REGIONAL NOTES
November 2016
Quick Links
Are you interested in a specific topic?

Click on a category below to be brought right to that section.
Table of Contents
 
CCRPC Calendar of Events


NOVEMBER

11/24 & 11/25: CCRPC Office Closed

DECEMBER

12/6, 9:00am: CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

12/6, 11:00am: CCRPC Clean Water Advisory Committee Meeting

12/6, 12:30pm: CCRPC MS-4 Sub-Committee Meeting

12/7, 5:45pm: CCRPC Executive Committee Meeting

12/8, 8:30am: CCRPC Long-Range Planning Committee Meeting

12/13, 7:30am: CCRPC Municipal Legislative Breakfast

12/21: -CANCELED- CCRPC Board Meeting

12/26: CCRPC Office Closed

 
Around the County: Photo of the Month
Click photo to enlarge.
 
Sunrise in Charlotte on October 13, 2016.
 
Photo by Lee Krohn
 
CCRPC 
Commission Representatives

Bolton: Joss Besse

Buel's Gore: Garret Mott

Burlington: Andy Montroll

Charlotte: Jim Donovan

Colchester: Marc Landry

Essex: Jeff Carr

Essex Junction: Dan Kerin

Hinesburg: Andrea Morgante

Huntington: Barbara Elliott

Jericho: Catherine McMains

Milton: Henry Bonges (Alt.)

Richmond: Bard Hill

Shelburne: John Zicconi

South Burlington: Chris Shaw

St. George: Jeff Pillsbury

Underhill: Brian Bigelow

Westford: Dave Tilton

Williston: Chris Roy, Chair

Winooski: Michael O'Brien, Vice Chair

For more information, including Commission agendas and minutes, schedule and resources, click here.
 
CCRPC Staff

Charlie Baker, Executive Director

Cathy Aikman, CCOA Project Director

Dan Albrecht, Senior Planner

Pam Brangan, GIS Data & IT Manager

Jason Charest, Senior Transportation Planning Engineer

Eleni Churchill, Transportation Program Manager

Forest Cohen, Business Manager

Bryan Davis, Senior Transportation Planner

Marshall Distel, Transportation Planner

Chris Dubin, Transportation Planner

Bernie Ferenc, Transportation Business Manager

Sam Francis-Fath, CCOA Data Manager

Christine Forde, Senior Transportation Planner

Peter Keating, Senior Transportation Planner

Lee Krohn, AICP, Senior Planner

Regina Mahony, Planning Program Manager

Melanie Needle, Senior Planner

Emily Nosse-Leirer, Planner

Sai Sarepalli, Transportation Planning Engineer

Emma Vaughn, Communications Manager

For bios and contact information, click here.
 

Volunteer with Neighbor Rides

Neighbor Rides is a strategic initiative of United Way of Northwest Vermont 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.

 
Good afternoon,

Election season has officially wrapped up, and many new changes, challenges, and opportunities are on the horizon at the local, regional, statewide and national level. Last month, I highlighted our support of a few local ballot items related to investments in infrastructure and zoning in areas planned for growth within Chittenden County. I am pleased to report that these items (items 1, 2, 3, and 4 in Burlington, the South Burlington TIF, Hinesburg's solar tracker bond, Shelburne's water lines, and the Champlain Water District bonds) all passed in their respective communities.

As I outlined last month, these ballot items support our Regional ECOS Plan goal to invest and increase density in areas planned for growth, which helps our region become sustainable in a number of ways.

Preliminary data from our upcoming 2016 ECOS Annual Report, which will be released in January, shows that Chittenden County has, for the fourth year in a row, exceeded its goal of 80% of development occurring within planned growth areas. In 2015, of the total 655 residential units completed in Chittenden County, 86% (561) were in areas planned for growth. This important trend preserves our environment, improves transportation choices, saves us money, makes the air cleaner, and helps our families.  We will start tracking this number for the Building Homes Together campaign starting with 2016 to see if we can build 700 units a year with 20% of them being affordable.

Stay tuned for many more insights into how Chittenden County is doing with regard to its ECOS Plan goals relating to people, place, and prosperity with the January release of our ECOS Annual Report.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Best regards,

Charlie Baker
Executive Director
 
Transportation News
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Active Transportation Plan Comment Period Extended Through December 1
The CCRPC has extended the comment deadline for its Active Transportation Plan (walking and biking) through December 1, 2016 in an effort to ensure all interested parties have enough time to review and provide feedback. To see what's being proposed and to provide feedback, view the Active Transportation Plan website � 
VTrans On-Road Bicycle Plan Phase II Statewide Meeting: December 1
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) seeks your help to evaluate high-use bicycle corridors.

WHEN: December 1, 6-8pm (Snow Date: December 8)
WHERE: 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier - In Person
OR: Attend a live webinar viewing session at your local Regional Planning Commission office
OR: Attend from home using the webinar link available at: vtrans.vermont.gov/planning/bikeplan
WHAT: Learn about the Statewide VTrans On-Road Bicycle Plan Phase II; review identified bicycle safety hotspots; learn about upcoming opportunities to provide feedback on what makes roads feel comfortable and to identify network gaps. View the flier for complete details �
Free Webinars from the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Association (APBP)
Support for walking and bicycling is growing like never before. APBP wants you and your town/agency to be part of this exciting trend toward healthy, active transportation, enlivened communities and improved safety. APBP's webinar program is the best in the industry - reasonably priced, expertly presented, dependably scheduled and usually recorded for later viewing and additional training opportunities. You can view the final webinar for 2016 for free!
If you'd like to take APBP up on this offer for this free webinar series preview, click the link above to register for the December webinar. Use the code 2016FALLWEBINARS upon checkout for free registration.
Record-Breaking Way to Go! Results; Award Ceremony on December 7
Way to Go! concluded on 10/7 with these record-breaking results:
  • 51 schools and 282 businesses participated this year
  • There were 3,964 Business/Individual participants (a new record) and 6,895 student participants (another record) for a total of 10,859 combined (another new record)
  • Total participation is more than 50% over the combined record year of 2014 (the previous record year)
An awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 7th, 8:30 a.m. at Shelburne Community School. Ranking of all businesses and schools is available here.
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
Chittenden County Brownfields Program Accepting Applications
The Chittenden County Brownfields Program is now accepting applications! If you own or wish to develop a property that is contaminated or suspected to be contaminated, please apply. To get started, read the information on different types of assistance and fill out and send us a site nomination/assistance request form. Learn More �
 
Energy & Natural Resources
Implementing ECOS Strategies 3 & 4
State Considering Ways to Raise Money for Lake Clean-Up
Key Vermont policymakers sought public feedback on November 16th as they waded through options to pay for the massive federally required clean-up of Lake Champlain. Learn More �
Vermont Clean Water Initiative Brown Bag Lectures
These lectures on the Vermont Clean Water Act and its implementation occur monthly and can be attended in person or via Skype. View the full schedule � 

Next Lecture: Stormwater Manual and Updates on Stormwater Regulations: Dec. 8, 2016, 11am-12pmLearn More � 
State Releases Renewable Energy Siting Rules
The Department of Public Service released new rules in early November for municipal energy plans. The rules, implemented under Act 174, allow towns to have a say in how renewable energy projects are sited, but does not give municipalities the ability to reject solar and wind developments altogether. Learn More �
 
Quality of Place
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Bolton Planning Commission Community Forum: December 5
Join the Bolton Planning Commission for a community forum on December 5, 6-8pm in the Smilie School Gym. One year ago, over 100 Bolton residents attended community forums to tell the Bolton Planning Commission about their hopes for the future of Bolton. The Planning Commission has turned your ideas into actions for the Town Plan. Now, they need your feedback again! Come tell us what you think the Town's priorities should be. We'll celebrate the progress made over the last year and continue to define the Town's future. Light refreshments will be served and free childcare will be provided! Learn More �
Opportunity to Increase Resolution of Aerial Imagery & More
Aerial photography (imagery) is an important tool for a variety of municipal uses.  Planning, public works, fire & safety, assessing, stormwater management and other aspects of local government benefit when current imagery is available with adequate resolution to identify features on the ground. A new round of imagery is expected to be acquired in the spring of 2018 (a small portion of Huntington will be flown in 2017) for Chittenden County.

Once again, the VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI) is offering a buy-up program. In 2013, Chittenden County municipalities participated in a buy-up to acquire 15-cm per pixel imagery. We currently have 2004 imagery for most of Chittenden County at this resolution as well as the complete county in 2013.  CCRPC would like to continue to acquire imagery at 15-cm, because this higher-level resolution provides a much clearer image of buildings and structures.

 
Emergency Preparedness
Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
Regional Dispatch Study Underway
The CCRPC's Regional Dispatch Implementation Study is underway. Fueled by interest among a number of Chittenden County municipalities to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of emergency services dispatch, as well as recent concerns expressed about the future of E-911 and municipal dispatch services presently provided by the Vermont State Police, a consultant was hired to examine existing systems, illuminate options for a more regional approach, and construct a roadmap to implementation. This project is facilitated by the CCRPC, in partnership with an overall steering committee, as well as a subcommittee examining different models of governance. These committees are composed of municipal managers, and representatives from Police, Fire, and Rescue services. The consultant, Deltawrx, spent a week in October meeting with as many interested and affected parties as possible, including those services above, as well as dispatchers and union representatives. This study is on a fast track, and is slated for conclusion soon after the new year. There are no predetermined outcomes, other than an intent to learn whether a more regional approach to emergency services dispatch might serve us better, and if so, how best to implement such a system. For more information, contact Lee Krohn �
Vermont Local Emergency Management Course: December 7 & 8
The Vermont Local Emergency Management Course incorporates many different aspects of "emergency management" to include its partnership with emergency services. The course describes the realistic responsibilities of the job here in Vermont. The course includes all mission areas of emergencies and disasters, the core capabilities that make up the responsibilities, the integration and communications needed to be successful. And finally, the course strongly emphasizes the teamwork between emergency management, emergency services and the municipal leadership. Learn More �
 
Social Community
Implementing ECOS Strategies 5, 6 & 8
Take the #3SquaresVTChallenge - Through Tomorrow, November 19!
It's time for the annual #3SquaresVTChallenge. Join us for a week, a day, or a meal! Every year, Hunger Free Vermont asks the community to build awareness about food insecurity by taking the 3SquaresVT Challenge, which highlights what it is like to eat on the average 3SquaresVT benefit. Vermonters across the state are signing up for this year's Challenge, and you can too. Learn More �
Building Flourishing Communities Summit: December 1 & 2, Lake Morey
The Vermont Agency of Human Services and Northeastern Vermont Area Health Education Center present the Building Flourishing Communities Summit -- a working summit applying resilience science to enhance practice and prevent adverse childhood experiences. Learn More & Register �
Additional Help Coming to Reduce Waitlists for Opiate Treatment
After prodding from many working to combat the opiate epidemic, including Gov. Peter Shumlin, the federal government has announced that it will allow nurse practitioners and physicians assistants to begin prescribing medications that help break opiate addiction. Previously, while nurse practitioners and physicians assistants could prescribe highly-addictive opioid painkillers, only physicians could prescribe medications to treat addiction, like buprenorphine. Learn More � 
 
If you have any questions, feedback, or suggested content for upcoming issues, please contact Emma Vaughn, CCRPC Communications Manager: [email protected] or (802) 846-4490 x *21.