City Council

City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov Winooski City Council Meeting Tuesday, January 8, 2024 at 6 PM Attend in person: Winooski City Hall (27 W Allen St) Attend online: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84364849328 Attend by phone: 1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 843 6484 9328 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM. Members Present: Mayor Kristine Lott; Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner, Councilor Bryn Oakleaf, Councilor Aurora Hurd, Councilor Charles Judge Officers Present: Elaine Wang, City Manager; Jon Rauscher, Public Works Director, John Audy, Fire Chief, Ray Coffey, Community Services Director, Jazmine Hurley, Housing Initiative Director, Eric Vorwald, Planning & Zoning Manager, Nate Eddy, Library Director, Angela Aldieri, Finance Director, Jenny Willingham, City Clerk, Robin Merritt, Recreation and Parks Manager, Paul Sarne, Communications Director, Barbara Pitfido, Senior Programs Manager and Kirsten Wilson, Library Youth Services Coordinator Others Present: Lauren Read, Jess Wignall, Connor Daley, Representative Daisy Berbeco, Mary Hussmann, Bridget O’Brien, Rene Gombar, Judy Lance, Thomas Locatell and Robert Lloyd II. Pledge of Allegiance was led by Deputy Mayor, Thomas Renner III. Agenda Review Mayor Lott requested to table Regular Item B: Discussion for Winooski Valley District Presentation to another meeting. Motion by Deputy Mayor Renner and seconded by Councilor Hurd. Voted and passed 4-0. IV. Public Comment - None V. Consent Agenda A. Approval: City Council and Liquor Control Board Meeting Minutes of January 2, 2024 B. Approval: Accounts Payable January 4, 2024 C. Approval: Main Street Revitalization Project – Step 3 Construction Phase Drinking Water and Clean Water Loan Application Minutes: The Consent Agenda items A-C were presented for approval. Motion: A motion to Approve Agenda Items A-C was made by Deputy Mayor, Thomas Renner, seconded by Councilor Hurd. Voted and passed 4-0.  City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov VI. Council Reports Councilor Hurd: Safe, Healthy, Connected People Commission will be taking this month off. This is an off month for I & B and we will meet again in February. Councilor Hurd will be doing a coffee chat at the senior coffee held at the Senior Center on January 17, 2024. Councilor Oakleaf: Municipal Infrastructure Commission met on 12/21/2023 and discussed the walk-bike path. They are awaiting changes to the draft plan and discussed having an additional public comment meeting on the 18th in the Myers’s Pool Community Room to continue the discussion about the Lafountain/Dion Street scoping project. The Airport Commission will be meeting on the 17th. The noise exposure map meeting will be held on the 18th. The next Winooski bridge replacement public hearing will be at the Winooski School District on the 23rd. The Winooski Bridge Replacement Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on February 7th from 11:00 AM -12:00 PM via remote meeting. Mayor Lott: The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday at 6:30 PM at City Hall or by zoom. Councilor Renner: Downtown Winooski will meet this Wednesday. Blingo is on Tuesday, January 9th at 6:00 PM at Onion City Chicken and Oyster. Deputy Mayor Renner attended the Farmer’s Market to talk to residents about the budget, we will announce the next events that we will be available to discuss the budget. Councilor Judge: On January 23rd, the Housing Commission will meet to work on changes to the Housing Trust Fund to present a final draft. Also, there will be a cross-collaboration meeting with the Planning Commission. VII. City Updates Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Discussions Tonight continues our Fiscal Year 2025 staff Budget presentations. Please stick around for the Community Services presentation! Join us to discuss community programs and events, parks, the library, the pool, the senior center, community gardens, and more. Ask questions and provide input on how you think your tax dollars are spent. For the full schedule of budget meetings and information, please visit winooskivt.gov/fy25 Blood Drive The City of Winooski is hosting a blood drive at the Winooski Senior Center on Friday, January 19th from 12PM to 5PM. Donations are always in critical need- to schedule your appointment, visit redcrossblood.org/give or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Eligible donors with blood types O, B- or A- are encouraged to make a “Power Red Donation” and anyone who donates on the 19th will automatically be entered into a contest to win a free trip to the Super Bowl! Details available via our news updates at winooskivt.gov. Burlington-Winooski Bridge Survey and Meeting The Vermont Agency of Transportation is seeking your feedback to gather data on how people cross the Burlington-Winooski Bridge. To take the survey, visit burlingtonwinooskibridge.vtransprojects.vermont.gov (or simply search for “Burlington Winooski Bridge”). And be sure to join us for the next public update meeting on Tuesday, January 23 at 6:30 PM at the Winooski School District Performing Arts Center.  City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov VIII. Regular Items A. Discussion: Fiscal Year 2025 Staff Budget Presentation - Community Services, Ray Coffey, Community Services Director Minutes: Ray Coffey, Community Services Director presented his proposed FY 25 budget. He provided an extensive overview of the various positions within this department. (Recreation & Parks, Winooski Library, Winooski Senior Center, Thrive After School, Myers Memorial Pool, Parks and Facility Rentals and Community Gardens.) His presentation included investments that are being made for the community. The primary items for the recommended budget includes the following: • The current part-time Senior Center Director to full-time • Library clerk to 28 hours from 14 hours • Winooski Valley Park District receives full funding • Other items mentioned The Community Services Director provided statistical data from the various departments. In addition, addressed emerging issues such as the proposed sale of the O’Brien Community Center, St. Stephens and the Winooski Senior Center and the continuation to make progress on the Parks and Open Space Plan. The Community Services Director thanked the staff for their dedication and work. Discussion ensued from the Councilors’ questions. B. Discussion: Winooski Valley Parks District Presentation – Ray Coffey, Community Services Director, Nick Warner, Executive Director of WVPD Minutes: Tabled this item since the guest from Winooski Valley Parks District was unavailable for this meeting. A 5-minute recess was called at 7:25 PM. Council resumed at 7:30 PM. C. Discussion: Strategic Vision Goal Area Update - Safe, Healthy Connected People – Ray Coffey, Community Services Director Minutes: An update was provided by Community Services Director on the 2023-2024 Policy Priorities and Strategies. Items are moving along well. A brief discussion on the status of the St. Stephens property. Otherwise, most of the updates were covered by recent presentations. D. Discussion: Strategic Vision Goal Area Update – Housing – Jazmine Hurley, Housing Initiative Director Minutes: Jazimine Hurley presented an update for the Housing Policy Priorities and Strategies. Everything is on track. The Airport Noise Mitigation advisory meeting will be meeting this month. Other updates included conceptual framework for Short Term Rental (STR) and legal review to follow. Update on the Housing Trust Funds program offerings. The final draft will be presented to the Housing Commission. In addition, an update on the Reappraisal effective for April 1, 2024. Discussion ensued.  City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov E. Discussion: Amendments to the Unified Land Use and Development Regulations – Multiple Sections - Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Manager Minutes: Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Manager provided an extensive presentation on the proposed amendments for the Unified Land Use and Development Regulations (ULUDR). Some of the key points were discussing the proposed regulations for designated historic, cultural, architectural or archeological changes on the exterior of these properties as well as demolition of the structure. A local resource advisory commission will be established to primarily have oversight and a timeline for consistent transparency of any proposed changes and provide information to the Zoning Administrator or the Development Review Board providing it is a covered action outlined in Section 4.4.C. The Council asked the name to be changed to local resource advisory board. Discussion ensued regarding the additional amendments. A Public Hearing is warned for February 5th. F. Discussion/Approval: Overview and Information on Housing Replacement Options – Mayor Kristine Lott, Jazmine Hurley, Housing Initiative Director, Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Manager Minutes: Mayor Kristine Lott introduced Item F. Mayor Lott has monthly calls with housing and service providers addressing housing concerns across the community. In December, a recommendation from the group decided the next policy priority to pursue is a replacement ordinance. The recommendations were brought to Council to determine if this should be the next priority for the Housing Commission. There are two approaches to identify. 1. Standard Way 2. Interim Zoning. Planning & Zoning Manager discussed between adding the housing replacement to the Municipal Code or the Land Use Regulations. The Interim zoning approach does not initially go through the Planning Commission instead it would be approved by Council. Subsequently it will be reviewed by Planning Commission to be permanent rather than interim. Or it could run through the normal zoning updates. In addition, consideration of replacement regulations for dwellings or # of units or bedroom count (or a combination). Detailed counts over the last six or seven years on what dwellings/units were previously there and now. Discussion ensued over the specifics particularly three + bedrooms. The Council discussed affordability has part of this replacement regulation. IX. Adjourn A motion to adjourn was made by Councilor Judge seconded by Councilor Oakleaf to adjourn at 8:30 PM. Voted and passed 4-0 Attest: _____________________________________________________________ Jenny Willingham/City Clerk