South Burlington city manager outlines $84 million in capital projects, bridge delay to 2028

City Manager Jesse Baker told the South Burlington steering committee on a June 2025 evening that the city is managing roughly $84 million in capital projects and several staffing transitions while operating under limits set by state law.

Baker said the most visible project is a walk‑and‑bike bridge over Interstate 89, which the city put out to bid and expects to complete in July 2028 after bidders warned that manufacturing lead times required pushing the original date. "We expect it to be completed July 2028," Baker said. He described the project as roughly a $24,000,000 effort that has two federal grants that together total about $41,000,000.

The bridge and other work sit alongside the city's largest ongoing infrastructure program: upgrades to the Bartlett Bay wastewater treatment plant. "The biggest 1, Public Works. And the largest asset we own is the, is Airport Parkway wastewater treatment plant, which is down off the end of the runway. It's about a $100,000,000 operation that runs most of our wastewater treatment," Baker said, describing the scale of the city’s wastewater assets.

Why it matters: Baker said many capital projects and policy priorities flow from the city's comprehensive plan and annual policy‑and‑strategy work plan. He described the city as operating in a council–manager form of government authorized by state statute and Title 24; under that system the elected council sets policy while the city manager runs operations.

Key facts and near‑term priorities

- Capital program: Baker said the city has about $84,000,000 of capital projects underway, including the Bartlett Bay wastewater upgrade and the I‑89 walk‑bike bridge.

- Bridge: Baker said the project is out to bid, estimated construction cost about $24,000,000 and two federal grants total approximately $41,000,000; he said bidders required a later completion window because prefab components have long lead times and the schedule was moved to July 2028 to preserve competitive pricing and budget control.

- Operations and staffing: Baker said the city employs about "a 195 employees who work for the city" across 15 departments and three labor groups; upcoming staffing changes include hiring a new police chief and replacing a library director who will retire in October.

- Routine infrastructure: the city will pave about $2,100,000 worth of roads this summer; Baker said the city maintains roughly 300 miles of buried pipe and expects a little over 18,000 calls for service in the coming year.

Baker explained legal and organizational limits on municipal action, noting Vermont is a Dillon’s rule state and municipalities “can only do … that which the state gives us permission to do.” Under the municipal charter — itself a state statute — the council appoints advisory and regulatory boards, makes ordinances, and carries ultimate financial oversight; the council hires the city manager to administer operations.

Questions from steering committee members ranged from construction timing to whether the city could meet budget and community engagement requirements while delivering multi‑year projects. Baker said the city is building a fiscal year 2026 policy priorities and strategies work plan and will adopt it after a leadership work session with the council.

Ending: Baker invited committee members to sign up for the city newsletter (CityNews) for weekly updates and encouraged members to contact his office with questions. The steering committee did not take any formal votes tied to the capital projects during the meeting.