Episode 469 – Cambridge InsideOut: Aug 4, 2020
This episode was broadcast on Aug 4, 2020 at 6:15pm. Topics: The importance of mail-in voting; Starlight Square; Picture Show – Around Town; Midsummer City Council meeting – traffic enforcement by non-police, police inventory, gas infrastructure ban runs afoul of state law and constitution, zoning petitions. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
The summer meeting is often the time when battle lines are drawn and City Council business becomes Publick Theatre. Perhaps that’s what Monday will bring, but that’s pretty much what we’ve been seeing for months, and the theatrics are getting really old. This week’s skirmishes are likely to be the culmination of kerfuffles past, e.g. what constitutes "military" equipment in the Police Department inventory, and the next chapter in the Overlay Express to move as much of the housing stock into "social ownership" as our revolutionary misrepresentatives can manage. This is also the Penultimate Meeting on the City Manager’s contract extension – a matter of considerable importance and something of a litmus test of just how much some councillors misunderstand the Plan E Charter and the whole idea of a city manager form of government. There are also some practical suggestions, e.g. using the recent sale of the Grace properties at Alewife as a possible opportunity to make something better of the Jerry’s Pond area. In any case, here are a few things that for one reason or another seem to stand out among the others:
Resolution #3. Resolution on the death of Barbara Ackermann. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons
Suffice to say that former Mayor Barbara Ackermann was a class act in every way.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $10,489,930 received through the Coronavirus Relief Fund as part of the Federal Cares Act, to the Grant Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account which will support expenditures related to core municipal services; public health; and services and supports to residents.
Manager’s Agenda #30. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a proposed restatement of and amendment to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account, entitled “The City of Cambridge Restated and Amended Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account” (“Account”).
Charter Right – Simmons
Order #2. The Mayor be and hereby is requested to schedule a Roundtable/Working Meeting for members of the City Council and School Committee for Tues, Aug 11 at 5:30pm at City Hall, in the Sullivan Chambers, 795 Massachusetts Ave, to discuss CPSD reopening school plans. Mayor Siddiqui
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee’s summer meetings.
No comment here other than to say that years from now we’ll look back at 2020 (and perhaps beyond) as the year defined by the virus and how it reshaped so many things – some temporarily and some permanently. It is worth noting that while the councillors debate revolution and trivia, the School Committee and the Mayor are in the unenviable position of making extremely consequential decisions on how our public schools will operate come this fall.
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-16, regarding feasibility of eliminating Library late fines.
In some colleges/universities where I have worked, the policy was that there was no time limit on how long a faculty member could keep a library book. Some of the books I took out just stayed on my bookshelf forever.
Manager’s Agenda #27-28. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-33, regarding implementing a Tenants’ Rights and Resources Notification Act that would require owners and management companies to include tenants’ rights and resources information when issuing eviction notifications including at the initial Notice to Quit stage.
Passed to a 2nd Reading 9-0
In principle, having complete information is a good thing. I have been a landlord for 35 years and never had to give anyone the boot, but if I ever did I guess it’s not so much to ask that I give an informational pamphlet along with the eviction notice. Anything beyond that is someone else’s job.
Manager’s Agenda #29. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an updated response to Calendar Item #9, regarding Gas Infrastructure Ban.
Referred to Health & Environment Committee
It should surprise no one but the zealots that the MA Attorney General is of the opinion that a comparable ban in the Town of Brookline violates state law and the Constitution of the Commonwealth. "The Attorney General agrees with the policy goals behind the Town’s attempt to reduce the use of fossil fuels within the Town. However, the Legislature (and the courts) have made plain that the Town cannot utilize the method it selected to achieve those goals." My guess is that unless an adult intervenes, the Cambridge City Council will pursue it anyway – because that’s what zealots do.
Manager’s Agenda #31. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-34, regarding a report on an itemized statement of all materials, tools, and property owned by the Cambridge Police Department.
Referred to Public Safety Committee (there was also a late communication from Police Commissioner Bard)
Late Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Police Commissioner, Dr. Branville G. Bard, Jr., transmitting a memorandum regarding some semblance of understanding as to how and why municipal police departments, like here in Cambridge, came to require the type of weaponry listed in the inventory contained in response to Council Order O-9.
This will likely be the main attraction at the meeting – debating ad nauseum whether this or that type of weapon or apparatus is or is not "military." I imagine it will also be prime time for the Zondervan/Sobrinho-Wheeler vs. Commissioner Bard sideshow in which the "abolish the police" gang explains in great detail all that they will never understand about law enforcement and public safety.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Personnel Department and provide an update on the Cambridge Police Patrol Officers’ Association union contract negotiation at the City Council’s regular meeting on Sept 14th, 2020. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #5. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Personnel Department and City Solicitor to generate a report detailing the Sole Assessment Process, the Civil Service HRD process, the reason for choosing the Sole Assessment Process over the Civil Service HRD process, and the projected costs associated with both processes. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to present this report at the Sept 14th regular City Council meeting. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #14. The City Manager look into transferring primary traffic enforcement responsibilities from the Cambridge Police Department to unarmed, trained enforcement personnel in the Traffic & Parking Department, Department of Public Works, Health & Human Services, or another suitable department. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Charter Right – Mallon
The first two Orders seem to indicate the desire of the current City Council to blur those inconvenient boundaries established by the Plan E Charter regarding the role of the City Manager in managing the City and, in particular, in handling matters involving appointments and personnel. I suppose it’s possible that they’ll confine their remarks to matters of policy, but micromanagement is so much fun. Then again, some of them seem so ripe for charter change and the desire for greater control that I’m sure they won’t be able to contain themselves.
The third Order (Order #14) seems like just the next chapter in the "Defund the Police" playbook. This is not to say that asking Traffic & Parking or DPW or Human Services to take on additional enforcement roles is unthinkable. I just think that when a parking control officer or rubbish collector or social worker pulls over a car for running a red light it will be quickly followed by hysterical laughter emanating from the offending vehicle. Then again, if the offender is a serious bad guy it won’t be so funny.
Applications & Petitions #1. A Re-Submission of a Rezoning Petition has been received from Salvatori Zimno, Vice President, Development, BMR-THIRD LLC., regarding rezoning petition for a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map of the City of Cambridge which upon adoption, would result in a new Planned Unit Development ("PUD") District CDK. [Petition w/o images] [images from petition]
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board
Applications & Petitions #5. A Zoning Petition has been received from Arvind Srinivasau regarding zoning language for the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay district. [text of petition]
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board
Applications & Petitions #6. A Zoning Petition has been received from Francis E. Donovan regarding new zoning amendments to increase Affordable Housing. [text of petition]
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board
Zoning, zoning, and more zoning returns. The first of these (Canal District PUD) offers a vision of what might finally happen in and around the Constellation Center site in Kendall Square that never materialized. The second is the next iteration of a recurring petition for the northwestern end of the Alewife Quadrangle area between Fresh Pond and the RR tracks. [As with the previous versions, this proposed zoning comes with a proposed pedestrian bridge over the RR tracks.]
The third petition has some interesting ideas and alternatives to the current "Affordable Housing Overlay" petition that is currently going through the process. Of course that also means that the AHO Express advocates will likely be dismissive of it. The interesting contrast between this new petition and the AHO is that the new petition (a) emphasizes the relaxation of single-family zoning rules in favor of multi-family housing, and (b) has an emphasis on having more ownership units. Simplistically, it’s a contrast between the "social ownership" emphasis in the AHO that would put an ever-higher percentage of housing into the hands of government and their non-profit partners, versus making somewhat more intensive use of existing properties and promoting home-ownership. Unfortunately, the two viewpoints are intertwined with political organizations and their affiliated elected officials.
People can talk all day and night about charter change, but the more fundamental problem is that we have only the most imperfect ways of assessing what the voters of this city actually might favor (hint – municipal elections do a lousy job of measuring public opinion). When it comes to "abolishing the police" or making consequential decisions about housing policy and weighing tenant needs vs. property rights, a coin flip or a Ouija Board would probably do as good a job or better than the people who supposedly represent us.
Order #8. The Mayor be and hereby is requested to call a Special Meeting of the City Council and invite a representative from the Collins Center to present on the process and benefits of Charter Review and Reform. Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0
And so it begins. The rhetoric surrounding the possible extension of City Manager Louis DePasquale’s contract has been accompanied by hints of charter change because, after all, why did Louis wait so long to allow us to use our reusable shopping bags? Personally, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to think about our form of government every decade or so, but when I listen to the current rhetoric from the current councillors I really just want to take a rain check until the ideologues and the zealots and the power-hungry have gone to pasture.
Order #10. That the Cambridge City Council pass the attached Real Estate Transfer Fee Home Rule Petition. Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0
I suppose I shouldn’t really care about proposals like this because my building is unlikely to be transfered to anyone else in my lifetime, but I remain eternally suspicious of this City Council’s endless quest to curtail the rights of property owners and to extract as much money out of every source possible to fund their eternal campaign to move residential property into "social ownership." At least this proposal puts the hit on those buying and/or selling property. Councillor Carlone, on the other hand, has now loudly proclaimed his wish that residential property taxes be jacked up to near the maximum possible even if that means shocking homeowners with a 50% increase in their residential property tax bills. The City Manager, in contrast, seems to be dedicated to maintaining a much slower rise in residential property taxes (thanks, Louis).
Order #11. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to Contact IQHQ and engage the relevant city departments regarding next steps for restoration, health and environmental protection, improvement, beautification, and making the surrounding areas of Jerry’s Pond publicly accessible and incorporating Jerry’s Pond into the adjacent public parklands, with pedestrian and bicycle connections to the MBTA Station, the Alewife Reservation, Minuteman Bikeway, and the Linear Park. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #12. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to take steps to improve the surrounding landscape for residents who live in the neighboring community and the many individuals who commute through the area via the Alewife Red Line, the Minuteman Bikeway, Rindge Avenue and Alewife Brook Parkway. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0
These are both very forward-looking Orders that (I believe) have the intention of getting ahead of the curve regarding future plans by the new owners of the former WR Grace properties in the Alewife area. Those properties recently sold for $125 million and it’s unlikely that they’ll sit idle forever. Like it or not, with significant investment comes significant opportunities for improvement, and boy does that area need some improvement.
Order #15. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate departments to conduct street cleaning without towing for the remainder of the 2020 season, and to employ other methods including (but not limited to) an escalating ticketing schedule that would continue to incentive compliance. Councillor Zondervan
Failed of Adoption 4-4-1 (Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui, Zondervan – YES; Mallon, McGovern, Simmons, Toomey – NO; Carlone – ABSENT)
Councillor Kelley once suggested this and it’s not such a crazy idea. On the other hand, I was pretty happy to recently have my neighborhood streets finally swept clear of debris, and I doubt that would have happened as effectively if vehicles were just tagged and not towed.
Order #16. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the City of Cambridge Law Department to review the above changes to the language of the Domestic Partnerships Ordinance and report back to the Council. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan
Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0
I have no idea why this proposal has come up now, but I do remember that some aspects of the Domestic Partnership Ordinance lost their impact with the legalization of same-sex marriages. Basically, once marriage was an available option to all it invalidated some of the benefits for unmarried partners. I am curious about the possible unintended consequences of the proposal in that "’Domestic partnership’ means the entity formed by two or more persons who meet the following criteria……" Hmm…., does that means I could form a tribe of unrelated persons who "are in a relationship of mutual support, caring and commitment" and declare my tribe to be a domestic partnership so that we could obtain a range of legal benefits? This could get really interesting.
Committee Report #1. A report of the Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee Meeting on Feb 19, 2020 to discuss amendments of the City Council’s Rules.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #2. A report Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee Meeting on Mar 12, 2020 to discuss the City Manager’s request to extend his contract.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
I don’t know when they’ll vote on a contract extension or what the term of that extension will be. The proposal initially floated was for a two year extension (which seems reasonable), but the revolutionaries seem to want to make it shorter so that they can get started right away on their interplanetary search for somebody as unaffiliated with Cambridge as possible and who will allow them to check all the necessary boxes. – Robert Winters
I will not be attending this meeting even if it goes forward on schedule. Whether or not the City comes up with some mechanism for public input relating to what would otherwise be public meetings, the simple truth is that it will be inadequate; and any city councillor who chooses to push any significant public policy agenda unrelated to the current emergency or basic maintenance of city affairs should reconsider his or her priorities/ethics. Now if this meeting actually does go forward as scheduled, here are some of the agenda items of significance:
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-20, regarding a response on coronavirus preparedness.
Order #1. Coronavirus mitigation. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Councillor E. Denise Simmons transmitting Coronavirus Preparation.
Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to take all necessary actions to protect the population, including, but not limited to, cancelling all non-essential events and gatherings, allowing staff to work from home when possible, providing visitor screening at senior living facilities, and preparing emergency medical facilities for treating respiratory infections. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui regarding COVID-19 Student Supports and Resources List.
These are the only agenda items that should even be addressed at this meeting.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $4,000,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account to support the Complete Streets Reconstruction Program and for repaving portions of streets that are part of the separated bicycle network.
Order #2. That the “2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance” be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for discussion and recommendation. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, transmitting comments on the 2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance.
Other than the expenditure for street repaving, none of these significant matters should be forwarded at this time. Many of the people who could be adversely impacted will simply not be willing to come to a public meeting at this time. In addition, any gathering of 25 or more people is prohibited under the current state of emergency.
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $7,250,000 for the reconstruction of Glacken Field and playground with an update on lighting. This is also in response to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-17.
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-66, regarding establishing a Young Adult Civic Unity Committee.
Glad to hear it.
Unfinished Business #3. That section 11.202(b) of Article 11.000, entitled SPECIAL REGULATIONS, of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge, be amended the table as follows: Jan 28, 2020 (Annual Adjustment) $19.10 per square foot (amended to $20.10) [Passed to a 2nd Reading on Feb 24, 2020, to be Ordained on or after Mar 8, 2020.]
If the inclination is to ordain this now, just do it and adjourn.
Applications & Petitions #2. A Zoning Petition has been received from Salvatore Zinno Vice President, BMR-Third LLC, to Amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by adding section 13.200 Planned Unit Development at Canal District Kendall PUD-CDK Amendment.
Applications & Petitions #5. A Zoning Petition Has been received from Tom Hartingson, requesting that the City Council Ordain the Zoning language set forth relative to the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay District.
I personally welcome both of these zoning petitions (though I have yet not reviewed all the details), but they can be referred and action delayed for the time being.
Order #3. That the City Council approve a Real Estate Transfer Fee Home Rule Petition. Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
There are competing bills in the state legislature. There are significant details yet to be worked out.
Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Inspectional Service Department to increase the fines for absentee property owners who continue to have violations stemming for rodent infestations. Councillor Toomey
I’m still interested in the previous Council order that called for negligent property owners to cover some of the costs of neighbors impacted by rodent infestations.
Order #5. That the City Council go on record stating its intent to have Cambridge be one of the pilot communities if Senate Bill 2553 passes. Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone
This is a pilot program of automated traffic enforcement, i.e. cameras catching drivers running red lights and committing other infractions. I’m just curious how this will fit into the current campaign against surveillance technologies. – Robert Winters
Here are the things I found interesting and/or horrifying:
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the Harvard Square Conservation District Study Committee report.
Unfinished Business #4. A Zoning Petition has been received from Suzanne P. Blier regarding Harvard Square Zoning Petition. [Passed to a Second Reading on Feb 18, 2020, to be Ordained on or after Mar 2, 2020 (deadline is Mar 10, 2020)]
It seems likely that this thoughtful zoning petition will be ordained this week – perhaps even unanimously. Councillor Carlone offered a few amendments and there may be others, but the core ideas in the petition are sound and the objections appear to be few.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $15,000,000 from Free Cash to the Affordable Housing Trust to assist in preserving affordability of units at Fresh Pond Apartments at 362 and 364 Rindge Avenue.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting information regarding preserving the affordability of the Fresh Pond Apartments. Mayor Siddiqui
The primary goal of the Affordable Housing Trust in recent years has been the preservation of existing affordable housing. This additional $15 million from Free Cash will be part of approx. $40 million to guarantee the long-term affordability of 504 apartments. That’s under $80,000 per apartment – a fraction of what it typically costs to create new housing units.
From the City Manager’s letter: "In 2009, the City identified 1,094 units at 10 privately-owned properties where affordability commitments were set to expire by 2021. Affordability has been successfully preserved at nine of these properties, including buildings that for decades have offered affordable housing options for residents in Harvard Square, Inman Square, the Port, Riverside, and West Cambridge. Reaching an agreement to preserve affordability of Fresh Pond Apartments caps our successful efforts to preserve every one of these affordable homes for current and future residents."
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the City of Cambridge retaining its AAA rating from the nation’s three major credit rating agencies.
This has become almost routine for Cambridge, and it says a lot about the steady hands on the tiller of municipal finance. That hand may have to be especially steady with the current membership of the City Council who have repeatedly shown their eagerness to spend without bound and tax to high heaven.
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on the proposed Eversource substation on Fulkerson Street.
Unfinished Business #5. A re-filed Zoning Petition has been received from Joseph T. Maguire of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. transmitting a proposed revised amendment to the zoning ordinance by creating the Grand Junction Pathway Overlay District. [Passed to a Second Reading on Feb 10, 2020, to be Ordained on or after Feb 24, 2020 (deadline is Mar 9, 2020)]
The alternate site proposed for the Eversource substation has now been revealed – a portion of the Blue Garage of Boston Properties between Broadway and Binney. The garage will need to be demolished to allow for the construction of the substation and replacement parking, and zoning relief will be needed to offset these costs by adding two new 400,000 square foot commercial buildings that will have to be approved under an amended Kendall Square Urban Renewal Plan (KSURP) and the MXD zoning district. In short, it’s not quite as simple as tossing up a few big transformers on a vacant piece of land.
The relocation of the electrical substation was the primary stumbling block for the Grand Junction Pathway Overlay District Petition, so if all goes well that will likely also be ordained at this meeting.
Order #4. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to confer with the Economic Development Division of the Community Development Department to prepare a report on any steps it has taken to work towards developing a Vacant Storefront Registration Policy. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
I don’t see any real down side to having a Vacant Storefront Registration Policy. In fact, it could provide a relative accurate inventory from which thoughtful people may be able to marry potential retailers to available sites. [This is one of the multiple roles that the recently established Central Square Business Improvement District (BID) plays.]
I do, however, worry that the City may find a way to lay a heavy hand on property owners who may have perfectly understandable reasons for having a vacancy. Gentle persuasion is better than the heavy hand. I still remember the asinine proposal from the City Council not long ago that vacant properties should be subjected to an onerous tax equivalent to the entire assessed value of the property over the course of two years. That would never have passed legal muster, but it serves as a reminder of the confiscatory mindset of some councillors.
Order #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct staff to begin including a “Racial Equity Impact Statement” on all relevant agenda items including, but not limited to, appointments, appropriations, ordinances, legal opinions, policies, procedures and regulations, beginning on Mar 9, 2020. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
This is pure insanity. While we can all agree that it is a laudable goal to seek racial and socioeconomic equity in many ways, this absurd proposal would require virtually every action undertaken by the City to be evaluated based on "racial equity impact." Apparently Councillors Zondervan, Simmons, and Sobrinho-Wheeler feel that the paving of roads, the purchasing of stationary supplies, decisions of what is or is not legal, where parking meters should or should not be located, what days street cleaning occurs, and pretty much everything else should all be evaluated based on racial criteria. Quite simply, it’s great to have equity-conscious goals, but requiring everything from the construction of a school building to the enforcement of traffic laws to the purchase of pencils to be judged based on race is ridiculous.
Order #6. City Council support for legislation that would allow for the adoption of fees on the transfer of real estate for use in creating new funding for affordable housing trusts, including H.2457, H.2552, and the consensus bill. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons
I am trying to imagine the cumulative impact of all the proposed zoning changes, earmarked revenue streams, and more that this City Council seems intent on permanently establishing. My sense is that all property taxes will grow faster, commercial development will have to accelerate to cover the costs of government largess, and we’ll drive out what is left of middle-income residents other than those who apply to City agencies for their housing.
Bringing in some additional revenue to supplement CPA funds for housing programs seems perfectly reasonable, but I have never been a fan of permanently earmarking funds for any one purpose. – Robert Winters
Here’s my first pass at the interesting stuff:
Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $92,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Police Extraordinary Expenditures account for the fit out of a new Police Reporting Station at 628 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square.
The new substation will be a welcome addition to this part of Central Square.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $200,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expense Account to fund a Bicycle Plan Update with Feasibility Analysis and Implementation Plan.
As the Manager’s communication says, "The 2015 Cambridge Bicycle Plan created a bicycle network vision, an aspirational plan for creating a high-quality bicycle infrastructure network on streets and paths in the city. The Plan did not include technical studies to evaluate space and operational constraints for each street segment to determine the feasibility of creating separated facilities in the short term." It’s important to highlight the fact that the Plan was never carved in stone and immutable. It was an aspiration, i.e. a Big Wish intended to address the general issue of bicycle safety and "comfort". Where much of this went wrong was in the decision to rush through a number of half-baked "quick build" projects. This latest expenditure could yield balanced, sensible (and probably more expensive) plans or just more of the same – depending, at least in part, on whether City staff proceed with open minds or pre-baked conclusions.
Manager’s Agenda #10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $150,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Finance Extraordinary Expenditures account to support a 12-month digital equity research initiative.
While the expressed purpose of this initiative is "to study and analyze gaps affecting the City’s low-income or otherwise disadvantaged population in use of the broadband internet", it also formally ends the Broadband Task Force. What the communication does not emphasize is that some proposals for a full municipal broadband system that could have had a very significant price tag and financial exposure for the City grew out of that Task Force – something that was not well-received by the City Manager. On the flip side, there may be ways in which such a system could pay for itself. That conversation will likely continue outside the confines of City boards.
Manager’s Agenda #11. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $5,000,000 from the Community Benefits Stabilization Fund to the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance account to be used: (1) for grant agreements with nonprofit organizations to address the City’s most pressing service needs, and (2) to enter into a contract with a Project Evaluator to work with the grant recipients as well as the Community Benefits Advisory Committee (CBAC), which is overseeing this effort.
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with a consultant service agency to provide evaluation services for 5 years from the date of the execution of the contract pursuant to G.L. c. 30B, §12b for the purpose of obtaining independent evaluation services to assess the use of community benefits funding by City-based nonprofit organizations in accordance with the Community Benefits Ordinance and the Guiding Principles of Community Benefits Funding.
While I claim no great understanding of this ordinance and its funding mechanisms, there are a few points worth making here. First, this was spawned by concerns about prior community benefits agreements associated with zoning proposals – generally upzoning – in which a property owner offered some benefit (such as the donation of the Foundry building or contributions to scholarship funds, community centers, etc.) to secure the necessary votes for the proposed zoning change. I believe the intention was to regularize this process so that it was not conducted as part of some relatively private understanding that yielded benefits to organizations favored by individual councillors. There is also the notion that agreements like this are a bit like purchasing zoning relief by sweetening the pot with cash. Zoning should be primarily driven by good planning rather than the extraction of financial benefits. Another concern that I have is that the universe of recipients of these "community benefits" now seems to be limited to subsidized housing and various social service agencies. One of the more significant things that grew out of the K2C2 deliberations several years ago was the understanding that "community beneifit" should also include things like placemaking and an improved retail environment. It would be a shame if those priorities were forgotten.
Order #2. That the City Manager work with the Fire Department to evaluate the existing capacity of fire stations in the Kendall Square area and whether a new fire station is needed, and if so, determining the feasibility of locating a plot of land for this use. Councillor Mallon, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Toomey
It’s worth noting that there used to be a fire station in Kendall Square at the intersection of Dock Street and Main Street. That station was sold by the City around 1999-2000 to be repurposed as a Bed & Breakfast/restaurant (now "The Kendall").
Order #3. Further Study Needed on First Street Garage. Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
This is sure to be a Big Deal in the months ahead with a lot of activism brewing in East Cambridge. It is worth again emphasizing that even if you have a 50-year brooding resentment about the Sullivan Courthouse being built in the first place, the First Street Garage was built, at least in part, to support the traffic associated with that building. The legal machinations over the development rights at the Courthouse site appear to all be over, but the preliminary plans were based on the ability to lease space in the First Street Garage or, if that was blocked politically, in the Galleria garage. What complicates this now is the possibility that the Cambridgeside Galleria complex may undergo significant re-envisioning which might involve a reduction in parking capacity. There are lots of moving parts in all of this.
Order #4. Rethink Approach to Envision Cambridge. Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux
This is sure to be a point of contention at the meeting. The Order seems to focus primarily on the public relations error of leading with just three recommendations which have not all been received with love and kisses. One could also argue that there were some underlying flaws in the Envision process itself – primarily its focus on a long list of ideas growing out of working committees rather than a unified vision for the future.
Committee Report #1. A communication was received from Paula Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Quinton Zondervan, Chair of the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee, for a public hearing held on Oct 16, 2018 to discuss CMA 2018 #196 and any other matter related to Jerry’s Pond.
One pet peeve that I harbor is the notion that hazardous sites should just be fenced off or otherwise sealed off for eternity rather than cured. This applies to the asbestos-laden Sullivan Courthouse building as well as Jerry’s Pond. I expressed much the same point of view years ago in suggesting that water from the Stony Brook system should be directed to the Muddy River in order to increase the flow. The response was that this might disturb toxins in the river bottom. A little disturbance may not be such a bad thing if one day those materials are removed. Sealing off a problem is not the ideal way to address a problem. – Robert Winters
This episode was broadcast on Sept 25, 2018 at 5:30pm. Topics: Charter Rights and Wrongs, opioid lawsuit, Sancta Maria salvation, zoning & housing affordability, property taxes, tax rates, tax classification, tax levy, assessments. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
This episode was broadcast on Sept 25, 2018 at 6:00pm. Topics: time travel, Middlesex Canal, Constellation Center and future possibilities, resident permit parking fees, street cleaning/towing, current zoning petitions. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
This episode was broadcast on Aug 28, 2018 at 5:30pm. Topics: Sept 4 Primary, Emerald Ash Borer. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
This episode was broadcast on Aug 28, 2018 at 6:00pm. Topics: new voting machines, MIT graduate student housing, new developments in Kendall Square, Alewife, Harvard Square. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
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