6. A communication transmitted from Richard C. Rossi, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation not to adopt the Peter L. Cohen, et al., Zoning Petition, with a recommendation that the issue be incorporated into a broader study.
Referred to Petition

To the Honorable, the City Council,

On Mar 8, 2016, the Planning Board held a public hearing on the petition by Peter L. Cohen, et al., to amend the Zoning Ordinance by placing restrictions on the location of above-ground garages on certain types of lots in Residence B zoning districts. The Board heard testimony from the Petitioner and from one affected property owner.

The Board appreciates that the Petitioner has brought this issue forward. There was a consensus among Board members that parking garages should not dominate the frontage of residential lots, and that it may indeed be appropriate to further reasonably regulate where parking garages may go in new development. However, since there already are many requirements and physical constraints on development in lower-scale residential neighborhoods, the scope of further regulations on garages in those neighborhoods needs careful review and analysis prior to implementation. Moreover, the Board believes that the issue of parking garage location would be better addressed through a broader study of garage frontage in all of the city’s residential neighborhoods.

Specifically, the Board believes that the scope of the petition is unnecessarily limited. As noted, the impact of parking garages on the public realm is a concern for all residential lots, not just those with the particular existing conditions enumerated in the zoning proposal. Board members also cited examples of parking garages that have raised urban design concerns in other types of development projects, including townhouses, multifamily, commercial and mixed-use buildings. Furthermore, Board members noted that other methods of providing parking, such as on-grade lots and underground structures that require ramping, may also have negative design impacts. Conversely, in some cases, a parking garage at the front of a lot may be designed in a way that is consistent with the neighborhood character and the city’s urban design goals. The Petitioner’s own presentation showed an example of a garage that does not diminish the character of the neighborhood, despite being located toward the front of a residential lot.

Additionally, the Board generally does not favor zoning petitions that are proposed in response to one particular lot or development project; and despite the Petitioner’s stated belief to the contrary, this petition might have an unintended impact on a recently granted special permit that apparently provided the impetus for this petition. At the hearing, Board members and an affected property owner questioned whether the petition could be considered reverse spot zoning.

Since regulations for structured parking can have a significant influence on many other aspects of built form and urban design, the issue of parking location may be best studied as part of the Envision Cambridge citywide planning process. While the issue could be studied and addressed by the Planning Board and CDD staff through a process with a more limited scope, it may be difficult to develop solutions that could be implemented independently of other recommendations that may emerge from the Envision Cambridge process.

Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board,
H. Theodore Cohen, Chair

10. A communication transmitted from Richard C. Rossi, City Manager, relative to the Complete Streets Policy and Council Order.
Adopted 9-0 (Order #13)

Mar 21, 2016

To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am pleased to transmit for adoption the attached Complete Streets Policy and Council Order.

Formalizing the City’s commitment to Complete Streets will reinforce existing sustainable transportation policies and plans, including the Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance, the Climate Protection Plan, the Pedestrian Plan, the Bicycle Plan, the Transit Strategic Plan, the Five-Year Street and Sidewalk Reconstruction Plan, and the City’s Community Health Improvement Plan and enable the City to apply for construction funding from MassDOT under its new Complete Streets Program.

Very truly yours, Richard C. Rossi, City Manager

City of Cambridge
Complete Streets Policy
Mar 21, 2016

Vision & Commitment
Complete Streets are safe and healthy streets for everyone. They are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable road users. People of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street, whether they are walking, bicycling, driving, or taking transit. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to work. They make it possible for children to walk or bike to school or to the park, and for seniors to continue to have an active lifestyle. They help buses to run on time and make it safe for people to walk to and from transit stations. They consider the needs of commercial vehicles and emergency vehicles, and facilitate their safe movement through the community.

The City of Cambridge is committed to designing, constructing, maintaining and operating our streets to provide for a comprehensive and integrated street network of facilities for people of all ages and abilities with a commitment to Complete Streets principles.

Projects, Phases and Jurisdictions
Complete Streets principles shall be incorporated into all publicly and privately funded projects. This includes transportation infrastructure and street design projects requiring funding or approval by the City, as well as projects funded by the state and federal government. Complete Streets principles shall also be incorporated into private developments and street reconstruction projects undertaken by private developments. In addition, the City will work with MassDOT, DCR, MBTA and other state entities to incorporate Complete Streets principles into state-owned roadways within Cambridge.

Exceptions to the Complete Streets Policy may be granted by the City Engineer, in consultation with the Community Development Department, Department of Public Works and the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, in limited situations where cost or impacts of accommodation is excessively disproportionate to the need or probable use.

Design of Complete Streets
Projects will be undertaken in a context sensitive manner in which designs are developed in a collaborative process with a focus on safety, community goals, policies, plans, and input. The latest design guidance, standards, plans and recommendations available will be used, including the most up-to-date versions of:

• Documents and plans created by the City of Cambridge which to date include:

o Pedestrian Plan

o Bicycle Plan

o Transit Strategic Plan

o Five-Year Street and Sidewalk Reconstruction Plan

o Safe Routes to School Program

o Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance

o Growth Policy Document

o Parking and Transportation Demand Management Plan

o Climate Action Plan

o Urban Forestry Program

• The Architectural Access Board (AAB) 521 CMR Rules and Regulations

• MassDOT Project Design and Development Guidebook

• MassDOT Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide

• The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Urban Bikeway Design Guide

• The NACTO Urban Street Design Guide

• Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards

• The United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Design Controls

• Green Infrastructure Design Guidelines

As appropriate and relevant, other planning and design guidance/manuals developed by local, state, or federal government agencies, or by nationally recognized groups such as NACTO, the American Public Transportation Association, or the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Implementation
The Complete Streets Program will be overseen by the Community Development Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department. They will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Complete Streets Policy; developing criteria for measuring effectiveness such as linear feet of sidewalk reconstructed, miles of new bicycle facilities, declining crash rates, changes in mode splits and percentage of transit stops that are fully accessible; and, where necessary, altering existing practices and overcoming barriers that may act as impediments to implementation of the Complete Streets Policy. These departments already engage in regular and ongoing coordination activities, and also include other relevant departments such as Police, Fire, and Public Health as needed and appropriate.

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Mar 21, 2016
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has for many years been seeking to enhance safety for all users of our public spaces, including people who drive, walk, bicycle, and use public transportation; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has for many years promoted the use of sustainable modes of transportation, including walking, cycling, and public transportation, and more recently established a formal Safe Routes to School Program; and
WHEREAS: A number of communities across the United States and around the world have begun to adopt a formal Complete Streets Policy; and
WHEREAS: Complete Streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street; and
WHEREAS: Complete Streets have been a key component to City infrastructure projects and have been a commitment in the City’s Five-Year Street and Sidewalk Reconstruction Plan for the last eight years; and
WHEREAS: Formalizing the City’s commitment to Complete Streets will reinforce existing sustainable transportation policies and plans, including the Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance, the Climate Protection Plan, the Pedestrian Plan, the Bicycle Plan, the Transit Strategic Plan, the Five-Year Street and Sidewalk Reconstruction Plan, and the City’s Community Health Improvement Plan; and
WHEREAS: The key City departments involved in the design, construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure are supportive of adopting a formal Complete Streets Policy, including Community Development, Public Health, Public Works, and Traffic, Parking, and Transportation; and
WHEREAS: MassDOT has created a new Complete Streets Program and anticipates providing construction funding of up to $400,000 to municipalities; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City of Cambridge goes on record as adopting the attached Complete Streets Policy.

11. A communication transmitted from Richard C. Rossi, City Manager, relative to the adoption of a Policy Order committing Vision Zero, a set of goals of eliminating transportation fatalities and serious injuries.
Adopted 9-0 (Order #14)

Mar 21, 2016
To the Honorable, the City Council:

For many years, the City of Cambridge has been committed to improving safety for all users of the transportation system, particularly those users who are most vulnerable. As part of this commitment, we have undertaken a wide range of engineering, education, and enforcement efforts aimed at reducing crashes, increasing respect amongst users, and generally creating a safer and more equitable transportation network that meets the needs of users of all ages and all abilities. As a result of these efforts, we have seen an ongoing decrease in crash rates, as well as a reduction in the number of fatalities and serious injuries. Nonetheless, even one fatality or serious injury is more than we want to see, and we are continually seeking out ways to further reduce these types of incidents, and the pain and suffering they cause to individuals and our community at large.

In recent years, a number of communities - first in Europe and now increasingly in the United States - have begun to commit to Vision Zero, which sets a goal of eliminating transportation fatalities and serious injuries. Vision Zero is both an aspirational goal and a real goal, and we believe that in a community like Cambridge, it is in fact feasible to attempt to eliminate these types of serious incidents, through the types of engineering, education, and enforcement efforts we are already undertaking, with a particular focus on the safety of our system. Vision Zero provides a very helpful perspective on how we improve transportation safety and the actions that we need to take to make the goal a reality.

Through the national Vision Zero Network (http://www.visionzeronetwork.org), many communities have already committed to Vision Zero and have developed action plans that detail how they plan to achieve the elimination of transportation fatalities and serious injuries (see the attached map for communities that have committed to Vision Zero or are considering doing so). The goals and approach associated with Vision Zero are broadly consistent with our existing approach to transportation planning, design, and operations, including the following policies, plans, and programs:

• The Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance

• The Climate Protection Plan

• The Pedestrian Plan

• The Bicycle Plan

• The Transit Strategic Plan

• The Five-Year Street and Sidewalk Reconstruction Plan

• The Community Health Improvement Plan

• The Safe Routes to School Program

• The CitySmart Program

Based on the policies and plans, we do not expect that committing to Vision Zero will require significant new expenditures. Rather, it will create an enhanced focus on safety as we look at transportation problems and solutions through the lens of public health and harm reduction. In recent years, we have done extensive analysis of crash statistics in Cambridge, which has given much improved data about safety issues and locations where improvements are needed. This data will form the basis of our Vision Zero efforts, allowing us to take a data-driven approach to achieving the Vision Zero goal.

As City Manager, I am prepared to commit to Vision Zero, as are all of the key City Departments involved in transportation, including Community Development, Police, Public Health, Public Works, and Traffic, Parking, and Transportation. I ask that the City Council will join us in this commitment by approving the attached resolution and demonstrating that the City of Cambridge is fully committed to eliminating transportation fatalities and serious injuries.

Very truly yours, Richard C. Rossi, City Manager

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Mar 21, 2016
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has for many years been seeking to enhance safety for all users of our public streets, including people who drive, walk, bicycle, and use public transportation, and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has for many years promoted the use of sustainable modes of transportation, including walking, cycling, and public transportation, and more recently established a formal Safe Routes to School Program; and
WHEREAS: A number of communities across the United States and around the world have begun to adopt a Vision Zero goal, which involves working towards the elimination of transportation fatalities and severe injuries; and
WHEREAS: These communities have come together under the banner of the Vision Zero Network (http://www.visionzeronetwork.org), which promotes Vision Zero nationally and helps to create information sharing among peer communities; and
WHEREAS: Vision Zero involves focusing on improving transportation safety from a public health and harm reduction perspective, an approach that is broadly consistent with the City’s transportation, public health, and community sustainability goals; and
WHEREAS: Committing to Vision Zero will reinforce existing sustainable transportation policies and plans, including the Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance, the Climate Protection Plan, the Pedestrian Plan, the Bicycle Plan, the Transit Strategic Plan, the Five-Year Street and Sidewalk Reconstruction Plan, and the City’s Community Health Improvement Plan; and
WHEREAS: The key City departments involved in transportation are supportive of a Vision Zero goal, including Community Development, Police, Public Health, Public Works, and Traffic, Parking, and Transportation; and
WHEREAS: These department have jointly performed a detailed analysis of crash statistics to understand the crash rates and safety issues in Cambridge, to provide a data-driven basis for understanding how safety can be improvement, now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City of Cambridge goes on record as committing to Vision Zero, with goals of eliminating transportation fatalities and serious injuries, as well as continuing to reduce the crash rates for all modes; and
RESOLVED: That the key City departments noted above will develop an initial Vision Zero Action Plan, which will be updated bi-annually (every two years); and
RESOLVED: That the key City departments noted above will continue to develop yearly updates to the crash statistics and safety analysis, which will provide a basis for developing updates to the Action Plan and generally pursue actions aimed at achieving the goals of Vision Zero.

12. A communication transmitted from Richard C. Rossi, City Manager, relative to the block rates for water consumption and sewer use for the period beginning Apr 1, 2016 and ending Mar 31, 2017.
Adopted 9-0

Mar 21, 2016
To the Honorable, the City Council:

RECOMMENDATIONS
The City administration and City Council continue to recognize the importance of minimizing increases in water and sewer rates. I recommend that the City Council approve a 0% increase in the water consumption block rate and a 3.2% increase in the sewer use block rate, resulting in a 2.4% increase in the combined rate for the period beginning Apr 1, 2016 and ending Mar 31, 2017. This is the sixth consecutive year that the City has been able to produce a 0% increase in the water rate.

In last year’s recommendation, the projected FY17 rate increases for water, sewer, and combined were 3.1%, 7.7%, and 6.4%, respectively, based on March 2015 consumption rates and projected budgets. We have been able to produce rates lower than estimated due primarily to lower operating budget projections in the Water Budget, and lower projected Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) assessments in the Sewer Budget. The MWRA provides annual updates to their projected assessments.

In March of each year, the City Council establishes water and sewer rates, which determine water and sewer revenues for the next fiscal year. Because of the timing requirements, water and sewer rates are set prior to the adoption of both the Cambridge budget and MWRA budget; therefore, revenue needs are based upon estimated expenditures. Historically, water and sewer rates have been established so that revenues generated by them, when combined with other related revenue sources, cover projected annual costs.

WATER
Two major factors determine the rate necessary to generate sufficient revenues: water consumption and the budget. The total FY17 Water Budget reflects a $108,815 increase from FY16. Water is able to offset costs related to cost-of-living allowances, pensions, and health benefits in the salaries and wages portion of the operating budget with a decrease in debt service payments.

The planned FY17 capital allocation is $5,000,000 using pay-as-you-go capital funding based on current revenues ($3,500,000) and fund balance ($1,500,000). The major project in the FY17 budget is the second phase of the installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) to the raw water pump system. An additional $1,000,000 million has been included for the replacement of existing VFDs on the finished water pumps. Installation of the VFDs will substantially improve energy efficiency at the water treatment plant. The total project cost is $5,000,000 over two years, of which $3,000,000 was funded from fund balance. The remainder of the FY17 capital allocation will be used for improvements to the distribution and transmission system, treatment plant equipment replacement, consulting services, and improvements to the watershed. Table 4 on page 5 indicates the details of water fund projected revenues and expenditures for FY16-21. Table 7 on page 8 shows actual water fund balances for FY11-15 and the projected balance for FY16.

To support a 0% water rate increase for the sixth year, $350,000 from fund balance will be used in FY17, bringing the total fund balance used to $1,850,000. We expect to eliminate the use of the fund balance in FY18, as decreases in debt service continue and as long as water consumption remains constant.

Water and sewer charges are directly linked to water consumption, with sewer costs comprising approximately 71.2% of total water and sewer expenditures. When consumption declines, revenues are negatively impacted. In the current fiscal year, water is being consumed at a rate similar to the previous fiscal year. If this trend continues, this would be the second year in which consumption has not decreased.

SEWER
The FY17 sewer budget reflects a 6.0% increase from FY16. This includes the MWRA assessment, debt service payments, and the sewer component of the Public Works budget. Debt service on sewer bonds and the MWRA assessment account for 90.2% of the total Sewer Budget.

FY17 estimated sewer revenues will cover the FY17 estimated MWRA assessment, which is scheduled to increase by $639,184 from the FY16 final assessment. The MWRA rate increase projected for the City is subject to change based on the MWRA budget, which is adopted later in spring 2016. These changes have typically been minor in past years. Unlike the water budget, sewer revenues are credited to the general fund and not to a separate proprietary fund that can be drawn upon if the need arises.

Included in the sewer budget are debt service increases attributable to the $12,740,000 general obligation bonds issued in February 2016 and the February 2016 SRF loan for Concord Avenue for $14,000,000.

The following sewer projects were included in the February 2016 bond issue: Cherry Street / South Massachusetts Avenue; Alewife Watershed; and Harvard Square projects.

The FY17 capital allotment of $1,000,000 in sewer revenues will continue to finance the remedial reconstruction program and development.

The City Council has authorized significant investments in the water and sewer systems to ensure Cambridge continues to benefit from a healthy and environmentally sound water and sewer system. In addition to the projects currently under way, the City’s five-year capital plan (FY17-21) calls for an additional investment of approximately $135,663,000 (primarily sewer, $114,663,000) in the water and sewer systems. The City carefully monitors the issuance of debt to fund authorized sewer projects and makes adjustments to ensure that debt service cost increases, which impact the sewer rate, are moderate.

Subsidies from the SRF loan program will cover only $44,240 or 0.2% of the total debt service of $19,942,737 for all FY17 sewer projects. The City will continue to receive state subsidies on existing debt. The FY18-21 capital plan includes other projects that may be eligible for subsidized loans from the state. As in past years, it is not certain that these projects will receive state subsidies and the debt service on these projects has been calculated based on funding through general obligation bonds. If state subsidies become available to the City, they will be used to lower the sewer rate in future years. Table 5 on page 6 shows the detail of sewer-related expenditures and revenues for FY16-21.

COMBINED WATER & SEWER
The table below reflects the projected combined water and sewer metered revenue requirements needed to cover water and sewer expenditures.

TABLE 1

	FY16 Projected	FY17 Budget	% Change
Water	$17,135,000	$17,137,015	0.0%
Sewer	$46,350,000	$47,844,595	3.2%
Combined Water / Sewer Revenue	$63,485,000	$64,981,610	2.4%

FY17 projected revenues are based on FY16 projected collections and reflect our practice of conservative revenue projections.

The table below reflects the FY16 actual and FY17 proposed water and sewer rates.

TABLE 2

	Annual Consumption*	FY16 Water Rate	FY17 Proposed Water Rate	FY16 Sewer Rate	FY17 Proposed Sewer Rate
Block 1	0 – 40 CcF	$3.02	$3.02	$9.21	$9.50
Block 2	41 – 400 CcF	$3.24	$3.24	$9.74	$10.05
Block 3	401 – 2,000 CcF	$3.44	$3.44	$10.46	$10.79
Block 4	2,001 – 10,000 CcF	$3.65	$3.65	$11.26	$11.62
Block 5	Over 10,000 CcF	$3.96	$3.96	$11.97	$12.35

*All rates are per CcF. CcF is an abbreviation of 100 cubic feet. One CcF is approximately 750 gallons.

The table below reflects the average change to combined water and sewer residential bills.

TABLE 3

Residential Type	FY16 Average	FY17 Projected	Annual Variance	% Change
Single Family	$766	$784	$18	2.4%
Two Family	$1,070	$1,096	$26	2.4%
Three Family	$1,553	$1,590	$37	2.4%

SENIOR DISCOUNT PROGRAM
There are currently 2,620 homeowners who qualify for the age 65+ water/sewer 15% discount (not to exceed $90 annually), which is not tied to the homeowner’s income.

There are also 80 elderly homeowners who qualify for an income-based discount of 30% (not to exceed $180 annually). To qualify for the 30% discount, a homeowner must be 65 or older and must have been granted the Clause 41C elderly real estate exemption. For FY16, the income guidelines are as follows:

single, income of $25,197 with assets of $50,392 or less; married, income of $37,796 with assets of $69,289 or less.

FUTURE OUTLOOK FOR RATES
Overall, the City has been extremely successful over the past five years in producing minimal water and sewer rate increases. The average annual increases for the FY12-16 period were as follows: water, 0.0%; sewer, 3.2%; and combined, 2.3%, which include both the water and sewer rates showing 0% increases in FY12 and FY13. The FY14, FY15 and FY16 water rate increase was also 0%.

Tables 4, 5, 6 and 7 contain five-year forecasts for water, sewer, and combined revenue estimates as well as water fund balances for the past five years and the projected FY16 fund balance. Although the City currently does not project the use of fund balance in the out years, it will continue to review appropriate use of fund balance for a specific project, or to lower the rate. As can be seen in Table 6, the annual combined water / sewer rate is projected to increase by an average of approximately 5.2% for FY17-21.

The projected increase is the result of the City’s commitment to bonding sewer infrastructure improvement projects and increases in the MWRA assessment (based on estimates received from the MWRA). MWRA increases are projected to be 1.4% - 7.1% in FY17-FY21. If increases in the MWRA assessment are more moderate, the rate increases that are shown will be lowered. If consumption increases and therefore revenues increase, rate increases will be affected positively. Conversely, if consumption decreases, there will be a negative effect on water and sewer revenues.

Our water and sewer program is structured to produce reasonable rate increases in the future. The goal of the City Administration and City Council is to minimize the effects of water and sewer rate increases on residents as much as possible, while continuing to invest in our infrastructure.

Very truly yours, Richard C. Rossi, City Manager

Table 4
Water Projections
FY16-21

	FY16 Budget/Recap	FY16 Projected	FY17 Budget	FY18 Projected	FY19 Projected	FY20 Projected	FY21 Projected
Water Expenditures:
Operating	11,097,610	11,051,280	11,223,705	11,672,653	12,139,559	12,625,142	13,130,147
Existing Debt	2,866,505	2,866,505	2,745,505	2,624,503	2,503,501	471,501	-
Subtotal Operating Budget	13,964,115	13,917,785	13,969,210	14,297,156	14,643,060	13,096,643	13,130,147
Capital	4,900,000	4,900,000	5,000,000	3,500,000	3,500,000	5,000,000	5,000,000
Finance	225,000	225,000	225,000	225,000	225,000	225,000	225,000
Conservation	49,085	49,085	52,805	52,805	52,805	52,805	52,805
Public Works	400,000	400,000	400,000	400,000	400,000	400,000	400,000
Community Development	30,000	30,000	30,000	30,000	30,000	30,000	30,000
Animal Commission	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000
Total Expenditures	19,578,200	19,531,870	19,687,015	18,514,961	18,860,865	18,814,448	18,847,952
Assumptions: 1) Operating Budget for FY17 is based on City Manager's Submitted Budget and increases 4% for FY18-21. 2) Debt Service decreases according to Debt Service Schedule. 3) Capital as shown. 4) All others remain constant from FY17-21.
Financing Plan
Beginning Fund Balance	11,687,672	11,687,672	10,190,802	8,340,802	8,340,802	8,340,802	8,340,802
Revenue:
Meter Revenue	17,128,200	17,135,000	17,137,015	17,814,961	18,160,865	18,114,448	18,147,952
Miscellaneous Water Charges	600,000	900,000	700,000	700,000	700,000	700,000	700,000
From Fund Balance	1,850,000	-	1,850,000	-	-	-	-
Total Revenue	19,578,200	18,035,000	19,687,015	18,514,961	18,860,865	18,814,448	18,847,952
Total Expenditures	19,578,200	19,531,870	19,687,015	18,514,961	18,860,865	18,814,448	18,847,952
From Fund Balance	1,850,000	-	1,850,000	-	-	-	-
Ending Fund Balance	9,837,672	10,190,802	8,340,802	8,340,802	8,340,802	8,340,802	8,340,802
Projected Rate Increase			0.0%	4.0%	1.9%	-0.3%	0.2%

 

Table 5
Sewer Projections
FY16-21

	FY16 Budget/Recap	FY16 Projected	FY17 Budget	FY18 Projected	FY19 Projected	FY20 Projected	FY21 Projected
Sewer Expenditures:
Public Works	3,253,755	3,253,755	3,477,745	3,616,855	3,761,529	3,911,990	4,068,470
Capital	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	2,000,000	2,250,000	2,250,000
Existing Debt	17,786,084	18,029,779	16,745,994	19,262,682	18,084,993	17,205,454	16,135,213
New Debt	-	-	3,196,743	3,792,750	6,581,250	9,495,750	12,952,000
Finance	225,000	225,000	225,000	225,000	225,000	225,000	225,000
Community Development	44,500	44,500	44,500	44,500	44,500	44,500	44,500
MWRA	23,516,196	23,259,670	23,898,854	24,233,438	25,420,876	27,225,759	28,587,047
Total Expenditures	45,825,535	45,812,704	48,588,836	52,175,225	56,118,148	60,358,453	64,262,230
Assumptions: 1) The FY17 MWRA assessment is based on the preliminary estimate received from the MWRA and reflects a 2.7 % increase from the revised FY16 assessment. FY18-21 assessments are based on annual rate increases of 1.4%, 4.9%, 7.1% and 5.0% respectively. 2) Public Works allocation increases by 7% in FY17 over the FY16 Budget with increases of 4% estimated in FY18-21. 3) Capital is funded at $1,000,000 in FY16-FY18, $2,000,000 in FY19, $2,250,000 in FY20-FY21. 4) Debt Service increases according to Debt Service schedule. 5) All others remain constant.
Financing Plan
Revenue:
Sewer Service Charge	45,181,361	46,350,000	47,844,595	51,430,918	55,373,774	59,614,013	63,517,723
Non-Metered Sewer Revenues	600,000	2,000,000	700,000	700,000	700,000	700,000	700,000
MWPAT Subsidy (existing)	44,174	44,174	44,241	44,307	44,374	44,440	44,507
Total Revenue	45,825,535	48,394,174	48,588,836	52,175,225	56,118,148	60,358,453	64,262,230
Projected Sewer Service Charge Increase			3.2%	7.5%	7.7%	7.7%	6.5%

 

Table 6
Combined Water and Sewer Projections
FY16-21

	FY16 Budget / Recap	FY16 Projected	FY17 Budget	FY18 Projected	FY19 Projected	FY20 Projected	FY21 Projected
Metered Water Revenue	17,128,200	17,135,000	17,137,015	17,814,961	18,160,865	18,114,448	18,147,952
Metered Sewer Revenue	45,181,361	46,350,000	47,844,595	51,430,918	55,373,774	59,614,013	63,517,723
Total	62,309,561	63,485,000	64,981,610	69,245,879	73,534,639	77,728,461	81,665,675
% Increase	-	-	2.4%	6.6%	6.2%	5.7%	5.1%

 

Table 7
Water Fund Balances
FY11-16

	As of 6/30/11 (Actual)	As of 6/30/12 (Actual)	As of 6/30/13 (Actual)	As of 6/30/14 (Actual)	As of 6/30/15 (Actual)	Projected 6/30/16 (Projected)
Water Fund Balance	6,988,537	8,410,762	9,076,357	9,741,315	11,687,672	10,190,802

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March 21, 2016
ORDERED: That the following block rate for water consumption and sewer use in the City of Cambridge be in effect for the period beginning Apr 1, 2016 and ending Mar 31, 2017.

	Annual Consumption*	FY16 Water Rate	FY17 Proposed Water Rate	FY16 Sewer Rate	FY17 Proposed Sewer Rate
Block 1	0 – 40 CcF	$3.02	$3.02	$9.21	$9.50
Block 2	41 – 400 CcF	$3.24	$3.24	$9.74	$10.05
Block 3	401 – 2,000 CcF	$3.44	$3.44	$10.46	$10.79
Block 4	2,001 – 10,000 CcF	$3.65	$3.65	$11.26	$11.62
Block 5	Over 10,000 CcF	$3.96	$3.96	$11.97	$12.35

*All rates are per CcF. CcF is an abbreviation of 100 cubic feet. One CcF is approximately 750 gallons.

and be it further
ORDERED: That the Senior Citizens Discount Program as established in FY91 be continued. This program gives either a 15 percent or 30 percent discount on water/sewer bills, depending upon certain qualifications. Any resident who owns and occupies his/her own home and who is 65 or older on July 1 qualifies for the 15 percent discount.

This discount may not exceed $90 for the fiscal year. To qualify for the 30 percent discount, a homeowner must be 65 years of age or older and must have been granted the Clause 41C Elderly Real Estate Exemption, which is based on the demonstrated financial need. This discount may not exceed $180 for the fiscal year.

2. Retirement of Susan Flannery from the Cambridge Public Library.   Mayor Simmons

Resolution #2

Mar 21, 2016

MAYOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: Susan Flannery will be retiring as Director of the Cambridge Public Library system in March 2016 after 22 years and 10 months of service to the City; and

WHEREAS: Prior to coming to work for the City, Susan received her BA in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MA in Library Sciences from Simmons College; and

WHEREAS: Susan began working for the City of Cambridge in February 1991, when she was hired as Associate Director for Public Services for the Cambridge Public Library; and

WHEREAS: Susan became Acting Director of Libraries in 1992 and one year later, was appointed to the position of Director; and

WHEREAS: Under Susan Flannery’s leadership, the main branch of the Cambridge Public Library completed its renovation, and the main library has received 22 awards, including a LEED Certification in 2010 and, most recently, the National Honor Award for Architecture from the American Institute of Architects; and

WHEREAS: Susan Flannery was involved in the plans for a new library from the very beginning of the project, her vision of a library being one that looked and felt as one, and she strongly believed in a dedicated space for children and youth that would sit in a central location and would nurture not only an interest in reading, but would also make young people feel that their interests and well-being were important, and this sense informed the creation of a teen room in the main floor of the main branch of the Cambridge Public Library; and

WHEREAS: Under Susan’s leadership, major renovations were also undertaken in the Central Square branch and in other branches of the Cambridge Public Library system; and

WHEREAS: Susan Flannery is the recipient of many awards for her work and community service including the John Cotton Dana Award from the American Library Association, Outstanding Library Advocate of the 20th Century, the Friends to Writers Awards, the PEN New England Award 2000, and the CCTV Leading Roles Award; and

WHEREAS: Besides her dedicated service to the City of Cambridge, Susan has been an engaged member of the Cambridge Community, serving as a president of the Cambridge Rotary Club, a Board Member of the Cambridge Guidance Center, and a former president of the Massachusetts Library Association; and

WHEREAS: The Cambridge Public Library’s reputation as a vibrant and dynamic community space – a place that provides a variety of literary, artistic and community events for all ages and segments of the Cambridge community – has been greatly enhanced thanks to the vision of Susan Flannery; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record thanking Susan Flannery for her many years of service to the City of Cambridge on the occasion of her retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Council formally go on record declaring Mar 30, 2016 as Susan Flannery Day in the City 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 Susan Flannery on behalf of the entire City Council.

3. That the City Council declare Apr 9, 2016 to be Tom Lehrer Day in the City of Cambridge.   Mayor Simmons

Resolution #3

Mar 21, 2016

MAYOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: Tom Lehrer was born Thomas Andrew Lehrer in New York City on Apr 9, 1928; and

WHEREAS: Tom Lehrer came to Cambridge in 1943, at age of 15, as a Harvard University freshman, he earned his Artium Baccalaureus in mathematics (magna cum laude) by age 18, and his Masters degree one year later; and

WHEREAS: Tom Lehrer found Harvard’s mathematics curriculum less than challenging, so he amused himself by writing and composing an array of humorous and fanciful songs, much to the delight of his friends and classmates; and

WHEREAS: Tom Lehrer continued as a Ph.D candidate until 1953, when he began working for Baird Atomic in Cambridge, and the Los Alamos scientific laboratory in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS: That same year, he became both a recording artist and a record producer, pressing twelve of his favorites on ten-inch vinyl records that eventually sold over 350,000 copies; and

WHEREAS: Tom Lehrer’s penchant for luscious rhymes, poignant satire, and playful portrayals of mayhem in his lyrics made him a legend on three continents and a pop culture icon to multiple generations of fans and followers; and

WHEREAS: Tom Lehrer soon entered the world of show business and celebrity, both of which he found tedious, repetitive, and degrading, and he took a break with a two-year stint in the army before returning to Harvard in 1960 to continue his academic studies; and

WHEREAS: Tom Lehrer demurs at attention to his celebrity, yet he takes pride in “Tom Foolery,” the 1981 off-Broadway play produced by Cameron Mackintosh and based on his songs, and the gold record he was awarded for his album “That Was The Week That Was,” 31 years after its release in 1965; and

WHEREAS: Tom Lehrer was serious when he sang “those eastern winters, I can’t endure ‘em…,” he joined the teaching staff at the University of California, becoming Professor Emeritus and splitting his time between the two cities he loves, Santa Cruz, CA and Cambridge, MA; and

WHEREAS: Tom Lehrer continues to inspire revivals of his work, including the celebration scheduled to take place on Apr 9, 2016 in Santa Cruz; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council declare Apr 9, 2016 to be Tom Lehrer Day in the City of Cambridge, and the City Council encourages its citizens to join in the celebration of the life and songs of Tom Lehrer with a boisterous cheer of “Viva la Lehrer!” and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Tom Lehrer on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-2     Mar 21, 2016
MAYOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: In 2015, following the discussions around raising linkage fees in Cambridge, the City Council determined that attention should next be centered upon examining the legality of tying the Living Wage Ordinance to the Linkage Ordinance; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide an update to the City Council as to what steps may have already been undertaken to examine this question, what additional measures must be taken in order to obtain a definitive answer, and what the timeline for this process is projected to be.

O-3     Mar 21, 2016
COUNCILLOR DEVEREUX
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR MAZEN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge continually strives to be open, transparent and accountable to the public it serves; and
WHEREAS: Disclosing municipal lobbying efforts is an emerging best practice for municipalities nationwide, as it promotes government transparency, and enhances the public’s trust in their local government; and
WHEREAS: Numerous cities around the country, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose, Austin, Jacksonville, and San Francisco have implemented disclosure regulations for municipal lobbying to achieve a more transparent government; and
WHEREAS: There are currently two proposals, one in the City of Boston and one in the State Legislature, regarding disclosure requirements; and
WHEREAS: The City of Boston is considering municipal lobbying regulations that would require lobbyists in the City of Boston to file twice-yearly reports declaring campaign contributions, the names of their clients, policies that they tried to influence or that they advocated on behalf of, compensation received from clients, and dates of lobbying communications; and
WHEREAS: Mayor Walsh recently filed this legislation with the Boston City Council as a Home Rule petition, and it is currently before the Boston City Council’s Government Operations Committee; and
WHEREAS: The State Senate is also considering Senate Bill 2451, An Act relative to the establishment of a Massachusetts municipal lobbying policy, a local option proposal that would allow municipalities to accept disclosure requirements for municipal lobbyists through the City Clerk’s office; and
WHEREAS: Senate Bill 2451 would require lobbyists receiving more than $2,500 per year to disclose on what issues they are lobbying, who they are lobbying, and would require lobbyists to register annually with the City Clerk’s office; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is known and respected as a national leader in many areas of open government, including its Open Data Initiative, and continually strives to inform and empower the public to engage in civic issues; and
WHEREAS: It would benefit the public to require lobbyists to register and publicly report their work in the City of Cambridge; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the City Solicitor and other relevant City departments to consider the pending State legislation and pending legislation in the City of Boston and any other actions that would allow Cambridge to institute municipal lobbying regulations, and to report back to the Council in a timely manner.

O-4     Mar 21, 2016
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: The Flint, Michigan water crisis has demonstrated the hazard that lead service lines used for drinking water can pose to public health; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Water Department has significantly reduced lead services and materials in the water system, but some properties in Cambridge may still be connected to the water system by lead service pipes; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Water Department are committed to ensuring that every resident has access to drinking water that meets the highest safety and health standards; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Water Department provides a number of free services to assist residents who receive water to their buildings through lead service lines; and
WHEREAS: The City of Boston has recently launched an online database of properties connected to the water system through lead service lines to help educate and inform property owners and tenants; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Managing Director of the Cambridge Water Department for the purpose of creating an online database of lead service lines similar to the one created by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission; and now therefore be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the appropriate city departments to disseminate information to residents about the Cambridge Water Department’s free water quality testing and lead service pipe replacement services.

O-7     Mar 21, 2016  Amended
COUNCILLOR MAZEN
MAYOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: Cambridge prides itself on its multi-cultural immigrant communities, welcoming their various contributions to the city, whether through work, camaraderie, and/or community involvement; and
WHEREAS: According to the 2011 Cambridge Statistical Profile, over a quarter of Cambridge’s 103,609 residents are foreign-born with over 61% of that group lacking citizenship; and
WHEREAS: Residents of Cambridge, whether or not they are naturalized United States citizens, do pay state and local taxes, including property, sales, and school taxes, and enroll their children in our public schools, giving them a stake in decisions of the Cambridge City Council that affect them; and
WHEREAS: Without the ability to vote and gain representation through that power, non-citizens are at a disadvantage in ensuring that their views are adequately heard, understood, and represented in City Council discussions and policy decisions; and
WHEREAS: Even if a home rule petition allowing non-citizens to vote in municipal elections were to pass through the State Legislature, the ability to hold public office would still be reserved for U.S. citizens; therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Art, and Celebrations Committee and the Civic Unity Committee hold a joint hearing to determine the feasibility of facilitating the appointment of a “Non-Citizen Representative” to the City Council, who would: to discuss all issues related to non-citizen representation and outreach in Cambridge.
   1) be elected by Cambridge residents who are ineligible to vote in municipal elections solely on account of their citizenship;
   2) would not have the power to vote in Council meetings;
   3) would be able to speak on agenda items at Council meetings;
   4) would be able to submit policy orders to City Council members for their consideration; and
   5) would be allotted a publicly accessible meeting space for non-citizen Cambridge residents to air grievances and discuss city issues at least once per month.

O-9     Mar 21, 2016
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge Water Department serves more than 100,000 residents and works to provide information and services to the City’s residents, commercial customers, and contractors; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge’s water has naturally occurring mineral content, calcium carbonate, also known as hardness and using this water in any heating system may require treatment according to manufacturers’ recommendations and plumbing systems with corrosion resistant fixtures relating to the specific water hardness; and
WHEREAS: Many in the City from contractors to residents are not aware of the unique challenges posed by water hardness, and having additional information available via the Cambridge Water Department’s website regarding best practices and technical resources for installing plumbing fixtures would be useful when making installation decisions; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge Water Department currently provides excellent educational resources via their website and further offers free water testing and other information to City residents; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Water Department to create an informational web page that will provide plumbing infrastructure installation tips for residents, commercial customers, and contractors in the City of Cambridge.

O-10     Mar 21, 2016
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to update the City Council on the effects of the removal of sidewalk vaults in Central Square.