City Council - Regular Meeting

No, I see them. I see many other jobs. There are people that are not qualified for the places they are getting. You get $213,000 a year.

you No, it's the other phone upstairs.

That was a good shot. Thank you.

Good evening and welcome to the regular meeting for the Lawrence City Council. Today is Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Act of 2022, this meeting will be hybrid, allowing participation both here at the Council Chambers as well as remotely. The Zoom link for this meeting was provided to anybody that requested. This meeting is being transmitted live through the YouTube City Council page. Roll call, Madam Clerk.

Councilor Gonzalez. Present. Councilor Miguel.

Present.

Councilor Marmo. Present. Councilor Infante.

Present.

Councilor Reyes, noted as absent. Councilor Del Rosario. Present. Councilor LaPlante is noted as absent. Council Vice President Levy. Present. Council President Rodriguez.

Present. Please join me for a moment of silence. Now join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Cancel the motion to approve minutes from 4-21-26. on the table, properly seconded staff. I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. Now we're going straight to public participation. The first person that we have is H. Mali. Name and address for the record, please.

Good evening, honorable members. We, the citizens, are proud and grateful for Lawrence Police Department, one of the best police departments in the nation. Lawrence Police, with the impeccable leadership by Honorable Chief Morris Agler, are doing an excellent job to protect our citizens. Thank you for making Lawrence a safe city. Thank you for excellent job. Lawrence is a beautiful city because of our best DPWU workers and leadership. Thank you for keep making Lawrence a beautiful city. We the citizens support our inspection department and their union. Thank you for excellent job. Lawrence Public School with the impeccable leadership by Honorable Superintendent Ralph Guerrero doing excellent job. Million thanks to Honorable Director Wu. Lawrence teachers proud of you. We support your awesome union. Because of you, Lawrence, we rise again. Lawrence always strong. Lawrence always unite. We are proud to support our brave veterans. Thank you for your sacrifices. Thank you for your service. We must hire two new position in our veterans department and create the best commission on the elders. in this important meeting as we support our Firefighters' Union with the Lawrence Fire Department, with the impeccable leadership, by honor with Chief Delaney, one of the best fire departments in the nation. Lawrence Police Officers, thank you for excellent service. We are united to support Lawrence Police Officers' Union. Thank you.

Thank you. The next person is Rich Roswell, Councillor Roswell.

name i was for the record please uh... good evening council was retrustful thirty four cross street before i start uh... would i be remiss in wishing somebody up there happy wedding anniversary i can address you could not a couple of uh... good evening ritz russell thirty four cross street if you had any uh... any of you guys read any good books recently i found this online in the financial fiction section on the internet. There's some that are worth every penny that they can get paid, plus more. Then there are some that should have to pay the city to inhabit city property for supposedly seven and a half hours a week. I didn't realize that in some cases, knowing someone constituted a special skill set The FY budget for last year was 469 million bucks and change. The FY27 recommended budget is 489,000, almost 490 million dollars. That's a 4.32% increase. The federal government gave social security and military disability recipients a 2.8% cost of living increase. Uncheck the fuck up. Pardon me?

I hate niggers.

Okay. Why can't or won't the city budget stay within the cost of living increase window? Next. When will the city make realistic appropriations for snow removal? A million dollars is reasonable.

Stupid fucking nigger monkeys all die.

Motion to recess. A million dollars is a reasonable number. All those in favor please say aye.

Aye. Let's go back. Can I get a motion to get out of recess? Can I get a motion to get out of recess? Second. There's a motion on the table, properly seconded. Discussion? There is none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it. Councilor Rosso, you have two and a half minutes. Again, public participation.

You don't want to read the book again, do you? I'll just continue from where I dropped off with the snow plowing. When will the city make a realistic appropriation for snow removal? A million dollars seems reasonable. Any money left over, you can do what you're doing, like stripping their money out of the various accounts to go to other accounts. To me, that makes sense, but again, I guess with white hair you lose brain cells. And lastly, who gave someone permission to park a bunch of junky snowplows in the General Donovan parking lot? If the residents of the area can't use it for parking in the wintertime during snowstorms, then why should someone be allowed to use it for storage off-season? I mean, it's getting to be a sore point. Every time I drive by, there's another vehicle in there. Right now, it's up to six snow plows. With that, I thank you for the time, despite being broken up. Thank you.

All right. The next person is Vicente de la Rosa. Name and address for the record, please. Oh, ordinance. Okay. If it is not public participation, then later on we're going to have ordinance. Samuel Aponte also have an item on the agenda or you have public participation?

Hi, everyone. Peace be unto you.

Are you here for public participation or you have an item on the agenda?

I have an item on the agenda.

Okay. So later on we're going to entertain an item.

Okay.

Thank you.

So should I carry on?

Yes, later on we will discuss your item later on. I can sit? Okay. Marisol Cordenas. Also an item on the agenda. Are you part of ordinance as well? Yes. All right, later on we're going to entertain your item.

Okay. I want to speak Spanish.

later on yes okay uh if you have an item on the agenda later on we're gonna uh we're gonna call you okay uh Name and address for the record, please.

It's my first time here, so be patient with me, please.

You have two and a half minutes, and please provide us with your name and address for the record.

My name is Oscar Ordonez. My address is 277 Lawrence Street. I'm coming here today because I was hit by a car two months ago on Lawrence Street, and I'm concerned about the safety on that street, especially for kids, elderly, and us as citizens in there. And unfortunately, it just got hit up a little bit, and everybody's crazy in there. I'M THANKFUL BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET WORSE, BUT I STILL WITHOUT WORK RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT PAY. AND I NEED TO KNOW HOW THE CITY CAN FIX THE STREET SIGNALS AND There's something that needs to be done in there because there are kids and elderly people going into those bodegas and the gas stations, and it's crazy right now. Just Saturday, I think there was an accident around 10 o'clock in there. So I don't know who's the person that represents that area that can help me to do something.

Thank you so much. All these names are going to be submitted for the record. The first item that we have on our agenda that is not quite there, but is under communications from the mayor's office, we're going to have that item 227, 2026, fiscal year 2027 budget, review and schedule hearings. And under that item, we're going to entertain

The mayor's office to introduce that FY 2027 budget welcome Good evening council president counselors Octavians fantasy and advise it to the mayor on policy and external affairs Here we are again during our budget preparation. And what I'm going to do, I ask you to be patient with me because there's two documents that I need to read. The second one has been shared with you tonight, which was prepared with the mayor this afternoon. That's the reason why we haven't sent it earlier. Nevertheless, I'm going to read the budget statement, the mayor's budget statement for fiscal year 2027. Dear Councillors, I am proud to present the City of Lawrence fiscal year 2027 operating budget at a time when our city is maintaining financial stability while continuing to focus on long-term planning and responsible stewardship. As I shared in my State of the City address, our city remains focused on steady growth and responsible progress. This reflects the meaningful advances we have achieved together and as a community through careful management and continued collaboration. Independent credit rating agencies continue to affirm the strength of our financial management. SNP Global Ratings has maintained an A-plus rating with a stable outlook, and Moody's continues to recognize our stability and disciplined approach to budgeting. These ratings confirm what we know. Lawrence is managing its finances responsibly, meeting its obligations, and planning for the future with purpose. At the same time, we recognize that we are at a critical moment in our city's financial evolution. We have made significant investments in our future, new schools, a new Lawrence Police Headquarters, and critical infrastructure improvements across our neighborhoods. These investments are necessary and long overdue. But they also come with long-term financial responsibilities that we must meet sustainably. That is why this budget is grounded in a clear and guiding principle. Our financial stability must be supported by economic growth. We cannot rely solely on raising taxes, and we will not balance our future by cutting essential services. Instead, we are focused on expanding our tax base, attracting investment, and creating new sources of locally generated revenue. Across Lawrence, we are unlocking underutilized land, advancing housing and commercial development, and building partnership that bring new opportunity into our city. This strategy is already producing results, with rising property values, increased development activity, and a stronger, more resilient local economy. At the same time, we continue to invest in the infrastructure that supports the growth, rebuilding our streets, improving public spaces, strengthening connections between neighborhoods, and preparing our city for the challenges of the future. But our most important investment is in our people. We are strengthening education and workforce development because we know that long-term economic success depends on the opportunities we create for our residents, especially our young people. Through partnerships with our public schools, colleges, and community organizations, we are aligning education with workforce needs, expanding access to training, and creating clear pathways to good paying jobs. We are preparing our residents not just for today's economy, but for the future. We have also achieved a major milestone in the governance of our school system. After nearly two decades, we successfully reformed the school committee structure through collaboration with the city council, our state partners, and education leadership. This reform lays the groundwork for Lawrence to regain local control of our public schools, an important step towards greater accountability, stronger outcomes, and a system that reflects the needs of our community. Education is not separate from our financial strategy. It is central to it. When we invest in education, we strengthen our workforce. When we strengthen our workforce, we grow our economy. And when our economy grows, we build the revenue base needed to support our services, meet our obligation, and invest back into our neighborhoods. The budget also reflects our ongoing commitment to thoughtful and discipline financial management. Through fiscal year 2027, we will continue to align budget decisions with established priorities, measurable outcomes, and the city long-term strategic goals. This approach promotes accountability, enhances transparency, and helps ensure responsible stewardship of public resources. I respectfully ask the City Council to work in partnership with my administration to review this budget and ultimately adopt it. The decisions before us are not just about numbers on a page. They are about the direction of our city. They are about how we meet our obligations, how we invest in our residents, and how we position Lawrence for long-term success. We have already demonstrated what we can achieve when we work together. From major capital investments to critical governance reforms, that same spirit of collaboration will be essential as we move forward through this budget process. I am committed to an open, transparent, and constructive dialogue with the City Council. I welcome your input, your ideas, and your partnership as we finalize a budget that reflects our shared responsibility to the people of Lawrence. This budget is about balance. It is about maintaining strong financial discipline while investing in our future. It is about protecting essential services while creating new growth opportunities. and it is about making sure that the progress we are seeing today continues for years to come. Lawrence has come a long way. We are no longer defined by the challenges of the past. We are defined by the strength of our progress and the clarity of our vision. The budget is more than a financial plan. It is a roadmap for sustainable growth, physical stability, and shared prosperity. And together, we will continue building a city where opportunity exists in every neighborhood and where the best days of Lawrence are still ahead. Thank you, and may God bless the city of Lawrence. Sincerely, Mayor Ada Pena. Mayor. The second part, I would like to read the, and I'll try to do it as quickly as possible, because I know you have an extensive agenda. is a memo that was prepared on behalf of Mayor de Peña to be submitted to you. It's in reference to preparation and responsibility of the municipal budget process fiscal year 2027. They are members of the City Council. As we enter the year's budget season, Mayor Brian Adepena respectfully urges all members of the City Council to fully prepare themselves to understand the municipal budget process, including the terminologies, ongoing operational expenses, fixed budgetary commitments, and the long-term implication of the decisions made during budget deliberations. The annual operating budget is one of the most consequential responsibilities entrusted to municipal government. Decisions made during this process directly impact the city's ability to meet depth service obligations, maintain essential public services, support personnel, and preserve the long-term financial stability of the City of Lawrence. Each year, the mayor is required to present and clearly narrate his financial position and budgetary priorities based on the pressing needs of the city, and to outline how those needs can be responsibly met given the availability of funds and municipal resources. This responsibility requires balancing physical discipline with the practical realities and demands facing our community. We respectively ask the City Council undertake the same level of preparation and responsibility in reviewing the proposed operating budget. Councillors should dedicate the necessary time to study the budget carefully, understand the City's financial obligation, ask substantive questions, and fully comprehend the long-term physical implication of the budgetary decision. Unfortunately, last year, budget hearings involved an extensive and lengthy process, yet critical financial obligations, including OPAP funding, were not adequately addressed. These are real and ongoing commitments that directly affect the City's financial health, financial stability and future flexibility. It is equally important to recognize that discussions regarding departmental funding should never be centered on the individual currently serving in particular positions. From both an ethical and governance standpoint, budget deliberations should focus on whether the council supports the overall funding and operational needs of the department heads on the departments based on the priorities and needs of the city, regardless of who presently occupies a role. Of foremost importance are the council's decision concerning economic development, and other income-generating initiatives that strengthen the city's long-term tax base. These decisions directly influence Lawrence's ability to meet municipal loans, bonded indebtedness, infrastructure obligations, public services and personnel costs in the years ahead. Mayor Brian Adepena's long-term physical strategy for the City of Lawrence is centered on expanding and strengthening the city tax base through the development and redevelopment of underutilized vacant and blighted private and public properties. The administration firmly believes that sustainable economic growth and strategic redevelopment are essential to bringing dormant properties back to productive use, generating new revenues, creating jobs, attracting private investment, and improving the overall financial stability of the city. The administration remains committed to the principle that Lawrence cannot rely solely on raising taxes, to meet its growing financial obligations, nor can the city responsibly balance its future by reducing or eliminating essential municipal services that residents depend upon. Instead, the focus remains on expanding the local economy, increasing property values through responsible development, attracting new commercial and residential investment, and identify a new identify new sources of locally generated revenue that are feasible, viable, and sustainable over the long term. During the Mayor's first term, several members of the City Council publicly criticized various economic development initiatives advanced by the administration. However, to date, There has been limited presentations of comprehensive counter-proposals or alternative long-term revenue strategies addressing how the city should otherwise generate the additional income. Income necessary to support municipal operations, infrastructure obligations, public safety, schools, employment benefits, and other essential services. The administration respectfully encourages all parties to move beyond criticism alone and instead focus collectively on practical, solution-oriented discussions that advance the long-term interests of the city. The mayor remains willing to engage in good faith collaborations and compromise where possible and ask that members of the city council likewise present constructive alternatives where common ground may be achieved for the benefit of Lawrence residents and taxpayers alike. The council should also be mindful that failure to responsibly address the city financial obligation may ultimately result in increased pressure on the tax levy. While no administration takes the impact of raising taxes on residents, it remains a potential consequence when structural financial needs are not met. In recognition of this, the Mayor has already begun discussions with municipal staff to identify and evaluate alternative revenue strategies that may reduce reliance on property tax increases. These efforts include reviewing and potentially adjusting the city's fee structure, service charges, and administrative fees where appropriate. At present, Lawrence's fees in several areas remain comparatively lower than those in many other municipalities across the Commonwealth. and a thoughtful reassessment may provide a more balanced and equitable approach to revenue generation. As you are aware, the City's financial practices, creditworthiness and fiscal management continue to be closely monitored by credit rating agencies and municipal bond stakeholders. throughout the Commonwealth. The decision made during this budget cycle will have lasting implications for Lawrence's financial reputation and future borrowing capacity. The Mayor welcomes a thoughtful, intelligent, and respectful review of the proposed operating budget. Healthy debate is an essential part of the democratic process. However, that process must also be accompanied by good faith collaboration and compromise to secure a sound financial future for the City of Lawrence. Should there be big differences in priorities or viewpoints, we encourage compromise grounded in consensus and fiscal responsibility. There is one Mayor, but there are nine Councillors. And it's not realistic to expect the Mayor to compromise independently on nine separate individual priorities or positions. effective governance requires identifying areas of common agreement and work collectively towards solutions that reflect a broader consensus of the council and the best interests of the city as a whole only through preparation diligence informed decision making and cooperation can balance and response every and resum responsible budget be achieved Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office. I am Mayor Brian A. DePena. Council President, in the coming days we will also share with you a document that we have reflecting uh the several administrations through the past and this current administration's um hiring practices the amount of uh employees that the cities have had since mike sullivan uh william lantiga dan rivera kendris vasquez and mayor brian ada pena the reason why we're doing it is because, like tonight, I just received a document indicating that some of the other municipalities are cutting staff. That's across the Commonwealth. I hope, and based on our budget proposal, that would not be the case. And the reason why we did that study and which would be shared with you is because our population has grown. our um we have more students there's more services that are required and to not responsibly look at the budget and cut services uh and also employees would be detrimental to the city as we are progressing so we can't go back we need to move forward At the same time, based on this email, lastly, I would encourage our new council members, Rosalie Gonzalez and Franklin Miguel, if you have any other questions, and all of you as well, Not only can you contact our CAFO, but we have open door policies if you have any questions or any concerns or you want to know how we make our decisions based on our proposal to you, we will happy and I myself would be happy to be there. I will be, like usual, during the entire budget process. I don't know if Johanny is here tonight, our chief of staff. We agreed that this would be a difference, that we would be here tonight and during the entire budget process. We're human. If I have a commitment, she will be here. If she has a commitment, we share responsibility. SHOULD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US.

YES. THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET. TO ME, THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BUDGET THROUGH THIS MEMO FROM MAYOR BRIAN EDEPEÑA WAS A CLEAR PATH TO somehow, one way or another, call up the council instead of calling up for the budget, what the budgeting takes. that is the most important part instead of focusing on the council. 90% of this memo is from the gecko attacking the city council, telling us many things that through words you can figure it out. But I mean, we are very professional. We're going to keep it as professional. and uh and we're gonna approach this just like the mayor wants uh in a way that uh we are going to be very thoughtful very intelligent and very respectful uh to the review of this proposed boy of fiscal year 2027. uh we are not we are not going to stay on the pattern of fighting because the city of london is above our heads above the mayor's head and above every single council head And we need to work towards the people. I believe that the memo should be focusing on introducing the budget instead of fighting with the council. And we're not into that by all means. But we're going to take this as a good and valid. Thank you for introducing the budget, as I said, fiscal year 2027. And now we're going to pass the floor to the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, Councillor Stephanie Infante, so she can provide us with some guidance as of how we're going to proceed with the review of the budget fiscal year 2027.

Thank you, Council President, through you. Before I get into the memo, I just want to quickly congratulate Zulimar Gonzalez from the City Clerk's Office, who graduated from Northern Texas Community College on Saturday. Zulimar started with us as an intern, so congratulations, Zulimar. She's here taking on the tough meeting, covering for our Assistant City Clerk, Jen Duran. Council President, on May 14, Thursday, May 14, 2026, myself, in partnership with the Vice Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, sent a memo to the Mayor, to the City Council, to department heads and actually citywide to ensure that everyone was on the same page as to how this budget process is going to look for this year. And some of it is lessons from last year. One thing that we did take on that I mentioned at the beginning of the year, we did year-to-date budget hearings to see how the budget to date was going, particularly with the bigger departments, and it seemed to help the Budget and Finance Committee. I recommend for my colleagues who aren't on the committee to watch those sessions in preparation to what's to come. Council President, I'm just going to read this for the record. That way the public knows also exactly what is said on this memo. And it was addressed to the Council President, Council Vice President Ana Levy, City Council Members, Mayor Brian A. DiPena, Department Heads, Lawrence Public Schools, Greater Lawrence Technical School, and Lawrence residents, from the Chair and Vice Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. Dear city colleagues and community members, we are pleased to present the official FY27 budget review schedule. As we begin this essential phase of our municipal governance, we want to express our sincere gratitude to the Budget and Finance Committee for their outstanding work during our year-to-date budget reviews. Your diligence has set a strong foundation for the weeks ahead. submission and key statutory deadlines the fy27 budget was officially submitted to the city clerk and city council on thursday may 14th 2026 at 3 19 pm and let me just actually correct that the physical budget was stamped at 3 18 pm the email was sent at 3 19 pm so there is a minute difference Please be advised that we have received formal confirmation from State Council that the 45-day statutory period begins on the day of submission. Consequently, the final day for the City Council to take official action on the FY27 budget is Saturday, June 27, 2026. the hearing process. Formal budget hearings are scheduled to take place from Monday, June 1st through Thursday, June 11th. This year, and I want to make sure that we do have some department heads here and for residents listening at home, This year, we are adhering to a strict schedule to ensure every department and priority is given the appropriate time and focus. Please note that no rescheduling will be accommodated unless it is an absolute emergency situation. Your cooperation in maintaining this timeline is vital to completing our review within the required window. pre-hearing support and training. To ensure our counselors are fully prepared for the hearing phase, Ramona Sabagios, our CAFO, will be available from Monday, May 18th to Tuesday, May 26th. During this time, the CAFO is available to, one, assist in reviewing the budget documents, two, answer specific technical questions, three, provide a refresher on municipal budget process for those who request it. We encourage our colleagues to take advantage of this window to gain a deeper understanding of the proposed figures before we convene for public hearings. We look forward to working collaboratively with all of you to ensure a transparent, fiscally responsible, and productive fiscal year 2027 budget process. Respectfully, Councilor Stephanie Infante, Chair, and Councilor Vivian Marmo, Vice Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. Council President, I am now going to read into the record the official FY27 budget hearing schedule. For Monday, June 1st, 2026, we have the opening statement and presentation from our CAFO. The first department, we have the Administration and Finance Division, and under that division we have the Office of Budget and Finance, the Comptroller's Office, the Purchasing Office, Information Technology, Assessor's Office, Treasurer's Office, Tax Collector's Office, Office of the Personnel, WE ALSO HAVE DEPTH SERVICES, INTERGOVERNMENTAL ASSESSMENT, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, RISK MANAGEMENT AND OTHER FINANCING USES. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2026, WE HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE CITY CLERK'S DIVISION, WHICH COVERS THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, ELECTIONS, VITAL STATS AND ANNUAL LISTINGS. We also have the Health and Human Services Division, which covers Council on Aging, Veterans Office, and the Recreation's Office. That evening, we also have the Police Department and the Fire Department. Thursday, June 4th, 2026 would be the night for the city council, the mayor's office, emergency management, office of planning and development, which includes office of community development, planning office, planning boards and commissions, planning zoning board, and economic development. We will also have the inspectional services department on that evening as well. monday june 8th 2026 will be the night for the hearing for lawrence public schools and greater lawrence technical school and lastly thursday june 11 2026 the departments that will have their hearing will be the public library the bellevenue cemetery department of public works parking enterprise fund airport enterprise fund and water and sewer enterprise funds Council President, thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Budget and Finance Committee. Myself and the Vice Chair, we look forward to starting this process.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair from the Budget and Finance Committee. With that said, we're going to... We appreciate the Mayor's Office being here and communicating for the fiscal year 2027. And thank you Madam Chair from the Finance Committee to give us some guidance as to how the budget is going to look like when it comes to the review. With that said, I'm going to close this item. Yeah. And we're going to go right away to the regular agenda that we have for tonight. We have a couple of people that are here today from the administration that they've been here since 7 in the morning. And we're going to, as a courtesy, we're going to take them first so they can go home and be with their families. So Madam Chair, from the Finance Committee, everybody on this list pretty much is here. So let's hear those committee reports and any recommendations. Item 173.26.

item 173-26 reauthorization of belvenue cemetery revolving fund account with the expenditure limit of 95 000 was sent up to the full council as a favorable recommendation and i make that as a formal motion second okay I'm trying to, I know, counselors, you do have a Manila folder with additional information. So the committee did ask to see not only the expenditures but also the revenues that are coming into each department. So you do have that available for you. And that's, I mean, I've asked you that question, Council President, so I'm gonna leave it for the members that are not on the committee.

Any councilor would like to ask a question in regard to that item 173.36? The reauthorization of that Revolving Fund Accounts with an expenditure limit of $95,000. Any questions? I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it.

Item 174-26. Item 174-26, reauthorization of council on agent revolving fund account with the expenditure limits of $150,000 was sent up to the council with a favorable recommendation, and I make that as a formal motion. Second.

There's a motion in front of us. Properly second discussion. On the report, councillors, we have received the balance, the current balance of the account and the amount as of how this money was spent. Any questions? I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any nays? The ayes have it. Item 175-26.

Item 175-26, reauthorization of the Recreation and Park Self-Supporting Service Revolving Fund was sent up with a favorable recommendation, and I make that as a formal motion. Second.

We have a motion in front of us for a second discussion.

I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any nays? The ayes have it.

Item 176-26. Item 176-26, reauthorization of Veterans Memorial Stadium revolving fund accounts with the expenditure limit of $100,000 was sent up as a favorable recommendation, and I make that as a formal motion. Second.

There's a motion in front of us, properly second discussion. I hear none, all those in favor please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. Thank you.

Item 177-26. Item 177-26, reauthorization of library programs revolving fund account with the expenditure limit of $50,000 was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. Second.

There's a motion in front of us, properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. The ayes have it.

Item 178-26. Item 178-26, reauthorization of PEG access and cable-related funds revolving accounts available to Lawrence Public Schools with the appropriation in the amount of $350,000 was sent up as a favorable recommendation, and I make that as a form of motion.

There's a motion in front of us. Properly second discussion. Are you hearing none? All those in favor please say aye.

Aye.

The ayes have it. Item 179.26.

And on 179-26, reauthorization of peg access and cable-related funds revolving fund account available to the City of Lawrence with the appropriation amount of $100,000 was sent up as a favorable recommendation, and I make that as a formal motion.

Second. There's a motion in front of us. Properly second. And that motion is in relation to the government channel. Correct? Can you integrate that part of the motion?

Yes, discussion. Discussion, Council President.

Can you integrate that as part of the motion?

For the government portion of the PEG access

In discussion, Councillor Infante.

Thank you. As Council President was stating, the Budget and Finance Committee approved half of the amount of $100,000 to cover the channel available to the City of Lawrence, which is for the government access that covers meetings like City Council meetings. WE DID, HOWEVER, DID NOT APPROVE THE OTHER HALF THAT'S PERTAINING TO THE COMMUNITY ACCESS OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE BECAUSE WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A PLAN AS TO HOW THAT CHANNEL IS GOING TO BE USED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON SOMETHING. IT IS ALSO OUR UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR CAFEL WHO EXPLAINED THAT NIGHT, THESE APPROPRIATIONS CANNOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE. So if the administration does come up with a proposal or a plan for the community service part of the channel, they would have to come before the council for that funding to be appropriated for that usage. So it's not gonna be used for anything else. The money will be there and will be ready once a plan is approved and presented by the administration.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT ONCE THAT HAPPENS AND THEY NEED TO COME BACK IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL TO GET REAUTHORIZED. CAN YOU SPECIFY THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT IS AVAILABLE, PLEASE?

FOR FISCAL 2026, $216,000 WERE RECEIVED AND THE COUNCIL AGREED TO TAKE 50% OF THAT, WHICH WOULD BE $108,000.

SO THE MOTION IS REFLECTING THE RIGHT AMOUNT, WHICH IS $108,000? 108 no we have so there was a table we have a hundred thousand so i'm i meant to say a hundred hundred eight thousand that was discussed during the meeting but it was originally a hundred yes yeah so half of the funds which is one hundred and eight thousand dollars uh going to be authorized for the purpose of the uh after the council vote for the purpose of that uh the government channel uh counselors any questions I hear none. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. And the right amount is reflected. Yes. Okay. All right. The next item is item 180-26.

Item 180-26, reauthorization of DPW recycling revolving fund account with the expenditure limits of $300,000 was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. Second.

There is a motion on the table. Second. Probably second discussion. I hear none, all those in favor please say aye. Aye.

Item 182-26. Item 182-26, approval of bond authorization in the amount of 10,149,973 for airport administration building was sent up to the full council as a committee report, I believe. Let me just double check that. As a sorry just one second as a favorable recommendation we were pending the plans um which the airport manager just did send over the presentation to the full council in your emails um so i make that as a formal motion as a favorable recommendation there is a motion in front of us uh for this item properly second discussion it is important to also um

specified that the bond authorization is going to be on a reimbursement basis and the city will be responsible for a specific amount. Do you mind clarifying those?

Yes, Councilor and through you, Council President, thank you very much. In your emails and available for a presentation tonight is a slide deck with the design. As you all may know, we are currently in a design phase of the airport's administration building and with the support of the state's budget and especially through Mass Department of Transportation Aeronautical Division, it is what we're expecting, a 95% grant. Our 5% share is what we are going to be moving forward to. Although we have to bond the entire amount, that 95% will balance off. We are committed not to start a project unless we have our guarantee that we're at that 5%. Currently, we are about 20% short based on the previous amount that was authorized some two years ago when the project was proposed by the state. So we are hoping that the FY27 budget will reflect that gap. SO THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD. BUT AGAIN, IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT GUARANTEE, THE DESIGN WILL BE READY UNTIL A POINT IN TIME WHEN THE STATE HAS THE AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD. ANY QUESTIONS?

COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE DID REQUEST THAT THE AIRPORT MANAGER SIGN AN OFFICIAL MEMO TO THE CITY Council wants that funding is guaranteed by the state so that we know that it's not $10 million anymore, but that whatever that 5% amount will be that the city's responsibility.

Any questions, councillors? Any questions? I hear none. At this point, I'll call the questions. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it. Thank you. Item 183.26.

Item 183-26, transfer in the amount of $1,007,282.28 from retained earnings to What was the account number? Other assessments. So let me re-read that. Transfer in the amount of $1,007,282 with total assets. 28 cents from retained earnings to other assessments to fund the GLSD, the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District's FY2026 assessment. It was sent up as a favorable recommendation, and I make that as a formal motion.

There's a motion in front of us. Properly second discussion. Do we have anybody from the Water and Sew Department?

We have the Commissioner.

Good evening, Councillors.

Good evening.

Just give us an overall of why this is important.

Sure. So we underfunded our budget by $1 million roughly at the beginning of this fiscal year because just long story short, we don't have the revenues to put on paper. So we have to borrow this from our retained earnings. We got a credit, every year we get a credit in the third quarter, so we were able to pay the third quarter payment, which was like roughly 600,000, and now we need to make the fourth quarter payment.

Any questions, councillors? Are we going to be okay with that eventually?

Yes, with the proposal I have tonight, we'll be in great shape.

The proposal that's coming up later? Yes.

Or this one? Later this evening.

All right, councillors, any questions? I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it. Thank you. Item 184.26.

Item 184-26, authorization to expend $10,933 with 13 cents for student awareness of fire education program, better known as the SAFE program. And $4,168.38 for the senior SAFE program in FY2026 was sent up as a favorable recommendation, and I make that as a formal motion.

There's a motion in front of us, probably second discussion.

Discussion?

Right here, none. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it. Item 185.26.

Item 185-26, transfer in the amount of $110,000 from the ARPA free cash for the development of the economic development master plan was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a form of motion. there is a motion in front of us properly second discussion discussion counselor thank you council president i just want to let the the full council know that the committee did request from director francisco cerrillo for him to send the documentation with the business name of whom is going to be or the agency that's going to be conducting um which actually they were there that night but a full report of the agency what that plan is going to look like and the scope of the work overall. So we will be receiving that, I would say, fairly soon from that department. Oh, we have Kate here.

Kate, end the call, please.

Kate King, Office of Planning and Development, 360 Merrimack Street. I believe that was emailed. Oh, was it? The scope of service was emailed, yeah.

I just can't see anything.

Any questions?

Let me just double check.

Let's double check on that. In the meantime, there is another question for the council. So these funds are free cash funds. This is the latest fund that having been spent on the balance and the total balance, right?

Yes. So this is originally from the thriving Lawrence projects. This particular one had a beginning balance of 400,000. We used 200,000 for the AI project with the web. And this 110 is coming from the remaining 200,000.

All right, there's still some funds there available, 90,000? Yes, that's correct. And the mayor is fully aware of this transfer and he authorized your department to bring it up in front of the council? Yes. So he has his blessing? Yes. Okay.

Council President?

Councillor Infante.

Thank you. I just checked my email. I do not, at least I don't have that plan sent by Director Cirillo. I just checked to see that maybe perhaps at the agency center. I don't see it either.

I'm sorry, he told me today that he had sent it.

Okay. So I don't have it. I can't speak for the other counselors, but in my inbox, it's not there. But I do want to say we had the pleasure of having the agency with us that evening. Can you remind me of the name of the agency?

It's MVPC, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission. Merrimack Valley Planning Commission. And Ian was here. He's the one who be... working predominantly on it.

Yes. They essentially help municipalities from the Merrimack Valley, including our neighbors, and he was very knowledgeable. The agency is very knowledgeable, and I think the committee overall was content with what we heard, and so we look forward to receiving that. Okay. Yep. Thank you.

Can we answer any questions? I don't want to say I mean ace. That's how it I don't want me to 626.

I don't want to be 6 dash 26 transfer and the amount of 10.8 million from free cash reserve to various accounts actually going to read off those accounts. Council president by May truck. So those 10 million is going to go into the OPEB trust fund in the amount of a million dollars. Compensated absences reserve fund in the amount of $800. Workers compensation claim reserve fund in the amount of $400,000. Injured on duty reserve fund in the amount of $200,000. Stabilization reserve for debt services in the amount of $3 million. stabilization reserved for litigation slash judgments and the amount of a million dollars and lastly dpw snow and ice expenditures and the amount of 4.4 million dollars and that was sent up as a favorable recommendation and i make that as a formal motion there's a motion in front of us properly second discussion

DISCUSSION.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, WHAT'S THE BALANCE OF THE FREE CASH RIGHT NOW FROM THE CITY? I MEAN, AFTER THIS TRANSFER?

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. BEFORE THIS TRANSFER WAS $14 MILLION AND AFTER THIS TRANSFER WILL BE? Yes, 3.2.

Can you remember or anticipate when was the last time that we had this balance in free cash in the last 10 years or so?

Sure. In 2023, our balance of free cash was about $2 million. Okay.

Perfect. Thank you.

Ms. Caffo, can you go over the debt service stabilization reserve?

Absolutely. The stabilization reserve for debt service is used to subsidize the city's increased debt service related to the two new schools and the police station without the use of a debt exclusion or an override. So for this fiscal year, we used $5 million related to that service to pay for the two new schools and the police station. For next year, it's going to be a little higher because we had to finalize the borrowing last year to finish the two new schools. So our debt service is going to increase next year for FY27. And I'll go into more detail when we get to the budget.

OK. Councilors, any questions? Hopefully we don't have that much snow next year.

Yes.

All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it. Thank you.

Sorry, I was told it wasn't working. I was checking.

All right, let's go. Let me see. Who else is here? Are you here for personnel? All right, let's go back to personnel committee. Item 172.26, appointment of Christopher Berkley for the municipal hearing officer. That item has been requested to be withdrawn.

Mr. Berkley has requested his name withdrawn.

Thank you. Councilors, can I get a motion to withdraw the item? So moved. Second. There's a motion to withdraw. Properly seconded discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Item 204.26, reappointment of Daniel Foley to the Lawrence Municipal Airport. Madam Chair, from the Personnel Committee.

Item 204-26, reappointment of Daniel Foley to the Lawrence Municipal Airport Commission was sent up as a favorable recommendation, and I make that as a formal motion.

There's a motion in front of us. Properly seconded. Discussion? We have a candidate in front of us.

Yes, good evening. Daniel Foley, 11 Seer Drive, Lawrence.

Yeah, just tell us a little more. Why you want to keep on serving? Why you want to keep on serving?

It's just something that I enjoy doing.

For how long you been on that committee?

About 20 years.

Wow. Counselors, any questions? You're his boss. All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. Thank you so much. Thank you for your service. All right. We have a couple of new items. Councilors, we got a couple of items that are in old business. The reason why they are in old business is because we have an unexpected incident. So it was a blackout here at City Hall, and the committee, the ordinance committee, need to send a few items that are date sensitive and put it on the agenda as an old business. Madam Chair, from the Ordinance Committee, and the Vice President, Councillor Levy. Item 226.

Thank you, Councillor President. So, Mr. President, through you, as per rule 11, I would like to make a motion to suspend rule number six and pull four item from ordering and committee. And also, I would like to move those item as a block. So, item 200.

226.

226, Evangelism in Outreach, 2026, De Campanone, Comunparte, June 7. 2126, Recruiting the Spirit, Van Borden, Parth. July 18, 2027, item 202, 2026, Construyendo Futuro Evento Familiar at the Conon Park on July the 24th, July 25th also. And 203-2026, get to know your church at the Campanile Park on May 23rd from 2 to 5.30.

And there is a motion in front of us to take all those under the suspension of the rule specifically. And it's been properly second discussion.

Discussion.

Councillor Infante.

Thank you. I just want to remind, and I'm sure the ordinance committee is already doing this, but when was it that I was here? I forget what day it was. It was almost close to closing. And again, we're having the issue with the loudness of the services at Comeyon Park, and I heard it, and I know that this council has addressed it many times, but I don't want this to be an ongoing issue this summer, so I just want the churches to be cautious and respectful of the... uh apartments that we do have around the common park that we do get those calls when when the services are too loud so um we love that you're there but just please be mindful of that all right um

Okay, thank you, Council President. Yes, we always ask and remember people just to get the speaker through the people who's coming, not to the buildings that are completely around, and to make sure, you know, that it won't bother the people from the other side.

All right, something that when I served on the Ordinance Committee, they keep on saying, keep the music for yourself. And I guess that that's basically the main comment throughout. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it. Madam Chair, from the Ordinance Committee, item 226.

226 is that it's going to be at the common park on June 7, 2026. Oh, I'm sorry. They changed the date. It's going to be July 19, 2026. Everybody have read the notes on the package?

All right, councillors, we have item 226, Evangelist Outreach 2026 at the Campañón Common, July 19, 2026. Can I hear a motion?

A motion to approve.

There is a motion to approve. Properly second discussion. Question, question, question. Councillor Del Rosario.

Thank you. And going back to the noise, what it is is, and I'm sorry that I'm going to say that, but have you seen the equipment that they use? It's like concert. It's like masses of speakers. Two summers ago, when we had all the complaints, I went and took pictures of it. The churches spend a huge amount of money on this equipment. It's like a huge concert. I mean, the biggest speakers you can imagine, panels of sound producing thing that is like, it's amazing. I mean, it's beautiful, it's amazing, but they've got to be more conscious of the people around it. I mean, I know the Holy Spirit gets to you, it's beautiful, you allow, you bring all the speakers up, but there's people out there that are not participating, and they're calling us. and we don't want to get to the point that we will say no to the churches due to the fact that that we need that we need you guys out there but also be mindful that all the money that you're spending on those huge equipment to bring to the parks because it's creating noises around it the elderly the kids everybody is suffering and we get all the calls and all the emails so be conscious to that we never said no to the churches but it's getting to a point that eventually If the noise complaints keep coming, we will have to stop doing these things for you guys. So we don't want to get to that. So be mindful of the equipment that you have. I mean, if it's a concert, it should be in a closed space. It should be in an open space. It's going to bother somebody. And I've seen it in an open space. And again, it's amazing the equipment that you guys use. But to me, for church services, it's too big and it's too loud.

Any other councillors? Councillor Malmo.

Through you, Council President, I do have a question in terms of process. I don't want to single out churches because it's not just church organizations that use the parks. It could be, you know, any organization, you know, whether they want to have a softball game or a baseball game or all these other organizations that take space in city parks and fields. Does the ordinance committee have anything in place where we are able to check if there were any prior grievances or, um, how do I word it? Where they previously cut, you know, like, I don't know, find, or have they, you know, have law enforcement been caught contacted to address these organizations in the past? Like, do we keep track of track? or have any record of these complaints. So moving forward, when these organizations, sometimes these are yearly events, so it keeps them in line to like, if you want to continue to use our spaces that there are rules and regulations. So I'm just wondering, does the ordinance committee have anything

Yes, the ordinance committee received the approval and each department signed on that approval, including the recreation department, the police department involved. And before they do the approval, we, assume that they check on the record to see if the organization have any type of complaint in general. And that's what we expect. That's the level of expectation that we have on the different departments that sign off on those documents before they come in front of us. Obviously, we receive complaint at the moment. Most of the time, those departments not necessarily deal with complaints except for the police department. and recreation department as well but yes but we expect for them to tell us on that report uh before they sign off this organization uh is not yes and it's not necessarily a church any organization any uh it's is not is not recommended for a permit for specific reasons, obviously they need to say the reasons, but yes, the Ordinance Committee have that in place. Before we go to you.

The last thing I'll say to conclude my point across is, you know, since being counselor, I have yet to see, like, we approve constantly via the ordinance committee and then moving it up to the full council, I've never seen anything including the package from the police department saying no to an organization. So that's the reason why I asked. I'm just wondering. It makes me question, and I would want the police department to update, provide feedback if they are doing their due diligence in providing us with that information.

Yeah, they have said no in the past to different events. Yeah, they have.

Yeah, and that's what I was going to say. I mean, they don't come to us when they say no. The recreation department will say no. I had an incident at Kennedy Park, which is in my district, a few years ago. And even the church that was going to use that park, they called me. And when I went to the recreation department, they showed me the complaints and said, we can't have that. And I said, well, I mean, it's the recreation department. So when they say no, they got records when they complain. But they don't get to us because they get the denial out there. They're not here on the agenda.

Yeah, when they get the date for that specific event, and then it happens to be that they have that discussion as well.

All right, councilors, any questions?

I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. Item 20126, I'm the chair from the ordinance committee.

Item 201.26 is the Recruiting of the Spirit Advent, Borken Park, July 18, 2026, from 12 to 4 p.m. Iglesia Lumbrera, I'm sending to the Food Council, I'll make a formal motion. Second.

There's a motion in front of us, properly seconded, discussion? No discussion? I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Thank you so much. Airena 202.26, Construyendo el Futuro Evento Familiar.

202.26 is Construyendo Futuro Evento Familiar 2026. the O'Connor Park, July 24, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and July 25, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vicente de la Rosa, I'm sending to the council as a formal motion. Second.

All right, there is a motion in front of us, properly seconded discussion. Any questions for Vicente? I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye's have it. Item 203.26. Thank you. Thank you.

Item 203.26 is the get to know your church. At the Campanile Common Park on May 23rd, 2026 from 2 to 5 p.m. As a motion in front of us, properly second discussion.

I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. Thank you so much. Thank you. All right, thank you. All right, with councilors, we go top of the agenda with item 134.26. Madam Chair, Madam Clerk, please read the notice for item 134.26. The water rate adjustment.

Document number 134-26 notices hereby given that the Lawrence City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 200 Common Street, Lawrence, Mass. Pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2023, and in accordance with the recently revised city council rule two this meeting will be hybrid allowing participation both in person and remotely to accommodate participants with health considerations that prevent them from participating in person to receive access codes for remote participation please contact the city clerk at eileen.fernal at cityoflawrence.com or 978-620-3230 or view the meeting on facebook and youtube The purpose of the hearing is to gather testimony, information and public input concerning the proposed establishment of the water rate assessment for water use in the proposed establishment of the sewer rate assessment in accord with the schedule of water and sewer rates below to be effective in accordance with said schedule in compliance with Mass General Law, Chapter 275, Section 15 of the Acts of 1989 and other applicable state and federal laws. The proposed rates for FY27 through FY30 Water, tier one, for water usage of one through 14 is $3.77, $3.77, and then in FY28 through 30 will be $3.85. Tier two, 15 to 50, HCFs is $4.07 in FY27, and then FY28 through 2030 is $4.15. Tier three, which is 51 through 100, HCFs is $4.37 in fiscal year 27, and then fiscal years 28 through 30 is $4.46. Tier 4 is 100 plus. HCFs would be $5.09 in fiscal year 27, and then $5.19 in fiscal years 28 through 30. For sewer, for Tier 1, for water usage, HCFs of 1 through 14, it's $4.07 in fiscal year 27, and then in fiscal years 28 through 30, it's $4.15. Tier two for sewer in HCFs of 15 through 50 is $4.40 for FY27, then FY28 through 30 is $4.48. Tier three for 51 through 100, HCF is $4.72. And then in fiscal years 28 through 30, it's $4.82. And then tier four for sewer is 101 plus HCFs. Fiscal year 2027 is $5.49. And then in fiscal year 28 through 30, it's $5.60. HCF is 100 cubic feet. or one HCF equals 748 gallons, 2% increase in the tier grades in FY28. Persons wishing to be heard shall be afforded the opportunity. In addition to having this published in the Eagle Tribune, it was also posted on the City of Lawrence webpage.

The public hearing is now open. Anybody from the public that wishes to speak? Anybody from the public that wishes to speak? Public hearing is now closed.

Cancellors, what's the motion? Motion to approve.

There's a motion to approve, properly second. I guess that we have a presentation before we approve. Correct? Yes. So let's hear the presentation and then we go for the vote.

Okay. I'm William Hale, Water and Sewer Commissioner, 400 Water Street. And if we could put the presentation up on the screen, that would be great.

All right. I'm assuming that everything is set on the back, right?

They should have everything.

So in 2013, Woodard and Curran and the City of Lawrence began working on preparing a financial model, which is just a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet that we put all of our expenses and revenues into.

Go ahead.

In 2015, the US Department of Justice issued a consent order on the city of Lawrence that's primarily for the MS4, which is our drainage system. A lot of contaminants were going into the river and we needed to take action with that. So for the past, since 2015, we've been working each year on that to get, it's about $600,000 a year invested in that portion. The council approved rates in November of 2022. That was a single tiered structure and they were semi-annually adjusted every six months over that period of time. So our expenses and revenues, we have our fiscal year 22 These are the expenses and then our actual expenses. So in the light green, we have our projected expenses and then in the dark green is our actual expenses. So we pretty much met the expenses. We had a little bit of an uptick in 24 and 25. In 2026, that's what we have budgeted, but we plan to have a little bit lower than that if possible and kind of even out that last tier. on our projected revenues. So the light red is projected and then the dark red is the actual revenues that we collected. So each year we've consistently been above what we were projected, which has really helped our enterprise fund. So this is our enterprise balance. So we've in 2022, the rate model had a projection and that's in the light blue and the dark blue is our actual enterprise balance. And if you look over at fiscal year 25, which we had closed out with two and a half million, we were supposed to be around 750,000. And then for fiscal year 26, it shows us at about 1.5. We're hoping to do a little bit better than that, the projection was about $170,000. These are investments we've made since the previous rate adjustments. And having an issue with the clicker right now. So this is an overview of our water system. We produce 6.4 million gallons average per day. Our max demands is 8.5 million gallons per day, so likely in the summertime, serving 88,877 residents, 12,728 service connections, 154 miles of water pipe, and then altogether it's 12.1 million gallons of storage. So we pump from the raw water pumping station on Water Street in the lower left corner. We pump it up to the low service reservoir and also to the Tower Hill tank and to various pumping stations, one on Andover Street and then also on Marston Street to feed our towers. So we were able to complete a bunch of water work, even though we didn't have a lot of this on loans, we were able to do some of it with our own funding. So Ellis Street neighborhood was completely, had low pressure. We were able to re-pipe that entire area and we did Atkinson Street and Atkinson Court, which are connected in there. We're also able to do Blake Lynn street handling court Trinity street with a new school is. And upcoming we have well street on the agenda while we're doing some sore work and contract 7 this year. So this is our lead service line replacement project so we got a six hundred and sixty four thousand dollar grant for this zero match. We were able to replace a hundred and twenty six lead lines in the city in house with our own staff. Which saved a significant amount of money for the city. Currently we're going through our tie cards and going house to house if there's any unknown service types and we're vaccing with a vac truck in the sidewalk to verify if it's copper or lead. Most of the ones we are finding are copper and if we do find lead we go and replace it as fast as possible. This is our sanitary sewer evaluation. So each year, this is part of that $600,000 that we go out for SRF funding for, which is a state revolving fund. We do manhole investigations. And recently from 2023 through 26, we've investigated 276 manholes and also 31,550 linear feet of pipe. So our illicit discharge detection and elimination, this is a program where we're abating illicit contamination from going into the rivers. So each blue area is called a catchment, and that drainage is portrayed to an outfall in the city. Um, we basically start at the outfall, we work our way, um, with cameras and we do manhole sampling. And we will pinpoint any, um, illicit discharges that's going into the stormwater drain, which could be a combination of different things. It's sometimes it's a direct sewer line connected to a drain pipe. Um, so we have bait that it could be a cracked sewer line that's leaking into the drain. Um, so total illicit gallons per day removed. was 131,165 gallons per day. We found a total of 49 elicits and we've abated every single one of them. So this was one that we had found at Lawrence housing. There was a sore leak in the basement and it was being pumped since up it out to the street and then they happen to be sampling so this is how we find these is we're sampling the manhole got a hit there for bacteria and we traced it back to this location. We notified Lawrence housing and they made a correction immediately. And more recently, we've done 10 abatements in the past three years out of that 49 I spoke about. Contract 7 SOAR work is underway. This is the picture from Water Street at Embankment. We had an odor complaint issue a few years back. It had gone on for years. I'll be able to identify that you know that what was happening so we made the adjustments and we put in some check valves there which prevents the sore gases from coming out of the manholes. As you can see in the upper left corner there's a check valve in there it's closed at the moment when sore comes through it opens up and then it shuts again to block the gases and we're actually going to install a second one for redundancy case that one fails. So these are the projects that we've completed since the previous rate adjustments. As you can see, we have a good amount of sewer projects in there. We've had a lot of loan forgiveness on the SRF funding. We do get principal forgiveness on that. It varies anywhere from 10 to 20%. And if you put that together with all of our grants, those ones, we've had small matches on some of the asset management planning grants, but the large grants, we had 1.6 million for stormwater resiliency master plan, that was zero match and also the lead service line inventory grant. So a total of $4.9 million that the city was able to get. So future projects and investments for the city. So we have $60 million planned in capital investments in this proposal. Just the highlighted ones that go through them is the commercial meter replacement. So that will allow the city to bring in revenue that we potentially we could lose over time. Meters deteriorate and they don't read properly. So we really need to be on top of that because we haven't replaced those probably since 2012, 2013-ish. Those were our first meters we replaced when we went to the remote reading. We're going to be looking to demolish the old water treatment plant and then do a lot of water infrastructure work. We have a lot of transmission main work in Tower Hill and then a lot of fire flow stuff in Prospect Hill and then also on the south side of the city. So water demands have been increasing over time. As you can see, we were in 2021, a little over 2 billion gallons. Now we're looking at close over 2.4 billion gallons per year. These are the proposed water main, it's misspelled, but water main improvements, the locations that I pinpointed. you know we'll lock down more specific streets as time goes on we have to put that proposal together and then bring it to Council for approval. So repairs of the Tower Hill water tank. So this is our historic water tower. We've been working on getting, you know, pretty much a master plan of what needs to be done. But a lot of brick work needs to be done and we need access to get into the tank. So we've been working. We've had a few meetings and making a lot of progress on that. We need batteries.

What's that?

he's keeping all right here we go so we're going to be demoing we're looking to demo the old water treatment plant so this is one of the big projects we have proposed that building's been abandoned for over 20 years so what we want to do here is if you go to the next slide So we want to potentially bring the sewer division over to our property. We need more storage. We have a limited amount of garages on Water Street as it is. So this would be something that we would look to do in the future. Currently the reservoir, it does have a little bit of water in it. This was a picture from a little bit ago, but we basically back on one side is a 10 million gallon storage tank. You could see the circle outlined in the grass area and that's buried underground. And for aesthetic purposes, we want to fill up the other side and have the fountain like it used to be. If you go to the next slide. You know back probably in at least 2008 or 9 we had an area like that in the city so in the reservoir so we'd like to get that back and beautify the reservoir so really important part of the city. So these are the proposed rate adjustments. So with no rate adjustments you can see are in the yellow line that run straight across our revenues are flat lined but the expenses continue to creep up. And our retained earnings are projected to be in the negative by the end of fiscal year twenty seven by seventy one thousand dollars and it continues to decline, which obviously we can't have happen. So, the proposed rate structure is a tiered structure. So currently we have a single structure, which is $3.77 per 100 cubic feet for water, $4.07 per 100 cubic feet for sewer. What we're looking to do is shift that to a tiered structure. So when you use zero to 1400 cubic feet, we can maintain those rates that you're paying now. So you wouldn't see an increase from zero to 14 as well as sewer would stay flat. Each tier would jump up after tier one would go 8%. So then you'd pay $4.07 for 15 to 50, and $4.37 from 51 to 100, and then $5.09 for water, 101, 100 cubic feet plus. You only pay for the water that you use in the tier. So for the first, say if you use 17, you would pay zero to 14 under the same rate that you pay today. But then three of that usage, 300 cubic feet would be in tier two at the $4.07. So essentially it ends up to be a 1% rate increase. A three family, if we can go to the next slide. Okay, so we'll look at the percentage of customers. So. 1 to 14, you know, those are considered essential water users. They're lower users. There's elderly people, single couple people in the household. So that's 26% of our customers and they, they are 16% of the flows. And if you look at tier two, that's 47% of the customers and they are 22% of the flow. And 20% of our customers are tier three, 9% of the flows. But the big thing is tier four, where only 7% of those customers have 52% of the city's flows. So what this plan does is the more water that you use in the city, it shifts the burden to that. particular high water user that that has a lot you know across the city a lot of money to maintain this infrastructure so we wouldn't want to have a commercial laundromat paying the same as a single family. We can go to the next slide please. So why tiered rates? So it encourages water conservation. So it's a limited resource. So when prices rise with higher consumption, households and businesses are incentivized to reduce non-essential water use, like lawn irrigation. It reflects the true cost of supplying more water. So, and it also promotes fairness and equity. So lower income households typically use less water. If everyone pays the same price per gallon, essential users would subsidize heavy discretionary users. And it supports long-term infrastructure investment. High uses accelerates the need for pipe expansions, treatment plant upgrades, storage reservoirs, and charging more at higher tiers helps fund these future capital improvements without overburdening low use customers. So this is the model, what it looks like with the rate proposal. So you could see the revenues start to go up. In fiscal year 29, we have to pay a little bit out of retained earnings, but we're in a lot better shape. Can go to the next slide, please. So American Water Works, they recommend that you have a three month reserve target, which would be equivalent to five to $6 million in reserves. So with the rate proposal, we're looking after fiscal year 26, we start to climb back up to where we need to be. And by fiscal year 2030, we'll be at 5.7 million right within that range of reserves. And with all this, we're still the lowest in the surrounding areas for water, even with this rate increase. So if you look at Lawrence for single family home, today their bill based on 1,700 cubic feet would be $135. Andover's 190, Haverhill's 235, Lowell's 179, and Methuen is 141. And then it goes up and go to commercial is where it is tier four. So you're looking Lawrence to be 29.85, Andover 4,145, Haverhill's over 4,000, Lowell's 3,500, and Methuen 3,800. So we're still significantly lower in commercial as well. So this would be the bill change. If you look straight down the columns, it says average single family. The bill based on that 1,700 cubic feet is $133.28. The bill would now be $135.17. three families $399 is their current bill, they would go to 423. And then for the large commercial user who uses 300 billing units would be go from 2352 to 2985. And this is a seasonal usage bill comparison. So, for the single family, you could see in the summertime, the usage would be about 19. the bill is 152 dollars versus the winter time you use less water. So you'd use roughly 1500 cubic feet and the bill would be 118 dollars. And then for multifamily, it's close to the same, 58. For the usage in the summer, $487 for the bill. In the winter, it drops down to 46 for the usage, and the bill would be $380. These are the rate structures that we considered. So to accomplish this same goal and have the capital projects and be proactive in the investments in the city with all the development going on, the rates would have to be increased across the board 21%. which is high. So that's why we opted to go with the tiered rate. We looked at having tier one at zero to 30 hundred cubic feet, it opens up tier one more, but the tiers are about water conservation. So sending that signal to the consumer is important. I think by having a larger tier one, you don't accomplish that. Um, and we weren't able to hold the rates flat. So. If you, you were to be in that 1 to 14 range, the rates would be a little bit higher than, um, where they are today, which we wanted to hold them. To that level, and that's the end of the proposal. So we can open it up for any questions.

Uh. Thank you. Thank you very much to the Water and Sewer Department through you, Commissioner, for putting this together. I mean, I know that it has been a great amount of time, a great amount of work from all of you, your department, your consultant, and your team to be able to accomplish this proposal. The last time that we have the water increase was on a basic flat rate increasement and we did it through several years and there was an average of about 20%.

Yeah, it was 20% over two years and six-month increments.

Six-month increments. So now we've seen another increment based on the need of the department. Yes. And this is something different, which is based on tiers. Yes. Tier one, tier two, and tier three, based on usage. So it's something that I would like to you know put it up there on the table to ensure that we have people is aware of of these proposal these people so has been a story discuss and approved by a mayor's office as well before you get to the city council correct correct all right. And at the same time every every department they deal with. It's aware of these proposal.

Yes, that's correct.

Right and it was we have a motion in front of us which is a motion to approve that at the tier consumption use base incremented to the water sewer of the city of Lawrence any questions to the department. Comments Council a moment.

I just wanted to say that I really appreciate the fact that you went above and beyond. And it came across that you reached out to all the counselors. I want to say it was over a month ago presenting this presentation, which helped me understand, you know, the purpose of this request. to approve. So I just wanted to make sure that I recognize your efforts. We all have busy schedules, so I do appreciate you reaching out and kind of having this prepared way beyond, you know, it being presented for today. So I just wanted to make sure that you were aware that I appreciate those efforts.

Thank you, Councilor.

Council President.

Councilor Rosario.

Thank you to you, Council President. On the same line, I would like to have, I mean, the department heads that are probably watching this meeting, that when this situation happened and you have a director or department head invite you and walk you through it, it's easy for us to make a decision. And I want to thank you for that, too. I mean, I sat down with you. I went through the process. I took the material home. So it's easy also to explain to you people what's coming, right? department head should to take an approach like that most of them before they do something make their life easier so they don't come here and get bombarded like they say right they get bombarded and it's easy for us to make a decision so thank you for that uh commissioner you're welcome thank you thank you counselor uh counselors any other questions um for how long you've been with the department um since 2004 so almost 22 years

You started when you were 18?

19.

19. So thank you for all your services. I mean, you're very young, very dedicated, and your work has speak for yourself when it comes to professionalism and when it comes to having differences of opinion and maintain that in a level that is required at the government level. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you for all your services. Thank you, President. Chancellor Infante.

Thank you. I want to add, and I say this every time, almost every time when you're in front of us, you are to this day one of my proudest votes. and it's because of what the council president stated, and you proved some people wrong, and you just, you always go above and beyond, and I hope you can, I mean, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't continue the way that you are, but I always say you are, to this day, one of my proudest votes, so thank you for your efforts and for your work.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I want to say thank you for the opportunity to just to learn whatever that you were explaining and telling me during the day that I was there. And also it's very grateful to see the changes that has been done to the water department. It's very nice just to go there and the different offices, you know, how they looked and everything. that is a place that before i will not recommend it but now i can say yes you can go over there and it's going to be completely different and people can see the difference thank you so much thank you so much for the work you're welcome any other questions counselors uh no okay at this point i'll call the questions rocco madame clerk

Sorry, I wasn't really thinking about the roll call there. Councilor Gonzalez? Yes. Councilor Miguel? Yes. Councilor Malmo? Yes. Councilor Infante? Yes. Councilor Reyes? Yes. Councilor Del Rosario? Yes. Councilor LaPlante is noted as absent. Councilor Vice President? Yes. Council President?

Yes. Motion carries. Congratulations. Thank you so much.

All right, going on top of the agenda.

And there is anybody else that is here? I don't think so.

All right, going on top of the agenda, Madame Clerk, please read the notice for item 5926.

Motion to move the preamble. Second.

There's a motion to move the preamble. Properly second discussion. There is none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. Madame Clerk?

Document number 59-26, 102-26, 103-26, and 141-26 all relate to handicapped parking. The purpose of the hearing is to gather testimony, information, and public input concerning the proposed amendment to the revised ordinances of the City of Lawrence to be further amended by adding the following subparagraphs to section 10.36.340 of the Municipal Code, handicapped parking in the proper alphabetical order. Document number 59-26 Bowdoin Street, south side from a point 20 feet east of Davis Street to a point 40 feet east of Davis Street. Document number 102-26 Bennington Street, east side from a point 150 feet south of fern street to a point 170 feet south of fern street and document number 103-26 farnham street south side from 0.102 feet east of phillips street to 0.122 feet east of phillips street and further amended by deleting the following subparagraph of section 10.36.340 of the municipal code handicap parking document number 141-26 orchard street south side from a point 230 feet westerly of union street to a point 250 feet westerly of union street persons wishing to be heard shall be afforded the opportunity public hearing is now open anybody from the public that wishes to speak

There is none. Public hearing is now closed. Counselors, what's the motion? Motion to approve. There is a motion to approve. Properly seconded. That's an order.

Discussion. Discussion.

Counselor Infante.

Thank you, Council President. I'm actually going to ask my colleagues to table this for now. Within the documents, there's the expired handicap placard that actually the Madam Clerk brought to my attention when we first submitted this back in February. To my knowledge, the renewal one hasn't been Submitted. At least I don't have it, but I also need to double check to see if any messages were sent to me. All right.

The motion to table is in order if you want to present that.

Do you point table all or just document 59? Document 59. So motion to table.

Yes. The motion is to item 59 . Oh, okay.

Yes.

It's been properly seconded. Do you have a motion to table?

There is a motion to table properly seconded a discussion on the table of matters. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it. Item 20626. Motion to approve. There is a motion to approve a properly seconded discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. Item 103.26. Motion to approve. There's a motion to approve item 103.26, properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. And the removal, item 141.26. Motion to approve the removal. There is a motion to approve, properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. Top of the agenda, there is no reports from the housing committee. Ordinance committee, there is no reports. And then public safety committee and emergency management, there is no report. Committee of the whole, there is no reports. So table matters, anything from the table matters that we want to discuss. There is item, can I get a motion to untable item 145.26. There is a motion to untable, properly second. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. Councilors.

Councilors, this item had been tabled because There was two dates. One was a June 6th date and one was a September date. We had the approval from Recreation for the June date, but not the September. So it was tabled because it was a sufficient time. We have received both approvals now from Recreation, so it will be appropriate to approve the document at this time.

right counselors uh we got all the clear from the recreation department can you get a motion to approve emotional approval there's a motion to approve properly second discussion i hear none all those in favor please say aye aye the eyes have it item 147 26 can i get a motion to on table it's a motion to on table 146 26 properly second discussion i hear none all those in favor please say aye aye the eyes have it and this item is the day of bible celebrating on march I think I'm going to call them September 2026 2026. From 3 30 p.m. 7 p.m. There was an approval that was not meeting or missing from the police department correct.

That's correct. There's a March.

Yes. So we are clear with that item as of now. And we are looking to, it is appropriate to approve it at this point. Motion to approve. Second.

Discussion?

I hear none. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Any nays? The ayes have it. Going straight to new business. Item 228.26, Proposal of Fiscal Year 2026, Municipal Budget. That's going to the Budget and Finance Committee. Item 229.26, Authorization to Spend $1.2 million, Air Max from the Congresswoman, Lord at Your Hand. For the municipal bridge repairs that's going to the boy in a finance committee. I don't do 3026 appropriation transfer for the amount of $30,000 amount City Department up a free cash allocation That's going to the finance committee. I didn't want 31 21 26 appropriate Appointment of Robert J Blatchwards to the Lounge Development Authority. That's going to the Personal Committee. Item 233.26, resolution honoring Jacqueline Gregory Grocery Store. Jacqueline Grocery Store, 27 years of service to the City of Lounge. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item 234.26, renewal of all gold and secondhand dealer's license. That's going to ordinance committee. Item 235.26, renewal of fund broker license. That's going to ordinance committee. Item 236.26. Renewal of home broker license, uh benny grujon that's going to the ordinance committee item 237 26 request to amend uh zoning of uh, six chicken in street, uh the arco national constructions uh this item will be going to the ordinance committee as well as the planning board for their recommendation item 238 26 uh tarde de alabanza at the companion common sunday sunday june 28 2026 from 3 p.m to 6 p.m that's going to the ordinance committee item 239 26 42 annual uh breath and roses uh heritage festival at the Campañón Común, Monday, September 7th, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. That's going to the Ordinance Committee. Item 24026, Grace in the Park, Campañón Común, Sunday, June 28th, July 19th, and also on August 16th, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. That's going to the Ordinance Committee. Right on to 4126, three planting and creation of care event at the Costello Park, September 2026, 2026. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., that's going to the ordinance committee. Item 242.26, Handicap Parking, 31 Brook Street. That's going to Ordinance Committee. Item 243.26, Handicap Parking, 58 Acceder Street. Ordinance Committee. Item 244.26, Handicap Parking, 510 Street. Ordinance Committee. Item 245.26, Removal of Handicap Parking. 111.113, Olive Ave. That's going to Ordinance Committee. I don't to 4626 and so one day or Paul on West Street near the home court. That's going to work as a meeting. I have to 47 into 20 item to 4726 person parking on the street and Greenwood Street. That's going to the ordinance committee. Councilors, now we're going to entertain the regular meetings for the regular committee, and subsequently we're going to have a sequence of meetings for the budget and finance to be announced at this period as well. So ordinance.

Ordinance next Tuesday at 6 o'clock is going to be a follow-up meeting from the last meeting, and then at 7 o'clock we're going to start with the new meeting.

All right, personnel.

So that would be one stay. 6.30 there's only one one just 6.30 and we're going to find us when that 7. Can I also just and I stated earlier, but the budget hearings with us. We're going to have. June 1st June 3rd June 4th June 8th and June 11th all starting at 6.00 6.00 PM.

That's that one full week?

That's within two weeks. Two weeks, okay. Yeah, not four weeks.

And those data are also going to be sent to any counselor, to all of the counselors. And if you have any questions regarding to the budget, at that moment you can come over. And from the podium you can speak and discuss and advocate for any item or any particular Allocation that is on the budget the chair as a courtesy traditionally will entertain those counselors as well Any questions counselors? All right. At this point, I'm just going to motion to adjourn. Yes.

OK. I just want to make sure we have housing scheduled that was previously scheduled for Wednesday at 6. I just want to make sure it's not causing an interference with personnel.

So personnel is at 6 to 8 and then at 7.

It's at 6.

Yeah, it's been probably previously scheduled at that time.

How many items do you guys have?

I don't know if McCarthy's going to want to untable. Two for sure. One item. One?

Did you want to... Just keep it like that and then it is what it is.

I mean, budget is relatively short. I think the longest discussion we will have is the cola that will be untabled that night. Okay.

All right, at this point, if there is no other business, I'll send a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

There's a motion to adjourn, properly seconded. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Any nays? You guys have it. Thank you so much.