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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 12/15/2023 .NNv� southburlington VERMONT SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 15 DECEMBER 2023 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Friday, 15 December 2023, at 8:30 a.m., in the Auditorium, 180 Market Street, and by GoToMeeting remote participation. Members present: H. Riehle, Chair; M. Emery, T. Barritt, A. Chalnick, L. Kupferman Also present: J. Baker, City Manager; Chief S. Locke, Deputy City Manager; H. Rees, City Clerk; C. McNeil, City Attorney; Chief S. Burke, Police Department; Lt. C. Corbin, Deputy Fire Chief; M. Machar, Finance Director; P. Conner, Director of Planning &Zoning; T. DiPietro, Public Works Director; E. Quallen, Public Works Department; J. Murray, Librarian; I. Blanchard, Community Development Director; A. Brumbaugh, Communications & Outreach Coordinator; D. Brayton, HR Director; G. Yandow, Physical Plant Director; L. Bailey Instructions on exiting building in case of emergency and review of technology option: Ms. Baker provided instructions on emergency exit from the building and reviewed technology options. Additions, deletions or changes in the order of Agenda items: No changes were made to the Agenda. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda: There were no comments or questions from the public. FY25 Budget: Department Presentations: Police Department: Chief Burke showed a chart of the structure of the Police Department and explained the roles of each position. He noted the Department was able to hire 8 officers last year but also lost 5 to retirement. There are now 34 filled positions. There are 6 dispatchers, and there is a need for a 7th, a position which has received no applicants. Chief Burke then showed a chart of arrest numbers which is down significantly this year, probably due to the department being able to engage in pro-active activities. The areas of concern are unmet social service needs, overdoses, suicides, and welfare checks. There has been a 68% increase in retail theft, a 100% increase in larcenies, and a 439% increase in stolen cars. The Chief reminded people to keep their cars locked and not to leave keys in the car. PAGE 1 In the coming year, the Department is looking to restore the Youth Services Sergeant. There will also be a focus on crime prevention, especially retail and neighborhood theft. They will be establishing a municipal funding source (primarily for benefits) for a person in the Community Justice Center. Budget needs include increased vehicle maintenance for older vehicles and replacement of radios due to dying batteries. Ms. Riehle asked if there is a plan to replace these periodically. Chief Burke said they haven't until now as they were all purchased together. CIP items include 2 new patrol cars which will be hybrid with new technology. The Chief noted these are 10% more expensive than previously purchased vehicles. He also noted that they do not have enough vehicles to put on the road while other vehicles are being charged. The Chief then showed a graph of responses in relation to the number of sworn officers. He noted they have reached a saturation point. They can respond to calls but can do little regarding proactive/community engagement. There is one officer covering all the city's schools, and she is getting tired. Emerging issues include addressing the growing concern with gun crime. Ms. Riehle asked about concerns with residents below the poverty line. The Chief said it is a vicious cycle: all they can do is to bring people back into the system that cannot serve them. Ms. Riehle cited the need to provide services for those folks who are being welcomed into the community. Fire Department: Chief Locke showed the Department's organizational chart. He noted that they were able to fill all the vacancies this past year which resulted in less overtime. Among the Department's successes was the creation of the first Community Risk Assessment which allows them to send the right number of responders to an incident. The Department has also increased its number of paramedics so there is almost always a paramedic on a response to a call. The Chief then showed the call volume for the past 20 years. He pointed out the 58% increase over the past 10 years and noted they see the same people on almost a daily basis, the same type of vicious cycle noted by Chief Burke. About 70% of their calls are medical. People are using 911 as a "catchall," and there is no way for the Department not to respond. He stressed that many of those needs should be addressed by agencies other than the Fire Department. Lt. Corbin noted that in some communities, there are "community paramedics" who handle some of those calls. Chief Locke said there are 4 or 5 individuals who are now placing a tremendous burden on the Department. If there were a different service for them, it would make a great difference. Ms. Baker added that this is a state-wide issue. Chief Locke noted that one-third of the Department has fewer than 18 months in the Fire Service and several more experienced officers nearing retirement. There is a need for rapid training. Budget items include protective clothing. Each officer needs 2 sets of clothing, and the outfits have about a 10-year life span. They are constantly outfitting officers. There is also an increase in the computer contract which includes training, patient care, etc., run off one system. The station alerting system is now 20 years old. The new system would be digital which would take a load off the dispatch center. CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 15,2023 I PAGE 2 The Chief noted that the ambulance loading system is now totally mechanized which is much more secure for patients and safer for employees. This system should be installed in the one ambulance that does not currently have it. The administrative vehicle also needs replacing, and there is a need to get back on the cycle of replacing thermal imaging cameras. Emerging issues include: the prevention division (there will be a loss of history with the retirement of several officers); recruitment; station maintenance, staff training, a dedicated Shift Commander, and implementation of the rental registry/inspection program. Public Works: Mr. DiPietro showed the organization chart. There are 39 employees plus 9 contracted people in the Water Department. There are currently 5 open positions. They are also looking to add one Highway Department staff in FY25. Highway Department successes include the paving of Dorset Street and the opening of the Wheeler Dog Park. FY25 budget issues include: Tree care (which would be bid out), increased curb and sidewalk work, the Dorset Street signal project including the cost of the adaptive technology. Items in the CIP include: paving ($1,500,000) including 4 sections of Dorset Street, the Dorset Street School Zone, sidewalk assessment/improvement, the Market Street/Hinesburg Road traffic signal (partly funded by impact fees), and Climate Action Plan items (e.g., EV charging stations, possible electrified equipment, and hybrid replacement vehicles). Mr. DiPietro then showed a graph of paving budgets for the past 20 years. He also showed the Paving Condition Inventory scoring. Arterial roads are doing pretty well as are residential streets. About $1,000,000 a year is needed to keep up. Mr. Barritt asked if there is any new technology to make roads more durable. Mr. DiPietro said there are some things to consider, but this year Dorset St. used up most of the budget. Emerging issues include: staffing, the pace of development which creates more infrastructure to maintain, and the need for assistance to manage data so decisions can be data driven. Stormwater: Successes include being fully staffed and 3 completed construction projects (a large portion of which was paid for by grants). The budget includes a modest increase in materials, funding to hire a fellow to look at South Burlington's share of a regional service, and updating rates (which the Council will have to approve). The CIP includes funding for the replacement of the Bartlett Bay Road culvert, flow restoration plans, and repair of the Logwood sinkhole. Mr. DiPietro stressed that the projects they are doing help to increase the city's resiliency so the city can help other municipalities where there is a severe storm. Ms. Riehle said the public needs to be made aware of this. Emerging issues include: staffing and work on 3-acre sites. There is some grant money for the site work, but this is diminishing due to needs across the state. Wastewater: CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 15,2023 I PAGE 3 Successes include the passing of the bond for the upgrade to the Bartlett Bay facility, the receipt of silver and gold awards for 2 of the cities facilities, and continued high-quality discharge. The budget includes increased costs for chemicals, sludge maintenance, "clean & green priorities, and a proposed resolution to update rates. The CIP funded items include: the Bartlett Bay upgrade, refurbishing of pump stations, the Market Street pump station generator, and Airport Parkway solids handling. Emerging issues include: a second person at the Bartlett Bay Facility for safety (the current person is nearing retirement) and new regulations associated with contaminants/cost. Drinking Water: Successes include: the lead service line inventory to comply with a federal requirement (if lead is found, it has to be replaced), the number of water allocations, and the completion of all required maintenance. The budget includes: increase in professional services (an aging system needs more maintenance), upgrade to the computer system, the bond vote for the water tower, and an update to the drinking water ordinance. CIP funded items include: the water storage tank, replacement of meter readers, and lead service line replacement. Emerging issues include: Water Ordinance revisions, the bond vote on water storage, and a rate structure study. Bike/Ped: Ms. Quallen noted success include: upgrade of all RFBs, adjustment on most road standards to accommodate bike lanes. She showed a graph of additional maintenance work along with photos and noted funding from Pennies for Paths. Ms. Riehle reminded people that Pennies for Paths goes away in FY29. Ms. Baker stressed that when you have dedicated funds, you take away the City Council's ability to make certain decisions. Ms. Quallen then showed a list of CIP funded projects. Emerging issues include infrastructure construction to support climate goals and increased maintenance needs. Open Space (special fund): Successes include: design work at Hubbard Park and permits submitted for Red Rocks Park trail and stormwater improvements. CIP funded projects include completion of Red Rocks Park improvements, new Tree Management Project to focus on deferred tree maintenance (dead trees are becoming a safety issue). Ms. Quallen noted that Open Space repayment will be complete by FY28. Emerging issues include the lengthy process to conserve land, the Parks Master Plan. Library, Parks and Recreation: Ms. Baker noted the partnering being done by Mr. Matth and Ms. Murray. CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 15,2023 PAGE 4 Mr. Matth said successes include: services to more residents, 22 community events in FY22 and 38 events in FY23. Ms. Murray noted the increase in the number of items checked out of the Library, the increase in Library visits, and the increase in programs (with almost 10,000 attendees). Mr. Matth showed photos of recreation/parks events and use of the new Dog Park. He also cited the success of the Senior Center. In FY22, there were 1500 meals served; in FY23 that number rose to 2200. Mr. Matth showed the organization of the Parks/Recreation Department. There is one current open position in Programming. The budget includes special events increase and increases in youth programming. CIP funded items include multi-field projects in Veterans Park (to allow for rotating of fields), refurbishing of the baseball field to address drainage issues, dugout replacement, and the vehicle replacement reserve fund. Emerging issues include: Parks Master Plan, distribution of resources (to address transportation needs so people can participate in programs), space for recreation with the growing population and indoor recreation. Ms. Murray said Library successes include serving more people more fully, increased Story Time attendance, the wide variety of events to promote socializing, information, etc., "check out" items including projectors, gardening tools, bike repair kits, and more in this growing collection. The Library has 22 staff members, 9 of whom are full time. There are 4 administrators. The budget includes income from rental of meeting rooms (there were 922 room rentals in the past year from non-city sources), a request of a 19-hour position to deal with meeting room rentals, a "floater" who knows how things work, and on-line resources (e.g., e-books, movies, etc.) which are seeing increased use. Emerging issues include looking at collections and what to include, addressing community diversity, learning what people want from their Library, potentially more people for Story Time with the growing City Center population, and addressing people with unmet needs. Ms. Murray noted that some people are at the Library every day, all day and require attention. Ms. Riehle asked if the Library is working on new endowments. Ms. Murray said there is an annual appeal, and the Foundation helps with grant writing. She explained how the Foundation works for special needs. A joint Parks/Recreation/Library emerging need is City Center growth and multi-family growth. General Government: Ms. Baker showed an organization chart and noted that General Government has 33 employees. Successes include the hiring of amazing new talent, the clean audit, implementation of policies, passage of all ballot items, development of City Center, the O'Brien project, and the Beta project. CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 15,2023 PAGE 5 Mr. Conner showed a graph of single-family/multi-family dwellings and noted that the current trend is to more multi-family dwellings. He also showed a graph of building permits issued in recent years. Successes related to the Climate Action Plan include 2 new ordinances addressing climate change. TIF District: Ms. Blanchard said successes include a cleanl0-year audit, growth in the TIF grand list by 7.67%, design work on the Bike/Ped Bridge (60(% completed design), and Illuminate Vermont which drew 2000 attendees. She showed a graph of TIF grand list growth. Facilities: Mr. Yandow cited successes including upgrade of Veterans Park bathrooms, renovation, and leasing of 19 Gregory Drive, rebuilding of the pump station that was hit by a vehicle and includes a new generator that handles 70% of the city's sewage. Ms. Baker cited emerging issues including a parking fund, the rental registry, staffing for Climate Action, 575/577 Dorset Street, and adoption of the 2024 City Plan. She stressed that to fully achieve the Climate Action Plan the city's "one-time" capital needs in the budget will increase. Mr. Barritt said it may not be feasible to electrify all of the vehicles. Ms. Baker said that what is financially and technologically possible now will not meet the city's goals, and the City Council will have to make policy decisions. She noted that the vehicle replacement cycle is longer than 2030. Ms. Emery said that asking for double-digit budget increases will be hard to get. She felt there needs to be conversation with the public as to what they are comfortable with as far as Climate Action expenditures. Mr. Kupferman suggested putting a list of Climate Action items to the public to see what they will support. He also suggested using some of the budget surplus to support the proposed budget. Mr. Barritt cited the importance of showing voters what they get for their money. He said the city has lofty goals and probably won't get there. The question is what voters are willing to spend. Mr. Chalnick suggested that the Climate Action Plan, other than staffing, be funded by ARPA funds. He did not think the Hinesburg Road/Market Street traffic light should be funded by ARPA funds but should come from the General Fund. He would like to use surplus funds to "fill the gap. Ms. Riehle said the 2 are different to her. She said the Council did not overestimate what was needed from property taxes. The surplus came from unanticipated earnings from local option taxes. Mr. Barritt said he didn't want to have to "sell" the budget to voters, and he felt 8.2% was too much. Ms. Riehle asked what members would cut. Ms. Emery said they have to ask voters what they are on board with. Ms. Riehle cautioned members about reducing the budget too much and having to make up for it the next year. Mr. Kupferman suggested reducing the amount to the Housing Trust Fund to $75,000. CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 15,2023 PAGE 6 Ms. Quallen noted that the public transit budget includes more than GMT; it includes a consultant to do a study. Ms. Baker said they have a $3,300,000 gap they are trying to close. She added that if the city wants to reach its climate action goals, it is important to work with them. Ms. Baker suggested having staff come up with some scenarios for reducing the budget and bringing them to the Council at its next meeting. Members agreed. Ms. Baker reminded everyone of the 4:30 gathering. Other Business: No other business was presented. As there was no further business to come before the Council Mr. Barritt moved to adjourn. Mr. Chalnick seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m. Clerk CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 15,2023 PAGE 7