Mayor's Budget Update

WARDS 4 AND 7 NPAs. May 22^th, 2013 

Miller Center 130 Gosse Court

Facilitator, Jason L’Ecuyer

AGENDA

6:45 Sign in, GREET NEIGHBORS AND CITY OFFICIALS

7:00 WELCOME. INTRODUCTIONS and ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA, GROUND RULES.

7:05 BUSINESS - Elect alternate to Ward 4 Redistricting Committee

PUBLIC FORUM will be part of each item on the agenda, with opportunity at the end of the evening for anyone to speak out on other issues.  .

7:10 Program Open Space update – Scott Gustin

7:40 PROGRAM Star Farm Solar Field – Frank Turkovich

8:00 Mayor budget update

8:25 Appointed and elected officials – update on Redistricting progress.

8:50  Wrap Up with Speak Out

MAY 22, 7PM MILLER CENTER: REPORT ON REDISTRICTING, MAYOR'S BUDGET, OPEN SPACE PROTECTION, DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.

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REDISTRICTING THE NORTH END:
Ward 4 and Ward 7 are being redrawn by the Redistricting Committee. Representatives Jim Holway, George Gamache, Jason L'Ecuyer, and Alternates Mannie Lionni and Nancy Ellis are hard at work creating an intelligent design of wards that keeps neighborhoods with common interests intact within compact, contiguous areas. The challenge is to achieve this in wards that are of equal number allowing no more than a 10% deviation. If you ever played Sim City, you should offer to play the game with these folks. Generally they meet on Thursday morning at The Bagel, and at NPA meetings, fourth Wednesday of each month, 7pm, Miller Center.

CITY BUDGET LEVEL FUNDED.
HOW WILL THAT IMPACT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS?

MAYOR'S BUDGET: The Administration is working to craft a budget that maintains vital services while also avoiding a general City property tax increase for the second year. The budget is following a similar, transparent process to the one undertaken last year. Each department head is presenting a draft budget at one of approximately eight full City Council work sessions starting this week and ending the first week in June. You can find the full schedule here, though please note it is subject to change: http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CT/Budgets/Fiscal-Year-2014-Budget/

Most of these work sessions will be held in Conference Room 12 of City Hall (the May 9 session will be held in the Department of Public Works Conference Room). These sessions are open to the public and there will be a comment period at the end of each one. Further, resident Phil Lavigne has generously volunteered to tape all of them so they can be posted on the Channel 17 website (cctv.org) within a few days of their occurrence.

In addition to these public work sessions, the Mayor is available to discuss the budget and other matters at his open coffee in the New North End at the Bagel Café every Wednesday from 8-9 am, at Handy’s on April 29 at 9 am, at Nunyuns on May 3 at 8 am, and at The Spot at an upcoming date and time to be determined. Please check the Mayor’s Office website for details: http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/Mayor/ If you have any thoughts or questions about this process, please be in touch at kram@burlingtonvt.gov.

PLANNING AND ZONING DEPT  will be join us, to talk about the Open Space Protection Plan update, and other issues related to development in the North End. Comments on Open Space Protection from previous outreach efforts will be distilled into specific findings to use as the basis for updated goals and objectives to be articulated within the updated Open Space Protection Plan. Preliminary findings will be presented, and staff will solicit comments that will be used to further improve the findings prior to putting together the final draft of the updated Open Space Protection Plan. Questions? Contact Scott Gustin, AICP, CFM Senior Planner, Department of Planning & Zoning, 149 Church Street, Burlington, VT 05401 Phone: (802) 865-7189

More information will be available regarding future uses for the Flynn property on Starr Farm Road. A large solar field was suggested, as well as recreation trails and conservation areas. Contact Frank VonTurkovich  (802) 229-3431,  fvonturkovich@fvtlaw.com .

APRIL 24: Redistricting, Dog Parks, School Issues

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SCHOOL  ISSUES

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 THE GOOD NEWS: 

Lindsay Cox is the project manager for the Partnership for Change, the organization joining Burlington and Winooski school districts, funded by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. The Partnership for Change seeks to remodel public education in Burlington and Winooski, to align with what our young people need to thrive in a complex global society. The Partnership represents a broad and diverse group helping to build a more prosperous future for both communities. Lindsay will answer any questions folks may have about how to learn more about, or get involved in, the Partnership for Change. 

*THE BAD NEWS: 

Superintendent Collins was invited to address concerns that many parents have about a recent report that the elementary schools will be shortening a school day to make time for teacher planning. The questions we are hearing in the community are::

Why is this being done without public input?
Why are they forcing this thru without parent participation?
Who is going to pay for this?  Taxpayers and if yes, how much is this going to cost?
Why can't this be done at 3PM on Wednesdays?

Parents want to be involved in the decision making process.  

*Jeanne Collins, Superintendent, can't attend because it's school vacation. Linda Deliduka, Ward 7 school commissioner, will be at the meeting to answer questions.  There have been meetings at Flynn and Smith, but the feelings of smokescreens and back room deals will further be embedded in parents minds if we don't air this with the school board immediately.

DOG  PARKS 

The Off Leash Dog Work Group in partnership with the Dept of Parks and Rec has compiled a Draft Report on Off Leash Dog - Opportunities for the City.  Jesse Bridges, Director of Parks and Rec, and Ed Pais from the community work group would like to share the comprehensive review and evaluation of opportunities to generate feedback and discussion

REDISTRICTING  CITY  WARDS

Council added another voting member from Ward 4 to the Redistricting Committee. Also, to wards 2 and 6. Fortunately, most NPAs had elected Alternates who were fully prepared to step up to the table. Thanks to George Gamache for stepping up. We will need to elect a replacement alternate, and during reports from elected officials we will hear an update on the work of the committee. The mapmaker has been asked to model the 8th Ward Plan advocated by our NPA. Paul Decelles, Jason L'Ecuyer, Mannie Lionni, Jim Holway, and George Gamache have provided the North End with strong representation on the committee.

AGENDA

7:00 WELCOME. INTRODUCTIONS and ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA, GROUND RULES.

7:05 BUSINESS Elect Phil Lavigne, Ward 7, to Steering Committee. Elect Reps for North Ave Corridor Study group

PUBLIC FORUM will be part of each item on the agenda, with opportunity at the end of the evening for anyone to speak out on other issues. 

7:10 REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS

7:45 PROGRAM

• 7:45:Off Leash Dog, Opportunities for the City: The Off Leash Dog Work Group in partnership with the Dept of Parks and Rec has compiled a Draft Report on Off Leash Dog Opportunities for the City.  Jesse Bridges, Director of Parks and Rec, and some members of the community work group will share a comprehensive review and evaluation of opportunities to generate feedback and discussion. Jesse Bridges bridges@burlingtonvt.gov phone 865-7557.
• 8:05: Partnership for Change Lindsay Cox Lindsey Cox partnershipforchangevt@gmail.com

8:25 Discussion, early release elementary schools.

8:50  Speak Out and Wrap Up
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REDISTRICTING MEETING SCHEDULE -- PUBLIC FORUM AT EVERY MEETING

Day	Date	Time	Location	Address
Monday	April 8, 2013	7-9 pm	Burlington High School C Building	52 Institute Road
Tuesday	April 16, 2013	7-9 pm	Kevin Scully Community Rm Police Station	1 North Avenue
Tuesday	May 14, 2013	7-9 pm	City Hall Contois Auditorium or Room 12	149 Church Street
Wednesday	May 29, 2013	7-9 pm	Public Works Conference Room DPW	645 Pine Street
Tuesday	June 4, 2013	7-9 pm	Public Works Conference Room DPW	645 Pine Street

Ward 4 and Ward 7 representatives and alternates:

     Paul Decelles, Councilor - pdecellesw7@aol.com

     Jim Holway, Ward 4 NPA Representative - jholway2012@gmail.com

     GeorgeGamache, Ward 4 NPA Representative  - georgegamache@burlingtontelecom.net

     Nancy Ellis, Ward 4 NPA Acting Alternate - nrellis@burlingtontelecom.net

     Jason L'Ecuyer, Ward 7 NPA Representative - rowenlecuyer@gmail.com

     Mannie Lionni, Ward 7 NPA Alternate - lml@05401.com

If you have comments regarding how many city councilors and how many wards the city should have in the future, or other comments, questions or concerns about the redistricting process, please come to the Listening Session, or e-mail or call the Redistricting Committee’s facilitator Cindy Cook, redistricting@adamantaccord.com, 802-223-1330. And don’t neglect to send a copy directly to our representatives and alternates so it can be entered into discussion at the committee table.

RESOLUTION: Ward Redistricting Committee Makeup Add 2 voting members from wards 2 and 4 to the redistricting committee, Llu Mulvaney-Stanak and George Gamache. Presented for Council vote April 14, 2013.

The Redistricting Game - [Don't play it in Burlington, but you can play it on-line here.]

The redistricting mapmakers can have more of an impact on an election than a campaign, more of an impact than a candidate. The mapmakers can have more of an impact on an election than the voters!  

City Council has created a Redistricting Committee made up of 4 Councilors, the Mayor, and 7 ward representatives chosen by the NPAs.  Each committee member has a vote.  The goal of the committee is to redraw Burlington's city wards so that each Councilor represents roughly the same number of residents (based on figures from the most recent census). But before the committee begins its work, there is a problem.

The problem is, the committee has unequal representation. Ward 4 and Ward 2 do not have Councilors on the Committee. 

Requests to create equal ward representation on the committee have been denied. Therefore, residents of Ward 4 and 2 are under-represented. We are seeking review of this decision before it taints the legitimacy of the committee's work.


A redistricting committee charged with equal representation that refuses to constitute itself with equal representation has a fatal flaw. 

UPDATE: Ward Redistricting Committee Makeup

Note: "one man, one vote." This phrasing is unfortunate not only because it is not politically correct, but because it is not what the court ruled. The court held the the 14th Amendment requires "one person, one unit of representation." That is to say that every person -- irregardless if they are unable to vote due to their citizenship status or voting age -- are afforded equal representation. Districts are therefore drawn on equal population, not on equal votes. In 1983, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown vThomson that state legislative and local districts could vary by as much as a ten percent range. 

THE CENSUS NUMBERS
W1-8780, W2-6106, W3-6076, W4-5081,
W5-5817, W6-5156, W7-5401.

Ben Truman, Ward 4, observes the city’s penchant for activism and civic engagement. 
Let's keep it that way!

March 27: Redistricting, Burlington Telecom Co-Op, allocation of federal HUD funds, investment of TIF funds in Waterfront & Downtown District, and North End Alliance of Cottage Industries and Telecomuters.

• Reports from elected and appointed officials, including update from Redistricting Team [Paul Decelles, Jim Holway, Jason L'Ecuyer, Helen Hossley, George Gamache, and Mannie Lionni] on Re-D Committee process and first meeting (March 19?). Discussion of relevant Re-D  issues will take place when they are raised by the committee. 

• Al Waegner will bring a multi-media presentation of local residents' proposal to purchase Burlington Telecom and run it as a customer-owned co-op. 

• Marcy Krumbine, CEDO, Assistant Director for Community Development, will ask residents for approval of the city's 5 yr plan for allocation of HUD funds, investing federal tax dollars in decent housing, better economic opportunities, and a suitable living environment. We have requested a spreadsheet of the proposed allocations for distribution at the meeting.

• We will also have a presentation from Nate Wildfire, CEDO, Assistant Director of Economic Development, about the process to receive public input on investment of TIF dollars in the Waterfront and Downtown Public Investment district. On our part, we are asking Nate to help organizing a business alliance in the NorthEnd, with focus on cottage industries, telecommuters, and small busienss entrepreneurs. Similar to the way the SouthEnd links business to the arts, we imagine linking local business with our parks, beaches, and other recreational opportunities. A goal of the alliance could be tu use siugnage and maps to create connectivity between the bike path, parks and amenities along North Avenue.

• Business includes electing George Gamache and Dakota Casserly to the Ward 4 Steering Committee, and Mannie Lionni to the Ward 7 Steering Committee.

Our goal is to bring the people involved in these projects to you so you can meet them personally, ask questions, talk with them after the meeting, and request more information or follow-up in any way you wish. 

AGENDA

6:45 Sign in, GREET NEIGHBORS AND CITY OFFICIALS

7:00 WELCOME. INTRODUCTIONS and ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA, GROUND RULES.

7:05 BUSINESS: Nominations - George Gamache (W4), Dakota Casserly (W4), Mannie Lionni (W7) to Steering Committee.

*OPEN FORUM will be part of each item on the agenda, with opportunity at the end of the evening for anyone to speak out on other issues.

7:10 REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS

7:40 PROGRAM

7:40  Al Wagner - Burlington Telecom co-op

7:50  Nate Wildfire – CEDO, Assistant Director of Economic Development- To explain the process including the Request for Concepts. The deadline for concept submissions is April 4.

8:00  Marcy Krumbine – CEDO, Assistant Director for Community Development – talk about CDBG funding

8:10  Jason L'Ecuyer (W7), Helen Hossley (7), Mannie Lionni (7), Jim Holway (W4), George Gamache (W4).  Redistricting Team.  Where are we, how are we moving forward?

8:50  Wrap Up with Speak Out

 http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/priorities-your-npas

TOWN MEETING 2013

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Feb 27, Miller Center, 7pm. Election of Representatives and Alternates to Redistricting Committee. Presentation of Tar Sands Pipeline advisory question. City Council candidates, School Commission candidates, candidates for Inspector of Elections. School Budget.

Burlington Wards 4 & 7 NPA Meeting 02/27/2013

CCTV Tape of meeting

AGENDA

7:00-7:10 Introductions and Announcements

7:10-7:20 Presentation of Tar Sands Ballot Proposal - Rachel Seigel

7:20-7:23 Presentation of Redistricting representative, and an alternate - Lea Terhune

SEPARATE INTO WARDS 4 AND 7

7:25-7:40 Nomination of Redistricting committee candidates, brief 4 min

statements, Q&A, residents receive paper/pen ballot to vote.

7:40-8:20 City Council Candidates - 4 min statements followed by Q&A from

residents

JOINT SESSION RESUMES

8:20-8:25 Explanation of role of Inspector of Elections-George Gamache/Leo Grenon

8:25-8:40 Presentation of School Budget Ballot Proposal (Alan Matson) plus Q&A

8:40-9:00 School Commissioner candidates' statements and Q&A

~ SHOW UP  to meet and question candidates and spokespersons for school budget and ballot questions,  

 ~ASK QUESTIONS, and then 

~ VOTE SMART on March 5!

Miller Center, Feb 27, 7pm

BALLOT QUESTIONS

1.      APPROVAL OF SCHOOL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014
“Shall the voters approve the School Department’s proposed $62,766,794 locally adopted budget (School General Fund Budget) for current expenses and deficit retirement?”

2.      ADVISORY REFERENDUM REGARDING OPPOSITION TO TAR SANDS OIL BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

STEP TWO ASK QUESTIONS.

“Shall the voters of Burlington, as an expression of opposition to the transport of tar sands oil and a deep concern about the risks of such transport for public health and safety, property values, and our natural resources, 1) encourage the State of Vermont to phase out fuel purchases from vendors whose refinery sources of origin use any form of tar sands, and 2) call upon the Vermont State Legislature and the Obama Administration to ensure thorough environmental impact reviews of any tar sands-related pipeline proposals, including the health and safety impacts of potential tar sands oil spills, along with clear guidelines for tracking the origins and chemical composition of pipeline contents and refinery sources?”

MUNICIPAL BUDGET? I'm told we don't vote on the city budget. 

STEP THREE VOTE SMART!

CANDIDATES

City Council

Dave Hartnett, D-Ward 4. 27 Browe Ct.

Loyal Ploof, L-Ward 4, 1571 North Ave.

Tom Ayres, D-Ward 7, 61 Saratoga Ave.

Jim Robert, R-Ward 7, 98 Lori Ln.

School Commission

Ben Truman, Ward 4, 172 Staniford Rd. 

Greg Jenkins, Ward 7, 31 Rivermount Ter 

Inspector of Elections
George Gamache, D Ward 4, 58 Greymeadow Dr.

Leo Grenon, R Ward 7, 251 James Ave.

ANNUAL AUDIT

February 8, 2013
Contact:  Mike Kanarick  802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Audited Annual Financial Statements Complete and Available on City Website

Released Nearly Two Months Earlier than Last Year’s Audit Report; Will Be Included in City’s Annual Report to Be Issued on Town Meeting Day

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that the audited annual financial statements (audit report) for fiscal year 2012 (FY12) are complete and available for public review on the City’s website.  The release of the audit report comes nearly two months earlier than the release of the FY11 audit report and the report, for the first time since 2006, will be included in the City’s annual report book that will be available at the polls and at City Hall on Town Meeting Day, March 5, 2013.

“Receiving the complete audited statements earlier than in the past was one of the goals I identified as part of my Administration’s effort to get the City’s financial house in order,” stated Weinberger.  “While there are more improvements underway in FY13, being able to issue the audit report in time for publication in the annual report is real progress.”

The audited financial statements are available on the City’s website at the following link:

http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/uploadedFiles/BurlingtonVT.gov/Departments/Clerk-Treasurers_Office/Burlington%20Final%20Special%20CAFR12.pdf.  The City’s audit partner, Scott McIntire of Melanson Heath & Company, PC, will be presenting the financial statements at a City Council work session on Monday, February 11, 2013, at 6pm in Conference Room 12 in City Hall.

CLP DEDICATED TAX. RESERVE $701,977 NOT INCLUDING THIS FISCAL YEAR

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Presentation at NPAs by City's Consultant: 15 minute Power Point slide show to provide:

1. An overview of the 2000 Open Space Protection Plan;
2. A summary of what has been accomplished so far from that plan;
3. An overview of the Open Space Protection Plan update process;
4. A few ideas that have come forth from the Conservation Board to include in this update of the plan; and
5. Different avenues for public input. 

Following the presentation, we [city] will take questions from the NPA audience (10 minutes) and then we [city] would like to have time for people who are ready to provide input to do so.  We will have paper maps available for people to identify important open spaces that they use and flip charts for citizens to give us their ideas.  Depending on the audience, this may take more or less time, but for planning purposes, let’s count on 20 minutes. 

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http://www.leddypark.org/
http://protectleddypark.blogspot.com

Information Requested by NPA:

• up to date report on conserved land
• accounting of the received, spent, and available funds
• policy and authorizing documents 

Response from Parks Dept:

"To date we have spent $27,768 (47%) of the operational/stewardship portion and $3,000 (2%) of the capital portion...Currently there is $701,977 in reserve not including this fiscal year."  Deryk Roach, Superintendent of Parks

The “up to date report of conserved land” is what is being proposed towards [NPAs] over the next couple months.  It is an update to the existing guiding policy and planning document, the Open Space Protection Plan (200 Report) approved by the Council. 

 http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/PZ/Planning/Other-Planning-Projects-and-Programs/ 

The plan provides good detail about its purpose and the lands currently inventoried as part of the conservation program.  The presentation will get into more specifics as to which parts are being proposed to be updated, or from the public’s perspective they can provide feedback as to which portions they find great value.  FYI, there are also other sub-reports that further define specific management plans to protect and expand upon management plans where they might not exist or their use or potential aren’t defined appropriately.  Examples of these reports are:  Ethan Allen Park Site Assessment; McKenzie Property Management Plan; Mt. Calvary Red Maple Wetland Management Plan; Arms Property Management Plan; Invasive Species Report. 

The annual budget for CLP [land conservation] is $197,713 which is funded by a dedicated tax.  The budget is split into operation $59,713 (30%) and capital $138,000 (70%) components.  To date we have spent $27,768 (47%) of the operational/stewardship portion and $3,000 (2%) of the capital portion.  The capital portion rolls over from one year to the next, and if the stewardship funds aren’t spent in their entirety they are rolled into the capital portion.  Currently there is $701,977 in reserve not including this fiscal year. 

Deryk Roach, Superintendent of Parks
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