City Council — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-04-06
Time: 18:00

City Council

  Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM, Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://zoom.us/j/92770066408
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**CCTV link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2PwCge7lNoKug676jIf_iUA **

For interpretation services: https://attend.wordly.ai/join/UJPE-4521

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1. Agenda
 Subject 1.1. Motion to adopt agenda
 Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor


 Category 1. Agenda

 Department Council and Board


 Type Action
 Procedural


 Recommended Action Motion to adopt agenda

2. Oath of Office - Newly Elected and Re-elected City Councilors

3. Mayor's State of the City Address
 Subject 3.1. Mayor's State of the City Address
  Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor
  Category 3. Mayor's State of the City Address
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication
 Information



4. Public Comment (verbal)**Public Comment will be limited to City Council
agenda items for this meeting: the election of the City Council President and
the election of the Board of Finance members** **See above for signup
instructions**
  Subject 4.1. Verbal Comments
  Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor


  Category 4. Public Comment (verbal)**Public Comment will be limited to City Council agenda
 items for this meeting: the election of the City Council President and the election of the
 Board of Finance members** **See above for signup instructions**

  Department Council and Board


  Type Action
 Procedural


  Recommended Action open Public Comment
 close Public Comment

5. Election of City Council President

6. Election of Board of Finance Members

7. Adjournment
  Subject 7.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor


  Category 7. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type Action
 Procedural


  Recommended Action Motion to adjourn

8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 8.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Council and Licensing Coordinator
 (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). Persons with disabilities who require
 assistance or special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact
 802-865-7000 (voice) or 802-865-7142 (TTY) at least 72 hours in advance so
 that proper arrangements can be made. This meeting will also air on Town
 Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and
 repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. The City of Burlington will
 not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or
 religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age,
 sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status,
 disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information.
Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor
Category 8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
Department Council and Board


Type Information

City Council

  Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM, Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://zoom.us/j/92770066408
Phone one-tap:
+13092053325, 92770066408# US
Join via audio:
+1 309 205 3325 US
Webinar ID: 927 7006 6408
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/ad6GJC9Bd8

**CCTV link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLljLFn4BZd2PwCge7lNoKug676jIf_iUA **

For interpretation services: https://attend.wordly.ai/join/UJPE-4521

To participate in Public Forum in person, sign up at the meeting.
To participate in Public Forum via ZOOM sign up here:
 https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/citycouncil/publicforum
****ONLINE closes one hour prior to the beginning of public forum****

Do not sign up in person and via Zoom - select one only
1. Agenda
 Subject 1.1. Motion to adopt agenda
 Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor


 Category 1. Agenda

 Department Council and Board


 Type Action
 Procedural


 Recommended Action Motion to adopt agenda

2. Oath of Office - Newly Elected and Re-elected City Councilors

3. Mayor's State of the City Address
 Subject 3.1. Mayor's State of the City Address




 Page 1 of 16
  Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor
  Category 3. Mayor's State of the City Address
  Department Mayor's Office


  Type Communication
 Information



4. Public Comment (verbal)**Public Comment will be limited to City Council
agenda items for this meeting: the election of the City Council President and
the election of the Board of Finance members** **See above for signup
instructions**
  Subject 4.1. Verbal Comments
  Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor


  Category 4. Public Comment (verbal)**Public Comment will be limited to City Council agenda
 items for this meeting: the election of the City Council President and the election of the
 Board of Finance members** **See above for signup instructions**

  Department Council and Board


  Type Action
 Procedural


  Recommended Action open Public Comment
 close Public Comment

5. Election of City Council President

6. Election of Board of Finance Members

7. Adjournment
  Subject 7.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor


  Category 7. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type Action
 Procedural


  Recommended Action Motion to adjourn

8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
  Subject 8.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Council and Licensing Coordinator
 (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). Persons with disabilities who require
 assistance or special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact


 Page 2 of 16
 802-865-7000 (voice) or 802-865-7142 (TTY) at least 72 hours in advance so
 that proper arrangements can be made. This meeting will also air on Town
 Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and
 repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. The City of Burlington will
 not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or
 religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age,
 sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status,
 disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information.
Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor
Category 8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
Department Council and Board


Type Information




 Page 3 of 16
 Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
 State of the City Address 2026

Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us in City Hall’s Contois Auditorium,
whether in person or virtually.

And a special thank you to my wife, Megan and our kids, Ruby and Elliot. Serving as Mayor
isn’t something one person does alone – it asks a great deal of a family, and mine has been
part of this work every step of the way.

Let me take a moment to congratulate our Ward City Councilors on their re-elections:
Gene Bergman, Marek Broderick, Carter Neubieser, Sarah Carpenter, Ben Traverse, Becca
Brown McNight, and Evan Litwin. I’d also like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest
Councilor, Laura Sanchez-Parkinson, who is Burlington's first Latina woman on the
Council. Ward 3 is lucky to have you. And finally, I’m grateful to our District Councilors for
their continued service – Melo Grant, Allie Schacter, Mark Barlow, and Buddy Singh.

With the election cycle behind us, our work now begins – to govern together.

In this work, we are not only elected officials – we are stewards of a shared community.
And when I think about what it truly means to show up for one another in that way, I’m
reminded of a lesson I learned long before I stepped into public service.

When I was growing up, my parents encouraged me to include all the kids on our street
when we went out to play. That wasn’t always easy. An older boy lived next door. He was
four years older than the rest of us, the only boy in the group – and he liked to relentlessly
tease all of the girls. For those who know me well, you can imagine, this didn’t sit well with
me even as a kid.

One day, when I was 10, he challenged us to jump off the roof of a carport. I climbed up. I
looked down. The ground felt miles away. My stomach twisted. But I didn’t want to show
fear. So I jumped – and felt instant relief. I had survived!

Then the boy's younger sister jumped. She landed and immediately crumbled to the
ground. She started to turn pale. Her breathing became labored. And the panic in her eyes
spread quickly to the rest of us.



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I ran across the street to get my mom. When she arrived, she took the girl’s hand and asked
us to sit in a circle on the ground. We all joined her and began to shift nervously in our
grassy spots. I held my breath, waiting for the teasing to start as soon as my mom left. The
boy from next door sat with his head down, avoiding eye contact. His body was tense as he
tried to make himself as small as possible.

There was no lecture. My mom didn’t yell. Instead, she asked us what we could do next
time to keep each other safer. The boy’s shoulders slowly started to relax.

It took me years to understand what that moment was really about.15 years later, I found
myself sitting in the back of the boy's funeral. His mother stood at the front of the room,
trying to speak through her tears as she prepared to bury her now-adult child. She made
eye contact with my dad, who sat next to me, and shared something important: How, as a
working single-mother, my parents played a big role in helping raise her son and daughter.

And in that moment, I realized something I hadn’t understood as a child: what I thought
was awkward over-parenting…was actually an act of care for the people we lived
alongside. It was my first real lesson in what it means to build community.

And that lesson has stayed with me – shaping how I understand what it means to care for
one another…and what it means to lead.

I carried this with me two years ago, when I walked into this very auditorium on a warm
April evening with my own two children. The room was full of the diverse faces of our
community:

− Fifth graders from Champlain Elementary who had spent months studying the local
  election.

− Dedicated City employees.

− Friends and families of eight newly elected City Councilors – five of whom were elected
  to public office for the very first time.

We took turns standing in the middle of the room, raising our hands to take an oath to
service this city. The room was vibrating with excitement for a fresh start. The room felt
bright. We were in community.


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But the truth is, governing in this moment has been hard. And that moment, two years ago,
can feel far away.

We are facing complex local challenges in the midst of deep national division. Debates at
this table have sharpened. Patience has worn thin. Empathy often seems to be in short
supply, and there have been many missed opportunities to seek understanding instead of
division. And when we feel embattled, it becomes harder – and harder – to come to the
table in good faith.

I have left too many City Council meetings feeling deeply discouraged about how we had
engaged with each other. And I know I’m not alone in that. At a time when we must work
together to move this city forward, what’s often missing is a willingness to work together
through our differences.

And yet – I know we are capable of something better. We’ve seen it.

Nearly every Councilor – and many members of my administration – picked up a
paintbrush for the VCET mural. And many of you came back the very next day to repair it
after it was vandalized. We’ve seen bipartisan alignment to strengthen housing standards
for UVM students. And just two weeks ago, every Councilor showed care and concern as
we began to examine the harm caused by the March 11 ICE incident in South Burlington.

And beyond public view, there are the quiet moments – the emails, the text messages, the
check-ins across political differences – small reminders that we can still see one another
as fellow community members, trying our best.

Today, we have a choice. We can lead this city through a moment of rising fear – together.
We can turn away from the division of the past two years and make a fresh start. If this is
possible anywhere – it is here in Burlington.

But it will take intention. From all 13 of us at this table. So tonight, let’s reset the tone. Let’s
use this new session of City Council that begins tonight as a new beginning. Let’s commit
to governing together.

Will you join me in setting aside our differences – and work towards cooperation and unity
to serve the community we all love? Because moments like this – hard moments – are
when co-governing matters most. And the truth is, even in the midst of these challenges,
something important has been happening in Burlington.

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There is momentum.

And not just from those of us up here – but also from the people of this city. From the
residents, schools, organizations, and businesses that continue to believe in this city.

Our library staff and volunteers, who keep that sacred public space welcoming, fundraise
to take care of our historic building, and build towards a vibrant future building that will
continue to serve as the heart of our downtown. Thank you to Director Mary Danko and
Friends of Fletcher Free for their leadership, creativity, and the mini golf moment a couple
of weeks ago.

Our local business owners, who employ local folks, consciously invest here by staying in
our community even when it has been challenging, and contribute to our economy in ways
that only local businesses can.

Our faith community leaders that support many of us in times of deep uncertainty –
through relationship building and helping us not lose each other through conflict. Several
faith leaders have been trusted advisors to me in the last year – thank you for this.

Our extreme weather shelter staff who create warmth, safety, and refuge for our
unsheltered neighbors on the coldest winter nights.

Our mutual aid groups, showing up again and again to serve warm meals and steady
support to our most vulnerable unhoused neighbors – and, more recently, standing in
unwavering solidarity with our immigrant neighbors during this deeply disturbing moment
of federal immigrant enforcement. This reminds us what community looks like in action.

Honestly, I could go on for hours highlighting how wonderful our Burlington community is.
Please join me in thanking our community members for these acts of love and so many
more left unsaid. This is Burlington at its best.

And it’s that spirit of showing up for each other that has driven the progress we’ve made
this past year and fuels our forward momentum for the year ahead. Because when a
community shows up for each other the way we do in Burlington – that work really begins to
take hold. And we are starting to see the results.



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Not just in what we’ve done as a city – but in how we’ve chosen to do it.

In Burlington we are building a model of pragmatic progressive governing that is creating
real momentum for our city. That work is truly taking shape and forming how we approach
our problems and solve them in a way that benefits residents of this great city today and
into the future.

We are trying new approaches that will strengthen our resilience – because the old ways
are just not enough for this moment. And we are building for a vibrant future– because this
is a moment of generational work for Burlington. Work that will shape the future of this
community for decades to come. This is how we are creating momentum in Burlington.

Burlington is being tested, like cities across the country, by a convergence of
unprecedented challenges:

− A trifecta of homelessness, unmet mental health needs, and substance use
  challenges,

− A housing shortage and an affordability crisis, and

− The lasting impacts of the pandemic, especially on our young people.

The question is not whether we face these challenges – but how we choose to tackle them.
For my administration, that response is grounded in a core idea: progressive pragmatism
that builds our resilience. And we’ve put that idea into practice.

Over the past two years, we’ve taken a clear approach: to build a more comprehensive and
responsive community safety system. Because we know enforcement alone doesn’t
create safety. Our approach addresses both immediate needs and root causes – so we can
reduce harm, improve accountability, and prevent crises before they happen.

Today, when someone calls for help, Burlington responds with the right kind of response –
something that wasn’t always possible a year ago. Under Chief Shawn Burke, we’ve
strengthened how our Burlington Police Department team works together – sworn officers,
CSOs, CSLs, and dispatch now have clarity of roles and responsibilities. Plus, our
partnerships are stronger than ever before with our community partners – the Burlington
Community Justice Center with its victim services, social service agencies, and our judicial


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system. We are all making the most out of our limited resources and staffing to make
Burlington safer. And it is working.

Our downtown foot patrols are now at their highest level since 2020. And incident counts
are up since residents are calling for help again – because we are rebuilding the trust that
the City will respond.

Our Fire Department, under former Chief Lachance and current Chief Michael Curtin,
responded to more than 11,000 calls in 2025 alone – meeting emergency needs at record
levels, while also expanding into community-based care.

And we’re building beyond traditional response. We launched the Situation Table last July –
bringing nearly 30 organizations together every single week to intervene early before crises
escalate.

The Situation Table recently worked with an older man who had been living in difficult
conditions and falling through the social service cracks, unable to connect to the help he
needed. Our team came together to take on his case – coordinating services more regularly
and intentionally at the weekly Table meetings. The team brought in his family and built
new support around him. Things began to change. Today, he has housing closer to his
family and is receiving the care he needs, medically and emotionally. He still has a long
road ahead, but for the first time in a long time, he’s not walking it alone.

We also made an historic investment this year in our 20+ year partnership with the Howard
Center for the Street Outreach Team. We quadrupled our contribution because they
provide crisis response and proactive engagement to support those most in crisis. This
relieves the pressures on our first responders and also means we send the right type of
professional to respond to the need.

This is what it looks like when systems work – when we can meet people where they are
and help them move forward – making our entire community safer in the process.

But we recognize that Burlington cannot do this work alone. That’s why we’ve strengthened
our partnerships with the State – working closely with the State’s Attorney Sarah George,
and partnering with Governor Phil Scott to launch the Community Accountability Court.

Our Community Accountability Court has been a game changer – resolving nearly 80
percent of the backlog of criminal cases that strained our court system for years, while

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delivering swift, meaningful accountability. While the Accountability Docket is now closed,
I’m grateful to State’s Attorney George for continuing key elements of this work in the year
ahead. And I appreciate the Governor for engaging Burlington as partner in advancing a
safer community.

We are seeing even more momentum in making Burlington safer. Violent crime has
declined to levels we haven’t seen since 2021. Homicides have dropped significantly. And
nearly all of the outstanding gun violence cases from 2022 have now been resolved.

The change in Burlington is real – and people can feel it. Just last week, I was out shopping
in our downtown for my State of the City outfit. I stopped into a local woman-owned
business that opened two years ago. The owner, Robin, stayed a little late to help me find
the right look and to share her appreciation for the city and this community. She
specifically thanked the Peace & Justice Center clean-up crew for diligently cleaning up
syringe litter in the courtyard outside her door and our Public Works team for reopening
Main Street with a reimagined streetscape. She reported her numbers are up, and people
are coming downtown again. This is the momentum we need to keep encouraging.

The distinct way in which we respond to our challenges is also about addressing whether
the systems underneath us are strong enough to hold. That’s why we are strengthening our
foundation for the long term – creating a steady shift toward the city we all want Burlington
to be.

I convened a Climate Advisory Group – bringing together experts and community partners
to strengthen how we plan, measure, and deliver on climate action – and to ensure so we
are building real resilience. Because we know the impacts of climate change aren’t just in
the future – they're already here. Some of these Climate Advisors are in the audience here
today.

Guided by the Advisory Group’s recommendations – which will be shared at City Council
on April 13th – tonight, I am announcing three key actions that my team will prioritize in the
coming months:

− Improving how we monitor and respond to cyanobacteria risks at our beaches and
  water systems through earlier detection and better public safety tools,

− Earmarking city capital resources to invest in a new splash pad/water cooling location
  in the city to help residents when the lake is not swimmable, and
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− Establishing a clearer reporting and oversight system so the public can see our climate
  goals, progress, and results by department.

Being a resilient city is one that can adapt – not just to today’s challenges, but to what’s
ahead. And just as importantly, our approach must be equitable.

On Town Meeting Day, voters approved a charter change to permanently establish the
Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Office in our City Charter. That means this work is
no longer temporary or optional – it is embedded in how we govern. Under the leadership of
Dr. Kelli Perkins, we are strengthening this work across departments – ensuring that equity
is a practice that shapes all decisions, policies, and outcomes across the City. Because
every resident – especially those who have been historically marginalized – deserves the
opportunity to be safe, supported, and to thrive.

Leading up to the Town Meeting Day vote on the REIB charter change, we heard a clear
message from across our community – from residents, nonprofits, city councilors, state
leaders, and employers like Rhino Foods that employ many immigrants in our community.
The message was simple and powerful: Embedding the REIB Office in our City Charter acts
upon our values as a city when the federal government is actively dismantling equity work
and attacking the vibrancy of our diverse nation. We stand clearly as a city committed to
equity as it benefits and enriches all of us.

Because building a more equitable, resilient city is never a single moment – it’s steady,
sustained work over time. We are not just responding to challenges – we are strengthening
the foundation of this city for the future. And that foundation – stronger, more connected,
more resilient – is what allows us not just to endure change, but to lead it. And that’s
exactly what comes next.

We're not only a resilient city – we’re choosing to do things differently. Because cities
across the country are facing the same challenges – but too often, they fall back on the
same playbook. Here in Burlington, we’re taking a different approach: One that blends
progressive values –with a pragmatic focus on what actually works. One that is willing to
innovate and try new ideas.

Nowhere is that clearer than in how we’re approaching housing. Because housing is not
just a market issue – it’s a community issue. And our “people first” housing strategy


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reflects a simple belief: Housing policy must be shaped by the people who actually live
here – by community needs, lived experience, and shared values.

That’s why we’re reorganizing City government to deliver on that vision – bringing teams
together, innovating, and moving faster on the solutions our community needs. This past
year we brought together two core City departments – our Community and Economic
Development Office and the Office of City Planning – so we can innovate faster and more
effectively on housing. By combining and co-locating these departments, we have created
a team that is singularly focused on moving development projects forward and delivering
results for our residents. And I want to thank Kara Alnasrawi for her leadership at CEDO –
bringing people together, driving this work forward, and helping turn vision into real
progress for Burlington.

With this merger, we are ready for the state challenge to Burlington: To create up to 7,000
units by 2050. To achieve this lofty goal, my administration is not relying on any single
solution to get there. We are implementing three key strategies:

− First by modernizing our core legacy tools – like our inclusionary zoning ordinance and
  the Housing Trust Fund – to create more affordable housing. We will do this by
  increasing requirements where appropriate and unlocking new funding for smaller
  developers and individuals – what I call the democratization of our housing policy.

− Second, by activating the Neighborhood Code that was put in place by Mayor
  Weinberger – we will make it easier to build the kinds of homes our neighborhoods
  need, including duplexes, triplexes, and accessory units.

− And third, by reclaiming the public sector’s role as a housing leader – we will explore
  how we might use public-private partnerships to thoughtfully develop housing on
  certain City-owned land to meet community needs.

An example of this includes the South End Coordinated Redevelopment Project, which is
our newest public-private-partnership and will deliver more than 200 homes in its first
phase alone – with plans for more are underway, including the City developing our parcel in
the same area for public-owned housing. This will be a whole new neighborhood in what is
now a massive parking lot!

Finally, over the past year, an interdepartmental team has met weekly to come up with
immediate innovative ideas we can bring online to address our housing challenges. This is
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part of Burlington being selected to be part of the international City Leadership Initiative.
Tonight, I’m announcing two new innovation pieces of our housing strategy:

− One is the Priority Parcel Initiative, which will identify a collection of underutilized
  parcels throughout our city to be analyzed for potential development and zoning
  changes to unlock more housing potential.

− And the second is the creation of a “Housing Shepherd” to help guide infill housing
  projects for individuals from idea to completion.

This is exactly the kind of innovation we need – and it’s only the beginning. Thank you to this
city team!

This is what innovation looks like: A government that works as one team, uses every tool
available, and stays focused on results. My administration is turning ambitious housing
goals into real, meaningful action. And it’s already changing how we show up as partners.

Take our relationship with UVM – one that has been difficult in the past, and too often fell
short of meeting our shared housing needs. But today, the new UVM President, Dr. Marlene
Tromp and I, are turning the page – building a strong partnership between UVM and the City
of Burlington. Dr. Tromp and I know the success and well-being of our city and UVM are
intertwined. She brings successful experience in city-university housing innovation with
her work to stand up the Lusk Redevelopment Project alongside the mayor of Boise, Idaho.
This project is a public-private housing development designed to meet that community’s
housing needs. It breaks ground this fall. I’m excited to use this as an inspiration for what
we can do together in Burlington.

Innovation isn’t just about new ideas – it’s about building new ways of working together to
deliver better outcomes. But this work isn’t just about what we build today. It’s about what
we set in motion for the future. Because if resilience is how we meet the moment, and
innovation is how we change it – then the next question is: How do we shape Burlington for
the next generation?

And at the end of the day, all of this work – comes down to something fundamental: What
kind of city we are building for the next generation? Because Burlington is in a generational
moment. A moment where the decisions we make now will shape this city for decades to
come.


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You can see it in the investments all around us. After decades of planning, our Public
Works team is preparing to open the Champlain Parkway – reconnecting neighborhoods
and reshaping how people move through our city. The Great Streets Main Street project will
be completed this summer – creating a safer, more vibrant downtown for residents,
businesses, and visitors alike. We hope you will join us to celebrate on July 17 and 18 –
event details will come soon. You are invited!

In the fall, a new Burlington High School will open its doors – a generational investment in
our students, our educators, and our future. There will be an opportunity for a community
celebration of this milestone as well. And in 2025, voters approved critical water
infrastructure bonds. We broke ground to start this work at our main wastewater treatment
plant last summer. It will help us mitigate our impact on Lake Champlain by removing ALL
of the phosphorus in the city’s outflow when completed, while also supporting our ability
to grow housing in our city.

These are commitments – to a Burlington that is stronger, more connected, and ready for
what comes next. But building for the future also requires fiscal discipline and pragmatism
today. Because affordability is one of the defining challenges of our time.

Over the past two years, my administration has taken a different approach to the City’s
finances – making tough decisions to ensure Burlington remains on stable financial
footing. And, as part of my commitment to co-governance, we’ve strengthened our
budgeting process – starting earlier, increasing transparency with city councilors and the
public, and creating opportunities for City staff to engage throughout.

For three consecutive years, we’ve had to close multi-million-dollar structural budget gaps
to deliver a balanced budget that has not overly relied on tax increases for residents. I
cannot overstate how difficult that work has been – the pressure has been significant, and
not just for me, but for our Department Heads and City staff, who have carried a heavy
responsibility to help us reach a more sustainable place.

We’ve focused on streamlining government operations, while working to grow our revenue
base, and making careful choices to ensure long-term stability – even when those choices
were not easy.

Probably the hardest moment as Mayor came last year, when we had to implement
reductions in force as part of this work. It was a necessary step for the City’s long-term
health – but it meant that valued employees and colleagues lost their jobs. In a city like

11 of 13 SoC_2026_FINAL



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Burlington, that impact is deeply felt, and I still carry that with me. We took these lessons
into our work building next year’s budget for FY27.

And it’s in moments like these – when decisions are difficult and the stakes are high – that
public trust matters most. That’s why I’m grateful to voters for approving the five-cent tax
increase on Town Meeting Day 2026, with 70% support – a strategic ask to help us deliver a
balanced FY27 budget while minimizing further impacts to critical City services.

All of this financial work is paying off. The majority of residents saw lower municipal tax
bills in fiscal year 2026 which upholds my commitment to maintaining affordability for both
our renters and homeowners. And this year, Burlington received a credit rating upgrade
from Moody’s – a clear signal that our financial stewardship is strengthening the City’s
future and protecting taxpayers by keeping our debt costs down. Because when we
manage our finances responsibly today, we create more room for affordability tomorrow.

Burlington’s strong financial footing has taken incredibly hard work. Thank you to CAO
Katherine Shad and all of our Department Heads, our City Union leadership, our City
employees, and City Councilors for your partnership.

In addition to our work on the City’s budget, we are working to make our tax system fairer. I
convened a bipartisan Tax Fairness Working Group – bringing together community
members and stakeholders to take a hard look at how our system can better serve the
people who live here. And now, we are building on that work – in partnership with the City
Council, I hope we can advance a tax fairness proposal for the November ballot.

Because meeting the affordability needs of our residents requires coalition governing –
working together across perspectives to deliver solutions that are fair, practical, and
provide the relief our residents so badly need. It's about balancing “ability to pay” to
ensure we maintain economic diversity and equity in Burlington.

None of this is easy. And none of it happens overnight. But taken together, it reflects
something bigger than any one project or policy: A city that is planning not just for the next
year – but for the next generation. And if we get this right – if we stay focused, disciplined,
and guided by our values – then the Burlington we pass on will be more resilient than the
one we inherited.




12 of 13 SoC_2026_FINAL



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We’ve got a lot on our plate here in Burlington. It would be easy to feel discouraged. But
here tonight, I feel something else. I feel hope. I feel pride. I feel determination. And I
feel momentum!

Because in Burlington, we don’t sit moments like this out.

− We show up – because participation is an act of care and solidarity. Everyone in our city
  should have a seat at the table and a voice in our future.

− We debate – because we need to hold power accountable. We learn together, test
  ideas, and make sure our policies reflect the real lives of our residents – especially
  those our systems continue to fail.

− We take responsibility – because words alone aren’t enough. It’s our civic duty to
  actively shape the city we want to live in.

− We fight for equity and justice – because Burlington must work for everyone. And I do
  mean everyone: our longtime residents and our newest neighbors; homeowners and
  renters; those with resources and those struggling to make ends meet; those with
  stable housing and those living without shelter.

And we do all this together. Because the truth is, there is no moving forward alone.

The work of building an equitable and just city asks us to wrestle with hard problems, to
hear perspectives that challenge us, to share power with those who are too often left out,
and to stay at the table even when the conversation is uncomfortable.

That’s what it means to pair our progressive ideals with a pragmatic approach –
grounding our values in action, and doing the hard, often unglamorous work of turning
them into real results. Because that’s how progress happens...when we take care of each
other – especially the kids next door, like my next door neighbor and his sister – and act as
one community bound by shared responsibility and shared values.

So tonight, let’s celebrate what makes Burlington special. And let’s get energized for the
future we’re building together – the future we all want for our city.




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BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL
 CONTOIS AUDITORIUM, 149 CHURCH STREET, 2ND FLOOR
 MINUTES OF MEETING
 April 6, 2026




1. Agenda
1. Agenda
CAO Schad convened the meeting at 6:05 pm.
Members present: Councilors Bergman, Broderick, Carpenter, Grant, Litwin, McKnight, Neubieser (arrived at
6:08 pm), Sanchez-Parkingson, Schachter, Singh and Traverse (all in person); Councilor Barlow (online)
Others present: Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, Interim COS Alnasrawi, Deputy COS Zakaras and Lori Olberg

Subject 1.1. Motion to adopt agenda
Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00
 PM, Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor


Category 1. Agenda

Department Council and Board


Type Action
 Procedural


Recommended Action Motion to adopt agenda
1.1. Motion to adopt agenda
Motion made by Councilor Broderick, seconded by Councilor Litwin, to adopt the agenda as
presented. Motion passed unanimously.


2. Oath of Office - Newly Elected and Re-elected City Councilors
2. Oath of Office - Newly Elected and Re-elected City Councilors
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak administered the oath of office to the newly elected and re-elected City Councilors.

3. Mayor's State of the City Address
3. Mayor's State of the City Address
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak gave the State of the City Address.

Subject 3.1. Mayor's State of the City Address
Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00
 PM, Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor
Category 3. Mayor's State of the City Address
Department Mayor's Office
Type Communication
 Information


3.1. Mayor's State of the City Address


4. Public Comment (verbal)**Public Comment will be limited to City
Council agenda items for this meeting: the election of the City Council
President and the election of the Board of Finance members** **See
above for signup instructions**
4. Public Comment (verbal)**Public Comment will be limited to City Council agenda items for this
meeting: the election of the City Council President and the election of the Board of Finance
members** **See above for signup instructions**
CAO Schad opened Public Comment at 6:53 pm.
CAO Schad closed Public Comment at 6:55 pm.

Subject 4.1. Verbal Comments
Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00
 PM, Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor


Category 4. Public Comment (verbal)**Public Comment will be limited to City Council agenda
 items for this meeting: the election of the City Council President and the election of
 the Board of Finance members** **See above for signup instructions**

Department Council and Board


Type Action
 Procedural


Recommended Action open Public Comment
 close Public Comment
4.1. Verbal Comments
Non BTV resident (online):
Keren Sita


5. Election of City Council President
5. Election of City Council President
Councilor Singh nominated Councilor Traverse. Councilor Bergman nominiated Councilor Neubieser.
Both Councilors Neubieser and Traverse spoke to this agenda item.
Roll call vote taken for the nomination of Councilor Neubieser for City Council President:
Ayes: Councilors Bergman, Broderick, Grant, Neubieser and Sanchez-Parkinson
Nays: Councilors Barlow, Carpenter, Litwin, McKnight, Schachter, Singh and Traverse
Motion failed.
Roll call vote taken for the nomination of Councilor Traverse for City Council President:
Ayes: Councilors Barlow, Carpenter, Litwin, McKnight, Schachter, Singh and Traverse
Nays: Councilors Bergman, Broderick, Grant, Neubieser and Sanchez-Parkinson
Motion passed.

Councilor Traverse was elected as the City Council President.


6. Election of Board of Finance Members
6. Election of Board of Finance Members
Councilor Schachter made a motion for the election of the Board of Finance members as a slate which were:
Councilors Barlow, Neubieser and Carpenter.
Roll call vote taken:
Ayes: Councilors Barlow, Bergman, Broderick, Carpenter, Grant, McKnight, Neubeiser, Sanchez-Parkinson,
Schachter, Singh and Traverse
Nay: Councilor Litwin
Motion passed.

7. Adjournment
7. Adjournment

Subject 7.1. Motion to adjourn
Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00
 PM, Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor


Category 7. Adjournment

Department Council and Board


Type Action
 Procedural


Recommended Action Motion to adjourn
7.1. Motion to adjourn
Motion made by Councilor Bergman, seconded by Councilor Singh to adjourn the meeting at 7:13
pm. Motion passed unanimously.


8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements

Subject 8.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more
 information on access, call Lori Olberg, Council and Licensing Coordinator
 (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). Persons with disabilities who require
 assistance or special arrangements to participate are encouraged to
 contact 802-865-7000 (voice) or 802-865-7142 (TTY) at least 72 hours in
 advance so that proper arrangements can be made. This meeting will also
 air on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00
 pm and repeating at 1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. The City of
 Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the
 basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of
 birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital
 status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status
 or genetic information.
Meeting April 6, 2026 - City Council Organization Meeting Day - Monday, April 6, 2026, 6:00
 PM, Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, 2nd Floor
Category 8. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements
Department Council and Board


Type Information
8.1. This agenda is available in alternative formats upon request. For more information on access, call Lori
Olberg, Council and Licensing Coordinator (802-865-7136)(TTY 802-865-7142). Persons with disabilities who
require assistance or special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact 802-865-7000 (voice) or
802-865-7142 (TTY) at least 72 hours in advance so that proper arrangements can be made. This meeting
will also air on Town Meeting TV the Wednesday after the meeting, starting at 8:00 pm and repeating at
1:00 am and 7:00 am the following day. The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or
discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth,
ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive
status, crime victim status or genetic information.