Dear neighbors,

The City Council meets this Monday, December 16th, at 5:30 pm starting with an exectuive session. The Public Forum begins at 6:05 pm.

As always, you are welcome to attend in person or virtually on zoom:

https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/7156/files/agenda/12666

If you'd like to speak during the Public Forum in person, sign up at the meeting.
If you'd like to speak during Public Forum on zoom, sign up using this link at least 1 hour in advance: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/citycouncil/publicforum

Here are some key items on our agenda:

→ ADVISORY BALLOT QUESTION
Request by a petitioning citizen group to place an item concerning Isreal and Palestine on the town meeting day ballot.

→ BURLINGTON - WINOOSKI BRIDGE PROJECT
This will affirm a number of final approvals of the Department of Public Works for the Burlington-Winooski bridge project.

→ BURLINGTON WATER RESOURCES CAPITAL PLANNING PRESENTATION
Burlington Water Resources is asking for bonding approval from the City Council, granting them funding to make significant water improvements for our aging infrastructure that affect all aspects of life in Burlington. This item will be a presentation on the needed requests. The request will be to put this on the March 2025 ballot if approved at a later council meeting.

→ EMERGENCY HOUSING REPORT: MAYOR'S OFFICE
The mayor and her staff will share homelessness initiative updates.

→ PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING EMERGENCY SHELTERS
This is the public hearing portion of the zoning ordinance amendment for emergency shelters. This relates to requirements of what zones will permit emergency shelters under the new state definition.

→ ORDINANCE: EMERGENCY SHELTERS
This amendment to the ordinance regarding emergency shelters adds important information, including eligible zones, occupancy agreements and possible conditional uses. It appears there still needs to be further clarification so it is likely this item will be further amended or postponed.

→ INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT APPLICATION
The permit application regards Spiral House Collective, a community centered art space at 19-21 Church St.

→ ORDINANCE: ENERGY BENCHMARKING ON SPACE HEATING
This adds to the previous amendment to article VII on energy benchmarking, defining the requirements for common space heating, covered buildings, and compliances.

→ POLICE CHIEF REPORT
The Police Chief will deliver a report on the status of the Police Department, reviewing the past couple of years, moving forward, and topics such as recruitment, retention, rebuilding and head count. Items that might relate to future contract negotiation will have been discussed at 5:30 in an executive session.

This is not all! Please visit for the full agenda: https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/7156/files/agenda/12666

Best wishes and Happy Holidays

Sarah Carpenter
Ward 4 City Councilor
scarpenter@burlingtonvt.gov

Event Info

Jan 18, 2025, 10 to 11 AM

Jan 22, 2025, 3:30 to 4:30 PM

Jan 23, 2025, 6 PM