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Get ready for the new City of South Burlington website! The new layout, improved menus, and quick-access buttons to frequently-visited pages mean fewer clicks to find what you need. Other improvements include:
- Better navigation and search
- Dedicated landing pages for the Fire Department, Police Department, City Center, and more
- Notify Me - get notified of important news and updates to the website by subscribing to calendar events, pages, or alerts
- A mobile-friendly experience
- Accessible and ADA-compliant
- Built-in Google Translate
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 The City will soon launch a new online permitting system designed to provide residents and businesses with an accessible, transparent, and efficient platform for managing permit applications. Along with our new website, the permitting system allows residents to access information and public services at any time and from anywhere.
Key features of the new permitting system:
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Ease of access: Applicants can submit and track permit applications online, eliminating the need for in-person visits and allowing for 24/7 access to the system.
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Transparency: The platform offers real-time updates on application statuses, ensuring applicants are informed throughout the review process.
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Resident-focused improvements: The system is user-friendly, providing clear instructions and support to guide users through each step of the application process.
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Increased speed: By automating workflows and reducing manual data entry, the system accelerates permit processing times, allowing for quicker approvals and project commencements.
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City Offices, Library & Senior Center will be closed on Monday, January 20th in Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Conversation with a Councilor
Saturday, January 25 at South Burlington Public Library Community Room
City Councilors Elizabeth Fitzgerald and Laurie Smith will host the next Conversation with a Councilor listening session. Stop by the Community Room in the South Burlington Public Library on Saturday, January 25 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
South Burlington ranked high across the two key metrics WalletHub used to determine the best cities for jobs: job market and socioeconomics
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A look back at the goings-on in South Burlington.
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Students at Gertrude Chamberlin School in South Burlington designed ornaments for the 2024 National Christmas Tree display in Washington, D.C.
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On Monday, the City Council unanimously voted to approve the City’s FY26 Budget. This budget:
- Provides for the current level of service delivery, maximizes non-property tax revenue, and is sensitive to the property tax impacts from the State Education Fund.
- Continues our commitment to public safety by investing in our Community Outreach Team (Howard Center outreach workers embedded in our Police Department), our Community Justice Center, and increases funding for paving and line striping.
- Supports the vibrancy of City Center by investing in the South Burlington City Center Collaborative and opening the Library on Sundays.
- And continues our commitment to addressing climate change by investing in Green Mountain Transit and funding climate-related capital projects.
This budget will result in a 3.33% increase to the municipal property tax rate. If approved, the average annual impact to a condo owner will be $49.69 and the average annual impact to a homeowner will be $73.47.
The FY26 Budget will now be sent to the Steering Committee (joint body of the School Board and City Council) to be presented to the community alongside the FY26 School Budget. We encourage you to attend or listen in on January 22, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. to learn more about both budgets before you vote on Town Meeting Day.
You can always find all City budget documents and presentations on the City's website, including:
School Budget documents can be found on the South Burlington School District’s Budget FY26 page.
 Cat and dog registrations will begin February 1 as the City works to deploy a new software program. This new user-friendly software will accommodate online registrations with ease, with the ability to upload your supplementary documents and pay without having to come into the office. Be sure to complete your registration between February 1 and March 31 to avoid dreaded late fees. We look forward to a better, more streamlined process for all.
To be placed on the March 4, 2025 ballot, please be advised that all local election candidates will need to submit a completed Consent of Candidate form as well as a completed petition with 30 registered South Burlington voter signatures. These must be submitted to the City Clerk at 180 Market Street before Monday January 27 at 5 pm. Blank forms can be obtained at the City Clerk’s Office Monday through Friday from 8 to 4:30 pm. Available positions include:
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City Council: 1 vacancy for a 2-year term and 1 vacancy for a 3-year term.
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School Board of Directors: 2 vacancies for a 1-year term, 1 vacancy for a 2-year term, 3 vacancies for a 3-year term.
Please reach out to City Clerk Holly Rees with any questions at 802-846-4119 or by email.
 The Natural Resources and 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 and 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.
The South Burlington Energy Committee is looking forward to providing community events in 2025 and would like your feedback.
Please take our survey.
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 The South Burlington Cemetery Sextons are looking for help to design a beautification plan for the City’s Eldredge Cemetery on Airport Drive. The cemetery predates the chartering of South Burlington and portions are showing their age. Therefore, we are looking for creative assistance in making this cemetery a beautiful and restful final resting place. Each year volunteers help maintain and clean the monuments. Thanks to a generous contribution, we have the funds to greatly improve the cemetery by updating the plantings, installing benches, recognizing veterans, and creating a memorial garden, to name a few thoughts of the sextons. The scope of the project is to enhance the look and utility of the cemetery and make it a beautiful, calm place for people to visit their lost loved ones. If you have the time and expertise to donate to our cause, we would be incredibly grateful.
If you are interested in hearing more about the project and the help we are looking for, please email Donna Kinville.
  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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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?
Bid Opportunities and Requests for Proposal
Find open bid opportunities and requests for proposal for upcoming City Projects.
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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
February 3, 2024, 6:30–10:00 p.m.
- Warned for 7:00 p.m.: Hold a Second Reading and Public Hearing of an ordinance in response to the State's new Municipal Ethics Statute
- Warned for 7:00 p.m.: Hold a Public Hearing on the Vermont Community Development Program funding award to Summit for their projects at O'Brien Hillside as part of their grant close out
- Hold interviews for Committee appointments to the Natural Resources and Conservation Committee
- Receive a presentation on the Active Transportation Plan
- Receive a briefing on the Dorset Street Shared Use Path project
- Receive and accept the FY24 Audit from RHR Smith
Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street
Virtual Option:
https://zoom.us/j/99172766910
You can also dial in using your phone:
Meeting ID: 991 7276 6910 Passcode: 503326 Phone: 929 205 6099
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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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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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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.
Film Screening: The Quietest Year
 Thursday, January 30th
6:30-8:30 pm
Library Auditorium, 180 Market Street
Join us to watch The Quietest Year - a new documentary set in Vermont that explores the crisis of noise pollution and its effects on health and the environment.
Directed by Karen Akins. Running time 74 mins. A panel discussion with local and regional experts will follow the film.
Catch this sneak preview in the library auditorium before it airs on Vermont Public!
The library is ADA accessible; patrons are asked to call in advance if special services are required.
Check Out from Burlington's Fletcher Free Library with Your SBPL Libary Card
South Burlington residents can now supercharge their library cards in Burlington!
Fletcher Free Library in Burlington has joined the Homecard System, so now South Burlington residents can use their cards at FFL to check out materials for free! Check out FFL's website to explore their incredible collection and learn about their lending policies. As with all Homecard libraries, items checked out there must be returned there. Interlibrary Loan requests and access to electronic resources like Libby and Kanopy will still go through the South Burlington Public Library.
Welcome, Fletcher Free!
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Library Top 10 of 2024
Do you even wonder what items are being checked out from the library the most?
Here’s a list of the Library’s top ten most circulated items in 2024:
- The Women, Kristin Hannah – 166 checkouts
- Toddler/Preschool Children’s Box – 134 checkouts
- Highlights Hello (children’s) Magazine – 96 checkouts
- The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store – 89 checkouts
- ECHO Pass – 66 checkouts
- The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese – 63 checkouts
- Long Island by Colm Toibin – 53 checkouts
- North Woods by Daniel Mason – 53 checkouts
- Mobile Hotspot – 52 checkouts
- 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!
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Blood Drive at the Library
Vermont Civic Health Index Community Conversations
 Join the Secretary of State, Sarah Copeland Hanzas, partners who contributed to the report, and your neighbors to learn about what Civic Health looks like across Vermont and in your community. Please come ready to participate! We will be asking for your feedback and help prioritizing next steps.
This report looks at Vermont’s Civic Health across six domains: Volunteerism and Donating, Political Engagement, Social and Community Context, Cultural Access and Engagement, Media Trust and Access, and Government Trust and Access. It also highlights results from the Vermont Youth Civic Health Survey. This project has been two years coming and involved a lot of hard work and support from many partners, especially the Center for Rural Studies at UVM, SerVermont, Vermont Humanities, and Up for Learning.
We’ll spend some time highlighting the findings and discussing our process, have a panel discussion, and then move into some small group discussions.
If you plan to attend any of the events, please RSVP.
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Family Bingo
Join us for a FREE fun filled night of Bingo with the family sponsored by Associates in Orthodontics on 1/31 from 5:30-7:00pm at the University Mall. Play not only for fun, but also a chance to win prizes. Complimentary light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Visit the SBRP website for more details.
Valentine Dance
Join us for our 28th annual Valentine Dance at the Delta Hotel on February 8th. Children in K-8th grade and a special adult in their lives will enjoy an evening filled with dancing, prizes and snacks. We will also have a photo station, craft table and our ever popular Big Bear Raffle! Registration is required and available through the SBRP website.
Adaptive Wednesdays
New in 2025, SBRP will be offering a free monthly adaptive program/event series brought to you by Market32 & Price Chopper. Kick off the year on January 22nd with these structured activities to participate in such as painting, cooking, dance, and more! Our January program will be a free paint class from 5:30-7:00pm in the Senior Center. All supplies, instruction and food will be provided. Visit our website to register and a full list of the offerings and dates.
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!
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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.
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.
Ready to make a difference? Apply today and help us create a place where everyone feels safe and supported.
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For information about events and updates from South Burlington School District, read the Superintendent’s full newsletter January 9, 2025 here
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Questions? Comments?
Contact Andy Brumbaugh, Communications & Outreach Coordinator
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