City Council

l` southburlington VERMONT MINUTES CITY COUNCIL 1 DECEMBER 2025 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 1 December 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, A. Pugh ALSO PRESENT: J. Baker, City Manager; Chief S. Locke, Deputy City Manager and Fire Chief; H. Rees, City Clerk; C. McNeil, City Attorney; J. Pellerin, Deputy City Attorney; C. Corbin, Deputy Fire Chief; B. Breault, Police Chief; I Blanchard, Community Development Director; M. Machar, Finance Director; R. Donahey, Deputy Finance Director; T. DiPietro, Public Works Director; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; N. Gingrow, IT Director; A. Matth, Recreation & Parks Director; M. Sousa, HR Manager; B. Miguez, Climate Action Manager; B. Drapa, Library Director; A. Dabrowski, Data Manager; N. Anderson; S. Lyman; S. Yerby 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 comments or questions from the public. PAGE 1  5. Councilors Announcements and Reports on Committee Assignments and City Manager' s Report: Councilors reported on meetings and events they had attended in recent weeks. Ms. Baker: The Steering Committee will meet on 21 January to share budgets, 6: 00 p. m. at the School Department. Two more Firefighters have been certified as Paramedics, and more are in the process. The Police Department will be migrating to a . gov format. The public will have free access to the New York Times as of the 24th in the Library. The Library is now fully staffed. Sunday hours will begin in January. The Recreation Department will be hosting a conference on 9 December regarding ideas for programming. There will be a public meeting on 4 December, 5: 30 p. m., regarding the Parks and Open Space Master Plan. 6. Consent Agenda: a. Consider and Sign Disbursements b. Approve the Garden Street Plowing Agreement c. Approve the South Dattilio Drive Plowing Agreement d. Receive the October Financials e. Approve the presented changes to the 2025 Grand List under the Errors & Omissions provisions as outlined in Title 32 of the Vermont State Statutes Mr. Chalnick moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Ms. Fitzgerald seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. FY27 Budget: Receive the City Manager' s Proposed FY27 City Budget: CITY COUNCIL 1 DECEMBER 2025 PAGE 2 Ms. Baker recognized all the Department Heads who contributed to the proposed budget. She asked Council members to consider 3 questions: Are there options to turn on/ off? What is missing? What additional information would be needed over the next 6 weeks? Ms. Baker then provided some demographic information related to City government including: a. 195 employees b. 14 departments c. 130 volunteers d. 8 City buildings Ms. Baker then reviewed the City Council budget goals outlined in the meeting of 15 September: a. 3. 3%goal b. Use one- time funds for one- time projects c. Review the two " Pennies" accounts d. New policy initiatives The proposed services budget shows a 2. 5% increase, and the policy budget shows a 1% increase. Budget assumptions include: a. 1. 5% Grand List Growth b. Maintaining all current services and programs c. 20% growth in TIF district d. Contractual COLA and step increases e. Health insurance f. Increase in partner costs: 5% CWD purchase of water 6% GMT assessment g. Updated statistics for administrative costs h. Aggressive non- property tax projections ( interest earned, etc.) Included in the proposed budget are: a. New committee stipends ($ 30, 000 budgeted) b. General Fund support for Community Justice System c. Aligned Community Outreach Team funding with new multi- year contract d. Tree care increase of$ 16, 000 e. 1. 45% to both " Pennies" accounts CITY COUNCIL 1 DECEMBER 2025 PAGE 3 Budget reductions include: a. Trimmed all requested operating budgets b. Crossing guard reimbursement c. Move to Al minutes in January 2027 d. Zeroed out Social Service funding in anticipation of more directed use of opioid settlement funds ( City now has $ 297, 000) With this proposed budget, the owner of an average condo would pay $ 40. 00 in property taxes for the year, and the owner of an average homeowner would pay 60. 00 more. Ms. Baker noted that a 1% increase in the Grand List raises $ 283, 629. One penny on the tax rate raises $ 442, 562. Ms. Baker then outlined policy initiatives including: a. Adding a person for City Center vibrancy and cemeteries b. Adding a person to implement the adopted Economic Development Strategic Plan This would bring the budget to 3. 51% One- time expenses options include: a. Re- addressing to meet an E911 need b. Social service funding c. Modernizing the self-checkout machines in the Library d. GMT consulting ( future route planning e. Cost to implement the EDSP ( strategic plan) f. SB3C additional request Mr. Chalnick expressed concern with the SB3C request for additional funds. Ms. Pugh noted it is only $ 20, 000. Mr. Chalnick said he had hoped the balance would start to shift. Mr. Smith added that they have a lot of exciting momentum. He would like to see business plan projections so the City can know how things are progressing. With regard to the E911 re- addressing need, Chief Locke said some addresses are non E911 compliant. Numbering is incorrect in some complexes with many people sharing the same number. This is a safety issue, and the State has been after the City to do this for some time. Mr. Conner said that in some pre- 1990 CITY COUNCIL 1 DECEMBER 2025 PAGE 4 building in some neighborhoods, addresses start with a letter. He added that with infill projects, there may be more of this. Chief Locke said there will probably be negotiations with some property owners. Mr. Conner said the Land Records will have to be updated as well. Ms. Rooks ask if they just can' t say " 3A." Mr. Conner said there is a strict State system with City must comply with. Ms. Baker reminded Council members that they can allocate one-time funds any time during the year. Ms. Baker reviewed the 10- year Capital Improvement Plan as presented. Enterprise Funds: Rates are proposed to increase as follows: Stormwater - $ 6. 00/ year Wastewater - $ 38. 10/ year Water - $ 30. 88/ year The total General Fund Budget projection is $ 37, 184, 271. 93. Ms. Baker showed a pie chart of how this money is raised including: a. Property taxes — 64% b. Local option taxes — 15% c. Ambulance service — 5% d. Library, administrative services — 6% e. City Clerk — 1% f. Public Works - $ 3% g. Fees/ inspections — 3% There is a proposed vote on a general obligation bond in the amount of 2, 300, 000 to address needs of the prevention team requiring the expansion of Fire Station # 1. The bond will be funded by a capital assessment fee and fund balance from the Rental Registry. Ms. Baker then reviewed emerging issues in the city: a. Mental health/ substance use b. Transition of the Community Justice Center to Burlington c. Significant capital funding moving to construction ( e. g., wastewater treatment, Garden Street, the bike- ped bridge) CITY COUNCIL 1 DECEMBER 2025 PAGE 5  d. An indoor recreation center e. Planned leadership transition f. Completion of Parks/ Open Space Master Plan g. Creation of parking fund h. Implementation of Economic Development Plan Mr. Chalnick said he would like to hit 3. 3% and suggested deferring some of the CIP. 8. General Government Presentation: Ms. Baker outlined successes of the past year including: a. New permitting software b. New finance system c. Management of data system d. Focus on parcel data e. Clean audit f. Two bargaining unit contracts g. Launching of new website h. 6 electric vehicles to the fleet Emerging issues include: a. Creation of parking fund b. Planned leadership transition c. Growth management planning to kick off in 2026 d. City clerk and election support e. Implementing Net Suite Planning & Budgeting module and perhaps others in the future 9. Discuss integrating the Safe Routes to School Task Force with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and possibly take action: Mr. Anderson cited the benefit of keeping member of the Task Force as they will be familiar with issues. They did not want to have them as a subcommittee. To achieve this, the by- laws were adjusted, and everybody is on board with the results. Mr. Chalnick moved to approve Resolution 25- 23 integrating the South Burlington Safe Routes to School Task Force with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. Mr. Smith seconded. The motion passed unanimously. CITY COUNCIL 1 DECEMBER 2025 PAGE 6  10. Review the draft South Burlington City Center TIF District Substantial Change application to the Vermont Economic Progress Council and consider holding a public hearing on 5 January 2026 at 7: 00 p. m. for the purposes of considering the Substantial Change application: Ms. Blanchard explained that the change is to address cost increases seen in the bridge project. This will allow flexibility as " real" costs are received. The intention is to use the $ 2, 000, 000 of Garden Street funding as a last resort with the hope not to need to use it. Mr. Chalnick moved to approve the warning for a public hearing on 5 January 2026 at 7: 00 p. m. for the purpose of considering the Substantial Change application to the Vermont Economic Progress Council. Ms. Fitzgerald seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Blanchard noted an attached letter for the City Manager to send to the Vermont Agency of Transportation regarding programming. 11. Convene as Liquor Control Commission to consider the following application for approval: Kilhullen LLC ( dba Sugarsnap) 1St. Class Liquor License: Mr. Chalnick moved that the Council convene as Liquor Control Commission. Ms. Fitzgerald seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Chalnick moved to approve the application of Kilhullen LLC as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Chalnick moved to reconvene as City Council. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 12. Review the significant agenda topics for the Council' s next regular Council Meeting on 15 December 2025: a. FY27 Budget - Police Department presentation b. FY27 Budget - Council discussion c. FY27 Budget - Warn Public Hearing on the FY27 Budget d. Hold a Bond Necessity Hearing on the expansion of Fire Station 1 for the Fire Prevention Unit CITY COUNCIL 1 DECEMBER 2025 PAGE 7  13. Other Business: Ms. Pugh noted she has been contacted regarding signage on roads ( i. e., street signs). The road into the O' Brien development off Kennedy Drive has no lights and no street sign. It leads to two 6- story buildings. There is a similar situation with streets around City Center. Ms. Baker read Mr. DiPietro' s response explaining the sign procedure. He will look into the O' Brien issue. Mr. Smith asked for an update on the food being served at the entrance to Goose Park. Ms. Baker said permit as been applied for. no The City is attempting to partner with them. Mr. Smith said the concern is about the message and the perception. Ms. Baker said Chief Breault is looking at tools regarding safety in City Center and is work with service providers. Aggressive enforcement is not appropriate now. Mr. Smith felt it will become a bigger issue as time goes on. Mr. Chalnick asked if the group needs a permit. Ms. Baker said there is no way to enforce the need for a permit. They are not there regularly. As there was no further business to come before the Council Mr. Smith moved to adjourn. Mr. Chalnick seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8: 44 p. m. Clerk S4A. < CITY COUNCIL 1 DECEMBER 2025 PAGE 8