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Save the Date for October 7
 Save the date for October 7! This is your first chance to help shape the City budget process as City staff and Council plan for the 2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). What ideas do you have and which City operations do you think should be prioritized? The South Burlington City Council is eager to hear from you as they consider next year's budget.
This listening session will be held virtually and in-person. Look for more details soon on how you can participate.
On August 27, 2024, Green Mountain Transit (GMT) issued a draft service reduction plan that includes possible service cuts to South Burlington routes. This draft plan is just a first step—GMT must conduct a public hearing process to reduce service and expects to make changes based on public feedback and conversations with affected municipalities.
What South Burlington is Doing
Within South Burlington, two public transit goals have long been discussed with the public and are included in the CityPlan 2024. These include linking Shelburne Road neighborhoods to City Center and servicing Market Street with a bus. These goals are aligned with the School District’s exploration of supplementing middle and high school students' school access with public transit, as occurs in neighboring communities.
In June, the City contracted with VHB to perform a data-driven analysis of transit service potential in South Burlington. They identified potential adjustments to existing routes and examined the opportunity to better serve schools, areas of employment, and housing throughout the City.
Now, Council, staff, and the South Burlington School District—in cooperation with GMT and our other partners—are exploring these options and working on a set of responses and proposals to the draft service reduction plan to make sure GMT's service meets the needs of South Burlington residents.
What You Can Do
GMT will hold a series of public meetings to receive public comment on the draft service reduction plan. Anyone who wishes to make a public comment can attend one of these meetings or submit a comment to planning@ridegmt.com.
Upcoming Meetings
- Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 152 Pearl Street, Burlington
- Thursday, September 12, 2024, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Brownell Library, 6, Lincoln Street, Essex Junction
- Two more meetings – one virtual and one in-person – are scheduled for September 17.
For the latest information, please visit GMT’s website.
The North East Agricultural Trust (NEAT) and the South Burlington Land Trust (SBLT) asked the Council to support a joint project at 1720 and 1730 Spear Street called the Long View Project. On September 9, 2024, the City Council held a special meeting to consider issuing a letter of support to Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) that addresses all the conditions by which the City would commit to this project.
Following a presentation by SBLT, comments from the public, and further discussion, the Council ultimately passed the motion to issue a letter of support with a 4-1 vote.
If the conditions are met, the City of South Burlington would commit up to $397,000 in Open Space and Conservation Funds to support the purchase of a permanent conservation easement on at least 32.2 acres of 1720 and 1730 Spear Street and up to an additional $64,000 to purchase and own at least 32.2 acres upon its conservation.
The Council’s letter states, in part, “It is our pleasure to submit this letter in support of the application to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board submitted by South Burlington Land Trust, North East Agricultural Trust, and Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity for funds to conserve 32.2 acres of natural resource land in South Burlington and provide permanently affordable housing for our neighbors, known as the “Long View Project.” This letter furthers the letter of support the Council previously provided on February 20, 2024. The vision for this property, its’ conservation as natural resource land and providing public access, while also meeting our priority of building permanently affordable housing, aligns with many of our goals as identified in the community’s 2024 City Plan, Land Development Regulations, and Climate Action Plan.”
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Listening Session - September 14, 2024
On Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Chamberlin School from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., join Councilors Elizabeth Fitzgerald and Mike Scanlan to chat and share your thoughts on what's important to you and South Burlington. Visit our website for the full schedule to find a Coffee with a Councilor session that works for you.
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Two More Utility Boxes Painted!
We’re excited to share that our City now features two more artistically painted utility boxes! One is a giraffe painted by Amanda Kolifrath, located on Hinesburg Road and Dubois Drive. The other is Hannah Williamson’s artwork of a wolf amidst northern lights, located on Kennedy Drive and Dorset Street. Both pieces add a new vibrant touch to our community! Thank you both for your contributions to the city and for making South Burlington look its best.
Volunteer Headstone Cleaning at Eldredge Cemetery
Example of a headstone from 2022 prior to cleaning
The South Burlington cemetery sextons are looking for volunteers to help clean the headstones at Eldredge cemetery on Saturday, September 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
We will demonstrate to all new volunteers what it takes to safely clean the headstones using a non-toxic liquid that will not damage the headstone or your clothes. Due to the early morning dew, you may wish to wear boots. If you have a sprayer that we can use for the water and solution that you could bring, it would be appreciated. If there are enough volunteers, we may work on cutting back some of the grass surrounding some of the in-ground headstones.
If you are interested, please contact donnakinville@yahoo.com with any further questions.
Seeking Your Thoughts on a City Green!
Were you unable to attend the August 2024 meeting? You are invited to review the consultant’s study draft City Green recommendation presentation from the August 14 public meeting and provide your comments using this short City Green Comment Form.
Prior to the presentation of the consultant's recommendation, your comments will considered for incorporation into the final recommendation to the City Council.
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Preparing for the Upcoming General Election
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 5, for General Election Day!
You do not need to request ballots for this election—absentee ballots for the November 5, 2024, General Election will be automatically mailed to all active registered voters by the Vermont Secretary of State's office no later than October 1, 2024.
To ensure that you are an active, registered voter and to verify that your mailing address is correct, please log on to MyVoterPage to check your information. This site will also allow you to track your ballot and see when it has been mailed, and, if voting early, when it was received at the City Clerk's office.
You can vote early by mailing your voted ballot back to the City Clerk's office or by dropping it off at City Hall. We can receive voted ballots in our office during open hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), or you can place them in the secure drop box attached to the front of the building or the secure voting box at the rear of the building.
If you choose to vote on Election Day, you will need to bring your ballot with you to the polls. Polls are open November 5th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at your assigned district. A voting-district-by-street listing (PDF) and district map (PDF) are located on the City Clerk's website if you have any questions about where your polling location is.
If you have any questions about the upcoming election process, please don’t hesitate to give the City Clerk’s office a call at 802-846-4105.
Vermont State Election Resources
As part of a national #TrustedInfo2024 initiative, the Vermont Secretary of State's office has created several resources to promote voter education and serve as a source of trustworthy information:
Visit South Burlington's Elections & Voting page for more local election information.
South Burlington Public Art Gallery Presents Interwoven
 The South Burlington Public Art Gallery is hosting a new exhibition titled Interwoven, on view from August 26 to October 31, 2024. The public is invited to the Opening Reception in the South Burlington Public Gallery on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Interwoven brings together four Vermont artists who are redefining fiber art through both experimental and meditative processes—Karen Cygnarowicz, Janet Fredericks, Bradie Hansen, and Trista Ringer. Each of the artists blends contemporary art with traditional craft practices, creating work that reflects on their connection to home and place, relationships, and the materials they are working with.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Bradie Hansen is leading a free workshop co-hosted by the South Burlington Public Library on Friday, September 27, from 10:00 a.m. to noon on the second floor of the Library in the digital lab. To register, please email gallery@southburlingtonvt.gov.
Green Mountain Aviation Field Days
September 14-15
154 DaVinci Drive, South Burlington
Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future of Aviation
Get up close and personal with planes! Green Mountain Aviation Field Days will feature aircraft from the past, present, and future. You’ll get the opportunity to talk to the owners and pilots and tour their aircraft, getting closer than you ever have before.
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September 20 | 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
19 Gregory Drive, South Burlington
"Fall" into donating! Give blood between September 16 and September 30 for a $15 e-gift card.
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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?
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For a complete list of meetings & events, please visit the calendar
City Council Meetings
Access agendas and minutes.
City Council Meeting
September 16, 2024, 6:30–10:30 p.m.
- Public Hearing - Warned for 7:00 p.m. - Hold Second Reading and Public Hearing of Land Development Regulation Amendments #LDR-24-01 to LDR-24-10 as recommended by the Planning Commission and related to the requirements of Acts 47 and 18 and City goals on housing, climate change, and transportation.
- FY26 Budget: Receive initial financial projections for the FY26 Budget (7/1/25 to 6/30/26) and establish budget goals
- Receive the FY24 Year End Financial Reports
Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street
Virtual Option:
https://meet.goto.com/SouthBurlingtonVT/citycouncilmeeting09-16-2024
You can also dial in using your phone
(408) 650-3123 Access Code: 972-024-453
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Watch the Last City Council Meeting Recording
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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
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Public Hearing on Draft Zoning Regulation Amendments
The City Council last week received a series of proposed amendments to the City’s Land Development Regulations and have set a public hearing for Monday, September 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
The amendments are grouped into three themes and ten amendments (LDR-24-01 through LDR-24-10). The themes are: Thriving Neighborhoods and Acts 47 & 181; Transportation; and Process Standards Improvements.
These amendments reflect the Commission’s work over the past 9 months (and more in some topic areas). They include changes to the LDRs to both align with the requirements and intent of Vermont Acts 47 and 181 and to advance several priorities of the 2024 City Plan within the housing, climate change, transportation realms and beyond.
The City’s LDR Amendment website includes a number of resources, including complete clean & redline versions of the draft amendments, a set of plain-language “spotlights” discussing each of the 10 proposed amendments, an interactive map showing zoning and overlay district changes, analysis data, and the adopted/draft water/sewer service area boundaries.
We invite you to review these resources – especially the plain language “spotlights” if this subject is new to you – and to provide feedback to the Council. Comments may be provided in writing to planning@southburlingtonvt.gov in advance of the 9/16 public hearing (and will be provided to all Councilors), or in person or via interactive video at the hearing itself. Meeting and login details are on the LDR amendments website.
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Day of the Week
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Open
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Close
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Monday–Thursday
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9:00 a.m.
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7:00 p.m.
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Friday
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9:00 a.m.
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5:00 p.m.
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Saturday
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9:00 a.m.
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3:00 p.m.
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All We Can Save
 When: September 19, 2024, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The South Burlington Energy Committee and The South Burlington Public Library are sponsoring a conversation about the book All We Can Save, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson.
This book is available to borrow from the library now. It is also available as an eAudiobook from the Green Mountain Library Consortium. Book group reserve copies are available at the SBPL circulation desk.
Discussion will be hybrid: in-person at South Burlington Public Library and online via Zoom. Click HERE to join us remotely
Magazines Now Available in Libby App
The Library now has an online magazine subscription service!
There are thousands of free magazines like The New Yorker, Time, The Atlantic, National Geographic, and more, including titles in non-English languages.
Find your Magazine Rack in Libby to quickly access all the magazines you're subscribed to. Patrons can read the same magazine titles at the same time, so there are no holds or waitlists to read the new edition of your favorite title.
Thank you to the Friends of the Library for supporting this project!
Peecycling: What, Why, and How
Join the Rich Earth Institute at an upcoming workshop with the South Burlington Energy Committee at City Hall Auditorium to learn about the paradigm-shifting practice of peecycling: reclaiming human "waste" as a resource to protect the Lake Champlain Basin watershed.
This workshop will cover Rich Earth Institute's unique community peecycling program, leading-edge research, and step-by-step instructions for reclaiming the power of pee in home gardens. With funding from the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the Institute is also offering free peecycling kits to gardeners, allowing individuals to participate in this sustainable practice.
Register Today! September 28th Blood Drive at South Burlington Public Library
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 Park Hop Brews
September 12 at Bay Crest Park
Welcome to SBRP's new Park Hop Brews series, brought to you by Farrell Distributing! We will be hosting a traveling beer garden at our South Burlington parks throughout the month of September. Every Thursday evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m., come join us in a different park for music, food, games, giveaways, and brews!
On September 12, we will have music from Rachel Ambaye, food from the Melted Cheesiere, yard games, and drinks! In addition, we will be hosting a free cornhole tournament at this event. Stay tuned for more details and how to register!
This program is open to South Burlington and surrounding community residents!
 Community Movie Night
September 13 at Baycrest Park
Join us on Friday, September 13th at 7:00 p.m. for a FREE Community Movie Night with the South Burlington Recreation and Parks department, sponsored by SeaComm! We will be watching the newly-released Trolls: Band Together, as we settle in for a night of music and adventure with our friends Poppy, Branch, and others!
Come join South Burlington Recreation and Parks for our Community Movie Night Series! Wear your comfiest clothes and settle in to watch beloved movies, new and old. Complimentary refreshments and popcorn will be provided. The first 100 to arrive each night will receive an SBRP blanket! No pre-registration required to attend the movie!
 Mini Golf Tournament
September 14 at Hubbard Recreation & Natural Area
South Burlington Recreation & Parks is excited to offer our first Mini Golf Tournament! Join us for this fun 18-hole tournament at Hubbard Recreation & Natural Area, where you will have views along the paths of the park of Lake Champlain! Register for the adult tournament or the kids tournament (three age groups: 6-9, 10-12, and 13-15). Registration is for each individual player. Prizes will be awarded to the lowest score of the adult tournament and to the lowest score of each kids tournament age group. Putters and balls will be provided.
This program is open to South Burlington and surrounding community residents!
 Adult Fitness Membership
Consistency is key. Stay on top of your fitness goals with South Burlington Rec. Monthly adult fitness memberships are available. Membership provides access to all yoga (every Tuesday and Friday), Zumba (every Thursday), and Pilates (9/18 & 9/25) classes offered through the month for just $30! Visit our website to sign up today!
 Family Skate Night
Don’t miss our FREE family skate night courtesy of Northeast Delta Dental at Cairns Arena on September 21st. In partnership with Kayla’s Directory, we will be having accessibility-focused ice time from 3:00-3:30 p.m. followed by open ice time from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Bring your own skates or rent a pair from the rink!
Kids Club
Introducing our new Kids Club program, brought to you by T-Mobile. This is a free membership program for kids 12 and younger. Membership includes a punch card to outlined events (for giveaways), 15% off specified SBRP programs, quarterly Kids Club member events, and more! Visit our website to sign up today!
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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.
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For information about events and updates from South Burlington School District, read the Superintendent’s full newsletter August 29, 2024 here
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