City Council Subcommittees

Meetings

• All subcommittees meet as necessary

Information about meeting schedules should be directed to the Office of the City Clerk.

Overview

The City's Mayor is responsible for the creation of "standing" and "ad-hoc" City Council subcommittees and the appointment of members to them.

Current Subcommittees & Members

Arts & Culture/Special Event 

• Focuses on arts, cultural programming, and special events that enhance Lowell’s civic life and community identity.
• Considers policies and initiatives that support artists, cultural institutions, and creative industries.
• Reviews city sponsorships, permitting, and use of public spaces for festivals and celebrations.
• Explores how arts and events contribute to economic development and tourism.

Auditor & Clerk Oversight & Personnel

• Provides policy oversight related to the City Auditor and City Clerk offices.
• Reviews staffing, organizational structure, and performance expectations for these administrative functions.
• Considers changes in workflows, technology, and procedures to improve transparency and efficiency.
• Helps shape personnel policies that affect these departments’ ability to serve the Council and public.

Cannabis Control

• Focuses on local policy issues arising from cannabis businesses and legalization.
•  Reviews zoning, licensing, and regulatory conditions for cannabis establishments to ensure public safety and neighborhood compatibility.
•  Examines impacts on youth, health, and enforcement, and recommends mitigation measures where needed.
• Considers how cannabis-related revenues are managed and invested in community priorities.

Economic Development

• Concentrates on strategies to strengthen Lowell’s economy, with special attention to the downtown.
• Reviews initiatives to support small businesses, attract investment, and reduce commercial vacancies.
•  Considers streetscape improvements, activation of public spaces, and policies that improve safety and walkability.
• Looks at how economic development programs can align with housing, arts, and transportation goals.

Environment & Flood Issues

• Deals with environmental protection, climate resilience, and flooding concerns in Lowell.
• Reviews policies and projects related to stormwater management, riverfront conditions, and floodplain planning.
•  Evaluates infrastructure improvements, green space enhancements, and emergency preparedness tied to severe weather.
• Considers broader environmental sustainability practices for city operations and neighborhoods.

Finance

•  Focuses on city finances, including budget review, fiscal policy, and long-term financial planning.
• Reviews the proposed annual budget, capital plans, and major financial decisions such as borrowing or large contracts.
• Examines revenue trends, reserve levels, and cost-saving opportunities across departments.
• Helps ensure that financial practices support transparency, equity, and long-term stability.

Frontrunner City Program 

• Guides Lowell’s role as a national and global model for urban transformation, leveraging its historical identity and future-focused vision.
• Oversees initiatives that integrate smart technologies, sustainability, and inclusive development under the JAM+ framework.
• Promotes partnerships with academic institutions, international organizations, and private sector actors to advance innovation and knowledge exchange.
• Ensures alignment with global best practices, UN Urban SDG platforms, and replicability frameworks for other post-industrial cities.
• Monitors progress toward creating a connected, carbon-neutral, and adaptive urban ecosystem through data-driven governance and community engagement.

Housing 

• Dedicated to housing policy, affordability, and neighborhood stability.
• Reviews local strategies to increase affordable housing production and preserve existing units.
• Examines zoning changes, funding tools, and partnerships with non-profit and private developers.
• Considers tenant protections, homelessness prevention, and fair housing initiatives.

Municipal Facilities

• Focuses on the condition, use, and planning of city-owned buildings and facilities.
• Reviews maintenance needs, capital upgrades, and potential repurposing of municipal properties.
• Examines energy efficiency, accessibility, and life-safety improvements in public buildings.
• Helps prioritize facility investments to support city services and community use.

Neighborhoods

• Concentrates on quality-of-life issues in Lowell’s residential neighborhoods.
• Reviews matters such as code enforcement, nuisance conditions, and local infrastructure concerns like lighting and sidewalks.
• Considers neighborhood planning initiatives, engagement processes, and support for neighborhood groups.
• Looks at how city services can be better coordinated to respond to residents’ everyday concerns.

Non-Profit Organizations

• Focuses on the city’s relationship with local non-profit organizations and their role in serving residents.
• Reviews partnerships, funding programs, and policy issues affecting non-profit service providers.
• Considers how non-profits support housing, health, youth, arts, and other community needs.
• Explores ways to improve coordination, avoid duplication, and leverage outside resources.

Parks and Recreation

• Dedicated to parks, open spaces, and recreational programming.
•  Reviews Park maintenance needs, renovations, and new facility proposals such as playgrounds or athletic fields.
•  Considers program offerings for youth, adults, and seniors, and how to expand access across neighborhoods.
• Looks at how parks support public health, climate resilience, and community events.

Public Safety

• Focuses on public safety issues involving police, fire, emergency response, and community safety initiatives.
• Reviews trends in crime, response times, and resource needs for safety departments.
• Examines policies on community policing, traffic enforcement, and emergency preparedness.
• Considers collaborations with schools, non-profits, and residents to prevent violence and improve trust.

Rules & Election Law

• Oversees City Council rules and local election-related policy questions.
• Reviews proposed changes to council procedures, meeting rules, and legislative processes.
• Considers adjustments to local ordinances that govern elections, campaign practices, and related ethics rules within local authority.
• Helps ensure council operations remain orderly, transparent, and accessible to the public.

Senior Citizen

• Focused on issues affecting older adults in Lowell.
• Reviews programs and services related to health, housing, transportation, and social engagement for seniors.
• Considers improvements to senior centers, nutrition services, and outreach efforts.
• Looks at how city policies across departments reflect the needs of an aging population.

Substance Abuse

•  Addresses substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery supports.
• Reviews programs and partnerships aimed at reducing overdoses and expanding treatment access.
• Examines local data, grant opportunities, and coordination among health providers, schools, and public safety agencies.
• Considers strategies to reduce stigma and support families affected by addiction.

Technology & Utilities

• Focuses on technology infrastructure, utilities, and related service issues in the city.
• Reviews city IT systems, digital services, and cybersecurity readiness.
• Considers broadband access, utility coordination on street work, and resilience of power, water, and communications networks.
•  Looks at how technology can improve service delivery and public engagement.

Transportation

• Dedicated to transportation systems, including streets, transit, biking, and walking.
• Reviews traffic safety concerns, street design changes, and transit coordination with regional partners.
• Considers parking policy, curb management, and accessibility for people with disabilities.
• Evaluates how transportation projects support economic development and environmental goals.

Veterans

• Focuses on the needs and recognition of veterans in Lowell.
•  Reviews programs and services that support veterans’ housing, employment, health, and benefits access.
• Coordinates with veterans’ organizations and state or federal agencies to improve outreach.
• Considers ceremonies and commemorations that honor veterans’ service.

Youth Services

• Centered on programs and policies affecting children and youth.
• Reviews after-school, recreation, education-adjacent, and summer employment initiatives.
• Examines youth safety, mental health supports, and leadership opportunities.
• Looks at how city decisions in areas like transportation, parks, and housing affect young people.

Zoning

• Deals with land-use and zoning policy questions before or alongside the full Council.
• Reviews proposed zoning changes, overlays, and text amendments that shape development patterns.
• Considers how zoning supports housing goals, business districts, and neighborhood character.
• Examines impacts on traffic, environmental quality, and infrastructure capacity.

NMCOG & MPO Representative: Councilor Belinda Juran 

Disability Commission Representative: Councilor Sean McDonough