Committee Agenda for Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee 09/12/2022

CITY OF WORCESTER

Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee Meeting

Monday, September 12, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:00 P.M.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council Nikolin Vangjeli
Committee Members
Chairperson Etel Haxhiaj
Vice Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey
Councilor George J Russell

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Chairperson Councilor Etel Haxhiaj Councilor George J. Russell

	Also:	Director of Emergency Communications and Management Charles Goodwin Executive Director and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau Paul Matthews Deputy City Clerk Stephen A.J. Pottle, clerk

Virtual Attendee Call-In Information



1a.	Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated. Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/94166600916 Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099 Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee Zoom Access Code: 941 6660 0916	Attachments

Approval of the Minutes



2a.	Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment hereby approves the minutes of the Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee meeting of June 23, 2022.	View Agenda

	Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and moved to recommend the item be adopted. Order adopted.

Miscellaneous Items



3a.	Communication of Paul Matthews, Executive Director of the Worcester Research Bureau, transmitting, "Boosting Broadband: Access, Performance, Improvements, and Funding." # 11a CC May 10, 2022 In Committee June 23, 2022 - Held	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Executive Director and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, who made a presentation to the Standing Committee relative to the potentiality for implementing municipal broadband use within the city. Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed invitations to the City Manager’s Office, whether the research was funded by ARPA funds, the research grant provided by Worcester Together, and the Verizon investment project relative to development of city-wide fiber network with the Deputy City Clerk and the Executive Director and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj brought forth the following three Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager provide City Council with a map detailing locations with public Wi-Fi; 2) Request City Manager provide City Council with report concerning the plans to utilize ARPA funding for municipal broadband and; 3) Request Standing Committee on Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment hold a meeting with the Worcester Municipal Broadband Task Force and representatives from Verizon and/or any other service providers to discuss the city’s plans concerning building infrastructure relative to municipal broadband. Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to recommend the item be held. Recommend Hold

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a map detailing locations with public Wi-Fi.
	Request City Manager provide City Council with report concerning the plans to utilize ARPA funding for municipal broadband.
	Request Standing Committee on Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment hold a meeting with the Worcester Municipal Broadband Task Force and representatives from Verizon and/or any other service providers to discuss the city’s plans concerning building infrastructure relative to municipal broadband.


3b.	Petition of Tarang Shah request the city end its financial support for fossil fuels by taking the following actions: 1) Within five (5) years, support the city's climate declaration, city-owned investment portfolios shall not contain any shares of fossil fuel companies; 2) support similar divestment by its colleges, which have significant investments in fossil fuel companies; and 3) support similar divestment from fossil fuels by the State of Massachusetts, and will additionally resolve to support the location option divestment bill, H. 3662/S.636, as well as new drafts and similar bills that will be introduced in the future. # 7t CC November 23, 2021 In Committee January 31, 2022 - Held In Committee April 25, 2022 - Held	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and moved to recommend the item be held. Recommend Hold

Communication of the City Manager



4a.	Transmitting informational communication relative to the status of the implementation of the new Worcester 311 system and all of its components project. # 10.41A CM July 19, 2022	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Director of Emergency Communications and Management, who provided an overview of actions taken relative to the city’s 311 system. Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the importance of allowing residents to talk directly with customer service staff instead of getting a voicemail, feasibility of having the customer service staff work remote to allow more accessibility for residents and efforts relative to hiring new personnel with the Director of Emergency Communications and Management. Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj then discussed plans concerning public outreach about the 311 system in multi-languages with the Director of Emergency Communications and Management. Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to recommend the item be filed. Recommend File