Year Ended June 30, 2010
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YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS Police Department . 54 Public Works Department . 58 City Government School Department . 62 City Organizational Chart . 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Telecom, Burlington . 64 Mayor’s Message . 3 Design/Production City Officials Appointed by the Mayor . 6 Futura Design Regional Organizations’ Vermont Legislators . 7 Annual Reports Cover Photos Phyllis Bartling Mayors of Burlington . 7 Chittenden County Printing City Council . 8 Transportation Authority . 65 Villanti & Sons, Printers, Inc. City Council Committees . 9 Chittenden Solid Waste District . 67 This material can City Departments & Office Hours . 10 Winooski Valley Park District . 69 be made available Important Dates . 11 in alternate formats for persons with City Holidays . 11 Miscellaneous disabilities. Board of School Commissioners . 12 Annual Town Meeting Day Results . 71 This report is also City Commissioners . 13 Salaries . 72 available online at www.ci.burlington.vt.us Regularly Scheduled General Obligation Debt . 100 Commission Meetings . 18 Appraised Valuation . 100 Tax Exempt Property Summary . 100 Department Annual Reports Burlington Legacy Project . 19 Financial Report . 101 Airport, Burlington International . 22 Arts, Burlington City . 23 Assessor’s Office . 25 Attorney, Office of the City . 26 This publication was printed on 100% Church Street Marketplace . 28 post-consumer recycled paper certified to the FSC® standard. City Clerk/Treasurer, Office of the . 30 It was manufactured using high solid inks containing less than 1% Code Enforcement . 33 VOC and 100% Green-e® Certified Renewable Energy. Community and Economic Development Office . 35 Electric Department . 38 Fire Department . 40 Housing Authority . 42 Human Resources Department . 43 Fletcher Free Library . 45 Parks & Recreation Department . 48 Planning & Zoning Department . 52 2010 Annual Financial Report 1 CITY ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THE VOTERS WARD CLERKS & SCHOOL INSPECTORS OF COMMISSIONER S4 ELECTIO N4 MAYO R CITY COUNCI L4 AUTHORITY TO: AUTHORITY TO: • carry out laws and ordinances • set City Policy with Mayor • appoint department heads • pass Legislation through pas - sage of ordinances subject to • assure performance of jobs by Mayor’s veto* subordinate officers • pass resolutions with Mayor* • recommend measures • approve Mayor’s budget • act as Chief Peace Officer • approve supplementary • prepare annual budget interbudgetary transfers • act as Chairman of Board • with Mayor, set annual tax rate of Finance • establish rules for conduct of City Council meetings CITY OFFICERS KEY & DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER S! HEAD S (for list, see page 13) Elected at large (for list, see page 6) 4 Elected at large by ward Appointed by the Mayor subject to the approval of City Council ! Appointed by the City Council or City Council SUPERINTENDENT L BOARD OF FINANC E M with Mayor presiding L AUTHORITY TO: Appointed by the Board of School Commissioners • act as trustees of public money • establish accounting system * Ordinances relate to external matters while • provide monthly reports and Resolutions relate to PRINCIPALS annual audit internal matters • select official depository M Mayor, Chief • authorize budget line item Administrative Officer, changes President of City • be responsible for care and Council, and two control of public buildings Councilors elected by the City Council 2 City of Burlington, Vermont MAYOR’S MESSAGE iscal Year 2010 (FY10) kicked off with the regulatory process at the Vermont F Burlington’s Quadricentennial Celebration Public Service Board to develop a cure marking the 400th anniversary of French that will bring it into compliance with its explorer Samuel de Champlain’s arrival in Certificate of Public Good. Vermont. The July celebration of the Quadricen - tennial – and the Burlington International Water - Here are some other highlights of the front Festival – was a spectacular way to commence past year: FY10. The event included fireworks, music, Strengthening Infrastructure Bob Kiss Vermont’s largest-ever parade, and a broad Burlington Telecom provides the City Mayor range of performances, weaving together 400 with a valuable telecommunications infra - years of history and encompassing Anglo, French , structure. In FY10 the City continued its empha - Quebec, and Native cultures. It served to draw sis on addressing other long-term infrastructure tens of thousands of people, international digni - needs. DPW continued work on one of the most taries, and other visitors from around the world substantial street repaving efforts in Burlington’s to Vermont. history, funded by a $5.5 million bond and 2.0 The Quadricentennial was highlighted in cent increase to the dedicated tax for street last year’s annual report. It is a signature event work approved by Burlington voters in Novem - to keep in mind in this review as well. ber of 2008. This enhanced street work will con - Financial Resilience tinue through FY 2011 and FY 2012. DPW also FY10 continued to see challenging economic managed over $1 million in federal Recovery conditions for cities, states, and the federal gov - Act funding to make substantial improvements ernment coming out of the “Great Recession” to the City’s stormwater system. of 2008 and 2009. Many cities were forced to cut services and raise taxes while facing the potential for even greater shortfalls in the future. In FY10 Burlington maintained a high level of services without the need to increase property taxes to fund City operations, and at the same time enhanced capital investment in streets and parks through voter-approved dedicated tax increases. Successful municipal government should put people first, help to build a sustainable community, and support democracy, civic par - ticipation, and a high quality of life. This cannot happen without the efforts of City staff, the contributions of Burlington’s for profit and non- profit business community, residents, the City Council, and numerous City commissions and Boards. Everyone can share in all of Burlington’s many accomplishments. Working collectively, Burlington will continue to be a successful city. Mayor Kiss in DC to testify on green economic develpment, with Sen. Sanders, Mayor Euille of Alexandria, VA, and Mayor Palmer of Trenton, Burlington Telecom NJ (photo: Wendy Wilkerson/USMayor). There continues to be significant attention devoted to Burlington Telecom’s financial and regulatory Supporting a Vibrant Local Economy challenges. BT is a tremendous asset to the City • The City continued to move forward on the of Burlington. With a head-end capable of serv - Moran Redevelopment Project. The concep - ing up to 100,000 households, it has significant tual plan for the re-use of this decommis - potential for other cities and towns in Vermont sioned power plant on the Waterfront was at a time when broadband access is essential to approved by 65% of voters in March 2008. our economic future. At this writing the City is The Moran redevelopment plan will revitalize working with its financial advisors Dorman & the northern end of the Waterfront with a Fawcett to improve BT’s financial status and variety of uses and activities, with enhanced move forward. BT is working its way through public access. The project will result in signifi - 2010 Annual Financial Report 3 MAYOR’S MESSAGE (continued) cant improvements at and near the site, utility assistance, home sharing, home- and including upgrades to the bike path, road center-based senior services, and other hous - surfaces, and pedestrian walkways. ing assistance to help over 5,000 residents • Economic development activities supported remain housed and living independently. the start-up of 30 new businesses, helped to Building and Supporting Community retain/expand 18 businesses, led to the cre - • CEDO launched the “We All Belong” initiative ation of 365 new permanent FTE jobs and with 33 Americorps members supporting 17 916 construction jobs, and the retention of community agencies, schools and City depart - 485 permanent FTE jobs. ments. Members helped families access basic • The City’s Community Development Block needs services as well as supported cultural Grants (CDBG) for economic development competency efforts at the City’s schools and leveraged over $46 million in private and other agencies. other public investment and supported • The Neighborhood Planning Assemblies increased annual property tax revenues of (NPAs), the CDBG process, 10th Annual $297,293 and $342,718 in rent, parking Neighborhood Night of Success, Neighbor - revenues, and rooms, meals and sales taxes. hood Improvement Night, and many other • Among other things, the City welcomed Terry resident-driven initiatives brought the public Precision Bicycles to Burlington, and saw the into City decision-making and celebrated resi - expansion of Dealer.com (and its plans for dent contributions to the community. adding 300 new jobs) as well as a 16,000 • Burlington’s public schools continue to have square foot expansion to the Courtyard high teaching and learning standards while Burlington Harbor hotel. The local economy’s serving as true “community” schools with a resilience continued to be reinforced by the range of services and programs. The District strong presence of educational and healthcare persisted towards goals of socio-economic institutions such as Fletcher Allen Health Care, equity and cultural competence. Vermont’s the University of Vermont, Champlain College, first magnet schools at Barnes and Wheeler and Burlington College. elementary schools – the Sustainability