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December 24, 2024

Wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday!

City offices, Library & Senior Center will be closed
Wednesday, December 25 & Wednesday, January 1

Rick Marcotte Students Perform at City Hall

On Friday, December 20th, the students of Rick Marcotte Central School filled the South Burlington Auditorium with music and joy as they performed for the public and City staff. The event featured three perfect performances—starting with the 1st and 2nd graders, followed by the 2nd and 4th graders, and ending with the 3rd and 5th graders—all led by the amazing RMCS Music Teacher, Hilary Sales. Their performances were wonderful and left everyone smiling. Bravo to all the students for a job well done!

Natural Resource Conservation Committee Vacancies

The Natural Resource Conservation Committee has three open seats.

Looking to make a difference in your community? The City of South Burlington is seeking volunteers for our Natural Resources Conservation Committee. Help us protect and enhance our beautiful open spaces, parks, forests, and waterways.

• 2 terms with 18 months remaining (expire in June 2026)
• 1 three-year term (expires in June 2027)

Apply by January 28, 2025. Interviews will be conducted at the February 3, 2025 City Council Meeting.

FY26 Budget Process

On January 13, the City Council will hold an FY26 Proposed Budget Public Hearing, including potential council budget approval and amendment of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Follow along with the budget process! You can find all budget documents and presentations on the City's website, including:

• The FY26 Budget schedule
• The City Manager's presentation to Council and department presentations

Conversation with a Councilor

Saturday, January 11 at Orchard School

City Councilors Mike Scanlan & Laurie Smith will kick off 2025 with the first Conversation with a Councilor listening session of the new year. Stop by Orchard School on Saturday, January 11, at Orchard School to chat and share your thoughts about South Burlington. See the Conversation with a Councilor page on our website or City News for more upcoming sessions.

South Burlington in the News

Julianna Brazill Is More Than the Funnies (Seven Days)

The Winooski artist pairs funny cartoons with traditional views of Vermont landscapes, effortlessly bridging mediums and moods. An exhibition of her drawings and paintings are on display at the South Burlington Public Art Gallery through January 24th. 

• • • • •

With New Businesses Opening, South Burlington Poised for Exciting New Chapter (NBC5)

Now, with new projects underway and businesses opening, that vision is beginning to take shape. “The resulting new businesses coming in and the new apartments, people know where South Burlington is, and that’s a big change from 10 years ago."

• • • • •

New South Burlington City Curator ‘Exhibits’ Belief in Art, Community (The Other Paper)

Artist Sarah Jayne Kennelly creates spaces for others in the Greater Burlington area to find themselves by making art accessible.

• • • • •

Vermont's Second Jersey Mike's Location to Open Wednesday in South Burlington (NBC5)

Jersey Mike's opened its second Vermont location on Wednesday, Dec. 11 in South Burlington. The new sub shop is located next to Dave's Hot Chicken at the University Mall on Dorset Street.

New City Website Coming Soon

A preview of the new City website with placeholder text

A new and improved South Burlington website is coming in early 2025! Some features that residents can look forward to include: Refined layout and navigation, with fewer clicks needed to find what you're looking for Responsive mobile-friendly design Improved search Notify Me feature - get notified of updates to the website by subscribing to specific sections or calendars Accessible and ADA-compliant

Cub Scout Troop 678 Visits Wastewater Facility

Cub Scout Troop 678 recently visited the South Burlington Airport Parkway Wastewater Facility. Lead Mechanic/Assistant Chief Operator Will Sheffer was on-site doing the daily required laboratory testing and gladly gave the troop a tour. The Cub Scout boys and girls found the state-of-the-art facility (which even produces electricity from methane) very interesting, and drew a large poster in appreciation.

Tours can be arranged through Water Quality Superintendent Robert Fischer at 802-658-7964 or by email.

Traffic Control on Exit 14E On- & Off-ramps

Traffic control will be in place on I-89 in South Burlington around the Exit 14E on- & off-ramps as a project to relocate a gas line is conducted. Traffic control includes closed shoulders and narrowed ramps.

• Work began on the off-ramp Wednesday 12/11/24 and will continue until completion later in the winter.
• Traffic control will only be present after 9:00 a.m. and before 2:00 p.m.
• Work will not occur in inclement weather.
• Work will end on Friday 12/20/24 and resume on Thursday 1/2/25.

Help Prevent Vehicle Theft

The South Burlington Police Department is investigating numerous thefts from parked motor vehicles during the overnight hours of Friday 11/29 into Saturday 11/30. Many of the targeted vehicles were Kias and the thefts resulted in the loss of valuables and personal information. In one case a 2020 Silver Kia Sportage bearing Pennsylvania Registration MBF7563 was stolen. A likeness photo of the stolen vehicle is included for reference. We would like to remind residents and visitors of the City to: Hide Your Things Lock Your Car Take Your Keys Owners of Kias should consult their local dealership for software and hardware solutions to prevent vehicle theft. Those with surveillance footage capturing theft or attempted theft during the overnight hours this weekend are requested to contact Ofc. Nicholas Kandra by email or call 802-846-4184. Neighborhoods adjacent to Williston Road, Dorset Street, Farrell Street, and Spear Street are specifically requested to check for footage. The South Burlington Police Department can be reached via 911 or 802-846-4111 to respond to any theft in progress.

Winter Parking Ban In Effect

South Burlington's winter parking ban is in effect from December 1 to March 31 between midnight and 8:00 a.m. The parking ban is in effect regardless of weather conditions. Residents must plan for alternate parking if they normally park on a City street or right of way. Vehicles left on the street may be ticketed or towed. Please call dispatch at 802-846-4111 if your car has been towed.

The overnight parking ban on City streets helps our Public Works crew maintain operations and public safety throughout the winter. Please help our drivers by removing all obstacles from streets, including portable basketball hoops.

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Bid Opportunities and Requests for Proposal

Find open bid opportunities and requests for proposal for upcoming City Projects.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

For a complete list of meetings & events, please visit the calendar

City Council Meetings

Access agendas and minutes.

City Council Meeting

January 6, 2024, 6:30–10:00 p.m.

• Receive a FY26 budget request from the Safe Routes to School Task Force
• Receive the annual Winooski Valley Park District presentation
• FY26 Budget: Continued City Council discussion
• Discuss a potential ballot item for Town Meeting Day that amends the Penny for Paths program
• Hold a First Reading of an ordinance in response to the State's new Municipal Ethics Statute

Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street

Virtual Option:

https://zoom.us/j/94410383211

You can also dial in using your phone:

Meeting ID: 944 1038 3211  Phone: 929 205 6099 Passcode: 728981

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

Public Library

The Library will be closed December 25, 2024, and January 1, 2025

Fire Safety Storytime for Families!

Saturday, January 11, 2025
10:00 to 10:30 a.m.

Come to Family Fire Safety Storytime with Michelle Collins, Firefighter/AEMT, Fire Prevention Coordinator!

Firefighters are our Friends! Michelle will be reading stories and have a "show and tell" with her firefighting gear, including an air pack that she wears when putting out fires!

All are welcome and no registration is required.

South Burlington Welcomes Neighbors

Saturday, January 11, 2025
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The South Burlington Public Library would like to extend a warm welcome to all our neighbors on Market Street and beyond. Join us at the Library for a fun and cozy event to meet your community on Saturday, January 11, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Library is located at 180 Market Street.

Come visit us for the first or 100^th time to find a good book, read in a quiet corner, visit with friends, study,  play a new board game, use a Chromebook, try out the recording studio, sit in the front of the fire...the Library offers so much!

Attendees will have an opportunity to take a bingo sheet around to various areas in the Library and earn fun gifts. Full bingo cards can be entered to win a $50 gift card at Barnes & Noble. Hot chocolate and chocolate milk will be offered in the building lobby where you can also learn about other City departments. 

We can't wait to see you!

South Burlington Public Library's Top 10 of 2024

Here’s a list of the Library’s top ten most circulated items in 2024:

1. The Women, Kristin Hannah – 166 checkouts 

2. Toddler/Preschool Children’s Box – 134 checkouts 

3. Highlights Hello (children’s) Magazine – 96 checkouts 

4. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store – 89 checkouts 

5. ECHO Pass – 66 checkouts 

6. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese – 63 checkouts 

7. Long Island by Colm Toibin – 53 checkouts 

8. North Woods by Daniel Mason – 53 checkouts 

9. Mobile Hotspot – 52 checkouts 

10. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver – 51 checkouts

This is a great depiction of the variety of materials the library has to offer! Adult, Children, Museum Passes, and Library of Things all represented!  

December Teen Board Games

Thursday, December 26, 2024
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
SBPL TeenSpace

Teens ages 13–18 are invited to come to the TeenSpace for a relaxing and/or competitive afternoon of tabletop games. Get out of the house—and out of the cold— and challenge your friends and family to classics like Scrabble and Monopoly, or new favorites like Catan, Root, and Codenames.

Welcome Baby Brunch—Sign Up Now!

Welcome to all new South Burlington babies! 

We want to celebrate your baby with the long-standing tradition of a Library book dedication.     

If you have a child born between January 2024 and December 2024, please register in the Kidspace at the Library. We will put a bookplate with your baby's name and birthdate (as you would like it to appear) in a new book from the picture book collection. Only South Burlington resident parents or grandparents will have a book dedicated.

Registered adults will receive an invitation to our Baby Brunch where families can meet and check out the dedicated books. Refreshments will be served, and a group photo of each year's babies will be taken and shared with families.  

Please join us! Register your child for the book dedication and Baby Brunch by visiting the Kidspace at the Library,

Baby Brunch is Saturday, January 4, from 10:30 to noon. Participants must pre-register by Thursday, January 3.

To register for this event please email us at SBPLKids@southburlingtonvt.gov or stop in and sign up in person!

Book Discussion: Gather, Vermont Reads 2024-25 Selection

Thursday, January 16, 2025
6:00 pm to 7:00 p.m.

Join us for a book discussion of this year’s Vermont Reads selection, Gather, by Vermont author Kenneth M. Cadow.

Ian, a 15-year-old in rural Vermont, struggles to hold on to the family home while his mother recovers from addiction in this striking debut novel.

Recreation & Parks

A Year in Review

South Burlington Recreation and Parks had a very successful year! Check out what was offered in 2024!

• 106 community events
• 67 programs
• 20,000+ event attendees
• 2,000+ program participants
• 88% of events were free
• 4,000+ meals served
• 21 event locations across South Burlington
• 200+ Kids Club members
• 35 events with free SSTA transportation
• 36 cities/towns attended our events and programs

Big thanks to South Burlington and neighboring town community members for attending so many of our events and programs. We look forward to seeing you in 2025 at even more offerings!

Spark the Park

Visit Veterans Memorial Park to experience Spark the Park! Enjoy a walk through the park and a festive display of lights throughout the holiday season. The park will be lit nightly from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. until January 5th.

French Classes

Join Alysse Anton, French professor at Middlebury Language Schools, for a mixed-level beginner class to learn—or relearn—French in French Made Simple, offered online every Tuesday from January 7^th to February 11^th from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. For more information and to register, please visit the link below.

January 31-Mile Fitness Challenge

Start the new year strong with our January 31-Mile Fitness Challenge! Whether you're continuing your fitness goals or just starting your journey, this challenge is all about moving your body and prioritizing wellness. The goal is simple: walk, jog, or run a total of 31 miles over the course of the month. That’s just 1 mile a day—perfect for building a consistent routine and boosting your physical and mental health, or tackle multiple miles on days that work best for you. This challenge is open to all ages and you are able to sign up at any point throughout the month.

Social Pulse for Young Adults (21-39)

Social Pulse, the South Burlington Young Adult (21-39) Social Group! Whether you're a young professional, new in town, or just looking to meet new people, this group is for you! Have fun, network, and build a sense of community in the local area. Whether it's socializing at local hotspots, playing games, listening to live music, or volunteering, we have a variety of events to suit everyone's interests. Join us to meet new friends, build connections, and have a great time in and around South Burlington!

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. 

Become a South Burlington Police Officer

At the South Burlington Police Department, being a police officer means more than just a job—it’s about building real connections with the community and working together to create a safer Vermont, and a thriving South Burlington. The support of our community drives everything we do, working hand-in-hand to build trust and make a positive impact every day. If you’re looking for a career that’s not just meaningful, but also backed by a community that truly cares, we want you on our team.

South Burlington School District Events & News

School Board Meeting January 8, 2025 6:00 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 December 19, 2024 here

Questions? Comments?

Contact Andy Brumbaugh, Communications & Outreach Coordinator