HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Steering Committee - 07/10/2023 STEERING COMMITTEE 10 JULY 2023
The South Burlington Steering Committee held a meeting on Monday, 10 July 2023, in the
Auditorium, South Burlington City Hall, 180 Market Street, and via Gotomeeting remote
technology.
MEMBERS PRESENT: City Council: H. Riehle, City Council Chair; M. Emery,T. Barritt, T. Barnes,
A. Chalnick; J. Baker, City Manager; School Board: A. McHenry, School Board Chair; C.
Tillinghast, K. Bailey; B. Companion V. Nichols, Superintendent of Schools
ALSO PRESENT: Chief S. Locke, Deputy City Manager; Chief S. Burke, Police Department;T.
Jarvis, School District Director of Finance;T. DiPietro, Director of Public Works; M. Machar, City
Director of Finance; M. Lyons, City Assessor; E. Quallen, Public Works Department; L.
McDonald, Principal Marcotte School; R. Doyle
1. Welcome & Introductions:
Members of the City Council and School Board introduced themselves.
2. Agenda Review: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items:
No changes were made to the Agenda.
3. Comments & Questions from the public not related to the Agenda:
There were no comments or questions from the public.
4. Approve Minutes from the 6 March 2023 Steering Committee meeting:
The spelling of Ms. Bailey's name was corrected.
Mr. McHenry moved to approve the Minutes of 6 March 2023 as corrected. Mr. Barritt
seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
5. Receive an update from City staff on engineering analysis for traffic and
pedestrian travel around schools:
Ms. Baker noted receipt of the June letter from the School Board. She stressed that the city is
equally committed to safety of streets, especially for pedestrians and bikers. She also stressed
that there are statutory rules which have to be adhered to.
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10 JULY 2023
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Mr. DiPietro then reviewed steps being taken to address the concerns in the June letter:
With regard to traffic in and around Market Street and Marcotte School, Mr. DiPietro said the
City has retained VHB as consultants in conjunction with the Chittenden Country Regional
Planning Commission (CCRPC). They did an analysis while school was still in session, including
traffic volumes, turning movements, etc. That information is now being analyzed, and a final
recommendation is expected at the end of July or beginning of August. An evaluation will then
be done regarding timing and budgeting. It is anticipated that some things can be done quickly.
A traffic signal would take longer and would require budgeting.
Ms. Bailey asked whether the study takes future growth into consideration. Mr. DiPietro said
the whole area is considered in the traffic model including new development which is plugged
in to see whether the warrants for a traffic light are being met. Ms. Baker added that this is the
critical modeling for the downtown area for the future. The city had anticipated one new
building every 10 years; in actuality, there had been one new building every three months.
Mr. Companion asked whether the consultant looked at what happens when students are being
dropped off. Mr. DiPietro said they have. One of the consultants actually has a child in the
school. Mr. Companion said he counted 120 cars and questioned what that number will look
like in September with the new buildings. He stressed that they are less than 8 weeks from the
opening of school and asked how long they will have to wait before something is done. Ms.
Baker said that will depend on the recommendation. If things can be done "in house," that will
happen quickly.
Mr. Barritt asked whether the study looked at Mary Street and the opening of all of Garden
Street. Mr. DiPietro said it did.
Supt. Nichols asked whether there has been any progress on the development of a School Zone.
Mr. DiPietro said there were no school zones until October, and the one that was created then
was based on traffic on White Street near Chamberlin School. The city has ordered the
hardware needed to make that a School Zone and is still waiting for that shipment.
Ms. Bailey felt there was a missed opportunity to have added the other City schools into the
request for School Zones. She felt someone should have checked to see if this was more of a
District need than just for the one school.
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10 JULY 2023
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Mr. McHenry said it appears to be a 2-year process to getting the hardware. Mr. DiPietro said
that is not unusual. Speed concerns have to be backed up by an engineering/speed study.
Ms.Tillinghast asked if there is any way to slow development which is happening so much faster
than anticipated. Ms. Baker said City Center has a different situation from other development
because it is all happening in one area.
Ms.Tillinghast asked what was in place regarding school safety. Ms. Baker said the condition
regarding City Center was the payment of impact fees, and developers have been paying that
fee which is for safety installations.
Ms. Emery noted the original request from the School District was for a red light at Chamberlin
School to replace the blinking yellow light. The City had no idea this would involve a School
Zone. It was thanks to the study that was done that a School Safety Zone was created.
Supt. Nichols asked what other supports can be put in place to keep up with the expedited
development timeline to support the safe opening of school.
Ms. Baker noted that the city is benefiting enormously from the expedited building. The debt
will be paid much quicker, including money to the education fund.
Ms. Bailey said she has nothing bad to say about development, but in response to the fast
tracking of development, they would like to see fast tracking of safety around the schools. That
is where the urgency lies.
Mr. Chalnick asked if the City has discretion to lower speed limits on a temporary basis. Mr.
DiPietro said the speed limit is now 25 mph. He added that there was a restriction of certain
parking near the school. Other actions are awaiting the engineering study.
Ms. Riehle noted that if a traffic light is recommended, that will take time. There could be a 4-
way stop until the light goes in.
Mr. McHenry said this is a situation of reacting to hazardous condition rather than anticipating
them. There was a year when the risk was pretty high, and they ended up with a lag now that
the situation is dangerous.
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Ms. Riehle noted that the walkway situation was remediated with the cooperation of the
developer. The question is whether remediation is needed for a situation that you don't know
will happen. Mr. McHenry said in another year, there will be 3 more buildings, and there will be
a study done 4 years before. Ms. Baker said that is why the City is doing comprehensive traffic
modeling for the entire City Center.
Mr. Companion said he didn't think the construction is contributing to the traffic problem. He
added that sometimes you don't get it right just out of the box. He wanted to see a solution
that will work 5 years out.
Ms. McDonald said this has been a big learning curve. She said that Snyder Homes worked with
her immediately to address issues. Children on bikes have to cross the road 6 times because of
the woodchip path. That is why the School District got involved. Because of parking on both
sides of the street, traffic has had to be stopped so that buses out.
Mr. DiPietro said one of the pieces of information they are looking for is involves the turning
radius. Ms. McDonald noted there have been issues with Allard Square because traffic has
been going through their parking lot to get out. She did note that things went more smoothly
at the end of the school year, and she hoped some of those things can be in place to start the
new year.
With regard to the request for more School Zones, Ms. Riehle noted that this may be difficult
around the Middle and High Schools because there are so many lanes involved. She stressed
that things are moving toward School Zones, but the city can only act when there is data.
Ms. Bailey asked if there can be a crossing guard, and what are the options before school starts.
Ms. Baker said infrastructure changes will have to come from data. The baseline is what the
City established at the end of last year. The Council was open to the request for a crossing
guard and would support that. The Police Department is willing to train anyone to do that. It
would be easier if that were a school employee. Supt. Nichols said the School District tried to
hire one but got no reply from the community. They also tried to pay an employee, but that
didn't work either. That is why she did it. Ms. Baker said she didn't think the City would have
any better luck hiring someone.
Ms. Tillinghast asked if there could be a Police Officer until someone is hired. Chief Burke said
he couldn't commit to having someone at a specific place at any time during the day as they
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10 JULY 2023
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need to respond to 911 calls. Ms. Riehle asked about the possibility of volunteers. Mr. Doyle
noted that Essex pays $25 in the morning and $25 in the afternoon. He also noted that the
casualty rate for crossing guards is 3 times that for police officers.
Mr. Companion asked if the District can get notification before school starts as to what the plan
is. Ms. Baker said the City will share recommendations as soon as they are available.
6. Discuss the shared planning for the future of 575 Dorset Street:
Ms. Baker noted that she and Supt. Nichols met last week. There is a 6-week plan between
now and 16 August to consolidate the materials the City has at 575 Dorset Street. They also
began a discussion regarding School District ownership of the building. This will include having
the property surveyed, discussing what kind of transfer it would be, and how to get separate
systems.
Supt. Nichols said that from a school perspective, there are enrollment crises at 2 schools, and
they are trying to get non-teaching people into 575. There are also waiting lists for students for
alternate programming. She asked what potential there could be for alternate programming if
the School District owned the building. She would be happy to enter into that conversation and
discuss how to move forward. In a walkthrough of the building, there was discussion of how
the city could consolidate its use of the building so the School District can have additional office
space and free up teaching space in the schools.
Ms. Baker noted that storing the equipment that is in the building would be an additional
expense to the City. The City would also have to figure out how to move it and where.
7. Discuss the shared goal of partnering on capital planning:
Ms. Baker said the City understands that there are capital needs on the school side, and the City
wants to be the School District's champion. There need to be discussion re: taxpayer capacity.
Supt. Nichols said people move to South Burlington because there are the best schools in the
State. Facilities are one of the main issues, especially at the elementary level. A committee is
looking into whether to transition 5th graders into the Middle School building. There are also
plans to renovate that building which would involve building a new high school and using the
old high school to house the middle school while it is being renovated. This would take a
significant political effort.
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Supt. Nichols said the School District's top priorities are safety, education and finances in that
order. She also said they have to be sure the City and School District are not double bonding.
She felt the schools must come before a Recreation Center for the City. There is a possibility
that the some school facilities could be used city-wide for recreation outside of school hours.
Ms. Bailey also noted the potential to collaborate with the City on the Climate Action Plan. She
said the School Board would welcome City people joining some of their committees. Ms. Baker
noted a part of the City's plan speaks to collaboration with the schools. Ms. Bailey said South
Burlington's High School is a top priority for the State. She cited the energy efficiencies that
could be attained with new schools. She also noted that Massachusetts is not allowing
renovations because of energy concerns.
Mr. Chalnick said there needs to be a process by which City and School District are on the same
page regarding a new school. He said he would like to tour the High School building. He added
that it feels odd to have the 5th grade driving the High School. Supt. Nichols said they are not
there yet either. There was significant community engagement in the past, and those
conversations are being re-opened. Mr. Companion said it is not a building decision but where
the best place is for 5th grade students. They are looking at configurations throughout the state.
Mr. Barritt said he is thankful that the School District is taking the bold move to look at the fifth
grade and at redistricting. He was prepared to work with the School District.
Mr. Barnes said he agreed the schools are a key driver for the community and felt it is
imperative to enhance the ability to provide the best schools in the state. He was also proud of
the work that has been done regarding the modular units.
Supt. Nichols explained the timeframe for the ZEMs and the use of impact fees to help fund
them. She noted the greatest increase in schools last year was at the Middle school, and they
will quickly need a Middle School solution (they are now serving lunch earlier,juggling how Phys
Ed happens, etc.). The High School is the most deteriorated physical plant. She cited to need
for better communication and community support.
Ms. Emery said she had full confidence that students will have a full educational experience
with the ZEMs. She also noted that residents in Burlington are being "outpriced" because of
things such as building a new high school. The ZEMS are also addressing how much people are
paying for taxes.
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10 JULY 2023
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8. Other Business:
Mr. Chalnick asked whether there could be a K-6, 7-9, 10-12 pattern in the schools and build one
new elementary school. Supt. Nichols said nothing is off the table. She noted there was an
issue in the community with the elementary schools being "community based." Ms. Bailey said
there is also an issue of whether to continue to fix what now exists (deferred maintenance) or
whether it is cheaper to build new.
Ms. Riehle noted that she taught in a 5-8 school which she thought was excellent. She stressed
that the City is ready to work with the School District as it has always been...including working
on a joint dinner.
As there was no further business the come before the Committee, Mr. Barritt moved to adjourn.
Mr. McHenry seconded. The motion passed with all present voting in favor. The meeting was
adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
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Clerk
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School Board Clerk