Ward 1 NPA

Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA) Wednesday, October 8, 2025 In-person at the Friends Meeting House, 173 North Prospect Street And Zoom online: https://zoom.us/j/96245939050 Webinar ID: 962 4593 9050 Or by phone: +1 929 205 6099 ID = 962 4593 9050 MINUTES Recording and transcript available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i1qVu_c6q4 Carol Livingston Rob Gutman Linda Bowden Sophie Quest Breck Bowden Catherine Bock Jeanne Keller Jean Hopkins Kathy Olwell Eric Timlin Caryn Long Katherine Verman Tom Gardner Emmi Sims Matt Price Mary Gardner Gary Golden Jonathan Chapple-Sokol Carter Neubieser Richard Hillyard Allie Schachter Sam Doherty Emer Pond Feeney Julie Springer Charles Dillard Angie Chapple-Sokol Tom Derenthal 6:15 - Welcome and Food (Namaste Kitchen Express) 6:30 - Formal Start - project & review agenda Introductions: name, street Announcements: share events, meetings, activities of interest to Ward 1 community. Caryn Long – Last City Council meeting civil and welcome; Gary Golden –BSD looking for budget input from public. Gary will not run for another School Commission term; 6:45 - Speakout - an opportunity to raise concerns & appreciations about Ward 1 community Richard Hillyard – vehicles are deady weapons – several recent hit-and-runs, reckless driving incidents Jeanne Keller – Can folks other than sworn officers do traffic enforcement? Also – History of UVMMC Zoning changes and planning that have not met the spirit of openness nor acted as a reliable partner; Green Mountain Care Board in part complicit. City Council has not represented the voice of the community; Deferred maintenance on McClure Garage will drive its demolition. Tom, Catherine B, Sharon, Richard Carter also commented on UVMMC. 7:05 - School Commission update - Gary Golden and Matt Price School redistricting planning has been led by a folks disproportionately representing private schools (that educate 10% of HS students). Description of the current committee process and 3 map recommendations. First map creates a school district much larger than the rest (Burlington/Essex). No clear evidence that reducing the number of districts will save money. Only closing local schools (and thereby killing communities) will reduce budgets. Study Committee has distributed a survey (there doesn’t seem to be a deadline on responses, but…) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCF831rVyoJLv0n-1- wLy6Vf6cfknsBEbbL5oWYmly3651yg/viewform Redistricting criteria: costs, student performance, access to services Kathy reminded the assembly of the Brigham Decision and the necessary focus on equal opportunity 7:10 - City Council update - Carter Neubieser & Allie Schacter Interim Chief Burke’s presentation on effects and changes in City Hall Park since Council requested a re-focus of attention on downtow. Net: as anticipated, enforcement as a tactical response is effective but it is not a solution. https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/8226/files/attachment/11141 Financial Disclosure for candidates for city elected office referred to Ordinance Committee (meeting 10/16 4:30PM Bushor Room and Zoom) https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/8541/files/attachment/11314 Ban on public nudity Several comments on reckessness of cyclists on streets near campus 7:30 - Ward 1 NPA Steering Committee - organizational steps for upcoming year - Vote on Budget for 2025-26: Jonathan Chapple-Sokol - Potential issues/priorities to raise with City Council - Carol Livingston 7:40 - Fletcher Free LIbrary - services and role of Howard Center Outreach - Emer Feeney Review of digital resources available at Fletcher Free Library: https://fletcherfree.org/digital-library Among resources: Libby, Blackstone – ebooks/audio books Kanopy, Biblio+ - Films, TV Online newspapers, magazines, Consumer Reports, Weiss Financial, Transparent Language Oline NovelList Peterson’s Test Candid Ancestry In collaboration with Howard Center, there is a trained social worker David Lines now on staff, plus a UVM social work intern – community and staff are benefiting from this work Consider attending Library Director Mary Danko’ 10/29 presentation at the library on intellectual freedom: “Public Libraries are Being Tested: The First Amendment & Intellectual Freedom” https://fletcherfree.libcal.com/event/15402451 8:00 - Introduction & Overview of Burlington’s Comprehensive Plan - Charles Dillard, Planning https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/1135/planBTV-2050 Visioning Workshops: East End 5:30 – 7:30pm | Thursday, October 30th Schmanska Park Barn, 63 Grove Street South End 5:30 – 7:30pm | Monday, October 20th BCA Community Room, 405 Pine Street Old North End 5:30 – 7:30pm | Thursday, October 23rd Old North End Community Center Downtown + Waterfront 5:30 – 7:30pm | Monday, October 27th Community Sailing Center, 505 Lake Street Holistic approach: Combining Transportation Plan, DPRW Plan and Economic Development Plan within a comprehensive Comprehensive Plan State expects 7000 new housing units in Burlington by 2050; we are currently building at a rate of 77/year. Post-Covid result: more driving, more driving alone Charles’description puts Ward 1 squarely in the area called the “East End” of Burlington There will be a trusted advisory committee made up of members of existing departments, commissions. Consensus in room is that there should also be folks independent of the city on committee. 8:30 Adjourn Ward 1 NPA Steering Committee Carol Livingston carol.livingston1951@gmail.com, Jonathan Chapple-Sokol chapplesokol.npasc@gmail.com, Sam Doherty samcharlesdoherty@gmail.com Gretchen Platt gshuman7005@yahoo.com Rob Gutman rgutman@gmail.com Participation Guidelines: The Ward 1 NPA is sustained by community involvement and encourages engagement at our monthly meetings per the following guidelines: 1. We are collectively responsible for following the NPA Meeting Agenda as closely as possible regarding both presentation/discussion topics and time. 2. Participants at the NPA will act in a positive, courteous manner that respects all of those present (both participants and presenters/guests) and their differing opinions, experiences and perspectives. 3. Any attendee requesting to speak who has not yet spoken at a meeting will be called on before others who have already had a chance to speak. Priority is given to Ward 1 residents. 4. Whenever speaking, please be sure to project your voice and use the provided microphone if provided. 5. If the facilitator feels the need to redirect activity in the room based on these guidelines, the facilitator will do so per point number 1 above.