Dear Neighbors,

This Monday, the City Council will convene its second of two regular meetings for the month of September. You are welcome to watch our meeting via youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2PwCge7lNoKug676jIf_iUA As we do not have a hybrid option yet, public forum will take place in person from 7:30 to 9:30. You can sign up for public forum inside Contois.

Following an executive session on an extension of the UVM Housing Agreement at 6:15pm, and a communication regarding a community health needs assessment, we will move on to any climate emergency reports and our Council meeting deliberative agenda, which includes:

• A proposed ordinance change regarding changes to minimum and maximum parking requirements and transportation demand management.

• A resolution regarding advancing a municipally operated consolidated waste collection system. The Council committee who oversees DPW issues voted 2-1 to advance this approach while the DPW Commission voted 5-1 in favor of the 'hybrid approach' that would incorporate private entities in trash and organics collections with the City continuing to do recycling. I have heard from many of you on this issue and am grateful for your feedback.

• A resolution to vote on a General Obligation bond for capital projects at a special election on December 7, 2021. The proposed bonding amount is $40 million to be expended over several years with the monies used to fund capital infrastructure projects, including $10 million set aside for Memorial Auditorium (what will be done with Memorial will be the subject of much greater discussion), as well as preserving existing assets and addressing critical deferred maintenance.

• The last two communications are related to BPD. One is a recruitment and retention plan that would take $1.27 million of our ARPA funds and would include paying current officers a bonus to remain with BPD and an incentive for recruitment of new officers. The other communication is regarding the equitable sharing annual agreement. This is the federal program in which the proceeds of liquidated assets forfeited after criminal investigations are shared among state and federal law enforcement agencies. The certification needed to continue this practice in Burlington was completed in August and the communication we will receive tomorrow evening 'notifies the Council that this has been done.'

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 are enjoying a wonderful weekend.

My best,
Karen

Third Public Forum on Community Safety - Substance Use

Jan 9, 2025, 5:30 to 7 PM

Why on Earth Do You Want to Listen, Make or Play Music

Jan 9, 2025, 7 to 8 PM

Alpha Film Series at SJV Church

Jan 10, 2025, 6:15 to 8:30 PM