Dear Ward 6 neighbors,

I hope you are having a good weekend. Due to last week's special Council meeting, the Council will meet for the third week in a row with a meeting tomorrow January 29 beginning at 5:15pm.

Following a work session on the Cambrian Rise development, we have 6 items on our deliberative agenda:

ORDINANCE: NEIGHBORHOOD CODE The Neighborhood Code is a series of zoning amendments that will enable more neighborhood-scale housing types citywide, including duplex, triplex, and four-unit buildings, as well as townhomes and other small multi-unit building types in some locations. We will have a work session and warn this ordinance for a public hearing.

Following the work session, we have a RESOLUTION ON CAMBRIAN RISE. Cambrian Rise is a permitted multiphase development of a new neighborhood across approximately 22 acres. As market conditions continue to evolve and the City faces an unprecedented need for new housing units, Cambrian Rise has requested the elimination of the cap on the number of housing units on the site, allowing density.

We have TWO RESOLUTIONS ON CARBON POLLUTION IMPACTS. The first resolution is regarding placing a ballot question asking for the City Council to implement a carbon pollution impact fee on new construction that install non-fossil fuel thermal energy systems that emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, on domestic water heating systems in new multi family units beginning in 2026, and on existing commercial and industrial buildings over 50,000 square feet.

The second resolution would implement a carbon pollution impact fee for a larger subset of Burlington's buildings, and increase fees on what is currently authorized.

We have a THIRD RESOLUTION ON CLIMATE POLICY REVIEW AND NEXT STEPS to address carbon pollution impacts. It asks Burlington Electric and other city departments to conduct a review of how to best improve climate policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing commercial and industrial buildings less than 50,000 square feet; and review Burlington's carbon pollution impact fee and the extent to which it should extend to existing commercial and industrial buildings with an interim report in August.

I plan to support this resolution asking for this review and a thoughtful, deliberative and inclusive approach to addressing our climate needs. I cannot support the first two resolutions. While our climate emergency is critical and I support our Net Zero Energy goals, I also support deliberative process and feel this it important we approach this challenge with care.

Our last items is a RESOLUTION: TO PLACE AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC SAFETY TAX RATE FOR FIRE AND POLICE PURPOSES ON THE TOWN MEETING DAY BALLOT. I encourage you to look at the presentation on this 3 cent tax increase on Civic Clerk. Should this pass tomorrow evening, I will have a BLUE NEWSLETTER in the mail to you in a few weeks discussing this tax increase in detail as I have done in advance of Town Meeting Day.

I encourage you to review these and other agenda items at: https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com.

PUBLIC FORUM WILL BEGIN AT 7pm. 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.

As always, I welcome your questions, concerns, and comments, so please be in touch. Your voice matters and I am grateful for your input.

My best,
Karen

Event Info

Dec 24, 2024, 4 PM

Dec 29, 2024, 10:15 to 11:15 AM

Dec 30, 2024, 10 AM to 12 PM