April 4 City Council Meeting

Quarterly Property Tax Payments
The City currently sends tax bills twice a year. In light of some very large increases in residential property tax bills sent last October the Council asked the City Manager to look into the possibility of collecting taxes quarterly. The City Manager forwarded a report from City Staff identifying both technical issues regarding this change and advantages and disadvantages to the City. Due to technical issues this change would not be possible for the next fiscal year.

The major advantage to tax payers is that they would pay the same amount of taxes but in smaller increments. The advantage to the City is that it improve cash flow, receiving approximately half of the taxes would be paid earlier than in the bi-annual billing cycle. Under the current biannual cycle tax bills are sent out in October and April. Under a quarterly cycle bills would be sent in July, October, January, and April... The major disadvantage to the City is the additional cost of billing and the need to ensure staff availability during the busy period after bills are sent out. Currently staff members are asked not to take vacation time in the period following the mailing of bills.

A copy of the report is available at http://www.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/quarterly%20tax%20bills.doc

Funding for Pothole Repair Approved
The Council approved the City Manager’s request to appropriate additional funds from the Public Investment Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures Account to address street a sidewalk repairs necessary due to the severe winter weather.  This is good news for those driving on our streets.  DPW Commissioner Lisa Peterson reported that DPW staff have been driving snow routes to identify potholes and that her department has begun filing potholes, with delays resulting from recent rainy weather. If the weather is favorable there should be noticeable improvements in streets.

Zoning Changes Regarding Parking
In response to concerns over the redevelopment of the Blessed Sacrament Church site and other churches being offered for sale by the Archdiocese of Boston the City Council asked the Community Development Department to look at zoning changes that would insure adequate on-site parking should these properties be reused as residential developments. During the past several years many areas of the City have been rezoned to permit residential development without requiring additional parking in order to stimulate residential development.

The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on March 9 for the purpose of considering amendments to Section 6.12 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding parking requirements at existing buildings with additions or new uses. The proposed amendments would treat the parking requirements for additions the same as if a new building was being built and to increase parking requirements to reflect the intensity of a use. The regulations as proposed would provide for less required housing for affordable units. These changes are still being reviewed by the Planning Board and will again be the topic of an Ordinance Committee hearing. A copy of the Committee report is available at http://www.cambridgema.gov/cityClerk/CommitteeReport.cfm?instance_id=200.

Social Security
The Council passed an order opposing President Bush’s proposals to privatize Social Security. The major resolution in the order was a request that financial service firms in Massachusetts disclose any ties or financial contributions to organizations advocating or lobbying for privatization of Social Security, ask those firms who have such relationships to sever those ties, and ask financial firms in Massachusetts to public affirm support for the preservation of Social Security. The order was amended to add that the Cambridge retirement Board ask investment advisors whether they are involved in lobbying on this issue and for the Board to include criteria regarding this issue in its selection of investment advisors. A copy of the order is available at http://www.cambridgema.gov/cityClerk/PolicyOrder.cfm?item_id=6481.

Old Town Trolleys In, Nautical Out
The Council accepted a recommendation by the Licensing Board to amend the Jitney License for Old Town Trolleys and also accepted a recommendation to deny a license to Nautical Tours, Inc. Councillor Simmons filed a motion to reconsider the Councils actions regarding the Nautical Tours, Inc. application.

Old Town Trolleys has been operating in Cambridge for a number of years. The application was for changes in the route that were developed in consultation with the City’s Department of Traffic Transportation, and Parking. A copy of the City Manager’s Order is available at http://www.cambridgema.gov/cityClerk/cmOrder.cfm?item_id=4007&order=1.

Nautical Tours proposed to operate two amphibious vehicles (similar to the Duck Tours) in Cambridge and Boston and on the Charles River. The original application included travel in Harvard Square and along Brattle Street, which resulted in an outcry by Brattle Street residents. Brattle Street was dropped from the application but the tours would still have included Harvard Square. The reconsideration motions will result in this matter being discussed at a future Council meeting. A copy of the City Manager’s Order recommending that the Council accept the License Commission denial is available at http://www.cambridgema.gov/cityClerk/cmOrder.cfm?item_id=4009&order=1.

Congratulation Ranjit
Those of us who need assistance in understand how the zoning code impacts the use of our property have come to rely on Umasudan Ranjit Singanayagam, known to most as simply Ranjit, to clearly an accurately explain what the zoning allows. The Manager has announced on Monday that Ranjit has been appointed Commissioner of Inspectional Services. The Manager assured the Council that this appointment was made with due consideration to the important role Ranjit has played, and will continue to play, in assisting the public in understanding the zoning code. Congratulation Ranjit!

Cambridge E-Line
The City has started an on-line subscription service, called Cambridge E-Line, to provide information by e-mail on a wide variety of city matters.  Subscribers can receive a weekly newsletter, alerts, and other City publications by e-mail. Alerts include street cleaning reminders, snow emergency parking bans, school closings, and public safety alerts. For more information and to subscribe to Cambridge E-Line go to http://www.cambridgema.gov/eline/.

At the State House

Stem Cell Bill Passes
Both houses of the State legislature passed stem cell legislation by veto proof majorities. Minor differences are now being worked out in a conference committee and a bill should be on the Governor’s desk soon. Governor Romney had indicated he would veto the bill but, in reaction to the large majorities the bill received in both houses, he appears to have accepted that a bill to allow stem cell research in Massachusetts will become law this year.

Planning Board

Lower Massachusetts Avenue Retail
For at least a year City staff and representatives of the Agassiz, Porter Square, and Neighborhood 9 communities have been discussing ways to stabilize retail along the corridor from Everett Street to Porter Square. On Tuesday the Planning Board indicated it would move forward on reducing the threshold for advisory review requiring public consultation for developments of more than 2,000 square feet, review is now required for developments of more than 6,000 square feet in this corridor. It also appears that the Planning Board will support a proposal to allow reestablishment of existing retail activity in Residence C-2 and C-2 A districts.

The Planning Board also discussed requirements designed to maintain retail ground floor retail. Three options were discussed:

• Impose ground floor design standards for all uses that would maintain a commercial look
• Provide incentives for desired non-residential uses
• Allow application of higher Floor Area Ratios (FAR) to desired non-residential ground floor uses.

The major issues around these options include whether the zoning will in fact encourage retail along the corridor, whether there is support for incentives, such as waiving parking and increasing FAR, in the surrounding community, and how to define desired uses.

I spoke in support of any action that will improve the retail climate in the City’s retail districts. I expressed concern over mandating uses, which had been previously discussed but apparently have been substituted by the three ground floor options. I also noted that zoning is only one tool in encouraging retail and that the Chamber is working with the City to support neighborhood commercial districts. Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Community development, noted that the City provides a number of services, including the Facade Improvement program and best retail practice workshops, to support local retailers.

Go Green Awards Applications Available
The City of Cambridge is seeking candidates for its annual GoGreen business awards. Awards will be given for outstanding environmental efforts in energy conservation, recycling, and transportation. Nomination forms are available at www.cambridgema.gov/~GoGreen. For further questions, contact Stephanie Anderberg at (617) 349-4671.

Energy Star® Recruitment Continues
ENERGY STAR® provides resources to help businesses reduce their overall energy use, which results in lower utility bills. The City has hired an energy consultant to provide additional energy management assistance to participating organizations. The local utility, NSTAR, offers financial incentives that can help with efficiency upgrades. The City’s goal is to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.

To join in the citywide effort, local businesses are encouraged to call John Bolduc, Environmental Planner, at (617) 349-4628.

For a listing of public meetings, visit the Public Meetings link or the Public Meeting Notices area of the City of Cambridge Web site.