Vermont Business Magazine This evening, Mayor Miro Weinberger signed two emergency regulations. One relates to enforcement of the Governor’s emergency order and goes into effect at 6:30 p.m. tonight, and the second relates to the creation of the City’s “shared streets for social distancing” initiative and goes into effect at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. For additional information, please see the Mayor’s daily briefings from Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3.
COVID-19 Emergency Regulation 1 (to be cited as CER 1):
(a) The purpose of this regulation is to preserve the public health and safety.
(b) Any person, business, or organization who, within the boundaries of the City of Burlington, intentionally fails to abide by any lawful order issued by a federal, state, or local government in connection with the COVID-19 emergency, and in particular the requirements stated by the Governor of Vermont in Executive Order No. 01-20, issued March 13, 2020 and titled, “Declaration of State of Emergency in Response to COVID-19 and National Guard Call-Out,” and its Addenda (collectively “EO 1-20”) shall be subject to the civil penalties in the Burlington Code of Ordinances section 1-9, applied as follows:
(1) First offense: A first offense by any person, business, or organization shall be punishable by a minimum fine of $100.00 and a maximum fine of $500.00 with a waiver penalty fine of $100.00;
(2) Second offense. A second offense by any person, business, or organization shall be punishable by a minimum fine of $250.00 and a maximum fine of $500.00 with a waiver penalty fine of $250.00;
(3) Third or subsequent offense. A third or subsequent offense by any person, business, or organization shall be punishable by a minimum fine of $500.00.
(c) Because of the risk of conveying the COVID-19 virus, any person who, within the boundaries of the City of Burlington, intentionally spits on, bites, or otherwise intentionally causes the person’s bodily fluid to come into contact with a law enforcement officer, first responder, or health care professional while that professional is performing a lawful or public health duty shall, be subject to the criminal penalties in the Burlington Code of Ordinance section 1-9.
(d) Each incident or each contact of either of the violations above shall be considered a separate incident. (e) The City may refer any person or entity who violates subsections (b) or (c) above to the appropriate authority for possible additional enforcement action.
COVID-19 Emergency Regulation 2 (to be cited as CER 2):
(a) The purpose of this regulation is to preserve the public health and safety and in particular to provide for safer exercise opportunities for Burlington residents in light of the needs for social distancing and to alleviate crowding of current public spaces where exercise occurs. These emergency changes to public rights-of-way are temporary and shall end no later than the date when my Emergency Declaration is lifted.
(b) Starting at 6 am on April 4, 2020, Birchcliff Parkway will be limited to local traffic only, and no through traffic shall be allowed, to provide safer space for pedestrians and bicyclists. Drivers will be cautioned to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists in the right-of-way. Proper, temporary signage will be posted.
(c) Starting at 6 am on April 4, 2020, parking will be temporarily prohibited on the east side of Pine Street between Lakeside Avenue and Maple Street to better accommodate walkers, runners, cyclists, as the parallel portion of the Burlington Greenway bike path is closed for reconstruction. Proper, temporary signage will be posted.
(d) The Department of Public Works, in consultation with the Burlington Police Department, Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department, and other appropriate City departments, shall prepare an Emergency Shared Streets Plan. Once I, the Mayor, have approved that Emergency Shared Streets Plan, further temporary alterations either to these or other rights-of-ways may be made by the Director of Public Works, and proper signage will be posted.
(e) No permanent change to any street or traffic pattern will be enacted without going through the process and authorities prescribed in the Burlington City Charter and Code of Ordinances.
Source: Burlington, VT – Mayor Weinberger 4.3.2020