City will promptly correct errors documented by Auditor with no impact on City operations or tax rates. Process underway to resolve discrepancies in payments to State Education Fund. 

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger responded to the report of State Auditor Doug Hoffer on the recent audit of the City of Burlington’s Waterfront Tax Increment Financing District. The City has worked collaboratively with the Auditor’s office for over a year and will promptly complete adjustments necessary to address the errors documented. The City previously instituted significant improvements to its project accounting systems that are otherwise responsive to the Auditor’s findings and is well-positioned to make financial adjustments that will have no impact on the City’s operations, nor will they trigger a need to increase tax rates. 

The City disputes some of the findings and characterizations of the report, most notably the Auditor’s statement that Burlington’s “errors” have resulted in nearly $200,000 being owed to the State Education Fund. However, the City is committed to continuing the already ongoing process with the State Tax Department intended to ensure that payments to the Fund are accurate and complete. 

Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement in response to the report: 

“The State Auditor’s report on the City’s Waterfront TIF District documents significant errors in the district’s administration. The City regrets these errors and will take prompt action to resolve them completely.  

The Auditor’s report covers an 11-year period beginning in 2011 and, regrettably, it is unsurprising that the City made major errors early in this audit period, as we had fundamental issues in our financial systems at that time, which in 2012, resulted in a downgrade to the edge of junk bond status and financial disaster. From the day I took office that year, fixing the City’s finances has been one of my highest priorities. While we continue to make improvements, we have made great progress, eliminating $24 million in deficits and restoring our AA credit rating to save taxpayers and ratepayers tens of millions more. 

That work has put us on a strong financial footing that will allow us to address the findings of this report without impact on operations or tax rates, and to continue the growth on our waterfront and in our downtown that the TIF program has supported for decades.” 

Burlington’s Chief Administrative Officer Katherine Schad stated, “Since I joined the City team in early 2020 I have taken multiple steps, with the support of the Mayor and City Council, to address issues with the City’s project accounting system first identified by our auditors in 2018. While this work was slowed by the pandemic, we have now added two senior accountants, an ongoing relationship with a respected consulting firm, and an independent trustee in place to help us manage our TIF districts. I am confident that with these resources now in place Burlington will no longer experience the accounting issues that have previously challenged the administration our TIF districts.”  

Background on Waterfront TIF District 

Tax Increment Financing is a State program that allows municipalities to invest in public infrastructure by paying up-front the public costs from the full anticipated increase in tax revenue generated by the project. The City established the Waterfront TIF District in 1996 to redevelop Lake Street and nearby waterfront property. The District was expanded in 1997 to support new housing and parking between the lakefront and Church Street. Public improvements paid for by Waterfront TIF District bonds include investments in Waterfront Park, the Bike Path, Lake Street, Waterfront Access North, the Moran Frame, and the Skate Park, as well as public improvements that have helped make possible the building of a new Community Sailing Center, the ECHO Sustainability Park, and the Burlington Harbor Marina. The Waterfront TIF district is currently expected to fund more than $15 million in further public infrastructure improvements on the blocks surrounding the CityPlace project in the years ahead. 

Impacts of Audit Findings 

The audit period was for fiscal years 2011 to 2021, and the City participated in the audit process from September 2021 to January 2023. The net effect of adjustments in response to the audit will be a reduction of the City’s Unassigned Fund Balance (UAFB) of approximately $500,000. The City has an additional potential liability of $197,510 regarding discrepancies in Education Fund calculations which the City will work to resolve with the Vermont State Tax Department and private contractor New England Municipal Resource Center (NEMRC).  

Though the Auditor’s report characterizes certain increment calculations as City “errors,” many of these calculation differences arose due to programming problems within the State’s property tax data system, administered by the private contractor NEMRC, and the balance stems from an unresolved dispute over how a former garage should have been taxed. The process to resolve these issues is underway and the City is committed to paying any funds owed to the Education Fund agreed upon with the Tax Department and NEMRC. 

Since 2015, the City has had a Fund Balance Policy that commits the City to maintain the UAFB at 5-15% of the annual operating expenses to serve as a reserve for unexpected expenses. Following the audit adjustments (including adjustment for up to $197,510 in Education Fund payments if necessary) the UAFB funds will continue to exceed the 10% target balance and no adjustments to operations or tax rates will be needed to maintain this healthy level of reserves.  

The City will promptly take the following steps to fully resolve the finalized audit findings: 

• The City will transfer a total of $1,181,034 from its General Fund to Burlington’s Waterfront TIF District fund.  This transfer will come from two sources: 

•  $681,040.49 from unexpended Waterfront Access North (WAN) sources that have not yet fully been drawn down (in part because expenses were previously improperly applied to the Waterfront TIF District instead of WAN) 

• $499,993.51 from the City’s Unassigned Fund Balance 

• The City will correct the Waterfront TIF payment of $173,056 of ineligible expenses through one of the three options supported by the SAO (see page 55 of the SAO report) 
• The City will complete the ongoing process with the Vermont State Tax Department and NEMRC to determine whether further payments are owed to the Education Fund 

Steps the City Has Taken to Address Project Accounting Systems  

In 2012, the City was downgraded to the edge of junk bond status when an annual audit found 12 material weaknesses and noted particular problems within the City’s capital project accounting, documenting nearly $24 million in deficits owed to the General Fund. Since that time, after much hard work, the City has eliminated all of the material weaknesses and long-term deficits to regain its AA credit rating.  

Nonetheless, the City recognized in 2018, following its own annual audit of the fiscal year 2017, that its project accounting systems needed additional improvement, and has taken the following actions since then:  

• In January 2019 the City engaged the accounting and management consulting firm BerryDunn to review project accounting practices, procedures, and technology; 
• In August 2019, the City created a Public Works project accountant position; 
• In February 2020, the City hired the management consultant firm Clifton Larson Allen to develop and implement overall capital accounting policies and procedures for the City and to reconcile past accounts; 

• In April 2021, the City hired a Senior Accountant to specialize in project accounting and hired MuniCap, a public finance consulting firm nationally recognized as TIF experts, to help the City manage the finances and administration of the Waterfront and Downtown TIF Districts; 
• As of July 2021, the City had fully implemented project accounting for the City’s capital funds allowing Clifton Larson Allen to focus on instituting project accounting for the City’s TIF projects; and 
• In August 2022, the City established a Trustee to hold TIF funds and pay invoices on the City’s behalf. This Trustee provides another level of oversight to ensure that TIF administration is handled correctly. 

Full Comments from City Management to the Auditor can be found on page 55 of the report in Appendix VIII.  

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Mayor Outlines Actions to Prevent Gun Violence, Improve the Downtown Climate, Advance 21^st Century Police Reforms, and Rebuild the Department

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger with local leaders announced the Administration’s next steps to protect public safety in Burlington. The plan includes 16 near-term initiatives focused on four areas of priority; ending the recent spike in gun violence and preventing future gun violence, improving the downtown climate, making progress on 21st Century Policing, and rebuilding the Police Department.

“After nearly three years of rising gun violence and property crime and declining numbers of officers, in recent months we have begun to make progress on our most acute public safety challenges.  Our police department has now resolved over 80% of the shootings since 2020 and the rate of new shootings has slowed, we are on track with the officer rebuilding goals announced in early 2022, and the many new investments we have made in alternative public safety resources in recent years are having a positive impact,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “However, public safety remains a top concern of Burlington residents, workers, and visitors, and we still have much to do to ensure that our recent progress continues. The next steps I am announcing today are the result of countless conversations with constituents, local leaders, elected officials, law enforcement partners, and subject matter experts, and implementing these strategies will be a collective effort. This Administration will continue working with urgency and making the investments necessary to restore and protect public safety for our whole community.”

The BPD has now resolved 81% of shootings since 2020, and 100% of homicides. Many serious offenders have been charged and incarcerated, and there have been no new shootings and only one gunfire incident since early October. However, the possibility of a resurgence in gunfire is not remote. Included in the Mayor’s call to action for the Vermont legislature to advance Statewide gun safety laws, including; requiring the safe storage of firearms, prohibiting guns in bars, restaurants, and other sensitive spaces, making reckless endangerment with a gun a felony, and funding gun violence research.

Weinberger also announced the Mayor’s Task Force to Prevent Gun Violence led by the City’s Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Director Kim Carson who said: “The best outcome is one where conflict never escalates to violence. While we work to strengthen and reform our systems for justice, we must do the same to create tools for violence prevention. By working directly with our neighbors and subject matter experts we can better identify problems that are unique to our community and find the solutions that will work best for Burlington.”

The Mayor’s plan will require action by the Burlington City Council in a number of areas. At the press conference was Ward 5 City Councilor Ben Traverse, who said: “With near unanimous support, the Council has taken multiple actions over the past year to improve public safety and rebuild our police department. I look forward to continuing that effort by introducing resolutions that support many of the important initiatives outlined by Mayor Weinberger today.”

After a precipitous loss of officers in 2020 and 2021, this year the City stabilized staffing in the Police Department and as of January 1, the current headcount is 63 officers, 54 of whom are deployable. The BPD is generally on track with the Rebuilding Plan presented to the City Council and the public as part of the FY23 budget. Today, Chief Murad announced that three new recruits have graduated from the Vermont Police Academy and begun field training, and six new recruits are expected to attend the upcoming class next month. Murad also projects that by February the BPD will employ 6 CSLs, the Department currently staffs 3 CSLs and 10 CSOs.

“I believe that the Burlington Police Department is world-class, and in order to best serve our neighbors and protect public safety we must keep pushing forward on our long-held priority of 21st Century Police reform,” said Chief Murad. “That means continued investment in transparency, equality, accountability, restorative justice, and a relentless, data-informed approach to improving our policies and directives.”

The BPD has long led the State law enforcement community in progressive police reforms, including the implementation of body-worn cameras for officers, and among the many steps to advance 21st Century Police reforms discussed by the Chief today was the announcement that beginning now the Department will proactively release body-worn camera footage within 30 days on an incident, unless a criminal inquiry would prevent release, for certain types of incidents and uses of force. The BPD agreed to this new policy with the Police Commission in 2021, and now has the appropriate personnel in the Department to meet this requirement.

Despite the stable officer headcount and quickly growing new, non-sworn officer positions to support public safety the inability to provide community policing has contributed to a diminished climate in the downtown that has, at times, undermined the broad public enjoyment of Church Street, City Hall Park, and other public spaces, and threatens the success of our beloved restaurants and retailers. To address the Mayor and the Police Chief propose creating a new BPD Assistant Director for Crisis, Advocacy, and Intervention Programs (CAIP) and increasing the presence of uniformed officers from the Vermont State Police and other Chittenden County police agencies; and are calling for legislative action to modernize theft laws to provide meaningful, appropriate accountability for repeat shoplifting offenses.

The City’s Director of Business and Workforce Development Kara Alnasrawi said: “While the City is leading numerous initiatives to speed up our economic recovery and to support the growth of locally owned, BIPOC, and woman-owned businesses across the Burlington - our merchants are experiencing huge losses from repeat shoplifting incidents that jeopardize their ability to succeed. Theft is not a victimless crime, and our local business leaders are asking for more support to make sure we have a thriving, vibrant downtown.”

Mayor Weinberger’s Next Steps for Advancing Burlington Public Safety Priorities 

Priority #1: End the Recent Spike in Gun Violence and Prevent Future Gun Violence 

1. 1. Appointing a Mayor’s Task Force to Prevent Gun Violence.  
2. 2. Requiring the reporting to law enforcement of all stolen guns and safe storage of handguns in Vermont.
3. 3. Prohibiting guns in bars in Vermont.
4. 4. Making it a felony to commit reckless endangerment by discharging a firearm in Vermont.
5. 5. Funding a program to research gun violence.

Priority #2: Improve Downtown Climate 

6. 6. Creating a new BPD Assistant Director for Crisis, Advocacy and Intervention Programs (CAIP).
7. 7. Increasing the presence of uniformed officers from the Vermont State Police and other Chittenden County police agencies.
8. 8. Modernizing theft laws to provide meaningful, appropriate accountability for repeat shoplifting offenses.

Priority #3: Continue Making Progress on 21st Century Policing Reforms  

9. 9. Increasing department capacity for implementing reforms and new policies.
10. 10. Implementing new body camera policy to release footage of uses of force.
11. 11. Partnering with the Center for Policing Equity to deliver a training to the Burlington Police Department on institutional and structural racism.
12. 12. Increasing funding of the Crime Victims Fund.

Priority #4: Rebuild Police Department   

13. 13. Encouraging eligible officers to delay retirement beyond the end of the rebuilding period by implementing a time-limited Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP).
14. 14. Rejecting the creation of a “Community Control Board” for the BPD.
15. 15. Creating a non-residential, alternative path to certification as a Level III Officer.
16. 16. Calling for state action to create financial incentives and marketing efforts to attract new recruits and current officers to Vermont.

A complete, detailed plan for the Mayor’s next steps to protect public safety in Burlington is available online here.

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Coupled with State and Federal Funds, New and Expanded Electrification Incentives Will Provide Significant Financial Assistance to Burlingtonians

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger and Burlington Electric Department (BED), joined by partners from Rewiring America, the nation’s leading electrification nonprofit, Key Motors of South Burlington, and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), today announced new and expanded Net Zero Energy incentives and an innovative, on-bill financing program for home weatherization and cold climate heat pumps.

“Congress’s passage of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 represents the most important climate action the federal government has ever taken,” stated Mayor Weinberger, a founding member of Rewiring America’s Mayors for Electrification group and one of the nation’s first mayors to sign the “Electrify Everything” pledge. “It is now up to America’s states and cities to implement this historic bill and make good on its transformative potential. These new and expanded incentives we are announcing today are designed to help our ratepayers make the most of new opportunities flowing from this first-time federal investment. There has never been a better time than 2023 to electrify your home or vehicle, and I encourage all Burlingtonians to take advantage of this robust combination of City, State, and Federal incentives and rebates to ‘electrify everything’ and help us achieve our bold goal of becoming a Net Zero Energy city.”

“Strategic electrification is a key component of achieving Burlington’s Net Zero Energy city goal that keeps more energy dollars in the local economy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions,” stated Darren Springer, General Manager of Burlington Electric Department and member of Rewiring America’s CEOs for Electrification group. “The message today for our customers is that there never has been a better time to switch from fossil fuels to electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other renewably-powered technologies. We also continue to focus on providing enhanced incentives for our low- and moderate-income customers to make these technologies more accessible and affordable.”

BED New and Expanded Rebates Available for 2023

In 2020, BED’s Green Stimulus program launched to boost both the City’s economic recovery from the pandemic and its transition to becoming a Net Zero Energy city. Since the Green Stimulus launch, residential cold climate heat pump installations have increased by approximately 20 times. In December 2021, voters approved the Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond, supporting critical investments in infrastructure projects and liquidity for BED’s incentive programs. For full details of all programs, please visit www.burlingtonelectric.com/rebates.

Program restrictions may apply to the below-listed 2023 incentive levels:

• Heat Pumps: BED continues to offer substantial rebates up to 75 percent of the installed cost on ductless mini-split heat pumps and, new for 2023, is offering a $500 rebate for a second heat pump. Also, BED has introduced a new tier of higher rebates for centrally ducted heat pumps offering up to 75 percent of installed cost for more heating-efficient systems. For more details, please visit www.burlingtonelectric.com/heatpumps.

• Electric Vehicles (EVs) & Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs): Rebates will continue at 2022 levels with increased rebates (to $3,000) for new EVs for low- and moderate-income Burlingtonians.

• Home Car Charging Stations for Pre-Owned EVs: Rebates increased to $900 (from $700) to match rebates for charging new EVs. New and pre-owned PHEV home charger rebates will continue at $700.
• Car Charging Stations for Workplace: Rebates increased to $2,000 (from $1,500) for a Level 2 system and $10,000 for a Level 3 system with a minimum 50 kW output.

• Residential Electric Riding Lawnmowers: Rebates increased to $300 (from $200). Rebates for residential electric push lawnmowers will continue at $100.
• Heat Recovery Ventilators & Energy Recovery Ventilators: These ventilation systems bring fresh air into a home while exhausting stale and moist air from bathrooms, kitchens, and other locations. New this year, rebates range from $500 to $1,000. For more details, please visit www.burlingtonelectric.com/ventilation.
• Continuing Rebates: In addition to the new and expanded rebates, many popular rebates will continue, including for electric bikes, electric snow blowers, electric chainsaws, electric forklifts, electric lawn care equipment, commercial electric push lawnmowers, and electric motorcycles.

BED Incentives Can Be Combined with State and Federal Incentives

In addition to BED incentives, Burlingtonians may be eligible for various State of Vermont and federal tax credits and incentives, including those from the new federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Illustrative examples follow:

• A moderate-income household purchases a Chevrolet Bolt: In the case of a new Chevrolet Bolt all-electric vehicle with a range of approximately 250 miles with a purchase price of $31,000, a low- or moderate-income customer could receive a $3,000 rebate from BED, at least a $4,000 rebate from the State of Vermont, and a federal tax credit of $7,500, totaling savings of $14,500 and reducing the overall cost by nearly 50 percent. Further, the customer could receive a $900 BED rebate toward purchasing and installing a Level 2 home EV charging station. Finally, that same customer could leverage additional savings by participating in BED’s special, residential off-peak EV charging rate of 65-70 cents per gallon of gas equivalent.

• A single-family household purchases and installs a ductless mini-split heat pump for heating and cooling: In the case of a single-head, ductless mini-split heat pump, a customer could receive as much as $2,450 in rebates and discounts from BED and, new this year, up to 30 percent (maximum $2,000) as a tax credit from the federal government. This combination of financial support could reduce the overall cost of a heat pump installation by approximately 75 percent. Additional federal rebates for heat pumps for low- and moderate-income customers are expected to be available later this year.

Tools to Help Assess Available Incentives

Resources to help BED customers determine which incentives are available to them include:

• BED’s Energy Services Team offers free consultations about electrifying homes.
• Rewiring America’s IRA Savings Calculator provides helpful guidance for federal home electrification incentives.
• Drive Electric Vermont details State of Vermont EV incentives.
• BED’s Net Zero Energy Podcast teaches about taking steps toward Net Zero Energy.

Support from Key Partners

Participating virtually in today’s announcement was Rahul Young, Director of Local Engagement at Rewiring America, who stated: “Burlington continues to lead the way in pursuing the ambitious goal of becoming a Net Zero Energy city by 2030. Offering additional localized incentives like Burlington Electric Department is something cities around the nation should strive to emulate. In combination with the newly available Inflation Reduction Act home electrification tax credits and forthcoming rebates, Burlingtonians are better positioned than ever to electrify everything, saving money on energy costs and creating healthier homes for families.”

Sophie Ferrone, Assistant Sales Manager at Key Motors of South Burlington, stated: “Our team at Key Motors of South Burlington appreciates the innovative work utilities like Burlington Electric Department are engaging in to create impactful incentives that are making it possible for more and more of our mutual customers to afford to drive electric. We invite Burlingtonians and all Vermonters to visit with us to learn more about the benefits and affordability of driving electric.”

New Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP)

The partners also promoted the new Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP), which will allow homeowners and renters to finance qualifying weatherization projects like insulation and air sealing, as well as heat pumps and advanced wood heating systems, with repayment through a monthly charge on their utility bill. The majority of program funding is targeted to households earning between 80 to 120 percent of the area median income (AMI). Households earning 80 percent AMI or less are eligible for free services through the state’s existing Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

“WRAP’s innovative on-bill financing model will make the benefits of weatherization available to more moderate-income households,” stated Maura Collins, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA). “Vermont Housing Finance Agency is excited to partner with Burlington Electric Department to reduce household energy costs, make homes safer and more comfortable, and help meet Vermont’s climate goals.”

The program intends to address challenges commonly encountered in weatherization, including high upfront costs and limited access to credit. WRAP will not run credit checks on customers, instead verifying a clean utility bill payment history. If a customer moves, the next occupant of the property will pay the surcharge. In addition to BED, WRAP will be offered through VGS and Efficiency Vermont, with all three organizations connecting customers with approved contractors and energy rebates. VHFA will provide capital and incentives for the remaining upfront costs of the project using state funding.

Springer added: “We strongly support the program’s focus on providing financing to expand access for moderate-income customers to invest in clean energy technologies. WRAP is an important new program that will help our community make progress toward our Net Zero Energy by 2030 goal.”

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Mayor calls for urgent state action to help Burlington and other Vermont cities address the many post-pandemic crises we are facing

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the Administration’s Legislative Priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session. The Mayor’s priorities include funding for the city’s new high school and technical center, public safety, gun safety, initiatives to support housing creation and end homelessness, new support for substance misuse and mental health, climate action, and more.

“Like communities across Vermont and our nation, Burlington is facing numerous, serious challenges that have been exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Our City is facing these challenges head-on with unprecedented investments, including creating a Special Assistant to End Homelessness, devoting millions of dollars of ARPA funds to housing and homelessness, adding numerous social workers to the police department, and by innovating a public health approach to homelessness with the Elmwood Emergency Shelter that is about to open. Burlington and other Vermont cities need similar, urgent action at the State level to address housing, public safety, homelessness, substance misuse, and mental health crises in our communities.”

The Mayor’s agenda also prioritizes funding for the new Burlington high school and technical center, climate action, and several public safety initiatives including several reforms to the state’s gun safety laws.

Weinberger added, “If the State will not give cities the ability to create gun safety regulations at the local level, it is long past time for statewide action. Burlington voters overwhelmingly approved measures to ban guns from bars and to require the safe storage of firearms. I will be advocating for these policies and more to keep Vermonters safe from the unique, American scourge of gun violence.”

Mayor Weinberger will be advocating for action in Montpelier on the following initiatives:

• State assistance for PCB remediation and regional technical center funding.
• State support for local efforts to address substantial statewide increases in violent crime and property crime, including; support for the recruitment and retention of police officers, modernization of shoplifting statutes, and increased funding of the Victims Compensation Fund.
• Statewide gun safety laws, including; requiring the safe storage of firearms, prohibiting guns in bars, restaurants, and other sensitive spaces, making reckless endangerment with a gun a felony, and funding gun violence research.
• State support for local efforts to address the housing shortage, including an Act 250 exemption for municipalities with robust local zoning controls that meet state standards.
• State funding for initiatives to end homelessness, including a plan for the end of the motel voucher program, new funding for permanent (non-time-limited) supportive housing services, and funding additional case management services for housing navigators.
• State action to address fentanyl and meth misuse and mental health needs, including providing specialized care for violent individuals, improving access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), accelerating responses to growing methamphetamine use, expanding re-entry support for justice-involved individuals with substance use disorder, expanding residential treatment opportunities, including both long-term treatment and short-term treatment for fentanyl-addicted users entering MOUD, and removing barriers at the State level to the creation of Overdose Prevention Sites.
• State Action on Climate and Electrification by extending Act 151, strengthening the Renewable Energy Standard (RES), ensuring that any changes to the RES are analyzed fully and determined to be cost-effective for ratepayers, and by protecting Burlington’s authority to regulate thermal systems.
• Continued State funding for Green Mountain Transit and public transportation.

A complete Agenda of the Mayor’s Legislative Priorities is available online here.

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Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger made the following statement:

“Today is a momentous day for Vermont and our federal representation.

I want to congratulate Becca Balint for shattering over 200 years of historic barriers and being sworn in as Vermont’s first woman and first openly gay representative in Congress.  I also want to congratulate Peter Welch, who I have known and appreciated for over 40 years, on joining Senator Bernie Sanders in the Senate. I have every confidence that our new federal delegation will continue our state’s legacy of outsized leadership on the national stage and will serve the people of Burlington and Vermont with distinction. I look forward to working with Senator Welch and Congresswoman Balint in the years ahead to serve our City and State.

With the swearing-in of the 118th Congress, Senator Patrick Leahy officially concludes his 48-year tenure of service to Vermont in the United States Senate. His contributions to our state and to the nation have been profound, and have positively impacted the lives of many Vermonters. Burlington thanks Senator Leahy for his remarkable career of service, and the City will proudly steward the many landmarks that his forward-thinking leadership shaped. From the great pedestrian marketplace of Church Street to the now revived, post-industrial waterfront on the shores of the great Lake Champlain, Senator Leahy has through wisdom and persistence brought generational investment to our City.

Personally, I will always be grateful that the Senator gave me my first opportunity in government when I served as an intern and mail clerk for him in 1991.  Burlington looks forward to welcoming the Senator and Marcelle home, and will forever be grateful for their relentless commitment and countless contributions to Burlington and Vermont. “

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Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger, along with Burlington Electric Department (BED) General Manager Darren Springer and VGS President & CEO of VGS Neale Lunderville, provided an update to the Burlington City Council on recent progress with the establishment of a District Energy System (DES). Following the completion of Phase 3 feasibility work this past summer and additional design and engineering work this past fall, the project is ready to advance to the State of Vermont Act 250 permitting process. Beginning the permitting process now is necessary to maintain its construction schedule.

“Burlington has among the most ambitious climate goals in the country, and meeting those goals will require innovative local strategies to dramatically lower emissions from our largest driver, thermal heating,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Generations of Burlington residents and leaders have recognized the opportunity of creating a District Energy System, and after 35 years of stops and starts, it is exciting to pass another key milestone in our steady progress toward bringing this project to life.”

“Today we announce another significant step forward in the effort to advance district energy in Burlington, by moving the project into state permitting for the first time,” said Darren Springer, General Manager of Burlington Electric Department. “With district energy, the McNeil wood chip plant would not only produce renewable electricity but also provide renewable steam to help reduce fossil fuel use and support progress towards our Net Zero Energy goal. It is important to note, however, that there remains substantial work ahead on the financing and pricing for the project before we can reach an ultimate ‘go’ decision. We offer our thanks to the University of Vermont Medical Center, University of Vermont, VGS, The Intervale Center, the McNeil Joint Owners, and Ever-Green Energy for their intensive work over the past several years on the current iteration of the district energy project.”

“Displacing fossil gas with alternative supply options, like the Burlington District Energy System, is a top climate priority for VGS,” said Neale Lunderville, President & CEO of VGS (Vermont Gas). “While there is still much work ahead to fully green light this project, advancing to environmental permitting is a big milestone and will help the project stay on schedule as the parties work diligently on outstanding items. We welcome this partnership as we work together toward the shared goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change.”

Next Steps for District Energy System

Burlington District Energy, a non-profit formed by Ever-Green Energy to manage and finance the DES in coordination with BED and other partners, is expected to make an Act 250 state permit submission for the project in mid-December 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, the project partners will work toward finalizing and evaluating project pricing. Steps will include receiving bids for construction, finalizing debt financing rates and structures, and entering fuel pricing agreements. Additional financial agreements among the project partners would be necessary to advance the project, which has a proposed construction start date as early as 2023.

Background

• The McNeil Generating Station’s original state permit from the 1980s references the opportunity to provide district heating, and as far back as 1994, BED has studied and evaluated the district energy opportunity for Burlington.
• In 2018, BED, VGS, the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC), and the University of Vermont (UVM) engaged Ever-Green Energy to begin a series of feasibility analyses on a steam-based DES
• In early 2020, Mayor Weinberger, BED, UVM Medical Center, and VGS announced a milestone step forward to enter Phase 2 of the updated District Energy System Project.
• In early 2021, these stakeholders with Ever-Green announced another milestone step to sign a Letter of Intent to enter Phase 3 planning.
• In the summer of 2022, BED provided an update to the Burlington City Council on the completion of Phase 3 feasibility work, and a letter of agreement among BED, the City, VGS, UVMMC, UVM, The Intervale Center, and Ever-Green Energy to guide additional development work on the project. Also at that time, the Administration sought and received Council approval for BED to accept a grant of $5.16 million in federal funds secured by Senator Patrick Leahy, and to create a 501(c)(3) to be run by EG Services, LLC (Ever-Green Energy) to manage the DES project development.

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Burlington, VT – The City of Burlington is excited to announce its second annual ‘Fines for Food’ campaign to fight food insecurity. From November 25th through December 31st, 2022, the Department of Public Works’ Parking Services team will donate half of all overdue parking tickets paid to Feeding Chittenden – Vermont's largest emergency food provider. Last year, Parking Services donated nearly $40K to fight food insecurity. (see last year’s announcement, here; pic attached)

“This innovative, meaningful program gives Burlingtonians and visitors another opportunity to support their neighbors during the holiday season and is an outstanding example of how the City team continues to work toward equitable outcomes that keep taxpayers whole while protecting our most vulnerable community members,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “I hope that we can grow on the success of last year’s pilot program, and contribute even more to support Feeding Chittenden’s mission to ensure no one in our region goes without food.”

“We are deeply grateful to the Department of Public Works for their hard work and innovative approach to fighting hunger in our community,” said Rob Meehan, Director of Feeding Chittenden. “Fines for Food assistance is needed now more than ever as a growing number of people experience food insecurity. Funds from this effort will go directly to feeding our neighbors.”

City Council President Karen Paul – who helped establish the ‘Fines for Food’ program in 2021 - had this to say:

“Although Chittenden County is considered one of the healthiest in Vermont, over 10% of our community members, many of them children, are food insecure, an unnecessary truth and one that should be unacceptable to all of us.

Fines for Food was created so we, as a community, could pay it forward and support an important and vital need. As a caring, compassionate and giving community, food insecurity is a challenge that we can address. There is hope and a kind spirit in all of us. I am grateful to the combined efforts of the amazing Parking Services team at DPW and the important work of Feeding Chittenden as well as those who will be paying their overdue fines and in turn supporting our city’s infrastructure and community needs.  I hope that there will come a time when this program is no longer needed either because the city has no overdue fines or food insecurity is a truth of the past. Much as I would hope for the former, it is my hope that the latter comes first.”

“The mission of Fines for Food is to create a positive experience while resolving overdue tickets, unlock overdue or lost revenue to fund City services and, most importantly, to take concrete action to address food insecurity in our community,” Director of Public Works Chapin Spencer and Division Director of Parking & Traffic Jeff Padgett – who oversees Parking Services - said in a joint statement. “The Parking Services team works toward safety & equity day in and day out – this effort is directly in line with the passion and resolve in which they serve the City. We thank them for their hard-work and creativity in making Fines for Food a success for the community.”

Overdue parking tickets can be paid online at www.burlingtonvt.gov/parking or by stopping by the Parking Services office at 645 Pine Street during business hours (8:00-4:00 Monday-Friday).  For those who have no overdue fines, but wish to contribute to Feeding Chittenden, you are encouraged to visit https://feedingchittenden.org/.

A NEW MISSION FOR PARKING -- SAFETY & EQUITY

 In 2021, DPW completed its reorganization of Parking Services to create a one-stop-shop for all parking needs. The new Parking Services Office has placed an emphasis on safety, equity and the customer experience. Since inception, Parking Services has:

• Increased the towing threshold under the City’s scoff law from $75 to $250 to reduce the number of tows and increase the time to cure violations
• Removed “convenience” fees from online payments
• Instituted the ‘Whoops!’ program which will waive one non-safety-related parking violation each year
• Re-organized existing staff to expand hours of service to ensure that safety violations, such as blocked hydrants, could be responded to faster
• Digitized monthly permits
• Digitized resident parking permits for convenient online purchase

FREE PARKING!

Don’t forget, every Friday and Saturday this Holiday Season, get 2 Hours of Free Parking when you use ParkMobile! 

Questions on Fines for Food?

Contact Jeff Padgett, Division Director of Parking & Traffic at jpadgett@burlingtonvt.gov or call the Parking Services office at 802-540-2380.

Feeding Chittenden is committed to providing food for everyone, creating community and cultivating opportunities.  As the largest direct service emergency food provider in Vermont, Feeding Chittenden is a program of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and serves over 12,000 people each year through programs that include the food access center and network, home delivery, culinary job training, hot meals, and the Good Food Truck. Visit www.feedingchittenden.org for more information.

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Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger and Burlington Fire Fighters Association (BFFA) leaders signed a new three-year contract. With the BFFA contract, the Administration completes a twelve-contract run without arbitration over three rounds of bargaining with the City’s four unions; the American Federation of State, County, Municipal, Employees (AFSCME), Burlington Fire Fighters Association (BFFA), Burlington Police Officers’ Association (BPOA), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

The Mayor made the following statement:

“Since first being elected, I have sought to reach agreements with the City’s unions at the negotiating table, instead of through adversarial binding arbitration. Our consistent success proves that through good communication and strong collaboration with our unions, it is possible to build fair contracts that value workers while protecting taxpayers.

In all of our contract negotiations, we have taken on our biggest employment challenges head-on – including rising health care and pension costs – and this was our most challenging bargaining round yet, as it took place during a time of great economic uncertainty and high inflation that is impacting workers, households, and City expenses.  The Administration worked hard to come together with our union leaders to ensure competitive wages, and fair benefits, and to become the first town or city in Vermont to support its employees with paid family leave, all while limiting financial risk to Burlington’s taxpayers and ratepayers and creating the needed recruitment and retention tools for the City to succeed during the current workforce shortage.

I am grateful to serve alongside our hardworking City employees who provide a variety of essential services from emergency response, to running our elections, to maintaining public infrastructure. It is thanks to their skills and commitment that Burlington will have a safer, greener, and more just future.”

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Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger made the following statement:

“During a week when we should all have the opportunity to gather with loved ones and celebrate the uniquely American holiday of Thanksgiving, we are once again confronted with the horror of the uniquely American scourge of mass shootings.

Burlington condemns these killings in the strongest possible terms and offers strength and solidarity to the grieving communities of Colorado Springs, CO, and Chesapeake, VA.

That the Colorado violence once again took place in an LGBTQ+ space, during a period of rising violence against queer and trans people across the country and in Vermont, is a further outrage and tragedy that has shaken many members of our community. I urge all Burlingtonians to do what they can to support the LGBTQ+ community during this painful time and to continue Burlington’s vigilance against hate and bigotry.

As of this morning, the United States has experienced at least 606 mass shootings in 2022, after experiencing 692 in 2021, and routine gun violence has corroded public safety throughout Vermont this year. No other country tolerates this level of gun violence, and we should not either. Since state government has aggressively blocked Burlington and other Vermont cities and towns from taking action to protect its people from gun violence, the Governor and state legislature have a duty to act this session to pass statewide gun safety measures to keep all Vermonters safe and free from fear.”

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Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger and University of Vermont (UVM) President Suresh Garimella announced and celebrated the completion of the University Place street improvements. The City of Burlington and UVM collaborated on the project to make the central location safer for all people including pedestrians, bicyclists, and other active transportation users.

“This project is an example of how the City and our partners can work together to advance common goals for a safer, greener future,” said Mayor Weinberger. “This investment makes important water and sewer modernizations underground while ensuring that students, faculty, and visitors can travel safely whether they walk, bike, drive, or bus to work and school.”

Identified in UVM’s Master Plan and Active Transportation Plan as a high priority, the City’s improvements to University Place create a new multimodal street with a pedestrian crossing plaza, wider sidewalks, buffered bike lanes, and decorative lighting, as well as modernized water and sewer infrastructure. Located between historic campus buildings and the University Green, the one-way street can better accommodate student events and gatherings with long-term parking removed and an improved food truck area with permanent electric utilities to eliminate the need for generators.

“The University Place project has visually transformed this historic heart of UVM’s campus, providing a much-improved and safer connection between our most iconic buildings and the beautiful university green," said UVM President Suresh Garimella. "This project could not have happened without the strong support of our partners in the city of Burlington and we thank them for their commitment to this project.”

Background

• In February 2018 the City entered into a sustainable infrastructure agreement with UVM with respect to the City's Ten-Year Capital Plan. UVM’s investment, combined with that of Champlain College, allowed the City to bond for General Fund capital work with the two institutions making debt service payments on that bond over a 20 year period.
• In that agreement, the City and UVM agreed to jointly advance significant investments in the hardscape and streetscape of University Place that would improve safety and accessibility for students, faculty, and residents.
• Public outreach and stakeholder engagement began in the fall of 2020, followed by design. Construction on the project began in May of 2022 and was completed in November 2022, about 1-month ahead of scheduled.
• Total investment in the University Place project was $3.2 million, paid for by $1.375 million in City Capital Funds; $225,000 in ARPA funds; $1.6 million in UVM Capital Funds.
• The project reconstructed approximately 1,200 feet of sidewalk on the east side, built approximately 270 feet of new sidewalk on the west side, created 1.25 miles of bike infrastructure, included 1.88 miles of paving, and relined water and sewer infrastructure throughout the project area.

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