POR 2019-163
Asked the City Manager to work with the Traffic , Parking and Transportation Department and the License Commission to establish a "play streets" permit
the aforementioned Order by adding in the fifth paragraph by adding the words “on a recurring basis” after the word “closed.”The clerk's words, from the minutes of May 6, 2019, p. 16.
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Present and voting at this meeting (9)
Alanna Mallon
Craig A. Kelley
Dennis Carlone
E. Denise Simmons
Jan Devereux
Marc McGovern
Quinton Zondervan
Sumbul Siddiqui
Timothy J. Toomey
O-7
ORIGINAL ORDER
Block parties are a way for neighbors to gather outside of their homes, generate their own open space, and build community; and By closing off a street or segment of a street, block parties help the City achieve our goal of giving pedestrians increased access to pedestrian-only spaces; and Making block parties easier to host is a priority for residents, especially as the summer months are approaching; and The City of Seattle has created a new permit called block party/play streets to “allow residents of Seattle to open neighborhood streets to kids and adults for more space for socializing, playing, and physical activity”; and The permit increases access and ease of planning for block parties by allowing non- arterial streets to be closed for up to 3 days per week, but for no more than 12 hours per week; and This permit strikes a balance between allowing neighborhoods increased access to their streets, while ensuring safety and notification measures, as well as logistical considerations such as: Applications must be submitted 14 days in advance The street must be non-arterial, limited to one block long, and cannot include bus service Proper neighborhood notification and coordination is required for approval Neighbors must affirm that they have read safety information materials regarding safely setting up and breaking down a play street Additional requirements apply for large, immovable objects like stage; and There are other, Cambridge-specific requirements the City can include if needed; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department and License Commission to determine the feasibility of implementing a “Play Streets” permit for the City of Cambridge; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager respond back to the City Council in a timely manner.