City Council

27 WEST ALLEN STREET WINOOSKI, VERMONT 05404 (802) 655-6410 CITY OF WINOOSKI (802) 655-6414 (fax) JESSIE BAKER CITY MANAGER MAYOR SETH LEONARD COUNCILOR ERIC COVEY sleonard@winooskivt.org DEPUTY MAYOR BRIAN CORRIGAN CITY COUNCIL COUNCILOR NICOLE MACE COUNCILOR BRIAN SWEENEY bcorrigan@winooskivt.org Agenda Tuesday, January 2, 2018 6:00 P.M. CLAIRE BURKE COUNCIL CHAMBER I. Call to Order II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Agenda Review IV. Public Comment V. Consent Agenda a. Approval: City Council Minutes of December 18, 2017 b. Approval: Warrants for Payroll 12/3/17 – 12/16/17; Accounts Payable as of 12/31/17 VI. City Update VII. Council Reports VIII. Regular Items a. Approval: Audit Report – J Baker b. Discussion: FY19 Budget: Community Services – R Coffey IX. Executive Session: a. Executive Session Pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313 (1) (E) pending litigation to which the public body is a party and (2) the negotiation of real estate purchase or lease options related to the Tax Increment Financing District. b. Executive Session Pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313 (3) “the employment of a public officer” for the purpose of discussing the City Manager’s contract. X. Adjourn MINUTES The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Acting Deputy Mayor Brian Sweeney Members Present: Mayor Seth Leonard Councilors: Brian Sweeney, Nicole Mace, Eric Covey, Brian Corrigan was absent Officers Present: Jessie Baker, City Manager; Carol Barrett, City Clerk; Angela Aldieri, Staff Accountant; Kirstie Paschall, Children & Families Director; Ray Coffey, Community Services Director. Alicia Finley, Park & Rec. Director. January 2, 2018 Winooski City Council  Others Present: Aphaia Lambert-Harper, Fred Duplesis, Sullivan & Powers; Maura O’Neill III. Agenda Review - None IV. Public Comment V. Consent Agenda MOTION by Councilor Covey seconded by Councilor Sweeney to approve the consent agenda as presented. Voted and passed 3-0. VI. City Update The City Manager gave the following update: • Sincere thanks to our mutual aid partners and County – Vermont- wide public safety family for supporting our team the week of December 18th and during the memorial service for Lt. Cram on December 22nd. The extensive support allowed us to put to rest Lt. Cram, care for our officers, and ensure Winooski’s safety during the events. • Public Works Director- Johnathan Rauscher – will join us on February 5th. Jon is currently the Public Works Director in Oneida NY, a PE, with private sector engineering experience. Thanks to Joe and John who have done so well in maintaining operations during the transition. January 10th – Preferred Alternatives meeting • Administrative Staffing Meeting on Friday as a team to put together a recommendation • Main Street Revitalization: • January 10th preferred alternatives meeting with the Planning commission & Public Works Commission 6:00 to review plans – 6:30 meeting • Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service Monday, January 15th Register for one of the 4 service opportunities at the City’s website • Winooski Bridge Discussion Tuesday, February 6, 2018 “Local Concerns and Alternatives” presentation hosted by CCRPC Considering “short term” options – 2020 or beyond OR (depending on funding) “long term” options are more like 2030, 2040, even 2050. McClure Lobby Conference room at UVM Medical Center VII. Council Reports Councilor Covey – None Councilor Sweeney – None Mayor Leonard said the legislative session will be starting and Jessie and I met with Clem Bissonnette and Diana Gonzalez. VIII. Regular Items a. Approval: Audit Report January 2, 2018 Winooski City Council  Mr. Duplesis gave an overview of the Fiscal Year 2017 audit. He said the City did not require a federal audit. The City is following all regulations and rules and you have a good system of checks and balances. The City is also one of the few towns/cities who do their own financial statement. Mr. Duplesis said we had 2 recommendations: 1- Collateralization of Funds 2- Community Fund Enterprise transferred in to General Fund He said these two recommendations are being worked on as we speak See attached letter. The Mayor, Council and City Manager thanked Angela for all her hard work. The Mayor and Council accepted the Audit report. b. Discussion: FY19 Budget: Community Services Mr. Coffey presented the FY19 Budget for Community Services Dept. He gave an overview of the organizational chart and he said that Jessica Groeling is leaving us. He out lined the following: FY17 Key Outcomes - Over 180,000 in fees, grants and donations -Managed 124 volunteers -Implementation of new web-based registration program “MyRec” -Winooski Memorial Library continues to hold steady. The biggest is the digital content circulation continues to grow -Winooski Senior Center has over 59 volunteers and served approximately 9,900 meals served. -Thrive achieved its second “Star” in the VT DCF Starts FY18 Accomplishments Mr. Coffey said there were several accomplishments but he outlined three: 1. Anticipate full tenancy by year-end including signed agreements with UVM Medical Center Aquatic Physical Therapy Program and Snap Fitness. 2. Thrive achieved its Third “Star” in the VT DCF STARS (Step Ahead Recognition System) Childcare Quality Program and is now considered “High Quality” by the State. 3. Winooski Wednesday brought upwards of 300 people to the Rotary Park Venue on a monthly basis (June-August) Strategic Vision FY-19 Goals -Child Care Center will open at the O’Brien Center with up to 50 slots for infant/toddler and pre-school care -Hoping to have full tenancy at the O’Brien Center -A lot of work around Planning especially in our parks -He said there is a lot of event pieces and hoping to add four new rec programs and four new senior programs. -Grow revenue from fees, apply cost recovery targets, produce and distribute quarterly program brochures Budgetary Changes- FY18 to FY19 We are proposing to move the Community Center in to the proposed General Fund. You will see that reflected in the General Fund Budget. Community Services Fund – He said we are looking to pull the Child & Family Program Manager to Thrive (use of $34,000 in reserves) These are two of the primary changes. O’Brien Community Center Budget. This is a trend over the last three years. We are proposing that this budget will no longer be stand-alone but will be incorporated into the General Fund. The Mayor asked when the note would be paid off. Mr. Coffey said in 2028. January 2, 2018 Winooski City Council  Councilor Mace said the pool is mentioned, but not in the goals or in the budget book FY19. Where does the pool fit in? Mr. Coffey said the pool is under emerging work and the pool is called out specifically as we work towards that replacement project. The pool will not be open for FY19. We would not expect even if we were able to get financing arranged in quick order. From an operating budget, perspective there is not an impact for the 19 Budget. Councilor Mace was thinking there might be staff time involved. I would imagine there would be minimal expenses. Mr. Coffey said that we have completed preliminary and architectural design from Weston Sampson. The City Manager said you would see this on the public works presentation side. It exist in two different worlds. General Fund Mr. Coffey said there are two parts to the General Fund Budget 1. Community Services – Ray Salary , Aphaia, Senior Center, Library and Community Center 2. Family & Youth Programming – including recreation Because of the way the budget is broken out that is why it breaks up into two categories. The big piece that wasn’t called out is the proposed elimination of the circulation assistant at the library. We are proposing to add that back in. That is the $10,000.00 in salary and $1100.00 in benefits. The $2400 is the lease of the electric vehicle. We are proposing to go from a fleet of four down to two and Children & Family program was shifted to General Fund. Councilor Covey asked what are the impacts of dropping two fleet cars instead of four. Mr. Coffey said we definitely get quite a bit of use out that is speaking for our department especially during the summer months. He said it is a manageable change. We have had some challenges with the range of these vehicles. I think we can go from four to two for our department. Again, I cannot speak to what others need. The City Manager said 1- assigned to Fire/Code, City Hall, Community Services and Community Justice, Public Works. Our intention is to keep the one assigned to Community Services and share with the Community Justice Center and then have one dedicated to Code Enforcement. They use it every day most of the shift. Councilor Mace asked about shifting the Child & Family Program Manager to Thrive. Mr. Coffey said this is a change we can weather for a period. This allows us to shift for a short term and focus that position more to our fee base child care program. Council Mace asked what the difference is in functionality in that role as it shifts over. Mr. Coffey said it would allow for potential staffing structure. Councilor Covey wanted to share a reaction in regards to some of the other cut differences you mentioned. You’ve shown and I think a lot of us have felt and what we see around the community and see what you and your staff do with limited resources. I personally don’t feel staffing cuts are the way to get there. Council Mace said with this shift could you for see pressure on the rates that are currently changed with Thrive. Mr. Coffey said the way we operate with our rates to date is we set our cost on State’s subsidy’s base rate. Mr. Coffey said summer is a time where we could look at our fee structure. We are committed to keep the cost as low as possible. Mayor Leonard would like to keep this on the radar and have a special check in in late March early April. Recreation and Parks The Primary changes here that we are anticipating is continued growth from a financial perspective. With Alicia, here we are seeing a lot more action and events. There is not a huge anticipation of donations and grants. The Expense side is paying rent for the space. He said we have accomplished some very successful events. Looking ahead – budget growth (both revenue and expense), senior survey, funds for investments in the space. The Mayor asked about the fee schedule that we approved earlier in the year. Mr. Coffey said the way the fee ordinance is, it is going to require us to come back with regular resolutions. He also said that we would be back in late January early February to do another resolution for spring programs. Senior Center Mr. Coffey said all the expenses relate to programming provision. You will see growth in the revenue and expense side that is based on strong participation in particular in the Bingo program. Based on a senior survey we are committed to three socials; Holiday time frame, springtime and Summer BBQ. We are going to incorporate more fee base programming, donations of meals etc. The Mayor said we do have some January 2, 2018 Winooski City Council  exterior repairs said aside in the CIP. Mr. Coffey said we do have some funds set aside for the building in the CIP. Meals Program Special Revenue Fund Mr. Coffey said this budget usually always ends up in the black. We feel pretty strongly about this program. We are doing more work over time incorporating our meals in to different areas. There was huge participation at the library site this summer. We also gave out meals during Winooski Wednesday. Thrive Program Mr. Coffey said the primary shift being here is the portion of the Manager’s staff time over. The primary deficit that you see here is related to that shift that we discussed here tonight. Community Garden He said our annual cost and expenses are just about the same. We have been able over time to build up a small nest egg specific to this program, which allows us time to replace a raised bed or purchase compost etc. He said we would be shifting management to recreation and park; we also have an intern coming in. Library Special Revenue Fund This fund is largely used when grants or donations come through. At the time, we were building this budget there is no grants we have specifically identified. Mr. Coffey also wanted to mention that the friends of Winooski Library is actually a separate 501C3. They do fund raising on behalf of the library and their sole purpose is the betterment and support of the Winooski Library but that money flows through a different account it is not ours. This supports the program but it is something we do not manage. Overview of Community Services Reserve Funds See Attached. The Mayor said I hope you feel proud of what has happened in the last six years. You have done a tremendous job across cultures, young and old. I am proud that we are taking these consistent steps. Great presentation. MOTION by Councilor Mace seconded by Councilor Covey to go into Executive Session at 7:20 p.m. to discuss pending litigation to which the public body is a party and (2) the negotiation of real estate purchase or lease options related to the Tax Increment Financing District and to also invite the City Manager Jessie Baker into this session, and the employment of a public officer for the purpose of discussing the City Manager contract. The City Manager will not be in this discussion. Voted and passed 3-0. MOTION by Councilor Mace seconded by Councilor Covey to adjourn Executive Session at 7:55 p.m. Voted and passed 4-0. ATTEST:___________________________ City Clerk January 2, 2018 Winooski City Council