Dear Neighbors,
This Monday, the Council will have its second of two scheduled meetings for the month of September.
As the meeting will be virtual, you can watch the meeting via zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81822005328 or by phone, 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 818 2200 5328 You can also watch live on BT Channel 317 or on you tube: https://bit.ly/2Skz27V If you wish to speak during public forum beginning at 7:30, please sign up via: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/citycouncil/publicforum. Please be sure to identify yourself on the sign-up as your name will appear on zoom.
Our first order of business will be a work session on the Open Meeting Law from 6 to 7:30pm.
We will have a public hearing regarding the Burlington Downtown Tax Increment Financing District. The Burlington City Council to hear comments concerning a resolution for the City Council to approve the submission of a substantial change request to the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) relative to the City of Burlington's approved tax increment district plan and approved financing plan for the Burlington Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.
The purpose of the City's Substantial Change request to VEPC is to update the above-referenced approved tax increment district plan and approved financing plan to accurately reflect changes made to scope, budgets, timelines and debt financing relative to the City's approved Great Streets projects and other approved TIF projects within the Downtown TIF District since these items were originally approved by VEPC. There are many documents associated with this change that can be found on board docs at: https://go.boarddocs.com/vt/burlingtonvt/Board.nsf/Public
Following the public forum and the TIF hearing, the remainder of our deliberative agenda includes:
• A presentation from Dr. Stephanie Seguino (UVM Economic professor and Ward 6 resident) on trends in racial disparities in Burlington traffic stops. Stephanie has written and published extensively on this issue.
• A verbal communication from the Mayor on police transformation work.
• A communication from DPW on parking services integration plan that will move management of parking enforcement from BPD to DPW on or around January 1, 2020 with the physical relocation to occur by the end of June 2020.
• We will have a second reading on proposed changes to our City ordinance regarding notice of trespass on City property. The purpose of the change lays out the process and service of notice, appeal and enforcement regarding enabling a City official in charge of City property to issue a notice of trespass.
• We have three resolutions on our agenda Monday evening. The first is a resolution that would allow permits for safe operation of contained outdoor fires during COVID. This will allow residents to safely socialize outside during this time as the cooler weather is fast approaching. The idea for this approach came from a Ward 5 resident, Val Carzello, via twitter and was taken up by the South End City Councilors. We hope this will allow more residents to continue to socialize, be with family and friends and remain safe.
• We will be voting on a resolution regarding the extension of emergency COVID group size gatherings in Burlington and continues the previous rules for another month, until November 9. Based on the City's and county's low prevalence numbers of COVID cases, and after consultation with the State health officials, the resolution will allow for resumption of regular hours of alcohol sales.
• Our last resolution is an emergency order regarding the Champlain Inn to be used as a low barrier shelter for up to 50 beds (the current limit is 26 in low density zoning) during this COVID State of Emergency.
I hope you have a good weekend and time to enjoy some of the lovely foliage that surrounds us. As always, I welcome your questions and concerns, so please be in touch.
My best,
Karen
Dec 4, 2024, 6 to 7:30 PM
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