The Past is Prologue.

UVM RESPONDS TO BURLINGTON HOUSING REPORT

There is a myth that students can only live on campus 2 years, implying that the pool of UVM student candidates for City Council would always be newcomers to the community. In fact, any student can request to live on campus, and if a student who lives on campus were elected to serve Ward 1 or Ward 8 on City Council, they can remain on campus as long as they are a student. It would not be the first time a councilor stayed put to serve where elected. If a student moved and resigned, that would not be a first for Council either. 5 City Councilors have resigned mid-term in the past 7 years.

Up to date figures on campus housing, recently submitted to the Committee on Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization by Thomas Gustafson, Vice President for University Relations & Administration:

6110 students live in campus housing. "UVM’s juniors and seniors are increasingly interested in living in the Residential Life system. In 2014, 846 juniors and seniors lived in ResLife system housing (this excludes affiliated housing such as Redstone Lofts and Redstone Apartments which are outside of the Residential Life system)."

Ward 8 Interim Steering Committee Selected

Ward 8 organizers met on June 9 for an hour at the library, convened by CEDO. Marcy Krumbine led the meeting and it was very cordial and enjoyable. The meeting had 16 folks, roughly 8 actual Ward 8 residents and 8 interested parties. An interim steering committee was selected. Details will be posted on the City's Ward 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly web page.

The Interim Steering Committee members for the Ward 8 NPA are:

• Aya AL-Namee, aalnamee@uvm.edu
• Anne Breña, anne.brena@gmail.com
• Larry Crist, lcristvt@gmail.com
• John Faas, faasjr@gmail.com
• Katherine Hickey, kahickey@uvm.edu
• Emily Lee, emilyannicklee@gmail.com

WARD 8 looks like a salamander! How did it get that way?

This question came up at the Ward 8 organizational meeting. Since the meeting was not videotaped, I asked the mapmaker to explain how the final map changed from the 8 ward map recommended by the Redistricting Committee and referred by Council to the Charter Change Committee.

May 13, 2014 WARD 8 Organizational Meeting

Facilitator, Rep. Kesha Ram

Panelists: Sandy Baird, Matt Cropp, Richard Hillyard, Jean Hopkins

AGENDA

6:00 Welcome

6:05 Introductions

6:20 Overview, Ward 8

6:40 Panel Discussion of NPA History
            What is NPA?
            What value do NPAs bring to our community?

7:10 Open Discussion
             Ward 8 specific issues
             Vision for fall kick-off meeting
             Interim Steering Committee
             Next steps

7:55 Closing Thoughts, Gratitude


Thanks to City Market for refreshments, and to Fletcher Free Library for hosting the meeting.

INVITATION FROM ALL-WARD NPAs

Organizational meeting for Ward 8 NPA at Fletcher Free Library, Tuesday May 13 at 6 pm. Public invited to learn about NPAs and help get Ward 8 off to a strong start!

An interim steering committee will be charged with planning the first official Ward 8 NPA meeting in September, and with drafting by-laws for consideration by the membership. All residents in the city are members of a neighborhood planning assembly. Burlington has an impressive track record of students working with their neighbors to build mutually beneficial relationship and strong community.

The new NPA has the potential for strong leadership and a demonstrated commitment to positive civic engagement. It's a great opportunity for students to create a legacy in their Burlington neighborhoods, put what they are learning in classrooms to immediate use, and build both multi-generational friendships and an impressive resume. 

NEW WARD 8 ORGANIZES ON MAY 13 -- 6pm at THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

All residents of Ward 8 are invited to the Public Library on May 13, 6pm to choose an Interim Steering Committee (ISC) charged with organizing the new Ward 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA). Students and permanent residents, citizens and non-citizens, renters, roomers, and homeowners – all who live in Ward 8 are invited. Refreshments will be served. 

Ward 8 includes residents who live uphill from Memorial Auditorium on the north side of Main Street, then Ward 8 turns south at Allen House on Prospect Street to include UVM Redstone Campus.  Every resident is counted equally in the decennial census that forms the basis for city wards.

NPAs serve as organized, democratic forums in each ward where residents can learn about city issues that affect them, and advise elected and appointed officials of their concerns and needs.  From parking issues to major building projects, the NPAs offer an innovative way to be involved and make your ideas and opinions heard.

Welcome Students: Internships, work/study, and course credit for civic engagement are great ways for students to make a contribution (and enhance a resume). UVM has been associated with the NPA in Ward 1, and now ward 8 offers more opportunities for students to get involved.  Champlain College participates in Ward 6 NPA, and Burlington College students are active in North End NPAs.  Students have served on NPA steering committees in every ward.

Welcome Community:  As a first rung on the ladder of civic engagement, NPAs tackle neighborhood issues and expand the pool of applicants to boards/commissions, and of candidates for school board and city council. Many civic leaders in Burlington started out working with their NPA on a neighborhood issue. We hope residents typically under-represented in city government will hear the welcome call, and come on May 13.

Together we can start the Ward 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly off strong -- inclusive, multicultural, and packed with new ideas about how to make our city the very best that it can be.

Lea Terhune, All-Wards NPA. Info, call 658-1908.