FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Human Resources Director Deanna Paluba to Begin Position as U.S. Employee Relations Manager at Global Foundries

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger announced today that Deanna Paluba, the City’s Human Resources Director, has accepted the position of U.S. Employee Relations Manager at Global Foundries and will leave her position as the City’s Director of Human Resources on May 12. In Deanna’s time with the City, she established the Belonging, Equity, and Inclusion Employee Resources Group, played a key role in the creation and hiring of the City’s first Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Director, and developed and updated several important City personnel policies. Deanna also created the Talent, Diversity, and Development role and established new processes for how we hire, recruit, and develop City employees. 

“It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the City of Burlington’s leadership team and to support the hard working and dedicated employees of the City,” said Deanna Paluba.

“I am grateful for Deanna’s service to the City,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Deanna played a crucial role in strengthening the City’s HR processes and moving forward our work to become a more equitable and inclusive City, while establishing a foundation for the City to make further progress.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2020
Contact:  Olivia LaVecchia
                 (802) 734-0617

Statement from Mayor Miro Weinberger on Shooting at Champlain Farms

Burlington, VT – In response to the shooting at the Champlain Farms located at 219 Main Street on Wednesday, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement:

"This incident is a highly troubling reminder of the widespread threat of gun violence in this country, and the great challenges our system has stopping dangerous, unstable behavior. Passersby near the shooter feared for their lives in a way that no Burlingtonian should ever have to endure. Thankfully, due in large part to the bravery and decisive action of Luz Winters — an officer with less than two years of service with the department — the shooter was taken into custody peacefully and no one was hurt. We are fortunate to have such skilled and committed public safety officers.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2020
Contact:  Olivia LaVecchia
                 (802) 734-0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Declares that the State of the City Is a State of Emergency

In annual State of the City address, Mayor Weinberger outlines the challenges in the months ahead in response to COVID-19, the steps City government will take to get through this crisis, and a vision for Burlington’s future

Burlington, VT – Tonight, Mayor Miro Weinberger delivered the annual State of the City address through the online platform Zoom, during which he reported that the State of the City is a State of Emergency. The Mayor outlined the crisis that we face in our response to the COVID-19 coronavirus, how we can start thinking about what the months ahead will hold, the work that City government has done and will continue to do through this pandemic, and a vision for how Burlington can emerge from this crisis as an even stronger and more just community.

“The State of the City is a state of emergency,” Mayor Weinberger said at the beginning of the address. “It is an emergency that is likely to last in some form for many months and that threatens us all, regardless of class, race, or age. And it is an emergency in which we each have a role to perform to save as many of our neighbors as possible, and to ensure that the Burlington of tomorrow is a city that emerges with renewed and even increased strength and vitality.”

Some of the highlights in each of the four main parts of the speech included:

• Our current moment:
  • “We believe we are approaching the crest of the public health emergency… We know that the number of deaths is very likely to rise… yet, at the same time, it is clear today that, thanks to the commitment and effort of the overwhelming majority of Burlington and Chittenden County residents, we are succeeding in flattening the curve.”
• What the months ahead may hold:
  • “The future still remains very uncertain. However, the major outlines of the months ahead are beginning to take shape… public health experts expect that there will be three major stages of responding to this pandemic.”
  • “Stage One is our current stage, the Stay Home stage, where slowing the spread of the virus can only be achieved through extreme physical distancing measures. We will probably need to stay in this posture until two big things happen: 1) the State reports sustained reduction in cases for approximately two weeks, and 2) we dramatically expand our capacity to battle the virus.”
  • “Stage Two of our COVID-19 response will involve a planned, phased, and strategic, reopening of society, even as the threat of the virus remains… Here’s the hard reality: public health experts believe that Stage Two will probably last for 12-18 months.”
  • “Stage Three will be essentially going back to our lives before coronavirus, and we are unlikely to be able to get there until a vaccine has been developed and most people can be immunized.”
  • “This virus makes clear to us that we must all work collectively for the common good; that the steps we take to protect ourselves also support our neighbors; and, in short, that we are only as strong as our community. I have seen this spirit in Burlington in countless ways in recent weeks.”
• How City government has responded and will respond to get through this disaster:
  • “Since we first began preparing for the arrival of the virus in February, we have been guided by the evidence that in global pandemics, local actions matter. As a result, we have dramatically reorganized City government to respond to this challenge.”
  • “Among the many efforts the City is pursuing, there are three major initiatives underway.” These are a community mask production initiative, the Resource & Recovery Center’s work to help Burlingtonians who need it, and action to give property taxpayers and their residential and commercial tenants who need it more time to respond to this crisis without additional costs.
  • “In order to undertake these and other major initiatives, and to otherwise mount the emergency response to this crisis, and to recognize the new financial realities the City itself is facing, the City will need focus, sacrifice, and prioritize. We are anticipating a revenue shortfall of $5 million in the fourth quarter of this fiscal year alone, and even larger losses in Fiscal Year 21… Even as we will have to make sacrifices, though, we will not compromise on or defer core Burlington values.”
• How Burlington can emerge from this crisis as an even better, stronger, and more just community:
  • “While crises hold tragedy, loss, and hardship, they also can be times of transformation. In being forced to remake so much of our reality to respond to this pandemic, we also have the opportunity to remake parts of our future. I believe that we can find some lasting good in our response to COVID-19.”

Mayor Weinberger closed the address with gratitude.

“Above all, I am grateful for our Burlington community. This crisis has, already, reshaped so much of what was familiar to us just a month ago,” he said. “One thing, though, hasn’t changed. Burlington continues to be a place where we leave chalk messages of greeting on the sidewalk for our neighbors walking by, where we volunteer to deliver meals to the front doors of seniors, and where, quite simply, we look out for each other. I know that we will get through these weeks and months ahead the same way we’ve gotten through the past few – together.”

Please see the complete 2020 State of the City address below.

Good evening residents of Burlington and City Councilors.

We meet tonight remotely, at a time of disruption and uncertainty with little precedent in our memories.

Our City, and the globe, are under deadly assault from a foe, the COVID-19 coronavirus, that we cannot see and still do not fully understand.

Our schools are closed and our college campuses are quiet.

The Church Street Marketplace, the hub of daily Burlington life for nearly 40 years, is empty, and only businesses essential for sustaining life remain open.

Our residents are under order from the Governor to Stay Home and are advised to cover their faces for safety when on the street pursuing essential tasks.

We look out our windows and see sprouting lily bulbs, robins, and neighbors on bikes – but these signs do not carry the sense of renewal and life of a typical spring.

In the last 19 days, we have lost at least nine Burlingtonians, and dozens more are battling the virus as I speak.

Those of us who have older parents fear for them, communicate with them through closed glass windows and online cameras, and wonder how long it will be before we can embrace them again.

Just behind this crisis of health, there also looms a crisis of economic disruption. Thousands of Burlingtonians have lost their jobs in recent weeks as massive sectors of the economy have ground to a halt. Renter or owner, employee or employer, all fear for the future of our homes, jobs, and businesses.

In short, the state of the City is a state of emergency. It is an emergency that is likely to last in some form for many months and that threatens us all, regardless of class, race, or age. And it is an emergency in which we each have a role to perform to save as many of our neighbors as possible, and to ensure that the Burlington of tomorrow is a city that emerges with renewed and even increased strength and vitality.

This is my ninth State of the City address, an annual speech that is required of the mayor by the City Charter. Tonight’s, though, is unique in many ways, including that my entire address will be about the COVID-19 emergency and how we will get through it.

Throughout this emergency, I have attempted to communicate daily with details and facts about the local response to COVID-19. In this address tonight, I plan to speak to four key pieces of the road ahead.

First, I will outline my thoughts on the context of our current moment.

Second, I will speak to the challenges I believe we may face for the next 12-18 months.

Third, I will summarize how we have reshaped City government over the last month and the steps we have and will take to ensure that we get through this crisis.

And fourth, I will share a vision for how Burlington can emerge as an even better, stronger, and more just community.

I will begin with our current moment.

Tonight, we believe we are approaching the crest of the public health emergency. The State is projecting that the crisis will peak sometime this month. Yesterday, the country’s Surgeon General warned that, "This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans’ lives.”

Here in Burlington, we know that the number of deaths is very likely to rise. We wish great strength to the dozens of our neighbors who are currently battling infections and to their families and loved ones.

And yet, at the same time, it is clear today that, thanks to the commitment and effort of the overwhelming majority of Burlington and Chittenden County residents, we are succeeding in flattening the curve. Barring an unlikely change of events, we are on course to stay well within the capacity of our health care system– which has been our paramount goal since this emergency began. Even amid the tragedy that our current moment holds, we also should recognize that together we have achieved a significant accomplishment, that was by no means assured one month ago.

Where do we go as a community from here? The future still remains very uncertain. However, the major outlines of the months ahead are beginning to take shape. We all are hungry to start thinking about what lies ahead, and need to start planning for it. I am going to do my best to level with you tonight about how I am thinking about what is before us, despite the risk that some of what I say may turn out to be wrong. Good outcomes in the months ahead will require both continued urgent government planning and action, and all of us to understand and commit to still more sacrifice and cooperation.

Public health experts expect that there will be three major stages of responding to this pandemic.

Stage One is our current stage, the Stay Home stage, where slowing the spread of the virus can only be achieved through extreme physical distancing measures. We will probably need to stay in this posture until two big things happen: 1) the State reports sustained reduction in cases for approximately two weeks, and 2) we dramatically expand our capacity to battle the virus.

During this period, we must use this time to our advantage. We have a lot of work to do to quickly develop new capacities to detect and test for COVID-19, to contact trace, to safely and supportively isolate individuals who test positive, and to ensure our health care system has everything it needs to sustain high levels of COVID-19 care. Burlington will continue to work closely with the Governor’s team in the weeks ahead to ensure that government is collectively ready when conditions allow us to move to the next phase.

If we remain committed to social distancing and the current trends reported by the Department of Health continue, hopefully we could drive down new cases to the levels we need sometime in the next one to two months. The better we each do our part, the less transmission there will be, and the sooner we can start re-opening parts of society and the economy.

Stage Two of our COVID-19 response will involve a planned, phased, and strategic, reopening of society, even as the threat of the virus remains. 

Vulnerable facilities, like nursing homes, will need to remain restricted and highly vigilant during this period. With each new sector of society that re-opens, we will need to watch carefully for new infections and work very hard to contain them when they do occur.

During Stage Two, as we live with the threat of the virus, we will need to continue hand-washing, avoiding touching our faces, capturing coughs and sneezes, cleaning surfaces frequently, and the other strategies that have become such a large part of our lives over the last month. Face masks also will be an important part of slowing the virus in the months ahead – more on that in a minute.

If virus spread within the community again becomes uncontrolled, we may need to re-impose some or all of the Stage One restrictions until the virus is suppressed again.

Here’s the hard reality: public health experts believe that Stage Two will probably last for 12-18 months.

Stage Three will be essentially going back to our lives before coronavirus, and we are unlikely to be able to get there until a vaccine has been developed and most people can be immunized.  Perhaps we will get relief sooner – many viruses do not do well in the summer heat, and it is possible that innovative medical treatments or even a vaccine could become available more quickly.  While we can reasonably hope for better, we should plan and prepare ourselves for a long, challenging fight.

Throughout Stages One and Two, concerns about the virus will impact our economy significantly. It is important to recognize, however, that successful social distancing, hygiene, and virus fighting strategies are not only our best public health tools, until we develop a vaccine or therapies, they also represent our only path for re-establishing the widespread public confidence in leaving our homes that is necessary to truly restart the economy.

This vision of the next year or more and its financial implications are daunting. Though the challenge is great, we will work our way through these questions with the same resourcefulness, commitment, and compassion that earlier generations brought to their defining moments. During World War II, Winston Churchill told his country: “The future is unknowable but the past should give us hope.”

What hope can we derive from history for our current moment? We can see that though the influenza of 1918-1919 was devastating, the world survived it and ultimately thrived again. In our recent history, we can see communities returning with resilience after being physically devastated by natural disasters – from Hurricane Irene to Superstorm Sandy. In this case, it should give us confidence to know that we will emerge from this storm with our buildings standing and infrastructure intact.

Looking just weeks into the past, we see multiple countries in Asia that are already well into Stage Two, having mobilized a massive virus fighting effort while re-opening (or in some cases never closing) much of their society.

Locally, we should take considerable hope from our actions over the last month to successfully flatten the curve. We have accomplished this to date by acting together. This virus makes clear to us that we must all work collectively for the common good; that the steps we take to protect ourselves also support our neighbors; and, in short, that we are only as strong as our community.

I have seen this spirit in Burlington in countless ways in recent weeks.

I saw it when I visited one of the 11 sites around Burlington where the Burlington School Food Project has been distributing free breakfasts and lunches to anyone under age 18 since schools were closed by this virus. BSFP has done this work in collaboration with partners, including our own Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department. Thank you to Doug Davis, who leads the BSFP with great skill and compassion, and this entire team.

I saw it, too, when I was at the City’s North Beach Campground on the night that more than two dozen people experiencing homelessness got keys to individual campers to stay in. This group had been staying at the low-barrier shelter that we launched downtown six years ago, but there isn’t enough room at that facility for the social distance that is necessary right now. So, the City, the State’s Department of Children and Families, and the organization ANEW Place came together, and now, this vulnerable group in our community is in a safer place, and we all are safer too as a result. I want to particularly recognize Heather Bush from ANEW Place for her tireless work in this effort.

I know that there are many more heroes like Doug and Heather, and many more efforts like these two. These heroes are also every nurse who has been caring for patients at the University of Vermont Medical Center, every teacher who is adapting lessons to teach online, and every person who has put stuffed bears in their windows to make their neighbors smile. I know, too, that there will be many more Burlington heroes in the weeks and months ahead.

Next, I will speak to the work that City government has done and will continue to do in order to ensure that we get through this disaster.

Since we first began preparing for the arrival of the virus in February, we have been guided by the evidence that in global pandemics, local actions matter. As a result, we have dramatically reorganized City government to respond to this challenge.

On March 13, we activated our Emergency Operations Center, and that center now manages the decisions and actions that are related to this crisis. I want to thank our Fire Chief and Emergency Services Director Chief Steven Locke for his outstanding skill, commitment, and leadership through these first, key weeks.

On March 23, two weeks ago, we created the virtual COVID-19 Resource & Recovery Center, or RRC, to provide relief to all Burlingtonians who need it during this crisis. We’ve repurposed much of our CEDO team, as well as parts of the Burlington Electric Department and other City departments, to staff the RRC, and in their new roles this team is working to connect residents with resources, provide one-on-one consultation and support, analyze what big packages of federal legislation mean for Burlingtonians, and much more. Already, the team has responded to more than 200 individual requests for help, created 10 different program areas, and launched new programs like the Burlington food relief pilot program.

Elsewhere too, our City team is gamely, and with great flexibility and heart, taking on new assignments and functions. We also have repurposed the time of 10 City employees across five departments with research, epidemiology, and policy skills to form a City Analytics Team, in order to analyze a large volume of information about COVID-19, identify best practices, and use their insights to inform our emergency decision-making.

On other fronts, our cultural team of Burlington City Arts, the Fletcher Free Library, and Parks, Recreation & Waterfront is creating new online programming to support our community in this time of isolation and stress, and help us spark creativity and imagination from our kitchen tables. Our Department of Public Works is focused on the essential emergency work of keeping our water and sewer plants secure and functioning through this emergency, and transforming many streets into additional open spaces for social distancing. And so much more.

With all of this going on, and with staying connected and informed more important than ever, for the last two weeks, we have started holding daily public briefings to communicate the latest updates in the City. We plan to keep this up for as long as this crisis continues at its current pace.

Among the many efforts the City is pursuing, there are three major initiatives underway that I want to discuss here with you tonight.

The first is an initiative to supply masks to members of our community. Nearly three weeks ago, the City anticipated that masking strategies would be important, and started worked to see how we might be able to help produce masks.

At the end of last week, the federal government and the State announced new guidance encouraging everyone to wear masks outside the home. By that point, we had already had conversations with regional medical partners, sourced 1,400 yards of a thick fabric using the emergency allocation the Council approved the last time we met in partnership with local store Rags & Riches, partnered with the Lyric Theatre Company and Milton Artists’ Guild to help us create prototype masks, and begun getting masks into production with additional partners including outstanding community sewists, Vermont Teddy Bear, and Queen City Dry Goods.

Over the weekend, we started distributing the first run of these high-quality masks   to essential workers who need them at organizations ranging from Hannaford to Feeding Chittenden. I am now announcing two new goals.

First, we will work to provide these Burlington Community Masks to all of the essential workers who want them as soon as possible. If your organization is doing essential work, and you want masks, please email the RRC at recovery@burlingtonvt.gov.

Next, we will continue to work with partners to scale our production to create tens of thousands of masks by May 1, so that every Burlington resident who wants one can have a high-quality masks when we move to Stage Two and start re-opening parts of the city.

The second major City initiative that I want to speak to tonight is part of our COVID-19 Resource & Recovery Center, or RRC. A key function of the RRC is to work with Burlingtonians to help our residents access the relief resources available to them as quickly as possible.

I want to give you an example of what I mean by speaking directly to the thousands of people within our community who have lost their job or are worried they soon will, and have no idea how they will pay for their rent or mortgage, groceries or healthcare, or other essential needs in the months ahead.

I want you to know that the City has been fighting for you through this crisis, and will keep fighting for you. From the beginning of this, I have made clear that no one should lose their home during a public health crisis that requires people to Stay Home. Last week, thankfully, Superior Court Judge Helen Toor took unprecedented action to essentially stop all evictions and foreclosures in Chittenden County for 90 days. I also testified to State legislators on this issue and they are moving forward with a bill to solidify these protections.

Now, I know that these actions alone don’t address the question of how you will pay your rent, mortgage, or other bills. We know that massive help is on its way from the federal government, and the RRC is here make sure all Burlingtonians get any assistance they need to access that aid, through web resources, adding capacity to the state Department of Labor, and, if necessary, through detailed one-to-one consultations.

Some of that aid will take time to get here, and that leads to the third major City initiative that I will discuss here tonight, which is all about giving City property taxpayers months of additional time to get help and figure out a personal path forward.

Already, before tonight, the City has suspended many fees and penalties, a summary of which is on the City website.

Tonight, the Administration is taking the rare step of asking the City Council to take action on Organization Day in order to add to this relief, and give our property taxpayers and their residential and commercial tenants more time to respond to the COVID-19 crisis without additional costs. We have put in front of the Council a $20 million plan to allow all property taxpayers who need it two additional months to make their June quarterly property tax payment without incurring penalties or interest. With our credit rating strong and the cost of large borrowing very small, we can take this unprecedented action to support our residents and workers at low cost and with limited financial risk.

In order to undertake these and other major initiatives, and to otherwise mount the emergency response to this crisis, and to recognize the new financial realities the City itself is facing, the City will need focus, sacrifice, and prioritize. We are anticipating a revenue shortfall of $5 million in the fourth quarter of this fiscal year alone, and even larger losses in Fiscal Year 21.

I want to be direct about what this means. As a result of this financial impact and focus on the COVID-19 emergency, we will need to delay or perhaps even let go of some of the city goals that we had prior to this crisis. By the end of April, we intend to bring a first phase of a COVID-19 Emergency City Financial Plan to the City Council in order to outline in more detail the City’s financial position and what we will need to do.

Even as we will have to make sacrifices, though, we will not compromise on or defer core Burlington values.

One of these core values is inclusion and belonging. Today happens to be the very first day on the job for the City’s first-ever Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging, Tyeastia Green. Tyeastia recently has relocated to Burlington from Minneapolis, and brings experience with and passion for developing racial equity programs for municipalities. With Tyeastia’s arrival, we have created new capacity in the City to break down the barriers of institutional racism and implicit bias. Tyeastia, welcome, and I am excited to advance this critical work with you.

Another core value is that Burlington continue to lead the way in responding to our other declared crisis: our climate emergency. To the greatest degree possible, we will pursue solutions that address both emergencies. To that end, tonight, I am glad to announce a Burlington Green Stimulus Package that will help support both our economic recovery from this pandemic and our transition to becoming a Net Zero Energy City.

Working through our outstanding municipal electric utility, the Burlington Electric Department (BED), we will redirect hundreds of thousands of dollars in existing efficiency funds to support a range of expanded or new programs, including initiatives to help lower energy bills for renters and low-and-moderate income households, boost incentives to help put local contractors and businesses back to work and support weatherization and heat pump installation, increase EV incentives, create a limited-time cash-for-residential-appliances program to incentivize a switch to efficient appliances, and assist with the cost of replacing commercial heating or cooling systems that fail in the months ahead. At our daily briefing tomorrow we will release details of this Green Stimulus Package.

Both of these examples lead me to the final topic that I want to speak with you about tonight: a vision for how Burlington can emerge from this crisis as an even better, stronger, and more just community.

While crises hold tragedy, loss, and hardship, they also can be times of transformation. In being forced to remake so much of our reality to respond to this pandemic, we also have the opportunity to remake parts of our future. I believe that we can find some lasting good in our response to COVID-19. Here are a few examples of what I mean by that.

First, we should build on the success of creating a low-barrier site at the North Beach Campground and emerge from this crisis taking better care of those in our community who are experiencing homelessness. We must be a community where all people can find shelter when they need it year-round.

Second, during this crisis, we are expanding our work to translate essential materials into languages other than English. In addition, before the end of this week, CEDO and the RRC will be announcing details of a new "trusted community voices" program to help share and disseminate important information across our City to people who speak different languages. This essential work of access and inclusion must continue beyond this crisis.

Third, so far in this crisis, we have used technology in new ways to track constituent requests, issue City permits, and expand public accessibility to public meetings. The use of these tools, and this broader spirit of innovation, should continue.

Fourth, through this emergency, I have seen a spirit of appreciation for each other and for our public employees that I have been heartened by. This moment of collective coming together has been an uplifting of our public dialogue, and a reminder of the value of expertise and competence in government. Even while the Trump Administration remains in the White House, I hope that we can hold on to this change in our civic discussion at the local level, and appreciation for the public employees who serve our city and state.

I want to close with gratitude. After I conclude this speech, we will be moving into the City Council meeting, and I am grateful for our City Council – your partnership, your challenges, your ideas, and throughout, the deliberative and democratic process that makes policy better. Together, with the twelve of you and the Administration, I know that we will head forward into these uncertain waters and find ways to guide Burlington’s ship to shore. I also want to congratulate again the three new City Councilors who were just sworn in for the first time: Sarah Carpenter, Jane Stromberg, and Zoraya Hightower. I particularly want congratulate Zoraya on her accomplishment of being the first woman of color ever elected to this body. I look forward to working with you for the betterment of our city.

I am grateful, too, for the three City Councilors whose service in that role concluded tonight. Councilor Adam Roof, I will miss your distinct perspective and thoughtful arguments. To long-serving Councilor and departing President Kurt Wright, I am grateful for our evolution from campaign opponents to trusted friends and colleagues, and I look forward to continuing to talk at least once a month when I join your radio show.

Finally, Councilor Sharon Bushor, in your 34 years of service to this City, you distinguished yourself as the longest-serving City Councilor in Burlington history, and someone who has shaped what this City is today in so many ways. Along the way, you have sat through many evening meetings here in City Hall. Today, I’m pleased to announce that in recognition of your long service and devotion to Burlington, we are hereby renaming City Hall Conference Room 12 with the much improved title of the Bushor Conference Room.

I am deeply grateful for our City’s outstanding team of Department Heads. Your skill, leadership, and deep care is a key piece of what makes our City work. In this crisis more than ever, I have been so appreciative of having all of you by my side as we think creatively and, simply, work hard for the people of Burlington.

I am also grateful that, even amid this crisis, signs of hope and the continuation of the rest of our lives still persist. Here is one of these examples: When I gave this address back in 2017, I shared the story of a woman named Alicia Sherman, who had come to a Town Hall Meeting we’d held that year on the opioid epidemic and described her experience with addiction and recovery. She had begun her journey as a competitive athlete taking prescribed pain medication, at one point landed in a hospital bed with a serious infection for 90 days, and from there, was able to break her opioid use disorder and rebuild her life. I heard from Alicia recently that on March 27, during the storm of COVID-19, Alicia and her husband Seth welcomed their daughter Arielle to the world. Congratulations to all three of you – stories like yours remind us of all of the life and hope that exists even amid this pandemic.

I am grateful that here on Zoom tonight we have Mary Jane Cain. Mary Jane and former Burlington Mayor Frank Cain attended my first seven State of the City addresses. Tonight, we also remember Frank and are so appreciative of the service that you and him have given to our community.

I am grateful for my family. Mom and Dad – thank you for all your guidance, encouragement, and love over the years. I look forward to being physically close to you again – I have some serious hugs for you. Stacy, Li Lin, and Ada – you are everything to me. I’m so fortunate to have a life partner like you, Stacy. Thank you for your unwavering support, wise counsel, and boundless love. Li Lin and Ada, thank you for being such wonderful daughters. Being your dad is awesome. Ada, I’m sure the tooth fairy already has heard that you lost your first tooth earlier this evening.

And finally, and above all, I am grateful for our Burlington community. This crisis has, already, reshaped so much of what was familiar to us just a month ago. One thing, though, hasn’t changed. Burlington continues to be a place where we leave chalk messages of greeting on the sidewalk for our neighbors walking by, where we volunteer to deliver meals to the front doors of seniors, and where, quite simply, we look out for each other. I know that we will get through these weeks and months ahead the same way we’ve gotten through the past few – together.

Thank you.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2020
Contact:  Jordan Redell
                 802-881-7020

Statement from Mayor Miro Weinberger Regarding Emergency Regulations

Burlington, VT – This week during daily public briefings, the City forecast that it would be issuing new enforcement measures and road closures consistent with the Governor’s Stay Home Stay Safe order. Late Friday, in order to have these measures in place for the weekend, and following the Attorney General’s afternoon release of a new directive for enforcement of the Governor’s COVID-19 executive order, the Mayor issued two emergency regulations with the goals of protecting public safety and creating more open space for people to do solitary exercise in compliance with social distancing guidelines.

Today the Mayor issued this statement regarding these new emergency regulations:

"I am grateful that the overwhelming majority of Burlingtonians are complying with the Stay Home Stay Safe order from the Governor. However, unfortunately, there are some individuals still choosing to put themselves and the greater public at risk with their actions, and the City has a responsibility to act to ensure public safety. The purpose of these citations is not to interfere in any way with people who are exercising outdoors, going to work, etc. in full compliance with the governor’s orders, but to address those who intentionally violate the orders, putting themselves and others at risk of spreading this disease.

"In response to overwhelming constituent outreach that the Bike Path and sidewalks were too crowded to stay compliant with social distancing guidelines, the City is limiting some streets to local traffic only in order to allow for individuals or households taking walks and exercising to more easily keep a 6-foot distance with others. These temporary measures will start this weekend and be expanded next weekend, and are intended to be in place only during the public health emergency.  Public feedback on these measures is welcome and the City will consider making adjustments as this emergency evolves.”

For additional information, please see the Mayor’s daily briefings from Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Statement from Mayor Miro Weinberger in Response to Court Order on Evictions and Foreclosures

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Weinberger released the following statement in response to Judge Helen Toor’s order on evictions and foreclosures [PDF].

“Since this emergency began I have been clear: no one should lose their housing in the middle of a pandemic that requires everyone to Stay Home. While the City has no direct role in eviction or foreclosure proceedings, I have been urging the Court and legislature to take action to keep Vermonters in their homes, and have told all Burlingtonians that if they fear losing their housing they should contact the City’s Resource and Recovery Center.

"Thank you to Superior Court Judge Helen Toor for recognizing that we are “facing unprecedented times” and taking swift action to protect Chittenden County residents from eviction and foreclosure for 90 days, with little exception. There will be complex financial and policy questions that we must still work through, and we will. For now, though, Judge Toor’s order is an important next step and reflects that our priority as a community is protecting health, life, and all of our neighbors.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Updates the Public on Burlington’s Response to COVID-19

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Weinberger shared the following update with the public regarding COVID-19 in Burlington.

Good afternoon. I want to start by acknowledging what a challenging time this is for everyone. Hourly workers, parents of young children and children of elderly parents, health care workers, grocery store workers, first responders, renters and homeowners and people experiencing homelessness, small business operators and large companies, the young and the old, officials at all levels of government – all of us – are facing issues that just a couple weeks ago would have been difficult to imagine.

This is truly a crisis in which we are all in it together.

And, a week after the Governor declared an emergency, I remain very confident that our community and our State will demonstrate the discipline, resolve, compassion, and resourcefulness necessary to weather this storm and protect each other until the clouds part, whenever that day may be.

Over the last 24 hours, the COVID-19 emergency in Burlington has deepened.

Yesterday, we lost our first Burlingtonian to the COVID-19 virus.

Earlier today, the State announced that there are now four other known infections at the facility that had been housing the victim, the Burlington Health and Rehab Center, which I understand to be the largest known outbreak in the State.

Further, we are starting to see a significant increase in patients entering our ICU – a critical health care resource in the battle against this pandemic.

In response to these events I would like to speak to the following topics this afternoon:

• These events at Burlington Health and Rehab
• New measures the City of Burlington is taking with respect to public facilities
• A new request I have made to the Governor’s office and the response I have gotten to that
• Burlington’s efforts to support all of our residents, businesses, and organization who are suffering in this moment, and the steps we will be taking in the days and weeks ahead to protect the City’s financial health in a moment of unprecedented financial uncertainty, as the financial crisis caused by the virus is deepening.

First, I want to send, again, my deepest condolences to the family of woman we lost yesterday. One member of the family has been in touch with me and I want the whole family to know that I understand that this loss is devastating and that I am thinking of you all.

I also would like to speak to the spread of the virus within the facility. I have been very concerned about the more than 80 patients in this facility since learning of the first infection Monday night. Throughout the week I have been in touch with senior members of the State team about the status of the center.

Early this morning, in response to my calls last night after the Governor’s press conference, I had a conference call with Dr. Levine and Secretary Smith. I voiced to them again my deep concern about the situation in the facility and asked them to publicly assure the families of the all the patients in Burlington Health and Rehab, many of whom live locally, that the State is doing everything possible to stop the further spread of the virus within the facility.

I have made a number of specific requests with respect to the facility to the State:

One, while understanding that there is currently an acute shortage of available test kits nationally and locally, I asked them to prioritize appropriate virus testing at this facility to identify as quickly as possible all patients and health care workers who are infected or suspected of infection.

In my call with Dr. Levine this afternoon he confirmed that all symptomatic residents and symptomatic staff are being tested.

Further he indicated that the total number of symptomatic staff and residents is much larger that the confirmed positive cases at this point. To avoid any confusion, I think it is important that you seek the accurate, current figures from the Department of Health.

He stressed, again as he did at the press conference, that there are other illnesses within the facility, and it is possible that some of these symptoms are not related to COVID-19.

Secondly, I have requested assurances from the State and the facility that the latest CDC guidance regarding infected sites is being followed. That guidance will be released with my remarks today. Specifically I am looking to the department of health to confirm that the following critical guidance from the CDC has been achieved:

“Facilities with confirmed cases should be isolating infected/suspected infected patients in separate, well-ventilated triage areas or private rooms with a closed door and private bathroom if possible. Facilities should begin implementing engineering controls including physical barriers and curtains between patients facility-wide.”

In my conversation with Commissioner Levine this afternoon he indicated that this was the goal that the State and the center are working towards. I have requested confirmation that this has been fully achieved.

Finally, I asked Dr. Levine whether any of the symptomatic health care workers have recently been working in other nursing homes or health care facilities and he indicated that he would get back to me with a confirmed answer to this question.

I also would like the public to know that I have spoke to the Executive Director of the facility today and offered him any support he needs in addressing this crisis. He indicated that they are running low on emergency supplies, as many facilities are. I welcomed Commissioner Levine’s statement that the State is assisting with this situation. The City too will stay engaged with this issue and offer any help we can, though our supplies too are already running low.

I was reassured in my call with the Director that the families are being communicated with by the center twice a day. I have requested to join their next call and have the City participate in all calls going forward during this crisis.

Finally, the quick spread of the virus within this facility makes clear how vulnerable facilities of this type are. On Tuesday of this week after learning of the infection I had a conference call in which we invited all senior care providers and I urged them to double and triple check their practices and protocols for limiting the spread of the virus. Today I am publicly repeating that call and attaching the latest CDC guidance in case they are not yet aware of it.

Now I will address some new City actions in response to recent developments.

As people continue to gather in parks, and as most are doing so carefully, we welcome people getting outside but want to ensure that they are doing so safely. We are putting up new signage reaffirming social distancing measures in parks and playgrounds. The City will be monitoring compliance with these signs daily to determine whether additional measures are needed.

Today, I also reached out to the Governor’s Office to look into closing movie theaters, gyms, recreation facilities and possibly other businesses. Many of these businesses have already closed voluntarily, which I welcome. At this point, I understand from the Governor’s Office that the Governor is considering additional action in this area.

I know it is challenging for Burlingtonians to have services removed. Even as certain parts of daily life must change during this time, the City team is also working hard and with creatively to develop new services. Here are some examples:

The Library is now offering outside Pick Up Service, where residents can place books on hold and when they are ready, pick them up at designated times outside the library.

The Library also offers many online resources, from downloadable ebooks and audiobooks, to streaming movies and TV shows. Librarians are available for phone calls, emails, and online char during open hours to help everyone navigate these resources.

Meanwhile, our Burlington City Arts has launched a new online community and resource called Home Studio, and plans to add to it with creative activities for the community to participate in together while at home every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Our Parks, Recreation & Waterfront team is assisting in providing free meals for youth ages 18 and under at 11 locations around Burlington.

And most of all, remember that our parks are still open. Getting outside, while physically distancing, is not only allowed, it's encouraged. Though our recreation buildings are closed, we’ve put out the tennis and pickleball nets early and all of our parks and trails remain open.

Next, I want to share information about the work that we are doing to develop economic relief for Burlingtonians. We are drafting an emergency resolution that will go to the Council for approval Monday. This resolution has several parts:

First, our employee emergency leave policy.

Second, authorization to set up a Burlington Resources and Recovery Center. This Center will be staffed by temporarily repurposed CEDO employees and potentially other employees, and one of its primary functions will be to support Burlingtonians with accessing State and Federal resources. It will also deploy some City resources. This center will provide direct support to the person experiencing homelessness looking for a hotel voucher, the restaurant worker who just lost their job and is worried about paying their rent, and the local entrepreneur who has had to close or dramatically change their business over the last week.

Third, we currently are still examining the full range of what fee, penalty, and even tax waivers and extensions we will be able to offer, and what it will take to do that. We’ve already announced no utility cutoffs for non-payment, and I expect that there will be other measures like this.

Fourth, we will need to take initial steps Monday to protect the City’s financial health given an expected significant reduction in City revenues and our responsibilities to our employees. We are anticipating millions of dollars of lost and delayed revenues for the remainder of the fiscal year and need to take immediate action to be prepared for that.

Next, I want to speak to homelessness and COVID-19.

We know that people experiencing homelessness are among the vulnerable populations susceptible to the virus, especially in crowded shelters. We are working with DCF, which is leading the State’s coordination of homelessness resources, to expand the motel voucher program so that we can establish necessary social distancing in shelters by allowing people who are experiencing homelessness to stay in hotels or motels. (For additional information on this, please watch the video of the Mayor’s remarks: https://www.facebook.com/MiroBTV/videos/2860654944026177)

To close, it is important to note that the community response in Burlington and throughout the country has been incredible. We can’t sugarcoat this situation – we have big challenges in the months ahead, and we are a long way from full a resolution.  However, the collaborative response between different levels of government, between community partners including the UVM Medical Center and the schools, and among residents, has been unlike anything I have seen in my time as Mayor.

Garrett Graff, who is a writer and Burlington resident, wrote a piece in The Atlantic yesterday said, “The most isolating thing most of us has ever done is, ironically, almost surely the most collective experience we’ve ever had in our lifetimes.”

I have confidence that when we get to the other side of this, we will look back at this as one of the times that the country rose to the call and came together in a stunning way. We are not there yet. That requires a lot of work to get there, so we have to take our share of that and we need people to step up. There are so many inspiring examples already and there are going to be many more in the months ahead.

The first priority has to be to protect the health of this community. Once we have our health, we can figure the rest out, and that is what we will do.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Declares Emergency and Announces New City Actions in Response to COVID-19

All bars ordered to close and in-person dining to cease for at least 24 hours starting at 6:00 am tomorrow; City suspending disconnections of municipal utility services until further notice and working to put together broad relief package; City will close or restrict access to all City buildings and curtail many City services starting Wednesday

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced new City actions in response to the coronavirus. These actions are:

• Declaring an emergency in the City of Burlington in order to exercise emergency powers to protect public health and safety;
• Ordering the closing of all bars and the cessation of in-person dining for 24 hours starting at 6:00 am tomorrow, March 17, which is St. Patrick's Day, with the likelihood that these closings and cessations will continue;
• Cancellation of all Board and Commission meetings through March while we develop a plan and mechanism for remote public meetings, with the exception of the Board of Finance and City Council meetings on March 23, which we will still hold. Please look out for additional information on remote plans for these two March 23 meetings;
• Closing or restricting access to all City buildings and curtailing many City services in the interest of social distancing, starting Wednesday, March 18 and continuing at least until April 6. Please see the City's landing page for coronavirus updates for information about suspended or restricted City services; and
• Suspending disconnections of municipal utility services for non-payment until further notice and working to put together a broad relief package.

Read Mayor Weinberger's full announcement:

Good afternoon.

Yesterday in our Telephone Town Meeting I advised Burlingtonians that many elements of daily life were likely to change in the coming days in response to the global outbreak of coronavirus.

Today, we are announcing new City actions and more of those changes.

The City is taking further action because we are dealing with a global pandemic unlike any other that we have seen in modern times.

Around the world and the United States, we are seeing this virus spread at an almost exponential rate.

In northern Italy we have seen the health care system completely overwhelmed by the virus, resulting in likely avoidable deaths e believe of patients infected by the virus, patients suffering from other illnesses, and health care workers.

Within this country, in Seattle, the site of one of the earliest and largest COVID-19 outbreak in America to date, medical supplies are running low, administrators are searching for ways to expand hospital bed capacity, health care workers are being asked to work extra shifts as their peers self-isolate, and hospital administrators are rapidly changing protocols as the outbreak stresses the system.

Here in Vermont, we are hopeful that we may still be able to take decisive steps to slow the spread of the virus and keep our health care system functioning well throughout this emergency.

While we do not know how many individuals in this community are currently infected, the fact that a very low number of patients are hospitalized at this time is a positive current fact.

I believe it is my job to do everything within my authority and responsibility to keep these numbers as low as possible, to protect this medical capacity, and to flatten the curve of new infections.

Already, the City has taken a number of actions in service of this effort in recent days.

Today, I am announcing new actions in the City’s response.

First, I am declaring an emergency here in the City of Burlington in order to exercise emergency powers to protect public health and safety.

Second, starting Wednesday, the City will close or restrict access to all City buildings and curtail many City services in the interest of social distancing. Our expectation is that these closings and curtailments will be in effect until at least April 6 and possibly longer.

We will suspend in-person programming of the Fletcher Free Library, Burlington City Arts, and Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department.

Numerous other City services will be suspended or restricted. Our current plan – subject to change – will be detailed on the City’s website later today on our landing page for all coronavirus updates: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/covid-19

I want to be clear that we intend to continue many City services throughout this emergency. These include: Water, electricity, emergency response, maintenance of streets and sidewalks, and recycling pickup. These also include internal functions like human resources and payroll, as I have committed to all City employees that we will ensure that they will continue to be paid no matter what actions or cancellations the City must take during this public health emergency.

Third, as a further social distancing strategy, I am ordering the closing all bars and cessation of in-person dining for 24 hours starting at 6:00 am tomorrow, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day – traditionally a day of large crowds in Burlington – in the interest of enforcing the Governor’s order banning crowds over 50 people. I believe it is highly likely that these closings and cessations will continue beyond Tuesday and will update the public tomorrow on this. Restaurants will still be able to offer food takeout and delivery. (Update: Following the City's announcement, Governor Scott announced that bars and restaurants will close for in-person drinking and dining starting at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, and continuing through April 6. The Mayor's order of closure starting at the earlier time of 6:00 am Tuesday is still in effect).

Before announcing further actions, I want to pause to acknowledge that while we hope these actions will save lives and otherwise protect our community, we know that they will cause economic damage. I have great concern about how these steps and others announced at the state and federal levels will impact hourly-wage workers, renters, and small businesses. I know many members of our community have great uncertainty and fear about how they will cope in the immediate future.

To address that uncertainty and make sure we are doing everything possible to ensure that vulnerable members of our community get the help they need in the days, weeks and months ahead, I have tasked Luke McGowan, the Director of the Community and Economic Development Office, to head up our relief efforts.

We expect to have considerable additional measures and information to share about this relief effort later in the week. For now we can announce the following:

• The City will suspend disconnections of our municipal utility services – electricity and water – for non-payment until further notice. Of course, Burlingtonians who can pay these bills should continue to do so.
• Further, I have confirmed that the organizations that house our most vulnerable populations in Burlington (CHT, BHA, Cathedral Square) have committed to the goal of suspending all evictions and the city will support them in this effort. 
• Further, I urge all private property owners to commit to voluntarily suspend evictions for individuals who can supply documentation of COVID-related economic hardship

Again, I know that additional steps will be needed, and I have instructed our team at CEDO to review all of municipal fee waivers, tools, and programs that we can use to offer relief to residents and local businesses in the days and weeks ahead. I plan to have another announcement regarding a relief package as soon as possible in the coming days.

There will be many questions to work through in the days and weeks ahead.

We don’t have all of the answers yet. But we are working hard and with creativity to respond to all of the needs of this crisis.

Lastly, I want to thank Governor Scott for his leadership in recognizing the magnitude of this crisis and taking swift action to address it.

I am also grateful for the action that Burlingtonians of all backgrounds have taken already to protect the community, their neighbors and elderly populations. We will need much more of this ethic of personal responsibility and sacrifice in the days to come.

For more information, see:

• Mayor Weinberger's Executive Order Declaring a Coronavirus Emergency [PDF]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
               (802) 734-0617

Mayor Miro Weinberger Appoints Tyeastia Green as City’s First Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the appointment of Tyeastia Green as the City’s first Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REI&B). Tyeastia brings experience working with municipal employees on race and equity issues in Bloomington, Minnesota.

“Breaking down the barriers of institutional racism and implicit bias requires hard, detailed, and sustained organizational work,” said Mayor Weinberger. “The creation of this role represents a milestone in the City’s decades of efforts to advance equity. I am excited and grateful that Tyeastia has agreed to relocate to Burlington to help lead this critical work.”

Mayor Weinberger and the City Council created this position in September 2019 to further advance the City’s work on equity and inclusion. At the time, Mayor Weinberger said that the position represented an important next step for racial equity and inclusion within the City, and was hopeful that the creation of the position would bring new focus and energy to this work.

Tyeastia will bring many strengths to the REI&B Director role, including:

• Experience developing racial equity programs, including a Start Seeing Color campaign, Racial Equity Toolkit, and antiracism trainings for municipal employees in Minnesota; and
• Background in teaching, creating racial affinity groups, and leading discussions on race and antiracism in higher education.

Tyeastia began her career working in Information Technology and transitioned to the public sector in 2015. She is moving to Burlington from Minneapolis for the position, having most recently worked for the City of Bloomington, Minn. At the City of Bloomington she worked with a team to create the City’s first Racial Equity Toolkit, a policy document to inform decisions the City makes through the lens of racial equity. While with the City of Bloomington, Tyeastia also developed the Start Seeing Color campaign to bring visibility to race. Tyeastia has earned a graduate degree in Public Affairs-Antiracism/Racial Social Justice and Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, which she pursued out of a desire to give back to her community and change racial disparities and outcomes.

“I am excited about this position because of its focus on inclusion, and specifically, working toward normalizing the ‘others’ and doing it through engagement, facilitation, and education,” said Tyeastia. “I understand that being a part of the Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) community is not monolithic. We are all striving individually and collectively for equality and equity. Because of that, I want to use my leadership to be an influencer to change the narrative. I want to change how race is used as being a detriment to being used as an asset. I once heard a quote that said, ‘the people who are crazy enough to believe they can change the world, are the ones who do,’ and I want to change the world.”

Tyeastia and her wife are relocating to Burlington in March.

Creation of the Position

In 2014, the City published a Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan and established a Core Team of senior City staff and community members to consult on City decisions through an equity lens.  The Core Team played a valuable role over the last five years as the City pursued numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including consistent strong law enforcement responses to hate crimes, aggressively opposing the Trump Administration’s immigration policies, making some progress diversifying our workforce, expanding implicit bias training of our police and senior officials, altering police practices, and more.

The passage of nearly five years since the writing of the strategic plan, and changes to the national, state, and local landscapes, prompted the Administration to take stock of these efforts. The position of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director was conceived of in order to create a single point of contact and accountability for racial justice initiatives within the Administration, and charge one person with a mandate and capacity to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives day in and day out.

During the hiring process, Tyeastia proposed changing the title of the position to the Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. She shared that in this field, professionals are moving away from the term “diversity” because it reinforces the separation of black and indigenous people of color from a majority white population. Replacing this word with “belonging” will more accurately characterize the intended work of this position, which is to create a sense of belonging and inclusion for people of all backgrounds in the City.

Search Process for the Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

For this search, the City was specifically looking for someone who could form a new department in the City and revisit the City’s Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan from 2014.

The search began in November 2019. The process included:

• Posting the position locally, state-wide, and nationally, as well as specific outreach to diverse communities and supplemental recruitment efforts through the Mayor’s Office.
• Assembling a search committee to review resumes that met the minimum requirements and conduct initial interviews of both Vermont and out-of-state candidates. The search committee members were:
  • Jordan Redell, Mayor’s Chief of Staff
  • Brian Lowe, City’s Chief Innovation Officer
  • Sharon Bushor, City Councilor for Ward 1
  • Hal Colston, State Legislator and Director of Partnership for Change
  • Phet Keomanyvanh, CEDO Community Development Specialist
  • Lynn-Ellen Schimoler, member of the Mayor’s former Core Team
  • Wanda Heading-Grant, Vice President for Human Resource, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at the University of Vermont
  • Vanessa Santos Eugenio, City’s HR Talent, Recruitment, and Training Specialist
• Tyeastia visited Burlington at the end of January and met with additional City leaders and community members.

At the conclusion of the search, Tyeastia’s commitment to racial equity work and experience working in a municipality demonstrated that she is the right person to take on this position. Tyeastia will begin in the position the on April 6.

Please see:

• Photo of Tyeastia
• Tyeastia's resume

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2020
Contact: Olivia LaVecchia
                (802) 734-0617

Mayor Weinberger, Community Partners Announce Pilot Year Progress of the Burlington Early Learning Initiative’s First Steps Scholarship Program and Expanded Program for 2020

The scholarship program will be accepting applications from March 2 to April 17 for fall 2020 enrollment, continuing the City’s innovative model to expand high-quality child care opportunities for Burlington youth

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger and community partners today announced the progress of the first year of the Burlington Early Learning Initiative’s First Steps Scholarship Program and plans for an expanded year two. In its pilot year, the scholarship program achieved its goal of supporting and placing at least 20 children whose families have low incomes in high-quality child care in the Burlington area. Now, in the program’s second year, the City plans to double the size of the program from 20 to more than 40 children. The second year application period will be open from March 2 to April 17.

“High-quality child care plays a crucial role in preparing our youngest children for school and life.  All Burlington children deserve this kind of care, but today it is out of reach for many,” said Mayor Weinberger. “The expansion of the First Steps Scholarship Program offers hope that in the future we will be a city where all Burlington children get this care and a full opportunity to thrive.”

Mayor Weinberger was joined in the announcement by Let’s Grow Kids CEO Aly Richards, City Councilor Karen Paul (Ward 6), Sara Holbrook Community Center Executive Director Leisa Pollander, City of Burlington Chief Innovation Officer Brian Lowe, and others. City Councilor Brian Pine (Ward 3) and Pine Forest Children's Center Executive Director Christina Goodwin also shared reactions to this announcement in writing below.

Expanding the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program for Fall 2020

The Burlington Early Learning Initiative (ELI) is an innovative municipal program that takes a multi-pronged approach to making child care more affordable and accessible for Burlington families. One prong is the ELI capacity grants, which the City awards to child care providers to support the creation of new spaces, since one of the barriers to child care is that there are not enough spaces available. The second prong is the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program, which the City launched in February 2019 in order to connect children from families with low incomes with child care opportunities. Program recipients receive both a scholarship and a guaranteed spot in a high-quality child care program in the Burlington area.

The pilot year of the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program is now complete, and achieved its goal of placing at least 20 Burlington children in high-quality care. When the City launched the program, it was clear that 2019 would be a pilot year, and that it would seek to learn from the first year to expand the program in future years.

Today, Mayor Weinberger and community partners announced plans to do just that, and more than double the size of the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program. In 2020, the City will seek to grow the program from 20 to more than 40 children. For more information about the cost model for the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program, please see Appendix B.

About the pilot year of the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program:

• In the first year, 29 families were offered spots, 22 accepted spots and began attending, and two families withdrew from the program in the first five months.
• Of these 29 families, 18 are single parent households, 12 need child care in order to get or retain a job, and seven speak a language other than English at home.
• Families are eligible to apply to the program is they do not currently receive Child Care Financial Assistance Program benefits and have a family income at or less than 65 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), which equals $59,670 for a family of four.
• The program costs in the first year are approximately $93,000, and this investment also has leveraged an estimated additional $212,000 in State subsidy.

Like the ELI capacity grants, the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program also helps stabilize high-quality child care providers – thereby not only benefiting families, but also strengthening the entire child care system. The City has designed the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program with input from many partners, including representatives from the Burlington School District, the UVM Medical Center, Head Start, the Vermont Community Loan Foundation, and a number of child care providers.

“The City of Burlington recognizes that we can’t afford to wait on getting families what they need to thrive which is why the City has stepped up and taken action to address our state’s child care crisis,” said Aly Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow Kids. “Every one of us has a role to play in getting this right for our kids, families, and communities – and that’s why Let’s Grow Kids is proud to partner with the City, Mayor Weinberger, and Burlington’s early education leaders on the Early Learning Initiative. Making sure that every family who needs it can access high-quality, affordable child care is our best bet for building a better Vermont today and for generations to come.”

Community Leaders Share Support for the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program’s Second Year

“There is no question that all our community’s children must have the ability to access high-quality early childhood education. Our community is enriched by children being ready for school,” said City Councilor Karen Paul (Ward 6). “I feel very fortunate that our three children received a quality early childhood education in Burlington and understand the struggles many parents face in finding excellent and affordable early childhood options in our community. Today’s announcement brings us one step closer to closing this opportunity gap and bringing essential education to our City’s lower income families.”

“I’m pleased to see the City planning to double the size of the scholarship program, so that more low-income Burlington families can access valuable, high-quality care,” said City Councilor Brian Pine (Ward 3). “I raised my family in this neighborhood and they attended Sara Holbrook programs, and it has only become harder to find and to afford quality child care over the years even as the importance of high-quality care has increased.”

“Burlington’s investment in early childhood education is aligned with the Sara Holbrook Community Center’s mission, focused on the provision of quality, meaningful educational and recreational opportunities,” said Leisa Pollander, Executive Director of the Sara Holbrook Community Center. “We deeply appreciate the leadership of the Mayor’s Office and City Council and their recognition that investment in capacity building for prevention programming does truly support some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The Center is committed to applying for scholarship funds that will enhance access for children dually enrolled in Head Start and the SHCC. The expansion project of this facility will increase not only early education slots, but will also increase the number of elementary out-of-school slots, addressing the needs of working families.”

"The First Steps Scholarship Program has proven to be an innovative approach for helping families find high-quality childcare slots,” said Christina Goodwin, Executive Director of Pine Forest Children’s Center. “This program has allowed Pine Forest Children's Center (PFCC) to expand our available slots for families receiving Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFAP), thereby further diversifying our early childhood program. First Steps provides financial support to programs by filling the gap between CCFAP and the real cost of tuition. With these additional funds, PFCC has been able to develop a plan for increasing wages for teachers over the next two years and diversifying the benefits we offer. This program has proven to support families living in Burlington find high quality care for their young children, supported our program to provide a livable wage for our early childhood educators, and helped us envision better ways to provide early care as teachers to the city's youngest citizens.”

“The First Steps Scholarship program is designed to benefit Burlington families, provide new revenues to high quality child care centers, and leverage additional State subsidy funds without increasing the City’s operating costs,” said Brian Lowe, the City’s Chief Innovation Officer. “The program has benefited from excellent input from child care providers, Let’s Grow Kids, and representatives from the school district and healthcare system. I am excited that the City intends to expand the program in its second year to meet this critical need.”

Update on the Early Learning Initiative’s Capacity Grant Program

To date, the capacity grant program has awarded $662,424 to create up to 85 new high-quality spots and stabilize 166 enrolled spots at high-quality centers. Seventy of the new spots created are for children zero to three years old, and 15 are for children three to five years old. Though about 350 children are born in Burlington each year, prior to the ELI program’s inception, Let’s Grow Kids estimates that there were only 201 high-quality child care spots in the City serving Burlington and non-Burlington families. The stabilized, regulated, and full-time spots include 85 spots for children zero to three and 77 spots for children three to five years old.

In addition, incentivized by the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program, one child care provider – Little Lakers in Colchester – completed the work to increase its STAR rating in order to participate in the scholarship program. This led to an increase in high-quality care of 59 licensed spots. A complete listing of the capacity grants awarded as part of a competitive process, involving a Grant Committee of community stakeholders, a recommendation of the Mayor to City Council, and City Council approval, is included as Appendix A.

Background

Investment in early childhood education has been demonstrated to help prepare children for school, narrow the opportunity gap, improve health outcomes, and reduce future public spending. Since July 2018, thanks to an annual Council appropriation of $500,000 to fund the effort, the support of the Mayor’s Office, and a productive partnership with Let’s Grow Kids, the Burlington Early Learning Initiative has run a capacity grant program to increase and preserve high-quality child care spots in Burlington and has established the ELI First Steps Scholarship Program to provide Burlington families with low incomes with access to high-quality care. ELI has focused primarily on children aged zero to three, and high-quality is defined by achieving a 4- or 5-STAR ranking in the State’s STARs quality improvement and recognition system for early care and education programs. The Burlington Early Learning Initiative is among leaders nationally in its focus on infants and toddlers, and the long-term goal of the program is to ensure that all Burlington children have the opportunity to succeed regardless of family income.

For more information about the Burlington Early Learning Initiative, please download appendices A-D [PDF], which contain the following:

• Appendix A: ELI Capacity Grant Program Results
• Appendix B: ELI First Steps Scholarship Program cost model
• Appendix C: ELI First Steps Scholarship program results
• Appendix D: ELI First Steps Scholarship Program advertisement, including translations into multiple languages

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2020
Contacts:   Jordan Redell, Mayor’s Office, 802.881.7020
                    Mike Kanarick, Burlington Electric Department, 802.735.7962
                    Beth Parent, VGS, 802.578.2776
                    Annie Mackin, University of Vermont Medical Center, 802.847.5909

Mayor Miro Weinberger, Burlington Electric Department, UVM Medical Center, and VGS Announce Milestone Step Forward to  Phase 2 of Updated District Energy System Project 

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy Secures Significant Federal Funds for District Energy Projects

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger, Burlington Electric Department (BED), University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC), VGS, and the Burlington District Energy System (BURDES) Committee, a group of interested local citizens, today announced a milestone step forward to Phase 2 of an updated district energy system (DES) project. The DES would bring Burlington the potential for significant energy savings and meaningful climate action. After decades of work toward this system, Phase 2 will mark the first time that BED, VGS, and UVMMC will reach the stage of engaging in detailed engineering analysis and refined economic modeling.

Creating a DES in Burlington would meet the long-held goal of recovering waste heat and additional steam from BED’s McNeil Generating Station, and using those sources to provide thermal energy to UVMMC via steam pipe. This system would reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions in Burlington, and mark a significant step toward Burlington’s goal to become a Net Zero Energy city. DES also has the potential to make McNeil more efficient and to modestly diversify the market for the energy produced at the station. In addition, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy recently has secured millions of dollars of federal funds for district energy projects, including ones like Burlington’s DES project.

“Creating a District Energy System is one of the most significant local strategies available to us to respond to the climate emergency and meet our ambitious climate goals here in Burlington,” stated Mayor Weinberger. “It is exciting that, for the first time in 35 years of exploring such a system, we are advancing to the stage of detailed engineering and economic analysis. While much work remains, today’s news represents a major breakthrough.”

“It’s not enough to wish solutions to climate change into being,” stated Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “It takes determination, creativity, and hard work to deliver on the bold visions that will impact our future. Cities like Burlington are leading the way in these efforts, and I applaud Mayor Weinberger and BED for moving this project from vision toward action. I fought to include funding for the Department of Energy to support community-scale projects because I believe the federal government needs to be an active partner in local initiatives like this one.”

Sen. Leahy has strongly supported district energy over the years and worked successfully to include language in the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bills that provides $10 million in competitive grants for community district energy projects such as Burlington’s proposed system. The funds are part of the U.S. Department of Energy budget, and the available grants focus on systems that are renewably-fueled like Burlington’s DES.

“As confirmed by our Net Zero Energy Roadmap, a district energy system remains perhaps the single greatest opportunity to reduce thermal sector greenhouse gas emissions in Burlington,” stated Darren Springer, BED General Manager. “While we have more work ahead to ensure that this project can pencil out economically and is technically feasible, BED is proud to commit today to continue that work with VGS and UVMMC. Today’s announcement that the partners are advancing this important project to Phase 2 represents the most significant progress to date toward making district energy a reality for our City.”

“VGS is creating an ambitious and comprehensive strategy to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with a near-term goal of 30 percent reduction in the next decade,” stated Don Rendall, VGS President and CEO. “Partnering with Burlington Electric Department, the City of Burlington, and the University of Vermont Medical Center to provide renewable heat to large customers will help significantly reduce our carbon footprint. Today’s announcement marks significant progress towards making this project a reality.”

“As part of our commitment to environmental responsibility, the UVM Medical Center seeks out cost effective opportunities to reduce energy consumption while reducing our carbon footprint,” stated Dawn LeBaron, Vice President, Hospital Services, University of Vermont Medical Center. “In the past several years, we have continued to improve our environmental profile by optimizing HVAC systems, implementing LED lighting upgrades, and initiating a limited purchase of renewable natural gas. Our new Miller Building is an example of this commitment. Phase 2 of the DES project presents an exciting opportunity to explore going even further by taking advantage of an existing resource that holds great promise. The UVM Medical Center’s vital next step is to do a thorough analysis to be sure the project will help us meet our sustainability goals while continuing to provide the highest quality care to our patients and families. We will complete this analysis with our partners, work together to determine what is possible, and build on that knowledge to continue working toward climate change solutions into the future.”

Phase 2 process brings Burlington one step closer to DES

Advancing this work to Phase 2 is a significant milestone in the exploration of DES that began in 2016. During Phase 2, which will span approximately five months, the parties will:

• Conduct street-level engineering analysis, examine rights of way, and coordinate with Burlington’s Department of Public Works to explore potential synergies between DES and planned street work;
• Refine the economic analysis, review available incentives and grants, and develop a final DES cost estimate;
• Include in the economic modeling a proposed revenue structure to compensate the McNeil joint owners for the production and sale of thermal energy; 
• Examine multiple regulatory, financing, and ownership structures to determine which model would provide the greatest benefit, as well as appropriate operational and financial risk mitigation; and
• Analyze operational protocols for dispatch and integration of McNeil thermal energy and the existing UVMMC thermal system to ensure the reliability of a DES.

The parties have committed to reporting on their progress at the conclusion of Phase 2 and, at that point, determining whether the DES as currently envisioned ultimately will be economical and technically feasible. If that determination is positive, the parties will work to advance the project into the permitting and approval phase that would precede construction and operation of the DES.

“BURDES is excited to support the Phase 2 effort,” stated Jan Schultz, BURDES co-founder and former Burlington Electric Commissioner. “Systems such as Burlington’s DES can benefit from both state and federal support to help make them financially feasible. After many years of awareness raising and study, this is a concrete step to move the DES forward in Burlington. We are in the throes of a climate crisis, and an initial DES in Burlington will become a significant part of a major effort to mitigate the effects of fossil fuel use for building heating. I applaud the City and eagerly await the results of the Phase 2 study.”

“Sometimes the most innovative ideas must be driven into practice with courage, patience, and fortitude,” stated Karen Paul, Burlington City Councilor (Ward 6) and former Chair of the Burlington Electric Commission. “District energy was envisioned in Burlington a few decades ago; it is a testament to our community and our partners’ resilience in finding a way to bring this sustainable form of energy to the next step. Our commitment to our Net Zero Energy goal must mean a staunch and active responsibility to ‘walk our talk’ and aggressively address our global climate emergency. This latest development shows how critical it is for our community to work cooperatively and collaboratively with many partners so that, together, we can lower our carbon footprint and continue Burlington and BED’s proud tradition of energy efficiency, renewable generation, and sustainably growing our future.”

“For decades, the Burlington Electric Commission has endeavored to reflect the goals of our community in providing safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally-sound energy,” stated Gabrielle Stebbins, Chair of the Burlington Electric Commission. “Continuing past BED's achievement of 100 percent renewably-sourced electricity towards a Net Zero Energy city across nearly all energy consumption requires creativity, trust, and partnerships. Today's announcement reflects these core tenets of our Queen City community.”

Bold climate goals strengthen the DES collaboration

Fall of 2019 marked a series of steps that led to the beginning of the Phase 2 process. First, in September 2019, Mayor Weinberger and BED released Burlington’s Net Zero Energy Roadmap, which confirmed that a DES is a significant component of reducing and eventually eliminating fossil fuel use in the thermal sector. VGS, a key partner in exploring the possibility of a Burlington DES since the beginning of the current feasibility work that began in 2016, announced in November 2019 a strategy to achieve 20 percent renewable natural gas by 2030, boost investment in weatherization, and support district energy projects in Burlington and Middlebury, all in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, UVMMC is committed to becoming the most environmentally responsible health care organization in the country and has been recognized by Practice Greenhealth with a top 25 Environmental Excellence Award. UVMMC also recently joined Burlington 2030, a local partnership that aims to reduce transportation emissions, energy use, and water consumption by 50 percent by 2030. This collaborative is part of a national network of cities working to fight climate change. The BED, VGS, and UVMMC climate stewardship announcements strengthen the alignment of the parties and the commitment to advance DES in Burlington.

Background: BED and VGS re-engage with Ever-Green Energy

In the second half of 2019, BED and VGS initiated a new Phase 1 economic feasibility analysis with Ever-Green Energy. Previously, Ever-Green conducted a DES study for Burlington in 2014. The new Phase 1 feasibility analysis focused this time on a steam (instead of hot water) system, which would have the potential to make customer connections to the system less costly and complex, thereby reducing the initial capital investment required while still significantly reducing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce the initial capital cost relative to potential thermal sales, it was determined that the steam system would not attempt to connect other downtown area customers at this time. BED and VGS shared the cost of Ever-Green’s new Phase 1 analysis, with BED’s share coming from Thermal Energy and Process Fuel (TEPF) program funds available to support DES under new legislation passed by the Vermont Legislature in 2018 and 2019, the details of which are explained further below.

The results of the 2019 Phase 1 analysis were positive, and demonstrated that a district energy steam system could reduce thermal fossil fuel use at UVMMC by approximately half, while also significantly reducing the cost to build a system by more than half compared to the former model. This Ever-Green version of DES would be an approximately $16 million capital project, or $24 million less than the approximately $40 million prior DES model. The most cost-effective steam system would focus on providing renewable thermal energy of approximately 125,000 MMBTU annually from BED’s McNeil Generating Station, a 50-megawatt, biomass-powered (woodchip burning) plant owned and operated by three joint owners – BED (50 percent), Green Mountain Power (31 percent), and Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (19 percent) – to UVMMC.

As a result of this Phase 1 analysis, as well as earlier work, it was determined that adding University of Vermont (UVM) buildings or CityPlace Burlington and the downtown corridor at this time would add to the initial capital cost without providing enough additional energy service to be economical. Therefore, now, DES is moving forward with plans to focus on UVMMC. However, as part of a future system expansion, it could be possible to consider adding UVM buildings or otherwise expanding the system to include new customers and sources of thermal energy.

Based both on the progress made in the Ever-Green Phase 1 analysis and on the commitments of BED, VGS, and UVMMC to continue exploring and advancing a DES, the three partners have agreed for the first time to advance the work with Ever-Green to Phase 2. To formalize this step, BED, VGS, and UVMMC signed a letter agreement on February 3, 2020 (attached) outlining the roles and responsibilities of each party during the estimated four- to five-month DES Phase 2 process. BED and VGS have agreed to cost-share the Phase 2 Ever-Green work, which BED would fund through TEPF funds dedicated for this purpose.

HISTORY OF A BURLINGTON DES

Community stakeholders advocate for creating value from McNeil waste heat

The potential positive contributions of a DES in Burlington have been advocated for decades by a group of engaged community stakeholders. As far back as 1994, BED has studied and evaluated the district energy opportunity for Burlington. Feasibility studies were conducted and reports prepared for the City in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2002 with little progress after the publication of those reports. Founded in 2007, BURDES has worked to move a Burlington district energy project forward through the development of both financial and technical feasibility studies for the downtown, UVMMC, UVM, and other Burlington customers. In 2014, BED, UVMMC, and UVM engaged Ever-Green Energy to complete a district energy feasibility study. The Ever-Green report concluded that, although the project was technically feasible, a number of other factors, including the low price of natural gas, made it infeasible at that time.

Mayor calls for one final effort to achieve a DES

In July 2014, Mayor Weinberger tasked BED with exploring one final effort to either find a way to move forward with the long-sought district energy plan or determine definitively that the effort was not feasible. BED, on behalf of the City of Burlington, worked closely with BURDES, UVMMC, and UVM to rigorously review previous studies and develop a comprehensive financial model to understand the economic issues. At that time the partners added the CityPlace Burlington redevelopment project with its projected new thermal load, as well as VGS with its extensive thermal experience, to the table. BED and its partners then sought an experienced outside partner to work with the City to explore models that would move a DES from conceptualization to design, building, financing, ownership, and operation by serving UVMMC, selected UVM buildings, CityPlace Burlington, and other Burlington customers using heat (in the form of hot water) from the McNeil biomass plant. 

Corix Utilities selected as DES partner

In September 2016, the partners selected Corix Utilities, a privately held, community-focused corporation with international experience in providing utility infrastructure services, management, and products for municipal, institutional, military, and private-sector customers, to evaluate the structure and potential economics of a DES. Phase 1 of that effort involved a high-level economic and operational feasibility analysis for a DES.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City/BED and Corix detailing next steps, including the terms of the study and due diligence effort was signed. As noted in the Mayor’s September 28, 2016 announcement, the cost was shared evenly among BED and its key partners, including UVMMC, VGS, UVM, and CityPlace Burlington. Corix then worked with the partners and community organizations to evaluate and understand the technical and financial viability of a Burlington-based DES, including the optimal structure for implementation. The work under the MOU was completed by Corix, and a Phase 1 feasibility report was presented to potential DES customers and community stakeholders in July 2017. The report focused on a proposed hot water-based DES that would have extended both to the UVM and UVMMC campuses and the City’s downtown. The Corix study found this version of DES to be a cost-competitive heating option (at a high level) with a business as usual case, assuming customers partially or fully transitioned their existing thermal systems to DES and achieved significant capital and operating cost savings in the transition.

During the second half of 2017 and much of 2018, the BED team worked with its key partners and Corix to develop estimated customer costs to connect to the new system, and examined logistical and technical barriers to creating the system. Simultaneously, Corix developed a letter agreement for customers to consider, with terms and conditions for moving to a Phase 2 of DES scoping that would have involved performing detailed street-level engineering work, refining the system engineering and cost/rate estimates, and exploring and finalizing a regulatory-financing-ownership structure for the DES.

City of Burlington achieves favorable PUC ruling in support of DES

Also, during that same time period, the City of Burlington successfully sought a declaratory ruling from the Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC)  that the City could rate regulate a DES at the local level, similar to how the City of Montpelier manages its biomass DES. In addition, during the 2018 (Act 102) and 2019 (Act 31) legislative sessions, BED successfully sought changes to the TEPF program that it administers to allow funds to be designated to support a biomass DES and related feasibility work. Prior to these changes, TEPF funds could not be used for projects for customers heating with natural gas.

City relationship with Corix concludes

Despite the progress made during this period of time, the hard work of Corix and the local partners, and the general desire of our potential customers to be part of a DES, those customers did not agree to the terms of the letter agreement to move to Phase 2 for several reasons, including cost. By mid- to late-2018, further progress on this version of DES became unlikely and, by the end of 2018, the MOU with Corix officially ended, and the City relationship with Corix concluded.

Now, all partners are pleased to be taking this milestone step forward to Phase 2 of a district energy system.

For more information, please see:

• BED-VGS-UVMMC DES Phase 2 letter agreement, dated February 3, 2020 [PDF]

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