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Updated August 11, 2010

The 2010 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Genzyme. 

August 11, 2010 GAC Update

The Council next meets on Monday September 13. The Government Operations Committee meets next Monday August 16 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss goals for the next fiscal year.

The Planning Board meeting scheduled for August 17 is cancelled. The Planning Board meets on September 7 and may discuss the proposed amendments to the Sign Ordinance at that meeting.

Mark your calendar for the Chamber’s Forum series with the candidates for Governor.   Breakfast forums are scheduled for Friday October 8, 15 and 22 at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square. Treasurer Tim Cahill has agreed to speak at the October 15 forum. We have been in discussion with the Baker and Patrick campaigns to schedule their participation. Information on cost and registration will be available in September. 

Upcoming GAC Events

The 2010 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Genzyme. 

Tuesday, September 28, 2010
GAC Meeting and Luncheon
Guest speaker: Mayor David Maher
Noon
Chamber Board Room
RSVP to tsmith@cambridgechamber.org by Friday September 24, 2010.

October Gubernatorial Candidates Forum Series
Friday October 8, 2010
7:30 a.m. Registration
Program 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Candidate TBA

Friday October 15, 2010
7:30 a.m. Registration
Program 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Tim Cahill, Independent Candidate for Governor, Treasurer of the Commonwealth

Friday October 22, 2010
7:30 a.m. Registration
Program 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Candidate TBA

The breakfast forum series will be held at the Charles Hotel, Harvard Square.  Registration information will be available in September

November GAC
TBA

August 4, 2010 GAC Update

The Cambridge City Council met on Monday for the Special Summer meeting.  The Council passed two changes to the Zoning Ordinance, received an application for a zoning change, discussed local businesses, and expressed opposition to Issue 2.

The Planning Board met Tuesday and the agenda included discussion of the proposal to amend the sign ordinance.

August 2 City Council Meeting

The Cambridge City Council met on Monday for the Special Summer meeting.  The Council passed two changes to the Zoning Ordinance, received an application for a zoning change, discussed local businesses, and expressed opposition to Issue 2 which will be on the November ballot.

Green Zoning and Kendall Square Zoning Amendments Approved
The Council approved two amendments to the Zoning Ordinance on Monday.

The Council approved the amendments to the Zoning Ordinance (Unfinished Business 6) recommended by the Green Building Task Force.  These amendments include establishing regulations for the installation of some energy efficient equipment and changes to the zoning ordinance to address some parts of the ordinance that restricted some energy efficiency improvements.

The Council also discussed Unfinished Business 7 and approved, with changes, an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance in the MXD district that will allow for Boston Properties to work with the Broad Institute to expand the Broad at a parcel on Ames Street.  The Council also received two Ordinance Committee reports on this proposal.  Committee Report 6 is from the July 8 meeting of the Ordinance Committee and Committee Report 7 from the July 28 meeting.

Zoning Amendment Filed
The Council received a petition, Application 16, requesting amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and Map related to the NorthPoint PUD-6 District.  The amendment, if approved, would allow EF to expand operations in NorthPoint.

Emphasis on Local Business
The Council approved Policy Order 16 regarding the City’s use of local businesses when procuring goods and services and received Committee Report 2 from the June 22 meeting of the Council’s Economic Development, Training and Employment Committee held to discuss local businesses.  Chamber staff recently met with Councillor Leland Cheung, Chair of the Economic Development, Training and Employment Committee, to discuss issues of importance to the Cambridge business community.

Council Opposes Issue 2
The Council approved Policy Order 29 which urges residents to vote no on Issue 2 to preserve Massachusetts affordable housing law.  Issue 2 proposes to eliminate sections of Massachusetts General Laws 40B, the State’s affordable housing law.  The Council approved the order on a vote of 8-1 with Councillor Kelley voting no.

August 3, 2010 Planning Board Meeting

The Planning Board met Tuesday and the agenda included discussion of the proposal to amend the sign ordinance.  The Cambridge Community Development Department has drafted some new language in response to the discussion at the July 6 Planning Board and July 8 Ordinance Committee meetings on this proposal.  Please contact Terrence Smith (tsmith@cambridgechamber.org) at the Chamber if you would like copies of information presented at the August 3 meeting.

July 21, 2010 GAC Update

Welcome back. The GAC Update was not published on July 7 or July 14. The Council meets next on Monday August 2 and several Committees have met and meetings are scheduled before the next full City Council meeting. Check the Upcoming City Council/Public Meetings listing for Council, Planning Board and other up-coming public meetings.

June 30, 2010 GAC Update

The Council does not meet again until August 2 but Council committees will meet during the rest of June and during July.

State Senator Sal DiDomenico was our guest at last week’s GAC meeting and luncheon. 

Mayor David Maher will be our guest at our Tuesday, September 28 GAC meeting and luncheon which will be held at noon in the Chamber Board Room. We are also planning three breakfast forums with the candidates for Governor in October.

The GAC Update will not be published on July 7 or July 14. Look for the next Update on July 21. Have a happy Independence Day weekend.

State Senator Sal DiDomenico Addresses June GAC

State Senator Sal DiDomenico spoke at our June GAC meeting and luncheon.  Senator DiDomenico was sworn into the Senate in May and represents a district that includes part of Cambridge, all of Charlestown, Chelsea and Everett and parts of Allston, Brighton, Revere, Saugus and Somerville.

At the June GAC meeting and luncheon he discussed the critical issue of job creation during this difficult economy and the difficult decisions the legislature is making to balance the State budget.  He said his number one priority is job creation said he looks forward to working with Chamber members and the Cambridge business community to help create and retain jobs.  He also noted that his first two sponsored budget amendments focused on this area and had passed the Senate, providing nearly $2.9 million in funding for career centers statewide and a biomedical job training program administered by Just-A-Start.

The major issue before the Senate at the time of his visit was the likely need for the joint budget conference committee to cut more than $670 million in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010.  These cuts resulted from inaction by the United States Senate on funding to States.   The State Senate was also preparing to discuss a bill that would legalize casino gambling in Massachusetts.  Senator DiDomenico expressed his concern about the impact of the budget cuts on families and vulnerable residents and his support for the casino bill in the Senate which limited the State to allowing three destination casinos and included a number of requirements to ensure that once licensed these resort casinos would be built and operating quickly.

Senator DiDomenico is a Cambridge native and his family has operated Flowers by Sal on Cambridge Street for more than 40 years.  He is a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin and Boston College.  While attending BC he served as a legislative aide to former State Representative Peter Vellucci.  He and his wife and two sons live in Everett where he served on the Everett Common Council for four terms prior to his election to the Senate.  He has worked for a number of years in the hotel industry at the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge and with Marriott at both the Cambridge and Long Wharf properties.  Prior to his campaign and election to the Senate, he served as Chief of Staff to Senator Anthony Galluccio.

Thanks to Senator DiDomenico for taking time from his schedule to speak to the GAC and to all who attended.
 

June 23, 2010 GAC Update

The Council met on Monday and received a report on clean sidewalks and passed orders regarding next week’s meeting, community standards, empty storefronts, and bike parking. The Council also received Committee reports on Massachusetts Avenue, Kendall Square and a zoning petition. The Council does not meet again until August 2 but Council committees will meet during the rest of June and during July.

State Senator Sal DiDomenico was our guest at yesterday’s GAC meeting and luncheon. A full report will be in next Wednesday’s Update.

Mayor David Maher will be our guest at our Tuesday, September 28 GAC meeting and luncheon which will be held at noon in the Chamber Board Room. We are also planning three breakfast forums with the candidates for Governor in October.

June 21, 2010 Cambridge City Council Meeting

The Council met on Monday for the last time until the August 2 Special Summer Meeting. The Council received a report on the responsibilities of property owners, including businesses, to keep public sidewalks litter free. The Council passed Policy Orders regarding cancellation of the June 28 Council meeting, asking the developer of a housing project on Third Street to meet “community standards,” requesting a report on vacant storefronts and identifying ways to improve bike parking. The Council received Committee Reports regarding Massachusetts Avenue between Harvard and Porter Squares, Kendall Square and the rezoning petition filed by Boston Properties.

Property Owners Responsible for Keeping Sidewalks Clean
City Manager Agenda Item 11 responds to a Council order regarding cleaning sidewalks in front of licensed establishments. The Manager reports that the License Commission and Public Works work collaboratively to ensure that licensed establishments keep sidewalks clean in front of their establishments. The report goes on to say that under the Cambridge Municipal Code property owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk abutting the property litter free and under this ordinance the License Commission may take action against licensed establishments. In discussion City staff emphasized that they are working cooperatively with property owners and businesses to ensure that sidewalks remain litter free.

Policy Orders
Policy Order 2 cancelled the June 28 meeting.
Policy Order 5 puts the Council on-record encouraging the owner of a new residential development on Third Street to have a “one-hundred percent community standard work site.”
Policy Order 9 asks for a report on “empty storefronts” including how long they have been vacant.
Policy Order 11 asks for ways to increase the availability of bike parking.

Committee Reports
Committee Report 3 is a report from the June 2, 2010 meeting of the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee held to discuss improvements to Massachusetts Avenue between Harvard Square and Porter Square.

Committee Report 4 is a report from a June 7, 2010 meeting of the Economic Development, Training and Employment Committee held to receive a report from the Boston Consulting Group on leadership and business strategies to “optimize the future of Kendall Square.”

Committee Report 5 is from the June 9, 2010 meeting of the Ordinance Committee held to discuss the petition by Boston Properties to rezone an area on Ames Street. The Council passed the petition to a second reading which will allow the council to act on at the petition at the August 2 meeting. The Planning Board has recommended passing the petition.

June 16, 2010 GAC Update

The Council met on Monday and received a report from the Planning Board and received three reports from the Ordinance Committee regarding proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance. Last Wednesday the Ordinance Committee met to discuss the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance that, if approved, would allow for expansion of the Broad Institute in Kendall Square. The Council also thanked Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Community Development for her many years of service to the City and wished her the best as she moves on to her new position as UMass-Lowell’s director of campus planning. The Council meets again next Monday.

RSVP now for next Tuesday’s GAC meeting and luncheon with State Senator Sal DiDomenico. Senator DiDomenico was elected to the State Senate in a special election held last month. Senator DiDomenico is a Cambridge native and has been active in the Chamber through his work with several Cambridge businesses.  He and his family have long been active members of the Cambridge community. The meeting and luncheon will be held at noon on Tuesday June 22 in the Chamber Board Room.

On Monday, June 14, the Chamber and the Cambridge Hotel Association sponsored a meeting with restaurateurs, hoteliers and property owners with Cambridge Fire Chief Gerry Reardon to discuss new Commercial Cooking Operation regulations.

The Cambridge Energy Alliance is offering a "Green Your Marketing" Workshop next Thursday, July 17, 2010 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the City Hall Annex. The "Green Your Marketing" workshop will start by helping you answer two basic questions for your business: "Why should I green my marketing?" and "Am I doing anything green that's worth talking about?" Register at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZFVJ8K3.

June 14, 210 Cambridge City Council Meeting

The Council met on Monday and received a report from the Planning Board and Committee reports regarding proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance.

Planning Board Report on Housing Conversion Amendment
City Manager Agenda Item 6 transmits a recommendation from the Planning Board to not approve a proposed zoning amendment that would allow for additional residential development when a residential building that had been converted to non-residential use for at least ten years is returned to residential use. The Council also received Committee Report 1 from the May 6, 2010 Ordinance Committee meeting held on this proposed amendment and Committee Report 2 from the June 9, 2010 Ordinance Committee hearing on this proposed amendment. The Council accepted both reports and passed the petition to a second reading.

Committee Report on Green Building/Green Zoning Task Force Zoning Amendments
The Council received Committee Report 3 from a June 9, 2010 Ordinance Committee hearing held to discuss amendments to the zoning ordinance proposed by the Green Building/Green Zoning Task Force. The Council received the Planning Board’s recommendation supporting the amendments at the June 7, 2010 Council meeting. The Council accepted the report and passed the petition to a second reading.

June 9, 2010 Ordinance Committee Hearing on Kendall Square Zoning Amendment

The Council’s Ordinance Committee held a hearing last Wednesday June 9 to discuss a petition filed by Boston Properties to amend the MXD District in Kendall Square. The proposed change would affect a lot on Ames Street, abutting the Broad Institute, and would change both the allowed use of that lot and the amount of development. Several years ago the zoning ordinance was amended to allow housing development on this site. 

At the hearing Boston Properties provided information about its plans to develop housing on other sites in Kendall Square. A representative of the Broad Institute made a brief presentation on its current and future space needs. At the June 7 City Council meeting the Council received the Planning Board’s recommendation supporting the proposed amendment. The amendment remains in Committee.

June 14, 2010 Meeting with Cambridge Fire Chief

Cambridge Fire Chief Gerald Reardon met with a group of restaurateurs, hoteliers and property owners on Monday June 14 at Le Meridien Hotel to discuss new Commercial Cooking Operations regulations promulgated by the Massachusetts State Fire Marshall specific to Commercial Cooking Exhaust System Cleaning & Inspection License.

The basic requirements are that any operator of vented commercial cooking equipment must have the ventilation system cleaned and inspected on a regular basis, based on operational factors, by a company with employees licensed to clean and inspect commercial cooking operations. See the table below for the schedule. Issues around access panels, length of time between cleanings, etc. are determined by the food service operator and the hood cleaning company. The Cambridge Fire Department will check, on inspection, to ensure that the proper label is in place and up to date.

Schedule of Inspection for Grease Buildup

Type or Volume of Cooking	Inspection Frequency
Systems serving solid fuel cooking operations	Monthly
Systems serving high-volume cooking operations such as 24-hour cooking, charbroiling, or wok cooking	Quarterly
Systems Serving moderate-volume cooking operations	Semi-annually
Systems Serving low-volume cooking operations such as churches, day camps, seasonal businesses or senior centers	Annually

(Source: Massachusetts State Fire Marshall)

Several questions have arisen around access panels. Chief Reardon said that in many cases a straight vertical run will not require access beyond the normal access at the base and top of the system. He said that the real concern is horizontal vents which are both more difficult to clean and more difficult to inspect. Access panels may be necessary in these cases but he also noted that, while he understands that the renovation costs to provide required access may be significant, the access panels would be used for clean-outs and inspections for many years.

A list of Hood Cleaning companies with Massachusetts licensed employees is available at http://www.mass.gov/Eeops/docs/dfs/osfm/license/hood_cleaning_companies.pdf

The State Fire Marshall has posted the regulation, and other helpful information about the regulations, here: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsmodulechunk&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Public+Safety+Agencies&L2=Massachusetts+Department+of+Fire+Services&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=dfs_osfm_comm_cooking_exhaust_licensing&csid=Eeops

The regulations are developed from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 96: Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations. This is not available on the web but the Cambridge Fire Department does have hard-copy of this standard available for review. Contact the Fire Department at fprev@cambridgefire.org or by phone at (617) 349-4918.

Thanks to Chief Reardon and his staff for taking time from their schedules to meet with us. Thanks also to Le Meridien Cambridge for hosting the meeting and to all who attended.

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.