City Council

0114 Ah. Orr southburlington VERMONT City Council March 17, 2025 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 17 March 2025, at 6: 30 p. m., in the Auditorium, 180 Market Street, and by Zoom. MEMBERS PRESENT: T. Barritt, Chair; E. Fitzgerald, L. Smith, A. Chalnick, M. Scanlan ALSO PRESENT: J. Baker, City Manager; Chief S. Locke, Deputy City Manager; M. Machar, Finance Director; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; T. DiPietro, Public Works Director; T. Cairns, W. MacKinnon, C. Cooper, R. Doyle, B. Sirvis, B. Wilke 1. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 2. 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. 3. Additions, deletions or changes in the order of Agenda items: Mr. Smith asked to add a discussion of the proposal from the University of Pennsylvania regarding a study of growth management. This was added as item 10B. 4. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda: Mr. Wilke, a resident of Laurel Hill, spoke regarding the pickleball courts at Szymanski Park. He said a group of South Burlington residents that had been using those courts have been " displaced" by people not from South Burlington who " took over" and sent their group away. Since then, members of their group have experienced rude behavior towards residents and their children. Their group now goes to Shelburne to play. Mr. Wilke said there should be guidelines established for the use of the courts. Page 1 Another resident noted that from April to November they have to " change our lives" because of noise from the pickleball courts. She hoped they could be moved to a better location. 5. Councilor Announcements and City Manager' s Report: Council members reported on recent meetings and events they had attended. Ms. Baker: Animal licenses are due on 31 March. On 8 April, the Economic Development Committee will be hosting an all- committee meeting All members of the Police Chief Search Committee have now been confirmed, and staff is working on a recruitment brochure. There will be public listening sessions in April. Mr. Conner continues to work with CCRPC designing the City's Future Land Use Map in with Act 181. compliance It is anticipated that the Map will be released this week. The City Council will be discussing it at a future meeting. Public Works is bidding out the Mary Street sidewalk and City Center boardwalk projects. It is anticipated that the contractor will be on site for the City's new water tank in April. The tank should be on- line by next May. Plans for the Bartlett BayTreatment Plant upgrade are being reviewed. The Recreation Department is planning 16 summer camps for children this year. 6. Consent Agenda: a. Consider and Sign Disbursements b. Receive the fiscal year 2025 Quarter 2, January 2025, and February 2025 Financials c. Approve the lease extension, MOU for public skating, andThird Party Agreement with DPSA for the Cairns Arena and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents d. Approve a 2- year extension of the Auditing Services Contract with RHR Smith & Company for FY25 and FY26 and authorize the execution of such contract upon review and approval of the City Attorneys e. Approve a State of Vermont Class 2 Roadway Grant to pave Cheesefactory Road City Council Meeting March 17, 2025 I Page 2  f. Approve and award of South Burlington FY26 Annual Paving Program contract to Pike Industries g. Approve a Municipal Planning Grant application for the Vision of Strategic Growth in South Burlington' s Southwest Area Ms. Baker noted that the Cairns are wholly responsible for repairs to the Cairns Rink. She also noted the contract extension is from 2040 to 2050. Mr. Cairns said the repairs are for Rink 2. The total cost is $ 900, 000 which will be amortized over 20 years ( which is the reason for the contract extension). The rink will be shut down during the summer months. Mr. Cooper, Co- Manager of the Cairns Rink, said the floor under the rink has to be removed so that piping can be replaced. The system is 25 years old, and they have already had a failure. Mr. Chalnick asked if staff is comfortable with financial revenue projections for the city. Ms. Machar said it looks like the city may get a little less than anticipated in 2025 from local option taxes. Mr. Scanlan noted the potential downturn impact on the local tourist industry due to recent national developments. Ms. Machar said they have not yet analyzed that. Mr. Scanlan said " when facing headwinds, prudence is advisable" Mr. DiPietro said he would have a full report on paving at the next meeting. They received a very good price and will lock that in. Mr. Smith noted the email from Mr. Doyle regarding problems with paving. Mr. DiPietro said he hadn' t seen that email but will look into it. Ms. Fitzgerald asked about the $ 19, 000 regarding a stormwater project. Ms. Machar said that is grant- funded. Ms. Fitzgerald asked about the shortfall in Planning & Zoning. Ms. Machar said they are beginning to see more activity now than in the past 6 months though inquiries have not yet resulted in permit requests. Mr. Conner said they are seeing an " uptick" now. He said the shortfall could be addressed by increasing the fees for permits and applications. He felt there probably would be a shortfall, but they will know more in a few months. Mr. Smith moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Mr. Chalnick seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Discussion on " Conversation with a Counselor": Ms. Baker noted that staff has worked with the Library and Recreation Departments as to where there could be a table for Council members to hear from the public. There would also be some " regular" conversations scheduled. Members were in agreement with this plan. City Council Meeting March 17, 2025 I Page 3  8. Consider amending the allocation process to award FY25 Social Services funding and provide direction to staff: Ms. Machar directed attention to provide information on the new process. Forms will be sent out to organizations, and the Council will review them and make funding decisions. Ms. Machar noted there have been inquiries from organizations that have not previously received funding. Ms. Fitzgerald moved to approve the new process for awarding Social Services funding. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Discuss and approve the Annual Review of the City Manager: Mr. Barritt read the document outlining the process. He noted that Ms. Baker received the highest ratings and complimentary comments. Her current contract is through June 2026. Ms. Fitzgerald praised Ms. Baker' s efforts to get the three new councilors " up to speed" Mr. Scanlan moved to approve the Annual Review of the City Manager. Ms. Fitzgerald seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Review Agenda Topics for 7 April 2025 City Council Agenda: Ms. Baker said topics will include a report from the Climate Action Manager and an update to the water heating ordinance, an update on the EquityTool Kit from the Planning Department, and an update on the Rental Registry Program. There is also a possible concern with the undergrounding of utility lines and the ordinance requiring this. 10B. University of Pennsylvania Growth Management Proposal: Mr. Smith said the process has been going on since last fall. He contacted Professor Daniels last September after reading about it in the N. Y. Times. He has completed work in the Barre- Montpelier area and suggested that he and his students might be willing to do a studio for South Burlington at no cost. Ms. Baker noted this was a topic the Council chose to work on at the Policies and Strategies retreat. There should be a conversation about what a growth management program is. The Council would have to be on board with a university approach rather than a staff approach. Ms. Fitzgerald said she saw it as a way to augment what staff is doing. She felt it was inaccurate to put it on the same level as other consultant- led projects. She had not City Council Meeting March 17, 2025 I Page 4 anticipated that staff would be asked to do Ms. Baker said if the City is partnering more. with them, staff is going to do the same work/ analyses. Ms. Fitzgerald said she has reservations about this unless it is to flesh out some specificity. Mr. Chalnick said the only decision now is whether Ms. Baker should get some information together so the Council can have a full discussion at the retreat. Mr. Smith said he didn' t anticipate doing anything before the retreat. He said Professor Daniels and his students did an impressive amount of work for the other communities. He has also lived in South Burlington and attended the city' s schools. Mr. Smith said he would send members the Barre- Montpelier link. 11. Convene as Liquor Control Commission to consider the following applications for approval: DoubleTree Hotel: 1st Class Liquor License, 2nd Class Liquor License, 3' d Class Liquor License, and Outside Consumption Permit; Olive Garden Restaurant# 1520: 1st Class Restaurant/ Bar License and 3' d Class Restaurant/ Bar License; Walgreens: Tobacco Substitute Endorsement; Vermont Pool & Bar: 1st Class Liquor License, 3' d Class Liquor License, 1st Class Restaurant/ Bar License, 3' d Class Restaurant/ Bar License, Outside Consumption Permit; Sugarsnap LLC: 1st Class Commercial Caterer License and 3' d Class Commercial Kitchen License: Mr. Scanlan moved to convene as Liquor Control Commission. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Smith moved to approve the applications for licenses as presented. Ms. Fitzgerald seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Smith moved to reconvene as City Council. Ms. Fitzgerald seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 12. Other Business: No other business was brought forth. As there was no further business to come before the Council Ms. Fitzgerald moved to adjourn. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7: 57 p. m. City Council Meeting March 17, 2025 I Page 5