⚡ 60-Second Summary
The amendment to Chapter 11, Article II, §11.216(B) revises how sewer user charges are established and computed. The opening paragraph is rewritten; the packet states "The remainder of 11.216(B) is omitted, there being no amendments beyond this first paragraph."
Key elements retained: sewer charges are based on water use whenever possible; an exemption process for irrigation meters (separate account, no sewer charge on irrigation usage) remains in place, with a monthly service fee for irrigation meters set during the annual budget process.
This is a procedural ordinance change tied to the FY27 rate structure, not a rate change itself. The actual tier rates are addressed in Item 11.A below.
The Resident Access Parking Program (RAPP) Pilot creates a one-year program in nine streets outside the metered downtown business district. Effective date: July 1, 2026.
RAPP Zone: Parrott Ave (roadway only), Hanover St (Bridge to Brewster), Rock St, Pearl St, Tanner St, Tanner Court, Gates St, Hancock St, Washington St (Court to Hancock).
Hours of enforcement: Mon–Sat 9 AM–8 PM; Sun 12 PM–8 PM. Holidays excepted.
Rates:
- Residents and School/Library/Recreation employees with registered plates: free
- Non-residents: $1.00/hr
- Downtown workforce on Parrott Ave (registered): $0.30/hr + $0.35 session fee
Financial estimate from staff memo: 224 spaces, ~74 hours of weekly enforcement coverage. Estimated $2,107.63/month enforcement cost vs. $5,322.92/month projected non-resident revenue — anticipated net of $3,215.29/month.
Council and PTS Committee will receive quarterly reports during the pilot. Companion policy (City Council Policy No. 2026-01) is on this agenda as Item 17.D for informational purposes; final policy approval is set for May 18.
Following two recent Council work sessions and the FY27 Water and Sewer Rate Study, the City Manager recommends adopting the three-tier rate structure proposed by rate consultant David Hyder of Stantec.
Tier structure (monthly water and sewer usage):
- Tier 1: 0–5 units
- Tier 2: 6–10 units
- Tier 3: over 10 units
Rates increase across tiers — staff describes this as strengthening conservation incentives while keeping basic indoor water and sanitation use at a lower price.
Rate-design objectives discussed with Council, per the memo: customer affordability for essential use, rate and revenue stability, alignment between service costs and bills, and legal defensibility.
The actual dollar values for fixed charges, usage rates, and surcharges will be set as part of the FY27 fee schedule for July 1, 2026 implementation. The full Stantec memo is in the April 20 packet.
The Planning Board recently approved a subdivision and site plan for three single-family homes at 550 Sagamore Avenue, served by a new private street. The developer requested "Spruce Street" as the street name.
Public Works has reviewed the name with State e911 Police Dispatch and the Fire Department, and all parties have no objection. There are no duplicate names within this zip code.
New Hampshire RSA 153:5-V (effective July 1, 2026) requires all local fire code ordinances to be submitted to the State Fire Marshal for review. The new law also requires fire departments to create rules for administering permits and collecting fees, also subject to the Fire Marshal's review.
The proposed Chapter 5 amendment updates Portsmouth's local fire code to reference the most recent State Fire Code and removes all references and amendments to a second fire code (the International Fire Code) in their entirety.
Per the City Manager's memo, if the amendment isn't passed and submitted to the Fire Marshal before July 1, 2026, the Fire Department will be unable to collect fees.
The Portsmouth School Board voted 9–0 on April 14, 2026 to recommend a local open enrollment policy under NH RSA 194-D. The policy is a contingency: it would take effect only if the state enacts a mandatory statewide open enrollment law in 2026.
Proposed policy framework:
- Designate Portsmouth High School as an open enrollment school
- Continue to accept 100% of resident students and all SAU 50 AREA Agreement-eligible students
- Cap additional non-resident enrollment at 0.2% of total district enrollment, or 20 students — whichever is lower
- Cap resident students enrolling in other districts at 0.05% of total district enrollment
School Board's stated reasoning: Maintain enrollment stability for staffing/budgeting; reduce exposure to unplanned outbound tuition costs (a recent NH Supreme Court ruling requires districts to pay tuition for resident students attending other districts even without a formal open enrollment policy); preserve the SAU 50 AREA Agreement; establish locally-controlled parameters while state policy remains in flux.
Superintendent McLaughlin and School Board Chair Rapaport will be present to answer questions.
Councilor Cook will provide a verbal report back on the Municipal Arts & Cultural Banner Policy. No written materials accompany this item in the packet.
Sample motion as written: "that the City Manager be directed to report back to the City Council with an analysis of on-street parking rates and policies in light of the anticipated garage parking rate increase, with the understanding that any recommended adjustments shall not result in increased on street parking costs for Portsmouth residents."
The motion explicitly anticipates a garage parking rate increase and asks staff to study how on-street rates and policies should respond, while ring-fencing residents from any on-street rate increase.
Sample motion: direct City staff to coordinate with the Portsmouth School Board and staff to jointly establish a School Food Insecurity Taskforce as specified in the Council's 2026–2027 Strategic Goals, and report back / offer preliminary findings by September 2026.
This implements one of the goals previously adopted in the Council's strategic plan covering school food access.
Mayor McEachern moves to appoint Sally Kellar as City Clerk of the City of Portsmouth, in accordance with City Charter Section 4.2 and NH RSA 48:2.
The City received $2,000 from HealthTrust through its Slice of Life Wellness Program, to be used by the City's Wellness Coordinators for wellness initiatives and educational opportunities for employees.
NHDES has awarded a $4,204 grant for the City's annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event. The event's full annual cost is roughly $100,000, funded equally by the Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds.
Newington and Greenland continue to participate, contributing pro-rated cost shares based on participating households. The next collection day is Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Recognitions: Crossing Guard Appreciation Day · Public Service Recognition Week · Donation in Honor of Frankie
Proclamations:
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy & Corticobasal Degeneration Awareness Month
- Affordable Housing Week
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- Kids to Parks Day
The Frankie donation follows the April 6 unanimous resolution that the City donate to the NHSPCA in memory of Frankie, in an amount to be determined.
David Allen, President of the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway Alliance, will provide a verbal presentation on the recent work at the Railtrail. No written materials are attached in the packet.
- May 11, 6 PM — Work Session: General Fund (General Government, Fire, Police, Schools)
- May 13, 6 PM — Work Session: Enterprise & Special Revenue Funds (Water, Sewer, Parking, Stormwater, Prescott Park, Indoor Pool, Community Campus, Community Development)
- May 18, 7 PM — Regular meeting + opening of Budget Public Hearing
- May 28, 6 PM — Work Session: continuation of Budget Review
- June 8, 7 PM — Regular meeting, continuation of Public Hearing, planned Adoption
All meetings in Council Chambers at 1 Junkins Avenue. Public comment in person and via Zoom.
- Dog Licensing — State law requires dogs to be licensed by April 30, 2026. License before June 1, 2026 to avoid late fees and fines.
- SchoolCare update — verbal update from the City Manager on the status of SchoolCare. (Council previously voted to file an amicus curiae brief in the Dover School District matter on April 20.)
- Draft City Council Policy No. 2026-01 (RAPP Pilot) — provided for informational purposes. Final policy approval scheduled for May 18, alongside the third reading of the parking rate ordinance.
Two motions: accept and approve the April 6, 2026 City Council meeting minutes; accept and approve the April 20, 2026 City Council meeting minutes.