City Council

Winooski City Council Meeting Monday, February 6, 2023, at 6 PM Attend in person: Winooski City Hall (27 West Allen Street) Attend online: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84364849328 Attend by phone: 1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 843 6484 9328 I. Call to Order II. Agenda Review III. Public Comment IV. Consent Agenda a. Approval: Corrected City Council Minutes of 1.3.23 – Jenny Willingham, City Clerk b. Approval: City Council Minutes of 1.23.23 c. Approval: Public Hearing Minutes of 1.26.23 d. Approval: Accounts Payable Warrant 2.1.23 e. Approval: Payroll Warrant 1.8.23 to 1.21.23 V. Council Reports VI. City Updates VII. Regular Items a. Discussion/Approval – Finance Commission Appointments – Angela Aldieri, Finance Director b. Discussion/Approval – Safe, Healthy, Connected People Commission Appointments – Ray Coffey, Community Services Director c. Discussion - Green Mountain Transit – Meet new General Manager, Service Changes in FY24 Budget – Elaine Wang, City Manager d. Discussion/Approval - Vermont Economic Progress Council Tax Increment Financing District Annual Report – Angela Aldieri, Finance Director e. Discussion/Approval - Main Street Revitalization USDA and VMBB Bond Resolutions – Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works f. Discussion/Approval - Resolution: FY24 Water Rate – Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works g. Discussion/Approval - Resolution: FY24 Wastewater Rate – Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works h. Discussion/Approval - Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Winooski and the Winooski Incorporated School District for FY2023-2024 – Elaine Wang, City Manager i. Discussion/Approval - FY24 Fund Budgets and Capital Plans (Water, Wastewater, Parking, Community Services Programs, TIF, and Rental Registry) – Elaine Wang, City Manager j. Discussion: Next Steps for City Council Equity Focus – Mayor Kristine Lott k. Discussion: Strategic Prioritization – Mayor Kristine Lott VIII. Adjourn  MINUTES The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:03 pm. Members Present: Mayor Kristine Lott Deputy Mayor James Duncan Councilors: Bryn Oakleaf, Aurora Hurd, and Thomas Renner. Officers Present: Elaine Wang, City Manager; Paul Sarne, Communications Director; Angela Aldieri, Finance Director; Jenny Willingham, City Clerk; Jon Rauscher, Public Works Director; Ray Coffey, Community Services Director; Angel Lane, Assistant City Clerk Others Present: Berbecos, Hannah Kretvix, Michael Arnold, Austin Davis, Clayton Clark, Kevin Ryan, David Trainque, James Messeder and Connor Daley II. Agenda Review – None III. Public Comment – None IV. Consent Agenda - a. Approval: Corrected City Council Minutes of 1.3.23 b. Approval: City Council Minutes of 1.23.23 c. Approval: Public Hearing Minutes of 1.26.23 d. Approval: Accounts Payable Warrant 2.1.23 e. Approval: Payroll Warrant 1.8.23 to 1.21.23 MOTION: by Councilor Duncan second by Councilor Oakleaf to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. V. Council Reports – Councilor Oakleaf – The second hearing on Just Cause Eviction proposed Charter change was held on Saturday. There were 30 people in attendance. Updates to the Fact Sheet will be coming as a result of the feedback. Great participation. Councilor Duncan – Was able to attend the Airport Commission last Wednesday. There was a good report. The second phase of the noise mitigation of 54 homes is moving forward. A week ago Friday, Councilor Duncan accepted the “Community Award” from Champlain Housing Trust on behalf of the City. It was a great evening. Councilor Renner – -Winooski Wednesdays are being discussed by Downtown Winooski. Even though it is freezing outside, planning is beginning. Councilor Hurd – Inclusion & Belonging was cancelled this week and is planning to meet again on the 23rd. Safe Healthy Connected People Commission is planning to meet on the 14th via Zoom with hopefully a budget review from the Chiefs. Councilor Hurd attended the second in person Ideal Meeting-The Office for Racial Equity Report is now available on our website. Mayor Lott – Planning Commission is scheduled for February 9th and will hold the meeting as planned even though it does conflict with the community meal. Mayor Lott was able to attend the Senate Economic Development Committee. They are drafting a bill to address the housing crisis.  VI. City Updates – Town Meeting Day is coming up! As a reminder, the election is on Tue, Mar 7th, – voting takes place at the Winooski Senior Center from 7 AM to 7 PM. Early voting and absentee ballots will be available after Feb 17th at the City Clerk’s Office. For all ballot and budget details, visit winooskivt.gov/townmeeting. As a reminder, all legal residents, regardless of citizenship status, can vote on Town Meeting Day. Translated ballots will be available in 11 languages! If you still need to register to vote, please visit winooskivt.gov/vote for details or stop by the City Clerk’s Office for info. If you have questions, call or email 802 655 6410 / clerk@winooskivt.gov Be sure to join us for the upcoming budget presentations: City & School Budget Community Dinner: Thu Feb 9th, 5:30 PM at the O’Brien Community Center Town Meeting TV Budget Presentation: Fri, Feb 10th, 5:25 PM – watch the live stream on youtube.com/TownMeetingTV or on Comcast channel 1087. Call in with questions: 802 862 3966. City & School Virtual Budget Presentation: Wednesday, February 22, at 6 PM v ia Zoom And the Annual Town Meeting Day Budget Presentation – Mon, Mar 6, 6 PM at the Winooski School District Performing Arts Center Again, visit winooskivt.gov/townmeeting for all ballot, budget, and meeting info Speaking of the ballot, if you missed the Jan 26th or Feb 4th Public Hearings, visit winooskivt.gov/justcause for info sheets, a recording of the meeting on the 26th, and minutes for both meetings. I would like to take a moment and thank the Winooski Fire Department and many neighboring agencies for their efforts during the significant fire on Main St. last week, and the many calls they responded to this weekend. Related, I also want to thank everyone in the community who helped share all of the important info from our state and regional partners regarding the extreme winter weather event that happened on Saturday. Emergency preparedness is always important. And lastly, if you’ve just about had it with the winter weather, season passes for Adults, families, youth, and seniors officially went on sale for the 2023 Myers Memorial Pool season. Visit winooskivt.gov/pool to get yours today and check back for the full schedule of programs. IX. Regular Items a. Discussion/Approval – Finance Commission Appointments – Angela Aldieri, Finance Director Angela Aldieri, Finance Director presented James Messeder for the appointment to the unexpired alternate term previously held by Shelden Goodwin. The Chair of the Finance Commission, Finance Director, Inclusion & Belonging Commission Liaison and the Mayor interviewed Mr. Messeder. MOTION: by Councilor Duncan second by Councilor Renner to approve the appointment of James Messeder to Finance Commission as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. b. Discussion/Approval – Safe, Healthy, Connected People Commission Appointments – Ray Coffey, Community Services Director Ray Coffey, Community Services Director introduced the appointees. Hannah Kretvix was present via Zoom and took a moment to share how excited she is to serve on this commission. The candidates are: • Hannah Kretvix term expiring 06/2024 • Amanda Goldstein term expiring 06/2024 • Meredith Bushey shift to Alternate term expiring 06/2024 Councilor Hurd, SHCP Commission Chair Mary Hussmann and staff interviewed the candidates listed above and recommend appointment of the slate as presented. Gratitude was expressed to departing Commissioner Elise Carlson for the time with the SHCP Commission. MOTION: by Councilor Oakleaf second by Councilor Hurd to approve the Safe, Healthy, Connected People Commission Appointments as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. c. Discussion - Green Mountain Transit – Meet new General Manager, Service Changes in FY24 Budget – Elaine Wang, City Manager New General Manager Clayton Clark introduced himself and talked about the FY24 Budget. There is talk of restarting fares July 1st. It is currently being debated at the State House. COVID relief funds are drying up so fares are being considered. Mayor Lott shared that there is strong interest in the community for increased service. Discussion ensured. Mayor Lott thanked Mr. Clark for his time and looked forward to working together in the future. d. Discussion/Approval - Vermont Economic Progress Council Tax Increment Financing District Annual Report – Angela Aldieri, Finance Director Angela Aldieri, Finance Director presented this item to Council. As part of the legislation related to Tax Increment Financing Districts annual reports on financial and performance metrics are required to be filed with the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) in February for the prior fiscal year. Review by Council is required prior to submission of the final document. MOTION: by Councilor Duncan second by Councilor Renner to approve the Vermont Economic Progress Council Tax Increment Financing District Annual Report as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. e. Discussion/Approval - Main Street Revitalization USDA and VMBB Bond Resolutions – Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works stated that this is required as a checklist item in order to move ahead to seek financing. Some discussion ensued. MOTION: by Councilor Duncan second by Councilor Renner to approve the Main Street Revitalization USDA and VMBB Bond Resolutions as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. f. Discussion/Approval - Resolution: FY24 Water Rate – Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works The full FY24 Proposed Budget was presented to Council on December 5, 2023. Departmental presentations followed. During the January 3, 2023 meeting the proposed FY24 Water Rates were presented. Discussion ensued.  MOTION: by Councilor Oakleaf second by Councilor Duncan to approve the Resolution: FY24 Water Rate as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. g. Discussion/Approval - Resolution: FY24 Wastewater Rate – Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works The full FY24 Proposed Budget was presented to Council on December 5, 2023. Departmental presentations followed. During the January 3, 2023, meeting the proposed FY24 Wastewater Rates were presented. Discussion ensued. MOTION: by Councilor Duncan second by Councilor Hurd to approve the Resolution: FY24 Wastewater Rate as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. h. Discussion/Approval - Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Winooski and the Winooski Incorporated School District for FY2023-2024 – Elaine Wang, City Manager City Manager Elaine Wang reviewed some of the changes for this years MOU. One item mentioned that the City will no longer snowplowing and salting for the school. Since this is an operational document the City Manager is seeking to be able to approve the MOU in the future. Some discussion ensued. Mayor Lott suggested making it part of the Consent Agenda so that the Council will see the document and approve it at that time. Any significant changes will be brought before Council. Discussion ensued. MOTION: by Councilor Duncan second by Councilor Renner to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Winooski and the Winooski Incorporated School District for FY23-FY24 as presented and to delegate future approval to the City Manager for renewals that do not contain budgetarily significant changes moving this item to the Consent Agenda instead of the regular Council agenda. Voted and passed 4-0. i. Discussion/Approval - FY24 Fund Budgets and Capital Plans (Water, Wastewater, Parking, Community Services Programs, TIF, and Rental Registry) – Elaine Wang, City Manager City Manager Elaine Wang presented this item to Council. The Council alone approves the Fund Budgets. The Community Development Fund Budget will come as a separate agenda item later this month for Council’s consideration. There was some discussion. MOTION: by Councilor Oakleaf second by Councilor Duncan to approve the FY24 Fund Budgets and Capital Plans (Water, Wastewater, Parking, Community Services Programs, TIF, and Rental Registry) as presented. Voted and passed 4-0. j. Discussion: Next Steps for City Council Equity Focus – Mayor Kristine Lott The Mayor reviewed her memo regarding next steps for Council’s equity focus. They included; organizing community engagement procedure, adopting a tool to access equity in policy making, creating a shared language for equity shared definitions, and commit to ongoing learning via combinations of sharing learning and future professional training.  Councilor Hurd shared a tool with Council. Mayor Kristine Lott suggested that Councilor Hurd update the list in the draft and then share it with Council. It can be reviewed at the 2/21 Council meeting to provide official recommendations. Councilor Hurd will share the draft version with I&B ahead of their meeting to give time to digest. Changes can be tracked of any Council recommendations then share that update with the commission as well. Then bring the completed tool back to Council. Elaine Wang, City Manager also shared the list of protected classes provided by VLCT; race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, (dis)ability, physical and mental attributes, religion, values systems, national origin, political beliefs, parental/family status, and cultures. Discussion ensued. k. Discussion: Strategic Prioritization – Mayor Kristine Lott Mayor Lott presented this item to Council. The City Of Winooski adopted a Master Plan in 2019 to guide City policy and operations towards our community vision. The Master Plan sets many goals for an ambitious vision for our community. An annual strategic prioritization process helps us prioritize resources (money, staff time, Council, and community capacity) towards a subset of goals and projects each year to move us forward on the path towards the vision, since every goal cannot be tackled at once. The recommended process was reviewed. Discussion ensued. VIII. Adjourn MOTION: by Councilor Duncan second by Councilor Oakleaf to adjourn the City Council meeting at 8:02 pm. Voted and passed 4-0. ATTEST:_______________________________________________________ Angel Lane, Assistant City Clerk