City Council

Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov Lowell City Council Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Regular Meeting Minutes Date: Dec 09, 2014 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY CLERK 1. - CITY CLERK 1.1. 2014 / 801 - Minutes of City Council Meeting December 2nd; Finance SC December 2nd; Substance Abuse SC December 2nd, for acceptance. Roll call showed 9 present. Mayor Elliott Presiding. C. Mercier requested Moment of Silence in Darkened Chamber for Imelda Downes and William Taupier. C. Martin and C. Kennedy commented on the life and accomplishments of Mr. Taupier. Motion to suspend rules to present awards to various City departments for holiday open house competition by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. M. Elliott commented on the open house decoration competition and presented Best Decorated to Assessors Department and Best Host to Senior Center/Veterans Department and to Water Department. Manager Murphy commented on the event noting it was very successful. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Kennedy. So voted. GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. - GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS 2.1. 2014 / 808 - Ordinance-Amend c.290, entitled Zoning by amending section 6.1.10 Table of Dimensional Requirements City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 6) In City Council, Given 2nd Reading. Hearing opened. Communication regarding Planning Board recommendation (Item #3.1) was accepted and placed on file. Hearing held. No Remonstrants. Adopted on Roll Call Vote. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Elliott, Rodney M. x Belanger, Corey x Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Leahy, John J. x x Martin Jr., William F. x Mercier, Rita M. x x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3.1. 2014 / 816 - Motion Responses A. Disposal of Excess Christmas Trash B. Elections C. Disability Commission In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. C. Leahy commented on Motion Response C regarding Disability Commission and requested that the Manager provide time frame in which matters will be completed. 3.2. 2014 / 802 - Communication - Planning Board report/recommendation with respect to Amending Ch. 290 (Zoning) of Code of Ordinances, Section 6.1.10 (Table of Dimensional Requirments for Off-Street parking). In Council, Motion to delay matter until Public Hearing (Item #2.1) is before body. In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 6) VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4. - VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 4.1. 2014 / 815 - Vote-Auth CM Ex Amend to Access Agreement (221.4 Jackson St-Parcel 17) In Council, read twice and adopted. Motion to “waive full reading” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Elliott, Rodney M. x Belanger, Corey x Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Leahy, John J. x Martin Jr., William F. x x Mercier, Rita M. x x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5. - ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 5.1. 2014 / 814 - Order- 60 day trial (Merrimack St) In Council, read twice and adopted. Motion to “waive full reading” by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Elliott, Rodney M. x Belanger, Corey x Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Leahy, John J. x x Martin Jr., William F. x x Mercier, Rita M. x Milinazzo, James L. x Rourke, Daniel P. x Samaras, William x City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 6) REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 6. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 6.1. 2014 / 803 - Arts and Culture SC December 9, 2014. In City Council, C. Milinazzo outlined the meeting and attendance noting discussion on procedure to obtain grant money for the Arts and the recommendation of the subcommittee to move along in the grant process. Motion to endorse further involvement with the grant application by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Martin. So voted. 6.2. 2014 / 804 - Transportation SC December 9, 2014. In City Council, C. Milinazzo outlined the meeting and attendance noting discussion on bike lanes on Father Morrisette Blvd. and adopting recommendation of the Administration to remove outer line and input bike language in the lane as well as partial painting the lane green. Motion to implement recommendations of the Administration to remove outer line of the bike lane and add language regarding bicycling on the lane as well as painting part of the lanes green by C. Milinazzo, seconded by Samaras. So voted. Motion to accept the report as a report of progress by C. Leahy, seconded by C. Kennedy. So voted. C. Leahy noted upcoming Neighborhoods SC meeting on 12/11. C. Samaras noted upcoming Education Partnerships SC meeting on 12/16. PETITIONS 7. - PETITIONS 7.1. 2014 / 810 - Claim - (1) Property Damage. In City Council, Motion “refer to Law Department for report and recommendation” by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Belanger. So voted. 7.2. 2014 / 807 - Misc. - Rhonda Lacoy request (1) handicap parking sign at 11 Cedar Street. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 6) In City Council, Motion “refer to Traffic Engineer as amended” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. Motion to amend to 60 day trial by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 8. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 8.1. 2014 / 805 - C. Rourke - Req. City Council name Lowell Water Utility Intake Center in honor of Thomas Golden, Sr. In Council, seconded by C. Samaras, read and referred to Law Department for vote. Adopted on Roll Call vote, 9 yeas. So voted. C. Rourke spoke about Mr. Golden and reasons he should be honored. Registered speakers addressed the Council commenting on Mr. Golden; Jerry Dunn and Eric Gitschier. C. Mercier noted it was an excellent choice. 8.2. 2014 / 806 - C. Mercier - Req. City Council go on record in support of resolution of City/State divestment from Fossil Fuels and by requesting that the City review their portfolios in order to identify any investment, whether direct or indirect, that include holdings in fossil fuel companies and ask that the Solicitor draw up the resolution for the proper vote. In Council, Substitute Motion by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Kennedy to refer to City Manager to report on financial ramifications if resolution is adopted and also provide any planning if resolution is adopted. Adopted on Roll Call vote, 9 yeas. So voted. The following registered speakers addressed the Council; Jay Mason, Kevin Dillon, Peter Lovett, Derek Pilotte, and Christina Rohrbacher. C. Mercier thanked the speakers and commented on fossil fuels and divestment. C. Martin noted opposition to motion commenting that he believed there were no such investments, that substantial green efforts are being done constantly by the City and that such a broad discussion is not appropriate on the Council floor. C. Rourke requested report concerning investments. C. Kennedy commented that the Council should not take up matters beyond their scope; however this issue may not be one of them as there are several communities on board and more information should be provided. C. Mercier noted no problem with information and requested Roll Call on the matter. C. Samaras noted need for more information and put forward a substitute motion. C. Mercier noted that money should not drive every discussion. C. Martin noted the record is clear that the City is energy conscious. 8.3. 2014 / 809 - C. Samaras - Req. City Mgr. have DPD formulate a strategy to redevelop the land at the corner of Market, Cabot and Merrimack Streets (former site of the Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union). City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 6) In Council, seconded by C. Leahy, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Samaras noted the area should include the entire corridor up to UMass-Lowell to get full potential out of the area. C. Kennedy noted the benefit to have tie-in to UMass-Lowell campus with the downtown. C. Leahy noted the need to invite students into the downtown. C. Milinazzo noted to record him as present for vote and discussion. 8.4. 2014 / 813 - C. Kennedy/C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have DPD provide a report on the current vacancy factor and any recent leasing activity in the Central Business District. In Council, no second needed, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Kennedy noted the need to monitor the rate downtown and to get constant feedback from the businesses. C. Leahy requested more reports regarding downtown to keep on top of all changes. C. Belanger noted timely reports are needed to see who is coming and going and that attentions needs to be on upper floors of buildings as well. C. Kennedy noted that legislation regarding the creation of the LDFC included a report by Manager regarding downtown. Motion to Suspend Rules to allow comments on upcoming events by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. C. Mercier recognized Anna Jabar, owner of La Boniche, on her accomplishments regarding the restaurant. C. Mercier reminded public of Salvation Army Radiothon on 12/13. ADJOURNMENT 9. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. Adjourned at 8:05 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov