City Council Meetings – Week of 6/11/2023

Public Facilities Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, June 12 at 6:45PM. The agenda includes the following:

• Request to transfer $280,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to the Snow & Ice Vehicle Rental/Contractors Account to fund the anticipated remaining contractor invoices that the City has not yet received. 

Finance Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, June 12 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following requests:

• Appropriate and expend $250,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified free Cash, to the Clerk of the Council-Election Equipment Account to replace 32 current machines as well as one high-speed tabulator to address the increase in vote by mail processing. 
• Increase in the salary of the City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council to $134,734 effective July 1, 2023 to match the percentage increase included in the FY24 budget for H-grade employees
• Transfer $100,000 from the Snow & Ice Overtime to the Snow & Ice Vehicle Contractors Account to “true up” the legal level of control for the cost for employee overtime versus contracted work for snow and ice removal.
• Transfer $280,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to the Snow & Ice Vehicle Rental/Contractors to fund the anticipated remaining contractor invoices that the City has not yet received.
• Appropriate and expend $30,000 from the Micro/Network-Full Time Salaries) for an IT Risk Assessment 
• Accept and expend a FY23 state “One Stop” grant for $100,000 to continue the Council’s Village Center/MBTA Communities zoning consulting work.
• Appropriate and expend $300,000 from Certified Free Cash to the Automobiles & Light Trucks to replace the Fire Department’s 1989 Emergency Response Unit (ERU). 
• Transfer $200,000 from Main Library- Full Time Salaries Account to the Library Building Maintenance – Electricity Account to supplement the FY23 and FY24 Library Electricity budget to cover overruns due to the failing HVAC system 
• Appropriate and expend $750,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to a Public Buildings Department Capital Account to fund the replacement of the Newton Free Library’s HVAC system as detained in the FY-24-FY28 CIP
• Accept and expend $340,298  from the Fy23 State MassTrails and accept and expend $20,000 in donations from the Newton Conservators and the Solomon Foundation for the Marty Sender Greenway Phase 2 Restoration project 
• Accept and expend $75,000 earmarked in the Massachusetts State Budget to assist the City on funding the construction of a new community garden at Spears Park on the north side.  
• Accept and expend $400,000 in a state budget earmark to assist the City in funding the improvements project at Gath Pool, including two pools and a splash pad.  
• Accept and expend $125,000 in donations from the Friends of ColettiMagni Park to beautify the park and improve electrical infrastructure
• Appropriate and expend $9,099,787 to the control of the Planning & Development Department from the Community Preservation Act Funds with $4,099,787 from the CPA’s Unrestricted Prior Year Fund and $5,000,000 authorize a general obligation borrowing of an equal amount for the Athletic Fields CIP Construction Phase III project  and authorization to apply any premium received upon the sale of the bonds or notes, less the cost of preparing, issuing, and marketing them, and any accrued interest received upon the delivery of the bonds or notes to the costs of the project and to reduce the amount authorized to be borrowed for the project by like amount.
• Increase the spending limits of the (1) Senior Citizen Programs, (2) Environmental Science, (3) Off-Leash Dog Administration revolving funds. This is due to a post-COVID return to higher spending amounts for these revolving funds to previous levels as well as some changes in where costs are charged.
• Transfer $50 from the Purchasing – Office Supplies Account to the  Purchasing – Full-Time Salaries, to cover an anticipated shortage in the department’s payroll budget 
• Appropriate and expend $136,020 from the Water Fund Undesignated Fund Balance to cover any outstanding debt service.  
• Transfer any unexpected General Fund municipal health insurance funds (57HLTH), remaining as of June 30, 2023 into the Health Insurance Trust Fund (fund 6600).

Zoning and Planning Committee will meet in person (Room 204) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, June 12 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:

NOTE from the Chair:  Planning staff, Landwise, and Utile will present an economic analysis of the proposed MRT district. 

• Request a review, discussion and possible ordinance amendments relative to Chapter 30 zoning ordinances pertaining to Mixed Use, business districts and village districts relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance. (formerly #88-20) See Planning Memo
• Request a discussion on state guidance for implementing the Housing Choice element of the MA Economic Development legislation. (formerly #131-21) 
• Request for a review, discussion, and possible ordinance amendments relative to Chapter 30 zoning ordinances pertaining to craft beverage production. Possible amendments would remove prohibition on bottling alcoholic beverages and propose opportunities for other craft beverage production and accessory retail. See Planning Memo.
• Reappointment of John Martin and Jim Gross to the Newtonville Historic District Commission
• Reappointment of Michael Rossi, Jennifer Pucci, and Stuart Snyder to the Zoning Board of Appeals
• Reappointment of Tamirirashe Gambiza, Ann Houston, and Peter Sargent to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust.

Land Use Committee will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, June 13 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:

• Request to amend a previously approved Site Plan associated with a Special Permit to allow for a larger driveway entrance width that exceeds the maximum allowed at 63-65 Broadway. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
• Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to locate an oversized second principal sign for the medical office at 714 Beacon Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
• Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a one-story rear addition to provide an accessible living space which requires relief to increase the nonconforming FAR and height at 25 Breamore Road. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
• Request for a Administrative Site Plan Approval to convert the basement space for use as a church with classroom space, as well as a 72-seat café which will be open to the public, and a waiver of 64 parking stalls at 1173 Walnut Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
• Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to remove a portion of the building and reconfigure the existing parking area to allow for construction of a drive through window with associated waivers for parking, lighting and signs at 940 Boylston Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.

Zoning and Planning Committee will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, June 14 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:

• Public Hearing on request for a discussion with the Sustainability Director on the requirements under the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project, also known as the Ten Communities program, which would allow Newton to require electrification of all new building construction and substantial renovations, and to consider adopting such an ordinance.

Traffic Council will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, June 15 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:

• Request to restrict parking on both sides of the narrow section of Troy Lane, as well as around the cul-de-sac, in order to ensure access for trash, recycling, and emergency vehicles. Parking would not be restricted on either side of the wide section of Troy Lane.
• Request to update the Traffic and Parking Regulations in order to allow nonmotorized vehicles (bicycles) to legally travel southbound on the one-way northbound block of Brookside Avenue between Watertown Street and Albemarle Road.
• Request to discuss and potentially restrict parking at all times on one side of Johnson Place, to help improve safety.
• Request to remove the accessible parking space at 58 Churchill Street, as the staff understands that this space is no longer being used.
• Request to discuss and possibly modify the parking regulations on the west side of Adams Street within 50 feet of Clinton Street, both sides.
• Request to change the free 1-hour parking zone on the north side of Washington Street in the area of Honda Village and Walgreens into a free 2-hour parking zone, for the convenience of customers.
• Request to change all the 1-hour on-street parking meters along Washington Street and Centre Street in Newton Corner into 2-hour meters. This change does not include the Pearl Street or Richardson Street Parking Lots.
• Request to change the 30-minute space and the 1-hour meter on Charlesbank Road into two long-term metered parking spaces.

NOTE: The agenda includes a listing of Administrative Changes to the Traffic and Parking Regulations (TPR) from the last meeting.