November 22, 2006 GAC Update
The Council met on Monday and received a report on trans fats, changed the zoning of the Marino’s Restaurant site in North Cambridge, and asked for options to improve pedestrian access to Lechmere MBTA station as part of its relocation.
The luncheon with U.S. Representative Michael Capuano is full. If you have not received an e-mail confirming your registration we will not be able to accommodate you. If you have registered and cannot attend or if you have any questions please contact Terrence Smith by e-mail at tsmith@cambridgechamber.org or by phone at (617) 876-4213.
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.
The Chamber wishes Happy Thanksgiving to all and reminds you that Cambridge Rindge and Latin will play for the Greater Boston League football championship tomorrow morning at 10:00 at Russell Field against perennial powerhouse Everett High School.
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.
Vice Mayor and State Representative Toomey Guest at January GAC
Cambridge Vice Mayor and State Representative Timothy Toomey, Jr. will address the January GAC meeting and luncheon on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at noon in the Chamber of Commerce Board Room. Vice Mayor Toomey was first elected to the City Council in 1989 and to the State Legislature in 1992. He is in his first term as Vice Mayor. Prior to his election to the Council he served two terms on the Cambridge School Committee. Please e-mail tsmith@cambridgechamber.org or phone (617) 876-4213 if you plan to attend.
November 20, 2006 City Council Meeting
The Council met on Monday and received a report from the City Manager in response to a request to investigate a program to decrease trans fats in Cambridge restaurants, passed a zoning change affecting the Marion’s Restaurant site in North Cambridge, and passed an order asking the City Manager, the MBTA, and the developer of North Point and others to look at two options, a pedestrian underpass and a vehicle tunnel, to ease access by pedestrians to the relocated Lechmere MBTA station.
Trans Fats in Cambridge Restaurants
Several weeks ago the Council passed an order asking the City manager and the Department of Public Health to investigate a program to decrease trans fats in food served at Cambridge restaurants. The Council received a report from the City Manager and the Department of Public Health that discusses the issues related to trans fats and recommends working in partnership with other City departments, local businesses, and Cambridge restaurants to better understand the current use of trans fats in the City’s 425 restaurants, educate the restaurant community about the health affects of the use of trans fats, develop incentives for establishments to go trans fats free, and develop tools to evaluate the effectiveness of this effort.
While the original order did not call for a ban on trans fats much of the discussion was related to a ban similar to the planned ban in New York City. It is noted in the report that New York’s proposed ban followed a one year education campaign.
A copy of the Manager’s transmittal is available at City Manager’s Report 1 and the Department of Public Health’s letter is available at Response to Policy Order #17, dated 10/16/06.
Zoning Amendment
The Council rezoned the site of Marino’s Restaurant, 2465 Massachusetts Avenue, from Business C1 to Business A-2. This issue has been before the Council a number of times since a larger area of North Massachusetts Avenue was rezoned in the 1990s. A copy of the Council Ordinance Committee Report is available at Ordinance Committee Report from October 30, 2006.
Lechmere Station Relocation
The current Lechmere MBTA station is to be relocated as part of the Northpoint development in Eastern Cambridge Residents have expressed concern about pedestrian access to the new station which will be moved across the McGrath/O’Brien Highway from its current location.
The Council passed an order asking the City Manager City Manager to confer with the Commissioner of Public Works, The Department of Conservation and Recreation, the MBTA and Northpoint Developers on studying the feasibility of constructing either a pedestrian underpass or a car tunnel under the McGrath/O’Brien Highway adjacent to the Lechmere Station. The later would provide for open space above the car tunnel that would be used for pedestrian access to the relocated station.
