June 6 City Council Meeting

Parking Section of Zoning Ordinance Amended
The Council passed changes to Section 6.12 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding the requirement for providing parking in existing buildings with new additions and/or new uses. The changes require developers to provide one parking space per market rate housing unit and .6 parking space per affordable housing unit (6 spaces for every ten affordable units).  The change passed on a vote of six for and two against with one member absent.

Rats a Concern
Councillors asked the City Manager to address rat issues in several City neighborhoods. The Manager noted that the City, through Public Works and Inspectional Services, continues to respond to resident concerns about rats and to work with residents and businesses on this issue. He noted that securing trash and properly discarding food are important actions everyone can take to address this issue.

Healy Scholarship Funded
The City Council appropriated $105,617.82 for the establishment of the Robert W. Healy Endowment Scholarship Fund within the accounting mechanism of the City of Cambridge. The fund was established from a $100,000 anonymous donation made in May 2001 to establish this scholarship.  Scholarships will be awarded from the interest earned on the original contribution. The original principal of $100,000 will not be expended. The Council noted how important scholarships such as this one and the City’s annual scholarship fund are to assisting our young people to continue their education.

Council Applauds Housing and Environmental Work
Two Special Presentations preceded Monday’s City Council meeting. The first thanked Just-A-Start and Cambridge Savings Bank for their continued work to provide safe and affordable housing in Cambridge. Of special note are Just-A-Starts Home Improvement Program and the 3% rehab loan fund provided through Cambridge Savings Bank. The second thanked Cambridge city employees, residents, and business partners helping to promote Cambridge’s environmental priorities.

State House News

House and Senate Override Stem Cell Veto
Both Houses of the State Legislature voted to override the Governor’s veto of the Stem Cell bill.  According to news reports the House and Senate will next look at other ways the State can assist life science companies locating or expanding in Massachusetts.

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