NPA - All Wards

All Wards NPA Meeting Agenda Packet Wednesday, November 15th 7:30-9:30pm Sharon Bushor room, floor 1, City Hall Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92994370932 Facilitators: Rachel Jolly, CEDO Assistant Director, Community Justice Center (CJC) Becky Penberthy, Adult Restorative and Volunteer Manager, CJC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Meeting Ground Rules/Expectations In an effort to create a sense of community care, we will strive to: • Listen to understand • Remain curious • Speak from our own experience, using “I” statements and avoiding generalizations • Step Up/Step Back (“share the air”) • Avoid interrupting • Practice kindness, respecting differences in identities, pronouns, etc. • Offer solutions/framing in the positive as a way to respectfully disagree with something shared Resolution Presented by Jason Van Driesche, Ward 5 SC Member: A Resolution Affirming Norms of Respect within the Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly In the year Two Thousand Twenty-Three RESOLVED by the Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly of Burlington, Vermont WHEREAS, the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) are grassroots neighborhood organizations whose mission includes fostering an open space for all community members to gather and exchange information, to have their voices heard by the community, and to have a say in city policies; And WHEREAS, the NPAs’ ability to foster such a space depends on NPAs being an inclusive and welcoming space for Burlingtonians of diverse backgrounds and identities; And WHEREAS, a norm of respect for gender identity and expression, as well as other diverse identities, is an essential part of ensuring that NPAs (and our community in general) are welcoming and inclusive; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Ward 5 NPA affirms that all community members, regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, place of birth, pregnancy, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law, are fully and equally welcome at NPA-sponsored events, as part of the fundamental commitment of the NPAs to creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all members of the Burlington community. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ward 5 NPA unequivocally rejects transphobic, sexist, racist, or other discriminatory speech or actions at NPA 5-sponsored events as inconsistent with such a norm of respect, and therefore incompatible with the mission of the NPAs; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all participants in NPA 5-sponsored events are called upon to respect the gender identity, including stated pronouns, of all other participants; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a failure to respect such preferences on the part of any participant is detrimental to the functioning of the NPA and compromises its ability to carry out its mission; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, if any such discriminatory speech or action occurs during an NPA 5- sponsored event, the NPA 5 steering committee will explicitly note the occurrence, as well as re- emphasize the norm of respect and commitment to inclusivity; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in keeping with Burlington’s commitment to restorative practices, if such an issue is ongoing the NPA 5 will seek assistance from the Community Justice Center and/or CEDO to address the harm. Resolution Presented by Jonathan Chapple-Sokol, Ward 1 SC Member: A Resolution Concerning the Relationship Between Elected and Appointed City Officials and the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies Whereas the 1982 Resolution “Relating to the Creation of Neighborhood Planning Assemblies” (NPAs) established the NPAs in part to provide a forum for Burlington residents to advise elected and appointed officials on municipal issues, as evidenced by the language in that resolution: “Whereas this council and various city commissions could be much assisted if the views of the general public with respect to the needs of the city could be communicated to it in a regular and orderly fashion… “Whereas many positive benefits would result from the creation of neighborhood assemblies at which citizens would consider the issues facing government and make recommendations for the consideration of appointed and elected officials charged with the responsibility of implementing city policies… “Whereas in the judgement of this city council an appropriate and effective means of realizing such goals would be through creation of NPAs in each ward of the city which would meet on a regular basis and provide advice to appointed and elected officials with respect to the issues facing the neighborhoods and the city “Resolved…the NPAs shall…help provide citizens with an opportunity to participate in making recommendations with respect to government decisions including allocation of revenues. The NPAs shall also be encouraged to provide advice to the appropriate commission or this council with respect to Community Development, housing programs, the city’s Comprehensive Development Plan and its waterfront activities, and the city’s budget among other things.” And Whereas there currently exists no process to ensure that elected and appointed officials consult with the NPAs on any issues, And Whereas it is not infrequent that City Council resolutions are made public and voted on before discussion at NPA meetings is possible, Now therefore be it resolved that the city council, in consultation with the NPAs, establish processes and criteria for determining the municipal issues on which NPAs must be consulted for advice and input prior to city council votes, And let it further be resolved that said advice and input be considered in city council deliberations on those municipal issues, And let it further be resolved that similarly, processes and criteria be created by commissions and city departments for the same purpose, And let it further be resolved that these processes and criteria be established by April 1, 2024.