Safe, Healthy, Connected People Commission

2/9/2021 - Minutes I. Call to Order Members Present: Kim Jordan, Mary Hussmann, Paul Rabidoux, Bruce Wilson, Courtney Blasius City Staff Present: Ray Coffey, Gwennie Talbot, Rick Hebert, John Audy, Amy Lafayette, Nate Eddy, Jenny Hill, Kate Nicoletti, Molly Schneider, John Raucher Guests Present: Laura Hale, Call to Order by: Mary Hussmann Meeting Start Time: 6:32 PM Minutes Recorded by: Kim Jordan II. Public Comment None. III. Approve Previous Meeting Minutes Decision: Approved Motion by: Kim Jordan Second: Paul Rabidoux IV. Council Liaison Update Amy Lafayette – this is her last meeting as her City Council term ends soon. There will be no liaison for the March meeting until the next Council meets after the first or second Council meeting with the new Council. V. City and Department Updates Ray Coffey: Issues at the O’Brien Community Center: City of Winooski submitted a “notice of lease default” to North End Studios (NES) because of reports of offensive and sexually harassing conduct by NES director, Ben Bergstein. The City takes these reports seriously and thank the women who came forward to share their experiences. The “notice of default” action was taken by the City Manager, Jessie Baker, last Thursday and will be considered by the City Council on February 16. There is a “cure clause” within the lease, and NES has 30 days to propose a resolution. The City has a responsibility to keep the community safe, and while this is a financial “hit” to the City, this was a necessary step to ensure safety in our public spaces. Pool passses are available and for sale now. We’ve already sold 33 family passes and at least 11 individual passes. Languaging around gender-specific swim times are still being worked out. Skating rink is up and running in Rotary Park. It is a work in progress. Thanks for Gwennie for helping to make it work. People seem to be using it! Hooray! Youth and adult soccer, tennis, and soccer-tennis sign-ups will be announced soon, as well as Thrive Camps.  Skating rink is up and running in Rotary Park. It is a work in progress. Thanks for Gwennie for helping to make it work. People seem to be using it! Hooray! Youth and adult soccer, tennis, and soccer-tennis sign-ups will be announced soon, as well as Thrive Camps. The Library has been very active and the browse & borrow times are always full. The Library Committee has been working hard on updating their policies. Jenny Hill: Skiing at Gilbrook has had a huge turnout - Snow art in the Rotary has been lovely and many snow artists have come out to create snow sculptures. Over 90 people voted for their favorite snow art. Chief Audy: Covid numbers are trending well. Testing and vaccination clinics are going well, and all sign-ups are on the Vermont Dept. of Health website. Working with a developer on 325 Main Street to get practical experience with fire safety before the building is torn down next month. Chief Hebert: A feel-good story! Sunday evening 2 officers thought a man needed CPR and did the Heimlich maneuver and cleared the obstruction in his airway and saved his life. Trying to get back to “normal” at the police department. Call volume averages 15%-20% of calls per week are public assistance or welfare checks. Quarter 1 numbers this year compared to last year show that mental health is taking a toll on our community. City Council approved about $100,000 that contributes to WPD building upgrades and improvements tto prepare for consolidated dispatch and for consolidated dispatch in Colchester. VI. Discussion of Transportation Impact Fee Amy Lafayette – invited DPW to talk about this fee. It is coming before our SHCP because exceptions to buildings can happen for people who don’t want to pay that fee, and about 3 exceptions can be recommended to the mayor. John Raucher - An impact fee allows municipalities to increase capacity/demand to infrastructure. The City has to vote on increasing transportation capacity (width of sidewalk, more bike lanes, etc.) and specific buildings can be charged a specific fee to offset the cost to general taxpayers. Burlington, S. Burlington, Williston, St, Albans all use transportation impact fees, but Winooski doesn’t have any. There is an Impact Fee Ordinance where any exemptions to the ordinance will live. Discussion about exemptions to Transportation Impact Fee: Suggestions are spaces that provide healthcare, childcare, and food resources. Discussion about how to define “affordable” for housing, food, and childcare in terms of exemptions. Incentivizing more local food systems. Amy will bring the suggestions for these exemptions back to the Mayor and to City Council for a draft and for a potential vote. VII. Commission Recruitment Trying to recruit new members to the SHCP Commission. Intent to make the Commission structures more reflective of Winooski residents. Discussion about the actual role of Commissioners and the value they bring, the skills we’re asking of commissioners, and how to recruit new members. Amy Lafayette shared that the Mayor and City Council are working out the role and realm of Commissions. The intent and reality of bringing diversity into our Commission takes time, but in the short-term we may have temporary Commissioners. Mary Hussmann requests that SHCP Commissioners review the draft outreach recruitment language ASAP and send feedback and comments that to her. VIII. Adjourn Motion by: Paul Rabidoux Second: Courtney Blasius VIII. Adjourn Motion by: Paul Rabidoux Second: Courtney Blasius Meeting End Time: 7:51 PM