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Council adopts consent agenda, introduces two inclusionary-overlay ordinances and advances FEMA floodgate project
Summary
The council adopted routine consent resolutions, introduced two inclusionary-overlay ordinances tied to the city’s housing element/fair-share plan, approved an AV/audio systems contract for the meeting room, and announced a FEMA mitigation grant for justice-center floodgates that will go out to bid with a 40% local match.
The council approved the consent agenda (resolutions 30–38) by voice vote and moved on to several substantive business items.
Two zoning ordinances were introduced for first reading to create inclusionary-overlay zones (IO3 and IO4) on specified blocks to support inclusionary redevelopment and to secure a minimum number of affordable units (the record cites at least eight units at one site). The ordinances will go to the planning board for consistency review and return to the council for public hearing and adoption on Feb. 19, with the planning-board review expected earlier.
Council discussed and selected an AV/audio proposal that combined wireless and legacy hardwired elements to balance functionality, ADA accessibility, and operational reliability. Staff said multiple vendors responded to the RFP and the chosen vendor offered a mixed solution judged easier to operate across multiple boards and public uses.
Officials announced the city has been awarded a FEMA 406 mitigation grant for floodgates at the justice center; the city will be responsible for a 40% match and staff expect to put the project out to bid with a goal of awarding a contract by mid‑March, though supply-chain or equipment lead-time delays could require schedule adjustments.
Staff also reported remediation work for a closed city park will proceed once the remedial-action permit and the Response Action Outcome (RAO) are submitted and approved by the LSRP; staff estimated the park could reopen in March pending those approvals. Council noted stepped-up sidewalk enforcement after recent storms and outlined storm-response preparations including warming stations and DPW coordination.
