CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA [Items #1-11 Tabled by Charter Right - Councillor Toomey]
1. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following person as a Constable for a term of three years, effective the first day of January, 2005:  Charles M. McNeeley, 186 West Wyoming Ave., Melrose, MA 02176

2. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-184, regarding the failure of the MBTA to trim trees and improve lighting in the park at Porter Square controlled by the MBTA.

3. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-195, regarding a report on the number of children in homeless shelters due to CORI checks on parents.

4. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-194, regarding a report on the standards on noise and pollution of all leaf blowers used in municipal work.

5. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-196, regarding a report on parking control officers enforcing anti-idling regulations.

6. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a Cambridge Food Pantry Grant received from the Cambridge Health Alliance for $15,000.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account to provide nutritional foods to eligible Cambridge residents through the Food Pantry Network.

7. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of private donations in the amount of $7,950.00 to the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance account to support Cambridge Prevention Coalition activities.

8. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a grant from Mount Auburn Hospital for $15,500 to the Grant Fund Human Service Salary and Wages account ($14,116.00) and to the Grant Fund Human Service Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($1,384.00) to be used to support two 28-week ESOL classes provided by the Cambridge Community Learning Center at Mt. Auburn Hospital.

9. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to a transfer of $31,331.00 within the Supportive Housing grant of from the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance account to the Grant Fund Human Services Salary and Wages account to be used by the Community Learning Center (CLC) Lift Program which provides educational services for homeless adults.

10. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation from a private donation to the Office of Work Force Development in the amount of $250.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Other Ordinary Maintenance account to support efforts to place teens in summer and school year jobs, with a particular focus on teens with barriers to employment.

11. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a Project Bread Food Pantry Grant from the Project Bread organization for $7,225 to the Grant Fund Human Service Other Ordinary Maintenance account to provide meals for more than 600 low-income Cambridge seniors as well as provide food for senior activities and events at the Cambridge Senior Center

12. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 05-205, regarding a report on the number of Cambridge residents who received Fuel Assistance last year.

ON THE TABLE
1. Placed on the Table on the motion of Councillor Simmons relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 03-137 of December 22, 2003, regarding a report on the number of investment managers for the pension fund with the list to reflect the number of women-owned and minority-owned investment managers.

2. Placed on Table on the motion of Mayor Sullivan relative to Committee Report #1 of March 7, 2005 from the University Relations Committee, for a meeting held on February 8, 2005 to discuss the M.I.T. Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT).

3. Placed on Table on the motion of Councillor Simmons on April 11, 2005 on an order adopted relative to a communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, transmitting a recommendation from the License Commission to deny a jitney license application from Nautical Tours, Inc.

4. Placed on Table on the motion of Councillor Toomey on May 9, 2005 on an order requesting the City Solicitor draft a home rule petition to amend the City Charter to provide for popular election of the Mayor in the next municipal election.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
5. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., Co-Chair of the Ordinance Committee, for a meeting held on November 18, 2004 for the purpose of considering proposed amendments to Chapter 2.74 of the Cambridge Municipal Code, the Police Review and Advisory Board Ordinance. The question comes on passing to be ordained on or after February 14, 2005. [Four sections of the proposed amendment were passed to be ordained as amended. Ordinance #1284. The remaining proposed amendments to chapter 2.74 remain on unfinished business.]

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Mark Erlich, New England Regional Council of Carpenters, transmitting thanks to the City Council for the resolution congratulating him on his election.

2. A communication was received from Susan Smith White, regarding the re-filed Concord Alewife Zoning Petition.

3. A communication was received from Roy Bercaw, regarding George Bush and the City Manager.

4. A communication was received from Roy Bercaw, regarding person with disabilities in the media and government.

5. A communication was received from Julia Brown, transmitting thanks to the City Council for remembering her on her birthday.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution on the death of Helen Ranieri.   Councillor Galluccio

2. Resolution on the death of Marie V. Battista.   Councillor Galluccio

3. Resolution on the death of Sheryl F. Crayton.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

4. Resolution on the death of Mary P. McGreal.   Councillor Maher, Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

5. Condolences to Irene O'Bannion on the death of her sister.   Councillor Simmons

6. Resolution on the death of John T. Black.   Councillor Galluccio

7. Resolution on the retirement of Xuexian Chen.   Mayor Sullivan

8. Thanks to the Election Commission staff for their hard work during the 2005 election.   Councillor Toomey

9. Resolution on the death of Private Mario Reyes.   Vice Mayor Decker

10. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Jeremy Tamburello.   Vice Mayor Decker

11. Resolution on the death of Specialist Darren Howe.   Vice Mayor Decker

12. Resolution on the death of Specialist Robert Pope, II.   Vice Mayor Decker

13. Resolution on the death of Private First Class Dustin Yancey.   Vice Mayor Decker

14. Resolution on the death of Specialist Timothy Brown.   Vice Mayor Decker

15. Resolution on the death of Captain James Gurbisz.   Vice Mayor Decker

16. Resolution on the death of Staff Sergeant Jason Fegler.   Vice Mayor Decker

17. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Ryan Sorenson.   Vice Mayor Decker

18. Resolution on the death of Staff Sergeant Brian Freeman.   Vice Mayor Decker

19. Resolution on the death of First Lieutenant Justin Smith.   Vice Mayor Decker

20. Resolution on the death of Captain Joel Cahill.   Vice Mayor Decker

21. Resolution on the death of Gunnery Sergeant Darrell Boatman.   Vice Mayor Decker

22. Resolution on the death of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Wren.   Vice Mayor Decker

23. Resolution on the death of Sergeant First Class James Hayes.   Vice Mayor Decker

24. Resolution on the death of Doris Nicholas.   Mayor Sullivan

25. Resolution on the death of Josephine Correggio.   Mayor Sullivan

26. Resolution on the death of Leon R. Horlanda   Councillor Toomey

27. Congratulations to the undefeated CRLS Boys Cross Country Team for winning the Greater Boston League Championship   Councillor Galluccio

28. Resolution on the death of Geraldine Huss.   Mayor Sullivan

29. Resolution on the death of Albert F. Jannetti.   Councillor Galluccio

30. Thanks to the Dante Alighieri Society for hosting its annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Dante Alighieri Cultural Center on Thursday, November 24, 2005 on Hampshire Street for Cambridge residents in need.   Mayor Sullivan

31. Resolution on the death of Arthur G. Ashur.   Mayor Sullivan

32. Happy 70th Birthday wishes to Dr. Robert Neer.   Vice Mayor Decker

33. Resolution on the death of Elinor Hartnett.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

34. Resolution on the death of Eleanor J. Connor.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

35. Resolution on the death of Jennie DiGregorio.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

36. Thoughts and best wishes to Teddy Arvanites.   Mayor Sullivan

37. Resolution on the death of Ellen T. Sullivan.   Councillor Maher

38. Resolution on the death of Ellen Frances O'Callaghan.   Mayor Sullivan

39. Congratulations to the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council on its 20th Anniversary.   Mayor Sullivan

40. Congratulations to Lilia Karapetyan for receiving the Interpreter of the Year Award for the Cambridge/Somerville area.   Mayor Sullivan

41. Resolution on the death of Thomas Thean.   Mayor Sullivan

42. Resolution on the retirement of Songqi Chen.   Mayor Sullivan

ORDERS [Orders #1-20 Tabled by Charter Right - Councillor Toomey]
1. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation and the Police Commissioner to review speeding on Lambert Street.   Councillor Reeves

2. The Mayor is requested to convey to the School Committee the request of the City Council that the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools provide the City Council with the graduation rates for African American males from CRLS.   Councillor Reeves

3. The City Manager is requested to confer with appropriate staff to immediately remove the shrubbery at the rear of the Manhattan/Blockbuster building due to serious rat infestation.   Councillor Reeves

4. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager of Human Services to review the quality of produce provided at senior citizen locations.   Councillor Reeves

5. The City Manager is requested to undertake the repaving of Saint Sauveur Court and to immediately examine Saint Sauveur Court to determine whether the current condition constitutes a safety hazard and report to the City Council on this matter.   Councillor Galluccio

6. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Director of Libraries with the view of maintaining the existing hours of operation for the Collins and Observatory Hill Branch Libraries.   Councillor Galluccio

7. The City Manager is requested to report on the schedule for renovating the Glacken Field tennis courts, which are in a state of serious disrepair.   Councillor Galluccio

8. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager for Community Development to report on when UDAG funds will be released to the organizations that have been selected by the Area Four Coalition for UDAG funding.   Councillor Simmons

9. The City Manager is requested to report on when a replacement tree will be planted on Pine Street near Harvard Street.   Councillor Simmons

10. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Commissioner of Public Works to look into the possibility of remedial action for the sidewalk at Erie Street and Brookline Street where tree roots have pushed up the sidewalk enough to make difficult footing for seniors in inclement weather.   Councillor Simmons

11. The City Manager is requested to provide a report that contains clear visual information with regard to how Lafayette Square will look when construction is completed.   Councillor Simmons

12. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Commissioner of Public Works to provide an update on the trash receptacle discount program.   Councillor Simmons

13. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Police Commissioner to report on the progress of hiring a pool of substitute Traffic Safety Officers to fill in so that highly paid and skilled police officers are not taken from their normal duties to substitute for absent Traffic Safety Officers.   Councillor Simmons

14. The City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor to examine any and all prohibitions that may preclude the City Council at the direction of a subcommittee or otherwise from directing the City Manager to allocate necessary funds for the performance or financial position or other desired analysis of the Cambridge School system, and respond before the final meeting of the 2005 City Council term.   Councillor Galluccio

15. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager for Human Services to arrange for the Cambridge Somerville Resource Guide, a guide to human service resources, to be listed on the front page of the City's website.   Councillor Davis

16. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Police Commissioner and the City Solicitor to determine whether Traffic Safety Officers could be authorized to issue (a) citations for parking violations and/or (b) citations for moving violations for vehicles that are endangering the children by their disregard of traffic laws.   Councillor Simmons

17. The City Manager is requested to direct the Department of Public Works to repair the sidewalk at 145 Chilton Street.   Councillor Simmons

18. The City Manager is requested to direct Public Works Department to investigate the possibility of placing an additional bench on the plaza of 237 Franklin Street.   Councillor Simmons

19. The City Manager is requested to work with the co-chairs of the Special Committee on state funded housing projects and prepare a five minute presentation at a regular business meeting of the City Council prior to the end of the legislative term, said presentation to include a summary of work conducted by this Special Committee and a recommendation for work moving forward.   Councillor Galluccio

20. The City Manager is requested to ask the Executive Director of the Cambridge Housing Authority to continue the introductory meetings at public housing developments across the City to introduce himself and his staff to the residents of the public housing community.   Councillor Galluccio

21. The City Council meeting of December 12, 2005 be and hereby is cancelled.   Mayor Sullivan

22. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Director of the Municipal Cable Office to televise the November 22, 2005, 4:00pm hearing of the Ordinance Committee on proposed amendments to Chapter 8.24 of the Municipal Code on Refuse and Litter in addition to the 4:30 hearing.   Councillor Simmons

23. The City Manager is requested to report on how and when the new state law increasing the senior exemption for property tax payments will affect Cambridge Senior homeowners.   Councillor Simmons

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Vice Mayor Marjorie C. Decker, Chair of the Health and Environment Committee, for a meeting held on October 19, 2005 for the purpose of discussing two environmental concerns relative to the Concord-Alewife Zoning Petition: traffic and flooding.

COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Mayor Michael A. Sullivan, transmitting the appointment of the Inaugural Committee for the City Council Inauguration 2006.

HEARING SCHEDULE
Mon, Nov 21
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Tues, Nov 22
4:00pm   The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 8.24 of the Cambridge Municipal Code on Refuse and Litter.  (Sullivan Chamber)
4:30pm   The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on re-filed proposal by the Planning Board to rezone the Concord Alewife area. This meeting to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Nov 30
4:00pm   The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public meeting to continue discussion on a petition submitted by the Planning Board to amend Section 20.100 of the Zoning Ordinance, Massachusetts Avenue Overlay District, relative to ground floor retail.  (Sullivan Chamber)

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

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

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

Mon, Jan 2, 2006
10:00am   INAUGURAL MEETING  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 9, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 23, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 30, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Feb 6, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Feb 13, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Feb 27, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Mar 6, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Mar 13, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Mar 20, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Mar 27, 2006
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR REEVES
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department and the Police Commissioner to review speeding on Lambert Street.

O-2     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR REEVES
ORDERED: That the Mayor be and hereby is requested to convey to the School Committee the request of the City Council that the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools provide the City Council with the graduation rates for African American males from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.

O-3     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR REEVES
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with appropriate staff to immediately remove the shrubbery at the rear of the Manhattan/Blockbuster building due to serious rat infestation.

O-4     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR REEVES
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager of Human Services to review the quality of produce provided at senior citizen locations.

O-5     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
WHEREAS: Saint Sauveur Court was victimized by the construction of Corcoran Park; and
WHEREAS: Despite being characterized as a private way the court was used as a public way for construction purposes; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to see that the City undertakes the repaving of Saint Sauveur Court; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager immediately examine Saint Sauveur Court to determine whether the current condition constitutes a safety hazard; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager report back to the City Council on this matter.

O-6     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Libraries with the view of maintaining the existing hours of operation for the Collins and Observatory Hill Branch Libraries.

O-7     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report on the schedule for renovating the Glacken Field tennis courts, which are in a state of serious disrepair.

O-8     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager for Community Development to report to the City Council as to when UDAG funds will be released to the organizations that have been selected by the Area Four Coalition for UDAG funding.

O-9     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: During the course of recycling, a Russell Company recycling truck knocked over and uprooted a tree on Pine Street near Harvard Street; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on when a replacement tree will be planted at the site.

O-10     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Commissioner of Public Works to look into the possibility of remedial action for the sidewalk at Erie Street and Brookline Street where tree roots have pushed up the sidewalk enough to make difficult footing for seniors in inclement weather.

O-11     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide a report to the City Council that contains clear visual information with regard to how Lafayette Square will look when construction is completed.

O-12     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Commissioner of Public Works to provide the City Council with an update on the trash receptacle discount program.

O-13     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Police Commissioner to report to the City Council on the progress of hiring a pool of substitute Traffic Safety Officers to fill in so that highly paid and skilled police officers are not taken from their normal duties to substitute for absent Traffic Safety Officers.

O-14     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
WHEREAS: The City Council approves the school budget annually; and
WHEREAS: The City Council is requested to increase budget allocations as recommended for particular programs and educational initiatives; and
WHEREAS: Internally-conducted or outside audits paid for directly by the School Department do not have the independence that "outside audit and review" procedures traditionally have at other levels of government and are followed by prudent, private sector practices; and
WHEREAS: If the School Department conducts and pays for an audit or review, there is a perceived conflict and, in many instances, a lack of confidence in such information; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the City Solicitor to examine any and all legal prohibitions that may preclude the City Council at the direction of a subcommittee or otherwise from directing the City Manager to allocate necessary funds for purposes of reviewing or auditing the performance or financial position or other desired analysis of the Cambridge School system as such data would be used to assist members of the City Council in making decisions on CPSD annual budget; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to forward this response to the City Council before the final meeting of the 2005 City Council term with the intention of moving such response onto the newly-elected City Council for examination and deliberation.

O-15     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager for Human Services to arrange for the Cambridge Somerville Resource Guide, a guide to human service resources, to be listed on the front page of the City's website.

O-16     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Police Commissioner and the City Solicitor to determine whether Traffic Safety Officers could be authorized to issue (a) citations for parking violations and/or (b) citations for moving violations for vehicles that are endangering the children by their disregard of traffic laws.

O-17     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The sidewalk at 145 Chilton Street has been damaged due to overgrowth; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Public Works Department to repair the sidewalk at 145 Chilton Street.

O-18     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct Commissioner of Public Works to investigate the possibility of placing an additional bench on the plaza of 237 Franklin Street.

O-19     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the co-chairs of the Special Committee on state funded housing projects and prepare a five minute presentation at a regular business meeting of the City Council prior to the end of the legislative term, said presentation to include a summary of work conducted by this Special Committee and a recommendation for work moving forward.

O-20     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Executive Director of the Cambridge Housing Authority to continue the introductory meetings at public housing developments across the City to introduce himself and his staff to the members of the public housing community.

O-21     November 21, 2005
MAYOR SULLIVAN
ORDERED: That the City Council meeting of December 12, 2005 be and hereby is cancelled.

O-22     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: The City Manager is requested to confer with the Director of the Municipal Cable Office to televise the November 22, 2005, 4:00pm hearing of the Ordinance Committee on proposed amendments to Chapter 8.24 of the Municipal Code on Refuse and Litter in addition to the 4:30 hearing.

O-23     November 21, 2005
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report on how and when the new state law increasing the senior exemption for property tax payments will affect Cambridge Senior homeowners.

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Health and Environment Committee held a public meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2005, beginning at four o’clock and eighteen minutes P.M. in the Sullivan Chamber. The meeting was held for the purpose of discussing two environmental concerns relative to the Concord-Alewife Zoning Petition: traffic and flooding.

Present at the meeting were Vice Mayor Marjorie C. Decker, Chair of the Committee, Margaret Drury, City Clerk, Susan Glazer, Deputy Director of the Community Development Department (CDD), Stuart Dash, Director of Community and Neighborhood Planning, CDD, Iram Farooq, Project Planner, CDD, Taha Jennings, Neighborhood Planner, CDD, Owen O’Riordon, City Engineer, Catherine Woodbury, Department of Public Works.

Vice Mayor Decker convened the meeting and explained the purpose. She then invited public comment.

Paul Solomon, 19 Lambert Road, Belmont, Chair of the Board of Selectmen, stated that there have been several contacts between Belmont and Cambridge. He thanked Vice Mayor Decker for inviting him to the meeting. Belmont officials and administrators are interested in being informed and collaborating where possible.

Nancy Hammet, Executive Director of the Mystic River Watershed Association, emphasized the importance of the flooding issue. She said that she applauds the proposal’s guidelines/requirements for specific projects. They should be requirements, not guidelines. They should not be subject to any trade-off in the special permit process. The Mystic River Watershed Association’s concern is the lost opportunity to look at this area regionally and to make some public investments.

Steve Kaiser, 191 Hamilton Street, stated that he provided photos of the flooding last week in Alewife to members of the City Council. When there is flooding at Alewife, there are combined sewer overflows (CSOS). MWRA workers cleaning up after the October 15, 2004 flooding at Alewife were wearing HAZMAT outfits.

Mr. Kaiser said that with the possibilities of increased flooding that FEMA is expected to report, there could be flooding from this area that overflows into Fresh Pond. This is a serious public health concern. He stated that he first thought the zoning proposal could be amended, but now he recommends going back to the beginning to re-do the zoning because there are too many problems with the proposal.

Elsie Fiore, 58 March Street, Arlington, said that she is a former member of the Arlington Conservation Commission. She stated her concern is that the area along Concord Avenue where building is anticipated is part of the Great Swamp. She stated that she recalls that a Haley and Aldrich report stated that the area was an old city dump and because of methane gas, there should be no building for 40 years. She noted that the Mugars’ latest attempt to build on their land along Route 2 in the Alewife area was turned down by the Arlington Conservation Commission. The Mugars appealed and the Appeals Court upheld the Conservation Commission because of the flood plain. She also expressed concern about the traffic problems, which are already extreme.

Michael Nakagawa, 51 Madison Avenue, applauded the zoning proposal for increasing the permeable surface area. He said that what has not been addressed is the over flooding of the Alewife Brook. When water goes over the brook, places to put it are needed. He has been told that the current 500-year flood plain will be the 100-year flood plain in the new FEMA map. The problem is that the T station is build in the lowest portion of the Alewife area, and encouraging development close to the T exacerbates the flooding potential. Mr. Nakagawa said that in terms of traffic, a lot of traffic coming into Boston uses this corridor. If there are more cars, they will be diverted to side roads that do not have the capacity. People will not be able to get to the T station because of heavy traffic and the T parking lot will be filled up. He would like to see a large pond as a storm water storage area, after the sewage separation has been completed. His main concern is to have the infrastructure in place before development is allowed.

Sue Bass, 530 Concord Avenue, Belmont, stated that she is representing the Belmont Citizens Forum. Their goal is to protect the region and control traffic. This plan offers an opportunity to make visionary improvement in the entire area, but that is not what this zoning does. Cambridge has ruled out a cooperative approach on development issues. Flood control requires mandatory requirements, and this proposal does not have them. Transit-oriented development requires a costly, grade level, weather-protected crossing for the railroad tracks.

Stash Horowitz, 12 Florence Street, stated that the focus of the zoning is how to increase development that will create value that will result in infrastructure improvement. The traffic will be increased, and there is no room for any increases. The City Council needs to deal with traffic and flooding.

Carolyn Mieth, 15 Brookford Street, stated that the traffic consultant report only does critical lane analysis. No one believes his prediction that full buildout will not add to the traffic problem. A full traffic study should be done. There are steps that could be taken to reduce traffic at Alewife. The build out allowed in this proposal would endanger the water supply. Cambridge is already creating an "edge city" at North Point. If Cambridge is going to do another edge city, there should be much better planning. The plan should die and the staff should start over.

Vice Mayor Decker then invited a presentation from City Administrative staff.

Susan Glazer, Deputy Director of the Community Development Department (CDD), reviewed the process of developing the plan. The Alewife Study Committee began meeting in 2003 and held many public meetings with a great deal of focus on traffic and flooding. The committee ultimately concluded that redevelopment presented the best opportunity for dealing with traffic and flooding issues. Ms. Glazer stated that FEMA is in the process of revisiting the flood plain maps. Until then, the 1982 FEMA maps are in effect, and the proposal was constructed in accord with those maps.

Vice Mayor Decker asked how different the new FEMA maps are expected to be and requested that City Engineer Owen O’Riordan be specific in addressing the flooding concerns that have been raised by concerned residents. Mr. O’Riordan introduced Catherine D. Woodbury, of the Department of Public Works. He stated that the City has spent significant sums of money doing sewer separation over the past several years. The City also has detailed and specific plans to address the CSO control program. They are currently held up due to a legal problem, but when that is resolved, implementation will effect an 84 percent reduction in the combined sewer overflow.

Mr. O’Riordan said that with regard to FEMA maps, the 1982 map has an elevation of 8.2 NGVD as the elevation for a 100-year flood. He has heard that there may be a lower elevation and he also expects that the flood plain area will be expanded somewhat, but not a great deal.

Mr. O’Riordan said that all developers in the City of Cambridge are required to provide plans that result in a reduction of storm water run off from the area. For example, the MIT work has resulted in a reduction of flooding in the Neighborhood Four area. The City is requiring any development to provide storm water storage in excess of the current 24-hour peak discharge for a two-year storm event, up to the peak 24-hour discharge for a 25-year storm event. A future development site cannot discharge anything greater than the current peak discharge for a two-year storm event and must be able to store the excess up to that of a 25-year event.

Mr. O’Riordan stated that this zoning area of 190 acres is 88 percent impervious at this point. The proposed zoning would require developers to implement a 25 percent increase in permeable surface. This not only slows down discharge; it also improves the quality of the discharge.

Vice Mayor Decker asked about the pond feature that appears on some maps and not on others. Mr. O’Riordan said that from a water quality point of view, more and smaller ponds might work better, but there is a desire to include some kind of water feature.

Vice Mayor Decker stated that she is not comfortable leaving it up to developers to determine where the ponds(s) should be. She would prefer to see the City decide exactly where the ponds should before any development takes place. Mr. O’Riordan said that he agrees overall, but some flexibility is required. Stuart Dash then explained the process that a developer would have to satisfy in order to obtain a special permit. If the land sought to be developed were in a place where the CDD planning maps included a water feature, as part of the permitting process the developer would have to describe his or her plans to develop or assist in the development of that feature.

Vice Mayor Decker stated that she expects that she will call for a roundtable on this issue. She stated that the City Council is going to have to work with staff for a better understanding.

Ms. Glazer stated that with regard to the traffic study, it was simply a comparison of the traffic that could be expected at full buildout under the current zoning with that under the proposed zoning. A great deal of building can be done as-of-right under the existing zoning. As much as 2/3 of the traffic in the area is regional traffic. It is very difficult for Cambridge by itself to affect regional traffic. Cambridge is trying to engage the State on this issue. She informed the committee that the State has approved an origin/destination study of traffic in the Alewife area. She emphasized that the key to solving traffic and flooding is redevelopment. The status quo will not do it.

Vice Mayor Decker thanked those present for their attendance. The meeting was adjourned at five o’clock and thirty-three minutes P. M.

For the Committee,
Vice Mayor Marjorie Decker, Chair