Nov 1, 2010 City Council Agenda – Light agenda – Sign Ordinance reconsideration vote could happen this week or next
This week’s meeting has little on the agenda, but Unfinished Business #7 (reconsideration of two provisions of the recently enacted Ordinance No. 1335 relating to the Sign Ordinance) will surely elicit discussion and possibly a vote. If not voted this week, state law requires that the matter must be reconsidered no later than next week (by Nov 9). If the original vote stands, these provisions will remain suspended pending a ballot question to dispose of the matter. The most politically safe thing for the City Council to do would be to approve a Special Election on this single matter (thereby not confounding their own reelection campaigns next November). However, the City Manager has estimated that a Special Election would cost approximately $170,000 (an itemization would have been helpful, as this estimate seems unusually high). The Manager’s response (City Manager’s Agenda #10) is worth reading and broadcasting to others.
City Manager’s Agenda #10. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 10-164, regarding a report on outlining the ordinance changes to the Zoning Ordinance as it pertains to signs and the impact of repealing Paragraph D3 and E of Ordinance #1335.
Unfinished Business #7. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting notification of the certification of 11,461 signatures of registered voters by the Election Commission of a referendum petition entitled "SAVE OUR SKYLINE" filed with the Election Commission on Oct 15, 2010. The petition protests Paragraph D.3 of Section 7.16.22, Building Identification Signs, and Paragraph E of Section 7.16.22, General Waiver of Sign Limitations, part of Ordinance No. 1335 amending Section 7 of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Cambridge (the Sign Ordinance).
The following other items are at least somewhat interesting, though barely noteworthy.
Order #2. The City Council supports the mission of the Massachusetts Product Stewardship Council working with other Massachusetts municipalities and other states to move EPR policy forward, and supports the Framework Principles for Product Stewardship Policy. Vice Mayor Davis
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct City staff to investigate ways in which the City can work with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council on opportunities in Cambridge related to the grant which will support the implementation of MetroFuture. Councillor Seidel
Order #4. That the City Council go on record acknowledging that the shared planning challenges of the Boston Metro area need to be addressed regionally, and appreciating that the grant from HUD will allow this important work to happen. Councillor Seidel
Order #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to review the facade improvement program as part of the FY2011/2012 budget programs for reorganization and increase the funding if possible. Councillor Reeves
In particular, a few additional notes have been appended after the text of Order #5 to clarify some of its shortcomings. Good help can be so hard to find in this down economy. — Robert Winters