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2026-08-24 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official City Council minutes of August 24, 2026 (approved on the September 14 consent agenda). Convened 6:08 pm, adjourned 8:13 pm. Present in person: President Traverse, Barlow, Carpenter, Grant, Litwin, McKnight, Sanchez-Parkinson, Schachter and Singh; Broderick online. Absent: Bergman and Neubieser. Also present: Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, Deputy COS Zakaras, City Attorney Brown and Lori Olberg.

  • Agenda adopted unanimously (Singh/McKnight).
  • Executive session on security at City Hall and related legal advice, 6:11 to 6:45 pm (both motions by McKnight; seconded by Schachter and Singh). No action recorded.
  • Public Forum 6:45 to 7:07 pm with eight speakers, mostly on Burlington Forward Initiative.
  • Consent agenda adopted unanimously (Litwin/Singh), including a $500,000 Traffic Fund transfer and $820,284 principal payment on the parking revenue note, a five-year Fines for Food extension, a YMCA childcare lease, two new Community Justice Center positions, the Ward Four polling place and a $2.5 million revenue anticipation note renewal.
  • Two special event permits approved unanimously (Grant/Litwin): SEABA Art Hop and the CSM event on the Opera Block.
  • Resolution requesting immediate state action on houselessness, mental illness, substance use disorder and criminal activity adopted unanimously by voice vote (Schachter/Sanchez-Parkinson).

Public Forum

Verbal comments: Bruce Wilson (Straight Talk Program), Lisa Denatale (Burlington Forward, general), Pardhasaradhi Namburi (direct democracy), Chris McGrath (Burlington Forward resolution), Charlie Messing (Burlington Forward and issues), Faried M. (City Hall Park food program), Romeo von Hermann (online, Team BTV) and Chris Morash (non-resident, new proposal). The minutes record topics only. Written communications placed on file on consent: Elise Pecor and Dylan Shelby on Burlington Forward, and the Burlington Street Culture Coalition and Concerned Citizens on modernizing ordinances for public art and busking. See Burlington Forward Initiative.

Houselessness State Action Resolution

Item 7.3 (25 minutes), sponsored by Councilors Bergman, Schachter, Sanchez-Parkinson, Traverse, Grant, Litwin, Broderick, Singh, Neubieser, Carpenter and Barlow. Motion by Schachter, seconded by Sanchez-Parkinson, to waive the reading and adopt. Passed unanimously by voice vote. See Houselessness State Action Resolution.

Parking Facilities Revenue Note

Consent items 6.3 and 6.17. See Parking Facilities Revenue Note.

Fines for Food Program

Consent item 6.4. See Fines for Food Program.

Childcare Lease at Robert Miller Center

Consent item 6.6. See Robert Miller Center Childcare Lease.

Community Justice Center Positions

Consent item 6.14. See Community Justice Center New Positions.

Special Event Permits

  • 7.1 SEABA South End Arts District Art Hop, September 11 to 13, 2026: SEABA Director Christy Mitchell spoke; approved unanimously (Grant/Litwin).
  • 7.2 CSM, Opera Block in front of Pascolo Ristorante, September 18, 5 to 8 pm: approved unanimously (Grant/Litwin).

Adopted unanimously (Litwin/Singh): Accountability List; a Green Mountain Power electrical utility easement on Eagle Drive in South Burlington (Airport; Mayor authorized to execute the deed, subject to City Attorney review); minutes of the August 3 Council, Board of Civil Authority and Local Control Commission meetings; notice under 10 V.S.A. Sec. 6302(d) of the Winooski Valley Park District's acquisition of an interest in the Auer Family Boathouse Property on North Avenue; the 2026 RunVermont sponsor report; and Resolution on the designation of the Ward Four polling place (Councilors Barlow and Carpenter).

Sources