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Upcoming Events
SEPTEMBER
9/17, 6:00pm: CCRPC Commission Meeting
9/22, 10am: Milton US7 Advisory Committee Meeting
9/24, 2:30pm: CCRPC Planning Advisory Committee Meeting
OCTOBER
10/1, 5:45pm: CCRPC Executive Committee Meeting
10/6, 6pm: Milton US7 Public Meeting
10/7, 9am: CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting
10/14, 9am: LEPC-1 Meeting
10/15, 6:00pm: CCRPC Commission Meeting
10/15, 6:15pm: PUBLIC HEARING - CCRPC Public Engagement Plan draft
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Chittenden County Traffic Alert
Construction season is in full swing! Stay in the know by signing up for our weekly Traffic Alert emails -- your source for roadway and construction work in Chittenden
County.
Sign up today:
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| | Community Transportation Opportunities | |
1 out of every 5 seniors aged 65 and older no longer drives, yet over 80% of suburban and rural Chittenden County elders have limited transit access. Would you like to help them with their transportation needs? Volunteer drivers use their personal vehicles to take seniors and people with disabilities to medical appointments, grocery stores and life-enriching activities throughout Chittenden County.
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| | Burlington Ranks # 1 in Urbanful's Top 10 Smartest Cities | |
As the start of another school year brings the issue of America's education system back up for national debate, we look at the cities where our schools are thriving. According to metrics including graduation rates, test scores, student-teacher ratios, and local resources, these are the metros where students receive the best America has to offer in Kindergarten through collegiate education.
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| | CCRPC Senior Planner Wins National Photo Contest | |
Lee Krohn, CCRPC Senior Planner, submitted his photo of Richmond's West Monitor Barn and solar panels to the NADO Photo Contest, and the image was selected as the winner for the "Strengthening our Built and Natural Environments" category.
View a large version of Lee's photo here.
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| | Have You Joined Front Porch Forum? | |
Front Porch Forum's mission is to help neighbors connect and build community. It does that by hosting regional networks of online neighborhood forums. Common sense and a growing body of research tell us that well-connected neighborhoods are friendlier places to live, with less crime, healthier residents, higher property values, and better service from local government and public utilities.
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| | Fall into Volunteering with United Way |
Looking for ways to volunteer this fall? Check out United Way of Chittenden County's Fall 2014 Ways of Caring Newsletter for a variety of different volunteer options.
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| | Eat Local Week: October 5-13 |
Love local farmers and the delicious food they grow? Celebrate with City Market during Eat Local Week! This week-long nod to Vermont's farmers, producers, chefs, and home cooks is for anyone who loves to eat. Kick things off at the South End Truck Stop on Friday, October 4, then clear your calendars for a week of great food and good fun.
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| | CCRPC Participates in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge | |
The CCRPC completed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on September 5 and challenged three neighboring RPCs.
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| | | New & Improved Vermont Information Planning Center Website |
The Vermont Planning Information Center is a clearing house of information for planning commissions, zoning boards, development review boards, their staff, and all others involved in land planning and regulation in Vermont.
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American Red Cross
 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm; Saturday, 7:30am-1pm
Call or go online to schedule an appointment today.
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As the regional planning commission, we know that inclusive community engagement is the foundation that will lead to improved problem-solving methods, decision-making, and long-term solutions that meet the needs of our growing and increasingly diverse community. As part of our ongoing efforts to engage the public in our planning and policy work, we have completed a draft 2014 Public Engagement Plan (PEP), which will be used to engage community members in the neighborhoods and towns in the decision making process.
The draft PEP is an update to our 2008 Public Participation Plan and provides the methodology for involving the public in our work, using both traditional and innovative outreach methods. It outlines our principles and goals, aligns our strategies and activities with specific levels of engagement appropriate to each, and provides evaluation methods for determining the effectiveness of our engagement activities. The PEP is a key implementation activity of Strategy 8 in the ECOS Plan: Ensure that projects and actions in all ECOS Strategies assess equity impacts, and that the design and development of programs are inclusive of all and engage underrepresented populations.
On Wednesday, October 15 at 6:15pm, there will be a public hearing at the CCRPC office to review and hear public comments on the proposed Plan. From now until then, we encourage you to review the draft Plan and provide your feedback. We have created a two-page Update Summary that highlights the importance of this initiative, the changes we've made, and the reasons behind the 2014 revision. This is a great document to start with.
If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us. With equitable public engagement at the forefront of our initiatives, we will continue to strive to meet the needs of all our residents and work toward our shared vision for an inclusive, healthy and prosperous Chittenden County. |
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Of Note
Bernie Ferenc Recognized for 30 Years with CCRPC
Staff gathered on Friday, 9/5 to recognize Bernie Ferenc, Transportation Business Manager, on the anniversary of her 30th year with the CCRPC (CCMPO)! Thank you for your many dedicated years, Bernie!
Open Streets BTV: Burlington's First Ciclovia Coming This Sunday, 9/21!
Open Streets BTV is a celebration of one of the city's largest public spaces -- our streets! On Sunday, 9/21 from 9am-2pm, three miles of streets in the Old North End neighborhood will be closed to cars and opened to people. Events are free and will include: yoga, chair massages, Zumba, face painting, dancing, a bounce house, local musicians, food vendors, helmet decorating, mural painting, games, and much more. People can bring bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, or just their family or friends. [Learn More]
Phones Down, Heads Up: Beginning October 1, Vermont is Hands-Free
Effective October 1, using a handheld cell phone while driving is illegal. Each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,600 are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. All distractions endanger the safety of drivers, passengers and bystanders, and cell phone use is the number one distraction behind the wheel. Make sure to know the full details of the law; click the image below:
 | | L to R: Peter Keating, CCRPC Senior Transportation Planner, and Chris Dubin, CCRPC Transportation Planner, donate blood during the CCRPC-hosted drive on August 28th. |
First CCRPC Blood Drive Yields 14 Pints for American Red Cross The American Red Cross turned the CCRPC conference room into a blood donation center on August 28th, the CCRPC's first hosted blood drive. During the drive, 16 people donated blood -- 7 of whom were first-time donors. Thank you to everyone who participated in this event! [Learn More]
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Transportation News
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Vermont's Traffic Congestion: An Interview with CCRPC's Michele Boomhower
The big-city problem of traffic congestion avoided Vermont for many years, but now traffic tie-ups are common in Chittenden County and beyond. The Burlington Free Press wanted to know how the problem is being addressed and turned to Michele Boomhower at the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. [Read the Article]
VTrans Accepting Applications for the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program
The TA Program provides funds to either develop scoping (feasibility) studies or to develop projects that lead to construction. Applications are due, postmarked or in-hand, by Thursday, October 16, 2014. [Learn More]
Register Now for the Chittenden County Regional Highway Safety Forum: October 1
Presented by the Vermont Highway Safety Alliance, this is an opportunity to learn about the resources and partners available to you and your community as we strive toward safety for all highway users. View the agenda here. [Learn More & Register]
CCRPC Summer Intern Highlights
The CCRPC interns had a busy summer! Some of the highlights include traffic data collection ( 69 turning movement counts, 19 traffic counts, 2 bicycle/pedestrian Counts); sidewalk, culvert, road condition and sign inventories in 10 municipalities; and training exposure by attending the July TPI meeting, a Vermont Local Roads training, and TRB Tools of the Trade Transportation Conference sessions. For more information on transportation internships with CCRPC, contact Chris Dubin.
City of Burlington Leads the Way with Launch of Employee Bikeshare Program
Mayor Miro Weinberger launched the City Green Employee Bikeshare Program, now available to all City of Burlington employees. The program was fully funded by a wellness grant from the City's health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont (BCBSVT), as part of BCBSVT's efforts to reduce healthcare costs by encouraging active, healthy employee lifestyles. The program, currently with a fleet of 15 bicycles, allows all employees to use bicycles for work-related and recreational use during the workday. Employee bikesharing encourages physical activity and employee wellness, reduces the City's carbon footprint, frees downtown parking for shoppers and visitors, and is typically faster than a car or bus for short trips. [Learn More]
Transportation Project News
Recent Completed Scoping Studies - Final Reports Available
New Transportation Projects Underway
The following new projects are getting underway, and websites for each will be available within the coming months:
- Charlotte Village Area Projects, including: 1.) Intersection of US7/Ferry Road/Church Hill; 2.) Park & Ride Scoping Study; 3.) Sidewalk Scoping Study, Ferry Road from US7 to Greenbush Road
- Underhill Sidewalk Implementation Project
- Milton Sidewalk Scoping Studies
- Hinesburg Sidewalk Scoping Studies
- Burlington Parking Management Plan
- Burlington Residential Parking Study
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Emma Long: elong@ccrpcvt.org.
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Economy
Implementing ECOS Strategy 1
LCRCC eLearning Center - New Look & Resources
The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce's eLearning Center has a new look and loads of courses to help train employers and employees - including courses in Microsoft, Customer Service, Human Resources, Management, Accounting & Finance, Business Communication, Social Media, and much more. [Learn More]
Chittenden County CEDS Accepted by US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA)
On September 9, the EDA accepted the Chittenden County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), part of the ECOS Plan. The CEDS document is a community-based undertaking coordinated by the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation in an effort to inventory economic development activities taking place within the county. [Learn More]
Vermont Small Business Development Center Offers Workshops
The Vermont Small Business Development Center as part of its many business services is offering several workshops for those thinking about starting their own business - taking their idea and turning it into a full venture. The workshops are held throughout the fall at various locations around the state. [Learn More]
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Quality of Place
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Municipal Planning Grants Due September 30
The Municipal Planning Grant (MPG) program encourages and supports planning and revitalization for local municipalities in Vermont. Awarded annually and administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the MPG program works to strengthen Vermont by funding local planning initiatives that support statewide planning goals. Applications for FY15 MPGs are due September 30 by 7pm. [Learn More]
Chittenden County CAPE Community Meeting: October 3
The UVM Center for Rural Studies and the Chittenden County RPC will hold a community behavioral health lunch meeting on Friday, October 3, 2014 at the UVM Davis Center. The purpose of this meeting is to share recent results from a behavioral health benchmarking exercise and to build effective action plans for improving priority behavioral health-related needs. If you are interested in learning more about the CAPE Project and attending this luncheon meeting, contact Melanie Needle at the CCRPC. RSVPs must be received by September 26. [Learn More]
VLCT Fall Planning & Zoning Forum: October 29
The Vermont League of Cities and Towns Fall Planning and Zoning Forum offers participants a chance to discuss pressing issues in municipal planning and zoning with knowledgeable officials from across the state. The workshop provides a dynamic mix of legal information, practical solutions, and policy discussions, as well as many opportunities to ask questions and share experiences. AICP Certification Maintenance credits are being sought for this workshop. [Learn More]
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Energy & Natural Resources
Implementing ECOS Strategy 4
Electric Vehicle Showcase at UVM: Thursday, September 18
This week is National Drive Electric Week, a nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of today's widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. On September 18, 2014 Vermont Clean Cities along with Drive Electric Vermont will be hosting an electric vehicle showcase to celebrate National Drive Electric week. Stop by the UVM Davis Center between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm to learn more about electric vehicles and see a few models currently available in Vermont. [Learn More]
National Drive Electric Week at the UMall
Vermont's largest electric car showcase! Join Drive Electric Vermont in celebration of National Drive Electric Week with an all-day fun-filled event. Free and open to the public. [Learn More]
CCRPC Hinesburg Representative Andrea Morgante Receives Art Gibb Award
During the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) Annual Meeting on Thursday, 9/18, this year's Art Gibb Award for Individual Leadership will be presented to Andrea Morgante of Hinesburg for her significant conservation efforts. Art Gibb, who passed in 2005 at the age of 97, served on the Vermont Legislature and Senate and was closely involved with the formation of Vermont's environmental laws and regulations. "Andrea is a tireless advocate for natural resources and strong communities who has been able to build bridges among many different constituencies," said Brian Shupe, VNRC's executive director. "She doesn't seek the spotlight, but she's been extremely effective in her advocacy work." Congratulations, Andrea! [Learn More]
New England Clean Power Link Lake Symposium: October 9
The Symposium will be an interactive meeting between interested stakeholders and experts from Middlebury College, The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Exponent, and HDR Engineering who will discuss the following topics: (1) overview of the Project and proposed installation techniques within the Lake; (2) water quality modeling; (3) thermal and magnetic modeling; (4) sediment composition; and (5) marine archaeology.[Learn More & Register]
Brighter Vermont Video: Vermonters are Driving Electric! 
Meet the Needles, a family in Burlington, Vermont who are leasing an electric vehicle. The video features CCRPC Senior Planner Melanie Needle and her family, and was created by the Vermont Energy Action Network. [Watch the Video]
Stormwater Master Planning Webinar Series
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's Ecosystem Restoration Program, in association with Watershed Consulting Associates, will present a series of five webinars covering several different model templates to be considered when developing a stormwater master plan for your site or community. Each webinar will discuss general and specific methods to use, what type of community should consider using each template, and funding sources that each template's proposed projects will qualify for under State of Vermont funding guidelines. The webinars are free and run September 19 through November 14. [Learn More]
 Button Up Vermont Video Contest
Be part of the Button Up Video Contest! Capstone Community Action is looking for very short videos that inspire viewers to take action to lower their heating costs and do something positive for the planet. The competition runs September 2 to October 19. There is no entry fee and prizes will be awarded in several categories. Contest details and other background information are available at ButtonUpVt.org.
Contact
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Emergency Preparedness
Implementing ECOS Strategy 5
September is Preparedness month in Vermont and nationwide
There are simple ways to prepare, and more involved steps you can take down the road. Information is your greatest tool in any disaster or weather event. Vermont Alert allows you to receive weather, transportation, or other incident updates via text, e-mail, or phone for the areas where you live and work. [Sign up for Vermont Alert]New Website: Flood Ready Vermont
Flood damage has become more common and more costly. All over the state, selectboard members, planning commission members, town officials, planners, and residents are working to address known flood risks and to avoid increasing their exposure to flood damage. Check out Flood Ready Vermont, a new website with online tools, maps and useful information to help communities become flood resilient. [Learn More]
Reminder: Important Changes Regarding Vermont's Emergency Relief & Assistance Fund (ERAF)
Following the recovery from Tropical Storm Irene, the State of Vermont modified its standard for managing the State's ERAF. The new standard, which will be effective for any disaster after October 23, 2014, is structured to encourage municipalities to take four basic steps to prepare their their communities before the next disaster. [Letter from Jeb Spaulding]
>> NOTE: The CCRPC is tracking progress within Chittenden County in regards to towns meeting these eligibility requirements. Please contact Dan Albrecht at the CCRPC with any questions.
Contact
For questions regarding Emergency Preparedness, including LEPC 1 or 5, please contact Lee Krohn in the CCRPC office.
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Save the Date
Regional Events
Hunger Free Vermont's 2014 Hike For Hunger: September 27
Enjoy a beautiful morning walk at Catamount Outdoor Family Center; hike either a 1.5- or 3-mile loop; fundraise as an individual or a team with your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. Contact Monica Taylor for more details. [Learn More]
Renewable Energy 2014 Conference & Expo: October 16 & 17
Renewable Energy 2014 (RE 2014) is Vermont's annual convention bringing together key players in the renewables sector. This year's conference, slated for October 16 & 17, highlights current energy challenges, Vermont's leadership role in the energy industry, and the steps needed to implement an integrated energy infrastructure. [Learn More & Register]
Local Motion's Annual Party and Volunteer Celebration: October 19
Come enjoy great food and festivities with friends! Take in the art show, share your ideas for walking and biking in our next 15 years, and be moved by the live and local music. This event is hosted in partnership with Burlington City Arts and Shelburne Farms and is free to members, volunteers and supporters of Local Motion. [Learn More]
Vermont Community Development Association 2014 Fall Meeting, Community Tour & Annual Meeting: October 23
Theme: Economic Gardening - Growing, Cultivating and Creating Jobs. Contact Theresa Bachand at VLCT for more information at (802) 229-9111 or tbachand@vlct.org.
Doug Crowell Lecture Series - Searching for True: October 30
The Vermont Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects [VTASLA] is excited to announce the upcoming 2014 Doug Crowell Lecture Series presentation, titled Searching for True by James Cutler, FAIA from Cutler Anderson Architects, Bainbridge Island, WA. James Cutler, founding partner of Cutler Anderson Architects (1977 to present) has been known for his environmental and emotional sensitivity to place, institution, program, climate and cultural circumstance. [Learn More]
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If you have questions, feedback, or suggested content for upcoming issues, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact us. 
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