REGIONAL NOTES
October 2015
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CCRPC
CCRPC Calendar of Events

October

10/20: Vermont Collective Impact Conference [Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee]

10/21, 5:30pm: CCRPC Commission Training # 2 - Understanding Our Budget

10/21, 6:00pm: CCRPC Commission Meeting

10/22, 6:00pm: Winooski Transportation Plan Public Meeting [O'Brien Center, Winooski]

10/27, 6:30pm: Essex Junction Train Station Project Public Meeting [Village Offices, Essex Jct.]

10/29, 6:00pm: Railyard Enterprise Project Steering Committee Meeting [Burlington DPW]

10/29, 6:30pm: Vermont Transportation Board Public Hearing [Essex High School, Essex]

November

11/3, 9:00am: CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

11/4, 5:45pm: CCRPC Joint Executive & Finance Committee Meeting

11/5, 2:30pm: All Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee Meeting

11/18, 2:30pm: CCRPC Planning Advisory Committee Meeting

11/18, 5:30pm: CCRPC Commission Training # 3

11/18, 6:00pm: CCRPC Commission Meeting
 
CCRPC 
Commission Representatives

Bolton: Joss Besse

Buel's Gore: Garret Mott

Burlington: Andy Montroll, Chair

Charlotte: Jim Donovan

Colchester: Marc Landry

Essex: Jeff Carr

Essex Junction: Dan Kerin

Hinesburg: Andrea Morgante

Huntington: Barbara Elliott

Jericho: Catherine McMains

Milton: Lou Mossey

Richmond: Chris Granda

Shelburne: John Zicconi

South Burlington: Chris Shaw

St. George: Jeff Pillsbury

Underhill: Brian Bigelow

Westford: Dave Tilton

Williston: Chris Roy, Vice Chair

Winooski: Michael O'Brien

For more information, including Commission agendas and minutes, schedule and resources, click here.
 
CCRPC Weekly Traffic Alert

Sign up today to stay in the know about roadway and construction work happening in Chittenden County.

 
Around the County: Featured Photo of the Month
Click photo to enlarge.

Residents of Bolton gather at the Kilpeck's Barn on 10/1 for a public meeting about the Bolton Town Plan Update

Photo by Emily Nosse-Leirer
 

United Way Volunteer Opportunities: Winter & Holiday

Looking for ways to volunteer this winter and holiday season? Check out short-term and special event volunteer opportunities with the United Way for the coming months.

 

Volunteer with Neighbor Rides

Neighbor Rides is a strategic initiative of United Way of Chittenden County supported by a dynamic group of community partners that brings people and places together to help meet the transportation needs of seniors and persons with disabilities. This partnership uses volunteer drivers to leverage government and community-funded transportation programs and help more people by decreasing the cost per ride.

 

This past weekend in Chittenden County and throughout Vermont, many of us had our first snowfall of the season. Winter is on its way! As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, we find ourselves switching on more lights, raising the thermostat, and warming up the car. In doing so, many of us strive to find the best ways to conserve energy and save money as a result. With energy on our minds, we'd like to point you toward an opportunity to provide input on energy use in Vermont.

The Draft 2015 Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP) has been prepared by the Public Service Department to address Vermont's energy future for electricity, heating, industrial processing, transportation, and land use. This summer, members of the public, experts, and other stakeholders across the state provided input on energy use in Vermont that was then incorporated into the draft. Public hearings on the draft have been taking place across the state, and written comments are being accepted until November 9.

The 2011 CEP recommended that Vermont set a path to obtain 90% of our total energy from renewable sources by 2050. The 2015 update contains that same goal and is recommending more detail and interim steps to get there. Please take some time to review the draft 2015 CEP and submit your comments by November 9 using their online survey. Visit the CEP website for full details.

Best regards,

Charlie Baker
Executive Director
 
Transportation News
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Regional Active Transportation Plan: Two Ways to Get Involved
The CCRPC's Active Transportation Plan is underway! This Plan will provide the basis for future regional investments in walking and biking in Chittenden County. At this stage, there are two ways to get involved:

1.) Check out this interactive map. This will allow you to locate any particular places, routes, obstacles, safety concerns, etc. you'd like to comment on -- and you can add your feedback directly to the map.

2.) From October 22-24, there will be several workshops around the county to engage the public in small-scale walk/bike demonstration projects. We'll be in Milton, Jericho, Hinesburg, and Essex Junction.

Visit the Active Transportation Plan webpage for a full schedule and more details!
Winooski Transportation Plan: October 22 Public Forum & Online Survey
The City of Winooski and the CCRPC are collaborating in the development of a comprehensive multimodal transportation plan for the City, and public input is currently being gathered. At this stage, there are two ways to get involved:

1.) Attend a free community dinner and public meeting to share your thoughts and hear more about this project: Thursday, October 22, 6:00pm at the O'Brien Community Center in Winooski. [Learn More]

2.) Share your thoughts about transportation in Winooski by taking a 5-minute online survey, and be entered to win one of three $50 Shaw's gift cards! [Take the Survey]

Vermont Transportation Board Public Hearing: October 29
Join the Vermont Transportation Board for a public hearing in Essex Junction designed to engage the public in a conversation about public transportation and highway safety. Topics include bus service, the future of passenger rail, car sharing, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and how the legalization of marijuana could affect highway safety. October 29, 6:30pm at the Essex High School. [Learn More]
CCRPC, CATMA, and Six Other Chittenden County Employers Receive National Recognition as "Best Workplaces for Commuters"
Eight employers in Chittenden County received the national designation of Best Workplaces for Commuters by the National Center for Transit Research, an internationally recognized resource for transportation policy and education. This designation acknowledges employers who have excelled at implementing environmentally friendly commuter programs, including subsidized transit passes, ride matching services and a Guaranteed Ride Home Program. [Learn More]

Transportation Project News & Updates

For a full list of transportation projects, visit the CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee website; a full project list is provided in every TAC agenda and is updated regularly. [View the latest TAC agenda]
 
Economy
Implementing ECOS Strategy 1
Working Lands Enterprise Grant Opportunity
The Working Lands Enterprise Board has announced the availability of over $500,000 in grant funds for the 2016 program year. The application period opened on 10/1 with grants targeting essential, catalytic investments in Vermont's farm and forest economy. Grants will be available to Vermont agriculture and forest sector businesses, as well as service providers that provide the critical technical assistance needed for business growth. [Learn More]
Conference Gives High School Girls Opportunity to Learn About STEM Careers
Vermont Tech and Vermont Works for Women have entered into a unique partnership supported by The J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation to leverage their resources and expertise to increase the pipeline of young-women Vermonters investigating potential jobs and careers in science, engineering, technology and math fields in the years to come. [Learn More]
 
Energy & Natural Resources
Implementing ECOS Strategies 3 & 4
New Website: Clean Water Vermont
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Watershed Management Division just launched its new website, Clean Water Vermont, with helpful factsheets, presentations, and frequently asked questions. As part of the new Clean Water Initiative, the Clean Water Fund will allocate money to projects around the state with a specific focus on water quality. [Learn More]
Workplace EV Charging Station Incentive Program
Vermont Clean Cities, with support from the Vermont Public Service Department, is now offering two levels of incentives for the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at workplaces across the state. The incentives range from $525 to $1575 depending on the type of charging station. [Learn More]
Vermontivate! Featured in Yale Climate Connections Podcast
The Yale Center for Environmental Communication and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies have been collaborating on a podcast highlighting all manner of creative initiatives working on climate solutions. Vermontivate!, a sustainability game that helps Vermont residents take action to manage risks posed by climate change, was featured earlier this month. [Listen to the 90-Second Clip]
 
Quality of Place
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Burlington City Council Unanimously Approves Housing Plan
Describing a lack of housing, especially affordable housing, as the greatest impediment to the city's growth and vibrancy, city councilors unanimously adopted a plan on October 13th they hope will remedy the problem. [Learn More]
Bolton Town Plan Update: Take the Survey
The Bolton Planning Commission is updating the Bolton Town Plan, and community forums were held throughout September and October. For those who were unable to attend a forum, an online survey is available. [Learn More & Take the Survey]
 
Social Community
Implementing ECOS Strategies 5, 6 & 8
Community Forums on Child Care in Vermont
Vermont's child care challenge has a ripple effect through our communities and economy. How do we achieve high quality, affordable child care? Let's Grow Kids and sponsoring organizations are hosting community forums in seven communities across Vermont from October 26 to November 5. The forum in Chittenden County will take place in Essex on November 5. RSVP required. [Learn More]
Community Forums on Opiate Addiction: October 22 & November 10
The United Way of Chittenden County and other community partners will host two community forums about developing solutions for opiate addiction. Forum # 1, October 22: For Parents - Keeping Our Kids Safe. Forum # 2, November 10: For Families Impacted By Addiction - There is Hope. [Learn More]
Online Voter Registration Now Available in Vermont
Vermonters can now register to vote from the comfort of their own homes. Secretary of State Jim Condos says the new online voter registration system will improve access to democracy, and will also make elections less vulnerable to fraud. [Learn More]
 
Emergency Preparedness
Implementing ECOS Strategy 5
Richmond Chili & Pie Cookoff and Resilience Workshop: October 24
Help make sure Richmond -- and your family, business, farm, and neighborhood -- are prepared to withstand and recover from any challenges ahead. [Learn More]
Vermont Prepares for Potential Avian Influenza
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets is encouraging poultry owners, producers and enthusiasts to prepare for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which is expected to impact the East Coast in the fall of this year or spring of 2016. [Learn More]
Contact
For questions regarding emergency preparedness, including LEPC 1, please contact Lee Krohn in the CCRPC office.
 
Save the Date
Upcoming events in Chittenden County and beyond
Vermont Development Conference: November 4, 2015
Join more than 275 development and real estate professionals for a full day of networking, seminars and workshops. [Learn More]
Vermont Climate Economy Summit: February 22, 2016
Join the Vermont Council on Rural Development to review a platform of action developed by the Vermont Climate Change Economy Council and consider action to create jobs, build national reputation, and attract young people to our rural communities. [Learn More]
 
If you have any questions, feedback, or suggested content for upcoming issues, please contact Emma Vaughn, CCRPC Communications Manager: evaughn@ccrpcvt.org or (802) 846-4490 x21.
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
110 West Canal Street, Suite 202 | Winooski, VT 05404
(802) 846-4490 | connect@ccrpcvt.org
ccrpcvt.org | ecosproject.org

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