Dear Neighbors,
This coming Monday, the City Council will convene its second of two meetings for the month of December. (We may have a special meeting during the last week of the year to vote on the Purchase and Sales Agreement with Schurz.)
We will begin our evening at 6pm with an update from the administration on negotiations on the Purchase and Sale Agreement on the sale of Burlington Telecom with Schurz Communications. Because this item are involves contract negotiations, it is expected to be done in executive session.
We will begin our deliberative agenda with a presentation on the Great Streets Design initiative and Construction standards.
Monday evening, we will be voting on four resolutions. The first would request a report on options to reduce municipal taxes and fees for seniors and low to moderate income Burlington residents. The next three are ballot questions for the Town Meeting Day ballot. The first is regarding the formation of a Union municipal district brought forward by the Public Safety Committee. The second is an advisory question on climate action. The third is an advisory question on increasing the age to legally purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. I am proud to cosponsor the climate action resolution and the tobacco resolution. Climate change is a real threat to us and our future generations and I see it as our responsibility to take a stand as a community encouraging the State to take substantive action despite the tone in Washington regarding this issue. As one of the leaders in the smoking ban on the marketplace a few years ago, I believe that increasing the age to purchase these products is a health and public safety issue. Nearly 90% of all smokers become addicted to smoking before the age of 21. Both of these ballot items are advisory in nature. The issue of the tobacco purchasing age is a State issue but we can send a message to Montpelier and hope other communities and our leadership follow. I am grateful to Ward 6 resident, Dr. Prospero Gogo for his leadership in the community and beyond to bring this issue forward.
Our next item is a presentation on recommendations to combat homelessness. This report is in response to a resolution that came to the Council a few months ago and has involved many stakeholders.
Last Monday, we had on our agenda the first reading of several quality of life ordinances in the downtown core. These include changes to come civil and criminal offenses. We removed this item so I could go back to a Council committee for further review. This Monday, we will vote on it.
Our last item is a communication on the BT Purchase and Sale Agreement.
As with all Council meetings, please keep in mind that you are always welcome to come and speak to the Council on any subject you wish during our public forum which begins at 7:30pm.
You may access the Council agenda at http://www.boarddocs.com/vt/burlingtonvt/Board.nsf/Public Please note that all Council meetings are televised live on BT Channel 317 and streamed live to your computer or phone.
As always, I welcome your questions and concerns. If you have any questions on the Burlington Telecom LOI (which you can access at https://www.burlingtontelecom.com/settlement/), I would welcome your questions and comments.
Please be in touch over the weekend and on Monday.
My best, Karen
PS A blue newsletter will be coming to your mailbox either this weekend or early next week. Please be in touch if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
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