December 20, 2006 GAC Update
The Council met for the last time this year on Monday and passed the goals for 2007 to 2008 and an order asking the City Manager to draft a Hotel Workers retention ordinance similar to ordinances passed in Washington, DC and Hartford, CT.
The deadline to express interest in being part of the Citizen Advisory Board to Select a New Police Commissioner is December 29. Information is available on the City website at Members Sought for Citizen Advisory Board to Select a New Police Commissioner.
This is the last GAC Update for 2006. Thanks to all who participated in GAC events this year, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research for their sponsorship during 2005 and 2006, to Dennis Carlone, Chair of the GAC, and to those in government, both administrators and elected officials, whose work provide the content for this weekly report and to you the readers of the GAC weekly update. There will be no update next week. Happy Holidays to all and see you in the New Year.
Upcoming GAC Events
The 2006 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.
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.
December 18, 2006 City Council Meeting
The Council completed its annual goal setting process by approving goals and priorities for the 2007-2008 period. The Council also passed an order that the City Manager have the City Solicitor draft a Hotel Workers retention ordinance similar to ordinances in Washington, DC and Hartford, CT.
FY 2008-2009 Council Goals
Every two years the Council goes through a process to set goals to be used by the Council and the City administration over the next two fiscal years. On Monday the Council passed goals and priorities that will be for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (July 2007 to June 2008 and July 2008 to June 2009). Goals are developed through an extensive process led by the Council’s Government Operations Committee. The goals for the next two fiscal years are:
- Deliver high-quality Public Safety Services and maintain a high level of public confidence in these services.
- Promote the advantages of “Doing Business in Cambridge” and work to strengthen our mutually beneficial partnerships with businesses and universities. Highlight the unique benefits of Cambridge as a community in which to live and work; focus on transmitting the values and identity of Cambridge.
- Foster community and support Neighborhood Vitality. Support opportunities for citizens to know each other within their neighborhoods and across the city.
- Promote a Healthy Environment by adopting environmentally sound and energy efficient practices throughout the community
- Provide High-Quality Services, including excellent customer service, effectively and efficiently and continually strive to update the public on city issues and services.
- Preserve and create Affordable Housing for low, moderate and middle-income residents
- Evaluate City expenditures with a view of maintaining a strong fiscal position and awareness of the Impact on Taxpayers
- Value and support the racial, socioeconomic, cultural and religious Diversity of our city. Cambridge will continue to be a city that welcomes, values and respects people of all abilities.
- Strengthen and support Public Education and other learning in Cambridge for the benefit of residents of all ages
The Council also established priorities for the next (FY 2008) budget under each priority. A copy of the Government Operations Committee report is available at Committee Report 1.
Hotel Workers Retention Ordinance
The Council also passed an order that the City Manager have the City Solicitor draft a Hotel Workers retention ordinance similar to ordinances in Washington, DC and Hartford, CT. This is apparently in response to the recent sale of the Radisson Hotel on Memorial Drive and concern for the workers at that hotel which is now closed. Councillors praised the civic participation of the former owner of this hotel.
A group of hotel workers and union representatives testified during public comment about their concerns about the future of this hotel which led to the Council passing several other orders including an order opposing a Special Permit request that will go before the Planning Board in January, an order that the City’s Office of Workforce Development assist displaced workers and a change in the zoning map to rezone the site to open space.
Copies of the orders are on the City website at Policy Order 4, Policy Order 10, Policy Order 11, and Policy Order 14.
