City Council

LOWELL CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 CITY HALL, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER TIME 6:30 PM Roll call showed ? present. Mayor Murphy Presiding. MAYOR’S BUSINESS 1. Proclamation - March of Dimes recognition of October 3rd as Robert “Ziggy” Burns Day in Lowell. In Council, Mayor made presentation to recipient. ? addressed the Council. 2. Citation - Recognizing Crossfit Lowell as a new business. In Council, Mayor made presentation to recipient. ? addressed the Council. 3. Citation - Recognizing George Nicolakakis from George’s Deli. In Council, Mayor made presentation to recipient. ? addressed the Council. CITY CLERK 4. Minutes of City Council Meeting September 10th; Environment SC September 12th; Neighborhoods SC September 17th; and Special Meeting September 17th, for acceptance. In Council, read, accepted and placed on file by Motion of C. ?, seconded by C. ?. So voted. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5. Ordinance - Amend Zoning (Rogers St) Extend TMU District. In Council, Given 1st reading referred to Planning Board for a report and recommendation and referred to Public Hearing in City Council on November 12, 2013 at 7 PM by Motion of C. ?, seconded by C. ?. So voted. CITY MANAGER 6. Communication - From City Manager Responses to City Council Motions and Requests. In Council, read, accepted and placed on file by Motion of C. ?, seconded by C. ?. So voted. A. COUNCIL MOTION OF 8/13/2013 BY MAYOR MURPHY: “Request City Manager develop a green infrastructure plan.” B. COUNCIL MOTION OF 9/10/2013 BY MAYOR MURPHY: “Request the City Manager in addition to implementing Adopt-a-lot Program, mark properties as City-owned with signage, information, links to website with plans, and space for input from local residents.” C. COUNCIL MOTION OF 8/13/2013 BY MAYOR MURPHY: “Request City Manager report on plans to address Lincoln Square intersection for easier use by cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians alike and reporting on light issues in the adjacent passive park.” D. COUNCIL MOTION OF 8/27/2013 BY MAYOR MURPHY: “Request the City Manager report on sign code regulations and develop more comprehensive sign guidelines.” E. COUNCIL MOTION OF 9/10/2013 BY COUNCILOR MERCIER: “Request City Manager provide a report from proper department on when it is permissible to call 911 and provide a review of the 911 recording of Tuesday September 3, 2013 at 11:45PM.” F. COUNCIL MOTION OF 8/13/2013 BY MAYOR MURPHY: “Request City Manager develop incremental stormwater measures into ordinance proposal addressing the financial and environmental impact of large impervious properties, continuous impervious pavement to the sidewalks or street where no legal curb exists, and improved design to prepare for eventual compliance with next phase of federal stormwater permitting.” G. COUNCIL MOTION OF 8/13/2013 BY MAYOR MURPHY: “Request City Manager explore creation of an eco-district pilot to address the neighborhood level issues of sustainability raised by the City’s master plan.” H. COUNCIL MOTION OF 9/10/2013 BY MAYOR MURPHY: “Request City Manager report on the status of City-owned stone building on the Stoklosa School campus and abandoned block building on the Butler and Shaughnessy School campus.” I. COUNCIL MOTION OF 8/27/13 BY COUNCILORS JOHN LEAHY/COUNCILOR EDWARD KENNEDY: “Request City Manager explore the feasibility of partnering with a private entity to open a children's museum in the City of Lowell.” J. COUNCIL MOTION OF 8/13/13 BY COUNCILOR EDWARD KENNEDY: “Request City Manager provide City Council with a semi-annual report pursuant to Chapter 844 of the Acts of 1975 regarding the status of the central business district.” K. COUNCIL MOTION OF 8/27/13 BY COUNCILOR MENDONCA: “Request the City Manager report to the Economic Development Subcommittee on DPD's economic development activities in the past year and planned activities for the next few months.” L. INFORMATIONAL  Fall Park and Memorial Dedication Schedule ICMA Conference memo M. PETITION RESPONSE Handicap Parking (1) 7. Communication - Accept Resignation of Kate Lessard (Immigration Commission). In Council, read, accepted and placed on file by Motion of C. ?, seconded by C. ?. So voted. 8. Vote - Authorize City Manager Execute MOA w UML re: Storm Water Management and future Sewer Separation Project in the neighborhood of Pawtucket St, Salem St. and Merrimack (proximity of University Crossing). In Council, Read twice, Motion by C. ?, seconded by C. ? “to waive full reading.” So voted. Motion “to adopt” by C. ?, seconded by C. ?. Adopted on roll call vote ? yeas. So voted. 9. Order - 60 day trial (various). In Council, Read twice, Motion by C. ?, seconded by C. ? “to waive full reading.” So voted. Motion “to adopt” by C. ?, seconded by C. ?. Adopted on roll call vote ? yeas. So voted. 10. Vote - Execute License Agreement w 495 Chrysler Jeep Dodge Inc. for vehicle storage at parking lot at Martin-Alumni Athletic Complex. In Council, Read twice, Motion by C. ?, seconded by C. ? “to waive full reading.” So voted. Motion “to adopt” by C. ?, seconded by C. ?. Adopted on roll call vote ? yeas. So voted. 11. Vote - Incur Liability snow and ice removal. In Council, Read twice, Motion by C. ?, seconded by C. ? “to waive full reading.” So voted. Motion “to adopt” by C. ?, seconded by C. ?. Adopted on roll call vote ? yeas. So voted. REPORTS (Sub/Committee, if any) 12. Environment SC September 12, 2013. In Council, report given, Motion by C. ?, seconded by C. ? “To accept the report as a report of progress”. So voted. 13. Neighborhoods SC September 17, 2013. In Council, report given, Motion by C. ?, seconded by C. ? “To accept the report as a report of progress”. So voted. GENERAL PETITIONS 14. Claims (1) claim for property damage. In Council read and referred to Law Department for report and recommendation by Motion of C. ?, seconded by C. ?. So voted. 15. Misc. - Daly General Contracting, Inc. request City Council provide easement to maintain wall along right of way at 135 Beacon St. In Council read and referred to Law Department to draft proper vote by Motion of C. ?, seconded by C. ?. So voted. 16. Misc. - C&F Realty Trust request City Council extend TTF zone to include adjacent parcels located at 122 and 130 Andrews St. and 180 Moore St. In Council read and referred to Law Department to draft proper ordinance by Motion of C. ?, seconded by C. ?. So voted. MOTIONS 17. By C. Lorrey – “Req. City Mgr. have proper department conduct a study regarding the feasibility of placing sidewalks on Douglas Rd. and on Pine St. between Westford St. and Princeton Blvd.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 18. By C. Lorrey – “Req. City Mgr. have proper department look into possibility of placing stop signs on Shaw Street at various intersections that may require them.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 19. By C. Lorrey – “Req. City Mgr. have proper department look into the possibility of developing a local dollar program in the City.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 20. By C. Lorrey – “Req. City Mgr. have proper department consider designating parts of Fletcher Street as a School Zone.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 21. By C. Lorrey/C. Mercier – “Req. City Mgr. have proper department install a gate or a fence in front of the bathrooms located at South Common pool on South St.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 22. By C. Leahy – “Req. City Mgr. have proper department revisit the signage on Varnum Avenue as it pertains to children walking to and from school.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 23. By C. Leahy – “Req. Neighborhoods SC meet to generate new ideas for traffic solutions in and around the City, including but not limited to, speeding, parking and proper signage.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 24. By C. Leahy – “Req. City Mgr. have proper department report on procedures for posting signage on properties in accordance with building permits.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 25. By C. Leahy – “Req. City Mgr. have LPD issue report regarding recent shootings in the City.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 26. By M. Murphy – “Req. City Mgr. explore creation of one advisory Sustainability Commission with four (Green Building, Recycling and Composting, Bicycle and Pedestrian, and Food Security) subcommittees to better implement the vision of our master plan.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the Manager. So voted. 27. By M. Murphy – “Req. City Clerk work with administration to develop transparent and coordinated process for scheduling and posting public meetings.” In Council, seconded by C. ?, read and referred to the City Clerk. So voted. Motion to Adjourn by C. ?, seconded by C. ?. So voted. Adjourn at ? PM. Michael Q. Geary City Clerk