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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 10/19/2009CITY COUNCIL 19 OCTOBER 2009 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 19 October 2009, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: M. Boucher, Chair; M. Emery, J. Knapp Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; T. DiPietro, Stormwater Superintendent; M. Young, B. Stuono, T. Barbagallo, D. McCormick, S. Swanson, A. Bullis, W. Sanders, K. Alence, K. Epstein, P. Jones, D. Cummings 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience, not related to Agenda items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. Hafter: The MPO annual dinner will be held on 18 November, at the Double Tree, 7 p.m. Frank Bryan will be the guest speaker. A workshop for "Cars to People" will be held on 21 October, 7 p.m., at Holiday Inn. Paul Conner will host. The next agenda will include an update from the Regional Planning Commission, final plans for the Police Station, and a discussion on the proposed moving of the Greyhound bus Station to the Airport. 3. Public Hearing on Amendment to Impact Free Ordinance to delete Section 3(c) School Facilities Impact Fee and to relabel subsequent paragraphs; second reading of same: Ms. Emery moved to open the public hearing. Mr. Knapp seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter explained that the amendment is at the request of the School District because of lack of school enrollment growth. Mr. Young asked whether the School District could come back to reinstate the impact fees if schools started to expand again. Mr. Hafter said there would have to be another study and the same process as before. Ms. Emery moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Knapp seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Knapp moved to waive reading of the amendment and approve the amendment as presented. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Presentation of Proposal from Carbon Harvest Energy, Burlington, VT, for development of sustainable and renewable energy project at the former South Burlington landfill: Mr. McCormick reviewed the history. He said the project would allow the company to build a project in South Burlington and turn unused resources into value to benefit the city. He said the company specializes in greenhouse construction, sustainable food production, etc. Mr. McCormick showed a slide of the potential site. He then outlined what Carbon Harvest Energy sees there, specifically: Landfill gas Wastewater biosolids digester biogas Possible food waste indigested biogas (greenhouse gas management and gas-to-energy) Unused land-solar exposure (solar field for renewable energy) Greenhouse and aquaculture facilities Algaeculture research & development Demonstration and education complex (Mr. McCormick said this is one of the best sites in the state for education/demonstration at all levels from Kindergarten up) The goals of the proposed project include: 1. Develop sources of local renewable energy from waste to create a viable business that enhances the community. 2. Create opportunities for business development and job creation. 3. Establish identity as "green" project with strong community involvement. They are looking to produce 500 kw of heat all day as well as useful byproducts. The benefits for South Burlington include: 1. Job creation 2. Community development 3. Greenhouse gas reduction 4. Site management Mr. McCormick said they could generate 1.5 megawatts of energy to the grid from existing and new biogas and solar projects. They will also generate up to 3.5 mw BTUs per hour for distribution to Sough Burlington facilities and agricultural systems as well as year round fresh food (fish, greens, etc.). Mr. McCormick estimated that up to 5 jobs will be created and that $1,500,000 will be generated for the community. Mr. Hafter said he would like the Energy Committee to work closely with the company on this concept. Council members agreed. 5. Update on Activities of South Burlington Energy Committee: Mr. Swanson introduced Committee members. He said they first met in January of this year and since then have been focusing on 5 major projects: 1. Carbon inventory 2. "Switch South Burlington" project to replace incandescent lightbulbs with more efficient fluorescent lights (about 50,000 replaced to date representing a significant savings on electric bills) 3. Green building open house tour 4. Button Up Vermont workshops 5. Low carbon diet program The Committee also has long range plans for research, development and community engagement on existing conditions, challenges, suggested policies, goals, etc. Mr. Swanson thanked the city for its support. Mr. Hafter said the city would be willing to consider any additional members to the committee. 6. Review of Draft General Stormwater Permit Requirements: Mr. Hafter reviewed the history. Mr. DiPietro said about 100 properties in S. Burlington are affected by this because their water flows directly in the streams. Properties fall into 3 categories: 1. Properties with an existing state storm water permit 2. Properties with existing impervious surfaces greater than one acre 3. Properties of less than one acre Regulations say that category 1 projects must: 1. Complete an EFA but increase the amount of infiltration from what is in the 2002 manual 2. Construct BMPs identified in the EFA 3. EFA limits what must be done (e.g., does not require off-site treatment, subsurface storage 4. Annual inspection Mr. DiPietro showed slides of properties in this category (Ridgewood and Harbor View) Properties in Category 2 must: 1. Complete a site assessment 2. Have a site map which shows impervious area, elevations, soil information, utilities, forested areas, conserved areas, etc. 3. Must disconnect impervious areas. Mr. Hafter said the concern with this process is that there is no information from the state on how determinations will be made. Properties in Category 3 must: 1. Disconnect impervious areas (Mr. DiPietro showed slides of examples of properties in this category: 1691 and 1693 Shelburne Rd., 294 and 300 Swift St., homes on Shepard Lane and Brigham Rd. All properties must file a Notice of Intent. There is no fee for a permit at present, but ther are some inspection and reporting requirements. Mr. DiPietro noted that a municipality is allowed to impose stricter standards. He also noted that there is no incentive for property owners to work together. 7. Consideration of Approval of Application for New Town Center Designation: Mr. Conner reviewed the history. He noted that "downtown" and "village" programs have been very popular (including tax credits, the rehabilitation of historic buildings and the establishment of Tax Incremental Financing districts). There is now a third designation called "new town center." Originally, there were no benefits to having this designation, but a few years ago these areas were allowed to have TIFs. There is already one such designation in Vermont (Colchester), and South Burlington is considering becoming the second. A "new town center" must be a minimum of 75 acres with the potential for future mixed use development. It must include design review, affordability, wastewater capacity, infrastructure investment, etc. The maximum are is 175 acres. Mr. Conner said the reasons to consider applying for this designation include the possibility of tax incremental financing giving a kick-start to public/private partnerships and the possibility of growth center development. There are no restrictions on the community. The Planning Commission has explored this possibility, and the next step would be to submit an application to GBIC and to the Regional Planning Commission. Mr. Boucher asked if the city would be committed to spend the $7,000,000 it now has. Mr. Conner said it would not. It just lays out future estimated costs, not who pays those costs. Mr. Hafter said no one would be obligated to do anything. Mr. Conner added that the Planning Commission is exploring how design review could be applied to properties that now do not have it. Council members were OK with applying for this designation. Ms. Emery moved to authorize the Director of Planning & Zoning to apply for a "new town center" designation as described on the map and other documents. Mr. Knapp seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Continued Discussion of Selection Process for City Manager: Mr. Hafter advised that the cost for VLCT to do the search process would be $6000. He suggested the Council approve this and invite VLCT to the next meeting. Members were OK with this. 9. Consideration of Deferred Compensation Plan #2- Nationwide: Mr. Hafter said there would be no city contribution. The employees in question feel they would benefit from their own retirement plan. Ms. Emery moved to adopt the Deferred Compensation Plan #2 with Nationwide as presented. Mr. Knapp seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Consideration of Appointment of Ray Belair, Code Enforcement & Zoning Officer, as Telecommunication Officer, as required by State Statute 24VSA(44-12): Mr. Knapp moved to appoint Ray Belair as Telecommunication Officer as presented. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Review Development Review Board Agenda for Meeting of 20 October 2009: Mr. Conner advised that the Airport has requested a continuance of their application to expand the parking garage, so that item will not be heard. 12. Review and Approve City Council Minutes of 5 October 2009: Mr. Knapp moved to approve the Minutes of 5 October 2009 as written. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 13. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.