CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
Items #1-7 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

8. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Council Order No. 10, dated Sept 22, 2008, regarding finding a zoning or other solution to the issue of parking car-sharing vehicles in the City

9. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Boundary Study Addendum Report and Revised Recommendations.  Referred to Ordinance Committee

10. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Peter Sheinfeld as a Cambridge Election Commission for a 4-year term to expire Mar 31, 2013.

11. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 09-20, regarding a report on the circumstances of the termination of the lease between 3 Aces Pizza and Harvard University.  Referred to University Relations Committee - Kelley

12. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a Library Services & Technology Act Grant received from the Massachusetts Department of early Education and Care in the amount of $12,000 to the Grant Fund Library Salary and Wages account ($4,700) and to Library Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($7,300) which will support workshops and library materials and staff time to provide on-site services.

13. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of various private donations to the Council on Aging in the amount of $28,000 to the Grant Fund of Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used to support a variety of services for Cambridge Seniors, including food and entertainment for senior parties, the purchase of fans for low-income seniors, provision of minor home adaptation equipment, support for the food pantry, and transportation for special senior center events and trips.

14. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a $50,000 Grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's (MTC) Clean Energy Choice program to the Public Investment Grant Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account. This grant will provide funding to install two 2 kilowatt PV systems on the roof of the DPW Frazier Administration building and the Frisoli Youth Center.

15. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 09-24, regarding a report on whether the Health Alliance will be mailing notices of its community meetings directly to consumers.

16. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 09-18, regarding a report on the status and implications of obtaining payment for delinquent taxes.

CHARTER RIGHT
Item #1 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

ON THE TABLE
Item #2 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Items #3-4 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
Item #1 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

2. An application was received from Unique Nails Salon, requesting permission for a sandwich board sign in front of 99 Mount Auburn Street.

3. An application was received from Taste of Cambridge, requesting permission for a temporary banner across Massachusetts Avenue at Pearl and Norfolk Streets announcing its celebration on June 18, 2009.

4. An application was received from Taste of Cambridge, requesting permission for a temporary banner across Massachusetts Avenue at Temple Street announcing its celebration on June 18, 2009.

5. An application was received from Joe Sent Me, requesting permission for eight tables and sixteen chairs for restaurant seating in front of 2388 Massachusetts Avenue.

COMMUNICATIONS
Communication #1 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

2. A communication was received from Dr. Wallace J. Gardner, transmitting opposition to the Lesley's zoning petition.  Referred to the petition

3. A communication was received from Norman Hurst, owner/operator of Hurst Gallery, 53 Mount Auburn Street, transmitting opposition to renaming Plympton Street to David Halberstam Way.  Referred to Gov't Operations & Rules Committee

4. A communication was received from Ifeanyi A. Menkiti, owner of The Grolier Poetry Book Shop, Inc., 6 Plympton Street, transmitting opposition to the proposal to rename Plympton Street.  Referred to Gov't Operations & Rules Committee

5. A communication was received from Robert L. Beal, the Beal Companies, LLP, transmitting notice to withdraw its zoning petition for the One Kendall Square Cinema site.

RESOLUTIONS
Resolutions #1-19 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

20. Congratulations to Aviv Regev on the occasion of being awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Early Career Award.   Mayor Simmons

21. Congratulations to Bradley Bernstein on the occasion of being awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Early Career Award.   Mayor Simmons

22. Condolences to Donald Sheehan on the death of his brother, Ed Sheehan.   Councillor Decker

23. Resolution on the death of Dr. LeBaron Mosely, Jr.   Councillor Reeves

24. Happy 50th anniversary as a resident of the Cambridge YMCA to Jim Shannon.   Councillor Toomey

25. Resolution on the death of Elaine L. (Grace) Correia.   Councillor Toomey

26. Speedy recovery wishes to Bea Harvey.   Mayor Simmons

27. Congratulations to John Clifford, Billy Bank and Nancy Ostrovsky on their upcoming performance of their act "Basic Training: An Evening of Music, Art and Poetry" on May 25, 2009 at the Highland Kitchen, 150 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA.   Councillor Reeves

28. Congratulations to Paul Elwood and Electric City Cars LLC on their Opening Celebration on Apr 18, 2009 at 774 Pleasant Street, Belmont, MA.   Councillor Davis

29. Congratulations to Judge Joyce London Alexander Ford, the first African American Chief United States Magistrate Judge, on the occasion of the celebration in her honor for her thirty years of judicial achievement on Apr 18, 2009.   Mayor Simmons

30. Congratulations to Tracy Anne McGrath and John Thomas Bernard on their upcoming marriage.   Mayor Simmons

31. Congratulations to Dr. Karen Hacker and the Institute for Community Health on receiving the Sister Jeanette Normandin Award.   Mayor Simmons

32. Resolution on the death of Ralph Underwood.   Councillor Maher

33. Resolution on the death of John G. Caulfield.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Maher

34. Resolution on the death of John T. Burke Sr.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Maher

35. Happy 85th Birthday wishes to Ginny McCabe.   Councillor Maher

36. Best wishes to the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Bridging Teaching and Learning Internationally project as they travel to the Dominican Republic and offer volunteer services.   Councillor Davis

37. Sympathy to the town of L'Aquila, Italy, that was struck by an earthquake which claimed many lives.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Davis, Councillor Maher

38. Congratulations to all of the organizers and participants of the 23rd Annual City of Cambridge Department of Human Services Programs City Walk/Run on April 5, 2009.   Councillor Davis

ORDERS
Orders #1-14 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

15. Congratulations to the City Council of San José Las Flores, El Salvador on the occasion of electing their first President, Mauricio Funes, and support of the mission of the April delegation to El Salvador.   Councillor Decker

16. City Council support for "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes" by attending Transgender Equality Lobby Day on Tues, Apr 7, 2009, from 10:00am-1:00pm on the Grand Staircase in the State House.   Mayor Simmons

17. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to publicize the City of Cambridge's twentieth annual Holocaust Commemoration on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 7:00pm at Temple Beth Shalom, 8 Tremont Street in Cambridge on the City's cable channel, the City's web site and other suitable locations.   Councillor Davis

18. That the City Manager is requested to make any changes to administrative records necessary to reflect the change of titles and the new job description for the Aide to City Councillor and Executive Assistant to the City Council.   Councillor Maher  Approved 6-1-1-1; Kelley voted NO; Seidel voted PRESENT; Decker (presumably) ABSENT

19. That the City Manager is requested to present as part of the FY09-10 budget a plan which shows the aides to city councillors as part of the City Council budget rather than the Mayor's Office budget.   Councillor Maher  Kelley voted NO

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

2. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves, Chair of the Human Services Committee, for a meeting held on Mar 10, 2009 to discuss how Cambridge can adapt the Harlem Children's Zone Baby College Program and/or principles to provide parent education for poor families that will provide the tools they need to help their children succeed.

HEARING SCHEDULE
Mon, Apr 6
2:00pm   The Economic Development, Training, and Employment Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss Cambridge's participation in the Biotechnology Conference in Atlanta in June, 2009.  (Anastos Room)
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

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

Tues, Apr 14
4:00pm   The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on a zoning petition submitted by Lesley University to amend the Zoning Map and Article 20.000 of the Zoning Ordinance by adding "Section 20.200 Lesley Porter Overlay District." This meeting to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Apr 15
2:30pm   The Housing Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss plans for a public forum to provide information and support for homeowners or tenants who may be facing displacement because of economic distress.  (Ackermann Room)

Thurs, Apr 16
6:00pm   The Human Services Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss the closing of the Riverside Health Clinic by the Cambridge Health Alliance.  (King School Auditorium)

Mon, Apr 27
5:15pm   Special Presentation - Send off for Cambridge GLBT Commissioner Chris Mason who is Driving Equality across America.  (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Apr 29
6:00pm   The Human Services Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss the closing of the North Cambridge Health Clinic by the Cambridge Health Alliance.  (Peabody School Auditorium)

Thurs, Apr 30
9:30am   The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss FY10 City Budget. This hearing to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, May 4
5:30pm   Roundtable Meeting with School Committee. No public comment. No votes will be taken. Meeting will not be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, May 6
9:30am   The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss FY10 City Budget. This hearing to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Thurs, May 7
4:00pm   The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public meeting to consider whether the City Council should petition to amend the zoning law with regard to yard definitions, special permit thresholds and open space requirements in the Business A3 district.  (Sullivan Chamber)
4:30pm   The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public meeting with regard to require aisle width for parking facilities in certain instances.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, May 11
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, May 13
3:00pm   The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss FY10 School Department Budget. This hearing to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Thurs, May 14
9:30am   The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss FY10 City Budget. (if necessary) This hearing to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, May 18
4:00pm   2009 Scholarship Award Ceremony  (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

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

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

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

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

Mon, June 29
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mon, Nov 2
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Nov 9
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Nov 16
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Nov 23
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

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

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

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

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

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

TEXT OF ORDERS
Orders #1-14 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

O-15     Apr 6, 2009
COUNCILLOR DECKER
WHEREAS: Cambridge has been a sister city with San José Las Flores in El Salvador for 22 years; and
WHEREAS: On Mar 15, 2009, the people of El Salvador elected their first president, Mauricio Funes, representing the FMLN party; and
WHEREAS: Cantabrigians Emily Achtenberg, Mario Davila, Phyllis Ewen, Catherine Hoffman, and Judy Somberg participated in the election as observers; and
WHEREAS: The people of San José Las Flores celebrated this victory with words of gratitude to the people of Cambridge for their advocacy in eliciting a statement of neutrality from the US State Department and for their accompaniment in the decades of war and suffering; and
WHEREAS: A spring delegation of Cambridge CRLS students, teachers and activists represented by Jessie Auger, Cori Baer, Loïc Bruderlein, Betty Burkes, Sandra Cañas, Catherine Hoffman, Alexia Lomon, Shannon Lynch, Deanna Melendez, Ayanna Parris, Kieran Pearson, Isabel Rawson-Stone, Nancy Ryan, Rachel Wyon will be traveling to El Salvador in April; and
WHEREAS: The delegation will be visiting schools and meeting with maquila workers in the capitol and traveling to San José Las Flores to share with the community through visits to the schools, meetings with youth and all aspects of the town; and
WHEREAS: There will be a joint Report-Back from the momentous elections and Send-Off for the April delegation with images, information, light dinner and live music from the multicultural jazz sounds of Misty Blue Saturday Apr 11, 6:00-9:00pm at the Cambridge Senior Center; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council extend its congratulations on the elections to the City Council of San José Las Flores; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council welcomes the returning election observers from El Salvador; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council supports the mission of the April delegation to promote contact between youth in Cambridge and El Salvador and to foster ties between the municipalities; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council joins in inviting the community to the Report-Back and Send-Off on the 11th of April at the Cambridge Senior Center.

O-16     Apr 6, 2009
MAYOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: Massachusetts is a national civil rights leader, providing its citizens expansive non-discrimination protection for all people on the basis of race, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, military service, age, ancestry, and disability; and
WHEREAS: "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes" has been re-introduced for the 2009 legislative session in the House by Representative Carl Sciortino and Representative Byron Rushing and in the Senate by Senator Benjamin Downing; and
WHEREAS: "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes" will make explicit the Commonwealth's commitment to providing people of diverse gender identities and expressions, including transgender people, equal protection under the law and providing protection against hate crimes; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge expressly provides equal protection for people on the basis of gender identity and gender expression in its municipal code since Feb 24, 1997, as unanimously ordained by the City Council; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is a diverse community with a long-standing commitment to the inherent dignity and worth of all people. Cambridge contains many educational institutions, businesses, community organizations, and governmental bodies that affirm the equality of people regardless of gender identity or expression, and has many transgender individuals who live and work within the city; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Police Department has affirmed the importance of equal treatment for transgender people and protection against hate crimes for persons of all gender identities or gender expressions through police trainings and policy review; and
WHEREAS: All residents of Cambridge and elected officials are encouraged to show their support for "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes" by attending Transgender Equality Lobby Day on Tues Apr 7, 2009, from 10:00am-1:00pm on the Grand Staircase in the State House; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council goes on record displaying their support for the passage of "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes;" and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council continues to uphold its municipal non-discrimination ordinance; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to send a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the Cambridge GLBT Commission and to the Cambridge legislative delegation to the Massachusetts State House on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-17     Apr 6, 2009
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge's twentieth annual Holocaust Commemoration is being held on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 7:00pm at Temple Beth Shalom, 8 Tremont Street in Cambridge and is open to the public; and
WHEREAS: The keynote speaker will be Dr. Anna Ornstein, child psychiatrist author of "My Mother's Eyes, a Holocaust memoir of a Young Girl"; and
WHEREAS: Music will be provided by the Cambridge Community Chorus and A Besere Velt (A Better World): Yiddish Community Chorus of the Workmen's Circle; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to publicize this event on the City cable channel, the City web site and other suitable locations; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of the Cambridge Public Library to make the book available at as many locations as possible before the event.

O-18     Apr 6, 2009  Approved 6-1-1-1; Kelley voted NO; Seidel voted PRESENT; Decker (presumably) ABSENT
COUNCILLOR MAHER
ORDERED: That the City Council approve the attached job description for the position which shall be entitled "Aide to City Councillor"; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council approve a change in the title of the position now entitled "Assistant to the City council" to "Executive Assistant to the City Council"; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to make any changes to administrative records necessary to reflect the change of titles and the new job description.

O-19     Apr 6, 2009  Kelley voted NO
COUNCILLOR MAHER
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to present as part of the FY09-10 budget a plan which shows the aides to city councillors as part of the City Council budget rather than the Mayor's Office budget.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1 listed with Mar 30, 2009 Agenda

Committee Report #2
The Human Services Committee conducted a public meeting on Tues, Mar 10, 2009 at 2:00pm in the Sullivan Chamber. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how Cambridge can adapt the Harlem Children's Zone Baby College Program and/or principles to provide parent education for poor families that will provide the tools they need to help their children succeed.

Present at the meeting were Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves, chair of the committee; Vice Mayor Sam Seidel; Councillor Larry Ward; City Clerk D. Margaret Drury; and John Clifford, manservant to Councillor Reeves. Present from the city administrative staff were Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services; Police Commissioner Robert Haas; Chief Public Health Officer Claude Jacob; Mina Reddy, Director of the Community Learning Center, Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP); Lei Anne Ellis, Division Head of the Childcare and Family Support Division, DHSP; Lauren Leikin, Agenda for Children Literacy Coordinator, DHSP; Susan Richards, Agenda for Children Out of School Time Coordinator, DHSP; Mary Wong, Director of the Kids' Council, DHSP; Michelle Godfrey, Center for Families, DHSP; Beverly Halpern, Center for Families, DHSP; Jasmine Palmer, Coordinator, Pathways to Family Success, Agenda for Children; Greta Hardina, Agenda for Children; Darryl Mark, Cambridge Public Library. In addition, the following persons also participated in the meeting: Steven Swanger, Director of Workforce Development, Cambridge Housing Authority; Lynn Hall, Project Leader, Early Childhood, Cambridge Public Schools/Community Partnership; Eileen Dryden, Institute for Community Health; Cornelia Heise-Baigorria, Home Based Early Childhood Education Program; Joyce Colman, Cambridge Guidance Center; Lucy Strook, 0-8 Council; Betty Bardige, President, Cambridge Community Foundation; Sue Covitz, Families First Parenting Program; and Randi Walsh, Families First Parenting Program.

Councillor Reeves opened the meeting and explained the purpose. He said that he understood that a smaller group of the early childhood professionals who participate in this committee have been working on what a Cambridge version of the Harlem Children's Zone's Baby College, which focuses on parent education, would look like. He invited a presentation of that work.

Ms. Leikin said that several groups have been working on a draft proposal for discussion and distributed copies of the draft proposal, entitled "Parenting Education in Cambridge" (Attachment A). The proposal is to coordinate, deepen and enhance Cambridge's parenting education programs by developing an extended parent education that builds on and supports existing messages and programs. The proposal calls for several key partners, including city departments and community agencies as well as the Cambridge Health Alliance and the Cambridge Housing Authority. The proposal also suggests a pilot program, perhaps in the Area IV Washington Elms/Newtowne Court housing development, where, as of 2004, 94 families had children under the age of five.

Ms. Leikin said that the proposal incorporates what Cambridge already has for parent education and what they have learned from the Harlem Children's Zone and from Cambridge's Parent Support Working Group and the 0-8 Council. The proposal targets children aged 0-3. It represents an extended, intentional version of what Cambridge does now, because Cambridge has many of the necessary pieces. She noted especially the intentionality regarding developing peer support systems among parents, a "care" management whole family approach, use of incentives in the very intentional way that HCZ uses incentives and the development of a database that will facilitate communication among service providers.

Councillor Reeves noted that there is no mention of culture and cultural differences in this draft and that a proposed curriculum is not attached. The HCA has an actual Baby College Curriculum that is distributed to parents. He noted that there are many curricula that we can draw from. He asked Ms. Bardige about Dr. Brazelton's Touch Points curriculum. Ms. Bardige said that the HCZ is infused with Touch Points curricula. Touch Points is a foundational approach that can be used with any curriculum. Ms. Colman added that there are many curricula that have been used successfully in Cambridge, so there are many good choices.

Chief Public Health Officer Jacob said that the draft describes a structured, asset-based program. It is an interesting attempt to connect across the Cambridge programs. He asked what would help most to fill the gaps to ensure that every child has a better likelihood of graduating from college. Ms. Colman said that the critical feature is the connectivity. We presently have a fractured, fragmented array of services. A major issue is having the data, along with a person who reads and follows the data - the case manager who actually follows these families closely and connects them to the services and coaches them.

Ms. Strook said that the literacy ambassadors found that the cultural barriers were real. It is important that the parents have people with whom they can build trusting relationships. Ms. Bardige said that what is sketched in the draft is that kind of structure. It is essential to ensure that once a family is "in" the system, their navigator stays with the family through a prioritization of services for families that have already entered the system.

Councillor Reeves said that there are many long-time Cantabrigians who have raised well-adjusted and successful children, for example the DiDomenico family and Mrs. Gittens. There are many examples of successful parents in all parts of the Cambridge community and he would like to find a way to use their experience and their example.

In response to a question from Councillor Reeves, Commissioner Haas described the collaborative youth work which includes, among others, officers from the Police Community Relations Division, Cambridge Housing Authority staff, and youth workers. They are working with youth at housing projects in five different neighborhoods. They are adding child psychologists and talking about bringing in the Mayor's summer youth program. They are recognizing that the groups in the different areas are quite different. Commissioner Haas said that they are hoping that their work will ensure that they are ready for the summer.

Councillor Reeves said that an added complication is that the demographic data that the City has comes from the last census and thus is almost 10 years old. Ms. Semonoff said that there is some more current data that would be useful - the data from the School Department about who is entering kindergarten and what the degree of readiness for kindergarten is among the children who are entering. Councillor Reeves asked who does the screening. Ms. Colman said that the Guidance Center has some United Way funding for screening. The problem is the amount of funding and the issue of what you do once you identify the children for whom intervention is needed. Do we want to use the funds to just identify those who need intervention or do we want to identify and intervene?

Councillor Reeves asked how universal the screening is. Ms. Colman said that when a parent comes into a childcare center, they are offered screening. Ms. Hall said that once children come to kindergarten, they are all screened. There is also a limited literacy assessment. Ms. Semonoff said that in the public schools, DHS works with the parent and child when the teacher raises a concern to DHS staff.

Ms. Heise-Baigorria noted that there is also the issue of the many different assessment tools that are being used. Each institution does evaluation/screening in a different way. Councillor Reeves said that there appear to be multiple tools that cover a broad spectrum but the same tools are not used for every child. Ms. Semonoff said that the early childhood community has had good experience in coming together to agree upon a commonality of terms and fields. She also noted the successful effort led by Ms. Richards to bring after-school teachers together to agree upon the data and criteria that would be used to evaluate their programs.

Ms. Wong said that in addition to professional navigators, many bilingual older children in the families are the navigators, which can have many advantages and also disadvantages for the child. She said that the way services are currently provided can result in a scattershot of services and also a scattershot collection of data.

Councillor Reeves questioned why the draft proposes that the pilot program take place in Area IV. He asked whether this decision is being made at the expense of Jefferson Park, Roosevelt Towers, Rindge Towers, etc. He thanked the group for the proposal and urged them to keep up the good work. He asked them to please think about the dosage to our most needy families and how the city can supply the glue for the safety net.

Councillor Reeves then moved to the topic of the role of fathers, and requested Ms. Godfrey to describe recent work on this issue at the Center for Families. Ms. Godfrey said that fathers are the missing link in how we serve families. Potential budget cuts resulted in staff taking a close look at what is working or not working in their program. Fathers' groups were not working, except for a few middle class white 40 year old fathers. Staff realized that they were all women trying to put together a program for men. With assistance from some male staff from DHS and at the Children's Trust Fund, they have developed a program and involved young men. They have learned that they were not welcoming to men. They have started a curriculum rather than just a drop in program. In the Center for Families newsletter, they have a space for fathers in which there are suggestions about what kinds of activities they can do with their children. Men are often very isolated from their families. Councillor Reeves said that the Men's Fitness League and Fit for Life programs of the Public Health Department could be good resources for the fathers.

Councillor Reeves thanked all attendees for their participation. The meeting was adjourned at 4:10pm.

For the Committee,
Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves, Chair

AWAITING REPORT LIST
08-41. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on what process is being followed to develop programs for the new West Cambridge Community Center.
Councillor Davis, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Maher, Vice Mayor Murphy, Councillor Reeves, Vice Mayor Seidel, Mayor Simmons & Councillor Toomey 03/17/08 (O-15)

08-65. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on changes to the intersection of River Street and Mass Avenue to allow more pedestrian crossing time before vehicles are allowed to turn.
Mayor Simmons and Full Membership 04/28/08 (O-15)

08-79. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on how local construction lighting could be limited to the minimum necessary for safety.
Councillor Davis and Full Membership 06/02/08 (O-2)

08-101. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on working with Boston to create a policy to keep truck traffic to a minimum within the City.
Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 07/28/08 (O-25)

08-105. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the possibility of using the parcel on Binney and Fulkerson Streets for a dedicated dog park.
Councillor Toomey, Vice Mayor Murphy & Mayor Simmons 07/28/08 (O-40)

08-109. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the progress of addressing rodent complaints and whether the number of complaints has increased or decreased.
Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 09/08/08 (O-8)

08-140. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the ownership of Fifth Street between Bent & Binney Streets and the ownership of Rogers Street from Fulkerson to Third Streets and ensure maintenance of these roadways.
Councillor Toomey, Councillor Davis, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Maher, Vice Mayor Murphy, Councillor Reeves, Vice Mayor Seidel & Mayor Simmons 11/17/08 (O-1)

08-141. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the possibility of awarding points to affordable housing applicants based on the number of times they've applied.
Councillor Toomey, Councillor Davis, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Maher, Vice Mayor Murphy, Councillor Reeves, Vice Mayor Seidel & Mayor Simmons 11/17/08 (O-5)

08-148. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on appointing a public housing or Section 8 tenant to fill the existing vacancy on the Cambridge Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
Councillor Decker and Full Membership 12/08/08 (O-2)

08-150. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on how many businesses similar to Biogen have relocated some or all of their personnel from Cambridge-based offices, whether there is an indication that others will be leaving, and what the strategies are to keep businesses in Cambridge.
Mayor Simmons and Full Membership 12/08/08 (O-9)

08-152. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the status of establishing a Walden Street Cattle Pass observation point.
Councillor Decker and Full Membership 12/15/08 (O-1)

08-158. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on possible funding to deal with hoarding and to preserve housing.
Councillor Davis 12/22/08 (O-8)

09-02. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on why trains must idle for extended periods of time in the area of Cambridge Street.
Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 01/12/09 (O-2)

09-11. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the removal of the Homeland Security Surveillance cameras and infrastructure and who is responsible for the removal.
Councillor Decker and Full Membership 02/09/09 (O-7)

09-12. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on test data for lead levels on artificial turf at fields and tot lots.
Councillor Davis 03/02/09 (O-9)

09-13. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #4 (Mar 30, 2009)
RE: report on the cause of the fire at 923-925 Massachusetts Avenue.
Vice Mayor Seidel 03/02/09 (O-8)

09-15. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the Belmont Uplands silver maple forest.
Councillor Davis, Vice Mayor Seidel, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Maher, Councillor Reeves, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Toomey & Councillor Ward 03/02/09 (O-2)

09-16. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on opportunities for electric vehicles to recharge in Cambridge.
Councillor Davis, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Maher, Councillor Reeves, Vice Mayor Seidel, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Toomey & Councillor Ward 03/02/09 (O-5)

09-17. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on possibility of creating a publicly accessible, appropriately confidential database of broad average or median neighborhood rents for retail space.
Vice Mayor Seidel and Full Membership 03/09/09 (O-4)

09-18. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #16
RE: report on status and implications of obtaining payment for delinquent taxes and how entities such as the MBTA and US Government could be on the tax delinquent list.
Councillor Kelley and Full Membership 03/09/09 (O-8)

09-19. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #3 (Mar 30, 2009)
RE: report on change in policy limiting a visitor pass to two blocks of houses they are visiting.
Councillor Toomey and Full Membership 03/09/09 (O-11)

09-20. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #11
RE: report on the circumstances of the termination of 3 Aces Pizza's leasing agreement with Harvard University.
Mayor Simmons and Full Membership 03/09/09 (O-12)

09-21. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on survey of surrounding cities and towns on the hours of operation of their libraries and a survey of patrons as to their needs and desires with respect to library hours.
Councillor Davis 03/09/09 (O-14)

09-22. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on ways to implement the recommendations made in A Look at Women in Cambridge Now.
Mayor Simmons and Full Membership 03/23/09 (O-7)

09-23. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the possibility of doubling the number of solar panels to be installed on the high school using stimulus funds.
Councillor Davis, Vice Mayor Seidel and Full Membership 03/23/09 (O-8)

09-24. Report from the City Manager:  See Mgr #15
RE: report on whether the Health Alliance will be mailing notices of its community meetings directly to consumers.
Councillor Decker and Full Membership 03/23/09 (O-12)

09-25. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on the installation of black fire hydrants in West Cambridge.
Councillor Decker and Full Membership 03/23/09 (O-13)

09-26. Report from the City Manager:
RE: report on potential amendments to the zoning ordinance to bring city lighting more in line with dark sky principles and address problems of enforcement of existing regulations.
Councillor Davis and Full Membership 03/23/09 (O-16)