CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation on the City Council Petition to amend the Zoning Ordinance to permit an increase in the filing fee for zoning petition.

2. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 04-110, regarding a report on the policies and protocols for handling property of the homeless.

3. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 04-105, regarding a report on ensuring greater frequency of cleaning and patrolling the tot lot in the Cambridge Common.

4. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $1,334,294.98 from the General Fund School Other Ordinary Maintenance account to the School Salaries and Wages account ($1,089,472.29), School Travel and Training account ($88,319.57) and Extraordinary Expenditures account ($156,503.12); these transfers are related to re-allocations within school department programs.

5. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, of the first ever written PILOT agreement between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the City of Cambridge.

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 the Table on the motion of Mayor Sullivan on an application received from Bank of America, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 615 Concord Avenue. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department and abutters.

3. Placed on the Table on the motion of Mayor Sullivan on an application received from Bank of America, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 28 Elliot Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department and abutters.

4. Placed on the Table on the motion of Mayor Sullivan on an application received from Bank of America, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 226 Main Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department and abutters.

5. Placed on the Table on the motion of Mayor Sullivan on an application received from Bank of America, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 1000 Massachusetts Avenue. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department and abutters.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
6. 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 October 27, 2004 for the purpose of considering a proposed amendment to increase the filing fee for a zoning petition in Section 1.53 of the Zoning Ordinance from $75 to $150 to be consistent with the new filing fee approved by the City Council in its amendment to the Municipal Code on June 14, 2004. The question comes on passing to be ordained on or after November 22, 2004. Petition expires January 25, 2005. Planning Board hearing held November 9, 2004 - Report received.

7. 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 4, 2004 for the purpose of considering a petition to create a new Special District 15, Section 17.600 and to amend the Zoning Map in the area of 237 Putnam Avenue and 19-21 Blackstone Street. The question comes on passing to be ordained on or after December 13, 2004. Petition expires February 2, 2005. Planning Board hearing held November 9, 2004 - No report received.

APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
1. An application was received from Rodney's Bookstore, requesting permission for a sandwich board sign at the premises numbered 698 Massachusetts Avenue.

2. An application was received from Ata Cycle, requesting permission for a bike rack at the premises numbered 1773 Massachusetts Avenue.

3. A zoning petition was received from Phillip Sego et al., known as the Central Area 4 Zoning Petition, requesting an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and Map to rezone an area currently zoned Residence C-1 to Residence C.

4. An application was received from Bank of America, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 600 Technology Square. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department and abutters.

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Evelyn Maher and family, transmitting appreciation to the City Council for the resolution on behalf of Claire Maher.

2. A communication was received from Penni McLean-Conner, Vice President, Customer Care, NSTAR, transmitting appreciation to the City Council for the resolution on behalf of NSTAR's entire energy efficiency group.

3. A communication was received from Roy Bercaw, regarding police.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Jack Bryant, Jr.   Vice Mayor Decker

2. Resolution on the death of Corporal Joseph Heredia.   Vice Mayor Decker

3. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Joseph Welke.   Vice Mayor Decker

4. Resolution on the death of Corporal Bradley Arms.   Vice Mayor Decker

5. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Demarkus Brown.   Vice Mayor Decker

6. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Michael Downey.   Vice Mayor Decker

7. Wish for a very speedy recovery to Marilyn Bradshaw, Executive Secretary of the Cambridge School Committee.   Mayor Sullivan

8. Wish for a very speedy recovery to John Schmitt, Assistant Principal of the Peabody School.   Mayor Sullivan

9. Congratulations to Novartis on the occasion of winning the First Annual Economic Impact Award.   Mayor Sullivan

10. Wishes for a speedy recovery to Paul Sullivan.   Mayor Sullivan

11. Resolution on the death of Sister Marie de Lourdes Doyle CSJ.   Mayor Sullivan

12. Resolution on the death of Rose M. Costa.   Mayor Sullivan

13. Resolution on the death of Joseph G. Sakey.   Mayor Sullivan

14. Recognition to Kweisi Mfune, President of the NAACP as he steps down as the organization’s president.   Mayor Sullivan

15. Recognition of Secretary Tom Ridge, Department of Homeland Security, for his dedicated service as he leaves his cabinet position.   Mayor Sullivan

16. Happy 70th Birthday wishes to Charlie Laverty.   Mayor Sullivan

17. Happy 50th Birthday wishes to Lawrence Summers, President of Harvard University.   Mayor Sullivan

18. Good Luck wishes to Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes and his group of merry carolers as they perform their 95th Annual Carol Service at Harvard University.   Mayor Sullivan

19. Congratulations to June Carolyn Erlick, Editor in-Chief of Revista, the Harvard Review of Latin America on the publication, of her book, Disappeared, A Journalist Silenced.   Mayor Sullivan

20. Congratulations to Jennifer Coplon, Ph.D., LICSW on her appointment as the new Executive Director of the Child Care Resource Center.   Mayor Sullivan

21. Congratulations to Biogen Idec, Inc. on receiving the endorsement of the FDA with regard to its newest Multiple Sclerosis treatment.   Mayor Sullivan

22. Congratulations to the City of Cambridge Community Development Department on receiving the 2004 National League of Cities/Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence in recognition of our partnership with Forest City Enterprises and MIT at University Park MIT.   Mayor Sullivan

23. Resolution on the death of Agnes T. Skinner.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

24. Resolution on the death of Dorothy L. Boudreau.   Mayor Sullivan

25. Resolution on the death of Jai Aggarwal.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Davis

26. Resolution on the death of Charles Caccamesi.   Mayor Sullivan

27. Congratulations to Gertrude Jarvis as she celebrates her 102nd Birthday.   Councillor Simmons

28. Resolution on the death of Barbosa Domingos.   Councillor Toomey, Mayor Sullivan

29. Congratulations to the CRLS football team and cheerleaders on a very successful season.   Councillor Galluccio

30. Wish for a speedy recovery to Frank Higgins.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

31. Wish for a speedy recovery to Josephine Micceli.   Councillor Galluccio

32. Wish for a speedy recovery to Walter Lyons.   Councillor Galluccio

33. Congratulations to Everett's head coach, John DiBiaso, and the entire Everett High School football team and cheerleaders on their Thanksgiving Day victory.   Councillor Galluccio

34. Regrets to the fire victims at 240 Franklin Street.   Councillor Simmons

35. Congratulations to Jim and Kelly Weisgerber on the birth of their child, William.   Mayor Sullivan

36. Get well wishes extended to Jimmy Smith.   Mayor Sullivan

37. Resolution on the death of Dorothy F. D'Amore.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Galluccio

38. Resolution on the death of William F. DiPesa.   Mayor Sullivan

39. Resolution on the death of Michael F. SanSeverino.   Councillor Galluccio, Mayor Sullivan

40. Thanks for a job well done in fighting the Franklin Street fire extended to the City Manager, Cambridge Police and Fire Departments, Emergency Management, Emergency Communications, Inspectional Services Department, Red Cross, Salvation Army and surrounding cities and towns.   Mayor Sullivan

41. Congratulations to the Center For Family Connections on receiving the Adoption Excellence Award for Support of Adoption Families.   Vice Mayor Decker

42. Resolution on the death of Private First Class Stephen Benish.   Vice Mayor Decker

43. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Adam Brooks.   Vice Mayor Decker

44. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Charles Hanson, Jr.   Vice Mayor Decker

45. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Carl Lee.   Vice Mayor Decker

46. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Trinidad Martinezluis.   Vice Mayor Decker

47. Resolution on of the death of Staff Sergeant Michael Shackelford.   Vice Mayor Decker

48. Resolution on the death of the death of Corporal Kirk Bosselmann.   Vice Mayor Decker

49. Resolution on the death of Specialist Jeremy Christensen.   Vice Mayor Decker

50. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Joshua Lucero.   Vice Mayor Decker

51. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Bradley Faircloth.   Vice Mayor Decker

52. Resolution on the death of Private Brian Grant.   Vice Mayor Decker

53. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal David Houck.   Vice Mayor Decker

54. Resolution on the death of Private First Class Harrison Meyer.   Vice Mayor Decker

55. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Jordan Winkler.   Vice Mayor Decker

56. Resolution on the death of Private First Class Ryan Cantafio.   Vice Mayor Decker

57. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Jeffrey Holmes.   Vice Mayor Decker

58. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Nicholas Nolte.   Vice Mayor Decker

59. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Benjamin Edinger.   Vice Mayor Decker

60. Resolution on the death of Corporal Michael Cohen.   Vice Mayor Decker

61. Resolution on the death of Specialist Blain Ebert.   Vice Mayor Decker

62. Resolution on the death of Specialist David Rostum.   Vice Mayor Decker

63. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Joseph Nolan.   Vice Mayor Decker

64. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Catalin Dima.   Vice Mayor Decker

65. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Blake Magaoay.   Vice Mayor Decker

66. Resolution on the death of Corporal Gentian Marku.   Vice Mayor Decker

67. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Michael Smith.   Vice Mayor Decker

68. Wish for a successful fundraising event to the Cambridge Community of Realtors, as they host their Annual Denim and Diamond Party to benefit "Our Place," a Cambridge daycare center for homeless children, on Wednesday, December 15, 2004, at 121 Brattle Street.   Mayor Sullivan

69. Congratulations to the City of Medford for setting a new record in the Guinness Book of Records.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Maher

70. Congratulations to June Jonakin on her hard work and effort in establishing the Ruma Folklore Society.   Vice Mayor Decker

71. Good luck to the Cambridge Community Art Center as they host their first fund raiser of the new millennium on December 13, 2004 at the 33 Restaurant & Lounge in Boston.   Mayor Sullivan

81. Congratulations to the new elected officers of Carpenters Local Union 40.   Councillor Toomey, Mayor Sullivan

ORDERS
1. The City Manager is requested to report on what steps can be taken so that tax bills of residents do reflect the value of an empty house than that of an owner occupied house and report on what statutory or regulatory provisions would prevent Cambridge from making this change.   Vice Mayor Decker

2. The City Manager is requested to confer with the City Solicitor to draft a home rule petition to include a deduction in the assessed value of a multi-family house that rents at below market rental value, including units that accept Section 8 vouchers.   Vice Mayor Decker

3. The City Manager is requested to investigate ways the City may provide assistance to the fire victims of the Franklin Street fire.   Councillor Simmons

4. The City Manager is requested to collaborate, communicate and coordinate with the Mayor for the re-establishment of the City's Fire Fund.   Mayor Sullivan

5. The City Manager is requested to evaluate the possibility of collecting taxes quarterly in order to help alleviate what has been stated to be a hardship under the present system and report back to the City Council with findings and proposals.   Mayor Sullivan

6. Support for Home Rule petition #1468 relative to the formation of municipal electric utilities during the 2002 legislative session; and in support of this re-filed legislation for the 2005-06 legislative session.   Mayor Sullivan

7. The City Manager is requested to coordinate with the Commissioners of Inspectional Services and Public Health to contact the state Division of Capital Asset Management relative to plans for asbestos abatement at the Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse.   Mayor Sullivan

8. Dedication of a site at the Walter J. Sullivan Purification Facility in honor of Bill Brennan.   Mayor Sullivan

9. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Police Commissioner with the view in mind of increasing enforcement around Cambridge Rindge and Latin School of the requirement that motorists stop for pedestrians in the cross-walk.   Councillor Davis

10. The City Manager is requested to work with pertinent City staff to submit an application to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Highway Department for lowering the speed limit on Blanchard Road.   Mayor Sullivan

19. That the City Council go on record adopting the goals for FY 06 and 07 and the facilitator's notes from the November 15, 2004 goal setting meeting be forwarded to the City Manager for use in planning and budget development.   Councillor Maher, Vice Mayor Decker, Councillor Galluccio, Councillor Reeves and Councillor Toomey

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 5, 2004 for the purpose of receiving information regarding obesity in Cambridge.

2. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair of the Human Services Committee, for a meeting held on November 10, 2004 to discuss transportation for seniors and accessible taxicabs.

3. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor David P. Maher, Chair of the Government Operations and Rules Committee, for meetings held on November 15, 2004, November 22, 2004 and November 29, 2004 to set the FY06 and FY07 goals and to receive training in the area of goal-setting.

4. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor David P. Maher, Chair of the Government Operations and Rules Committee, for a meeting held on November 3, 2004 for the purpose of providing the public with a brief report of the results of a citizen opinion survey with regard to city services and with a facilitated opportunity to express their views and priorities on city services.

COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a letter from Marilyn Y. Bradshaw, Executive Secretary to the School Committee regarding an order adopted by the School Committee on November 16, 2004 on traffic calming measures on Cushing Street in front of the Haggerty School.

HEARING SCHEDULE
Mon, Dec 6
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Tues, Dec 7
4:00pm   The Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss Awaiting Report Item Number 04-90 regarding a new traffic plan proposed for the Dunkin Donuts on North Massachusetts Avenue.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Thurs, Dec 9
9:00am   The Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities will conduct a public meeting on maintenance of streetlights, NSTAR customer service policies, report on new NSTAR substation including impact on rates and environment and any other matters that may come before the committee.  (Ackermann Room)
3:00pm   The Health and Environment Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss the efforts of the custodians and cleaners at Genzyme to organize and unionize.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Fri, Dec 10
9:00am   The Health and Environment Committee will conduct a public meeting to continue the discussion of obesity in Cambridge.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Dec 13
1:00pm   The Public Safety Committee will conduct a public meeting to continue discussion of siting a new police station.  (Ackermann Room)
2:00pm   The Public Safety Committee will hold a public meeting to receive information on and to evaluate the 4 Points for Safety program.  (Ackermann Room)
5:30pm   Roundtable City Council Meeting. Joint public meeting with the School Committee for a discussion of school related issues. No public comment. No votes will be taken. Meeting will not be televised.  (344 Broadway, 2nd Fl Conference)

Wed, Dec 15
2:00pm   The Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss follow up on snow clearance issues and any other matters that might come before the committee.  (Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave.)

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

Thurs, Jan 6, 2005
4:30pm   The Ordinance Committee will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to Article 13.7 of the Zoning Ordinances entitled "Planned Unit Development in the North Point Residential District," filed by North Point Land Company. This meeting to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)
5:15pm   The Ordinance Committee will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to Article 13.7 of the Zoning Ordinances entitled "Planned Unit Development in the North Point Residence District," filed by Archstone-Smith Operating Trust. This meeting to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 10, 2005
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Jan 12, 2005
1:00pm   Joint Meeting of the Human Services and the Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committees will conduct a public meeting to discuss issues raised at the Senior Town Meeting.  (Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave.)

Thurs, Jan 13, 2005
9:00am   The Human Services Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss the feedback on the inventory of facilities and programs that are offered by the city that provide both school time and out of school time activities for children and the survey results that shows what physical activities children are receiving in the city.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 24, 2005
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 31, 2005
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Feb 7, 2005
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Feb 14, 2005
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Feb 28, 2005
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     December 6, 2004
VICE MAYOR DECKER
WHEREAS: The value of an empty house is far greater than that of an owner occupied house to a prospective buyer; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge's tax assessments apparently do not reflect this value differential; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report to the City Council on what steps the City of Cambridge can take so that the tax bills of residents do reflect this value difference; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager confer with the City Solicitor and report to the City Council as to what statutory or regulatory provisions, if any, prevent Cambridge from making this change and would need to be altered before the change could happen.

O-2     December 6, 2004
VICE MAYOR DECKER
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the City Solicitor to draft a home rule petition to include a deduction in the assessed value of a multi-family house that rents at below market rental value, including units that accept Section 8 vouchers.

O-3     December 6, 2004
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to investigate ways the City may provide assistance to the fire victims of the Franklin Street fire.

O-4     December 6, 2004
MAYOR SULLIVAN
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to collaborate, communicate and coordinate with the Mayor for the re-establishment of the City's Fire Fund.

O-5     December 6, 2004
MAYOR SULLIVAN
WHEREAS: There has been much concern raised relative to the hardship for people to pay their tax bills in two annual payments; and
WHEREAS: State statute allows the city to collect taxes in quarterly payments; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to evaluate the possibility of collecting taxes quarterly in order to help alleviate what has been stated to be a hardship under the present system; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager report back to the City Council with findings and any possible proposals.

O-6     December 6, 2004
MAYOR SULLIVAN
WHEREAS: This City Council voiced support for HR #1468 relative to the formation of municipal electric utilities during the 2002 legislative session; and
WHEREAS: This matter will be re-filed for the 2005-2006 legislative session; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in support of this legislation that provides for the formation of municipal electric utilities; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council urge the members of the Cambridge Legislative Delegation to co-sponsor and support such legislation; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the Cambridge Legislative Delegation on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-7     December 6, 2004
MAYOR SULLIVAN
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to coordinate with the Commissioners of Inspectional Services and Public Health to contact the state Division of Capital Asset Management relative to plans for asbestos abatement at the Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager and Commissioners request to be included in discussions leading up to any abatement process that occurs in the Courthouse, to provide consultation and feedback as local safety and health officials; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council relative to the actions that the City will take to ensure public safety throughout any abatement process that occurs in the Courthouse, including efforts to keep Courthouse employees, residents, and members of the public accessing the services at this public building informed.

O-8     December 6, 2004
MAYOR SULLIVAN
ORDERED: That the City Council dedicate an appropriate site at the Walter J. Sullivan Purification Facility in honor of Bill Brennan; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Chief of Staff to the Mayor be directed to confer with the family regarding a suitable dedication ceremony and communicate with the Department of Public Works to arrange for the sign.

O-9     December 6, 2004
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Police Commissioner with the view in mind of increasing enforcement around Cambridge Rindge and Latin School of the requirement that motorists stop for pedestrians in the cross-walk.

O-10     December 6, 2004
MAYOR SULLIVAN
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with pertinent City staff to submit an application to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Highway Department for lowering the speed limit on Blanchard Road.

ORDERED: That the facilitator's notes from the November 15, 2004 goal setting meeting be forwarded to the City Manager for use in planning and budget development.

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Health and Environment Committee held a public meeting on October 5, 2004, beginning at 10:10am in the Sullivan Chamber for the purpose of receiving information regarding obesity in Cambridge.

Present at the hearing were Vice Mayor Marjorie C. Decker, Chair of the Committee; Mayor Michael A. Sullivan; Councillor Henrietta Davis; Councillor E. Denise Simmons; and City Clerk D. Margaret Drury. Also present were Harold Cox, Chief of Public Health Officer, Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD); Virginia Chomitz, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Institute for Community Health, CPHD; Paula Tavares, Executive Assistant, CPHD; Jeffrey Wallar, Special Projects, CPHD; Ricki Lacy, Director of Public Health Nursing, CPHD; Kristen Handricken, Hearing Forum Planner, CPHD; José Wendel, Nutritionist/School Health, CPHD; Robert Goodwin, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health; Margaret Dunicliffe, Ph.D., Massachusetts Department of Mental Health; Nancy Ryan, Executive Director, Women’s Commission; Suzy Feinberg, CPHD; Jon Chomitz, 205 Rindge Avenue; and Laura Bagot, 185 Hancock Street, Cambridge, MA; Rosalie Anders, Transportation and Environmental Planner, Community Development Department; Bradley Arnal, 32 Seven Pines Avenue, #3, Cambridge¸ MA.; Jolyn Cowan, Department of Human Services (DPH); Julia McNabb, DPH; Susan Pacheco, Council On Aging, DPH; Terry C. Dunnell, CPHD; Jessica Collins, Tufts University Shape Up, Somerville; Lynn Schoeff, CPHD; and Robert McGowan, Coordinator, Health, Physical Education and Athletics, Cambridge School Department.

Vice Mayor Decker convened the meeting and explained the purpose. She welcomed all the participants and emphasized the importance of this topic. Vice Mayor Decker mentioned her interest in the relation of income and class to obesity. She invited all to introduce themselves and requested that Mr. Cox begin the presentation. Mr. Cox described the presentation and the issues to be discussed in the presentation. He introduced Dr. Virginia Chomitz, Senior Scientist, to present the information.

Dr. Chomitz provided a Power Point outline of her presentation. In her presentation she reviewed obesity trends in adults in the United States. Obesity is an epidemic, which has been spreading at a rapid rate over the past five years. With regard to Cambridge data, Cambridge has lower obesity rates than Massachusetts or the United States. In Cambridge fifty six percent of the men are overweight and forty percent of the women are overweight. The Cambridge population is relatively young, so we get somewhat skewed representation. Because of the lower rates, Cambridge also has the opportunity to engage in prevention strategies. Dr. Chomitz noted that black and Hispanic adults’ rates of obesity in Cambridge are at least as bad as those of the United States and the rest of Massachusetts. She added that forty percent of the Cambridge children are already overweight, with a small but steady increase every year. Dr. Chomitz stated that overweight is next to smoking in terms of morbidity from a preventable condition. She then outlined promising strategies: adding an hour of physical activity daily, decreasing inactivity (TV watching) and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Dr. Chomitz noted the social ecological framework, and how important school; community and policy factors are in influencing behavior and attitudes. She then noted the following Cambridge initiatives on the policy and community level that support healthy weight through environmental support:

1. Open and green space protection
2. Stair Well Enhancement Pilot
3. Traffic calming
4. Parks and recreation programs
5. City planning efforts (e.g. supermarket access)
6. Pedestrian and cycling initiatives

Dr. Chomitz then identified current Cambridge policy initiatives focused on increasing community awareness: Cambridge Walks, TV Turnoff Week in April, Cambridge Moves Directory and "5-2-1" Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Promotion. She also listed current Cambridge initiatives on the school and organizational level:

• Food Service Reform – vending machine policy and the pilot cereal and milk program
• Health and Fitness Report Cards – BMI surveillance, progress reports, nurse follow-up
• Physical Education Progress Grant – Professional development, equipment, before-school activities; Fifth grade girls’ Sports Day
• Growing Healthy – School gardens and fruit & vegetable promotion
• School Health: Nutritionist
• Increased emphasis on physical activity in after school programming.

Dr. Chomitz then moved to the current Cambridge initiatives on the family and individual level: hospital-based nutrition programs at Cambridge Hospital and Mt. Auburn, nutrition and feeding programs, a Directory of Clinical Services for Overweight Children in Greater Boston, and private-for profit weight loss or fitness programs. Dr. Chomitz outlined the challenges: very little is known at the science level about how to reduce weight. She said that the "biggest bang for the buck" is in prevention. Cambridge is very low on cultural and linguistic exclusivity in this area. Another challenge is that we live in an "obesogenic" environment and society: we eat huge portions and use machines to make physical work like housework easier. The final part of Dr, Chomitz’s presentation was a discussion of opportunities for promoting healthy weight. She said that on the policy and advocacy level, there are a lot of state and local initiatives that need advocacy and support, including the following:

1. Support for state level initiatives such as the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program,
2. Advocacy for reimbursement of overweight-related health care costs,
3. Support for environmental approaches for promoting healthy eating and physical activity.

With regard to the city level, opportunities for support and awareness, she suggested that it might be time to develop citywide goals. Cambridge could start by looking at other cities’ goals. The city could look at its vending machines to push for healthy new choices, as the schools have done. The city could also identify city leaders as "champions" of health and fitness, recognize organizations supporting healthy weights and institute city employee "wellness programs."

Vice Mayor Decker then invited questions and discussion on what Cambridge can do to enhance this campaign. She noted the disparity in Cambridge of obesity rates for people of color and Hispanic population. She said she would like to know more about how to support works in this area.

Vice Mayor Decker asked about the role of diabetes and what kind of screening takes place in the schools. Ms. Lacy said that annual height and weight testing is the major screening. This information is relayed to parents and school nurses. School nurses contact parents based on this information. José’s job as a school nutritionist is focused on this area, and on engaging parents and families in this issue.

Vice Mayor Decker described Cuban health care, with its school and neighborhood integration and health and school department integration. Mr. Cox agreed with Vice Mayor Decker’s comments on Cuban health care. He stated the CPHD is learning from the Report Card Project, which is relatively new, how important it is to give parents the information and then to do effective follow-up. José Wendel noted the importance of working with families where they are at and the dearth of programming to address this issue.

In response to a question from Vice Mayor Decker about what programs overweight children can be referred to, Dr. Chomitz described the two programs, a big one at Children’s Hospital and one at Massachusetts General Hospital, but noted that there are long waiting lists. Ms. Lacy stated that the CPHD’s first referral is to the child’s pediatrician.

Vice Mayor Decker encouraged those present to communicate ideas and suggestions directly to the committee.

Councillor Davis noted that recently she has become aware of the need for opportunities for adults to walk in the winter. She believes that some of this is happening. The North Cambridge Senior Center takes seniors to the Galleria once a week, but perhaps the City could make other facilities available.

Vice Mayor Decker asked if there is any kind of winter walking program or way to create it. Mr. Goodwin said that four times around the War Memorial is a mile. He does not know why adults do not use it. He will bring that issue back to Mr. Ryder, Director of the Recreation Division.

Councillor Davis, Vice Mayor Decker, and Councillor Simmons made the following motion:
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to communicate with the Human Services Department, the School Department and the Cambridge Public Health Department to create opportunities and or a program for winter walking for Cambridge citizens at the War Memorial and to explore any other opportunities, such as night walking under the lights at Danehy Park.

The motion passed without objection.

Mr. Arnal said that it is not that hard to just go outside and walk. Darkness and cold can be excuses.

Ms. Handricken said that it has been very interesting to work on this program. She interviewed parents who have had reports about their kid’s weight. She noted some of the barriers to keeping their children at their healthy weight:

1. Pediatrician awareness–how they to respond to the report
2. Lack of indoor opportunities for exercise

Ms. Lacy said that during the first year of the program, they did a mailing to all pediatricians. She added that she believes that they could expand their on work with primary care sites.

Dr. Chomitz said that over the last two years, pediatricians have been making good strides, but the use of the Body Mass Index (BMI) tool is still new in the field. She noted that a statewide survey of pediatricians two years ago showed that most pediatricians use vision rather than (BMI) to determine normal weight and that overweight is becoming normalized. If physicians look at height and weight and compare them to the CDC standards, the results would be the same as those using the (BMI), but in a society where what is really over a healthy weight is what looks "normal", visual evaluation is not usually enough. Pediatricians struggle with the problem that there are not many tools for the pediatricians to use.

Vice Mayor Decker asked if there is any agreed protocol for pediatricians in the Cambridge Health Alliance and whether there is a way for systemic communication from the School Department/CPHD to the pediatricians. She added that she is hearing that the programs that are needed do not exist in Cambridge. She asked what kind of programs could be developed here in Cambridge.

Mr. Cox emphasized that this is a new program activity for the Department of Public Health. It is a work in progress. Arkansas is now doing a statewide health report card, collecting BMI and sending it home. Vice Mayor Decker said that she would like to see communication of BMI through the CPHD to pediatricians. Mr. Cox said that the CPHD would like to look at this. Vice Mayor Decker said that the communication could be something as simple as a letter to doctors saying that this is a new initiative, please be sure to contact his or her patient’s family.

Councillor Simmons suggested involving the Community Schools Program in the health weight initiative program. As the community schools try to build adult programming they could build in a family program and also look overall at how to promote fitness and healthy weight. She made the following motion:
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager for Human Services and the Chief Public Health Officer to determine how the Community Schools program can coordinate its programming to support the Public Health Department’s healthy weight and fitness initiatives.

The motion passed without objection.

Councillor Simmons also said that the Director of Facilities for the Schools needs to be involved in the discussions. She noted that the important question to keep in mind is the question of to what extent can the City engage the resources of programs under our control to support healthy weight and fitness initiatives. She said it is also worthwhile to consider to what extent the city can engage the universities in this initiative.

Councillor Simmons said that the schools are doing a good job with their vending machines; perhaps the vending machines in the City building could also be improved. She made the following motions:
ORDERED: The City Manager be and hereby is requested to look ate the vending machines in the City building with the view of providing healthier food, as the School Department has done in the schools.
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to look at the possibility of creating a recreation center to improve access to physical activity in the winter months.

Both motions passed without objection.

Dr. Margaret Dunnicliff, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health suggested looking at the curriculum in the schools, especially for the younger grades, to emphasize healthy nutrition.

Ms. Anders said that Cambridge has an extremely walkable city. If people can incorporate walking into their daily lives, they will stick with it. It would be worthwhile to spend some time thinking about how to promote walking.

Vice Mayor Decker summarized three areas for further investigation:

Opportunities for physical activities:
What are the current resources?
How can we expand opportunities?

Nutrition:
How can we change the culture to promote healthy eating?

Programs and Treatment:
What do we have now in Cambridge?
What can be added? Can we expand on programs that exist now, based on resources that we already have?
How can we expand on the resources?

Vice Mayor Decker invited Ms. Ryan to describe her experience working on this issue with low-income women. Ms. Ryan described a program entitled "Kitchen Table Conversations," which involved regular group meetings of fifteen women from public housing, women on welfare, SSI, and women who were low wageworkers. Four women in the group were morbidly obese and two have since died. The women who died had another risk factor – domestic violence. Ms. Ryan added that Dr. Barbara Ogur and Kathy Roberts have been discussing a healthy eating program that would work for low-income women.

Vice Mayor Decker said that she hated vegetables when she was growing up because she only got canned vegetables; her family had very little money and did their grocery shopping one a month when they received their monthly payments. She asked whether there is a way of creating chart of what people eat and what better low cost choices could be made. She noted that immigrant families just as poor as her family went to Haymarket every weekend and did manage to provide fresh vegetables for their families. Mr. Arnal recommended the book How We Eat: Appetite, Culture and the Psychology of Food by Leon Rappaport.

Mr. Wendel described a fruit and vegetable program available from the USDA, the Fruits and Vegetables Pilot Program, which needs state buy-in. Vice Mayor Decker submitted the following motion:
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the appropriate departments to provide the City Council with information about the USDA Fruits and Vegetables Pilot Program.

The motion passed without objection.

Vice Mayor Decker stated that she would like to schedule a follow-up meeting in November. She will send the committee notes to everyone who provides their email address to the City Clerk.

Ms. Ryan said that the Boston Globe identified the Star market last year as the most expensive supermarket in the Boston area.

Vice Mayor Decker said the lack of affordable supermarkets has been a ongoing problem. It has been very difficult to find a systemic way to address this issue.

Vice Mayor Decker thanked those present for their attendance and participation.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 noon.

For the Committee,
Vice Mayor Marjorie Decker, Chair

Committee Report #2
The Human Services Committee held a public meeting on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 beginning at nine o’clock and ten-minutes A. M. in the Sullivan Chamber.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss transportation for seniors and accessible taxicabs.

Present at the meeting were Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Brian Murphy, Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services, Eileen Ginnetty, Director, Council on Aging, Emma Watkins, Director, City-Wide Senior Center, Susan Pacheco, Director of Client Services, Human Services Department, Richard Scali, Interim Director, License Commission, Stephanie Anderberg, Transportation Demand Planner, Community Development Department and Donna P. Lopez, Deputy City Clerk. Also present were Jolyon Cowan, Department of Human Services Planner representing SCM Transportation, Mary Ann Dalton, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, Kathryn Erat, Shepherd’s Center of Cambridge/Somerville, Sara Heintz, Shepherd’s Center of Cambridge/Somerville and Hisham Hegazy, Manager, Accessible Cambridge Taxi.

Councillor Simmons opened the meeting and stated the purpose. This topic was brought to her attention by former Mayor Sheila T. Russell to organize a meeting to discuss senior transportation. She asked the transportation providers to give an overview of their services.

Mr. Cowan stated that SCM Transportation transported about 300 seniors last year with multiple trips including shopping, outings and doctor appointments. The service is provided through the Senior Center. The City has had a contract with SCM for more than ten years. This is door-to-door transportation.

Mr. Scali explained that the Accessible Cambridge Taxi (ACT) has a program with Cambridge taxi companies, including seven accessible vans, to provide service to seniors, the general public and disabled persons.

Ms. Pacheco added that the SCM service is the most advertised service. This service receives funding from three sources: city money, formula grant money and Community Block grant funding. The service provides needed transportation and grocery shopping for Cambridge residents over the age of 60 for once a week. The service will transport individuals with five bags of groceries. There is a taxi coupon discount program that is no cost to Cambridge residents. The focus of the senior shuttle bus is to shuttle seniors to 806 Massachusetts Avenue.

Ms. Dalton, Director of Planning and Community Relations of the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, stated that 95 percent of funding comes from state and federal sources. The services provide in home service to the elderly and disabled. Plans of Care, including transportation, are established. Coordination is done with SCM. Medical and shopping transportation is provided. Some funding is also provided for non-medical transportation. Cambridge Homes fund transportation needs for seniors through Shepherd’s Center, Council on Aging, SCM, MAPS, Haitian Coalition and other organizations. There is $11,000-$12,000 spent for non-medical transportation. Medical escorts are provided. Escorts are volunteers. In August 2004, $48,000 was appropriated for the Escort Program. Funding is provided to organize transportation for seniors to a specific site to provide meals.

Ms. Watkins stated that seniors would like to attend more programs offered at the Senior Center but the lack of transportation is an issue.

Ms. Erat outlined the three programs offered by the Shepherd’s Center. A non-church fellowship is held once a month. Lunch is provided. Cost is a voluntary donation. The transportation program does an analysis of the needs of the aging. Rides are offered to anyone without cost for elders; medical requests are honored first. Ninety-five percent of rides are provided to people who are frail and over eighty-five years of age. There are twenty volunteers in the program who use their own cars. Transportation requests come to the Shepherd Center. Volunteers are contacted to see who is willing to provide the needed transportation. Volunteers must be willing to provide door-to-door round trip transportation. Wheel chair rides are provided. Seventy percent of the rides are provided to people in wheel chairs, walkers, canes and the blind. This program began in the fall of 1997. There are 350 round trips or 700 one-way trips done per year. Volunteers are Cori checked. The person requesting the ride pays for parking. Volunteer recruitment is done. Funding for the program is received from grants such as SCES, Title Three, Block Grants, Cambridge Homes and the Cambridge Foundation. The third program is the respite care. Participants are taken for a ride. The Zip Car Program has worked with the Shepherd’s Center. She commented that the age range is growing; people are more frail and are living in their homes. There are over 1,000 people living alone in Cambridge. Some programs have age and/or income boundaries; the Shepherd’s Center has no boundaries. The Shepherd’s Center will be participating in the Cambridge Transportation Collaborative; this will be a significant change for the Shepherd’s Center. She spoke about the increased day surgeries. Escorts are needed in these instances and the Shepherd’s Center provides this escort service.

Ms. Heintz stated that the Shepherd’s Center works to match up clients and volunteer drivers. People in need of service who are more frail have increased.

Ms. Ginnetty stated that the Cambridge Transportation Collaboration is the most interesting development and will continue transportation for seniors.

Ms. Erat informed the committee that the volunteer pool is shrinking. Volunteers are retired and age out of the pool. Cambridge is becoming a young professional city who are not able to volunteer at night. Zip Car participants are self-employed and have some flexibility in their daytime schedule. Some of the issues seen are the availability of daytime volunteers and availability of escorts. Councillor Simmons questioned Ms. Erat on the liability of escorts. Volunteer insurance is available responded Ms. Erat. General Liability is the biggest expense since 2001. Two hour volunteer orientation meetings and drivers meetings are held. Relationships are formed between volunteers and clients. There are some clients with mental illness that are also served.

Ms. Ginnetty stated that more investigating is needed in the area to find out what groups and agencies have their own vans. She cited the Galleria Mall has a bus and responds to needs of the East End House by taking seniors on day trips. This service is donated by the Galleria. Harvard University has a Safe Ride Shuttle. Coordination and down times need to be reviewed.

Ms. Erat stated that osteoporosis is a problem for seniors. Buses have huge steps and this could crack the spine of seniors. Bus design is a problem for seniors. Volunteers are trained in a program called Easy Street at Youville on how to help the elderly enter a car safely. MIT has an aging lab that is looking at the driving and transportation vehicles being safe for the elderly.

Mr. Cowan stated that insurance is the biggest expense for SCM; however, fuel cost is becoming a big concern. Cash flow is tight. The administration at SCM have taken a pay cut in order to provide transportation services.

Mr. Hegazy explained the ACT program. He distributed information (Attachment A). The taxi service program provided transportation for the elderly and disabled twenty-four hours to any destination. There are seven wheelchair accessible vans used. Drivers are trained to assist disabled persons.

Councillor Simmons asked about the Cambridge Transportation Collaborative. Ms. Dalton responded that the collaborative was developed in response to funding proposed by Cambridge Homes. Youville Hospital was given a grant to do a need analysis. Transportation and dental care were highlighted. Funding for non-medical transportation was provided through SCM. A study of the medical escort system was held in June. A proposal was sent to Cambridge Homes to look at housing a central escort center at SCM. This was approved and is now in the planning stage. There was $48,000 provided to the escort program to be creative and to use buddy system. Medical demand is great so there is a likelihood that non-medical transportation will not be provided. Ms. Erat stated that she runs three programs on a budget of $30,000. She is unable to offer benefits to her personnel.

Councillor Murphy spoke of his personal experience with the senior members of his family and their needs. Visiting a spouse in a nursing home is essential to a person’s mental health. He spoke about social issues, fuel costs, demographics and the need to reach out and be more creative. The escort and volunteer is an essential component.

Mr. Cowan stated that some clients are refused because of resources. In the future the elderly group would be reviewed differently stated Ms. Erat. Seniors life expectancy has increased. She classified seniors into three groups:

• 62-70 years of age in good health;
• 71 to early 80’s some help needed; and
• 80-102 frail and needing extensive support.

These groups need to be analyzed for their need and to make sure collaboration and coordination is being done well within the agencies.

Ms. Pacheco stated that seniors are encouraged to sign up for all possible transportation programs.

Councillor Simmons asked how do seniors who live in their own home and in senior housing developments find out about these services. It is difficult for the upper middle class person because they are not in the network stated Ms. Erat. The information is received by word of mouth and more information is getting to seniors stated Ms. Pacheco. Ms. Dalton stated that 5,000 calls are received per year for referrals and information. Ms. Erat commented that the newspapers are not consistently covering the issues of the elderly. More volunteers are needed to canvas the Cambridge elderly community stated Ms. Dalton. Councillor Simmons and Councillor Murphy suggested using the Mayor’s Summer Job personnel to do the canvassing. Ms. Dalton felt more mature personnel are needed to go door to door. A suggestion was made to work with the universities in an effort to get students involved in the community.

Ms. Semonoff stated that funding is a challenge. Block grant numbers have decreased this year; the future picture is not rosy.

Councillor Simmons asked what could the City Council do to assist in this area.

Ms. Dalton suggested that companies and organizations could make a contribution to provide volunteers by giving an employee who volunteers a leave day a week to volunteer. Ms. Erat listed obstacles such as a Cori check. Mr. Cowan suggested reaching out to businesses and universities for funding. Fund raising coordination and goals are needed stated Councillor Simmons. She would work together with Councillor Davis as Chair of Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committee on this matter. Ms. Erat suggested looking into group shuttles and their down time use. The funding need is not huge stated Ms. Semonoff. It is an unmet need for the moment. The target maybe manageable. Councillor Simmons asked what is the amount of money needed. Funding is needed to cover fuel costs and competitive salaries responded Ms. Erat.

Councillor Simmons thanked all attendees.

The meeting was adjourned at ten o’clock and forty minutes A. M.

For the Committee
Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair

Committee Report #3
The Government Operations and Rules Committee held a facilitated public meeting on November 15, 2004 beginning at 8:53am in the conference room of the Water Department, 250 Fresh Pond Avenue. The purpose of the meeting was to set the FY06 and FY07 and to receive training in the area of goal-setting. Present at the meeting were Councillor David P. Maher, Chair of the Committee, Mayor Michael A. Sullivan, Councillor Henrietta Davis, Vice Mayor Marjorie C. Decker, Councillor Anthony D. Galluccio, Councillor Brian Murphy, Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves, Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. and City Clerk D. Margaret Drury. Also present were City Manager Robert W. Healy, Deputy City Manager Richard Rossi, Assistant City Manager for Finance Louis DePasquale, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Human Services Ellen Semonoff, Public Works Commissioner Lisa Peterson, Ini Tomeu, Public Information Officer, Donna Lopez, Deputy City Clerk, Sandra Albano, Assistant to the City Council and facilitator and trainer Roberta Miller, Watertown. The following residents also attended: John Moot, Coolidge Avenue, Stash Horowitz, 12 Florence Street and Elie Yarden, 143 Pleasant Street. The meeting ended at 1:46pm. From that meeting came nine goals, along with several pages of notes of comments, suggested actions, tactics and other feedback related to the nine goal areas. John Moot and Kathy Podgers submitted written public comment. Attachment B.

Meeting of November 22, 2004

The committee held two subsequent meetings to refine the language of the nine goals. The first of these two meetings was held on November 22, 2004 in the Ackermann Room. The following city officials and staff attended this meeting: Councillor David P. Maher, Chair of the Committee, Mayor Michael A. Sullivan, Councillor Henrietta Davis, Councillor Brian Murphy, Councillor E. Denise Simmons, City Manager Robert W. Healy, City Clerk D. Margaret Drury, Assistant to the City Council Sandra Albano and Roberta Miller, facilitator, Watertown. The meeting began at 2:15pm and was adjourned at 3:50pm. After discussion of the goals by councillors present, Councillor Maher invited public comment. John Moot, Coolidge Hill Avenue, urged the committee to be mindful of the burdens on the taxpayers. Kathy Podgers, Pearl Street, requested that the committee specifically include disabled persons in its goal to welcome diversity. Stash Horowitz, Florence Street, said that he believes that increased property tax assessments are a crisis, and that he is not sure that the goals deal adequately with the need for long term planning. He added that perhaps construction of the library and police station should be deferred.

Meeting of November 29, 2004

The committee met again on November 29, 2004 in the Ackermann Room to complete the work on the language of the goals. The meeting was attended by Councillor David P. Maher, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves, Mayor Michael A. Sullivan, Councillor Henrietta Davis, Councillor E. Denise Simmons, City Manager Robert W. Healy, City Clerk D. Margaret Drury and facilitator Roberta Miller. The committee decided that the nine goals could and should stand alone as the Council’s statement to the public of its top priorities, a simple and concise statement of what matters most to the City Council as a policy-making body. Thus the committee recommends that the City Council adopt the following goals for FY 06 and 07:

• Evaluate city expenditures with a view of maintaining a strong fiscal position and awareness of the impact on taxpayers.
• Value and support the racial, socioeconomic, cultural and religious diversity of Cambridge. Cambridge will continue to be a city that welcomes, values and respects people of all abilities.
• Provide high quality services, including excellent customer service, effectively and efficiently and continually strive to update the public on city issues and services.
• Provide high quality public safety services and maintain a high level of public confidence in these services.
• Preserve and create affordable housing for low, moderate and middle-income residents.
• Strengthen and support public education and other learning in Cambridge for the benefit of residents of all ages.
• Foster community and support neighborhood vitality. Support opportunities for citizens to know each other within their neighborhoods and across the city.
• Promote a healthy environment by adopting environmentally sound and energy efficient practices throughout the community.
• Promote the advantage of "doing business in Cambridge" and work to strengthen our mutually beneficial community partnerships with businesses and universities. Highlight the unique benefits of Cambridge as a community in which to live and work; focus on transmitting the values and identity of Cambridge.

The committee was also cognizant that the goals also serve to guide the City Manager and his staff in the planning and budgeting process, which takes place in the late fall and winter. The committee believes that the City Manager and his staff should have the benefit of the discussion about each goal that is captured in the facilitator’s notes from the November 15, 2004 goal-setting session. Attachment A. To that end, the committee also recommends that the City Council forward the session notes to the City Manager for use in planning and budgeting.

The committee ended its series of meetings on goal-setting with a brief evaluation of this year’s goal setting process.

Councillor Maher said that he thought that the process was fine and accomplished what the committee set out to do, but that he missed the opportunity to see the prioritization by the members of the Council that took place in earlier sessions through using dots to denote the top choices of each individual Councillor. In response to a question as to whether there are other ways for a group to prioritize items and issues, Ms. Miller said that individuals can write their top priorities on index cards and then tally the cards to get a similar result. In that method participants are not influenced by their colleagues’ choices as much. Mr. Healy said that the prioritization that occurred through the dot method in the past is very helpful to him and his staff. He does not care what method is used – secret ballots would be fine; he just likes to see first hand the Council’s prioritization of the issues.

Councillor Reeves said that he feels that the City Council has had the same priorities over the past several years, for the most part. He wondered if there were ways to reach another layer. He said that he is also interested in looking more into how factors such as upbringing and background motivate decisions.

Ms. Miller said that many of her choices of how to work with this council are determined by their time constraints. There are ways to add more of the kind of group knowledge building to get to the kind of issues that Councillor Reeves described. There are also ways to take more in-depth look at the goals through a community process to develop indicators. Seattle has used this process quite successfully and now has ways to measure achievement in its goal areas. However, these processes can take a good deal of time.

Councillor Maher said that he agrees with a great deal of what Councillor Reeves has said. All nine of the City Councillors agree that affordable housing is a top priority, but he believes there are nine different ideas as to what constitutes affordable housing.

Ms. Miller said that goal-setting is one small piece of how the City Council can coordinate its work on what needs to be done in each of these areas. She noted that the Councillors made several suggestions for roundtable discussions at the November 15, 2004 meeting, including suggestions that several goals could benefit from round table discussions.

Councillor Reeves said that he does not look forward to the roundtable discussions. It was agreed by all present that the format does not promote the informal back-and-forth exchange that was contemplated when roundtable meetings were initiated.

Councillor Davis stated that the public participation part of the goal-setting needs more public notice and more thought as to how to get more of the public involved. Councillor Maher suggested that the meeting might be called a "town meeting" instead of a "goal-setting meeting."

Councillor Maher thanked all those present for their participation in the entire process. The meeting was adjourned at 5:45pm.

For the Committee,
Councillor David P. Maher, Chair

ORDERED: That the City Council go on record adopting the goals set forth below for FY 06 and FY 07:

• Evaluate city expenditures with a view of maintaining a strong fiscal position and awareness of the impact on taxpayers.
• Value and support the racial, socioeconomic, cultural and religious diversity of Cambridge. Cambridge will continue to be a city that welcomes, values and respects people of all abilities.
• Provide high quality services, including excellent customer service, effectively and efficiently and continually strive to update the public on city issues and services.
• Provide high quality public safety services and maintain a high level of public confidence in these services.
• Preserve and create affordable housing for low, moderate and middle-income residents.
• Strengthen and support public education and other learning in Cambridge for the benefit of residents of all ages.
• Foster community and support neighborhood vitality. Support opportunities for citizens to know each other within their neighborhoods and across the city.
• Promote a healthy environment by adopting environmentally sound and energy efficient practices throughout the community.
• Promote the advantage of "doing business in Cambridge" and work to strengthen our mutually beneficial community partnerships with businesses and universities. Highlight the unique benefits of Cambridge as a community in which to live and work; focus on transmitting the values and identity of Cambridge.

and be it further
ORDERED: That the facilitator’s notes from the November 15, 2003 goal setting meeting be forwarded to the City Manager for use in planning and budget development.

Facilitator’s Notes on 11/15/04 Goal Setting Meeting

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT CAMBRIDGE?

• History of effort and some excellence in dealing with class and race issues
• History of offering a good education for all races
• Efforts to address racial and economic diversity, knowing we don’t always achieve it
• Entered into voluntary desegregation and included income diversity also
• Tolerance
• Cutting edge on social issues – gay marriage
• Innovation – green buildings
• Affordable housing
• Walkable, distinctive neighborhoods
• Vibrant residential and commercial blend
• Universities
• Charles River
• Most important small city in the world: because of Universities people from all over the world come through Cambridge and often have positive regard for it
• Arts image
• Cambridge Carnival
• Lotta Culture, old, new, Brattle Street, Biotech
• Harmonious in a noisy kind of way: people come together
• Welcoming to new immigrants
• Attractive, Dynamic
• Unique neighborhoods
• Epicenter of Biotech
• Danger involves being loved to death
• Public Transportation
• Small and large businesses
• Strong financial position
• Intellectual capital
• Small town ambiance "nothing gated yet"

DRAFT GOALS FY06: WITH NOTES FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES ONLY

1. Evaluate city expenditures with a view to maintaining a strong fiscal position and mitigating tax impact on residents.
   Focus on cost benefit analysis of programs and educating the public on "hard choices"
2. Value and support the racial, socioeconomic, cultural, and religious diversity of our city, including people of all abilities.
   Focus on collaborative efforts with a variety of organizations and institutions to support, bring together, and serve all the people of Cambridge.
   Feedback: Keep it up and celebrate our successes; Our strength is "in the doing"
   Workforce response to gay marriage was tremendous
   Schools support for gay parents and students is good
   City run adult learning centers are a national model
   ESL programs are strong
   Community based clinics that have language and cultural capability are good
   Continue to be a city that welcomes, values, and respects all people.
   Individual Councillor’s suggestions or inquiry:
   Integrate better with MIT and Harvard’s efforts
   Increase cultural competence for all staff, old and new
   Where is the mission manifest? Who keeps their eye on diversity issues?
3. Provide high quality services effectively and efficiently while communicating with the public regularly about city issues.
   Focus on "telling the story" of city activities to the citizens effectively
   Feedback: high ratings in phone survey
   Public not availing themselves of opportunities for participation
   Monday night office hours work well
   Traffic, parking and transportation department weak on customer service, responsiveness, courtesy, employee morale and retention
   Improve public information
   Individual Councillor’s suggestions or inquiry:
   get the word out on great news
   better communicate how services relate to taxes
   Use the web
   Public needs to know about evaluation efforts and constant efforts for improvement
   Biennial report on what kind of youth programming is going on would be helpful
   How can we do better and evaluate services? (Kid’s survey on youth centers and activities?) Youth services: could we have better quality?
   Emphasis on public planting
   New emphasis on Health: Healthy Cities Initiative -promoting physical activities of all kinds - anti-obesity efforts
4. Provide high quality public safety services and maintain high level of public confidence in these services.
   Focus on pre construction activities for a new police station.
   Feedback:
   Continue investment in equipment, collaboration, coordination, communication and training (particularly for emergency response)
   Continue community policing efforts including school activities
   Continue to improve response to incidents and consistency throughout the city
   Emergency preparedness plan is strong, but little public awareness about it; uneasy public
   Continue effort to recruit Cambridge residents (particularly candidates of color)
   Individual Councillor’s suggestions or inquiry:
   Hold an Emergency preparedness day for the community
   Improve communication with Boston
   Disagreements around manning levels exist
5. Preserve and create housing for low, moderate, and middle-income residents.
   Focus on housing for working people and efforts to help middle-income residents remain in Cambridge.
   Focus on a coordinated, cohesive advocacy role with state and federal agencies.
   Feedback:
   Doing very well considering constraints
   Freeze on Section 8; facing possible disappearance
   No state budget for maintenance
   Tax credits available only for those below median income
   Affordable Housing Trust is a good response vehicle
   Quality of projects will insure that we will be able to do more
   Continuing Concerns:
   Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance may become prohibitive
   Higher vacancy rates are impacting small landowners
   Higher taxes: another class of residents are being impacted/ some forced out
   No state and federal support
   Little options for moderate and middle income people
   Local banks are evaporating; Community Reinvestment act may be vulnerable
   CPA, question investment
   Individual Councillor’s suggestions or inquiry:
   Partnerships with local banks
   Outreach and education for city employees
   Coordinate with Universities- to house middle income workers
   Establish a clear numerical goal
6. Strengthen and support public education and other learning in Cambridge for the benefit of residents of all ages.
   Focus on maintaining a strong school/municipal collaboration around providing for children
   Feedback:
   Alternative high school poorly planned
   Individual Councillor’s suggestions or inquiry:
   Orderly and clear process for reporting benchmarks and goals for the public education system; meeting scheduled with superintendent on December 13th
7. Foster community and neighborhood vitality. Support opportunities for citizens to know each other within their neighborhoods and across the city.
   Focus on supporting both the physical and social fabric of the community.
   Feedback: Continue to support diversity and citizen involvement
   Continue with excitement issues: arts & culture
   Continue to support neighborhood planning with realistic expectations
   Continue to support neighborhood voice formation
   Individual Councillor’s suggestions or inquiry:
   City-wide summit
   Cohesive work with community schools, senior groups and youth centers
   Community presentation on goals
   City history education
   Data base on city squares
   Coffee table book on Cambridge social history
   Walking tour on social history
8. Promote a healthy environment by adopting environmentally sound and energy efficient practices throughout the community.
   Focus on the climate protection goals for 2010 and the continued investment in sewer and storm water management
   Individual Councillor’s suggestions or inquiry:
   Emphasis on air quality
   Emphasis on noise reduction
   Support green building principles
   Collaborate with Harvard, MIT, and businesses on goals
   Establish local goals and incentives to increase energy efficiency
9. Promote the advantages of "doing business in Cambridge" and work to strengthen community partnerships with businesses and universities.
   Highlight the unique benefits of Cambridge as a community to live and work; focus on transmitting the values and identity of Cambridge.
   Feedback:
   Doing well, should focus on retention
   Large and small businesses: business mix important
   Branding important
   Continuing Concerns:
   higher costs in doing business: housing, heating costs
   Individual Councillor’s suggestions or inquiry:
   Review regulations for simplification opportunities
   Support complementary businesses
   Support welcoming attitude and be cooperative with business
   Biotech or business innovation walking tour, could be self guided
   Sister city business development
   Establish a model of good business citizenship: establish and communicate expectations; help new companies become good citizens

Possible Roundtable Topics:

• Tax issue
• Neighborhood alerts: How they are done? How can communication be better?
• Case study on Library costs: including green building, parking, delay, efficient and effective community involvement
• Case study on Russell Field costs: asbestos
• Yerxa Road Underpass
• Better communication: Problems, communication with Council, communication with public
• Telling the Story
• Other goals

Roberta Miller & Associates
14 Centre Street
Watertown, MA 02472
voice (617) 923-8896
fax (617) 924-0699
RAMiller50@AOL.com

Committee Report #4
The Government Operations and Rules Committee held a public meeting on November 3, 2004 beginning at seven o’clock and eight minutes pm in the ballroom of the Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Avenue, for the purpose of providing the public with a brief report of the results of a citizen opinion survey with regard to city services and with a facilitated opportunity to express their views and priorities on city services.

Present at the meeting were Councillor David P. Maher, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves, Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. and City Clerk D. Margaret Drury. Also present were City Manager Robert W. Healy, Deputy City Manager Richard Rossi, Assistant City Manager for Finance Louis DePasquale, and Assistant City Manager for Human Services Ellen Semonoff, Stephanie Ackert, Department Human Services, Public Works Commissioner Lisa Peterson, Cynthia Griffin, Purchasing Agent, Ini Tomeu, Public Information Officer, Donna Lopez, Deputy City Clerk, Sandra Albano, Assistant to the City Council, Richard Greif, Opinion Dynamics, Roberta Miller, facilitator, Frank Connelly, Cambridge Prevention Coalition, Susan Hunziker, 80 Orchard Street, Robert LaTrémouille, Cambridge, and Jim Shannon, 820 Massachusetts Avenue.

Councillor Maher convened the meeting and explained the purpose. He described the goal setting process and introduced Richard Greif, from Opinion Dynamics, to present a brief summary of the results of the telephone survey of citizen satisfaction that Opinion Dynamics conducted for the City of Cambridge. Mr. Greif distributed a memorandum of highlights of the survey, and described these highlights in his presentation. Attachment A. City Manager Healy distributed copies of the summary of the survey results entitled "Topline and Data Tables" prepared by the Opinion Dynamics Corporation (ODC) and his comparison of the results of the combined "Excellent" and "Good" responses for the three times that the survey has been done, 2004, 2002 and 2000. Mr. Healy stated that it has been very helpful to be able to look at citizen responses to the same questions over the six-year time period.

Councillor Maher then invited Roberta Miller to begin the facilitated determination of city priorities. Ms. Miller announced that in light of the sparse citizen attendance she would invite all those present to participate in the prioritization exercise and that she would use color coding to differentiate the responses of staff and citizens.

Ms Miller began with the question of what global national and regional forces and activities would affect Cambridge over the next couple of years. The responses were as follow:

Global, national, and regional forces and activities

• Real estate market
• Fed and state cuts in services to community agencies
• Drain on federal resources: Afghanistan and Iraq
• Price of oil
• Haven’t seen economic recovery; unease about economy
• Health care costs
• Violence, crime, homelessness
• Substance abuse
• Immigration
• Concerns about potential acts of terrorism
• Globalization of economy

Ms. Miller then requested that those present share their opinions of the local impacts that these global, national and regional forces and activities would have, and those present provided the following responses:

Local impact

• Increasing demand for services and less resources
• No child left behind, not funded
• Charter schools
• Section 8: lack of federal and state support for affordable housing
• Higher commercial vacancy rate
• Harvard’s Allston Campus

Ms Miller then posed the question of what the City of Cambridge should focus on for the next two years in light of the forces and local impacts that have been identified. The following responses were elicited during a facilitated discussion. Thereafter the participants were given five colored dots, one marked as the "highest priority (hp) dot," and requested to indicate their five priorities using the colored dots. The responses, prioritized by the number of dots each received ("c" = citizen, "s" = staff), are listed below, beginning with the highest priorities:

Focus for the next two years

• Improving the quality of public education (10 total: 9s,1c: 1hps)
• Managing financial resources carefully (8 total: 7s. 1c: 2hps)
• Analysis of efficient and effective service delivery (3 total: 2s, 1hpc)
• Housing impacts who lives here and ability to maintain diversity (7 total: 6s, 1c: 4hps)
• Diversity (1 total: 1 s)
• Housing: particularly middle income (6 total: 5 s, 1c: 2hps)
• Health of the community (7total: 7s)
• Medicine for Seniors (1total: 1c)
• Maintain infrastructure (7 total: 6s, 1c)
• Future direction of youth centers (2 total: 1s, 1c)
• Branding: selling and monitoring the package of "Cambridge" (2total: 1s,1c)
• Collaboration: with higher ed and business (1 total: 1hps)
• Partnership with business: encourage good citizenship (1total: 1s)
• Support and strengthen economic development (particularly biotech)
• Public Celebrations (2total: 1s, 1c)
• Improve public information (1total: 1s)
• Provide service that spans the economic range (1total: 1s)

Councillor Reeves stated that housing is always one of the top priorities of the City Council, but housing is a very broad category. He said that it would be very helpful for the Council to have more information and analysis about what the policy choices are in this area.

Councillor Maher thanked all those present for their participation. The meeting was adjourned at 8:29pm.

For the Committee,
Councillor David P. Maher, Chair