[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6186194,"mediaKeyId","5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6","parentId",5078056,"title","Council gives staff budget guidance: request scenarios at 3% and 5% growth, note healthcare and utilities risks","audioSeconds",586,"startMs",4624000,"endMs",5210000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6&start=4624&end=5210","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6/thumbnail_4624000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6186194/Essex-Junction-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/Council-gives-staff-budget-guidance-request-scenarios-at-3-and-5-growth-note-healthcare-and-utilities-risks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186194-e1849e28c4949d93e0123c5e398123f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180487&Signature=ZB6ETKuFGV5LQRTKxMahOu58sMTLGRpQwegaWdbHSfEAYCbAB3Nfcr6jep6~Yzk03kX6mBjgxBA74RqXV3TpJM4dS02je7Y4xMusrSLPtagz2EQuLTOKJ1VJFyP6ZKwocZMEzNH2hkpvAntBX~mdYxbJX8KembdWF3uFFWW3uciVLFmBZFrv3R88S1M~KacF1VmJwEVvi4UiGnJE~JU~NIO76n5DA-H2RKBKzArxLVlKKcGr5CzlHCDBI2yKQ6wSY56HolslQ4hGr0gjG4asXz3Bhgu5uaml3SRH--eTItp60l4PtpsWMOi1x8A42hMQe8csnoX1EDiWfhvEzLwjZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Essex Junction City, VT","date","2025-06-26T13:07:31Z","article","City Manager Regina asked the council for direction ahead of FY27 budget development; the council discussed a 3% target for general-fund increase but requested staff provide alternate scenarios to show tradeoffs.

Councilors recalled last year's 3% guidance and noted staffing, health-care and enterprise-fund pressures. Elaine said 3% has served as a de facto target historically and recommended keeping it as a target while acknowledging it may be difficult to achieve. Others noted that a 3% budget target does not necessarily equal a 3% property-tax increase and that enterprise rate changes (water, sewer) can change overall tax/utility burden. Several councilors asked staff to prepare two scenarios (3% and 5%) and to show, for each scenario, what specific departmental changes would be required to hit that target so the council can understand service tradeoffs.

Councilors emphasized the need for clear, big-picture options rather than incremental \"nickel-and-dime\" reductions; Marcus asked staff to show the large-dollar tradeoffs needed to materially move the tax rate. Councilors also asked staff to include enterprise/utility forecasts and to surface near-term capital needs (public works, fire, wastewater treatment) that could affect bond conversations and the FY27 tax rate. Regina confirmed staff will provide budget and work-plan instructions to department heads with a target range and present scenario analyses to the council.

No final appropriation was made; staff will return with scenario budgets and supporting analyses for council review during the FY27 process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Essex Junction City Council - 6/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors asked staff to prepare FY27 budget drafts using a 3% target while also modeling a higher scenario (5%) and to include enterprise/utility impacts; members warned that health-care costs and capital needs may make a 3% target difficult to achieve without service reductions.","taxTitle","Essex Junction City, Chittenden County, Vermont","taxId",68791,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186199,"Council adopts engagement-plan framework from retreat, will pilot open public forum July 9",757,3749000,4506000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6&start=3749&end=4506","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6/thumbnail_3749000.jpg","/articles/6186199/Essex-Junction-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/Council-adopts-engagement-plan-framework-from-retreat-will-pilot-open-public-forum-July-9","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186199-678ac46f23ebc76b49abfaeb30459314/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180487&Signature=XFUGbQ1EpAhDtFkkJ6e-YELJ249qMSzZedv9NzCbttSdLZg2f3mWJ9IHexeUcR0JlNJaElAHsC6Uy3uFZ67T0FcVaiFfjItO1617FAd-tX4BA-DCFRrUImOLk3jek7tLe2-2wjfKpbTy5LNciUovFpYB8Uj4ncnzKsi22ntHo0k6kj7C40MTVrjx4vAkq49tVlYDWp~Fam2Gts1HuDtJALOLHkD-lJN9c-loThKdpHGBjyvFY99Vb~2BmfyXOwbGxwL9RjbqajKsFJAqh4Ic7~NaOjEwnRtWkdxuvqV-TvNBKICaY2rg5Hsn9R3Yjh3p5pwQ~teBU3tVlb8utGewdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council reviewed a retreat summary and an initial engagement-plan framework prepared by staff. Regina and Ashley presented a capture of retreat discussions and the staff'compiled engagement plan that lists suggested outreach items, roles for staff and council, and an event calendar of opportunities for council involvement.

Staff summarized three primary engagement goals that emerged from the retreat: increase resident awareness of council members and approachability; provide multiple channels for residents to interact with the council; and improve meeting structure. Ashley said the packet includes green-highlighted top priorities identified jointly by department heads and council members and a working event calendar to coordinate council attendance at community events.

Councilors supported standing up committees as a mechanism to pursue priorities identified at the retreat and asked that those priorities be incorporated into FY27 department work plans. The council also agreed to pilot a one-hour open public forum at the July 9 meeting (06:30'07:30 p.m.) where residents could speak on any topic without an agenda item; Regina asked for a quorum confirmation and the council consented to the trial.

Ashley and Regina said the engagement plan is an evolving working document; staff will return with a subsequent, more detailed draft. The council also noted local media's efforts: the Essex Reporter has begun a \"Get to Know Your Council\" series that will profile individual councilors and supplement outreach.","Council and staff summarized retreat outcomes, agreed on three engagement goals and the draft framework, and approved a trial open public forum at the July 9 meeting to test a meeting-structure change.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186203,"Council appoints members to planning, tree, development and advisory committees",114,5772000,5886000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6&start=5772&end=5886","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6/thumbnail_5772000.jpg","/articles/6186203/Essex-Junction-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/Council-appoints-members-to-planning-tree-development-and-advisory-committees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186203-ddd2042e274e18e12a4d4d9672b27b61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180487&Signature=RzJMruf4TPHgm~EQQufb12PZAw~ReQ~Ww0v2MqJoe~gPIDbcwBkSRRQLqlg~6V4ibWLzB~AbC7HzqdQZmISTQNJEJ2k8m3NrDLvclV6ODyAS8YdMOJtC6iTVeZTelz9yzIPrXmNcAII60tCOa05Z~1W-Coi~QKlidPuNZhdR8ThxFzAZDxxmRZ5KYIA5x8JI5W6QPQ9hTH-8BEbCnjsT8uGri2auwHSLOHU1DstABr2WPKKqpnT8KTQDwl7NkGgbC7tU1xs~eNnbE8lPGI-YrWUzsqhc2714YSImP19mJhcTRm~2EfiDLBdJopV~jkZIatJ3r55VL5XoTecc9FaogA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Following an executive session, the City Council confirmed a slate of appointments to advisory panels, commissions and moderator roles for the upcoming municipal year.

Council actions approved the following appointments: Nathan Dudera to the Capital Programs Review Committee; Daniel Liguori to the Bike-Walk Advisory Committee; Maggie Macy and Dylan Sawicki to the Development Review Board; Steve Eustace as moderator; Elijah Massey and Diane Clements to the Planning Commission; Finn Hamilton as a nonvoting member of the Planning Commission; and Rich Boyers and Leslie Goldring to the Tree Advisory Committee.

Council members approved the appointments by voice vote. Staff clarified that Finn Hamilton will serve as an additional, nonvoting planning member because he is not a qualified voter under the city charter; he will not count toward a quorum but will receive meeting packets and participate in discussions. Staff will follow up to notify appointees and complete onboarding.","After executive session the council appointed members to several boards and committees, including planning commission slots and tree advisory committee members; Finn Hamilton was appointed as a nonvoting planning commission member because he is not a qualified voter under the charter.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186208,"Council warns public hearing on Chapter 9 and 18 amendments to tighten \"junk\" enforcement",568,3156000,3724000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6&start=3156&end=3724","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6/thumbnail_3156000.jpg","/articles/6186208/Essex-Junction-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/Council-warns-public-hearing-on-Chapter-9-and-18-amendments-to-tighten-junk-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186208-58e29127397d6530325bbecd2132ce79/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180487&Signature=Gsx1LtugygiLhlR5oskViHMx~f1S07I9~kGe7zov7ypsyDq-NqESVEPq95pUSmw1PDzLEfTfPljeobYUrk7JOJtd5Tto9Emw2z3CKTJJT3jBRbubv~9mwwRV6sp2O~Lns-yWzibUC-6q3IHgifRXa0G99YGuGLius9nRrQJbjxPYMtsvtxTUZio817GJImLnjHTsOqY-CZXObRKjV0IhMkJ-joBJINA1g1Mb5tp3yJxQWWPK1b5iyAdcmxaqXl4V6m6s4urIHNgxwiVO-qPVZgOLZ5VQNGfOKgBaQCxgsjFL5eoEQoPA0iNVKZC8vFKBf-y2ZlDLjhuui8Na7D~ZSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council agreed to warn a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. July 23, 2025, on proposed amendments to Essex Junction Municipal Ordinance Chapters 9 and 18 intended to strengthen code enforcement procedures for nuisances and \"junk\" on private property.

Chris from the development department presented the amendments, saying the department has ramped up code follow-up and that the proposed changes, prepared with the city attorney, are intended to make enforcement and escalation clearer for chronic noncompliance. \"These amendments to the municipal code, as proposed are meant to make that a little bit easier,\" Chris said.

Councilors discussed several specific edits that staff incorporated or proposed: adding the phrase \"and costs\" to a fee-shifting provision so the city can seek attorney's fees and costs; restricting a previously broad exemption for \"farm vehicles and equipment\" so that exemption applies only in the Planned Agriculture zoning district; removing legacy references to criminal penalties where the new approach is civil enforcement; and changing the source used for an owner's last known address from joint assessment records to the City of Essex Junction records. Councilors also agreed the council itself will serve as the ordinance appeals body rather than creating a separate appeals board.

A motion to warn the public hearing as presented, with the discussed edits, was made and seconded; the council voted in favor with no nays.

The hearing is now scheduled so residents can comment on the proposed ordinance language before the council returns for a final decision.","City staff proposed edits to municipal code chapters 9 and 18 to streamline enforcement, remove legacy criminal penalties, clarify mailing address source and limit a farm-vehicle exemption to the Planned Agriculture district; council voted to warn a public hearing for July 23, 2025.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186214,"Essex Junction parks director outlines grants, staffing changes and plan to study a community center",995,1022000,2017000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6&start=1022&end=2017","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078056-0f80aff30bf8f63795bf26e099b314e6/thumbnail_1022000.jpg","/articles/6186214/Essex-Junction-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/Essex-Junction-parks-director-outlines-grants-staffing-changes-and-plan-to-study-a-community-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186214-8c71f7d7e7a2d7a42578d05ff4d968c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180487&Signature=WBvjM4LHfSA9gx9IjMH0RCrR5rwtHneQEzMJu4eMqmtlnYjyU8FG0OMES-6T-GFlUs8Ltq9zBSX-g3ljP8pw0QnXb27DbVvs51n3BsxRO9U0BqEKvLCs4UaI07MwBE-Am-39um4xG16FDCeRhgmNpG1-gRzhpxPTBR6Hl6ul58fw5rQt5SxrRnSsWX4uC9NgmbcK7eushVzTVO1e7emTLDUDmmQbL01XuemK1O6bG~tqnV~nw-2IEb1sZBRzwY~RwL4WjB8ewHSAi5vRzNPE9YjoTaZxiic25-Us61eULT9DNwf8W3huzkThPEIm7CHmpjMV-mX4Bnl8LFA9T76jkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Essex Junction Recreation & Parks Director Brad updated the City Council on grant awards, staffing changes and planning work for possible new gym or community center space, and he asked the council to weigh how large a capital effort the city should pursue.

The department reported an awarded Land and Water Conservation Fund grant described in the packet as \"approximately $500,000\" with a 50/50 match, plans to begin construction in June 2026 on park redevelopment work at Cascade (which could require closing the park for a season), and a separate coaches grant for staff training. Brad also summarized hires and personnel changes in licensed child care and seasonal staffing.

The council pressed staff for greater detail on a possible gym or broader community center at Maple Street Park. Brad said gymnasium space is the department's most urgent capital need because school gym availability has declined; he described the council's earlier master-planning work and said the department's immediate priority is gymnasium space but that multipurpose rooms, senior space and other amenities could be added depending on appetite and funding. \"For us, the gym is the most important piece,\" Brad said. Councilors responded that a full feasibility study comparing city facilities (including public works, the fire department and recreation buildings) would be needed before asking voters to consider debt.

Councilors and staff discussed timeline and funding tradeoffs: Regina (city manager) and council members reminded colleagues that construction costs are high and that a bond question would require clear, comparable options and a community conversation. Councilors asked staff to return with more analysis, specifically: (1) a facility feasibility/master-plan study that would compare needs across city buildings, (2) draft cost scenarios and tax-rate impacts, and (3) a prioritized list of proposed work. Several councilors urged any budget discussion to show what substantive cuts or deferrals would be necessary to reduce the municipal tax impact.

The department also reviewed non-capital matters: preschool growth and personnel changes (including Christina McLaughlin's planned departure from preschool leadership), a new registration system rollout this fall (Kaizen), and summer usage at Maple Street Park and Pool (staff reported a heavy opening with thousands of visitors and high camp and lesson counts). Brad confirmed that Veterans Memorial Park maintenance is currently shared between public works and parks & rec, and that no capital funding for refurbishment is yet identified in the 10-year capital plan.

Councilors framed next steps around a study and clearer cost scenarios before any bond or capital request to voters.","The city's recreation department reported recent grants and staffing changes and sought council direction on whether to pursue a gym or larger community center; councilors asked staff for a comprehensive facilities study and noted cost and timing concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council gives staff budget guidance: request scenarios at 3% and 5% growth, note healthcare and utilities risks

Council adopts engagement-plan framework from retreat, will pilot open public forum July 9

Council appoints members to planning, tree, development and advisory committees

Council warns public hearing on Chapter 9 and 18 amendments to tighten "junk" enforcement

Essex Junction parks director outlines grants, staffing changes and plan to study a community center