Nick’s News for May 2021
Good morning everyone,
I apologize for the delay in getting out this month's edition of "Nick's News," which is my monthly newsletter covering the latest stories, developments, and upcoming events in the City of Burbank.
On April 30th, my wife (Allie) and I welcomed our daughter (Ella) to the world. The last few weeks have brought many changes to our family. Aside from a bit of sleep deprivation, however, our family has already made some lasting memories. Ella has brought so much joy to our life and we look forward to watching her grow!
In this edition of "Nick's News" we will cover:
A brief recap of the developments at City Hall in April 2021.
A preview of upcoming and important City Council meetings.
Upcoming community activities and events.
Recap of April 2021
Below is a brief recap of the Burbank City Council meetings held in April 2021:
April 13, 2021 - The City Council held a regularly scheduled meeting in which we adopted an ordinance changing the size and composition of the Burbank Police Commission, awarded a construction contract for a sidewalk repair project, and approved the 2020 annual progress reports for both the Housing Element and General Plan. City Council discussed the drafting of an ordinance to impose "hero" or hazard pay for frontline grocery and pharmacy retail workers in the City of Burbank. City Council partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to create a Dine Burbank campaign that will launch in the Summer of 2021. Lastly, City Council adopted a digital media policy to facilitate the use of video presentations during public comment at meetings. Please click here to view the video recording of this meeting.
April 27, 2021 - The City Council held a regularly scheduled meeting in which we received presentations about National Holocaust Remembrance Day, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Earth Day. City Council adopted a resolution extending outdoor dining in the City of Burbank through December 31, 2021. The City also accepted $136,000 in Coronavirus Aid Relief, And Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding for our Elderly Nutrition Program Services. Finally, City Council engaged in its first of two city budget study sessions as we prepare to consider and adopt the fiscal year 2021-2022 budget for the City of Burbank. Please click here to view the video recording of this meeting.
Outside of City Council meetings, I have continued to represent the City of Burbank on the Board of Directors for the Valley Economic Alliance. I have also been regularly attending meetings of both the Sustainable Burbank Commission and the Burbank Police Commission to serve as a resource for the commissioners.
Upcoming Events
Please join me for my next "Community Conversation" at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 22nd. This will be a special event exclusively highlighting the proposed city budget for fiscal year 2021-2022. Included in this discussion will be:
(1) The City's financial forecast, including projected revenues and expenses, for the next 5 years.
(2) New budget items (e.g., staff positions and programs) proposed for fiscal year 2021-2022.
(3) Status of electric, water and refuse rates for the upcoming year.
If you would like to join us for this exciting event, please RSVP by visiting: https://www.nickforburbank.com/events.
I also encourage you to visit the City of Burbank's calendar of events to learn more about some of the latest happenings in our community, including upcoming Board and Commission meetings. Upcoming City Council Meetings
The Burbank City Council will be meeting two more times during May 2021. Below is a list of the meeting dates and tentative agenda items:
May 18, 2021 - The City Council will begin the meeting by recognizing Mickey DePalo for his many years of service to the community by issuing a proclamation. There will also be a proclamation issued honoring Harvey Milk Day in the City of Burbank. Next, City Council will consider adoption of a "hero" or hazard pay ordinance that would temporarily impose a $5 increase in the hourly wage for frontline grocery and pharmacy retail workers. The bulk of this meeting will be a public hearing regarding the proposed increases in electric, water and refuse rates proposed by Burbank Water and Power and the Department of Public Works. City Council will consider appointing two Burbank residents to the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. Lastly, City Council will discuss and provide policy direction on the Downtown Burbank Transit Oriented Development (Draft) Specific Plan Framework and Development Strategy. Please click here to view the complete meeting agenda.
May 25, 2021 - The City Council will spend the majority of this meeting considering, debating, and ultimately adopting the fiscal year 2021-2022 Annual Budget, Citywide Fee Schedule, and Appropriations Limit for the City of Burbank. City Council will also consider the Draft 6th RHNA Cycle Housing Element, Safety Element, and General Plan updates. There will be an update on the Golden State Substation outage by Burbank Water and Power. Lastly, City Council will consider adoption of a resolution extending the local state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click here to view the complete meeting agenda once it's posted.
Opportunity to Serve on a Board or Commission
The Burbank City Clerk's Office is currently accepting applications to serve on several City of Burbank boards and commissions. The City Council will be considering the applications and making appointments to these boards and commissions at our July 13th meeting. Please consider applying today! The deadline is 5:00 p.m. on June 2nd.
Staying in Touch
As a reminder, you will find my latest press releases, blog posts, and upcoming events on my community page. I encourage you to keep in regular contact with me by regularly visiting my community page or by following my social media accounts (see links below).
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your family and friends. If you know someone who would like to be added to the recipient list, please ask them to visit my community page and sign-up to receive it. In the meantime, please stay safe and be well. Thank you for reading!
Your Friend,
Nick
To view the newsletter in html format, please visit: https://mailchi.mp/c9759afd877d/nicks-news-may-2021?e=[UNIQID]