Greetings Neighbors,

Monday's City Council meeting begins at 6:30 PM in Contois Auditorium at City Hall, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor. Public Forum is scheduled for 7:00 PM. You can sign up to speak in person at the meeting or virtually via Zoom. Online sign-ups close one hour prior to the start of the forum. Join the Zoom webinar here (Webinar ID: 935 3431 8165) or participate by telephone at +1 646 931 3860. The meeting will also stream on Town Meeting TV and CCTV. The agenda is located here https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/7181/files/agenda/13020.

School Budget Update

There will be an update on the FY26 School budget. If you do not have a change to watch the meeting live or later on Town Meeting TV then please review the presentation here https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/7181/files/attachment/7572.

Water and other Revenue Bonds

The Mayor has proposed that the council approve placing the issuance of revenue bonds for wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water infrastructure projects on the Town Meeting Day ballot. These bonds are strategically designed to fund upgrades to aging utility systems, enhancing environmental sustainability and resilience while preventing costly emergency repairs. By spreading the costs over time, these projects avoid immediate tax or fee increases, balancing fiscal responsibility with long-term improvements.

The Mayor has also proposed placing a capital improvement bond on the ballot to fund essential capital improvements to public buildings and fire, police, and public works vehicles. The council is expected to approve placing these bonds on the March ballot for voter approval.

Community Safety

A police resolution is proposed by the Democratic caucus. This resolution was previously introduced without any consultation or collaboration with the Mayor or the Progressive caucus and had many objectionable provisions. We proposed changes to the resolution, some of which have been accepted and others that we are still negotiating on. Our caucus has consistently argued that it is best if we can approach public safety in a collaborative way that seeks community consensus and we will continue to act on this value, including on this resolution. Please note that resolutions are not required to discuss important items such as the need for strategic Recruitment and Retention plans or addressing the negative online reputation that our Police department has. Also not allowing Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak to review the resolutions in advance undermines her community safety efforts and does not take into account what she is already working on. The argument that we have not submitted resolutions doesn't mean anything when we have discussed and continued to vote yes on additional funding for BPD.

The BPOA, the union for our Police officers, conducted an internal survey. You may have seen an article about it but it is important that you read it. It is located here https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/7775/files/attachment/7330. We should be listening to the concerns of the officers including the comments about leadership and wellness.

The Mayor and council have also re-introduced the charter amendment proposal to ban firearms in establishments with liquor licenses. This was passed overwhelmingly by Burlington voters in 2014 but because it has not been acted on since it is being proposed again. Because guns and alcohol don't mix, this measure aims to reduce risks of violence and create safer public spaces, aligning Burlington with other municipalities that have implemented similar safety measures.

Two Other Charter Changes

In addition to banning guns in bars, the council will take a final vote on proposing a charter amendment giving the city broader authority over rental notification periods, thereby empowering tenants with more predictable and fair housing transitions. This amendment aligns with Progressive efforts to support renters and improve housing stability.

The council will also take final action on proposing another charter amendment simplifying the process for redistricting city wards and/or districts. The proposal would allow city voters to approve or disapprove our wards and districts as proposed by the city council without needing the legislature and governor to review and approve them as well. Said another way, why should the governor or legislators in the far reaches of Vermont decide where the lines dividing our wards are drawn instead of having Burlington voters have the final say.

There will also be a review on ballot language for the charter changes.

Yours,
Councilor Melo Grant

Event Info

Mar 3, 2025, 6 to 9 PM

Mar 4, 2025, 7 AM to 7 PM

Mar 5, 2025, 9 to 10 PM