City Council - Regular Meeting

Can you guys hear me? Oh, no. I can hear you. Counselors, I could hear you as well. Yes, we are going to Mayhe are we good to go? Yeah. Yeah, madam. Well, Maria, you ready? Perfect. All right, Maria, if I go too fast, please interrupt me. Sure thing.

Thank you. Good evening and welcome to the budget and finance committee meeting. It is Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, and it is now 7:07 p.m. Uh, voting members present in the chamber is only myself, um, the chair of this committee, councelor Stephanie Infante. Participating remotely, we have the vice chair, councelor Vivian Marmmo, uh, and also the council president, Javanni Rodriguez. Councelor Llant is unable to join us tonight due to personal reasons. Pursuant to chapter 20 of the of the acts of 2022, this meeting of the budget and finance committee is being conducted both in person and via remote participation. I'll be reminded that persons who would like to listen or view this meeting while in progress may either attend here in the city council chamber or use any of our social media uh platforms. At this point, can you please join me in the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.

Which it stands, one nation, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, counselors, we have minutes to approve. Can I have a motion to approve the minutes from our September 10th, 2025 meeting and our January 28th, 2026 meeting? Motion has been made by the council president. Is there a second?

I'll second it. Uh, Maria, I'm going to second the motion. Uh, discussion on the minutes. Seeing none, uh, Maria, can you please call the role? You're muted. Let me unmute you. Okay. Sorry about that. It's okay. Okay. Um, councelor Giovanni Rodriguez. Yes. Councelor Mark Lant, it's absent. Councelor Vivian Marmal. Yes. Councelor Madame Chair Stephanie Fonte.

Yes. And the motion carries. Councilors, the first new business item we have is item 46-26, authorization to expend 3,100,000 um of the Mass Works Infrastructure Grant from the Executive Office of Economic Development. We have our planning director Dan McCarthy here with us uh virtually. M uh director McCarthy, you have the floor. Let me unmute myself first. Um good evening everybody. I apologize for not being there. Uh I've been out I've been ill the last few days with a flu. Um so I'm attending from home. There should be some um participants there in the uh office uh in the crowd

as well that will speak on behalf. Also, I had Mr. Peter Ellison from TEC Engineering was going to join us remotely as well. Um I don't see him right now, but I anticipate he might be joining us later. Um to begin with, this is a grant, a Mass Works grant. These are uh a grant that is done through the executive office of economic development. The grants go to cities to assist with the economic development or certain projects within the cities. Um the city partners with a private organization and the the money is to assist with the development of that project by providing money for infrastructure. Um whether that might be um roadways, sidewalks, parking lots, um lighting, things of that nature. Uh we've had several projects like this in the past. They've been very successful in the city. Um the last one that we applied for was in uh it was in uh team work with Lawrence Community Works. They've been working on a project for the last several years and um going through the permitting process um to construct a a mixeduse development in a building called the Mariner building. Um the the grant that we um applied for was a $31 million um construction grant. Um it's a which will cover the design cost as well. Um TEC Engineering drafted that project for you. I uh in your package, you should have um uh a breakdown uh the addendum to the to the contract which gives the um details of that contra of the um of what the contract entails and it also gives you some site plans for those for that

project um showing where this is going to go. Um this is the last parcel of land um on Broadway before you reach the Mthuan property line. Um the Stafford Street which is uh was um severely destroyed back in the uh the fire at the old Polar Techch um plant um is a public street for the city of Lawrence. That street is going to be repaired to a certain level. sidewalks, parking areas are going to be established. Um the plans are there. Again, I I I have um Mr. Spencer Bukholtz from Lawrence Community Works. Um should be in the audience to speak in more detail about the exam about the sorry about the project itself.

Spencer and I'm here to answer any questions that you may have. Yep. Before we get into the questions uh for the counselors, I will have uh Spencer's here with us. Uh, could you please say your your name and address? So, I'm Spencer Buckles. I'm at Lawrence Community Works. My my personal address is to Christopher Lane. You can use you could use the the organization.

Okay. 168 Newberry Street, uh, Lawrence Mass. So, this, as Mr. McCarthy was explaining this uh Mass Works uh grant. It's $3.1 million that's supporting uh infrastructure to support uh the creation of uh a parking area as well as um storm drainage and the repaving of Stafford Street that will um all support what's the development that's going on in that area. So, what we're working on is a project called the Mariner Mill, which is located at 610 Broadway, and it's a giant one of the giant buildings um that was a part of Polar Tech, um the last big mill uh before you go into um Mthuan. And that project is going to include um 148 units of affordable housing um for both a mix of of ones, twos, threes, and four bedrooms um as well as five uh 50,000 square ft of commercial space. And that commercial space is specifically um designated as community service facility space. So meaning that space has to kind of serve members of the community of Lawrence. um and aimed at families uh making 60% of the area median income or less. And so and right now the anchor tenant that we have for that space is the community group um who runs uh the community day chart uh charter uh school uh network as well as a series of of child care facilities. So they're going to be opening up a childcare facility in about 14,000 square ft of that space that's going to serve 170 kids. um ages K through 12 uh and also going to be adding 26 uh full-time positions um to support that as well. And then we're in conversations with uh the health center.

Lawrence Community Works is also um looking at opening up some space there and we're just always looking for um potential uh uh commercial tenants for that space. So this um Mass Works infrastructure grant will support uh parking that will uh be used for that space as well as offering some amount of public parking um as well. And um that 3.1 so there's the the whole project I think is 3.85 million. So, through the project funds that we've uh acquired, uh we're we're putting in $750,000 for infrastructure exterior work that's associated with it as well. So, I can I've got a lot more information. Maybe too much. And I'm happy to be in this night. Like, this is It's too bad you guys aren't here cuz it's nice in here. I haven't been in here in a long time. It's very fancy. Now,

we uh we had the ribbon cutting in the reopening December, so it's fairly fairly new renovation. Yeah, it's nice. And we got to thank the council president uh for that. He spearheaded that that project. So, good job, Mr. President. You're not you're not on the screen uh council president, but he he just went like this, you know, very proud of his work. It's it's nice. why you should be here. I you know it's I I get it. Uh we're still dealing with storm. I'm not I'm not going to be too too nitpicky tonight, but but they know next time for next time. For sure. Exactly.

Uh counselors, now that we have the complete presentation, do you have any questions either for Spencer or for um Director McCarthy? Questions. Uh, councelor Marmal.

Um, through you, Madame Chair. Um, I'm glad to hear that this is based on a grant because going over the details, I am seeing that uh this parking um lot that will be created is for 178 uh spaces. But out of the 178, only eight will be geared towards public. Is that am I reading that correctly? Yes. Eight will be strictly public. Um but then an additional 60 of those are kind of shared use for the commercial space. So, for people that are the general public that are coming for the the uh commercial space will be able to use and have access to those spots. And then I think there's a there's there are some additional ones as well that are for the commercial space, but I'm not sure if they're which ones are fully in the masswork scope, but I can look real quick. I mean, I'm glad you're mentioning the 60 are for because that's that's actually confusing me in a way. Um because it sounds like those 60 are meant to be for the public as well if they're going to uh partake in businesses.

Correct. Um so is it 60 or is it 68? No, I mean well it's eight that are exclusively for um the city of Lawrence, but there is an additional like all of the commercial space. So it would be people that are going to the commercial space could use those 60 spaces. Um, but the like a person, a member of the public couldn't just park there overnight if they had no business in the commercial space or with the residences. Okay, understood. Yeah.

Um, I'm also seeing something along the lines of 25 new jobs will be created as a result of this project. Um, are these going towards hiring uh folks within the city of Lawrence? What like how does that like could you go into detail

um to Well, so then the 25 is probably a a is probably an underestimate because we know that the community group plans to at least locate 26 positions here. I couldn't speak to where like if those jobs would specifically be held for Lawrence residents. I don't think that there's a a restriction on that. But um you know, the community group is a good local organization that does a lot of hiring locally. And so we could assume that Lawrence Community Works is also planning to open up to use 5,000 square ft of that space. And the majority of our staff lives in the city of Lawrence. So um my guess is that most of the uh positions will, you know, be catered towards the folks that live in Lawrence, but there won't be specifically a restriction on that if that's your question.

No, no, no, not at all. Um, and I I understand and I also understand based on what the specified like um what it entails the in terms of uh whether it's electrical work, whether it's framing, plumbing. So yeah, I'm not actually sorry and I wasn't thinking specifically about the that was these are just permanent jobs, not the construction jobs. I don't have the numbers on there. jobs not not for the not for the pro uh site project. These are permanent jobs. Yes.

Yes. The the construction if we were to put the number for construction jobs, it would be up in the hundreds. And for that um I can't tell you right now, but there would you know there is a local hire hiring preference um on that. And um but I'd have to go back. I'm not I'm not prepared to tell you exactly what those numbers are, but I could follow up.

Oh, no, that's fine. I I just um I slightly misunderstood. Yeah, because the the the whole project so I mean the the uh I believe that the whole site is around seven acres and this is a big you know this is there's a lot of site work and the mass works is specifically focused on the site work um piece of that this um but the the actual redevelopment of the mill is it's a massive project. I mean the mill itself is I I want to say it's like 375,000 square feet. that's being redeveloped into for now it's largely vacant. I mean it is vacant space into you know 148 residences plus the the commercial space.

Uh Lawrence Community Works own well Lawrence Community Works owns the mill part of it. So it's if you look at the mill it's actually there's twothirds of it from Broadway heading um west is owned by Lawrence Community Works and then it's a condo. So Trinity um fixed up the the the last third of the building and that's La Fabria Lofts are down there um which is also an affordable housing development.

Is this project going to cause any issues or challenges with uh like flow of traffic or in uh the impediment of uh residents nearby?

Um there's not a lot. I mean the part of the work that the city is doing with the mass works I know that there's a lot of work around and Dan you can speak to the um traffic lighting stuff that's going on around the Arlington Street um but we're working a lot on figuring out the flow of traffic within our site itself um and so you know figuring out how we we manage the the child care drop offs and pickups with the residences there. Um, but there's not a lot of residences that live right directly adjacent to that that are not a part of the the the mills themselves.

Okay. And the last thing I'll add is like but I will say like there are going to be a lot more people living there. I mean that's not I don't want to be so so to to answer your question. Yes, Councelor Marvel. Yeah. Oh, the other thing that I wanted to add redevelopment whether if it's a positive thing as as Spencer mentioned is just a location that's been empty but it is being redevelop businesses are coming more residents anything that adds on to an already overpop populated community obviously comes with its challenges even if when it's a positive um project right

and I and I would just I would add one piece of this mass works is also to add a bus um uh the stand, you know, the the bus stand. So, we worked with MEVA is going to be provide we're going to be providing that as a part of this. So, there's a bus stop with the the stand and the overhang um that's included in this Mass Works application.

Okay. The last thing I'll just add, um, and I'm not sure if you guys are currently doing this, but, um, um, every time I see projects of this nature, I always think about ways that we could incorporate the, uh, our youth uh, in the city, especially our vocational students. So, if there are any roles that they could assist um when it comes to these type of projects um if that's something that you guys could keep in mind um you know adding

Yeah, that's really interesting because I know that they're and we've actually done this before. Um it is kind of tricky because of the timing, but I I know apprenticeship programs and like getting some of the students at the Vogue to connect with um we we deli construction who did the previous project that we just did at 30 and 20 Island Street. we had met with the VO to see if we could actually like connect with some of the subcontractors and like specifically within the HVAC trades and some of those things because it is that is a really good point. Um, and the timing didn't quite work out, but now that you bring that up, I will bring that up to the construction team to see if there is the potential of

some apprenticeship opportunities for for kids at the vote because that is that is something that we have explored in the past and it just never kind of came together. Yeah, it seems to be over um not overshadowed, but you know, um it just seems to be often like forgotten or we don't we don't think about it as much. So, I just want to make sure every time I come across uh projects, like I said, of this nature, if there's any opportunities that we could include our youth in in order for them to like gain hands-on experience, but also take pride in in um partaking in these projects that are in in the city that they most of them live in. So, it's nice for them to start gaining this experience and and if there's a way to kind of fit them in um that I I would I would personally appreciate that. And if there's anything along the lines or creating some sort of pipeline for them to um you know, this could be one of many future projects that we could uh start considering them to be participants um in. But thank you.

Yeah. Thank you, councelor. I have a few question council president. Yes. Uh thank you for the opportunity. Uh thank you Lawrence Community work for you know this this project has been on the making for quite some time. Uh just to be clear so the the development that we're talking about the $3.1 million is towards the parking lot not towards the project uh that is going to be developed on the mill. Correct. Correct. Except that the well the parking lot will support the mill project. I mean the the bulk of the parking for that project is in this parking lot.

Yeah. The contract is going to be between the city of Lawrence and the uh the state. Correct.

All right. So I I want to I want to at the end of the the end of the one of my final question would be uh related to that contract as of um so we we need to talk about the insurance me the insurance on that contract I know that is for the best interest of the city but we need to mention that but that's going to be at the end so in the meantime I want to talk about you know a couple of things about the project when we are talking about that uh that you say it's 100% affordable but when we talk about the affordability. What type of affordability is that? Is is it 30 40 60?

Yeah, it's um I did print this out. So there uh 30 50 and 60% um AMI. So there's 37 30% units, 18 50% and 60 or 93 60%. Okay. So the affordability. Okay, I got it. Yeah. So and then eventually you will do it a lottery for for those uh recipients. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. So tell me about the priority list the priority uh of that of that recipients how that going to be prioritized

as far as like are we having uh local requirement for a certain percentage to be? Yeah. Just in general any type of priority that you guys going to put into it. Um, I don't want to put any any on your head, so just tell me in general. Yeah, I don't honestly I don't know off the top of my head, so I'd have to get back to you. I'm assuming that there's a local preference requirement, and I know that there's a restriction on what that high the end of that what that requirement can be um as part of the fair housing law stuff. So, I and I think it's like 70%. But I I have to I'm going to have to get back to you on that. And I No, no problem. That's fine. I just want to make sure that we Yeah. we conversate those.

Yeah. Uh so another thing that I wanted to ask um when it comes to I mean you're going to bring just that information over to us, but when it comes to that uh the recipients, are they going to be uh mostly people that live on or it's going to be open to anybody from the the state? Are you saying on the on the lottery portion of it?

Well, that's the that's what I have to get back to you on. I'm not sure what the I I believe that there is a local preference on this project. Um and I know that on previous projects we've been capped um by at doing that at 70% of Okay. Just uh I just want to know like for a reason. So, and then after that it's going to be I going to ask you another question. Yeah. Yeah, but I'll have to I'm going to have to follow up because I don't actually I don't know. Yeah,

no problem. The reason why I'm asking that question is because obviously we want to do we want to be uh we want to prefer as far as the the city is concerned. I mean if we getting into a contract uh with the state related to this project want to make sure like you know the preference is the city of Lawrence residence. Uh that's the first end and the reason for that is because that's going to if it is a large reference to the top until we to allowed to uh and any type of any type of uh any any of that will be related to the school system. So if they're already living here that and if they have kids the kids is just going to transfer from a school to another school. Y

um but not necessarily going to be adding more new students to the to the schools over populated system that we already have. So that's why um I'm um I'm very particular about that specifics uh when it comes to uh local and uh local presence and preference.

Yeah. and that and and and I would say that um our properties and our lot like our lotteryies so we've done we've done an analysis on this and it's it's pretty much around 75% regardless of whether or not we have uh a local preference on the project or not 75% have come to us with prior Lawrence addresses um

but it's a good you know and it is an interesting interesting question because it's and we've we've met with many years ago when I was in a slightly different role, you know, I was pushing this um at Lawrence Community Works and also working with the school department just on like forecasting and planning for movement around the city with with various schools and so you know it is it is an interesting question about like where are people located. Yeah, definitely. Um, but I can get back to you on that. But I will say that even if we have a 70%, which is likely

what it would be if there is a local preference on this project, um, we typically do have a higher percentage will have a Lawrence address that apply for our lotteryies. I think it was like 90% on the um, Island Parkside projects that we just leased up. Okay. No and the thing is is like you know so a lot of a lot of time when these type of projects come in front of us we don't analyze the potential of uh what's the because a lot of people might might not think like you know it's a displacement including on the affordable housing

and there is also displacement within because there is other people coming from another communities and we also need to look into that I mean displacement or gentrification perhaps is not only in one section of it. It could be multiple factor within the whole general idea of displacement or gentrification also that that part of it. Uh it's it's all it's you know mostly ignored by a lot uh people that actually uh do the stories on these type of topics. Uh but I mean uh it is a reality as well. So it could be a displacement within the affordable the affordable housing

sometime even more aggressively because I mean a lot more people are in needs nowadays. So we need to be aware of that and we need to be uh we need to create the specifics specifically when it comes to this type of contract that we're going to be signing. Uh uh and that's that's the that's the then um so I'm I'm pretty sure that you know the council council memo already touched on this which is local hiding uh and stuff like that when it comes to the parking lot when it comes to the building whatever it it is I'm I'm pretty sure that you guys are very aware that we're going to we would like all those funds to stay with the local economy.

Mhm. Um another question that I have is um um have you have you put any numbers when it comes to that uh the the the enrollment of of our school from students uh especially when they not necessarily uh on the school system and then they join the school system. uh after um a project that was created with an with an intent of uh of having more apartments within the city of Lamos. No. Have you guys

I have no I mean it's been a long time since I've wrapped my mind fully around that. So no I haven't.

Yeah. I mean this is maybe a good opportunity to kind of go back and and take a look at that and and see the strategies. All right. Uh I'm um I was looking at at my map and when it comes to the boundaries of the property, it is right uh at basically this is the last street of the city of Lawrence before it get to me. uh a little bit of this uh of the new bank uh DCU is is part of Lawrence as well uh as well as that um as that old mill in the back about less than 25%. But no, but thank you for uh keep on working on these type of projects which take long time. I remember that we went over

maybe in 2019 or something like that around that time. Yeah, we purchased the building in 2018 and yeah, it's it's it was it was slated to be a self-s storage facility. Um, so yeah, I know. What are you guys going to do with that uh local vendors that you guys have? You guys have the caraval out there.

Um, I I mean, they're all going to be moving on to different spaces. I don't know exactly what what their plans are. Um, and I'm not sure if I mean this the the community service facility space um that would in the commercial space has very kind of specific restrictions that it does have to be uh you know serving people of the community um under a certain income range. So I don't know if they would fit and but I'm not sure what their plans are. I can find out. Yeah, I mean uh I mean at the end of the day they they they they serve a lot of kids within the community within within the culture

of uh kaval and and and uh and folklore which is basically a lot of uh what uh councelor Mamu was referring to uh to include the youth. They do have a good amount of uh young kids going over and practice uh and also uh be a craft uh all the uh all that stuff that they put in. I'm been I I have visit the site. My son was part of that carnival as well and uh I'm I'm pretty familiar with what what they do. So if at some point you guys um can develop that conversation around well yeah

potentially finding out a way to incorporate that organization. Yeah. No I mean the project uh which is basically fulfill the the need of that u youth getting involved into culture and stuff like that. That would be that would be good and key to Yeah. And I mean along those notes,

um any other I mean we we definitely would welcome any help or kind of ideas for commercial tenants that are exactly as you're saying like that are serving the community that would fit into this space. Like if you have you have businesses or nonprofits or organizations that are looking for space like we would be more than happy to um like that. That's exactly. We've got plenty of space and we're looking for people. Um I mean the the timeline is a little bit tricky, but you know, because we wouldn't be able we're not going to be occupying the space until probably the summer of 2028 because it's about a 2-year construction period and we're probably going to kick off construction in the summer. Um, but I'll definitely follow up on uh I'll follow up with John Harden, my boss, just to see if he's, you know, what the plans are with Carnival, like what their next steps are. I mean, there's there has to be there's an interim plan during construction, obviously. But it's two years,

of course. Yes. Agree. So one one of my last questions uh before we get we allow McCarthy to kind of like elaborate around the contract and uh fulfilling our responsibilities. Uh there is there is always a mispersion about nonprofit organization not paying taxes uh around the public. I just want to take this opportunity or next next uh meeting uh when if this item goes up to the full council to elaborate around that as of how much taxes this project might might uh

might uh bring up to the city of Lance when it comes to to when it comes to that. Uh I think that will be a great opportunity to uh bring this up as well. So, if you don't have those number now, I don't have those numbers, but I'll tell you that it's going to be a huge tax bill. How many How many follow-up questions do you have there written? Because we might have to table this item if we have so much follow-up questions. I've got to check on what the local preference requirements for the lottery on the project. Mhm. Uh to check on the local hiring requirements for the construction jobs,

to check on what is the um just what are the plans with what's for Carnival and then the estimated taxes. All right. So, we have four so far. Okay. Madam Chair, all those questions are related to the main project uh which is the mail, not necessarily the parking the act the actual grant. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. So we can have that as part of theformational portion of it. Uh but I mean I think that when it comes to the project and the $3.1 million that we're dealing with, uh it doesn't you can move the itemirect with it.

So okay. So my understanding is this $1.3 million grant I mean $3.1 million grant is for the parking lot. Okay. parking and roadway on Stafford Stra Stafford Street. My understanding as well is that the city of Lawrence is a partner in this, but there's only going to be eight public spaces.

That's correct. That's not sitting well with me because if we're going to be a partner in this, we're only getting eight spaces back while this project I'm not I've been uh when it comes to redevelopment um we've you know we've obviously we we've had the LRA before us etc. Um I have an issue with redevelopment in terms of the city city portion of it where we don't have a master plan. we're lacking in in in in important um essential services that it's not up to par with what the population that we have currently today. And as much as I love Lawrence Community Works, I'm not going to sit here and be a hypocrite because it's Lawrence Community Works. I still have those same concerns. Um one thing I am going to say though is I do like the fact that you guys are um trying to come back affordability. Uh, one, as we know, when we have parties come before the city council and when they try to make an argument that we're lacking housing, one thing that I consistently say is the issue is that there's not housing. The issue is that there's a lack of affordable housing, which I'm sure you guys know as that's your your specialty. Um, but in terms of the actual grants and thinking about the overall project and and how it's going to change that area and add to the congestion of that congestion of that area. I just it's not sitting well with me that it's only eight parking spots. Um, so I guess I I want to know how many how many commercial spots um spaces are you guys planning to have within this project and how many residential?

The commercial um so there's going to be a total of 227 parking spaces. Okay. 137 are residential exclusive. Okay. 60 are common which would be available to both commercial or residential. Okay. And 30 are dedicated commercial and then there's the eight that are um for exclusive for public use.

Okay. So how many commercial So how many So we have 137 residentials I'm assuming. Is that equivalent to 137 units? Uh it's it's not well because the that unit count comes in it's 140 there's 148 units 148 units. Okay.

But the residences have access to 197 unit the spaces but 60 of those are shared. Does that make sense? No, you lost me at So there's 140 units of 197 units. Correct. There's a Well, because the So the 148 units, there's 137 that are only for the residents, right?

Mhm. But then there's also 60 that the residents would have access to. Okay. I Okay, now I'm following. Okay. Okay. And how many um commercial units? Commercial um or spaces like parking spaces? No, no, no. Like physical dedicated spaces. Well, there's 45,000 square ft approximately. Okay. And as of right now, we only have two tenants lined up for that. So, it's it really could be it. We don't we don't we don't know um at this time. Okay. And then um

because it's the the community group is the is our anchor tenant and then we'll be you know filling filling it as we go. Exactly. Okay. And it's again because the lease up, they won't actually occupy the space until the summer of 2028 if everything goes as planned. Okay. Summer 2028. All right. And then for um I if I heard this correctly, you mentioned is it a lottery? Correct. Correct.

And how is that lottery um conducted? Do you guys use a third party independent company? Um we have used our management company has typically so we have so PBD properties is our current management company. It used to be first realy management. We just made the switch. They are management company that manages a lot of different portfolios throughout the state.

And so we have to come up with a very detailed tenant selection plan that gets vetted. So, this project is a low-inccome housing tax credit project that has a a whole bunch of different funding sources that come through the state. And so, there's a lot of regulations on how you do the lottery. Um, and so there's a public notice period that is a certain amount of time prior to the um to the start of the lo lottery and we have to advertise in all the local papers, but we also have to advertise throughout the state to make sure that we are um hitting a a a variety of uh population types so that we are in compliance with fair housing law. Mhm.

Um and then the lottery gets then when people apply they get put in different buckets and it's a random it's a random selection um using like a computer program.

All right. Thank you. Um this information is definitely helpful. Um as I mentioned I do have reservations. I I don't I don't agree with the fact that we're going to be a partner in this and there's only eight public um uh parking spaces reserved for for the public especially calculating the long-term domino effect of that being developed. Although it's a great idea and I and I do appreciate like I mentioned the afford affordability component but um as I I mentioned in city council meetings prior when we have projects like this we tend not we tend to focus on the moment and not not with with the challenges that comes years from now and that's the way I'm I'm seeing it um every time I I get a a development item in front of me but um that's where I am I am with acts.

Can I just say can I can I add something? So I and I I I I get where you're coming from. I understand like that what it what that feels like where it's, you know, only eight spaces. Um I would say that, you know, there's a lot of things that we need that Lawrence Community Works needs to do to leverage um the ability to have the funds to do projects like this,

right? And the reality is like the way and whether you agree or counselors agree or not like we really do you know Lawrence Community Works isn't making we make money to like the way that the our organization works is that we do our housing developments any income that gets generated in our housing developments then goes into to fund our programming side right and so we do English classes based on that or we do our youth movement city programming based on that or our financial programs My mom used to be a volunteer English teacher at uh Lawrence Community Works a few years ago. Oh, nice. So, I'm very familiar with it,

you know. But like when for us to be able to do the affordable housing developments that we do, like we have to like scrape together every piece of funding that we can do. And it's like really expensive the way that we have to develop it because

um we just are held to very high standards based on the funding sources that we're applying to. And so being able to the the city the city of Lawrence doesn't have a lot of funds like we don't have community preservation act which would be a huge help to an organization like us like the really the only funding source that the city has to give to Lawrence Community Works on projects like this is the federal home funds that it receives and we have gotten federal home funds on this project but this is like

you know a hundred plus million dollar project and of that we've gotten I think from the city we've gotten I I can't remember exactly. Um I think that we're trying to get it up to like $1 million in in home funds.

And so it's just it's the way that we build these projects. And so though there's only eight kind of unrestricted public parking uh spaces, we do see like all of this is really like for the city of Lawrence. Yes, it's totally has an ownership structure based on the low-inccome housing tax credit project. But like this is this is our mission. Like we're not just a regular old private developer that's like hoarding this stuff for us. like we see everything we we're doing as as in partnership with with the city and like being able to work with the city to get more funds from the state in the form of a massworks grant that can help support infrastructure that would support these housing projects is like one tool that's been really helpful for us. Um, and so I I get it because I I get it. Like it does feel like is the city really only getting eight spaces for $3.1 million? But that's I I think that it's really it's it's more than that. And I would love to see I would I would I would hope that we can like change the narrative around it because I'm like in the walls of Lawrence Community Works every day and I feel like we get like sometimes pigeonholed into this like we're another developer but most of the folks who are there like you know are working really hard for not for many many hours not a lot of pay to make the city a better place.

I'm not going in that sorry to interrupt you. I'm not going in that direction. what what I'm speaking of is um I mean you're you're like I mentioned you're you're addressing one one issue which is affordability but the domino effect of and it's not really it's not Lawrence community works this is more on the city side that that what I'm frustrated about is more on the city side and than anything else it's increasing um our population right increasing housing not having enough um funding for essential services. Um, not having a master plan for the city. This regardless if the developer is a nonprofit or a private developer, these foundational issues do not change.

Yeah. So, it's it's not it has nothing to do I I know I'm very familiar with Lawrence Community Works and and what they do for the community, but I also have constituents that watch me as an individual counselor every time I sit in the seat. And I I can't sit here and say give you a different messaging compared to what what I've said um to private developers during these meetings cuz again like I mentioned it's still the same foundational issues and I hope and I know Dan you hear me saying this all the time. Dan is probably tired of me saying this, but I hope you guys do take this back and actually do something about it because we're getting more and more projects, but we keep ignoring the underlining cracks in our foundation in this city, figuratively speaking, will collapse if we don't get it, if we don't bring everything up to speed um to support the rapid growth that we are seeing in this community. So, it's less you guys, but more

the foundational aspect of it. I appreciate your your um your advocacy cuz that's exactly why they they Yeah. And I mean I would just like fin you know like I in the Island Park side you know both of those lotteryies we had 40 both were 40 unit buildings we had a thousand applicants you know and again like I think 90% of those applicants had a Lawrence address. Yeah. you know, that are looking for this kind of housing and we're like, you know, we can't that's what we're hearing too from our constituents like we can't we can't develop it fast enough, you know.

Yeah. Yeah. And we talk about it. Um I mean I'm not the only I think council president has mentioned it before. I know um definitely council Marmal has answered um mentioned it before. So I'm not surprised that you've seen over a thousand applications. It's definitely needed. Um, but that's just again that's just one foundational factor of the overall picture and I hope um someday we can we can figure that out. That's a bigger discussion. But

well, I do think that there I mean I we would be more than happy to be a part of a bigger planning process. I mean, every time that I've talked with councelor Lelant about this, I feel like and I know how he feels about this. We've talked about it a lot and I totally respect I I I get it like this is these are complicated issues. Um, yeah, we would be we would welcome to be a part of like a bigger conversation around this.

I hope I hope they I hope the city reaches out. Um, I'm not going to be the Debbie Downer and not support this cuz like like I mentioned, affordability is a huge component of the foundation. So, I I at least want to end with I thank you guys for for addressing that um in this project. But those those are my underlining concerns. Yeah. Thank you. Uh I heard previously that councelor council president had some questions regarding the contract itself. Is that do you still have those questions council president? I do one question. Okay. You have

Mr. McCarthy, can you can you get can you give us uh an uh an insight of how the city managed this type of contract? Uh and what are the assurance of that of this contract in case uh the assurance built in that are built in within the contract to make sure that the city's in a good place? Certainly, certainly I can. Um, and and and maybe to to answer that question and and maybe some of Stephanie's concerns, I'll go back to just talk about the program of Mass Works that Mass Works is a program and it's not a transportation fund. Uh, primarily it's it comes out of the Department of Economic Development. And the concerns that I think um councelor Infante uh stated are things that the city's talked about a lot a lot of times that when we get these big economic projects coming up, the city has to bear a lot of cost for the infrastructure surrounding these and we have to bear those costs. So what the what the state has done is they made a program that's available. So that some of the cost of fixing the streets and improving the the lighting and improving the sidewalks and all that stuff that goes that that that's part of this project will um will be borne by a grant and by the state so it doesn't come out of tax dollars. So that's important. the way this the contract's going to be handled. It'll be done through the public procurement process and and through the bidding process, but we'll have some um control over uh you know once that um person is selected through the the the state procurement process um we will it'll it'll I know that you're familiar with these things how how it works and uh that's um TEC was hired um back uh in in uh as the primary engineering to help

with design works and to help um um help us with the filings of these grants. They'll also be doing some of the contractor oversight on this. But we will be hiring an independent contractor that has experience that's uh approved by um both state and federal guidelines that's on the uh appropriate list for that. U I know in the past we've done things like job fairs and other things. Those we can ask the contractor that's hired for those as a as an ask. And same thing with the the public uh requirements um for for for jobs. Um all those are things that we always always request when we're doing a project like this whether it's a uh a rail trail or it's a school uh construction project or an infrastructure project like that. Um the other I think important aspect of the contract of this contract is that it's it's dealing with it's it's part of a several projects together that we're working with on this area of Broadway. We also have another grant. We're going to be putting new lights in at the intersection of Island Street and Broadway that's just adjacent to that. this um that is part of the uh safe streets to school project that we're working on for the Allington school. We're going to be doing the entire Arlington Street corridor. So that's going to kind of working with us. Um we've also got a grant through MVPC um partnering with um um Methuan to do some transportation um improvements and I I forget the numbers on that grant but I can provide them to you but we'll be looking at intersections on Route 28 in both Lawrence and Mthuan trying to come up with solutions on the traffic problems that we currently have and trying to ease the burden of traffic, make the traffic go flow smoother um and

and and and just generally working this um that part of Broadway is one of the areas that we all call a gateway. It's one of the areas you see when you enter the city. And by putting this these funds in if if you look at on page three of the breakdown I gave you, there's a funding source that shows where the money is going to. So a lot of that money like there's sorry page two or three. I didn't It's on page three of nine on the Okay. on on the it's called the attachment a terms and conditions. Mhm.

So $850,000 goes to roadways and um the also about $300,000 will go into the um water and sewer drainage. So, we're going to be putting in infrastructure, water infrastructure that's going to be taking this the some of the the water from the public street will be on land owned by LCW and that will be draining and that will be treating that water um to prevent flooding and to uh have that way. This part of the city is actually a separated sewer system. So that so some of the so that's where a lot of the funding is going to look at 600,000 of it is just going to go to sidewalks um um in in curbing um in landscaping and that is all primarily on city land to make that area look better um and then there's another uh $250,000 just for um uh on the electric and that's all going to be public street lighting. So, I know it sounds like when you talk about the parking spaces, it sounds like, you know, this is a a a gift to a private company, but it's not really because you got to look at in the form of this is coming from the Department of Economic Development. It's a grant and it's to improve the situation, the parking and the street structure and the traffic and all those elements that go into this neighborhood. Um, so from the city side, we're happy because this is going to be improving the neighborhood. And from LCW side as a partner, they're going to be in as as I think Spencer did a good job pointing out, they are investing a lot of money into this. Um, and it it'll be a great improvement to the city. Um, that's that's my feeling. Um, I I don't know if I address all your questions, um, President, but if

Yes. Bless you. God bless you. Thank you. I know that. Thank you. Yes, you did. Okay. So, you all set, Council President? Yes. Uh,

Council Mar, any other further questions or comments? No, I'm all set. Um, yeah, I believe, uh, you touched on a lot of things that I had initially, um, you know, had the same sentiments on and the only reason why I kind of um, had a toned down version of what I really wanted to say was because of, you know, the fact that I saw that this was a grant. Um, but just like you, I did have the same concerns regarding the parking spaces. Um, but I I I I see where this project is going. And again, because I saw that this is a a grant is the only reason why I did not go as hard with my line of questions regarding the parking spaces.

Okay. Thank you. All right. So, I guess that ends this discussion. Um, counselors, I will entertain a motion at this point. I'll I'll make a motion to send it to the full council as a committee report pending the documentation that was asked. Second. Motion has been made by the council president. Um, seconded by council marl. Discussion. Uh, Maria, do you have the questions? I know Spencer wrote them down, but do you have the questions that were asked? Are you good with that? Yes. Okay. I was able to um write it down while he was um repeating it.

Okay, perfect. Thank you. Can we make a note to make sure that uh Teresa sends these questions um and I know you you wrote them, but just in case on the record um to to LCW. Sure thing. Thank you. And um at this point, when you're ready, we can call the role. Sorry, I was just finished writing down. Okay. Um, councelor, sorry, I'm just gonna find here are my notes. Councelor Vivian Marmal. Yes. President Giovanni Rodriguez. Yes.

Councelor Mark Laflant marked absent. Councelor Madame Chair Stephanie Infante. Yes. Thank you, councilors. And and I do want to thank everybody. I know we've had a tough couple days with the snow and I'd like to thank you all for making sure you attended this meeting. I really appreciate it. Thank you, Spencer. We will see you on Tuesday. Sounds good. Thank you all. Thank you. All right, Madam Chair. Um yes, Maria, I'm sorry I I missed uh Spencer's last name. It's um it's Buck Holtz. It's B U C H O L Z. Thank you. All right. Thank you.

Okay, counselors. The next and final item we have is item 47 47 47-26 authorization to expend $100,000 um of the municipal vulnerability preparedness program um known as MVP grants from the Executive Office of Energy Environmental Affairs also from Director McCarthy. Director McCarthy, you have the floor. We also have um uh your colleague here. I'm sorry I'm forgetting. Yes, Mr. Riel Fini. Renie Fenini. I'm handling this. He's he's the primary point person on this project. So, I'll let Renie handle it.

Okay. Um name and address for the record. So, uh my name is Renie Fenini or Renel Fanini, that's my full name. Uh the address is um 360 Marmac Street. Um I'm the comprehensive planner at the city of Lawrence. Uh so, I guess I have the floor, right? Yep. Yep. Tell us about the the grant, the project.

So, this project uh the municipality vulnerability uh preparness program uh MVP 2.0. It's basically the continuation of MVP 1.0. And this is an important project because it basically serves as a bridge to continue on these programs by the um executive office of energy and environmental affairs. Um, so this is uh just a quick correction. Uh, it's $110,000. I believe you said $100,000. That's 100 $110,000.

Yeah. Uh, so uh this project is a two-phase project. Uh, basically the first part of the project is a community oriented project. Um, so we have to identify community members uh to participate on this part. uh they would help identify a seed project or in this case advancing a community project which we have identified as the um river to refuge on the uh lower tower hill area. Um this would serve as a support to that project and continuing uh with the environmental affairs on on that uh site. An important part is that uh the money would be distributed in two uh phases. The first phase is going to include um $10,000 which is for um translation services. One of the things that was very important for us uh to apply for this was the uh need for uh translation for a community that has that need for uh Spanish translation. Um like I said some other um uh grants are depending on our participation on this part of MVP 2.0 and yeah that's as much as I have for for uh the the explanation of this.

Okay. Any questions? Um, I'll be happy to, uh, answer. Counselors, any questions or comments? Or, uh, director McCarthy, is there anything else you would like to add to this, or are you all set?

I I think Ren did a good job. I just want to say that we've been an MVP community since 2016 and it's um it's being a member of that is um is a lot like being part of the green communities or lead certified community. It gives us an advantage whenever we're working on grants for infrastructure um in in vulnerability situations. A lot of that deals with um water situations and I think the lower Tower Hill project is a good example of that. Uh I know a lot the water commissioners had a lot of opportunities to use these type of fundings to improve our storm water uh situation in the city uh look at flooding situations and uh this grant is a participatory grant that helps us just be a member in good standing with the state as we do this work. And uh Renie is going to be our point person on this uh working he's got a actually he's got a agency meeting tomorrow in um in Boston I believe. But um the uh there it it requires a lot of participation from the state uh from the city to show that we are um dedicated to making these changes for the for for the citizens now and for citizens in the future.

Thank you counselors. Any questions or comments, counselors? Seeing almost madam chair. Uh, no questions. Okay. All right. You got it easy tonight. I will entertain a motion. This item on this this item. He has it easy. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I mean. Yeah. This this item. Well, we don't have um here uh often. I think this is your first time. This is my first time in front of first time the council. Yeah. That's why I'm like, "Oh, you got it easy tonight." Uh all right. So, I will entertain a motion, counselors.

I'll make a motion to send it to the full council for recommendation. Motion has been made by the council president, seconded by the vice chair, councelor Marmal. Uh discussion. Seeing none, um, Maria, can you please call the role? Sure. Councelor Marl, uh, I'm sorry. She's Yeah, my first error. She's a chair. No, it's okay. She's vice chair, but you know, she's still a chair, so it's that's not a mistake. Councelor President Giovanni Rodriguez.

Yes. Councelor Mark Land marked absent and councelor um Madame Chair Stephanie FZ. Yes. All right. Motion carries. We will see you next week and best of luck in your meeting tomorrow. Thank you. All right. Director McCarthy, I believe you are all set. You're muted. Thank you again. Thank you. U counselors, can I have a motion to adjurnn? Oh, is there before is there any any other matters that you like to discuss? Um, seeing none. All right. I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn.

Motion has been made by the vice chair, seconded by the council president. No discussion on this. Uh, Maria, can you call the role? Sure. All right. Councelor Vivian Marmmo. Yes. Councelor President Giovanni Rodriguez. Yes. Councelor Mark Lant marked absent. And councelor Madame Chair Stephanie F. Yes. Thank you counselors and Maria. Um I hope you guys stayed warm and I will see you next week if I don't see you this weekend. Yep. We'll see you Monday again. All right. Have a great night.

All right. Thank you. Good night. Byebye.