Ward 5 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-01-15
Time: 19:00

Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA):
 Draft Agenda
 Thursday, January 15th
 6:30PM-8:15PM
 ​

 Join in person: 645 Pine Street (DPW Building)
  ​ Join virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89574495720
​
Facilitator: Jason Van Driesche Note Taker: Lena Greenberg




6:30 ​ ​ Community Dinner​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ | 30 min
7:00 ​ ​ Welcome & Public Forum​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ | 15 min
 ●​ Introductions
 ●​ Open floor for community input
7:15 ​ ​ Presentation and discussion of Town Meeting Day ballot items​ | 30 min
 ●​ City staff will present on ballot items.
7:45​ ​ Discussion of Calahan Park Path plan ​ ​ ​ ​ | 25 min
 ●​ Parks staff will share relevant updates and take questions on proposed
 path, which will require the removal of several large trees.
8:10​ ​ Vote on Apartheid-Free Community NPA resolution ​ ​ | 20 min
 ●​ Discussion followed by a vote; all present who live in Ward 5 are invited
 to vote
 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a_h3OECeeRvd4T3tkTEZBcxN2iRv
 rwvPl54ThmULpC8/edit?tab=t.0
8:30​ ​ Adjourn
 ●​ Next meeting will be Thursday, February 19, 2026

Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA):
 Draft Agenda
 Thursday, January 15th
 6:30PM-8:15PM
 ​

 Join in person: 645 Pine Street (DPW Building)
  ​ Join virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89574495720
​
Facilitator: Jason Van Driesche Note Taker: Lena Greenberg




6:30 ​ ​ Community Dinner​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ | 30 min
7:00 ​ ​ Welcome & Public Forum​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ | 15 min
 ●​ Introductions
 ●​ Open floor for community input
7:15 ​ ​ Presentation and discussion of Town Meeting Day ballot items​ | 30 min
 ●​ City staff will present on ballot items.
7:45​ ​ Discussion of Calahan Park Path plan ​ ​ ​ ​ | 25 min
 ●​ Parks staff will share relevant updates and take questions on proposed
 path, which will require the removal of several large trees.
8:10​ ​ Vote on Apartheid-Free Community NPA resolution ​ ​ | 20 min
 ●​ Discussion followed by a vote; all present who live in Ward 5 are invited
 to vote
 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a_h3OECeeRvd4T3tkTEZBcxN2iRv
 rwvPl54ThmULpC8/edit?tab=t.0
8:30​ ​ Adjourn
 ●​ Next meeting will be Thursday, February 19, 2026




 Page 1 of 34
 REIB CHARTER CHANGE
OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY, INCLUSION, & BELONGING (REIB)
 January 15, 2026


 REIB CHARTER CHANGE MARCH 3, 3026 BALLOT
 Page 2 of 34
 REIB Charter Change
 January 15, 2026

REIB Charter Change: What Voters Are Being Asked to Decide
 •On March 3, Burlington voters will decide whether to add the Office of Racial
 Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) to the City Charter

 •The City Charter defines which parts of City government are permanent

 •This change would make the REIB a stable, ongoing part of City government.

 •Placing the REIB in the Charter helps ensure this work continues consistently
 over time, regardless of changes in leadership.
 NPA MEETINGS: REIB CHARTER CHANGE
 Page 3 of 34
 REIB Charter Change
 January 15, 2026




NPA MEETINGS: REIB CHARTER CHANGE Page 4 of 34
 REIB Charter Change
 January 15, 2026

REIB Charter Change: What the REIB Does and Why it Matters for Burlington
 What the REIB Does in Burlington Why This Matters for Burlington

 •Supports city departments in the • Helps the City and community respond to
 development, implementation, and diverse and community-identified needs
 coordination for programs and services to
 ensure consistency and accessibility • Supports a strong local economy and
 community resilience.
 •Provides training and guidance for City
 staff, boards, and commissions • Brings diverse perspectives into City
 decision-making and builds trust.
 •Creates ways for community members to
 engage directly with City government
 NPA MEETINGS: REIB CHARTER CHANGE Page 5 of 34
 REIB Charter Change
 Insert Date


REIB Charter Change: Budget Clarity

 Budget clarity:
 • The REIB already exists
 • It represents about 0.7% of the City’s General Fund
 • At its highest funding level, it has never exceeded 1% of the General Fund




 NPA MEETINGS: REIB CHARTER CHANGE
 Page 6 of 34
  Discussion of Proposed Ballot
 Questions:
 Proposed Tax Increase &
Advisory Question on Tax Fairness
 Ward 5 NPA
 January 15, 2026

 Page 7 of 34
Proposed Ballot Question:

 Proposed Tax Increase



 Page 8 of 34
 Budget Landscape

• City has expected budget gap of $10-12M


• This is not unique to Burlington – many others around the country face
  similar budget challenges post pandemic

• FY27 budget will continue to reposition City to rely on sustainable financial
  sources

• As we have done in the past, City will meet this challenge with a mix of
  cutting expenses and raising revenues



 1
 Page 9 of 34
 Raise Police & Fire Property Tax

• One option we intend to pursue is $.05 increase to police & fire tax

• Would raise about $3M toward projected gap

• Current police & fire tax projected to raise $6.4M this year

• In contrast the budgets for those departments are $39.1M

• Police & fire tax only raises 16% of costs for the services




 Page 10 of 34
 Municipal Property Tax History
Note $353K is current median
assessed value for home or
condo in Burlington

 Fiscal Year Past Total Muni Tax $ Increase % Increase
 Muni on $353K
 Rate Property
 FY22 $.6704 $2,367
 FY23 $.7085 $2,501 $134 5.7%
 FY24 $.7523 $2,655 $154 6.2%
 FY25 $.8326 $2,939 $284 10.7%
 FY26 $.8556 $3,020 $81 2.8%




 Page 11 of 34
 Property Tax Proposed

• The municipal tax rate is made up of 15 different splinter taxes,
  including Debt Service Tax and Retirement Tax. Those two
  splinter taxes increase or decrease automatically each year
  without voter approval to cover actual costs incurred by City.


• This means that by Charter, at a minimum, FY27 municipal taxes
  will go up $.0307 to cover Debt and Retirement expenses.



 5
 Page 12 of 34
 Municipal Property Tax Proposed

 Total Total Muni Total Muni
 Proposed Proposed Tax on Annual Tax on Annual $ %
 Tax Muni Tax $353K $ Increase $500K Increase Increase
 Increase Rate* Property Property
Required + $.05 $.0807 $.9363 $3,305 $285 $4,682 $404 9.4%
for Police & Fire
Required Only – $.0307 $.8863 $3,129 $109 $4,432 $154 3.6%
 Debt &
  Retirement




 Page 13 of 34
 Other Options

Actively pursuing other options, including but not limited to:

• Cutting City expenses – each department reporting on possible 5%
  and 10% cut scenarios
• Voluntary furlough program
• Selling underutilized City property
• Use of one-time revenues
• Increased collections of accounts receivables


 Page 14 of 34
 Summary

• $10-12M current gap

• Will utilize a varied approach to handle – raising revenue + cutting expenses

• Any potential tax increase needs to be voted on by City Council to put on
  Town Meeting Day ballot by end of January

  Full budget presentations by each department to Board of Finance will
• happen in early April

• Budget drafted by Mayor and must be approved by June 30 by City Council


 Page 15 of 34
 Proposed Ballot Question:

Advisory Question on Tax Fairness



 Page 16 of 34
 Background

• Mayor convened Tax Fairness Working Group to study how to make City's
  municipal tax system more equitable

• Key finding: Inequitable property assessment put heavier burden on people who
  own lower-priced homes

• Recommendation: Value-based homestead exemption
 - Lower-valued homes get bigger relative benefit = "ability to pay"

• Straightforward way to address municipal tax burden on residents



 Page 17 of 34
 What is proposed

• Universal $30k homestead exemption
 - Minimal threshold to address impacts of assessment inequity

• Proposing advisory question for TMD ballot asking if City should pursue this
  change to municipal tax policy

• Advisory questions are non-binding & allow residents to voice opinion on issue
  before Mayor and City Council take action

• If this was something City pursues in future, would require Charter Change



 Page 18 of 34
 What $30k exemption would mean

• 2/3 homestead properties in Burlington --> reduction of $150 or more on
  annual property tax bill

• Non-homestead properties --> 3.1% increase on annual property tax bill
 - City analyses show unlikely to significantly increase rents ($8 or less/month
 per unit)

• Minimal overall increase for Ward 5 residents




 Page 19 of 34
 Impacts on Homestead Properties

Properties assessed at less than $30,000: Municipal property tax eliminated

Properties assessed at under $200k (N=410): Median decrease
$210 annually, or about 17% off annual median municipal bill

Properties assessed at $200k - $400k (N=3,089): Median decrease $178 annually,
or 7% off annual median municipal bill

Properties assessed at $1M: No change to annual municipal bill

Properties assessed at more than $1M (N=118): Median increase $65
annually, or about 0.6% more on annual municipal bills

 Page 20 of 34
 Impacts on Non-Homestead Properties

 Possible Impacts on Selected Rental Properties
Address Assessed Units Average Ass Municipal Municipal Annual per
 Value essed Value Bill Bill Change Unit
 per Unit with Change
 Exemption
North Ave $14,065,540 106 $132,694 $118,151 +$3,617 $34.12
Apartments
Riverside $1,314,500 10 $131,450 $11,042 +$342 $34.20
Townhomes
Pearl St $1,672,700 10 $167,270 $14,481 +430 $43.00
Apartments
Home Ave $770,000 4 $192,500 $6,468 +$201 $50.13
Quadplex
Pine $11,683,200 49 $238,430 $98,139 +$3,042 $62.09
St Apartments
S. Union St $738,000 2 $369,000 $6,202 +190 $95.00
Duplex
 Page 21 of 34
 Impacts on Non-Homestead Properties

Commercial property examples

1,000 sq. Ft. commercial condo in Adams Building on South Union St (assessed
value: $119,800)
• Increase of $37 in municipal taxes per year

Zero Gravity Restaurant and Brewery (assessed value: $4,325,600)
• Increase of $1,347 in municipal taxes per year

Hula (assessed value of $27 million)
• Increase of $8,355 in municipal taxes per year (or 3% more than what it paid for
  municipal taxes in FY25 ($270,480)).
 Page 22 of 34
Where to find more information
  Memo to City Council – Impacts on Homestead &
  Non-Homestead Properties


 Data Dashboard – Modeling Tax Reforms
 on Current Municipal Tax System



  Tax Fairness Working Group – Final Report &
  Recommendations


 1
 Page 23 of 34
Calahan Park Pathway – Phase 1




 Ward 5 NPA Presentation
 1/15/2026
 Page 24 of 34
Overview
• Project History
• Timeline
• Project Goals
• Plan Review and anticipated Tree Removals




 Page 25 of 34
Project History
• 2013 Safe Routes to Schools Study
• 2021-22 Calahan Park Comprehensive Plan
• 2022 Application for VTRANS Transportation
  Alternative Grant;
 • Awarded and grant acceptance approved by council in April
 2023; 80/20 Split -
• September 2024 – Presentation of Comp Plan at
  Ward 5 NPA; providing an update on progress
 • BPRW provided an overview of Phase 1,
 expected timeline, and invited attendees to
 attend the Local Concerns Meeting
• October 2024 – Local Concerns meeting

 Page 26 of 34
Timeline
• NEPA Submitted following Local Concerns Meeting
• March 2025 NEPA Review Complete
• August 2025 Right of Way/Title Search Complete
• November 2025 Filed for Local Zoning/Stormwater Permit
• January 6, 2026 DRB Review and Approval
• Feb/March 2026 Design finalized and bid issued
• Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 Expected Construction



 Page 27 of 34
Goals
• Improve accessibility
 • Create access for people with mobility challenges

 • Create an east-west bike/ped pathway in the Park (eventually) connecting to
 Pine St and crosswalks
• Resolve stormwater challenges with existing path




 Page 28 of 34
Existing Pathway




 • Water runs along path causing erosion.
 • Elevation would need to be raised for drainage. This could impact the
 crabapples along the hillside.



 Page 29 of 34
Existing Pathway




 • Path passes through a low point between the building and playground
 • Elevating the path to shed water would push water toward the
 building or playground, which would then need to be piped toward
 Locust St.


 Page 30 of 34
Existing Pathway




 • Continuing to Locust St, due to the berm around the playground water
 would need to be shed on the side toward the building. This again
 require installing drainage and piping the water back toward Locust St.



 Page 31 of 34
 Why site the path along Locust St?
• By siting the path
  along Locust St, we can
  use existing
  stormwater catch
  basins, pipes, and the
  rain garden/detention
  basin (green lines and
  gray squares)
 • Reduces cost and
 complications for
 construction




 Page 32 of 34
 Why site the path along Locust St?
In the long-term:
• We are planning for the
 future relocation of the
 building, which we know
 has structural issues and
 has been a target for
 break-ins.

• We are keeping new
  cycling and pedestrian
  traffic closer to the street
  and not directing it in
  between the playground
  and athletic fields.




 Page 33 of 34
 Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)


 Resolution Urging City Council to Place Apartheid-Free Community Pledge ​
 Advisory Question on the 2026 Town Meeting Day Ballot


WHEREAS for two consecutive years, petitions were submitted to place the following non-binding advisory
question regarding the Apartheid-Free Community Pledge on the 2024 and 2025 Town Meeting Day ballot:
“Shall the voters of the City of Burlington advise the Mayor and City Council to adopt the following pledge?
WE AFFIRM our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people; and
WE OPPOSE all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and WE DECLARE ourselves an
apartheid-free community, and to that end, WE PLEDGE to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s
apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation.”; and


WHEREAS, in both years, the City verified that the petitions contained a sufficient number of signatures to
meet the requirements of 17 VSA § 2642 and Burlington City Charter § 6 (5% of the registered voters of the
City); and


WHEREAS, in both years, the City Council voted to block the aforementioned ballot question from appearing
on the Town Meeting Day ballot; and


WHEREAS, the City has discretion to include advisory questions on the ballot, and exercising such discretion
“... furthers the Council’s ability to balance the efficient transaction of city business with the provisions of a local
forum for discussing state and national issues”1; and


WHEREAS, there is abundant precedent across Vermont for placing non-binding advisory questions about
national or global issues on the Town Meeting Day ballot, including a call for a nuclear arms freeze passed in 155
Vermont municipalities in 1982, a vote opposing the Patriot Act passed in Waitsfield in 2003, a call to withdraw
US troops from Iraq in 2005, and a measure opposing the basing of F-35 fighter jets in Burlington passed in
2018; and


WHEREAS, similar petitions to place the Apartheid-Free Community Pledge on the 2025 Town Meeting Day
ballot were respected by municipal officials in Winooski, Brattleboro, Newfane, Thetford, Plainfield,
Montpelier, Vergennes, Bristol, and Weybridge; and


WHEREAS, in April 2025, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution for protecting free speech on
Palestine;


WHEREAS, the pre-condition of responsible and accountable local governance is free speech and democracy;


NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly urges the City
Council to place the aforementioned non-binding advisory question regarding the Apartheid-Free Community
Pledge on the 2026 Town Meeting Day Ballot.

1
 Clift v. City of South Burlington 181 Vt. 571 (2007).

 Page 34 of 34

Neighborhood Planning Assembly Draft Minutes
 NPA: ​ Wards Wards Wards Ward Ward
 (choose one) 1&8 2&3 4&7 5 6

 Date of Assembly :_1/25/26__ Start Time: (Commence): 7:01
 Location: 645 Pine Street Finish Time: (Adjourn): ________
 Note taker: Lena Greenberg Please forward these official minutes to: BT

Steering Committee Members in Attendance:​
Jason Van Dreische, Jak Tiano, FaRied Munarsyah, Lena Greenberg, Primrose Van Wolvelear
 Actions Taken / Decisions Made
Discussion Topics
 ●​ Immediately following Agenda Item
●​ These can be copied from agenda
 ●​ Generally includes: electing a new steering committee member,
 items
 voting as a body to send a formal communication to the City,
●​ Content of discussion not required
 decisions to spend money.

Agenda Items and Actions:
Please Remember to Enter Adjournment Time! ​

 ●​ Public forum
 ○​ Big John has been wrongfully charged with a crime, needs community support
 ○​ Interest in later discussion about AFC item
 ○​ Questions about tree removal in Calahan Park
 ○​ Emphasis on the need to stand together amid ongoing federal terror
 ○​ Update from Councilor Melo Grant, chair of public safety committee, on success
 of community court
 ●​ Presentation and discussion of Town Meeting Day ballot items
 ○​ Kelli Perkins, REIB director, Christian Berry, Katie Greene, REIB staff
 ■​ REIB charter change
 ●​ Proposal is to add REIB to the city charter, which will make the
 charter a permanent part of city government
 ●​ DEI are practical tools to understand about how our systems work,
 how services, policies and workplaces are designed and who they
 reach, and how effective they are for the people who rely on them
 ●​ DEI includes design and service choices to make sure that services
 are equitably accessible and supportive for people with different
 needs
 ●​ REIB’s work helps the city appropriately meet community needs,
 build resilience, and bring diverse perspective into City
 decision-making
 ●​ Trusted Community Voices team - represents 7 key communities in
 Burlington
 ■​ Establishing this work as a core part of the city’s work allows opportunity
 for better coordination
 ○​ CAO Katherine Schad on a proposed tax increase, which still needs to go through
 City Council before it gets put on the ballot
 ■​ Create the budget, oversee election!
 ■​ Proposed tax increase: expecting a budget gap of $10-12 million on
 general fund - core services of the city, $107mill, about a 10% gap
 ●​ Having this kind of deficit is really common right now
 ●​ Proposed increase is a 5c increase to police and fire tax, would
 raise $3m towards the gap
 ●​ Currently, the police and fire tax raises $6.4 million out of $39 mil
 it costs to run those departments
 ○​ Looking at budget reductions across departments, trying to
 make as few cuts as possible in police and fire (not cutting
 actively filled positions_
 ■​ Tax increase is about negotiating contracts with
 police and fire for equitable wages over the next
 three years
 ■​ This tax is one of many strategies for filling the gap
 ●​ Full presentation on the board of finance presentation from
 Monday 1/12
 ○​ Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak on an advisory tax question
 ■​ Advisory question pending w council right now
 ●​ Based on work from a tax fairness working group looking at local
 municipal tax structure
 ●​ Finding: inequitable property assessment puts heavier burden on
 people who have lower priced homes
 ●​ Recommendation: Value based homestead exemption
 ○​ Lower valued homes get bigger relative benefit
 ●​ Non-binding question: universal exemption of $30k off the
 property tax bill, which would bring some tax relief to
 lower-valued homes
 ○​ This would also yield a modest tax increase to
 non-homestead properties
 ●​ Acknowledgement that this tax policy is about broader
 affordability of property taxes, and is not where/how we will
 address overall affordability of housing, especially for renters
●​ Discussion of Calahan Park Path plan
 ○​ Max Madalinski, Deryk Roach, BPRW
 ○​ Overview of the project from city staff
 ○​ There has been significant concern about tree removal
 ○​ 2013 safe routes to school study - building a pathway that would connect to Pine
 Street along this part of the park
 ○​ Comp plan for Calahan Park just happened
 ○​ They were able to get funding for just one part of the path
 ○​ Parks has not heard concerns in the meetings and settings where they are
 equipped to absorb feedback
 ○​ This is an accessible path to the amenities
 ○​ Looking to resolve existing stormwater challenges
 ○​ Honey Locust trees will not be removed as a part of this plan - made a choice to
 invest in the Honey Locusts rather than the single Black Locust which will live
 less long
 ○​ “Every tree in the city is in conflict with infrastructure”
 ○​ Robust discussion about tree concerns, bike path speed concerns
 ○​ Phil Lewis - brand new parks director, reach out to him -
 plewis@burlingtonvt.gov
●​ Vote on Apartheid-Free Community NPA resolution
 ○​ Yes: This NPA asks the City Council to put this resolution on the ballot
 ○​ No: This NPA does not ask the City Council to put this resolution on the ballot
 ○​ Discussion followed by a vote; all present who live in Ward 5 are invited to vote
 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a_h3OECeeRvd4T3tkTEZBcxN2iRvrwvPl
 54ThmULpC8/edit?tab=t.0
 ○​ Record of vote
 ■​ Yes
 ●​ 23
 ■​ No
 ●​ 4
 ■​ Abstain
 ●​ 5
 ○​ The resolution passes