April 28, 2010 and May 5, 2010 GAC Update Double Issue

There was no GAC Update last week so this week is a special double issue. Last Monday, April 26, Congressman Michael Capuano spoke at our Government Affairs Executive Speaker Breakfast. The Council met this and last Monday and a major issue on both agendas was the City budget for the next fiscal year. The Council Finance Committee began budget hearings today. The Council Ordinance Committee has scheduled hearing on several amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. See the last section of the Update for dates and times of these meetings.

The Chamber recently contacted Massachusetts legislators regarding a bill that would allow consumers in Massachusetts to benefit from prescription discounts. Information on this legislation is available at http://www.massrxhelp.org/. Contact Terrence Smith, Director of Government Affairs at the Chamber if you would like a copy of the letter sent to members of the legislature.

 The City of Cambridge has arranged for a workshop on the Residential Stretch Energy Code to be held at the Robert W. Healy Public Safety Building on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This Code will go into effect in Cambridge on July 1, 2010. Workshop information and registration is available at http://www.cetonline.org/Events/events.php?id=124. Information on the Stretch Energy Code is available at http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/et/stretchcode/index.html.

Next Tuesday, May 11, is the Special Election to fill the position of State Senator for Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex Senate District.

Upcoming GAC Events

The 2010 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Genzyme. 

May GAC Event
TBA

Congressman Capuano Addresses GAC

Congressman Michael Capuano spoke before a group of Chamber members at our April 26, 2010 GAC Executive Speaker Breakfast at the Sheraton Commander Hotel. Congressman Capuano was introduced by John Butler, President, Personalized Genetic Health at Genzyme Corporation. 

Congressman Capuano discussed the recently passed health care bill and the financial regulation legislation that has passed the House and is now before the Senate. In both cases in compared the modest actions taken by Congress to existing federal programs. He compared the health care reforms to the Veterans Administration health care programs and to Medicare and Medicaid. The financial reform legislation passed by the House would, according to Congressman Capuano, provide the regulatory safeguards similar to the Federal deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) which protects federally regulated banking institutions.

Congressman Capuano followed his brief remarks with a question and answer session with participants. 

He was asked several questions related to transportation projects. He was asked about removing a traffic lane from the Longfellow Bridge to provide additional capacity for pedestrians and bicycles. Congressman Capuano said he does not support eliminating traffic lanes due to the role the bridge plays in reliving congestion at Leverett Circle and the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge. He said he supports actions to make the areas at the ends of the bridge safer and said that he thinks that all users can be accommodated without reducing traffic lanes.

He was asked about several transit projects including connecting the Red and Blue subway lines, the Urban Ring and the North-South Rail link connection which would link North and South Station. He said that he supports projects that improve transit access but expressed his doubt that sufficient funds will be made available in the near future for major transportation investments.

Several questions were raised regarding foreign visitors and immigration with specific interest in the economic benefits of both. Capuano expressed he support for meaningful reform in immigration laws that allow the United States to continue to benefits, as it has for most of its history, from talented people coming to our country. He noted that this area continues to attract people for our educational opportunities and it makes sense to keep those people here. He also stressed the importance of tourism to attracting people to our area.

He was asked about protecting intellectual property and said that he has only voted for two trade bills in his time in Congress and one of his major concerns is protection of intellectual property rights. He mentioned that several countries do not adhere to the rule of law and that United States companies often face unfair competition and theft in countries where there is little or no enforcement of patent, copyright and other intellectual property protections.

He was asked about issues likely to come-up in the current Congress and he said that financial reform is the next big issue. He does not think Congress will act on climate change legislation this term and that action on immigration reform is unlikely.

Thanks to Congressman Capuano, John Butler, Genzyme for sponsoring the GAC this year, the Sheraton Commander Hotel for hosting the event and to all who attended.

April 26, 2010 Cambridge City Council Meeting

The Council met on April 26 and received the budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2010 (FY 11). The Council also passed policy orders regarding a bottle bill in the Massachusetts legislature, zoning for cell phone towers and the City’s purchase of the Sullivan Court House.

FY 11 Budget Sent to Council

City Manager Agenda Item 1 transmits an Order from the City Manager regarding budget for Fiscal Year 2011 (FY 11 Budget). The Manager is recommending an operating budget of $459 million which is an increase of 3.1% over the current year. The increase is attributed to increases in salaries, health insurance, and pension costs, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority assessments and debt service. The budget also reflects 53 pay periods for City employees who are paid on Thursdays. In his submittal budget message the Manager reports that the budget maintains services and provides a strong capital plan while requiring only a moderate increase in the property tax levy.

The FY 11 budget is available on the City Website at http://www.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/FY11-Combined-Submitted-Budget-for-web.pdf. The Budget Hearing Schedule is available at http://www.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/FY11%20City%20Council%20Budget%20Hearing%20Schedule.pdf.

Policy Orders

The Council passed policy orders regarding a bottle bill in the Massachusetts legislature, zoning for cell phone towers and the City’s purchase of the Sullivan Court House.

Policy Order 4 puts the Council on record supporting the Massachusetts Bottle Bill (H 3515/S 1480) currently before the Massachusetts Legislature. The Bottle Bill would expand the types of containers that would require deposits in Massachusetts to include non-carbonated beverages, juice, bottled water, sports drinks, etc.

Policy Order 5 asks for information on the City’s zoning ordinance specific to cell phone towers as the policy relates to cell phone reception and asks for possible amendments to the ordinance. 

Policy Order 11 asks the City Manager to confer with appropriate departments to determine whether the City can submit a bid to purchase the State-owned Sullivan Court House.

May 3, 2010 Cambridge City Council Meeting

The Council met this Monday, May 3, and part of the meeting was used to provide an overview of the FY 11 Budget the Council received on April 26.

The Council also received information from the City Manager on the feasibility of a Pay-As-You-Throw program, proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance regarding signs, the status of Cambridge becoming a Green Community, and a report on the City’s response to recent flooding. The Council passed a policy order regarding making property owners responsible for cleaning sidewalks and for enforcement of such a policy. 

The Council received a letter from Mayor David Maher regarding a change in the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee. Councillor Decker has steeped off that Committee and has been replaced by Councillor Simmons.

Budget Overview

City Manager Healy was asked by Council Finance Committee Chair Marjorie Decker to present an overview on the FY 11 Budget as part of the May 3 Council Meeting. This overview is typically done at the start of the first Finance Committee meeting. Councillor Decker said that moving the overview to the Council meeting should provide a broader audience for this information and would allow better use the Committee’s time during the budget meetings.  

Mr. Healy described the process the administration goes through in developing the budget annually which begins in the fall with his message to department heads. He said this was a particularly difficult year due to uncertainty about local aid from the State. The fiscal recommendations are based on sound fiscal planning and accounts for a four-percent cut in local aid recommended in the State House of Representatives budget. He noted that while the City has not budgeted any American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for on-going City activities the State has used these one-time funds to balance the budget. This may result in further cuts in local aid in FY 12. The Manager said that even with a significant recovery in the economy over the next year FY 12 will be difficult.

Council members asked a number of questions about long-term fiscal planning. The Manager reported that the administration develops and presents a five-year fiscal forecast for presentation to rating agencies. This forecast is based on conservative estimates of growth and continued operation of services. He said that one of the difficulties when looking at new ideas is how to make changes within a constrained budget while maintaining existing services.

The Manager was asked about capital expenditures to address needed renovations in elementary schools. He said that in FY 11 the School Department will begin a building assessment which is the first step in identifying buildings most in need of renovations. The School Department and the School Committee will also do an assessment of programmatic needs as part of the capital expenditure plan.

The Manager was asked if development drives the budget process and he responded that it does not. Because Cambridge is significantly below the levy limit imposed under Proposition 2½ it does not look at future growth to determine what it can spend rather the focus of the planning process is maintaining services at levels necessary to provide quality services to the public.

City Managers Agenda

City Manager Agenda Item 9 responds to a Council order asking for information on the feasibility of adopting a Pay-As-You-Throw program in Cambridge. Under this type of program City rubbish collection is paid for through fees specific to the amount of rubbish collected from each property. The Manager’s response suggests that this approach can be a challenge in a place like Cambridge. In discussion the Manager reported that a single-stream recycling program will be in place later this year.

City Manager Agenda Item 10 transmits proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance with respect to signs. The proposed amendments would provide some flexibility without eliminating longstanding limits on the amount, height and character of signs and grew out of staff experience administering the Zoning Ordinance

City Manager Agenda Item 11 responds to a Council request of the City’s status as a Green Community under a State program. The Manager responds that the City believes it has met the criteria established by the State.

City Manager Agenda Item 13 reports on the City’s actions during and following recent flooding. The report also describes the work the Department of Public Work has done in response to the planned change in Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) flood maps affecting parts of the City.

Policy Order on Cleaning Sidewalks

Policy Order 6 asks the City Manager to confer with staff regarding a requirement that property owners and business establishments clean sidewalks in front of their businesses or risk being fined and asks for an enforcement plan. In discussion it was noted that Central Square is a major transfer point for those using the MBTA which results in pass-through traffic that causes some of the litter. It should be noted that Central Square is only one of at least six parts of the City where this is an issue.

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