May 2025 digest
May 12, 2025 Meeting Highlights
Mayor’s Updates
FY 26 Budget Update: Addressed a $14 M gap last year without any layoffs, but warned then of structural budget challenges coming in FY 26 with fewer gap-closing options. Now focused on rightsizing city programs after 9 years of unsustainable growth. Offered severance to all impacted non-union and union employees that were let go, including a payout of 60 days of full salary and benefits, continued accruing of leave time and retirement, health insurance until July, and career support by the city to help folks transition to new employment. Throughout the creation of the FY26 budget, the Mayor will continue a series of presentations for Counselors and the public to communicate impacts on service, organization restructuring, and plans for the budget.
State and Regional Updates
Montreal Trip: Joined State Treasurer Michael Pieciak and 50 other Vermonters to show interdependence and purchase Quebec goods.
Coalition of Mayors: 7 of the 8 mayors in the coalition have signed a letter supporting H.91, the only legislation addressing the unhoused population issue.
Gun Charter Change: The prohibition on guns in bars that was overwhelmingly passed in Burlington has passed the Senate and is now being considered in the House.
Overdose Prevention Center: The City’s OPC proposal was accepted by the state and negotiations are now underway on the terms of the State-City grant agreement.
Internal Updates
360 Degree Evaluations: Evaluation processes were completed for every department head in March and April to help inform the Mayor’s appointment decisions which will be brought to the Council on June 2, 2025.
Modern Gov Press Conference: Mayor’s press conference will be held on Wednesday, May 14, to discuss the ongoing work on the ModernGov initiative. CEDO will continue to support the Church Street Marketplace, the Community Justice Center, and efforts like the lead remediation program.
Winter Shelter Debrief: Debrief on the winter work around emergency cold weather shelter program that ran for 9 nights in strong partnership with CVOEO.
Trump Administration Impacts: Meetings continue with local advocacy organizations to discuss ongoing impacts of the Trump administration. Refugee advocates, LGBTQ support organizations, and others including youth service advocates.
Sustainability Academy Visit: Fourth graders from the Sustainability Academy came to city hall last week to talk to the Mayor about how the Office is building a sustainable future including housing, climate, community safety.
Community Safety
Community Safety Forum at UVM: Partnered with UVM President and her staff on an April 23rd forum, lightly attended by students, but over 50 families participated via Zoom.
Events: Mayor speaking at the Howard Center spring conference tomorrow. The focus of the conference is “perspectives on confronting stigma.” Howard continues to be a critical partner in community safety response. Graffiti remediation event on Thursday morning this week on Church Street. Next Community Safety Meeting is May 29 from 5:30-7pm at the library, focusing on proactive strategies on homelessness and mental health responses for the upcoming summer months. FY 26 budget includes an historic investment in the Howard Center’s street outreach team: Level-funded at $80k for at least 15 years which is no longer sustainable. Need adequate staffing to support and engage this growing population.
Ingrid Jonas, Mayor’s Senior Advisor on Community Safety, secured a slot for Burlington to be a partner on the “situation table,” an innovative approach to focusing on the highest-volume users of the City’s community response system. Training will support a pilot launch in June.
5.5. U.S. Coast Guard Station Burlington: The Council formalized a partnership for emergency response coordination between the Burlington Fire Department and the Coast Guard, outlining joint training, mutual aid in waterfront emergencies, and resource sharing. This will improve public safety along Lake Champlain.
6.1. Syringe Litter Report: The Board of Health recommended installing more locked drop boxes, work to ensure that safe disposal is available to everyone, expand successful community cleanup events, and create a mobile program that would travel to high-need areas. The report will be referred to the Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization (CDNR) Committee and returned by August 4, 2025. The Progressive caucus is prioritizing a coordinated response, including harm reduction strategies or improved disposal infrastructure.
6.3. Net Zero Energy Presentation: Burlington Electric Department presented an update on Burlington’s Net Zero Energy goals, including renewable energy initiatives and public infrastructure changes. Topics include electric grid improvements, weatherization programs, and community partnerships. This aligns with the city’s long-term goal to eliminate fossil fuel use by 2030.
May 19, 2025 Meeting Highlights
Mayor’s Updates
FY 26 Budget Update: Community-wide update was provided through recent email that will be posted on Mayor’s website. Public education through a dedicated webpage where all materials will be available this week. Also through Mayor meet-ups - Wednesday May 21 at Zero Gravity at 8:00 a.m., and Friday May 23 at Noon at the Library. Meeting last week with CEDO and Workforce Development, and Parks & Recreation focused on restructuring and programming following the layoffs. Transition teams are supporting CEDO, Parks, and the new Department of Finance & Administration. June 2 Council Meeting: Mayor will provide slate of department head appointments.
Statehouse Issues
Session is winding down by end of May.
Key City Legislation making progress: (1) Ban on guns in bars - testimony this week in the House; (2) Election boundary charter change - not controversial.
No action this session: Just Cause Eviction, Rent Notification, Police Oversight. Hope to take them up next session.
Appreciates the Burlington delegation, especially Rep. Tif Bluemle, for securing funding for the Overdose Prevention Center.
Community Engagement & Events
Champlain Place emergency shelter reopening this week in the South End after renovation, with increased capacity. Ceremony on Thursday May 22 will honor Katie Hartnett, long-time social service leader.
Mayor meets with new President of UVM next week, before her official start in July.
New mural by City Lake Semester students in the alley leading from Church Street to the parking garage.
Last weekend Champlain College hosted a statewide gathering of English language educators.
At UVM graduation, long time racial justice leader Roy Hill was given an honorary degree.
May 29th Community Safety Forum at 5:30 pm, May 29th at the Library, with a focus on homelessness and mental health.
Vermont City Marathon will be hosted by Burlington on May 25.
Memorial Day is Monday and the Mayor thanks all who have served in the military.
Update on Homelessness: Sarah Russell, from the Initiative to End Homelessness, reported an update on homelessness in Chittenden County from last year. She noted that the unsheltered population hit an all time high in September when people were exited from the state’s emergency housing program. Numbers have gradually decreased throughout the winter with access to emergency shelters but there has been a noticeable decrease in unsheltered homelessness in April. House bill 91, will include the VHEARTH program to enable more local control of state funding and have a community needs assessment. This act hopes to reduce reliance on motel and expand community based shelters. The current version of the bill carves out 1 million dollars to distribute to municipalities to respond to homelessness. Currently, the total motel capacity is at 237 in Chittenden County.
7.1. Resolution in Support of Local Businesses and a Vibrant, Welcoming, Safe Downtown: This resolution, prompted by the open letter from downtown Burlington’s small business, provides a series of actions for various City departments to better support downtown by the July 14, 2025 Council meeting.
The resolution asks the Department of Public Works to provide a cost estimate and timeline for reopening one-way, westward traffic on Main Street, and to enhance public construction signage.
Next, the resolution seeks that the Business and Workforce Development Department provide more effective marketing efforts to promote downtown as safe and inclusive, as well as providing quarterly updates to the Council with recommendations.
The resolution also asks that the Burlington Police Department improve responsiveness to business reports and enforce existing ordinances and laws around public safety. It is important to note that this resolution seeks to “increase and ensure a visible presence,” meaning more police officers stationed downtown.
Lastly, this resolution asks the Burlington Police Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Mayor’s Office to work to improve safety, security, and maintenance, and to create a proposal on the long-term relocation of the free lunch program from the parking garage.
7.3. City’s Recycling Program Next Steps: The item asks the Council to support DPW putting out a request for price quotes to recycling haulers while also developing a sustainable municipally-run model, and requests the Transportation, Utilities, and Energy Committee to work with City staff to develop a timeline, budget, and plan to transition to a fully consolidated solid waste collection system.
