City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Chairperson Councilor Rose read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item.
Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Chairperson Councilor Rose read the item and recognized the following speakers:
1. Alexander Cunningham, New Jersey resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
2. Beth Proko, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
3. Chris Manthos, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
4. Aaron Dahrooge, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
5. Elena Arranz, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
6. Elyse Johnson, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
7. Jake Doherty, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
8. Marc Andelman, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
9. Michael Dillon, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
10. Michael Benoit, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
11. Scott Boyle, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
12. Scott Larson, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
13. Stephanie Cunningham, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
14. Steve Rothschild, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
15. Meghan Martinez, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
16. Matthew Cory, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
17. Maggie O’Rourke, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
18. Jim Kersten, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
19. Shane Reegan, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
20. Larry Johnson, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
21. Marcel Blais, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a

Chairperson Councilor Rose read the item and recognized the City Solicitor, who provided a summary of the information provided in the report, including the city’s authority as it relates eliminating or decreasing the use of jet skis on Indian Lake, as well as best practices used in other communities.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who spoke to the Parks department’s ability to enforce any potential ordinances relative to eliminating or decreasing the use of jet skis on Indian Lake.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the city’s management rights of the boat ramp at Morgan Park, as well as the different options available to the Standing Committee relative to eliminating or decreasing the use of jet skis on Indian Lake with the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks and City Solicitor.

Chairperson Councilor Rose brought forth the following Chairman’s Order through Councilor Bergman: Request City Manager reach out to the appropriate State representatives to determine whether any additional signage relative to jet ski usage on Indian Lake would benefit safety regulations at the location. – Not Put.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized Councilor King, who discussed needs relative to enforcing current regulations of personal watercrafts, alternative options available for mitigating safety issues associated with jet ski usage and whether disallowing out-of-town individuals or individuals who have not gone through watercraft safety courses from using Indian Lake with the WPD Sergeant, Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks and City Solicitor.

Chairperson Councilor Rose discussed the exponential increase in issues surrounding jet ski use around Indian Lake.

Chairperson Councilor Rose then moved to recommend Approval of the Item to Request City Manager request City Solicitor engage with the Division of Law Enforcement and Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Law Enforcement to ban all nonresidents and residents who do not have property rights around Indian Lake from personal watercraft and jet ski use. – Not Put.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke in favor of Councilor Rose’s recommendation relative to decreasing the use of jet skis on Indian Lake.

Chairperson Councilor Rose moved to amend his recommendation to read as follow: Recommend Approval to request the City Manager request City Solicitor engage Division of Law Enforcement and Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Law Enforcement to ban all nonresidents, residents who do not have property rights, and residents who do not occupy properties around Indian Lake from personal watercraft and jet ski use. – Not Put.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized Councilor King, who discussed the timeframe and his opposition to creation of a moratorium for jet ski use for all nonresidents and residents who do not have property rights on Indian Lake with the City Solicitor.

Chairperson Councilor Rose then brought forth the following Chairman's Orders through Councilor King: 1) Request City Manager work with the Police Chief to increase staff of neighborhood response to team and dedicate a responsiveness that is formalized and scheduled for Indian Lake to provide daily oversight and enforcement on the lake if fiscally and operationally possible and; 2) That the City Council support an immediate exploration of funding to mitigate the swimming concerns as it relates to the makeup of the shoreline and the swimming area near Morgan park and; 3) Request Environmental Police to increase presence, oversight and enforcement on Indian Lake. – All Chairman’s Orders Not Put.

Chairperson Councilor Rose then responded to concerns raised by Councilor King and then spoke concerning the needs for the residents around Indian Lake to have an opportunity to safely enjoy the lake.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized Councilor King, who discussed increasing police presence and enforcement on the water at Indian Lake.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke in favor of the moratorium on jet ski use for all nonresidents and residents who do not have property rights on Indian Lake.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized City Solicitor, who discussed the language for the recommendation relative to the moratorium and the legal concern relative to restricting watercraft and jet ski usage on Indian Lake to the abutters of the lake.

Chairperson Councilor Rose moved to amend the recommendation to read as follow: Request City Manager request City Solicitor engage with the Division of Law Enforcement and Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Law Enforcement to prepare an ordinance that places a moratorium on all nonresidents, residents who do not have property rights, and residents who do not occupy properties around Indian Lake from personal watercraft and jet ski use and explore a nonresidential ban of personal watercraft and jet ski use.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized Councilor King, who discussed the procedural motions relative to the recommendation with the City Solicitor.

Chairperson Councilor Rose recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed his advocacy for resident-and-occupant-only policy for Indian Lake.

Chairperson Councilor Rose moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved.

Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 1 Nay (Nay – King)