Mimi Parseghian previews tomorrow night’s Lowell City Council meeting

The first City Council meeting of this new year has a relatively light agenda.  There are no Motion Responses since most of them were provided at the closing meeting of 2018 on December 18^th.

Although there may be few agenda items that may create discussions, the Council will be busy in Executive Session prior to the regular meeting.

There are a number of Council motions.

• Councilor V. Nuon “Request City Manager establish a Working Group to examine Judicial Center Parking in the Hamilton Canal District, over the short and long term, and provide policy and planning guidance and coordination; advisory body should include representatives from DPD, DCAM, LRTA, Parking Authority, Courts, HCD commercial and residential communities and any others as determined by the City Manager.”

This is timely in that the construction of the Judicial Center is moving along and the parking situation has not yet been finalized.

• Councilor V. Nuon “Request City Manager provide update regarding progress on the Hamilton Canal Innovative District and schedule a tour of the newly installed Signature Bridge.”
• Councilor V. Nuon “Request City Manager explore establishing Pay Maternity and Family Leave Policy.”

This motion may be connected to the new Massachusetts Medical and Family Leave law.

• Councilor V. Nuon “Request City Manager explore possibility of using revenues from Recreational Marijuana sales to repair Municipal Buildings.
• Councilor J. Milinazzo “Request City Manager have a Handicap Parking Sign installed at 438 Central Street for the benefit of Maria Menessis.”
• Councilor R. Mercier “Request City Manager provide a report regarding The Hamilton Canal Innovative District Parking Garage; outlining time line/time table.”

As the first motion, this report is essential at this time.  The concerned public needs this update.  The Council voted for the funding on June 12^th of last year.

Other items on the agenda come from the Administration.  They include the standard items: Petitions, Appointments, Acceptance of Resignation and Administration votes.

Of interest to me is item 7.5, “First Light Group (Joyce Consulting Group) request permission to install underground fiber optic conduits at intersections of Lawrence And Billerica Streets.” I was interested because I was not familiar with First Light Group. There are one of many companies that “provides high speed data, internet, data center, cloud and voice services” trough their fiber optic lines. We may not be happy when utilities dig up the streets but we all need and demand these resources.