october debrief

Jan 6

October 7, 2024 Meeting Highlights

Public Safety and Homelessness Crisis: Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak highlighted the city’s response to the state’s motel program phase-out, which has impacted many unsheltered residents. She urged the Council to push the state for a reversal, stressing that Burlington faces a disproportionate burden. A late-night safety task force has been convened to explore resources, especially mental health services, to support nighttime safety.
Racial Equity and REIB Department: The Mayor clarified her commitment to racial equity, noting that the REIB office remains essential to city operations, though changes are underway. She outlined the City’s approach to embedding equity within all departments rather than relying solely on REIB, which is now funded through the General Fund to ensure stability.
Legislative Agenda Preparation: Looking forward to the state legislative session, the Mayor presented a draft agenda focused on community safety, affordable housing, climate action, and budget accountability. The agenda includes proposals for affordable housing policy reforms, modern governance initiatives, and the recruitment of a lobbyist to advocate for Burlington’s interests at the state level.

Purpose and Scope: The Council approved a new position at the Fletcher Free Library, managed through a contract with the Howard Center. This outreach specialist will assist visitors dealing with mental health and social challenges, providing referrals to services and helping create a supportive environment within the library.
Concerns and Support: Councilors expressed strong support for the role but highlighted potential challenges around funding sustainability, especially since similar roles are typically seen in larger cities. The pilot will be evaluated with set metrics, with hopes to make it permanent if successful.

Public Safety Initiatives: The Council’s Public Safety Committee reported on new initiatives from the Police and Fire Departments, including the Fire Department’s CityLink program and lateral recruitment strategies to fill firefighter positions. Discussions also covered progress on Burlington’s Community Connect Program and the challenges of recruiting police officers, particularly amid community tensions around public safety.

Budget Crisis and Cost-Cutting Measures: Chief Administrative Officer Katherine Schad presented findings from the Operational Efficiency Study (OES), intended to address Burlington’s projected $8-12 million budget gap. Recommendations included freezing or consolidating positions, outsourcing recycling services, and increasing user fees. However, Councilors expressed mixed opinions on the proposals.
- Community Concerns: Councilor Broderick raised concerns over privatizing recycling, warning that increased privatization might undermine labor and add traffic. Councilor Joe Kane argued that public services such as recycling could save residents money compared to private alternatives.
Modern Governance Initiative (ModernGov): Schad outlined this initiative’s broader vision of reducing departmental redundancies and streamlining city services, with a focus on addressing community safety and fiscal responsibility. This initiative will involve union consultations and community feedback to ensure the process aligns with residents’ needs and values.

Affordable Housing, Health, and Climate: Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak and Councilors discussed a legislative agenda that includes calls for stronger just-cause eviction protections, a state rental registry, and enhanced funding for Green Mountain Transit. Affordable housing policy changes and health care cost control emerged as top priorities, with CouncilorS emphasizing the importance of statewide emergency housing solutions.
Public Safety Policy Adjustments: Councilors stressed the need for state collaboration to address regional crime issues and adjust bail standards for repeat offenders. Councilors also underscored that state assistance for judicial resources is crucial in handling Burlington’s higher caseloads.

Champlain Parkway Project: The Council approved $17 million in additional funding for the Champlain Parkway Project, despite opposition from some members. Councilor Bergman objected due to insufficient progress on the Railyard Enterprise Project, which would mitigate traffic impacts on the King/Maple neighborhood.
Energy Benchmarking Ordinance: The Council advanced an ordinance requiring energy benchmarking for heating in certain commercial properties. This ordinance aligns with Burlington’s climate goals by promoting energy efficiency and was part of a broader discussion on incentivizing climate-friendly building standards across the city.

Public Safety Update: Councilor Grant updated the Council on EMS demand and the Fire Department’s recruitment strategies. Councilor McKnight emphasized the importance of ensuring city forums are accessible to all community members, especially around housing and neighborhood issues.
Budget Transparency and Revenue Generation: Councilors noted the importance of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) funding, with suggestions to reevaluate and possibly increase PILOT contributions from tax-exempt organizations. Councilor Grant reiterated that a substantial amount of city property remains untaxed, impacting the budget.