Cambridge City Council meeting - January 23, 2006

Cambridge City Council meeting – January 23, 2006 – AGENDA

CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $3,000 from the General Fund Reserve Other Ordinary Maintenance account to the General Fund Community Development Travel and Training account to provide funds to enable the Director of Economic Development to attend the Bio2006 conference in Chicago in April, 2006.

2. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-215, regarding a review of the business sidewalk furniture policy.

3. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 06-01, regarding a report on safety issue with the wire at 34 Essex Street.

4. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-161, regarding a report on establishing a working group on telecommunications and a community technology plan.

January 23, 2006
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-161, regarding a report on establishing a working group on telecommunications and a community technology plan, MIS Director Mary Hart reports the following:

A Wireless Technology Committee has been established and includes the following members: City Manager Robert Healy, Deputy City Manager Richard Rossi, Assistant City Manager Louis DePasquale, Councillor Brian Murphy, Councillor Henrietta Davis, Jerry Grochow (VP IT MIT), Leo Donnelly (Network Engineer Harvard), Jurt Keville (IT MIT), Bob Hayes (Harvard - Doctoral Candidate), Tory Gunsolly (Cambridge Housing Authority), Jeff LaPlante (CTO School), George Fosque (Emergency Communications), Kendra Aston (Cisco), Heather Alcott (ePlus), Amy Marchibroda (Microsoft), Bob Coe, Tom Freiss, Mike Dugas.

Two formal meetings have been held by the larger group. Several smaller meetings have been held with individual groups, MIT, Cisco, ePlus and Harvard. The goal is to test a prototype antenna that MIT is producing. If we get adequate performance in Central Square we will develop a plan to roll out city wide and determine the associated cost.

The Committee will continue to meet monthly, with the next meeting scheduled for January 25th at 3pm in the Ackerman Room. Councillor Michael Sullivan and Councillor Craig Kelley have also been invited to the next meeting.

Very truly yours, Robert W. Healy, City Manager

5. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Massachusetts Family Literacy Consortium grant (MFLC) funded by the Verizon Foundation and the Department of Education for ($10,000.00) to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account to allow the Community Learning Center and its partners the Agenda for Children and the Cambridge Childcare Resource Center to implement improvements in the coordination of family literacy services throughout Cambridge.

6. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $764.00 to the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance account from the Frisoli Youth Holiday Wreath Sale Fundraiser to be used to purchase equipment and supplies to enhance the activities offered at the Frisoli Youth Center.

7. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to an appropriation increase to the Adult Basic Education grant (ABE) received from the Massachusetts Department of Education for $13,052.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account $8,052.00 and to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account $5,000.00 to allow the Community Learning Center to provide for one additional GED or Cambridge Adult Diploma class and for the purchase of three new student computers.

8. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-191, regarding a report on hazardous waste sites and pollution-causing industries in the City.

Cambridge Public Health Department119 Windsor Street Ÿ Ground Level Ÿ Cambridge, MA 02139
Cambridge Health Alliance 617.665.3800 Ÿ Fax 617.665.3888

TO: Robert W. Healy, City Manager
FROM: Harold Cox, Chief Public Health Officer
DATE: January 4, 2006
SUBJECT: Response to Policy Order #20, dated 10/17/05
Text of Order: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council relative to a Boston Globe news article that Cambridge is a community which is overburdened with hazardous waste sites and pollution-causing industries, as well as having poor and non-white communities with a disproportionate share of environmentally hazardous facilities.

The Boston Globe published an article "Poor Areas Seen More Burdened by Waste" (Oct. 13, 2005) that identified poor or nonwhite communities in Worcester, Cambridge, and Lowell as having a disproportionate share of hazardous waste sites and pollution-causing industries.

The newspaper article was based on a report recently released by Northeastern University called "Unequal Exposure to Ecological Hazards, 2005: Environmental Injustices in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." The report concluded that hazardous waste sites and polluting industrial facilities are disproportionately located in communities of color and lower-income communities.

The Boston Globe article raises two important issues for the City of Cambridge:
(1) Is Cambridge overburdened with hazardous waste sites and pollution-causing industries?
(2) If so, are certain populations (e.g., low income households, communities of color) disproportionately burdened by the impacts of environmental pollutants?

Issue #1: Is Cambridge overburdened with hazardous waste sites and pollution-causing industries?

"Unequal Exposure to Ecological Hazards," the report cited in the Boston Globe article, attempts to create a scale showing the burden of environmental hazards that pose a health risk to residents and workers in each community in the state.

The report’s authors assigned "hazard points" to each Massachusetts municipality based on the number and type of facilities emitting hazardous air pollutants and the presence of sites containing environmental hazards located within its boundaries. Examples of such facilities or sites include hazardous material release sites, landfills, incinerators, trash transfer stations, and polluting industrial facilities. Under this system, Cambridge was ranked as the sixth most overburdened community based upon the number of hazardous waste sites and pollutant-emitting industries (on a per square mile basis). See Appendix A for further discussion of scoring system.

One problem with the "hazard point" methodology is that it tends to oversimplify the public health risk from certain pollution sources. While Cambridge was given a high "hazard" score, it is important to note that this score does not reflect the presence of many large industrial polluters. Rather, the score reflects a large number of small sites that are not likely to pose any health risk, according to the Massachusetts DEP.

Specifically, Cambridge does not have any National Priority List sites, which are overseen by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and considered to pose the greatest threat to health among all hazardous wastes sites. NPL sites are more likely to be present in higher income communities outside of the Boston area. In addition, Cambridge does not have any DEP Tier 1A sites, which are considered second most serious category of hazardous waste sites. DEP Tier 1 sites are also more likely to be present in wealthier suburbs than in urban communities.

Cambridge has had two DEP TIER IC sites (WR Grace and a Sunoco station on Concord Ave). The great majority of the remaining Tier II sites or non-tier classified sites are from minor spills of heating oil that occurred during delivery. The next most common type of release (from an assessment of all Cambridge sites) is from underground storage tanks at gas stations.

It is reasonable to conclude that the presence of such DEP hazmat sites, though perhaps of limited value in assessing true risk of harmful exposure to the public, is a reflection of commercial activity and the presence of buildings that use heating oil (vs. natural gas). It is some measure of traditional commercial and industrial activity and would be expected to impact urban communities more than other communities. This association does not reflect greater risk of exposure in most cases, but it does reflect historic development corridors.

Issue #2: Are certain populations in Cambridge disproportionately burdened by the impacts of environmental pollutants?

The overall conclusion of "Unequal Exposure" is simple: Communities with higher hazard ratings are more likely to be either poor or have a relatively high proportion of minority residents.

It is important to note that the report did not address whether certain populations within a given municipality (such as Cambridge) were disproportionately burdened by the impacts of environmental pollutants. The authors simply drew an association between poorer towns or those with larger minority populations and a greater presence environmental of hazards. A meaningful exposure assessment of Cambridge would require a better understanding of the real risks likely to be posed by each source cited in the report.

While the report’s conclusion is consistent with the broad observation that poorer communities and communities with a larger proportion of minority residents are unfairly burdened by risks from environmental hazards, the use of data enumerating chemical (or oil) release sites is clearly not sufficient to accurately estimate threats to public health.

What Are Cambridge and the State Doing to Reduce Environmental Hazards Impact?

Tracking Hazardous Waste Sites. The Cambridge Public Health Department tracks all Massachusetts DEP hazardous materials release sites in Cambridge. The database was designed to capture all available information about these sites, including compliance status and deed restrictions. This database allows staff to review the status of sites that have fallen out of compliance, even if the DEP has failed to fully enforce state environmental laws.

Tracking Releases of Air Pollutants. Industrial and institutional air pollutant releases are tracked by a state permitting program, and can be found with relative ease. The biggest contributors are power stations like Kendall Mirant and generators at Harvard and MIT. The candy manufacturers are permitted for certain releases as well. Air pollutant problems are by no means a town-by-town problem, and Cambridge is probably a smaller contributor to regional air pollution than several neighboring communities.

Emissions. Massachusetts, along with most northeastern states, recently adopted stricter vehicle emissions standards based on California standards. When these tougher standards go into effect, they should have an important impact on vehicle emissions. In addition, commercial vehicles and buses will have to adhere to stricter compliance standards for diesel emissions in the near future. Efforts to create a Northeast states consortium to limit greenhouse gases, while still in negotiation, promise to have a positive future impact on gases that contribute to poor air quality and the illnesses associated with climate change. Cambridge has taken a lead role in encouraging construction of buildings that generate fewer pollutant gases through the Climate Protection Program.

Small Business Hazardous Waste. Cambridge has over 600 small businesses, including many that generate small amounts of hazardous waste. Small businesses (e.g. garages, auto body shops, nail/hair salons, print shops, pest control vendors, dry cleaners) that generate hazardous waste encounter practically no enforcement and are left to their own devices to store and eliminate waste responsibly. In addition, many of these shops have few precautions or protective practices in place to limit hazardous exposures among employees.

The Small Business Hazardous Waste Collective, a voluntary program established by the Health Department, offers these businesses discounted hazmat removal rates, free signage and labeling advice and materials, guidance on placement and storage of waste, best practice information on protecting employees from avoidable and unhealthy exposures, assistance completing compliance paperwork, and other safety practices. Health Department staff, however, have found it exceedingly difficult to get shops to participate, and are working with the DEP in order to better enforce existing state requirements so that local businesses will have greater incentive for participating in the collective.

Summary
Although somewhat clumsy in their use of risk assessment methods, the authors of "Unequal Exposure" draw attention to the public cost of pollution and its uneven impact on certain populations. Future efforts to address the burden of harm from chemical and particulate pollutants should focus on power plant emissions, vehicle emissions, and industrial polluters located in densely populated areas. Other efforts such as technical assistance to small businesses to limit hazards, better public transportation services, zoning rules that encourage clustered development near public transit, and a reversal of massive staff reductions at DEP needed for enforcement would also support the goal of reducing health risks from environmental sources.

Appendix A:
The report "Unequal Exposure to Ecological Hazards" attempts to create a scale showing the burden of environmental hazards that pose a health risk to residents and workers in each community in the state.

The report’s authors assigned "hazard points" to each Massachusetts municipality based on the number and type of facilities emitting hazardous air pollutants and the presence of sites containing environmental hazards located within its boundaries.

The primary weakness in the report’s methodology is the use of a single hazard scale for every pollution source or site, regardless of known health risk. While airborne pollutants contribute a known risk to the residential population, chemical releases into water and soil generally pose little risk to residents.

Specifically, airborne releases of hazardous chemicals and particulates from stationary sources (like polluting industries and power plants) and from mobile sources (like cars, trucks and buses) pose well-characterized threats of morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) from harmful chemical exposures. Since emitted pollutants always reach the air we breathe and are dispersed in predictable patterns the individual burden on the health of residents can be estimated with fairly high accuracy.

By contrast, chemicals that are deposited in soil or groundwater can only be assessed for risk to public health after considering the initial concentration, the route of migration, the reactivity of the chemicals, and the use of the property by susceptible populations (e.g. kids). Even this is a simplification of the risk assessment necessary to assign the degree of risk associated with pollutants in soil or water. The great majority of reported chemical release sites managed by the Mass. DEP are thought to pose effectively no risk. Those sites that could pose a risk are managed in such a way that potentially harmful exposures cannot occur (e.g. removing contaminated soil near the surface). Some sites are allowed to leave contamination in place if future restrictions on the use of the property would prevent unsafe exposures.

Although the "Unequal Exposure" report does consider many sources of airborne pollution, appears to exclude others (power plants and vehicle emissions) and assigns a fairly low "hazard value" to these hazardous air pollutant sources relative to the health risks they probably pose. By contrast the authors of this report assign fixed values for each site containing hazardous material with no evaluation of the likelihood that any risk would result from those sites. As a result, a community, like Cambridge, with a very large number of minor chemical (or oil) releases that, in total, are not thought to pose a significant threat to public health will receive a very high "hazard score."

CHARTER RIGHT
1. Charter Right exercised by Councillor Sullivan on Application and Petition Number Three of January 9, 2006 from President and Fellows of Harvard, requesting a curb cut at the premises numbered 3 Grant Street (north side) west of Banks Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical, Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association.

2. Charter Right exercised by Councillor Sullivan on Application and Petition Number Four of January 9, 2006 from Presidents and Fellows of Harvard, requesting a curb cut at the premises numbered 9 Grant Street (north side) east of Athens Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical, Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association.

ON THE TABLE
3. Placed on Table on the motion of Councillor Simmons on April 11, 2005 on an order adopted relative to a communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, transmitting a recommendation from the License Commission to deny a jitney license application from Nautical Tours, Inc.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
4. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., Co-Chair of the Ordinance Committee, for a meeting held on November 18, 2004 for the purpose of considering proposed amendments to Chapter 2.74 of the Cambridge Municipal Code, the Police Review and Advisory Board Ordinance. The question comes on passing to be ordained on or after February 14, 2005. [Four sections of the proposed amendment were passed to be ordained as amended. Ordinance #1284. The remaining proposed amendments to chapter 2.74 remain on unfinished business.]

5. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves and Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a meeting held on November 22, 2005 for the purpose of considering a re-filed petition by the Planning Board to amend the zoning in the Concord/Alewife area. The question comes on passing to be ordained on or after January 2, 2006. Petition expires February 20, 2006.

APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
1. An application was received from the Cambridge Rentals LLC, requesting permission for a sandwich board sign and a framed sign at the premises numbered 692 Massachusetts Avenue.

2. An application was received from VIP Convenience, requesting permission for a canopy at the premises numbered 2362 Massachusetts Avenue. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutters.

3. An application was received from the Cambridge Arts Council, requesting permission for a temporary banner across Massachusetts Avenue at Brookline Street sponsoring the Actors' Shakespeare Project.

4. An application was received from Julianne Franklin, requesting a curb cut at the premises numbered 342-344 Concord avenue; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical, Public Works with the condition that the curb cut must be placed northeast of the large maple tree. Approval has been received from the neighborhood association.

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Norma P. Weinberg, regarding issues surrounding residential parking permits.

2. A communication was received from John P. DiGiovani, Harvard Square Business Association, supporting Daedalus Restaurant to increase their restaurant seating.

3. A communication was received from Susan Hockfield, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, transmitting thanks for the resolution on receiving the Amelia Earhart Award.

4. A communication was received from Peter Valentine, regarding alien forms.

5. A communication was received from Jennifer L. Sweet, P.E., Senior Engineer, Haley & Aldrich, regarding proposed Notice of Activity and Use Limitation at the W.R. Grace site, 62 Whittemore Avenue.

6. A communication was received from Roy Bercaw, regarding rodent solution.

7. A communication was received from Roy Bercaw, regarding snitching and bullying.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution on the death of Albert John Mancini. Councillor Galluccio

2. Resolution on the death of Gennaro L. Farina. Councillor Galluccio

3. Congratulations to the students participating in "Project Day" on January 28, 2006 from noon to 2:00pm at MIT. Councillor Sullivan

4. Congratulations to Sal and Tricia DiDomenico on the birth of their son, Salvatore John DiDomenico, born on January 11, 2006 at the Beth Israel Hospital. Councillor Galluccio

5. Resolution on the death of Barbara A. (Stevens) Dumas. Councillor Sullivan

6. Happy 106th Birthday to Russell Buchannon. Councillor Sullivan

7. Resolution on the death of Frances Siegel. Councillor Sullivan

8. Resolution on the death of Norman J. Conklin. Councillor Sullivan

9. Resolution on the death of Wilfred C. Driscoll. Councillor Sullivan

10. Resolution on the death of Judith (Evans) Auerbach. Councillor Sullivan

11. Resolution on the death of Eileen (Lovett) Schaub. Councillor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

12. Resolution on the death of Evelyn F. (Mantia) DiMaiti. Councillor Sullivan

13. Resolution on the death of Marjorie Ross O'Neill. Councillor Sullivan

14. Resolution on the death of Frances (Crusco) Gilmartin. Councillor Sullivan

15. Resolution on the death of Vincent P. Savinsky. Councillor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

16. Congratulations to Father Jose Ferreira of Saint Anthony's Church on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination. Vice Mayor Toomey

17. Resolution on the death of Margaret Mary "Madge" O'Leary. Councillor Sullivan

18. Resolution on the death of James D. Albright. Councillor Galluccio, Councillor Sullivan

19. Resolution on the death of Janet S. (Penney) Persson. Councillor Galluccio

20. Resolution on the death of Eleanor F. Spadano. Councillor Galluccio

21. Appreciation and best wishes to MIT on the occasion of its 32nd Annual Celebration Breakfast in Honor of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. which will take place on February 9, 2006 at 7:30am. Councillor Sullivan

22. Resolution on the death of Major Stuart M. Anderson. Councillor Decker

23. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Kyle W. Brown. Councillor Decker

24. Resolution on the death of First Lieutenant Jaime L. Campbell. Councillor Decker

25. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Radhames Camilomatos. Councillor Decker

26. Resolution on the death of First Lieutenant Joseph D. deMoors. Councillor Decker

27. Resolution on the death of Specialist Michael I. Edwards. Councillor Decker

28. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Nathan R. Field. Councillor Decker

29. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Jeriad P. Jacobs. Councillor Decker

30. Resolution on the death of Specialist Robert T. Johnson Councillor Decker

31. Resolution on the death of Major Douglas A. Labouff. Councillor Decker

32. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Jason T. Little. Councillor Decker

33. Resolution on the death of Corporal Brett L. Lundstrom. Councillor Decker

34. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Raul Mercado. Councillor Decker

35. Resolution on the death of Captain Michael R. Martinez Councillor Decker

36. Resolution on the death of Specialist Jacob E. Melson. Councillor Decker

37. Resolution on the death of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chester W. Troxel. Councillor Decker

38. Resolution on the death of Specialist Clinton R. Upchurch. Councillor Decker

39. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Adam L. Cann. Councillor Decker

40. Resolution on the death of Corporal Albert P. Gettings. Councillor Decker

41. Resolution on the death of Major William F. Hecker III. Councillor Decker

42. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Ryan S. McCurdy. Councillor Decker

43. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Jason Lopez Reyes. Councillor Decker

44. Resolution on the death of Private Robbie M. Mariano. Councillor Decker

45. Resolution on the death of Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. McLaughlin. Councillor Decker

46. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Johnny J. Peralex Jr. Councillor Decker

47. Resolution on the death of Captain Christopher P. Petty. Councillor Decker

48. Resolution on the death of Specialist Ryan D. Walker. Councillor Decker

49. Resolution on the death of Sergeant 1st Class Stephen J. White. Councillor Decker

50. Resolution on the death of Sergeant 1st Class Jason L. Bishop. Councillor Decker

51. Resolution on the death of Staff Sergeant Christopher J. Vanderhorn. Councillor Decker

52. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Michael J. McMullen. Councillor Decker

53. Resolution on the death of Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Anthony Jordan. Councillor Decker

54. Resolution on the death of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle E. Jackson. Councillor Decker

55. Resolution on the death of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mitchell K. Carver, Jr. Councillor Decker

56. Resolution on the death of Corporal Justin J. Watts. Councillor Decker

57. Resolution on the death of Specialist Dustin L. Kendall. Councillor Decker

58. Welcome of ViaCell to Cambridge. Councillor Sullivan

59. Best wishes to Lesley University and Dr. Paul Farmer on his upcoming presentation. Councillor Sullivan

60. Best wishes to the Salvation Army on Skatefest 2006 on February 12, 2006. Councillor Sullivan

61. Declaring Monday, February 13, 2006 as National African American Parent Involvement Day in Cambridge. Councillor Simmons

62. Congratulations to CRLS Department of Visual and Performing Arts on their production of Danceworks. Councillor Kelley

63. Resolution on the death of Juliette "Julie" Khachadourian. Councillor Sullivan

64. Resolution on the death of Anne C. Cosgrove. Councillor Sullivan

65. Thanks to Dr. Sybil Knight for her service to the citizens and youth of Cambridge. Councillor Sullivan

66. Resolution on the death of Edward McNulty. Councillor Sullivan

67. Resolution on the retirement of Stanley T. Kotowski from the Cambridge Fire Department. Mayor Reeves

68. Congratulations to the Youthbuild/Just-A-Start graduating Class of 2005. Councillor Sullivan

69. Congratulations to Rocio Saenz on being honored at the 15th Anniversary Gala of "The American Prospect." Councillor Decker

70. Best wishes to Margarita Otero-Alvarez on her retirement from the Cambridge School Department. Councillor Simmons

71. Best wishes to Nancy Ryan on her retirement. Councillor Simmons

72. Resolution on the death of Robert E. "Jake" Boudreau. Councillor Sullivan

73. Resolution on the death of Sister O'Neill dePaul. Councillor Sullivan

74. Congratulations to the Cambridge School Volunteers on their 40th Anniversary. Councillor Sullivan

75. Resolution on the death of Angela Iannacci. Vice Mayor Toomey, Councillor Sullivan

76. Resolution on the death of Rose M. DiPerna. Councillor Sullivan

77. Resolution on the death of Judith M. Foley. Councillor Sullivan

78. Resolution on the death of Jeanne L. Wasserman. Councillor Sullivan

79. Resolution on the death of Toshi Bannat. Councillor Sullivan

80. Resolution on the death of Susan A. Nickerson. Councillor Sullivan

81. Thanks to State Representative Anne Paulsen for her service to the people of Cambridge, her district and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Councillor Sullivan

82. Best wishes and farewell to a special person. Mayor Reeves

83. Happy 90th Birthday Wishes to Carl Barron. Councillor Sullivan

84. Happy Birthday to Chelsea City Councillor-At-Large Roy A. Avellaneda. Councillor Decker

85. Speedy recovery wishes to John "Gino" Capelotti. Councillor Sullivan

ORDERS
1. That the City Council go on record in support of the license renewal for WILD-FM on behalf of the diverse community of Cambridge. Councillor Galluccio

2. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Director of Library Services to conduct a survey of library users to learn more about their level of satisfaction regarding services and hours of operation at the branch libraries. Councillor Galluccio

3. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager for Human Services, the Council on Aging, the Cambridge Housing Authority, Just-A-Start and other appropriate entities on what social service resources are currently available and how the City can assist in ensuring that the necessary services are provided. Councillor Simmons

4. That the City Council go on record supporting the Better Breakfast Initiative and requesting a roundtable conversation on the matter with the School Committee. Councillor Simmons

5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to contact various oil companies to determine the feasibility of providing reduced-cost oil to Cambridge citizens, which oil companies in Massachusetts are apparently currently able to provide. Mayor Reeves

6. That the City Council and the City Manager be and hereby are requested to have a roundtable to determine if the City Council and the City Manager can achieve a consensus regarding the direction that last term's Economic Development efforts for an "Excitement Lab" should take. Mayor Reeves

7. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to update the City Council on the status of a report on the feasibility of Cambridge owning and operating its own power transmission authority or municipal power company, Awaiting Report No. 05-192. Mayor Reeves

8. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to look into the feasibility of purchasing the MBTA land, building and air rights at Mount Auburn and Bennett Streets for city economic development use and report back to the City Council. Councillor Simmons

9. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide the City Council with an update on the Housing Policy. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Kelley

10. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic, Transportation and Parking Director to take the necessary steps to place taxi cab stand signs on meters at Middle East Restaurant on the Brookline Street side. Councillor Simmons

11. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation with the goal of realigning the pedestrian light cycle at the junction of Rindge Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue to allow pedestrians crossing Massachusetts Avenue six seconds to start crossing before traffic is allowed to turn left off of Rindge Avenue and head north on Massachusetts Avenue through the pedestrian crosswalk. Councillor Kelley

12. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation with the goal of placing "call if not working" stickers on traffic signal poles throughout the City in order to make it easier for pedestrians with cell phones to inform the City of malfunctioning signal lights and for the City to fix broken traffic lights in a timely fashion. Councillor Kelley

13. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Inspectional Services on the legality of the banners placed in front of the Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins franchise at 2480 Massachusetts Avenue. Councillor Kelley

14. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Police Commissioner, License Commission Chairman, Public Works Commissioner and Director of the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department with the goal of having those departments put as much information as is legally possible and logistically feasible about the location, time, date and other relevant information concerning motor vehicle stops, truck violations, noise violations and snow violations on the City's website along with relevant enforcement statistics. Councillor Kelley

15. That the zoning amendment originally filed by Robert Sheketoff et al. be re-filed by the City Council and submitted to the Ordinance Committee and Planning Board for public hearing and report. Councillor Kelley

16. Dedication of a site in honor of Helen and John Black. Councillor Galluccio

17. That the City of Cambridge supports funding the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund based on the established formula, minimally including $25 million in Fiscal Year 2007. Mayor Reeves

18. That the City Manager confer with the Chair of the License Commission relative to instituting a regulation similar to the City of Boston on the sale of beer kegs. Councillor Sullivan

19. That the City Manager contact the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Governor's Office to immediately rectify the danger posed by pieces of granite and cement falling off of the William J. Reid Overpass; said safety concerns have been reported by the Cambridge city officials to the state for the last eight years. Councillor Davis, Councillor Sullivan

20. The the City Manager is requested to direct the Personnel Department to hold an informational meeting for City of Cambridge retirees regarding the prescription drug programs that the City offers. Councillor Sullivan

21. Support of H4452, entitled "An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition." Councillor Davis, Councillor Sullivan

22. That the City Manager instruct the City's Office of Cable Television to work with the Cambridge EITC Coalition to produce a program informing residents of the availability of free tax return preparation assistance, free electronic filing (e0filing), and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Councillor Murphy

HEARING SCHEDULE
Mon, Jan 23
5:00pm Special Presentation to highlight the Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition. This tax credit benefits low income persons and seniors. The Coalition provides free tax preparation assistance. (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 30
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Feb 6
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Feb 13
5:30pm Roundtable City Council Meeting. Discussion of the plans of the Youth Center at the Huron Avenue VFW and whether dance activities can be accommodated there. No public comment. No votes will be taken. Meeting will not be televised. (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Feb 27
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Mar 6
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Mar 13
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Mar 20
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Mar 27
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Apr 3
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Apr 10
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Apr 24
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, May 1
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, May 8
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, May 15
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, May 22
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, June 5
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, June 12
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, June 19
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, June 26
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
WHEREAS: It is imperative that the Boston area have a radio station that provides a focus that primarily targets communities of color and urban listeners; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge is a diverse community and places high values on diversity and serving residents from diverse racial and economic backgrounds; and
WHEREAS: Radio One, Inc., Call Letters WBOT-FM 97.7 and WILD-AM 1090 serves the African-American community and urban listeners and WILD has been serving this audience for twenty-five years; and
WHEREAS: Radio One, Inc. owns and operates sixty-nine radio stations and is located in twenty-two urban areas; and
WHEREAS: WBOT-FM became WILD FM and is known as the "People’s Station" and is seeking to expand to include Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Hip-Hop, as well as to broaden the FM station’s African-American audience with daytime programming geared toward an older crowd while retaining Hip-Hop fans; and
WHEREAS: WILD-FM is seeking to renew its license with the Federal Communications Commission; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in support of the license renewal for WILD-FM on behalf of the diverse community of Cambridge; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Federal Communications Commission, WILD-FM 97.7 and Radio One, Inc. (Tom Joyner Morning Show, Washington, D.C.) on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-2 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Director of Library Services to conduct a survey of library users to learn more about their level of satisfaction regarding services and hours of operation at the branch libraries.

O-3 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the Cambridge City Council that there are some disabled persons living in below-market-rate units in Cambridge who are in need of additional assistance in areas such as house cleaning, occupational therapy and other skills and services necessary for successful independent living in multi-unit buildings; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager for Human Services, the Council on Aging, the Cambridge Housing Authority, Just-A-Start and other appropriate entities on what resources are currently available and how the City can assist in ensuring that the necessary services are provided, and report back to the City Council on this matter.

O-4 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record supporting the Better Breakfast Initiative and requesting a roundtable conversation on the matter with the School Committee.

O-5 January 23, 2006
MAYOR REEVES
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to contact various oil companies to determine the feasibility of providing reduced-cost oil to Cambridge citizens, which oil companies in Massachusetts are apparently currently able to provide.

O-6 January 23, 2006
MAYOR REEVES
ORDERED: That the City Council and the City Manager be and hereby are requested to have a roundtable discussion to determine if the City Council and the City Manager can achieve a consensus regarding the direction that last term's Economic Development efforts for an "Excitement Lab" should take.

O-7 January 23, 2006
MAYOR REEVES
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to update the City Council on the status of a report on the feasibility of Cambridge owning and operating its own power transmission authority or municipal power company, Awaiting Report No. 05-192.

O-8 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The MBTA is selling land; and
WHEREAS: The MBTA is said to be preparing to sell the lucrative land, building and air rights in the heart of Harvard Square at Mount Auburn and Bennett Streets atop the bus turnaround and former conductors building; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to look into this matter and report back to the City Council on the feasibility of the City purchasing this property for city economic development use.

O-9 AMENDED ORDER January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide the City Council with an update on the Housing Policy; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager and Assistant City Manager for Community Development be and hereby are requested to arrange for a facilitated workshop on this topic.

O-10 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic, Transportation and Parking Director to take the necessary steps to place taxi cab stand signs on meters at Middle East Restaurant on the Brookline Street side.

O-11 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation with the goal of realigning the pedestrian light cycle at the junction of Rindge Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue to allow pedestrians crossing Massachusetts Avenue six seconds to start crossing before traffic is allowed to turn left off of Rindge Avenue and head north on Massachusetts Avenue through the pedestrian crosswalk; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter.

O-12 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation with the goal of placing "call if not working" stickers on traffic signal poles throughout the City in order to make it easier for pedestrians with cell phones to inform the City of malfunctioning signal lights and for the City to fix broken traffic lights in a timely fashion; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter.

O-13 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Inspectional Services on the legality of the banners placed in front of the Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins franchise at 2480 Massachusetts Avenue; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter.

O-14 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Police Commissioner, License Commission Chairman, Public Works Commissioner and Director of the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department with the goal of having those departments put their enforcement statistics for motor vehicle stops, truck violations, noise violations and snow violations on the City's website on a monthly basis; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Police Commissioner, License Commission Chairman, Public Works Commissioner and Director of the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department with the goal of having those departments put as much information as is legally possible and logistically feasible about the location, time, date and other relevant information concerning the above-noted enforcement actions on the City's website along with relevant enforcement statistics; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter.

O-15 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the attached zoning amendment originally filed by Robert Sheketoff et al. be re-filed by the City Council and submitted to the Ordinance Committee and Planning Board for public hearing and report.

O-16 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
ORDERED: That the City Council dedicate a suitable site in the area of King Street in honor of Helen and John Black; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Assistant to the City Council be directed to confer with the family regarding a suitable dedication ceremony and communicate with the Department of Public Works to arrange for the sign.

O-17 January 23, 2006
MAYOR REEVES
WHEREAS: The Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund is a statewide program, providing over $60 million to 140 communities throughout the Commonwealth at its peak in 2002 and funded at $12.5 million in FY06; and
WHEREAS: The MWRA has spent over $6.4 billion to date on capital projects and intends to spend an additional $1.3 billion over the next ten years; and
WHEREAS: 62% of the MWRA's annual operating budget goes directly to pay outstanding debt; and
WHEREAS: A recent study found that public investment in Boston Harbor has resulted in a radical transformation of the Boston waterfront that is providing economic benefit throughout the Greater Boston area, as well as a renewed recreational interest in the harbor islands and the return of marine life; and
WHEREAS: A 2004 affordability analysis found rates in the MWRA service area, which includes 60 communities and over 2.5 million Massachusetts residents, are presenting a substantial social and economic burden to homeowners and are threatening the economic viability of the region; and
WHEREAS: Water and sewer rate assessments to communities are expected to increase $208 million over the next five years; and
WHEREAS: Homeowners in the MWRA system already pay some of the highest rates in the nation; and
WHEREAS: The Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund is a formula-driven program providing state funding up to 20% of the cost of a wastewater project thereby directly offsetting debt service costs and providing an immediate benefit to communities and residents; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City of Cambridge supports funding the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund based on the established formula, minimally including $25 million in Fiscal Year 2007; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City of Cambridge supports fully funding the Commonwealth Sewer Relief Fund based on the formula by Fiscal Year 2011.

O-18 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Chair of the License Commission relative to instituting a regulation similar to the City of Boston on the sale of beer kegs.

O-19 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to contact the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Governor's Office to immediately rectify the danger posed by pieces of granite and cement falling off of the William J. Reid Overpass; said safety concerns have been reported by the Cambridge city officials to the state for the last eight years; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager also emphasize the need for protection for pedestrians from the danger of falling granite and cement; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to inform the City Council as to what further steps the City can take to ensure that this dangerous condition is repaired immediately, including initiation of legal action.

O-20 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
WHEREAS: There have been many issues and questions raised relative to the new prescription drug programs available to City of Cambridge retirees; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Personnel Department to hold an informational meeting for retirees with the next two weeks; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide this City Council with the date of said meeting and any materials available to explain the program.

O-21 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
ORDERED: That this City Council go on record supporting H4452, entitled "An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition;" and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk forward a copy of this order to the Massachusetts State delegation and the Governor on behalf of the City Council.

O-22 January 23, 2006
COUNCILLOR MURPHY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct the City's Office of Cable Television to work with the Cambridge EITC Coalition to produce a program informing residents of the availability of free tax return preparation assistance, free electronic filing (e0filing), and the Earned Income Tax Credit.