Hinds, Director of Planning & Zoning; M. Beaudin, T. Duff, Planning Commission; J. Simson, City Charter Review Committee; K. Donahue, L. G. Davidian, L. Bresee 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience, not related to agenda items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. Hafter announced the following: a. The City Charter Review Committee will meet on 20 June, 6:30 p.m. b. GBIC will hold its annual meeting, 19 June, Noon, at the DoubleTree c. The School Board will hold a special meeting, 21 June, 5 p.m. d. Chittenden Solid Waste District will conduct facility tours, 26 June, 8 a.m. e. The Fire Department is taking part in a national "seatbelt pledge" initiative. Members pledge always to wear seatbelts in Fire Department vehicles. 3. Public Hearing on Ordinance to Establish a Tax on Sales, Meals, Rooms, and Alcoholic Beverages in the City of South Burlington; second reading of same: Mr. Smith opened the public hearing. Mr. Boucher noted the Council will have to figure out how to work this income into the budget process. Mr. Hafter advised the city can start collecting the tax in October. There was no public comment. Ms. Dooley moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Boucher seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Boucher moved to waive the reading and adopt the Ordinance as presented effective 1 October 2007. Ms. Dooley seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Consideration of Increase in Recording Fee to Establish "Computerization Fund" for the Preservation of City Records: Ms. Kinville noted a new State Statute raises the recording fees from $7 to $8 per page. She is asking to take that extra dollar to establish a "computerization fund." This would result in about $25,000 per year. Ms. Kinville noted they will eventually raise fees to access information on-line. She said attorneys are more than willing to pay rather than to have to travel to the City Clerk's office. Mr. Hafter said there should be a standardization of systems so each community isn't doing something different. Ms. Kinville said if that happens, the State might then come in and take it all over. It's a moneymaker for the City and she would hate to lose that income. Ms. Dooley moved to support the proposal to earmark $1.00 of recording fees for a computerization fund. Mr. Boucher seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Report and Update from Police Facility Planning Committee: Mr. Hafter reviewed the history and noted that the committee was formed in August 2006 following the defeat of the bond vote. He identified committee members. The Committee began its work by reviewing why the bond vote failed. It then did a complete re-evaluation of all Police facility needs. Finally, it has put those needs in context of other city needs (e.g., City Hall, etc.). Several sub-groups of the Committee were formed including a) facility needs; b) communications; and c) city projects and priorities a. Facility Needs: this group looked at all Police capital and personnel, all potential sites, and projections based on national standards. They considered site costs, access, and ability to serve citizens, size, and specific facility needs. Mr. Donahue said he was initially against taking this building down and felt it could still be used for the Police, but as he learned how the Police have to function in the modern day world (i.e., evidence storage, processing of prisoners, etc.), he realized it would be a huge mistake to try to continue to use the existing building. It would be too cost prohibitive to ever try to retrofit the building for Police needs. It was noted that Tim Duff did a study of the existing building for possible use for other city needs. Mr. Hafter said the thinking now is to do a package: a new Police building and renovating the existing building for city office use. Three sites are being considered for the Police building. The Committee will probably have a site to recommend in July. b. Communications: The sub-committee has done a series of inserts in The Other Paper. The next one will be in July. There will also be a presentation to the City Council. c. Capital Projects and Priorities: The sub-committee prepared a composite list of all City and School capital needs/desires and prioritized them with indications of available funding. Projects include: 1. City offices, including vault, storage, meeting space 2. Environmental concerns 3. Library 4. Schools (new location, administration offices 5. Police Station 6. Recreation (community center) 7. Transportation (Exit 12B, City Center infrastructure, etc.) Mr. Hafter then reviewed recent city accomplishments including: water systems, Lime Kiln Bridge, Kennedy Drive, grant for construction of additional Recreation Path, purchases of Open Space, Emergency Operations Center (best in the state), upgraded communications equipment. Chief Whipple noted there are no longer "dead spots" in the city. Mr. Hafter explained various types of funding sources including grants, user fees, property taxes, and dedicated/earmarked taxes. He noted that you can't fund something like a Police or Fire Department through "user fees." Certain public facilities must be funded with property taxes. Mr. Hafter said the City's three most critical needs are the Police facility, City offices (the vault is running out of space and the building condition is critical), and the Airport Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrade (paid for by user fees from South Burlington and the Town of Colchester). The Police Facility Committee will continue its work by doing cost estimates, site investigations, conceptual drawings, building evaluations and a financial model. It will also solicit public comment. Mr. Hafter noted this is a very good time to go for a bond vote because construction costs will be going up in the future. Mr. O'Rourke stressed the openness of people in telling the committee why and where the first bond vote on the Police station failed. Ms. Hinds cited the need for the city to have a website that can really be utilized. She noted there are some opposite "poles" on the Police Facility Committee, and this tension will have to be resolved. She felt that inserts in The Other Paper are the best way to get the public's attention. She also noted that some other communities have more help from their local journalists than South Burlington does. Audience members asked how the Police Building connects to the City Center. Mr. Hafter said there is an assumption that the City Center will go forward. It was originally envisioned to have a City Hall there. The Committee has felt that renovating the existing building would be more efficient. Ms. Hinds added that the City Center process has been very dynamic. The most important thing is to have a "public space" in the City Center, not just someplace to pay taxes. The Post Office is still committed to locating there, and there will be a future consideration of a Library and/or other public uses. Mr. Simson asked about a time line. Mr. Hafter said the Committee should do it right, rather than fast. Ms. Hinds felt a November bond vote was feasible, if all the numbers can be understood. March is very realistic. Mr. Bresee said the important thing is to have a vote when there is certainty it will pass. 6. Update on Channel 17 (Town Meeting Television): Mr. Gravelin noted the station has digitized everything. They are hoping Comcast will come through with some capital support. They are also partnering with Burlington Telcom quite a bit. Ms. Dividian noted that public ownership is one way to protect functions such as this. Ms. Dividian said it would be good if there were improved audio quality. She suggested having speakers sit at a table with a microphone. Ms. Dividian also noted that they will be an "on demand" Channel. The can post municipal meetings on the web and are working with a "clickable" agenda. This opens meetings up to a whole different viewer. This will be completely up and running in September. Channel 17 is willing to work with the City to get the most out of this option. Mr. Hafter cited the city's interest in working on a strategic communication plan. 7. Review agenda for Development Review Board meeting on 19 June 2007: Members expressed concern with the proposed accessory structure. Mr. O'Rourke noted there is no Labor & Industry code for these structures. Ms. Hinds said this was seen by the state as a way to get more housing stock. The city can regulate these structures only in terms of off-street parking and wastewater. 8. Review and approve Minutes of City Council meeting of 4 June 2007: Ms. Dooley moved to approve the Minutes of 4 June 2007 as written. Mr. Boucher seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 10. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Boucher moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented a new annual liquor license for Pulcinella's at 100 Dorset Street. He said the application is all in order. Mr. Boucher moved to approve the liquor license for Pulcinella's as presented. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session: Mr. Boucher moved the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session to discuss real property acquisition and contract negotiations and to resume regular session only for the purpose of approving a contract and/or adjourning. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The Council returned to regular session. Mr. O'Rourke moved for approval of the contract with the South Burlington City Hall and Public Works Employees Association for a period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009. Mr. Boucher seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Boucher moved adjournment. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.