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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - City Council - 07/01/2024 1 | Page DRAFT MINUTES CITY COUNCIL 1 JULY 2024 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 1 July 2024, at 6:30 p.m., in the Auditorium, 180 Market Street, and by Go to Meeting remote participation. MEMBERS PRESENT: T. Barritt, Chair; A. Chalnick, E. Fitzgerald, M. Scanlan, L. Smith ALSO PRESENT: J. Baker, City Manager; Chief S. Locke, Deputy City Manager; M. Machar, Finance Officer; D. Peters, L. Bailey, R. Doyle, J. Nadeau, J. Killacky, F. MacDonald, P. Taylor, P. Tompkins, C. Surmat, S. Dooley 1. Pledge of Allegiance 2. Instructions on exiting building in case of emergency and review of technology option: Ms. Baker provided instructions on the emergency exit from the building and reviewed technology options. 3. Additions, deletions or changes in the order of Agenda items: Mr. Chalnick asked for an update on the AFFF foam spill at the VT National Guard base. Ms. Baker said she would do this as part of her report. 4. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda: No issues were raised. 5. Announcements, councilors reports from committee assignments and City Manager’s Report: CITY COUNCIL JULY 1, 2024, PAGE 2 Council members reported on meetings and events they had attended in recent weeks. Ms. Baker: The City has been in touch with the Army Guard staff. There is an internal investigation being done, and the support team is still on site. The Plants process takes about 25-days so it is anticipated testing will continue for a month. The City is trucking biosolids and testing them. The Army Guard will cover this cost. Ms. Baker thanked the Guard for being so responsive. Mr. Smith noted the spill was from a system abandoned 10 years ago but was never decommissioned. He asked whether the City can learn why it wasn’t decommissioned and whether there are similar systems in the City that can pose a threat. Ms. Baker said the Guard had been trying to get the funding to decommission that system. She said it was unlikely that what was stored there is stored elsewhere in the City; however there are probably other contaminants. Mr. Chalnick asked if someone from the Guard can come and explain to the Council what will be replacing that foam. He was sure there has to be something. Ms. Fitzgerald shared that concern. The City now has a line-striping robot which has been named Linus. It is a huge time saver, battery operated and uses satellite technology to map lines. A facilities tour is a possibility. Mr. Smith suggested a September/October date when they can all be together. Mr. Scanlan preferred something sooner rather than later. Ms. Baker will poll members for a date. The new Open Meeting Law went into effect on 1 July. Information will be posted on the website and shared with Committee Chairs, the Council, and Staff Liaisons. July is Parks and Recreation Month. There will be free fitness events in City parks every day of the month. There is sponsorship for this and other events. 6. Consent Agenda: a. Approve and Sign Disbursements b. Authorize the City Manager to execute a 3-year contract for the purchase of Camino licensing and permitting software at a first-year price of $46,000 and $26,000 a year for 2 subsequent years, for a total not to exceed $100,000, and authorize the use of previously allocated ARPA dollars in an amount of $50,000 for said purpose c. Award a Construction Contract to Sloan’s Excavating for the Hinesburg Road Gate Valve Replacement, Preceding Paving of Route 116 CITY COUNCIL JULY 1, 2024, PAGE 3 d. Authorize the City Manager to purchase 4 Hyundai Kona SF vehicles and allocate FY-24 surplus funds for this purpose in an amount not to exceed $24,000.00. Mr. Scanlan asked about the County Tax Bill. Ms. Baker explained that the City pays an annual County tax. Mr. Scanlan also asked about the sweeper. Ms. Machar said it was approved in the budget. Mr. Barritt added that the City also rents it out to other communities. Mr. Scanlan asked when Hinesburg Road will be paved. Mr. Nadeau said it is slated for paving in 2025. Mr. Chalnick moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Receive information on the 2024 Grand List and approve the FY25 municipal tax rate and tax due dates: Ms. Baker advised that the increase in the Grand List this year was $135,000,000 which results in a total Grand List of $4,200,000,000. She drew attention to the formula for calculating the tax rate and noted that the homestead education tax rate is up 8.81% and the non-homestead tax rate is up 12.63%. Ms. Baker asked the Council to set the City’s operating budget tax rate at $.4976 and total City tax rate at $.5181. She noted that this is slightly lower than anticipated. Mr. Scanlan asked to see the history of the commercial tax rate and noted that residents would appreciate more of the budget being paid for by the commercial sector. Mr. Scanlan then moved to set the municipal tax rate at $.4976 and the total tax rate at $.5781 and to set the due dates for tax payments at 15 August 2024, 15 November 2024, and 15 March 2025. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Potential Action: Move to approve the allocation and use of $50,000 of ARPA funds to fund the development of a Cultural Plan and $100,000 of ARPA funds for the development of an Economic Development Plan in accordance with all City, State and Federal policies and regulations: Ms. Machar said this is the continuation of the last discussion. At least 4 Councilors approved these two expenditures. CITY COUNCIL JULY 1, 2024, PAGE 4 Ms. Fitzgerald moved to approve the allocation and use of $50,000 and $100,000 to fund the development of a Cultural Plan and an Economic Development Plan in accordance with City and State regulations and policies. Mr. Scanlan seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Tompkins of the Fine Arts/Cultural Committee thanked that Council for moving on this so quickly. Ms. Fitzgerald asked the Council to move forward on the $100,000 requested by the Affordable Housing Committee so they can apply for additional support. 9. Hold a conversation on the current Committee structure to best implement the City Plan and discuss next steps: Ms. Baker reported on a meeting held with Committee Chairs and Staff Liaisons to policy committees. Everyone who spoke wanted to be helpful to the community. The Chairs appreciated specific direction to work toward specific outcomes. There was also discussion regarding Council liaisons, and the Chairs want clarity regarding those roles. They also wanted the opportunity to meet with other committees to see where community debate happens. Ms. Baker said she didn’t think the time was right to restructure the committee process; any change should happen a year from now after certain steps are taken: a. Committees recommend their work plans to the Council b. Every third meeting of committees be an “all committee meeting.” c. City Council think about volunteerism in the community. The process can then be visited next spring to see where things stand regarding the committee structure. Ms. Baker recommended extending every committee member one year and filling spots of people who are stepping down from committees. Mr. Smith said he liked the idea of all committees coming together. He also suggested a new committee: “Equity and Diversity Committee” to help connect with diverse members of the community to see how they can engage with the City Council. Mr. Chalnick agreed with Ms. Baker’s plan but wasn’t sure about extending people’s terms. He felt that if it takes time to go through the process, they should take the time. CITY COUNCIL JULY 1, 2024, PAGE 5 Ms. Fitzgerald suggested asking committees what skill sets should be sought to fill vacancies. She supported diversification in membership. She was not opposed to continuing those with expiring terms, if the wish to continue, then filling the vacancies. She did not want to put on hold some committee recommendations (e.g., the City Charter Committee recommendation to expand the City Council membership). She also suggested a possible City/Schools Committee which, she felt, could be critical in the coming budget year. Mr. Scanlan said he supports sharing among committees and achieving a balance and equity in committee membership. He felt the open positions should be filled. Mr. Barritt said committees are a valuable resource, and it is a great idea to have committees meet together. He was concerned with the frustration about Council liaisons advocating for certain policies. He liked the idea of letting those who wish to continue to do so and to fill the open positions. Mr. Chalnick didn’t think it was fair to automatically extend the positions of those who want to continue. Mr. Doyle spoke to how important it is to have committee members present at meetings. He suggested extending those who wish to continue for no more than one year. Ms. Tompkins said the term of one of her committee members ended today, and she wants to know her status. She wants to continue. Ms. Baker said she will bring back a Resolution to extend committee membership and a Resolution to re-appoint and to begin the interviewing process by advertising next week. She said the aim is for there to be one joint meeting of all committees. Mr. Chalnick felt there should be Council discussion of the liaison role. Ms. Dooley noted that the Affordable Housing Committee will not have a quorum because of the number of people leaving the Committee. Ms. Baker said they could interview for the Affordable Housing Committee as early as 5 August. 10. Convene as Liquor Control Commission to consider the following application for approval: Myers Wood Fired, 1st Class Restaurant/Bar License: CITY COUNCIL JULY 1, 2024, PAGE 6 Mr. Chalnick moved that the Council convene as Liquor Control Commission. Mr. Scanlan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Smith moved to approve the 1st Class Restaurant/Bar License for Myers Wood Fired as presented. Mr. Chalnick seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Scanlan moved to reconvene as City Council. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Other Business: Members agreed to add to a future agenda the City Charter Committee’s recommendation to increase City Council membership. As there was no further business to come before the Council Mr. Chalnick moved to adjourn. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:06 p.m. _________________________________ Clerk