Public Works Commission

Public Works Commission Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:30 PM, To Attend in Person - 645 Pine St. Main Conference Room OR REMOTELY via ZOOM 6:30 pm, Main Conference Room, 645 Pine St OR Remotely via ZOOM: Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83495330508 Or Telephone: Dial US: 301-715-8592 Webinar ID: 834 9533 0508 Channel 17 also often livestreams this on their YouTube channel and airs it over the air at a later date. Note that comments on YouTube are not monitored. 1. Call to Order 2. Agenda - 5 Minutes 2.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda 3. Public Forum - 3 Minutes per Person Time Limit - 15 Minutes 4. Consent Agenda - 5 Minutes 4.1. Approval of Draft Minutes of 1-21-26 4.2. North Ave 15 Minute Parking Reallocation 5. Elmwood Ave & Intervale Ave Traffic Calming - 20 Minutes Subject 5.1. Information, P. Peterson & P. Pezeshknejad Meeting February 18, 2026 - DPW Commission Meeting - Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:30 PM, To Attend in Person - 645 Pine St. Main Conference Room OR REMOTELY via ZOOM Category 5. Elmwood Ave & Intervale Ave Traffic Calming - 20 Minutes Department Public Works Department Type Information Recommended Action None 6. Traffic Calming Update - 30 Minutes Subject 6.1. Information, P. Peterson & J. Ursaki Meeting February 18, 2026 - DPW Commission Meeting - Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:30 PM, To Attend in Person - 645 Pine St. Main Conference Room OR REMOTELY via ZOOM Page 1 of 38  Category 6. Traffic Calming Update - 30 Minutes Department Public Works Department Type Information Recommended Action None 7. Adoption of Appendix C - 15 Minutes Subject 7.1. Communication, E. Ramakrishnan, P. Peterson, & C. Cangiolosi Meeting February 18, 2026 - DPW Commission Meeting - Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:30 PM, To Attend in Person - 645 Pine St. Main Conference Room OR REMOTELY via ZOOM Category 7. Adoption of Appendix C - 15 Minutes Department Public Works Department Type Action Recommended Action Motion to Approve 8. Recycling Update - 15 Minutes Subject 8.1. Information, C. Spencer Meeting February 18, 2026 - DPW Commission Meeting - Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:30 PM, To Attend in Person - 645 Pine St. Main Conference Room OR REMOTELY via ZOOM Category 8. Recycling Update - 15 Minutes Department Public Works Department Type Information Recommended Action None 9. Director's Report - Capital Project Priorization Subject 9.1. Information, C. Spencer Meeting February 18, 2026 - DPW Commission Meeting - Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:30 PM, To Attend in Person - 645 Pine St. Main Conference Room OR REMOTELY via ZOOM Category 9. Director's Report - Capital Project Priorization Department Public Works Department Type Information 10. Commissioner Items 11. Adjournment & Next Meeting Date -March 18, 2026 Subject 11.1. Motion to adjourn Page 2 of 38 Meeting February 18, 2026 - DPW Commission Meeting - Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:30 PM, To Attend in Person - 645 Pine St. Main Conference Room OR REMOTELY via ZOOM Category 11. Adjournment & Next Meeting Date -March 18, 2026 Department Council and Board Type Action Recommended Action Motion to Adjourn Page 3 of 38  DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 645 PINE STREET BURLINGTON, VERMONT 05401 COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 21, 2026 DRAFT MINUTES See video for full meeting – link below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHlK4da-zRo Commissioners Present: Commissioner Barr, Chair Damiani, Commissioner Davis, Vice Chair Fox, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Hays, Commissioner Munteanu (Via zoon), Commissioner O’Neill-Vivanco Commissioner Absent: Commissioner Davis ITEM 1 – CALL TO ORDER Chair Damiani called the meeting to order at p.m. ITEM 2 – AGENDA Commissioner Barr made a motion to approve the agenda. Commissioner Munteanu seconded Unanimous Approval ITEM 3 – PUBLIC FORUM No public forum ITEM 4 – CONSENT AGENDA 4.1 – Approval of Draft Minutes 11-19-25 4.2 – Barrett St On Street Parking Removal GMT 4.3 – North Champlain St Parking Changes 4.4 - North Champlain Vehicle Loading Zone Commissioner Damiani asked for a motion to approve consent agenda Commissioner Barr made a motion to approve consent agenda Commissioner O’Neill-Vivanco seconded Unanimous Approval ITEM 5 – QUEEN CITY PARK ROAD BRIDGE Associate Engineer Caleb Manna Commissioner Barr made a motion to approve the signage change Commissioner O’Neill-Vivanco seconded Unanimous approval ITEM 6 – COMPLETE STREETS – CY26 PAVING Page 4 of 38  Associate City Engineer Caleb Manna Commissioner Munteanu makes a motion to approve the exemption request for Municipal Complete Streets compliance as a part of CY 26 paving contract specifically for Depot Street. Commissioner Barr seconded Unanimous approval ITEM 7 – DPW PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE Public Information Manager Robert Goulding ITEM 8 – Commission Rep for Plan BT:2050 Director Chapin Spencer – Chair Damiani ITEM 9 – DIRECTOR’S REPORT – UNACCEPTED STREETS BRIEFING Recycling Accepted Streets ITEM 10 – COMMISSIONER ITEMS Commissioner O’Neil-Vivanco survey for North Avenue for traffic calming Commissioner Davis – Champlain Parkway where train goes by Commissioner Munteanu -Home Avenue/Pine Street bus stop accessibility issue Piles of snow at areas in center of city snow piles Bank Street/So. Winooski Avenue accessibility issue Commissioner Davis cold weather coming anything city doing Commissioner Damiani budget ITEM 11 – ADJOURNMENT & NEXT MEETINHG DATE – FEBRUARY 18, 2026 ` Commissioner Barr made a motion to adjourn Commissioner Munteanu seconded Unanimous approval Page 5 of 38 Elmwood and Intervale Traffic calming Feb 18th 2026 DPW commission meeting Page 6 of 38 Where? Page 7 of 38 Why are we doing this ? Elmwood • Speeding Metric Observed TCM Threshold 85th Percentile Speed 26 mph > 25 mph • Crashes Daily Traffic Volume 2,200 > 1,500 vehicles/day Bike Volume 470 > 250 bikes/day 22 (all time), 5 injury, 4 Crash History > 5 crashes in 3 years bike crashes Intervale Ave Metric Observed TCM Threshold 85th Percentile Speed 27 mph > 25 mph Daily Traffic Volume 1100 > 1,500 vehicles/day Bike Volume 100 > 250 bikes/day Crash History 9 (all time), 2 injury > 5 crashes in 3 years Page 8 of 38 Why are we doing this ? “Please add speed bumps to Intervale Ave. People fly down that road and it is also in need of new paving. …” • Speeding • Crashes “Traffic calming needed on Intervale Avenue.” • Requests “Elmwood Ave has been used as a drag race strip for the past week or two by a car with a super loud muffler Are there any traffic calming efforts available to help?” • Elmwood • Intervale: • 2 resident traffic calming • 3 resident traffic calming requests requests Page 9 of 38 Outreach so far • Ward 2 NPA meeting • Neighborhood outreach (emails and phone calls) • Coordination with businesses • Coordinated with GMT • Internal coordination Page 10 of 38 Elmwood Ave (Parking chicane) A parking chicane uses parked cars and painted extensions to create a slight curve in the roadway, which naturally slows traffic No parking space loss for chicanes, two parking spaces lost for crosswalk. Page 11 of 38 Elmwood Ave (Parking chicane) Page 12 of 38 Elmwood Ave (Parking chicane) Page 13 of 38 Intervale Ave (Speed tables) Speed tables are not scheduled for this year Page 14 of 38 Intervale Ave (Speed tables) Page 15 of 38 Intervale Ave (Speed tables) Page 16 of 38 Time frame Construction Season Task Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Design Outreach and review Regulatory and approvals Construction preparation Implementation Page 17 of 38 Next steps • Business dedicated outreach • Finalizing designs • Ordinance changes preparations • Construction preparations (majorly internal) Page 18 of 38 Questions Contact info: Parsa Pezeshknejad, Ph.D., Project manager ppezeshknejad@burlingtonvt.gov 802-734-2208 Phillip Peterson, PE, Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner ppeterson@burlingtonvt.gov Page 19 of 38  City of Burlington Department of Public Works Technical Services Engineering Division 645 Pine Street, Suite A Burlington, VT 05402 P 802-863-9094 / F 802-863-0466 / TTY 802-863-0450 www.burlingtonvt.gov/DPW Memo Date: February 18th, 2026 To: Public Works Commission From: Erik Ramakrishnan, Esq., Assistant City Attorney Christina Cangiolosi, Associate Public Works Engineer Phillip Peterson P.E., Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner CC: Chapin Spencer, Director of Public Works Laura Wheelock P.E., Division Director of Tech Services/City Engineer Jackie Rowland, Division Director for Parking & Traffic Subject: Adoption of Appendix C Amendments Implementing Delegated Authority Under BCO §20‑23 Request DPW staff respectfully request that the Public Works Commission adopt the attached amendments to Appendix C, which update Sections 7, 7A, 15, 19, 20, and 21 to reflect the limited delegated authority authorized under Burlington Code of Ordinances §20‑23(c). Final ordinance language is subject to review and approval by the City Attorney’s Office, (See Attachment‑1). Executive Summary The proposed changes to the traffic regulation amendment approval process were first presented to the Public Works Commission on November 20, 2024. At that meeting, DPW staff received support to proceed with developing the amendments. On December 1, 2025, the City Council approved the parking ordinance amendments to Chapters 20 and 27 of the Burlington Code of Ordinances. Those amendments created §20‑23(c), which authorizes the Public Works Commission (acting as the Traffic Commission) to delegate specific operational adjustments to the Public Works Director or designee in limited circumstances related to accessibility, school safety, and engineering standards. Page 20 of 38 With the enabling ordinance now in effect, to effectuate the delegation, Appendix C must be updated so that its structure and language align with the authority granted in Chapter 20. The attached amendments complete that implementation. The amendments do not modify any existing parking restrictions, school zones, or turn prohibitions; they simply add the cross‑references and statutory corrections needed to operationalize §20‑23(c). Because Appendix C is approved by the Public Works Commission, Commission action is required. Note that as originally conceived, §20-23(c) would authorize the Commission to implement the delegation on whatever terms and conditions it deemed appropriate. The City Council was unwilling to give the Commission the authority requested without spelling out in §20-23(c) the terms and conditions upon which a delegation could be made. The Commission could impose additional limitations on staff’s authority, but the current language of §20-23(c) reflects the terms and conditions that both the City Council and staff feel are appropriate. As such, staff recommends that Appendix C merely incorporate §20-23(c) by reference. Purpose & Need The goal of these Appendix C amendments is to modernize how the City manages parking and traffic regulations so that the system is clearer, more efficient, and better aligned with the way DPW and the Commission already work together. These changes follow the City Council’s adoption of the updated Chapter 20 ordinance, which created a limited delegation process for certain safety‑ and accessibility‑related adjustments. Updating Appendix C is the final step needed to put that framework into practice. Today, even minor, time‑sensitive adjustments; such as adding an accessible parking space required under federal law, updating a school zone at BSD’s request, or correcting a safety issue at an intersection; must wait for a full Commission cycle. The amendments allow DPW to address these narrow categories of issues more quickly, while preserving the Commission’s oversight role and ensuring transparency. These updates will:  Implement the limited delegation authorized by BCO §20‑23(c). This allows DPW to make narrowly defined adjustments related to accessibility, school safety, and engineering standards, while keeping the Commission in its policy‑setting role.  Improve responsiveness to safety concerns and accessibility requirements. When conditions change or when the City receives a legally required accommodation request, staff will be able to act promptly rather than waiting weeks for a formal hearing.  Align Appendix C with current engineering and accessibility standards (MUTCD, PROWAG, ADA). The amendments ensure that Burlington’s traffic regulations reflect modern best practices and federal/state requirements.  Modernize outdated statutory references. Page 21 of 38  For example, accessible parking citations are updated to the correct state statute (23 V.S.A. §304a).  Clarify the City’s authority to operate leased parking facilities. This codifies existing practice and ensures consistent enforcement in facilities operated by the City. More broadly, these changes support the City’s goals of simplifying and expediting the approval and enforcement of traffic regulations, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and reducing procedural bottlenecks. They help ensure that:  Accessibility improvements can be made quickly, such as adding ADA parking or adjusting school zones.  Safety‑related changes can be implemented without delay, reducing risk to the traveling public.  City processes remain aligned with current guidelines, including MUTCD and PROWAG.  Legal and procedural ambiguities are eliminated, reducing confusion and ensuring that the code reflects how responsibilities are actually carried out. These amendments preserve the Commission’s authority over the majority of Traffic Regulation decisions while allowing staff to address urgent, technical, or legally mandated issues in a timely and transparent manner. Summary of Amendments The attached ordinance updates the following sections of Appendix C: Section 7 – No‑Parking Areas Adds a new subsection granting the Public Works Director or designee the authority described in BCO §20‑23(c)(1). Section 7A – Accessible Spaces Updates the statutory citation from 18 V.S.A. §1325 to 23 V.S.A. §304a and adds delegated authority under §20‑23(c)(2). Section 15 – Designated School Zones Adds delegated authority under §20‑23(c)(3). Section 19 – Parking Rates Adds subsection (g), clarifying that City Council may approve leases of private parking facilities for public operation and that the City may enforce parking rules in such facilities. Section 20 – Prohibition of Turns on Red Adds delegated authority under §20‑23(c)(4). Page 22 of 38 Section 21 – School Crossing Guards Adds delegated authority under §20‑23(c)(5). All existing numbered lists (e.g., no‑parking locations, accessible spaces, school zones, crossing guard locations) remain unchanged. Public Engagement Moving forward, DPW staff will continue to follow our Public Engagement Plan (PEP) when exercising delegated authority under §20‑23(c) for Appendix C changes that do not require Commission approval. This includes ensuring that residents, businesses, and affected stakeholders receive appropriate notice and opportunities for input consistent with the scale and impact of the change. To maintain transparency and Commission oversight, DPW staff will also provide the Public Works Commission with a Traffic Regulation Status Report summarizing any staff‑level Appendix C actions taken under delegated authority when they occur. If any proposed change generates significant public interest, concern, or controversy, DPW staff will bring the matter to a regularly scheduled Commission meeting for discussion in a public forum, ensuring that the Commission and community have the opportunity to review and comment before any action is finalized. Recommendation DPW staff recommend that the Public Works Commission adopt the Appendix C amendments as drafted, consistent with:  The City Council’s adoption of the enabling Chapter 20 & 27 amendments  The City Attorney’s review  The Commission’s role as the adopting body for Appendix C Upon adoption, staff will update the published Traffic Regulations and coordinate implementation with Parking Enforcement and Operations teams. Thank you for taking the time to review this memorandum and for your continued support of Burlington’s traffic regulation and mobility management efforts. The Department of Public Works remains committed to implementing these updates transparently and in partnership with the Commission and the community. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact the Department of Public Works at (802) 863‑9094 or dpwplanning@burlingtonvt.gov. Attachments: 1. Appendix C Amendments Implementing BCO §20‑23(c) Delegated Authority Motion: 1. To waive the reading and adopt the proposed amendments to Append Page 23 of 38  CITY OF BURLINGTON In the Year Two Thousand Twenty-Six Sponsor(s): Public Works Commission Action: Approval A Regulation in Relation to Date: 02/18/2026 Attestation of Adoption: Rules and Regulations of the Traffic Commission— __________________________________ 7 No-parking areas. Phillip Peterson, PE 7A Accessible spaces designated. Senior Transportation Planner, Technical 15 Designated school zones. Services 19 Parking rates. 20 Prohibition of turns on red signal. Published: ________________________ 21 School crossing guards. Effective: _________________________ It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows: That Appendix C, Rule and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, 7 No-parking areas, 7A Accessible spaces designated, 15 Designated school zones, 19 Parking rates, 20 Prohibition of turns on red signal, and 21 School crossing guards, designated of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington, is hereby amended as follows: Section 7 No-parking areas. (a) No person shall park any vehicle at any time in the following locations: (1)-(591) As written. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) or any other provision of this appendix, the public works commission hereby grants the public works director or designee the authority set forth in the Burlington Code of Ordinances section 20-23(c)(1). Section 7A Accessible spaces designated. (a) No person shall park any vehicle at any time in the following location, except automobiles displaying special handicapped license plates or placards issued pursuant to 18 V.S.A § 1325 23 V.S.A. § 304a, or any amendment or renumbering thereof: (1)-(173) As written. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) or any other provision of this appendix, the public works commission hereby grants the public works director or designee the authority set forth in the Burlington Code of Ordinances section 20-23(c)(2). Section 15 Designated school zones. (a) The following streets are hereby designated as school zones. No person shall operate a vehicle at a rate of speed greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour on the following streets: (1)-(32) As written. Page 24 of 38 (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) or any other provision of this appendix, the public works commission hereby grants the public works director the authority set forth in the Burlington Code of Ordinances section 20-23(c)(3). Section 19 Parking rates. (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) As written. (g) With the traffic commission’s recommendation, the City Council may approve leases of private parking garages, lots, and other facilities, which the City shall lease and operate in the public interest. Parking rates for leased parking facilities shall be set by lease, and the City shall have the same power to enforce parking rules and regulations in leased facilities as for other city parking facilities, including the power to issue tickets and to tow vehicles. Parking facilities leases shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney and signed by the Mayor. Section 20 Prohibition of turns on red signal. Notwithstanding any general authorization otherwise contained in the statutes of the State of Vermont, the ordinances of the City of Burlington or the regulations of the board of traffic commissioners, it shall be unlawful at the following intersections within the City of Burlington for an operator of a motor vehicle to make a right-hand turn against a traffic signal which is indicating red: (a)-(b) As written. Notwithstanding any other provision of this appendix, the public works commission hereby grants the public works director the authority set forth in the Burlington Code of Ordinances section 20-23(c)(4). Section 21 School crossing guards. (a) Motor vehicles shall be operated in conformance with directions given by adult school crossing guards, who are hereby given the authority to direct vehicular traffic at the following locations: (1)-(33) As written. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) or any other provision of this appendix, the public works commission hereby grants the public works director or designee authority set forth in the Burlington Code of Ordinances section 20-23(c)(5). ** Material stricken out deleted. *** Material underlined added. CC: BCO Appendix C, Sec 7, Sec 7A, Sec 15, Sec 19, Sec 20, Sec 21 02/18/2026 Page 25 of 38 Page 26 of 38 Page 27 of 38 Page 28 of 38 Page 29 of 38 Page 30 of 38 Page 31 of 38 Page 32 of 38 Page 33 of 38 Page 34 of 38 Page 35 of 38 Page 36 of 38  CITY OF BURLINGTON DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 645 Pine Street, Suite A Burlington, VT 05401 802.863.9094 VOICE 802.863.0466 FAX 802.863.0450 TTY www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpw To: DPW Commissioners Fr: Chapin Spencer, Director (cspencer@burlingtonvt.gov) Re: DPW Director’s Report Date: February 18, 2026 RECYCLING NEXT STEPS: Since last month, DPW leadership negotiated proposed final contract language with Casella. Lee and I am looking forward to return to the City Council to request authorization to execute the contract. The first step is going to the Board of Finance on Tuesday, February 17. I was pleased to have AFSCME leadership provide a direct letter to City Council on the topic. I’ve attached the letter here. The three top-line benefits of having the City’s municipal recycling program served through a contract for the next 7 years are: 1. Protecting DPW’s existing workforce from Recycling’s continued operational challenges that have impacted workgroups across DPW with more reactive work, missed billable revenue and more stress. 2. Providing DPW the space away from day-to-day Recycling operations to dedicate the time to undertake a comprehensive consolidated collection study evaluating both publicly-run and contracted models for all residential solid waste (recycling, trash and compost). 3. Saving money for the City’s FY’27 General Fund budget when compared to a sustainable City- staffed Recycling operation, while expanding services to customers. DPW appreciated the Commission’s engagement and support on the topic at your November 2025 meeting. More info: Lee Perry, lperry@burlingtonvt.gov. CITY CAPITAL PLANNING: The City’s internal multi-departmental Capital Committee is working to develop the proposed FY’27 Capital Budget and the associated Capital 5 Year Plan. Funding for capital work is constrained, and has been the case for all the time I’ve been in this role, there are more needs than there is funding. To prioritize potential projects across the City, the Capital Committee has developed a prioritization matrix. It is attached. More info: Chapin Spencer, cspencer@burlingtonvt.gov. SALT SHORTAGE: As you may have heard in the news media, there has been a regional road salt shortage over the past month. We have weathered this issue well with crews who have well-calibrated equipment and good relations with salt providers to keep us reasonably well stocked. The public’s feedback has generally been understanding. Please do reach out to Customer Service if there is a sidewalk or street that needs additional attention. We will respond. More info: Lee Perry, lperry@burlingtonvt.gov. Reach out with any questions. See you all on Wednesday. Page 37 of 38  Capital Project Prioritization (CP3) Matrix (revisions 12/2025) Criteria Questions to consider Max Score Urgent/Health/Safety 1. Asset has failed and cannot be used, or failure is imminent and will impact health & safety if it is not addressed. 35 2. Project will address a known barrier to increasing supply of affordable housing. 15 3. Project addresses either a community health and safety or accessibility need. 15 4. Project will address anticipated disruptions to local employers and businesses and creates opportunities to grow and retain Community Impact jobs.* 10 5. Project creates new community services identified as a need in a local planning document or as a Mayoral directive or Council resolution that includes a deadline. 5 6. Asset has exceeded its recommended service life by +2 years. 25 7. Asset has a remaining service life of 1-5 years. 10 Asset Condition 8. Asset has more than 5 years of service life remaining. 5 9. Asset is new. 0 10. Funding is required to meet a government mandate and current non-local payback requirement is >$250K.** 20 11. Funding is required to meet a mandatory replacement schedule withing the next 2 years. 15 Risk Management & Collaboration 12. Project will impact other Departments and coordination has begun. 5 13. Project requires a federal permit (i.e. NEPA or 4f) and there is a possibility it will not receive a categorical exemption. 0 14. Completed project expected to increase revenues that could offset future maintenance or other GF expenditures 5 Operating Budget Impact 15. Has no operating budget impact for future maintenance. 5 16. Requires additional staff and/or financial resources provided by GF to complete. 0 17. Project is identified in a local or regional planning document as a short-term or high-priority. 10 Connection to Local & Regional Planning 18. Project is identified in a local or regional planning document but is not a short-term or high-priority. 5 19. Project is shovel ready but for funding (has final design/engineering plan set and all permits have been received). 15 Project Readiness 20. The cost estimate is based on a well-supported design (at or beyond conceptual plans) and can be completed with the amount requested now. 10 21. Measurable energy efficiencies will be gained. 5 Sustainability & Resilience 22. Project will mititgate environmental impacts. 5 23. Project will reduce future capital needs if implemented now. 5 * = Examples include: having a business or community communication plan, assigning a business point of contact, incorporating delivery schedule, construction schedule considers business operating times, access plan for customers, and business expansion opportunities. ** = The $250K threshold is the maximum amount of grant payback the City has identified as being less risky to find funding for. Criteria Weighting Evaluation Criteria Max Point Value Community Impact 45 Asset Condition 40 Risk Management & Collaboration 40 Urgent/Health/Safety 35 Project Readiness 25 Sustainability & Resilience 15 Connection to Local & Regional Planning 15 Operating Budget Impact 10 Page 38 of 38