September 12 2005 City Council Meeting

Taxes
Several Councillors submitted orders to change how property is taxed in Cambridge and to expand what is taxed. The Council voted to forward the responses to those orders to the Finance Committee. The Council will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday September 22 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the property taxes and municipal revenue with members of the City’s state legislative delegation.

The orders included a request that the Assessing Department re-examine how property values are assessed, and requests for the City Solicitor to draft several Home Rule petitions to the State Legislature. The Home Rule petitions would provide a base level of taxes to be paid by all property owners; tax some non-profit property owners; implement a real estate transfer fee; and implement a real estate agent fee surcharge.

Fees and Fines
The City Council passed changes in municipal ordinances to increase the fine for not removing snow on sidewalks to $35 from $25.

The Council also voted to increase the fee for direct connection to the City's alarm system to $400 per installation and $400 per year from $300 per installation and $300 per year.

Rats
The City's discussions of how to deal with increases in rats in the City has included several community meetings. From those meetings several suggestions have been made including moving the time trash can be put out from 3 p.m. to later in the evening before or to the morning of collection. Discussions have also included requiring certain types of garbage receptacles. Several Councillors would like the City to purchase or subsidize the cost of rat proof receptacles.

The important issue for much of the business community is dumpsters. The City will be increasing enforcement efforts so businesses are urged to pay attention to the condition of the area where trash is disposed.
 
Zoning
The Council voted to amend the Zoning Ordinance to require any proposed development in the Massachusetts Avenue Overlay District (the area along Massachusetts Avenue north of Harvard Square to Porter Square) involving the addition of more than 2,000 square feet and less than 50,000 square feet be subject to larger project review consultation.

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