Ward 6 Neighborhood Planning Assembly Meeting Minutes  
April 3, 2008

Attendees

Members: Marge Allard, Terry Averill, Ellin Black, Barbara Beals, Kathleen Colman, Roger Cooke, Claire Guiduli, Chris Hadsel, David Jenemann, Elaine Kaplan, Jerry Manock, Amy Mentes, Richard Munkelwitz, Sam Osborne, Ron Wanamaker

Steering Committee: Rick Bryant, Michael Rooney

Guests: Ken Nolan and Shawn Enterline, Burlington Electric; Jennifer Green, CEDO Legacy Project; Carl Riden, Champlain College; Carol Duncan, DPW

Ward 6 Councilors: Andy Montroll

6:40 PM – Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at the Greek Orthodox Church (600 South Willard Street) by facilitator Michael Rooney, Rick Bryant taking the minutes.

Corrections / Additions to the Agenda: none

Corrections/Additions to last month's Minutes: none

• A motion to approve the minutes was made by Jerry Manock, seconded by Karen Paul and passed unanimously.

Introductions: Introductions by attendees was requested and completed.

6:45 PM - Items on Ward 6 NPA Ongoing Topics Status Report Highlights:

• Cliff Street Mobility Study – No report
   
• Truck Traffic on Willard Street - Letter from Jerry Manock to the State was read into the record. The letter calls for the State to designate South Willard Street as historic Route 7A and reroute existing Route 7 along I-189 and I-89. Jerry has not heard a reply from the State yet but the trucking association is willing to meet with stakeholders in this regard. No reply from the state yet. Andy Montroll called Scott Johnstone of the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO). CCMPO noted that the challenge to making any changes involves getting the right parties together in a room. Michael Rooney noted that current GPS systems direct truckers to use South Willard Street. Part of the problem is that weight limits on the interstate system are lower than those on South Willard Street. (A culvert was recently repaired on I-89 between Exits 13 and 14. This may have had an impact on the interstate weight limits.)
   
• DPW Resolution - Michael Rooney explained the DPW resolution asked the DPW to maintain a website that lists schedule sidewalk and roadway maintenance projects. This would allow citizens and the MPO’s to comment on the priorities set. Bill Keogh’s Transportation committee reportedly forwarded this resolution to DPW and the website has been established. Unfortunately the list is not available to the public and up to date so the City Council needs to continue to monitor progress. The DPW is still collecting data regarding the existing condition of streets and sidewalks.
   
• Rotary Project - The DPW Board approved a rotary concept for the Shelburne Road intersection. The City Council approved the concept as well with a condition. The Council wants two lanes maintained in the northbound direction on Shelburne Road. Andy Montroll noted that 100% state funding is available for this project for a limited time. The City must keep the project moving forward. Consultants to the City are working on the modified design. Attendees voted in favor of receiving another presentation on the plan at a future meeting.
   
• Zoning Rewrite - Susan Dorn reported that committees formed of 3 City Councilors and 3 Planning Commission were tasked with addressing issues remaining from the Zoning Rewrite. There are 3 sub-committees:

• Waterfront and Downtown Marketplace Committee: Patrick Griffin is following this but no meetings are currently scheduled.
   
• Westlake: No update.
   
• Announcements:

7:00 PM - Ward 6 NPA Steering Committee Nominations:

Nominations were opened and Amy Mentes and Barbara Perry were nominated and their nominations seconded. Both were elected to fill the fourth and fifth positions on the Steering Committee.

7:10 PM - Burlington Electric - Renewable Energy, Ken Nolan and Shawn Enterline

Shawn and Ken distributed copies of powerpoint slides and explained ongoing planning efforts at Burlington Electric Department (BED). The state requires that BED prepare a new 20-year Integrated Resource Plan every three years. The plan is being presented to all of the NPA’s. It must be finalized by May 1. The plan can be viewed on line at: http://www.burlingtonelectric.com/bed/IRPs/BED%20DRAFT%202008%20IRP.pdf.

BED is working to satisfy growing energy demands at reasonable cost while trying to meet the City’s goal of being a “green” source of energy. Current supplies come from a number of sources the most significant being the McNeil plant which qualifies as a green source. Various scenarios of future demand are being tested. Growth in demand due to population/business growth may be offset by conservation efforts.

Construction of new green power sources is expensive and would result in higher rates to BED customers if this were the sole source of new power. However, BED can invest in new green power and the sell “credits” earned for the investment to recover their costs and reduce BED rates to customers. However, when the credits are sold, BED becomes less “green.” BED can address this by buying credits in older sources of green power. These credits can be purchased for much less than the credits sold for new power sources. BED would like to increase the capacity of the McNeil plant and secure a larger stake in this plant to maintain a high share power from green sources. The McNeil plant capacity is somewhat limited by the capacity of the railroad to bring fuel (primarily wood chips) to the plan.

Chris Hadsel questioned the need to be “green.” BED noted that this goal was established by the City.

Ellin Black asked about potential investments in green power. BED is looking at a wind farm in the Northeast Kingdom and biomass plants in Ludlow and Massachusetts. Power from HydroQuebec is not considered green power and is not a power source for BED.

Existing windmill at BED provides 60kw of power, enough to power BED’s office building.

The discussion of credits was sufficiently confusing that attendees voted to have BED attend a future meeting and answer further questions.

7:45 PM - Burlington Legacy Project, Jennifer Green

Overview of the Burlington Legacy Project was presented by Jennifer Green. Jennifer is charged by Mayor Kiss to bring back to life this project started by Mayor Clavelle. Inspired by the Champlain Initiative, the Legacy Project established a vision for Burlington based on the input of 1000 individuals. The current Mayor believes the vision is still valid but wants to reexamine how we achieve the vision. Vision needs greater involvement from corporations and institutions to address the environmental agenda. Neighborhood groups are being established for residents to explore ways to reduce the carbon footprint of individual households. Jennifer is hoping to develop a new logo and tag line for the project. A presentation is planned for May 5 to officially restart the project.

8:00 PM - DPW Sidewalk Strategic Plan, Carol Duncan

Carol Duncan of DPW explained the status of the Strategic Plan for Sidewalk Maintenance. The City has now inventoried 80% of its sidewalks. DPW is also maintaining a list of citizen complaints. A strategic plan is in development and will set priorities based on public input and proximity to high pedestrian traffic generators. (At the end of the meeting attendees were invited to place stickers on a chart indicating primary walking destinations.) The plan is needed as the $450,000 per year the City has allocated for sidewalk maintenance is not keeping pace with the need.

City is seeking citizen volunteers to complete the sidewalk inventory. City needs 36 volunteers to work approximately 10 hours each. Training will be provided on May 12 and 13. Volunteers will walk the sidewalks and note the condition by location.

Carol noted that spot repairs are generally more costly than more programmatic repairs. (Mobilization costs per linear foot are higher for spot repairs compared to reconstruction of longer sidewalk segments.)

Attendees noted existing issues with drainage (including catch basins that don’t drain), salt use (too much in some places and not enough in others), damage from snowplowing (to sidewalks, fences and lawns), and wheelchair ramps. Greenbelt restoration was also raised as a concern. Carol noted that this will be addressed as a separate project.

Carol further explained the sidewalk maintenance challenge. A “life-cycle” analysis of Burlington’s sidewalks was recently conducted. The current budget is sufficient to rebuild 1.5 miles of sidewalk per year. The City owns 150 miles of sidewalk. Accordingly, each sidewalk can be replaced once every 100 years at the current rate of spending. In warmer climates this may be adequate as cement concrete sidewalks can last up to 100 years. In Burlington, however, sidewalk life is more limited, perhaps 50 to 75 years. Consequently, Carol expects that sidewalk maintenance will fall further behind without further increases in funding.

8:20 PM – Open Forum

Susan Dorn suggested that the NPA adopt a new and more interesting name. Attendees were asked to think of suggestions for next meeting.

Sam Osborne has offered to report on School Committee matters at future meetings. A new teacher is being added at the Edmunds School to reduce class size.

Susan Dorn suggested that Design Review Board reports be given at the NPA’s. Proposed projects in each ward should be discussed at the NPA’s.

Chris Hadsel raised further questions regarding trucks on South Willard Street. She believes that trucks carrying wood chips to the McNeill plant are on South Willard. BED says that this is not the case. Trucks could be going to the biomass generator at the High School. Further investigation suggested.

Ellin Black would like to see the City create a park on Ledge Road at Iranistan Road.

8:30 PM - Motion to Adjourn

Moved and seconded, passed unanimously and meeting adjourned.

Back to Agenda

Page last updated May 02, 2008