Conservation Board — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-04-06
Time: 16:30

Open Space Subcommittee Meeting Public Notice
 Monday, April 6, 2026, 4:30 PM

Fully Remote via Zoom

Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/96541566634?pwd=U4rpI9lzKsEPpZIYIWrEwENnSsqChF.1

Webinar ID: 965 4156 6634

Password: 364026

Telephone: 1 309 205 3325


1. Public Comment

2. Discussion Items
  2.1. Ecosystem services assessment

3. Adjournment

4. Informational and Non-Discrimination Statements

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  Burlington ADA Coordinator at 802-865-7000 as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled
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Burlington Conservation Board
Open Space Subcommittee
645 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05401
www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpi
Telephone: (802) 865-7188




 Open Space Subcommittee Meeting Minutes


 April 6, 2026 at 4:30 PM
 Remote Meeting


Present: Scott Gustin, Dan Cahill, Zoe Richards, Rebecca Roman, Dale Azaria, Alan Reichard & Sharon
Bushor.


 I. Discussion Item
 - Ecosystem services assessment

 RR recapped the recent meeting with Trust for Public Land:
 - Return on investment analysis, or economic benefit of parks in cities.
 - No recreation study done for Burlington yet.
 - How can we move away from scarcity and towards collaboration?
 - We’re already implementing some of the strategies, like no parking minimums.
 DA, I mostly heard reference to recreation benefits. What about clean water, flood attenuation,
 biodiversity? ZR said TPL did speak to ecosystem services. They also noted capacity to do some
 things a la carte. What do we want them to do for us?

 RR, maybe we should recruit someone from Planning Commission to be in a workgroup for this. ZR
 agreed. ZR, we want to be in a position to include TPL’s findings in a civic assets study. DA, are
 there any others besides PC we’d like to bring into this work? Dan Cahill, maybe try to include
 DPW. ZR, DPW owns a fair amount of land. DA thinks about DPW as an arm of the city that
 benefits from ecosystem services – i.e. like stormwater management. Green infrastructure benefits
 hard infrastructure.

 RR, let’s also include a Parks Commission rep, and Sarah Morgan. ZR, we could ask someone from
 UVM, like Brenan Fisher, about participating.

 RR, let’s assemble a group to review TPL’s menu and continue as a working group.

 ZR, request 10 minutes on an upcoming Planning Commission agenda to address this item.




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 or genetic information. The
City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment
opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources
Department at 865-7145.
SG recapped: Assemble the working group, including reach out to Planning and Parks Commissions
before making any decisions as to TPL. This analysis will cost money. It seems to fit within the
conservation education and acquisition framework consistent with the Legacy Fund.

ZR, ecosystem services are a benefit to the city. Dale & others requested seeing the work that was
done with U Colorado Boulder master’s student a few years ago.

II. Public Comment
Sharon touched on DPW and stormwater management.

III. Adjournment

5:13 PM.