3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to two appropriations totaling $9,500,000 related to the Foundry as follows: $6 million from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account; and $3.5 million from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account.
Two Orders Adopted 9-0

Nov 30, 2020
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the following two (2) appropriations related to the Foundry:

1) First, I am requesting an appropriation of $6.0 million from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account;

2) Second, I am requesting an appropriation of $3.5 million received from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account.

The total cost for the design and construction for the Foundry Building is now $45.5 million.

This includes a total construction cost, or Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), with our contractor, of $37.5 million; and design, administration and contingency costs of $8 million. This brings the City’s total contribution for the design and construction of the Foundry to $35 million and the CRA’s contribution to $10.5 million. (The CRA is also contributing an additional $500,000 for a total of $2.5 million to operating costs once the facility opens.)

This is a substantial increase from the original budget estimates and a $9.5 million increase over our 50% construction estimates which were pre-pandemic. Unanticipated costs are related to the following factors:

• Significant structural deficiencies with the existing wood trusses, including possibly the need to replace the existing wood roof sheathing.

• The new structural steel frame for the interior floors and required seismic reinforcement of the building needed a more significant foundation system which requires significantly more removal of contaminated soil and installation of a vapor mitigation system required by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to vent the underside of the floor slab.

• The publicly bid Trade Contractors were $2 million over estimates ($10 million vs. $8 million estimated)

• Additional costs for wood windows, the exterior metal panel selection, & interior woodwork.

• Roadway reconstruction on Rogers and Bent Street and a new intersection design at Rogers and Third Streets that is intended to help draw the public from Toomey Park and the intersection to the Foundry Building. The roadway and landscaping is presently estimated to be $2.2 million but is also actively being evaluated for cost reductions.

Total additional cost now needed to complete this project is $9.5 million. We are actively exploring ways to reduce costs for this project, and any savings to the $37.5 million GMP will be returned to the City at the completion of the project. We expect to share this savings proportionately with the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority.

I recommend your approval of these appropriations.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

3. Policy Order to strengthen community bonds and ensure equitable access to neighborhood organizations. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR NOLAN IN COUNCIL NOV 23, 2020] [Order #4 of Nov 23, 2020]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0; Late Order Adopted 9-0

O-4     Nov 23, 2020  Charter Right - Nolan
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has many community and neighborhood organizations formed to discuss and advocate for issues that impact their neighborhood and the city as a whole; and
WHEREAS: These groups provide effective ways for residents to have a voice in the shaping of their neighborhood and the larger Cambridge community; and
WHEREAS: These groups are often formed and run by volunteers which have various abilities to promote, advocate, and forward their positions in aggregate for City planning purposes; and
WHEREAS: These groups often have membership and boards that struggle to represent the diverse demographics of their neighborhood and city at large; and
WHEREAS: Many of these groups are recognized by the City of Cambridge as the de facto voice of neighborhoods, and many city boards and agencies seek their input for planning purposes, and yet the groups may not fully represent the broad spectrum of the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS: These groups are important and vital and deserve appreciation for trying to represent residents and amplify the voice of regular people all on a volunteer basis, and yet at times, these groups can unintentionally alienate certain voices and residents can feel uncomfortable taking part in meetings or in online conversations; and
WHEREAS: As recently as a few weeks ago, a board member of the East Cambridge Planning Team (ECPT) directed homophobic and sexually harassing comments at a resident on a public neighborhood email group after that resident wrote an op-ed opposed to an ECPT policy position; and
WHEREAS: No resident should ever have to expose themselves to bigotry and intimidation based on who they are in order to participate in community life; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has a duty not to empower groups or individuals who bully, harass, or abuse other residents based on their race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or physical/mental disability; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council believes in the dignity of all people and their right to respect, and equality of opportunity and participation in civic life free of abuse, and values the strength that comes with difference and the positive contribution that diversity brings to our city; and be it further
RESOLVED: That we condemn homophobic bullying and intimidation anywhere in the city, and we encourage all neighborhood groups and organizations to enact policies to prevent and sanction such abusive behavior that serves the opposite goal of these groups and organizations by alienating; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee of the City Council host a meeting to discuss ways to strengthen community bonds and ensure equitable access to neighborhood organizations which could include, but not be limited to:

· How the City of Cambridge can support neighborhood organizations and other community groups to create rules and regulations that ensure greater diversity and representation on boards and in membership of these groups and formal codes of conduct to ensure that these groups create safe and supportive environments for all participants

· Ensure that the City is not systemically elevating certain groups and voices over others in what should be equal community discussions and governing processes

· Developing policies and practices to allow members of neighborhood organizations to formally file complaints and grievances and seek assistance from the City when discriminatory incidents take place.

---

There is apparently some intention to bifurcate this contentious Order into two Orders:

First, a substitute for the above Order:

O-4     Nov 23, 2020, substitute Nov 30, 2020  Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has many community and neighborhood organizations formed to discuss and advocate for issues that impact their neighborhood and the city as a whole; and
WHEREAS: These groups provide effective ways for residents to have a voice in the shaping of their neighborhood and the larger Cambridge community; and
WHEREAS: These groups are formed and run by volunteers who donate their time to provide an opportunity for residents to connect with each other, and to have a voice in city affairs; and
WHEREAS: These groups have membership and boards that are open to all, and yet may not represent the diverse demographics of their neighborhood, and
WHEREAS: These groups are recognized by the City of Cambridge, with their input being sought in some arenas, such as curb cut applications and development proposals and in practice many city boards and agencies seek their input for planning purposes, since they seek to represent the neighborhood, and
WHEREAS: These groups can be important and vital to organizing and advocating, and the groups and the city should do all they can to ensure groups are welcoming and all residents feel comfortable taking part in meetings or in online conversations and
WHEREAS: The groups spend their own time and sometimes their own funds to do outreach, and/or provide food or child care at meetings to enable the participation of all residents, including families with young children or other home responsibilities; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record appreciating many neighborhood groups' efforts and the tireless work of many group volunteers, while also recognizing that there has been real pain caused by some groups and all groups have room for improvement; and further be it
ORDERED: That the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee of the City Council host a meeting to discuss ways to strengthen community bonds and understand whether the city could better support neighborhood organizations; and further be it
ORDERED: That the meeting be scheduled with outreach to all existing neighborhood groups with the announced agenda including asking each group what they might want to learn from each other and what they might want to share as best practice so all neighborhood groups which have had success in any areas – recruitment, outreach, engagement, etc. - have an opportunity to share success as well as challenges.

Second, a Late Order:

LATE ORDER     Nov 30, 2020  Late Order Adopted 9-0
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: In October 2020, a board member of the East Cambridge Planning Team (ECPT) directed homophobic and sexually harassing comments at a resident on a public neighborhood email group after that resident wrote an op-ed opposed to an ECPT policy position; and
WHEREAS: No resident should ever have to expose themselves to bigotry and intimidation based on who they are in order to participate in community life; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has a duty not to empower groups or individuals who bully, harass, or abuse other residents based on their race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or physical/mental disability; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council believes in the dignity of all people and their right to respect, and equality of opportunity and participation in civic life free of abuse, and values the strength that comes with difference and the positive contribution that diversity brings to our city; and be it further
RESOLVED: That we condemn homophobic bullying and intimidation anywhere in the city, and we encourage all neighborhood groups and organizations to enact policies to prevent and sanction such abusive behavior that serves the opposite goal of these groups and organizations.

---

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Nov 30, 2020  Amended
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is facing an unprecedented crisis in COVID-19; and
WHEREAS: Indoor activities have been identified as areas of potential risk; and
WHEREAS: Per the EPA, “Air cleaning and filtration can help reduce airborne contaminants, including particles containing viruses”; and
WHEREAS: Air purifiers have been identified by many experts on the Manager’s COVID Response Team and at large as an effective means to help control airborne spread of the virus; and
WHEREAS: A portable device capable of monitoring CO2 levels in a room, contains a HEPA copper lined filter, and UV sanitization is very well suited to mitigate indoor spread; and
WHEREAS: The demand for these devices during the Winter surge of COVID-19 could result in similar scarcity as patio heaters; and
WHEREAS: The cost of these devices can be prohibitive as businesses are hesitant to make further expenditures; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to implement a program similar to the patio heater reimbursement program for purchasing air sanitizers purifiers that meet or exceed the above specifications for Cambridge businesses.

O-2     Nov 30, 2020
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the City Council that Comcast plans to impose a home internet data cap on customers across the United States, including in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Starting in March 2021, customers who exceed 1.2TB of data in any given month will be charged $10 per additional 50GB of data used, up to $100 per month in additional fees; and
WHEREAS: Comcast has long admitted that its data caps are not necessary to manage network congestion, and network congestion has not been a major problem this year despite increased use due to the pandemic; and
WHEREAS: It is unjust for working families to be hit with such frivolous fees in the middle of a pandemic and economic recession that has necessitated realities like remote K-12 learning and online eviction court; and
WHEREAS: These fees will disproportionately impact people of color and other vulnerable groups, including many who are already struggling with limited, uneven, or non-existent digital access; and
WHEREAS: It is essential that the FCC stand up for working people across this country by preventing ISPs like Comcast from abusing their monopoly power to nickel-and-dime consumers who rely on internet access as a daily utility; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record urging Comcast to reconsider the decision to impose a data cap and additional fees on consumers starting next year; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record asking Cambridge’s Congressional Delegation to do everything possible to stop these additional fees from being implemented, and to advocate with the FCC for improved broadband regulations, including net neutrality; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to Comcast SVP Tracy Pitcher, Assistant Speaker Clark, Congresswoman Pressley, Senator Markey, and Senator Warren on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-3     Nov 30, 2020  Withdrawn 9-0
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: On October 5th, 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued updated guidelines for mandated surveillance testing programs in nursing homes and assisted living facilities; and
WHEREAS: If there are no COVID-positive staff, and a nursing home belongs to a county with less than a five percent positivity rate under a 14 day rolling average, testing only has to be conducted on 50% of staff every two weeks; and
WHEREAS: Weekly testing of all staff is only required if there is a COVID-positive staff member or resident, and residents are only required to be tested if they were in close contact with a COVID-positive staff member, and are not required to undergo regular surveillance testing; and
WHEREAS: COVID had a devastating impact on the older, highly susceptible nursing home residents during the early days of the pandemic, and 72 of the 100 deaths caused by COVID in Cambridge are of residents in assisted living facilities; and
WHEREAS: As we are heading into another COVID case surge, as there were recently some cases in a local nursing home, it is critical to ensure cases are quickly identified, COVID-positive staff and residents receive treatment as soon as possible, and further transmission is prevented; and
WHEREAS: The City conducted a Testing Pilot Program in local nursing homes in April, and could implement a similar testing program again to complement the surveillance testing mandated by the Commonwealth to ensure all staff and residents are being tested with greater frequency, and therefore are better protected from the threat of COVID; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Public Health Department and other relevant City departments to explore the feasibility of providing more regular COVID testing for residents and staff in nursing homes and assisted living facilities; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on this matter by the Dec 14th, 2020 regular City Council meeting.

O-4     Nov 30, 2020
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: Each Monday night the City Council is presented with data from the state’s weekly report on COVID-19, which is published on the Thursday prior to the meeting; and
WHEREAS: These reports show a comparison between Cambridge and other towns based on the 14-day average of newly reported cases per 100,000 population as of 10 days prior to the Council Meeting; and
WHEREAS: New COVID-19 cases are assigned retroactively to the date the test was taken rather than the date the results were reported, so by the time the 10-day old figure is reported to the council it is no longer even an accurate reflection of the case count average as of that day, and is reliably an undercount when case counts are increasing; and
WHEREAS: On Nov 23, 2020 the council received a presentation from area experts, including data from the Harvard Machine Intelligence Lab showing regional case count doubling times, testing positivity, heat maps, wastewater viral loads, hospitalizations, web search analytics, and other data creating a more comprehensive picture of the rapidly evolving pandemic in and around Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: It is critical that the council receives the most up to date and comprehensive data during weekly updates to inform policy making decisions regarding the city’s pandemic response; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to present the City Council with a comprehensive data report on a weekly basis, for the duration of the pandemic emergency, including (but not limited to) regional and Cambridge-specific trends (as opposed to point-in-time data like the 14-day average from 10 days prior) as outlined above.

O-5     Nov 30, 2020
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: On Nov 23, 2020 the council received a presentation from area experts to help inform what actions should be taken to slow the spread of the virus; and
WHEREAS: The experts made it clear that the highest risk of spreading is attached to indoor activities where people go unmasked such as dining; and
WHEREAS: One of the critical pieces of missing information identified by the experts is locations of transmission using “backwards” contact tracing to identify transmission clusters; and
WHEREAS: This technique has been successfully applied in many other places to identify outbreaks by finding recently shared locations among several individuals testing positive for the virus; and
WHEREAS: Identifying specific locations of outbreaks can help the city perform more targeted interventions to improve the safety of those specific locations, as well as reduce the spread by identifying additional individuals who should quarantine and seek COVID testing; and
WHEREAS: Until an effective vaccine is in widespread use, contact tracing to identify and suppress clusters is the most efficient way to limit spreading of the virus and can help avoid more widespread closures of businesses and other indoor gathering spaces; and
WHEREAS: Backwards contact tracing is greatly facilitated by the use of mobile devices that can track and compare locations securely, by providing an easy way for people to “check in” to a place of business by scanning a QR code unique to that location upon entry; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments to implement comprehensive contact tracing in Cambridge including the ability to conduct backwards contact tracing facilitated with technology such as the use of QR codes, and to report back to the City Council on this matter as soon as possible.

O-6     Nov 30, 2020
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge currently offers 7 day a week testing at 4 sites; and
WHEREAS: Access to testing and geographic proximity to testing is critical; and
WHEREAS: Some cities in Massachusetts and across the country have utilized mobile vans for COVID-19 testing; and
WHERAS: Currently, data is not available about who is taking advantage of the city’s free COVID-19 testing; and
WHEREAS: Mobile testing vans can be deployed in Cambridge to increase access and ensure that there are no neighborhoods with disproportionately low COVID-19 testing rates; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager confer with the Cambridge Department of Public Health on the feasibility of launching mobile COVID-19 testing vans in December and report back to the City Council as soon as possible.

O-7     Nov 30, 2020
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: In October 2020, a board member of the East Cambridge Planning Team (ECPT) directed homophobic and sexually harassing comments at a resident on a public neighborhood email group after that resident wrote an op-ed opposed to an ECPT policy position; and
WHEREAS: No resident should ever have to expose themselves to bigotry and intimidation based on who they are in order to participate in community life; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has a duty not to empower groups or individuals who bully, harass, or abuse other residents based on their race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or physical/mental disability; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council believes in the dignity of all people and their right to respect, and equality of opportunity and participation in civic life free of abuse, and values the strength that comes with difference and the positive contribution that diversity brings to our city; and be it further
RESOLVED That we condemn homophobic bullying and intimidation anywhere in the city, and we encourage all neighborhood groups and organizations to enact policies to prevent and sanction such abusive behavior that serves the opposite goal of these groups and organizations.

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on the PUD-CDK District Zoning Amendment.

In Attendance: Dennis J. Carlone, Alanna Mallon, Marc C. McGovern, Patricia Nolan, Sumbul Siddiqui, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Timothy J. Toomey, Quinton Zondervan
Absent: E. Denise Simmons

Councillor Carlone called the meeting to order. He opened the floor to a presentation from the petitioner.

Sal Zinno from BioMed Realty made a presentation to the committee which is attached to this report. He explained that the vision for the project is to be a transformative hub for communities and creatives to bring fresh diversity and culture to Kendall Square.

Ken Greenberg, from BioMed Realty explained that he was involved in the development of the original master plan for this area. He stated that this proposal will complete the master plan by creating an animated mixed-use area.

Mr. Zinno stated that the site has been an inaccessible gravel lot of decades. He explained that her has been working on a deal to relocate the Eversource Gas Transfer Station which is an impediment to development in this area. He stated that current agreement to move the Cas Transfer station expires in October of next year. The project that envisions a significant arts and culture component.

Kishore Varanasi, from CBT Architects, explained that they would be creating an open and inviting ground floor. The first floor will contain a performing arts facility. The building will have a curvilinear façade that will allow more light and space between buildings. The building will be very carbon efficient trade by today's standards and in comparison, to modern buildings.

In response to a question from Councillor Carlone about the Gas Transfer Station, Mr. Zinno explained that $35 million would be used to purchase the site, purchase the relocation site and the hard and soft costs of the whole package.

Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, explained that the Planning Board held a hearing in September on the last version of the petition. She stated that BioMed made changes based on the planning board's discussion at that time.

Jeffrey Roberts, Director of Zoning and Development, explained that the proposal really affects two sites, this constellation site and then the what's been called the Gas Transfer site, parcel C. In 1999 or 2000, the development plan for this site is for a large complex of buildings.

Councillor Carlone opened the floor to public comment.

Christopher Hope, 872 Massachusetts Ave., unit 1-5, Director of the loop lab. He stated that the petitioner has offered a free space for the organization in Kendall Square to reenergize the area as a destination location for the arts. He stated that some residents coming from Afro-Latino communities, the Latino communities, but also Afro-Caribbean communities feel that there is a major disconnect between them and the opportunities that are available. There is potential for the intersection of the arts and the local community to finally be connected. He supports the petition.

Maure Aronson, 720 Massachusetts Avenue, Executive Director of Global Arts Live. He stated that the petitioners have the support of Global Arts Live. This project is visionary in its architectural approach, it is also visionary in its approach to make a Culture Center to the identity of Kendall Square. The year-round indoor space that biomed has proposed is unlike anything else in Cambridge or the region.

Nagesh Mahanthappa, 7 Old Dee Rd., Cambridge, MA. He supports this project. He is chair of the Board of global Arts Live. The project will not only bring a world class theater space, but community space.

Dan Marshall, 500 Kendall Street, Executive Artistic Director, Brookline/Cambridge Community Center for the Arts, Inc. Spoke in support of the proposal. This is a visionary and amazing mixed-use design.

Brian Amador, 199 Pemberton Street, spoke in support of the project. The city is in dire need of performance spaces that are medium sized and small, and this project would provide both of those smaller informal spaces on the ground floor and a medium sized, beautiful theatre on the third floor.

Ken Field, 108 Pleasant Street, spoke in support of the project. At this time, performing performers and audiences are experiencing an ongoing loss of Performing Arts venues due in large part to the economic realities of the pandemic. But the dearth of medium sized public performing venues in the city was a problem before the pandemic hit. In addition to the closing of music venues, the city has lost dance studios, visual art studio space and other performance venues. He strongly encouraged the developers and the committee to think carefully about the details of the operating model for the arts and cultural component of the proposal to ensure its longevity.

Brian Lim, Cambridge Community Center for the Arts, 500 Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, Cofounder and Operations Director of the nonprofit organization called The Flavor Continues. BioMed has been a good partner or providing dancing space. He fully supports the project.

Carl Nagy-Koechlin, Executive Director at Just-A-Start, 1035 Cambridge Street. He spoke in favor of the project. Kendall Square is really at the center of that quest to get low- and moderate-income people, in Cambridge, plugged into the economy and moving forward with living wage jobs that have a future. He is impressed with BioMed Realty’s commitment to making that connection and helping to link people that Just-A-Start trains to jobs in that building with their eventual tenants.

Anna Myer, 60 Dudley Street, spoke in support of the project. Not only does it bring people into the city, but people that go out to eat, they go shopping, it creates community at Kendall Square.

Alex Ambila, 47 Strathmore Road, Brighton MA, spoke in support of the project. This project will allow artists to connect with other communities and create a better foundation for the arts in Boston, and in Cambridge.

Scott McBurney, representing the center the energy and the Kendall green energy plant and district energy system in Cambridge. They have over a decade's long relationship with BioMed both as a direct abutter and as a business partner. He spoke in support of the project.

Heather Hoffman, 213 Hurley Street, she stated that she wants the arts, space and the other community spaces to come to pass but does not want to pay too big a price for them. She hopes that in the understandable zeal for the project that Kendall Square is not overloaded with buildings.

Michael Monestime, 4 George Street, spoke in favor of the project. This is not a project that's going to be an eyesore to the neighborhood.

William Harris, 8 Arlington Street, spoke in support for the project. The connection of indoors and outdoors will be truly unique.

Councillor moved to close public comment
Approved 8-0

In response to a question from Councillor Nolan about the sustainability and financial sustainability of the community space, Mr. Zinno stated that the space would be provided with at no cost, no rent, it has carve it out as a condo, so there will be no real estate taxes on the space, it would be deeded to a nonprofit. BioMed realty would also help to offset any operating costs.

Councillor Nolan encouraged the petitioner to provide more operational details about the arts space. In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan about open space on the second floor. Mr. Zinno stated the second and third floors of the building would be glassy theater space.

In response to a question from Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon about the timeline to move the Gas Transfer Station, Mr. Zinno stated he expects that in the course of a few months, they will be in front of the city to request a special permit and potentially a variance to allow the Gas Transfer Station to be situated on the proposed site behind 500 Kendall.

In response to a question from Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon about additional sustainability measures used in the building, Mr. Zinno stated that the project will include significant green space and there will be no new parking spaces. The green roofs were brought down on the four terraces that run alongside the east and west sides of the building.

In response to a question from Councillor McGovern about the height of the proposed building in relation to its neighbors, Mr. Zinno stated that the watermark, building, the taller of the two towers, watermark one, which is just to the south, that building zoning height is actually 230 feet, compared to the proposed building, which will be 250 feet.

Councillor Toomey spoke in support of the project.

Councillor Carlone moved to extend the meeting to 7:45pm.
YES – Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan, Carlone
ABSENT – Simmons, Toomey, Siddiqui

In response to a question from Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler Carlone, Mr. Zinno explained that assuming that they received the appropriate permits construction could begin in 2023.

Councillor Carlone asked for more information about how the project will change if the Gas Transfer Station deal does not happen. In response to a question about the arts space, Mr. Zinno explained that the has a vested interest in the success of that space because it is the “front-door” of the building.

Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, stated that the City and its consultant will probably need a few weeks to complete the financial assessment of the project.

Councillor Carlone moved to refer the petition to the full city council with a favorable recommendation.
YES – Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan, Carlone
ABSENT – Simmons, Toomey, Siddiqui

Councillor Carlone moved to adjourn.
YES – Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan, Carlone
ABSENT – Simmons, Toomey, Siddiqui

1. A Zoning Petition Has been received from BMR–Third LLC c/o BioMed Realty, L.P. regarding a Zoning Amendment Petition for a new Planned Unit Development PUD District CDK to City Council.
RESULT: REFERRED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION [6 TO 0]
YEAS: Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan
ABSENT: Siddiqui, Simmons, Toomey

Communications

2. A communication was received from Mark L. Tang, regarding PUD-CDK Zoning Amendment Petition the Zoning Petition.

3. A communication was received from Michael Sherry Director, Belfort Group, regarding BioMed Realty Rezoning Petition Presentation.

Communications and Reports from Other City Officers

4. A communication was received from Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, transmitting memoranda regarding the PUD-CDK rezoning petition.