Monday, November 13, 2023 at 6 PM

Agenda 16 items

1. 1.
   23-1503 Committee Minutes Accepted

   Approval of the Minutes of the Public Utilities and Public Works Committee Meeting of October 2, 2023.

   Roll call: 3 aye

   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jake WilsonAye

   • 📎 Minutes - PUPW - 10-2-23 Full
2. 2.
   23-1596 Order Kept in committee

   That the Commissioner of Public Works install a water fountain for people and dogs at Nunziato field.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Liaison Carrillo said that the Mayor\rquote s Office is looking into the item and that a collaboration will be needed between DPW and PSUF. There are no details or updates on the timeline yet.\par \par Chair Clingan sponsored Audrey Birkett to speak. Ms. Birkett commented on the increased risk of heat injury in the summer caused by the lack of water and trees. Councilor Wilson added that the nearby athletic field sees frequent use by youth soccer groups, and he requested that a water fountain be installed on the fence line between the two facilities.\par \cf1\f1\par }

3. 3.
   23-1437 Resolution Kept in committee

   That the Administration report on capacity to allow parallel staffing and funding for the development of the 1895 Building, School Building Master Plan and the Fire Department Master Plan Building Study.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Liaison Carrillo said the Administration is not ready to speak to this item yet.\par \cf1\f1\par }

4. 4.
   23-1436 Resolution Kept in committee

   That the Administration collaborate with the School Department on determining the best and future use of the 1895 Building.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Liaison Carrillo said the Administration is not ready to speak to this item yet.\par \cf1\f1\par }

5. 5.
   23-1435 Order Kept in committee

   That the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management report on ongoing deficiencies of City Hall and the City Hall Annex that could impair the future use of these buildings.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Liaison Carrillo said the Administration is not ready to speak to this item yet.\par \cf1\f1\par }

6. 6.
   23-1434 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

   That the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management report on recent damages to the City Hall clock tower and share any concerns regarding potential damage to the building structure.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Dir. Raiche said that they mobilized an emergency contractor, who stabilized the tower with cribbing and plaster. However, he noted that this is a temporary solution. Dir. Raiche said that the city wants to find a more robust temporary solution in the meantime, which ultimately will require the removal of the clock faces.\par \cf1\f1\par }

7. 7.
   23-1433 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

   That the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management provide an update on the repairs of the Teele Square Fire Station, including a timeline for such repairs.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Taken together with item 23-1432. Chair Clingan reviewed the attachment titled \ldblquote PUPW - 2023-11-13 IAM Order Responses (with 23-1423 23-1433)\rdblquote , which addresses the two items.\par \cf1\f1\par }

8. 8.
   23-1432 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

   That the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management provide a report on the status of the Fire Department Master Planning Study, including projected timelines for the feasibility study, design, bidding and construction, and prioritization strategies.

9. 9.
   23-1399 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

   That the Administration report to this Council on the ability to require further repairs on Highland Ave, and if none, an explanation on whether that complies with road engineering regulations.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Liaison Carrillo said that the attachment titled \ldblquote PUPW - 2023-11-13 Highland Paving (with 23-1355 23-1399)\rdblquote explains why paving cannot happen sooner than 2024, and that Councilor Davis had told her the intent of the item is to ensure that the road will be in better condition by winter, which Dir. Postlewaite had confirmed. Chair Clingan asked if utility companies would cover any of the cost of short-term repaving. This led to a discussion of what utility companies are obligated to do and how the freeze-thaw cycle affects the timeline of repaving. Dir. Raiche also spoke to the importance of good relationships with utilities. Councilor Wilson asked if the surface of Highland Ave would improve as the asphalt settled from freeze-thaw, to which Dir. Raiche said he would defer to Dir. Postlewaite.\par \par Councilor Kelly reviewed the memo and asked questions about the timeline of different projects on Highland. Dir. Raiche said that his understanding was that the gas work will be completed in June 2024, after which another phase of sewer separation will start. Councilor Kelly requested an updated memo with more clarity around the timeline.\par \cf1\f1\par }

10. 10.
    23-1397 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

    That the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management update this Council on the sewer separation work and any opportunities for prioritizing problematic areas of the city.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Councilor Wilson said that he submitted this item after a series of conversations with residents of Murdock Street, who have been having overflow issues. Dir. Raiche gave a presentation about sewer separation prioritization (agenda attachment titled \ldblquote PUPW - 2023-11-13 CCPUPW Sewer Priorities (with 23-1397)\rdblquote ). The presentation summarized several earlier presentations and shared links to other resources, as well as listing current in-flight projects in each branch, and describing the upcoming Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Planning Program that will be coordinated between Cambridge and Somerville. Dir. Raiche said that a third public meeting on the CSO control plan will be hosted virtually by the City of Somerville, City of Cambridge, and MWRA on Wednesday, November 15 at 6 pm. He said that it will be important to have Somerville voices at this meeting.\par \cf1\f1\par }

11. 11.
    23-1355 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

    That the Director of Engineering re-pave Highland Avenue from Central Street to Walnut Street this year instead of waiting until 2024.

12. 12.
    23-1187 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

    That the Commissioner of Public Works appear before this Council to discuss what actions have and can be taken to ensure that trash and recycling barrels do not obstruct sidewalks after pick-up.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Chair Clingan reviewed the memo from DPW (attachment titled \ldblquote PUPW - 2023-11-13 CC Response (with 23-0891 23-1184 23-1187)\rdblquote ), which said that newly implemented trainings seem to be improving the situation. Chair Clingan asked residents to get barrels in sooner if able.\par \cf1\f1\par }

13. 13.
    23-1184 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

    That the Commissioner of Public Works and the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management report on recent air conditioning failures in City Hall and what repairs have been or will be completed to address those issues.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Chair Clingan reviewed the memo from DPW (attachment titled \ldblquote PUPW - 2023-11-13 CC Response (with 23-0891 23-1184 23-1187)\rdblquote ).\par \cf1\f1\par }

14. 14.
    23-1183 Order Kept in committee

    That the Director of Water and Sewer and the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management explain what maintenance will be required for the new Poplar Street Pump Station and Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project, and how these maintenance requirements will be staffed to ensure their proper upkeep.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Liaison Carrillo said the Administration is not ready to speak to this item yet.\par \cf1\f1\par }

15. 15.
    23-0891 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

    That the Commissioner of Public Works inspect the tree wells in front of 173 Broadway for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Chair Clingan reviewed the memo from DPW (attachment titled \ldblquote PUPW - 2023-11-13 CC Response (with 23-0891 23-1184 23-1187)\rdblquote ).\par \cf1\f1\par }

16. 16.
    23-0610 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

    That the Commissioner of Public Works report on leaks and building system failures that have caused the shutdown of municipal buildings, excluding school buildings, in the last five years.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Chair Clingan reviewed the memo from DPW (attachment titled \ldblquote PUPW - 2023-11-13 CC Response (with 23-0891 23-1184 23-1187)\rdblquote ).\par \cf1\f1\par }