CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Public Weighers for the year 2006 to operate scales for MICH-LIN transfer station located at 45 Mooney Street, Cambridge:

Mariel Mabardy, Lisa Marie Saverse, John Lynch, Chuck Wainwright, Christine M. Guillette, Joseph Mabardy, Jr., Charles J. Mabardy, Edmund Curran, James J. Mabardy, Daniel Pasquarosa, Amanda Noonan, Bryan Burdge, Joann Del Vecchio, & Robert Ferrazzani

2. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-204, regarding a report on provisions of parking for motorcycles, motorscooters and mopeds.

3. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-192, regarding a report on how Cambridge can own and operate its own power transmission facility or municipal power company.

City Manager Letter
January 30, 2006
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-192, regarding a report on how Cambridge can own and operate its own power transmission facility or municipal power company, enclosed please find a report from CDM on this concept.

As you can see from the report, both the capital and operating costs are extraordinarily expensive and come with no guarantee of better rates.

The City has changed its policy on purchasing electricity and is no longer purchasing gas or electricity from NStar, resulting in savings to the City for these energy items.

The capital expenditure required to own and operate a municipal power company would greatly impact the City’s capacity to continue or commence other necessary capital projects and would, in all likelihood, have a negative impact on the City’s bond rating, making such projects even more expensive.

Thus, I am not recommending that the City pursue this option.

Very truly yours,
Robert W. Healy
City Manager

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Memorandum
To: City of Cambridge
From: Joseph Ridge, CDM (Camp, Dresser, McGee); Alexander Heil, CDM
Date: January 10, 2006
Subject: Cambridge Electric Evaluation

The City of Cambridge has begun preliminary evaluations into the feasibility and impact of creating a municipal electric utility primarily by acquiring the assets of NSTAR known as Cambridge Electric. The memorandum provides the City with an order of magnitude estimate of the potential acquisition and operating costs. In order to conduct this analysis, we have obtained data from the Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE) and the ISO New England (ISO-NE). This assessment is based on available records and not any inspection of the current system, evaluation of its condition and/or discussions with representatives of NStar.

If the City were to elect to become a municipal electrical utility, it would need to obtain a source of power (Cambridge Electric has no generating assets), purchase the distribution and transmission assets of Cambridge Electric, and then finally create an operating utility with managers, field crews, equipment, etc. The analysis addresses three different issues that are relevant to the City’s evaluation:

What would the estimated purchase price be for an acquisition of the Cambridge Electric assets?

What are the estimated power costs?

What are the estimated operations and maintenance costs?

Summary of Findings:
We estimate that the City will face acquisition costs for the Cambridge Electric assets of between $115 and $170 million, plus we expect that the City would also be required to assume approximately $42 million of nuclear decommissioning costs. In addition, the City would need to acquire a fleet of specialized vehicles, possibly requiring as many as 60 to 80 vehicles with additional capital costs of $3 to $4 million. Finally, the City would be responsible for ongoing capital repair and replacement of the system. These costs are likely to require an additional $10 to $25 million annually, depending on the actual condition of the system. Therefore, the City will face an initial capital investment in the first 3 years of the acquisition of approximately $200 to $250 million. The City’s currently outstanding debt is approximately $100 million so this would be a significant financial undertaking.

Based on the current operational costs of the system and some comparisons to other municipal electric utilities in Massachusetts, we have estimated that annual operating costs will be between $35 and $40 million. The actual amount will depend in part upon whether certain functions can be absorbed by existing City departments and functions (bill collection and legal as examples). This also assumes that he City has a place to house the staff and equipment. This also assumes that the nearly 100 person work force could be hired at wage levels comparable to what NStar now pays. Finally, it assumes that the City will not be required to significantly increase the level of maintenance to eliminate any deferred maintenance that may have accumulated.

As noted, the City would need to acquire power on the open market, since NStar’s Cambridge Electric does not own any generating capacity. Based on current market prices in the region, we estimate that the annual costs of power will be approximately $85 million.. However, since extreme price fluctuations in energy markets are likely to continue, this estimate is very rough and increases of more than 50 percent are possible.

We estimate that the revenue requirement for a City owned electric utility would the utility revenue requirements by at least 10 percent over what the current revenue requirement is for NStar.

We have addressed each issue separately below.

Estimation of Purchase Price
In order to estimate the approximate purchase price range, we estimated the two extremes based on annual reports prepared by NSTAR and filed with the DTE; the net book value based on historical cost and the value based on replacement cost. This assumes the City would pay for the tangible assets it would acquire and there would be no premium or costs associated with intangible assets such as goodwill. This assumed purchase price would be consistent with DTE regulations and legal precedents.

The net asset value, or the book value of all assets minus the accumulated depreciation, can be found based on the reports filed with the DTE. The total gross asset value includes the components of assets associated with intangible plant, transmission, distribution, and general plant. Cambridge Electric does not have any ownership in assets that are designed for current power generation. This value excludes decommissioning costs for nuclear generation assets that Cambridge previously had ownership participation in.

For the same categories, except for intangible plant, the accumulated depreciation amounts can be determined. Subtracting accumulated depreciation from gross plant or book value yields the net asset value or net book value of the system. Essentially, this is the value of the system based on historical costs. If NSTAR were to sell the system to another private utility, this is likely to be the purchase price DTE would allow. Table 1 shows these asset values.

We also have estimated replacement cost. There are Massachusetts court precedents that require a municipality acquiring a regulated utility through eminent domain to pay replacement cost net of depreciation. The replacement value can be estimated by considering the average asset lives that are part of the system. We have assumed that electric assets on average have a life of 40 years and that straight line depreciation is used for accounting purposes. Based on these assumptions, the average age of the system’s assets can be estimated as approximately 13 years [determined by taking the ratio of accumulated depreciation to gross plant value]. Using an average annual cost escalation factor of 3 percent, the net plant value, currently a measure of historical prices, can be modified to include current prices. That replacement value is equal to $170,400,000.

Thus, the initial estimate of the capital investment to acquire Cambridge Electric’s transmission and distribution assets is between $115 and $170 million.

In addition, Cambridge Electric is responsible for its share of the decommissioning costs of the Connecticut Yankee, Maine Yankee, and Massachusetts Yankee nuclear power plants. The total remaining costs are approximately equal to $42.4 million. This amount would have to be added to the total purchase price of the utility.

Lastly, in order to maintain the existing system, the owner of Cambridge Electric would have to face an annual capital investment of at least between 5 and 10 percent of replacement cost. This assumes that the assets have been appropriately maintained and the current owner has not been deferring capital replacements.

Estimation of Power Costs
In order to estimate the approximate power purchase costs we have used 18 months worth of price information as published by ISO-NE. (ISO-NE manages the regional electric grid and serves as a clearing point for utilities purchasing and selling electricity.) Table 2 summarizes the market data for the period from January 2004 and June 2005. Table 2 is based on the most r quarterly and annual reports showing average [or mean], median and maximum data points.

On balance, we expect an electric utility to purchase power at roughly the median price. However, there are days within the year that create demand spikes and therefore require purchases at maximum prices. We have used a breakdown of 80%-20% between median and maximum prices in order to estimate the annual power costs. Cambridge Electric purchased a total of 1.6 million megawatt hours (MWH) in calendar year 2004. These purchases were made from a variety of different energy suppliers with the majority of power coming from Constellation Power Source and Mirant New England. In the annual report, both of these suppliers are characterized as having only short term or requirement service contracts. We therefore estimate power costs assuming that the total load remains the same. If so, then the approximate average annual cost can be estimated to be approximately $85 million. .Obviously, if the average price peaks because of outside shocks to the system and/or the City’s demand profile varies significantly from what is assumed, the cost of electricity could easily increase by as much as 50 percent or up to $130 million.

It should be noted that natural gas prices and energy prices in general have increased more than two-fold since early 2005. We therefore expect this calculated average cost to be representing a likely price floor if current market conditions continue. This volatility in the energy market underscores the uncertainty of these particular estimates.

Estimation of Operations and Maintenance Costs
In order to estimate the expected operation and maintenance costs if the electric utility was operated by the City, we have used the detailed O&M data for calendar year 2004. There is the possibility that the City will be able to save on certain cost items due to the fact that functions can be shared between electric service and other City services such as water and sewer. These shared services will most likely only materialize in areas such as administration (such as customer service and billing) and supervision because of the distinctiveness of electric service and the difference in providing operation and maintenance activities.

Table 3 shows allocated costs based on this assessment. The first column shows each line item in the different cost categories. We then allocate the costs, illustrated by the allocation percentage that likely would remain were the City to operate the electric utility. The final column shows these costs incurred by the City.

In total, the City can expect to incur significant expenses for the operation and maintenance of its assets in the amount of roughly $38 million annually. IF there is not overlap with existing City operations and no ability to integrate these functions into City operations, then the operating costs would be closer to $45 million.

Cambridge Electric had a total direct payroll of $5.05 million. Assuming an average annual salary of $50,000, this translates into approximately 100 employees. This is the number of staff the City can expect to employ based on the current payroll expenses. Contained within this estimate are 25 administrative and general staff and 75 employees responsible for operation and maintenance tasks.

In order to validate the results of our analysis, we have used financial data for the Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD). RMLD serves 4 towns north of Boston and in terms of sales is approximately 20% the size of Cambridge Electric.

In the six month period ending June 30, 2005, RMLD sold a total of 336,158,249 kilowatt hours while incurring operation and maintenance expenses of $5,184,851. On average this equates to $15.42 per MWH. A City of Cambridge run electric utility is expected to incur costs of $20.38 per MWH as shown in Table 3. The difference might be due to the fact that a significant cost component for RMLD is carried by the City of Reading and therefore excluded from the total cost figure. However, the estimated O&M cost for Cambridge Electric appears reasonable even if on the high end of a combined municipal utility.

Using RMLD fleet inventory data, we have estimated that the City would require between 60 and 80 specialized other vehicles to cover the Cambridge Electric service area.

Lastly, we have estimated the average impact on electricity rates in the Cambridge service area as a result of the acquisition. In order to do so, we have estimated the annual revenue requirement for the utility as operated by the City. The revenue requirement consists of power purchase costs, annual O&M expenses, debt service for the acquisition of the system, purchase of utility vehicles, and an estimated capital outlay. Capital outlay is the expected expense to maintain the existing assets of the system after the acquisition. The estimated revenue requirement is compared to the current total utility operating costs inclusive of debt service and net of taxes and provision of taxes. We have estimated a low, high and most likely midpoint of our estimate. As shown in Table 4, the estimated increase in revenue requirements likely exceeds 10 percent.

4. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $100,000 from Employee Benefits (insurance) Salary and Wages account to the General Fund Police Travel and Training account (judgment and damages) to cover medical services and/or prescription reimbursement costs for police personnel injured in performance of their duties.

5. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $8,135 from the General Fund Reserve Other Ordinary Maintenance account to the General Fund Election Other Ordinary Maintenance account to provide funds to cover additional ballot printing costs and postage costs for the annual census mailings due to the recent rate increase.

ON THE TABLE
1. 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.

2. Placed on Table on the motion of 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.

3. Placed on Table on the motion of 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.

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 Kolbeh of Kabob, requesting permission to replace sign faces on three pre-existing signs at the premises numbered 1500 Cambridge Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department.

2. An application was received from Philip Johnson Associates, requesting permission for an awning at the premises numbered 12 Arrow Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department, Historical Commission and abutters.

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Jeanne N. Petropoulos, regarding trash barrel damage.

2. A communication was received from Roy Bercaw, regarding technology.

3. A communication was received from Roy Bercaw, regarding the police.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution on the death of Marguerite H. O'Connell.   Councillor Sullivan

2. Resolution on the death of Douglas Van Brunt Sr.   Councillor Sullivan

3. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Jonathan Price.   Councillor Decker

4. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Brandon Dewey.   Councillor Decker

5. Resolution on the death of Private Lewis Calapini.   Councillor Decker

6. Resolution on the death of Private First Class Adam Shepherd.   Councillor Decker

7. Resolution on the death of Corporal Carlos Arrelanopandura.   Councillor Decker

8. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Dennis Flanagan.   Councillor Decker

9. Resolution on the death of Specialist Matthew Frantz.   Councillor Decker

10. Resolution on the death of Specialist Clifton Yazzie.   Councillor Decker

11. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Joshua Scott.   Councillor Decker

12. Resolution on the death of Staff Sergeant Brian McElroy.   Councillor Decker

13. Resolution on the death of Staff Sergeant Rickey Scott.   Councillor Decker

14. Resolution on the death of Technical Sergeant Jason Norton.   Councillor Decker

15. Resolution on the death of Chief Warrant Officer Rex Kenyon.   Councillor Decker

16. Resolution on the death of Chief Warrant Officer Ruel Mamaril.   Councillor Decker

17. Congratulations to State Representative Carl Sciortino on being selected as the recipient of the 2006 Freedom to Marry Award.    Councillor Simmons

18. Congratulations to City Councillor Henrietta Davis on being elected Chair of the Universities Communities Caucus at the National League of Cities for 2006.   Councillor Sullivan, Councillor Decker, Councillor Galluccio, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Murphy, Mayor Reeves, Councillor Simmons and Vice Mayor Toomey.

19. Support of NEA's "Read Across America" on March 2, 2006.   Mayor Reeves, Councillor Sullivan

20. Speedy recovery wishes to Kylee Green.   Councillor Sullivan

21. Resolution on the death of Lillian (DeGuglielmo) Ferraro.   Vice Mayor Toomey, Councillor Galluccio, Councillor Sullivan

22. Resolution on the death of Rodwrick McIntyre.   Councillor Galluccio, Councillor Sullivan

23. Resolution on the death of Bonifacio F. "Benny" Pacheco.   Councillor Sullivan, Vice Mayor Toomey

24. Resolution on the death of Eunice L. (Dottin) Adamson.   Councillor Sullivan

25. Congratulations to Sam Seidel on his assignment as a reporter for the Alewife Newspaper.   Vice Mayor Toomey

26. Congratulations to Alonso Guzman on becoming a United States citizen.   Councillor Sullivan

27. Speedy recovery wishes to Mary Horgan, Assistant to the City Council.   Councillor Decker

28. Congratulations to Shamai Becker and Marav Niv on their marriage.   Councillor Decker

29. Congratulations to the Salvation Army's "Bridging the Gap" graduates.   Councillor Sullivan

30. Speedy recovery wishes to John Moot, President of the Association of Cambridge Neighborhoods.   Councillor Kelley

31. Congratulations to the Community Art Center on being one of two nationally recognized programs by the White House.   Mayor Reeves

32. Resolution on the death of Mary P. (Law) Barry.   Councillor Galluccio

33. Resolution on the death of Jimmy Tivinis.   Vice Mayor Toomey

34. Resolution on the death of Maria V. (Coelho) DeSousa.   Vice Mayor Toomey, Councillor Sullivan

35. Resolution on the death of Larry D. Powers.   Councillor Sullivan

36. Resolution on the death of Mikel W. Pierce.   Councillor Sullivan

37. Congratulations to CRLS student John Oxenford on being chosen one of ten finalists in the 23rd Annual Teen Shakespeare Competition.   Councillor Sullivan

38. Resolution on the death of Mary R. (Papaleo) Sullivan.   Councillor Sullivan

39. Resolution on the death of Anthony B. Kuczynski.   Councillor Sullivan

40. Congratulations to Shaw Clifton on being chosen as the General of the Salvation Army on January 28, 2006.   Councillor Sullivan

41. Retirement of Nancy Kiwior from the Cambridge Health Alliance.   Councillor Sullivan

42. Congratulations to John O'Brien, CEO & President of UMass Memorial Healthcare, Inc. and former CEO of the Cambridge Health Alliance on being honored by the Massachusetts Public Health Association 4th Annual Celebration and Awards Dinner on April 27, 2006.   Councillor Sullivan

43. Resolution on the death of Alice Puzyn.   Vice Mayor Toomey

ORDERS
1. That the City Manager is requested to ascertain the condition of all bridges and overpasses in Cambridge, including those that cross the Charles River and to report back to the City Council on said conditions, with a timeline for repairs where necessary.   Councillor Davis

2. That the City Manager initiate conversations with the State to determine the timeline of the repair of the tunnel on Storrow Drive at the Esplanade and the impact of that repair on Cambridge.   Councillor Davis

3. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Director of the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department and the Assistant City Manager for Community Development to determine the feasibility of creating a database that details how many residential parking stickers are associated with residential units broken down by number of bedrooms, affordability class, location and proximity to a Mass Transit nexus.   Councillor Kelley

4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant Department heads with the goal of making all information relevant to the future of the West Cambridge VFW available on-line as the City obtains it so that members of the general public will have the same information that City staff and contractors do when assessing future options for this property.   Councillor Kelley

5. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department to determine the status of Community Policing efforts throughout Cambridge, to include foot patrols, bike patrols, neighborhood outreach and other methods of creating and maintaining a vibrant and effective Community Policing program.   Councillor Kelley

6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant City staff to determine the impact on neighborhood noise levels by increasingly popular ground-level heating system vents.   Councillor Kelley

7. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the staff of Harvard University on the wisdom of Harvard's keeping construction information regarding its Banks Street project unavailable to concerned neighbors with the hope that Harvard University will make such data as MSDS sheets and seismographic results available to the neighborhood.   Councillor Kelley

8. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the relevant City staff about the wisdom of supporting the MBTA's proposed Urban Ring Phase II bus road through Cambridge, the status of ongoing street improvements that might support this bus road and the long-term impacts this proposed multi-vehicle roadway might have on the Cambridge neighborhoods of East Cambridge, Riverside and Cambridgeport.   Councillor Kelley

9. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Chief Public Health Officer about compiling information regarding youth diabetes in Cambridge.   Mayor Reeves

10. That the City Manager is requested to confer with relevant Department heads about their vehicular needs with the goal of having all future vehicular purchases or leases be either hybrid or low-emission vehicles unless such vehicles are shown to be incapable of meeting performance requirements.   Councillor Kelley

11. That the City Manager is requested to confer with relevant Department heads and non-profit organizations to determine the status of the construction of both the North Cambridge VFW and the Trolley Square affordable housing complexes and the plans for the creation, use and maintenance of the proposed community spaces at these complexes.   Councillor Kelley

12. That the City Manager is requested to confer with Harvard University and relevant City staff on the impact that Harvard's Hingham Street project, which has removed parking from Hingham Street while not replacing it on Blackstone Street, is having on neighborhood on-street parking opportunities.   Councillor Kelley

13. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the relevant Department heads about the placement of MBTA bus shelters throughout the City and with the goal of revising the bus shelter project to keep current and future shelters from obstructing both pedestrian traffic and sidewalk visibility as much as they currently do.   Councillor Kelley

14. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Director of the Municipal Cable Office with the view of broadcasting the attached advertisements, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Transit Posters, on the danger of misusing prescription drugs.   Councillor Sullivan

15. That the City Council support SEIU Local 615 in their efforts to organize 5000 security officers which will be announced at a press conference held on February 15, 2006 at 11:00am at the Charles Street AME Church in Dorchester.   Councillor Sullivan

16. That the City Manager report to this City Council and its Housing Committee on how Cambridge fared in the MIT Center for Real Estate and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership study and what, if any, strategies are to be learned from the study.   Councillor Sullivan

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk transmitting a report from Councillor Anthony D. Galluccio, Chair of the Housing Committee, for a meeting held on December 14, 2005 for the purpose of continuing discussion on (1) how the Community Development Department can assist tenants in affordable units in private developments who do not know how to contest rent increases; (2) the issue of increases in condominium fees in inclusionary zoning affordable units; and (3) the point system for allocation of affordable units.

HEARING SCHEDULE
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 AMENDED     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to ascertain the condition of all bridges and overpasses in Cambridge, including those that cross the Charles River and to report back to the City Council on said conditions, with a timeline for repairs where necessary; and be it further
ORDERED: That said report when completed be referred to the Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committee.

O-2 AMENDED     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
WHEREAS: The tunnel on Storrow Drive at the Esplanade is scheduled for repair; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to initiate conversations with the State to determine the timeline of that repair and the impact of that repair on Cambridge; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this issue; and be it further
ORDERED: That when said report is completed it be referred to the Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committee.

O-3     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department and the Assistant City Manager for Community Development with the goal of determining the feasibility of creating a database that details how many residential parking stickers are associated with residential units broken down by number of bedrooms, affordability class, location and proximity to a Mass Transit nexus; and be it further
ORDERED: That this database be made available to the public via the City's website to allow citizens and developers to better analyze the on-street parking impacts of proposed developments; 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-4     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant Department heads with the goal of making all information relevant to the future of the West Cambridge VFW available on-line as the City obtains it so that members of the general public will have the same information that City staff and contractors do when assessing future options for this property.

O-5     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department to report back to the City Council on the status of Community Policing efforts throughout Cambridge, to include foot patrols, bike patrols, neighborhood outreach and other methods of creating and maintaining a vibrant and effective Community Policing program.

O-6     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant City staff to determine the impact on neighborhood noise levels by increasingly popular ground-level heating system vents; 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-7     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the staff of Harvard University on the wisdom of Harvard's keeping construction information regarding its Banks Street project unavailable to concerned neighbors with the hope that Harvard University will make such data as MSDS sheets and seismographic results available to the neighborhood.

O-8     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant City staff about the wisdom of supporting the MBTA's proposed Urban Ring Phase II bus road through Cambridge, the status of ongoing street improvements that might support this bus road and the long-term impacts this proposed multi-vehicle roadway might have on the Cambridge neighborhoods of East Cambridge, Riverside and Cambridgeport; 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-9     January 30, 2006
MAYOR REEVES
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Chief Public Health Officer about compiling information regarding youth diabetes in Cambridge; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report said information back to the City Council on this matter.

O-10     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant Department heads about their vehicular needs with the goal of having all future vehicular purchases or leases be either hybrid or low-emission vehicles unless such vehicles are shown to be incapable of meeting performance requirements; 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-11     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant Department heads and non-profit organizations to determine the status of the construction of both the North Cambridge VFW and the Trolley Square affordable housing complexes and the plans for the creation, use and maintenance of the proposed community spaces at these complexes; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter.
TABLED ON MOTION OF MAYOR REEVES

O-12 AMENDED     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with Harvard University and relevant City staff on the impact that Harvard's Hingham Street project, which has removed parking from Hingham Street while not replacing it on Blackstone Street, is having on neighborhood on-street parking opportunities; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on whether permit parking could be added to Western Avenue and Blackstone Street.

O-13 AMENDED     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant Department heads about the placement of MBTA bus shelters throughout the City and with the goal of revising the bus shelter project to keep current and future shelters from obstructing both pedestrian traffic and sidewalk visibility as much as they currently do; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the MBTA regarding the type of advertisements placed in the bus shelter with a view in mind that said advertisements are not contrary to city policies; i.e. proper nutrition; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter; said report to include the policy on the placement of bus shelters and the public input process; and be it further
ORDERED: That this matter be referred to the Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committee.

O-14     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of the Municipal Cable Office with the view of broadcasting the attached advertisements, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Transit Posters, on the danger of misusing prescription drugs.

O-15     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record supporting SEIU Local 615 in their efforts to organize 5000 security officers which will be announced at a press conference held on February 15, 2006 at 11:00am at the Charles Street AME Church in Dorchester; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to SEIU Local 615 on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-16     January 30, 2006
COUNCILLOR SULLIVAN
WHEREAS: Today's Boston Globe, "Median new home construction lot closing in on an acre," reports on an MIT Center for Real Estate and Massachusetts Housing Partnership study correlating the increase in housing costs in the Greater Boston area with the increasing in zoning requirements for housing starts; and
WHEREAS: This City Council has made housing a priority, particularly housing for low, moderate and middle income individuals and families; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report to this City Council and its Housing Committee on how Cambridge fared in said study and what, if any, strategies are to be learned from the study.

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Housing Committee held a public hearing on December 14, 2005 beginning at 3:15pm in the Ackermann Room for the purpose of continuing discussion on (1) how the Community Development Department can assist tenants in affordable units in private developments who do not know how to contest rent increases; (2) the issue of increases in condominium fees in inclusionary zoning affordable units; and (3) the point system for allocation of affordable units.

Present at the hearing were Councillor Anthony D. Galluccio, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Brian Murphy and D. Margaret Drury. Also present were Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Community Development; Christopher Cotter, Housing Director, Community Development Department (CDD), Cassandra Arnaud, Housing Planner, CDD, Robert Vining, Housing Planner, CDD, Gordon Gottsche, Executive Director of Just-A-Start, Dan Meglio, Just-A-Start, Laura Booth, Public Policy Director, C.E.O.C., and Thelma O’Brien, Cambridge resident and tenant in a private development that has affordable units.

Councillor Galluccio convened the hearing and explained the purpose. He requested that the meeting begin with a report on the issue of increases in condo fees in affordable units in inclusionary zoning projects.

Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for CDD, first reported on the case that brought the issue to the attention of the Housing Committee and CDD. She described a very fruitful meeting on the topic. She said that the owner of the affordable condominium attended the meeting. She stated that his individual problem is solved at this time, but his situation raised important issues that need policy solutions. Ms. Rubenstein said that a potential solution could be a non-specific replacement reserve that would allow owners to recapture more of the amount paid as fees at the time of resale.

Councillor Galluccio said that he is also concerned that at some point, an owner of the affordable unit might not be able to afford the fees. Perhaps there should be some mechanism that requires the condominium association to get approval from CDD for raising fees. Then an individual owner would not have to be embarrassed at a condo association meeting. Councillor Galluccio said that the other alternative that he sees is changing the ordinance to require the developer to establish an escrow at the beginning, but he is not sure that would be the best solution.

Christopher Cotter, Housing Director for CDD, noted that there are some mechanisms that are already in place to protect affordability in the face of increases of condo fees. One is the requirement that the value of the affordable unit reflect the fact that there is a legal limitation of equity. The share value is roughly one-third that of a market unit, which, in turn, means that the assessment (fee) will be one-third of the assessment of an otherwise similar market unit. Mr. Cotter also noted that there is a homeowner’s rehab assistance program at Just-A-Start and Homeowners Rehab Inc. Gordon Gottsche, Executive Director of Just-A-Start, said that these issues can be discussed at the training that the City provides for first-time homeowners.

Councillor Galluccio said that he is not concerned about the units managed by nonprofits. Mr. Cotter said that the CDD in the course of marketing the inclusionary units CDD, staff develop relationships with the new owners of the affordable units, and new owners can continue to come to these CDD staff members for information and assistance.

Councillor Galluccio then moved to the issue of CDD providing assistance to tenants in affordable units in private developments who have received notices of rent increases, for example Walden Square (tenants were notified of a 7% increase) and 2 Mount Auburn Street. He asked whether CDD could designate a particular individual as a contact. Ms. Rubenstein said that Mr. Cotter should be the contact person because he can then direct the tenant to the right staff person in the Housing Division.

Councillor Galluccio suggested that the City Council receive a communication informing them that CDD is willing and able to assist tenants who have questions about rent increases or other issues connected with their tenancy.

Thelma O’Brien, Cambridge, noted there is still the issue of how tenants will know that CDD is the right place to call. Beth Rubenstein said that CDD would also put information on their website.

Councillor Galluccio then moved to the issue of how units are assigned. He said that it would be excellent if there could be a way for people who have lived in mediocre units in public housing to be able to "move up," but that the additional point awarded to tenants who face a housing emergency in calculating the number of points an applicant has means that current tenants will almost always have a lower score than applicants with housing emergencies and they will not be eligible to move up to newer/better units.

Ms. Rubenstein said that a change has recently been made and asked Mr. Cotter to describe it. Mr. Cotter said that the homeowners’ allocation scheme has eliminated the emergency housing need point for homeownership needs. Ms. Rubenstein said that CDD kept the emergency point for rental because there are so many housing emergency needs. She noted that in addition, there is a lot of new supply coming up the pipeline.

Councillor Galluccio said that he is really interested in creating some hope for tenants in public housing. In addition, he would like to see more opportunities for neighborhood residents to stay in their neighborhoods, not just citywide opportunities.

Mr. Cotter said that since they made the change in the homeownership point allocation, CDD has been seeing people who have applied over and over finally getting units.

Councillor Galluccio asked if there are thirty available rental units, how many would go to tenants with emergency needs? Mr. Cotter said that he would have to look at this; the Cambridge Housing Authority administers a point system that is somewhat different. He will get back to the committee on this issue.

Councillor Galluccio said that the city is changing rapidly. He wants to be sure there is still support for building affordable units, and he believes that there is more support for affordable housing when community members see their neighbors getting some of these units.

Gordon Gottsche, Executive Director of Just-A-Start, said that the with regard to the need for a down payment among people from the poorest to the richest, some can save money and some cannot. He added that it would also be great to free up some of the public housing units. The state standard under the Rehab Supplement Program now expects tenants to pay 45% of their income for rent.

Councillor Galluccio asked what next steps are necessary. Ms. Rubenstein said that she does not believe an ordinance change would be necessary. Councillor Galluccio asked Ms. Rubenstein and Chris Cotter to talk to the City Solicitor about the possibility of changing the Inclusionary Ordinance.

Ms. Rubenstein concluded by informing the committee that production of affordable units under Inclusionary Zoning is going well. Since 1998, 250 inclusionary units have been added to the housing stock in Cambridge.

Councillor Galluccio thanked all those present for their participation and work on behalf of affordable housing.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:00pm.

For the Committee,
Councillor Anthony D. Galluccio, Chair
Housing Committee 2004-2005

AWAITING REPORT
03-46. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on property taxes paid and not paid by the universities. Remains on per Councillor Sullivan
Councillor Decker, Councillor Reeves, Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 03/31/03 (O-6)

03-63. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on progress of open space acquisition in East Cambridge. Remains on per Councillor Sullivan
Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 06/02/03 (O-14)

03-82. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on preparing a proposed ordinance creating a Department of Public Safety. Remains on per Councillor Sullivan
Mayor Sullivan and Full Membership 08/04/03 (O-4)

03-111. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on efforts to coordinate with Harvard for the development of a shuttle service from the new Harvard/Pleasant Street housing area to Harvard Square. Remains on per Councillor Sullivan
Vice Mayor Davis and Full Membership 10/20/03 (O-16)

05-146. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on NSTARS's investment and infrastructure and its relation to the blackouts and power outages in Cambridge. Remains on per Councillors Kelley & Sullivan
Councillor Davis, Councillor Simmons and Full Membership 06/20/05 (O-5)

05-147. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on the impact that energy conservation measures could have in preventing blackouts and power outages. Remains on per Councillor Kelley
Councillor Davis, Councillor Simmons and Full Membership 06/20/05 (O-6)

05-160. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on making wireless internet access available throughout the City. Remains on per Councillors Kelley & Sullivan
Councillor Davis, Councillor Simmons and Full Membership 08/01/05 (O-22)

05-170. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on an update on negotiations to implement a nighttime truck ban. Remains on per Councillors Kelley & Sullivan
Councillor Murphy and Full Membership 08/01/05 (O-58)

05-178. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on communications and transportation disaster plans. Remains on per Councillors Kelley & Sullivan
Councillor Davis, Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio and Full Membership 09/12/05 (O-35)

05-190. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on security issues of the nuclear reactor at MIT. Remains on per Councillor Kelley
Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 10/17/05 (O-26)

05-192. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on how Cambridge can own and operate its own power transmission facility or municipal power company. Remains on per Councillors Kelley, Sullivan & Davis
Councillor Davis, Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Murphy and Full Membership 10/17/05 (O-37)

05-197. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on regulations against using jake brakes by trucks in the City. Remains on per Councillor Kelley
Councillor Davis and Full Membership 10/31/05 (O-12)

05-204. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on provisions of parking for motorcycles, motorscooters and mopeds. Remains on per Councillors Kelley & Davis
Councillor Davis and Full Membership 11/07/05 (O-7)

05-207. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on options for sidewalks that are more practical than brick and more attractive than plain concrete. Remains on per Councillors Kelley & Sullivan
Vice Mayor Decker and Full Membership 11/14/05 (O-6)

06-02. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on the need for additional assistance for disabled persons living in below-market rate units in Cambridge.
Councillor Simmons and Full Membership 01/23/06 (O-3)

06-03. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on the feasibility of the City purchasing the MBTA property in Harvard Square for economic development use.
Councillor Simmons and Full Membership 01/23/06 (O-8)

06-04. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on realigning the pedestrian light cycle at Rindge and Mass Avenues.
Councillor Kelley and Full Membership 01/23/06 (O-11)

06-05. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on placing "call if not working" stickers on traffic signals.
Councillor Kelley and Full Membership 01/23/06 (O-12)

06-06. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on the legality of the banners placed in front of the Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins franchise at 2480 Mass Avenue and other Cambridge locations.
Councillor Kelley and Full Membership 01/23/06 (O-13)

06-07. Report from the City Manager: RE: report on posting various departmental enforcement statistics on the City's website
Councillor Kelley and Full Membership 01/23/06 (O-14)