Legislative Matters Committee

Virtual

Agenda — 23 items

1. 1 (Posted online: 4/9/25 at 2:30 PM) Original (Posted online: 4/11/25 at 1:00 PM) Revised
2. 1 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Davis at 6:02pm and adjourned at 7:54pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Strezo, Mbah, Ewen-Campen, Scott, Davis), 0 opposed, and 0 absent. Others present: Meredith Stivers - Assistant City Solicitor, Jay Piques - Assistant City Solicitor, Brendan Salisbury - Legislative and Policy Analyst, Christine Blais - Director of Office of Sustainability and Environment, Vanessa Boukili - Senior Urban Forestry and Landscape Planner, Neha Singh - Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Madalyn Letellier - Legislative Services Manager.
3. 2 Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, this meeting of a City Council Committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audio-video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels. Copy & paste the following link into your internet browser to view this meeting live: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__OGRdxRFTymymGkB2MBGnQ Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e. CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or ada@somervillema.gov.
4. 3 Roll Call
5. 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Legislative Matters Committee Meeting of April 1, 2025. 25-0661 Accepted Pass
6. 5 Tree Ordinance
7. 2. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Chapter 12, Article VI of the Code of Ordinances to modify the Tree Preservation Ordinance. 25-0566 Kept in committee
8. 3. Chris Dwan submitting comments re: Urban Forestry Committee recommendations. 25-0077 Kept in committee
9. 4. That this Council discuss proposed amendments to the Tree Preservation Ordinance, as outlined in item #24-0493. 25-0066 Recommended to be marked work completed
10. 9 Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change
11. 5. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 2-304 through 2-310 of the Code of Ordinances to update the Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change. 25-0257 Recommended to be approved as amended Pass
12. 11 Surveillance Technology Impact Report
13. 6. Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for Hudl Focus cameras. 25-0452 Recommended to be placed on file
14. 7. Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for Hudl Focus cameras. 25-0752 Recommended to be placed on file
15. 14 Short Term Rental Community Impact Legislation
16. 8. Requesting the acceptance of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 64G, Section 3D(b), to authorize the city to impose the community impact allowed under Chapter 3D(a) of G.L. c. 64G, on each transfer of occupancy of a short-term rental unit in a two- or three-family dwelling, that includes the operator’s primary residence. 25-0484 Recommended to be approved Pass
17. 9. Requesting the acceptance of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 64G, Section 3D(a), to authorize the city to impose a community impact fee of 3% of the total amount of rent upon each transfer of occupancy of “Professionally-managed units”. 25-0483 Recommended to be approved Pass
18. 17 To be discharged without recommendation for the purpose of reassigning to other committees
19. 10. That the City Solicitor confirm whether an LGBTQ Legal Services Stabilization Fund can be created to pay fees associated with gendered document changes and potential court sealing of records associated with such documents. 24-1686 Recommended to be discharged with no recommendation
20. 11. Conveying the cost of changes to identity documents, in support of item #24-1686. 25-0270 Recommended to be discharged with no recommendation
21. 12. Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition submitting comments re: item #24-1686, creation of an LGBTQ Legal Services Stabilization Fund. 25-0336 Recommended to be discharged with no recommendation
22. 13. That the Director of Inspectional Services enforce Section 11-111 of the Code of Ordinances - Registration and maintenance of vacant property, in light of the recent collapse of 316 Somerville Avenue. 25-0379 Recommended to be discharged with no recommendation
23. 21 Referenced Documents: • Legislative Matters - 2025-04-15 - CEUCC Ordinance Amendments (with 25-0257) • Legislative Matters - 2025-04-15 Memo - Tree Ordinance enforcement_04-14-25 Final (with 25-0566)