Chittenden County, Vermont City of Winooski, 5 Sep 2023

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From YouTube: Winooski City Council - 9/5/2023

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Agenda: https://www.winooskivt.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09052023-1184?html=true

https://linktr.ee/townmeetingtv

00:00:00 Liquor Control Board
00:01:56 Agenda Review
00:02:04 Public Comment
00:02:30 Consent Agenda
00:03:45 Council Reports
00:12:42 City Update
00:16:43 Public Hearing: Unified Land Use & Development Regulations
00:53:09 Police Longevity Bonus
01:02:09 Proposed Changes to Sidewalk Use
01:36:18 Strategic Vision Updates - Economic/All
01:45:08 City Council Equity Update

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

One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

A

B

So we have uh several items here: we have Hickok and River, formerly chicks, Market uh Wicked Wings last stop Morning Light, Bakery, Scouts and mule bar for a conditional approval. These are all existing businesses that we have seen before. Do you have any details or comments to share about any of these? No all right. Are there any concerns or questions from Council.

A

I guess I was just wondering why it's a conditional approval, because.

C

I wasn't sure there were two vendors gotcha and so I was just waiting to see which one there was I thought it was going to be Mill Bar and it is ended. Up being you know, awesome.

A

B

Any questions from members of the public about any of these um tobacco or alcohol.

D

B

Restaurant renewals.

B

Okay, um I would entertain a motion then to approve all regular items. A through f, so moved, didn't, vibrant second by Aurora. All those in favor, please say aye motion carries. Thank you thanks. That's the end of the liquor control board agenda. Do I have a motion to adjourn motion by burn second by Charlie, all those in favor, please say: aye aye aye motion carries 605. Pm I will call together the call to order the Winooski city council. Meeting uh first up is a gender review. Any concerns about the order of this evening's agenda. No.

A

B

Okay, hearing none I will move to public comment, so public comment is um meant for comments for members of the public on any item that is not on this evening's agenda. So, if you are here for an agenda item such as the public hearing, I would ask you to hold on that. Is there anyone here for public comments on items not on tonight's agenda.

B

Okay, so let's move on to our consent agenda.

B

We have quite a few items. We have our city, council and liquor control board minutes from our August meeting payroll warrants from July and August and accounts payable adjustments related to the code enforcement department change that we approved at the last meeting.

B

Commission appointments for housing and Municipal infrastructure, our Vermont League of cities and towns, annual meeting voting delegates establish certificates and amendment to Pilot agreement for 25. When you see Falls away a minor change to the Housing Trust Fund language um well, lot 7D! When you see Falls East agreement, authorization and the winuski pride event permit application, which we um would want to make a conditional approval pending their liquor.

B

D

B

All of that are there questions on any of the consent agenda items.

B

Okay, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda motion by Aurora second, by Charlie, all those in favor, please say aye aye motion carries thank you. Okay, Council reports can I start with you.

B

If you need a moment, I do over.

A

Let's start, okay sounds good, so I have a brief updates for safe, healthy connected people. The commission chair, three staff, Liaisons and I met to come up with a plan for commission meetings through March. All these plans are tentative. The goal is to have more structure and thus a better idea on how we shoot on if or how we might invite other commissions to join us in discussing a particular item.

A

The commission hopes that maybe a similar work plan structure might be put together for other commissions to work on eliminating some of the feeling of being siled, so we can connect better on items that go across commissions for inclusion and belonging. The interim commission, chair staff liaison and I held two interviews for our two open commission seats. We hope appointing the Commissioners will be on the next agenda. Alternate seats are still open, though, for anyone interested.

A

The commission also met at a rescheduled meeting on August 24th, where the commission was provided. An update on the stipend policy discussed ways to recruit members in the future and ways to share information about the equity audit in more accessible formatting.

A

E

Yep, uh so airport commission is meeting tomorrow, it's always the first Wednesday of the month hybrid, so it's uh in person at the airport in the right room or online as people can attend. It starts at 4 pm.

E

Regular items that are always covered include sound insulation, progress, noise complaints and there will be an additional item on tomorrow's agenda, focusing on the noise exposure, Map update so looking at getting a work plan um together and reviewed looking at proposed committee members for that update as well. So it looks like there will be some proposals to include a representative from Winooski school district and potentially others beyond the city manager for that committee. So further discussions there there's a public hearing on September 14th at Chamberlain, Elementary School.

E

The bulk of that agenda will go towards reviewing some uh Park improvements in and around the airport. There may be an agenda item to have some preliminary public feedback on the noise exposure map update, but they haven't proposed. They haven't posted a agenda for that meeting. Just yet the bridge committee, the Winooski Bridge committee, uh had a kickoff meeting last week and the first public hearing.

E

You would have seen that in um Winooski social media front, porch, Forum an up City updates that public hearing is September 19th at the O'brien Community Center from 6 to 8, PM, I'm. Sure we'll hear more from City staff about that.

E

But it looks like a really awesome group of committee members, representatives from be trans, tcrpc, shooting County, Regional, uh Planning Commission, so many acronyms um and our city staff were in attendance as well as many other committee members.

E

We look forward to having continued conversation about what that looks like in the coming weeks ahead. The municipal infrastructure commission met on August 17th. We welcomed our new members and the bulk of the meeting was covering the fountain dying, Street scoping and improvements, so there's likely to be some short-term improvements, as well as longer term improvements.

E

So we there was so much discussion. We actually really only were able to review the short term improvements recommended by the end of the meeting. Our next meeting is September 21st. We don't have an agenda set for that. Just yet, but look for announcements from the city as that, as that is set before the 21st.

E

B

um Last month's Finance commission meeting met to review the proposed sidewalk use changes that we saw from staff earlier this year. That is now on tonight's agenda. So I won't go into detail there. We'll talk about that later. The Planning Commission continued discussion of a new design, review, district and commission, which would add a layer to the project permitting process focused on retaining historic buildings and structures.

B

A district would be established within minuski, where all proposed renovation, demolition or new construction projects would be reviewed by a new design, review, Commission and I'm, probably getting the actual specific name wrong, but essentially a commission to advise on the design of any changes to Historic or culturally significant structures.

B

The commission has been looking where exactly in manuski, they would like to implement a district based on locations of known historic structures. A district was not finalized. That discussion is going to continue at the next meeting. September 13 Thursday September 14th at 6, 30 pm, and there was interest and asking staff to explore if, if there is a legal way to actually apply the process specifically to identified historic structures versus like everything within the area, so we should be getting more information on that at the next meeting.

B

Those meetings are primarily held on Zoom, although you can come to City Hall, um the deputy mayor and I both attended events at the Winooski School District to welcome new teachers and staff to kick off the school year, I'm continuing on our efforts to strengthen partnership with the school and the City and my housing Roundtable group, including the Winooski Housing Authority Champlain, Housing, Trust, Champlain, Valley office of Economic, Opportunity, School, District and folks from UVM health um had their monthly meeting in August as well.

B

We were able to hear from our Housing Initiative director and share Insight on priorities as she worked plans. So when that work plan is finalized, we'll see the results of that.

B

That's it for me, Charlie.

F

So the winusky Housing Commission uh met last month and um first off I want to send out a thanks to Robert Miller for his service. He stepped down as our chair and Jessica Bridge has offered her skills in the role and was voted in unanimously. Jack Cuomo as well will be our new Vice, chair and Anna wageling is serving as our secretary. The commission reviews reviewed the director's work plan for 2023 and moved on to beginning work.

F

On the first three priorities on the work plan, the commission discussed possibilities of how the Winooski Home Improvement plan and Vermont housing Improvement program funds could work together to have the most impact for our residents. The commission requested approval on a language change after the last meeting, where in the down payment assistance program, would allow multiplexes Beyond two units for qualifying participants. This was approved by Council.

D

F

Housing initiatives director provided the group with an extensive packet described in the short-term rental market in Winooski. The information included various ways, other other municipalities are working to create better housing, stock and stability for their communities, and the commission spent the majority of the end of our last meeting discussing possible solutions and incentives around the various impacts that the Str model has had and potential outcomes of those Solutions.

F

The commission continues to work on ideas for funding the medusky Housing Trust Fund as well. Our next meeting is September 26th and we're setting the agenda for that meeting next Tuesday.

B

All right, thank you. Charlie Thomas,.

G

Thanks um downtown Wednesday has been very busy getting ready for our Pride Celebration this Saturday, but in other things that they're up to right now there is a Boingo going on uh they're doing going to be doing that every Tuesday. So next week it will be at grazers at 6 PM uh tomorrow night Wednesday Wednesday in the park uh we'll be starting at five o'clock. So hopefully you can attend that and then, like I said before, Pride um will be this Saturday starting at 4 pm.

G

If you're interested in volunteering please reach out to downtown when you ski and for more information, you can go to downtown lucy.org for all of the events that they're doing for the rest of this. The summer.

B

All right, thank you. We'll move to City updates Elaine! Yes,.

H

So I'll I'll tack on to Thomas's update about the pride event. It is family friendly. It's free, open to all includes performances, musical guests, food, vendors and educational Story Hour, and a lot more.

H

The Winooski River Bridge replacement project. First public meeting that Bruno is alluding to that has been announced. The project has been announced: it's a partnership between the Vermont agency of transportation and the cities of Burlington and Winooski, which are co-owners of the bridge. We aim to begin reconstruction of that bridge that connects our communities in 2027..

H

Until then, lots of public input opportunities will be available. That first public meeting again is on Tuesday September 19th at 6 pm at the O'brien Community Center here in manuski, you're invited to come, learn about the project, ask questions and get involved in the process. Interpretation will be provided in Nepali, Somali, Arabic, Swahili and potentially maimai still looking to book that language, a virtual attendance option is also available, as well as light refreshments and limited child care for more information. You can visit the project page at Burlington, Winooski, Bridge, dot, V.

H

Transprojects.Vermont.Gov or you can go to our website at winooskvt.gov news, a street sweeping in Winooski Public Works has begun that effort on August 22nd. It's taking place every Tuesday through Friday for the next 30 to 45 days. No parking signs and traffic cones are deployed along curb line, green dots and sidewalks on the day before Public Works and tends to perform the street sweeping work once in place once those cones in place. Street parking is prohibited from 6 a.m.

H

To 2PM residents and visitors are asked to keep an eye out for these signs when parking on the street and thank you for your patience. While we work to improve your Municipal infrastructure for more information on this project, you can visit our website at Winooski, vt.gov news and in related news, the contractor that provides minuski with line striping. Everybody's favorite has begun their scheduled work and while this is weather dependent, they are aiming to have this completed by the end of the Fall no harm.

H

We have some exciting employment opportunities on our jobs, page right now, including a pre-certified police officer, a part-time code enforcement officer and a part-time fire inspector firefighter can learn more and apply at winnewskivt.gov jobs or call 802-655-6410.

H

Please join a city commission, the city of Winooski is seeking engaged and dedicated residents to serve on advisory commissions. These opportunities are an excellent way to get involved in the public process. Applicants with related experience, skill sets and interests are encouraged to apply Council and staff do welcome diverse voices if you've never served. We will do our best to support you.

H

Current vacancies can be found on the city's website and when excavat.gov news, 2023, Myers, Memorial Pool season has officially ended and I'd like to take a moment to thank our Recreation and Parks and pool staff. Our lifeguards and everyone who has come and enjoyed the pool and enjoyed it responsibly over one thousand kids pass the swim ready test required to get into the pool this year, which was a great accomplishment.

H

Congratulations all one thousand, and we were delighted to see people of all ages enjoying the facility and the next blood drive at the senior center is on September 15th 12th to 5 PM. You can sign up at 1xtvt.gov news finally done. Thank you.

B

Okay, we are on to regular items. um First up is the public hearing for amendments to the unified land use and development regulations Eric, given how many folks we have here, would you be willing to do a summary again sure of the changes before we open to comment.

I

Yep absolutely.

B

um And just as a refresher for council at our last discussion of this topic, we said we wanted to hold a hearing to get public input before we had further discussion. So I realized there's a lot of new information here tonight, but we didn't actually warn it for the sort of debate we're moving forward, we'll be basically closing this out by directing staff on. Do we need another hearing? Do we need more information, or do we just want to bring this back and make a decision in the next meeting?

B

I

Right, okay, thank you very much. uh So yes, as the mayor mentioned, this is a an item on for public hearing tonight uh to review draft amendments to various sections of the unified land use and development regulations. At your last meeting on sorry at your meeting on July 17th, we had a detailed discussion about about the proposed changes. uh There were some concerns raised by Council following that meeting.

I

uh The the chair of the Planning Commission and myself met with mayor and Deputy Mayor to to talk about those concerns in a bit more detail and to try to find out a little bit more information on uh on what could be provided to help alleviate the concerns. uh Based on that discussion. There is an additional document, that's included with the agenda tonight, related to a comparison of what's currently in place for the regulations and what the proposed regulations would do as far as impacts are concerned.

I

Additionally, based on those conversations, there was some uh some additional or some potential changes to the draft language for consideration. Those are included in the the full report and are highlighted in Green in various sections and I'm happy to go through those items.

I

If you all would like I can do that now or after you take public comment, whichever whichever you prefer and then additionally, at the meeting on the 17th, uh there was a request for information on the impacts of how act 47 the homes, uh the homes act, also known as s-100, would impact the proposed changes so try to highlight some of those items specifically in the third memo that is included with your agenda tonight.

I

So at this point, because the Planning Commission did hold a public hearing and forwarded on to you all for consideration um this public hearing, if anything, were to happen, formal action would need to be taken to either send it back to the Planning Commission for additional review and discussion. Or uh you know any changes that you make depending on, if they're, minor or not could be included directly and adopted by you all or, if they're more substantive.

I

What would happen is the Planning Commission would need to update the report, and then that would come back to you. This, the Planning Commission wouldn't automatically get to discuss any proposed changes to to the regulations that might come from your discussions.

I

So, as I mentioned, I'm happy to walk through some of the proposed changes that are included with this. With this attachment or step aside and take comments.

B

First, summary of what is the initial changes are that are proposed.

I

Sure yeah, so there's a few there's a few changes uh throughout most of the ones that are being proposed or related to parking uh in particular. So this is going to start on uh document page 33, PDF, page 15, which is under Section 4.12 for parking. uh The first I'd say kind of bigger change is under Part B the applicability this the last sentence, or the last part of the sentence uh in that section I believe, is a as a carryover from a previous aversion.

I

So what I'm proposing is that we strike uh strike the language so that it basically ends at um the the sentence would would end as these regulate. The regulations in this section shall apply to all zoning districts except the downtown core zoning District period.

I

um What what this additional language does is basically exempts um the Gateway District as it's written now from uh section F, which is uh accessible parking, uh section g, which is the bicycle parking, which also has implications on some of the proposed reductions with the transportation demand management strategies um it would, it would exempt it from changes of use, so there would be more requirements for changes of use in the Gateway.

I

It would exempt it from the dimensional standards of how large a parking space can actually be and the the surface parking requirements as well or the surface treatments of parking, uh as identified in sections f-g-h-I-n-j so proposing to delete that last. The last part of that sentence, the next change that would have an impact, is on document page 37, PDF, page 19, under Section e incentives to reduce parking. This would include the option for properties in the central business district to take advantage of the underground parking incentive.

I

uh Previously, it was only being identified for properties in the form-based code. This would expand that to allow more properties in the central business district if they're able to take advantage of the underground parking provision.

I

uh The next changes on page 38 of the document, PDF page 20 under item 4, wrote for required bicycle parking. uh Sorry under item G for required bicycle parking, it would add a subpart 4 that would allow for uh an existing bicycle facility, uh existing short-term bicycle facility, to be counted towards the requirement of short-term parking if it met the same requirements, that's included for the short-term parking.

I

So if a if there were, if there was a rack of some kind nearby that could be used with, um provided that it could be approved by the Department of Public Works or their designee uh next, on document, page 39, PDF, page 21, there's some amendments to the specific items of bicycle parking, in particular under multi-unit dwellings, um a reduction from one space per dwelling unit to one space per two bedrooms and then a I guess, I'd, say an increase in the square footage requirement for the industrial, from uh 10 000 square feet to 20 000 square feet, an increase on the community center cultural facility, a religious facility from a thousand square feet to two thousand square feet and an increase on funeral home from a thousand square feet to two thousand square feet.

I

There would also be some renumbering in this section, because it's it's inconsistent with the previous section and then finally, on document, page 40, PDF, page 22, under uh what is showing as subsection four, what the location of bicycle parking uh a item, uh Roman numeral four, would be proposed to be added. That would allow for short-term parking to be located in the city's right-of-way, with approval from the Department of Public Works.

I

That way, if there's a location that is specifically lacking, uh that's that could provide the benefit to multiple Properties or multiple uses, and that ideal location would be in the right-of-way. This would allow for that to happen. um Those are the I'd say the the primary changes. Actually, that's pretty much all the changes that are being proposed at this uh with this latest draft and.

B

For the public benefit, um would it be fair to say that the proposed parking changes they do not impact residential we're, not changing the minimums in residential. We are making some new standards and adjusting down in commercial uses and we are increasing bicycle parking and then adjusting some incentives for priority housing.

I

Yeah I would say: that's that's right, uh the with, with the caveat that the residential parking and that's for uh non-multi-unit dwellings, so for single two unit and then basically, three and four unit buildings uh 47 will require us to make changes to that portion of the of the parking regulations as well, but that's not being Incorporated that that came after all. The work was done on on these regulations, so uh we'll also need to make changes in other areas of the regulations based on act 47. So it's intended a a second set of amendments.

I

To address act. 47 specifically, would come would come to you all as a package. Okay,.

B

I

Yes, in general, uh in the the second document, the comparison document. Basically, there is either going to be no change to the existing standard or a net reduction in the required parking for some specific uses.

B

Okay with that uh sort of summary table setting in place um so.

D

A public hearing has been noticed.

B

For the consideration of amendments to the unified land use and development regulations, at this time, I'd like to open the public hearing, so we'll take comment from everyone. Who's here to make comment or online will start in the room, um and then when comment is over we'll close the hearing and then we'll have that input to use moving forward.

B

um Did we have anyone sign up in advance for in person? Paul? Do you know nobody.

J

Signed up in advance, but we can certainly do, as you said, take the comments in the room and then head over to the attendees list here on Zoom I'm.

B

Sorry I didn't hear the end of that.

J

uh Nobody nobody signed up, but we can do as you outlined with people in the room and then switch over to movies on Zoom, okay,.

B

Who would like to go? First.

B

Welcome, oh and then please state your name um for the record.

K

Commission and I'm here um just to speak briefly about the effort. That's gone into writing the regulations that have been placed in front of you. um Much of my tenure here on the commission has been on parking. That's a total time suck and a lot of energy and effort, including bi-monthly meetings, have been conducted in order to get the best standard.

K

We think to put forth and I want to just highlight that in the many considerations in public meetings we had throughout that process to get public input that were Incorporated into the draft that you see. I will also say that, throughout that entire process, the one lever that we were told that we could use to get the type of development we bought in winnewski is through incentives for parking reductions.

K

So, throughout the document you're, looking at in the previously approved document that you're looking at the way that we have Incorporated um the what's what's in our master plan right, family size, housing, three plus bedroom housing, which is not being built, affordable housing which is not being built, um undergrounding parking getting charging stations having transportation demand management, so actually viable ways for people to get around outside of the outside of a single occupancy vehicle.

K

All of these have been incorporated into these documents through incentives, and if we don't have parking to reduce, then they may they're meaningless. So um I would say that we had so much back and forth, and everything that's put in front of you is either stand like as is or reduction, there's no increase in parking and meaningful decreases in parking and and very meaningful incentives to get um three plus bedroom housing, affordable housing, underground parking, Transportation demand management programs in when you ski that allow people to be outside of single occupancy Vehicles.

K

All of that is is gone if we reduce them further and we are very aware of the act that came out and how will impact future regulations here in Winooski and across the state and and I. Ask you all to consider giving us the time and space to go through all of the other pieces that reducing the parking minimums so that we don't have so that we have further incentives that are meaningful and not meaningless, and we have until December, 2024 I.

K

Don't think we'll need that much time to get up to the standards, but I do think that it needs to be looked at holistically um and I was disappointed at the to watch. When you guys originally looked at this and we're sort of calling into question um the process. The folks involved.

K

The intention I know that everybody on the Planning Commission loves when you ski and is looking to create and continue creating vibrant places for when you, ski and future residents to be and we're constantly being pressured by people who don't live here, but have developments here or want to develop here to do um to do stuff, that's profitable to them, but is not necessarily in the interest of when you see long term.

K

So um what I will finish is saying that a huge, hugely long, two plus year public process of bi-monthly meetings with lots of participation.

K

um So please don't change it lightly. Based on anecdotes, I will speak for myself. I know, others have expertise in the Planning Commission, but I have a masters in urban planning and policy.

K

My entire 15 years of my career has been devoted to getting people out of vehicles and into walking and biking um in busing as primary modes and I come at the parking thing really wanting to not have parking, but to do it in a meaningful way and not to give public spaces the right-of-way our streets over to private vehicle parking for developer, gain and actually put in bike facilities and complete sidewalks, and and do it right and do it in that in an order that actually benefits the residents and not only the developers.

K

So thank you. Thanks.

B

Abby I do want to share that. The follow-up conversation that Eric mentioned um with the chair of the Deputy, Mayor and I um did bring to light what you just brought up about the incentives and I think that was missing in our initial discussion and it's easier for us to see that in the documents that have been shared this evening too. So I want to recognize that next.

B

Want to come up.

L

B

Just go in order.

L

um My name is Ryan Smith uh I do have some properties of a new sky. Was a resident of Winooski for 12 years recently moved uh in 2018 and won a business in Winooski um I agree with most of what Abby just said. The one thing that I would say is that we need more housing and I. Don't like my personal opinion? Is it doesn't matter what size the housing is that the more housing we have?

L

That will help us solve the housing problem and one of the burdens to adding units to the properties, especially in the size that I do, which is much different than than I. Think what Abby's alluding to with the developments is that I mostly do like one to four units buildings and some of the properties that I have in Winooski I would want to add additional units to and the specifically the standards for, adding units um in that size.

L

The one to four unit um space, it's very hard to meet the parking requirements with the size, lots that we have now and so I'm pretty excited for the opportunities that are going to be offered to a new ski through um the new act that was passed so I would I would encourage you know at a minimum if Winooski does want more units to reduce the reduce the need for the number of parking spots for adding units in that in that space at a minimum, I don't know as much about the larger development stuff.

L

It's not what I do, but I do think that we're missing needs more housing and I think that it doesn't matter what size the more units we add, the more people will be serviced and the more likely it is that the inflation that we're seeing in the housing space will be at least mitigated. Some, though not not likely reduced. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Would.

B

You like to join us just here to watch no problem. Joe, you wanna come up no just here in the back no comment: anyone in the corner, yeah, okay,.

M

My name is Kristen Lawson I'm, a Whitney ski resident um and I just want to say that I do support this document with these um I'm sorry, it's been a very long day um where there are requirements to include bike parking and incentives to build larger units for families. I think that's really important. There are a lot of families in Winooski who need larger housing and I.

M

Think that tying these incentives to the parking is a way to help our community meet some of these goals and I think that we really need to consider everybody, and not just anybody like there are.

M

You know, lots of people who want to live in Winooski who don't have places to live, who need these larger units to live, and um you know I think from from a you know, certainly there's a need for all different size units, but there are more new small snow studio and one bedroom units that are built that don't accommodate families that have kids and want to be a part of this community.

M

The other thing is I. Just think. It's really important to consider that the equity that comes with everyone who not everyone, can own a car or drive a car. There are folks too young. There are folks who are older and can't drive. There are folks who can't afford a car, and so thinking about our community holistically and our transportation options and incentives and having safe places to park. Bikes I think is a big part of that.

M

If you live in an apartment building- and you don't know where to keep your bike or you have to keep it outside and it gets stolen, then you don't have a right to move or understudy the same way as somebody who has a place to park their car, so I think that's important.

M

B

D

B

Much anyone else in in the room.

L

D

Sure will you do the microphone now? Please.

L

Oh, the the other.

A

L

That I would encourage city council to think about is that when you tie the parking to the unit, you're you're gonna increase the cost of the units to be built. So you're gonna get more expensive units built. So if, if we can decouple the parking a little bit from the units, it's going to reduce the cost to the builders and it should reduce the cost of the rents as well.

L

People who don't have a parking spot guaranteed are not going to pay as much for rent, and so the units that are built that don't have parking are going to be less desirable to to.

N

The higher end market, so you will have more affordable housing just by default if it doesn't have a parking spot, that's designated. That was it. Thank you.

B

K

B

And then I should move to the zoo or Zoom folks.

K

um Just saying again that if you build affordable, you get reduction in parking. If you have a three plus bedroom, you get reduction in parking. If you do, TDM strategies like provide bus passes, provide a car share. Car help fund a bus, shelter all of those result in reduction in parking.

K

So again, there's many levers to reduce the this parking standard by developing in the way that the community has spoken up is important in in line with our master plan and I'll also say that when you excuse the densest City in Northern New England, so we are doing our fair share when it comes to housing and affordable housing, and we have this beautiful new school and not enough kids to live in it are so sorry to go to it because there's not enough family size, housing in our city and everything new being built is very small.

K

B

Okay, we will move on to our our virtual attendees and Paul will direct that traffic for us.

B

Anybody I'd like to provide.

J

Public comment: just use the raise hand, function and we'll start with zoom attendees.

B

If that was hard to hear use the raise hand feature or the chat to, let us know to bring you over.

J

Terry is up first.

O

Hi, can you hear me yeah welcome Terry hi. Thank you. um I also, like Kristen had a very long day and so I'm not very articulate, but I would like to just reiterate some of the things that Abby said about um the incentives that are included with the parking reductions and just asked the council to please.

O

um You know recognize that there was a lot of thought by a lot of people who do have a lot of experience with parking and with planning um who said on the Planning, Commission um and um so I. I would just ask you to do that. Also.

O

um I also recognize that we have a lovely school that just got renovated and there isn't enough housing for people who have children to live in um studio apartments. One bedroom apartments are not attracting people with children to go to our beautiful School um studio, and one bedroom apartments also tend to be more uh for people that are transient that don't stay in our community, don't put down roots in our community and I.

O

Think that um that's something that I think that we want as a community um so that that's all that I have for tonight, um but I. Thank you for your time and I appreciate your consideration and hope that the council can consider what the community is saying and also uh think about the after plan and how any master plan does talk about housing with larger number of bedrooms.

B

Thank you, Terry.

O

J

Small handful of people still in the attendees list. If anyone else wants to provide public comment, just use that raise hand function.

B

Any would anyone else like to speak he's the you could use the chat or raise hand feature.

B

Okay, seeing no additional comments, I will now close the public hearing. So I would ask the council then, if there is any additional information um that we want staff to provide, do we feel like we need any more, an additional public hearing, or that we should put this on our next agenda for consideration.

A

I would be comfortable putting it on the next agenda.

N

E

I'm not I feel like this process has lacked transparency. Since the meeting in July there was a private meeting where other counselors were not invited. There have been changes that have been made since then that are being brought forward. Now that I don't know if the Planning Commission has reviewed um themselves. It sounds like that these changes are reflective of the meeting that the mayor, Deputy Mayor, zoning administrator and the Planning Commission chair had together, and you can.

E

Let me know if that if these changes have in fact been reviewed by the Planning Commission, but otherwise it feels like this subverts the Planning Commission and um the great deal of time and thought that they put into this I am not a uh urban planning or policy expert and I would put Faith in the participants in the Planning Commission that do have that expertise. I have additional concerns about how this may further reduce the um the actual goals of attaining the three-bedroom housing of subverting that effort.

E

Family housing, that's mentioned in the master plan. I also have great concerns about the equity and equitability of um uh uh sacrificing public right-of-way in place of obligations of Developers. For zoning and for protected bike storage there's a great deal of bike theft in uh in and around Burlington.

E

It's actually even made the New York Times I believed, and uh there are a number of groups online that are trying desperately to mitigate the amount of bike theft and there's not enough um enforcement to be able to mitigate that, um and it's it's a region-wide problem, but certainly when we're looking at increasing bike, ped access, uh I think requiring bike parking and limiting bike parking to public spaces, rather than allowing for protected secured bike storage.

E

That further exacerbates the opportunity for bike theft that we're already seeing, which puts greater Demand on public transportation, which we know in Winooski, is not meeting current demand and I. I. Do think that the ultimate goal is to reduce parking and I feel that what the PO the Planning Commission has proposed has thoughtfully brought us towards that end.

B

So, to be clear, uh the deputy and I met mayor and I met with the commission, chair and Zoning administrator following the last meeting to discuss what information the council would need to see because of all the debate last time. So the result of that is the additional documents that you see tonight.

B

um Eric. Can you speak to the green? The proposed changes you brought tonight.

D

I

Yeah, so the the additional language that's Incorporated, uh that's highlighted in Green in the in the draft tonight has not been reviewed by the Planning Commission. That's correct. uh The way that the statutory process is outlined, however, is that once the Planning Commission has their hearing and forwards the documents on to council they're no longer a part of the process, so any changes that you all make can be made independently of any further review of the Planning Commission.

I

The only time they would, the Planning Commission would would see any of the changes or have time to to to discuss. Any of the changes would be in the context of updating the statutory report. They would not be reviewing changes for uh consistency or for input on those proposed changes.

I

So that's part of this is a statutory process and, what's included in the green highlights, are potential changes for you all to consider if you so desire for some options to um to alleviate some of the concerns that were raised at the at the meeting on July 17th I will say it is my intent to uh the Planning Commission hasn't met since, um since we've uh brought this forward to you all uh they're meeting next week, as the mayor mentioned and I do intend to share this.

I

uh This document with them to make them aware and based on uh based on a legal review. I've also provided this to our our City attorney. If, if he determines that the changes are substantive, then we would have a discussion with the Planning Commission at updating the report at that meeting as well.

E

So as a follow-up, just because it's allowed to me doesn't mean it's right, there's a lot of institutionalized policy that subverts public voices and I feel like that. While this may be a case where it is loud, I, don't necessarily necessarily agree that it's right.

B

Is there more information you're looking for on any of these items.

E

I, don't feel like there's more information that I need I, don't support the changes that are proposed.

B

So that's the discussion we would have at the next meeting when we bring this back.

E

I, don't feel that it's right to bring this back to council without having Planning Commission review.

B

Okay, thank you Thomas Charlie. Do you want to put this on for discussion in our next meeting as the next step.

G

Yeah I think discussion would be good.

F

Yeah, that makes sense. Okay,.

B

So we are I, am not hearing a need for further public hearing, we'll bring this back further discussion on our next meeting and then decide if we want to move something forward or not.

B

um It also doesn't sound like we need more detail. uh Information, Eric, I, think the side by sides you provided in the memo around act. 47 impacts was very useful. Following the last the last round. We chat.

I

There was uh I believe councilor Hurd, provided some comments on some questions on Section 515 happy to go over those tonight as well. If you all would like.

I

The on the uh the incentives for the Adaptive reuse, sure yeah yeah, so um just as a as a point of clarification and I believe I left the my uh other notes on this back at my at the at the chair.

I

But there was, uh and Council heard, correct me if I'm wrong on this, but there was some concern about the possibility that uh the any incentives that were identified under the Adaptive reuse may not take into account uh Ada accessibility with any type of Redevelopment of these, these particular projects so uh to address that concern. First of all, these would be included, or this section is intended solely as an incentive-based approach. There would be no requirement for any property to take advantage of this or to to adhere to these requirements.

I

um Any changes that would be made to a property or to a structure would uh that took advantage of these incentives would need to follow current building code for both Ada accessibility and for that matter as well Energy Efficiency. So this would not exempt those properties from from incorporating those those Provisions into any any new construction. That's that's being proposed, I believe there's another concern about um with the buildings in the properties in the Gateway zoning district and being set back from the required building line or something to that.

B

Effect yeah. What the question before was: how would it impact density.

I

Right yeah, so uh I would say it may not impact density that much quite honestly, there's about 85 uh properties that are listed on the that are listed in the state or national register in Winooski of those there's, maybe only five that are located both in a Gateway zoning district and also set back from the road any significant distance.

I

Most of the properties in the gateways that being malletts, Bay, Avenue, Main, Street and East Allen Street are all built fairly close to the road, so there would probably be limited impact on uh on the density in those locations. The building that exists could still remain and could be added on to per our regulations.

A

That's really helpful context to have thank.

I

You absolutely.

B

Thomas, you've had your hand up sorry, I missed it. No.

G

That's fine, um my I, wonder and I don't know if we need it for our discussion, but recognizing what S100 is going to do. um You know whether we approve this as is or not it's going to change.

G

I would like to know if the incentives that the commission worked on will still be incentives once s 100 goes into effects.

I

Yeah, that's that's a good question and that's something that I've been trying to uh to figure out. Quite honestly and I, don't know if it's if we really know the answer to that yet, based on what changes may be uh May, both one be required and may also be.

I

Recommended for for how we change the regulations and by that I mean there may be some cases where- and I've mentioned this to the Planning Commission before it's possible, that we may have a reduction in the total number of zoning districts and the total uh the total components of those zoning districts. Just because of some of the parity that's happening because of s 100, that we are going to be required to have uh where we have water and wastewater service, which is in the entire city.

I

We're going to be required to have buildings that allow or properties our zoning districts will be required to allow dwellings up to four units total. So when we do that and also require at least a minimum density of five units per acre. So when we look at those changes, it may result in the fact that our three residential zoning districts kind of merge into one District, which then creates a process that all the incentives that we have and other other aspects of the regulations would need to be reviewed and evaluated as well.

I

So it's I don't have a good answer for what that impact would look like without really knowing what some of the other changes will be based on s-100.

G

B

Okay, so direction to staff. We will just discuss this at the next uh agenda. Okay, great! Thank you very much. Thank you all for coming in to speak or participate.

B

So we will move on to Item B. uh This is on for discussion, approval, the Personnel policy manual police, longevity bonus addendum.

B

B

There's Jesse on Zoom I'm.

P

B

P

Is everybody tonight.

E

Responded Splendid.

P

All right we like that. Okay, so I'll I'll, try and keep this brief, but we are looking to adopt a policy similar to that of the Fraternal Order of Police union for those who are full-time non-union members of the Winooski Police Department. uh The policy is being proposed to help address the paid compression issue within the department without adding an annual tax burden to taxpayers. The pay compression happens when roles with management responsibilities are not unionized get paid a similar amount than what can be expected by long-tenured roles, with less or no management responsibilities.

P

Essentially, currently, there's no incentive for uniformed officers in the police department to come out of the Union to take on more management responsibilities because they wind up losing this because it's already in the fop, but if they come out.

I

Of the Union they.

P

Don't have that ability anymore to keep that incentive.

B

A

D

A

Yeah, so you said it's not intended to affect the taxpayers. Can I ask kind of where this money is coming from.

P

So a lot of it's going to be from salary savings because we have so many vacancies in the department and it's not also going to be a very constant type of payout. It's going to be based upon leaving or retirement age. Things like that Angela did you want to chime in here. For that.

Q

No, that's absolutely where it's intended to come from is generally the salary savings. It would be extremely intermittent. There are only three members of our police staff that are non-union that are management level. This would apply to the Chief and the two lieutenants of those that we currently have on staff only two or would be eligible to receive this anytime soon.

A

All right, that's helpful to know so it's not going to be a new budget. It's going to be part of salary, okay,.

P

A

E

So this is um coming from vacancy savings, but what about when we don't have vacancies.

E

Fun balance, so this would come from general fund. Yes,.

C

Any other questions no.

F

B

There any questions from members of the public. You can use the chat or raise hand feature on Zoom.

D

E

I do have a question.

E

I'm not following why the increase is in ten thousand dollar increments year over year.

Q

That mirrors the existing fop language.

E

So is there a current?

E

Is there a current longevity bonus now or is this new not.

P

For non-union yeah not for non-union it's only in for the fop union members who get it I, see foreign.

E

What are the additional benefits that exempt non-union members get that union members do not get.

P

um In my understanding, it's really just a way for them to step up in level and if they want to promote themselves they're only so far, they can go while being in the Union.

H

E

H

No there's no additional, uh like like health insurance benefits, leave. No, no additional well I'm, not sure how the leaf shakes out Angela.

Q

um They move from having vacation time to CTO, which is slightly different and it's a little more flexible, slightly different holidays police receive um town meeting day versus Battle of Bennington. They do not receive Battle of Bennington and then, uh in addition, there's there's not really a ton of incentives to come out um of the Union foreign, especially with the pay compression issues, because.

P

They also lose their ability for overtime. The cost of living changes is different for Union and non-union.

Q

P

Q

H

It is the problem like there's, really no reason to become a supervisor or come out of the union and.

E

Are we currently finding it trouble we're having challenges filling supervisory positions? Well,.

H

It's so yeah the two lieutenants and the chief, so the two lieutenants they've been here a bit and they really care and they are doing it if we lost them, I, don't know what we would do like if they decide to retire I'm, not sure if anyone would want to come out of the Union. So then we might be hiring from outside, but it will be the same problem.

H

We're trying to uh the the basically the police chief was trying to head off a problem for us and recognize our current staff as well.

E

And a question I think I know the answer to um some of the funds from.

E

I'm not going to use array words, the um enforcement.

E

uh You know about a hundred hundred thousand dollars budget. We were going to use for the canine.

H

Oh uh acid, forfeiture acid.

E

H

It can't be used for salary right. You know.

Q

Yeah you you can't, you can only supplement, you can't supplant existing funding sources.

Q

um So if this is going to be a benefit that you offer, that's not an eligible use, it would have to be like a one-time thing.

E

Yeah, that's kind of what I thought I wanted to confirm. um What's the likelihood of this moving to general fund a general fund line item.

Q

It would never be created as a line item in a budgetary year because it is so infrequent in nature um and with regard to the statement earlier about what, if there are no vacancies, um I've been with the city for 18 years, we have never not had a single vacancy within the general fund in an entire fiscal year.

M

A

Angela, do you mean by that any vacancies or specifically police vacancies,.

Q

So any vacancies, although it is generally more often in PD, um there was a historical um habit of budgeting with vacancy savings included in the budget. We no longer do that, since you can't count on those and it was always held within the police department, because it was the most usual place for a vacancy to occur.

D

B

Okay, does someone.

D

Want to make a.

B

Motion to approve this.

B

I'm going to motion by Thomas: does anyone want a second.

A

I'll suck in.

B

Motion by Thomas second, by Aurora, all those in favor, please say: aye aye,.

D

B

Right any opposed any abstain. I'm staying all right motion carries. Thank you, Jesse. Thank you.

B

Okay. Moving on to item C proposed changes to sidewalk.

D

B

Welcome back Eric, good.

I

Evening, thank you, uh I'm here tonight to talk with you about the draft changes to chapter five of the city's Municipal Code related to sidewalk use. This was last reviewed by Council back in February of this year. uh The the intent of the updates were to really kind of more formalize the process and and provide a little bit more detail for the application process. How the the whole system worked out Etc.

I

um At that time there was some work done with downtown new ski to do some business Outreach. However, it was determined at at that time that there wasn't.

I

There may not have been enough time in advance for the businesses to really prepare for the changes that were being proposed, so we decided to to bring this back later in the year. So that's why we're here tonight so included with the agenda was: is the draft of chapter five as presented at that February meeting, uh there's also a second optional draft that would that would shift the permitting process from for the sidewalk use from city council to the Department of Public Works.

I

Additionally, there is a memo included from the director of Public Works kind of discussing that process. The reason why we decided to propose an alternative to City council's approval is because, right now, the Department of Public Works approves and reviews any any type of sidewalk encumbrance generally. Those are very short-term for somebody that needs to block the sidewalk to do maintenance on their property. Put up a banner, for example, in downtown ski on on spinner place.

I

Things like that, it's usually a one day to a week type of of process, whereas this would be a similar encumbrance, but for a seasonal type use. So this would also allow for a mechanism to be in place, that's already in place. That would would do the review for accessibility for compliance with other regulations um for impacts to the existing infrastructure in the city. Things of that nature and also provide a mechanism for that enforcement as well.

I

So we wanted to bring this forward to you tonight to get initial feedback to see if that is something you're you're interested in pursuing the option that would allow for the sidewalk use piece to be reviewed by the Department of Public Works Council, as the liquor control board would still review any outside consumption, as you currently do. This would just be for the use of that outdoor space. So really what you're?

I

What you'll see in the in the two drafts is the original draft, as I mentioned, as is the the alternate draft- includes a new section 512, which would be which would outline that process. Success for the Department of Public Works review, so I've had an initial conversation with uh with Melissa the executive director of downtown Winooski about about this process. I, don't know if she is on tonight or not um and John Rauscher director of Public Works is here as well to talk about uh his side. I should also mention.

I

There is a memo from our finance director about comments from the finance Commission on sidewalk use in general. They did not review the Public Works version of this of this process. As I mentioned, this is coming to you tonight for initial feedback on which direction you may want to pursue going forward.

B

Thank you, Eric.

B

um Looking at the new proposal, The Memo from is John on yes, okay, um John, there's a diagram in here for is you seeing Cafe permitted spaces when I read through this? Initially it read to me like, we would essentially not be having any Cafe seating in that stretch of the west side of the rotary. Could you give us some clarity on on what would be allowed.

R

Sure so evening, everyone, so that's um for the West Side um and there's there's really kind of two locations there, there's one where it's sort of flush up by the post office, that bay of parking and really we're talking about the locations where you have the the issue of the perpendicular angled parking and some potential conflict with the cafe seating. That's there now we're.

P

Not necessarily like we're not talking about the.

R

Bump Out locations on either end it's just these. These spaces in that are directly in front of the perpendicular parking, um so.

D

There's there's the locations that are.

R

Flush with the the brick paver sidewalk and there's the large Granite paver and then there's the locations further down um sort of in between that block of mule bar and and grazers, where there is sort of a step down portion there to the Granite pavers.

R

So if Public Works was reviewing this and permitting it, we would. um We would go by the the American parking associations, guidelines of having sort of a minimum two foot overhang for that curb line section which would reduce the area allowed to about five feet in that Granite paver Zone, so the the lower portion so.

I

P

A significantly.

D

R

Sort of Cafe patio table um we'll say the other option we've floated because obviously this is I'm sure it would be welcome. News of businesses is revisiting looking at taking over um looking at taking the parking spots over. So that's more of a policy question if, if you all were interested in reviewing that, but that would eliminate the issue entirely if the businesses were interested in utilizing.

P

R

Of the parking for Cafe spaces, and then they would have way much more room than they have currently, and that would.

B

G

R

The issue of um you know the the issue we have with cars, conflicting with the tables.

B

I, don't entirely follow um I understand in the original proposal. There's this two foot buffer that we were debating that that's the recommendation for the bumper overhang.

B

And that still is included in the DPW review. But.

B

It's like this memo says: DPW would also not approve an encumbrance in the six and a half foot wide brick paver sidewalk corridor. So is that saying we're bumping in the Slate two feet and then we're also not allowing any on the brick area.

R

Yeah, ideally so we would, we would recommend, keeping that brick portion open, given that we do have a lot of pedestrians that come through that area and the recommendation is to keep keep those higher pedestrian used corridors seven to ten feet so that you do allow people are able to pass comfortably. If you do have folks that have Vision.

D

R

They can, you know they can walk down the corridors or, if you'd have folks that are uh have to use sign language and they're walking with someone next to them that they have enough space. So that's why we would recommend keeping that space as open pedestrian, Corridor space and and.

D

Really, if, if we're looking at.

R

The cafe space, it's just that Granite belt that could be utilized.

I

It would also just add, as John mentioned, uh a potential uh policy question for, for you all would be to seasonally allow for the the businesses to utilize the parking spaces that are there for business purposes, so, basically eliminating the parking in most likely that lower the block of the southernmost block of parking.

I

um We've done some analysis based on parking data that we have available to us, not a very scientific analysis, but we have done some analysis and of the spaces there's about eight spaces that are there in that lower block. Around half of those spaces are generally occupied by long-term Parkers for one who are associated or affiliated with the businesses that are there.

I

So we're not seeing the turnover that we might expect from a standard, metered space part of that is I think as not to go too far off track, but part of that I think is because of some of the the the fee structure that we have in place um right now. We we charge the same amount for our on-street leaders as we do for the garage, so there's no real incentive to to have the long-term Parkers, not in those spaces.

I

So let like I said it wasn't a very scientific analysis, but we do have data that shows approximately half of the vehicles that are parking. Those spaces are not customers that are not turning over those spaces. They're people that are affiliated with the businesses that are there all day, basically so eliminating that parking would allow the businesses to take over more of that space, um probably at least an additional 10 feet of that of that area.

I

We could do it as a seasonal basis, um and- and that would also be a mechanism that could be reviewed by Department of Public, Works, Public Safety as well, to make sure there's clear spaces and clear zones, but that would be a potential option to to give more space back to the businesses, while still maintaining the brick walkway for pedestrian access through the through the through that corridor.

I

I should also mention that is the eliminating. That parking is something that we have discussed with downtown Winooski. As well with Melissa, um so she is aware of that and was going to speak with her board about it. I don't know if she's had a chance to do that yet, but she was going to to start um taking the temperature of some of the businesses in downtown.

B

So my recollection is that conversation happened during pandemic as well and businesses. The general sentiment was that they did not want to lose all of that parking. I think it's worth having the conversation again, but yeah.

I

Just want to have.

B

That, historically out, there.

I

Yep and I think some of that was also due to the to the turnover of a lot more takeout business. So they wanted to have more space available in front of their businesses to accommodate uh the takeout because they weren't able to do the in-person during the pandemic. So um but yes, that would be a that would be a component that that we would explore as well as eliminating the parking and potentially even resigning, some of the other parking around the area so that it's either for 30 minute or we could reduce the the time.

I

Duration for some of those spaces. So we don't have vehicles parking five, six, seven hours a day in the same spot,.

H

Right because those two components, I, don't believe, were previously discussed together, which should change the feeling about how feasible it is.

B

I will say: I like the idea of this being a DPW process, but what I see here feels significantly different from what was discussed before and I would want to get business input on that as well. You before moving forward.

E

Another challenge with seasonal um and something that I've also noticed in the news um out of outside of Vermont, um that was a carryover from covid, was having outdoor stalls and having permits revoked for having um year-round stalls and making them seasonal and the impact. That is the economic impact that has on businesses as well um to and we've heard from our own some of our own businesses here of building a platform and then having to deconstruct a platform seasonally. So that has impacts as well uh and should be considered.

G

Yeah and the personally answer your question: Eric Melissa, hasn't brought this up with the board, yet so I really don't have a good take on what the businesses think about this I could be hearing and reading all this wrong, but I feel like this is a step back from where I think we landed on last time and where this was seemed to not have been impacting the businesses as much. Maybe I'm, not logging. That correctly, but that's just how it seems at the moment.

G

um I know there were some questions that I think I had posed, and it sounds like you, weren't really able to do um just because of time and everything else a walk through with each business to kind of show them. What the impact would look like.

G

I do really think that's very important, because this will impact some businesses very drastically different than others um and then Elaine I, don't know if we ever got an answer from the city lawyer about the businesses incurring if there was a way for us to get the businesses to take on the potential liability of a car passing through and hitting somebody.

H

I'm gonna double check that I did get an answer. I want to make sure I. Have it I? Have it right before I answer.

G

Okay, thank you um and yeah I mean I. Think the The Memo from the finance commission kind of highlights I think a lot of the things that we first spoke about in terms of our concerns about downtown vibrancy and how how much people can take access of our different of our different restaurants. So I I'd really like to make sure that we've got full business input and that each business really knows what this is going to look like before we really start taking on more discussions about this.

H

So to answer: Thomas is your question it. It was originally posed to the attorney, as is it possible to create an agreement that would shift all liability for an injury to a restaurant cust to a restaurant customer require they have a customer using outside seating caused by I feel like there's some disorder.

D

H

Caused by a vehicle to the restaurant should they decline to follow City guidelines for a two-foot buffer between curb face and seating. The City attorney responded. Yes. We can include indemnification language as part of the permit.

G

H

G

That would be a great, oh sorry, land yourself.

H

Well, I know to your point about wanting more business input, I'm, not sure what their insurers would make of that, so it might not be cost effective for them, but I don't know that for a fact.

G

H

G

I think, if we're just able to provide that I forget Which business, it was but like one business will essentially lose all of their outdoor seating. So it may be worth it to them to take on more Insurance in order to continue to get that revenue from all the seeds outside.

I

Foreign looking for tonight anyway was whether or not the the process with Department of Public Works reviewing the sidewalk use permit, if that's something you're interested in us Gathering, more information on or moving forward with the process as it's currently drafted, and what you reviewed previously.

A

um Can I ask about staff capacity for the Department of Public Works to do this additional review.

H

I

Gonna say I'll I'll defer to John on that.

R

Yeah I mean this.

D

R

Not to say that it's pretty quick work but I mean there's not a lot here.

D

To to review this is.

R

With all the other projects going on, this is definitely the Least Complicated thing that we'd have to to review. So I don't have any concerns so I'd.

P

R

um Or city engineer and our operations manager, Joe uh Joe Shaw kind of looking at looking through these.

R

E

And just for being completely clear, why is it proposed to move to DPW I.

I

E

I

With our other permitting processes, and mostly for because there's already process in place, there's also the enforcement mechanism and there's also the the I say, more structured review of the applications. So we could build that all in, for you all as well. I think it'll require some additional time and resource, but I think having it with the Department of Public. Works um will can Will consistently allow them to review applications for sidewalk and Conference, basically, whether it be a longer term for sidewalk use or short term like they do now for for other purposes.

E

Can you just remind me how they're doing that, for other purposes.

R

D

Other purposes.

F

As far as sidewalk encumberences is.

R

That the question yes yeah.

D

So this is, this is pretty.

R

Typical I mean Burlington does the same thing as well. They they take a first crack at any of the cafe permits to make sure that they're in compliance with standards and um any requirements, and then it goes on to the council for sort of a final sign off. So um it would be.

D

R

Basically, this would be, we would be doing all of the right away permitting like we do now. We just wrap in the cafe permits.

A

I think for me, I am interested in kind of hearing more about the Department of Public Works I do like that. It feels consistent and that there is that additional consideration or the extra consideration around ADA compliance, which you have experience in I.

A

Do worry, though, that it does seem stricter than the council and the businesses weren't necessarily happy with the council review, so that's kind of where I'm chipping up I think I personally, think that it sounds like the Department of Public Works um would be overall safer for when you ski residents and visitors, um but I'm also not sure with the pushback last time.

A

Quite what to think of that.

B

Yeah I I also feel like the process is more appropriate for DPW, but this seems like a drastic reduction in in seating space from what we have now which not just businesses are concerned about, but community members who want to go there and the impact on our down. Our like thriving, feel like people come here for the Rotary.

R

B

R

Follow up on that so I mean, and that is typical. So we we do review a lot of right-of-way permits and unfortunately,.

I

R

Have to say no a lot, but typically that ends up in some sort of compromise. So it's very rare that we don't get to a point where um you know the the property owner, whoever isn't able to do what they need to do. It's. It usually ends up being a compromise um somehow. So, in this instance, you know, maybe the park Parkland type um permitting is a better. Is the compromise if downtown Winooski would be willing to to review that, um and we would have to do some on-street parking modifications, as Eric mentioned so yeah.

R

Unfortunately, sometimes we have to be the quote-unquote bad guys, which we really don't like being we don't want to be a you know, a wet blanket to the the businesses um we frequent them too. So it's not something we enjoy doing, but ultimately, our our our main goal is uh making sure the public stays safe and that we're being in the requirements of ADA guidelines and any other design guidelines and we're doing what's appropriate for the public.

G

I

J

G

Be happy to move this to DPW once we have a better grasp on what we're going to be, allowing for businesses to do I think until we've got these rules and regulations straightened out. I should stay with Council, just based on I think what is our charge to really focus on the economic fatality.

E

Yeah I I mean I Echo, some other counselors I struggle with the lack of predict, predictability and lack of transparency from one decision to the next. um It won't be clear how the records are kept on the decision. What went into the decision consistency between DPW directors, so all of that makes me um pretty uneasy.

B

You have any questions or well.

F

I mean to Echo Thomas I think that it would benefit me personally um to see exactly how each business would be impacted if I'm picturing, in my mind, I'm, seeing like a lot of upfront incurred costs on the businesses Parts trying to adjust to this um and as a resident and a a rotary rat I need to you know. I would really like to see like in front of me what that would look like before I make a decision.

F

As far as moving to the Department of Public, the Department of Public Works um I, don't know that this is a public Public Works thing, um but I'm open to more discussion about it as well.

B

So it sounds like we need some clearer diagrams to to visualize what these two things look like and current, like current The Proposal through Council, and then this potential DPW process.

F

Or even a field trip I would go off hours and go see with Eric and John or whoever maybe the most, uh the person with the most expertise.

H

That's not a bad idea to offer a site visit if other council members would like that, we couldn't arrange that and if we have to, we can warn it. If there's more than three uh two of you.

R

Yeah, just just to be clear, I think it might be a little simpler than what folks are thinking it is so if you know, if you're familiar with the I mean we're only talking about five I, think five in front of five businesses, or so it's the brick.

R

So there's the brick paper section, that's right along the buildings, that's roughly six and a half foot wide and then there's a granite, curb and then there's a five foot tree belt or green belt, um where a lot of the signs and lights, and things like that are so currently a lot of the businesses are just using that Granite paver area, the fifo granite paper area. We're saying that hey.

M

D

R

Issue here like there's, there's Cafe users and cars kind of looking.

P

Utilize, the same.

R

Space on that curve line, so what we? What what we would require if the if the businesses did still want to use that Granite curb space or that Granite paver space they'd only be allowed a three foot sort of ban, um which would be like a a small cafe table which.

P

I believe they used.

D

R

um When Eric showed me some uh historic, Google, Earth photos street view photos, so it would be going back to that. So.

P

That's really all.

R

We're talking about is just that: Granite pave area, they'd have a three foot swath, unless they went to. You know eliminate the parking to eliminate that potential conflict. So I don't know if it's worth I'm more than happy to do a sort of a look down there with everyone, but I think it is a pretty simple um review that we're we're looking at it's just. We would limit it to a three foot linear space. There.

F

Yeah and I'm picturing, two people sitting in a three foot space next to each other and that's like, was significant reduction in outdoor seating for those businesses which that's a big draw in summer. For those folks.

R

um Yeah yeah no I'm just having to replace materials.

F

Like I, see, I see the safety issue, I walked in here with that being the Forefront for me, um and you know, I also think like this could have a really really significant impact on like Cornerstone businesses in our community yeah. No.

R

Understood like there's definitely an economic Vitality component to it, but we we have.

D

R

At it from a safety standpoint, so that's where you know we come from, so we we that's where we have to review it, but then, if Council still maintains reviewing these, then you know that that's totally your purview, so um that is an option.

H

Right just to connect the dot Charlie um that that's why it's a public works thing because there's a significant safety uh component to this unit, public infrastructure. So that's why they would be involved.

B

I I think also, we need to engage downtown Winooski before any decision making like we had a public hearing for these previous Pro previous proposals. That is what these folks think is coming down. The pike potentially- and this feels significantly different and I think- would be pretty shocking to suddenly see us considering this without having done any engagement, there yeah.

H

Agreed and that's why staff brought you can we continue to pursue this as opposed to please decide now we agree with that.

A

Yeah and I think too looking at this diagram I do worry that it doesn't like that some businesses might feel targeted, because some have that bump out and some where they could have tables on on the brick and some do not so I have some concerns with that.

H

Right and I think that um that is related to Thomas's Point, really.

A

H

Individual visits yeah and the thing is it: the downtown is not equal, so whether you feel Target or not, your space is not the same as other another business's space, so that isn't going to be inevitable.

F

I would be really interested to hear what the impacted businesses think about potentially expanding their seating into the parking spaces, yeah seasonally by choice not requiring them at all, but it does seem like a decent compromise.

F

It mitigates the safety issue. It gives them more seating even more than what they have. So it doesn't seem like a bad talking point yeah.

E

I mean, as the mayor mentioned, that that conversation was posed with the initial round of changes, um and there was there was no consensus.

E

It kind of depends on the business, some businesses that have more limited storefront, when this is um permitted for direct for table space heating space directly in front of your storefront. It's going to be advantageous for Solomon, it's advantageous for others. So um there's also the uh the issue of seasonality and needing to again remove structures that take time and labor to build as well, and that came out previously.

E

So I I think it's an issue of like I. Don't know that anybody's gonna be satisfied honestly.

B

Truth um would staff be willing to attend a downtown new ski board meeting and with these like floating these two options and the partlet seasonal parklet use.

H

I think we would defer to the executive director on how to handle, but we're open to that.

B

um Correct me, if I'm wrong, but I, feel like what I'm hearing is. Yes, you can explore this Edition this or episode of three options now, uh but this additional option, but that we we need more engagement with the impacted parties before we want to take it up further.

H

That's what I heard.

E

H

Mean it doesn't hurt.

E

To get feedback I could be pleasantly surprised, yeah.

F

You never know it sounds like they've already, given their the the businesses have already given their feedback, but on.

B

On the first proposal, not this DPW situation, correct. They haven't seen this yet and.

F

We've had changed their feelings a little bit. This is, like you said, very different. Sorry, I didn't mean to speak over you friend.

E

F

Fine you're fine, but this is this- is different. So.

E

And we've I think the there's been a ton of conversation over the last two years or more on this and I think. Initially, there was a lot of demand for it because there people weren't allowed to convene indoors because of coveted restrictions.

E

um You know two years later year year later we're not even necessarily too much more than a year out um and yeah I I think perhaps there would be a different conversation now, given those some of those restrictions and concerns have decreased for at least um the larger Health Emergency status.

B

Are there any questions or comments for members of the public.

B

Is there more specific feedback that would be useful to you all.

I

I think at this.

C

Point just whether or.

I

Not you want us to get more data on the permitting process going through Department of Public Works. That's that's really the direction that I'm looking for. So we can continue to have those conversations and engage with the businesses. It didn't want to go down that road and start stirring.

D

I

This wasn't even going to be a reality or a possibility, so um that's I think I think the direction that you provided is sufficient for us to move forward with.

E

The timelines remain the same.

I

E

Think that would be the intent. Yes.

I

Is that we would uh work to have everything finalized and to be in place by next April for that for the summer season, yep.

E

Sorry I was not specific. Would the timelines for submitting a permit for the season be the same.

I

um I believe it would still be yes, I, don't think that's changed, except for where the application goes. Okay, I believe, is how it was drafted.

E

And I'm, just thinking about workload at that time of year for DPW run the time applications would be coming in versus the current process. John yeah.

R

No concerns we, we turn these around really quickly, so.

H

P

R

Then you know it.

D

Only takes us a.

R

Few minutes to review these.

D

B

Okay, this was on for discussion only. Thank you all great.

I

Thank you very much.

D

B

Move on to strategic Vision goal area updates.

C

H

H

So for those who aren't familiar the city- uh nobody here, but maybe some someone watching from home later for those who aren't familiar the city of Winooski, has a master plan with four goals: Municipal infrastructure, economic, economic, Vitality, safe, healthy connected people and housing annually, Council sets policy priorities and strategies for each area and for activities that touch on more than one area. We call that all staff also sets our own operational priorities around the same time.

H

A report against these four goals and these priorities quarterly and today's packet is the first all update and the first economic Vitality update for the fiscal year based on council's fiscal year, 2024 policy priorities and strategies and for all I'd just like to highlight three of those A1 A3 and A5 for A1. That one is integrating Equity considerations.

H

As noted in the separate Equity memo, our academic activities fall into the following areas: accessibility, voice, welcoming and or belonging miscellaneous and awareness. We have the most activity in the accessibility area, there's several that fall under voice miscellaneous and welcoming and belonging and there's the least number of activities under the awareness category.

H

The activities range in permanence from one time mid-range to longer lasting less of our activities are one time I'm pleased to report those are. Would they be things like trainings or events? The most we have is ongoing practices. We do also have a fair number of activities related to procedures or policies that require ongoing action or even programs that do have their own budget or are an identified part of a bigger budget.

H

Many of our activities with Equity impacts are ongoing, like paying for interpretation and translation services for City Outreach events, making scholarships easier to apply for access to access, Recreation programs or peer learning topics as a standing team meeting agenda item activities new since our last update in January on Equity um January of this year, related to language access to information on the Winooski, Bridge, Project and inclusive engagement approaches to get input for the bicycle and pedestrian plan, which is why I asked Eric to stay because he's got some interesting updates to cheer on that.

I

Yeah so uh talking about some of the Outreach that we've done on the the walk like master plan, that is being done through some funding. Some.

P

Federal funding.

I

Through the regional Planning Commission, one of the approaches we've tried to do with this project was uh kind of switching up. Our Outreach efforts, in particular, instead of having the model of holding a public meeting and helping people show up, we've tried to do much more targeted engagement where people are um and when I say we I really am talking about the regional Planning Commission Consultants that they've brought on board they've done pretty.

P

I

Of the Outreach related to this, so they've been doing a lot of work since the project began earlier this year, we've had 22 individual events that they've attended so far. Those include things like the Winooski partnership for prevention, dinner pickup at the O'brien Center Intervale food, Hub, distribution event at the O'brien Center. There's been news stories on WCAX the veggie Van Gogh food distribution at the school, as well as tabling at the school district in the school store some Outreach at the senior center Outreach at the Farmers Market on multiple times.

I

Multiple days we were just recently at the the back to school barbecue trying to collect feedback so.

D

Really doing a.

I

Lot of work to get out into the community where people are already going and where they're already, where they're already meeting in in an effort to try to engage at those locations.

I

In addition, we had some lawn signs made up that we distributed throughout the city that had a QR code for uh access to a survey that those signs were done in nine different languages so that uh targeting um multiple groups, the survey is still up and available to be to be utilized on on the project website that is being maintained by the regional Planning Commission, and we've done a slew of other just general uh social media updates, Flyers being passed out to businesses and and other sites in the community.

I

So far to date, with our survey and with our our targeted Outreach we've, we've received approximately 500 responses to the survey and we've received over uh over 300 comments from from our tabling activities on on people's concerns, people's opinions, uh just a slew of different information on walking and biking around the city of widowski. So I think this has been a very successful effort compared to what we've seen in the past.

I

Where again, we'll hold a public meeting, three or four people show up and we've checked the box to say: we've had our public meeting we've. Actually, uh through this process, we decided to forego having some of those public meetings in order to spend more time on these targeted, Outreach efforts. So I think so far it's been very successful and uh hopefully will be a model for for projects in the future as well.

H

Sir, thank you so let's say one.

I

For eight sorry, no more things um related, but not a project that we are doing is uh the department, the Devon, the Vermont Department of Health is hosting a walk. Audit that will be conducted in September in conjunction with the school I believe is, is they're partnering with them on that? So that's going to help feed into the work that we're doing as well, so other efforts gonna provide assistance so anyway, thank.

H

You thank you on A3, again back to the old uh all goal update the memo. Oh, that's the language, Access Project I, know, uh process. I know a lot of folks are very anxious to get that done right and as soon as possible. So reading from my memo staff have developed a project scope for an outside expert to help us develop a a language needs and resource assessment, be a language access policy informed by that assessment and see a related best practices and procedures. Document.

H

City staff would then build on these documents to develop a language access plan. The Vermont office of racial Equity did inform us last week that they would support this effort and no charge. So the next step is determine what they can do to see if we still need a consultant to do the rest.

H

A5 Community engagement, effort to tackle The, Joint, School, City Equity audit findings this morning received three bids for consultant to help organize the community to take action on the findings and recommendations from the minooski equity audit that the city and or School District cannot resolve on our own. The next step is reviewing the proposals, so that's it for the all gold memo before I. Oh I, just have one sentence: I'll just tackle that so for economic Vitality, there's just two items for this fiscal year and both are recommended versus, must do so.

H

um The updates are there in the memo. Are there any questions about any of the goal updates.

E

I want to thank you for including the RFP link.

B

um Very exciting about the Outreach efforts and um the support from ideal and thank you and to council I heard for yes.

H

And uh Parker, oh.

B

That's right, yes,.

H

Our third teammate, yes,.

E

Yeah I feel, like that's, really big news. So that's wonderful! Yes,.

H

I chose Hosanna that she made my day.

A

E

Seems like everything's proceeding, do you anticipate any blockers.

H

Yeah I'm a little concerned about the amount of the bids for the Equity Auto consultant.

E

The cost the price amount.

H

Yes or the number, no, the price, the cost of the bids that came out, yeah yeah, so we'll see what happens with that, but I I'm, not um I, don't have a specific ask yet they just came in this morning. Okay,.

B

For the update.

B

We will move on to item e, a city council Equity update somewhat related to uh fairly related to what you were just discussing so um I put one of these together last year and then wanted to do it again uh for the public good to document. Here are the various ways that we are addressing. Findings from the equity audit report that we received um counselor helped me with this.

B

Thank you, um I I actually didn't thoughtfully, prepare like which things to highlight like Elaine did um but wanted to take a moment to ask you all um what you think might be the most useful to highlight for the public.

B

You do have any questions about anything in here. There's something I missed or or got wrong.

B

My intention would be to share some of these highlights in my mayor's post on Friday summarizing today's meeting.

A

I think updates and I'm, not I'm, not sure, specifically which bullets, but on the affordable, housing, educating landlords and renters, and on that was recommendation, eight recommendation nine and also on recommendation five, the strengthenings school district and City collaboration.

A

I think those are all areas that I feel like most about. Thank you for that.

H

If I may yes, recommendation, 11 strategy is increased civic participation among bypoc residents that first bullet I think is a a very important investment in time that Council has made and want the community to understand it, and also feel welcome to contribute to that. Thank.

D

E

Do we feel, like there's good awareness of um all Resident voting.

E

Or is it still relatively.

H

Yeah, so the the voter rolls are not for non-citizens to be very clear about. It uh are not don't reflect the the population yep, and so is it awareness or discomfort or uh unease. You know not. It's probably a range of issues. Awareness is all is also probably still lacking. Okay,.

E

I think it's good to continue to highlight that.

B

You know what that's a good note too, for as we're meeting with groups.

H

Yeah there has been that feedback about.

H

Like what am I.

C

H

On right, so that's a whole different process.

C

H

Of just being knowing how to vote as a technical step versus what am I doing actually, when I, when.

D

H

H

Which relates back to the engagement piece.

E

It's all connected, it is.

B

All right, this is a discussion item. Are there any other comments or questions thoughts.

G

D

G

I just appreciate you putting this all in one document that you know we we've been doing a lot and City staff has been doing a lot. So it's good to see everything that's being done.

B

Thank you, yeah and I'll, be bringing that you know we're having our joint meeting with the school district in October, um Elaine and I will meet with the superintendent and the school board chair to do some agenda planning there and I. So I intend to share this um with them.

B

See if there's anything, obviously there's some like shared priorities here so like. If there's anything, we want to collaborate on that way, but.

E

Is it um for recommendation seven?

E

um Is it a stretch to for you to include the School busing I know that that has been a stress point, and obviously it's not on the city council um to resolve that and to sustain that. But um you know since folks kind of see the city in the school as one rather than two distinct densities. All the time.

B

E

B

In this article, but when I've talked to Steph over there, I I think it's fairly resolved. No.

E

I meant like highlighting that it has been resolved. Oh I,.

B

See what you're saying yeah I know and like whether or not like.

E

It's kind of the school district news, but does it make sense for us.

B

I could give a cheers yeah.

E

Because I think that has that's been a stress point for many and being able to celebrate that I think would be nice yeah.

F

That's great, thank you. It's timely too, with yourself.

E

B

B

Okay, well, thank you all very much. That brings us to the night at the end of this evening's agenda. Do I have a motion to adjourn.

A

So I'll move to Second motion.

B

By Brent, second, by Aurora, all those in favor, please say: aye aye Mission carries a meeting adjourned. Thank you. So much Council here than I thought.