Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee

Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/95273623823?pwd=y3AkPtCrib6SFvi1sZghugRMl2MEIo.1 Meeting ID: 952 7362 3823 Passcode: 147407 --- One tap mobile +13052241968,,95273623823#,,,,*147407# US +13092053325,,95273623823#,,,,*147407# US --- Meeting ID: 952 7362 3823 Passcode: 147407 1. Agenda 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda 2. Adopt Minutes Subject 2.1. Approval of 3/18/26 Minutes Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Category 2. Adopt Minutes Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) Type Recommended Action Subject 2.2. Approval of 5/20/26 Minutes Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Category 2. Adopt Minutes Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) Type Page 1 of 27 3. Public Forum Subject 3.1. PUBLIC FORUM - Verbal Comments Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Category 3. Public Forum Department Type 4. Burlington Walk Bike Council's Block Party Draft Resolution Subject 4.1. CDNR Committee will work through the draft resolution in order to present it to City Council at the soonest meeting possible. Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Category 4. Burlington Walk Bike Council's Block Party Draft Resolution Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) Type Recommended Action 5. Graffiti Abatement Committee Subject 5.1. CDNR Committee will continue to discuss the scope of work and draft some basic framework and structure, and discuss stakeholder outreach so that interested parties can join the July meeting to help think through the committee's scope/mission and representative mix. This will be an ongoing conversation—no action will be taken. Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Category 5. Graffiti Abatement Committee Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) Type 6. Adjournment Subject 6.1. Motion to adjourn Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall Category 6. Adjournment Department Council and Board Type Recommended Action Page 2 of 27  CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE c/o Community & Economic Development Office City Hall, Room 32 • 149 Church Street • Burlington, VT 05401 802-865-7144 VOX • 802-865-7024 FAX • www.burlingtonvt.gov/cedo Councilor Evan Litwin (EL), Chair, Ward 7 Councilor Carter Neubieser (CN), Ward 1 Councilor Allie Schachter (AS), East District CDNR Committee Meeting Wednesday, March 18, 2026 6:00 – 8:00 PM Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor – City Hall Committee members: Evan Litwin (EL), Allie Schachter (AS), Carter Neubieser (CN) City Staff: Christine Curtis, CEDO Other Attendees: Brett Rodgers, Agnes Barsalow, PaintCare; Andrea Viets, Director Heineberg Senior Center; Katherine Schad, CAO; Kara Alnasrawi, Maggie Callaghan, CEDO; Anne Gatch, Megan Z, Eagle Bay Academy; Gordon Dragoon, Jason Stuffle, Burlington Walk Bike Council Draft Minutes Meeting Started at 6:01 PM 1. Approve agenda MOTION by Councilor Schachter, SECOND by Councilor Litwin, to approve the agenda VOTING: unanimous; motion carries. 2. Approve Minutes: 2/3/2026 MOTION by Councilor Schachter, SECOND by Councilor Litwin, to approve the minutes VOTING: unanimous; motion carries. 3. Public Forum The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities. For accessibility information, call 865-7144. For questions about the meeting, contact Christine Curtis at ccurtis@burlingtonvt.gov Page 3 of 27  • Ann Gatch and Eagle Bay Academy staff requested permission to convert a graffiti-covered wall into a student-designed mural. • Approximately $1,000 for paint and supplies. • A target start date of May 2026. • The project is tied to a “Math Through Art” curriculum where students apply geometry, scale, measurement, and design concepts through mural creation. Speakers emphasized educational benefits, youth engagement, community pride, and graffiti prevention through stewardship of public spaces. • Andrea Viets updated Committee on Heineberg Senior Center to include preparation of roughly 200 tax returns through AARP Tax- Aide services, increased participation in free meal programs and wellness activities, growth in Bone Builders exercise classes, receipt of a Creative Aging Grant, expanded food security efforts serving approximately 40–50 people weekly, and new programming connecting seniors and English language learners. 4. Housing Trust Fund – Informational/Discussion • CEDO staff presented plans to modernize Burlington’s Housing Trust Fund, which currently holds about $1.5 million. • Key priorities discussed included: • Creating clearer policies, procedures, and evaluation criteria. • Developing a formal scoring rubric for funding decisions. • Making the process more transparent and accessible. • Expanding participation beyond large housing developers. • Exploring support for homeowners and small-scale projects such as ADUs. • Improving outreach so more residents understand funding opportunities. • Committee members discussed: • Increasing Housing Trust Fund revenues through tools such as short- term rental taxes and inclusionary zoning reforms. • Maintaining long-term affordability requirements for funded housing. • Supporting more multi-bedroom affordable housing for larger and immigrant families. Page 4 of 27  • Balancing investments in large affordable housing developments with smaller community-based housing projects. 5. Regional Programs follow-up discussion • The committee continued work on restructuring the city’s regional programs funding process. • Three funding categories were identified: • Non-discretionary regional services that belong in departmental budgets. • Critical service partners such as Howard Center Street Outreach, VNA Home Health & Hospice, Heineberg Community Senior Center, and Turning Point. • Smaller discretionary community grants. • Proposed changes include: • Creating a formal grant application and review process. • Requiring clearer impact reporting from recipients. • Improving accountability and transparency. • Potentially having CEDO administer discretionary grants through a structured annual program. 6. Community Based Solutions for Graffiti Abatement • Representatives from PaintCare presented a proposal to support Burlington’s graffiti abatement and mural efforts. PaintCare operates a paint stewardship and recycling program and has collected more than 1.2 million gallons of paint in Vermont since 2014. • The proposed partnership would: • Provide reusable paint for murals and beautification projects. • Support graffiti cleanup efforts. • Potentially sponsor selected mural projects. • Assist with outreach and public awareness efforts. Committee Motion: Recommend City Council form a graffiti abatement committee and recognize partnership between City of Burlington and PaintCare and refer back to CDNR to finalize all details of the graffiti abatement committee MOTION by Councilor Litwin, SECOND by Councilor Schachter Page 5 of 27 VOTING: unanimous; motion carries. 7. Community Block Party Efforts – Burlington Walk Bike Council • Representatives from the Burlington Walk Bike Council proposed simplifying the process for organizing neighborhood block parties. • Current concerns include: • A requirement to collect signatures from 75% of affected residents. • Long permit timelines. • Administrative barriers that discourage participation. • Ideas discussed included: • Shorter application timelines. • Reduced signature requirements. • Designated block-party weekends. • Better coordination with city departments. • Possible future support through neighborhood organizations. • Committee members generally supported the concept but requested additional consultation with permitting staff and other city departments before advancing a formal proposal. 8. Adjournment • ADJOURN at 8:16 p.m. by Councilor Litwin with no objection Page 6 of 27  CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE c/o Community & Economic Development Office City Hall, Room 32 • 149 Church Street • Burlington, VT 05401 802-865-7144 VOX • 802-865-7024 FAX • www.burlingtonvt.gov/cedo Councilor Evan Litwin (EL), Chair, Ward 7 Councilor Carter Neubieser (CN), Ward 1 Councilor Allie Schachter (AS), East District Councilor Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (LSP), Ward 3 CDNR Committee Meeting Wednesday, May 20, 2026 6:00 – 8:00 PM Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor – City Hall Committee members: Evan Litwin (EL), Allie Schachter (AS), Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (LSP) City Staff: Christine Curtis, CEDO Other Attendees: Gordon Dragoon, Jason Stuffle, Ellery Ames, Jak Tiano, Burlington Walk Bike Council Draft Minutes Meeting Started at 6:05 PM 1. Approve agenda MOTION by Councilor Schachter, SECOND by Councilor Sanchez-Parkinson, to approve the agenda VOTING: unanimous; motion carries. 2. Public Forum • No one spoke 3. Letter from Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation (GBIC) • Informational only – to place on file 4. Community Block Party update – Burlington Walk Bike Council The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities. For accessibility information, call 865-7144. For questions about the meeting, contact Christine Curtis at ccurtis@burlingtonvt.gov Page 7 of 27  • Designate a citywide block party weekend. • Temporarily reduce barriers and administrative requirements for organizing block parties. • Encourage greater use of streets as community gathering spaces. • Build neighborhood connections and strengthen community engagement. • Committee discussed whether to hold a single citywide weekend, multiple weekends, or a broader block party season. • Selecting dates that avoid conflicts with major city events, move-in periods, and road closures. • Potential funding sources, including Local Motion microgrants and Councilor Initiative Funds. • Coordination with Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs). • Marketing and outreach to ensure participation across neighborhoods. • Whether the current requirement that 75% of affected residents approve a block party should be modified. • Exploring digital signatures to simplify neighborhood approval processes. • The Walk Bike Council will revise its resolution based on committee feedback. • Committee members will work directly with organizers between meetings. • The goal is to move a refined proposal to City Council in June rather than delaying the effort. 5. Graffiti Abatement Committee • The committee began shaping a new community-focused committee to address graffiti, beautification, murals, and public art initiatives. • Discussion explored Whether the name “Graffiti Abatement Committee” is too narrow or carries negative connotations. • Alternative concepts focused on beautification, public art, or defacement response. • Creating a centralized process for mural proposals and beautification projects. • Supporting equitable access to funding and resources for community art projects. Page 8 of 27  • Coordinating volunteers, artists, businesses, and neighborhood groups. • Developing community cleanup and graffiti-removal efforts. • Gather input from organizations already involved in mural and public art work. • Better understand how Burlington currently handles murals and graffiti response. • Potentially create a volunteer-driven committee supported through CDNR rather than adding workload to city departments. • Consider community cleanup days and neighborhood-based beautification initiatives. 6. Syringe Litter Recommendations • The committee revisited a previously completed syringe litter report and discussed recent developments. • Members discussed uncertainty about which organizations receive state funding for syringe service programs (SSPs). • Questions remain about whether organizations beyond Howard Center receive state-supported SSP funding and reporting requirements. • Members noted that Howard Center plans to discontinue participation in the SSP program after current funding ends. • Discussion focused on possible future uses of the Clark Street property, including recovery housing opportunities. • Members explored potential state and federal funding programs that could support recovery housing development through nonprofit partnerships. • Next steps include: 1. Revisiting the syringe litter report recommendations. 2. Reviewing which recommendations remain relevant. 3. Evaluating progress made since the report was issued. 4. Potentially preparing updated recommendations or a formal resolution for City Council consideration. 7. Adjournment • ADJOURN at 7:52 p.m. by Councilor Litwin with no objection Page 9 of 27  Block Parties in Burlington Street gatherings as tools for social connection, civic engagement, and active transportation Jack Evans, Complete Streets Specialist jack@localmotion.org June 17, 2026 Page 10 of 27 Local Motion’s mission is to make it safe, accessible, and fun for everyone to bike, walk, and roll in Vermont. Page 11 of 27 Our Work: Local Motion’s Services Page 12 of 27 Our Work: Complete Streets Technical Assistance Page 13 of 27  Streets as Places ● We did we get involved? ● Block parties ○ Build social connections & trust ○ Create resilience & opportunities ○ Reimagine streets as people-first places Page 14 of 27 25 events in Burlington Only 3 funded Page 15 of 27  Big Impacts, Bigger Costs ● Many residents don’t know it’s possible, where to begin, or are discouraged by the administrative burden ● Requires major investment: time, resources, social capital, and access ● While hosting a block party should make the next one easier, many people become discouraged Page 16 of 27  Our Ask ● Lower the barrier to hosting block parties. Make the entire process: ○ Clearer ○ Easier ○ Faster ● Enable new and more informal types of events ● Build a culture for block parties ● If the City invests in its neighborhoods, they will invest in the City Page 17 of 27  City of Burlington Walk/Bike Council Memo To:​ ​ City of Burlington, City Council From:​ Gordon Dragoon, Chair ​ ​ Jason Stuffle ​ ​ Jak Tiano ​ ​ Ellery Ames CC:​ ​ Jack Evans, Local Motion Representative Phillip Peterson, PE, Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner Chapin Spencer, Director of Public Works Subject:​ Resolution in Support of Neighborhood Block Parties and Designation of Annual Block Party Weekends Background Burlington’s neighborhoods are the foundation of what makes this city exceptional, and the connections built between neighbors are the social fabric that makes our city resilient, safe, and welcoming. Block parties are one of the most essential expressions of that neighborly spirit. They are a simple, joyful act of reclaiming the street as a place for people to gather. The Burlington Walk/Bike Council (BWBC) has long advocated for streets that serve people first. Block parties sit squarely within that mission: they are proof that streets can be places of gathering, play, and belonging, not just throughways for vehicles. This memo introduces a resolution the BWBC is asking the City Council to adopt, which seeks to streamline the block party permitting process citywide and designate two annual Burlington Block Party Weekends. Why Block Parties Matter Research1 consistently shows that the strength of a community is directly tied to how well neighbors know one another. Informal, recurring gatherings, such as street potlucks, play streets, or annual parties, are among the most effective tools for building the social trust that reduces crime, supports mental health, and helps communities weather hardship together. In an era of increasing social isolation and screen-mediated connection, the 1 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8719732/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953615003512 Page 18 of 27 simple act of being together with your neighbors outside breaking bread, playing games, or just building connections offers profound civic value. Burlington has always understood this. Our neighborhoods are active, engaged, and proud. Block parties are a natural expression of Burlington’s community-first culture, and part of the same instinct that crowds Church Street, fills our NPAs, or draws thousands to our farmers markets, and that makes this city feel so friendly. However, in recent years Burlington has seen an increase in isolation, division, and threats to safety due to the increased levels and congestion of traffic on our streets. Instead of connecting us, streets can often divide neighborhoods, and only the quietest of streets are able to safely support the type of childhood play and informal neighborhood connection that was common only a couple of decades ago. Play streets deserve particular attention in this context. When a street is temporarily closed to through traffic and opened to people of all ages and abilities, it becomes something remarkable: a safe, shared outdoor space where kids can ride bikes, draw with chalk, and play freely in sight of their homes with the other kids on their block, while neighbors socialize freely. In neighborhoods with multi-family homes, small backyards, or limited access to parks, a play street can be a transformative resource, and the recurring batched permit pathway proposed in this resolution would make it possible for any block to establish a play street with minimal administrative burden. The Case for Reimaging our Streets Streets make up a significant share of Burlington’s public land. For most of the day, on most blocks, that land is used primarily to store and move private vehicles. Block Parties and Play Streets offer a periodic, low-stakes way to ask: what else could this space be? They invite residents, especially children, older adults, and low-income households, to experience their street as a place that belongs to them. This is not a radical proposition. Cities across the country and around the world have found that temporarily reclaiming streets for community use builds social cohesion, supports public health, and creates long-term support for the kinds of infrastructure improvements that make neighborhoods safe, shared places. The Problem with the Current Process Despite a strong culture for block parties, the current permitting process creates real barriers to participation: ●​ Lead times are long, often 4+ weeks ●​ Applications are unnecessarily complex ●​ The requirement for 75% of impacted neighbors to sign off on each closure is among the highest thresholds in other cities with comparable processes Each event could take 1-2 months with hours of labor and uncertainty before you even begin to actually plan the event. Many residents who would love to host a block party never start the process because they don’t know it's possible, don’t know where to begin, or are discouraged by the administrative burden. Many who do host find the process too difficult to do again. The result is a skewed distribution: block parties happen most often in neighborhoods where residents have time, resources, and social capital to navigate bureaucracy. While Burlington has many strong examples of annual block parties, we should strive to see Page 19 of 27 smaller and more diverse types of events happen more often, and in new neighborhoods. The Resolution The BWBC is asking the City Council to adopt a resolution that does three things: 1.​ Directs DPW, BPD, BFD, and other relevant departments to work with the BWBC to develop a streamlined permitting process for all block party applications, with the goal of reducing lead times, simplifying the applications, creating a pre-vetted street list, lowering neighborhood approval thresholds, acceptance of digital signatures or other tools for neighborhood buy-in, and creating a batched permit pathway to enable recurring gatherings, such as monthly dinners, or regular play streets. 2.​ Directs the City to create and maintain a public-facing webpage with clear instructions, permit links, hosting resources, and information about Burlington Block Party Weekend dates that is accessible and available in multiple languages. 3.​ Designates two annual Burlington Block Party Weekends, most preferably the last weekend of May and the weekend nearest to Car Free Day (September 22nd), as citywide celebrations of neighborhood connection and community pride, supported by an expedited and even simpler permitting pathway and proactive city outreach to all neighborhoods. Departments would be directed to report back with proposals to address these directives within 60 days of passage. Next steps The BWBC asks the City Council to: 1.​ Sponsor and advance this resolution for a vote 2.​ Coordinate with DPW, BPD, and BFD in advance of the 60-day reporting window to ensure departments are prepared to engage 3.​ Champion Burlington Block Party Weekends in their districts. Every councilor encouraging their constituents to participate will make these weekends a genuine citywide event. Burlington’s streets belong to all of us. This resolution is an investment in making sure all of our neighbors feel that way. Page 20 of 27  Resolution Relating to RESOLUTION_______ Sponsor(s): SUPPORT FOR REGULAR NEIGHBORHOOD Introduced: ____________________ BLOCK PARTIES Referred to:____________________ ______________________________ Action: _______________________ Date: _________________________ Signed by Mayor: _______________ CITY OF BURLINGTON In the year Two Thousand Twenty-Six………………………………………………………………………. Resolved by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows: That WHEREAS, Burlington has a long-standing and proud tradition of neighborhood block parties that build trust between neighbors, celebrate our city’s culture and community, and bring residents of all backgrounds together on the streets where they live; and WHEREAS, block parties reframe streets as shared public places for connection, play, and belonging, allowing neighbors to experience their street in a people-first way; and WHEREAS, the City of Burlington has an interest in making it easy for residents to organize and host block parties, and in actively encouraging more neighborhoods to participate in this tradition, especially those that historically have not hosted them or face barriers to doing so; and WHEREAS, regular, low-barrier opportunities for neighbors to gather, whether a monthly potluck, a weekly play street, or an annual block party are among the most important ways to build the social fabric that makes neighborhoods resilient, safe, and welcoming; and WHEREAS, many residents are unaware that anyone can host a block party, or do not know how to begin the process, or are intimidated by the administrative burden, and clear public-facing guidance would meaningfully decrease these barriers for Burlington residents; and WHEREAS, the current permitting process presents unnecessary barriers including long lead times, complex applications, and high neighbor-signature thresholds, that discourage residents from organizing block parties; and WHEREAS, other communities have successfully reduced these barriers through shorter application windows, simplified forms, streamlined neighborhood outreach processes, and expanded use of digital tools without compromising public safety; and WHEREAS, designating shared city-wide block party weekends supported by coordinated outreach and expedited applications exemplifies the benefits of block parties and invites every neighborhood to take Page 21 of 27  Page 2 Resolution Relating to DESIGNATION OF BLOCK PARTY WEEKENDS part in a shared celebration of neighborhood life, civic pride, and the sense of belonging and connection that makes Burlington an exceptional place to live. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Burlington City Council hereby directs the Department of Public Works, Burlington Police Department, and Burlington Fire Department to work collaboratively with the Burlington Walk Bike Council to develop a streamlined block party permitting process for all block party permit applications that may include, but is not limited to: ●​ Reduced application lead times ●​ Simplified application forms with fewer and clearer questions ●​ Lower or modified neighbor approval requirements, including acceptance of digital signatures or city-assisted notifications; ●​ The ability to create recurring or batched permits to enable regular gatherings under a single application, reducing administrative burden for residents and City departments alike; and ​ BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the aforementioned City departments shall create and maintain a public-facing webpage dedicated to neighborhood block parties, to include: ●​ Clear instructions for and links to both the online and paper permit application processes ●​ An overview of the permit process, timeline, and application requirements ●​ Guidance and resources for how to plan and host a block party and considerations for accessibility ●​ Information on available equipment, activities, and community resources to support block party hosts ●​ The confirmed dates of the upcoming Burlington Block Party Weekends, updated annually ●​ All of which should be accessible and available in multiple languages; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Burlington City Council designates two annual Burlington Block Party Weekends as citywide celebrations of our shared public streets, neighborhood connection, and community pride during which residents are encouraged to open their streets, meet their neighbors, and celebrate their city and neighborhood, to preferably be held each year on: ●​ The last Saturday of May and the following Sunday, and ●​ The Saturday nearest to Car Free Day, September 22nd and following Sunday with specific dates confirmed annually by the appropriate administrative officer no later than the March meeting of the Burlington Walk Bike Council, following coordination with relevant City departments and Page 22 of 27  Page 3 Resolution Relating to DESIGNATION OF BLOCK PARTY WEEKENDS community stakeholders to identify scheduling conflicts with other events in the City that may significantly impact traffic; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Burlington Block Party Weekends shall be supported by an expedited permitting process to make participation as accessible as possible, which may include: ●​ Pre-approved or pre-vetted street segments ●​ A simplified permit process with permit approval the default outcome absent a specific safety or logistic concern ●​ Proactive city outreach encouraging all neighborhoods and all communities to participate; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the aforementioned departments report back to the City Council with a proposed streamlined process no later than 60 days following passage of this resolution; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall take effect upon passage. Drafter Initials/Resolutions 2026/Support for regular Neighborhood Block Parties Date Page 23 of 27 Page 24 of 27 Page 25 of 27 Page 26 of 27 Page 27 of 27