BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL

CONTOIS AUDITORIUM, CITY HALL

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

MINUTES OF MEETING

August 7, 2017

                                                            MEMBERS PRESENT:      Jane Knodell (Council President) – Central District

                                                                                                 Joan Shannon – South District

                                                                                                 David Hartnett – North District [arrived 7:32 PM]

                                                            Richard Deane – East District

                                                            Sharon Foley Bushor – Ward 1

                                                            Max Tracy – Ward 2

                                                            Sara Moore - Ward 3

                                                            Kurt Wright – Ward 4

                                                            William “Chip” Mason – Ward 5

                                                            Karen Paul – Ward 6

                                                            Ali Dieng – Ward 7

                                                            Adam Roof – Ward 8

       ADMINISTRATION:          Miro Weinberger, Mayor

                                                Bob Rusten, CAO

                                                Rich Goodwin, DFO

                                                Eileen Blackwood, City Attorney

                                                Brian Lowe, Mayor’s Office

                                                Katie Vane, Mayor’s Office

                                                Lori Olberg, C/T Office

                                                Scott Guston P&Z

                                                Gene Richards, BTV

                                                Nic Longo, BTV

                                                Marie Friedman, BTV

                                                Amanda Clayton, BTV

                                                Shelby Losier, BTV

                                                Norm Baldwin, DPW

        OTHERS PRESENT:          Bill Keogh

                                                David Provost

                                                Greg Epler Wood

                                                Louise Brill

                                                Kirby Dunn

                                                Ron Ruloff

                                                Susan Shull

                                                Ralph Montefisco

                                                Don Schramm

                                                Dean Caren

                                                Carolyn Bates

                                                Barbara Nelfi

                                                Greg Hancock

                                                Linda Cooper

                                                Laura Waters

                                                Laurie Smith

                                                Sandy Baird

                                                RJ Lalumiere

                                                Charles Winkelman

1.0       CALL TO ORDER and AGENDA

City Council President Knodell called the meeting to order at 7:25 PM on August 7, 2017 and led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1.01 Agenda

MOTION by Councilor Roof, SECOND by Councilor Deane, to approve the agenda with the following amendments:

• Remove Item 4.37 (Staffing Structure, Airport)
• Removed Item 4.38 (Permit Reform) and Place on Deliberative Agenda as Item 5.06)
• Remove Item 4.39 (Walk Bike Master Plan and Place on Deliberative Agenda as Item 5.05)
• Add Item 4.45 (Ron Ruloff re: Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf)
• Add Item 9.02 (Burlington Town Center) to Mayor – General Affairs

VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

Council President Knodell recessed the City Council meeting at 7:27 PM to convene the Local Control Commission meeting.  City Council meeting resumed at 7:28 PM.

2.0       ANNUAL REPORTS TO CITY COUNCIL

2.01 Airport Commission

Bill Keogh, Vice Chair of the Airport Commission, highlighted accomplishments by the Airport Administration including:

• Significantly improved airport financial stability.
• Cash-to-debt ratio well in excess of what Moody’s is requiring.
• Signed contract with the airlines resulting in stability of income to the airport.
• Increased air service.
• Airplanes that are full with passengers.
• Marketing the airport in Canada.

Aviation Director, Gene Richards, and members of the airport administration were present. Director Richards gave a brief update on the progress of the proposed 104-room hotel within the current airport footprint. The airport hotel will be aesthetically pleasing and a win-win for the airport and the traveling public. Director Richards thanked City Council for all the support given to the airport.

3.0       PUBLIC FORUM

Public forum was opened at 7:32 PM.

COMMENTS

• David Provost, BTAB, made a public statement on the Burlington Telecom (BT) sale, noting the city received eight letters of interest and is focused on four proposals. Major staff changes are not expected with any of the proposals and the city has the option to continue a significant ownership interest in the entity. BT will offer residents and businesses a broadband and cable alternative to existing providers including long term protection to ensure competition continues. Two of the proposal are cash offers that would not put debt on the new BT entity and commits significant investment to further buildout the system in the coming year. One proposal is from a private equity investor with valuable local relationships and a vision for aggressive BT regional growth and associated economic development. The proposal from the Keep BT Local group involves cooperative ownership by BT users. Over the next month discussion with the four bidders will continue and a report on the progress will be given later in the month. A nondisclosure agreement was signed so details on the proposals cannot be released at this time.
• Greg Epler Wood, resident, spoke of different kinds of love and the power of love as well as the cooperative ownership of BT being the essence of love and that there is power in that love. Mr. Wood said if the cooperative is chosen then everyone will be a part of that.
• Louise Brill, resident, spoke of having BT as a cooperative and that active community ownership has made a huge difference in the quality of living in the city. Community ownership involves the citizens, builds connections, and draws people to talk about the value of cooperation and building community. With subscriber ownership rates will stay low because a profit does not have to be made for an out-of-state or private owner. Money cannot buy a sense of community or love. That sense of community involvement, of citizen participation is strength and hope for the future. City Council is urged to choose community control for BT.
• Kirby Dunn, resident, BT customer, and member of the co-op to purchase BT urged City Council to consider the offer by the co-op. The decision is important for the city and retaining ownership in a cooperative model keeps the decisions local. Burlington knows how to do co-ops well.
• Ron Ruloff, Cathedral Square, said there has been no effort by City Council to contact anyone about a major street drug dealer living at Cathedral Square who spent time in prison on a conviction of domestic assault which is in violation of the Cathedral Square admissions policy. This should be cause for concern, but it is not due to politics. Mr. Ruloff spoke of running for City Council, but this being opposed by the members. Mr. Ruloff will provide information to Councilor Hartnett on the individual at Cathedral Square to try to get him removed before there is a major violent incident in the building. Mr. Ruloff submitted a copy of an email, dated May 23, 2013, regarding the individual being before City Council as a problem and the direction given to Mr. Ruloff to go to the board of the food shelf when there was no board. Mr. Ruloff contended City Council does not care and problems are occurring. The city should not welcome drug dealers.
• Susan Shull, resident and BT member, urged City Council to consider the co-op bid for BT as the most responsible and reasonable choice to keep service high and rates low, and keep the money local. Membership of fiber option cable will continue. Ms. Shull said she did not have a good experience with the other providers.
• Ralph Montefisco, Ward 4, reviewed the history of the Accessibility Advisory Committee and recommendations for accessibility needs. The committee has over time become less active and eventually reappointments were not made. What this means to the city should be considered. BT should remain local.
• Don Schramm, Ward 1 and BT customer, spoke in support of the BT co-op and questioned the closed door negotiations with the bidders. City Council was urged to draft an agreement that provides citizens with the best possible long term arrangement and to bring into the negotiations for the cooperative other organizations, educational institutions and non-profits with a long term commitment to the community. Think big, get it right, and push the telecom system to be the best.
• Dean Coren, resident, said 30 years ago BED decided not to have Burlington Telecom so the Mayor at that time negotiated a deal with Cox Cable. Rates were affordable for low income residents, but the court threw out the rates. There are two choices now – private local community co-op or Comcast.  There will be service and innovation with the community based co-op and the money will come back from the customers to pay for the purchase. The co-op should be approved.
• Carolyn Bates, resident urged City Council to choose the BT co-op as the owner of BT because the entity will be locally owned and not sold to a big out-of-state company. Internet service is vital and BT is fully accessible and provides help when people need it. Plus all the income will stay local.  BT co-op should be chosen to keep BT local.
• Barbara Nulfi, resident, announced the co-housing community is hosting an open house to educate people on the BT sale process. All the bidders are invited to attend.
• Greg Hancock, Ward 1 and customer of BT, said innovation comes from outside of the network. The BT network is already built and paid for by the citizens so it is essentially owned by the citizens. This is the opportunity to make BT a showcase. To hand over BT to the highest bidder with interest outside the citizens’ interests would be a mistake. BT co-op will provide the right mix of citizen engagement, collaboration, and vision to make the future vision possible.
• Linda Cooper, resident, said she gets excellent service from BT. A co-op is the most important function and Burlington has had success with co-ops. BT should be a co-op.
• Laura Waters, resident, spoke of the east-west greenway plan approved by DPW and removal of parking spaces on North Union Street. Ms. Waters said she is dismayed at the loss of 10 parking spaces on North Union Street to create the greenway. Despite ineffective notification of residents DPW received 34 comments from local residents and property owners and 29 of those were negative. When notified again property owners only had two weeks to respond. DPW did not look at the impact of losing 10 parking spaces. If property owners were at the table they could have influenced the decision to remove the spaces and there could have been creative solutions. City Council is urged to vote for the resolution on the Walk Bike Master Plan as proposed and the implementation process should involve everyone.
• Laurie Smith, resident, spoke of the walk bike PlanBTV and the ineffective notification of property owners. Residents use city streets for parking and displacing parking without new spaces for accommodation creates hardship for residents and could result in degradation of neighborhoods. A collective effort by the city and property owners could develop a solution that works. City Council is urged to make this problem solving a requirement for moving forward with the walk bike master PlanBTV. Mailed notification to landowners should be obligatory and this would have enabled the parking issue to be dealt with at the start of the process.
• Sandy Baird, Ward 1, spoke in support of the co-op to purchase BT and mentioned BT having Aljazeera English on air because the network is publicly owned. Aljazeera offers a different view of the world. If BT is locally owned by the co-op free speech will be protected.
• RJ Lalumiere, Ward 7, urged approval of the bid by Keep BT Local because having the people of the city own BT will serve the interests of the citizens better than any corporate ownership. Regarding the Walk Bike Master Plan, a balance is needed to the focus of infrastructure on cars. A third of Burlingtonians use other ways of transportation. The city should improve the transportation system for those who do not use a car and accelerate making cycling in the city easier. To decrease congestion entice people out of their cars. Appropriate, dedicated infrastructure is needed for this. Use the space that the city has for walk/bike projects and let the process progress without roadblocks.
• Charles Winkelman, resident, urged support of the local co-op owning BT so BT stays local.

There were no further comments. Public Forum was closed at 8:15 PM.

4.0       CONSENT AGENDA

4.01 PROCEDURAL:          Amend/Adopt Consent Agenda and Take Action(s) as Indicated

4.02 COMMUNICATION:    Accountability List

4.03 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, Local Control Commission, 3/27/17

4.04 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council, 3/27/17

4.05 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council, 4/3/17

4.06 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council/PC Joint Work Session, 4/17/17

4.07 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, Local Control Commission, 4/17/17

4.08 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council 4/17/17

4.09 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council Work Session, 5/1/17

4.10 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council, 5/1/17

4.11 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, Local Control Commission, 5/15/17

4.12 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council, 5/15/17

4.13 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council Work Session, 6/5/17

4.14 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, Local Control Commission, 6/5/17

4.15 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council, 6/5/17

4.16 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council 6/12/17

4.17 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council Work Session, 6/26/17

4.18 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, Local Control Commission, 6/26/17

4.19 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, Board of Civil Authority, 6/26/17

4.20 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council Mayor Presiding, 6/26/17

4.21 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council, 6/26/17

4.22 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council Work Session, 7/10/17

4.23 COMMUNICATION:    Minutes, City Council, 7/10/17

4.24 COMMUNICATION:    Roosevelt Park Court Reconstruction

4.25 COMMUNICATION:    Amendment to Corix MOU

4.26 COMMUNICATION:    John Turner Consulting Contract Amendment

4.27 COMMUNICATION:    Step Placement, Robert Goulding

4.28 COMMUNICATION:    Communication Video Monitoring System Upgrades

4.29 COMMUNICATION:    2017 Certificate of Highway Mileage

4.30 PERMIT (3 days):      Festival of Fools, August 4-6, 2017

4.31 PERMIT (1 day):        Citizen Cider, August 5, 2017

4.32 PERMIT (1 day):        Nectar’s Block Party, September 2, 2017

4.33 PERMIT (3 days):      SEABA, Art Hop, September 8-10, 2017

4.34 ORDINANCE:             Housing, Correction of Inadvertent Deletion, Prohibit Accumulation of Trash on Property within City

4.35 RESOLUTION:           Senior Policy and Compliance Specialist Position

4.36 RESOLUTION:           Update to Staffing Structure, Parks & Rec

4.37 RESOLUTION:           Update to Staffing Structure, Burlington Airport [Removed from Consent Agenda]

4.38 RESOLUTION:           Permit Reform Recommendations [Moved to Deliberative Agenda as Item 5.06]

4.39 RESOLUTION:           Walk Bike Master Plan [Moved to Deliberative Agenda as Item 5.05]

4.40 RESOLUTION:           Quitclaim Deed, 80 Catherine Street

4.41 RESOLUTION:           Quitclaim Deed, 98 Hardy Avenue

4.42 RESOLUTION:            Clerk/Treasurer, Continuation Phase 3 Reorganization

4.43 RESOLUTION:            Contract for FY18 Parking Garage Repairs at Airport, Dirt Tech Company, LLC

4.44 RESOLUTION:            Title Change, Public Works Parking Foreman and Working Foreman Positions

4.45 COMMUNICATION:    Ron Ruloff, Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf

MOTION by Councilor Roof, SECOND by Councilor Bushor, to adopt the Consent Agenda, Items 4.01 through 4.45, with the following amendments:

• Remove Item 4.37 (Staffing Structure, Airport)
• Removed Item 4.38 (Permit Reform) and place on Deliberative Agenda as Item 5.06
• Remove Item 4.39 (Walk Bike Master Plan) and place on Deliberative Agenda as Item 5.05
• Add Item 4.45 (Ron Ruloff re: Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf)

and to take the action indicated. VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

5.0       DELIBERATIVE AGENDA

5.01 Public Hearing: Amendment to ZA#17-08 (Food and Beverage Processing), ZA#17-12 (CDO Technical Corrections), and ZA#17-13 (Signage Illumination in ELM)

The public hearing was opened at 8:22 PM. Scott Guston, Planning & Zoning, reviewed the proposed amendments, noting the following:

• ZA#17-08 will have food and beverage processing as a singular category. Related changes make the city code consistent with the state on microbreweries.
• ZA#17-12 has technical corrections to the use tables, punctuation corrections, and cross-reference corrections. Also, Appendix B (dimensional table) is deleted because it is redundant.
• ZA#17-13 is for signage lighting in the enterprise zone.

COMMENTS

Pat Burns, project manager for City Market, spoke in support of lights on signs at City Market.

There were no other comments. The public hearing was closed at 8:24 PM.

5.02 Ordinance: ZA#17-08 Food and Beverage Processing, Second Reading – P&Z

MOTION by Councilor Mason, SECOND by Councilor Bushor, to waive the reading and adopt the ordinance as amended.

            DISCUSSION:

• Councilor Mason asked why the Planning Commission had issue with the change in the definition of bakery. Scott Guston explained a distinction between retail and wholesale was made. Retail is now on-site production and consumption. Warehouse bakery is absorbed in the food and beverage processing ordinance. A bakery was intended for a smaller establishment with baking and sales on-site. Larger establishments are focused on production for sale and distribution off site.

VOTING: 11 ayes, one nay (Councilor Shannon); motion carried.

5.03 Ordinance: ZA#17-12 Technical Corrections, Second Reading – P&Z

MOTION by Councilor Mason, SECOND by Councilor Bushor, to waive the reading and adopt the ordinance as amended.

            DISCUSSION:

• Councilor Bushor urged everyone to review the technical corrections which are meaningful. The city should comply with its own regs.

VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

5.04 Ordinance: ZA#17-13 Signage Illumination in ELM, Second Reading – P&Z

MOTION by Councilor Mason, SECOND by Councilor Bushor, to waive the reading and adopt the ordinance as amended.  VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

5.05 Implementation of Walk Bike Master Plan – Councilor Knodell

Councilor Bushor facilitated the deliberation/action on the Walk Bike Master Plan.

MOTION by Councilor Knodell, SECOND by Councilor Wright, to waive the reading and adopt the resolution to implement the Walk Bike Master Plan.

            DISCUSSION:

• Councilor Knodell said after observing the implementation of the first project in the Walk Bike Master Plan which is the Old North End greenway (a/k/a Old North End wiggle) and hearing feedback in support of the greenway as well as concern about loss of parking the plan was amended to address parking by finding other spaces within a three block radius. Thought needs to be given to the process to be used as projects in the master plan are implemented (i.e. who is notified and how, how to engage people in micro-neighborhoods who will be affected by the improvements to create walk/bike infrastructure that is wanted). The resolution asks the Public Works Commission to put in writing the process to be used as projects are put in place and speaks to addressing the parking issue upfront.
• Councilor Hartnett disagreed with sending the resolution to the TEUC because there will not be balance, adding the decisions have already been made since the master bike walk plan was passed. There is more need for parking in Wards 1, 2, and 3 than anywhere in the city, but the alternative of parking three blocks away is not fair.  Parking needs to be looked at across the city including residential only parking. City Council should make the final decision on adding or removing parking, not the Public Works Commission. Also, Local Motion has too much say in the city with regards to parking and transportation. A public safety issue is created by taking away the parking on North Union Street. Wards 1, 2, and 3 are concerned with parking and late at night walking in the neighborhood when it is not lighted which is not safe. There must be a balance and a fairness to the plans for more walking and biking. Parking cannot continue to be taken away.
• Councilor Deane pointed out the resolution is addressing any work done in the public right-of-way. Deficiencies in the process need to be addressed. It is appropriate to send the resolution to a committee of City Council to take a broader look at the matter.
• Councilor Tracy said the intention of the Walk Bike Master Plan was to think about how to integrate all modes of transportation safely. Safety should be the #1 priority with traffic decisions. The city has limited right-of-way space and people want a bike lane network, but do not want any negative impacts. People need to understand offsets and mitigation may not be possible in certain circumstances. The process can be improved though. Public feedback should be included. The Public Works Commission does not have complete authority. It is appropriate for the resolution to go to the TEUC.
• Councilor Shannon called for a point of order and requested the speakers stay on topic and not debate policies that are not part of the resolution on process.
• Councilor Dieng said there are many ways to accommodate people. City councilors should talk to residents directly in terms of process and start with the people losing parking by their residence. The momentum should continue on implementing the Walk Bike Master Plan.
• Councilor Wright recalled the Public Works Commission was asked to step back and see if there is a plan, though not perfect, that would work for everyone, but the Public Works Commission voted to go forward with the original plan. In addition there is outside influence from Local Motion. Finding a better process is good, but there is concern the same will happen again with the next project.
• Councilor Mason said the resolution is about process. A more formalized means to provide input would be good. The process can be improved for the next project.

      AMENDMENT by Councilor Deane, SECOND by Councilor Knodell, to refer the resolution to the TEUC and for the TEUC to work with the Administration to identify further guidance that should be given to the Public Works Commission with regard to process for implementing the Walk Bike Master Plan and to report back to City Council by September 25, 2017, the second City Council meeting in September.

                        DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENT:

• Councilor Mason asked if lines 15-18 of the resolution (resolve clause) will be replaced with the language of the motion. Councilor Deane clarified the resolution as stated is to be referred to TEUC.
• Councilor Shannon said it is helpful to have input from the TEUC. The process piece does not have to be adversarial. Public Works will welcome City Council participation in a process that benefits the public. Public Works does not want to make the citizens unhappy and tries to please as many people as possible. This will give guidance in terms of expectations laying the groundwork for better process going forward. The TEUC’s input will be helpful to everyone.
• Councilor Tracy said the TEUC welcomes the resolution and will schedule additional meetings if necessary to do the work. Meaningful changes to the process will be made and people will be informed of the changes.
• Councilor Hartnett clarified that being critical or questioning Public Works does not mean there is not support for Public Works. City Council has worked well with Public Works over the years. Sending the resolution to the TEUC does not bring balance.
• Assistant Public Works Director, Norm Baldwin, said it is important to recognize there are a number of competing priorities within the public right-of-way and in order of priority what is going to be served and how to decide what choices are to be made at that time when confronted with competing interests and no mitigating solutions is difficult. Every project has a different mix of stakeholders invested in the decision. The challenge is how to engage and encapsulate all the right people at the right time to avoid problems. Staff is trying to develop the competing interests to come up with solutions that are suitable for the public. Staff tries to engage the public as much as possible. It is important to have collective buy-in from City Council and the public before getting into conversations otherwise the conversations quickly become heated. The process is very important on getting clarity on how to do the work and how to proceed to a decision making process that is very dynamic and very contentious. A plan is needed at the start.
• Mayor Weinberger said it is hard to understand any opposition to getting clarity on the intent to give the Public Works Commission greater guidance on what the policymakers want to see happen. The policy direction is not simple or straightforward and will benefit from greater clarity on what the process should be upfront. Regarding the issue of balance, Burlington for decades has been far too focused, narrowly, on issues of the automobile and how to use the precious public right-of-way. A good process and debate is needed to restore balance in the right-of-way between the auto and other important matters such as keeping the lake clean, making sure there is adequate sidewalk, making sure people can bike in the city, and bringing back the great trees to the city. The Walk Bike Master Plan is not gospel. With good process the city can get it right.
• Councilor Wright said hopefully the TEUC will come back with a better process otherwise City Council can make changes. Councilor Wright mentioned a comment from a senior citizen who was contemplating leaving Burlington due to loss of value of homes because of some of the projects.
• Councilor Knodell said there is confidence the TEUC will work in a collaborative spirit with Public Works and the Administration to create a process that will lay the foundation for many great changes. The city is on the cusp of making improvements and investments in streets and sidewalks.

            There were no further comments.

VOTING ON AMENDMENT (refer resolution to TEUC): 11 ayes, one nay           (Councilor Hartnett); motion carried.

VOTING (on motion as amended): unanimous; motion carried.

Council President Knodell resumed facilitation of the meeting.

5.06 Permit Reform Recommendations – Permit Reform Project Team

MOTION by Councilor Wright, SECOND by Councilor Mason, to waive the reading and adopt the resolution to accept the plan for implementing permit reform recommendations prepared by the Permit Reform Project Team.

            DISCUSSION:

• Councilor Wright said the ad hoc committee looked at the resolution on permit reform and held a public hearing. Good comments were received from the public. The ad hoc committee supports the resolution and requested quarterly reports to City Council. Much was learned about open permits being held by many citizens. A plan is needed to deal with open permits which will be evaluated yearly to see if what is wanted is being achieved. With permit reform the process is more streamlined and less cumbersome.
• Councilor Mason noted the public wanted accountability in terms of executing permit reform. The quarterly report will assist other committees.

            There were no further comments.

VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

6.0       COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Councilor Tracy announced the next TEUC meeting is 8/9/17 to discuss consolidated trash pickup and the public process with the North Avenue project. The referral can also be discussed. Additional meetings will be scheduled as necessary to discuss the resolution on process. TEUC goals will be discussed and submitted to City Council.

7.0       CITY COUNCIL – GENERAL AFFAIRS

• Councilor Hartnett spoke positively of events hosted by the city and though people have their differences at the end of the day Burlington is a great place to live and raise a family.
• Councilor Roof reported the Board of Finance approved the contract for The Neighborhood Project to address student housing in neighborhoods. Strategies and funding sources will be looked at in December.
• Councilor Wright said the recent Festival of Fools event was fantastic.
• Councilor Bushor reported the Ward 1 and Ward 8 NPAs visited the new freshmen dorm on UVM campus. The dorms are impressive with adequate living space and a nice dining facility. Six hundred freshmen students will live in the dorm which connects to the library.
• Councilor Bushor announced on 8/9/17 UVM Medical Center will celebrate the expansion of the Miller Building. There will be a ceremony of the raising of the beam. The expansion is needed by the hospital. The project shows how two universities can work cooperatively and how the city worked to allow the university to have increased height in the core campus to the benefit of the community. Centennial woods remains intact.
• Council President Knodell acknowledged the great work of the Burlington firefighters in managing the dangerous fire at Torrey hall on UVM campus.

8.0       CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT – COUNCIL UPDATES

No report.

9.0       MAYOR – GENERAL AFFAIRS

9.01 Report from Mayor

Mayor Weinberger reported the following:

• There was outstanding firefighter work by Burlington Fire Department at the fire at Torrey Hall. There was also mutual aid from South Burlington, Winooski, and Colchester. The great leadership of Chief Locke and Deputy Chief Plante and the individual bravery of the firefighters saved the specimens in the herbarium.  In the future computer aided dispatch will ensure information on the property will be available to all firefighters while on route to the fire.
• Festival of Fools was a great event with music and block parties this year. There were huge crowds. Promotion of the event was outstanding. Thanks are extended to Burlington City Arts for the leadership.
• The solar shopper program is BED’s new initiative to help facilitate residents getting solar panels on their houses by getting bids from multiple vendors.

Council President Knodell recessed the City Council meeting at 9:29 PM to convene the City Council with Mayor Presiding meeting. The City Council meeting resumed at 9:30 PM.

9.02 Burlington Town Center Draft Development Agreement

Mayor Weinberger stated successful resolution of the appeal of the DRB permit has jumpstarted activity on the BTC project and moving forward with demolition and construction. The development agreement needs to be completed.

MOTION by Councilor Shannon, SECOND by Councilor Roof, to find that premature general knowledge of negotiations with BTC Mall Associates, LLC on the development agreement of the Burlington Town Center would place the city at a substantial disadvantage. VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

MOTION by Councilor Shannon, SECOND by Councilor Deane, based on the finding of premature general knowledge of the BTC Mall Associates negotiations  placing the city at substantial disadvantage to go into Executive Session to discuss the Burlington Town Center development agreement and invite the Mayor, Mayor’s Office staff, City Attorney, CAO, CEDO and staff to attend. VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

Executive Session was convened at 9:33 PM.

MOTION by Councilor Wright, SECOND by Councilor Roof, to adjourn Executive Session. VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

Executive Session was adjourned at 10:20 PM.

10.0     ADJOURNMENT

With no further business and without objection the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 PM.

RScty: MERiordan