Committee on Infrastructure

COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE OCTOBER 27, 2010 A meeting of the Committee on Infrastructure was held Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 7:03 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber. Alderman Jeffrey T. Cox, Chair presided. Members of Committee present: Alderman-at-Large Mark S. Cookson, Vice Chair (7:04 p.m.) Alderman-at-Large David W. Deane Alderman-at-Large Barbara Pressly Alderman Diane Sheehan Members not in Attendance: Also in Attendance: Alderman Arthur T. Craffey, Jr. David Fredette, Tax Collector/Treasurer COMMUNICATIONS From: David G. Fredette, Treasurer/Tax Collector Re: Delinquent Tax Properties MOTION BY ALDERMAN COX TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE MOTION CARRIED Alderman Deane Mr. Chairman, Mr. Fredette will be here this evening? Chairman Cox Yes he will. Alderman Pressly We will have a chance to discuss this? Chairman Cox Yes we will. Alderman Deane Thank you. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 2 NEW BUSINESS ~ RESOLUTIONS R-10-67 Endorser: Alderman Diane Sheehan CHANGING THE NAME OF THE BROAD STREET PARKWAY UPON COMPLETION TO THE MILLYARD TECHNOLOGY PARKWAY Alderman Sheehan I would like to make a motion to table the legislations, but like to explain why first. What I would like to do is open up the discussion for changing the name. I am not in favor of the Millyard Technology Parkway over any other name except for one, which is the Broad Street Parkway. I think the 30-year history of mixed emotions with everybody having different feelings about the Broad Street Parkway I think when the road is finished it is time to move on and use this as an opportunity to honor the past and brand it for the future. What I would like to see is a public hearing to come up with ideas. The Broad Street Parkway sounds an awful lot like Broad Street when you call 911, and for that reason also. What I would like to do is have this brought to a public hearing to get input from citizens for different ideas. Once we have it narrowed down to the best choices we could bring that to the Chief of the Fire Department for him to make the best selection for that. Chairman Cox I will allow further remarks, but just so you understand the motion was to table. Alderman Craffey I understand. Chairman Cox It usually doesn't carry any discussion, but. .. Alderman Pressly It is in appropriate though to give a speech and then table. Table has to be a separate ... Chairman Cox Alderman Craffey? Alderman Craffey Thank you. I came here tonight to speak against R-10-67 and R-10-68. After consulting with my colleague and the sponsor of the legislation I sort of agreed to have it tabled. It should be the citizens of Nashua who name this not this governing body. Therefore, even though I am not a voting member, I am support of tabling the legislation and conducting a public hearing. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 3 Alderman Deane I am just asking for a point of clarification. I don't know whether I heard correctly, but it appeared that we were talking plural so you were going to table R-10-68 as well? Alderman Sheehan Yes. Alderman Deane Okay. Then the motion would be to table both resolutions or are you going to take them up separately? Chairman Cox I was going to take them up separately. Alderman Deane Okay. I had another question, and I don't expect to get an answer this evening, but I would like to know why we were inclined to send 1 to the Fire Chief with a name change to something that doesn't exist and another one that didn't go to the Fire Chief with a new name that doesn't currently exist although there is a Labine Park that is located over in Ward 6, the softball fields and that. That might be a duplication but I don't know whether this should be somehow sent over to the fire department as well. As Alderman Sheehan alluded to earlier there is always that confusion issue with the fire and police departments and any emergency responders for that matter, they don't want to be in a circumstance where they might be responding to two different places at the same time with the same name. Maybe we should somehow, before we table R-10-68, we should probably refer it over to the Nashua Fire Chief as well just something I will take up. I would like to vote on these separately if you don't mind. Thank you. Chairman Cox I agree. Thank you Alderman Deane. Alderman Pressly If there is no other discussion, I am happy to move to table. Chairman Cox Alderman Cookson did you wish to speak? Alderman Cookson I believe the motion is quite clear. Chairman Cox Thank you. The motion on the floor is to table R-10-67. Infrastructure -10/27/10 Page 4 MOTION BY ALDERMAN SHEEHAN TO TABLE R-10-67 MOTION CARRIED Alderman Pressly Mr. Chairman I brought up the issue of tabling and I know we have gotten pretty casual about it, but technically with all parliamentary procedures, it is not appropriate to give a speech and then table because that is sort of cutting off debate, but I understood what the sponsor was saying that is what she was hoping somebody would do. It is appropriate for someone who has not given a speech and then table. I am not making myself clear, but that is why I jumped in to table. Chairman Cox Alderman Pressly I was just trying to make clear that it wasn't debatable. To just have general discussion if you wanted to make a comment or whatever to the point of being tabled and how you would like to see it handled in the future that was excellent and very acceptable. To start opening a debate is not at that point. Alderman Cookson Just to clarify, I think if you are interested in having debate the motion then would be to hold versus to table. You have two separate motions and both of them have independent effects. Chairman Cox Did we actually ever pass that? Alderman Cookson Yes. You have both motions you can hold or table. Alderman Pressly I didn't make myself clear parliamentary law if you have a really heated discussion going on and you have a lot of people up there trying to speak and someone suddenly says I move to table, that is an inappropriate motion and is not acceptable because you cannot give a speech, have the last say, and then say by the way I am cutting off everybody else. That is not what happened here, but I think it is important. .. 1 know I have done it myself I will say this is my legislation, but I would be happy if it were tabled, but it really should be an independent speak that has not given a long speech either for or against that then moves to table, which automatically cuts off debate. Alderman Deane You will not find the motion to hold in this manual. It does not exist. Chairman Cox Correct. Alderman Teeboom had brought that forward and I am 99.9% sure it got defeated, but I will look into that. Infrastructure -10/27/10 Page 5 Alderman Pressly How does that apply? Chairman Cox We were utilizing it I believe in meetings. As Alderman Deane states it actually wasn't in there to be utilized but we did use it in different I guess what seemed to be appropriate situations or used it in different ways when it seemed appropriate ... Alderman Cookson The way it has been done in the past is if you held legislation it was debatable, you could have discussion after the motion was made, and then like you were saying tabling it is non-debatable and that is what gets voted upon. It would extinguish the debate that might take place. Alderman Pressly Since we are on the subject, I think the other one that really cuts off debate is to move the question, which is non-debatable. That is where you cannot give a long speech and then say I move the question which means nobody else gets to speak. We get careless on that too sometimes, but that has not happened and we are just talking about it. R-10-68 Endorser: Alderman Diane Sheehan NAMING THE NEW CITY PARK ON PINE STREET "LABINE PARK" MOTION BY ALDERMAN SHEEHAN TO TABLE R-10-68 ON THE QUESTION Alderman Deane Is there any possibility that we can also refer it to the Nashua Fire Chief prior to tabling it? Alderman Sheehan That is a good idea. Alderman Deane As a committee, we have the ability to refer legislation if we care to do so. Right now the legislation is in our hands. Chairman Cox Quick question for you Alderman Deane; would it go from us to the Fire Chief or would it have to go back to the full Board to be referred? Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 6 Alderman Deane We can refer it to the Fire Chief. Chairman Cox I would recommend referring R-10-68 to be assigned to the Fire Chief for his review as occurred with R-10- 67. MOTION BY ALDERMAN COX TO REFER R-10-68 TO THE FIRE CHIEF ON THE QUESTION Alderman Sheehan Is there discussion on that referral? Alderman Deane Could you I think from a parliamentary standpoint I think if Alderman Sheehan could retract her motion and we could vote on Alderman Cox's motion to refer and then Alderman Sheehan could make her motion to do whatever she would like to do after. MOTION WITHDRAWN Chairman Cox The motion on the floor is to refer the legislation to the Fire Chief. Is there any discussion? Alderman Sheehan I would like to hold a public hearing as well and so do that before referring to the Chief to come up with ideas, but after we have seen what the park design winners look like for the entrance for the international competition so that there is some inspiration there, but to have some names with that to send to the Chief because again there is a Labine Park so as to not have confusion. We are fast tracking it sounds like the park program so schedule a hearing for that and then take that to the Chief. Chairman Cox My thoughts are that the Chief will just do a recommendation on having the two names exist and suggest that does not occur. That would be he recommendation I believe. As Alderman Deane stated it represents the same problem; having two locations named the same ... Alderman Sheehan Exactly. Chairman Cox ., .which would have no bearing on the public hearing. I would say just refer it, table it, and then we will look Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 7 into moving forward, see what the schedule is with the contest and everything else and then schedule a hearing that would be appropriate. Alderman Sheehan Okay. That is fine too. Alderman Deane I don't want to speak for the Nashua Fire Chief, but I would imagine they will definitely fight tooth and nail not to have two locations with the same name. Chairman Cox I absolutely agree. Alderman Deane I would think that is probably what they would do. Basically what we are going to be doing is looking for a totally new name of whatever that part of town turns into when it is completed. It would -probably be interesting to get some input from people to see what they think. Having a public hearing on those two pieces is fine by me. Chairman Cox My own personal opinion I think it would be a great representation of the Labine family to have things that represent the family in each park, each park haVing a different name, but some type of historical family representation there to show who they have been to the city over the years I think would be appropriate. Alderman Craffey th Most of what has been said I agree with. We are having a public planning meeting on the 8 of November, which is in two weeks. We are having it at the Palm Square building at 6:30 p.m. Putting out a piece of paper with suggest names wouldn't hurt. It is a public meeting to start with. I know it won't be official, but at least we can get some ideas from the people in the neighborhood because the people of the City of Nashua and primarily the people in that neighborhood should have the right to have some say in naming the park. Some issues that come to mind could be the social park for example to honor the social club that was there for many many years. I also agree the Fire Chief will. ..we had a little discussion at the Firemen's Memorial the other day and he has already said it won't pass his muster, we can't have two Labines, it has to be something else, and we should give the citizens of the city the right to express their opinion on what it should be called. Again, it should come from the citizens and not the governing body. Thank you. Chairman Cox I couldn't agree more. The motion on the floor is to refer R-1 0-68 to the Fire Chief. MOTION CARRIED Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 8 MOTION BY ALDERMAN SHEEHAN TO TABLE R-10-68 MOTION CARRIED R-10-69 Endorser:Alderman-at-Large Barbara Pressly Alderman Richard P. Flynn REQUESTING THE CITY PREPARE AND ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO COMPLETE OR REPLACE THE GREELEY PARK BANDSHELL MOTION BY ALDERMAN PRESSLY TO RECOMMEND FINAL PASSAGE ON THE QUESTION Alderman Pressly Something sort of interesting happened. First to give a little history, 4 members out of the 5 of this committee had very nicely joined the group that I had put together, the band shell completion and improvement group. As you may remember I had sent early on some communications to the Mayor. One was on July 6th and the other on August 2t . Unfortunately somehow those got lost. I had a nice long h discussion with the Mayor today and we all agreed the next step is to have a Request for a Proposal. Although she often does this herself, she is supportive of having this be legislation because of the confusion on the communication. She was supportive of proceeding to have this done. Chairman Cox Is there any other discussion? MOTION CARRIED NEW BUSINESS - ORDINANCES 0-10-38 Endorser: Alderman Diane Sheehan REPEALING THE TWO-HOUR PARKING TIME LIMIT ZONE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF AUBURN STREET MOTION BY ALDERMAN SHEEHAN TO AMEND 0-10-38 IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REPLACING IT WITH THE AMENDED VERSION PLACED ON OUR DESKS THIS EVENING MOTION CARRIED MOTION BY ALDERMAN SHEEHAN TO RECOMMEND FINAL PASSAGE AS AMENDED ON THE QUESTION Alderman Sheehan Thank you. I would like to explain kind of why and where this came from. When we had changed the parking on Auburn Street it came to our attention that there was one doctor's office in particular with a very large staff, 28 doctors and 25 support staff, plus turning over patients every hour. They have a 50 spot parking lot in the back of their business, which they reserve for their patients. They also have an extra Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 9 driveway that exist 1 Main Street in the back to Auburn Street and that is where the staff had been parking. There are other businesses on that road that open later and as a result would come to find the street full of parking all day. The first reaction was to make all of the parking two hour to turn it over for customers of every business. What in fact happened is that it basically made the road a ghost town because there was parking for staff and it was marked every hour. I had put pictures in everybody's mailbox when I had them taken and given to me. They have the hour identified and show there are only a couple of cars on the street. It is kind of a wasted resource if we are not using it at all. In the meantime, I met with the businesses on the road and had discussion with the ones who were unable to be at the meeting. Essentially what this amended version does is takes from Beard Street forward to Main Street on both sides has commercial development so remaining that area as two hour parking allows their clients to come and go and the next two blocks back keeping that as 8 hour paring, and what that allows for is people to be able to make use of the road during the day, keeping it away from Main Street and where those other businesses are so using it for a longer term, but not impacting any of the businesses in a negative way, kind of allowing for people to legislate to be better neighbors than perhaps they were being before. It is a good compromise that the businesses were quite happy with on Auburn Street and will accommodate everybody's use of the street and not turn it into the ghost street that it had been after the legislatiGn. That is why this is before you tonight, and again it keeps all of the businesses with two hour parking in front and the 8 hour further down where it is residential, there is ample parking, and from what we could see most people aren't home during the day in that neighborhood either. Alderman Deane What made you change your mind from your original legislation? You had mentioned on the south side you wanted to remove the entire length and have it all day parking and I take it the north side you wanted to just leave it at two hour parking. Alderman Sheehan When this came to my attention there was about 4 hours left to get this on the next agenda rather than having it bump out to the next month's full Board meeting and have referral. Even having a month long turnaround is difficult on that business. Being able to turn it around in a month rather than 6 weeks seemed to be the most expedient thing. I walked the street, looked at it, looked at the neighborhood, realized that yes every hour there is only 1 or 2 cars there and I went when Amherst Street was open and when Amherst Street was closed to see if that had an impact. The only time there were any cars there is when I was having the meeting, which I don't think was a coincidence because we have done the same thing in our neighborhood when we were trying to have parking changes made, everybody brought their car, and I understand that, but I went back again and again. Those businesses are all in the same place on that side of the street meaning the side closest to Main Street as opposed to closest to Charles Street. To get a placeholder to make sure it was on the agenda, but I still needed to meet with the other businesses and get their input as well. So this was the compromise. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 10 Alderman Deane When you met with the attorney down there did you explain to him that this was going to be amended again and that that side of the road was going to change? Alderman Sheehan Yes. Alderman Deane And he was okay with that? Alderman Sheehan Everything on both sides between Amherst and Beard will remain two hour. Everything on Auburn Street. .. Alderman Deane How far down from Amherst Street in your photo here is Beard? Alderman Sheehan I am sorry are we saying Amherst Street? It is kind of where Main and Amherst Street join. It is one block where all of the businesses are. Alderman Deane I have your pictures titled unnecessary parking legislation. Alderman Sheehan Yes that is how the gentleman who took them ... that is unaltered and unmarked by myself. Chairman Cox To Alderman Deane's point could you please speak to ...there were actually two attorneys that communicated ... Alderman Sheehan There were actually four at the meeting. Alderman Deane How far down from the front edge of this picture because you are looking down Auburn Street from Amherst. .. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 11 Alderman Sheehan See where the green sign is on this one? Let me pass out actual colored photos. Alderman Deane How many blocks is it two? Alderman Sheehan One. Alderman Deane It is only 1 block? Alderman Sheehan It is, but it is far. Alderman Deane Is there another business located further down? Alderman Sheehan No. Alderman Deane So we are going to leave this all two hour parking from Amherst all the way down to Beard ... Alderman Sheehan Correct. Alderman Deane ... and then from Beard down to Charles is going to be a free for all, you can park there all day long, and the other side, the south side of the road I guess is going to be all day parking? Alderman Sheehan No. Both sides ... Alderman Deane So I am going both sides from here down to Beard is going to all be two hours? Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 12 Alderman Sheehan Correct. Alderman Deane And then from Beard down to Charles is where all of his employees are going to park out on the street all day? Alderman Sheehan Perhaps. He is also looking into leasing through the city some other spots. He has been given some information for another property where he might be able to lease some as well. Chairman Cox Do you have an estimation of how many parking spots that would be? Alderman Deane Probably going to be 16 maybe or 18. Chairman Cox For the free for all? Alderman Deane Oh for the free for all? Alderman Sheehan It goes way back. Alderman Deane You know the gentleman has a parking problem at his 1 Main Street business and if he is depending on on- street city parking then he has a problem. I am not trying to drive the guy out of business, but you have the businesses on the back that also pay property taxes and they also have parking issues, but they don't have their employees parking up and down the street all day long. I understand the owner of 1 Main Street didn't he want his clients to park in his 1 Main Street parking lot? Alderman Sheehan Yes. Alderman Deane And how many parking stalls does he have there? Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 13 Alderman Sheehan Fifty, but he has 28 doctors. Alderman Deane Does he park on the street all day or does he use a parking stall at his business? Alderman Sheehan I believe he parks on the street he told me. Alderman Deane So he actually parks on the street? Attorney Frasca was alright with this? Alderman Sheehan Yes, the four attorneys that were there were quite pleased. Alderman Deane I know his Son Nick as well. I don't know who was there. Chairman Cox Attorney Garner? Alderman Sheehan No that is the one that couldn't make it unless he is the one that sent a follow-up. Chairman Cox He sent an e-mail and in his e-mail he ... Alderman Sheehan There was one that missed the meeting and ... Alderman Deane Who did he send the e-mail to Alderman Cox? Chairman Cox I actually received this from Alderman Sheehan. It was from Attorney Garner who is a small business practicing law at 7 Auburn Street. He and two other attorneys are in that location. Just to get to the end of the communication it says "I would be interested in attending and expressing my opinion as to any change in the policy. I would be happy to talk to you about your concern and any information that you may have Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 14 that may be helpful in coming up with a solution relating to this matter." I was just wondering if he attended the meeting. Alderman Sheehan I am looking for the cards of the people who did, and I can't find them. Alderman Deane So their concerns were addressed at this meeting? Alderman Sheehan Since I was asked, I was looking for the cards of the people who were in attendance at the meeting because there were four business owners. I know that the apartment building was not there. They have ample parking however it is still nice to have spots available. There is a company that was not there. Alderman Deane I look at it like this their clientele is just as entitled to on street parking as anyone else that happens to go down there to use it. But when you take a business with employees that park from one end of the road to the other all day long I don't think that is a fair way to do something. I understand your concern with this gentleman's business on 1 Main Street. He seems to have grown. He has 50 spots and he is putting I guess his clients and sortie of the employees out back on this, but they will be rotating in and out. If the folks that you met with are happy...we have two different pieces of legislation as long as you showed them this legislation that you were going to amend and explained to them that it was going to go down to Beard Street and then back with the two hour and the rest of it was just going to change and be all day parking whatever and they were comfortable with this. Alderman Sheehan They were very happy with it. Alderman Deane Okay. So I guess we can try it out and see what happens. If people come back all alarmed then we can change it again. I don't know how many signs they took down there, but all they will have to do is just change the signs. I believe the signs existed. In some cases when they do work they take the signs down and they never get put back up or they forget to put them back up or they are in disrepair and they don't put them back up similar to what is going on over on West Hollis Street. There were no signs there for enforcement, but they knew what the parking issue was over there. I am happy to support this. We will take it and see how it goes. Alderman Pressly Thank you. That is pretty much my sentiment too. I am happy to support this knowing that things like this are totally reversible if circumstances should change, and that is sort of what our job is. However, I would like to bring up I think it is appropriate for this committee to maybe under general discussion to talk about the parking. This is going to come up a lot. I was struck by the downtown group that basically their issues Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 15 are the same today as they were 22 years ago and it all has to do with they complain that they have no parking yet they acknowledge that the problem is all their own employees are the ones that take up the parking. There is something that doesn't seem right with this, and I am thinking before we have somebody come before us that wants us to do something that maybe we as a committee should discuss just the general parking issue in the city and start to think about some major, maybe they are philosophical positions to take. It just doesn't make any sense to me for a person that has a business that relies on having parking for their customers close to the business and then complain because their own employees take up the parking spaces of their own clients. There is something wrong with that argument in my mind. Chairman Cox There is and I would like to suggest that because it is something I stated at the beginning of the term that I would like to invite, and as you bring that up Mark Sousa has taken over parking enforcement in the city so it would be interesting to invite him here and have that discussion with him here and then take it from there. Alderman Pressly That would be great. Chairman Cox He could at least let us know where we stand, what his goals are for possibly making changes or what he sees the changes should be so at least we can hear that and maybe add to it quite a bit. Alderman Pressly And this is throughout the city. I worry a lot about the plan for the Broad Street Parkway with Pine and Palm Streets, the lack of parking there. I don't mean to muddle this particular legislation, go ahead and vote for that and maybe bring it up under comments and see what we can do. Chairman Cox This isn't rare throughout the city. If anyone goes near Bowers Street you see those painted parking spots and a parking here and a parking lot there and it is just packed all day long. Whether it is employees or not I am not sure but there are no restrictions to it, no two hour limit, no meters being paid into. If an employee is going to park there he/she should contribute like anyone else that uses those valuable spots. Alderman Pressly I think it would be good for us to be talking about it before we have somebody coming before the committee asking for something specific so that we can sort of hash it out and maybe get some guidelines on what we plan to do. Chairman Cox I fully agree. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 16 Alderman Pressly Thank you. I will bring it up again during comment then. Chairman Cox Is there any further discussion?, Alderman Cookson Again, along those same lines and with particular respect to the service advisory committee, I know that the proposed boundary of that service advisory the area ... Chairman Cox Very carefully stated Phase I. Alderman Cookson It extends past the river and does it include this area that we are actually looking at right now on Auburn? Alderman Pressly That is a good question. Alderman Sheehan My understanding, and I could be wrong, but my understanding is it extends for like where the Riverwalk Cafe is for Railroad Square and the Chandler Building. Alderman Cookson It is also on the west side of Main Street as well and I just don't know where it extends. I have only seen a preliminary... Unidentified Speaker TIF district? Alderman Cookson Not the TIF district, but the BID district or the downtown business improvement district that the service advisory committee is proposing. It is something we will be seeing ... Alderman Pressly This street is close to that I believe. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 17 Alderman Cookson It is very close. I just don't know if it is included or not. Alderman Pressly I think this street is close to what they are doing. I don't know if it is ... Chairman Cox It is close, but I do not believe it is within. Alderman Pressly It is within? Chairman Cox I believe it is not in there, but I will verify that. .. Alderman Deane I thought it went to the top of Library Hill and a block back. Chairman Cox '" but I do not believe it is in there currently. Alderman Cookson Okay. Chairman Cox Let's try to be careful to say Phase I because it is so close that it could end up there. Alderman Cookson I know it extends up to at least the intersection of Main and Amherst. Chairman Cox Correct. Alderman Cookson And in general it is going a little bit east and west of Main Street maybe 1 or 2 blocks. If it does go 1 or 2 blocks it may include this area that we are speaking about here. Auburn is just a block off that intersection. It would be interesting to know how that plays into are they planning on putting meters there at some point in time, I don't know, I don't know what the answer is. I believe that both you and Alderman Tabacsko as Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 18 Liaisons to that committee have discussed bringing a presentation before us. Maybe it is a joint meeting between the Planning & Economic Development Committee and the Committee on Infrastructure... Chairman Cox Correct. Alderman Cookson ... but I don't know what the timeframe for that is. Chairman Cox It is going to be mid to late November. Alderman Deane Right around the corner. Alderman Cookson Okay. Chairman Cox Hopefully you heard I strongly suggest inviting Mark Sousa to our next meeting ... Alderman Cookson Certainly. Chairman Cox ... and asking those exact questions. Alderman Cookson In fact there are some ... Chairman Cox To see if he has plans already in place. Alderman Cookson ... there are some questions that I would love to have asked that I had originally asked back in the February/March timeframe. We can look at those minutes in this committee and ... Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 19 Chairman Cox About handicapped spots and everything else? Alderman Cookson ... all of the questions that I had sent you and was hoping to get answers to. Maybe we can just, since Mark Sousa you are going to make him available to us, maybe we could have all of those questions from 6 months ago answered. Chairman Cox Sure. Alderman Cookson Good. Alderman Sheehan If it helps at all it did come to our attention that first block of Auburn Street behaves very much like Main Street which is metered and the businesses said they would be in full support of metering those two hour spots if they are going to be two hour. They should absolutely be driving revenue. That is something I did bring to the Mayor's attention. It is not included in this, but it is something that they are looking at. Alderman Deane Then that makes it a true resource. Chairman Cox Correct. Alderman Deane I am ready to vote Mr. Chairman. I don't think I can be swayed any more. Chairman Cox The motion by Alderman Sheehan is to recommend final passage as amended. MOTION CARRIED Alderman Cookson I know that we had a practice several years ago when Alderman Dion was the Chair of Infrastructure and when Alderman Plamondon was Chair of Infrastructure that we would actually have the ability to share GIS maps so that we could all be part of this conversation that we would all know what we were talking about. Quite frankly the pictures and the images are very limiting to truly understanding what the conversation that we had tonight is all about. I think it can only serve us well if we try to integrate technology into our meetings so that when we do have discussions like this we can pull up a GIS map, we can look at Auburn Infrastructure -10/27/10 Page 20 Street, we can see the businesses that are going to be impacted, we can see the properties, we can tell you exactly who it is that will be impacted. You have the AIDS HIV Task Force right there on the corner, you have Squires Staffing, you have the attorneys as well. There are other parties involved. I just think it would be a benefit to us in our deliberations if we could have some of these maps either printed prior to us discussing or have them available real time as the conversation is happening. Chairman Cox Just so you know in response to that I have taken the time and had three classes now down in the Assessing Office to be able to do that. Alderman Cookson Looking forward to seeing your expertise. Chairman Cox So far presentation number 1 I think Alderman Craffey has seen it and although rough around the edges, I am getting better at it. Alderman Sheehan What Alderman Cookson said is exactly what jumped out at me too when putting this together. I am looking at the other no parking place and it is like gee it is really hard to stop on that road and find a parking spot and figure out where the legislation is about and gee wouldn't it be nice if we did GIS mapping. Just with everything that is going on I figured the Legislative Office was a little too busy to jump into that but I was cueing that up for the next time that somebody could breathe. Alderman Cookson I know that in the past it has been very easy to get the resources from I.T. just to put a laptop and a projector down here. I don't think it would be any extra effort on our legislative assistants' part to make that phone call to have the technology here. Chairman Cox I have to admit the class has been very productive because a lot of things that were assumed to be set up and all set in our computer were not. They are now. The Assessor has made tremendous alterations and additions to the computer so it can do everything that we should need it to do. Alderman Cookson Excellent. TABLED IN COMMITTEE Petitions Petitions for Street Acceptance: Sugarberry Drive Infrastructure -10/27/10 Page 21 Petition for Street Acceptance: Hydrangea Road Petition for Street Acceptance: Smithfield Terrace Ordinances 0-10-18 Endorser:Alderman-at-Large David W. Deane Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons Alderman Arthur T. Craffey, Jr. RESCINDING THE NO-PARKING ZONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WEST HOLLIS STREET BETWEEN PALM STREET AND EATON STREET GENERAL DISCUSSION Alderman Deane The petitions for street acceptance? On page 3 of your Liaison handout from yesterday, there is reference to street acceptance of Smithfield Terrace has been tabled by the Committee on Infrastructure because of puddle issues brought to our attention by residents. The owners/contractors are currently working on a solution for that problem. Certain streets presented earlier for approval are being held because of deficiencies that developed. These streets include Sugarberry Drive and Hydrangea Road. I guess I can find out what was puddles and what was not after today. I can ask the Public Works Director for an update on this. Alderman Pressly That would be good. Alderman Deane These have been around for quite some time now. Chairman Cox Yes especially Sugarberry. Alderman Deane I also have an interest in understanding whether the bonds that were laid out for this work have expired and whether we are holding any money or whether the bonds expired and there is no longer any money for the repairs to be done, whether it is the city's liability now. If you like I can ask the division director and copy you on it and then we can knock it off the agenda. Chairman Cox Please. Thank you. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 22 Alderman Pressly Thank you Mr. Chairman. That is much of my concern too to make sure that the bond is still there because that is what will push to have it resolved that the developer holding that bond will want his money out. That is the only leverage we have to get these streets finalized. We need to watch them I think and make sure they get completed. Chairman Cox Is there anything else under general discussion? Alderman Pressly No wait are we that far along? What happened to the ... Alderman Deane We didn't take any action on them so they sit there tabled. Alderman Pressly Okay what about on the back page? What about the ordinance 0-10-18? Chairman Cox That is tabled. Alderman Pressly Okay. Are we at general discussion? Chairman Cox Correct. Alderman Pressly Thank you. I have two issues, one we have sort of already talked about and that is I think we really need to start framing some general policies and just the type of thing that runs through my mind if anybody has a business that has 10 employees and they need parking for their customers it is that business' responsibility to find the ten parking spaces for the employees some place other than in conflict with his/her customers. I think we need to start to sit down and define just some basic guidelines. That to me is absolutely logical. It seems to me that employer has a responsibility to enforce that to make sure that he/she doesn't have some employee blocking his/her customers from access to his/her own business. I think I would like to start doing this prior to having someone come in and tell us they want this or that. Just common sense guidelines. I think a lot of the things that come before this committee could be answered if we had the guidelines. A lot of these issues might fall into one of those areas very nicely and say well this is what we think the general policy should be. I would push for that. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 23 I have one other comment. I think this is the committee where we talked about the yellow paint. Is this not the committee that acknowledged that a citizen has gone out and painted the curbing with yellow paint? Alderman Deane Yes. Alderman Pressly Okay. I guess I don't get it. I know that there are many places in town where you can see there has been faded yellow paint and people are making the argument it is too expensive, we don't want to pain granite curbing and all that. I am just sort of wondering are we going to have a situation where some people can paint the curbing yellow and others can't? Who made the decision that although we used to have yellow paint along the curbing we no longer do that? Was that a legislative decision or a public works decision? have no idea. Chairman Cox Director Kenison did explain why we don't and to be honest with you I do not remember ... Alderman Pressly I think it was a cost factor. Maybe Alderman Sheehan remembers. Alderman Sheehan I remember. When we rebuild or we take things apart they don't get put back in the same order and the yellow lines were showing up in random places where they do not belong. They have been painted yellow and would be re-used in places and you would just have regular granite and then a yellow one so the cost of removing the paint in order to be able to re-use the granite, which essentially should last forever, was what he said to my best recollection. Alderman Pressly That doesn't make much sense to me anymore. In other words they recycle the granite curbing and some of it has old yellow paint that shows up in inappropriate places? Chairman Cox If you are re-doing sewer areas, if you are re-doing parts of a street or sidewalks you tear it up and then when you re-use it, it is not a perfect puzzle I guess so they just install it back in place. I would assume that they would line it up or number it properly so they would put it back where it was but. .. Alderman Pressly I know. I guess they could paint it white or whatever. I just think this is common practice, it is used in lots of cities, I think it is a really, particularly in good weather, it is a really easy way to figure out how many feet you are from the end of the curbing. I think it is just a really easily understood way to know where you can't park. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 24 Chairman Cox We will have to work on yellow paint. Alderman Pressly Since someone else in the city is the phantom yellow paint painter has been allover town and we might reconsider it. Chairman Cox It is just the curbing. It is white paint from there out for the parking spots, but he is right there is a yellow painting right straight down. Alderman Pressly But I think this is used in many communities so it is something that people are very familiar with if there is yellow paint on the curb you don't park there. That is pretty simple to figure out. You don't have to look for a sign and figure out 15' from the end and figure out now where does that fall. Those are my comments. Alderman Deane th Thank you. I was wondering we got a letter on the 24 of July 2009 from the Lithuanian Cooperative Cemetery located at 90 Pine Hill Road. They had an interest in turning over their cemetery to the city. This used to be the committee of lands and buildings so I would consider this land. What ever happened with this does anybody know? Alderman Sheehan I never saw it. Alderman Pressly What is the date on that? Alderman Deane 24th of July 2009. Does Treasurer Fredette know? Can you come up and give me an update? I have been holding onto this and a lot of other things. I am just trying to put things away that are concluded. I don't remember being updated about this. Could we get ... Chairman Cox Unless Woodlawn did update us at some point when we actually voted on something but. .. Alderman Deane I don't remember. Infrastructure - 10/27/1 0 Page 25 David Fredette I am not really here for this as you know. Chairman Cox Correct and if you don't feel comfortable updating right now please ... David Fredette It is not a complicated issue. There was state law that was passed last year that combined that cemetery with Woodlawn Board of Trustees and it is now part of Woodlawn Cemetery. It is on Pine Hill Road. They recently changed the name. It was a Lithuanian cemetery but the name has been changed. Alderman Deane So this board had to take no action. David Fredette No because the Board of Trustees of the cemetery have control of those lands as you probably know. Alderman Deane So we can understand some of the 8 listed items on here a little better like how much cash came along with the transfer? Chairman Cox I am pretty sure Alderman Deane that during the budget. .. David Fredette I believe Mr. Campbell spoke a little bit about that. He is the Superintendent of the Woodland Cemetery. I think the Mayor and he spoke about that during the budget season. Yes there were some trust funds that came along with the cemetery. Unfortunately it wasn't a lot. Alderman Deane I couldn't recollect how much it was. David Fredette It was in the area of $60,000 total, which is not a lot of money. Alderman Deane I am all set thank you. You have answered my question. I know you didn't come prepared for that, but you did a stellar job as usual. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 26 Chairman Cox Thank you Dave. Is there anything else? Alderman Pressly We have someone here from the public. Before we go into the final maybe make sure they have a chance to speak before we ... PUBLIC COMMENT James Vayo, 3 Arlington Street I would like to take some time to discuss with you guys issues of public transportation and planning in regards to several projects coming up in the City of Nashua. I will be sure to be short about this. I know you have other things to do. I would like to provide a handout if that is okay. Chairman Cox Please. Alderman Deane Mr. Chairman are you going to make a motion to suspend the rules to allow for the introduction of a communication from Mr. Vayo after the agenda was prepared so it can be made part of the record? Chairman Cox Do we need to do that when we are not going to be taking any action on it? Alderman Deane I think we should make it part of the record. I will make that motion. MOTION BY ALDERMAN DEANE THAT THE RULES BE SO FAR SUSPENDED AS TO ALLOW FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A COMMUNICATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS PREPARED MOTION CARRIED From: James Vayo, 3 Arlington Street Re: New Hampshire Office of Energy & Planning Smart Growth Principles MOTION BY ALDERMAN DEANE TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE MOTION CARRIED James Vayo As you are all well aware, Nashua is in the midst of taking on a rather large project with the Broad Street Parkway, and with the State of New Har;npshire recently receiving $2 million in planning funds for the New Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 27 Hampshire capital corridor potentially in the near future we could be planning for a commuter rail station as well. Also our bus services are expanding and overall development in the city seems to be gearing up for increases in development. One of the things I wanted to do is discuss with you guys an overarching just concept of how to move forward with planning principles. The parking issue today was actually a good example. But first I would like to take just two minutes to focus on the commuter rail station. The New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority currently has planned five (5) stations and Nashua would get one (1) station. If you add more than the optimum number of stations it slows down the overall route time and is not optimum for ridership. I don't foresee Nashua getting two (2) stations in the future although that could change with any number of forces; ridership forces, market forces, or just a change in the opinion of the board. What that does is that represents a crucial decision-making process for the City of Nashua about where the rail should be located. The New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority has been very kind to provide forthe Town of Hudson in their 2006 Master Plan this Transit Needs Index Score. If you look at it, it includes the entire regional planning commission area of study. If you look at Nashua you can see the colors start to get very dark, and if you see downtown Nashua the colors are very dark. What darkness represents is an increased demand for access to public transportation. With that information in mind, I think it is important that when the time comes to have input on the station location that issues regarding need based transportation are taken into account and that be taken into account with the state's principles for planning growth. These two things really coincide. Needs based index is about providing transportation to people who have less than equitable access to transportation, i.e., people who have to take the bus to work or only have one car in their family or things of that nature and then say okay well if we are going to build a new station what is most affordable, what is going to get the highest ridership but we should also be saying who needs the most access to the train station. I think this map is a great example of who does really need access to transportation. I am not going to dive any further into that, but what I will say is that the principles for smart growth reinforce this type of decision making. When the opportunity to have input on the station location comes up, I would really appreciate it if this committee and the Board of Aldermen taken into account for each of the station locations the 8 principles set forth by the Office of Energy and Planning and I would like to recite them if that is okay by the board. Chairman Cox We have them on record and we have them here and I feel very confident that Alderman Pressly will bring this forward to the ... Alderman Pressly I had no idea this is what he was going to do. Chairman Cox For the rail. Alderman Pressly Oh yes. Do we know when we are going to have the transportation people here? You don't. Well it would Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 28 be good to be able to make sure that Mr. Vayo knows about that and is able to come forth again with this and make sure that it is part of their package too. Chairman Cox Correct. Alderman Deane It won't come in front of this committee it will go in front of Planning & Economic Development. Chairman Cox Right. Alderman Pressly Oh okay. Alderman Deane In my opinion that would be the appropriate committee. Alderman Pressly You mean for a train station, but this is traffic too. Chairman Cox We will forward this to Chairman Tabacsko and did you give a copy to Mr. Galligani who is directly behind you? James Vayo I did provide a copy to Mr. Galligani just now though so he had no prior knowledge of this, nobody did I just sort of on a whim decided to do this. Chairman Cox Thank you for bringing it in. James Vayo Okay. And just one other thing, these 8 principles it is not just the rail station it is any number of things. When land use planning is starting to be discussed in regards to the way the Broad Street Parkway is laid out, these principles also offer great insight into the ideology or theory behind how we should plan the use of space, which is going to be opened up as part of this railway. It is important to say that the city take these things into account. If you looked at this stuff and you considered complete streets legislation which has been growing throughout the U.S., it is state legislation but it has been adopted in several states now. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 29 The parking issue today would have been a great example of how you could have used this template to inform your decisions. What it says is that streets that have good buffers between pedestrian zones and driving zones are healthier streets so there is a fine balance between having the street empty and having it full and not usable to others. I think it is really a delicate issue and to try to say that one rule fits every street wouldn't really be applicable in the real world. Alderman Pressly Can I ask him a question? Hasn't Smart Growth been around for a long time and don't they have a whole booklet with a lot more than this in it? James Vayo Absolutely. The field of study is diversifying at breakneck speed. It started out as Smart Growth but now it goes into land use and infrastructure and policy planning and taxation, all of these things now have policies which can be implemented to help better control and create a higher quality of life in urban places. Alderman Pressly Thank you. James Vayo That is all I wanted to say. Thank you. NON-PUBLIC SESSION MOTION BY ALDERMAN SHEEHAN THAT THE COMMITTEE GO INTO NON-PUBLIC SESSION BY ROLL CALL PURSUANT TO RSA 91-A:3,II(C) TO DISCUSS MATTERS WHICH, IF DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC, WOULD LIKELY AFFECT ADVERSELY THE REPUTATION OF ANY PERSON, OTHER THAN A MEMBER OF THE BODY OR AGENCY ITSELF SECONDED BY ALDERMAN DEANE A Viva Voce Roll Call was taken, which resulted as follows: Yea: Alderman Cox, Alderman Cookson, Alderman Deane, Alderman Pressly, Alderman Sheehan 5 Nay: o MOTION CARRIED The Committee on Infrastructure went into non-public session at 8:05 p.m. The committee sealed the minutes of the non-public session and returned to the regular meeting of the Committee on Infrastructure at 9:22 p.m. David Fredette The document with the pictures attached is to be accepted as a public document. Infrastructure - 10/27/10 Page 30 MOTION BY ALD'ERMAN DEANE THAT THE RULES BE SO FAR SUSPENDED AS TO ALLOW FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A COMMUNICATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS PREPARED MOTION CARRIED From: David Fredette, Tax Collector/Treasurer Re: Tax Deed List MOTION BY ALDERMAN DEANE TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE, AND ASK THAT THE CITY TREASURER NOT DEED ACCOUNTS #2,800 #10,856, AND #27,002 PURSUANT TO RSA 80:76 II-A MOTION CARRIED ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY ALDERMAN DEANE TO ADJOURN MOTION CARRIED The meeting was declared closed at 9:23 p.m. Alderman Diane Sheehan Committee Clerk New Hampshire's Office of Energy &. Planning Smart Growth Principles Smart Growth Principles for New Hampshire can help guide developers and citizens as they work together to create development patterns more consistent with community goals and values. Take a look at the eight principles and some of the examples that illustrate why these are so important to NH! Principle #1 ..... Maintain traditional compact settlement patterns to efficiently use land, resources, and investments in infrastructure. Principle #2 ..- Foster the traditional character of New Hampshire downtowns, villages, and neighborhoods by encouraging a human scale of development that is comfortable for pedestrians and conducive to community life. Principle #3 ..... Incorporate a mix of uses to provide a variety of housing, employment, shopping, services, and social opportunities for all members of the community. Principle #4 ..... Preserve New Hampshire's working landscape by sustaining farm and forest land and other rural resource lands to maintain contiguous tracts of open land and to minimize land use conflicts. Principle #5 ..- Provide choices and safety in transportation to create livable, walkable communities that increase accessibility for people of all ages, whether on foot, bicycle, or in motor vehicles. Principle #6 .- Protect environmental quality by minimizing impacts from human activities and planning for and maintaining natural areas that contribute to the health and quality of life of communities and people in New Hampshire. Principle #7 .- Involve the community in planning and implementation to ensure that development retains and enhances the sense of place, traditions, goals, and values of the local community. Principle #8 . . . Manage growth locally in the New Hampshire tradition, but work with neighboring towns to achieve common goals and address common problems more effectively. More information,about the NHOEP's smart growth principles is available on the web at: JltJ.P:J./www.nh.gov/oe.rU.P-rogramsL2martGrowth/learn!SlllartGrowthPrindples.htm 1. 'lransit Needs Index Score The N'ashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) used the following ll1ethodology to develop a transit needs index and identify the areas of greatest transit need throughout the region. Each census block group (the smallest geographic area designated by the US Census Bureau) within the region was ranked by an index score to detern1ine the geographic areas in greatest need of h"ansit services. The index score was developed by assigning a rank to each block group based on seven transit needs factors as follows: 1) population density; 2) youth population; 3) elderly population; 4) disabled status; 5) median household income; 6) poverty status; and 7) auton10bile availability. All of the block groups were assigned a number between 1 and 6 for each of the seven transit need categories. A ranking of 1 indicates a low transit need and 6 indicates a high transit need. For instance, higher densities can better support public transit, so a block group with a population density of 100 people per square mile would receive a 1, while a density of 10,000 people per square n1ile would receive a 6. The rankings of 1-6 were then totaled for each block group for a possible index score between 7 and 42. Map V-15 illustrates the composite index scores for all block groups within the region. Map V-16 illustrates the composite index scores for all block groups within Hudson. Index scores are shown in Table V-1S. The highest index score indicates the greatest potential transit need while the lowest score indicates the lowest potential transit need. Map V-1S. Region Wide Transit Need Index Score Trimsit Need COH1i~J~he In{j(!'i s.:'1)1(~ C<~I'i;!il.1 s TI".1<: I f5iJlmd",ny T{lW 11 Bntma.l rv 5~at" Hlghw ,11' f;:(>Uh;~ T own of Hudson 2006 Master Plan Chapter V. Transportation Tax Deed List 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Vlien 2010 As 10/7/2010 Principal Only Total - - Acct# Lien Amount Lien Amount Lien Amount Lien Amount Lien Amount Lien Amount Vlien Current Interest & Fees Owed 1 2,800 $ 532.11 $ 4,189.09 $ 4,416.51 $ 4,481.47 $ 4,505.65 $ 4,090.33 $ 1,893.80 $ 9,864.26 $ 33,973.22 2 10,044 $ 1,357.92 $ 1,305.00 $ 1,369.60 $ - $ 1,392.99 '$ 1,362.02 $ 620.37 $ 2,884.28 $ 10,292.18 3 15,908 $ 2,845.87 $ 2,833.44 $ 2,978.35 $ 3,021 :99 $ 3,038.22 $ 1,635.46 $ 749.20 $ 9,418.83 $ 26,521.36 4 24,252 $ 2,542.92 $ 3,171.66 $ 3,348.90 $ 3,398.04 $ 3,416.31 $ 3,194.67 $ 1,476.59 $ 10,011.99 $ 30,561.08 5 43,204 $ 3,687.95 $ 4,326.06 $ 4,566.93 $ 4,087.83 $ 4,095.74 $ 4,491.95 $ 2,092.00 $ 13,488.161 $ 40,836.62 6 4,398 $ 6,384.62 $ 6,703.99 $ 7,124.13 $ 7,170.95 $ 7,623.21 $ 3,559.67 $ 15,292.95 $ 53,859.52 7 10,856 $ 699.33 $ 587.06 $ - $ 926.12 $ 2,212.51 8 20,896 $ 948.86 $ 997.22 $ 1,091.52 $ 1,097.26 $ 1,088.55 $ 492.53 $ 2,400.84 $ 8,116.78 9 24,506 $ 4,489.47 $ 4,737.52 $ 4,807.26 $ 4,833.20 $ 4,649.01 $ 2,158-.40 $ 10,588.78 $ 36,263.64 10 27,002 $ 1,156.86 $ 5,941.93 $ 860.19 $ 601.49 $ 8,560.47 $ 10,966.77 $ 29,504.39 $ 29,706.08 $ 28,012.24 $ 29,550.32 $ 28,135.20 $ 5,941.93 $ 13,902.75 $ 75,477.70 $ 251,197.38 Copyright ©2009 Pictometry International COl  As of 10-6-10 Consolidated Liens Consolidated 2002-2009 2005-2009 2010 ~ Acct# Owner's Name First Property Location Lien Amount Wastewater Liens int & fees Int. Total 24,744 Nashua Building Cont Land Bridge St $7,849,11 S454,87 S 6,026,10 54.02 $14,330.08 24,746 Nashua Building Cant 17 Jackson St S65, 141,03 $663.31 S4,237.52 S45,585.08 S32.45 S115,626.94 Summar-y $72,990.14 $663.31 $4,692,39 $51,611.18 $36.47 $129,957.02 24,744 45,900.00 Assessed Value 24,746 427,600.00 Assessed Value