Date: April 25, 2023
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA /Zoom (Hybrid)
1.
2.
MAYOR'S BUSINESS
2.1.
Communication Remote / Zoom Participation:
Meetings Will Be Held In Council Chamber With Public Welcome And By Using Remote Participation As Follows: Members Of The Public May View The Meeting Via LTC.Org (On-Line; Live Streaming; Or Local Cable Channel 99). Those Wishing To Speak Regarding A Specific Agenda Item Shall Register To Speak In Advance Of The Meeting By Sending Email To City Clerk Indicating The Agenda Item And A Phone Number To Call So That You May Be Issued Zoom Link To The Meeting. Email Address Is MGEARY@LOWELLMA.GOV. If No Access To Email You May Contact City Clerk At 978-674-4161. All Request Must Be Done Before 4:00 PM On The Day Of Meeting. For Zoom - HTTPS://SUPPORT.ZOOM.US/HC/EN-US/ARTICLES/201362193-JOINING-A-MEETING
2.2.
Citation - Jim Haley (2023 Irish Person of the Year).
2.3.
Presentations:
1) Sophie Mortimer - Arbor Day;
2) Sushil Motwani - LASA Medical Camp; and
3) Chris Porter - The Town and The City Festival.
3.
CITY CLERK
3.1.
Minutes of Finance SC April 11th; City Council Regular Meeting April 11th; Neighborhoods SC April 19th, for acceptance.
4.
GENERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS
4.1.
Ordinance - Extend Outdoor Seating To November 1, 2023.
4.2.
Ordinance - Quarterly Traffic - April 2023.
5.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER
5.1.
Motion Responses
A) Motion Response - Covid Pandemic Recognition
B) Motion Response - Public Art Maintenance Account
C) Motion Response - VFW and Varnum MassDOT
D) Motion Response - Rt 38 and Fairmount
E) Motion Response - Street Line and Crosswalk Striping
F) Motion Response - Commercial Vehicle Signage
G) Motion Response - South Common Maintenance and Improvements
H) Motion Response - Report on City Funds
I) Motion Response - Programs and Metrics
J) Motion Response - Waived Fees
K) Motion Response - Knowledge Bowl
L) Motion Response - Parking Garage Budget with Attachments
M) Motion Response - School Tax Bill Feasibility with Attachment
N) Motion Response - Maintenance and Cleaning Schedule of Garages
O) Motion Response - Affordable Housing and Residential Taxes with Attachments
P) Motion Response - Accrued Benefit Payout Report with Attachment
Documents:
- A) Motion Response - Covid Pandemic Recognition.pdf
- B) Motion Response - Public Art Maintenance Account.pdf
- C) Motion Response - VFW and Varnum MassDOT.pdf
- D) Motion Response - Rt 38 and Fairmount.pdf
- E) Motion Response - Street Line and Crosswalk Striping.pdf
- F) Motion Response - Commercial Vehicle Signage.pdf
- G) Motion Response - South Common Maintenance and Improvements.pdf
- H) Motion Response - Report on City Funds.pdf
- I) Motion Response - Programs and Metrics.pdf
- J) Motion Response - Waived Fees.pdf
- K) Motion Response - Knowledge Bowl.pdf
- L) Motion Response - Parking Garage Budget with Attachments.pdf
- M) Motion Response - School Tax Bill Feasibility with Attachment.pdf
- N) Motion Response - Maintenance and Cleaning Schedule of Garages.pdf
- O) Motion Response - Affordable Housing and Residential Taxes with Attachments.pdf
- P) Motion Response - Accrued Benefit Payout Report with Attachment.pdf
5.2.
Informational Reports
Informational Report - The Town and The City Festival
Informational Report - FY24 Budget School Funding
5.3.
Communication - Resignation of Members from Various Boards and Commissions
5.4.
Communication - City Manager Request Out Of State Travel (1) DPD and (1) LPD.
Documents:
6.
VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER
6.1.
Vote - Apply/Accept/Expend $123,400 MCC Grant for LMA - Gaming Mitigation
6.2.
Vote - Authorize CM or Treasurer Proceed Under MGL 30B For Banking Services 5-Year Term
6.3.
Vote - Authorize Payment of Bills Incurred in Excess of Appropriations - Schools
6.4.
6.5.
7.
ORDERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER
7.1.
8.
ORDINANCES FROM THE CITY MANAGER
8.1.
Ordinance - Amend s.272-73B1 Compliance with Pretreatment Standards
9.
REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY)
9.1.
Finance SC April 11, 2023.
10.
PETITIONS
10.1.
Claims - (6) Property Damage
10.2.
Misc. - Emile Kaufman request to address Council regarding improving the optics of Lowell.
10.3.
Misc. - James/Susan Koumpouras request to address Council regarding use of residential properties as a space for automotive work.
11.
CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS
11.1.
C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. have the Law Department prepare a vote to place an non-binding referendum ballot question regarding zoning for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) for upcoming election.
11.2.
C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department add all non-union contracts to the City website.
11.3.
C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department provide the City Council with a report on the number of “Reserved Parking Space for Residents of Dwelling Only” signs that are located at multi-family homes, along with their locations, that are not owner occupied.
11.4.
C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department report on the geese situation and what is being done to combat the issue on playing fields throughout the City; such as Edwards Field Hadley Field, etc.
11.5.
C. Jenness/C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. have the HR department present before the Auditor/Clerk Oversight and Personnel SC generalized trends and themes gathered from exit interviews of former employees conducted since October 2022; said presentation to include the City’s employment recruitment and retention strategy base on general exit interview findings.
11.6.
C. Jenness/C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. send a letter on behalf of the Council to our statehouse delegation and the MSBA urging an update to all MSBA programs to include and prioritize non-fossil fuel options to help and encourage municipalities to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
11.7.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department provide a report on plan to replace bicycle racks downtown that will be removed as part of the new kiosk installation project.
11.8.
C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. have appropriate department provide a detailed report on feasibility of implementing a no overnight camping, sleeping or loitering ordinance in our business districts, as well as, in the Summer Street, Gallagher Terminal and South Common area.
11.9.
M. Chau/C. Yem - Req. City Mgr. have Law Department provide a report regarding the establishment of a Sister-City Agreement between the City of Lowell and Phnom Penh, Cambodia; referencing an MOU signed January 14, 2015.
11.10.
M. Chau - Req. City Mgr. and/or appropriate department begin the process to establish a Sister-City Agreement between Lowell and Battambang, Cambodia.
12.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
13.