Statement to Burlington Residents and the Student Community

April 8, 2011
Spring Quality-of-Life Initiative
Chief Michael Schirling
UVM Dean of Students David Nestor
UVM SGA Senator Lucas Morgan

While we anxiously anticipate the arrival of spring and the countdown to the end of the school year., we want to invite students and residents to join us in our efforts to achieve a balanced coexistence within the community.  We understand that the vast majority of students want to be good neighbors in this extraordinary community that we live in.  It is against that backdrop that we write to you today.

As we enter the spring season the Burlington Police Department and its partners, including,

• The Burlington Mayor’s Office
• The University of Vermont
• Dean of Students Office
• Police Services
• Office of Student and Community Relations
• Student Government Association
• UVM Community Coalition
• Champlain College
• Burlington Center for Community and Neighborhoods
• Burlington Community Support Program
• Chittenden County Solid Waste District
• City of Burlington Code Enforcement

would like to take a few minutes to spread the word about quality-of-life initiatives and concerns in Burlington.

Each Spring these partners join together to provide education, outreach, and action to address the following issues:

• Noise in the neighborhoods – both house specific and random walk-by noise
• Underage drinking and drinking in public areas/on the street
• Parking
• Trash
• Addressing neighborhood conflicts

This is done through partnering on the following efforts:

• “Have a Heart” Program: a walk-by noise awareness campaign carried out by UVM students and staff on selected weekend nights
• Neighborhood Clean-Ups
• Spring Move Out Project
• Conflict Resolution Facilitation
• UVM Office of Student and Community Relations Neighborhood Grant Program for projects that improve the health and safety of neighborhoods (for e.g., Buell St. Community Garden, Neighborhood Trash Pilot Project, and Neighborhood Meet and Greet events)
• UVM Greek Neighbor Relations Workshops

In addition to the educational campaigns underway, specialized enforcement details are also deployed to enforce the laws and ordinances that are designed to create a foundation for a high quality-of-life for all residents in Burlington.  Those initiatives include:

• Roving quality-of-life foot patrols targeting noise, underage and public drinking, and parking issues
• Bicycle patrols
• Extra cruiser patrols
• Joint patrols between UVM and Burlington Police

These extra patrol initiatives enforce State laws and City Ordinance relating to quality-of-life issues including Underage Drinking and Noise.

We hope that with extra attention given to both the education and enforcement initiatives that all residents, including students who live in Burlington neighborhoods, will enjoy a safe and harmonious spring season.  UVM and the Burlington Police Department thank you in advance for helping us achieve this goal.

For more information, including information brochures, and downloadable “Off Campus Living Survival Guide” visit http://www.uvm.edu/~stdcmrel/?Page=navigating.html and www.bpdvt.org