HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 12/04/2023 southburlington
VERMONT
SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
4 DECEMBER, 2023
The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 4 December 2023, at
6:30 p.m., in the Auditorium, 180 Market Street,and by GoToMeeting remote participation.
Members present: H. Riehle, Chair; M. Emery (arrived later in the meeting), T. Barritt,A.
Chalnick, L. Kupferman
Also present:J. Baker, City Manager; C. McNeil, City Attorney; P. Conner, Director of Planning
&Zoning; H. Rees, City Clerk; D. Brayton, Human Resources Director; T. DiPietro, Public
Works Director;J. Murray, Library Director; A. Brumbaugh, Communications &Outreach
Coordinator; M. Machar, Finance Director; N. Gingrow, IT Director; Chief S. Burke, Police
Department;A. Matth, Recreation&Parks Director; Deputy Chief C. Corbin, Fire Department;
E. Quallen, Public Works Department; G. Yandow, Physical Plant Director; L. Bresee, Energy
Coordinator; G. Silverstein, B. Sirvis, R. Doyle, L. Bailey, B. Britt, M. Scanlan, N. Senecal, B.
Colleran
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:
No issues were raised.
Announcements and City Manager's Report:
Council members reported on meetings and events they had attended. Ms. Riehle
reviewed a City/School Leadership meeting and noted the School Board has included
$30,000 in its FY25 budget for half the cost of crossing guards. There will be a Steering
Committee on 22 January 2024 to review budgets and policy/financial pressures facing
both the City and School District.
Ms. Baker: On Friday, the Police Academy graduated two South Burlington Officers,
Justin Maki and Lucy Creedon. Lt. Chris Bataille receive the Instructor's Award given by
the recruits for his work as the criminal law instructor. This is the third consecutive class
where he has received this award.
The City is modernizing its ordinances. They will all be on-line and searchable.
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A meeting was held with architects regarding a City Center public space effort.
Community engagement will begin after the Town Meeting Day election.
12 chargers are now functioning. These are raising on average $285.00 a month.
The Planning Commission is beginning work to align with S-100.
Mr. Conner is participating with the Airport regarding new noise exposure maps.
Ms. Baker, Mr. McNeil and Ms. Murray are working with AFSCME on the Library
staffs request to join the union.
City staff is engaging with Marcotte School students regarding the naming of the
access street to the School.
The holiday lights contest will kick off this week.
Consent Agenda:
1.a.a. Approve and Sign Disbursements
1.a.b. Approve Minutes from the 16 November Special City Council meeting
1.a.c. Approve the Rye Meadows plowing agreement
1.a.d. Approve the Medalist Drive Plowing Agreement
1.a.e. Approve the Sadie Lane Plowing Agreement
1.a.f. Approve the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program application
for the replacement of HVAC units with heat pumps at the Public Works Garage
1.a.g. Award Airport Parkway Facility Solids Handling Upgrade Final Engineering
Contract to Aldrich and Elliott Water Resources Engineers
1.a.h. Approve the VTrans Transportation Alternatives Program grant application for the
Adelphia Cable Pond Scoping project.
1.a.i. Approve the VTrans Municipal Highway and Stromwater Mitigation Program
Grant for the replacement of culverts in Butler Farms and Oak Creek Village
1.a.j. Approve Resolution#2023-18 expanding the composition of the Energy
Committee and appoint Brittany Baldwin and Marley Hauser to serve 3-year terms.
Mr. Barritt moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Mr. Chalnick seconded.
Mr. Chalnick asked for more information about the heat pumps. Mr. Bresee said he has
learned that heat pumps for residential units are operating much better than those for
commercial use. The local company will not go with them because the cost is too high
and there is a concern with reliability. The lower the temperature gets, the less efficient
they are. At a zero temperature, they do nothing. Because there were so few zero days last
year, that is the reason for the current request.
In the vote that followed, the motion passed 4-0.
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FY25 Budget: Receive the City Manager's Proposed Budget, request additional
information, and provide direction to staff:
Ms. Baker introduced members of the leadership team and particularly recognized the
efforts of Ms. Machar in putting together the proposed FY25 city budget.
Ms. Baker then reviewed some city statistics:
Population—20,624
Owner-occupies homes—60.2%
BA degree or higher—62%
Median Household Income - $83,000
City staff— 185
3 Labor Groups
8 City buildings
11 City parks
Ms. Baker then reviewed the budget goals as follows:
Continue current level of service
Implement year 2 investments recommended in FY24
Do not exceed 5% increase
Implement the Climate Action Plan: Transportation Implementation Plan
Implement the Government Operation Plan
Increase Housing Trust Fund to 150,000 a year
Fund school crossing guards at $30,000
Budget assumptions included:
A 2% growth in the Grand List
A 4.4% growth in the TIF Grand List
7% increase in local option taxes
Increase in investment income, ambulance revenue and permitting fees
Contractual COLA of 2.8% and step increases
New Child Care Contribution payroll tax
Health insurance increase of 16.4% (due to a high claims year)
Other insurances up 8%
The General Fund Total Budget would result in a 4.8% tax increase. This would mean an
additional $66.00 a year for an average condo and $98.00 a year for the average single
family home. With added expenses factored in, the total increase would be 8.2%,
resulting in $ 119.00 a year for the average condo and $176.00 for the average single
family home. Ms. Baker noted that less than $1,000,000 of the budget increase would be
paid for by the current taxpayers.
Some of the budget highlights include:
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Restoring DPW Highway position
Restoring the Youth Services Officer
Full implementation of the second ambulance
New Library position (19 hours a week)
Community Justice person increased from half-time to full-time position
$30,000 to Illuminate Vermont
$20,000 to start a Downtown Association to include both UMall and the Blue
Mall
Ms. Baker then reviewed significant changes in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as
follows:
$10,000 increase for Public Art
Restore $60,000 to City Center Reserve
Fire State alterations ($95,000)
$150,000 for paving
Market Street/Hinesburg Road traffic signal ($ 100,000)
$30,000 for traffic calming
$60,000 for sidewalk assessment and improvement
$100,000 for school safety needs at Dorset Street
Partial funding for Compact Wheel Loader for City Center maintenance (a smaller
loader which can access smaller spaces, to be funded over 2 years)
Ms. Baker then showed the FY25 Climate Policy Budget which totals $607,000.00. It
includes one full-time employee. It is hoped this person will find grant money to reduce
some of the costs. Mr. Chalnick questioned whether window replacement was a
maintenance or climate expense. Ms. Quallen said any difference in cost in upgrading to
a climate-related cost is included here. There is an additional cost to energy efficient
windows, and that capital cost is reflected.
Ms. Baker stressed that this is the smallest amount of money that will be needed to
implement the Climate Action plans which will fund between $2,000,000 and
$10,000,000 in the next few years. The city needs to start building for that now.
Ms. Baker then showed the budget for use of ARPA funds including funding for the
Hinesburg Road/Market Street traffic light ($350,000), Parks Master Plan ($125,000) and
Hinesburg Road shared use path ($200,000). There is still $2,100,000 of ARPA fund not
yet allocated.
(Ms. Emery arrived at the meeting at this point)
Mr. Barritt asked what happened to health care costs. Ms. Baker said in recent years, they
have been below the market increase (6-8%),but this was a very high claims year. Ms.
Baker will put together a few years of past data for the Council. She noted that provider
costs are also increasing.
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Staff is recommending a bond issue of$5,200,000 for the second water tank.
Emerging issues include:
Parking fund
Rental registry fund
Possible funding for a Recreation Center
Potential funding for building and geothermal position of Climate Action Plan
575-577 Dorset Street costs
City Plan 2024 adoption
Negotiations with Fire, Library and Police
Hard to fill positions in Police Department and CDL drivers
Emerging mental health and substance needs of neighbors.
Ms. Baker then reviewed the budget schedule as follows:
15 December—Budget Retreat
18 December—City Council Budget Discussion
2 January 2024—City Council Budget Discussion
16 January 2024—Public hearing on FY25 Budget
22 January 2024—Steering Committee Budget Presentations
4 March 2024—Town Meeting Budget Presentations
5 March 2024—Town Meeting Day Vote
Ms. Baker asked members what additional information they might need. Mr. Chalnick
said he would like to see budget increases from previous years and the CPI
Discuss the City Plan 2024 and vote to warn a public hearing on 2 January at 7:00
p.m.:
Mr. Conner noted that the Plan has been revised to address Council change requests. He
noted that a planned park along the Winooski River had been missed and has been
added. He also reminded members that they had wanted to change the title of one map
to "vehicular improvements" ; staff is suggesting"roadway improvements."
Ms. Riehle said the Planning Commission Chair felt all the changes made by the Council
were good ones.
Mr. Chalnick suggested that on p. 36,Action 43, be changed to read "create a city tree
regulation that addresses tree protection in coordination with development." He also
asked to add to action 54, following the word "possible," "...including updates to the
City's noise Ordinance."
On p. 18, Mr. Chalnick felt the data was incomplete and distorts the picture of the city.
He challenged whether there are 18,000 jobs in the city (as stated in the Plan) or 11,000
which was a figure from a survey. He felt this gave a skewed view of the housing
shortage. Following a break to allow for some research, Mr. Conner said both numbers
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were "correct." He showed the census data and said this is probably more reliable than
the survey cited by Mr. Chalnick.
Mr. Barritt noted that the city's vacancy rate is at 1% which he felt is a better indicator of
the housing problem. There are statements from 2 major employers who cannot get
workers because of housing issues.
Mr. Britt raised a question on p. 46 regarding speeds on Hinesburg Road south of I-89.
Mr. Conner said those changes can be made. Mr. Britt said a crosswalk is not feasible
there because of the speeds of vehicles. Mr. Silverstein agreed and said he would not
favor a crosswalk at DuBois Drive.
Mr. Silverstein asked about increases in utilities costs. Ms. Baker said there will be
increases for each fund (3.1% for water, 8.3% for sewer, and 9.5% for stormwater.
Mr. Silverstein questioned the use of heat pumps to address the fossil fuel issue. He said
the primary fuel source for the company that provides the New England grid is natural
gas. What Green Mountain Power purchases is not what is the electricity delivered to his
home. The electric grid in Vermont would collapse if it were not hooked up to the New
England grid. At least 40-50% of the electricity is derived from fossil fuels. The major
concern now is whether there is enough natural gas capacity to get through the winter.
Mr. Conner then showed the proposed language to address Mr. Britt's concerns regarding
Hinesburg Road.
Ms. Emery moved to warn a public hearing on the City Plan 2024 for 2 January 2024, at
7 p.m. with the changes made at this meeting. Mr. Chalnick seconded. Motion passed
unanimously.
Consider discontinuing Picard Circle and set a site inspection date for 16 January
2024 at 3:00 p.m. and a Public Hearing date for 16 January 2024 at 8:00 p.m.:
Mr. DiPietro noted that in 2019, DPW did a project on Picard Circle, installing an
infiltration system and then grassing it over. There are no longer any homes there.
VTrans has reached out as to whether the city followed up with discontinuing that road.
Mr. DiPietro said they missed that step. Discontinuing the road requires an on-site
inspection by the Council and a public hearing. The Airport is the only abutter, and they
will be notified.
Mr. Barritt moved to set a public inspection of Picard Circle for 3 p.m. on 16 January
2024 and a public hearing at 8 p.m. on 16 January 2024. Mr. Chalnick seconded. Motion
passed unanimously.
Discuss the Tax Increment Financing Winter Bond Pool application and approve
the preparation of the materials:
Ms. Baker directed attention to the TIF information which includes "known quantities"
and what the city will need to develop in the TIF district in order not to put a tax burden
on the taxpayers. She stressed that the most conservative numbers were used. Ms. Riehle
asked if there is enough land for all the development needed to break even. Ms.
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Blanchard said there is. Mr. Chalnick asked whether this is what was thought to be
needed. Ms. Riehle said it is.
Ms. Blanchard noted that other potential revenue sources for the bridge are not included
in the figures. The city believes this is a regional asset and that there should be additional
funding sources. Ms. Baker said the required units would not have to be residential; they
could be commercial/retail. Ms. Blanchard said some parcels are on Dorset Street and
would have great exposure for retail. Ms. Baker said the city is meeting several times a
month with developers who want to do business in City Center.
Ms. Blanchard said the aim is to present the Council with a model or "knowns" and
"unknowns" so it can be part of the year-to-year financial planning. There will be another
set of decisions at the end of the TIF when the money rolls back to the State education
fund.
Ms. Riehle moved to approve applying for the development of a winter bond. Mr. Barritt
seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Other Business:
Mr. Barritt noted that the Dorset/Kennedy signal change is working very well. Mr.
DiPietro said there are 2 types of detection now, and the light can change when the
system sees a car coming. When the project is complete, there will be communication
between signals. More of the work will continue during the school holiday.
Consider entering executive session for the purpose of discussing the negotiating or
securing of real estate purchase or lease options and specifically the Long property:
Mr. Barritt moved that the Council meet in Executive Session for the purpose of
discussing the negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options relating to
the Long property, inviting into the session Ms. Baker, Chief Locke, Mr. Conner, and Mr.
McNeil. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously
The Council entered executive session at 9:20 p.m.
Following the Executive Session, as there was no further business to come before the
Council Mr. Barritt moved to adjourn. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:18 p.m.
Clerk
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