David Maher presiding in his first full meeting as Mayor. The Council received a report on new smoke detector regulations and passed orders regarding a public market, web video, Kendall Square and the 2010 Census.

Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy spoke at last Tuesday’s Government Affairs Committee held at the Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

The City is taking nominations for the annual Green Business Awards program. More information on Go Green Month is available on the City’s website at http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/et/ggm/.

Any person who holds information on any Massachusetts resident that includes first and last name, and a social security number, bank account number, driver’s license number, or passport number must be in full compliance with new data protection regulations as of this past Monday, March 1, 2010. The Chamber is holding a third session on this regulation next Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7:30 a.m. at the Hotel Tria. The workshop is free to Chamber members but space is limited. Registration and additional information is available on the Chamber website.

The US Census is hosting a job fair in Somerville on March 8, a road tour stop in Harvard Square on March 12 and has developed a large amount of materials for businesses to promote Census participation in the workplace. Information is available from the City of Cambridge website at http://www.cambridgema.gov/deptann.cfm?story_id=2527

Upcoming GAC Events

The 2010 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Genzyme.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Noon
GAC Meeting and Luncheon
Guest Cambridge School Superintendent Jeffrey Young
Come meet Dr. Young who has been Superintendent of the Cambridge Public Schools since July of last year.
Chamber Board Room
Please RSVP by noon on Monday March 22 to tsmith@cambridgechamber.org

 

April GAC Event
TBA

City Manager Addresses February GAC

Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy was our guest speaker at the February 23, 2010 Government Affairs Committee meeting and luncheon. The meeting was held at the Institute of Politics (IOP) at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The 60 guests included Chamber members and members of the Harvard community.

IOP Director Bill Purcell opened the event by welcoming all to the IOP and to this event and expressing his interest in working with the Chamber and the city on future events. He also introduced several members of the Harvard community in attendance including Katherine Lapp, Executive Vice President at Harvard University and Manny Diaz, a current fellow at the IOP and the former Mayor of Miami, Florida.

City Manager Healy was accompanied by newly elected Mayor David Maher who thanked those in attendance and expressed his interest in working collaboratively with the business community and the universities during his term.

Mr. Healy was introduced by GAC Chair Dennis Carlone from Carlone Associates. Mr. Healy began his remarks with good news. Healy reported that the City has received AAA bond ratings from the three major Municipal rating agencies. As a result of the AAA rating Cambridge recently borrowed $32 million, through a bond sale, for capital projects at a rate of 3.08%. The City has originally estimated a rate of 4.25% resulting in an annual savings of $250,000. 

The City Manager said that he continues to be concerned about the near term economic outlook for Cambridge. Building permit fees are down and, while he thanked the Governor for his budget which included no reduction in state aid to cities and towns, he said that he is assuming a 10% reduction in state aid once the budget goes through the legislative process. Wages and benefits are a significant part of the City budget and in July 2010 the City’s unionized employees will receive a 3% wage increase under current collective bargaining agreements. In 2011 most of these agreements call for no increase in wages.

He discussed the need to prepare for down economies and said that Cambridge is much better positioned for these downturns than it was during the early 1990s. The City continues to invest in capital projects including a significant renovation of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School and on-going sewer projects. He also highlighted recently completed projects including the new library, West Cambridge Youth and Community Center and public safety building.

Mr. Healy did acknowledge some “light on the horizon.” He reported that Alexandria has begun the process to permit a development planned for Binney Street, a new building is in construction at Discovery Park that will house Forrester Research and Microsoft’s expansion in the City continues. He also expressed the importance of our educational institutions to the Cambridge economy and thanked the staff members from those institutions in attendance for their continued work with the City.

During the question and answer session Brian Burke from Microsoft asked the Manager how the business community can help “grow Cambridge.” Mr. Healy said that business can and should direct efforts to assist the Cambridge schools and recommended that such efforts be coordinated through the administration of the Cambridge Public School Department as efforts at individual schools are difficult to track and assess. Cambridge school’s, while well funded, face the same challenges as most urban school districts. Healy noted that more than half of all students are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program.

David Luberoff, Executive Director of the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, which is part of the Kennedy School, noted that Cambridge is in a different fiscal position than most Massachusetts cities and towns and asked how Cambridge can inform actions in other communities. Healy discussed the need for local management that is able to have a long-term perspective on actions and outcomes. He said that the two-year term some elected Mayors serve provides no opportunity for such perspective and said that four years is barely enough. Fiscal planning and forecasting must assume good and bad economies and local officials need to avoid the temptation to significantly increase spending in good times. Actions in good or bad times should be viewed based on long-term commitments and impacts.

He was asked about the next major capital projects the City may make. He said that the School Department is looking at its buildings and will identify those schools most in need of renovation. He mentioned that the school building on Linnaean Street, now the Graham and Parks and formerly the Peabody, has not been renovated since it was built in the 1960s. He was asked about the City Council’s decision, at his recommendation, to limit spending when a significant increase in funds became available in the mid-1990s. He said that the need to address the housing issue was clear and significant funds were appropriated to the Affordable Housing Trust. The Trust has since benefited from the establishment of the Community Preservation Act as a funding mechanism for affordable housing as well as historic preservation and open space.

Thanks to Bill Purcell, Christian Flynn and the entire staff at the Institute of Politics for making this a great event. Also thanks to John DiGiovanni, Trinity Properties and a member of the Chamber Board of Directors, for providing free parking to attendees. Thanks to City Manager Healy and Mayor Maher for their remarks and participation and to all who attended.

March 1, 2010 Cambridge City Council Meeting

The Council met on Monday with Mayor David Maher presiding in his first full meeting. The Council received a report on new smoke detector regulations and passed orders regarding a public market in Lechmere Square, improving web video of City events, preparing Kendall Square for Bio 2012 and informing people about a 2010 Census job fair scheduled for March 8 in Somerville.

New Smoke Detector Regulation Effective April 5, 2010
City Manager Agenda Item 5 provides information on a residential smoke detector regulation that will become effective April 5, 2010. The regulations apply to homes built before January 1, 1975 that have not been substantially altered or modified since January 1, 1975.

Policy Orders
Policy Order 1 asks for a feasibility study of a public market at Lechmere Square. This idea has been developed by members of the East Cambridge neighborhood in anticipation of the relocation of the Lechmere MBTA station.

Policy Order 3 asks the City to evaluate new technologies, possibly working with Cambridge-based companies, to provide web video of City Council meetings and other City events.

Policy Order 5 asks the City Manager what improvements are planned in the Kendall Square infrastructure and whether these improvements are planned to be completed in time for the Bio 2012 Conference. During discussion several Councillors mentioned a study presented at the Kendall Square Associations second annual meeting held last Wednesday, February 24.

Policy Order 7 provides information about a US Census 2010 job fair scheduled for Monday, March 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 30 Washington Street in Somerville. The Census is looking to fill 1,000 temporary positions.

The Council met on Monday and elected David Maher Mayor and Henrietta Davis Vice Mayor. The Council also received reports on transportation projects and passed orders regarding technology projects.

Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy spoke at Tuesday’s Government Affairs Committee held at the Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He was accompanied by newly elected Mayor David Maher. Thank you to Mr. Healy and Mayor Maher, to Bill Purcell and the entire team at the Institute of Politics, to John DiGiovanni for providing parking and to all the GAC members and members of the Harvard community who attended. Look for a report on that meeting in the next Update.

The City is taking nominations for the annual Green Business Awards program. See below for details.

February 22, 2010 Cambridge City Council Meeting

The Council met on Monday and elected David Maher Mayor and Henrietta Davis Vice Mayor. The Council also received reports on two transportation projects, the Urban Ring and bridge reconstruction projects, and passed orders regarding a recently announced project by Google, Inc. to build fiber optic networks in several communities and a request to develop a process to develop an iPhone application for Cambridge.

Maher elected Mayor, Davis Vice Mayor
The Cambridge City Council met on Monday and elected David Maher Mayor and Henrietta Davis Vice Mayor. This will be Mayor Maher’s first term as Mayor. He was first elected to the City Council in 1997 and previously served one term as Vice Mayor and also served on the School Committee. This will be Vice Mayor Davis’ second term as Vice Mayor, having served in the 2002-2003 term. Vice Mayor Davis was first elected to the City Council in 1995 and previously served on the School Committee. 

The Chamber looks forward to working with the new Mayor, Vice Mayor and the entire City council during this term. With the election of the Mayor the two Special meetings, February 24, 2010 and March 3, 2010, scheduled to elect a Mayor have been cancelled. A quick note that the Chamber’s Special Update announcing the election of Mayor Maher was sent out almost twenty minutes before the local paper of record posted this information on-line.

City Manager Reports on Transportation Projects
City Manager Agenda Item 4 reports on the status of the Urban Ring Phase 2 project. The Agenda Item includes a memo from Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, reporting that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently announced that it was suspending further environmental review of this project citing current financial constraints.

City Manager Agenda Item 5 transmits a report from Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Community Development that describes outreach efforts by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation conducted as part of the Accelerated Bridge Program. The state has or will have four bridge projects in construction in the next two years, have four projects in the design stage and have plans to begin design on two additional projects.

Council Policy Orders on Technology Issues
Policy Order 1 asks the City Manager to respond to a Request for Interest (RFI) from Google, Inc. for the free development and
construction of a fiber optic network.

Policy Order 7 asks the City Manager to direct City department’s to work with the Council to explore organizing a competition to develop an iPhone application for Cambridge.
 

February 22, 2010 GAC Special Update

Maher Elected Mayor
The Cambridge City Council elected David Maher Mayor this evening at the regular City Council meeting.  The vote was initially six for Councillor Maher (Councillors Cheung, Decker, Maher, Reeves, Seidel, and Toomey) and three for Councillor Davis (Councillors Davis, Kelley and Simmons).  Councillor Simmons moved to make the vote unanimous.

Davis Elected Council Vice Chair
Councillor Henrietta Davis was elected Vice Chair (commonly referred to as Vice Mayor) at tonight's regular meeting of the Cambridge City Council.  The initial vote was five for Councillor Davis (Councillors Davis, Kelley, Reeves, Seidel, Simmons) and four for Councillor Cheung (Cheung, Decker, Maher and Toomey).  Councillor Cheung moved to make the election of Councillor Davis unanimous.

February 17, 2010 GAC Update

February 10, 2010 GAC Update

February 8, 2010 Cambridge City Council Meeting

The Cambridge City Council met this Monday and received a report from the City Manager on the City again receiving a Triple A Bond rating from all three rating agencies.

The Council did not take a vote to elect a Mayor, as a courtesy to an absent member, but did pass two orders related to how and when they elect a Mayor. Other orders directed the City Manager to take all steps to make Cambridge eligible for “Green Community” funds from the State, directed the City Manager to add a design review component to curb-cut applications and approvals, and asked the State to allow for public participation in planning and construction of the Western Avenue and River Street bridges.

The Council also acknowledged in song the birthdays this week of its elder statesman and newest member. The Chamber sends happy birthday wishes to Councillor Ken Reeves who celebrated his birthday Monday February 8 and to Councillor Leland Cheung who will celebrate his birthday tomorrow, February 11.

Cambridge Again Receives Three Triple A Bond Ratings
City Manager Agenda Item 1 is a communication from the City Manager reporting that the City received Triple A Bond ratings from Moody’s Investor Services, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Rating. Cambridge has received a Triple A bond rating from the three major rating agencies every year since 1999 and Cambridge is one of only 24 cities in the country to receive such a rating.

The attached letter  to City Manager Agenda Item 1 provides a summary of the major findings from the three reports and the text of those reports. Significant factors identified in the three reports include the City’s continued strong financial management, the presence of Harvard, MIT and other educational institutions to anchor a diverse local economy with a significant presence of the health care, biotechnology and life sciences industries. The City’s low debt burden is also identified as a positive attribute.

The Chamber applauds the City Manager and his staff and the city Council for ensuring the long-term financial strength of our community and we thank our 1,500 members who are the diverse economy the rating agencies refer to in their assessments.

Extra Meetings Planned and Different Method Considered Regarding Mayoral Election
The Council passed Calendar Item 3, an amended version of Policy Order 8 from the February 1, 2010 meeting, directing the Council to hold special meetings for the sole purpose of electing a Mayor should the Council fail to elect a Mayor at the next two regular meetings, February 22, 2010 and March 1, 2010. The special meetings would be held on Wednesday February 24 at 5:30 p.m. and on Wednesday March 3, 2010 should no Mayor be elected at the immediately preceding regular meeting. The Council also passed Calendar Item 1, and amended version of Policy Order 6 from the February 1, 2010 meeting, asking for a legal opinion from the City Solicitor regarding an alternate method the Council might consider using to elect a Mayor.

Other Policy Orders
Policy Order 2 directs the City Manager to take all steps to make Cambridge eligible for funds from the State the “Green Community” program.

Policy Order 4 directs the City Manager to include a design review component by the Community Development Department for each curb cut petition.

Policy Orders 6 and 12 asks for Cambridge resident involvement in planning and construction of the Western Avenue and River Street bridges. These are state construction projects.

The Cambridge City Council met this Monday. The Council took two votes for Mayor and again failed to elect a Mayor. The Council meets again next Monday, February 8. No resolution on the election of Mayor is expected at that meeting due to the absence of a member. The Council does not meet on the 15th due to the Presidents’ Day holiday so a resolution is unlikely before February 22.

The Chamber held Leaders 2010 last Thursday at the Hotel Marlowe. Chamber members informally met with state and local elected officials, including Massachusetts Lt. Governor Timothy Murray, and senior administrators from Cambridge City Hall in this kick-off to a new year of governing. The Lt. Governor gave a brief address to the crowd and elected and other officials where introduced by Bill Sage, newly installed Chair of the Chamber Board. This event was made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Cambridge Savings Bank and Comcast Business Services and our host the Hotel Marlowe. Thanks to our sponsors, our host and all who attended.

The first of the Chamber’s three seminars on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Data Protection Law will be held next Tuesday, February 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Hotel Tria. Registration and additional information is available on the Chamber website. Thanks to our presenters and host. You need only to attend one seminar as the same information will be presented at each session.

The City Council voted to adopt the Stretch Energy Code in December and training on the commercial code has been scheduled in Cambridge on February 24 at 344 Broadway, second floor, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Information and registration for the training, provided by the Center for Ecological Technology under a contract from the state, is available at http://www.cetonline.org/Events/events.php?id=124.  The City has posted information on the Stretch Code at http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/et/stretchcode/index.html. A residential training session is expected to be held in Cambridge in the spring.

The Cambridge Climate Congress held it second meeting on January 23 and has scheduled a third meeting for March 6. Recommendations that will be discussed at the next meeting will be available in the next couple of weeks.

For a listing of public meetings, click here for the Public Meetings list on the Chamber website or visit the Public Meeting Notices area of the City of Cambridge Web site.