City Council - Regular Meeting

Let me, I got this echo going. Perfect. All right, good evening everybody. Welcome to Springfield City Hall. We have a 6.30 regular meeting, but just before that, we're going to have our public speak out. But before we go any further, all right. George, I'm getting a double.

You see it at the bottom, at the bottom?

And then when you click it, it should be a link that says mute it. Mute the audio settings. You see it? No. It's like an audio button. Like a mic. Yeah, there he is. He can do it.

How about now? Yeah. You're the man, George. Sorry about the technical difficulties. Let's start that over. Welcome everybody to Springfield City Hall. We are gonna be starting our public speak out. And today we have 10 speakers. Each speaker will have three minutes to talk to us and then we'll go from there. So first speaker we have is Elizabeth Ogilvie. Is Elizabeth on? All right, we'll come back to Ms. Ogilvie. Second speaker we have registered is Ms. Mary Johnson. Welcome, Ms. Johnson. Yeah, you got to turn the little icon, there you go.

All right. Thank you, Councilor Walsh. Next speaker we have on here is Erica Cruz. Ms. Erica Cruz. All right. Moving on to the next one. Our next speaker, Mr. Steven Howard.

All right, next speaker we have on our list is Mrs. Rhonda Latney. Ms. Latney. All right, move on. Next speaker is Kirsten Helmer. Kirsten Helmer. Oh, you're online. All right, thank you.

All right, you can't see this, but you've got three minutes, so I will do my best to regulate that. All right.

Thank you, Mrs. Homer. All right. Next speaker we have, sorry if I'm messing up your first name, is it Kira Holmes? Kira Holmes? Kyra? All right. Next speaker we have on is Miss Denise Hudson, Indian Orchard Conservation. Denise? Denise? All right, next speaker we have is Ms. Christina Beauregard regarding the Bass Pond.

Thank you, Ms. Beauregard. And the last speaker I have listed on here is Ms. Abigail, I'm going to butcher the last name, Michalak? Is there Abigail? All right. I will go back towards the names before. I don't see Elizabeth Ogilvy. Not online. Erica Cruz. Rhonda Latney. Kira Holmes. Denise Hudson. And Ms. Abigail Michalak. All right. Well, that is the conclusion of the public speak out. Council will go into a nine minute recess. Thank you.

All right, perfect. All right, good evening, everyone. I hope everybody enjoyed their Labor Day weekend. Welcome to the Springfield City Council Chambers. Here we go again with the audio. Excuse me one second. George, what was the... Getting the feedback. Twice in a row. I think we're good.

I think I solved it on my own. Thank you, George. All right, sorry about that folks, technical difficulties. So welcome to the Springfield City Council Chambers. This is our regular meeting of the Springfield City Council. What else? So we're gonna call this meeting into order. All right, Madam Clerk, can we call the roll?

President thank you very much. If you're able to can you please stand for a moment of silence? I Thank you, and remain standing 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. Thank you. First item, are there any reports of committee? Councilor Davila.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Good evening to everybody. The Environmental Committee met on August 4th, and present was myself, Mr. Frank Ryan, Dennis Caputo, Jay LaTorre. We assume was the City Forester, Alex Sherman, Councilor Govan, and Attorney Lachey. On this meeting, we will continue to have a discussion on the Woodland Ordinance. At the time, we made some revisions to the Woodland Ordinance. including the result of a field study evaluating how the proposed ordinance could be applied to both small and large wood parcels. The law department indicated the summary document was comprehensiv

Thank you, Councilor Davila. Any other reports? Councilor Caban?

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We had a finance committee meeting on July 27th. President were myself, Council Perez, and Councilor Whitfield. We discussed the finance agenda items for the meeting that day, and we reviewed the May revenue and expenditure report. And there was no deliberation, not that much deliberation. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. HAD A COUPLE MEETINGS OF PUBLIC SAFETY OVER THE SUMMER. ONE WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE A GENERAL UPDATE IN REGARDS TO JUST LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY. I WAS JOINED IN PERSON WITH COUNSELOR DAVILA, CAPTAIN BRIAN Bellaviv, can't pronounce last name, excuse me, Dave Robillette, Sergeant Dave Robillette, Sergeant Daniel Johnson, Erica Swallows, and then Nazir Islam. AND VIRTUALLY WE WERE JOINED BY COUNSELOR BROWN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHITFIELD, ERICA CRUZ AND SHIRLEY. IT WAS A REALLY INFORMATIVE MEETING ABOUT DATA COLLECTION, INFORMATION AND JUST

Thank you, Councilor Martin. Any other reports from my colleagues?

Thank you, Councilor Santonello. Are there any other reports? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, can you call the roll on acceptance of the reports?

Yes. Reports are accepted. Madam Clerk. Can we, for the zone change referral, amending zoning articles two, four, five, seven, nine, we're just reading them into the record. This has been referred to planning and there's no vote necessary at the moment, so. Can we get with the first item, Madam Clerk?

Perfect. Any questions or comments from my colleagues? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, can we call the roll? Acceptance of the report?

I'm sorry, Councilor Santanello raised his hand.

Can I piggyback off of that question, Mr. President?

Go ahead, Councilor Whitfield. You're a little low.

I don't know if on our end. Hold on. Let me see. Is that any better? Okay. I had to turn it up. First, I want to apologize for not being in person. I had a minor surgery. So thank you, Councillor Delgado, for being able to step in and preside over the meeting. Pat, you said we had some of an increase over the past few years. How many years?

Oh, that's great. Is this the same funding schedule that was scheduled to pay up the pension so that we're whole in the pension?

2034, yeah, that's what I was looking for. Thank you, Pat. You're welcome.

Thank you, President Whitfield, and I hope that recovery is going great for you.

All right, well, we're all sending best wishes. All right, any other questions on the expenditures report? Madam Clerk, can we call the roll?

Yes, item passes. If there are no objections, Madam Clerk, items two and three, can we take those together since they're under the threshold?

Do we have anybody speaking on the TJO grant? Yes.

Thank you, Heather. Any questions, comments from my colleagues? Hearing none, can we call the roll on item number four?

Yes. Item passes. Madam Clerk, item number five, please.

All right. Any questions or comments from my colleagues? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, can we call the roll on number five?

Yes, Councillor Whitfield. I have raised my hand. I just wanted to say great job, Heather, and thank you for securing that funding because two and a half years is a long time without a veterinarian.

Yes, item passes. And my apologies, President Winfield, I didn't see the hand come up, so I'm gonna do a better job looking in this screen. Madam Clerk, can we call item number six?

Awesome. Any questions from my colleagues? Make sure I look on TV land.

Councillor Martin. Thank you, Vice President Delgado. I just want to ask for your apologies, Commissioner. I don't think I noted you in my report earlier. So I want to say thank you for the hard work that you do. It is very much appreciated by this body and the work that Mr. Goodman does. He does a great job for our elders. So I don't know if you hired him, but you picked a great gentleman. And thank you for your hard work.

Thank you, Councilor Martin. Anyone else? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, can we call the roll on item number six?

Yes. More or less sufficient. Madam Clerk, item number seven.

I've been neglecting to tell people name and address for the record, so can you please start with that?

Thank you, Mr. Connors. Oh, you were quick. Counselor Santanello. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Brian, Willow Street parking garage, you said?

Thank you. Any other questions? Councilor Govan, and followed by Councilor Walsh.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I know we also had a finance committee earlier today where we reviewed these items. And Brian if I remember correctly this Money is to be used for around MGM Yeah, the funding the grant applications each have to show an impact from the casino Okay, and so the police is going to use it Around MGM just like the parking garage. I know Commissioner COLTON HARRIS USES THAT MONEY FOR GAMBLING IMPACT, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL. WE'RE ACTUALLY USING SOME MONEY THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE ACTUALLY GAVE US FOR YOUTH GAMBLING PREVENTION, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL A

THANK YOU. COUNSELOR GOVAN, COUNSELOR WALSH.

Thank you, Councillor Walsh. Councillor Davila.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Good evening, Mr. Connors. I just want to make sure that I heard you correctly. Did you say this was supposed to be phased out? I know you said this is one-third of what we usually get. When you say phased out, are we expecting this to end anytime soon?

So we're expecting to get some money back? But we don't know when this is going to dry up?

What kind of plan B and C are we creating to fill the gap in between, if you can speak to that?

All right. Thank you, Mr. Connors. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you, Councillor Davila. Anyone else? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, can we call the roll on item number seven?

Yes, grant passes. Madam Clerk, please call on item number eight.

Can you give your name and address for the record, please?

All right. Thank you, Ms. McCafferty. Any questions or comments? Councillor Hurst?

Thank you. Thank you, Councilor. Madam President Whitfield, your hand is up.

I was going to say that I asked Jerry for those numbers, but I wanted to ask when the next round of RFPs are scheduled?

But would it be 2027? Because you said every three years.

Understood. What is the... How many years have these, um, two organizations been awarded? Is the Hooley Dickinson a new one?

Awesome. Thank you for that. Any other comments from my colleagues?

Just one more, Jerry. I sent the email. The mayor responded that you or Tim would be getting back to me, so I'm just waiting on that.

Thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, can we call the roll on item number eight?

Yes. Item number eight passes. Madam Clerk, item number nine, please.

Address is 218 Arcadia Boulevard in Springfield.

I just want to take a moment to reiterate what I had spoken with you earlier, Mr. Mineo, and say thank you so much, all the hard work he does. In DPW, he's been my go-to guy, solved so many issues on a personal constituent basis, so impressed. If I was the mayor, I'd give him a raise. That's just me. Thank you, Councillor Martin.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President, Mr. Minio. Thank you for joining us and for your presentation. Can you give me a little bit more details? I know you say that the money is used in two parts, basically, but can you tell me more about winter? What does that look like?

Right. Mr. Minio, but I'm still not clear. What are you going to use it for during winter? What's that? You did say winter, right? So what are you going to use it for during winter? That's what I'm looking for.

To restore, okay, okay. So does that mean we're gonna be seeing a more active winter pothole patches? I think it's called cold patches, maybe?

Right, right, right. And so I realize that, Mr. Minio, and I know that a lot of times this is chasing on tail with winter and the salt and the potholes. But it is my hope that we can figure something out to... prevent the potholes to be as severe by the time spring comes around. This year, people were up in uproar with the potholes. I know in my own district, Sumner Avenue, that's going to be done with the X project. We're going to have a brand shiny street. but that's like two years away still. And so I don't run DPW, I don't pretend to know everything about DPW, but I can tell you what I hav

Thank you, Mr. Munoz. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you, Councilor Davila. Any other comments from my colleagues? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, can we call the roll on item number nine?

Yes. Grant passes. Councillor Walsh, were you going to? We're all done with the grants. Your microphone.

Any objection to taking item 16 out of order? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, can you call item 16?

Thank you. Any questions from my colleagues?

I TURNED MY MIC OFF BECAUSE IT WAS A THING. WE GOT TO INCREASE THE MICROPHONE TO FOUR. THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNSELOR WALSH TO ACCEPT THIS SECONDED BY COUNSELOR GOVON. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE MOTION? COUNSELOR PEREZ.

You know what? You will be having my support 100%. Being a wife of an artist, one of the most important things that you have said tonight is the benefits. As I know, it's hard when you're an artist and you don't qualify in any qualifications when it comes to the benefits. And since the music school to now, all this, and I know your collaboration in the community is very transparent. You connect with the most difficult children, and I know that for a fact personally, and you change their life around when it comes to the cultural. So you have my support 100%, thank you.

All right. Madam Clerk, can you call the roll on item number 16?

Just for clarification, are we just approving the resolution and not a motion right now?

Okay, so this isn't a resolution we're looking at? It is a resolution. Okay, because I got confused by the motion part, but yes. Yes.

Yes, resolution passes. Madam Clerk, can we go back to item number 10?

Any questions or comments from counsel? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, can you call the roll on item number 10?

Yes. Item passes. Number 11, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, Ms. Vice President. Kathy, good to see you. Kathy, I just keep looking at these numbers. Are these numbers continuing to shrink?

But how much did we shrink from last time?

Is this a four times a year allocation, or is it one time allocation a year?

No, I know, but do we get this money four times a year?

Because I just feel like this number keeps going down every time we see it. It does. Yeah, I am concerned with this, and I know there's many explanations for this. Let us not forget that this right now, people are watching at home, is funded through this. AND NOT TO MENTION ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT FOCUS SPRINGFIELD DOES. YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THIS KEEPS GOING DOWN, BUT, WELL, THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DAVILA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NEW SPEAKER YEAH. NEW SPEAKER COUNCILOR SANTANELLO.

NEW SPEAKER I THINK I HAVE MY HAND RAISED BEFORE COUNCILOR SANTANELLO. SORRY.

NEW SPEAKER ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO LET YOU JUMP IN ON THAT ONE THEN. LADIES FIRST.

NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU. I agree with councilor Davila, and this is something that I brought up last year, cause I seen the numbers kept decreasing. And I asked last year what we were gonna do budget wise, because focus Springfield is a vital service to the city council, to other city government meetings, along with what they provide in the community. And so I just wanna make sure when budget season comes up in January, that this is put on the table to just address how we're going to continue to fund Focus Springfield or at least look for grants that we're going to provide. Well, since they lost

Okay, thank you, Kathy. And we will also attempt to have conversations with Focus Springfield to make sure you get that information because as it continues to decrease, they're not going to be able to continue the same level of service. Thank you. I agree. Thank you, Kathy.

Thank you, Counselor Santonello. Anyone else? All right. Madam Clerk, can we call the roll on item number 11?

Yes, order passes. Madam Clerk, can you call item number 12?

Thank you. Any comments or questions from my colleagues? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, can you call the roll on item 12?

I JUST WANT TO FIRST OFF THANK MY COLLEAGUE COUNSELOR HURST FOR WORKING ALONG WITH ME ON THIS ORDINANCE. WE HAD BOTH BEEN WORKING ON IT INDEPENDENTLY AND ONCE WE REALIZED THAT WE DECIDED TO COME TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THE RESIDENTS. This is essentially something that we're mimicking with other communities. Chicopee, West Springfield have adopted stricter ordinances for door-to-door sales, peddlers, particularly like the solar panels. I'm sure everybody has either had run-ins with them. or have heard people who've had run-ins with them. They've become much more predator

Thank you, Councilor Martin. Councilor Hurst.

Thank you, Councilor Hurst. Any other comments?

Thank you, Councilor Edwards. I think I heard Councilor Santanello. Do you want to say?

Councilor Hurst or Martin, can you hear that?

Thank you, Councilor Santanello. Councilor Walsh.

Yeah, it's pretty much like commercial vendors. You know, in the ordinance, it particularly protects You know, religious affiliates, charitable organizations, political candidates. I know I'd be out of a job. I mean, I knocked on everybody's door three times. So it does have those protections in there, Counselor Walsh.

No, particularly the commercial vendors. The commercial vendors would be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. So if you were, you know, the pest control or the solar panels or those notorious industries, you would fall subject to that ordinance in that time frame.

Thank you, Councilor Fenton. Councilor Davila.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'll be brief. First of all, kudos to Councilor Hurst and Martin for this ordinance. Mr. Vice President, first, I would like to say to the people watching at home that if you feel uncomfortable with somebody at your door, don't open the door. Just don't open the door. That's one. We have heard in the past of this tact is being used to commit crime. So this is definitely a public safety issue. I do have to tell you that we all have been impacted one way or the other. Mr. Vice President, I had somebody that came up to my door not too long ago and says, let me see your g

Any of you two want to answer that? TO MY KNOWLEDGE, COUNSELOR, WE DID NOT INCORPORATE ANY PROVISIONS ON SUNDAYS.

MAYBE WE'LL HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE KNOCK ON MY DOORS ON SUNDAY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SELLING STUFF. THAT WOULD BE MY BIG THING. ALSO, DO WE HAVE A, LIKE, ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO, WERE YOU GUYS CALLING FOR THEM TO NOTIFY LOCAL POLICE WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THE AREA? Because I know that in particularly sector H meetings, that's been brought up before. A lot of people coming in, didn't know who it is. They started getting calls, suspicious people walking around. And that's taking resources away from the police department to go investigate suspicious activity who may or may no

sorry counselor it's not that they have to notify ahead of time it's that if they do if they are persistent if they are using these predatory tactics to notify ideally an ordinance officer and then you know we do implement the fines and I do believe there was a provision if they don't pay the fines or if they keep racking them up that we could revoke the license or the police department could revoke that license your mic

Thank you. I'm sure we can further discuss this later, but I have a complaint that, you know, cops keep going out to investigate suspicious activity. I was taking away the cops from other things. So, but with that, great work. And thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. Not seeing any more hands. Actually, no, I see Council Whitfield. Sorry.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I want to say thank you to counselors Martin and Hurst for bringing this ordinance forward. I truly appreciate it. I must be on one of the most solicited streets in the city of Springfield because someone knocks at my door, at least on a weekly basis. So this is very helpful. And if you say I don't have time right now, they will come back multiple times a day. And say, do you have time now? No, I don't. I'll let you know. Give me your number. So this is so helpful. The time and place restriction is on page three in the section B. It says time and place restrictio

On page three, well, when I scroll down in the system, it shows on page three, section B. Yeah, it says time restriction. And then it says hours nine to six.

You're welcome. But I would like a red line copy too. That would be helpful because I have no idea what changed and I don't want to read from one to the other to figure that out like that. But thank you.

Thank you. Any comments and questions? So reminder that this is would be going for first step for everyone. So thank you guys. No questions. Madam Clerk, can you call the roll on item 13?

Yes. Item passes first step. And you guys are going to be putting that to the general government? Not right. Thank you. Madam Clerk, item 14.

Thank you, Vice President Delgado. I'd like to table this item as we would like to give more time to the, I know the food truck organizations were looking to form a committee, so I'll be reaching out to them I was kind of giving them some time to get through the festivals and other activities throughout the summer. So I'll look to have a meeting sometime in the near future to get some of their findings and some of their requests and then bring all of us together to have another meeting. to hopefully put this to rest prior to going into next year. That is my hope, but willing to take how much t

Thank you, Councilor Click-Bruce. Do we need a second for that table? Second. All right, I think I heard Councilor Perez. Madam Clerk, can you call the roll? Actually, are there any questions on the tabling? Hearing none.

Yeah, no, I thought that we had made some adjustments to this ordinance already. I thought we had put some things forward. Did that not happen? No, because then we say we're going to extend the time of when this goes into effect and we were going to change the time. Then we vote in class.

Because I didn't know if the moratorium was 120 days from when we approved the ordinance or from that date. Can we get clarification on that?

Yeah. Ken back there. Can Ken give us some clarification? Attorney Shea? Madam President, can you restate your question for Attorney Shea?

We had two items that we voted on. Gladys, can you just repeat the second one?

Correct. okay so it wasn't on the new changes it was 120 days from that date which would bring us into november correct and so i think this is going to cause another problem because then the ordinance is going to go into effect in november which is a couple months from now um and we still are looking at making changes. I think some of the suggested changes was to the time, to the feet away from the truck. So hopefully we can get through, I mean, feet away from other businesses. I hope we can get some community meetings, the food truck people at the table sooner than later, because if not, then

All right. Any questions for Attorney Shea? No? All right.

Not really. Not anymore, Attorney Shea. Thank you. Figured it out. Figured it out in my head.

Oh, yeah. Oh, wait, don't go too far. Before we go to, uh, Councilor Davila, Councilor Perez, I saw you first.

So for point of clarification, my understanding, the 120 days was to cease, leave the activities as it was. Correct. That was my understanding of the meeting and then come back into committee. and go over what was presented after we thought we had it correct, correct? So that was my understanding from the last meeting. So we are tailing and going back into committee in order to discuss those issues that came in front of us after we thought we had it right, correct? Just for point of clarification, that's what we did. But 120 days was because of the activity, and we were in the middle of the su

Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. I do recall this a little differently. My understanding was that, if I recall correctly, to create a moratorium slash pause, or whatever it is we're going to call it, that we needed two votes. Because there was discussion about that, significant discussion about that, at the meeting. So that's my question to you, Attorney Shea. Do we need two votes to pass this, or where are we with that?

No, no, no, it's not, no, but no, it's not. I'm just, because I do remember we spent like an hour talking about this and, you know, somebody say going to January and then we talked about the possibility of needing two boats and to pause slash create a moratorium because this was already an ordained ordinance. And so I'm not opposed to tabling this, but I do agree at some point we need to move this forward. And so I just darted my eyes and crossing my teeth. I'm not making any amendments. I'm just making sure that, you know, that's my question. Do we need to vote to create that pause? Because I

I don't want to rehash the whole argument all over again. So what you're pretty much saying is, do we need to do two votes? Because we voted last time to pause on any new thing. So you're asking if we need two votes on that piece? On the actual pause. On the actual pause.

No, I will follow whatever my colleagues want. I'm asking a question. I don't want to rehash this out, but if we're going to table it, that's okay with me. Thank you, Ken. Those are my questions. Is he all set?

Councilor Click-Bruce. Thank you, Vice President. I think Councilor Dowler raises a great point, but to the point of clarification, I think we have until... November at the very least. So I would look to have a meeting between this month to at least get another meeting with those food truck operators and some other folks in the room to discuss. So the meeting would definitely happen before November, before it initially runs out. So hopefully that satisfies the question. What a great question.

It does. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Click-Bruce. Councilor Govan, followed by Councilor Whitfield.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. And I agree that we could table it and have another committee meeting to continue discussing the changes that are being proposed. So doing that, I think it's a good idea to do that motion to send it back to committee. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you, Councilor Govan. Councilor Whitfield.

Okay, I just wanted to be clear, since I read this so many times to the to the Council that when we did the hundred and 20 day pause we were pausing the ordinance that we had just approved. Because we were getting complaints on the feet the distance away food trucks were from other organization other establishment, we were getting complaints about the time. that the food trucks were able to be open. So there was a few complaints on the table. We decided to pause it for 120 days. I vaguely remember councilor Davila being right that we had to take two votes and I would like to get clarity. On th

Mr. President, I'm going to... We got multiple folks coming in.

All right. So I think I saw Councilor Click-Bruce first. I think Councilor Whitfield and then Councilor Hurst, did you want to respond?

Thank you, Vice President. Thank you, Councilor Hurst, for that. I guess to your point, I guess I would have to see what we have on this, because I didn't see, I didn't know it was going to be on the agenda, what we actually have on this ordinance as it's written, and then making sure that we have in there, and again, we can do that on the floor, that we have in there, it's a continuation of the pause. Just want to make sure we have that in there, the verbiage, to make sure everything's correct. But I'm not opposed. I thank you, Counselor Walsh, for that. I'm not opposed to it. Again, we're he

The only... Thank you, Councilor Cook-Bruce. You have been having so many meetings, even when you and Chris are the only ones that show up. I want to thank you for that. But there's other folks that work hard with these food trucks and with the people. So I don't want to discredit anyone by saying anyone worked harder than anyone else. But I definitely thank you for all the hard work that you are contributing to this. The only thing that I'm saying is that I don't, I'm not even opposed to voting for second and third step. Um, madam clerk Kent, does this require what we voted on on the 27th of

So what is that particular vote considered? Is it a change to the ordinance that will require a second and third step? Is it not considered that so we don't need another step? But I am pretty sure that was first step and we needed a second and third step.

I agree with you. And I don't, I still want to continue the item that's before the council. I'm not opposed to that at all. I agree with that also. But second and third step is important to take so that the 120 days is in effect. Because if we don't vote on the second and third step, DPW or any other enforcement agency can still go out and find the food trucks based on the last thing we approved, ask them to move. I'm not saying that they will, but they can. because we haven't legally passed second and third step for the item that we voted on on July 27th. So I'm thinking the right thing to do

Thank you, President Whitfield. I'm just going to say this. We still have the motion to table this, but I do agree with my colleagues in trying to be more efficient so that we don't have to take an extra meeting just to approve. It sounds like we haven't done second step on the 120-day piece of it. So if it's the will of the body, do we want to change the hold off on the motion to table so that we can make the second step vote of the 120-day piece of it, which I would ask you, Madam Clerk, if we do go that route, that if you could reread that piece, if you have it with you for the whole counci

Thank you, Vice President. Yeah, and I was going to ask Gladys to do that as well, and I withdraw my motion to table this item. I'm in agreement with taking the second step to ensure that our food truck vendors are at least getting through the summer months and fall, actually, to make sure that they're covered. Thank you, Vice President. Thank you. Councilor Govan.

So we can still have a committee meeting after this and see if we want to make any changes to the ordinance. Is that correct? Correct. It's just a procedural matter of what we're doing now. Well, if that's the case, then okay, because I think the reason that we wanted to have another meeting, correct me if I'm wrong, Councilor Click-Bruce, is that we wanted to hear from the food trucks and the neighbors to ensure that we got the ordinance right. Okay, thank you. I would agree with that. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Perez?

So, again, so that will fall under the 120 days ordinance. that we have already notated to have that meeting and then make any amendments to the one that we thought it was right? Correct. And my concern about this, I'm part of the committee, and since the meeting, first of all, I didn't know it was for voting tonight. There has been other issues that have arised that it needs to be seen in committee, and I think at the last meeting I was on the impression that we were gonna have this other meeting, not having it for today's voting, and then come back. So for point of clarification for everyone

Good. Any other questions from my colleagues? All right, so Madam Clerk, sounds like what we're going to do is we're going to vote on the second step, which should have been, I guess, part of this process. So can you read that to us, what we're exactly voting on the second step piece in terms of the 120-day and everything?

So once we vote second step We don't need to do any more voting today on that because you guys will hold your own separate subcommittee meeting to continue the work Okay, does everybody clear on that? Good Councilor Klick-Bruce.

Thank you, Vice President. I just want to make clear and read into the record that also what we're voting on is making sure we're keeping what the previous ordinance was initially from the City of Springfield and not what we as a council voted in. So I just want to make sure that's clear and understood. Thank you, Vice President.

Thank you for that clarification. All right, any other questions, comments? All right, so can we vote on the second step of this ordinance for the, I guess, 120-day continuation, and that we're not making any changes to the previous until after that? All right, Madam Clerk, can you call the roll?

unfinished business so if we could hear that item now be greatly appreciated if there are no objections yep okay can we pull item 17 item 17 is amended ordinances chapter 16 article 5 the youth commission sorry about that yep

Thank you, Commissioner. Any questions or comments from my colleagues? Seeing none. Oh, actually, sorry. Just looked at your hand. I got to look at that. It's so tiny on there. I don't know how you do it without glasses.

I know. Thank you. Mr. Vice President, Commissioner and Chanel, thank you so much. Chanel, I see you a person you felt so bad for the city council being removed. We were not taking anything personal. I just wanted you to know that we didn't take anything personal. And I think, Commissioner, you said the director of parks in their desert or their representative will be removed and replaced.

OK, because at the one I'm looking at, I don't see that change. The one that's in our minute. I don't know. I don't think it's many track anymore, but our system, I don't see that change. And then, Councillor Hearst, you said that we were negotiating two more selections in addition.

Okay, because in the copy that is shown to us, it doesn't show it. It still shows the park director. And then the part that I was a little bit confused on, too, is what Councilor Hurst said about the additional selections. And I didn't know if that was out of the 11 public school, grade 7 and above. So I just wanted to clarify those additional ones, Councilor Hurst, that you were talking about.

I can't talk with it on. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I want to thank Commissioner Carlton Harris for always having these innovative ideas and actions that you do. I really appreciate this. So from my understanding, there are seven department heads, so to speak, including the city council, plus 11 youth. Correct? That's correct. And out of the 11 youth, the city council president or their designee assigns those three youth. Correct? We'll have three. We'll have three of those 11. Okay. I think this is a great idea. I'm really glad that Chanel is leading it, it sounds like, which is awesome.

I can echo those comments as well. Great job. Am I seeing anybody else on this? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, can we call the roll on item 17? Is this first step, Madam Clerk?

All right, so first step on amending the ordinance for the Youth Commission.

Just for clarification, this is going back to subcommittee. Is this first step?

Yes, item passes first step. Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you for being here, Chanel.

Sorry, Commissioner. I would have moved you a long time ago.

Counselor, you click, Bruce. Thank you, Vice President Delgado. Really... Want to bring this forth through the city council, um, state representative Orlando Ramos, um, put this out on a state level. I wanted to adopt this on the local level to, uh, really take some initiative and, uh, protecting our residents here in the city of Springfield regarding, um, uh, public safety, um, particularly on Boston road, uh, Where I live at, it's been numerous of accidents on Boston Road, and it's like a racetrack. So we want to make sure we're trying to put in legislation to support public safety, and part

Thank you. Council click Bruce Council Perez. That's all first followed by Council Hurst.

I personally want to thank Representative Orlando Ramos, but I have in my district for many years, Bernie Avenue. As you all know, I'm surrounded by four schools, and Bernie Avenue is one of the most dangerous ones because due to mass DOT, it's converted from a regular street to a freeway and people, the speeding there, we've been trying. So, you know, I'm advocating for Bernie Avenue. I'm in support of the resolution, but that's an area that we have been working hardly for so many years and been advocating in the neighborhood. about that traffic there. So I urge that please, we have some disc

Thank you, Councilor Perez. Councilor Hirsch, followed by Councilor Martin. And then Councilor Fenton.

through the vice president. Thank you, uh, counselor, uh, hers for the question. And, uh, you know, um, I'm more than willing to, I'm, I'm bringing this presented this to the council. I'm more than willing to, to have several meetings with NAACP, uh, also with other organizations, uh, particularly in the black and brown community to bring educational to this, uh, Our intention is not to target anyone, but particularly just to prevent dangerous acts that are happening in our city. But point taken, be more than willing to host and have meetings to discuss. I did talk to Rep Ramos, who couldn't b

Thank you, Councilor Click-Bruce. I think I had Councilor Martin, then Councilor Fenton, then Councilor Govan. Uh-huh.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. And thank you, Counselor Click-Bruce, for bringing this initiative. I do think it is obviously a very important topic of conversation we all hear regularly. from a lot of constituents about you know people you know disregarding safety and flying through and speeding through the city of springfield um we just want to make sure we feel safe on our own in our own streets so i'd be happy to support this initiative however um we as a body feel necessary i would also be open to um holding it in a public safety meeting if uh YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WITH COUNSELOR CLIP BRUCE

THANK YOU. THANKS, COUNSELOR MARTIN. COUNSELOR FENTON? I'LL YIELD. ALL RIGHT. COUNSELOR GOVAN.

THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. I think this is a great concept and I don't often disagree with my state representative Ramos, but sometimes I do. And I agree with Councilor Hurst, we have to proceed with caution in light of the flat cameras that are out here. Today, actually, this would have been a great tool for me to have because I stopped at the red light and this white van just kept driving right through the red light. It turned red and they were back here and they kept going. I said, oh, I wish I had a camera to catch them. So I'm kind of conflicted here. We do need to proceed with cautio

NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GOVAN. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? SO COUNCILOR CLICKBRUCE?

NEW SPEAKER SO POINT TAKEN, THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GOVAN, COUNCILOR HURST FOR Bringing those comments up, I just want to clarify again, I did have a sense of conversation with Rhett Ramos. He assured me these are not flock cameras and these are not continuous video of... recordings, but more than willing to have more clarification and more dialogue and community input regarding this. But again, the intended purpose of this is to bring safety to our to our city residents. But no means do we want to target anyone. uh with this with these cameras so i would i'd like to send this to to committee uh

Thank you. Council kick boost. So I heard a motion to send this item to committee. And I also, I think I heard a second from president Westfield. All right. Is there any comments, discussion on the motion to send the committee? Not. Madam Clerk, can we call the roll on sending this item to committee?

Yes. Item sent to committee to the Joint Public Safety and Maintenance and Development. All right.

And then... Mr. Vice President, before we adjourn, and I hate to do this, I see everybody's ready to leave. Okay. I would like to indulge us and take item 19 out of unfinished business. Item 19. The reason I'm making that call is because time is clicking and we need to dispose of this one way or the other. No action has been taken on this matter and so we need to do something with this. It went to committee on June 22nd, and so I would like to recall it. I don't think I need a motion for that. I would like to bring it back to the chairman. All right.

Yes, Mr. Vice President, if I may, I would like to thank Councillor Hurst for his kind advice. However, I do have to take objections with his last statement, serious objections, that I will not only be involved. I take that as a character assassination, not intended probably, but I highly, completely disagree with you, my friend. This has, Mr. Vice President, this has been June 22nd. It will appear to me that there's always something else to keep this from not coming up. And whether the council wants to vote in favor or against it is up to the will of the council. There's always something else

Thank you, Attorney General. So with that being said, I would like to recall this, Mr. Vice President. We need to, whether we vote up or down. Thank you.

I object for us to taking it out of unfinished business. We haven't had any meetings about this. I think we should have a committee meeting at least before we vote on this so that we could be better informed. So that's my objection.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilor Hurst.

Thank you, Councilor Walsh. Councilor Davila, followed by Councilor Fenton.

Mr. President, my hand's been up. My hand's been up, and I haven't spoken yet on this item.

So I I would like there's a lot of hands going up so I haven't been able to see everybody in order so I would like to respond What the rule is is First thing gets to speak once before someone can speak twice.

That's the City Council rule and Counselor Davila has spoken twice now I will I will I will give the floor to Councilor Fenton, if he hasn't spoken yet. But my hand has been up before Councilor Govan, before Councilor Walsh. But if you go in the order of who is on the floor first, okay, I can accept Councilor Fenton, but.

All right, President Whitfield, I'm gonna go to Councilor Fenton.

I object. I have a right to answer. I was mentioned by name. I would like to answer the question.

I understand that, but you have spoken twice already.

I have not spoken. One of this issue, I was mentioned by name. I do have a right to answer.

You are conducting things. Come on. We're trying to get through this. It's the last item on the right now. So can we?

We got to follow the rules of the city council. And just because someone thinks they're supposed to answer a question doesn't mean that is the right thing to do. It's not. People name people's names all the time. The council president said he would take Councilor Fenton and then me and come back to Councilor D'Avila and he can address the question at the time. But the bullying technique is not gonna keep working every time Councilor D'Avila wants to speak.

Can we just, Councilor D'Avila, with all due respect, I'm trying to get this, can we just, I just wanna get through Councilor Fenton, then we will get to Councilor Wilfrid and then I will give you a chance to respond to the question, thank you.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FENTON. PRESIDENT WHITFIELD, NEXT, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILOR DAVILA.

THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. I'm not voting on this tonight. I also adamantly opposed to taking it out of committee because if there is a conflict, I do not want to impose that on the city clerk. I know how it feels to be under scrutiny and I would much rather prefer if this item comes out of unfinished business that the assistant city clerk be here to, um, to vote on it take the meeting notes or whatever that would make me feel much more comfortable um in this situation in addition we have not had a subcommittee meeting I don't care what the law department memo says I don't trust anything t

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WHITFIELD. COUNCILOR DAVILA FOLLOWED BY COUNCILOR MARTIN.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MR. CHAIR, MR. VICE PRESIDENT, EXCUSE ME. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME TOO. But we need to do what I think is the right thing. This has been on the unfinished basis since June 22nd. This is going to die October 1st. And I do have to say that I realize some people want to, for whatever reason, continue this. They want to continue moving this forward. down the road, I don't know why we haven't had a meeting on this, but let us not forget, this is money for housing as well. And I'm very concerned with this. A lot of you are saying that, or I ho

Thank you, Councilor Davila, Councilor Martin.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I don't know. I just, when I put my name on the ballot, I never thought it would be like this between everybody. whether it was, you know, and this is coming from both sides, the establishment and the counter-establishment. It's been a brutal year of people calling people names, throwing accusations. It's just wrong. It's politics as usual. We should be better than this. We should be serving the people of Springfield. And this is just a distraction. I was almost impressed that we were going to go through a whole meeting without this drama.

And again, it's coming from both sides. And I defended people on both sides. It just, it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart for the residents and they deserve better. And I, whether we vote on it tonight, a month from now, let's just, let's move, let's move past it. Let's get past the politics as usual. Let's serve the city.

Thank you, Councilor Martin. Councilor Govan.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I'm confident that we can have a committee meeting between now and October 1st, or now and our next meeting. We have three meetings in September. We're meeting for the next three weeks straight, so I think if we have a committee meeting to discuss this and then bring it up maybe at our next meeting, I think that would make sense. Should I make a motion? Or do we don't need a motion?

I will tell you, our next meeting is September 21st. That's our next regular. Excuse me.

Regular hearings that must be hearings because this is a regular Okay, that's even better. We have more time. Yes, it is right Okay, so the 28th is the hearings meeting so we have I'm confident that we can have a committee meeting between now And then and put it on the agenda for that day Thank you.

Do I need to make a motion? I make a motion that we have a committee meeting on this item before the 28th so that we could vote on it on the 28th.

There's a motion on the floor by Councilor Govan to keep this in committee to have it done before that. Is there a second to that? Councilor Klick-Bruce has a question.

Okay. I just have a question. Thank you, Vice President. Just for clarification, I think I know the answer. Whose committee is this in, and is that person going to be willing to host a meeting prior to the date? Was that in general government? Or what is the holdup on having a meeting? Just want to get some feedback.

Counselor. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Vice President, my apologies. So I just want to, again, remind people I am calling on Rule 18. If you allow me to read it, Rule 18, we call off committee referrals. If, after 30 days, a matter referred to a committee is not reported upon any member any member may recall such matter from the committee. If, after 120 days, a matter referred to committee is not reported upon or action taken on the matter, it should be deemed dead and a new request must be refiled to appear before the council. Again, I, I, Councillor Victor Davila, a city councillor, In this bo

Thank you, Councilor Davila. Councilor Perez.

So I have a question. Because the last meeting, the issue was, and again, I'm just doing like going over the meeting, we were supposed to have a subcommittee meeting with a condition that we have some legal advice on that subcommittee meeting. Am I correct or not? So, There was on a point that it was said that we were not going to be having no, not from the part of the council. I'm not speaking about the body council. Then we entered into a vote because we undecidedly in having a second opinion legally because of the matter. So what the issue is, the head has to go to committee because those q

Thank you, Councillor Perez. Councillor Walsh.

Has that been established already before? When we referred it last time, where did it go?

My understanding, unless I'm mistaken, I thought it was supposed to go to General Gov.

I don't have the notes on that, on what happened last time, where it went. I just know it was sent to committee. What I will say is, we're here at this moment. Some folks feel uncomfortable, and I understand the Rule 18. But if we vote on this, as is, and whatever way it goes, it's it.

Either we vote this, or we let it die, and we look like we are not taking a stand on this. Either way, I really could care less how people vote on this. And I have to say, Mr... Vice Chair, if I may. Just vote, you're conscious. This is uncomfortable for me, too. It's not like I'm happy about this meeting. But I do believe that we need to take a vote on this. And we are councillors, and this is not the first time I'm going to be in this position. We disagree on this for whatever reason. Everybody has their own reasons. But we need to take a vote on this, dispose of the matter, just whatever wa

Mr. President, my hand is raised in case you don't see it.

I just want to make clarification on Rule 18. What Rule 18 does is after 30 days, any member can recall the matter, but it's disposed as a regular item. It does not mean we necessarily have to vote on it. It's disposed as a regular item. So if anyone makes a motion to send this committee, it goes to committee. If we decide to vote on it, we vote on it. Rule 18 only brings the item out of unfinished business. And that is it. It doesn't mean we have to vote on that item tonight. And so if anyone wants to make a motion and I am going to make a motion to send the item to committee, um, We're gonna

I'm making a motion to send the item to committee.

Oh Sorry, sorry. It's been a while. So so counselor go bond did make the original motion. Okay, so I think they're second I said concert. All right concert click Bruce seconded it first on the motion and Any question comments on the motion?

Yeah. And so that is, the rules are silent on that. That is absolutely correct. But to no disrespect, I want to hear from the city council lawyer to what he has to say on that. Because it's silent on that. So I do have... Counselor, Ken Shea. I would like to hear on that, if I may.

And just for perspective, it's 9-10 now.

No, what's the question? So I call upon Rule 18, which is recalling a matter after 30 days back to the chamber. But apparently it's silent as to whether it's disposed or not. And so there's a motion to send it to committee. And I want to be clear that Now that I call open rule 18, do we have to dispose of the matter or do we have to send it to committee? And if we do send it to committee, does the clock start all over again?

I don't want to ask you the question. Yes, and so that's fine. And so, and that's fine if that's your legal interpretation. I'm going to take your legal interpretation. No offense to anybody else because you are the city lawyer and you do deserve respect. And so the law department here. And so if that's your interpretation and that is the will of the body, then so be it. But at least I did what I think is right and brought this back up. If people want to continue talking, as they will, then so be it.

Thank you. All right. Any more questions on the motion? Councilor Govan. I call the question. She's calling the question. She made the motion, so can we just get right to the vote? All right. All right, Madam Clerk, can we vote on the motion to send this to the Finance Subcommittee? Finance.

Yes, motion passes. Sent to the Finance Subcommittee. And our next meeting is not until September 21st. Thank you. Meeting is adjourned.