Chittenden County, Vermont City of Winooski, 18 Sep 2023

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From YouTube: Winooski City Council - 9/18/2023

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Agenda: https://www.winooskivt.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09182023-1191?html=true

https://linktr.ee/townmeetingtv

00:00:00 Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance
00:00:27 Agenda Review
00:00:35 Public Comment
00:08:34 Consent Agenda
00:09:09 Council Reports
00:13:48 City Updates
00:17:54 Inclusion & Belonging Commission Appointments
00:21:44 Amendments: Municipal Code Chapter 17
00:26:32 CCRPC Annual Report
00:44:08 Chittenden County Brownfields Program
01:06:51 Winooski Falls East Design Approval
01:34:57 Strategic Vision Goal Update
01:48:48 Update: Downtown Winooski
02:18:01 Downtown Winooski State Grant
02:19:35 FY25 Budget Planning

This video belongs to http://www.cctv.org and published with permission under Creative Commons License CCTV Center for Media & Democracy Programming is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

A

Welcome everyone: it is 602 p.m. On Monday, September 18th, so I will call to order this meeting of the Winooski city council. Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Deputy, bear Thomas Renner.

B

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

C

One nation under God.

C

A

You okay, first up, is agenda review any concerns with the order this evening.

A

Okay, so we're ready for public comment uh now is space for anyone who is attending. Who wishes to comment about something not on this evening's agenda? um If you would like to kick us off.

D

A

Want to um please come introduce yourself, and then we will hear you.

E

F

E

Hi, my name is Carol Cannon I live on Richard street I was here I think on July 17th to ask about getting speed bumps on our street, and we had a petition I think I gave it.

G

E

I can't remember his last.

D

E

Thank you and uh I, don't know. What's happened and I'd like to see like to know if anything uh will be happening, uh the police chief, uh texted me or emailed me that they were going to put a speed card on our street and then apparently the speed cart is no longer and they have to look into getting another one. So we've had police cars go down the street once in a while, but you know it doesn't. It doesn't seem to make any difference and, of course the cars aren't speeding.

E

When the police cars are coming down, the street I had Neighbors The villeneers Who Live at the corner, um the yellow house. That looks like it's cantilevered out over the if you're at the end of Richard Street, um and they were saying what about and since they're they're doing the the painting of the lines uh they could maybe put letters stop when you get to the stop sign, there's one on Berlin Street and one on Richard Street going down the hill and I don't know if it would make a difference.

E

I think there's it's posted at the Bell Bellevue end of the street that it's a 214 dollar fine for going through the stop sign. I, don't know if anyone cares, but maybe you know long letters that say slow as you're driving from the hill towards Bellevue Street, something to at least jar. Somebody I don't know if they do that, if they have those stencils they must, they must have every kind of stencil right. The people that are doing the the stripes striping I.

A

Would guess but John could we invite you up here to respond.

A

um Yeah that works. We have an extra microphone. Okay, you can use that one.

H

H

um So, yes, we received your petition.

D

So the way we track.

H

It so you're aware on our City website we have a um a list of all the streets where we've received traffic coming or okay.

E

John Roger yeah, okay I only saw you this one nice to meet you in person nice to meet you.

H

So we do track all the streets that we receive requests.

D

H

If you go on the city website under the traffic calming evaluation, header I think it's.

H

G

Go to current initiatives.

H

Traffic and parking there'll be a list on there that shows all the updated streets. So Richard Street is a priority Street to review traffic calming it is when we ranked it. It is um at a maximum of uh Five Points. It scores a four which is one of the highest streets on here. So it's it is going to be one of the streets that we look at um First Once. Once we once.

I

E

H

Some funding to be able to actually do those those traffic studies.

E

I know I think you um included the the calming plan from Burlington correct and it seemed uh I. Don't seem to weird it sounded as though things don't get done unless someone gets hurt. I think I put some sarcastic thing about and yeah in one of my emails to you um so.

H

That is one of the criteria. We look at five years of historic um accents on street, but that's not the only um that's, not the only criteria to review. So when we do a traffic study, we'll actually go out and you've probably seen those tubes and, like some other things where we'll check to see what the the 80th percentile speed of a vehicle is to see like. Okay are. These are Vehicles going over the speed limit and in that traffic coming manual, which we have our own.

D

H

That's also on that web page. It it lays out um if it meets one of those thresholds, speed um any accidents uh cut through traffic, then that gives us the green light to start looking at traffic calming measures. Okay,.

E

So I know when we bought our house in 1980 um the hill I, don't even remember the name of the street. This is terrible. The hill by villomers um it was it was one way and so that you can only go down the hill. You couldn't come up. The hill and I know there are people I, don't know who they knew, but they got it to be.

E

You know two-way, but I was talking about it with the villamers and they would not be able to get it and they have a carport and they wouldn't be able to get into their carport they'd have to come, it's it's a weird corner and they would probably I don't know if it was. It was villomers that got it to be two-way, but.

D

H

D

Leclaire street, thank you. Yeah yeah.

E

But um they're they're still speeding. So do you have any sort of um any time plan.

H

So we would need to procure around five grand to do the study, so that's kind of where we're at right now and we are getting pretty late in the season to start looking at those that type study.

H

So when we get into the budget process for fy25, which will be starting very soon, there we'll be talking about it tonight, we will be looking to try to get some additional funding for next year to do that.

E

Work is it possible, though, since they're going to be painting the the streets that they could do you know sort of a a an elongated stop or slow down as they come up, LeClaire, Street and head towards Bellevue yeah.

J

E

There's a parking spot that someone was kind enough to put for the letter carrier where he Parks his truck.

K

E

I wouldn't want to if, if anyone was thinking about it, I don't want a block where Jason Parks his truck. We always like to keep our letter carrier happy.

H

um I will contact you before. Okay.

J

H

G

You thank you, that'd, be great.

E

um If that's, if that's anything that I can say, hey we've got this, you know that's.

H

An easy, short-term thing: we can try I, you know no promises, that's gonna help and.

E

I, don't know if you heard me say before that that they don't really stop when they get to the top of LeClaire, when they're going off of Richard Street and apparently they don't I. Don't know this because I'm not on Berlin street, but apparently they don't stop at that. Stop sign either. I! Guess really people don't really stop at stop signs anymore.

E

Do they it's they just kind of do the role but um and also the Bellevue and but anything that can be done would be greatly appreciated, and you may see me here again, but I'll keep asking. Thank you.

A

I admire the persistence, we're always happy to have you. Thank you and thank you John for the response.

A

Is there anyone else who uh wanted to make public comments? If you are in Zoom, you can use the chat or raise hand feature.

A

A

So next up is our consent agenda. We have our city, council and liquor control board, minutes from September 5., the payroll warrant for August to September accounts payable for September 13 and another established certificate in agreement for 25 wendyson Falls Way. Any questions or concerns on the consent agenda.

A

Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda.

F

Second, motion.

A

By Thomas, second, by Charlie, all those in favor, please say: aye aye.

L

A

Motion carries thank you. Council reports can I start with you.

C

A

um I will share that our finance commission Mets, since our last meeting to discuss our budget goals process and helped identify information that we should in that staff is going to include in the memo for us as we have that goal setting conversation, um Planning Commission I've been sharing updates on their process of looking at a design review district for several months. um That work is actually pivoted.

A

So instead of a design review, District, which we talked about before, where an area of the city would be set up to apply design review in order to retain historic and cultural buildings, um staff has been able to find a new pathway where we would actually create a local historic register instead and apply that review only to specifically identified buildings instead of having having to do an entire District so more to come on their next meeting in October and then finally, I'll share that Elaine and I met with the superintendent and School Board president to coordinate on content for our shared meeting.

A

October 11th. When you see city council will be joining the when you see school board for their regular meeting, Thomas.

B

So I just wanted to thank everybody who was involved in winooski's second Annual Pride Celebration. It was one of downtown's most attended events again. So thanks to everybody who came out as a vendor who participated, who offered their artistic Services, it was a really really great event and a big thank you to downtown Winooski and the city for organizing and planning. It was really really really great.

B

um Downtown Wednesday will also be here tonight, so I won't give too much of an update outside of bolingo continues on Tuesdays, so check out downtown winooski.org to know about locations and times. Thank you.

A

Thank you um Aurora. Would you like to go next.

L

Certainly so we.

A

L

Next meeting of inclusion and belonging is not going to be until next month. uh That's going to fall on the um the 12th for updates with State healthy, connected people. I, unfortunately wasn't able to attend last week's meeting, but the discussion was around reviewing the scholarship policy and the scholarship program usage data, so I'm sure Ray will be following up with the council when there's more to share on that.

A

Thank you, Brynn.

I

Sure um there's there was a airport public meeting um this past Thursday, the 14th um one of the agenda items was sound. Progress on the sound insulation program had a couple um members of the community reach out to ask questions about that and I forwarded that on to the airport officials to follow up. But if there's anything else um that comes up folks can reach out to me and I'm happy to facilitate that um getting answers and responses to your question. So my report doesn't meet again until October 4th.

I

We won't see an agenda until maybe the um late the week before and there's always an agenda item for um noise exposure map updates and sound uh insulation progress. So if anyone wants to attend those meetings or wants to um offer any comments or questions ahead of the meeting, um they can send those to me the next uh infrastructure Commission meeting is this Thursday at 6 30., um the agenda announcement went out this afternoon. I believe we'll be looking at the long term.

I

um Options for uh traffic calming and streetscaping for lafountain and Dion um I know. John has no agenda item to do a work plan update so I won't cover um cover anything else of that, but that's that's it. On my end, thank you.

A

Okay, let's move on to City updates, Elaine, okay,.

M

So it's with some sadness that I need to reiterate the announcements that was made in press release and was picked up by a few news outlets that our police chief has decided finally to resign uh retirement he's retiring, so lots of thanks for his 30 years of dedicated Public Service leadership in uh for our community.

M

You know he he started as an officer in 1996 and worked his way up through Sergeant.

G

M

Deputy chief interim Chief and then finally became the chief in 2014., so we certainly appreciate how well he's gotten to know this community and how well he has served it, noting that we won't be doing anything in public, unfortunately, for him at his own request, which is very painful for some of us, but we will be, of course, acknowledging his accomplishments personally.

M

So it's not because anything went wrong just so. You know why there's no public party, it isn't a very important role, as we know for this community in particular.

M

So in the hiring process going forward, we are securing a a planning to secure a search firm to help in a professional support of this process of the search process for a new police chief, and we will definitely be thinking about good ways to engage the public for input on what we need in a next chief.

M

This includes internal community and external community, so to speak from the organization that is so stay tuned for more information on that uh Winooski River Bridge replacement project, that's the Winooski Burlington bridge over the Winooski River, the first public meeting on that will be tomorrow night. That's Tuesday, September 19th at 6 pm at the O'brien Community Center here in Winooski. Please join the Vermont agency of transportation and the project Partners to learn more ask questions and get involved in the process. Interpretation will be provided for Nepali, Somali, Arabic, Swahili and potentially maimai.

M

A virtual attendance option is available as well as light refreshments and limited child care options for full details. Please visit our website at winooskievt.gov news or call 802-655-6410.

M

We are hiring the city. Onuski is currently hiring for a public works department, equipment operator, an entry-level position responsible for a wide range of work associated with maintaining our streets, sidewalks Water, Systems facilities and grounds, while operating a variety of vehicles and equipment that do not require a commercial driver's license.

M

We are also hiring for a brand new position of part-time fire inspector who will serve the community by proactively reducing risks of fires across the community life safety and Public Health, Building, Inspections and daytime emergency response at the Winooski Fire Department training will be available. You can learn more and apply at manusquevt.gov jobs and, finally, construction update the Vermont agency of Transportation project at U.S, Route, 7 and East Allen streets are resuming lane. Closures may be required throughout the week until the 21st of September delays may occur, especially in the evening hours.

M

Work will be done at night from 7 pm to 6 a.m. Residents should expect increased lighting and noise during construction work on the inspection and Expansion Joints on the Winooski Burlington bridge is also scheduled to begin next week. Please anticipate lane closures and possible flagged traffic at this location. As a result of this work, delays might occur to your commute sign up for project updates at Winooski vt.gov news.

M

A

You so we'll move into our regular items now uh item a up for discussion, approval, our inclusion and belonging commission appointments. Welcome Jenny.

A

K

Everyone can you hear me: yes,.

J

We can Anna welcome to the meeting.

K

Thank you, I, don't know if Jenny wanted to say something before me: I was just prompted to unmute.

N

So um counselor herd and I are here to seek the approval of our two commission applicants. For this evening, um Sarah Marshall is is joining us by Zoom. We had conducted interviews with both of the applicants um with myself, a counselor herd and our interim chair, Parker silver, and we sent those their applications onto the various commissions to seek approval and those were granted. So their terms will expire on 6, 30 25.

N

and we're really excited to have them join our commission. um Lily hammerling was traveling, so she had sent me just something to say tonight.

M

N

Me they they say: um hey y'all, my name is Lily hammerling and my pronouns. Are they slash she and a person of the global majority? I've lived in Vermont for 10 years and moved to Winooski last year, I am a carpenter, crafts person and Homesteader and I applied for this Commission, because I'm interested in learning about how we can challenge systemic inequality and accessibility and problem solving solutions that serve the community.

N

So that is from Lily, and then we have Sarah.

N

L

N

We have Anna, sorry, no.

K

No worries uh thanks Jenny, my name's Anna I. Don't think that I can put on my uh video but I think that's okay, um I use she her pronouns um I'm, also traveling right now, so I'm kind of in a hallway right now. So sorry, if it's loud um but yeah, thanks for uh inviting me to this today, I'm excited to be a part of the commission. I'm from Burlington Vermont um so grew up.

K

There went to CCV in Winooski, After, High, School and then went on to UVM and I've been living in Winooski now for a couple years, a little over two years, um so I'm just excited to be a part of this commission. I think. The way that Winooski is starting to address inclusion and belonging um is pretty cool in like an integrated way to hold all the other commissions accountable.

K

So I'm excited to be a part of that and to be a part of addressing some of the challenges that I've kind of been seeing through my time being in Burlington, so yeah.

A

Their application in lilies as well a lot of really good experience, so we're excited to speak for myself excited.

D

A

um And volunteering your time did anyone have any additional questions or comments.

B

Well, additional questions just thank you.

A

All right: well, would someone like to make a motion to approve these two appointments.

C

A

Second motion by Charlie second, by Bryn, all those in favor, please say aye aye aye motion carries thank you. Thank you. Anna have a smooth trip.

K

Okay, thank you and thanks for having me thank.

A

You we are on to Item B, um introduce.

A

Hearing dates is Chief, Audi um he's.

M

Online, yes, okay, I told him not to come today.

A

Chief, are you, are you there? Are you ready.

F

Now we see you yes,.

J

So good evening, um this is the introduction.

J

um After complete legal review of this ordinance update um with the public billing registry, um we had worked through the Housing Commission we'd worked through several other pieces with the council in draft form um and again there is no real changes in the legal review. Just some some general cleanup um in general. That's what most of the work in this ordinance was was General, cleanup and updating. From the last time that we had visited the ordinances.

A

Thank you and to be clear, um are you seeking a public hearing for both chapters, so 17 and I? Think nine is the other one.

J

We are seeking public hearing for just this chapter.

D

Yeah we're just beginning the.

J

Legal review, because of schedules this week with the other chapter: okay,.

A

All right were there any questions from Council on these edits.

C

A

Are there any questions from members of the public.

M

uh If I may yes so we're asking Council to introduce this so that it can be discussed at the public hearing, that would also be said today. Hopefully.

M

So when there's an ordinance change proposed, Council has to formally introduce it to start the hearing process.

A

I, don't have my language at Handy for that Elaine Elaine. Oh, what is the statement that you need? One of us to say please I'm gonna.

M

Have to look it up. Apologies.

A

M

I think you can just introduce the by title, um but if you want to wait like a minute I'll look it up. We.

A

Can wait in awkward.

D

A

M

I could have included that in the cover sheet, I also should have looked it up in advance.

M

M

Oh interesting so I'm, just looking at the charter ordinances in general, that's section 402 in orderness may be introduced by any member at any regular special meeting of the council upon introduction city clerk shall distributed copy to each council member into the manager et cetera, et cetera. It doesn't actually provide the language, so I think you can introduce it by saying um the.

A

M

D

A

To introduce it in a motion to set the hearing? Yes, exactly.

A

Very well may I have a motion to introduce amendments to Municipal Code, chapter 17, public building registry.

C

So moved second motioned.

A

By Thomas, second, by Charlie, all those in favor, please say aye aye motion carries, may I have a motion to set a public hearing date for October, 2nd.

L

So moved so no motion.

A

Bible's in favor, please say: aye.

B

A

B

A

Okay, thank you mayor. Thank you. Thank you, staff. Okay. We are now on to item C, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission annual report presentation welcome, Charlie.

O

Thank you very much. Thank you for making time on your agenda for me. um So this is my uh kind of annual I, often referred to as a customer service check-in uh to make sure we're providing the services to you in the way that you expected.

O

The report is included in your packet. You know um I'll just kind of Briefly summarize that and maybe touch on a handful of topics.

O

um The first a couple, paragraphs kind of just give you background about the commission's makeup um and history and a little bit about our budget and how we leverage your local dues to bring in more state and federal funds to the region which has been going up over the last few years.

O

G

O

I think when I started, this was like we used to a 10 to 1 return, we're now up to thirteen dollars to every dollar you put in so um so, but that's also I think just a statement of the needs at the state, in particular, where they're directing more money to the rpcs to work with our municipalities on a variety of issues, um many of which you're talking about um so um your representatives um are listed below there. Thank you for volunteering um and there's a link.

O

This is kind of a little new feature, a QR code for anybody who you know looks at this online. You can click on this link and get to your report on our website lives there. So, if you ever need to or want to refer to it in the future, I think we have at least the last three years of your annual reports on our website and each municipality has a page also that has some of the projects that we're working on are on that page as well.

O

um Turning to the second page or at the bottom of the first onto the second are specific things that we did with uh the city in the last year, and this is again the last fiscal year. So, as of the end of June, um there's happy to take any questions or feedback on how any of those went uh just a couple, notable ones that we worked with you on your Ada transition plan on The Pedestrian facilities, so we're able to use our transportation funding to work on the transportation related, so sidewalks ramps and curbs Etc.

O

Unfortunately, we can't use those for buildings access, but hopefully it our portion was able to help you out with that work and then also just you kind of continued investment in your storm water system. We've been working with Winooski and a few other towns to just get some better data for stormwater planning and hopefully that that's still going on and we'll extend into this fiscal year.

O

um Nothing else I want to touch on there any feedback on any of those projects or or any other projects that we were working on with you. This is your chance to tell me how we should get better, but.

A

I will just share.

A

Touch on topics we are hearing from in the community, um and so it's nice to have this sort of support coming from you and something we can highlight for community members of there's a lot of work to be done and we're making a lot of effort and thankfully, have state and Regional support on that. Yeah.

O

Thank you. Now it takes uh teamwork. The next section on the top of Page Three, is the transportation Improvement program. There's a link to it. If you want to see more detail of what's happening in other municipalities, et cetera, Winooski has two projects in there right now. The mouth Bay rail Crossing for f for this fiscal year, so I'm not sure when they're going to get started. Oh, maybe that's!

O

No! That's not the East Allen Street project! You were talking about um yeah, that's interesting, that somewhere else in the tip in like a Paving or some other project, and then there's also a Vermont 15 improvements, Weaver Lane to Florida Ave that is pending in the capital program, so we'll see if that gets scheduled this winter, when a v-trans comes out with their proposed Capital program, um the last uh three to four pages, really talk about just Regional projects that we're working on without regard to any specific municipality I'll touch. On a few of those.

O

um We are updating our ecos plan right now, that's probably going to extend through 2024 with more engagement, especially for priority or marginalized communities and kind of getting into public engagement and racial Equity. We have been investing quite a lot over the last couple years: we've hired a full-time Equity engagement manager um and we've formed an equity advisory committee. We had an organizational assessment done so that's kind of looking backwards right now we're doing a mix of internal and external things.

O

We are finally getting to an equity statement for our organization, that'll be in front of our board Wednesday night and then we'll follow that with a code of conduct and we're also putting together a pretty detailed Equity action plan to kind of guide. Our efforts to address Equity issues over the next few years happy to take any questions on that other topics.

O

We just completed a comprehensive Economic, Development strategy. This is a federal uh not mandated, but there's Federal requirements. If you want to do one of these programs from the economic development Administration, we are actually doing this with Addison Rutland and Central Vermont regions. So it's kind of a four region.

O

Economic Development strategy, which is a little bit of an odd geography, so we made up a label West Central Vermont that doesn't exist anywhere else, but kind of covered that geography, but those for us four counties are the last four that don't have an economic development district and so Eda kind of wanted us to fill in the rest of the state, and so we just partnered up and it is uh forming the basis of our Economic Development strategies that will be in our regional plan and housing remains. A big topic.

O

You'll continue to work on housing policy, particularly at the State House. There's a lot of other topics. I could mention around energy planning, walking, biking, Emergency, Management, uh Health, Equity I'll touch on also. There is a it's on page five near the end. um There's one of the things that came out of that is a Health Equity planning tool kit, so I recommend taking a look at that and there's also a mapping tool there to look at race, disability, poverty and English ability.

O

So I don't know if that will be much help in Winooski, but at least it's available, County, Wide and I. Think I'll end my report with that, but happy to take any questions on anything on here or feedback.

A

Charlie, do you know the timeline for the equity action plan that you all are working on.

O

um The timeline yeah, roughly I I think it's probably going to be I. Think the code of conduct is going to take two or three months, I think the equity action plan we have a draft of, but maybe within the next four to six months, to really get it finalized and.

A

Is that uh internally focused on the RPC itself.

O

um I think yeah, it's a lot about what we can do and what role we play in the community. Okay um and actually one early thing- that's likely to be in there- is hosting some sort of regional equity convening.

O

um We were trying to get it done before the end of the calendar year, but um I think it's probably going to be in February. Now, probably a Saturday morning, if you remember like two years ago, we did kind of an equity Workshop. We had probably 80 folks, it was virtual, it was 21.

O

um and so um we're going to try to do this. One in person there's also more work, has gone on in our municipality, so we're hoping to get a good mix of community members and municipality reps that are working on Equity to just share how things are going, give each other feedback and um and maybe with a little bit of emphasis on housing. Also just because it's been such a big Topic in the State House.

A

A

Sorry there's some questions on.

I

Yeah um one thing that has come up for us and I mentioned to um some of the teams of your team before um we uh City staff continue to share with us that there's only one contractor that does line striping and so we're competing against other municipalities both for time um and when there's only one that doesn't really give any Market competition.

I

So that said, um they can kind of set the rates. However, they want to, and it doesn't um provide um the health and safety um we need for for our own Community when um you know they're, prioritizing larger projects and other municipalities.

I

um So it would be great if ccrpc could help navigate um finding um additional line, striping companies and seeing what we could do to solicit more interests for um for those services in the area. Even if it's, for um you know a limited time attracting an out of state company or even trying to offer some startup funds um of some kind to encourage a new company to to come to the area.

I

um But that's that's something that we continue to hear from our community, that as a high priority need and and something again we continue to hear from City staff that there's only one and um we're not necessarily a high a large project for that company to prioritize.

O

Yeah thanks um yeah and Elaine's, uh oh, where this came up recently with um you're. Not the only municipality to have concerns in this topic um and I. Think South Burlington is pretty, am I sharing too much.

O

There's an unnamed municipality um does that work, you roll the tape back, um but um I think there's definitely some conversation uh with across the municipalities, the municipal managers about how to acquire, and there may be one- maybe one town buys it and then shares it, so I think yeah. There may be more than one way to solve that issue, um but you know I think it's also yeah I wish. This was the only topic where that same kind of story is playing out.

O

um You know we're hearing the same thing um around like traffic signal timing and and just other uh Public Works needs and and more um so I think yeah. We're gonna have to find creative ways to deal with these issues of scarcity and services. So hopefully that's one that that may have an easier solution than others stay tuned. Elaine will update you more.

I

Yes, yes, yeah I, appreciate that and I do think it takes. It will take some creative thought so, to the extent that ccrpc can be helpful and and supportive in facilitating those conversations. That would be awesome. Thank.

O

A

Charlie can I ask about the economic development strategy too.

O

A

You know it says in here that um this will be used to make granting decision is called out. um So is this more of a tool.

A

Just for that to figure out where to target funds, or would it be like a guidance of that we could look at of maybe what we should be thinking about in our Economic Development I.

O

Think it's both. It does have some of the kind of policy Direction and ideas, but it is you know.

O

At one level, it is kind of a requirement to access specifically Eda funds, um and so they ask do you have a seds is like the first question before they open up the door to funding, so it is really trying to open up the door to Eda funding in particular and Eda has a very significant focus on addressing um poverty, so I I do encourage you to keep your eyes open for opportunities there and we're happy to help with a Grant application or anything else.

O

If you see an opportunity and we'll we'll do the same thing we'll share, if we see one coming across, that looks like it might be something that the city can take advantage of and.

M

Eda stands for economic.

O

Development Administration.

A

Thank you, yeah.

O

Right, it's Federal it's under Department of Commerce and he used to not get a lot of funding, but in just in the recent years it's really gotten a lot more funding through Congress, so I mean. Who knows what will happen in the next month or two, but um there is quite a bit of money there right now.

M

To back up to bring.

M

To prepping, but Charlie himself facilitates uh the chinon county manager's lunch, which is often where unusual or creative ideas take root, like the community outreach program provided a service provided by the Howard Center for social worker, co-response or Standalone response to otherwise what would be law enforcement calls that came about because of a lunch on one of the lunches. So you know he is doing that piece of of community in a useful way.

O

Thank you for that.

M

Everybody does it appreciate it.

A

I want to ask our representative uh board rep uh Michael Brian If. He, if there's anything, he wants to add he's attending on Zoom.

D

No I, can you hear.

O

A

We can hear you.

C

O

Got nothing to add that uh that Charlie didn't cover um yeah? No, thank you, though, and and and thank you as I guess, you're. Now our alternate rep Madame mayor.

A

Yeah I'll see you at the meeting all.

O

Right and since uh the former mayor said hello, there just notable he has celebrated 25 years on our board this summer. So a.

A

Long term of service, thank you. Yeah.

O

You had to bring that up. Didn't you Charlie.

I

O

When you start when you're 10.

D

O

Mike good things can happen.

C

A

The comment as well: anyone who's in attendance, if you have a question or a comment, um feel free to raise your hand or leave a chat.

A

We've got somebody.

J

Go ahead, Muriel.

P

Hi, thank you. It's Marielle Matthews with Winnie ski partnership. For for prevention, can you hear me? Okay, welcome, Ariel great um thanks for the update Charlie great to hear. What's going on, um I will definitely be reaching out for some technical assistance around utilizing. Some of the mapping uh stuff that you just mentioned. I also wanted to promote. Since you brought up the Health, Equity, Summit or a I think it was.

P

You were talking about potentially convening a Health Equity Summit doctor Marissa Coleman also asked me to promote UVM health networks, Health Equity Summit, which is coming up on Sunday October 29th. There's a poster presentation and Monday October 30th. There are workshops and sessions that they're hoping to bring a large crowd to so mark your calendars, mostly for Monday, but also for Sunday evening.

P

That's all I got.

O

Thanks for that,.

A

Thank you, Muriel.

O

And good, to hear from you.

A

Are there any other folks on Zoom who want to ask a question or make a comment.

A

D

Else for members of council.

A

All right well thank.

O

You, as always, Charlie yeah. Thank you very much. Thank you.

A

So we'll move on to item D on for discussion, introducing the Chittenden, County Regional, Planning, Commission brownfields program.

A

Q

Thank you um blew the council and members of the public um and uh so I'm Dan Albrecht uh senior planner at Chittenden. County RPC been there 20 years now. Also my colleague Darren chibler, on the line as well too. Who helps me with the program uh Paul? Is it? Can you bring up the slides.

M

Paul, are you there? Oh there we.

Q

Go great yeah if you can go full screen, that'd be great: okay, yeah, so I'm Dan, and uh that was Darren on the on the line there. um Somebody brief you on the brownfields program, update just talk a little bit about uh recent projects, our protocols, what it is we actually do and what we don't do uh next slide. Please.

Q

So um one key thing about brownfields is: it doesn't have to be a property, that's actually contaminated, it's just a perception of such um and all um and then that's a key thing, because uh a lot of the brownfields work that is done I mean the high profile project. Big industrial areas are obviously dilapidated properties, but a lot of what takes place in Chittenden, County or a.

B

Growing area there's.

Q

Lots of development activity by both the private sector and the non-profit sector um and simply put whether it's our program or whether it's a bank people don't want to invest in a project. Unless there's a you know what the real cost might be and B you don't want to purchase anybody's liabilities because if you buy it, you own it. So next stack slide, please so our brownfields program has been around since about 2006 or so uh and over the years we've gotten a lot of EPA grants, they're.

Q

What's called good, community-wide assessment grants um and they're pretty they're highly competitive, um and also we write lots of Grants and I, get help from your staff and others on reviewing my grant applications and things like that, but usually every couple years we're lucky enough to get one of those. Our most recent one uh I wrote the grant about a year ago, and it was awarded um this uh this past spring is a EPA Grant of 500 000. Most of that funding is for Consultants.

Q

We do charge staff time to it, but the program runs pretty smoothly. In recent years, the legislature has passed through funding to accd agency of Commerce and Community Development, which then Farms it out to another RPC, and each of the rpcs are getting about a hundred thousand dollars. So we've already spent about two 100 000 grants and there's a third one.

Q

That'll start this fall sometime and basically what the we use the funding for is we hire engineering firms or what the parlance is called a qualified environmental, professional or QEP to do assessments or plan for cleanup. It's very key to stress this money is not for the actual physical cleanup of a property that we have next slide. Please.

Q

um So the way it works is that you, the property owners or potential purchasers, come to us and request assistance, um and we have to check that the properties eligible and typically that involves whether or not the current owner or the immediate prior owner cause some contamination there what's called live. Is there a liable party or, and is that party viable to be able to pay for such study?

Q

So once we determine that uh usually there's a there's, also a principle of a you know: innocent purchaser protection and sometimes there's innocent landowners who bought a piece of property. Didn't have any studies done and then you know they and bought the property in the 80s.

Q

Yeah looks clean whatever and then low and behold there was a fuel tank or something like that. um So once that eligibility is determined, we hire them to uh to to do the work, the environmental site assessment. Once you go through assessment work and you actually know what you're going to build or have a clear idea. Then you write a cleanup plan and, depending on the relative, how dirty the dirt is sometimes the dirt's so dirty you gotta, take it out other times.

Q

You can just say all right, we'll put the parking lot on top of the old industrial dirt and just make sure it's safe. That way and.

G

Q

On the use, whether it's residential or commercial or open space, so and again just stress, we do not pay for actual site cleanup next slide. Please.

Q

um So the most basic one is a phase one they're, just a few thousand dollars. That's pretty much like a desktop exercise, but it's fascinating in particular, because it's basically a literature review and the Consultants that we hire they. uh They look at, of course, deed history.

Q

You know what activities took place on it and there are many many interesting things that happened in the days before zoning and all of what people did in buildings and there's also fascinating fire Insurance maps that are hand drawn for Winooski that you can figure out what was what it's kind of interesting. There were dry cleaners everywhere, like nobody, nobody had a washing machines. Everything was dry clean only uh so that's just basically a desktop exercises. Next slide. Please, um and at the end of a uh phase you can go back one slide.

Q

You may have done two okay, so phase two. Typically at the end of a phase one the consultant will say.

Q

Maybe it's like there's really no issues to be concerned about there's, no abutting or nearby properties that have had contamination issues. um There was nothing at the property that took place. That is suspect. Sometimes a phase one is all you need to establish like there are no environmental conditions here, what they call recognized environmental conditions, but in Burlington and Winooski and other areas with history of industrialization and property development. There's a good chance, you, you know better Play, It's, better, play it safe and do a phase two and that's typically like soil sampling, groundwater sampling.

Q

Sometimes it's the materials in the building asbestos lead paint, pcbs, Etc. So that's a phase two, which is typically more extensive and uh involves involves testing next slide. Please and then the final thing that takes place is um once you've done. The studies you, you pair the studies with what your Redevelopment plan is. So, if you're doing residential those are the strictest standards in terms of soil. What the the levels that you detect certain chemicals at.

Q

So if it's residential those levels are more strict than if it's commercial or an open space or a parking lot or something. So the consultant will then prepare a list of action Alternatives that can be leave the dirt in place, but you can't put the building there or you take the dirt out, which is great, but it's expensive, so different ways, things and then I'll write a corrective action plan based upon the alternative. That's chosen next slide. Please.

Q

So we have a committee here uh called the brownfields advisory committee. We have. We have John Rosser. Here is one of our committee members. We have somebody from Burlington cedo. We have Lake Champlain Basin program, some of the other uh Community Health Center folks, couple different people and what we've really focused on when we write our grants. Like the story, we tell when we write our grants to EPA. We can't talk about unemployment.

Q

We don't have that. We've got poverty issues, but it's not as Stark as you know, a Mill Town or something or a large. You know neighborhood in Chicago, or something or old, really heavy old Industrials. What's our number one problem housing right, so we scare them with all these stats, like our vacancy rate, is less than one percent and the rents are this and it's crazy. We need more housing, so that's the real priority.

Q

So when we look at an application, we say well, what's the plan and use of this property, so we really try to we're tweaking some of our guidelines of how we fund things, but we're really looking at what's the new housing units? What's the new square footage of commercial space and then what's new recreation or open space and then there's other tangible public benefits, transit or solid waste management?

Q

Or you know a park or a trail, there's all different kinds of things, but that's how we decide the relative amount of support we give for projects with Municipal projects and projects from the non-profit sector generally being funded close to 100 percent, and then private sector projects usually like a cost share element there. So next slide, please.

Q

um So prior projects in Winooski um back in uh it exists uh back in you know, 10 years ago we did a big project or excuse me, one of our Consultants did uh to map where all the likely underground storage tanks were and uh have it in a database format, um and then some of the key projects we've done over the years, Winooski Falls for Winooski Falls away. That's the big green parcel open space right next to the bridge. There and I won't get into the details on that.

Q

But Winooski Hotel Group came to us and we did all the so the phase ones and we did a phase two there they did they paid for a phase one. We did the phase two and then things kind of bogged down with you know the ACT 250 and all that kind of, but that property you know it's been studied. It's I, don't believe there was significant cleanup costs or you know manageable. That's where a gas station used to be uh way back in the day.

Q

um So that's parcel is something to think about. We talked about it in our grant. uh Myers pool one great small little project. We were just helped out early on just to figure out and I looked at the old report from then you know they looked in the there was lead paint, but only in one part of the building there was the caulking. There was the tiles floor, tiles things like that like. If you see a nine inch tile, not a 12 inch tile.

Q

If it's nine inches, it's got its bestest most likely so, but that helped give you guys the information you needed when you guys did your plan to rebuild that pool and stuff uh lot. 7D.

Q

Of course, you'll hear more about that right after me, from John we helped pay for the phase one and then the corrective action plan on that project, and then one of the uh you know a great shining example of making zoning work with form-based code, and then we did the phase one for what used to be the Andes cars there and so yeah 31 Apartments I mean that's so you're doing great work. It takes two things you need brownfields Redevelopment and you need to change the code and things happen.

Q

Lo and behold, um and then we did do a phase one for 40 Winooski Falls away. That's the Green Lawn space in front of Waterworks. That's the city-owned parcel there. So we did do a phase one and we almost got. We got started on the phase two, but then we called it off with the city, because the the deal uh on a potential property swap fell through um so um next slide. Please.

Q

So yeah just some pictures. Obviously what what used to be there? What's there now uh 355 Main I think it's called Garden Garden Apartments.

E

Q

Gardens yeah um next slide. Please.

Q

And then, of course, the pool and all right next slide.

Q

Okay, so I just wanted to just open it up here like when we wrote Our Grant application. We highly asked you to like highlight your target areas. What are some parcels you're looking at so you know forward new ski Falls ways, that's been studied, but if somebody wants to Redevelopment or do something The Next Step would be well. What's the re.

Q

What's the actual Redevelopment that goes there, and then you would just do a corrective action plan and uh that's a cost relatively easy to cover it's usually less than 10 grand it's not crazy, but that again it's a parcel. We talked about the city knows about, of course, 40 Winooski Falls Way um I mean we could, if you wanted to, you, guys, could move forward coming to us with a request for a phase. Two you'd know more.

Q

What actually is in there by doing some sampling and you there used to be like a smelt, smelting furnace way back in the day around there, but if you want to kind of tee up that property for doing something next step come to us for a phase two. We can get it done and then you know. Oh, maybe it's really not that big a deal or oh. We know we need to add. You know fifty thousand dollars for cleanup costs or whatever, but that's one and then of course, we've already seen it.

Q

You know your main arteries um tell you know: I, would any property owners here or people who are thinking of purchasing property and we've already worked with several in the development Community uh already uh Mr de guest being a good example for one project, so uh he's in communication with us about other projects. You know so whether it's a developer or the non-profit sector or you own property on here you know, come to us and you know maybe you're it's a way to.

Q

If you're going to sell your property who's ever going to buy your property is going to ask the same questions. Anybody else can answer. So does that make sense by doing some of your own homework or like wow? Maybe my you know it's it's starting to check the boxes, to get your property ready for sale and stuff, so so reach out to us, reach out to our committee or talk to John as well too um so uh yeah next slide. Please.

A

D

Counselor Oakley has her hand yeah.

A

I

um I'm, so the question I have is probably just not gonna be feasible.

G

But I think about the.

I

um The National Guard property that is anticipated to be just decommissioned.

A

Q

Where's that property, it's.

A

Next to Richards park off lafountain Street on the east side of town, okay,.

Q

What will happen after it's decommissioned? Who will own it.

Q

Mm-Hmm and what kind of zoning districts in it.

Q

Q

Right so right so, for example, I mean I, don't know what the decommissioning process entails if they're required.

A

The whole thing right just wondering: I guess.

A

I guess on this sort of thing, I've.

Q

Never I've never had an interaction with the guard on this kind of thing so but.

M

That would be of potential interest, because they're they're charged they're funding for maintaining their other properties comes from sale, lots of existing. So if it's a way for them to reduce their costs, they might be interested.

D

Q

Right and I'm just wondering if there's standards for decommissioning require them to clean it up to pre-purchase conditions where they have a, in other words, they're.

G

Not going to leave like.

Q

A pile of oil barrels there, but I would think not so.

G

Q

Like I say, if a most basic thing to one of the most basic steps, even if a property is cleaned up, a phase one which just costs a few thousand dollars and takes a month to get done, establishes in the record before you buy the property that a consultant said hey.

Q

This is the condition of the property before it was purchased. So it breaks any chain of liability. If you don't do a phase one you could you can reasonably.

G

Q

We we weren't the National Guard, we didn't do that and but it still makes it clunky to us. So the state has a program called brella. The limited liability forgot, the whole acronyms brownfields reuse, environmental, limited liability, but that's you enroll in that with the state we help with the phase one. It breaks the chain of liability you're clear to move forward with a purchase knowing nobody's going to point the finger at you later for old contamination. So even even.

G

Q

A clean property, if somebody wants to buy it and.

D

Q

So yeah we could definitely help out with that. So yeah.

I

We can reach out yeah.

Q

And then the last uh you know item here we're uh trying to think about. You know this Grant's going on for four years, we're coming up to the winter time we're trying to think of other ways to do some Outreach we'll try to probably do some signage, maybe at least put it up in the community center. Maybe uh do just a table at the farmer's market. Sometimes just so people are aware of the program.

Q

um You know again, it primarily involves you know: multi-unit we're not looking to help single house transfers, but if it's three three or more units, four or more units with the changes in the state's S100- and you know some people got a chance to boost the number of units. You know we might be able to help out with that, depending on the number of units and all and then, of course you know local Realtors, just so they're familiar with it. So I.

G

Mean any other.

Q

Ideas that we can we can hit up to spread. The word out, you know: that's why I'm kind of looking at you guys here and that's kind of why.

D

I'm here tonight too, but yeah.

Q

I

Think that there's I mean front porch forum. Oh.

A

From push forward yeah.

Q

Yeah- and we can do a posting on that through our account as well. You know I.

A

Mean we, if there's like flyers or information, certainly there's more even more events that we could share.

D

A

um Our own Outreach channels well.

Q

And I know Eric like you can, if you can just you know if somebody comes in asking.

D

Zoning collection, hey.

Q

I want to buy this property and they have concerns. You know we can. You know, especially anything that can do multi-unit anything in your form-based code. I mean we're seeing it happening now and I. You know I come to work every day here you know so I kind of depending on which way I go I kind of see. Oh, that property I, wonder what the plan for.

D

That is, you know.

Q

D

G

Q

Have some private conversations with you guys about certain properties of you know so.

D

A

I I could come up with some more ideas and thinking about the housing aspect of this. You know there's several connection points where they have with different people in the Housing Community yeah.

Q

And stuff so yeah we I mean we work with Champlain Housing Trust all the time and so.

A

I, imagine all the larger players are aware, but yeah yeah. We can always remind.

Q

um Right, you know we have multiple Consultants on retainer for us ready to go so we're you know, kind of kind of make it happen and stuff.

A

Over I see your hand.

L

Yeah I was just at gonna: ask if any of the material um has TR is translated into any other languages.

Q

Talked about it and we put it in our grant talking about doing that, so I might look to you guys for some guidance on some firms to hire. For that you know. We've got some contacts that our Equity staff person has been working on, but you guys obviously has the most familiarity.

M

Q

At the most basic level to people know, what's what so.

M

Yeah and Austin's probably familiar.

M

Q

Great no thank you. That's a good suggestion, yeah. So.

A

There any questions from members of the public.

A

Feel free to use, raise hand or chat Brina, see your hand is raised.

I

Yeah I was curious, um so we have a couple properties that I'm not sure. If my internet is working. Sorry, um you.

L

I

Hear me all right, so we have the properties of the city that have um uh had fires in the past year, 9 to 12 months or so. um Is there any ability to access funding to help uh Revitalize those properties, they're multi-family or business Commercial mixed commercial housing.

Q

I mean one of the things that happens during the environmental. The phase one is the one that's right, the the consultant, in addition to a property record search, they always check with the fire department any incidents there. uh You know and check with other. You know you know local residents or prior owners prior operators prior renters to the sense they can. So that would be identified, and that would be you know, I guess if it was a, it was a building that was still charred or something like that.

Q

That would be part of the environmental assessment, presumably there's some sort of clean up ramifications of Ash and smoke damage and all that kind of stuff. So that's all part of what we called hazardous building materials assessment. You know which involves not only issues of contaminants, but issues of safety as well too, and sometimes our Consultants will hire a subcontract with a structural engineer. You know how much of the building is salvageable so so.

G

Q

People are coming to any kind of multi-unit four units or more, you know, especially you know, that's the kind of thing we can help with whether it's the the current owner or potential purchaser.

I

That's awesome. Thank you.

A

Q

Thanks for having me I've.

A

Heard of the brownfields program many times but now I've I can fully understand it.

Q

Okay, all right thanks very much.

A

Thank you and thank you, Darren.

A

Okay, we'll move on to item e on for discussion or approval The manuski Falls East lot, 7D revised design approval um John. Did you want to tee anything up before sure yeah I see Bill and dagar in attendance.

H

Yeah I'll do a quick intro, um so this is kind of a housekeeping item. I would say: we've talked about a lot of the changes on this project, but I don't think you've actually seen it in sort of rendering form in a while. So back in March 2020, the city council authorized the application of the ACT 250 permit and then subsequently I think it was in June of 2020 um city.

D

H

Approved the design at that time and then it and then it went on to an act, 250 application and approval. That was back when there was um uh uh Vic component on the North End. So, as you know, we've that has kind of shifted to housing, given covid and impacts there and and we've talked about that and sort of.

D

H

It in our agreements, but this is sort of the the the rendering form, so you can see the pretty picture of what it will actually look like so um so we just wanted to get this in front of you um and get any feedback, because this also plays into our local zoning. Permit application. So in order for Eric to um sign off on the local zoning, permit, there's a few to do. Items that we have to do.

H

One is make sure we satisfy act, 250 and then also you know we have to go through our internal zoning approval process and the council approved design is one of them, so we want to make sure you had a look at this again. um So I don't know um Bill if, if you're there, if you want to go through some of these renderings or.

A

I think that would be. That would be several of us.

H

Yeah this is 2020., so we've been working at a.

F

D

F

G

Hi, how are you.

A

Good, how are you.

G

I'm well, thank you so I don't know if I can share screens, but is that does that work at this point? I can do that and run through a couple of things briefly. Yeah.

G

See here it says that I've been disabled from sharing, so just.

D

G

Seconds bro no worries.

G

With me tonight or Doug Nettie, my my and the senior partner in this project and also Greg gossens who's, been retained to help us with the the hotel and the housing design moving forward.

G

um Let's see here, we can get this to work. Are you guys able to see this screen now great? So the this is. This is the for the counselor's benefit. This is the same uh document. That's in your packet. This is this represents the level of design that was approved by active 50 back in early 2020., uh and really we brought the first time we brought this to the council and sort of two parts.

G

The the first element was were these elevations, which were part of the ACT 250 approval, which sort of set the tone for the scale massing of the buildings, and then we came back at a future date with more detailed uh three-dimensional renderings, which were more along the lines of the drawing that you see here so and when I go back and forth here, um this sort of elevation level, these flat images, were the first level that we sort of went through with the council and got approval for direction and then came back at a future time uh in June of 2020.

G

In this case, with this same uh taking these flat areas, you know sort of rendering the minimal photorealistic way and being able to discuss with you more specifically, things like how details of the building would work material, pallets. These sorts of things and I share that, because our intention tonight is to focus on this first uh level the same way that we did uh the first time.

G

So the intention is to basically say: where are we today relative to where we were in early late, 2019 early 2020 with these elevations, so I'm just going to run through these very quickly?

G

um When we talk about South elevation here, we're really talking about standing in front of River Run Apartments, you know, for all intents and purposes and looking up the hill in that direction. So to the to the tallest building you see off to the left. Here is City Lights and these other two uh buildings. These Mastin gray, are part of keene's Crossing. So this is the hotel, the way that it was originally conceived.

G

You can see at the bottom right that the building sort of screens or hides a three-story parking garage that is the city-owned component of the project that goes all the way back into the hill. That's the only place you can see it from this particular elevation, and then everything else you can see on this particular rendering is the hotel originally was a mix of eight and nine stories, uh six stories above the parking garage and then a sort of wrapper building at the lower level, which was intended to be the lobby and an entrance component.

G

So this is very similar to what happens at spinner place, for example, where you have a narrow building, which is providing a sort of active screen in front of the parking structure so that you don't have to look at it um when we look at the same uh the same building from now from Abenaki way. So this would be if you were effectively. This is not a view. You'd really have in real life. You'd have to be standing in the middle of the site where Keane's Crossing is but for elevation purposes.

G

This is that direction, so the hotel on the right here and then on the left, the original uh three-story commercial office building that was going to be the eic's headquarters and uh sort of a narrow space in between where the uh there's some air and light that travels between the two buildings and the parking structure. You know it travels, as you can see, with a wooden screen effectively in this direction. There's three levels: one level that's accessed from the top at the new efficiency at the time.

G

What we were calling efficiency way now: Community Way one entrance Point here to the second level of the garage and then a third level, the garage it's accessed opposite uh the turnaround at the end of River Run.

G

uh This is looking at the project from the from the cassavant Park area. Again, these elevations sort of give you a flat view. So this is an actual view that a person could really have unless you were floating in the air in the park, but it does give you an instruction of of how this all fits together. So to your left. Here is River Run. uh On the left hand, side of the building is the hotel, the the office building and then three levels of parking which you.

G

This is really the only view that you have where, in fact, you can see all three levels of this this parking. This is before any uh of the plantings that we have would grow up, and you can see here this Boardwalk that comes in uh provides for a reconnection of the Wetland which is currently broken up by the roadway that goes out to casavant park.

G

Now that would be relocated and elevated so that the the wet one can be connected and finally, um from the north, from basically from the veic side, uh there was a level of parking that was screened by the two-story office building, so these were filed. These were approved by the the city in uh early 2000 originally and then filed with act, 250 and approved. You can see the little stamp here um in in a basically a two two sheets, so this represented the uh the design element of the project uh from them.

G

So rack 250 effectively relies on this uh approval process that happens at the city council. As most of you may remember, this is a little different than how zoning works in the rest of the city. This downtown district has a different relationship with act, 250 and a different design review relationship that happens directly with the city council rather than through the typical drb process.

G

So I'll just stop here for a minute and ask if anyone has any questions about what originally was approved.

L

Council any questions.

G

Great thanks, so what I have here again? This is taken directly from what was submitted in the counselor's packet and what's available online. So this is an image that represents the same scale as the um the original approval. This is looking from the south uh effectively the same generalized idea. The main elements are or a change in sort of the overall aesthetic of the building. There's some elements that are different aesthetically.

G

We still and we have one less floor on the building effectively than we had when we started. uh The original approval was for 125 room hotel and the proposal that we have uh the current layout of the building provides for 115 Keys.

G

The lobby and sort of Cafe elements happen at the ground floor level, including a little outdoor patio that stays as it was before along uh Abenaki way and then at the roof level. Is where really the the main Community elements of the building happen.

G

So there's an elevator that takes you to a rooftop, restaurant and bar there's an outdoor seating element that will be seasonal, looking out to the west and then on the East End, a series of three meeting spaces that could be opened up to combine to provide for group, weddings and other group events that could be hosted at that particular level as well. So not a lot of change in terms of where we got from 2020 to 2023..

G

Many of you may remember that we were in front of you last summer in 2022 in may. Actually, with a concept we were looking at, that was going to eliminate all of the rooftop space in favor of a lower and larger Hotel building and we've cycled through various elements of that over time and kind of returned. If you will to where we started. So this concept is actually quite similar to the original concept. It may be a little different than what some of you remember seeing last year.

G

This is where we see more of a change, as this is is a long abnacky way. So here we have the hotel element, which is really again the same massing as before, about half a floor, uh less High than in the original concept, and here in the um on the west side, is a concept for the workforce, housing that we have designed to replace the veic element. So this is unlike the hotel, which is quite far along in development.

G

The uh this is really a placeholder here to the West that allows us to talk about the scale and massing of the building and how it differs from what you've seen in the past. So there's a little more distance between the hotel and the housing building.

G

The footprint of the building is compressed a little bit uh in the north-south direction and there are effectively two additional floors on the building at the West End, so they're worth two call Commercial floors originally, which take up about the same amount of space as three residential floors and then there's these two additional floors that happen at this level. The garage, the screening, the planting, how the building relates to the street overall remain the same.

G

This is the view from the park level. There's some changes in structural method in terms of how the building is being built, there's more Steel in in this particular element than before the Hotel. On this side, the orientation of the boardwalk has changed slightly in order to accommodate some changes that we made in response to some fire and other access concerns that were raised about the original plan and then the uh the housing massing here facing out towards the park in this direction.

G

And finally, the north elevation again parking and other elements of this street concept remain exactly the same as they were. This Lobby element is the same. It's really the addition of the two additional floors. There's a public space, that's planned here, I, say public, there's a a place, that's public for folks who are within the building and outdoor seating area and some community space. That's planned at the roof level for the benefit of tenants.

G

So, in terms of where we stand uh tonight, our goal would be to have your acceptance of this direction that we would then use to develop the same level of additional plans that we brought to you before.

G

But the importance of this approval would be to give us some clarity of direction as it pertains both to the scale of what we're doing and just kind of nailing down uh the previous um uh discussions that we've had over time in a more formal way, talking about hotel and housing as these uses instead of Housing and instead of office and hotel.

G

So I guess with that I will uh I will take a breath here and allow you folks to ask any questions that you might have. Thank you.

A

Thank you, Bill I appreciate the walk through comparing you know where we've been before to what we're looking at again today, because it has been so long um and I'm personally excited to see the the return of the rooftop space.

A

um Where I see your hand is raised.

L

Yeah I was just wondering Bill if you could just go into more detail about kind of the rationale of the space in between the two buildings. So it sounds like it's for light. So I was wondering if you could talk about it, especially because it's a little bigger in these new renderings.

G

Sure um I mean really I think in in as a as a concept. Here, let me just go back down here, so what we can see in sort of the original um design element of the commercial building uh was you know? The sense was that there was less of a sense of conflict, the the the South edge of the um the South edge of the building. Are you guys know a lot?

G

You can still see my screen: yeah, okay, great I, just it look it flickered on me for a minute here, so the South edge of the commercial building. It's really the change of use that that triggers it and that is to say, we specifically sort of laid out uh the commercial use in such a way that it wasn't really as much of a conflict with the hotel use. You know, because residential and hotel have more of a similarity in terms of when people are home and when people are using their buildings.

G

The thought process was that the north, facing hotel rooms and sort of the residential building itself would benefit from just having a little bit more space in between you know, and so it really is more use. Driven than uh a specific you know, code or or other you know practical reason. It's just the the idea that we thought that the buildings kind of got more similar in terms of their use and therefore could have a little more breathing room.

L

Gotcha, and does the change really affect the number of units you're thinking about for either building it.

G

It doesn't uh the hotel effectively is in the same footprint as it was uh before, and you know, by keeping and that that sort of Long Bar, if you will to sort of a traditional, double loaded, building kind of wants to be the width that it is. You know, regardless of making it wider, wouldn't necessarily uh might make the rooms bigger, but it wouldn't create more of them um and from the and that's also sort of an efficient way for us to build the structure.

G

You know we had looked at the concept we brought to you last year was an L-shaped building that was lower um and the uh the reality is that that's a somewhat less efficient layout for for a hotel, so that this allows us to be a little bit more, a little bit less common area a little bit more.

G

You know, utilization of space is a little higher there and the apartments right now we're looking at somewhere between 80 and 85 apartments in this in this combined building- and you know, we sort of think that's the scale that makes sense for the marketplace and even if we had more room uh the thought processes that kind of represents the upper bound of what we're comfortable seeing on the site and what the parking garage will sort of you know allow and carry uh as a replacement for the veic or you know, office use so I, don't think the uh in, in neither case is the is the scale really affecting the you know, sort of density.

G

It's just the. We have the benefit of creating the extra space, and so we did.

L

Okay, thank you for that explanation. Sure.

A

Do other folks have questions.

B

Yes, oh Bill, thank you for those thanks for showing us these renderings I have to say these renderings gave me the most amount of tweets I've ever received of people asking if that was a rooftop bar, so folks are definitely excited for that. So thanks for keeping it on the plan- um and this may be too early in terms of my question- but do you have any ideas of when you'll spray ground on the apartments and also what the kind of final final build date is for the hotel?

B

G

Sure well I mean everything is. As you know, it's been a challenging couple of years in the construction business, so we're all trying to get our arms around how quickly things can happen.

G

The hope is that, as as most of you know, uh We've started some preliminary site work for the parking garage and you know, there's been some some work going on already uh down there to remove uh dirty dirt and sort of move some utilities out of the way to allow the rest of the the brownfields work uh that was talked about a few minutes ago to have that particular work happen and get done here.

G

So the hope is that by the construction of the parking garage has to lead the other buildings by about four or five months, because obviously the buildings are sitting on top of the garage. So there's a certain amount of structure that has to happen, but the hope is that as soon as the buildings can handle it, that is to say, they're done enough to be able to build above. We can effectively really start and continue with these two buildings. But you know Doug's here with me: I'm sure he could chime in as well.

G

You know we. We have lots of great ideas about how we want to move as quickly as we can, but um you know we have to sort of look at this one step at a time in terms of having just Broken Ground on the garage. We need to stay focused on that until it's reached a certain point, but the design process for both of those overbuild buildings has, you know, been re-engaged at 100 and is moving pretty quickly.

B

Great, thank you. Bill.

A

Brian I see your hand is very.

I

Yeah thanks um I'm, looking at the design with the garage in the Open Spaces, how um you know how? How is that maintained, seasonality with the snow and ice um for the top of the garage? That's exposed.

G

Let me let me cycle back, so uh so a larger. You know one of the it's not why we designed it this way. But one of the advantages of this uh redesign is that the footprint that's being constructed on here is a little larger than it was before.

G

um So there's a little bit less of the condition you're talking about, but there is a a piece here of the of the overall building uh that is exposed to light and air, and we did work with John and Public Works to make sure that the clearance is and uh other elements of the garage at this level were such that the city would be able to maintain uh that particular component and the same manner as let's say, the seventh level of the garage next to vsac.

G

That is, that is also similarly, you know open a light and air. So I don't want to step on too many toes trying to describe how John maintains that and his staff, but I I know that that's been an ongoing concern to make sure they can get the appropriate equipment. And what have you in there.

I

G

H

That level three section we we've sized that clear height so that we can basically run a bobcat in some of our larger trucks to do um snow clearing when needed. We even looked at at one point trying to cover that space and it just it it wasn't feasible or affordable.

H

um So the structural engineer, even you know, started pricing that out and unfortunately that didn't really work with the project budget. So, um but that is the one level that's. uh It's got some expanded height to to allow us to move some snow around.

I

H

It's subtle that I.

I

I think I can kind of see it now um with a closer look at the rendering um next question. So the you know, I share Council Runners, um you know it's enthusiasm for, for the update and um I am also curious.

I

You know there's some really great design elements on the west, but South and the north side, and be curious to see if there's um any ability to include Some More Design Elements for the East, so that either it Blends in um maybe a little bit better with the natural surroundings or, if there's like a something to consider um as you kind of get further down the road with um complete uh development uh like a larger mural, similar to um a wrap that you know a building wrap that might just bring a little bit more Community, some community art to the to the city, something that could be attractive for that space.

G

I think that's a really interesting idea. I know that we we've talked at some length about um also the south facades of the housing building as being an opportunity to create some some interesting uh Dynamic. You know artwork some things so that folks, who are looking out the north Windows of the hotel, are looking at something other than you know. A blank wall, for example, so I'm sure that that that there's no reason in my mind that conversation couldn't carry over to you know some thoughts.

G

I think the challenge with the elevation that faces out on the park is always the conflicting idea of you know trying to come up with something that draws attention to itself versus, as you say, something which you know kind of wants to fade away um and- and in this case in this case, because you know it's an urban environment and one way or the other you're looking at a facade of a building. As you are walking back from the park, um you know it's a somewhat limited Viewpoint.

G

Most of the time people are seeing it going uh yeah, it's a very limited view from the interstate, so you're. Basically, in the park, if you're seeing it- um and so my you know, my first reaction to those things is to try to mute them and kind of keep them simple, um but I I'm sure that uh you know.

G

One of the reasons we have Greg with us tonight is to make sure that he's heard firsthand uh any ideas that you've got so that we can, you know, look at them more carefully as we keep going.

I

Yeah I I understand I I thinking you know either either lending in. um uh If that's, if that's the best uh um option or again, some Community um related art that um that could just you know, emphasize the value that the that the structures are bringing to the economic development aspects of the community.

G

Yeah well, I think either of those things could work and- and they both make some sense. So I appreciate the comments.

I

Sure uh for me, thank you for um providing an update.

A

We have a couple on Zoom. Is there any public comment or questions.

L

A

Well, I I am not hearing any concerns bill. It.

D

A

Someone might want to make a motion to approve the revised designs.

P

Second, motion.

A

By Thomas, second, by Charlie, all those in favor, please say aye.

B

A

Hi the motion carries. Thank you so much.

G

Thank you for your time. Folks, we appreciate it.

A

Exciting progress here.

G

We're excited to be uh seeing machines moving around.

A

A

So we will reconvene at 7 41.

A

D

D

D

D

D

D

A

A

Oh wait one moment.

A

Okay, do we have everyone online excellent.

A

Calling us back to order at 7 42 pm, uh we are on item F, our strategic Vision goal area update for municipal infrastructure, welcome back up John.

H

Great, thank you so.

A

H

First report out of the 2023-2024.

H

um Work plan, so we have three items but or six items, and three of them are pretty massive initiatives that we've been working on a long time, so don't be fooled by the short list.

H

um So the the items are the Abenaki garage, Main, Street, minuski, River Bridge, as all must do items big capital projects, and then there are some planning, studies and infrastructure discussions below that. So go through these briefly Abenaki garage, I I think we just covered that pretty well, um so not much more to add on that project.

H

um I. Actually, the one thing I will say so. Bill did mention. There's some work going on right now, so the the construction work that's happening currently is related to the brownfields solar remediation work. That was partially.

D

Covered earlier so that.

H

Is the corrective action plan work where we're Excavating some of the um contaminated soils and prepping the sites for the future garage, so yeah, very cohesive agenda? To me? um The second item- Main Street, so some some pretty big news on this project. We we opened bids um on August 23rd. We received uh three bids from um pretty well known contractors in the area.

H

The low bidder was kubricky jointa, um where actually they've been doing some v-trans work in town recently, uh their bid was uh 22 million, 654 000 and some change so a little bit higher than our Engineers estimate. So we updated our Engineers estimate right before bid. That estimate was 18 million, so not hugely surprising. To be honest, we expected some um higher bids. Given you know, Workforce issues and inflation things like that, so good news is we're on the loan side we're still below the uh the 23 million dollar Bond threshold.

H

So we are working currently with our funding: Partners USDA Vermont agency, natural resources to review uh potentially some additional loan dollars from the funds that were obligated by USDA back in 2019. So the really great news is that we are still holding a 2019 obligated loan that we received from USDA, so very good interest rates that we have for the project right now so they're looking at. If we can increase the loan and it's and it is a little tricky.

H

I can't really give you too many numbers at this point, because it's it's based in the different sort of funds, so sewer funds, water funds, general fund, so we're hoping to come back to you um in October and present sort of the funding package for the project. So that is. That is our big task. Right now,.

G

H

Are also working through some value engineering um we, this isn't typical, but we we had a meeting with the apparent low bidder to discuss some potential items that we could reduce or eliminate from the scope that, when you know necessarily detract from the overall project- and they were receptive to that so very good news. So combination of things trying to potentially lower the cost and procure some funding so.

D

H

Other um note on that on this project is we, as of yesterday or day before, we received a one Million Dollar Tree Grant through the USDA um I, think it's the USDA Urban and Community forestry program. So that's really great timing, because we're going to need some additional dollars on the project, so that would go towards the streetscape or Street tree scope of the project. So planting of the new trees- and we talked about the Silva cell system that will you know, help promote tree growth and some of the structural soil.

H

So really good news to to get that award. um So we're we're starting to work with those folks to see what the grant requirements are.

M

John one threw some hay to get that one for us so who goes to John I.

H

Gotta say it was one of the easier grants, so I will yeah.

D

Surprisingly speaking, yeah we'll.

H

See we'll see what the next level of you know. The hard part is like jumping through the Hoops of the grand sometimes but yeah. No we're very excited to get that um any questions on Main Street. At this point.

H

uh Winooski River Bridge, as Elaine mentioned, there's the the large public meeting.

A

um Sorry I see brinsian just.

H

I

Yeah John, if you could just elaborate um the uh term of art value engineering, it's not something I'm familiar with or something I've heard before. Yeah.

H

It's a fancy word for saying: how do you reduce the cost of the project? What can you cut out so we're looking at items? For example, um you know some of the light pole prices came in much higher than we expected. So can we use a different light, pull option or there's some storm water um improvements that we might be able to modify to make it less expensive, so yeah.

F

H

A fancy term we use that make it cheaper.

I

Sure, yeah I guess you kind of were touching on the the question behind the question, which was: what are you looking at for Value engineering elements.

H

I

H

The underground work is sort of set in place, there's not much scope. We can reduce there. So utilium of speaking about utilities like water mains sewer, means storm water lines. There's there's really not much that we can um change there, so we are looking at some of the streetscape features.

H

um So one example is um tree. Grates were really expensive, like half a million dollars expensive. So that's an item where we may be able to remove some of those tree grates and just use mulch, and it's actually probably a lot easier to maintain so um and I think that works with our grant as well, because we we didn't expect that that value to be that high. We expect to be like a hundred thousand dollars. So that's one item.

H

As I mentioned, there's a kind of an odd stormwater. We had to get a storm water permit for the project that was a um gravel Wetland, that's kind of in the median up by Colchester uh it it's it's not very maintenance friendly and it's kind of it'd be a really difficult feature to maintain. So we are working with the state right now to look at. Can we do something different, that's less expensive, like pervy's, pavers or some.

H

You know something along those lines and and not have to build this um pretty complex, gravel wetland in the middle.

I

So, like a biosoil is that what you're referring to yeah.

H

It's it's a little more intense than that. It's um it's a full-on sort of gravel Wetland system um and we think there might be.

D

H

Better less expensive option, that'll um they'll be much easier to maintain.

I

Okay, all right, thank you, I appreciate it.

H

So moving on um Winooski River Bridge, the first public meeting is going to be held tomorrow. The O'brien Community Center from six till eight, um so that'll be our our first sort of public kickoff of the of the project scope.

H

um You know, as you know, it's very early phase, so this meeting is more about introducing the project to the public, getting feedback and and kind of incorporating that into future design work for the bridge. It's still a very concept level at this point, um but we want to start those discussions early so that um that'll be a great conversation and looking forward to what feedback we get tomorrow. Night.

A

John will that meeting include.

A

Considered and what was selected.

H

I believe so so it'll definitely lean on the scoping study that was done like five years ago.

D

H

um Because that is, why kind of why we're we're here at this point is we use the scoping study and they looked at a few of those Alternatives, so yeah I'm, trying to remember I've, seen sort of some draft slides and I think they go back so I'll take a look and make sure they're covering it tomorrow, night I'm.

A

Just thinking about scenarios where folks suggest an idea that, like it, was already considered and didn't work out well or something.

H

Until you kind of get ahead of that yeah, okay, good point.

D

A

I'm sure the presentation is pretty well set, so I'm not asking for any.

H

Yeah, so hopefully a good turnout tomorrow night it'll be should be interesting to get everyone's sort of take. It's obviously like it's going to impact a lot of folks, so um you know we're gonna have to balance everyone's sort of needs, um while you bike across it, walk across it drive across it. So, um and this will be the first of a few public Outreach meetings we'll be having so keep an eye out for some additional ones.

H

There's there's I put a link in the um in the memo for the the launched uh web page that we have for the project similar.

G

H

Exit the DDI, Exit 16 project.

B

um So I'm talking of that project, do you know if that will be finished before the bridge project starts or they're both going to be happening? At the same time,.

H

Yeah so the main street in the bridge you're saying.

B

Or sorry, the diamond, interchange, yeah.

H

So the the Double Diamond interchange they they just finished up the sort of phase one work, um the the phase two work, which is the the main work hasn't been uh hasn't, been bid yet I. Think they're, there's some I, don't know, I, don't know if it's legal issues or what, but so it's unclear how those schedules line up it could get really messy.

B

Yeah impact people's like we're impacted with the top and the bottom.

H

Yeah pretty interesting yeah, so I suspect um that the exit, 16 work will be completed. I would hope prior to us getting into the bridge project, which is like 2020. yeah.

B

H

Something really really jams him up on exit.

D

H

So then the other ones are more of the planning scoping Finance items. um The Winooski bike, ped master plan is, is ongoing.

H

um Eric is leading that charge with ccrpc through that Grant funded program, I believe they're, starting to talk about some potential projects and sort of digesting all the public feedback that they have received so far as you've noticed. There's a lot of um notifications and signs and ways that you can provide feedback. So now they have to sort of process all that data and then base infrastructure financial needs.

H

We will definitely be talking about that fy25, that's kind of the point of the budget and then uh the same with the fountain Diane scoping study we are is is councilor Oak Leaf mentioned. We will be continuing that discussion in our Thursday commission meeting, where we're going to look at some potential long-term alternatives for that that quarter we talked about some short-term low-cost options last time and now we're getting into sort of um hey. If we can reconstruct this. What's what will it look like.

A

All right any questions from Council.

A

Or from uh if you're attending via Zoom member of public want to ask a question or make a comment, remember you can use the raise hand feature or the comment box.

A

Okay, thank you.

J

So much John great. Thank you.

A

We will move on to item D on for discussion, update from downtown Winooski welcome back Melissa.

F

um For those of you that don't.

G

F

Name is Melissa Corbin and I am representing downtown Winooski.

R

Last we spoke was probably April time frame and you all had a lot of questions. I had a lot of questions. I was brand new to the job. Just a couple weeks in and I had no answers to your questions at that point in time, um and so I'm kind of looking at this discussion, as uh my first like six month assessment, where a few weeks a month short of that. But um oh.

L

R

There's a PowerPoint: we don't have to follow through it if you don't want to, but it exists there if you, um if you want to follow along um so I, think what I'm going to do is just kind of go over the structure of the um of the organization for any of you that are not as intimately involved in it as maybe Thomas or Elaine, and then go into the financial forensic project.

R

That's gone on since my start and give you the high level overview of that and what we found out and kind of what we're thinking about going forward and then at the end, there's a recap of the programs that we have done this summer: The Farmers Market and such and a little bit of a financial assessment related to those and also programmatic outcomes that aren't necessarily tied to finances for the organization and then, hopefully, in the next month or two. All of this information will feed into a budget for 2024.

R

I have initial plans for how our cash flow is going to keep us afloat through the end of June of next year. But it is a little dependent on some grant funding, that's kind of out there in the wings that I should know about in the next 60 days. So I'm not going to give you the hardcore plan for what the future is here and tonight, but I do have an idea of what it's going to look like I just need to get a couple more pieces of the puzzle put together.

R

So the first slide just has our basic organizational structure, which is the members of our Board of Directors for any of you that are not aware who's behind the scenes and doing a lot of volunteer work for the organization and for the city, our city, council liaison and our staff members I'm at 32 hours a week currently and Sarah, who does our Farmers Market management and handles our social media Works around 18 hours a week on average.

R

So in April, when I first opened up our QuickBooks file, there was just a lot of warning alerts that were showing up on the screen. I'd never seen before. I started to run reports and I just didn't understand that there was not there wasn't any real like information and Ascent. My initial assessment was that it looked like payroll was just running through crookbooks, but it wasn't actually being used as a financial tool um and I just thought that I had to be wrong um because I'd never seen anything like that.

R

So I reached out to um the accounting firm that I used for the last eight years of my prior role. That I had a lot of trust with and just asked. Could you just look under the hood for an hour or two and just see if I'm really missing something, um and so unfortunately he came back to say um that my my concerns were confirmed and that there there were needs for immediate attention, um then, at the same time, I found some paper files that revealed some failure to file notices with the IRS.

R

So this was all kind of happening. um The first couple of weeks of of my job I'm, sorry I'm, like old now so I have to take my glasses on and off to read and look at you so apologize if it. If it gets distracting, so we um we realized quite quickly that our board voted to approve for us to move forward to mobilize a team of three CPAs and myself uh to assess at a high level what our tax liability was at a state and federal level.

R

The EBT reconciliations from the farmers market. Initial assessments look like they were a little bit off and needed to to make sure that we were filing things properly, both state and federal level. uh Bank reconciliations, uh weren't done because there wasn't any information in QuickBooks for it to reconcile to. It seemed like things were kind of being done on side spreadsheets, so we needed to tie all of our all of the input that needed to go into QuickBooks needed to be tied to bank accounts. Thank you.

R

Sorry, if I'm not being as loud as I should be, uh and then we had no chart of accounts and program evaluation, and that was one of the things that you brought to me in April, saying where's, the money coming in. Where is it going out? How's it being spent? What are these events that we're doing, or these programs that we're putting on what are they actually? Are we losing money? Are we making money?

R

What's the impact and does it have anything to do with money, or is it just the programmatic impact, so that needed we needed to create those that chart of accounts to be able to allocate the funds that were coming in through sponsorship dollars or city dollars um or Community donations, and then the programmatic costs that were going out, and uh we also I needed to take a look at the grant funding that had been received by the organization and the sponsorships. They were small in numbers.

R

So it wasn't that difficult to do, but I wanted to make sure that we were allocating grant funding to earmarked programmatic Grant categories and that sponsorships from sponsors that were wanting to sponsor certain programs we're making sure that those dollars were tying out. So that was where we started in May and between the four of us. We kind of broke them out into our areas of expertise, tax liabilities, not anything that I've had a tremendous I've had no experience with. In the past, so we brought somebody on to our team, who knew that very well.

R

I've also never worked with EBT, so that went to somebody else as well. I worked a lot on the chart of accounts and program evaluation, as well as the Grant and sponsorship appropriation of funds, and also assisted with the bank reconciliations. But the nitty-gritty, every single two dollar item or seven dollar item was done by an administrative staff member that cost less hourly um than I do so.

R

In June we got some initial Clarity to the severity of the finances, and essentially we assessed there to be a 25 000 tax liability plus unknown fees and penalties.

R

This is directly related to unpaid payroll taxes, and specifically, it appeared that the auto payroll tax button in QuickBooks had been disabled, and so the our good faith assumption is that people assumed my predecessors were people that came before my most recent predecessor assumed that it was all being flowed through um through QuickBooks and being paid automatically, but that button had been disabled and so that's how we racked up that large bill.

R

um So, at the time of realizing what that number was- and you will see that on the balance sheet, you'll see a just around 25 000 number that does not have um fees and penalties in there yet because we're still getting paperwork from the IRS. Since we filed all of our back back paperwork, um so I alerted my board of directors and brought Elaine into the conversation just to say those are sort of our initial findings.

R

We are doing our best to make sure that we get all of the paperwork submitted all the unfiled quarters, and so that we can really assess what our actual liability is on the books. uh Also in June I did identify that there was ten thousand dollars in misallocated. Grant funding uh that didn't go to an earmarked programmatic outcome that was utilized for payroll expenses instead, um as soon as I found that out, I did alert.

R

The state I have a really solid relationship with the person who administered that Grant from the past 10 years and on my prior job and um and and we've had a really good working relationship.

R

So I, just you know, operated on the transparency State and it was specific to photography and videography that were resources at the Department of Tourism really needs updated in their overall pool of assets and so I've, given them I gave them a backup plan for how I was going to get through photography through this event season, and then we can reassess how we're going to execute the final piece of that um earmarked programmatic elements for that Grant going forward after this event season to see if they're satisfied with the amount of tent, whether they feel like they're getting ten thousand dollars worth of value from um hiring side.

R

Photographers and Paul helped with some things and um so that's to be determined. uh So in July, all the state and federal paperwork was submitted to the IRS for all the unfiled quarters. um Luckily enough, we had a little bit of a credit with the state, so it was really um just the the federal paperwork that needed to be um needed to be submitted and all cleaned up. We established a chart of accounts, which you also see on a profit and loss sheet, that I had Elaine had sent out on Friday.

R

That has all the different program areas and the bank statements were reconciled back to 2015.. We were originally going to start with just the prior two years, but as we started to peel back the layers we just figured, we would go back as far as we had bank statement records and just get the whole make the whole project as tidy as possible.

R

So all of the data entry for every single item that had ever gone through the bank had to be entered into QuickBooks back seven and a half years, so that was ended up being 177 hours of um of work on this project. Just to get a just to be able to run the report that you all got on Friday like needed. All of that just to be able to hit a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement.

R

So August brought the end of the forensic accounting work as I mentioned 177 hours and then I I turned my focus on to looking at the uncategorized revenue and expenses and trying to move those into programmatic areas. There still sits a lot of 2023 I was able to do because I was here for enough of it to understand it, but there's still quite a bit of money that historically I just don't have information on to know why that money came in which program it was supposed to go to.

R

So as as much as I can say, we can run reports for you now and tell you exactly what the bottom line is by year. Historical programmatic data is still a little sketchy, because we've still got quite a bit of money in uncategorized revenue and expenses, but I do have board members that have said you know as we move into some slower months here after foliage season, um they'd be happy to sit down with me and say: oh I recognize that name they wanted to support the farmer's market or I recognize that name.

R

They wanted to support general fund operating so everything's reconciled. It's just not all historically categorized yet but 2023 is in the middle of August.

R

Cash flow for the organization became extremely tight and it showed that operations would be ceasing by the beginning of September and so Elaine and I sat down and got creative and ultimately, you all processed a request to provide funding that would be normally slated for late fall early winter for us to have at the end of August and that kept us afloat and gave us the ability of time to assess how we're going to continue to move forward into 2024..

R

uh At that point in time, a weekly fundraising team formed to develop a plan for raising Grant funds, increasing sponsorship and soliciting general fund donations, and a fundraising strategy was implemented with a multi-tier approach.

R

uh Initial access gave me a plan through Q2 of 2024, which is why I alluded to in the beginning uh that I don't feel that I can present just yet, but I have confidence that we've got some bones so before I, move on and I apologize for all the ums and AWS I'm, saying I'm, exhausted I'm, usually in bed by eight o'clock, so I I'm doing my best to stay focused but I I am aware that I'm not being my best public speaker tonight.

R

So what questions can I answer for you at a high level on the financial status and then, if we want to drill down in any level of detail, you also have a profit and loss statement and a balance sheet and I brought copies here too. If anybody wants to look at those on paper.

B

Melissa can I just say: I, don't, as you alluded to I, have been in conversations about this I. Don't have any questions so I do just want to say. um I really appreciate you coming tonight and presenting on this I know this. Isn't the report that you were hoping to give to council when you came on board or downtown Orlando, Ski and I just really want. You know everybody on Council and everybody um in the public to know just the the huge amount of work that you've put into doing all of this back work.

B

That was necessary.

B

um You know for the organization and for the questions that we asked you before in April, while still you know putting on a pink wig and doing Blingo and making sure that all of the events are still running, and you know bringing energy to all of those events when I think a lot of people could have just succumbed to the the difficult situation that you're looking at financially. So thank you for maintaining great programs through downtown Winooski and for giving us a very candid look at what's going on financially thank.

F

You for acknowledging that I appreciate it.

A

No problem thanks Thomas I, want to add to that too. Historically, I think we only staff downtown menuski like three four years ago, and so even before that it's just been a group of volunteers running it so um I think that's important context when you think about historically, maybe not having the tightest procedures in place. Yeah.

R

I think- and let me know if I'm quoting you wrong, it was the time in the organization. I was structure to bring someone like me, and so it's I don't mean any of this to be negative for any of the volunteers or people that came before me. I think it was it's just time in the growth of the organization to get this these structures in place and then just be able to build on them. So we couldn't I, couldn't run away from it right it needed it needed to be done.

R

In order for me to do the job that I actually took and I apologize. If I interrupted, you.

A

No, you didn't well said um so. Thank you as well, for the transparency I do see. Counselor Oakleaf has uh her hand raised.

I

Yeah sorry, um my internet's not awesome so apologize for not having my video on I I want to also kind of reiterate what Thomas has already said, and just um thank you so much for all of the work that you've gone, that you've done and rolling up your sleeves and digging in I I also want to um to resolve the issues and to look back um and on Earth. You know all these issues work so hard to resolve them. I really appreciate the transparency, I think! That's um you know that really speaks to to you.

I

The confidence that that you're, bringing to the role your skills, as well as as just the confidence um The, increased confidence that I personally have um for the leadership that you're bringing to those role so I'm, I, uh I I, want to extend my emphatic thanks for doing this. Hard work um and I it I feel like I, have more confidence, also in how City taxpayer money is being utilized um with, with this degree of transparency as well.

I

So I um just want to reiterate that and say thank you for getting um to this point um and being able to put us on uh some. You know downtown Winooski on more stable footing uh for the years ahead.

F

Thank you so much I really appreciate that feeling the love all around the room, no.

R

Hard questions come on well, so.

A

We got to make this fun for those of us who are not familiar with financial statements in depth at all. My that's me, I'm speaking of um if I'm reading, this right, I'm, seeing like total revenue around 78 000 expense around 81., so operating at a in that deficit of like 2500.

R

Currently, right now, yes, so what you're looking at is as of January of excuse me August, 31st and so operating a non-profit at a deficit of about twenty five hundred dollars right now going into year-end giving is not a bad place to be in because we are going to see donations from the community that are going to bring us back up into the positive there's, also going to be income from there's going to be some income from donors that I have met with and have given this level of transparency to, and basically said, we need your help in a one-time manner to get us over the hump I've gotten three verbal commitments for that as well.

R

So I'm I'm, not concerned about that being a negative bottom line at the end of August it'll be positive, won't be hugely positive and we might not pay our tax liability off until next year. But the bottom line on the profit and loss should not look as negative. Your balance sheet is still going to hold that 25 000 liability, though, as a nice reminder to us consistently.

A

um And so I'm, guessing, though, based on what you said earlier, like you, I shouldn't be looking at this as like a sort of projection of a budget that you're operating under.

R

Okay, no, not at all. In fact, I only started to build the bones of what a budget is really going to look like next year after pride and all the expenses that were paid because I really wanted to take each one of the programs in each one of the events and say: okay, how many? How many businesses were impacted? How many performers were we able to support and how much money did we lose and how much money were we able to um squirrel away?

R

For you know, administrative, covering of cost, which was actually only one event this year and so all the following, slides, which I don't necessarily need to go through in detail that breaks down all of the all of the programs and can tell you sort of we do the farmer's market, Winooski Wendy's, Juneteenth, French, heritage day.

R

We started Blingo, uh Pride Halloween and the holiday pop-up sale and then I just made a slide for each one to kind of overview of what it is and basically how we operated in 2023 and where we ended with each one programmatically. So I am only a week old in knowing this information.

R

So you were definitely not looking at a plan for next year or where things are going to be you're, seeing a snapshot of where we're sitting right here today and a large reason why you have a negative bottom line is 177 hours of forensic accounting. It's not cheap that that was about six or seven thousand dollars in and of itself.

A

um I, don't think this slide show is in the tonight's agenda. Could we have it added or like have.

R

I just sent it at 4 30 today, so yes, I only sent the financial reports ahead.

G

Of time, I didn't.

R

Know we were going to put it up. I thought I was going to use it as talking points. But yes, you.

D

R

After the facts.

A

And then is there something I should we should be taking away on the assets and liabilities sheet.

F

A

Don't think I see the zero yeah.

R

Yes- and we could, we could definitely talk offline about that, a little bit more. But yes, it's basically your your biggest um your biggest takeaway. That I think you want to pay attention to is that you've got that uh under payroll liabilities, that 25 000 568 and then the um the line underneath of that is the overpaid to the state, the other other than that you've got some.

R

You know, you've got our what's in our bank, account up at the top uh and then some reimbursements around EBT and nofa and crop cash and those kinds of things, but really the the biggest core thing on that is just for you to see that that tax liability is sitting on there. We want to make sure that we work to knock that down, okay and hopefully the profit and loss, or it's referred to here as a statement of activity.

R

That's going to show you, your uh your programs, and you can actually see who gave you sponsor how much sponsorship you had for Juneteenth and how much sponsorship you had for pride and then see some of the expenses. So one of the questions during a pride planning meeting somebody asked I believe it was somebody in this room.

R

How much do we spend on music for Pride last year and I said I have no idea, but next year we will know the answer to that, because we're going to have these categories now to be able to put Event Entertainment underneath each thing and know whether what are restrooms cost and what our sound costs and all of those things so I think we're in a good place of analyzing.

R

What's happened in 23 and figuring out how to tweak and adjust and know exactly what we need to fundraise for for each one of these events as well. That seemed a little haphazard to me this year. Somebody that had an interest in Juneteenth gave us a check for a thousand dollars. Well, did we need that there or did we need it for Pride? Now we know where we actually what we need and what to ask for that's.

A

Excellent. Thank you.

A

Your hands up again, I think.

I

Yes, thank you um on a statement of activity.

I

Is there a line item for Halloween I know a bulk of that is volunteer, but it's it is very labor intensive, um so it it almost might at some point. It may also be beneficial to capture to the extent feasible and whether or not it makes sense. I guess is capturing resource hours um labor for hours uh for each for each of the events.

I

um Again, it can help with just identifying like how many of your hours or are spent on Halloween, because when you look at cost it may not show up in these light items, but in terms of resource like that, may be one of your most resource intensive events of the year. So.

R

We're definitely on the same page with that 100, one of the things that I've paid a lot of attention to and I will answer your Halloween questions specifically, but Craig Mitchell donates a tremendous amount of time in in Booking the entertainment, our board members and our council members donate a tremendous amount of time to our events. But Craig is a unique entity in the sense that if he goes away, that is a service we need to pay for in order for our events to get off the ground right.

R

So I have put the bug in the board's ear that we really need to be tracking that in in kind time, so that we really can assign a value to that and understand. It actually doesn't cost five dollars to put on Pride it costs ten dollars because Craig gives five dollars of donated time. We really need to assess that, and so I have started, did a started.

R

A side spreadsheet, based on best estimates of what I've seen in 23 to try and capture that and I did talk to Ray about understanding how many volunteers we need how many hours for Halloween and those things so circling back to your specific question about Halloween. It is not on the statement of activity. Yet there is a chart. There is a category for Halloween, but there have been no direct expenses that have been assigned to Halloween as of yet so that's why you don't see it on the statement of activity.

R

Once you see a reconciled through the end of October, you will definitely see Halloween expenses, but in 24 I want to be able to start to capture that real staff. Time and I can use the anecdotal information that I've collected over this year and be more intentional for Halloween. Knowing that that's a plan going forward to really understand what is the true value of executing these, because you can look at these numbers, but my salary just falls under General funds payroll.

R

It's not allocated into any particular program, so I could be sleeping under my desk and you know, and these reports would look the same way. But if you actually really wanted to see how much effort it took to put on Pride versus Juneteenth I. Think that's a that's a discussion to be had about how I track my hours by program. Hopefully that wasn't too long-winded of a response and did I give you what you were asking.

I

It was excellent, thank you, um yeah I I mean be it for your own record, keeping or something that you know is, is you're able to share with the board. um I I think something high level it would just be better would be helpful, long term to have and refer back to so I. Don't necessarily need know that it needs to come back to council, but again in thinking like you, you know how the Halloween event is I'm sure there are other events that are very um resource. Intensive and I.

I

Just think that that one, especially because of how many volunteers are being coordinated, um the data is very uh labor intensive, so that that was just something that came to mind.

I

um One other thing unrelated um that is come up. That's very important to our community um is tree lighting, so I would like to put a pin in um planning for tree lighting um for this coming year. So that's more intentional and potentially has some specific um donor requests, both in kind as well as Financial. For that um to do something like that, it doesn't necessarily have to be an event um around it, but it it was something that um I know.

I

uh Thomas worked on um with others to to kind of pull off last minute um this past winter, and it would be nice to have some something more intentional leading into this winner. So.

R

It is my understanding that the tree that the lights stayed in the trees so that it will not be as much of a labor-intensive execution as it was last year, but again I wasn't around I'm just hearing what Thomas and Laura and others have shared with me. Yeah.

B

As far as I understand, the lights are still in the trees and if they're, not, we at least purchased the lights.

F

B

Windows he ran uh a donation request.

F

B

Get the lights um I think that there had been the idea of having maybe like a tree lighting ceremony to celebrate winter, that we weren't able to really make work out last year, just because when we finally got the lights, so something for us to talk about next board meeting.

R

Maybe yeah that sounds great. Thank you for bringing that up. I appreciate it sure.

A

Any other questions or comments from Council.

A

Anyone on Zoom care to speak participants I mean audience not Council staff.

A

Okay! Well, thank you. So much for the update, Melissa great.

R

We do have one more piece of business and I, don't know if Elaine you want to give contacts, or you would like me to well.

A

Let's move on to item h on for discussion approval the letter of attestation for downtown Winooski, State Grant.

M

Yeah, so this grant is from um oh gosh I forgot, who it's from accd.

A

And agency of community Commerce.

R

And Community Development: they think they renamed themselves this year. But it's still accd to me.

M

In order for them to downtown receive this Grant from them, they just need everybody to remember to know that that money cannot replace what ordinarily would go to them. So we do have some budget allocated and some other fees that are allocated downtown. As you all know, so this is just a test that we all are aware of that anything. You.

A

Want to yeah this is it uh you're gonna receive this grant, hopefully for 25 Grand, and we can't pull that out of the money that we.

R

Already give you that is exactly it perfect. In summary,.

A

Excellent, any questions from Council.

B

A

Do I have a motion to approve this letter of attestation for downtown Winooski, State Grant, so.

B

C

Second, motion.

B

A

Second, by Charlie, all those in favor, please say: aye aye, hi hi motion carries thank.

L

A

For your time, yes get home, get some rest. Yes,.

D

A

L

A

We are on to our last item I for discussion, approval, the fy25 budget planning, schedule and procedure welcome, Angela.

S

Hello, nothing super new in the proposed plan this year in terms of schedule. um We are planning to present the council much the same way we have done in previous years by our um departmental groupings, providing you the budget book in advanced, including the capital plan, copies of the budget, both in summary and detail.

S

um The Powerpoints The Leverage funds report.

S

um Your first meeting, where you will be meeting on budget items, is going to be actually your next meeting on October 2nd, where you outline budget goals for the staff to consider When, developing our fy25 budget and then starting in December staff will begin presenting the budget that we have compiled for the fiscal year 2025 through every meeting through the end of January. We look forward to seeing lots and lots of you.

A

Thank you for the overview Angela and, as a reminder, I've been soliciting from members of council. What information would be useful to you as we do that goal setting conversation, and so that will also be made available at our next meeting to sort of set the table for that discussion as.

S

Much as I can pull together, yeah, whatever Angela.

A

Can we reasonably a choir I.

S

I am mid-audit preparation as well.

N

S

Audit items are due to the Auditors on September 28th.

A

All right belong, you can get back to work. Just kidding you go home after this.

D

um Are there any.

A

Questions from Council on the proposed schedule or info.

B

I don't know if you've had a chance to talk with staff about my question about if there would be the possibility to put in a meeting where we can discuss all of the presentations that we've received before we have that budget approval vote and set warning meeting I felt that last year there was a lot of discussion that we still wanted to have and I I don't want to say it was rushed because I just think we stayed very late, but I used to think that we could have benefited with some extra time.

S

B

Right now, it's January.

D

16Th is scheduled.

S

To have an overall budget component for discussion, um the only other thing being presented that night is the CIP and that was at John rasher's request, because he feels like he's: rushing through the CIP every year and not being able to cover fully the operations of his Enterprise funds.

S

um The only other alternative, because we are required to set the warning um by I believe January 25th is the absolute last date. um So January 22nd is your last scheduled meeting where you can set that you would need to have some sort of special meeting. If you wanted to have an additional discussion, I.

B

Don't know how the rest of my fellow counselors feel I would because then, if we're going to be getting additional information on CIP on the 16th I just feel like it would be good to have a discussion where we have all of the information from all of the Departments and we're not weighing on information that we've just received before we have ultimately will be a final discussion.

B

D

F

B

To having a meeting added I, don't know what everybody else feels about that.

M

So, just as a reminder for Council that you have a meeting on the second, which is of course, the first week of January on the 8th, which is the second week stating the obvious year, meaning that Angela referred to on the 16th so and then, if Angela's right, then where you have to warn shortly thereafter to be in time by Charter. So, oh on the 22nd, you have the warning meeting and then you have yeah I. Think it's just a few days off of that that you absolutely have to so.

M

If you wanted to add a meeting, we can certainly um explore that. It's really about your calendars and either say Angela's calendar, um so it would have to fall in you know. You'd have to be fitting a second meeting into a week that you're.

B

Reading I'm fine with that I'm one.

M

M

A

To to align on what is presented here, we have this final meeting on the 16th with the CIP. So that's new information and then a chance to have a an overall discussion not make the decision. We come back the next week and then we have that overall discussion and that's.

A

This the paperwork is drafted already, then the final warning approval vote and setting the warning.

S

We have done those on the Fly before um it's not ideal, and typically we would like a small recess to make sure that we proof it correctly, um but we we have done those day of in the past.

M

And I will say last year we also had the budget discussion meeting and then this morning setting the subsequent meeting and you're saying that that felt tight, already I.

B

Feel like we went into voting, and there were folks myself included- would have liked some more conversation, but it seems like we didn't have time.

A

Let me ask Bill: if that's about process, because I think last year, I tried really hard to have us focus in each of these meetings on the content at hand and.

D

A

B

Bigger picture discussion.

A

Maybe that's the wrong approach.

B

I I can appreciate that approach, because I think you know what we're talking we're hearing a lot of information in that moment and you kind of want to sit with it for a little longer before you discuss on it, and also you know the information that you hear about. Community Services, you might have a different opinion once you hear about Public Safety, so I don't think that was a wrong approach, but I. Definitely that did play into why I feel like at the end. We didn't have as much talking time as we needed.

A

um I do wonder if it's viable on the 22nd meeting to really tightly control that agenda. So it's like basically just the budget conversation and have space.

D

A

Do a recess and then do the warning and vote on the Fly, the language our actually before we start a problem. How do other members of council feel about what um Thomas is proposing or.

A

Brent I see your hand.

I

I can let the other counselors go first Aurora.

A

Charlie, do you have feelings.

C

What they are for I, don't know that I fully understand the context from which Thomas, oh.

A

Right because you were I, do.

C

C

It's, like you know the whole organism and if.

L

That is what his goal is: I'm.

C

L

D

C

Sense um but excuse my ignorance.

D

C

All we lost that's.

K

C

L

I'm of two minds and that if I, if we have another meeting that month, uh I don't I, don't really want to do that. But I also do appreciate, because I I I did feel I think similarly to council Runner that we could have used some additional time to discuss um so I I kind of like the idea of maybe setting some more time aside either the 22nd or maybe the 16th too, so the 16th might be an easier one to control.

L

Almost just have those two items.

B

L

B

The CIP and a bunch of discussion- and there was like nothing else on the agenda yep.

A

I can't promise that, but we could try really hard to make it like nothing else, substantial right um like not an ordinance update or the sidewalk thing. You know we.

M

Did do last year, yeah I.

A

That's actually that's a good point, because I feel like last year, we did have some substantial content in these agendas in years past. Maybe we we haven't as much well.

M

In years past I don't think Council was asked to make all these hard all the hard decisions we asked.

A

You that's true, it.

M

Was more straightforward? This is the proposal, it all made sense. It was two percent tax rate increase which is under inflation, just to be clear to the public council's lower and yeah. So it it is we're asking you to do more work, I'm, asking you to do more work to be fair, brain.

D

You want to share your thoughts.

I

Yeah Thomas: do you remember January.

B

You know I do I enjoy all of you. So I just you know. I.

I

I mean I I threshold for meetings, but January is a marathon and that was I. I'm I can remember those with Aurora, where it just oh man, the end of that month. I needed a vacation and we.

B

Had actually that is kind of why I think we need more time, because it did feel like a marathon and like we were taking on so much information and yeah.

F

P

Know what's going.

B

To proposed this year last year it seemed like they were just a lot of things that.

I

Yeah, we didn't feel part of it voted part of it is what you know. Elaine just said of like there was a lot that we were considering like with coveted relief dollars with the um with the oh, my gosh. What's the acronym no.

I

S

I

What, with those rates I know all of the acronyms all of the things um so I I feel like uh if anything I'm if Thomas, if you want to hang out on a Saturday to talk about it, I'd be game after work, I'm, not sure I can do any more.

B

Than what we're already signed up for.

A

What if um Elaine and I do and I do like forward-looking on the agenda planner if it feels like it's feasible to keep the meetings very focused, so we have a lot of space. Maybe that could work if that isn't seeming viable, we could consider adding an extra touch. Point yeah.

B

I think that's fair.

A

um Because I must say that I lean away from adding a meeting in.

D

January as well.

A

um I also think I I, don't think it's going to be as big this year, because we don't have Tiff arpa.

D

A

All these decision points um but I, don't know that for sure right. So let's revisit this okay, um but I! Think for now we could approve like what what staff is proposing here in these deadlines that they're saying for for content. If that sounds good, okay could I have a motion to approve the fiscal year. 2025 budget planning.

C

Second, second,.

A

Motion by Thomas second, by Charlie, all those in favor, please say.

B

A

Aye Brynn I heard an eye right. Yes, hi motion carries. Thank you very much Angela. That brings us to the end of this evening's agenda. Do I have a motion to adjourn.

C

A

Moved motioned by Charlie seconded by Bryn, all those in favor, please say: aye aye, aye action carries and meeting adjourned. Thank you. Everyone.

I

A

Have a good night.

I