FPNA October 30 Gathering Features Climate Ready Fort Point & Seaport

Join the Fort Point Neighborhood Association
for

A Fort Point Seaport Neighborhood Gathering 

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

6 pm - 8 pm

R.S.V.P.  required

Boston Children's Museum

308 Congress St (business entrance)

5th floor conference room

featuring

City of Boston's

Coastal Resilience (Climate Ready) Report

for

 Fort Point & Seaport 

Richard McGuinness & Chris Busch
Boston Planning & Development Agency


Alisha Pegan
Office of Environment, Energy & Open Space

&

Nick Armata
Boston Landmarks Commission

&

Amy Schofield
Boston Water & Sewer Commission

Executive Summary Report

Full South Boston Coastal Resilience Report

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originally posted 10.17.18

GE Innovation Point October 2018 Construction Update

In case you missed it, there is a lot going this October at GE's Innovation Point from advancements to the Harborwalk to the Fort Point Pier (GE public dock) to the historic NECCO buildings.

·         The first phase of the Harborwalk construction will complete this month with pedestrian traffic relocated onto the permanent sidewalk in the phase 1 area.  The sidewalk has been placed, and the loam is in place waiting for the plants to arrive and for the final transitions to the existing parking lot and bollards to be placed.   

·         The balance of the Harborwalk reconstruction, Phase 2, from the trailers to Necco Ct. began and will continue through the end of 2018.  The existing dock has been revised to meet the new sidewalk elevation and excavation is underway to grade the site for the new sidewalk.  Light foundations and foundations for the new overlooks will be constructed, followed by framing and deck construction.  The temporary walkway for that phase is in use.  Temporary access to the dock is also maintained daily.  Landscaping and certain plantings will be completed in the early spring of 2019 to meet planting season requirements of the plants. 

·         Structural steel for the glass enclosure connecting the two buildings has been erected.  Preparations are underway to place the concrete slab on the steel deck for the 2^nd through 5^th floors of the glass enclosure.

·         Structural steel work to construct the mezzanine level inside of the east building will commence this month. 

·         The masonry walls at the 5^th floor of the west building are being modified to receive the new structural steel for the 6^th floor and roof.  A temporary roof membrane has been placed on the 5^th floor concrete slab to keep the balance of the building dry while the new roof structure is constructed.  Erection of the 6^th floor steel and new roof steel has commenced with work on the columns to support the deck underway.

·         All concrete slabs in the west building have been placed.   The timber beams, girders and deck have been restored on all floors in the west building.  Rough-in of interior walls and completion of interior masonry restoration is underway.

·         The 1^st floor deck slab was placed in the east building.  The old first floor has been removed and the column encasement is complete with preparations underway of the existing exterior masonry walls to receive the structural steel supporting the mezzanine level.

·         The placement of timber beams, girders and deck around the passenger elevator and freight elevator in the east building is continuing, tying the building masonry exterior back to the core in preparation for structural slabs to be placed on each floor of the east building.   The steel bracing for the exterior walls is in place and demolition of the existing masonry stair tower and old freight elevator shaft is underway and will continue for the rest of the month.

·         Initial electrical, mechanical and plumbing rough-in is nearly complete in the crawlspace of the west building and is underway in the crawlspace of the east building.  Construction of new ductwork and piping risers continues in the cores of both the west and east buildings. 

·         The pile cap for the new column to support the bridge across Necco Ct is complete and is protected by a temporary plywood enclosure.  Fabrication of materials for the bridge reconstruction is underway.

·         Cutting and repointing of the exterior masonry façades continues on both buildings.  Repair and replacement of damaged brick is performed as part of the restoration process.  Mast climbers will continue to be moved around the building as the masonry restoration progresses.  Cutting and repointing of masonry will continue for a couple months.  Washing of the facades will be performed once the masonry restoration is completed after mortar has cured for the required duration.

·         The construction of the new large openings in the south and west faces of the first floor of the west building continues.   Once the opening is made, steel framing is placed supporting the existing masonry wall and then the masonry is reconstructed around the steel frame.  The work on the large openings will continue for a couple months. 

·         The preparation of existing window openings in both buildings is underway to restore masonry and provide the blocking necessary to receive the new windows.  Waterproofing and caulking is being placed in the masonry openings to prepare them to receive the windows.  Windows have been delivered to a nearby location off-site and are being staged for installation.

·         The crane is supporting the erection of the structural steel for the roof and the new 6^th floor on the west building.  The crane also continues to support placement of timber beams and girders, demolition of the stair and elevator shaft and placement of the mechanical and plumbing risers.  The crane will remain on site through most of the 2018 construction season.

·         Waterproofing on the west side of the west building will be completed shortly and allow for construction of the balance of the transformer yard.  Once the remaining transformer yard retaining walls are completed the final transformer will be placed by Eversource to provide permanent power to the buildings.  In preparation for that, work on the main electrical room inside the building is underway.  GE and its contractors will continue to coordinate the work in Necco Ct. with Synergy.   

Edison Power Plant Public Meeting With City & State Public Comment Opportunities

Last updated 10.16.18: A site walk will take place Saturday, October 20 from 9 am to 11 am. The next Edison Power Plant (776 Summer St) public meeting is October 24th 6pm to 8pm at Tynan School.  The meeting will focus on climate resilience & environmental issues. The October 10th Land Use Presentation is now linked.

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) is hosting a community meeting regarding the Edison Power Plant on:

Monday, October 24, 2018
IAG Meeting 6 pm - 7 pm

Climate Resiliency & Environmental Issues 7 pm - 8:30 pm

Tynan School

640 E 4th Street

Monday, October 10, 2018
Land Use Presentation

Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Project Transportation Meeting Presentation
Proposed proponent funded bus service from site to Downtown via Seaport (page 27)

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 (new date)
Meeting Presentation 

The proposed redevelopment is approximately a 15.2-acre site located at 776 Summer Street in the South Boston neighborhood. The proposal entails approximately 1.93 million square feet of occupiable space, including: approximately 1,344 residential units, approximately 368,070 square feet of office uses, approximately 85,630 square feet of retail uses, 344 hotel rooms, and up 1,397 parking spaces. The proposal will also preserve several historic buildings on the site and provide 5.5 acres of new outdoor public spaces, including approximately 2.5 acres of open space on the waterfront. More information

BPDA Comment Deadline: October 30, 2018
Project Manager: Tim Czerwienski
Contact Tim with any questions or comments via email or at 617-918-5303

MEPA Comment Deadline for Environmental Impact Report Draft: October 30, 2018
To receive a copy of the EIR Draft Report, contact Seth Lattrell at 617-607-2973.

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Boston City Council Looks At Wetlands, Zoning, Winthrop Square Dollars, Recovery, Scooters & More

City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered the following items and more at their October 3 and October 17, 2018 meetings:

Appointment: The Mayor appointed Kathleen Joyce as the Chair of the Boston Licensing Board, for a term expiring June 1, 2020. 

Zoning Code for Gross Floor Area: Councilors O’Malley and Baker filed a zoning text amendment that would redefine Gross Floor Area in the Boston Zoning Code to be measured from the interior of the wall, rather than the exterior. This would give developers more flexibility to have thicker walls with increased insulation in their buildings, making buildings more energy efficient and decreasing the buildings’ carbon footprint. The current zoning code defines the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) as the ratio of the gross floor area of a structure to the total area of the lot, and the Gross Floor Area as the sum of areas of the several floors of the structure as measured by the exterior faces of the wall, and so thicker walls count against the allowable development space. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Planning, Development & Transportation. 

Car-Free Day: I called for a hearing to explore planning a Car-Free Day in Boston. Cities around the world have been joining together to encourage public transit, walking and bicycling and even shutting down streets to vehicular traffic on certain days for health, climate, and community benefit. When Paris hosted their first Car-Free Day in 2015, the city saw the level of certain pollutants drop by 40% and the noise level cut in half. The average Boston-area driver spends 60 hours a year in traffic, which not only frustrates commuters but impacts our environment and public health with emissions that contribute to climate change and pollution. Boston has seen very successful limited car-free initiatives such as Open Newbury, Circle the City, and block parties in every neighborhood. Streets and sidewalks comprise of 14% of public spaces controlled by the City, and we should explore ways that we can maximize those spaces for people as the City’s population increases. The matter was assigned to the Planning, Development, and Transportation Committee for a hearing.

Local Wetlands Protection Ordinance: I filed an ordinance in partnership with Councilor O’Malley aimed at strengthening the City’s ability to fight climate change and reasonably regulate development. The Local Wetlands Protection Ordinance would empower the Boston Conservation Commission to require green infrastructure with new development, including protections for urban wetlands and natural resource areas, and explicitly adopt climate change adaptation as a resource area value. These areas are important not just for conservation of open space and wildlife habitats, but to manage rain, flooding and heat. Especially in light of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report last week, with over 1,000 scientists over 2.5 years concluding that the world may have only twelve years left to keep greenhouse gas emissions below a threshold that keeps the planet livable, we must take every possible action to reduce energy demand, increase renewable energy supply, and transform our land use policies to align with climate change mitigation and adaptation. Boston is currently one of the only three coastal municipalities without such a municipal ordinance adding protections beyond the state baselines. The matter was assigned to the Government Operations Committee for a hearing.

Winthrop Square Proceeds: The Council voted to authorize a disbursement of $105.4 million dollars from the sale of the Winthrop Square garage parcel to Millennium Partners and , which recently closed. As designated earlier, this funding will be allocated as one-time funding supports for improvements and to create trusts for the Boston Common, Franklin Park, and the Greenway Conservancy, as well as the redevelopment of Boston Housing Authority’s Old Colony development in South Boston and Orient Heights development in East Boston. Here is the breakdown (including $1.6M from the FY19 capital budget)

• $23M for Franklin Park improvements
• $23M for Boston Common improvements
• $11M for Emerald Necklace improvements
• $15M for the creation of 3 trusts ($5M each for Boston Commo, Franklin Park, and the Greenway) whose interest will fund maintenance of these parks
• $25M for the Old Colony Development
• $10M for the Orient Heights Development

Siting Recovery Facilities: Councilors Edwards, McCarthy & Essaibi-George filed a hearing order to discuss regulations on the proximity of alcohol and cannabis establishments to recovery facilities. Currently there are regulations governing the proximity between these facilities and schools and on minimum distance from other cannabis establishments. The sponsors stated that the city should address how it can fairly encourage businesses while also protecting the public health of our residents. The matter was assigned to the Homelessness, Mental Health & Recovery Committee for a hearing. 

Dockless Mobility and Electric Scooters: Councilor O’Malley reported back on a hearing that I chaired on Monday regarding micromobility and dockless scooters. The technology allows for electric, motorized scooters that can travel up to 15mph with a goal of providing first- and last-mile connections to transit. At the hearing representatives from the City, micromobility companies and advocates discussed changes that would be needed to state law to authorize scooters. Boston is working on a regional pilot with our municipal partners in the bike share system (Cambridge, Brookline & Somerville) to launch a dockless scooter pilot, potentially next spring.

For complete notes on Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com or sign up to receive these notes automatically. 

A Weekend Of Hidden Treasures Awaits

Have you ever wondered about the value of that family heirloom or yard sale find? Join the Labouré Center today until 3 pm for Hidden Treasures: Skinner Appraisal Event. General admission is $20 and includes the verbal appraisal and evaluation of one item. All proceeds directly support Catholic Charities Labouré Center programs which focus on education & job readiness, family stabilization, and youth & senior services. The Laboure Center is located at 275 West Broadway (Broadway & D Streets). More details.

Don't have that treasured item yet? Don't worry. The Fort Point Arts Community 39th annual Fort Point Open Studios is this Saturday, October 13, 2018 and Sunday, October 14, 2018 from noon to six pm.  Hunt through the studies of over 100 artists to find your treasured piece(s) of art. Fort Point is home to painters, sculptors, photographers, fashion designers, potters, jewelers, graphic and industrial designers, and galleries. 

Explore the FPAC Gallery (300 Summer Street), the Midway Gallery at Midway Artists Studios, 15  Channel Center Street,  249 A Street Gallery, and the Atlantic Wharf Gallery at 290 Congress  Street and  FPAC's Assemblage, a community art space at 70 A Sleeper  Street. There will be live performances, artist demonstrations and art in unexpected outdoor places. For a complete listing of participating studios, special events, performances and public art  click here. 

Admission is free and so is the parking! Free parking is available all weekend at Central Parking Lot across from 249 A Street, access from Binford Street. Just pull a ticket when you enter, and scan the special bar code on the back of our 2018 Fall Open Studios brochure as you leave! Brochures are available in all the buildings as well as at information tables. You can also use the code on your phone here.

Happy treasure hunting. 

MassDOT Pilot Opens South Boston Bypass Road To All Drivers Monday

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation today announced that beginning Monday, October 15, 2018, all traffic will be able to use sections of the South Boston Bypass Road and a portion of the I-93 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV lane) in South Boston at all times for a 12-month period. This pilot program will provide another route option for drivers traveling inbound to the South Boston area from I-93 northbound and members of the public are advised that the South Boston Bypass Road can be accessed via Exit 18 on I-93. This pilot program is being launched following approval by the Massachusetts Environment Policy Act (MEPA) office which issued an Advisory Opinion at the request of MassDOT. 

The full traffic pattern changes that will be implemented 24/7 through this pilot program include allowing unrestricted eastbound travel on the South Boston Bypass Road between I-93 Frontage Road and Cypher Street/Richards Street and allowing unrestricted travel in both directions of the South Boston Bypass Road between Cypher Street/Richards Street and West Service Road. Additionally, access to the I-93 HOV lane from the following areas leading to Logan International Airport will also be unrestricted: the I-93 northbound mainline, I-93 northbound Frontage Road, and Kneeland Street/Lincoln Street.

“We are pleased to be conducting this pilot program of allowing general traffic on sections of the South Boston Bypass Road and the I-93 HOV lane so we can analyze the impacts to traffic flow and freight operations throughout the South Boston region over a broad time frame,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “We encourage members of the public to consider using this new route option if they are traveling into the Fort Point and Seaport area or carpooling to Logan Airport on I-93, and we look forward to learning the results of this pilot program.” 

“I am cautiously optimistic that additional drivers will be able to use the bypass road to help alleviate the increase of traffic in the South Boston area,” said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch. “This is a pilot program and we will monitor the results as we adjust to the robust growth in the Financial District and the South Boston Seaport areas. I do appreciate the efforts of Stephanie Pollack and MassDOT for their proactive approach to help better manage our busy streets.”

“I am glad that MassDOT has decided to expand this pilot program,” said State Senator Nick Collins. “It is important that we gather as much data as possible and explore all options to provide relief from the cut-through traffic that is hammering our neighborhoods in Boston. Suburban commuters will now have another option to get to the waterfront and downtown from the highway without cutting through residential communities like South Boston. I want to thank the Baker Administration for recognizing that and taking this step in the right direction.”

The pilot will expand upon the previous 6-month pilot carried out by MassDOT from August 2015 through February 2016 which implemented similar traffic pattern changes including allowing unrestricted eastbound travel on the South Boston Bypass Road during peak commuting hours. Given the economic growth of the South Boston waterfront in recent years and corresponding changes in traffic levels, the pilot program will allow further data collection so long-term decisions can be made.

Throughout the pilot program, MassDOT will analyze the impact of these traffic access changes on commuters, residents, businesses and the local environment. Upon completion of the pilot in the fall of 2019, MassDOT will return the South Boston Bypass Road and HOV access roadways to previous limited traffic conditions and evaluate the pilot program findings.

“The South Boston Waterfront is a vital commercial and residential asset for the City of Boston and we have been collaborating with MassDOT and the community to address the transportation issues that are a result of the area’s popularity,” said Boston Transportation Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca.  “We are hopeful that the pilot program will prove to relieve congestion and improve roadway safety in the South Boston Waterfront as well as on streets in the adjacent South Boston neighborhood.”

“A Better City and our Seaport members has been a strong advocate for moving forward with this year-long Haul Road opening pilot,” said A Better City President and CEO Richard A. Dimino. “We fully support and are pleased that MassDOT is moving forward with this traffic relief test and initiative.”

“We commend MassDOT for moving forward with the South Boston Bypass Road Pilot Re-Evaluation Project,” said Seaport Transportation Management Association Executive Director Patrick Sullivan. “This project is another example of the strong collaborative effort between MassDOT, the City of Boston, Massport, and our local elected officials to pursue a variety of multi-modal transportation improvements aimed at improving mobility in the South Boston Waterfront.”

Current restrictions to traffic are in place per the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) issued in 1986 for the Third Harbor Tunnel/Central Artery Tunnel Project which required that the road be a commercial vehicle route upon project completion.

Potential permanent changes to traffic access throughout this area will require coordination and approval from numerous state and federal agencies including Massport, MEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act process, and the Federal Highway Administration. Any permanent change would require the filing of a Notice of Project Change over the original Final Environmental Impact Report.

Contact Donny Dailey at MassDOT with any questions.

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Fort Point Landmarks October 2018 Meeting

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

Thursday, October 11, 2018

6:00 PM

Boston City Hall - Piemonte Room (5th Floor)

After 5:30 pm, enter and exit City Hall at the Dock Square entrance on Congress Street 

(across from Faneuil Hall).

Subject of the hearing will be applications for Certificates of Design Approval on the agenda below, review of architectural violations and such business as may come before the commission, in accordance with Ch. 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended.

I. DESIGN REVIEW

19.227 FPC: 348 Congress Street
Applicant: Robert Tuttle, NE Neon Co, IncProposed Work: At front façade, install a blade sign adjacent to front entrance.

19.400 FPC: 313 Congress Street
Applicant: Stephanie Cambre, Boston Building, Wraps Inc.Proposed Work: At the corner of Congress and Sleeper Street, install temporary lease signage.

19.403 FPC: 10, 20, 30 Channel Center Street
Applicant: Aly Chadbourne Proposed Work: At A Street façade, install five way-finding blade signs.

19.520 FPC: 21 Wormwood Street
Applicant: Dan Sullivan; Fort Point Place Condo Association Proposed Work: At side façade, remove existing non-historic door and frame, widen door frame by ~4”. Install new frame and door.

II.  VOTE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION AMEND SECTION 8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT STUDY REPORT, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING COMMISSIONER NOMINATIONS. 

III.  RATIFICATION OF  8/9/2018 PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES & 07/24/2018 SUBCOMMITTEE MINUTES 

 IV.  STAFF UPDATES 

 V.  PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT: 7:30 PM

FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION

David Berarducci, Susan Goganian, John Karoff, Lynn Smiledge, Vacancy 

Alternates: Thomas Rodde, Vacancy

Gillette To Sell Parking Lot

P&G Gillette announced today the sale of Channelside Parking lot along the Channel and A Street from Garage Access Road to Binford Streets. Gillette is a signatory to Fort Point 100 Acres Master Plan. This 6.5 acre parcel plays a significant part in the overall development of Fort Point as a neighborhood. 

Gillette's Alan Sheard notified the Fort Point Neighborhood Association this morning. "We believe this will be an exciting development for the neighborhood.  Years ago, we worked with the City and several neighbors in the community to establish a vision for this particular parcel of land.  This vision brings the possibility of new commercial and residential buildings, new parks, compelling view corridors and more.  The sale of this land will help bring this vision to life. As you know, South Boston is where we design and manufacture some of the most cutting-edge shaving technology in the world.  We’ve been at this site for over a century, and it will continue to play a significant role for us in the future.   As you can imagine, our goal will be to find a strong buyer for the property that will help make our neighborhood even more vibrant and attractive in the future."

Jones Lange Lasalle (JLL) Boston is the real estate broker. 

Related Articles

P&G to sell more of Gillette campus - Cincinnati Business Courier

P&G to sell block of Gillette campus next to GE's future headquarters - Boston Business Journal

P&G's land sale near GE HQ could net more than $200M - Boston Business Journal

Ahoy There Martin's Park

The Boston Park's Department releases updates on Martin's Park to inform the community what has been done in the last few weeks and what to expect in the coming weeks. October's report also includes schedule updates and the incorporation of climate resiliency strategies.

What has been done in the last few weeks:

- The wooden play ship has been installed on site!!  This is a huge visual change in the park, and is very exciting to see.

- All of the piles have been drilled along the sea wall.  This important work (which has been a lot of work, but doesn’t make a visual impact on the park) will allow for the next steps of pouring the walls along the Harborwalk.  These walls will then allow the earth shaping to progress.

- Work is continuing inside the covered parking.  Wall finishes and utilities are being installed.

Boat Foundation

Boat Installed

Completed Piles & Harborwalk wall forming

Park Maintenance Room

Here is what to look for in the next 2-3 weeks:

- Pouring of the north and south walls along the Harborwalk.

- Installing the mudmat that will be the base for the geofoam to be built on top of.

- Connecting water and drainage lines.

- Staking of geofoam to build up the higher elevations of the park.

- Continuing the foundations around the play ship, including setting one of the access areas and the cargo boxes.

Schedule update:

We wanted to update the community that the anticipated construction completion time frame has been pushed back to the spring.  Due to the resiliency work that was described in a recent update*, the time frame of the work has been extended.  Unfortunately, this extension of the work has pushed the schedule into winter months.  Cold weather is not conducive to installing several weather sensitive items in the park such as rubber surfacing and vegetation planting. 

The contractor and the City will continue to push to finish the park as efficiently and effectively as possible without sacrificing design or quality.  As we all know, weather can be unpredictable and we cannot foresee how far into the winter months work will be able to continue.  We will continue working as long as the weather allows and will re-assess park completion schedules and grand opening activities later in the year as we get a better sense of how long work can continue.

Site Resiliency:

A reminder about resiliency...

During the construction portion of this project, the Climate Ready Boston Report was released.  The information provided in this report raised the flood elevation.  The park was designed using previously released flood elevations.  Due to this, design and engineering work needed to be completed to make sure that the park took into consideration this information and planned for future resiliency.  This created the need to shift some of the focus of construction onto the design aspect of the work.  What was important to us was that the resiliency worked with the current design in order to still provide the park design promised to the community while making the Park more resilient.  The design work associated with this shift has been completed and the construction moving forward will incorporate these important resiliency strategies.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Lauren Bryant with Boston Parks & Recreation Department,

Boston City Council Looks At Lobbyist Regulation, Delivery Permits, Tree Coverage, Municipal IDs & More

City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered the following items and more at their September 26, 2018 meeting:

Lobbyist Registration and Regulation: The Council voted once again to pass a lobbyist registration ordinance and home-rule petition based on the version that the Council passed in July and that Mayor Walsh vetoed, following a working session on Monday chaired by Councilor Flaherty. The goal of this legislation is to promote good governance and to ensure transparency in government by requiring registration and disclosure of lobbying activities, to create fairness and consistency by applying the same rules to all persons engaged in lobbying activities, and to reinforce the community’s trust in the integrity of its government by guaranteeing convenient, timely access to information about attempts to influence the government’s decisions. This has been a lengthy process, as the Mayor had originally filed an Home Rule Petition on regulating lobbyists several years ago based on state lobbyist regulations. Along with Councilors Flaherty and Campbell, I authored a city ordinance to better tailor lobbyist regulations and disclosure requirements to the content and pace of municipal decision-making, and that could be immediately implemented rather than waiting for state approval for a home-rule petition. Our ordinance removed the exemption in the Mayor’s original Home Rule Petition that allows lobbyists not to register and disclose their activities if they make under $2500 or engage in less than 25 hours of lobbying in a reporting period, instead focusing on which activities count as lobbying, whether paid or unpaid, regardless of how many hours per month. As he filed a veto, the Mayor also proposed a revised version of his original home-rule petition in ordinance form that would add back in the thresholds to exempt lobbyists from registration if paid under a certain amount or lobbying for less than a certain number of hours; to create an independent City commission to oversee enforcement; to remove a provision specifying that attorneys taking no other action besides representing clients before a board or commission at a publicly noticed meeting need not register; and specifying that PACs must register. Today we voted to pass a revised version of our Council ordinance which adopts the independent City commission for enforcement and retains our other provisions. The ordinance will go into effect 180 days after the Mayor signs.

Delivery Vehicle Permits: The Council voted to pass the ordinance proposed by the Mayor that creates a new street occupancy permit for delivery vehicles over a four-hour window, following a working session on Monday. A general occupancy street permit requires a surety bond, and this permit would not, as it is intended to service residents with a one-off need for a delivery. The fee will be $50, plus administrative fees for signage, to total $69 plus meter fees for metered parking spots.

Tree Preservation: Councilors McCarthy and O’Malley filed a hearing order to look at ways in which the City can expand development requirements for tree preservation and total tree capacity. The current building boom has been responsible for a large number of trees being removed. The City had a goal of planting 100,000 trees by 2020, but currently it has only planted 10,000 and removed 6,000, not including the number of trees removed from development sites. Boston is in the process of developing a Climate Ready Boston plan to combat climate change, and with trees being an important part of the solution against climate change, this is a good opportunity to discuss the ways that the City can protect, preserve, and expand tree coverage. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation for a hearing.

Municipal ID: I filed a hearing order on the implementation process for a Boston Municipal ID program, which would provide access to formal identification for all residents regardless of gender identity, housing status, or immigration status. These residents often experience great difficulty in obtaining a photo ID, which prevents them from accessing critical services, and the estimate is that 140,000 people would be helped with this program. Other cities have successfully implemented municipal ID programs, which offer a variety of civic opportunities, such as discounts to museums or reduced bike sharing memberships. Boston’s program would aim to streamline city services, list medical information to assist first responders, and expand cultural opportunities to make it a program that all residents would want to join. The Council convened a hearing in October of 2016 following my first hearing order on the topic, and the Mayor announced the launch of a  feasibility study in 2017. This order is meant to understand the results of the analysis and next steps. The matter was assigned to the Committee on City and Neighborhood Services, Military Families and Veterans Affairs for a hearing.

Boston Freedom Rally: Councilors Zakim and Flynn filed a hearing order on the annual Freedom Rally, also known as Hempfest, which was most recently held on September 15-17 of this year on the Boston Common. The Councilors cite that there have been many complaints from residents about the rally, alleging permit violations with parked cars on the green, used needles and trash around. Councilors Zakim and Flynn plan to discuss the wear and tear of Boston Common and this event. The matter was assigned to Environment, Sustainability and Parks Committee for a hearing.

Upcoming hearings (In the City Council Chamber unless otherwise noted.) Watch:

• Monday, 10/1, 3pm: Hearing to review the Boston Public School's strategies to serve off-track youth (Education).
• Tuesday, 10/2, 1pm: Hearing re: plans regarding reconstruction of the Long Island Bridge and the reopening of service facilities (Planning, Development, and Transportation; Homelessness, Mental Health and Recovery)
• Our next City Council meeting will be on October 3, 2018 at 12pm

For complete notes on Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com or sign up to receive these notes automatically.