City Council — Regular Meeting, May 8, 2017

City Manager's Agenda (3)

• City Manager's report2017 · #122↪ Referred to committeethe recommended appointment of Kathleen L. Born as a member of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority for a term of five yearsSubmitted by Louis A. DePasquale, City ManagerCMA 2017 #122
• City Manager's report2017 · #123✅ Order adopted, 7–0the appropriation of $282,953 received from East Cambridge Open Space Trust to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Equipment account for the construction of the O’Connell Library Pocket ParkSubmitted by Louis A. DePasquale, City ManagerCMA 2017 #123
• City Manager's report2017 · #124✅ Order adopted, 7–0a loan order requesting the authorization to refund prior bond issue(s)Submitted by Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager📖 readCMA 2017 #124

Communications & Reports from Other City Officers (1)

• City officer's report2017 · #16(untitled)📖 readCOF 2017 #16

Communications (9)

9 resident communications received for this meeting — trees (1) · zoning (1). Individual letters are summarized in the city's agenda and are not republished here, by policy.

Policy Orders (8)

• Policy order2017 · #115✅ Order adoptedAsks the City Manager to direct the City’s transportation planning staff to reach out to Bridj’s Founder and Chief Executive Matthew George to discuss whether there are opportunities for collaboration in meeting the needs of Cambridge residents for more flexible transitCouncil requesttransit trafficPOR 2017 #115
• Policy order2017 · #116✅ Order adopted as amendedCity Council support of the Safe Communities Act and requesting the Massachusetts Legislator to support the Safe Communities Act📖 readPOR 2017 #116
• Policy order2017 · #117✅ Order adoptedDedication For John BellostePOR 2017 #117
• Policy order2017 · #118✅ Order adopted as amendedCity Council support of HD2253/SD1113 An Act Relative to Protecting Consumers of Gas and Electricity from Paying for Leaked and Unaccounted for Gas📖 readPOR 2017 #118
• Policy order2017 · #119✅ Order adoptedAsks the City Manager to consult with the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and other relevant City personnel to determine the feasibility of installing a traffic light at the intersection of Raymond Street and Walden Street and to determine whether other traffic-calming measures are needed in this locationCouncil requesttransit trafficPOR 2017 #119
• Policy order2017 · #120📁 Placed on fileAsks the City Manager to create a permanent office or public-private initiative for the purpose of fostering charitable giving in Cambridge and to work with non-profits to study the local charitable giving landscape, measuring the estimated maximum charitable carrying capacity of the cityCouncil request📖 readPOR 2017 #120
• Policy order2017 · #121✅ Order adoptedCity Council go on record supporting the expenditure of $262,000 per year to supplement a reduced MBTA pass program for students at CRLS and that Her Honor, the Mayor, be and hereby is requested to notify the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee of this support and to report back to the City Council with a view in mind of implementing this supplemented MBTA pass program for the 2017-2018 school yearCouncil orderschoolstransit trafficPOR 2017 #121
• Policy order2017 · #123✅ Order adoptedAsks the City Manager to direct the appropriate City Departments to provide the City Council with an account of empty trees wells and how quickly they will be replanted or the reason why trees will not be planted in the wells that are not suitableCouncil requesttreesPOR 2017 #123

Resolutions (24)

• Resolution2017 · #197✅ Order adoptedThe Mothers Out Front “Raise A Stink” campaign worked to raise awareness about Cambridge methane leaks by tagging the leaks to make these otherwise invisible leaks visible and by hosting forums on the topic, engaging Cambridge leaders, officials and residentsRES 2017 #197
• Resolution2017 · #198✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to Buddha Bajra Lama and Roshi Lama as they celebrate the Rice Feeding (Pasni) Ceremony of their son Jayen Bajra LamaRES 2017 #198
• Resolution2017 · #199✅ Order adoptedThanks to the Cambridge Youth Council members and their Coordinator, Lace Campbell, for their hard work throughout the 2016-2017 school yearschoolsRES 2017 #199
• Resolution2017 · #200✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to the Harvard Square Business Association for successfully hosting the 34th Annual MayFairRES 2017 #200
• Resolution2017 · #201✅ Order adoptedThanks to the local businesses who participating in the 18th Annual Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer fundraiserRES 2017 #201
• Resolution2017 · #202✅ Order adoptedResolution on the death of the Honorable Eduard Franz Dipl-Ing Sekler, MA, PhDRES 2017 #202
• Resolution2017 · #203✅ Order adoptedResolution on the death of Albert HenrichsRES 2017 #203
• Resolution2017 · #204✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to John Bolduc for receiving the 2017 Environmental Merit Lifetime Award from the New England Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyRES 2017 #204
• Resolution2017 · #205✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to Kathleen Tierney on being named to the Headmaster’s Circle of the Saint Joseph Preparatory High School Honor RollschoolsRES 2017 #205
• Resolution2017 · #206✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to Andrew Cooper on being named a Phoenix Scholar of the Saint Joseph Preparatory High School Honor RollschoolsRES 2017 #206
• Resolution2017 · #207✅ Order adoptedThanks to the Cambridge Rindge and Latin String Orchestra for their moving and impassioned work at the 2017 Holocaust CommemorationRES 2017 #207
• Resolution2017 · #208✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish on its 150th AnniversaryRES 2017 #208
• Resolution2017 · #209✅ Order adoptedThanks to Aron Greenfield for serving as Keynote Speaker at the 2017 City of Cambridge Holocaust CommemorationRES 2017 #209
• Resolution2017 · #210✅ Order adoptedGlocal Challenge 2017RES 2017 #210
• Resolution2017 · #211✅ Order adoptedThanks to Father Gabriel Tory for his many years of serviceRES 2017 #211
• Resolution2017 · #212✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to Alex Sadock, Nathan Kolodney, Mohamed Shafim, Philos Kim, Anthony Grassi of team 5 Guys and Fruit Flies on their phenomenal work and prize winning project in the 2017 Glocal ChallengeRES 2017 #212
• Resolution2017 · #213✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to Samuel Somerdin, Michael Naughton, Fosca Bechthold, and Nusrat Jahan of team We8FoodWaste on their phenomenal work and Grand Prize winning project in the 2017 Glocal ChallengeRES 2017 #213
• Resolution2017 · #214✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to Luka Kukan, Nitant Rimal, Helina Mekonnen, Fatima Akter, and Bernardin Senatus of team 14 Flazorz on their phenomenal work and Grand Prize winning project in the 2017 Glocal ChallengeRES 2017 #214
• Resolution2017 · #216✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to Father Michael Harrington on his new position as administrator of the Saint Mary of the Annunciation ParishRES 2017 #216
• Resolution2017 · #217✅ Order adoptedRecognize the musical and cultural contributions Ben Zander continues to make in conducting the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and best wishes for continued successRES 2017 #217
• Resolution2017 · #218✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to Tegesech Webeto on the occasion of her upcoming graduation from Lesley UniversityRES 2017 #218
• Resolution2017 · #219✅ Order adoptedCongratulations to Adam Lawrence Dyer on being recently named as the new settled minister for the First Parish Unitarian Universalist ChurchRES 2017 #219
• Resolution2017 · #220✅ Order adoptedResolution on the death of Robert P. MoncreiffRES 2017 #220
• Resolution2017 · #221✅ Order adoptedSpeedy recovery wishes to Valerie BerryRES 2017 #221

Applications & Petitions (4)

• Application / petition2017 · #19notification to withdraw their zoning petitionAPP 2017 #19
• Application / petition2017 · #20✅ Order adoptedwiden the existing curb cut at the premises numbered 87 Rindge Avenue; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. Response has been received from the neighborhood associationApplication from Vicent Militransit traffic📖 readAPP 2017 #20
• Application / petition2017 · #21✅ Order adoptedwiden the curb cut on Steel Place at the entrance to the parking garage and relocating the curb cut from Cambridgepark Drive to Steel Place at the premises numbered 35 Cambridgepark Drive; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood associationApplication from DIV 35 CPD, LLCtransit traffic📖 read APP 2017 #21
• Application / petition2017 · #22✅ Order adopteda projecting sign at the premises numbered 19-21 Dunster Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department, Historical Commission and abuttersApplication from Harvard Square Eye Care📖 readAPP 2017 #22

Other Business (5)

• RES 2017 #215 : Congratulations to Anna B. Albright and Kyla Friedan

of team Farm Fifteen on their phenomenal work and Grand Prize winning project in the 2017 Glocal Challenge

• POR 2017 #122 : That the City Manager is requested to review and to report back on the following issues:

could a tax premium be placed on abandoned properties to compensate for their negative impacts on adjoining property values; could the city evaluate abandoned property value in part by their lack of income for eminent domain; if a property is vacant for a multi-year period of time could the City seriously consider taking it by eminent domain; and could the City require a re-occupancy permit if a property is vacant for a period of time

• CRT 2017 #21 — a report from Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., Chair of the Transportation and Public Facilities Committee, for a public hearing held on April 26, 2017 to discuss the possibility of the City subsidizing the $30 unlimited monthly MBTA passes for low income CRLS students who participate in extracurricular activities 📖 read
• CRT 2017 #22 — a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Leland Cheung, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on April 19, 2017 to discuss a zoning petition by the City Council to amend the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Cambridge by creating a new Section 11.900 Maintenance and Security of Vacant or Abandoned Buildings. The proposed zoning would require that any building that is deemed to be vacant or abandoned for longer than 90 days shall be registered with the Inspectional Services Department, shall be secured and maintained so that it does not exhibit any evidence of vacancy, and shall pay an annual registration fee 📖 read
• CRT 2017 #23 — (untitled) 📖 read