Government Affairs: Archive

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April 27, 2011 GAC Update

The Council met on Monday and received the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011 (FY 12). The Council also passed policy orders regarding the zoning ordinance, and Lechmere Station, tabled by Charter Right two orders, received Committee Reports and a letter from a member withdrawing from several Council Committees. The Council next meets on Monday, May 2, 2011. That meeting will include the delivery of the budget message by the City Manager.

Last night the License Commission took public comment relative to the public health, safety, and welfare of hotel guests, as such may be affected by the employment status of workers providing services for such guests.

Yesterday afternoon the Chamber participated in a meeting with other business organizations from around the state with Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. The focus of the meeting was the framework for the development of an Economic Development strategy for Massachusetts. Thank you to Associated Industries for hosting the event and AIM and NAIOP for organizing this meeting.

Thank you to Genzyme for sponsoring the 2011 GAC

May GAC
TBA

April 25, 2011 Cambridge City Council Meeting

The Council met on Monday and received the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011 (FY 12). The Council also passed policy orders regarding adding visual elements to the zoning ordinance, transportation services from Lechmere Station while the Science Park station is being renovated and reducing the pedestrian crossing distance to and from the relocated Lechmere Station. The Council tabled by Charter Right an order requesting information about concessions made to the City by developers and universities in exchange for regulatory relief and a late order regarding a review of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program.

The Council received reports from a committee hearing regarding space for entrepreneurs and from a joint committee meeting held to discuss the future of the Cambridge redevelopment Authority. Councillor Simmons informed her colleagues that she was reducing the number of Committees she will serve on.

FY 2012 Budget Transmitted
City Manager Agenda Item 1 transmits the budget for FY 12. The proposed budget increases total spending by 1.75% with a projected increase in the tax levy of 6.47%. The major increase in spending is for employee health insurance. The budget also assumes continued reductions in aid from the Commonwealth. Over the last three years the City has seen state aid drop by more than $10 million.

The budget was referred to the Council Finance Committee for hearings which will begin with the Managers Budget message during next Monday’s Council meting with hearings scheduled for May 4 and 11 beginning at 9:00 a.m. both days and the School Department budget hearing on May 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Policy Orders
Calendar Item 6 (Policy Order 11 from the April 4, 2011 meeting tabled by Charter Right) asks for a report on the possibility of adding visual elements to the zoning ordinance. The Ordinance Committee met in March and heard a presentation about how this was done in Miami, Florida.

Policy Order 1 asks the Manager to confer with the State regarding transit services from Lechmere Station to North Station during reconstruction of the Science Park Station. The work on the Science Park Station will require the discontinuation of Green Line light rail service to Lechmere. According to City Councillor and State Representative Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. service will be replaced by bus service during construction.

Policy Order 7 asks the City to develop a plan to reduce the overall pedestrian crossing distance to the relocated Lechmere station. Lechmere Station will be relocated across the Monsignor O’Brien Highway as part of the extension of Green Line service.

Councillors also tabled by use of the Charter Right two Policy Orders. Policy Order 11 asked the City Manager for a report with a complete list of concessions made by developers and institutions in exchange for zoning, special permits or Council Approval. Policy Order 13, which was a late order, asks the City Manager to review PILOT agreements. Both matters will be on the Unfinished Business agenda at the next Council meeting.

Committee Reports
Committee Report 1 is from an Economic Development, Training and Employment Committee meeting held on March 3, 2011 to discuss how inclusionary zoning could be used to build additional space for entrepreneurs in the City that does not compete or hinder the options we have currently. Some very useful information is presented in the report regarding the issue of ensuring space is available in Cambridge for start-up companies.

Committee Report 2 is from a meeting held jointly by the Economic Development, Training and Employment and the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee on March 22, 2011 to discuss the future of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority. The report includes information about the history of the CRA and issues it has addressed since it created in 1956.

Simmons Withdraws from Several Committees
A letter from Councillor Denise Simmons to Mayor David Maher was included in the agenda under Communications and Reports from City Officials. In her letter Councillor Simmons informs the Mayor that of her withdrawal from the Transportation, Traffic and Parking, Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Human Services, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations and University Relations Committees. She will continue to Chair Public Safety and Civic Unity and serve on Economic Development, Training and Employment, Ordinance and Finance.

License Commission Hearing on Employment Status of Hotel Staff

The License Commission met last night and one matter on the agenda was public comment relative to the public health, safety, and welfare of hotel guests, as such may be affected by the employment status of workers providing services for such guests. The Chamber and members of the hotel industry spoke in opposition to this new regulation and noted that there have been no complaints filed with the City from guests regarding public health, safety or welfare issues related to employment status.

Proponents of this regulation generally focused on issues that appear to be beyond the scope of the City’s licensing authority. One proponent did state that the License Commission has the right under State Law to regulate anything it would like to regulate if it sees a potential problem. This is such broad interpretation of the licensing regulation that, if accepted by the Commission, any and all activities by any and all businesses could potentially be regulated based on a concern by the Commission an undefined problem may arise.

This License Commission is keeping the record open and Chamber members are encouraged to send a brief letter expressing their support of the Cambridge Hospitality industry to the Cambridge License Commission at 831 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139.