CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. Transmitting communication from Richard C. Rossi, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 14-97, regarding a report on the MLK School construction compliance with the Cambridge Employment Plan.

June 15, 2015
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report 14-97 attached please find a workforce summary report dated Apr 30, 2015 prepared by the MLK Construction Manager that provides a running total of payroll activity since the beginning of construction.

On any construction project which is funded in whole or in part by City, State or Federal funds or funds which the City expends or administers in accordance with a federal grant, or on any construction project for which the City is a signatory to the construction contract, contractors and general contractors have required goals for worker hours. These goals are: 1) No less than 25% of total employee worker hours shall be performed by bona fide Cambridge residents; 2) No less than 25% of total employee worker hours shall be performed by minority persons; and 3) No less than 10% of the total employee worker hours shall be performed by women.

1. The Cambridge resident worker hours on the MLK project as of Apr 30, 2015 totaled 3.8% which is less than the required goal of 25%. However, a 2011 Statistical Profile developed by the City's Community Development Department indicated that the Cambridge resident population of workers skilled and/or experienced in construction trades has been less than 2% making this requirement virtually impossible to meet. [1]

2. The minority worker hours on the MLK project as of Apr 30, 2015 totaled 32.6% which is above the goal of 25%.

3. The women worker hours on the MLK project as of Apr 30, 2015 totaled 1.0%. U.S. Census data reveals that women in Massachusetts skilled in the trades is less than 2%.

The Purchasing Department in conjunction with the City's Affirmative Action Office receive certified weekly payrolls and receive and review monthly worker hour reports from the Construction Manager on the MLK project to track worker hours on the project. The City has found the Construction Manager to have complied with the minority worker goal and to have made good faith efforts to achieve the Cambridge resident and women worker hour goals, both of which are statistically not able to be met.

[1] City of Cambridge Community Development Statistical Profile 2011

Very truly yours, Richard C. Rossi, City Manager

Workforce Tracking Summary
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SCHOOL
6/10/2015
TOTAL FOR CM AND ALL SUBS
	HOURS					Percentage
	Total	Resident	Minority	Female		Resident	Minority	Female
May '13	2,060.0	80.0	1,409.0	0.0		3.9%	68.4%	0.0%
June '13	6,172.0	192.0	5,736.0	0.0		3.1%	92.9%	0.0%
July '13	3,515.0	152.0	2,862.0	0.0		4.3%	81.4%	0.0%
August '13	2,380.0	136.0	1,941.0	0.0		5.7%	81.6%	0.0%
Sept '13	2,150.0	129.0	1,815.5	0.0		6.0%	84.4%	0.0%
Oct '13	3,526.5	112.0	2,396.0	0.0		3.2%	67.9%	0.0%
Nov '13	3,067.5	8.0	1,798.0	0.0		0.3%	58.6%	0.0%
Dec '13	3,270.0	152.0	2,515.0	0.0		4.6%	76.9%	0.0%
Jan '14	2,619.5	68.0	343.0	78.0		2.6%	13.1%	3.0%
Feb '14	2,505.5	0.0	163.0	142.5		0.0%	6.5%	5.7%
March '14	4,407.3	196.5	431.0	179.0		4.5%	9.8%	4.1%
April '14	4,404.5	452.5	633.0	132.5		10.3%	14.4%	3.0%
May '14	6,406.0	676.0	1,198.0	228.0		10.6%	18.7%	3.6%
June '14	6,578.0	525.5	1,268.0	166.0		8.0%	19.3%	2.5%
July '14	7,213.3	444.5	1,562.8	64.0		6.2%	21.7%	0.9%
August '14	10,902.5	567.5	2,182.5	118.0		5.2%	20.0%	1.1%
Sept '14	12,852.0	464.0	3,574.5	129.5		3.6%	27.8%	1.0%
Oct '14	15,946.0	539.0	4,333.0	80.0		3.4%	27.2%	0.5%
Nov '14	21,032.5	509.5	5,919.5	72.5		2.4%	28.1%	0.3%
Dec '14	17,352.8	515.5	1,999.5	8.0		3.0%	11.5%	0.0%
Jan '15	20,718.8	274.0	8,151.5	163.0		1.3%	39.3%	0.8%
Feb '15	20,577.8	285.0	4,192.5	2.0		1.4%	20.4%	0.0%
March '15	18,392.8	471.5	2,722.0	23.0		2.6%	14.8%	0.1%
April '15	12,951.0	426.0	2,087.0	1,277.5		3.3%	16.1%	9.9%
TOTALS	205,521.0	7,261.5	58,946.8	1,705.0		3.5%	28.7%	0.8%

2. Transmitting communication from Richard C. Rossi, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 15-21, regarding a report on the use of technology in providing residents real time information concerning snow operations.

June 15, 2015
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 15-21, regarding a report on the use of technology in providing residents real time information concerning snow operations, Public Works Commissioner Owen O'Riordan reports the following:

The Department of Public Works is in the process of evaluating technologies to support the following objectives of our snow clearing program-

1. Improve the clarity and timeliness of public information available to the community before, during and after a snow operation.

This includes improving City websites in coordination with the City Manager's Office and the Information Technology Department, making our operations and operating decisions more transparent and continuing to build our outreach, customer service, and social media programs.

2. Continue to deliver increasingly efficient, higher quality snow clearing services.

This includes using hardware, software and GPS technology to more efficiently route vehicles, efficiently deploy employees and contractors, and optimize de-icing treatments. This will ensure resources continue to be used wisely, while levels of service are not compromised.

3. Improve the administrative and fiscal aspects of the snow operations.

This will allow for more efficient responses to requests and complaints, scheduling of the workforce, processing of contractor invoices, management of employee payroll, and applying for FEMA reimbursements.

While the full adoption of these new technologies will likely continue over multiple seasons, we expect to have an initial phase of improvements in place during the upcoming winter season.

Very truly yours, Richard C. Rossi, City Manager

19. Transmitting communication from Richard C. Rossi, City Manager, relative to recommendations of the Cambridge Off Leash Working Group regarding off leash dogs in Cambridge.

June 15, 2015
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am pleased to submit recommendations of the Cambridge Off Leash Working Group regarding off leash dogs in Cambridge.

The group, which was appointed in 2013, was formed in response to Council Order O-13 (Jan 14, 2013) to discuss issues related to dogs and advise city staff on dog related issues.

The group's work builds on both existing policies and previous city efforts regarding off leash dogs. The process also included four community meetings in winter 2014 to get input and feedback on a set of draft recommendations.

The final recommendations of the group represent a balanced and fair approach to citywide off leash issues, and focus on enhancing off leash opportunities, as well as improved outreach and education.

The recommendations are an important and positive step in, what is ultimately, an ongoing process to ensure that the City's open spaces provide opportunities for many types of users, and remain welcoming and inviting to the entire community.

These recommendations may also provide helpful information and guidance regarding proposed changes to Chapter 6.04 of the Cambridge Municipal Code (the "Animal Control Regulations") which were discussed at the Ordinance Committee on Nov 12, 2014.

If the Council votes to accept this report, I expect that some recommendations will be begin to be implemented over the next several weeks, starting with new morning shared use off leash hours at Joan Lorentz Park, Hoyt Field and Green Rose Heritage Park.

I look forward to answering any questions and continuing to work closely with the council, city staff, and the community on this issue.

Very truly yours, Richard C. Rossi, City Manager

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     June 15, 2015
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
ORDERED: That the following amendments to the Zoning Map and Ordinance be referred to the Planning Board and Ordinance Committee for hearing and report:
1. That the area along Walden Street near the intersection of Garden Street and extending through the intersection of Sherman Street currently zoned Business A be rezoned to newly created zoning district entitled Business A-4.
2. To add a new Business A-4 line to Section 5.33 by adding the following language:
Add the following language to Section 5.31 Table 5-3 Table of Dimensional Requirements - Business Districts, beneath the words Bus. A-3: "Bus A-4"
Add the following language on the same line referred to above underneath the column entitled (1) Max. Ratio of Floor Area to Lot Area: "2.0"
Add the following language on the same line referred to above underneath the column entitled (2) Minimum Lot Size in Sq. Ft.: "5,000"
Add the following language on the same line referred to above underneath the column entitled (3) Min. Lot Area for Each D.U. in Sq. Ft.: "600"
Add the following language on the same line referred to above underneath the column entitled (4) Minimum Lot Width in Feet: "50"
Add the following language on the same line referred to above underneath the column entitled (5) Minimum Yard in Feet Front: "10"
Add the following language on the same line referred to above underneath the column entitled (5) Minimum Yard in Feet Side: "10"
Add the following language on the same line referred to above underneath the column entitled (5) Minimum Yard in Feet Rear: "10"
Add the following language on the same line referred to above underneath the column entitled (6) Maximum Height in Feet: "45"
Add the following language on the same line referred to above underneath the column entitled (7) Min. Ratio of Private Op. Sp. To Lot Area: "none"
3. To add a new use category to Section 4.30 by adding the words "Bus A-4" beneath the words Bus A in the seventh column of Section 4.31
4. To amend Section 6.36 by adding the following language to the second column after the words Bus A-314: "Bus. A-4"

O-2     June 15, 2015
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
WHEREAS: Scientists agree that concentrated greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb energy from the sun, preventing the heat from escaping into space, causing the Earth to be warmer than it would otherwise be; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts emits 59 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts has aggressive goals for reducing greenhouse gasses by the year 2050, but is not on track to meet those goals; and
WHEREAS: A report by Regional Economic Models found that a $45.00 per ton fee would reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases by 82% of 1990 levels by the year 2031, putting Massachusetts on track to achieve its own emission goals; and
WHEREAS: With Senate Bill 1747, Massachusetts is poised to be an environmental leader in the United States and to meet its own stated goals for reduction of carbon emissions; and
WHEREAS: This Bill proposes a carbon fee over a carbon tax, meaning the collected funds will not go to the general revenue of the Commonwealth, but will be returned to taxpayers in the form of rebates; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record supporting S.1747, An Act Combating Climate Change; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to the elected Cambridge delegation in the House and Senate as well as House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stanley Rosenberg on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-3     June 15, 2015
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
WHEREAS: Beekeeping is important in the preservation of honey bees; and
WHEREAS: Beekeeping is growing in interest in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Beekeeping is currently not regulated by the City; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to forward the beekeeping ordinance draft to the City Solicitor to be reviewed for placement in the code and, upon completion, be referred back to the City Council for referral to the Ordinance Committee.

O-4     June 15, 2015  Amended
MAYOR MAHER
ORDERED: That the City Council meeting scheduled for Mon, June 29, 2015 be and hereby is cancelled after consultation with the City Manager so that a joint public hearing between the Planning Board and Ordinance Committee be held at 6:00pm in the Sullivan Chamber to discuss the zoning petition to amend Section 13.10 to change the development controls in the Planned Unit Development at Kendall Square (PUD-KS) Overlay District; said majority of the area of the PUD-KS is occupied by the Volpe Transportation Systems Research Center operated by the US Department of Transportation; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide the City Council with any additional information on this matter prior to the joint public hearing; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide to the City Council an overview of the future development and potential zoning for Kendall Square.
[Petition text] [Summary of major proposed changes] [All currently proposed zoning amendments]

O-5     June 15, 2015
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: The Hubway Bike Share system has proven to be a popular mode of transportation in the City of Cambridge that benefits the users as well as other travelers that experience less traffic on city streets; and
WHEREAS: The City Council and residents have expressed many times to the City Manager a desire to continue the expansion of the system within Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has a year-round Hubway system; and
WHEREAS: Advertising revenue, currently embraced in other communities can help with the future expansion of the program within Cambridge; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with suggested changes to Cambridge's policy regarding advertising revenue that could help support the continuation and expansion of Hubway in the City of Cambridge.

O-6     June 15, 2015  Amended
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the City Council that Harvard Towers Corporation has recently issued notices to the tenants of 295 Harvard Street informing them that their leases will not be renewed when they expire on Aug 31, 2015, and that all tenants in the 111-unit building must vacate the premises by that date; and
WHEREAS: These notices were issued to all building residents, regardless of the length of their tenancy or whether or not they were tenants in good standing, and without any prior warnings that such a move was under consideration, and this action has effectively created only the briefest of windows to over one hundred tenants to absorb the news, determine the logistics and the financial impacts of moving, search for new homes, and take care of the many other aspects involved in uprooting one's life; and
WHEREAS: Harvard Towers Corporation undertook this action with full knowledge of the great affordable housing crisis that exists in Cambridge and its surrounding communities, and without so much as a cursory outreach to the local housing agencies or to the City to attempt to help mitigate the way this mass eviction would contribute to an already overstressed housing market; and
WHEREAS: No housing corporation, building owner, or building management company exists in an insulated bubble, and it is imperative that those who would act in such a way that will cause over one hundred Cambridge residents to become displaced do so in a more responsible and humane manner, working with tenants to make them aware of other housing options, and working with the local government to ensure that their actions do not further exacerbate the existing affordable housing crisis; now therefore be it
ORDERED: The City Council formally goes on record in condemning the way in which Harvard Towers Corporation has conducted itself in working to displace over one hundred Cambridge residents from its building at 295 Harvard Street; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council go on the record condemning Harvard Towers Corporation for neglecting to reach out to the City of Cambridge to determine if there are ways to mitigate the negative repercussions on the City's housing market stemming from this mass eviction; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council formally requests that Ming C. Slomiak, President of Harvard Towers Corporation, or his designated representative, establish a framework to assist those residents soon to be displaced from 295 Harvard Street with options to remain in the building once renovated, or to assist them in finding other viable housing opportunities; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with the Community Development Department and other appropriate City departments to determine whether any assistance can be offered to the residents of 295 Harvard Street, and whether information about housing programs these tenants may qualify for and may wish to take advantage of can be widely distributed; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to Ming C. Slomiak, President of Harvard Towers Corporation, and to Jackson Slomiak, Property Manager of Harvard Towers Apartments, on behalf of the entire City Council; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to contact all City housing providers to see what can be done about this matter.

O-7     June 15, 2015
COUNCILLOR MAZEN
WHEREAS: Cambridge is a city known for the over 7% percentage of residents who cycle to work; and
WHEREAS: 29% of cycle crashes in Cambridge occur at a signaled intersection and 35% of cycle crashes involve a turning cyclist or motorist; and
WHEREAS: LPI (leading pedestrian interval) signals are proven effective for reducing pedestrian-motorist collisions and will do the same for cyclists; and
WHEREAS: Allowing cyclists to advance into an intersection prior to cars, as is the case for pedestrians, will advance cyclist safety, driver safety, and improve traffic conditions for all road users; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the appropriate departments to determine the feasibility of permitting cyclists to advance simultaneously with the pedestrian "walk" signal; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the appropriate departments to determine the feasibility of piloting bicycle-specific signal faces at the Cambridge-Hampshire St intersection; 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-8     June 15, 2015  Amended
COUNCILLOR MAZEN
WHEREAS: According to the USDA, 31% of all food that is produced in the U.S. is wasted and of that 31%, 10% of the waste comes from the retail level and 21% comes from the consumer level; and
WHEREAS: According to the USDA in 2010, U.S. supermarkets threw out 43 billion pounds of food, amounting to $46.7 billion of waste; and
WHEREAS: 25% of the U.S. emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas, has been linked to landfills with rotting food waste; and
WHEREAS: A reduction in supermarket food waste would also help deal with the issues of environment and climate change; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant City staff or the appropriate departments as well as the non-profits on the feasibility of legally requiring supermarkets and other food seller and resellers to donate leftover food to donation centers in order to cut down on food waste; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter.

O-9     June 15, 2015
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with total amount of funds currently in and total expected to be in the Community Benefits Funds account as well as the origins of the funds and any expenditures to date.

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Human Services and Veterans Committee conducted a public hearing on May 6, 2015 beginning at 4:12pm in the Sullivan Chamber.

The purpose of the hearing was to discuss domestic violence and anti-domestic violence initiatives in Cambridge.

Present at the hearing were Councillor Marc C. McGovern, Chair of the Committee; Vice Mayor Dennis Benzan; Councillor Nadeem Mazen; Richard C. Rossi, City Manager; Lisa Peterson, Deputy City Manager; Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services; Robert Hass, Commissioner; Paul Ames, Deputy Superintendent; Jacquelyn Rose, Director of Outreach and Community Programs; Catherine Pemberton, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Cambridge Police Department (CPD); Brian Corr, Executive Director, Peace Commission; Claude Jacob, Chief Public Health Officer; Stacey King, Director of Community Health and Wellness Division; Nancy Rihan-Porter, Injury and Prevention of Violence Coordinator, Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD); Susan Pacheco, Executive Director, Council on Aging; Melody Brazo, School Climate Coordinator; Kim DeAndrade, Health Educator, Cambridge Public Schools; Shayla Simmons, Assistant General Counsel, Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA); Emily Shield, Program Coordinator, Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women; Annie Nagle; and Paula M. Crane, Deputy City Clerk.

Also present were Ted German, Director of Training, Emerge; Risa Mednick, Executive Director; Ester Serra Luque, Domestic Violence Advocate, Transition House; Ilana Amrani-Cohen, Director of Families with Voices, The Guidance Center; Gail M. Council, Family Advocate, The Guidance Center; Reverend Diane Hopson; and Lee Pedro.

Councillor McGovern opened the hearing and stated his hope that the issues surrounding domestic violence can be brought back into the forefront with the City Council's support. He stated that when he told someone about the meeting they asked if it was taking place because he is the father of a daughter. Councillor McGovern replied that he has had conversations about domestic violence with his sons as this is generally a man's issue. He noted the importance of ensuring that young men are being taught about violence. He added that the issue of domestic violence crosses all segments and demographics.

Mr. Rossi stated that the city, as a whole, is working to create a strong support network as it relates to domestic violence. He noted that City departments, including the School Department, Cambridge Public Health Department, Human Services, Council on Aging and Police Department, are working with the non-profits in this mission. He stated that on Mar 7, 1994, the Cambridge City Council passed a resolution defining the city as a Domestic Violence Free Zone directing all municipal and city-affiliated organizations to work collaboratively to reduce family violence. He stated that in July 1996, the City Manager created the Domestic Violence Free Zone Implementation panel which met and developed 11 different projects in four broad focus areas, each designed to reduce the incidents of domestic violence. He stated that this was officially adopted by the City in 1997. He stated that through collaborations across City departments, many important projects were completed.

Mr. Rossi stated that in October of 2011, City Councillor Decker held a summit with more than 100 attendees at the Kennedy School of Government entitled, "UNSAFE at Home: A Strategy Summit on Domestic Violence in Cambridge." He stated that in December of 2011 Councillor Decker and the planning committee hosted a second summit at Lesley University with a room full of stakeholders and organizations who work to address domestic violence. In October of 2012 the 21 Days of Questions/365 Days of Action campaign was successfully launched which resulted in over 1,000 questions being collected from across various sectors in Cambridge. He added that it became clear through the collection of questions and the following summits that the City of Cambridge needed a new position to further advance the domestic violence efforts with a multi-layered approach. He stated that in 2014 the City created the position of Coordinator of the Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative and hired Elizabeth Speakman in the fall of 2014. He stated that the City has been able to grow positions and have also added positions within the Police Department. Mr. Rossi added that the Cambridge Housing Authority has stepped up in an amazing way by creating a position to deal with family-related issues. He said that more funding is necessary to fill in the gap if we are going to be stronger and more successful. Mr. Rossi stated that he will be recommending a relatively minor amount of funding to boost this initiative which will enable Ms. Speakman to have a clear pattern to move forward while having the right pieces in place. Mr. Rossi explained that the cohesion is in place and the City Council should be proud that the city is operating at a high level in this area.

Ms. Speakman stated that her role is fluid but there is strong infrastructure with a steering committee comprised of a diverse group of residents, city employees and non-profit representatives. She added that there is also an Executive Committee that is comprised of Mr. Rossi, Ms. Peterson, Commissioner Haas, Ellen Semonoff, James Maloney, Greg Russ, Claude Jacob and Kim Sansoucy who support the initiative and ensure that resources are available.

When thinking about domestic violence along with services and support, Commissioner Haas noted that this has been an evolutionary process. He stated that due to the work of Catherine Pemberton and Jacquelyn Rose with youth and families, the Cambridge Police Department has had to rethink issues relating to the subpopulation of survivors. He stated that CAB HART is a high risk team that designed to look at survivors being at a greater risk of harm. He stated that while it is the mission of the Cambridge Police Department to assist the victims of domestic violence, they are only equipped to deal with those who are willing to enter the criminal justice system. He stated that the non-profits are helpful but added that a challenge for the Police Department is that they have to exclude themselves from some social service communications. He stated that there is a process taking place where the Police Department can have a bifurcated meeting with the ability to let partners have confidential meetings to think about services. Commissioner Haas stated that the Police Department needs additional support and noted that a position is being added to augment the work that is being done by Ms. Pemberton.

Ms. Pemberton stated that since beginning her work with the CPD she has been asked what her role entails as a social worker within the department. She stated that as a social worker she is working closely with the Community Relations Team, the Safety Net Program, mental health outreach, and homeless outreach. She stated that Deputy Ames has been vital in helping to guide her through the organization and culture. She noted that she brings experience to the position but there are still many questions. She said that she works with the domestic violence team to provide the best hospital response. She stated that the upcoming new position will be valuable to the team. Ms. Pemberton commented that the commitment of the CPD is impressive and inspiring. She spoke about the training program "In Her or His Shoes" that has been provided to police officers to allow them to understand what it is like to be in a domestic violence situation. Ms. Pemberton added that she is currently working on providing police officers with materials for children. Additionally, the CPD is looking at processes and protocols such as the restraining order process and improvement of same. Ms. Pemberton stated that due to the presence of social media, it is imperative to work on a campaign to keep our children safe.

Claude Jacob stated that the CPHD has recognized domestic violence as a key public health issue. He stated that it is particularly insidious because it is under-reported and hard to measure. He stated that last year, over sixty community partners selected violence as one of the seven priority areas for the 5-year Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) which was presented to the City Council on Mar 23rd. He stated that one part of the CHIP priority area focuses exclusively on gender-based violence. He stated that the other parts of the CHIP violence priority area certainly impact domestic and gender-based violence. He noted that the implementation teams are being convened and will be meeting in May and June to develop action plans.

Mr. Jacob stated that there is alignment between the CHIP and the Police Department's new positions which will ensure that there is increased capacity to implement partnership strategies as well as a coordinated way to measure progress. He stated that much of the CPHD's work on domestic violence has been done in partnership with City departments such as the Women's Commission, the Police Department, the Peace Commission and the schools.

Mr. Jacob stated that in 2013 CPHD was nationally awarded through the American Public Health Association to develop a guide to address domestic violence in the workplace. He stated that CPHD is looking forward to the opportunity to use this population health approach to work with employers in Cambridge as well as farther afield to take a stand against domestic violence and ensure that workers are safe in their places of employment.

Mr. Jacob stated that CPHD is also active through CHNA 17 and has contributed some funding to support local agencies to address the issue of domestic violence. He stated that this is a mini-grant process. He stated that their role on the steering committee has supported two key funding areas that impact domestic violence: youth services and crime and crime and safety. He stated that Transition House has received funds to support the Youth Action Corps which is an important key youth leadership effort that Transition House has helped to mobilize.

Mr. Jacob added that the CPHD has recently hired Nancy Rihan-Porter who serves as the point person for this work on violence and is a key partner to representatives from the City Manager's Officer and the Police Department as the Community Health Improvement Plan moved toward implementation. He stated that Stacey King serves as the Director for the Division of Community Health & Wellness Programs at the CPHD and provides day-to-day administrative oversight that supports the domestic violence efforts with city and community partners.

Nancy Rihan-Porter stated that she was hired in January and is excited about the opportunity. She stated that the work with the City Council instigated the White Ribbon Day event which led to many City departments becoming involved. She told of an event that took place at CRLS. She stated that she spent time with students. The Men's Health League handed out resources. It was an amazing opportunity and it set the tone for her. She stated that she was working in domestic violence on the frontlines. She learned everything that didn't work. When she came to Cambridge she saw how unique the work that is done here is. She stated that she was surprised.

Ms. Speakman stated the need to enhance alignment around violence in the city. She is looking at systems in the city to determine how well we are doing in the area of domestic violence. She stated that legislation was passed last summer with a comprehensive set of new laws. She noted that part of this legislation focuses on employees. She cited one component of this new legislation is an approved leave of fifteen days for employees when they are dealing with issues of domestic violence. She stated that the other great thing is the in-service training in the CPD. She stated that this training takes place over 14 weeks in which every member of the department has cycled through. She added that this training included 300 police officers including those from the Harvard and MIT Police Departments. She stated that the other important aspect is the community and its response to domestic violence. She stated that it is important that everyone feels equipped to notice the signs of domestic violence and be aware of the resources that are available. She stated that the CPD is embarking on an assessment initiative in which police officers will talk with residents to determine what is working well and how to build on those as well as the gaps. Her role is to pull those pieces together.

Councillor McGovern noted the importance of educating the public. Risa Mednick stated that unfortunately there is little discussion about domestic violence being a key public health issue, community health issue and one that we are desperate to get behind. She stated that Transition House is Cambridge's non-profit domestic violence resource. She stated that Transition House has been working in the field since 1975. She stated that what gives her hope is how many people are in attendance at today's meeting as this does not happen in many communities. She noted that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. She stated that in Cambridge there are over 1,000 incidents of domestic violence. She highlighted that over half of calls from the Housing Authority relate to domestic violence. She stated that the more awareness there is, the more calls there are going to be. It means that people are going to feel more comfortable in reporting their abuse. She stated that we may see more reports as opposed to fewer over the next couple of years if the unity is successful. She stated that she does not want people to feel disheartened if they see upticks in domestic violence incidents. She stated that it is key to have an extensive amount of coordination, collaboration and proactive community response and prevention. She stated that the Domestic Violence Free Zone that was initiated almost 20 years ago was instrumental in positioning Cambridge as a leader around these issues. As time went on, resources grew more diffuse. She stated that Cambridge is small enough that project pilots can be put together in a reasonable amount of time and have valid tests. She stated that next steps that are important and asserted that School Department leadership will be very important. She stated that there are many need assessment processes and this is great opportunity to synthesize these processes and ensure that these processes dovetail. She stated that it is important to start to think about how to leverage cross sector collaborative opportunities. She stated that the first test of the true activation of the new initiatives was the CPD training. She stated that people from different community agencies put together 40 hours of training for police.

Ms. Mednick stated that coordination with the CHA has been key. She noted that Transition House and the CHA are about to celebrate the second anniversary of their collaboration. She stated that the CHA is funding a position that is embedded at Transition House but lives in service to the community at the CHA. She stated that this means proactive work in a healthy way with people so they do not become homeless. She stated that they are looking at ways to grow and expand upon this because Cambridge residents that are not low income do not have the same assistance available to them.

Councillor McGovern asked Ms. Simmons if she is aware if the domestic violence victims of the CHA feel a lack of protection as it relates to eviction from their homes. Ms. Simmons responded that there is a Violence Against Women Act and the CHA as a housing authority does not evict anyone because of domestic violence. She stated that the CHA relies heavily on the expertise of property managers so that transfers are made.

Councillor McGovern asked about private landlords and the protection of domestic violence victims from being evicted from their homes. Ms. Speakman responded that legislation regarding protection of domestic violence victims passed last year with an additional protection that the landlord is required to change locks.

Councillor McGovern asked Mr. Jacob to talk about the Community Health Improvement Plan and outreach. Mr. Jacob stated that there are objectives on increasing awareness with over 40 strategies referenced. It is about increasing awareness. He referenced the link to safe and affordable housing. Councillor McGovern asked Claude for this information.

Cathy Pemberton stated that CPD is conducting a door-to-door campaign. She explained that police officers met at community center and gave out information on youth programs along with information from Transition House. Councillor McGovern stated that he has been doing work around poverty and hunger and there are a lot of people who access food pantries in Cambridge. He suggested that it would be beneficial to offer information about services that are available to people who visit these food pantries.

Ilana Amrani-Cohen stated that in the past five years the Guidance Center has received 127 cases of domestic violence and 80% of those cases were from Cambridge. She stated that these are people at risk that get services from collaborators. She stated that at the Guidance Center 30% of children that witness domestic violence also get physically hurt themselves. She stated that 20% of these children are sexually assaulted and 20% are neglected. She stated that the Cambridge Police Department does an incredible job. She stated that the implementation of the training at CPD was difficult but this was due mainly because domestic violence trainings have not been done with the CPD. She stated that the onus is on the providers to figure out the right way to relay the information.

Vice Mayor Benzan thanked Councillor McGovern for convening the meeting. He stated that great work is being done. He stated that many people do not utilize the services that are available to them. He stressed that he does a lot of family and probate work and noted that it is important to remember that children are affected when witnessing domestic violence. He stated that children who experience domestic violence often become silent about the abuse. Vice Mayor Benzan stated that the day prior there was a vigil for persons who have been lost as a result of drug addiction. He stated that this issue is connected with the domestic violence issue. He stated that a second piece that is missing in the conversation is including men in the conversation. He stated that the purpose of the vigil was to remove the stigma surrounding addiction. He stated that Massachusetts lost 1,000 people to addiction last year. He asserted that it is imperative to enable men to feel comfortable discussing this issue. He stated the need for people on the ground that are culturally sensitive and men who know how to talk about this issue. He stated that he met with a mentor that deals with human trafficking issues and stated that they talked about the issue of not engaging enough men in these types of conversations. He stated the importance of educating the children and youth.

Councillor McGovern stated that it is the children who are caught in the middle of domestic violence. He stated that trauma comes with this. He asked what the schools are doing in relation to domestic violence. Ms. Speakman responded that an informal set of discussions are beginning with representatives from the Cambridge Public Schools, the Department of Public Health, Transition House and the Cambridge Police Department with the goal of what youth engagement should look like.

Kim DeAndrade stated that the Cambridge Public Schools deal with prevention and intervention. She stated that they do have required health education classes in the middle grades and at the high school and noted that the topic of domestic violence is included in these classes. She stated that some of the developmentally appropriate versions are included in the health curriculum that teachers have available to them. She stated that CPS is starting a task force on Social/Emotional Learning. She stated that sexual abuse prevention fits under the broad topics that are being discussed and she added that she would like sexual abuse prevention to be part of the work of the collaboration.

Melody Brazo added that she and Alice Cohen collaborated on training for teachers around trauma informed classroom practices in the fall and spring semesters. She said that they are hearing from teachers about kids who are coming in with deep behavior issues and they don't know for sure where this behavior is coming from. She stated that 50 people in total were trained. Ms. Semonoff added that after-school and community members (approximately 300) also received training.

Jacquelyn Rose stated that the Police Department is working on putting into place a better response when a parent has to be removed from the home. They are working on policy and information to leave behind information for the parent if they begin to see their child acting out. She stated that they will have social work interns following up with the parent or guardian who takes the child.

Risa Mednick stated the need for more collaboration from the Cambridge Health Alliance. It is an important resource and one where there was a lot of proactive intervention years ago and less so at the present time. She noted that primary health care providers are not as present as they were previously. She stated that as it relates to elder services, Transition House is seeing older people coming to them for health issues. She stated that it is a growing trend and something that we need to become more attune to.

Ester Serra Luque stated that a lot of referrals to Transition House were not coming from Cambridge Housing itself but from community agencies. She stated that having resources and relationships are crucial. She found that feeding the resources that already have a trusting relationship with someone is essential. She stated that it is not always about a language issue. Some people feel comfortable talking to someone outside their own culture. They provide workshops in feeding resources. She stated spreading of the resources is especially important.

Councillor Mazen stated that what stood out to him is the relationship between sexting and other activities. He stated that it has high correlation with suicide behavior. He stated that it is a dangerous activity amongst youth. He stated that for him, this is good fodder for a public information campaign. He commented that it is difficult to tell a kid not to do something that is popular in society and he questioned how many other misconceptions are at play in traditional statistics. He is pleased to help with policy and messaging as leaders.

Emily Shield stated that the 365 Days of Action/21 Days of Questions campaign collected over 1,000 questions but noted that the #1 question is, "What is domestic violence?" She stated that the Cambridge Commission on the Status on Women has been working on how to bring that information to already existing organizations in the city. She stated that they bring girls in from high school and talk about prom, and then dating violence, domestic violence, etc. The other important piece is the involving the business community in domestic violence prevention. She stated that they have recently begun heading up the organizing of 550 women entrepreneurs in Cambridge and are driving monthly entrepreneurial gatherings and infusing domestic violence information into these gatherings. They are trying to brainstorm other ways to bring forth this information.

Reverend Hopson stated that this conversation has been a long time coming. She stated that the CPD has done a turnaround in terms of working on domestic violence issues and should be commended. She stated that she is certified family court appointed mediator who works with families in terms of trying to help family members deal with anger management. She stated that hopefully the people who do not fit in the income guideline for free assistance will not go without assistance. She stated that domestic violence education in the schools is long overdue. She stated that it is important to include persons from the religious community in the conversations as they could be very helpful.

Lee Pedro stated that she is survivor of domestic violence and worked for Headstart. She stated that she lives in public housing. She stated that information on domestic violence must be given in the right way and in the safest place possible. She stated that she had 7 children and was always on the run. She stated that the hardest thing for her was trying to figure out where to go. She stated that the day she received a Restraining Order was the worst day for her. She stated that it gave her abuser more power. She noted the importance of giving the right advice at the right time. She stated that the Headstart teachers and family advocates have training yearly. She stated that this would be good place to hand out information. She stated that she goes to the clinic all the time but she does not see anything about domestic violence available. She noted that food pantries and bulletin boards in supermarkets would be great locations to have information available as people will grab information when they can and when they feel it is safe to do so.

Mr. Rossi affirmed that the group as a whole will work on getting domestic violence materials in the right venues.

Susan Pacheco added that she is pleased that for the first time senior citizens are part of the larger conversation. She stated that senior citizens are taking in grandchildren because their children are victims of domestic abuse.

Councillor McGovern stated that it was great to see the ongoing collaboration and partnerships. He stated that he looks forward with an update on the needs assessment.

Councillor McGovern thanked all attendees.

The hearing was adjourned at 6:06pm.

For the Committee,
Councillor Marc C. McGovern, Chair

Committee Report #2
The Economic Development & University Committee conducted a public hearing on June 2, 2015 beginning at 1:01pm in the Sullivan Chamber.

The purpose of the meeting was to continue the discussion from the Apr 29, 2015 hearing focusing on ensuring that all positions hired directly by the City of Cambridge, or by outside vendors, uphold the same high employment standards that the City urges all businesses to uphold.

Present at the hearing were Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Co-Chair of the Committee; Councillor Dennis J. Carlone; Councillor Craig Kelley; Councillor Leland Cheung; Sheila Keady Rawson, Personnel Director; Amy Witts, Purchasing Agent; Neal Alpert; and Paula M. Crane, Deputy City Clerk.

Also present were Katie Belgard, Political Director; and Amy Sugimori, Director of Policy and Legislation, SEIU 32 BJ.

Councillor Simmons opened the hearing and gave opening remarks and an overview of the agenda for the hearing. (Attachments A and B). She stated that stated that at the meeting of Apr 29, 2015 the committee heard from some custodians who have worked in the City's buildings, representatives from SEIU 32 BJ and the City's Personnel Department who confirmed that there is the expectation that all independent contractors must adhere to the City's high standards. Councillor Simmons stated that there have been cases where the independent contractors do not live up to those standards. She stated that the only way the City can learn about issues with independent contractors is by having people come forward and alert the City to the offenders. She stated that the City welcomes such feedback which gives the City a chance to reevaluate whether it should continue doing business with these contractors or whether there are loopholes in the City's policy that is being exploited. She stated that the last hearing concluded with the idea that it is worth investigation whether there are loopholes in the City's ordinances that are being exploited and if so, how those loopholes can be closed and language tightened to ensure that everyone who works for the City is treated fairly. Councillor Simmons invited Katie Belgard to share some of her organization's thoughts on how the City might address these concerns and stated that there will be introduction of some ideas for the committee to consider to ensure that Cambridge is treating its workers fairly and equally.

Katie Belgard stated that SEIU 32 BJ represents workers across eleven states with over 2,500 members performing janitorial and security services in Cambridge. She introduced Amy Sugimori to explain the rationale of the suggested changes to the Living Wage Ordinance which are underlined in the supporting documentation. (Attachment C)

Ms. Sugimori submitted written comment. (Attachment D). Ms. Sugimori stated that in 1999 the City of Cambridge led the way in establishing accountability with respect to the jobs created through the expenditure of public dollars. She noted that by requiring businesses receiving city contracts of financial assistance to pay employees a Living Wage of no less than $14.95 per hour, Cambridge is still ahead of the pack in many respects. She stated that some gaps have developed when it comes to building services which are partly a result of the success of janitors and security officers organizing and bargaining stronger contracts. She stated that SEIU 32BJ members have succeeded in negotiating for a wage and benefits package that is more robust than the Living Wage. She stated that members have succeeded in obtaining employer-provided health benefits and paid leave. Ms. Sugimori stated that this means that high-road employers who have agreed to pay the rates achieved through collective bargaining find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to bidding for City contracts. She stated that the significant majority of the price of a service contract is the labor cost when it comes to services such as janitorial and security services. She said that given how significant a factor price is to the awarding of a contract, high-road employers are simply unable to compete with those who choose to save on labor costs.

Ms. Sugimori stated that a growing number of jurisdictions have been adopting next generation "standard wage" laws, often as amendments to existing living wage laws. She noted that such laws include a provision that where a significant number of workers in a particular sector are covered under a collective bargaining agreement, the wages and benefits provided under the collective bargaining agreement establish the required standard. She stated that some cities call for the state prevailing rate or the SCA rate where those rates are higher. She added that cities and counties that have adopted such a standard include Jersey City, Hudson County and Bergen County, New Jersey, New York, New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ms. Sugimori asserted that by amending its Living Wage Ordinance in a similar way, Cambridge would be leading the way in Massachusetts.

Ms. Sugimori stated that these jurisdictions described also adopted language ensuring that recipients of financial assistance are also held responsible for ensuring that women and men providing building services in buildings or facilities that were developed with the support of public funds are paid the standard or prevailing rate. She remarked that Cambridge has long been a leader in holding recipients of financial assistance to the same standards as city contractors but Cambridge should be part of the next wave ensuring that recipients of assistance are held to the standards that have been attained in the private sector through collective bargaining. She noted that this is building on the strong precedent Cambridge has already set through the Living Wage Ordinance.

Ms. Sugimori encouraged the City of Cambridge to innovate, following the example of most of the jurisdictions previously described, by including a requirement that when a new contractor takes over a contract for security or janitorial services, that the contractor is required to retain the incumbent employees for 90 days, terminating workers only for cause. She explained that this ensures continuity of services and retention of workers who are already trained and familiar with the location and job duties associated with it. She added that this also provides a measure of stability for the workers. Ms. Sugimori pointed out that even at a living or standard wage, janitors and security officers are still low-income workers and that the loss of a job on limited or no notice can have a devastating impact on the well-being of their families.

Ms. Sugimori stated that Cambridge can set a progressive example for Boston and other cities in the Greater Boston area. She noted that SEIU 32BJ will be advocating for similar legislation to close the gaps throughout the region and Cambridge can help drive momentum for regional change that will shore up the standards attained by over 14,000 building service workers in the region.

Councillor Simmons stated that the City does not hire security and questioned if it is necessary to have such a provision in the Living Wage Ordinance. Ms. Sugimori responded that the law covers recipients of assistance. She added that while some classifications do not really relate to the City's reality, with the intention of looking at the issue in the broader sense, it is useful to ensure that all considerations are being considered. She stated that Cambridge should think in terms of the progress of history. Ms. Sugimori stated that it is helpful for Cambridge to set the best possible model in place as it has been a leader in this area and as a result there has been a proliferation of similar laws throughout the country. She stated that it is also useful to say that even if the initial impact might be in a limited universe, it provides a model and template for other jurisdictions to look to as it relates to their community.

Councillor Carlone thanked Ms. Sugimori for her presentation and stated that he was impressed with the detail in which it was presented.

Councillor Kelley stated that what he has heard at this meeting makes a lot of sense. He said that we cannot allow other parties to twist what we believe into some ethereal thing that doesn't exist, and then just trash the workers. He said it would be fabulous if there is a way to construct contracts to make sure that doesn't happen, and to ensure that the City's workers are protected.

Councillor Carlone stated that the suggested changes have been well thought out. He stated that he was interested to hear input from City staff.

Ms. Keady Rawson stated that since there was a lot of content and information that was given to the committee, it would be beneficial for her to review the material before providing any formal comment.

Councillor Simmons outlined the process moving forward. She stated that the Economic Development & University Relations Committee can move this matter to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation if it so desires. She noted that the City Council can then refer this matter to the Ordinance Committee for a hearing where additional vetting could take place.

Councillor Simmons noted the importance of portraying to other communities that Cambridge stands firm on fairness and equity in the workplace. She thanked SEIU BJ representatives and workers for the work that has been, and will continue to be, undertaken.

Councillor Simmons made the motion to forward the suggested changes to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation.

The motion passed.

Councillor Simmons thanked all those present for their attendance.

The hearing was adjourned at 1:55pm.

For the Committee,
Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Co-Chair

Committee Report #3
The Economic Development & University Relations Committee conducted a public hearing on May 19, 2015 beginning at 5:47pm in the Sullivan Chamber.

The purpose of the hearing was to discuss how economic development impacts and supports the quality of life of Cambridge residents, and to investigate the feasibility of establishing an agreement with ride-share services such as Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar.

Present at the hearing were Vice Mayor Dennis A. Benzan; Councillor Marc McGovern; Councillor Nadeem Mazen; and Paula M. Crane, Deputy City Clerk.

Also present were Denise Jillson, Executive Director, Harvard Square Business Association; Parmjit Singh; Karam S. Giran; Abdul Kafal; Piara Pabla; Gundib Singh; Bafwin Dergash; Satnam Singh; Kuldip Singh; Stephen Kaiser; Walid Nakhoul; Tibor Hangyal; Katy Le; Martin O'Riordan; O. Hanpatrai; Kesner Elog; Max Gachette; Nelson Hernandez; Bassam Deeb; Emilio Lormil; Yahia Ali; Jacques Blemur; William Pierre; Munir Salah; Rene Flerime; Gustavo Hernandez; George Fiorenza; Raynold Morse; Hiratel Guerro; Pierre Chapeson; and Teodore Blemun.

Vice Mayor Benzan opened the meeting to public comment at 5:48pm.

Parmjit Singh stated that he has driven a cab for almost 18 years. He stated that he cannot afford his mortgage or his taxes so he had to sell his house. He stated that he comes from India and he is happy to drive a taxi. He stated that he follows the rules and regulations. He stated that one year ago he bought a medallion. He stated that suddenly he sees everything is gone; he has lost his house. He stated that big industry does not have to comply with city or state regulations. He said that Uber drivers do not follow the law and asked why the City is not doing anything to help the taxi drivers.

Karam S. Giran stated that he has driven a taxi for twenty-five years. He stated that these drivers of ride share services cause a big problem and do not have to follow any regulations.

Abdul Kafal stated that he owns two cabs. He asked why the City is allowing the same business and service to take place in the City yet have different regulations. He stated that he is from Lebanon and has been in the United States for 21 years. He noted that Uber is taking his business. Mr. Kafal added that many taxi drivers have spent years building their businesses. He stated his hope that the City will do something to help the taxi industry.

Piara Pabla stated that he owns a medallion in Cambridge. He commented that he would like the City to also regulate ride-share services in the same way that the taxi industry is regulated.

Gundib Sing explained that he owns a medallion in Cambridge. He stated that it was his dream to own his own business. He noted that as a taxi driver he is responsible to have insurance, inspections, criminal checks and medallions. He asked why ride-share services are not required to follow the same regulations as the taxi industry. He asked the city to stop Uber right away.

Bafwin Dergash stated that he has driven a cab for 21 years. He stated that cab drivers work hard and invest in the business. He stated that they trust in the system but suddenly Uber has come and nobody is stopping them or regulating them. He asked why they can drive people without any licensing. He stated that Cambridge is independent and should make its own regulations. He stated his hope that the City of Cambridge will put together regulations for the ride-share services. He said that that taxi drivers cannot pay their mortgages or expenses and he urged the City to require Uber to follow the rules and regulations of the taxi industry.

George Fiorenza, owner Ambassador Brattle Yellow Cab, stated that there are over 250 regulated cabs. He stated that Uber has over 15,000 cars. He stated that if you allow Uber or Lyft there will be an influx of traffic. He stated that owners have invested over $600,000 per medallion and that this is their livelihood. He added that 90% of Uber drivers work part-time. Mr. Fiorenza urged Cambridge to follow in the footsteps of Braintree to regulate ride-sharing services.

Steven Kaiser, Hamilton Street, stated that there are good and bad impacts of development in Cambridge. He was attracted to the topic of impact of development. He stated that one negative impact is the historical example of Kendall Square with no consideration of the impact on the Red Line. He stated that a number of the developers in Kendall Square have gotten together to improve the Red Line. He stated that the Volpe site developers are also involved. He stated that University Park in Cambridgeport is a superb development and that this is a good image to follow. He stated that Alewife is a bad example with 30 years of worsening congestion, and disregard for infrastructure.

Walid Nakhoul stated that a person has to buy a medallion in the open market and the city must approve the sale. He stated that he invested millions of dollars into his business and works seven days a week. He commented that Uber allows its drivers to do whatever they want. He stated that what they are doing is nonsense. He stated that other countries do not allow this. He asked why Uber is not regulated. He stated that competition is a good thing as long as it is on a level playing field. He urged the City of Cambridge to take the lead. He stated that if the taxi industry crashes, people will lose everything. He stated that the law is the law and right is right.

Tibor Hangyal, 207 Magazine Street, stated that Uber refuses to abide by the rules and regulations. He stated that the minimum requirement when driving the general public is a background check and commercial insurance. He noted that Uber pays any issues as they relate to accidents because it is in their best interest. He added that once Uber puts the taxi business out of business they will not be so inclined to handle claims. He stated that vehicles should be marked and numbered so that law enforcement can spot them and a local phone number should be listed just as it is required for a taxi. He added that these are simple things and minimal requirements. He stated that the City of Cambridge took Uber to court. He stated that GPS is not 100% and accurate and cannot be calibrated. He stated that the City of Cambridge checks every taxi twice a year in addition to the state requirement which makes the inspection process three times per year. He urged the City to follow Braintree's initiative in that if anyone is caught without a livery or license the vehicle will be towed and impounded until the court date. He asked if the handicapped community will be served by Uber when the taxi industry is out of business. He added that that there is no reason to accept surge pricing.

Martin O'Riordan, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston, stated that he is a Senior Vice President at Commerce Bank. He stated his support to the taxi industry. He strongly suggested that once the City looks through Uber's numbers and manipulation of figures you will find a different story than what they tell. He added that Commerce finances many of the taxi industry owners.

Nelson Hernandez stated that he is the owner of a cab and has been a taxi driver for 21 years. Mr. Hernandez pointed out that the taxi industry is always giving back to Cambridge. He stated that Cambridge taxis give back to the City and all that they ask in return is for fairness and a level playing field. He stated that most of the people that drive for Uber are cab rejects because they cannot work as cab drivers. He stated that Uber cars do not follow the rules. He stated that the police are not policing because they are not allowed to do so. He stated that half of the Uber drivers do not know the city. He stated that cabs have to pay insurance and Uber does not. He stated that they have many expenses. He believes that this is an illegal company and Cambridge should not have to wait to see what Boston is going to do. He stated that the bank tells him he has nothing. He pointed out that there was a rape case involving an Uber driver not long ago. He said that safety is the biggest issue and Uber should have to follow the same regulations as the taxi industry.

Bassam Deeb stated that he has worked for Ambassador since 1984. He stated that he does not understand how the City can allow Uber to operate first and then attempt to regulate after-the-fact. He stated that he would like the Police to be able to regulate Uber similar to the way that Boston regulates Uber. He stated that Las Vegas, Germany, Braintree and other places have banned Uber.

Emilio Lormil said that he has been driving a cab since 1991. He stated that this is a very scary time for families because they have invested their time and monies into the taxi industry. He explained that in November 2013 he invested $660,000 to buy a medallion. One year later that medallion is worth nothing. He stated that the taxi industry is facing a crisis. He said that taxi drivers work for the City of Cambridge and the city is not defending them. He stated that drivers from other states come to Cambridge to take their jobs. He remarked that the City has to do something to help the taxi industry.

Yahir Ali said that he has been driving a taxi for 20 years. He stated that it is a very bad situation. He noted that Uber drivers invest nothing except an initial fee of $300 and a car. He stated that the taxi industry is suffering. He asked the City of Cambridge to stop Uber drivers as soon as possible.

Jacques Blemur stated that the Cambridge taxi industry welcomes the challenge in technology and wants to do it in a way that everyone plays by the same rules. He urged the City to regulate the ride-sharing servers.

William Pierre stated that the taxi companies are being treated unfairly. He stated that the time is now for the City of Cambridge to take actions to protect the taxi industry. He asked how the City can allow others to try to kill the taxi company.

Munir Salah stated that the only way to stop this situation is for the City to work together with the taxi industry. He added that Uber should not be allowed in Cambridge.

Rene Flerime stated that he has been in the taxi business for 14 years. He stated that it is difficult to drive a taxi right now. He stated that taxi owners spend a lot of money monthly to keep the business. He added that some pay $10,000 per year for insurance. He stated that they pay for inspections twice a year and taxes for the corporation. He stated that Uber does none of this. He stated that he does not know why Uber cannot be stopped in Cambridge. He stated that the City of Cambridge lets Uber pick up fares in Cambridge illegally. He added that if a taxi driver goes into Boston to pick up a fare they will get a $500 fine. He noted that it is fair of the City to place regulations on Uber.

Gustavo Hernandez stated that the taxi industry struggles on a daily basis. He stated that it is not fair that the City has not helped. He stated his hope that the people in power are here for the taxi industry. He stated that the City is bleeding from this situation. He stated that they need the help of the License Commission.

Pierre Chapeson stated that he has been a taxi driver for 25 years and owns three taxis. He stated that he has seen the private car service take over the taxi industry. He asked how this is legal. He stated that Braintree and New Hampshire have stopped this practice and he would like to see Cambridge help the taxi industry.

Denise Jillson stated that there has been discussion about Uber for the past few years. She stated that taxi drivers have a long tradition in which the taxi drivers are trained. She stated that the City ensures that everyone who graduates from the taxi school is qualified. She stated that it is important to level the playing field. She stated that the City must ensure a level playing field. She stated that Braintree did a very good job. Ms. Jillson commented that people use Uber in many cases because the service that is provided is good and the cars are immaculate. She added that she has reported this to the taxi school organizers and suggested that Cambridge taxi drivers step up their game. She stated that the taxis have to be clean and cannot smell like cigarette smoke. She added that it is the consumer who ultimately decide what type of transportation to utilize. She stated that if the consumer decides to use Uber, it is important to ask why they are not using Cambridge taxis.

Virgel stated that he got his medallion over four years ago. He stated that many drivers treat the customers the right way but noted that the problem is that Uber is a billion dollar business. He stated that the taxi industry wants the help of the City.

Public comment closed at 6:55pm.

Vice Mayor Benzan stated that the playing field is not level. He stated that the taxi industry is highly regulated and it is important for the City to figure something out. He stated that Cambridge is one of the most innovative cities in the world but added that it has to be a collaborative effort. He stated that he has driven in cabs that are sub-par and if the Cambridge taxi industry wants to compete it must step up its game. Vice Mayor Benzan added that it is important to make it as easy as possible for the customers to use taxis. He stated his hope that the committee can come up with practical solutions. He stated that one of the biggest concerns with Uber is that they can pick up customers in any city but if Cambridge-based cabs pick up outside of Cambridge there is a $500 fine. He added that one area that should be looked at is deregulation. He stated that if the City looks at deregulating as a solution, taxis will probably pay a lot less money out of pocket. He added that the taxi industry has to reinvent itself.

Councillor McGovern thanked the speakers for sharing their stories. He stated that the playing field needs to be leveled and the ease in which someone can become an Uber driver, compared to what Cambridge requires of its cab drivers, is amazing. He stated that he has been mistaken for an Uber driver which is concerning. Councillor McGovern said that safety is a serious concern. He stated that there are things that the City must do to even the playing field. He echoed Ms. Jillson and Vice Mayor Benzan's comments regarding cab drivers stepping up their game. He stated that there is a public relations problem that the taxi industry must tackle. He stated that in Austin, Texas, the City has an application for their city-run taxis. He affirmed the need to do this in Cambridge as well. It is about convenience for people. There is a customer service piece that needs to be taken on so the City can do its part around regulations. He stated that he supports the taxi industry but noted the need for a combined effort.

Councillor Mazen stated that there is some good news on the horizon. He stated that there is a lot that can be done to support the hard-working people who have worked for the City. He stated that Governor Baker is about to introduce legislation that will require Uber to comply with certain regulations. He stated that it is important for the Cambridge taxi industry to get an application that unites local taxis and a decal or marketing and messaging campaign to urge the support of the local taxi industry. He stated that given how Uber has raised the bar, it would be beneficial to work with the business associations and others to create an application similar to that of Uber. He stated that the state is working top down to restrict Uber and noted that it is important to come together on this issue.

Councillor McGovern stated that he has heard varying numbers of Uber drivers in the area and questioned the environmental impact of ride-sharing service providers especially in light of the fact that Cambridge is doing a lot to discourage use of cars. He stated that if you go on the Uber application you can order a taxi but it comes from Boston, not Cambridge. Councillor McGovern said that it gives Boston cars an unfair advantage over others.

Vice Mayor Benzan noted that another important issue to include in the conversation regarding Uber is surge pricing. He stated that he sees the first step in leveling the playing field is the creation of an application and resourcing the city in that endeavor.

Who will pay for it? City collects fee on an annual basis - include in order that percentage of fees to develop an application wherein Cambridge taxi can compete with companies like Uber and Lyft. This is the first step.

Councillor McGovern stated that sometimes the wheels of government move slowly and because of this, it may be beneficial for the taxi industry to take the lead in the creation of an application and market campaign. He noted that the City Council can certainly urge the City administration to get behind these initiatives. He added that it is sometimes the case that the private sector works much faster.

Councillor McGovern made the following motion:
ORDERED: That the Mayor be and hereby is requested to convene a Roundtable meeting with the City Manager, License Commission and City Solicitor to update the City Council on what is currently done by the City regarding the taxi industry as well as concerns of the taxi drivers with a view in mind of developing a plan moving forward as it relates to ride hailing services.

The motion passed.

Councillor McGovern made the following motion:
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Information Technology Department and License Commission and representatives of the taxi industry with the view in mind of developing a universal application similar to what is used by Uber and other ride-hailing services to make it easier for customers to utilize taxi service as well as the consideration of integrating into a buy local marketing campaign.

The motion passed.

Vice Mayor Benzan stated that he looks forward to working with the taxi industry on this important issue and thanked all those present for their attendance.

The hearing was adjourned at 7:20pm on the motion of Councillor Mazen.

For the Committee,
Vice Mayor Dennis Benzan, Co-Chair