Dear Ward 6 neighbors,
BIG NEWS! A blue newsletter is on its way to you and should find its way to your mailbox by early this week. If you would prefer a PDF version, please email me and I will send you the electronic version.
The next City Council meeting will be tomorrow, Monday, July 24 beginning at 5:45pm.
Please click the link above to join the meeting. The CCTV link is: 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. Public forum will begin at 7:30pm.
Key items on our agenda include:
• HOUSING AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT – We will begin our evening with an expected executive session to discuss a housing agreement with UVM. As you may recall, the Council voted to table a discussion about a zoning amendment to the Trinity campus in April. There has been further discussion on this topic and the executive session will offer the Council an update on those negotiations.
• WINOOSKI RIVER SEWER MAIN BREAK UPDATE – At last week's Board of Finance meeting, we got an update on the needed repairs and interim process to address this main break due to the historic flooding. We will get an additional update tomorrow evening.
• SOUTH END INNOVATIVE DISTRICT: PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT – This amendment creates an Overlay Zone that applies to a portion of the South End Enterprise-Light Manufacturing zone, to facilitate the development of a mixed-use urban district that fosters the continued growth and sustainability of the South End's arts and innovation economy and also provides access to housing. The Council voted to refer this ordinance change to our Ordinance Committee in February. There were 4 items the Committee either could not agree on or, in the case of one item, was an oversight and must be voted on as an amendment to the proposed zoning amendment. Of particular interest are 3 of the 4 items: one that would allow lodging in some areas of the District, another that would not allow 'dormitory' as a permitted use and the third would restrict the Inclusionary Zoning units to be in the District (meaning it would not allow the developer to make a payment in lieu of building the units in the District.) If you have an opinion, concern or perspective on these amendments, I would welcome your input.
• PUBLIC AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS – We will be voting to either bond or refund 5 series of bonds. These bonds were approved by the voters on past Town Meeting Day ballots. The most significant is the $130 million of bonds of the not to exceed $165 million authorized by the voters for the capital improvements for BHS. Of the $130 million, $40 million for the refinancing of a Bond Anticipation Note that was approved on May 15, 2023.
• BURLINGTON CARES OVERVIEW, POSITION REQUESTS AND STRUCTURE – Inspired by the successful CAHOOTS program from Eugene, Oregon, we are happy to have the funding, the structure and the work has been completed to get this needed program off the ground and operating in Burlington. We hope to approve the job descriptions to move forward with hiring and getting this crisis, advocacy response team working to address our community's needs.
• A RESOLUTION TO COUNT VERMONT AIR NATIONAL GUARD GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND A PLAN TO ELIMINATE VTANG AIR AND GROUND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AT BTV IN THE SPIRIT OF THE CITY'S 2030 NET ZERO ENERGY GOALS – This resolution requests that the VTANG calculate aviation and ground fuel usage at the VTANG base and to annually provide a complete record of the calculated aviation and ground greenhouse gas emission. As well, the resolution requests that the United States Air Force, in collaboration with the Vermont Air Force National Guard and others work collaboratively with the Director of Aviation and a Council committee "to draft a specific plan to adopt simulation and augmented reality training systems and take any other such measures as needed at the Vermont Air National Guard base at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport to eliminate aviation and ground greenhouse gas emission by 2030."
I encourage you to review these and other agenda items at: https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com Once there, you can read the agenda and also subscribe to be notified when there are changes to city meetings. Please go to "subscriptions" and sign up to receive up-to-date information on meetings important to you.
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.
My best,
Karen
Nov 13, 2024, 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Come See Lyric Theatre's Newsies at the Flynn!Nov 14 to 17, 2024
We Need More Housing!Nov 17, 2024, 7 to 8 PM