Cambridge City Council meeting - April 5, 2010 - AGENDA

RECONSIDERATION
1. Councillor Kelley filed reconsideration on the adoption of Order Number Eight of Mar 22, 2010 as amended to place on the table and refer to the Government Operations and Rules Committee the proposal to amend the City Council rules to replace the Health and Environment Committee with two committees, the Community Health Committee and the Sustainable Environment Committee.
Reconsideration Prevailed, Order Adopted

CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-35, regarding a report on increasing traffic enforcement at the intersection of Inman Street and Mass Avenue.

2. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-20, regarding a report on responding to Google's RFI.

3. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-37, regarding a report on supporting the GLBT Commission and other organizations in their efforts to count all Cambridge residents and what the support is.

4. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-24, regarding a report on noise from airplanes going to and from Logan Airport.

5. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-26, regarding a report on conducting a feasibility study of a public market at Lechmere Square.

6. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-41, regarding a draft amendment to Section 5.28.2 of the Zoning Ordinance.
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board

7. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-36, regarding a report on convening a Central Square stakeholders meeting to review action plans.

8. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the Green Building/Zoning Task Force recommendations.
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board

Apr 5, 2010
To the Honorable, the City Council:

The Green Building/Zoning Task Force, which met for over a year starting in April 2008, has compiled the attached recommendations to encourage energy efficient building practices and create green building standards in Cambridge. Zoning language based on the Task Force recommendations is attached. The wind turbine component of the zoning recommendations was adopted by the City Council in September 2009. The remaining zoning proposals would accomplish the following:

GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS FOR LARGE DEVELOPMENT /LEED
All major new construction and significant rehab of existing buildings already subject to special permit or development consultation would be required, at a minimum, to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building criteria at the following levels:

* 25,000 - 49,999 sq. ft. - LEED ‘Certified' level

* 50,000 sq. ft. and larger - LEED ‘Silver' level

Formal certification from US Green Building Council (USGBC)/ Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) would not be required.

GREEN ROOFS
Green roofs would be excluded from the calculation of gross floor area (GFA) even when access to the rooftop is provided. Currently, access to a rooftop, when located above the third floor, triggers the roof area being included in the GFA calculation.

As an incentive to create green roofs, decks or patios less than or equal to 15% of the green roof area and set back 10' from all building edges may also be excluded from the calculation of GFA. This would be permitted as of right in non residential districts and high density residential districts (Residence C-1A, C-2, C-2A, C-2B, C-3, C-3A, and C-3B). A special permit would be required in the remaining residential districts.

IMPEDIMENTS TO BUILDING GREEN IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE
Certain green elements that may reduce a building's energy consumption and improve indoor environmental quality would be excluded from the calculation of GFA. These include:

* double skin façade exterior walls

* extensive exterior wall insulation

* shading devices such as overhangs, eaves, awnings, pergolas, and arbors

SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
Building mounted solar energy systems would be defined as mechanical equipment in the zoning ordinance and hence would not be subject to FAR and height restrictions. Installation of solar systems would require a building permit and a list of solar energy system permits, including addresses and dates of issue, would be maintained at the Inspectional Services Department.

New development projects adjacent to existing solar systems would be encouraged to minimize shadow impacts on those solar systems. In addition, the impact of tree planting and landscape improvements on neighboring solar energy systems should also be considered.

Further details and additional non-zoning recommendations are described in the Task Force recommendations, which are attached. We look forward to continuing review of this proposal with the City Council and the public.

Very truly yours, Robert W. Healy, City Manager

9. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to a proposed Zoning Amendment that is required by FEMA due to the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the City, which will become final on June 4, 2010.
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board

10. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-40, regarding placing Cambridge Energy Alliance posters at Cemusa bus shelters.

11. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-39, regarding a report on properties listed for sale by the Jesuit Order.

Apr 5, 2010
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-39, regarding a report on properties listed for sale by the Jesuit Order, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Beth Rubenstein reports the following:

There are seven properties which have been listed for sale by the Jesuit Order, four properties offered as a package in Mid-Cambridge, two in Neighborhood 9, and one in Agassiz. This offering presents an opportunity to expand the supply of affordable housing in a neighborhood where there are generally few opportunities to add to the stock. We have worked with a local non-profit housing organization, CASCAP, Inc, to submit an offer to purchase the four properties in Mid-Cambridge.

We became aware of these properties when they were listed on MLS earlier this month. We monitor MLS listings daily for opportunities to create new affordable units through the purchase of existing multi-family buildings and new development of affordable units. We pay particular attention to areas where there are fewer opportunities for new affordable units.

While we have considered all buildings currently offered, we have most closely examined the properties offered at the corner of Kirkland Street and Sumner Road. This site has great potential for use as affordable housing. The site consists of four structures currently used as congregate housing for Jesuit novitiates. The site contains a large open area between the four buildings which currently consists of a grassy area and a large parking lot. We believe that the combined site of more than 30,572 square feet could accommodate a mix of rental and homeownership housing, and, of the seven available properties, provides the best opportunity to create units for families with children.

Before making the offer earlier this week, we discussed the opportunity with the Affordable Housing Trust. We have worked with Cascap to prepare an analysis that envisions using the two existing buildings on Kirkland Road for single-room occupancy units and the Sumner Road for new family-sized homeownership units. (The existing building on Sumner Road would be demolished; review by the Cambridge Historical Commission would be required).

The Zoning Ordinance currently allows no more than 8 units on the 30,572 square-foot site. Therefore our development plan of 10 family-sized condominium units and 30 single-room occupancy units would need significant relief, including waivers of density, parking, and open space requirements, as well as dimensional relief for setbacks and height. While City-funded affordable developments have had success using the comprehensive permit, the amount of relief needed here is much more extensive than requested in the past. The significant relief is critical to the financial feasibility of the project, as there are no as-of-right options that are financially viable.

In addition to considering zoning limitations, we must also work within cost parameters necessary to leverage City funds with other public and private sources. Development costs in Cambridge are among the highest in the state and are consistently higher than other communities. Development costs in Cambridge are driven by high land acquisition costs.

The offer we have made for the Jesuit properties stretches beyond the high end of what the City has paid for acquisition and total development costs in the past. The cost premium is necessary to make a serious bid for this desirable site, but there are limits to what we can offer. The City must also consider how other funding sources would react to development costs, as a project such as this would not be possible without other public funding sources. We cannot expect commitments from other sources if costs greatly exceed those of other projects in the City.

Notwithstanding these challenges, we agree that this site could be an attractive affordable housing development which would serve residents and provide affordable housing in area where there are fewer affordable units. If the Jesuits agree to our price for this community use of the property, and if the necessary zoning and historical approvals can be obtained, this site could be thoughtfully redeveloped as a mix of sustainable affordable rental and homeownership units.

Very truly yours, Robert W. Healy, City Manager

12. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Ms. Tanya Ford as Executive Director of the Election Commission, effective Apr 6, 2010.

Apr 5, 2010
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Ms. Tanya Ford as Executive Director of the Election Commission, effective Apr 6, 2010.

Ms. Ford brings several years of experience in supervising elections from her role as Village Clerk in Hempstead NY. She has substantial managerial experience in municipal government, working with boards and commissions and a variety of staff. She is also familiar with the City of Cambridge, having visited family and friends here frequently. She is an excellent addition to our management team and a worthy replacement for our retiring Executive Director, Marsha Weinerman.

Very truly yours, Robert W. Healy, City Manager

13. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-27, regarding a report on options for transitioning to a modern web video platform.

Apr 5, 2010
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-27, regarding a report on options for transitioning to a modern web video platform, please be advised of the following:

The IT Department was asked to evaluate available options for transitioning to a modern web video platform and report back to the City Manager with the results of that evaluation and a timeframe for transition.

The order included a list of functions that a modern web video service should include. There were also some examples of companies that include these functions for us to review.

We began our research by first evaluating our current service and to the list of requirements in the order. Video Streaming was implemented in 2005, and the only function required at that time, was to provide a live web video stream of the weekly City Council meetings. Shortly after we implemented it, the School Committee began to stream their weekly Committee meetings.

A comparison of the other companies listed as examples of a modern web video platform, indicated that the current vendor complied with over 80% of the functions desired for a reasonable fee.

The vendor supports the following functions; the ability to stream on MAC or PC without an ad-on application, stream city council meetings to a smartphone, and e-mail links for custom start and end points in a recorded video. It has the capability to search previous videos for specific agenda items but there are considerable amounts of human intervention required to index and title each meeting after it is recorded. It will support adding comments to a video but not as a social network function such as Youtube, Twitter of Facebook.

The City will remain using the current vendor and determine the scope of effort to upgrade more of the functionality included with the tool. We will continue to look at this service yearly to ensure that we are making the best use of the service or whether we need to move to a new level of technology.

Very truly yours, Robert W. Healy, City Manager

14. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-44, regarding a report on proposed changes to the intersection of Garfield Street and Massachusetts Avenue.

15. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a $62,254.60 grant from the Federal Highway Administration and the Massachusetts Planning Organization (MPO), through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) to the Grant Fund Community Development Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used to implement social marketing of various transportation options, designed to encourage non-automobile modes of travel such as public transit, walking and bicycling.
Referred to Traffic & Transportation Committee - Kelley

16. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $67,000 in the General Fund from the Employee Benefits (salary adjustment) Salary and Wages account to the Veterans' Travel and Training account to cover additional veteran benefits and medical costs through the end of the fiscal year.

17. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-30, regarding a report on protocol for dealing with bedbugs.

18. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as Constables for a term of three years, effective the first day of Jan 2010:
Patricia Breen (With Power)
Robert J. Ciampi (Without Power)
James E. Jones (Without Power)

19. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-34, regarding a report on installing a "no idling" sign at the Farr Academy at Pearl and Auburn Streets.

20. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-11, regarding a report on developing an ordinance that would limit the distribution of telephone books.

21. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-15, regarding a report on the number of Cambridge Households benefiting from LIHEAP weatherization service.

22. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $40,000.00 of additional revenue received by the Community School Programs to the General Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account that will cover the cost of bus transportation and other contractual services for Community School Programming.

23. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation funds received through the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP), for $12,000.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account and will be used to supplement fuel assistance payments.

24. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to an additional appropriation of the Low Income Heating Assistance Program grant for $931,620 funded by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services and administered in Massachusetts by the Commonwealth's Department of Housing and Community Development to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($173,360) and to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($755,760), and to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Travel and Training account ($2,500) and will be used for the operation of the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) serving Cambridge and Somerville.

25. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Alexandra Detjens as a member of the Police Review & Advisory Board for a term of five years, effective Apr 1, 2010.

Apr 5, 2010
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby transmitting notification of Alexandra Detjens as a member of the Police Review & Advisory Board for a term of five years, effective Apr 1, 2010.

Ms. Detjens brings a wide array of experience working on domestic violence prevention, counseling of victims of violence and advocating on behalf of victims. She is a trained mediator and has worked in conjunction with the U.S. Marshal's Office, U.S. Attorney's Office, multiple police departments and district attorney's offices through her work in the domestic violence field. She has conducted trainings for the Boston Police Academy and Washington. D.C. Superior Court judges on victim's rights, domestic violence and sexual assault. Ms. Detjens is currently Chair of Cambridge's City-wide Violence Free Zone initiative.

Very truly yours, Robert W. Healy, City Manager

CHARTER RIGHT
1. Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey on Order Number Twelve of Mar 22, 2010 requesting the City Manager to direct the new Executive Director of the Police Review Advisory Board to submit a report to the City Council detailing what are perceived to be the issues of greatest importance that the Police Review Advisory Board must focus on, and that this report should be submitted to the City Council no later than 90 days from the adoption of this order.
Adopted

2. Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey on Order Number Thirteen of Mar 22, 2010 urging the U.S. Department of Energy to support the Massachusetts petition to exempt from federal preemption Massachusetts's 90% AFUE standard for non-weatherized gas furnaces.
Adopted

3. Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey on Order Number Fourteen of Mar 22, 2010 requesting the City Manager to confer with the relevant City staff, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the MBTA and other large entities in the city such as Harvard and MIT and report back to the City Council on what circumstances the public should expect the Cambridge Police Department not to act on a public safety related issues because the problematic behavior is taking place on property within the City over which another public institution has jurisdiction.
Adopted

4. Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey on Order Number Fifteen of Mar 22, 2010 requesting the City Manager to report back to the City Council on the status of the transmittal of the sum of $50,000 by Lesley University to the City of Cambridge for improvement of Massachusetts Avenue and of any allocation of the funds to date.
Adopted as Amended

O-15     Mar 22, 2010 Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR SEIDEL
WHEREAS: In agreements made between Lesley University and the City of Cambridge regarding recent zoning amendments and the creation of a Lesley Porter Overlay District, Lesley University committed the sum of $50,000 to the City of Cambridge for the improvement of Massachusetts Avenue; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on the status of the transmittal of said initial funds and of any allocation of the funds to date.

5. Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey on Order Number Seventeen of Mar 22, 2010 requesting the City Manager to report back to the City Council on the feasibility of adopting a Pay-As-You-Throw program in Cambridge.
Adopted

6. Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey on Order Number Eighteen of Mar 22, 2010 requesting the City Manager to direct the City Solicitor to report back to the City Council with options for amending the city ordinance to allow for the Manager to permit civic organizations to use public space after hours.
Adopted

7. Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey on Order Number Nineteen of Mar 22, 2010 requesting the City Manager to provide a report on the City's response to the heavy rain that was most damaging to North Cambridge and inform our residents of any federal assistance that may be available to them and explain the need to purchase flood insurance when those residences are in a declared flood plain.
Adopted

8. Charter Right exercised by Vice Mayor Davis on Order Number Twenty of Mar 22, 2010 dedicating a corner in the vicinity of One Kendall Square to be named "Bob Jones Square."
Adopted

ON THE TABLE
9. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a copy of the referral of Order Number 15 of Dec 21, 2009, regarding increasing the amount of public information about elections while the election is in progress, to the 2010-2011 City Council. [Communications and Reports from City Officers #1 of Jan 11, 2010 Placed on Table.]

10. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a copy of the referral of Order Number 16 of Dec 21, 2009, regarding the City Council's policy on naming street corners, along with the attached Oct 27, 2006 report from the City Manager. [Communications and Reports from City Officers #2 of Jan 11, 2010 Placed on Table.]
Referred to Gov't Operations & Rules Committee - Seidel

APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
1. An application was received from Zing! Pizza, requesting permission for a sandwich board sign in front of the premises numbered 1925 Massachusetts Avenue.

2. An application was received from STA Travel, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 65 Mount Auburn Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development, Historical Commission and abutters.

3. An application was received from Muireann Glenmullen, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 209 Pearl Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association.

4. An application was received from Harvard Square Business Association, requesting permission for a temporary banner across JFK Street at Mount Auburn Street announcing MayFair on May 2nd.

5. An application was received from Charles Associates Real Estate, requesting permission for a sandwich board sign in front of the premises numbered 1700 Massachusetts Avenue.

6. An application was received from Cambridge Public Library, requesting permission for a temporary banner across Massachusetts Avenue at City Hall announcing The Secret Gardens of Cambridge event on June 13th.

7. A zoning petition has been received from Boston Properties, requesting that City Council amend the Zoning Ordinance and Map relating to the Mixed Use Development District Section 14.32.1 and 14.32.2 located between Main Street and Broadway.
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Representative William N. Brownsberger, transmitting thanks for the two City Council resolutions adopted on Mar 8, 2010.

2. A communication was received from Representative William N. Brownsberger, regarding Blair Pond.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution on the death of Hubert Ward.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Maher, Vice Mayor Davis, Councillor Decker, Councillor Seidel

2. Resolution on the death of Robert Paul Phaneuf.   Councillor Toomey

3. Proclaim Apr 23-May 2, 2010 as Jazz Week in Cambridge.   Mayor Maher

4. Resolution on the death of Joanne M. (Wentzell) Takach.   Mayor Maher

5. Urge all residents to be cognizant of the 21st Holocaust Commemoration at Temple Beth Shalom on May 4, 2010 from 7:00pm-9:00pm at Temple Beth Shalom.   Mayor Maher

6. Proclaim May 2-May 8, 2010 as Drinking Water Week in the City of Cambridge.   Councillor Reeves

7. Thanks to Johnita Patterson for her service to the City of Cambridge.   Councillor Reeves

8. Congratulations to the recipients of the upcoming 2010 Outstanding City Employee Awards.   Mayor Maher

9. Congratulations to the CRLS cast of the The Attic for qualifying as finalists in the 2010 Drama Festival on Mar 26, 2010 at the John Hancock Hall in Boston.   Mayor Maher

10. Resolution on the death of Arthur George Costa.   Councillor Toomey

11. Resolution on the death of Specialist Steven J. Bishop.   Councillor Decker
12. Resolution on the death of Staff Sergeant Richard J. Jordan.   Councillor Decker
13. Resolution on the death of Specialist Robert M. Rieckhoff.   Councillor Decker

14. Congratulations to Channah Elisabeth Rubin on being named to the Dean's List at Washington University.   Mayor Maher

15. Congratulations to Sophie Hannah Grossman on being named to the Dean's List at Washington University.   Mayor Maher

16. Congratulations to Joseph P. Szulewski on being the recipient of an award from the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association.   Mayor Maher

17. Congratulations to Isaiah John Sommers for being named to the Dean's List at Washington University.   Mayor Maher

18. Congratulations to Kristen Cokely on being named to the Dean's List at Salve Regina University.   Mayor Maher

19. Congratulations to Dr. Mary Coleman on her appointment as Dean of Lesley University.   Mayor Maher

20. Congratulations to William Kroen on receiving the Purple Heart Award at the Juniper Inlet Lighthouse on Mar 30, 2010.   Mayor Maher

21. Best wishes to Mary Salvi on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
22. Best wishes to Irvienne Goldson on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
23. Best wishes to Deborah Dill on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
24. Best wishes to Edivane Andrade on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
25. Best wishes to Brianne Jurs on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
26. Best wishes to Sarah Huntington on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
27. Best wishes to Ashley Renee on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
28. Best wishes to Rosa Guevara on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
29. Best wishes to Debra Mein on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
30. Best wishes to Delisa Viera on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
31. Best wishes to Amanda Smith on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
32. Best wishes to Anna Lifson on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
33. Best wishes to Valerie Tobia on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
34. Best wishes to Molly Cantor on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
35. Best wishes to Ruth Netzahualt on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
36. Best wishes to Catie Howell on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
37. Best wishes to Caitlin Stewart-Smith on her upcoming performance.   Councillor Decker
38. Best wishes to Kristina Snyder on her retirement from the Board at On The Rise.   Councillor Decker

39. Congratulations to David Berwick on his nomination by President Obama to run the nation's largest health system, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.   Councillor Decker

40. Happy Birthday wishes to Chelsea City Councillor Calvin T. Brown.   Councillor Decker

41. Best wishes to Sam Novey on running his first Boston Marathon in which he will be dressed as a hamburger to raise money to expand the learning day for low income children across America and to benefit the after school programs of Citizen Schools.   Councillor Toomey

42. Congratulations to Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers who will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary Gala on May 8, 2010.   Councillor Toomey

43. Resolution on the death of Joseph D. Warren.   Councillor Cheung, Mayor Maher, Councillor Reeves

44. Resolution on the death of Nancy Giacchetto.   Councillor Toomey, Mayor Maher

45. Resolution on the death of Daejanna Wormwood-Malone.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Reeves

46. Congratulations to Herbert Epstein on receiving the Joseph A. Brenner Award from the Community Legal Services and Counseling Center.   Councillor Decker

47. Happy 39th Anniversary wishes to Armando's Pizza.   Mayor Maher

48. City Council recognition of April as National Poetry Month.   Councillor Seidel

49. Congratulations to Reverend Lilia Cuervo on her appointment as Associate Minister at First Parish Church.   Councillor Seidel

50. Proclaim Apr 5-11, 2010 as Cambridge Public Health Week.   Mayor Maher

51. Welcome Nikki Giovanni to the City of Cambridge for her poetry reading in Harvard Square.   Councillor Reeves

52. Welcome Cary Alan Johnson, Executive Director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human right Commission, to the City of Cambridge.   Councillor Reeves

53. Congratulation to Chief Information Officer Mary Hart and her team on being chosen as one of the recipients of 2010 e-Government Awards.   Councillor Cheung

54. Congratulations to Harvard University's Half-Asian People's Association on their excellent work.   Councillor Cheung

55. Congratulations to the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network on their work in hosting the Northeast Regional Spring Conference, Ideas to Action at Harvard University on Apr 10-11, 2010.   Councillor Cheung

56. Congratulations and best wishes to Breakthrough Cambridge as they host their annual fundraiser and party on Apr 8, 2010 at The Atrium.   Councillor Cheung

57. Congratulations to Representative James E. Vallee on being awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal by the United States Army.   Councillor Toomey

58. Resolution on the death of Dorothy F. "Dottie" (French) McMath.   Mayor Maher

59. Resolution on the death of Stanley Jones "Bumpy" Burrell, Jr.   Councillor Reeves

ORDERS
1. That the City Manager is requested to confer with appropriate City departments and report back on the current status of the digital divide in Cambridge.   Councillor Cheung and Vice Mayor Davis
Adopted and Referred to Cable TV, Telecommunications & Public Utilities Committee

2. Dedication of a suitable location in the vicinity of Vassal Lane and Fresh Pond Parkway in honor of Maestro Charles Ansbacher, founder and conductor of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra.   Councillor Simmons

3. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services and the Police Commissioner to determine an appropriate plan, if needed, for the deteriorating conditions and loitering at the florist greenhouse building on Whittemore Avenue.   Mayor Maher

4. Dedication of the gymnasium in the Sheila Doyle Russell West Cambridge Youth and Community Center at 680 Huron Avenue in honor of Kenneth Holway.   Mayor Maher
Charter Right - Reeves

5. That this City Council go on record requesting that Harvard and MIT cease further layoffs and any cuts in hours, salary or benefits and engage in an open and transparent dialogue with all stakeholders including staff and the community.   Councillor Decker and Councillor Cheung
Amended

6. That the Mayor be and hereby is requested to convene the City Council in Executive Session with relevant City and support staff at the earliest opportunity to discuss ongoing litigation, to include the Monteiro and Idenix cases.   Councillor Kelley

7. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on the possibility of the City's appealing to the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board and any other relevant authority to allow the City to have a non-handicapped accessible crosswalk at an intersection, such as at Walden Street and Richdale, where three crosswalks exist that are handicapped accessible and the reason for not adding a fourth, which would provide a crosswalk along the most common street crossing line, is that it would be impractical to make such a crosswalk meet ADA standards.   Councillor Kelley
Order Fails 1-7-1 (Kelley YES)

8. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on the possibility of structuring the City's parking ticket system in a way that would increase parking tickets as people stayed longer at expired meters or general no-parking spots.   Councillor Kelley

9. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on the status of the experimental rubber sidewalks used in Cambridge's recent pilot programs on new sidewalk surfaces.   Councillor Kelley

10. That the City Council's committee on Transportation, Traffic and Parking be and hereby is requested to hold the appropriate hearings to determine if the price for a residential sticker in Cambridge is appropriately set and if visitor passes are appropriately priced and available.   Councillor Kelley

11. That the City Council's committee on Transportation, Traffic and Parking be and hereby is requested to hold the appropriate hearings to determine if the amount of parking required for multi-unit residential units is appropriate.   Councillor Kelley

12. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on the impact of the Robert W. Healy Public Safety Building on parking in the immediate area.   Councillor Kelley

13. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on the City's policy towards on-street public spaces being used by workers of large construction projects and what impact the workers' "feeding" relevant meters has on the City's ticketing efforts.   Councillor Kelley

14. That the City Council is requested to discuss additional use of the Sullivan Chamber by the School Committee in the immediate future and come to a formal decision on whether to support this additional use or not at the next City Council meeting.   Councillor Kelley

15. That the City Manager is requested to provide an update to the City Council on the status of Vail Court and any activities related to the property.   Councillor Seidel

16. That the Council supports adoption of a regulation by the License Commission to prohibit licensed hotels from subcontracting housekeeping services such as guestroom service.   Councillor Decker, Councillor Cheung, Mayor Maher, Councillor Toomey and Councillor Reeves

17. Dedication of an appropriate site in the vicinity of 163 Huron Avenue in honor of Armando and Dorothy Paolo.   Mayor Maher

18. Support of passage of the Uniting American Families Act (S. 424/H.R. 1024) in the United States Congress.   Councillor Reeves

19. That the City Manager is requested to confer with appropriate departments and community agencies and report back to the City Council detailing the processes and procedures by which the City plans for, selects, and enacts its affordable housing commitment.   Councillor Cheung and Councillor Toomey
Adopted and Referred to Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning Committee

20. That the City Manager is requested to ask Harvard University that they use the acquired properties from the Jesuits for the purposes of developing affordable housing.   Councillor Decker and Councillor Cheung

21. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation to contact the Department of Transportation and request that the traffic signal at East Street and O'Brien Highway, eastbound, be converted to a delayed green signal for better traffic flow and to provide better access to Northpoint.   Councillor Toomey

22. That the City Manager is requested to confer with university staff to report back to the City Council on the policy and practice of housing students in local hotels. Councillor Toomey
Referred to University Relations Committee

23. That the City Council amended Rule 26 of the Rules of the City Council to divide the Health and Environment Committee into two committees, one for the purpose of consideration community health issues and the other for consideration of environmental issues. Councillor Seidel, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Cheung and Vice Mayor Davis
Amended

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Sam Seidel and Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Co-Chairs of the Government Operations and Rules Committee, for a meeting held on Mar 25, 2010 for the purpose of discussing dividing the Health and Environment Committee into two committees, one to focus on health issues and the other on environmental and sustainability issues.

COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., regarding the starting time of City Council committee meetings.

2. A communication was received from Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., regarding the House leadership's proposed state budget.

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

Tues, Apr 6
6:00pm   School Committee Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Apr 7
5:30pm   The Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss the work plan for the committee and to receive an update on the Google application and the cable franchising process and negotiations.  (Sullivan Chamber)

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

Tues, Apr 13
6:00pm   School Committee Roundtable discussion on mathematics  (Sullivan Chamber)

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

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

Tues, May 4
6:00pm   School Committee Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, May 5
9:30am   The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss FY2011 City Budget. This hearing to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Thurs, May 6
5:00pm   Ordinance Committee  (Sullivan Chamber)

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

Tues, May 11
5:00pm   Ordinance Committee  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, May 12
6:00pm   The Finance Committee will conduct a public meeting for the purposes of providing a summary to community leaders of the city's current and proposed budget and an explanation of how state and federal budget cuts have impacted the city's budget. This meeting to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Thurs, May 13
9:30am   The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss FY2011 City Budget. This hearing to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, May 17
4:00pm   2010 Scholarship Award Ceremony  (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm   Roundtable Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Tues, May 18
6:00pm   School Committee Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, May 19
6:00pm   The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss FY2011 School Department Budget. This hearing to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Thurs, May 20
9:30am   The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss FY2011 City Budget (if necessary). This hearing to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)
5:00pm   Ordinance Committee  (Sullivan Chamber)

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

Tues, June 1
6:00pm   School Committee Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, June 7
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, June 14
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Tues, June 15
6:00pm   School Committee Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, June 21
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, June 28
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
VICE MAYOR DAVIS
WHEREAS: Access to computers and the Internet is a critical tool to effective learning and civic participation in today's world; and
WHEREAS: From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide) "The term digital divide refers to the gap between people with effective access to digital and information technology and those with very limited or no access at all. It includes the imbalances in physical access to technology as well as the imbalances in resources and skills needed to effectively participate as a digital citizen. In other words, it is the unequal access by some members of society to information and communication technology, and the unequal acquisition of related skills;" now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with appropriate city departments and report back on the current status of the Digital Divide in Cambridge, addressing the questions:
  *Approximately what percentage of K-12 students in Cambridge do not have easy and routine access to the Internet;
  *What statistical trends in terms of demographics can be drawn; and
  *What conclusions can be drawn from previous efforts to extend internet availability;
and be it further
ORDERED: That the results of this report be referred to the Cable, Telecommunications and Public Utilities Committee for discussion on concrete actions the City can take to reduce the digital divide in Cambridge.

O-2     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Council dedicate a suitable location in the vicinity of Vassal Lane and Fresh Pond Parkway in honor of Maestro Charles Ansbacher, founder and conductor of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Executive Assistant to the City Council be and hereby is requested to confer with the family regarding a suitable dedication ceremony and communicate with the Department of Public Works to arrange for the sign.

O-3     Apr 5, 2010
MAYOR MAHER
WHEREAS: Several residents of Brookford Street in North Cambridge have expressed their concern about the now vacant, Norberg's florist greenhouse building on Whittemore Avenue; and
WHEREAS: The weeds, bushes and trees on the property have become overgrown, limiting visibility; and
WHEREAS: The overgrown vegetation is entering the collapsing greenhouse structures; and
WHEREAS: People have been seen loitering and trespassing on the property by entering through the broken fence that surrounds the greenhouse; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services to determine an appropriate plan, if needed, for the deteriorating conditions; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Commissioner of Police to determine if a public safety situation exists and if so, what remedy is appropriate.

O-4     Apr 5, 2010
MAYOR MAHER
ORDERED: That the City Council dedicate the gymnasium in the Mayor Sheila Doyle Russell West Cambridge Youth and Community Center at 680 Huron Avenue in honor of Kenneth Holway; and
ORDERED: That the Executive Assistant to the City Council be directed to confer with the family regarding a suitable dedication ceremony and communicate with the Department of Public works to arrange for a sign and with the Director of Recreation for placement of said sign.

O-5     Apr 5, 2010  Amended
COUNCILLOR DECKER
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
WHEREAS: The American economy is experiencing the worst recession in forty years; and
WHEREAS: It is in the public interest that good jobs be created and preserved for the health of our citizens and their communities; and
WHEREAS: A good job is one that pays at least $16.50 an hour in 2005 dollars, provides health insurance partially paid by the employer and provides a pension; and
WHEREAS: Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are significant employers in the region and a major source of good jobs; and
WHEREAS: Both Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have reduced their workforce and cut back on benefits and hours in FY 2009 and have plans to implement further cuts; and
WHEREAS: Both institutions are private, non-profit employers and receive substantial support from local, state and federal governments; and
WHEREAS: As recipients of this taxpayer support, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are obligated to have a broad public mission. Their core mission is teaching and research but it also includes acting as a model employer and good community neighbor. These institutions should always strive to be part of a national solution; and
WHEREAS: In this economic climate individuals who lose their jobs are struggling to find new jobs; and
WHEREAS: The challenge for the unemployed is directly related to how few new jobs are being created; it is therefore important to help people who have good jobs stay in their jobs; and
WHEREAS: Both institutions have savings in the billions of dollars and these savings should be used to cushion employees and communities from any further financial harm; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That this City Council go on record requesting that Harvard and MIT cease further layoffs and any cuts in hours, salary or benefits and engage in an open and transparent dialogue with all stakeholders including staff and the community; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to President Faust of Harvard University and to President Hockfield of MIT on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-6     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the Mayor be and hereby is requested to convene the City Council in Executive Session with relevant City and support staff at the earliest opportunity to discuss ongoing litigation, to include the Monteiro and Idenix cases.

O-7     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on the possibility of the City's appealing to the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board and any other relevant authority to allow the City to have a non-handicapped accessible crosswalk at an intersection, such as at Walden Street and Richdale, where three crosswalks exist that are handicapped accessible and the reason for not adding a fourth, which would provide a crosswalk along the most common street crossing line, is that it would be impractical to make such a crosswalk meet ADA standards.

O-8     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
WHEREAS: Parking meters are frequently timed to provide for appropriate turnover of public parking spaces and no-parking zones are generally so designated for purposes of public safety; and
WHEREAS: Once a parking ticket has been issued for exceeding time at a meter or parking in a no-parking zone, there is no incentive for a person to move a vehicle, turning the parking spot into a longer-term spot than planned; and
WHEREAS: If parking tickets could escalate in price as cars stayed longer at expired meters or in a no-parking zone there would be more incentive for people to move their cars even after getting a ticket, which would help meet the desired turnover rate for public parking spots and keep no-parking zones clearer of illegally parked cars; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on the possibility of structuring the City's parking ticket system in a way that would increase parking tickets as people stayed longer at expired meters or general no-parking spots.

O-9     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on the status of the experimental rubber sidewalks used in Cambridge's recent pilot programs on new sidewalk surfaces.

O-10     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
WHEREAS: Residential parking stickers have not increased in price for over 20 years; and
WHEREAS: Visitor passes may not be readily available to property owners who own more than one residential unit in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: On-street parking is a valuable community resource; and
WHEREAS: Eight dollars for a parking sticker may not be the appropriate price for this amenity; and
WHEREAS: Visitor passes may not be properly priced and may not be available to property owners on an equitable basis; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council's committee on Transportation, Traffic and Parking be and hereby is requested to hold the appropriate hearings to determine if the price for a residential sticker in Cambridge is appropriately set and if visitor passes are appropriately priced and available.

O-11     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
WHEREAS: Some developers of multi-unit residential buildings have requested a decrease in required parking based on the observation that much of the parking in these developments goes unused; and
WHEREAS: Residents of some of these buildings may choose to park on City streets rather than pay rent for a parking space at their building; and
WHEREAS: Providing in-building parking at a cost that encourages residents to park on City streets may defeat the purpose of building those parking spots; and
WHEREAS: Not building the parking spots would save developers tens of thousands of dollars per spot; and
WHEREAS: On-street parking is generally a valued commodity and additional cars put on the street, for any reason, make it tougher for people to park and put additional stress on yards and other open space that becomes used for private parking; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council's committee on Transportation, Traffic and Parking be and hereby is requested to hold the appropriate hearings to determine if the amount of parking required for multi-unit residential units is appropriate or if the regulations should be changed to required fewer parking spots with, or without, a payment to a mitigation fund so that the developer does not get a complete windfall in the form of reduced parking construction costs.

O-12     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
WHEREAS: East Cambridge residents have expressed concern about the impact on available parking caused by the new location of the Robert W. Healy Public Safety Building; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on the impact of the Police Headquarters on parking in the immediate area, whether it be because private lots are being used up, because official vehicles are using on-street spaces, because Cambridge residents working at or visiting the Headquarters are parking on local streets or because non-residents working at or visiting the Robert W. Healy Public Safety Building are parking illegally in on-street spaces.

O-13     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
WHEREAS: Large scale construction projects bring numerous workers into Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Many of these workers park at metered spaces all day long, often not feeding the meter and, to some extent, defeating the purpose of ‘turnover' in public parking spots that meters attempt to create; and
WHEREAS: Parking mitigation plans or fees can be part of a construction permit process but will only work if properly enforced; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on the City's policy towards on-street public spaces being used by workers and what impact the workers "feeding" relevant meters has on the City's ticketing efforts.

O-14     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
WHEREAS: CRLS is undergoing a renovation that has kept the School Committee from using its traditional meeting space; and
WHEREAS: City Hall's Sullivan Chamber has both the space and the media hookups to suit the School Committee's meeting needs; and
WHEREAS: The School Committee is already meeting on alternative Tuesdays at City Hall; and
WHEREAS: Many additional School Committee meetings will be held on issues from the budget to special meetings on individual topics that would benefit from meeting in the Council Chamber; and
WHEREAS: There are valid space utilization and other concerns that make additional use by the School Committee of the Sullivan Chamber somewhat problematic; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council be and hereby is requested to discuss additional use of the Sullivan Chamber by the School Committee in the immediate future and come to a formal decision on whether to support this additional use or not at the next City Council meeting.

O-15     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR SEIDEL
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide an update to the City Council on the status of Vail Court and any activities related to the property.

O-16     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR DECKER
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
MAYOR MAHER
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR REEVES
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of this Council that the Hyatt Regency-Cambridge regulated by the City's License Commission has begun subcontracting its guestroom housekeeping services to a third party company which has not been directly licensed by the City of Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: This has raised concerns for the City of Cambridge relative to the public health, safety and welfare of guests; and
WHEREAS: The City Council on behalf of the people of Cambridge wants to ensure that the licensee be directly, rather than indirectly, responsible for compliance with public health and safety standards, and that the licensee retain direct control over the workers responsible for entering guest rooms and providing clean healthful rooms, rather than the licensee having to go through middlemen; and
WHEREAS: It further appears to the Council that lack of employee status for those delivering regulated services would also mean they have no legal protection from retaliation should they report violations of health and safety standards to the proper authorities; and
WHEREAS: A vibrant hotel industry with clear enforcement of public health and safety standards is in the interest of all Cambridge residents; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Council supports adoption of a regulation by the License Commission to prohibit licensed hotels from subcontracting housekeeping services such as guestroom service; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to transmit this policy resolution to the City Solicitor and the License Commission and report back to the City Council on this matter.

O-17     Apr 5, 2010
MAYOR MAHER
WHEREAS: Armando Paolo has been an extraordinary philanthropist to the Cambridge community by giving generously to youth sports; and
WHEREAS: Armando has been a longtime business owner of Armando's Pizza, role model to young people in his community, and benefactor of Saint Peter's Church on Concord Avenue; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council dedicate an appropriate site in the vicinity of 163 Huron Avenue in honor of Armando and Dorothy Paolo; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Executive Assistant to the City Council be directed to confer with the family regarding a suitable dedication ceremony and communicate with the Department of Public Works to arrange for the sign.

O-18     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR REEVES
WHEREAS: The United States Congress is currently considering UAFA, the Uniting American Families Act (S. 424/H.R. 1024); and
WHEREAS: Currently, a citizen or permanent resident of the United States may sponsor a spouse of a different nationality for immigration to the United States; and
WHEREAS: Currently, the spouse in question must be of the opposite sex; and
WHEREAS: UAFA would end this discriminatory practice and extend this right to same-sex couples; and
WHEREAS: Twenty-one other nations, many who do not have marriage equality for same-sex couples, manage to allow such sponsorship; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has been at the forefront of ensuring same-sex couples are treated as equals to opposite-sex couples; and
WHEREAS: On May 17, 2004, the City of Cambridge issued the first licenses for same-sex marriage in the United States; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record in support of passage of the Uniting American Families Act (S. 424/H.R. 1024) in the United States Congress.

O-19     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: The City Council recently adopted a policy order directing the City Manager to investigate the possibility of acquiring several properties on the market for the purpose of affordable housing; and
WHEREAS: Concerns were raised at the Council meeting of Mar 22, 2010 that the city had missed a rare window of opportunity; and
WHEREAS: Some Cambridge residents have expressed concerns around the logic and process of site selection for affordable housing; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has a long-standing commitment to affordable housing; this order does not question that commitment, but rather seeks to quantify the perception by residents that affordable housing development is clustered in certain sections of the city by calling for clarification and examination of the process by which the City of Cambridge enacts its commitment; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with appropriate departments and community agencies and report back to the City Council visually detailing:
  *Locations of current, anticipated, and proposed affordable housing developments;
  *The number of affordable housing units by ward and precinct;
and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with appropriate departments and community agencies and report back to the City Council detailing the processes and procedures by which the City plans for, selects, and enacts its affordable housing commitment, including answers to the questions:
  *What measures does the city take to "load-balance" affordable housing developments across the entire city and avoid clustering;
  *How can residents and businesses inform the city of property coming on to the real estate market that should be considered for affordable housing development;
  *What is the process and criteria by which potential affordable housing developments are assessed;
  *What are the current and historical dollar targets per unit for affordable housing development, by geography if variances exist; and
  *What is the current development plan for affordable housing within Cambridge;
and be it further
ORDERED: That this report be referred to the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee for evaluation of the processes, procedures, and outcomes of how Cambridge enacts its commitment to Affordable Housing in the hopes that it will make recommendations to ensure transparency and equity.

O-20     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR DECKER
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of this City Council that the City was outbid by Harvard University for the purchase of Jesuit properties in mid-Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: The City will always be outbid by Harvard University in real estate acquisition; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to ask Harvard University that they use the acquired properties from the Jesuits for the purposes of developing affordable housing; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to ask Harvard University if they are willing to offer other properties in the neighborhoods where aforementioned properties were purchased for the purpose of developing affordable housing; 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-21     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct the Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation to contact the Department of Transportation and request that the traffic signal at East Street and O'Brien Highway, eastbound, be converted to a delayed green signal for better traffic flow and to provide better access to Northpoint.

O-22     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the City Council that many universities are leasing space in local hotels for student housing; and
WHEREAS: While residing in dorms, students are subject to rules and supervision, and it is unclear whether this supervision is being provided in the hotel housing; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with university staff to report back to the City Council on the policy and practice of housing students in local hotels.

O-23     Apr 5, 2010
COUNCILLOR SEIDEL
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
VICE MAYOR DAVIS
WHEREAS: On March 22, 2010, Mayor Maher submitted an order, Order Number 8 of March 22, 2010, bringing to the City Council for its consideration a proposal to amend Rule 26 of the Rules of the City Council to divide the Health and Environment Committee into two committees, one for the purpose of consideration community health issues and the other for consideration of environmental issues; and
WHEREAS: Pursuant to Rule 35B, which requires that no amendments or additions to the rules be enacted until at least seven days have elapsed from the date of the submission of the proposed changes or additions, Order Number 8 provided that the City Council lay the proposal on the table; and
WHEREAS: That order was amended to also refer the matter to the Government Operations and Rules Committee, and the order as amended was adopted; and
WHEREAS: Councillor Kelley filed with the City Clerk a notice of intent to move reconsideration of the order such that the order appears on the April 5th City Council Agenda on the Reconsideration List; and
WHEREAS: At a March 25, 2010 meeting of the Government Operations and Rules Committee the committee considered the issue of dividing the Health and Environment Committee and voted to recommend that the City Council amend Rule 26 as proposed by Mayor Maher and to amend the proposed name for the committee on environmental issues to the "Environment Committee;" and
WHEREAS: More than seven days have passed since the proposed rule change was submitted to the City Council and the Government Operations has considered the issue and its report is now before the City council; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council strike paragraph three on page nine of Rule 26 of the Rules of the City Council 2010-2011, beginning with the words "Health and Environment Committee" and ending with the words "impact of development;" and be it further
ORDERED: That said paragraph three be replaced by the following two paragraphs:

COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE - A committee of three City Councillors
Purposes:
To consider matters relating to the health of the citizens of Cambridge.
To monitor and improve city policies relating to health programs.

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE - A committee of three City Councillors
Purposes:
To consider matters relating to the physical environment of the city including without limitation issues relating to air and water quality, solid and hazardous waste, visual quality, the environmental impact of development and the sustainability of our physical environment. In City Council April 5, 2010 Adopted as amended by the affirmative vote of nine members. Attest:- D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk

[Reconsideration prevailed on a voice vote of six members. Councillor Toomey moved to bring forward Committee Report #1 and the substitute Order in the committee report. Amended Order adopted, Kelley voted NO.]

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Government Operations and Rules Committee held a public meeting on Mar 25, 2010, beginning at 5:30pm in the Sullivan Chamber for the purpose of discussing dividing the Health and Environment Committee into two committees, one to focus on health issues and the other on environmental and sustainability issues.

Present at the meeting were Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., and Councillor Sam Seidel, Co-Chairs of the Committee, Councillor Leland Cheung, Vice Mayor Henrietta Davis, Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Sandra Albano, Executive Assistant to the City Council and City Clerk D. Margaret Drury.

Councillor Toomey convened the meeting and explained the purpose. He said that Mayor Maher has proposed dividing the Health and Environment Committee into two committees. He noted that copies of the description of the present Health and Environment Committee (Attachment A) as it appears in Rule 26 and copies of the proposed revision to Rule 26 to split the committee in two committees, the Community Health Committee and the Sustainable Environment Committee (Attachment B) have been distributed by the City Clerk.

At this time Councillor Toomey invited comments from the members of the public who wished to speak.

Robert Winters, 366 Broadway that he sees value in the proposal to divide the Health and Environment Committee into two committees. He added that because the word "sustainability has come to have a particular meaning among a significant segment of the population concerned with environmental issues, he believes the committee would be better named simply the Environment Committee. Mr. Winters also said that he looked back at earlier changes in the rules to make some committees five member committees and his research showed that those changes were done without any Government Operations Committee process.

John Pitkin, 18 Fayette Street, spoke in support of the division of the committee. He said that there is going to be a great deal of work on environmental issues in the wake of the Cambridge Climate Congress, which submitted its recommendations to the City Council at the Mar 22nd City Council meeting. Mr. Pitkin said that in light of the strong connections between energy policy and climate control issues, perhaps the committee should be called the Environment and Energy Committee.

Councillor Toomey then moved to discussion among City Councillors.

Vice Mayor Davis stated that she agrees with Mr. Pitkin's point that energy and environmental issues are closely connected. She informed the committee that energy issues have traditionally been under the jurisdiction of the Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities Committee, of which she is chair, and that she believes that connections between energy and environmental issues has been understood and handled well by this committee.

Councillor Cheung agreed stated his agreement with keeping energy issues in the Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities Committee as a sensible allocation.

Councillor Kelley said that he recognizes that he is not a voting member of this committee, but he believes that the ad hoc refiguring of committees that this proposal represents is not wise. The City Council could do a lot more to make the committees work better, and he worries that taking up the committees one at time will mean that the Council never gets to the overall overhaul.

Councillor Toomey said that acting on this particular issue now does not preclude a more comprehensive look at the committees. There are environmental issues and health care issues that are very critical at this time, and as of now, there is no committee to consider them.

Thereafter there was further discussion on the name of the committee considering environment issues.

The question then came on the following motion:
ORDERED: That the Government Operations and Rules Committee shall recommend approval of the division of the Health and Environment Committee into two three-member committees, with the purposes as described in the attached proposal and be it further
ORDERED: That the Government Operations and Rules Committee further recommends that the name for the committee considering environment issues be the "Environment Committee."

The motion was adopted by the affirmative vote of all members of the committee present at the meeting.

Councillor Toomey and Councillor Seidel thanked all of those present for their attendance and participation

The meeting was adjourned at 5:55pm.

For the Committee,
Councillor Sam Seidel, Co Chair
Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Co-Chair

COUNCILLOR SEIDEL
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
VICE MAYOR DAVIS
WHEREAS: On Mar 22, 2010, Mayor Maher submitted an order, Order No. 8 of Mar 22. 2010, bringing to the City Council for its consideration a proposal to amend Rule 26 of the Rules of the City Council to divide the Health and Environment Committee into two committees, one for the purpose of consideration community health issues and the other for consideration of environmental issues; and
WHEREAS: Pursuant to Rule 35B, which requires that no amendments or additions to the rules be enacted until at least seven days have elapsed from the date of the submission of the proposed changes or additions, Order No. 8 provided that the City Council lay the proposal on the table; and
WHEREAS: That order was amended to also refer the matter to the Government Operations and Rules Committee, and the order as amended was adopted; and
WHEREAS: Councillor Kelley filed with the City Clerk a notice of intent to move reconsideration of the order such that the order appears on the Apr 5th City Council Agenda on the Reconsideration list; and
WHEREAS: At a Mar 25, 2010 meeting of the Government Operations and Rules Committee the committee considered the issue of dividing the Health and Environment Committee and voted to recommend that the City Council amend Rule 26 as proposed by Mayor Maher and to amend the proposed name for the committee on environmental issues to the "Environment Committee; and
WHEREAS: More than seven days have passed since the proposed rule change was submitted to the City Council and the Government Operations has considered the issue and its report is now before the City Council; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council strike paragraph three on page 9 of Rule 26 of the Rules of the City Council 2010-2011, beginning with the words "Health and Environment Committee" and ending with the words "impact of development;" and be it further
ORDERED: That said paragraph three be replaced by the following two paragraphs:

COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE - A committee of three City Councillors

Purposes:

To consider matters relating to the health of the citizens of Cambridge.

To monitor and improve city policies relating to heath programs.

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE- A committee of three City Councillors

Purposes:

To consider matters relating to the physical environment of the city including without limitation issues relating to air and water quality, solid and hazardous waste, visual quality, the environmental impact of development and the sustainability of our physical environment.

QUESTION COMES ON (1) ACCEPTING REPORT (2) AMENDING ORDER #8 OF MAR 22, 2010 BY SUBSTITUTION OF ORDER ATTACHED TO COMMITTEE REPORT (3) ADOPTING ORDER AS AMENDED on Apr 5, 2010

AWAITING REPORT LIST
09-147. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on what barriers would prevent residents from raising chickens and what could be done to remove these barriers. Remains on Awaiting Report List at request of Councillor Davis
Councillor Davis and Full Membership 12/14/09 (O-2)

10-02. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on an assessment and plan for repairs and improvements of all school playgrounds.
Mayor Maher and Full Membership 01/11/10 (O-3)

10-09. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the requirements of tap water being available on request in licensed establishments.
Vice Mayor Davis 02/01/10 (O-2)

10-11. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #20
RE: report on developing an ordinance that would limit the distribution of telephone books and unsolicited free newspapers to those who request them.
Mayor Maher 02/01/10 (O-5)

10-14. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the status of Cambridge becoming a "Green Community."
Vice Mayor Davis, Councillor Cheung, Councillor Decker, Councillor Kelley, Mayor Maher, Councillor Reeves, Councillor Seidel & Councillor Simmons 02/08/10 (O-2)

10-15. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #21
RE: report on the number of Cambridge households that benefited from LIHEAP weatherization services and how that compares to the funding increases.
Councillor Seidel, Vice Mayor Davis, Councillor Cheung, Councillor Decker, Councillor Kelley, Mayor Maher, Councillor Reeves & Councillor Simmons 02/08/10 (O-3)

10-20. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #2
RE: report on responding to Google's RFI.
Councillor Cheung, Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 02/22/10 (O-1)

10-21. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on implementing a CitiStat type system for tracking police and criminal activity.
Councillor Cheung and Full Membership 02/22/10 (O-2)

10-24. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #4
RE: report on noise from airplanes going to and from Logan Airport.
Councillor Decker and Full Membership 02/22/10 (O-6)

10-26. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #5
RE: report on conducting a feasibility study of a public market at Lechmere Square.
Councillor Toomey, Councillor Cheung and Full Membership 03/01/10 (O-1)

10-27. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #13
RE: report on options and timeframe for transitioning to a modern web video platform.
Councillor Cheung and Full Membership 03/01/10 (O-3)

10-30. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #17
RE: report on protocol for dealing with a bedbug infestation and extermination.
Councillor Decker and Full Membership 03/01/10 (O-6)

10-32. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on issues with the development of the former St. John's property site.
Councillor Kelley and Full Membership 03/08/10 (O-4)

10-33. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the following questions with regard to the Main Library: plans for the public meeting spaces, use of the Library by high school students, usage data being collected, plans for the cafe space; and use of the underground parking.
Councillor Kelley 03/08/10 (O-5)

10-34. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #19
RE: report on installing a "no idling" sign at the Farr Academy at Pearl & Auburn Streets.
Vice Mayor Davis and Full Membership 03/08/10 (O-7)

10-35. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #1
RE: report on increasing traffic enforcement at the intersection of Inman Street and Mass Avenue.
Vice Mayor Davis and Full Membership 03/08/10 (O-8)

10-36. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #7
RE: report on convening a meeting of stakeholders in the Central Square community to discuss and review current action plans.
Councillor Reeves and Full Membership 03/08/10 (O-9)

10-37. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #3
RE: report on supporting the GLBT Commission and other organizations in their efforts to count all Cambridge residents and what the support is.
Councillor Decker 03/08/10 (O-12)

10-38. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on adding side streets from Cambridge to Binney Streets between First and Second Street to the regular street sweeping schedules.
Councillor Toomey 03/08/10 (O-13)

10-39. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #11
RE: investigate partnering with local non-profits in order to obtain and develop these homes into affordable housing opportunities.
Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 03/22/10 (O-1)

10-40. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #10
RE: report on additional options to display Cambridge Energy Alliance posters and marketing materials.
Councillor Seidel and Full Membership 03/22/10 (O-3)

10-41. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #6
RE: report on draft language for an amendment to Section 5.28.2 of the Zoning Ordinance to include a provision to facilitate the conversion of institutional property to affordable housing.
Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 03/22/10 (O-6)

10-42. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on whether the First Street corridor project can be extended to include visual improvements such as lighting.
Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 03/22/10 (O-9)

10-43. Report from the City Manager:
RE: status of the streetscape improvements to the intersections of Everett and Chauncy Streets at Mass Ave.
Councillor Seidel and Full Membership 03/22/10 (O-11)

10-44. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #14
RE: report on proposed physical design changes or traffic-calming measures at the intersection of Garfield St. and Mass Ave.
Councillor Seidel and Full Membership 03/22/10 (O-16)