Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-10-29
Time: 17:30

City Council - Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee

 Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 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 9/30/25

3. Public Forum
 3.1. Public Comment - 30 min

4. Deliberative Agenda
 4.1. Plattsburg Ave and Rt 127 Traffic Safety - 20 min
 4.2. 150' No Parking Setback on Streets Without Sidewalks - 20 min
 4.3. Rick Sharp Presentation - 10 min
 4.4. Recycling Next Steps - 45 min

5. Director's Report
 Subject 5.1. Fall Clean Sweep
 Meeting October 29, 2025 - Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee - Wednesday,
 October 29, 2025, 5:30 PM,
 Category 5. Director's Report
 Department Public Works Department


 Type

6. Councilor Items

7. Next Meeting
 7.1. Tentative - 11/25/25, time TBD
8. Adjournment

City Council - Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee

 Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 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 9/30/25

3. Public Forum
 3.1. Public Comment

4. Deliberative Agenda
 4.1. Plattsburg Ave and Rt 127 Traffic Safety - 20 min
 4.2. 150' No Parking Setback on Streets Without Sidewalks - 20 min
 4.3. Rick Sharp Presentation - 10 min
 4.4. Recycling Next Steps - 45 min

5. Director's Report
 Subject 5.1. Fall Clean Sweep
 Meeting October 29, 2025 - Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee - Wednesday,
 October 29, 2025, 5:30 PM,
 Category 5. Director's Report
 Department Public Works Department


 Type

6. Councilor Items

7. Next Meeting
 7.1. Tentative - 11/25/25, time TBD



 Page 1 of 6
8. 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, September 30, 2025 – 5:00PM
 --DRAFT MINUTES—
 See video for full meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJSNk7D4Yck

Councilors absent: None
Councilors Present: Chair Barlow, Councilor Broderick via zoom, Councilor Bergman &
Councilor McKnight
Chair Barlow calls meeting to order at 5:11 PM
1. Agenda
Councilor Bergman moves to approve the agenda as posted.
Councilor Broderick seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval

2. Minutes of 8/19/25
Councilor Bergman moves to adopt the minutes as presented notating that AI has a few
errors.
Councilor Broderick seconds.
 All in favor, Unanimous approval

3. Public Forum
Sharon Bushor – Comments regarding communication regarding public Utility &
Compliment to PlanBTV about how to reach out.

4. Deliberative Agenda
 4.1 PlanBTV 2050 Mobility (Transportation Plan)
 Phillip Peterson, Senior Transportation Planner, & Parsa Pezeshknejad,
 Transportation Planner presented information.

Zoom AI Summary: BTV2050 Transportation Plan Updates

The meeting focused on updates and planning for Plan BTV2050, a comprehensive city plan
encompassing transportation, housing, economic development, and parks. The transportation
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component, led by DPW, aims to update the existing plan from 2011, considering significant
changes and future developments. Key goals include integrating transportation with land use
and housing, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and preparing for uncertainty through
scenario-based planning. Public engagement is a priority, with visioning workshops planned
before and after consultant selection, and the team is actively seeking consultants through a
request for qualifications process with proposals due October 8th.

Burlington Transportation Planning Separation

The group discussed the need to separate transportation planning discussions for different
areas of Burlington, particularly between the South End and Hill sections, due to distinct
transportation challenges and residential concerns. They emphasized the importance of
including various stakeholder groups in the planning process, such as neighborhood
associations, businesses, and educational institutions like UVM and GMT, to address specific
transportation issues like parking and traffic flow. The team also highlighted the need to make
the RFQ and planning documents easily accessible to the public and discussed how
community input would help shape transportation goals, with a focus on balancing space
allocation for different modes of transportation.

Information only

 4.2 Emissions Reduction / Energy Efficiency Review
Darren Springer, General Manager of BED, Brad Williams Senior Operations Engineer of
BED presented information.

Zoom AI Summary: Comprehensive Planning and Emission Reduction

The committee discussed the comprehensive plan, emphasizing the need to include student
voices from UVM and Champlain College, and addressed the importance of long-term public
transit planning. They also discussed the integration of open space plans and the need for
scenario planning around transportation systems. The visioning workshops were outlined,
including plans for surveys and open-ended questions to gather community input. Finally, Brad
presented an update on evaluating opportunities to reduce emissions at the McNeil plant,
highlighting the progress made in characterizing the plant and identifying potential initiatives for
emission reduction.

McNeil Plant Carbon Reduction Assessment

The meeting focused on the assessment of potential initiatives to reduce carbon emissions at
the McNeil plant by 25% and 50%. Brad explained the baseline emissions level was
established as the average of the past five years, and various solutions, including RNG
blending, ammonia blending, and carbon capture, were evaluated for their technical
applicability, efficiency, and economic implications. The team modeled most initiatives and
expected to complete the project in about a month, providing a detailed report on feasible
options, including cost and reduction levels. Councilor Bergman inquired about the inclusion of
an implementation schedule and the role of battery storage and solar expansion in the report,
to which Brad confirmed these topics were part of the ongoing assessment.

Information only

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 4.3 Forestry Third Party Review
 presented information.

Zoom AI Summary:

Burlington Electric's Wood Residue Management

John Bryant of K2QC Consulting presented a forestry report on Burlington Electric's wood
residue management system, highlighting the efficient operations at the Swanton Yard and the
collaborative relationship between loggers and BED foresters. He noted that BED foresters
primarily work in a compliance role rather than procurement, and praised the system's
attention to environmental concerns like bat habitats. The report addressed the RFP
requirements and documented the diverse approaches of logging contractors in Vermont's
challenging terrain.

Vermont Forest Management Report

BED presented a comprehensive report on Vermont's forest management practices,
highlighting areas of compliance and offering recommendations for improvement. Key
recommendations included supporting professional logger training through the Northeast,
encouraging annual workshops on AMPs (Best Management Practices), updating education
materials on rare species protection, and developing alternative bioproducts facilities. The
report also suggested reviewing Vermont's Act 250 and considering a chain of custody process
for wood residues. Betsy, the Chief Forester, confirmed that 72% of Vermont's wood
production is burned for firewood, correcting an earlier misunderstanding. The discussion
touched on the challenges of tracking wood markets and the impact of McNeil's operations on
wood residue management.

Information only

 5. Director’s Report
 Chapin Spencer, DPW Director stated the department plans to present a report on the
city's recycling program in October, with a recommendation to continue municipal recycling
services. Director Spencer addressed concerns about the new bike lanes on Main Street,
explaining the design and addressing safety concerns.

 6. Councilor Items
 None

 7. Next Meeting
 October 29, 2025 at 645 Pine St at 5:30 pm

 8. Adjournment
 Chair Barlow adjourns meeting at 7:09 pm.




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 OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP
 is coming to Your Neighborhood!

 NEW FALL 2025
 STARTING November 5th
 UNTIL November 13th
Streets will be swept on the following dates:
 Zone A - New North End (East- Side) – Wednesday November 5th

 Zone B & H - New North End (West-Side) – Thursday November 6th

 Zone F - Downtown – Sunday November 9th

 Zone G - Old North End – Monday November 10th

 Zone D - Hill Section – Tuesday November 11th

 Zone E - University Area – Wednesday November 12th

 Zone C - South End – Thursday November 13th

 Please remove any vehicles from the Streets on your night!
Your cooperation will make the operation of sweeping the streets go faster
 and smoother! Any questions please call 802-863-9094x3, Maintenance Lights will be ﬂashing in order to alert you that the City
  802-658-7669 or log on to our website at www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpw will be sweeping soon! Please watch for the lights to be on in your area.
 BROUGHT TO YOU BY BURLINGTON PUBLIC WORKS “When the lights are on the cars are gone from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.”
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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
 Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – 5:30PM
 --DRAFT MINUTES—
 See video for full meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwLRdCEsdJQ

Councilors absent: None
Councilors Present: Chair Barlow, Councilor Broderick, Councilor Bergman & Councilor
McKnight via zoom
Chair Barlow calls meeting to order at 5:32PM
1. Agenda
Councilor Bergman moves to approve the agenda as posted.
Councilor Broderick seconds.
All in favor, Unanimous approval

2. Minutes of 9/30/25
Councilor Bergman stated there are errors and wants minutes fixed notating that AI has a
few errors.
Councilor Broderick seconds.
 All in favor, Unanimous approval

3. Public Forum
Kelton Bogesky of Casella spoke about their recycling process.
Jeff Comstock – wants to introduce the new Plattsburg Ave Neighborhood Traffic Safety
Work Group and share meeting notes.
Jason Van Driesche – Clarification about Pearl St paving issues & bike lanes.
Jack Evans – Thank DPW & Volunteers for the North Avenue Protected Bike Lane Project.
Supports complete streets updates.
Jack Tiano - feels recycling initial cost savings not it would be as big as thought. Doesn’t feel
we are giving DPW the chance to succeed.
Sharon Bushor (via zoom)– spoke about concerns about 150’ Setback of Parking &
Recycling 7-year proposal.
Councilor Evan Litwin (via zoom) – Thanks and Echos Sharon Bushor for her comments
about 150’ setbacks & Recycling. Plattsburg Avenue Traffic Safety & frustration around
speeding. Consider flower pots to reclaim the road & Sunset Drive Light change to red as cars
approach.
Pike Porter (via zoom) - Spoke about bike lanes, paperwork that was not attached to agenda,
Recycling – why can’t who ever use the current infrastructure.
Jason Stuffle – Plattsburg Ave get rid of slip lane & Pearl Street parking removal – people
change their habits.

4. Deliberative Agenda
 4.1 Plattsburg Ave & RT 127 Traffic Safety
 Phillip Peterson, Senior Transportation Planner & Laura Wheelock, City Engineer
 & Division Director of Technical Services presented information.

Councilors asked if data collection was in one direction or both? Governor has offered
resources from VT State Police – Are the Councilors open to make formal request to Chief
Burke? How long would it take to get a CCRPC study? Interchange at North End at Plattsburg
Ave part of accident cluster? Compare DPW & Neighbors ideas? Other steps that can be
taken? How extreme is that speed?

Public Comments – Jeff Comstock asked that we take a look at their meeting notes. Dave
Hartnett appreciates data but there is a reality that there is a problem at Plattsburg Ave and
the beltline. Nolan Ward 3 resident stated a no cost project to eliminate the slip lane.

AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions:The committee discussed traffic safety
concerns on Plattsburgh Avenue and the Beltline, with Councilor McKnight inquiring about
speed data collection methods and Philip explaining that data was collected in both directions
using federal highway equipment and speed feedback signs. The group explored potential
solutions, including requesting temporary traffic enforcement support from the Vermont State
Police, and discussed a planned CCRPC safety study for the Beltline expected to begin in
June 2027. The committee agreed to have staff review neighborhood suggestions for short-
term traffic improvements and report back at the next meeting, while also considering
immediate actions like requesting a memo from Chief Burke regarding enforcement support.
Information only

 4.2 150’ No Parking Setback on Streets Without Sidewalks
Phillip Peterson, Senior Transportation Planner presented information.

Councilors asked if there was a list of streets right now? How many car parking spots is 150
feet? Do we have setbacks for commercial driveways?

AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions: Regarding parking setbacks, Phillip
presented a proposal for up to 150-foot no-parking zones on streets without sidewalks, which
would provide better stopping distance for drivers at 25 mph. The committee agreed to front-
load public engagement efforts before implementation, with a tentative list of streets to be
shared after further planning.


Information only
 4.3 Rick Sharp Presentation
Rick Sharp presented information about E - bikes.

Councilors asked where the rack is on Church St? What have communications been like with
CATMA? Community input? CATMA relationship?

AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions: Rick presented an update on the city's e-
bike rental program, highlighting its success and plans for expansion in 2025. He emphasized
the program's utilitarian use for transportation and its cost-effectiveness compared to other
modes of transport. Rick also expressed concerns about potential competition from out-of-
state companies and requested support for an exclusive bike share agreement with the city.
The committee discussed the program's current operations, including geofenced racks and
battery management, and considered Rick's request for support against potential competitors.


Information only

 4.4 Recycling Next Steps
 Chapin Spencer, Director of DPW & Lee Perry, Division Director of Maintenance
presented information.

Councilors asked for info related to specifics around financial improvements and reduction of
injuries. What are the capital needs of the City’s recycling program? If we went to a private
hauler, would we have to replace the toters?


AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions: The council discussed the future of
Burlington's recycling and solid waste collection system, with Councilor Broderick expressing
opposition to privatization for 7 years and advocating for a fully consolidated municipal
collection system. The council agreed to give more time for long-term planning while
considering the current financial constraints and operational challenges. They also discussed
the need to address immediate issues with the recycling program, including staffing shortages
and equipment maintenance.


Information only

 5. Director’s Report
Chapin Spencer, DPW Director presented information regarding the first ever fall clean
sweep.

AI generated minutes w/ slight staff revisions: They discussed the fall clean sweep
program, which aims to reduce phosphorus in Lake Champlain by cleaning public right-of-ways
and reminding residents not to rake leaves into the street. Councilor McKnight encouraged
residents to leave leaves in their yards as a natural fertilizer and for pollinators. The group
agreed to use Front Porch Forum announcements and other media to communicate the
program details to the public.
 6. Councilor Items
 Councilor Bergman – What are we going to be doing with the Colchester Ave & North Ave
bike lane issues and if there can be engagement with the people who raised the issues?

 7. Next Meeting
November 25, 2025 at 645 Pine St at 4:00 pm

 8. Adjournment
Chair Barlow adjourns meeting at 8:25 pm.