Committee Report - Leg Matters - 5-7-15 — File 199147

Legislative Matters Committee Page 1 of 2 Printed 5/14/2015 May 7, 2015 REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE MATTERS COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Mary Jo Rossetti Chair Present Mark Niedergang Vice Chair Present Katjana Ballantyne Ward Seven Alderman Present Matthew McLaughlin Ward One Alderman Absent William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Others present: George Proakis - OSPCD, Matt Buckley - Law, David Shapiro - Law, Robert Collins - Law, Oliver Sellers-Garcia - OSE, Leanna Barlow - SomerStat, Lori Massa - COS Chairman Rossetti informed those present that due to the upcoming budget hearings, the next Legislative Matters Committee meeting may not be until September. 1. Approval of the April 16, 2015 Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED 198251: Assistant City Solicitor submitting a proposed Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance. Mr. Sellers-Garcia spoke about various plastic bag ordinances around the country, noting bag thickness, fees, enforcement and the cost of transitioning to paper by city and state, and explained why the ban is set in various areas around a certain thickness. Discussions were held on the single use bag costs, plastic, take out bags, paper, paper with handles and 100% recycled paper bags. Mr. Mackey's (Chamber of Commerce) request from April 2nd was redistributed at the meeting. Alderman Niedergang distributed the Mass Legislature’s House Bill #739, "An Act Relative to Plastic Reduction". Alderman White suggested that the Solicitor's Office provide a draft ordinance for the community to speak on at a future public hearing. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198630: Clint Richmond submitting comments re: the plastic bag ban.

Legislative Matters Committee Page 2 of 2 Printed 5/14/2015 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198393: That the City Solicitor draft an ordinance requiring an institutional master plan for any institution in Somerville. Mr. Proakis distributed information on institutional master plans (IMP) in various municipalities and Mr. Glavin suggested there be more exploration and community involvement. Alderman Ballantyne relayed the feelings from the Ward 7 community that there is a lack of respect from Tufts and she believes in communication and collaboration and feels that there should be something in writing to be reviewed. Mr. Proakis stated that Tufts submits an institutional master plan annually and believes he has copies of them since 1990. He noted that the document does not state any future development. Alderman Ballantyne's motion that the City Solicitor draft an ordinance under option 3, (of the Planning Staff memo, Dated May 7, 2015), requiring that IMPs get home rule petition approval from the legislature, was approved. Alderman Ballantyne would like the Legislative Matters Committee to drive the process to get results. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 197785: Proposing an Anti-Nepotism Ordinance. Mr. Shapiro, Mr. Collins and the committee reviewed the draft and made additional changes. The item was passed with the proposed amendments. RESULT: APPROVED AS AMENDED