City Council

Minutes were approved on March 16, 2023 by the Finance Committee. CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING FINANCE COMMITTEE January 9, 2023 - 6:00 pm City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc Council Chamber 1/9/2023 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Lipman called the meeting to order at 6pm 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Cheney led the salute to the flag 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Katie Gargano, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL City Clerk Gargano called the roll of the following members: Chairman Lipman, Councilor Cheney and Councilor Soucy. Absent Councilor Hamel Councilor Soucy was appointed by Mayor Hosmer at the December 27, 2022 Council Meeting to the Finance Subcommittee for Item 7B in place of Councilor Hamel. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE City Manager Kirk Beattie, Finance Director Glenn Smith, Department of Public Works Director Wes Anderson 6. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 6.A. City Council Finance Subcommittee Minutes of December 19, 2022 Minutes of the December 19, 2022 Finance Committee meeting were distributed to members of the City Council Finance Subcommittee on January 6, 2023. With no corrections or changes submitted to the Clerk’s Office, the minutes of the December 19, 2022 Finance Subcommittee meeting were accepted as distributed. 7. FINANCE (Lipman (Chair), Hamel, Cheney) 7.A. Request to increase Sanitary Sewer rates beginning February 1, 2023 The Finance Subcommittee has met several times recently on the request to increase Sanitary Sewer rates. At their most recent meeting on December 27, 2022 the Committee requested an updated spreadsheet reflecting a proposal for Sanitary Sewer Fund rate adjustments to meet operating needs through FY33. That updated spreadsheet is attached for the Committee members’  7.A. Request to increase Sanitary Sewer rates beginning February 1, 2023 The Finance Subcommittee has met several times recently on the request to increase Sanitary Sewer rates. At their most recent meeting on December 27, 2022 the Committee requested an updated spreadsheet reflecting a proposal for Sanitary Sewer Fund rate adjustments to meet operating needs through FY33. That updated spreadsheet is attached for the Committee members’ review. The plan includes bonding 3 separate bonds at 3 million dollars each and they would be bonded every 3 years for a total of 9 years. Manager Beattie said if the committee is happy with this plan then during then during the committee reports at the council meeting, they can vote to send it to public hearing. 7.B. Parking options requested by Scott Everett for his property in Lakeport at 51 Elm Street Developer Scott Everett, Paugus Properties, LLC, requested that the City Council explore parking options in connection with his development at 51 Elm Street in Lakeport. The project, scheduled to open in the spring of 2023, will consist of a 40,000 plus sq.ft. building which will feature covered parking, condominiums and first floor retail shops as well as co-working spaces. At the City Council meeting on December 27, 2022 Mr. Everett reviewed his proposal. The Council scheduled a Public Hearing on this matter for this evening’s regular City Council meeting and requested that the Finance Subcommittee review this matter prior to that Public Hearing. Councilor Lipman would like to see a written agreement that includes maintenance of the spaces like plowing and salting/sanding. Councilor Lipman gave examples of parking arrangements the Council has made with the Colonial and the parking on Church Street in front of the Laconia Spa and the old police station. The committee is leaning towards an agreement that is not like the one with the colonial condo owners. Councilor Soucy stated the time allotment requested from 9am to 10 pm seems to be a bit much. The committee would like to see turnover in the spaces, they don’t feel that all the lots should be timed at the same time. Manager Beattie mentioned he sent out some talking points to the Committee members late this afternoon, the committee members said they did not have time to review them prior to the meeting. Councilor Soucy questioned the number of ADA spots are needed and if the leasee will be taking care of it. Manager Beattie said that would have been taken care of when the plan went through the Planning Department. Councilor Cheney mentioned the need for enforcement of the timed spaces. Manager Beattie said that the committee should wait to hear what comes up at the public hearing tonight, then have the Council discuss it. 8. Any other business that may come before the Committee 9. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Lipman adjourned the meeting at 6:25 PM Respectfully submitted, Katie Gargano, City Clerk Respectfully submitted, Katie Gargano, City Clerk