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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 12/02/2013CITY COUNCIL 2 DECEMBER 2013 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 2 December 2013, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: P. Mackenzie, Chair; R. Greco, H. Riehle, P. Nowak, C. Shaw Also Present: K. Dorn, City Manager; T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; J. Rabidoux, Public Works Director; Chief T. Whipple, Police Department; Chief D. Brent, Fire Department; K. & I. Donahue, M. Simoneau, B. Goldberg 1. Agenda Review: Ms. Greco moved to add a discussion of what transpired between the 4 November meeting when the Council decided to invite Gene Richards and Burlington Mayor Weinberger to discuss the issue of commercial aircraft that are louder than F-16's. Ms. Riehle seconded. Ms. Greco noted there had been discussion of having that discussion at tonight's meeting. Ms. Mackenzie said she decided not to invite them in for this meeting. She wanted to have the opportunity to review the document Ms. Greco and Ms. Emery were alarmed about, and when she did review it, she felt that meeting could wait until there is a decision on the planning grant the city applied for to study the Airport area. Ms. Greco was concerned that a Council decision was changed by one person. She also felt the residents of the Chamberlin neighborhood need to hear the Airport's plans. Ms. Greco then amended her motion to have a discussion about the process when the Council agrees to some action. Ms. Riehle seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Comments & Questions from the Public not related to agenda items: No issues were raised. 3. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. Dorn:  The Clair Solar Certificate of Public Good has been issued and contains all the stipulations the city requested. There has been a good response from the public to the paving of Market Street. Allan Reed has joined the staff as the Technology person as of today. Progress is being made regarding the Holmes Road issue. The hope is to have more detail at the 16 December meeting. Council members reported on meetings and city events they had attended. Ms. Greco noted receipt of e-mails asking about the cutting of trees near power lines, increased traffic and police activities near East Woods, extending the comment period for Form Based Codes due to the holiday season, and new Venue operation and its "exotic dancers," and whether the parking ban is in effect on nights when there is no snow. Chief Whipple confirmed that the parking ban extends from 1 December to 1 April, regardless of whether there is snow or not. 4. Consent Agenda: A. Sign Disbursement B. Approve Minutes for 14 November and 18 November C. Approve October Financial Statements D. Approve the following Grants for the Police Dept. 1. Governor's Highway Safety, Tri Town DUE Enforcement Grant 2. Governor's Highway Safety, South Burlington DUE Enforcement Grant 3. Governor's Highway Safety, Tri Town Occupant Protection Grant 4. Governor's Highway Safety, SHARP (Safe Highway Accident Reduction Program) Grant Ms. Riehle asked that the Disbursement be removed from the Consent Agenda. Ms. Greco moved to approve the Consent Agenda with the exclusion of Item A. Ms. Nowak seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Discussion of Traffic Lights and Sequencing: Mr. Rabidoux noted this is not just a South Burlington issue. He stressed that traffic lights exist via a manual to which the city strictly adheres. Noncompliance can result in loss of federal funds and tort liability. An engineering study is required to change traffic signals. Mr. Rabidoux noted that the City of Burlington has 2 employees whose sole job is traffic signals and 4­½ people who do traffic design. In South Burlington, all of this work is hired out. Ms. Greco pointed out the lights at Farrell/Swift and Swift/Spear which she felt need to be reviewed for sequencing. Mr. Rabidoux also explained the cameras on Rt. 7, which is a state road. He said these cameras now record nothing. They merely replace a system of wires under the pavement. The next phase of this could be to store traffic count data, but this does not yet exist in South Burlington. Ian Donahue felt the city should do the engineering studies, even if they cost money, because the results could ultimately save money and fuel. Ms. Nowak noted the change of Williston Road from 4 to 2 lanes has resulted in a lot of people getting off Williston Road to take other roads, causing the other roads to back up. Mr. Rabidoux said the engineering studies cost about $3,000-5,000 per intersection. He said he would check to see if the Regional Planning Commission has funds to do any of this work. Kevin Donahue raised some questions about Swift/Spear which Mr. Rabidoux will check on. 6. Discussion of Issues Related to the Use of Tasers in Law Enforcement: Chief Whipple noted that at the last legislative session, there was an issue related to the regulating of tasers. There was a charge to develop a single state-wide training on this. The Attorney General was also asked to draft a specific taser policy. The first draft of this has been received, and Chief Whipple said they are OK with it. All South Burlington Police staff have been trained in how to deal with people in mental health crises and in the use of tasers. There is also a ½­day refresher on taser use planned. The Chief stressed that tasers are used very rarely as most people are respectful of police commands. The city has received no complaints over the misuse of tasers. 7. Review of South Burlington Emergency Preparedness Operations and Capabilities: Chief Brent reviewed the city's emergency preparedness. He noted the emergency headquarters has been staffed twice (during the Irene and Sandy storms). Staffing continues as long as needed. The process went well when it was employed. The city's emergency plans are on file with Vermont Emergency Management, and the city receives information from them with every weather event. This information is shared with the schools and others. Chief Whipple noted South Burlington has invested well in preparedness. The city has the best communications in the state and has a well-staffed mobile command post. Chief Brent noted there is emergency backup for fire, police and the schools in case of a power outage. There are agreements with the Red Cross to staff evacuation centers. Communications include talking with abutting communities and with every police frequency in the state. There are also dispatch agreements with Burlington to take over each other's jurisdiction on the award nights for each city so that all personnel can attend. There are also police and fire mutual aid agreements. 8. Review Report from Counsel Relating to Expiration of Interim Zoning: Mr. Conner reviewed the history of interim zoning and noted its expiration date is 22 February 2014. Mr. Conner then reviewed the following scenarios and potential actions: Scenario 1: an applicant will have submitted an application for a project and the Council has issued a decision. In this case, the applicant may proceed as set forth in the decision. Scenario 2: an application has been or will be submitted and is not affected by the interim zoning provision and no decision has yet been rendered. In this case, the applicant will have to meet the zoning requirements of the LDR's in effect at the time the application was/is submitted. Scenario 3: an application has been submitted that is affected by interim zoning prior to the expiration of interim zoning. In this case, the applicant must get approval from the DRB under the existing and proposed amendments. Discussion has begun regarding options for City Council action. Possibilities include voting to repeal the interim zoning by-law prior to 22 February, voting to extend interim zoning for a year, voting to restrict the scope of the interim zoning by-law, voting to warn a public hearing prior to the expiration of interim zoning, voting not to warn a public hearing prior to the expiration of interim zoning. Mr. Conner said the Planning Commission can come up with recommendations that are the result of interim zoning after interim zoning has ended. 9. Other Business: A. Items Held From Consent Agenda: Ms. Riehle asked about the "tax sale redemption" item for $201,000. Mr. Dorn explained that a property went to tax sale and was bought. There is a period during which the original owner can buy back the property, and that is what happened in this case. Ms. Riehle then moved to approve the Disbursements as presented. Ms. Nowak seconded. Motion passed unanimously. B. Bike Rack: 1. City Street Lights (adequacy/number) at various locations 2. East Terrace Ordinance 3. Policy regarding landscaping City-owned land and Request from Hadley Road No action was taken on these items. C. Other Mr. Dorn noted that the Council traditionally holds a joint meeting with the School Board regarding input to the Legislative Delegation. Members suggested Monday, 17 December, 7:30 a.m. Mr. Dorn will confirm this with the Superintendent of Schools. Ms. Greco asked to add to the Bike Rack discussion of the derelict house on Dorset St. next to Wheeler Park which the city owns. Members agreed with adding this to the Bike Rack. As there was no further business to come before the Council, Mr. Shaw moved to adjourn. Ms. Nowak seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.