Hi Neighbors,

Our next community meeting (Neighborhood Planning Assembly) will be as usual at the Friends Meeting House (173 North Prospect Street) on Wednesday, December 13 from 7-9PM, with food prepared by our own Sam Ayotte starting around 6:30.

This month, along with reports from School Commissioner Gary Golden on budget planning (and how the projected Education spending hike and the new pupil weighting will impact Burlington), and from our City Councilors on Public Safety, the MOU with UVM, next year's budget, and other germane things, there will be a couple discussion topics:

Samantha Dunn from CEDO is coming to hold a discussion about the Gateway Block. She writes,
"The presentation is about the City's exploration of a public private partnership to redevelop the "Gateway Block" - the block between Main and College Streets and South Union and South Winooski - with a local, experienced development team. The intention of this work is to assess the feasibility of a partnership that would create a vibrant gateway to Burlington with new public space, housing units and commercial space."

The City Council approved the signing of a Letter of Intent between the City and Eric Farrell/Joe Larkin, who are exploring the possibility of developing the block. Input is needed now because decisions about next steps (if there are any) will made by the end of March. https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/6640/files/1879

Then, Mark Hughes will update us on the Richard Kemp Center ( https://richardkempcenter.org/ )
About the Richard Kemp Center: "We are centering the needs of the Black community in the work of rectifying historical racial inequity. We are accomplishing this work by serving as a cultural broker in the expansion of programs and services to marginalized communities where they have historically been ineffective, inefficient or nonexistent. We are creating new systems that empower Black Vermonters denied equal access to public or private economic and other opportunity. We are creating a space in Burlington where the Black Community's wellness culture and youth intersect."

During Public Announcements, there will be a brief conversation about proposing a resolution to send to City Council as a followup to last months discussion with Councilor Traverse.(https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/6699/files/9240 )

The formal meeting agenda can be found on Civic Clerk, here:
https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/6699/files/

Bring an appetite for great food, and an appetite for civic conversation. See you next Wednesday!

Contra Dance in Shelburne

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