Matters I sponsored:
Committee Work:
Committee on Government Operations (Chair): The Government Operations Committee reviews all proposed city ordinances and home rule petitions and makes recommendations to the Council on their passage. As Chairman, I work with colleagues, the Mayor’s office, and various groups and individuals to hold public meetings on these matters. This year, the Committee held hearings and working sessions to discuss a wide range of issues. Below I have highlighted some of our most notable discussions from this past year.
Committee on the Community Preservation Act (Chair):
- Docket 0395: Order for Hearing Regarding the Implementation of Year 13 Programming in the Boston Public School System. (lead sponsor)
- Docket 0144: Order for a hearing to discuss the inclusionary development policy and affordable housing (lead sponsor with Flynn & Edwards)
- Docket 0140: Order for a hearing to discuss the City of Boston’s Local Assessment Payment to the MBTA (co-sponsored with Councilor Wu & Essaibi-George)
- Docket 0195: Order for a hearing regarding the South Boston Interim Planning Overlay District and Neighborhood Wide Zoning (Flaherty & Flynn)
- Docket 0521: Order for a hearing to discuss city services and public facilities in the South Boston Waterfront (co-sponsored with Flynn)
- Docket 0609: Order for a hearing regarding the retirement of Boston Police Officers
Committee Work:
Committee on Government Operations (Chair): The Government Operations Committee reviews all proposed city ordinances and home rule petitions and makes recommendations to the Council on their passage. As Chairman, I work with colleagues, the Mayor’s office, and various groups and individuals to hold public meetings on these matters. This year, the Committee held hearings and working sessions to discuss a wide range of issues. Below I have highlighted some of our most notable discussions from this past year.
- Docket 0130: Home Rule Petition for a Special Law Regarding: An Act Authorizing the City of Boston to Offer Early Voting in Municipal Elections (Sponsored by Josh Zakim & Kim Janey): Docket #0130 is a home rule petition that will allow the City of Boston to implement early voting for municipal elections. The proposal gives the Board of Election Commissioners the authority to promulgate regulations for early voting consistent with the state’s law, Chapter 54, section 25B.
- Docket 0311: Order for a Special Law: An Act Regarding the Terms of Office for City Councilors (Sponsored by Councilor Campbell) : Docket #0311 is a home rule petition that will make the term of office for district city councilor and city councilor-at-large a four year term. Under this proposal, the terms of councilors would be the same as the mayor.
- Docket 0312: Order approving a petition for a special law: An Act Relative to Election Procedures in the City of Boston (Sponsored by Councilor Campbell) : Docket #0312 is a home rule petition that will allow an individual to seek the nomination for only one elective office at the same municipal election in the City of Boston. Currently, there is not a limit to the number of offices that an individual may seek at a particular election.
- Docket 0210: Petition for a Special Law Re: An Act Relative to Certain Affordable Housing in the South End Section of Boston (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh) :A home rule petition that would authorize the Boston Housing Authority (“BHA”) to participate in a redevelopment and revitalization of the Eva White public housing development using federal funds. The docket would also allow certain exemptions to Chapter 149, the state’s contract procurement and award laws.
- Docket 0139: An Ordinance Regarding Good Food Purchasing Standards in the City of Boston (Sponsored by Councilor Wu): Docket #0139 is an ordinance that will help the City of Boston leverage its purchasing and procurement power to support local economies, nutrition, a valued workforce, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. It is model after the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) and provides for her a multi-year implementation timeline. The ordinance is meant to apply to departments or agencies responsible for procurement or service contracting of foods, which currently applies primarily to the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Food and Nutrition Services budget.
- Docket 0209: Message & Order Amending the City of Boston Regarding Licensing and Regulating Shared Mobility Devices (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh) : Docket 0209 is an ordinance that will allow the City of Boston to regulate businesses that offer vehicles for rent on City streets and sidewalks through the creation of a flexible license structure. It allows the city to establish a regulatory framework allowing mobility businesses to operate in the City of Boston while ensuring pedestrian safety, accessibility and equity.
- Docket 0314: Ordinance Requiring the Review of Precincts in the City of Boston (Sponsored by Councilor Campbell) : An ordinance that would amend the City of Boston code by requiring a City Council committee to review city precincts every five years. It established a mechanism for the City Council to review city precincts. The Committee would be required to examine certain factors such as population shifts; development in neighborhoods; impact of precinct size on polling locations, staffing and operations and other factors as necessary.
- Docket 0310: Order approving a petition for a special law re: An Act Concerning the Retirement Classification for Boston School Police Officers (Sponsored by Councilor Baker): Home rule petition that placed Boston School Police Officers in Group 2 classification for retirement purposes. Previously BSP officers were classified in Group 1, which consists of officials and general employees including clerical and administrative workers.
- Docket 0211: Petition for a Special Law Re: An Act Relative to Voting Precincts in the City of Boston (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh): Home Rule petition that allows the City to establish sub-precincts to alleviate crowds & lines in certain sections of the City that have increased significantly in population. The creation of sub-precincts will not have any impact on ward boundary lines and will not change representation of congressional, representative, senatorial, or councilor districts. The affected precincts are Ward 3 Precinct 6 (downtown financial district and parts of Beacon Hill) Ward 3, Precinct 7 (South End), Ward 3, Precinct 8 (Chinatown South End), Ward 5, Precinct 1 (Bay Village, Ward 6 Precinct 1 (South Boston to Broadway Station, Seaport), Ward 9, Precinct 3 (South End). The creation of these sub-precincts will ensure greater efficiency in the voting process.
- Docket 0644: Message & order for your approval an order accepting the provisions granted in MGL by Section 6 of Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018. The provisions are for the adjustment of the City's local room occupancy excise rate under MGL c64G, 3A, and acceptance of MGL C. 64G 3d (b) allowing cities and towns to impose a room occupancy excise tax and community impact fees on short-term rentals (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh): Docket 0644 is a local option that authorizes the City of Boston to adjust the local room occupancy excise to 6.5% to impose a local community impact fee of 3% on short-term rental stays in professional managed units and to impose a community impact fee of 3% on short term rental stays in owner-adjacent units. This local option is authorized pursuant to Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018, “An Act Regulating and Insuring Short-Term Rentals”. Passage of the local options provides a dedicated source of revenue for housing efforts and will assist the City in its objective to expand affordable housing opportunities.
- Docket 0173: Message & Order Approving a Home Rule Petition to the General Court entitled "Petition for a Special Law Re: A Fire Cadet Program for the City of Boston Fire Department (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh): Docket 0173 is a home rule petition that would authorize the Boston Fire Department (“BFD”) to create a cadet program. Establishing a cadet program will provide an additional mechanism for individuals to have an opportunity to be a firefighter.
- Docket 0252: Petition for a Special Law Re: An Act to Provide Residency Preference for the Boston Police Department and the Boston Fire Department (Sponsored by Councilor Flaherty): This home rule petition seeks to increase the existing Boston residency preference on the Civil Service Exam from 1 year to 3 years.The proposal has the support of the Firefighters Local 718, Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers (MAMLEO), Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association (BPPA), and the Boston Society of Vulcans.
- Docket 0663: Message and ordinance amending the City of Boston Code, Ordinances, Chapter 6, 7, 16, and 18. The purpose of these amendments is to facilitate the transfer of the Animal Care and Control Unit from the Inspectional Services Department to the Parks and Recreation Department. (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh) -passed
- Docket 0106: Message & Order approving a Home Rule Petition to the General Court entitled “Petition for a Special Law Re: An Act to Further Leverage Commercial Development to Build Housing, Create Jobs and Preserve Inclusionary Development” (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh)-passed
- Docket 0830: Communication was received from Dion S. Irish, Chair, Board of Election, for your approval a citizen petition entitled "Petition for Renaming Dudley Square to Nubian Square" (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh)-passed
- Docket 1122: An Act Authorizing the City of Boston to grant one additional license for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises (Councilor Ciommo)-passed
- Docket 1264: Message & order approving a Home Rule Petition to the General Court entitled "An Act to Authorize the Boston Redevelopment Authority to Grant Easements for Utility Purposes Over a Portion of a Certain Parcel of Land Located in the City of Boston" (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh)-passed
- Docket 0184: An Ordinance Reauthorizing Condominium Conversion Protection in the City of Boston (Councilor Edwards & Zakim)
- Docket 0187: Home Rule Petition: An Act Authorizing the City of Boston to establish an investor & commercial properties transfer fee (Councilor Edwards & Janey)
- Docket 0250: An Ordinance Protecting Local Wetlands and Promoting Climate Change Adaptation in the City of Boston (Councilor Wu & O’Malley)
- Docket 0975: Ordinance amending the City of Boston Trust Act (Councilor Zakim)
- Docket 1452: Message & order for approval of a Home Rule Petition to the General Court entitled :"Petition for a Special Law re: An Act Relative to Certain Affordable Housing in the Charlestown Section of the City of Boston" (Mayor Walsh)
- Docket 1453: Message & Order for approval of a home rule petition to the General Court entitled "Petition for a Special Law Re: an Act Relative to Certain Affordable Housing in the Brighton Section of City of Boston" (Mayor Walsh)
- Docket 0315: An Ordinance Establishing Equitable Regulation of the Cannabis Industry in City of Boston (Councilor Janey)
- Appointments:
- Docket 0671: Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Sammy Nabulsi as a Member of the Municipal Lobbying Compliance Commission for a term expiring January 3, 2022.
- Docket 0672: Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Stephanie Everett as a Member of the Municipal Lobbying Compliance Commission for a term expiring January 3, 2022.
- Docket 0673: Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Vivien Li as a Member of the Municipal Lobbying Compliance Commission for a term expiring January 3, 2022.
Committee on the Community Preservation Act (Chair):
- Alongside the members of the appointed Community Preservation Commission, the City Council's Committee on the Community Preservation Act, of which Michael is Chairman, reviews and approves budgetary requests for community-based projects seeking CPA funding.
- $34,926,700 from the Fiscal Year 2019 Community Preservation Fund for projects from Community Preservation Committee (Sponsored by Mayor Walsh): The Committee held a hearing to review the recommendations of the Community Preservation Commission to fund 56 projects for a total of $34,926,700. These funds were allocated to 26 open space projects, 20 historical preservation projects, and 10 affordable housing projects in the City of Boston. Following a productive hearing, Councilor Flaherty recommended that the Council approve the Commission's funding recommendations.
Paid for by The Committee to Elect Michael F. Flaherty