City Council

CITY OF LACONIA ­ CITY COUNCIL MEETING March 26, 2018 7:00 P.M. Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Engler called the meeting to order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Cheney lead the Salute to the Flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL City Clerk Hebert called the roll with the following Councilors in attendance: Bruce Cheney, David Bownes, Henry Lipman, Mark Haynes, Bob Hamel. Not in attendance: Armand Bolduc Mayor Engler noted five (5) Councilors are in attendance and a quorum has been established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE City Manager Scott Myers, Finance Director Donna Woodaman 6. COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 7. PRESENTATIONS 7.A. Discussion with legislative delegation Discussion was had with the legislative delegation. Mayor Engler introduced State Senator Harold French, Representatives Frank Tilton, Philip Spagnuolo, and Charlie St. Clair. State Senator Harold French, District 7. Senator French stated he was in agreement with the Council regarding SB 403 Relative to the Exemption for Recreational Vehicles from Property Taxation that was unfortunately passed in the Senate by a 23­1 vote and wanted the Council to know he was the 1 nay vote. Councilor Hamel expressed his concern regarding SB 403 that the City of Laconia would lose over $100,000 in real estate revenue if this bill passes. Mayor Engler mentioned that when this bill was brought about three years ago pictures were brought down and helped with the passing of the bill with allowing the trailers be either registered or taxed. Senator French agrees this is not a good bill and that is why he voted against it. State Representative Frank Tilton, District 3. Representative Tilton stated they just finished the crossover. State Representative Philip Spagnuolo, District 3, also sits on the Health and Human Services Committee. State Representative Charlie St. Clair, District 9 also sits on the Transportation Committee. Mayor Engler explained that what started off the conversation about inviting the State Representatives to a Council Meeting was the bill that was introduced regarding the State Retirement System. With the passing of this bill the City of Laconia would stand to gain over $600,000 in property tax revenue. State Representative Tilton explained his reasoning for voting against this bill. He said this is not the budget year and he is against the State contributing because it is unfair how the state does it. He stated that some municipalities are overstaffed. Representative St. Clair was out of town the day the vote took place and was surprised how the vote went. Representative Spagnuolo had not taken his Oath of Office as of that day and could not vote.  Councilor Lipman questioned that when this bill comes up next year, when it is a budget year, we hope you would support it. Councilor Bownes asked for clarification regarding the comment State Representative Tilton made about some cities being overstaffed. Councilor Bownes stated for the record that the City of Laconia is not overstaffed and it is the City of Laconia that State Representative Tilton represents. Councilor Bownes is concerned that Laconia is going to be hurting this year and questions what will happen next year. Councilor Hamel expressed his concern about the 35% downshift to the City. If the State can't afford it, how can the municipalities? All spoke about SB 365, relative to the use of renewable generation in default electricity service. Councilor Lipman spoke about HB 1673, regarding the Interest Rate on Late Property Tax payments ­ from the City's standpoint there is less of an incentive for residents to pay taxes on time. The City would like to see help with this. This impacts a municipality's cash flow and could increase borrowing costs, ultimately shifting higher taxes to those who pay their property taxes on time. Councilor Hamel would like to see the State help with the costs of Motorcycle Week regarding the services that Laconia provides when the entire State makes money from the event. Senator French stated a topic such as this should be brought up in the fall, closer to the budget year. Other items the City of Laconia is interested in are HB 1763, relative to implementing a road usage fee as a part of motor vehicle registration, SB 438, relative to the postponement of local elections, and SB 321 relative to group host net energy metering, SB 365, relative to the use of renewable generation in default electricity service, and SB 468, relative to fines and penalties collected by the DES. A handout was distributed to the attending Legislation and will be added to the minutes. 8. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 8.A. Regular meeting minutes of March 12, 2018 The regular meeting minutes of March 12, 2018 were distributed to the Council on Tuesday, March 13, 2018. With no corrections or changes submitted to the clerk, the minutes will be accepted as distributed. 9. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 10. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA No comments from the public were made. 11. INTERVIEWS 12. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 12.A. William Stewart ­ Seeking appointment to a regular member position on the Planning Board for a three­year term expiring at the end of June, 2021 A nomination was not made by the Council. Mayor Engler asked that the City Manager's Office send a letter to Mr. Stewart thanking him for his interest but at this time the City Council does not wish to make this appointment. 12.B. Jon Nivus ­ Seeking reappointment to a regular member position on the Trustees of the Trust Fund for a three­year term expiring at the end of March, 2021 Councilor Haynes moves to reappoint Jon Nivus to a regular member position on the Trustees of the Trust Fund for a three­year term expiring at the end of March, 2021, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. 13. COMMUNICATIONS 14. PUBLIC HEARINGS 15. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Engler and City Manager Myers attended the City's birthday celebration at Pitman's Freight Room this past  weekend as it was held on the actual date that Laconia went from a township status to a City status. Mayor Engler mentioned that the City will be hosting a Celebrate Laconia Event on July 7, 2018 with many activities for all to enjoy. 16. COMMITTEE REPORTS 16.A. FINANCE (Lipman, Hamel, Cheney) 16.A.i. WOW Trail Funding 16.A.ii. Downtown TIF Financing 16.B. PUBLIC SAFETY (Bownes, Bolduc, Lipman) 16.B.i. Fair St/Court St traffic problems and accidents 16.C. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Bownes, Bolduc, Cheney) 16.C.i. Review of Chapter 167, Noise and Chapter 161 Licensing as it pertains to outdoor sound equipment and loudspeakers 16.C.ii. Ordinance Amending Chapter 221, Vehicles and Traffic/Parking on Sublawns 16.C.iii. Procedural review of grant applications 16.D. LANDS & BUILDINGS (Hamel, Lipman, Haynes) 16.D.i. Downtown parking garage 16.D.ii. Repair & maintenance of City buildings 16.E. PUBLIC WORKS (Bolduc, Bownes, Haynes) Councilor Bownes explained to the Council the two policies that were presented at tonight's 6 PM committee meeting; Retaining Wall Policy and Driveway Cut Policy. The pending policies were distributed to the Council for their review. DPW Director Wes Anderson will make a few changes suggested by the Public Works Subcommittee and resubmit them. This item will be added to new business for the next Council Meeting. There was also an update for the emergency lanes with a spread sheet distributed and will be given to the Council. 16.E.i. Driveway Cut Policy 16.E.ii. Retaining Wall Policy 16.E.iii. Proposal to implement City Policies for designating emergency lanes 17. LIAISON REPORTS Hoping to have a quorum on April 9th or 16th regarding the Master Plan. 18. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS No comments from the public were made. 19. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 19.A. Monthly Economic Development Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report.  19.B. Project Updates Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. 19.C. Financial impacts for fiscal year 2019 budget City Manager Myers reviewed the report. The annual budget will be presented to the Council during the regular Council Meeting on April 23, 2018. Department presentations will be scheduled on Mondays. Smaller departments will be scheduled for Mondays of regular Council Meetings starting at 6 pm and the larger departments will be scheduled for the non­Council meeting Mondays except for Memorial Day where the meeting will be the following day. City Manager Myers is hoping to have the final schedule to the Council by the end of this week. Councilor Lipman questioned if it is cost­effective for the public to continue to recycle. City Manager Myers stated that from a purely monetary aspect it would be more cost effective for the City to throw glass away with the regular trash, but it is better for the environment and other expenditures for the City to continue to recycle. Councilor Hamel mentioned the recycle bin on Messer Street and noticed that residents are not recycling properly. City Manager Myers did agree and noted many communications have gone out to the public regarding recycling. Councilor Hamel requested a line item be added regarding this expense. Councilor Lipman questioned when our contract is up in regards to recycling. City Manager Myers will look into that and get back to the Council. Councilor Bownes stated from an environmental stand point there has been a lot of debate recently regarding the value of recycling and whether it is as valuable as everyone first thought it would be. Councilor Lipman asked the City Manager to explain if Keno affects our budget. City Manager Myers explained that this would be a question for the Schools as they are the ones that would receive this money. The State has stated they have exceeded their target. Councilor Bownes feels that the tax cap is going to need to be addressed as we go through the budget process. 20. NEW BUSINESS 20.A. Celebrate Laconia request to waive licensing, special event and vendor fees for the City's 125th celebration at Opechee Park on July 7, 2018 Councilor Bownes moves to approve Celebrate Laconia's request to waive licensing, special event and vendor fees for the City's 125th celebration at Opechee Park on July 7, 2018, pending approval from the Special Events Review Committee and the Licensing Board, seconded by Councilor Cheney; Mayor Engler questioned why this is being brought to the Council prior to approval from other departments. City Manager Myers explained it is purely timing of the meetings. Mayor Engler called the question; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.B. Request to make the Court Street no parking from Main Street to the Belmont town line City Manager Myers explained this is merely a housekeeping item. There are a few fifteen­minute parking spaces left on Court Street that need to be removed. Councilor Haynes stated his concerns with the speed of traffic and enforcement on Court Street. City Manager Myers took note and stated Chief Canfield is aware of the problem and there is a radar on Court Street now. Councilor Haynes moves to eliminate the existing parking restrictions on Court Street and approve no parking on Court Street on both the even­numbered and odd­numbered side from the Belmont town line to the intersection of Main Street, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.C. An Assignment and Assumption of Lease between the Laconia Airport Authority and Viking Tecxhnologies Corporations  Mayor Engler explained the lease to the Council. Mayor Engler did note that if granted approval to sign the documents he will only be signing the lease pending the lessee is a good fit for the Airport Authority. Councilor Lipman moves to authorize Mayor Engler to sign the Assignment and Assumption of Lease and Notice of Assumption of Lease between Viking Technologies Corporation and the Laconia Airport Authority, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.D. Discussion of land lease proposal received in response to RFP No. 1801­02 re: land located off from Frank Bean Road and Route 11B City Manager Myers explained there has only been one response to RFP No. 1801­02 from New England Solar Garden ­ Nobis Engineering. If the City went forward with the Solar Panels and if SB 365 passes, the City could be eligible for a rebate programs. Councilor Hamel would like something added in regards to updated technology. The Council agrees to continue with the Solar Panel discussions and advertising and to notify the abutters to these two parcels. 21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 21.A. Improvement of Union Ave/Elm Street intersection Councilor Bownes moves to take Item 21A off the table, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Bownes moves to approve the engineering and design work only that consists of a straight through and right hand turn lane on Union Avenue, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Bownes moves to coordinate the lights at Elm Street and Clinton Street and Union Avenue, seconded by Councilor Cheney; DPW Director Anderson explained that Elm Street and Clinton Street lights for people taking left hand turns will both be able to go and it will be done in conjunction with the construction. The Mayor called the question; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Hamel motions to move item 21A to future agenda items, seconded by Councilor Haynes, the motion passed with all in favor. 22. COUNCIL COMMENTS No comments made by the Council. 23. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 23.A. Ordinance amendment relative to Chapter 167, Noise and Chapter 161, Licensing as it pertains to outdoor sound equipment and loudspeakers 23.B. Second reading of a resolution relative to the adoption of RSA 31:95­b, Appropriation of funds made available during the year 23.C. Master Plan 23.D. Milfoil Treatment funding requests 23.E. Sewer & Water Master Plan 23.F. Single Stream Recycling/Concord Co­op/Solid Waste disposal cost reductions 23.G. Strategic Planning/Goal Setting  23.H. WOW Trail 23.I. Proposal to implement City Policies for designating emergency lanes 23.J. Resolution 2017­30 relative to authorizing the City Manager to apply to the State of NH DOT for a temporary use agreement in the City's name that will allow for the completion of a study concerning the different options and benefits of how to build Phase 3 of the WOW Trail and to sign all necessary documents 24. NON­PUBLIC SESSION (According to RSA 91­A:3, II) 25. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council and with no objections, Mayor Engler adjourned the meeting at 9:21 PM. Respectfully Submitted by Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk Minutes were accepted April 9, 2018 by the Council