Dear Neighbors,
Please join us this Monday for our last City Council meeting for the month of June.
As we move out of COVID times, in accordance with Secretary of State guidelines, you can attend the City Council meeting IN PERSON in the new Bushor Conference Room downstairs in City Hall or participate via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82435259022
Or phone: 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 824 3525 9022
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
The Council will be transitioning fully into in person Council meetings very shortly; for this meeting, we will be participating via zoom.
Following any climate emergency reports and the appointment of a new Assistant City Attorney, our deliberative agenda includes:
• By City Charter, the Mayor must deliver their proposed budget and accompanying tax rate for the coming fiscal year in June. The annual approval of the budget may well be the most important vote we traditionally take all year. Unlike last year's budget created under the cloak of uncertainty and dramatic declines in revenue, this year's budget restores all City services to pre-pandemic levels, invests in critical infrastructure, builds on significant work already begun on racial equity and initiatives to address our climate emergency, invests in our parks, will bring a livable wage to all City employees, and will do this while minimizing tax increases, recognizing the burdens placed on too many this past year. The budget also prioritizes public safety in creating a reserve for an exciting mental health initiative and being responsive to all the needs in our community. Worth noting, is the public engagement undertaken this year to get more community input via a survey and public meetings. The Council was fully engaged in this budget and many of the initiatives are the result of direct input from City Councilors who advocated for programs and initiatives. This has been a collaborative budget reflective of our community.
The budget will be voted on along with the accompanying tax rate which will be set for the coming year.
• Our next agenda item is a resolution to create an AdHoc committee on redistricting as we move closer to the 2020 Census figures and the possibility of redrawing the lines for municipal elective offices.
• We will have a communication from the mayor on the End of COVID Emergency and After Action Report. We will then appoint three members of the Council to serve on the Board of Tax Appeals following Reappraisal.
• Our last three items are proposed ordinance changes: one on heating systems, one on livable wage definitions, and the last is on the creation of the Percent for Public Art Ordinance. Any capital project would set aside 1% of its eligible budget for public art, creating a fund for community art funding to enrich our art in public spaces.
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.
The Fourth of July is just around the corner. This year's July 3 celebration promises to be one of our best ever! Please go to www.btvjuly3.com for all the details, including the fireworks display just after dusk.
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend.
My best,
Karen
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