Hello Neighbors,

The City Council will hold our next meeting tomorrow, Monday, June 5, starting at 6:15. You can attend in person in Contois Auditorium, City Hall or by Zoom.

The agenda's link is: https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com

Please note that the City has moved from "boarddocs" to "civic clerk." This change may not be as easy to navigate as it has just been implemented. If you experience problems working with civic clerk, please let me or another city councilor know so we can pass on that experience. The accessibility of information is essential to having a real and functioning democracy so please reach out with tales of your experience and ideas for improvements.

To attend the meeting by zoom, click: https://zoom.us/j/99360274668
or call +1 301 715 8592; the Webinar ID is: 993 6027 4668
You can watch on CCTV: : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2PwCge7lNoKug676jIf_iUA **

The public forum begins at 7:50. You can sign up at the meeting. To speak by ZOOM sign up at: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/citycouncil/publicforum

I know 7:50 is late. Council President Paul has this following a resolution based on the work of a second grade class at Champlain Elementary. I am a co-sponsor. There is also a work session on the homelessness crisis from 6:15-7:45.

The work session focuses on the end of the State motel voucher program. The Mayor has not posted materials on civic clerk to review. This is a major problem with regard to open government. He sent out a brief update on Friday afternoon saying he's had discussions with the State since mid-May to partner in opening a new congregate shelter for adult individuals exiting the program June 1 and has proposed a three-part plan for high needs groups to be presented at the work session.

The meeting's big deliberative item is sure to be the Mayor's request to make Acting Chief Murad the permanent police chief. This is deliberative item 4. Prior to the item on the chief is the appointment of other department heads.

I and the other Progressive city councilors continue to oppose making the police appointment. I continue to believe he has not shown the improvement with regard to demeanor and commitment to the type of public safety system we need that warrants elevating him. Given all the progress we've made and are making to build a community consensus around public safety and community oversight of law enforcement and the fact that he will continue to be chief regardless of the vote, it also seems to be a divisive move, unneeded to keep moving forward, more of a political wedge than a public need. The many comments councilors have received on both sides of this issue reinforce my belief that bringing this forward at this time is not in the city's best interest.

Item 9 seems more in line with the developing public safety consensus: understanding that in addition to sworn police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians, public safety includes trained human services professionals focusing on services supporting community members without permanent shelter, those struggling with substance-use disorder, mental health challenges, and persons with chronic and crisis response needs. This resolution accepts a state grant to pair with budgeted City funds to start a Medical Enhanced Mobil Crisis Response Team. It seeks a study on making the City's Crisis, Advocacy, Intervention Programs (CAIP), now housed in BPD and staffed with non-sworn officers, a free standing public safety department working alongside the fire and police departments. The study would evaluate the reporting and supervisory structure needed to support three public safety departments (Police, Fire, and CAIP) and insure coordinated emergency dispatch and effective community responses.

The consent agenda has non-controversial but important items, including stormwater and wastewater improvements and public park planning around the waterfront Moran Plant.

Consent item 10 is a BED request for a 5.5% rate increase. It projects average residential bills will rise $4.39/month and average commercial bills will rise $5.10/month. State regulators must approve any increase. According to BED-posted materials, rates will remain significantly lower than the other Vermont and New England electric utilities.

Finally, Consent item 29 amends our agreement with the developers of "The Pit", aka City Place, extending time for compliance of certain conditions and providing for interim financing to accomplish that. I have requested this be moved to the deliberative agenda to more clearly inform the public.

If you have questions or comments regarding the agenda, feel free to contact me at megrant@burlingtonvt.gov.

May 3, 2024, 5:30 to 7 PM

May 3, 2024, 6 to 9 PM

May 4, 2024, 9 AM to 1 PM