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• Carleton writes and passes comprehensive
drug abuse prevention and treatment resolution.
In February, 2003 Carleton wrote and introduced a comprehensive
drug abuse related resolution in the City Council calling for 
(1) a comprehensive assessment of all of the public
and private drug abuse prevention related services in the city,
(2) a
City Action Plan addressing deficiencies in the current delivery of services,
(3)
a public/private “Partnership” charged
with the ongoing supervision of city anti-drug efforts, and
(4) the creation
of a full time position in city government designed to oversee all of
this activity.
Very quickly the resolution enjoyed broad based support
from the entire Council, the Mayor’s Office, CEDO and the treatment
and prevention communities. In late March a somewhat altered, but generally
similar-in-spirit version of the resolution was passed unanimously, and
is now being implemented. 
Carleton cites this resolution as one of the accomplishments
he is most proud of since he joined the Council. Drawing on his nearly
fifteen years of working in various ways with substance abuse afflicted
communities, Carleton designed this resolution both to inspire community
dialogue about this touchy issue, and to reinvigorate and better organize
the city's approach to treatment and prevention.
• UVM President Daniel Fogel unveils
long term development and growth plan for the University of Vermont.
In January, 2003, UVM President Daniel Fogel presented
the President’s Ten Year Vision. The implementation of the president’s
vision will have lasting effects on Burlington’s neighborhoods,
especially those of us in Ward One, where the University is located.
Any interested community member should click here to
read this document in full.
In May, 2003, President Fogel unveiled a revised version
of the UVM Strategic Action Plan of October 2000. To read the revised
plan, click here.
In June, 2003, Carleton met with President Fogel to
discuss the impact of the University’s plans on the broader community.
President Fogel indicated that he is very open to community input, and
conversely, the community should remain engaged in its dialogue with
the University concerning its development plans.
• Carleton works towards more robust and
responsive Code Enforcement Office.
Ever since Carleton first joined the Council, rigorous
and efficient Code Enforcement has been among his top priorities, and
certainly his most time consuming effort. In May, 2002, Carleton, along
with Councilors O’Sullivan and Montroll, approached the Mayor about
funding two new positions in the Code Enforcement Office. When that did
not turn out to be economically possible, those four compromised on the
idea of performing a comprehensive audit of the Code Enforcement Office.
That audit has now been completed, and the City is in the process of
implementing its recommendations.
As Chair of the Ordinance Committee, Carleton places
review and implementation of these recommendations at the top of the
Committee’s priorities over the next fiscal year.
One item that Carleton has taken a particular interest
in is getting an automated complaint response system up and running.
When a citizen calls to make a complaint about a code violation, that
person should be sent a card with a complaint number and a response time
within which the complaint will be addressed. Such a system has yet to
be implemented, but Carleton explains that he has been given assurances
by the code enforcement office that it is “in the works.” Carleton
will continue to stay attentive to this issue.
• Burlington’s Open Space Plan – when
will it kick in?
In October, 2000 the City Council unanimously adopted
a comprehensive plan to protect natural areas and open spaces in Burlington.
The text of the original press release announcing the plan appears below.
However, to date, the City has not yet found a funding
stream that it could utilize to launch those parts of the plan that will
cost money to maintain. Ward One Councilor Sharon Bushor has been extremely
active on this issue, and Carleton has discussed this matter with her
on several occasions. Together, they hope to add new energy in 2003-2004
to try to find the funds to get this plan moving in the direction that
it should.
Text
of "Open Space Protection Plan" press release:
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Protection of natural areas and open space in Burlington
has long been identified as one of the public's highest priorities.
Recent studies throughout the country have debunked the myth that
conservation and development are inherently at odds. The fact is
open space conservation is good for everyone - residents, visitors,
and businesses - and their bottom line. The 2000 Burlington Open
Space Protection Plan is a plan that:
•
seeks to balance development with conservation. Open space protection
is envisioned as a tool that will make Burlington more attractive
for future development and investment rather than an obstacle to
future growth.
•
highlights the many natural, social, and economic benefits
derived from natural areas and land conservation. Protection
of Burlington's natural and recreational systems will benefit
everyone -both today and long into the future. It will
benefit the city's economy in addition to its environment,
and quality of life.
•
emphasizes priority areas for protection rather than individual
properties. The Plan outlines a vision of Burlington where natural
areas, parklands, and greenbelts are physically integrated into
the urban fabric of the city in order to compliment development
with land conservation.
•
concentrates primarily on non-regulatory means of implementation.
While regulation certainly has its place as a tool for protection,
it is not considered an effective and s ustainable solution over
the long-term. The Plan outlines an process for the purchase
of land or conservation easements on important sites and features
throughout the City.
The Plan offers a vision for Burlington “where natural areas, parklands,
and greenbelts are physically integrated into the urban fabric of the
city in order to compliment development with land conservation.” This “vision” embraces
two forms of open space that define the character of an urban place within
a distinctively natural landscape, and identifies areas of the city that
are high priorities for long-term protection - Significant Natural Areas
which include the Lake Champlain shoreline, the Winooski River and Intervale,
and Englesby and Centennial Brooks, and Urban Greenspaces which include
neighborhood greenspace such as pocket parks and community gardens, the
downtown waterfront, treebelts, and recreational corridors such as trails
and footpaths.
The Plan proposes the creation of a comprehensive land conservation program
- the Conservation Legacy Program - to be jointly administered by the
Conservation Board and Parks and Recreation Department, and comprised
of three programmatic elements:
•
Conservation Education
To improve the public's familiarity and appreciation of Burlington's
natural areas, to communicate the importance of open space protection,
and to encourage public participation in the protection and planning
process.
•
Land Acquisition Planning
To identify and prioritize land that is of greatest significance to the
City as natural area and open space, and negotiate long-term protection
through public acquisition by the City and other governmental and non-profit
partners.
•
Stewardship, Management, and Enhancement
To assure responsible long-term stewardship, management and enhancement
of significant natural areas and important open space according to Long-term
Stewardship Plans prepared and adopted by the City.
Additionally, the Plan recommends the creation of a Land Conservation
Fund - sustained in-part with dedicated City funding - to be set aside
for the purchase and long-term protection of significant natural areas
and important open space in the City of Burlington. An 'Advisory Referendum'
is on the November ballot (Question #4) in Burlington regarding the creation
of such a fund. If approved, local officials will seek authority from
the Legislature to enable local governments to create a local option
tax to support open space protection funds. The creation of any new tax
for such a purpose would still require local voter approval before taking
effect.
Finally, the Plan outlines a series of recommendations for continued
Planning and Improved Development Review to act as a safety net to protect
specific resources and features from the adverse impacts of nearby development.
Specific examples include a plan to create or protect small areas of
greenspace within the most densely developed parts of the city, and changes
to the city's zoning to more effectively protect existing natural areas
and open space.
Prepared under the direction of the Burlington Conservation Board, this
plan is the result of nearly two years of work, more than 10 public meetings,
and input from more than 500 citizens. This Plan is the result of a resolution
passed by the Burlington City Council in July 1997 that directed the
Planning Commission and the Conservation Board to prepare a “natural
areas/open space protection plan” for recommendation to the City
Council. Financial and technical assistance was provided by The Trust
For Public Land, and additional funding was secured from the VT Municipal
Planning Grant Program and the Kelsey Trust. A Final Draft of the Plan
was unanimously endorsed by the Conservation Board, Planning Commission,
and Parks and Recreation Commission at a series of meetings held over
the past two months. |
• Carleton pushes for University Place improvements.
University place is one of the true gateways to the
University of Vermont. Yet, for a variety of reasons, in recent years
the road has languished. The pavement is awful, the utility wires are
unsightly, and overall the aesthetic upkeep of the road leaves a lot
to be desired. For students, parents, tourists, and other visitors, this
is one of the first impressions one has of the UVM campus. Something
must be done to improve this road.
In the last three months Carleton has discussed the
improvement of University Place with the UVM Student Government Association,
City Councilors, the Mayor, Bob Penniman of the Campus Area Transportation
Management Association, and President Fogel.
In September, 2003, Carleton sponsored, and the Council
unanimously passed, a resolution that will start the transfer of ownership.
This resolution calls upon the City Attorney to produce a brief memo
outlining the necessary steps to transfer ownership of the road from
the City to the University.
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