June 20, 2007 GAC Update
The City Council met on Monday and received an update on the North Point development, a report on public toilets, and passed an order supporting the proposed Employee Free Choice Act now before Congress. The Council also received Ordinance Committee reports on two rezoning petitions. The Council meets for the last time until July 30 next Monday.
Last Wednesday the Council’s Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities conducted a public meeting to discuss Building Code revisions on green buildings. The focus of the meeting was requirements in current regulations that limit some green building practices. A full report will be available at a future Council meeting.
Reminder that Massachusetts Avenue traffic will be disrupted this coming weekend between Harvard and Porter Squares as three historic buildings are being moved by Harvard University. Information about the move is available at Harvard Law School House Move Notification.
The Chamber is interested in input from members on proposed changes to the federal immigration laws. E-mail your comment to tsmith@cambridgechamber.org.
Upcoming GAC Events
The 2007 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Genzyme.
Fall events will be announced soon.
June 18, 2007 Cambridge City Council Meeting
The City Council met on Monday and received an update on the North Point development, a report on public toilets, and passed an order supporting the proposed Employee Free Choice Act now before Congress. The Council also received Ordinance Committee reports on two rezoning petitions.
North Point Update
The City Manager provided an update on the ongoing lawsuit between the parties in the joint venture developing North Point and the Manager also responded to questions from the Council regarding the recent Supreme Judicial Court ruling affecting the environmental permitting of the project. Per the report the litigation between the partners is being adjudicated in Delaware and the court has set a July 31 date for the trial to begin. The Court has also encouraged the partners to come to a settlement prior to that date.
The Manager was asked about the SJC ruling and reported that it is his understanding that the legislature and the Governor’s office are working toward a legislative solution. The Manager stated that his preference is for the legislature to allow the project to go forward as planned. He was also asked about an order from the Council requesting information on the fiscal impact to the City of delays in this project and the Manager responded that the report is being developed but that the impact would not be significant in the next fiscal year.
A copy of the report is available at City Manager Agenda Item 20.
Public Toilets
For a number of years the availability of public toilets, especially at major business districts including Harvard and Central Squares, has been a topic of discussion. The Manager reported on Monday that discussions continue to open a public restroom at the Salvation Army in Central Square and that the MBTA is working to establish a pilot program to open rest rooms at Central, Harvard, Porter and Alewife stations. A copy of the report is available at City Manager Agenda Item 5.
Employee Free Choice Act
The Council passed a resolution expressing support for the Employee Free Choice Act now before Congress. The act would change the process by which a union is certified. The order is available at Policy Order 6. The Chamber has taken no position on this legislation but other national and Massachusetts business organizations have expressed opposition to this legislation. Associated Industries of Massachusetts has a press release on this issue at A.I.M. to Congress & Mass. Legislature: Workers' Rights at Risk.
Ordinance Committee Reports on Zoning Changes
The Council received two reports from the Ordinance Committee regarding proposed zoning changes. Committee Report 2 is from a meeting regarding the petition filed by Felicia Cott, et al to amend the zoning map in a section of mid-Cambridge from Residence C-1 to Residence B apparently in response to a proposal for a development that is allowable under current zoning. The report included Policy Order 23 which asks for a report on the comparable affects on the area of current zoning versus proposed zoning.
Committee Report 3 is from a meting to discuss a petition filed by Craig H. Appel that would establish a maximum electric use of 7.5 watts per square foot in a number of zoning districts. This petition was filed in response to plans for a building in Harvard Square that has been withdrawn.
