November 1, 2006 GAC Update
The Council met on Monday and received a report on enforcement of the vehicle idling law and on parking for non-residents in permitted spaces. The Council meets again next Monday. Election Day is next Tuesday, November 7. Vote
GAC members are reminded that we are looking for volunteers to join a number of sub-committees proposed at the September 26th GAC meeting. To volunteer or for more information please e-mail Terrence Smith, Director of Government Affairs at tsmith@cambridgechamber.org or phone 617-876-4213.
Upcoming GAC Events
The 2006 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.
Congressman Capuano to Address November GAC Meeting
Congressman Michael Capuano will be our guest at the November GAC meeting. The Best Western Hotel Tria will host the meeting at noon on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 The Hotel Tria is located at 220 Alewife Brook Parkway. The Tria offers slightly more space than is available at the Chamber’s Conference Room but space is still limited so RSVP early for this meeting by e-mail at tsmith@cambridgechamber.org or phoning 617-876-4213.
October 30, 2006 City Council Meeting
There was not much on the agenda specifically related to issues of interest to Chamber members. Two matters may be of interest to some. One is a report from the City Manager on enforcement of the vehicle idling law the other is a report in response to a Council order regarding allowing teachers to park in resident permit parking spaces. The response on the later addresses the broader issue of the City’s traffic and parking regulations.
Vehicle Anti-Idling Law Enforcement
Massachusetts State Law limits vehicle idling to no more than five minutes in most circumstances. The major exception is vehicles where the engine serves as a power source for other equipment such as refrigerator trucks and construction/maintenance vehicles. The Council has expressed concern that vehicles in general and specifically those at construction sites often violate the five minute regulation. The report states that the Police will give one warning to a violator and record that warning. Subsequent offenses will result in citations. It was also noted that school buses and MBTA buses are generally in compliance with the regulations following an education effort by the City. A copy of the report is available at City Manager Agenda Item 5.
Policy on Permit Parking for Residents Affirmed
In response to a Council Order requesting the City to provide passes/permits to School Department employees who travel to schools throughout the City the City Manager, through a response from the Director of Parking, Traffic and Transportation, reaffirmed the City’s policies regarding parking. To the actual order the response noted that permits are provided for parking when traveling to other locations but that these permits cannot be used to park at a School Department employees primary location.
The report further notes that “The resident parking program was created to prevent people who commute to jobs in Cambridge from parking in the residential areas and denying residents a place to park on their own street.” The report goes on to describe City policies and regulations designed to discourage single-occupancy vehicle use. The discussion of this response included questions about local business owners who live outside of the City having a place to park. City staff responded that garages and parking meters are available for those individuals but that any accommodation would work against the City’s goal of reducing automobile trips in the City.
As this issue is raised from time to time by members it is worthwhile looking at the Manager’s response in City Manager Agenda Item 8.
