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 Monday, April 1, 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 6:01 PM Members Present: Mayor Kristine Lott, Councilor Thomas Renner, Councilor Bryn Oakleaf, Councilor Aurora Hurd, Councilor Charles Judge Officers Present: Elaine Wang, City Manager; Angela Aldieri, Finance Director; Paul Sarne, Communications Director; John Audy, Fire Chief; Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Director; Jon Rauscher, Public Works Director; Ray Coffey, Community Services Director, Jenny Willingham, City Clerk and Amanda Casper,Assistant Clerk Others Present: Ryan Lambert, City Engineer; Bob Klinefelter, Vermont Agency of Transportation; Carolyn Cota, Vermont Agency of Transportation; Jacquie Dagesse; Connor Daley; Judy Lance; Jonah Franqiosa II. Agenda Review Minutes: None III. Public Comment Minutes: Judy Lance made public comment about lot 7D that is in progress and asked the City for more information on it. IV. Consent Agenda A. Approval: City Council and Liquor Control Board Meeting Minutes of March 18, 2024 B. Approval: Payroll Warrant March 3, 2024 - March 16, C. Approval: Accounts Payable March 28, D. Approval: Accounts Payable Main Street Revitalization Bond Sale E. Approval: Subsequent to Payout February 2024 F. Approval: Planning and Zoning Manager Position Description Changes  City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov Minutes: Mayor Kristine Lott presented Items A through F on the Consent Agenda for approval from Council. Motion: A motion was made by Councilor Renner, seconded by Councilor Hurd. Voted and passed 4-0. V. Council Reports Mayor Kristine Lott: Thank WSD for hosting several great community events recently: Holi celebration, Francophonie month celebration, and a community Iftar meal for Ramadan. Elaine and I met with legislators about the Bridge funding and had a productive discussion about pathways to reduce our cost share. We have time to continue working on a solution with the legislature before having to access the fully bond amount. We continue to hear resident concerns about the condition of the railroad crossing on Mallets Bay Ave. I want folks to know that staff have been persistently contacting the railroad and VTRANS to request repairs, and we will continue to push for short term repairs. Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner: - The finances of Downtown Winooski are quite healthy, something that is welcome to the organization after years of troubles. Looking at option of increasing part time staff hours. Fundraising and sponsorships are going well and are happening strategically. Better Places grant continues to do well, at over $11k. Melissa went to the Statehouse to advocate that the legislature continuing funding the Better Places Grant. Bingo is this Tuesday at Last Stop at 6pm. Councilor Judge: The Winooski Housing and Planning commissions held a joint meeting at 6:00pm on the evening of March 19th. The meeting served as an opportunity for both commissions to discuss building costs for developers, ways to create incentives that will attract developers that want to build affordable 3+ bedrooms units, as well as inclusionary zoning and replacement requirements. The housing and planning commissions will have a second joint meeting in May to review housing commission's development regulation recommendations for the planning commission. The next housing commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday April 23rd, at 6:00pm. Councilor Hurd: SHCP should be meeting at 5:30 next Tuesday the 9th. I&B Should be meeting at 6:00 next Thursday the 11th. For information on the agendas and locations, please keep an eye out in the news section of the City website. Councilor Oakleaf: Infrastructure Commission met on 3/21/24. They reviewed the work plan progress to date as well as discussed work plan priorities for the second half of FY24. The Commission also reviewed the recommendation to have Council allocate $10,000 of unreserved funds for two traffic calming studies within the FY25 year. The next MIC meeting is scheduled for 4/18/24.  City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov VI. City Updates 2024 Solar Eclipse Information: As you likely know, On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will occur from 2:14 PM to 4:37 PM. At 3:26 PM, a “total eclipse” will darken Vermont’s daytime sky, lasting about 3 minutes. You can look at the eclipsed sun during these 3 minutes safely. Outside of that timeframe, use eclipse glasses! We have a limited supply from the Winooski library for free for library cardholders, or from local businesses. For all eclipse information, please visit vermont.gov/eclipse. This website provides safety and glasses information, updates/alerts, viewing locations, resources, and more. Local public safety agencies will be keeping an eye on traffic and safety during the event. The Vermont Agency of Transportation encourages Vermonters not to travel on the day of the eclipse unless necessary. If you must drive, avoid state highways and the interstates, and plan alternate routes on local roads. Help reduce traffic! An estimated 20,000 – 120,000 visitors are expected to travel to Vermont for the eclipse. For text or email updates during the eclipse, like traffic and weather, text VTECLIPSE to 888-777. Looking for an eclipse-themed event in Winooski? Visit downtownwinooski.org/eclipse. Multilingual Eclipse resources are available – feel free to view and share these videos provided by the Vermont Language Justice project by visiting the news updates section of winooskivt.gov. VII. Regular Items A. Discussion: Public Hearing on Chapter 5 of Municipal Code, Sidewalk Permits - Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Director Minutes: Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Director presented drafted changes to Chapter 5 of the Municipal Code, Sidewalk Permits to Council for a Public Hearing. No comment was made. Mayor Lott closed the Public Hearing and moved to approval. B. Discussion/Approval: Adopt Amendments to Chapter 5 of Municipal Code, Sidewalk Permits - Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Director Minutes: Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Director presented drafted changes to Chapter 5 of Municipal Code, Sidewalk Permits to Council for approval. Drafted changes for approval include: clean-up of the current regulations for internal continuity, establishing specific timelines and processes for permitting, and clarifying processes for permitting including deadlines. Councilor Hurd made comments on some wording within the drafted changes. Discussion ensued. Motion: A motion was made by Councilor Hurd, seconded by Councilor Judge. Voted and passed 4-0.  City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov C. Discussion/Approval: Introduction of Amendments to the Unified Land Use and Development Regulations (ULUDR) Gateway Zoning District - Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Director Minutes: Eric Vorwald, Planning and Zoning Director presented Council with updates to the Unified Land Use and Development Regulations (ULUDR) Gateway Zoning District for discussion and approval along with approval for a Public Hearing on May 6th, 2024. Councilor Oakleaf asked for clarification on if the City would be notifying Property Owners. Discussion ensued. Motion: Mayor Lott introduced the recommendation for a Public Hearing to be set on May 6, 2024, and to notify adjacent Property Owners. A motion was made by Councilor Oakleaf, seconded by Councilor Hurd. Voted and passed 4-0 D. Discussion: Strategic Vision Goal Updates - All and Economic Vitality - Elaine Wang, City Manager Minutes: Elaine Wang, City Manager presented updates on progress to-date for Council approved goals in the All and Economic Vitality priority areas for Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024) and asked for any questions. Discussion ensued. E. Discussion/Approval: City Council Liaison Appointments for Commissions - Mayor Kristine Lott Minutes: Mayor Lott presented Council with the option to change and/or trade City Council Liaison Appointments for Commissions considering the recent election. Councilor Renner took on Safe, Healthy, Connected People from Councilor Hurd. Councilor Hurd took Engagement from Councilor Renner. Discussion ensued around other Commissions. Motion: A motion was made by Councilor Renner, seconded by Councilor Judge. Voted and passed 4-0. F. Discussion/Approval: Resolution - Recognizing April as Arab American Heritage Month in Winooski - Mayor Kristine Lott Minutes: Mayor Lott presented Council and the Public with the Resolution for recognizing April as Arab American Heritage Month in Winooski. Councilor Hurd made comments about language used in the Proclamation. Mayor Lott agreed to the edits to the language. Changing “men and women“ to “people” and changing “setting fine examples” to just “setting examples” Motion: A motion was made by Councilor Hurd, seconded by Councilor Oakleaf. Voted and passed 4-0. G. Discussion/Approval: Burlington-Winooski Bridge Vermont Agency of Transportation Standard Finance and Maintenance Agreement for Federal-Aid Projects - Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works Minutes: Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works, along with Bob Klinefelter and Carolyn Cota from Vermont Agency of Transportation presented Council with the Burlington-Winooski Bridge Vermont Agency of Transportation Standard Finance and Maintenance Agreement for Federal-Aid Projects. Mayor Lott opened the floor to Public Comment before moving into Executive Session to discuss Financial Details.  City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov Motion: A motion was made to have an Executive Session by Councilor Renner, seconded by Councilor Oakleaf. Voted and passed 4-0. Motion: A motion was made to move into Executive Session by Councilor Renner, seconded by Councilor Hurd. Voted and passed 4-0. Minutes: Executive Session was entered at 6:50 PM. VIII. Executive Session - Pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313 which exempts from public inspection, (a) (1) (A) contracts Minutes: Executive Session ended at 7:49 PM. Motion: A motion was made by Deputy Mayor Renner, seconded by Councilor Oakleaf to exit from the Executive Session. IX. Regular Items A. Discussion/Approval: Burlington-Winooski Bridge Standard Finance and Maintenance Agreement for Federal-Aid Projects - Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works Minutes: Mayor Lott invited everyone back to the discussion on the Burlington-Winooski Bridge Standard Finance and Maintenance Agreement for Federal-Aid Projects after exiting Executive Session. Mayor Lott shared the concern over how this agreement interacts with claims that the Winooski Hotel Group may have against the City for breech of development agreement and how would an enhanced claim of value from them effect the states determination of what part of a condemnation award would be deemed to participating costs. Mayor Lott expressed hope for VTRANS to work with City Staff and an attorney and then come back with clarification at the next meeting. Discussion ensued. No approval was voted on. VTRANS will follow up at the next City Council meeting on April 15, 2024. X. Adjourn A motion to adjourn was made by Councilor Judge, seconded by Councilor Hurd. Voted and passed 4-0. Adjourned at 7:55 PM. Attest: _____________________________________________________________ Amanda Casper, Assistant City Clerk