19-05-2025
Burlington City Council drafts resolution to help businesses downtown
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Members of Burlington's City Council have created a resolution that may help downtown businesses after over 100 establishments signed a letter asking the city for aid.
Last week's open letter to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak detailed how the downtown-area is 'facing a crisis' because of safety concerns and traffic impacts, among other factors.
The new resolution notes that 'our municipal revenue – specifically the gross receipts tax – is directly linked to the wellbeing of our downtown and small business community, and the underlying business revenues for this tax have decreased nearly 10% in the past year'.
Officials focused on construction and traffic flow, the city's public image, police support and safety in parking areas in this resolution.
The Department of Public Works has specifically been asked to provide a timeline that will reopen Main Street to one-way traffic by mid-June. Officials are also looking for DPW improvements at downtown parking garages, in collaboration with BPD.
Small businesses express concern about conditions in Downtown Burlington
This resolution also notes that perceptions of Burlington as unsafe are 'now widespread from Chittenden County to our own student population.' As a potential solution, council members are asking Business & Workforce Development to review funds and provide PR that paints downtown as 'vibrant and safe'.
BPD has also been asked to use the Community Service Officers program to increase 'visible' safety during peak seasons.
If this resolution is approved, a full coordinated report on all actions listed will be due 45 days from the approval date.
This story will be updated. Tune into ABC22/FOX44 tonight or check back on for more updates.
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