Somerville Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change Seeks One Member
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Photo Credit: City of Somerville
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The City of Somerville’s Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change (CEUCC) seeks one new member, and all Somerville residents are invited to apply. Applicants should have a background in climate or environmental justice, equity, and/or working with marginalized communities. Boards and commissions offer an opportunity for residents with a range of experience, skills, expertise, and perspectives to share their talents and insights with their community.
Applications are due Monday, April 18. Interested candidates should submit a statement of interest and resume to ose@somervillema.gov with the subject line “Commission Application” or by mail to 50 Evergreen Avenue, Somerville, MA 02145, ATTN: Director, Office of Sustainability and Environment.
For the full description, please click here.
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Somerville Bicycle Network Plan Survey
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The City is developing its first bicycle network plan to establish a comprehensive network of streets where people of all abilities will feel comfortable and safe riding their bikes throughout Somerville.
Let us know your thoughts on bicycle infrastructure improvements, new opportunities, barriers caused by design, biking patterns, and other existing conditions.
Take the Bicycle Network Plan survey, available in English, Español, Português, नेपाली, and Kreyòl Ayisyen.
Learn more at somervillema.gov/bikenetwork.
If you need help taking the survey or have any questions, email transportation@somervillema.gov or contact 311 (617-666-3311).
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Join the ARPA Community Forum
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Somerville has been allocated federal funding that can be used to respond to both economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about ARPA here.
Through the City's community engagement efforts, staff have met with residents, organizations, and stakeholders to learn about priorities and needs to inform spending.
Please join 900+ others and share your thoughts through the community survey.
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Lower Mystic Regional Climate Assessment
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In February 2020, the City of Somerville, along with Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Revere, Winthrop, and the Mystic River Watershed Association, were awarded a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant to conduct a regional vulnerability assessment.
These communities host New England’s highest concentration of critical infrastructure. Living close by and significantly affected by this infrastructure are some of the region’s most diverse environmental justice communities.
This assessment provides us with the data needed to prioritize capital and operational investments. The assessment identifies impacts to structural and social infrastructure caused by extreme weather events. The final assessment is available here.
This work supports two priority actions of Somerville Climate Forward. The first is to form a regional coalition in the Mystic River watershed and the second is to assess potential interventions for flooding.
About the Resilient Mystic Collaborative: In 2018, Somerville was a founding member of the Resilient Mystic Collaborative. Members of the RMC recognize climate change transcends boarders and requires regional collaboration. Today, the RMC includes 21 communities covering nearly 100% of the watershed and has raised over $5 million for regional climate resilience projects.
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Somerville Pilots New Rodent-Control Technology
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As part of Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s 100-Day Agenda and the City’s ongoing commitment to mitigating rodent activity, the City of Somerville is launching a five-month pilot program with Modern Pest Services. The Pilot program will have 50 SMART Boxes installed and maintained in four neighborhoods through at least July 2022. SMART Boxes are non-toxic, industrial-grade traps that catch rodents above ground and provide real-time data for proactive pest control.
“Rodent activity is a critical quality-of-life issue here in Somerville, so I’m very pleased to bring this new technology to our neighborhoods and to get this pilot underway,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “We need to be committed and forward-thinking in our approach, which makes the SMART system so compelling. It will not only catch rodents – it will expand our ability to collect data, to quantify the issue, and to identify additional steps we can take to make the greatest impact citywide.”
To learn more about rodent control in Somerville, go to somervillema.gov/rodentcontrol.
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Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project
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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen invite you to a virtual public meeting about upcoming construction in Spring Hill.
The Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project is one in a series of projects across the city that will mitigate flooding, reduce waterway pollution, and upgrade century-old infrastructure. The first phase of work will begin in earnest this spring and is expected to continue through 2023 on Summer Street (Belmont Street to Bow Street), Central Street (Highland Avenue to Summer Street), Westwood Road, Avon Street, and Carter Terrace.
The virtual public meeting will outline the project goals, scope of work, and anticipated construction impacts. Join us Wednesday, April 6, at 6 PM. Click here to register to for the virtual event. For more information, visit somervillema.gov/springhill.
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Announcements and Upcoming Events
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Announcements:
Upcoming events:
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Happy Spring!
Erin Noël, Community Engagement Specialist, Office of Sustainability and Environment
www.somervillema.gov/sustainaville
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