City Council

Minutes were approved on 10/8/2025 by the Government Operations & Ordinances Subcommittee. CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING Government Operations & Ordinances City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber 3:00 P.M. 8/20/2025 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Haynes called the meeting to order at 3:01 PM 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Cheney led the salute to the flag 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Katie Gargano, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL Clerk Gargano called the roll of the of the following committee members: Councilor Cheney, Councilor Haynes and Councilor Felch. Chairman Haynes confirmed that all members were in attendance, and a quorum was established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Kirk Beattie, City Manager and Wes Anderson, Public Works Director 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 7. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Haynes, Felch, Cheney) 7.A. Continued discussion of the request to allow commercial boats to use the City docks for pickup and drop off of customers City Ordinance 239 Wharves, prohibits commercial boats from using the City docks. The Ordinance follows. The highlighted are paragraphs that would have to be changed to allow commercial boats to use the docks. § 229-2 Definitions. COMMERCIAL - Any enterprise for gain and/or benefit by reason of regularly or irregularly scheduled operation. MOORED or DOCKED - The stationing of a boat, whether or not occupied and whether or not tied or anchored, along or upon a wharf. WHARF or WHARVES - Any public dock, wharf, landing, land or other public place located in the City of Laconia and land used in connection therewith, at which boats may be docked or moored. § 229-3 Commercial use restricted. MOORED or DOCKED - The stationing of a boat, whether or not occupied and whether or not tied or anchored, along or upon a wharf. WHARF or WHARVES - Any public dock, wharf, landing, land or other public place located in the City of Laconia and land used in connection therewith, at which boats may be docked or moored. § 229-3 Commercial use restricted. A. Operators of boats engaged in commercial enterprise shall not moor such boats at any public wharf except as provided in Subsections B and C. B. The United States Mail boat may be moored on the southerly side of the wharf, known as "Dock No. 6," at Weirs Beach during such hours and according to such regulations as the City Council may direct by vote; such regulations as to hours and other matters shall be effective when posted at said Dock No. 6. No other boat shall be moored on the southerly side of Dock No. 6 during the hours posted for mooring of said United States Mail boat; provided, however, that said mail boat will be responsible to the City of Laconia for any and all damage occurring to said Dock No. 6 as a result of the mooring of said United States Mail boat. C. The City Council may, in its sole discretion, lease public dock space to one or more commercial enterprises on such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate. Prior to entering into any such lease, the City Council shall hold at least one public hearing on the proposed lease. § 229-4 Use time limited. A. Gale Avenue and Lakeport Wharves. No boat shall be moored at said wharves for a period in excess of 10 hours at a time. B. Weirs Beach wharves. No boat shall be moored at said wharves between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., no boat shall be moored at said wharves for a period in excess of three hours. C. Time limits shall not apply to leased spaces. § 229-5 Alcoholic beverages prohibited. No person shall drink any alcoholic and/or malt beverage or alcoholic liquor, as defined in Chapter 175 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, while on any public wharf or in any boat while moored or docked at any public wharf. This restriction shall not apply to properly licensed commercial enterprises operating in a leased space. § 229-6 Administration and enforcement. 1. The Police Department may enforce the provisions of this chapter. Public Works recommends: · Paragraph 229-4 (a) be deleted as the City does not have any docks for public use on Gale Ave or in Lakeport. · If the Subcommittee decides to allow commercial boats to drop off passengers at the Weirs dock, the use be limited to an area on one finger of the dock and that a 5 minute time limit be established for the drop off point. Discussion: Councilor Felch began the discussion about how this has been previously discussed about water taxi’s being used in the Weirs and as the businesses are operating out of the public docks. There has been an ordinance in place against commercial businesses. It is not fair to other companies who have been renting from other private docks. Councilor Felch feels they should leave the ordinance just as it is. Councilor Cheney stated he concurs with what Councilor Felch said. He has received several calls against commercial boats using City docks. Councilor Haynes stated being a non-  Councilor Felch began the discussion about how this has been previously discussed about water taxi’s being used in the Weirs and as the businesses are operating out of the public docks. There has been an ordinance in place against commercial businesses. It is not fair to other companies who have been renting from other private docks. Councilor Felch feels they should leave the ordinance just as it is. Councilor Cheney stated he concurs with what Councilor Felch said. He has received several calls against commercial boats using City docks. Councilor Haynes stated being a non- boater, he could see it at both sides, he felt that last time it seemed they had another problem instead. Councilor Cheney has 2 items he’d like to have the City Manager research about the Mount Washington and to work on finding handicap parking at the docks. Councilor Felch made a motion to leave City Ordinance 239 as is, the motion was seconded by Councilor Cheney. The motion passed with all in favor. 3-0 7.B. Proposed resident-only parking permit system Councilor Cheney requested City Staff develop a proposal for a resident[1]only parking permit system. Councilor Cheney’s initial request was for Simpson Avenue and other streets in the Methodist Campground area of the City. Public Works anticipates that residents on other City streets will also request to participate in the system. The proposal is designed so that it can be used on any city public street that only has residential homes abutting it. The system was designed based on the program the City of Concord has implemented. Key concepts include: · The permit system only applies to public roads. The City does not have authority to impose parking restrictions on private roads. · All requests for resident only parking on a public street would be submitted by the Ward’s Councilor for consideration by the Council. · If City Council considers adding the street to the system, City Staff analyzes the request and makes a recommendation to the Council. · Permit would be valid for one calendar year. · If there is a change in owners or tenants the new residents would have to obtain permits and the old resident would have to turn theirs in. · The system would include a fee. · The permit system would not be in effect during Motorcycle Week. · The Police Department is responsible for enforcing the program. In addition to staff time for issuing and enforcing permits, the cost of the program includes purchasing the: · Signs and poles · Permits The objective is to price the permits so that it covers the cost of the program. A copy of the application for the permit is attached to the agenda. The objective is to price the permits so that it covers the cost of the program. A copy of the application for the permit is attached to the agenda. The system would be included in Article III – Parking Standing and Stopping of City Ordinance 221 – Vehicles and Traffic. The following is Staff’s proposal for the system. It would be included in Paragraph 221- 36.1: Parking Restriction of the City’s Ordinances. C. Resident Only Parking Restrictions (1) The City Council must approve all Public Roads that are restricted to residents only parking restrictions. All requests for a street to become residents-only parking must be sponsored by the Councilor(s) for the ward or wards. (2) Public Works will maintain a database of all streets approved for residents[1]only parking. The database must be available on the City’s website (a)Permit Applications. In accordance with this Ordinance, the City Manager or his/her designee shall create residential parking permit applications and establish the applicable fees. (b) Eligibility. Residents of dwellings located on streets approved by the City Council shall be eligible for residential parking permits upon the completion of the permit application and payment of applicable fees. (I.) The City Manager or his/her designee shall not issue more than two (2) residential parking permits per dwelling unit, notwithstanding the number of residents therein. (II.) The City Manager or his/her designee may waive the total number of residential parking permits when a unique circumstance or hardship exists. (c) Permit Year. Permits shall be issued on an annual basis and shall be valid from January 1 through December 30. No permit shall be valid for more than one year. Residential parking permits may be issued at any time during January 1 through December 30; however, the application fee for any permit issued after January 1 shall not be prorated. The annual renewal process for permits shall begin on October 1st. (d) Residents only parking restrictions will not be effect during the period of Laconia Motorcycle Week. (d) Transferability. Residential parking permits may only be used by the resident or their guest for which the permit has been issued. It shall be unlawful for the resident to transfer permits to any third party other than their guests. (e) Surrender of Permit. If, at any time during the permit year, said permit holder is no longer a resident of an address for any street subject to the resident only parking restriction, said permit shall be deemed surrendered and no longer valid and the permit holder shall otherwise surrender the permit to the City Manager or his/her designee. (f) Service and Delivery Vehicles Exempt. Parking prohibitions of this article shall not apply to service or delivery vehicles which on a short-term basis provide services or deliveries to residences. (g) Parking Permit Fee. The City Manager or his/her designee shall establish the appropriate fee for permits issued under this article. (h) All other parking restrictions are in effect. Fiscal Impact: The estimated cost to install the necessary signs is $150 to $300 depending on the number of connections to City streets. The estimated cost for 250 permits is $200 to $700.  permits issued under this article. (h) All other parking restrictions are in effect. Fiscal Impact: The estimated cost to install the necessary signs is $150 to $300 depending on the number of connections to City streets. The estimated cost for 250 permits is $200 to $700. Recommendation: Public Works recommends that the Subcommittee review the draft plan and provide comments so that City staff can finalize the change to the Ordinance and the application for submission to the City Council. Discussion: Director Anderson presented a list of streets to the committee to think about. Councilor Haynes asked if there is any accommodation for the winter. Councilor Cheney would like to put in subject to council rules and ordinances in regard to snow removal when it goes to the Council for approval. The committee agrees with what has been presented. 8. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS Bill Verner agrees with the Councilors, that he does not conduct any business at the docks and no one should. His business is conducted over the phone in advance. All he does is pick up and drop off customers at the docks. Councilor Felch noted he was on the Mount Washington and the Tiki Boats recently. They would be taking up parking spaces for these businesses, not the stand-alone businesses in the Weirs. Chad Puzzo owner of the Mini Winni stated they bring the business to the Weirs. They pick up and drop off at Weirs Beach. He recommends businesses in the Weirs to have lunch/dinner. He compared his business to a taxi business but on water. Bill Verner clarified if water taxis could drop off. Councilor Cheney said that it specifically states no commercial business. Nikki Puzzo stated that the Mini Winni doesn’t sell business, they pick up people at their Airbnb’s and will drop off at the docks to get a drink, they are only asking for 5-10 minutes. They want to feel welcomed and thanked for Laconia. They are not related to the Tiki Boats, they are a separate business, a separate business model. Councilor Cheney stated that he has never used the term tiki and doesn’t even know what the tiki boats are. He has received dozens of phone calls from people with complaints and why the city hasn’t done something prior to now. Businesses are also stating they do not see any profit from this. These are public docks paid for by taxpayers. 9. Any other business that may come before the Council 10. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Haynes adjourned the meeting at 3:29 PM. Respectfully submitted, Katie Gargano, City Clerk Katie Gargano, City Clerk