Wards 4 & 7 NPA

Wards 4/7 NPA Meeting June 25 2025 Minutes Notetaker: Annie Lawson (she/her), Ward 4 Community Announcements: -​ Bo shares that they co-run a bike-powered compost-hauling service; Info can be found at bo@soilcycleBTV.community -​ Linda from Odd Fellows/NNE Food Pantry shares that there is a clothing and food drive; donations can be dropped off this coming Saturday -​ Carole Ode shares updates from legislature, including H. 51, which gets rid of income tax on social security benefits, up to a certain threshold; also expands child tax credit; qualifies caregivers to get paid for the care that they give family members, up to 20 hours per week. Presentation from Parks Dept staff, Daniel and Max: -​ There will be a pop-up roller rink in Leddy Park parking lot, bear the beach, in the northeast corner of the lot. It should be installed for the first time this summer/fall 2025. It will be assembled and disassembled each year, and is made of interlocking tiles, and will have blocking structures to prevent cars from entering. -​ Kids/Beginnings Mountain Bike Park update: first pitched to city in 2017; will be at the southern end of Leddy Park, based on the ecological study there showing that that area would have the lowest ecological impact of any city parks available for this project. -​ Some neighbors share their concerns about impact on residents living close to the park -​ Parks Dept employees share that they expect an age-appropriate culture to be developed and protected by users, parents and families. ​ -Dan Schmidt shares on mapping of current trails, and the planning of new trails to avoid disruption of more sensitive/threatened plant species. Also shares plans for more multi-use trails as well as walking-only trails. To find out more about these projects: visit: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/Parks-Recreation-Waterfront -​ Click on “projects” in the top menu bar -​ Click on “active improvement projects” Next Presenter: Sarah Morgan, on Open Space Plan: -​ Shares update on what has been done so far, including needs and values assessment; review of prior and related city plans; review of tree ordinance (the current one is very outdated and references rules regarding where you can tie your horse); and staff and stakeholder meetings. -​ More info can be found at burlingtonvt.gov/planbtv/openspace -​ People can also email Scott Gustin at DPI, or Sophie Sauve at BPRW -​ People can weigh in on neighborhood-specific elements in the NNE at planBTV.NNE  -​ Sarah encourages folks to get involved and take the online survey, being offered at Beach Bites, Odd Fest (July 5), and at a neighborhood design workshop (date TBD but either July 23 or 24). -​ Email smorgan@burlingtonvt.org for more info, or visit burlingtonvt.gov/[lanbtv/nne ​ Next Presenter: Councilor Melo Grant, sharing an update on recruitment strategy for BPD -​ She reports that there were $350,000 of unused funds for recruitment efforts in the last police budget. These dollars are now being allocated, with a more focused strategy. This is largely through targeted online ads as well as strategic in-person outreach that draws on existing relationships between officers and their larger communities, including as alumni of academic institutions. New strategy also involves the creation of officer ambassadors, who will be a bridge between the department and other communities of which they are part. -​ Councilor Grant suggests that Wards 4/7 consider inviting the interim police chief to an upcoming meeting in Fall 2026, to get an update about recruitment efforts at that time. -​ Councilor Grant also encourages folks to check out the Mayoral Community Safety press conferences -​ For more information, folks can reach out to Councilor Grant directly at megrant@burlingtonvt.gov