City Council – Jul 28, 2026
- Where
- Not listed on the city's Agenda Center
- Time
- Not listed
Recordings of City Council meetings: LTC (Lowell Telecommunications Corporation) (opens in new tab).
What was decided
The council denied a $249,708 supplemental appropriation for the HHS lease and voted 7-4 to reconsider a pension increase and back pay for Vincent Fernandez, referring the matter to the City Manager. It accepted a deed for 161 Totman Street, approved a license agreement with The Chiropractic Healing Center, and added Woburn St sidewalks to the 2028 Capital Plan. Numerous requests on zoning, traffic, parks, monuments, and utility pole installations were referred to city departments or scheduled for public hearings, and a motion to release Executive Session minutes on the UHC-TIF was defeated.
Decisions recorded
- Withdrew the zoning ordinance on curb cuts and referred it to the Planning Board, with a public hearing set for September 22, 2026. page 1 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred National Grid's request to install a utility pole at Westford Street and 15 Technology Drive to the Wire Inspector. page 2 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred National Grid's request to install utility poles at 1270 and 1299 Westford Street to the Wire Inspector. page 2 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Adopted a motion to reconsider the July 14, 2026 vote authorizing special legislation to increase the pension and provide 10 years back pay for Vincent Fernandez, 7-4, and referred the matter to the City Manager. page 2 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred a request to evaluate and repair the dangerous condition on Gage Street and the overgrown UML parcel abutting it to the City Manager.
- Referred a request for an update on zoning laws for data centers to the City Manager.
- C. Rourke withdrew a motion to pilot holding council meetings every two weeks with subcommittees on alternating Tuesdays. page 4 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred a request for an update on swapping volleyball surface material at Gage and a seasonal restroom facility to the City Manager. page 4 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred a request for funding options to update the McPherson swimming pool facility to the City Manager.
- Referred a request to establish standard operating procedures for maintaining, testing, opening, closing, and winterizing aquatic recreational facilities to the City Manager.
- Referred a request to assess tenant displacement and a local Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) to the City Manager. page 5 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred a request to create interpretive materials for immigrant and cultural monuments around City Hall Plaza to the City Manager.
- Referred a request for an update on repaving and traffic calming on Andover Street and the western half of Douglas Road to the City Manager.
- Referred a request for an update on pickleball court plans, including at Shedd Park, to the City Manager. page 6 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred a request to increase police traffic enforcement on Stevens Street to the City Manager. page 6 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred a request to evaluate a residential front-yard de-paving and re-greening pilot program with a homeowner rebate to the City Manager.
- Defeated a motion to release the July 14, 2026 Executive Session minutes on the UHC-TIF and hold further discussion in open session, 5-6. page 7 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Adopted a request to look at funding sources to reinstall the wrought iron fence around the Ladd and Whitney Monument, 6-5, and referred it to the City Manager. page 8 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred a request for a schedule of crosswalk painting around schools and main roads to the City Manager.
- Defeated a motion to accept and place on file the Motion Response on Parking Enforcement at Schools, 4-7. page 9 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Adopted a motion to place the Woburn St sidewalks item on the 2028 Capital Plan.
- Accepted and placed on file the Motion Response providing an update on E Street. page 9 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Accepted and placed on file the Motion Response on Injury Coverage Policies.
- Accepted and placed on file the Motion Response on Lowell being named 2026 Best Place to Live in MA. page 9 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Accepted and placed on file the Motion Response on the Invitation to Olympians.
- Accepted and placed on file the Motion Response on Kerouac Park Restoration.
- Accepted and placed on file the Motion Response on Fire Dept OT Spending. page 10 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Accepted and placed on file the Quarter Two Motion Update informational report. page 10 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Adopted the vote to accept the deed for 161 Totman Street, with 1 absent.
- Adopted the vote authorizing the City Manager to enter a license agreement with The Chiropractic Healing Center, P.C..
- Adopted the vote to authorize payment of bills incurred in excess of appropriations.
- Adopted the vote to designate the LHS Wrestling Room as a polling location, with 1 absent.
- Denied a motion to transfer $249,708 as a supplemental appropriation for the HHS Lease, despite 7 yeas to 4 nays. page 12 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred the ordinance amending Chapter 266-61 on Space Savers to a public hearing on August 11, 2026. page 12 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Adopted the resolution recognizing Lowell's Bicentennial Celebration.
- Accepted and adopted the Wire Inspector orders for National Grid pole work at multiple streets. page 13 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred a property damage claim to the Law Department. page 13 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
- Referred Nathalie Amador's request for a handicap parking sign at 47 Walnut Street to the Transportation Engineer.
- Referred Jacquelin Tanguay's request for a handicap parking sign at 220 River Road to the Transportation Engineer.
- Referred Benjamin Opikhara's request for an 'Autistic Child' sign at 45 Willard Street to the Transportation Engineer.
- Referred Boston Gas's request to replace 180 feet of low-pressure gas main on Florence Avenue to a public hearing on August 11, 2026.
- Referred Boston Gas's request to replace 270 feet of low-pressure gas main on Nottingham Street and Thompson Court to a public hearing on August 11, 2026.
- Referred Boston Gas's request to replace 590 feet of low-pressure gas main on Marshall and McIntyre Streets to a public hearing on August 11, 2026.
- Referred National Grid's request to install a JO Pole at 93 Mammoth Road to a public hearing on August 11, 2026.
- Referred National Grid's request to install a JO Pole at 117-125 Perry Street to a public hearing on August 11, 2026.
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Agenda
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Terms used here
- CPA
- Community Preservation Act. A local property tax surcharge, with state matching money, that pays for open space, historic preservation, affordable housing, and recreation.
- executive session
- A part of a public meeting closed to the public. State law allows it only for specific reasons, such as lawsuits, negotiations, or personnel matters.
- PERAC
- Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission, the state agency that oversees Massachusetts public retirement systems.
- TIF
- Tax increment financing: a district where some of the new property tax from development is set aside, for public projects or for the development itself.
Source
This meeting's agenda in the City of Lowell's Agenda Center (opens in new tab). First recorded by Lowell Publick on .