May 21, 2008 GAC Update

The Council met on Monday and passed the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, received a report from the Cambridge Public Health Department regarding a ban on trans fats, and received a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance in the Kendall Square area. 

No Council meeting Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday.

The GAC meets today and out guest is James Scafide from the Office of Attorney General Martha Coakley. Look for a report on his remarks in next week’s Update.

The City’s annual GoGreen Business Awards presentation is scheduled for Tomorrow, Thursday, May 22 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall Annex. Full information provided below.

The Museum of Science is hosting a forum titled Nanotechnology in Cambridge: What Do You Think? tomorrow, Thursday, May 22 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Go to http://www.mos.org/events_activities/forum&d=2639 for more information and to register.


Upcoming GAC Events

The 2008 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Genzyme.

June GAC Meeting and Luncheon
June 24, 2008
Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas will address the June GAC Meeting and Luncheon
Noon, Chamber Board Room
If you plan to attend please RSVP to Terrence Smith, Director of Government Affairs at tsmith@cambridgechamber.org or by phone at 617-876-4213. 


2008 Go Green Business Awards

The City of Cambridge invites members of the business community to the 2008 GoGreen Business Awards presentation on Thursday, May 22, at 344 Broadway, the City Hall Annex. The reception will begin at 5:30 PM, and the program will be from 6:15 to 7 PM. Barbara Batshalom, founder and executive director of the Green Roundtable, is the featured speaker. Awards will be presented to businesses and institutions that have taken significant action in the areas of energy conservation, transportation, and recycling. This is an opportunity to connect with others and to celebrate what is happening in Cambridge. RSVP to sanderberg@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4671.


May 19, 2008 City Council Meeting

At Monday’s meeting the Council passed the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, received a report from the Cambridge Public Health Department regarding a ban on trans fats, and received a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance in the Kendall Square area to permit additional laboratory and office development while providing significant benefits to the East Cambridge neighborhood.

FY 2009 Budget Approved
The Council passed the budget for Fiscal Year 2009 which begins on July 1, 2008. Passage of the budget followed three days pf hearings held by the Council’s Finance Committee. The $434 million covers both City and School Department expenditures and is an increase of five-percent over the current year. The increase is due to employee health care, salary and pension costs, increased assessments from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority and other state assessments, increased energy costs and debt service.

Cambridge remains in a strong fiscal position with excess levy capacity of almost $90 million, $73 million in free cash and almost $20 million in the City debt stabilization fund and $12.6 million in the School Department debt stabilization fund. The debt stabilization fund will allow the City to mitigate the impact of on the property tax for major capitol projects.

Cambridge Public health Recommends Ban on Trans Fats
City Manager Agenda Item 6 includes a report from the Cambridge Public Health Department titled Eliminating Artificial Trans Fat from Food Service Establishments in Cambridge. The report was developed by Public Health and the Cambridge Trans Fats Task Force, a group appointed by the City Manager that included City staff, members of the restaurant and food service industry, public health professionals and citizens.

The report recommends that the City ban Trans Fats by the end of 2009. The ban will include elimination of the use of trans fats by the Cambridge School Department in early 2009. The Public Health Department will work with the restaurant and food service community on implementing this change following completion of its regulatory process. A hearing on this proposal is scheduled for Wednesday June 25, 2008 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Sullivan Chamber, Cambridge City hall.

Proposed Zoning Changes in Kendall Square
The Applications and Petitions agenda (item number 5) includes proposed amendments to PUD-3A, PUD-4C and PUD-4B Districts of the Zoning Map of the City of Cambridge submitted by Alexandria Properties. The petition was referred to the Planning Board and the Council’s Ordinance Committee. An Ordinance Committee hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday June 25, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. at the Sullivan Chamber, City Hall. In brief discussion it was noted that this proposal has been discussed with representatives from the East Cambridge neighborhood.


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