Ward 8 NPA

Ward 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly May 28, 2026 | 6:15 - 7:40pm Join in-person Join online Facilitator: Tom Carroll City Hall, 149 Church Street zoom.us/j/91523077007 Notetaker: Amy Sharon Bushor Room Malinowski 6:15pm Welcome & food 15 min Pizza (vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options) 6:30pm Opening & Speak out (2 min per person) 10 min Welcome. Review today’s agenda and meeting practices. Introduce yourself, share announcements (events, meetings, activities of interest), and speak out about anything relevant to our Ward 8 community—raise concerns, sing out appreciations, etc. 6:40pm VOTE: Budget proposal 15 min Vote on spending of balance of 2025-2026 NPA funds ($2,401.84). Steering Committee suggests spending: (a)​ Our contribution to zine renewal | $100 (b)​ NPA Organizing & Outreach Intern(s) | $2,301.84 for 2025-2026 & up to $1000 for 2026-2027 NPA budgets must be used for: promoting the NPA, providing residents with information about city programs/activities, and/or gathering input from residents about city needs. Budget expenditures are approved by a 2/3 vote of Ward 8 residents present. 6:55pm Updates from Department of Public Works 20 min Robert Goulding, Chapin Spencer A presentation about DPW's 2026 construction workplan as well as previews of the end of the Champlain Parkway project and Main Street project. 7:15pm Concerns about the McNeil Plant 25 min Lisa Lax, Peter Macausland This is a presentation about the McNeil Plant in Burlington by the Chittenden Node of 350Vermont and Stop VT Biomass. 7:40pm Closing What to expect at this month’s meeting: Wheelchair accessible Closed Captions available on Bathroom available on same No live language translation or via ramp from the street. Zoom. No ASL interpreter or floor and is ADA accessible. document translation is CART is planned. Email a planned. Email a request 2-4 request 2-4 weeks in advance. weeks in advance. Masks not required, but free Low or no fragrance not No childcare (though View parking options at door. Air filtration & required of attendees. children are welcome). and bus routes. ventilation unknown. bit.ly/ward_8_npa → email the steering committee ● watch meeting recordings ● propose agenda topics ● sign up for email reminders Page 1 of 45 Purpose, principles, and practices to guide us: Practices Principles Purpose We collectively help each other Practice deep democracy ✦ Help provide residents with honor the agenda focus and The Ward 8 NPA should provide a information concerning city safe and welcoming forum where programs and activities. time containers. (But if needed, residents can actively share their the facilitator will redirect voice about issues that matter to ✦ Help obtain resident views of activity.) them, and where they can learn city needs. from the voices of others. ✦ Help provide residents with an We are collectively responsible Nourish difference & diversity opportunity to participate in for cultivating a posture of The Ward 8 NPA should cultivate making recommendations with curiosity when listening. We involvement by a diverse spectrum respect to the city budget. support each other in speaking of community members through honestly and directly, while active outreach and through ✦ Maintain and enhance the eliminating barriers to quality of life in in our ward. holding compassion. participation. The Ward 8 NPA should be operated in a manner ✦ Ensure that the voices of Ward We will prioritize the voices of that models respectful, inclusive, 8 residents are heard in all culturally and economically aware matters pertaining to life therein. those living in our ward as well practices. as those who have not yet ✦ Provide a vehicle for residents spoken. Grow each other of Wards 8 to collectively act. The Ward 8 NPA should be fun, We allow each other space to creative, and vital organizations that value & benefit through the speak in “rough draft.” (But if multitude of perspectives shared needed, say “oops” or “ouch.”) by those who participate. Let’s collaborate! Contact the steering committee Current steering committee: Reach out to the steering committee by emailing: Tom Carroll ward-8-sc@googlegroups.com Amy Malinowski Propose an agenda item Please fill out the NPA request form at least 2-4 weeks before you would like to present. www.burlingtonvt.gov/221/NPA-Request-Form Page 2 of 45 Who represents Ward 8? CITY MAYOR, BURLINGTON SCHOOL BOARD, WARD 8 Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Bill Church​ Progressive | term ends XXXX term ends 2026 mayor@burlingtonvt.gov | (802) 865-7272 bchurch@bsdvt.org | (802) 922-0432 CITY COUNCILOR, WARD 8 SCHOOL BOARD, EAST DISTRICT Marek Broderick​ Matthew Price​ Progressive | term ends 2026 term ends 2027 mbroderick@burlingtonvt.gov | (802) 488-5134​ mprice@bsdvt.org | (802) 735-6058 CITY COUNCILOR, EAST DISTRICT Allie Schachter​ Democrat | term ends 2027 aschachter@burlingtonvt.gov | (802) 448-4227 STATE REPRESENTATIVE, CHITTENDEN 14 REPRESENTATIVE, CHITTENDEN 16 Barbara Rachelson Kate Logan Democrat | term ends 2027 Progressive/Democrat | term ends 2027 brachelson@leg.state.vt.us | (802) 828-2228 klogan@leg.state.vt.us | (802) 828-2228 REPRESENTATIVE, CHITTENDEN 14 SENATOR, CHITTENDEN CENTRAL Mary-Katherine Stone Philip Baruth Democrat | term ends 2027 Democrat/Progressive | term ends 2027 mstone@leg.state.vt.us | (802) 828-2228​ pbaruth@leg.state.vt.us | (802) 503-5266 REPRESENTATIVE, CHITTENDEN 15 SENATOR, CHITTENDEN CENTRAL Brian Cina Martine Larocque Gulick Progressive/Democrat | term ends 2027 Democrat | term ends 2027 bcina@leg.state.vt.us | (802) 828-2228 mgulick@leg.state.vt.us | (802) 828-2228 REPRESENTATIVE, CHITTENDEN 15 SENATOR, CHITTENDEN CENTRAL Troy Headrick Tanya Vyhovsky Independent | term ends 2027 Progressive/Democrat | term ends 2027 theadrick@leg.state.vt.us | (802) 828-2228 tvyhovsky@leg.state.vt.us | (802) 828-2228 REPRESENTATIVE, CHITTENDEN 16 GOVERNOR, VERMONT Jill Krowinski Phil Scott Democrat | term ends 2027 Republican | term ends 2027 jkrowinski@leg.state.vt.us | (802) 828-2228 vermontce.my.vermont.gov/s/governor-office-ce (802) 828-3333 FEDERAL SENATOR, VERMONT REPRESENTATIVE, VERMONT Bernie Sanders Becca Balint Independent | term ends 2030 Democrat | term ends 2026 sanders.senate.gov/contact | (202) 224-5141 balint.house.gov/contact | (202) 225-4115 SENATOR, VERMONT Peter Welch Democrat | term ends 2028 welch.senate.gov/email-peter | (202) 224-4242​ Page 3 of 45 Icon attribution: accessibleicon.org/ thenounproject.com/icon/shampoo-8152184/ thenounproject.com/icon/rubber-duck-6285851/ thenounproject.com/icon/translator-6951307/ thenounproject.com/icon/bus-school-2206806/ thenounproject.com/icon/covid-protection-5497318/ thenounproject.com/icon/toilet-1581214/ Page 4 of 45 WARD 8 NPA ORGANIZING & OUTREACH INTERN Responsible for assisting the Ward 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA) Steering Committee with promoting NPA engagement, especially among college students and young renters who make up a large percentage of the Ward. The internship is a part-time, paid position that will work closely with the Ward 8 NPA Steering Committee and the City’s NPA Public Engagement Specialist to develop a NPA engagement strategy and plan to be rolled out in Fall 2026 that would identify ways for the ward 8 NPA to reach the full diversity of our community. This could include identifying outreach and storytelling strategies, researching and networking with potential community and campus partners, and planning a Fall campaign of events and experiments. This opportunity is well-suited for a creative individual who is interested in civic engagement, local democracy, and community organizing! Internship Learning Outcomes ●​ Strengthen ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. ●​ Develop skills in project management, event planning, strategic communications, and community organizing. ●​ Learn how to build relationships with allies, partner organizations, and members of the public to further community engagement efforts. ●​ Deepen understanding of municipal government and local democracy in Burlington. Work Schedule & Pay We anticipate a flexible summer schedule of around 10-14 hours per week, not including holidays and weekends (though weekend events may be planned at the discretion of the NPA Steering Committee and the intern). Tentative duration of internship: 4 weeks, June 1 – June 30, 2026 (with the possibility of extending into July and August). Pay would be $19.90 / hr and you will use a phone app to track your hours. Essential Job Functions Burlington’s Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) were established in 1982 with the intent to de-centralize City government and ensure regular people can have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Every resident is automatically a member of their Ward’s NPA. Monthly NPA meetings in each Ward keep residents up-to-date on local issues and provide a structured forum for sharing their questions, concerns, and hopes. Within the NPA, residents are able to collectively organize and advocate for neighborhood interests, while strengthening neighborhood social connections over conversation and community meals. The Ward 8 NPA covers a student-heavy area but struggles to engage with the many students and young renters that make up the neighborhood. The Ward 8 NPA will not be meeting during the months of June/July/August and the Steering Committee will instead be using this season to focus on re-imagining the Ward 8 NPA to be more inclusive of the full diversity of our ward alongside the Organizing & Outreach Intern. As a Steering Committee, we are undertaking this work with the following intentions: (a) really listening to our neighbors and letting what emerges guide us, (b) dreaming big AND finding the next small experiment we can do and learn from together, and (c) moving at the speed of relationships and trust. This is a unique internship opportunity that can go in different directions based on the intern’s interests/skills and the needs of the Steering Committee. During the first days of the internship, the intern and Steering Committee will work together to design a scope of work that makes sense for both parties. Tasks may include: ●​ Developing and implementing an outreach campaign to engage different Ward 8 constituencies, such as students, renters, and long-term Ward 8 residents; helping the Ward 8 NPA Steering Committee plan and prepare for a Fall 2026 campaign of events and outreach experiments ●​ Support with the development of a map and outreach tracker for potential community and campus partners (professors, staff, clubs, community organizations, etc). ●​ Support with the completion of a ‘potential meeting locations’ identification, research, and prioritization spreadsheet. ●​ Analyzing ward resident & property data to identify opportunities for strategic outreach. ●​ Creating outreach materials (educational/promotional) such as flyers, graphics, and postcards. ●​ Tabling and door-to-door canvassing to engage residents about the Ward 8 NPA. ●​ Planning and hosting community events. ●​ Developing other neighborhood-based projects that highlight Ward 8’s past & present. Page 5 of 45 Suggested Qualifications ●​ Curious, generous listener, willing to question the status-quo, and capable of imagining an abundance of possible experiments we might try ●​ Comfort moving between strategizing big picture and attending to small details of a project ●​ Familiarity with the Ward 8 community, the UVM/Champlain College communities, and issues that affect Ward 8 residents. ●​ Demonstrated interest in civic engagement, democracy, local activism, and/or community organizing (e.g. through related coursework or extracurricular activities). ●​ Strong verbal and written communication skills required. ●​ Able to work independently and exercise independent judgement. ●​ Able to collaborate effectively with a team through regular check-ins and maintaining work in shared digital collaboration tools ●​ Interest (or experience) developing and creating basic outreach materials (e.g. flyers, graphics, postcards). Page 6 of 45 DPW: 2026 CONSTRUCTION Our Mission is to steward Burlington's infrastructure and environment by delivering efficient, effective, and equitable public services. Chapin Spencer, Director Cspencer@burlingtonvt.gov/802 - 863 - 9094 Robert Goulding, Public Information Manager RGoulding@burlingtonvt.gov/802 - 881 - 2278 Page 7 of 45 WRAPPING UP TWO MAJOR PROJECTS Main Street & the Champlain Parkway are both anticipated to wrap up in early summer. Both projects are on - time, and on - budget. These projects are unlocking the potential for additional housing & commerce while providing enhanced infrastructure for residents Page 8 of 45 CHAMPLAIN PARKWAY • 25MPH road • Connects South End with Downtown • Stormwater improvements • Pedestrian enhancements: signals, shorter crossings, new sidewalks Page 9 of 45 WHAT’S LEFT TO DO (tentative schedules below) Pine Street Champlain Parkway • Roadway sign installation • Overhead signs • Signal activation (week of • Roadway signs May 4) • Final Pavement • Pavement (Main Street) and • Line striping sidewalk repairs (misc. along • Signal timing adjustments Pine) (upcoming weeks) • General clean up Page 10 of 45 MAIN STREET • A welcoming gateway into Vermont’s Queen City • Wider sidewalks for pedestrians & commerce • More trees & gardens • Enhanced lighting • Abandonment of ravine sewer Page 11 of 45 WHAT’S LEFT TO DO • Sidewalks • Signals • Tree plantings • Paving • Public Art Page 12 of 45 A decade of work in Ward 8 *Paving in orange *Sidewalk in red Page 13 of 45 Town Meeting Day 2025 *Paving in orange *Sidealk in red Page 14 of 45 SIDEWALKS The season has started! $1.65M contract + additional work with in - house crew 3.1 miles planned overall - hitting our annual target Contract largely funded by 2025 Town Meeting Day Bond Page 15 of 45 SIDEWALKS: developing a workplan • Developed using the City’s 2021 citywide sidewalk inventory • Prioritizes based on utilization, location, and sidewalk condition . • Location considers the sidewalk’s proximity to schools, neighborhood activity centers, employment centers, etc . • Resident requests, field inspections, and coordination with other City projects. Page 16 of 45  SIDEWALKS** **Short run segments not included above Page 17 of 45 PAVING Asphalt plants are open! $1.7M contract + remaining work from CY 25 Total ~3.5 miles planned for the year Largely funded by 2025 TMD Bond Larger workplan being developed for 2027 - 2030 Page 18 of 45 PAVING: developing a workplan BACKGROUND • Street network consists of over 96 miles of streets. • Classified as Primary/Arterial, Secondary/Collector and Tertiary/Residential. • Each street type has different anticipated lifespan generally based on average daily traffic volumes. • In order to keep pace with the anticipated lifespan of the Burlington Street network, minimum target is 4 miles/year. PRIORITIZATION • Funding, street condition, street type/traffic volume, nearby projects and resident requests HEADWINDS While this year we had our most competitive bid environment in awhile, inflation & fuel prices may eat into available construction funding Page 19 of 45  PAVING* Remaining 2025 contract streets College Union - Willard Pearl Battery - Winooski *Includes patches on lower North Ave, Lake St, Archibald St, Intervale Rd Page 20 of 45 WATER WORKS! Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades • Stage 0 remains on target for completion this summer/fall. This is a major first step to begin comprehensive upgrades funded by 2025 TMD bond • Screening & grit equipment being installed at all 3 plants Water main improvement project • Includes: Pine St (from S Crest to Home Ave), Summit St (Maple to Main), and all of Bennington Court (coordinated with paving) Manhattan Ave Stormwater Outfall: late summer/early fall Page 21 of 45 Page 22 of 45 WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR WATER: https://vt.adopt-a-drain.org/ https://seagrant.w3.uvm.edu/blue/ Page 23 of 45  STAY INFORMED STAY IN TOUCH Maintenance Construction Customer Requests Impacts Service • Front Porch Forum See Click Fix: 802 - 863 - 9094 • Signage burlingtonvt.gov/dpw • VT - Alert: dpw - pinecustomerservice burlingtonvt.gov/ @burlingtonvt.gov construction Page 24 of 45 THANK YOU Page 25 of 45 Burlington’s McNeil Plant: A CASE FOR CLOSURE A presentation to Burlington’s NPAs By 350 Vermont’s Chittenden Node & Stop VT Biomass SPRING 2026 Page 26 of 45 Page 27 of 45 McNeil Plant Basics • Commenced operation June 1984 • Located in Burlington’s Intervale • Burns wood to generate electricity • 50 MW (largest electricity generator in Vermont) • Jointly owned by Burlington Electric Department (BED) (operator and 50% owner),Green Mountain Power (31%) and Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (19%) • Provides 32-45% of BEDs total power supply (FY 2015-2023). Page 28 of 45 The Case Against McNeil Plant • Largest stationary source of greenhouse gas emissions in VT • Harmful to health - particulate matter and other pollutants which leads to or exacerbates health conditions • Negative impact on forest ecosystems and the benefits they provide. • It costs a lot- the power it produces is expensive. • It’s old and inefficient Page 29 of 45  McNeil’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions “Burning wood to generate electricity emits more carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour generated than fossil fuels- even coal, the most carbon intensive fuel.” -John Sterman, William Moomaw, Juliette N. Rooney-Varga & Lori Siegel, Does wood bioenergy help or harm the climate?, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Vol 78, No. 3 (2022) 130. McNeil emitted 316,405 tons of CO2 in 2025 (EPA). It also emits lesser amounts of the greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide. Fossil-fuel powered equipment and vehicles used to pull wood feedstock from the forests and transport it to the plant emits additional greenhouse gases. Page 30 of 45 The Carbon Neutrality Myth BED claims that McNeil is carbon neutral because BED engages in sustainable forestry and the carbon dioxide emissions from its stack are re- sequestered by trees as they regrow. This is a myth. When trees are burned the carbon dioxide is released immediately creating a carbon debt which takes decades to centuries to eliminate through tree regrowth. Also, regrowth is uncertain. Harvested areas may be converted to other land uses or trees may succumb to insects, disease or drought. John Sterman, et al.; EU Bioenergy, Bioenergy Accelerates Climate Change, https://www.eubioenergy.com/the-5-issues/it-accelerates-climate-change/ Page 31 of 45  Theory (according to BED): “Closed Loop” Carbon Cycle Page 32 of 45 Reality: Wood burning power plants emit more CO2 per unit energy and also degrade the forest carbon sink. The result is higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Page 33 of 45 Ecological Harm • Burlington Electric claims: “McNeil’s wood supply is primarily 88.4% in- woods chips/residues such as the tops and limbs left over from higher-value wood products, with an additional 9.7% from sawmill residue and 1.6% from waste-wood yard wood.” (Bold added) - McNeil, Climate and Forestry, BED website. • The reality: McNeil’s burns “Whole Tree Chips,” which include chips generated by cutting down and chipping whole trees. -PUC Dkt. No. 4450, Certificate of Public Good for McNeil, 9/14/81 § 87; 6/22/83 Order Amending Certificate of Public Good. • The plant burns 400,000 tons of woodchips per year -April 29, 2022 VEIC Summary Memorandum. Page 34 of 45  This impairs forest ecosystems and erodes important benefits forests provide, including flood protection, & has a destructive impact on forest ecology and wildlife. Page 35 of 45 Carbon Rock Stars: Large, Older Trees & Forests How many oak trees does it take to store 8 tons of carbon? Page 36 of 45  Human Health McNeil emits particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, including benzene and formaldehyde, and other pollutants which are known to be harmful to human health. McNeil releases these pollutants in proximity to racially diverse, low and middle-income neighborhoods of Burlington’s Old North End and Winooski, whose residents face greater environmental risks than residents of other areas. Page 37 of 45  $ $$ Expense • BED Financial statements show that McNeil has generated losses for 8 of the last 10 fiscal years (2016-2025) totaling more than $34 million over the 10-year period. (This figure includes depreciation, but does not include interest.) • As 50% owner, BED bears 50% of these losses. • The average real-time price for wholesale power in New England in 2024 was $39.50 per megawatt-hour. www.iso-ne.com/about/key-stats. • Wholesale prices were forecast to increase to $55/MWH in 2025. U.S. Energy Information Administration. • The net cost of generating power from McNeil was $96.42/MWH in fiscal year 2025 and $98.70/MWH in fiscal year 2024. McNeil Joint Owners Operating Committee Materials. Page 38 of 45 Age & Efficiency of the Plant • The plant is 26% efficient. (April 29, 2022 VEIC Summary Memorandum) • It runs only about 50-60% of the time, and is frequently off-line for planned maintenance, repairs due to operational problems, or because of market prices. • BED has invested in capital improvements to extend operation of the 42-year- old plant beyond its anticipated useful life. • In 2023, BED obtained City Council approval to move forward with District Energy Project which would depend on McNeil. • Additional capital expenditures are planned or under consideration. • BED has planned all of these major expenditures without evaluating whether the plant should continue to operate or whether alternative sources of power would be more effective. Page 39 of 45 Flawed Policies Flawed Policies BED has directed the course of Burlington’s overall climate policy, leading to flawed policies. • These call for reducing fossil fuel use rather than reducing GHG emissions from all sources (such as the McNeil Plant). • The Net Zero Energy Roadmap defines “net zero,” as eliminating fossil fuel use in the heating and ground transportation sectors, yet calls for pursuit of the District Energy Project, which would perpetuate McNeil’s massive GHG emissions to produce electricity. • The Carbon Pollution Impact Fee is applied to heating systems powered by fossil fuels but not to “renewable” systems and fuels with significant greenhouse gas emissions. Page 40 of 45  This undercuts the potential benefits of electrification of buildings and vehicles. To meaningfully reduce GHG emissions through electrification, we must electrify and obtain power from low carbon sources, such as hydropower, solar and wind. Page 41 of 45 Our Vision: Page 42 of 45 Advocate! Burlington City Government Should: • Place responsibility for development of the city climate policy in a city department or official independent of BED. • Develop a plan to close the McNeil Plant, preferably by June 2028. The plan should include measures for a just transition to other employment for affected employees, a plan to keep electric rates stable, and ensure adequate energy for future needs. Page 43 of 45 Actions We Can Take • Connect with our city councilors (email, phone calls, in person conversations). • Write to Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. • Attend a city council meeting and speak during public comment. • NPAs to consider a resolution to send to City Council on this issue. • Attend Electric Commission meetings and speak during public comment. • Get involved with VT 350.org or Stop VT Biomass. Page 44 of 45 Questions Comments Discussion Page 45 of 45