Ward 5 NPA
Regular MeetingBurlington, VT · March 19, 2026
Minutes
Neighborhood Planning Assembly Minutes
Ward
NPA: 5
Date of Assembly : 3/19/26 Start Time: (Commence): 7:02 pm
Location: 645 Pine Street Finish Time: (Adjourn): 8:23pm
Note taker: Jak Tiano Please forward these official minutes to: BT
Steering Committee Members in Attendance:
Jason Van Dreische, Jak Tiano, FaRied Munarsyah, Lena Greenberg, Prim VanWolvelear
Discussion Topics
● Join the Steering Committee Actions Taken / Decisions Made
● Overdose prevention center (Postponed) ● None
● How to Burn Fewer Fossil Fuels
Agenda Items and Actions:
● Commence: 7:02pm
○ Steering committee introduces themselves
○ Jason opens the meeting and lays the ground rules for the NPA
● Public forum
○ Gar: brings awareness to the growing threat of ICE in Burlington and Vermont
○ Bram: VT leg has done a few things: the “No Secret Police” bill in the statehouse
forbids law enforcement from wearing masks and wear uniforms that identify
officers; another law prohibits civilian arrests in more places (schools, hospitals,
government facilities, etc); a bill passed out of the house that allows Vermonters
to sue federal law enforcement that break constitutional rights.
○ Andy: Two of the people detained in the ICE raid last week have been released,
and a third (Camila) has a hearing at the courthouse in Burlington tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning in St Albans there is a check in for Steven Tendo, carpools up
there tomorrow leaving around 8:30am. Also asks for signatures to get
Proposition Zero on the ballot in November.
○ Scott: Leadership has the ability to write executive orders limiting ICE in their
operations, e.g. Sarah George has the ability to prosecute violations of rights of
any members of the community. ICE agents that violate these rights need to be
held accountable at the time of the offense. Agents aren’t allowed to wear masks
except for in hazardous conditions, but what if they create hazards using tear gas,
etc?
■ Bram: Legislation was focused on preventing people wearing masks in
unmarked clothes throwing people in unmarked vans.
○ Lena: Circulating QR codes for joining a group chat to help people who are now
sheltering at home out of fear. If you need assistance with Signal, please talk to
me after the meeting. I’m happy to see our leaders speak out against this action,
but disappointed to see that there wasn’t a lot of willingness to admit fault. Is very
disappointed, and waiting for people with access to institutional power to take the
moment. Wants to see more collective unwillingness to accept the active rise of
facism.
○ David: Attended the National Low Income Housing Forum in Washington DC.
There’s broad consensus that what’s happening isn’t right.
○ Joanna: Is running for State Senate in Chittenden Southeast! Resonates with the
conversation, agrees that she wants to see more aggressive movement on
protecting our neighbors. The rights that we’ve established are great, but they’re
no good if nobody can afford to live here to access those rights. Excited to use the
seat as county govt proxy.
○ Jak: Become a small scale developer and help build up your neighborhood!
https://www.incrementaldevelopment.org/events/homesforallvtworkshop-middleb
ury
● Join the Steering Committee
○ Jason gives an overview of what the steering committee is like.
○ Prim: Was really great to see how friendly and welcoming the NPA was and
wanted to get involved in the neighborhood.
○ Faried: It’s a good way to meet neighbors and stay connected with what is
happening in the neighborhood, and also see what’s happening in other parts of
the city. NPA is Burlington’s way to do local democracy.
○ Jak: nice
○ Lena: I’ve learned so much about how the city works through the NPA. There’s
something valuable in being able to say you’re associated with a neighborhood
body, and ask for leaders/staff time to explain important things. We also have this
gift of being able to have a space to experiment in new ways to organize our
neighbors.
○ Charlie: This is also a great way to build your skills, like how to speak in public
and organize meetings. This is an opportunity to take the next step in “how do I
get involved”?
○ Jason: Being on the steering committee has “stretched my brain”, and what I
mean by that is that it would be really easy for me as someone later in my career
to get stuck in a routine, and being part of the NPA has been a part of my mental
flexibility program. The combination of working on the steering committee and
coming to the NPA, and learning how to work with people you don’t get to pick,
has been really great.
○ Questions?
■ Kelly: How do the topics of our conversations make its way up to higher
levels of city government?
● Jason: We often have elected officials at our meeting, and a set of
priorities we give the city council.
● Lena: There have been recent changes in our relationship to the
city, but one of the items is establishing that information doesn’t
flow only from the city to the npa, but the other way as well.
● How to Burn Fewer Fossil Fuels (Jacob)
○ Fossil fuels are big ticket items that last a long time
○ We need a plan to replace appliances before they break, because when they break
we’re in an emergency mode
○ Dryer, Stove, Hot water heater, and furnace
○ The key is “heat pumps”, which are an extremely efficient way to move heat with
electricity
○ BED has lots of incentives
○ Dryer
■ Electric dryers require 240V and an electrician
■ Clotheslines instead
■ Heat pump dryer, basically a dehumidifier for clothes (BED has rebates)
○ Stove
■ Again need an electrician and 240V outlet
■ If you want high-end cooking, get an induction stove (small BED rebate)
■ Induction hot plate for renters, go into a 120V outlet (no incentives)
● Jason adds that they had one at home for boiling water
■ You can also use other things: microwaves, electric kettles, toaster/ovens,
air fryers, etc
○ Hot water heaters
■ Resistive
● Uses a lot of electricity (needs 240V)
■ Heat pump
● More expensive to buy, cheap to operate
■ Hybrid
● Benefits of both (but expensive)
■ On bill financing!
● VGS will take out your gas hot water heater, and replace it with a
heat pump hot water heater
● Also can use VHFA WRAP program
○ Furnace/boiler
■ Resistive/hybrid/heat pump - same as hot water heaters
■ Electric resistance baseboard heaters, space heaters
■ Heat pumps, including cold-climate heat pumps
● Integrate electric resistance backup for the coldest days
● Window unit heat pumps (still need cold climate)
● Mini split, compressor outside, wall/ceiling mount inside
○ Best used for more open floor plans
○ Lots of rebates
● Central ducted furnace replacement
○ Swap gas furnace for heat pump heat exchanger
● Boiler replacement for baseboard/radiant floor
○ Hydronic systems, more complicated and harder to find in
the US
○ Sign the pledge: https://www.fossilfuelfreeequipmentpledge.org/
○ Question:
■ Kelly: Is there a good priority? A: Really the best way is to be prepared
for what fails next, but if you want to be productive, then air/water heating
is the best place to start.
■ Jason: The electrical inspector is overly conservative on electrical load
capacity, and you can push them to get an alternate assessment. A: yeah,
you really don’t need more than 100 amps.
● Adjourn: 8:23pm
Agenda
Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA):
Draft Agenda
Thursday, March 19th
6:30PM-8:15PM
Join in person: 645 Pine Street (DPW Building)
Join virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89574495720
Facilitator: Jason Van Driesche Note Taker: Lena Greenberg
6:30 Community Dinner | 30 min
7:00 Welcome & Public Forum | 15 min
7:15 Join the NPA steering committee! | 5 min
● We have steering committee elections in April - hear about reasons to
join.
7:20 Overdose Prevention Center updates | 30 min
● Theresa Vezina will present on the community survey
7:50 How to burn fewer fossil fuels in homes | 20 min
● Jacob Flanigan will present
8:10 Adjourn
● Next meeting will be Thursday, April 16, 2026
Packet
Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA):
Draft Agenda
Thursday, March 19th
6:30PM-8:15PM
Join in person: 645 Pine Street (DPW Building)
Join virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89574495720
Facilitator: Jason Van Driesche Note Taker: Lena Greenberg
6:30 Community Dinner | 30 min
7:00 Welcome & Public Forum | 15 min
7:15 Join the NPA steering committee! | 5 min
● We have steering committee elections in April - hear about reasons to
join.
7:20 Overdose Prevention Center updates | 30 min
● Theresa Vezina will present on the community survey
7:50 How to burn fewer fossil fuels in homes | 20 min
● Jacob Flanigan will present
8:10 Adjourn
● Next meeting will be Thursday, April 16, 2026
Page 1 of 43
Overdose Prevention Center
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 1
Page 2 of 43
Introductions and Overview
• What is an Overdose Prevention Center (OPC)?
• What is the status of the OPC in Burlington?
• OPC Services Assessment
• Tonight’s Listening Session
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 2
Page 3 of 43
Tonight’s Listening Session
Preliminary survey results
Evaluation next steps • What positive impact do you hope the
OPC will bring to our community?
• What are your concerns or questions
Discussion with Residents related to the OPC?
• What would you like to see for ongoing
communication once the OPC opens?
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 3
Page 4 of 43
Services Assessment
Overview Evaluation Activities to Date
• The City of Burlington contracted with In-person surveys with
Pacific Institute for Research and people with 49 people
Evaluation (PIRE) to inform the Services with living experience*
Assessment report required by the OPC Online community
Guidelines. survey completed with
over 1500 responses*
• Purpose is to engage people with living
experience and the wider Burlington Ongoing tracking of
professional and residential community community engagement
to help inform the City and VCJR in the activities
implement of the OPC.
*Preliminary findings only include quantitative data.
Qualitative (open-ended) data will be shared in final report
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 4
Page 5 of 43
Who did we hear from?
49 individuals 1505 respondents
completed the in-person completed the online
PWLE Survey community survey
All respondents used an illicit substance 75% of survey respondents
within the past 30 days identified as Burlington residents, 45%
work in Burlington, and 2% are Burlington
84% of respondents reported not having business owners
a stable place to live, with 80% unsheltered
8% identified as a person who used to use
86% used drugs at least once per day or currently uses non-prescription opioids
or stimulants
43% used drugs alone most of the time or always
47% had at least one overdose in the past year.
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 5
Page 6 of 43
Where
are people
using drugs
in Burlington?
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 6
Page 7 of 43
Utilization and Perception of the OPC
PWLE utilization of the OPC
Of the 49 respondents, 92% responded that they
would consider using the OPC once it opens, with
73% responding that they would use the OPC
always or most of the time.
Community Perception of the OPC
On scale of 1 (least helpful) to 10 (most helpful),
the most selected answer was 10,
the median answer was 7 and
the average answer was 6.3
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 7
Page 8 of 43
Respondents’ Preferred OPC Location
PWLE survey: How likely would you be to use
Location Factors
an OPC at various locations? (from community survey)
Community survey: Where should an OPC When asked which are important
be located in Burlington to be most effective? factors when considering the
vicinity of the OPC:
• Downtown Burlington was the most Accessibility for potential clients
selected response on both PWLE and was the most common response
(52%), followed by proximity to
community surveys schools/playgrounds (40%),
• The ONE and Riverside/Intervale area were other support services (40%),
and transportation (38%)
a the 2nd and 3rd choices on both surveys
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 8
Page 9 of 43
Access to the OPC (PWLE survey)
68% of PWLE responded that
Time PWLE are willing to
they would be likely or very
travel to access an OPC: likely use a free shuttle if it
68%
were offered between downtown
5-15 minutes 60% and the location of the OPC
15-25 minutes 23% 75% of PWLE responded that
they would be likely or very
75% likely to use the OPC if it was
25-35 minutes 13% a mobile van that traveled
around Burlington.
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 9
Page 10 of 43
Security and Safety at the OPC
(PWLE Survey)
How would a security guard How would a security guard
inside the OPC make you feel? outside the OPC make you feel?
More safe 53% More safe 47%
Less safe 19% Less safe 19%
Neither more safe or Neither more safe or
less safe 28% less safe 34%
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 10
Page 11 of 43
1. Prevent overdoses and save lives
Public Health 2. Reduce the number of people using drugs
Outcomes
outdoors and in public spaces
3. Help connect people to drug treatment and
health and social services
Community survey
respondents ranked the 4. Less burden on emergency rooms, police,
order of importance of fire, & EMS by reducing overdose-related
seven identified public calls
health outcomes 5. Reduce crime in the area surrounding
(in order of most the overdose prevention center
importance to least)
6. Reduce number of syringes or other litter
related to drug use discarded in public
7. Reduce HIV and hepatitis
C transmission due to syringe sharing
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 11
Page 12 of 43
Services and Supports
• The majority of PWLE respondents reported that proposed OPC
services such as medical care, STI testing, bathrooms and showers,
peer support, drug checking, on-site buprenorphine, mental health
and drug treatment referrals, and support with basic needs are
important or very important
• Community survey respondents ranked possible OPC services:
Referrals to drug treatment, Mental health services or referrals, on-
site buprenorphine treatment, bathrooms, and peer support were
noted among the most important services to offer at the OPC
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 12
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Ongoing
Community
Conversations
Community survey:
How would you want to engage
in community conversations
around the OPC?
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 13
Page 14 of 43
Next Steps
• Continued engagement at NPA meetings, focus groups, attendance at
community meetings, and interviews with people with living experience
• Final report with findings to inform the Services Assessment in April
• Hiring OPC Project Manager
• Link to Annual Progress Report
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 14
Page 15 of 43
For More Information
Link to Annual Progress Report
Theresa Vezina
Special Assistant on OPC Implementation
tvezina@burlingtonvt.gov
802-735-8358
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 15
Page 16 of 43
Discussion Questions
• What positive impact do you hope the
OPC will bring to our community?
• What are your concerns or questions
related to the OPC?
• What would you like to see for ongoing
communication once the OPC opens?
Burlington Overdose Prevention Center 16
Page 17 of 43
Fossil Fuels
How to stop burning them
in your home
Page 18 of 43
Why it is Important
Fossil Fuel appliances are:
Big ticket items
○ They last a long time (hopefully)
○ Locks us in to that fuel for a long time
Stuck With It
Just need 1 appliance that uses fossil
fuels and we are stuck maintaining the
infrastructure for that fuel.
○ There is a cost just maintaining access
to a fuel
○ Incentivises using that fuel for more
than one appliance
Page 19 of 43
Why make a plan to replace them Now?
Great Options
Lots of great options and Incentives
that weren’t available before
Otherwise, Emergency!
Most people replace these
appliances when they break
○ When it is an emergency it is
hard to change to something else
Page 20 of 43
The Things
What are we talking about?
In Your Home (4)
● Dryer
● Stove
● Hot Water Heater
● Furnace/Boiler
Outside Your Home (~2) Other Important things we
won't talk about
● Car ● Efficiency
● Lawn equipment ● Biofuels
Page 21 of 43
Heatpump, Heatpump, Heatpump
How much heat
Could a heatpump heat
If a heatpump
Could pump heat
Page 22 of 43
Incentives
Burlington Electric Department (BED) Rebates
● To switch from fossil fuels appliances to Electric
● To switch to more efficient electric appliances
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Tax Credits
● Renewables, Heatpumps, insulation, electrical upgrades, EVs
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Electrification Rebates for Low/Moderate Income
(LMI)
● VT gets $58,555,020 to dole out
● Not available yet! Still working out procedures
Page 23 of 43
Dryer
Electric Dryer
● If you already have one your already done!
● If you are replacing a gas dryer
○ Purchase cost is the same as a gas dryer ● No Incentives
○ Need an electrician to install a 240V outlet
○ Could trigger need for an electrical service upgrade
Page 24 of 43
Dryer
Clothesline
● By far the cheapest option
● Takes some more time ● No Incentives
● Need space inside in the winter
Page 25 of 43
Dryer
Heatpump dryer
● Looks and feels like any other dryer
○ Works like a dehumidifier
● Many can plug into standard 120V
outlet
● No vent needed
● Often come as washer/dryer combo Makes it a great
● Has condensate that needs to be
emptied option for apartments
● Takes longer to dry
Let’s talk about the $
● Uses ~40% less electricity than conventional electric dryer
● Likely don’t need any electric upgrades
● $400 Rebate from BED BED
● $860 LMI Incentive from IRA - Still pending
● Costs twice as much as electric or gas dryers
● $200 - Hybrid Heatpump
○ But BED rebate gets us back down to striking range ● $400 - Full Heatpump
IRA
Page 26 of 43
● *up to $860 LMI Incentive from IRA
Stove
Electric Stove
● If you already have one your already done!
● If you are replacing a gas stove
○ Purchase cost is the same as a gas stove
■ Starts ~$500
○ No CO emissions into your home
○ Need an electrician to install a 240V outlet
○ Could trigger need for an electrical service upgrade
● No Incentives
Page 27 of 43
Stove
Induction Stove
● Knocks the socks off gas and tradition
electric
○ Cooks faster
○ More responsive
○ Can set to lower temperatures Because surface never
○ Even heat gets super hot you can
○ Easy to clean clean spills while still
cooking
○ Safer
● If you are replacing a gas stove
○ Costs twice as much as electric or gas stove
○ No CO emissions into your home
○ Need an electrician to install a 240V outlet BED
○ Could trigger need for an electrical service ● $200
upgrade
IRA
○ Requires the use of steel or iron pots
■ If a magnet sticks to the bottom they ● *up to $840 rebate for LMI
work Page 28 of 43
Stove
Induction Hot Plate
● Inexpensive $60-$200
● Works on 120V outlet
● Can supplement use of existing
stove
● Portable, can use in other
locations
● No Incentives
Page 29 of 43
Stove
Other ways to Cook without fossil fuels Can usually find one for free when college
students leave, or for cheap at a reuse store
● Microwaves
○ super efficient!
● Electric Kettles
○ Fastest way to heat up water! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpoXFk-ixZc)
● Toasters
● Toaster Ovens
○ more efficient/faster than heating up a full size oven
● Air Fryers
● Crock Pots
● Rice Cookers
● Bread Machines
● No Incentives
Page 30 of 43
Heatpump hot water heaters
BED
Hot Water Heater ●
●
$500-$800 (depends on efficiency),
+$400 for LMI
● +$300-$600 through contractor
(depends on efficiency)
Types of Electric Hot Water Heaters IRA
● Resistive ● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000 cap/yr)
○ Cheap to buy, expensive to operate, fast reheat incentive from IRA
○ Needs 240V circuit ● *up to $1750 rebate LMI Incentive
● Hybrid (both resistive and heatpump) from IRA
○ More expensive to buy, less expensive to operate, fast reheat
○ Needs 240V circuit
○ Some dehumidification
● Heat Pump
○ More expensive to buy, cheap to operate, slowest to reheat
○ Can plug into 120V outlet
○ Some dehumidification Heatpumps heat water up slower than electric resistance or
gas so to compensate a larger tanks size and/or setting the
What determines how much hot water I have?
tank to a higher temperature is used to achieve the same
● Tank size
amount of hot water.
● Re-heat power
-higher tank temperatures don't mean scalding tap temperatures.
● Water temperature
Modern Heat pump hot water heaters have mixing valves so that extra hot tank
temperatures are mixed with cold water so tap temps are within expectations (if set
correctly).
Page 31 of 43
Lease/On Bill Financing
More
E
and I xciting th
mage a
sugg n the Title
ests!
● VGS leases Heatpump hot water heaters
○ Lease payments are added to the gas bill
○ VGS owns it and therefore if it breaks they fix it (and
it is usually faster for them to come out to your house
than a plumber)
○ Great option for landlords/renters
● VGS Also leasing Hybrid centrally ducted
heatpumps
○ But only the ones that still have backup gas and
aren’t cold climate rated, aka don’t do much :(
● BED on-bill financing for commercial customers
○ For ventilation, emergency swap outs, facada
alterations. (limited fed covid money)
● VHFA - Weatherization Repayment Assistance
Program (WRAP)
○ Pay on your utility bill
○ Can add in costs for heat pumps and hot water
heating to a weatherization project
Page 32 of 43
Furnace/Boiler
Types of Electric Heating Systems
● Resistive
○ Cheap to buy, expensive to operate, fast reheat
○ VT efficiency code prohibits resistance heat for most applications
● Hybrid (both resistive and heatpump)
○ More expensive to buy, less expensive to operate, fast reheat
○ Includes Air Conditioning
● Heat Pump
○ More expensive to buy, cheap to operate, slowest to reheat
○ Includes Air Conditioning
Page 33 of 43
Electric Resistance Heaters
● Baseboard
○ Electrician installs
○ Except in special cases, not allowed by VT
efficiency code
● Space heaters
○ Super cheap to buy $30-$100
○ Super expensive if heating whole house
○ Really great to heat one room
● No Incentives
Page 34 of 43
Heatpumps
So Many different kinds!
● But the outside compressor probably looks
something like this
● Cold climate models rated to work in -15F temps
● Can integrate electric resistance backup
Page 35 of 43
Window Unit
● Like your window AC but can
provide heat as well
○ Options for 120V (normal wall outlet) and
240V
○ $500-$3000
○ Great option for renters/trailers/smaller
areas
○ Not super common yet. More and better
options are coming to market
■ Efficiencies/capabilities can vary
greatly model to model
BED
● Typical style ● $100 (energy star most efficient)
○ Likely cheapest, somewhat loud IRA
● Saddle style
○ More efficient and quiet. Also leaves more of your ● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000
window for use cap/yr) incentive from IRA
● “Portable” style ● *up to $8000 rebate LMI Incentive
○ Works in windows the other two can’t fit in from IRA
○ Louder and less efficient (the double hose versions
are more efficient than the single hose versions)
Page 36 of 43
BED
●
Mini Split ●
$1350-$5450 (depends on tons)
+$500 for LMI
● +$1000-$2000 through contractor (depends on
tons)
● Most common
● Most efficient IRA
● Typically just one room but can do multiple rooms as well ● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000 cap/yr) incentive
● Don’t work well with small rooms (<10’x10’) from IRA
● The one most contractors are used to ● *up to $8000 rebate LMI Incentive from IRA
Page 37 of 43
Furnace Replacement (Centrally ducted)
● Straight swap in replacement
for a gas furnace
● Fewer experienced
contractors
● Existing ducts may need to be
upsized
BED
● $1250-$6250 (depending on
efficiency)
● +$400 for LMI
● +$1000-$2000 through contractor
(depending on efficiency)
IRA
● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000 cap/yr)
incentive from IRA
● *up to $8000 rebate LMI Incentive Heatpump Heat
Old Furnace Replaced With
from IRA Exchanger
Page 38 of 43
Boiler Replacement
(Hydronic - baseboard or radiant floor)
● swap in for a gas
boiler
○ Likely need to swap
out radiators as well
● Very few experienced
contractors in VT
○ More common in UK
BED and Australia
● $2000/ton
● +$400 for LMI
IRA
● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000 cap/yr) incentive from
IRA
● *up to $8000 rebate LMI Incentive from IRA
Page 39 of 43
Questions
Resources/Thanks To
● Burlington Electric Department
○ https://www.burlingtonelectric.com/rebat
es
○ Brian
● Rewiring America
○ https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-
calculator
○ Great compilation of the IRA incentives
● Technology Connections Youtube
○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVL
LNjSLJTQ&t=2s
○ Great resource explaining how this
technology works and its pros and cons
● Mr. Electricity
○ https://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/
○ Outdated but awesome website
explaining how you can save on utility
bills
● Energy Action Network
○ https://eanvt.org/annual-report/
○ Incredible organization that, among
other things, tracks VT’s progress in
reducing GHG emissions Page 40 of 43
Insulation
● Plastic windows Heat flows 3 ways
● Window Inserts
1. Conduction
● curtains
● Latch windows 2. Convection
● Caulk window trim 3. Radiation
● Spray foam holes
● Door seals
● Threshold sweep
● New windows
● New doors
● Basement insulation
● Attic insulation
● Wall insulation
● White roof
Page 41 of 43
Special Loans
● Efficiency Vermont - Home energy Loan
○ Low to no interest for low and moderate income households
Page 42 of 43
NPA 2&3 march 2024 presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbRU01bRKvU&list=PLljLFn4BZd2N95y-kUze
wx0ZN0Tf8rLo_&index=2
Page 43 of 43