You might be interested in what is happening at the City Council's meeting tonight, Monday, November 6, starting at 5:30 p.m. and how to attend and make public comments.
First, you can attend in person in Contois Auditorium, City Hall or by Zoom.
The agenda's link is: https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/
To attend by zoom, click: https://zoom.us/j/91762378205
or call: +1 305 224 1968 US; the Webinar ID is: 917 6237 8205
You can watch on CCTV by clicking the CCTV link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2PwCge7lNoKug676jIf_iUA **
Although the meeting begins at 5:30, we are starting with an executive session and the public items are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. The public forum begins at 7:30. To participate in Public Forum in person, sign up at the meeting. To participate in Public Forum via ZOOM sign up here:
https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/citycouncil/publicforum
People have been asked to please not sign up in person and via Zoom - select one only
Getting to the substance of the meeting, we start the agenda with an executive session on two items: negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding with UVM related to housing and construction contract considerations on the Main St. Great Streets Project.
While it is appropriate to discuss negotiating strategy in private, I am especially interested in the UVM matter being fully and publicly vetted in light of the region's severe housing crisis and UVM's role in its genesis and resolution. It is not a secret that I believe UVM must seriously reduce its housing deficit caused by their policies that expanded enrollment and under-housed their undergraduate and graduate students for the last 50 years.
On the Great Streets Project, we've been told that a public document will be posted with the agenda with details on the status of the project.
The Public Works Commission will then give its 2023 annual report. Most of the issues it worked on involve transportation. There are many and a written report is posted with the agenda.
There are three deliberative items slated for the council to vote on. First is a group of amendments to the zoning ordinance. The changes are "technical" and involve a lot of different sections of the zoning law so it is best to go through the document posted on the agenda if you'd like details. Planning staff will be present to explain the changes.
Second is a proposed "letter of intent" agreement related to Memorial Auditorium and the other parcels in the block from Union St. to Winooski Ave., including the Fire Station. The agreement is with local developers Eric Farrell, who developed Cambrian Rise on North Ave., and Joe Larkin.
The purpose of the agreement is to set out the vision and goals of redeveloping this area in a public/private partnership and provide the framework to propose a development agreement, with the goal of being adopted by the City Council by our last meeting of March 2024, the end of the mayor's term.
There are at least a few hot button points in the agreement: a hotel with at least 100 rooms, a smaller public assembly and activity space, and no requirement for roof top solar or geothermal energy networks to heat the buildings and provide electricity. I am also concerned that the agreement does not have any provisions for public input and engagement. Memorial Auditorium has a very important place in our city and the people have a right to have a real say in its future.
Third is a proposal to pair $50,000 in unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds with a matching donation of $50,000 from the Pomerleau Family Foundation to use on supporting downtown businesses dealing with the negative economic impacts of pandemic-related increases in crime and drug use. The plan is to use the money for holiday season marketing of the downtown and improved lighting to the city's garages to improve safety for workers employed downtown at night. It is not clear marketing is what the downtown businesses need or how much the lighting will cost and why it should come out of these funds. It is also not clear how this allocation of ARPA funds fits within the budget decisions we made with regard to ARPA funds. The discussion on this item may be interesting.
If you have questions or comments regarding the agenda or other city issues, feel free to contact me at gbergman@burlingtonvt.gov. Thanks.
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