CRT 2017 #52 · Communication to the City Council · Oct 23 2017

ATTACHMENTA Off Campus: Planning for University-related Events in the City PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HEARING COUNCILLOR CRAIG KELLEY, CHAIR SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

Mitigating Impact from Tourists Charter buses: clog streets, remove parking, obstruct line- of-sight to cars and pedestrians, idle while parked, travel down truck-banned streets Tourists on sidewalks block flow of pedestrians, stand in bike lanes, raise privacy issues Lack ability to observe trends in bus ticketing, number of tourists, etc.

Entertainment Events Case Study: Boston Calling "People were upset with the continual loud noise; disturbed by the lights that swept through their rooms (some are bedrooms); and really annoyed by the language." • "Mt. Auburn hospital was affected with patients upset by the noise." Policy Order O-5 (June 12, 2017) "While the concert itself took place outside of Cambridge, it nevertheless had an impact on the quality of life for many Cambridge residents, and these residents have urged the City to take a more active role in mitigating any future issue with the Boston Calling festival should it return to Harvard University in the future."

Protests and Demonstrations Free speech is often pitted against public safety Demonstrations can disrupt normal Cambridge activities for commuters and residents -How police departments respond to demonstrations sends its own message -How to balance Cambridge's primacy in leading conversations of national importance against maintaining order in the city and minimizing disruption to residents?

ATTACHMENTB Public Safety Committee Hearing September 27, 2017 Tourism Harvard University & MIT • What is the University's tourism policy? What information is given to prospective tourists? • Does the University keep track of the number of tourists that comes to campus each day and seasonally? • Does the University have an estimate for the number of charter buses that are used to bring in tourists? • What are the trends in tourism? Is there a tipping point? • If campus is closed, how is that communicated to tourists? • Do emergency plans include tourists that might be on or around campus? Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department • How is charter bus parking currently managed? How can we improve traffic flow, parking, and pedestrian safety while accommodating the increasing number of charter buses that access our streets? • What are the city's obligations for granting curb access to charter buses? • Are there other places in the city to park buses? Around the Cambridge Common? Cambridge Police Department, Campus Police • Are tickets encoded with information associating violations with charter buses? How can we better track emerging problems? • How do we enforce parking and idling laws with charter buses? • What authority do university police have to manage traffic on the public way? • Do emergency plans incorporate tourists? Office of Tourism • How do the various tourist populations that visit local universities interact with local businesses and public services? • Whạt role does the City play in managing tourists that visit Harvard and MIT? Entertainment and Public Events Harvard University & MIT

• What does Harvard view as Cambridge's stake in events that occur on the Allston side of campus? • If universities host outdoor events with live music, how will they seek to prevent problems with residents? • What is Cambridge's involvement in event planning? City Staff • How do we measure and manage noise from outdoor events? How can we enforce noise violations that emanate from the Allston side of Harvard's campus? • How does the city plan for the flow of commuting pedestrians and cyclists when university events cause disruptions? • How does the City protect the safety of large crowds on or around campus? • Who is responsible for managing the Plaza? How do we better ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians traveling around the tent on the Plaza? Protests, Demonstrations, and Other Disruptive Events University Representatives • In providing a venue for sharing ideas and maintaining public order, what are the best practices learned from campus-originated protests stemming back to the Occupy demonstrations through Charles Murray's recent visit. • How do universities interact with City officials ahead of potentially disruptive events? • What role should student groups play in discussions and preparations with the City? City Staff & Campus Police • Are we prepared to protect the civil liberties of residents, students, and visitors when protesting while still preserving public order? • How are marches and demonstrations communicated to the City, and how do City officials decide on which, and how many resources to dedicate to events?