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: Nov 01, 2016 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY CLERK 1. - CITY CLERK 1.1. 2016 / 687 - Minutes of Downtown Redevelopment SC October 25th; City Council Meeting October 25th, for acceptance. Roll Call showed 8 present, 1 absent (C. Milinazzo). Mayor Kennedy presiding. In City Council, minutes read, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 2. - COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 2.1. 2016 / 695 - Motion Responses: (A) Report on Rehab of the JFK Plaza (B) Granite United Church & Sullivan School (C) Inappropriate Crossing on Powell Street (D) District and Superior Court Disposition (E) Firearms Training (F) Status of the Former Waterworks Building (G) Update Bike Patrol (H) Update LMA Balcony (I) Parking Garages in the City (J) After School Permitting (K) A.D.A Access to City Parks and Playgrounds (L) Letter of Appreciation City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 6) Informational: (M) NIBRS Report July 2016 In Council, Motion “To accept and place on file” by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. C. Samaras commented on Motion Response A regarding rehab of JFK Plaza noting the plans for upgrades along with flag displays. C. Mercier commented on the different departments working together and questioned the location of future monuments on the site. Manager Murphy noted that there would be a third island added for monuments. C. Elliott noted that flags could be displayed in City Hall as well. C. Leary commented on Motion Response C regarding crossing at Powell Street noting that the neighborhood concerns were being met. Manager Murphy noted that there would be construction of bump out in the Spring. C. Leahy commented that the new design would be effective. C. Mercier noted that there were several citations issued in that area. C. Leahy commented on Motion Response D regarding District and Superior Court buildings noting that there may be interest in the buildings in the future. C. Leary commented on Motion Response E regarding firearms training stating that the costs of the training are reasonable. Supt. Taylor (LPD) commented on the costs and the vendors being used for training. C. Samaras commented on Motion Response F regarding Waterworks Building noting the plans that will enhance that neighborhood. C. Belanger commented on the demolition costs. Manager Murphy outlined the demolition costs and the funding that would be used. C. Elliott commented on Motion Response G regarding bike patrols and recognized the update to the report outlining response time. Supt. Taylor commented on the response time and the location of the patrols and how the align with community policing. C. Leary commented on community policing and the use of the patrols to further that endeavor. C. Mercier commented on Motion Response H regarding Lowell Memorial Auditorium balcony noting her concern that all acts may access the building. C. Samaras commented on Motion Response I regarding parking garages noting the need for suitable parking and the three strategies that will be implemented. Registered speaker, Armand Hebert addressed the Council. Nick Navin (Parking Director) outlined the three strategies which included added garages, managing transportation and managing parking resources. C. Samaras noted the complexities concerning parking in the City. C. Leary City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 6) questioned when the administration would be deploying those strategies. Manager Murphy noted costs regarding a consultant and the importance of it for future development of parking. C. Mercier commented on Motion Response J regarding after school permitting noting that the report from the School Administration was not accurate and that there should be further discussion between the parties. Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Elliott to refer matter to Municipal Facilities SC for review and discussion. So voted. C. Elliott commented on issues that are present in the process and that there should be a Lowell preference in the permitting. C. Rourke commented that the process should be improved and requested review of past meeting. Manager Murphy noted that the meeting produced two positive elements and they were giving a reason for denial and appealing that denial. C. Samaras commented on Motion Response K regarding handicap access in parks noting the importance of it. C. Mercier commented on the number of parks and green space the City is responsible for. C. Leahy commented on Motion Response L regarding letter of appreciation recognizing the efforts of the Parks Department. Manager Murphy noted the excellent condition of Callery Park. 2.2. 2016 / 688 - Communication - City Mgr. request Out of State Travel (2) LPD. In Council, read and adopted. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Belanger, Corey x Elliott, Rodney M. x Leahy, John J. x Leary, James x Mercier, Rita M. x x Milinazzo, James L. Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3. - VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER 3.1. 2016 / 694 - Vote-Cancel Council Meetings 11/29, 12/20 and 12/27/2016 City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 6) In Council, read twice, waived full reading and adopted. VOTING Committee Member YES NO ABSTAIN RECUSE MOTION SECONDED Kennedy, Jr, Edward J. x Belanger, Corey x Elliott, Rodney M. x Leahy, John J. x Leary, James x Mercier, Rita M. x x Milinazzo, James L. Rourke, Daniel P. x x Samaras, William x REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) 4. - REPORTS (SUB / COMMITTEE, IF ANY) None PETITIONS 5. - PETITIONS 5.1. 2016 / 696 - Claim - (1) Property. In City Council, Motion to refer to Law Department for report and recommendation by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 6. - CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS 6.1. 2016 / 690 - C. Leary/C. Milinazzo - Req. City Mgr. work with the University of Lowell and the Lowell Regional Transit Authority to coordinate and determine the feasibility of providing transportation between the Gallagher Transportation Terminal, Hamilton Canal Innovation District and other developing Business districts within Lowell. In addition, opening a discussion between the parties that coordinates overall improvement of public transportation within Lowell. In Council, seconded by M. Kennedy as C. Milinazzo was not present at meeting, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leary commented on the need to coordinate City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 5 of 6) transportation methods in the City which include the City busses and UMass-Lowell busses. 6.2. 2016 / 691 - C. Elliott - Req. City Mgr. report on the procedure for Administrative Review for Zoning Board of Appeals. In Council, seconded by C. Rourke, read and referred to Law Department. So voted. Registered speakers John Hamblet and Deb Forgione addressed the Council. C. Elliott commented on the process which did not allow additional public input. Substitute Motion by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Mercier to refer to Law Department. So voted. C. Leahy noted the need to review process and developers should work with neighborhood. C. Mercier noted that rules must be clear and definitions precise. C. Belanger commented on public hearings and that Administrative Review should be should be clear and that Mr. Slagle (Inspectional Services) should review the policy. M. Kennedy released Chair to Vice Chair Rourke at 7:36 PM. M. Kennedy questioned the elements of Administrative Review and how did it originate. M. Kennedy noted the issue may revolve around the needed parking on site and how that parking is to be calculated. 6.3. 2016 / 692 - C. Elliott - Req. City Mgr. report on status/progress of Plain Street re- alignment/Ayers City Industrial Park Plan. In Council, seconded by C. Belanger, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Elliott requested update of project moving forward and the commercial element of same to be highlighted. Manager Murphy commented on current development status of the VFW. C. Elliott questioned use of resources to introduce developers to the site. C. Leary questioned the type of industry that will dominate the site. 6.4. 2016 / 693 - C. Samaras - Req. City Mgr. inquire of Winn Development to provide a report regarding proportional analysis of market rate housing versus affordable (subsidized) housing in their development portfolio for City. In Council, seconded by M. Kennedy, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Samaras noted the need for information to keep discussion and momentum on the project. C. Belanger commented on the need for the City to have keen oversight on all elements of the project. C. Rourke noted the involvement of the DPD. 6.5. 2016 / 697 - C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. work with all physical departments, especially DPW and Parks, to be more efficient in review and monitoring external contracts. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 6 of 6) In Council, seconded by C. Leary, read and referred to City Manager. So voted. C. Leahy noted the need to push contracts forward and ensure they are cost effective as opposed to the use of in-house labor. C. Leary questioned the use of RFP on all contracts. C. Mercier noted that the best people for the job may be City’s own employees. Manager Murphy noted the need to use smart money. C. Belanger commented on city employees. C. Rourke questioned current use of labor for needle pickup program. Manager Murphy noted DPW are being trained in this area. ANNOUNCEMENTS 7. - ANNOUNCEMENTS In Council, C. Leahy noted upcoming subcommittee meeting with School Department’s Facilities SC and the Council Municipal Facilities SC. C. Mercier noted the Durkin Family Bridge Dedication. ADJOURNMENT 8. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by M. Kennedy, seconded by C. Samaras. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 8:01 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov