City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Economic Development Commission, 11 Feb 2022

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2.11.2022 Economic Development Commission

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Okay, good morning, everyone and welcome to the economic development commission, meeting february 11th 2022.

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I'm afraid I'm your substitute teacher for the day.

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This phil can't be here or maybe a bit late. So, first and foremost, I'd like to welcome our new edc.

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Council representatives assistant mayor, joe kelly and.

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Counselor vince lombardi very glad to have you both here.

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I look forward to I know I speak for everyone. When I say we look forward to working with you.

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And would love to get your thoughts, perhaps on the edc, and how we can do our best work together with.

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The council, with the other commissions and boards, I'd also like to acknowledge and welcome sean.

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Clency, who is our next see if I can get this right assistant city manager for economic development.

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Being being trained up and readied by our current assistant city manager, for economic.

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Development, nancy cromer. I'm glad to have you here and look forward to working with you.

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As well very much all right item, one is approval of the last meeting minutes of january 7th.

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Do do have a second second, second caitlyn, all in favor all right. Any opposition.

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Motion passes smoothly as ever all right. Next on our agenda is assistant city attorney, jane ferrini,.

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uh Who's going to share some information on recent legislative committee activities.

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All yours morning, james good morning,.

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Good morning, everyone.

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Well, it is once again a very different sort of legislative session due to covet and.

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uh Very political, I think I am, I think, that's an understatement, um a session which is unlike.

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Prior sessions, so that affects what's going to pass through, you know not what gets requested, but.

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What's actually going to be successful, one of the things is that what just happened yesterday was.

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There's a bill on short-term rentals. Some of you have been familiar with that issue in portsmouth.

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That bill would allow short-term rentals in every single family, home and duplex in.

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Any district all throughout the state and the city opposed that bill for two reasons, primarily.

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You, theoretically, it sounds like a means by which to create more housing and let people stay in.

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Their homes and have you know, money to sustain the increase, valuations and increase taxes. But.

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If you've paid attention countrywide and internationally.

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It has the effect of at least in portsmouth, really decimating apartments.

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Because, folks, that own an apartment who can make more money doing the short-term.

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Rental than they can for a long-term resident, obviously they'll very likely make that choice.

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The other concern is evaluation of property, so this bill that was amended yesterday and passed.

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The senate unanimously in the committee will go. Probably I don't know if it will go on the consent.

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Calendar for for the next time the senate meets, but it definitely has all indications of passing.

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Out of the senate and into the house, so um one of the things that is also concerning is that the.

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It doesn't it's not an owner-occupied short-term rental bill, it is uh anyone can own the property.

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And we're finding, particularly in the lakes region in the mountains region, that um entities like the.

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Marriott are buying up single-family residents and you know advertising those short-term rentals. So.

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That's the concern, obviously, to portsmouth you folks, you know on one on one end, the the.

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Homeowners will probably economically benefit. You know if they engage in short-term rentals.

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But from this committee's perspective I think the whole issue of workforce housing and just.

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Housing in general, cost of housing, workforce housing and apartments will be seriously affected.

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um So I think that's the that's the one that isn't labeled workforce housing by yet, in fact, it.

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It seems to to it well, I think it will have a very a very large effect, um and I think that we had a.

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um On january 31st we had the first meeting of the legislative subcommittee.

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And assistant mayor is on that committee, which is terrific, along with the mayor and.

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Councilor cook and councillor tabor and they identified legislative issues.

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That are going to be their priorities throughout this session. The first one is.

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Municipal authority and as you can see by what I just described with short-term rentals.

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That real that bill, if it passes, is amends every zoning ordinance in every city in every town.

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So that's what we call a statewide zoning amendment um and that's something theoretically.

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That most municipalities, um you know, obviously do not favor, because we want to be able to. um We know.

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What's best for our communities and no communities are alike, so not only does the city typically.

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And the legislative subcommittee typically oppose those kinds of bills, but the new hampshire.

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Municipal association also, traditionally, no matter what the subject of the bill.

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If it's taking away local control, it's opposed so there's quite a few of those.

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I won't go through all of those, but there are a lot of statewide zoning amendments um again.

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Most of those in theory seem to be a good idea right short term. Rentals, you know, seemed to be a.

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Good idea, tiny houses allowed, you know everywhere, seem to be a good idea, but you really have to read.

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Each bill and see how it impacts individual towns, so so that's something that is interesting. One of.

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The other bills similar to this is every single family house could have four units by right.

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So you know there's lots of good intentions. I think trying to get more housing in the state, but.

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The practical application how it applies to certain districts- you know zoning districts could.

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Be could be problematic, particularly in portsmouth. The other issue that was that was identified as a.

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Priority is climate change, and certainly there are bills on wind, energy and energy in general. That.

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The committee definitely wants to focus on the other issue, which is you're all really familiar.

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With this, one is all the downshifting bills from the state over the last 10 years onto cities and.

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Towns, there is a bill, you know, for instance, that comes back every year, trying to get the state.

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To pay at least a small portion of retirement costs, and you know those kinds of things that.

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That that help cities obviously have healthy and robust budgets. The other uh bill that I can think.

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Of relative to that is for an example, the meals and rooms tax. So last year there was an amendment.

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To that bill- and that was primarily, you should be aware from the efforts of the mayor's roundtable.

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That is a group of all the mayors of all the cities in new hampshire and they got together.

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Through covid to address the issues of covid but then continued their conversations about.

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Legislative issues of interest and one of the ones last year was the meals and rooms and, as all.

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Of you are very well for me. Familiar the city has been nancy, I think, began the conversation with the.

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Legislature about trying to look at that formula to make it more fair to those communities that.

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Really host all of the tourists, which is the economic engine for the meals and rooms, so that.

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Was a good bill last year because it increased the amount that's distributed back to each.

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Municipality there's another one pending on you know a similar reconfiguration of that particular.

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uh Distribution, which would be an improvement, so you know those are the kinds of things that.

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We watch, um sometimes retirement bills, can sneak in there and, like you know, which are again good.

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For retirees but again impact municipalities, bottom line, so there's that fiscal component.

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New members on the commission for those that may not know the distribution formula for.

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Goals and rooms tax- it's based on your population, yes, on what you contribute to the state, so a.

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City, like dairy, has a higher population than portsmouth, but not anywhere near the tourism.

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Impact would receive a higher amount, a bigger return than than portsmouth does, and last year.

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They did increase that slightly and I maybe you know jane, I don't know what percent but.

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um Their goal was to return 40, I think, over over time, but they've they've maybe been around.

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20. yeah, it was 22 years ago. I don't know what the percentage of the distribution was.

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Last year, but it was definitely an increase both by amount that was generated and the new.

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Formula increased the percentage to return back to cities and towns, but it certainly wasn't the.

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40 percent that was originally contemplated in the statute, but they don't have the.

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Figure out that's on my head and our original efforts were not that successful.

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Because other legislators look at portsmouth and think you know we have a golden egg here, but we.

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You know we have a lot of expenses that go with that, and the other piece is that um so.

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We turned our attention to maybe the idea of what was called a pillow tax, which was.

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um You know an overnight tax for for guests minor and to give local control for that, and we didn't.

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Get too far with that either right and we still aren't because there was the bill introduced. This.

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Session and I believe it was tabled, but there's a pending motion to itl, which is to kill it.

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I've heard through the grapevine that it might come back, as maybe a study committee.

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As an amendment to another bill, this session, so that'll be something that again will be looked at.

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Hopefully, through a study committee or again brought back.

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For another year and and as nancy said, the pillow tax or hotel occupancy fee when, when that began.

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Nancy, I think many of the legislators had no idea what you know what what our needs were and what.

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The impacts of tourism are to particular cities and towns, and so now I think there are all sorts.

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Of smaller towns and that are realizing, you know that have supported that hotel, occupancy concept.

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Whereas I think when the conversation began, portsmouth was, you know, um we're always the.

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First at the table, I think, because we see things uh I think more quickly, just to the nature of our.

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Of our community, but um I don't think that will will have great success um and just one other.

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Thing to that, I think the chamber did a lot of work with our hospitality properties to yes, engage.

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Them because one in fact, I think the lodging association objected to to that proposal, but.

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Valerie and ben and company were able to speak with with our hospitality properties and.

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And and work around it wouldn't be so bad if some of that money went to marketing the community so.

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So that's where we ended. I believe yes, exactly and, and you know that still was an option under the.

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The uh the bill that was proposed, so if it does go to study committee, I think it's a real opportunity.

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For the chamber to and and the city to reach out to the hospitality industry and try to.

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Try to figure out a path forward that that's acceptable. I think we were quite close, a cub. What.

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Was it two years ago nancy, we had far more support than we had ever had before, so it's not impossible.

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And you know you just keep going back and and once again as as nancy, you know indicated, we weren't.

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Successful the the first time, but but we had a lot more support, and that was in large part due to the.

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The chamber, you know communicating with the tourism and what's acceptable to you.

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You know what what can you live with if, if, if this money does go at least a portion of it.

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To certain types of things that benefited tourism, how how can we make this a win-win.

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So I anticipate that that whether or not it goes to study committee.

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That's something again that the chamber can continue to work with our with our.

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Account you know our tourist economy and see what what might be acceptable moving forward.

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The other area we have to pay attention to is right to know, and many of you know, through zoom.

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Meetings how convenient that was and how the right to know law says you need physical quorum present.

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And all of that, so there's lots of bills trying to um not go back well. Some of them are.

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Trying to to say we can have completely virtual meetings, but other of them are trying to to meet.

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A middle ground so that you know um some of our public bodies in in portsmouth and all throughout.

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The state are smaller, you know smaller groups of folks and, and so I think, there's a push in the.

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Legislature to try to amend the right to know law about public meetings, uh and you know quorums and.

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Physical presence, so there's a bunch of those that we'd obviously be interested in and watch.

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Child care was another priority identified, not only through our our city council retreat, which.

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You'll hear more about later today, but also from the committee as a priority, um and there are.

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Several bills, unfortunately, two of them were uh just voted in expedient to legislate um relative.

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To creating funds for child care and, and that sort of thing, so my my impression this session is that.

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Again, they may not be successful, but again um you know this committee certainly understands.

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The importance of folks, working and and having child care, and uh so that's an interesting.

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Issue for for this committee to to identify as well and then you know there are some workforce.

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Housing bills. There are bills that are trying to clarify what the role of the housing appeals board.

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You know is and trying to expedite processes in the superior court for appeals on land use.

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um And the you know the I think the sb 400 that's a broad brush bill on housing. It includes.

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To train local boards has provisions relative to workforce housing. I think that's been supported by.

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The governor and that bill had a hearing, but it's still in in in the senate um in senate committee,.

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So there are bills that are out there that are trying to make workforce housing.

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Easier and there's a lot of bills, like I said in the zoning piece that talk about.

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Easing dimensional requirements and height restrictions and removing parking.

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Requirements and all of that, so um even if a bill isn't labeled, you know workforce housing.

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I think there's a lot and I think the mayor said it uh very well at the last meeting he said well.

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Concord is responding to a vacuum. You know. Lots of cities and towns want to do something, but.

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They don't know you know what to do to address the housing. So I think that's why a lot of these bills.

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um Are coming forward because there's a there's, obviously an identified need, but.

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And some of them again may have some unintended consequences. All the intentions are are. Are I.

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Think to try to make it easier to get to get housing, and I know there are.

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Several seminars, one last tuesday, one next week on housing in portsmouth, which I'm sure.

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You guys are aware of, and I think you have your the josiah bartlett study on your agenda today.

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So it's certainly, uh you know a priority of the of the of the legislative subcommittee. It's because.

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It's a priority of the of the council, so we watch these and we you know we we we digest.

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Them it's there's going to be a lot of back and forth before we see what actually comes out.

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My understanding is that it's um it's a it's a challenging session and um you know I'm seeing.

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Lots of inexpedient to legislate come through in the last week or so on. Bills they're just.

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Killing a lot of bills, redistricting is taking a lot of energy.

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As you well know, vaccines and masks seem to be sucking the air out of the room um so.

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There so some of these other bills that would have, I think, had some some good attention. I don't know.

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That the legislature really can can address. You know um everything that it that it sets out to.

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Do in the beginning of the session, and then ed funding, obviously, is something that we track.

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A lot of you know um and remember the swept uh when, when it's a statewide education, property tax.

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A portion of the of what we collected in the city was uh sent to the state to redistribute.

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There is a coalition communities 2.0, which is a group of cities and towns who would be new donor.

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Towns under recommendations on the commission on education funding report, which, which came out last.

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Year again, the legislature doesn't appear to have any appetite to dismantle that education funding.

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Piece, it's a very complex piece. There are some very detailed and comprehensive bills introduced.

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And the one that was sort of kind of listed was really kind of a mirror of the commission's report.

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Was just turned into, I believe, interim study.

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um Let's see, can I jump in mr chairman well jane's looking to see if she's got anything else.

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I have information here on the mails and rooms tax. I don't have the percentage increase and I.

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Know it was certainly not what we were looking for, which was 40 right, but the amount that the city.

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Received via distribution uh was 1.12 million in fy 21 and then this current fiscal year it's 1.63.

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So we did get a half a million dollars more and I think there was a sentiment in the legislature.

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That you're not going to get 40 but you're going to get whatever this new percentage is.

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And that should be that should stay at the at that level. Right we're going to stay at this higher.

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Level, but not the one, we ultimately wanted right and I think what they did is they slightly lowered.

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What um what a business owner needs to pay in the meals and rooms by, I think 0.5.

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And then they increased the distribution uh to cities and towns, but we're we're not at the.

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40 percent uh we're not there, but they did at least acknowledge after I think what a decade.

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That that I think it really was a decade that they had to start to give some of that.

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Distribution back to cities and towns, um I think some of that was prompted by by covet. Obviously.

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uh And but I do think that it, it really is, it was a good, it was a. It was a good first step. You know.

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So I think, I think, and I think that's kind of the broad brush summary that that I have.

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Did you want to talk about where you're going to put that list and if people want to act.

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Sure so this is, this is a list, but for some technical glitches would have been posted on.

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Our legislative subcommittee page, what I'm going to do is I'm going to link the bills.

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As well so there will be, you can just go to bills that we're tracking there'll be a on.

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Our legislative subcommittee page and when you're looking for that, that's under government, so you go.

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Into the city, you go, you click on government and then you click on the legislative subcommittee.

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And we post all the testimony and the bills that we've testified on and also we I'll be posting our.

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Updated legislative principles and policies on how we testify and who gets to and why and the.

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Links to these bills- uh and I think I have I think this is like 70 bills right now- that I've kind of.

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Tracked but a lot of those are kind of falling off the wayside so but it'll be a live document.

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So you should be able to go on it and click on the most recent version of the bill and then.

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My last action I'm trying to update every week so we'll know if it's in committee, if it's been.

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Been voted out um and I will have a a definitional section to so. You can understand my abbreviations.

E

Tom jane, what's the bill's senate bill number for that short-term stay, the short-term rental is.

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249 and it was amended yesterday, it was it was an executive session. Yesterday the um committee voted.

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5-0 to pass it, many of the folks in the I think I think, was commerce supported and sponsored the.

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Bill it has bipartisan support in the senate, and um so it is. I didn't read that it's on the consent.

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Calendar for the senate for the full sentence vote, but I, if, if I do my if my math is correct,.

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I would be surprised that it would be defeated in the senate, given the sponsors on the bill.

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um I don't know, what's going to happen in the house, so we'll cross over into the house and again.

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We'll have our opportunity there'll, be public. Hearing they'll execute it'll go to the floor so.

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It might be, you know a good idea to reach out to some of your colleagues and other other.

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Other cities and towns that that that may may be affected by this. I know the.

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New hampshire, municipal association and a lot of cities and towns affected by this.

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Helped with an op ed um that that kind of talked about what I'm talking about now, how.

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This has unintended consequences and how it could be actually negative and I'll have to. I have not.

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Seen that that's been published yet, but I will um I'll, let nancy know and she can send you out.

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A link uh relative and that that'll give you a really good nuts and bolts analysis as to.

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You know why this why this might be uh have some negative impact.

F

Jacob just um quick question the bill itself: what kind of provisions does.

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It give for municipal governments to make any changes to, or do we have does it give us any power to make any kind of changes at a local level? I'm reading it as.

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As yes and no I'm a lawyer, okay, so.

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How do I answer everything? No, insofar as you must allow them, and you can't district them out.

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That's how I'm reading it so so it's it's really making a change to our to our ordinances. It does.

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Give you the right to require sort of an agent and to inspect and to have sort of a fee associated.

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With these kinds of kinds of properties, I I am saying it's not the best written bill in the world.

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So I suspect there'll be challenges to it. If it's vague and you can't enforce it, you know, I suspect.

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That that there may be challenges, the analogy that I can give you is the accessory dwelling.

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So what happened? Is they like this amendment? There's a paragraph and said all you guys gonna do.

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Accessory drawings now and then our smart planners come and they write a clear zoning.

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Ordinance that describes with specifics what you can and cannot do.

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But some of those specifics were mandated by the bill. So it has, you know so many feed and.

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You can't restrict this and you must allow this and that sort of thing. So I'm I'm I'm.

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Reading this giving municipalities very limited control over short-term rentals other than the.

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Inspection piece and the registration piece, but you couldn't zone it out. You couldn't say you're.

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Unable to have a short-term rental in this single-family residence and this duplex.

F

Okay and then, as a fault to that, um has there ever been kind of a study inside the city or that.

F

Have been done recently on short-term housing or short-term rentals within the city, I don't.

G

Know if we've ever done kind of a global look at that as a city to see how it would affect us.

B

That is a great question. I'm not familiar of any study. I do know that there was a.

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Work session many years ago about uh drafting a particular short-term rental ordinance, and I know.

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That information was, was, you know, gathered at that time, but you know I think that was.

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In early stages of of the of the short-term rental issue- and I, if I recall correctly, we.

B

Were looking at other jurisdictions, not only what they drafted, but how it was impacting.

B

But I'm not familiar with a with a study on on portsmouth. I'm sure there are are examples.

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Of I know for sure, in the u.s and internationally, what happens when there's no no restrictions on.

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Short-Term rentals and you can probably think yourself about five communities where you've.

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Heard there are no more residents, you know it's, it's a it's a vacation place from thursday to.

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To monday and the residents kind of leave and- and I think that's the that's the concern we have for.

B

For portsmouth, no, I agree because I mean north conway is a great one. Exactly bartlett.

B

I'm a downtown renter, so yeah, you know I I think that's a good thing to bring up for sure through.

D

The chair, if there's a report back, I can provide on what we may know I'll be happy to do that.

G

What is so given that new hampshire isn't a home rule state? How do you see the the legislative.

G

Subcommittee's principle, around municipal authority playing out is it that you have to.

G

Address the bills one-on-one or is there something that could be looked at more broadly, given our the.

G

That we're not a home rule state, that's a great question. um There are various ways we can register.

B

uh In opposition, or in favor of a bill, one of them is submitting written testimony, one of them.

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Is to go and testify the other is to just indicate on the bill itself. We oppose it and we're part of.

B

The public record as opposing it, I think, for some of these, um you know some of these authority bills.

B

We will go the the latter, you know we'll just get on. You know get on record that that we oppose this.

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Bill um depending on the subject matter, I think uh that that kind of then moves it up to the point of.

B

Do we send written testimony and do we, um you know, go and have uh one of our legislative subcommittee.

B

Members or the mayor uh testify, I think that um also we work very closely. The city does.

B

Almost on a weekly basis, sometimes this during this legislative season several times a week with.

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The new hampshire municipal association, so we're very actively engaged with what they're doing.

B

We have great communication with them. um I think karen gets emails from margaret the.

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Executive director every other day, uh you know so we're very in tune with what might.

B

We get alerts as well and so um they're familiar with with our activity here and we're probably one.

B

Of the more active communities in the legislature and have been for many years and there's actually.

B

A little award in the hallway when you walk through that the city council got several years.

B

Ago um so, yeah there's a various ways that that that that we can register our opposition to to.

B

To bills, particularly on the municipal authority, tom, you had a question just a follow-up question.

H

So it sounds like it's primarily a use, yes, and, but it may be so widely worded. Is that.

H

It affects everything else, including conditions and things of that nature. You talk about the.

H

Health inspections, but I think about the parking problems which would develop when you have a.

H

A single family home with four bedrooms that suddenly has five cars over the weekend.

B

Exactly particularly in a city like portsmouth, that has a lot of on-street parking. So is there a.

H

Way of developing a a sort of a backup strategy to oppose this, you know if the primary.

H

Thing is make it all or nothing, because it then becomes at least for some communities, something.

H

That they have to oppose versus just figure out a way of watering this down, so that if it does pass.

H

It doesn't create a total nightmare, that's a great question and- and you must they must.

B

Have heard you when they made their amendment to the bill yesterday? Because? Because the sentence.

B

That they added just yesterday was quote nothing in this paragraph shall limit a municipality's.

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Existing authorities to gen generally regulate parking, noise, safety, health or sanitation.

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Under duly adopted, ordinances and regulations authorized under state statute, so it appears.

B

That you may still have parking regulations, but it's it's rather vague, generally regulate.

B

Parking, I mean we have. We have some parking regulations associated with particular.

B

Types of buildings and types of uses already in our ordinance, so we'd have to look at that and.

B

But, and as a companion to this, there is a statewide zoning ordinance bill that says.

B

For that four unit for a single family that you can't restrict parking, you have to count it.

B

Like a regular residence, even though you can have four units so there's, maybe one or two bills that.

B

That are addressing the parking issue kind of anticipating exactly you know exactly that.

B

Concept of you know: what can we restrict and what we can't the other troubling piece of this? It's a.

B

Three strikes you're out, so if someone has in fact violated, you know noise and rubbish or whatever.

B

The other amendment that was added yesterday was a municipality that has ordinances and registration.

B

Can't revoke the registration for the short-term rental unless the property has two or more proven.

B

Violations of ordinances impacting the health or safety of the community. So that's going to be a.

B

Huge enforcement uh effort on the part of every city in town to try to you know to to formalize.

B

Those proven violations, we'll prove you know again, general terms vague. Let's challenge it, however,.

B

Proven violation seems to me to be uh not just a a letter from us. You know me, meaning that you you.

B

Would need to take more steps, as far as as far as enforcing and confirming those violations so.

B

um It is not, it is not um and again you're exactly right time. You'll take this and then you'll.

B

You'll try to craft. You know an amendment to the zoning ordinance if we, if we have to.

B

That tries to protect you know our health and safety as best we can, but I think that.

B

Two three strikes and you're out is, is a is, you know again challenging for enforcement.

B

So call yourself call the senators call your call everybody. You know they're, just not seeing.

B

I think it because I don't think they're impacted like portsmouth, if you're not a resort community.

B

And tour, you know portsmouth is very unique. You know we. We, we have tourism.

B

But but you know it's not just the summer uh we have a big hospitality community that we.

B

That we encourage- and um but we also have, that the residential component and our need for apartments.

B

And housing, so um not some small town in you know some place in new hampshire. That has a couple of.

B

Folks, who want to stay in their home and rent a short-term rental, that's a very different.

B

Impact than than other types of cities in town- and there doesn't seem to be a carve.

B

Out or a distinction, you know it almost we were talking about this yesterday. It almost should be.

B

That certain communities that have tourism should be able to.

B

Have some minimal regulations because it it really, it really could be a very challenging end result.

D

I would just like to add that sena I wish katelyn were here to hear this, but uh senator.

D

Perkins cuoco has been extremely responsive. um We have a great working relationship.

D

With her and her staff, so I'm sure it'll be the same with the house members. Yes,.

E

Does anyone else have questions for the city attorney on the bills or the str? I.

E

Did have one question or if uh you could maybe clarify where short-term rentals are currently.

E

Allowed just or whether they're currently allowed under our existing zoning, um so we were involved.

B

In a supreme court case uh called working stiffs in 2018 and they are not permitted in. They are not.

B

Permitted as dwelling units in residential uh districts in the city, so uh so they are.

B

They were determined to be transient occupancies, which is impermissible, like a hotel, a motel.

B

A bed and breakfast that sort of thing so what we find in the city because of that case, a lot of.

B

Folks apply for bed and breakfast they'll they'll make an application for for a bed, and breakfast.

B

We enforce based upon complaints, so it isn't like. We have done a survey and found you know. Perhaps.

B

Where they might be in districts where they shouldn't be, um I do know that you know before.

B

This bill was introduced that that was on the short list of of things to address in our zoning.

B

Ordinance to further clarify um so basically we have a permissive zoning ordinance. So if something.

B

Isn't specifically allowed it's disallowed, and that was what that case was about and the.

B

Language of our ordinance indicated that we that we could restrict them because they were indicated.

B

To be a transient use, which was impermissible as a dwelling unit in residential districts,.

B

You might have heard a recent case in conway. They had a similar ordinance but not identical to ours.

B

And their ordinance was found insufficient to restrict short-term rentals, so it was really.

B

A statutory interpretation case which was really drilled down. It was 40 some odd pages, with uh with.

B

A very colorful judge who loved words, many latin phrases. I even had to look up myself, but even.

B

Referenced, uh you know what hotel, how people stay in hotels and how that can be sometimes indica.

B

You know residential use and sighted eloise and fonzie from happy days as examples of long-term.

B

Was really quite an entertaining decision that that was appealed to the supreme court, but.

B

Suffice it to say that that that our ordinance, because of how it was written, was permitted.

B

To restrict in residential districts as dwelling units transient use of short-term rental. Thank you.

E

Any other questions I would just maybe ask the city attorney if there's other ways that you see.

E

The edc as being able to be involved in any of these cases or where there might be some input.

E

From the city level, or testimony just to keep us informed or let us know, I think that would be.

B

Very very helpful. I I will definitely maybe use nancy as a conduit to.

B

Alert you folks when it goes to the house and the public hearing in the house.

B

I think that's at this point. That seems to be um where it's headed um in the short term.

B

You know, obviously uh I think the senate is going to regardless of the impact given the sponsors. I.

B

Think I don't know that the sponsors are going to change their mind or you know at this point, but.

B

Really, when it comes to the house- and you know any any conversations that you may have with our.

B

Business community any negative impacts that they may have, particularly about housing and apartments.

B

And how difficult is it now? What are they? What do they do now, where, where are their workers staying.

B

What happens in the summer with the students that come internationally, where are they housed.

B

You know examples of of potential impacts or even current impacts. I think, would be extremely helpful.

B

From our community and from other communities, thank you yeah. So that sounds good. I might.

E

Ask that ben since you're here, if you've heard from the kind of the lodging community on their.

E

Kind of thoughts and engagement on sb249 uh hopeful at this point or if they're I have not had.

F

Any specific conversations with them um you know, I would certainly think the the lodging properties.

F

Would not be thrilled about the prospects of additional competition in the community.

F

So I think that would be a pretty safe assumption as far as beyond that.

F

I think, as a whole, the industry would welcome um a variety of options. I I don't, I don't think.

F

um I think, just as the assistant city attorney mentioned, it would have to be.

F

Done in the right way, I look at the impact it would have on. um You know, potentially.

F

A business owner that provides housing for their employees if they could turn that housing into.

F

A short-term rental and start you know making money from it. Would that discourage them from.

F

Providing housing for their employees for their j-1 visas. I think that would have again.

F

Unintended consequences that would be negative for our workforce and workforce housing so.

F

Those would be my initial concerns. Yeah. Thank you. I do know in the past the the testimony from.

B

The b and b um owners have have been. They have been quite vocal in opposition to this, because.

B

They obviously have regulations that they need to comply with and then.

B

They have this the short-term rental in residence, which, which obviously is a very different.

B

uh Very different uh oversight on regulation to maybe this will come up later as well, but.

G

Do we have a question on the business retention and expansion survey around whether businesses.

G

Provide housing, short-term housing for interns or employees and where they might be located.

G

If we don't we might, I don't think so. We do, but that's very good. That's a good idea. That's yeah!.

E

Well, that was very helpful. Thank you. I thought, uh while we have the city attorney here, if.

E

um Maybe we could put you on the spot a little bit. I know we have arpa funding status a little bit.

E

Later on the agenda, just to maybe ask if you'd be prepared to give us an update on timing or.

E

Anything that edc should be aware of sure, so we got our first trash uh back in may.

B

That was a little bit over 6 million and um we're getting our second tranche.

B

It will be approximately early may maybe the first two weeks in may we're anticipating.

B

um And so what has happened? Is the staff department heads have kind of created wish.

B

Lists and projects and identified within and without the community various uses for those.

B

Funds, those are being streamlined. There's there's a spreadsheet on all of that, but what we're now.

B

Doing is converting those to um a format that would that would be uniform for each request and.

B

That all of those are going to be converted into that form and then those particular identified.

B

Projects will be sent to the policy makers in in some form, for further discussion.

B

But we are are in process, we will be getting that second tranche.

B

And um we are very excited about about kind of brainstorming and reaching out to the public.

B

And and having conversations as well about uh through our obviously through our decision makers,.

B

How to use these funds moving forward? If I can add to that, mr chairman, uh we haven't spent any.

D

Of the money, yet we've obligated or suggested that we would like to use uh 1.5.19 million.

D

That equates to what we calculated was our lost revenue projection um toward the acquisition of.

D

Community campus that we haven't disbursed those funds yet um so none's been spent. um The previous.

D

Council discussed assembling a committee of both- I think, council members and members of the public to.

D

Help decide where the money could be spent that that didn't take place in the last session. So I.

D

Think that's on the table for the current council. So if we, if the total is 12.88 and we've committed.

D

5.19 to the community campus acquisition that that's where the balance lies at the moment.

G

Just a quick question: what is the current plan for the use of community campus.

D

We need a whole separate meeting for that. No.

D

Yeah everything you know, the the short answer is the reason the foundation for seacoast health was.

D

As comfortable as they were in identifying us, as the most appropriate buyer was that we would honor.

D

Their commitment to housing, supporting and working collaboratively with nonprofits and like entities.

D

So that's that's sort of uh that's that's plan plan. A the recreation department would love to use.

D

It for things the health department would love to use it for public health and safety related things.

D

And the school department is actively looking at relocating the lister academy from the sherburne.

D

School to that facility, so those are the short answers but um and we hope to take ownership.

D

Ownership of it at the end of this month. Because if that's 50 of the funding being allocated and.

G

That's a pretty hefty sum just for priorities, yeah. That also includes not only the building itself.

D

But um two buildable parcels as we understand one: that's nine acres and one that's almost two acres.

E

Thank you thanks. Thank you, city attorney. I know we had some good.

E

Discussion conversation over the original presentation we had last year, so it's.

E

Great to hear that things are progressing and we'll look forward to hearing more.

E

As things come out on the recommended uses, so thank you. Thank you. Thanks jake.

E

So next on the agenda we've got our subcommittee reports. um Maybe do some.

E

Quick updates there, if there's any updates since last month before hearing from uh city council.

E

Moreau, alan or bob: do you guys have any updates on the business retention? uh Yes, uh alan and I and.

I

Andy, are you? Are you on the uh subcommittee yeah? Okay, uh so we'll send you an invitation as well.

I

To the uh zoom call, we have with the unh survey center uh with sean mckinley and zach azim.

I

I don't know zach um just talk about streamlining the um the survey and digitizing it. So thank you.

I

To alan for following up with uh with sean but we'll so we'll have more direction uh after next.

I

Wednesday, I think and uh can get the ball rolling, so I would think very soon great. Thank you and.

E

Then uh any any more updates or anything to share with edc from since last month, tom or sarah on the.

E

Sustainable cities and ev charger uh sure uh primarily on the electric vehicle charging, so.

H

uh The well, I won't repeat the whole thing, even though we have some new people in the room, but.

H

What has happened since our last meeting is we were able to get together.

H

uh Once just before, nancy went off on her private olympic experience and.

H

And we had peter rice and ben fletcher join us at that meeting and peter had actually done some.

H

Additional research on his own after the initial meeting we had with him, and he.

H

Came back and said that he had identified the bridge street parking lot as the most likely.

H

uh Or most suitable, I guess I would say center for a fast charging.

H

Installation partially the one of the in addition to being centrally located.

H

uh It also uh is subject or is planned to be the subject of complete redesign and repaving.

H

In the next year, and as part of that, the lot is going to be re realigned. The parking space.

H

Is realigned, the number of spaces are going to be reduced, and so it it would work well.

H

If fast, charging uh stations could be introduced into that plan,.

H

Before that work is done so there wouldn't be any. You know: stranded costs by redoing.

H

The lot and then having to go back and retrofit it afterwards, so he identified that and then he also.

H

uh And I should say so: he identified four spaces down in the. I think it's.

H

The north east northwest corner of the lot the the intersection of hanover street and bridge street.

H

Yes, across from providence.

H

Not not facing toward the old 30 maplewood building but facing toward the provident bank and.

H

She also did some research on the cost factors which proved to be somewhat alarming. At least.

H

From the subcommittee's perspective, so something of this nature requires expenditures for both the.

H

Equipment, the actual uh pylons uh and and related equipment, and also the infrastructure which is.

H

Essentially, getting the electricity to the site, so the cost of a pylon with two charging heads.

H

This is a fast level. Three fast charging looks like it's about forty thousand dollars per pylon.

H

So that means that, in order to have four units there, two two pylons and four charging heads.

H

You're looking at eighty thousand dollars and then the cost of uh getting electricity to the site.

H

Again, and actually I have something I wanted to pass out because I know we've talked about.

H

Level, one level two and three and I came across something doing some research, which I thought was.

H

Was real uh helpful in illustrating.

H

What you know what what these different levels will serve.

H

And what what makes this is kind of interesting is that it have more if we need it is that it doesn't.

H

A lot of the stuff you read about describes the length of time it takes to charge a car at.

H

Different levels, this talks about how many miles you'll get off of one hour's worth of charging.

H

At each of these levels, so it's it's. I think it frames the issue a little better and it also.

H

Explains why a level three is the preferred, is now the preferred standard in the industry. So unless.

H

You're charging at home, or you have a a job where you're sitting at a site for eight hours a day.

H

The level one and level two really don't work for you.

H

So so the the the problem we partially have in this city- we might have mentioned it once before,.

H

Is that our downtown electrical grid is is not is inadequate. Frankly, it uh every time.

H

That there's a major product uh project, uh major development in the downtown area, uh significant.

H

Electrical infrastructure has to be added into it. The example recently was mark mcnabb's building on.

H

The corner of penn, hallow and daniel street they actually had to run subsurface power lines down.

H

Penn hallow street in order to have adequate service to that building.

H

The principal cost associated with this type of.

H

Infrastructure for a fast charging station is, you need a transformer that will get 480 volts to that.

H

Pad so to speak, where the pylon would be. So if, if we're looking at a a a two pylon, four charging.

H

Arms on that site, you're, potentially looking at 180 000 expenditure.

H

Just I ran into peter on wednesday and he told me that figure is probably low, so it it it's likely.

H

To be upwards or over 200 000., I will say that having spent a fair amount of time surfing, the.

H

Internet on this issue, I see numbers all over the place and there are some of these companies that.

H

Advertise that they'll do one of these things for forty to fifty thousand dollars, including.

H

The transformers, so it's not clear to me how much of this is, is associated with the unit. How.

H

Much is associated with portsmouth's particular issue of not having an adequate electrical grid.

H

So the committee hashed over that those numbers and- and I think we kind of left.

H

Things feeling a little uh this might be more to bite off than we can afford um and and.

H

The other committee member here is sarah, so sarah doesn't even know this yet, but after that meeting.

H

I reached out to tim white at the new hampshire department of environmental services. Tim is the.

H

Technician in charge of the volkswagen trust electrical electrification program.

H

And basically, my question to him is that it seems like these numbers are fairly extraordinary.

H

I know that they're, you know, tesla has been putting these electric charging stations fast.

H

Charging stations all over the place, and it's hard for me to believe that they're paying two.

H

Hundred thousand dollars per installation, so he it it caused me to rethink our approach on this.

H

And it it occurred to me that um there must be other models for doing this. I've I've read that.

H

There are gas stations down in the dc area that have been converting from.

H

uh Actual you know petroleum products to electrification again. It seemed like a lot of.

H

Money to for that type of conversion for someone who just has a gas station, so when I reached out.

H

To tim, he explained that the state as part of its rfp program has maintained a list in which.

H

Communities who don't have a specific plan can be listed as being willing to consider proposals.

H

For fast charging stations within the communities and by placing yourself on that list, you're.

H

Inviting the companies that sell and operate these charging stations to make proposals so.

H

Most recently uh last week, karen and peter, and I had a conference, call to discuss that and I'll.

H

Let karen uh follow up on where that's at, but it was my uh suggestion that we ought to at least get.

H

On that list, as sort of a no harm, no foul worst cases, we get proposals. We don't like at least my.

H

Thinking is that we ought to even contemplate the next step would be to do some type of a.

H

Non-Binding rfp ourselves, uh particularly as this.

H

This uh pilot program or or this grant program starts to fade this month is the end of.

H

The application deadline for it that you know we ought to really flesh out what it would cost.

H

To to have this type of thing installed in portsmouth and then the latest development.

H

Is that just monday night, the city council adopted a proposal by josh denton.

H

To ask the city manager and the department heads to work up the cost and and the and the potential.

H

Sources of funds, including being placed in the cip for level three stations in fiscal year, 2023 so.

H

I'll, let karen answer that again in a minute, as part of where we're at, but just yesterday morning,.

H

I believe the federal department of transportation and the federal department of energy announced the.

H

New programs to allocate the monies that were in the federal infrastructure bill and it appears.

H

That there will be 615 million dollars available to the states in fiscal year, 2022, which seems to.

H

Me that's only like four and a half months, so I'm not sure how they're going to do this, but.

H

And that money is going to be, it's already been allocated among the states, but the states have to.

H

Come forward with proposals on how they're going to spend that by august, first and.

H

This may not be part of the legislative program, but it seems to me that the city ought to get some.

H

Input with des on how we can get these funds for what I'll call inner city or downtown locations.

H

Instead of just focusing on the arteries, if you will, which is what the current round of.

H

uh Grant programs are for so they'll, it plus there'll be another 2.5 billion.

H

uh To be announced later this year, uh not not sure any of the details of that yet and, as you know,.

H

uh Biden has uh suggested that he wants to see about 500 000 change, fast chargers by 2030., so.

H

My my recommendation at this point- I'm sorry for doing this without you, sarah, but I couldn't get to.

H

A meeting together, real quick, is that uh I I'd like to see this commission endorse.

H

uh A program of bringing fast charges into the downtown area um and, in the short term to uh and.

H

Encourage the increased deployment of those through the.

H

Process that karen is undergoing with the with the funding opportunities and to try to prepare.

H

A a almost a shovel ready project, so when this next round of money comes, we can get on it right.

H

Away, instead of losing out on our inability to do the current folks wrangling having.

H

Done a deep dive on that volkswagen requirements, it's not likely that we would have get the funding.

H

For what we want to do, it's really meant to be out close to the highways that type of thing so.

H

So that's kind of where we're at I do have one other uh suggestion that sort of secondaries that. But I saw an interesting piece.

H

About a week or two ago, oh no, actually it goes back to the end of january and it.

H

Was an article talking about a number of cities and towns, primarily cities throughout the country.

H

About 30 of them have now enacted zoning requirements that require new buildings to.

H

Become a fast charger, not necessarily bad just ev charging ready. So this focuses on new developments.

H

Of significant size, not homes that type of thing, but the example they're using was one adopted.

H

In the d.c district of columbia, which would say that any significant residential development or.

H

Commercial development would have to not install the actual equipment, but would have to include the.

H

Infrastructure improvement for electric vehicle charges equal to 20 percent, of whatever their.

H

Their parking requirement would be so if you had a you know with the stuff, that's going on down on on.

H

North mill pond uh that the developments would not have to put in the charges, but they would have to.

H

Run the underground utilities that type of thing, so the theory of that is that it seems to be borne.

H

Out with what we're realizing on cost is that, if you have to go back and retrofit a site to install.

H

Electric charging units you're going to have a lot of expense that could be avoided. If you.

H

You know put to put the utilities underground or whatever you're going to do as part of the project.

H

You know set up the location and the and the lines from the transformer to serve these type of things.

H

So I I I I don't have a specific thing beyond that, but I I'm thinking that uh I'm not sure what.

H

The process of this would be to request that the city council refer this to the planning board for.

H

For uh review or whether I don't know whether the edc could request, the planning would review it, but.

H

It's something that probably should go through the review process that normally land use laws.

H

Undergo that's the problem if I can tee up counselor moreau who's here, for that very reason,.

D

That would be a great item for her brand new fledgling committee to study. Not only that.

J

I've been on the planning board for nine years and now the city council rep to the planning board. So.

J

um You want me to talk about you're, going to put me on the spot to talk about this, or do you want.

J

Me to go into what I want to talk about. It's a good segue. Maybe comment on the process on how.

E

You maybe see tom's suggestion and then uh yeah I mean. I certainly think that we could take a look.

J

At it and review it as a planning board, that's not a problem. I don't see any reason why the edc can't.

J

Either through the city council, or just directly through me, as a city council,.

J

Rep on the planning board refer to the planning board. To take a look at that's yeah, I don't see an.

J

Issue with that, unless our city manager finds that there would be an inappropriate direction, we get.

J

We have other business on our agendas all the time and and recommendations from the.

J

City council all the time, so I think it could be added into that without an.

H

Thank issue, so thank you for that. I just would like to jump in um the one other thing that wasn't.

G

Covered is that we have to look at the fast charging locations in reference to the larger.

G

Parking product there was some concern around having fast charging at you know downtown for.

G

Two hours when it might be a better use for a more short short term spot, so, in addition.

G

To identifying locations, we have to look at the utilization rates of charging spots as well as.

G

The context of the larger parking product and necessity of turnaround in the town as well so.

G

Learned a lot of really good good stuff from ben fletcher. As a result of that conversation.

E

Good suggestion bob did you have yeah. I just had a question for tom.

I

Or sarah, um just in terms of the model of charging- and you were talking about- maybe getting.

I

Proposals from a company to locate a site uh is there a revenue stream, then associated with the.

I

City, putting in charging stations can you charge for the electricity and get some money that way.

I

Or do you you know, rent out the space to someone else? Who does that? So is there a way to recoup.

I

Costs of setting those up and then potentially have a income stream or several in the future.

H

Well, that in fact, is what's going on right now, with the existing.

H

Level two charging stations at each of the city garages in the back lot uh over here.

H

uh So the it's, the city's land, the there's a smart charger or something the name of the company- is.

H

Has these on it, but the city actually is sells the electricity. If they will, um it is not a moneymaker.

I

Well not now, but maybe in the future. You know, particularly if you have. uh If I can comment.

G

So typically like and I've seen them out west and you know used a couple out there, um they are not.

G

You don't pay for them that would be against the norm: um they're, free and typically how it works.

G

Is after you hit your certain like percentage charge in the vehicle, then you get charged a very.

G

High rate, so you it incentivizes you to move so someone else can use it. But you know if you have.

G

Like four spots in the garage like you would see the turnover as the vehicles are charged, but you.

G

Don't make money off of it typically, but but but the ultimately just because we're in the nascent.

H

Stage of this movement, that's that's the case! So right now you know when you bought a tesla, you got.

H

To promise that you would have free electricity for as long as you own, the car they're talking.

H

There's now some talk that by the end of this year, tesla is going to open up its charges to other.

H

Users and in the in the model essentially would be that if you're paying, you know 10 cents an hour.

H

For electricity at home to to recharge your car with a level one or a level, two charger at home.

H

If you go to one of these fast ones, you'll probably be paying 20 cents an hour.

H

That differential is would be retained by whoever is running that so the the potential models on.

H

This are that these things can be installed and operated by the owners, or they could be installed.

H

And operated by separate companies, you know so there are there, there's a site owner. There's the.

H

Equipment manufacturer there's the operator of the site. Anybody can be more than one of those.

H

But they can also be three separate ones. Well, if you're looking, if someone's asking you to or wants.

I

To propose putting in a charging station, you would think there would be some financial incentive to.

I

That company, otherwise, why would they do it so well exactly, but but just as caitlyn suggested so.

H

Right now, for instance, if you were to get down to the shopping, the big shopping center, that's.

H

In seabrook right off of the exit, you can go in there and there are probably about eight or ten.

H

Charging units right there they're free to use because they're trying to get you.

H

Into their center, uh you know uh if you're, a nissan uh owner of electric car, you can.

H

Get out to the nissan dealership, they have one there they're gonna, let you use it, but it's like.

H

You know these things are really just meant to be lost leaders until the penetration of electric.

H

Vehicles is so great that they, essentially you know gas stations will phase out if.

G

I think it's that you know they stop here, instead of continuing to portland, if they're.

G

If they have, you know better things: okay,.

I

Thank you. Thank you, tom yeah. You had sort of suggested. We make a motion or take some action.

E

To well I I I'd be interested in karen's thought on, because I kind of dropped this.

H

In her lap last friday, that's what I'm here for um so when tom and peter rice and I met.

D

uh The request for let's get on that state list, let's develop an rfp to gauge interest in the site.

D

Not only in terms of the different types of charges but different sites, and um then we led.

D

Up to the inclusion, the potential inclusion of some money in the cip, so um I think the.

D

Timing is such that councilor denton's request will allow him to tee up that formal amendment.

D

On march 7th the night we we look to adopt the cip, and you know it's a good opportunity, because we're.

D

Redesigning and reconstructing the bridge street law, perfect timing.

D

And in the grand scheme of things there may be items in the capital outlay portion of the cip.

D

Or the cash portion which have a little bit of ebb and flow, so this might fit in quite nicely with.

D

Things that we thought we might have to pay for that we may not one is a match to a a different.

D

Program that we may not no longer need in our cip list, so um I think we're we're poised to.

D

um Provide the council with that information, so they can make a decision on including that number.

D

Whether it's 180 or whatever peter decides, as the best place holder to the council,.

E

Maybe edc might want to consider issuing a letter of support as part of that as a sort of.

E

Generator any any thoughts on that sort of before in case we.

E

We'll talk about maybe our march meeting but in the event that we don't meet on school vacation.

E

Week on that friday and meet the following week, that council meeting would happen before we have.

E

A chance to consider anything so today would be a good time to are you looking for a motion.

E

uh We generally take emotion if we're issuing kind of a letter.

E

Support yeah. In the past we have routinely uh written letters in support of the cip in general.

C

And and at certain times, calling out specific projects, so I think we could. We could do both.

E

If anyone were so inclined to certainly enter entertain, emotion,.

H

Should I make a motion on my own sure? Well then uh I would move that the edc.

H

Issue a letter to the city council endorsing generally endorsing the.

H

Increased deployment of level three fast, electric vehicle charging stations in the city and in the.

H

On city property in particular, I am hesitant to craft it, so it's so specific without knowing what.

H

The proposal is going to come out, but but I think I think it's important- that the city council.

H

Know that the edc sees this as a value from an economic and a business development point of view.

G

E

All right, so all those in favor of the motion call for a vote. Hi all right. Any opposed.

E

So the motion passes. Thank you tom, so I know we're getting tight on time and I want to thank.

E

uh City councilor moreau for joining us, invite you to comment on the land use committee and.

E

The role you might see an edc member playing in that and the overall goal for the lane, youth.

E

Committee, I appreciate you letting me have a little bit of time this morning. I promise to.

J

Be quick so yeah! On monday I created the land use committee and the purpose of it.

J

Is to review all current zoning policies surrounding housing and development to encourage.

J

Sustainable diverse and affordable development, including expanded, multimodal transportation.

J

So that's our our ultimate overarching purpose and goal. I um put a lot of thought into the.

J

Members of this committee, so that we could make sure it would be a diverse committee. There are.

J

Three city councillors, two planning board members, two city staff from planning and one member of.

J

The portsmouth housing authority and then my last addition would be a member from this group because.

J

I think that we're going to really look at this, not just from a regulatory side but also taking.

J

A look at city-owned properties. What non-profit development we want to take a look at every aspect.

J

Of how we can really move the city forward in the right direction, so I don't know many of the. I know.

J

Many of the people here, but I don't know all the members here and I don't know who might be.

J

The best person to actually um participate in this group, uh so I was going to leave it up to you guys.

J

uh Not necessarily to fight it out, but you know to have them duke it out, whatever the case may be to.

J

To who might want to join so as of right now for actual uh participants, it's myself.

J

Assistant mayor uh kelly, uh councilor, blaylock uh planning, director, um zent uh city, planner,.

J

Cracknell um both the vice chair and the chair of the planning board, which is rick chelman and corey,.

J

Clark and craig welsh from uh portsmouth housing authority, so we have a pretty, I think so far good.

J

Group and I'm just looking for uh suggestions from you all as to who might want to join that.

D

Mr chairman, while people are thinking about that counselor, can you speak to the cadence of meetings.

D

How often do you think you're going to meet what's the time commitment, so our first meeting.

J

Has already been scheduled, it is a week from today at 8 a.m. In this very room, I'm really hoping that.

J

At least our first meeting will be fully in person. I think at this point only our planning director.

J

Is going to be remote through zoom, so I wanted our first meeting uh beverly zent our playing director.

J

And I have been working closely together to try to formulate a framework of what we're going to.

J

Look at, and I think, we're probably going to break the group up into two smaller groups to do a bunch.

J

Of research to then bring back to the bigger group, one we'll be looking more at the market side and.

J

One will be looking more at the regulatory side, so that's how we're breaking that up. So it's our hope.

J

To meet in the mornings, just because many of us on this committee already have our nights fairly, full.

J

So I've made that kind of a requirement um and and it's yeah where, where we can talk at our.

J

First meeting as to how often um it is my hope that we will have some immediate recommendations.

J

Back to the city council within 30 days of our first meeting and then hopefully every.

J

Couple of months after that, we will have either recommendations, or at least reports back as to.

J

The direction that we're heading in so I want us to act fairly quickly on there's a lot of.

J

Low hanging fruit that we can attack very quickly on several aspects and then there.

J

Will be some longer term things like looking at the housing opportunity zones that we've.

J

Never looked at before and different things like that that I think that we can bring to the city.

J

Anything else you want to talk about. Thank you great now. I just on behalf of the edc, appreciate.

E

The opportunity for for someone to have some a voice as part of this group, I think it's a.

E

Highly worthy and and overdue effort that we're excited to see get underway and.

E

I'm sure uh anyone on the commission would be a great fit, but certainly would ask anyone.

E

Who's interested to either reach out so you'll need the appointee by next friday's meeting. So.

J

If you want to partake in the first one yeah sorry to give you a week, but we just created.

J

This on monday, so to even have a meeting set by today, I thought was pretty amazing.

J

I would agree, I hate to ask people to add more meetings to their workload, but um I think in.

J

The short term we might have to at least converse, often even if it's uh you know a couple of us here.

J

And there getting together to look over some stuff, but as a full meeting I mean. I hope that we don't.

J

Have to meet more than once a month at the start, so um that that is my hope and my goal. Anyways.

J

Any other questions: when do you expect to have your report on what what's the.

H

Time frame for accomplishing the whole thing what I've given the city council is that our.

J

First, recommendations to them would be within 30 days of our first meeting, so.

J

uh By so, let's see next friday is what the end of the month, or we them still the middle of the month.

J

Thank you so that that would be that we'd be reporting back with our first recommendations.

J

And that hopefully, then within 60 days thereafter, each of those so every two months after that.

J

Report back uh with recommendations that we may have more or at least be able to give them the.

J

Progress of where we are on each each each one of those initiatives, and so if, if that's the case, you.

H

Expecting this to be a year-long process or a six-month long process, I'm expecting probably.

J

From completion to end, it could be a year to two years um in all sincerity, because.

J

I think some of these things might take a little longer and take more public input.

J

That will probably be the committee probably won't have to meet as often once we get the sort.

J

Of short-term stuff kind of going um but yeah the the idea is, I don't think we'll be able to.

J

Do it all in a year, so I think it might take two years, but I don't know that for artifact I mean.

J

Who knows we may be so fabulous, we have it done in six months, but that would be pretty much a miracle.

J

I have high high goals. What can I say, but it's best that if I may comment as as councilmember.

K

Said there's there's some pretty low lion fruit that I that you know I know like looking at our.

J

Adu laws. I think that right now I mean I was around when we created the edu laws and we had.

J

Very specific reasons: for um keeping them the way we do. We wanted to have the planning board wanted.

J

To make sure that we could every day see the ones coming before us and see the issues, and I think.

J

That we can really do an evaluation of that right now, and I think there are certain ones if you meet.

J

Whatever criteria that is out there, you get it by right versus actually having to go through.

J

A conditional use permit, so that's a low-hanging fruit that we can do right away. We can look at the.

J

Incentives for workforce housing in our different districts and I think we could tighten those up.

J

Pretty darn quickly, so you see where there are some things that I think we could very easily.

J

Have recommendations on how to make adjustments within a short period of time would they be taking.

J

Effect in that period of time. No, because we would make recommendations to the city council who will.

J

Then send it to the planning board. Who then would have a public process about it and then.

J

It would go back to the city council, another public process until it goes in so you can see.

J

How it could probably take three to four months just for that to take effect, but I think we could.

J

Have recommendations for that back to them in short enough time that that process could happen.

J

In probably three to four months, that's my estimation. I I know it's your committee and I know.

G

Ben has also been very active um from the chamber perspective. Has there been thought about bringing.

G

In the chamber for broader economic interests, or is this more uh city board? No not add more I've.

J

Actually already started to have conversations with the executive director of the workforce.

J

Housing coalition I've had some conversations with some other. um I don't know if any of you know.

J

uh Darren whittam, who works in exeter, who actually has done a lot with housing.

J

Opportunity zones I've actually been talking to people already to bring in individual speakers.

J

To come and talk to the group, so I know ben very well, actually better. I've briefly discussed this.

J

But he doesn't know it yet. But yes, I was going to reach out to him too, because I would like to have.

J

Different people coming in to actually give us their input from an outside. So maybe not a member.

J

On the committee, but people that we definitely work in conjunction with to get that input.

H

Just to follow up on the scope of the committee is the transportation component.

H

Tied into the affordable housing or is that a separate, I think it's, I think the reason.

J

Why I added the transportation component is because I think good transportation systems.

J

Are part of all affordable housing projects and I think if you don't add it to the conversation.

J

You're missing a giant piece, then you won't get there. That's why it's there, so that makes sense.

J

Plenty and simple any other questions, I'm good at being grilled really great.

E

So I might suggest anyone who's interested to reach out and let me know and we'll certainly.

E

Have someone will have representation at the meeting next friday? I can assure you that and yeah.

J

Everyone has a chance to consider it, I guess reach out and let me know and have a conversation and.

E

We'll get that and if anybody just wants to talk to me further about it, feel free to reach out.

J

I know everyone. Several people here already know how to reach me. So I have. I have a business here.

J

In town I have my office over in greenleaf. Woods, drive, stop by, say, hello, uh anyone's welcome to.

J

Come in and we can have a chat about, it's, not I'm an open book. As far as this is concerned, I want.

J

This committee to be successful, so so what I'll do is I'll send to the edc for their consideration.

C

What you propose that the text of what you propose yeah and your contact information questions um any.

C

Anything else. Okay, that's it great! Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Absolutely! I'm going to.

E

Turn it back over to alan. I've got to run for uh to get family member to an appointment, but I.

E

Want to welcome councillors, lombardi and assistant mayor kelly to the commission, we're very excited.

E

To have you and thank you, I also wanted to welcome and recognize ben's uh involvement.

E

In attendance this morning, so we appreciate it and look forward to being more collaborative.

E

With you moving forward so um give it to alan try to run through the rest of everything. Thank you.

A

Okay, my brief moment of fame- I guess nancy. This is uh this- is over.

A

To you, that's a question mark at the end regarding the uh approval of western drz expansion.

A

I can do this in 30 seconds, grab a mic net. I can do this. um I will pass out.

C

The approved expanded zone, the purple area- oh I'm, sorry, the purple area is the existing zone.

C

We went to the city council on january 24th and at the recommendation of I think it was.

C

I think it was.

C

And assistant mayor last last term um to instead of just talking about it at the at the edc level,.

C

Bring it for an educational purpose to um to the council, and I thought that was a great suggestion.

C

Because that's exactly what it turned out to be um at the blues there, the blue outlined area is.

C

The expanded zone- and you get your bearings- you can see that um route one is the is on the left.

C

Side of the map and we've included all of west end yards, and it would be primarily just the.

C

Commercial property there, the residential area, is not eligible um development of residential is.

C

Not eligible, but any commercial or office property that creates jobs is so we sent a letter to.

C

The state on the 27th or actually on the 25th and they responded that they approved the zone so.

C

We will get this up on the website that we now have an expanded west end erz and.

C

We've had a couple inquiries already: a pretty interesting company called bridge appliances.

C

That's looking at 909 islington street as as a future headquarters of their uh home appliance.

C

Electronic home appliance, they have a what is it? It's called the ohm.

C

Karen, it's the uh it's: it's new technology for an old use right, exactly and ironically,.

D

They reached out to us the day. This was on the agenda, if not the day before, so it was really.

D

Cool timing, yep- and we have um some of the commercial realtors- are also interested in.

C

um Working with some of their clients on accessing the credits that are available through the zone so.

C

That's it that was longer than 30 seconds. Sorry. Thank you. Any uh any questions.

A

On the topic, mr uh vice chairman, uh I I need to leave so thank you. I'll watch the rest on.

I

The recording, of course, feel free to talk about me while I'm gone and uh I'll just.

G

Assign you everything, that's not enough time and I nominate bob to be on that note. There you go.

A

Should have waited 30 more seconds all right? Well, this! This will not take long.

A

uh Update on the mcintyre building redevelopment, mr chairman, I'll, take that, as you may be aware,.

D

Last night, the city council voted to rescind the actions taken by the prior council at the november.

D

18 2021 meeting, essentially what that does is get us back to the the discussion table. If you will.

D

And pave the way to remove lawsuits as an impediment to move forward with the project. So.

D

I'm happy if you think it's appropriate to leave this on as a monthly update. We should have a more.

D

Robust update at the next meeting excellent. Thank you for that um update on the city council, retreat.

A

Assistant mayor around city, councilor lombardi, would either of you like to.

K

I actually had to leave the retreat early, so we had you for the good part, though yeah I can start.

K

At the retreat we, it was great, we did at the senior center, we were able to kind of as a as.

K

A council um led by an amazing speaker that day kind of really break out in some groups.

K

And outline the things that really hit home for us and the things that we want to achieve um overall.

K

Some overarching um topics, affordable housing, workforce housing, making sure that we can be a.

K

That we're not completely dependent on tourists and tourism for economic development and growth.

K

Making sure that we are reinforcing kind of our small businesses outside of downtown a big hot.

K

Topic item: isn't it also if you watch the council meeting on monday outside on street dining, what.

K

That kind of looks like going forward post, covid world and set in a policy for long.

K

Long future hall, for that um I would have muslim party or the city manager popping in some other.

K

Topics- okay, I I I'm not sure I can add much more to that. We did. We did talk about very wide-ranging.

L

And broad topics um that having to do with the conduct of the council, as well as.

L

uh Redefining our um our goals uh for the for the year or for the our sessions, um I don't have the I.

L

I have them here, but I don't like they're not in front of me. um I wasn't expecting to do this.

D

If it's helpful, I can jump in, I think the assistant mayor captured a bunch of them.

D

uh And and another one that came through was communication.

D

uh Among uh staff and council to do a good job uh and to communicate with the public and not.

D

Only to communicate out to the public but to take input in from the public. So there's a big push to.

D

Enhance communication in a two-way fashion. I would also add a big push.

K

For myself- and I know I would say, the council as a whole is to figure out also the city's role.

K

uh Residents and in city government's role of affordable and workforce housing- um I you know I.

K

Think we always and as the assistant city attorney mentioned, there's a lot of bills. There's there's.

K

A lot of communication we always know, there's a big need for it, um but for myself, as assistant.

K

Mayor is really to figure out what that role looks like and what us, as a governing body and.

K

What the residents and what city staff! What role we actually need to play in that if we are just.

K

A bystander if we're just regulatory, and if we are a partner in it, if we are a developer in it and.

K

So that's really kind of a just just so you know passion project might have really outlined in that.

D

So from a procedure, procedural standpoint, we're going to ask if mayor mcheckern is comfortable.

D

Bringing the the draft to final goals. Fourth at the next city council meeting, so everyone.

D

Can see the work that the council did with some of the senior staff excellent. Thank you all very.

A

Much look forward to seeing more information on that and working very closely with you. Obviously,.

A

uh I think we covered the arpa funding status efficiently, so we can move on and under other.

A

Business, I would suggest that uh the chamber been provide an update and, if you're comfortable with.

A

That we'll add that to the agenda for our meetings moving forward, uh sure uh yeah so uh not.

F

Too too much to update for us right now. We are currently a week from today putting together.

F

A meeting with the restaurant community and the city staff to review the outdoor dining.

F

Draft plans for this coming season there's a tremendous amount of interest from the community.

F

And what those plans look like? I've never been so popular amongst restaurant tours. They think I had.

F

No information, but I I don't so I just get to talk to them, but so there's a lot of interest around.

F

That there's a lot of community dialogue around that. So we're very anxious to support that and.

F

Also, as you'll see in today's online paper paper, if you get such a paper version.

F

The the parking changes with the the hanover street renovations garage renovations so we'll be.

F

Committed to working with the city to help reduce whatever impacts that may have on our downtown.

F

Community business community residents and the likes so I know that is uh work. That's about to.

F

Tee off and necessary work that needs to be done so we'll be here to partner with the city in any.

F

Way we can to support the the business community downtown throughout that process. The three-year.

F

Process, it seems like so, mr chairman, can I add, to ben, is being gracious to allow non-members to join.

D

The zoom conversation next friday at 10 30., and it won't just be restaurants, it'll, be.

D

Businesses of any type president he's really been gracious to open that up. Excellent.

F

And then the last thing I believe I've shared in through the chair showed an invite to our.

F

Session next tuesday night um at the music hall, uh the future of calling portsmouth home.

F

I hope you can join us we'll uh assistant mayor kelly will be one of our speakers uh mayor.

F

Pecker and we'll be our uh our emcee for the evening or welcoming people, and we have a great.

F

Panel discussion, including our new planning uh director, uh beverly zen, so we're excited about.

F

That um tennis looks good for that, so continue to have that housing discussion push it forward.

F

Extremely excited about uh councilman rose committee. um She's uh got a lot. I wanted to.

F

Give her a high five, the entire time she was talking, but I thought that was inappropriate.

F

Anyways but uh we're very excited about that and we look forward to seeing some action.

F

In that regard, excellent thanks. So much maybe shout out for advanced planning for the tourism.

F

Yes, uh yes uh down the road uh march 23rd uh sticks out in my head, um we'll.

F

Be having our tourism summit, it's our annual gathering of the the local tourism community.

F

um Again, that will be uh we. We are really trying to break down some walls and that will be open.

F

To members and non-members alike, um we we really welcome everyone to our events um and hope to show.

F

Them the values that they join uh but that'll be uh eight eight to 11 at jimmy's on congress on the.

F

23Rd we have the state's tourism director we'll have an update from the city manager and the mayor.

F

We have a couple other exciting um initiatives to to launch and showcase, including the arts.

F

And culture destination, marketing that we're doing in conjunction with.

F

The new committee that was the blue ribbon committee for arts and nonprofits.

F

So that that work will launch well before that tourism summit. But.

F

We'll be showcasing that work there, so there's a lot going on. We are extremely busy. We planning.

F

Out spring and summer events, um you know, with the kobe numbers being what they they were.

F

You know we haven't done a lot lately, but we're really looking forward to the the warmer months.

F

In the summer season, um I will just kind of say just because you gave me the opportunity.

F

To talk so, I will take advantage of it. um We did have a small meeting with a few restaurants.

F

Yesterday and there was a lengthy discussion about the mask mandate.

F

And and uh basically the restaurants staffs were coming to the owners and saying.

F

Do you realize we are one of the few restaurants in the city? That's still following this mass.

F

Mandate- and I would just as I observed having lunch out yesterday, that the entire staff, the.

F

Restaurant I was at did not follow the mask mandate, um so there was a lot of discussion.

F

About uh when that would end, and all that, so I just thought I'd offer that up as a discussion.

F

Going on amongst the restaurant community and the hospitality community, so just food for thought.

A

Okay, thanks very much ben appreciate it, and that summit will be very interesting one and.

A

In next week's meeting as well, I I know there was a number of email passing around, so I.

A

Think you'll have good uh good attendance from the edc there. So look forward to that.

A

Yes, you do need to register, um we've circulated the link and we can certainly send that back.

A

Out, if there's a if you've missed it, um but it should be a really good discussion.

A

Thanks for the reminder on that, we can cover the high entrance fee of five dollars. Five bucks.

C

If you need the cheapest event, you'll never go to at the musical and they ended in the two dollars.

A

And the two dollar convenience fee, so yeah seven dollars yeah, but you know I thought it.

A

Was a worthwhile decision yeah, not a problem. uh Is there it? I know we're over time, but I want to.

A

Open it up for the business calendar I just have. I know that both you guys mentioned the.

G

On-Street dining, and I think that that was something that you know. I know it's.

G

Anecdotal but that in my circles I heard a lot of people, you know both in town and out.

G

Of town saying like this, is you know fantastic? This is like really what ports was missing and.

G

You know people feeling like they see their neighbors on the street a little bit more.

G

Is there any like support needed from the edc, and I don't know how everybody else feels about it?.

K

So I would just think it's a council perspective. We we understand it's a sensitive topic. um I think.

K

You know that the overarching reception of it is great. um We do understand that there are in.

K

The in the packet this past monday that there are businesses downtown that are not restaurants, that.

K

Are worried about their impact? um So obviously we welcome them that discussion. We support that.

K

Discussion we support other businesses also, so we're really trying to find a happy medium.

K

I'm really excited to see what staff brings back as in fees and in spacing and sizing and.

K

And how that looks, I think we, I think supporters of uh on street dine and we I tend to call it on.

K

Street dining versus outdoor dining, because we do have already cafe and sidewalk um you.

K

Know policies, so this is really on street. um You know my perspective. Is we kind of have one shot.

K

If we really want to get a policy, that's long, you know, that's, you know a long effect. Long, pasco, vid.

K

um So I'm really excited to work on this. I do believe that there is community support resident.

K

Support um so I've personally been speaking with a lot of residents that, if you support this, you need.

K

To be vocal about it, um because, as we know, you know that the people that potentially feel that.

K

They are negatively affected by. It are vocal, so people that feel in support of it need to be vocal.

K

um And so if that is the edc or individual residents or other business owners that maybe are.

K

Not in the hospitality world, but do you see that it is a benefit to the to the community overall.

K

um I would I would advise that they they share their opinions. Mr chairman, canada said quickly.

D

That, whatever the council decides on february 22nd, when when this policy decision comes before them,.

D

Based on some of the information we'll give them and and we'll help them get there.

D

To whatever decisions they want to make we're ready to stand up the um the program if there.

D

Is a program on the 23rd and you may recall: last year there were certain folks who could.

D

Set things up in the outdoor in the public realm on march: first, if they weren't on street.

D

And needing a barrier or in a parking space we're going to aim to. If that's the will of the.

D

Council, we we can be prepared to keep that same schedule. We had last year march 1st for some folks.

D

First week of april, for most other folks again, if that is what the council wants to support, but I.

D

I want to give people a sense that we're not starting from scratch on the permitting end.

D

That we'll be ready to roll with, whatever decisions are made.

L

Excellent yeah, I would just like to add the only uh negative I've heard is parking and it.

L

Impacts the amount of parking downtown, that's, but I I frank I mean personally I find that.

L

The whole thing makes the city more walkable, so I I view that, as a plus, I would say that I.

L

You know, I think the supporters understand that it it implements more of our master plan, a pedestrian.

K

Walkable friendly uh downtown and again it's not just downtown this expands into the west.

K

End, it's expanded to anything in the north end, um but yeah. I think it definitely falls into the the.

K

Implementation of our of our master plan right. It was really an activation of our streetscapes yeah.

G

And I think people will spend more time and more money in the other shops if they're down there for.

G

Outdoor dining, because they can now get a table, maybe- and we all know that the restaurants will.

K

um Speaking as a restaurant owner at the at this point, um there's there's it's a big investment and.

K

Not every not every small, restaurant and every you know, small business can afford um a massive.

K

Parklet or a huge investment, unless we know that this is a recurring, a recurring theme and then and.

K

You know everyone that I've spoken to is willing to invest a good amount of money to make it look.

K

Look good much like newbie report where they, you know, the city has provided parklets and x, y and z,.

K

um So I think it's a really it's a really great program. Obviously I campaigned on it so excellent.

L

Looking forward, I would love to commend the high school students who you know created.

L

Very attractive barriers did a great job and we don't have to build them this year. So I I.

G

Moved to adjourn, we do that. um I think there's been a couple people that have expressed.

C

The interest in possibly moving the march meeting only because it's school vacation week, it is the.

C

Underscore- and I don't know um you know, we have members here with young kids in school- um is there.

C

Anyone that's adverse to moving it a week later, which would put it to march 11th.

A

Why would they.

C

All right, so we will modify that to the 11th. Thank you now caitlyn. Yes, we.

A

I mean sarah moved to adjourn. Have a second, please hi. Second favor.

A

Hi have a great weekend, everyone. Thank you. Thanks for being meeting.