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 SPECIAL MEETING (M. KENNEDY) Date: June 8, 2017 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 1. ROLL CALL Roll Call showed 9 present. Mayor Kennedy presiding. 2. MAYOR'S BUSINESS Informational - The following informational items carried over from June 6, 2017. (S) Geoenvironmental Feasibility – Manager Murphy commented on report of soils on each site. C. Elliott requested quick summary. Steve Vetere (Nobis) commented on the Phase II at Cawley and downtown sites stating it was urban fill which would need very limited remediation. C. Elliott questioned sampling. C. Leary commented on sample size. C. Belanger questioned status of site which could be subject to eminent domain. Mr. Vetere noted it would probably be similar to adjacent site. (T) HazMat Feasibility – Manager Murphy commented on prior reports of the consultants. Sarah Brown (DPD) summarized the process and the results of material located at the Lowell High site. (U) Traffic Feasibility – Manager Murphy noted the report. Nicolas Bosonetto (Traffic Engineer) summarized the findings and costs as well as the process and the goals of the studies. C. Leary commented on method for busing. Mr. Bosonetto noted use of Village Street. C. Leary questioned access from Douglas Road and noted that more discussion is needed for traffic flow analysis. C. Leary noted use roads in neighborhood schools. Mr. Bosonetto noted managing cut through is difficult. C. Mercier questioned competition with private busing companies. Mr. Bosonetto noted that routes cannot be created to compete with private busing companies. C. Samaras commented on savings on busing costs and if any time changes are anticipated then they should be made City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 4) known early in the process. C. Milinazzo noted the lack of infrastructure at the Cawley site and that efficiency is compromised with increased traffic. C. Elliott noted busing proposal plan was reasonable and it would lessen costs. C. Belanger requested presentation of busing plans at future meeting. M. Kennedy noted he has seen busing plan and was not impressed by same. C. Belanger questioned other approaches to the Cawley site. C. Rourke noted it was common sense that buses would use different approaches into the site. C. Leary noted more details needed if site is selected. C. Milinazzo noted it was a complicated and expensive issue. (V) Energy Feasibility – Katherine Moses (DPD) outlined the studies noting methods and results as well as energy conservation. C. Milinazzo commented on square footage of each option in terms of energy costs. C. Rourke noted new buildings would offer more energy efficiency. Ms. Moses noted the process to check efficiency. C. Mercier noted the energy savings at Cawley site. C. Milinazzo questioned use and benefits of solar energy. C. Rourke noted solar fields can be off site as well. (W) Security Feasibility – Chief Winward (LFD) outlined the safety elements of modern schools noting safety and access issues. C. Belanger questioned if five story building would pose challenges. Chief Winward noted no challenges at either site. Supt. Taylor (LPD) noted that department could accommodate at any site and each site would have officers and security equipment on the premises. Supt. Taylor noted current site as too many access points. C. Rourke questioned use of detail officers during any construction. C. Samaras questioned camera use directly into station. C. Milinazzo commented on police detail use. Supt. Taylor noted the cooperation with surrounding communities regarding policing. Presentation - The following presentation carried over from June 6, 2017. (X) PSR Presentation – Skanska and Perkins/Eastman made presentation before body. C. Elliott commented on process for decision. C. Samaras noted changes as moving along process. C. Leahy commented on phasing of the project and the different costs. C. Mercier noted costs overrun concerns. C. Belanger noted estimates and what actual costs are. C. Milinazzo questioned if there was accounting for future dollars. C. Milinazzo commented of possible use of Holy Ghost Park for parking. C. Rourke noted time line to control costs. C. Leary noted different costs when project goes to bid. C. Mercier commented on process and the vote. Christine O’Connor (City Solicitor) commented on process and vote. C. Mercier commented on eminent domain proceedings. Manager Murphy commented on that process. C. Milinazzo noted the importance of having Council maintain strong front regardless of selection. C. Elliott noted the recommendation coming from the School Building Committee. C. Leary questioned square footage of Cawley site. M. Kennedy commented on base City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 4) renovations. Michael McGovern commented on what that renovation would entail and the requirements of the MSBA. C. Belanger questioned reimbursement rates. M. Kennedy questioned reason for increased costs of Option 3. C. Samaras noted changes throughout the process. Robert Bell (Perkins/Eastman) made the presentation before the body outlining the pros and cons of each option along with costs and time frame. Regarding full renovation Option 1, C. Leary noted it was a five year phase project and was confident with that time frame. C. Leary questioned type of work day. C. Elliott noted the construction site that is part of option. C. Samaras questioned availability of rooms during construction. C. Rourke commented on students being in building during construction and what type of buffer zones would be available. C. Leahy noted safety concerns. Regarding add renovation Option 2, C. Leary commented on height and stairs as well as renovation of the cafeteria. C. Rourke commented on the number of available classrooms. Regarding add renovation Option 3, C. Leahy commented on spacing. C. Belanger commented on renovated science labs. C. Elliott noted lack of windows and sun light and use of modular classrooms. C. Leary commented on square footage and green space. C. Rourke commented on children in a construction zone. Regarding Cawley Options 4 and 5, C. Milinazzo commented on traffic pattern, time frame and drop offs. C. Samaras commented on having a campus school and if the five story option fits educational plan. C. Belanger commented on fields on site. C. Mercier commented on the layout. C. Milinazzo commented on fields and the use of fields. C. Leahy questioned current parking on site. C. Belanger questioned costs for needed repairs at the high school. 2.1. Public Forum: Discussion of Lowell High School Building Project. Motion to waive Rule 5 to extend time of debate beyond 10:00 PM by C. Rourke, seconded by C. Milinazzo. So voted. The following addressed the Council: Quinn Lawrence; Stephen Anstey; Ryan Gilday; Clementine Alexis; Shelby Boisvert; Dan Wells; Walter Nelson; Eric Nelson; Forrest Nelson; Emily Anstey; Ellen Anstey; Helen Littlefield; Quinn Breen; Bryan Meed; Ruth Potwin; Andrew Provencher; John Maria; Noelle Creegan; Steven McCarron; Karleen Farley; Armand Hebert; and Robert Hoey. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 4 of 4) 3. ADJOURNMENT In City Council, Motion to Adjourn by C. Samaras, seconded by C. Rourke. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 10:41 PM. _____________________________ City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov