City Council

CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 13, 2020 7:00 P.M. 1/13/2020 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hosmer 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 took the roll with the following Councilors in attendance: Bruce Cheney, Henry Lipman, Mark Haynes, Bob Hamel, and Tony Felch. Mayor Hosmer noted five (5) Councilors were in attendance and a quorum was established. Not present: David Bownes 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 December 23, 2019 Minutes of the meeting were distributed to the City Council on Thursday, December 26, 2019. With no corrections or changes submitted to the clerk, the minutes will be accepted as distributed. 7.B. Special meeting minutes of January 9, 2020 The special meeting minutes of January 9, 2020 were distributed to the City Council on Friday, January 10, 2020. With no corrections or changes submitted to the Clerk, the minutes will be accepted as distributed. 8. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 8.A. Request to establish rental fees for Boardwalk and Weirs Boulevard vending spaces for Laconia Motorcycle Week 2020 Councilor Hamel moved to approve rental fees for Laconia Motorcycle Week 2020 vending spaces located on the Boardwalk and Weirs Boulevard as presented, seconded by Councilor Cheney; the motion passed with all in favor. 9. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Representative St. Clair - welcomed Mayor Hosmer 10. INTERVIEWS 10.A. Bruce Kneuer - Seeking reappointment as an alternate member of the Library 9. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Representative St. Clair - welcomed Mayor Hosmer 10. INTERVIEWS 10.A. Bruce Kneuer - Seeking reappointment as an alternate member of the Library Board of Trustees to a term expiring at the end of March, 2021 Bruce Kneuer was interviewed. 10.B. Marie Bradley - Seeking reappointment as a regular member of the Library Board of Trustees to a term expiring at the end of March, 2023 Marie Bradley was interviewed. 11. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 12. COMMUNICATIONS 13. PUBLIC HEARINGS 14. PRESENTATIONS 15. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Hosmer has distributed his appointments to the Laconia Liaison Committees and Council Committees for 2020-2021 Belknap Economic Development Council: Henry Lipman Capital Improvement Projects: Bob Hamel Heritage Commission: Mark Haynes Human Relations: Andrew Hosmer Lakes Region Public Access (LRPA): David Bownes Library: Tony Felch Parks and Recreation Commission: Bob Hamel Planning Board: David Bownes (Alternate: Bruce Cheney) Police Commission: Bruce Cheney Laconia Motorcycle Week: Tony Felch Water Works: Andrew Hosmer Finance Committee: Henry Lipman (Chair), Bruce Cheney, Bob Hamel Government Operations: Bruce Cheney, Tony Felch, David Bownes (Chair) Land & Buildings: Bob Hamel (Chair), Mark Haynes, Tony Felch Public Safety: David Bownes, Bruce Cheney (Chair), Henry Lipman Public Works: Tony Felch, Mark Haynes (Chair), David Bownes Mayor Hosmer distributed to the Council a document regarding House Bill 1224-FN-A-LOCAL which pertains to potential funding for the Lakeshore Redevelopment Planning Commission in regards to the old  Public Safety: David Bownes, Bruce Cheney (Chair), Henry Lipman Public Works: Tony Felch, Mark Haynes (Chair), David Bownes Mayor Hosmer distributed to the Council a document regarding House Bill 1224-FN-A-LOCAL which pertains to potential funding for the Lakeshore Redevelopment Planning Commission in regards to the old State School property. Councilor Lipman moved to have the City Manager draft a letter in support of the HB 1224-FN-A-LOCAL, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. Mayor Hosmer expressed his gratitude to all of the City employees for the work that went into the Mayoral Inauguration. Mayor Hosmer also wanted to thank the Laconia High School students for volunteering their time during the inauguration. 16. COMMITTEE REPORTS 16.A. FINANCE 16.A.i. WOW Trail Funding 16.A.ii. Downtown TIF Financing 16.B. PUBLIC SAFETY 16.C. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES 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 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.D.v. Continuation of the discussion regarding parking in the Lakeport area 16.E. PUBLIC WORKS 16.E.i. Retaining Wall Policy 17. LIAISON REPORTS Councilor Cheney thanked the Police Commission and senior staff for putting forth the effort to be more  16.E.i. Retaining Wall Policy 17. LIAISON REPORTS Councilor Cheney thanked the Police Commission and senior staff for putting forth the effort to be more visible throughout the City. Councilor Hamel updated the Council in regards to the Colonial Theater. There are weekly meetings regarding the theater and the next will be Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 9:00 am. 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 reviewed the report. Councilor Lipman asked for an update regarding Short Term Rentals and how potential state legislature may affect the City Ordinance. Director Trefethen stated it is still being worked on with Legal and he hopes to have an update for the next meeting. Director Trefethen spoke of the potential bill that has been submitted. This could potentially significantly alter the Ordinance that was just passed by the Council. City Manager Myers spoke about a few of the possible changes. This bill would limit safety inspections and owners being available at all times. If this were to pass, it would not go into effect until January 1, 2021. The Municipal Association is watching this bill. Councilor Cheney requests the traffic lights in Lakeport Square be checked. Councilor Cheney requested the City Manager to see if the City is being paid for all the poles that are within the City limits. Councilor Cheney mentioned the crosswalk by Cumberland Farms in the Weirs and that the State would like the proposed location moved about 300 feet south. City Manager Myers explained the State is proposing the move due to the site factor. Councilor Cheney moved to have City Manager Myers draft a letter to the State to reconsider the location of the sidewalk in the Weirs area by Cumberland Farms, seconded by Councilor Felch; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Cheney mentioned that there is a shopping cart in the middle of Perley Pond. City Manager Myers stated it will be safely addressed. Councilor Hamel addressed the temporary no parking signs that were in the downtown area for three or four days straight and how it left a burden for people that were trying to park in that area. City Manager Myers recognized the issue and it has been addressed. 20. NEW BUSINESS 21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 22. COUNCIL COMMENTS City Manager Myers stated the Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their annual luncheon on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at the Margate from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. There are 10 seats available, so depending on how many Councilors attend, the remaining seats will be filled by department heads. The plan will be to begin the goal setting meeting at 2:00 pm. 22. COUNCIL COMMENTS City Manager Myers stated the Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their annual luncheon on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at the Margate from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. There are 10 seats available, so depending on how many Councilors attend, the remaining seats will be filled by department heads. The plan will be to begin the goal setting meeting at 2:00 pm. 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.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 Hosmer adjourned the meeting at 7:53 pm. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk