City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire 2022 - 2024 City Council, 23 Jan 2023

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From YouTube: 1.23.2023 City Council

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1.23.2023 City Council

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Welcome everybody to tonight's city council meeting. uh We will start with a motion to.

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Leave the non-public and seal the minutes of the known public, so all in favor aye all right.

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um Now a uh that, would you mind doing the call vote sure, oh we're doing a roll call on. Oh sorry,.

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Oh sorry, no, the attendance, the tenants here assistant mayor kelly here, councilor tabor here.

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Council dentist here councilman here, councilor bagley, here, council lombardi. Here that's a little.

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Blaylock here in costlow cup, here all present your honor. Thank you valerie. We do not have uh our city.

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Clerk kelly barnaby tonight we send our thoughts and prayers. uh We just ask for a moment of silence.

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For the loss of her brother, um that happened a little over a week ago, we're thinking of you kell.

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Please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance.

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Pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the.

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Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice throughout.

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There are, there are no minutes to accept.

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um And no volunteer and committee reports, so next up is public comment. um Portsmouth residents go.

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First, if you're on zoom, could you please raise your hand now, so I can see you all right. So first.

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Up is [applause] um ross lorenza on the topic of outdoor dining. They get that last name correct all.

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Right and just if you would mind just stating your name and city of residence for the off the record.

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So ross lorenza portsmouth new hampshire. Thank you for having me I've been a portsmouth resident.

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Since late 2020., an outdoor dining has been a critical part of my experience in the city.

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Whether it is down by the water or up towards market square, having the ability to take in the.

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Offerings of the local restaurants without having to go in to a darkened establishment, I think, has.

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Been beneficial to me and it's beneficial to other residents and visitors to the city, especially.

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Those residents with animals- I know a number of the restaurants and other establishments of town.

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Have allowed more pet friendly offerings since the addition of outdoor dining, and I hope that that.

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Outdoor dining experience can be extended into the future for all future residents and tourists.

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Select. Thank you. Thank you very much ross. Next up kevin dwyer again on the topic of outdoor dining.

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Hi, my name is kevin dwyer, I'm a portsmouth resident as well at 461.

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Middle street uh I also owned dwyer's pub at 96 bridge street in portsmouth.

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um I'm a lifelong resident and fan of portsmouth. uh I would just like to ask the council.

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To consider keeping the outdoor dining program and keep it at the same rate as last year or.

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Even include a cap to the pricing, just in my personal experience, if I included the entirety.

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Of my patio, I would pay six thousand dollars at the five dollars per square foot rate if.

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The rate was brought to the suggested ten dollars. My rate would increase to twelve thousand dollars.

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Please consider the dramatic incremental increase every dollar and every square foot adds also.

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Please consider how to make this program realistic for business owners of all different backgrounds.

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I realize in the case of patios in parking spaces, the city loses immediate revenue. I would have to.

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Think that the revenue generated and others is generated in other spots or their garages, uh if.

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I'm not mistaken parking revenue has increased in the past couple years, despite outdoor dining.

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And lastly, I love this town, I'm part of a large group of us who would like to keep making it an.

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Interesting place to live and visit in the future. Thank you. Thank you. Kevin uh next up, peter musee.

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Hi folks, my name is peter uh peter massey. I've lived in portsmouth my whole life. I live.

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At 160 court street- and I'm just here speaking on behalf of outdoor dining for everybody in the city.

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um Lived and worked in portsmouth my whole life, and I think you know it's a great opportunity to.

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Have keep it interesting and keep folks outside, and you know I've been the chef at dwyer's pub.

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For about two years now- and I noticed a dramatic increase in business in the summer- and it really.

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It I get more hours, it affects my pay, which really enables me to still live in the city.

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That I grew up in come to love. um You know a lot of great places out there doing the outdoor dining.

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We got, you know, dwyers, the go, massimo is just the aesthetic really, I think pulls people in and you.

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Know really it's good for tourists and residents alike. I believe um it's really all. Thank you. Folks,.

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Thank you peter, uh so al you're next on the list be from hampton. So we'll come back to you after.

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um Portsmouth residence, um uh shawna, doherty outdoor dining.

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Hello, my name is sean edwardi. I reside at 96 bridge street in portsmouth apartment, one.

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I would like to speak in support of keeping outdoor dining and access to all restaurants.

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In portsmouth, when we think of going out to eat, we typically think of indoor dining as a.

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Community with enough support, we can brighten our sidewalks boost revenue for small businesses, also.

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Keeping portsmouth, vibrant and walkable not only does outdoor dining access help restaurants, but it.

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Encourages residents to get out of the house support small businesses and appreciate this.

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Beautiful city from waterfront views to a hidden, sidewalk patio, they never could have discovered.

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Before boosted, revenue from outdoor dining can help ground these restaurants for the slower.

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Portion of the winter months, this opportunity has potential to benefit the city as well with.

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Ideas such as a hit the patios compared to hit the decks, kick off the start of a patio season.

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And even such an idea of portions being donated back to the city, somehow portsmouth prides itself.

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On being walkable, vibrant and easily accessible we're shutting down small portions of streets and.

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Sidewalks and as a city, we can show off different parts of portsmouth. We wouldn't be attracted to.

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With this flexibility of regulations, we can create a strong community and help keep keep.

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This beautiful city thriving, thank you. Thank you, david uh next. What's oh sean, sorry, you've realized.

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Now I just read off of a list here: sorry sean next up david hanson on the topic of outdoor dining.

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Hi there, my name is david hansen portion of resident, I'm also the general manager.

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Of flapper company on congress street I've lived in portsmouth my whole life and I've worked at.

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Flatbread as my first job as a bus, ride, age 14, just growing up in the service industry having.

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This outdoor dining, be a new thing, has opened up so many doors for so many residents. Seeing.

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This new addition, uh the past few years, I've been a big supporter of the continuation in.

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The city, the outdoor dining, has become a great feature of portsmouth for both both locals and.

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Tourists alike has also added to the amount of guests able to dine in at a restaurant, giving.

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More revenue to the business and the local economy as well, please consider granting local.

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Restaurants, the ability to like open again for outdoor dining at an affordable cost. The people.

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Of portsmouth will be outside supporting our local service industry workers year round, with.

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Your green light to continue outdoor dining. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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Thanks dave uh next up page trace and as always the topic of portsmouth.

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Good evening, mr mayor members of the council, page trace 27 hancock street.

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Outdoor dining, now it's going to be all year round and we're going to have one straight.

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That is now going to effectively be looked at as being two ways with a rule being made this evening.

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Without any public hearing any plan about the finances or any announcement.

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To the city of portsmouth, please that is not transparent. It seriously. It's not.

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So I ask you all, please think, rethink we all love outdoor dining, nobody's, saying anything against.

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Outdoor dining, but a restaurant that makes its business plan off of land that it doesn't own.

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Should rethink its business plan because it's at the expense of others.

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And that's all I have to say. I wish you all the best of luck. Please do outdoor dying and, yes, you.

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Can try it all year long if you want to, I don't think I'll be out there tonight having dinner.

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um Thank you very much. Thank you. Paige next up, liza hewitt on the topic of equity.

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Well, I see hewitt portsmouth new hampshire in the past couple of years. Outdoor dining.

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Was about keeping restaurants open and allowing people to eat outside during covet? Everyone was.

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Supportive of that, under the circumstances in 2023 keeping outdoor dining should be equitable for all.

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The definition of equitable, fair and impartial counselors, cook and bagley have.

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Presented you with a plan that is neither fair nor impartial to all of portsmouth.

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This outdoor dining plan, as it is written, is not equitable for all businesses in portsmouth.

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It selects a few restaurants in downtown and provides them with subsidized space for outdoor.

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Dining in order for a city to be vibrant, it needs not only restaurants but also small businesses.

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Downtown stores have complained about outdoor dining and its impact on their businesses.

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In order for outdoor dining to be equitable, all businesses downtown should be allowed to.

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Have subsidized space on the sidewalk or parking spots in front of their business.

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In order for outdoor dining to be fair to a butters living in close proximity to outdoor.

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Dining locations they should be notified and able to voice their concerns if they arise.

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Counselors cook and bagley have appeared to remove that option from their plan explaining.

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That they don't want residents to complain about outdoor dining councilor. Denton would like to.

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Raise the reduction in fees for those outdoor dining restaurants? Who compost? Where is the.

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Equity for all restaurants in portsmouth to be able to have composting subsidized by the city.

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As for restaurants, locating their outdoor dining in the flow of traffic, I'm not opposed to not.

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Allowing this, as I think it is very, it was very dangerous this summer. However, this plan does.

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Not allow streets to be closed for dining, with one exception. If the street gets an average of.

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Less than a thousand cars per day, apparently the counselors like to frequent a certain restaurant.

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Near hill street and would like the closure of that street to remain in effect, I should.

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Mention that the restaurant in question has two parking spots in front of their establishment. That.

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Could be used for dining? How is closing roads for certain restaurants, but not for others, impartial.

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You've heard of spot zoning well, this is spot zion, dining and now for the residents and taxpayers.

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Of portsmouth city hall staff have said that they feel that a fee of three thousand dollars.

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Per parking spot and ten dollars per square foot for other areas is equitable. The counselors have.

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Instead ignored the staff and want to change 15 to charge fifteen hundred dollars per spot or five.

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Dollars per square foot counselor, the counselors, I'm sorry, counselor, bagley and counselor cook- are.

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Not listening, mr bagley threw what equates to a temper tantrum at the last council meeting, because.

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He felt that the previous council did not listen to city staff concerning the mcintyre and yet.

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He or he is not listening to the recommendation of city staff as it relates to outdoor dining.

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Before you vote on outdoor dining, you need to do some work on how to make it equitable for all.

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Perhaps a public hearing on such an important topic as outdoor dining would be a good place.

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To start, thank you. Thank you. Liza you're. Welcome. Next up is esther kennedy on the topic of process.

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Esther kennedy, 41 pickering, f and I agree with everything liza has said.

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I was a little worried when I watched the fees committee that there was no vote taken.

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So when you sent it to the committee there, nothing came back in my mind because there.

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Was no vote or no motion even taken at the fees committee, so that was the one place we.

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Had public comment public outcome so that we could comment on whatever they were going to bring back.

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Right now we have a situation where we have something buried in a packet.

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And I do not believe a butters, no, that this is going on tonight. We have a snowstorm and we have.

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A bunch of small businesses that will not be able to take advantage of outdoor dining and I've been.

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Here numerous times and have said, I worry about those independent businesses that do not have.

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Parking up front because they're, not a restaurant, because you've taken it away for restaurants,.

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Where is the equity in this process for all portsmouth businesses? Where does it.

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Stand I really commend councilman because the last meeting she suggested that we left a butters know.

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And I would encourage you to do that right. The way I look at it is you buried it tonight. Mr bagley.

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Invited some of his friends- and I appreciate it's nice- to see other people here speaking.

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And all of a sudden, no one has alerted the people that are going to be really.

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Affected those people that are going to lose parking in front of their small businesses.

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So I ask you: what have you done to make sure their voice is heard.

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I'd like to hear it, thank you. Thank you, esther, next to peter huda, also on the topic of process.

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Hey toyota 280 south street good evening, mayor counselors.

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I'm here to speak in favor of outdoor dining, um I'm here to also question the process.

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um That occurred in last council and through the fees committee, and it's that's happening actually.

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Tonight last council meeting the mayor requested the outdoor dining fees and the whole uh proposal.

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Go back to the fees committee for a recommendation, I attended the fees committee meeting. There was.

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No vote on a recommendation. There was nothing that the public could see and yet tonight a.

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Rule or a new policy is in the packet. Is this process next thing I'd like to call to your.

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Attention there was a timely article yesterday and the portsmouth herald and what caught my eye.

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Was this was from the uh the commissioner of revenue for the state of new hampshire.

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And there was a whole bunch of graphs in here and underneath the graph. It said, restaurants.

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And overnight, rentals have recovered since the pandemic back to almost 2019 levels,.

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In the proposal that's coming forward here that the lengthy discussion that was that.

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Occurred in the fees committee and which is the same one, that's in the packet tonight.

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um Is discounting again now the problem with that, isn't that we don't want outdoor dining.

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The problem is, you went to the city manager last year and asked for advice and documentation. You.

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Went again this year and both times you discounted back to the same amount and this year, you're even.

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Cutting less and counselor denton is even adding another discount. Now I would ask you: is this fair.

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To all of the restaurants downtown is this fair to all of the retail all the lawyers, all the.

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Accountants, all of the hairdressers and everybody else downtown.

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I asked councilor denton after the meeting to take a look at what we are actually doing here.

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So tonight I ask you: I support outdoor dining, but I think this is an individual business decision.

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The amounts that are on here are not out of out of control, and the businesses have recovered.

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It's a total business decision on each one of their parts if they would like to participate.

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The residents should not be picking up the tab for our own public sidewalks again.

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I ask you to think about this and please look at your policies and your rules and I ask you.

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To follow those thank you. Thank you. Picha next, up uh mark brighton on gutter dining. Do.

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Mark prime portsmouth.

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uh The last time I pointed out that three of you have a problem, starting with councilor.

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Denton you've had business dealings with fox, so you should recuse yourself heck. You were even.

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Acting as though you were in your right mind at the fees committee meeting by even sitting there.

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Councilor bagley: oh wait! A second! Let's start with uh assistant mayor joe kelly.

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You should absolutely recuse yourself, you have a direct conflict, counselor bagley, you.

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Have the perception of a problem and it used to be in a galaxy far far away and many eons.

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Ago that if there was a mere perception of a problem, one had one recused oneself.

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Now, councilor blaylock last time I I said that you might have a problem, but uh you.

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Folks have had outdoor dining ever since your grandfather bought the place which.

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Seems like a hundred years ago now, but so none of you have to worry about.

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None of you have to worry about uh ethics problems, because this.

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Council, a matter of fact, this yeah, the mayor himself is ethically challenged, because I can't.

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Tell you how many times oscar and I have brought something up that was blatant, but.

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Nobody, no who didn't happen, and so you folks don't have to worry about that at all. But.

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Heck for the math for that matter, city staff by itself has no ethical, bearings.

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I mean councilor tabor, you had a problem and.

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The mayor, let you off the hook, good lord! How bad can this get.

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Thank you. Thank you mark uh next up uh rob capone on the cable commission excited about this. I'm.

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Sorry, I only have three minutes. um This is how we're gonna fix cell service in the in portsmouth.

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Yeah, I apologize first off that maybe it's not a completely appropriate it's in publix, but.

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Last time I know this is third reading uh on the ordinance change tonight, but I may have to leave.

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So I just thought you know: let me get in early so um anyway, like that, I'm going to read from a.

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Written statement just because I think it's gonna go smooth so anyway, I'm rob capone uh acting chair.

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Of the cable and telecommunications commission uh with me is jason hewitt who's, also a member as.

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You may know the cable commission is primarily charged with negotiating the cable franchise.

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Agreement, which is the current agreement, is from march 1st 2019 to february 29th 2024.. uh We also.

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Advocate for ports with residents when they have unresolved issues or complaints with their cable.

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Tv service- that's really the the and I'll be of most of our our responsibilities. In reality,.

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The majority of our time is spent negotiating the franchise agreement, which only renews the battery.

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Five years, the exact time frame is part of the agreement that is put into place once completed.

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Our responsibilities are relatively light over several cable commission meetings. Last year.

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We discussed that there was no real advocacy for portsmouth internet or cellular users and.

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Suggested that perhaps this could be addressed by the cable commission, the current membership of the.

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Cable commission, both individually and together, have come to several realizations. For starters, the.

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Current membership of the cable commission, jason ash chicory, luis luis rodriguez and myself are.

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Pretty technically savvy as more portsmouth residents cut the cord we're representing a.

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Decreasing percentage of the portsmouth population in the last 10 to 15 years, cellular and internet.

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Use has gone from a non-essential to indispensable service, while there is adequate competition for.

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Cellular service in the seacoast region, remarkable remarkably, there are some areas that have less.

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Than adequate seller coverage, for instance, in the parking lot of the portsmouth hospital, which we.

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Find interesting so anyway, um there is no real seller or at in internet advocacy group for.

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Portsmouth residents and lastly, there doesn't appear to be any kind of unbiased collection.

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Of information for cellular and internet users, so therefore we have suggested that the scope of the.

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Commission be expanded so that we may provide an increased service to the people. Portsmouth.

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Thank you very much rob you got it, of course, with resident yeah. Well, we got that at the beginning,.

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But thank you rob uh thank you, lewis and jason, and look forward to being able to do something when.

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People, email, the council and say our cell service is less than desirable, although they use different.

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Language uh than that um we're gonna is ian uh pictures. The interests are ua portsmouth. President.

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Oh yeah, all right, ian yeah, you're you're up how's it going good. How are.

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You good well, I I split time between portsmouth and utah. So if they're.

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Technically in the state of new hampshire requires you to think of yourself as a resident here so for.

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For those purposes, we'll let you go and that you're already talking about um I'm here to.

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Speak on uh outdoor dining, I was born and raised in portsmouth new hampshire, so I'm just going to.

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Read real quick what I wrote and then I have a couple thoughts to extrapolate on that as well.

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um Can you all hear me, okay, uh we can, and you have two minutes and 45 seconds.

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Sounds good, thank you. So, having grown up in portsmouth, uh I've witnessed tremendous change.

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In growth over the last 10 years and really my whole life, some for the better and some for the.

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Worse, if we remove outdoor dining, it certainly will go down as one of the worst decisions.

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For change that I can think of covet decimated service industry, but as a community we learned.

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To grow with it and adapt outdoor dining has been one of the strongest changes to come in the last.

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Few years for portsmouth, who makes portsmouth more walkable, more vibrant and more accessible.

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To those who are immune to compromised or who want to be outdoors well, it takes away direct parking.

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Spaces, it also pushes folks to park in our new garage the foundry garage and allows them to walk.

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And explore the town a bit more, which may lead to more business for non-restaurant businesses.

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Outdoor dining becomes an economic driver in that sense, as it gets more seedings restaurants and.

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Encourages more gathering and then allows people to walk, as I previously mentioned, it allows for.

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Those visiting our town by the thousands to see how beautiful our community has to become and how.

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Community oriented, we are or should be, the city in my opinion, is uh supposed to facilitate growth and.

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Accessibility of our local businesses. um If I feel that, if we're prioritizing parking spaces here and.

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There over income that goes directly to our local businesses and their owners and their employees.

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That that that's wrong um we've built a new garage, so I I feel that we should emphasize the use of it.

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And drive folks to park there, um and I hope that we can find a sustainable yearly practice for our.

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Restaurant owners and service staff members who rely on the summers and the busy summers for for.

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A lot of their annual income um to talk on that as well. I do want to just add: not only is it more.

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Accessible for those who are immunocompromised, but it's also more accessible for those who have.

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Mobility issues who may need mobility assistance with a walker, a wheelchair, as well as with service.

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Animals as a previous resident mentioned, um then, when it comes to the fee discussion, I feel it's.

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Important to note that- uh and this is in no way calling out any restaurants that are part of.

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Dining groups- or you know restaurant tours, but it will disproportionately affect mom and pop.

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Shops that maybe don't have as much capital um to pay the higher fee if we are raising the fee.

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um And and really what that does, is it's it's taking away money for those mom and.

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Pop restaurants, to um you know off the top of my head. Is my favorite restaurant fairbar square.

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um Off the top of my head, it takes away money for their space to be more.

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Welcoming they're uh to go towards their employees new equipment, they may need.

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um And then uh really, what happens is if a if a restaurant decides that they can't afford or.

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They, you know it really doesn't affect their bottom line as a as a business or as an owner.

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um To pay the increased fee, uh really, what that affects is the employees right. We have to take.

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Into consideration all the service members that you know comprise a large part of our town's.

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Workforce, that's a lot of income that they might lose right, three to four extra tables or four to.

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Six or six to ten extra tables, that's could be a whole other server. A member of our service staff.

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um Could or it could just be more income split amongst the servers that currently exists. Thank.

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You ian okay, thank you. I appreciate it have a great night. uh Next up is.

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Irish mike irish, mike you got to give your real name in city of residence.

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Although I guess I don't know, if legally you've changed your name to irish mike but yeah.

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Mayor this is uh michael hearn and I'm at orchard streets. Great. Can you hear yep? You have three.

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Minutes, hello, yep! You have three minutes yeah, I'm on orchestrated, I was. I was at the last city.

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Council meeting and I was very disappointed today- it was the last city council meeting was national.

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Law enforcement day and it brought up the fact to mention the the tank, the law enforcement officers.

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For the job, the great work they did and even after bringing it up it was there were never tanks.

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That that's one issue and another issue was uh when they, when they achieved it tomorrow, stepped.

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Down and they hired an informed chief, there was a big to do. He was lived in manchester and that the.

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Residents made the big door, but how come you lived in manchester and you're uh chief enforcement, but.

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He was, I don't think he he just had the interim chief and then when we hired the last cheese.

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Was hired populous contract, he had to reside in force, but and now we we come up to chief.

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Newport and one of the powerful is contracted in this contracted city council, approved in.

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January of 21, it states that he had to reside in portsmith and it was also giving him moving.

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Moving expense to live enforcement but since he took his chief's possession he's never recited.

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Him forced, but I know how come the city council hasn't looked into that and uh I think maybe that.

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That's something the the city council should look into. Maybe you can have a counselor cook.

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Look into that thing that she's got time to travel over people's first amendment rights.

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Maybe she can look into a fight the cheapest and reside in apartment and it's a violation of.

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His contract, it's ground sort of determination, so that I think that should be looked into and if, if.

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If the ap's got money for the living expenses and moving expenses, that.

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Should be returned to the city, thank you and bcf everybody. Thank you. uh Thank you. Mike.

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um You, uh you might have missed it a last meeting, but I thanked the police for uh on uh police.

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Officer appreciation day- and I also thanked you uh for bringing it to my attention um so uh with.

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That we've gotten through all the uh the speakers on zoom al uh uh fio, free to uh come up and and.

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Else so did you sign up? I did not so you have to sign up here, uh we'll go through the the.

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Speakers and then uh we'll, if we'll uh we'll, go see if how many folks are the reason, I ask you.

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To sign up because we give three minutes, we have 45 minutes uh for public comment.

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um So we try to allocate it if we had 50 or 100 speakers we'd shorten it. So we'll look through.

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I think we'll get you in, but uh al you're up. Next, hey everybody. uh My name is al fleury. uh I own the.

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Goat in uh right on congress street here uh we've been there for seven years. I'm grateful. uh I first.

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Hand witnessed the coven thing, the outside dining. It was a part of it when it first got started.

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um I'm not a citizen here, uh but I'm a property owner of a couple, different properties in town and.

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I own two businesses here and I I've been coming to portsmouth forever love portsmouth um and this.

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Decision that we, that you you all have to make tonight or soon was brought to me by our patrons.

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um We try to be, and we set out to be seven years ago, a positive contribution to the west end. uh The.

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Previous two businesses before us, uh unfortunately did not make it, um and we we've grown here.

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And um you know I I try to listen. I and I, and I listened to the the two nice ladies, that.

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That spoke before me and I don't want to rethink my business plan at all. But I certainly.

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You can't you can't forget what happened, and you can't just not look at what a great thing.

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That the outside dining has done for this city, in particular we're in multiple other cities. In this.

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City, you have that walking vibrancy that other cities would love to. Have you know it? I know you.

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Guys amongst above everyone else see that um the other woman spoke about the retail space, so we try.

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To be very respectful of our neighbors, so we had the majority, if not all email tonight, I actually.

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Have the last three or four I don't know if I can still submit these, but I have the last four retail.

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uh Butters of ours, so that's every butter.

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Because I feel, like that's very important as every location is different. You are also faced with that.

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Decision you know we have a very unique location because we're using space that we don't know and.

Q

We accept and are willing to pay for that space, perhaps again listening to kevin. I understand what.

Q

Kevin's saying kevin at dwyers we're happy to pay for that space. I don't I'm that's not my driveway.

Q

Like it is kevin, maybe his can be discounted. um There's something like that. Again, that's up to you.

Q

um I'm also like to just bring up the employment factor of this outside dining. We have to put in.

Q

We have to put on another three front of house, which is the waitresses uh portion of our of.

Q

Our staff for the outside dining that created a whole plethora of jobs for the last couple years.

Q

As well as a back of house position, more than 50 percent of our staff comes from portsmouth.

Q

um They're, repeat: kids, they're, good kids, they're, family people; they come in they're.

Q

Locals they walk to work. It's it's a really good thing. um Lastly, you know.

Q

I'd like to look at the hope that you would look at every every uh option for every.

Q

Specific outside dining application differently. um I know it's a hard decision and I guess I'd.

Q

Like to ask the board to maybe whether it's tenure or think about you know each individual.

Q

Without just you know, broad brushing everybody together. I understand that we're in a lane.

Q

um But you know again, we went out and did the diligence and spoke to the fire and police. uh You.

Q

Know in dpw I understand that's an ask from them, but we're willing to pay for the dpw portion and.

Q

Hoping that we don't infringe or ask any more of anybody else by taking up that lane and if it ever.

Q

Did become a problem, we'd be happy to back off and I'd recuse that application, but until it is.

Q

um But just like the opportunity to continue to be a good.

Q

um Driver for the west west end, we've never had a liquor violation. We don't get in trouble.

Q

The police we've: never we get along great with the fire department and we try to do a.

Q

Good job, thank you al all right um how many more people want to speak tonight. You raise your hand.

A

Okay, um just come up to the microphone state, your name um city residents and we'll yep. You go first.

A

I know your report's the president, so I am for the last 30 years, peter harris 249, islington street.

R

About outdoor dining, I think supporting business vitality is a great contribution to local.

R

Economy that restaurants are benefiting from some apparently very well, and I ask for you to consider.

R

What about, of course, with other businesses, what about the shops what's in it, for them.

R

From the city, some equivalent benefits should be provided in return. Why isn't this being discussed.

R

I hear I've heard some great points about it from eliza hewitt and from esther from petra. What, if.

R

Local shops had this benefit and the restaurants didn't. What would the conversation be? Like seems.

R

Like adverse selection, it's an insurance term, not a popular place, to be when you don't benefit.

R

Some restaurants have deep pockets and are capitalizing on this benefit as well to.

R

Further their advantage closing uh um and then closing in some streets by the clipper, uh where.

R

uh Pleasant street and court street between pleasant between court and state. That's tough.

R

But that's a frequently used traffic area and has been a tough spot to get around when that closes.

R

And then what about restaurants outside this business area in portsmouth? That.

R

Aren't getting this benefit just again seems like an adverse issue. Thank you. Thank you. Peter.

S

Hi, my name is alex showcat and I apologize. I didn't register ahead of time, but thank you.

S

For giving me a couple of minutes here and just your city residents, I'm a resident in portsmouth.

S

I live on monstering. Thank you. Thank you. I just want to say to the board and the mayor here thank.

S

You thank you. Thank you. Outdoor dining has been amazing, my wife and I we go out every night of the.

S

Week, sometimes too much, but we go out. We also do a lot of shopping. We do a lot of eating. We do a lot.

S

Of shopping, we have fun, we have friends who come in town, we love what you've done in fort smith, not.

S

Just with the outdoor dining, but everything else you guys are nailing it. Ladies, thank you. You've.

S

Done an amazing job in portsmouth here are some issues to be concerned about, but at the end of.

S

The day we have a great vibrant city, the best city in the world, in my in my mind, and I travel a ton.

S

I always come back to portsmouth and I'm happy to be home, and I just want to say thank you for.

S

All the restaurants, everybody you support in the residence, and I appreciate you listening. Thank you.

A

Thank you alex. I definitely agree best city in the world, um all right um with that. uh We're.

A

uh We're gonna go on, I don't maybe it makes sense. Yeah I'd like to move to spend the rules to bring.

T

Forward items 15b, which is the report back from the fees committee in outdoor dining and.

T

Then items 15, d1 and 2, which are counselor bagleys and cooks, items on outdoor dining.

T

There's second, second, all in favor, aye, aye, okay. So um what we did there we're talking.

A

About outdoor dining uh out uh out of order of the agenda, so we're going to talk about that now.

A

All right be committee, thank you, your honor um we did meet. We had I'll cover five topics.

U

The discussion we agreed, the fees should apply to the shorter season that we have in the motion now.

U

We agreed the fees should encourage outdoor dining as a larger economic good, and we envisioned fees.

U

Lower than the three thousand dollars per parking space that the staff recommended.

U

We talked about uh costs for a parking space, ranging from fifteen hundred to two thousand.

U

Dollars with rates per square foot aligned accordingly, um so that was our price range.

U

We clearly saw this as um a beneficial use of the public, the public walkways and and the streets.

U

um Which needs to outweigh simply the desire for to recover parking revenue.

U

And lastly, we talked about lane closures in the fee committee. We didn't have a consensus.

U

On that, that's a council decision we figured and we didn't have a consensus on the sidewalk fees.

U

And we can get into that later, but um that was the essence of our discussion. If counselor then wants.

U

To add and I'll simply add that we did not vote on moving anything forward because there wasn't.

T

A consensus so the default was counselor, bagley and counselor cook, bringing their motion back.

T

Has their own agenda correct, and it might be something to look for in the future of why we.

A

Have two people we might want to add a third person um just if the governance committee is.

A

Looking for things to do, we might, we might want to revisit having more than uh we'll.

A

Have odd numbers on that councilor, bagley and then council cook uh thank your honor.

V

um In light of uh council denton and counselor tavers uh explanation, I would motion to adopt the.

V

Outdoor dining policy, as described in the packet and if I get a second I'll speak to it second.

T

Is that out of order would we want to do item a first, the larger picture? Oh yeah? I would like.

V

To rescind my motion motion rescinded second counselor cook, um thank you, your honor, um we'll.

W

Start with the first motion um move to include the downtown area bounded by deer street. The.

W

Piscataqua river prescott park court street and maplewood avenue middle street in the redesign.

W

Of the market square in 2023, with the goal of enhanced pedestrian access with expanded, sidewalks.

W

Expanded sidewalk, dining throughout downtown and reduce traffic congestion, including a possible.

W

Redesign of traffic flow, including two-way traffic on state street. Second, any discussion.

A

Councilor cook, your motion. um Thank you, your honor, um I am just including.

W

We're including this motion as part of a discussion around outdoor dining, because.

W

We've heard repeatedly from residents that the desire is really to expand sidewalks in the city.

W

So that we can have more places in the city where we have outdoor dining without taking up parking.

W

Spots without taking uploading zones without taking lanes off the street- and we know that we.

W

Have challenges downtown with traffic and speeding and some of our roadways were designed at a time.

W

When the downtown was really a passageway to get through town, we wanted to enhance that passageway.

W

So that people could get through down quickly and now downtown is a destination place. So the.

W

Goal is to enhance the pedestrian walkability of the downtown, which would be in line with.

W

Our our bike, ped plans in the city and also to provide more space for sidewalk outdoor dining.

W

The market square redesign has been in the works for several years. It was postponed due to the.

W

Covet pandemic, we have an opportunity now we're looking at redesigning this. We want to make sure.

W

That in redesigning market square, we're thinking about all the streets around market square and.

W

How they feed into the market square in the long run, so that is the goal of this motion.

A

And councilor cook councilor blaylock we'll go up the line. uh Thank you. Honor.

N

um And I know this has been in the cip, um it has been delayed. I know we.

N

Want to delay changing market square until after we celebrated the 400th anniversary.

N

um My only worry on this and I'm all for uh making market square downtown area better and.

N

Incorporating all these other improvements that we are making these other changes, this outdoor dining.

N

um I'm all for making downtown more pedestrian friendly, and I know city staff is supposed to.

N

Look at um the two possible two-way traffic on state street. My only worry here is: um I don't.

N

Know what we're trying to do three things at once? If we're you know if this is going to cost money,.

N

um The taxpayer- or you know that's that- was my concerns here- that we're.

N

We're trying to do too much stuff and it's going to cost the taxpayer and.

N

Concerns thanks councilor by luck, uh councilman! Yes, thank you mayor um the assistant mayor and.

X

I at the edc, meeting brought uh this up as well and there's interest there to.

X

um Have the edc look at it from a business point of view in those areas I they have not moved to.

X

Reduce anything specific, but I would hope that we could look at look for them or to you know,.

X

Give us some advice. Come back to the council with some advice from a business point of view.

X

Thank you. Councilman party sounds a good idea: uh councilor bagley yeah. I think you're honor and.

V

Thank you counselor cook, for bringing this forward. I think on parking traffic and safety we just had.

V

A fleet street redevelopment presentation, which is still a couple years away and realistically.

V

Speaking market square redevelopment is a couple years away because of the 400 and because of how.

V

Long time takes to plan so, if you're looking at this view from 30 000 feet, you're totally redoing.

V

Fleet street you're totally redoing market square. It may make sense to incorporate congress street.

V

Which connect those two plus one more block to get to the intersection as part of doing all,.

V

Three things, maybe not necessarily at once, but the planning and layout and design all together as one.

V

Package and I think that's I don't want to speak for council click, but that that certainly was my.

V

Hope is that we design all these things together and then maybe we implement them phased if need be.

A

Thank councilor, begley assistant mayor, thank you. My question would be for city manager.

Y

And potentially dpw director peter rice have we done a study before and if so, when was the last.

Y

One, my understanding is that we have done with one within the last potential decade or so of a of the.

Y

Two-Way um conversion of the two of the two-way on state street. Let me take that and say that we've.

Z

Hired a consultant to look at that uh this, the results are still pending. We expect a preliminary.

Z

Report back from them, but if I may, since I have the microphone, I just want to mention that this is.

Z

um The the effort contemplated in this motion is a whole lot, bigger than the amount of money.

Z

We have set aside currently, which is a hundred thousand dollars. There is fifty thousand dollars.

Z

More in the current cip request for fy24, but that we just put in as a placehold holder to understand.

Z

The implementation of additional public space for outdoor dining within the current footprint of the.

Z

Scope of work, if the scope of work were to expand to include this entire area, we would need a great.

Z

Deal more amount of money, it almost amounts to a downtown master plan, so we we would just want.

Z

The council, to be mindful of that, if the ask is bigger, the the need for dollars will be bigger.

Z

Thank you, city manager, counselor denton, thank god, I'm in full support of exploring. What's.

T

Possible downtown for years, I love the concept of potentially closing downtown.

T

Topicular traffic during certain parts of the day, like a lot of cities, do I think this is a.

T

Big step in that direction, and the first step would be a study and, like the same andrew, just.

T

Said that in the cip, there's currently plans to continue doing the study and the question would.

T

Then become how much would we have to increase funding in the upcoming year? For that study by I.

T

Think uh playing to and sustainability director peter britt said probably around fifty thousand.

T

Dollars, but if it's more, I think this city would be willing. I can't speak for other counselors.

T

Might be willing to consider spending that money in the cip to see what a study comes back with.

A

I think council denton council um well considering I actually was the one who.

AA

Brought up the study for the state street to move the southbound traffic and make it.

AA

Two-Way you're paying for it, I was originally my request of which is what is being worked on now.

AA

And I'm very eager to get the results of that request, but I do feel like that was step. One.

AA

um I think this is definitely maybe a really big bite of the apple to chew to plant it all.

AA

At once, I get the idea of wanting to, but I think taking it in steps in step. One would be to get the.

AA

Traffic flow of route 1 from the bridge down state street once we do that, then I'm all for looking at.

AA

Especially from market square down congress street, how we can make that a little bit more like what's.

AA

In front of the music hall someplace, you can drive, you can park, you can have outdoor dining be just.

AA

Much more multi-usable space that has really most days only one lane of traffic, because.

AA

It doesn't have route one coming through it. You drive to go somewhere, you don't drive through it.

AA

um So that's always been my thought process in looking at the whole redesign, so opening.

AA

This up, as long as you know, we're not biting off more than we can chew in order to get it.

AA

Done maybe even designing needs to be done in phases. Maybe we take market square down.

AA

Congress as phase one and then look at expanding outside inside those areas for a future phase.

AA

But that would be I just don't want us to bite off more than we can chew all at the same time,.

A

Yeah, so on that I have a, I guess, a quick question for either counselor cook or counselor bagley.

A

Counselor bagley, you did say it at the beginning it you know it makes sense to include congress.

A

Which is connecting market square and fleet street, but the scope of this is significantly more.

A

Than that, where I would definitely agree, we should you know you know, take all um you know roads into.

A

Rome there uh you know pleasant uh market congress. I don't know if you know this seems like a.

A

Downtown master plan, more than expanding the scope of market square uh to include the the inlets and.

A

Outlets of market square either one of you want to take. I guess why it grew to include all of the.

A

Downtown in the market square redevelopment councilor cook, thank um thank you. You're.

W

What I was trying to do is to encompass all the streets that people would be traveling.

W

On in order to reach market square, so you don't want to do a design for market square that then.

W

Is not appropriate once you decide to change a street, that's approaching market square or.

W

Change a direction of a street life state street, or once you decide to maybe expand sidewalks on.

W

Congress street, you want to make sure that the planning for market square fits with the planning.

W

All around market square, so I think that we have to be thinking very deliberately in the market.

W

Square plan, it impacts all the streets around it, so I just want to be really really careful and and.

W

That's why we left the bounds that big! That's why I did in that motion. It wasn't because we.

W

Needed to do planning on middle street or we need to do planning on court street or.

W

We need to do planning on bose street necessarily piscataways, that we need to be thinking about the.

W

Market square is encompassing the area around it as well and be planning within that area.

A

And and just for uh go to council moreau um or counselor tabor did you have your hand out? Okay,.

A

I'll go here in a second just for folks that are are tuning in at home and hearing us talk about.

A

Market square and where we're studying streets, I just want to highlight we're talking about this.

A

Because um it impacts outdoor dining and the decisions that we're going to make future if.

A

We can fit parking and outdoor dining in there because we widen the sidewalks and.

A

Narrow the streets and everybody's happy and we all go home. um So that's why we're having.

A

This conversation first, because we want to put that out there that we're thinking.

A

About eventually, you know in 10 years and we have outdoor dining, what does it look like.

A

um Because you know it's, I think our significant hope it doesn't look like a ton of jersey, barriers.

A

uh Out in our downtown, that would be the you know: the the long-term goal, but counselor tabor.

A

Thanks shirana, um before we get to a total, no street left behind approach. It's.

U

You know every time we expand pedestrian space and sidewalks. We win. That was true when we first.

U

Did market square in the 70s? I think that's the opportunity that the market square study.

U

It seems we've got two competing elements that might be better done separately. Would it make.

U

Sense well I'll, ask this as a question of city manager. Would it make more sense to take an.

U

Expanded market square look at the streets in that vicinity from the point of view of where can we.

U

Expand sidewalks: where can we make more pedestrian space and then separate from that? We have traffic.

U

Studies on two laning and of state street- and things like that, so you know maybe not try to.

U

Go down both tracks at once, but first where's our opportunity to make the city more pedestrian fan.

U

Friendly and create more experience for people on foot to dine, to walk to do whatever, and that may.

U

Guide what space is available for traffic flow? Would that make sense? I certainly think that's.

Z

Reasonable, if that's the direction, the council asks staff to go on that. That makes a lot of sense.

A

Council table you got that in a motion, or so I would uh propose a friendly amendment that we.

U

Expand the market square study.

U

To the streets that you've defined from the point of view of increased pedestrian and sidewalk usage.

U

Followed by traffic study of circulation and possible two-way streets that are now one way.

A

Is that friendly amendment council cook with counselor bagley, I'm okay with it, but I have.

V

A question and okay, um I believe the two-way study in state street might already be underway.

V

So maybe we could take that last component of your friendly amendment not be sequential yeah.

AB

Or maybe just remove the other aspects of study, we're not going to change a two-way.

A

Street just like in a vacuum guys like they're, not I mean we'll we'll do the study the whole.

A

Study includes everything else, so I think councilor tabor, if you leave it at you, know.

A

Expanding the pedestrian and walkability uh as a part of the greater market square area is.

A

Defined by congress pleasant and market, uh we got a winner. Let's go with that. I said councilor cook.

W

um I I think, also daniel. You have to be thinking about daniel too oh yeah yeah. It does that does.

A

Connect in there, I want to make sure that we're thinking about all the streets that um hit yeah.

A

Daniel's definitely comes into market square for sure, yep, so daniel market pleasant congress. Thank.

B

You to be included in the study of market square and city man and maybe um from a a cip standpoint.

A

We ask for a report back on the cost estimate of that for the next work session on the cip.

A

Is that fair city manager? I think it is um if, if peter rice had the microphone, he.

Z

Would remind folks that the two items are actually interconnected and it's hard to determine widening.

Z

Or narrowing opportunities, without directly and and in a correlating manner, determining the impact.

Z

To traffic, so let us put together a comprehensive report back for you if that makes sense. Okay, okay,.

Z

Happy to do that all right, so we're now voting on uh an amended uh motion to include these.

A

Streets as a report back ahead of our next cip meeting, if possible, which is the next.

V

Meeting, which is the next question I was going to say that's wednesday, so is that I know it's.

Z

That's budget, oh okay, hearing is on february 6th. Okay, we all in agreement or all in favor.

A

Aye any opposed. Okay. Thank you. I think we need to pass the main motion now.

V

No because that was a friendly amendment, oh you're right. We made them up these friendly amendments.

A

Val hates them she's got to go back and change her notes. Any clerkates. These friendly amendments.

A

But we I love them, but they are so supportive of us. Thank you um all right. um The floor is still.

A

Yours uh counselor cook and counselor bagley for the real meat and potatoes for the next.

A

uh Sample motion to move to adopt the attached proposed policy on outdoor dining. I moved to.

V

Approve next sorry move to adopt and the attached proposed policy and outdoor dining.

V

Hopefully, second and then I'll speak to it very quickly. I think we've talked about this since.

V

Early december, probably three or four council meetings we talked about in the fee committee.

V

We received over 200 emails by my calculations. 141 of them were residents 96 of those emails.

V

Were in favor of outdoor dining, some emails were short. Some were quite lengthy. The only.

V

Other topic that really came up for discussion in any significant way was the traveled lanes.

V

Outdoor dining and we received just under 50 regarding that and 67 percent were in favor.

V

Which means the remainder were opposed, the other two things that came up, but not in any.

V

Significant number was the the fees and the seasons. There really wasn't a lot of.

V

Discussion about that, just a few emails touched on both of them, so I think we've got a very solid.

V

Framework that we can move forward with tonight. The other thing I would mention is you know this.

V

Happened in 2020 there was a group of people put together by bob white called the design.

V

Alliance professionals and they put together a fantastic pdf of how we bring outdoor dining to.

V

Our downtown without closing any streets- and I would say, there's probably a thousand hours of.

V

Of architects engineers street people like uh people that just really knew their craft put.

V

This all together and when the city council approved the task force. I believe it was the.

V

Very first tax force meeting, they got this document and they were able to hit the ground.

V

Running with this document, so that's kind of how this all started over the past three years, we've.

V

Adjusted and evolved it. This will be year four, so I'm not making that motion tonight.

V

But I would say uh we should pass something tonight and then we should midpoint of the.

V

Summer, bring it back for three readings and an ordinance, because I think we'll have four.

V

Years of data and we'll know if we'll be passed tonight, is working or not working.

A

Thank council bagley councilor cook. Thank you, your honor, in introducing this city council policy.

W

I wanted to preface the discussion tonight by letting everyone know that we came forward with.

W

This policy, because we wanted to strike a balance between um continuing outdoor dining, as is which.

W

Is kind of um my preference, not changing fees, not changing and finding balance with the report.

W

Back we received from the planning department, so what you find in the policy is a little bit of.

W

Give here and there, um where we were, we made some compromises based upon city recommendations that.

W

Doesn't mean that we took all the recommendations and I think it's really important- that.

W

um Reflect reflect on what this does for the the outdoor dining policy in general it it brings us.

W

um Basically, to a position where we're looking at a policy rather than just an annual renewal.

W

um It has us thinking about what do we want it to look like in the future, which was uh part of the.

W

Outdoor dining presentation to us that we need to be thinking about what it looks like downtown and.

W

Making that consistent across the city- but it also keeps the fees at 1500 and five dollars per square.

W

Foot in an effort to allow restaurateurs the extra funds that they might need this year to upgrade.

W

Their space to fit with the design guidelines- and we know it's fairly expensive to do that- we know.

W

That put building a platform, as we've been told by one restaurant or cost six thousand dollars.

W

So um because we know that that's expensive, we don't want to increase fees and ask for.

W

Restaurateurs, at the same time, to also come up with more money.

W

To make their space more accessible and we want outdoor dining to be accessible to everyone.

W

So I think it's very important that when you're thinking about this realize that it is a balance.

W

And we were trying to strike the right balance here. Thank you. Councilor cook assistant, mayor.

Y

Thank you. Your honor, I would ask legal, as I did last year, um is if, as we know, I own a coffee shop.

Y

As I have from since 2018 downtown before outdoor dining on street, we used what um the city has.

Y

Always had which is their outside cafe, so we have always had outdoor um seating. So I would ask legal.

Y

Is if if they advise, whether I vote or not vote on this or the ability to vote or not vote on this.

AC

So um the crux of the issue is whether you're going to have additional.

AC

um Income from this, and that would affect your vote and if you, if you would be any different.

AC

From any other business owner downtown, which you would not be, um and the direct.

AC

Impact into your business is speculative at best, so I would say legally, you do not.

AC

Have a conflict of interest, but if it's up to you to decide how you feel about that.

Y

Thank you and moving on from that. If I may, your honor it's been touched on a few times.

Y

Tonight about retailers, uh if those who have been pawn along months ago, I actually brought up the.

Y

Idea of potentially opening up this program to retailers and asked at that time for the.

Y

Planning department to look into that too. I think it's very important uh in front of me. I have a.

Y

Few letters from retailers I would just like to comment on one of them: the owner of moonshine, mary.

Y

Wrote in that, um in summary, it massively slows down traffic in front of her business, which she.

Y

She appreciates she feels that sometimes she sees people zooming down congress at all times of the.

Y

Year and she's noticed a huge change when the seating zone is in place. She believes it creates.

Y

A safer zone in front of her business and in the end of congress, it's a huge draw for tourists and.

Y

Locals it's generally lovely and enjoyable. I think it's important too that we remember that.

Y

Well, outdoor dining was started this portion of outdoor dining. I think it's also very important.

Y

To remember that we've had outdoor dining we've had sidewalk dining in the city for a very long.

Y

Time so when we discussed this new expansion of of outdoor dining, it is on it's the on street version.

Y

Or edition of outdoor dining, I think sometimes that gets lost in our in our memory that we have.

Y

Had sidewalk cafe and outdoor dining for a really long time, it is important that we also look at.

Y

As as counselor tabor said and has been said, numerous times, the walkability, the vibrancy of.

Y

Our town, it is more than just the speculative benefit of of restaurant owners or restaurant.

Y

Tours it's about the long-term viability and what we really would like our city to be.

Y

um And I I think it's very very important that we that we understand and acknowledge that there are.

Y

Plenty of retailers who also do support this, and it's it's very important that we do not.

Y

um And and I think from as counselor bradley said over the 200 emails that we have received.

Y

um It's very important that we don't place parking over over the desires of our residents. It's also.

Y

Very clear, uh as councilor bagley has has shared with us, that park in revenue was up so as we as.

Y

We talk about the pros versus cons in fees. um We know, there's no lost parking revenue that that is.

Y

A point blank uh fact, so I think you know, as as we look to balance what our fees are going to be. We.

Y

Also have to look at the community we're trying to create, and I think it's very important that that.

Y

For me, in any vote that I cast will be the leader of the reason to support or not support outdoor.

Y

Dining and the expansion of the program. Thank you very much assistant mayor, councilor, denton,.

T

Thank you. I have a question for the same manager and then a comment how much revenue was generated.

T

This past year by the dining establishments which impeded a flow of traffic lane.

Z

The answer to that question is just over twenty five thousand.

Z

Dollars and that would include one two, three four five restaurants.

Z

Six really because two are combined over twenty five thousand. Thank you and if I may make a motion.

T

I motion to delete the first sentence in paragraph four and to re-establish the diagonal crosswalk at.

T

The intersection of congress and middle street and if there's a second, I could speak to that.

T

And I'll gladly read what that first sentence was so the public notice. Second, uh would you.

A

Mind just reading the the motion or the the new paragraph as uh would be constructed so.

T

Paragraph four prohibited would then simply read and circumstances in which street closure will.

T

Cause a burden to public safety operations. The city manager has the authority to deny the permit.

AA

Oh, so I get it and like it so she makes the decision, not us. Okay, if I speak to that so.

T

This would eliminate the requirement which is creates regarding the one below one thousand.

T

Dollar, one thousand vehicles per day, so this would essentially mean at the same average discretion.

T

Due to safety concerns outdoor dining, where it existed, this prior year would still be able to.

T

Exist in travel lanes, even if impacted and the reasons for me combining these two items, this in.

T

Diagonal cross walk is several fold. um First, it's more fair to all of the establishments.

T

That they'll be able to put in for outdoor dining. Second, as the same manager just said,.

T

Those establishments actually generated twenty five thousand dollars of revenue for the city.

T

um Third, uh as this is the mayor just said, when the businesses commented as outdoor dining slows.

T

Vehicles down so the restaurants on congress, slow down all the traffic approaching that.

T

Intersection making it far more safe, however, when it comes to that intersection itself and.

T

I know the parking traffic and safety committee are currently looking at it. They've got numerous.

T

Complaints about it the way it's now set up, I think it's a staggered where people are.

T

Turning people don't necessarily know what's going on, which makes it safer. By all intents.

T

If you don't know, what's going on you're going to slow down when you approach an intersection.

T

However, it doesn't feel safe and if people don't feel safe approaching an intersection.

T

They're simply not going to think it's safe and if we went back to the way the intersection used.

T

To be set up where all four directions stop travel and then people could cross in any.

T

Which direction they want makes far more sense if the outdoor dining was allowed.

T

To continue in front of flatbread that go in jumping jace that way all traffic stops.

T

And people could then cross because it's no longer impeding a line of vision. We've got peter rice.

A

I've asked peter to come down because I think we have two issues of play here when you no longer.

Z

Allow that third travel lane as a viatic use and you shut it down for dining, coupled with an all.

Z

Stop, which would be the only other alternative at that large intersection that will create.

Z

Massive traffic problems I'm going to let peter correct that that would cue up that would push the.

AD

Queue back across fleet street um the the whole discussion relative to um that intersection and.

AD

The pedestrian signals is, is a perception issue: we've reviewed traffic safety data reviewed video.

AD

Pre-Changing of that intersection and we've seen a reduction in jaywalking we've seen a reduction.

AD

In in potential accidents- and it has not made things more dangerous, it has improved the function.

AD

Of that intersection, it is a perception that is really um it's a change that people don't like.

AD

It's it's very difficult for us to our department. I'm sorry, mr mayor, it's very difficult for our.

AD

Department to to continue to evaluate this and continue to explain and show that the data.

AD

Doesn't support the opinion that this is not a safe, functioning, uh pedestrian intersection.

AD

So um on that, and and I would ask uh councilor denton to uh hopefully remove this portion of.

A

That, because it's going to get kind of well out over our skis in terms of us uh making decisions.

A

From a uh the one time I really felt like I I messed up on the council, I mean I felt I'm sure.

A

That others think many many other times, but on the fly I asked for it, I asked for a a crosswalk or a.

A

Lighted crosswalk at some council meeting a couple years ago, then I went hat in hand and apologized.

A

To the pts, for you know, kind of usurping the power we have a process to go through that. If.

A

We wanted to bring it back. I would say peter on that. I would hope to be able to see that the.

A

The cross, the the flashing beacon for the walk sign, was closer to the yellow arrow, as it is.

A

uh Down on the intersection of maplewood and deer street, it's it's further away. It's under it's! It's.

A

Much further way, actually, if it could be closer, I think cars would be more aware of that. But again.

A

A separate conversation- and I would hope that we could- we could pull this out and have a discussion.

A

Simply on giving the city manager the authority to approve or deny traveling requests. Thank you.

T

Dpw director prsi are in agreement, that's perception, but I will withdraw the second half of.

T

My motion, so it will simply read motion to delete the first sentence in paragraph four of the policy.

AB

And there's a second degree that who is the second on that assistant mayor? Yes,.

A

Okay, um any uh so before I uh no we'll go actually I'll state this, because this is how this is played.

A

Out in the past, and it's worth uh before, we have any discussion if the city manager feels as though.

A

She has a um a uh the decision that could go either way. That's going to come back before the.

A

City council, much as it had from the standpoint of uh the outdoor dining uh the expansion of.

A

um uh What are we call it? What is it now? um The uh uh I really don't want to call.

A

It breaking your grounds, um uh tuscan market, um teddy's, lunch, so yeah the uh cafe brioche.

A

um So uh so, knowing just to be clear, it's not, we don't pass things the city manager, uh because we.

A

Don't want to make the decision, the decision is going to come back to us, because this is a.

A

Split where I would be supportive of this is, I think, a thousand cars is such an arbitrary.

A

Number as to not be arbitrary, and it includes one and it doesn't include the other, you know.

A

Ones- and I don't think that we should be in the the position of making decisions based on.

A

uh You know what's gonna, how do we define it so it it kicks them out? I would like to see.

A

um But that's it that uh counselor bagley we'll go to you thanks your honor. I will.

V

um Speak first to the intersection, um I believe at 6 30 on february, 2nd we're going to have a.

V

Parking traffic and safety meeting and hopefully we'll have a presentation on that intersection.

V

And yet another explanation, explanation of what a leading pedestrian interval is versus an all-stop.

V

Interval, what happens at that intersection? Is, it feels more dangerous and there are.

V

Actually, more conflicts like when somebody goes to take that right, there'll be people.

V

On the sidewalk and they get upset, however, if you look at it over a long period of time,.

V

That conflict doesn't result in a death or a serious injury. The vast majority of time.

V

When somebody has to wait a very long time for a crosswalk signal signal what they will do not.

V

Everybody, but statistically what most people will do is they will cross against the signal.

V

And if they get hit, when they're crossing against the signal that traffic's moving at 30 40 miles.

V

An hour and they have a very high likelihood of a very serious injury or death, so it feels less safe.

V

um And we can't really fix that. However, statistically and with the over 100 hours.

V

Of videotape review that our traffic engineers have looked at, it is a safer intersection from.

V

The the standpoint of serious injuries and deaths, so I I just wanted to put that out there because.

V

I know it comes up a lot. um I I would support this motion. I think the thousand dollar number is a bit.

V

Or a thousand card number is a bit arbitrary. We had a situation where uh one establishment.

V

Out of the five that did on street dining actually had the ability to use parking spaces.

V

In front of their restaurant, but it wouldn't really make sense because the adjacent area.

V

um Just it just makes more sense for a lot of reasons, for instance, when hill street is closed. We.

V

Have a problem in that neighborhood where people park and then walk into town. So when they're.

V

Looking for parking at the bridge street lot, they don't find it. They go past till street. They turn.

V

Into that neighborhood park and walk out, if you close hill street in the summertime, when this is.

V

The biggest issue those people go on to the garage and park there and I will say the um there was an.

V

Overwhelming amount of support from the islington creek neighborhood, I would say in the emails so.

V

That that's always a good thing and I'm rambling, I'm sorry uh all right so yeah. I guess I would.

A

Say I'll support this uh counselor cook? uh Thank you. Your honor. um We put in this limitation.

W

Due to the request from the planning director and the report to the council, um there was concern.

W

uh About traffic flow downtown, specifically in certain locations and the locations that.

W

um I get the most complaints about as a city councilor and then I received the most complaints.

W

About are pleasant street and fleet street, and that's who we've heard from too in emails is.

W

People concerned about uh road closures or changes basically changes in traffic direction, because.

W

You're eliminating lane, so you can only go one way um on both pleasant and fleet street. I haven't.

W

Received the same response on congress street, but then again on congress street, we are not changing.

W

The flow of traffic, we still have two lanes going in the same direction. They've always been going so.

W

There might be another way to address this, rather than just eliminating the requirement, rather than.

W

Adding a stipulation that it changes the flow of traffic as well or the direction of traffic.

W

On that street city manager, your honor, I I think I would want to stand firmly on the side of staff.

Z

And the recommendation we've made year after year, uh post 2020, when this was no longer under the.

Z

Exec the emergency order of the governor, in that um the only use for biotic ways are vehicular use.

Z

It's not appropriate, it's not safe, it impacts, travel flow and from a across the board,.

Z

Perspective staff and I do not support dining in the travel lane, so I would not want the authority.

Z

To have to weigh in on that, because I would say no to all of them and and we'd be back here in front.

Z

Of you, so I just want to make that very clear that, in order to support the recommendation.

Z

Of staff this would be the third year recommend supporting the recommendation. I I would not want.

Z

That authority, because I would tell you that I would not allow dining in the traveling on in any.

Z

Circumstance, council, brother, thank you honor um and I I support the staff's recommendations um on.

N

This I do I like to think of myself as a man about town, I usually in downtown at least once a day.

N

um But I know a lot of these business owners. I know a lot of patrons. I know a lot of presidents, the butters, the shop owners, um I've gotten most people support.

N

Congress, street and hill street I think most do not support pleasant street and uh fleet street.

N

That is the percent that is feedback, I've gotten and that's that's what I will support.

A

So um so is uh how the sausage gets made. um What if we had a.

A

What if we expanded the the scope of the um the market square study so as to have a trial.

A

With a reduced travel lane on congress street, allowing for more uh more dining on the the.

A

West end of that, you know because I guess, like the um always try to make this move towards a.

A

Permanent solution, one that doesn't have jersey barriers that doesn't have um you know high.

A

Very well designed but uh hard to see around platforms that are difficult to.

A

Maneuver around, if we were to have as part of the first study, the cip.

A

Come back and say, we'd like to investigate looking at congress street in particular.

A

um To narrow that that travel lane uh would that change your opinion city manager on the.

A

um On the the only vehicular use of the the road it would, but we, but it wouldn't be be something.

Z

To be done in this in this dining season to study it and then to implement it, um you know.

Z

As many of us have talked about, it might make a whole lot of sense to make congress street a.

Z

Whole lot less wide for vehicles. You've got a ton of roadway width, all the way from market square.

Z

At least down to fleet street, where it starts to pinch down, you really could take advantage of a.

Z

Whole lot of things, but they, but those aren't things that we could a design and b implement.

Z

In this construction season, so I'm just being the realist, I'm not looking to squash outdoor dining.

Z

um I'm looking to support the safest routes, you know use of the streets and that's in consultation.

Z

With the staff, so the council could decide certain streets to do this on and not to do this on.

Z

um But if left to me, I would, I would say no to all of them and they would come back to you.

A

Got some more, it was my concern that putting the city manager in that position to make that final.

AA

Decision so could we implement if somebody wishes to do something in a travel way, that.

AA

They automatically that application has to come before us with the public hearing. So.

AA

That we can hear what the public really wants for specific restaurants and what.

AA

They're proposing would that be a bad idea, just throwing it out there for discussion, foreign.

A

Do you have an idea, whether that's good or a bad idea? I have an idea how to.

T

I guess eliminate the city manager's concern about her having final decision.

T

When she's already decided, which would be just eliminating paragraph four altogether,.

T

Which would still leave with her the authority to set additional restrictions and requirements.

T

In paragraph five, but it would not put her in the box where the city council.

T

Would vote one way and then she would be put in the position to do the opposite.

A

Okay, so I don't know if it's the in city manager can uh certainly speak for herself. But if I were.

A

To paraphrase what I heard it wasn't that it's a you know if there's not a desi, you know she's.

A

Not afraid of making the decision or chirking away, she thinks it's a bad idea to put dining.

A

In travel lights, um I think the where we are in agreement, uh at least from what I can tell it's.

A

A bad idea to close travel lanes in a without any ability to reroute uh cars, meaning pleasant.

A

And food street: that's where we got the vast vast majority of complaints and we are beholden to.

A

You know people that that want to see their will executed executed executed through uh through us.

A

um Where I believe the staff has been clear is that any travel lane you know outside of a.

A

um A pandemic is going to be a bad, a bad idea, so um the idea of bringing it before the council you.

A

Know we can always overrule as we've done the last three years, but I don't know. If that's I don't.

A

Know, city manager, that paraphrase you well enough, you did, and in the previous years it was when, when.

Z

um The the direction or the flow of traffic was reversed or changed correct. um I think just.

Z

To give my opinion, I think it would be awfully unwieldy to have a public hearing every time there.

Z

Was a request to it? It really would put the burden on the council to act and would put the burden on.

Z

The restaurants to act in a timely fashion, I think it's just less clean to do it. That way.

AB

Foreign, perhaps I could make a suggestion uh to councilor denton that he proposed uh resent his motion and.

V

Proposed two new ones, namely that we allow uh on street dining for all restaurants. That previously.

V

Had it, and if that were not to pass, he could make a second motion specific to congress street.

A

But that's a I mean I would say that that's, not a policy like we're we're working on. We can't.

A

Have the policy of you know, would why don't we start where we have an agreement uh if we changed.

A

Paragraph four to establishments may not conduct outdoor dining uh that closes a trap line period.

Z

Or changes the flow of traffic or changes the flow or eliminates.

AA

Changes the direction of traffic changes that changes the direction of traffic.

T

The questions with that include narrowing and eliminating the left turn lane on congress street.

A

um Establishments may not conduct outdoor dining that reverses the flow of traffic period.

T

So we would just reverse his direction. I'm I'm fine with that.

AB

Okay and if that in concert, coco get through one second, if that we still might not see.

A

um The outdoor dining in a travel lane through administrative discretion.

A

um But it allows the conversation to continue, which is I'm sensing. The will of the council.

A

Councilor cook your honor, um I'm fine with that, but I would make sure that we include the rest.

W

Of the phrase there, except on any street or way in which the traffic count is below a thousand.

W

Cars per day and with such additional and special conditions and like so we keep that there and the.

W

Reason that I'm asking to keep the rest of it is that we didn't have complaints about hill street.

W

And hill street effectively stops the flow of traffic, so you don't want to get into a.

W

Position where you're um by accident, getting rid of a location that benefits the neighbors and stop.

W

Slow traffic, I think that the the recommendation is fine, otherwise, because it still works.

A

Stopping and reversing are different, but.

A

um Council bluff, thank you um possibly, we could suggest.

N

Any two-way street does not eliminate one of the directions would that work.

N

No, it was a day of the hill street, I'm just trying to find it yeah. I don't well, it seems like we're.

A

um The the complaints we got mostly were in front of pleasant and um and and fleet street.

Y

Which turned two way into one way. This is, I don't know it's illustrated two-way or one way.

V

They're both normally two-way and they were reduced to or trains to one way and that.

V

Seems to be the genesis of the complaints right, but hill street and uh seriously yeah.

Y

If you keep the thousand cards in there, then you cover that section yeah. I guess the.

A

All right any other.

A

Cancer done yep bye, changing impedes a travel lane to reverse his travel lane. I believe.

T

The assistant mayor is correct in saying that it would not impact hill street if we keep the.

T

Remainder, except on any street or way in which the traffic count is below 1 000 cars per day.

T

Because that essentially says you can't reverse travel, but if it's less than a thousand cars a day.

T

Then you could actually impact it, so that would address the concern of reversing travel on fleet.

T

Street and on pleasant street because it reverse, if it's over a thousand but hill, would be an.

T

Example, where it's under a thousand so simply by changing the word again impedes to reverses this.

T

Would essentially just eliminate outdoor dining on fleet and pleasant point of the letter. Mr mayor.

AC

I think we have four or five motions on the floor and um we may want to have some of those rescinded.

AC

um And and go forward with the latest uh yep so val. Where are we right now, so I actually only have.

B

The main motion, and then I have councilor denton's.

B

Part of it and then the mayor, informally added yeah. I didn't make a motion. So, okay.

B

um I was waiting for maybe the second to make things cleaner, I'll, withdraw my initial amendment.

T

And if there's a second second I'll, simply amend.

T

The word impedes to reverses so just change. Those two words got it.

B

And the remainder of that whole, the remainder would paragraph stays, stays the same. Okay,.

A

Council cook, uh your honor, um I I wanted to address this concern around the thousand cars.

W

And the concern that this is arbitrary, this number wasn't actually arbitrary. I came up.

W

With this number, based upon the traffic flow numbers that counselor tabor had requested, he.

W

Asked what was the traffic flow on these streets and they were just over 2 000 cars per day, so we.

W

Knew we were getting complaints at 2, 000, plus cars per day, so then I said well then list half.

W

That number, let's get to a thousand and anything below a thousand we're, probably not going to get.

W

Complaints on you know it's because these are high flow traffic areas that we received the complaints.

W

So if there's concern around that number, that's that's where it came from. Thank you for that.

A

Clarification councilor cook, councilor bagley, anything else. No! No. I agree with councilor cook.

V

I guess, when I said arbitrary earlier, what I meant is, we knew the number was lower than 2000 and we.

V

Thought maybe a thousand was a good starting place and if somebody came by and had a 999 cars a day.

V

And we got complaints, we might have to further adjust it, but it was a. We thought, a good number to.

V

What we're going to start with? What does that do to congress street nothing? uh Well, it allows.

A

Them to apply and allows the city manager to say no or bring it to us, but I imagine that.

A

It'll be brought to us on that where we will get well. I think, if the, if I'm aim at your honor, if.

Z

The amendment passes, it says the only place you can't have it is where it reverses the travel.

Z

Lane, which suggests that you are allowing it yes in other places, which means it's not coming to me.

Z

Now did that was there a second on that motion, so um originally the.

B

Assisted mayor, yes, the assistant mayor yep, yes, I didn't know you second that um reverses yes,.

A

um Okay, yeah you're right: it doesn't. Okay.

A

Anything else with cancer tabor, I just I think we can move the questions all right.

N

We're voting on the amendment now not the whole thing change. One word reverses.

A

Illegal inquiry: uh susan- are there other places that we would need to change.

AC

That you've been discussing in order to have the uh the intended effect of eliminate the ability to.

A

Reverse trevoids, I don't believe so all right uh we'll have a roll call vote on the amendment which.

A

Is to uh change the word um impede to reverse impedes to reverse okay assistant mayor kelly. Yes,.

B

Councilor tabor, yes, council denton; yes, council moreau; yes, councilor bagley, yes, council, lombardi,.

X

Yes, council blaylock, yes councilor cook, yes me or my care kern, yes passage unanimously,.

A

Next up we have the question uh or the amended motion.

A

Also have a roll call vote. Oh sorry, okay, council moreau.

AA

um I know we haven't talked a lot about the fees and I was a oh yeah. That's right.

A

Sidewalk licenses are the only thing that are going year-round, but yes, yeah, not the entire.

A

Outdoor dining apparatus, but the sidewalk licenses right so there's well the sidewalk.

AA

Is the the first part, but then there's the loading zones and parking area fees.

AA

And whatnot, and I know that I was completely against keeping the fees the same as last year.

AA

um I think, with the thought process of that they're, shortening the time frame, making it.

AA

Sort of inadjacent to the the previous numbers that we've been given by the city, those numbers.

AA

Kind of have to be lowered, and I guess I'm I'm more okay with the fees as they as they lay now.

AA

Especially after getting to see what people are actually paying that that was sent to us, I think.

AA

That was very helpful to know exactly what's being paid in the fees, so I am now based off of the data.

AA

That's been supplied, okay with leaving the fees as they are, and I think that um we could re. We.

AA

Could reevaluate that when the time comes once we might redo the whole area of market square, so.

AA

I'm good for that for now I just wanted to put that up. Thank you. Councilmember council, tabor.

U

um Thanks your honor, a question for city, the city manager we have had since.

U

2012, I think sidewalk cafe ordinance, which is ten dollars per square foot, so.

U

A question for the city attorney and the city manager: would this repeal that and replace it.

U

With 500 flat fee- um or I I don't understand how this plays with what we already have fair question.

AC

So this is a policy, a city council policy and if the cafe.

AC

Sidewalk, cafe is an ordinance, it would is it an ordinance or a policy. It's ordinance ordinance.

Y

I I I think it's a policy, I'm going to pull it up right now, I'm pretty sure it's a policy.

Z

um The deputy city manager and deputy city attorney is here, and I think she looked.

Z

Into this today, I think it's a policy that was adopted at the beginning of this council's term.

Z

And if that is the case with the newer policy govern or would you have to repeal the old one.

Z

To deal with the new one, I think the new one would govern, but it would be more appropriate to read.

AC

To read the first to make it clear and we this would all be cleared up when we make outdoor.

Z

Dining and ordinance in in the final analysis, but um suzanne do you want to distill paint on that.

AE

uh Sure so there is some conflict between what you'll find uh in some of the prior.

AE

Policies- and we are assuming that this policy will um trump that now there is.

AE

um For example, an opportunity for a restaurant or table or.

AE

To get like a single table and chairs and make them available to the public um and that kind of.

AE

Stays in place because it doesn't conflict with this new policy that you're looking to adopt.

AE

um We also see this new policy that you're looking to adopt as not affecting our otherwise the amount.

AE

That we charge for licenses for construction and for other encumbrances on the city, sidewalk.

AE

So this is kind of a narrow policy just to deal with outdoor dining. It wouldn't affect non-dining.

AE

Fees and other structures so we're okay with that and and the guidelines that.

AE

Were issued last year that are on the city website for 2022, we would take down and we.

AE

Would update, though, that document to be consistent with the policy guidelines set.

AE

Today and fill in some of the gaps in terms of insurance and those other aspects that.

AE

um We would otherwise handle kind of administratively. Thank you. Suzanne.

A

Councilman, so that leads me to a follow-up question: does that mean that then other.

AA

Establishments downtown uh retail shops and whatnot they're, just as able to use.

AA

That sideway policy, maybe that we have now that's not serving or part of the dining in.

AA

Order if they wanted to put out you know a rack of books or a rack of clothes or something on.

AA

A nice weekend do does that policy encompass them, so they know they could actually use that.

Z

um I would defer to the the two attorneys, but I think, as long as they're, not impeding the sidewalk.

Z

In the same way that the dining opportunities are not impeding the sidewalk, would you both.

Z

Agree that there is eligible suzanne we we have, like. I said, a separate part of the ordinance that.

AE

Talks about encumbrances of sidewalks, so if you want to revisit sort of those other things like.

AE

For example, if you want to put a planter out, which is the more typical thing that happens,.

AE

You know, there's a you pay a fee and you get the encumbrance for that um and I can uh I'm trying.

AE

To think you go through the city clerk's office and you well, maybe it's online now.

AE

um And you fill out the form- and I forget it's like a small nominal fee for the whole season.

AE

um If you want to expand it to retail, I guess I'd I'd like to take the opportunity to do.

AE

It right and make sure you know we could bring back something. Maybe next uh at the.

AE

Next meeting to to cover other uses other than outdoor dining, because you got to be careful.

AE

You know about what it is that they want to put out and where so,.

A

Okay, but if it's um so the system arrows kind of to pull up the policy, uh it's it states tables.

A

Chairs a frames, a frame uh signs, so we might have to update that to include things that would be.

A

um Not obstructive of the the the traveling or that's traveling industries, the sidewalk.

A

But you know I won't get any businesses in trouble that have already been taking.

A

Advantage of this, but definitely have walked by some racks of clothes as I've walked downtown so.

A

It would be good to immortalize that and bring vibrancy um there if we can counselor. Thank you.

N

I was looking at the on the sidewalk portion of this in the fees and opening up to year.

N

Round, I'm a little concerned about what we're opening up here under this you'd be able to get.

N

Your sidewalk for 300 for all the whole year, if you composted.

N

um I know that's, you know we have to treat everyone equally with a treat if you're on.

N

If you're right in market square or if you're on the you know the edge of town um but I'm concerned.

N

That that means we're giving away most of market square for 300 for the whole year.

N

um I just I don't think that would warrant any investment. You know I mean like. I would any.

N

Business owner would be like yeah. I don't even think about that. Of course, I'm going to do that and I'll, maybe I'll staff it you know. Maybe I'll use it. um You know. I don't really think I think.

N

I would think more of a fee of you know. The five square feet like is on the um person on this on.

N

The um parking spaces would would be applicable here with maybe a minimum of five hundred dollars.

N

um But I wanted to kind of get the council's temperature on how they felt about this year round.

N

And that flat fee of 500. all right assistant mayor. Thank you uh to touch on that um concept.

Y

Of lilac, again going back to kind of the policies that we use with the side, sidewalk obstruction.

Y

um You have to remove their incident, you you can't um you can't um during snow removal. It.

Y

Has to be removed, you can't um they're they're in city projects, uh so we already with the sidewalk.

Y

Obstruction permit it is, it is yearly. You can still put your a-frames out. You can still put your.

Y

Your tables out in the winter you'd have to remove them when there's when there's snow, clearing and.

Y

Things like that so again, I think it aligns with the with the policy we've we've already had when.

Y

You pay for those type of sidewalk obstructions, we're talking about ultra dining right because.

N

There's a difference between like where you can serve liquor and there's just like a sidewalk.

N

Obstruction like a table that anyone can use there's two different um like those are two.

N

Permits right right and that's a good distinction so like the the so I'm talking about liquor and.

A

Yep, so the dining on city sidewalks is separate from the uh the license and the citizen. So.

A

um May it might, it might make sense to since we already have a. I guess I just worry about having.

A

Confusion and competing uh policies when it comes to the dining city sidewalk, but maybe councilor,.

A

Cook's gonna absolve me of any infusion. Thank you, your honor, um the goal with changing the fee.

W

Was to encourage more outdoor dining to encourage restaurants to continue to to have outdoor dining.

W

To make sure we increase vibrancy when I think about sidewalks downtown, I don't think about.

W

Giving away our sidewalks for restaurants and cafes, I think restaurants and cafes create.

W

Vibrancy in downtown and benefit our residents as much as they benefit our business owners, so.

W

I think we're I'm trying to shift the conversation away from we're, giving you something to you're.

W

Creating a vibrant downtown where everyone wants to be and that business makes it more pleasant.

W

To be downtown, people are excited about being downtown. That's why we receive so many emails.

W

From residents who want to be downtown in one outdoor dining, so essentially this changes that.

W

Fee structure and encourages restaurants to have outdoor tables and outdoor timings that have the.

W

Sidewalk availability, but it still leaves in place all the discretion of the city manager and of the.

W

Health inspector to determine, if it's impeding too much of the sidewalk to allow for enough traffic.

W

Flow and pedestrian flow, so it doesn't change that part of the way that we administer the.

W

Sidewalks in downtown, thank you, councilor cook. I think that we all want to see a vibrancy and many.

A

People still pretty vibrant out there right now. You know in the middle of the middle of winter, we.

A

Finally, got some snow, I think you know the details of this. Is you know, they're all important, because.

A

Somebody's vibrancy might be somebody else's loss and trying to align. Those competing priorities is.

A

Is our goal by talking about the minutia of this as as much as we have my question for.

A

The city manager or the city attorney would be around the liquor licenses and dining on.

A

The city sidewalks are restaurants, able to serve through dining on city sidewalks, without enclosing.

A

The without enclosing the uh the area of which liquor is served, the answer to that is no okay.

A

So um this is dining on city sidewalks, with uh exclusive dining on city, sidewalks and so correct.

A

Because it would be enclosed, that's right, so it would be incl. So where this is tricky for me is.

A

That it's an exclusive dining on city sidewalks versus the city permit, where it puts out tables.

A

And chairs and allows people to take food from that is such a go portion and eat that outside.

A

So that's the that's the difference in in what this is. I certainly understand the vibrancy of of.

A

Encouraging people to offer tables and chairs out you know out in front but part of that vibrancy.

A

And the low cost of that would be to allow people of all walks whether or not you purchase food.

A

There or you're, taking your mo's uh down there to sit and eat there versus what I think would.

A

Necessitate a higher fee for exclusivity of that that area councilor cook. uh Thank you.

W

um I would say that currently the way that it's set up the tables and chairs that are set up.

W

That are not for dining with a liquor license would still be in many cases besides right.

W

In the middle of market square, an inappropriate place for somebody to buy something from another.

W

Location as take out and sit down in front of, say, cirrus street bakery or sit down on cup of.

W

Joe's tables sitting outside of there to sit down and eat something that they took out from another.

W

Restaurant, that is, those those restaurants are paying for those sidewalk tables. There's only.

W

One location where we have tables and chairs that are kind of considered public use beyond the the.

W

Specifically designed kind of picnic tables that the city places out for public use so.

W

And that is right in the middle of market square. Beyond that all the tables and chairs are really.

W

For the establishments that place them outside so so I don't feel like this is really a difference.

A

uh Thank you I'll just say as a restaurant owner and um and I'm very familiar with this.

N

You know being downtown for so long. um You know coming up on 50 years of our family, restaurant.

N

um When you do this, you have a waiter there's a section: it belongs to that restaurant. Now those.

N

Tables get waited on that waiter is going to go. Tell if someone else sits there with.

N

Their moes to go, leave they're going to say no. No. This is part of our we paid for this.

N

You know this is part of our restaurant. This is our our front room essentially.

N

um The chairs and tables that everyone is so fond of, and everyone always speaks of, that used to be.

N

In front of breaking the grounds in front of cafe brioche, those were not get out of waiters.

N

Everyone loved them because they were free, you could get removes they go, could have his coffee.

N

We could sit together, you know that was it was. There was no rules, it was. Everyone was welcome.

N

um So to me, there's very different rules. It's very different, whether you get a waiter coming.

N

Over with table service and everything or it's a table and a chair, that's taking up a little.

N

Space on a sidewalk that anyone can use if they would like. And yes if it's up front of siri street.

N

Bakery it is probably going to be used mostly by serious treatment patrons. However, you know.

N

One person might get their sandwich from siri street. One person might get their series from.

N

Their sandwich from moe's and they can sit there if under this, they had a waiter and it.

N

Was under you know, behind a barrier they could not do that. You know it. It was well the waiter.

N

Would get very mad because they'd be like well you're not going to order our food? You know I'm.

N

Losing my tips, what am I doing here um so you craze a whole nother. So to me, it's very very.

N

Different, it's either part of the restaurant, or it just happens to be a table near the restaurant.

AB

um Any from this side and then we'll come back council counselor taylor. Oh thanks, ronnie.

U

um As I understand that the goal here is to lower the cost of using the sidewalk.

U

Why can't we just lower the cost of the sidewalk, cafe ordinance that we already have.

U

um You know, we've got something: that's been in place for 12 years. I personally have heard no.

U

Complaints from restaurant owners about using it has a substantial body of of protections in.

U

It for pedestrians to walk past these exclusive areas and still use the sidewalk and it you know.

U

If we want to just lower the price, let's lower the price of the ordinance, we already have in place.

U

So I would suggest that, as an amendment to councilor, bagley and cook.

V

uh Take your honor and um you know I think councilor blaylock brings up a pretty good.

V

Point because the the table's in market square um in particular, I think the residents really feel.

V

That they have, you know those are their tables and for a long time there's been a lot of sharing. So.

V

Perhaps an amendment could be, um this policy would be available with the exception of market square.

V

Or I'd be happy to go back to the previous policy. Mr mayor.

Z

um Deputy city manager, woodland um might have a point of order here. It references using the type.

Z

Of license, we would use for this, go ahead, suzanne sure, so the license that we've used for the last.

AE

Three years now under covid, um it is going to be the same structure. So it's going to have all.

AE

Of those same bells and whistles that we've been doing for the last three years, you're just setting.

AE

The policy by which we're going to administer the current rules and structures. So I don't.

AE

That's the whole point of kind of like paragraph five, which is we're going to mail. The policy into.

AE

The existing cafe licensing structure, you're, just setting the fees and then providing that.

AE

Additional guidance on where um so that that is still that whole framework that people have been.

AE

Using is going to continue to exist um with all those protections in terms of making sure that we.

AE

Have insurance that there's enough room for the public way to travel? You know the sidewalks and.

AE

All of those pieces, so it's just going to get merged into or updated, and then it is under if.

AE

You go under like the city clerk's website you'll see, there's a um the application, as the assistant.

AE

Mayor was talking about for sidewalk obstruction licenses. We weren't anticipating changing that.

AE

It covers the a phrase and signs it covers the miscellaneous things that retailers sometimes want.

AE

To put out on the sidewalk and and that process is not envisioned to change now, some people like.

AE

What used to happen in front of well cafe brioche, then breaking new grounds and then popovers and.

AE

um All of those iterations um in front of market square, those are always tables that have to be.

AE

Pursuant to the requirements of the city of portsmouth, through this sidewalk obstruction,.

AE

License open to the public, they didn't have a choice if you were to go through this format,.

AE

Of the sidewalk obstruction license you're paying just for the table. Just for the chair. There was a.

AE

Fee and it had to be open to the public, and that was just a special requirement in that that exists.

AE

um And then there is another section: if you look under like chapter nine, I just.

AE

Had it up and closed out um yeah chapter nine, which talks about obstructions and licenses.

AE

um That's the structure that allows the city council, which gets implemented by the city.

AE

Manager to issue these licenses and permits and other pieces that some of which we bring to you.

AE

Such as when we have that construction license, for you know a year to to facilitate the building.

AE

uh You know a renovation of a building or the small encumbrance permits that we do for 30 days.

AE

For people to just put up some scaffolding to paint a wall for two weeks, so there are.

AE

These other structures in place, but I want to be clear that we're anticipating that this policy.

AE

Is simply going to be folded into the existing licensing process that we've been using fairly.

AE

Successfully over the last three years, so I hope that helps suzanne. It might be helpful.

A

To just know where this policy differs from the existing policy and why we need the the new policy.

A

Like it's, it's simply because the guidelines that were in last year, that that you can you.

AE

Know, click on and and see that you know it's set a fee um and we were having remember the.

AE

City staff was asking not to have um uh uh uh outdoor dining in the travel lanes.

AE

um So really what you needed to do is is update it because they did not traditionally until kobe.

AE

Been something that was allowed? No, I'm just saying like we have a, we have a city, we have a sidewalk.

A

Obstruction permit process right now. You said nothing is going to change. So I'm curious. Why.

A

We have to change anything in order to get what we're going to. Maybe I'm not following.

A

That point counselor cook. um Thank you mayor. um What it changes is. It provides a flat fee.

W

As an alternate fee structure versus paying per square footage, so it's an alternate. You know.

W

500 or if it's less expensive to do what you've been doing through our existing structure, you can.

W

um And then it requires um additional conditions around what your barriers look like and that.

W

That came out of recommendations from the planning department report, um so those are.

W

The recommend- that's that's really what this does is. It adds that layer for sidewalk dining.

A

Okay, what are the current fees on this because 75 at a table and ten dollars a chair, you're.

Y

On a point of of references for the the sidewalk uh obstruction, you cannot serve alcohol and you.

Y

Cannot serve alcohol so so, like the tables. How did we get around that last year? No! Well you we.

Y

Didn't so so, if you take, for example, elephantine, my neighbor or myself, the the the tables in the.

Y

Alleyway, you cannot, we could not serve alcohol in them, only ones that were cordon, often roped,.

Y

Off can serve alcohol, so I think that's where this is getting conflated. Is that if you are you.

Y

You can't have alcohol, you can't consume alcohol in a non barricaded or fenced in location. Okay,.

A

So, wouldn't it just be, I guess it's. Let me just leave it alone. What are we.

A

Gonna gain by by adding we're gonna lower the potentially lower the price, but maybe not if they.

A

Only want uh two tables or three tables or four tables, then it's they have the other option. It's.

A

So the the price is there, but it's kind of squishy. The other thing is requiring a divider. How do we.

A

How do we can we do all they have to do, is add a divider and they can serve booze in the sidewalk.

A

Is that something that we know from the state that also has to go before the liquor review committee.

Z

Internally and with approval from the state, so essentially what the assistant mayor says is if.

Z

You don't intend to serve alcohol you're. Only getting the traditional sidewalk cafe. Permit.

Z

That will stay the same. This applies to dining with alcohol. Okay, could we change.

A

It to to specifically state dining with alcohol, and then it's just it's just rules about the.

A

um It's just we want to guess, put uh what they have to put there, but okay, councilor cook.

W

Mayor, it doesn't just apply there it. So it's specifically under additional condition, says.

W

Establishments requiring a divider between dining area and sidewalk, so that specifies that those.

W

Establishments that require a divider that this is what we want your divider to look like it doesn't.

W

Say: establishments that don't have a divider are not required to have. A divider now need to have.

W

A divider, so it it it's just basically saying this is what your divider should look like. If.

W

You're required to have a divider and that you should have you, should remove tables and chairs.

W

So, to avoid interference with snow removal activities or other municipal needs. That's.

W

That's all we're saying here because once you make it year round, you want to make sure people.

W

Are not leaving their tables and chairs on the sidewalk if there's no removal so.

W

That's that's essentially what this is doing. That's why we have.

W

um The section here specifically on city sidewalks is make it year round, give them.

W

The option of a flat fee, which is probably less than what they're paying in some circumstances,.

W

In some circumstances, it's less to follow the current ordinance, which will still remain in place.

W

um To allow butters beyond the establishment the permission to to um to ask the abutters.

W

Essentially for permission, if you want sidewalk dining beyond the scope of your abutment on your.

W

Establishment and to um I guess, normalize the dividers across the city so that they're.

W

All similar in nature, you know, and I think, if you don't for reporting a clarification.

Y

um Because I think you know we're kind of getting the weeds of it. A location like raleigh wine bar.

Y

A location like pop-overs, I get pop-ups where they're fenced in so they they have traditionally.

Y

Because they've served alcohol and want an exclusivity to their tables for their business.

Y

um I think that's where versus again a place like cup of joe, where people plenty of times.

Y

Will get a sandwich from elephantine and a coffee from us and and sit at our table, so we leave them.

Y

Open to the public, not roped off, so I think that is where the the difference, the differences where.

Y

Some confusion is stemming from yeah and my I guess my confusion around this or does like.

A

Having two policies that that govern potentially the same thing and potentially different things.

A

Is hard to imagine like we have the policy for sidewalks that do not want to serve liquor? Do.

A

Not have to put up ropes that exists currently today, and we have another policy that could.

A

Apply to those people but could also apply to liquor, so it would be helpful if we could.

A

Figure out dining on city sidewalks to be specific to serving alcohol and exclusivity.

Z

Yep your honor, I think suzanne- wants to make a point here. Suzanne I mean. Certainly we can, if.

AE

We need more sorting out. I we have time we could bring this back for the next meeting.

AE

With some more, you know, try and clarify this, but right now you have to understand that.

AE

If you want to have tables and chairs in a parking space or in a travel way,.

AE

You must have this policy in place for the city to continue to provide that space for outdoor dining.

AE

Because until covet, we did not allow our parking spaces and our travel ways and anything other than.

AE

Really the sidewalk to have outdoor dining, so you can have outdoor dining with or without alcohol. In.

AE

A parking space in a travel way under this policy, and that's really what the city council has been.

AE

Doing every year since covid, which is establishing a policy that is really taking a more invested.

AE

Interest, if you will in in opening up outdoor dining so so that's why you do need some kind.

AE

Of policy- and I think councilor cook- did a nice job, elaborating the so the differences um and.

AE

And from what happened last year, suzanne, I I agree with with all that and I would say section we work.

A

Through section four, we, you know disregarded your uh recommendations on uh that. uh We, I think, we're.

A

In agreement on section five uh section: well, there might be some small things on that, but section two.

A

What what I think I'm hung up on is that we have a current policy that exists, and then we have an.

A

Overweight policy- that's not specific to serving alcohol and enclosing uh they. They co-exist and.

A

That seems like a a weird thing for us to to try to sort out counselor bagley. uh Thank you. Honor.

V

um I'm gonna desperately need a bio break, but I think we should vote before we get there.

V

um One thing I'll throw out is because this has gone on, for I think four or five meetings now.

V

We do plan to bring forward an ordinance later on this year, so we could potentially pass this.

V

Past this and revisit some of these intricacies that maybe not as well defined, but then we would.

V

At least let the residents know in general what we are thinking right. I I don't have a problem.

A

With doing that, what I, what I'm trying to get is clarity right now, the dining on city, sidewalks,.

A

Which we currently have a current policy for that this doesn't state the significant difference of.

A

This is only applies to when you serve alcohol and put up barriers around it and have exclusivity to.

A

That, because you can have a part of the current policy right now for dining on city sidewalks is.

A

That you do not have exclusivity part of this is that you would have exclusivity to serve alcohol.

A

And that's a cancer cook mayor. This does not change anything around.

W

Ability to serve alcohol that determination is made separately entirely. So this does not change.

W

Any of that, it just changes the appearance of the dividers that businesses have to put up if.

W

They have a permit to serve alcohol. Okay, but that's that's. We don't really state that until.

U

um You're honor yep. um Maybe we can see if we can sort this out. We've got dining on the sidewalks.

U

Which we have a a per square foot cost right now and that divides into with liquor, fenced off or.

U

Without liquor, small tables and then we've got dining and loading zones, parking areas and streets.

U

That's paragraph two: what I hear the deputy city manager saying is the language in one here.

U

Will align just fine with our existing sidewalk cafe policy.

U

um And all it does is lower the price to a flat fee uh and open it up to year round.

A

um So so on the year round, like so the example of the raleigh, so the raleigh.

A

Would have access to year-round dining where other establishments would not have access.

A

To your round, daddy so with popovers, so would pop-overs that's good market.

A

Councilman, I have a problem with the flat feet, because a lot of these places have been doing.

AA

This for several years and paying the per square fee and it's kind of a revenue to the city that I.

AA

Don't really want to lose so no one's complained about paying the per square foot, so I think we.

AA

Should keep it, I like the idea of the flat fee, I'm fine, with keeping it to five dollars, a square foot.

AA

But I think we need to keep it I year round. I don't care you're around that I think for the.

AA

City, it might be more of a problem to have some of those bigger establishments there year round.

AA

um I think you know places where they're have fencing and stuff out and they're going to have to remove it every time. There's a snowstorm they're, probably going to remove it anyways, so I don't think it makes sense for them. Maybe.

AA

They'll just put out a chair or two you know year round, but bigger establishments for that.

AA

um So I have a problem with the fee, but I don't have a problem with the rest of it.

AC

Just a point of order, it seems like there's too many conflicts here and legal would be happy to.

AC

You know examine both of these policies, oppose policy and the existing policy and the ordinances.

AC

And give you a report back um yeah, I think affect each other and um if one is overriding, the other.

AC

Yeah, I mean I think we got to get through it like we. We've got to get through. You know, I'm sorry. We.

A

Can take a pause to use the restroom but um like we have, we have discussed this part of this. You.

A

Know the council is making sausage in public. So, like you know, there's not like conversations.

A

Happening like this would have gone a lot faster if councilor cook and I sat down and hashed out.

A

The the whole plan here, but um we have these conversations in public because that's what city.

A

Councils, do they talk in public about these things, so apologies that it's taking longer. We are uh so.

A

Councilman rowe has stated that she, the flat fee it seems like it, gives a leg up to businesses that.

A

You know if you're closing a travel lane versus using sidewalks. You know how could how could one.

A

Restaurant, that's that has uh let's say: what's the what's the the break, even 10 tables versus.

A

20 tables, how can they pay the same amount that does not seem equitable for the restaurant? That's.

A

Paying 10 to for 10 tables versus the one that's paying uh 20 tables. Why would we not go back to.

A

The the per square footage fee that seems to be even if we were to keep it at the same way.

A

How's, it cook um you're honored, that the reason that I envisioned this is a flat fee is because.

W

That restaurant, that has 20 tables and a prime location is probably paying a lot more in rent.

W

For that prime location, because they want the space to have 20 tables on the sidewalk.

W

So it's it's hard to compare apples and oranges. You know some restaurants have better locations.

W

Than others, some are lucky enough to have great locations for sidewalk, dining and others are not.

W

um All we can do is put in place a policy that encourages what we want to see downtown and so the.

W

Goal here was to encourage outdoor dining. I should note that in the policy that we've had in place.

W

For many many years for sidewalk dining, we've only had a small number of establishments step forward.

W

And put in place outdoor dining covid really drove that to a much larger number but prior to covid. We.

W

Really didn't have that many under the current policy, so I was looking at that and saying.

W

What happens in the long run post covid? We want to keep encouraging restaurants to have.

W

Time, and so that was the goal in putting in place the flat fee, um I am flexible on adapting that if.

W

We need to, but I think the really important part of this dining on city sidewalk section are that.

W

We make it year round, so restaurants have that discretion. I can think of several restaurants.

W

That it would benefit them to be able to have that for a longer period of time than the time.

W

We're defining in loading zones because we really limited that time and and those on the sidewalks.

W

Probably have a little more flexibility there and then also to make sure that we have consistency.

W

In the look of the barriers downtown because that came forward in that report from the the.

W

Planning department- and I think the goal around that is to make sure that there's visibility, the.

W

Health inspector can inspect appropriately and you don't create vibrancy when you create barriers to.

W

Seeing the outdoor diamond, uh thank you counselor cook, so on that it still seems like we would be.

A

um Choosing between a restaurant, that is on a sidewalk and potentially you know.

A

Bond mall versus any other place, where you're having a parking spot that that.

A

Seems like a a tough thing and then with the year you know the year round seems like.

A

um Originally, when I thought it was when I first read it and I was conflating it with the sidewalk.

A

The idea that we would have year-round for for gated areas seems like a lot um to to bite.

A

Off if we were going to do um year round of any again, uh because many restaurants would not have.

A

The ability to have year-round through parking, a question for city manager or deputy city manager.

Y

What for for these sectioned off areas, what is the current policy and end date, or is there what.

Y

Or is that is that policy as it's as it's written right now technically year round and nobody, nobody.

Y

Traditionally has done it, I I don't know the answer that question susan or suzanne. Do you know.

Z

The answer that question suzanne is: oh, so there's the policy 2012-02, which is the policy regarding.

AE

Use of city property for sidewalk care phase providing alcohol service, so that was in place.

AE

And a couple of uh establishments did use that prior to covid. It has a lot of requirements in it.

AE

um Which? Frankly, got kind of absorbed and adopted during covid into the policy and the practices.

AE

That you see on the website now from last year, in terms of insurance and and when people fill.

AE

Out the form online there's lots of boxes that they check. You know you won't damage the.

AE

Sidewalk, you have to get your health insurance, your health permit and all that kind of stuff.

AE

There's a lot of stuff on the back end, you don't necessarily see unless you're filling out the form.

AE

um And so that policy exists, you can take a look at it. If you want, um does it speak to a.

Z

Time frame is there a timeline what's on frame of may 1st, they have to make an application to.

AE

The city council by may 1st and the terms of this it's called an area service agreement.

AE

Would be for no more than six months, michelle tippe quickly run mid-april through mid-october.

AE

Sounds good, I yeah your honor because we're back with. Could I make a motion that we adjust the.

V

Time period into I'm sorry in one from section a from year round to uh may 1st through indigenous.

V

People's day, if I get a second I'll speak to it, second, um I think there is a concern.

V

um On some on the council that having the fence restricted dining zones year round,.

V

Is is not equitable, so I think you'd be able to have the sidewalk encumbrance year round.

V

Which is the tables we traditionally think of at market square? But as far as corrals, which.

V

People generally would only put the fencing up if they were going to serve alcohol, because that's.

V

A state requirement and if they're not going to serve alcohol, they probably won't put the fences.

V

Up, we can make that time period match the time period of the on-street and parking space, dining.

V

And [music] I kind of want to call the question: is there a second all right? That's a cook.

W

um The reason that I shifted this to your round is because is when I have traveled to other places.

W

The thing that I love the most is that there is outdoor dining in november. There's that dining.

W

In december, in munich, there's outdoor dining year round, all around the world in very vibrant.

W

Cities, and so what I'm saying here, is that we need to be thinking about the long term when.

W

We have expanded sidewalks throughout the city, encouraging outdoor dining, rather than limiting it.

W

And by changing it to may 1st, through indigenous people's day, we're actually shifting the current.

W

um Ability like right now they can do they do mid-april to really later. In fact, some of them go.

W

Through mid-november, it's about six months, but not really six months. So what we're saying is we're.

W

Going to limit you even further than you're, currently I don't think we're women. It seems.

A

Like we took the policy from suzanne and we're simply continuing the current policy that we have.

A

As currently stated in the in the this, the sidewalk.

Y

Apparently stated at up to this over six months. So if we, if we stick with the six month window,.

A

Councilor bagley I'll I'll just point out that this would go into effect. This.

V

Spring the council plans to bring this back as an ordinance during the summer and we can fine tune.

V

These details before we get to the end date of the dining.

A

Sounds good um counselor. Thank you. I was just going to say. um I think I want to.

N

Thank councilman for bringing this up. I think it's the the barriers that everyone's worried.

N

About having those obstructions there all year, that's what I'm worried about council cook.

W

um I want to get an opinion from suzanne woodland if I can on because this applies to all sidewalk.

W

Dining, so if we start limiting it, then all of a sudden people, my concern is people won't be able.

W

To put their cafe tables and chairs out either, but we're currently is the the limit was from the the.

A

Current sidewalk use plan she was reading from the 2012. I wanna. I just want to make sure that.

W

That is the case, because I've seen uh restaurants, who put out their tables and chairs on a nice day.

W

In february, so I want to double check that we're not limiting those who can currently jason just.

W

Rent table and chairs jason moves a little slower on nice days in february. These are code, enforcer.

AC

Yeah, that's what I thought: yeah yeah okay, but it's currently limited yeah. It is a paragraph four.

Z

It's fair to say that during covid there were there was relaxation of.

Z

The policy to support restaurants, I think, if you're thinking in the in.

Z

The immediate past, but right but the the terms were, as suzanne had read,.

A

Councilman, I would really like to take advantage of the fact that we do have all of these separate.

AA

Policies of having legal really look at all of them and synthesize into one policy. Everything.

AA

That we're talking about versus having say, okay, but it's it agrees with that. It agrees with that.

AA

I I just I have yeah. I just really think we need to probably hold off on the vote on this until our.

AA

Next meeting and really make sure that we have our eggs straight as far as all our policies go and.

AA

Make sure we know whether or not it's on sidewalk with alcohol without I just want to make sure that.

AA

We have that straight before we head into it and, as suzanne said, we do have time no one's going to.

AA

Be putting in applications in january, so if we make a vote on this in february, then we could.

AA

Make sure that we have the policy straight as far as together. So there was a motion to a table to.

A

uh The following uh meeting my concern on that is that um I think we have some discussion around the.

A

uh The sidewalk licenses and figuring that out, I don't know if we need to table that in order to do.

A

That but we have some other things like travel lane parking spots, businesses have to sort of.

A

Get going on that and where we have agreement on this, I would like to uh table section one.

A

Because we already have a policy that deals with that. Seemingly all the way and we could come back.

A

With section one at the following meeting and pass the other sections as long as we can get through.

A

Those I would be supportive of that. I would make a motion to do that to just table section one today.

N

Okay, we already have one motion on the phone: a motion to table supersedes supersedes that.

AA

Because it's not exactly but tabling one section is not exactly a table. I I would rescind my motion.

V

uh Thank you mayor. I just want a legal opinion. Can we table just one section? We can't see that we're.

A

Adopting we'd have to amend, to remove section one. I think you would have to move to a man.

AC

Table the entire policy to the next to address those issues, or can you can you just remove.

Z

Section one, and with the intent to bring it back and pass the rest of the policy right, we could I'd.

A

Wait a motion to remove section one because it's currently handled by policy and administration. Oh.

A

I can't make them yeah yeah. I did okay council cook. Thank you honor. Some of it is not actually.

W

Current currently handled so we need to be aware of that that some of the provisions here are not.

W

Currently in the policy right, and so it does need to come back and we'd come back. The next meeting.

A

As updates the current sidewalk cafe license okay. Yes, I know that we're that's good. I like.

AA

That, okay, so all in favor of removing section one from the current or the the policy that's before.

A

Us the intent to bring it back with the intent to bring it back to the following meeting. uh I nay.

A

Specifically thanks man now: are there other questions and concerns as we go.

A

Through sections two through six or five five.

AC

A

Okay, any further discussion before I call roll call vote on the.

A

uh The policy as amended [music] nope uh val, could you take a roll call vote as the policy.

A

Is amended gladly assistant mayor kelly? Yes, councilor tabor, yes, councilor dunton,.

B

Yes, councilor moreau; yes, council bagley; yes, council lombardi, yes, councilor blaylock, yes,.

B

Council cook, yes, mayor mceachron, yes, house is 9-0 all right, gonna take a 15-minute recess. Thank you.

Y

Oh wait: we're done.

A

Welcome back um ironic, I motion to suspend the rules to bring forward item number 11.

T

A2, which is the proposed moa for portsmouth school district, para educators and portsmouth.

T

Police civilian employees association; second, all in favor, aye, all right.

Z

I don't know if I may. The uh the item under number two speaks is a similar request for two different.

Z

Groups, the first group being para educators and the second group being police, dispatchers.

Z

uh This is in direct response to having great difficulty in filling positions on and on both.

Z

Fronts and to date I believe, there's still 12 open para educator positions and of the 10 dispatchers.

Z

That we need to have to fully staff our dispatch. We have two full-timers and I have um the pleasure.

Z

Of being joined by deputy police chief mike maloney- and he can correct me if I'm wrong but.

Z

The idea is that, in order to provide an incentive to be able to recruit for these positions, the.

Z

Request is to add a four percent salary adjustment, which would be in line with what the um all the.

Z

Other city employees enjoyed in this fiscal year, this would be retro to january 1st of this year.

Z

And in both cases, the cost would be absorbed by existing budgets due to staffing salary savings.

T

Got our eye motion to approve the proposed agreements as presented? Second, any discussion.

A

All right, all in favor aye any opposed sticking around.

A

Steve good evening, thank you all right, so we'll go back to the um the budget or the um ordinance.

A

No, if you were just tuning in and at 9 45, you saw us making it to section 10 public hearings.

A

First reading of ordinance you would have some questions, but we handed some other business, but.

A

We have the first reading of ordinance amending chapter one article 17, section 1.1705 public.

A

Art funds uh way to sample motion to pass first reading and schedule a second reading.

A

In public hearing at the february, 6 2023 city council meeting so move. Second, any discussion.

A

All right, all in favor, aye any opposed next up is the uh public hearing. Second reading of.

A

Ordinance- uh and this is amending chapter seven- uh article uh 4a, section 7a.408 taxi stands.

A

Designated, that's what we call it all right and there's a is there a presentation here, your honor.

Z

Bad parking director ben fletcher is on zoom he's just gonna make a very brief set of remarks and.

Z

um If I might allow him to be brought forward, take it away parking director ben fletcher.

AF

uh Okay, everybody hear me okay, good evening ben yep, uh all right, so this one's pretty simple.

AF

um We had five taxi stands throughout the city and we only have one medallion holder.

AF

So we asked that medallion holder, where they thought the best taxi stand, that for.

AF

Their business would be, and, as you look at the map there, uh the four red ones are.

AF

um To be eliminated and the one with the circle around it is the one that's going to be kept.

A

Easy straightforward enough. Thank you parking director fletcher, any questions of the council.

A

No questions putting force parking spaces back on seems good. All right.

A

um Is there any public hearing speakers on zoom because there's nobody in the audience.

A

We are now alone right. I will quotes the public hearing any additional um council questions.

A

Okay, um I will just put this out. This would be a place where, uh given.

A

um We didn't see any uh pushback we're getting four uh spaces.

A

um We have the blessing of the one medallion holder of uh the city of portsmouth. This is.

A

Something that after we pass provided second reading, uh would pass. We could await a motion to.

A

Suspend the rules and bring forth third and final reading of this ordinance uh tonight so move no. We.

A

Still have to so, we have to move to pass. I had to wait a motion to pass second reading and schedule.

A

A third and final reading at the february 6 2023 council meeting. Second, all in favor.

Y

Aye your honor, oh I'd, make a motion just to spend the rules and bring up uh third and final reading.

A

Second, any discussion: all in favor aye all right. The ordinance passes four spots.

A

As soon as the signage can be changed all right- uh and we have third and final reading.

A

uh Of the ordinance amending chapter, one article 4, section, 1.406, cable, television and communications.

A

Commissions to be named, cable and broadband internet commission, I had a weight of motion.

A

To pass third and final reading of ordinances presented so removed. Second, any discussion.

Y

Today, um in their desire tip as as they mentioned, you know, um internet and cell service is no longer.

Y

What I would consider a luxury- and uh you know to improve that for our residents is, is great and so.

Y

I would like to you know just publicly thank the commissioners for bringing this forward.

A

I would uh heartily endorse that and look forward to having a place to you know forward some of.

A

Those emails with people, you know asking you know: why does my cell service suck in the city limits.

A

um You know not a magic bullet, but I think being able to advocate and certainly.

A

um As there are, you know, as the uh the assistant may alluded to uh issues when it comes, you know.

A

This is a standard and a need to have so pushing for high-speed internet access.

A

Everywhere, at an affordable price, you know encouraging competition is something that I.

A

Hope to see the newly formed and named cable and broadband internet commission do so all in favor.

A

Aye any opposed then opposed city manager. Great. Thank you. You're on our first up item number one.

Z

Is the request for approval of a proposed memorandum of agreement for the portsmouth.

Z

School custodial supervisors: this is an adjustment that would support their request for a new floor.

Z

Of cola of three percent effective this coming july, 1 2023, essentially this allows us to bring.

Z

These folks, in line these were this, was among the first collective bargaining agreement, approved and.

Z

Then shortly thereafter, other groups were brought along with a floor of three percent. The total cost.

Z

To this request is just over 8 hundred dollars, and this was approved by the school board. I'd.

A

Wait a motion to approve the proposed agreement, as presented so moved. Second, any discussion on this.

A

All in favor aye any opposed. Thank you. Great number. Three would involve the request for.

Z

Approval of collective bargaining agreement, which would be uh number eight if you're keeping track.

Z

This is with the local 1386b primarily made up of library, employees and clerks. This would be.

Z

Retroactive to july 1st 2022 and would bring this collective bargaining unit in line with the other.

Z

Seven previously approved collective bargaining agreements. Next up for coming attractions will be.

Z

School cafeteria employees all right I'd, wait a motion to approve the proposed agreement as.

A

Presented still moved second, second, any discussion all in favor aye any opposed and a post. Thank you.

Z

Very much kelly, harper and tom clawson for hanging in there. We you, you are free to go.

Z

Next, up number four would be uh relative to drainage and water services. Access easements.

Z

For property located at 1169 and 1171 sagamore as part of the vote taken by the planning board.

Z

The planning board recommend date as part of uh granting out wetlands conditional use permit the.

Z

Planning board recommended that the city grant a drainage easement to the property owners, accept.

Z

A drainage easement and an access easement for water services from the property owners, so the.

Z

Memo is fairly self-explanatory. I'm happy to to save you the reading verbatim, but essentially.

Z

What's currently there on these two lots are three existing single-family homes and the end.

Z

Result will be eight new structures with a total of 10 units so happy to answer any questions.

U

Move that we authorize the city manager to accept and record a.

U

Draining to easement and an access easement for water services from.

U

Sagamar group llc and to granted drainage easement to sagamore group llc. Second,.

A

Any discussion questions seeing none all in favor, aye aye any opposed. Thank you item.

Z

Number five is a public access easement for 238 deer street. This property has received planning.

Z

Board approval and, in addition to site plan approval from the planning board the project.

Z

Received a conditional use permit and a variance for open space from the board of adjustment and.

Z

The approved site plan includes a pedestrian access easement to be conveyed from the owner.

Z

To the city, this easement for public access presented to council for approval about an.

Z

Existing public access agreement located at 46, maplewood ave, accepted and approved by council.

Z

Back in 2019, this easement was recommended by tech in order to create a wider public access. Easement.

Z

Between the two makes it more inviting the total easement area is 390 square feet in your plan.

AA

I'd make a motion that we vote except the longmeadow. uh No sorry wrong. One.

AA

Except the ease of an ask presented, uh move to grant authority uh I'd, wait a.

A

Motion grant authority for the city manager and negotiate execute, accept and record the.

A

Easement for public access in a form similar to the attached so moved. Second, any discussion.

A

All in favor aye any opposed. Thank you. Number six is a request for formal acceptance of.

Z

Longmeadow road property located at longmeadow road: this is a project that was approved.

Z

uh With the city accepted property from service credit union back in 2019 as part of a subdivision.

Z

In order for the city to construct an extension of longmeadow road and since that time, many of you.

Z

Have driven on this road, the city has completed construction of the extension, which was designed.

Z

Pursuant to a traffic study in order to divert traffic from the intersection of lang, road and.

Z

Lafayette road to the intersection of longmeadow road ocean, road and lafayette road, where there's.

Z

The existing traffic signal and although the city accepted the property we have not formally.

Z

Accepted the roadway, and we would ask that the city except longmeadow road as a city street,.

A

The way to motion to accept long, moto road as a city street sound, moved. Second, any discussion all.

A

In favor aye any opposed. Thank you number. Seven, similarly, is a request for acceptance of hodgkin.

Z

Way as a city street, this project was completed as part of a land uh master assembly of properties.

Z

During the project, the city built a new roadway to traverse through the west end yards development.

Z

Along the bank of hodgson brook to create a link between kate street and the route 1 bypass and.

Z

As you all know, this new roadway segment now gives us lincoln street and bartlett street area traffic.

Z

Direct access to route 1 bypass, although the city owns the property, it's best practice for the city.

Z

Council to formally vote to accept this as a city street. The way to motion to accept hodgson away is.

A

The city street so moved second, all in favor aye any opposed. Thank you. Last up number eight is a.

Z

Request for eastmans for property located at 951, beverly hill, road and 1400 lafayette road back in.

Z

2020, the planning board granted site plan review approval for the construction of a 53-unit garden.

Z

And townhouse style residential development and has since been extended twice due to initially to.

Z

Covet and due to the change in ownership and as part of the approval process, the planning.

Z

Board recommended that the city accept community space, easements, a sidewalk easement and an access.

Z

Easement for water services, what I can tell you is in your packet, at least in mine they're, in.

Z

They're, not in the order that I just read them and two of them have the former city managers.

Z

Naming them those will be corrected, those the will not be uh those are those I would consider in the.

Z

Category of the minor edits to the documents, but at the end of the day we are looking for.

Z

The approval to finalize it accept and record these easements I'd. Wait a motion to authorize.

A

The city manager to finalize accept and record community space eastman's a sidewalk, easement and.

A

Access eastman for water services from four amigos: llc and yoken yokin's townhomes llc.

A

Any discussion all in favor all right. Thank you any opposed. Next up our consent agenda. I'd wait.

A

A motion to adopt the consent agenda so moved second, all in favor uh aye any opposed. Okay,.

A

um Next: up, email, correspondence, I'd, wait: a motion to accept and place on file so moved. Second,.

X

All in favor aye any opposed next up a letter from barbara mcmillan chair of.

A

The conservation commission requesting city council support for review and.

A

Proposed revisions to article 10 environmental protection, standards of the zoning ordinance.

T

I'd wait: a motion to accept and place on file so moved. Second, um if I might make a point.

Z

Here I know that the intent of the conservation commission was to to garner or solicit general.

Z

Support for for any changes that they develop and they would um they would meet jointly with the.

Z

Planning board and then bring back to the council for a referral to the land use committee. I think.

Z

They just want sort of to test it, understanding that they'll be working on things that would come.

Z

Back to you for approval, but I see councilman, they want to add to it. Well, counselor didn't.

A

Have the floor or counselor, I want to first thank the conservation commission for bringing.

T

Us forward, I believe the last revision was done in the 2016-17 council because remember working.

T

On that, and also thank the deputy city manager tony for explaining to me what you just explained.

T

To the entire council, which essentially they're just letting us know, they're going to be working.

T

With the playing department and then from there, they'll bring it back to us to either send to.

T

Councilman rose, land, use, planning, board or send to legal, and so it's the beginning of a process.

AA

um Yeah, I was just gonna make the suggestion that they should work with the planning board, because the planning board wants to work on the wetland conditional use permit. And I think that.

AA

It would be a good time to bring up all of those things together, so I think, as a in connection, I.

AA

Think they should have a work session between conservation, commission and that and deal with.

AA

All of the issues that both planning board and they want to look at all at the same time, would.

AA

Be my suggestion and just to drive home the point when it says requesting the city council support.

A

For review and proposed revisions to article 10, those revisions are not yet here right. We.

A

Do not know what they are, but we do give our full support for them going out and making.

A

Proposed revisions with the planning board and bringing those recommendations uh to uh back to.

A

City council and we're very excited that they are doing that work and again thank for all the work.

A

Through the conservation commission does on behalf of the citizens portsmouth, so um all in favor.

A

Aye any opposed all right. um I have a few appointments uh to uh considered. First.

A

um I'd like you to consider anna howard to the economic development commission as an alternate.

A

um And then the appointment of ann hayes to the coveted response task.

A

Force blue urban committee. Those do not have to be uh voted on. um I do request a.

A

um A vote on the appointment of city manager, karen conard, as the portsmouth representative of the.

A

Peas, development authority board of directors- um I guess do do I need a motion. I would move that we.

U

The council approved the appointment of city manager, karen connard, as the.

U

Portsmith representative to the peas development authority, second, and I would uh simply like to.

A

To thank eric anderson for the work that he's done. Diligent work uh over the last.

A

um Three years, I've always been impressed uh with not only the effort uh but acumen that he brought.

A

To the role- and I thank him for the service that he's given to the city of portsmouth, I.

A

Am excited to appoint karen as our city manager, dealing with the pda and being able to bring the.

A

Full weight of city hall to that board. I believe that it is. um It is in the city's best interest.

A

To have her expertise, uh her staff, supporting that, and also our direct oversight in terms.

A

Of our uh you know, we can only tell we can only direct one person in the whole city of portsmouth.

A

um And and that's karen, so I do believe that it further empowers the council uh to be empowered.

A

On the pda, so I look forward to the work that you're going to bring to that and the effort.

A

Of staff to support you in that council denton, in addition to that, this gives the city council more.

T

I say power, but when it comes to offshore wind, some things will likely go in front.

T

Of the pda over the coming years- and I'm excited to have you at the table so.

A

All right, all in favor aye any opposed. Thank you. um Next up was update on sound barriers. um You.

A

Know sometimes it's important to get information out there. I saw folks bringing this up and I.

A

Wanted to let everyone know that we've reached out to the state we're expecting them to advertise.

A

This june inside tracks, probably august october, to go to construction in the following year. I.

A

Know a lot of folks have been. You know, working on this for many number of years. Going back to you.

A

Know certainly manny, but representative samsich and panelakis. uh The the list goes on and on in.

A

Terms of tier two and what kind of broke the the log jam is, the state decided they were going to.

A

Do work on that overpass and took the opportunity to push these as tier one. I know that there was.

A

A lot of executive council meetings- this is on the state website, so pretty clear information on.

A

That I've requested karen the city manager that we bring, that we make a sound barriers website as a a.

A

Part of the city of portsmouth website link out to relevant documents, so homeowners in the affected.

A

Communities that will be getting sound barriers can be updated on that and to know that this is.

A

You know it is distinctly a priority and then that would also be a good place for us to house any.

A

Information on additional sound barriers that we might pursue on portsmouth property- and I want to.

A

Again, take the opportunity to state that we are not allowed to use. Even though we asked to.

A

And try to use portsmouth funds to support the extension of state mandated uh sound barriers.

A

Through their federally approved policy, you know we throw we've said equity a number of times, but.

A

The feds are directly: they don't want communities to use their money to support sound barriers that.

A

Don't fall into a policy because then a state would simply make a really restrictive policy.

A

And let the rich communities use all their money on that and and otherwise you know less fortunate.

A

Communities would not have that opportunity, so they're very clear. We can't build anything in.

A

The uh the right of way of the state, but this is happening- the funds are there, it's on the.

A

10-Year plan money is being spent, um you know in preliminary designs. This will be advertised. This.

A

Year with construction, starting in the following year, any questions on that for either me or I.

A

Probably punch the city manager anything you'd like to add karen, that I didn't touch on no. I.

Z

Think that's great. We will, in similar fashion to other project pages on our website. We will stand.

Z

Up the material that we have and share links to the new hampshire dot page, so people can track.

Z

The progress that we've been tracking uh next was an update on the sherburne school neighborhood.

A

Meeting I know that there was a a lot of desire around this. I know councilor blaylock, specifically.

A

Asked me he's been having his own meetings being the fact that he would live across the street.

A

From the uh the project, but this is really an opportunity to listen to the community. It.

A

Will be more of a dialogue and and not as stuffy work system, so we'll be able to answer as many.

A

Questions as we can again coming to the site that is january 31st, I think it's a tuesday if memory.

A

Serves it's at 6 pm, it's in the sherburne building, and I want to assure that you know.

A

I believe that that that housing is a is a crisis that permeates everything that we do here. um We're.

A

Coming to listen to you um in the neighborhood, um I believe that there can be a project that.

A

We can agree that is a great benefit to the city of portsmouth, but also strengthens the community.

A

That already exists there um and it's our uh our sincere hope and my sincere hope to listen.

A

And to focus the conversation on what people are concerned about bring all those concerns.

A

um But I would, I would simply ask to bring an open mind as well as you've done at our first meeting.

A

uh To continue the conversation, how do we make you know, portsmouth character, stronger and that's.

A

Always our people, how do we make that a stronger community? This is one step in that process.

Y

And your point and clarification um I assume, but just to clarify for the public at home, the.

Y

Pha will be an attention correct, yeah, yeah we're going to drag craig there.

A

um You know and and craig um you know he mentioned uh to me uh when I I spoke to him.

A

About scheduling this that um you know it was, this is a a big desire to get uh in front of.

A

um As many people, you know we can't you know something like this isn't isn't going to happen.

A

um And you know there had to be a first meeting. We wanted to live stream that put it on channel.

A

22. this we unfortunately will not be able to live stream to channel 22. We may or may not be able to.

A

Live stream it we can't so come to the meeting, um and if you have questions before, I know that.

A

You know we're we're ha like we can't respond to, I don't know, maybe counselor bagley can 200.

A

Outdoor dining emails that all say you know not the same thing, but um I have been trying to look.

A

Through you know, some of the questions, questions that have kind of got overworked in the deluge of.

A

Outdoor dining emails, but if I haven't answered, if we haven't responded, please send that email again.

A

Before the 31st, our goal is to have a conversation, it's not to to say or dictate anything is to have.

A

A conversation, so if you send an email and we haven't, responded, we've gotten in a lot.

A

Of emails lately, so please just resend that and so that we can try to answer that question before.

A

Always reach out to us individually. I know you know uh counselor playoffs, having his uh meetings.

A

um And- and you know, there's not a place that he goes in the city without somebody asking about.

A

It, but we want to hear from you thank you for having this meeting. um I know my neighborhood's.

N

Very excited to attend and have the opportunity to speak to the council. Ask their questions.

N

Asked I'm glad the pha is going to be there. I think they have some questions for them as well.

N

um But really the neighborhood's excited and they're excited to be part of this process.

N

um Just as far as getting the word out, I know I've asked the city manager if I could get.

N

Flyers because I'm going to go knock on doors, I think councilor jettens agreed to join me.

N

um Some of my neighbors are actually willing to join me too. Just to help get the word out, make.

N

Sure that everyone does know about this meeting, I didn't know if it was possible. I remember when.

N

That was a voting award. We used to have a dpw electric sign, just kind of saying you know, ward.

N

Here, if we could do something like that, because then everyone that drives in will see a clear's.

N

Day- and I think that would be helpful- we can get you some flyers for tomorrow and uh we'll.

Z

Schedule the message board awesome. Thank you. That's a great idea, thank council council, more.

AA

The meeting be able to be recorded, so it can be then posted later for people to view that can't.

AA

Make it we don't have production capability at that location? Our production capability is.

Z

Limited so I think that's why we're stressing, if you have concerns please come in person or follow.

Z

Up before or after with questions via the city council email, that's one of those old school. You.

A

Know what station sure what happens if sherman stays at church, we will take minutes of the the.

A

Meeting but uh look forward to seeing everybody out there. uh I know we're really excited to to.

A

Have a collaborative conversation around that so that was it for me: counselor tabor, you're.

A

Up thanks your honor, I'm always excited to talk about community power. It's becoming a reality.

U

Around the state, uh the first wave of towns are just about to mail. Their notifications.

U

To residents to have the opportunity to switch over to lower cost and potentially greener power.

U

um Right near us, hannah, uh exeter and rye are slated to go and we'll start to see messaging.

U

From them, um here's some updates, first of all, a full analysis of the community power coalition of.

U

New hampshire shows that it will beat the eversource default rate and even beat the.

U

Rates of third-party brokers, in many cases like standard power, um but when councilor lazenby and.

U

I undertook community power back in 2021. Our real motivation was to find a way to meet our.

U

Residents demand to buy more renewable energy and hasten our energy transition as a city.

U

um So, for that reason we found out a survey which you probably got in your mailbox. We've.

U

Had hundreds of responses and it's to gauge, what do you want to see in a community power.

U

Do you want to see just the lowest rate? uh Would you be willing to pay a little.

U

More for renewable energy and so far we're seeing healthy demand for people who want to.

U

Buy green power and help this city move away from fossil fuels. um The the next steps are energy are.

U

Energy committee is working on an aggregation plant required by statute and uh we have a draft.

U

Of that we're going to have two public hearings on february, 2nd and february 9th and the public can.

U

Learn about the program, we'll have a presentation and then they can give us more feedback. We'd.

U

Initially thought that we would launch community power in portsmouth in the fall. That proves to be.

U

More risky than we first thought because of the historic kind of winter price spikes we're seeing.

U

uh With volatility in the energy markets and the coalition needs to build reserves so that we can.

U

Have stable prices in these crazy energy markets that we have so we do have the opportunity to.

U

Launch in june- and our community committee thought- let's do that, rather than wait until next spring.

U

We had a healthy discussion around that we want to give our residents the benefit of the program. Our.

U

Big concern was: can we keep the community engaged and informed enough to move that fast and our goal.

U

Is to really when we get to notifying customers that they have this opportunity? We don't want it.

U

To be a surprise, so to that end and because we're going to bring our energy aggregation.

U

Plan to the council we're hoping february 21st. We I'd like to propose that we have a work session.

U

um The other towns that we've talked to and cities like lebanon, find that.

U

It takes about an hour to for a governing body to.

U

Hear the presentation ask all the questions learn all the ins and outs of electricity purchasing and.

U

um February 6th we've got a hearing on the cip, that's not. We don't want to.

U

Try and tax something like that on to that meeting, so we thought that best to have a work session.

U

um So I would propose a motion to you that we schedule a work session february, 13th.

U

To present the energy advisory committee's electric aggregation plan and plans to launch.

U

Community power, in advance of a february 21st proposal to the council to adopt the eap second.

U

And that's that's my pitch. All right. Councilman has a question on the pitch. uh I'm just.

AA

Questioning a easy question: I hope you keep saying it's going to be available to residents. It's going.

AA

To be available to residents and businesses, or just residents in residential properties, residents.

U

And businesses, most larger businesses already have some kind of brokered power, but little businesses.

AA

Like me, don't that's exactly that's exactly why we had the survey go to all businesses. It's.

AA

Sitting on my desk, I'm gonna do it counselor, cooked and council by luck. Thank you, mayor.

W

um I just wanted to say that I am every time I go to an energy advisory committee meeting. I'm.

W

Always impressed by the level of knowledge and skill that the members of the committee bring.

W

To the city of portsmouth, we really are very fortunate that we have a lot of expertise there.

W

And so I'm looking forward to having a work session so that the rest of you can hear all.

W

The information that has been shared with the energy advisory committee and can understand.

W

Just the level of expertise that we have and that we're so fortunate to have in portsmouth.

N

um And thank you council tabor for bringing this forward. um I think this is, you know any way to.

N

Save people money on their electric bill and save businesses in town, and I think this is a good.

N

um Way to get there, I will warn I I just that's the chair. I will not be there. I will.

N

Not be in town february 13th, but I trust that this council will have a good work.

N

Session and I will do my homework and catch up discount sport in other comments, questions.

A

I would uh simply echo what has been said. uh Council tabor are really excited about the work.

A

uh That you've put into this counselor, who hasn't been in you started, um and it's great where.

A

The market can help us make better choices for our future as well here, and that's where I think.

A

We get some really cool things to happen, so look forward to the look forward to the presentation.

A

And uh you know a slightly more aggressive timeline, all for exploring whether or not.

A

That's something that we can support and hopefully we'll have enough questions answered by the time.

A

June comes along to be able to to move forward uh in the best interest of the city of portsmouth, so.

A

All in favor aye aye any opposed all right. Next up we're going counselor, bagley, pts.

V

Thanks your honor, um I moved to approve and accept the action seat in minutes of the january 5th 2023.

V

Parking and traffic safety committee meeting. Second, any discussion I'll just highlight there.

V

Is one of the things we approved was a pilot for a mini roundabout on bartlett street and.

V

um We're expecting we might get some comments on that yeah. So uh one of those comments would.

A

Be what are we have we designed it? um uh uh Are we doing something more than putting.

A

You know those orange barrels orange barrels. Could we get something? Well, it's actually you.

A

Know a little less, uh I guess ugly uh without you know, spending money. Is it something that we've.

A

Put much thought into, we discussed that particular aspect. I don't think we can do it without spending.

V

Money, but I do think there may be some funds available right. There's some funding available.

Z

If I hear you on the root, overly rudimentary look and feel it's going to be a pilot, but the.

Z

Idea will be to mimic the area that in the way it would be so could we like, I guess you know.

A

You know it's late enough, uh nova's here, except on zoom and uh channel 22, but whenever we say the.

A

Word uh ballard, you know I I shiver uh a little bit, but could we do something that is not going.

A

To like, you know, get dinged, you know by uh like a car moved over like that, could be affixed in.

A

A more permanent uh or a removable way, I guess I'll I'll look to. I think we're gonna have to.

V

Let dpw okay do what they're gonna do and we're gonna find out pretty quickly what the community.

V

Thinks we can take into consideration what you're saying? Because this is going to be so like here's.

A

Like you know, for folks, watching at home and some of my neighbors, this has always been a goal of.

A

Eliminating truck traffic to make it harder to drive through this part uh of town and make it.

A

Slower to do so, I am going to get a thousand emails and they're all going to be directed.

A

By me, because I'm two blocks away uh from this, so I would love for there to be. You know- and this is.

A

You know something that could be extended in terms of these mini roundabouts. I know that they're.

A

Popular in other parts of the world to be able to like so it has to, we have to get some buy-in. You.

A

Know for it to people to see the change, counselor bag and I don't think uh director peter rice- would.

V

Mind me saying this, but there was a community meeting uh the week before the parking traffic and.

V

Safety meeting and they did propose two options and the community that showed up to that meeting.

V

Chose the roundabout option, I don't think it was director rice's first choice, but uh there were.

V

Two viable options and, and the people at the meeting seemed to think that was the one that.

V

Would well you know, that's the uh councilor. uh uh I just said. Thank you mayor um how? How big is the.

X

Center of this roundabout, it hasn't been well. If it's been designed, it has not been shared with me.

Z

So we will provide regular updates at pts along the way as we're planning this. The geometry is.

Z

Such that it will support something in the center, and the thing in the center will be something that.

Z

Public safety vehicles can mount okay, just picture that, if you can for now it couldn't.

X

Be a little uh neighborhood green spot that um it has to be mountable by a public safety. Okay,.

X

And the semi's coming through it's a richie supply there. You know they're not allowed.

A

There, unless they're, making a delivery, um I've been, but I have photographic.

A

Evidence of them uh not doing that. uh That's been shared with me in the past.

A

Okay, any other uh questions, uh I'm curious. What was the other option? It was.

V

Kind of like a raised, sidewalk intersection like a table.

V

They were both good options. The the residents seemed to prefer the roundabout option and- and we.

V

Decided to honor the well the residents there so on that, when it comes to it would love you.

A

Know to tie in some of the survey um work, you know 8 30 and you know I don't know. Maybe the.

A

Meeting was scheduled at a different time than that, but to be able to have a survey that we can.

A

Trust is resident based is easy to fill out would be helpful. You know there are definitely and you.

A

Know not casting any aspersions on the residents that showed up, I'm sure that they spoke for you.

A

Know all the people that that did show up, but typically folks, do not necessarily pay attention.

A

To something until they see a roundabout where there used to be four stop signs, and so I think.

A

We should be, you know, quick to have something that is, you know that we will hear we will try.

A

To get feedback in a potentially a limited time frame to be able to shape the discourse uh going.

A

Forward, counselor and I'll just add the the final point is the four stop signs. Don't really seem to.

V

Be working, there's still a lot of truck traffic and I don't want to cast aspersions on anyone. But.

V

It seems a lot of people, don't necessarily think those stop signs apply to their particular vehicle.

V

So the solution that we have in place is not really working the way that we would like it to.

A

Listen or you could make everybody in portsmouth the mayor, because I stopped at that. Stop sign.

A

Every single time, just you know, for you know in case somebody's gonna look out, but I would agree.

A

That- um and you know this is one of those things that I learned from from pts when you have two.

A

Stop signs or four stop signs two streets that come in with different traffic volumes. The one.

A

That doesn't have the high traffic volume uh is, you know always at risk of like the people in the.

A

High traffic volume just rolling through and they always roll through. So this is an effort I would.

A

Say that the neighborhood- and you know this- this specific micro neighborhood in general has been.

A

Looking for a solution uh to solving the fact that cars come through here at a high rate of.

A

Speed, they barely stop, they take a left, and so anything that can be done in order to slow that.

A

Speed that rate of travel is something that will be uh welcome. There might be some questions on.

A

This choice, but you know that's why it's a pilot and we'll we'll figure it out. So all in favor, aye.

A

Any opposed all right, so we got through counselor cook and counselor. Bagley feels like a meeting ago.

A

um Next, up for approval of grants and donations, I'd wait a sample motion.

A

To approve and accept the donation to the playground up for the playground update from.

A

The portsmouth rotary in the amount of fifteen thousand dollars as presented so moved second.

A

All in favor aye any opposed. uh Thank you again to the portsmouth rotary. uh The acceptance of a.

A

Donation uh uh to the portsmouth tree project from the portsmouth rotary in the amount of fifteen.

A

Thousand dollars I'd wait a sample motion to accept the donation as presented so moved. Second,.

A

All in favor aye, uh thank you again to the 14th rotary note that the the trees and greenery.

Y

Committees are very excited and their new council representative. The portal is also open um for any.

Y

City residents that are looking to apply to get as part of the four the 400 trees for the 400th.

Y

um The city you can apply to have this: have one of these trees planted on your property.

Y

um And it's a program we do every year, but this year we have more trees, so that can be located.

Y

On the city website, if anyone is interested- and that is a not a lot of people- know about well.

A

Hopefully more um they're tuning in, but it's an amazing project. We want more trees. Sometimes we.

A

Have to take trees down and that's a always a you know, that's a disappointment, but we have to.

A

Think of ourselves as a 400 year old city and the project where they they get the tree established.

A

They water it. It's a really awesome opportunity to bring shade, and you know just a general.

A

Quality of life and thank you assistant mayor for your work on that treason, greenery committee.

A

I know that it's a passion of yours and thank you for making that passion. uh It supports its benefit.

A

S, I would also just remind people that the rotary also presented the city with a hundred thousand.

X

Dollar check recently they're being very generous to the city, and I thank them yep uh exactly thank.

A

You they had that giant uh check and you know the work that they've done over the last. uh um Is it.

A

100 was it there, it will be understood their 100th, you know so they said 300 years. Let's, let's, let's.

A

Let's, uh let's start this uh now, um so uh thank you for the partnership um and all the work that.

A

Rotary does uh next up the acceptance of donation to skate park from michelle dupross of 50. I'd wait.

A

A sample motion to approve and accept the donation as presented some moved. Second, all in favor aye.

Z

All right and give a brief update on mcintyre, if you like, um since the supplemental appropriation.

Z

Was approved back on january 9th, the city is currently under contract with two expert financial.

Z

Firms, one is in charge of examining the developers, construction cost estimates that were presented.

Z

To us, and the second we'll examine the various ways in which this project can be financed to.

Z

Identify the best possible financial arraignment arrangement for the city, first of three check-ins.

Z

During this 90-day period is set for next tuesday january 31st and um as part of this.

Z

Entire approval process, the city has signed and executed with the general services administration.

Z

A licensed agreement extension and one of the requirements of that license agreement extension.

Z

Was to submit a series of milestones that are that will serve to track our progress through the 90.

Z

Days and the gsa has to approve where we stand within those milestones in order to keep moving.

Z

Through the process- and we will bring further updates to the council as we have them, thank you.

Z

All right, thank you. um Internal security attorney morrow reminds me that the license agreement.

Z

Extension and those milestones are currently at the top of the mcintyre page, which can be found.

Z

On the city's website, if you tab down under residence, thank you. Thank you. City manager,.

A

uh Anything on the report back on disc golf, uh I was just going to make a motion to go past 10 30.

V

Although we're so two minutes away from doing that, anything on disc golf, uh councilor cook.

Y

Ie manager, anything uh other than the report back, is in the.

Z

uh No, I could reiterate that, but nothing new that that isn't in dodge no okay, uh miscellaneous.

A

Just I I did um at a previous meeting asked for a report back on the development uh water line.

X

Going through the private property, we will bring that forward. That will be february 6th council.

G

Cook, thank you bear. um I was hoping now that the city manager is also sitting on the pda.

W

Board with councilor lombardi and we could get a report back on the proposed refueling facility at.

W

The portsmouth at peace yep, um I won't formally sit at a board meeting until march because they.

Z

Don't meet in february, I know that um it was extended at their trc or um technical review.

Z

Committee to the february meeting and beyond that I'll bring updates, as as they are available.

X

I could just um report a little bit on that that the millionaire company air company is.

X

um Is a feo, a fixed base operator who wants to come into keys.

X

And um which in general is a good thing, but he want they want to put a.

X

um A fuel farm close to the wetlands at peas and so there's a good deal of resident from basically.

X

From mostly from newington concerned about that, but from other places too, and I think the city.

X

Should be looking at that as well, because we have wells out there, and so it could affect our action.

A

I think councilman brody. Thank you anything else. I would just like to update the um residence.

A

On trash pickup today uh tonight is moved to tomorrow night and this morning's move to saturday.

A

um With that uh I'll wait, a motion to adjourn so moved. Second, all in favor, aye good night.