Burlington, Vt. – Tonight, Mayor Miro Weinberger secured City Council’s unanimous approval of a 75-year lease between the Burlington International Airport and  BETA Technologies to help ensure that the innovative, electric aviation company remains a vibrant part of the region’s economy for the long term.  The agreement will enable BETA to construct and operate a 355,000 square foot building on airport property to design, produce and assemble electric aircraft.

“BETA’s vision of electric aviation fully aligns with Burlington’s vision of a fully-electrified, net zero city that offers vast opportunities to all who want to make this special place their home.  This lease ensures that, for many years to come, BETA can continue its remarkable growth and innovation right here at BTV,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “I want to thank BETA for working collaboratively to see this process through, the Council for their support, and Acting Aviation Director Nic Longo and his team for getting us to this critical milestone.”

“I am glad that with this carefully negotiated lease and the strong support of the City Council, we are one step closer to seeing BETA being an innovative part of Vermont for years to come,” Mayor Weinberger said.

“We are grateful to Mayor Weinberger, the City Council of Burlington, the Airport Director Nic Longo and the local community for the ongoing support of BETA’s growth in Vermont,” said Kyle Clark, Founder and CEO of BETA. “With this agreement, BETA will launch its production here in Vermont within a new sustainable and responsible green campus here at the airport.”

Under the lease, the rent paid by BETA will be fair market rent, consistent with the rent paid by other tenants of BTV. Rent will increase each year by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, with a minimum increase of 2 percent and a maximum increase of 6 percent each year. BETA has agreed to construct the infrastructure improvements to the airport property that are necessary to make the airport’s property ready for the construction of BETA’s facility.

Since BETA is incurring expenses to build infrastructure, they will earn a rent credit equal to the cost of constructing the necessary infrastructure, which will be applied against the payment of rent over time.

BETA has been a tenant at BTV since 2019, in a City Council-approved lease.  During that period, BETA has made significant investments to fully renovate its North Hangar facility located at 1150 Airport Drive to house its engineering, administrative and prototype manufacturing facilities.

BETA currently employs more than 300 people at its BTV facility, in high-paying positions. BETA also manages a robust internship program, collaborating with local educational institutions, to provide students with work-study opportunities; and is currently seeking to fill another 50 full-time positions.

BETA is poised to be a growth engine for Burlington and the region for years to come. BETA projects hiring hundreds of additional employees and interns, as it brings the planned production facility at BTV online in 2023.

To read the BTV memo to City Council about the lease, click here
To see the parcel diagram, click here

##

Burlington, Vt. – On Wednesday, July 13, Mayor Miro Weinberger tested positive for COVID-19, using an at-home test and is experiencing mild and improving symptoms. Mayor Weinberger is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and received a second booster shot in June.

Mayor Weinberger and his family are on a summer vacation trip to Italy. Mayor Weinberger has been following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance since testing positive by isolating from others, and will continue to follow CDC guidance to avoid travel and take additional precautions until 10 days have passed since first testing positive for COVID-19.

Mayor Weinberger intends to work remotely until returning to Burlington on July 23. City Council President Karen Paul will continue serving as Acting Mayor through this period.

To read the CDC guidance, click here.

Burlington, Vt. – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger issued the following statement on Burlington’s first homicide this year, which occurred Thursday night near Luck Street.

“Last night’s shooting and murder is Burlington’s first homicide in more than two years. Yet it is one of many recent gunfire incidents, part of a very disturbing trend that has dramatically increased since 2020.

“The Burlington Police Department has begun the hard work of identifying, finding, and apprehending the shooter, and we offer condolences to the victim’s family and those mourning him.

“Murder is thankfully rare in Burlington, but for more than a decade, the investigators at BPD have closed each and every one. They have my full support as they search for a killer. While details are still emerging, early indications are that this homicide, like more than half of the past gunfire incidents, involves people who have been involved in other, previous gunfire incidents. As the police chief, the state’s attorney, and I stated last month, we are dedicated to rolling back this dangerous trend through partnerships, thorough investigations, arrests, and vigorous prosecutions.”

##

Burlington, Vt. – At its meeting tonight, the City Council voted to approve Mayor Miro Weinberger’s Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget in a unanimous vote, continuing the administration’s strong record of carefully stewarding taxpayer resources while making substantial new investments in public safety, progress toward Net Zero, and in critical public infrastructure. Burlingtonians can expect maintained public services and an overall property tax decrease due to a reduction in the statewide property tax rate.

“Despite high inflation, and constrained revenue, this budget uses federal assistance and the City’s strong financial position to make progress on the community’s most urgent challenges,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “I want to thank CAO Katherine Schad, the entire department head team, and my colleagues on the City Council who worked hard for many months to make tonight’s action possible.”

Police Department Rebuilding Plan Investment

The budget fully funds a robust rebuilding plan to hire officers back to the 87-officer authorized cap of the Burlington Police Department. The police chief has set a goal to achieve 85 officers by July 1, 2025, through increasing our Police Academy class size by 50 percent, doubling the number of lateral hires, and improving our retention rates of current officers.

A three-year rebuilding plan invests $1.2 million to keep current officers in the Police Department and attract new officers. This recruitment and retention plan allocates funding for a range of items, including: a competitive contract; signing bonuses; and incentives such as housing stipends to live in Burlington, education, and childcare.

The budget also significantly expands resources in other public safety personnel, including the number of the BPD’s Community Service Officers (CSOs) from 10 to 12 and doubles the number of Community Service Liaisons (CSLs) from 3 to 6. (CSOs perform foot patrols and respond to a variety of quality-of-life complaints. CSLs are social workers that work in the police department and focus on mental health issues, substance use disorder, and homelessness.)

The budget also reserves $400,000 for the creation of a Crisis Response Team Program inspired by the CAHOOTs program in Eugene, Oregon.

Net Zero Energy City and Climate Emergency Initiatives

The FY 23 budget continues the administration’s priority to invest toward our Net Zero Energy City goals and to fight the climate emergency. These initiatives are largely funded through Burlington Electric Department revenues, federal grants, and the Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond. These investments include: More than $2 million for customer strategic electrification incentives and programs, such as rebates for heat pumps, e-bike, e-mowers, and home charging stations; $1.5 million for energy efficiency incentives and programs; adding EV charging infrastructure and continuing to replace our City fleet with electric and hybrid vehicles.

Rebuilding Infrastructure

The City budget makes substantial investments in Burlington’s streets, sidewalks and transportation. With voters’ support of the Capital Infrastructure Bond on Town Meeting Day 2022, the City will continue addressing the backlog of investments in our streets and sidewalks. The FY 23 budget allows historic reinvestments in transportation and City infrastructure including: $1.5 million of bike and pedestrian improvements; $1.6 million to rebuild three miles of sidewalks and resources to complete a new citywide sidewalk condition assessment so that the Department of Public Works can update its target for work moving forward; and $1.1 million to develop a shared use path on Intervale Road.

Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging

Since creating the Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging Department (REIB), the City has dramatically increased its investment in the department making Burlington’s REIB department the most substantial in Vermont, and larger even than the State government’s office. In FY 23 we will continue this investment with a $1.8 million budget. This budget will enable REIB to continue a range of programs, including: anti-racism training for all City employees; continue the tradition of hosting a Juneteenth celebration; and administration of BIPOC grant programs, including a $190,000 Empowerment Fund.

Property Tax Rates

In recognition of the challenging financial times many Burlington residents continue to face, the City budget maintains the General City tax rate at the same level as last year. As a result of a new state law, the education tax rate will decrease this year due to a $90 million surplus in the state’s education fund.

Other Council Action: Short Term Rental Ordinance

The City Council also passed, by an 8-2 vote, a Short-Term Rental Ordnance, which is the last of five key policy reforms that was proposed as part of Mayor Weinberger’s 2019 Housing Summit. The other policy reforms were increasing the Housing Trust Fund, eliminating parking minimums, upgrading our standards for energy efficiency in rental housing, and making it easier to build accessory dwelling units.

The final ordinance restricts short-term rentals to owner-occupied properties or in exchange for renting another unit at a below-market affordable rate. The ordinance will also impose a 9 percent short-term rental tax, a portion of which will go to the City’s Housing Trust Fund.

“This new regulation provides an important balance of protecting the City’s housing stock while still providing some flexibility for homeowners to manage their small-scale properties, and generates substantial new revenue for affordable housing through the Housing Trust Fund,” said Mayor Weinberger. “While we have much more work to do to make good on the promise of housing as a human right, tonight’s action on short-term rental regulation completed the five major reforms laid out in the Mayor’s Housing Summits of 2019.”

 ##

To read Mayor Weinberger’s Budget Memo to City Council, click here

Burlington, Vt. – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion granted to all Americans for nearly five decades. Mayor Miro Weinberger issued the following statement:

“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court creates a country where rights are determined by which state you live in. This ruling sets our country back two generations in the fight for women’s rights and equality.

“In Vermont, a person’s right to choose is secure, and the City will continue its record of doing everything possible to defend reproductive access. In 2019, the State Legislature overwhelmingly passed the Freedom of Choice Act, which establishes the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraception or sterilization, and the right to carry a pregnancy to term, give birth to a child, or have an abortion.

“It is important to point out that this is not the only Supreme Court ruling in recent days that is completely out of touch with the priorities of Americans. Yesterday, the Supreme Court overturned a century-old New York State law which required people to have a license to carry a concealed gun. This outrageous ruling comes at the same moment when we finally broke a logjam in the U.S. Senate to pass once-in-a-generation gun reform.

“The U.S. Supreme Court is quickly losing credibility in the eyes of many Americans. Our democracy depends on our ability to restore legitimacy to this essential branch of our government. The current system for appointing judges, who serve life terms, is unique in the world and has created a situation where minority views are being imposed on the whole country. Increasingly, it is clear, we must reform the way the U.S. Supreme Court is constituted to rebuild and restore its own legitimacy.”

##

Burlington, Vt. – Construction on the Champlain Parkway – after 35 years since initial site work was halted – has now resumed. This week, site preparation has begun.

Following the federal judge’s ruling Friday, June 17 to lift the temporary restraining order on the Champlain Parkway, construction activities on the Champlain Parkway Project began on Tuesday.  The Court gave the go-ahead to start construction while the legal challenge is pending. The City hopes to agree on a schedule resolving that legal challenge before the next construction season. 

“As many have remarked, for decades Burlington mayors, including me, have frequently predicted that construction of the Champlain Parkway would start ‘in about two years.’ I am relieved, grateful and excited to be able to report that work has begun on this important and overdue project,” Mayor Miro Weinberger said.

By a unanimous vote of the City Council on April 25, a $40.9 million contract was approved to improve traffic circulation, alleviate overburdened roadways, protect Lake Champlain through enhanced stormwater management, and improve vehicular, bike, and pedestrian safety in the Southwest section of the City.

The funding of the project comes primarily from the federal government, which is contributing 95 percent of the eligible cost. The State of Vermont will pay 3 percent. The City of Burlington will be responsible for roughly 2 percent of the project’s eligible costs plus some costs related to the project.

Through decades of successful effort across multiple Administrations, the City has been able to redesign the Champlain Parkway project to be able to create a new,  safe 25 mph city street that also improves water quality in Lake Champlain.

Starting earlier this week, on Tuesday, crews began on-site clearing on the project’s Right of Way of trees and stumps between Lakeside and Home Avenue. This work will continue through Friday.

Throughout the remainder of this calendar year, work on the project will move forward with the installation of stormwater infrastructure, and new roadway construction between Home Avenue and Sears Lane.

In all, the Champlain Parkway Project spans 2.8-miles from the I-189 intersection with US 7 to Lakeside Avenue, and includes upgrades to Lakeside Avenue, and improvements to Pine Street, between Lakeside Avenue and Main Street. 

In response to community concerns, the City split the construction of the Champlain Parkway into two phases, and is sequencing work with other area projects through the South End Construction Coordination Plan to minimize community impacts.  Under the plan, the initial phase of work for the Champlain Parkway is slated for completion in fall 2024.

This phased approach will also greatly reduce or eliminate the gap in time between the completion of the Champlain Parkway and the construction of the Railyard Enterprise Project. Traffic volume in the City’s South End is not projected to increase after this first phase of Parkway construction since there will be no new interstate connection. Further, with the completion of major South End transportation projects under engineering, design or construction—such as the Shelburne Street Roundabout, the Champlain Parkway and the Railyard Enterprise Project—traffic in the King and Maple neighborhood is expected to decrease.

Department of Public Works Director Chapin Spencer said, “It will take three construction seasons to complete Phase 1 of the Champlain Parkway project. We appreciate everyone’s patience and encourage residents, businesses and visitors to sign up for project updates at www.champlainparkway.com so we can all safely navigate around and through the project area.”        

Timeline: (subject to change)

• 2022: Clearing and grubbing, installation of stormwater infrastructure, and new roadway construction between Home Avenue and Sears Lane
• 2023: New roadway construction between Sears Lane and Lakeside Avenue, as well as connecting sideroad work
• 2024: Improvements along Lakeside Avenue and Pine Street

At the completion of the first phase of construction, project benefits will include:
 

• A new 25-mph grid street

• A new stormwater pond and new stormwater sand filter
• New shared use paths providing roughly two miles of continuous off-road bike/pedestrian paths
• Improved raised intersections
• A new midblock crosswalk at Pine Street and Arts Riot
• An enhanced Pine Street with new granite curbs, reconstructed sidewalks, and improved surface drainage

• Underground utilities on Lakeside Avenue between Pine Street and the new portion of the Champlain Parkway

##

Burlington, Vt. –   Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement today in response to the U.S. District Court’s decision to lift the temporary restraining order on the Champlain Parkway.

“We welcome the Court’s decision to lift the temporary restraining order and allow the Champlain Parkway to begin construction. It is especially gratifying that the Court recognized the important water quality benefits to Lake Champlain which the project will deliver through the construction of new stormwater treatment facilities.

“I am pleased the Court recognized the support of the City Council for this project through several elections. In late April, the project received a unanimous Council vote to approve the construction contract to build the Champlain Parkway.

“Once complete, the Champlain Parkway will substantially enhance the vitality along Pine Street, expand South End active transportation options, improve stormwater management to protect Lake Champlain, and remove truck traffic from residential streets.

“I am proud of the strong collaboration among the City, VTrans, and the Federal Highway Administration to invest in and develop critical transportation and environmental projects to improve our City’s livability.

“We will start work next week.”

Burlington, Vt. – Mayor Miro Weinberger issued the following statement today regarding the official announcement that Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express train will begin passenger rail service to Burlington on July 29:

“Very soon, we will be able to climb aboard a train in downtown Burlington, and arrive in New York City in time for dinner. This long-desired service will give a boost to our economic recovery at a critical time, and give travelers a new, lower-carbon connection to New York and the rest of the Amtrak system.

“Local, state and federal officials have been working to reestablish this vital transportation link for decades. I am grateful to our congressional delegation and multiple governors for prioritizing this transportation investment for years, and to Vermont Rail, Lake Champlain Transportation and Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn for working closely with the City to resolve residents’ concerns about Amtrak overnighting in Burlington that threatened to delay this day further. Finally, I applaud Public Works Director Chapin Spencer, City Engineer Norm Baldwin and the rest of the City team that worked very hard for years to make today’s announcement possible.”

##

Burlington, Vt. – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced that for the first time the City of Burlington will observe Juneteenth, June 19, as an official municipal holiday this year, and add the holiday to the municipal holiday schedule in years to come. Last year on June 17, President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act and Congress acted nearly unanimously to make Juneteenth a national holiday, the first time a new national holiday has been created in almost 40 years.

Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, when the news of the end of the Civil War finally reached Galveston, Texas, three years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and the enslaved people there learned that they were free.  More than 200 cities across the country now host Juneteenth celebrations to promote knowledge and appreciation of Black American resilience, culture, and history.

“Juneteenth is a day of celebration – and also one of reckoning,” said Mayor Weinberger “It is celebrated along with our other great milestones, as a day when the struggle to end slavery triumphed.  It has taken far too long for basic freedoms -- and the broader rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness – to be shared equally among all people in our country, regardless of race and ethnicity and there is still so much left to be done to achieve these ends. I encourage all employees to set aside time on Juneteenth to reflect on our country’s history, including the parts that are painful, to help us work together to forge a more racially just future. Thanks to the REIB Department for their leadership on helping us to recognize and celebrate this important day.”

The City will also be hosting the second annual Juneteenth Celebration, which will take place over the full weekend. The full schedule of events, which includes free music, performances, speakers, and food can be found here.

This year, because Juneteenth falls on a Sunday, the City holiday will be observed on Monday, June 20. All City offices will be closed on June 20, with the exception of summer camps, which will continue to operate. City Council President Karen Paul has canceled City Council meeting  scheduled for June 20 to observe the federal and municipal holiday.

##

Burlington, Vt. – On Sunday evening, Burlington Police Department dispatchers received multiple 911 calls for sounds of gunshots in the vicinity of Roosevelt Park. This shooting is the 12th gunfire incident of 2022. Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger issued the following statement on these events:

“Gunfire incidents in Burlington are dangerous, illegal, and unacceptable. The individuals who are putting themselves and the public at risk through these reckless shootings should be on notice that the City is doing everything in its power to hold them accountable and ­stop now. To fully protect the public from gun violence, the BPD also needs action from other law enforcement agencies, the City Council, and state and federal lawmakers. Later this week, Chief Murad and I will further detail both the BPD’s efforts to reduce gun incidents and the actions we need from partners.”

##