City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are some highlights from June 9, June 16 and June 23, 2021 Boston City Council meetings:
VOTES
FY22 Operating Budget: The Council voted to reject a procedural motion (2-10, with Councilors Bok and Essaibi George voting yes) from Councilor Bok, Chair of the Committee of Ways & Means, to suspend Council rules to discuss and vote on the FY22 operating budget today. This motion was proposed by Councilor Bok as a proxy vote on the operating budget, which the Council recently received from the Mayor in its amended form. Because the Council voted against this procedural motion, the matter will remain in the Committee on Ways & Means and come before the Council on June 30, during the last Council meeting before the end of the 2021 fiscal year.
Zoning Board of Appeals Resolution: The Council voted to approve a resolution from Councilor Edwards in support of H.2201, a petition in the Massachusetts state legislature to reform the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), which reviews variances to the zoning code to guide development in Boston. These reforms would establish term limits for board members, strengthen conflict of interest protections, require quarterly reports on variances granted, and add experts in environmental justice and urban planning and a renter to the board.
Reprecincting Resolution: The Council voted to approve a resolution from Councilor Edwards in support of H.3863, a bill in the Massachusetts state legislature relative to reprecincting. This bill would change the deadline for reprecincting and offer an opportunity to more accurately represent Boston’s demographics and ensure voter access and equity.
Amendment of City Council Rule 3: The Council voted (10-1-1, with Councilor Arroyo voting no and Councilor Mejia voting present) to approve a motion from Councilor Edwards to amend City Council Rule 3 to allow the Council to remove its Council president with a two-thirds majority vote. Previously, with a two-thirds majority, the City Council president could remove any City Councilor, but this same power did not extend to City Council presidents. This rule change enables greater consistency, transparency and accountability in the role of the Council in choosing the City Council President.
Conservation of West Roxbury Parcel: The Council voted unanimously to approve the transfer of a property that is currently under the care and custody of the Boston Planning and Development Agency, located at 0 Rivermoor Street in West Roxbury on the banks of the Cow Island Pond area, to the City of Boston Conservation Commission to protect the floodplain and ensure permanent conservation of the Charles River shoreline.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
FY22 Boston Public Schools Budget: The Council received message and order for annual appropriations for the School Department for FY22. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Ways & Means and will come before the Council on June 30, during the last Council meeting before the end of the 2021 fiscal year.
Morrison Street Property: The Council received message and order for the Council’s approval to authorize the City of Boston Conservation Commission (ConCom) to receive a property located at Morrison Street in the Roslindale Wetlands urban wild, currently owned by Ms. Deb Beatty Mel, in order to restore and maintain the wetland area. This matter was referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.
NEW FILES
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: Councilors Flynn and Campbell called for a hearing to discuss opportunities to provide support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, ways to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault in Boston, solutions for increasing reporting opportunities for all communities, as well as other ways to educate the public to increase awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault. This matter was referred to the Committee on Public Health.
Biotechnology Workforce Development: Councilors Baker, Breadon, and Flynn called for a hearing to discuss maximizing workforce development opportunities in biotechnology for Boston residents. The City of Boston is currently undergoing a massive boom in development of laboratory and other high-tech manufacturing facilities, and the City should collaborate with neighborhood groups and workforce development and job training nonprofit organizations in order to maximize Boston residents’ access to these new jobs and workforce development opportunities. This matter was referred to the Committee on Small Business and Workforce Development.
Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance Amendment: The Council voted unanimously to approve a motion from Councilor O’Malley to amend the Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), originally passed in 2013 and updated in 2014. The purpose of the ordinance is to reduce emissions including greenhouse gases from energy production, encourage efficient use of energy and water, and develop investment in a green economy by requiring the reporting and disclosure of annual energy and water use in all buildings over 20,000 square feet. If passed, this amendment would require that starting in 2025, the 3,500 buildings covered by this ordinance (4% of Boston building stock) would be required to meet greenhouse gas emissions standards that decrease every 5 years to reach zero by 2050. Compliance payments and penalties would fund an Equitable Emissions Investment Fund to support, implement, and administer local carbon abatement projects that benefit the City and prioritize Environmental Justice populations. This matter was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
UPCOMING HEARINGS (Streaming Online at https://boston.gov/
Next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, June 30th at 12PM.
Thursday, June 24 at 1PM: Hearing regarding appropriations for the Community Preservation Committee for FY22 (Committee on the Community Preservation Act)
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