Municipal Infrastructure Commission

9/12/2019 - Minutes I. Call to Order Thursday, September 12, 2019 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Winooski City Hall (27 West Allen Street) Present: Jon Rauscher, Michael Myers, Laura Dlugolecki, Corey Mack, and Chris Page. Call to order at 6:32 PM. II. Public Comment None III. Approve Previous Meeting Minutes Motion to approve minutes from both May 9 and June 13, 2019 by Chris Page, seconded Corey, all in favor. IV. Update on City Commission Realignment Jon explains City commission realignment, change in scope/responsibility for Municipal Infrastructure Commission (previously Public Works Commission). Change made to better reflect goals of master plan. Brief discussion on role/purpose of Commission: Research, provide recommendations to council, review presentations and provide public comment space for Municipal Infrastructure projects. Charter language change for the Commission; commission members reviewed, no comments, no motions made. V. Review Commission Applications Four new applicants to commission, plus one individual who has not yet provided a formal application form. Review of each application occurred, including brief review of applicant credentials/history. No formal procedure for review of applicants, but: Michael indicates strongly that we should maximize participation (5 full time committee members, plus two floating members). Need for alternates; mobility as folks move away, flexibility with scheduling. Need to assign Vice Chair and Secretary positions; currently unassigned. Interview process: 1. Coordinated by Jon, likely conducted after-hours at City Hall. 2. Commission members to attend if possible. 3. Commission to provide recommendations re: appointment to Jonathan, Council, etc. VI. Discuss preparation of FY 20’ Municipal Infrastructure Work Plan Commissions required to generate a work plan (Now thru July). Based on FY 2020 goals Reviewed Municipal Infrastructure Goals/Objectives. Work plan to be assembled over next couple of meetings. Discussion of Commission responsibilities: 1. Review of budgets, host presentations, provide feedback, provide public hearing forum, help to lay groundwork for broader public vision 2. Respond to specific requests for feedback from City Council on items. Discussion regarding parking on Main Street. 1. Determined that there is very little/nothing the Commission can do to regain parking spaces in current Main Street plan; trade-off between green space and parking spaces was made earlier in planning process with public involvement. Discussion re: East Allen Street Update 1. Repainting of lines to occur soon; Jon has been following up with developer 2. Scoping Study to be presented to City Council 3. Corey voices concerns over lack of public input and loss of “do-nothing” option; l A. Developer insisted on parking; necessitates road diet/slowing of traffic l B. City and developer cite safety concerns as cause for traffic change. l C. Corey reiterates concern regarding how addition of parking affects traffic flow of entire corridor  1. Repainting of lines to occur soon; Jon has been following up with developer 2. Scoping Study to be presented to City Council 3. Corey voices concerns over lack of public input and loss of “do-nothing” option; l A. Developer insisted on parking; necessitates road diet/slowing of traffic l B. City and developer cite safety concerns as cause for traffic change. l C. Corey reiterates concern regarding how addition of parking affects traffic flow of entire corridor l D. Yet, provides a low-cost means of necessary traffic-slowing. 4. Streetscape work to wrap up shortly. VII. Planning and Capital Projects Update 1. Pool project l A. On-schedule, on-track to open next May (2020). l B. Rough carpentry work ongoing in building, finish carpentry over winter. l C. Russell (contractor) has put in plans for shade structure if money is available… $40K or so. Slab is poured. 2. Hickock Street: l A. Buttoning up for the year to occur, base over trench l B. Full rebuild of street next year l C. Contractor is doing great, everything on target 3. Main Street: l A. Council approved temporary joint repair work on concrete slabs above circle. l 4. WWTP Headworks: l A. Despite rocky start with contractor re: equipment availability/issues, all is well. VIII. Adjourn a. Motion by Corey, seconded CP, all in favor: Meeting ended at 8:30.