By Donna Walters, Ward 5
on behalf of Keep the Park Green
Hello Residents of Ward 5 and Lovers of City Hall Park!
This is an URGENT CALL TO ACTION. We need you to come and cast your vote at the Ward 5 NPA Meeting:
Thur, Dec 20, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
South End City Market Community Room
207 Fynn Ave
I know, so much to do for the holidays - this is difficult timing for such a meeting. But please, mark your calendar now and plan to come. Keep the Park Green has made the rounds to all of the NPAs to request a formal vote of endorsement advising the mayor and city council to put the petitioned City Hall Park item on the March Town Meeting Day ballot so the people can weigh in on the issue.
Wards 1/8, 2/3, 4/7, and 6 all voted to put it on the ballot. We visited the Ward 5 NPA back in Sept and gave a presentation, but they wouldn't take a vote at that time.
Why attending this meeting to vote is so important...
The City Council decides which items to place on the March Town Meeting Day ballot and without persistent public pressure they may decide not to let us vote on this issue - even though we have collected the required number of petition signatures. Thur, Dec 20th is the last chance for Ward 5 residents to utilize the democratic process and advise their councilors to let the people vote!
We will present and discuss the NPA resolution (below) and ask for a vote.
Thank you for all your efforts to save the trees and historic character of City Hall Park!
Please DONATE to support the grassroots effort to save the trees and historic character of City Hall Park:
https://www.facebook.com/CityHallParkBurlingtonVT/posts/2252904628323703:0
Share a Facebook invite to this meeting with your neighbors:
https://www.facebook.com/events/175227716725494/
WARD 5 NPA RESOLUTION: CITY HALL PARK
Whereas, the City Hall Park ballot item is advisory, and the City Council votes to decide which items appear on the Town Meeting Day ballot; and
Whereas, the City Council could vote not to put the CHP item on the ballot, even though the required number of signatures have been collected; and
Whereas, the NPA vote is not a yea or nay vote on the City Hall Park ballot item itself, but rather an advisory resolution for our city councilors to have an opportunity to hear from the electorate by giving the voters a chance to weigh in on the issue; now therefore be it
Resolved by the Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly:
That our City Councilors should place the following question on the March 2019 Town Meeting Day ballot:
"Whereas, City Hall Park needs work, but the city's current redevelopment plan removes approximately 40% of the trees and increases paved area to cover about 1/3 of the park, at an estimated cost of $4 million;
Shall we, the citizens of Burlington, advise the Mayor and City Council to:
A) cancel the current plan for City Hall Park that was approved by the City Council on 6-25-18; and
B) instead, repair, maintain, and improve the Park by preserving more existing trees and shaded areas, repairing grass and existing walkways, increasing lighting and benches, and retaining the historic character of the Park?"