Open Space, Environment and Energy Committee - Regular Meeting

Okay. Good evening, everybody. It's Monday, 04/07/2025, 6PM. Pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2023, this meeting of the city council committee will be conducted via remote participation. We'll post an audio recording, audio video recording, transcript, and 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. And with that, Peter, can you, please call the roll to establish a quorum?

The roll call, councilor Davis. Councilor Wilson.

Present.

Councilor Burnley. Present. Councilor Syed. And counsel Abar.

Present.

Mister chair, we have three present. Two absent, we have a quorum.

Mister chair, if the record could reflect that I'm present, I may be having some audio problems. I'll look into that, but I am here and present.

Okay. Councilor Davis is present. Four present, one absent.

Thank you, I just I almost wanted to also say that I think I see, counselor Davis online. So we will take we'll approve the first two items on the agenda, and then we will take one item out of order. So can we call the role to approve?

Mister Chiu, do you wanna read that first paragraph on the agenda? Absolutely. Paragraph?

Yes. I think I did that.

Oh, you might have. Okay. I'm having a bad day too.

No. No worries.

I don't know. I'm having some technical issues myself. Okay. So you have minutes of 12/09/2024 and 02/20/2025. On approval, councilor Davis.

Yes.

Councilor Wilson. Yes. Councilor Burnley. Councilor Burnley? Aye. Councilor Syed?

Yes.

And councilor Bah?

Yes.

Mister chair, all members have voted to accept those minutes.

Thank you for. So now we will move straight ahead and take agenda item number four out of order because we have some notables here from Eversource. So barring any objection, let's move to item number four.

Item four is that the director of sustainability and environment conveying an overview of Commonwealth's clean energy goals, electric sector modernization plan, demand growth in some of all, and capital projects underway or planned.

Thank you, professor Felicity. I believe we have Eversource here, and we also have doctor Blaise from the office of environment and and sustainability. So, doctor Blaise, good to see you.

Through here. Thank you so much for having us.

Of course. So I guess the way I I see this is Eversource had presented to us before the council, and we all had the same presentation was sent to us. And I will have a quick I have, some quick remarks and thoughts to get some feedback and then why we would jump in into, like, more conversation as as we progress with this conversation. The presentation was very thoughtful, you know, really well thought out, especially with the energy infrastructure planning. But one thought, again, that I just thought about now, it's like, want to know from Eversource what kinds of new project risk are arising out of the trade war, for example, and with how constrained energy technology supply chain, you know, already are.

So it will be say, for me personally, I'll be unsurprised if capital or project cost increase or if project timelines lengthen. And, specifically, I would also like to know about how any impacts to the Prosper Street Substation 402 and Substation 8025 projects, you know, which actually we saw in the presentation are already underway as well as the, underground cable modernization program, project planning. Because my concern, first of all, is my initial concern is that, you know, project rate seems, you know, to get passed off to rate payers in the form of higher utility bills. So I think that, you know, the trade war if the if Eversource thinks that trade war could produce a meaningful increase in monthly rates through higher project risk, then that's something that could be important to communicate to the public. So, I will pause there and get some initial response and feedbacks, you know, from, you know, like, either you, director Blaise or, you know, from Eversource.

Through you, mister chair. Thank you so much. I will on on the answers to those questions, I will defer to Eversource. I think this evening, were prepared to talk about the convert the the presentation. And then, you know, if any to your point, have any new state or federal laws impacted the implementation of modernization efforts?

Have any changes been made to these plans or policies? And, you know, these these changes, I I think I can just sort of say blanket are sort of ebbing and flowing every day. We don't really know if any of them are gonna stick, what's gonna stick. So so I think in in terms of where the office of sustainability and environment is at with all of these sort of federal changes, we're monitoring the situation and and and, you know, taking action as we need to, but generally monitoring it and can update the council, you know, as as things develop as it becomes apparent to us. And then I wanted to turn it over to Eversource to discuss how this is impacting, you know, their their work on on their end because that the presentation was created by them, and it was designed to help to illustrate to council members and members of the public sort of what we're uncovering about what it's going to take to decarbonize our multifamily housing stocks, particularly buildings that have more than three units in them, and and just sort of the scale and the scope of of the upgrades that we're we're gonna be looking for for infrastructure.

But, folks at Eversource, I will turn it over to you.

Thank you, director Blaise. And just to the Eversource folks, we're delighted to have you, and feel free to, you know, like, re you know, hash this presentation. Usually, when you present to the council at the committee level, that's where the nuts and bolts, you know, get ironed out. So just take it away. You know? I mean, it yeah. It's your it's your ball. And they forget about what I just the thoughts I had. Yes. We have the presentation. You wanna run through it again, highlight the things that I asked, or you whatever thing that, you know, you wanna share with the members of the committee. Be our guest.

Hi. Good evening. Yep. Jason, are you on? Okay. There you are. Great.

I'm on. And I apologize. I'm having some diff some computer difficulties here. So I caught I caught some of the questions, but we can certainly, touch on them again. I did I did hear a question regarding supply supply chain challenges, being asked. I will say that, you know, since since COVID, we continue, to experience supply chain challenges. That without question, I think is impacting our purchasing strategy. There are many factors that continue to contribute to some of the challenges that we're facing, supply disruptions, as you could probably imagine, procurement. I heard a question regarding costs. Rising costs are also impacting that due to, you know, supply supply and demand, inflation, lack of competition.

I think overall, as you alluded to, industry demand for equipment and materials continues. As a result of that, you know, storm restoration, capital work, you know, natural disasters across The United States, clean energy growth, these all these all, factor in our bill our ability to procure, what we need to to electrify or to continue to electrify, our cities and towns. And then, you know, there are also geo geopolitical issues affecting our ability to to procure certain materials. A lot of these or some of these materials come from Russia, from Ukraine. So without stating the obvious, it can, you know, impact there's impacts, there as well.

Ronit, sorry. I don't know if those are the what are the questions, if there's anything else I can, I I can hit on? I apologize.

No. Jason, I think it was and members of the of the council, thank you for having us this evening. I'm Ronique Goldstein. I was also in attendance in November before the full council. I think from what I understood, this is more of a free flowing conversation to allow the committee to to to take a deeper dive. I think with that, we'll introduce Juan Martinez. Juan, if you're able to jump in, he is our subject matter expert in terms of system planning. As, you know, we look, there you are, Jason. Now I

see you.

I think some of the the questions were specific to, however Source is planning to meet the future demands of the city, in terms of electrification and just upgrading overall upgrading of the and modernizing of the grid that serves the city.

Excuse me. Like, so with when anybody wants to speak, please just identify yourself just for the record so that people you know, like, members of the public know who is talking and know who is, you know, representing us here. So who is talking, please?

Earlier, it was Ronit, and now it's Juan Martinez from Eversource.

Okay. Thank you. So is Ronnie still there?

I think she muted. Ronnie, you're muted. We can't hear you. But I can start with some you know, I I could also add, like Ronit mentioned, I'm from system planning, so I was involved. I was also in in a meeting before, but I was also involved in the in the presentation that was put together last time.

So, yeah, I'm here for any questions that you have. I I I I saw your questions on the on the trade war just like Jason mentioned. At this point, it's it's it's and as director Christine mentioned, it is kinda early to know how that is going to affect the long term, right, of of the planning process. So it is very early, things that are starting. Keep in mind that, you know, the way we order some of this equipment, we order ahead of time.

Right? So it might affect future equipment, but the major bulk equipment, the major equipment that goes into substation, those are items that we order ahead of time. So it might affect some projects in the future. It might affect some projects in the present, but some projects might not get affected. So, again, it is too early to know how it's going to affect each individual project. But overall, like Jason mentioned, obviously, if this continues, it'll all obviously, have effect in in the equipment that we buy, cables, transformers. Those equipments could be affected in the lead time for those equipment, which were already a bit high from COVID. I hope that answers your question.

Oh, no. Thank thank you, Juan. Yeah. So when you talk about, like, the ones that so, counselor Wilson, I'll I'll I'll be I'll come back to you, please. So the one that when I mentioned the ones that are currently underway, you know, like, according to the presentation, you had, like, the Prospect Street substation.

Project was underway. The substation of eight zero two project already underway, and then also the, I think, underground cable modernization program. So there's quite a lot of projects that were underway. So and so my concern is that project risk seems to get passed off to ratepayers in the form of high utility bills. So, like, how does that, the current ones that are underway, like, do you think what what is the impact?

Yeah. It's it's it's too early to say what is the long term impact, but I can tell you that from some of the projects that you've seen that are on the way, at least some of that major equipment was already acquired, right, or was already placed in order. So might not have that bigger impact at least on the immediate projects. But, yes, on the future projects, depending on what happens, it could affect, especially those the cable modernization programs in the future. Right?

Those could have a risk, but but we can't tell. It is truly too early to know how that is going to affect, the projects. Keep in mind sorry sorry to sorry to add that. Keep in mind that some of this equipment, right, the lead time is it's four years three, four, five years. Right? So for the projects that are immediate, obviously, some of that equipment is already in hand because we would have had to order it four years ago. Right? Correct. Thank you.

Got it. Got you. No. Thank you. Just, you know, like, a little last pluck here is just to make sure that, you know I guess, the main point here is to, you know, make you understand that whenever you you think that there's gonna be, like, some increase in monthly rate, you know, through this higher project risk, it is something that I think the public should know that. You know? It should be communicated in a timely fashion. I'll I'll come back. Come director Blaise, I see your hand up. Councilor Wilson, would you wanna yield so director Blaise maybe substantiate something? Thank you. Director Blaise, you have something to ask.

Sure. Yes. Thank you so much. Through you. I I just wanted to share that, you know, we have the in Summerville, we have the Community Choice Electricity Program, and that program has rates locked in through January 2028.

There's two things that are sort of impacting, you know, sort of the what ratepayers are are dealing with now, and that's the supply the supply cost and the demand cost. And the right now, Eversource has started to do a new sort of kind of pricing scheme where instead of your instead of looking at a January to June sort of timeline for variable rates, you're looking at February to July. And the reason why that has happened is because, they wanna combat the, sort of volatility that we would typically see between a summer rate and a and a winter rate. And that has worked. This has been the first cycle that it has happened, and that has dropped what's called what's referred to as Eversource's basic service rate, which is, you know, if you if your community didn't have or you were in their service territory for electricity and you didn't have a community choice aggregation program like Summerville and our neighbors do, you would just that would automatically be what you would get.

And their current basic service rate is lower than is slightly lower than Summerville's default rate. So what you would automatically opted be opted into, which is what 75% of our Community Choice aggregation customers are enrolled in. But that being said, Summerville's basic rate within that program is still slightly lower. And they're so than what Eversource's basic service rate is. So that's all to say that there's, you know, a chance for that to go up and not always be the case in the future.

And in fact, this is only the second time in the program's history that that has happened. So, you know, while we do know that Eversource's rates will change, we don't know how much or how little, which is one of the benefits of the community choice aggregation program in Somerville. And what we do know is that our price is locked in for nearly three years from now too. So depending on how the situation develops, if electricity prices do increase significantly, the Somerville community is at least somewhat protected from those. Gas might be a different story, because we don't currently have a, you know, an aggregation program for gas.

But, I at least just wanted to share that about our aggregation program and how it can help ratepayers during this kind of turbulent time.

Excellent.

Yep. Yep. Thank you. Yeah. Yes, counselor. Jason Wright, community relations for EBSOIS. Just to add to add to a little bit of what Christine says. We as many people are aware, you know, our customers, myself included, we experienced, higher gas rates, this year. There were, several factors that went into that, supply costs being higher. Again, we pay whatever we pay for gas.

It's a pass along cost. There's no profit made through made through that. But this winter was surprisingly it may not seem it, but it was significantly colder than winters winters in the past. There was also, increased costs associated with the Mass Save program. So as a result of this, we we're working with our customers, rather rather diligently, reaching out to them, providing bill assist offerings or programs that they can, that they may or may not be, aware of that they're that they're entitled to, whether it's whether it's, you know, based on their income, based on their, senior citizens.

So there are factors there, that can insist in that. The state as well stepped in. They the DPU, they decreased the Mass Save program budget by $500,000,000. Additionally, they offered, directed utilities to provide a onetime $50 payment or credit, if you will, on on all of the accounts. And the governor I apologize.

I don't know where it stands now, but I know the governor is also working on an energy and affordability bill. I think some of what Christine referenced, aligns with that. So we're certainly cognizant of, you know, any rate increase on our customers. We're doing our best to to really negate that to the extent possible. So regarding cost recovery, I know you had mentioned you what are these projects costs?

Typically, once these projects are are, quote, unquote, in service, they're paid for throughout the lifetime of the of the program itself. So it's a cost recovery mechanism that's borne throughout the entire state. So if there's a specific project to Summerville, it won't fall just on Summerville rate payers. It'll be spread out over the lifetime of that project, and it'll be spread out amongst all the rate payers within the state.

Thank you. Thank you, Jason. I'll move, you know, to my colleagues. Councilor Wilson.

Thank you, chair. Yeah. Love a shout out for our Community Choice Electricity program. Always great to hear that. And I'm I'm glad the conversation here has has gone to the the delivery charges that we've heard so much about here.

Anticipating the question I was gonna ask around those. Yeah. We we understand the obligations of the Mass Save energy efficiency program that tend to get cited as the main driver behind this. You know, there is also then the cost of these projects, modernizing, improving our electric grid, as well as, we'll name it, the 18,800,000.0 in CEO compensation to the Eversource CEO. I don't know how much folks on here know about the finances behind the the those those decisions, but I I guess I'm just between the two, you know, the modernization versus the, you know, the consumer, Mass Save program, you know, what's what's really driving these, increases in the delivery charges?

Without having the specifics in front of me at the moment, my recollection is that the largest, driver of that increase, was the Mass Save program, which is why I was the first one to be, cut by $500,000,000. It was I don't wanna call it a it's in case utilize it, the more it costs, is what I'm saying. So when we have Yeah. Know, low low energy programs, we have heat pump offerings. It's it's one of those things where we it has to be paid for.

So, again, the more people that utilize it, the higher that cost, the higher that budget line goes up. I don't have a breakdown of the allocation or the percentages of the distribution of the supply charges. I mean, that's something I'm certainly happy to follow-up with you on.

Alright. I'll do mister Cherry, I'll just say I'm I'm disappointed. I was very excited about some of the enhancements in the 2025 to 2027, Mass Save program that really seem to be focused on on figuring out how we can make our our rental units more energy efficient. It's it's been one of the toughest things for us to tackle, right, as we look to to modernize things here for, in terms of our our housing. So that that's disappointing to see that, you know, that's that was the thing that led to the that's being cut to to try to make this all all zero out.

Mister Chair, through you, to whoever wants to take this, we'd heard that, in that presentation, it it had mentioned that the Sunerville substation expansion project was delayed as of it said as of September. Is that still the case? Is there any update there?

And and before somebody respond, please, before you since there's multiple folks from the same entity, just identify yourself before you you you respond, please, just for the record. Thank you.

Hi. Jason Reg, community relations again, regarding Station 402. Construction's ongoing, for the additional transformer. Our current projected schedule has the transformer being energized early quarter two of next year.

Mr. Chair, another question I had was in the presentation, it lists life sciences being the main demand driver in the near term for that additional, electricity needed. I'm curious if the changes that we're seeing in the life science market have impacted that projected demand here and and possibly the urgency around any of this.

Juan, can I defer that one to you?

This is Juan Martinez again from Eversource System Planning. Well so the the the way the process is every year, we review the loads, the new builders that are coming up. We are seeing a a change of some of the buildings usage from life science to, let's say, commercial or other uses. So it will have an effect on on on load. But, again, that's a process that we go through every year, we review it. We're still on the process of reviewing that information as a as a system wide level. But to answer your questions, yes, we are seeing some shifts in in some of the building usage across the system.

Mister chair, through you finally, I just wanna say the you know, we talked about this at the the meeting back in November, but, you know, I just wanna name the the impact on the community from a construction standpoint of this work. And I will, again, as I have in the past, stump for choosing that Charlestown route, just to to minimize the disruption on on our community as it go that route goes through a, we'll say, a less, a less densely inhabited part of the region. Thanks.

Thank you. Councilor Wilson.

Yep. Jason Jason Wright, community relations again. For you, councilor. Yep. We certainly I think we, as a project team, certainly recognize that, you know, industry construction can be disruptive or will be disruptive.

To that end, we have a special team project engagement that as well as community, relations that, you know, engages directly with the community, whether it's through, you know, phone phone calls, dedicated email, emails, door hangers, dedicated websites, dedicated phone numbers, and the like. So, we have been or we continue to meet, you know, quite literally years in advance before these projects start opening up the road. Because at the end of the day, we don't want anyone to be surprised by this works, and we do like I said, we do our best to coordinate with the community, whether it's city council members, whether it's, local chambers of commerce or business associations and the like. So I certainly recognize the the work can be disruptive, but, we do our best to, make sure there's no rock unturned when it comes to notification and minimizing, impacts when and where possible.

Thank you, Pearson. Thank you. And, yeah, I think, you know, one is one thing that is key is, like, always timely communication. It's always very key to any successful project. Once people are aware, then, you know, they can, you know, find alternatives or they can actually prepare. Like, when is that plan something, it's it's always very valuable. Any members of the community community have any question for Eversource? Councilor Davis.

Thank you, mister chair. Tell me if my audio's in and out. I I think I fixed it. But Perfect. Alright.

Thank you. Through you to the folks from Eversource, and this is sort of related to well, it's really a bunch of the questions. But the as as councilor Wilson noted, the, you know, the primary anticipated increase is is you know, sort of revolves around commercial and lab development, and and we'll see really what happens there. Obviously, there are there are many buildings that are already built, so we get that. My question is, you know, there's a there's a lot of discussion around the city about, increasing density for housing, in in various areas, and we we just had a meeting last week in, in the committee on land use to talk about how we can rework zoning to to really maximize the opportunities around the transit nodes, especially the new transit nodes around the green line.

But, you know, I'll call out even even in around the Red Line Station, Davis Square, which has been there for thirty years, forty years, whatever it whatever the whatever the number is. Math. Not my thing. You know, there's a a property owner there that was floating the idea of building a 25 story tower with 500 units. So my question is, you know, would significant residential development around the transit nodes in the next, you know, whatever time period change the analysis here, or does this account for sort of the the type of of, of density that we've talked about in our, you know, citywide planning documents for some time.

This is Juan Martinez, Eversource. Through you, counselor. So if if you recall the presentation that we gave, we have a long term view for the city of Somerville in terms of load growth. Both the expansion of the existing Somerville Prospect Street Station, which is the near term the near term solution to alleviate both the Union Square area, you know, and the city of and the station that supplies the city of Somerville. But that should that should be sufficient, let's say, for the near term.

But also for the long term, we do have a proposal for a new station that will also help with the long term needs of the city. So, obviously, we will take customer information as they come. We we plan every year. So as we see this, let's call them step load or or large loads coming to our system, we will plan for them. You know, we have time for that, but the current solutions that are proposed should be sufficient for the ten year planning horizon.

Okay. Thank you, mister chair. If I just just to confirm through you to mister Martinez, thank you for that. So just to make sure I'm I'm clear. So, you know, if what you're saying is the the with with the new station coming online, I think you said about a year from now, unless that was fiscal year second quarter fiscal year.

But if you're talking calendar year, second quarter, about a year from now coming online, you know, any any significant outside of the office lab space development, which has already accounted for, any significant, you know, additional residential, you know, within, let's say, the five to seven year time frame would be you you can handle that. And then as you saw additional plans coming forward or, as you said, each year, you're you're looking you're looking, you know, further out and and, you know, account for that as the time comes. But you do have the capacity for if we are able to unlock and, you know, given the environment, who knows who's gonna build anything in the next few years? But if if we were able to unlock significant new residential in the short term, there there would be capacity for that. Did I understand that correctly in the chair?

This is Juan Martinez from Eversource through your chair. And and when I say capacity, right, I'm talking long lead Obviously, the substation is the key driver. Because if if the substation doesn't have capacity, those are things that take five, six, seven years. Right? Transmission as well that takes five, ten plus years. Right? So So I'll at the substation level, we we the way we're planning the 04/2002 upgrade, there will be spare capacity to pick up additional load in the future, and that's why I'm saying, you know, we should be okay in the next ten years. Okay. Distribution line is a little different. Right?

So as as new buildings come in and and and depending the location, probably distribution line upgrades will be needed. Right? Because we don't know where the building is, and those lines might not be big enough to carry the new load. But those that's a shorter time construction. Right? We're talking one, two, three years ahead instead of five, six, seven, eight years as a substation. So in terms of substation capacity, which is the long lead item, we should be okay in the ten year planning horizon for any additional growth that we will see.

Thank you.

Oh, I was muted. Thank you, counselor Davis, and thank you, Juan. So anybody else, you know, from the committee that has any question to ask Eversource? Okay. So I guess no.

Thank you. This is this was a healthy conversation. And since there's so many moving parts, including this, many unknowns, it would be nice to I guess just one last one. Probably, you know, just, maybe this even is still the same. The the response is probably gonna fall under the same, I guess.

Like, I'm just curious about, like, just given this, you know, the disruption in federal policy directives and in funding. Like, do we expect that some of the programs, both already underway or in planning, will have to stop? Like, this is just I just I just have to ask this one just you know? Yeah.

I, Jason Wright, community relations, counselor. I don't anticipate, any federal funding, directly impacting, some of them.

Okay. I'm asking

The ESMP, the electric sector modernization plan, which I believe which we referenced earlier, it has not been impacted by any, federal laws. Implementation of the capital projects that are in that document will be subject or still be subject to, state citing and permitting guidelines for clean energy infrastructure. As you may know, last I believe it was last November, the governor signed the Climate Act. That act reforms our or the state's citing in permitting, processes for clean energy infrastructure. Mhmm.

One of the big takeaways, on that effort is, in essence, a deadline for the actual permitting. Not a deadline, but, decisions for municipal permitting, I believe, have to be rendered within twelve months. And at the state level through the EFSB, believe it's 15. There's other parts of that bill. Full disclosure, not entirely familiar with the entire.

I think we're still digesting it. It establishes funds to support municipalities and EJ communities that may not have the resources, to analyze or legal representation for some of these projects that come through. It improves community outreach and engagement. To that end, I do know that the state or the Commonwealth will be working or continue to be working with us to develop, guidance to implement these provisions with the goal, I believe, it's March 2026.

Thank you, Justin. I I I expected, like, a small simple answer that says no. It wasn't gonna stop. But, yeah, no. Appreciate that elaboration. So I think it would be wise to keep this item in committee so you guys maybe after a few months or so, if you can you know, we can have you guys back to update the committee of any changes and where things are and how we can continue to move forward. Does that sound okay with you guys?

Yep. Councilor, Jason Wright, again, community relations. And I would I would like to I would like to thank city officials. We do have a very I don't wanna much speaking for the city, but I think we have a great relationship. We have biweekly meetings with engineering. Christine Blaise has been a great asset for us working together collaboratively. So, you know, full disclosure, that's not always the case in community that we're every community that we we service, but I think we're fortunate here to be working with a city, that's really forward thinking, thinks outside the box. I mean, we toured the geothermal site, you know, last week or a couple months ago with the mayor. So, we certainly don't take that for granted. It, they get, you know, thinking creatively outside the box, working collaboratively oh, excuse me.

Can't talk collaboratively, with cities and towns, really helps us to, you know, advance these initiatives and, help the city as well as the state, achieve the clean energy and decarbonization of goals. So I just want us to say we appreciate the partnership with you all as well as the city.

Amazing. Wow. Jason, you can be a good PR for us. And and, Davis, don't you think?

Thank you, counselor.

No worries. Thank you guys for your time. And, yeah, we really appreciate, you know, the update and the conversation. Thank you.

Thank you to the committee. Thank you.

So, counsel Davis, we would I think, you know, barring any objection from members of the committee, you know, we would keep this item in committee. So, Peter?

Yes.

Yeah. I think we should be all set with this item. We'll keep it in committee. Okay. So, I don't think there's any other wow. I thought maybe this meeting would be, like, the quickest meeting ever, but it's you never say it's gonna end so quick. So we'll just return back to the regular, you know, agenda, which is, Peter, which one what what do we have next?

Item three. Okay. Item three.

Could you read that for us, please?

Certainly. That's the director of the office of sustainability and environment workers council and Ensemble to develop a job description for an invasive species position to spread outreach, education, and citywide invasive plant species removal and to allocate funding for such a position in the f y two thousand twenty five budget.

Yeah. Thank you, Peter. I guess, we, you know, we're coming to a close with this item. We will hear from maybe the administration what they're paying, but I think we've also heard from the advocates and the activists that, you know, they were so understanding, and the email actually really made it clear that they know the national dilemma that is, you know, with all the upheaval. And so that in light of that, they will also agree that we will close this item, But, I'm still hopeful to hear something, you know, optimistic from members of the administration, you know, as to where things stands and just so we can when we regroup in the future, at some point when the item gets resubmitted, we can know how how to proceed.

So direct director Yasmin.

Thank you, mister chair. Just, yeah, just legislative liaison, not a a director. Yes. My name is Yasmin Radasi, legislative liaison at IGA. Thank you for hosting this conversation on this item.

As you mentioned, this has been in this committee for a while. I think it was first filed in January. So it's given us quite a chance to have numerous conversations both with the committee and also with the advocates with Green and Open Summerville. I know I met with them, I think, my second week in the city, and the mayor has also met with them as recently as last week. So just wanna highlight how important that invasive species management is to the mayor that she's worked on initiatives such as the native species ordinance and also the pollinator action plan, which was released, both plants that are very unique to the country and not in it's something that that Somerville's taking the lead on.

In terms of budget, I know you mentioned this just as you were entering this, and I know that our director of finance has been repeating this over and over again. But just wanna highlight again that we are in, we're looking at a level service budget for f y twenty six, and that's across all our departments, just based on lower revenue projections due to a range of external factors, which, again, director Bean has explained much better than I ever could. So just wanted to flag that that we are in the middle of a financially conservative outlook. But this this issue is important to the mayor, and so we are looking at different ways that we can tackle this. It's a really complex issue.

Because of the nature of invasive species, they're really easy to spread. They're biologically designed to survive. And so, especially when we're looking at management of invasive species on private property, there's a lot of constraints around how we can do that. I can say and I know director Oliveira from PSEF is on the, on the Zoom with us, and she can probably give a little bit more detail when it comes to what PSOF's work is. But I know that as part of park renovation work, PSOF goes in and removes any invasive species that they find on in in private property sorry, in public in on those public parcels.

Apologies. And DPW also has a new gardener who has some level of expertise and is able to identify invasive species and remove them from public parks. And, yeah, we're also taking a look at what other communities in the Greater Boston area are doing to specifically tackle this issue. So trying to take best lessons from how they organize around this issue. And, again, I am not an expert on specific species that are invasive or anything, so I do have director Oliveira here to talk about, the more technical aspects related to that. Thank you.

Thank you. Thanks. Councilor Davis, would you mind to you to hear from, doctor Oliveira, or you wanna or do you wanna get your your your comments out?

Mister chair, I'm happy to yell, but I will note that councilor Burnley, believe. So I Oh. Really don't wanna step on his

Oh, my bad. Sorry, councilor Burnley. I did not oh my look at he has, like his hand is, like, some color that is so blurred. It's almost like a whole poster. Casa Verde, would you mind waiting for doctor Oliveira to, you know, just shed some light? Is that okay with you? Happy to you. Okay. Thank you. Doctor Oliveira, take it away, please.

Yes. Good evening to the chair. I don't really have very much to add. I think most folks know or for those of you who weren't here during the native species ordinance that invasive plants are nonnative plants that are very aggressive spreaders. They are, as Yasmin said, biologically adapted to thrive in the harshest environments.

Not all invasive plants are nonnative. You can also have invasive natives. But the ones that we are and not all nonnatives are invasive. So you can have nonnative plants that are not a threat to the environment. The things that we are talking about do take over, and they are harmful because they can be spread by birds.

They can be spread by people, and they can take over landscapes. This is especially difficult in naturalized or natural areas because you can have a whole species take over the natural landscape. It is a very thorny issue, pardon the pun, because many of these are on private property, and we cannot we have done although we've done some educational campaigns around things like black swallow wart, which is an invasive species, we can't forcing private property owners to remove invasive species is a whole another ball of wax. One thing I will say because we have looked into how these programs are working locally is that the advocates, most of them are volunteer led. And so there is a lot of opportunity given that we have, not a lot of funding to do things that are community based, to have, events where native species are being removed.

The other thing that I'll just point out is that many, some of the more aggressive native species are not removed by simple weeding and often necessitate pesticide or an herbicide, which we do not like to use. And so that is another complicated issue. But a lot can be done with harnessing volunteer power and with volunteers deciding to go and, work on it. And that that's evident in our black swallow work campaign that we run every year.

Thank you, doctor Oliveira. Appreciate that insight. Councilor Bally?

Thank you through the chair. As the councilor brought forward this item about fifteen months ago, I'll note that I'm I'm a bit disappointed at where we are both for the fact that it's been fifteen months. You know, we talked I submitted this before last year's budget, and it it feels to me like we're not any closer to resolution on this matter. I appreciate the comments from the director. I will note, yes, we have volunteer capacity around this.

We have the community has used volunteer capacity around this thus far. The volunteers, as was noted, were the people who said, we need an actual position for this in order to advance this work. And, you know, given the amount of time that has been put into conversations around this order publicly, I do find it disappointing and somewhat bizarre that, you know, I found out that this item was being dispensed with maybe about an hour before this meeting. That's the the counselor brought it forward, again, fifteen months ago. I I find that not great.

I think there is more that

we can do on

this. Certainly, I'm aware of the financial landscape that Summerville as well as other municipalities are in, which is an uncertain landscape. No one actually knows what we're looking at here for the next fiscal year in totality. But, you know, having not been a part of these conversations as of late, I have no personal assurance that, you know, there is a commitment to this role given how long this has been in committee. So but, you know, happy to resubmit it again because I've already done that before. So looking forward to that.

Thank you, councilor Boni. Before I move to councilor Davis, councilor Boni, I I hear you, and I'm open to, you know, like, get your discretion about how to proceed with this item. Like, you know, it was my preference to mark it as work complete, but if you think otherwise, that's fine. That's I wouldn't you know? Yeah. So thank you. Councilor Davis.

Thank you, mister chair. I as you know, I hope you know how much I appreciate and says the the I think the first weirdo that showed up at the at the city council chambers with a small award and and started bringing the bell about it or sounding the alarm as the case may be. You know, I I very much appreciate the sort of guidance has given, and and I I am sort of steering us away from the ordinance based approach and and really focused on education. And I think that is luck successful, although, you know, whether we'll ever win to do anything these things is, think, an open question. I also and I I I I'm heartened and though not surprised to Nuance discussion about other species, and I I just you you have Japanese not weighed in mind as I do, when you were describing some of the other ones, particularly, you know, I I have this vision that that and I know I'm not the only one that shares this, that it it's entirely possible that someday black swallow wart will be the only plant on this planet given the way it goes and its its ability to adapt to seemingly any situation.

So all of I wish to say, I I do agree with my colleagues. So I would love to have you, director Oliveira, focused, you know, if not full time, much more than you are on this issue because I think you'd be brilliant at it, but you also bring lots of value to all of the other things you do. And I recognize that, you know, we just don't have we don't have enough of you to go around, and and and it's it's a a time when we don't really have the the ability to expand our capacity. So I get that. I accept it.

I'm frustrated with it, but it is what it is. You know? But in lieu of that, you know, I I I just I would urge, and I I I know this doesn't fall on on deaf ears. You know? I would urge that we really continue, if not increase the the outreach efforts, the education efforts, because this is the type of thing that you know, it's it's almost it's incredibly difficult to get ahead of it, and we made some progress, you know, on some species in the past few years.

I really don't wanna see that lost, particularly with the turnover in our population. That is just the nature of the city and the way it is. We have to keep getting that information into people's hands. And then the last thing I'll say, at least for the moment, is that, know, as it relates to Japanese knotweed specifically, and this could be a conversation perhaps that, you know, you and I can have offline or or whomever else, but, not that I think you my lack of expertise, opinion on it. But I I worry when we do have these volunteer led efforts when I see people coming back with bags full of black of, Japanese knotweed that they pulled.

Based on my that it it actually encourages the giant root balls to sort of send shoots out to other places and can actually cause the cause it to spread more. And I kinda, you know, I shudder when I see that, and and I've, you know, gently sort of suggested that maybe we focus on things. People have different views, and I had people who say, no. No. That's not true.

You can do this. I'm not an expert, but I've read enough on it because I'm a dork. And I go down rabbit holes with this stuff that I I'm fairly well convinced that that, you know, digging up or pulling, you know, stands of Japanese knotweed along the bike path, for example, is not probably the best approach, and that we we really are gonna need a more coordinated approach that likely will involve using pesticides. As one of the counselors who who, you know, pushed the movement to to steer away from the use of use of pesticides years ago together with former council Nita Gang, I will say, I am here for using them, you know, in precision applications when we need to because I think that, you know, I I've learned. And sometimes that's that's the tool we have.

So I will look forward to that conversation down the road, and I stand ready to help in whatever way I can. Thank you.

Thank you, councilor Davis. I will echo your sentiment. I think I was also on that campaign for black swallow water. As you remember, a few years ago when I was chairing the same committee on open space environment and energy. So I guess you know? And Doctor. Olivera, like, you've heard you've you you're doing a lot. Everybody, you know, knows that and commend you for that. It's just how do we, you know, optimize our outreach and educational methodologies so that everybody, you know, feels very inclusive in the process. You know?

So, I think you have a comment to that. Councilor Wilson, would you yield to doctor Oliveira? Thank you. So doctor Oliveira?

Yes. To the chair, I just wanted to add a little bit more of information because it is true as councilor Mbaugh said that we, with this council and past councils, have really moved the needle forward on all of these things and on making a more sustainable urban environment. But one of the ways in which we have is that we now have a horticultural contractor who works on our most elaborate plantings and our most complicated ones, recognizing that it's very hard to have that expertise in DPW given how the jobs are are laid out. And those contractors are removing invasives at every visit to every one of these more complicated parks. There are 12 of them.

And so the invasives in the parks, I don't think is a large issue in the in areas where we're constructing. So for example, if any of you are familiar with Summerville Junction Park, which is along the community path and is in construction right now, we have treated those areas to remove all invasive vegetation, including the Japanese knotweed, which, although it's edible and some people propose we eat it, yes, it's very, very difficult to remove and almost impossible without some kind of chemical assistance. So I think in the public lands, there may be some verge strips that are not being as carefully taken care of where they're just getting weed whacked or moan. But for the most part, I believe that we have gotten a handle on our more planted parks on invasives. The problem really is in areas that aren't maintained by the city or not public or in private and particularly absentee landlords.

That's where they really kind of go. Although all gardeners, you know, I have to pull things out too. So I think the the bigger issue is along the t tracks or areas that have not that we know don't actively maintain. I just wanted to let you know that there is some stuff going on and that we are taking care of our of our parks.

Thank you, director Oliveira. Councilor David, is it on that point?

It is, mister chair. If if just jump in for a quick follow-up. Thank you, doctor Oliveira. I just wanted to note the irony that per I wish I wish I'd together while we still had the folks from Eversource here, because that building that they own is is prob one of, if not, the biggest stands of Japanese knotweed. And, you know, I I shudder when I think of the years that I that I got on their case to keep telling them to cut it back, cut it back, cut it back, cut it back so that the kids walking to the Brown and Kennedy schools could get through the sidewalk and seeing how much it has spread perhaps as a result of that.

You know? So I I conversation to help maybe foster a conversation with with Eversource as the owners of that building to develop a plan at the right time of of the growing season because that is also a critical piece of it to get down to the what I have have have to imagine is a a root system that may might rival the size of the building on above. You know, to me, that that's the one that keeps me up at night. Thank you, mister chair, for the indulgence.

Thank you, councilor Davis. I think your mic has also been tweaking a little bit in and out in and out. So but I think we got we got the gist. Councilor Wilson?

Yeah. Thanks, Sharon. I appreciate our colleague from Ward 6 coming up with that that very concrete example, that that we I think we've all seen from from Walker. And I'll note it's it's encouraging to hear director Oliveira's point about, you know, lands that, you know, as we heard earlier, it gets tricky removing it from, you know, from a a private property, but public property gives me some hope. I appreciate the people who show up to to these events, as we as we crowdsource some of this.

And I appreciate, director Oliveira's, work on on getting literature out there. I I think I've told this story before, but my wife, when she was walking between Kendall and and here, took a I gave her an enormous stack of those. And she I I thought it would take her weeks, she came back the next day and said, can you get me more? So, not to stray too far off the topic here, but since we are talking about the general approach here, through the chair to director Olivera. In the past, I think I'd asked about getting, multilingual versions of those done. Have we had any success with getting the Spanish or Portuguese version of that awesome brochure done?

Through the chair, we we have not, but we can ask Soye for an assist with that. I think they're probably pretty busy given, you know, the the things that are happening in in those communities, but I think it is something we can put on the list.

Mister chair, I appreciate the director pointing out the the prioritization going on right now in our community, very, very necessary prioritization. Definitely not looking to take away SOIA at all from some really critical work they're doing. Should should we end up at some point with some bandwidth, it would be great to get those done. That's all I had. Thanks.

Thank you, councilor Wilson, and thank you, doctor Oliveira. The the councilor Wilson, you actually stole my thunder about that one. Because when I was talking about optimizing outreach and educational methodology, I wanted to come back and say, like, what you know? And there's some translated version that usually goes out so that also it's a so it becomes, like, a pretty robust and an inclusive process that everybody is, participating in trying to trying to eradicate, you know, this invasive species. So, again, doctor Oliveira, just something to think, you know, about as you as we, continue the conversation.

So any closing thoughts from any anyone? So with that, I would counselor Syed.

Yes. Through the chair. I'll just say a few things. I definitely learned a lot just listening to the conversation. And I wanna take a moment to thank my colleagues for working on this on the past years.

And also thank director Oliveira for the work you do. Again, this situation is frustrating, but I I think just working with what we have right now, I will urge you to reach out to us to see what we can do as a community. I come from a place where taking care of nature happens in community with the community. So, yeah, I think, you know, similar to the cleanup days in wards that we're asking for, I can see a version of this where we have a chance to educate our neighbors and, again, try to do something about this together as neighbors, as a community. So please reach out.

Yeah. It's the beginning of spring. So, yeah, I definitely start starting to see it in my own backyard, and I would love to receive those brochures to know what I have to do in the next few weeks. So, again, thank you for this conversation. This is very helpful.

Thank you, counselor. Any member of the committee has oh, director Oliveira. Wow. This is getting juicy.

Not not that juicy, but through the chair. Yes, counselor Sage. I think one thing we have because we work relatively closely, we meet pretty regularly with DPW to work on maintenance. This is something that's been happening for years and that has made a real difference. And we do have a new gardener who is amazing, and I'm just terrified that she's gonna get pulled away at any moment.

But one of the things that I think it's that we are committed to working on, and, again, you know, we're a staff of seven and no one is doing nothing. We have a lot going on, is to boostering the website about native species and how to get rid of them. Again, some you'll be able to get rid of by picking certain things at certain times or removing the root, but we do have someone that's going to work on a website that will at least allow people to identify it. We have right now a weeds webs weeds thing on our website that was really aimed for volunteer groups when they're doing cleanups, but I think we can spend a little bit more time working on specifically in invasives, and that's very much in line with the pollinator action plan and one of the action items from the pollinator action plan. The other thing I'll mention is that the pollinator action plan has been released.

And if you have constituents that ask about specifically habitat or if they're asking about invasives because of habitat, there is so much information in it and a number of recipe cards for people who want to grow a pollinator garden but have no idea where to begin. So it's a very comprehensive plan and can be also a way imagine people that are aware of invasives and are asking about invasives want are doing so for biodiversity, and removing an invasive and planting it with a native is a huge benefit. And we're really looking at this as the whole city as a pollinator garden. So the more people we can get to plant those gardens, the better it is. We just gave away 200 native plants at Civic Day, and I was exhausted after the event because people were talking so much and so excited.

So, yes, I think there these are important continuations of the work that we've been doing together.

Through the chair, that's really great to hear, director. And if you could please share these materials with us so we can add them to our newsletters this spring, that would be great. Thank you.

They're all online. I, through the chair, asked IGA some time ago to send both the pollinator action plan and the open space plan to all of the counselors, so you did receive that. But they're also all online. It's open source, and we intentionally leave it open source because the region can benefit from the work that was done. It's it it was a partnership with a scientist and, really, everybody in the field who has seen it has been kind of blown away.

So I really encourage people to have a look at it. Allison Rao, who is the project manager, did a wonderful job with the consultants and with a 12 person advisory committee, and I'm really proud of that work. So I do hope that folks will take advantage of it because it's hyperspecific to Somerville. So we actually counted we actually took all the data of which pollinators are here, and then the plant list comes from what feeds that or which endangered ones we want to to attract. And it's science based, so my favorite kind of plan.

Yeah. That's great. We'll definitely check it out and share it with the neighbors. Thank you.

Thank you, doctor Oliveira. Surprisingly, I came to the city there, and I didn't come out with, like, a whole so I'm not sure, like, what went wrong there, but, I guess, yeah. Okay. I know I know you like chair.

Yes. I was dressed as a bee, so I couldn't have advertised it more.

No. It's okay. Blame blame the kids. You know? Like, as soon as we came to, you know, to the high school, the kids were, like, outside at the soccer field. And then yeah. So but, no, thank you for your work. And, yeah, this has been a very productive and a healthy conversation. I think I will, you know, look at councilor Burnley. I wanna have the the pleasure, you know, to let you decide or determine where where what we should do.

But I think it is my preference, you know, to close this, and then we can resubmit. Yeah. You know, we can always resubmit it down the road. You know? I don't know.

As as the the the author of this order, I just wanna hear your thought before I mark it as work complete. Councilor Barley? Okay. He took a break. So I guess, we will Mark, this is work complete, and thank you, everybody. Thank you for your time and for the productive conversation, doctor Rivera. Appreciate your time. My pleasure. So the next item we have, I think just two more. Wow.

I literally thought this meeting will be, like, twenty minutes or something. Right? But this has been good. So, Peter, can you read the next item for us, please?

Item five. That's the director of parks and recreation. Restore, replace, nearly 30 year old Seattle field plaque.

Yeah. I've never really, like I don't Is is anybody here to speak about this? I think this is also from councilor Bonnie and councilor Ewan Campen. But I think our legislative liaison, Yasmeen, has some input. Before councilor Jake, just just give me a second. Yasmeen.

Thank you, mister chair. I saw director Oliveira raising her hand. I had prepared, like, some talking points for the last OSEE committee meeting just based on what she's I'll just run through them, and then she can give extra context

Absolutely.

As needed. But, basically, counselor Burnley reached out about this request. It's an old sign outside the Niziano Field, kind of weathered, but not specifically damaged. And so because of the nature of the damage to the plaque, if you wanna call it that, the the writing is kind of faded. So it's not a repair that would typically be done by DPW, who usually does a lot of these maintenance requests.

And it also doesn't typically fall under Picef. However, Picef, mentioned that they can, potentially work to create a flag sign that would be more in line with most of the parks parks. And that since they will be working on adding water fountains to the field and dog park this year, they can see if that can be integrated as part of the process.

Nice. Doctor Oliver, I I never even thought that you you have something to do with this. But yeah. So you have any in addition to that?

Through the chair. I have something to do with everything. The only thing I will add is that that plaque was installed, I'm guessing, probably in the eighties when the field was constructed. And right now, we have a much more unified suite of communication signs, and the flag sign usually tells folks the name of the park and the history behind that site, the history behind that name. And then the plaques that we have are the ones that are in the ground, the bronze plaques that say, you know, who the mayor is, the councilors, and how it was funded.

We don't usually, we don't make plaques like that. That one is a bronze one, and it looks like I don't know if someone maybe hit that fence at some point or someone did something, but the letters are kind of nicked, for lack of a better word. But it's that is not something that we would replace, and I don't think that it should be replaced, but rather go fall in line with the rest of the parks and how they're done and have a flag sign put up. And because we are doing the adding drinking fountains, we that's something that we can wrap into our project.

Thank you. Yeah. This is this is good to hear from the expert, and also good to know that you have something to do with everything. So this is I'm gonna call you for everything that I

No.

No. As long through the chair. Only if it has to do with Parks and Trees. Okay.

What is this? Like, confirm your speaking language. Jeez. So AI is, like, asking me some stuff here. So what we somebody had I think councilor Wilson, you you raised your hand up for this item. So

did you have some Chair, I did not. I'll just I'll just say I appreciate the update here.

Yeah. Thank you. So we'll mark this work complete. And and the last item we have, you know, is from honorable councilor said that the commissioner of public works make a change to the calendar by extending the yard waste collection by at least one week. So, I think that has been accomplished, but we will hear, you know, from our legislative liaison. Yasmin to bring it home so that, we all know where we are. Yasmin, take it away.

Thank you, mister chair. I'm basically gonna be summarizing an email that commissioner Latham sent on March 6. I know at the last committee meeting, councilor Davis had raised a suggestion for a change to the waste collection calendar, schedule, which, the director took back to her team. They had a discussion with their vendor, and they are going to be able to move forward with piloting, the start of an every week pickup in October. Sorry.

Moving moving the start week sorry. Moving the start week back, a week in October and adding another week in December, which would be a cost neutral solution, and basically just move every other week pickup to every week pickup starting the third week in October this year. That would mean that yard waste will then end the December instead of the first week, this year, and they're going to do this pilot program and then reevaluate at the end of the year to see if there's any significant plus sides or downsides. And, yeah, she said this in her email, but was really appreciative of the creative conversation around this issue at the last meeting.

Yeah. No. Thank you so much for that, you know, insight. And just a point of clarification, you know, was director say that, you know, put in that policy order to have it changed. And then councilor David advocated for it fiercely, you know, as our own unofficial lawyer on the council who actually has been, you know, who said he had been advocating for this for a longer stand. So, yeah, so councilor said

Yeah. I just wanna say thank you. You know, it takes all of us to make things happen. And, yeah, DPW, as usual, were very quick at tackling this. And I already heard from constituents who, yeah, send their gratitude. And, yeah, hoping this will make a huge difference.

Absolutely. So I will also extend my appreciation for the swift response from the administration. Councilor Davis.

Yeah. Thank you, mister chair. Yeah. I also just wanna say thank you and and my gratitude to to the director to the commissioner for for listening and and making it work. Much appreciated.

Thank you. Yeah. So I like when the commissioner said that when we talk, they listen. So which is like that was that that's that's how we we appreciate, you know, this effort because it's not coming from us. It's always coming most of the things that we always put forward is always community driven. So we have no no no personal motive behind all this policy order. So thank you, everybody. I appreciate your time. I think that should be the last item on the agenda. So, Peter, if we can take everything off the table, we'll close mark this one while complete.

So at the end of the day, we should have just one item, you know, left in the box so we can so councilor said moved. Oh, councilor Oliveira, I see you have, like, some comment or something.

Yes. To the chair, I'm sorry. But since we're at it, I just also do wanna mention that the pollinator action plan recommends not picking up leaves and or rather cleaning up your leaves and putting them in the in your planting beds and not cutting stalks from plants until May. So that kinda the last last order reminded me of that that when folks are asking for that, it's good to remind them that there's a way to get your yard to be clean and also provide habitat for for pollinators by not disposing of your yard waste. I know that's a little fringe for some people, but being lazier is turns out is better for the environment in this case.

Nice. No. This is always good insight. Councilor Davis?

Yeah. Thank you, mister chair. It's a through to the director. Yeah. Excellent point. And thank you for for for pointing out that that nuance. I think there's I think there's leaves to go around for this both to be the right approach. I I know I I wish I had enough flower beds to, to take on everything that falls into my yard, but, you know, you get a little bit in there for but I I will say I was yesterday looking at the at the stocks that are still sitting there, wishing I could cut them and tidy it up, but I'm waiting because you said we that we should. So yep. Thank you for reminding us of that, though. That's a excellent point.

Exactly. No. Thank you. It's quite a very insightful and stimulating conversation, and I think we've definitely learned a lot. And thanks for all the work you do.

And, you know, the community appreciate it as well. I think we certainly do. So we will cancel our sign move to adjoin, and then we also move to mark the item that we've identified were complete, and then one item should be left in the box. Does that make sense, Peter?

There's no action needed on any of the items. The two minutes have already been approved. You don't need any action on the other four, and just a motion to adjourn. That's all.

Okay. Councilor, I move to adjourn.

Adjournment, councilor Davis? Yes. Councilor Wilson?

Yes, please.

Councilor Burnley? Councilor Saeed?

Yes.

And councilor Barr?

Yes, please.

Mister chair, four members have voted to adjourn. Absent. We are adjourned.

Thank you, colleagues. And thank