Council to take up safety grants, Homecoming Parade traffic order at meeting Monday

LACONIA — Council will hold a public hearing about a request to use funds from the InvestNH Municipal Grant to rewrite the city’s zoning ordinance, at their meeting Monday, Sept. 28.

The Department of Planning and Community Development recommends council authorize at least $174,000 from the grant to adopt a Community Development Code at a cost of $150,000, a comprehensive zoning map redesign at a cost of $10,000, and interactive online zoning map and additional training at a cost of $14,000.

The department proposed two optional services, an administrative procedures manual and application update for $20,000, and the design handbook/pattern book for $50,000. If council authorizes both options, the total for the project would increase to $244,000.

Council will also review a request from the Laconia Police Department, regarding a grant from the Office of Highway Safety for $71,082.50. The grant will be used for speed enforcement patrols, impaired driving reduction, and pedestrian bicycle enforcement.

City Manager Kirk Beattie recommends council schedule a public hearing on the matter.

The Laconia Fire Department is also requesting council accept a grant. The $47,619.04 award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant would go toward the purchase of “up to ten” thermal imaging cameras, which have a lifespan of roughly 10 years. The city is required to contribute a 5% match for the grant, which would be $2,380.96.

A public hearing will be held for a request from the fire department to use impact fees of no more than $11,000 to replace a heating and cooling system network controller at the central station.

Council will also hear proposed changes to Laconia’s solid waste ordinance, due to changes in state laws, as well as contractor and equipment fees. Public works staff recommend the council approve the changes proposed. Beattie recommends the issue be sent to the Government Operations & Ordinances Subcommittee before it is discussed at a public hearing.

Laconia High School will hold their homecoming parade from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday Oct. 2. Monday night, council will review a temporary traffic order requesting traffic and parking be closed on Union Avenue from the high school to its intersection with Church Street, Church itself, and Pleasant Street from its intersection with New Salem Street to Bank of New Hampshire.

Also at the meeting, the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation will be recognized with a council proclamation honoring their 70th anniversary. In those 70 years, the foundation has awarded over 6,800 students with over $12 million in scholarships, $4.5 million having gone to Laconia High students.

Council meets at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, at City Hall downtown.