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 HAL COLSTON sleonard@winooskivt.org DEPUTY MAYOR NICOLE MACE CITY COUNCIL COUNCILOR ERIC COVEY COUNCILOR KRISTINE LOTT Agenda Thursday, June 28, 2018 5:00 P.M. CLAIRE BURKE COUNCIL CHAMBERS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING I. Call to Order II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Agenda Review IV. Public Comment V. Consent Agenda a. Approval: Warrants: Warrant ending 6/28/18 and Payroll for period 6/3/18 – 6/16/18 b. Approval: 2018-2019 Policy Priorities and Strategies VI. City Update VII. Council Reports VIII. Regular Items: a. Approval: FY19 Municipal Tax Rate – J Baker b. Discussion/Approval: Myers Memorial Pool Renovation: Communications Discussion and Fund Balance Allocation - Council IX. Adjourn MINUTES The Mayor called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Deputy Mayor Mace. Members Present: Mayor Seth Leonard Councilors: Nicole Mace, Hal Colston, Kristine Lott, Eric Covey was participating via cell phone and arrived at 5:20 p.m. Officers Present: Jessie Baker, City Manager; Carol Barrett, City Clerk; Angela Aldieri, Staff Accountant; Ray Coffey, Community Services Director III. Agenda Review – None IV. Public Comment – None June 28, 2018 Winooski City Council  V. Consent Agenda MOTION by Councilor Lott seconded by Councilor Colston to approve the consent agenda as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. VI. City Update The City Manager gave the following update:  Tax Bills – Will be issued on time.  ICMA – We anticipate that ICMA will begin scheduling one to one meetings with staff in late August/Early September and will be fully implemented by the end of September.  Air Force response to April Council resolution  Events/Fun Stuff: o Winooski Wednesday will be held on the 4th of July starting at 6:00 p.m. in Rotary Park. o French Heritage Day will be held on Sunday, July 15th, from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm co-located with the Winooski Farmers Market along Winooski Falls Way. o July is National Park and Recreation Month, and Winooski has a ton of events going on throughout the month:  Sunday, July 1 from 1-3, Art in Nature at Gilbrook Reservoir  Tuesday, July 3, 5:30 PM, Naturalist Walk: Foraging at Casavant Park  Wednesday, July 4, 6 PM: Winooski Wednesday with Guagua at Rotary Park  Sunday, July 15th, at 10 AM, Memorial Park History Walk with VT State Archaeologist Jess Robinson  Sunday, July 22, 1 – 4 PM, Teddy Bear Picnic at Landry Park  Sunday, July 29, 1 – 3 PM, Family Fun Day at Landry Park  August 11 -12, Urban Campout at Casavant Natural Area VII. Council Reports Councilor Lott - None Councilor Mace said she met with a group of folks discussing the pool fund raising. We will be mailing out 12 letters to different foundations in Vermont. Mayor Leonard said the Housing Commission discussed how to balance replacement policy and that encourages replacement and or in addition to that builds up funds to help the City to take specific actions. The next meeting we will be discussing two big items; Housing Trust and Inclusionary Zoning. Councilor Colston – None VII. Regular Items a. Approval: FY19 Municipal Tax Rate The City Manager said you have a summary memo from us and calculations that Angela put together. (See attached) This is a math calculation that based on the budget that the voters approved at Town meeting day and the grand list value that was established at the end of June by the City Assessor. We are recommending a tax rate for FY19 of $1.0689. The grand list increased about 2.29 million from last year, which was .46% increase .This, is slightly lower than what we predicted during the budget cycle. We estimate the grand list value six months before it is set. This tax rate is 2.29 % increase from last year. MOTION by Councilor Lott seconded by Councilor Mace to approve setting the FY19 Municipal Tax Rate at 1.0689 as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. b. Discussion/Approval: Myers Memorial Pool Renovation: Communications Discussion and Fund Balance Allocation The Mayor said including this on a special agenda was to ensure that one; we had a secondary chance to review the outreach plan for this and two due to the funding and financing nature of this project, there was really more of a need for us to talk about how the finances come due and who is going to do the talking. The City Manager said the only thing she wants to add is that you did ask us at the last meeting to look at a fund balance request for that citywide post card production, postage and translation, so that is included in this agenda item as well. We are requesting $1800.00 of fund balance to do that mailing. June 28, 2018 Winooski City Council  The Mayor said we have been given a couple pieces of different information in regards to fund models, what they look like from an overall impact to the tax rate and potential staging in dollars. When we looked at the Main Street project it was a little more straightforward, what the tax impact would be, and when it would hit. This pool bond has different options to it. There was discussion amongst the council whether to phase in interest only payments during construction. The City Manager stated it was more expensive to do it this way over time. Councilor Mace said we want an affordable project and not a huge burden on our taxpayers. The Mayor said we need to stage this in overtime in a sustainable way; you have to be able to explain it to them. Councilor Lott said she is not comfortable going 5 years out. Councilor Covey said he shares her concerns and this would be a strain on future budgets. He also said he is not the biggest fan on the staged approach moving forward, I am concerned about other City services and budgets and not creating a strain on the board. I do want both projects to move forward. Councilor Mace said we are clear when we talk about this, we have to be up front with people, and we have to present a range of impact on the tax rate. Councilor Covey said the message needs to be clear and it is the voter’s choice and it is our responsibility to educate the people The City Manager said the tangible questions for staff that becomes is; we laid out the communications plan and most of that perspective is around the logistics of the vote design and potential tax rate impact. The staff recommends the following:  As part of the July 25, 2018 Community Services Commission meeting, host an informational Q & A regarding the bond vote. Light refreshments available.  Support members of City Council and the Pool Committee to table at the August 1st Winooski Wednesday concert event.  Offer administrative support to the Pool Committee in the creation of outreach materials by providing information and technical assistance as needed. Councilor Mace said she is available on July 25 and August 1. Councilor Colston is available on August 1. Councilor Covey said he said he is available on July 25 and August 1. The City Manager said we can sit down with staff and decide what is going in to those materials. Councilor Mace also said that staff, Cindy, Mike, Eric and myself could also meet. MOTION by Councilor Colston seconded by Councilor Covey to approve the use of $1800.00 from unassigned fund balance to fund $930 for a postcard, $620 for postage, and $250 for translation as requested. Voted and passed 4-0. MOTION by Councilor Covey seconded by Councilor Lott to adjourn City Council meeting at 6:05 p.m. Voted and passed 4-0. ATTEST:_______________________ City Clerk June 28, 2018 Winooski City Council