South Burlington City News - 1.26.2021

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South Burlington City News

January 26, 2021   -    Local Government News Direct to You 

Budget 1

FY22 Proposed City Budget

As announced in the last edition of City News, the City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Municipal Budget that will now go to the voters for approval.  The budget is a 0.98% increase over last year’s tax rate, and an increase of $13.01 for the year to the average condo owner, and $18.76 increase for the year to the average homeowner.  This budget certainly takes into account the challenges everyone is facing as we continue to move through the Pandemic.

Read more.

WATCH THE FY22 BUDGET PRESENTATION

Tom Hubbard - FY22 Budget Presentation

 

ANNUAL BUDGET BOOKS SOON AVAILABLE

The Annual Budget Book will soon be available online as a pdf in the Finance section of the City website

If you would like a hard copy mailed to you, please reach out to us at 846-4107 and give us your name, and mailing address in your request.

WARNING
ANNUAL CITY MEETING
Tuesday, March 2, 2021

The legal voters of the City of South Burlington are hereby notified and warned to meet at their respective polling places at the Chamberlin School on White Street, the Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School on Dorset Street and the Orchard School on Baldwin Avenue on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 7 o’clock in the forenoon, at which time the polls will open until 7 o’clock in the evening, at which time the polls will close, to vote by Australian Ballot on the following Articles:

ARTICLE I      ELECTION OF CITY OFFICERS AND CITY COUNCILORS
To elect all City Officers and City Councilors required by law.

ARTICLE II    ANNUAL CITY BUDGET
Shall the City adopt the City Council’s proposed budget for FY 2022 totaling fifty million, six hundred ninety eight thousand, four hundred thirty dollars and seventy seven cents ($50,698,430.77) of which it is estimated seventeen million, three hundred ninety eight thousand, four hundred four dollars and fifty six cents ($17,398,404.56) will be raised by local property taxes?  

ARTICLE III   TIF FINANCING
Shall the City Council be authorized to pledge the credit of the City and to borrow up to Four Million Two Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Dollars ($4,002,550) in order to build Vermont Economic Progress Council-approved City Center Tax Increment Financing District (TIF District) public infrastructure and capital improvements, specifically: engineering and construction of the Garden Street Project between Dorset Street and Williston Road and the upgrade of intersections at White Street/Midas Drive and Hinesburg Road/Patchen Road together with associated site work and project costs, and to pay related costs, specifically, approval for reimbursement of TIF eligible related costs incurred in the establishment, implementation and administration of the TIF District? To date, the cumulative amount of voter approved City Center TIF debt is $25,400,000.

The legal voters of the City of South Burlington are further warned and notified that a virtual public information meeting will be held to discuss Articles I, II, and III on Monday, March 1, 2021 on Zoom.  (Access log on and phone info).

                     --------------------------------------

POLLING PLACES FOR VOTING ON THESE ARTICLES ARE THE CHAMBERLIN SCHOOL ON WHITE STREET, THE FREDERICK H. TUTTLE MIDDLE SCHOOL ON DORSET STREET AND THE ORCHARD SCHOOL ON BALDWIN AVENUE. VOTERS ARE TO GO TO THE POLLING PLACE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT.

The legal voters of the City of South Burlington are further notified that voter qualification, registration and absentee voting relative to said annual meeting shall be as provided by the Vermont Statutes Annotated.

CCTV TOWN MEETING DAY FORUM
Wednesday, January 27 at 5:30 pm

Watch the CCTV Town Meeting Day Forum on YouTube. Presentation from City Administration on the City's ballot items, including the budget. Voters are encouraged to ask questions during the forums by calling 802-862-3966. 

Garden Street Map

COUNCIL APPROVES BALLOT ITEM FOR GARDEN STREET

The South Burlington City Council has approved placing a question related to the connection of Garden Street to Williston Road on the north and Dorset Street on the west on the ballot for the City’s Annual Meeting on March 2, 2021. 

Voters will be asked to decided whether or not to enter into just over $4 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) debt to pay for the completion of Garden Street. 

Read more.

Taxpayer Savings - pig

SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS

This project was planned to save tax payer dollars.

Solar Panels

Solar Array Installation Progress

In early winter, SunCommon began the rooftop photovoltaic panel installation on the new South Burlington Public Library and City Hall at 180 Market Street. 180 single-sided panels were installed on the south-facing sloped roof.  These clamp right onto the standing seam with no roof penetrations. 

This spring, 137 two-sided solar panels (bi-facials) will be installed on the iron I-beam eaves that project out from the third floor roof.   Once this is complete, the solar array will be turned on and start generating power.  This array will feed directly into the building and offset the building’s electrical energy use by about a third over the course of a typical year. 

Read more.

Now Online

Application Status and Recently Issued Permits now online

Two new features of the Planning & Zoning webpage:

  • Status of current and recent applications under review by the Development Review Board.
  • Logbook of recently issued zoning permits

http://www.southburlingtonvt.gov/departments/
planning_and_zoning/current_application_status.php

Both are updated bi-weekly.

This same page also includes a link to where all development review applications, supporting materials, and decisions, and all zoning permits can be viewed online in our permit database

Expansion of Beta Technologies approved by DRB

The Development Review Board last week issued an approval for a small (762 s.f.) addition to the south side of Beta Technologies building at the Burlington International Airport. This approval follows two recently improvements/enhancements to the same site, which are under construction.

CITY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

OPEN POSITIONS

While we have not filled 9 positions, as a cost-savings measure, we do have the following positions open to be filled.

Director of Physical Plant

Water Quality Operator

Public Safety Dispatcher

Public Safety Executive Assistant

Public Works Mechanic

To learn more, review job descriptions, or apply:
visit Human Resources.

Giving a shot

Fire Department Helping with Community Vaccination Program

With the announcement of potential new vaccines to slow the spread of COVID-19, the State and Community Fire and EMS leaders began planning for the delivery of vaccines in a mass vaccination program.

In December, the State put out a call for Fire & EMS agencies for help in administering these new vaccines to Vermonters. SBFD was one of the first to answer this urgent call. 

Today the majority of our firefighters/EMTs have completed the training necessary to give the COVID 19 vaccines at the State Health Department’s Vaccination PODS - Points of Distribution clinics. These PODS are being rolled out over the coming weeks, throughout the State.

Read more.

Fire Department Focus on Attracting More Female Firefighters

Alexis Fojo - Recruiting Female FF

There are only six female career firefighters in the state of Vermont. Alexis Fojo a firefighter at the South Burlington Fire Department, is one of them.

Fojo said she joined out of a desire to serve the community. Now she hopes to empower more women to become firefighters. 

Read more.

2020 Top Dog Bella Says
"It's time to register your cat or dog!"

2020 Top Dog - Bela

It's that time of year, when all dogs and cats, ages 6 months or older, must be registered. Why? To ensure that the necessary vaccinations are current for the protection of South Burlington citizens— complying with state law. Deadline is April 1, 2021.

When you register, your pet will be entered into the 8th Annual Top Dog and First Feline Contest. 

Download the registration form.

Learn more or register today.

sidewalk

PUBLIC FORUM: Dorset Street Shared Use Path

Bike & Pedestrian Committee Meeting
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 | 5:30 pm | Virtual
Please see website for meeting info.

You are invited to join the Committee in a discussion of the City’s shared use path project along Dorset Street, between Old Cross Road and Sadie Lane. The project will include filling a 0.7-mile gap with a 10-foot wide concrete path along the east side of Dorset Street, and will also include a varying grass buffer. The goal is to improve safety and public access to the area’s only commercial businesses and the remainder of the City’s shared use path network.

This is a VTrans grant-funded and Penny for Paths funded initiative.

School District Events

SB School District logo

Regular School Board meeting February 3
Agenda can be found at www.sbschools.net

 

CCTV TOWN MEETING DAY FORUM
Wednesday, January 27 at 6:15 pm

Watch the CCTV Town Meeting Day Forum on YouTube. Budget Presentation.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

For a complete list of meetings & events, please visit the calendar at www.sbvt.gov

 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, February 1   |  6:30 pm | Virtual

  • Schedule for completing the
    re-appraisal of South Burlington commercial and residential properties
  • Discussion regarding Dillon’s Rule and proposed charter amendments that provide additional authority to municipalities
  • Discussion and guidance to staff on potential amendments to the South Burlington Transportation Impact Fees Ordinance
  • Discussion regarding potential adjustment of the boundaries of the South Burlington Tax Increment Financing District
  • Review and possible approval of the 2020 Tax Increment Financing District Annual

Full agenda and meeting minutes

Join from your computer, tablet or smartphone: 
https://www.gotomeet.me/SouthBurlingtonVT/city-council-meeting02-01-2021
Phone (audio only): (571) 317-3122
Access Code:  914-641-421

MEETING RECORDINGS


Watch the City Council Recording

Want to see what happened during the latest City Council meeting? Can't attend the live session online?  We've got you covered. You can watch the recorded January 19 meeting here.

 

Steering Committee Recording

Did you miss the Steering Committee meeting on Weds, Jan 20? No worries, as we recorded it.

Watch the recording.

 

Development Review Board Recording

Missed this meeting on January 20? Catch up now.

Affordable Housing Committee

Tuesday, February 2 |  7 pm  | Virtual

Join from your computer, tablet or smartphone: 
https://www.gotomeet.me/SouthBurlingtonVT/affordable-housing-committee02-02-2021

Phone (audio only): (571) 317-3112
Access Code:  562-397-173

Volunteer header

Development Review Board

Open Position: 1     Meets twice a month

Review and approves development proposals for commercial and residential propery.

To Apply: Email your letter of interest to Andrea Leo at
aleo@sburl.com or mail to City Hall, 575 Dorset St, S. Burlington, VT 05403

Applications due by Friday, February 5, 2021.
Interviews will be conducted at the February 13, 2021 City Council meeting.

Parking ban

City Clerk's Office:
How to Access Services

Need to access the Clerk's office for a title search, vital records, or marriage license? 

Visit the City Clerk's page and see how to do so!

Recreation and Parks

Summer Camp

Summer Camp Planning

We have already established over 20 different week long camp offerings. Some camp will have multiple weeks to help accommodate maximum size limitations. Camp weeks will begin June 21st and run through August 27th. Camps vary in interest and day-length, but we are sure there is something for everyone.

Some options include Crow’s Path Adventure Camps, Soccer Sparks, Rocketry, Baseball, Pottery, Flag Football, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Flag Rugby, Disc Golf, and Archery.

We are always looking for new camps to add, so if you or someone you know is interested in running a camp, send an email to bmcshane@sburl.com

Registration will begin February 1st

Read more

Dog on leash

Dog Recreation Task Force Begins Its Work

Staff worked through the summer and into the early fall on a framework to highlight some of the dog recreation needs in our community and outline potential steps to positive resolution outcomes.  The framework was then presented to a joint committee meeting of the Dog Park Committee, the Natural Resources and Conservation Committee and the Recreation and Parks Committee in late October. 

November allowed for individual committee discussion of how to proceed and December resulted in submissions of committee volunteers to support the Task Force.  We are now at a point of scheduling our first meeting and look forward to gathering these varied perspectives around the table to review the frame work and get busy with creation of a work plan. 

Our first virtual meeting will be Tuesday February 9 at 12:00.  All agendas ( which will include virtual meeting information) as well as minutes will be posted on the city website.  Want to learn more about this work?  Here is a link to the framework document.

Look to next week’s release of South Burlington City News for a historic timeline of the dog parks in South Burlington as well as an update on the Spring construction of the Wheeler Dog Park.

Delivering meals carside

Senior Grab and Go Meals (FREE!)

SBRP is excited to announce that we are continuing our partnership with Age Well VT for three more Grab-and-Go Meal pickup events.  These events will take place on the second Wednesday of February, March and April.  Age Well is covering the cost of the feels (120 meals each month) while SBRP is taking registrations, providing the staffing and facilitating the distribution of the meals.

Pick up at Veterans Memorial Park   11:00 - Noon 
(Drive up event. No need to leave your car!)

February meal:  Beef Burger w/Cheddar, Oven Brown Potatoes, Mixed Beans, Dinner Roll, Strawberry Shortcake.

* Registration for the February 10th event will be available on the SBRP website starting Wednesday January 27th.

http://www.southburlingtonvt.gov/recreation.php

Or call:  846-4137 and leave your name and contact number.  

Underwood view

Updates on the Underwood Parcel

The City Council approved the acquisition of the 60-acre Underwood Parcel that fronts on both Spear Street and Nowland Farm Road in 2013.  At that point, the City undertook a visioning process in 2015 to explore the community’s interests in the parcel and establish common goals for the property.  This process highlighted three primary uses for the park: natural resource conservation, agriculture, and recreation. 

Read more.

South Burlington Public Library

Color of Law Book Discussion

Upcoming Book Discussion of
The Color of Law

February 2 and 16  |  6:30 pm   |   Virtual

The Affordable Housing Committee and the South Burlington Library are cosponsoring a book discussion series on The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, by Richard Rothstein. The book traces how federal government housing programs and policies, from the New Deal through the sixties, and on to today, have prevented or discouraged African Americans from owning their own homes. The result has been a significant wealth gap between the races.

The discussions will be led by Jessica Hyman, director of the Fair Housing Project at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO), and will take place on Zoom on Tuesdays, February 2 and 16, at 6:30 pm.

Books are available to borrow at the library. Call 846-4140 or email sbplinfo@southburlingtonvt.gov to reserve a copy for pick-up and ask to be put on the Zoom list. If you don’t have time to read the book,  watch the brief documentary, “Segregated by Design,” narrated by the book’s author, available at https://www.segregatedbydesign.com/, or listen to an NPR “Fresh Air” interview at https://www.npr.org/2017/05/03/526655831/a-forgotten-history-of-how-the-u-s-government-segregated-america.

February Virtual Book Discussions

Book group

Thursday morning - February 11, 10:30 am
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
by Alan Bradley

Thursday evening - February 25, 6:30 pm
Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens

To register for the discussions, email  SBPLinfo@southburlingtonvt.gov 

Copies of the books are available to borrow through the Library's Holds Pickup system

KIDS' WINTER STORYTIME SPECIALS

COVID Winter Storytime

Baby and Toddler Program

 

Older Kids - COVID - Library

Older Kids Program

Part 1

Part 2    On our YouTube channel: "SBPLVT Storytime."

The South Burlington Library is currently operating only curbside service. 

See the current hours.

While the Library is closed to the public, staff will continue to work on your behalf. Patrons may continue to place holds online, or call and email us to renew and request. Bags of surprise books are again available - just give us an idea of what books or topics you've enjoyed recently. These bags were made possible by Hannaford in the spring, and are now brought to you by Target.

Holds and requests are available for pickup M, Th and F 11-3 and Tu & Wed 2-6 in front of the library windows. If you can't come inside, call us from the parking garage and we will bring your items out during those hours. Check your receipts for due dates. Stock up for the holidays! 

Call us during pickup hours for more information or to get help with any of the resources on the web, 802-846-4140.

http://www.southburlingtonlibrary.org. 

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