Dear Neighbors,

This past Monday, at our last Council meeting, we had a full agenda.

Our first item on our agenda was a work session regarding the settlement on CityPlace. We reviewed the highlights of the settlement. Among them, the land for the St Paul and Pine streets will transfer to the City at no cost as soon as the settlement is completed. The City will receive a guaranteed contract to reconnect St. Paul and Pine Street no cost to the taxpayers if the developer does not succeed in starting to build its project in the next approximately two years. When the project moves forward the developer is responsible for repaying $150,000/year in lost property taxes into the TIF district. The Council will be voting on the settlement at our next meeting this coming Tuesday.

We had an exciting and promising presentation on District Energy from BED General Manager Darren Springer, a project that will help our energy efficiency and move us away from fossil fuel reliance.

We voted on two resolutions Monday evening. The first is a resolution I had written to create an airport police division within the Burlington Police Department. The Airport pays the costs for the police presence at BTV as we are required by TSA to have sworn officers at the airport. Further, the officers at BTV do not engage in community policing while at the Airport and the resolution calls for a report from the Administration in April on how to remove these officers from the head count for purposes of an authorized head count. This is important as we discuss the authorized head count at BPD.

A lot has been written on the public safety continuity plan resolution. I was involved with Councilors Hightower and Pine working in good faith on a compromise, that all councilors were aware of, and was a large part of the reason we postponed voting on this resolution – to find a compromise that could get 7 votes. The compromise included increasing the sworn officer staffing level along with the hiring of community service officers, and the creation community support liaison positions that were in the proposed resolution as we work to re-envision and transform policing in Burlington. The original resolution proposed increasing the number of sworn officers to 84, a figure that would have received very little support. The compromise included a proposal to increase staffing to 79. Despite significant attempts to garner support, the amendments introduced did not include the 79 due to lack of support for this aspect of the compromise. The amendments passed and despite not getting support earlier in the day, a second amendment was made to increase staffing to 79. I voted for this as I felt that an increase was important to maintain a fuller police presence. The second amendment failed 6-6. There were varying reasons for why this was defeated; everyone looks at this issue differently. I and others had hoped a compromise could be found. I am optimistically encouraged by the contract we approved Monday for the full and functional assessment of our police force that was called for in the Racial Justice resolution. I am looking forward to the results of that assessment which should come to the Council in April. Combined with other information and data, this assessment will assist us in right-sizing our police department and lead to debate and conversation in a few months as we continue to re-envision our community's approach to public safety.

Moving to our next Council meeting this coming Tuesday, February 17 (note change to Tuesday due to President's Day), you can watch and participate in the meeting via zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81272917514 by phone: (312) 626-6799, Webinar ID: 812 7291 7514 or on BT Channel 317 or on via Town Meeting TV youtube channel: https://bit.ly/3joeFmN You can participate in public forum beginning at 7:30 through this link: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/citycouncil/publicforum

After a presentation on Burlington District 2030, a program works to increase building efficiency, reduce operating costs, increase asset value and create a healthier community, we have five items on our deliberative agenda. We will be voting on a resolution and ordinance change whereby that municipal licensing fees should be waived for all spayed or neutered ADA-qualified service animals. We will be voting on a resolution regarding the impact on UVM's budget cuts on the UVM community and a resolution that would dedicate Memorial Auditorium to honor the essential workers of the COVID-19 pandemic, joining the veterans of war who are remembered in this City building.

Our last piece of business is the vote on the resolution regarding the settlement with BTC Mall Associates that I mentioned earlier.

As always, I welcome your questions, concerns, and comments, so please be in touch. Your voice matters and I am grateful for your input. I hope you enjoy a good long holiday weekend.

My best,
Karen

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