Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-01-27
Time: 17:30

City Council - Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee

 Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 5:30 PM,

Join in Person: Front Conference Room, 645 Pine St. Burlington, VT 05401

Join via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/84603122855
To call into the meeting, including to speak during public comment:
Phone: 312-626-6799, Webinar ID: 846 0312 2855
1. Agenda
 1.1. Motion to adopt/amend

2. Adopt Minutes
 2.1. Minutes of 12/16/25

3. Public Forum
 3.1. Public Comment - 20 min

4. Deliberative Agenda
 4.1. Unaccepted Streets - 40 min
 4.2. Encore Solar Update - 30 min
 4.3. FY 27 UPWP Public Hearing & Application Approval - Action - 15 min
 4.4. 99 Intervale Dedication & Acceptance - Action - 10 min

5. Director's Report

6. Councilor Items

7. Next Meeting
 7.1. Tentative - 2/23/26, time TBD

8. Agenda

9. Adjournment

City Council - Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee

 Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 5:30 PM,

Join in Person: Front Conference Room, 645 Pine St. Burlington, VT 05401

Join via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/84603122855
To call into the meeting, including to speak during public comment:
Phone: 312-626-6799, Webinar ID: 846 0312 2855
1. Agenda
 1.1. Motion to adopt/amend

2. Adopt Minutes
 2.1. Minutes of 12/16/25

3. Public Forum
 3.1. Public Comment - 20 min

4. Deliberative Agenda
 4.1. Unaccepted Streets - 40 min
 4.2. Encore Solar Update - 30 min
 4.3. FY 27 UPWP Public Hearing & Application Approval - Action - 15 min
 4.4. 99 Intervale Dedication & Acceptance - Action - 10 min

5. Director's Report

6. Councilor Items

7. Next Meeting
 7.1. Tentative - 2/23/26, time TBD

8. Agenda

9. Adjournment




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 CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT

 CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY &
 UTILITIES COMMITTEE
 c/o Department of Public Works 802.863.9094 VOX
 645 Pine Street, Suite A 802.863.0466 FAX
 Post Office Box 849 802.863.0450 TTY
 Burlington, VT 05402-0849 www.burlingtonvt.gov

 Councilor Mark Barlow, Chair, North District
 Inquiries:
 Councilor Gene Bergman, Ward 2
 Rob Goulding
 Councilor Becca McKnight, Ward 6 802.881-2278
 Councilor Marek Broderick, Ward 8 rgoulding@burlingtonvt.gov




 Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee of the City Council
 Tuesday, December 16, 2025 – 12:00PM
 --DRAFT MINUTES—
 See video for full meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD24-abUh9c

Councilors absent: None
Councilors present: Chair Barlow, Councilor Bergman & Councilor Broderick Councilor
McKnight via zoom
Chair Barlow calls meeting to order at 12:03 pm.
1. Agenda
Councilor Broderick moves to approve the agenda as posted.
Councilor McKnight seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval

2. Minutes of 11/25/25
Councilor Broderick moves to adopt the minutes.
Councilor McKnight seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval

3. Public Forum
Gregory Unger – West Rd resident – comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Edward & Annelin Winant – Sunset Ct resident – Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Bob McKearin – here to listen
Bob Warrington - Deforest Heights resident - Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Jake Schumann - North Cove Rd resident - Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Ann Rosenbluth - North Cove Rd resident - Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Ellen Hacker – North Avenue Extension – Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Bruce Lancer - North Cove Rd resident - Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Cara Simone (via Zoom) – Chittenden Dr resident - Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Robert Bristo Johnson – (via Zoom) - North Cove Rd resident - Comments about
Unaccepted Streets.


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4. Deliberative Agenda
 4.1 Unaccepted Streets
 Laura Wheelock, City Engineer/Division Director Technical Services & Philip
 Peterson, Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner, Megan Moir, Water
 Resources Division Director presented information.

Councilor McKnight doesn’t support sending it to council, shares frustration. Councilor
Bergman asks how we go about it. Wants to schedule decision for a subsequent meeting.
Councilor Broderick agrees it needs to stay in the committee, item needs more time. Chair
Barlow feels timeline is too aggressive.

AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions: The meeting focused on the city's decision
to stop plowing and maintaining certain streets, including North Avenue Extension and
Chittenden Drive. Residents expressed concerns about the impact of this change on safety,
accessibility, and property values. They questioned whether the city had adequately
considered the practical implications of this decision, such as the potential need for residents
to form HOAs for street maintenance. Chapin Spencer, Director of Public Works, emphasized
the need for clarity on ownership and responsibility, noting that the process will continue
through October while engaging the community and council. The conversation ended with
plans for an executive session to discuss liability considerations with the City Attorney. The
group agreed to continue the conversation and scheduled an executive session to hear from
the City Attorney's office on legal liabilities. They also discussed the need to differentiate
between private roads with established HOAs and unaccepted streets without such
associations. The committee decided to delay taking action and instead focus on further
research and discussion, potentially including budgeting for necessary services and
infrastructure assessments.
Councilor Bergman moves that at the end of the conversation that we set this for another
TEUC meeting and take no additional action here. Councilor Broderick seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval
City Attorney Eric Ramakrishnan read the first motion to make a specific finding that
premature general public knowledge of confidential attorney client communications
made for the purposed of providing professional legal services to the TEUC would
clearly place the City at a substantial disadvantage by discussing privilege matters and
attorney work product in public, which Councilor Bergman moved the motion above
and Councilor Broderick seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval
City Attorney Eric Ramakrishnan read the second motion to move into executive
session based upon the foregoing specific finding pursuant to one VSA section 313A1F
to confer with the City Attorney regarding liability issues associated with unaccepted
streets to include the members of the TEUC, legal counsel and the Director of Public
Works and their staff, which Councilor Bergman moved the motion above and Councilor
Broderick seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval




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 4.2 Proposed Executive Session - Unaccepted Streets

Members of the TEUC, legal counsel, Director of Public Works and their staff Members
went into executive session at 1:43 pm.
Executive session ended at 2:20 pm.


 4.3 Encore Solar Update
Postponed until next meeting.

 5. Director’s Report
None

 6. Councilor Items
None

 7. Next Meeting
Tentative – January 27, 2026, 5:30 pm at 645 Pine St.

 8. Adjournment
Chair Barlow adjourns meeting at 2:24 pm.




 Page 4 of 17
 City of Burlington
 Department of Public Works

 Technical Services Engineering Division
 645 Pine Street, Suite A
 Burlington, VT 05402
 P 802-863-9094 / F 802-863-0466 / TTY 802-863-0450
 www.burlingtonvt.gov/DPW




 Memo
Date: January 27, 2026

To: Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee (TEUC)

From: Laura Wheelock, PE, City Engineer/Division Director – Technical Services
 Phillip Peterson, PE, Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner
 Calvin Wuthrich, Associate Public Works Engineer

CC: Chapin Spencer, Director of Public Works
 Megan Moir, Division Director – Water Resources

Subject: Unaccepted/Private Streets in Burlington

Overview:

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is providing an update on ongoing work related to Burlington’s
unaccepted and private streets. We appreciated the TEUC’s December 2025 input on this topic where
were heard helpful feedback including:

 • A desire to take the time needed to fully understand the policy considerations and have a robust
 public engagement process before making policy decisions.
 • An interest in grouping streets with similar characteristics and exploring an approach where staff
 and the TEUC would address one grouping of streets at a time.
 • A request to see a general timeline and framework for addressing this complex policy issue.

This memo is intended to support TEUC’s January discussion by outlining the current status of our review,
summarizing key issues, and presenting a high‑level framework for next steps. This stage of work is
intentionally scoped to provide direction‑setting information, not a full technical or legal analysis. The
goal is to equip TEUC to guide the process toward a public City Council discussion later this winter.

City staff will be using the next year to gather information and develop a plan because the underlying
questions around unaccepted streets require coordinated legal, operational, and technical review before
any policy decisions can be responsibly made. Many of these streets have unclear ownership histories,
inconsistent maintenance histories, and limited documentation of utilities, condition, and access
constraints. Developing a complete picture will require field verification, consultation with legal and
surveying professionals, and structured engagement with affected residents. Taking this time ensures
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that any future recommendations to TEUC and the City Council are grounded in accurate data, reflect the
full range of risks and responsibilities, and position the City to make durable, equitable decisions about
long‑term service levels and potential street acceptance.

As a reminder, while DPW manages the City’s public rights‑of‑way (ROW), the City Council determines
which streets to accept as public rights‑of‑way and whether to assume maintenance responsibilities for
assets outside accepted ROW.

Updated Street Classification Work:

A portion of the City’s current street list includes segments that are clearly private based on recorded
plats, deeds, or long‑established ownership patterns. These streets do not require further investigation
or engagement at this stage because their legal status is unambiguous, and DPW has included this list in
the attached materials for TEUC’s reference, see Attachment-1. As DPW continues its research, additional
streets may be identified as private or otherwise clarified through deeper legal, historical, and field review.
The remaining streets; where ownership history is less clear form the focus of DPW’s ongoing evaluation.

DPW is refining and organizing the City’s Street inventory to support clearer policy decisions. Current
work includes:
 • Separating streets into three categories:
 o Private streets
 o Public but unaccepted streets
 o Accepted public streets
 • Grouping streets by similar legal, ownership, and physical characteristics to support phased
 evaluation.
 • Flagging streets with unclear ownership or classification for future legal review.

DPW is preparing a concise summary of the operational and legal differences between private streets
(HOA and non‑HOA) and public but unaccepted streets. This distinction is essential for determining
whether these groups should be addressed together or through a phased approach as well.

Phased Evaluation Framework:

DPW Staff are developing a high level, incremental framework for evaluating unaccepted and private
streets. This framework will outline:

 • Condition based categories: Minimum service levels tied directly to the condition category of
 each street; from streets in imminent or active failure (where structural or utility conditions may
 require urgent attention) to streets in generally good condition that may only need basic access
 maintenance. This approach recognizes that surface condition alone is not a reliable indicator of
 underlying utility health, and streets that appear sound may still have water, sewer, stormwater,
 electric, etc. infrastructure at or near failure.
 • Logical groupings: Logical groupings of streets for review based on ownership, condition, and
 utility risk.


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 Page 6 of 17
 • Sequencing approach: A sequencing approach that identifies which groups should be evaluated
 earlier or later, recognizing that specific timelines will depend on staff capacity, budget, and
 Council direction.
 • Staged analysis: How condition assessment, legal verification, and cost analysis would be staged
 over time.

This is not a full street by street evaluation; it is a roadmap for how such work would proceed.

Ownership, Utilities, and Condition Snapshot:

DPW is assembling a high‑level snapshot of:
  • Known right‑of‑way and ownership information
  • Available utility data
  • General condition assessments (good/fair/poor)
  • Major concerns or gaps in information

This provides the minimum context needed for policy discussion.

Current Practices and Associated Risks:

We have discussed DPW’s current approach to unaccepted streets in previous meetings, but it is
important to restate it here for clarity and for the record. DPW provides limited, ad‑hoc maintenance on
some unaccepted streets; primarily plowing, spot‑patching, and occasional grading to maintain basic
access. These activities are not supported by the level of inspection, capital planning, or long‑term
maintenance responsibility applied to accepted public streets.

This arrangement creates inconsistent service expectations and leaves key questions unresolved around
liability, long‑term asset condition, and emergency access reliability. Reiterating these constraints is
essential as TEUC and City Council considers how to set direction for the next phase of this work.

Emergency Access Considerations:

DPW has begun working directly with the Burlington Fire Department (BFD) to review emergency access
needs on unaccepted and private streets. Initial coordination meetings have taken place, and we are
actively working through known and potential access constraints with BFD at this time.

As this work continues, the memo will identify:
 • Streets with documented or likely emergency access challenges
 • Interim steps needed to maintain minimum access standards
 • How emergency access considerations may influence prioritization in the phased evaluation
 framework

This coordination will continue as the process advances and more detailed information becomes
available.


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Resident Communication and Engagement:

DPW is preparing a realistic and scalable public engagement approach to support future policy decisions.
Current work includes:

 • Maintaining and expanding the Unaccepted/Private Streets webpage
 (https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/1144/Private-Unaccepted-Streets) as the central public
 information hub.
 o The GIS map of unaccepted streets will be embedded on this page.
 o Updated plain‑language explanations of street classifications, process steps, and what
 residents can expect will be added in the coming weeks.
 • Developing a draft public engagement plan outlining outreach phase, communication
 channels, and timing aligned with TEUC and City Council direction.
 • Preparing clear resident‑facing materials that differentiate:
 o Private HOA streets
 o Private non‑HOA streets
 o Public but unaccepted streets
 • Coordinating direct communication to property owners along unaccepted and private
 streets, planned for March/April 2026.

Budget & Staff Time:

A modest but essential budget will be required for DPW to manage and advance this work over the next
year. Staff will be coordinating the overall project, conducting research, organizing the street inventory,
and overseeing contracted surveying and legal support. Current order‑of‑magnitude annual needs
include:

 • Approximately $65,000 for DPW staff time to manage the project, complete research, coordinate
 interdepartmental work, and develop the evaluation framework
 • $150,000-$200,000 for contracted support, including land surveying and title attorney services,
 depending on the number and complexity of streets requiring boundary or ownership verification.
 • Funding needs will become more precise as individual streets are evaluated and their legal,
 utility, and condition issues are better understood
 • Order‑of‑magnitude reference: paving one mile of a city street currently costs approximately
 $1.2 million, underscoring the importance of accurate condition and ownership information
 before long‑term commitments are made.

Next Steps & Timeline:

 • 1-27-26: Present updated materials to TEUC for direction
 • Feb 2026: Post interactive GIS map online with unaccepted/private streets
 • Feb 2026: Refine the phased evaluation framework based on TEUC input
 • Mar 2026: Brief City Council on issue and timeline
 • Late March 2026: Send introductory letter to affected residents

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 Page 8 of 17
 • Summer/Fall 2026: Begin staff and consultant research on top priority unaccepted/private streets
 • Fall/Winter 2026-2027: First potential policy recommendations

The initial memo on this topic provided to the TEUC listed an October 1, 2026 date to end municipal
services on unaccepted / private streets. That date was advocated by the City’s risk management team
who are rightly worried about the risk of the City providing tax-funded services on private property –
and on streets that are largely not up to City standards. That said, this is a public policy issue decades
in the making, largely because record keeping, standards and clear processes were not as robust in the
past, and it will take time to get through the work ahead. DPW Staff made it clear at the December
TEUC meeting that we will take the time needed and that the October 1 deadline will be significantly
pushed back.

Thank you for taking the time to review this memorandum and for your continued support of
Burlington’s Street system planning and maintenance efforts. If you have any questions or would like
additional information, please contact the Department of Public Works at (802)863-9094 or
dpwplanning@burlingtonvt.gov.



Previous Communications to TEUC:
 November 25, 2025 – Transitioning Services, Future Service Options, Street Acceptance Process
 December 16, 2025 – Public Engagement Update, Street Inventory Status, and Recent Street
 Acceptance Case Study

Attachments:
 1. Street Classification Summary




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 Page 9 of 17
Attachment 1: Street Classification Summary


 Unaccepted Streets

 The following streets have incomplete documentation for dedication and acceptance and/or
 may be private.

 SPECIFIC STATUS STREET PLOW WARD
 UNACCEPTED ALFRED TER YES 6
 UNACCEPTED BROWE CT YES 4
 UNACCEPTED CALARCO CT YES 1
 UNACCEPTED CAMPUS CT 1
 UNACCEPTED CHASE LN YES 1
 UNACCEPTED CLOAREC CT YES 2
 UNACCEPTED COLCHESTER CT YES 1
 UNACCEPTED DANS CT 1
 UNACCEPTED DERWAY DR YES 7
 UNACCEPTED LAWSON LN 3
 UNACCEPTED MARKHAMS LN 3
 UNACCEPTED MECHANICS LN 3
 UNACCEPTED NORTH AVE EXT YES 7
 UNACCEPTED NORTH COVE 7
 PRIVATE/UNACCEPTED PINE PL 5
 UNACCEPTED REDSTONE TER YES 6
 UNACCEPTED RUMSEY LN YES 1
 UNACCEPTED SUNSET COURT YES 2
 UNACCEPTED VOLZ ST YES 2
 UNACCEPTED WEST RD YES 4
 UNACCEPTED WOODS ST 7




 Page 10 of 17
Known Private Streets

The following streets are posted as private or are part of a an established private development.

  SPECIFIC STATUS STREET PLOW WARD
KNOWN PRIVATE AVE A 7
KNOWN PRIVATE AVE B 7
KNOWN PRIVATE AVE C 7
KNOWN PRIVATE AVE C NO 7
KNOWN PRIVATE AVE C SO 7
KNOWN PRIVATE BAYBERRY CIR 1
KNOWN PRIVATE BEAUMONT AVE 1
KNOWN PRIVATE BURLINGTON SQ 3
KNOWN PRIVATE CAMBRIAN WAY 7
KNOWN PRIVATE CARRIGAN DR 1
KNOWN PRIVATE CATAMOUNT DR 1
KNOWN PRIVATE CATHEDRAL SQ 3
KNOWN PRIVATE CEDAR LN 6
KNOWN PRIVATE CENTENNIAL CT 1
KNOWN PRIVATE CLAIRE POINT RD 7
KNOWN PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB RD 6
KNOWN PRIVATE DAVIS RD 6
KNOWN PRIVATE E VILLAGE DR 1
KNOWN PRIVATE EASTMAN FARM RD 4
 ETHAN ALLEN
 7
KNOWN PRIVATE HOMESTEAD
KNOWN PRIVATE FAIRHOLT ST 6
KNOWN PRIVATE GREEN MEADOWS DR 4
KNOWN PRIVATE HARBOR WATCH RD 5
KNOWN PRIVATE IRA LN 7
KNOWN PRIVATE KING ST (PARTIAL) 3
KNOWN PRIVATE LAKE FOREST DR 5
KNOWN PRIVATE LAKE ST (PARTIAL) 3
KNOWN PRIVATE LITTLE EAGLE BAY 4
KNOWN PRIVATE MCAULEY SQ 1
KNOWN PRIVATE MULBERRY LN 1
KNOWN PRIVATE NORTHSHORE DR 4
KNOWN PRIVATE OAKLEDGE DR 5
KNOWN PRIVATE PFG RD 6
KNOWN PRIVATE PINE LEDGE CT 5
KNOWN PRIVATE REDSTONE CONDO 5
KNOWN PRIVATE ROCK PT 4
KNOWN PRIVATE SAINT FRANCIS PARK 7
KNOWN PRIVATE STARR FARM BEACH 4



 Page 11 of 17
KNOWN PRIVATE STEELE ST 3
KNOWN PRIVATE SUNSET CLIFF YES 4
KNOWN PRIVATE TOWER TER 6
KNOWN PRIVATE UNIVERSITY HGTS 8
KNOWN PRIVATE UNIVERSITY RD YES 1
KNOWN PRIVATE VERMONT PARK 1
KNOWN PRIVATE WINTERBERRY LN 1

* To ensure clarity and transparency, several private streets have been added to this list since the
previous update.




 Page 12 of 17
Private Streets

The following streets are private streets, which may not be posted as private or included in an
established private development.

 SPECIFIC STATUS STREET PLOW WARD
PRIVATE AMBROSE PL 5
PRIVATE APPLETREE PT LN 4
PRIVATE BAIRD ST 5
PRIVATE CHITTENDEN DR YES 6
PRIVATE DEFOREST HEIGHTS 6
PRIVATE DRIFTWOOD LN 4
PRIVATE ELBOW ST YES 7
PRIVATE IRANISTAN RD (PARTIAL) YES 6
PRIVATE LAVALLEY LN YES 5
PRIVATE NORTHGATE DR 4
PRIVATE PENNY LN 3
PRIVATE/UNACCEPTED PINE PL 5
PRIVATE RAILWAY LN 3
PRIVATE RAYMOND PL 5
PRIVATE RIVER VIEW DR 7
PRIVATE S MEADOW DR 5
PRIVATE S PROSPECT ST (PARTIAL) 6
PRIVATE SANITARY LANDFILL RD 2
PRIVATE STACY LN 3
PRIVATE THOMAS LN 3
PRIVATE THORSEN WAY 3


* To ensure clarity and transparency, several private streets have been added to this list since
the previous update.




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City Owned & Maintained Streets

The following streets are not town highways, but are owned and operated by the City of Burlington.

 SPECIFIC STATUS STREET PLOW WARD
CITY OWNED/MAINT BATTERY PARK RD 3
CITY OWNED/MAINT LEDDY PARK RD 4
CITY OWNED/MAINT OAKLEDGE PARK 5
CITY OWNED/MAINT SEARS LN (PARTIAL) 5




 Page 14 of 17
 CITY OF BURLINGTON
 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
 645 Pine Street, Suite A
 Post Office Box 849
 Burlington, VT 05402-0849
 802.863.9094 VOX
 802.863.0466 FAX
 802.863.0450 TTY
 www.burlingtonvt.gov



 Chapin Spencer
 DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS



MEMORANDUM

TO: Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee (TEUC)

FROM: Julia Ursaki, Public Works Transportation Engineer
 Laura Wheelock, PE, Division Director of Tech Services/City Engineer (DPW)

DATE: January 27, 2026

CC: Chapin Spencer, Director of Public Works

RE: Intervale Rd Path – 99 Intervale Dedication and Acceptance


Request
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is requesting that the TEUC approves and recommends
that the City Council accept the dedication of a portion of the 99 Intervale Road parcel to support
building, maintaining, and providing public access to the Intervale Road Path.

Background
A dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facility along Intervale Road – connecting Riverside Avenue to
the Intervale’s farms, trails, businesses and events – has long been a multi-modal safety goal of
the City. There is no pedestrian or bicycling facility on Intervale Road currently, so walkers and
cyclists seeking to access the Intervale’s trails, businesses, farms and community gardens are
sharing the road with cars, tractor trailers, farm vehicles, etc. Additionally, Intervale Road has a
sharp corner with limited sight distances in the middle of the hill. Improvement to the corridor has
been identified as a need for decades in City documents including in the City’s 1998 Bicycle Plan,
the 2011 Transportation Plan and the more recent 2017 planBTV Walk/Bike. This project will build
a 10-foot shared use path on the west side of Intervale Road along with new curbing and
stormwater infrastructure for both the path and the road.

This project currently has about $1.2M in federal funding from a Vermont Agency of
Transportation (VTrans) Bicycle and Pedestrian grant. Part of the VTrans project development
process includes the Right-of-Way (ROW) phase where staff work to secure all necessary property
rights to build and maintain the federally-funded project. In most cases, this can be achieved with


 Page | 1 of 3
 Page 15 of 17
Intervale Rd Path Budget Amendment January 27, 2026
 Page | 2 of 3

easements from property owners. However, the City of Burlington currently owns the parcel at 99
Intervale Road and has plans to sell it in the foreseeable future. The City cannot grant an easement
to itself, so to protect the property rights of the path when this parcel is sold, staff are proposing
a lot line adjustment of the 99 Intervale Road parcel and that the City Council accept the land as
part of the public right-of-way.

This land is currently leased by Gardener’s Alive and the Intervale Center and used for soil storage
and sales by Gardener’s Alive. Both parties have already signed a lease amendment supporting the
boundary line adjustment and use of the land for the Intervale Road Path.

Because this is a City-owned parcel being dedicated to the City as public right-of-way, there is no
cost associated with this boundary line adjustment. In addition, there is a multi-part process for
the City to offer and then accept the additional land as right-of-way:
  99 Intervale Road boundary line adjustment via the Department of Permitting and
 Inspections permit (this is in process)
  Dedication and Acceptance of the new land by the City Council (this is what we are seeking
 approval for with this item)

Budget Update
Please note that based on current construction estimates, we anticipate the need for an additional
$1,300,000 to construct this project. $300,000 of this would pay for contaminated soil/hazardous
waste removal and is considered a “non-participating” cost that is not grant-eligible. For the
remaining $1,000,000 budget gap, DPW hopes to seek additional grant funds for this project. Any
grant funds would likely be an 80% federal and 20% local funding split, meaning the City would
need to provide approximately $200,000 in additional local match, and $300,000 in non-
participating costs, for a total of $500,000 additional city dollars to support this project. Our
original grant application was based on cost estimates from the 2018 feasibility study. Since then,
construction costs have increased significantly and additional items discovered during the design
phase, like the stormwater system constraints and contaminated soils and groundwater, have also
driven up the cost to construct this project.

One way we have worked to limit the project’s cost on the City’s General Fund is by coordinating
this work with VTrans and New England Central Railroad (NECR) as they are planning rail crossing
upgrades on Intervale Road in the next couple of years. Through our coordination, the rail
crossing design has been modified to accommodate the future bike/pedestrian crossing, which
will make our project less costly. The estimated cost for the rail crossing improvements is
upwards of $2 million, which VTrans is funding in full. We will continue to pursue various
opportunities to further limit the overall project cost on the City’s General Fund. Note we are
not seeking action on the project budget at this time, only providing a future forecast of
anticipated project funding needs.

Project Schedule
This project is currently in the right-of-way phase, where the project team is coordinating with
property owners and refining our design to acquire all necessary property rights for the project.
 An Equal Opportunity Employer
 This material is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities. To request an
 accommodation, please call 802.863.9094 (voice) or 802.863.0450 (TTY).
 Page 16 of 17
Intervale Rd Path Budget Amendment January 27, 2026
 Page | 3 of 3

We expect this phase to last until spring 2026 before we receive “right-of-way clearance” from
VTrans. This will make the project eligible for additional VTrans funding, which we hope to seek
in 2026. If additional funding is secured, we anticipate putting this project out to bid in winter
2026/2027 and starting construction in 2027. The final timeline will be dependent on
coordination with the VTrans/NECR rail crossing project.

Motion
The TEUC approves and recommends that the City Council accept the dedication of a portion of
the 99 Intervale Road parcel.




 An Equal Opportunity Employer
 This material is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities. To request an
 accommodation, please call 802.863.9094 (voice) or 802.863.0450 (TTY).
 Page 17 of 17

CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT

 CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY &
 UTILITIES COMMITTEE
 c/o Department of Public Works 802.863.9094 VOX
 645 Pine Street, Suite A 802.863.0466 FAX
 Post Office Box 849 802.863.0450 TTY
 Burlington, VT 05402-0849 www.burlingtonvt.gov

 Councilor Mark Barlow, Chair, North District
 Inquiries:
 Councilor Gene Bergman, Ward 2
 Rob Goulding
 Councilor Becca McKnight, Ward 6 802.881-2278
 Councilor Marek Broderick, Ward 8 rgoulding@burlingtonvt.gov




 Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee of the City Council
 Tuesday, January 27, 2026 – 5:30 PM
 --DRAFT MINUTES—
 See video for full meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dz4hCFdw1s

Councilors absent: None
Councilors present: Chair Barlow, Councilor Bergman & Councilor Broderick Councilor
McKnight (arrived during Public Forum)
Chair Barlow calls the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
1. Agenda
Councilor Bergman moves to approve the agenda as stated in Civic Clerk.
Councilor Broderick seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval

2. Minutes of 12/16/25
Councilor Bergman moves to adopt the 12/16/25 minutes as posted.
Councilor Broderick seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval

3. Public Forum
Patty Gillespie – West Rd resident – Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Greg Unger– West Rd resident – Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Ann Rosenbluth– North Cove Rd resident – Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Robin McClellan- Volz St resident - Comments about Unaccepted Streets.
Robert Bristo Johnson – (via Zoom) - North Cove Rd resident - Comments about
Unaccepted Streets.
Pike Porter - (via Zoom) – Update on questions on Valerity report & Solar updates, QC2
report had error and wasn’t corrected.
Noah Spokh – in support of cleaner energy solutions.
4. Deliberative Agenda
 4.1 Unaccepted Streets
 Laura Wheelock, City Engineer/Division Director Technical Services presented
 information.

Councilor McKnight asked if we all feel that taking care of the roads is the job of the city?
Councilor Bergman stated the details need to be laid out. Councilor Broderick question
about streets that are labeled as private and enforcement of repairs. Chair Barlow agrees we
should try to find a way to accept them.

AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions: The meeting focused on the city's plan to
address unaccepted and private streets and addressing the maintenance and ownership of
private streets, with Laura presenting an update on the project. The team removed the October
2026 deadline for ceasing plowing services and introduced a new categorization system for
streets: known private, private, unaccepted, and city-owned. They launched an interactive GIS
map to help visualize these categories. The team plans to conduct an inventory of street
conditions in the spring before beginning consultant work and deed research The group
agreed to categorize streets based on legal status and condition, with plans to prioritize
maintenance for streets posing the most risk. They also considered the need to review zoning
permits for streets developed under previous regulations. The team outlined a process for
maintaining unaccepted roads, including a notification system for residents and a potential
discontinuation of services after a certain period if the street remains unaccepted. The council
discussed the process of reviewing and accepting private and unaccepted streets,
emphasizing the need for clarity in ownership and responsibility. They agreed to provide
residents with more information, and involve the full council in future discussions. The next
steps include sharing a draft communication letter with the council in March, sending a letter to
property owners on unaccepted private streets, and reconvening in late spring to review
progress.


 4.2 Encore Solar Update
Chapin Spencer, DPW Director, Chad from Encore Solar, Caleb Manna Associate DPW
Engineer & Megan Moir, Division Director Water Resources presented information.

Councilor Bergman looking for costs and plans for the next year and a road map for both
projects. Councilor McKnight asked if there can be an ariel map for residents. Chair Barlow
asked are there other examples where other reservoirs have been used.

AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions: The meeting focused on the status and next
steps for implementing solar projects on two city facilities: the main water reservoir and the
Manhattan landfill. Chapin explained that while early discussions with BED and CETO led to
an RFQ response from Encore, the projects are not economically viable without site control.
Chad detailed the engineering complexities and regulatory requirements for the landfill project,
emphasizing the need for an assessment of the landfill cap's rehabilitation costs. The group
discussed plans for developing a capped reservoir for solar installation, with DPW noting that
previous estimates for the work were around $70,000 and emphasizing the need for city
funding. Chad explained that while there are no known examples of capped reservoirs used for
solar installations, they would conduct studies to address potential concerns. The team agreed
to create a timeline for the project, including studies and other steps, to help keep the work on
track. Both projects aim to generate significant solar power, with the landfill project potentially
producing over 2 megawatts and the reservoir project under a megawatt. The city is now
working to make both sites solar-ready, with Encore standing aside until the assessment work
is complete. The next steps include conducting assessments, securing site control, and
negotiating power purchase agreements, with a focus on ensuring safety and compliance with
regulations. Once assessments are done, the city and Encore will discuss lease option
agreements, after which Encore would handle permitting, design, and construction.


 4.3 FY27 UPWP Public Hearing & Application Approval
Julia Ursaki, DPW Transportation Engineer & Laura Wheelock, Division Director of Tech
Services/City Engineer presented information.

Chair Barlow is looking for written information that was not in the packet. Councilor Bergman
wants information posted and noted that it is after the meeting.

AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions: The committee discussed two new planning
applications for Chittenden County: a technical assistance project to standardize leading
pedestrian intervals on Pearl Street, and a road safety audit for Route 127. Julia explained
these applications were submitted late on Friday, leading to a delay in providing written
materials for the meeting. Laura clarified that while the committee's current vote was
informational, a formal approval would be sought at the next meeting, with complete
application materials to be posted online afterward.


 4.4 99 Intervale Dedication & Acceptance
Julia Ursaki, DPW Transportation Engineer & Laura Wheelock, Division Director of Tech
Services/City Engineer presented information.

Councilor Bergman is looking to have a map that shows the current lot line and what the new
lot line will be for recording purposes. Councilor Marek & Chair Barlow supports it.
Councilor McKnight has left the meeting.

AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions: The DPW Commission discussed a
boundary line adjustment for the 99 Intervale Road parcel to accommodate a 10-foot shared-
use path, which was approved unanimously.

Councilor Bergman moves that the TEUC approves this plan and recommends that the City
Council accept the dedication of a portion of the 99 Intervale Road parcel for the purpose of
the bike/shared use path. Councilor Broderick seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval

. 5. Director’s Report
 • Recycling decision about what to do with municipal recycling – we have been
 meeting with Casella to hash out their 7-year bid and to get you al clear terms
 that you will see in February to see your decision whether you contract or not.
 • Local motion reached out about a resolution supporting crossing guards –
 International Crossing Guard Appreciation Day.
 6. Councilor Items
Councilor McKnight asked about the salt shortage issue.

 7. Next Meeting
Tentative – February 19, 2026, 12 pm at 645 Pine St.

 8. Adjournment
Chair Barlow adjourns meeting at 7:38 pm.