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May 9, 2007 GAC Update
The Council met on Monday and approved funding for Harvard Square street improvements, passed an order asking for language to amend the zoning code to include energy efficiency requirements and two orders regarding issues at North Point and received a Committee report regarding banning trans fats in Cambridge restaurants.
Much of the action this week was at the Bio07 Conference at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center where the City’s booth was staffed by senior city staff, members of the City Council and representatives from the Chamber and other local business partners. Governor Patrick made a major announcement at the conference regarding funding and support for life sciences. Cambridge officials who were on stage with the Governor included Mayor Ken Reeves, Vice Mayor and State Representative Tim Toomey, City Manager Bob Healy and Deputy City Manager Rich Rossi. Information about the Governors announcement is available at Governor Patrick Announces Massachusetts’ New Life Sciences Initiative.
No Council meeting next week. The Council Finance Committee will hold a budget hearing at 5 p.m. on Monday regarding the FY08 City budget.
Upcoming GAC Events
The 2007 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Genzyme.
Vice Mayor and State Representative Toomey to Address May GAC
Cambridge Vice Mayor and State Representative Timothy Toomey, Jr. was scheduled to be our guest in January and had to cancel due to legislative responsibilities at the State House. He will now be our guest on Tuesday, May 22 at noon at the Chamber Board Room. Please e-mail tsmith@cambridgechamber.org or phone (617) 876-4213 if you plan to attend.
June GAC Events
Two events are being scheduled for June.
An update on the State’s health care reform law is being planned for June 12, 2007. More information come
The Chamber will offer GAC members the opportunity to participate in Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE) State House Day scheduled for Wednesday June 13, 2007. More information to come.
May 7, 2007 City Council Meeting
The Council met on Monday and approved funding for street improvements in Harvard Square. The Council also passed orders regarding amending the Zoning Ordinance to require new buildings to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, the potential financial impact of delays in the development at North Point and the impact of these issues on moving the Lechmere MBTA station. The Council received a report from the Council’s Health and Environment Committee regarding a proposed ban on trans fats at Cambridge restaurants.
Harvard Square Improvements
The Council passed two orders regarding funding for street improvements in Harvard Square. The Council appropriated $1 million received from a grant from the Office of Commonwealth development for the reconstruction of the large crosswalk at the intersection of JFK Street, Brattle Street and adjacent to the MBTA Harvard Station. The Council also received a request to appropriate and authorize the City to borrow $600,000 in funds for the Harvard Square Enhancements Project. This order was passed to a second reading.
In discussion City staff reported that construction of the large crosswalk will begin in the fall and be completed late spring of next year and that other work will be completed by November of this year. Councillors noted the receipt of the $1 million grant and also mentioned that other partners in the Square have provided funding for this project. Information about the appropriation of the $1 million grant is at City Manager Agenda Item 3 and the $600,000 in borrowing and appropriation request is at City Manager Agenda Item 5.
Energy Efficient Building Code
The Council passed an order requesting draft amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to ensure that new buildings conform to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The order asks that these amendments be available for the Council’s special summer meeting. Information on LEED is available from the US Green Building Council website www.usgbc.org. The Council order is at Policy Order 1.
North Point Issues
The Council asked the City Manager for a report with an estimated timeline and financial impacts of delays in the development at North Point over the next five and ten years and passed a second order asking the City Solicitor to monitor ongoing lawsuits that may affect the development at North Point and the relocation of the Lechmere MBTA station.
As has been reported in the media a decision by the Supreme Judicial Court coupled with a legal dispute between partners in the development of most of the North Point property has put a cloud over this development. The City Manager noted during a budget hearing that the City has included the fiscal benefit of this development in its financial planning.
The order on financial impacts is at Policy Order 8 and the order asking the City Solicitor to monitor lawsuits is at Policy Order 9.
Committee Report on Banning Trans Fats
The Council received a report from the Council’s Health and Environment Committee regarding a meeting held to discuss the feasibility of banning trans fats in Cambridge restaurants. The report identifies a number of members of the Cambridge restaurant community who participated in the meeting and notes that the Restaurant Association of Central Square has met with the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) and initiated a committee to discuss this issue.
The Committee report includes a policy order and a resolution. The policy order asks the City Manager to appoint a task force to look at how best to ban trans fats from Cambridge restaurants, identify resources to assist small businesses, and how best to work with the restaurant community. The resolution congratulates the Central Square Business Association and the Restaurant Association of Central Square for their leadership in addressing this issue.
The Council discussed a mechanism to publicize restaurants that do not use trans fats as part of an outreach and education campaign.
The Committee report is available at Committee Report 1.
