A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-89, regarding a report on establishing an Inman Square Business Impact Plan

C I T Y O F C A M B R I D G E Community Development Department IRAM FAROOQ Assistant City Manager for Community Development SANDRA CLARKE Deputy Director Chief of Administration KHALIL MOGASSABI Deputy Director Chief of Planning 344 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 Voice: [phone removed] Fax: [phone removed] TTY: [phone removed] www.cambridgema.gov To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Kathy Watkins, City Engineer/Assistant Commissioner for Engineering Date: October 10, 2018 Re: Policy Order O-6 dated September 17, 2018 related to establishing an Inman Square Business Impact Plan The City’s Retail Strategic Plan was completed in June 2017. Many recommendations of the Retail Strategic Plan to help Cambridge’s small businesses were implemented in Fiscal Year 2018, including creating a small business data dashboard, promoting district assessments, hosting small business open houses and a small business summit, and launching a food truck pilot. A key Retail Strategic Plan recommendation included better coordination of efforts to mitigate impacts to small businesses in affected areas during the City’s construction projects. In anticipation of the Inman Square street reconstruction, staff from Community Development Department (CDD), Department of Public Works (DPW), and Traffic, Parking and Transportation (TPT) has been meeting regularly over the last six months to discuss the potential construction impacts. In addition, city staff have met with an ad hoc Inman Square committee including representatives of the East Cambridge Business Association and the Inman Square Neighborhood Association to discuss impacts, as well as mitigation strategies. The most recent of these meetings occurred September 17, 2018 as a kick-off to the City’s Construction Mitigation Pilot program, convened by CDD’s economic development staff. Staff discussed potential mitigation strategies with Inman Square businesses and residents, resulting in the following framework for a Business Impact Plan: 1. In addition to DPW’s project contact, CDD will designate an economic development staff liaison as a dedicated point of contact for Inman Square small businesses during construction 2. Survey businesses in the square at least four times during the course of the project to evaluate impacts on businesses and to fine-tune the mitigation approach, if needed. Surveys would be done a. prior to start of project b. at least twice during construction, and c. post construction

Page 2 of 2 3. Create a dedicated webpage to provide ongoing construction information to the businesses, and provide businesses with marketing opportunities to the public 4. Create and install additional wayfinding and promotional signage in the district 5. Organize monthly coffee talks with staff and representatives of the contractor, when relevant, to provide businesses and residents with more information about construction and listen to concerns 6. Continued monthly attendance by city staff at ECBA meetings to provide updates 7. Create a shop local loyalty program to promote local businesses during construction, engaging neighborhood residents, cycling and other advocacy groups when possible. 8. Review parking regulations and explore other opportunities to address parking availability for customers, particularly at high demand times 9. Coordinate with City Assessor to provide information to businesses and property owners about possible property tax abatements, if financial losses are experienced during construction 10. Provide educational workshops and consulting services to businesses in the areas of insurance coverage, legal needs, and financial planning City staff will continue to regularly meet with the Inman Square committee of retail and small businesses to reassess impacts, hone appropriate mitigation strategies, and ensure that these measures are enacted. Through this process in Inman Square, we expect to develop a menu of strategies that can serve as a template of best practices for future City construction projects.