NPA - All Wards

All Wards NPA Meeting Agenda Thursday April 30th 2026 6:15pm-8:15pm Join in person: CCTV Studio 294 North Winooski Avenue, 2nd Floor Join virtually: https://zoom.us/j/97343700899 Facilitator: Lauren Ebersol Notetaker: Barbara Turnbull 6:15 Introductions | 5 min 6:20 NPA Resolution Implementation, Part 2 | 20 min -​ Set a deadline for NPAs to submit their annual priorities -​ Present draft process for the City’s side of the resolution -​ Focus on consensus of how NPAs will submit priorities - joint doc? 6:40 Budgeting for the rest of the fiscal year | 40 min (general process overview 15 min; use of remaining funds 25 min) -​ Request for funds ($75-$100 from each ward) to update the NPA zine -​ Budgeting for summer events -​ Unspent $$ is sent back to City general fund -​ How to submit (Barbara) -​ Our budgets of $3,000: How are we each using the funds? 7:20 Potential summer projects | 40 min -​ Citywide candidate forum for 8/11 primary (in June or July) -​ Citywide panel on civic engagement in Burlington -​ NPA history teach-in -​ All Wards social event (e.g. potluck, BBQ, picnic) -​ Individual ward projects (e.g. porch concerts, neighborhood walking tour, block parties) -​ Outreach: Expanding our meeting to nearby neighbors -​ Language access to meetings / Trusted Community Voices 8:00 Open Discussion/Questions | 15 min -​ How many NPAs have adopted Apartheid Free pledge? -​ The topics NPA's chose to ask City Councilors for input 8:15 Next Steps/Adjourn Page 1 of 18 Page 2 of 18 Strengthening the Relationship between the City Administration, City Council, and Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (11/3/25): Proposed City Procedures March 2026 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that CEDO or other City office charged with supporting the NPAs shall: • Develop a standardized process in collaboration with the NPAs by which each NPA can communicate a list of annual priorities to the City Council and City Administration. NPA Annual Priorities - process & timeline: Feb-March: NPAs discuss and vote on their top priorities for the upcoming FY. Survey sent to all Ward residents via postcard to ensure broad outreach & resident input. April-May: NPAs meet as All Wards to compile each ward’s priorities into a formal communication to send to City Council. Individual NPAs follow up with their ward & district councilors as needed. By June 1: NPA Priorities document delivered to City Council via email and placed on the agenda for a regular Council meeting prior to the beginning of the new FY. • Consult with other relevant city staff to develop easily understood materials that outline the legal requirements of the NPAs. • Consult with other relevant city staff to review and update these materials as needed but no less than every three calendar years. In fall ‘25/winter ’26, the NPA Public Engagement Specialist worked with NPA Steering Committees and the City Attorney’s Office to overhaul the NPA Steering Committee Handbook. This document covers the legal requirements and logistical considerations for NPA operations and can serve as a basis for continued professional/organizational development in the NPAs. At the beginning of each FY (in addition to regular + ongoing updates), the NPA Public Engagement Specialist will review and update additional NPA documentation as follows: Website updates: • Check that posted documents are up-to-date with revisions to Open Meeting Law • Ensure that posted meeting information, lists of Steering Committee members, & contact info is up to date Documents to review for updates: • Steering Committee Handbook (reviewed and approved by City Attorney) o Vermont Open Meeting Law o Federal & State accessibility requirements o Federal & State nondiscrimination requirements o Purchasing guidance per Burlington City Attorney • NPA Request for Payment form Page 3 of 18 Documents to archive: • Agendas from previous year • Minutes from previous year • Finance docs from previous year (invoices, receipts, POs, JEs, Request for Payment forms, budget spreadsheet) • Annual Priorities communication to City Council from previous year • Training materials from previous year • Collaborate with NPAs and other relevant city staff to ensure NPAs understand the legal requirements of the NPAs. In addition to providing reference materials that cover the NPAs’ legal responsibilities with regards to Vermont Open Meeting Law and meeting accessibility and nondiscrimination, the NPA Public Engagement Specialist will offer: • New SC Member orientation sessions • Annual All Wards refresher training/Q&A on Open Meeting Law with the City Attorney’s office • 1:1 consultations with SC members • Include a representative, chosen by the NPAs to serve on hiring committees for staff roles predominantly focused on supporting and liaising with the NPAs. Procedure for selecting an NPA representative for relevant hiring committees: The Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) should notify the NPA Steering Committees, via the All Wards email list, about any upcoming hiring process for the NPA Public Engagement Specialist as soon as possible. Upon notification of the hiring process, each Steering Committee may identify 1-2 members from each ward who are interested in serving on the hiring committee. Then, a designee of All Wards should compile a list of all interested Steering Committee members and randomly select one name. The NPA representative’s contact information should be shared with DFA and HR as soon as possible. This representative should be included in each step of the hiring process and considered a full member of the hiring committee, to the extent that is permissible by City and AFSCME hiring policies. Page 4 of 18 DATE: XX/YY/ZZZZ TO: Burlington City Council FROM: Neighborhood Planning Assemblies – All Wards SUBJ: Formal Communication of NPA Annual Priorities for 2026 On behalf of our neighbors in Burlington’s eight Wards, and following the unanimous approval of the November 3, 2025 Council Resolution (“Strengthening the relationship between the City Administration, City Council, and Neighborhood Planning Assemblies”), we are submitting in writing the NPA annual priorities for 2026 as discussed and adopted by the NPA in each Ward. WARD 1 NPA Priority Requested Follow-Up 1) Development agreements and MOU’s with UVM and That relevant items at the City Council be UVMMC brought to the NPA before decisions are 2) Traffic management that could impact pedestrians & made cyclists & improving public transit 3) Tax burden redistribution 4) Use of parks & development of open space 5) Activity impacting Ward 1 Infrastructure. WARD 2 NPA Priority Requested Follow-Up WARD 3 NPA Priority Requested Follow-Up WARDS 4&7 NPA Priority Requested Follow-Up Page 5 of 18 WARD 5 NPA Priority Requested Follow-Up Taxes Property tax rates - where the burden lies, what to expect Clarification about purpose of tax burden as residents shifts Taxation that incentivizes sustainable development and positive change for the community (example: surface parking lots, cannabis shops) Sustainable, affordable community growth Affordable housing, childcare, healthcare: how can we Currently in process: PlanBTV 2050 support working families to build resilience at community (comprehensive plan) - more level? transparency on this planning process Managing growth as a city: balancing property taxes, City Council as more active bridge make transportation available, house people well. All of between people and this process this requires a solid plan for growth Addressing demand for housing and transportation More access for diverse transportation needs, creating Deeper engagement on and compelling options for non-car based transit, fair and consideration of these issues affordable pricing for SSTA Housing for unhoused people, expansion of voucher program WARD 6 NPA Priority Requested Follow-Up WARD 8 NPA Priority Requested Follow-Up Page 6 of 18 NPA Purchasing Spring 2026 Page 7 of 18  Use of City Funds Per the City Attorneyʼs Office, City funds may ONLY be used to “further the purposes of the NPAs,” which are: 1. To be open and accessible to all voters of the city residing in the ward; 2. To provide ward residents with information concerning city programs and activities; 3. To help obtain residentsʼ views of city needs; 4. To help provide residents with an opportunity to make recommendations relating to government decisions; 5. To provide advice to City Commissions or the City Council relating to community development, housing programs, the Cityʼs Comprehensive Development Plan, waterfront planning activities, and the City budget. Page 8 of 18 Examples of Eligible Expenses ✅YES: ❌ NO: ● Outreach materials to promote the ● Charitable contributions, including NPA: flyers, lawn signs, stickers, cash or donations to an individual or newspaper/FPF ads, translations family in need ● Meeting supports: snacks & drinks, ● Alcohol, marijuana, or other controlled office supplies, interpretation substances services, child care services ● Supplies or services for a different ● Equipment and facilities: space rental fiscal year fees, A/V equipment ● Expenses that are unrelated to ● Community projects and events “furthering the purposes of the NPAs” (detail on next slide) Page 9 of 18  Funding Projects & Events *New guidance for FY 2026* Community Projects & Events should meet at least one of the following goals: 1. Promoting the NPA ○ Ex: Offering participants info about NPA meetings; posting a sign/plaque saying a project was “Created by the Ward __ NPA” 1985 ~ Ward 4 NPA building garden plots! 2. Providing residents with information about City programs/activities ○ Ex: Hosting a community picnic with guests from City departments & commissions to share about their work 3. Gaining input from residents about City needs ○ Ex: Tabling at a park to survey residents about neighborhood issues while handing out ice cream Page 10 of 18  Purchasing Process Decide as a Ward how to spend the $3,000 budget What are the NPA’s typical fixed costs? What goals or projects will you prioritize this year? What local businesses could you work with? Page 11 of 18  Purchasing Process Decide as a Ward how to Request Direct spend the $3,000 budget Payment What are the NPA’s To pay a vendor typical fixed costs? upfront, submit a Request for Payment What goals or projects Form for the quoted will you prioritize this cost to the NPA year? Coordinator at least 3 weeks in advance. What local businesses could you work with? Anyone receiving a check must have an IRS W-9 on file with the City. Page 12 of 18  Purchasing Process Decide as a Ward how to Request Direct Request spend the $3,000 budget Payment Reimbursement What are the NPA’s To pay a vendor To be reimbursed for an typical fixed costs? upfront, submit a NPA expense, submit a Request for Payment Request for Payment What goals or projects Form for the quoted Form & itemized receipt will you prioritize this cost to the NPA to the NPA Coordinator. year? Coordinator at least 3 Allow 3 weeks for check weeks in advance. to be mailed or request What local businesses pickup at City Hall. could you work with? Anyone receiving a check must have an IRS W-9 on file with the City. Page 13 of 18  Purchasing Process Decide as a Ward how to Request Direct Request Request Ward spend the $3,000 budget Payment Reimbursement Budget Updates What are the NPA’s To pay a vendor To be reimbursed for an Request an updated typical fixed costs? upfront, submit a NPA expense, submit a budget overview from Request for Payment Request for Payment the NPA Coordinator at What goals or projects Form for the quoted Form & itemized receipt any time. will you prioritize this cost to the NPA to the NPA Coordinator. year? Coordinator at least 3 Allow 3 weeks for check weeks in advance. to be mailed or request What local businesses pickup at City Hall. could you work with? Anyone receiving a check must have an IRS W-9 on file with the City. Page 14 of 18  Where do I find all these forms?! PDFs live in the All Wards Google Drive → “Budgeting & Purchasing Process” folder. One time form → <- Every time form Check either “Reimbursement” or “Vendor Payment” and attach receipt/invoice when you submit Page 15 of 18 Tax Exempt Certificate The City will typically NOT reimburse for sales tax. Please present the City of Burlington sales tax exemption certificate for all NPA purchases. Itʼs in the All Wards Google Drive under “Budgeting & Purchasing Process.” Page 16 of 18 End of Fiscal Year The City budget operates on a fiscal year from July 1 - June 30. After 6/30, unspent funds are returned to the Cityʼs general fund. Please submit all expenses by May 31 to ensure payment from the correct yearʼs budget. If you need to submit expenses in June, please discuss with the NPA Coordinator! Page 17 of 18 Questions? Page 18 of 18