Committee Report - Leg Matters - 8-20-15 — File 199720

Legislative Matters Committee Page 1 of 3 Printed 8/27/2015 August 20, 2015 REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE MATTERS COMMITTEE Meeting as a Committee of the Whole 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 Present William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Maryann M. Heuston Ward Two Alderman Absent Robert J. McWatters Ward Three Alderman Absent Tony Lafuente Ward Four Alderman Present Rebekah L. Gewirtz Ward Six Alderman Absent Dennis M. Sullivan Alderman At Large Present John M. Connolly Alderman At Large Present Others present: Frank Wright - Law, Matt Buckley - Law, David Shapiro - Law, George Proakis - OSPCD, Oliver Sellers-Garcia - OSE. Next Committee meeting scheduled for September 3, 2015. 1. Approval of the May 7, 2015 Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED 198251: Assistant City Solicitor submitting a proposed Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance. Members discussed this issue and raised questions about the underlying purpose of the proposed ordinance, its effect on smaller produce bags used at grocery stores, enforcement responsibility, definitions within the proposed ordinance, compostable plastic bags, reusable bags and bag specifications. Alderman Connolly requested report of impact, if any, from communities with this ban in effect. Alderman Ballantyne requested that samples of the various bags in question be available for the committee the next time this item is discussed. Mr. Buckley will report back to the committee on the discrepancies of some of the definitions of the city’s proposal vs. Representative Provost’s.

Legislative Matters Committee Page 2 of 3 Printed 8/27/2015 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198393: That the City Solicitor draft an ordinance requiring an institutional master plan for any institution in Somerville. Mr. Proakis discussed the proposed IMP by the City of Cambridge (adopted 1979). Boston is the only other known district to have enacted these Plans (blanket exemption of 40A). Alderman Connolly inquired about the Dover Amendment and Mr. Shapiro replied that the proposed plan would override the Dover Amendment. Members inquired whether the plan should be narrowed for political reasons and if it would cover health care companies that are not hospitals. Religious institutions would not be held to this Legislation. The committee discussed reasons why the plan is important for the city. Mr. Shapiro will prepare a revised document for consideration by the Committee for submission to State Legislature requesting a Home Rule. If authorized, the BOA would then work with the Administration to put our detailed Ordinance in place. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199267: That the City Solicitor draft an ordinance that institutional master plans must require home rule petition approval from the Legislature (per a 5/7/15 Planning Staff memo). See 198393 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198414: Requesting approval of an Administrative Code pursuant to the City Charter. Solicitor Wright discussed the history of the Administrative Code, i.e. Home Rule petition passed in 2012 enabling Somerville to establish an Administrative Code. Members expressed desire to closely review each page of recommendation as presented by Administration. In preparation of this, Solicitor Wright will highlight changes and reasoning for such change. He will review with his staff the anticipated timeline for presentation back to the Committee. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198398: That this Board's Committee on Legislative Matters review the current pervious surfaces ordinances for their effectiveness and sufficiency. In follow-up to last meeting this item was discussed (April 16), Ald. Rossetti asked for the report of consultant as contracted by Capital Projects Manager last Spring to assist in DEP Storm Water Ordinance requirement. No information was supplied in this regard this evening. Mr. Proakis will investigate and report back to the Chair within the week. Mr. Shapiro reported on the number of permits pulled and stated that no fines were issued. Members were informed that paving contractors are not registered with the city.

Legislative Matters Committee Page 3 of 3 Printed 8/27/2015 Alderman Lafuente’s motion that the Supervisor of Inspectional Services and the Director of Engineering appear before the Legislative Matters Committee, at its next meeting, to discuss the failure of paving contractors to register with the city, was approved. Mr. Proakis questioned if the City was currently measuring the % correctly, i.e. Should we in fact instead be measuring the ground space, without the bldg. space. He additionally stated the current Ordinance addresses neighborhoods, but not large building sites. Following lengthy discussion, he requested time to task his staff to model sites and deliver a report. The Committee agreed to continue discussion late September. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE