City Council

City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov Winooski City Council - Special Meeting Monday, April 7, 2025, 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 Members Present: Mayor Kristine Lott; Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner; Councilor Charles Judge, and Councilor Aurora Hurd. Officers Present: Elaine Wang, City Manager; Angela Aldieri, Finance Director; Paul Sarne, Communications Director; Jon Rauscher, Director of Public Works; John Audy, Fire Chief; Jenny Willingham, City Clerk and Adam Hoffnung-Warantz, Assistant City Clerk Others Present: Melissa Corbin, Downtown Winooski, Jen Berger, Laura Wade, and Ali Nagle I. Call to Order at 6:02 PM II. Agenda Review Minutes: Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner requested Consent Item G and moved to Regular Item B. Motion: Motion by Councilor Judge and seconded by Deputy Mayor Renner. Voted and passed 3-0. III. Public Comment Minutes: None IV. Consent Agenda A. Approval: City Council and Liquor Control Board Meeting Minutes of March 31, 2025 B. Approval: Payroll Warrants March 2 - 15, 2025 and March 16 - 29, 2025 C. Approval: Accounts Payable Warrants of March 19 2025 and April 3, 2025 D. Approval: Subsequent to Payout Warrant January 2025 E. Approval: Resolution - Arab American Heritage Month F. Approval: Annual Financial Plan for Town Highways G. Approval: Event Permit Application - Waking Windows- moved to Regular Item B Motion: Motion to approve the agenda Items A-F from Councilor Judge. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Renner. Motion carried. Voted and passed 3-0.  City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov V. Council Reports Mayor Kristine Lott: Recorded “In the World of Winooski” with Director of Public Works, including an overview of the Main Street project and what folks can expect this season. Advised to watch on the City’s Website on the Council page or visit Town Meeting TV’s website or YouTube Channel. The Finance Commission meets tomorrow at 6 PM to review the small business loan program. In addition, the Planning Commission meets on Thursday at 6:30 PM. Both meetings are hybrid so people can join in council chambers or online via Zoom. Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner: Tuesday April 8 will have a SHCP meeting and will be held at the library in the school. There will also be a presentation from Winooski Partnership for Prevention. Councilor Aurora Hurd: The Inclusion and Belonging Meeting is on April 17 at 6 PM. Councilor Charles Judge: None VI. City Updates Elaine Wang, City Manager, provided the following updates: “Winooski Mosaic” A press release was unveiled for the targeted marketing campaign designed to support Main Street businesses from April 2025 thorough June 2026 and is underway. The initiative aims to maintain business patronage and community engagement and emphasizes creative ways for residents and visitors to continue supporting local establishments during the temporary traffic changes. VII. Regular Items A. Discussion/Approval: Downtown Winooski Funding Request and Sustainability Plan Minutes: City Manager Wang detailed Downtown Winooski’s funding request and sustainability plan from the previous meeting. She emphasized the need that funds would need to come from reserves and informed the council of the funding amounts needed to sustain their endeavors through June 2025, through the calendar year, as well as ending through June 2026. It was recommended that the council approve funding because of the effects to the community rather than not having anything. Mayor Lott discussed with Councilor Oakleaf that if the Council were to approve the funding, it would need to coincide with the Downtown Winooski maintaining an Executive Director. Motion: Motion 1) to assign $62,500 of General Fund balance to Downtown Winooski, payable in equal amounts on the every-3-month schedule, except to 2) authorize the first payment be made April 7, 2025, and 3) consider during the FY27 budgeting process to increase the Downtown Winooski allocation by $50,000 and a cost-of-living adjustment. 4) Codify in the MOU that they must retain a staffed Executive Director role,and commit to see additional funding that could reduce the city’s contribution. Motion to approve made by Councilor Charles Judge and seconded by Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner. Voted and passed 3-0.  City of Winooski 27 West Allen Street Winooski Vermont 05404 Vermont’s Opportunity City 802 655 6410 winooskivt.gov B. Event Permit Application - Waking Windows Minutes: Discussion regarding Waking Windows’ advertisements and timely removal of fliers for the event. The City Clerk office will ask the event organizers to ensure removal of materials accordingly after the event. Motion: A motion to approve was made by Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner. Seconded by Charles Judge. Voted and passed 3-0. VIII. Adjourn Motion: A motion to adjourn was made by Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner. Seconded by Charles Judge. Voted and passed 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:21 PM Attest: ________________________________________ Adam Hoffnung-Warantz, Assistant City Clerk