Requesting approval to accept and expend a $1,100,000 grant with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and Police Department for the development of the Union Square Plaza and Streetscape Phase 1.

To the Honorable City Council: The Mayor respectfully requests that this Council accept and approve expending a grant of $1,100,000 from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's Community Mitigation Fund to the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) and the Somerville Police Department (SPD) under the provisions of MGL Chapter 44, Section 53A. This grant does not require the commitment of new matching funds. The purpose of this grant is to pay for development of the Union Square Plaza and Streetscape Phase 1 with OSPCD-Mobility, Traffic Enforcement with SPD, and Somerville Small Business District Ad Campaign with OSPCD-Economic Development. Appropriate staff will be available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your consideration of this item. Respectfully submitted, Katjana Ballantyne, Mayor