City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are a few highlights from January 27, 2021 City Council meeting.
VOTES
Annual Homeless Census Resolution: The Council voted to adopt a resolution filed
by Councilors Essaibi-George and Flynn recognizing the annual homeless census.
This year will mark the 21st Homeless Census, an annual Point-In-Time count of
individuals and families staying in emergency shelter, transitional housing, or
domestic violence shelter programs. The resolution recognizes the critical
importance of the Census results and redoubles the Council’s commitment to
further expanding housing stability resources, fostering the development of
affordable housing, and ending homelessness across the City and
Commonwealth.
World Wetlands Day
Resolution: We
voted to adopt a resolution filed by Councilors Essaibi-George and O’Malley
recognizing February 2, 2021 as World Wetlands Day. Wetlands are habitats for
40% of the world’s species of flora and fauna, minimize flooding, sequester
carbon, and provide food and income for billions of people. This resolution
recognizes the importance of Boston’s inland and coastal wetlands and
celebrates ongoing wetland conservation efforts.
Condominium Conversion Protections: The Council voted to approve the
reauthorization of protections for tenants in condominium conversion situations
through March 2021. Current conditions in the City continue to constitute an
acute rental housing emergency due to the high prices of condominiums and
rents, the high cost of new housing construction, and the reduction of rental
housing stock through the conversion of rental housing units into condominiums
or cooperatives.
MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD
Waiving Potential Special Election: Councilor Edwards as Chair of the
Committee on Government Operations reported back on yesterday’s hearing on the
proposed home rule petition to waive the provision in the Boston City Charter
to require a special election for Mayor if a vacancy occurs before March 5,
2021. She noted that the Committee will host a working session later this week
and aim to bring the legislation before the Council for a vote at next week’s
meeting. This matter will remain in the Committee on Government Operations, and
a working session is scheduled for January 29th at 2PM.
NEW FILES
Equitable & Accessible Vaccine Distribution Ordinance: I filed an ordinance to require equitable
distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, including at least one site in every
residential zip code of the City, with hours including weekends, evenings, and
early mornings to accommodate all workers. The ordinance would require the
Health and Human Services Cabinet to work with the Boston Public Health
Commission, health care providers and pharmacies to open a vaccination site in
every neighborhood, create a single online interface for appointment
scheduling, and issue weekly reports on vaccination sites and the demographics
of Boston residents receiving vaccinations. The matter was assigned to the
Committee on Government Operations for a hearing.
Zoning Relief for 100% Affordable and Deeply Affordable
Housing: Councilors Bok and
O’Malley called for a hearing regarding zoning relief for 100% affordable and
deeply affordable projects. Nearly half of Boston residents are rent-burdened,
with more than 30% of their incomes going towards housing costs; more than
50,000 families are on the waiting list for a Boston Housing Authority unit;
and a growing number of Boston residents are vulnerable to eviction. In this
context, affordable housing projects – such as the joint project proposed
by the Pine Street Inn and The Community Builders – are frequently delayed by
lawsuits, which could be mitigated by a zoning code amendment for zoning relief
for 100% affordable and deeply affordable projects. The matter was assigned to
the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation.
Commercial Vacancies: Councilor Mejia called for a hearing to discuss commercial
vacancies in Boston. Pre-pandemic, the average commercial vacancy rate was
around 2.2%, and the average office space vacancy rate was 7%, a near-historic
low. As commercial vacancies dropped, the average cost of rent in these spaces
increased, presenting barriers for small businesses and entrepreneurs. As
COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, we must think critically about how to address
barriers to accessing commercial real estate and create opportunities for
aspiring small business owners. This matter was assigned to the Committee on
Small Business and Workforce Development.
Permitting Residential Kitchens Resolution: Councilor Mejia proposed an ordinance to
establish guidelines for permitting retail residential kitchens, following a
Council hearing held in October 2020. Entrepreneurs without access to the
capital needed to start a brick-and-mortar business often get started in their
home, sometimes without the requisite permits. Cities across Massachusetts have
codified cottage food operations in their city codes to give food entrepreneurs
a leg up in a volatile market and help them supply culturally relevant foods to
their neighborhoods. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Government
Operations.
Greenbelt Protection Overlay District: Councilor O’Malley proposed a text
amendment for the Greenbelt Protection Overlay District (GPOD), intended to
protect the open space and aesthetic character of certain areas of the City.
The proposed text amendment would add a GPOD for the West Roxbury side of
Allandale Street. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government
Operations.
Net-Zero-Carbon Requirements for New Buildings: Councilor O’Malley called for a hearing to
discuss the phases of implementing net-zero-carbon requirements for all new
buildings in the City of Boston, including commercial, industrial, and large
residential and small residential buildings. The City has committed to
achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and buildings contribute 75% of Boston’s
greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, Mayor Walsh passed an Executive Order
requiring that all new municipal building construction be low-energy and
fossil-fuel-free, and the BPDA plans to lead a public process to develop new
zoning requirements for privately-owned buildings and a timeline for
implementation. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Planning,
Development, and Transportation.
Solar Panels on Municipal Parking Lots and Buildings: Councilor O’Malley called for a hearing
regarding the installation of solar panels on municipal parking lots and
buildings. The City owns and maintains 32 municipal parking lots, many of which
have the potential for solar paneling, which could create long-term savings,
local jobs generation, and local development in the solar and renewable energy
industry. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Environment, Resiliency
and Parks.
Green and Social Bonds: Councilor Bok and I called for a hearing regarding green and
social bonds. In December 2020, the City of Boston issued its first series of
Green and Social Bonds, amounting $60 million to fund climate resilience
infrastructure and affordable housing projects. Climate resilience requires not
only physical infrastructure, but also investments to reduce social
vulnerability, including housing instability and evictions. The City of Boston
has maintained a AAA bond rating since 2014, and its debt servicing
expenditures regularly fall well below the city’s debt affordability limit,
presenting an opportunity to leverage green and social bonds to fund capital
projects for green and social housing. This matter was assigned to the
Committee on Post-Audit.
Internet Access and Digital Equity: Councilors Flynn, Mejia, and Bok called
for a hearing to discuss internet access and digital equity. Internet access is
more critical now than ever, and the City has partnered with Verizon to expand
its fiber optic network to offer high speed broadband internet service to the
entire City. However, some areas of the city are still underserved, and lack of
competition can make it difficult for families to find affordable service. Some
cities are exploring the idea of municipal broadband, where local governments
invest and build their own internet infrastructure. This matter was assigned to
the Committee on City and Neighborhood Services.
Water Rescue Infrastructure: Councilors Flynn and Edwards called for a hearing to
discuss water rescue infrastructure, including water rescue equipment and water
safety infrastructure. Residents in the Fort Point area have advocated for a
life saving ring to be installed at Fort Point Pier and near public docks in
case of accidents. This matter was assigned to the Committee on City and
Neighborhood Services.
Expansion of the Boston Emergency Services Team: Councilor Essaibi-George called for a hearing
regarding the expansion of the Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST), which is
made up of mobile crisis clinicians in a partnership between the Boston Medical
Center, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the Boston Police Department.
The matter was assigned to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.
COVID-19 & Recovery Services: Councilor Essaibi-George called for a
hearing regarding the impact of COVID-19 on recovery services. The pandemic has
created additional complications for all service and care programs, with detox
services being temporarily closed after possible exposure to coronavirus.
Residents struggling with substance use disorder cannot be left behind during
the pandemic. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Public Health.
Opioid Crisis: Councilor Essaibi-George called for a hearing regarding
the opioid crisis, to review a collaborative, inter-departmental approach to
increasing funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery services; exploring
the feasibility of a Public Health Surge targeting major encampments; reporting
findings from previous visits to Supervised Injection Facilities and to service
providers in Philadelphia. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Public
Health.
Protections for Tenants Facing Displacement: Councilor Edwards proposed an ordinance
extending and enhancing protections for tenants facing displacement by
condominium or cooperative conversion. This legislation would require landlords
to notify tenants of plans to convert housing accommodation, provide relocation
benefits, offer assistance in securing comparable housing for elderly,
disabled, and low and moderate income tenants, and offer tenants the right to
purchase the unit. It also requires landlords to obtain a conversion permit
from the Inspectional Services Department. This matter was assigned to the
Committee on Government Operations.
Affordable Housing and Jobs Training Exactions: Councilor Edwards called for a hearing to
review a text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code relative to affordable
housing and jobs training exactions. Governor Baker recently signed legislation
authorizing the City to update its linkage program and adopt inclusionary
zoning, but the newly enacted legislation requires the Boston Redevelopment
Authority and the Boston Zoning Commission to annually adjust linkage fees to
match changes in the Consumer Price Index each year. This matter was assigned
to the Committee on Government Operations.
UPCOMING HEARINGS (Streaming online at https://boston.gov/
Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, February 3rd, at 12PM.
