2026-09-29 - City Council

0:01Okay, good evening everyone. Welcome to

0:03the Wora City Council meeting.

0:06>> If you can please stand for the pledge

0:07of allegiance and start spoiled

0:26and justice for all.

0:29Can you see

0:31by the dawn early

0:35light

0:36what so proudly

0:39we held

0:41at the twilight

0:44lasting

0:46who brought stripes and bright stars

0:51through the Perilous

0:54fight.

0:56For the

0:58we

1:01were so gallently

1:04streaming

1:06and the rockets.

1:10The bombs were singing in air

1:15gave proof through the night

1:20that our flag was still there.

1:25Oh, say does that star spangled

1:32yet?

1:38For the land

1:40of the free

1:44and the home

1:47of the

1:50brave.

2:09Okay, we'll stand for a moment of

2:10silence for Paul Giorgio who was uh 40

2:14or 50 years into politics and uh worked

2:17hard for the country and for the city.

2:44Thank you.

2:46Okay, we are on

2:49roll call.

2:51Councilors Bergman

2:52>> here,

2:54>> Bulada here, Konamu

2:56>> here,

2:57>> Pzolo

2:58>> here, King

3:00>> here,

3:00>> Mitra

3:01>> here,

3:03>> here,

3:03>> Rivera

3:04>> here,

3:05>> Rosen

3:06>> here,

3:06>> Tumi

3:07>> here,

3:07>> and Mayor Petty

3:09>> here. Um, motion is to approve the

3:11minutes of the meeting of September 15,

3:142026. Roll call.

3:16>> Councilors Bergman,

3:18>> yes.

3:19>> Bada,

3:19>> yes. Econom,

3:21>> yes.

3:21>> Rzolo,

3:22>> yes.

3:23>> King,

3:24>> yes.

3:24>> Mitra,

3:25>> yes.

3:26>> Oh,

3:27>> yes.

3:27>> Rivera,

3:28>> yes.

3:29>> Rosen,

3:30>> yes.

3:30>> Tumi,

3:31>> yes.

3:32>> And Mayor Petty,

3:33>> yes.

3:35Okay, we are under uh Council King has

3:37asked that we hold 10H for a second

3:39time.

3:45I'm going to need four votes for that.

3:51That's the tiff. That's the uh Franklin

3:53Street.

3:56All set.

4:00Roll call.

4:01>> Councilors Bergman,

4:03>> yes.

4:04>> Yes.

4:05>> Econom.

4:06>> Yes.

4:06>> Okay.

4:06>> Fzolo,

4:07>> yes.

4:08>> King,

4:09>> yes.

4:10>> Metitra,

4:10>> yes. Oh,

4:12>> yes.

4:13>> Rivera,

4:14>> yes.

4:14>> Rosen,

4:15>> yes.

4:16>> Tumi,

4:17>> yes. and Mayor Penny.

4:18>> Yes. Okay. We have a proclamation to

4:22read. Whereas access to mobility is

4:25fundamental to health, safety, economic

4:27opportunity, and community connection,

4:30enabling residents of Western

4:31Massachusetts to reach education,

4:33employment, medical care, food,

4:35recreation, faith communities, and

4:37social networks. And whereas

4:39transportation is the second largest

4:41household expense for most families. You

4:44for the American Automobile Association

4:46estimates that the average cost of

4:47owning and operating a vehicle exceeds

4:49$12,000 per year, placing significant

4:52financial strains on households,

4:54particularly low and moderate income

4:56families. Whereas transportation costs

4:59are directly tied to housing and land

5:01use decisions in communities that lack

5:03affordable housing near jobs, schools,

5:05healthcare, essential services often

5:08require residents to travel farther,

5:10rely more heavily on costly car

5:12ownership. Whereas nearly onethird of

5:14people in the United States do not have

5:16driver's license due to age, disability,

5:18income, health conditions, or uh

5:21barriers or other barriers and may other

5:24and others face temporary or permanent

5:26circumstances that prevent them from

5:28driving. And whereas not all

5:30neighborhoods in western Massachusetts

5:32have safe sidewalks, accessible curb

5:34ramps, protected bike infrastructure,

5:36reliable public transit or land use

5:39patterns that allow daily needs to be

5:41met with reasonable distance. And

5:43whereas transportation is a leading

5:45source of greenhouse gas emissions

5:47United States and expanding safe,

5:49accessible options for walking, rowing,

5:51biking, public transit, supports,

5:53climate action, cleaning air,

5:56environmental stewardship. Whereas,

5:58communities designed with multiple

5:59transportation options support local

6:01businesses, reduce traffic injuries and

6:03fatalities, improve public health, and

6:06create vibrant connected neighborhoods.

6:08Whereas, experience a week without

6:10driving offers residents and leaders an

6:12opportunity to better understand the

6:13barriers faced by non-drivers and to

6:16identify practical solutions, promote

6:18safety, affordability, accessibility,

6:20climate resilience, and equitable land

6:22use. Now therefore, I mayor Joseph and

6:24Petty do have I proclaim October 1st

6:28through the 8th, 2026 as week without

6:31driving in Western Massachusetts

6:33encourage residents to community

6:34organizations, businesses and public

6:36officials to participate, reflect and

6:38work towards a future where everyone

6:40regardless of age, ability or income has

6:42a safe, affordable and sustainable

6:44transportation options.

6:47Okay. So, Council Bada.

6:50>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh I just

6:51wanted to read this on behalf of Walk

6:54Bike Worcester. Mayor Petty and city

6:57councilors on behalf of the organizers

6:58walk by Worcester thanks you for

7:00declaring October 1st through 8th 2026

7:03as the week without driving in

7:05Worcester. This is our third year making

7:06this now nationwide observance. The

7:08growth in the event over this time has

7:10been exciting to be a part of. As we

7:12have shared it as we have shared in our

7:14remarks accepting this proclamation in

7:16prior years. This initiative began with

7:18one individual, a woman with low vision,

7:20creating and promoting it in Washington

7:22state in 2021. Now, communities in all

7:2450 states market with pledges, sharing

7:26experiences via social media, community

7:29events, and links to advocacy.

7:31Increasing across the US, local

7:32officials are taking to social media to

7:34express their commitment to the week and

7:36describe their experiences not driving

7:38and places they need to go. This year,

7:39we have been thrilled to see the city

7:42sharing its own promotional social media

7:43posts about how the week without driving

7:45and encouraging residents to

7:47participate. Now, it's your turn as

7:49elected representatives. This year, we

7:51want to bring special emphasis to the

7:53true focus of the week without driving,

7:55that is non-drivers. The number of

7:57people in any community who are

7:58non-drivers is huge. Approximately a

8:01third of the population nationwide. The

8:03figure in Worcester is 16% with some

8:05areas of the city as high as 38%. Some

8:08are non-drivers by choice, but the vast

8:10majority are children, older adults for

8:12whom driving is no longer an option in

8:14people with disabilities or medical

8:16conditions, and people who cannot afford

8:18a personal vehicle. Non-drivers are your

8:21constituents. Travel conditions for

8:23non-drivers in our community are for the

8:24most part not rewarding or sometimes

8:27even dignified. They do not get the

8:29accommodation that drivers continually

8:30receive such as ample parking close to

8:33design destinations and excess and

8:35unnecessary wide lanes that encourage

8:37speeding. Instead, they are confronted

8:39with limited and often unsafe crossing

8:41opportunities. A transit system that

8:42does it best does its best with the

8:45resources allocated but doesn't meet all

8:47their needs in a limited

8:50excuse me

8:52though growing network of protected

8:54facilities that can be used by bicycles,

8:56scooters, and wheelchairs. Efforts

8:58capture the mobility action plan and

9:00annual reports represent commitment to

9:01addressing these problems. But Wister

9:03needs its elected officials to come out

9:04in strong support and not continually

9:06oppose, criticize, and undermine efforts

9:08to improve transportation system for all

9:10users. We ask you to make a pledge now

9:12for one more for one or more trips

9:17without driving using the form on the

9:192026 week without driving page at

9:21walkbikewister.org.

9:23Uh thank you again for declaring October

9:251st through 1 through 8th, 2026 as the

9:28week without driving in Worcester. We

9:30look forward to seeing you out there.

9:32sincerely walk by twister. Thank you,

9:34Mr. Chairman.

9:36>> Thank you.

9:39Okay. Um

9:42public participation, the person may

9:44speak for no more than two minutes on

9:45any item appearing on the agenda. Mr.

9:47Clark.

9:48>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Pursuant to

9:50chapter 20, the acts of 2021, in order

9:52to ensure active public engagement, the

9:54city of Wester County currently allows

9:55for both in part in person and remote

9:57participation in all of its meetings. to

9:58partake in the meeting. You can either

10:00come to the meeting location or you can

10:02join via Zoom. The Zoom link is listed

10:04on the agenda of this meeting as well as

10:07on the Granicus portal. The phone number

10:09tonight is 16468287666

10:13and the access code tonight is

10:151613631913.

10:19Uh we do remind folks that are remote to

10:21please use the raise hand function if

10:23you would like to speak uh during this

10:25section of the meeting. And I'll also

10:26just quickly read rule uh relevant parts

10:29of rule 39 and rule 40. Uh rule 39 items

10:32of public interest. At every at every

10:35meeting of the city council under the

10:36public participation portion of the

10:37agenda, the chair shall recognize any

10:39person seeking such recognition for the

10:41purpose of addressing the council on any

10:43eligible item on the agenda uh that for

10:47that meeting both in person and

10:48remotely. Any person who wishes to speak

10:51on more than one agenda item shall

10:52combine their testimony on all items to

10:54one appearance at the microphone. The

10:56time for speaking shall not exceed two

10:58minutes for anyone speaker or 30 minutes

11:01for all speakers. And then on rule 40,

11:04on the first occasion any petition

11:06appears on a city council agenda. The

11:08primary petitioner may address the city

11:10council for no more than three minutes

11:11on the subject of their position. Thank

11:13you, Mr. Chairman.

11:14>> Thank you. So this your name, city of

11:16residence, and item number.

11:17>> Thank you. Uh Fred Nathan was the going

11:20to start off with 8.12

11:24uh B

11:26uh the dealing with the the issue with

11:27the fire hydrants that there's so many

11:29fire hydrants that are broken not able

11:32to be used. I want to know how in a city

11:36of this size with all the three deckers

11:38and all the old property just in just in

11:40general

11:42something needs to be done and it needs

11:44to be done today not yesterday not

11:47tomorrow not 10 years from now whatever

11:50it takes it has to be corrected

11:54uh 8.13C

11:56the issue of all the police that are

12:00retiring are going to retire or about to

12:03put their papers

12:05Since the unfortunate death of officer

12:09Solomon, there have been a lot of police

12:12officers who are on the edge who could

12:14go out now, could go out a week from

12:16now, a month from now, and they are

12:19going to be putting their papers in if

12:21they haven't already. So, I just want to

12:23make you aware there's going to come a

12:25point where we didn't we're not going to

12:27have enough officers on this on this in

12:30the city on the patrol and something

12:33will hopefully not go awall crazy. But,

12:38um, next item is 10. No, I'm sorry.

12:42Yeah, 10 dash uh I'm sorry 10B.

12:48No, actually, I'm sorry. 10A.

12:52Uh with the violations of the noise

12:54ordinance,

12:56um uh people have a right to be in their

13:00homes and not have be subjected to all

13:03the noise, whatever it might be, however

13:07that noise might be. And uh you need to

13:10enforce the noise ordinance or make it

13:13stronger and then enforce it. And I I

13:17don't think any one of you here, if

13:19you're at home and there was noise down

13:21the street that that kept you up at 2:00

13:24in the morning, you'd be screaming

13:25bloody murder. So do something.

13:29>> Next speaker, give your name, say your

13:30res number.

13:33>> Hello, I am Abby Mortillero. She her

13:36worester resident. I'll start with 10D.

13:40I think the new homeowner tenant someone

13:42is a good idea because I think it'll be

13:44really helpful. All right. 10 F and G

13:48are about public bathrooms. Now, I think

13:51public bathrooms are, you know, really

13:53important because, you know, all the pee

13:56and poo that's on the streets. You know,

13:58people people need a place to pee and

14:01poo and especially homeless people, but

14:03everyone really, everyone. And, you

14:06know, I think they should be available

14:08247. All right. And we should have the

14:11port pies at first, you know, immediate

14:13solution until we can build the

14:14permanent solution and they should be

14:17all over the city. So,

14:21I'm going to go with 10H. No tie for

14:24Optaline.

14:25And now

14:2710.

14:29Let's see.

14:3310 through U. It's all about the

14:36homeless, you know. We need shelters and

14:42services for the homeless, you know,

14:44things that can really help the

14:47homeless, you know, cuz like, you know,

14:49I've been homeless before. I know what

14:51it's like. It's really hard. And, you

14:55know, we need shelters, you know, we

14:58need services. We need we need help to

15:01get people who are in that situation out

15:05of that situation. We we we really need

15:08help and services. All right.

15:12And so that's really really really

15:14really what we need. I'm going to go

15:16back to public bathrooms. That's really

15:17important too because especially for

15:18homeless and also for everyone because

15:21you know homeless have no other option

15:22on where to go and but bathrooms are

15:25good for everyone too. So yeah, that's

15:28my piece and what I have to say. Okay.

15:31Good.

15:32>> Thank you.

15:37Does your name say your residence land

15:38number?

15:39>> Kristen Frasier, Worcester. And I'm

15:41going to be talking about 10F and G as

15:43well as 100 through U. Um,

15:47public bathrooms, the way that they

15:49operate in many cities, they're

15:50automated. You have 10 minutes and if

15:52you're not out by 10 minutes, the doors

15:54will unlock and somebody will remove

15:55you. Not a bad idea. something we should

15:59definitely invest in because if you're

16:01concerned about people urinating and

16:03defecating in public, provide them a

16:05space to go. If you're concerned about

16:07people who are camping outside, work on

16:10the orders that you all have had in

16:11front of you since November of 2023.

16:14That's over three years, folks,

16:18to actually create and establish

16:20shelters that will provide for all of

16:23our unhoused residents.

16:25They need safe and supportive places to

16:27live. They do not need something that's

16:29going to charge them $25 if they're out

16:32camping because they've got nowhere else

16:34to go. Living on the streets is a choice

16:37of last resort. If you've not been in

16:40that position or had that as an option

16:42as as like the thing hanging over your

16:45head because you don't have a job, you

16:47don't know what it's like. If you are

16:50out there and you are traumatized, the

16:52last thing you need is police officers

16:55or anybody else coming along telling you

16:57you've got to move your stuff and if

16:59they're going to throw it away because

17:00then you are further traumatized. You

17:03lose everything that you have left,

17:05which at this point isn't much and you

17:07have to start over again. I would

17:10suggest that every one of you take the

17:12page from Aurora Aurora, Colorado's

17:14mayor who spends a week, a night, one

17:17night a week in a homeless shelter. It

17:20would be an eye-opening experience. It

17:22would give you an idea as to what our

17:24unhoused family members and friends are

17:27actually dealing with and it might teach

17:30you a little bit of compassion. And if

17:32you're concerned about where to find the

17:33money for things, y'all have orders in

17:35here requesting money from the state

17:37from the f from the city government,

17:39finding ways to reallocate our funds and

17:41also asking our our federal lawmakers to

17:44help us out. So, I suggest we actually

17:47do that instead of sitting here trying

17:49to collect money from people who don't

17:50have it. Thank you.

17:52>> Thank you.

17:58>> My name is Gary. I'm from Worcester and

18:02I'm I'm a little upset tonight. But

18:04first I want to talk about um from 100

18:08to 10U.

18:10You would think that you thought that

18:12homelessness just started. A lot of you

18:14guys have been on the city council or

18:16other positions for a while.

18:19All of a sudden we're in a crisis. What

18:21have you done in the past? What have you

18:23done to make it better?

18:26Can you answer that? I don't think

18:28anything's been done. Now all of a

18:29sudden it's a crisis and we have no

18:31place to put the homeless and you

18:33introduce a bill that's going to just

18:35tear their tents down and find them.

18:38That should be the last thing you should

18:39be coming up with home home shelters.

18:43Down in New York, they've created

18:45thousands of shel of room for thousands

18:48of people by using smarts, turning in

18:51old buildings that they have in owned by

18:53the city, turn them over to public

18:57builders and charge less rent and it

19:00doesn't cost the city anything.

19:04Another thing I would like to bring up

19:06is when you all ran for office this last

19:08seme um time, Huke said we need a less

19:13divisive

19:14city council and we need to get things

19:17done. Well, right now, how is that

19:20working out? This council is more

19:23divisive than ever. Is it a coincidence

19:25that the 63 votes

19:27>> That's not on the agenda tonight, but

19:29>> I'm going to say it anyway. It's

19:34has to be

19:34>> it's coincidence that we do 63 votes

19:36here along with the president's supreme

19:40court 63 votes

19:42as far as the vice um as far as getting

19:45things done. Just look at the voting

19:47record since you've been here. What has

19:49actually got passed for the average

19:51person? There's been nothing passed.

19:53>> Our vice uh mayor is

19:56>> is being treated like crap.

19:58>> I have one more thing to bring up.

20:00>> Well said. Thank you. Your time is up.

20:01Your time is up. Very important. No,

20:03your time is up. You should eat.

20:04>> I will not leave.

20:05>> Your No, your time is up. I'm sorry. Our

20:08next speaker, please.

20:09>> I receive.

20:10>> Your time is up.

20:10>> Letter in the mail.

20:12>> Your time is up.

20:13>> Somebody here.

20:14>> Just show somebody. We let you speak

20:16every week. Please. Your time is up.

20:19>> No, this time is up. You could use your

20:21time.

20:23>> It's not on the agenda either. I gave

20:24you extra time. Please. Next speaker,

20:27please.

20:28>> I'm not going to wait till next speaker.

20:30>> Okay. The next speaker I can put on the

20:31as a petition next week. Our next

20:34speaker,

20:36Gary, please.

20:38>> Come on. We're all done.

20:42>> You please, Gary. Let's go. Next

20:45speaker, please. Please let the next

20:47speaker come up.

20:49Let the next speaker come up. Yeah.

20:52Thank you, sir.

20:53>> Thank you.

21:02Did your name say your residence and

21:03name number?

21:05>> My name is Paula Shappet. I'm a

21:07Worcester resident. I'm here tonight to

21:09ask the city council to vote to make

21:11Esper Avenue and Miji Avenue public

21:14roads. These are not paved roads with a

21:16few potholes that simply need to be

21:18filled. These are dirt roads with

21:21significant drainage problems and

21:23ongoing erosion. In some areas, the road

21:26is literally being washed away.

21:30We currently have two extremely large

21:33potholes, approximately 20 ft by 20 ft,

21:37and the condition of the road continues

21:39to worsen after each rain.

21:42This has become a safety issue.

21:44Emergency vehicles cannot safely travel

21:46down the road under these conditions.

21:49This isn't simply an inconvenience for

21:52the residents who live there. These

21:54roads are our essential access to our

21:57homes and they need to be safe and

21:59passable for emergency responders and

22:01other vehicles.

22:03The condition of the road also creates a

22:06significant accessibility issue. Because

22:09of the depth of the potholes, erosion,

22:11and washouts, vehicles with low ground

22:14clearance, including wheelchair

22:15accessible vans, cannot travel down the

22:18road. There's also a walking trail

22:21maintained by the Greater Worcester Land

22:23Trust. This is a community recreational

22:25resource, but the condition of the road

22:28can make access to this trail difficult,

22:30particularly for people with mobility

22:32limitations.

22:34I understand that these roads are

22:36currently private, but I believe the

22:37condition has reached a point where this

22:40is no longer simply a private

22:42maintenance issue. This is a question of

22:44safe access, emergency access, and

22:47meaningful access to a public

22:50recreational resource. I respectfully

22:52ask the council to vote to make Esper

22:54Avenue and Migley Avenue public roads,

22:57providing a sustainable way to address

22:59these ongoing safety, drainage, and

23:02access problems. Thank you.

23:04>> Thank you.

23:09Leave

23:15your name, see your residence, and item

23:16number. Yep.

23:17>> Good evening, Mayor Petty and members of

23:19the city council. My name is Dante

23:20Comparedto of Worcester. I'm here

23:22tonight in strong support Christian

23:24King's package of orders addressing our

23:26s city's homelessness crisis 10F through

23:30uh 10U. Last week, this council rightly

23:33sent the administration's camping fines

23:35back for revisions, recognizing that

23:38criminalizing people for being poor

23:39solves nothing. Christian King's motions

23:42replace that punitive mindset with

23:44public health infrastructure and

23:46accountability. First, I urge you to

23:48pass the order to establish permanent

23:50restrooms starting with District 2 along

23:53with the immediate portable units.

23:55Sanitation is a public health necessity.

23:57You cannot complain about street

23:59cleanliness while offering nowhere for

24:00people to use a toilet. Second, we need

24:03transparency with the Commission on

24:05Homelessness and the and the related

24:07task force and a binding timeline on the

24:10day resource center as well as clear

24:12rules governing encampment sweeps. When

24:14state agencies conduct clearings,

24:17destroying personal identification,

24:19medications, and survival gear only sets

24:22people further back while obtaining

24:23housing and stability.

24:25However, basic amenities and suite

24:28protocols are only the floor, not the

24:30ceiling. The only true solution to

24:32homelessness is permanent supportive

24:34housing. Worcester has over,00 unhoused

24:38neighbors and fewer than 200 adult

24:40shelter beds. We cannot police or sweep

24:43our way out of a mathematical shortage.

24:45If this city can commit over 150 million

24:48for Polar Park, we can only commit the

24:51ne necessary municipal resources to

24:54solve our housing emergency. We must

24:56expand low barrier shelter capacity

24:59aggressively. Invest our affordable

25:01housing trust funds into permanent

25:03supportive housing and protect naturally

25:05occurring affordable units from

25:07speculation. Support Christian King's

25:09items tonight. Fund these services

25:11immediately and commit to a real

25:13solution. housing first. Thank you.

25:17>> Thank you.

25:22>> My name is Thomas Duffy, lifelong

25:24resident of Grafton Hill. I'm the

25:26president of NPBA local 911 Worester

25:29Police Patrolman Union. I'm here to

25:31speak on item 813C.

25:34Recruitment and retention are a huge

25:36problem in the Worester Police

25:37Department. We've had no contract for

25:39over a year. We need a competitive

25:41agreement to help retain our offices

25:43from leaving for better departments with

25:46greater incentives and better wages.

25:49Also affecting employment is an anti-

25:51police climate. Recent city council

25:53meetings were anti- police

25:54demonstrations organized by activists

25:57who do not support the police, some of

25:59whom sit on this council. On top of

26:01being down over 75 officers, which our

26:04compliment should be higher than it

26:06currently is, hospital guards has become

26:08a disaster waiting to happen. In the

26:10last 365 days, the West Police

26:13Department has brought 819 prisoners to

26:16the hospital, taking our officers off

26:18the street for 9,438

26:20hours. 89 of those lasted more than 24

26:23hours, averaging 12 hours a stay at the

26:26hospital. This is a dangerous practice

26:28and it needs to be addressed.

26:31operations division needs to be

26:32supplemented with a much more aggressive

26:34overtime budget. It's the cost of doing

26:36business and public safety when no one

26:38wants to do this job anymore. We can't

26:41play games or jeopardize officer safety

26:43to save some money. It's only a matter

26:46of time before this shortage results in

26:47negative consequences for our residents

26:49and our offices. It's time to make

26:52public and officer safety a top

26:54priority. Our officers deserve it. Thank

26:56you.

26:57>> Thank you.

27:00Next speaker, you should name your res.

27:02>> John Haynes Honey, resident of Worester,

27:04Mass. Not sure the item. I'm covering a

27:06lot of topics. Homelessness, finance.

27:08So,

27:10I'll begin.

27:12This moment marks the greatest wealth

27:14opportunity in human history for Western

27:15Mass. We must confront the city deficit.

27:18The American financial system is broken

27:20because it relies on debt based

27:21expansion models that prioritize

27:23trillions in artificial liquidity

27:24injections, eroding the purchasing power

27:27of every existing dollar in circulation

27:29impacting our families and children. We

27:31must apply this belief from our founding

27:33fathers, not slavery, but viewing

27:36long-term public debt not as a standard

27:38business practice, but a severe threat

27:40to human liberty and civic obligation.

27:42By ignoring this, we continue to

27:44normalize permanent deficit, forcing

27:47cities like Worcester into heavy

27:48interest payments in perpetuity. No

27:51child anywhere should know hunger. No

27:53resident should have to choose between

27:55food, heat during the winter. Who can

27:57relate? This isn't the fault of the

28:00council. This is attached to a greater

28:02systemic issue. I say no more. I propose

28:05a new order. Neighborlinks. Our company

28:08wants to commit to providing a split

28:10revenue share directly with the city of

28:12Worcester beyond taxes. We are creating

28:14the world's first and largest

28:16decentralized physical infrastructure

28:18network. Making AI accessible to

28:20everyone, allowing a child in her

28:22bedroom the same building capacity as

28:24Nvidia and Oracle without the billions

28:26of required investment. Leveling the

28:28playing field, all while avoiding

28:30millions in ashvault digging, zero city

28:32water usage, and no draining, but adding

28:36clean surplus energy to the grid,

28:38ultimately driving down energy costs to

28:40a fraction of where it stands today. We

28:42will create $1 billion in newly created

28:45revenue on an annual basis right here

28:47minimally. With that revenue, debt from

28:50Polar Park will be wiped out in under a

28:51year and the city debt will be wiped out

28:53in under a decade. We will eliminate

28:55hunger and homelessness in the city and

28:57afford anyone the ability to become

28:58homeowners and obtain generational

29:00wealth. Under Neighborlinks, no resident

29:02will ever need to go hungry again.

29:04>> Thank you.

29:12Hi, my name is Grandma Wolfpaw and I'm a

29:15resident of Nitmunk Territory. I wanted

29:18to read this real fast. Um, every week

29:21you come down to city hall and [ __ ]

29:24There are other towns you can live in.

29:26WPD department is authorized to turn

29:29body cams off when they pull you off.

29:31>> What time? What item number are you

29:32speaking to?

29:33>> See then whose balls are going to be

29:34broken. I read that for Gary, so I to

29:37use my time. Um, I have been homeless.

29:40Has anyone ever been homeless here?

29:43Anyone?

29:45You have no idea what it's like. It's

29:48scary. Especially if you're a woman out

29:51there. And I like to speak up here for

29:54Project Priceless again, the one that

29:56has came to the city hall for help.

29:59They're out there every night trying to

30:03keep safe. There's no safety out there

30:06for anyone. for anyone. But these

30:08ladies, they've been through enough. And

30:10I'm tired of the city hall or whoever

30:13talked to them that is a council member

30:15here. I heard ignore them. They're not

30:18going to work with him. I don't know who

30:19it was, but this is my daughter's

30:21coalition. So, I'm going to be speaking

30:23louder about Project Priceless. And I'm

30:27tired, sick, and tired of this city

30:29kissing ass and having hardons for the

30:31for the developers. You don't care about

30:34these. You know, I've been here for

30:35quite a while speaking about the same

30:37issues. And why is Queen Street still

30:40open? You have no idea how bad it is in

30:44there. It's really bad. And I'm upset

30:46because it's still [ __ ] open. It is

30:49very It's a very unsafe place to be.

30:51That's why these people don't want to go

30:53in there. These shelters are not the

30:55best. So, you need to all think about

30:58it. Think about it. If you guys are

31:00religious, think about it. Is that the

31:01Christian thing to do? You don't care

31:04about the homeless. You're not showing

31:05it. And look how long it's been. Been

31:07speaking forever on this. We all have.

31:09So wake up. Wake up.

31:13That's all.

31:17>> I'm going home.

31:22>> Mr. Mayor, uh I can recognize uh two

31:24folks currently raising their hand

31:26online. First person I can identify is

31:28David Webb. Just sent a request for

31:31David to unmute.

31:33David Webb. Unfortunately, Worcester,

31:35first and foremost, I am absolutely

31:37thrilled to support 7M, a citizen

31:39requesting an update to the ADA plan.

31:41Worcester is woefully inaccessible on

31:43many levels from its website to its

31:45streets, and I appreciate this person

31:47for coming forward and asking for

31:48necessary change. Likewise, I'm in

31:50support of 8.11a, during everyone knows

31:53that electric bicycle is not a

31:55motorcycle.

31:56In regards to 8.13A, police traffic

31:59safety measures, 8.13C, the anticipation

32:02of many bad apples retiring with their

32:04pension plans intact, and 10 C putting

32:06two officers to a police vehicle.

32:09>> Harington Way and I think this woman is

32:10intoxicated and she just slammed into my

32:13parked car on the street.

32:15>> Not actually sure how any of these

32:17petitions would help with a situation

32:18like this. I don't think we have actual

32:20public safety. That might be an

32:22integrity issue that is above any one

32:25individual department in this city.

32:26>> Uh she's trying to get away. She kept

32:28slamming on her gas to get out to get

32:30away.

32:30>> I can't.

32:31>> Officers such as Carrie Hazelhurst are

32:33being allowed to retire with a pension

32:34and there has been absolutely no

32:36accountability from the Department of

32:37Justice investigation.

32:39>> It's understandable that you're going to

32:40have dwindling employment rates.

32:43>> The appeal of being a blister cop was

32:45previously the free prostitutes and

32:46drugs. And now that the public is paying

32:48us so attention, it seems like you're

32:50struggling. Have you considered fixing

32:52the complete lack of accountability

32:54instead of hiding public records and

32:55varying investigations?

32:57>> Your propaganda campaigns can only go so

33:00far. And it makes perfect sense that the

33:02city and its police department are

33:03having trouble finding people willing to

33:05be associated.

33:06>> Do better.

33:08>> I am also in

33:12>> Mr. Mayor. The next person I can

33:13identify is Natalie Gibson. Just sent a

33:16request for Natalie to unmute.

33:20Hi, good evening. Uh, I'm calling in on

33:23two items. The first one is 7H. I oppose

33:27this one. If Councelor Rivera is

33:29requesting this because of the RV that

33:32has been parking in this location, this

33:35will only force them to park on a

33:38different part of Mil Street. On street

33:40parking was put in place for several

33:42reasons, which includes the road diet,

33:46parking for residents living on Mil

33:48Street, as well as those that live on

33:50the side streets, which are hills,

33:52additional parking for the beach, uh if

33:55if you place the signage in the winter

33:59when residents living on side street

34:01hills, I live on one of them, if they

34:04can't get up their hill to get to their

34:06houses, including the Milh Hill condo,

34:10which is where um he's proposing this

34:12signage. How are they going to make it

34:15up? Where where are they going to park

34:16their cars? Because we already have DPW

34:20issues every single year. I've been here

34:22for 20 years and they have issues

34:26properly maintaining these hills over

34:28here. Um, I agree with uh 10 F and G uh

34:32regarding the bathrooms, public

34:34bathrooms, not only just for the

34:36unhoused people, but I wonder if most of

34:39you know that a lot of businesses in uh

34:42the city do not allow their own paying

34:46uh patrons and customers to use their

34:49bathrooms. They use the guise of we

34:51don't have a bathroom, it's broken, it's

34:54only for customers. So, that would

34:57actually be another good reason to uh

35:01create some public restrooms so that

35:03people that are in some of these stores

35:06can actually go out and use those

35:08bathrooms. Um I I

35:13it's really sad to see how far you guys

35:15have fallen. It it it really is so sad

35:19that we have to keep coming up here and

35:21talking about something so simple as a

35:24bathroom for someone to use up

35:26Thank you.

35:28Next speaker,

35:29>> Mr. Mayor, the next person I can

35:31identify is uh Echo Lucant Collins. Just

35:34sent a request uh for Echo to unmute.

35:42>> Can you hear me?

35:44>> Very faintly.

35:46>> Um okay, let me try to fix this.

35:48>> That's better. That's much better.

35:49>> Can you hear me better now?

35:51>> Yes.

35:52>> Okay, thank you. Um, my name is Echo

35:55Louisisant Collins. I'm a resident of

35:57the city of Worcester. As someone who

35:59works closely with young people

36:01throughout Worcester, I want to comment

36:03on ebikes, traffic safety, and

36:05regulations. Ebikes provide affordable

36:08and accessible transportation and

36:10independence. But accessibility has to

36:13come with safety. UMass Memorial has

36:15reported seeing three to five ebike and

36:18ecooter trauma cases every week compared

36:21with roughly one per week during the

36:24same period last year with the majority

36:26of those patients being between the ages

36:28of 8 and 18. While larger regulatory

36:31questions are being considered at the

36:33state level, we don't need to wait to

36:35begin protecting and educating our

36:37community. Massachusetts law already

36:40allows municipalities to regulate ebike

36:42operation on bike paths and bikeways

36:45within their jurisdiction, including

36:48establishing speed limits after public

36:50notice and a hearing. So my question is,

36:53what can Worcester do now? I encourage

36:55the city to consider a comprehensive

36:57ebike and ecooter safety campaign

37:00specifically for youth, but also their

37:03parents and caregivers. Many adults are

37:06purchasing these devices for young

37:08people. We should make sure families

37:10understand what they're purchasing,

37:12their dangers, how fast these devices

37:15can travel, applicable traffic laws,

37:18helmet use and helmet access, safety

37:22riding practices and responsibilities

37:24that come with operating them. Let's

37:26create short videos, digital resources,

37:29school and community education that is

37:31pushed out through the schools that

37:33parents can review and share with their

37:35children. This is consistent with

37:37Worcester's vision zero commitment that

37:40traffic safety should be proactive

37:42rather than waiting for a crash to

37:44happen. Thank you.

37:46>> Thank you.

37:48>> So, do you want to speak?

37:50>> Yes.

37:50>> Just your name, your residence, and the

37:51item number you're speaking on.

37:53>> I'm Haron Shepard. I live at uh Esparav.

37:57>> Yep.

37:57>> I'm not sure the number is [ __ ]

38:00>> Um thank you.

38:01>> I'm talking for it. Uh and I'm asking

38:04you to please approve it.

38:06>> Um I live at the end of Esparav and I

38:09know my councilman has been there. He

38:11knows what it's like. Any one of you

38:16visit me. It's at the end of the road.

38:18You'll see how it is. You probably won't

38:20make it down.

38:21Um I can't speak any better than my wife

38:24did but I'm asking you to please approve

38:27it.

38:29>> Thank you.

38:31Okay.

38:33See nobody else we are going to go to

38:35petitions.

38:37This is first one is 7 A and 7B which is

38:40Miley and Esperav. That's going to go to

38:43to the Shabitz. That's going to go to uh

38:46traffic and to the planning board.

38:49Roll call. Councilors Bergman,

38:56>> Bilada,

38:57>> yes.

38:58>> Economu,

38:58>> yes.

38:59>> Folo,

39:00>> yes.

39:01>> King,

39:02>> yes.

39:03>> Mitra,

39:04>> yes.

39:04>> Oh,

39:05>> yes.

39:06>> Rivera,

39:06>> yes.

39:07>> Rosen,

39:08>> yes.

39:08>> Tumi,

39:09>> yes.

39:09>> And Mayor Petty,

39:10>> yes. So 7 C referred to public works. 7D

39:14through H refer to traffic and parking.

39:177 I refer to Veterans Memorials Parks

39:19and Recreations 7 Jade. 7 I hearing date

39:23for October 6, 2026

39:26for cond location on Cber Road, Lincoln

39:30Street and Bower Street for jointly own

39:33poll

39:35and 7M refer to the city manager unless

39:38Margaret Coffin is here.

39:40The city manager,

39:42>> can I speak on 7M?

39:43>> Okay, we'll do Okay, we'll come back to

39:44the minute. So everything up to 7 L.

39:49Roll call.

39:50>> Councilors Bergman.

39:53>> Bada.

39:54>> Yes.

39:55>> Econom.

39:55>> Yes.

39:56>> Folo.

39:57>> Yes.

39:57>> Kain.

39:58>> Yes.

39:58>> Metitra.

39:59>> Yes.

40:00>> Oh,

40:00>> yes.

40:01>> Rivera.

40:02>> Yes.

40:02>> Rosen.

40:03>> Yes.

40:04>> Tumi.

40:04>> Yes.

40:05>> And mayor Petty.

40:06>> Yes. Mar request city council request

40:08city manage provide council within the

40:10update concerning the city Americans

40:11with disabilities act transition plan

40:13and the process relative to how it is

40:14monitored. Council ba.

40:17>> Thank you Mr. Chairman. Um yeah I

40:19appreciate man from ya bringing this uh

40:22submitting this petition. I had asked

40:24for a report from the city manager's

40:27office on an update on the ADA

40:30transition plan back in March. It's been

40:33six months and we have still not and I

40:36have still not received that report. Uh

40:39the ADA transition plan is it's an

40:42important document. It's federally

40:44mandated document that talks about that

40:46you know tracks the progress that we're

40:48making as a city to make sure that our

40:50public facilities are accessible our

40:53same with our public rights of way and

40:55public schools. Um

40:58to the chair or to the city manager when

41:00can we expect that report? because as

41:02again as I have said I requested that

41:04report six months ago

41:06>> Mr. Man Mr. Andrew

41:11>> through the [ __ ] to the council. My

41:12understanding is there's been uh some

41:14internal work happening. I don't have

41:15the status update as of now in terms of

41:18when we can bring that forward to the

41:20council. I would have to follow up with

41:22our department heads uh to understand

41:24what's the timetable uh so that we can

41:26bring it back to the council as soon as

41:28possible.

41:30>> Thank you. Uh again, yeah, I had, you

41:32know, have communicated with the city

41:34manager and with uh chief equity

41:36officer, Mr. Levveni. So, um again, it's

41:39been six months. We really need to get

41:41this report back. Thank you.

41:43>> Thank you, Senator Mander. Roll call.

41:46>> Councilors Bergman.

41:48>> Bilada,

41:49>> yes.

41:50>> Econom,

41:51>> yes.

41:51>> Folo,

41:52>> yes.

41:53>> King,

41:54>> yes.

41:54>> Mitra,

41:55>> yes.

41:55>> Oh,

41:56>> yes.

41:56>> Rivera,

41:57>> yes.

41:58>> Rosen,

41:58>> yes.

41:59>> Tumi,

42:00>> yes. and Mayor Penny.

42:01>> Yes.

42:04Next is 8.232A.

42:07Recommend appointment of Echo Lousant

42:08Collins and Sharon Bang to the Advisory

42:11Commission on Youth. Roll call.

42:14>> Counselors Bergman. Bada.

42:17>> Yes.

42:17>> Econom.

42:18>> Yes.

42:19>> Folo.

42:20>> Yes.

42:20>> King.

42:21>> Yes.

42:21>> Metitra.

42:22>> Yes.

42:23>> Oh,

42:24>> yes.

42:24>> Rivera.

42:25>> Yes.

42:25>> Rosen.

42:26>> Yes.

42:27>> Tumi.

42:27>> Yes.

42:28>> And Mayor Petty.

42:29>> Yes. 8.11a information communication

42:32concerning regulations pertaining to the

42:33use of e scooters and ebikes.

42:37Motion to send the traffic council.

42:40>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh just rise

42:42for I have a few just a few questions.

42:45Um

42:47I know it's um

42:51it's kind of tricky identifying certain

42:53uh the these uh vehicles. Um, I guess

42:57one of my concerns is

43:01um the helmets that are required for 16

43:05years of age or younger. Um, I

43:08constantly see um a lot of individuals

43:12um some I know, some I don't know, but I

43:14know they are not of the age of 16 um on

43:17these uh type of vehicles on on top of

43:19these bikes. um through the chair to the

43:22I guess to the chief or

43:24>> or

43:25Raleigh if we can figure out um

43:29>> yeah you guys can

43:31>> you guys can do that. I'm fine. Um to

43:33figure out what what what are we doing

43:35when it comes to to to the helmets. Um

43:37I'm really really concerned. Obviously,

43:38a lot of the crashes, you know, um are

43:41piling up and I'm really concerned with

43:44um kids being able to not just make it

43:47out alive, but be able to function. So,

43:51>> come on up.

43:53>> Mr. R. Who's coming up? chief

44:05through the chair or counselor. When it

44:07comes to helmet laws, our main priority

44:10is education. We're not going to, you

44:13know, pull a kid off a bike and issue a

44:15citation for not having a helmet,

44:18especially if we don't know why they

44:20don't have a helmet. Um, I believe

44:22education is the best course of action

44:24during something like that.

44:26>> Thank you. No, I I agree. Um, you know,

44:28I run a bike safety program with the

44:30police department. We do it over the

44:31summer. U we try to give as many kids as

44:34possible um helmets. Every kid has to

44:36when they leave, they leave with a

44:37helmet. Um, we obviously get them a bike

44:39as well. Um,

44:43so I guess through the chair to the

44:44chief, are we allowed to um give out

44:47helmets when you say you see a kid

44:49without a helmet?

44:52uh chief

44:53>> through the chair through the chair to

44:56the counselor if we had helmets we would

44:58give them out. Correct.

44:59>> Okay. All right. So I guess through the

45:02chair to the chief you say if we have

45:04helmets what can we do to get you

45:05helmets to make sure obviously I don't

45:07want the car being filled with helmets

45:09but if there's a couple helmets one or

45:10two I'm pretty sure there's times where

45:12you know you've been in meetings with me

45:13where you'll see the kids just flying

45:15down the street without a helmet. Is

45:16there a way we can uh make sure we can

45:18get some helmets for the officers to

45:20make sure you know at least hand them a

45:22helmet and you know hopefully that they

45:24they they put it on

45:25>> through chair of council. There are

45:28grants that come about we could look

45:30into that and I think it's a great idea.

45:32We could put them in the uh sergeants

45:34cruises for each sector and if we do

45:38witness somebody doing that we can give

45:39him a helmet. That'd be awesome.

45:41>> Okay. Thank you. And uh through the

45:43chair to the city manager, is there

45:44something that um I guess just to to

45:47make sure we support this um this is

45:48something I feel as though we can either

45:50start an initiative or whatever. I mean

45:52I've worked with UMass Medical. They've

45:53been able to drop off some helmets with

45:55with your with your with your staff as

45:57well. So is there something that we can

45:59go you know look forward to making sure

46:01that we can make this happen?

46:04>> Mr. Manager

46:06>> to share to the council. Yeah, that's

46:07something that we can look at and bring

46:09forward to the council a an initiative

46:11or a pilot idea. I know that probably be

46:14different partners. I know you mentioned

46:15UMass, but there could be other partners

46:16who want to participate in that and

46:18that's something that I think the chief

46:20and their team can put together a plan

46:22uh to kind of start that initiative here

46:23in the city and and also include the

46:25schools as well. The schools could play

46:26a role in that. Uh so we'll kind of

46:28start having some conversations. I think

46:30it's a great idea and it's something

46:31that we can bring forward to the

46:32council.

46:33>> All right. Thank you. I appreciate it.

46:35>> Thank you, councelor. Council Tumi.

46:36>> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I rise to just

46:38say that uh I would ask that the they uh

46:41include what I'm sure has already been

46:43started um a report on the order that I

46:47uh filed and was approved by this

46:48council on June 9th that uh that provide

46:52city council with a report concerning

46:54recommendations for ordinances bylaws

46:57tri uh trial sorry trail restrictions

47:01uh are for some policies pertaining to

47:03the regulation of scooters, unicycles,

47:05electronic bikes etc. include

47:07that, please.

47:08>> Thank you.

47:10>> Okay, we'll send that to

47:12Was that I thought it was

47:14>> Was there a mo was that a motion?

47:15>> No, I don't think so.

47:16>> Okay.

47:18>> Um Okay. So, send that.

47:20>> Can I just

47:21>> council? Okay. Turn to traffic and

47:23pockin.

47:24>> Yeah.

47:25>> Okay. Roll call.

47:26>> Councilors Bergman.

47:28>> Yes.

47:29>> Bada.

47:30>> Yes.

47:31>> Econom.

47:32>> Yes.

47:32>> Fizzolo.

47:33>> Yes.

47:33>> King.

47:34>> Yes. Mitra,

47:35>> yes.

47:36>> Oh,

47:37>> yes.

47:38>> Rivera,

47:38>> yes.

47:39>> Rosen,

47:40>> yes.

47:40>> Tumi,

47:41>> yes.

47:41>> And Mayor Petty,

47:43>> yes. Next item up is transmitting

47:45information, communication to the

47:46identification, repair, and markings of

47:48non-functioning fire hydrants.

47:52Send out to public safety or file it.

47:55>> Mr. Chairman,

47:56>> has a hand up.

47:57>> Oh, council,

47:58>> good comment on the report. I appreciate

48:00Chief Dyer bringing this uh to us and in

48:02the administration. Uh, you know, it's

48:04great to hear that there is a a very low

48:06number of non uh functioning fire

48:08hydrants. Uh, and it was very

48:11interesting to learn how, you know,

48:13they're identified and how quickly

48:14they're updated in the system that that

48:16the fire department has. I just had one

48:18question uh either to the administration

48:20or to the fire chief. Just was curious

48:22if they're

48:24are the the the small amount of hydrants

48:27that are not working, are they in a

48:28concentrated area in the city uh or are

48:30they spread out? Just curious if they

48:32happen to be in in in a cluster or or

48:35not.

48:36>> Chief D

48:37>> through the chair of the counselor. They

48:39are not concentrated. They are

48:41throughout the city. Um usually related

48:43to a water main break or a traffic

48:45accident or something like that.

48:47>> Okay. Thank you. Great report and it's

48:48great to hear that it's it's a very low

48:50number. Thank you.

48:51>> Okay. Council me.

48:55>> Thank you, Mr. J to Chief.

49:01First of all um

49:04thank you for the report that you have

49:06given something I was waiting for a long

49:08time and then

49:10there are 39

49:12fire it mentioned there that wasn't

49:14working

49:15>> council me is your mic on

49:19>> thank you Mr. Chair so

49:22Mr. just wanted to know that thank you

49:24very much for giving this report and uh

49:27what I liked here is I know that there

49:29are 39 of them are not working and

49:32they're going to be probably fixed soon.

49:34Uh and what you reported here is that if

49:38you have a dispatcher going there in a

49:40place where they don't have the fire

49:42hydrant working, they have the knowledge

49:43of that ahead of time and then they

49:46prepare themselves. So where is the next

49:48available uh fire hydrant available that

49:51they can use? Am I correct? So even

49:54though there are some fire hydrant not

49:55working, it's still in a position that

49:58we can take care of the emergency

50:00situation when they go there. Am I

50:02correct with that? Understand?

50:04>> Through the chair of the counselor, you

50:06you are correct. It's important to

50:07understand that the system is built with

50:09redundancy. Um so that we do have the

50:13ability to take other hydrants. the

50:15platform that we use makes it very clear

50:17where the working hydrants are and so

50:20we're always looking for what's the

50:21second choice what's the third choice

50:24the my point was uh to the chair to the

50:27to the chief is that um residents when

50:31they see that there is a fire hen that

50:33is not working based on the top that is

50:36painted black or whatever color that is

50:38chosen to designate that is not

50:41functional they get worried right the

50:44fire haden isn't working. They're kind

50:46of afraid about not having a fire haden

50:49functional. Is there any way we can put

50:52a message that even though it is a fire

50:55hen that's not working, we are good

50:58enough to know before we go there to

51:01take care of the situation, even though

51:03the fire haden is not working, you're

51:04equipped to take care of the uh fire if

51:07it happens

51:08>> through the chair of the counselor. Uh

51:11it's difficult obviously to educate the

51:14entire public on the situation, but one

51:17of the ways that it communicates that

51:19the city is on top of it is that if the

51:22bonnet is painted black, then we know

51:25that that fire hydrant is out of

51:26service, it's been documented

51:28appropriately in the uh water

51:30department's uh work order system, and

51:32that it is on the fire department's

51:35response platform so that all of our

51:36officers are aware of that. So when they

51:39see that black bonnet, while I can

51:41understand they'd be concerned about it

51:43not being working, they can also be rest

51:45assured that we have backup plans ready

51:48to go.

51:49>> I understand that uh to the chair to the

51:52to the chief that I understand that

51:53part. I followed that you are equipped.

51:55You know that if there is a fire not

51:58working uh you can take care of it. Your

52:01dispatchers who go fire fighters when

52:03they go there, they know what to what to

52:05do. I'm just thinking about the if I see

52:07a fire hater in front of my house that's

52:10not working, I'm always worried. Is

52:12there any way you can put a notice on

52:14the on the city's uh website or

52:17somewhere saying that you know even if

52:19you see that we are well equipped to not

52:21worry. That's all I wanted to make sure

52:22that they are understanding that this is

52:24not something that we should be worried

52:26>> through the chat of the counselor. Thank

52:28you. I understand what you're asking now

52:30and um that let me take that back and

52:32work with the uh commissioner DPW and

52:34see if there's something we can do on

52:35that.

52:35>> Okay. Thank you. That's all I wanted to

52:37know. But otherwise, I'm I'm very happy

52:39that you worked on it uh through the

52:41chair. It's one more question that 39 of

52:44them are not working. I know it's a

52:46small percentage as you said there.

52:49Is there a regulation we have or a

52:51standard operation procedure that we

52:54find out time to time or is something

52:56how do you know that it's not working?

52:58Is there like process we have to find

53:00out they're working or not

53:02>> through the chair of the council? That's

53:03an excellent question. And

53:04unfortunately, sometimes we're waiting

53:06until we try to actually use the hydrant

53:08to realize that it's out of service,

53:10right? Or that it's broken. A lot of

53:11times it's obvious there's a car

53:13accident um hits the hydrant, knocks it

53:15over, snowplow uh knocks it over. Um

53:18it's obvious and it gets taken care of

53:20right away. Um if it's related sometimes

53:22to a water mane break, we are alerted to

53:24it right away. Um,

53:27but there has to be something that makes

53:29the city aware that there is something

53:32wrong with this. Sometimes it's usage.

53:34Private contractors and vendors are

53:36sometimes utilizing them. Street

53:38sweepers. So, there's a lot of

53:40opportunities to find them. Um, it's

53:44just that opportunity has to happen.

53:46>> Thank you. One more question uh to the

53:48chair to the chief is that uh I know now

53:51that is detected you're going to take

53:53care to fix those uh how long it might

53:56take to fix these 39 of them any idea

53:59>> through the through the chair of the

54:01counselor. That's a that's a tough one

54:03because they're all um very specific to

54:06what's going on in the certain area,

54:08right? And how many um what has to be

54:11done to repair that hydrant. So in some

54:13a lot of circumstances and probably in

54:15most of these 39 that still exist the

54:18water main has to be shut off which can

54:20be um a very um uh impactful thing for

54:26the community. Right. So it takes uh

54:28coordination to shut the water main

54:30down. It takes uh vendors the

54:32appropriate vendors to uh be scheduled

54:35uh the water department staff to be

54:37available. it requires notification to

54:40the neighborhood that's going to be

54:41affected because their water service

54:43will also be shut off for that period of

54:45time. So, especially on the larger

54:47mains, uh they try to coordinate that

54:49work with regular road work repair. So,

54:52if it's already scheduled, let's say I

54:54have scheduled water work six months out

54:56from now and we're going to have to open

54:58up this street anyways or road work, I

55:00shouldn't say, not necessarily water

55:01work. Uh they may decide to wait that

55:04six months so that it's all coordinated.

55:06they shut that water man down just once

55:09and impact the entire neighborhood only

55:11that one time. It's very dependent on

55:13the individual situation.

55:15>> To the chair to the chief, thank you

55:17very much for giving this report. I

55:19didn't realize that there are 39 of

55:21them, but the process that you have

55:22started to take care of it is relieving.

55:25I want all residents to realize that if

55:27you see there is a firehead that's not

55:29working, please let the water department

55:30or you know and you will do your best to

55:33fix them as soon as possible.

55:35>> Thank you. Thank you, Council Okono.

55:39>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just real

55:41quick, thanks for the report, Chief. Um,

55:44my question just has to do with um

55:47hydrant spacing. Um, so if one's out,

55:51how far away is the next hydrant?

55:53>> Sure.

55:54>> On average, Chief,

55:55>> through the chair of the counselor,

55:57there's there's certain standards that

56:00you try to apply. Um, but in general, we

56:02have them at almost every intersection,

56:04right? And so when we put in um if we

56:06were to put in a new development called

56:08the sack, we'd want one every 500 uh

56:11feet or so um and we try to get them at

56:13the intersections. Obviously working

56:15with the developers um and ultimately

56:17the water department would be the one

56:18that would uh permit it.

56:20>> Yeah. So in in an existing roadway

56:22that's

56:24let's say West Boston Street, say

56:26there's one out on West Boston Street.

56:28How where would it 500 ft on that

56:33increment there on West Boilson Street

56:35as well on a pre-existing street

56:38>> chief

56:38>> through the chair to the counselor in

56:40most cases not in every case but in most

56:42cases.

56:43>> Okay. So there's they're not that far

56:45apart. You're aware of it. The blacked

56:48out bonnet lets people know too that we

56:51are aware of it and it's just a matter

56:53of coordinating uh whether it's street

56:56work parts that you're waiting on um to

56:59get the job done. It is

57:02look it's under 1%.

57:05which is great, but again, the goal is

57:08to be at 0%, right? Because it all it

57:10all matters, but I know we're on top of

57:12it and it's not interfering with your

57:14response time or your job that that you

57:16need to do for all of us. So, thank you,

57:19M.

57:20>> Thank you.

57:20>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

57:22>> Council King.

57:28>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, just a

57:31couple of questions here. um indicates

57:33that 39 are out of service, less than

57:351%. Is there any other category as

57:39relates to your assessment of the fire

57:41hydrants? I appreciate the report. Um

57:44are there other levels of repair that

57:46we're looking at? Um outside of out of

57:50service through the chair,

57:52>> chief. through the chair

57:53>> any other elements of you know um needs

57:57improvement

57:58>> through the chair this report is only

58:00addressing the existing hydrant network

58:03and of that how many are out of service

58:07there's not another element there it

58:09usually gets handled again if we're

58:11talking about a new development um or

58:14there's a new building that may need

58:16some we need to assess the level of

58:18protection we're going to handle that

58:20through the plans review um as part of

58:22the building permit process in the um

58:24plans review.

58:25>> Okay. So, as relates to the total of

58:296,084 fire hydrants, these 39

58:33um are out of service. Are you

58:35indicating that the remaining number

58:37have no no need for the city um to do

58:41any work upon them? The chair

58:44>> chief through the chair to the council,

58:46I am not indicating that. Uh what I'm

58:48telling you is that those are the ones

58:50that are out of service working with the

58:52water department. The water department

58:54has its own maintenance program that

58:56they perform on the hydrant network. Um

59:00and that is their program that they they

59:02apply.

59:03>> Uh truth is here to administration. Do

59:05we have any data on

59:07>> that maintenance program?

59:10>> Unless

59:13is there any um Mr. Mr. Chairman, is

59:15there through the chair to the

59:16administration, is there any data on the

59:18maintenance repair program that that he

59:21referenced regarding the um fire

59:24hydrants? To the chair,

59:25>> Mr. Manager,

59:26>> uh through the ch to the pro uh to the

59:28council, I know that we have a program

59:29and DPW has that information. I don't

59:31have that readily available. Um but that

59:33could be something that could be

59:34provided to the council because they

59:37they have a a program that they monitor

59:39and they manage on a consistent basis.

59:41So there's definitely data points there

59:43that could be able to be shared to the

59:44council.

59:45>> Thank you. Um I certainly would like

59:46that by way of an order. Um and also

59:49that to be sorted um in terms of um

59:54level of need or level of concern um

59:58through the CH administration. The 39

1:00:00that are out of service. Is there a

1:00:01tearing of them in terms of um

1:00:05addressing the issues through the chair?

1:00:08chief

1:00:10>> through the cha council like I uh

1:00:12mentioned they're they try to schedule

1:00:16the work basically is what it comes down

1:00:17to and schedule it with existing work if

1:00:19you want to call that tearing that uh

1:00:22may be the case. It's it's not as simple

1:00:24as just it's broken we're going to show

1:00:27up tomorrow and fix it. Uh it's a matter

1:00:29of making sure that you have the

1:00:30appropriate parts and oftentimes there's

1:00:33a backlog uh on these parts and so

1:00:35there's it takes some time to actually

1:00:38get the right part for the right hydrant

1:00:40or the it might be the valve in the

1:00:42water man that is actually your issue.

1:00:44So there's a lot of pieces to this. The

1:00:47um and then scheduling it with major

1:00:50road work is that other piece of it that

1:00:52goes to the schedule. The water

1:00:53department has assured me that they uh

1:00:56address these as fast as possible. I've

1:00:58seen it. Um as soon as one is reported

1:01:01not working, they are on scene checking

1:01:03it out and making their initial

1:01:05assessment. uh if it needs more work

1:01:07than they can do right then and there,

1:01:09it goes into their queue in their

1:01:11engineering process to schedule it out.

1:01:14>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh just to the

1:01:16administration, you know, um the spirit

1:01:18of this I think order that brought this

1:01:20forward um was to get an idea of the

1:01:24safety concerns and parameters um as it

1:01:28relates to these hydrants. I know that

1:01:29there was some testimony this this

1:01:31evening uh from the chief um you know

1:01:35that um there was mitigating risks based

1:01:39on various factors and redundancies etc.

1:01:42Um you know what I'm particularly

1:01:44interested in is I mentioned we're um

1:01:47the additional um hydrants outside of

1:01:50those that are simply out of service and

1:01:53what our responsiveness is. Um and also

1:01:56uh would be interested to know as well

1:01:58as by way of an order uh those 39 is

1:02:01there a tearing in terms of um uh

1:02:06risk or um um inoperability um and the

1:02:11need to move those forwards because as I

1:02:12understand there's a lot of intersection

1:02:14across the departments um different

1:02:16projects etc. Um, you know, I'm

1:02:19interested to see um those higher risk

1:02:23um areas where perhaps there's less

1:02:25redundancy and and and other mitigating

1:02:28uh factors. Um how we're moving forward

1:02:31in that regard. Mr. Chairman, thank you.

1:02:33>> Thank you. Okay. Uh councelor O'Hara.

1:02:37>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um yeah, I have

1:02:39several questions regarding some of the

1:02:40fire hydrants. Uh to the chair, to the

1:02:42to the chief, can you um you say there's

1:02:4539. is can you is it able to locate what

1:02:51do you have a list of them um prepared

1:02:53or which ones because my concern is um

1:02:55I'll get to the point um on at five May

1:02:59Street the one in front of five May

1:03:01Street is out then there's one at the

1:03:03intersection of Silver and May and I

1:03:06don't see any other ones so my concern

1:03:08is in that that small block area um

1:03:12there doesn't seem to any um fire

1:03:15hydrants and and that's been out for a

1:03:16while. And then the one on Beacon and um

1:03:20Oriad and then the one at uh Boys and

1:03:23Girls Subway in Main Street. So those

1:03:24have been out I believe they've been um

1:03:27noted. So they've been sent in to to be

1:03:29repaired and I would say probably almost

1:03:32a year now, maybe a little bit more for

1:03:33some other ones, they haven't been

1:03:35repaired. So I know I threw a lot at

1:03:37you, but if you I mean I can repeat it,

1:03:39but can you just give me a breakdown on

1:03:41the 39? Um, it seems like three of those

1:03:44so far are in my district. I'm pretty

1:03:46sure there's more from the last time you

1:03:47talked about this. And then what's the

1:03:49status on those three

1:03:51>> through the chair of the council? I I

1:03:52don't have the 39 right at my

1:03:54fingertips. We can absolutely provide

1:03:56that in the report. please.

1:03:58>> Uh, and again, I don't um I can't speak

1:04:01to the the individual um

1:04:06ordering of how they're going to be

1:04:08fixed or why five main street for

1:04:10example is not I'm assuming that's

1:04:12because they have to uh shut down the ma

1:04:14main on May Street which will be very

1:04:16disruptive to the area. So they're

1:04:17trying to coordinate that I'm assuming

1:04:20um that's generally the what they the

1:04:22reasoning of why a hydrant will not be

1:04:24repaired uh relatively quickly.

1:04:29Okay. As far as Five May Street goes to

1:04:31the chief to the chair to the chief, uh

1:04:33five May Street has been they just

1:04:34opened um that's been closed for many

1:04:36many years. So disruption to I know

1:04:39other areas, but Five Main Street has

1:04:41just been open and um it's really

1:04:42concerning that um there's only one

1:04:45there. Can you let me know if there's

1:04:46any others? I couldn't see it online. I

1:04:48know there's one like I said at the corn

1:04:49at the intersection of silver in in uh

1:04:52May

1:04:56>> through the ch council. Just give me one

1:04:58moment to

1:04:58>> sure

1:04:58>> pull it up.

1:05:16>> Yeah. So, so through the chair of the

1:05:17councelor, there is a hydrant uh on Main

1:05:20Street uh almost well it's on the corner

1:05:23of Hammond in uh Main Street

1:05:27which is uh an excellent hydrant that

1:05:29would be one of our first choice. It's a

1:05:3130 inch main so it's a very very large

1:05:33volume hydrant uh that would supply us

1:05:36quite a bit of water. And then further

1:05:38down Main Street uh between um May and

1:05:42Silver that's listed as being in

1:05:44service. Are you're saying it is not in

1:05:46service through the chair?

1:05:47>> No, I'm just saying the one in front of

1:05:48May is is um not in service. May

1:05:51>> So May and Silva, which is just a few

1:05:53properties down, it well, it's one

1:05:56building in one lot down uh has a

1:05:59hydrant that is on a 12-in main that is

1:06:01operable.

1:06:02>> Okay.

1:06:02>> So, we have some good options there.

1:06:04>> Yeah. Um that's good. I know the one

1:06:08it's right around the corner. I prefer

1:06:09one that'd be closer. Um I guess my

1:06:12concern is that um this you know we did

1:06:14discuss this before. Um

1:06:18so I just want to make a a note. Uh we

1:06:21did discuss this before and we did

1:06:23mention the those other fire hydrants um

1:06:25when this was brought up last year and

1:06:27nothing has changed. So I'm really

1:06:28concerned why you know through the chair

1:06:30to the chief or through the city manager

1:06:33again three within walking distance from

1:06:37each other are are not working. Is this

1:06:41I know this isn't common place. This

1:06:42isn't work, but for it to be close to a

1:06:45year and some of them over a year. I

1:06:47just don't understand why they haven't

1:06:48been serviced yet.

1:06:49>> Mr. Manager,

1:06:50>> uh through the chief of the council, uh

1:06:52I think like what the chief has stated

1:06:53multiple times during this meeting,

1:06:55there are situations with each fire hire

1:06:57that are complex that may take some time

1:07:00because of the timing and the

1:07:01requirement of work to shut down the

1:07:04water in the area. And so they

1:07:05oftentimes try to time it correctly with

1:07:08any future development that's happening

1:07:10in the area. Um in this case there's no

1:07:14those hydrants that are that are not

1:07:17functional in that area not does not

1:07:20pose a threat to the neighborhood

1:07:22because there's enough hydrants within

1:07:24the area that can provide the network

1:07:26that's needed for the department. Um but

1:07:29to provide you specificity on what the

1:07:32work order is and the timetable of that

1:07:34work order that would be a separate

1:07:35report that we would have to provide by

1:07:37DPW in terms of every single fire

1:07:40hydrant. What's the work order? What's

1:07:42the timing and again that's now getting

1:07:45into a very kind of specific about each

1:07:48and every single project uh timetable

1:07:51and construction etc related to each

1:07:53one. We can try to provide that in a

1:07:56report. I think it's going to be too

1:07:57extensive or we can try to do that in in

1:08:00a separate conversations or meetings

1:08:01that then we can then try to provide

1:08:03information to the public.

1:08:05>> Yeah, I think there it is. I think

1:08:06that's the most important thing is

1:08:07providing information to the public. Um,

1:08:10you know, I do share some of the

1:08:11frustration with the residents. It's

1:08:13it's in their district. They see it.

1:08:15It's not working. They don't understand

1:08:17that or may maybe they don't know. I

1:08:19shouldn't say they don't understand.

1:08:19they probably just don't know that

1:08:21there's other ones that are working

1:08:22that's capable and they can do the work

1:08:24um just as well as the one that's that's

1:08:26not working. But just to see them not

1:08:28working in a certain area in a certain

1:08:30district that are close to each other is

1:08:32just telling the residents that you know

1:08:33you don't have to worry about it but

1:08:35they don't know that. So in my mind if I

1:08:37don't get this information this doesn't

1:08:40work. The city doesn't care if this

1:08:41works or not and it's been down for

1:08:43three years. I mean sorry there's three

1:08:44of them down for over a year now. So

1:08:46that's just the perception that we're

1:08:48giving to our residents and and it is

1:08:49frustrating to know that um because we

1:08:51did discuss this. So I would have loved

1:08:53to gotten a report back and say hey

1:08:54counselor we're still working on it.

1:08:56Here's an update or just you know so

1:08:57then I can share with residents. I

1:08:59attend monthly meetings and I promise

1:09:01you fire hydrants do come up in these

1:09:03meetings and they they continue to to

1:09:05share and the same conversation they're

1:09:07sent to me I know it's sent to uh DPW.

1:09:10It's sent to the chief as well. Um so

1:09:12it's this is a constant conversation.

1:09:14Um, and I feel as though, you know, we

1:09:17just need to show that we are doing

1:09:18something versus we don't have anything.

1:09:20Um, and last thing through the chair to

1:09:24the chief, I noticed that you're able to

1:09:26pull that up and show where the fire

1:09:28hydrants are. Is there a way probably to

1:09:30the city through the chair through the

1:09:31chair city manager? Is there a way to

1:09:33show online which ones aren't working?

1:09:37>> Chief

1:09:39through the chair of the council. Just

1:09:40so I understand the question, you're

1:09:42asking if it could be on the city

1:09:43website. which ones aren't working.

1:09:44>> Not necessarily. Like when you when you

1:09:46pull it up, um it shows you where they

1:09:49are. Is there a way to ping those to say

1:09:51these aren't the ones that are working

1:09:54>> because you can't tell me right now.

1:09:55You'd have to go back and look it up.

1:09:56Correct.

1:09:57>> No. Through the chair of the counselor.

1:09:59This is just because I'm using this

1:10:00computer system here for for me

1:10:02personally here. All of our trucks and

1:10:05please forgive me if I'm

1:10:05misunderstanding the question.

1:10:07>> The every company has an iPad that

1:10:10they're looking at. uh the calls show up

1:10:14on that iPad. Just like on my screen

1:10:16here, there's all these calls happening

1:10:18right now. When the company clicks on

1:10:21the officer clicks on that call, they

1:10:23would just touch it with their finger.

1:10:25It's going to bring them to a map of

1:10:27that area. They're going to see all

1:10:29those hydrants immediately. Normally,

1:10:31when a box is struck or reported

1:10:33structure fire is um uh dispatched,

1:10:38everybody's looking at it. the officers

1:10:39know to look at that and the district

1:10:41chief that's the first thing he does he

1:10:43looks at that he sees the area hydrants

1:10:45and he calls out the hydrants to the

1:10:47responding companies okay so that we

1:10:49have that situational awareness

1:10:51>> thank you I mean I get it I get you know

1:10:53there's a there's a process there's

1:10:54layers to this but again um I think I

1:10:58think we could do a better job on

1:11:00assessing them whatever projects are

1:11:01coming down line or whatever it may be

1:11:03five main street was closed for many

1:11:04years that was an opportunity um Beacon

1:11:07Street it's going to be there's going to

1:11:08be some work done on Beacon Street. So,

1:11:11um maybe there's an opportunity to look

1:11:12into it now because of some of the

1:11:14apartments that are being built on

1:11:15Beacon Street. So, there's going to be a

1:11:16lot more um water being used, a lot of a

1:11:19lot more safety concerns are going to be

1:11:21put into that area. Um and then you

1:11:23have, you know, the Boys and Girls Club

1:11:24way where the Boys and Girls Club is

1:11:25down the street. You have apartments.

1:11:26You have businesses up and down that

1:11:28street. Um, again, it's just concerning

1:11:30to know that they haven't been serviced

1:11:32yet and there's just a delay, but

1:11:35there's no report back to the residents

1:11:37to let them know that yes, this is on

1:11:38our radar. We are making sure we keep a

1:11:40close eye on it, but if there is a fire,

1:11:43there are fire hydrants down the street

1:11:44that can maintain certain fires that

1:11:46that do arise.

1:11:48>> Sorry about that.

1:11:49>> Oh, that's first time.

1:11:51Thank you.

1:11:55>> Okay, Council Bergman.

1:11:58Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Very briefly to

1:12:00the chief. I also appreciate the report.

1:12:02I I guess probably two questions

1:12:04thereabouts. One is um do we take into

1:12:07consideration does your department take

1:12:09into consideration the water pressure?

1:12:11Because I know we've had uh discussions

1:12:13in the past that certain parts of the

1:12:16city the water pressure is different

1:12:17than other parts. So I I guess my

1:12:18question is does a functioning hydrant

1:12:21also mean that's a sufficient pressure

1:12:23uh god forbid if there's a serious fire

1:12:25or does it simply mean that it's it's

1:12:27working? But that's an unknown. That's

1:12:30my first question.

1:12:31>> So through the chair of the councelor I

1:12:33I've said before I believe on this floor

1:12:35that um I I believe we're blessed in the

1:12:38city with our hydrant network. Uh we

1:12:40have excellent pressure. Um a lot of our

1:12:43hydrants you're talking 80 90 100 PSI.

1:12:47um just right off the bat. Um that

1:12:51that's enviable of many many large

1:12:53municipalities. Uh then so it does

1:12:57matter. Uh but volume also matters. So

1:13:00main size matters and that's why when I

1:13:02look at Hammond and May for example, a

1:13:0530-inch may main that's a lot of volume.

1:13:08If if I need more pressure, I can apply

1:13:11that pressure through our apparatus. Um

1:13:14that volume is what I really need. So,

1:13:16um, it's it gets a little bit

1:13:19complicated with the hydraulics, but in

1:13:21short, we bring the pumps that can

1:13:24create the pressure. I need the volume

1:13:26through the hydrant system. Uh, and we

1:13:28have some pretty good volume

1:13:30>> through the chair. As long as you're

1:13:32satisfied, I'm satisfied as well. I

1:13:34guess my other question um is that I

1:13:38believe this report does address the

1:13:41issues of those small number of hydrants

1:13:44that aren't working and what's happening

1:13:45to to correct that. My issue is one that

1:13:48comes up my next question maybe it's

1:13:52month or two premature but it's coming

1:13:54which is winter and uh what what I

1:13:57concerned about I think you are too

1:13:59chief through the chair is what do we

1:14:02what what is the policy in the

1:14:03wintertime with identifying those

1:14:06hydrants that invariably don't get

1:14:08shoveled out even though they're

1:14:10supposed to because you can have all the

1:14:12hydrants in the city working but if

1:14:15somebody can't find it then It's

1:14:17probably the equivalent of not working.

1:14:19So that through the chair, that's my

1:14:20question.

1:14:21>> Through the chair of the council,

1:14:23obviously we would prefer that every

1:14:25hiden be um shoveled perfectly and wide

1:14:28open. Uh but the reality of it is is

1:14:31that this again this program that we're

1:14:34talking about, the GIS network, it's

1:14:36really good and it's really accurate and

1:14:38it gets us very very close to where that

1:14:40hydrant is. We usually do a really good

1:14:42job of figuring out the hydrants there

1:14:45and this is where I'm digging.

1:14:46>> Okay, great. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.

1:14:48Chairman. Thank you.

1:14:49>> Thank you, Councelor

1:14:51Rivera.

1:14:56>> I'll be quick. Um, through the chair, to

1:14:58the chief,

1:15:00I don't know if this been asked already,

1:15:01but um, in the whole city, how many fire

1:15:04hydrants do we have? Do you have a

1:15:06number, a rough estimate,

1:15:07>> chief?

1:15:09through the chair of the council. I

1:15:11believe it was uh 684

1:15:14>> 68 excuse me 6,084

1:15:17>> 684 and uh thank you for the report by

1:15:20the way. Um, so would you say, and I'm

1:15:24not minimizing it because we also know

1:15:26that, you know, fire hydrants are

1:15:28important, but would you say 39 not

1:15:31working at the moment is

1:15:36something that is not a big urgency in

1:15:39your end of the on your end of the

1:15:41aisle, you know,

1:15:42>> through the chair of the council. I I

1:15:45want to be careful about saying what I'm

1:15:46comfortable with, right? Obviously I I

1:15:48want every hydrant working and when we

1:15:50need that specific hydrant we really

1:15:52want it to work right.

1:15:52>> Sure.

1:15:53>> But the reality of it is is that these

1:15:55systems are engineered in a way so that

1:15:58it's understood that they are going to

1:16:00have failures at some point and it's to

1:16:03make sure that we have an ability to

1:16:05overcome that failure and I think

1:16:07Worcester has done a phenomenal job of

1:16:09building out that network and making

1:16:10sure that redundancy is there. We bring

1:16:13to the scene also our trucks that carry

1:16:16every truck carries every engine company

1:16:18carries a thousand feet at least of

1:16:21supply line so that we can make longer

1:16:23connections if we have to run a um uh a

1:16:28kind of like a not a shuttle but a uh a

1:16:30relay we can get multiple engines going.

1:16:33That's what's happening in the towns

1:16:35every single fire where they have to

1:16:37have multiple relay systems going

1:16:39because their hydrant network is not

1:16:41like ours. We normally do not have to do

1:16:43that. One engine usually takes care of

1:16:45that system. Each one of those engines

1:16:47is carrying 500 gallons of water, right?

1:16:49So, we can make a really good initial

1:16:50attack and knock on that fire without

1:16:53even having the positive water supply

1:16:54from the hydrant. Uh, which gives us a

1:16:57time to get that um maybe that secondary

1:17:01hydrant connected and established uh uh

1:17:04positive water supply. Uh so there's a

1:17:07lot of things that we can do that are

1:17:08engineered on purpose so that we can

1:17:11overcome some of these small um issues.

1:17:14>> Yeah, I appreciate that. And and I think

1:17:17like uh um council Heather mentioned uh

1:17:20it does come up in the neighborhood

1:17:21meetings. Um and one of the things that

1:17:23it's important that they they're aware

1:17:25of is that that we trust um that the

1:17:29city and and the chief and your

1:17:32department has this under control. Um,

1:17:34so I I know they get nervous, you know,

1:17:36but I'm I'm comfortable the fact that

1:17:40that you you know that you guys are

1:17:42moving in the right direction. So I

1:17:43appreciate that.

1:17:45>> Thank you. So the orders,

1:17:49council Rosen.

1:17:52>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through the

1:17:54chair to the chief, maybe this is a

1:17:55better question for even the law

1:17:57department, but since Mr. Chairman, we

1:18:00have a an ordinance that says

1:18:04uh we have to shovel the city sidewalk

1:18:08uh when it snows. We don't own the side.

1:18:11We have to shovel it. Why couldn't that

1:18:13ordinance again maybe apply to the

1:18:18same question?

1:18:21>> Okay. It's going to be heard soon

1:18:22petition. Yeah. Okay. I didn't remember

1:18:24that. But uh we should even more

1:18:26important than the sidewalk is the

1:18:28hydrant I would think. So that should be

1:18:30part of a similar ordinance uh through

1:18:34the chair to the chief. So there's no

1:18:35such thing when when my tires go low,

1:18:38especially in the winter, you know, with

1:18:40the change of the temperature. There's

1:18:42no gauges that tell you if a hydrant is

1:18:46functional. No such thing.

1:18:49through the chair of the counselor. I

1:18:50I've had that same question for our

1:18:53water engineers. And the reality of is

1:18:55that no, it does not.

1:18:58>> Okay. And I I remember

1:19:01years ago, I don't know if it was

1:19:03decades ago, it might might be, but the

1:19:06the in the summer, the youth always

1:19:08opened up the hydrants on those hot hot

1:19:10days. Is that possible any longer or

1:19:12have we we have no gauge for the

1:19:14hydrant, but do we have some lock for

1:19:16the hydrant through the chair,

1:19:18>> chief?

1:19:19through the chair of the counselor. Are

1:19:20you asking are we able to do that?

1:19:22>> Yeah. Are youth still able to open up

1:19:24hydrants during the summer? That was a

1:19:27problem I mean 20 years ago maybe.

1:19:29>> Yeah. Through the chair of the

1:19:30councelor. We we don't open them as a as

1:19:32a matter of policy.

1:19:33>> I don't mean you. I mean the youth the

1:19:35kids neighborhood kids used to do that.

1:19:37>> Yeah. Through the through the chair of

1:19:39the counselor. We have not encountered

1:19:41that much at all. Um it doesn't seem to

1:19:43be much of a a thing anymore. There were

1:19:46years ago a lot of vandalroof um hydrant

1:19:49nuts put on a lot of our hydrants to uh

1:19:52stop that from happening.

1:19:53>> So we've made them more secure. This

1:19:55isn't a hydrant question, but this is a

1:19:58a chief question through the chair to

1:20:00the chief. Uh how does how do the

1:20:02engines do with the speed humps around

1:20:04the city? What would you say? Are you

1:20:08pleased that we have so many speed humps

1:20:09in the city of Worester?

1:20:12>> Through the chat to the councelor,

1:20:13you're putting me in a tough position.

1:20:15Uh

1:20:15>> that that was the idea.

1:20:17>> No. So the um look an engine driver does

1:20:20not want to have to navigate a speed

1:20:22bump. Um they manage.

1:20:26>> Okay. And my last question because we

1:20:28heard about Esper Av and Miji private

1:20:30streets in terrible condition. I was the

1:20:32district council beautiful district five

1:20:35you know 10 maybe or 10 years ago or so

1:20:37and we talked about migi and esper then.

1:20:40So they must be a lot worse 10 years

1:20:42later. So, is it true, and I've heard at

1:20:45a few meetings people say, you know, uh,

1:20:49public safety equipment, especially fire

1:20:51engines, might not be able to get down

1:20:52this street. Is that a problem? Has that

1:20:54been a problem for the fire department?

1:20:56Through the chair,

1:20:56>> through the chair to the counselor, it

1:20:58has not been reported to me that there

1:21:00has been a problem. It's been a few

1:21:02years since I've uh been been over

1:21:04there, and I know that they were rough

1:21:05over there. We in those situations, it's

1:21:08out of the fire department scope on

1:21:09whether a road is going to get repaired

1:21:11or not. Correct. So we just work in what

1:21:13can we do to overcome the problem and a

1:21:15lot of times it's just

1:21:16>> I suggested through the chair I

1:21:17suggested those two streets but around

1:21:19the city has that been a problem for the

1:21:20fire department private streets in

1:21:22general

1:21:23>> through the chair of the councelor

1:21:24occasionally we run into problems we may

1:21:26not get our best access because of the

1:21:29road condition uh but our firefighters

1:21:32do a phenomenal job of doing the best

1:21:34job they can to mitigate the incident.

1:21:36>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chair.

1:21:37>> Thank you Council Me.

1:21:41Uh, Mr. Chair, I my question is on item

1:21:43number 8.12A.

1:21:45So,

1:21:46>> okay, we're not on that. We'll go back

1:21:47to that in a minute.

1:21:48>> Yeah,

1:21:49King.

1:21:51>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um,

1:21:55I'm particularly interested in the the

1:21:58what do you call speed humps and public

1:22:00safety and

1:22:02fire um equipment getting through there

1:22:07as quick as possible. Um

1:22:10some time ago before we went down the

1:22:12road of speed humps I had orders

1:22:14pertaining to speed cushions which are

1:22:17very very similar. Um the difference is

1:22:19I don't know if the the uh chief is

1:22:21aware of this but the difference is is

1:22:23that um they're separated. It's like a

1:22:25speed hump that with some area in

1:22:28between. We have some of those in some

1:22:30spaces. Um I'm not sure if they're exact

1:22:32speed cushions or not. Um, but they're

1:22:35are supposed to allow for the axles of

1:22:38public safety vehicles to navigate it

1:22:42quicker and easier. Um, those orders

1:22:45from many moons ago were ignored and we

1:22:47went down the path of speeds. But

1:22:50through the chair to the chief, just

1:22:51wonder, are you aware of those sorts of

1:22:54um

1:22:56things?

1:22:56>> Through the cha consul I am. We have um

1:22:59worked with DTM and tested those out. Uh

1:23:02they are difficult. It's the same

1:23:03similar situation to the the speed humps

1:23:06is remember when we have a reported

1:23:08structure fire. We have companies coming

1:23:10in from a lot of different stations. It

1:23:11may not be going to their normal

1:23:14response area, right? And they may not

1:23:16be as familiar with the roads and

1:23:18whether or not there's speed bumps or

1:23:20not. And so there's a lot going on when

1:23:23you're driving a fire truck. And to be

1:23:24able to see that far ahead, align your

1:23:27wheels, it's very difficult. and through

1:23:29the chair to the chief. Is is it in fact

1:23:32those sorts of um speed cushions that

1:23:35they're uh designed to um allow for the

1:23:41axles of these sorts of uh fire vehicles

1:23:44to go through a chair?

1:23:45>> Chief through the chair is perfect, but

1:23:48is that sort of what they're

1:23:49>> No, I believe that's one of the design

1:23:51um reasons for it. It's just in practice

1:23:54it's not as easy as

1:23:55>> of course. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I

1:23:57just like another report back on speed

1:23:59cushions and um you know the um

1:24:07back on speed cushions and and sort of

1:24:09um the advantageous um aspects of it

1:24:13versus uh speed hubs um which would

1:24:17potentially allow for easier navigation

1:24:20by public safety vehicles. Thank you,

1:24:22Mr. Chairman.

1:24:25Okay.

1:24:27Okay, one item in tonight. We will

1:24:32send that out to public safety along

1:24:34with the managers request for reports.

1:24:37All those in favor opposed

1:24:40council me.

1:24:42>> Yeah, I'm going there next. Yep. 8.12A

1:24:46transformation information communication

1:24:47to the language translation services

1:24:49used by the West five department.

1:24:50Council me.

1:24:52>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is uh

1:24:54through you to the manager. Uh I I'm I'm

1:24:58thrilled with the news that we have this

1:25:00device to translate the languages uh

1:25:03with the app that you have in the iPad

1:25:06uh and 290 languages could be

1:25:08translated. I'm I'm really excited about

1:25:11knowing this fact that we have this. Is

1:25:13this also used by other departments or

1:25:16is needed or just for my personal

1:25:18knowledge that like WP know our DPW

1:25:24police department or uh DTM do they need

1:25:27such translation device? Do they have

1:25:29that or it's just for the fire

1:25:31department?

1:25:32>> Uh Mr. Man

1:25:34uh through the chair to the council.

1:25:36This is uh this one specifically was uh

1:25:39in addition in addition to the already

1:25:41work that's happening in the city. The

1:25:42language line is available to all

1:25:44municipal employees. Um this one was a

1:25:47specific uh initiative for the fire

1:25:50departments and their iPads and their

1:25:52ability to navigate that within their

1:25:53own systems. We have that uh with our

1:25:56police officers. We have that with our

1:25:59uh other departments that utilize

1:26:00language line. DEI is the department

1:26:03that oversees the contract of that of

1:26:05that software. Uh but it's available to

1:26:07every single uh department.

1:26:09>> Excellent. I'm I'm so glad to see that.

1:26:11Thank you.

1:26:12>> Thank you. So send that to public

1:26:15safety. All those in favor of post so

1:26:17ordered. We are on 8.13A.

1:26:22Council to me has recused herself.

1:26:24Transformation communication of the

1:26:26traffic enforcement measures.

1:26:29Send that council. Send that to your

1:26:31committee.

1:26:32>> Just have a couple questions. Sure.

1:26:34Thank you.

1:26:46>> To the chair, to the chief. Uh, first

1:26:48great report. Um,

1:26:50um, I also read like in in 2025 the, um,

1:26:54municipal formally adopted the vision

1:26:56zero safety action plan. Um we are aware

1:26:59that uh you know your your department

1:27:03traffic is uh division is is short staff

1:27:06and stuff like that and the traffic the

1:27:08vision zero traffic plan from 2025 it go

1:27:112035 is you know they're hoping you know

1:27:14to long-term goal of eliminating um

1:27:17traffic fatalities and serious injuries

1:27:19by 2035 is your

1:27:26right now the predict predicament that

1:27:28the police department is in with being

1:27:29short staff. Is this going to delay the

1:27:32vision zero action plan?

1:27:34>> Uh chief

1:27:36>> through the trailer council that's

1:27:38negative. That's a collaboration between

1:27:40us um mobility transportation and a

1:27:44couple other divisions. We work

1:27:46together. We were just at a meeting last

1:27:48week discussing different uh strategies.

1:27:51>> That's awesome because I know this is a

1:27:53big issue in our uh neighborhood

1:27:55meetings. Um, and so one of the things

1:27:58that I that I wanna want to say is that

1:28:00uh um you guys have uh

1:28:05just reading here

1:28:08traffic uh division has 1466

1:28:12traffic complaint assignments and

1:28:14response identified locations and

1:28:15concerns and uh has issued 4,58 motor

1:28:20vehicle citations this year to date. Um,

1:28:24considering a short staff as you guys

1:28:26been, you guys been pretty busy. Um,

1:28:29could you

1:28:31give us an idea um, what would we be

1:28:34expecting sometime at the end of this

1:28:37year and the traffic division being hit,

1:28:40you know, what the numbers look like for

1:28:42us for the city.

1:28:43>> Chief,

1:28:44>> through the chair of council, we are

1:28:45losing, I believe,

1:28:48five officers from that division. We are

1:28:51also losing um multiple people from

1:28:54operations. So we have to move people

1:28:57around as needed to make sure we have

1:28:59appropriate coverage.

1:29:02>> Are are are you guys working on that

1:29:05right now to prepare for for this

1:29:07shortcoming that you you be coming at

1:29:09the end of the year

1:29:11>> through chair of council? That's

1:29:12correct. The manager and I have been

1:29:14speaking extensively on what we can do

1:29:16and I have other things in the works.

1:29:20>> If anything uh

1:29:22>> we should take that I'm up then

1:29:23transformation information the list of

1:29:24police department retirement

1:29:25anticipation.

1:29:27>> Okay.

1:29:28>> SA

1:29:28>> no just added the report to your

1:29:30conversation.

1:29:31>> Gotcha.

1:29:32>> Um so last thing to the chair to the

1:29:33commissioner. Um is there anything uh

1:29:36you need from the city council? Please

1:29:37let us know.

1:29:39>> Thank you.

1:29:39>> Thank you. about 100 more officers would

1:29:42be good.

1:29:46>> Okay. Council Okono.

1:29:49So, we have A and C we're discussing

1:29:51right now.

1:29:52>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh through the

1:29:55chair to the chief. Um first, I just

1:29:58want to say thank you to all all you

1:30:01guys do, you know, the men and women of

1:30:02the police department. Um, I know

1:30:07I know the demands for traffic

1:30:09enforcement are endless. Um, as we all

1:30:12hear at our neighborhood meetings that

1:30:14we attend and I appreciate the effort

1:30:16that's put in um to accommodate as best

1:30:20as possible all these locations that are

1:30:23asked for. Um, so thank you on that. Um,

1:30:27I just have a question in regards to

1:30:31manpower. Um,

1:30:34I don't know. I just I've I have this

1:30:36angst in me about it. Um, as I'm sure as

1:30:39I'm sure you do that there's going to

1:30:42come a day, very soon where we're going

1:30:46to be looking around trying to fill

1:30:48whatever we can fill with whomever we

1:30:50can fill it with. Um, two questions. Has

1:30:54the age 32 to 39 has that have you seen

1:30:59any fruit from that yet? uh and do you

1:31:02expect to see uh more opportunity there

1:31:05to to start backfilling some of these

1:31:07positions? And then how does it work? Um

1:31:12like the town of Rutland where they laid

1:31:14off quite a few officers. Um is there

1:31:19any way for us to capture them in our

1:31:23net here in Worcester? Um those are my

1:31:27questions. Uh Mr. Chair,

1:31:28>> thank you.

1:31:29>> To the chair of the council.

1:31:31>> Yes. And yes. So, as far as a person

1:31:35coming on in that area around 39 years

1:31:38of age, we were able to um have an

1:31:42officer transfer or that that officer is

1:31:45on the list right now. So, not only do

1:31:48we get to pick from civil service now,

1:31:51it's almost like a transfer portal

1:31:54that's out there. We've lost officers

1:31:56the same way.

1:31:58But we are working diligently to get

1:32:02certified officers that are already

1:32:04academy trained so that we can put them

1:32:06to work. They still have to go through

1:32:08the same background um and everything

1:32:11else that that somebody that's just

1:32:14going to go into the academy has to go

1:32:16through. But yes, it will it will work.

1:32:20We I think we've got at least seven um

1:32:23since that started to come over to us.

1:32:26>> Great. That's that's that's encouraging.

1:32:29And um is it incumbent upon if if an

1:32:33officer gets laid off in a department,

1:32:35is it incumbent upon that officer to to

1:32:38explore other options or is it something

1:32:41that we can be proactive in chasing that

1:32:45officer through the chair?

1:32:47>> Through the chair of the council, we are

1:32:49proactive and we go out to job fairs. We

1:32:52put um a bunch of material on our

1:32:55website on Facebook telling officers

1:32:58that this opportunity is here and we do

1:33:02have you can just go online and apply.

1:33:05>> Okay. Very good. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1:33:07Thank you.

1:33:08>> Thank you, Council King.

1:33:14>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um

1:33:18just on um 8.13A

1:33:23First and foremost, um, kudos for the

1:33:27blue cruise cruise lights. Um, I've

1:33:30spoken on this in the Boston media back

1:33:32last, uh, fall of 2025.

1:33:35Um, supporting this measure. Um, and I

1:33:39think it's been impactful. Um, I think

1:33:42that, um, it has enhanced visibility. Um

1:33:46it has given many folks um

1:33:51the awareness that there's a presence um

1:33:56in the city. Um

1:33:59while we can't measure some of the

1:34:01intangibles

1:34:02um you know it it appears that um folks

1:34:08pause um and take notice for sure. So

1:34:12that's appreciated. I hope that

1:34:13continues for infinity and beyond.

1:34:16>> It is.

1:34:17>> Um that being said, Mr. Chairman, um I I

1:34:22do have some questions. Um there's some

1:34:26discussion here about staffing. I don't

1:34:28have the other item in front of me right

1:34:30now. I wasn't prepared to look at it um

1:34:33yet. But with on this particular item,

1:34:36it talks about um continued coordination

1:34:39between WPTD,

1:34:42DPM, DTM and other departments

1:34:46um enforce that allow enforcement

1:34:49engineering to complement one another

1:34:50and address identified problem locations

1:34:53uh through the CH administration. Um how

1:34:57are those problem locations identified

1:34:59and where is that information kept? has

1:35:01that already come before council and I'm

1:35:03not recalling um through the chair to to

1:35:05the administration

1:35:08>> chief

1:35:09>> through chair or counsel I can say just

1:35:11last week I was at a meeting and

1:35:14whenever there's a recon event where

1:35:18reconstructionists from traffic division

1:35:20have to come out investigate an incident

1:35:22that incident is automatically forwarded

1:35:25to DTM they can then come out with their

1:35:27engineers okay see if there was a defect

1:35:30>> within in the roadway system or

1:35:32something else we could do so future

1:35:35accidents wouldn't occur in that

1:35:36location.

1:35:37>> Thank you. Um, I'm going to bring up a a

1:35:40location I just got a call on today um

1:35:44in councelor I think it's councelor

1:35:45Bato's area Batada's district um where

1:35:49we've had multiple conversations

1:35:51recently and not so recently um and

1:35:54that's the bottom of uh what is it

1:35:56Hamilton and Lake Gap um some folks

1:36:00called me after playing tennis um just

1:36:02before the storm um and they called me

1:36:04again yesterday just reiterating um the

1:36:07concerns concerns there um as it relates

1:36:09to traffic as relates to accidents um

1:36:12etc. So my question to the chair to

1:36:15whomever um is in that particular

1:36:18location for example um that

1:36:21intersection of the interdep

1:36:23departmental collaboration

1:36:25um and the um problem identification um

1:36:30who comes up with the timelines as it

1:36:33relates to rectifying those sorts of hot

1:36:35spots in safety matters to the chair um

1:36:42>> commissioner

1:36:53Thank you through the chair. Um, so

1:36:56typically in a location like that, um,

1:37:00that's a location where we know there's

1:37:02long-term structural needs with the

1:37:04intersection, right? That intersection

1:37:06needs updated traffic control, um,

1:37:08either traffic signal or a roundabout or

1:37:10something like that. and we've started

1:37:12that design process. We have funding for

1:37:14that. Um, but that's a longer term

1:37:16project because those are big projects,

1:37:19significant amounts of money, require

1:37:21design, public outreach, all of that

1:37:23kind of stuff. So, it's important that

1:37:26we also identify what we can do right

1:37:29away. So, an example of that at this

1:37:31intersection are the blinking pedestrian

1:37:34lights that were recently installed.

1:37:36That's something we worked with

1:37:37councelor Bada on. Um the pedestrian

1:37:40crossings there are exceptionally long

1:37:42trying to get all the way across the

1:37:44street. You have vehicles who are

1:37:46turning from Hamilton Street um who

1:37:49aren't maybe paying as much attention as

1:37:51they should be to the crosswalks. So

1:37:53anything we can do to draw attention

1:37:55that was a relatively lowcost

1:37:57intervention that we were able to

1:37:58implement in a matter of weeks. So you

1:38:00really need to try to do both things.

1:38:03Identify the longer term bigger projects

1:38:05and then also focus on what you can do

1:38:07in the near term. Thank you to the chair

1:38:09to uh the administration. One of the

1:38:11things that I've spoken about quite

1:38:13regularly with respect to Lake AB,

1:38:15Belmont Street, um etc. um is those four

1:38:21lanes, Park A, um in certain locations

1:38:24perhaps um that are significant concerns

1:38:28for safety. We've had some pedestrian

1:38:29deaths, etc. And I've talked about the

1:38:30hybrid beacon systems such as the one on

1:38:33Route 20 um uh over by um Burlington. Um

1:38:39and this seems as though this would be

1:38:41an area um for a pilot. We talked about

1:38:43it down the the the hill over um in

1:38:46front of uh Belmont, I'm sorry, Memorial

1:38:49Hospital. Um just wondering through the

1:38:51chair um is there any consideration

1:38:53being given to such a crossing device um

1:38:58on Lake A through the chair

1:39:00>> commissioner

1:39:02through the chair. Currently there isn't

1:39:04on Lake A. We are um initiating a

1:39:08planning and design process for one on

1:39:09Belmont Street and we'll actually be

1:39:11submitting a council item on that

1:39:12shortly. Um but currently there isn't on

1:39:15Lake A. We are looking at um like I said

1:39:18full intersection control at that at

1:39:20that intersection where um it's a

1:39:22combination of vehicular movements and

1:39:24pedestrian movements that we're

1:39:26experiencing safety issues with.

1:39:28>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like um

1:39:30just a feasibility report um on the uh

1:39:34Beacon hybrid system um over on the Lake

1:39:37A area perhaps a little bit further down

1:39:39towards Medukas's um as well as um the

1:39:43prior request um close to DY facility

1:39:46which require I think Mass DOT um

1:39:48intersection perhaps um in one of those

1:39:51locations. Mr. Jim and um these are

1:39:53measures that could actually save lives.

1:39:55Um as it relates to um this particular

1:39:59report um one of the things that we

1:40:03talked about some time in past orders um

1:40:06under the Eric Batista's administration

1:40:09was related to ghost vehicles. Um and

1:40:12just for the public's um edification as

1:40:15my colleague would say um those um ghost

1:40:19vehicles um the research shows work for

1:40:23a period of time. What they are is um in

1:40:26lie of staffing issues and staffing

1:40:28challenges. Um they take uh police

1:40:31vehicles that are unoccupied and they

1:40:33locate them would rotate them through a

1:40:35municipality

1:40:36um based on problem areas. And so that's

1:40:39come before the council before we've had

1:40:40this discussion before. Um we know after

1:40:43a period of time it wears off you move

1:40:45the vehicles. Um just through the chair

1:40:48to the administration uh to uh city

1:40:50manager is there any uh cost that would

1:40:55be incurred as a result of using such a

1:40:58tactic um as a tool in sort of managing

1:41:03um traffic and traffic um violators

1:41:06through chair.

1:41:08chief

1:41:10>> through the chair of the council. One

1:41:12issue we have is vehicles. Um

1:41:15>> yeah,

1:41:16>> they would have to be a pretty much a

1:41:18vehicle that was going to be going out

1:41:20of service that we would have to get to

1:41:22that location. And I must tell you that

1:41:25immediately after that vehicle's there

1:41:27for a certain amount of time, the people

1:41:29know it's a ghost vehicle and they'll

1:41:31discount it. So I'm not sure what stats

1:41:34you have on that.

1:41:35>> Sure. But there's nothing that's come to

1:41:37me that said it's an effective measure

1:41:39right now.

1:41:40>> Thank you very much. Um to the chair to

1:41:41to the uh uh administration order um

1:41:45getting any research evidence-based

1:41:47research as it relates to ghost vehicles

1:41:50um used in uh this this sort of uh

1:41:53strategy. um pros and cons. Um you know

1:41:57and and I agree with the chief that

1:41:58there is um sort of a numbing um but we

1:42:02also know um you know I think when they

1:42:04used to have um during the pro prom time

1:42:08right they used to have different things

1:42:09up and folks see a police vehicle to hit

1:42:12the brakes um just like kind of look at

1:42:15that as a tactic Mr. Chairman as a way

1:42:16of an order um as well. So um this

1:42:20report is appreciated. Last question

1:42:22just for clarification. I know a couple

1:42:24years ago we were looking at um the

1:42:27scarcity of of or the the small number

1:42:30of um folks in the traffic division and

1:42:34I'd heard that there's an exodus of

1:42:35five. Um are those folks um on the um uh

1:42:40upper range of seniority? Um and then

1:42:43secondly uh what's the total number in

1:42:46the traffic division at this time and

1:42:48what shifts are they on to the chair?

1:42:50All right, chief

1:42:52>> through the chair of council. They are

1:42:54the senior people that are going to be

1:42:55retiring and that's five is not

1:42:58including I believe two or three that

1:43:01went prior to that. One of them coming

1:43:03out is um part of the truck team.

1:43:06>> Um another one's part of recon. So those

1:43:10are I have a meeting Thursday where

1:43:12we're going to distribute the personnel

1:43:14from our c our class in July and we have

1:43:17to spread them out throughout operations

1:43:20and I'm going to add to traffic what I

1:43:23can but we are down a lot in there. I'd

1:43:26love to get it you know six each shift

1:43:30but that's going to be tough to do

1:43:32>> and currently there's five is that is

1:43:34that right or is there more? I'm sorry I

1:43:35didn't know if I heard correct

1:43:36>> five leaving. No, total. What's the

1:43:38total traffic division there?

1:43:40>> There's a day shift and there's a a

1:43:42first half shift and I believe it is um

1:43:45there's I believe there's only three or

1:43:48four at night,

1:43:49>> so five during the day. That includes

1:43:52recon officers and sergeants.

1:43:56>> Okay. Um and do they respond to

1:43:58accidents

1:44:00>> through chair counselor? We set

1:44:02something up probably a year ago where

1:44:04I'm having traffic respond to

1:44:07all personal injury accidents is they

1:44:10are the experts. Um but the way we're

1:44:13going right now with the depletion of

1:44:15the force, that's probably not going to

1:44:17occur any longer either.

1:44:18>> So that's the goal. Um personal injury

1:44:22um accidents. That's that's a good goal.

1:44:25Thank you. Um very much appreciated and

1:44:27I look forward to the report. Um I

1:44:30really do think that uh ghost vehicles

1:44:32can be a tool that we can use. Thank

1:44:33you, Mr. Chairman.

1:44:34>> Mr. Chairman,

1:44:35>> thank you. We have next up we have uh

1:44:39councelor Bergman for Mitra from Fizo.

1:44:43>> Thank you Mr. Chair Faw.

1:44:45>> Okay.

1:44:46>> Sorry.

1:44:46>> No, I was just renaming the order. Go

1:44:48ahead.

1:44:48>> That's right. Thank you. Um since we're

1:44:51including 8.13C, I think a majority of

1:44:55my questions will uh relate to that item

1:44:58through the chair and the chief. Thank

1:45:00you also for the report. Uh I find it

1:45:03helpful to have it. I think many of the

1:45:05items on the report, things we've

1:45:07discussed in the past. Uh we've talked

1:45:10about population in the city of

1:45:13Worcester and the number of officers in

1:45:15relation to that and there is somewhat

1:45:17of a goal standard um in Worcester is

1:45:21lower than we've talked about this in

1:45:23the past similar situated cities like

1:45:25Providence, Springfield, Boston um and

1:45:29others. So I I think there's a good case

1:45:32to be made that in addition to trying to

1:45:35maintain what we've had as a number of

1:45:37officers. Uh we need to actually expand

1:45:39it with a population that continues to

1:45:42grow and we've never taken into

1:45:44consideration as far as I know when we

1:45:46talk about our population for 9 months a

1:45:49year we have another approximately

1:45:5040,000 residents city of wor by way of

1:45:53college kids. Uh so we do have a much

1:45:56larger population I would say than the

1:45:59210. I think the 210 now has grown since

1:46:02the census uh finished in 2020 to close

1:46:05to 220. So I mean we're up there and we

1:46:08we don't have enough police officers,

1:46:10never mind maintaining the number we've

1:46:12had. We've had this discussion in the

1:46:14past. It predates the current city

1:46:17manager's administration. Uh I know all

1:46:19of us for the most part have talked

1:46:21about it in the past and you know I

1:46:24think these this report and these

1:46:26numbers call out to us that the time has

1:46:30come that that can should not be kicked

1:46:32down their own anymore and not that

1:46:34anybody intentionally did that but but

1:46:36the time is serious now as far as the

1:46:39numbers uh that this has to be

1:46:40addressed. through the chair to the

1:46:42police chief. Um chief, is there any

1:46:44short-term

1:46:46um goals or um avenues that you think

1:46:49could be taken to increase the n what

1:46:52what would your expectation or goals be

1:46:54in the short term? Let me put it that

1:46:55way. To try to enhance um the numbers of

1:46:59officers we have, including the number

1:47:00of classes maybe we have and the ways we

1:47:03could attract officers um to apply for

1:47:06the job. All right, chief through the

1:47:09chair to counselor. I know our

1:47:10recruiting team, they do an unbelievable

1:47:12job. They're at job fairs, they go to

1:47:15high schools, they go to colleges,

1:47:17they're out in the community trying to

1:47:20recruit. What we need to do is have two

1:47:22classes a year. If we can get 43 in each

1:47:26class, have two of those a year, and

1:47:29then eventually over time, the manager

1:47:32and I was talking about this is try to

1:47:35up that compliment. We currently have

1:47:37478.

1:47:39If you look at Springfield, they have a

1:47:41population of 150,000. They have 500.

1:47:44Hartford, Connecticut, population

1:47:47120,000, they have 413 officers. So, we

1:47:51are below that what is needed to

1:47:53effectively police the city when we have

1:47:56all these special projects going on. Um,

1:47:59my goal or dream for this department,

1:48:03and will probably happen long after I'm

1:48:04gone, is to get that up to at least 538

1:48:09officers. If we could go to, and that's

1:48:12about 60 additional. If we could go to

1:48:14that, we could go to a different shift

1:48:17system where we could do four days on,

1:48:20four days off, 10 hour shifts. That

1:48:23would be an automatic power shift

1:48:25overlap in between that would enable us

1:48:28to cover you'd have 20 officers per

1:48:32route, I'm sorry, per shift on the

1:48:35street after

1:48:38vacation time, sick time. The way it

1:48:41works now is we we roughly have 34

1:48:45officers on one shift. Well, 10% we

1:48:48allowed for vacation. So now you're down

1:48:513.4. before you could have two people

1:48:54calling sick. Now you're down five or

1:48:56six officers. Now you have several

1:48:59hospital dives on a weekend. We could be

1:49:02out there with 12 officers and it's a

1:49:04problem. So we need to work to expand

1:49:08that. And my goal would be to have 55

1:49:11officers per shift. That's three shifts

1:49:15during that operation period. And also

1:49:18we would be able to add to traffic

1:49:20division.

1:49:22So, thank you. Um, I guess a comment

1:49:26more than any other questions is I

1:49:28understand this isn't going to happen

1:49:29overnight. I think we all do. There are

1:49:31costs involved as well, but I've said

1:49:34this in the past. I know my colleagues

1:49:36have as well. We have a billion dollar

1:49:38budget now. It's not like

1:49:41um people don't expect us to have uh

1:49:46increases when it comes to public

1:49:47safety. There's no more important public

1:49:50safety component of that budget in my

1:49:53mind um than having enough police

1:49:55officers to maintain safety in this

1:49:58city. Police officers we have now do an

1:50:00amazing job, but the city continues to

1:50:02grow. It's a popular place despite uh

1:50:05some people we hear say how bad the

1:50:06issues are in Worcester. People continue

1:50:08to want to come here. So there's much

1:50:10more pluses and minuses in living in the

1:50:12city of Worcester and we all know that.

1:50:14Otherwise, we wouldn't want to be city

1:50:16council because we know and appreciate

1:50:18how great our city is. Doesn't mean we

1:50:20can't always strive to make it better.

1:50:21But a key component of all that is

1:50:23public safety. We the objectively by any

1:50:27account we do not have enough officers

1:50:29today even with a full complement of

1:50:32what we've been having and we're losing

1:50:33them to retirement and otherwise. Uh we

1:50:36need to come up with a plan. I'm sure

1:50:38I'll be filing motions going forward.

1:50:39Hopefully my colleagues will as well.

1:50:41Working with the city manager to try to

1:50:44come up with practical fiscally

1:50:46responsible ways to increase the number

1:50:48of officers we have so that we can get

1:50:50to the goal that the chief has indicated

1:50:52is an appropriate goal for us to have. I

1:50:55don't expect it to take a year, but we

1:50:57certainly could have two classes on the

1:50:58up in the upcoming year with more

1:51:01officers in each class um that are that

1:51:03make it on to the police department. And

1:51:05if we have the motivation and the uh

1:51:08desire to get this done, I'm confident

1:51:10in the next few years we can get to

1:51:12where we need to go. But we need to

1:51:13start somewhere and hopefully with the

1:51:15next budget, and I'll certainly be

1:51:17allowed cheerleader for that, that that

1:51:19budget includes a recognition of what's

1:51:21been said in this report. Thank you, Mr.

1:51:23Chairman. Thank you, Chief.

1:51:27>> Thank you. We have council Bata Council

1:51:29Fizz.

1:51:31>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I

1:51:32appreciate the report, chief, and

1:51:33appreciate um all the effort that WPD

1:51:36does with traffic enforcement,

1:51:37especially in district 2. We know we

1:51:39have really uh some major roadways with,

1:51:42you know, Belmont Street, Shbury Street,

1:51:43Lake A. And it's always great to see the

1:51:45amount of uh tickets and enforcement

1:51:48that goes on on Shbury Street and Lake A

1:51:50because we know it's needed. So, I

1:51:51appreciate that. I know the neighbors

1:51:53appreciate it, too, in our in our uh

1:51:55neighborhood meetings. Um, one question

1:51:58I had was about the the new the new uh

1:52:01recruits that are coming on, the new uh

1:52:04police officers and and is it they're

1:52:06all going through training on how to run

1:52:07radar and things like that. Is that

1:52:08correct?

1:52:10>> All right, chief.

1:52:11>> Through the chair of council, that's

1:52:12correct.

1:52:12>> Okay. So, just I know we had talked

1:52:14about it before in some of our meetings.

1:52:15It's good to know that that's happening.

1:52:17>> The issue with that though is we do not

1:52:19have radar in every vehicle.

1:52:20>> Okay.

1:52:21>> It's in the it's in the traffic vehicle.

1:52:23>> Okay. Good. Really appreciate that.

1:52:24again appreciate especially I know Lake

1:52:26AB has been brought up a lot and I think

1:52:28you know we we talked about at the last

1:52:31Lake View neighborhood meeting that you

1:52:32know unfortunately the police we can't

1:52:34you can't be everywhere all the time. So

1:52:35I think that's where uh you know really

1:52:37investing in road infrastructure that

1:52:39can really help pick up the slack to to

1:52:41slow people down where you guys you know

1:52:42can't be there when the men and women

1:52:44police officer PD can't be there because

1:52:46again like you said can't be everywhere

1:52:48at once but I really appreciate the uh

1:52:51effort being made to keep these streets

1:52:53safer and to slow people down because it

1:52:55is a major issue. So thank you.

1:52:58>> That's it. Thank you. Next we have

1:53:00councelor Folo.

1:53:04>> Thank you Mr. chairman through you. Uh I

1:53:08appreciate the report, Chief. Uh I also

1:53:10appreciate every time I've ever

1:53:13contacted you, you've responded

1:53:16to uh my requests, and I appreciate

1:53:18that. Um

1:53:21one one minor or small intersection, but

1:53:27has major uh

1:53:31uh accidents.

1:53:33uh over the last few years is the

1:53:37intersection of Hamilton Street and

1:53:39Fairmont A.

1:53:42Uh we were able to as a group in the

1:53:45Graph Hill Neighborhood Association to

1:53:48uh file a petition to get uh 10 ft or so

1:53:53of no parking, a sign that says no

1:53:56parking about 10 feet in front of

1:54:00Fairmont A. And I have to tell you,

1:54:04chief,

1:54:05every time I drive by, not every time,

1:54:08but most times I drive by, there's a car

1:54:11there and I never see a, you know, a

1:54:15ticket on on the windshield. And what's

1:54:18most frustrating, and I've talked to

1:54:20several constituents and and uh people

1:54:23that live in around there, and it'll be

1:54:27it's almost amazing that a car will be

1:54:30parked in

1:54:32in that section of of uh sidewalk where

1:54:36the no parking sign is and the end of

1:54:39the uh you know curb they're parked

1:54:42there and where you can park no one's

1:54:44parked behind it. I say I can't believe

1:54:48that people don't read that sign. No

1:54:51parking from this point on and they're

1:54:54parked there. So again, we've had major

1:54:57accidents at that intersection just uh a

1:55:00couple weeks back. Uh I know uh

1:55:03councelor Belad and I have talked about

1:55:05it because he has one the other side of

1:55:08Hamilton Street. I have that side. So

1:55:10again, if I ask if if we could um you

1:55:15know, uh drill home to the root call

1:55:18offices in that area, uh just, you know,

1:55:22pound them with tickets in that in that

1:55:25uh short space of area because uh

1:55:29especially at night, uh there's always

1:55:32cars, uh from that pole to the the curb.

1:55:36So I just uh again uh it's the only

1:55:39issue I have um as far as um traffic is

1:55:44concerned, traffic division is

1:55:45concerned. Uh you've you've done

1:55:47everything I've asked previously and I

1:55:50appreciate it and I want to thank you

1:55:52for that. And the only only other issue

1:55:55I'd like to bring up is a question to uh

1:55:58Commissioner Raleigh. There is a uh new

1:56:02uh crosswalk uh councelor King mentioned

1:56:05it on Route 20 near uh uh you know the

1:56:09Price Shopper in Burlington Co-actory.

1:56:12Uh that side of Route 20 there where

1:56:14Wendy's is and we had a fatality or

1:56:17maybe two in the last few years there.

1:56:20Uh is that up and running? I drive by

1:56:22there quite a bit and I've never seen

1:56:25the uh lights that are uh the newly uh

1:56:29you know um state-of-the-art light

1:56:32system that we have there. I just want

1:56:34to make sure that that is up and running

1:56:35and the general public knows u that

1:56:38that's the case.

1:56:39>> Commissioner through the chair. So it is

1:56:42operational and that's I think one of

1:56:44the challenges we're going to face with

1:56:45this type of signal. It's a new type of

1:56:47signal for central Massachusetts.

1:56:49they're actually dark until a pedestrian

1:56:52activates them. So, as um as drivers

1:56:57experience these for the first time,

1:56:58they might tend to think that it's not

1:57:00operational yet or that the power is out

1:57:02or something like that. So, we we're

1:57:04going to need to really focus on an

1:57:06educational campaign as these start to

1:57:08get deployed in more places. I know that

1:57:10particular signal is a mass DOT signal

1:57:12and they did have an educational

1:57:14campaign, but something that we're going

1:57:15to want to supplement particularly as we

1:57:17start to see these on most likely on

1:57:19Belmont Street will be the next one. Um,

1:57:22but I I think we'll start to see more of

1:57:23them around the city. So, good

1:57:25observation. Um, but they just they

1:57:27operate differently than a a typical

1:57:30traffic signal.

1:57:31>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that, Mr.

1:57:33Chairman. I'm all set and I appreciate

1:57:35all the work you guys do. Thank you.

1:57:38Next up is council Mitra.

1:57:41Thank you Mr. Chair. Through you to the

1:57:45chief.

1:57:46Thank you first of all for the reports

1:57:48that you have given. Um really gives us

1:57:51a good idea about uh traffic enforcement

1:57:54measures and also the number of officers

1:57:58those who are going to be retiring. Uh

1:58:01first of all my question on the traffic

1:58:03enforcement measures. you know we we

1:58:06have implemented 25 miles per hour since

1:58:09January 2025

1:58:12through that period through now do you

1:58:15have any idea of like are people really

1:58:19following that speed limit when they're

1:58:21driving is there any idea or knowledge

1:58:24we have that how what percentage of

1:58:26people are really driving is 100% or

1:58:30what I would like to I had said this

1:58:32before I'd like to see that if it is

1:58:35possible through um the chair to you

1:58:38that can we do a survey like maybe go to

1:58:41random streets where we have the signs

1:58:44posted for 25 miles per hour and kind of

1:58:47monitor that out of 100 cars how many

1:58:50cars are really using that speed or not

1:58:54using not following the rule. Is there

1:58:56something we can get an idea of the

1:58:58implementation of 25 miles per hour are

1:59:00being used

1:59:04chief

1:59:06>> through the chair of the council? I

1:59:07don't have any um

1:59:10unless DTM has some type of measuring

1:59:13tool. I mean, we'd have to be out there

1:59:14with radar doing each street like that,

1:59:17which would be very very labor

1:59:19intensive. As far as from observational

1:59:23standpoint, I don't believe people are

1:59:26really uh

1:59:28going 25.

1:59:30>> That's your feeling that

1:59:32>> that's Yeah.

1:59:34>> Okay. So, that's disappointing that

1:59:36people are not really following that.

1:59:38>> And again, you know, when we are doing

1:59:40traffic enforcement, you're not going to

1:59:43write somebody a ticket for 26.

1:59:45>> No, I understand that. So it there has

1:59:47to be a little leeway and that's part of

1:59:50that initiative, right? If you say it's

1:59:5325, maybe they're going to go 30.

1:59:56>> Well, you still won.

1:59:57>> Anyway, we can and we are doing

1:59:59everything to control that. But I just

2:00:02wanted to let you know. So if I can go

2:00:04back and tell them that hey, we have an

2:00:06idea that most people are really

2:00:08following or not following. For that

2:00:10purpose, I wanted to know where we

2:00:12stand. Good to know that you feel that I

2:00:15mean I understand 25 to 30 35 maybe but

2:00:18they're going really at high speed then

2:00:20we need to take some measures for them.

2:00:23The question other question I have to

2:00:25chair to you chief is that you mentioned

2:00:28here that we have last year or in 2026

2:00:31we have given 4,58

2:00:34citation.

2:00:36What does that mean? I mean is that

2:00:37something good? Something that relative

2:00:39to other places is too high or uh too

2:00:44many people are really driving too fast.

2:00:46What does that number mean? If you can

2:00:48explain me,

2:00:49>> chief,

2:00:50>> through the chair of the council, I

2:00:52believe 4,58 citations is a good gauge

2:00:56that our officers are out there and

2:00:57actually working. So those are

2:00:59violators, right? they they may stop

2:01:028,000 people where there could be

2:01:04educational incentives as far as you

2:01:07know the law had just changed. So when

2:01:09we did the 25 over the first part we did

2:01:13was education. So this is actual written

2:01:18citations or warnings that have come

2:01:21out. I believe these are all um written

2:01:27from what we have for people. I think

2:01:29they're doing a great job. That's a lot

2:01:31of citations.

2:01:32>> Okay. So, that's all I wanted to through

2:01:34the chair to you. I just wanted to have

2:01:36an idea that 4,500 means is a lot of

2:01:39citation given and that includes warning

2:01:42as well as fines

2:01:44>> through the chair of council does not

2:01:45include verbal warnings.

2:01:48>> But the written is on the citation. Do

2:01:50we write written warning on the citation

2:01:53sometimes?

2:01:53>> Okay.

2:01:54>> All right. So, thank you. So I just

2:01:55wanted to make sure that you know we're

2:01:57we are doing everything that's possible.

2:01:59I like the um police cars having the

2:02:02crews with the lights on that's really

2:02:04have been very impactful. It's a great

2:02:05initiative you have taken and I

2:02:07congratulate you for bringing that lead.

2:02:09Um going back to the to the chair to you

2:02:12on the uh other item on the retirement

2:02:15based on your report looks like by 2027

2:02:18we'll have about 140 uh law enforcement

2:02:21officers retiring based on the numbers

2:02:23you have given and then based on the

2:02:25number of recruits new recruits that we

2:02:28are having every year we're probably

2:02:31still going to be lower than what we

2:02:33have now based on how many how many each

2:02:36class has about new classes is

2:02:39>> through the chair counselor. Those

2:02:41numbers reflect those that are eligible

2:02:44to retire. That's not that that many

2:02:47will retire.

2:02:48>> Oh,

2:02:48>> they're eligible at 32 years of service,

2:02:5255 years of age. They max out on their

2:02:55pension. So, they're basically working

2:02:58for 20 cents on the dollar. So, that's

2:03:01how they kind of compute it in their

2:03:03heads whether or not it's worth

2:03:05>> staying or leaving. Um

2:03:09the second part of your question,

2:03:11>> the question was that in each class that

2:03:13you do every year, I know at one point

2:03:16uh there was a kind of thought that we

2:03:19may run two classes to have more

2:03:22recruits at a time. How many candidates

2:03:25you can really take in each class?

2:03:28>> Through the chair of counselor, our

2:03:30class, I believe it's 43 seats

2:03:33>> I see

2:03:34>> that we could fill. And when you look at

2:03:37those numbers, I was part of one of

2:03:39these classes and that class was the

2:03:42second class of two in that year. So

2:03:46when I came on, we put a 100 officers on

2:03:48in one year.

2:03:50>> Oh, okay. Uh so to the chair to you, are

2:03:54you thinking to run two classes? Is that

2:03:57something you you're planning to do

2:04:01>> through the chair of council? If we can

2:04:03do that, we'd love to do that. It's just

2:04:06we have to get the number of recruits

2:04:08and then the budgetary cycle has to be

2:04:11that we can afford to do that.

2:04:13>> So the chair to you, I personally feel

2:04:16that you know safety is most important.

2:04:19It's a paramount uh importance to all of

2:04:21us to give everyone safety. law

2:04:23enforcement department has a huge role

2:04:26to bring that safety to our residents to

2:04:29our city and um considering that I was

2:04:33just thinking is it possible we know

2:04:36that we don't have that many officers as

2:04:38councelor Bergman said that we should

2:04:40increase it you said that you would like

2:04:42to see that it goes up to 538 which

2:04:45would be lovely if that can be done

2:04:48other cities have much better percentage

2:04:51of the uh number of law law enforcement

2:04:54officers as compared to their

2:04:56population. We don't have that many. Um

2:05:00I was just wondering is it at all

2:05:01feasible to see to give some incentives

2:05:05to those who have retired to see if they

2:05:08would come back and do some light police

2:05:10work like taking them to the hospital. I

2:05:12don't know if that's light work or not,

2:05:14but is it something that we can do to

2:05:17make up for the number of uh officers we

2:05:20don't have? Just just a thought to run

2:05:22it by you through the chair

2:05:24>> through chair counselor. It is a good

2:05:26thought but we cannot number one we do

2:05:29not have light duty and you also has to

2:05:32be have to be postcertified if you're

2:05:34going to do any type of police function.

2:05:37So you're carrying a weapon you have

2:05:39police powers once you retire and we

2:05:42have a mandatory retirement at 65. So,

2:05:46anybody that you can't come back because

2:05:49you're still working within that pension

2:05:51system.

2:05:51>> I see.

2:05:52>> So, that would be off the table.

2:05:54>> Okay. Just a thought that I had if it

2:05:56could be helped. But, um, nonetheless,

2:05:59uh, thank you for your report through

2:06:01the chair. I just like to say that it is

2:06:03our responsibility through you to see

2:06:05how we can make our city be the most

2:06:08safest place to live. And we have a lot

2:06:10of work to do. anything that you think

2:06:12we need to do through manager to us

2:06:15we'll be definitely looking into it as

2:06:17uh as I see that in the next budget

2:06:19we'll like to see that you get the

2:06:21things that we need to bring the safety

2:06:23to the utmost level

2:06:25>> thank you

2:06:26>> thank you Mr. Chair

2:06:27>> thank you uh we are on council oh

2:06:31>> thank you Mr. chairman. Um to the

2:06:34chairman to the I guess um Commissioner

2:06:38Raleigh, question for you. Um Chief, you

2:06:40might might have a question for you as

2:06:42well. Um

2:06:44to the chair, to the commissioner. You

2:06:47and I have been doing a lot of work in

2:06:49District 4, uh crosswalk, beacon,

2:06:51flashlights, uh beacon lights, I'm

2:06:53sorry, uh road redesign, stop signs,

2:06:56etc. Um but we continue to fall in

2:07:01um

2:07:03uh I don't want to use the word fail but

2:07:05we continue to come to a headway or a

2:07:08stop when it comes to the uh the state

2:07:10roads that are in district 4. Um and

2:07:14they're they are wider particularly

2:07:16talking about like Chandler I'm sorry

2:07:17Chandler Street and uh Park F you know

2:07:19through the chair through uh to to the

2:07:22commissioner.

2:07:24What is it that we can do? I know

2:07:26there's wide uh the streets are wide,

2:07:28the crosswalks are wide, but there's uh

2:07:30the intersection I want to say Parker

2:07:32and Park A. There's been many car

2:07:34accidents recently. Uh motor vehicles as

2:07:36well. I mean, I'm sorry. Yeah,

2:07:37motorcycles as well. Um and that being

2:07:40the state road, what what how can we

2:07:42address these issues that we continue to

2:07:44have when they're not our roads?

2:07:48>> Commissioner.

2:07:49>> Yeah. Through the chair. So the the

2:07:50challenge with those streets um in

2:07:52particular is that they're two of the

2:07:56um largest uh most busily used streets

2:08:00in the city. So they're major arterials.

2:08:01They carry over 20,000 vehicles a day.

2:08:05Um and a lot of the um the treatments

2:08:09that we can employ on a more minor

2:08:11roadway, even a you know, even a minor

2:08:13arterial or a collector that carries say

2:08:155 to 10,000 vehicles a day, you can't

2:08:18really deploy in the same near-term

2:08:20fashion on a major arterial. So, you're

2:08:22really looking at um from the and I'm

2:08:25speaking from the engineering

2:08:26perspective. There's certainly an

2:08:27enforcement piece to this uh as well,

2:08:30but from the engineering perspective,

2:08:33you're really looking at longer term,

2:08:34more transformative um changes to

2:08:37address the safety for the most part on

2:08:39on streets like that because the the

2:08:41problems are um

2:08:45fundamental to the street design and the

2:08:48menu of options we have to treat them

2:08:51are more limited. So I think that that's

2:08:54those are the major challenges with

2:08:55those two streets. Um from again from an

2:08:58engineering perspective.

2:09:00>> Thank you. And u you know again um

2:09:03Quincigan A and Endeott multiple

2:09:05accidents there. I drive by there. I'm

2:09:07seeing them. Um I don't want to say very

2:09:09often but just often enough. Park A

2:09:12Chandler and uh I'm just really

2:09:14concerned about those those areas. And

2:09:16it seems like, you know, um,

2:09:20in light of being able to do what we

2:09:22want to do, I think, uh, we really need

2:09:24to push for more enforcement there. So,

2:09:26through the chair to the chief, as you

2:09:28know, these are some problem areas. Um,

2:09:31you know, how how can we address these

2:09:32areas? I know you mentioned uh targeted

2:09:35education. Uh can you explain to me you

2:09:38know a little bit of when you say target

2:09:40education

2:09:42>> uh chief

2:09:44>> through the chair of the counselor when

2:09:46I say that we will go out and do a

2:09:49operation where we're going to enforce a

2:09:51speed limit or a stop sign at a certain

2:09:54location and instead of issuing a

2:09:57citation

2:09:58we will just educate the public as to

2:10:01what the violation is. So hopefully the

2:10:04next time they drive through there that

2:10:05they will will not do it. So everybody

2:10:07we pull over for that day they would be

2:10:10educated versus the citation.

2:10:12>> All right. Thank you. I I just wasn't

2:10:14sure. So you sp you speak to that

2:10:15individual. Okay. Um but one of the

2:10:18issues one of the concerns I have is

2:10:21because of those state roads. Um what is

2:10:23the actual speed limit on those through

2:10:25the chair to DTM or I'm sorry

2:10:27Commissioner Riley or Chief?

2:10:30So, um, even though those are state

2:10:33roads, they're both under our

2:10:34jurisdiction. So, the city actually sets

2:10:36the rules and has administration on

2:10:38those two roadways. Um, of the two you

2:10:41mentioned, Chandler Street is under the

2:10:43citywide statutory speed limit. So, it

2:10:45falls under the the blanket 25 mile per

2:10:47hour speed limit. Um, Park Avenue is

2:10:50still under, and this does hearken back

2:10:52to its origins as a state route, it is

2:10:55still under specific regulatory speed

2:10:57limits, and those vary from 30 to 35

2:11:00mph. Something we've talked um with the

2:11:03police department about is that getting

2:11:06a more regular cadence of speed limit

2:11:08signs would be helpful um from an

2:11:10enforcement perspective. So that's

2:11:12something that we're looking at on the

2:11:14few routes we have that um still have a

2:11:17regulatory speed limit like like Park A.

2:11:20>> Thank you. Yeah. And and to the chair to

2:11:22the chief, you know, um you know, I I

2:11:24think it's important that we do see more

2:11:26uh more enforcement, more officers out

2:11:28there. I understand, you know, um

2:11:30sometimes it's limited, but in these

2:11:32these areas that there's known to be,

2:11:34you know, car accidents. I think we got

2:11:35to try to find a way to get ahead of it.

2:11:37U Quinc Sigman a it's it's it's it's two

2:11:40lanes then it seems goes into one lane

2:11:42then it goes back into two lanes but

2:11:44there's uh side streets endot and I

2:11:46forget the other street um entering into

2:11:48there and there's been accidents there

2:11:50so not sure what we can do there how do

2:11:52we address that um I'm really concerned

2:11:53there was a lady with a child in the car

2:11:55a guy you know they had got hit um you

2:11:59know that's that's an area that's

2:12:00obviously very it's highly used in the

2:12:02morning in the afternoon and at night as

2:12:04well so I'm hoping that you know we can

2:12:06try to get some more enforcement there.

2:12:08Um lastly, uh when you talk about do the

2:12:11chair to the chief, when you talk about

2:12:12um recruiting um some officers, I know

2:12:16when I spoke with the fire chief, I had

2:12:18asked if we can make sure some of these

2:12:20recruitments are being held um in other

2:12:23locations. I think they would just they

2:12:25have certain areas where you would have

2:12:28um like seminars orformational

2:12:30um times where residents can come in and

2:12:32learn more about you know becoming a

2:12:33police officer. Um, are there certain

2:12:36locations that you you use right now and

2:12:38are there locations that you plan on

2:12:39using in the future?

2:12:42>> Uh, chief

2:12:43>> through chair of the council, we go all

2:12:45over the city. We go to schools. We go

2:12:48to um community events. We had the

2:12:52August event. Um, Donna Marav, our

2:12:56recruiters were out there. So, we are

2:12:59out in the neighborhoods and that's what

2:13:00we're doing,

2:13:01>> especially the colleges because that's

2:13:03more of our target age.

2:13:06>> Okay. Thank you.

2:13:08>> Thank you, Councelor King.

2:13:13>> Christian

2:13:28Mayor Joseph M. Petty followed by Gary

2:13:31Rosen. Mayor Petty,

2:13:33>> I'll be quick. I think everybody's beat

2:13:35this um issue, but uh just to be clear,

2:13:40right, are we uh doing background checks

2:13:41now for the next class, Chief?

2:13:43>> Mr. Chair,

2:13:45>> Chief Chairman, that's correct.

2:13:48>> And what are we planning for right now

2:13:50for the next class?

2:13:52>> To the chair, that should be happening.

2:13:54I believe it's January 9th sometime in

2:13:58January.

2:13:58>> They'll be they'll graduate by July,

2:14:00whatever it might be. There's an extra

2:14:02couple weeks now.

2:14:03>> That that should be taken account too.

2:14:04You you go seven months almost for

2:14:07training

2:14:08>> to the chair. That That's correct. So

2:14:10the class that gradu graduated in July

2:14:13are still in failed training. That's why

2:14:15you see more officers out there

2:14:17>> because they are riding double where

2:14:19usually they're not.

2:14:21>> So that should be ending within a week

2:14:22or so.

2:14:23>> How long assumptions do I

2:14:25>> 12 weeks

2:14:26>> 12 weeks do your I double and get their

2:14:28training then you disperse them wherever

2:14:30they might go they stay in operations or

2:14:32they move on to different departments

2:14:35>> to the chair they have to bid out it's a

2:14:37bid job uniform so wherever they end up

2:14:40most of them probably end up uh 11 or

2:14:44seven

2:14:44>> operations okay so how many you plan how

2:14:47many recruits do you want to recruit for

2:14:48the January class

2:14:50>> I'd love to get 43

2:14:53>> okay so you probably aim for 50. And uh

2:14:56>> we we we are going through I our first

2:14:59round of backgrounds. Once they do the

2:15:02backgrounds, it then goes to me and

2:15:06I believe that day we went through 40.

2:15:09So not everybody's going to make the cut

2:15:11getting through the background.

2:15:12>> Yeah. So if you do takes you six or

2:15:15seven months, it's almost impossible to

2:15:17do two classes a year. Correct. I mean,

2:15:19you'd have to overlap into the next

2:15:20year.

2:15:22to chair

2:15:24when I went through in 94 there was a

2:15:27class in April and then my class was in

2:15:29November so we called it two classes in

2:15:31one year

2:15:32>> and I graduated in March

2:15:35>> but the the training was less so back

2:15:37then the month

2:15:38>> it was five months

2:15:38>> five months versus seven months

2:15:40>> and then you had to fail training as

2:15:41well

2:15:41>> so I think Mr. manager. We just This

2:15:43happened I believe in the fire

2:15:44department several years ago where we're

2:15:47losing a lot to retirees retirement or

2:15:50just leaving the firefight. Now I know

2:15:51it's even more complicated with the

2:15:52police department because right to

2:15:54college like the college portal that

2:15:56they go to this portal and and to get

2:15:58recruited to other parts of the country

2:16:00and other part of the state and but by

2:16:03hearing you tonight we're also

2:16:04recruiting through that ourselves. Hope

2:16:07we can chief

2:16:08>> to the chair. That's correct. We we're

2:16:10on that as well.

2:16:12Okay. So maybe this inform a report

2:16:14we've come some similar to the fire

2:16:15department. I know you're working on

2:16:16this chief a strategic plan how to uh

2:16:20maintain how to recruit um police

2:16:22officers here in the city of Worcester.

2:16:24How to apply for grant money. There's a

2:16:26lot federal grant money out there that

2:16:28we probably could apply for. I believe

2:16:29there is and uh uh really get this going

2:16:32because I think it's important that we

2:16:34recruit, maintain, and uh and making

2:16:37sure that we have enough police officers

2:16:39on on the force. That should be one of

2:16:41our number one pri priorities. Yes.

2:16:43Thank you, Chief. Thank you,

2:16:46>> Councelor Gary Rosen.

2:16:50>> Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair.

2:16:53Through the chair to the chief, are

2:16:55there any cities or towns across the

2:17:00country that share police officers? I'm

2:17:03just thinking surrounding towns probably

2:17:05have sufficient number of officers. Is

2:17:08it possible to ever have a program? Does

2:17:10anyone have a program where you might

2:17:12have two you might have two different

2:17:14employers as a police officer? I don't

2:17:16know if there's such a thing, but seems

2:17:18like there could be a possibility.

2:17:20chief

2:17:20>> through the chair and the counselor. The

2:17:22only

2:17:24area where that happens is with like a

2:17:26special tactical unit where different

2:17:29departments like SEMLAC, Central Mass,

2:17:32law enforcement council, they'll have

2:17:34like a SWAT team made up of different

2:17:37towns whereas we have our own but we

2:17:40would offer them mutual aid if needed.

2:17:44Do through the chair. Do most of the

2:17:45surrounding towns surrounding Worcester

2:17:48have a sufficient number of police

2:17:50officers

2:17:52unlike Worcester?

2:17:53>> Through the chair of council,

2:17:55everybody's in the same boat right now.

2:17:56>> Yeah. Okay.

2:17:59Uh

2:18:00now through the chair to the the chief

2:18:04like all of us Worcester Police

2:18:07Department it officers

2:18:10officials care about traffic

2:18:14uh traffic safety for motorists,

2:18:18pedestrians and bicyclists.

2:18:22So you see that on a daily basis all

2:18:24these years. So you have a pretty good

2:18:26knowledge of of traffic safety for those

2:18:29three groups. So maybe you could advise

2:18:33me on this little issue through the

2:18:36chair to the chief and that's the fact

2:18:38that and it's very controversial.

2:18:40There's two opinions on it and sometimes

2:18:44we as city councils are in the middle

2:18:45because we have to eventually take a

2:18:47vote. Now I know Commissioner Raleigh's

2:18:50opinion but I I haven't heard yours. So

2:18:53there's two experts here. So, I ask you

2:18:55right now, for the uh safety of

2:18:58motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists,

2:19:01do you think it's a good idea, and I'm

2:19:03not saying whether it is or isn't, is it

2:19:06a good idea that we have two roundabouts

2:19:09outside Worester State University

2:19:14>> for traffic purposes?

2:19:16>> For traffic purposes. Yeah. For safety.

2:19:18>> Well, we're on traffic. We're not on the

2:19:20two roundabouts tonight. So, let's stick

2:19:23with what we're talking. I know we're

2:19:24stretching a little bit.

2:19:25>> Wait a minute. Isn't that traffic

2:19:26safety?

2:19:27>> That's what I just said. It's not

2:19:28traffic purposes. Correct. You said yes.

2:19:30Go ahead, chief.

2:19:31>> Yeah. Okay.

2:19:32>> He's not going to answer about the whole

2:19:35>> through the chair of the council. I

2:19:37would if it was me doing the

2:19:38engineering, I would do a pilot program,

2:19:40see if it works before we do all of that

2:19:43and then have it fail.

2:19:45>> What does that mean? A pilot program.

2:19:47You would you can put if you can put out

2:19:49fake speed humps, why can't you do a

2:19:52rotary?

2:19:52>> Is that through the chair? Is that done

2:19:54anywhere?

2:19:54>> I don't know.

2:19:58>> We We could We could be pioneers.

2:20:02Certainly.

2:20:05>> I have to ask this question. I know this

2:20:07has nothing to do with

2:20:09>> No, stay on traffic in recruitment.

2:20:11>> It's W. It's Worcester Police

2:20:13Department.

2:20:14>> No, it's on traffic tonight in

2:20:16recruitment. Okay, I understand that.

2:20:18Okay, I have a good question. I want to

2:20:21ask it. I get it. You know, it's part of

2:20:23my job. You're telling me don't do your

2:20:25job. I can't do it. I can't be that way.

2:20:27I can't be less than I am. I got to ask

2:20:29this question. So, through the chair to

2:20:31the chief, you know, we've been talking

2:20:32about homelessness for ever and recently

2:20:35especially and so on. And it seems like

2:20:38when we listen to speakers come up, they

2:20:40seem to think that the Worcester Police

2:20:42Department is only concerned with

2:20:46rusting people, getting them out of

2:20:48public off public property and so on.

2:20:50And they see the police department

2:20:53interacting with our homeless as a

2:20:56negative thing. You're the cheer to the

2:20:59chief. I don't think that's the case

2:21:01though. Are you also involved in very

2:21:04positive things to help our homeless in

2:21:07the city?

2:21:08>> Uh, chief

2:21:09>> through the chair of the council. We

2:21:11have a dedicated team that goes out

2:21:14there in plain clothes to help the

2:21:16homeless population in the city. We do

2:21:20what we can as far as

2:21:23we get calls for people being out there

2:21:25dealing drugs. We are going to arrest

2:21:27them. whether or not you're housed or

2:21:30not, they're committing a a violation of

2:21:33the law. We have to enforce that law.

2:21:37That's our jobs. But we also do the

2:21:40other part of the outreach and that's a

2:21:42big factor in what we do out there

2:21:45through the chair. For all my years,

2:21:46often on the council, but especially on

2:21:48the council, I've heard so many stories

2:21:51and we've heard them recently about the

2:21:54homeless shelter on Queen Street. And

2:21:56I've heard it for years and my

2:21:58colleagues have heard from years and you

2:22:00know I always think about and I say gee

2:22:02they keep and when I I did some

2:22:03volunteer work when we had the homeless

2:22:05shelter of blessed sacrament several

2:22:07years ago and boy we talked to people.

2:22:09So I was inside and talking to people

2:22:11and that kept coming up coming up coming

2:22:14up through the chair. Does the Worester

2:22:17Police Department have any issues with

2:22:19that homeless shelter on Queen Street?

2:22:21Because we hear only bad things about

2:22:23it. That's all we've heard for years.

2:22:28>> Chief,

2:22:28>> through the chair of the council, we

2:22:29have two offices that are dedicated to

2:22:33that location as far as details. that is

2:22:36their location because they know the

2:22:38clientele, they know how it operates and

2:22:41you have uh

2:22:44better collaboration when the officer

2:22:46already knows what the policies are in

2:22:49that individual place and they work

2:22:52there nightly, I believe.

2:22:55>> So that's just part of their job.

2:22:57They're not full-time at that location

2:22:59through the chair.

2:22:59>> Through the chair of council. That's a

2:23:01detail. They're paid to go in there.

2:23:03>> Oh, that's a paid detail. Correct.

2:23:04>> Okay. So through the chair, there are

2:23:07problems at that shelter that we've

2:23:09heard so many people come in front of us

2:23:12over the years, maybe over the decades,

2:23:14as long as they've been there and tell

2:23:16us stories about the problems there. So

2:23:19we want more shelters in the city of

2:23:21Worcester. But if there's problems like

2:23:23that, I think the city has a

2:23:25responsibility to make sure we start

2:23:28changing what's going on over there. So

2:23:31there is there are some issues. I assume

2:23:33if you have two police officers there at

2:23:35night, I assume there's some issues

2:23:37>> through chair council. There's one

2:23:39officer per night, but there are two

2:23:41officers that work. It's basically their

2:23:44detail because they're familiar with it.

2:23:47So the the u people who run it hire this

2:23:50private detail to make sure that people

2:23:53are safe.

2:23:54>> Okay. And my last question and I

2:23:56appreciate the uh opportunity to ask it

2:23:59uh even though it's not traffic related.

2:24:02Uh how are we doing for our

2:24:06certification process the Worester

2:24:08Police Department through the chair? Are

2:24:10we making a lot of progress and when do

2:24:12we expect maybe to have that

2:24:14certification? I think it's great for

2:24:15the city of W and great for the police

2:24:17department if we can get that

2:24:19>> chief

2:24:19>> through the chair of the council. We are

2:24:21still actively engaged. It is a huge

2:24:24process. Um, right now we have to buy

2:24:28several things, you know, to to make

2:24:30sure we're in compliance with all our

2:24:32evidence and um the cell room and things

2:24:35like that. So, I'm hoping within the

2:24:37next year or so that we could get full

2:24:39accreditation.

2:24:40>> Okay,

2:24:40>> that's my goal anyway. through the chair

2:24:42to the manager. I hope the manager

2:24:44anything you might need from the city

2:24:45council for the accreditation process

2:24:49that would be great for the police

2:24:50department would be great for the city

2:24:52of wor people in the city of Worcester.

2:24:54So I think they deserve the

2:24:56accreditation and whatever we can do to

2:24:59help it out please come to us and let us

2:25:00know. Mr. Chairman, thank you for

2:25:02indulging me. I appreciate it.

2:25:04>> Council King for the second time.

2:25:09>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. back to the

2:25:11subject at hand. Um, cadet program, um,

2:25:16if you could just kind of

2:25:19speak to that, um, as relates to

2:25:21recruitment. Um, I thought I was under

2:25:23pressure. Perhaps it was sunseted. I'm

2:25:25not sure. Um, how that works? Um, is it

2:25:29still in effect through the chair?

2:25:31>> Through the share the council, that um,

2:25:34program was disbanded over a year ago.

2:25:37It it wasn't feasible as far as where we

2:25:40could put the cadetses. There is one I

2:25:44believe one cadet made it through that's

2:25:46still here that's an active police

2:25:48officer.

2:25:48>> Okay. I was being nice. I said sunseted

2:25:50but

2:25:51>> um disbanded. I appreciate that. You

2:25:54know, Mr. Chairman, I would like to get

2:25:56a report on models of cadet programs

2:25:59that perhaps a little bit different. My

2:26:01understanding through the chair is that

2:26:02it was maybe a minimum wage job. I think

2:26:06um and that there was certain um

2:26:08functions that they could do. Um I know

2:26:11firsthand that there's a number of folks

2:26:13um that I've engaged with on a

2:26:15professional capacity um that are young

2:26:18people in college, um late stages of

2:26:22high school that have an interest. And

2:26:25you know, it's not clear to me how to

2:26:28intersect them um given that they're

2:26:31they're um students in our public

2:26:34schools and they are also um you know

2:26:38interested in in this and some of them

2:26:39actually are majoring in criminal

2:26:41justice right now. Um so I would

2:26:43certainly like to to explore that, Mr.

2:26:45Chairman. Maybe it's some other sort of

2:26:48um you know uh

2:26:51system um for those folks. But, you

2:26:53know, these young people that are coming

2:26:55through our our public schools um

2:26:58certainly u might benefit from that. And

2:27:01I don't know if um the um amount of

2:27:06money that was being paid was perhaps a

2:27:07deterrent for some folks having to be

2:27:09able to afford to live um in Worcester.

2:27:12Um but it would it would it would be

2:27:14good to know. Um and you know, it's

2:27:17supposed to be a direct pipeline that's

2:27:18paid workforce. Um, and I understand

2:27:21that it was not successful um, in the

2:27:25view of the chief, but certainly like to

2:27:27explore if there's other u perhaps um,

2:27:30ways to um, get these folks um, moving

2:27:35towards their career goals. Thank you,

2:27:37Mr. Chairman.

2:27:38>> Thank you.

2:27:39>> So with the audits to the manager, we'll

2:27:42send this item to public safety.

2:27:46All those in favor post so ordered.

2:27:49I notice the council tumi have recused

2:27:51herself in that item. Also going back to

2:27:54B transmit information communication to

2:27:56two quarters of the drone usage inside

2:27:59the public safety. All those in favor

2:28:01consc

2:28:04favor oppose. So ordered.

2:28:07Okay.

2:28:09I don't know. Maybe we'll keep Jim out

2:28:11here a little bit longer tonight.

2:28:13It says trans information communication

2:28:15to the burnt coat school building

2:28:17project.

2:28:18I had this out all night. Here it is.

2:28:21Chris

2:28:24day.

2:28:35What is this?

2:28:43Mayor Petty,

2:28:44>> thank you.

2:28:47>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And uh thank

2:28:50you for the report from I believe it's

2:28:52from

2:28:54Chimat and uh from schools. People just

2:28:57keep people updated. I think we're

2:28:59meeting tomorrow night to take a vote on

2:29:01four schematic designs. I believe that

2:29:04we're going to

2:29:06four alternative designs, three or four,

2:29:08and that we're going to send the MSBA

2:29:10and they're pretty much build out here.

2:29:12Right now, we are in the feasibility

2:29:14study, module three, there's nine

2:29:16modules to this. Um, so people had take

2:29:20nothing's really changed since I think

2:29:222022 when Mr. McGrithy wrote a report

2:29:25telling us that

2:29:27um it's going to be expensive to do this

2:29:30and uh and people have taken a look at

2:29:32the report. There's a few alternatives

2:29:34here and I think these numbers are high

2:29:37in the sense

2:29:39my in my opinion if you look at this

2:29:41closely in the back it has a breakdown

2:29:43of the different scenarios but uh new

2:29:47construction for the high school and the

2:29:49middle school is cost 635 million to 640

2:29:53million and I think we've gone back Mr.

2:29:56Bard maybe you can come up and answer

2:29:58but Russ Mr. Adams but uh Mr. manager

2:30:02just to find out where we are with this.

2:30:03I know we're going to go back and try to

2:30:05reduce this costs and you got to

2:30:07remember one thing that Doherty High was

2:30:09built for $300 million. The high school

2:30:12right now is looking at 435 depending on

2:30:15the size, but I think we reduced some of

2:30:17the stuff in this over the last I think

2:30:19before we go into tomorrow night's

2:30:21meeting.

2:30:22>> I'm not sure answering that question. So

2:30:25before you respond, if the gentleman who

2:30:27just arrived to the table could announce

2:30:28your name and your title for the public

2:30:31before you respond to Mayor Petty,

2:30:33please. Um in in order.

2:30:35>> Sure. My name is Jim Bard. I'm the chief

2:30:37of public facilities.

2:30:40>> Uh I'm Russ Adams. I'm the director of

2:30:42capital projects for the Department of

2:30:43Public Facilities.

2:30:44>> Thank you. And if you could uh please

2:30:46respond to the mayor.

2:30:48>> Sure. Through the chair to the mayor. Um

2:30:50yes to your point it has uh been a

2:30:52reduction in the overall size. Right now

2:30:54what we're dealing with with this

2:30:56conceptual design of the building is

2:30:57strictly square footage.

2:30:59>> Yeah.

2:30:59>> Right. We haven't started designing the

2:31:00floor plans or any of that in this

2:31:02feasibility. So originally we um the

2:31:04municipality we met with the school

2:31:06department and we started what we call

2:31:08programming and what does that mean

2:31:09relative to the two schools. We created

2:31:12a number a square footage number that

2:31:14was significantly higher than what we

2:31:16have right now.

2:31:17Then what we did is we went back and we

2:31:19actually went back to them and said that

2:31:21number is you know relatively too high

2:31:24and we've had two exercises now to

2:31:25reduce that square footage.

2:31:27>> Okay.

2:31:27>> So that brings us to the square footage

2:31:29that we're looking at now. Um and again

2:31:31moving into PSR and moving into

2:31:33schematic design. We're always looking

2:31:34for opportunities to do two things.

2:31:37Reduce the square footage if possible

2:31:39and then potentially lower the cost with

2:31:41fit and finishes of the building as we

2:31:43move forward. So these so these are

2:31:45numbers that will be reduced at least

2:31:47these are high right now because you've

2:31:48gone back twice you said to review these

2:31:50so these are the first original numbers

2:31:52correct

2:31:53>> no through these are actually numbers

2:31:55here that originally these numbers were

2:31:58um these would be kind of in the middle

2:32:00of the road I would think right because

2:32:02the original numbers we came back we

2:32:04immediately went back to them

2:32:06>> and said that these numbers were too

2:32:07high between the two schools

2:32:08>> okay and uh I know we don't need a vote

2:32:12on this tonight but it's good that

2:32:13people to read this and understand it.

2:32:15Um, it's one of my goals as mayor has

2:32:18been to do the three high schools,

2:32:20Nelson Place and the three high schools

2:32:22over again. This is the last school and

2:32:25debate will be and one of the

2:32:27alternatives you so you you have to send

2:32:29the MSBA a base repair uh renovation and

2:32:33new construction. Correct.

2:32:35>> That's correct. Through the chair, Mr.

2:32:37Adams, if you'd like to elaborate on

2:32:38tomorrow night's meeting and the and the

2:32:40steps that brought us to here, I'd

2:32:41appreciate that. Uh, Director Adams.

2:32:44>> Thank you. Uh, through the chair to the

2:32:46mayor, the vote tomorrow is to to have

2:32:50the Burn code school building committee

2:32:52vote to send the preferred schematic uh,

2:32:57no, I'm sorry, the the uh, the PDP, the

2:32:59preliminary design program to the MSBA.

2:33:03So, we need a a quorum of that

2:33:05committee. We need a vote and then if we

2:33:07get a favorable vote, we're going to be

2:33:09sending that document. It's about a

2:33:11th00and 2,000 pages of documentation

2:33:14related to burn code. We're going to

2:33:16send that to the MSBA.

2:33:18>> We can still work out depending what's

2:33:20chosen. We can we can reduce some of the

2:33:22costs here going forward still as we

2:33:24move forward

2:33:25>> through the chair. That's correct. Yes.

2:33:27Tomorrow's submission is strictly the

2:33:29options as you mentioned. Uh and it's

2:33:32we're not actually picking anything

2:33:33relative to the vote tomorrow. So it all

2:33:35gets submitted. Then the team continues

2:33:37to work on what's called a preferred

2:33:38schematic, a preferred design, and that

2:33:41will generate a particular preferred

2:33:43option as well as help help narrow down

2:33:45and hone in on the cost.

2:33:47>> Okay? And if you look at page, I think

2:33:50three or four here, these look like Mr.

2:33:52McGirth's budget um analysis that he

2:33:55gave us this year during the budget and

2:33:58people look at this what the cost of

2:33:59this will be and and some of the demands

2:34:02that

2:34:05um some of the challenges that will

2:34:07occur uh regarding other projects here

2:34:11in the city of Worester. Um so I I think

2:34:14people should take note of this. I think

2:34:16Burnco area deserves this. They've

2:34:19gotten pretty much they got a lot of

2:34:21storms, a lot of tree damage. Uh they

2:34:23just got a new street. They don't get

2:34:25much up in that neighborhood. And uh I

2:34:28think this is important. And but

2:34:30understand that I know also we talked

2:34:32about the unused tax capacity, but we

2:34:34this all could be reduced depending on

2:34:36free cash to reduce these other items

2:34:39going forward. Correct. I know the first

2:34:41year we're talking about free cash

2:34:42because we built these people uh we got

2:34:46a high school fund now. Correct. We've

2:34:48had other funds which we've combined

2:34:49into I think this one fund. Uh the

2:34:51council should be uh thank themselves

2:34:54because I think we're up to about 25

2:34:56million in this fund. Maybe it's even

2:34:58more. I can't remember. It's around $25

2:35:00million. But we could have had nothing.

2:35:03So uh because we were thinking ahead. I

2:35:06wish we had put more into it, but this

2:35:08is our chance going forward. We should

2:35:10put as much money into this fund before

2:35:12we have to start paying on this in two

2:35:14or three years. Uh so uh thank you for

2:35:17the report and uh you probably send

2:35:20maybe send this to committee if you want

2:35:22this to go over it and uh because I

2:35:24think the council should read this. This

2:35:26is probably one of the most important

2:35:27reports you could read is this right

2:35:29here tonight because every week we come

2:35:31in here we ask manager for money and for

2:35:34different projects. So just to be clear.

2:35:36Okay. Thank you.

2:35:39>> Thank you. Um,

2:35:41council accountable district 1.

2:35:45>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um,

2:35:50through the chair first, I just want to

2:35:51thank the gentlemen sitting before us

2:35:52for their work. Always it's always a

2:35:55pleasure working with you guys. You guys

2:35:56work hard to to bring things to fruition

2:35:59for us all.

2:36:02There's no doubt.

2:36:04No, there's no doubt that

2:36:08Burn High School and Burn Middle School

2:36:14need to be brought into this century.

2:36:19I went to both schools. I'm a proud

2:36:21graduate of Burnat High School, Bernote

2:36:25Middle School at the time, junior high.

2:36:28has not changed in my

2:36:31life.

2:36:33Um,

2:36:35my mother actually went to Burnco Junior

2:36:38High and she's in her 80s. So,

2:36:42if there's a school that needs to

2:36:44change, it's certainly the Burnco

2:36:48quadrant.

2:36:51But I will say this, there are going to

2:36:53be some very difficult decisions to be

2:36:54made in the coming years. Um,

2:36:59do they need the schools? Without

2:37:01question. The Burncode area deserves

2:37:04deserves them. They've been patient

2:37:07um as other schools have been done. Now

2:37:10it's their time

2:37:12and there are going to be some

2:37:14significant choices to be made. We just

2:37:16had a conversation about how do we get

2:37:20two classes, police classes on? How do

2:37:23we upgrade our streets? constantly

2:37:25talking about uh street work, uh how do

2:37:29we upgrade our parks?

2:37:32These are the things

2:37:34that we as a body are going to have

2:37:37difficult decisions to make on what

2:37:40takes place and what doesn't take place

2:37:44um in order to have these schools built

2:37:48to today's standards.

2:37:51um

2:37:52through the chair to the to the maybe to

2:37:55the manager or to Mr. McGirthy

2:37:58are the numbers that are provided before

2:37:59us today are those numbers

2:38:03our responsibility or are those just the

2:38:06total numbers

2:38:09>> Mr. McGarthy

2:38:10>> uh through the chair. So the total cost

2:38:12to the project is an actual total cost

2:38:15of the project that would be split about

2:38:1750/50 with um the Mass School Building

2:38:21Authority. That's our assumption. The

2:38:23debt service numbers in the document in

2:38:26the memo represent half of that cost. So

2:38:30that would represent the cost to the

2:38:31city assuming a 50-50 split.

2:38:34>> Okay. So the debt service is is on the

2:38:37split. That that's what I correct I want

2:38:40to just confirm.

2:38:41>> Um

2:38:44>> when you talk about through the chair to

2:38:46Mr. McGirthy too about the tax levy um

2:38:49what are those implications going to

2:38:51look like going forward um in three

2:38:54years.

2:38:56>> So through the chair this is this is a

2:38:5930 plus year project. So everything

2:39:01we're looking at right now are

2:39:02estimates. We're looking at kind of

2:39:04general numbers of estimates even on the

2:39:06project costs, let alone estimates of

2:39:08debt service and the actual amounts due

2:39:10each year. But what we do know is there

2:39:14will be significant highs within the

2:39:16debt service. As you borrow money for a

2:39:18project of this scale, you're borrowing

2:39:20it over multiple years. By year six or

2:39:23seven, as all of the debt is fully

2:39:25borrowed and is at its maximum debt

2:39:27service obligation, you know, we

2:39:29anticipate costs of about $30 million a

2:39:31year. That will have to fit within the

2:39:34city budget. It is absorbed fully by the

2:39:36city. um we will either need to grow our

2:39:40revenues to cover that additional cost

2:39:44plus the year-over-year growth that we

2:39:47experience on a regular basis whether

2:39:49it's health insurance costs um salary

2:39:52growth uh due to colas or step increases

2:39:55and the like um cost of obligations for

2:39:58various intergovernmental

2:39:59responsibilities the schools the WRTA um

2:40:03CMRPC

2:40:04um pension obligations as those go up as

2:40:07well. So, we'll either have to increase

2:40:09our revenue to absorb these additional

2:40:12costs or we'll have to reduce our costs

2:40:14to be able to fit this new obligation

2:40:16within the existing budget framework.

2:40:19So, the long story short, I I can't

2:40:22imagine our budget growth will be

2:40:24sufficient to fully cover this new cost.

2:40:28I anticipate we will have to increase

2:40:31our revenues at some way. the um as was

2:40:35mentioned earlier and uh you know the I

2:40:38think the manager has made a consistent

2:40:41effort working with the city council to

2:40:43put new monies aside into the new high

2:40:45school fund. The mayor referenced that

2:40:47through um free cash opportunities

2:40:49through new growth of our budget uh

2:40:51opportunities. That's helped u but we're

2:40:54going to need to significantly grow at

2:40:56this point as we look at that debt

2:40:57service coming in.

2:40:59>> Have any other I know

2:41:0410 years ago we were talking about the

2:41:05North High fund. Have any of the high

2:41:08schools?

2:41:10Probably not. I don't even know about

2:41:12North High. Is that even transitioned

2:41:14off our ledger yet?

2:41:16>> No.

2:41:17>> To the chair? No, we have another at

2:41:20least 10 years um on North High. Um

2:41:25but we did approach it the same way

2:41:27where we created a reserve to help

2:41:29address those costs. So, we're actually

2:41:32paying an amount this year in the FY27

2:41:34budget. We did not need to put money in

2:41:37because the reserve generated sufficient

2:41:39interest over the last couple years to

2:41:40cover us for a year. Um, but yeah, we

2:41:44still have a number of years to go to

2:41:45pay off that full debt.

2:41:48>> Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank

2:41:49you, gentlemen. Uh, very much. Um,

2:41:51either way, Mr. Chairman, in the

2:41:53upcoming years, there going to be some

2:41:55very major difficult decisions that are

2:41:57need are going to need to be made by

2:41:59this council. Um and uh you know whether

2:42:03it's increase in tax revenue, whether

2:42:06it's going into the uh tapping into the

2:42:09our

2:42:11unused uh tax levy capacity, whether

2:42:14it's not doing this but doing that, um

2:42:19they will be significant decisions to be

2:42:21made uh going forward. I just want

2:42:24everybody to understand that um

2:42:27because I think this this is probably

2:42:29going to be in my opinion

2:42:32probably one of the probably bigger than

2:42:36if just the bottom fell out of the

2:42:38economy and we had to slash our budget.

2:42:40That's how I see this. I see this as a

2:42:42significant move uh going forward and

2:42:46also a tremendous investment in our

2:42:48future. So, um, I'm I'm in all honesty,

2:42:52as I read the report, I I became torn a

2:42:56bit, uh, reading the report this

2:42:58weekend, and I was just

2:43:01lamenting to myself. It's like, oh man,

2:43:03this is this is significant. Um, we've

2:43:06come to that point and with all due

2:43:09respect, I I agree that the schools need

2:43:12to be done. I agree with the path that

2:43:15that this city has taken over the years

2:43:18to redo our high schools. They've all

2:43:19been needed plus um some of the other

2:43:22grammar schools along the way. Um but

2:43:26please make no mistake about it to my

2:43:28colleagues that this is going to be a

2:43:29significant undertaking going forward.

2:43:32So, thank you.

2:43:33>> Thank you, Council King. Followed by

2:43:35Council Dy.

2:43:40Council King.

2:43:43Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I look

2:43:46forward to having this in committee um

2:43:49as well as chair of the education

2:43:51committee. Uh, we have an upcoming

2:43:53meeting hopefully in October if we can

2:43:55get the school side on board. Um, and

2:43:59uh, you know, it'll be an opportunity I

2:44:03guess uh, through the charity

2:44:05administration. Um, one of the things

2:44:07that we're talking about is, uh, there's

2:44:09been reductions in size, etc. Exactly

2:44:12what is being voted on tomorrow, um,

2:44:15through the chair and who are the

2:44:17representatives of the council that are

2:44:19on that voting body,

2:44:21>> if any,

2:44:22>> Mr. Bad through the chair, the the

2:44:24school building committee will be voting

2:44:26tomorrow at we've had, I think this is

2:44:28the fifth or sixth meeting with the

2:44:30school building committee. Um, and at

2:44:32different points during the process, the

2:44:34MSBA's scripted process, the school

2:44:37building committee would vote on various

2:44:38items. Tomorrow's vote doesn't pick a

2:44:41schematic. It doesn't pick an option.

2:44:43There are, I believe, uh, to the mayor's

2:44:46point earlier, there are a series of

2:44:48options that they've come up with, a

2:44:49base repair, an ad rena, uh, and

2:44:53multiple, I think there was a couple,

2:44:54two or three um, new construction. And

2:44:58the reason that there's a couple of

2:44:59those, right, of each one of those is

2:45:01because they looked at both doing the

2:45:02high school and the high school and the

2:45:04middle school. So I think there's a

2:45:05total of eight actual options and those

2:45:09will all be submitted to the MSBA as a

2:45:11package to say these are the options

2:45:12that we looked at for the project and

2:45:15moving forward as we get into PSR,

2:45:18preferred schematic review, we will then

2:45:20start narrowing that down. For example,

2:45:23you know, do you rule out base repair?

2:45:25Do you rule out ad rena? uh rule out new

2:45:28construction. This work that comes up

2:45:30next will narrow that down to a

2:45:31preferred solution.

2:45:34>> Thank you to the chair. Um I'm not sure

2:45:37to whom. Um who's who's representing the

2:45:41council in terms of votes on that

2:45:43building committee?

2:45:44>> I'm on council. No, council B.

2:45:47>> Okay.

2:45:48>> And the council Oh, former counselor Pil

2:45:51is on there.

2:45:52>> Then we have school committee members on

2:45:54there also.

2:45:54>> Okay. I'm open to being on that board as

2:45:57chair of education given that uh we

2:45:59don't we have a former sitting city

2:46:01councelor uh Mr. Chairman. Um that being

2:46:05said,

2:46:06councelor Pascillo, former council pilo,

2:46:10um that being said, Mr. Chairman, um as

2:46:13relates to East Middle that's mentioned

2:46:15in this document, um I have some real

2:46:18questions. Um burn coat was a long time

2:46:22coming. Um, I've said on the record

2:46:24before, I'll say it again. Um, in my

2:46:27opinion, they should have been um that

2:46:30these schools should have been addressed

2:46:32earlier in the process. We've had South,

2:46:34we've had Darity, um, you know, and and

2:46:37now North prior to that, but, you know,

2:46:39leaving Bernote to last, um, you know,

2:46:43hopefully we saved the best for last.

2:46:45Um, but certainly, um, you know, there

2:46:48was opportunities to address this

2:46:50earlier. Uh we've had a long-standing

2:46:52issues at East Middle. We've done a lot

2:46:53of work there. Um the uh delegation and

2:46:57and and um Senator Moore and and State

2:47:01Representative Dunghiew uh leader OD

2:47:04have led on these things. Um but through

2:47:06the chair to to whomever um if you could

2:47:10speak to why

2:47:13it was important to mention East Middle

2:47:15in this document um and what the

2:47:18considerations are

2:47:21um in that regard through the chair. Uh

2:47:24through the chair, I can mention that I

2:47:26was the one who added Worcester East

2:47:28Middle as an example simply because I

2:47:30know this council has discussed the need

2:47:32to redevelop Worcester East Middle and

2:47:34my concern is unless we manage the

2:47:37finances of this project correctly, it

2:47:40could preclude other projects from

2:47:41occurring around the city.

2:47:44>> Thank you. Um and through chair to the

2:47:46administration,

2:47:47um how real is that concern? Because I

2:47:50have the same concern. Um so this is to

2:47:53the city manager if you could speak to

2:47:55um from your vantage point what we're

2:47:58looking at um in that regard and then in

2:48:00addition to that um you know we're

2:48:02talking about I can remember I can hear

2:48:04George Russell right now tax to the max

2:48:07um what are the real imple implications

2:48:10we're talking about as relates to um a

2:48:12new burnt coat middle and a new um uh

2:48:17burnt coat um high school that's

2:48:19colllocated through the chair

2:48:22Mr. Manager,

2:48:23>> uh, through the chair of the council,

2:48:25there's some real concerns, not just

2:48:27>> there's there's real concerns, um, about

2:48:31the

2:48:32availability of funds that we would have

2:48:34in the future to be able to redevelop a

2:48:38school like East Middle um, uh, and

2:48:40redevelop and build it brand new. Uh,

2:48:42they would, we would potentially have to

2:48:44confront, uh, land acquisition and then

2:48:47go through a whole process of that. And

2:48:49depending the years, future years, East

2:48:51Middle could probably be 300 million

2:48:53just as a middle school based on the

2:48:55cost and the interest rates that are

2:48:57that we are experiencing.

2:48:59But that's just one school, East Middle.

2:49:03We're talking about 52 schools or 50

2:49:06some odd buildings that the school

2:49:08department has. All the municipal

2:49:10buildings. There's been discussions in

2:49:11this floor for a new police

2:49:12headquarters. Um there's discussions

2:49:15about central garage and DPW and others.

2:49:18Um this impacts overall the our ability

2:49:22to do more or even to do what currently

2:49:26is being asked of the administration.

2:49:29One of the things that we're suggesting

2:49:30as part of this uh as part of this uh

2:49:34document is that to begin the process of

2:49:38us putting money away into a reserve

2:49:41account into a stabilization account

2:49:43that can generate interest over time and

2:49:46that is factored here in one of our

2:49:49pages that the CFO put together to be

2:49:51able to take advantage of that right now

2:49:55understanding that this is a 30-year

2:49:57project or so. Um, we not only would

2:50:00have to make some investments with our

2:50:02free cash allocation that's coming

2:50:04before the council in the next couple of

2:50:06months, but also looking at the FY28,

2:50:09the next budget, the FY28 budget in

2:50:13putting in in with in pulling out or

2:50:15withdrawing whatever term you want to

2:50:17use from the unused tax heavy capacity.

2:50:20We currently have $26 million requesting

2:50:23a $15 million uh uh allocation from

2:50:27there to the stabilization account. That

2:50:29means that we would be intentionally

2:50:31raising $15 million of taxes to the

2:50:34city. Um that's a big number. Uh but

2:50:38that would be something that we would

2:50:39then be committing not just a one time.

2:50:43That's a commitment that the city

2:50:44administration and the council would be

2:50:46making to the city over the next 30

2:50:49years uh for that uh for to pay the debt

2:50:53service of this project uh in this

2:50:55magnitude. um that does not take into

2:50:57consideration again everything else

2:51:01that's been asked of this administration

2:51:02to be able to deliver whether it's

2:51:04roads, more vehicles, infrastructure,

2:51:07etc. Um so I think the mayor and the

2:51:12council econom alluded to it. This is

2:51:14probably one of the most important

2:51:16documents and discussions that need to

2:51:17happen in this council because we're

2:51:19talking about real dollars and real

2:51:21potential implications for the future of

2:51:23this city for the next 30 plus years uh

2:51:26of this city that it's all upon us right

2:51:29now in this moment uh to that we'll not

2:51:32today but over the next few months or so

2:51:35uh if not year that we will be making uh

2:51:37this decision.

2:51:39>> Thank you Mr. Chairman. this this is

2:51:41important decision as relates to

2:51:44education in the city. Um and I'll

2:51:46reiterate as chair of the education

2:51:48committee, I would uh welcome the

2:51:50opportunity to be a part um

2:51:53of that. Um Mr. Chairman, uh through the

2:51:57chair, as it relates to the $15 million

2:52:00uh that we're looking at potentially, um

2:52:047.5 in free cash. Um that's that's

2:52:09discussed here as well. Um what it says

2:52:12in the short term free cash up to 7.5

2:52:15million. Um what are we talking about in

2:52:18terms of the average impact on the tax

2:52:21uh the taxes of folks here in the city

2:52:23pertaining to the 15 million uh through

2:52:26the chair? What's the projective

2:52:27analysis

2:52:30>> through the chair? I don't have that

2:52:31number in front of me. Um

2:52:34>> you have an estimate. I could get you an

2:52:37estimate if you give me a couple

2:52:38minutes. Um the the goal is the more

2:52:44forwardfunded this reserve is, the

2:52:48greater the interest that it will earn

2:52:50and generate and therefore offset the

2:52:52city's actual cost. You can see that um

2:52:55based on the chart uh the table included

2:52:59with a fairly conservative estimate of

2:53:022.5% which currently were earning more

2:53:05than 2 and a.5%.

2:53:07>> Over time we know there's kind of a

2:53:09national debate over interest rates.

2:53:11They're going up a little bit but there

2:53:12are others who want them to go down. Um

2:53:15we assume about $17.8 million in

2:53:19interest generation based on the formula

2:53:22we've constructed here. It it can be

2:53:24done in different ways, but the more you

2:53:26can forward fund, the more you can

2:53:28offset the ultimate cost to the city by

2:53:31generating additional revenues. But um

2:53:33on the 15 million, I can I can run

2:53:36something real quick based on prior year

2:53:39taxes. Um, it'll take me a minute, but

2:53:42on the whole, it's not a significant

2:53:44cost for the average household or the

2:53:47average commercial, but obviously the

2:53:49outliers, the larger homes or the larger

2:53:52businesses especially, it could add up a

2:53:54bit.

2:53:55>> Yeah, I I'd certainly be interested in a

2:53:57projective analysis of that for our

2:53:59commercial u business folks and uh our

2:54:03our homeowners. Um, and we know that

2:54:06there's a trickle down impact upon um,

2:54:09our renters um, as well. Um, you know, I

2:54:13I think as we move forward, the more

2:54:15information we have, the better. Um, as

2:54:18relates to some of the decisions that

2:54:19will have to be made. um as he's trying

2:54:23to figure that out um you know I I I'd

2:54:26like to pivot if I could um a bit to the

2:54:31different models um when it comes to the

2:54:34new construction um is there two models

2:54:38is there three um and what are they and

2:54:40what the numbers we're talking about I

2:54:41thought I saw them somewhere it might

2:54:43have been in a newspaper artic I don't

2:54:44see it in here through the chair

2:54:47>> so Dodd

2:54:49>> uh through the chair to the council it

2:54:51is actually in the report.

2:54:52>> I can't find it.

2:54:53>> Um, it's the second to last page. I

2:54:54apologize the numbers the pages are not

2:54:56covered.

2:54:57>> I see it. It's on the back the back page

2:54:58here.

2:54:59>> Correct. There's what you're going to

2:55:01look at and this is scripted by the

2:55:02MSBA. As mentioned earlier, what they

2:55:04want you to do, the MSBA's program asks

2:55:06you to primarily look at three different

2:55:08options. One is a base repair. So, if

2:55:11you were going to go in and just

2:55:13renovate an existing building, bring it

2:55:15up to ADA code, bring it up to the

2:55:17various building codes, um, and bring it

2:55:19up to the current standards of what a

2:55:21building would be. That's option one. It

2:55:23doesn't increase any square footage. It

2:55:25doesn't give any more programmatic

2:55:26space. It it doesn't allow for growth in

2:55:29in student population, right? Part two,

2:55:32which you've seen in at times you've

2:55:34seen, is called add reno, right? So,

2:55:35they do all of the base rena in the

2:55:37existing building and then they put an

2:55:39addition on. And what that does is it

2:55:41does everything that's described in the

2:55:42base rena and then you add square

2:55:44footage to the building to increase

2:55:46program space. Uh and the final option

2:55:49is new construction. After you've

2:55:51analyzed those two, they ask you to

2:55:53analyze new construction. And similar to

2:55:55models that you've seen elsewhere in the

2:55:57city where we've done it with South

2:55:58Nelson Place, DHY um is one of two

2:56:02things. if you have land on the existing

2:56:04property, which Worcester has been very

2:56:06lucky to have that in all of those

2:56:08applications where we've just built next

2:56:10to the existing a new construction and

2:56:12then um when the building is done, we

2:56:14move over the students over uh we tear

2:56:17down the existing building and build the

2:56:19fields or some landscaping features that

2:56:21you've seen in previous. So, a lot of

2:56:23that is very scripted by the um the

2:56:25MSBA's program and this is what's going

2:56:28to be submitted to them. All of these

2:56:29options will be submitted to them on

2:56:31based on the vote tomorrow night.

2:56:35>> And through the chair, what is the

2:56:36amount that we're looking at for the

2:56:39colllocated

2:56:41um model with the most amount of student

2:56:44capacity?

2:56:46>> So on the there's two groups of eight

2:56:48here. You'll see right.

2:56:49>> It's hard to read. It's Yeah.

2:56:51>> Yeah. I apologize for that too. But

2:56:52there's two groups of eight. on the top

2:56:54it kind of gives you a little bit of a

2:56:55layout of what the potential again I

2:56:57don't want to indicate that this is what

2:56:59the plan is going to look like right

2:57:01they're doing kind of largecale

2:57:02conceptual drawings to show you the

2:57:04building the fields some of those the

2:57:07group below the two at the top left are

2:57:09the base repair again one for 20 1825

2:57:12students for the high school uh and

2:57:15excuse me for both high school and

2:57:16middle school students would be if you

2:57:19just did the high school

2:57:21uh and then ad reno would be high

2:57:23school, middle school, and high school

2:57:24only as well. That's on the top two on

2:57:26the right. And then all the new

2:57:27construction is on the bottom.

2:57:30>> So is that we're looking around 416

2:57:33million? Oh, I'm sorry, 500 million

2:57:36>> for the 1,400 students.

2:57:40>> So the bottom left, the new construction

2:57:43for the high school and middle school,

2:57:442125 students is 635 to 640 million

2:57:48estimated.

2:57:49>> Oh, bottom left.

2:57:52Right.

2:57:55Okay. So those two

2:57:58um

2:58:01and in this process through the chair um

2:58:05again I know they said there's been four

2:58:07or five meetings but um with respect to

2:58:10capacity you know we've had some

2:58:12challenges that already we have some

2:58:14challenges some of the other new schools

2:58:16where where uh folks where the school's

2:58:18growing the city is growing and in some

2:58:21instances they're over capacity maybe

2:58:23itself also um or close to

2:58:26um through the chair to the

2:58:27administration. Is that accurate or am I

2:58:29making this up?

2:58:31>> Uh through the chair, I'll defer to Mr.

2:58:33Adams on that. He was involved in the

2:58:34the capacity issue with department

2:58:38>> uh through the chair to the counselor.

2:58:40Yes, that is correct. In both schools,

2:58:42the um the enroll the enrollments are

2:58:45set

2:58:47very early on in the process. So, in the

2:58:50experience with South High and with

2:58:52Darity, when we finally got to opening

2:58:54day, um there was somewhat more students

2:58:58than were originally proposed in those

2:59:01rooms. So, there was furniture uh extra

2:59:05furniture bought at the at the end of

2:59:07those two projects to fit the the

2:59:09current number of students in each

2:59:12classroom. So, you are correct.

2:59:13>> Dutch, what is that actually? I guess

2:59:15it's an education question. I'm just

2:59:16trying to figure out what it means.

2:59:18Never mind.

2:59:19um you know uh

2:59:22>> yes um so um

2:59:26with regards to MS

2:59:29um PA um issues I I was under impression

2:59:33there was something in the legislature

2:59:35as relates to the funding and the

2:59:38formula um is that accurate through the

2:59:40chair and is the city manager working

2:59:42with stakeholders in that regard um I

2:59:44know that we have the uh fair share

2:59:47amendment there's a lot of money for

2:59:48education.

2:59:50What I'm getting at, is there any other

2:59:52ability for the city to tap in um to

2:59:56more state or federal funding through

2:59:59the chair

3:00:01to shelware that there's been some

3:00:04discussion at the state dele uh with the

3:00:06state delegation and the state

3:00:07legislation on increasing the funding or

3:00:11the formulas related to MSBA for

3:00:14specifically for gateway communities. I

3:00:16think this has been a challenge in many

3:00:17communities across the state, including

3:00:19Boston. Most recently had a school that

3:00:21was I think was where they were

3:00:23projecting over $800,000 as well. Um

3:00:27it's become a challenge. I think there's

3:00:28been some real advocacy from our

3:00:31delegation. I know Mary Keefe,

3:00:32Representative Keefe has been a advocate

3:00:33and kind of communicating that at the

3:00:35state level. Um right now this is

3:00:38ongoing conversations. I think one of

3:00:40the things that's been helpful to us

3:00:42especially with the Dohy project that

3:00:43was a project that we re we had a

3:00:46particular percentage that we had uh uh

3:00:49we were receiving funding from the state

3:00:51and part of the impacts of COVID there

3:00:54was an additional trance that was

3:00:55submitted to the city that helped us get

3:00:58to a more of a 50% or a little bit just

3:01:01over 50% uh authority. Um so there's

3:01:05complete uh this constant advocacy at

3:01:07the state level to do that. Um and we

3:01:09work, you know, with the delegation as

3:01:11best as possible to try to uh uh uh uh

3:01:15address uh these funding issues or

3:01:16funding gaps. One of the things that we

3:01:18see here, you know, depending on the

3:01:21property, uh for example, authority has

3:01:22solar panels and other efforts. So, we

3:01:25sought other fundings to try to uh uh uh

3:01:28support those efforts as well. This just

3:01:31I want to just also state that these

3:01:34options include fields for the it's not

3:01:38just the building of the school. It also

3:01:40includes the field and the usage of the

3:01:42fields and the different types of fields

3:01:44for that. Uh so it's a complete uh

3:01:46design uh and it's a complete um uh uh

3:01:50kind of campus feel to it that adds not

3:01:53only the actual um buildings but also

3:01:57multiple fields in the area.

3:02:03Thank you.

3:02:04>> Three minutes left

3:02:05>> and through the chair. Um, as it relates

3:02:08to those inequities in MSBA funding, um,

3:02:12from what I remember, and I don't have

3:02:14the exact numbers from some time ago

3:02:16when we talked about this on the floor,

3:02:19um, it was indicating that gateway

3:02:21cities, urban cities, um, have a

3:02:24disproportionate amount of that funding.

3:02:25Now, we've been um u fortunate to have

3:02:29some schools funded, but we have a lot

3:02:30of needs as do a lot of other cities. Um

3:02:33and from what I recall,

3:02:35maybe 20% of gateway cities are getting

3:02:39uh uh access to particular funding pools

3:02:42um as it relates to other municipalities

3:02:45or towns. um through the chair to the

3:02:47administration, what can we do as a

3:02:49council to support the mayor and to

3:02:51support the administration as relates to

3:02:53this fiscal issue um with the state um

3:02:58and our role as a gateway city needing

3:03:01more um through the chair,

3:03:04>> Mr. Mr. Manager

3:03:07>> uh through the chair to the council. I

3:03:08think constant advocacy not only with

3:03:10the state delegation having being locked

3:03:11in step uh with them and then working

3:03:14through uh the legislative process any

3:03:17funds additional funds that could be uh

3:03:19available to us working in tandem so

3:03:22that I can be able to submit those

3:03:23requests to uh the actual uh delegation

3:03:27or to u uh the administration the the

3:03:30state administration. I think that

3:03:32constant advocacy and us working

3:03:34together, the more I inform you all, the

3:03:36more we then can put together some

3:03:38packages and opportunities that we can

3:03:40try to push. Um, also the other element

3:03:43is MMA, the Massachusetts Municipal

3:03:45Association plays a role in this.

3:03:46They've played an active role with other

3:03:48municipalities and bringing them to the

3:03:50table uh to either submit letters or

3:03:52provide any uh commentary. Mass Inc. is

3:03:56a researcher. they do a lot of great

3:03:57work in trying to provide more support

3:04:00to MMA and the municipalities uh in

3:04:03regards to that advocacy and so I think

3:04:04the more we're informed and involved in

3:04:07terms of what's happening there it it it

3:04:09helps us as an administration as a city

3:04:11to be able to advocate on our behalf as

3:04:13well.

3:04:14>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just like to

3:04:16report back to the council the efforts

3:04:17of MMA or what they're reporting um for

3:04:21further discussion. Um you know, we're

3:04:24required to take the votes as a city. it

3:04:26comes from our budget. Um, additionally,

3:04:29you know, Mass Inc. has indicated that

3:04:31um, 60% of over capacity schools are

3:04:35either in Boston or a gateway city. U,

3:04:37we've had significant challenges. We're

3:04:39talking about potentially having to

3:04:41choose between schools perhaps um, to

3:04:44one degree or another. We have East

3:04:46Middle. Um, we know Rice Square School

3:04:48was we had kids in learning in closets

3:04:50about a year or two ago and they they

3:04:54>> Yes, closets. No, they weren't.

3:04:56>> Absolutely.

3:04:57>> Um and they were able to make some

3:05:00adjustments. Um and now those some of

3:05:02those um kids are um or they've added

3:05:05seventh and eighth uh additional grades

3:05:07over at East Middle and some of the

3:05:09other schools. So there's been

3:05:10adjustments. Um so as it relates to all

3:05:14that, you know, I I I think that we as a

3:05:17a city council can assist um in this

3:05:21sort of advocacy through the charity

3:05:22administration. It might seem a little

3:05:24bit off topic, but as it relates to the

3:05:26Denim building, um as it relates to RM,

3:05:30uh RMV, former registry mobile vehicles,

3:05:32um what are we doing with those

3:05:34properties? Are we trying to um you

3:05:37know, uh

3:05:40create revenue um and perhaps we can put

3:05:42that towards something like what are we

3:05:44doing with those properties? Um and and

3:05:46could it have an impact through the

3:05:48chair?

3:05:48>> Mr. Manager.

3:05:50>> Yeah, through the chair to the council.

3:05:53Uh so the Den home building had this has

3:05:55been awarded to a developer who was

3:05:57working uh on on design efforts to

3:06:00develop that property. The idea of that

3:06:02property so that then generates tax

3:06:04revenue uh for the city in addition to

3:06:06the RMV. That is a a property that we

3:06:09will be submitting an RFP uh or

3:06:11releasing an RFP to the public for

3:06:14seeking proposals from developers to

3:06:16build mixed housing there as well. All

3:06:19of these efforts that our department of

3:06:21economic development, our under our

3:06:23chief e development officer, Peter Dunn

3:06:25is finding ways in which we can increase

3:06:28the revenue of the city uh in in ways

3:06:30through development, commercial

3:06:32development, residential development um

3:06:35finding ways that we can increase that

3:06:36tax levy for the city. Uh because that

3:06:38helps the day-to-day operations of

3:06:40municipal government, the day-to-day of

3:06:42what we do for the for the residents in

3:06:44our community. So um those play a role

3:06:47and and so we play an active role in

3:06:49working with the developers finding the

3:06:51right solution finding the right uh

3:06:53packages um and supporting them through

3:06:55that effort so that we can get these

3:06:57projects online as quickly as possible.

3:06:59Uh sometimes they are little hiccups

3:07:01within these projects but the goal is to

3:07:03to move them forward and get them uh

3:07:06developed as quickly as possible. Drew

3:07:08chair, who owns the denim building,

3:07:10>> excuse me.

3:07:10>> Who owns the denim building? Denome

3:07:12building.

3:07:13>> Drew chair to the council. The Den home

3:07:14building is currently still owned by the

3:07:16by.

3:07:17>> Okay. So, it how's that how will that

3:07:20generate revenue for us?

3:07:23>> How's that work that dance?

3:07:24>> Yeah. Yeah. through the [ __ ] to the

3:07:25council. Currently, right now does not

3:07:27uh once the once the property is turned

3:07:30over to the developer, uh then that's

3:07:32when uh and they fully develop the

3:07:34property, that's when we will then start

3:07:36to uh receive new tax revenues from that

3:07:38property.

3:07:38>> And is Mckiti involved with that still?

3:07:41>> Mckiti is currently the development

3:07:42company that uh that has the that uh was

3:07:46awarded the proposal to be the the

3:07:48granted the developer for that site,

3:07:50>> but it's going out to bid. Sure.

3:07:52>> No, the RMV.

3:07:53>> RMV.

3:07:53>> The RV. Okay. The RV is what we're

3:07:56releasing uh a request for proposals

3:07:58within probably within the month.

3:08:00>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We can

3:08:02>> you wrap up then?

3:08:02>> Y

3:08:03>> if we can get continued updates on that,

3:08:05Mr. Chairman, and I just want to kind of

3:08:07go on the record. You know, we've had

3:08:10new schools where capacity has been

3:08:12exceeded or uh projected capacity um as

3:08:17relates to new construction authority

3:08:19itself. Um, you know, and I certainly

3:08:21support um trying to get the most amount

3:08:24of students in a colllocated Burncoat

3:08:28middle and burn code high school. Um,

3:08:30and I understand that we have to sort of

3:08:33um but uh button up the budget as we

3:08:36move forward. Um, and we'll see where

3:08:38where things land, but I I I hope that

3:08:41that's the goal moving forward. Um, Mr.

3:08:44Chairman, and um, appreciate the report.

3:08:47>> Thank you. Okay, next up we have M Mr.

3:08:50Chairman, if I may, just to respond to

3:08:52the question regarding um the annual

3:08:55cost to the taxpayer, the 15 million. Um

3:08:58for the average residential, it would be

3:09:00about $192 or $48 a quarter. For the

3:09:04average three family, it would be $283

3:09:07or $70 a quarter. The average apartment

3:09:10would be $824

3:09:12or $26 a quarter. The average CIP,

3:09:16commercial industrial personal property,

3:09:18would be $1,345

3:09:21or $336 a quarter. And then the median

3:09:24CIP would be $500 or $125 a quarter.

3:09:28That's all based on the selected tax

3:09:30rate that we're currently within

3:09:32selected last year uh and the values

3:09:36from last year.

3:09:37>> M to get that as a way of a report. I'm

3:09:40also with a percentages of increase

3:09:43related to that. uh for further review.

3:09:45Thank you.

3:09:45>> Thank you, Councilor

3:09:48Tumi. Follow me.

3:09:51>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um I hate to say

3:09:54it, but my uh all three of my ch I don't

3:09:56hate to say this, but all three of my

3:09:58children attended Burncoat Middle and

3:10:00Burnat High School through the magnet

3:10:02program. Um and it was and is an

3:10:05exceptional program, I think, for the

3:10:07entire city. um all three of my stu

3:10:11children went through in were in STEM

3:10:13fields now. So it's really um an

3:10:16incredible educational opportunity. Um I

3:10:20I really believe and I as a former

3:10:23school committee member too that burn

3:10:26coat this burn coat school project is

3:10:28more than replacing aging buildings.

3:10:30It's an opportunity to give the burn

3:10:32code students safe, modern, and

3:10:34equitable learning environment that they

3:10:36deserve while making a responsible

3:10:38long-term investment in West's future.

3:10:41School facilities shape students daily

3:10:43experience, access to opportunity, sense

3:10:46of belonging, and ability to succeed.

3:10:48Burn code students should not have to

3:10:50learn in buildings designed for a

3:10:51different generation

3:10:54and educational system.

3:10:58Stu School facilities shape their

3:11:01ability to learn and and grow in the

3:11:03future and they deserve a facilities

3:11:06that support effective teaching,

3:11:08elaborate collaboration and diverse

3:11:10learning needs and preparation for

3:11:12college careers and civic life. But it's

3:11:14also an issue of equity. Wister has made

3:11:17major investments in new and renovated

3:11:18schools throughout the city and burn

3:11:20code students deserve the same

3:11:21opportunity to learn in facilities that

3:11:23reflect the quality of education we

3:11:26expect from our public schools. A modern

3:11:29school would affirm that burn code

3:11:31students and families are valued and

3:11:32that every neighborhood deserves access

3:11:35access to excellent and educational

3:11:37resources. A new or substantially

3:11:40renovated Burnco campus could provide

3:11:42modern science and technology

3:11:43classrooms, arts and performing arts

3:11:46spaces, athletic facilities, specialed

3:11:48accommodations, career technical

3:11:50opportunities, and welcome common

3:11:52welcoming common areas. These

3:11:54improvements would expand hands-on

3:11:56learning, strengthen student support,

3:11:58and support educators and help students

3:12:00develop the skills they need after

3:12:02graduation. Considering the middle

3:12:04school and high school together could

3:12:06create stronger educational pathways and

3:12:08smoother transitions into high school.

3:12:10It could also provide earlier access to

3:12:12specialized programs and allow the

3:12:14district to use facilities and resources

3:12:16more efficiently.

3:12:19Investing in burn code schools is a

3:12:20long-term value decision. Modern

3:12:23efficient facilities can reduce

3:12:25maintenance burden, improve

3:12:27accessibility, adapt to changing

3:12:30educational needs, and serve students

3:12:31for decades. And the cost of action must

3:12:34be weighed against the educational,

3:12:35operational, and financial costs of

3:12:38continuing to rely on the buildings that

3:12:39may no longer meet the needs of the

3:12:41students or staff. And I don't think

3:12:44they've met them for the past 30 years.

3:12:47Um, at the same time, we have a

3:12:49responsibility to our taxpayers, and we

3:12:51should not build simply because we can.

3:12:54We must determine which option provides

3:12:55the greatest long-term educational value

3:12:58while protecting public resources. And

3:13:00that means carefully comparing

3:13:02renovation

3:13:04uh renovation with additions and new

3:13:06construction and evaluating operating

3:13:08and maintenance costs over the project's

3:13:09full life and understanding the state's

3:13:11potential MSBA participation before

3:13:14making a final decision. The question

3:13:16should not simply be however how much

3:13:19this will cost. We should ask what will

3:13:21it cost if we do not address these

3:13:24facilities for another 20 30 or 50

3:13:26years. The cost of delay may include

3:13:28deferred maintenance and inefficient

3:13:31operations, missed educational

3:13:32opportunities, and the continued

3:13:34inequity of asking some students to

3:13:36learn facilities that do not meet the

3:13:38standards available elsewhere in the

3:13:39city. This is a once in a generation

3:13:42decision and it should be guided by the

3:13:43evidence and transparency that I see

3:13:46here right in this report um in

3:13:48financial careful financial planning. If

3:13:51the feasibility study demonstrates that

3:13:54this is the best education long-term

3:13:56financial solution, we should be

3:13:57prepared to make the investment. The

3:13:59goal should be a project that delivers

3:14:01measurable value for students,

3:14:02strengthens community, improves the

3:14:04city's educational infrastructure, and

3:14:06uses public resources re responsibly.

3:14:09Burn code students should not have to

3:14:11wait for a better future. They deserve

3:14:13schools that reflect WISH's commitment

3:14:15to opportunity, equity, and excellence,

3:14:17and they deserve them now. Our children

3:14:20should not have to wait for tomorrow's

3:14:21Wister. They should be able to learn in

3:14:23the Wister that we're building today. I

3:14:26absolutely uh believe that um the effort

3:14:29that's been put into this so far is very

3:14:32admirable and I think it's very

3:14:34thoughtful. Um and hopefully we'll we'll

3:14:37uh not have to worry about accreditation

3:14:40with the lack of cafeteria space and

3:14:43library space. I mean, that's been going

3:14:45on for 20, 30 years. So, um, with that

3:14:50being said, I do, uh, have to mention we

3:14:52do have, uh, other schools that are as

3:14:55needy and we do have to plan for the

3:14:58future for that as well. Um, and I think

3:15:01that, you know, we've been talking about

3:15:04um, you know, different types of

3:15:07funding, different types of investments

3:15:10and things like that. And so perhaps,

3:15:12you know, uh we could take a look at

3:15:14some creative um investment or incentive

3:15:17for businesses and uh organizations and

3:15:21nonprofits or whatever to uh invest in

3:15:24Wester's future. And that's certainly to

3:15:27me investing in education is a win for

3:15:30everybody. So I just want to thank you

3:15:32all very much and I look forward to the

3:15:34uh to the report what comes out next.

3:15:36Thank you.

3:15:38>> Thank you. Okay, we have uh council

3:15:41metro.

3:15:44>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Through you to the

3:15:47chief, uh

3:15:50the report that is presented to us, my

3:15:53question is that

3:15:55what's the city council? What is that

3:15:57that you want from us by presenting

3:16:00this? What role do we have today?

3:16:03>> Mr. Bad. So through the chair to the

3:16:06counselor at this point for tonight

3:16:08nothing

3:16:09>> it's anformational transmission to give

3:16:11you an idea of the process of the MSBA

3:16:13>> the process of where we are in the

3:16:15construction or design excuse me we're

3:16:17not in construction at this point and

3:16:19just to kind of update you on that and

3:16:21then as we moved into the pro the

3:16:23process we started to really understand

3:16:25the financial impacts of it so working

3:16:28with Mr. McGirthy and working with the

3:16:29city manager, it was prudent to bring it

3:16:32forth again and the previous manager had

3:16:34brought it forth um to the council at

3:16:37times. You know, this was going to be an

3:16:39expensive con uh project and he this has

3:16:42been discussed for quite some time, but

3:16:44it was time to bring it forth. What are

3:16:45we going to ask from the council in in

3:16:47the future is to vote on loan authority

3:16:49and vote on the ability to move forward

3:16:51with the project.

3:16:52>> So all the things that you to the chair

3:16:55to the chief that

3:16:57>> Mr. manager. Why this is

3:16:59>> uh just uh I just want to add to exactly

3:17:02what uh Jimar just mentioned. Tomorrow

3:17:05this goes to the committee and then this

3:17:08documents become public and the

3:17:09information was going to become public

3:17:12um or or well known to everyone. And so

3:17:15we wanted to make sure that the council

3:17:17saw it before we uh propended it to the

3:17:20committee and then it became available

3:17:22to everybody. um because once it becomes

3:17:24available to the committee and to

3:17:26everyone and it goes online then all of

3:17:29you may be asking me how come we don't

3:17:31know about this what's going on so we

3:17:33wanted to make sure proactively provide

3:17:35the information that was that Jim

3:17:37referenced to all of you before that

3:17:39goes before the committee tomorrow

3:17:42>> thank you um Mr. manager uh through

3:17:47chair to the manager then in that case

3:17:49you are saying as I understand that all

3:17:52the things that we are saying doesn't

3:17:55really mean much it's just for us to

3:17:58know before it goes to the public that

3:18:00this is where we stand today whatever we

3:18:02are saying really has nothing to add to

3:18:06tomorrow's vote or anything right

3:18:09understand so really speaking when if I

3:18:12say something doesn't matter at this

3:18:15point

3:18:16>> uh to the chair to the council um I I I

3:18:21can't answer directly. I think uh the

3:18:24anything you say as a as a elected

3:18:26official on the floor does matter. Um

3:18:29and presents your opinion and your

3:18:31position on the situation. Um and so

3:18:35again, it all depends on what

3:18:36information you want to be able to share

3:18:39for the public to understand kind of

3:18:41your rationale and your thought process

3:18:43on it.

3:18:44Thank you um Mr. through you to the

3:18:48chief to the administrators

3:18:51I'll just say something that I feel um

3:18:55knowing the fact that this is just an

3:18:56information given to us I think the

3:18:59common sense says that we should do what

3:19:01we can afford to do that's what the

3:19:05common sense this council should see

3:19:08what we can afford to do when we have so

3:19:11many other things to do as well I hear

3:19:15burn school is very important for us to

3:19:18improve it, renovate it or just do a new

3:19:21construction. I see here the new

3:19:24construction is cheaper than renovating

3:19:26and adding if I'm not wrong. Right? I

3:19:29mean, if that is the fact, then why

3:19:31don't we do the new construction, you

3:19:33know, rather than what's the purpose of

3:19:35giving me something which is more

3:19:37expensive but not as good while I'm

3:19:39going to do the new construction which

3:19:41is cheaper. I don't know why I'm getting

3:19:44that message because I'll say that let's

3:19:46do new construction because that's

3:19:48cheaper that's new. So I don't know

3:19:51whether this has anything to say in

3:19:53tomorrow's voting but I just want to say

3:19:55that we as a counselor we should see

3:19:59that what do we need for our city yes we

3:20:02need school we need good education in my

3:20:06opinion education is not in the building

3:20:10we need good buildings state-of-the-art

3:20:12you know having the facilities that our

3:20:14students can do well learn well but the

3:20:17education is in giving the knowledge

3:20:19having good teachers in there, bringing

3:20:22in high class teachers and teaching them

3:20:24what is required for them to be the

3:20:26distinguished students in the nation.

3:20:28That's what I think is important to me.

3:20:30I'm not saying that I'm not discounting

3:20:32that we don't we shouldn't have the

3:20:35building. But we also have to see like

3:20:39council econom mentioned that I

3:20:41personally see that we have several

3:20:43things that we need to do. I think we

3:20:45should secure the possibility of the

3:20:48funding. It's important that we know

3:20:50that we may increase the taxes, but is

3:20:53it something going to happen? If it

3:20:55doesn't happen, then what's our plan B?

3:20:59I mean, it's an expensive project. We

3:21:01all agree with that. And with that, we

3:21:04may have to compromise somewhere in

3:21:06other things which are not to be

3:21:08ignored. We have safety, we have roads,

3:21:11we have, you know, sidewalks, we have

3:21:13the unhoused people issue now. We have

3:21:16police chief came in and we need to

3:21:18include that the number of law

3:21:20enforcement officers and we have to

3:21:22serve the city as a council. I think we

3:21:26should see where we can do our

3:21:29priorities and do the best while I

3:21:32understand the need of doing the court

3:21:35school renovating it. Probably it's good

3:21:38to do a new construction which comes out

3:21:40to be cheaper. But my point is that

3:21:44let's all be using the common sense and

3:21:47see you know what best we can do how

3:21:50much more money we need that we can

3:21:54really think that we can get it through

3:21:55the either funding from the state or

3:21:58some other sources or by increasing the

3:22:01taxes. I mean increasing the taxes we

3:22:03know it's not going to be it's a battle

3:22:06and we all always have every year an

3:22:08issue with the tax classification. So

3:22:10it's not going to be something that we

3:22:12need to I would like to see that how we

3:22:14can secure the funding needed to move

3:22:16with this. I'm not against the building.

3:22:19I mean we need to improve it safety

3:22:21purpose. We need to fix it. Can we do in

3:22:25like in partially this year partially

3:22:27next year to make our budget come

3:22:29through what are the other issues or

3:22:32possibilities we have? I hope that

3:22:34that's something being discussed

3:22:35tomorrow and uh and come up with a

3:22:39solution that is

3:22:41that's that is the common sense use that

3:22:44would be my two cents knowing the fact

3:22:47that we we have the information but

3:22:49really what we say today doesn't matter

3:22:51much tomorrow's voting I'm sure that

3:22:54body will do the right judgment but um I

3:22:58would just like to say that as a council

3:23:00all of us should think what is best for

3:23:03our city. Is this the project that we

3:23:05can afford to do? Can we secure some

3:23:08funding through the chief financial

3:23:11officer? I would say if there are

3:23:12sources that you can tell us that we can

3:23:14probably do this, I think I think it's

3:23:17make it doable. That's all I'm saying.

3:23:20So, thank you very much for giving the

3:23:22information. We see it what it is. I

3:23:24hope it happens. But at the same time I

3:23:26would be very careful about not

3:23:28compromising with other things that we

3:23:30need to do for the city as well because

3:23:33city belongs to everyone. I have always

3:23:36said the budget is a matter of

3:23:37compromise. We should put money more

3:23:41towards the factor where it impacts

3:23:43everyone or most. Yes, school is very

3:23:46important. Education is very important.

3:23:48I'm very high on education myself. But

3:23:51as I said to me definition of education

3:23:53or giving education is not indicated

3:23:56through how big a building we have is an

3:24:00indication of how good the teachers we

3:24:02have. How we can infuse the knowledge in

3:24:05our students to make them be most

3:24:07knowledgeable. But I'm not against it. I

3:24:10just want to see that we can afford to

3:24:12do it. If we don't have enough revenue

3:24:15or money, we need to see secure how we

3:24:18can all work together to see where we

3:24:19can get the money from and get going on.

3:24:22Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3:24:23>> Thank you, Council Bergman.

3:24:26>> Did you have your hand up?

3:24:28>> Oh, you did. I thought you did. Okay.

3:24:30Okay. So, we will along with the motion

3:24:32as the manager and we'll send this to um

3:24:35education. All those in favor? Oppose?

3:24:38So, ordered.

3:24:43Okay, we are on the finance items.

3:24:478.35

3:24:48A through D. 8.36 A through D. 8.37 A

3:24:52through C adopt on the roll call.

3:24:55>> Mr. Chairman, I'd like to speak on uh C,

3:24:57please. 8 8.3 C.

3:25:00>> 8.35 C.

3:25:02>> C.

3:25:02>> Which one?

3:25:04>> C is three C's.

3:25:06>> 8.36 C.

3:25:08>> 36. Okay.

3:25:11Okay. So, you are okay. Recommend

3:25:14$21,000

3:25:16uh community fund gate fees. Uh

3:25:18councelor Fazol.

3:25:20>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Through you, I

3:25:22want to uh thank the city manager and

3:25:24the administration for coming back so

3:25:26quickly with my request for this amount

3:25:28of money. Uh this so the general public

3:25:32knows uh this was a request to do a

3:25:36study for a uh proposal to restrict

3:25:43trailer truck traffic on Lake A and

3:25:46Hamilton Street. And we had a good group

3:25:50show up at the traffic and parking

3:25:52meeting back a few weeks ago uh

3:25:55regarding this and they couldn't be in

3:25:57more support. those residents of Lake AB

3:26:01and Hamilton Street. So again, uh I look

3:26:05forward to this money paying for that

3:26:09report and going to the state them

3:26:10coming back and restricting trailer

3:26:12truck traffic. And the perfect route for

3:26:16those trailer trucks is to stay on 20,

3:26:18go to 146 and on to 290 and get off at

3:26:22that exit right across the street from

3:26:25the entrance to CSX. That's the best way

3:26:28to get there and this is the way we're

3:26:30going to do it. I hope Mr. Chairman

3:26:32through you. Thank you.

3:26:34>> Thank you. So take those items, three

3:26:36items 8.35A through D. Council King,

3:26:40>> thank you.

3:26:43>> Certainly support the adoption of this.

3:26:44I I just had a question to the chair. Um

3:26:47which one? Before I support this, um I'm

3:26:49not going to be able to unless I I want

3:26:51to hear a little bit more from the city

3:26:53manager regarding um the committees

3:26:57that's supposed to be assembled to make

3:26:59decisions relative to this pot of money.

3:27:01Um, I'd filed or uh orders in the past

3:27:05um that that the committee uh similar to

3:27:08the ones that that was in the past that

3:27:10decided how these funds were dispersed

3:27:13um outside of uh individual counselors

3:27:17um would be re um initiated and

3:27:20reassembled. Just run through the chair

3:27:22um if you don't have an answer, I'll

3:27:24just give a report back on a status

3:27:26update um on that group. Mr. Manager

3:27:31Yeah, through the chances of the

3:27:32council, um I spoke to both counselors

3:27:35involved in this process uh that

3:27:38represent these districts. Uh each

3:27:40counselor, uh I gave uh in conversation

3:27:43with them and chose to take different

3:27:45paths. Uh one counselor created a

3:27:48committee within his district to try to

3:27:49get feedback on what they wanted to do

3:27:52within that district. the other

3:27:53counselor works with neighborhood

3:27:55meetings and other uh avenues uh to get

3:27:58community impact to then make uh

3:28:00recommendations. And so those

3:28:02recommendations come before the floor

3:28:03and then then the council then makes the

3:28:06uh the uh the vote to appropriate those

3:28:08funds uh to the respective projects that

3:28:11are being uh supported or uh being

3:28:14endorsed by those counselors. Uh no

3:28:16committee uh what it what it used to be

3:28:19that committee has not been established.

3:28:21Um again I've provided that opportunity

3:28:24in discussions with both counselors to

3:28:26guide uh uh the process.

3:28:28>> So we had orders from the council um

3:28:30unanimous orders as relates to those

3:28:33committees and the purpose of those

3:28:35committees um is to ensure um that funds

3:28:39are dispersed. Now, we had a situation

3:28:42uh with the former district counselor um

3:28:45of district 2 um where monies hadn't

3:28:48been used for an extended period of

3:28:51time. Um and they were not dispersed,

3:28:54they were not used, they were not

3:28:56accessed um on behalf of the

3:28:58neighborhoods. And um th those bodies

3:29:02were intended to make sure that there's

3:29:04community engagement that's not just um

3:29:08reported from a counselor. um that those

3:29:10those groups um have meetings, they have

3:29:14notes um and they have recommendations.

3:29:17Um and so that's a standing order to the

3:29:20administration. Um going back, there's

3:29:22been nothing filed to remove that. I

3:29:25understand the preferences of our

3:29:26counselors, Mr. Chairman, what I would

3:29:29like by way of an order is just to

3:29:31report back on what the old formation

3:29:33used to be uh what the function was um

3:29:37to the uh city council so we can have a

3:29:40clear understanding of that, Mr.

3:29:41Chairman. And um again um the those

3:29:46groups were purposeful um they were

3:29:49intentional um and they were documented

3:29:51and transparency is everything. Uh we

3:29:54don't want to get oursel in another

3:29:55situation like we've been in the past.

3:29:57Thank you.

3:30:00Thank you. So take those items

3:30:02collectively with the items motion for

3:30:04report. Roll call.

3:30:06>> Councelor Bergman.

3:30:08>> Yes.

3:30:08>> Councor Belau.

3:30:09>> Yes.

3:30:09>> Councelor Cona.

3:30:10>> Yes.

3:30:10>> Councelor Rolo.

3:30:11>> Yes.

3:30:12>> Councor King.

3:30:12>> Yes.

3:30:13>> Mitro.

3:30:14>> Yes.

3:30:14>> Council.

3:30:15>> Yes.

3:30:15>> Councelor Rivera.

3:30:16>> Yes.

3:30:17>> Council Rosen.

3:30:18>> Yes.

3:30:18>> Councor Tumi.

3:30:19>> Yes.

3:30:20>> Mayor Petty.

3:30:21>> Yes. 9A. The ordain the roll call. Roll

3:30:23call.

3:30:24>> Councelor Bergman.

3:30:26>> Yes. Yes.

3:30:26>> Bada.

3:30:28>> Yes.

3:30:29>> Cono.

3:30:30>> Yes.

3:30:30>> Rolo.

3:30:31>> Yes.

3:30:32>> King.

3:30:32>> Yes.

3:30:33>> Mitra.

3:30:34>> Yes.

3:30:35>> Ha.

3:30:36>> Yes.

3:30:36>> Rivera.

3:30:37>> Yes.

3:30:38>> Councelor Rosen.

3:30:38>> Yes.

3:30:39>> Tumi.

3:30:40>> Yes.

3:30:40>> Mayor Petty.

3:30:41>> Yes. We are on 10 A.

3:30:44>> Motion to recuse.

3:30:45>> Council T has recused herself on A, B,

3:30:47and A, B, C, and M.

3:30:51Okay. Ch the committee of public safety

3:30:54request city manager request city to

3:30:55provide council with a draft ordinance

3:30:57amending the city's noise ordinance by

3:30:58increasing fines associated with

3:31:00violations of excessive noise.

3:31:03>> Okay. This is an order going to the city

3:31:06solicitor.

3:31:08>> Mr. Chairman have a question to the

3:31:10chair.

3:31:10>> Sure. M council king. Um through chairs

3:31:13to the administration uh what is the

3:31:15percentage of increase in complaints

3:31:18regarding noise ordinances or the uh

3:31:21percentage of increases in fines

3:31:23relative to violations of excessive

3:31:25noise to the chair.

3:31:27>> Mr. Manager

3:31:30>> through the council I don't have that

3:31:32readily available. Um are you aware of

3:31:34any significant increase in those

3:31:36complaints

3:31:38>> uh through the shift to the council the

3:31:40>> significant

3:31:41>> um

3:31:44that's uh it's relatively speaking it

3:31:46depends on the the situation or the

3:31:48matter I know that there's one

3:31:50particular property that's been

3:31:51questioned here um um but overall across

3:31:55the entire city we have not seen a

3:31:57significant increase uh we know that

3:31:59there's one particular situation that

3:32:01has come forward Um, and I believe

3:32:03that's probably why uh kind of the the

3:32:06the the

3:32:10order is before us.

3:32:11>> Thank you. I I I'm of the same opinion,

3:32:14Mr. Chairman. Uh, this is a knee-jerk

3:32:16reaction to a singular situation. Um,

3:32:19and the situation that I think it's with

3:32:20regarding to related to the issue up on

3:32:23um, uh, Lincoln Street and the property

3:32:25over there. And I know the mayor, city

3:32:27manager, I know as recently as

3:32:29yesterday, uh, councelor econom

3:32:33effectively addressing that recently.

3:32:36Um, I was unable to make the meeting

3:32:38yesterday due to childc care issues and

3:32:39by the time I got their meeting was

3:32:41over. It's my understanding that meeting

3:32:43went particularly well. Um, with the

3:32:45leadership of uh, Representative Day

3:32:47that was President Councelor Economo.

3:32:50Um, so I just want to state clearly for

3:32:52the public. Um I will not be voting in

3:32:55support of this. Um there is no

3:32:57significant upsurge or uptick um as

3:33:01relates to this. Um fine increases are

3:33:04uh there for deterrent purposes. Um and

3:33:07I has nothing before me that indicates

3:33:10um that that is an issue at this time.

3:33:13Thank you.

3:33:14>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

3:33:14>> Councelor Okonnell.

3:33:16>> I'm sorry, Council.

3:33:17>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um,

3:33:21so is it specific to this situation?

3:33:25Sure. But it is an issue. Make no

3:33:28mistake about it. It is an issue to

3:33:29those residents who live in that

3:33:32community. Um, so to just dismiss it

3:33:35like that, it's not an issue I don't I

3:33:38don't think is right. Um, I'd look

3:33:41forward to hearing back from the

3:33:42solicitor, see what the solicitor has to

3:33:44say. If my colleagues wish to have voted

3:33:46another way, that's fine. That's a

3:33:48that's their prerogative. Um, and I will

3:33:51say we did meet last night. We met um as

3:33:54a group uh with the pastor, the

3:33:57neighborhood, the um special services

3:34:00division, chief of police, and I believe

3:34:04at this juncture we're on the right

3:34:06path. We're all playing off the same

3:34:08playbook, which I think is important.

3:34:11Um but whether it's here or somewhere

3:34:15else, I think it's something that needs

3:34:17to be looked at. Mr. Chairman, thank

3:34:19you.

3:34:19>> Thank you,

3:34:20>> Councelor Bada probably Bergman.

3:34:24>> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, I I I

3:34:26do want to say that this all this has

3:34:28been in response to significant concerns

3:34:31and long ongoing concerns from folks in

3:34:34the neighborhood up on Lincoln Street.

3:34:36And even in my district, I have

3:34:38residents on Waverly Street that have

3:34:40had very similar issues with a uh the

3:34:44Pentecostal church on on Providence

3:34:46Street, the corner of Providence and

3:34:48Waverly. And I think some of it boils

3:34:50down to, you know, the halls are being

3:34:52rented. Um which is all well and good,

3:34:55but I think sometimes um the the

3:34:58whoever's renting is or or certain

3:35:01noise, you know, ordinances aren't being

3:35:03enforced. But this is just really boils

3:35:05down to to being a good neighbor. And

3:35:07whether you're a resident, whether

3:35:09you're uh an institution, uh it's just

3:35:12about being a good neighbor. And and and

3:35:14when you have music uh going till 2:00

3:35:17a.m. and we have residents calling us

3:35:20asking saying this has been an ongoing

3:35:22issue for years, um it's our duty to try

3:35:26to respond to that. And I don't think it

3:35:27it's again this is in happening in

3:35:30different areas of the city, different

3:35:31socioeconomic areas of the city. So I

3:35:34think to to to paint it as it's just

3:35:35this is h only being addressed because

3:35:38it's happening in one particular

3:35:39neighborhood. I I I don't think this is

3:35:41a fair characterization because again

3:35:43this impacts people in all neighborhoods

3:35:45and I'll say again it just boils down to

3:35:47just being a good neighbor. So thank

3:35:48you.

3:35:49>> Thank you councelor Rivera.

3:35:51>> Um

3:35:53I'm going to concur with uh councelor

3:35:55Bada. This is definitely not a one

3:35:57neighborhood issue. Um, I got complaints

3:35:59going on at the moment right now, three

3:36:02different areas in district 5. So, so

3:36:05this is something that we got to take

3:36:06seriously.

3:36:07>> Thank you, Council Bergman.

3:36:11>> Yeah, I um I recall us talking about

3:36:13this at public safety and um

3:36:17I'm sure there's I know there's been

3:36:19other conversations prior to that. This

3:36:22may have been driven by one particular

3:36:24instrument, but it certainly includes

3:36:25many others in many other districts.

3:36:28I don't see any issue with looking at

3:36:30increasing fines. And we lowered the

3:36:32speed limit. And we asked questions

3:36:34tonight of the police chief, how many

3:36:36citations did you give out? It's okay to

3:36:38do that. It's okay to tell people, you

3:36:41know, you need to and you should. If

3:36:42you're not blaming the law, you should

3:36:44pay a fine. But here it seems like

3:36:47there's an issue for some folks about

3:36:50finding people or at least proposing

3:36:52that fines should be increased. Um we

3:36:55had a long lengthy meeting. Um lot due

3:36:58respect to some of my colleagues who may

3:37:00not agree with this. I didn't see them

3:37:01at that meeting. Maybe they listened

3:37:03after the fact, but uh this isn't a

3:37:05knee-jerk reaction to anything. It's it

3:37:08may not be the only solution. may turn

3:37:11out not to be the best solution, but

3:37:13it's an opportunity to try something

3:37:15new, something different, and I'm going

3:37:18to support it.

3:37:19>> Okay, councelor.

3:37:23Okay. So, so we'll take a vote on this,

3:37:26a yes vote to adopt and a no vote or not

3:37:29to adopt. Roll call.

3:37:31>> Mr. Chairman, says 10, B, and C.

3:37:34>> Oh, no, no, no, no,

3:37:35>> no. It's 10 A.

3:37:36>> Okay.

3:37:38>> Bergman.

3:37:39>> Yes.

3:37:39>> Mr. Bada. Yes.

3:37:40>> Councor Cono.

3:37:41>> Yes.

3:37:42>> Zolo.

3:37:43>> Yes.

3:37:43>> Council King.

3:37:44>> No.

3:37:44>> Mitra.

3:37:45>> Yes.

3:37:46>> Ha.

3:37:46>> Yes.

3:37:47>> Council Rivera.

3:37:48>> Yes.

3:37:48>> Council Rosen.

3:37:52>> He's not there.

3:37:54>> Okay. Council Tumi. Recuse yourself with

3:37:56Mayor Petty.

3:37:57>> Yes. Okay. 10B.

3:38:00Council Rosie W. Okay. 10B. Request city

3:38:04manager review the feasibility of

3:38:05requiring that public hearings take

3:38:07place before the license commission for

3:38:09all one-day event license applications

3:38:11with the public notices being sent to

3:38:12all but in the vicinity of the proposed

3:38:15location.

3:38:17A yes vote would be adopted.

3:38:19Everybody all set? Council King.

3:38:23Does

3:38:23>> this does this pertain to one day event

3:38:26license applications for uh events in uh

3:38:31parks?

3:38:36So if the Dominican festival wants a one

3:38:40day permit in addition to everything

3:38:43else they got to do, they have to come

3:38:45before a

3:38:50I don't understand this. Someone explain

3:38:52this to me through the chair. What does

3:38:53this mean?

3:38:58>> Public hearings. What does that mean? to

3:39:01the ch to the council. Uh from my

3:39:03understanding, I haven't spoken to the

3:39:05counselor that put this forward, but my

3:39:07understanding based on just reading this

3:39:09is requiring all events um to have that

3:39:13are requesting a one-day uh application

3:39:16to have a public hearing. Um be and and

3:39:20the idea is to notify the abutters um of

3:39:23that event. most most uh anyway events

3:39:28like the Dominican festival, they have

3:39:30to go to the license commission because

3:39:31they have they're required to have an

3:39:32entertainment license.

3:39:34>> Um and if they're serving alcohol, they

3:39:35have to come before uh there are some

3:39:38events that don't have to go before the

3:39:40license commission. Um and so just on

3:39:43the face of this, it seems the request

3:39:46is that uh uh requiring public hearings

3:39:49for those events that potentially don't

3:39:52have to go to license commission

3:39:53>> such as

3:39:54>> um

3:39:57any any event that does that may not

3:39:58require an entertainment license and may

3:40:00not require um uh a liquor license.

3:40:08Not maybe

3:40:12But yeah, that's so for example, if

3:40:16there's a summer league event, if

3:40:17there's a summer league,

3:40:18>> yes.

3:40:18>> If there's a event that at a park that's

3:40:20happening,

3:40:21>> uh there's no entertainment required,

3:40:23there's no serving of alcohol, you're

3:40:25simply just having a one-day event where

3:40:28you're not needing those types of

3:40:30services. Oftent times, you can get your

3:40:32permits for uh food permit, etc. Maybe

3:40:35right on uh but you don't have you're

3:40:37not required to attend the license

3:40:39commission. depending on the event

3:40:42and all that.

3:40:43>> Yeah,

3:40:44>> this goes this is not just attending the

3:40:46license commission. This is not just

3:40:48about attending the license commission.

3:40:49What I'm reading here is about notifying

3:40:51the abuters. The responsibility of the

3:40:54of the event organizers to notify the

3:40:56abuters of you know proposed location or

3:41:01or of that event that's happening.

3:41:06Okay,

3:41:08this is just a report back for whatever

3:41:12it is.

3:41:13>> Okay, thank you.

3:41:15>> Council Gonal.

3:41:16>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to help

3:41:17add some clarification on this, too. Um,

3:41:22and at the time of our subcommittee

3:41:23meeting, I wasn't

3:41:25I understand that if somebody's having a

3:41:28a festival or a party somewhere where

3:41:32there's food, liquor, entertainment

3:41:34going on that they would uh come to the

3:41:38license commission. What I did not know

3:41:40is if anybody if the abuters are

3:41:43notified on that and that's where the

3:41:46clarity that I'm looking for is to make

3:41:48sure that a butters are notified if

3:41:50that's the case so they are aware of

3:41:52what is going on in their neighborhoods.

3:41:57>> Okay. Councelor Rivera.

3:41:58>> So for clarification purposes it's not

3:42:01to

3:42:03create a public meeting for one day

3:42:05events. is more for when they do go in

3:42:08front of the um license commission the

3:42:10butters are are are made aware. Okay,

3:42:14that's good. Yeah,

3:42:14>> Mr. Manager.

3:42:16>> Yeah, three chips to council. Um

3:42:19there are many organizers who plan

3:42:22events uh do not seek an abutters list

3:42:27by the assessor pay for it and then

3:42:29distribute out and communicate to

3:42:31everybody um in the abuing uh that

3:42:35currently does not happen from my

3:42:37knowledge. Um if there's an event

3:42:39organizer that's currently doing that

3:42:41kudos to them for doing that but from my

3:42:43knowledge that's not currently happening

3:42:44in the city. So I think the spirit of

3:42:46this orders is to encourage or to

3:42:49require uh all event organizers to do

3:42:52that. They are events that do not have

3:42:55to go to the license commission. Um and

3:42:58so I don't know if that also would apply

3:43:01to those events that don't have to go to

3:43:03the license commission. events that go

3:43:05to the license commission are seeking

3:43:08particular permits or particular uh uh

3:43:12applications or or um uh different is

3:43:17different things that they're requesting

3:43:19permits that they need from the life

3:43:20commissions and approvals.

3:43:24>> Okay. Council King second time

3:43:27>> through the chair. Um

3:43:30different size events have different

3:43:33requirements

3:43:34in our parks. Correct. Through the chair

3:43:37and some of those require going to

3:43:39license commission, some don't. Is that

3:43:41correct? So this would make it blanket

3:43:43across the board. Is that correct?

3:43:45>> Mr. Manager.

3:43:49>> I don't know. Okay. All right. So fine.

3:43:50A feasible report's fine. Whatever.

3:43:52>> I I I I don't know what exactly if this

3:43:55is a blanket for all events. I don't

3:43:57know either

3:43:58>> or just the one.

3:44:00>> Um, you know, I I I certainly understand

3:44:02um you know what I'll say publicly is

3:44:04this. We've had a lot of uh concerns

3:44:07about events in the city, barriers put

3:44:10in place. Uh city manager has worked to

3:44:13try to reduce some of those barriers.

3:44:14We've had over the years plenty of folks

3:44:16coming up in here. Um, and we want to

3:44:19make sure um that we're as friendly as

3:44:21possible while being as responsible as

3:44:24possible as it relates to noise in

3:44:26neighborhoods. I know that in some

3:44:27instances you're asked for a plan for

3:44:30notifying uh neighborhoods depending on

3:44:33the size and the nature of the event.

3:44:35Um, I'm just concerned um that this is

3:44:38going to be additional barriers for

3:44:41folks um in the spirit of communicating

3:44:44to a butters. But when you're talking

3:44:45about purchasing um you know a list and

3:44:49all those things um I certainly will um

3:44:52probably sustain on this and look

3:44:54forward to the report back. Um but um

3:44:58I'm just hoping we're not increasing

3:45:00barriers to folks that want to use our

3:45:02spaces. Thank you.

3:45:05>> Thank you. Council Rosen the chairman. A

3:45:07motion to file 10B.

3:45:12>> Okay. Motion is to file takes precedence

3:45:16on B. All set. Okay. Motion to file.

3:45:19Roll call. Councelor Bergman.

3:45:21>> No.

3:45:21>> Council Bada.

3:45:22>> Yes.

3:45:23>> Councelor Cono.

3:45:24>> No.

3:45:24>> Council Rolo.

3:45:25>> Yes.

3:45:26>> Councilor King.

3:45:27>> Yes.

3:45:27>> Council Mitra.

3:45:28>> No.

3:45:29>> Council Hayda.

3:45:30>> Yes.

3:45:30>> Council Vera.

3:45:31>> Yes.

3:45:32>> Councelor Rosen.

3:45:34>> Yes.

3:45:35>> Council Tumi is recus. Mayor Petty.

3:45:39>> Yes.

3:45:46Six to three.

3:45:50>> Sorry, it was 1, two, three, four, five,

3:45:52six, seven to three.

3:45:55Okay. Request city manager provide

3:45:57council with a report detailing the

3:45:58feasibility of increasing the W police

3:46:00department's personnel to ensure the

3:46:01staffing of two officers per route car.

3:46:04So request should also include estimate

3:46:05cost analysis into such a practice.

3:46:08Okay. Motion is to approve. Council

3:46:11Kane.

3:46:11>> Thank you to the chair to the

3:46:13administration. Um

3:46:16just want to make sure because the only

3:46:17way I'm going to support I currently

3:46:19stand in opposition but let me just feel

3:46:21my way through this. So we know that

3:46:23that increases safety right of officers.

3:46:27Um I'm wondering what it does for um

3:46:30responsiveness, what it does to

3:46:32vehicles. Are we looking at less

3:46:34vehicles? Is there cost sh savings

3:46:36there? um what it means for visibility

3:46:39um in terms of less less visibility,

3:46:42less cars, less less um you know um uh

3:46:46locations that folks are in. Um so in

3:46:49this feasibility report um I would also

3:46:52like to see um a cost analysis as well

3:46:56as um evidence-based research um on the

3:47:01issue because there's pros and cons um

3:47:04and there's fiscal um um concerns and

3:47:08and and what we'd be looking at um in

3:47:11terms of numbers. Um but you know again

3:47:15um certainly just kind of throwing

3:47:16something out like something something

3:47:18out there like this um with from a

3:47:21committee without any um data um

3:47:26happens. Um, so I'm not going to oppose

3:47:29this, but um, from the research I've

3:47:31done over the past week, um, it could

3:47:33have a significant impact on um,

3:47:36operations and responsiveness um, due to

3:47:39a reduction in um, officers um, in where

3:47:43they're located in their specific

3:47:45sectors um, depending um, and I also

3:47:49know that the research shows that it

3:47:51could be safer as well. Um, so we can

3:47:53get a balanced report without a

3:47:55recommendation. so we can have a a real

3:47:59exploration of this. Thank you, Mr.

3:48:00Chairman.

3:48:03>> Okay. So, be approved. All those in fa

3:48:06as amended. All those in favor of post.

3:48:08So, order a ordered. Next is order of

3:48:11council Bada and Rosen request major

3:48:13request the chief devel office with

3:48:15housing partners and stakeholders

3:48:16develop a new homeowner and tenant

3:48:18summit to educate residents about house

3:48:20housing programs, benefits, and tenants

3:48:22rights.

3:48:23Council

3:48:24>> Batada.

3:48:24>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah. um wanted

3:48:27to submit this. Over close to 60% of

3:48:30Worcester's housing units are occupied

3:48:32by by renters. Uh it's great to see that

3:48:34we're having the inaugural homeowner

3:48:36summit coming up on November 7th. We

3:48:38have the the landlord summit, but again,

3:48:41um a significant portion of Worester

3:48:43residents are are are renters. It'd be

3:48:45great to have provide them with some

3:48:47education about what their tenants

3:48:49rights are. I think about um this order.

3:48:52I think about Gage Street and the fire

3:48:54that happened at Gage Street and and

3:48:55that was a a house that was in a

3:48:58property that was in poor condition.

3:49:00Maybe those some of those residents

3:49:01could have benefited from knowing what

3:49:03their rights are and how to report, you

3:49:06know, uh unsafe conditions, unsanitary

3:49:08conditions. Um a lot of our again half

3:49:11more than half of our occupied housing

3:49:14units are occupied by renters.

3:49:17significant number of our Worester

3:49:19public school students live in rental

3:49:22households. So, I think it could be a

3:49:24beneficial thing to add on maybe next

3:49:25year to the uh inaugural or excuse me to

3:49:28the homeowner summit, but it's something

3:49:29that's needed. Thank you.

3:49:31>> Like to sign on to that, Mr. Chairman.

3:49:35>> Okay. Okay. Those in favor post so by

3:49:39signing on. Okay. 10 E

3:49:44right one. Uh council

3:49:48I already do that one

3:49:50and council Rosen

3:49:54Christy manager develop a policy

3:49:55standardized mitigation and community

3:49:57benefits for new developments. Said Paul

3:49:59should create clear standards for

3:50:00mitigation funds are set to address

3:50:02negative impacts created by the project.

3:50:05ensure community benefits to ensure that

3:50:06the surrounding neighborhood through

3:50:07improvements to public infrastructure

3:50:09and neighborhood amenities.

3:50:11Council Ba.

3:50:12>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um

3:50:15tempted to go as it reads, but uh no, I

3:50:18wanted to submit this because I think

3:50:20it's important. I know this happens. I

3:50:22know uh Mr. done and his team do this

3:50:24and the and the administration does this

3:50:26with on case by case. But I think it

3:50:27would be really helpful for us to have

3:50:30some type of standardized policy that

3:50:32creates clear standards for mitigation.

3:50:34If a if a you know 50unit building comes

3:50:36into a neighborhood, what type of

3:50:38mitigation funds are they going to

3:50:39provide to offset the impact to road

3:50:41infrastructure to our sewer, our demand

3:50:43on sewer? Uh we talked earlier today

3:50:45about about traffic enforcement. What I

3:50:48hear from my constituents across the

3:50:50district is they're concerned about

3:50:51traffic and the the the concern that all

3:50:54these new, you know, buildings coming

3:50:56online, what's that going to do to

3:50:58traffic? What's that going to do to our

3:50:59infrastructure? So, I think this this

3:51:00could be a great way to have um when

3:51:03developers come in when whether it's

3:51:05biotech or housing to find out what can

3:51:09they do, what benefits can they bring to

3:51:11the neighborhood, tangible benefits to

3:51:13residents. So I think this is important

3:51:14and also not just mitigation funds but

3:51:17uh what other type of community benefits

3:51:19would they want to do to enhance the

3:51:21surrounding neighborhood whether it's

3:51:22like arts and culture um or things of

3:51:25that nature. So neighborhood amenities

3:51:27but you know I know councelor Fzolo has

3:51:29that big new development coming in on in

3:51:31his district. Um I think about the

3:51:34development on

3:51:36Franklin Street and what that's going to

3:51:38do to bring traffic through that

3:51:39intersection with Franklin North and

3:51:41Suffach. So it's going to cause some

3:51:42challenges. I think this could be a

3:51:43great way again to say we want to build

3:51:46here. We want to we want to expand here.

3:51:47What can we do to you know improve

3:51:49quality of life for for neighbors? Thank

3:51:51you.

3:51:52>> Thank you. So send that

3:51:53>> like to sign on to that Mr. Chairman.

3:51:55>> Sure. All those in favor. So send that

3:51:57as amended uh to the manager. Those in

3:51:59favor of postal audit.

3:52:02Council B King request city manager

3:52:04otherwise opiate funds to hire to uh

3:52:07funds to hire public bathroom monitoring

3:52:09maintenance staff similar to the

3:52:10bathroom programs Miami New York City.

3:52:12Can we take 10 G2?

3:52:14>> Yes, please.

3:52:15>> Request management find locations

3:52:16throughout the city and beginning in

3:52:18district 2 to create permanent public

3:52:19bathrooms in their interest of providing

3:52:21necessary public health measures with

3:52:22request respect to human condition.

3:52:25Further while said permanent public

3:52:27bathroom locations identified and built

3:52:28request same mayor determine suitable

3:52:30locations to store polar the bodies as a

3:52:32temporary measure while waiting the

3:52:33permanent bathrooms council ba. Okay.

3:52:38>> Sure. Yeah. Thank you Mr. Chairman. um

3:52:41submitted these because we we I've heard

3:52:42a lot from the residents and business

3:52:45owners down in the canal district and

3:52:46choos areas where you know we have um

3:52:51you know unhoused folks that very

3:52:54unfortunately don't have anywhere to use

3:52:55the bathroom and so they're they're

3:52:57using streets they're using al coes and

3:52:59and it's terrible for those folks that

3:53:01that have to do that um that don't have

3:53:03a place to use the bathroom and it's

3:53:05also you know a quality of life issue

3:53:07for the surrounding neighborhood and

3:53:08it's a public health issue frankly. So,

3:53:10uh it be really important for us to try

3:53:12to do something to address this issue.

3:53:14It's been an ongoing issue in the canal

3:53:17district for for years prior to me being

3:53:20elected. So, really trying to do

3:53:21something to see what can we do to

3:53:24install some public bathrooms, but also

3:53:27make sure we have monitoring and

3:53:28maintenance in place to make sure that

3:53:30it's successful.

3:53:31Other cities have done this. uh Miami,

3:53:33New York City, they've hired folks that

3:53:36um I know in Miami they actually hired

3:53:38someone who was formerly unhoused and

3:53:41had some peer experience with the

3:53:42community that they were you know

3:53:44providing bathrooms to and it was a

3:53:46overwhelming success and and it

3:53:48translated to you know public bathrooms

3:53:49for the broader community as well which

3:53:52is equally important. So that was the

3:53:54the emphasis behind this and I

3:53:56appreciate uh Councelor King for for

3:53:59partnering on this to try and say that

3:54:00we're we're trying to do something to

3:54:02address the issue instead of just you

3:54:04know not doing anything. So thank you.

3:54:06>> Thank you councelor King.

3:54:08>> Thank you Mr. Chairman. Um appreciate

3:54:11councelor Balada and his um advocacy um

3:54:15and his initiative in this regard. Uh

3:54:18it's pleasure to work with him. We work

3:54:19with uh city administration and um folks

3:54:22in their team trying to talk about

3:54:25problem areas as relates to this issue.

3:54:28Um with the problem areas comes some

3:54:30challenges. Um you know we know that

3:54:35public bathrooms are a necessity. Last I

3:54:37recall, um, we had the, um, downtown

3:54:42group

3:54:44bid, um, who was reportedly pursuing

3:54:49public bathrooms, um, in the, uh, bid

3:54:53district, um, right here downtown. And

3:54:56it doesn't appear that's ever come to

3:54:57fruition. At that time, we had some

3:54:59discussion as the person who testified

3:55:01today spoke about um as it relates to um

3:55:0610-minute um time frames where where up

3:55:10to 10 minutes you can be in there. We

3:55:11talked about specifically we referenced

3:55:14um the public bath bathrooms in Boston

3:55:16such as outside the aquarium where

3:55:18there's motion detectors, etc. Um you

3:55:22know, and and what have you. Um and and

3:55:26so um we know that it's not just about

3:55:31folks that are unsheltered. Um they

3:55:33serve seniors, folks with medical

3:55:35conditions, children and families

3:55:36throughout the city. Um a lot of

3:55:38establishments may or may not allow

3:55:41folks to use their facilities. Um if you

3:55:44think about our parks, a lot of our

3:55:46parks, um uh those facilities as well

3:55:50are significantly restricted. um you

3:55:53know and and in some instances they rely

3:55:55on the leagues um to really um you know

3:55:59uh open and close and what have you. But

3:56:02um there is a a basic contradiction when

3:56:05we're complaining about human waste,

3:56:07public urination, etc. Um and fail to

3:56:10provide an adequate place for folks to

3:56:13use a bathroom. Um, we need the city to

3:56:17identify locations for permanent and

3:56:19accessible

3:56:21public bathrooms that are properly

3:56:23maintained. Um, as well as um temporary

3:56:27facilities um where there's an immediate

3:56:29need. Um, you know, a number of the

3:56:32businesses um

3:56:35on in the Canal District, uh, Lincoln

3:56:37Street, um, B, I mean, the list goes on.

3:56:40um where where folks are having

3:56:42challenges

3:56:44um with this sort of public um urination

3:56:49and and human waste. Um and in addition

3:56:53to that, um you know, I've worked with

3:56:57and I've identified some business

3:56:59partners from the private sector who

3:57:01actually initiated contact with with

3:57:03myself and um included councelor Balada

3:57:08um to identify um their desire to

3:57:13temporarily fund um port pora in

3:57:19districts in need. pay for them um and

3:57:22also pay for their upkeep. Um we cannot

3:57:26do this as a municipality by ourselves.

3:57:29We've already talked about um

3:57:33budget buttoning

3:57:35um tonight. Um if you look at the MMA

3:57:37and what they're talking about the

3:57:39fiscal crisis that's coming to

3:57:40municipalities,

3:57:42um we know that we have challenges

3:57:44ahead. Um so certainly just want to um

3:57:48you know sound the call um to the

3:57:51private sector um and to some of our

3:57:54business folks to partner with us. Um

3:57:56and I'm looking forward to continuing to

3:57:58work um with the business folks that

3:58:00have come forward to help solve this. We

3:58:03know um that uh this is an issue for the

3:58:06unsheltered. We know it's an issue with

3:58:08folks with medical conditions, the

3:58:10seniors, our kids, and our families

3:58:13throughout the city of Worcester. Mr.

3:58:15Chairman, um, and my question is the

3:58:18other issue that's come forward over the

3:58:20years is when there is human waste um,

3:58:24that occurs on a public space or in

3:58:27front of a business um, and there's

3:58:30phone calls made. Um there's always a

3:58:33question of what sort of assistance uh

3:58:36and what sort of responsiveness will the

3:58:38city have in that regard. Through

3:58:41charity administration, what's your

3:58:43understanding of the uh support and

3:58:46responsiveness that's provided by the

3:58:48city um to businesses as it relates to

3:58:52these concerns about human waste in

3:58:55public areas. if it's down the plaza,

3:58:57the ballpark, if it's wherever, um under

3:58:59a bridge, if it's in front of a

3:59:01business, um what is our responsiveness?

3:59:04What's our um timeliness in that regard?

3:59:08Um and what should businesses and the

3:59:11community expect? Um also in public

3:59:13spaces through the chair,

3:59:15>> Mr. to manager

3:59:17>> uh through the chair to the council.

3:59:19Well, we try to respond as quickly as

3:59:20possible, whether is being notified to

3:59:23the quality of life team or DBW uh to

3:59:26try to uh or the parks department to try

3:59:29to provide the necessary maintenance uh

3:59:31and clear out and clean the space uh as

3:59:34quickly as possible. Oftent times

3:59:36doesn't mean that we get there right

3:59:37away, but there there might be a lag of

3:59:39time, but there is an effort to try to

3:59:41be able to address that. Um I think the

3:59:44challenge happens right after hours,

3:59:47nighttime after hours if things are

3:59:50happening in the neighborhoods, right?

3:59:51Most of our municipal employees are not

3:59:53working 7 8:00 p.m. etc. Um and so uh

3:59:58that then we when we're notified whether

4:00:01it's at that evening or or what have

4:00:03you, we then the next morning try to

4:00:05follow up and address that uh uh that

4:00:07issue. uh if it is on private property

4:00:10then the private property owner would

4:00:11have to take that responsibility uh to

4:00:13clear out that space and clean the space

4:00:15for their for their prospective uh

4:00:17businesses.

4:00:19>> Is there any room for improvement from

4:00:21the city side through the chair? Um you

4:00:24know it it it certainly stinks that we

4:00:26have to deal with this, no pun intended.

4:00:29Um but is there any room for improvement

4:00:32um from your perspective to the chair,

4:00:35>> Mr. Manager? to the chair, to the

4:00:37council, there's always room for the

4:00:39city to improve in any way uh in every

4:00:41operation and every way that we do our

4:00:42business. Uh so there's always room for

4:00:44improvement.

4:00:46>> Thank you. And you know, we got to do

4:00:48the best we can to make sure that folks

4:00:49with disabilities are able to access um

4:00:52such bathrooms. We need a timeline. So

4:00:53I'd commend that to include a timeline.

4:00:56Um we need this stuff quickly. Um, I

4:00:59understand that there will be um

4:01:02differences of of opinions as relates to

4:01:05this um but it's definitely a public

4:01:07health issue. Um so any attention on

4:01:10this would be greatly appreciated. Thank

4:01:12you, Mr. Chairman.

4:01:13>> Thank you, Councelor Bergman.

4:01:16>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I certainly

4:01:18understand the spirit of this. Uh I have

4:01:20some concerns over the way it's worded.

4:01:22I do think um trying to provide

4:01:26locations for the unhoused to to use

4:01:29bathrooms is is dignified, but we heard

4:01:32Commissioner Dixit last week say that

4:01:35they need to do further study uh provide

4:01:38a report on whether the unhoused

4:01:40population is moving. Certainly dozens

4:01:43of encampments and where when they do

4:01:45move, how often they move and where they

4:01:47move to. So, I don't know, unless the

4:01:50city manager volunteers to tell me

4:01:52otherwise, how we could ask the city

4:01:55manager uh to help identify locations

4:01:58throughout the city to create permanent

4:02:00public bathrooms when we don't know. And

4:02:03let's let's be honest, predominantly

4:02:05this is directed for and for the benefit

4:02:08of, which is fine, the unhoused

4:02:10population. There will be others that

4:02:11will benefit from this, no question

4:02:13about it. But we how do how through the

4:02:16chair to city manager, Mr. manager, are

4:02:18you prepared right now without the input

4:02:19of the neighbors and the business owners

4:02:21to identify locations throughout the the

4:02:24city as the order is asking?

4:02:28>> Mr. Manager,

4:02:30>> uh through the [ __ ] to the council, uh

4:02:32we would have to have conversations with

4:02:33business owners, residents in the area

4:02:35um in those uh particular areas that we

4:02:38were then potentially identified. We

4:02:41know the hot spots in the city of where

4:02:42we oftent times unhouse people will

4:02:45congregate or spend their time. Uh but

4:02:48again similar to what we did with our

4:02:51wool bins where we went out and surveyed

4:02:54the community asked businesses and folks

4:02:57in terms of what would be the best

4:02:58location. I think we should go through

4:03:01that process. Um I don't think me myself

4:03:03should dictate where that that place

4:03:05should be. Um but again it should be a

4:03:08public process speaking with business

4:03:10owners and residents uh so that there is

4:03:13common understanding and support uh as

4:03:16uh knowing that this may potentially

4:03:18come to that neighborhood.

4:03:20>> I appreciate the response. I I can't

4:03:22imagine um that there are business

4:03:24owners out there that are going to have

4:03:27no opinion on whether or not you place

4:03:29portaotties and permanent bathrooms in

4:03:31front of the business. And I also can't

4:03:33imagine that some of them won't welcome

4:03:36that. Now, that may be too bad for some

4:03:39of them in the sense that if it goes

4:03:40there, it goes there. But they should at

4:03:42least have a say. They should at least

4:03:45have be part of the conversation. They

4:03:47shouldn't be shut out. My motion um on

4:03:50this is to is to change the wording on

4:03:53this to request the city manager

4:03:55consider a process to help identify

4:03:57locations throughout the city and

4:04:00beginning in district two to consider

4:04:02creating permanent public bathrooms in

4:04:04the interest of providing necessary

4:04:05public health measures. Further while

4:04:08said permanent public bathroom location

4:04:10are being considered others and

4:04:12identified and so on so forth. So

4:04:14essentially, I'm asking that the the

4:04:17language ordering the city manager to do

4:04:19these items uh be substituted for

4:04:22consider um a process. Um I think that's

4:04:26fair to everybody. I I I would like I

4:04:30don't think it's a good idea to pit

4:04:31business owners against the manager

4:04:33andor the council without them having a

4:04:36say whether or not it's a good idea or

4:04:38not. I also think it's premature without

4:04:40Commissioner Dixon coming back and

4:04:42telling us where the hot spots are are

4:04:44and are expected to remain. I also um

4:04:48would like to know more information

4:04:50about the fund the uh opportunity to

4:04:53make sure there are funds available to

4:04:55do this the right way. Uh let's be

4:04:57honest, porta parties if they're not

4:05:00done and cleaned on a regular basis uh

4:05:03and not done the right way, I can

4:05:05envision people uh not using them even

4:05:07if they have to go to the bathroom. Um

4:05:10unfortunately parties don't have a great

4:05:13reputation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

4:05:15>> Thank you, Council Council Rosen.

4:05:21>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm glad to

4:05:24have this discussion again with the city

4:05:26council about the need for bathrooms

4:05:29throughout the city and especially

4:05:32downtown Worcester. I'm just going to

4:05:35read two orders I filed. One was almost

4:05:37six years ago.

4:05:39Because the shortage of public restrooms

4:05:41for the homeless, this was the homeless.

4:05:44We were talking about that especially

4:05:45during the pandemic is a threat to

4:05:48public health. The city manager B and is

4:05:50hereby requested to recommend steps that

4:05:53need to be taken to provide mobile

4:05:56portable or inbuilding toilets. We

4:05:59forget inbuilding is better even and

4:06:01handwashing facilities. That was January

4:06:032021 almost what uh six years ago.

4:06:09This one was only in June of this year.

4:06:11This is three months old.

4:06:14I think it was voted on by us 11 to

4:06:17nothing. The city manager B and is

4:06:19hereby requested to survey the downtown

4:06:21Worcester business improvement district

4:06:24bid to determine whether there are

4:06:26sufficient number of public restroom and

4:06:29handwashing facilities for residents,

4:06:32workers, visitors or homeless

4:06:35individuals in the downtown area which

4:06:38is becoming a vibrant hub for art,

4:06:40culture, business, eeries, services and

4:06:44community uh events. Further, the uh

4:06:47further the city manager B and is hereby

4:06:50requested to provide city council with

4:06:52an updated report concerning my previous

4:06:54city council orders filed relative to

4:06:57public restrooms. So, I know the manager

4:07:00is working diligently on that report and

4:07:03I hope that he'll come back with it, you

4:07:05know, as soon as possible. You know,

4:07:06he's got only 2,000 others we've

4:07:08requested, maybe even more. But if we'll

4:07:10make this a priority to come back with

4:07:12that report, something has to be done. I

4:07:15understand uh councelor Bergman's

4:07:17concerns about the porter parties. You

4:07:20know, I I wasn't looking for that

4:07:21either, but there are bathroom

4:07:23facilities out there that really, you

4:07:26know, uh are helpful to people who are

4:07:28downtown. I'm thinking downtown right

4:07:30now. It's, you know, that's the area we

4:07:32really have to look at, I think, first.

4:07:34But there are, you know, facilities,

4:07:36portable facilities and so on that work.

4:07:38Maybe you have to have an attendant

4:07:40there. You know, that certainly works

4:07:41out better. But there are little stores,

4:07:43too. tiny little stores I see on Main

4:07:46Street that usually aren't rented and if

4:07:48we could do something with those maybe

4:07:50as bathroom facilities. I think I said

4:07:52it before once that I'm probably the

4:07:54only one on this council who remembers

4:07:55where the bathrooms used to be for city

4:07:57hall and they were outside where I guess

4:07:59the the skating arena is. They were

4:08:02downstairs. You had to go this is back

4:08:04in the 50s. You had to go downstairs and

4:08:06they were there men's room and women's

4:08:08room and they were very very popular.

4:08:10They were being used all the time. So,

4:08:13we do have an issue out there in the

4:08:15community. And if you don't believe it's

4:08:17an issue, we could do an experiment. We

4:08:20could lock all the bathrooms every

4:08:22Tuesday night in Worcester City Hall.

4:08:25Lock them all. Now, we're in the same

4:08:28situation as some of many of our

4:08:30residents. There's no place to go

4:08:34indoors.

4:08:35I don't want to do that, but I'm just

4:08:37saying this is a problem. It's been

4:08:39brought up by different councils over

4:08:41the years. we can solve this. It's not

4:08:44going to cost us millions and millions

4:08:46of dollars, but it isn't, you know, a

4:08:49sin to have to go to the bathroom. So,

4:08:52it's something we should be addressing.

4:08:53We should address it as a group. And,

4:08:56uh, I hope that report does come back in

4:08:58a reasonable amount of time so we can

4:09:00really make some progress on this

4:09:02finally. Thank you, Mr. Ch.

4:09:06>> Thank you, Council Con.

4:09:09>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a a few

4:09:11comments too. I would agree with Council

4:09:13Bergman on this. Um, and a couple other

4:09:16comments I would just add add to the

4:09:18conversation as well.

4:09:21So, if we do go with a porta party

4:09:23somewhere and it gets knocked over on a

4:09:25Friday night or on a Saturday, what's

4:09:27the game plan? I'd like to know what

4:09:29that action would be. And as we talk

4:09:33about the unhoused, how about all the

4:09:35people who use our parks throughout the

4:09:37city? all the, you know, whether it's

4:09:39families, individuals who use our parks,

4:09:42um

4:09:44they're always I got somebody who's

4:09:47always asking me for a potter party down

4:09:49at um

4:09:51Duffy Field for her for their families

4:09:54when they're down there. So, it's a

4:09:56broader discussion. I would agree with

4:09:57the city manager. I think it it should

4:09:59be a discussion that is had not just in

4:10:01the neighborhoods, but with the business

4:10:03community as well. And I think action be

4:10:05should be taken accordingly from there.

4:10:07if we can afford to do it. Thank you,

4:10:10Mr. Chairman.

4:10:12>> Council Bana.

4:10:15>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted

4:10:16to just to say I agree with what

4:10:19everyone is saying. Again, this is just

4:10:21trying to respond to a a community need

4:10:23in an in a challenge. So, thank you.

4:10:25>> Thank you, Council Ba. Council King.

4:10:30>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um,

4:10:33I certainly look forward to some

4:10:36movement in this. Um, no pun intended.

4:10:40Um, that being said, Mr. Chairman, um,

4:10:45just have to respond to some of the, uh,

4:10:47comments, um,

4:10:50you know, when we're talking about

4:10:52honestly, we know this is for the unshel

4:10:54this is for everybody. Um, as uh my

4:10:57colleague just stated, we have issues in

4:10:58our parks, as I mentioned, uh, for our

4:11:01youth, um, for our families that are

4:11:03using it. Yes, the unsheltered,

4:11:05absolutely. Um, it's a broader issue.

4:11:09Um, under no circumstances, and I will

4:11:12make this clear for the public, for any

4:11:14media that's watching, any podcasters,

4:11:17whoever it is, zero intention to move

4:11:20forward on this without community or

4:11:22business input. We've actually already

4:11:23had community and business input um from

4:11:27with myself uh councelor Bada um and yes

4:11:31that needs to continue to be teased out

4:11:34to not do so um would be unproductive um

4:11:37and be unfair. So let me just correct

4:11:39the record. There's nothing in here um

4:11:42that indicates that that should be

4:11:44occur. So as as I say that I do not

4:11:47accept the friendly amendment but what I

4:11:49will do

4:11:51um is amend this matter myself um and

4:11:54add to the matter um that this process

4:11:57will include um community and business

4:12:00interfacing and feedback. Um but again

4:12:04uh my conversations over the years goes

4:12:07back to 2021 when we were talking about

4:12:09this um 2019 when I was talking about

4:12:13this um and here we are um we need to

4:12:16move on this we need to have some

4:12:18movement and um I'm looking toward

4:12:21forward to exactly that but to present

4:12:23this as this is some sort of um uh

4:12:27rushed inconsiderate act towards

4:12:30businesses and yes in fact there are

4:12:32businesses who are open to this. Um

4:12:35there's businesses that are willing to

4:12:37support it. All the questions are

4:12:38legitimate um that have been brought

4:12:40forward from everyone um including what

4:12:42happens if it's tipped over, what

4:12:44happens if it needs all of those things

4:12:46have to be play have to be addressed

4:12:48prior to any implementation. Um I would

4:12:51also like an additional um I think

4:12:53there's a report already requested from

4:12:55the bid. Um but when we had that those

4:12:58um those that potentiality um the bid

4:13:02actually I think they did a a a report

4:13:04um or an analysis um that was provided

4:13:07to the council. I would ask by way of a

4:13:08motion that that comes back also in

4:13:10addition to the feasibility that was

4:13:12requested by my colleague. Um you know

4:13:15um I look forward to the vote Mr.

4:13:17Chairman. Um, my amendment will address

4:13:20um the concerns that were brought

4:13:22forward regarding um actually the

4:13:24unfounded and um unnecessary uh

4:13:27assertions that we don't involve

4:13:29community um or businesses. That's

4:13:31exactly what we do um as part of the

4:13:34process. I don't have a problem

4:13:36outlining that um and I look forward to

4:13:39that. And again um this work has already

4:13:41begun in that district um and it's

4:13:44already begun with the city, businesses

4:13:46and community. Mr. chair and I look

4:13:47forward to moving that uh forward. Thank

4:13:49you.

4:13:50>> Council Bergman for a second time.

4:13:52>> I just want to say my my motion stands

4:13:55on its own and just point out two things

4:13:58uh why I believe it's distinct and

4:14:00different from from uh this from

4:14:02councelor Kings. First of all, while

4:14:04this motion asks the manager help

4:14:06identify locations doesn't mention with

4:14:09participation from business community.

4:14:11One could argue it doesn't say not

4:14:13either.

4:14:14>> It's amended.

4:14:16>> Go ahead. He's talking.

4:14:17>> Second of all, it says further while

4:14:19said permanent BA public bathroom

4:14:21location identified and built request

4:14:23city manager to determine suitable

4:14:25locations. And then to top it all off,

4:14:27and if I misard something, I apologize,

4:14:30but I'm pretty confident council king

4:14:32asked the city manager a few moments ago

4:14:33how quickly this could get done. So, it

4:14:35doesn't sound to me like there's a lot

4:14:37of opportunity to engage the public,

4:14:40particularly the business owners and the

4:14:42residents of where these locations might

4:14:44wind up being. All I'm asking for is the

4:14:47city manager to consider the process in

4:14:50doing so. I don't think what councelor

4:14:53King's amend friendly amendment or

4:14:56modification of his own order uh does uh

4:15:00addresses those concerns. And quite

4:15:02frankly, I go to every Shoesbury Street

4:15:06Business Neighborhood Association

4:15:07meeting I can go to. And I've gone to

4:15:10several in a row now. And you know, the

4:15:13conversations I have, at least in

4:15:15private, with many of the business

4:15:16owners, are totally inconsistent with

4:15:19what this order is asking. Now, maybe

4:15:22they they say other things to other

4:15:23count.

4:15:23>> I'm not looking at street, Mr. Chairman.

4:15:26That's a mischaracterization.

4:15:28>> Excuse. You're out of order. Go ahead.

4:15:29Finish. We're not looking at Shoesberry

4:15:31Street.

4:15:31>> You have water.

4:15:34>> Uh I could say, Mr. Mayor, that district

4:15:372, which is mentioned here, does include

4:15:39Shberry Street, but I

4:15:41>> we're not talking about Mr. Street. I'm

4:15:42>> going to finish my I'm going to

4:15:45>> Usually this happens in the audience.

4:15:46So, I'm going to finish my time. Thank

4:15:47you, Mr. Chairman.

4:15:49>> Okay. So, we have I don't know to me

4:15:51maybe I'm tired, but the amendments are

4:15:52almost the same. I thought, but

4:15:54>> it is

4:15:54>> process that will include the business

4:15:56and community. And you said process,

4:15:58correct, council Bergman? consider.

4:16:01>> Well, they're all considered every time

4:16:03we It's always It's already It's always

4:16:05considered.

4:16:06>> Um I'm It's your call, Mr. Chair. I'm

4:16:09asking you to take them separately. Mr.

4:16:11>> Chairman, can we move?

4:16:12>> We're going to take this as amended by

4:16:13Council

4:16:15Councelor King. Then we're going to take

4:16:19Council Bergman's motion separately.

4:16:22Okay.

4:16:23Council has amended. Roll call.

4:16:30Uncle Bergman,

4:16:30>> no.

4:16:31>> Bada,

4:16:32>> yes.

4:16:33>> Economo,

4:16:34>> no.

4:16:35>> Bizo,

4:16:36>> no.

4:16:37>> King,

4:16:37>> yes.

4:16:38>> Mitra,

4:16:39>> no.

4:16:40>> Oh,

4:16:41>> yes.

4:16:42>> Rivera,

4:16:42>> no.

4:16:43>> Rosen,

4:16:44>> yes.

4:16:45>> Tumi,

4:16:45>> no.

4:16:46>> Mayor Petty,

4:16:47>> yes.

4:16:49>> Mr. Mayor, that is five to six. That

4:16:52motion fails.

4:16:53>> Okay. So, this next will be as amended

4:16:55by councelor.

4:16:57Can you read that please?

4:16:58>> So, councelor um Bergman request city

4:17:02manager help identify location

4:17:05request city manager consider

4:17:08identifying locations throughout the

4:17:09city beginning in district two and to

4:17:11create a I guess a process to create a

4:17:14permanent public bathrooms. Mr.

4:17:16>> Chairman, I would object that's the same

4:17:18order.

4:17:19>> Did I get that right?

4:17:20>> No. Good try though. It is lay and I

4:17:23give you a fair effort. Uh it was

4:17:25request the city manager consider a

4:17:28process to help identify location

4:17:30throughout the city and beginning a

4:17:32district in beginning district 2 to

4:17:34create permanent public bathrooms in the

4:17:36interest to provide necessary public

4:17:38health measures with respect to the

4:17:39human condition. Further who are you

4:17:41talking

4:17:42>> uh saying have

4:17:44>> go ahead go ahead I didn't hear that but

4:17:47go ahead

4:17:48>> I heard

4:17:48>> okay

4:17:51>> further city manager should consider a

4:17:55process for permanent public bathroom

4:17:57locations

4:17:58uh

4:18:00to be built

4:18:03to determine suitable locations to

4:18:04install portaotties as a temporary

4:18:06measure as I said a few moments ago

4:18:09basically everywhere where there's a

4:18:10request for city manager do something.

4:18:12I'm

4:18:14I'm asking that the manager be asked to

4:18:17consider a process. Not to do it yet,

4:18:20but to consider the process or a process

4:18:23on how to do it. Um that's what I'm

4:18:26asking which

4:18:27>> okay

4:18:27>> again

4:18:29>> it's not the same thing. Okay. Chairman

4:18:31uh point of order to the chair. I just

4:18:33have request uh a ruling. Um that's the

4:18:36exact same thing of my motion just

4:18:38different words. I request yours

4:18:40process.

4:18:41>> So he voted

4:18:43he can't file the same thing for another

4:18:4590 days, whatever it is. He's filing

4:18:48this exact same thing.

4:18:49>> This is important. So let's stop it.

4:18:51Let's get this thing done. Everybody

4:18:52agrees when you put the same thing. I

4:18:55agree.

4:18:55>> It's a personality issue here. It's

4:18:57going on. This is the same order. What

4:19:01are we doing here?

4:19:02>> He's asking to consider. What are we

4:19:03doing here? He's asking to consider.

4:19:05It's

4:19:05>> the same thing.

4:19:06>> So roll call.

4:19:07>> Mr. Mr. Chair, I'm going to hold this.

4:19:09We're going to continue to work

4:19:10regardless. We're going to hold it. And

4:19:12you know what? This is nothing more than

4:19:14a personality issue.

4:19:17>> Say both is absolutely done with this

4:19:19then.

4:19:20>> I'm going hold it.

4:19:21>> Ridiculous.

4:19:22>> It is

4:19:24>> absolutely

4:19:2510. I next one is what

4:19:31>> Yes, we need a vote on to hold it. So,

4:19:33we need four votes to hold.

4:19:36Roll call.

4:19:39>> That's a Bergman.

4:19:40>> No,

4:19:41>> that's a Bada

4:19:42>> point order for to hold what

4:19:45>> you need?

4:19:45>> 10G.

4:19:46>> 10G. You want to hold 10G, right?

4:19:50>> Yep.

4:19:50>> Okay.

4:19:52>> Councelor Bada say yes. Councelor Cono,

4:19:53>> no.

4:19:54>> Rolo,

4:19:55>> yes.

4:19:56>> Council King,

4:19:57>> yes.

4:19:58>> Mitra,

4:19:58>> no.

4:19:59>> Toa,

4:20:00>> yes.

4:20:00>> Council Rivera,

4:20:02>> no.

4:20:03>> Rosen,

4:20:03>> no.

4:20:04>> Tumi,

4:20:05>> no. Hey, Mayor Petty.

4:20:06>> No.

4:20:07>> So, Mr. Mayor, it is held 10 G.

4:20:13>> There was four votes.

4:20:14>> Four votes.

4:20:16>> Who's the four? I'm sorry.

4:20:17>> Council Brazil uh voted yes. Okay.

4:20:20>> Council Bada Fzo King and Oh. Okay.

4:20:23>> Next item up. Request manage request

4:20:26commissioner of public works Phil Pose

4:20:27on Orient Street as soon as possible.

4:20:29>> As it reads, Mr. Chairman,

4:20:31>> Mr. Chairman, can we can we uh amend

4:20:33that to say consider

4:20:36What are we doing here?

4:20:38>> CL request manager request commissioner

4:20:40of public works stop. Can we disrespect

4:20:43one another and smooth out the comments?

4:20:46>> Request city manager request

4:20:48commissioner of public works review and

4:20:49repair the pavement around manhole

4:20:52covers on Bay Street Road at the

4:20:53intersection of Bellingham Road which

4:20:55has sunk below the surrounding street

4:20:57area causing a loud noise with speeding

4:20:59cars driving over the area. Council

4:21:02>> Con. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In this

4:21:04case here, uh it's probably about an

4:21:06inch difference,

4:21:09uh from the top of the manhold to the

4:21:11street level. Um and unfortunately, I

4:21:14sat there with the with the neighbor who

4:21:17abutz it just listening to the cars as

4:21:19they they come down Bay Road and it does

4:21:23make

4:21:25a lot of sound. I know it doesn't sound

4:21:26like much, but it does make a

4:21:28difference. Um, so if there's anything

4:21:29that DPW can do to uh to mitigate that,

4:21:33it'd be greatly appreciated.

4:21:36>> All those in favor of postal order, we

4:21:38have to go back to 10F.

4:21:40I think we're all set on this one. City

4:21:41manager utilize opioids funds to public

4:21:44bathrooms monitoring main staff similar

4:21:45to public bathroom Miami, New York City.

4:21:48Everybody else with that? All those in

4:21:50favor? Post. So ordered.

4:21:56Honorable Ok council Oko request manager

4:21:58request commissioner of public works

4:22:00conduct a media emergency repairs and

4:22:01sidewalk slab at two interville road the

4:22:03interest of public safety.

4:22:06>> Thank you Mr. Chairman. Here on

4:22:07Interville Road there are three panels.

4:22:10Um the middle panel is

4:22:13I guess wobbly is probably the best word

4:22:15to use it. It just it wobbles.

4:22:22So, it just the other two panels on

4:22:24either end of it are at different angles

4:22:26and it's just a safety hazard there.

4:22:28It's on the way to Midland Street

4:22:29School. If there's anything that DPW can

4:22:32do to address that, it'd be greatly

4:22:34appreciated. Thank you.

4:22:36>> Roll call.

4:22:37>> Councelor Bergman.

4:22:38>> Yes.

4:22:39>> Bada.

4:22:42>> Yes.

4:22:43>> Economo.

4:22:45>> On this item, sir. On this item, Mr.

4:22:46>> Yes.

4:22:47>> Yes.

4:22:48>> Brazo.

4:22:48>> Yes.

4:22:49>> King.

4:22:50>> Yes.

4:22:50>> Mitra. Yes,

4:22:52>> yes,

4:22:53>> Rivera.

4:22:54>> Yes,

4:22:54>> Rosen.

4:22:55>> Yes,

4:22:55>> Tumi.

4:22:56>> Yes,

4:22:57>> Mayor Petty.

4:22:58>> Yes. Request city manager request

4:23:00commission of transportation mobility

4:23:02provide council to report and

4:23:03recommendations concerning the area

4:23:04surrounding Columbus Park Preparatory

4:23:06School located at 75 Level Street. Said

4:23:08the recommendation should include but

4:23:10not limited to ensuring safe passage for

4:23:11students crossing Main Street and Level

4:23:13Street. Council

4:23:14>> Rivera as it reads.

4:23:16>> Roll call.

4:23:17>> Councelor Bergman.

4:23:18>> Yes.

4:23:18>> Councelor Bada.

4:23:20Yes,

4:23:21>> Conno.

4:23:21>> Yes,

4:23:22>> Mr. Roso.

4:23:23>> Yes,

4:23:23>> Mr. King.

4:23:24>> Yes,

4:23:26>> Mitra.

4:23:26>> Yes,

4:23:27>> yes,

4:23:28>> Mr. Rivera.

4:23:28>> Yes,

4:23:29>> Mr. Rosen.

4:23:30>> Yes,

4:23:30>> Mr. Tumi.

4:23:31>> Yes.

4:23:31>> And Mayor Petty.

4:23:33>> Yes. Request the manager request police

4:23:34chief provide increase enforcement of

4:23:36traffic regulations in the vicinity of

4:23:38WA State University located at 486

4:23:40Chandler Street and Main Street

4:23:41Elementary School located at 265 Main

4:23:43Street to ensure children crossing

4:23:45guards in the area are protected from

4:23:47drivers. Council Tumi has recused

4:23:48herself. 10 N

4:23:50>> as it reads.

4:23:51>> Roll call.

4:23:52>> 10 A

4:23:53>> M.

4:23:55>> Councelor Bergman.

4:23:56>> Yes.

4:23:56>> Council Bada.

4:23:57>> Yes.

4:23:57>> Council,

4:23:58>> yes.

4:23:59>> Rolo,

4:23:59>> yes.

4:24:00>> King,

4:24:01>> yes.

4:24:01>> Mitra,

4:24:02>> yes.

4:24:03>> Ha.

4:24:03>> Yes.

4:24:04>> Rivera.

4:24:04>> Yes.

4:24:05>> Rosen.

4:24:05>> Yes.

4:24:06>> Mayor Petty.

4:24:07>> Yes. Next. Up. Request. C. mayor

4:24:10determine whether the city or school

4:24:11department is responsible for mowing and

4:24:13clearing extremely overgrown plot of

4:24:16land adjacent to the left of the new D

4:24:18high school building located at 299

4:24:21Highland Street approximately across

4:24:23from Germaine Street. Council Rosen.

4:24:25>> Mr. Chairman, as we all know, Dar High,

4:24:27the new Darity High looks great.

4:24:29Beautiful new stone wall right down the

4:24:31front of Dar High. whole area there,

4:24:34grass in front, that whole stretch. And

4:24:36then you get to this one point to the

4:24:39left of Darity High, opposite Jim Main

4:24:41Street, there's a driveway into the back

4:24:43of Darity High. And right next to it,

4:24:46there's a plot of land that's all

4:24:47overgrown. And when I used to hold my

4:24:50sign during last year's campaign at

4:24:52Market 32, Price Chopper, several people

4:24:55from Germaine Street kept coming up to

4:24:57me and say, "Can you help us get that

4:24:58mode?" And I didn't know whose land it

4:25:01was. And I think the city and the school

4:25:03department had trouble figuring out who

4:25:05it was. I even went to the group that

4:25:07works at in the summer at Elm Park and

4:25:09they seem to come up to Darhy and do

4:25:11work there. So finally, I don't know who

4:25:14I finally talked to and but someone did

4:25:16cut it and if you go by now it's about

4:25:195t tall the grass it looks awful and as

4:25:23I said the rest of Dardy High looks

4:25:25terrific. So, we have to determine which

4:25:28department, the city department or the

4:25:30school department owns this land and it

4:25:32has to be mowed and has to be mowed soon

4:25:35and it should be maintained because it

4:25:37looks terrible. It looks awful and it's

4:25:39right next to certainly a beautiful

4:25:41looking school and grounds. Thank you,

4:25:43Mr. Jim.

4:25:44>> Thank you. Roll call.

4:25:48>> Councelor Bergman.

4:25:49>> Yes.

4:25:50>> Bada.

4:25:50>> Yes.

4:25:51>> Cono?

4:25:52>> Yes.

4:25:52>> Zolo.

4:25:53>> Yes.

4:25:53>> King.

4:25:54>> Yes.

4:25:55>> Mitra. Yes,

4:25:57>> yes,

4:25:57>> Rivera.

4:25:58>> Yes,

4:25:58>> Mr. Rosen.

4:25:59>> Yes,

4:26:00>> Tumi.

4:26:00>> Yes,

4:26:01>> Mayor Petty.

4:26:02>> Yes, we have 10 O through you. 10 O.

4:26:05>> Mr. Chairman, if we can take 100 P and R

4:26:09together,

4:26:10>> OP and R.

4:26:11>> OP and R.

4:26:13>> Okay.

4:26:15Request city manager.

4:26:17uh provide council with a report

4:26:19concerning efforts made by the city to

4:26:20establish a homeless strategic plan

4:26:22which would include the creation of

4:26:23congregate and non- congregate shelter

4:26:25spaces in the city for unsheltered

4:26:26individual including women, families,

4:26:28trans, queer and senior residents. The

4:26:30plan should also include implementation

4:26:32timelines online funding opportunities

4:26:34discuss available resource identify

4:26:36potential barriers to implementation as

4:26:38referenced in the previously adopted

4:26:40orders of November 14th, 2023 and April

4:26:428th, 2025.

4:26:45and P request mayor provide council with

4:26:47an update concerning the previously

4:26:48adopted order on November 19th, 2024,

4:26:51which re

4:26:53uh requests the city manager provide

4:26:56city council the report detailing the

4:26:57timeline efforts made to secure a day

4:26:59center and general public facilities for

4:27:01the city's homeless population and

4:27:03request the manager provide council with

4:27:05an update concerning the previously

4:27:06adopted order on February 2025 which

4:27:09reads request city manager enhance the

4:27:11uh and develop the policy of department

4:27:13of health and human services and its

4:27:15outreach team with respect to terms of

4:27:16engagement in intersection of when the

4:27:18state conducts homeless encampment

4:27:20sweeps for the request mandatory

4:27:23how municipal workers engage and state

4:27:24and private sector outreach workers in

4:27:26said regard.

4:27:28>> Thank you Mr. Chairman. Um would like to

4:27:30get something back forth with from the

4:27:33city manager on these are previously

4:27:36adopted orders that we're looking for

4:27:38updates on. Mr. Jim, the only thing I

4:27:40want to say um in addition to that um is

4:27:44that we have had situations um over in

4:27:47district 3 um at the overpass

4:27:51um

4:27:53um heading uh near Walmart there um

4:27:56going towards the 7-Eleven where there

4:27:57was engagement with state and private um

4:28:01uh sector folks and just kind of

4:28:04understand the policy and the practice

4:28:05on that. Mr. chairman. Um, and 10p was

4:28:10some of that information was answered at

4:28:12our last council meeting uh, regarding

4:28:14the shifting in timelines of the day

4:28:16resource center. Would like that

4:28:18codified and brought back to the council

4:28:20for further discussion. Thank you, Mr.

4:28:21Chairman.

4:28:22>> Okay, take those three items. Roll call.

4:28:24Councelor Bergman,

4:28:26>> yes.

4:28:27>> Bada,

4:28:28>> yes.

4:28:29>> Economo,

4:28:29>> yes.

4:28:30>> Rolo,

4:28:31>> yes.

4:28:31>> Council King,

4:28:32>> yes.

4:28:33>> Mitra,

4:28:33>> yes.

4:28:34>> Council,

4:28:34>> yes. Mr. Rivera,

4:28:36>> yes. Mr. Rosen,

4:28:37>> yes.

4:28:37>> Mr. Chumi,

4:28:38>> yes.

4:28:38>> Mayor Py,

4:28:40>> we take 10 Q& Mr. Chairman time.

4:28:43>> Yes. Request city manager provide city

4:28:46council with an update concerning a

4:28:48previously adopted order on November 26

4:28:5024 which read request city manager uh

4:28:53reach out to members of Congress

4:28:54including congress govern to advocate

4:28:56for federal support to vice city's

4:28:57homeless population

4:28:59and requesting manager by council with

4:29:01an update concerning previously audited

4:29:03on March 18 25 which read request city

4:29:07manager consider identifying via air

4:29:09marks for additional service of the

4:29:10city's homeless population.

4:29:12>> Thank you Mr. Chair. I'll be brief on

4:29:13these. Um, as we know, um, we've been

4:29:16talking about budget. We've talked about

4:29:18this particular population. There's only

4:29:20so much the city can do. Um, one of the

4:29:23things that I'm going to repeat, um, to

4:29:26the to the city manager is what I've

4:29:28said in the past as relates to the

4:29:31capacity of health and human services,

4:29:34the number of clinicians and outreach

4:29:35workers that we have. So while the

4:29:37number I believe of homeless has perhaps

4:29:39declined, the the number of the folks um

4:29:42overall the number of folks who are

4:29:45chronically unsheltered um invisibly

4:29:48unsheltered has increased um and with

4:29:50that increase we have not seen a

4:29:52comparable increase in staffing at HHS.

4:29:55So, this is another call to the city

4:29:57manager in addition to these orders um

4:30:00to do that without increasing the tax

4:30:02levy by the way of a reorganization

4:30:05um uh exploration by the city

4:30:08administration. Mr. Chairman, um I'm

4:30:11going to reiterate that not as a way of

4:30:12an order. Um just a way of um an

4:30:16assertion.

4:30:17>> That being said, Mr. Chairman, uh we

4:30:19know that we can't um we we we need

4:30:22money. Uh let's let's be frank as it

4:30:25comes to the unsheltered crisis um the

4:30:28homeless crisis the mental health um

4:30:31gaps um the financial challenges um of a

4:30:37population

4:30:38um who are situationally and chronically

4:30:41unsheltered. Mr. Chairman um as we move

4:30:44forward um we have to do all we can. Um,

4:30:47I'm going to ask again that we get um

4:30:50some report back on the ongoing efforts

4:30:53with Congressman McGovern um to advocate

4:30:56for additional federal support. I know

4:30:59that when we're talking about our um the

4:31:01the manager's homeless steering

4:31:03committee or the unsheltered steering

4:31:05committee or the housing steering

4:31:07steering committee, whatever the the

4:31:08correct name is, um that there are

4:31:11concerns about losing federal funding

4:31:14due to this current administration in

4:31:16Washington DC. Uh but would like to to

4:31:19see if there's something that can be

4:31:20done. Um when you talk about um our

4:31:23central mass delegation um we know as I

4:31:26mentioned previously that Boston got

4:31:28$4.1 million to fight their unsheltered

4:31:32situations. Um, and this order stood

4:31:35from um, some time ago, March of 2025,

4:31:40asking the city manager to consider

4:31:43consider consider identifying earmarks

4:31:47um, for additional services and funding

4:31:50for city's homeless population and that

4:31:52needs to be reexplored. I've already

4:31:54been in communication with uh,

4:31:56leadership uh, Representative O'Day um,

4:31:59and others um, in this regard. I know

4:32:01that uh I've worked with uh counselor,

4:32:04communicated with councelor Bada about

4:32:06this. There are meetings set up. Um he's

4:32:08been also been integral in that process.

4:32:12Um I know Senator Kennedy's at the

4:32:14ready. Um and so this is important. Um

4:32:18when you talk about Gateway Cities being

4:32:21a hub for services, uh being a hub for

4:32:24shelters, um you know, um and the

4:32:28deficits that we're facing in so many

4:32:31areas that the folks that we're seeing

4:32:33are symptoms of a failed system, Mr.

4:32:36Chairman. Um so would like some movement

4:32:39and some transparency on this. Um and um

4:32:43I look forward to continuing to

4:32:45participate in that process. Thank you.

4:32:47Thank you. Council B.

4:32:51No,

4:32:53only took his hand down. Okay.

4:32:55>> Yeah. No, thank you. Sorry.

4:32:56>> Okay.

4:32:58Okay. I know I've had discussions with

4:33:01the governor, too, and the governor's on

4:33:02top of this, too. So, all hands on deck,

4:33:05and I know, Mr. Mayor, as you have, and

4:33:07u we will roll call.

4:33:11>> Councelor Bergman.

4:33:12>> Yes.

4:33:12>> Councelor Bada.

4:33:13>> Yes.

4:33:14>> Councor Econom.

4:33:15>> Yes.

4:33:16>> Zolo. Yes,

4:33:17>> King.

4:33:17>> Yes,

4:33:18>> Mr. Mitro.

4:33:19>> Yes,

4:33:20>> yes,

4:33:21>> Rivera.

4:33:21>> Yes,

4:33:22>> Rosa.

4:33:22>> Yes,

4:33:23>> Tumi.

4:33:24>> Yes,

4:33:25>> Mayor Perry.

4:33:26>> Yes. Request city manager request the

4:33:28commissioner of health and human

4:33:28services provide council the report

4:33:30within 45 days dealing with

4:33:32implementation of municipal ID program.

4:33:33Sub should be information pertaining to

4:33:36vendor options and costs data security

4:33:37and private privacy features eligibility

4:33:40and verification pathways integration

4:33:41private social service nonprofit models

4:33:43and the library city services outreach

4:33:45programs and proposed launch timeline

4:33:47with key milestones. Council King.

4:33:50>> Thank you Mr. Chairman. Um this was 10

4:33:5310T right?

4:33:55>> 10T. Okay. Um, Mr. Chairman, the

4:33:58establishment of a municipal ID program

4:34:02um will create an opportunity

4:34:05um for accessible Worester municipal IDs

4:34:08um that can help um residents, can help

4:34:12folks that are here um access um

4:34:15important documentation. Um

4:34:19the lack of identification sometimes

4:34:22occurs when folks um are in shelters

4:34:25when folks are in unusual situations. Um

4:34:28some of our youth um that um are are are

4:34:33navigating their way through life. Um

4:34:36they're available to all city residents

4:34:39and this is actually a request for an

4:34:40update because we've already had this

4:34:42actual item that was um unanimously

4:34:45supported. um would like to get an

4:34:47update. Um we know that um these ideas

4:34:50are especially important to vulnerable

4:34:52populations. Um I did a second round of

4:34:55presentations to the city manager along

4:34:57with some community folks um to have

4:35:01further discussion. And in our

4:35:03discussion with the city manager,

4:35:04there's three four different models um

4:35:06that occur. Boston did a pilot program

4:35:08of this um right around COVID time. Um,

4:35:12in addition to that, there's other

4:35:14municipalities that do it in and the

4:35:16different um models. Um, some are

4:35:19municipally

4:35:21um solely solely municipal. Um, some are

4:35:24are are municipal and private sector um

4:35:28nonprofit um ventures. Um there's some

4:35:31that involve libraries

4:35:33um etc. Um and and what those do it

4:35:37again eliminates barriers. it makes

4:35:39folks more comfortable um as well and it

4:35:43requires community engagement of course

4:35:46um you know there's uh research out

4:35:49there that says 8% of seniors don't have

4:35:51picture IDs in many c cities um due to

4:35:56some some challenges again our youth um

4:35:59immigrants um and folks that are

4:36:01unsheltered um some of our formerly

4:36:03incarcerated as well um when they come

4:36:06out have these challenges I met with

4:36:08some folks folks over by the rotary um

4:36:10under the bridge over there who are

4:36:12struggling to access. Now, there

4:36:13requires at times a dance with the state

4:36:17um on on some of this, but we really

4:36:19just like a feasibility study back as

4:36:22soon as we can. Um it can help folks um

4:36:25navigate um processes

4:36:28um and you know uh they can be used in

4:36:32different ways. Um in some cities um

4:36:34they're not just used as a form of

4:36:36identification. um they can be used as

4:36:39uh membership to cultural institutions

4:36:42um library cards etc.

4:36:45um you know it's important that um we do

4:36:49what we can um when instance when when

4:36:52they're run by community organizations

4:36:54for example um

4:36:57it's effective um private vendors

4:37:00governmentr run um and you know it's

4:37:03done in New Haven for example um a sim a

4:37:06city that's similar there's also mixed

4:37:08models um etc um so you know eligibility

4:37:14requirements ments, accessibility, all

4:37:16those things u matter and of course

4:37:18cost. Um so we'd like to really do some

4:37:21research into this outside of what I've

4:37:24done um and eliminate barriers to

4:37:28essential services, employment and

4:37:30financial stability. Um

4:37:34Mr. Jim and so would like to get um a

4:37:38followup um from our discussions over

4:37:40the last few weeks, couple of weeks um

4:37:43two or three weeks and uh as well as the

4:37:45pass order. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

4:37:48>> Thank you. Roll call.

4:37:49>> Excuse me.

4:37:50>> I'm sorry, Council Rivera, followed by

4:37:52Council Tumi.

4:37:53>> Um just for clarification purposes, I

4:37:56understand this is a report and stuff

4:37:57like that, so we're not voting anything

4:37:58today, but

4:38:00how would it work? Let's say we're we're

4:38:03working with uh helping some of the

4:38:05unhoused population getting ID, right?

4:38:09How how would it work getting them an ID

4:38:11if they don't have like birth

4:38:12certificate or social security card or I

4:38:15mean just give them a library card, you

4:38:17know? Is that what we're talking about

4:38:19here? Like just trying to get a I mean

4:38:23not getting licensed at the register

4:38:24motor vehicles or nothing like what are

4:38:28we what's the report? What are we What

4:38:31are we getting here? What are we doing,

4:38:34>> Mr. Manager?

4:38:37Councelor King.

4:38:38>> Yeah, I'll accept that as a friendly

4:38:39amendment.

4:38:40>> Okay. So, we'll get amended. Okay.

4:38:43>> Council Tumi.

4:38:45>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um I filed um a

4:38:48similar order which was approved voted

4:38:51on um actually last September. Um

4:38:56actually I think it would be a day uh

4:38:59tomorrow will be the one-year

4:39:01anniversary and I'm pretty confident

4:39:03that the manager had started working on

4:39:05some of that. Um so I want to make sure

4:39:07that that's also uh included. Thank you.

4:39:10>> Thank you.

4:39:11>> Roll call.

4:39:13>> Councelor Bergman.

4:39:14>> Yes.

4:39:14>> Bada.

4:39:15>> Yes.

4:39:16>> Councel.

4:39:16>> Yes.

4:39:17>> Zolo.

4:39:18>> Yes.

4:39:18>> King.

4:39:19>> Yes.

4:39:20>> Yes.

4:39:22>> Yes.

4:39:22>> Rivera.

4:39:23>> Yes.

4:39:23>> Rosen. Yes.

4:39:25>> Tumi.

4:39:25>> Yes.

4:39:26>> And mayor Petty.

4:39:27>> Yes. Request the manager request the

4:39:28commissioner of health and human

4:39:29services ensure all materials from the

4:39:30homeless steering committee are

4:39:32published monthly to public archive on

4:39:34those city's websites and material

4:39:35should include agendas, attendance,

4:39:37meeting notes and who should des and who

4:39:39should describe how input providers and

4:39:42residents are incorporated into the

4:39:43information. Further request to see

4:39:45manager request commission of health and

4:39:46human services provide council with an

4:39:47annual report to set homeless steering

4:39:50committee detailing the committee's

4:39:51goals with progress metrics. Thank you,

4:39:54Mr. Chairman. Basically as it reads, um

4:39:57only thing I'll add to that um is I

4:40:00encourage the administration

4:40:03um to fill uh the homeless commission um

4:40:07forth with um with the nine members um

4:40:11that it occurs. That's an executive

4:40:14um comm that's an executive level um and

4:40:18that means that they um create policy

4:40:23that's not

4:40:24>> they create policy etc. Um and I

4:40:27encourage the administration to fill

4:40:30that as soon as possible. I've spoken to

4:40:31folks in the community over the last few

4:40:33days. Um and what I'm hearing is is that

4:40:37um some many of them have gone through

4:40:38the process and they're waiting to hear

4:40:40back. Um so um I'm asking um the city

4:40:45managers to uh certainly uh work with

4:40:47his team to accomplish that. Thank you,

4:40:50Mr. Chairman.

4:41:02Okay. Roll call.

4:41:04>> Councelor Bergman. Yes.

4:41:05>> Councelor Bada.

4:41:06>> Yes.

4:41:07>> Councelor Economo. Yes.

4:41:08>> Councelor Zolo.

4:41:09>> Yes.

4:41:09>> Council King.

4:41:10>> Council Mitra.

4:41:11>> Yes.

4:41:11>> Council.

4:41:12>> Yes.

4:41:13>> Rivera.

4:41:13>> Yes.

4:41:14>> Rosen.

4:41:14>> Yes.

4:41:15>> Tumi.

4:41:16>> Yes.

4:41:17>> Mayor Petty.

4:41:18>> Yes.

4:41:21Motion to adjurnn. Roll call. Councelor

4:41:24Bergman. Yes. Council

4:41:25>> Bada.

4:41:26>> Yes.

4:41:27>> Conamu. Yes.

4:41:28>> Zolo.

4:41:29>> Yes.

4:41:30>> King.

4:41:32>> Yes.

4:41:32>> Council Mitra.

4:41:33>> Yes.

4:41:33>> Council.

4:41:34>> Yes.

4:41:35>> Rivera.

4:41:35>> Yes. Rosen. Tumi.

4:41:38>> Yes. Mayor Petty.

4:41:39>> Yes.