Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-06-17
Time: 18:00

Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall
 Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95273623823?pwd=y3AkPtCrib6SFvi1sZghugRMl2MEIo.1

Meeting ID: 952 7362 3823
Passcode: 147407
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1. Agenda
  1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda

2. Adopt Minutes
  Subject 2.1. Approval of 3/18/26 Minutes
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall


  Category 2. Adopt Minutes

  Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)


  Type

  Recommended Action

  Subject 2.2. Approval of 5/20/26 Minutes
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall
  Category 2. Adopt Minutes
  Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)


  Type
3. Public Forum
  Subject 3.1. PUBLIC FORUM - Verbal Comments
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall
  Category 3. Public Forum
  Department


  Type

4. Burlington Walk Bike Council's Block Party Draft Resolution
  Subject 4.1. CDNR Committee will work through the draft resolution in order to present
 it to City Council at the soonest meeting possible.
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall


  Category 4. Burlington Walk Bike Council's Block Party Draft Resolution

  Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)


  Type

  Recommended Action

5. Graffiti Abatement Committee
  Subject 5.1. CDNR Committee will continue to discuss the scope of work and draft
 some basic framework and structure, and discuss stakeholder outreach so that
 interested parties can join the July meeting to help think through the
 committee's scope/mission and representative mix. This will be an ongoing
 conversation—no action will be taken.
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall
  Category 5. Graffiti Abatement Committee
  Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)


  Type

6. Adjournment
  Subject 6.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall


  Category 6. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action

Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall
 Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95273623823?pwd=y3AkPtCrib6SFvi1sZghugRMl2MEIo.1

Meeting ID: 952 7362 3823
Passcode: 147407
---
One tap mobile
+13052241968,,95273623823#,,,,*147407# US
+13092053325,,95273623823#,,,,*147407# US
---
Meeting ID: 952 7362 3823
Passcode: 147407



1. Agenda
  1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda

2. Adopt Minutes
  Subject 2.1. Approval of 3/18/26 Minutes
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall


  Category 2. Adopt Minutes

  Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)


  Type

  Recommended Action

  Subject 2.2. Approval of 5/20/26 Minutes
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall
  Category 2. Adopt Minutes
  Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)


  Type


 Page 1 of 27
3. Public Forum
  Subject 3.1. PUBLIC FORUM - Verbal Comments
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall
  Category 3. Public Forum
  Department


  Type

4. Burlington Walk Bike Council's Block Party Draft Resolution
  Subject 4.1. CDNR Committee will work through the draft resolution in order to present
 it to City Council at the soonest meeting possible.
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall


  Category 4. Burlington Walk Bike Council's Block Party Draft Resolution

  Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)


  Type

  Recommended Action

5. Graffiti Abatement Committee
  Subject 5.1. CDNR Committee will continue to discuss the scope of work and draft
 some basic framework and structure, and discuss stakeholder outreach so that
 interested parties can join the July meeting to help think through the
 committee's scope/mission and representative mix. This will be an ongoing
 conversation—no action will be taken.
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall
  Category 5. Graffiti Abatement Committee
  Department Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)


  Type

6. Adjournment
  Subject 6.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting June 17, 2026 - CDNR Committee Meeting - Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:00 PM,
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor, City Hall


  Category 6. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type

  Recommended Action




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 CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT
 CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT &
 NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE
 c/o Community & Economic Development Office
 City Hall, Room 32 • 149 Church Street • Burlington, VT 05401
 802-865-7144 VOX • 802-865-7024 FAX • www.burlingtonvt.gov/cedo




Councilor Evan Litwin (EL), Chair, Ward 7
Councilor Carter Neubieser (CN), Ward 1
Councilor Allie Schachter (AS), East District

 CDNR Committee Meeting
 Wednesday, March 18, 2026
 6:00 – 8:00 PM
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor – City Hall

Committee members: Evan Litwin (EL), Allie Schachter (AS), Carter Neubieser (CN)
City Staff: Christine Curtis, CEDO
Other Attendees: Brett Rodgers, Agnes Barsalow, PaintCare; Andrea Viets, Director Heineberg
Senior Center; Katherine Schad, CAO; Kara Alnasrawi, Maggie Callaghan, CEDO; Anne Gatch,
Megan Z, Eagle Bay Academy; Gordon Dragoon, Jason Stuffle, Burlington Walk Bike Council




 Draft Minutes

Meeting Started at 6:01 PM

 1. Approve agenda
 MOTION by Councilor Schachter, SECOND by Councilor Litwin, to approve
the agenda
VOTING: unanimous; motion carries.

 2. Approve Minutes: 2/3/2026
 MOTION by Councilor Schachter, SECOND by Councilor Litwin, to approve
the minutes
VOTING: unanimous; motion carries.

 3. Public Forum
 The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities.
 For accessibility information, call 865-7144. For questions about the meeting,
 contact Christine Curtis at ccurtis@burlingtonvt.gov


 Page 3 of 27
 • Ann Gatch and Eagle Bay Academy staff requested permission to
 convert a graffiti-covered wall into a student-designed mural.
 • Approximately $1,000 for paint and supplies.
 • A target start date of May 2026.
 • The project is tied to a “Math Through Art” curriculum where
 students apply geometry, scale, measurement, and design concepts
 through mural creation. Speakers emphasized educational benefits,
 youth engagement, community pride, and graffiti prevention through
 stewardship of public spaces.

 • Andrea Viets updated Committee on Heineberg Senior Center to
 include preparation of roughly 200 tax returns through AARP Tax-
 Aide services, increased participation in free meal programs and
 wellness activities, growth in Bone Builders exercise classes, receipt
 of a Creative Aging Grant, expanded food security efforts serving
 approximately 40–50 people weekly, and new programming
 connecting seniors and English language learners.


4. Housing Trust Fund – Informational/Discussion
 • CEDO staff presented plans to modernize Burlington’s Housing Trust
 Fund, which currently holds about $1.5 million.
 • Key priorities discussed included:
 • Creating clearer policies, procedures, and evaluation criteria.
 • Developing a formal scoring rubric for funding decisions.
 • Making the process more transparent and accessible.
 • Expanding participation beyond large housing developers.
 • Exploring support for homeowners and small-scale projects such as
 ADUs.
 • Improving outreach so more residents understand funding
 opportunities.
 • Committee members discussed:
 • Increasing Housing Trust Fund revenues through tools such as short-
 term rental taxes and inclusionary zoning reforms.
 • Maintaining long-term affordability requirements for funded
 housing.
 • Supporting more multi-bedroom affordable housing for larger and
 immigrant families.


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 • Balancing investments in large affordable housing developments with
 smaller community-based housing projects.

 5. Regional Programs follow-up discussion
 • The committee continued work on restructuring the city’s regional
 programs funding process.
 • Three funding categories were identified:
 • Non-discretionary regional services that belong in departmental
 budgets.
 • Critical service partners such as Howard Center Street Outreach, VNA
 Home Health & Hospice, Heineberg Community Senior Center, and
 Turning Point.
 • Smaller discretionary community grants.
 • Proposed changes include:
 • Creating a formal grant application and review process.
 • Requiring clearer impact reporting from recipients.
 • Improving accountability and transparency.
 • Potentially having CEDO administer discretionary grants through a
 structured annual program.

 6. Community Based Solutions for Graffiti Abatement
 • Representatives from PaintCare presented a proposal to support
 Burlington’s graffiti abatement and mural efforts. PaintCare operates
 a paint stewardship and recycling program and has collected more
 than 1.2 million gallons of paint in Vermont since 2014.
 • The proposed partnership would:
 • Provide reusable paint for murals and beautification projects.
 • Support graffiti cleanup efforts.
 • Potentially sponsor selected mural projects.
 • Assist with outreach and public awareness efforts.



 Committee Motion: Recommend City Council form a graffiti abatement
committee and recognize partnership between City of Burlington and PaintCare
and refer back to CDNR to finalize all details of the graffiti abatement committee

 MOTION by Councilor Litwin, SECOND by Councilor Schachter

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VOTING: unanimous; motion carries.


  7. Community Block Party Efforts – Burlington Walk Bike Council
 • Representatives from the Burlington Walk Bike Council proposed
 simplifying the process for organizing neighborhood block parties.
 • Current concerns include:
 • A requirement to collect signatures from 75% of affected residents.
 • Long permit timelines.
 • Administrative barriers that discourage participation.
 • Ideas discussed included:
 • Shorter application timelines.
 • Reduced signature requirements.
 • Designated block-party weekends.
 • Better coordination with city departments.
 • Possible future support through neighborhood organizations.
 • Committee members generally supported the concept but requested
 additional consultation with permitting staff and other city
 departments before advancing a formal proposal.


  8. Adjournment
 • ADJOURN at 8:16 p.m. by Councilor Litwin with no objection




 Page 6 of 27
 CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT
 CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT &
 NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE
 c/o Community & Economic Development Office
 City Hall, Room 32 • 149 Church Street • Burlington, VT 05401
 802-865-7144 VOX • 802-865-7024 FAX • www.burlingtonvt.gov/cedo




Councilor Evan Litwin (EL), Chair, Ward 7
Councilor Carter Neubieser (CN), Ward 1
Councilor Allie Schachter (AS), East District
Councilor Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (LSP), Ward 3

 CDNR Committee Meeting
 Wednesday, May 20, 2026
 6:00 – 8:00 PM
 Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 1st Floor – City Hall

Committee members: Evan Litwin (EL), Allie Schachter (AS), Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (LSP)
City Staff: Christine Curtis, CEDO
Other Attendees: Gordon Dragoon, Jason Stuffle, Ellery Ames, Jak Tiano, Burlington Walk Bike
Council

 Draft Minutes

Meeting Started at 6:05 PM

 1. Approve agenda
 MOTION by Councilor Schachter, SECOND by Councilor Sanchez-Parkinson,
to approve the agenda
VOTING: unanimous; motion carries.

 2. Public Forum
 • No one spoke

 3. Letter from Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation (GBIC)
 • Informational only – to place on file

 4. Community Block Party update – Burlington Walk Bike Council
 The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities.
 For accessibility information, call 865-7144. For questions about the meeting,
 contact Christine Curtis at ccurtis@burlingtonvt.gov


 Page 7 of 27
 • Designate a citywide block party weekend.
 • Temporarily reduce barriers and administrative requirements for
 organizing block parties.
 • Encourage greater use of streets as community gathering spaces.
 • Build neighborhood connections and strengthen community
 engagement.
 • Committee discussed whether to hold a single citywide weekend,
 multiple weekends, or a broader block party season.
 • Selecting dates that avoid conflicts with major city events, move-in
 periods, and road closures.
 • Potential funding sources, including Local Motion microgrants and
 Councilor Initiative Funds.
 • Coordination with Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs).
 • Marketing and outreach to ensure participation across
 neighborhoods.
 • Whether the current requirement that 75% of affected residents
 approve a block party should be modified.
 • Exploring digital signatures to simplify neighborhood approval
 processes.
 • The Walk Bike Council will revise its resolution based on committee
 feedback.
 • Committee members will work directly with organizers between
 meetings.
 • The goal is to move a refined proposal to City Council in June rather
 than delaying the effort.

5. Graffiti Abatement Committee
 • The committee began shaping a new community-focused committee
 to address graffiti, beautification, murals, and public art initiatives.
 • Discussion explored Whether the name “Graffiti Abatement
 Committee” is too narrow or carries negative connotations.
 • Alternative concepts focused on beautification, public art, or
 defacement response.
 • Creating a centralized process for mural proposals and beautification
 projects.
 • Supporting equitable access to funding and resources for community
 art projects.

 Page 8 of 27
 • Coordinating volunteers, artists, businesses, and neighborhood
 groups.
 • Developing community cleanup and graffiti-removal efforts.
 • Gather input from organizations already involved in mural and public
 art work.
 • Better understand how Burlington currently handles murals and
 graffiti response.
 • Potentially create a volunteer-driven committee supported through
 CDNR rather than adding workload to city departments.
 • Consider community cleanup days and neighborhood-based
 beautification initiatives.

6. Syringe Litter Recommendations
 • The committee revisited a previously completed syringe litter report
 and discussed recent developments.
 • Members discussed uncertainty about which organizations receive
 state funding for syringe service programs (SSPs).
 • Questions remain about whether organizations beyond Howard
 Center receive state-supported SSP funding and reporting
 requirements.
 • Members noted that Howard Center plans to discontinue
 participation in the SSP program after current funding ends.
 • Discussion focused on possible future uses of the Clark Street
 property, including recovery housing opportunities.
 • Members explored potential state and federal funding programs that
 could support recovery housing development through nonprofit
 partnerships.
 • Next steps include:
 1. Revisiting the syringe litter report recommendations.
 2. Reviewing which recommendations remain relevant.
 3. Evaluating progress made since the report was issued.
 4. Potentially preparing updated recommendations or a formal
 resolution for City Council consideration.

7. Adjournment
 • ADJOURN at 7:52 p.m. by Councilor Litwin with no objection



 Page 9 of 27
 Block Parties in Burlington
 Street gatherings as tools for social connection, civic engagement, and active transportation




 Jack Evans,
 Complete Streets Specialist
 jack@localmotion.org


June 17, 2026 Page 10 of 27
Local Motion’s mission is to make it safe, accessible, and
 fun for everyone to bike, walk, and roll in Vermont.




 Page 11 of 27
Our Work:

Local Motion’s Services




 Page 12 of 27
Our Work:

Complete Streets Technical Assistance




 Page 13 of 27
 Streets as Places



● We did we get involved?
● Block parties
  ○ Build social connections & trust
  ○ Create resilience & opportunities
  ○ Reimagine streets as people-first places




 Page 14 of 27
25 events in
Burlington
Only 3 funded


 Page 15 of 27
 Big Impacts, Bigger Costs



● Many residents don’t know it’s possible,
  where to begin, or are discouraged by the
  administrative burden
● Requires major investment: time,
  resources, social capital, and access
● While hosting a block party should make
  the next one easier, many people become
  discouraged




 Page 16 of 27
 Our Ask



● Lower the barrier to hosting block parties.
  Make the entire process:
  ○ Clearer
  ○ Easier
  ○ Faster
● Enable new and more informal types of events
● Build a culture for block parties
● If the City invests in its neighborhoods,
  they will invest in the City




 Page 17 of 27
 City of Burlington
 Walk/Bike Council




Memo

To:​ ​ City of Burlington, City Council

From:​ Gordon Dragoon, Chair
​ ​ Jason Stuffle
​ ​ Jak Tiano
​ ​ Ellery Ames

CC:​ ​ Jack Evans, Local Motion Representative
 Phillip Peterson, PE, Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner
 Chapin Spencer, Director of Public Works

Subject:​ Resolution in Support of Neighborhood Block Parties and Designation of
Annual Block Party Weekends




Background
Burlington’s neighborhoods are the foundation of what makes this city exceptional, and
the connections built between neighbors are the social fabric that makes our city
resilient, safe, and welcoming. Block parties are one of the most essential expressions of
that neighborly spirit. They are a simple, joyful act of reclaiming the street as a place for
people to gather.

The Burlington Walk/Bike Council (BWBC) has long advocated for streets that serve
people first. Block parties sit squarely within that mission: they are proof that streets can
be places of gathering, play, and belonging, not just throughways for vehicles. This
memo introduces a resolution the BWBC is asking the City Council to adopt, which
seeks to streamline the block party permitting process citywide and designate two annual
Burlington Block Party Weekends.

Why Block Parties Matter
Research1 consistently shows that the strength of a community is directly tied to how well
neighbors know one another. Informal, recurring gatherings, such as street potlucks, play
streets, or annual parties, are among the most effective tools for building the social trust
that reduces crime, supports mental health, and helps communities weather hardship
together. In an era of increasing social isolation and screen-mediated connection, the


1
 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8719732/
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953615003512

 Page 18 of 27
simple act of being together with your neighbors outside breaking bread, playing games,
or just building connections offers profound civic value.

Burlington has always understood this. Our neighborhoods are active, engaged, and
proud. Block parties are a natural expression of Burlington’s community-first culture, and
part of the same instinct that crowds Church Street, fills our NPAs, or draws thousands to
our farmers markets, and that makes this city feel so friendly. However, in recent years
Burlington has seen an increase in isolation, division, and threats to safety due to the
increased levels and congestion of traffic on our streets. Instead of connecting us,
streets can often divide neighborhoods, and only the quietest of streets are able to safely
support the type of childhood play and informal neighborhood connection that was
common only a couple of decades ago. Play streets deserve particular attention in this
context. When a street is temporarily closed to through traffic and opened to people of all
ages and abilities, it becomes something remarkable: a safe, shared outdoor space
where kids can ride bikes, draw with chalk, and play freely in sight of their homes with
the other kids on their block, while neighbors socialize freely. In neighborhoods with
multi-family homes, small backyards, or limited access to parks, a play street can be a
transformative resource, and the recurring batched permit pathway proposed in this
resolution would make it possible for any block to establish a play street with minimal
administrative burden.

The Case for Reimaging our Streets
Streets make up a significant share of Burlington’s public land. For most of the day, on
most blocks, that land is used primarily to store and move private vehicles. Block Parties
and Play Streets offer a periodic, low-stakes way to ask: what else could this space be?
They invite residents, especially children, older adults, and low-income households, to
experience their street as a place that belongs to them.

This is not a radical proposition. Cities across the country and around the world have
found that temporarily reclaiming streets for community use builds social cohesion,
supports public health, and creates long-term support for the kinds of infrastructure
improvements that make neighborhoods safe, shared places.

The Problem with the Current Process
Despite a strong culture for block parties, the current permitting process creates real
barriers to participation:
 ●​ Lead times are long, often 4+ weeks
 ●​ Applications are unnecessarily complex
 ●​ The requirement for 75% of impacted neighbors to sign off on each closure is
 among the highest thresholds in other cities with comparable processes
Each event could take 1-2 months with hours of labor and uncertainty before you even
begin to actually plan the event. Many residents who would love to host a block party
never start the process because they don’t know it's possible, don’t know where to begin,
or are discouraged by the administrative burden. Many who do host find the process too
difficult to do again.

The result is a skewed distribution: block parties happen most often in neighborhoods
where residents have time, resources, and social capital to navigate bureaucracy. While
Burlington has many strong examples of annual block parties, we should strive to see


 Page 19 of 27
smaller and more diverse types of events happen more often, and in new
neighborhoods.

The Resolution
The BWBC is asking the City Council to adopt a resolution that does three things:
 1.​ Directs DPW, BPD, BFD, and other relevant departments to work with the BWBC
 to develop a streamlined permitting process for all block party applications, with
 the goal of reducing lead times, simplifying the applications, creating a pre-vetted
 street list, lowering neighborhood approval thresholds, acceptance of digital
 signatures or other tools for neighborhood buy-in, and creating a batched permit
 pathway to enable recurring gatherings, such as monthly dinners, or regular play
 streets.
 2.​ Directs the City to create and maintain a public-facing webpage with clear
 instructions, permit links, hosting resources, and information about Burlington
 Block Party Weekend dates that is accessible and available in multiple
 languages.
 3.​ Designates two annual Burlington Block Party Weekends, most preferably the
 last weekend of May and the weekend nearest to Car Free Day (September
 22nd), as citywide celebrations of neighborhood connection and community
 pride, supported by an expedited and even simpler permitting pathway and
 proactive city outreach to all neighborhoods.
Departments would be directed to report back with proposals to address these directives
within 60 days of passage.

Next steps
The BWBC asks the City Council to:
 1.​ Sponsor and advance this resolution for a vote
 2.​ Coordinate with DPW, BPD, and BFD in advance of the 60-day reporting window
 to ensure departments are prepared to engage
 3.​ Champion Burlington Block Party Weekends in their districts. Every councilor
 encouraging their constituents to participate will make these weekends a genuine
 citywide event.
Burlington’s streets belong to all of us. This resolution is an investment in making sure all
of our neighbors feel that way.




 Page 20 of 27
 Resolution Relating to RESOLUTION_______
 Sponsor(s):
 SUPPORT FOR REGULAR NEIGHBORHOOD Introduced: ____________________
 BLOCK PARTIES Referred to:____________________
 ______________________________
 Action: _______________________
 Date: _________________________
 Signed by Mayor: _______________

 CITY OF BURLINGTON
 In the year Two Thousand Twenty-Six……………………………………………………………………….
 Resolved by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows:


That WHEREAS, Burlington has a long-standing and proud tradition of neighborhood block parties that build
trust between neighbors, celebrate our city’s culture and community, and bring residents of all backgrounds
together on the streets where they live; and
 WHEREAS, block parties reframe streets as shared public places for connection, play, and belonging,
allowing neighbors to experience their street in a people-first way; and
 WHEREAS, the City of Burlington has an interest in making it easy for residents to organize and host
block parties, and in actively encouraging more neighborhoods to participate in this tradition, especially those
that historically have not hosted them or face barriers to doing so; and
 WHEREAS, regular, low-barrier opportunities for neighbors to gather, whether a monthly potluck, a
weekly play street, or an annual block party are among the most important ways to build the social fabric that
makes neighborhoods resilient, safe, and welcoming; and
 WHEREAS, many residents are unaware that anyone can host a block party, or do not know how to
begin the process, or are intimidated by the administrative burden, and clear public-facing guidance would
meaningfully decrease these barriers for Burlington residents; and
 WHEREAS, the current permitting process presents unnecessary barriers including long lead times,
complex applications, and high neighbor-signature thresholds, that discourage residents from organizing block
parties; and
 WHEREAS, other communities have successfully reduced these barriers through shorter application
windows, simplified forms, streamlined neighborhood outreach processes, and expanded use of digital tools
without compromising public safety; and
 WHEREAS, designating shared city-wide block party weekends supported by coordinated outreach
and expedited applications exemplifies the benefits of block parties and invites every neighborhood to take




 Page 21 of 27
 Page 2
 Resolution Relating to DESIGNATION OF BLOCK PARTY WEEKENDS


part in a shared celebration of neighborhood life, civic pride, and the sense of belonging and connection that
makes Burlington an exceptional place to live.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Burlington City Council hereby directs the Department of
Public Works, Burlington Police Department, and Burlington Fire Department to work collaboratively with the
Burlington Walk Bike Council to develop a streamlined block party permitting process for all block party
permit applications that may include, but is not limited to:
 ●​ Reduced application lead times
 ●​ Simplified application forms with fewer and clearer questions
 ●​ Lower or modified neighbor approval requirements, including acceptance of digital signatures or
 city-assisted notifications;
 ●​ The ability to create recurring or batched permits to enable regular gatherings under a single
 application, reducing administrative burden for residents and City departments alike; and
​ BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the aforementioned City departments shall create and maintain a
public-facing webpage dedicated to neighborhood block parties, to include:
 ●​ Clear instructions for and links to both the online and paper permit application processes
 ●​ An overview of the permit process, timeline, and application requirements
 ●​ Guidance and resources for how to plan and host a block party and considerations for accessibility
 ●​ Information on available equipment, activities, and community resources to support block party hosts
 ●​ The confirmed dates of the upcoming Burlington Block Party Weekends, updated annually
 ●​ All of which should be accessible and available in multiple languages; and
 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Burlington City Council designates two annual Burlington
Block Party Weekends as citywide celebrations of our shared public streets, neighborhood connection, and
community pride during which residents are encouraged to open their streets, meet their neighbors, and
celebrate their city and neighborhood, to preferably be held each year on:
 ●​ The last Saturday of May and the following Sunday, and
 ●​ The Saturday nearest to Car Free Day, September 22nd and following Sunday
with specific dates confirmed annually by the appropriate administrative officer no later than the March
meeting of the Burlington Walk Bike Council, following coordination with relevant City departments and




 Page 22 of 27
 Page 3
 Resolution Relating to DESIGNATION OF BLOCK PARTY WEEKENDS


community stakeholders to identify scheduling conflicts with other events in the City that may significantly
impact traffic; and
 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Burlington Block Party Weekends shall be supported by an
expedited permitting process to make participation as accessible as possible, which may include:
 ●​ Pre-approved or pre-vetted street segments
 ●​ A simplified permit process with permit approval the default outcome absent a specific safety or
 logistic concern
 ●​ Proactive city outreach encouraging all neighborhoods and all communities to participate; and
 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the aforementioned departments report back to the City Council
with a proposed streamlined process no later than 60 days following passage of this resolution; and
 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall take effect upon passage.
Drafter Initials/Resolutions 2026/Support for regular Neighborhood Block Parties
Date




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