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City staff recommends 'reset' to parks and open-space master plan; council debates scope and priorities
Summary
Staff told the council it is proposing a "reset" of the Parks and Open Space Master Plan to add more data analysis, better integrate community input and create an actionable, prioritized policy document; staff estimated adoption by January 2027 and flagged remaining ARPA funds and possible additional funding needs.
City staff presented a recommended "reset" of South Burlington's Parks and Open Space Master Plan and asked the City Council for guidance on priorities, wording and next steps. City Manager Jesse Baker told the council that staff wants to combine existing community engagement with new technical analysis so the final plan is actionable for capital and policy decisions.
"We, as staff, are recommending what we're calling a reset to the parks and open space master planning effort," Jesse Baker said, explaining the goal is a single, integrated plan rooted in the city plan and supported by better GIS and data analysis. Baker said the reset would likely extend the schedule — staff are "anticipating it will take through January 2027" to adopt a final plan — and noted the project currently has about $55,000 in remaining ARPA funds with an estimated additional need of "$30,000 to $50,000" possible later, subject to council approval.
Council discussion focused on the plan's framing and priorities. Several councilors urged stronger language for conservation and climate resilience, arguing the cover memo's goals read as park-focused and should better reflect natural-resource protection. Planning and Zoning Director Paul Connor said the draft tried to reflect the city plan and that a key question is how to handle the limited amount of uncommitted land: "It's acknowledged in the city plan 2024 that there is, I guess, about 6% of our land area not presently designated as either having been built upon or planned for conservation," Connor said, noting that prioritization and practical options for acquiring or managing that land are central tasks for the master plan.
Councilors and staff also discussed consultant selection and timing. Baker said staff may seek a new consultant under a sole-source provision if they can find a firm willing to build on existing data and able to move quickly; any contract would still come back to the council for approval. Several councilors emphasized honoring prior community engagement and retaining the outreach already completed while improving the plan's data and technical basis.
The council did not vote on a funding request tonight; Baker said any additional contract or allocation would be presented for action at a future meeting. The review continues as staff will return with revised wording and a recommended path forward that reflects council direction.
