Thursday, April 29, 2021

Boston City Council Look At Preliminary Election, Early Voting, Participatory Budgeting, Student Debt & More

City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are some highlights from the  April 28, 2021 Boston City Council meeting:

VOTES

Date of the Preliminary Election: The Council voted 11-0 (Councilor Essaibi George abstaining) to approve an order moving the date of the Preliminary Election for this municipal year from September 21 to September 14, after a hearing where the Elections Department stated that it would be preferable to have more time to potentially process mail-in ballots. 

Chemical Crowd Control Agents and Kinetic Impact Projectiles: The Council voted 7-5 (Councilors Baker, Essaibi George, Flaherty, Flynn, and O’Malley opposed) to approve an ordinance sponsored by Councilors Arroyo and Campbell restricting the use of chemical crowd control agents and kinetic impact projectiles. After a hearing recently held in the Committee on Government Operations to discuss this matter, Chair Edwards recommended that this order ought to pass in a new draft.

Student Debt Cancellation Resolution: The Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution from Councilors Mejia and Arroyo calling on the federal government to cancel all student debt.

I AM Bill Resolution: The Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution from Councilors Essaibi-George and Edwards in support of the I AM Bill, a state legislative proposal that would expand access to disposable menstrual products in prisons, homeless shelters and public schools.

NEW FILES

Tracking Vacant Commercial Properties: Councilors Mejia and Bok filed an ordinance to establish systems for tracking vacant commercial properties in the City of Boston. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations. 

Early Voting Options: Councilor Arroyo filed a home-rule petition for Early Voting Options for City of Boston Municipal Elections. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations. 

Same-Day Voter Registration: Councilor Arroyo filed a home-rule petition to allow for Same-Day Voter Registration for City of Boston Municipal Elections. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations. 

Amending the City Charter: Councilor Edwards filed an order to amend the Charter of the City of Boston by submission of a question for approval by the voters to amend the process of creating and approving the municipal budget, allowing the Council to respond to public feedback with actions other than simply rejecting the budget. It would formally establish and allow for the expansion of the participatory budgeting process and allow the Council to offer more extensive oversight of the budget for Boston Public Schools. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations.

MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD

FY22 Budget: Councilor Bok reported back as Chair of the Committee on Ways & Means regarding hearings recently held to discuss the FY22 operating budget, including annual appropriations for departmental operations, the School Department, and for other post-employment benefits (OPEB), capital fund transfer appropriations, and the Capital Budget, including loan orders and lease-purchase agreements. (Remains in Committee)

UPCOMING HEARINGS (Streaming online at https://boston.gov/departments/city-council/watch-boston-city-council-tv

  • Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, May 5th at 12PM. 

  • Thursday, April 29th at 10AM: Hearing to discuss the FY22 Budget: Law, Arts & Culture, Tourism, Revolving Funds (Committee on Ways & Means)

  • Thursday, April 29 at 2PM: Hearing to discuss the FY22 Budget: Capital overview and Public Facilities Department (Committee on Ways & Means)

  • Friday, April 30th at 10AM: Working session to discuss the FY22 Budget: Boston Police Department,  Environment, Conservation Commission, Landmarks (Committee on Ways & Means)

  • Friday, April 30th at 1:30PM: Hearing on community voice in impact advisory groups (Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation)

  • Monday, May 3 at 1PM: Hearing on the Conservation Commission receiving a property to be included as an addition to the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild (Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation)

  • Tuesday, May 4 at 2PM: Working session to discuss the FY22 Budget: Boston Public Schools Commitment #1, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, Youth Engagement and Employment (Committee on Ways & Means

For complete notes of Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com to sign up to receive Council Notes automatically.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

City of Boson Budget Process Allows Public Participation

The City Council reviews the Mayor’s budget proposal for approximately six weeks. This process is run by the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Councilor Kenzie Bok. This year, the process will involve approximately 30 public hearings, during which time the Council will hear from the departments that comprise the greatest percentage of the operating budget, as well as a few smaller departments. These hearings will also cover revolving funds and other budget-related appropriations. This year, the Council review process will also include working sessions.

All the Council hearings and working sessions will be conducted virtually via Zoom, and will be livestreamed online. The public is encouraged to watch all the hearings and working sessions via the livestream or broadcast on Xfinity Channel 8, RCN Channel 82, and Fios Channel 964.

While participation in working sessions is limited to Councilors only (with the exception of the Community Working Session), public testimony is welcome and encouraged at the hearings. 

Whether you are interested in funding for the Boston Public Schools, Office of Arts & Culture, the Environment (Climate Ready implementation or Landmarks for example), Roads and Transportation, Affordable Housing, there is a budget meeting for you. View the budget hearing calendar and ways to give public comment (testimony).

FPNA April Neighborhood Gathering Features You, Mayoral & City Council Candidates Plus Love Your Block

Join FPNA's Neighborhood Gathering on Tuesday, April 27th at 6pm and share ideas & neighborhood news. In addition, hear from District 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn, Mayoral candidate City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George and Councilor-At-Large candidate Erin Murphy. 

FPNA is also pleased to announce that Saturday, May 15th is Love Your Block Neighborhood Clean Up Day. The perfect excuse to safely spend time outdoors with neighbors while making the neighborhood shine. Volunteer signup.

We want to hear from you. Please bring your ideas and questions. If you would like to share them in advance, please contact FPNA

You are invited to a 
Fort Point Seaport
Neighborhood Gathering


Tuesday, April 27, 2021
6 pm to 8 pm
Zoom Sign In


featuring

Our C-6 Community Service Officers

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn
District 2 Updates


Love Your Block Volunteer Clean Up Day
Saturday, May 15, 2020
10 am - 1 pm
Wormwood Park (A & Wormwood Streets)


Neighborhood Open Discussion
We Want To Hear From You




Mayoral Candidate Spotlight
Boston City Councilor At- Large Annissa Essaibi-George


with
Committee Updates

Cannabis, Development & Transportation

&

Erin Murphy
City Councilor-At-Large Candidate


*** Become A Member Today Now accepting Venmo ***

 
Love Your Block
Neighborhood Volunteer Day
Saturday, May 15 from 10 am - 1 pm

 
With the phased opening of our neighborhood, our first spring outdoor event will be a cleanup. We hope that as Covid restrictions change, we will have an opportunity to also sponsor other beautification events like plantings. Please join your neighbors and sign up to clean up our neighborhood. Tools will be provided and don't forget your mask. 

originally published 04.21.21

Monday, April 26, 2021

Mark Your Calendars. Be Ready. Be In the Know.

04/26/21: Updated with Friday, April 30 Community Voices in Impact Advisory Groups Hearing. 

Our neighborhood is growing. Mark your calendars for neighborhood happenings from vaccination appointments to cannabis and community grant information sessions to life sciences developments in the Raymond Flynn Marine Park. 

Upcoming Happenings

Saturday, April 24: Covid19 Vaccinations Available 9 am - 5 pm at Iron Workers Local 7, 195 Old Colony Ave. Appointment required. More details.

Monday, April 26: Boston Cannabis Board Informational Session 1 pm covering application process of a cannabis establishment including community engagement process plus new MA cannabis delivery license types.

Monday, April 26:City Council Committee on Ways and Means Community Working Session 4 pm on dockets #0524-0531, FY22 budget: What are your questions on the City budget?

Tuesday, April 27: FPNA Fort Point Seaport Neighborhood Gathering with District 2 Councilor Ed Flynn, Mayoral candidate Councilor-At-Large Annissa Essaibi-George and At-Large candidate Erin Murphy and your ideas. R.S.V.P.

Tuesday, April 27: 24 Drydock Avenue Public Meeting 6 pm - 7:30 pm for proposed demolition of a 3 story building for an 8 story mixed used building of Life Sciences, marine industrial and supportive uses in the Raymond Flynn Marine Park. A meeting recording will be available on BPDA project page

Wednesday, April 28: Parcels O & P (Raymond Flynn Marine Park) Public Meeting 7pm - 8 pm 1 demolition of the existing Au Bon Pain headquarters on Parcel O to construct a new, approximately 219,000 square foot life sciences/research and development building, and an approximately 9,000 square foot adaptive reuse of the existing building on Parcel P to serve as amenity space for the tenants of the new life sciences/research and development building. 

Wednesday, April 28: Community Preservation Act (CPA) Informational Meeting: 6 pm. CPA grants provide funds for capital improvements to historic, open space, public recreation and affordable housing. R.S.V.P.

Friday, April 30 Community Voice in Impact Advisory Groups Hearing, 1:30 pm. Impact Advisory Groups provide advice and feedback on large development projects via BPDA Article 80 process. Public is welcome to provide testimony (comments). 


Wednesday, May 12: Boston Cannabis Board Hearing 1 pm for a recreational pot shop at 324 A St (Blue Dragon site) by Keltic Green. Keltic Green requested a deferral from their April hearing date. 
Neighborhood updates, questions or concerns, please contact FPNA

originally published 04.23021

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Just In: Vaccinations Available This Saturday In Southie


COVID-19 vaccinations will be available this Saturday, April 24th from 9 am to 5 pm at the Iron Workers Local 7 Union located at 195 Old Colony Avenue. Schedule your appointment. Please note that all appointments are for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Boston City Council Looks At Budget, Housing, Transportation, Art & CPA Grants Plus More

City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are some highlights from March 31, April 14 and April 21, 2021 Boston City Council meetings: 

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR

FY2022 Annual Appropriation and Tax Order: The Council received the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 Recommended Budget for the City of Boston, including $3.75 billion for the Operating Budget and $3.2 billion for the FY22-26 Capital Plan. Over the coming weeks, the City Council will hold a series of hearings to discuss the proposed budget before holding a vote to approve or reject it. (Placed on file)

FY2022 Annual Appropriation for the School Department: The Council received the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget for Boston Public Schools of $1.29 billion. This budget will be supplemented by federal COVID-19 recovery funding through The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds and the American Rescue Plan. This budget has already been approved by a vote in the Boston School Committee. Over the coming weeks, the City Council will hold a series of hearings to discuss the proposed school budget before holding a vote to approve or reject it. (Placed on file)

Environment Conservation Commission Revolving Fund: The Council received an order authorizing up to $50,000 for the purpose of securing outside consultants to aid in the review of proposed projects to the Commission protecting local wetland and promoting climate change adaptation, to be credited with receipts from fees imposed by the Commission. (Placed on file)

Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture Revolving Fund: The Council received an order authorizing up to $120,000 to purchase goods and services to support public art, to be credited with receipts for easements within the public way granted by the Public Improvement Commission; and up to $30,000 to purchase goods and services to support the operation of the Strand Theatre, to be credited with receipts from rental fees. (Placed on file)

NEW FILES

Short Term Rentals Ordinance: Councilors Flynn, Bok and Edwards called for a hearing to discuss updates on the status and enforcement of the Short Term Rentals Ordinance. In 2018, I introduced the original Short Term Rentals ordinance language in partnership with Councilor Edwards, which mandates that only units that are owner-occupied are eligible to be short-term rentals and requires that operators register their units, apply for a license annually, and notify their abutters. However, advocates and civic organizations have expressed concerns that corporate actors are exploiting a loophole in the ordinance to convert their rentals into executive suites, which are exempt from the ordinance, and that these conversations are being approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Housing & Community Development.

MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD

Housing and Community Development Grants: Councilor Edwards reported back as Chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development regarding several grants from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, to be administered by the Department of Neighborhood Development, to fund community and economic development programs, the creation of affordable housing units by nonprofits and for-profit developers, rental assistance and services for persons with HIV/AIDS, housing stability and homelessness prevention, and services and housing to the homeless. (Passed all five dockets)

Zoning Relief for Affordable Housing: I reported back as Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation regarding a hearing recently held to discuss zoning relief for 100% affordable and deeply affordable housing projects. At the hearing, we heard from representatives from the BPDA and DND about potential tools for zoning relief, including easing requirements for parking, open space, and setbacks; density bonuses that would allow increased height and scale in exchange for affordability; and an expedited review process and waived fees. (Remains in Committee)

Inclusionary Development Policy: Councilor Edwards reported back as Chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development on a hearing recently held to discuss the state of affordable housing and Boston’s Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP). The current IDP requires housing developments with 10 or more units to place income restrictions on 13% of units to ensure affordability, but these income restrictions are based on an Area Median Income (AMI) that does not reflect actual household incomes in the City of Boston. At the hearing, we heard from advocates calling for a change to IDP to increase the proportion of affordable units, enact specific protections for lower income residents, require permanent affordability, and lower the unit threshold to trigger IDP, among other proposals. (Remains in Committee)

GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS

  • $8,600,000 in the form of an appropriation from the City’s Capital Grant Fund, transferred from the Parking Meter Fund, to fund various transportation and public realm improvements aligned with the goals of Go Boston 2030. (Placed on file)

  • $2,000,000 in the form of an appropriation from the City’s Capital Grant Fund, transferred from revenue received from the Commonwealth Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Trust Fund, to address the impact of transportation network services on municipal roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure. (Placed on file)

  • $2,051,903 in the form of a grant for the Boston Cultural Fund, awarded by the Boston Redevelopment Authority to be administered by the Office of Arts and Culture, to fund cultural spaces, organizations, programs, artists and activities in the South End, with the goal of preserving and enhancing cultural activity. (Assigned to the Committee on Arts, Culture and Special Events)

  • $25,500,374 in the form of a Community Preservation Act appropriation order for the Fiscal Year 2021 Preservation Fund revenues for community preservation projects at the recommendations of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee (Passed)

  • $38,685,686 in the form of the Federal Fiscal Year 2020 Continuum of Care grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to support programs that provide services and housing to the homeless (Referred to the Committee on Housing and Community Development)

UPCOMING HEARINGS (Streaming online at https://boston.gov/departments/city-council/watch-boston-city-council-tv

  • Next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, April 28st at 12PM. 

  • Wednesday, April 21st at 1PM: Hearing on off-leash dog recreation spaces in the City of Boston (Committee on City & Neighborhood Services)

  • Thursday, April 22nd at 9:30AM: Hearing on an ordinance on surveillance oversight and accountability (Committee on Government Operations)

  • Thursday, April 22nd at 2PM: Hearing on expanding access for minority business (Committee on Small Business & Workforce Development)

  • Monday, April 26th at 10AM: Hearing on the FY22 budget (Committee on Ways & Means)

  • Monday, April 26th at 4PM: Community working session on the FY22 budget – Administration and Finance overview (Committee on Ways & Means)

  • Tuesday, April 27th at 10AM: Hearing on the FY22 budget – Boston Public Schools overview (Committee on Ways & Means)

  • Tuesday, April 27th at 2PM: Hearing on the FY22 budget - BPS school budgets (Committee on Ways & Means)

  • Wednesday, April 28th at 5PM: Hearing on the FY22 budget – public testimony priorities for an equitable recovery (Committee on Ways & Means)

For complete notes of Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com to sign up to receive Council Notes automatically.

Monday, April 12, 2021

MCCA Considering Seaport East Boston Ferry Service

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), which oversees the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), currently runs a ferry service between the South Boston Seaport and North Station on behalf of a group of participating companies who fund the service. 

This privately funded service serves both corporate and public commuters on a Monday through Friday schedule. The MCAA is evaluating a potential expansion of the service, and is using the results of this survey to gauge interest of both companies and individuals on a service connecting East Boston to the South Boston Seaport.  

You may have received a mailer with the above text and QR code to the survey.  To complete the survey, you may also click on this survey link


Saturday, April 10, 2021

Gear Up Kids: Bike Raffle, Repair & Fun Day

On Tuesday, April 20, 2021 from 11 am to 2 pm, the C-6 Community Service Office will be partnering with the Condon Community Center to run a "Bike Repair & Fun Day" for children ages 7-12. This event takes place during school vacation week and will take place in the newly renovated park area behind the Condon. 

Don't miss it. They will be raffling off several new bikes and other prizes. If you have a bike, there will be bike tune ups, an obstacle course and ride, helmet giveaway and Otto pizza lunch, cookies, and music.

Covid-19 safety procedures will be followed and masks/PPE will be provided.

Thursday, April 08, 2021

Fort Point Landmarks April 2021 Meeting

04/08/21: updated with links to presentations. 

The FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on:

Thursday, April 8, 2021
6:00 PM

This hearing will be held virtually and NOT in person. 
You can participate in this hearing by going to our Zoom meeting link 
or by calling 929-205-6099 and entering meeting id 861 8552 9275 #
You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.gov 


I.  Violations

APP # 21.0754 FPC   253 Summer Street
Applicant: COJE Management Group
Proposed Work: Ratify a patio expansion, including the installation of pavers, planters, lighting, furniture, and associated landscaping (Violation # VIO.21.009).

II DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 21.0709 FPC  33/41 Farnsworth Street
Applicant: Matthew S. Wessling
Proposed Work: Remove select deteriorated fire shutter pins. At areas where fire shutter pins have previously been removed, install new brick. See additional items under Administrative Review.

III Administrative Review

APP # 21.0709 FPC          33/41 Farnsworth Street 
At all facades, restore mortar joints using mortar that matches the historic mortar joints in terms of color, texture, joint width, tooling, and profile; selectively replace deteriorated brick as needed with new brick to match the historic in terms of color, texture, size, and profile; remove copper cornice/ flashing and replace with new copper; replace window sealant joints. Paint and/ or recoat previously coated metal/steel and concrete. See additional items under Design Review.

APP # 21.0755 FPC          51 Melcher Street: At the areas of the Melcher Street, Necco Court, and courtyard facades, replaced window perimeter sealant in kind, perform masonry spot pointing with new mortar to match historic in terms of color, texture, profile, joint width, and tooling, perform stone sill patching with mortar to match the historic in terms of color, texture and profile, and selective brick replacement with new brick to match historic in terms of color, texture, size, and profile.

IV Ratification of 3/11/2021 FPCLDC Public Hearing Minutes

V Staff Updates

VI Projected Adjournment 7:00 pm

FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION
David Berarducci, Susan Goganian, John Karoff, Lynn Smiledge, Vacancy
Alternates: Thomas Rodde, Vacancy

originally published 3.31.21