Ward 8 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-01-23
Time: 18:30

Ward 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
 Agenda
 Thursday, January 23rd, 2025
 6:30pm

 Join in person: 149 Church St, Burlington, VT - Sharon Bushor Conference Room
 Join virtually: Join Zoom Meeting
 https://zoom.us/j/91523077007

 Meeting ID: 915 2307 7007


Facilitator: Ryan Nick Note Taker: TBD




 6:30 Introductions & Announcements | 5 Min

 ● Adopt the agenda
 ● Introductions

 6:35 Public Forum | 10 Min

 ● Please state your full name, pronouns, street, and ward, and follow the NPA
 ground rules.

 6:45 Water Department Bond Presentation | 30 min

 ● Introduce the community to the WATER & LAKE bonds being proposed for Town
 Meeting Day. For those who have been to a previous presentation on these
 bonds, this one will also focus on some substantive changes to the proposals.


 7:15 City’s General Bond Obligation |30 Min

 ● Presentation about an upcoming $20M General Obligation Bond for the City's
 General Fund Capital Program that may be on the ballot for Town Meeting Day
 2025. City staff will present on the status of past bonds and capital
 improvements, and discuss why there is a need for the additional $20M.




7:45 Redistricting Charter Change | 10 min

 ● Councilor Gene Bergman to present and answer questions regarding an
 upcoming ballot item to change how we redistrict.

7:55 City Council Candidates | 20 Min

 ● Candidate Introductions, followed by a Q&A
 ○ Allie Schatner, Democrat
 ○ Kathy Olwell, Progressive

8:00 Adjourn

 ● Next Meeting: February 27th @ 6:30pm



 Ward 8 Steering Committee:
 Ryan Nick, vermonter1992@gmail.com
 Stella Sarefield, ssarefi@gmail.com
 Tom Carroll, fourthriver@yahoo.com

Ward 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA):
 Minutes
 Thursday, January 23, 2025
 Location: Sharon Bushor Conference Room, City Hall
 Link to Watch Meeting Recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/5V5IhwYa3dw


Facilitator: Ryan Nick

Others in Attendance: Marek Broderick, Stella Sarefield, Tom Carroll, Veronica, Cathy Olwell, Colleen
Siren, Anne Brenya(?) Lynn Goyette, Eileen Blackwood, Rob Gutman, Allie Schacter, Megan Moir, Matt
Price, Ashley Parker, Mary Danko, Sam Doherty


Adopting the Agenda: The motion to adopt the agenda passed.

Public Forum: There were no announcements during public forum.

Water Department Bond Presentation:

 • Megan Moir, DPW, presented about the proposed March 2025 Bond Requests related to
 improved wastewater and stormwater services. The proposed bonds would improve
 Burlington’s water supply resiliency and protect the health of Lake Champlain.
 • Water bill rate structures and affordability concerns were discussed.

City’s General Bond Obligation:

 • Ashley Parker, City of Burlington, presented on the city’s General Fund Capital Budget and a
 $20M bond on Town Meeting Day 2025 to authorize funding for critical infrastructure costs.
 • Ashley discussed needed investments in the city’s fleet assets, sidewalks, streets, transportation
 safety projects, city buildings, parks.
 • Shared the new Capital Planning Map where community members can view and provide input
 on upcoming projects.
 • Discussed the impact on tax bills if the bond passes.

City Council Candidates – Intros, Q&A:

 • Candidates for East District City Council: Cathy Olwell and Allie Schacter.
 • Cathy was school board member for many years and has lived in Burlington for 33 years. She is a
 social worker and helped with securing grants for Burlington and Winooski schools. Top issues
 are affordable housing and fair taxation. UVM needs to cap number of students if they cannot
 provide housing.
 • Allie works at the Flynn and is on PTO at Sustainability Academy. Previously worked in human
 services in Ann Arbor, MI. Top issues are affordability and housing. UVM needs to build more
 housing – what are other university towns doing?
Redistricting Charter Change:

 • City Councilor Gene Bergman discussed proposed charter changes for the Town Meeting Day
 ballot. Ballots themselves have “shortened language” but the full revised text is available from
 the City Clerk and online.
 • First charter change: ban firearms in bars. Legislature has stalled on it but it could happen this
 year. Rather than ask legislators, we can have another vote to reaffirm Burlington’s position.
 • Second charter change: proposing to allow the voters of Burlington to vote on redistricting
 rather than requiring state approval.
 • Third charter change: related to notifications for terminations of rental agreements and rent
 increases. Change is to allow the city to establish requirements for landlords and tenants by
 ordinance.

Announcement: Matt Price, school board candidate for the East District, asked for questions, shared his
background as an educator and parent.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.