Dear Neighbors,
The City Council will meet on Tuesday, October 10, with public forum beginning at 7:15pm. The public is welcome to join in-person at City Hall or via Zoom at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/92282345545.
Prior to public forum, the Council has an expected executive session to hear legal updates on two items: (1) the future of Memorial Auditorium; and (2) negotiating an agreement with the Vermont Air National Guard regarding capital investments at the airport.
After public forum, the Council's agenda will mainly focus on our continuing to address public safety and public health issues in our community, which I know many of you are understandably concerned about. Our agenda includes the following items:
--> A Resolution Declaring a Public Health and Public Safety Emergency - this resolution is intended to address a number of important goals, including by reaffirming our commitment to improve recruitment and retention challenges for our police, fire, and other first responders. The resolution also calls on State leadership to increase judicial and prosecutorial resources in Chittenden County, and it asks the Chief of Police and State's Attorney's Office to share additional data on serious criminal activity occurring in Burlington. The Council will stand up neighborhood forums for these public safety leaders to hear directly from our community on critical public safety issues. The resolution further calls on the State to provide financial assistance, including through the distribution of opioid legal settlement monies, to support our ongoing harm reduction efforts for individuals suffering from substance use disorder.
--> Fire Department Critical Response Team (CRT) - as our community continues to suffer from an unprecedented spike in overdoses, it has placed significant strains on our first responders. The Council will hear from Chief LaChance and consider a proposal to stand up a new Critical Response Team (CRT) within the Fire Department, which will be better equipped to respond to overdose calls and will allow our firefighters to focus on their underlying mission.
--> Burlington Police Department Drug Unit - the Council will hear an important update from Deputy Chief Brian Labarge and Lieutenant Mike Belliveau regarding the ongoing work of the BPD Drug Unit.
--> Warming Shelter - as we approach colder weather, the Mayor's Office is asking the Council for support in establishing a new warming shelter at the old VFW at South Winooski Avenue & Main Street. The shelter would operate from December 2023 to March 2024 and be sufficiently staffed with professionals who are prepared to support our homeless population. If approved, the shelter will be almost entirely funded by State grant monies.
As always, I welcome your feedback and questions on any of these items, or any other City-related issue.
Thank you.
Ben Traverse
City Councilor, Ward 5
btraverse@burlingtonvt.gov
(802) 357-2055
Nov 26, 2024, 7 to 10 PM
Free Thanksgiving Dinner at Turning Point CenterNov 28, 2024, 1 to 3 PM
Legal ClinicNov 30, 2024, 11 AM to 1 PM