All rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nationy andice for all.
Thank you everyone and welcome to the April 27th meeting of the city council. Uh Mr. uh clerk, could you please start us off with the roll call of the members? >> Council Taylor. >> Councelor Taylor. Uh roll call >> here.
>> Present. Council Cooper >> here. >> Councelor Jimenez Rivera >> present. >> Council Hines. Council Tanari Garcia >> present. >> Council Tesh is absent. Council Kelly Garcia >> present. Council Santic >> present. >> Councelor De Jesus >> present. >> Council Brown >> present.
>> And councelor Robinson >> here. >> Nine members present, two absent. You have a quorum, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Uh, councelor Tash has informed me that he will not be able to make it to tonight's meeting. And councelor Hines is almost here, so he should be joining us in a couple of minutes. Um, so we have changed our
rules in the past few weeks and now the first item on our agenda is memoriam. So we are going to begin by remembering those who have who are no longer with us. Councelor Vupuro and then I will call on other counselors. >> Yes. I would like to remember Mrs. Donna M. Bonjavani, Rosanne Bonjavani's
mother, which passed away. She was a very nice woman, Chelsea resident her whole life. And may she rest in peace. >> Thank you. Any other moments of silence? All right. If we could please stand for
a quick moment of silence. Thank you quickly, Mr. President. >> Sorry, Councelor Brown. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, we just had a tragic tragedy this past weekend. Two young kids was killed in Welssley um 6 years old and 7 years old. We ask that
we give a word of recognition and also a word of prayer in your own way um to that family. Obviously um it was done by the mother accused um so grieving with that family this afternoon. Thank you.
Thank you, counselor. Thank you. All right. We now move to celebratory resolutions. Uh the first item that we have on the agenda is the certificates for our ESL instructors from the recreation and cultural affairs department. Uh Mr. clerk or actually I
believe I have them here. So I will um just be reading uh the three of these citations off and um if we could please as I read them uh each of them could come up and then we will recess for uh some pictures um after. So first off we have a certificate of recognition
presented to Marissa Cole in celebration of 22 years of dedicated service since Since 2004, Marissa's deep commitment to teaching English as a second language has helped generations of residents find new opportunities through increased confidence and personal connections.
With heartfelt gratitude, we celebrate the lasting difference she has made in the lives of so many members of our community. Next, we have Gregory Dear Men, in celebration of 21 years of dedicated service since 2005, his commitment to teaching
English as a second language has supported countless residents through care, consistency, and patience, helping them to build stronger, more connected lives. Thank you. And next we have Jolanda Gonzalez in celebration of 13 years of dedicated
service. Since 2013, Yolanda's commitment to teaching English as a second language and to serving as a dedicated member of the Chelsea community has helped countless residents grow in confidence, opening doors for them through language and learning. Thank you.
Um, I will now ask if any of my colleagues have any comments and if not I ask for a motion to u recess. Councelor Brown, please. >> Thank Thank you, Mr. President. I want to congratulate again all the recipients, but especially shout out to my former neighbor and someone who's already been stated, has countless years
of dedication um to our community here um with kids and both languages um Yolanda and her husband and her daughter here. Um, she's just been a pillow in our community. I've known her for over 30 years and she's always been a standup
woman to always show kindness, respect, and dignity. And I'm sure the other recipients have always done that. But I know her personally. I know the work she's done. I know the support cast that she has behind her, her husband and her
daughter. And I seen them both there here today. So, I want to congratulate you on your recognition. Welld deserved. Thank you. Thank you, >> Councelor De Jesus. And then councelor Sagate. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Felicia Orojo,
uh, congratulations. I am so proud of this evening's awards. I just want to share that as someone who um whose um first language was Spanish and had to learn English, the lives that you guys have touched in those classrooms, the the impact that you have had, it's not
just access, it's language justice, right? It's making sure that these young folks are growing up feeling confident and advocating for themselves. So, thank you so much for all that you have done for our community, for your care and commitment to our students in the classroom. Thank you. Gracias.
Yes, I just wanted to congratulate you. I started my career as a teacher um teaching speakers of other languages and the work is so powerful and I'm so happy that you're here with us and that you have had such length of service and I
just know from having been a teacher in the community for so long just how many lives you've impacted. So, thank you so much for staying with us and Chelsea and um I appreciate everything that you do. >> Thank you. Um I now need a motion to
recess. I believe >> it's five minutes. Uh seeing no objections, uh I will recess in one second. I just want to make sure also to flag before I forget our rules have changed in the last couple of meetings. So the other thing that we are doing is if you are here for public speaking for public comment um we have two public
hearings and the regular public comment please sign up. The signins are right there on the table. There is one for the Prattville uh uh overlay zoning amendment. There is one for the residential one zoning amendment and there is one for general public comment. Please make sure that you have signed
up. If you have any questions um about which one is which, you can ask one of us as we are milling about for pictures. But I just wanted to make sure that we remembered that. Uh thank you All right, welcome back everyone. Thank you so much. Um,
councelor uh Robinson. Uh, >> yes. Um, if we can move out of order the um certificate of resolution for Vadimal Link. >> All right. Sorry everybody. Trying to make sure that we can move on to the next
celebration that we're having. Um, uh, councelor Robinson has motioned that we take out of order the certificate of recognition for, uh, Mr. Vladimir Link. Uh, seeing All right. First first of many standing ovations, I'm sure. Um, all right. Seeing no objections to the motion, we
are going to now go to the certificate of recognition and I will pass it off to councelor Robinson um to read. So uh councelor Robinson will read this the citation then we will open up for other counselors to speak and then uh we will recess uh once again for uh Mr. Link to
to speak and then we will take some pictures. So uh councelor Robinson. >> Okay. Certificate of recognition presented to Vadim Link the kid from Malboro Street. Chief Hospital Corman, United States Navy. Vadim Link, a native of the city
of Chelsea who graduated from Chelsea High School in 2007. Serves as a chief hospital corman in the United States Navy. Currently assigned to explore the ordinance deposal mobile
unit. With over 18 years of experience in diving medicine, Vadimir was recently assigned to the medical team responsible for opening the orange capsule upon the return.
The Chelsea City Council on behalf of the residents of the city of Chelsea expressed profound gratitude to Vladimir for his dedicated service to our nation and express immense pride that he
continues to represent both his family and our community by holding himself to the core values of the United States Navy. An honor, courage, and commitment. Just uh couple quick brief remarks.
First, I want to say welcome home. and big article in the Chelsea record u this week front page welld deserved I just want to say that was very proud to hear when you opened up the hatch that
you recognized you were from Chelsea most people would say they were from the Boston area but you said you were from Chelsea the only other two persons in that category was John Ruiz and chick career, you always refer to Chelsea, not
Boston or Boston area. So, it was very impressive that you said you were from Chelsea. So, >> it meant a lot to a lot of people in Chelsea. So, therefore, we we have um the proclamation.
We have a key to the city that we want to present to you. And I have a Louisis Latima t-shirt to present to you was a Chelsea icon who was responsible for the development of the filament in a light bulb. So he gave
us lights. So at this time we like to bring it to the front. >> So I want to I want to have the counselor speak first and then we'll do Yeah, we'll we'll recess and we'll do the whole thing. So, any other counselors? Councelor Rakupra, >> um, thank you for being proud of say
that you're from Chelsea because Chelsea is a great city and anybody that comes from here should be proud because it's a hardworking community of hardworking people. >> That's right. >> And I'm proud to have known you when you were a little kid that you played Pop
Wana and you won a national championship. Again, congratulations, Vladimir. We are honored again to have you and our miss today. I'm looking at a quick text. I showed you the picture. Um my daughter
is watching all streaming here and she's so proud of you as a United States Airman. Uh graduated in the same class with you. Um the photo that she just um text me is your class. So, um, Council
Robinson was 100% right. If you haven't read that story, he talks extremely about how important it was for him to let people know that he was from Chelsea and that he got the roots and the the support of the the everyone, the structure of where he lived at. And I
I'm sure Texier, his neighbor here on Marboro Street because I lived on Marboro Street with these folks when we grow when we were growing up. And I'm just so honored. I'm honored that not only that you were a classmate of my daughters, but both of you chose to go
into science. Both of you chose to then go into the United States service. And I'm just so proud of your accomplishments. And I've been telling everyone and you know, I'm just grateful that you're here today to let people know, as Council Robertson has said,
John Ruiz was the first Latino heavyweight champion of the world. um what it means to us being from Chelsea, you can go as far as you want to go. You can go to the moon or come back and open the capsule. So, thank you very much.
Appreciate you, >> Councelor Sandig. And then if anybody else just flag me. >> Yes. Um Malro Streets in district five. Vlad. Um, you know, the the author TS Elliott said, "Home is where one starts from."
And we're just so grateful that uh you started here and that you're able to spread your uh intelligence and skill around the country and even for something as incredible as Artemis
Landing. So, thank you very much and uh again, happy that home for you is here. Council Russia. >> Um, you are such an inspiration to our
children and all of us here. So, we want to thank you. We are We couldn't be prouder. I I almost bursted out in tears just because it's so emotional to have you in this room. Um, you truly represent what the future can hold for
our children and I truly appreciate that. And thank you for mentioning Chelsea. Like our counselor Robinson said, it's so important to say yes, we are from Chelsea and we are proud. So, thank you. Thank you for being proud of us. Thank you for being from here and
and representing Chelsea the way you do. Thank you. >> All right. Um I would if the counselors would allow me to say some words from the from the chair I would appreciate it saying no objections. >> Y please.
>> Yeah I as long as the council has no objections I have no no objection to that as well. Um I just want to quickly say Chelsea is two square miles right. It it is crazy to me the amount of name recognition that we have as a city given how small we are. We are small but
mighty. So, you are the latest of a of a series of people, right, for decades who have lifted our city and um just thank you so much for what you do and thank you for always remembering our city. Thank you. >> Um and then with that, uh we'll pass it off to um the city manager.
>> As uh as all the counselors have said, uh uh um stories like yours are so important. uh of stories like our state rep uh uh it's all the stories of of Chelsea of of of being uh uh uh in spite
of of adversity, in spite of everything stacked against us, we uh are able to reach the the upper echelons of anything of anything of of of boxing uh of of airspace, of military service. you are are an inspiration to all of us and and
I know that this entire week you're going to be spreading this theme o of Chelsea uh is a city of champions and Chelsea is is uh uh is not going to be counted out of of any fight. So thank you for being here today uh honoring us
and and spending this week in our area. Thank you. Uh, councelor Robinson >> also would like to recognize our representative Jules Garcia for making this happen. I want to thank you. >> So, I think maybe let's have Vlad go up
and then after he speaks we can come back and recess for pictures. All right, without further ado, All right. Good evening. U I'm Vlad Link. Uh and I'm from Chelsea. So, um it's an honor to be here. Thank you
for everyone that's here tonight. Uh the support that has been given to me, to my family, to my friends. Wrote something here. uh from the bottom of my heart and I mean this. I hope this hits home
and I'll read it because I don't want to miss anything. Honorable City Council, City Manager Fidel Maltes, City Officials, my family, friends, Chelsea,
and my dear friend Judith Garcia, state representative. This is surreal. Feel like I'm living a dream, but I'm happy that I'm able to share that with all of you here and the rest of Chelsea cuz we're making history.
This doesn't stop here. If you dream, you work hard, you can achieve your goals. You got to prepare yourself, though. To stand here in the city that raised me and receive something like the key to the city, it's
hard to put into words. I'm incredibly grateful, but more than anything, I'm humbled. Chelsea is only 2.5 square miles. That's it. Look at all the bigger cities, right?
Yet we have winners. We have champions. We have leaders. Never forget that. Home is Chelsea. Be proud. But somehow out of those 2.5 square miles comes toughness, a grit, and pride
that is hard to explain unless you lived it. Right? If you live here, you know what I'm talking about. This city builds people. It built me. It built people in this room.
I didn't grow up thinking I'll be part of something like Artemis 2. I did not. You know, I did uh I used to do robotics with MIT. It was a program that Chelsea High had for us. Uh the great uh first robotics uh football, the coaching, all
the sports, right? That built a lot of toughness. And when I was getting interviewed, I had to mention Chelsea because without it, >> I don't think I would have be where I was. Being in the military, uh, it's not easy, right? Being away
from the family. Uh, today I was visiting my family and it hit. They're like, "You've been gone for a long time." And it's true. I rarely take leave. I rarely travel back home. It's unfortunate. And, uh, I'm going to make a promise to myself to come home more often because this feels
good. I grew up like a lot of kids here, just trying to figure things out, learning lessons the hard way, surrounded by people who work hard every single day to provide for their families. We know that, Chelsea. That's what we do. We work hard to provide for our families.
And sometimes it's not easy. We know that. But Chelsea gave me something early on. It taught me how to keep going when things aren't easy. you're a child and we don't know what's
really going on, then you become an adult and it hits you. But I think Chelsea did a great job at preparing me for those moments. And that carried me a long way. On April 10th, 2026, I had the honor of being one
of the first contact providers of Artemis 2. They called us the first contact about six, eight hours prior to the event. We were getting flooded with questions. Where are you guys from?
What's your name? We had no idea what was about to come. But when we got interviewed, I told them I was from Chelsea. I didn't say Boston. That means when the astronauts came back from traveling around the moon,
my team and I were among the first people to reach them, open that capsule and bring them home safely. Let me tell you a little another part there. If you guys seen that viral video of the helman cam, we opened that that was me filming with uh my GoPro. And I go in and I'm
just happy to see the crew. I've been working with them for about three years and we're pretty tight. you know, we're I respect them a lot. They they have families and I just wanted them to be okay because giving bad news to their families, I I don't think I would be
trained enough or ready enough ever to do that. But gladly, they were all green, open up that door. We got approval to share that video that you guys see that within 12 hours it had about 50 million views. And the other day, uh, we got permission to release a
special video that commander, mission commander Reed Weisman, uh, made for my daughter, Navella Leilani. And you guys might see it out there. It was pretty special. I didn't expect it. We were talking about, uh, his daughter is my daughter. It's like, let me see your phone. I showed him how my daughter
built the the Artemis Lego set. And then he grabs my phone. I was like, oh, okay. And then he's like, what's your daughter's name? I was like, Anna. and then he created that video. Going back to building toughness,
building character, I think that's going to help my daughter. And we share it to the world so other kids can see that that there's hope. I'll be honest with you, in that moment, I wasn't thinking about history. I was thinking about doing my job and doing it right because that's what I was trained
to do and that's what the city taught me to do. That mission wasn't about one person. It was about a team. It was about the crew. They like to be called the crew. Crew is a very special term to them. And I challenge you to please look that up. They share that. And I don't
want to take the thunder from them because that that term crew is very special. Navy divers, medical teams, NASA, air crews, people working together with one goal. Bring them home safe. And we did.
But standing here tonight, this means something different because this is home. And and if there's one thing I hope people take away from my story, especially the younger generation, is that you don't need to come from a big place to do big things.
>> Amen. >> Right. 2.5 square miles. Remember that. Be proud to be from Chelsea. Chelsea might be small on a map, but it's not small with what it produces. To the kids growing up here right now,
your environment doesn't limit you. Your mindset does. All right. Right here. You guys will often see it. You have to visualize your goals. You have to believe them. You have to work hard.
Often people, you know, they uh they like to have their dream boards. It's very important. It's a constant reminder to stay focused with your goals. Never forget that if you're willing to work, stay disciplined and keep pushing even when
it's hard. You can go a lot farther than you think. This is just one example of what I experienced and what I achieved, but there's many that have done this before. Let's not forget that. So, the credit also goes to them, to the city that built them. To my family,
thank you for everything you've sacrificed. I know I've put you through some hard time not being close to you guys. It's unfortunate. You know, my kids growing growing up without you, not knowing what family really means. You know, every time we we moved around,
lived in Hawaii for 10 years. Two of my kids were born in Hawaii and uh it's tough not being there for the holidays. To my mentors and leaders, thank you for holding me to a higher standard. To the Navy and my teammates, thank you for
trusting in the moments that mattered. And to Chelsea, thank you for shaping who I am. I accept this honor not just for myself, but for everyone here who is grinding,
working, and trying to build something better. Chelsea will always be a part of me, and I was I will always carry it with pride. Thank you very much. Can I have Can I have another 30 seconds? >> We will now recess for Oh, sorry. Go
ahead, please. >> 30 seconds. I have something very special to present to city manager. During the mission, I was carrying a special token. This is a coin from Artemis that I carry with me in my pocket. I also carried a couple patches to share to some of my close friends and
family. This was in the space capsule. City Manager, >> this is for you. >> I'm going to recess us for some pictures now. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on.
Montana. Before we reconvene the meeting, just a reminder to please sign up for public comment if you have not done so. Alrighty, ging the meeting back to order.
>> Calling counselors back to their seats. >> We need to get Thank you everybody. For those of you patiently waiting for our public hearings, thank you for staying with us. All right, we are now going to return to the regular order of business. Uh the remaining um
celebratory resolution that we have is a certificate for Stacy Amaral um on her uh 80th birthday. This event already uh happened but we are um simply uh voting on the uh res celebratory resolution. Uh now I have already read it and presented
it at the event. So, we just need a motion uh to adopt the resolution if there could be one from uh council >> um uh unanimously under Yeah, unanimously I believe. Yeah. Great. Um
seeing no objections to the motion. Uh motion carries and uh congratulations Miss Amaral on her 80th birthday. We are now moving on to public hearings. Um we will start off with the um oh sorry before we begin this I just want to make
sure that everybody in the public and here knows we are because we have changed our rules. Third time I'm mentioning this today. Um we now will be taking the order uh that is being discussed as soon as the public hearing ends and as soon as the item ends. Uh so we're going to you know make sure that
we're all good and not confused about what's going on. Uh so if anybody has questions please stop me and ask. All right. Um so the first uh Mr. Mr. Clerk, I will hand it off to you. >> First public hearing before you, proposed amendment to zoning ordinances,
chapter 34, article 11, section 34-262, table of dimensional regulations, and chapter 34, article 13, section 34-300, table of principal use regulations on an order introduced by councelor Rupro.
>> All right. Um we will now open the public hearing for the only this item. Uh there is nobody uh signed up. There is nobody signed up for this one. Uh so we will now close uh the
public hearing for this um item and we will now open discussion on the item itself. >> Yep. Um, so this is item >> the item before you. After the public hearing has been closed, you have a zoning amendment introduced by councelor
Kubaro. Whereas it is the general expressed purpose of municipal zoning to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the inhabitants of the city of Chelsea. And whereas many parts of the city of Chelsea are congested, lacking requisite amount of open space necessary to continue developing additional housing opportunities. And
whereas the Chelsea City Council believes the changes to existing zoning regulations will allow for the potential construction of additional housing opportunities in different neighborhoods throughout the city. And whereas pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 4A, the petition was forwarded to the Chelsea Planning Board for a public
hearing which was held Tuesday, March 24th, 2026. Now therefore be it ordered that the proposed amendments to chapter 34 article 11 section 34-262 table of dimensional regulations and chapter 34 article 13 section 34-300
table of principal use regulations of the zoning ordinances of the city of Chelsea as cited below be referred to a public hearing prior to adoption pursuant to Mass General Law chapter 48 public hearing having just been held. >> Thank you Mr. Clerk. Um, councelor
Cooper, I know that this is your item. I also know that we have a lot of folks that are signed up for the public hearing for the next item. I was wondering if maybe we could make a motion to table this conversation to a little bit later in the meeting so that we can have the public speak. Would that be okay? Can we can we make a motion to table? Can I can I get a motion to table
the conversation? >> Motion. >> Motion to table. >> Okay. Um All right. Seeing no objections, we will table uh this conversation. Um and we will now open the public hearing for the uh second uh public hearing. >> Your second public hearing before you on
a proposed zoning amendment to chapter 34 article 11 section 34-189 Fitzpatrick Prattville smart growth Overlay district on an order introduced by councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> So now this is the order that we have a lot of folks signed up for. I will now
um did you grab the sheets or do I need to grab Okay, I'll grab them. All right. So, I'll be calling folks. Uh the first uh first person we have is Dimas Galdamez. Then we have Ector Ria. And then Mary Davis. Good, good evening. I'm Dimas Galdamez
live in 97 Carry. Um I was part of the carpentry preapprenticeship with La Collaborative now part of the union and being the pre-apprenticeship program was one of the best decision I ever take in my life
because now I'm going to have a professional career in in carpentry and as a resident of Chelsea it will be a honor to be in in working in this project. Thank you.
Sorry. And and sorry, I just want to make sure everybody will have three minutes to speak. I you did not go over. I just want to make sure that everybody knows. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. Uh so my name is Hector Rivera. I'm a business rep with the carpenters union and I uh represent over 250 union carpenters in
the city of Chelsea. Uh let me just say that Chelsea is a unique community. I grew up in Chelsea. My whole family lives in Chelsea. So, uh, like I say, I represent over 250 union carpenters and, um, we can all agree that if you pay
taxes in the city of Chelsea, you should have an opportunity to work in the community. Uh, we also are partners with Laabativa on a pre-apprentice program like he mentioned it. So, his life is start changing with a good career in the trades, good benefits, good wages, good
pension. Uh, and he will retire with dignity and u have a good life. Thank you. >> Next we have Mary Davis and then I have Paul Noiki and Eduardo Martinez. >> Um so my name is Mary Davis. Um I'm from
the John M Corkran company and we're the co-developer. Um so I'm here today in support of the 40R Smart Growth zoning application. Um so the zoning not only uh unlocks financial benefits for the city but it kicks off the larger process
of studying the infrastructure and resiliency in the area. Um so this is the zoning is step one in the process and step two is this summer. So, we will study how to improve the aging water and sewer infrastructure,
um street routing and improvement plans, um unlock new utility corridors, uh storm water management, and probably most importantly in this area, um establishing flood plane resiliency. Um so, all of these things will inform
our site plan design, which is sort of step three in this, um and will be in front of the ZBA in 2027. Uh we then start a lengthy local and state permitting process with concom DP mass dot and traffic commission. Um so
this project will likely be done in phases and over many years. Um so 40R zoning is the foundation that allows Chelsea to meet real housing needs, improve infrastructure, and create
housing that all of us will be proud of. Thank you, Mr. President. Paul Nikki, executive director of the Chelsea Housing Authority, lifelong resident living up at Breakwater Cove. Um, and I respectfully request the honorable city council approve the 40-yard zoning proposal before you uh uh this evening.
Uh, I first off want to thank the city manager and his team for their hard work on this proposal. uh especially our friend John D priest who we know will be retiring at the end of uh of June. John as he always does very informative and committed uh to the process to make sure
that we do it the right way. So I want to thank you John and your team. Uh I also want to thank the members of the city council. All right, because the uh for taking the time to uh speak with us over the last 16 months. many uh great questions were asked as well as giving
insight in uh into your concerns that helped us develop uh the process. So we thank each of you. Uh so I look at this as the the why to the redevelopment. The Fitzpatrick uh development when built in 1949. It had one upgrade 40 years ago in 1986
and uh and that is it. They have no accessible units, no modern amenities, no Wi-Fi, an aging infrastructure that cannot support the units that are on its foundation. The Prattville site was built in 1951.
No upgrades, zero upgrades since 1951. It was uh they have two accessible units out of 128 um units. their small narrow stairways and hallways, their rooms. A two-bedroom is 689 square feet. A threebedroom is
808 square feet. Those are just not acceptable for today's modern families. Unusable open space due to flooding, poorly placed streets, and no proper traffic flow to the site. No community room for the residents. and a park that
is close to 30 years old that is looking at a cost of over 500,000 to try to repair. That is what is at the crux of all this. Those are the real facts. >> One minute left. >> This project is about the families and
the quality of life. The Commonwealth of Mass is over $2 billion behind in deferred maintenance cost and capital improvements. This is why we are doing this because the state providing us grants and redevelopment opportunities allow us to because we can't do it on
our own. All right? And this will allow us to help our families redevelop the uh property in a proper way. And make no mistake about it, this property is a state project. It will be done by prevailing wage. Okay? And we also just
want to recognize and they're going to be coming up our partners, the Corkran team. They are our partners that did Duo down there on Central Lab. It is a proven concept of what public and private partnerships can do when we work uh with the city of Chelsea. And I'm going to finish with this uh Mr.
President that every legal resident on the lease will have a right to return to the new units. The Chelsea Housing Authority will pay for all relocation costs and the residents will pay the same rent during the relocation and when they move back. the residents who are
somewhere in the front row tonight will be a very important part of the process and a true partner in this project. I ask everyone if they have question visit our website the prattchelsey.org and I'll be able to explain everything uh regarding this project. Thank you
very much Mr. President. >> All right. So I have Eduardo then I have Diane Goodriidge and L Ales. I also will note if anybody is speaking against you can jump in front cuz it we're supposed to alternate. Um and it seems like everybody is in favor. So if you are speaking against uh let me know and I
can move you up. >> Thank you. Uh Eduardo Martinez 61 Exit Street uh the private uh facility. I've been there since 86. My mother my mother was my but my mother
when she was alive she moved us there. So been there ever since the same apartment. Uh when I got there where the maintenance where where you where the maintenance office is it used to be a kitty park.
A kitty park. So they they they tore that down. They build you know the maintenance office. I've seen so many things, you know, work, people leaving, people come and go. Uh, I love the place, but I' I've been there
for 40 plus. Well, it'll be in August. It'll be 40 years, you know, and if if if this development helps to better it, I'm for it, you know. Uh, what else can I say? I mean,
it's it's It's about time that it it gets done. You know, hopefully it goes through smooth. The residents at me personally, I I live alone. I have a two-bedroom and um as far as the moving, like he
said that they would cover it. I'm for it. I'm with it. Um it's just it needs to be done. Hopefully, we can get it done. You know, I ain't got much to say, but
thanks. Thanks for hearing. >> Thank you. >> All right. I'll also just remind the public that the council cannot engage in discussion. So, that's why we're not responding, not because we agree or disagree. Yeah. But appreciate it. Uh I have Diane Goodrich,
Loose Ailez, and Jen Corkran. There was one more, right? >> Okay. >> Hi, my name's Diane. I've been in housing for many years. Great experience with the housing authorities, landlords. The apartments are old.
And when they're that old, there's no you can't do anything to fix them up. You know, you fix one crack in the wall, next thing you know, you got 10 cracks in the wall. And I think this project that they want to do is amazing for the tenants, better quality of life. Um, you know, and and housing has so many
programs to help people move forward and then they have to go I know it doesn't sound like a lot to you, but then to go home to a crappy apartment that's falling apart, that's not a great feeling. So, you kind of got to match it up with the programs they're doing to improve their life and going home to a better life. And it's definitely a
better quality of life for the the tenants as well. So, and I hope it's approved and we can just get things moving. >> Hi, that's somebody. >> Her name is >> I I can translate. I could do.
>> So, her name's Luc. >> Oh, no. I could do it. That's why I thought she wanted me here. She lives at 20 Normandy Road. She's been here for 30 years. >> Yeah. She's approved and she >> agrees. Thanks. With the the redevelopment,
>> she's agreeing with it because she feels she wants to be more comfortable. >> That's it. >> Thank you. >> Gracias. So, I have Jen, then I have uh Juan Vega and Rosa Portillo. >> Um, good evening and thank you so much to the council for hearing us out
tonight and thank you everybody for attending as well. Um, my name for the record is uh Jen Corkran and I'm with the JJC company um located in Quinsey, Mass. Um, but we're here more often than we're in Quinsey probably. So, I don't know my address is then. Um but um you
know just to follow up on kind of what the residents said, you know, a lot of times when you're talking about a redevelopment, you're talking about, oh, we're building this community, we're building this community. There's already community built here. You know, we just our job as the developers is just to build something with bricks and sticks
that matches what the residents in the community has already built here. and to build something that is reflective of the sense of community, the sense of people helping each other out, the sense of, you know, advancing each other's lives. That's what our job is. So, we've already worked with the residents a
bunch, kind of brought them through Duo, heard what they like, heard what they don't like. Um, and so what we've kind of said to them so far is, you know, you give us your wish list and we'll go through it and we'll do our best to to make it happen. Um, but keeping the residents, the residents who live at
Prattville and Fitzpatrick at the center of this is just central to everything that we do. So, I hope that the um, council takes that into consideration. We look forward to also working more with you. This is really, as Mary mentioned, only the beginning. We've got a long way to go and, uh, lots of site plan review to go through. Um, so really
excited to work with everybody and um, thank you so much Oh, sorry. >> Juan then Rosa and then Wald Cabal. >> Okay. Good evening, uh, members of the council. Thank you very much, uh, to the council president and all the members.
Um, my name is Juan Vega. I live at 85 Blossom Street. Um, as many of you know, I do work for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the uh, uh, in economic development, but that's not the hat that I'm wearing this evening. I'm wearing the hat of being a lifelong Chelsea resident, a former member of this
council, uh, and as the chair of the Chelsea Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. And in that role, I've had the pleasure of working with the with the various teams over the various years. And it was, I can't believe it's probably a little over six years ago that I was s standing right here. And I
can recall some of you would certainly hear at the time um uh imploring you to support this uh similar proposal for the uh project on Central Avenue. At the time um and I think it applies again here that as commissioners we you know
we've been very attentive to try to see how we can make improvements to understand that the living conditions that our families are in are not optimal. They're not ideal. It's no secret for any of us that have lived here. You walk by these buildings, you
understand, right? And so I I implore you at that level in the heart to think about why are we doing this to families? And the issue is, you know, the housing authority commit uh uh administration, this one and the previous one are very attentive, but the but the resource is
very limited. If you stick stand around and wait to accumulate enough capital to even fix windows, it takes years. And so I think, you know, the best decision the council made certainly was to go ahead with the central project. We believe
that is the proof of the concept that we cannot sit around and wait. Um that we have to make these things happen. I want to thank those of you that have engaged and have talked to the to the great team that the board uh and administration put together. I particularly want to call
out uh councelor Taylor in whose district this is located uh for his partnership. We expect all the questions. We expect you to hold our feet to the fire um throughout the process. Uh but I implore you to please pass this uh zoning uh change that we
are requesting or that that has been requested. um and think about, you know, the the lives of families that we can uh improve uh going forward at this location. And it was other another note I wanted to make about um uh as I me
there's so much especially at the time when I was here last >> 30 seconds >> 30 second when I was here last I was talking about how there's very little federal uh resources and state resources that are limited. Today, federal policies have changed to such a point
where it's like the reverse is happening. We are now going to be getting less than we used to get. And so, only communities that put their best foot forward and make these kind of aggressive and and uh important steps are the ones that are really going to see the change for those families. Thank
you. >> Good evening. Um, thank you for giving us the time. Uh my name is Neli. I'm from 400 Washington. So I wanted to share um a few thoughts towards communication transparency. Um not clear which questions relate to which zoning
because I didn't realize that both of them were coming so fast and furious. So please give me a minute. Um >> sorry just I'd like to quick question. Is this um are you speaking on the um on the Prattville amendment or >> I think I'm speaking on both because I'm not really sure which part. It seems
like one is contingent upon the other. >> You're only supposed to speak on the one that we're having. >> I will speak now then. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, uh, what is being proposed? Um, we'll start at the beginning. What is being proposed? Have residents been notified? When I speak about residents, I'm not just
referring to CHA um, residents. I'm referring to the people that live on the street, Second Street, Third Street, the whole area. Um, so the the next question is, how do we reach from R1 zoning to building 8 to
900 units next to your neighbor? It just feels like we went from fast forward to um I don't understand. So, what I'm looking for is information on what you're proposing, clarity on what it means to
not only the residents of CHA, but also the the neighbors. Um, what is the pro? Oh, Central A is you duo, excuse me. That property that was referenced many times to um segue this
project. I'm told that the tax has been deferred on that project. So, my question is is when will that tax revenue come back in? How long is it postponed for? And does that have any impact on this project?
Um what do what does the process entail now? Is it just this vote? Is it residents voting on a larger scale like not just who's here or you folks? Is it the whole Chelsea community? um because
it hasn't been communication people to vote on anything that I can see or is this the only format to um have any kind of input ADUs have not even been passed. So how do we go from there to building 8900
units? Um city Chelsea provides like mailers to the house. You had a ticket, you had a water bill, you had a sewer bill. Residents don't know this is even taking place. So that's why when the um public
speaking part happened, not a single person from the neighborhood came through. It's they don't know it exists. Again, it's when do we vote? When do Chelsea as a whole votes? Um and then circling to the Prattville uh
inclusionary part is one of part from my understand the foundation of this comes from um EPA and one of the values is that you're supposed to provide multiple types of transportation shel does not have one blue line, one
orange line, one red line, nothing. So how is it that you're going to build a project of this size if you don't have the foundation for it? So what transportation options do we have? Driving silver line whenever these um
large development units are built they are built around the silver line which is where Duo was. This doesn't ha the Prepville project does not have that. So you're looking at um people driving. Well, the ratio for the Pville project, it's half a parking spot for 8 to 900
units, which means three units, two bedrooms. That would be like six cars to be parking sharing half a spot. And Chelsea already has a significant parking issue. So, can we address the problems that Chelsea has instead of making it even worse?
>> Sorry, you're out of time. Thank you. >> Okay, >> that's kind of all >> a lot of questions. >> I appreciate you. >> Yep. You can also speak at public comment again if you would like. Um, next we have um, Ros, sorry, Rosa Portillo, Waldes, Cabal, and Sean Mcrenolds and Jen
>> Hassel. Rosa Portillo. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Rosa Portillo. Chelsea house a part of the directive there of Chelsea residents. >> I am here because I'm in support of the
new project of the new construction going on because we do need new apartments there. been living in Chelsea for about 11 years. I do have children as well. >> I have two children. They study here in Chelsea and I'm very happy to live here
in Chelsea. Okay. What you have to say that we need more space. The place where we currently live, there is not enough space for the children to play. It is very important to have a larger space where kids can go to the park.
They can go to a gym. Not a very small place where they'll be watching their cell phones. They'll be looking at their tablets, doing different things. They need a larger space. I do believe that our children are our future. We don't want to leave Chelsea. We would like to live here in Chelsea,
but we need better housing. Our ch children are the future. I have to say as well the apartments are the buildings that we are living at the present time and are in very bad condition. The plumbing is in very bad condition, very bad shape as well.
Sometimes we could be washing our clothes and sometimes the dirty water comes into the uh into the tub and those are actually plumbing problems that we're having there. Dirty water. That is precisely why we are here and we need your support in order to have
better housing. That is the reason why we're here today. Thank you very much. I have Okay, perfect. Bman Street. I leave that reside at 59 Burn Street and my name is Wes Cabra
my neighbor Rosa was saying I I'm not going to elaborate much because she provided a lot of details already. One of the things we're hoping is that the new apartments are built because the current apartments where we live at, there's so many problems here.
We need a park. We need a park for a recreation. We need fields for recreation as well where the kids can go there and play, recreate. And >> we just want you to build this new apartment. That's all we're looking for. That's the reason why we are here today.
Thank you very much for the opportunity. Wait, next we have Sean. Um, and also just if anybody wants to sign up, you still can just check in with councelor Brown over here. >> Good evening, city council president. Thank you guys so much for uh allowing
us to be here. My name is Shawn McReynolds, president of JJC Company. Um, you know, it's great to hear from the residents and the housing authority about why we're here. And, you know, I really wanted to expand upon that, um,
of why we're here tonight with this 40R zoning. Um, I think it goes unsaid that we're in a housing crisis and, you know, with the housing authority and the current conditions that they're in, we need to think creatively of ways that
public private partnerships can work together. Um, something that we did uh over at Duo on the NS apartment redevelopment is we utilize a state program called, you know, 40R, which is smart growth. And part of the reason why
we did it is we knew we needed the density or added units to redevelop the existing uh public housing units, but we also wanted to do it in a smart way and work with the commu community and the city on doing it the right right way.
And I'll say, you know, I'm proud of what we did over at Duo and I'm, you know, I I would say, is it perfect? Maybe not. But I think it's pretty damn close. And I really feel uh that what we have over at Prattville with this area
and the community and the residents, we have a great opportunity to work together collaboratively through various stages of not only zoning but site plan and you know all the various studies that we have to do that we will be out in front of the
community like we were at Duo and in front of the residents and we always take a residents first approach and we really engage with the residents because they're the ones that are most impacted on any of the redevelopment projects. So, you know, I'm just here tonight saying, why are we here? We're here
because we need the zoning. We need the density, and it's the very first step, and many to unlock this redevelopment, and it's going to take a while, but we're not going anywhere. We've we've been in uh Chelsea for the last decade. You guys are probably sick of us by now, but we love it here and we want to do
more uh projects here and you know, we're just really excited to be here tonight, but we recognize it's a first step of many and we've had many outreaches with you know, both the residents community and with the with the city and administration. I also want
to thank uh the city manager and his administration also on help drafting the the ordinance for this. and you know I just really um implore you and uh to support this uh resolution tonight. So thank you. So we have Jen, then we have Josh Colon
and Oscar Chavez. >> Good evening. Um my name is Jen Hassel. I reside on Orange Street. um lifelong resident of Chelsea and also currently the executive director at the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce and I just want to show and be here to support this
project. Um I think it's important to the community. I also think it's important to the residents. Um residents that have been here for decades of infrastructure that's been there, they deserve um the dignity that comes with the new development. So, I think it's important for us to try to pass this um
proposal and any other proposal that has to do with resoning in the community. It's the only way we're going to grow. It's the only way we're going to continue to flourish. And I really hope you strongly consider um passing this um proposal. Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Josh Cologne. I'm a
business representative with the carpenters union and you know I hear all the sentiment from the city residents and I understand that these um apartments need to be renovated. They need to be rebuilt. It's
understandably a huge challenge to live in ancient apartments of 70 50 years old without being remodeling. Um, but I also want to express that, you know, I represent approximately 900 carpenters
that are union carpenters for local 723. And what I would like to see is that these projects are built with local people. Local jobs for local people is what we promote. I understand that this
is an ordinance to help move this project along. Um, but I also want to express that, you know, we're working with a number of city youth build organizations that help the youth that empower young men and women that live in
this community to work for this community and also for these tax dollars that we're investing to stay in the community. So, I'm going to say that I'm in favor of this ordinance change, but I do want to see responsible contracting
and I have met with uh Paul. I have met with the Mccorin group and and we're having great conversations and I just hope that it continues that way. Thank you. Right, last we have Oscar Chavez. Good evening everyone. Um it's uh it's
it's been a pleasure hearing everyone out. I have been very supportive of the collaborative. I also support that we know we have young a young a young group of um a a young group of people coming into
this city to try to make a change. And uh you know I I am a local 2168 floor covers and I do support them. I actually have hired about four of these young kids that are going to be our future um
in this community and I believe that they will make a change. Um and I I do support them and I do hope that we do see some lo some union members in these buildings. Thank you. Right.
City manager can participate in the public hearing. I have confirmed with the clerk. >> Uh I am also a Chelsea resident. So um but uh what I wanted to do was was well was speaking back on what Sean is saying, right? the the uh what is is
before the council tonight is is is really important but but it doesn't define what the project looks like, how many units are going to have uh uh you know how tall the buildings are going to be. It's is none of that. What um this this first step is is one step of many
that are are going to come before us. I have to say that I have been here for two and a half years. Uh and in that two and a half years, we have had a tremendous amount of engagement with the community. We have had a a lot of engagement with the neighborhood. Uh um
the the the the amount of of of outreach that that this project is is having is unprecedented and I think that we are uh uh are starting in the right process. What's before the city council uh tonight uh most importantly for me it
unlocks it unlocks significant state money that is going to be used in this project and and uh uh I believe that is going to be around $4 million which is going to be needed to rebuild sidewalks
uh to replace water manes that it and it's water manes that are are over 100 years old right and and regardless of of the project the the the infrastructure needs in that neighborhood are huge and it is not something that we are going
are going to be able to do alone. So, uh, uh, I I wanted to clarify that that what the council is approving, uh, is essentially, uh, uh, it is opening the doors to more state funding that is
going to improve our community at large, and I urge the city council to approve this. >> Thank you, Mr. Manager. >> With that, uh, we will now close the Oh. Oh, sorry. Um, so I'm going to have the
clerk explain what the situation is so that we can vote correctly on this uh to make sure that we can move this process forward. Mr. Clerk, could you please explain the current situation? >> As was conveyed by the administration, the city is preparing to submit a
preliminary application for determination of eligibility as to the 40yard district. The request is that the council hold off on voting to approve the amendment until such time that the city receives a response back from the state. So my recommendation would be to continue the public hearing um till such
time as we receive that notification and on the underlying amendment um make a motion to postpone until such time as the city receives the response from the state. >> And just to clarify, is that because if we close the public hearing that would start the timer?
>> That's correct. And if the state and if the state does not respond in time, we would have to readvertise again and it would add an additional time onto the process potentially running through your summer recess. >> All right. So, having heard that, I would like to ask for a motion to continue the public hearing at a later
time. >> Mr. President make a motion that we postpone the order um under what we read throughout from the city manager and also the order and to time necessary for us to get a respond back from the city.
>> Seeing uh uh yes I u so on that motion we will now open discussion. I will uh have councelor Taylor. >> Thank you uh Mr. President. Um, seeing that we'll have to continue,
I just want to uh say just a few words about uh this zoning amendment and how important it is. It's projects like this and I've I've I've been attached to this
thing, making sure to shepherd uh this process from the very beginning in a way that's going to be beneficial to the city and beneficial especially to our residents of the housing authority and also the neighbors in in adjoining
uh the project. In fact, it's projects like this that make it so important. Uh it's the reason why I wanted to get into politics to
help make the lives of our residents better. This is what it's all about is things like this and what happened at Duo before. Nobody should have been living in those apartments. They were so bad and the
ones here are are almost equally as bad and and this gives really a new life to these residents and it's it's like if we if we can't do this like what are we doing? I I I I really
think that this is important and and and as far as outreach to the neighborhood, um there has like the city manager said, there has been unprecedented uh outreach. Um I have spoken to many many many residents. Uh my my main my
main concern is is that the state uh uh fix uh a lot of the infrastructure that we're going to need to make this project work and that the traffic mitigation and so on and the underlying um infrastructure.
So we're all going to see that that happens and we're going to protect our neighborhood. This is going to be an important upgrade for for I think all all of the residents of Prattville. It's really important for
the city. So, um I remain deeply committed to to our residents and to this project. So, um thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate it. And, uh as as as somebody who's a neighbor myself, I mean, this is I think that this is uh
super important. and it's going to make the lives of the people at the Chelsea Housing Authority better. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor uh councelor de Jesus. And let me know if anybody Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh before I speak, full disclosure, I work for
LAatima, but I am not particularly attached to this department, the young adults program, the amazing young men that spoke about the pipeline and the future of, you know, being union members. That's that's huge. Um, I remember all the community meetings with
Sean and and Jen and, you know, the the chaos of the unknown, right? And how scary it is to enter into this journey not knowing. Um, but what a beautiful project we have at Central A, the great work of our administration at the housing authority. Um, at the ribbon
cutting at the duo uh properties, I spoke vividly about the dreams of a young child living in the projects and not being able to have a sleepover because they're nervous that their friends are going to judge them, right?
Imagine the life of a child not experiencing a sleepover because they're nervous about being judged for living in poor living conditions. the amazing transformation that Duo has created for these children, right? Their
futures. One of the residents that spoke earlier, she said it best. She said, "When you go home and you're living in a dignified home, that's just the beginning. You want to then become a homeowner. You want you want your children to live in luxury spaces, right? You're pushing it now further up.
But what we have in front of us is an opportunity to push further. not just have that sleepover, have that child break that cycle of poverty, right? Have that child enter union jobs and work with the young men that are here today.
And so I'm really excited to see how we can push it even further with our partners in co in Korin and with our partners at the Chelsea Housing Authority. I am in full support of this. Um, I would encourage um all of my colleagues to also, you know, let's
evaluate what we could have done better with outreach in our first um wave. There's always room for improvement. And so, you know, making sure that our our neighborhoods are also feeling like they are part of the process obviously is very important, but this is just the beginning. It's going to be a long long
road ahead. Thank you. >> Hi, good evening. Um I am full support of this uh but I have to echo my colleagueu sentiment about being that um that young individual who didn't have
the financial means to enter college right but here is this grand opportunity with these apprentices I could never say that word I promise you um program thank you and and give them that
opportunity to have a great career. So, not only are we building a dignified living, but we are also offering these individuals a dignified career with a highpaying job and they can invest in our economy.
It'll be a boost in our economy as well because they're spending their money in our city. Um so I am in full support of this but I also want to acknowledge and make sure that we are um taken into consideration
uh the union and our developers and and partnering correctly so it it could be full circle. So thank you. >> Thank you councelor. Any others? All right seeing none. Uh, councelor, was your motion for unanimous
consent on the So, >> if you want to take a roll call vote, we should take a roll call vote. >> We don't need it. >> We don't need it. So, uh, seeing no objections, >> my that's my preview, but >> All right. Well, seeing no objection, uh, so moved. Um, we will continue uh
this at a future meeting. >> Thank you. public hearing continued and zoning amendment postponed until such time as the city receives notification from the state on preliminary determination of 40R. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. >> Yep. Uh um what was that?
>> Yep. Uh I believe we need a motion, Councelor Rupo, to move it off the table. >> Turning the mic on, please. >> I'll make a motion to unteing no objections. Uh so moved. So, we are now back to um uh sorry, we are not done
with that one. So, everybody who has been here for a while um you don't have to say unless you want to. Um thank you. With that, we will move to discussion on councelor Rupo's proposed amendment. Councelor, you have the floor. Um, as you heard right now from all these
ladies and gentlemen, the need for housing is imperative or we need to have more housing. So this amendment, what it does is it unlocks
900 parcels within that area. 900 parcels that don't meet that criteria. The only thing this changes is goes from 7500 to 5,000 from 3500 to 3,000 and you can
build one to two family home. When I went to the meeting, the board told me they don't want to make change the makeup of the district. If you vote for this, you are changing the makeup of the district. So you can't say to me you're
not you're going to vote no on something that you're going to vote yes because when YOU PUT 900 UNITS 900S PLUS they're going to be 150 ft tall that's 15 stories you are changing the makeup of
the neighborhood one two you stress that you need to have affordable housing and more houses to build like the gentleman said Chelsea's two square 1.8 square miles. You have no place to build anymore. The only place you have is
these giant lots that are standing R1. Someone's going to argue and say, "Well, why should we change it?" Well, why not? You're changing everything else. Eventually, you're going to change it. You can even ask the city manager if I could if he approves it or he's against
it. Whatever it is, we should get his opinion, you know. But uh as far as you telling me that you're going to approve that project and you're going to say no to this, which is the same thing. This only
does limits what this does. It restricts people. It restricts from building within a neighborhood, but you're building everywhere else within the city. So why should anything be restricted?
So if you vote to let that apartment building go in a neighborhood which builds a thousand units and you don't allow an average individual to do that, then there's something wrong with this council. If you keep preaching you want
to build affordable housing, but yet you don't allow to build when you're only doing you're only changing very minimal and you need to ch and then you need the approval. the approval of the city to build a tree family. Like someone's going to say, "Well, there's plenty tree
families in the neighborhood." So if there's already plenty tree families IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHY ARE YOU OPPOSING THIS? IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE to me to say, "Well, there already is. So if there already is, why are you going against it?" Then you're going to say, "We need to grow." Yet you allowing a
thousand apartments, but yet you don't want to build a two family. That doesn't make any sense. So what do you got? Two standards. What is the standards? SO HOW ARE YOU GOING to explain to the rest of the population in our city? Well, it's okay. We're going
to build a thousand, but we're not changing the makeup of the we're not. But yet, we're not going to let you build a two family or we're not going to let you build a three family. There's a lot of lots within R1. They fall between
6,000 and 75 7500. So you need 7500 and you cannot build. So you're restricting the growth which you ALL COUNSELORS PREACH. GROWTH, GROWTH, GROWTH. If you can't build and you can't grow, what are you preaching?
DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE for someone to preach and don't follow what they preach. >> Thank you, councelor Councelor Taylor and then councelor Jimenez. Thank you. With all due respect, um,
no one is really in favor of this zoning amendment. It was rejected twice by the planning board. Uh, resoundingly rejected. >> Not really. So, so, so >> I would I would um I would ask
my uh fellow counselors to reject this amendment. Um the residents of R1 want to keep the integrity of of the R1 >> and without you know the
I don't I don't think I need to address every point. Uh but rest assured that we want to to keep intact our neighborhoods. Yes, we want vital upgrades when we can get the
right uh deal from the state and to improve the lives of a good segment of our residents. Um, but you you just don't want to uh uh change the structure of of what we have now. If not, why why
do we even have our ones? So, I would please reject this. This is really not a good idea. Thank you, >> Councelor Himemenz. And then councelor um Hinds. I >> I I want to thank councelor Rubbero for
for introducing this. I I think that this is part of a larger conversation that we have started having in many ways and that I think we we need to have as a community, right? And and the idea of we need to grow as a community, right? And
I and I think that we need to grow can't mean we need to grow but not where I live and we need to grow not where I live and because if everybody says we need to grow but not where I live, then we're not going to grow anywhere, right? So, I I I just want to I I think it is it is important that we have a broad
conversation about how we want this city to grow. And I I believe that I I I brought this up when this was first brought up and and so I'm just going to say it again. I I I am in agreement with the spirit of what the counselor is trying to do. But I think the the
challenge is that I think we need to have this be a broader conversation about our entire zoning system where we need to look at each zoning area, figure out like what are the changes that would best set us up to have the change that we want. And so I am going to be voting
no on this, but I I want to come to a proposal on our entire zoning code that looks at something like this and and moves it forward. And I think that that's really important. So, I I am sorry, counselor, that I will not be voting in support of this, but but I I appreciate what you're trying to do and
I want to be part of this this ongoing conversation. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor Councelor Hines. >> I want to say I mean I echo everything our counselor president said and I want to thank councelor Cooper for um presenting um this amendment. I will
also be voting no. However, I do feel that there's a greater conversation that needs to be had. zoning historically has been an exclusionary practice. And to echo the similar sentiments that you said, you know, like if we're going to grow and if the conversation that we're
having in regarding to inclusionary zoning and the conversation that we're having into bringing more commercial units and expanding this area, which is not the first expansion that is taking place in the city, I think we should be looking at zoning as a whole and
discussing what can go where and not only what shouldn't go in cert certain areas. So, um you know, I'm I'm all for having a continued conversation about this um to talk about what sort of dwelling units should exist where,
whether it be one family, two family, three family. We want more home ownerships. We need more units. So, again, thank you councelor Cooper for presenting this. I will also be voting no, but again, I'm open to a continued conversation on this.
Councelor, you all already spoke on this. >> Councelor Rupo, thank you councelor Di. Thank you, councelor, for giving me your time. Well, here you have. It's fine. You vote no. That's fine. But eventually, it's going to change. So,
I'm going to introduce it again and again and again until it does go. I'm never going to quit doing it while I'm here because you can't say yes to one development and no to the other. And as far as the word integrity, that word,
WHAT DOES INTEGRITY MEAN? SO, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CAN come to my neighborhood. What's the matter? We don't have integrity. We can go to all the council's neighborhoods. We don't have integrity. >> Madam President, can we just stop referring to people's integrity here? >> Okay. So, we won't use the word
integrity anymore. Let's let's put it in an easy way. Eventually, this is going to happen. >> Council, are we ready to go into the vote? >> Go ahead. Go into the vote. >> Councelor Taylor. Oh, hold on. Councelor Sanigay and then councelor Taylor. And then we go into the vote.
>> Oh, okay. Yes, we're sharing today. >> Thank you, Councelor Sanay for yielding me your time. I just wanted to make clear that no one is saying I don't want you can we want growth but not in my district. I just got done
saying that I support a huge uh upgrade to my own district. So no one is saying that just to make just to make it clear. Okay. So there's none of this not in my backyard. In fact, in fact, I stood
against uh some of the people that were saying not in my backyard. So, we we just want to make make that clear to everybody watching. Um so, so look, uh thank you for for for voting no on this and um this cannot be brought up for a
long time. So, um I'm great I'm great I'm grateful for that. Thank you. So, thank you so much. >> All right, team. Moving on to our vote. >> Roll callo vote requested on proposed zoning amendment. Twothirds vote. Eight
members required for adoption. Council Taylor. >> No. >> No. Council Raupro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Herman Rivera. >> No. >> No. Councelor Hines. >> No. >> No. Councilor Tenary Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tesh is absent.
>> Councilor Kelly Garcia. >> Present. >> Present. Council Santigette, >> no. >> No. Councelor Deesus, >> no. >> No. Council Brown is absent.
>> And Council Robinson, >> no. >> No. On this vote, you have two members in favor, six members opposed, two members ab, one member voting present, eight votes being required for adoption. and the zoning amendment has been rejected.
Under Mass General Law, chapter 40A, any proposed zoning amendment that has been unfavorably acted upon by the council cannot be reconsidered for a period of two years unless it had previously been recommended by the planning board, which the planning board did not recommend adoption of this amendment.
>> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. I would just like to quickly apologize to councelor Taylor if that was how my message was received. It was not the intent. I was not speaking about councelor Taylor. Thank you. All right, with that, >> thank you for that clarification, >> of course. Um, with that, we will now
open public speaking. Apologies, Teresa, for having you wait this long. Um, you are our only, uh, person sign up for public comment. >> Ah, good evening. Uh, kind of late hour, but anyway. So, I have a little complaint.
uh for many years this city did not is not charging any trash fee to single family homes and um couple years ago I I mean I've lived in a ste one resident I mean single family home that the DPW
actually says it's registered as single family and a couple of years ago I got a letter saying they want to charge a trash fiat to come and prove that I don't rent the house well I get a bill from uh 31st and there is a trash fee on
that and unfortunately and I mean it took me two trips to the DPW to get this taken care of when I stopped in with that with my license. Oh, sorry. Uh we can't accept that. You have to come in with three utility bills. So, I came in
with that. And my my concern with this one is I don't know how many people actually got a bill for one family home because on this bill water is spelled out sewer is spelled out in full and who knows how many what
what res means I've asked a couple of people in the in here and they didn't know what that was. That is a residential trash fee. you were able to spell out water and sewer, but you're not spelling out the trash fee. So, the thing with that
is is how many people get actually got a bill without realizing they're paying for it. So, I just want to bring it to your attention. And hopefully that that fix it. And as I said, it's it's been registered how many year every so many years I have to keep proving that I'm
not renting my house. And my question is how many one family homes in this city are actually rented? People one family homes they live in it. They don't rent them. Not in I don't think not in Chelsea. If you have a two family that's different. So I just want to point that
out and hopefully they'll uh tell anybody else in the city if they got check your water bills make sure you're not being charged. Thank you. >> Thank you. With that, we will close the public comment portion uh and move on to
>> next you have approval of the minutes of the regular meeting dating April 6, 2026. >> Right. Do we have a motion to accept and file? >> All right. >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose say nay. Uh all those in
favor uh sorry uh motion carries. Uh move move to accept and file. Um, next we move on to communications from the city manager. Uh, first we have appointments to boards and commissions. >> Dear councilors, pursuant to section 4-2 of the charter of the city of Chelsea, I'm writing to recommend the following individuals to boards or commissions in
the city. Appointment to the community recreation advisory board, Mr. Mark Morelli, and appointment to the cultural council, Mr. Hector Galone. >> Looking for a motion to second reading. >> Make a motion because it's custom that we move it to second reading before we
take a vote on it. Mr. President. All right. Uh seeing uh seeing no objections to that, we will um move this to a second reading. >> Next communication received from the city manager regarding approval of eminent domain taking of property is needed for island and river flood
barrier. Dear councilors, the city of Chelsea has been working for many years together with the city of Everett on the island and river flood barrier. A critical infrastructure project designed to protect thousands of residents and key facilities from severe coastal flooding. Although the last last year of a $50 million brick grant has delayed
the construction timeline, the project remains a top priority. We are continuing to advance it using secured state funding for design, engineering, and land acquisition. It is essential that we utilize these state funds now. Delaying their use could jeopardize our eligibility and result in the forfeite
of significant grant dollars. Moving forward at this stage ensures we maintain momentum and keep the project on track for eventual construction. With that in mind, I am writing today to provide an update on the city's negotiations with the marina at Admirals Hill located at 305 Commons Way. As I
have discussed previously, the city will need access and ownership rights to the property along the path of the island and river flood barrier to construct and maintain the structure. We are prepared to proceed with the next set of negotiated takings at 3:00. >> Mr. President, I move to wave the rest
of the reading. >> Motion to accept and file. There are no objections. Um there's a motion to wave the rest of the reading. Seeing no objections to that. Um there is also a motion to um accept and file the communication. Um seeing any objections to that
>> like to make a motion to accept and file the communication. >> Great. Uh that's right. Motion was made. Just uh just making sure there are no objections to that. Um with that we will move the communication. Also this is the first time that we get to do this. We are now moving into the order itself uh rather than waiting until new business
later. So uh we will pass it off to Cliff uh to read the order itself. >> The relevant order attached introduced by the council president as president ordered that pursuant to mass general law chapter 43 section 30 a public hearing shall be scheduled on June 8th 2026 at 7 p.m. to discuss the proposed
eminent domain taking of properties at 305 coming down way. >> All right. So this needs to be adopted by roll call vote. Um, but we'll first open up for discussion. Any uh speaking on the order?
All right. Seeing none, uh, I need a motion for a roll call vote on the adoption. >> I'll ask for a roll call vote on the adoption. >> Yeah. Um, >> if there are no objections, >> uh, councelor Robinson has made the motion. Um, so this order sets the date for the public hearing. The final draft
of the order of the eminent domain order will be submitted for our next meeting. So this is only to set the date for the public hearing. >> All right. >> Yes. Vote to adopt. >> Yep. So we are now having a roll call vote on the adoption of the eminent domain taking. Any questions?
All right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Rupo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tenary Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tesh is absent. Councelor Kelly Garcia. Yes.
>> Yes. Councilor Santicette. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Brown. >> Yes. On adoption. >> Yes. And councelor Robinson. >> Yes. >> With 10 members voting in favor, zero opposed, one member absent. Order adopted. Public hearing set June 8th.
>> Public hearing June 8th. And the final draft of the order will be submitted for the May 4th meeting. Thank you. >> Mr. President. Um, councelor, >> can I quickly ask us to uh can I make a motion to move the item under second reading
um out of order because the member is here and >> this is the um for the approval of uh board and commission. >> Correct. Okay. For the community recreation advisory board, the member is present here. So, I was just wondering if we can move it out of order. >> If there are no objections on it, >> seeing none, we will move the item out
of order. Great. >> Thank you. Item before you, communication received from the city manager being read for the second time requesting approval of appointment to community recreation advisory board. Dear counselors, pursuant to section 4-2
of the charter of the city of Chelsea, I'm writing to recommend the following individual to a board or commission. Appointment to community recreation advisory board, Mr. Robert David Lara of Chelsea for a new three-year term. >> Is there a motion on the item? Council
>> motion to accept and file adopt. >> All right. Uh seeing >> unanimous consent >> uh under unanimous consent. Uh >> yep. Uh seeing uh sorry uh those in favor say I. >> Those against say nay. Hearing uh that
the eyes have it. Uh motion carries. Uh congratulations Mr. Lara. Also councelor Deesu stepped out given that uh Mr. Lara is family. So she is not able to vote on this item. All right. We now return to the regular order of business. Councelor De Jesus,
if you can hear us, you can now return. Returning to regular order of business. You have a communication received from the city manager regarding year-end financial requests. Dear councilors, I am writing to request votes to address some endofear financial matters for some supplemental appropriations. Details are
as follows. Salary deficits funded by free cash in the amount of $862,000 and other deficits and initiatives by free cash in the amount of $1,526,654. Is there um sorry hang losing my things. Here we go.
So um for this item uh we need to we can refer to ways and means or if people would like to um have the city manager um come up he can also do so under the new rules um and then we could simply move it to the second reading instead of having to schedule a ways and means. So
I the way that I think maybe we should approach this is like if there are more than like a couple of questions we can move it to a committee but if we just have one or two questions um we can just ask the city manager. Um, any questions? All right. Well, seeing no questions on
this, um, would anybody like to move this to a second reading? >> I'll make I'll make the motion to move it to a second reading. >> All right. Seeing uh, a motion to move to second reading. Uh, any objections? All right. Seeing no objections to that, the eyes have it and we will move this
to a second hearing. You have two separate orders. Um, one is free cash for the salary account deficits. The other is a separate order for operating account deficits. Both move to second reading. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. >> Your final communication received from
the city manager regarding the fiscal year 2027 budget submitted. Dear councilors, enclosed you will find the city manager's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. The budget funds city expenditures at 116,129 81 and school department expenditures at
$156,248,491 for a total budget of $272,378,292. The school department's budget is increasing by 3.55%, a minimal increase to address revenue lost from an enrollment decline of nearly 350 students. The loss is unprecedented and has a significant effect on our entire
community. This year, our city is increasing support of the Chelsea public schools by approximately $4 million. This is the highest contribution above net school spending from any gateway community. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reports that Chelsea is 5.6% above
mandatory spending. And while the city's $4 million additional contribution does not address the full funding gap created by the unprecedented loss in enrollment, it signals our commitment to supporting our school department. It shows we are continuing to fund our schools beyond the required minimum. The city is able
to contribute this additional funding by utilizing $4,495,000 reserves to support the budget. City expenditures have increased by 4.8%. This is the lowest annual increase since fiscal year 22, which is something we are proud of, particularly when costs
outside of our control are so high. In fact, if we remove those costs, our budget would only be increasing by 0.92%. In other words, the majority of this year's increase or 3.88% are non-negotiable items, including things like the cost of regional schools,
employee healthcare, charter schools, and several others. To put it in perspective, in fiscal year 22, our health insurance costs went up by $25,000. This year, they're going up by 1,53,545, even after we made difficult health plan decisions and utilized savings in our
healthcare trust fund. In fiscal year 24, we paid $1.4 million for regional schools. This year, we pay three $3.2 million due to our share of cost of the new Northeast Vocational School in Wakefield. Charter schools are going up by $2.6 million compared to FY24 when
this line increased by $560,000. You will note that this year's regional school district expenditure has increased to $3.19 million. That line now includes the full debt payment for the new Northeast Regional Vocational High School, a total debt service payment of $1.565
million. This perfect storm is affecting most cities and towns in Massachusetts. We have to be fiscally responsible at this moment while keeping tremendous momentum we have built. I firmly believe that this budget achieves that balance. We must also continue leading the effort for new growth, which is going to be our
way out of the storm. The city continues to invest in our multi-year effort to make engine 4 a permanent fixture for the fire department. Calendar year 24 was very difficult for our city with an unprepedented 14 large fires. In close collaboration with the city council, we
made a strategic decision to expand the capacity of our department by adding engine 4. We have already seen the benefits. Our fire department responds to incidents quicker and has reduced the severity of the incidents. Chelsea is a is is a city prone to large fires and it is prudent for us to continue with this
investment. Since FY24, we have increased the fire department staffing from 98 to 108. This is the largest investment in our fire department since receiverhip. We know this historic investment will pay dividends and increasing public safety for our entire community. The city's overall headcount
will increase by three positions in the coming fiscal year. The increase is attributable entirely to the city's continued investment in the fire department as part of a multi-year initiative to expand total department staffing to 108 and fully staff engine 4. Absent this investment in public
safety, the city's overall staffing level would decrease by one position. We have included with this FY27 budget a 5-year financial projection, which is a charter requirement. We will prepare a supplemental summary for the council and school committee regarding this financial outlook in the next few weeks
at the council's convenience. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Uh, councelor Daylor >> accept and file the communication under unanimous consent. >> See no objections. Uh, so moved and um we now have the order itself, right?
>> Oh, sorry. Um, >> we should move the conference. >> Sorry. We need to move the uh the communication to conference where we will have the whole budget hearings. >> Um, >> yeah. Or I guess we're moving this to the conference committee.
>> So moved. >> All right. Great. >> Mr. President, >> counselor, please. >> Yeah, just for the public, if I can. Um, this was just a cover letter of our budget. We're about to go into the budget season. Um, so again, I know it was a lot of reading. Thank you, Mr.
Clerk, for reading that entirely. U, but it's just a two-letter page in our budget. So, if you need to reread this, if you felt that you want to hear this home or see it, you can also get a copy of this online. So just wanted to make sure that the public was aware. Thank
you. >> Yeah. So um just want the public to know that these um these budget hearings will happen May 18th, 19th and 20th. Uh we will also have a separate one with the school department. Um that one the date is to be determined. Uh we will announce
that once we have it. Thank you everyone. >> That concludes communications from the city manager. You move on to communications and petitions to the council. First communication received comes from the assistant parking clerk regarding the agenda items approved at the April 7th meeting of the traffic and
parking commission. >> Is there a motion on the parking and traffic committee report? Uh, councelor Garcia. >> Oh, sorry. Thought you were um looking to accept and file >> looking to um adopt either by roll call vote or by voice vote. Um so roll call
or a voice vote. >> Voice. >> All right. Um uh if you're in support say I. >> I. >> If you're against say nay. The eyes have it. Uh motion adopted. Thank you everyone. Next communication or petitioner
received comes from the planning board regarding section uh proposed zoning amendment section 34-190 West Chelsea mixeduse overlay district. Dear Council President Jimenez Rivera, at a duly posted special meeting of the planning board held Wednesday, April 15, 2026,
the board voted unanimously to recommend that the council amend zoning ordinances of the city of Chelsea to include a new section 34-190 West Chelsea mixeduse overlay district with three conditions. Number one, replace section 34-190
subsection L2-4 with section 34-190 L2. reading, quote, "Any qualifying project shall be subject to all other applicable regulations set forth in section 34-156 of the Chelsea zoning ordinance that do not conflict with the criteria
established in section 34-190 L. Number two, replace existing text of section 34-190N with the following. For proposals located on one or more contiguous parcels with a combined lot area greater than five acres, the planning board may through the public hearing process
approve an alternative alternate site layout plan providing that such plan is consistent with the scope and purpose of the district as set forth in section 34-190A. Master plan proposal shall comply with the dimensional table set forth in section 34-190E.
However, the planning board may approve alternative site and design standards. Mr. Garcia, >> I make a motion to um wave the rest of the reading. >> Accept and file. >> Accept and file if there are no objections. >> All right, seeing no objections, uh motion uh carries and reading is waved.
And now we will move on to the order itself. >> It's under new business because it was received from a um separate department. >> Okay, got it. Never mind. It will come up later. Our fi our final communication or petition received comes from the
director of permitting and land use planning. Dear council president Jimeneza and councilors, a proposal for amendment of the zoning ordinances of the city of Chelsea so as to establish a new Fitzpatrick Pratville smart growth overlay district under chapter 40R of Mass General Law was submitted to the
council for review and adoption. Chapter 40R was enacted by the state legislature in 2004 and its goal is to encourage and incentivize municipalities statewide to voluntarily create overlay districts in locations deemed suitable for the development of both residential and mixeduse projects. Like the other
chapter 40R districts adopted to date in Chelsea, the FFP GOD aims to promote a diversity of housing opportunities for households of all incomes, ages, and sizes with an emphasis on compact design, open space preservation, and transportation options for future
residents and visitors alike. I ask for the council's support and authorization in so far as required to submit to the Commonwealth Executive. Mr. President I'd asked to wave the rest of the reading and accept and file the communication with unanimous consent.
>> Seeing no objections. So moved. So we now have the order um in front of us um which does need a roll call vote. The order before you as as requested by the department of permitting and land use planning introduced by the council
president. Order that the Chelsea City Council supports adoption of zoning ordinance amendment establishing Fitzpatrick practical smart growth overlay district. supports submittal to the executive office of housing and livable communities of an application for a preliminary determination of eligibility as to the district under the
Commonwealth chapter 40R program and authorizes instructs or requests as appropriate the city manager to sign and submit such chapter 40R application. So to clarify this is >> councelor go ahead again. >> Can you explain to the people what folly
R is so they can understand what we're voting. >> Um hang on. Uh I I we that is a question for the city manager. Uh we will ask that in a second. So uh Mr. clerk. This is essentially granting the city permission to submit the paperwork needed for us to be able to
get approval for the 40R uh piece that we had the public hearing on. >> Correct. You are required to grant the city manager permission to sign the form to submit to the um office of housing and livable communities at which point the state will respond back and then you will be able to vote on the ordinance.
So, so the reason we were not able to vote on the item up for the public hearing was because this step had not been done yet. So, this is the necessary step for that. Counselor, with that said, do you still have a question about 40R? >> No. Okay. >> I want the public to understand what it was.
>> Perfect. Thank you so much. Uh, any other comments? Councelor Taylor. >> Motion to adopt. >> All right. Motion to roll call. >> By roll call vote. Any objections or discussion? Sorry. No objections. All right. No discussion. We move to a roll call vote on the adoption.
>> Council Taylor request roll. >> Yes. Councelor Ricupro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tenari Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council Tesh is absent. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Santa. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Council De Jesus. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> And council Robinson. >> Yes. >> You have 10 members voting in favor. Zero members opposed, one member absent. Order has been approved. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Moving on to committee reports.
>> You have one communication or petition received from the traffic and parking commission late unanimous consent required for approval. >> What was this one? >> Yeah, this is the additional sheet that was given to everybody. Um, is there any objection to taking this item late?
Seeing no objections, we will take the late item. The item before you received late from the traffic and parking commission requesting the city council amend the vote held on March 9th to correct a scrivener's error from the approved items of traffic and parking commission meeting held March 3rd. The
vote was to approve a handicap sign at 69 Garfield Avenue. The submission received from the traffic and parking commission incorrectly listed the address as Garfield Avenue. It should have been 69 Central Avenue. We need a motion.
>> Adopt this by voice vote. >> Yep. Uh all right. Motion is to adopt uh by voice vote. Um all those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those in favor say nay. The eyes have it. So moved. >> Moving on to committee reports. First committee report received from council
president from the meeting of the subcommittee on conference held April 6, 2025. 2026. >> All right. Right. So this is the second of the Yeah, this is the second uh meeting that we had uh of the three meetings that we had on inclusionary zoning. Uh
and this is this meeting was continued and then finalized at a at a third meeting which that is coming up uh later. So um any uh comments or anything on the report? Seeing none, we need a motion to uh
accept and file mo Motion to accept and file. >> All right. >> There are no objections. >> Seeing no objections, uh, so moved, accepted and filed. >> Your next committee report received comes from councelor Santigate from the meeting of the subcommittee on public
safety held on April 13th. >> Councelor Sandigate, you have the floor. >> Thank you very much. Um, this was, uh, a request for two subcommittee meetings on public safety. one involving fire
station and the other involving some general safety etc for Chelsea Police Department. And so we combined those two requests, two orders. And we had Chief Guatiieri make a presentation and answer questions about the proposed fire
station and its location. And we also had Chief H. Botton there to talk about general citywide safety um plans etc. Motion to um accept and file.
>> Seeing no objections to the motion uh motion will carry but I will let councelor Taylor uh speak on it as well. >> Thank you. Um, I just wanted to to note um a couple things from the from the uh
committee meeting. Um, there was a commitment by the police department and and the city manager, I believe, to um try to address some of the little things uh
that make quality of life for our residents. some of the the the smaller enforcement issues uh that make uh people feel safer and um uh you know
when when somebody's afraid regardless if it's what it is, I think that that's a a legitimate thing and and that was acknowledged. So, um I look forward to uh having the police department uh uh pay a little bit more attention to the
to the to the smaller things. Um, also the uh the issue of trying to make an effort to in the future hire more inspectors
uh both to help get rid of the illegal apartments and the public safety hazard that those pose. uh as well as uh cutting down on the time uh that developers need to to uh
get their uh projects approved because it costs money and when it costs more money it's it it makes it more expensive for our residents as well. So um I thank the city manager uh for the commitment on that. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Councelor Taylor. All right, we will move on to the next uh next committee report. >> Uh councelor Hines, sorry. >> I'd like to yield my time to councelor Sandig. >> No, please. >> Yeah, I just wanted to add one more thing. Um and Council Robinson has been involved
with this initiative about scooters and ebikes and mopeds, etc., um for some time. Thank you for bringing that to all of our attention. And it is a serious issue. There was actually an accident in
front of my home on Saturday evening. Luckily, nobody was seriously injured, but someone did need to go to CHA. And so, uh, I know that Captain Mlan from CPD, who is the captain of the patrol division, is also very, very concerned,
uh, as is Chief H. Hot. Hotton. And so, um, Captain Mlan and I hope to meet soon to try to put our heads together about doing some research about other municipalities, etc., and trying to come up with a plan, some kind of plan, some
kind of change so that we can make the streets safer for the riders and for the pedestrians. So, um, we hope to do that soon. But thank you again, Council Robinson, for getting this started. I know that there's um some legislation out there I
think um at the state level about this and so uh I don't think that means we can't uh come up with something for our city as well. >> Thank you councelor Councel Robinson. >> Well actually there there there is but there was an incident in another
community. I can't think remember where it was was one of the ebikes where they ran over an elderly gentleman and they're going after the mother of the child who possibly could face up to six six years in jail due to the injuries to
the elderly person. You know, it's something that we need to take serious as we see these scooters riding up and down. We see people with no helmets. we have their kids riding on on the um
scooters and to me it it's just very dangerous. It's very concerning. You might be getting out of your car and open your door and one could be zooming by you and and go over your car and then you're responsible for anything that happens to them. So I think we need to
keep those things in mind. Okay. >> Thank you, counselor. All right. With that we move on to the next committee report. The next committee report before you comes from the council president from the meeting of the subcommittee on conference held April 14th, 2026.
>> Right. So this is the final uh meeting that we had on the inclusionary zoning. So this one has the amendment uh both the initial proposal the uh as amended by the city manager and also uh
councelor Robinson's amendment uh is also attached to this. Um so we will next after we uh vote on the committee report we will be voting on uh whether to refer this to planning board. Um and so that's what happened. We have now
referred this back to us. So uh we need a motion to accept and file the committee report. Is there a motion? I believe I clerk says I can just we can just file it. So we will file the report. All right. Now we move on to the item itself. Um so just want to clarify
this is the motion. We are going to need a motion to adopt the order. The order is to refer to planning. It is not to adopt the the the zoning amendment. Um, we can have full debate. We can make any amendments
right now. Um, but we will need a majority vote to required uh to refer to the planning board. So, just putting that out there. Councelor Taylor, you have the floor. >> Yeah. Uh, move to uh refer to the planning board as is. >> All right. We have we have a motion um
and a second which we don't need for um Yeah, I I I don't think I was I was more asking the cliff if we needed it. I I don't think we do, but I appreciate it. Um so uh any discussion prior to that? Seeing none, we had three meetings on
it. So thankfully no more discussion. Uh motion to refer to the planning board. Um >> roll call vote. >> Or we cannot on this one I believe. Uh can we do >> can we do yes or n is a roll call.
I'd recommend >> uh clerk recommends a roll call vote given that we have had many conversations about this >> for clarification um on matters that could be construed as controversial. Roll call votes by actual role are recommended as opposed to non-cont
controversial where you can just voice vote it. >> There we go. >> Yes. Vote to adopt. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Rupo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. Yes. Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tenary Garcia. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Councilor Tesh is absent. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Sand. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Dees Jesus. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Brown is and councelor Robinson. >> Yes. >> Nine members voting in favor. Zero opposed. Two absent. Proposed zoning
amendment as amended for inclusionary housing has been referred to the planning board for recommendation. >> Congratulations everybody. We did it. We will return back to this in a little while. Um,
>> all right. Now, we have one last committee report uh on the ways and means meeting on April 21st. Uh um so we need a motion and uh just want to clarify a motion can be made to take them up as a group if uh so councelor
Deus will give the report and then if a motion if anybody would like to make a motion to do so as a group the the the items you can do so or they can be taken up individually. >> Thank you Mr. President. Um should I proceed with the item that we're on right now? Just the committee report. >> Yeah. So you can read you can read the
report all the items on the report and then we can either vote on them individually or as a group however the council would like to move forward. >> I think it'd be great if we can group them. Um many of them either way are just >> if you'd like you can you can give the report and then make the motion. >> All righty. >> There we go.
>> So we uh we met uh when did we meet? Tuesday, of course. Um April 21st. Um and we went over a few items. Um most were just unpaid expenses. We have um the vendors
um yep item 26F16. So vendors that were unpaid for FY25 and we're just catching up now. Um total amount of 20 20,000
um 839 from and these are prior year expenses. Um we also have uh a balance of 30,49 again prior year expenses. Um and all of
this is uh open to the public. I think the two items that were not just um vendor expenses that were unpaid would be the uh 53,000 free cash that we're looking to use for um the all-American
city award conference. Uh once again, small amount of money. Um and and you know hopefully we can come back with um some some a win and some good funds to to get grants going for for all the amazing projects we have in the
community. We also have another order discussed of a amount of 90,000 and that was a transfer. So how um how we did how we can get the um island end river match
um transferred so that we can do um the roadway safety improvements under the CIP account. Um so all of these items were discussed um we went over thoroughly and it's all open to the public and accessible to the public.
>> Thank you counselor. Is there a motion on the items? motion to um uh move to a roll call vote >> as a group. >> Yes. >> Yep. So, we are moving the financial items as a group to a roll call vote. If
anybody would like to hold out any of the items, you can certainly do so. Um seeing no, >> you can hold them with two hands. Um it's five items, so you're going to need both hands. All right. Seeing no objections, uh we will move on to a roll
call vote on the adoption on items F-14, F-15, 16, and 17. >> Condensing all items. Uh 26F14, appropriation from free cash of 53,000 to city manager conference travel
account for all America city expense. uh 26F-15 transfer of $150,000 from unexpended CIP projects in the amount of 60,000 to Iowa and River MVP match and 90,000 to FY26 roadway safety improvement CIP. Uh,
order 26F-16 authorizing DPW to pay unpaid balance from prior year totaling $20,83967. And order 26F17 authorizing the school department to pay an unpaid balance from prior fiscal year
totaling $30,49.71. Roll call vote requested on all orders combined. >> Yes. Vote to approve. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Rupo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tenari Garcia. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Councilor Tesh is absent. Councelor Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Sandig. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Brown is absent. And councelor Robinson. >> Yes. >> Nine in favor. Zero opposed to absent. Orders have been approved.
Moving on to new business. First item under new business. You have as proposed zoning amendment introduced by the council president creating a new section 34-190 for the West Chelsea mixeduse overlay district. Read the end. Yeah.
The master plan. Whereas the master plan has identified the need for new growth in the city to expand its tax base and address the region's housing crisis. And whereas the master plan of West Chelsea economic development studies have identified West Chelsea as a strategic area for transformative growth. And whereas the city wishes to allow for
mixeduse development by right with active ground floor space to bring vibrancy and dynamism to an underutilized area. And whereas the city wishes to see more housing production to meet current and future needs of Chelsea residents. And whereas the city wishes to capitalize upon this area's transit
density to maximize its full social and economic potential and allow for multimmodal transportation access. And whereas the city wishes to transform Everett Avenue into a walkable mixeduse boulevard to connect Chelsea's commuter rail station with the city center. And whereas the zoning ordinance will create
an urban form that promotes an engaging and enjoyable pedestrian experience. And whereas the zoning ordinance will increase open and green space that are publicly accessible and lend themselves to community activity in an area devoid of such space. And whereas the city wishes to establish a sense of identity
and place for West Chelsea that promotes live, work, play, learn space. And whereas pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 48, a petition was forwarded to the Chelsea Planning Board for a public hearing which was held Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Now therefore be it ordained that the following petition for the
adoption of amendments to chapter 34 article 11 section 34-190 West Chelsea mixed use overlay district of the zoning ordinances of the city of Chelsea which are attached be moved to a public hearing pursuant to master general law chapter 48 >> council recuper
>> for the public that doesn't know what West Chelsea is simple words that's the moolas you know they they got a new name for it but people. Why don't you just say damas? >> Thank you, counselor. Uh, we need a
motion to refer this to um a public hearing. Is there a motion? >> I'll make the motion to move it to a public hearing. >> Thank you, councelor. >> No objections. >> Seeing no objections, we have moved to a public hearing. The version before you incorporates all the planning board's
recommended changes with the exception of their third change which recommends that the city council engage in a process of its choosing to select a new name for the West Chelsea district should it choose. >> All right. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
>> Next item under new business. You have an order introduced by councelor Hines ordered that a meeting of the subcommittee on arts culture and recreational affairs be held with the department of recreation and cultural affairs revel and partners in the Chelsea public schools and other community stakeholders to align on a
shared vision and begin shaping a plan for where the department goes in the future. Councelor Hines. >> Um, as this I'll be brief. Um, as this order states, you know, plainly, there's a lot of work that has been put in um for our cultures and recreational
affairs department. More programming, more partnerships, more um materials and resources um that have been established. And I think as a subcommittee it is, you know, our responsibility to be a part of the conversation um and figure out how
we at at the city level can support um the plan and what is being built at um the recreations department. So, you know, I'll definitely be reaching out um and working with um this uh council clerk to identify dates for us to to
schedule this um and reaching out to community stakeholders and hopefully we can um include the um Chelsea Youth Commission in this conversation as well, especially because, you know, the recreational programming is something that they've been, you know, brought up
in and probably have a closer eye to um and might have some ideas that us as adults might not necessarily see. So, you know, definitely can't wait to to continue this conversation. >> Thank you, counselor. >> I'd like to motion to adopt to to send
it to >> Yeah, you you can just adopt and then we'll Yeah, because the order is to refer it to the committee. So, just to adopt. >> Wonderful. Um, seeing no objections, uh, motion carries. Thank you, counselor. >> Next item under new business, you have
an order introduced by councelor Rubaro. ordered that the traffic and parking commission approve the placement of a flashing stop sign at the corner of Congress Avenue and Highland Street. >> Congress uh sorry uh Congress Street, not Congressman. Um here we are, guys.
It is uh 9:36 p.m. uh councelor Rubber to adopt your unanimous under unanimous consent. If there's no objections, >> I believe we need to uh you mean refer to the traffic and parking? >> Yes, I'd like to speak on it. >> Absolutely. Um seeing no objections,
motion carries. you have the floor. >> Um, this has to do with the Highland and uh, Maverick and Congress and Essex. All these are four-way streets and there's cars coming in four ways and nobody stops. So, it would be a nice thing to
put him there so people will at least stop and can avoid an unfortunate accident if it does happen because many accidents have happened in that area. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Um, moving on to our next item.
>> Next item under the new business order introduced by councelor Kubaro. Order that the city manager work with the department of public works and any other relevant department to ensure consistent enforcement of city ordinance prohibiting private trash pickup prior to 7 a.m. and if necessary the issuance
of citations for any violations. >> Council bro, >> adopt under unanimous if there's no objections. >> Seeing no objections. Thank you. Uh, this seems to be a big issue, especially in my district. I don't know if it happens in other district, but in my district, they pick up the trash at 5 in
the morning. They go around and they pick up trash at 5 in the morning. The last time, I think there was an accident where this company turned around and hit the pole on uh Essex Street and and everything went down. It was early in the morning. The city has an ordinance.
You cannot do nothing prior to 7 o'clock and these company keep doing it. I would like to know if if this company has been fined, if it's the same company, how many times it's done it, and what is the city intended to do with this company?
If it keeps do paying the fine, if it keeps paying the fine, it doesn't care. There must be another way for us to make sure that this company does not do that anymore. I'm not going to name the company that's doing it, but the city knows which company it is, and it should
stop. So, I hope that the city does stop it and if there's anything to do beside cuz this person just keeps getting tickets and they keep paying it and the same thing goes on. So, thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Moving on to the next item, the final item.
>> Your final item emergency new business. You have an order introduced by the council president. Order that a meeting of the subcommittee on conference be held with developers and other community stakeholders to discuss the city's inclusionary housing ordinance. >> Councelor uh Himemenz. Um thank you madam chair. Uh just so because we have
moved the inclusionary zoning ordinance out of committee and conference and to the planning board. Uh I know that many folks wanted to have continuing conversations with different stakeholders about not the proposal itself but just inclusionary zoning as a whole. So this is simply to allow us to continue to have this process while the
proposal itself is in the planning board. Um so I move to uh adopt the order uh under unanimous consent if there are no objections. Seeing no objections. >> Thank you. >> Moving on to a roll call. >> Sorry.
>> All right. Perfect. >> That concludes new business. Uh final item on the agenda is public announcements. >> Any public announcements. >> I am seeing no announcements. So with that, we will adjourn the meeting. Thank you. >> Did it everyone.