2026-05-18 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official City Council minutes of May 18, 2026 (adoption is evidenced by a later Council consent agenda; the vote was not separately checked). Convened 6:07 pm, adjourned 9:55 pm. Present in person: President Traverse, Barlow, Bergman, Broderick, Carpenter, Grant, Litwin, McKnight, Sanchez-Parkinson, Schachter and Singh; online: Neubieser. Also present: Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, CAO Schad, COS Gerlach, CEDO Director Alnasrawi, Deputy COS Zakaras, Fire Chief Curtin and TIF consultant David White; City Attorney Brown and Assistant City Attorney Sturtevant online.

Agenda amended and adopted unanimously (McKnight/Bergman): the OPC (Overdose Prevention Center) update work session (item 3, per CEDO Director Alnasrawi) and the resolution on Advancing Indigenous Equity, Recognition, And Community Partnership (item 7.5, per Sanchez-Parkinson) were removed.
Executive session on the AFSCME (Local 1343) union negotiation update, 6:11 to 6:37 pm, under 1 VSA 313(a)(1)(B); both motions made by McKnight and seconded by Bergman. No action recorded. See AFSCME Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Public Forum 6:37 to 7:43 pm with about 27 speakers, most on the proposed Abenaki totem pole donation. Grant recused herself from the forum so that she could speak.
Consent agenda adopted unanimously (Schachter/Bergman); Schachter recused herself from item 6.10 (Jazzfest umbrella permit) for a professional conflict of interest.
Waterfront TIF substantial change request to the Vermont Economic Progress Council approved unanimously (Barlow/Bergman) after a public hearing.
Chittenden Solid Waste District FY2027 budget approved unanimously (Barlow/Schachter).
Acceptance of the Abenaki public art donation FAILED 1:11 on a roll call (Sanchez-Parkinson/Carpenter); only Carpenter voted aye.
Safety and security guide signage resolution adopted unanimously (Singh/Schachter).
Housing inspection ordinance adopted on second reading, unanimously (Bergman/Broderick). Consumer protection ordinance second reading was also on the agenda; the minutes text is cut off before the result.
FY27 General Fund budget overview presented (information only). Committee reports, councilor and President updates carried no recorded detail. Adjourned 9:55 pm.

Executive session and union bargaining

See AFSCME Collective Bargaining Agreement. City Attorney Brown spoke. The Council found that premature public knowledge of the status of labor negotiations would clearly place the City at a substantial disadvantage, then entered executive session to discuss bargaining a successor agreement with AFSCME (Local 1343), with the bargaining team and staff from the Mayor's Office, Human Resources, Finance and Administration and the City Attorney's Office.

Public Forum

Topics only; the minutes record no positions except where the topic itself names one. Residents (in person): Representative Troy Headrick, Greg Maguire, David Massell, Richard Witting, Abby Massell, Laura Massell, Miranda Post, Morgan Lamphere and Tyler Pastorok on the statue or public art donation; Brooke Fleischman listed as opposing the donation; Anne Tewksbury Frye (JUMP); Sky Mandel (public art from the Abenaki of Missisquoi); David Cawley (Burlington-Winooski Bridge project); Melo Grant (community safety). Online: Sharon Bushor (FY27 budget) and Evan Gould. Non-Burlington residents in person: Zachary Bennett, Denise L. Watso, Chawna Cota, Richard Menard, Robert Richard, Chief Brenda Gagne, Kristian Brevik, Jules Lees, Brian Wiggins and Jeffrey Benay on the totem pole or statue, and Margaret Kabbeko (item 7.4); online: Donald Nolett (proposed Chief Greylock). See Missisquoi Abenaki Public Art Donation.

All adopted together unanimously. Items:

Accountability List placed on file; FIO documents received for information; minutes approved for the May 11, 2026 regular Council meeting, Local Control Commission and Council With Mayor Presiding meetings (2026-05-11 - City Council, 2026-05-11 - City Council With Mayor Presiding).
Sale of 13 surplus self-contained breathing apparatus units to the Town of Fair Haven, Vermont for $22,750, with the proceeds ($22,750) appropriated to the Fire Department's FY2026 operating budget for repairs to the SCBA filling station.
The 4% AEMT incentive for non-union Fire Department employees made pensionable compensation for average final compensation purposes (BERS contributions on base wages plus the incentive).
Special event outdoor entertainment permits: Burlington City Arts at City Hall Park, June 12 and 13, 2026, 6 pm to 11:30 pm (FIFA World Cup games); Burlington Odd Fellows, June 27, 2026, noon to 8 pm; umbrella permit for the Flynn Center Jazzfest, June 3 to 7, 2026.
Sidewalk outdoor seating encumbrance permits for Bar Renee (202 Main Street) and The Wise Fool (260 North Street); first amendment to the DEW Construction Corp license agreement extending use of the right-of-way for construction fencing at 25 Cherry Street through July 3, 2026.
Water Metering Services Reorganization.
Contract with S.D. Ireland Brothers Corporation for 2026 Water Distribution Improvements, $1,326,385.00 plus $265,277.00 contingency.
Reclassification of an Assistant City Attorney (Director of General Government and Transactional Services, Grade 26) to Assistant City Attorney, Grade 24.
Resignation of Lisa Gerlach from the Housing Board of Review accepted; vacancy to be advertised in Seven Days and a letter of appreciation sent.
Sublease of the 180 College Street kiosk from Taste of France LLC to Sabah's House LLC through the end of the lease (July 31, 2026).
Small Business Support Specialist (Grade 15) reclassified to Economic Development Specialist (Grade 18) in CEDO.
A communication from R. Marcus West placed on file.
Airport: Residential Sound Insulation Program Phase 6 contract and grant, see Airport Residential Sound Insulation Oversight Contract; Cargo Apron grant and contracts, see Airport Cargo Apron Construction Grant.
Resolution authorizing submission of the 2026 Burlington One-Year Action Plan to HUD (Schachter), see Community Development Block Grant 2026 Action Plan.

Waterfront TIF substantial change request

See Waterfront Tax Increment Financing Change Request. Public hearing opened 8:10 pm and closed 8:15 pm; Alnasrawi and David White presented slides, and Bushor commented online. Barlow moved and Bergman seconded the request to the Vermont Economic Progress Council; passed unanimously.

Chittenden Solid Waste District budget

Sarah Reeves and Lee Perry presented slides online. Barlow moved and Schachter seconded approval of the District's FY2027 budget as presented; passed unanimously.

Abenaki public art donation

See Missisquoi Abenaki Public Art Donation. REIB Director Perkins and Burlington City Arts' Colin Storrs were online. The motion was to accept a donated work with a total value of $20,000 from the Missisquoi Abenaki Nation and to spend up to $25,000 on site preparation. Failed 1:11 on a roll call.

Safety and security signage resolution

See Public Spaces Safety Signage Resolution. Singh moved and Schachter seconded; adopted unanimously.

Ordinances

See Housing Inspection Ordinance Amendment and Consumer Protection Ordinance Revision. Assistant City Attorney Sturtevant and the Permitting and Inspections director were online for the housing item.

FY27 General Fund budget overview

See Fiscal Year 2027 City Budget. The 25-minute item was an information presentation of the Mayor's budget to the Council; no motion is recorded.

Sources

Minutes, City Council, May 18, 2026: https://burlingtonvt.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=20144)