City Council

CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL MEETING October 15, 2019 7:00 P.M. 10/15/2019 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Engler called the meeting to order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Hosmer lead the Salute to the Flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL City Clerk Hebert took the roll with the following Councilors in attendance: Bruce Cheney, David Bownes, Henry Lipman, Mark Haynes, Bob Hamel, and Andrew Hosmer Mayor Engler noted all six (6) Councilors were in attendance and a quorum has been established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Scott Myers, City Manager Glenn Smith, Finance Director 6. COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 7. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 7.A. Regular meeting minutes of September 23, 2019 Minutes of the meeting were distributed to the City Council on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. With no corrections or changes submitted to the Clerk, the minutes will be accepted as distributed. 8. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 9. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Steven Degiso, 742 Union Ave, Owner of Mustache Pete's - Parking in the Lakeport area has been really busy due to the increase of businesses. People are parking longer than the posted time limit of two hours which is affecting his business. Police have been some help but stated they don't have the personnel to always enforce the time limits. Mr. Degiso was told by the police department to address his issues with the Council. Councilor Bownes stated parking in the Lakeport area has been an issue for years. Councilor Cheney stated he will bring this issue up at tomorrow's Police Commission Meeting. Steven Degiso, (father of the first speaker) - Would like to know if parking meters have ever been suggested in the Lakeport area. Is the area behind Lakeport Landing public parking and if it is could it have better signage? Councilor Bownes stated the parking issues are being addressed in the downtown area and understands the need for it to be addressed throughout the City.  Steven Degiso, (father of the first speaker) - Would like to know if parking meters have ever been suggested in the Lakeport area. Is the area behind Lakeport Landing public parking and if it is could it have better signage? Councilor Bownes stated the parking issues are being addressed in the downtown area and understands the need for it to be addressed throughout the City. Councilor Hamel stated some of the parking spaces are for public use behind Lakeport Landing but he isn't sure how many. City Manager Myers stated he will have staff look into it. Mayor Engler addressed the public regarding the Short Term Rental issue and that it is not on tonight's agenda, so now would be the time to address that topic. 10. INTERVIEWS 10.A. Richard Bastraw - Seeking appointment as an alternate member of the Library Board of Trustees to a three-year term expiring at the end of March, 2022 Richard Bastraw was interviewed. 10.B. Gail Ober - Seeking appointment as a regular member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment to fill the remainder of a term expiring at the end of August, 2020 Gail Ober was interviewed. 10.C. Michael DellaVecchia - Seeking appointment as a regular member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment to fill the remainder of a term expiring at the end of August, 2020 Michael DellaVecchia was interviewed. 11. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 11.A. Request to appoint a City Council representative to the 2019 Debra Bieniarz Award Committee Councilor Hamel moved to appoint Councilor Cheney as the City Council's representative to the 2019 Debra Bieniarz Award Committee, seconded by Councilor Hosmer; the motion passed with all in favor. 11.B. Request to appoint Krista Larsen to represent the City as an alternate on the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program Board for a three-year term expiring at the end of September, 2022 Councilor Hosmer moved to appoint Krista Larsen as the City's alternate representative on the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program Board for a three-year term expiring at the end of September, 2022, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. 12. COMMUNICATIONS 13. PUBLIC HEARINGS 13.A. Public hearing regarding placing a question on the November 5, 2019 Municipal Election Ballot to authorize the permitted operation of New Hampshire Lottery sports betting within the City of Laconia State statute requires that a public hearing be held on this matter at least 15 days but not more than 30 days before the date of the Municipal Election. Mayor Engler opened the public hearing at 7:23 pm. Representative St. Clair stated he thinks this is wonderful idea. Mayor Engler closed the public hearing at 7:24 pm. 14. PRESENTATIONS  Representative St. Clair stated he thinks this is wonderful idea. Mayor Engler closed the public hearing at 7:24 pm. 14. PRESENTATIONS 14.A. Update on Assessed Values Assessing Director Stephan Hamilton updated the Council on the assessed property values. The presentation was submitted into the record. The presentation reviewed the timeline for completion of the final steps of the valuation update process, reviewed the results of the valuation update, reviewed the process for researching individual assessments, informal reviews, and abatement requests, and reviewed preliminary performance statistics. Council members had Assessing Director Hamilton explain in detail how sales and assessed values work, who sets the standards for the median ratio, and how properties are grouped together. City Manager Myers reminded everyone that the Old to New Values will be live tomorrow, October 16, 2019. 14.B. WOW Trail Presentation Alan Beetle, President of the WOW Trail Organization presented to the Council a presentation on the WOW Trail. A copy of the presentation was submitted to the Council. Mr. Beetle thanked Mayor Engler for his six years of serving the City of Laconia as Mayor. Mr. Beetle discussed the Right of Way trail from Franklin to the Weirs and the pros and cons of a Rail with Trail versus Rail to Trail. Mr. Beetle stated over 40 people were included in this study. The perspective tonight is based on what they think is best for the City of Laconia. This is a 20 mile proposed trail from Weirs to Franklin. Over half the proposed trail would be along the lakes and rivers. As of right now there is approximately eight (8) miles of trail already built with around 10 miles to go. The last 10 miles are the most complicated due to the needed easements, abutter encroachment, fencing, and pinch points requiring on-road sections. Due to these reasons the WOW Committee is not proposing a trail with rail but is proposing Rail to Trail. Mr. Beetle explained to the Council the limited use of the railroad tracks and who would be effected by turning the rails into trails. By going with the rail to trail option, it would be less expensive, no easements would be necessary, no encroachment issues, no fences required, no on-road sections would be needed, and the existing trestles, bridges, and tunnels would still be useable. Also some added benefits with the Rail to Trail option would be the possibility of creating 40-60 permanent jobs, $3.6 to - 6.3 Million per year in visitor spending, lengthen snowmobile season, and a capital cost savings of $10-14 million. Mr. Beetle also spoke of the impact of the Rail to Trail option. Mr. Beetle explained how this option would affect the existing train operations, future of the rail, and state revenues. For the New England Southern Railroad service out of Canterbury, NH, their freight revenues for 2018 were $17,750. They make about eight (8) deliveries a year. The tourist train had a revenue in 2018 of $98,069. Councilor Cheney hopes that the City gets use of the tracks but he doesn't want people to think that this is the only option. Even though building the trail beside the tracks would be more costly this is still an option. Councilor Hamel would like to encourage Mr. Beetle to present this to other communities to receive their feedback. Mayor Engler requests the City Manager add this item to a future agenda to allow the Council to vote on how to proceed. 15. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Engler reminded everyone that the Pumpkinfest begins this Friday, October 18, 2019.  Mayor Engler requests the City Manager add this item to a future agenda to allow the Council to vote on how to proceed. 15. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Engler reminded everyone that the Pumpkinfest begins this Friday, October 18, 2019. Mayor Engler updated the Council on the Colonial Theater process. The gross maximum contract has been offered from the BEDC to Bonnette Page and Stone. Construction will begin no later than the first of November, 2019. Mayor Engler appoints Margaret Donnelly to the Human Relations Committee. Mayor Engler noted a zoning issue as it relates to Short Term Rentals. Mayor Engler is proposing the idea of rezoning South Down and Long Bay from single family residential to shore front residential. This would allow short term rentals in those areas. These two areas are also Homeowner's Associations therefore the HOA's would provide their own rules regarding short term rentals. If the HOA's did not want the Council to move forward with this idea, the Council would back off. Councilor Lipman left the meeting at 8:53 pm. 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, Hosmer, Lipman) 16.C. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Bownes, Hosmer, 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.C.iv. Regulation of Short Term Residential Rental Businesses 16.C.v. Paid Parking Proposal for Downtown 16.C.vi. Proposed Historic Overlay District 16.C.vii. Scenic Road Motorcycle Noise Petition 16.D. LANDS & BUILDINGS (Hamel, Lipman, Haynes) 16.D.i. Downtown parking garage 16.D.ii. Repair & maintenance of City buildings 16.D.iii. Perley Pond Maintenance 16.D.iv. Plan for the DPW Compound 16.E. PUBLIC WORKS (Bownes, Hosmer, Haynes)  16.D.iii. Perley Pond Maintenance 16.D.iv. Plan for the DPW Compound 16.E. PUBLIC WORKS (Bownes, Hosmer, Haynes) 16.E.i. Retaining Wall Policy 17. LIAISON REPORTS Councilor Bownes stated to the public the Planning Board will be moving the Historic Overlay District topic to public hearing on November 6, 2019 during the Planning Board Meeting. 18. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS No comments from the public were made. 19. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 19.A. Financial and Operational Trends Report City Manager Myers stated tjat the State has passed the budget. City Manager Myers reviewed the report. City Manager Myers also updated the Council on the construction and fire alarm boxes throughout the City. 20. NEW BUSINESS 20.A. First reading of Resolution 2019-23, relative to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Councilor Hamel moved to waive a reading of this Resolution in its entirety and to read by title only, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Hosmer moved a first reading of Resolution 2019-23, relative to authorizing the City Manager to accept and expend a grant on behalf of the City in the amount of $142,529.52 for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, seconded by Councilor Cheney; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Hosmer moved to schedule a public hearing on October 28, 2019 during the regular Council meeting to gather public input prior to adoption, seconded by Councilor Bownes; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.B. First reading of Ordinance 2019-194-24, relative to increasing the City's fee for household trash that is brought to the Transfer Station for disposal City Manager Myers explained the need for the increase in fees. The last time there was a rate increase was July 1, 2013. Councilor Hosmer moved to waive a reading of this Ordinance in its entirety and read by title only, seconded by Councilor Cheney; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Haynes moved a first reading of Ordinance 2019-194-24, relative to increasing the City's fee for household trash that is brought to the Transfer Station, seconded by Councilor Hosmer; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Hamel moved to schedule a public hearing on Ordinance 2019-194-24 on October 28, 2019 during the regular Council meeting to gather public input prior to adoption, seconded by Councilor Hosmer; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.C. Acceptance of a donated sculpture for the WOW Trail  Councilor Hamel moved to schedule a public hearing on Ordinance 2019-194-24 on October 28, 2019 during the regular Council meeting to gather public input prior to adoption, seconded by Councilor Hosmer; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.C. Acceptance of a donated sculpture for the WOW Trail Mayor Engler noted this sculpture was donated to the owners of Patrick's Pub by their employees. Councilor Hosmer moved to accept the donation of a sculpture from Patrick's Pub Employees and the WOW Board which will be located on the WOW Trail at the Lakeport Square entrance, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. 21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 21.A. Request to utilize Non-Capital Reserve funds for the replacement of the paved entrance walkway and sidewalk at the Weirs Community Center Councilor Hosmer moved to remove this item from the table, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. Parks and Rec Director Lovisek explained the winning bid was from Belknap Landscape Company, Inc. They were also the only company that was able to complete the job this year as the Council requested. Councilor Hamel moved to approve the request from the Laconia Parks and Recreation Department as presented to utilize Non-Capital Reserve funds in the amount of $12,500 for the project at the Weirs Community Center to improve the safety and accessibility of the facility with work being completed this year by Belknap Landscape Company, Inc., seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with four (4) in favor. Councilor Hosmer was not present for this vote. 22. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor Cheney would like someone from DPW to go to the construction projects at the end of each day to be sure that things are left in a reasonable and safe manner. Councilor Hamel requested the police department carpet replacement item be placed on the next agenda in order to allow the Council to vote. Councilor Hosmer acknowledged McKenzie Harrington-Bacote from the Office of Wellness in the school system for applying for a grant in the amount of for the $3.2 million to reduce and prevent youth violence and address mental health services. Councilor Bownes thanked the traffic controller by Mechanic Street for doing a great job allowing people through to the local businesses. 23. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 23.A. Master Plan 23.B. Milfoil Treatment funding requests 23.C. Sewer & Water Master Plan 23.D. Single Stream Recycling/Concord Co-op/Solid Waste disposal cost reductions 23.E. Strategic Planning/Goal Setting 23.F. WOW Trail  23.D. Single Stream Recycling/Concord Co-op/Solid Waste disposal cost reductions 23.E. Strategic Planning/Goal Setting 23.F. WOW Trail 23.G. Weirs Beach Restoration Project 23.H. Fair St/Court St traffic problems and accidents 24. Any other business that may come before the Council 25. NON-PUBLIC SESSION (According to RSA 91-A:3, II) 26. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council and hearing no objection, Mayor Engler adjourned the meeting at 9:35 pm. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk MINUTES OF THIS MEETING WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 28, 2019