Dear Neighbors,
Before we get to the Council preview, I have two items of note to share.
This past Tuesday was a special day in Burlington.
After over a decade and many hundreds of hours of planning and engagement and construction, the roundabout opened at 10am that morning. Roundabouts are a safer alternative to traffic signals and stop signs. The tight circle of a roundabout forces drivers to slow down, and the most severe types of intersection crashes are unlikely. Roundabouts improve traffic flow, allow for safer walkability and are better for the environment.
The other important event was the special council meeting later that evening where the Council unanimously approved the amended development agreement with CityPlace Partners, a local trio of partners, including Ward 6 resident, Dave Farrington, joined by Scott Ireland and Al Senecal. The partners took on a challenging project, one fraught with lawsuits and a difficult arrangement with an outside partner. A little over a year later, the lawsuits have all been resolved and they own this phase of the development. The amended agreement allows them to commence their construction timeline, including their plan to begin pouring the foundation or podium by mid-December, working over the winter and we all hope to see steel in the ground and the first housing units begin in the spring with completion in 2025.
Tuesday was a good day for Burlington. On to the preview.
This coming Monday, the City Council will convene its first of two scheduled meeting for the month of November.
You are welcome to attend the Council meeting in person at Contois Auditorium OR Remotely via ZOOM at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85679463328
or by phone 1 929 205 6099 Webinar ID: 856 7946 3328
You can also join us via Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2PwCge7lNoKug676jIf_iUA
You can sign up for public forum via this link: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/citycouncil/publicforum or in person by completing a sign-up form inside Contois.
We will begin our meeting at 5pm with a work session on redistricting. At our last meeting, we voted to move forward with an 8 ward/12 councilor map. We have 3 different map configurations to look at on Monday evening. We will narrow the configuration to one and then vote on a resolution on November 21 to move forward with a Charter change for the March 2023 ballot.
After the work session, we will have:
• a communication on the Mental Health Summit that took place in September
• an update on the North Winooski Avenue parking management plan.
• a public informational hearing regarding the authorization to issue bonds to build the new BHS/BTC.
After public forum beginning at 7:30pm, we have several items on our deliberative agenda:
• We will vote to confirm the appointment of a new Assistant City Attorney and the appointment of a new Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
• We will be voting on a proposed ordinance change to our parking requirements and Transportation Demand Management, followed by a referral of the Board of Health's resolution on the prevention of gun violence to the Council's Public Safety Committee and later an ordinance change regarding recycling toters.
• We will be holding a hearing regarding Orlando's Bar and Lounge Outdoor Entertainment Permit.
I would encourage you to check out our agenda on board docs at 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 having a wonderful fall weekend and enjoy the extra hour as we return to Standard Time.
My best,
Karen
Jun 25, 2024, 9 AM to 4 PM
French Social Hour (In Person)Jun 28, 2024, 5:30 to 7 PM
Try Ultimate Frisbee!Jun 30, 2024, 4 to 6 PM