City Council

4 7 southburlington VERMONT MINUTES CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 4 August 2025, at 6: 30 p. m., in the Auditorium, 180 Market Street, and by Zoom remote participation. MEMBERS PRESENT: T. Barritt, Chair; E. Fitzgerald, L. Smith, A. Chalnick, A. Pugh ALSO PRESENT: J. Baker, City Manager; Chief S. Locke, Deputy City Manager; I. Blanchard, Community Development Director; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; T. DiPietro, Public Works Director; R. Fischer, Water Quality Superintendent; E. Quallen, Deputy Director of Capital Projects; P. Wehman, Rental Registry Manager; D. Saladino, K. Sentoff, C. Trombley, N. Senecal, Housing Committee; B. Sirvis, R. Doyle, A. Judge, 1. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 2. Instructions on exiting building in case of emergency and review of technology options: 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: No changes were made to the Agenda. 4. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda: There were no public comments or questions. PAGE 1  5. Councilors Reports from Committee Assignments and City Manager' s Report: Council members reported on recent meetings and events they had attended. Ms. Baker: Welcomed the new Acting Superintendent of Schools Excited to welcome Chief William Breault the newly appointed Chief of Police. Ms. Baker noted Chief Breault stood out among all the candidates. Ms. Baker also expressed gratitude to Acting Chief Briscoe. The City of Burlington is the only provider in the new Restorative Justice System for 2027. Discussions are underway as to what this will look like. The bid opening for the Bike/ Ped Bridge will be on 11 August. Erin Davidson is the new Children' s Librarian. Interviews have begun for a new Library Director to replace Jennifer Murray who is retiring. Committee liaison appointments will be on the next agenda. 6. Consent Agenda: a. Consider and Sign Disbursements b. Approve a Contract with Shenk Enterprises for construction of the Airport Parkway Wastewater Treatment Facility ( WWTF) Solids Handling Upgrade project c. Approve the contract with Hoyle Tanner & Associates for the construction phase engineering work that is part of the Bartlett Bay WWTF project d. Authorize the pre- qualification of the consultants in the respective project categories outlined in the Consultant Section List as presented for FY26- FY29 Department of Public Works projects e. Authorize the City Manager to accept and record all documents necessary to adopt a portion of land dedicated as a public right- of-way, commonly known as Garden Street, running from Dorset Street approximately 384 feet east, as well as all necessary easements pertaining thereto, upon final review and approval of the City Attorney CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 PAGE 2  f. Award the Construction contract for the Farrell Dog Park Improvements to Engineer' s Construction, Inc., and authorize the Deputy Director of Capital Projects to sign the contract g. Request from the Public Art Committee to authorize the Williston Road Streetscape public art budget be combined with the Garden Street public art budget for public art that may be located within the Garden Street project limits h. Approve Resolution # 2025- 16 updating the stop sign resolution to add a four- way stop at Market Street and Garden Street i. Approve adoption of VT Alert as a public notification system for emergency situations Ms. Fitzgerald asked about item " c" and what is in the budget and what amendments are in the budget. Mr. DiPietro said all items are still within the allocated budget. Mr. DiPietro was asked if the Public Works Department is comfortable with Shenk as they don' t appear to have a website. Mr. DiPietro said Shenk has done work for the City before and have the kind of workers to do the needed work. Ms. Pugh asked if all the " red crossouts" in item " f" have a reason other than financial. Ms. Quallen said they are just financial, and the project is not changing. The work is being done by the city and will involve parking lot and access road paving. There will be striped parking spaces. Mr. Chalnick then moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Receive a request from the Housing Committee to amend the criteria for use of the Housing Trust Fund and possibly take action: Mr. Trombley and Ms. Senecal explained that the Committee wants more flexibility in the types of projects they can fund. Burlington funds up to 100% of AMI, Montpelier up to 120%. This will increase the number of projects that can be funded. It also will help a larger population as in a project that involves home ownership the AMI is looked at. Members agreed to have this on the Consent Agenda for the next Council meeting. CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 PAGE 3  8. Possibly approve an agreement between the City of South Burlington and the South Burlington City Center Collaborative to support City Center, and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement between the entities in substantially the same form as attached: Ms. Blanchard said this is the culmination of a decade of work. The Collaborative is ready to get to the work of being a" downtown board." The Agreement was unanimously approved by the Collaborative Board. It includes performance evaluation. They would operate under the Main Street rubric and would make City Center a place people want to be. Ms. Blanchard noted this is a much narrower scope than SBBA and is focused on thedowntown area. It involves holding events. Ms. Fitzgerald noted there had been mention of a survey of City Center residents. She asked if this has happened. Ms. Blanchard said it is not in this year' s objectives. Ms. Baker said this is an exceptionally big step for City Center and a big deal for the community. Ms. Pugh moved to approve the Agreement as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Continuation of a First Reading of LDR ( Land Development Regulations)- 25- 01 to LDR- 25- 07 and OM ( Official Map)- 25- 01 from the Planning Commission and possibly warn a public hearing for 2 September 2025 at 7: 00 p. m. This series of proposed changes to the City' s LDRs ( zoning & subdivision), approved by the Planning Commission, includes: updates to the regulations in the City Center area to streamline the review process, allow more flexibility in design, increase allowed heights, and plans for future public infrastructure; consolidating " use" categories in commercial areas of the City; setting requirements for bedrock removal & on- site processing; and technical improvements throughout: Mr. Chalnick asked if the Council can adjust one piece of the proposed amendments. Mr. Conner said the Council can make a change. He precise explained the process. CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 PAGE 4 Mr. Chalnick proposed changing what is proposed for the area northeast of the Double Tree ( Centennial Woods area). Mr. Conner showed a map of the current zoning and identified the habitat block. Mr. Chalnick said the change he proposes would not allow 12- story buildings adjacent to Centennial Woods as this is a jewel of the park system. He would have the zoning revert to current zoning. Mr. Conner noted that would allow up to 7 stories with all the bonuses. Mr. Barritt said he sees Mr. Chalnick' s point. There is nothing at 12 stories now. One and 2 stories are allowed in Burlington properties and 4 to 6 in South Burlington in that area. Ms. Fitzgerald said they were told this is a " forward looking" view with an intent to focus on providing density in areas that could support it. Her question is whether there should be a concern with height in such an area as this. Mr. Conner said the San Remo Drive area is also T- 4 which would allow 135 ft. maximum. Any property within 150 feet of a low-scale neighborhood is limited to 5 stories. He showed on a map where this applies and where it does not. Ms. Fitzgerald said she thought 12 stories was too high next to schools. Her concern is one of light as school windows are very narrow and possibly of safety. Mr. Smith favored the higher coverage going vertical" as " is the way to meet both housing and conservation goals. He didn' t think 12 stories would affect the wildlife or interfere with views. He asked if UVM has expressed an interest in taller buildings. Mr. Conner recalled that an application a year ago for taller buildings was removed for a number of reasons, but UVM has not shown opposition to taller buildings. Mr. Barritt said he agrees with Mr. Chalnick, 7 stories maximum. He noted there are height maximums to protect lower scale housing but nothing to protect forests. He did not want to exceed the height of the tree canopy. Mr. Smith said he would agree to 7 stories on the " peninsula" and 12 behind Double Tree. Mr. Barritt asked if that line can be drawn. Mr. Conner explained the options. He did not recommend leaving that " peninsula" as an island. He drew a possibility on the map. He suggested language to say that height outside the transit overlay district is the same as the residences ( 5 stories). CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 PAGE 5 Ms. Sirvis said she agreed with not exceeding the height of the tree canopy. She didn' t want someone going in there and removing all the trees. She noted that Market Street doesn' t look anything like what envisioned. people There is very little place to walk. Mr. Doyle noted the UVM project failed because of costs. He noted that a highway cuts through Centennial Woods. He felt taller buildings are more appropriate. Mr. Conner showed some potential language and said his choice would be: " No building outside of the transit overlay district shall exceed seven stories." Another option would be to leave that area outside of the Form Based Code area and ask the Planning Commission to look at it. Ms. Pugh said it was brought to her attention that the LDRs appear to allow jackhammering, blasting, etc., at any and all times. Mr. Conner said on the LDR side, anything that exceeds 40 hours of bedrock removal comes under the new level of review. Anything in an already approved project is under the Nuisance Ordinance. Mr. Chalnick moved to warn a public hearing for 2 September 2025 at 7: 00 p. m., for LDR- 25- 01 through LDR- 25- 07 and Official Map OM- 25- 01, except that the area presently zoned as High Scale Mixed Use north of Williston Road shall remain zoned High Scale Mixed Use with direction to the Planning Commission to further consider building heights in that area. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed 4- 1 with Ms. Fitzgerald opposing. 10. Receive the long- term Exit 14 Scoping Study and possibly endorse Alternative A as presented: Ms. Quallen reviewed the history Mr. Saladino then explained the nature of a scoping study: to develop purpose and need, to provide alternatives, and to engage public input. He showed the Purpose and Need Statement which includes safety, efficiency and future mobility needs. He also noted this is the busiest Interchange in Vermont as it is the primary access for both the City of Burlington and the City of South Burlington. Mr. Saladino noted that traffic on 1- 89 north of Exit 14 grew 12% between 2000 and 2019 ( it dropped during COVID). An 8% growth is anticipated between 2025 CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 PAGE 6 and 2044. There is not as much pressure to do something with the Interchange as there had been before the pandemic as more people are now working from home. This is not unique to South Burlington. During the morning peak hour 70% of traffic is exiting at this Exit and 30% are entering 1- 89. In the evening peak hour, 40% of traffic is exiting and 60% is entering. Between 2019 and 2023, there was a total of 369 crashes with no fatalities, one with a cyclist and one with a pedestrian. Mr. Saladino showed a map indicating biking and walking facilities in the area. He noted it is not very accommodating for cyclists. Mr. Saladino then showed a map of identified issues including high crash areas and insufficient ramp lengths, uncontrolled bike/ ped ramp crossings, tightly spaced signals at the northbound off ramp and at Dorset Street. There are also tight weaving sections with cars jostling for space as other cars speed by. Ms. Sontoff then provided a recommendation of Exit 14 recommendations as follows: Immediate: Enhanced crossings ( she showed a map of this, to be done in 2025). Short Term ( 2027): RRFB signs and enhanced crossings, working with a VTrans project ( Ms. Sontoff showed pictures and a map of what this would look like). Middle Term ( 17- 12 years): A median shared use path and off-ramp realignment; realigned ramps and shared use paths on both sides; realigned ramps and asymmetrical Ms. Sontoff showed pictures of these options, indicating paths. more stacking space for Dorset Street, coupled with a median shared use path separated from traffic. Long Term Options ( 20+ years): Three options were shown as follows: a. Compressed diamond b. Diverging diamond c. Single point diamond Mr. Chalnick commented that it almost looks like the City didn' t need the bike/ ped bridge. CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 PAGE 7 Ms. Fitzgerald said it looks like more complexity is being added in one of the highest areas for accidents. Ms. Sontoff said they don' t think it shifts the safety implications seriously. Ms. Fitzgerald said it also doesn' t look " welcoming." with proposed concrete barriers and potential fencing. Mr. Chalnick said that with the bike/ ped bridge, it didn' t seem to him that they need to spend another $ 5, 000, 000. Ms. Quallen said getting facility through the interchange was a priority. The proposal has 2 components, but both do not have to happen. The City can support one of the other. She felt that given the 7 to12 year options, this makes sense. Ms. Baker noted that in 7 years the City will have 4 years experience with the bike/ ped bridge. She felt this was an idea to keep in the conversation. Mr. Chalnick said the motion says funding to " pursue which sound opportunities," definite to him. Ms. Quallen said nothing in the motion says we have to do it; it says that if we do something, this is what we have to do. Mr. Smith said there will be very different circumstances 7 years from now. Ms. Sontoff showed what the 3 diamond alternatives would look like. They would require double left turn lanes for almost all movements. Costs would range from 59, 000, 000 for the diverging diamond to $ 70, 000, 000 for the compressed diamond, to $ 89, 000, 000 for the single point diamond. Ms. Sontoff noted that the committee rejected the single point diamond but to carry the other two forward as options. They also approved moving the short and medium term actions forward to address deficiency needs. Ms. Sontoff said the recommended actions at this meeting are to endorse Alternative A and begin to seek funding options and support advancing compressed diamond and diverging diamond long term alternatives for future study. Ms. Quallen noted that variations are possible within Alternative A. Mr. Doyle was OK with signage this year and RRFPs. He suggested looking more at this from the City' s point of view. He noted that in the Netherlands, there is total separation for pedestrian and bicycles. CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 PAGE 8 Mr. Chalnick then moved to advance the 1- 89 Exit 14E northbound off ramp realignment and direct staff to work with VTrans to fund the design and construction on an expedited time line. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Smith then moved to evaluate the median shared use path following the completion of the bicycle and pedestrian bridge and installation of the immediate and short term improvements. Mr. Chalnick seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Members were OK with future study of the 2 diamond options. Mr. Barritt said he wants exit 12B. 11. Receive a Report on Transfer of Development Rights in the City of South Burlington: Mr. Conner noted that in 2019 there were about 700 outstanding TDRs, 40% of which were owned by the Vermont Land Trusts. A few have been added or removed. Mr. Conner felt it is too soon to evaluate the new " tool." Mr. Chalnick said he would like an update in 6 months. 12. Convene as Liquor Control Commission to consider the following application for approval: Good Times Café, 1st/ 3rd Class Restaurant and Bar License: Mr. Chalnick moved to convene as Liquor Control Commission. Mr. Smith seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Chalnick moved to approve the 1St/ 3rd Class Restaurant/ Bar License for Good Times Café as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Chalnick moved to reconvene as City Council. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 13. Review the significant agenda items for the Council' s 18 August Council meeting: CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 PAGE 9  a. Presentation of Economic Development Strategic Plan and possible action b. Fire Department (Prevention Unit) Expansion Funding Plan 14. Other Business: Ms. Pugh asked to have a discussion of shared use paths and speeding on a future Agenda. As there was no further business to come before the Council Ms. Pugh moved to adjourn. Mr. Chalnick seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9: 45 p. m. Z,1,. tX - Clerk rz, CITY COUNCIL 4 AUGUST 2025 PAGE 10