FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2015
Contact: Mike Kanarick
                802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger, City Partners Unveil Burlington International Airport’s Solar Panel Additions
BTV’s Parking Garage Solar Garden Grows Renewable, Local Energy

Burlington, VT – Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger today joined the Burlington Electric Department (BED), Burlington International Airport (BTV), and Encore Redevelopment to formally unveil a 500 kW solar array atop the airport’s parking garage. This is the latest project in the City’s ongoing commitment to add more community solar to its portfolio and brings Burlington’s total installed solar photovoltaic to 81 projects, generating 1.8 megawatts of power for the City. Over the anticipated 30-year life of the airport solar project, BED expects to save $3.5 million in power costs, an average of approximately $117,000 annually.

“Burlington is proud to be a national leader in energy innovation,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Building community-scale solar has been one of the City’s key energy initiatives during the past three years. This solar array at BTV is the first major solar project constructed on City-owned property, and we intend to start construction on another array at the BED offices on Pine Street soon. Burlington’s future burns brighter because today we are rising to the challenge of building non-polluting, locally-sourced renewable power.”

This addition to Burlington’s renewable energy sources is good news for residents and businesses alike. It helps to ensure that low-cost and locally-generated power will be available during times of high use, such as hot summer days when demand for energy is greatest. Consequently, peak energy production and peak energy usage will coincide, offsetting costs and reducing reliance on more expensive energy sources.

“This solar garden is another way Burlington Electric sources 100% of its power from renewable generation like solar, wind, water, and biomass,” said BED General Manager Neale Lunderville. “In addition to keeping our energy dollars local, this solar array was made in the USA by American workers, and assembled here in Vermont by Vermonters. We are creating local jobs, generating clean energy, reducing stress on the grid, and keeping rates low and stable for customers – all at the same time. Initiatives like this are the key to a sustainable energy future that can support a thriving economy.”

The collaboration between BED and BTV will reduce the need to buy power from outside sources. The solar array will be yet another BED-owned asset, and BED will operate the system, like the McNeil Generating Station and the Winooski One Hydro Plant. Solar power systems have the advantage of integrating low maintenance, non-moving mechanical parts, which provide quiet operation. Even more important, constant sunlight is not required for solar to be viable; new storage technology allows for power to be generated, stored, and used when needed.

“The airport is pleased to now have two co-existing rooftop gardens, one solar and one green,” said Gene Richards, BTV Director of Aviation. “We expanded the parking garage years ago with the intent of installing a solar array, and we are pleased to make this vision a reality. It is my hope that passengers, especially visitors from afar, will gaze down from their aircraft windows and one of their first impressions, in addition to our gorgeous lake and mountains, will be our rooftop solar garden, showing Vermont’s strong spirit of innovation and independence.”

BED and BTV partnered with Encore Redevelopment, a Burlington-based company that focuses on innovation solutions for underutilized property and community-scale renewable energy systems. Encore managed the project design, permitting, construction, and commissioning.

“With every new solar panel raised, Vermont is lighting the path toward energy independence and environmental protection,” said Chad Farrell, Principal of Encore Redevelopment. “As a Burlington company, we are especially proud of working with the home team on such an important project. The Mayor’s vision for siting more solar power on underutilized City-owned property is the right approach and, once again, demonstrates Burlington’s passion for energy innovation.”

The airport solar array started producing electricity earlier this year. Since commissioning, the array has produced over 325,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 30, 2015
Contact:  Jennifer Kaulius
                 802.324.2505

Mayor Miro Weinberger Update Regarding Police Chief Search

“Today, after 25 years of dedicated and distinguished service to the City of Burlington, Police Chief Michael Schirling will retire from the Burlington Police Department.  In anticipation of this day, the City has conducted an extensive, national search for our next Police Chief, and we are in the final stages of that search.  While my goal has been to identify a successor prior to Chief Schirling’s retirement, I also have been clear since the process began that this decision is too important for our community to be rushed.  Until Chief Schirling’s successor is named and begins work, I have asked Deputy Chief Jan Wright and she has agreed to serve as Acting Chief effective tonight at midnight, July 1, 2015.  I am confident that DC Wright’s extensive experience, understanding of the Department, and strong connection to the community will serve Burlington well during this assignment, and I look forward to working with her.  Finally, I am grateful to Chief Schirling for his service to our community and his helpful counsel during this transition.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 30, 2015
Contact:  Jennifer Kaulius
                 802.324.2505

Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Mayor’s Office Staff Changes
Chief of Staff Kanarick Moving to Customer Engagement and Communications Role at BED;
Lowe to Serve as Chief of Staff; Kaulius to Serve as Communications and Projects Coordinator

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that Chief of Staff Mike Kanarick will be leaving the Mayor’s Office after serving in City Hall since Weinberger became Mayor more than three years ago.  Kanarick has accepted a position with the Burlington Electric Department where he will serve as Director of Customer Engagement and Communications, effective July 6.  The Mayor also announced that Brian Lowe will be promoted to the Chief of Staff position after having served for nearly two years as Mayoral Projects Coordinator, and Jen Kaulius will be promoted from her current scheduler and assistant role in which she has served for more than three years to the position being vacated by Lowe. 

“I am deeply grateful for the tremendous service to Burlington that Mike has provided as my Chief of Staff,” said Mayor Weinberger.  “I have known this day was coming for some time, but that does not make Mike’s departure any easier.  For more than three years, Mike has served with dedication, loyalty, compassion, and good humor for the City and the Administration.  His work was crucial to all the Mayor’s Office successes over the last three years, in particular our efforts to rebuild trust in City Hall by increasing the transparency and awareness of our local government’s operations.  While I will miss experiencing daily Mike’s outstanding work ethic, team approach, wise counsel, passion for the City, and quick wit, BED will benefit from those qualities and is gaining a tremendous talent.  I wish Mike well with all that lies ahead.”

Lowe, who lived and worked in the Middle East and subsequently earned a Master’s in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government, came to the Mayor’s Office two years ago after serving as a Policy Advisor in the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  “During his dedicated service in the Mayor’s Office, Brian has earned the respect of many inside and outside the Administration by steadily and skillfully moving forward numerous mayoral initiatives,” said Mayor Weinberger.  “Brian works hard, has an outstanding background and great integrity, and I have full confidence in Brian’s ability to step into the demanding Chief of Staff role.”

Kaulius interned on the Mayor’s first campaign prior to her 2012 University of Vermont graduation and served as campaign manager for the Mayor’s 2015 re-election effort.  She has worked for the last three years as the Mayor’s scheduler and administrative assistant.  “Jen is that rare person who combines great intelligence, organization, and warmth,” said Mayor Weinberger.  “She has proven her ability on many different and difficult assignments, and I feel fortunate to have her stepping into a larger Mayor’s Office role.” 

Upon Kanarick’s departure, Mayor Weinberger intends to transfer media and communications responsibilities from the Chief of Staff position to Kaulius’ position, which will be retitled as Mayoral Communications and Projects Coordinator.  Kaulius can be reached at jennifer@burlingtonvt.gov or 802.324.2505.

Kanarick, who worked full-time on Weinberger’s 2012 campaign team and his Mayor-elect transition team, and was an advisor on the Mayor’s 2015 re-election campaign, has much experience and expertise in customer engagement, community relations, and communications, developed not only through his work as a City and State government professional, but also during his time as a tech start-up executive, nonprofit executive director, and courtroom lawyer.

“We are thrilled to have Mike join the BED family,” said Neale Lunderville, General Manager of BED.  “Mike has proven himself a strong champion of Burlington and will help keep our focus squarely on the customers we serve.  Mike’s tremendous experience, both in the private and public sectors, will be invaluable as BED transforms into a utility of the future.  We are fortunate to have someone of Mike’s caliber on our team.”

“I am excited to be joining the outstanding BED team at a time of great change, innovation, and opportunity within the organization and the energy industry,” said Kanarick.  “I am proud of what we accomplished as a new Administration faced with major challenges and look forward to continuing to serve the people of Burlington in this new role.”

*Please see attached resumes for Kanarick, Lowe, and Kaulius, as well as a Mayor’s Office team photo.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 26, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                 802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger shared the following remarks at the Pride Center of Vermont’s celebration this afternoon in City Hall Park:

“I am so happy to welcome everyone to City Hall on this beautiful day to celebrate a momentous event in our nation’s history. Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. We will long remember this day as a significant moment in our lifetimes. 

“This landmark decision affirms equal rights for all loving partners who are committing their lives to each other. The people of Burlington, and Vermonters across our state, have much reason to be proud about today’s announcement. Our City and our state have led the way on social justice by pioneering benefits for all domestic partners in City government in the early 1990s, celebrating the first civil union in the country right here in Burlington at the First Congregational Church, right in our City’s downtown, and becoming the first state in the United States of America to legislatively legalize gay marriage.

“I want to thank Kim Fountain and the Pride Center of Vermont for bringing us here to celebrate and share this moment together and to give thanks to all of those who worked so hard to ensure that today would come. Someone who is not here today but is very much on my mind is our City Attorney Eileen Blackwood. Eileen has worked to help make today possible, and we wish we could share this moment with her. Today’s decision is a victory for social justice and equality. It shows that as a nation we can change, and grow, and become stronger. It is a great privilege to share in this moment with you.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 25, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick, Mayor’s Office, 802.735.7962
                 Diana Wood, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, 802.865.7089

Mayor Miro Weinberger, Parks Foundation, UVM Medical Center, Department of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Launch
Public Fundraising Campaign for Bike Path Rehabilitation Project
Parks Foundation Has Raised $500K+ Toward $1M Goal to Fund “Pause Places”

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger, John Bossange, Founding Board Chair of the Parks Foundation of Burlington, John R. Brumsted, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of The University of Vermont Medical Center and President and Chief Executive Officer of The University of Vermont Health Network, and Jesse Bridges, Director of Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, today at the Burlington Community Boathouse launched a public fundraising campaign by the Parks Foundation of Burlington to help fund the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Burlington Bike Path.  Having already raised more than $500 thousand during the “quiet” campaign, the public campaign begins with the goal of raising additional funds to reach a $1 million goal that will fund special “pause places” along the eight-mile Bike Path.

“Creation of the Bike Path nearly 30 years ago was an act of leadership, foresight, struggle, and innovation, and a big step towards making Burlington a great City,” said Mayor Weinberger.  “The Parks Foundation is working hard to ensure that the impact of today’s much needed Bike Path improvements on taxpayers is as small as possible.  With this $500 thousand, plus the $3 million of TIF funds and $1 million in this year’s budget, the Administration and the City Council have been able to secure the first $4.5 million for the Bike Path rehabilitation project without new bonding or raising property tax rates.  We will continue to look for creative ways to complete as much of the necessary rebuild as possible without impacting Burlington taxpayers.”

The Burlington Bike Path is a shining jewel for the City of Burlington, and through its complete rehabilitation the path will last at least another 30 years.  Being a project of such grand scale requires input and support from many community resources and additional stakeholders.  Pause places are special locations along the path that will create more and varied opportunities for enjoyment.  Three styles of pause place currently are in development including rest stops, information stops, and pocket parks.  These styles will offer varying amenities, from information kiosks to seating, drinking fountains, and artwork.

UVM Medical Center made a major contribution to the rehabilitation project and supports the City’s commitment to making the Bike Path more than just a path, but an exercise corridor for those who wish to use it.  UVM Medical Center CEO Brumsted stated: “UVM Medical Center is pleased to support the renovation of the Burlington Bike Path.  As the region’s largest health care provider, we are deeply committed to prevention and wellness, and so it was natural for UVM Medical Center to contribute to this effort to create spaces along the eight-mile path for people to engage in exercise and fitness activities.  The Burlington Bike Path is an asset to all of us who live, work, and play in the Burlington area.  We congratulate the Mayor and the City for making this project a priority.”

John Bossange, Founder and Board Chair of the Parks Foundation of Burlington, explained the Foundation’s commitment to its signature project of the total rehabilitation of the Burlington Bike Path as follows: “This is a proud moment in the evolution of the Parks Foundation of Burlington.  The Board of Directors has worked tirelessly to get the Foundation to the stage where it can announce the launch of our public campaign to support Bike Path rehabilitation.  To have the full support of the Mayor and the City Council, major individual donors and key contributors like the Medical Center, reminds us of how important this Foundation is and will continue to be for the City of Burlington as we fund projects to enhance our beautiful parks.  The Foundation is grateful for the generosity of our donors who have helped raise $501K during the initial quiet fundraising campaign.”

Contributions at any level are welcome, and all gifts over $3,000 will be recognized on the Bike Path.  Contributions can be made online through the Parks Foundation website www.parksfoundationburlington.org or by mailing checks to Parks Foundation of Burlington, 645 Pine Street, Suite B, Burlington, VT 05401.

Director Bridges works with the Foundation Board to keep them informed of upcoming and ongoing projects.  As an Ex-Officio Board Member of the Parks Foundation, Bridges advises on special projects that would benefit from Foundation sponsorship.

“This project represents a true community effort with public and private partners coming together to make it a reality,” said Bridges.  “I am grateful to the donors, Foundation Board Members, community advocates, and City staff who are turning this into a historic project for all.  The philanthropic funding will enable the Foundation to enhance more than just the pavement conditions.  With this support, we will provide quality opportunities for the public to get off the path and experience our parks, beaches, and trails.”

A brief update of the multi-phase Bike Path Rehabilitation Project was announced, and Bridges was pleased to note that the project is on track as scheduled.  Key improvements include resurfacing, landscaping, aligning disjointed sections, improving safety at intersections, and signing and striping along the path.  Bike Path project updates are posted on www.btvbikepath.com.

About the Parks Foundation of Burlington:
The mission of the Foundation is to inspire the spirit of stewardship and philanthropy for Burlington’s treasured parks and recreational assets.  The Parks Foundation, incorporated in 2013, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization working in collaboration with the City of Burlington.  The first year of operation proved their commitment through substantial support for several key projects, including re-surfacing the tennis courts at Roosevelt Park, replacing the gym floor at the Miller Center, replacing the Lakeview Cemetery Statuary, and more.

The Parks Foundation of Burlington 2015 mid-year report is available to the public online: http://www.parksfoundationburlington.org.

*Please find the following documents at these links:

• May 2015 Parks Foundation Report
• Pause Places Inventory

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 18, 2015
Contact:  Jennifer Kaulius
                 802.865.7272

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement in Response to Apparent Drug Overdoses

“Today’s tragic news of two overdose deaths in Burlington underscores the need to maintain our focus on opiate addiction. This is a statewide challenge, and the news today in our City further highlights the importance of continued increases in treatment options and public health approaches to addiction and drug abuse, as well as robust enforcement and prosecution of those who traffic narcotics in our neighborhoods.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                 802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger Fiscal Year 2016 Proposed Budget Memorandum to City Council

TO:                       City Council
FROM:                  Mayor Miro Weinberger
DATE:                   June 12, 2015
RE:                        Fiscal Year 2016 Proposed Budget

Herein is the Mayor’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2016 (click here for budget).  I want to thank Chief Administrative Officer Bob Rusten, the members of his office, and all our Department Heads and the members of their teams who contributed to the creation of this document, which represents progress on many fronts and is the product of an orderly and careful process.  I also want to thank City Councilors for your help in the creation of this budget and engagement in four productive work sessions in May. 

The City of Burlington is a complex financial entity involving numerous enterprise funds, many revenue streams, and nearly $185 million (excluding the School District) in total expenditures.  While this complexity defies a simple summary, I would like to highlight key elements of the FY16 budget.

Administration strives for an FY16 budget that is fair, factual, and forward
CAO Rusten first articulated the goals of crafting a fair, factual, and forward budget early during the FY15 budget process.  These goals continue to be reflected in numerous ways in the FY16 budget:

Fair:  While the City’s General Fund budget gets the most attention because of its relationship to property taxes, the Administration and the City Council are responsible for numerous budgets and – while there is considerable overlap – there are different constituencies and users impacted by these different budgets and related taxes and fees.  The Administration and the Council have a responsibility to treat all the different stakeholders accurately and fairly in their cost and revenue allocations between the General Fund and other budgets. 

Factual:  The Administration has attempted to be highly factual in its creation of the budget.  In the General Fund alone, we have published a budget with over 3,600 line items, each showing the FY16 budget compared to prior year totals and current year actual spending.  As a result of the availability of these comparisons, we began last year to make substantial adjustments to prior year budgets.  The resulting improvements in budget accuracy based on our new accounting system having been fully implemented have continued this year and, with the entire City budget and all spending information available online and updated daily, we expect the budget accuracy to continue to improve.

Forward:  The FY16 budget – the second created under the direction of CAO Rusten – has benefited from our focus last year on dramatic improvements in the City’s budgeting practices.  In fact, the FY15 budget has served as a bridge to this year’s budget.  We have accomplished many of the goals we set for ourselves in last year’s budget.  For example: we have continued to fund and grow a future reappraisal Reserve Fund; we have begun purchasing vehicles with cash instead of with loans that had frequently left the City paying off debt for vehicles even after they were no longer in use; and we delivered on our commitments to hire a central purchasing officer and to create a new Innovation & Technology Department led by a Chief Innovation Officer, thereby improving City performance on many fronts and prioritizing improvement of the City’s information technology function. 

The FY16 General Fund budget continues to make progress toward goal of increased financial stability and responsibility
The proposed FY16 General Fund budget includes $1 million to fund the City’s new unassigned fund balance policy.  In the FY11 audited financial report, the City’s unassigned fund balance was negative $16.8 million, a figure that, according to the FY11 management letter, placed the City “at risk, as it is overly reliant on borrowing from financial institutions.”  After several years of focus, the voter approval of the Fiscal Stability Bond, the repayment of large deficits by the Water and Sewer enterprise funds, and emphasis on securing reimbursement for Champlain Parkway expenditures, our audited FY14 unassigned fund balance improved to a positive $71.8 thousand, the City’s first positive unassigned fund balance since the Burlington Telecom (BT) deficits began in 2009.  Now, with the FY16 budget before you, the City projects to increase that fund balance to over $1 million, which would represent solid progress towards the goal of our new Fund Balance Policy, which commits the City to increasing the balance to a minimum of five percent of the annual General Fund operating spending (approximately $3 million currently) by the end of FY19.

Also, the City similarly is making great strides with its days cash on hand (COH) both at the Burlington International Airport (BTV) and Burlington Electric Department (BED) in its effort to improve the credit ratings of both BTV and BED by increasing the liquidity of these enterprises.  Moody’s Investors Service has indicated that BTV’s reaching 200 days COH will be a significant factor as Moody’s considers the Airport for another credit ratings upgrade.  At the end of FY14, BTV had accumulated 145 days COH, and it is targeting 175 days COH as its FY16 goal.  BED has reached 73 days COH by the end of FY14, and now has set its sights on reaching 93 days COH in FY16.

The FY16 budget includes modest revenue and expense growth
The proposed FY16 General Fund budget includes a revenue increase of 7.5 percent, which is 1.7 percent greater than the 5.8 percent growth in expenditures.  Some of these increases are the result of shifts in how the City accounts for certain revenue and expense items, not true increases.  Two examples of expenses now included in the FY16 budget that previously were not shown in the General Fund budget are:

• $625,000 for City streetlights – in years past, BED was netting the streetlights against the PILOT.  Going forward, the General Fund will pay BED for City streetlights, and General Fund revenues will increase because BED will be paying its full PILOT.
• $768,090 for part of the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO) – going forward, pursuant to Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) procedures, CEDO administrative, neighborhood support, and sustainability functions will be paid for by the General Fund, instead of being organized as an outside special revenue fund.

Excluding the above two examples that collectively total $1.39 million, FY16 expenditures would increase by 3.6 percent (rather than 5.8 percent).  For purposes of comparison, revenues would increase by an appropriate corresponding percentage. 

The FY16 budget begins the process of implementing the City’s 10-Year Capital Plan
After a year of preparation, in April the Administration submitted to the City Council a Preliminary 10-Year Capital Plan.  The FY16 budget funds the first year of that plan using a number of secured and anticipated one-time sources to increase capital investment by $2.3 million.  This additional investment is focused on three areas:

• Enhanced sidewalk funding.  In FY15, the City increased sidewalk funding by approximately 80 percent to begin to restore the City’s sidewalk system, and in FY16 that heightened level of funding is maintained;
• $1 million for continuing the expansion and rebuilding of the bike path from the Urban Reserve to North Beach; and
• Substantial investments in City facilities, especially in critical deferred maintenance items identified in our recent independent study of City facilities.  Emphasis will be on improvements within City Hall ($600,000) and engineering and design for renovations to Leddy Arena ($400,000), as well as work at Memorial Auditorium ($250,000).

Some of this enhanced investment is dependent on anticipated, but not yet confirmed, one-time revenues.  The budget resolution requires further evaluation and potential budget adjustment by the end of the calendar year.

In addition, the enterprise fund budgets include enhanced capital investment in the City’s water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.  The budget includes a combined 7.45 percent increase in the City’s water/wastewater/stormwater rates to begin to address deferred capital needs that have been insufficiently addressed since they were identified in the Water Division's 2007 capital plan.   The average age of the City’s water mains is 75 years, and the 84 water main breaks during last winter’s deep freeze highlighted the vulnerability of our aging system.  This is the first increase in two years for water and stormwater rates and three years for wastewater rates.  DPW anticipates that these fee increases will cause the typical single family home monthly bill to increase $4.79, from $64.26 to $69.05.

The Administration intends to continue to work with the City Council and Commissions to develop an implementation plan for balance of the 10-Year Capital Plan this fall. 

The FY16 budget substantially increases funding to the Housing Trust Fund
For over 30 years, Burlington has identified housing affordability as one of its most significant challenges.  And, over the past 30 years, the City, its residents, and a collection of dedicated affordable housing non-profits have worked together to meet this challenge and developed innovative ways to make Burlington affordable for thousands of low and moderate income households.  My Administration has developed a draft Housing Action Plan to help reduce the cost of housing in Burlington for all residents, and one important proposal entails increasing the funding allocated to the Housing Trust Fund.  The Housing Trust Fund provides valuable “seed” capital for necessary, but high-risk, pre-development work and capacity grants for affordable housing projects.  The FY16 budget increases funding by $175,000, or nearly 100 percent, to the Housing Trust Fund.  Such an increase was identified in the Housing Action Plan and has been called for by housing advocates for many years.  

The FY16 budget includes funding for critical new services and studies

• Creation of new Burlington Fire Department paramedicine program. The budget includes approximately $15,000 of net new general fund support for the Burlington Fire Department to begin delivering paramedicine, the highest level of pre-hospital care available in an effort to improve patient care, patient comfort, and ideally, patient outcomes. Paramedics possess advanced patient assessment and treatment skills and have the ability to deliver a wider range of medications.
• Teen services librarian. The budget includes funding for a new full-time position of Teen Librarian in FY16, allowing Burlington to join Colchester and many other Chittenden County and Vermont towns in offering the following  types of services: organized activities and safe places for teens to socialize after school; robust partnerships with community organizations to reach at-risk teens; through innovative programs such as learning labs and makers spaces, offer teens the opportunity to develop 21st century skills as they relate to information literacy, media literacy, and digital literacy; and provide community service outlets for teens by engaging them in the development of young adult programs, intergenerational programming, teen advisory boards that help develop civic engagement skills and opportunities.
• Additional youth librarian services. Currently, the Fletcher Free Library has 2.1 FTE Youth Services staff covering the youth desk for 58 hours a week, providing the community with programming and outreach, which includes neighborhood services and community collaborations and partnerships. The Library’s proposal is to reclassify the two part-time youth services positions to full-time resulting in three FTE youth librarians to meet community needs for strengthened services. Currently the desk is unstaffed an average of seven hours a week.  This increased staffing would allow Youth Services to provide better service and more programming, including expansion of summer reading program capacity with a focus on age 0-5 early intervention to support literacy development and the ability to better meet the needs of our increasingly diverse community. 
• Funding for new competitive arts grants pilot. This pilot program responds to the arts communities request for more direct support for artists in our community. The goal of this competitive grant program is to foster the growth of Burlington’s robust creative community and to encourage innovation by supporting artist projects that engage a diverse community and contribute to the public good. Current plans call for grantees to be selected by a community panel, and awards will range from approximately $250 to $3,000.
• BTV Ignite. BTV Ignite is dedicated to aligning the opportunity afforded by Burlington’s powerful City-wide gigabit infrastructure for economic, educational, and community benefit and as a tool, test-bed, and accelerator. In FY16, the City is partnering with the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and many other City institutions to help create a new BTV Ignite Executive Director position tasked with coordinating among the City tech community, hospital, academic institutions, businesses, and City Departments to help advance this goal.  The General Fund budget and the BED and BT budgets each include $25,000 of the more than $175,000 funded by private, public, and non-profit entities in Burlington to support this position.
• Studies to address ongoing challenges.
  • A permit reform study to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the City’s existing permitting processes.  The recommendations would be intended to update, revise, and consolidate the building code, and consider adopting a rehabilitation code for older existing structures, and identify relevant best practices from other communities, and ensure that our code truly reflects what is needed to address housing safety, affordability, accessibility and availability.  The study also should help improve the overall customer experience in advancing projects through the City’s various permitting processes. The FY16 budget allocates $100,000 to support this CEDO-led effort.
  • A neighborhood stabilization project study to be funded in FY16 with $25,000 in City General Fund dollars supported by matching grants from the University of Vermont and Champlain College and an additional $5,000 from Preservation Burlington.  The study would develop an overall strategy and toolkit of policies and programs based on national best practices including:
    • Strategic funding plan options;
    • Timeline for implementation; and
    • Review and recommendations based on successful neighborhood livability initiatives in other university communities, such as the UniverCity Neighborhood partnership in Iowa City, IA and the Preserving the Neighborhood initiative in Lancaster, PA.
  • An asset management study, estimated to cost no more than $35,000, to review and then recommend ways for the City to better and more cost-effectively maintain and share our vehicles and buildings to control costs.  This one-time investment should quickly pay for itself by identifying and then implementing new systems.
     

The FY16 budget accomplishes these goals without increasing municipal taxes
The FY16 budget includes no increase in the total municipal tax rate.  Unlike virtually every year during the past 15 years, the budget will not increase the retirement tax rate.  The ability to hold steady on the retirement rate is the result of initial progress made in the effort to reform the pension system that the City Council, the Administration, and employees have been working toward for the past 18 months, as well as growth in the Grand List for FY16.  Additionally, we have been working with our four bargaining units in an effort to level fund the City’s contribution towards retirement for the next three years by creating a system where the employees share some of the risk if the system does not remain stable through both increased contributions and modifications to some benefits. 

Conclusion: the FY16 budget represents further important steps toward greater municipal financial health and improved operations
In sum, I believe the budget now before the Council is very much in line with the significant progress we have made together over the last three years.  I again thank you for your help with the development of the FY16 budget and respectfully request your strong support for the budget on June 15, 2015.

Thank you.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                 802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement in Response to News of Dealertrack Acquisition

“Today’s announcement about Dealertrack’s agreement with Cox Automotive is further evidence that Burlington is a wonderful place to create and grow a successful tech business. I was encouraged to hear from Dealertrack co-president Rick Gibbs that he anticipates that, as part of Cox Automotive, the company will continue to invest and grow here in Burlington. I look forward to our continued work together to create and sustain more great jobs in Burlington’s South End.”
 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 11, 2015
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
                 802.735.7962

Mayor Miro Weinberger, Community Partners, Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Celebrate Archibald Neighborhood Garden Grand Re-Opening
Land Purchase and Remediation Preserves Garden for Old North End Neighborhood

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today officially re-opened the Archibald neighborhood garden, which has been fully rehabilitated following the City’s recent purchase of the land from the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties (VNA). The garden, located at 28 Archibald Street near the Integrated Arts Academy and across the street from the Old North End Farmers’ Market, has been a vibrant community hub since 2007, when a group of Old North End residents came together to grow their own fresh, healthy food. The site now provides garden space for 24 households and several youth groups.

“This project is an important investment in the food security and community health of our City,” said Mayor Weinberger. “The Archibald neighborhood garden provides space for Old North End residents of all ages and backgrounds to learn and grow together.”

The grassroots group Grow Team ONE operated the Archibald neighborhood garden with support from the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront until 2013, when the garden joined the Burlington Area Community Gardens system under the City's new Neighborhood Garden designation. The City’s land acquisition from the VNA was made possible with funds from with the Conservation Legacy Fund and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Additionally, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Brownfields Program provided funds to support site assessments and planning for site cleanup. A grant from the Vermont Agency of Commerce made rehabilitation possible, which resulted in new soil and raised beds for the entire site.

The Mayor was joined by many community partners at today’s garden re-opening, including: City Council President Jane Knodell; Judy Peterson, President and CEO, VNA; Jess Hyman, Executive Director, Vermont Community Garden Network; and Jesse Bridges, Director, Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, along with other Parks staff. The garden’s purchase and remediation work were made possible through these important community partnerships.

The remediation and rebuilding took place during April and May 2015, with more than 160 yards of clean fill, topsoil, and organic compost, 3,000 board feet of lumber, and more than 500 hours of service provided by over 90 community volunteers. The site also received a new fence and water system.

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