Public Comment

Transcript (~7 min @ 1:58:18)

Speakers identified by voice; unnamed voices are numbered within this recording. Auto-caption text — verify against the video.

▶ 1:58:08 Speaker 2: They're really yes. Stuart yes, Thomas. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All right. We'll be back at 9. Thank you.

▶ 1:58:28 Speaker 2: And you want the whole role? Sure. Thanks.

▶ 1:58:46 Speaker 2: sure we're still waiting for a few people like i'm okay um Migliorelli yes stewart yes thomas

▶ 1:59:05 Speaker 2: yes Tramontozzi yes rigoritis yes so i think that was nine yes for opening public comment

▶ 1:59:11 Jen Grigoraitis: Okay, so the motion carries. So, at this time, any member of the public wishing to speak to any item on tonight's agenda may do so. And if you'd like to speak, please raise your digital hand. And I just want to say for those members of the public who have been waiting to speak, thank you for bearing with us. It was a night of a lot of back and forth in and out of meetings and some materials that had to be dealt with at certain times. So, thank you for your patience. Do we have anyone wishing to speak?

▶ 1:59:41 Speaker 1: Yes, Jonah.

▶ 1:59:46 Speaker 2: I will unmute Jonah now.

▶ 1:59:56 Speaker 5: Thank you are unmuted. Great. Thank you. Can you hear me?

▶ 2:00:02 Speaker 5: Yes, can you please just state your name and address for the record? Sure. Jonah Karen's a 515 Lebanon street. So, I'm the chair of the volunteer led and pedestrian and bicycle committee. And the order that I'm speaking to is 2021 dash 15. This 2 part mass dot grant application actually originated with the pedestrian bicyclist committee. As a plan that we developed in May this year, and submitted to the city in June. Inspired by examples from around the region and the world of similar projects designed to calm traffic. and make streets safer for people being outside with their families and neighbors and accessing our local parks schools trailheads and businesses this grant provides funding for parklets which are a great way to create more space for people visiting our business districts and we're really excited to see the city piloting locations for four of those parklets and we look forward to working with interested residents and city staff and the chamber of commerce to develop semi-permanent versions of these parklets that can be reinstalled annually the grant funds also funds slow streets and sidewalk extensions which are quote-unquote quick build efforts that utilize low-cost materials like traffic cones and temporary barriers saw horses and signage these projects can be installed quickly and they can be modified relocated or removed quickly as well this grant funding will allow the city to respond to resident requests and address locations where we have knowledge of speeding and traffic volumes and where there is demand for extra space for people walking running cycling families and neighbors spending time outside on their block just trying to get the kids out of the house something i think many of us are well aware of these days etc so with the receipt of this funding um this effort really enters a new phase of Implementation up into this point, it's been a lot of behind the scenes sort of quickly trying to get in the queue with mass dot to get a share of that 5Million dollars. And now that we've secured it, and ideally with your passage and acceptance of the grant tonight, our committee firmly commits to partnering with the city council and your constituents. Or all of our neighbors to implement these projects in a community driven, open and transparent process. And really on streets where the community wants to try them and where they will have the desired impact of supporting healthy activity and mobility. While also improving street safety and reducing vehicle speeds. We've actually already begun to hear requests from people who've seen these projects popping up in other places, or saw a copy of our earlier plan that we put out in public on our Twitter feed and things like that. And who want to see these things implemented on their streets. We don't want to impose anything on any. particular street we'd really you know ideally have these projects sort of originate in a grassroots way now that the funding is available and actually the committee is developing communication materials for the city to use in soliciting input to these projects and vetting locations for them so this grant actually fulfills a recommendation from the 2017 master plan notice forward to allocate funds for quote traffic calming and traffic management pilot projects close quote and it also requires no matching funds from the city and we're doing all we can from a volunteer perspective to help shore up the effort and minimize the demand on city staff time and resources and importantly also the projects that it funds will not limit emergency access for vehicles emergency response vehicles nor really for service vehicles or for residents again temporary materials easy to move and easy to get out of the way if necessary for emergency response so we thank you for your time tonight thank the city and the administration and department heads on this practice and Gaffey for championing this effort and partnering with us we respectfully request the City Council's vote in favor of accepting this grant and we really do look forward to continuing to work with all of you to implement these projects together thank you for your time thank you do we have

▶ 2:04:24 Speaker 2: anyone else wishing to speak a public comment i don't see any other hands raised um miss foot there was no one else who indicated via email that they wanted to speak correct no emails no

▶ 2:04:37 Jen Grigoraitis: voicemails emotional closed public comment second so we have a motion to close public comment by counselor stewart seconded by counselor sanella madam clerk can you please call the role

▶ 2:04:46 Speaker 2: Councilor Sinella? Yes. Councilor Enfield? Yes. Councilor Garipay? Yes.