Ward 1 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-02-12
Time: 18:30

Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
 Wednesday, February 12, 2025
 In-person at the Friends Meeting House, 173 North Prospect Street
 And Zoom online: Webinar ID: 962 4593 9050
 Or by phone: +1 929 205 6099 ID = 962 4593 9050

6:15 - Welcome and Food

6:30 - Formal Start - review agenda
​ Introductions: name, street
​ Announcements: share events, meetings, activities of interest to Ward 1 community.

6:40 - Speakout - an opportunity to raise concerns & appreciations about Ward 1 community

7:00 - School Commissioner update - Gary Golden
​ Introductions to Gary (candidate for Ward 1) and Matt Price (candidate for East District).

7:15 - City Councilor update - Carter Neubieser

7:30 - City Councilor Candidate Forum - Allie Schacter & Kathy Olwell
​ Candidates will introduce themselves & explain why they are running. Questions for the
 candidates can be written down at the meeting’s outset and via email to a Steering
 Committee member.

8:30 - Discussion: Pending UVM Medical Center Land Use Memorandum of Understanding
 (MOU) with Burlington - Question & Answer discussion with Karen Vastine, Carter
 Neubieser, Charles Dillard, and Chapin Spencer

9:00 - Adjourn

MINUTES
 Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
 Wednesday, February 12, 2025
 In-person at the Friends Meeting House, 173 North Prospect Street
 And Zoom online: Webinar ID: 962 4593 9050
 Or by phone: +1 929 205 6099 ID = 962 4593 9050
Moderator: Tom Derenthal Recorder: Carol Livingston

6:15 - Welcome and Food (Namaste Express Kitchen)

6:30 - Formal Start - review agenda
 Introductions: name, street
 Announcements: share events, meetings, activities of interest to Ward 1 community.

 Carol Livingston : from Andres Oyaga of Climate Action Collective - Candidate forum on
 2/25 at 6:30 at Ira Allen Chapel - combating climate change. Allie Schacter indicated that
 she and Kathy Olwell are previously scheduled for a forum so unsure what the date is.

6:40 - Speakout - an opportunity to raise concerns & appreciations about Ward 1 community
 Carol L: thank you to Dave Cawley & Old East Enders for hosting their 5th year of
 Winterlude last weekend with bonfire, delicious food, crafts, and snow activities.
 Charlie Gianonni - look into reinstating Herb Blumenthal award celebration
 Cindy Cook - Chitt Co Welcome Corps welcomes immigrants, especially refugees.
 Neighbor of 3 yrs just reunited with family 10 days ago - challenging story about getting
 family here from Pakistan. Not allowed to sponsor folks under current federal freeze.

 Catherine Bock - Efforts to organize a boycott against Tesla - standing outside from
 4:30-5:30 on 2/13. Vermonters will gather peacefully near the Tesla showroom to protest
 Elon Musk’s dismantling of our democracy. This is a peaceful, legal exercise of freedom
 of speech. 218 Hannaford’s Drive, South Burlington.

 Carol L.- Sandy Baird died this past week. She was an incredible advocate for people on
 a wide variety of issues. She worked on all “sides” of partisanship and her focus was
 ensuring people’s rights are protected. Carol asked that folks here think about how to
 stay connected and informed, not overwhelmed. Look for ways to support our neighbors
 and be prepared to support the programs being frozen.

7:00 - School Commissioner update - Gary Golden
 Introductions to Gary (candidate for Ward 1) and Matt Price (candidate for East District).

 Gary is shifting from East District to Ward 1 commissioner for the March 4 election.
 Burlington School District budget = minus 4% from last year’s tax percent, funds
 developed from several years of savings. In the past, schools were funded by foundation
 funding - same amount per pupil but towns could increase if resourced. Brigham
 decision changed this policy - gold towns had easier time resourcing school budgets;
 since Brigham decision, state legislature tasked with creating new formula to fund
 districts based on actual services. Burl has used recent State weighted stipend for
 bearing extra costs. This funding is currently a target for lowering or eliminating by state
 legislators & governor.
 State of VT Education plan from governor - looking at foundation plus formula - common
 throughout country; VT is outlier. City chose to host refugee resettlement in welcoming
 ways funded by Burlington district without state support. One concern - the current
 weighting policy is taking hits from gold towns, but several districts in addition to
 Burlington have similar needs - strong lobby. Governor’s plans are back door proposals
 that will defund public education and provide school choice. Independent school lobby
 highly resourced. Regulations differ for private vs public schools -
 testing; standard for services. Infrastructure bill - many state schools need support in
 construction and repair, and private schools also need repair.
 Troy Headrick - proposed weighting/per pupil spending - from district lobbyist report last
 week - ideas being discussed: much lower funds for weighted students than previously.
 Lack of substance - concept without details is probably what governor is proposing.
 Playing districts off each other.
 Gary will post on FPF next week.
 Matt Price - East District school commissioner candidate. Parent of 2 children in district;
 practicing psychologist & professor. Concern about refugee children - they are the
 primary communicators for their families - translate at medical and legal appointments.
 Kids need our support for themselves and for helping them advocate for their families.


7:15 - City Councilor update - Carter Neubieser, Ward 1 City Councilor
 2 key issues = affordability and public safety
 1) Housing resolution Carter introduced about funding Housing Trust Fund - passed
 Council - increasing contribution by 1 million. Very small percent of city budget.
 2) Mayor’s tax task group is meeting - working on making recommendations on how to
 make property taxes more fair, currently regressive/flat tax. Also tasked with how to
 make our utilities more affordable.
 3) Carter happy to meet over coffee with folks about concerns
 4) Interim police chief - Shawn Burke from So Burl - most of his decades of his experience
 is at BPD. Still doing nationwide search; possibly SB can apply.
 5) Carter sending out year 1 update - 4 pages - detailed what he has done on affordability
 and public safety.
Questions:
 Housing affordability - (Cindy Cook) - Council continuing to work on UVM impact?
 Carter: MOU is to be discussed by City Council in future. Carter will advocate
 about UVM housing more students. Champlain is making that change. Students
 prefer housing conditions on campus.
 MOU’s are non-binding so not necessarily follow-through, no enforcement. Troy
 Headrick is working in state legislature on a bill putting a cap on number of
 Students admitted to UVM. Troy was interviewed about this bill by the Cynic, so
 look for the article with this info.

7:30 - City Councilor Candidate Forum - Allie Schacter & Kathy Olwell
 Candidates will introduce themselves & explain why they are running. Questions for the
 candidates can be written down at the meeting’s outset and via email to a Steering
 Committee member.
 ***** See CEDO recording


8:30 - Discussion: Pending UVM Medical Center Land Use Memorandum of Understanding `
 (MOU) with Burlington - Question & Answer discussion with Karen Vastine, Carter
 Neubieser, Charles Dillard, and Chapin Spencer
 *****See slide show

 MOU = expression of intent, doesn’t supersede any existing law/ordinance - meant to be
 complementary. 20-year agreement with many many commitments by UVM. Changes -
 asking for extension of height restrictions. Have to add 242 beds to adequately serve
 region and community. Trying to stay in same footprint and going up in height. Adding
 800+ parking spaces.
 City Council scheduled to vote on MOU on 2/18.


9:00 - Adjourn