BURLINGTON, VERMONT, 1999-2000
Project Description
“Burlington has won national awards for being a livable city, for offering a vibrant lifestyle, and being a place where people can choose to raise families… The Legacy Project was created in 1999 to help maintain those qualities that we all cherish about our city, and create a comprehensive plan to guide change for the economic, environmental, and social health of Burlington for years to come.” Mayor Peter Clavelle and a diverse group of leaders brought together people from all of Burlington’s ethnic groups, age groups, interests, and neighborhoods. Through a series of open meetings, focus groups, surveys, and discussions, participants were asked to identify what they value most about the community and build a common vision for the future. Project staff and volunteers created a system of indicators to use in tracking the future health of Burlington.
Finance and Support
The initial Legacy Project was funded entirely with a budget of $98,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, while the primary partner (Institute for Sustainable Communities) was supported by the Jane B. Cook Charitable Trust. Staff (which included a Director and two Community Organizers) estimated a need for $100,000 in implementation funds in 2000. In addition, many citizens, businesses, and organizations volunteered their time and services for the project.
Stakeholders
All residents of Burlington and the surrounding area were invited.
Methods
A steering committee made up of NGO and business leaders, youth representatives, and municipal representatives led the project, while the Institute for Sustainable Communities provided guidance and consulting skills. Over a year and a half, more than 1000 citizens participated through a series of community meetings, focus groups on neighborhood- and subject-specific issues, informal discussions, a public survey, and hearings on a draft plan. After the project staff completed a draft of the plan, the City held a “Summit on the City’s Future,” at which more than 300 residents provided input and finalized the Legacy Project Action Plan. The plan, which included goals and priorities for the future and a vision for Burlington in 2030, was unanimously approved by the City Council in 2000. By 2001, the plan was incorporated in the main Municipal Development Plan for the City, which guides all major planning decisions. The project outlined goals under five topic areas: economy, neighborhood, governance, youth and life skills, and environment. City departments, NGOs, and individuals have specific responsibility for actions or components of the plan, and the Steering Committee continues to meet quarterly to assess progress and ensure accountability. Ongoing actions are varied, ranging from international partnerships to very specific redevelopment projects and school programs. The organizations and individuals involved and responsible for the project are just as diverse, including representatives from most city groups and neighborhoods.
Outcomes
Numerous local initiatives and projects have spun off from the Legacy Project, including Burlington’s Youth on Boards program; annual Legacy Town Meetings; the Burlington Eco Info Project; the Burlington Food Council; Sustainability Education Partnership with the City of Nishinomiya, Japan; a volunteer storm water monitoring project on Lake Champlain; Youth Engagement and Leadership Project; Legacy Card Program; Sustainable Schools Program. Legacy received the 2003 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, in partnership with the University of Vermont (UVM) Environmental Council. The project maintains a website with updates on news and projects, opportunities, and resources that enable citizens to bring Legacy principles and action steps into their own lives. The 2004 Annual Report tracks progress, and lists at least four or five actions that are finished or in progress for each subcategory in each of the five topic areas (over 150 actions).
Evaluation
A series of indicators is under development with UVM, intended to specifically measure elements of the Burlington community that matter to residents. Highlights of Progress reports are published in order to keep residents apprised of initiatives specific to the Legacy project, and the annual Legacy Town Meetings give people a chance to discuss and consider changes. The project also released its first Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) report, which measures the standard of living for communities; Burlington and Vermont’s quality is shown to be twice as high as the national average.
Innovative Ideas
The most unusual aspect of the Legacy Project is the wide range of goals and actions, which cover numerous topics and employ diverse strategies for addressing them. Burlington’s many quick successes and unusual programs are probably the most innovative part of the project, however, as they include reaching out to many partners, governments, businesses, and even countries that are not usually involved in planning in Vermont. Adoption of an indicators program and the GPI are important examples of creative solutions, though they also point to one other critical factor. Burlington is an unusual community. The City has a long history of progressive actions and policies, innovative philosophies and partnerships, which probably account in large part for citizens’ willingness to participate and to try alternative strategies.
http://www.cedo.ci.burlington.vt.us/legacy/
BURLINGTON LEGACY PROJECT AT A GLANCE
COMMUNITY TYPE
Urban/suburban/rural
AREA
15.5 square miles
POPULATION
39,127 (2000 census)
LOCATION
Northwestern Vermont
PROCESS
Visioning
PROJECT LEADERS
Burlington Community and Economic
Development Office
University of Vermont
Institute for Sustainable Communities
PROJECT THEMES
Livability
Sustainability
Community Character