Local Politics
  1. Home
  2. US
  3. Vermont
  4. Burlington
  5. Meetings

2026-04-27 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official City Council minutes of April 27, 2026 (approved on the May 11 consent agenda). Acting City Council President Barlow convened at 6:08 pm. Members present: Bergman, Broderick, Carpenter, Grant, Litwin, McKnight, Neubieser (in person until 8:39 pm, then on Zoom at 9:05 pm), Sanchez-Parkinson, Schachter, Singh and Traverse (left at 6:15 pm and joined by Zoom, back in person at 7:53 pm). Also present: Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, City Attorney Brown, Interim Chief of Staff Alnasrawi and Lori Olberg.

  • Agenda adopted unanimously (Singh/McKnight).
  • 25-minute work session on the Net Zero Energy update from Burlington Electric; General Manager Springer spoke. See Net Zero Energy Update.
  • Public Forum 6:31 to 7:14 pm with about 20 speakers; Grant recused herself from the Forum so she could speak.
  • Consent agenda adopted unanimously (Schachter/McKnight), including the Oracle NetSuite financial system contract (up to $1,280,336.52), the CY25 paving contract amendment (total up to $2,039,754.60), the CY26 sidewalk project ($1,657,399.70 budget, contract up to $1,506,727.00), Project NeXT airport amendments and FAA grant, the Colchester radio tower sublease, and first reading of the Sewer Use Ordinance.
  • Resolution supporting health care workers in negotiations with the University of Vermont Medical Center adopted, as amended, 9:2:1 on a roll call (Neubieser/Broderick); Barlow and Singh voted no, Traverse recused.
  • Firefighter Appreciation Day (May 4) resolution adopted unanimously (Litwin/Schachter).
  • Fourth amendment to the CityPlace ARDA 2.0 (inclusionary housing delivery timeline): information item, no vote taken.
  • Minimum housing registration fee ordinance, second reading, adopted unanimously (Bergman/Carpenter).
  • Indoor entertainment permit for Lucky You and tobacco license for Kampus Kitchen each approved unanimously (Broderick/Singh).
  • Adjourned by Acting President Barlow at 10:03 pm.

Net zero energy work session

See Net Zero Energy Update. Springer spoke; the minutes record no motion.

Public Forum

Topics only; the minutes record no positions. Burlington residents in person: William "Gil" Livingston (committee assignments), Giles Cheney (a resolution on CIR, VFNHP and SSU), Teagan Cook (a resolution for union support), Rhys Niedecker (bargaining resolution, UVMHN), Nick Persampieri (net zero energy update), Gina Bannerman and Beth (small business assistance), Andrea Viets (senior and older adult services), Dave Maher (city affairs, homeless), Melo Grant (general city affairs), Romeo von Hermann (Council), Michael Nedell (drug usage in public), Lisa K. Lax (net zero) and Misky Noor (how this affects low income residents). Online: Pike Porter (net zero energy is not on track and emissions can be reduced more quickly) and Sharon Bushor (salvage yard). Non-Burlington residents in person: Leendert Huisman (net zero energy update), Leslie Swackhamer (McNeil power plant) and Nicole Dritta (reading a statement for Mike Popvitch). Online: Brian Clifford (comment on the removal of Melo Grant as Public Safety Committee Chair).

Adopted unanimously (Schachter/McKnight). Items:

  • Accountability List placed on file; FIO documents received for information; communication from Joanna Rankin about April 13 Public Forum comments placed on file; Update on the 2026 Legislative Session placed on file.
  • Standing Committee Appointments from Council President Traverse placed on file.
  • 2026-2027 tobacco license and tobacco substitute endorsement renewals and indoor and outdoor entertainment permit renewals (standard conditions) approved as listed.
  • Fire Department authorized to bill transporting EMS agencies for Advanced Life Support intercepts at the approved EMS District 3 contract rate, and the Chief Engineer to execute reimbursement agreements.
  • Certificate of approved location of a salvage yard for Queen City Iron and Metal Co. Inc. approved (Bushor spoke on the salvage yard in the Public Forum).
  • Library: Youth Services Clerk (AFSCME Grade 14) reclassified from full-time (40 hours) to part-time (20 hours), and the part-time Early Literacy Outreach Coordinator reclassified from AFSCME Grade 10 to Grade 13.
  • Church Street Marketplace kiosk: Mayor authorized to execute a three-year lease with Sabah's House, LLC for food and beverage operations.
  • Burlington City Arts: donation of the artwork "Into the Woods" by Andrea Wasserman and Elizabeth Billings from Burlington Harbor Hotel Group accepted.
  • Conservation Legacy Fund: $3,500 approved for an appraisal of 451 Ethan Allen Parkway.
  • Public Works authorized to execute a cost share agreement for the UVM Main Street gravel wetland construction using MS4 Community Formula Grant funds.
  • Minutes approved for the April 8 special Council meeting, and the April 13 regular Council, Local Control Commission and Council With Mayor Presiding meetings.
  • Detail for the larger items: Financial ERP System Contract, CY25 Paving Contract Budget Amendment, CY26 Sidewalk Reconstruction Contract, Project NeXT North Concourse Funding Amendments, Public Safety Radio Tower Sublease and Industrial Pollution Prevention Ordinance.

Labor negotiations resolution

See UVM Medical Center Labor Negotiations Resolution. Roll call 9:2:1.

Firefighter Appreciation Day

Resolution declaring May 4 International Firefighter Appreciation Day in Burlington, sponsored by Litwin, Schachter, Traverse, Carpenter, Singh, Barlow and McKnight, adopted unanimously (Litwin/Schachter).

CityPlace inclusionary housing timeline

See CityPlace Inclusionary Housing Timeline Amendment. Alnasrawi, Gummi Johnson, Patrick O'Brien and Dave Farrington spoke. No vote taken; it returned on May 11.

Minimum housing registration fees

See Minimum Housing Registration Fees Ordinance. DPI Director Ward spoke; adopted unanimously.

Licenses

Indoor entertainment permit for Lucky You (190 College Street) and tobacco license with tobacco substitute endorsement for Kampus Kitchen (273 Colchester Avenue) were each approved as presented, unanimously (Broderick/Singh).

Sources