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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 11/19/2007CITY COUNCIL 19 NOVEMBER 2007 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 19 November 2007, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: C. Smith, Chair; D. O'Rourke, S. Magowan, S. Dooley Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; G. Forbes, D. Scheuer, J. Zaetz, L. Carew, M. Ambusk 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience not related to Agenda items: Mr. Zaetz noted that he had attended the public meeting on 7 November about Airport plans for noise reduction. Following the meeting, he talked with people who had also attended the earlier City Council meeting at which the same topic was discussed. He said it appears the Airport people gave different answers to questions raised at the 2 meetings. He also said that it seems that the Airport's answer to the noise problem is to buy houses and demolish them, which causes the city to lose money from the taxes on those homes. He noted that now the Airport is talking about buying houses all the way to Airport Parkway. Mr. Zaetz also pointed out that since the Airport demolished some of the homes on Kirby Road, the noise level at remaining homes on that street has increased. Mr. Zaetz also noted the midnight to 6 a.m. noise from the Airport, which is heard at Country Club Estates and asked about the city's noise ordinance. Mr. Smith said the Council has heard about the discrepancy between what was told to the Council and what was said at the 7 November public meeting. He indicated that he and the City Manager will be meeting with the Airport people next week. Mr. Smith added that in talking with Mike Flaherty, the City's representative on the Airport Commission, he got the impression that the Airport was "not looking to buy property." Mr. Hafter said the other concern is that the Airport people told the Council the houses they buy would become "rental housing," and they told people at the 7 November meeting that the houses would be demolished. Mr. Zaetz also noted concern with the intersection at Shamrock/Lime Kiln Road since the road was reconfigured. He felt that the elimination of the turn lane could result in a serious accident. Mr. Hafter said the City has asked the State, which did the work, to take another look at it. Mr. Zaetz said he would also like to see the City do something on Veterans Day to honor the city's veterans. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Ms. Dooley: Appreciated being sent to the New Orleans meeting where she also got to Work on a house for Habitat Mr. Hafter: Also appreciated being able to attend the New Orleans meeting. The City has to finalize the day for the celebration to honor Jim Condos. The City will hold a "Town Meeting on Community Visioning" on 29 November, 7-9 p.m. Mr. Hafter gave members a copy of the insert, which will appear in The Other Paper. The City Charter Review Committee will meet on 28 November, 6:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfasts will be held on 7 January, 11 February, and 17 March, 7:30-9 a.m. at the Sheraton. Council members are invited to attend. The City Council retreat will be held on 14 January, 6-9 p.m., at the Double Tree. The next City Council agenda will include the Impact Fee public hearing, interviews for members of the Dog Park Committee, and an update from the Community Library. 3. Interview with Applicants for City Committees: a. Rec Path Committee: The Council interviewed Leslie Carew for appointment to the Rec Path Committee. Ms. Carew indicated she is an avid user of the path and is impressed with its quality. She is also involved with biking groups in the area. b. Natural Resources Committee: The Council interviewed Marie Ambusk for appointment to the Natural Resources Committee. Ms. Ambusk indicted she worked most of her life in financial accounting but is a master gardener and is very interested in urban landscape. Craig Lambert suggested she join the committee. Mr. Smith explained the appointment process and thanked the applicants for their interest. 4. Continue Discussion of Inclusion of the Co-Generation Project in the Airport Parkway WWTF Design as Bid Alternative: Mr. Forbes said he got more clarity on funding sources. RFP's for the Clean Energy Program grants will be out in mid-February, and he was told this is very much the kind of project they are after. Grants can range up to $250,000 for a project. The news is not so good with the Efficiency Vermont Program, which, because of the Clean Energy Program, is not funding these kinds of projects any more. Mr. Forbes said there are other grant programs, which can be looked into. Members were OK with pursuing this. 5. Consider Approval of South Village Development Agreement and Use of Recreation Impact Fees: Ms. Hinds said the City Attorney has reviewed the Agreement, which has three major provisions: a. the establishment of an escrow fund for the road b. holding of recreation funds c. traffic calming on Midland Avenue The discrepancy in the figure, which should read $6100 and currently reads $8100, will be corrected the next time South Village goes through a DRB process. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Agreement for South Village and Use of Recreation Impact Fees as presented. Ms. Dooley seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Review of South Burlington logo/branding report: Ms. Hinds noted that the City received a Municipal Planning Grant for City Center and selected Sensible World to come up with new graphic images for the city. She said the results of this work have generated a lot of excitement in the city. The Police Department will use their logo on their vehicles. Ms. Hinds said there is also a suggestion to rename the "Water Pollution Control" Department to "South Burlington Water Quality Department." Members felt this was a good change. 7. Consideration of Resolution to Support Participation in Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation: Ms. Dooley moved to authorize the City Council Chair to sign the Resolution. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Consideration of Approval for Municipal Certificate as to Municipal Bond, Vermont Bond Bank Bond Refunding: Mr. Hafter noted that this saved the City $2,396.92. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Certificate as presented. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter noted that the City received its first check for the local option taxes collected in September (even though the tax officially started on 1 October). The City received $3,418 for the 1% sales tax and $16 for the Rooms & Meals tax. 9. Consideration of Refunding Note for Capital Equipment for Fire Department Ambulance Service: Mr. Hafter noted this is the 4th year of a 5-year note. It is at 3.4%. Funds to cover this are in the budget. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Refunding note and accompanying documents as presented. Ms. Dooley seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Review Agenda for Development Review Board Meeting of 20 November 2007: No issues were raised. 11. Review and Approve Minutes of 5 November 2007: Ms. Dooley moved to approve the Minutes of 5 November as written. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 12. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. Mr. Magowan asked the City Manager for a spreadsheet on potential ballot items, including dates, etc. Mr. Hafter said he will provide this. 13. Executive Session: Mr. Magowan moved the Council adjourn and reconvene in Executive Session to discuss appointments to committees and to resume regular session only to make such appointments and/or adjourn. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 14. Resume Regular Session: Mr. Magowan moved to appoint Marie Ambusk to the Natural Resources Committee and Leslie Carew to the Recreation Path Committee for 3-year terms. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.