|
|
City Center construction along Market Street as seen from City Hall & Public Library
Hello South Burlington,
Outside our windows at City Hall, steel, walls, and floors continue to emerge as we realize the community’s vision for City Center. With so much work underway, I want to take a moment to share some details on what is happening here in City Center.
As visitors to City Center can see, construction is underway on six buildings along Market Street and Garden Street. 112 Garden Street—the building you see from Trader Joe’s and Healthy Living—is nearing completion. This building will welcome new neighbors this summer and includes commercial space and a new day care center. On the City Hall/Library side of Market Street, 224 and 268 Market Street and 339 Garden Street are under construction. These buildings will start welcoming new neighbors over the summer and fall of 2024. On the Blue Mall side of Market Street, 225 and 237 Market Street and 113 Garden Street are going up. These buildings will welcome new residents in the summer of 2025. In total, over 500 new homes will be added to City Center!
Additionally, five of these buildings along Market Street and Garden Street have first floor commercial space as required by the City’s adopted Form Based Zoning Code. With new mid-block plazas on Market Street and the 21-foot-wide streetscape, the future commercial spaces will bring a great deal of activity and vibrancy to Downtown. The developer (Snyder-Braverman) will market these spaces early in the fall of 2024, so if your business is interested in renting space, please keep this timeline in mind . It is our business community and our neighbors that can help us realize our goals for a vibrant City Center and add to the extensive commercial space already Downtown!
As we fully build out and support a new residential and commercial center, we are looking at ways to ensure customer turnover and encourage walking and biking. We are working with consultants on a parking study that will explore the best ways to manage the public and private parking in City Center. Additionally, City Center is designed to be a walkable downtown. To that end, we are working in partnership with the developers to ensure that pedestrian access is available to the greatest extent possible. The sidewalk on the City Hall/Library side of Market Street will fully open in July 2024. Additionally, five feet of the sidewalk on the Blue Mall side of Market Street will open by the start of the school year.
We have made the decision to keep Garden Street closed to through traffic between Market Street and Trader Joe’s/Healthy Living until the summer of 2025. With the construction continuing along Garden Street, the safest decision is to limit access to construction and emergency vehicles. However, pedestrian access for our new residents and all of our neighbors will be available.
Finally, as these buildings were permitted faster than anticipated (until 2023, we were anticipating one new building a year coming online), in the fall of 2023 we undertook a City Center Traffic Study that can be seen here. With this information, the City Council approved funding to install a traffic signal at Market Street and Hinesburg Road. That work is currently in engineering and right of way. It is anticipated to be constructed in the summer of 2025.
The new public green space planned for City Center includes Goose Park, City Center Park, and the 2023 voter-approved Boardwalk that will connect these two recreational areas. Together, these spaces provide 9.4 acres of woods, grass, and gardens within feet of Market Street and Garden Street.
Additionally, later in this City News you will see an invitation to a community discussion on the potential of a ‘City Green’ in City Center. Join us at City Hall on May 30th at 6:30 p.m. for a fun workshop on this topic. Kids are invited and translation will be available in Lingala, French and Nepali!
We are excited to see the community’s vision for City Center come to fruition. I welcome your thoughts and ideas as we move forward. As always, please feel free to reach out to me at jbaker@southburlingtonvt.gov or at (802) 846-4107.
My best,
Jessie
|
|
|
Public Library, City Hall & Senior Center will be closed on Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day
 Please note: The South Burlington Library will be closed on Saturday, May 25
|
|
 |
|
Friday, May 24
10:00 a.m. | Veterans Memorial Park
Join South Burlington Recreation & Parks for their annual Memorial Day Ceremony, remembering all who have served and sacrificed.
The ceremony will include: Sr Master Sargent Darren Adams, members of the DAR, and members of the SBHS Chorus and their teacher Aimee Bushey.
|
Explore what a new park for City Center could be!
 Thursday, May 30 | 6:30 p.m.
South Burlington City Hall in the Senior Center,180 Market Street. Free snacks! Activities for kids!
Seeking Volunteers
 Application Deadline: Monday June 3, 2024
The City of South Burlington is Seeking Committee and Board Members
Looking to serve our community? It’s that time of year and we have seats to fill. Do you have some time, a skill, or knowledge you would like to share to work toward solving complex issues and recommending policies that help shape the kind of community you want to live in? Citizen participation in local government is important to our success as a community.
Click here to learn more and apply!
Want to learn more about a specific committee or board? Attend a meeting today!
Click here for our Weekly Meeting Warning List
Have more questions? Email Andrea Leo @ aleo@southburlingtonvt.gov
SBFD Recognition Night 2024
On Thursday, May 2, 2024 the South Burlington Fire Department swore in six new firefighters who have started within the last year. Congratulations and welcome to the South Burlington Fire Department!
 Left to right: PFF/AEMT Katia Graf, PFF/Paramedic Douglas Schmidt, PFF/EMT William Harrison, FF/AEMT Michelle Collins, PFF/Paramedic Leo Wermer, and PFF/EMT Megan Holt.
Left to right: PFF/AEMT Katia Graf, PFF/AEMT Nathan Ceffalo, FF/AEMT Kyle Lange, and FF/AEMT Daniel Mullin.
Over the last year, four team members obtained their National Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) certification.
The primary focus of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician is to provide limited advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system.
Congratulations to our firefighters (pictured above) on their completion of the NRAEMT course over the past year.
April 2024 South Burlington Police Response
 The South Burlington Police Department responded to 879 calls throughout the month of April and made 63 arrests.
Green Up Wrap Up 2024
The City of South Burlington recently held its annual Green Up Day, Saturday, May 4, 2024 where residents tackled the streets, roads, and culverts in efforts to clean up litter and debris. Volunteers spent their day working to collect an impressive 1.2 tons of garbage. The Champlain Valley Lions Club deserves special recognition for their food contribution, including grilling hot dogs, distributing chips, and volunteering their time to assist with garbage drop-offs. We also recognize Farrell Distributing for their donation of a multitude of drinks. A special thank you to Casella for generously providing dumpsters, and to our dedicated Public Works department for the essential support with dump trucks. A job well done by our community volunteers! We appreciate your commitment to a cleaner, greener future for South Burlington and its residents.
The Wheelock Bridge Re-opening this Week!
Over the past few weeks, Public Works has been repairing the Wheelock shared-use bridge. Following an inspection by a structural engineer, our crews made the recommended repairs to strengthen and extend the life of the bridge. The bridge should be ready for use starting this Thursday, May 16th. Thank you to our Public Works crew for working to reopen the bridge as quickly as possible, and we appreciate your patience during the unexpected closure.
 Public bus fares will resume for all Green Mountain Transit buses in Chittenden County on May 20, 2024. With the fares come new payment options and a new fare capping system that allows unlimited rides, while capping daily and monthly costs to riders.
The new fare collection system, called Ride Ready by GMT, includes:
-
Ride Ready by GMT app (available for iOS and Android platforms), with mobile ticketing and trip planning features and automatic fare capping
-
Smart Fare Cards, reloadable cards with RFID technology and automatic fare capping
-
Contactless Payments, including credit/debit cards and mobile payment platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay
-
Cash (note: this option does not support fare capping)
With fare capping, GMT has phased out weekly and monthly passes. The use of the Ride Ready App by GMT or Smart Fare Cards enable all customers to automatically receive the savings offered by frequent use. These payment modes provide limitless rides for the lower fee without needing to plan ahead with the purchase of a pass.
You can purchase fares on the Ride Ready by GMT app. Smart card users can add cash to their smart card at the Downtown Transit Center, GMT Administrative Office, the Montpelier Transit Center, or online at RideGMT.com. Cash will still be accepted on-board vehicles, however, fare capping is unavailable.
For more information about Green Mountain Transit and its fare collection services, visit https://ridegmt.com/fare-resumption/
Fares: Effective April 1, 2024
|
Single Fare
|
Regular: $2.00
|
Discounted: $1.00
|
|
Daily Fare Cap*
|
Regular: $4.00
|
Discounted: $2.00
|
|
Monthly Fare Cap*
|
Regular: $50.00
|
Discounted: $25.00
|
*GMT cannot cap cash fares
|
|
Sign up to receive City News
Not on our mailing list? Want to receive bi-weekly South Burlington City News and other news in your inbox?
|
|
|
For a complete list of meetings & events, please visit the calendar
City Council Meetings
Access agendas and minutes.
City Council Meeting
May 20, 2024, 6:30–10:30 p.m.
- Receive the Third Quarter Financials
- Participate in a facilited conversation, with Assembly Theory, on how the City uses data and how the Council may want to receive data in the future to make policy decisions.
- Hold a Second First Reading of a Drinking Water Ordinance Update and possibly set a Public Hearing for July 1, 2024 at 7:00
- Receive an update from the Sextons Committee including possible recommendations for future action. Provide direction to staff.
Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street Virtual Option:
https://meet.goto.com/SouthBurlingtonVT/citycouncilmeeting05-20-2024
You can also dial in using your phone (872) 240-3412 Access Code: 791-181-813
Youth Mental Health
A community conversation to address the youth mental health crisis in South Burlington.
Thursday, May 23 | 7:00 p.m.
The Auditorium in the South Burlington Library and City Hall
South Burlington residents are invited to attend a presentation and discussion focused on preventative measures to improve the mental health of the youth in our community. Click here to watch online.
Hosted by the Faith Influenced Leaders, a nonprofit focused on leveraging the time and talents of individuals with leadership and management accountability, honed in their secular work; who are strong in their faith. The group explores the challenges of secular leadership accountabilities that may at times conflict with the tenants of faith teachings, with a goal of ever-increasing alignment, personal growth, creating bonds with peers from different walks of life as well as the introduction of programs that serve our community, especially those in need. In short, to work in love and service to others.
|
Getting the Conversating Started for Changes to the I-89 Exit 14 Area
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
6:00 p.m. | City Hall Auditorium
The CCRPC is conducting a comprehensive study of the I-89 Exit 14 interchange. During this first round of public outreach, the project team is interested in gathering input on issues and opportunities for enhancing safety and mobility at the Exit 14 interchange.
Please join us to share your thoughts and ideas for the Interstate 89 Exit 14 interchange area. The study is focused on the I-89 Exit 14 interchange and the signalized intersections along US 2 (Williston Road) from Staples Plaza/DoubleTree to Dorset Street.
Join us in-person, via Zoom, or watch a live stream video of the meeting.
- 6:00PM - Open house with refreshments and light snacks
- 6:30PM - Formal presentation and public input
In Person Details:
City Hall Auditorium
180 Market Street
South Burlington, VT
Virtual Details:
A virtual meeting option will be available via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/Exit-14-Study.
Broadcast Details:
Broadcast available at Town Meeting TV YouTube at Town Meeting TV.
|
|
|
Watch the Last City Council Meeting Recording
 |
|
Want to see what happened during the latest City Council meeting? Can't attend the live session online? We've got you covered.
YouTube Link for City Council Meetings
|
|
|
Day of the Week
|
Open
|
Close
|
|
Monday–Thursday
|
9:00 a.m.
|
7:00 p.m.
|
|
Friday
|
9:00 a.m.
|
5:00 p.m.
|
|
Saturday
|
9:00 a.m.
|
3:00 p.m.
|
Reminder: The Library will be closed on Saturday, May 25, 2024
|
|
English Language Learner Movie Night
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
5:30–6:30 p.m.
Are you an English language learner? Are you looking for more opportunities to practice English? Join us at the English Language Learner Movie Night! The Academy Award-winning short film, The Neighbors' Window (2019), tells the story of Alli, a mother whose life is shaken up when two free-spirited twenty-somethings move in across the street and she discovers that she can see into their apartment.
Come ready to watch the film together in the Digital Lab on the second floor of the library and have a discussion together afterwards. We hope to see you there!
|
Gardening in Small Spaces
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
5:45–7:00 p.m.
Dive into the art and science of maximizing your limited outdoor or indoor space with this presentation on Small Space and Container Gardening. Specially designed for those with a passion for greenery but constrained by the size of their gardening space, this session is led by a Master Gardener David Sweenor. Learn More
|
Documentary Screening: Just Getting By
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
7:00–9:00 p.m.
Just Getting By—a new documentary film by Bess O’Brien—is a sweeping yet intimate look at the lives of Vermonters who are struggling with food and housing insecurity. A Q&A with the director will follow the film.
The showing in South Burlington has been made possible with the support of the Faith Influenced Leaders Corporation, the South Burlington Food Shelf, the South Burlington Rotary Club, the South Burlington Business Association, the South Burlington Library Foundation, and is being hosted by the South Burlington Library.
|
Blood Drive
|
|
Yoga Classes
Join South Burlington Recreation and Parks at our Senior Center for this weekly Saturday morning yoga class put on by Soma VT's Bina Winkler!
Click here to learn more.
|
Bike Rodeo
May 18 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Rick Marcotte Central School Parking Lot
Join the South Burlington Recreation and Parks Department and the South Burlington Public Library for a Bike Rodeo and Safety Check event sponsored by Northeast Delta Dental.
A bike rodeo is targeted towards kids 5 and up to learn about biking safely. We have many different fun and educational stations planned, including a bike inspection, bike and helmet fit, start/stop/go station, snail race, scanning for cars, and more!
Click here to learn more
|
Cake Decorating
Wednesday May 22 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Senior Center
Join us for a beginner’s cake decorating class taught by Jamie Deutsch from Adventures of Cake! Participants will learn how to make a bright and lovely flower cake – perfect for the start of summer! We will go over the basics of stacking, crumb coating and decorating cakes, and some simple techniques that have versatile options. Each student or co-registered pair will leave with a 6” cake they’ve decorated themselves! Sign up today on the SB Recreation and Parks website!
|
Community Movie Night #1
June 14 | 7:00 p.m.
Orchard School
What is better than a movie night? A FREE movie night! Join us for the first of a four part series this summer on June 14th at 7:00 p.m. at Orchard School. We will be playing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone brought to you by SeaComm Federal Credit Union, with free popcorn and refreshments! Plus the first 100 people in attendance will receive an SBRP blanket. No registration required!
|
May Senior Center Activities Guide
All planned May activities in the Senior Center are listed on its calendar via the link below.
May Activities Guide
Please note that some programs require pre-registration and have fees.
Reminder: Wednesday and Friday lunches must be registered for in advance. Sign up by the Friday before a meal.
If you have any questions about the programs, please contact Rebecca at 802-923-5545 or email at risham@southburlingtonvt.gov
|
|
|
We're hiring!
Looking for a full- or part-time job? The City of South Burlington is looking to hire great people to join our team.
|
|
School Board Meeting May 15, 2024
6:00 p.m.
Special School Board Meeting May 22, 2024
4:00 p.m.
Agenda and participation info on the District website under Announcements
Upcoming meeting dates
|
For information about events and updates from South Burlington School District, read the Superintendent’s full newsletter May 9, 2024 here
|
|
|
|
|
