Dear Neighbors,

This Monday is our second and final City Council meeting for the month of May.

You can join us for the meeting via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89719290703
Or phone: 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 897 1929 0703
Or via youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2PwCge7lNoKug676jIf_iUA

Here is the link to sign up for public forum which begins at 7:30pm: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/citycouncil/publicforum

Before we get to our deliberative agenda, we will receive a communication from Superintendent Tom Flanagan and Burlington School Board Chair Clare Wool with an update on Burlington High School. Following this presentation, any climate emergency reports, and some entertainment permits, we have 8 items on our deliberative agenda:

• We will be voting on a resolution to expand youth representation on several City commissions and boards. This program was set up in 2003 and has been very successful.
• Following this resolution, we will be voting to approve the appointment of Brian Pine as Burlington's next Director of the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO). Brian brings many skills and years of experience to this role, including 18 years in the department prior to leaving a few years ago. Following his appointment, Brian must step down as the Ward 3 City Councilor and a special election will take place in mid-August.
• We will have a communication and vote to approve the 2021Water Resources rate restructuring which includes an affordability program. Water Resources, under the direction of Megan Moir, has done extensive work to find a rate program to allow us to ensure sustainability funding and address ratepayer affordability.
• Our next item is a communication from DPW seeking Council approval to execute a Cooperative Agreement between the City of Burlington and the State of Vermont to advance the Railyard Enterprise Project. This is exciting news. This grant award is for 81.08% federal funding, 8.92% state funding and a 10% local match obligation. The maximum federal award is $10 million. After execution of this Cooperative Agreement, the City will publicly advertise a Request for Proposals to procure preliminary engineering design services. This project will take some time but this agreement is a step forward toward realizing an exciting innovative addition to our City's landscape.
• Next, we have a communication from Darren Springer, General Manager of BED, regarding a rate increase to our electric rates. The proposed increase will be 7.5%. This is BED's first rate increase in 12 years for BED's ratepayers.
• We will then vote to approve an amendment to a fee for services agreement with UVM that is set to expire on June 30,2021. This amendment will extend the agreement to June 30, 2022.
• The next item is a communication from CAO Katherine Schad regarding police services at the Burlington International Airport.
• Our last item is a presentation from the City Attorney Eileen Blackwood on redistricting. This relates to the 2020 Census and the need we will have to redistrict should our population figures dictate redrawing the lines to ensure appropriate representation.

The link to finding all these agenda items and supporting documents is: http://www.boarddocs.com/vt/burlingtonvt/Board.nsf/Public

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 have a wonderful weekend.

My best,
Karen

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