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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 08/15/2018 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL 15 AUGUST 2018 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, 15 August 2018, at 5:30 p.m. in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: H. Riehle, Chair; M. Emery, T. Barritt, T. Chittenden, D. Kaufman Also Present: K. Dorn, City Manager; T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; D. Young, Superintendent of Schools; School Board Members E. Fitzgerald, Chair; A. McHenry, M. Lalonde, S. Wisloski, B. Burkhardt; I. Blanchard, Project Manager; L. Murray, Librarian; J. Rabidoux, Public Works Director; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; H. Rees, Head of Recreation Department; S. Roy, M. Cole, J. Kochman, S. Dooley, B. Sirvis 1. Instructions on exiting building in case of emergency: Mr. Dorn provided instructions on emergency evacuation of the building. 2. Agenda Review: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items: No changes were made to the Agenda. 3. Comments and Questions from the public not related to the agenda: No issues were raised. 4. Joint Meeting with School Board to consider and possibly approve an Agreement for the Exchange of Rights & Interests in Real Property: Ms. Riehle reviewed the special Council meeting of Monday evening. She noted that the architect was asked to come back with numbers if only a Library were to be built. She also explained the soils issue and the expense of having to use different footings ($1,500,000) for just the Library. The Council also asked if it is possible to reduce the footprint and eliminate the need for a land swap with the School District. However, there would still be a need for space for utilities, sewer, and parking. The question was raised as to how firm the School District is for their need to use the existing City Hall for administrative offices. Ms. Emery said the Council is trying to answer questions from the community as to whether the building will have 1, 2, or 3 uses. She emphasized that this is just for the purpose of seeing options. Mr. Kaufman stressed that the Council wants the city’s schools to be as good as they can be. The Council just has to look at “what ifs.” Ms. Fitzgerald noted the School Board will be meeting following this meeting, and there is a warning for a vote on 7 November. She asked if a November vote is still on the table. It was noted that the vote on the proposed building could be on a separate ballot from the State ballot which would allow for more time (an extra month) to make decisions. The Council wants to hear that the City Hall building is important to the School District’s long‐range plans. Ms. Fitzgerald said they could extend the MOU to allow the Council to pursue their options. She felt it was premature to talk about the MOU. Superintendent Young said there have been extensive conversations about the MOU. It is not something the Board entered into without due diligence. There is active master planning and visioning going forward. Mr. Kaufman said he felt the Council should proceed on the premise that the MOU is in place and try to make the building affordable. He felt this was possible. Mr. Lalonde said if the City doesn’t need that land from the School District, it is a different question. Ms. Fitzgerald said the School Board has not discussed the MOU in public and could delay that discussion. Ms. Emery stressed that this is not what the Council wanted. Ms. Fitzgerald said one of the requirements for this evening for the School Board was that both parties were willing to go forward. She felt she was hearing from the Council that they need more information. Ms. Riehle said the information the Council needs is a final number for the ballot. Mr. Kaufman added that the hope is to go forward with just some modifications to the design. The MOU is great. The Council needs a number, and there is time to do that. He stressed that this is a building that will last 100 years. If it takes a little more time to get a number, so be it. Members of the School Board left the meeting at this time for their own scheduled meeting. Mr. Barritt expressed concern that the Council had just given the School Board carte blanche to delay action. 5. Council working session on Public Facilities in City Center in SoBu Spaces: Ms. Blanchard advised the Council that the number for funding from the Blanchette Fund is actually higher than anticipated, $418,000 instead of $350,000. In addition, the roadway piece is no longer part of the debt as it will be funded from impact fees. The Market Street part is part of the debt. Members were then given a handout with estimates for a “Library Alone,” Library, Senior Center and City Hall with the previously discussed deductions, and the three uses with a budget set at a reduction of $1,200,000. Ms. Blanchard noted that the second column is the building discussed on Monday night minus the agreed upon deductions. The total figure is $22,978,000 of which $21,000,000 would be the bonded debt. $16,800,000 of that would be covered in the CIP debt if funded at $806,000 annual payment. The third column includes options to cut costs (e.g. mechanicals). Some of those cuts are not known at this time. Ms. Blanchard noted that furniture & fixtures would be one opportunity for “ campaigns.” They are not needed till later in the process, and some rooms could be furnished at a later date. With a $1,200,000 reduction, the total bond debt would be $20,406,000. The CIP Reserve Fund Finance Bond payment would annually be $770,000. Ms. Blanchard stressed that building a Library alone would not be inexpensive. There is also the question of parking and the need for a second elevator. Mr. Chittenden said this makes the argument that the City Hall portion of the building is not a major cost driver. Ms. Blanchard said the City could try to go back to request more TIF funding. The maximum under which they are now operating was based on a lower cost figure that the City submitted. Mr. Kaufman agreed with Mr. Chittenden regarding the City Hall portion of the building. Ms. Riehle noted that what is not included in these estimates is any fund-raising by the Library other than the Blanchette Fund. Ms. Blanchard said it would be helpful to have a target number so decision can be made. Once the Council nails something down, the design team can get to the next level of detail. Mr. Dorn said it is time now for the Council to come up with a “not to exceed” number. Mr. Barritt added “or to pull the plug on the project..” Mr. Kaufman said in his mind the number is $21,000,000 for the three uses. There is no sense in building just a Library. Ms. Emery stressed that she did not want to sacrifice building soundness or environmental quality. Mr. Roy said that $21,000,000 number buys all the furniture for the building, but it could be reduced by re-using furniture. That would not affect building soundness or environmental quality. Mr. Kaufman said the City wants a top‐quality building, “no cutting corners.” Mr. Roy felt there is a way to get to $21,000,000. Mr. Kaufman suggested waiting to see what the team comes up with to get to that number. If the Council doesn’t like it, they can just not go for a November vote. Ms. Riehle asked about the possibility of reducing the required number of spaces. Ms. Blanchard said the maximum number of spaces will be needed. Up to 25% is allowed to be reduced with adequate bicycle racks. Mr. Chittenden said he still wants to explore just a Library but can be sold on the City Hall. He was concerned that with the debt for this building, the city won’t get a pool. He also had some questions for Executive Session. Mr. Cole of the Library Board of Trustees and the design committee, said there is an $800,000 estimate (including the Blanchette fund) of what the Friends of the Library can raise. This does not include any amount the Library itself can raise through grants, etc. There is now a grant writer on the Library Board. Mr. Cole gave members a handout of a chart from the National Library Association regarding available grants. The potential totals over $3,000,000,000. The Library hasn’t cracked the surface of this yet because they did not have a design to present, which is generally a requirement for a grant. He felt it is important for the Council to understand this. Mr. Cole stressed this building will be the keystone of Market Street and will impact property values. He urged the Council to stick with the WOW factor to give the Library a chance to make this happen. Ms. Dooley made a pitch for including the City Hall portion of the building. She felt it would be an equal magnet for City Center. She reminded the Council of earlier votes by citizen visioning groups to include all three uses in a facility in City Center. She also noted all the City Hall uses that would get people to City Center including: voting, licenses (marriage, dog/cat, etc.), tax payments, DMV registration, free notary service, liquor/cigarette/entertainment permits, etc. Ms. Dooley did not see the Library by itself as nearly as powerful as the combination of uses. Ms. Sirvis echoes Ms. Dooley’s comments but stressed the need to call the “senior center” something more inclusive/descriptive (e.g. Community Center). Ms. Emery said that seeing the breakdown and a less than $3,000,000 difference, she can make the case to voters. She cited the importance of City Center as a “center of gravity” and also cited the large turnout at this evening’s opening of City Center Park as evidence of public interest and commitment to City Center. Ms. Blanchard asked if the Council still wants a public hearing on a draft. Ms. Emery felt they can schedule it and change it if necessary. Ms. Riehle said she was willing to go with the $21,800,000 number and noted it will take a lot of work to educate the public. She cited the strong vote for the “penny for parks” and felt the Council can make the case to the public. She saw the building as a centerpiece to City Center. Without it, it’s just apartments across from a mall. Mr. Kaufman felt this is the future of the community and is essential. He felt the public will listen to that. Ms. Sirvis asked why Mr. Barritt is opposed. He said it’s too much money. He didn’t feel a new City Hall is needed. He was also not sure this is the right place for a Library. He felt there should be “natural space” adjacent to it and suggested cheaper city‐owned land. Ms. Riehle noted that other Chittenden County communities have libraries in their City Center, often adjacent to municipal buildings. These are “gathering places” and that is what South Burlington is struggling with. She added that even if the land is expensive, there is a positive result to having a centralized municipal center. She felt that a majority of residents would agree. She also said you don’t just put something somewhere because you own the land. That is not good long-term planning. Ms. Dooley cited the 2 visioning meetings in the winter, with people coming through snowstorms to attend. The place was mobbed. Not one person at those meetings said City Center was the wrong place for a Library. Ms. Emery noted the city has been trying to put a City Center together for 30 years; generations of residents have been working toward this. It is an opportunity to make something beautiful. Mr. Kaufman added that the rebuilding of Dorset was the start to City Center. He felt the city owed the people who live in it to be the best the city can be. Mr. Chittenden suggested that if they built just a Library, there could be a City Hall across the street in the future. Ms. Riehle noted the Council had that discussion, and it was a $30,000,000 discussion. Ms. Sirvis spoke against using city-owned land and destroying more open space. b. Indoor Recreation Facility: Mr. Dorn said there is continuing dialogue with Tony Cairns to nail down numbers. They are also looking at an alternative that would not tear down the entire front building. The cost of new construction might be less than renovating the old building. There will also be a complete environmental assessment of the property before going forward with any final negotiations. Ms. Riehle asked who would pay for environmental issues. Mr. Dorn said that would be negotiated. Mr. Kaufman noted Mr. Cairns said those issues were resolved years ago, but there should still be due diligence. Mr. Kaufman noted he is on the Board of the Skating Association. He reminded the Council that years ago they were going to put a central entrance on the skating rinks, but a former city manager vetoed that. The Board is reviewing that plan now, and the feeling is that will happen in the next few years. Mr. Kaufman then noted that the South Burlington Recreation Facility could be put on the second floor of the building with a dome facility out back. The proposal for the skating facility is to have an expanded cafeteria and expanded pro shop. The city could then allow Mr. Cairns to redevelop the Champlain Oil property for tax benefit to the city. Mr. Kaufman noted Mr. Cairns is happy with either scenario. Mr. Roy urged due diligence on the code. 6. Other Business: a. Sign Warrant: Mr. Hubbard said this should be processed so there can be a transfer to the Schools on Friday. Mr. Chittenden moved to approve the warrant as presented. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Possible Executive Session to discuss the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options: Mr. Barritt moved the Council meet in executive session to discuss the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options and to include in the session Messrs. Dorn, Hubbard, and Conner, and to resume regular session only for the purpose of adjournment. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Members entered executive session at 7:35 p.m., and resumed open session at 9:18. As there was no further business to come before the Council, Mr. Chittenden moved to adjourn. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.