FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2016
Contact:  Jennifer Kaulius
                 802.324.2505

City of Burlington Accepts President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Challenge
Convenes summit with local community partners to launch MBK Burlington

Burlington, VT – At a local action summit in Contois Auditorium Wednesday morning, Mayor Miro Weinberger joined community leaders working with Burlington teens in announcing the City of Burlington’s acceptance of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Challenge. My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) is a White House cradle to career initiative President Obama launched in 2014 to address opportunity gaps facing American youth, particularly boys and young men of color. Since its launch, nearly 250 cities and towns across the country have accepted the President’s call to action.

“The City of Burlington is proud to answer the President’s call to action by launching an MBK community in Vermont,” said Mayor Weinberger. “We know that people of color and low-income Burlingtonians are more likely to experience racism, discrimination, underemployment, low education, poor health outcomes, and more limited access to resources and opportunities. MBK is about recognizing these challenges and marshalling a community effort to address the inequities that stand in the way of all our youth reaching their full potential.”

The Mayor thanked all of the individuals in the room for the important work they do in the community and the impact they have made in the lives of young Burlingtonians, and emphasized the importance of engaging and hearing from youth as the initiative takes shape in the coming months.

Yesterday’s summit attendees included leadership and representatives working with teens from the Burlington School District, Partnership for Change, Boys & Girls Club of Burlington, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, Sara Holbrook Community Center, the Burlington Police Department, Parents and Youth for Change, King Street Center, Greater Burlington YMCA, Vermont Adult Learning, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, Champlain College, YouthBuild, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Chittenden County State’s Attorney, among numerous others.

The White House has identified six cradle to career milestones and goals for MBK communities to consider focusing on. At Wednesday’s event, the conversation focused on the middle school and high school years, and specifically the following two overarching goals to ensure that all youth are:

• Graduating from high school ready for college, job training, or career; and
• Staying on track, safe from violence, and provided second chances.

Burlington School District Superintendent Yaw Obeng spoke to the inequities present in the School District and City relating to these gaps: “The data on our vulnerable youth is undeniable. Closing the achievement gap will take more than academic interventions. An initiative like My Brother’s Keeper will allow us to also address the critical social and emotional domains that set the foundation for learning.”

The summit marked the first step and first conversation in understanding all of the work being done in the community and what resources are available to support Burlington’s teens, and also what gaps remain. Attendees participated in an asset mapping activity to identify the connections between the different organizations and groups in the room and services provided. Presentations also were given to highlight new programming and related efforts in the community, including restorative justice reform in the School District, Spectrum’s Multicultural Youth Program, and the UVM Wellness Environment’s Mentoring Program.

MBK has become a movement across the nation that has led to action by all levels of government, by schools, nonprofits, universities and colleges, the private sector, and individuals to take meaningful steps toward improving the lives of children and young adults. A focal point of the summit discussion was the importance of youth adult partnership and engaging youth and the broader community moving forward.

"I believe that together, if we look at what we need to do to address inequities outside of school, if we listen closely to youth and families struggling in the current system, and if we build trust and relationships, we will be able to co-create the solutions to ensure that all of our youth are on the path to college and career-readiness and to leading lives of dignity, hope, and meaning," said Dawn Moskowitz, Program Director at Voices for Vermont's Children. 

“Youth voice is very powerful,” said Hal Colston, Director of the Partnership for Change and one of the moderators of the summit. “I look forward to what’s next in this process – a youth-led gathering where adults in partnership may learn our youth’s truth. Not about us without us.”

The next steps in this effort will include youth engagement, the creation of an MBK Task Force with community and youth representatives, and a report on the existing policies, programs, and opportunity gaps facing Burlington’s teens, as well as recommendations for action.

For more information, please visit www.wh.gov/mbk and www.mbkchallenge.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2016
Contact:  Jennifer Kaulius
                 802.324.2505

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement on Closing of Burlington College

“Burlington College’s closing is a loss for our community. Although it has been clear for years that the college faced major financial challenges, many individuals and organizations, including the City, hoped today’s announcement would never come and worked to achieve a better outcome. Our thoughts are with those most impacted by today’s news – current students who have not yet completed their degrees and the committed college faculty and staff who will soon lose their jobs – and the City appreciates the proactive steps being taken to assist these groups.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 9, 2016
Contact:  Jennifer Kaulius
                802.324.2505

Mayor Miro Weinberger Appoints Noelle MacKay
as Community & Economic Development Office Director

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the appointment of Noelle MacKay as the City’s next Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) Director. MacKay comes to the City of Burlington following more than 16 years of community development, land use planning, and economic development experience. MacKay served for five years as the Executive Director of Smart Growth Vermont, and for the last five years she has served as Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) focused on developing housing policy, overseeing the Mobile Home Park Program, and strengthening Vermont’s downtowns. Mayor Weinberger will request the City Council’s approval of this appointment at its May 16, 2016 meeting. If confirmed by the City Council, MacKay intends to step down as Commissioner at the end of June 2016 and will start her service to the City of Burlington on August 1, 2016.

“Noelle is a dedicated public servant and an experienced leader and manager who has demonstrated a strong commitment to Burlington, Chittenden County, and the State of Vermont over the past decade," said Mayor Weinberger. "I am confident she will make an exemplary CEDO Director, will be a forward-thinking and trusted member of the City’s leadership team, and will continue CEDO’s proud traditions of affordable housing, community and economic development, and community justice.”

As Commissioner of DHCD, MacKay has balanced economic development interests with a strong desire to preserve Vermont’s sense of place and natural beauty while managing a full time staff of 40 employees and an annual budget of $28 million. She championed the creation of housing that is affordable for low-income Vermonters and earned respect both for her work at a statewide policy level and in local projects serving many of our State’s cities and towns. Her policy accomplishments included the creation of the new Neighborhood Development Areas designation (In 2014, Burlington was the first City in Vermont to approve such a designation) and a legislatively-approved amendment to Act 250 aimed at incentivizing the creation of mixed-income housing. In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, she worked closely with other State officials, including Chief Recovery Officers Sue Minter and Neale Lunderville, to help provide relief and to rebuild towns damaged by the storm. As part of the Community Planning Initiative, MacKay brought together teams of senior members of the Governor’s cabinet from Agencies and Departments across State government, as well as non-profit partners, to better understand the needs in hard-hit communities.

Through her work at Smart Growth Vermont, MacKay worked in communities from Bristol to Burke to Danville to Burlington as a trusted partner, offering advice and practical solutions to Vermont towns to help build stronger communities, preserve their character, and protect the surrounding environment. She built a reputation as a careful listener, a thoughtful advocate for balanced land use policy, and a skilled manager able to handle complex challenges. 

"CEDO's staff and community partners have a long history in the City of Burlington and have worked for decades to ensure residents have housing they can afford, diverse economic opportunity, and a vibrant, strong community," said MacKay. "I am thrilled to be offered the opportunity to build upon this history and serve the people of this City." 

As the leader of the CEDO Department, MacKay will be responsible for an approximately 25-person staff engaging our community to build a vibrant, healthy, and equitable City. MacKay will begin her service to the City of Burlington on August 1, 2016, and CEDO Assistant Director for Community Development Marcy Esbjerg will serve as Acting Director of the Department until that time.

Please see attached documents, including:

• Memorandum from Mayor Miro Weinberger to City Councilors dated May 9, 2016 requesting approval of appointment of Noelle MacKay as CEDO Director; and
• Curriculum vitae of Noelle MacKay.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2016
Contact:  Beth Anderson, Chief Innovation Officer
                 802.865.5357

City of Burlington and University of Vermont
Selected for White House MetroLab Network

MetroLab Network will leverage city-university partnerships
to accelerate innovations in local government

Burlington, VT — Mayor Miro Weinberger and University of Vermont Vice President for Research Richard Galbraith are pleased to join MetroLab Network, a network of 35 city-university partnerships focused on bringing data, analytics, and innovation to local government. Members of the network research, develop, and deploy technologies and policy approaches to address challenges facing the nation’s urban areas. MetroLab Network was launched by 21 founding city-university pairings in September 2015 at the White House as part of the Obama Administration’s Smart Cities Initiative.

“When the City and the University collaborate effectively, the whole community benefits,” said Mayor Weinberger. “I am excited about the potential of focusing the expertise and capacity of our University – and other academic institutions in the Network – on some of our most complex municipal challenges. I appreciate UVM joining us in this effort and MetroLab for their confidence in the partnership.”

“Over the years, UVM faculty have worked productively with the City of Burlington across a wide range of fronts,” said Vice President for Research Galbraith. “The MetroLab partnership will allow us to strengthen and grow these valuable interconnections. The partnership offers great benefit for our faculty; Burlington provides a diverse real world environment in which to test and strengthen their research ideas. Our hope and expectation is that Burlington will also benefit from the talent and expertise our faculty bring to the challenges facing the city. We’re excited at the prospect of joining the MetroLab Network and look forward to launching our first joint project with the City of Burlington.”

MetroLab Network’s city-university partnerships are relationships in which the university serves as a research and development arm, and the city serves as a test-bed for technologies and policies. Faculty members and students gain access to real-world laboratories to develop and test tools and programs that utilize information technology, data analytics, sensing, and more. Cities benefit from their technical expertise, leading to solutions that reduce the cost of infrastructure and services, make cities more sustainable and resilient, and improve citizens’ quality of life. MetroLab Network members are working on more than 100 “research, development, and deployment” projects with broad impact on areas such as improving transportation and water systems, reducing the energy footprint in cities, advancing health and public safety goals, and many more.

MetroLab Network connects these city-university partnerships via a national, collaborative platform that will facilitate the sharing of information and the scaling of technology and solutions across the country. 

By becoming members of MetroLab Network, the City of Burlington and UVM have signed a memorandum of understanding and agreed to undertake at least three research, development, and deployment projects. Burlington and UVM’s first project will involve a partnership with UVM’s Spatial Analysis Laboratory and multiple City Departments to develop a city-wide strategy for the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Shared goals will be to develop a comprehensive plan to use GIS to improve operational processes and better inform decision-making within the City, as well as to expand sharing of information and thinking across City Departments, the University, and other partners across the region. 

From May 9 – 11, 2016, representatives from Burlington and UVM will be participating in MetroLab Network’s Spring Summit, hosted by the City of San Diego and the University of California, San Diego with support from Clean Tech San Diego.     

“We are thrilled to welcome Burlington and the University of Vermont to our network,” said Ben Levine, Interim Director of MetroLab Network. “Their focus on the use of data and technology to enhance the delivery of services, better manage infrastructure, and encourage downtown vibrancy will help drive progress in the cities and regions that are addressing similar issues across the country. Furthermore, their collaboration with our extensive national network of cities and universities will accelerate progress in Burlington on many of its priorities.”

MetroLab Network is supported by a $1 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as a research enterprise that uses data and information technologies to better understand how cities work and to improve the urban condition. Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the fiduciary of MetroLab Network during its incubation period.

For more information, press only:

For the City of Burlington:
Beth Anderson, Chief Innovation Officer
802.865.5357, banderson@burlingtonvt.gov

For the University of Vermont:
Dan Harvey, Director of Operations, Office of the VP/Research
802.656.4566, Dan.Harvey@uvm.edu

For more information on MetroLab Network:
www.metrolabnetwork.org

Social media:
Twitter: @metrolabnetwork #JoiningMetroLab

MetroLab Network contact, press only:
Ben Levine, 412.377.0193, ben.levine@metrolabnetwork.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2016
Contact:  Anneke Hohl
                 Community Justice Center and Parallel Justice Project Director
                 anneke@burlingtonvt.gov
                 802.865.7185

Burlington Survivors of Sexual Violence Are Not Alone
Parallel Justice Commission Releases Videos for Survivors of Sexual Assault
and Celebrates Collaborative Efforts

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today joined members of the Burlington Parallel Justice Commission in recognizing the collaborative efforts of the Commission to break down barriers for survivors of sexual violence. Since 2006, the Commission has provided a formal venue for victims of crime to share their stories and has undertaken collaborative work to address systemic changes needed to better meet victims’ needs. Commissioners are local and state leaders, victim advocates, survivors of crime, social services providers, health care providers, and other organizations who often work with victims of crime, and are appointed by Mayor Weinberger (a complete list of current Commissioners is included below).

“Survivors of sexual violence in Burlington are not alone,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Thank you to the Parallel Justice Commissioners and community partners who work hard and quietly every day to provide this critical support and to create positive change for victims in Burlington.”

“Parallel Justice is about supporting victims of crime and addressing their needs through a coordinated community response,” said Kelly Dougherty, Executive Director of Women Helping Battered Women and Commission Chair. “The efforts we are recognizing today exemplify the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that victims of crime know that they have the support of the Burlington community behind them.”

Chittenden County State’s Attorney and Parallel Justice Commissioner, TJ Donovan, framed the work of the Commission: “This is community justice. We’re all in it together, we all have the same goal of a safe and vibrant community, and we work together where we can.” In the interest of reversing the trend of underreporting of sexual assaults, this collaborative approach led to a written policy of the State’s Attorneys’ Office, informed by advocates and law enforcement, to make best efforts not to charge people who report sexual assault with false information to a police officer.

The latest example of the collaboration supported through the Commission, which was announced today, is a series of web videos highlighting services available to survivors of sexual assault. The common theme of the videos and message at the end of each is “You are not alone. You have a whole community on your side.”

Based on the facts that survivors of sexual assault frequently do not report to law enforcement nor seek medical care following an assault, the video series explores three topics: working with law enforcement, working with medical services, and working with an advocate. The fourth video is a 30-second public service announcement. Service providers interviewed include the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations (CUSI), University of Vermont Medical Center forensic nursing staff, and HOPE Works advocates.

The objectives of the videos are to raise awareness of free services available after assault, provide easy-to-access resources for adult survivors seeking services, dispel myths around services available, and demonstrate collaboration among service providers. Today’s partners hope that the videos will help foster a better understanding of the continuum of services and care, increase access to services, and increase use of necessary health care services for survivors of recent sexual assault.

“By creating and then showcasing the videos together and collaboratively, we hope to demonstrate how service providers work together and provide wrap-around services to those who seek our assistance after a sexual assault,” said Cathleen Barkley, Executive Director of HOPE Works. “This project contributes to a desired seamless continuum of care, as a collaboration of multiple organizations working together to provide outreach and education to our community. By focusing on the principle of building community capacity, we work together to tell the story of how we coordinate our response to survivors after a sexual assault.”

"Every person deserves to be able to come forward and present their story. They should be able to do this without concern about confidentiality, financial burden, or stigma," said Vickie Poulin, RN, BSN, SANE with the Forensic Nursing Program at the University of Vermont Medical Center. "The UVM Medical Center provides specialized emergency nursing care for sexual assault victims 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

"It is imperative that we continue to collectively focus on ways to provide the best services possible to the victims of sexual violence,” said Sgt. Christopher Nadeau, Director of CUSI.

The members of the Parallel Justice Commission’s Healthcare Subcommittee have been collaborating to improve the system of care of survivors of sexual assault for the past several years and worked together on the video project. Members of this subcommittee include representatives from HOPE Works, University of Vermont Medical Center, Vermont Department of Health, and Community Health Centers of Burlington. The videos were two years in the making, from conceptualization to finished products. Funding was provided through the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Community Health Investment Fund, which allowed for production work by Matt Dugan and his team at Shadow Productions, resulting in professional, incredibly high-quality finished products.

The Burlington Parallel Justice Commission currently includes the following representatives:

• Cathleen Barkley, HOPE Works
• Deputy Chief Bruce Bovat, Burlington Police Department
• Anne Burmeister, Planned Parenthood
• Alison Calderara, Community Health Centers of Burlington (Vice Chair)
• Selene Colburn, Burlington City Councilor
• Heather Danis, Vermont Department of Health
• TJ Donovan, Chittenden County State’s Attorney
• Kelly Dougherty, Women Helping Battered Women (Chair)
• Jane Helmstetter, Vermont Agency of Human Services
• Armina Medic, Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations
• State Representative Barbara Rachelson, Lund
• Judy Rex, Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services
• Sarah Robinson, Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Joe Speidel, University of Vermont
• Beth Steckel, University of Vermont Medical Center
• Debbie Thibault, Vermont Department of Corrections
• JoAnn Winterbottom, Laura K. Winterbottom Fund

The Commission is staffed by the Burlington Community Justice Center (a division of the City of Burlington’s Community & Economic Development Office). It is a counterpart to the Parallel Justice for Victims of Crime Project, which is a partnership of the Burlington Community Justice Center, the Burlington Police Department, and the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services. Parallel Justice offers support, validation, and resources to victims of any crime that occurs in Burlington, including property crimes like vandalism or theft, regardless of whether a perpetrator is ever caught, and regardless if the crime is reported to the police.

Please visit this link to view the series of web videos.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 3, 2016
Contact:  Jennifer Kaulius
                802.324.2505

Mayor Miro Weinberger Encourages Community Participation 
in Burlington’s Green Up Day Efforts on Saturday, May 7

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today encouraged community participation in the City of Burlington’s Green Up Day efforts this Saturday, May 7. This year marks the state’s 46^th annual Green Up Day, during which Vermonters collect litter and debris that has accumulated during the winter on City streets, in parks, and in neighborhoods.

“This year and every year, Green Up Day is a great example of how our community rolls up its sleeves and joins together to do important work to keep our City vibrant and clean,” said Mayor Weinberger. “I thank our Green Up Day partners and all Burlingtonians for their crucial help this weekend.”

To participate, City residents and other Burlington stakeholders can pick up collection bags and other clean up supplies on Saturday, May 7 between 8:00 am – 12:00 pm at the following Green Up Day hubs:

• Robert E. Miller Community Center – 130 Gosse Court
• Burlington Subaru – 351 Shelburne Road
• Salmon Hole Park – Riverside Avenue before the Winooski Bridge

Bags also are available prior to Green Up Day through Friday, May 6 during regular business hours at six locations around the City:

• Robert E. Miller Community Center – 130 Gosse Court
• Sustainability Academy – 123 North Street
• Departments of Public Works/Parks, Recreation & Waterfront – 645 Pine Street
• Burlington Electric Department – 585 Pine Street
• Community & Economic Development Office – 3^rd floor of City Hall, 149 Church Street
• Burlington Subaru – 351 Shelburne Road

This year offers a new incentive. Those picking up collection bags at the Burlington Electric Department will be entered to win the “Green Up Basket,” including power strips, CFL bulbs, and a voucher for a free energy audit jointly conducted by Vermont Gas and BED. 

In an effort to promote Green-Up Day, Champlain Elementary School fourth grade students, together with BED’s General Manager Neale Lunderville, Department of Public Works Director Chapin Spencer, Department of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Director Jesse Bridges, and other City staff will participate in a pre-Green Up Day effort on Thursday, May 5 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm at Champlain Elementary School. The Lake Monsters biggest sustainability advocate, Champ, will lend a hand and Ben & Jerry’s will provide ice cream.

Also new this year is the Burlington Business Association’s “Adopt Your Sidewalk” downtown-wide clean-up event planned for the morning of Friday, May 6. This clean-up effort is the official launch of the BBA’s Adopt Your Sidewalk Campaign, which asks businesses to sign up and pledge to clean, maintain, and beautify the strip of sidewalk in front of their business. For more information on Adopt Your Sidewalk, please contact Sarah O’Donnell, BBA Member Services and Events Manager, at sarah@bbavt.org.

On Green Up Day, the Departments of Public Works and Parks, Recreation & Waterfront will have trucks circling the City’s major thoroughfares, picking up full, tied bags of collected trash throughout the day. All trash collected should go into the provided Green Up Day trash bags. Scrap metal or tires should be kept separate, not in bags, and placed in a pile at the same Green Up Day drop-off site. This material will be collected and recycled.

The City appreciates Burlington's Green Up Day partners – including the Chittenden Solid Waste District and Burlington Subaru – and the hundreds of volunteers who come out every year to make Burlington's streets and parks clean and green. Burlington Subaru will provide water bottles, snacks, and a noon-time barbeque to participating community members.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 26, 2016
Contacts:
Jennifer Kaulius, Mayor’s Office, 802.324.2505
Mike Kanarick, Burlington Electric Department, 802.735.7962

Burlington Kicks Off Most Sustainable City Campaign Effort

Mayor, City Officials, Business Leaders Encourage Community to Vote for Burlington,
Share Ideas to Make City More Sustainable, Hashtag #WeLoveBurlington

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger, City Council President Jane Knodell, Burlington Electric Department General Manager Neale Lunderville, other City officials, business leaders, and everybody’s favorite furry Lake Monster and sustainability advocate, Champ, kicked off Burlington’s effort to win a two-month long social media campaign launched today by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) showcasing climate and sustainability solutions from Burlington and other leading cities around the world. Burlingtonians and Vermonters can help Burlington, one of three U.S. finalists, win WWF’s “We Love Cities” campaign and engage our community in three ways:

1. Vote for Burlington online at the WeLoveCities.org/Burlington website;
2. Share ideas on that website about how to make Burlington an even more sustainable city; and
3. Hashtag #WeLoveBurlington on Instagram and Twitter to express what they love about how Burlington is helping shape our sustainability future.

“The City of Burlington was honored to receive such significant recognition from World Wildlife Fund’s global environmental movement, and now we encourage all corners of our community to engage in this exciting online campaign to promote all that Burlington has done and can do toward even greater sustainability,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Together, let’s send a message around the country and the world that Burlington knows what it means to be a leader in environmental stewardship, and let’s win the title of most sustainable U.S. city. We invite you to post away and be sure to use the hashtag #WeLoveBurlington.”

Today’s kick-off took place at the Burlington Community Boathouse to help promote Burlington’s “We Love Cities” campaign logo (set forth at the top of this release), created by WWF with input from Burlington and featuring the iconic Boathouse, Lake Champlain, and sailboats inside WWF’s We Love Cities heart.

“The work of making Burlington the most sustainable city spans generations,” noted City Council President Jane Knodell. “More than 15 years ago, we adopted the Burlington Legacy Project, which gave the City a framework to grow into a sustainable community. In Burlington, sustainability means more than just environmental health; sustainability is the unique combination of economic vitality, educational excellence, environmental stewardship, and equity and diversity leadership. This recognition by World Wildlife Fund gives us new momentum toward the Legacy Project’s year 2030 goals.”

“Burlington leads in sustainability in every possible way,” said Lunderville. “We source 100% of our power from renewable generation. We foster low-impact, socially responsible smart growth across the City. Our educators are teaching the importance of protecting our planet. Our major employers are environmental leaders in their own right. Plus, our people-friendly downtown is the crown jewel of the county. These are all reasons why #WeLoveBurlington.”

The Mayor and GM Lunderville then proceeded to encourage those gathered at the announcement to vote for Burlington from their cell phones, and the Mayor sent the following tweet: “Game on! #WeLoveBurlington underway. Help #btv win most sustainable US city by voting at WeLoveCities.org/Burlington @BurlingtonElec.”

Each year, WWF engages in the Earth Hour City Challenge, “a year-long competition to promote renewable energy and prepare for climate change” that grew out of Earth Hour, WWF’s global lights-out display to raise awareness around protecting our planet. Around the world for one hour on the evening of March 19, 2016, the lights of iconic sites like the Empire State Building and the Space Needle were turned off. In Burlington, homeowners, renters, and business joined City Hall, the Church Street Marketplace, and the Unitarian Universalist Church in turning off non-essential lights.   

Earlier in March 2016, an independent jury convened by WWF named Burlington one of three U.S. Earth Hour City Challenge finalists, along with Boulder, CO and Evanston, IL, to compete for the title of U.S. Earth Hour Capital, based largely on Burlington Electric Department’s 100% renewably-sourced generation accomplishment. The jury will name a U.S. Earth Hour Capital this summer and that winning city will compete against the winning cities from 20 other countries to be named the global Earth Hour Capital, a designation that will be announced at a mid-October 2016 meeting in Quito, Ecuador. The We Love Cities campaign serves as a kind of “people’s choice award” within the Earth Hour City Challenge, bringing citizens into the conversation about how to move further down the path toward sustainability.

Kevin Taylor, WWF Senior Specialist for Local Engagement, who joined the Mayor and officials for the announcement, stated: “The ‘We Love Cities’ campaign is a global celebration of the most beloved sustainable cities. Burlington has undertaken important efforts to make the City more sustainable. While we know Burlington is looking to win, we also know that no matter which city comes out on top, we all win when we create a more sustainable future.”

A visit to Burlington’s page on the We Love Cities website reveals the following Burlington accomplishments:

Burlington was the first city in the USA to source 100% of its power through renewables. And there’s still more to come.
By securing its energy future with a newly procured hydro-electric plant, Burlington is now looking to enable its residents to live more sustainably. Coupled with the city’s renewable energy portfolio is a range of financial and technical incentives offered to property owners and businesses to help them save money and reduce the city's overall environmental footprint. It’s all part of the entire community coming together for change.

Cities are judged on two fronts: first, based on accomplishments on the ground in Burlington; and, second, social media outpouring during the two-month campaign. On the ground, Burlington is hard to beat: sourcing 100% renewable generation; a progressive Climate Action Plan; amazing parks and natural resources; commitment to local food; and residents and leaders plugged-in on environmental issues. In cyberspace, Burlington is getting more well-known, but we must step up our game. Burlington will be judged on its social media presence relative to its population, not volume of tweets and hashtags. The online campaign runs between April 26 and June 19, with the winner announced on June 22.

While BED is shepherding the We Love Cities effort for the City, a victory will come only with a broader effort, with ideas and energy from all over Burlington and beyond. The Mayor and GM Lunderville encouraged other City Department Directors, business leaders, and community members to get involved in and spread the word about the campaign. We Love Cities banners and posters will hang for the next two months at the Boathouse, the Fletcher Free Library, on the City Hall railing facing Church Street, and in other locations around the City.

Leaders from Burlington-based companies with a focus on and commitment to sustainability participated in today’s kick-off:

Joey Bergstein, General Manager & Chief Marketing Officer of Seventh Generation, Burlington-based leader in eco-friendly household cleaning and personal care products, stated: “For twenty-seven years, we’ve been building one of the nation’s most sustainable brands right here in the most sustainable city in the country. We couldn’t be prouder to call Burlington home – from renewable energy to the nation’s first sustainability-focused magnet school, the City continues to lead the way. It’s a place where our employees can truly work hard and play hard, especially in Burlington’s beautiful waterfront park, located steps from our office.”

Ali Kenney, Director of Global Sustainability at Burton Snowboards, added: “We are proud to have our global headquarters in a great community like Burlington that mirrors our values around sustainability. Burlington really is one-of-a-kind. We don’t know of any other city where Burton could benefit from so much renewable energy and that is close to the mountains, sits along the shores of a beautiful lake, offers a world-class bike path, one of the best public skate parks anywhere, great local breweries, one of the strongest local food co-ops in the country, and a thriving art scene. It sounds almost too good to be true.”

Grace Ciffo, Senior Manager, Facilities, Dealer.com, Cox Automotive Software Group, said: “Dealer.com has a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship. We strive to operate with a light environmental footprint and use natural resources minimally and responsibly. We are proud of our LEED-certified Burlington headquarters, green and local purchasing, on-site recycling and composting programs, a bike loan program, fully-sponsored CCTA ridership benefits for Dealer.com Team Members, and the installation of one of the largest private solar panel projects in Burlington on our rooftop.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 25, 2016
Contact: Kelly Devine
802.863.1175
director@bbavt.org

Broad Coalition of Community Organizations and Local Businesses
Announces Support for Burlington Town Center Mall Project

Burlington, VT – Kelly Devine, Executive Director of the Burlington Business Association, along with representatives from various community organizations, non-profits, and local businesses, today announced support for the proposed redevelopment of the Burlington Town Center Mall. Today’s broad coalition of support shows the numerous benefits of mixed-use downtown infill redevelopment of these two central blocks, including the creation of at least 270 additional housing units at a range of income levels and the re-opening of St. Paul and Pine Streets, again enlivening our shared community space and reconnecting the Old North End with downtown Burlington.

“The redevelopment of the mall site is critical to the future economic vitality of Burlington,” said Devine. “The Burlington Business Association is excited to bring together a growing coalition of supporters of the project. The predevelopment agreement is a testament to the many hours of hard work and important collaboration by the City Council, City Administration, and the project owner.”

Organizations, non-profits, and businesses supportive of the Burlington Town Center Mall redevelopment include:
AARP Vermont
Burlington Business Association
Burton
Champlain College
Champlain Housing Trust
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty
Courtyard Marriott and Hotel Vermont
Dealer.com
Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
Local Motion
Patagonia
Pawprint & Mail
Select
Seventh Generation
SkiRack
The Spot
TruexCullins Vermont Architecture and Interior Design
Turning Point Center
United Way of Northwest Vermont
University of Vermont
University of Vermont Medical Center
Vermont Interfaith Action
Vermont Natural Resources Council
WND & WVS

This list continues to grow. In addition, the Church Street Marketplace has gathered a list of supporters from among Church Street businesses.

Key project elements of the Burlington Town Center Mall redevelopment:

• Directly result in more than 500 construction jobs and more than 900 permanent jobs in a range of retail and office operations, including 350-400 UVM Medical Center jobs to be housed in the rebuilt mall;
• Create at least 270 new homes across a range of income levels, including 54 units that will be permanently affordable under the City’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, as well as 110 units of Champlain College student housing to provide options for students outside of Burlington’s historic family neighborhoods;
• Re-establish St. Paul Street and Pine Street as full City thoroughfares, restoring connectivity and vibrancy between downtown Burlington and the Old North End neighborhood, which positively impacts those who walk, bike, and drive in these corridors of the City;
• The mall redevelopment is a product of the incredible planBTV Downtown & Waterfront public engagement process, during which thousands of Burlingtonians participated and was adopted by the City Council in 2013; and
• The mall property owner will pay livable wages to all construction workers and strengthen local workforce opportunities in Burlington.

“We are happy to keep our close connection to Burlington and to strengthen its downtown with 350-400 highly-skilled administrative employees,” said Dr. John Brumsted, Chief Executive Officer of the UVM Medical Center.  “We expect the BTC site will provide cost-effective and efficient space for us in a newly-vibrant downtown location. We are very pleased to be right here in Burlington.”  

“Champlain Housing Trust has been a supporter of the City’s Housing Action Plan, and today we stand here in support of the Burlington Town Center Mall redevelopment project because we see housing in action,” said Brenda Torpy, Chief Executive Officer of Champlain Housing Trust. 

“AARP Vermont is most excited about the commitment to universal design principles allowing for greater accessibility, enabling older adults to age in place and allowing people with disabilities to remain involved in family and community life, said Greg Marchildon, State Director for AARP Vermont. “Rather than being geared solely to older adults and people with disabilities, universal design features are intended to have general utility and market appeal for all ages.” 

"We are encouraged to see that public input is being incorporated into the evolving design for the Burlington Town Center Mall, "said Emily Boedecker, Executive Director of Local Motion. "Reconnecting both Pine Street and St. Paul Street will bring more foot and bike traffic to the mall and to adjoining streets and businesses, and with a commitment to incorporate state of the art bike commuting facilities the redevelopment will be both an attraction and a destination for people on bikes."

"As people of faith, Vermont Interfaith Action strongly supports the redevelopment of the Burlington Town Center Mall in order to supply more units of much-needed housing and more jobs for our community. Nothing works better than housing and job opportunities to lift people out of poverty and provide them with justice," said Debbie Ingram, Executive Director of Vermont Interfaith Action.

“A redeveloped Burlington Town Center will increase the availability of housing for our employees here at Dealer.com,” said Alison Von Puschendorf, Director of External Communications at Dealer.com. “Increased housing options leads to a more sustainable economy for all of Burlington, and Dealer is proud to support this impactful project.”

“Now is the time to expand on the amazing success of Burlington with this critical project, said Zandy Wheeler, owner of SkiRack and Patagonia. “Growth in the side streets needs to be a part of our future. As a retailer, I am excited about the new vitality it will bring.”

“Seventh Generation is a strong supporter of the Burlington Town Center project. It’s local companies like us who want to remain in Burlington but face a few basic challenges: The first, ensuring quality housing is available for both new and existing employees.  Second, ensuring there is adequate office space available for businesses to consider as they continue to grow in size and structure,” said John LeBourveau, Vice President of Human Resources at Seventh Generation.

“The redevelopment of the Burlington Town Center will add to the vibrancy and livability of Burlington’s downtown and provide much needed downtown housing and office space for current and prospective tenants,” said Tom Torti, President of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“In recent years I have sensed an emerging consensus among Burlingtonians of the need for mixed-use infill redevelopment of underutilized properties within our downtown to meet our economic, housing, transportation, and environmental goals,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Today’s support for the redevelopment of the mall by this broad coalition bodes well for this project, and for the prospects of a more vibrant, affordable, walkable, bikeable, and sustainable future for Burlington.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2016
Contact:  Jennifer Kaulius
                 802.324.2505

Mayor Miro Weinberger Welcomes Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges to Burlington
Agenda Includes Meetings with Community Leaders; Visit Focused on Making Burlington a Great City for Biking and Walking

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced Mayor Betsy Hodges of Minneapolis, MN will visit Burlington for a series of meetings and events from April 24-26, 2016. The focus of Mayor Hodges’ visit is to explore ways to make Burlington an even better city for biking and walking, a topic that has been a significant focus in Minneapolis during Mayor Hodges’ administration.

“Mayor Hodges is a strong leader for many of the things that make a city thrive: an embrace of diversity and a commitment to equity, a creative and vibrant economy, great schools and community institutions, and walkable, bikeable streets,” said Mayor Weinberger. “I am looking forward to sharing with her some of Burlington’s assets as a thriving small city, as well as learning from her experience about how we can do better.”

This visit was initiated and organized by Local Motion, Vermont’s nonprofit advocate for walking and biking. “Local Motion is delighted to be bringing Mayor Hodges to Burlington,” said Local Motion Executive Director Emily Boedecker. “Minneapolis is the first US city to be recognized as one of the top 20 cities for biking in the world—long, snowy winters notwithstanding. If they can do it, so can we.”

The various events are co-sponsored by a diversity of community organizations and institutions. These include: the Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, the Burlington Business Association, AARP Vermont, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, the University of Vermont, the Greater Burlington Women’s Forum, Emerge Vermont, the Burlington Town Center, and Bikeable Burlington Now.

Schedule of public events with Mayor Hodges:

Bike Around Burlington with the Mayor of Minneapolis
A family-friendly, gentle-paced ride to share our city with our honored guest, co-sponsored by Bikeable Burlington Now
Sunday, April 24, 2:00 pm
Meet at Local Motion's office on the Burlington Bike Path
RSVP:  https://www.facebook.com/events/611156132386088/

A Conversation about Women's Leadership for Safe Streets
A discussion and networking event for women leaders and their allies, co-sponsored by the Greater Burlington Women's Forum and Emerge Vermont
Monday, April 25, 5:00 pm
Arts Riot, 400 Pine Street
INFO:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1737630379829565/
RSVP:  http://bit.ly/GBWF-Hodges

The Business Case for Investing in Walking and Biking
A detailed look at how Minneapolis has invested in its streets with an eye towards creating value for both businesses and residents, co-sponsored by the Burlington Business Association and hosted by the Burlington Town Center and Mayor Miro Weinberger
Tuesday, April 26, 7:30 am
Ground floor, Burlington Town Center Mall
INFO:  https://www.facebook.com/events/931868970268171/
RSVP:  http://bit.ly/BBA-Hodges

Safe and Sustainable Streets for Everyone
A conversation about activism, leadership, and making change happen, co-sponsored by the University of Vermont, AARP Vermont, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, and Mayor Miro Weinberger
Tuesday, April 26, 5:00 pm
Contois Auditorium, City Hall
RSVP:  https://www.facebook.com/events/603776636456279/

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 20, 2016
Contact:  Jennifer Kaulius
                 802.324.2505

Mayor Weinberger Announces Preliminary Agreement
with Property Owner to Redevelop Burlington Town Center Mall

Redevelopment would create and preserve hundreds of downtown jobs and homes and completely
rebuild and modernize mall’s downtown retail; Agreement commits owner to restoring public streets lost during Urban Renewal,
paying construction workers livable wages, developing more than 50 permanently affordable homes;
City will build up to $21.89 million of long-sought public infrastructure improvements using future property tax revenue generated by the project;
Agreement carefully protects City from financial risks; Agreement is product of 18 months of public process and negotiation;
City Council approval sought at May 2, 2016 meeting

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced and released the draft predevelopment agreement between the City of Burlington and the mall property owner, Don Sinex’s BTC Mall Associates LLC, for the redevelopment of the Burlington Town Center mall. The proposed redevelopment will create and preserve hundreds of downtown jobs, help address the City’s housing challenge by creating at least 270 new homes, of which at least 54 units (20%) will be permanently affordable, and restore St. Paul and Pine Streets, which are currently blocked by the mall. The restored north-south streets will reconnect the downtown district with Burlington’s Old North End neighborhood, achieving a long-held City goal and healing some of the disruption caused by Urban Renewal. The agreement also commits the property owner to pay construction workers livable wages and to take steps to create construction and permanent job opportunities for local workers. The City will build up to $21.89 million of public infrastructure improvements using future property tax revenue generated by the estimated $200 million of new private investment in the project through tax increment financing (TIF). These new public infrastructure improvements on St. Paul and Pine Streets include the creation of streets, sidewalks, subsurface utilities, and street lighting and will make the project more successful and responsive to the City’s needs.

“Over the past 18 months, at the urging of the public and the City, Mr. Sinex has dramatically improved his redevelopment plan. The proposed project now represents a historic opportunity to achieve many of the City’s long-standing planning, housing, and economic development goals,” said Mayor Weinberger. “This carefully negotiated agreement is a reflection both of our administration’s focus on protecting the City’s financial standing and our optimism about the City’s potential for creating new opportunities for Burlingtonians of all backgrounds on this important site.”

Don Sinex, who purchased the mall site in 2013 and embraced the City's vision for its redevelopment, thanked City government and residents for their engagement and support of this project to date.

"I know that the old-style suburban mall that sits here now is no longer working well for the City. Burlington needs housing; it needs its streets back; it needs places for more jobs, shops, and services that work for residents and visitors alike. Burlington deserves to have this central downtown location serve as a vibrant corridor of activity between Church Street and the waterfront where people can live, work, and play. That's what I want to deliver," said Sinex. "I appreciate the process we have participated in to get to this point. We have a substantially better project far more responsive to the City's needs because of it. I am looking forward to presenting this predevelopment agreement to the City Council and working with them further to make this project a success for Burlington."

The predevelopment agreement announced today is the product of 18 months of public process and diligent, careful project negotiation and reflects the property owner’s willingness to substantially alter the project design based on the public feedback received. The City and property owner are seeking City Council approval of the agreement at the City Council’s May 2, 2016 meeting, following several public presentations to the City Council and executive session discussions at both the City Council and Board of Finance that began in early February of this year. Some issues remain under discussion with the Council and may result in amendments to the current predevelopment agreement prior to the expected City Council vote on May 2, 2016.

Project will create vast opportunities in downtown Burlington
According to an economic impact study released by the property owner, this project will directly result in more than 500 construction jobs and more than 900 permanent jobs in a range of retail and office operations. Two weeks ago, the property owner and the University of Vermont Medical Center announced a letter of intent, committing 350-400 UVM Medical Center jobs to be housed in the rebuilt Burlington Town Center development. There is currently no other site in downtown Burlington that meets the Medical Center’s office needs.

The rebuilt Burlington Town Center mall will re-establish downtown streets that had been directly cut off during Urban Renewal, thus restoring connectivity and vibrancy between the Old North End and the downtown district. At the project’s conclusion, St. Paul Street and Pine Street will once again pass north to south through the City, no longer truncated by the mall building.

Agreement ensures that opportunities will be open to Burlingtonians and Vermonters of all backgrounds
The Burlington Town Center project is poised to create a significant number of homes, across a spectrum of income levels. Of the at least 270 new housing units created, 20% (or 54 units) will be permanently affordable homes, which is the greatest number to date for a Burlington inclusionary zoning project. Consistent with the City’s Housing Action Plan – unanimously adopted by the City Council in October 2015 – the project also seeks to accommodate 110 units of student housing in order to provide options for students outside of the City’s historic neighborhoods, to address long-standing quality of life concerns, and to reduce price pressure on the rental housing market.

Further, the property owner also has committed to paying livable wages to all construction employees, creating local workforce opportunities in the Burlington community. The property owner will partner with the City’s Community & Economic Development Office and local groups to broaden job opportunities and availability to as many people as possible in our community.

Agreement has been carefully negotiated after much public input
The Burlington Town Center mall project is a direct result of the community planning process planBTV – Downtown & Waterfront Master Plan, which involved the input of thousands of Burlingtonians and was unanimously adopted by the City Council in June 2013. The plan called for a redevelopment of the mall that would include taller buildings, reopening of St. Paul and Pine Streets, and improved street activation on Bank and Cherry Streets. Today’s agreement for the Burlington Town Center mall would implement the vision of planBTV.

The public process for the redevelopment of the mall was announced in November 2014, and the Burlington community has had the opportunity to refine this project’s vision, with input spanning over 18 months and numerous public meetings. The public has been engaged in eight major public events, including a kick-off in January 2015, a multi-day workshop to discuss individual components of the project, and two follow-up presentations to highlight the ways in which the proposed project responded to the community’s feedback. In January 2016 revised plans for the project were presented to more than 250 people during two separate events, and the City Council held two additional public forums in March and April to review “before and after” views of the project and shade studies.

Key elements of predevelopment agreement

• Inclusionary Zoning – The 54 units of affordable housing created under the City’s inclusionary zoning ordinance would be one of the largest increases to Burlington’s affordable housing supply in the City’s history.
• Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance – The proposed project would not be approved under the terms of the City’s current zoning ordinance due to applicable height limitations. The agreement commits the City to initiating the creation of a new overlay district, which will include prescriptive design standards and requirements regarding the uniformity of mass and skyline, façade articulation and design, and materials used in the project.
• Tax Increment Financing (TIF) investment – The Burlington Town Center mall property is located within the City’s Waterfront TIF District, within which the City is authorized to spend public funds to build infrastructure improvements that enable private investment. TIF makes an investment of this scale and economic impact possible, helping to revitalize two blocks of the City’s downtown and reconnect the Old North End with the downtown. The municipal debt incurred within this Waterfront TIF District is repaid using the incremental property tax increase created by the property’s enhancement. The City is currently permitted to incur debt in the Waterfront TIF District through December 31, 2019, to be fully paid by December 31, 2025. In order to facilitate the property owner’s construction of the public streetscape improvements and the City’s payment for and acquisition of those improvements, the City is requesting an extension of repayment until December 31, 2035 for the mall parcels from the Vermont State Legislature this session.
• Champlain College student housing – The property owner has entered into a preliminary letter of intent with Champlain College through a master lease of no more than 110 student housing units. These student residential units will be managed by Champlain College, the property owner, or a property management company with a proven track record of managing student housing. Besides the Champlain College housing agreement, all other forms of purpose built or student residential units would be subject to the review and approval of the City Council.

Agreement includes strong financial protections for City
As part of the predevelopment agreement, the City will make TIF investments in critical, long-sought, new, public infrastructure that the City will permanently control that restores the streets that were lost during Urban Renewal and dramatically improves Cherry Street and Bank Street. No TIF dollars will be spent on the project’s private improvements. 

The agreement is structured to protect the City from construction and development risks through a number of critical provisions:

• The public improvements will be priced properly through an open-book, competitive bid process;
• The City will reimburse the property owner after the public improvements have been fully constructed to the City’s design and performance standards; and
• The City will reimburse the property owner and bond for TIF debt only once the property owner has created sufficient new property tax revenues for the City to service the TIF bonds exclusively using those revenues.

Next steps
While the approval of the predevelopment agreement will be a significant milestone for the project, there will be significant additional steps in the months ahead prior to full project approval. These additional steps include: approval of revised zoning for area that includes the mall property by the Planning Commission and City Council; City Council approval of a final development agreement; Development Review Board approval of a zoning permit; and voter approval of the proposed TIF investment. 

To enable the proposed TIF investment, the City has sought an extension in the Waterfront TIF District from the Vermont State Legislature for the mall property specifically (not the full district). The public would vote to approve a TIF investment by the City in November 2016.

Regarding the zoning amendment, if the City Council approves the predevelopment agreement, the Planning Commission would review the proposed zoning amendment and return it to the City Council as a draft ordinance for final approval within 120 days. Project permitting would advance through preliminary stages and then to the Development Review Board.

Finally, a development agreement would be reviewed and approved by the City Council before construction begins.

Should these approvals occur, the mall project would move to begin construction. In an effort to mitigate construction time and disruption associated with this complex construction project, the project will consist of two construction phases: Phase 1 consists of the new housing, parking, and public improvements; and Phase 2 consists of the existing retail space renovation within Church, Cherry, Bank, and St. Paul Streets, the renovation of the property entrance from Church Street, and the construction of new office space. Phase 1 is estimated to generate at least $2.4 million a year in new property tax revenue for the City of Burlington.

*Please see attached predevelopment agreement between the City of Burlington and BTC Mall Associates LLC and accompanying appendices.

Exhibit A - Technical Review Sets
Exhibit B - Concourse Level Plan Sheet
Exhibit C (Project Schedule) is included within the predevelopment agreement.
Exhibit D - Proposed Downtown Mixed Use Core Overlay
Exhibit E - Preliminary Public Improvement/TIF Budget

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