Dear Neighbors,

This coming Monday, the City Council will convene its first of two regular meetings for the month of February.

• The meeting will be exclusively via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88235657186
• You can access zoom by phone 1 929 205 6099 Webinar ID: 882 3565 8782
• You can also join us via Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2PwCge7lNoKug676jIf_iUA
• If you wish to speak during public forum which begins at 7:30, please sign up using this link: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/citycouncil/publicforum

Our meeting will begin at 6:30pm with a work session on City Council decorum. The tone of discourse at some of our more recent Council meetings has devolved to a place where uncivil behavior, the use of profanity, and personal attacks have made for an unwelcoming environment. Over time this will become an impediment to every member of our community feeling comfortable voicing their perspective and concerns, particularly when we meet in person. This dialogue is counterproductive to good governance and is not in line with respectful communications nor is it reflective our broad community. This work session that will include a communication from the City Attorney will provide us with insight as to what we are able to do when this occurs.

Our evening will also include a Board of Civil Authority meeting that will include a discussion on the State reapportionment process underway in Montpelier.

Our deliberative agenda Monday evening includes:

• A public hearing on a proposed ordinance change to short-term rentals which will be followed by a vote on these proposed changes;

• A resolution requesting that we allocate $2.97 million of ARPA funds to address and ameliorate homelessness in the City and to create the position of Special Assistant to End Homelessness;

• The introduction of a proposed ordinance regarding camping in parks and other municipal lands. The motion is to refer this to a joint committee of Public Safety and Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization for further work before going to the Council's Ordinance Committee;

• A resolution regarding the general aviation community at the Airport which would be referred to the Council's Transportation, Utilities and Energy Committee;

• The last item is regarding City redistricting and consideration of next steps in this process, leading up to a City vote in November 2022. The City Attorney and City Planner will address the Council on various redistricting issues, including timeline of process, and consideration of an initial, pre-mapmaking steps to gauge the Council's consensus on ward-size, configuration, number, and structure of representation.

I encourage you to use the following link to all agenda items and supporting documents: 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.

Quite the snowstorm last night. I hope you enjoy a wonderful winter weekend.

My best,
Karen

PS Please be on the lookout for a blue newsletter which will be in the mail next week. This newsletter will describe the five ballot items that are on the Town Meeting Day ballot which will be coming to all registered voters this coming week. We are told ballots will be in the mail by February 10. The newsletter should arrive right around the same time, depending on the mail service.

Green Mountain Mahler Festival - Beethoven's Ninth

Jan 1, 2025, 3 PM

Regular Sunday Worship at Ascension Lutheran Church

Jan 5, 2025, 10:15 to 11:15 AM

Burlington Democratic Party Nominating Caucus!

Jan 5, 2025, 3 to 5:30 PM