FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2017
Contact:  Katie Vane
                  802.734.0617

Mayor Weinberger Joins Open Letter to International Community and Parties to the Paris Agreement Stating “We Are Still In;” Affirms City of Burlington’s Commitment to Paris Agreement Goals

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement announcing he has joined hundreds of mayors and leaders from across the country in signing an open letter, released today, declaring that the signatories will continue to support the Paris Climate Agreement:

“Burlington is proud to be the first city in the nation to source 100 percent of its energy from renewable generation, and we are now working hard to become a net zero energy city,” said Mayor Weinberger. “I am excited to work with leaders of state and local governments, businesses and institutions to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals regardless of last week’s disastrous decision by President Trump. Together, we can and will do our part to save the planet.”

At the time of its release, the letter included hundreds of businesses, mayors, and presidents of colleges and universities pledging to the international community and parties to the Paris Agreement that “we are still in.” The open letter was coordinated by The B Team, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Center for American Progress, Ceres, CDP, Climate Mayors, Climate Nexus, C40, C2ES, Georgetown Climate Center, ICLEI, National League of Cities, Rocky Mountain Institute, Second Nature, Sierra Club, We Mean Business, and World Wildlife Fund.

Since becoming the first city in the country in 2014 to source 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources, the City Administration has begun making investments necessary to become a net zero energy city within ten to 15 years across electricity, thermal and ground transportation sectors. Recent municipal initiatives related to this goal include:
 

• Creating a multi-party Memorandum of Understanding for the purposes of exploring the feasibility of a District Energy System.  Such a system could reduce the City’s total carbon footprint by approximately 20%.
• Launching the Energy Champ Challenge in the spring of 2015 to help Burlingtonians understand and improve their energy efficiency.
• Installing 13 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, totaling 24 charging ports, in various City locations since 2013.
• Completing the first phase of the Waterfront Bike Path rehabilitation in January, 2017, and breaking ground on the second phase in June, 2017.
• Adopting the new PlanBTV Walk/Bike Master Plan in April, 2017.
• Exploring an E-Bus pilot program in April, 2017.
• Launching a new Electric Vehicle rebate program in May, 2017.

   

The Mayor has also supported the objectives of a number of environmental and energy coalitions and campaigns since 2014 in keeping with these climate goals, including:
 

• Michael Bloomberg’s Compact of Mayors (2015)
• Becoming a “Climate Mayor” as part of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Mayors National Climate Action Agenda (December, 2016)
• Environment America’s “Voices for 100% Renewable Energy” campaign (April, 2017)
• Sierra Club’s “Mayors for 100% Clean Energy,” part of the Sierra Club’s “Ready for 100” campaign (May, 2017)
   

* View the “We Are Still In” letter to the international community and parties to the Paris Agreement here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 31, 2017
Contact: Katie Vane, Mayor’s Office, 802.734.0617
                Nina Safavi, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, 802.865.7248

Mayor Weinberger, Burlington Parks Foundation, UVM Medical Center, and Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Celebrate Completion of Phase 1 of the Bike Path Rehabilitation
Unveil Beginning of UVM Medical Center Fitness Trail; Boulder Commemorating Parks Foundation Donations, and Honor Parks Foundation Founding Board Member John Ewing 

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today joined University of Vermont (UVM) Medical Center and Health Network CEO Dr. John Brumsted, Burlington Parks Foundation Founding Board Chair John Bossange, former Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Director Jesse Bridges and Interim Director Nina Safavi, donors and members of the Burlington community to celebrate the completion of Phase 1 of the Bike Path Rehabilitation. The new phase includes three new installations of exercise equipment donated by UVM Medical Center, which represent the beginning of the UVM Medical Center Fitness Trail.

Bossange also unveiled a commemorative boulder dedicated to the generous donors who helped fund the rehabilitation of the Waterfront Bike Path, and Mayor Weinberger read a proclamation honoring Parks Foundation Founding Board Member John Ewing for his service to the community.

“We are making great progress in the critical effort to restore and improve the Burlington Bike Path,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “The Parks Foundation and UVM Medical Center have played key roles in both enhancing the path with new parks and equipment and in showing the community support necessary to leverage much broader public investment for the benefit of all our residents.”

The first phase of the multi-year effort to completely rebuild, expand, and enhance the entire eight-mile Burlington Bike Path broke ground in 2014 with Phase 1a, from Waterfront Park to Perkins Pier. Phase 1a included updating the path to current multi-use standards and enhancing the landscape from Perkins Pier to Penny Lane. The total construction cost was $830,000 and construction concluded in 2015.

At Wednesday’s event, representatives gathered at the third pause place park overlooking Lake Champlain, part of the Bike Path Phase 1b rehabilitation from Penny Lane to North Beach. Phase 1b construction began in summer 2016 and concluded in January 2017, and included the creation of three new pause place parks and accessible connectivity to the recently acquired Texaco Beach, the planting of over 120 trees, over 160 shrubs, plus thousands of perennials, as well as the first three installations of UVM Medical Center-donated fitness equipment. The total budget for Phase 1b was $2.4 million.

The Parks Foundation generously donated $350,000 of a total $1 million raised in 2016 toward Phase 1b. The remaining $650,000 will be used to create additional pause places and connections along the Waterfront Bike Path. UVM Medical Center contributed a total of $250,000 toward the fitness equipment project. Phase 1b was also funded by the Waterfront Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Fiscal Year 2016 Capital Improvement Program Support, Penny for Parks, and Bike Path Maintenance and Improvement Fund.

“Through the generosity of our donors, including the UVM Medical Center, combined with the dedication of staff, volunteers and the taxpayers of Burlington we have created an inclusive social space for future generations to enjoy,” said former Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Director Jesse Bridges. “It is truly inspiring to see the community come together to support the combination of conservation, wellness and social equity.” 

Parks Foundation commemorates community generosity
The commemorative boulder, unveiled near the new overlook north of the Skate Park, celebrates the generous donations and pledges from over 250 residents and businesses that helped the Parks Foundation reach its goal in 2016 of raising $1 million for the Waterfront Bike Path rehabilitation.

"The Parks Foundation of Burlington represents the spirit of stewardship and philanthropy for our community's treasured parks and recreational assets for our residents and visitors,” said Burlington Parks Foundation Founding Board Chair John Bossange. “The funds we raised not only signify how much generosity there is in Burlington, but also show a deep understanding of the importance of preserving open natural areas for free, public access.  This new pause place park is the first of many projects to be funded by the Foundation not only along the bike path, but in other areas of the city as well.  We are most grateful to all our donors for their contributions and commitment to community and we look forward to steering exciting new initiatives in support of our treasured park lands."

John Bossange and Mayor Weinberger recognized the contributions of Parks Foundation Founding Board Member John Ewing, who was present at the event, with a proclamation declaring May 31 a day in his honor. The proclamation noted that John Ewing has been a committed and engaged resident of Burlington and Vermont for 60 years, and has served on countless boards and commissions, volunteering his time and expertise. It celebrated Ewing’s leadership as Commissioner and Chair of the Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Commission and as the Parks Foundation Board member in the effort to transform and improve the Burlington Waterfront, playgrounds, and open space areas.

UVM Medical Center unveils its “Fitness Trail”
One of the new features of Phase 1b of the rehabilitated bike path is fitness equipment installed in May 2017 at the three new pause places between Penny Lane and North Beach. These first installations make up the beginning of the UVM Medical Center Fitness Trail, which is planned to continue in other parks and pause places throughout the rehabilitation of the Path.

Clinicians at UVM Medical Center with expertise in orthopedics, wellness, physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation collaborated with experts from Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront to help select equipment that would appeal to all levels of fitness, would address multiple muscle groups in the body, and would include accessible and easy-to-understand instructions that could be easily followed to ensure proper usage.

“There is no better prescription for wellness than outdoor recreation, and so it is wonderful to see this first part of the renovated bike path come to fruition_ providing our patients and the public with a place to pause, exercise, reflect and enjoy the view of Lake Champlain,” said UVM Medical Center and Health Network CEO Dr. John Brumsted  “UVM Medical Center is thrilled to be a part of this effort  to renovate and enhance the Burlington bike path, which is such an asset to the people of our region."

Bike Path rehabilitation to continue with Phase 2
Parks, Recreation & Waterfront has led the effort to rehabilitate the entire eight mile bike path running through downtown Burlington and along the Lake Champlain Waterfront. Phase 1b brought the City one step closer to its five-year completion goal for the full eight miles, with a total projected cost of $13-$16 million.

Bids for Phase 2 of the Bike Path rehabilitation, which will span from North Beach to Colchester, came back on budget on May 12,^, 2017. Construction will begin next week. Phase 2 construction is expected to conclude at the Winooski Bridge in December with landscape plantings scheduled for next spring.

Details, including a tentative schedule and detour information, will be announced in June. Visit https://enjoyburlington.com/burlington-greenway-phase-2/ for updates or to sign up for the Bike Path Construction newsletter.Next summer, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront will oversee the construction of new pause places at Leddy Park, North Shore and Starr Farm, with Leddy Park and Starr Farm to receive exercise equipment.

“This is just the beginning of our work to fully rehabilitate the Waterfront Bike Path, transforming it into a Burlington Greenway,” said Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Interim Director Nina Safavi. “We look forward to the installation of additional exercise trail stations, and to future improvements to the northern and southern portions of the Bike Path.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2017
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Mayor Weinberger Announces Funding Plan for Early Learning Initiative to Ensure All Burlington Children Have the Opportunity to Succeed
New program will expand high-quality child care opportunities for low-income children; Mayor’s FY18 budget will use existing sources to launch $500,000 annual investment intended to reduce future public spending; Investment will be rigorously evaluated and will seek to leverage additional partner funding

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger, Vermont Agency of Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe, City Councilor Dave Hartnett, Vermont Business Roundtable President Lisa Ventriss, Dr. Steve Leffler, Chief Medical Officer at UVM Medical Center and Chief Population Health and Quality Officer at UVM Health Network, Permanent Fund CEO Aly Richards, and YMCA President and CEO Kyle Dodson today announced that the City of Burlington will be funding a new Early Learning Initiative (ELI) focused on Burlington children from birth to age 3. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2018, the City will invest $500,000 annually in capacity grants to Burlington childcare programs that provide high-quality care to low income children and commit to increasing the number of slots available for children ages 0 – 3.

“We are a nation founded on the belief that all people are created equal,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “To do our part to make good on that principle, we must strive to be a city in which every child has an opportunity to succeed, regardless of the means of their parents. The Early Learning Initiative is a step toward this vision of Burlington. By investing in our youngest children today, we will reap a better educated, healthier, and more just tomorrow.”

“We want all our Vermont children—no matter who they are or where they live or where they were born—to grow up strong, smart, kind, and healthy,” said Vermont Agency of Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe. “Making this happen is something we do together. Not all parents and no one agency or municipality can do it alone. However, when we work together, shoulder-to-shoulder, to push for our goals, our combined and cumulative efforts make the difference we want for our communities. This Burlington initiative is an inspiring step forward for the state.”

Initiative to include evaluation, leverage of non-City funds, and goal of expanded opportunity

Burlington’s new ELI is part of a national and state movement to expand investment in children before they enter kindergarten. New early childhood investment is a major priority of Governor Phil Scott, as it was for Governor Peter Shumlin, President Barack Obama, and mayors across the country. Features of Burlington’s ELI include:

• The program will seek to address the fact that low-income Burlington children are disproportionately likely to be unready for school, experience a widening achievement gap as they age in the public school system, and are more likely to experience a range of negative outcomes later in life, including reduced educational achievements, higher rates of chronic health problems, higher rates of incarceration and drug misuse, and lower lifetime earnings.

• ELI will support the good work that many childcare programs are already doing by providing a stable funding source that can be drawn on to increase the total number of high-quality child care slots available within Burlington. The City’s research in prior years documented less than 200 slots available for children ages 0-3, with about 350 Burlington babies born every year.

• The City will fund this effort on an ongoing basis using PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) funds.  These funds have long been targeted for youth education efforts, but under Vermont’s statewide education funding laws can no longer be paid directly to the Burlington schools. A recent study released by the Vermont Business Roundtable found that every dollar invested to expand Vermont’s high-quality early care and learning programs will yield a return of $3.08 (view the full report at http://vtroundtable.org/vbr-foundation-releases-report-vermonts-early-care-learning-dividend-2-6-17/). Other studies across the country put the return even higher per dollar invested. These returns are generated by healthier children and healthier families better able to learn and contribute to our community.

• Following City Council approval of the Mayor’s proposal, the City will create a working group that will include key community partners to refine the program’s grant guidelines.

• The ELI will be rigorously evaluated over time. The program aspires to become a model for investments in early learning that result in measurable economic, health-related, social, and educational benefits that convince other funders to participate in affecting long-lasting changes. The City intends to work with the University of Vermont Medical Center, the nationally-recognized Sorenson Impact Center at the University of Utah, and other community partners to design and implement the evaluation effort.

• In future years the City will attempt to leverage significant additional funding from other private, institutional, and public sources to provide scholarships for high quality early care to young children living in poverty to expand the impact and public returns of the ELI effort.

• The long-term goal of the program is to ensure that all Burlington children have the opportunity to succeed regardless of family income level.

Broad coalition of community partners supports the Burlington ELI 

“Investing in early childhood is one of the smartest investments we can choose to make as a society,” said Vermont Business Roundtable President Lisa Ventriss. “High-quality, affordable early care and learning programs serve as an economic driver, by ensuring that parents can continue to work.”

"Early childhood and family support was one of the most pressing needs identified by the community in our most recent Community Health Needs Assessment," said Dr. Stephen Leffler, Chief Medical Officer at UVM Medical Center and recently named Chief Population Health and Quality Officer at UVM Health Network. "We view this early learning initiative spearheaded by the City of Burlington as an excellent opportunity for us to come together with our community partners to invest in the future health of our most vulnerable children by giving them a boost early in their lives."

“The Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children believes the wellbeing of our families, communities, and economy depends upon giving all of our children a strong start,” said Permanent Fund CEO Aly Richards. “For most of Vermont’s young children, high-quality, affordable child care plays a critical role in early development. Mayor Weinberger’s focus on helping children 0-3 from low-income families’ access high-quality early care and learning experiences will help alleviate Chittenden County’s child care challenge.  Almost 80 percent of infants likely to need care in Chittenden County don’t have access to high-quality early care and learning programs, and statewide 85 percent of infants don’t have access to high-quality programs. Meanwhile, families lucky enough to find a program are spending up to 40 percent of their income on child care.”

“The benefits of investing in enriching environments for young children and their families are well known,” said Burlington City Council President Jane Knodell. “I am hopeful that this program will allow us to sustain programs located in low- and moderate-income communities, where they can be most easily accessed by families and children who have very limited options.”

“This new Early Learning Initiative is an opportunity for us to put our money where our mouth is and to be proactive in helping our community’s children,” said Kyle Dodson, President and CEO of the Greater Burlington YMCA. “The Y is committed to this collaborative approach, and we’re excited to work with the City and our Early Childhood colleagues to use this new program to reach and serve more children. As a former Principal of an early childhood / elementary school in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, I’ve seen evidence of how ELI will help our children become healthier and better educated, and will provide them greater access to opportunity.”

“We have to close the achievement gap among our children, and this is an important step in that direction that does not require any new taxpayer dollars,” said City Councilor Dave Hartnett. “I am pleased to see the community come together in this way, and urge my fellow Councilors to support this effort.” 

Background

The creation of a new Burlington ELI has been years in the making, following the goal announced by Mayor Weinberger in February of 2015. At that time, the Mayor announced an effort to design an ELI pilot in partnership with the Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children, the State Department of Health, the Burlington School District (BSD), and the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA). The support of the Permanent Fund, in the form of a $122,000 grant, was crucial to allow for extensive work on the program design and to define a program that could be implemented effectively within Burlington.  This effort was captured in the “Burlington Early Learning Initiative Action Plan” written by Jessica Nordhaus of Gear Shift Consulting (attached).

That work, building on the success of other communities like Minneapolis, MN, developed a scholarship model that would provide scholarships to specific students to help defray the cost of high-quality child care. Such a model remains the ultimate goal of the Burlington ELI – but in order to demonstrate the value of such investments, the City is first seeking to expand the available high-quality child care slots by providing grants to Burlington early care and learning programs and rigorously tracking the results of this investment.

The Mayor has also been heavily influenced in his understanding of the cognitive and social skill challenges faced by low-income children by the writings of Paul Tough, a journalist who has written extensively on early childhood education.  In 2015, the Mayors Book Group hosted a community discussion of Tough’s book “Whatever It Takes.” Research in recent years, including in a White Paper on “Burlington Beginnings” (attached) has documented clearly that the “achievement gap” faced by low-income children nationwide is a serious problem in Burlington that is visible when kids enter the school system and grows over time. By third grade, only about 50 percent of children eligible for free or reduced lunch are able to read at grade level, while more than 70 percent of their peers not on similar lunch programs have reached that benchmark. By eighth grade, while only 60 percent of the children eligible for free or reduced lunch are reading at grade level, more than 90 percent of their peers not on similar lunch programs have met or surpassed that threshold. These poorer children then graduate at an unusually low rate, earn less as adults, suffer higher rates of incarceration and drug use, and experience a lower life expectancy.

* Please see:

• Overview of the Burlington ELI Proposal
• Early Learning Initiative Action Plan
• “Burlington Beginnings” White Paper

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2017
Contact:  Katie Vane
                  802.734.0617
 

Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Bob Rusten to Leave Chief Administrative Officer Position
Rusten to Conclude Four Highly Successful Years as Burlington CAO on September 1st; Search for Replacement Underway; Rusten Likely to Continue Service to the City in a Part-Time Special Projects Role
 

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that Burlington Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Bob Rusten will be leaving the CAO position on September 1, 2017 after serving in City Hall since 2013.  Rusten played a critical role in numerous key initiatives over the last four years, including the restoration of the City’s credit rating, voter passage of a five year infrastructure plan, and substantial reform of the City’s retirement system. 

“I am deeply grateful for the tremendous service that Bob Rusten has provided to Burlington as our CAO,” said Mayor Weinberger. “I have known this day was coming, but that does not make Bob’s departure any easier. For four years, Bob has served with dedication, precision, and good humor.  Generations of Burlingtonians will benefit from the work Bob led to restore the City’s finances, strengthen its management, and responsibly steward its infrastructure.”

“I am proud of the work the CAO’s Office has completed with the Mayor, City Council, and City employees to resolve the City’s longstanding financial issues,” said Rusten. “With a sound financial footing from which to work, and with an incredible Clerk Treasurer’s team and City Department Heads and staff, the Mayor and Council can feel more confident than ever in focusing on the future of Burlington. I look forward to continuing to work with Burlington on City projects.”

“As a member of the CAO search committee four years ago, I had a great feeling that Bob’s presence in City Hall would be one our City would benefit from for years to come,” said City Councilor Karen Paul. “My only regret is that the end of his tenure has come too quickly.  Bob’s involvement in pension reform and collaborative bargaining were instrumental in the significant and ground-breaking advances we have made in the past few years. As an auditor, I respect Bob’s commitment to best practices which has led to a cleaner audit and strong financials. Bob is one of the unsung heroes in City Hall and he will surely be missed.”

"Bob Rusten leaves an impressive legacy as the City's CAO, with many significant accomplishments behind him," said City Council President Jane Knodell. "In his dealings with the City Council, he was always forthcoming and crystal-clear. I admire his integrity, work ethic, and commitment to good government. On behalf of the entire City Council, I thank him for his outstanding service to the people of Burlington."

Prior to becoming the City of Burlington’s CAO, Rusten successfully led financial turnarounds in both South Burlington, Vermont and Wilmington, Vermont. Rusten also brought valuable experience with pension reform and collective bargaining to Burlington, having sat at both ends of the collective bargaining table. At different points in his career, Rusten led union negotiations on behalf of municipalities as well as participated in union negotiations on behalf of a steelworkers union.

During his years as Burlington’s CAO, Rusten worked to rebuild the City’s financial integrity, enhance collaboration between the City and unions, and address longstanding Department staffing needs while also producing balanced, forward-looking budgets.

With Rusten’s guidance and effort, the City:

• Restored its credit from the edge of junk bond status to an “A” rating. In March of 2017, Moody’s Investors Service not only affirmed the City’s A3 credit rating, but revised the City’s outlook to positive. Moody’s also upgraded the Airport’s credit rating to Baa3, and BED’s credit rating to A3 during Rusten’s tenure.
• Secured a clean management letter and audit for FY16 (in FY12, the City’s auditor found one significant finding and 12 material weaknesses).
• Led successful rounds of union negotiations resulting in substantial pension and health care reform. This reform saved taxpayers an estimated $2.2 million from 2013-2016, and is projected to save a total of $8 million by 2020. Rusten, as part of the City’s negotiating team, and with the active participation from the City’s four bargaining units, helped in drafting contracts that now include a shared risk process to address spikes in the actuarial required contribution.
• Created the five year, $50 million Capital Plan, which will allow the City to properly steward its streets, sidewalks, water mains, Bike Path, and other vital public infrastructure for future generations. Rusten’s work helped ensure the Capital Plan would come at a modest cost to property taxpayers, and would ultimately save Burlington taxpayers money by keeping pace with needed infrastructure improvements, rather than waiting until costly emergency interventions become necessary.
• Addressed long-standing staffing needs within the City, including supporting the addition of staff positions to IT, Police, and Fire Departments. These staffing increases were accomplished with minimal impact to the City’s budget.
• Assembled disciplined, forward-looking budgets that saw the City realize its fund balance target nearly two years early.
• Reorganized the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office, including improvements made to the front desk, licensing, elections, and modernizing land use records that led to better services for taxpayers at lower overall costs.
   

Mayor Weinberger, City Attorney Eileen Blackwood and Rusten are in conversations about Rusten continuing to serve the City beyond September 1, 2017 in a part-time role that would include work on collective bargaining issues and other special projects. Rusten’s substantial institutional knowledge on these matters, and his proven ability to secure benefits for taxpayers, would make his continued service in this limited role valuable. Any such role would have to be supported by the City Council as part of the FY18 budget approval process in June.

Burlington Electric Department General Manager Neale Lunderville has agreed to lead the search process for a new CAO.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 9, 2017
Contact:  Katie Vane, Mayor’s Office, 802.734.0617
                  Michael Harrington, Vermont Department of Labor, 802.828.4301

Vermont Department of Labor Partners with the City of Burlington to Help Youth Find Jobs
Second Annual Jobs for Youth Fair Includes 66 Participating Employers; 17 Training Providers Offering Tailored Workshops for Youth Ages 16-24

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today joined Vermont Department of Labor Deputy Commissioner Michael Harrington, Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, Spectrum Youth and Family Services Multicultural Youth Program Coordinator Michael Hill, Jr., Westport Hospitality Human Resources Director Amy Shea and Westport Hospitality COO Joe Carton, to encourage participation in the second annual Jobs for Youth Fair to be held on Thursday, May 11 in the Burlington Town Center. This job fair is part of the ‘Jobs for Youth Initiative’ to assist youth, ages 16 to 24, who face barriers securing employment and/or discovering a career path. The job fair is open to all.

The Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) will provide tailored workshops from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to assist youth in the completion of applications, mock interviewing, job search skills and exploring career pathways. Employers and training providers will participate from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., offering participants an opportunity to explore summer jobs, internships, careers, and apprenticeships that do not require a college degree.

Governor Phil Scott expressed his support for the Jobs for Youth Fair in a statement:

“This program creates greater opportunity for Vermont’s youth who may otherwise not have access to these job opportunities, which is incredibly valuable for these kids, their employers and the state. The Jobs for Youth Fair is an important program considering we’re losing six people from our workforce every day. One of the best ways to help our young people and our state succeed is by connecting motivated young Vermonters with Vermont employers. I look forward to seeing the connections and partnerships that grow from this event.”

“The City of Burlington is proud to support the second annual Jobs for Youth Fair,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Since we accepted President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Challenge in 2016, we have been working to ensure that all youth in our community have the opportunity to find employment and continue their education. The Jobs for Youth Fair supports these efforts by bringing together an impressive list of employers and professionals to assist our youth in achieving their full potential.”  

“We are proud to be able to offer this opportunity again for the youth of Vermont,” said Department of Labor Deputy Commissioner Michael Harrington. “Our number one priority at the Department of Labor remains making sure that job seekers can obtain meaningful employment, and that Vermont businesses find the skilled workers they need to be successful. This can only be done if we engage our youth and provide them with opportunities to grow.”

“The Jobs for Youth Fair offers youth with barriers to employment a chance to move forward,” said Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George. “Youth may experience these barriers for a variety of reasons, including having a case in the criminal justice system. Thanks to the Jobs for Youth Fair, these individuals now have an opportunity to make a positive change in their lives by seeking and securing valuable job experience.”

"This Job Fair is an opportunity to really support the youth and young adults who want to work and become independent,” said Spectrum Coordinator of Multicultural Youth Program Michael Hill, Jr. “Spectrum Youth and Family Services is an organization that believes in empowering and supporting youth and young adults in finding their own paths to success. It is only natural for us to be collaborating and assisting with this Job Fair."

The Jobs for Youth Fair was launched in 2016 by then-Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan to provide youth who face barriers to their employment with opportunities for job application training and summer job placement. The 2016 Job Fair at the King Street Center included 18 employers, 12 community partners and training providers, and over 100 youth attendees. This year, 66 employers will be participating, along with 17 community partners training providers (please see attached list of employers).

This is the second year the City of Burlington has participated in the event, offering youth opportunities for summer jobs and internships through the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO), Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, and Human Resources Departments. In 2016, the City of Burlington established its My Brother’s Keeper Initiative to address opportunity gaps faced by youth in the community, particularly youth of color. The Jobs for Youth Fair aligns with the City’s goal of providing youth of color greater access to opportunities for employment, education, and community leadership.

The Job Fair is open to all, and youth age 16-24 are particularly encouraged to attend on May 11, especially those facing barriers to employment. Barriers may include:

• Incomplete High School

• Individual with a diploma who is Basic Skills deficient or an English Language Learner (ELL)

• Criminal record

• Homeless, runaway, foster child

• Pregnant or parenting

• Disability

• Needs Additional Assistance to enter/complete an educational program or secure or hold employment

In addition to Thursday’s Jobs for Youth Fair, the Vermont Department of Labor Workforce Development Division will present information about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth program.  This program provides one-on-one mentoring services for youth to help match them with employment and/or training opportunities and help prepare youth to enter the workforce. Eligible participants can be assigned a WIOA case manager who can assist in identifying an individual’s strengths and interests, and connect them with an appropriate employer and/or training provider.

“Employers can easily get involved and support the one-on-one mentoring services by offering job shadow opportunities and internships that provide a hands-on work and training experience,” said Westport Hospitality Human Resources Director Amy Shea. “These types of initiatives can provide a valuable experience in getting youth motivated in a new career."

This job fair is hosted by the Vermont Department of Labor in partnership with the City of Burlington's Community and Economic Development Office, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, and My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2017
Contact:  Katie Vane, Mayor’s Office, 802.734.0617
                  Jon Adams-Kollitz, Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, 802.540.0363

Mayor Miro Weinberger Promotes Active Transportation Options During Sixth Annual Multi-Modal Tour
Announces New CATMA Bikeshare Pilot Program, Looks Forward to Progress Resulting from PlanBTV Walk/Bike, Great Streets, and Burlington Town Center Redevelopment 

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger, South Burlington City Manager Kevin Dorn, Burlington and South Burlington City officials, and community partners today promoted active transportation options during the sixth annual Multi-Mayor Multi-Modal Tour. The Tour began at Burlington’s City Hall and took participants by foot, bike, bus, and rideshare to locations around Burlington and South Burlington that demonstrate each city’s transportation successes and challenges.

The Multi-Modal tour began in 2012 as an opportunity to give participants firsthand experience of Burlington and neighboring cities’ walking, biking, and public transportation infrastructure. Mayor Weinberger noted the considerable progress that the City of Burlington has made strengthening this infrastructure over the past six years.

“Any time someone takes a trip here on foot, bike, or bus instead of by car the community becomes healthier, more affordable, and greener, and parking and road congestion drops,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “One of our most important jobs as a City is to make these alternative trips easier.  On my sixth multi-modal tour, it was exciting to see that this year we have both more transportation improvements to celebrate, and more near-term progress to look forward to than ever before."

"All signs are that 2017 will be the year that Burlington starts to go multimodal in a big way,” said Jason Van Driesche, Interim Executive Director of Local Motion, who joined the Mayor in kicking off the Tour. “Local Motion is looking forward to seeing extensive planned improvements for biking and walking become a reality."

Mayor Weinberger previews new CATMA Regional Bikeshare bicycle

This year’s Multi Modal Tour also presented an opportunity for an exciting announcement about the new Chittenden Area TMA (CATMA) Regional Bikeshare pilot program, set to launch in Burlington in the summer of 2017. The pilot program is the result of a partnership between CATMA, Champlain College, and the University of Vermont, and was inspired by the PlanBTV Walk/Bike Plan.

The first phase of the project will include the installation of 18 bikeshare hubs primarily on the University of Vermont (UVM) and Champlain College campuses, with several hubs located in downtown Burlington. 110 Gotcha Bikes—including one Mayor Weinberger rode at Friday’s event—will be available to bikeshare users on a short-term rental basis. Through a partnership with Social Bicycles, all Gotcha Bikes have built-in smart lock technology that allows users to locate and access the bikes through a computer or smart phone (iOs and Android).

Pending strong reception and success of this first phase, the second phase of the project will include 50 more hubs with over 200 bikes available for use in Burlington and surrounding areas.

Bikeshare is a much needed transportation option that we feel confident will revolutionize our communities’ physical health and wellbeing,” said Sandy Thibault, Executive Director at Chittenden Area TMA. “Bikeshare will be the final piece to our puzzle in our transportation options."

Some highlights of the tour included:

A stop at Main Street and St. Paul Street to highlight future improvements the Great Streets Initiative will bring to the street, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.

“Having reliable and accessible alternative forms of transportation is critical for people with disabilities to maintain their independence,” said Nate Besio, VCIL Peer Advocate Coordinator. “We always look forward to working with the city of Burlington on promoting and improving its pedestrian and public transportation infrastructure so people of all abilities living in the community can maintain healthy and active lifestyles.”

A visit to the Burlington Town Center.

"We are looking forward to rebuilding the heart of Burlington by reconnecting Pine and St. Paul Streets and adding much-needed apartments, offices, new shops and services, all right next to Burlington's new downtown transportation hub,” said Don Sinex, Burlington Town Center owner. “The new Burlington Town Center truly will be a place where people will live, work, play, bike, walk, and enjoy all the Burlington has to offer."

A stop at the new GMT Downtown Transit Center.

"The new GMT Downtown Transit Center (DTC) has been a much needed upgrade for passengers who commute to and from Burlington every day," said Mark A. Sousa, GMT General Manager. "The state-of-the-art facility offers space for future ridership growth and a safe, convenient location to improve the rider experience.”

Before crossing into South Burlington, the tour visited the University of Vermont (UVM).

“This is a very exciting time for the entire community with the creation of our ‘UVM Moves – Active Transportation Plan,’ the City of Burlington’s Plan BTV Walk/Bike, Champlain College’s Active Transportation Plan, and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) Regional Bike/Ped Plan,” said Jim Barr, UVM Transportation and Parking Services Director. “We are all on the same page in bringing a more active transportation model to the region. UVM will continue to work on infrastructure improvements that encourage active transportation, and we look forward to launching a regional bikeshare pilot program this summer in partnership with Chittenden Area TMA that will help students get around our campus and city by bike.”

South Burlington highlights successes and details current projects

Joining the Multi-Modal Tour for the first time this year were representatives of South Burlington, including South Burlington City Council Chair Helen Riehle, City Council Co-Chair Meaghan Emery, and other South Burlington officials. Tour participants had an opportunity to learn about South Burlington’s goal of improving alternative transportation options within South Burlington, and connectivity between South Burlington and Burlington.

“Multimodal settings and design have become an important component of our transportation infrastructure planning,” said South Burlington City Manager Kevin Dorn. “While South Burlington has an extensive bike and pedestrian system in areas of the city, there is still much work to do. We are addressing pedestrian/bicycle/vehicle conflicts with passive and active solutions such as transit service, bicycle lanes, shared use paths, and improved sidewalks. Our current projects, such as possible improvements at the I-89/Exit 14 crossing can facilitate increased bike and pedestrian usage. This is a critical link for both Burlington and South Burlington.”

2017 Multi-Mayor Multi-Modal Tour Itinerary:  May 5 from 8:00am – 12:00pm

8:00                     Meet at City Hall, front steps, 149 Church St.: Welcome from City of Burlington, Local Motion. Depart on foot, walk bikes

                              Speakers: Mayor Miro Weinberger; Chapin Spencer, Department of Public Works; Jon Adams-Kollitz, Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront; Jason Van Driesche, Local Motion

8:30                     Main St. & St. Paul St.: Great Streets/City Hall Park Project, Meagan Tuttle, Department of Planning & Zoning; Carshare VT

8:45                     Main St. & Pine St.: Main St. Design, Meagan Tuttle, Department of Planning & Zoning; Neale Lunderville and Jen Green, Burlington Electric

8:55                     Main St. @ Train Station: The future of multi modalism, Chapin Spencer, Department of Public Works

                             Getting around the city by wheelchair, Nate Besio, Vermont Center for Independent Living

9:20                     Pause Place 3/Texaco Beach: A new bike path and a new park, Nina Safavi, Burlington Parks Recreation & Waterfront

9:40                     Bikes picked up by Local Motion and Stu Lindsay at Skinny Pancake

9:50                     Cherry St. & Pine St.: The future Burlington Town Center, Don Sinex, Burlington Town Center

                              Restoring the urban grid, Jason Van Driesche, Local Motion 

10:00                  Downtown Transit Center: Mark A. Sousa, Green Mountain Transit

                              CATMA Regional Bikeshare, Nic Anderson, Champlain College              

10:15                  Depart on GMT #1 Williston bus 

10:20                  Main St. & S. Union St.: De-board bus, pick up bikes from Local Motion van

10:30                  Main St. & S. Union St.: Plan BTV Walk/Bike Union St. protected bike lane, Nicole Losch, Department of Public Works                      

10:40                  Plan BTV Walk/Bike ‘The Wiggle,’ Nicole Losch, Department of Public Works

11:00                  University of Vermont: UVM Active Transportation Plan, Jim Barr, UVM Transportation & Parking Services

11:20                  Exit 14 crossing by bike

11:30                  Holiday Inn/Doubletree: South Burlington Welcome, Kevin Dorn, South Burlington City Manager

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 3, 2017
Contacts:  Katie Vane, Mayor’s Office, 802.734.0617
                   Erik Oliver, ECHO Leahy Center, 802.864.1848
 

Mayor Miro Weinberger, ECHO Leahy Center, Edmunds Elementary Students Encourage Community Participation in Burlington’s Green Up Day Efforts on Saturday, May 6

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Executive Director Phelan Fretz, Burlington Electric Department General Manager Neale Lunderville, City Sustainability Coordinator Jennifer Green, Skinny Pancake Founder and Owner Benjy Adler, and Edmunds Elementary School first, third, and fourth graders today encouraged community participation in the City of Burlington’s Green Up Day efforts this Saturday, May 6. This year marks the state’s 47^th annual Green Up Day, during which Vermonters collect litter and debris left behind by the spring snow melts on City streets and in our parks and neighborhoods. The group – joined by the Lake Monsters’ furry sustainability advocate, CHAMP, and inspired with the knowledge that free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream awaited them upon job completion – collected trash around ECHO and along the Burlington Bike Path up to the Perkins Pier parking lot, as well as along the route between ECHO and Edmunds Elementary.

“This year and every year, Green Up Day is a great example of how our community rolls up its sleeves and works together to keep our City vibrant and clean,” said Mayor Weinberger. “I thank our Green Up Day partners and all Burlingtonians, especially our amazing and dedicated Edmunds Elementary students, for their crucial help this weekend.”

“At ECHO, we inspire our visitors to positively impact the world around us,” said Phelan Fretz, ECHO Leahy Center Executive Director. “Our goal for all visitors who walk through our doors is that they accept the call to make a difference through their post-visit actions, that they help make our great lake and our planet a little better, greener than they were.”

“As a local business, we take our commitment to our community seriously,” said Benjy Adler, Skinny Pancake Founder and Owner. “We believe there is no profit without purpose, which is why we source our food locally and donate 1% of our revenue to local non-profit organizations that help protect our planet. We are committed to recycling and composting to reduce the waste that goes to the landfill. We’re honored to help promote Green Up Day.”

To participate, City residents and other Burlington stakeholders can pick up bags and other clean up supplies on Saturday, May 6 between 8:00 am- 12:00 pm at the following hubs:

• St. Joseph’s School, 20 Allen Street

• Robert E. Miller Community Center, 130 Gosse Court

• Burlington Subaru, 351 Shelburne Road

• Salmon Hole Park, Riverside Avenue before the Winooski Bridge

Bags also are available prior to Green Up Day through Friday, May 5 during regular business hours at the following locations around the City:

• St. Joseph’s School, 20 Allen Street
   
• Departments of Public Works/Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, 645 Pine Street
   

• Miller Community Center, 130 Gosse Court

• Burlington Electric Department, 585 Pine Street

• Community & Economic Development Office, City Hall, 3^rd floor, 149 Church Street

• Burlington Subaru, 351 Shelburne Road

For the second year, Burlington’s Green Up Day will include a special incentive prize opportunity.  Those community members who pick up their bags at Burlington Electric will be entered to win a “Green-Up Basket,” including power strips, CFL bulbs, and Burlington Electric schwag.

Also for the second year, the Burlington Business Association’s “Adopt Your Sidewalk” downtown clean-up event will take place on Friday, May 5 from 8:30-9:30am (with a rain date of May 12).  Volunteers should "bring their brooms" and meet at the corner of Church and Cherry streets for a clean-up focused on Cherry Street's sidewalks. The Adopt Your Sidewalk Campaign asks businesses to sign up and pledge to clean, maintain, and beautify the strip of sidewalk in front of their business. For more information on Adopt Your Sidewalk, please contact Sarah O’Donnell, BBA Member Services and Events Manager, at sarah@bbavt.org.

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

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 26, 2017
Contact:  Katie Vane
                  802.734.0617
 

Mayor, State’s Attorney, and Representatives of Regional Police Departments Tracking Increase in Suspected Fentanyl-Related Overdoses Announce Support for S.22
Leaders urge legislature to create new trafficking penalties before adjournment

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today joined Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, Vermont State Police Criminal Division Commander Major Glenn Hall, and representatives from the Burlington, Colchester, South Burlington, and Winooski Police Departments in expressing support for S.22, an act relating to increased penalties for knowingly dispensing, selling, or possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

“Fentanyl traffickers are here and sowing great damage in our community,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger.  “Vermont police and prosecutors need updated laws to confront them.  This is a time for urgent action, not study.”

“The new collaboration between my office, the City of Burlington, and our regional police departments has revealed a concerning increase in suspected fentanyl-related overdoses here in Chittenden County,” said Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George. “We have seen in neighboring states the damage that fentanyl can do. This proposed legislation will be crucial in helping us curb increased fentanyl distribution in Chittenden County by creating stronger penalties for the trafficking and sale of fentanyl.”

“Throughout New England, fentanyl is outpacing heroin as a killer at rates of up to sixty to one,” said Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo. “From treatment to recovery to enforcement, we need good tools at our disposal to address this crisis. The ability to charge fentanyl dealers with the same type of felony as heroin dealers is essential to protecting public health and safety.”

Participants in Wednesday’s press conference noted that neighboring New Hampshire has seen a dramatic increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths in recent years. In 2016, fentanyl played a role in 326 out of 479 drug overdose-related deaths. Of all overdose deaths, fentanyl was listed as the sole cause of death in 198 cases, while heroin was listed as the sole cause in three.

Although the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Vermont is lower than in neighboring states, Vermont has seen a tenfold increase in fentanyl-related overdose fatalities over the past six years, from five in 2010 to 51 in 2016.

Recent overdoses in the Chittenden County region suggest this trend may be worsening. Between April 4 and April 18, Burlington, Colchester, Milton, South Burlington, and Winooski, Colchester Police Departments reported 13 opioid-related overdose incidents, some with multiple individuals overdosing, and two of which resulted in fatalities. These five police departments have increased the level of coordination in recent months as part of the Mayor’s “CommunityStat” effort designed to bring together the many stakeholders working to address the opioid crisis. While it is too early to determine the exact opioids contributing to these overdoses, it is suspected fentanyl contributed to the majority of the overdoses.

Yet the dispensation or sale of fentanyl is not a felony in Vermont, and penalties for the sale, dispensation, and transportation of fentanyl do not reflect the severity of its impact. The Mayor, State’s Attorney, and representatives from the region’s police departments all noted the need for a change to empower the court system to treat fentanyl the way it treats heroin.

* Please see the Senate Journal excerpt from April 25, 2017 reflecting the current S.22 language regarding fentanyl penalties.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 20, 2017
Contact:  Katie Vane
                  802.734.0617
 

Vermont Mayors, Housing Leaders Support Governor’s $35 Million Housing Revenue Bond

Burlington, VT – The Vermont Mayors Coalition today announced strong support for Governor Phil Scott’s $35 million Housing Revenue Bond, which is currently under consideration by the legislature.

“Our enthusiasm for the bond and the other elements of the housing proposal (including the downtown tax credits) is rooted in the different needs that exist in our communities,” the Mayors Coalition stated in a letter addressed to Governor Scott, President Pro-Tem Tim Ashe, and House Speaker Mitzi Johnson. “Some of our cities need reinvestment and revitalization of deteriorated properties, while other communities need new housing to serve our workforce. In all parts of the state we need more housing to protect the most vulnerable Vermonters as well as our senior citizens.”

The Vermont Mayors Coalition urged the legislature to take action on the Housing Revenue Bill during this session rather than in small increments, in order to make a substantive change to the State’s affordable housing stock while interest rates and construction costs remain low.

The Coalition noted that many Vermont communities are working to address Vermont’s housing crisis through changes in zoning bylaws, partnerships with nonprofit and private developers, supporting local housing trust funds, promoting the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood revitalization efforts, and investing in infrastructure improvements. Action at the state level will help these communities bridge the gap between the cost of building housing and what Vermonters can afford.

“We believe this bond will bring short and long term benefits to the state,” the letter stated. “It will help us expand the opportunity to revitalize and reinvest in our communities, expand our grand list, create construction jobs and leverage both public investment, while it is still available from the federal government, and private investment through mechanisms such as the low income housing tax credit.

“There is a broad and strong consensus in support of this proposal, and the time to act is now.”

The Vermont Mayors Coalition is a non-partisan group that is dedicated to promoting policies that improve the health and vitality of Vermont’s cities. The Vermont Mayors Coalition was created in 2013 by Vermont’s eight mayors and includes:
 

• Dave Allaire, Rutland
• Mike Daniels, Vergennes
• Liz Gamache, St. Albans
• John Hollar, Montpelier
• Thom Lauzon, Barre
• Seth Leonard, Winooski
• Paul Monette, Newport
• Miro Weinberger, Burlington
   

* Please see letter from the Vermont Mayors Coalition to Governor Scott, President Ashe and House Speaker Johnson.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2017
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

Mayor Calls for Special Election to Fill Ward 7 City Council Seat on June 27, 2017

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement regarding a Special Election for the Ward 7 City Council seat:

“On Saturday, April 8, 2017, City Councilor Tom Ayres submitted a letter of resignation to the City effective June 26, 2017 at the conclusion of the City Council meeting that evening. Councilor Ayres has taken a job as the new Executive Director of Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph, Vermont.

“Accordingly, after consulting with the City Attorney and the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office, pursuant to the Charter authority of the Mayor, I am calling a special election on June 27, 2017, the day after Councilor Ayres steps down. This will ensure there is no lapse in representation for the New North End and the voters of Ward 7 on the City Council.

“Petitions will be available for people interested in running for the Council seat beginning today, April 18, in the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office at City Hall. Completed petitions will need to be returned to the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office by 5:00pm on Monday, May 22, 2017.

“The polling location for the special election will be the Robert Miller Recreation Center from 7:00am – 7:00pm on Tuesday, June 27, 2017. Early voting will also begin at City Hall by June 1, 2017 from 8:00am – 4:30pm Monday through Friday.”

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