June 27, 2007 GAC Update
The City Council met on Monday. The Council will next meet on Monday July 30 in a special summer meeting. Issues discussed on Monday included vacant storefronts, funding neighborhood groups, and hybrid taxicabs.
The Council Ordinance Committee has scheduled hearings on July 12 on a number of issues including the proposed Hotel Worker Retention Ordinance, an amendment to the Noise Ordinance to include a Leaf Blower section, and an ordinance to regulate fences.
The Cambridge Energy Alliance is looking for office space.
The Chamber is interested in input from members on proposed changes to the federal immigration laws. E-mail your comment to tsmith@cambridgechamber.org.
The GAC Update will not be published next week, July 4. The next Update will be sent on July 11.
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 passed an order (Policy Order 1) asking the City Manager and the Community Development Department to contact the owners of two vacant business sites on Massachusetts Avenue and to ask the owners to make the properties as attractive as possible. The sites are the former Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at Massachusetts Avenue and Walden Street and the former site of Cambridge Naturals at Massachusetts Avenue near Shepard Street.
The Council received a report from the Council’s Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee that included a number of orders addressing issues around neighborhood groups. One of the orders (Policy Order 13) asking the City Manager to report on whether the City should provide stipends for neighborhood groups. The Committee Report is available at Committee Report 2.
The Council received a report from the Council’s Transportation, Traffic, and Parking Committee from a hearing on a “clean” hybrid taxicab program. Boston as implemented such a program. The report identifies environmental benefits of such a program as well as economic constraints. The Council passed an order (Policy Order 18) referring this matter to the Taxicab Subcommittee of the License Commission and asking for report to the City Council in six months. The Committee Report is available at Committee Report 3.
Cambridge Energy Alliance Seeks Office Space
The Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA), a new nonprofit organization affiliated with the City, is searching for approximately 1,500-2,000 sq. feet of office space available by fall that will meet the needs of the small, but growing, staff. The organization is approaching businesses and institutions with Cambridge real estate holdings or available leased office space to consider making space available for CEA at a pro bono or discounted rate. Please contact Deborah Donovan at (617) 349-4674 or Amy Panek at (617) 951-2525 if you can provide suitable space. CEA has been created to implement a massive energy efficiency program in Cambridge. More Information on CEA is available at www.cambridgenergyalliance.org.
