City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire 2022 - 2024 City Council, 21 Jun 2022

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 6.21.2022 City Council

Description

6.21.2022 City Council

A

B

It works all right. uh I will await a motion to come out in non-public session.

B

So moved second, second and all in favor, aye aye, and now we will uh begin the meeting uh with a.

C

Call the world: oh, we need to seal the minutes as well. Oh, oh! Yes, when I moved.

D

We'd um during the evening meeting and seal the minutes. Second, all in favor of that.

B

B

We will now have a roll call.

E

Mayor mccackering, here assistant mayor kelly, here councilor chamber here, counselor denton here.

A

Councilman moreau here- council bagley here, council lombardi here, council blaylock here.

A

Council cook here, if you join me with the pledge of allegiance.

B

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to.

B

The republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

B

All right, so we have two proclamations uh this evening. uh The first is uh with regards to.

B

Actually, the state of new hampshire's birthday here, the united states.

B

Constitution day so, whereas june 21st 2022 marks the 234th birthday of the u.s constitution,.

B

And whereas portsmouth john langdon delegate to the constitutional convention was one of.

B

38 signers of the u.s constitution, adopted by congress in 1787 and whereas led by langdon new.

B

Hampshire became the ninth and deciding state vote to ratify the u.s constitution on june 21st 1788.

B

Thereby making new hampshire, the state that made us a nation and whereas, when new hampshire passed.

B

The ratification the state was also admitted to the union making the former connelly the.

B

Colony, the ninth state, so june 21st is also new hampshire's birthday and whereas the? U.

B

The submarine uss new hampshire was christened on this day in honor of this historic date and.

B

Whereas in 1783 new hampshire was the first state to create its own constitution, thereby setting the.

B

Example for other colonies and the continental congress to follow and whereas portsmouth's the.

B

City of the open door was home to three governors and has welcomed presidents from george washington.

B

To joe biden and upholds an unwavering record of allegiance to the nation and the u.s constitution,.

B

Now, therefore, I daglan mccarron mayor of the city of portsmouth, on behalf of the members.

B

Of the city, council and citizens of portsmouth do hereby proclaim this day as united states.

B

Constitution day, given with my hand in the seal of the city of portsmouth on this 21st day of june,.

B

2022, do we have sue paul dora here and sue was the one that reached out and she seems that this is.

B

Not your normal outfit sue, um but I understand that that I'll come and give this, and we have.

B

Another proclamation, but I want to thank you, uh for it is an august occasion indeed, and tonight I.

F

Am representing elizabeth landon barrow sister of governor john landon, who, in new hampshire in 1788.

F

Was the one that proposed that would be the ninth state to sign to ratify the constitution that had.

F

Been approved the previous year, it was this effort that led us into being one of the nine.

F

States of the arch of the republic, and in his behalf I beat you greetings and salutations.

F

He was a former citizen of pleasant street and a very lustrous citizen of the city of portsmouth.

F

Known as the town of portsmouth in those days, it is through his effort that we are now celebrating.

F

Today, the 234th anniversary of the ratification, therefore, being the 234th birthday of the state.

F

Of new hampshire, the colony of new hampshire, became the state of new hampshire. On that day,.

F

And it has been, it was his pleasure to make it so so on his behalf, I thank you.

F

For issuing this proclamation- and I thank all of the city of portsmouth and encourage them.

F

To look at the history behind this day, it's not just a history of a birthday.

F

It is the history of our state and those people that made it happen and with that.

F

I will withdraw thank you very much for your attention, hopefully not before taking this.

B

That's awesome. You look wonderful, sir.

B

John langdon's wife, sister sister, john langdon's, sister.

B

So we have our next proclamation uh and I'm going to ask the assistant mayor to read this. It is.

B

Humbling to recognize juneteenth for a number of reasons, I think that the fact that it took so long.

B

To get down to texas and and tell the slaves there that the emancipation proclamation had been.

B

Delivered uh nearly two and a half years uh earlier, it's also uh worth reflecting that.

B

This almost falls to the day of when we ratified the the constitution here in new hampshire.

B

Where all men were created equal but took 77 years later? For that those words to to really ring true.

B

um It's a it's honor to have our assistant mayor. uh Read this proclamation. Thank you. Your honor.

D

Whereas on june 19 1865 in galveston, texas, major general gordon granger of the united states,.

D

Army issued order number three that read the people of texas are informed that, in accordance.

D

With a proclamation from the executive of the united states, all slaves are free. This involves.

D

An absolute equality of personal rights and rights of personal property between former.

D

Masters and slaves, and the connection here forth, exists in between them becomes that.

D

Of between employer and hired labor, and whereas that general order finally extended.

D

The intention of the 1863 13th amendment to free all africans still held in bondage in the states.

D

And whereas african-american communities, including portsmouth, have celebrated juneteenth or.

D

Emancipation day for decades and whereas in 2013 new hampshire state senator martha, fuller clark.

D

Sponsored the legislation for new hampshire to declare juneteenth as a holiday.

D

And picked up the bill off the table in 2017, so I represent representatives could continue to push.

D

For a state recognition of juneteenth, which was declared a federal holiday in 2021 and.

D

Whereas in portsmouth we recognized juneteenth to remember a critical part of american history,.

D

And pay tribute to the achievements and deeply rooted culture of the black community in our city.

D

And rededicate ourselves to our commitment to being a racial justice, municipality.

D

Now, therefore, I declan mccrecken mayor of ports of the city of portsmouth, on behalf of the members of.

D

The council and the citizen of citizens of portsmouth do hereby proclaim juneteenth 2022 in.

D

Portsmouth and urge all members of the community to learn more about the emancipation proclamation.

D

In the history behind this holiday and to join in celebrations, commemorations and other programs in.

D

Tributes organized by members such as the black heritage, trail of new hampshire, the.

D

Seacoast african american cultural center and black lives matter seacoast, given with.

D

My hand in the seal of the city on this day, 19th on this 19th day of june 2022.

B

Next up, we have the thank you assistant mayor next up. We have the acceptance of minutes for may 2nd.

B

uh 2022 and may 9th your honor second, all in favor, aye, aye aye, all right now we have what.

B

Many of you have come here for uh that's to see the portsmouth tax uh rate go up because.

B

We're buying all these plaques uh and I don't know if we've budgeted uh for it, but um in all.

B

Seriousness, this is, I think, all of our uh favorite thing uh to do in city hall uh is to recognize.

B

The youth we want to we'll take any excuse to do so, but that everyone has has competed.

B

So hard and and come out on top, you don't always come out on top.

B

And so it's it's tough to to just recognize those in city hall that that do.

B

But as athletes, this is what you've been working for your entire season, and so we want.

B

To celebrate this, this excellent achievement, I'm going to ask uh your athletic director.

B

uh Cause to come join me, I'm gonna say a few words down there. We gotta remember to.

B

Speak into the microphone or nobody hears us at home, uh but really looking forward to this.

B

So first up is the boys outdoor track and field, and I just said to speak into the microphone sure.

B

So first up is this on kevin. You got me.

B

Yep great to see you thumbs up the portsmouth high school boys, outdoor track and field team had a.

B

Great showing at the nh iaa division, 1 track and field championships a few weeks ago, held in salem.

B

High school, the team led by head coach mike lyford, are you mike.

B

These are priorities. Man come on.

B

Well, in addition to getting married, he uh he led them to claim.

B

Its first division, one state championship since 1985., they did win the d2 championships in 2018.

B

Portsmouth high school team total was 97.5 points over runner-up nashua. You think that's.

B

Going to be close, it's not it's 59 points, that's unbelievable. Several student athletes.

B

Broke school records that night, including ahmed nada and the hundred meter with a time of 11.01.

B

And nate fletcher in the 300 hurdles with 38.74 and 200 meter 21.99. This is blazing fast.

B

All in a great day for the clippers so give yourselves another round of applause.

B

Okay, so you call him up yeah.

A

You should be getting used to this. Listen, you don't always come to these things.

A

All right so first up ethan avery.

A

uh Theodore beatty.

A

Samuel bourne.

A

Avery crowl.

A

Princeton daniel chester, jaraki.

A

Noah donovan.

A

Nate fletcher.

A

Jake haley.

A

Ethan lance.

A

Jacob blowburn.

A

Max machado,.

A

William margerson.

A

Ben mcfarlane, cole, mclaughlin.

A

Kelly moriarty.

A

Matthew mower.

A

Ahmed nada.

A

I wouldn't expect him to come up a little faster.

A

Dylan palermo.

A

Broderick parrot.

A

Jackson, rugginess.

A

Ian ripperger.

A

Michael schaaf.

A

Trevor stacy.

A

A

Jay wendell.

A

Luke whistler.

A

Todd wilson.

A

And jason yetin.

A

Got your boys d1 state track team.

B

That's awesome guys.

B

Next up we have girls, lacrosse, and I have some words about this this season, but this one's.

B

Actually, uh cool for my family, my my sister was actually one of the the founding members of the.

B

Girls uh portsmouth high school lacrosse team here in portsmouth, and that was 20 years ago. I guess in.

B

In july I asked kaz, I think he said that was true, um but you've come an enormous, like it's.

B

I think one of I was looking back over uh some of the the teams they played and it was you know.

B

The record wasn't 19 and two um and to see that it's nearly nine out of ten.

B

Is is amazing, so um in terms of the uh or nine out of the last 20 years championships.

B

It's amazing portsmouth high school girls across led by coach, jojo kiro finished this season with.

B

A 19-2 record in division ii and was victorious over hollis brookline high school by a score of 20.

B

To seven so not much of doubt on that one to win their fifth consecutive nhiaa division, two state.

B

Championship the team was the odd-on favorite to win the champions this year. However, they.

B

Never let that get to their head, they worked hard, are very humble and just got the job done.

B

All of the student athletes were honor roll students as well. I didn't read that about.

B

The boys high school track team. They were, they were okay, so everybody is.

B

The clipper, the clipper girls lacrosse program, will move.

B

Up to set sail and compete in division one next spring. We are just absolutely so proud.

B

Of you guys and all the work you've done, please give yourselves a round of applause.

A

All right so when you are ready to go, we're ready to go.

A

All right, so I know ellie's not here it's going to go on this all right, so maggie.

A

Charlotte marston.

A

Anya bake, morgan, runkey.

A

Sadie elatti.

A

A

Annie parker.

A

Sally collins.

A

Emily kemp.

A

Maggie parker.

A

Annie campbell.

A

Maggie conklin.

A

Ariana in kalingo.

A

Arden griffin.

A

And coach jojo curl.

B

All right, you changed it up. You didn't read the people that weren't here.

B

That time, you're getting better, I'm getting worse on that one we'll see if we can bring it.

B

Bring it home all right last but not least, is boys across.

B

The high school boys lacrosse team, led by coach chad fisher, finished the season with a 19 and one.

B

Record wow division two and beat rival derryfield school by a score of 16 to 10.. So a little closer.

B

On that, one uh still going away to win their second consecutive nhiaa division, two state.

B

Championship last week held at exeter high school, this year's boys team was led by a.

B

Really great defense and goaltenders offensive attack and face-off specialists. However, their.

B

Bond and support as a team was strong and that's what helped them achieve success.

B

We are so proud of you. Boys, lacrosse, give yourselves a really big round of applause.

A

A

All right here we go all right: nathan, almond.

A

Zach almond.

A

Things are heavy all right, torn brewer.

A

uh Just to let you know, a lot of people went on vacation and stuff like that already so, okay.

A

Yeah no max brown.

A

James buckin.

A

A

Caleb comstock.

A

Noah deyoung.

A

Keegan delisle.

A

A

Ryan edwards.

A

Noah foster.

A

Caleb green.

A

Gunner jackson.

A

Brady kilroy.

A

Dom moldari.

A

Riley collins.

A

Skyler mcleidies, that's our goalie.

A

Keegan mars.

A

Michael o'neal.

A

Brandon park.

A

Charlie tascalone.

A

Baden patterson.

A

Ryan patton.

A

Ben purcell.

A

Dylan roloffs.

A

Macy shone.

A

Nick smith, luke zucheski.

A

Peter wall.

A

Briggs catino.

A

Ethan lander.

A

And the hope max jokin.

A

And matt preston.

B

Well, um that's awesome.

B

It's listen, there's uh we can't, you know, there's a huge amount of commitments that you all have.

B

um That you were able to to come here um in in our in our city's house. This is you know. This is.

B

This is your building. uh It means a lot to us that we can recognize you here in person.

B

Tonight, if you could all come up and could we grab a picture of everybody just filling.

B

In in front of the deus and uh we'll let you you don't have to stick around for the rest,.

B

Of the meeting after that, you guys can just head out and take pictures afterwards. Awesome.

G

Yeah, I think, there's enough people out there.

G

Stephanie here yeah.

A

The guy, who knows him do it. Some of them were almost as tall as they.

H

Are one of them? That's awesome. Okay, cole,.

H

Tell people in the back.

D

C

A

A

One two: three: are you fast now? Are you fast now, yeah yeah.

I

Congratulations.

A

Hey this is my son, oscar hey: how are we doing nice to meet you guys? Thank you. Thank you appreciate it.

J

H

I think she already took it off yeah.

B

Hey guys before we leave kaz says.

A

Left, that's okay! I just wanted to thank you guys all for your support, so much for our community.

A

Portsmouth police department, portsmouth fire department, escorted us around town, three nights.

A

In june, which were unbelievable, I know we were pretty loud downtown and it was late.

A

But everybody was pretty nice and screaming for us and everything is so much fun.

A

This kind of caps, everything off and it's a recognition that I always look forward.

A

To and I think it's in a different setting for all the kids and everything like that, so.

A

It's very important that we come here and that you know we get to meet you guys and everything.

A

Like that and see this side of government- and I love this- so I love having these kids here.

A

And um I beg for them like you, gotta go, don't go on vacation um so, but I just want to say again.

A

Thank you so much mayor and city council for everything. So all the support and everything.

A

Like that so have a great summer and we'll definitely see you in the fall with something so.

B

A

A

The whole position.

I

B

Well, uh that was awesome.

B

We now are on to public comment um and if you wouldn't mind on, if you're on zoom, um we have.

B

Everybody signed up here, but if you're on zoom, please raise your hand in the next minute or two.

B

um So we know that you want to speak. uh First up is andrea amiko on the topic of turf.

K

Good evening I'll speak super fast mayor city, council, city manager, the former city council,.

K

Approved an artificial turf that was pfas free, the city staff and their consultants asserted the city.

K

The turf was pfas free and the turf manufacturer wrote a letter stating the turf was pfas free.

K

I'm grateful the city spent money to conduct additional testing of the turf, but sadly that.

K

Confirmed the presence of multiple pfas and all components of the turf.

K

We did not get a pfast free turf. Where is the accountability from the city that we did not.

K

Get the turf the city council approved, you should be upset about that, not minimizing and downplaying.

K

The pfas and the turf and, more importantly, you should not be setting a precedent that.

K

A manufacturer can lie to you in writing without any consequences, because if that's.

K

The case where will this end portsmouth was ground: zero for pfas back in 2014 at pease.

K

Thousands of people were exposed to pfas many of them residents and employees of the city.

K

Our community has worked tirelessly and successfully for action. Portsmouth is seen.

K

As a leader on pfas and estate in the state and across the nation voting to approve a pfast returf.

K

Was a very good thing and aligns with the values of the work surrounding many in portsmouth. However,.

K

Turning around and now saying, we will accept pfas in our turf after finding it because the levels.

K

Are low is frankly deplorable and insulting to me my family and others who have been exposed to pfas.

K

In the community and have fought tooth and nail for action as for low levels and if they are safe.

K

The epa just announced they are setting health advisories for two common pfas in the parts per.

K

Quadrillion range to be protective of human health. Do you know what parts per quadrillion is? I had no.

K

Clue it's 10 to the minus 15 or easier put 1 million billion. Think about that! I don't.

K

Know how much lower levels we can get than parts per quadrillion and that is coming from the epa.

K

Low levels of pfas are not safe. We should not be normalizing that and we should not be taken.

K

Lightly by any, no one in the city should be taking it lightly. These low levels will bioaccumulate and.

K

Will need to be cleaned up someday, which puts us our city at risk for additional financial costs.

K

I have so much more to say and I'm running out of time so I'll leave you with my suggestions.

K

Of the city now that we have a turf that is not pfast free number one place signs on tips for.

K

Turf safety at the field I've asked for this last year and again earlier this year. These.

K

Are common sense tips developed by environmental health pediatricians? Other communities have done.

K

It you can't take the pfas from the turf, but you can educate the community on tips to use it safely.

K

That seems like a no-brainer to me, number two set up a testing plan to monitor pfas levels.

K

Surrounding the turf, the epa is starting to drop advisories on pfest and the parts per quadrillion.

K

1 million billion- let's get proactive here- let's see what the pfast levels are in the environment.

K

Around the turf and if we're adding an additional p faster environment, we should be monitoring that.

K

Closely and to my last point I hope you'll, let me finish, get upset, show some outrage that your city.

K

Has been already highly impacted by pfas and was not given the pfs free field, they wanted write.

K

A strongly worded letter to the turf manufacturer and the people responsible for not being diligent.

K

To make you aware of the pfas and the turf ahead of time, the turf company knew their pfas their.

K

Turf was not pfast free, they just weren't banking. On you doing more advanced testing. Portsmouth is.

K

Not the only community to be deceived by this billion dollar industry. Take a stance get mad.

K

Don't embolden the turf company who lied to you by feeding into the talking points that the levels.

K

Are low and not harmful, you are giving them more ammunition to do this to another community. We.

K

Should have known better in portsmouth, we should have been more diligent. We were in our community.

K

Will suffer the consequences for it, but put the people on notice who sold you a pfast returf that.

K

Was not pfast free, so they can think twice before doing it to another community. Thank you very much.

B

Thank you. Andrea next up is roy helsel on the topic of land use boards and turf.

L

Good evening roy helsel 777 middle road, portsmouth wow. That was something.

A

Anyway, I was going to say at 17th of june there were two articles in the paper about the.

A

Same thing, and I'm wondering if the outfit that did the testing for us, which is trc.

A

If they use the new standard, since the standard of 2016 was changed and it's much lower as the.

A

Young lady stated so that's all I have is mr rice could answer that if it, what standard did they.

A

Use for testing this time all right, the other thing is on the land use board. Why is it that.

A

The developers always get cups and variances on height mass variances and on wetland boundaries.

A

When the homeowner, like the mahoney's on lincoln avenue, built a tree house, there was a budding.

A

And your budding neighbors approved of it, but the city made them, take it down and would not.

A

Give them variances because they were not five feet from the boundary, yet the developers can.

A

Enroached on the wetlands they can build higher. They can build larger mass, but homeowners can't.

A

Can you answer those questions? Thank you good night. Thank you. Roy next up is caroline.

B

Mccoy sorry, caroline.

M

Okay, I'm carolyn mccoy. I live at state street and um my husband and I initiated the petition.

M

To save our brick sidewalks um over just two days in april, we got all of the signatures that we then.

M

Delivered to the mayor- and I want to thank you mayor and the city council for taking the petition.

M

Seriously and holding this hearing, I would also like to add that since we delivered the signatures,.

M

In april, we've spoken to many more people in our neighborhood who also want to preserve the brick.

M

We live in a section of state street with many historic homes, but we are just.

M

Outside the official historic district, the border of the historic district literally runs along the.

M

Side of my house, everyone can agree that brick sidewalks are more beautiful than concrete.

M

That's why the city maintains them downtown and in the south end.

M

The issue before us now is one of cost mayor mccackern emailed me. The price differentials for.

M

The bids and putting in new concrete sidewalks is cheaper, but replacing the brick with concrete is.

M

Short-Sighted, it is akin to urban improvement projects of the past that raised historic.

M

Buildings only to replace them with eyesores if you browse any of the portsmouth portsmouth.

M

Facebook groups you'll see post lamenting such projects. We now look back and think how could they.

M

Imagine that this would be better, and I think the same is true of concrete. Now the city is investing.

M

A lot of money and work in improving the islington corridor to connect downtown to the west end.

M

The brick sidewalks helped to visually unify our neighborhood with downtown and the historic.

M

Character and charm of our city even islington commons, that new development has bricked sidewalks.

M

As I'm sure, the developers knew that this is an integral part of what makes portsmouth unique.

M

Put simply concrete sidewalks look like any other, suburban or urban neighborhood.

M

Portsmouth, by contrast, invents invests heavily in historic preservation and I'm really glad it does.

M

Tourists flock here in the summer months in large part because of that attention to history and.

M

Beauty and they help our small businesses stay afloat. When we first heard of the city sidewalk.

M

Plan I called the department of public works and I was told that the plan to replace the brick with.

M

Concrete was made by the city council 12 years ago and was repeatedly assured that it was not.

M

A matter of cost, but rather one of safety, while brick sidewalks may freeze more quickly in winter.

M

They were truly dangerous. They would be planning to rip them up in the south end in downtown and.

M

They're not doing that. um The mayor also told me that uh the west end was a different neighborhood.

M

Back then, and probably wasn't as well represented in the city council. I wasn't there. I don't.

M

Know, um but now the people of the west end we care really deeply about keeping our brick um our.

M

Stretch of is that the end it is okay, okay, sure so um we're outside the official historic district.

M

But you know we all pay the same tax rate, so why should we pay to maintain the south end for.

M

Example and not our neighborhood, I'm not dissing the south end. I have a lot of friends who live.

M

There I love that neighborhood, um but I I just I want the city to preserve the beauty and history.

M

Of my neighborhood, I feel like it's it's very short-sighted. Once the brick is gone, that's it.

M

It's it's not coming back and um you know I was also told by the department of public works that.

M

It's not just state street, that's what they're doing now, but next is probably going to be cabot.

M

Or any of the brick that's outside of this historic district, um and you know if you really.

M

Want to invest in the west end. I think the brick is a great place. To start I mean it's, it's part.

M

Of the charm in history, um and I'm really hoping that you will reverse the current policy and save.

M

Our brick, um so thank you. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you. Next up we have uh trevor risto.

B

Three minutes: okay boy- I just had dinner with that- was my wife. Caroline. We just had dinner.

N

Before that sounds like, let me see what you got and we realized that we covered a lot of same.

N

Territory, so I probably should have written one speech and just switched at three minutes.

N

Anyway, like caroline, I want to thank you for taking our petition to save our bricks into.

N

Account and the work you've done to solicit the bids and for opening this discussion, uh my family.

N

Has deep roots in state in portsmouth? I now live on state street, with my wife and two young sons.

N

When we began inquiring about the city's plan to tear up the brick sidewalks and replace them with.

N

Concrete we were told more than once that it was not an issue of cost, but rather safety and policy.

N

Like caroline said, if it was, if, if safety was the primary, if you look around the city, you can.

N

See there's a lot of beautiful brick sidewalks, obviously that this brick can be made acceptably.

N

Safe or you would be concreting the entire city, which I don't think is going to happen. So um if, if.

N

If bricks can can be made acceptably safe as they are in the south end they're well maintained and.

N

They're preserved if they can be made acceptably safe and it's it's not an issue of cost than what.

N

What we have left is city policy and I've read the city policy. Thank you for putting it on the.

N

Council website, um but if it's policy that that's the issue, then that's great really.

N

Great news for us, because policy is made by people and we can change it. People can change it.

N

The overwhelming majority of people of my neighbors about we've spoken to well over 150.

N

People they do not support the concreting of our neighborhood there's about 450 feet of brick left.

N

On the part of state street currently scheduled for improvement under this plan, 450 feet the rest.

N

Of the brick on state street there's a lot of brick on state street, but the rest of the brick.

N

Is protected by the historic district, so it's just a relatively tiny amount of brick and I've.

N

Measured it myself with the tape measure, that's 450 feet on both sides of the street, so it's.

N

200 on one and 250 on the other, or something like that, a lot of this brick doesn't need any work at.

N

All the brick right outside our house is perfect. I thought it literally doesn't need anything and our.

N

Petition just asked for this 450 feet of brick to be preserved and repaired, where necessary.

N

My wife mocked me for including sir roger scrutin in my speech, but I'm going to do it anyway, sir.

N

Roger scrutin, who died a couple years ago, was the greatest philosopher of aesthetics, since aristotle.

N

According to many people, he wrote a lot about city planning and beauty and one of his most famous.

N

Quote is that beautiful things are not quote, are not easily created but are easily destroyed.

N

I don't know exactly when the west end lost its original brick sidewalks, but you can still see.

N

Them in photos of the athenaeum they were as early as 1873. bricks are part of our neighborhood. Its.

N

History and its character, some other portsmouth city council, about 40 years ago, from what I.

N

Understand voted to lay the current bricks, the bricks that are there now, so the 1873 bricks.

N

They were lost at some point in time about 40 years ago. Another city council voted to.

N

Put in the bricks that are there now boy, let me wrap it up um in order to restore a little.

N

Bit of the beauty of portsmouth I'll, just get my skip to my last paragraph, sir rogers.

N

Other famous quote on city planning: is beauty, is assailed by the cult of utility in everyday life.

N

In many parts of the world, beauty is reserved for the wealthy, while others are asked to make do.

N

With simple utility, our city is not immune to this inequity. Put simply, we in the west.

N

End have to make do with concrete, while other neighborhoods get to enjoy brick. There are no.

N

Parking meters in the south end to raise funds to maintain their bricks, so their maintenance is paid.

N

For either out of tax revenue or parking revenue from a different neighborhood, I'm not exactly.

N

Sure which I think it was supposed to be in the report back, but I never read that or whatever.

N

So the south end's bricks are either maintained from tax revenue or parking revenue from downtown.

N

The only distinction is that they are in the historic district, but for a lot of us on state.

N

Street the historic district is like right there, it's it's either across the street or.

N

It's out the window. In our case, it's over the backyard fences, the historic district.

N

So those lines can seem pretty arbitrary to those of us now being asked to live with the.

N

Destruction of our neighborhood sidewalks, I'm here today to ask you not to enforce.

N

This change against community opposition, but rather to decide to preserve and maintain.

N

These 450 feet of bricks 450 feet of our city's beauty, where it already exists already, there.

N

Thank you so much, and thank you for letting me finish. Thank you. Trevor next up is vicki fox david.

O

Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you. My name is vicki fox david.

O

My husband and I own the property at 39 cabot street, like my neighbors trevor and caroline.

O

The historic district is along our property line, our southern property line, so we're that close.

O

We purchased our house on cabot street in april 1994 28 years ago.

O

As you may know, our west end neighborhood at one time, was called austin borough in richard.

O

Candy's book on portsmouth neighborhoods, it's important in the history of portsmouth.

O

Austin borough included cabot street austin street union streets and some adjacent areas.

O

The neighborhood was populated by 20 plus craftsmen and some african-american families.

O

It was developed by men with names that you will recognize like rundlet, boardman and martin. If.

O

You've not read this chapter of mr candy's book. I encourage you to do so. It's quite interesting.

O

Our home was built around 1810 by benjamin norris and his wife sally mr norris was a privateer who.

O

Spent time in a british prison and later was a rope walker on what is now wybird street.

O

The homes in our neighborhood were built from the early 1900s. Our home was built in 1810.

O

Through the late 1800s, although modest in their architecture, it is an historic neighborhood, 28.

O

Years ago, when we bought our home cabot street and the surrounding areas did not have curbs.

O

Or sidewalks our 19th century shed a budding the sidewalk. If there had been one.

O

Was pushed at a severe angle as a result of multiple winters of snow plowing.

O

Side note that shed has been rebuilt in a uh restored in a beautiful way, sidewalks and curbs.

O

Were not a priority for the city 25 years ago, so the neighbors took matters into our own hands.

O

We qualified for a community development block, grant wrote the grant.

O

And received monies for materials and labor to install brick, sidewalks and granite curbs.

O

Those brick, sidewalks and granite curbs were installed the length of cabot street.

O

From middle to mcdonough, plus several cross streets, no city monies were spent on that.

O

Infrastructure and none has been spent since again: we've owned that property for 28 years.

O

The owners and residents in the west end neighborhood found the resources and executed.

O

To achieve brick, sidewalks and granite curbs as a result, pedestrians no longer have to walk in.

O

The street and the historic homes that line the street are no longer threatened by snow plowing.

O

We know the value these brick sidewalks bring to our neighborhood, retaining the existing brick.

O

Sidewalks and granite curbs is something the city can do to retain the character of the neighborhood.

O

I support that after 25 years of new hampshire winners and a good, it's a good use of capital.

O

Expense to reset those curbs and refresh the sidewalk. We appreciate that investment.

O

Do not replace bricks sidewalks with 21st century concrete if brick sidewalks are good enough for.

O

Other neighborhoods they're good enough for the west end. Thank you. Thank you, vicky and.

B

Again, clapping, we we discourage in terms of if everybody's in agreement, we love it uh as we.

B

Had with the the kids uh here, um but would ask you to hold your applause until you're outside.

B

uh City council chambers next up is amy, may court and dave cosgrove with the skatepark fundraiser.

K

Do we get two two sessions since it's two of us we'll see how long? If you split your speech.

B

Sure, okay, good evening, my name is amy maycord. I live at 47 taft road in tonight's agenda. You will.

K

Be accepting money that was raised at flip, the switch the skateboard park, committees, fundraiser.

K

To light up the future skate park, as you will see later, we raised a bunch of money thanks to.

K

Our incredible community I'd personally like to acknowledge some of the folks seated before me.

K

That made this night truly legit for those of you who couldn't make it mayor, mcecron councillor.

K

Bagley and wreck director todd henley spoke at the mic, throwing their full support toward this.

K

Project with passionate speeches about why a skate park in the city is important and how.

K

It will positively affect our community councilor blaylock. Was there too, he was prominently featured.

K

In our community montage video counselor denton was there featured in our live auction.

K

That makes it sound like we auctioned him off, we did not, but he certainly got into some intense.

K

Bidding wars, as did councillor bagley for our portsmouth themed, hand-painted skateboard, decks.

K

Counselor cook was also in attendance, mingling and milling about at our silent auction table.

K

Former councillors, kennedy and huda showed up. Esther kennedy got up to speak with a heartwarming.

K

Introduction of seamus durkin, who we all know, is the og leader of this skatepark movement.

K

Before I turn the mic over to dave, I'd like to share a text I received from an old friend the.

K

Morning after the event, it says thanks so much for what you did tonight. I drove back thinking.

K

Of how much that will help the kids, they were all out skateboarding in front. When I left, I loved.

K

It thanks so good to see you your son is lucky. He has you, I'm sharing this text with you, because it.

K

Should be for everyone, not just me, my son is lucky, he has all of us. We will continue to fundraise and.

K

These skateboarders and future skateboarders will have a safe, well lit beautiful, skate park before I.

K

Leave again, just one more thing: china, that is a gm over at the wilder reached out to me and for.

K

The month of july, on wednesdays, ten percent of all the drink sales are going to go to the skate.

K

Park lights, so we should all go to the wilder on wednesday nights in july. Thank you. Amy may.

A

Thank you maybe uh good evening, mayor council, city leadership.

A

uh In addition to thanking all of those amy mentioned, I'd like to thank a number of.

A

Individuals in businesses that donated items and services to our cause.

A

In particular, I'd like to thank the phs student artists for their contributions.

A

That were created under the guidance of their teacher eric moore at portsmouth, high school.

A

In addition to professional artists donated their their skills and time varying ranging from auto.

A

Body shop, artists to expressive, arts therapists to college professors all willingly donated their.

A

Time, passion and skills asking for nothing in return, so extremely proud of of everyone who.

A

Contributed I'd also like to thank our dedicated committee for making the event so successful.

A

From procuring donations to selling raffle tickets that night, everyone worked as a team to make the.

A

Night successful we had to rely on members outside of our immediate committee, such as people like.

A

Sean mcdonald of rye, who screen printed several promotional posters ahead of the event as well as.

A

During the evening for an interactive experience that we all enjoyed, he donated all of the proceeds.

A

To the skate park, lighting also, given that none of us had ever put on such a sizeable event.

A

We lean very heavily on someone with relevant experience and a nuttel she's, a middle school.

A

Art teacher and leader in our committee in our community that I just can't thank enough.

A

She selflessly spent countless hours putting together bid sheets raffle boxes. She got young.

A

Elementary school kids involved had them color uh paper, skateboard decorations for the event.

A

Somehow man should do all of this while closing out the school year and educating our children.

A

I could go on so from the bottom of my heart, thanks to anna, with all of that, I'm proudly here.

A

To report that we raised approximately fifteen thousand dollars that evening.

A

uh As part of that fundraiser and that doesn't even include direct donations stemming from that.

A

Event- and many of you before me are a big part of that. So thank you so much um fundraising. The.

A

Money is certainly critical, but I think possibly even more important. That is it's just building.

A

Community gaining more momentum and having really a memorable and fun evening. This was a.

A

An event that was, I think, was a snapshot of the best of what the city can be when it decides to.

A

To come together for a common purpose, on a closing note by happenstance, I did notice sunday night.

A

That there is an item on the docket tonight to hold a public hearing to fund the skate park.

A

In a manner that deviates from what was decided back in december as part of a 9-0 council vote,.

A

I'm sure there are important reasons for the shift. Excuse me and I look forward to hearing them and I.

A

Also hope that this prospective shift in funding does not alter the timeline or the scope of.

A

Of the outdoor recreational space that we hope to build in the future, one final note.

A

This is off script. I like andrea you're at three minutes. Hey, hey, give me, give me 30 seconds.

A

Off script like andrew miko, I am also a victim of pfast contamination. I worked at pease for.

A

A number of years my family is affected by it. um Andrew is a very rational, intelligent.

A

Caring loving person she's a friend of mine, I have the utmost respect for her. If she's angry.

A

I guarantee you it's for good reason. Thank you. Thanks dave.

B

Next up, uh we have olivia.

B

Annunziata blaisdell and emily stokel uh for the topic of indigenous people's day.

B

And if you want more than three minutes, just split up your time, you're good, all right.

K

Good evening, mayor mchecker and council members, my name is olivia nunziado blaisdell, I'm an upcoming.

A

Sophomore at portsmouth high school and a member of the we speak organization and I'm emily stokel.

L

I'm an upcoming junior at portsmouth, high school and I'm the co-president of we speak before we.

K

Begin I would like to acknowledge the city of portsmouth is on the homelands of the abenaki.

K

And wabanaki people who have ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this area. We are here to.

K

Thank you all for reading the letter we sent on may 24th addressing the name, change of columbus.

K

Day to indigenous people's day and supporting public recognitions and acknowledgments in.

K

Honor of indigenous people's lands and culture in portsmouth, the current name quote: columbus, slash.

K

Indigenous peoples day end quote, is inadequate in insulting to the city's value of racial justice.

K

We understand this issue cannot be voted on tonight, but we hope that you will find.

K

It important enough to put it to a vote at your next council meeting on july 11th.

K

We speak has been working on this issue for over two years now, and it is time for a change.

K

Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you plenty of time, geez all right.

B

I believe that is on the agenda. uh We will, we will schedule it for the next.

B

Meeting so you don't have to well, please stick around if you'd like to, but.

B

Next, up is peter huda, with the topic of page 51, council packet.

F

Good evening council mayor peter huda, 280 south street I'd like.

F

To call your attention and attention of the portsmouth taxpayers to page 51 in the packet.

F

That is the approval of local 1386 memo of agreement, the city and the union are party.

F

Parties to a collective bargaining agreement that covers the period of july 1st 2019 to june 30 2022.

F

The dates mean you as a city council,.

F

Are amending the fy 22 budget, which is an additional appropriation.

F

The city manager is putting forward an amendment which is an additional appropriation of an.

F

Unknown amount to the taxpayers of portsmouth, not included in the fy 22 budget. This is a violation.

F

Of the city charter, section 7.14, which states any additional appropriations require a public hearing.

F

I'm here to speak against the approval of this memo.

F

Because it is it against the city charter, I would like to read to you the section.

F

7.14 for clarification, no appropriation shall be made for any purpose, not included in the annual.

F

Budget as adopted, unless voted by a two-thirds majority of the council after a public hearing.

F

Held to discuss said appropriation, the council shall, by resolution, designate.

F

The source of any money to be appropriated at this point in time we do not have an amount.

F

There is only nine days left in this fiscal year and the effect on this would be to have.

F

The future budgets and the collective bargaining agreements would automatically have a chance.

F

Would automatically be increased by the base rate, so your collective bargaining agreements.

F

Would start and if the dates are correct on this you'll be negotiating a new one starting july 1st.

F

So, in order to do this, you have to increase all of the wastewater treatment.

F

As discussed in here, so the the action in here would would change everything. Would.

F

Change their base rate and they would start at a new base rate. So I would ask you to look at this.

F

And trust but verify city council. Thank you.

B

Thank you petra. uh I don't see any hands on zoom. So uh next up is a public hearing and vote on ordinance.

P

B

Q

So I apologize, I'm used to doing zoom calls in my underpants, um so I'll be I'll, be quick.

Q

um I think sir, I just need your name. My name is bill. Camarda um ben and I live at 809 state street.

Q

We just bought, we moved in, um I think we provide a pretty interesting perspective, um have lived all.

Q

Around the country um manhattan atlanta, chicago working remote, we can live wherever we want. It's a.

Q

Really cool world we chose portsmouth because it's portsmouth, it's awesome right. It has the charm.

Q

It's young, but it also has that history there's so much to do and every single time our friends come.

Q

To visit, I walk down my steps. Everyone's blown away by the charm I'm blown away every morning, the.

Q

Brick, sidewalks all the character. I feel like the downtown is right in my backyard and we're not as.

Q

Close as some but we're right there and you know where I've lived across the country, whether it's.

Q

Atlanta chicago new york, the best neighborhoods, are the ones that you know retain their charm.

Q

Like the west village or east atlanta, village or bucktown wicker park in chicago and the ones that.

Q

Everyone really lament are the ones that add the you know: the cement sidewalks right, hudson yards.

Q

Or uh pont city market down in atlanta, so I think for us we just really want to maintain that charm.

Q

We moved here for a reason we want to maintain the value of our neighborhood.

Q

And raise kids in an area where we have brick sidewalks. You know we're portsmouth, we're not.

Q

Any of these other towns around the seacoast, I think, there's a lot of pride for where we live.

Q

And then more objectively, I think my frustration as well with getting rid of the brick is that.

Q

Portsmouth loves its charm right. We do everything to maintain it. I think we all.

Q

Know how hard it is to get a building permit or to build something new or.

Q

Some of the projects that have been held up for the sake of maintaining the aesthetics.

Q

But we're getting rid of one of the most tangible aesthetic pieces of the city, which is.

Q

The west end brick sidewalks right. It's just a little bit contradictory to me.

Q

Let's, let's keep it all right, it's really hard to add. You know what we want to our homes and.

Q

New developments for the aesthetic, let's keep all the aesthetic and make sure it's consistent.

Q

That's all I have I miss anything. All right sounds good. Thank you. Bill appreciate it. Yeah.

B

If there are no other speakers, I will move on to the public hearing and voting on ordinances.

B

And or resolutions we have a first reading of two ordinances. First reading of ordinance amending.

B

Chapter 1 article 4, section 1.413 treason, public greenery committee. uh I would wait a sample motion.

B

Moved past first reading and hold the public hearing and second reading at july, 11 2022 city.

B

Council meeting your honor so moved second, any discussion on that and no presentation, so we will.

B

Voting for this means that we will have the next council meeting. We will schedule a public.

B

Hearing where we'll hear from the public on this as well, so I will have a roll call vote.

R

Assistant mayor kelly, yes, counselor tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes, councilman rowe, yes, council.

H

Bagley, yes, council lombardi, yes, council blaylock, yes, council club, yes ma'am, mccoy, yes, unanimous.

B

Next uh ordinance, the first reading of ordinance and mending chapter one.

B

Article eight code of ethics sample motion, move to past first reading and hold the public hearing and.

B

Second reading at the july, 11 2022 city council meeting so moved second and any discussion on that.

B

uh Kelly, uh will we please have a roll call vote sure assistant mayor kelly? Yes,.

M

Counselor tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes, councilman rowe,.

H

Yes, council bagley, yes, council lombardi, yes, council, blaylock, yes, council cook,.

A

Yes, miami cochran, yes, unanimous next up, we have the city manager's items which require action.

G

Thank you mayor good evening. Everyone first up under city managers, items which require.

G

Action is approval of a local 1386a memorandum of agreement. By way of background, I would remind.

G

Folks, watching that this would allow the city more flexibility and hiring operators for our water.

G

Treatment operators, wastewater treatment operators and pump station operators, and this would.

G

Be able to give us the ability to acknowledge when they achieve their licensure commence, commensurate.

G

With their position and commensurate with the work they're doing to address something that.

G

A former counselor huda brought up. This would take effect upon approval. There is no need for.

G

Any additional appropriation and to give you a sense of what this we estimate, this would cost.

G

Out of the water fund, it would be uh we're talking about thirteen thousand dollars.

G

Out of a twelve million dollar budget and out of the sewer fund, it represents 72 000.

G

As far as we can estimate out of a 23 million dollar budget happy to answer any questions.

C

Counselor bagley, uh thank you, your honor. um It's probably a question for the city manager or.

C

Director rice, could you speak a little bit to the complexity of the equipment that is being run and.

C

Maintained by the personnel and what the cost would be, if we didn't have qualified personnel.

C

To run it um because, I think the important thing to note here is spending a little bit of money.

C

To make sure that the equipment is maintained could end up saving us quite a bit of money if.

C

Something unfortunate wants to happen. Sure thank you, counselor good good question very.

P

Good question brian goetz, deputy director public works and, um as you know uh just last year, we.

P

Dedicated the the wastewater treatment facility of pierce island give or take 100 million dollars.

P

Worth of infrastructure equipment, those that toured the facility or if you saw.

P

What you can still see on youtube a virtual tour of the facility very complex and regulatory, wise.

P

We have very strict uh regulations, so it's 24 7 operation um in the old days. You could have one.

P

Person that kind of knew everything and could point fingers and you know, have the rest of.

P

The group, you know, do the work, but right now you know a 24 7 operation requires everyone. That is.

P

You know on call and there to be fully aware of the intricacies of the equipment and all that.

P

So that just speaks to the wastewater side, the water side is is equally as complex and equally as.

P

Respondent, as far as what you need to do, when you have high rate treatment and equipment, there's a.

P

Lot of computer controls, but that itself is not the panacea. I mean it. You have to interpret the.

P

Data and be able to respond and then there's mechanical issues that can happen that you know.

P

The computers aren't able to fix, so you know an exact dollar amount on that is is hard hard to say.

P

But certainly uh cost avoidance is big. I mean we, we regularly have maintenance issues, things break.

P

Down pumps costs in the thousands of dollars so having staff that might be able to catch things.

P

Ahead of time is very important and again the regulatory complexity of these and the the.

P

Regulatory standards we have to meet are very stringent and you know to get staff.

P

That are able to to operate to that level is is very important to us. Thank you.

A

Councilor cook, thank you mayor. I actually have a follow-on question.

S

Are we having any challenges around hiring qualified staff or keeping qualified staff.

P

uh Yet the challenges the the biggest challenge is, is the hiring, um because the wage.

P

um Is uh we've got surrounding communities that have upped their wages? um They too are having.

P

Difficulty, it's not our intent to have to go, try to steal from a neighboring computer community.

P

But the the talent pool is, is not a huge um amount and part of that. When you talk to people.

P

It's the you know, point of entry as far as wage goes well gee. You know if I could just work a.

P

Regular job and not have all this responsibility, why would I take this on and um you know we have.

P

Great staff, the staff we do have, but we currently have four openings they're across board and.

P

We have two retirements pending, so that's um six employees um and these facilities aren't we're not.

P

Overstaffed, that's for sure, so um certainly um we believe with this moa we're going to be more.

P

Competitive it's going to be more attractive, we do hope to you, know, get entry-level people.

P

That want to make career out of it, and this this too, would would help in that respect. Thank you.

B

Any other questions.

B

Councilman and councillor tabor a lot of questions just to uh confirm that I'm writing and correct.

H

Me if I'm wrong city manager, but the increases for this are already stated for in our budgets,.

H

We're not actually increasing overall spending, even though it's a slight change in spending.

H

So therefore, we didn't need to have a public hearing, as, as has been previously mentioned,.

H

That is correct, counselor tabor, oh, I was just going to say I was going to vote for this because.

Q

I think we have to realize we have to pay commensurate with the skills needed.

Q

With a 95 million dollar sewer plant that runs 24 7 and takes a high degree of skill and all of our.

Q

Operators go through training for this and that's part of the compensation and also, as you mentioned,.

Q

You know how do you, how do you increase your pay? Well, you can go into management, be on that track.

Q

In the long run, or we can create financial recognition of highly skilled operators and.

Q

I think that's a way to recruit and retain that will do service well in the long run. Thank you.

P

Yeah, I would also add that the other side of the water, the the fresh water, um is also very.

P

Technical um and um we are uh coming up with uh improvements to the peas.

P

Wells and other other facilities that require that kind of skill as well so just add that to it.

B

Counselor any other questions or comments all right. Do we have a motion on the floor kelly.

B

Do you have a motion on the floor? No, we don't. uh So. I will await the sample motion to approve the.

B

Proposed memorandum of agreement with local 1386a, as presented second, all in favor aye, all right.

B

um I caught somebody in the audience and since this is something that I was hoping, we could.

B

Suspend the rules we'll get to the sidewalks in two seconds, but uh would love uh to suspend the.

B

Rules and bring forth section d, 16 d, 16 d, approval of grants, donations, acceptance of a memorial.

B

Donation in memory of vernon boardman of 2200, um we could suspend the rules so move gerard.

B

Vern was a a great friend to many people in portsmouth and a fixture of the downtown. It.

B

Is an honor to accept uh this donation uh and if uh former council of pearson would like to.

B

Come and say anything on behalf of uh vernon would love for folks that that might not have known him.

B

To learn a little about him um and to to highlight this, this great donation. Thank you, your honor. I.

R

Would love to talk about vernon, I'm too short um hello, everybody nice to see you it's so nice to be.

R

Back here I haven't been in this room since 2019., um so I, as all of you, know, um vernon our friend.

R

Vernon boardman, who is a fixture in portsmouth and was a fixture in our downtown, passed away.

R

During covid, sadly- and um he was texting me and calling me right up right up until the end and.

R

um Vernon was a new, but but wonderful friend I used to bake swedish goods for him. Swedish.

R

Meatballs and swedish breads and I'd bring him pesto from my garden and I would deliver him.

R

Where he lived with his father, all those goodies at the keith house and.

R

So I got to know him and his dad and a few of his friends and people that know the family.

R

So there was a lot of conversation after vernon passed about a bench, but there wasn't didn't seem.

R

To be anybody taking the reins on that, so I just decided to to go ahead and and figure something.

R

Out and I'm so thankful, because tom caufield, who organized charlie howard's memorial benches at the.

R

High school and also in commercial alley reached out to me and wanted to know if I thought it would.

R

Be a good idea to put their benches together. They were both uh of the same generation. They both went.

R

To portsmouth high school around the same time, both members of the lbgtq community and um so.

R

Tom actually coordinated with the city and the dpw to re-uh design and re-landscape commercial alley.

R

We met with peter rice a few times and it's a wonderful development, because now the alley has.

R

No curbs in it and it's accessible and I think that's a really important thing because, as you.

R

Know vernon had accessibility issues and I know a couple of you sitting on the dice right now.

R

He frequented frequented your establishments, and I know councilor blaylock was very helpful.

R

In getting vernon from point a to point b and sometimes even delivering him his meals when.

R

He could no longer come come all the way down to the to the tugboats um into the ferry landings. So.

R

uh He touched so many of us, so um the bench will be um going in and in commercial alley with with.

R

Charlie's and it's not going to be the typical wooden bench that the city has around the town.

R

Where we commission these benches, through a granite company and vernon's, is going to look.

R

um Just like the one, that's in commercial alley right now, it's going to match charlie's and so.

R

um There will be a commemoration for charlie's bench on july 11th, starting at the south church.

R

And there'll be a procession to commercial alley and after we've properly and finally, honored.

R

Charlie, then I will hopefully by then have the the cost and- and I will launch a gofundme campaign to.

R

Raise money for vernon's bench and then, depending on how that goes and and when everything is.

R

Fabricated, then I will contact um peter rice and we'll get vernon's bench installed and I'm sure.

R

Too much fanfare as he deserves. Thank you. Nancy. That's great!.

B

So back to the regular scheduled uh program, we need a motion to accept the donation.

H

Oh yeah, let's: let's do that all right so uh wait a moment to accept uh the generous.

B

Donation of twenty two hundred dollars so move john. Second, all in favor, aye, aye, aye honor. I.

J

Also like to move to spend the rules to bring forward item 13b, which is the we speak request.

B

Is there a second second, your honor, all in favor.

J

Bear with me I will pull up that motion.

B

I believe the sample motion is to move to refer this request for a vote at the july 11th 2022.

B

Council meeting so moved second, all in favor, aye aye, all right that will happen july 11th.

B

Now back to the we got two and then this two quick ones, I think and then the uh the sidewalks.

B

Are are up next thanks mayor, although we've been trying to postpone having this conversation.

G

This is to acknowledge the extension of uh retiring fire chief uh chief todd germain's.

G

Contract uh initially set to expire at the end of june. This would extend this to august 31st.

G

So that uh he may continue to serve the city until that time, so it's re with regret that we.

G

Move this request forward, but at least we get them for a few more days, all right, so the uh a.

B

Sample motions move to approve the proposed extension with fire chief chief jermaine.

B

As presented so moved your honor second, and if we vote against this, that means he has to stay.

G

No, I think that we need us to go. Oh okay, so we gotta, so we have to vote for it in order to.

B

Keep them even just a little bit longer: okay! uh Yes, it's with a heavy heart that I'll be voting.

B

In favor of this, so all in favor aye any opposed nope. um Next up is item number three, and this can.

G

Be taken in conjunction with item 13d underwritten communications in your packet, essentially as a.

G

Reminder to the council: this item came before you on may 2 and it was voted to send to the planning.

G

Board for a report back in recommendation so at their may 19th count planning board meeting the.

G

Board voted to recommend that the council take the step to apply for an urbanized shoreline exemption.

G

Pursuant to rsa 483 b12 for the property located at 57 salter street, it's important to note that.

G

New hampshire des staff have indicated that, while they consider the site-specific request.

G

For an exemption, it is their preference that the city apply for the broader area.

G

Wide exemption contemplated by the statute and believe that this should be the subject of further.

G

Discussions between the city and new hampshire des so if the council approves its application, the.

G

Applicant will be asked to prepare the application for council review and submittal to the state and.

G

The motion is important here because we need to include a finding for the language. That um is what.

G

Is required of the process? Okay? So I'm looking to motion that the city council find that the 57.

B

Salter street property meets the criteria for an urbanized shoreline exemption pursuant to rsa 38.

B

483-B colon 12, as outlined in the april 25th 2022 and june 10th 2022 letters and.

B

Attachments submitted by the thompson's legal counsel and included in the city council packet.

B

And further to authorize the city manager to submit an exemption application consistent with.

B

This finding so moved. Second, your honor any discussion, counselor cook. Thank you mayor.

S

I think this request from the state for us for this city, council and the city of.

S

Portsmouth to look at broader um policy here with regard to requests for an exemption for.

S

The area is really critical and, and the reason that I say that is, there are a lot of.

S

Properties that abut um the water in portsmouth, many of them have water encroachment already.

S

And as that increases we're going to see more and more properties that no longer with changes.

S

Or additions no longer meet the current rsa requirements and new hampshire des is going.

S

To continually say you don't meet the standards for a permit now, even though you did before.

S

Because you have more water, encroachment and erosion, so we need to be thinking very seriously.

S

As a city, looking at all the areas in the city that have this level of encroachment now in this.

S

Case it's a little bit different. The property was designed to be over water initially, but I can see.

S

In the near future, this being a problem on mechanic street.

S

For the commercial businesses that are there, councilor cook, any other comments.

B

I would just add to that that it does seem like you know, while we should be taking a a broader.

B

Look and look probably the planning board to start that process. You know we don't want to hold up 57.

B

Salter street, in that broader process, but would look to to hopefully have the planning board come.

B

Back to us with uh something to the effect of you know not choosing individual properties but making.

B

Sure that we're making it um you know a more uh blanket decision, but any more discussion. Counselor.

B

Tabor um well, this is obviously the most the best research lobster shack in portsmouth history.

Q

And and but I think in that process, we've uncovered that this is an urbanized area along.

Q

uh Mechanic street and and salter street um I think, we've number one got the the.

Q

Planning board recommending we approve this eight to one in their vote number two.

Q

This meets all the requirements and number three. I think the applicants are willing to move the.

Q

uh The building back to account to further accommodate so I think it's a sound vote and.

Q

I echo the sentiments that we do need to hear from a deeper look into what this means for that area.

Q

Of waterfront, since it meets the urbanization requirements all right, all in favor, aye, aye, aye.

B

Next up, oh stealing, your thunder there that's okay, yeah! I'm about to hand it right back to.

G

You mayor um this is a conversation about sidewalks and to reiterate to.

G

To those paying attention uh the current city council policy number 2010-02 prescribes sidewalk.

G

Materials to be brick in the historic district of the city and concrete and all other sections.

G

The council policy further allows for sidewalk material for sidewalks located outside of the.

G

Historic district, which have historically been brick to be allowed, based on a vote of the city.

G

Council and that the additional cost for the variants be paid by the benefiting parties.

G

Based on the resident's request, the city staff structured the bid to be able to review the.

G

Cost impact of selecting brick or a brick accent similar to what has been installed.

G

In the islington street corridor, as opposed to concrete so uh here to share the information.

G

That came back from the bids the city received bids for the sidewalk project on june 14th.

G

The base bid for concrete sidewalks was 396 225 dollars. The bid alternate for brick in.

G

Lieu of concrete was an additional 135 300 or approximately 30 percent.

G

Of the project cost, the bet alternative for brick accent was an additional 39.

G

600, I'm sorry, seven hundred and sixty dollars. Approximately ten percent of the project cost.

G

I think I'll stop there. I know there are plenty of questions that the council may have and.

G

Public works director. Peter rice is here to to speak to this matter further.

G

um It's a challenging policy decision.

B

Peter, do you have some prepared uh remarks you're here to answer? I do not all right then I'll go to.

B

Council monroe and you stay you stay put, I think, there's questions to you peter. It's not I'm not.

B

Answering these, I got some thoughts, but we'll get you there so to try to think outside the box. A lot.

H

Of people have talked about the brick sidewalks that are existing, that the bricks in really.

H

Good condition, so what would it be even possible to just relay? What's there to reconstruct? You know.

H

The base and just put the brick back there and would that be less money, I'm assuming.

H

The quote that we got was for all new bricks to be installed. It is but the the cost is really not the.

Q

Brick itself, it's the labor associated with it, so picking the bricks up and then putting them back.

Q

Down would be more expensive. uh We actually tried this back. One of our staff members reminded us.

Q

That we tried this once before and it was significantly more expensive. Okay, um we also.

Q

Like to go with a newer, brick material, it holds up better. uh It's it's less slippery. uh Some of.

Q

The concerns that have been raised relative to safety are related to the old water struck. Brick.

Q

And it's a it was actually a building brick uh for buildings and they had when they had leftover.

Q

Bricks from when they built that the building the structure they threw them down as.

Q

Pavers on the sidewalk um we've learned over time that those don't hold up as well.

Q

um As the the uh what they call pavers, uh so they the the movement away from that water struck.

Q

uh Classical brick uh has been um an improvement in the in the durability of the bricks.

H

Great, thank you uh councillor, bagley yeah, thank you for your honor, so I took a much deeper dive.

C

Into brick sidewalks than I ever expected to um I, I originally thought that maybe what we did.

C

On islington street with the brick and lay made the most sense because from a cost perspective,.

C

It's not so bad and talking to people um with accessibility issues, the the preference seems.

C

To be overwhelmingly for concrete, but then when I took a deeper dive into it,.

C

Kind of to director ace's point: if you use the right brooks in the the right method, the.

C

The challenges aren't as great as they they would be, with with other bricks or bricks.

C

That have been used previously, so it does sound and please correct me if I'm wrong, that we can.

C

Make a pretty safe, sidewalk out of bricks. Oh absolutely I mean that's. It's safety. The safety.

Q

Is a concern related to the older style, brick that does freeze up more quickly um than a concrete.

Q

The newer style paver is less susceptible to that. um It still does have a differential that.

Q

It freezes a little quicker, uh but you know through maintenance and salting and things.

Q

Like that, we were able to maintain a safe surface. Thank you and I just a follow-up. I I have concrete.

C

Sidewalks in front of my house, so um my bias is, is not there, but I did talk to a number of people.

C

About this, not just in the neighborhood but who have brick sidewalks in front of their house.

C

And every single person said you know if I had brick sidewalks in front of my house.

C

And the city replaced them with concrete I'd, be pretty upset about it. So um I think it's.

C

We probably don't want to be putting brick where it doesn't exist already, but we should.

C

Think very carefully about eliminating where it does exist.

B

Assistant mayor and then counselor done, thank you, dr rice. Obviously, um if we did the brick.

D

It's it's an ex. It's an extreme percentage of the overall project. Are there projects that we would.

D

Have to delay or remove um from this upcoming calendar year to supplement this money. It would.

Q

It will impact the our ability to do additional more sidewalks. At this point. There is adequate.

Q

Funds to be able to address the additional cost, however, given the pricing and escalation of costs.

Q

It's you know, it just means that the next project will be truncated or we'll have to.

Q

Put it off until this available funds. Thank you.

J

Councillor denton, thank you. I have a process question either for you, peter or the city manager,.

J

When it comes to spending additional money, would we need a public hearing on that or.

J

Can we simply make a vote tonight? The the council appropriated um monies to do sidewalks.

Q

They they identify a backlog of sidewalks. In addition, it identifies miscellaneous. It doesn't.

Q

Identify a specific dollar value uh per project and for a specific reason, because the costs.

Q

Escalate that change and and council priorities adjust um so or the length of a project. It's a.

Q

Little longer because something get added um so and the fact that the change in material.

Q

Things like that happen, so the the the cip is structured uh to allow flexibility. Thank you.

B

um Counselor table first bite of the apple, I think, and then the system here.

Q

Questions peter um the quote that you have for.

Q

Brick of 135 000 is that for the entire length of state street or just union to it's union to the.

Q

um To the federal funeral home and to the um where it ends off in front of goodwin park, okay, so it is.

E

Stops at union and there's a there'd be a section of concrete right.

Q

And in terms of how we're funding this, um this is done through bonding right yeah. It's previously.

Q

Bonded uh sidewalk monies, which was identified in um 2020., so we we go out and we bond this.

Q

To pay over 20 years, so it's really in the order of seven thousand dollars a year or something for.

Q

If we were to pay a hundred and thirty five thousand dollars over twenty have to run the.

Q

Immunization, I don't have it at the top of my head. Well, I guess what I was trying to get at is. Is.

Q

The the amount that would burden the taxpayer is is spread out over 20 years, as opposed to.

Q

An immediate hit- um and I I share the sentiment that you know it's hard to go from.

Q

A brick sidewalk, which adds to the character and particularly in the 500, to 700 block, there's some.

Q

Very nice historic houses there it's hard to go backwards, so you know I think, of what's best for.

Q

The city and to me, what's best for the city, is keeping neighborhood character as much as we can.

B

Sister mayor, thank you, your honor um director rice. You may be able to answer this, but this.

D

May go to city manager based on the policy. um It's listed that additional costs would be.

D

Paid for by the benefit of parties have we ever done that.

D

Yes, yes, and do we know how often or kind of what the scale on a regular basis.

Q

But oftentimes they are in areas outside clearly outside of the historic district, so we have had.

Q

Situations like this, um I can think of a couple where we're on the right on the border. The.

Q

Historic district uh with actually the last time we were visited. This policy was at that time.

Q

And you know it's it's a challenging policy, it's very hard from our perspective to tell residents.

Q

That you know sorry you're not going to be getting what you wanted or you need to participate.

Q

Financially, if you, if you want an alternative material, it oftentimes isn't received well.

D

Thank you. I think it's um worth noting that we all up here know how difficult sidewalks are and.

D

um It's a very sensitive topic in many neighborhoods. There's are plenty of neighborhoods.

D

Including maple haven and um panaway that you know their sidewalk projects just got moved back.

D

So I think that you know, in all fairness, I know it was referenced. A lot comparative to the south.

D

End but there are other neighborhoods, you know that don't have really any sidewalks, they have.

D

Torn up asphalt or tree roots, and so I think um overall, as a community, I.

D

Ask that we'd be mindful of of when we compare neighborhoods to neighborhoods.

D

That's all thank you, uh councillor cook. Thank you mayor. um I think I live in the south end, so.

S

We generally have brick sidewalks except my street. That's not wide enough to have a sidewalk.

S

um One of the reasons I moved to the south end was because of the character of the neighborhood.

S

um And that's actually one of the reasons I moved to portsmouth I used to live in exeter and.

S

I moved not too long after the town of exeter voted down, brick sidewalks for the downtown.

S

Because it struck me that I'd had different preferences as far as historic preservation and.

S

um Caring for kind of preserving that character of of history within a town and portsmouth had strong.

S

Provisions to protect the historic nature of the city, the brick sidewalks, is one of those things.

S

I think I made this suggestion the last time this was raised, but do we have a process at all to.

S

Look at this neighborhood and reconsider its designation beyond what it's currently.

S

Designated as far as historic district, I know that that's a long process, but with.

S

The changing character of the neighborhood do we have that in place right now, any process.

Q

I I can't speak to that. I know that the policy as it's written, allows for sections that are not.

Q

Within the historic district, so it could be a council policy to expand the policy.

Q

I'm not sure what it would take to expand the historic district.

B

Suzanne or deputy city attorney deputy city manager.

L

um So, just to follow up on peter's comment: the the easy change to make so-called easy.

L

Is for the city council to decide to amend the current city council policy for what we do and.

L

How we look at sidewalks, because that's really a single vote and you could look at.

L

You know thoughtfully how you might want to redraft it and get come back and and look at that.

L

Obviously, if you're going to make a change to the historic district, that is a longer process through.

L

The land use boards, um so you've got your your. You know shorter route to accomplish a limited scope.

L

Of do you want to revisit your sidewalk policy and we could you know, prepare additional information.

L

On that on, you know what that change in policy could look like. I guess the real question is how.

L

Soon, do you need an answer to be able to start the project? We need the answer uh this evening. That's.

Q

The project needs to be awarded um if we are going to move forward.

B

Counselor, oh sorry, counselor didn't and counselor badly. Thank god uh peter. If I heard you correctly.

J

Just now the 135 000 additional money would be from brick from the funeral home down to.

J

Goodwin park and I could clarify it's from the funeral home down to union. Thank you on either.

Q

Side of the street- that's because I know uh two of the speakers and one of the speakers.

J

Live between cabot and union so to make sure that would go until union street. Yes,.

B

Any follow-up to that nope because you're bagging yeah, I think you're gonna, take a stab at a motion.

C

I move that we approve brick sidewalks as presented tonight.

C

And motion that we revisit the sidewalk policy after report back from staff.

Q

Executive, one, clarification or question would be to the policy as written now says, the benefiting.

Q

Party would pay was your um motion to not require that my motion was to not require that I don't.

C

Think we have enough time. I agree. That's my that was my, so the city would be funding this one time.

B

So to restate uh or to make sure I have the the motion you've stated to uh to approve.

B

Brick sidewalks uh for this section in this instance, and also.

B

Brick sidewalks for this project without the requirement of residential payment.

B

And to look uh at the city council policy regarding sidewalks, that's correct.

B

Does that have a second a second assistant can? Is it possible, I guess a friendly amendment to split.

D

Those instead of having them as a conjoined motion sure, let's, let's take the first then.

B

And we'll have a we'll have a separate discussion: um let's uh can we take up the the.

B

I think I know where this is going. Can we take up the motion to uh look at uh move to.

B

Revisit the city council policy with regards to sidewalks, yes, is that a second? Yes, any discussion.

B

I'll just add on that. I think that this policy is uh um it's it's difficult to digest that we would.

B

uh Simply require uh folks to rally the troops around something it's also very uh around brick.

B

Sidewalks, it's also just um as written, gives no real mechanism for the city uh to raise the monies.

B

If we wanted to do so, um so I think for both of those reasons, it's it's time to um kick this to.

B

The governance committee and come back with it. um So if we could add that revisit it and look at.

B

It through the governance committee to to figure out a better way um to have this. I think there's.

B

More equitable solutions out there that take into the account of what the assistant mayor is that.

B

Many people are clamoring for sidewalks, and, while the material is is one aspect.

B

Of that it's will and that it's it's also difficult to approve something.

B

uh Potentially tonight that says we are spending more money on these sidewalks than other sidewalks.

B

So oh counselor, barty yeah I- um and this is on the motion, sorry about the policy about the policy.

P

Well, I would speak to that this way. Then um there was a time when we had a historic district b and.

P

um It was less strict, um but it encompassed areas of the city that um had historic character and.

P

It was, it was cumbersome for the historic district commission, but um I just wonder if there is.

P

You know if we are looking at changing or could change the historic district ordinance.

P

um Maybe that's a way to look at at this. Thank you, counselor barty. I think that if, if we send this.

B

Policy towards the the governance committee that could be one of the recommendations back to the.

B

The city council, in terms of looking at that concert, bagley I'll, just add quickly because.

C

It's come up several times. um Thank you, your honor. I would not be in favor of expanding the historic.

C

District, I it sounds like it's very challenging for people that live in that district to.

C

Do work on their houses, so I don't want to take two bite of a too big of a bite at this apple.

C

We're talking about sidewalks and I wanted to turn it into a discussion about windows. That's just my.

C

Personal preference and we're not there yet we're still talking about sidewalks and that's going.

B

To the, but um the governance committee will come back with a recommendation if there are no other.

B

Comments on that I will, um I will all in favor, aye aye any opposed okay. So next motion I look for is.

B

To approve, uh without uh residential payment uh for uh brick, uh on the section identified.

B

uh By the city manager so moved second, okay, any discussion on that counselor cook. Thank you, mayor.

S

So I want to make sure that um I know exactly what is getting bricked versus, where we're starting.

S

Concrete sidewalks, because I have a little bit of a concern about.

S

Doing partial brick partial concrete, because if we don't revisit this for.

S

20 years say or 30 years until we need new sidewalks, then we've got half and half.

Q

The the block, the block, will be complete, we're not going to stop mid block.

B

Council tabor yeah- I just one thing to support this motion. When I look at some of the streets.

Q

Where we have upgraded sidewalks, like miller avenue, we tend to get higher valuations over time.

Q

So we build our property tax base and so short term. We may be concerned about.

Q

This money, but if you look at long term how quality improvements to a neighborhood work.

Q

I think this may pay for itself. I'm sure roseanne is looking at this in terms of you.

B

Know if we're not seeing anybody uh coming in on if we approve the sidewalks or abatements, I'm sure.

B

And that's trinity, any other questions. Counselor. uh Thank you, honor, um I'm very mindful when it.

A

Comes to the subject of you know what exists there when you bought your home, you purchased your home.

A

Obviously, you purchased your home for a reason. um You purchased that home in that neighborhood for a.

A

Reason, um I guess my other biggest concern on this is being fair to all the neighborhoods. um I'm also.

A

I'm on the representative on the historic district commission and um and yes, those the houses in the.

A

Historic district commission they get brick sidewalks. They also have to jump through a lot.

A

Of hoops and permits and such to do any work on their house might add to the cost of projects it.

A

Couldn't be inconvenient so they get some benefit, but they also um have to kind of get some more.

A

Challenges to come with it- um and I understand this is very close to the historic district.

A

uh And it's in a very attractive neighborhood I mean all our neighborhoods are attractive.

A

But I don't want to.

O

Not think about every other neighborhood when I'm thinking about this neighborhood.

A

As a representative of the town, I have to think of everyone. Equally, I have to.

A

Represent everyone equally, so that's just my biggest concern thanks cancer.

B

Councilor lombardi and then councilor denton yeah. I would I would add to that, that.

P

It's a street that has brick already, and um I think that is a.

P

That's a different situation, I think from a street that never had brick or doesn't have brick.

P

So it's I'm sympathetic to what our residents have said from state street about that.

B

Council denton. Thank you a couple comments and a question for peter. um Although my neighbors.

J

Probably don't recognize me in a suit without my dogs, I've lived in this neighborhood for.

J

Four years and walk these sidewalks uh with those dogs for the duration of the time- and it's always.

J

Confounded me how it would go from brick to pavement to brick to pavement. It never made much.

J

Sense, I really didn't put much thought into it before this petition was brought forward. One thing.

J

Which continually came up is the section which has already been concreted. If that's now, a verb from.

J

Cass to columbus that section there for years never got plowed and whether it be the prior.

J

Two years when I was off the council, or two years before that was on the council, when I lived that.

J

Neighborhood, I was always asked how come that had been plowed yet, and I always thought something to.

J

Do with the sidewalks condition, and now that it's been done with concrete it I'm fairly certain it's.

J

Going to get plowed so that's one benefit to concrete and peter. I was pleased to hear that.

J

You said that you could actually do brick almost as good as concrete when it comes to things like.

J

Plowing and upkeep, but with all that said, my remaining question is for the section of street.

J

From uh colombia or columbus, whichever one is to union, which I believe is going to be done next- is.

J

That going to be concrete with the grass or is it going to be? Can we do concrete with the accents.

Q

It is concrete, is concrete, so you know if the council directs us to do concrete with.

Q

uh It wasn't intended to be uh accent on it. It was intended to be just concrete. Thank you.

B

Any other questions.

B

Counselor cook, thank you. Mayor. um Have we looked at expanding the.

S

Islington street district to include this area so that we can qualify for special grant funding.

S

Or tif funding, or if we looked at any community development grants like they did for cabot street.

S

For sidewalks we have not, in this instance I've not been around for when we may have.

G

Used cdbg funds for this, but peter I'm drawing on your memory. She she left, but.

Q

The the community has changed significantly, uh it is gentrified and areas that were previously.

Q

Qualifying for cdbg monies no longer uh and and actually shortly after the brick sidewalks went in.

Q

uh Cabbage street fell off that uh that list census block yeah. The mcdonough street area was.

Q

Probably the last area um in this in the central downtown atlantic heights was there for a while, so.

Q

We did a lot of work using cdbg money throughout the city, but the census blocks that were eligible.

Q

Have really for the most part, um you know gone away with the the improvements throughout the city.

B

No other questions know the comments. um I will uh state that it will support the the amendment.

B

To uh to keep the the brick, I think that uh this is a result of uh terrible city council policy.

B

For no fault of c councils previously, but I just I dislike the idea that you have to.

B

It's unless the city council decides otherwise, um which just sets a a bad precedent. We should.

B

Decide as a city do we want to keep the the bricks and the expense or not.

B

And then, secondly, you know the historic charm I am, I am probably in the minority, but you know.

B

I think the character of portsmouth is our people, um it's not our buildings, but it's uh difficult to.

B

uh State that when you're walking down a brick sidewalk, it seems kind of cool. um I don't have.

B

Sidewalks um in my neighborhood so um but the the portion of my house uh that has a walkway.

B

Out to the curb it's brick and then the city section's a little bit of asphalt. um You know.

B

I probably do that too. I do think that in the future we need to figure out a way to fund this.

B

More equitably, I think that is a perfectly valid reason not to support these sidewalks and not to.

B

To spend the money to do so because there are other needs in the city, but I've been impressed.

B

With the number of people that have taken the time to focus on this, I've been impressed with the.

B

The eloquency, I'm frankly impressed that I learned today that the sidewalks went in through uh some.

B

Some fundraising um you know to start with, so um I will be supporting this. I understand the reasons.

B

uh Not to and given the uh the the many uh priorities that we have in the city, uh but.

B

uh You know I was, I read a quote the other day and it stuck with me that beautiful cities were rich.

B

In the 1800s and poor in the 1900s, so they built a lot of great buildings and they didn't have the.

B

Money to replace all those great buildings, um I think that could apply uh to portsmouth and.

B

That we have a lot of character um and a lot of what makes us unique and uh for that reason,.

B

uh I will be supporting this so kelly. uh Would you please uh have a roll call vote on this? Please.

D

Assistant mayor kelly, no counselor tabor, yes, counselor denton, yes,.

A

Councilman roe, yes, council bagley, yes, council lombardi, yes,.

G

Council blaylock, yes, council cook, yes, ma'am mccachren, yes, motion passes eight to one. Thank you.

B

Next up, we have number five request for a public hearing at the july 11th 2022 city council meeting.

G

The request would be to set up and establish that data for a public hearing regarding various.

G

Bonding resolutions for projects to begin in the next fiscal year, it would be a reminder.

G

To this council that all of the items to be to seek bonding resolution and authorization.

G

Are in the fy 23 capital improvement plan, with the exception of the skatepark, which is technically an.

G

Fy24, but for which we would seek an authorization so that when the design is ready and we can take.

G

Advantage of the potential environment to go out to bonding, we would be ready to go. We wouldn't.

G

Miss any we wouldn't skip a beat with regard to timing. So that's the one nuance in this list of.

G

Otherwise, fy23 projects, so staff will be on hand to provide any additional information and answer.

G

Questions at the july 11th meeting, if it were the will of the council to hold the public hearing.

B

I await a sample motion to move to authorize city manager to bring back for public hearing.

B

And adoption the various proposed cip project, as presented for the july 11th.

B

2022 city council meeting so move. Second, any discussion, counselor bagley I'll I'll just.

C

Reiterate the city manager's comments, um the reason it's structured, the way it is to give us.

C

That flexibility, we need to keep that skate park moving forward as quickly as possible.

B

Counselor cook, were you gonna say something about that. um I have a question about.

S

um When we address this uh at our next meeting, um there is funding in the first resolution.

S

For uh field uh artificial turf field at the school facility, replacement of that field.

S

This is just the appropriation for the bonding. This isn't necessarily.

S

The approval for that item is it that is correct; it it. It allows for us to.

G

To have uh the bonding authorization in place when the council and and the staff agree to.

G

Move forward with the project so a follow-up there, so there will be another opportunity for.

S

The council to discuss whether or not we should be replacing that field with an artificial turf field.

G

I believe it would go to the school board first and then to the council.

G

I'm looking for guidance from the attorney, um I believe both the school board and the recreation.

L

Board have already uh indicated that their preference is for an artificial turf field.

L

In order to maintain the programming and because the base is the site, if you will is already set.

L

Up for an artificial turf field, so you actually have a more expensive project significantly more.

L

Expensive, as I understand from kenny linchi, if you were to do a natural grass field,.

J

Counselor denton. Thank you. Honor building off councillor cook's question the.

J

Couple years back on the council, I had tried and failed an 8-1 vote against me to do a grass field.

J

But what the council had done for the field in question is we had put a bid alternate out there.

J

For an organic turf field, whether it be coconut, walnut things which kind of made me giggle at.

J

The time because who would have thought that was possible. But one thing which I would like.

J

The city to consider is possibly doing a bid alternate option like that for something else.

G

Which we did in similar fashion for the the new field on campus drive? Yes,.

B

Any other questions or comments on.

B

The request for public hearing uh the motion on the forward cip projects.

B

No, there will be other opportunities to discuss the field or fields at that point. Bid alternatives.

B

Walnuts is what was in there as opposed to crumb rubber.

B

We did find you know from the testing. Maybe we discussed that later, but the testing.

B

For the walnuts also showed elevations of pfas in that organic material that is non.

B

But we haven't tested crumb rubber and there were concerns around crumb rubber before.

B

But I think we will have a broader conversation.

B

Around that, but again this is for the cip, uh the bonding, so all in favor hi hi any opposed.

B

All right on the number six mayor, which is a license extension request by dagny taggart llc.

G

For a license to erect pass through staging over city sidewalks along penhallow and daniel street,.

G

At about the 60 panhalo street or brick market project, I'll mention at the outset that developer.

G

Mark mcnabb is here to answer any questions. This council uh may recall having granted the.

G

Third extension for use of sidewalks and parking spaces along penn, hello in daniel.

G

And since that time, the city's chief building inspector shanti wolf, who is available on zoom, has.

G

Had weekly site visits, along with other key staff members to keep abreast of the project's progress.

G

And it's important to note that the original license request that came in to be considered.

G

This evening was to extend that existing license and continue to encumber parking spaces and the.

G

Sidewalk city staff raised concerns about this request and was able to work successfully. We think.

G

In a compromise type fashion with the owner, who's agreed to revise and really write, re-prioritize.

G

Tasks to address the city's concerns which end up freeing up parking and allowing for public access.

G

To return to the city sidewalks along daniel and penhallow city staff and the owner also addressed.

G

Parking concerns and the owner has agreed to add a provision to the current license request that.

G

Would prohibit contractors and subcontractors from parking along daniel and penhallow for.

G

The duration of the project that all being said, the draft license now reflects a request.

G

To erect pass-through staging above the sidewalks along penhallow and daniel for a period of time,.

G

Of 54 days to commence july, 4th and wrap by august 26th or sooner if the war can be completed.

G

Typically, when the public has access to a public sidewalk through this.

G

Mechanism license fees are typically waived. It's also important to note that the owner is required.

G

To request flagging permits outside the scope of this license, if it is necessary to close penhallow.

G

Or a portion thereof for deliveries of construction materials which remain ongoing.

G

The owner will be required to communicate uh weekly and our legal and planning departments.

G

Work together with the owner to craft this amen this license before you and uh happy to stop there.

G

And entertain questions so, let's get a sample motion on the floor. Look for a motion to authorize.

B

The city manager to finalize and execute the temporary construction license as.

B

Presented waiving the license fee due to the public public's access to sidewalks.

B

Along penn, hollow and daniel street, due to the pass-through staging so moved their second second.

B

Any discussion counselor cook then counselor. Thank you mayor um the last time that mcnabb properties.

S

Came before the council on this property, we were told it was the last request for an extension.

S

And that this would be completed, so I have lots of questions around the project parking.

S

The encumbrances on the sidewalk and ways that communication with the neighbors can be improved.

S

I also have questions around deliveries: the frequency of delivery.

S

Deliveries, how often they use flaggers? What the time of day? That is, that the flaggers come.

S

And when we expect deliveries, if there's parking on site.

S

For example, in the basement parking garage that should be completed at this point.

S

And I have a lot of these questions because I have witnessed on a few occasions.

S

Abutters being told one thing, and then that thing not happening, I've also witnessed trucks.

S

Being parked in city parking spaces, where our commercial, our regular commercial properties, are.

S

Anticipating people to park who are customers not just in the spaces that are reserved.

S

Currently for this project, so my question is is well then: will they just park in city parking.

S

Spaces and pay the meters for four to six hours and then move the trucks again and take away.

S

Parking from the neighbors who are anticipating a big business this summer, because this is a very.

S

Busy time of year, for most of our our commercial properties and retailers, downtown.

S

Are they using the underground parking garage? When will those deliveries come? Will they be.

S

Closing pen hollow how frequently will they be closing pen hollow for those deliveries, they're.

S

Quite impacting the businesses on pin hollow street, so I think it's worth having the city.

B

Manager and maybe uh deputy city manager or city attorney, weigh in on that do some clarification.

B

On just this, it says a license extension um correct me. If I'm wrong city manager.

B

This is not an extension of the current license that is correct. This is a pass-through which.

B

Requires a license because it's not an encumbrance fee and the reason why it's not an encumbrance fee.

B

Is because, instead of a 30-day window, it's actually a 60-day window. So if it was 30 days.

B

Since this isn't a this is this is we're getting the spots back, we're getting the sidewalks down.

B

uh We are saying you can't park on on these streets. The extent they'll meet the the deadline.

B

For the extension that they are currently working within, but we need to create staging for correct.

G

The sidewalk, so that's fair. The word extension is a bit of a misnomer here. It's a new request.

G

To your point mayor, anything beyond 30 days, which is something we can handle administratively needs.

G

To come before, council, so that would explain why this request is new. It is for a length beyond 30.

G

Days and is something of a different nature than the current license, which is set to expire july.

G

3Rd, the terms will change and if it made sense at this time, I'm happy to bring on our chief.

G

Building inspector shanti, who can speak to some of the the some of the challenges that um he's.

G

Addressed with developer- and he can specific, he can speak specifically to the status of.

G

The accessibility of the parking garage, which I think I think it would be best to hear from shanti.

G

So shanti, I see you on zoom, I'm about to um ask you, I'm actually going to promote you to.

G

A panelist if you can join us at this time, if that's okay with you mayor, that's great.

G

Good evening, uh can everyone hear me? Okay, we can good good evening.

T

Yeah good evening, mr mayor councillors, city manager,.

T

um Yeah I mean you know I I a specific question hasn't been asked of me, but I can.

T

Give my perspective and- and I think specifically what the scope of this license extension will.

T

Provide for mcnabb team, as well as the city, as well as the residents, tourists and businesses, so.

T

Scope of the license is very limited. They will not encumber the sidewalks with respect to.

T

Not allowing members of the public to use the sidewalks as we walk past through staging.

T

All of the parking that has previously been encumbered will be returned to the.

T

City in the residence on daniels, as well as penn hollow, so that is a really big win.

T

The question about the underground parking and also the construction workers parking in the spots.

T

That will be returned to the city. Is that and I have not read the the language in the agreement.

T

But mcnabb team has stated and agreed that in fact, these spaces will not be for their workers, so.

T

Along penn hollow and daniels, these these spaces will be um specific to use for the residents.

T

um And not the workers so and just to give a little. You know an idea of the magnitude.

T

um And I know that all of you are aware of the magnitude you've been living with it for the.

T

Last three years, I've only been here for seven months. There are 250 workers on average on that.

T

Site daily and there's approximately 55 parking spots which they are being fully utilized so.

T

Unfortunately, you know there's still a little under 200 workers, not that they.

T

Can't carpool- and you know bust in and I'm sure they do, but there's still a discrepancy.

T

You know left so they are fully utilizing those the spaces down below, and I believe that.

T

They probably have been utilizing the spaces because they paid for them, but now that they're.

T

Going back to the city that'll be done, so these spots legitimately will be going back to the city.

T

My from what I my experience with the mcnabb team and mark specifically has been that you know when.

T

There's a problem and we bring the problem to them once again, I'm only speaking with my seventh month.

T

Experience that they've been quick to hop on board. um Sometimes you know it's difficult to find.

T

Solutions- and I understand that's not our problem, ultimately, it's their problem, um but they have.

T

Been quick to work with us and you know, and to listen to our ideas and to do you know basically.

T

You know whatever, whatever we've asked from what I've seen they're willing to do now. That said, I.

T

Know the promises get made and they have been made and then we will continue to get complaints.

T

Because they need, perhaps you know they need to remind their workers of the issues and.

T

The complaints that are coming in time and time again, you know it's a it's a really big project.

T

But I think that the finish line is in sight. um Believe it or not. I mean this is a really big.

T

Win that by july third, all the brick on daniels and pen hollow will be down and the sidewalks.

T

Excuse me, the parking spaces will be given back. So that is big. I mean that's a milestone.

T

um And then, in the months to come exponentially you'll see big changes there. So I mean we could.

T

Of course deny- and you know and and kind of slow this down and maybe they'd be forced to seek out.

T

Alternative measures to complete the project, but, ultimately, right now I think that they're looking.

T

For our support for the support of the abutters, so that we can get this done quickly effectively,.

T

Safely and to the finish line by you know, ultimately by september um so yeah, that's that's.

T

Kind of my my perspective on it um feel free to to ask me any questions. Should you have any.

G

Thanks shanti councillor cook, thank you mayor and thank you. Shanti.

S

I've spoken to several of the abutting business owners, and many of them have expressed concern.

S

About coming before the council to share their trumpet trepidation about the project and lack.

S

Of communication, because they're they worry about retaliation frankly, so what can be done.

S

To actually improve communication, not with the owners of the neighboring buildings but with.

S

The business owners that are in those buildings there are a lot of renters in that area. As far.

S

As businesses go, so they don't necessarily own their properties and though they're.

S

Therefore, not on the abutters list and are not necessarily receiving direct communication.

T

uh Counselors that question to me: yes,.

T

So yeah, I was not aware that the tenants were not considered abutters and we're not on that.

T

On the email list, the weekly meetings and the email communications, I agree with you 100 that.

T

Anyone affected by the property you know in the immediate area should be on that list and should.

T

Be included in the communications, so they can plan their their week their weekend, their evenings and.

T

You know if they, uh if there's something coming down the pike that would cause a disturbance.

T

During the day they should know about it, um you know, so I I think that that mcnabb's team.

T

Who should be responsible for that outreach uh and as city staff, we can certainly follow up.

T

I mean we could we could, you know, take on that outreach, but I do feel that um that mcnabb should.

T

Really should do that and then provide us with all of the um to provide us with the list. The names.

T

The units that are in fact now in the loop that weren't before, because I wasn't aware of that.

S

um And I have another follow-up question: how how frequently do we have.

S

Flaggers um delivering uh established on pin hollow street.

S

And deliveries coming for this project that require closure of that street.

T

So I probably wouldn't be the one to ask about that. It may be. You know.

T

Peter from public works, but I'm guessing frequently.

T

And probably you know once a week: there are a lot of deliveries. It's a really big project.

T

um So yeah I mean I would guess once a week, but you know mark mcnabb or or peter would probably.

T

Be able to better answer that I think we have the answer to that. I think it might be peter or.

B

Eric eby, I asked that question this morning and I found and correct me if I'm wrong on this.

B

That there was original request for three days. Full days worked with the.

B

City to get it to three days ending at noon and there will be flaggers present for that.

B

Three days this week and that request came in on friday again that's a separate request.

B

From the motion, that's ahead of us right now, I think.

B

The conversation is a good one to have and to your specific point, um you know I'm looking at.

B

Really hoping this, you know and I'm sure that everybody in portsmouth uh mcnabb who's in the.

B

Audience tonight um the abutters. This council is looking forward to cutting a ribbon um and.

B

Having this this project uh completed um what I would like to see, especially when I hear the.

B

And I hear the communication, um I would like to have um an effort to understand this.

B

And it could be a report back from city manager or shanti, but how can we, what have we learned.

B

From this communication, how can we improve the communication again? This is this: was.

B

The city's kind of first not rodeo, obviously with development, but the first being actively involved.

B

In the management of construction through a pandemic, which was, I think, a learning curve.

B

We asked for, and we received as part of this major upgrades um in penn hall and daniel.

B

That added to the uh the immensity of this this project, uh part of those upgrades, were because.

B

You know if anybody is paying attention downtown. The electrical grid is not what it needs to be.

B

In order to support all those buildings, um but those those will now benefit other buildings, but.

B

We have to get, I think, a a better line of communication and whether it's a counselor.

B

Sitting on the butters emails to get a sense of what's going on here, so that we can improve.

B

Future ones, or if it's a recommendation um on how we're gonna do that, we got.

B

You know it's kitty corner to this project. I don't know if anybody has heard about this building.

B

It goes by the mcintyre um so when we, when we get into actually um uh you know, constructing that.

B

I'm hoping that what we've learned through this is going to better influence. What we're doing I.

B

Don't think the city is going to be in a position to turn around and go back to what it did before.

B

In terms of just hey, these are we're not going to have any involvement in this. I think portsmouth's.

B

Grown too much to have that, but I do think that we need you know, there's a lot of lessons.

B

uh Here that that were learned, um but in terms of you know, what can we do uh in the next.

B

Through this uh agreement um and then going forward, um I I don't want to you know I I I.

B

Think that the I should have passed the gavel, but it won't. um I I think that it's important to uh to.

B

Recognize and and to call out shanti in terms of, uh and you know, city staff. There was a you know.

B

Request to come back and say: hey, you know we want to continue the way we're going. It probably would.

B

Have been, uh you know, I'm not going to speak for mcnabb uh or the the the property, but continuing.

B

On the way that you're doing is probably less expensive than changing course, but the city pushed.

B

Back and said: hey, we want to figure out a way to open these sidewalks and get the parking back.

B

And to the credit of the project, we did that the city was able to reach that agreement. Is this.

B

You know is this perfect in terms of the entire immensity of the project? No, it's not because it's.

B

Been a really long time, but I think given where we are right now. This is a better outcome uh for the.

B

City and hopefully for the businesses- and I hope this is the beginning of of of a new phase of this.

B

Construction- that is, you know, we don't have to run any more under underground conduit. I think the gas.

B

Lines are are in um and I'm hopeful that this is the uh the turning of the page. But I don't want to.

B

I I would like to figure out whether it's a report back and we can have that emotion.

B

uh Later or having a report or having a counselor sit on the uh the abutters email to glean, what's.

B

The the type of um the type of uh communication going out and how we can better serve that those.

B

Would be all years for that counselor bagley? Oh sorry, counselor cook, do you have in the same line.

B

Of questioning yeah, I'm just gonna add I was going to make a statement instead of asking a question.

S

So my my main concerns around this project are that we have a lot of retailers downtown that.

S

Have suffered considerably the last few years because of the pandemic and construction has.

S

Made that even more difficult, so I have real concerns about taking up a lot of the parking.

S

Right around this project, and even if the spaces are returned to the city, it benefits.

S

Us frankly, as a city to get the parking revenue from all from the people working for.

S

Mcnab properties, who are parking there and paying the city fee all day that does benefit.

S

The city, but it doesn't benefit our retailers and our retailers need a healthy turnover.

S

In the remaining parking spaces downtown to have a successful summer, so I think it's really critical.

S

That we find alternatives when we, when we have 250 or so employees,.

S

On a project that need to park within that general area, whether it's transportation arrangements or.

S

And and limitations on whether or not they can actually park on the city streets beyond the.

S

The parking spaces that are paid for I'm I'm also particularly concerned about.

S

This project keep being its extension. I remember very clearly when we last talked about this.

S

At the council level that it, the impression was given that the project.

S

At least the outside of the project would be completed by july 4th and that we wouldn't.

S

Have to worry about sidewalk encumbrances, which also believe it or not. Even though you can walk.

S

Under a scaffolding on the sidewalk does impact the local businesses.

S

I'm also particularly concerned about communication and making sure we get.

S

Communication right for development, the city is only getting busier and with more development.

S

With more retail, with more businesses downtown, it becomes more and more difficult to build.

S

These projects- and I understand how hard that it, that must be from a developer's perspective,.

S

To build in a tight space but as a result, we need to be thinking as a council about ways that.

S

We can make it easier on the downtown when we have a major project like this, because it isn't.

S

The last one, so I just want to make sure that we take the lessons learned from this project, that.

S

Maybe we make some improvements now like better transportation for workers, so they're not parking.

S

On all of state street and daniel street, taking up the limited space we have for the summer and also.

S

Ways that we can better enforce policies and and enforce agreements that are made with the butters.

S

So so council cook, I guess, on the the parking issue. Are you proposing a specific.

B

Is there any proposal for uh as a part of this agreement in terms of the parking.

S

I think I just wanted the city manager to keep this in mind that that the people working on this.

S

Project are not just parking in the spaces that were reserved for the project, they're also parking.

S

Down daniel street on state street um in several other locations through town and taking up parking.

S

That could be used to rotate for retail space. Okay yeah concert baglet yeah. Thank you. Your honor.

C

This this touches on one of my favorite topics, parking and counselor cook is right. You know.

C

Turnover is vital to the the downtown, so I'm very appreciative of city staff.

C

um Prohibiting parking along daniel and penn hollow, because those two streets have kind of.

C

Taken the the brunt of this project, but the fact is that the project was approved uh long before.

C

Most of us were on the council, we're nearing the finish line. uh The city's done a good job of.

C

Of making a structure, that's gonna, get the project finished quickly um with the least amount.

C

Of pain and and of course, it's painful- um I'm disappointed to hear that people feel they don't.

C

Don't feel comfortable coming to these meetings to speak, uh you can always speak to us directly. Most.

C

Of us have email or other ways you can contact us. I go down just about every morning for coffee.

C

Walk by the project see it talk to some of the restaurants there, not not as much to the retail.

C

What I've heard- and it did come up in the last parking traffic safety meeting- is that there's.

C

Been somebody out there moving the contractors along so so you have to understand if there's.

C

250 contractors: it's not 250 people working on the projects. It's every week, there's there's concrete.

C

People and then there's electrical people and it's changing so there's thousands of people working on.

C

This project so you're constantly having to reinforce that message. You can't park here.

C

So I'm pleased to hear that that message seems to be getting through that we're doing a better.

C

Job with it, but I also think that you know something that's overlooked. A little bit is.

C

Projects like this are dangerous. You know. Construction workers have one of the most.

C

Dangerous jobs in america and the safety record has been very good on this project and you know we.

C

We have to balance the act of keeping the city vibrant, but we also can't handicap the developer.

C

So much that the project then becomes an unsafe workplace. So there's there's a lot of competing.

C

Influences on this project and- and I think we're striking a good balance- I think this particular.

C

Agreement strikes an even better balance. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we I'll.

C

Hope that the project finishes soon, but I'm gonna support it uh there. There was a comment about the.

C

Waiver of the license fee um that we did receive it's it's a relatively uh small amount of money.

C

For a project of this size, but I would put out there that we want to incentivize people when.

C

They do projects to keep those sidewalks free, so we want to waive those fees, because if we don't.

C

We're taking away that incentive and people are just going to put up regular scaffolding.

C

Instead of scaffolding that you can walk under, so there's there's lots of ways to look at this.

C

I'm going to support it and hope that you know it's the last one and I've already gone on too.

C

Much but I'll say one last thing at in my regular job. I work in capital equipment and the delays.

C

That we're experiencing with shipping with with products with everything are just really out of.

C

Control, I had a machine come into long beach, california, from germany, and it takes three or.

C

Four weeks to get from germany to long beach, and then it took eight weeks where it was just off.

C

The porch just sitting there and every week the customer would call me and say you know when's. My.

C

Machine coming and say: well, the ship says it's not this week, it might be next week and we did.

C

That for eight weeks in a row- and I would imagine in the construction and building trades, it's the.

C

Same thing, it's very difficult to coordinate a delivery when you don't even know when your.

C

Product is going to arrive, so it would be great if, if they could do all the deliveries at 7, 30.

C

In the morning on wednesdays and thursdays, but I don't think in today's environment, especially.

C

That's a reasonable, or maybe it's a reasonable ask, but I don't think it's a realistic ask because.

C

There's just so much going on right now in the logistical world that it it's kind of a mess.

C

Out there, so I think this is a good agreement. I hope it might be one of the last agreements like.

C

This that we have to do on this particular project but I'll, be supporting it. Counselor embardi yeah.

P

This has been a long project and it's um it's an amazing project. It's a very complex project.

P

I'm I'm impressed that the developer has been able to keep the flow of.

P

Of supplies to complete this project in the time he's done.

P

I I can't imagine that it, it could be done much in less time or much less time than it has been.

P

um Yes, there have been extensions for permits and things like that, but.

P

We do see the enter in site and.

P

The the developer has made great improvements to some of our infrastructure.

P

In the streets, um and that has that has been a major disruption of of the parking as well as.

P

The other things that have happened- um I just I too hope that this is the last extension.

P

And um I look forward to this building being open. I would aside from that I would also just as a.

P

Technical thing it looks like we have to actually vote to waive the license fee.

P

That's a part of the motion: yeah, okay, good! Thank you. Anybody else.

B

A few more um comments and I, along with councillor tabor, have been taking bites of.

B

This apple for quite a while. I think that looking back some of the things that were.

B

Apparent to me now that were not apparent was the the amount of.

B

Upgrades that we were going to do as a city, um you know looking back.

B

I that needs to be um that needs to be more apparent um for us to understand that um again.

B

The the uh the pandemic is what it is. It was difficult um and uh it's tough to um it's tough to.

B

To plan for that, but I think understanding um those even this year um in daniel street having.

B

A better understanding of of what um we are asking a developer to do, but since we're asking that I.

B

Think we have a responsibility as a city to to to make that known, that these are things that.

B

Are that are coming up and should be weighted as a part of the entire project uh state? The asks.

B

Of you know, electrification putting the wires underground. You know uh the transformers all of.

B

That should be a part of the discussion so that when we are granting original license extensions.

B

We have a better, uh we have a better sense of that and that's a that's a that's a a lesson learned.

B

When this was um originally before us, or when it comes to the city managers, it was originally a.

B

An extension of the existing license agreement- and you know I I want to make sure uh I guess two.

B

Things one when it comes to the parking we have it in the agreement that this is something that will.

B

Be shared with the the contractors. I'm sure that there will be a butters that if this is not.

B

If this is not something- and I don't want to put it on the abutters to to call so if it's something.

B

That the city needs to uh actively enforce the city will actively enforce it, but the goal of.

B

This is to make sure that it's not it's not on the the city uh to actively enforce uh these two. uh I.

B

Mean we'll actively enforce it, but I wouldn't like us to to be responding to um to calls all the time.

B

But it is a big deal to to change a project to get the sidewalk back, even if it's under.

B

uh The scaffolding, um it's a big deal to get the the parking back. um You know we had an option to.

B

Rip up the bond and do the sidewalks ourselves that would have delayed it. I think, um but we.

B

Would have been uh doing it? I don't think that was the best outcome it might have been. You know.

B

Potentially the emotional feeling like we're we're doing something, but at the end of the day, our job.

B

Isn't to sit up here and react upon the emotion of what um uh feels the best. It always has to be.

B

What is the best, and I think that we got the best outcome out of this, uh for a project that will.

B

Benefit the city, both the project that we won't see underground and the project that we will see.

B

That part of the neighborhood you know, I wish that construction was easier. I'm thankful every day, I'm.

B

Not a developer um because it's it's hard to to to manage that, um but it's it's also hard. I think for.

B

Folks to feel as though um they don't have a voice so of all the conversation up here. uh That's the.

B

One that that sticks with me- and I would look for a further motion to understand. How can we improve.

B

The communication of that, but I see a hand raised yeah, I think here I I did forget and a suggestion.

C

To mr mcnabb, and maybe the city manager is because people are, you know, especially.

C

Renters may be hard to to contact or get an email list. One idea might be to do a qr code.

C

On on the fencing or something like that, if you want to learn more about this project or.

C

If you want to be on the email list, here's a qr code, so you can easily sign up because.

C

That would be just one more avenue that we can maybe improve the communication a little bit. Okay,.

B

So I would put that into the second motion that I'd weighed in terms of you know either just a.

B

Communication improvements that we can make as a city around this project.

B

But further license extension or rather a creation of a.

B

New license for 60 days, I will have a roll call vote on this.

A

Assistant mayor kelly, yes, councillor, tabor, yes, councillor, denton, yes, councilman! Yes,.

A

Councillor bagley: yes, council lombardi; yes, council blaylock, yes, council cook; no, no! Miami cochran! Yes,.

A

Motion passes eight to one your honor. Can we take a quick break? Yes, I would just like to entertain.

B

A motion for a report back communication; second, all in favor, aye, aye, okay, a five minute recess.

A

Thank you, councillor, denton, for giving us the break. Although number seven, the persons.

B

With easements at 83 pivot hill might not thank you as much. We got them before we go on to the.

B

uh Consent agenda thanks mayor uh the last item under city manager's.

G

Actions uh items which require action is a request to accept.

G

Easements related to the conditional use, permit and site plan approval that was granted by the.

G

Planning board for the open space plan unit use development at cover at 83, beverly hill.

G

Road as part of that approval, the planning board recommended that the city accept 11, easements and.

G

A right of way tonight we are looking uh to the I should mention. The planning board did approve.

G

All 11 easements and the right-of-way, but only 10 of the easements, are presented for acceptance at.

G

This time easement, I is not before the council, as it goes hand in hand with the right-of-way.

G

And, as noted in the council packet, this request will return to council at such time as the.

G

Right-Of-Way is constructed and approved for public use and ready for acceptance.

G

So uh staff attorney trevor mccourt is here. He spent a considerable amount of time.

G

Trying to make sure that these easements made sense uh on on a plan. If you will, I.

G

Know the developer is present as well and happy to answer any questions. You may have your honor.

Q

I'd make a motion that we accept and record the city. We authorize the city manager to accept and.

Q

Record the 10, easement deeds and a declaration of restrictions in substantially similar.

Q

Similar form to the easement deeds from parsonwood investments, llc contained in the packet. So second.

B

um Any uh any any.

B

Other uh questions or comments, counselor embardi yeah. I just have a question.

P

They have these paths, um do any of them connect to the rail trail. Yes, that was my quest. They do.

F

Yes, would that be a question for mr mccourt here.

B

Any other questions uh councilman. I really don't have any questions. I just uh would like to state.

H

As especially, the uh member of the planning board who's seen this from its inception and first ideas.

H

All the way through to the end, there's some really cool concepts that I think we've worked.

H

Really hard to make sure that the public space is going to be properly signed and notified. So.

H

The public knows there are some trails, because there's going to be about trevor can correct.

H

Me if I'm wrong, around 80 acres that are going to be in a city conservation, land, open to the public.

H

That, basically takes you all the way back down to almost banfield road. If I remember correctly,.

H

um So it's going to be a fair amount of you know open space land for the public to use. So I hope.

H

The public understands that they can go through this subdivision and there are public ways to get.

H

You all the way down on trails to that and to use the public spaces. So I'm just excited. That's all.

H

I saw them break ground the other day, they're starting the road.

P

Any other questions. Thank you trevor in favor.

A

Thank you guys.

B

All right um so we've gotten through the uh city manager's items which uh require action uh next.

B

Up is the consent agenda? Do we have folks that are still on? We said from let's go through the.

B

uh uh Wait a motion to adopt the consent agenda so moved your honor. Second, all in favor, aye, aye.

B

All right and then we've done the um uh sample. Oh and then email correspondence, a sample motion.

B

Would be moved to accept and place on file so moved? Second, all in favor all right. We've taken.

B

Item b up item c, um a paper street. um Now we've already we've already done half of this paper.

B

Street uh on the den side, so it's not likely going anywhere um so sample motion would be moved.

B

To refer to the planning board for report back to city council so moved. Second, all in favor, aye, aye.

B

And then letter from attorney uh sherwin burnett young regarding the application for urbanized, show.

B

And exemption uh for salter street, which you already did, oh we did that right. We did it. Yes,.

H

Awesome, okay, so uh next up is. uh I will, uh since I see some folks in the audience, and I asked them.

B

They were here for counselor moreau, so I am going to look to suspend the rules to bring.

B

uh The council monroe's items uh off the head still moved. Second, all in favor.

B

Aye aye all right councilman the floor is yours. uh Yes, I uh have been having several conversations.

H

um Throughout our community, with multiple um not-for-profits and possible uses of the lister.

H

Academy, I know it hasn't been actually voted on yet, but um it certainly seems after talking to.

H

uh You know some people at the school level that that they're all seem to be in favor of trying to.

H

Move the lister academy out to community campus, which then frees up a building that um is in.

H

Grave need of repairs, and we know about the tune of 10 million dollars, of which I know us as a city.

H

At least me as a city councilor doesn't want to spend that money uh to do it. So I'd certainly.

H

Rather uh that we work to find what the best use of the property might be. Therefore, um I've made.

H

I my motion is to move for a report back from the city manager, consisting of an initial estimate on.

H

The amount to date that the city of portsmouth has spent, oh god, I'm reading the wrong one. The south.

H

I got to put my guess: yeah that was counselor. I know I'm like reading the wrong one too, and I was.

B

Like okay yeah, this is this: doesn't sound whatever they start with the same line, so sorry strike that.

H

Let me start over now. My glasses are wrong: uh move to request that the city manager, investigate.

H

Obtaining an engineer to do feasibility study on possible future uses of the current lister academy.

H

Property which is owned by the city located at 35 sherbron road in preparations for supporting.

H

Our 2022-23 goals of the city council and if there would be possible, arpa funds available to complete.

H

This work, in other words, to cover the cost of the work. So that is my motion. If I get a second second.

H

And you know just to finish my discussion because I kind of went into a ram rampage before I.

H

Actually gave you my motion, but I just think that there could be great partnerships of nonprofit.

H

Possibilities at this facility after having many conversations on it and therefore I'd like to.

H

Really know you know how much land is there, how feasible it is. How much could we build on? You know.

H

Is there bad soil? You know all those engineering type things just a true feasibility of what's out.

H

There what's useful, what's buildable and uh a report back to us, I think, would really help us.

H

Once we are ready to really take a look at what should happen at that property.

H

That's all I think, councilman councillor denton. Thank you. This is only tangentially.

J

Related but you mentioned the community campus and some residents have reached out to me simply.

J

Asking if there was a committee-formed community campus that would be posted for everyone to join.

B

So the answer uh committee uh for what, on the community campus just a community campus.

B

Like overview of that, like a purest island type thing, what's going to be done with the property.

B

um So I haven't, and this could come up through the governance committee- um I haven't.

B

Decided to form a blue ribbon committee, uh we can obviously change that decision as a council.

B

What I've looked at community campus as being.

B

A in the I guess, collection of properties that, as other projects come forth, community campus is now.

B

A home to those potential projects, instead of trying to figure out what the grand master plan.

B

For community campus would be I've decided, at least in my limited power as mayor that we would.

B

We would use that more as a a place to put priorities that we have instead of trying.

B

To figure out priorities for a building to try to think of it as cities, landscape or a city.

B

In the city scale, but I'm happy if a counselor wants to bring forth the.

B

Desire to build a or create a blue ribbon committee around that um we could support that.

B

But I would want that to come so far. I've not decided to to do that. Thank you. Thank.

B

You counselor bagley yeah. I just want to compliment councilman, bringing this forward.

C

um It may feel like it's hasty, because we haven't officially decided that the lister academy is.

C

Going to move but at the same time, there's no harm in investigating parallel tracks for efficiency.

B

You know I council more. I'm super excited that you brought this forward. I I I was quoted in the paper.

B

Saying something about icebergs being an iceberg. You know, potentially that's the wrong thing to say.

B

About any investment that we have in relation to what icebergs do, but when they do break.

B

Apart, they start moving in a lot of different ways, and I think this is one of those ways that.

B

The purchase community campus could open an opportunity for us, especially with land, and we.

B

Should know as much as we can about the land that we own and what we could do with that land, it's a.

B

Great idea and if oprah funds could be applied, that would be something that I think would be a.

B

Good use of that so very much in favor of this. So with that all in favor aye, aye aye.

B

Any opposed do I continue give us the update all right. Yes, I am going to give you a.

H

I put in for a verbal update on the portsmouth hampshire 400, for those of you that don't know.

H

I am actually the team leader for our signature events for next year, um so you may be hearing.

H

A lot from me over the course of the next year, because we're getting closer and closer. But we.

H

Have three signature events and on saturday june 3rd there will indeed be a parade. It should be a.

H

Lovely parade that is being worked out through some very familiar names right now and they are.

H

Going to put something together, they're working in conjunction because river fest will be going.

H

On at the same time, so it's going to be a really big celebration kind of weekend. So.

H

Don't plan any vacations on monday august 28th, we are combining forces with the chamber to do.

H

What they would normally do, those of you who don't know they do an annual community kind of dinner or.

H

Networking event they typically call street life, so we are partnering with them to do.

H

A community dinner and just to sort of tease it out a little bit. Imagine everyone sitting down.

H

To dinner from market square all the way down congress street, you know something small and.

H

Intimate of you know, 700 of your closest friends, so it ought to be there'll, be a.

H

Lot of things around that as well but more importantly, there will be a.

H

Press release going out tomorrow, there's been some very uh wonderful, articulate people working.

H

Way, smarter than me working on a press release, that's going to tell you that we are officially.

H

Publicly announcing today that we are going to have on saturday and sunday september, 9th and 10th.

H

We are going to have another thunder over in new hampshire, we're calling it heritage in.

H

The air, airshow and open house we are working in connection with the air national guard with.

H

That um portsmouth hampshire 400 will actually be putting together the entire welcome event. For that.

H

Which will be held on friday evening of september 8th? That should be like 500 of your closest.

H

Friends- and it's only like a week and a half after the dinner, so this ought to be really easy to pull.

H

Off uh once again, I have a lot people much smarter than me, working on all this just trying to keep.

H

Me involved, so those are the three really big signature events that are going to market, but.

H

Just to give you an idea, I will run through some of the other events that are going to be going.

H

On we have special projects um course of new hampshire history and 101 objects. It's a book.

H

Featuring 101 objects and essays of 80 different authors, uh site-specific theater productions at.

H

Three different locations we're going to have, of course, with new hampshire, 400 commemorative book.

H

Which is stories of residents and events over the past 50 years, 50 years, 400 years of history, comic.

H

Book intended for middle schoolers and then we also have portsmouth high school students working.

H

On an oral history project and they're actually going out and trying to videotape um people.

H

Talking that have been around, for you know as long a lot longer than I have believe it or not. There.

H

Are people older than me? uh We are going to have special events starting sunday december 31st.

H

And january 1st, first night, portsmouth 2023 will be the start and end of our year of celebration.

H

uh Sunday, through tuesday may 7th, through 9th keeping history above water, portsmouth 2020.

H

Portsmouth 2023 national symposium on sea level rise. It's an actual national symposium. That's.

H

Coming specifically to portsmouth to do it for our 400th, so I would like to thank our.

H

Lovely stephanie secord, who has been in charge in getting that going. um We have history through art,.

H

Mural on may 21st we have june 15th through 19th black heritage trails, doing music and education.

H

June 25th vintage baseball august 5th moffat lighthouse, william whipple day, with costume role.

H

Players september 23rd, 24th, portsmouth maritime festival, saturday october, 7th, the westabol.

H

Community funding games uh tuesday, the 31st of um october, is going to be the halloween parade.

H

Which will be everything's going to be, like normally incorporated with the porcelain 400.

H

There's several weekends at strawberry bank, with the 400 years of winter celebrations for.

H

The stroll and then the first night we also have some fundraisers going on so the seacoast half.

H

Marathon, this coming october, 2022 will benefit all to benefit and raise money for the porcelain, 400.

H

And there's also going to be july, 29th of 2023 little italy carnival.

H

Masquerade ball. Fundraiser will be taking place to raise money for some of those, so.

H

We have a lot of really fun things, and this is just a sampling believe it or not. There.

H

Actually are more things that people are working on that come to us they're working on a master.

H

Calendar and we're going to be hopefully rolling that out in the next week or two. I don't want.

H

To speak about on that one, because I know the calendar has been hard to get functioning, but.

H

Hopefully that just gives you an idea of all the excitement around our birthday coming up next year.

H

You ready to party here and we've still got to get all this work done, that we do every time.

B

If people want to help, um is there a way that they can reach out and be involved in the planning or.

B

Volunteering, absolutely we are going to easily need 500 volunteers a day just for the air show.

H

Alone, not to mention many other things, but um portsmouth 400.org. I got a. I got a nod. I.

H

Was having to remember that off the top of my head, that is the website and I believe there are.

H

Links there for you to reach out and volunteer and help and to email, the group, so that's great.

H

Please come help. Councilman sounds fun.

B

All right, I'm done now. I will.

B

So go back uh to me, these are um appointments under my name, um so this is a blue ribbon.

B

Committee, so they don't actually require a vote, um but they as I understand that. But if there are.

B

Concerns required, what's that, I think we have one that requires. We do have one uh at the htc.

B

But the appointments I will read them out: andrea ardito will arvello cathy beebe abby, frank.

B

Janet uh latesch tania mourinho, lori mcintosh, uh lori waltz mimi, wheeler, molly, wilson, whitney brown.

B

Amber buttermore and then linda briolette, who you've received the applications here.

B

I understand that there is one more that has an application that will.

B

I will have at the july, we will have them join, but counselor cook.

S

Thank you mayor. I wanted to once again just commend councillor bagley on this idea for a.

S

Covert response task force blue ribbon committee and note that the individuals that have applied.

S

To be on this committee are what I would consider the rock stars of the service non-profit industry.

S

In the area, so we would be very fortunate to have any of these individuals serve on this committee.

S

And thank you to whomever um took part in some recruitment process to encourage them all to apply.

B

Yeah, that's all counselor, bagley and kudos to him getting folks. uh Well, he says I understand it.

B

I I didn't have to twist any arms uh for any of this. He was. He was plenty twisty uh already and.

B

It does speak to the the foresight of counselor bagley. I think it also speaks to the members of.

B

The community that would like to step up uh and serve, and I think that our responsibility to them.

B

Is to make sure that they have the ability to do so. I think we've already segmented out. uh I think.

B

It was fifty thousand dollars for a need study uh around that. Sixty five thousand six sixty five.

L

Sixty five thousand in terms of need studies, so it'd be one of the potentially one of the first.

B

Things that they could be involved with is is helping, coordinate uh that, but I will uh I won't.

B

uh Get in front of the group uh uh just yet, but thanks again, uh councilman bagley for thank you.

B

For everybody that signed up uh next, we do have to vote uh appointment for a reappointment of martin.

B

Ryan to the hdc, a sample motion move to reappoint martin ryan to the historic district commission.

G

So moved, second, uh all in favor, aye aye any opposed all right, councillor denton! Thank you.

J

I move for a report back from the city manager, consisting of an initial estimate on the amount.

J

To date that the city of portsmouth has spent and is currently planning to spend on infrastructure.

J

To mitigate the impacts of anthropogenic climate change to include but not limited,.

J

To improvements to our wastewater treatment, plants, sewers and sea walls; second, all in favor.

B

Thanks countdown good to know that uh we've done councilman both of those um counselor bagley.

C

uh Yes, thank you are in your uh packet, there is the parking traffic safety committee action seat.

C

Minutes of june 2nd 2022 and I moved to accept and approve the action seat in minutes of june.

C

2Nd 2022 parking and traffic safety committee meeting. Second, all in favor aye any opposed.

B

Counselor blaylock, thank you.

A

um So I guess I would just like to move to refer to the city manager, uh to report back regarding.

A

The re-establishment of student government day, if I get a second second thank you.

A

Thank you. I appreciate your enthusiasm.

A

I had the pleasure of participating in student government day as a phs student growing up my.

A

Junior and senior year, I believe I was the city prosecutor my junior year and I was the assistant.

A

Mayor of my senior year, but I want to thank mary, kerry foley, um long-time phs english teacher.

A

She was the one that always organized this in the past. She was the one that always kept it going.

A

um She has, since retired, from the forces high school she's still around and we love to see.

A

Your smiling face around town, but I would like to see if we can get this going again.

A

I think it's really important to engage the youth, especially the high school students. I think it's.

A

Important for they learn by participation, and I think, having a memorable experience that they.

A

Can learn from and build on and potentially even run for city council someday, um so yeah excellent.

B

I can't uh wait to to give up the gig of being mayor yeah, all those lacrosse, kids and the track.

B

uh In this seat than me so look forward to that uh any any discussion on this great idea, counselor.

B

By luck all in favor aye any opposed all right. We have the approvals of grants and donations.

B

um This is a first one: acceptance of donation from uh john chagdon to the cemeteries first.

B

A motion to to change, to add purpose and and use of the donation. Second: do we have a.

B

We need to move to do that, so you seconded it, but we yeah I'd, wait a motion to.

B

Change to add purpose and use of the donation.

C

Inquiry can we accept all of them as one motion, with the exception of the.

C

Bench which we've already accepted or do we feel the need to go through these one by one.

B

Well, I think that, um in terms of going through them, uh one by one.

B

You know I would like to call out the folks that uh have uh you know have donated.

B

You know there's some that are uh more modest than others, but I would. I would like to be able to call.

B

Out individuals at dupli there is a from a skate park. Fundraiser is a move to accept and approve.

B

The donations um various donations- I don't think we have individuals there, but I'm okay with it.

C

Okay, I will make a motion for the acceptance of donation from john.

C

Dragnan to the cemetery committee of fifteen hundred dollars. Second,.

B

Okay, um so I guess I just I have on mine uh the the uh the agenda that we have a.

B

Motion to change to have purpose and use of donation, so so that contribution is for.

L

uh The historic cemeteries? Okay, so he intended that to be designated for historic cemeteries.

B

Okay, so um so to the cemeteries, meaning uh we would have to okay so move to approve and accept.

B

The donation uh for the use of historic cemeteries, correct; okay, so if I get a second to that second.

B

Okay, all in favor, aye aye any opposed next up an acceptance of donation from barbara.

B

Malindri to the portsmouth 400 of the total of uh 100 dollars.

B

All in favor aye aye any opposed next up is the uh acceptance of donation for.

B

uh Johanna jackson to the skateboard park of 51.50 cents, sample motion move to approve.

B

And accept the donation is presented so moved. Second, all in favor, aye aye opposed.

B

And acceptance of community and this one's a little bigger um acceptance of community.

B

Development block grant funds of 500 223 706 dollars. Sample motion moved to authorized city.

B

Manager to apply for and accept and expend the community development block grant in the amount of.

B

Five hundred twenty three thousand seven hundred six dollars through the fro through.

H

From uh the us, uh the department of housing and urban development so moved uh all in favor.

B

Aye aye any opposed and then um the acceptance of various donations from the skate park.

B

Fundraiser sample motion move to accept and approve the donations as presented.

C

Second, uh all in favor aye aye any opposed. So I guess that counselor bagley is on this. um I I.

B

Would love to have a maybe a better policy around uh donations above a certain amount are listed.

B

Individually and then donations for a specific cause that we have on the website, where there's.

B

Multiple donations coming through can be brought forth to the council um on a uh a monthly or.

B

Instead of every meeting um for a a more collection or uh consent agenda, almost yeah.

H

So if we could, um you know I, I look forward to a counselor in a future uh meeting figuring out.

B

A a path to to take on uh and working with staff, so long as there's, not rsas that prohibit us from.

B

Accepting donations in bulk, but you know people uh might not want uh that.

B

There's always a record, but they might not want. You know uh a publicly acknowledged.

B

Suzanne, do you have any I'm just saying there is no statutory requirement.

L

That says you have to accept these donations. It has just been city of portsmouth practice. Okay,.

B

But given now, I think that we do have online ability to raise uh money. We might have a um a.

B

Check do we want to be publicly acknowledged or not, and I don't know what's, let's have a let's.

B

Somebody think of a good motion to put together for a future meeting if a better way to.

B

To handle this or, if there's no change necessary on it. um Thank you mayor. um In the past we talked.

S

About some of the donations that were made also and having a more consistent policy um across.

S

Staff so say when we receive donations for the police or with for the fire department that we.

S

Know what those donations are designated for, um so I think this is something that.

S

Is reasonable for the governance committee to work with the staff to develop a policy around.

S

Since we don't have a clear policy perfect, I know that was the takeaway. So why don't we add the.

B

Counselor bagley's point on whether or not we can bunch these donations again. The pluses and minuses.

B

To that and bring it back to the council, fantastic all right, city manager has a few.

B

Informational items so I'll pass it back to her. Thank you, mayor items, one and two are similar in.

G

That we have shared this mat, this information with the council. We have shared this information.

G

On the city website- and we just wanted to in the in the idea of full transparency provided in a.

G

Council packet, the first is an update on the sagamore avenue, sewer extension project.

G

And the takeaway here is that city staff are anticipating responses from those.

G

Property owners interested in participating on or before july 15th, so I would anticipate an update.

G

On the interest level at the august 1st city council meeting, the second is a report back on.

G

The pfas sampling of the new athletic field, uh the memo is in the packet. The memo was shared.

G

Previously, the memo is on our website, happy to answer any questions. We have staff here tonight.

G

um I'll move ahead to number three, which is uh the status of the panaway manor and the maple.

G

Haven sidewalks, as alluded to earlier. I believe it was the assistant mayor who may have mentioned.

G

In advance of replacing sidewalks, we've solicited lots of input from residents in both the um how do.

G

You feel about sidewalks camp and then how do you feel about trees and greenery with the potential.

G

Loss of street trees and due to wanting to take additional to accept additional input and solicit.

G

Additional feedback, and because of the lack of clear consensus from both neighborhoods.

G

It has been the decision of staff, with my support, obviously to hold off on construction. This season.

G

To allow for that additional public input, it's really um the issues are different by neighborhood.

G

And they're they're not simply solved, so we want to continue the conversations we will schedule.

G

Additional public meetings with each neighborhood to gauge support for bidding sidewalk work. This.

G

Fall with anticipated construction, if it were to happen in the spring of 23. number four.

G

Is an update on the status of the police station facility and public works in conjunction with.

G

The police department has prepared a request for qualifications to conduct the enabling engineering.

G

And design work for the new police um facility, whether it be new or renovated. The timing is such.

G

That the advert the rfq would be advertised july 1st. We would accept submittals by the end of july.

G

And we would ex immediately after that, create a short list and proceed with the request for.

G

Proposals- and we will keep the council updated on progress as we achieve milestones in that regard.

G

I'll pause there. If there are any questions on item one through four before I go into number five.

B

Counselor denton and then I I saw the quarter: okay, we'll just start with counselor done and then I'll.

J

This is in regards to the report back on pfas sampling. If we did want to discuss.

J

Taking action should that be done in non-public, um it depends which action you would like to take.

L

So if you are asking with regard to whether some action against the manufacturers or the installers.

L

Then we certainly could have a conversation in non-public.

L

You know if you're, considering litigation, what we have said previously is that the.

L

Contractor and the suppliers did meet specifications, they met the contractual.

L

Specifications there was a standard uh in our bid documents in terms of what was required.

L

And they met that standard. So we've said that before, but if you want to go in any further.

L

Direction and with regard to that, then we should do that in in non-public. Thank you, council cook.

S

I have two questions related to two different items here: um the first on pfas. Can we get a.

S

Report back on the new epa standards and how the results of this report would fit within the.

S

New epa standards, so let me uh suggest we do still, I believe, have on zoom the.

L

Two experts who produce this report and because that is that question came up obviously from staff.

L

And we did actually review these results with the technical experts that we have with ms amico at.

L

Her request, so we did try to share information and they are available and could perhaps pretty.

L

Quickly, I think explain where, where this sits and and what's the same and what's different.

L

So yeah god, god love him. 10 15., all right karen as well yep karen yep yeah.

S

I can ask my yeah if you want me to ask my second question.

S

And then, while we're oh you're here, never mind, I think they're coming on pretty quickly here.

G

Hello good evening, good evening.

E

Karen you want to start off, you want to do you want to introduce yourself elizabeth, maybe.

E

Oh sure sure hi, I'm elizabeth denley with trc and I am trc's pfas initiative leader.

E

And chemistry director um I've been with trc a little over 22 years. I am a chemist.

E

And I've been working a lot on pfas issues over the last five or six years.

B

And who else do we have on zoom karen? You want to introduce yourself.

I

Hi um good evening, so my name is dr karen vetrano. I am a phd level toxicologist with trc.

I

um I've been with them for 32 years, I've been working with liz on fifa's issues. I also have.

I

Experience with artificial turf deals primarily from rubber fields. I've done white papers for.

I

New york city's department of health on you know, health and toxicity of the palm rubber fields.

B

All right, counselor cook, would you mind, restating your question for dr uh petrano and miss tinley.

S

I asked how do how do the results of our testing compare to the new epa standards around pfest.

I

um Apples and oranges, um so the new health advisories are for drinking water. um You.

I

Know these are um turf field, so you know there's going to be very limited types of exposure. It's.

I

Only dermal type of um exposure um to anybody you know participating in sports on these fields um in.

I

Terms of the chemical analysis that we did in the untreated samples, and so you know if you liz, can.

I

Talk to the analysis that we did, but essentially they did an analysis on the untreated.

I

Turf fields, the various components, and then we there was a post treatment sample. So they.

I

That was the top assay, they subjected it to a highly oxidizing environment and so.

I

What that was supposed to do was if there were any precursor chemicals in the turf components.

I

That it would force them into other types of pfas compounds. What we saw was a very, very limited.

I

Results in terms of what was positively identified, those that were were very low concentrations.

I

Pfos only showed up in that post-treatment sample of the carpet, and so the carpet is considered the.

I

Green filaments again very low concentrations. If we look at what the the promulgated.

I

Toxicity values, epa, toxicity values: um we were about 714 times lower than what um epa would be.

I

Considered safe for a residential environment, um these interim values, interim health, advisories.

I

Again, their interim values they may be subject to change. um You know the.

I

Epa's old science advisory board has some criticisms of these reports and um the values.

I

That they've chosen so epa is going to have to address those. But nonetheless, if um while we were.

I

On the call and waiting, I was kind of doing some faculty and calculations and um if you took.

I

The um what's called the reference dose, it's a dose that epa considers that somebody can be.

I

Exposed to for a lifetime without having any health effects.

I

If you took the rfd that the new health advisory was based on the.

I

Detected concentration in the carpet again, that's just the post treatment. This is like.

I

The worst case scenario, um it's actually worst case than what would be seen in a.

I

Natural environment, we were like um approximately three times higher than what would be considered.

I

Safe for a residential environment, um but the thing that you need to understand is with these.

I

Rsls, these are it's primarily exposure to soil and it's primarily based on ingestion of soil.

I

So you know the pathways don't really line up. So it's a very conservative estimate.

I

um The epa has a like a calculator, so I just kind of plugged in okay. If somebody was going to be on.

I

These fields three hours a day, five days a week. What would the number be and again.

I

And then I used the new reference dose that these new health advisories on and we were about.

I

Using that type of scenario, we were about 1800 times lower than what would be considered a safe.

I

Level, so these are really tiny, tiny amounts that we saw again. We only saw it when we forced it.

I

Using a highly oxidative environment, you know during this acid.

I

And we wouldn't expect to see them in the natural environment. You know in the.

I

Yeah under natural conditions, um everything else that we saw they're very again, very low.

I

Concentrations, they're well below any of the uh promulgated, either federal or state standards and.

I

Again, the comparisons that I was making was comparing them to residential soil samples.

I

Which is highly um health protective because you're not going to get that type of exposure.

I

Off of these turbulence, I think it's important to note too. You know the health advisories.

B

Sorry I just just before we go um and I and I want to hear that uh miss dendley, but.

B

We're talking about oxidizing as if we're a bunch of chemists up here- and I can you know.

G

I'm thinking you know bleach, I'm thinking, but I would like to can we, I guess better define for.

B

An oxidizing chemical, you said it's worse than the worst case uh scenario. Would you mind just.

B

Explaining, like we're five- uh and you know my high school chemistry is, is long in the.

B

Past, if we could go through what an oxidizing chemical is, why it would potentially be used.

B

And then, um what the uh the real life scenario um that that it might compare to uh would be would be.

B

Very helpful, I think, to the conversation sure, so I think this is a little bit of confusion, so the.

E

Samples were analyzed, the three different samples of the synthetic turf were analyzed, as is so the.

E

Manufacturer sent samples of this material to the lab and they were analyzed as is, but the lab also.

E

Took a separate portion of each sample and they did an oxidation of it. Okay, it's called a total.

E

Oxidizable precursor analysis, but I'm not going to get into all that, but they took the sample.

E

They oxidize it with chemicals with potassium per sulfate and sodium hydroxide, and they heated it up.

E

And the point of that of doing that, oxidation was to see if there's anything else in those materials.

E

That could any other pfast chemicals in those materials that could be could transform in the.

E

Future um and they're, not you know, because a typical pfas analysis can only measure so many.

E

Pfas compounds- just you know over 12, 000, p, fast chemicals out there right, so it this analysis.

E

Will determine if there's anything else in that sample that could transform, because, and it will.

E

Break down because of that oxidation and so we're trying to when we look at that result of the.

E

Sample after oxidation, we might expect to see some increases in some of the pfas, and this.

E

Is worst case scenario in the environment. These samples are not going to be oxidized that strongly.

E

But they could be transformed somewhat, and this is just worst case. What would happen to those samples.

E

But I do want to point out that the health advisories.

E

These really low health advisories were for pfoa and pfos and we did not detect pfoa and pfos.

E

In any of the samples before they were oxidized, so these two chemicals were not present in these.

E

Samples and even the newer health advisories you know epa acknowledges that every pfas chemical.

E

Behaves differently I mean they came out with health advisories for two other pfas chemicals.

E

One of which was five hundred thousand times higher so uh right now I don't the health.

E

Advisories don't play into this, as karen said, because those are really for um ingesting drinking.

E

Water and we're talking about here, dermal exposure um to these to these chemicals, potentially.

E

I don't know if that helped a little bit um with the explanation of the.

B

It did and I had one question reading through the um the actual info or the the executive summary.

B

When you tested the first, can you explain how you went about uh testing those samples.

B

I believe I understood it as it was. They were being ground or created into a powder.

B

Like substance, is that said right right, so each sample you can see was you know, kind.

E

Of made up of different um materials, so we wanted we wanted to take. We took each sample.

E

And we wanted to get a representative sample right of this of this matrix, which is a little unique. So.

E

We had the lab, um they used this cryo ml procedure, which kind of just homogenizes that whole sample.

E

Into like it becomes like a powdery substance, so at the end, where we know we're getting.

E

You know we're getting the pfas out of the entire sample. It's a representative sample because we're.

E

Homogenizing it we're not just cutting off a small portion, you know and maybe getting a little bit of.

E

That grass piece and not enough of the the backing you know so it was just all homogenized together.

E

um To make sure that we were again representative um and then one last question, I'm sure others.

B

And I've just taken, uh I didn't pass the gavel any of this, but the. um How was the pfas in the.

B

We had, we had decided as a city to not go forward with the um crumb rubber and instead use walnut.

B

uh In infill, um instead, can you speak to how the pfas, which I understand to be a non-organic.

B

Component made its way into what I believe to be organic components in terms of walnut uh infill.

E

So you asked yeah, so I mean we don't know. I mean we have to talk to the manufacturer, but you know.

I

One way is that you know whether the um keep us was in the environment and then the walnut trees.

I

um There was uptake into the plant material and then it you know, and it was incorporated into the.

I

Walnut shells, um you know that's one of the ways that um you know it gets into foodstuffs, whether.

I

The fields are, you know, um you know, agricultural fields with bio, you know fertilized with biosolids.

I

They have pfas, pfas can be uptaken to create materials so or whether there was you know.

I

Deposition if it was airborne and it was deposited into the soil or onto the leaves.

I

Of the tree and then up, you know, brought up into the plant material itself, so it there.

I

Could have just been environmental exposure from where the walnut trees were being harvested. Okay,.

B

uh Councilman councillor tabor is there any um concern that we should have.

H

In the long term that the what you have found existing, even in small quantities, could.

H

Ever break down and contaminate soil or water supplies anywhere in the vicinity of the fields.

E

So I'll just start and then I think karen can finish, but because we did that oxidation.

E

On these samples, that's worst case of how these samples could potentially break down.

E

Or transform in the environment over the long term, and when we did do that procedure that.

E

Oxidation, we really still only saw extremely low levels of a couple of different uh fast chemicals.

E

So, karen, I don't know if you want to uh just expand on that from a toxicity yeah, so you know.

I

Again, as you know summarized in that report that we did that conservative screening and you know.

I

Looked at um these risk numbers and everything was well below there was, you know there were a couple.

I

I think it was the um ppf acid. You know that one there was a higher concentration of that, um but.

I

Again, that's a very short chain, um pfas compound. I think it's only you know three carbons, so it won't.

I

Bio accumulate. um You know these. The shorter um change, p flask compounds don't buy. You accumulate.

I

Such as the long ones like the p, the pfos and pfoa uh there and therefore they're not as toxic um to.

I

Humans as well as you know ecologically, so um you know, I think again. The concentrations were so well.

I

And for the most part, um if you take some time again and we'll relook at this report, if you look.

I

At the table, one you'll see a column where there's u about? U's and j's, and so the js are. They were.

I

Detected but they were detected below a detection limit, so they were there. It's actually an.

I

Estimated concentration, they knew it was there, but it was below really the detection limit of the.

I

The instrument that they were using so it was an estimated constant.

I

Concentration, so those are not accurate values, so um you know so again. We believe you know.

I

That yes they're there but they're pretty much they're there as trace concentrations.

C

That's right, um thank you just I guess a non-scientific question for both of you.

C

Because a lot of this is a bit over my head. um If these fields were in your neighborhood would.

C

You have any concerns with them playing on them yourselves or by your family members yeah, and I.

I

I I go I've done from rubber and I would have no problem playing on these as well. Thank you.

C

Counselor, thank you. um I'd just like to state that.

A

The two lacrosse teams are in here today both won their championships on the on.

A

Turf fields, uh they practice on turf fields, they play on turf fields and they play away games.

A

um This sunday, I also hosted a football clinic on the new turf field for third to eighth graders.

A

In your professional opinion, do you think there is any risk um doing such an event? No.

I

I honestly, if the more there'd be more risk to uh like a soccer somebody wearing shorts, to getting.

I

A raspberry from sliding on the field than you know, having exposure to a toxic exposure to frost.

A

Thank you, councillor, tabor um thinking back to the december motion. I we wanted to.

Q

In the motion we asked to compare to the soil around the field, to get a baseline um was that.

Q

In the report is that what the discussion here is of residential level screening um we didn't have.

I

Soil data, we only what we did was compared the actual concentrations in the turf components to.

I

The soil numbers that have been put out by the federal government, as well as.

I

The state, so you know the state, has the um 0.1.

I

Value for like pfos, and so that's what we were comparing you know, we were comparing that.

I

Comparing the concentrations in the turf materials to the soil concentrations.

I

um The soil limits set up by.

I

The state and the government federal revenue yeah, we didn't analyze any soil samples. Okay, thank you.

L

If you'd like, I could answer that just a little further. While there was discussion at that city.

L

Council meeting the actual vote did not call for taking the soil samples, which is why we did not.

L

Do so and of course, the challenge with any soil sample, particularly out there is. Where would you.

L

Take it from to be representative um because it is a fairly large site, so um you could have a.

L

Cleaner spot or a less clean spot, because it's so uh common in the environment and so yeah. No, I I.

Q

Thought that was a friendly amendment, but I guess that I'll have to go back and look at the minute.

B

Any other questions.

B

Thank you, uh dr vetrano, and uh miss stenley uh for sticking on uh as.

B

Long as you did, and uh for answering the questions uh and for the report.

I

And you know if the council has any further questions, you know they can be forwarded.

I

To us and we'd be happy to answer any other questions. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay,.

S

Thank you mayor. I actually have a second question, but I think before that I have.

S

To make a motion to extend the meeting beyond 10 30., you do. Second, all in favor.

B

Is it for? uh Was it on pfest? No, it is not. Okay. um Okay. The question is for the city manager.

S

Around the rfq process for the design of a police station.

S

I know when this was discussed. Initially, I had requested.

S

A report back on a need study: are we still in that phase, where we're doing.

S

Need study before we get to design or how is this process proceeding.

G

We are, we are taking a look at the the needs assessment to update that that dated assessment.

G

If you will, as part of the request for calls and moving into the request for proposals, okay, so a.

S

Follow-Up there, so will we receive the results of the needs assessment before we actually have.

S

The request for proposals- I'm asking this, because I'm I'm curious about this process, um noting that.

S

We'd we'd need to know need before we ask for a particular architectural design.

G

If I may ask here from peter, do you want to take that peter.

Q

The quals statement is intended to identify eligible or likely.

Q

Firms that would be willing to to do an rfp request for a proposal, a response.

Q

The intent is to get a firm on board that is able to do the entire process, which will help lead.

Q

Us through the public process, which is the needs assessment, as well as the programmatic assessment.

Q

As we and then lead us into site selection and the architectural aspects of it, so really it's.

Q

It's really just to get the ball moving forward. The intent is to get a firm on board and then.

Q

The public process will be developed as part of that scope of work for that firm. Thank you.

B

Any other questions on any of the informational items.

B

I guess we didn't get the mechanic, I'm I'm happy to. I wanted to pause. I ran one through.

G

Four and thought I should slow down, but if any questions on one through four last chance.

B

All right bringing uh to the council and to the public an update on where we stand with mcintyre.

G

We've had several meetings in furtherance of a project that would be pursued through.

G

The monument program, the project team, met on june 15th via zoom. We met in person. Today we reviewed.

G

Many things today, including the responsibility matrix and the timeline and everything from a.

G

Review of floor plans and programming and got into pieces that we still need to bring on board.

G

And uh leading up to a soon to be held pro forma discussion.

G

The conversation circled around how to properly knit the property back into the downtown framework.

G

And to recognize the balance of providing space that generates revenue with the civic gesture.

G

That was focal to the community plan with the market shed, so we decided we met for almost three.

G

Hours today we decided that every tuesday moving forward at 10 o'clock, the project team, would meet.

G

Including this coming tuesday will be we're calling it a pre-tax meeting. It's really designed.

G

To identify early on those life, safety and access type issues with the team that typically reviews.

G

Projects at the tac level or technical advisory committee, we will have our first of the 45-day.

G

Check-Ins with the gsa on july 18th and what we're all focused on and laser focused on is.

G

Making sure we hit the august 8th date for a submittal of a draft to be considered by.

G

The national park service so happy to answer any questions and do plan to keep the council advised.

G

As we move forward any questions, not at this time, thank you city manager, any miscellaneous business.

B

Counselor bagley sorry you're. I've got one um yesterday uh and sunday. There was some confusion.

C

About the new federal holiday um and all of the, if I believe I have it right that all.

C

The federal holidays, we observe a parking enforcement holiday and what that means is.

C

You're still technically supposed to pay to park, but there's nobody there to write you a ticket so.

C

It's not free parking, but you can park for free with no repercussions. We need to come.

C

Up with it's been a while, since we've had a new federal holiday, so as a city we haven't developed.

C

An ordinance to absorb, observe juneteenth, so I guess in light of it just happening and not.

C

Wanting to forget until next year, I'd like to ask the city manager if we could have a report back on.

C

How we go about this procedure of adding this federal holiday to all the rest of a parking.

C

Perspective um uh councillor bagley, I'm reminded that you sit on parking and traffic. uh It was.

A

My oversight and so oh no, no not in that, but um I would be interested one one. I heard of this. I was.

B

uh You know sunday um uh where the federal holiday was not being observed, uh parking.

B

Was enforced uh monday uh again it wasn't. uh I don't, I believe it's a part of uh union collective.

B

Bargaining, which would uh provide that so I do believe people were still working on that, but to.

B

Identify you know when free parking exists, does it exist on the actual holiday? Does it exist on the.

B

Observed holiday, um would this um be something that we could take up in parking and traffic.

B

And have a report back to the council on that? I I think that probably makes a lot of sense all right.

C

Great again, uh any other questions miscellaneous all right.

B

Well, I am sad to say that the celtics were not victorious, uh so I can't say: go celtics.

B

It's on to the red, sox uh and uh there's nothing else: uh good night portsmouth, oh yeah,.

D