The NPAs in Burlington were created 32 years ago as a vehicle for all residents, city departments, boards, and commissions to work together as the city developed and neighborhoods faced growth issues. Wards are formed by combining neighborhoods with common interest, and there is an NPA in every ward in the city. Wards are paired in Districts -- 1/8, 2/3, 4/7, and 5/6. UVM is in Wards 1 and 8, Champlain College is in Ward 6, and Burlington College is in Ward 4. Students who live off-campus are members of the NPA in the ward where they live.
All residents, student groups and community groups are encouraged to come together and create strong NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ASSEMBLIES. All the NPAs are multi-partisan. Students from UVM have been active participants in Ward 1 NPA, students from Rock Point School and Burlington College regularly participate in Wards 4 and 7 NPAs, and students from Champlain College are active in Ward 6 NPA.
COMMUNITY
The recent census reported growth in the area of the city now known as East District. Changing the boundaries of wards changes which Neighborhood Planning Assembly you belong to. if residents want to learn more about the work of city departments, address neighborhood issues, or petition city government for improvements, NPA is the place to start.
The new Ward 8 will draw residents from 4 other wards, coming together to form a new entity. The new NPA will have the same charge from City Council as the other NPAs, but they will write their own by-laws, choose their own steering committee, elect officers if they write their bylaws that way (other steering committees have a steering committee of equals), set their own agenda, decide how often to meet and where, and decide who is eligible to vote.
NPAs are multi-cultural, multi-partisan, and welcome all residents. Wards are created by census, which counts every person here -- permanent residents, students, old americans, new americans,and homeless people. ALL are welcome, but NPAs are whoever comes! NPAs are shaped by those who show up, and by those who stay away.
STUDENTS
Students live in all seven of Burlington's wards, with the highest concentrations in Ward 2 (46%) and in Ward 1 (24%). Other Wards: Ward 3 (11%); Ward 4 (1%); Ward 5 (3%); Ward 6 (13%); Ward 7 (2%).
Those percentages will shift now in all Wards. The new ward 8 was
created in the area of the city's highest growth (attributed to increase in enrollment at UVM), and will include people from several former wards, Meanwhile, in Ward 4, Burlington
College students are poised to make their debut on the community-student
relations scene. North End NPA has already invited them to share leadership of the NPA.
Although students live in every ward in the city, they are often invisible when it comes to city issues and city planning. Yet students constantly enrich the resource pool of the city with their ideas, time and energy,
through work-study projects, internships and volunteer work. For some,
municipal planning, problem-solving, developing leadership skills, and building community is right in line with their career
aspirations.
Participation in an NPA is a great resume builder
and an opportunity to hone leadership skills in the real world. NPAs welcome students, and challenge them to
help make Burlington a better city and a very cool place to live and work after graduation! 