Dear Neighbors,

This coming Monday, the City Council will convene its first meeting of 2023 and the first of two scheduled meeting for the month of January.

You are welcome to attend the Council meeting in person at Contois Auditorium OR Remotely via ZOOM at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/98795369997
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 5:30pm with a work session on financial literacy to further our understanding of the City's Audit and Annual Comprehensive Fiscal Report. Following this work session, we will have two expected executive sessions, the first on the State audit of the Waterfront TIF District and the second on a personnel matter.

We have seven key items on our deliberative agenda, as follows:

• We will hold a public hearing on two proposed ordinance changes. The first is on the elimination of parking minimums and maximums. This is a complex and significant ordinance change and one that has been in the works for several years. The intention behind this change is to encourage development that makes housing more affordable by eliminating parking to be provided per a formula with housing. As we eliminate the parking requirements, some developments will be required to commit to Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies. TDM focuses on understanding how people make their transportation decisions and helping people use the infrastructure in place for transit, ride-sharing, walking, and biking. It is cost-effective in guiding the design of transportation and physical infrastructure so that options to driving are naturally encouraged and our systems are better balanced. Larger developments would be required to offer tenants two TDM strategies from a menu of options. I do have concerns about this ordinance change. It is not the most ideal solution, but my current thinking is that the proposed amendments are an improvement on what we currently have. though i would, as always, welcome your thoughts. I am hopeful that in the 2023, we can work to further refine this ordinance based on more comprehensive study of TDM strategies which is currently underway.

• The second proposed ordinance changes relate to public art. The proposed amendments would provide needed transparent public art standards that encourage and facilitate public art in our community.

• We will have a presentation from the School Department on their annual budget.

• We will vote to accept grant funds from the State of Vermont Housing and Opportunities Program for the operations of the Elmwood Emergency Shelter Community. This is very good news and as we near completion and a formal opening of this emergency shelter community.

• We will be voting on a resolution expresses our thanks to the Burlington Police Commission for their unanimous vote on a resolution that expressed their appreciation to the Burlington Police Department's 'efforts and excellent work' on gun related events. As well, the resolution conveys the Council's gratitude of the Department's good work.

• The last item is a resolution regarding the implementation of a Carbon Pollution Impact Fee for new construction and large existing commercial and industrial buildings. The resolution requests that a question be placed on the Town Meeting Day 2023 ballot to set a fee in lieu of compliance with the use of renewable energy systems or fuels.

I encourage you to review these agenda items 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 weekend and a great start to the new year!

My best,
Karen

May 11, 2024, 7:30 to 9:30 PM

May 15, 2024, 6 to 8 PM

May 18, 2024, 9 to 10 AM