Wards 1 & 8 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2021-12-08
Time: 19:00

Wards 1 & 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
 Agenda
 December 8, 2021
 In-person at Sharon Bushor Room
 First Floor, City Hall
 And Zoom online
 Please click the link below to join the webinar:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84036123619
 Or Telephone:
 Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
 US: +1 929 205 6099
 Webinar ID: 840 3612 3619
 International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyOP2ULai

 YouTube:
 YouTube Livestream: NPA Wards 1&8 Playlist, click on upcoming/next meeting:
 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2Pa3H8l30gy_gZ3NL6orXcN
  Note: This is for live streaming purposes only. Ward residents should intend to participate via
 Zoom or in-person if they wish to speak or vote.

Facilitator: Hannah King Host: Sam Heinrichs, CEDO Minutes: Tom Derenthal

6:45 - 7:00 p.m. Zoom line open to call in (see below if you have problems)

7:00 (Formal start to the meeting) Announcements & Introductions

7:05 Speak-out - General Public

7:20 Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board - new appointments for 2022

7:30 City Councilors: Questions/Answers - this month we are trying to increase dialogue, so we
are dedicating the City Councilor time to Q&A: you ask, they answer.

7:45 State Legislators :
 Legislative Priorities: statements from Legislators (~20 minutes)
 Q/A - Discussion with Legislators (40 minutes). This is your opportunity to let our
 legislators know what is important to you.

8:45 Localvore coupons gifts - giveaways to two attendees

9:00 Adjourn
  If you have any difficulties accessing the meeting before, during or after, please feel free to
 contact Jonathan Chapple-Sokol at (802.777.3521; leave a message if no answer) or
chapplesokol.npasc@gmail.com and he will walk you through the process, and troubleshoot any
 issues. Want to watch the meeting but not be in direct attendance? Watch on Channel 17
 YouTube. You will be able to watch the livestream, without logging into the Zoom.
 And, if you’re unable to tune in during the
 Wednesday meeting you can access the recording there, too!
 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2Pa3H8l30gy_gZ3NL6orXcN

 NPA Steering Committee
 Tom Derenthal (Ward 1) tomd.npa@gmail.com ,
 Carol Livingston (Ward 1) carol.livingston1951@gmail.com,
 Jonathan Chapple-Sokol (Ward 1) chapplesokol.npasc@gmail.com,
 Hannah King (Ward 8) kinghannah190@gmail.com
 Keith Pillsbury (Ward 8) kpillsbury7@gmail.com
Wards 1 & 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
Agenda
December 8, 2021
Location: Sharon Bushor Room, City Hall and Zoom online


Facilitator: Hannah King
Host: Sam Heinrichs,
CEDO Minutes: Tom Derenthal

7:00 Announcements & Introductions

7:05 Speak-out - General Public

7:20 Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board - new appointments for 2022

7:30 City Councilors: Questions/Answers
 This month to increase dialogue, the City Councilor time will be Q&A only. You ask, they answer.

7:45 State Legislators
 Legislative Priorities: statements from Legislators (~20 minutes)
 Q/A - Discussion with Legislators (40 minutes).

8:45 Localvore coupons gifts - giveaways to two attendees

9:00 Adjourn


Attenders:

Angie Chapple Sokol
Barbara Rachelson
Carol Livingston
Caryn Long
Dave Cowley
David Martins - Director of affordable housing coalition
Hannah King
Jack Hanson
Jonathan Chapple Sokol
Justin – Housing coalition
Kathy Olwell
Keith Pillsbury
Richard Hillyard
Serrill Flash
Tom Chittenden
Tom Derenthal
Zoraya Hightower
The meeting started at 7:00 PM

Announcements:
- Carol Livingston: DPW is adjusting the traffic flow on University Place. Plan is to make it a one way North with
  parking only on the East side
-
- Richard Hillyard: Redistricting – public meetings has concluded. Written input the Council’s consultant next
  week.

- Caryn Long: Cannot find the redistricting survey. Richard: Expecting the city to post the location on PFP

- Richard Hillyard: Will the dire performance of the Post Office result in a change of their property tax status

Community block grant - CDBG board appointments
- For W1 - Cindy Cook is interested. Nominated by Jonathan, Seconded by Carol - elected unanimously.
- For W8 – No person voiced interest.

City Council

Questions:
- Angie Chapple Sokol: There’s a lot of talk about affordable housing. Is the City interested in joining with
 UVM to deliver affordable housing? Have the city enforce rental codes in housing. Zoraya: Not all issues can
 be addressed by UVM. The President has shown little interest. This time UVM has taken the initiative. The ball
 is in the Council’s court to respond. Council isn’t in the negotiation room, but the Administration is. Council
 has approval of the negotiations. Jack: UVM has a big impact on Burlington housing. Council recently had an
 executive session that covered this.

- Caryn Long: Has 2 duplex’s 4 units / 7 bedrooms. Taxes increased $7000 annually. Water and Gas also
 increased. So rent increases of approx. $150 / month will follow. Long term tenants will be impacted. Assessor
 had said the change would be revenue neutral. UVM housing is $1000, which makes off campus rates
 attractive, but regular working folks struggle or are priced out of the market. Glad there is a discussion. UVM
 has not delivered housing in the past. Jack: Agree it’s not only the amount of UVM housing, but as the largest
 landlord, their price sets a standard for the City. Council resolution designed to address the burden on low
 income residents. Caryn: UVM doesn’t pay property taxes on owned units. Private student housing [the lofts]
 does pay taxes. Champlain College’s housing on St Paul Street is tax exempt. Zoraya: Promises made need
 teeth to ensure compliance.

- Linda Rizvi – Property Taxes. Is there work in progress to correct assessment imbalances? Jack: Resolution in
 progress to change assessment process and how taxes work. Some proposed changes include: Credits for
 afford able rents, 2nd home rates, transfer tax, surcharge tax on short term rentals, tax classification on rental
 properties and increasing commercial rates. Committee to report back to Council is due in June. There’s an
 adhoc committee to do the investigation. Applications to be a member are still open. Administration is
 finalizing use of one time Federal funds to provide immediate relief. Linda: The process work sounds like it
 will be for the next reassessment. Will there be a change in the tax rate that applies today? Business values
 went down during the assessment period. Some are paying taxes on market value and others on some lower
 value. Zoraya: City council job is to set policy. Short term rental and other non-tax ideas may be done easily,
 but tax structure changes mostly require a City charter change. Current charter changes haven’t gone far.
 Linda: What can be done in the next year? Will anything be done? Jack: Structural tax changes can be
 approved before the next reassessment. Zoraya: Those will require voter approval followed by legislature
 approval. Jack: Localities should have more authority to change their own charter. Barbara R: The legislature
 has spent much time working on charter changes. Changing the charter process would likely require a
 constitutional change. The letter with school tax rates is forthcoming. Rates are expected to be lower for a
 number of reasons including unexpected high revenues.
- Keith Pillsbury: If as a Council member representing the East District or Ward{s}, you were asked what issues
 are most important today, what would you say? Jack: most conversations involve housing, cost of living and
 quality thereof, climate crisis, last year it was public safety and justice. Zoraya: UVM and housing, sidewalks,
 pedestrian get around, public safety, general support for climate and environmental protection… and
 education/the high school/funding/location.

- Richard: Postal Service comments? Zoraya: There are no plans to change anything at the postal service. There
 are no income taxes at the local level. Richard: They don’t pay property taxes and are no longer providing a
 public service.

State Legislators & Legislative Priorities:

Rep. Barbara Rachelson [Chit 6-6]
- Will send Jack and Hannah the educational doc for today
- Gearing up for the 2022 session. Will send links for legislative updates, including climate change plans and the
 housing crisis.
- Judicial nominating committee – Active due to a vacancy. Also working on the process.
- Forfeiture bill
- DNA testing privacy bill

LINKS:
Education fund outlook and property tax rates:
https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Subjects/Education-Fund-Outlooks-for-2022-
Session/ed223b11a8/EF_Outook_for_FY2023_-_December_1st.pdf

https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Subjects/Monthly-Target-Tracking/e933ba9d84/FY2022-Target-Tracking-
EFPDF.pdf




The State of Housing in Vermont Update
https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/All-Legislative-Briefing-December-8-
2021/7827cf974b/Hanford-TheStateOfHousingInVermont.pdf




Economic outlook
https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/All-Legislative-Briefing-December-8-
2021/019c6d4730/Kavet-Economic-and-Revenue-Review.pdf




Federal Funds Update and Budget:
https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/All-Legislative-Briefing-December-8-
2021/95fc3837de/Belliveau-and-Clark-Budget-Overview-v2.pdf




https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/All-Legislative-Briefing-December-8-
2021/a17aac875e/Howard-Federal-Update.pdf




Climate Council and Global Warming Axt Update:
https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Publications/All-Legislative-Briefing-December-8-
2021/c50e57dd86/Moore-Climate-v2.pdf


Sen. Tom Chittenden
- Transportation and education committees
- Draft bill for multiple modes of transportation in support of climate objectives.
- Kindergarten entry ages – impact on child care – looking for consistency across the state
- Gun control / concealed carry permits.
- Birth Certificates – new certificates with gender
- Pupil waiting report
- Also on SB council – Housing – SB is considering restricting UVM’s ability to build housing.
 o FYI UVM is the largest SB landowner
- Climate committee is considering Act 250 to exercise more regional control

 Sen. Phil Baruth
- Judiciary and Appropriation committees
- 40% of 2022 work will be pandemic related.
- Mask mandate – Gov. wanted a bill that allowed cities to impose a mask mandate. However, Gov. didn’t want
 cities to use this authority. Sen. Baruth would prefer a statewide requirement.
- Federal Funds – Infrastructure bill revenue needs to be converted into a set of rules.
- Prisons reduce number of incarcerated.

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale
- Government Operations and Economic Development and Housing committees
- On Health Care Task Force
- Supports some local control over charter changes. Supporter of just cause eviction
- Expects a majority of work to be driven by pandemic.
- Civilian climate corps
- Housing – First gen grants | Permit reform | Do away with single family zoning
- Healthcare affordability
- Redistricting will take time and energy. Chittenden County will be divided into senate districts.
- Criminal Justice Reform, including changes to or elimination of qualified immunity
- Environmental justice bill – priority of climate action plan.

Rep. Brian Cina [Chit 6-4]
- Healthcare committee
- Seeing tsunami of mental health and substance abuse that need care
- Homeless are living in hotels [there is no other housing available].
- H210 passed
- Increase evidence based practices
- Need workforce development and better pay
- Expand agriculture – year round food production
- 3-5 year plan for public works, including housing

Rep Selene Colburn [Chit 6-4]
- Talking about a single issue – overdose crisis
- Vermont is an outlier 40% increase in 2020?
- Low barrier access to treatment
- Access to medications via Medicaid
- Clean syringes save lives
- Bill to expanding authorized syringe host program
- Wants overdose prevention sites
- Wants to address criminal justice - How we handle drug crimes

Sen. Chris Pearson
- Vermont has much deferred social maintenance – how to pick the priorities
- Cochairman of Climate Solutions Caucus
- Pushing the Climate Solutions Plan | Renewable Energy Standard [utilities] | Clean Heat Standard
- Transportation – getting people out of low mileage and into high mileage vehicles
- Infrastructure
- Policy and Money – we have some, but who will actually do the work [weatherization…]
- This will take many years, our partners need long term stability to invest in their workforce, etc.
- Change school funding change from property taxes to income tax
- Universal meals in schools
- Minimum wage to $15. Now is the time, the market is paying more than $15, so doing this now will prevent
 backsliding in the future.


Questions & Discussion

Tom Derenthal - How the state sets safety standards for PCBs. And if BSDVT replaces the high school, will the state
participate. Sen. Baruth: Legislature funded the move to downtown BHS. Environmental emergency fund could
not be used for PCBs. A language change could change that. The Federal standard was out of date and the State
standard is more in line with current science. The administration changed the State standard by rule… the
reasoning is not completely understood. Kathy Orwell: New state law – all schools must be checked for PCBs in
the air [material levels are different]. Under the old state standard, many school would not pass. BSDVT is not
changing course [i.e. building a new school], because we have high levels in materials. Therefore the buildings are
not safe. TomD: Can Federal infrastructure funds be used for rebuilding schools? Chris P: we don’t know because
the rules are so new. Sen. Chittenden: Pushing all schools to do testing, starting with Radon. This will reveal the
level of work that needs doing. Vermont in the past had a “bond bank” which enabled lower interest loans, but
not today.
Sen. Baruth: There’s been a moratorium on State aid for school construction for 10-15 years. We need to get back
to the State helping out school districts. Federal infrastructure bill may address some long time state needs like
for water… and free monies for school buildings. Rep. Colburn: There is a surplus in the school funding, some of
which may be used for buildings.
Kathy Orwell: How does the legislature feel about the pupil spending study? Selene: Shares the concern.
Categorical funding will leave Burlington and Winooski worse off than previously. Sen Baruth: Wrote the bill that
would take the UVM study and implement it. But the Education committee changed the bill to include alternative
funding like categorical funding. Changing pupil weights is difficult [as we’re seeing], but categorical funding can
be revised annually. This is an attempt to have affluent communities be buffered against rising taxes. Kesha R:
One complication is in small districts where ELL students are few, the funding via pupil formula may not be
sufficient. In this case categorical funding may work better. It has been proposed that ELL funding go from $7M to
$11M. The challenge is that categorical aid may help some districts that don’t need it and underfund others. A
hybrid model could be better where aid goes to some communities and use tax capacity on top of that to meet
gaps, including those beyond curriculum, like cultural and family services.

Michael Long: Wants to support the original bill that would provide equity using updated pupil weights and
funding.

Jonathan Chapple Sokol: Are there opportunities for the legislature to support the City in creating opportunities
to make housing more affordable? Chris P: There is a lot of Federal dollars and more to come. President Garimella
said UVM wants to build beds [maybe 600 or so], but there are City zoning rules that get in the way. E.g. the
setback for Trinity is 150’. You cannot increase housing with the current density rules. We need a campaign that
comprehensively addresses this over a long time. For example, maybe UV M commits to housing all 3rd year
students, the City gets grant to get people into first time homeowner programs, convert bigger houses into
apartment houses make them affordable…. What doesn’t work is a one thing and a different class of professionals
come in and longtime poorer residents are not served. In theory reducing students will reduce demand and rents.
But we need to do something else in parallel to serve poor residents. Jonathan: That sounds close to what the
Neighborhood project was trying to do. Brian: Part of this is a lack of campus housing. And it impacts the culture
of neighborhoods and QOL. Students go downtown because there’s nothing to do on campus. And the culture on
campus is you go downtown. The State can take leadership by working with regional planning commissions to
identify regional recovery zones. These could be rapidly redevelopment districts that promotes social equity and
financial equity for individuals and families, includes mixed income options, rent to own… Plans include
employment plans, workforce recovery plans and access to transportation. The roadmap to end homelessness
need 400 new supporting units, and 1200 units targeting those with 30% of median income.

Imagine how climate change will aggravate this problem, especially if we don’t build housing now and for the
future. Hannah: It’s great that UVM wants to build housing. The incentive to move off campus includes price,
where UVM charges $1000 and off campus is $800 per month, so more expensive on campus housing will not
reduce the financial desire to move off campus. Selene: The City needs to put housing front and center in the
MOU with UVM. It’s not now. There’s a lot on the line.

Localvore Raffle
- The raffle was postponed until next meeting.

The meeting ended at 9:11 PM