City Council

27 WEST ALLEN STREET WINOOSKI, VERMONT 05404 (802) 655-6410 CITY OF WINOOSKI (802) 655-6414 (fax) KATHERINE R. DECARREAU CITY MANAGER MAYOR SETH LEONARD DEPUTY MAYOR BRIAN CORRIGAN mayor@winooskivt.org CITY COUNCIL COUNCILOR NICOLE MACE COUNCILOR ROBERT MILLAR COUNCILOR BRIAN SWEENEY Agenda Monday, March 21, 2016 6:00 p.m. Claire Burke Council Chambers I. Call To Order II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Accept Electronic Participation of Councilor Sweeney IV. Public Comment V. Consent Agenda a. Approval: Council Minutes of March 7, 2016 b. Approval: Warrants as of March 18, 2016 and Subsequent to Payout Warrants for January and February VI. City Update VII. Agenda Review VIII. Regular Items: a. Approval: Deputy Mayor Appointment – S. Leonard b. Approval: Conflict of Interest Policy, Council Policy, Procedures, Protocols, Liaisons c. Discussion: Winooski Hotel Group Design Presentation – A. Dubroff d. Discussion/Approval: Resolution Supporting VCDP Grant Application e. Discussion: Act 250 Co-Application f. Discussion: Permanent Easements for Hotel g. Discussion: City Lights 106 East Allen Street Design Presentation h. Discussion: F-35 Lawsuit Update and Filing i. Discussion: Annual Audit Contract IX. Adjourn MINUTES The budget presentation was called to order by the Mayor at 6:05pm. The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance led by former Deputy Mayor Corrigan. Minutes of March 21, 2016 Winooski City Council Page 1 of 5 www.winooskivt.org Members Present: Mayor Seth Leonard Councilors: Brian Corrigan, Nicole Mace, Robert Millar, Brian Sweeney (electronic attendance) Officers Present: Katherine Decarreau, City Manager; Angela Aldieri, Assistant City Clerk; Ray Coffey, Community Services Director; John Audy, Code Enforcement Director; Peter Wernsdorfer, Public Works Director Others Present: Doug Johnson, DRB; Andrew Bolduc, DRB; Amy Houghton, DRB; Harland Miller, DRB; Dave Marshall, Civil Engineering Associates; Stuart Birnbaum; Greg Rabideau, Rabideau Architects; Adam Dubroff, Winooski Hotel Group; Nate Dagesse, City Lights; Eileen Andreoli; Michael Mahoney; Brian Tarrant, MWG; III. Accept Electronic Participation of Councilor Sweeney MOTION by Councilor Mace, seconded by Councilor Millar to accept the electronic participation of Councilor Sweeney. Voted and passed 3-0. IV. Public Comment No public comment was made. V. Consent Agenda Due to initial technical set up Councilor Sweeney was not able to vote on the consent agenda presented. Councilor Millar noted that the minutes presented for approval do not have a motion to adjourn included. MOTION by Councilor Millar, seconded by Councilor Mace to pull the minutes from the consent agenda. Voted and passed 3-0. MOTION by Councilor Mace, seconded by Councilor Millar to approve the remaining consent agenda as presented. Voted and passed 3-0. V. City Update Ms. Decarreau requested to table this item until next week in the interest of time. VI. Agenda Review No changes were made to the agenda order. VII. Regular Items a. Approval: Deputy Mayor Appointment – S. Leonard Ms. Decarreau stated that historically the deputy mayor has been the most senior member of Council who received the most votes in the recent election. Minutes of March 21, 2016 Winooski City Council Page 2 of 5 www.winooskivt.org MOTION by Councilor Mace, seconded by Councilor Millar to nominate Brian Corrigan as Deputy Mayor. Voted and passed 4-0. b. Approval: Conflict of Interest Policy, Council Policy, Procedures, Protocols, Liaisons Ms. Decarreau stated that this was discussed at the last meeting and is required to be readopted. Approval of the charter changes at the state level may cause this document to be revised in the future. MOTION by Councilor Mace, seconded by Deputy Mayor Corrigan to approve the Conflict of Interest Policy, Council Policy, Procedures, Protocols and Liaisons as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. c. Discussion: Winooski Hotel Group Design Presentation – A. Dubroff Mayor Leonard recused himself from the Hotel discussion due to a personal conflict. Deputy Mayor Corrigan will preside. Members of the DRB present were invited to the front to be available for comment and questions regarding the project. Adam Dubroff, the hotel developer, was introduced to Council. Mr. Dubroff, Greg Rabideau of Rabideau Architects, and David Marshall of Civil Engineering Associates presented the proposed project. The proposal includes a Marriott brand suite type hotel product with a small restaurant. The architecture is traditional brick common to historic mill buildings with highlights to evoke Winooski’s industrial past. The roof height falls below the height allowable in the area. It was noted that the mechanicals will be screened from view as required. Discussion followed regarding solar compatibility and noise mitigation. Concern was expressed regarding the ability to receive deliveries with specific concerns regarding practicality, truck traffic, and safety. Additional apprehension regarding parking and the landscaping of the property were expressed. It was noted that a surface lot is being developed on Abenaki Way that would provide daytime spaces for employees and valet parking but that others would utilize public parking. Discussion regarding the Farmer’s Market occurred, but Ms. Decarreau noted that the market is held by another entity that would need to be involved in those decisions. Additional conversation about the ability to shut down Winooski Falls Way for events as has been done historically followed. Questions were raised regarding drainage and storm water issues on the site due to historical incidents. The plans for additional storm water infrastructure and drainage plans were outlined noting that the hotel would provide more protection than currently exists. Ms. Decarreau reviewed the history of the project that dates back to development agreements signed in 2004. She noted that the current project has been in the works since August of 2014 and has come before Council a number of times. The project has been designed within the context of those existing agreements. It was noted that this project will also go through Act 250 review. Discussion regarding project funding and the necessity of the VCDP grant funding followed. It was stated that the hotel would create 30-35 full time equivalent positions in the City. Minutes of March 21, 2016 Winooski City Council Page 3 of 5 www.winooskivt.org Ms. Decarreau summarized that the outstanding questions to be addressed at or before the next meeting are parking, the exterior and landscaping, and the plan for deliveries which may be integrated into easement documents. Consensus of the Council was these were the outstanding issues. d. Discussion/Approval: Resolution Supporting VCDP Grant Application Ms. Decarreau stated this is a generic resolution giving access to the application process and appoints Diane Meyerhoff a consultant for Adam Dubroff as the point of contact. Terms of the loan agreement would still be discussed. MOTION by Councilor Mace, seconded by Councilor Millar to approve the VCDP Grant Application Resolution as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. e. Discussion: Act 250 Co-Application Ms. Decarreau noted that due to the extended boundaries of the project and the easements involved the City is required to be a co-applicant on the Act 250 permit. She went on to state Council can condition their co-application on elements of the design that they want to see in the final product. Participation in the Act 250 Application will need to be approved next week. The only cost to the City for this action would be some staff time. f. Discussion: Permanent Easements for Hotel Ms. Decarreau suggested that this item be tabled for discussion during executive session. She noted that operations, maintenance, construction, and deliveries may be dealt with within these easements. She also stated the City may want to be named as a covered party on the hotel insurance for incidents that occur in the walkway. It was highlighted that decisions are not made in executive session and that terms for easements will be posted for the public once reviewed by our attorney. Councilor Mace left the meeting at 8:05pm. Deputy Mayor Corrigan called for a five minute recess to allow the next project to set up their presentation. Meeting reconvened at 8:10pm with Mayor Leonard rejoining as presiding officer. g. Discussion: City Lights 106 East Allen Street Design Presentation Ms. Decarreau brought Nathan Dagesse to the front to present his project for 106 East Allen Street. Mr. Dagesse stated he had presented this information at the previous meeting but reviewed the proposed project for the corner of Abenaki Way and East Allen Street. Discussion regarding building materials, size of the leasing space, street trees, the bus stop, the windows, and sidewalk material followed. Additional discussion regarding fit with surroundings followed with opinions expressed in both directions. Conversation about the building being rental units or condominiums followed. Mr. Dagesse stated that a decision has not yet been made, but that financing for a condominium project is difficult. Questions were raised about affordable housing. Ms. Decarreau noted that there is no requirement for affordable housing in this project. There is a 10% requirement for the entire downtown project, but that is currently fulfilled by Keen’s Crossing and Cascades Condos. Discussion regarding the roof terrace, noise, and the large concrete wall facing Abenaki Way followed. Ms. Decarreau stated that location for a tree Minutes of March 21, 2016 Winooski City Council Page 4 of 5 www.winooskivt.org and the bus stop will continue to be worked through with staff and outside entities. Next week this will come back for approvals associated with Act 250 and the land sale conveyance. h. Discussion: F-35 Lawsuit Update and Filing Mayor Leonard stated this item is to be addressed in executive session to discuss next steps in the legal actions of the F-35 lawsuit. He noted that the Air Force has responded to the claims of the plaintiff and there is a deadline of April 4th to respond before this case goes to a hearing with a judge. The Air Force response is a lengthy public document that Ms. Decarreau stated she would make available on the City website. Ms. Andreoli noted that oral arguments in the case have been scheduled for May 31st. i. Discussion: Annual Audit Contract Mayor Leonard stated this item is to be addressed during executive session to consider terms of the contract and extension beyond the terms to be negotiated. Mayor Leonard stressed that no decisions would be made during executive session it is solely for discussion of items to be negotiated that would put the City at a disadvantage if discussed in open session. MOTION by Deputy Mayor Corrigan, seconded by Councilor Millar to go into executive session at 9:23pm to discuss details regarding the F-35 Lawsuit, the annual audit contract terms, the act 250 co-application, and the permanent easements for the hotel that if discussed in open session would put the City at a disadvantage during negotiations with the understanding that Council would return to open session only to adjourn. Voted and passed 3-0. Mayor Leonard noted that he would recuse himself for any discussions regarding the hotel that are held in executive session. VIII. Adjourn MOTION by Deputy Mayor Corrigan, seconded by Councilor Millar to adjourn the City Council meeting at 10:10pm. Voted and passed 3-0. ATTEST: ___________________________ Assistant City Clerk Minutes of March 21, 2016 Winooski City Council Page 5 of 5 www.winooskivt.org