Date: September 12, 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 6). 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 - Vinfen.
2.3.
Proclamations:
1) National Police Woman Day; and
2) National Suicide Prevention Week.
2.4.
Presentations:
1) Lowell National Park Services (Julie Galonska) - "One City, Many Cultures" grand opening; and
2) Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) (Nate Robertson - MassDevelopment).
3.
CITY CLERK
3.1.
Minutes of City Council Meeting August 22nd; City Council Special Meeting August 28th, for acceptance.
4.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
4.1.
C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. update the City Council on the status of the computers in police vehicles and precincts since the cyber-attack.
4.2.
C. Rourke - Req. City Mgr. contact the State delegation and MassDOT concerning landscaping along Riverside Street; Varnum Avenue; and Pawtucket Boulevard (Rt. 113 Highway).
4.3.
C. Rourke/C. Yem - Req. City Mgr. look into free parking for Veterans with noted indicator on vehicle license plate.
4.4.
C. Scott - Req. City Mgr. provide a report form appropriate department regarding improvements that can be made to improve flooding issues around South Lowell.
4.5.
C. Scott - Req. City Mgr. work with appropriate department to develop regulations around health and cleanliness of feeding programs for the homeless.
4.6.
C. Scott - Req. City Mgr. provide the plan and timeline for replacing the drain line under Lawrence Street from the cemetery.
4.7.
C. Jenness/C. Scott - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department report on traffic safety improvement options and implementation plan for the intersection of Elm & Chapel Streets to combat the recent rise in traffic accidents at this location.
4.8.
C. Jenness/C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department explore the possibility of developing a program to partner with local artists to utilize utility boxes on City property around the City as locations for public art as is done in other communities.
4.9.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department develop and implement an outreach and education campaign to address bicycles being ridden on City sidewalks.
4.10.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department develop and implement signage along the riverwalk noting prohibition of motorized vehicles.
4.11.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. provide detailed report (address, permit issue date, permit closed date, HERS rating) on residential building permits issued since January 1, 2023; including those issued in accordance with the stretch regulations in 225 CMR 22 & 23 as promulgated 12/9/2022; and for permits that have been closed out, provide list of HERS ratings obtained.
4.12.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. provide update on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail extension project.
4.13.
C. Robinson/C. Scott - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department provide the Council with a report on what options we have to regulate harm reduction services in our community.
4.14.
C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. explore the creation of a voluntary DPW/Public Health Department syringe response team to enhance current City efforts.
4.15.
C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. explore the feasibility of creating a pot of "soft money" aimed at attracting an increase of housing production.
4.16.
C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. have Transportation Engineer examine Grandview and 13th Streets to prioritize corrective measures, if possible.
4.17.
C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. provide the Council with a detailed report on Lowell's allocations and commitments from the Attorney General's statewide opioid settlement funding stream.
4.18.
C. Nuon - Req. City Mgr. have Homelessness Coordinator report on lessons learned and next steps proposed from the summit.
4.19.
C. Nuon - Req. City Mgr. provide an update on where Garden Road is on the re-paving list.
4.20.
C. Nuon/C. Drinkwater - Req. City Mgr. work with DEI officer to clearly define the role and goals of the new position; look at city hiring practices with DEI lense; assure DEI education and awareness are brought to all employees in all departments; and assess DEI work in other cities and towns and adopt as appropriate for Lowell.
4.21.
C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have Law Department provide an opinion regarding as to why an elected official can not receive their stipend if they work for a local municipality. reveive
4.22.
M. Chau - Req. City Mgr. have proper department investigate having more lighting in Cambodia Town.
4.23.
M. Chau - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department explore use of reduction tracks (speed bumps) on Waite Street at the beginning of Powell Street.
5.
UTILITY PUBLIC HEARING
5.1.
National Grid - Request Installation Of Handhole And Underground Conduit At Appleton And Gorham Streets.
6.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER
6.1.
Motion Responses
(A) Motion Response - Bookmobile Launch Update
(B) Motion Response - Plan for Enforcement of Chapter 176-2 (Housing Code - WITH ATTACHMENT)
(C) Motion Response - LHS Solar Update
(D) Motion Response - SCOTUS Decision Tax Title Surplus
(E) Motion Response - Catch Basin Cleaning
(F) Motion Response - Adie Way
(G) Motion Response - Carts Blocking Sidewalks
(H) Motion Response - Litter Campaign
(I) Motion Response - Rec DPW
(J) Motion Response - Food Service For Homeless
(K) Motion Response - Housing First Update
(L) Motion Response - CTI Hotel Programs
(M) Motion Response - Dept Head Bios
(N) Motion Response - Update Fully Funded Positions Currently Vacant
(O) Motion Response - Enforcement No Parking Twenty Feet From Corner
(P) Motion Response - Develop and Implement Signage Along Riverwalk
(Q) Motion Response - Driving to Endanger Unregistered Off Road Vehicles and Bicycles
(R) Motion Response - Update on Policy Mayoral Portrait
Documents:
- (A) Motion Response - Bookmobile Launch Update.pdf
- (B) Motion Response - Plan for Enforcement of Chapter 176-2 (Housing Code - WITH ATTACHMENT).pdf
- (C) Motion Response - LHS Solar Update.pdf
- (D) Motion Response - SCOTUS Decision Tax Title Surplus.pdf
- (E) Motion Response - Catch Basin Cleaning.pdf
- (F) Motion Response - Adie Way.pdf
- (G) Motion Response - Carts Blocking Sidewalks.pdf
- (H) Motion Response - Litter Campaign.pdf
- (I) Motion Response - Rec DPW.pdf
- (J) Motion Response - Food Service For Homeless.pdf
- (K) Motion Response - Housing First Update.pdf
- (L) Motion Response - CTI Hotel Programs.pdf
- (M) Motion Response - Dept Head Bios.pdf
- (N) Motion Response - Update Fully Funded Positions Currently Vacant.pdf
- (O) Motion Response - Enforcement No Parking Twenty Feet From Corner.pdf
- (P) Motion Response - Develop and Implement Signage Along Riverwalk.pdf
- (Q) Motion Response - Driving to Endanger Unregistered Off Road Vehicles and Bicycles.pdf
- (R) Motion Response - Update on Policy Mayoral Portrait.pdf
6.2.
Informational Report
Informational Report - Solar Portfolio
Informational Report - ADU Ordinance Update
Informational Report - Andover St
6.3.
Communication - City Manager request Out of State Travel (1) DPW.
Documents:
7.
VOTES FROM THE CITY MANAGER
7.1.
Vote - Accept/Expend $12,000 Address Verification Program Grant
7.2.
Vote - Apply/Accept/Expend $150,000 MassDEP Grant - Wastewater
7.3.
Vote - License Agreement with DCAMM - Hurd Street
7.4.
7.5.
Vote - License Agreement with Kiwanis Club of Greater Lowell
8.
REPORTS (SUB/COMMITTEE, IF ANY)
8.1.
Rules SC September 12, 2023.
9.
PETITIONS
9.1.
Claims - (2) Property Damage; (1) Personal Injury.
9.2.
Misc. - Bibek Ghimire (Shoe Time) request installation of (2) overhanging signs located at 231 Central Street.
9.3.
Misc. - Nitin Patel request discussion with City Council regarding amendment of City tobacco regulations.
9.4.
Misc. - Ashley Maillet (The Green Place) request installation of overhanging sign located at 36 Prescott Street.
9.5.
Misc. - Luz Restrepo request installation of handicap parking sign located at 38 Cork Street.
9.6.
Misc. - Lizete Frobese request removal of handicap parking sign at 11 Cedar Street.
Documents:
10.
CITY COUNCIL - MOTIONS
10.1.
C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. look into feasibility of demolishing the Smith Baker Center.
10.2.
C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. move Halloween to the last Saturday in October.
10.3.
C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. update the City Council on an engineering study rating all sidewalks within the City.
10.4.
C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. begin process of purchasing St. Jeanne D'Arc School for class room space.
10.5.
C. Scott - Req. City Mgr. provide a report on the current HVAC conditions across our municipal buildings and plans for repair.
10.6.
C. Scott/C. Robinson/C. Gitschier - Req. City Mgr. invite the Lowell delegation to a council meeting to discuss and update us on important State issues affecting the City.
10.7.
C. Robinson - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department provide a report on the installation of the new 4-way stop on Aiken Street by LeLacheur Park; what process was followed prior to implementation and what will be done to alleviate traffic congestion as a result of this installation.
10.8.
C. Leahy - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department develop a plan to regrade edges of sidewalks/streets that have been washed out due to past heavy rains.
10.9.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. have proper department investigate improvements to regular maintenance along the riverwalk on both sides of the river.
10.10.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. have proper department update on electric vehicle charging infrastructure within the City and any plans for expansion.
10.11.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. have the proper department investigate adding more public trash barrels along Jackson Street and Jackson Street Extension.
10.12.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. provide update on Hamilton Canal Development projects, including City held parcels as well as parcels that have been sold to private developers.
10.13.
C. Jenness - Req. City Mgr. have proper department prepare a report detailing all garage payment equipment outages for the past 12 months including date of failure, cause, length of outage, resolution, and approximate lost revenue.
10.14.
C. Nuon/C. Mercier - Req. City Mgr. work with proper department to name part of the riverwalk in memory of Robert Malalvich, lifelong Lowellian and long time planner in the Lowell Department of Planning and Development.
10.15.
M. Chau - Req. Mayor establish a sister-city relationship with Cork, Ireland.
10.16.
M. Chau - Req. City Mgr. review and plan for improving and repairing school buildings HVAC systems.
11.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
12.