City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Citywide Neighborhood Committee, 26 Jan 2023

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From YouTube: 1.26.2023 Citywide Neighborhood Committee

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1.26.2023 Citywide Neighborhood Committee

A

Okay, thank you very much everybody. uh This is the.

A

Citywide neighborhood committee meeting thursday january 26 6 30 conference room a.

A

And uh the meeting is now called to order. uh One person is missing and and without informing me.

A

But we'll I'll deal with that later, you did send an email right and um he sent someone else. A note.

A

That's fine, okay, um comments from the residents, perhaps you'd like to introduce yourself and.

A

Say anything you want while you're here you know and and uh when you think about things.

A

I live on bennett street now I used to live on thornton street moved in there in 1980 and I've.

B

Seen a lot of changes in the neighborhood, um I been watching progress throughout a lot of.

B

Individual homes have been improved over the years and that's that's been. It's been nice to see.

B

I've been involved a little bit with um some sound walls that were proposed for the bypass between.

B

That or 95 rather, and on the wall yeah between 95 and the new franklin school, where all my kids went.

B

um I guess that's been stalled out because the definition of the need for the sound.

B

Walls by the state saying something along the line that there needs to be a certain.

B

Population density of resonance which that doesn't qualify for because it's wide open.

B

Yeah and in other words, they'd, put a hole in there because that community, your community, didn't have.

A

Sufficient residents right and they're, not uh they, I don't think they recognize the fact that a lot.

B

Of the residents aren't even in their homes during the day, but they're there at night. So certainly.

B

They want some sound ending tonight, but all day long, those residents as kids are in that school.

B

And they're having to deal with with the uh the sound problem, particularly you know, the in the.

B

Spring fall, kids are outside, you know in recess and then- and I I'm sure, I'm rehashing what others.

B

Expressed in the past, well you just just to add to what you're saying I I'm not exactly.

C

Sure what the where the rules are coming from, whether it's the state or the federal.

C

Government but their definition- and I don't even know for sure where it's coming from.

C

Because the uh type 2 noise abatement is not a federal rule, it's something the state did.

C

Initially but in this case uh they're saying they're using a rule that says for a certain.

C

Footage at the highway mark there has to be so many people uh impacted, but schools don't.

C

Count they count as one residence as if it's a family that lives there and they say it's.

C

Just one family living in that home, so for that one family, that impact is very low and.

C

So they ignore the fact that this is a school with many kids there and their day most of the.

C

Day and it's not the same as a residence, for I don't know, that's the rule they're using and in.

C

Addition they're also saying: well, we don't want to spend any money there, because you know it's.

C

It's it's a luxury for a wealthy community for it to get us to pay for their sound walls. When.

C

When they don't meet the requirements, so so I I think that's still being kind of negotiated.

C

And I think chancellor tabor knows more about the fact that this the city council is looking.

C

Into moving that forward, based on support by the city, if the state doesn't come through just my my.

C

Speculation on that right, but I'm not sure legally, that the city could pay for it all themselves.

D

Yes, so it's an arcane formula, but yes, you take the cost of the wall at a certain height to achieve.

D

The sound deadening that you want and divide it by the number of residences, and if it comes up.

D

The threshold number per residence you're in if it doesn't not and unfortunately uh 280 kids at.

D

New franklin don't count as 280 people if they did we'd be yep, no problem. It's a federal standard, a.

A

State standard we're dealing with if it's a state standard, isn't there any logic involved. Excuse me.

A

But the good news is, you know the the pan away manner. Sound barriers have been approved, I've.

B

Heard that yeah yeah thanks to federal money flowing from washington as part of.

D

The infrastructure act um and and combined with route 95 getting another lane. So the addition of.

D

The lane triggers the sound sound mitigation and the federal highway money was pumped up because of.

D

The infrastructure act to do the widening, so being that one makes it, but the the this council and the.

D

Previous council have been working on, is there some work around? We can get for a new franklin.

D

It's been tough, you know we don't meet the the.

D

Threshold of cost per house because of mitigation and we're getting pushed back about just doing it.

D

By ourselves, yeah well there's an alternative, though, and uh uh what's her name, um our our.

C

Traffic engineer ebi and I eric we're we're over at c1h and unh, has an acoustics department.

C

And also has an agricultural department, so we were trying to get them interested in coming up.

C

With an alternative abatement program based on vegetation and based on their science and the.

C

Truth of it is that you know what we're talking about the expense here. That's the traditional way.

C

That the department of energy always does noise abatement, their walls. That's that's the standard.

C

Price: okay, but if you want to do it, alternatively, because you have to pay for it now, not them uh unh.

C

Might provide us some alternatives and maybe it's not as good a mitigation as we want, but it might.

C

Be just as good to abate most of the impact, so we're going to have to investigate that too, and.

C

They want they'd like to cooperate with us on that, and the other thing we need to find out is.

D

What's federal land for 95., yes and then what's what's city what city around there yeah? If we we.

D

Can't do it on federal, right, right and what's state line it too right right, because there's.

D

Not on the on 95., I know if I, uh no that's all federal federal yeah. That's not that's the bypass.

E

Is the state that would be the bypass? That's the difference, this is 95. and you know the bypass is.

C

Lower than the 95 right, so actually the noise from the bypass doesn't really get to know. Franklin.

C

Acoustically- and this is the stuff that unh wanted to do- an an accurate acoustic measurement of where.

C

Exactly is the noise they're going to do yeah, so I have two questions. uh One of the of the witness.

A

You sent only one family, um you suggested like only there's one family there, but everyone else.

A

Was out working? Are you suggesting that there might have been a survey and only one family.

A

Responded? Oh! No! No! Okay! I misunderstood no, the the, as I understand that, as I recall now, that you're.

B

Mentioning it with the criteria being dwellings, you know dwellings rather than just right any.

B

Old building right so are there a lot of people in that area in the the area that is now will.

A

Not be considered, uh most of the residences are actually on. On the the other side, south side of.

B

The of the bypass- oh rockingham county avenue, and that so we got the bypass. I understand and there's.

A

A strip of land that is actually, I think, school property and then there's the high. Then there's.

B

The interstate and that's the interstate that okay creating a problem noise-wise always has right.

A

Right and uh the second question is peta: uh does una? Is there any idea about if uni is.

A

Going to provide some sort of feedback on some of their research that might be useful as eric and.

C

I were there uh the unh group, which was both the professor for acoustics and the professor from the.

C

uh The for uh agri in the agriculture but forestry area, they were both very excited about the idea of.

C

Looking at this, but I we were told by peter rice that they had gotten some money to do the acoustic.

C

Measurements on their own, that funding was there, and so, if we did it through, unh we'd have to pay.

C

Them would they'd have to hire some people to do the measurements, uh but, depending on what we.

C

Come up with or maybe even together, maybe both of us could do measurements, unh and us because.

C

They might get it go at it from a different angle than whoever does it from our side. I don't know.

E

Is us you're talking about the city, the city? Yes, yes, I don't think it works. How big is the hole.

A

The whole, well, he said, there's a they couldn't get a barrier. I thought there was a barrier on.

A

Either side this is fencing. It's open, yeah, there's, no barrier, just the wooden fence.

C

Oh a cyclone and it's about what maybe a quarter mile at the most that section there yeah from from.

B

The bypass to the interstate yeah yeah: no, I mean that stretch that doesn't have any noise abatement.

C

um Yeah, it's 95 on either side of 95. a little stronger than half of them, they're stronger than.

B

A quarter mile, yeah quarter and a half I would but, as we were told by the unh acoustic people, most.

C

People don't understand how how the sound travels, uh so you could build a a barrier that actually.

C

Is either too low or too high to actually dampen that acoustic sound? So that's why they need to do.

C

Good measurements to see at what height, where is the sound actually coming from you know? Who knows.

C

You might be able to put up a couple planks at six foot height and that would do most of the work. I.

C

Don't know so that that's yeah interesting, especially I'm kind of way down, and it was.

E

Effortless I mean we were. They were tireless in their efforts to get that for years since 1980s.

C

On the last council were very active yeah, um the key one of the keys was.

D

Getting it into the 10-year highway plan, we're working with rockingham county planning right.

D

And they were good advocates for us, they helped quite a bit. um Conway was um yeah.

D

Pan away uh the measurements there were 70 decibels, yeah, that's like a lawnmower outside.

D

Your window and the state was proposing not to build a new lane, but to use the breakdown.

C

That's a new lane, so they're not actually building a new lane, they're just usurping the breakdown.

C

Lane as an extra lane during heavy traffic- yes, that's right, uh and that makes the traffic even.

C

Closer to the pan away manor neighborhood than it is now and in addition right adjacent to that.

C

Breakdown lane there's also a gas substation right, which was always a give a bit of a hazard there.

C

So the the unitel people have told me that they're planning to take that out or out of there once.

C

The uh project starts that they will remove that station, so that was a conversation two years ago. I.

E

Know I know, but the pandemic came. You know that's right, yeah. So that's more that you ever wondered.

D

Very good information: I appreciate it. Oh yeah, oh very good, anything else going over there.

E

I'm sorry anything else going over there that just like, oh you don't want to hear.

B

Me complaining: how are you feeling about? Have you are you up to date on what parking.

D

Traffic and safety is looking at for the bartlett street kate uh street connector intersection by.

D

The railroad bridge there uh they're floating either a rotary or that would not have redone.

B

Yeah, I'm not up up on the latest. I think I've heard that uh emotion and I thought back.

B

Quite some time ago there was a notion of actually straightening bartlett right down.

B

To teed into islington, but it would have taken those the properties and that are in the. In my.

C

Apartment and the bridge, that's where I think the expense came in was you know, move all that granite.

B

And moving with the tunnel over here, instead of using what we have so yeah but uh yeah and then.

B

A rotary would be an interesting approach is to catch people's imaginations right right now,.

B

It's it's hazardous, you know what I'd be curious about is how are those trucks going to go around.

C

That rotary, because there are big trucks coming through there all the time at that intersection.

C

And the rotary is a pretty small surface area. I don't see how them turning right. The rotary.

D

Is not the dpw's first, oh okay, road reasons with a small crown that are designed for that purpose.

B

About a trailer it could be yeah. Rotary rye is like that right at the intersection up, foy's.

D

Corner yeah yeah right there. That's that's meant for trucks to be able to go over there. Yeah yeah.

E

It's almost needs a traffic light. uh Well, the cars coming down, uh woodbury.

A

Yeah, because I know my son almost went through it this morning, let me just add more like they.

F

Added a few stop signs and just and they took off a lane, and it just seems like it. It's a.

B

Mishmash right now, I think yeah it does. It seemed like it worked really well, but.

E

The flashing stop signs are effective, they are right. Yeah yeah, it's gonna, be more attention.

C

That's for sure, they're building more units there. I think right, there's a sign up there phase two.

B

Happening or something so out of the the uh the yards, the west end yards yeah western. I thought.

C

There's another section: that's not finished yet that's out by the u-haul yeah yeah yeah.

G

Yeah other things oh gosh, um I was just you have a list. Okay, just the only other thing that I really.

B

Thought about is, and I don't know I should do some research on is you know this? The city yard said.

B

That when schools closed- and this came out monday- and I mean I didn't hear, of course- I'm not- I don't.

B

Do twitter, I don't do a lot of you know, I'm not as connected as I should be, but perhaps but.

B

um I found out that they were skipping the pickup on monday, which is our our neighbor trash pickup.

B

Yeah- and I think it extends I'm not sure where monday's pickup map is what that looks like.

B

But it certainly is mostly in what I call the crete. You know our neighborhood.

B

And uh it's a bit well we're not going to pick it up uh on monday.

B

Because school's closed and we thought okay, uh but we will pick it up on saturday.

B

And then I thought well and then you're going to come back and pick up again on monday, two.

B

Days later, a day later, a day and a half later, and um that I I don't understand either just.

B

Cancel it provide the residents with enough or recycling bins and things oh yeah and the.

B

Warning may have been out there, but I mean yeah. I didn't know either whether they're going to pick.

C

It up after the storm or not, and you know, then you have to put it out before the storm comes.

C

And it's in the storm and then if people don't pick up, you got to bring it back in again. Yeah.

B

That's that's kind of what happened for a lot of people, because on tuesday I think they're picking.

E

Up, rather than the next day, which they normally would do, if something normally yeah, if they, if a.

B

Holiday occurs on monday, it could happen. Tuesday. Thinkers are out plowing, they have to they're.

E

Picking up downtown on tuesday morning and then leaving what is it monday night that you put.

E

Yours out or yeah, why not sunday, nights or monday morning or I put out monday morning actually early.

C

Normally and john, do you know if there's a possibility for like when trash pickup changes.

C

If they could send out an alert like they do with parking issues in a storm situation, so people.

C

Know: okay, tomorrow we're not picking up trash, I can. It seems like that, could be piggybacked.

C

Onto a parking yeah already like that, I I do know they, they posted it on social media and.

D

Or something that is used for schools, but I didn't see it specifically address um trash pickup nor.

B

Do I understand if, if it's canceled on tuesday, for my other neighbors, you know down closer in.

B

Town did they get delayed till wednesday, or do they wait until saturday right and all these.

B

Things ran through my mind. Well, how much is this going to cost? You know. The only thing I can say is.

D

There are a lot of open positions. You know this, so it may be. That's what I was wondering.

B

As well, this is the interesting you know, the manpower, the equipment, availability.

B

Yeah all that stacks up, I understand it's a complicated. I know so how's your breathing.

H

I'll do their best: okay, yeah, that just doesn't.

C

Dissuade you from coming to another meeting like this?

C

Okay, just let you know we also have forums for our for the regents. You know for the for the.

E

Wards so we have ward forms during the year too so and people can come out and at those.

E

Forms there's the the mayor, the assistant mayor, the police chiefs, the fire chief uh public works.

F

Every day, there's a newsletter from city hall. Oh, I didn't know.

B

That was daily, but I I it comes across. I can take your email down.

A

Good um onto the next agenda item, um of course the 400 uh will not be here tonight.

A

uh I received a a text message just a few minutes before the meeting began, saying that no one was.

A

Available so I asked the text d if she was available since she wrote me and she said no.

A

um I was on short notice. I will send a a note of.

A

Disappointment to uh to susan a brief on this matter. This should not have happened.

A

um I wanted them there because we asked for their help on 400 and how we can participate.

A

And a no-show is especially a couple of people are heavy into the corporate bag would know better on.

A

How to communicate with everyone else, whatever the situation? No one showed up, and uh I have had.

A

This situation happen before and again we don't need to go in too bad. I'm very sorry about that.

A

All right next one is uh the election of the chair. um Normally, we would call for.

A

Nomination to nominate nominees can nominate themselves, but in this case I will first ask.

A

Does any individual want to be nominated for a chair of this uh of this committee.

A

Identify yourself yeah, you can raise your hand.

I

Has raised their hand, do I have a nomination.

A

For co-chairs, I like to nominate elaine apatong as co-chair. Thank you and I don't denominator.

A

For coach yeah, yes, okay, thank you both of them are co-chairs. Co-Chairs are part of the the bylaws.

A

That they're allowed co-chairs are allowed in lieu of having a chair and a vice chair. The.

A

Reason that john, that we we did. This is because some of the duties just to run the committee.

A

A somewhat honorous and to split them, and especially to have different people with different.

A

Thoughts about how to do it is is, uh is the reason why we did this sorry. I missed that night. That was.

D

December yeah, that was december 5th, that's right and was in the minutes too. I think. Okay, that's all.

A

Right anyhow, is there any other nominations and let us take a vote all those in favor of co-chairs.

A

Elaine and peter say aye aye aye. Does anyone oppose? Thank you. This is carrie. Thank you. Thank.

D

You, yes, okay, yes, and just congratulations. Thank you just to add to that elaine and I have already.

C

Discussed how we can divvy up the responsibilities of each of us who, who our interests and so forth,.

C

So I think I think it'll be real. You may you may proceed [laughter] on the record. Okay on.

A

The record okay yeah, we'll we'll work together to help each other, and we plan on having a few.

H

More meetings than we did last year so that we can really engage with each other and really come up.

H

With a solid 2023 plan to get some things moving, okay, as you guys will see in in the schedule here.

H

Yeah, I think uh I think what we'll probably end up doing is sitting after we've formalized our.

C

Interests we can kind of send out a message saying absolutely. These are the areas that.

C

Elaine's gonna take the lead on and I'll do the following other topics, and so you have an idea.

A

Let us do that. Yeah yeah in that way follow the record, send a copy to uh to uh john and also send.

A

A copy to our secretary, thank you! Okay, no okay and we'll make that part of the record all right.

A

uh That being said, thank you very much for both of you. Thank everybody.

A

um Let's go to meetings and forum schedule, that's elaine.

H

Schedule together, I will put it up on the screen and I gave you guys the handouts.

A

Tell me when you want me to change it. Okay, go ahead to the next page. There you go.

H

um As you can see, we have meetings coming up in march may all the way until december.

H

And the plan is to discuss some of the events that are coming up, including portsmouth 400.

H

The changes in the national night out and also starting up neighborhood parties with.

H

The existing neighborhoods and also getting some new neighborhoods to participate throughout the.

H

Summer and those are those are going to require for us to sit down and you know meet with each.

H

Other and talk about how we can get some of the neighborhoods to join the associate to startup.

H

Associations, I did get maple haven started uh last year late last year and I'm hoping to get.

H

um A couple of other neighborhoods going probably early next month. I.

H

Haven't had a chance to follow up with them since I've been away, but I do plan.

H

On on reaching out to them and I'll keep you guys informed, and I would like to.

H

Be more um inclusive of everybody participating, so I would like to share the share some of the.

H

Responsibilities for helping you know for the association and the neighborhood parties, so.

H

If anybody wants to work directly with me, I'd appreciate it. Okay, just let me know.

A

All right so, uh on the upper left hand column of the slide, as well as your your handout. We.

A

Have the dates um and below that we have the forum dates um lori. Would you talk more about the forum.

A

Dates, I believe you have several there's a change there yeah, so um so the next one. At this point we.

F

Started scheduling and they were getting too close together and they were suggesting. So what I've.

F

Been doing for the last couple of years is having three every three a year and then two a year. So.

F

Every two years we would get a full complement of of all the all the boards taken care of and.

F

um So so, what's going to happen is april, 6th is the one that's going to be on at the dondero.

F

School forward, four, where, where I'm hoping to have it for april 6th, that's getting complicated with.

F

Everybody's schedules, so so we're now getting six people involved in this whole thing. Just for the.

F

Record we're getting the the mayor he's part of the panel there's the um the fired, the fire, the.

F

Chief chief of the fire department, the the police chief dpw, the city manager and we're now having.

F

Nancy clayburgh from the school, so it's really been um it's growing in a nice way and people are.

F

Liking it yes, as we talked about before the forum, it would be in your district. At some point, I think.

A

What are you in district one? I think we just have that one yeah uh yeah yeah, but that was that was.

F

Taken over by a couple of people, but that's all right, um the the format is that, uh with all these.

A

uh City officials- here anybody can add each one of them- will give a brief presentation, but anyone.

A

Could ask anything of them about any any subject related to the neighborhood or otherwise. So.

A

It's a it is an open forum and we have some fair success with that in in recent years I mean it was.

A

At some point, just a few people showed up, but now we're averaging 30 or 40, and we may even get more.

A

Because we're involving the school districts and that particular school or schools that are in that.

A

Particular ward will now be notified specifically that there's going to be award forum there and.

A

School issues can be addressed, so I think that's a that's a that's a that broadens the things out.

A

A lot and, of course, um peta you can get the state reps to uh for that particular uh award to show up.

C

Too, and and to get their constituents to show up, you know, so we hope to to broaden uh to broaden.

A

This just a little bit more all right now, I just I guess, we'll wait for the next slide on national.

A

Night out I'll make a few comments on that. Can I trip so? Is there a discussion or comments about.

E

This february one is that undecided. So that's totally decided it's not going to happen right.

F

Now- okay, great so you're going to reschedule ward two later then yeah, okay, so that'll yeah.

F

So uh well, we just started this year, so um yeah. I think we're just going to have one more. This.

F

Year so you're planning on three this year is that correct? uh I think three was how many we.

B

Did freelance it's gonna be two this year this year, all right and and so it's probably going.

F

To be so, the new ones are going to be in uh like april or may to catch. What's going on, and people.

F

Can ask questions july august, something like that in october november? Well, you only have two so yeah.

F

Right but oh well, so we only have two left, so we should probably make it towards. You know september.

F

During election.

D

You get all the counselors there.

D

Maybe we should hold it during election time. Well, you know election time, meaning.

D

What, after uh it begins what september 1 and ends in november, something like that.

D

But it really begins after labor day yeah yeah. So after labor day yeah, oh yeah, so.

A

It could be, uh it could be exciting right. I mean for a few people anyhow.

A

I don't know it could be different, though yeah.

A

I I it could be squirming for some people, but but not you, I'm sure. No.

D

Yeah, well, it should be after school starts just because if we have the school board person, there.

C

Supposed to be in the school term, yeah so after labor day, basically yeah, okay, that's great okay,.

A

So talk about the next one um I'll I'll address some of these, because I've been living with them.

A

For some time, uh portsmouth 400 we've been meeting for a number of months and um last year they gave.

A

A presentation about what was happening in 2023, which is an important year for them. It's the 400th.

A

um And I will probably reschedule this uh presentation. But if but I'm going to insist.

A

That they answer the question about what involvement they have, what they want us.

A

To do I mean this is the dealing with the neighborhoods is one section of portsmouth 400.

A

I mean, along with all the other events, so I think it's a it's a it's important.

A

For us to participate as as much as we can disappointment notwithstanding.

C

uh Maria, I think it's important, I think one of the important aspects of this kind of committee.

C

Is that we're trying to make sure that the the neighborhoods don't get left behind and.

C

All the attention that's downtown has given because because obviously there's going to be.

C

A lot of things happening in the downtown area during this year, uh and we, if we as a city-wide.

C

Neighborhood committee would like to make sure that neighborhoods are somehow involved in.

C

Participating, who knows, maybe they have ideas, they'd like to do in their neighborhoods too.

A

That's right, no, the the that's exactly correct, so we'll we'll find out a little more after my.

G

uh Little note to the uh people who run this thing: yeah: okay, all right national night out.

A

um I did prepare a survey, but I guess there was some corrupt. It was corrupted.

A

uh By some unknown gremlin uh I had I had space, I had space for comments and apparently there.

A

Was no space I will just have to redo it again. Nobody responded I'll, have to add a few more.

A

Information, we may have tried yeah, because I know I tried but- and I did it as a test and everything.

A

Worked out, but apparently uh when I sent it out, it changed somehow anyhow, the national night out.

A

uh Especially for you john, uh they, uh we had the sergeant hood on the december 5th meeting.

A

And he had identified five local central locations for first responders to to appear on the night of.

A

Of august second or third, whatever it is this year and as opposed to visiting personally visiting.

A

Each neighborhood and usually the neighborhoods that on that particular day, had block parties.

A

Have you participated in any of those I I have not okay, we were there this time larry. How many.

C

Were there this year, oh well, we have 16. 16., but in the but in the past we've had 20. and so.

A

People had asked me well what's if they could, if they could do 20, why couldn't they do 16 well to.

A

Be honest with you all the departments, including public works, have had staffing problems. I I read.

A

We all read in the newspaper about the dispatcher problem with the portsmouth police department and.

A

Every single department is short, so they were all stretched out. It had a very hard time scheduling.

A

Further, I had, I personally had a hard time reaching no more than seven of the 16, because.

A

You, the the portsmouth area, is such that you can't, and you can't show up and and uh to a block party.

A

And then stay one minute and I'd have to run to the next one and the city council is themselves. I.

A

Heard some grumblings about them uh for the same reason they couldn't make it to every party and.

A

There was one individual in islington creek, the the islington creek coordinator, who complained to.

A

The mayor saying that no one showed up during the the central part of their particular block party.

A

Any case portsmouth police department said that they really needed to have fewer than 16. If we.

A

Could do it, and so they came up with five and I s and the deal is that um those five locations.

A

We will try to we'll try to have a neighborhood block parties at those locations if they wish it.

A

And like in the fire station too, you had like a couple right and, uh and so you have five low.

A

And maybe there'll be some block bodies at those locations. They all have parking and- and that's.

A

Important and for other other times other than national night out, we really want to encourage.

A

Neighborhoods to have their own block bodies.

A

Separately because it's a very important thing it it brings together the neighborhoods and they're a.

A

Lot of fun that you know, if you were to attend, you wouldn't have to stay long. You just have.

A

To say hello to a couple people and eat some food, and thank you very much, but but that's sufficient.

A

But the police department said that they would help us get one or get some first responders to.

A

Show up if it was feasible. In other words, if there was no crisis going on and so.

A

um We think that's a workable arrangement because we really do want those block bodies to continue.

A

And are we on a national anthem, national night out, okay, yeah? That's that was some block parties, but.

B

I'm not sure they were not part of national night out yeah. Well, they were, but now it's uncoupled at.

A

Least, partially uncoupled, because we just couldn't visit everything the difficult the schedule.

A

uh And the police, the police chief himself, couldn't couldn't make more than a few. You.

A

Know half a dozen everyone wants to shake his hand and ask what's going on blah blah blah. You know.

H

It became a real problem. Yes, the the neighborhood parties on at the beginning of august. Those really.

H

Came about from the national night out event, and now the police department is asking if we.

H

Could just combine into five big parties: five big national night neighborhood parties instead of 16.

H

um Just so that they can so that they as well as dpw fire, another first responders.

H

Can make it to the five locations, because with the 16, it was very hard for them as.

H

um And for john and and um for larry as well yeah, we covered a lot of ground you had to you know we.

D

Had a sergeant driving us around- oh that's right! Sergeant, hood yeah, we're flashing lights! So I just.

F

Wanted to say one thing too: the police, the chief of police um he just wanted to. He wants to slow.

F

You know have have more time to talk to people, so that's the purpose of going. He just yeah. He would.

F

Feel, like you'd, say hi and bye. Yes, it would be on his way and he just wants to enjoy the whole yeah.

F

Spent some time as we were traveling from one neighborhood to another in.

A

The back seat of a police cruiser I'm not sure whether he could have.

A

Opened the doors the picture of me, you know they're pushing my head.

D

I'm a for the record. The uh the uh the back seat is extremely uncomfortable, so we swapped.

A

The I swapped with him all right, um the lights uh contest elaine, you want to just say a word or two.

H

About that, yes, um so I we held the contest, which was awesome and it was sort of last minute, but.

H

It all worked out fine and I'm happy to say that we had a lot of judges. It was my first.

H

Time coordinating it and it was a lot of work, but I really enjoyed it in the end and it was.

H

Fun too so many words pardon how many judges were there. I can't remember right now, but at.

A

Seven, did you have seven plus kids, yes or maybe a dozen, maybe a dozen, and we had a lot of.

H

um 22 or 28 yes size to me yeah, but a lot of people sign up and it was just.

H

A lot of fun, and I of course I went out- and I judged as well- and everybody on the.

H

Committee did as well, which was great, but counting the votes at the end was a lot, but.

H

um But you know, but it was, it was great and I know that we, I wasn't here for the announcement.

H

By the mayor, did anybody hear the ted? Oh you were, that must have been a lot of fun and the children.

E

Were so thrilled and the families were thrilled and they stood up and they were so proud. It was.

H

A wonderful event: oh yes, so we're going to continue to do it and I realized something.

E

About ocean road because we went up to see so al's yeah. That was something else, but I realized.

H

Yeah, you know ocean ocean roads like manhattan. I never realized that until we got out there and.

E

We're trying to take pictures of things and there was no wake. We could really. It was raining number.

I

One, oh yeah, it was, it was a dangerous space and I thought and everybody's doing that cut off and.

E

People have come to us and spoken about that and to peter about that yeah. It is a danger subject.

F

Yes, on the road: that's right! There's that side road to go, see yell's place, but right yeah. So.

H

You did, you did do it, it was great yeah yeah, but it's almost your favorite and it should.

E

Continue because everybody was so thrilled by it, I think. Well, I think probably the winner [laughter].

D

Council and the mayor, thanks for all the work that you guys put in.

G

It really was successful again when we have 44 entries. I think.

A

Yeah 47. and it was great fun. We had an interactive map and I took friends: yes,.

H

Stephanie did a great job. Thank you good work, yeah. We got a suggestion uh right before the contest.

C

Happened from councilor bagley, who suggested that maybe there should be an award. uh That's given out.

C

To uh like just a lot by lottery for everybody who participated so that there's like okay, you can win.

C

These categories, but then everybody who didn't win any other category now is in a pool for a special.

C

Award for participating- oh that's great, because I think that wouldn't would give people a little.

C

Bit more enthusiasm, and, and even if you don't win the ultimate one, you can still win that prize and.

E

You know allendale is extraordinary what he put up together, unbelievable you can't thank him enough.

E

Because it is extraordinated, but then you realize after I really know what you're saying. Thank you.

E

For everyone who applied nuts, bolts, screws lights, bulbs, the entire thing or in the other houses it.

E

Was a real effort everywhere throughout the city, so it was terrific. We need to make sure that what.

A

Five participates more than just three thank you. We have a lot of candles from our windows.

A

It's a subtle, it's a subtle thing. Yes, yeah with al else. That's so overwhelming everybody just.

C

Clears the field I saw some wonderful ones, as I was doing, wad five that were not on the list.

A

Yeah, that's interesting, so not only do they have to do it, they have to call in yeah.

A

So I guess we need to send when we have that the next time, uh the friends of the south end.

A

Need to be alerted right and the notes going out saying you know just just register. It's.

A

Free and you might, you might just pick up a uh 25 gift certificate from home depot.

E

Whatever they have, you have a great national night out, though we're five. It's wonderful.

E

It's not going to your place, we don't even ask them to come yeah. We should have a.

C

Most subtle award, yes minimalist, it's the essence.

E

There are no balloons in 1780, that's right, the colonial version, a lot of candles, that's cute, take.

A

The issues uh I just just skip through it, if you don't want, we talked about fumes and uh citywide.

A

Parking session, you know that, didn't that's that didn't go anywhere and I was a bit disappointed.

A

Because I was originally on the islington creek parking uh uh committee and uh we got 150 votes.

A

And the city and their wonderful wisdom decided to call each of the 150 near the end of june, when.

A

All the teachers were on vacation and a lot of the leases were were coming to to pass a lot of.

A

People who had moved out so when I finally reached everybody in their unidentified cell phone number.

A

A hundred showed up a hundred were verified, and that was most unfortunate. Nevertheless,.

A

We did get a parking permit uh trial and I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't enough public.

A

Comment on that, there was like two or three people, but I I rationalized that the that the pandemic.

A

Did cause a a significant uh uh had a significant impact on people coming.

A

And going, but especially employees who were staying at home and that also affected the.

A

The garage, the foundry garage, which still has very low numbers, so it was it had common, had.

A

Gone, I mean the the demand for parking spaces had had eventually uh become less and therefore with.

A

A non-issue when the, when the time was presented before the uh parking and traffic safety committee.

A

uh And maybe that's the way it should be. You know I mean some people said it was too expensive, but.

A

Yes, but no one, I mean very with very little question and answers about how the surveys, how.

A

The numbers of 125 dollars a year had come up uh how much they were really going to make out of it.

A

uh The city that is, and uh maybe they were administering too hot- I I don't know I mean a.

A

Lot of there were some questions on that there were some questions on on their survey itself.

A

It's the one, they did it twice a year. You don't know what time of the day it was, but uh whatever.

A

It is no one, no one questioned those things, not that it mattered. The fact is, the demand was down.

A

um Foundry garage still has lots of space, and um it they decided to just. I believe in my in.

A

My case, I believe it's justified to have to have germinated it. You know just it. Wasn't there yet.

A

Three years from now, our parking garages get jammed full a lot. More tourists come into.

A

Town and this thing will have to we'll have to bubble up at least we'll have some some.

A

uh Framework to operate from because we know that the city will go around and count parking spaces.

A

And when the parking spaces are full in the middle of the day, at 95 to 98 percent,.

A

Then then, at that point the neighborhood may be eligible for the parking permits if they.

A

Want them? Oh okay, hey larry! I just want to add. I I think that issue that you brought up in your.

C

Neighborhood, regardless of what happened this time, I think you raised the whole topic of resonance.

C

Being able to park near their homes at a time when other people are competing to get free parking.

C

Spots somewhere- and this is not going to get any better in the future- it's just going to get worse.

C

So maybe this was not the solution, but I think the fact that you raised this topic and people.

C

Got a little attention paid to it. I think that that is value in itself, because it's not going to.

C

Be something goes away, it might be just more, and uh so thanks a lot for doing that. Actually, it's.

A

One voice and it was, I actually had two or three voices- and I know I know all of them, two of them.

A

Were from the same household and they talked loudly and the other one was nicole lapierre.

A

And she speaks beautifully and I can go right down to the high of the issue. But there was.

A

Nobody else, and it would have been nice to have a little more support, but I had I I couldn't do.

A

It and I had bowed out a long time ago on that, not because of I wasn't interested it's just a.

A

um It would be a conflict um anything else on issues uh you want to cover brainstorming. I.

A

Know you talked a little bit about that. The other day we talked last year about coming.

H

Together, as a committee to brainstorm and speak about issues that we can uh help, neighborhoods.

H

Out with or just you know, maybe we've heard from speaking with a neighbor about a certain.

H

Issue that we just haven't addressed as a committee, and I think that it would be great.

H

For all of us to come together, maybe in march- and you know start that brainstorming process.

H

And we can probably communicate you know even before the meeting and over email and such if.

H

Possible, so if you guys so that's why I put in the march meeting and um we have more meetings.

H

This year than we did last year, but I think it'll just help us become a stronger committee.

I

I'll just make my comment about brett the brainstorming itself. um I think.

A

We had, I had one person call me and say you know how ineffective uh the city-wide neighborhood.

A

Committee is and how uh and how tied up we are with the uh with the city compared to what almost.

A

Almost lock step, uh which was I kind of, did not like that- that particular uh characters I invited.

A

The person here so they could talk directly to us, but she didn't, um but on that regard.

A

um We probably at the next meeting, should takes a few steps to to uh that might help.

A

Us um remove that particular stigma that um and that step might be to simply remove.

A

The fact that it says the mayoral blue ribbon committee drop the word mirror and blue ribbon.

A

And just leave it as the way it is stated in the uh in the uh city uh city network, in the.

A

City websites, as the city-wide neighborhood committee, without any other action unnecessary.

A

uh John, we had, we had a city attorney talk about removing that.

A

The blue ribbon aspect of it and it's a it's kind of a big deal and it kind of.

A

Says well we'll get a divorce from the city, but that's not exactly what we have in mind.

A

uh The forums are an enormous importance of getting people to to speak their minds and.

A

Be open about things and and the same for every committee meeting that we have, but it even though.

A

We have business and we always invite people to come in and talk about asap because they wish.

A

um However, that being said, the uh we certainly want to have more involvement.

A

In the neighborhoods and be able to solve many more problems, and and with that connection,.

A

Chair and co-chair, as well as any committee person can talk to any city employee about any.

A

Problem that comes up in the neighborhoods and we do not have to go through the city manager.

A

And and that's a difference and so that's an important function, I can pick up the phone.

A

Talk to peter rice, I can talk to the police chief. I want because of the traffic problem an.

A

Issue and they'll look into it and and having that relationship with the city is important.

A

And it gives us a reason for being, you know the impetus of that comment, saying that we were in the.

E

I'm sorry, you know what the impetus was for that comment that we were cahoots with. um I think the.

A

Person said that well, a lot of people go before the city council and they give their opinions.

A

And nothing happens, you know and uh you're just another location where people can can.

A

Talk about their comments and nothing will happen. Well, oh okay. I've heard that before.

A

We try not to do that. We've had some successes. If people have some serious problems, we uh we.

A

Can we can look into them and even less serious problems? You know so anyhow and I think our forums.

E

Address that directly to a lot of yeah yeah, the forums address it uh very well, absolutely and.

A

And the more that we we, uh we penetrate those neighborhoods, such as through the schools and.

A

See if we can't get the the police department's website to identify the forum and maybe the fire.

A

Department, if they, if they have their, if they have their own website, just to get more participation.

A

You know um well, I think I think, the the role of this committee, at least as I see it, is being like.

C

A middleman between public who has a concern and people on the city, staff or city elected officials.

C

We're not the ones making things happen and we have no authority to do those things. But we do.

C

Have the capability of funneling those comments to the right people and being able to have people who.

C

Have issues come to our forum and actually ask these questions openly publicly to the people.

C

Who are involved in this, and and that's that's our strength I mean and and for the city council.

C

Or the city uh that's an asset to them, because you know there are certain limitations. What you can do.

C

At city council meetings or how you can speak to the manager or people, uh and so it's a little more.

C

Cumbersome and we offer the citizens in portsmouth the opportunity to go directly from their issues.

C

To the person who might do something about those issues and we've seen in many forms where whether.

C

It's public works or the police department. Somebody says you know I'm going to look.

C

Into that, for you and and I'll get back to you, so it's really a positive feedback loop for them and.

C

I think that's our role. Our rule is not to make these things happen that people demand of us. We.

C

Have no authority to do that and john being here is a is a witness to what's been said here and.

E

He can say that's that she's been raised, so this is nothing. It adds more validity to what he has.

E

To say or whatever, and don't ever think that an issue is is raised and just disappears off the map.

D

Edmonds avenue that those folks organized and they really wanted a sidewalk, and they we had a meeting.

D

For the capital improvement plan and they showed up and their sidewalk is in the capital plan now.

D

It's probably not going to happen for three years so for the next two years, we're going to hear.

D

We told them what we wanted nothing's happening, but it's it's gonna happen yeah, it things just the.

D

City moves the pace of the city, well, that one instance, though john I think a year ago, or so.

A

Maybe two years ago, when we had chevrolet avenue right, the sidewalks and the the public works.

A

Department needed to go and get those permissions from um from the nevada's to uh to put the.

A

Sidewalk in and we kind of shoved them a little bit through uh um comments uh and a letter to the.

A

City council, to kind of move this thing along, you know, go out and do it right. You have the money for.

D

It go out and do it, and so you know there are some things we were able to do with sidewalks, which are.

A

Kind of messy the sidewalks are really important. Oh yes, I know so I just wanted to just say.

F

um That people would always be speaking during these forums, which it would always say you know.

F

It's like, I was talking to a friend who said um he was telling them. I was telling him this is.

F

What somebody said I was telling them about you know. I I told the mayor. We had these ward forums.

F

And he said you spoke to the mayor. You spoke to the to the city manager. You spoke to the police.

F

Department, it's like we got them all worked out. Then it's really a it's more unique than yeah and.

F

I've really heard in other places, so our biggest problem, our biggest problem, is always reach.

A

And that's a marketing thing uh is how we need to reach more people. I'm not saying we need want.

A

More business issues will be what they are, but but on these forums together, many people then.

A

At least aware that they're there and they have the right to go down to the the their voting.

A

Location in effect and um and challenge, if they want the mayor, you know and the others about them.

H

Are really good forums that you know since I've been a member of the committee, I thought they were.

H

A really really run well, I think people showed up. I think at our previous meeting that we had among.

C

Our committee, I think we were talking about one way of getting the word out, is each of us belongs.

C

To organizations and social clubs and rotary whatever, and if we could take the opportunity at.

C

The appropriate time to say you know, could you give us five minutes just to tell people that.

C

There is this committee, and there are these ward forms and it's it's surprising- how few people, how.

C

Many people don't know about them and it's been going on for quite a long time. But I think if each.

C

Of us tries to reach out in our network of social friends, uh uh which I've tried a couple times and.

C

Sure enough people say what I never heard this before. No that's yeah so tell everybody yeah.

I

That's it's just getting out of the word out. There is really important and that that could be.

A

Your uh what you need to do, I know I'm already doing that the person with the.

F

Ward, that they're in yeah that's right. People don't even know about the word darren right.

C

So it's hard yeah yeah, it's true! I love your enthusiasm peter! Well, I'm just brand new. Yes,.

C

You're doing great.

I

Keep going yes, okay! um I have no other comments. Go ahead um see so I think we just talked a.

A

Little bit about improving the committee like awareness, so yes, I think that's that said, is.

H

Comes, oh, you know what the legislative legislative forums yeah peter that'd, be great yeah legislative.

G

uh We talked about, we have a legislative uh form of sorts. Oh I I think we were talking.

C

About you know somebody who would be able to tell people about the political process, how.

C

Things work maybe or maybe what bills are in uh that's going to affect the city of portsmouth. I.

A

Mean residents of portsmouth? Well, I don't know either way. City council already does that they.

C

Have legislative meeting with the legislative delegation which, which I always took part in.

C

And they do a good job in trying to identify issues that are important to the uh to the city.

C

Of portsmouth, as they see it, uh uh I I think maybe mo I don't know. If most people I mean.

C

We could do both. We could have an opportunity where people could hear how the state legislature.

C

Works and how bills can happen, or we can have how things have happened in portsmouth, which is.

C

Probably closer in most people's yeah, absolutely than what's going on in concord, but for that I.

C

Think we can probably get uh maybe one of the counselors or someone who instinct or a staff.

C

Member or somebody who would be explained to us what the process is, for example, what john.

C

Was saying you know you put something in the capital improvement program? Well, what's the.

C

What's the delay until it actually happens, so people get some realistic timelines. Yes,.

C

I I think, that's what's maybe missing when people are being impatient about things yeah. I know the.

C

Sidewalks are really an issue in some places. You know they absolutely need it, and then they tell.

C

You don't do it, we don't want it, because if you do that, you're going to take property or or yeah.

C

Got trees and how many trees are going to be there after you finish: no, it's going to be a desert, no.

C

No, we don't want that we'd rather walk on lumpy sidewalks and in the street than take out one.

C

Tree so now you're the bad guy, because you want to build a sidewalk. You know those who you have.

D

To have the neighborhood have that conversation? Yes, that's right, which never happens unless you.

D

Say, let's concern exactly oh yeah and you know: there's there's the tug and the pull and the.

D

Tug and the pull and and eventually hopefully the neighborhood, gets to a consensus, um and you know.

D

Maybe you skinny down the sidewalk in some ways and maybe you don't take out a tree, but that's all.

C

Part of the problem yep, that's surprising that maybe prodding people by threatening to build.

C

A sidewalk is a way of getting them to discuss it. You may have people understand that. That's.

E

Already city property- remember that was good. Oh, it doesn't matter my gardens. I know it's my garden.

E

Is just okay yeah, so so I'm going to work with trying to come up with something like that. If.

C

There's an industrial okay, so the question really is: um uh there were two choices here.

A

One is, I want to find out, what's what's going on and how these bills come up and who does what and.

A

And conquered yep and the other one is: uh how do the current bills and proposed bills affect.

A

Which I I believe is is the more important yeah. Yes, I agree whether we should all come.

A

Together when the legislative people meet with the city council and say, let's invite everyone.

A

In you know, on our mailing list and and the neighborhoods to get the word out and just.

A

You know attend that particular session right right and maybe that's another way.

C

John, I I think this is something maybe you can talk to the other counselors about, though, because.

C

The trickiest thing about that is that the schedule that the legislature is on.

C

Is it's never over till it's over, you know, it's like somebody proposes a crazy bill now and the.

C

City says: if this bill passed, they would really harm the city. Well, there's a hearing on it and.

C

Everybody's opposed to it, the committee says we're not going to inconsider it. So it's off.

C

The table gone uh so we shouldn't waste too much time talking about bills that we're never going.

C

To go anywhere. Okay, but when it gets to a point where it has to go to the senate, and they have.

C

To agree and the senate now agreed on it uh or they're about to agree on it, and we want to stop.

C

That or we want to stop the final vote in the house. That's the time to do something because.

C

Otherwise, you're going to waste your time, fighting bills that go nowhere. I never had a chance and.

C

Alerting the population please call about this bill and it's not going to go anywhere. No one's.

C

Supporting it, but people get upset, you know, so it needs to have the right timing is what I'm saying.

C

And you guys in the council, when you meet with the legislators at some point, you know when that point.

C

Comes where okay? This is a real important bill for the city, and we need to see what we can do to stop.

C

It either by testifying or by contacting these representatives, but it needs to be at a point.

C

Where it's realistically has a chance of getting passed, because otherwise we're just raising hopes.

C

To people that they can stop something which is not going to go anywhere anyway, right and I mean.

C

It's never a wrong thing to call the governor's office about something uh 271-2121 uh all right.

C

Thank you because you can always get it something to the governor at any point in the process and.

C

Get the governor to see if they can weigh in on stopping something. But, like I said it's a.

C

Long process and it's it goes all the way till july 1st, almost until the final things happen,.

C

So you don't want to alert people in march about a bill that has no chance. Okay, such as the one.

A

Where they, where they proposed, that new hampshire secede from the unions right, that's right, yeah.

C

And they actually got some well. It was not a bill to secede. It was a bill to have a referendum on.

C

The ballot to secede, so they can actually support secession because that would preclude their oath.

C

That they took of office, they would have to be kicked out of the legislature, but you can propose.

C

That there be a a ballot to ask the citizens of new hampshire if they would like to succeed.

C

How can we be most more effective to with the council? You know: what's the kind of thing.

E

We could bring to the councils. Well, I think every every neighborhood has its issues right.

D

um Pan away right now, uh we're gonna have a a neighborhood meeting about the proposals.

D

To put 120 minutes, that's high on the list yep, but equally high on their list of are repaving.

D

Colonial drive and sidewalks and that's been a long-term issue elwyn park has is.

D

Still debating sidewalks, um you know the south end, uh so that's actually kind of quiet right.

D

Now the water rising yeah, the water right, but we've got they don't have room for silence.

D

But every neighborhood's got its issues and to the degree that.

D

That this committee knows those issues and reminds us and comes to us and says: don't forget about.

D

Sidewalks and pan away- or um you know don't forget about you- need a crosswalk near dondaro.

D

Which I think we finally got, but you know issues like that, because.

D

It's very easy for us to just roll along with what the staff tells us yeah and but we work. We.

D

Don't work for the staff we work for you, so it's the best thing to take. That fact is that, for you.

E

To take that to the council, or for us to bring neighbors in for us as a committee to encourage.

E

Neighbors to come anytime that that you're getting a neighborhood group you're getting neighborhood.

D

Conversation about an issue- uh and you say a city-wide neighborhoods committee. We want to.

D

Hear what those issues are in your neighborhood, you know it bubbles up yeah. It starts to bubble.

D

Up, well, that's what we want to happen right, yeah! You know I mean absolutely it's true that.

A

I don't really want to mess too much with land use unless it's, unless it's health and safety.

A

And noise and things like that, but short of land use regulations, we can deal with sherman school.

A

um And there, and whatever issues that that the parking and traffic safety would not take up right.

A

You know, and and that may be a fine line, but at least we can get in and find out about them. I.

A

Did ask I mean a former representative uh kelly um jackie asked me at the other day about uh she.

A

Wanted why aren't we taking up with uh well? Aren't we interested in the sherman school.

A

So I asked him: would you come tonight and talk a little bit about it and she never replied it.

H

Was on the 31st, they told you about that yeah! No, but the the. If it's the thing is, if we know.

A

About it, we can, we can certainly put it on the agenda or we can. We can talk about it. Offline.

A

Emails if it's important enough, we'll just hold an impromptu meeting period, you know and so we're.

A

Willing to do that, but we need to get the word out that uh we have to. We have to hear about it.

A

And it is in a vacuum sometimes, and then just these things bubble up rather fast right.

C

um There there is an issue- and I know that you just mentioned- that we want to stay on land use.

C

Issues but there is an issue- that's been bubbling up throughout the country actually, and it's about.

C

This issue of single-family zoning, so I think I don't know exactly where it started. I know this. It.

C

Was a big eruption in california because actually they passed the bill uh that prohibits future.

C

Zoning of single-family homes and, interestingly enough, the people who supported that bill of.

C

Eliminating single-family zoning were real estate agents uh developers and the people who opposed it.

C

Were affordable housing advocates so, but that has bubbled out as an issue all over the country and.

C

The case that's being made is to say if we could just build more housing on the same plot of land.

C

It would be more affordable and we had two bills in the legislature in the last two years that.

C

Were trying to implement a ban for single-family housing throughout the state on all municipalities.

C

And that would have a dramatic impact on a lot of neighborhoods. I mean pan away matter would be.

C

Right for that, if everybody could have a two units where one unit is, of course, people who.

C

Sell things with life that the inventory would go up, but whether that would create more affordable.

C

Housing in in portsmouth is questionable yeah. It would create other issues as well, but that.

C

Was a zoning issue that you know directly would impact people if it was statewide.

C

Instead of what it, what it is now that each municipality can determine that on their own.

A

Is it worth taking something like that up grab it by the ground, grab the bull by the horns in this.

A

Case and and have a forum on that, when I say form, we can have a public meeting a discussion, yeah and.

A

uh And be able to uh talk intelligently about it and get people excited about it like when we talk.

A

And the example I give is when we were talking about permit parking all over the city. A lot of.

A

People came forward out, it was, I couldn't assure you, it was a very exciting meeting, a loud voices.

A

And people had several accusations about the chair and some others, but nevertheless it sparked.

A

Something that that that we were able to go forward with at least the suggestions that.

A

Came out of that, there were so many suggested like 20, and then when I took each one of those.

A

Suggestions from all these outraged people- and I looked at the regulations in the city.

A

Of boston on permit parking, lo and behold, I found that a lot of these issues had.

A

Submerit and that they were indeed part of the regulations in some of the cities, all.

A

Over the country, so there's a lot to be said for these getting getting these. If we can get these.

A

Points and get the right issue and get people excited about the issue one way or the other. You.

A

Just have to have a thick skin and, of course, the secretary has to be fast. Many recording.

A

But if you fill the room yeah and then you and then you have your several speakers who are.

A

Controversial like one who's favor and the other was opposed. You'll get. You will get the response.

A

You'll get different responses and those responses are very useful. I mean more useful than I thought.

A

Originally well as informational meetings, I think they're very helpful. It seems to me, though, for us.

C

As a committee we don't want to, we don't want to take sides in that. Okay, there are too many issues.

C

That are so are are not necessarily black and white, and people need to make decisions on their.

C

Own and if we can provide a forum with different points of view, that would be very valuable. uh But.

C

But I think we need to be careful, as you mentioned, with the land use issue than not to wade into.

C

Areas that really are way out of our our domain, because people can see this from different points.

C

Of view and what they're looking for is some information? Well, let's take a case of point yeah.

A

We're going to uh have a forum on single family homes and there's one person sitting over there.

A

Hypothetically, who said, uh let's abandon let's do away with them period, so the next time that house.

A

Turns over the owner has an opportunity to put two houses on or whatever yeah, okay, depending on them.

A

Suppose we did that all right and we're not taking sides because yeah I want to go to the other.

A

The fact that there are so many homes in the city of portsmouth that a single family you'll get them.

A

In droves, yeah, that's right right! If you want a very successful forum, that's what we have to do.

A

Yes, that is exactly what we'd have to do. What do you think about that? You think you'd come in and.

A

And fight um yell and scream I mean on behalf of of your own of your own neighborhood or whatever.

A

You know, which is mostly single family, home.

B

Much I think, of that issue as across islington on this side of islington street, where you know I've.

B

Seen people's backyards turned into developments literally right yeah? No, there are some issues.

A

There yeah now we're not addressing we're not addressing the issues, we're identifying the.

A

Issues is really because when people come up and they complain they say well, I don't want.

A

This and I don't want my backyard- I don't want, you know five-story building next to me, we've.

A

Heard those even on high street and uh um not high street uh hill street and uh and islington creek.

A

You know about the uh when the uh the zoning changes changes from the middle of the street.

A

One way you can put a five, a ten story building or an eight-story building in one place, and you.

A

Have single family homes on the other, big big difference, a lot of problems, the city doesn't.

A

Necessarily want to address some of those problems, but if this issue is coming downstream, okay and.

A

It's going to and like you say, it's already been nibbling at the uh the state legislature.

A

Is it worth bringing it up at this time real estate agent from dover who's, a member of the.

C

Legislature, the democrat came up to me and said: why aren't you voting for this? This is good for.

C

Portsmouth, [music] it's good for appointments. I've heard too many other issues, the negative things.

C

About this, that's why no it's very good for them, and I didn't want to say well, aren't you a real.

C

Estate agent yeah, but john this, this borders, quasi political and stuff, like that, you know, I mean this.

A

Is this is this is a hot issue? um What's your thoughts, uh it would definitely be a lively forum.

D

Absolutely would we would we harm ourselves, [laughter].

D

I think if you said in a straightforward way, we want to provide information on this topic. You know.

D

Why are some people saying something as radical as yep? It's the end of single family zoning um and.

D

I think you get a lot of turnout you. Hopefully, if you had some information, rich speakers, yeah.

H

On both sides on both sides, yeah yeah- absolutely valuable yep. um I don't know that many people.

D

Would change their minds from the opinion they came in with, but they'd learn something yeah yep.

D

um Ultimately, I think it's the council that has to set a policy direction.

D

um And the more information, the more debate, the better so they'd, be interested in the outcome.

A

Of this I think they'd be interested in hearing which way the ground swell of support is running.

D

But at the end of the day too, you know there's I don't want more density in my neighborhood versus.

D

We do have a slow-moving, quiet crisis that you can't. You can't maintain a restaurant.

D

Staff, you can't maintain a city dispatch, fire and police dispatch staff, because.

D

People can't afford to live here, yeah and it's it's slow. It's like a python around our economy,.

G

No, it's just. I know we as a. We as a council have to make a policy decision.

D

About how we get more affordable housing or a series of policy decisions is something as.

D

Radical as a zoning change like that part of the toolkit, we'll look at how it'd be it'd, be.

D

Rough going to do it yeah. This would be also about identifying a bill. That's going to pass or is not.

E

Going to pass or has a chance or doesn't so again we're looking at something, and we have to look at.

E

The level to say where is it most applicable to us right, you know or what certainly it's a need, but.

E

Do we need to go all the way to that point which would be dramatic yeah, and you can have an idea.

D

Some you can have a tech technocrats solution. Oh boy, if you did this with zoning, you could have.

D

All kinds of density, great looks good on paper. You can even model it on a spreadsheet, but in the real.

D

World will people who moved here for the quality of life of their single family neighborhoods put.

D

Up with that, don't you gotta, there's technocratic solutions that suddenly meet the real world. Well,.

C

You know the thing is what another aspect of this whole issue with the single-family zoning is that.

C

The only places where you could have a big impact with building more is cities, because you have to.

C

Have sewer and water so if somebody says let's build affordable housing in bedford, new hampshire.

C

Or amherst new hampshire ways to live it's plenty of land. You could do it, but there's no sewer in.

C

Water, okay, so developers are not going to develop there if they're going to develop something. It's.

C

Going to be where sewer and water is available, and those pricing of the units will be accordingly.

C

So it's kind of so some of the cities are saying you know we're supposed to take all the brunt of.

C

Doing something on our own to provide affordable housing for the whole state, while smaller towns.

C

Around us who are actually wealthier, maybe are not going to do that, just because they don't.

C

Have the infrastructure and they don't have to and they're not contributing to it? You have to do it.

C

So so it's pretty amazing to me anyway, to hear with the homeless crisis over manchester, that.

C

Portsmouth has the second largest um homeless shelter here in the state, we're only twenty.

C

Thousand year residents, but we're serving the whole region, yeah manchester is the only one.

C

That has a larger facility than we do, I'm not sure not concord, portsmouth and the people being.

E

Served by the shelters right food shelters, so so you know I'll leave with just one thought.

D

Density in land use and and affordable housing have been problems for two decades. Three decades.

D

They will continue to be a problem, so I think you want to ask yourself: where can be? We be.

D

Effective yeah um there's no snap solution to that uh and you know, on the other hand,.

D

Getting a sidewalk in chevrolet avenue, that's a that's! A nice little win.

D

That makes the quality of life better in that neighborhood. So I'll leave you with that, though,.

A

All right do we have anything else. Someone uh say something about the german of the meeting.

C

I make a motion to join this meeting, so bear the emotion to adjourn. It is now a job. Thank you.