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Friday, August 5, 2022

City of Medford Newsletter, thank you Jim Silva of South Medford Residents Together

 https://medfordma.org/news/

CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR FULL VIEW 

August 5, 2022
Message from the Mayor
Hello everyone!

Summer is in full swing, and despite the wicked heat we've endured, our team at City Hall hasn't slowed down one bit delivering programs, services and new opportunities for the people of Medford.

As you'll see from the news items below, we are in growth mode here in the City. I am so happy to announce that I have signed the third and final Host Community Agreement with money going into expanding programming and services for our veterans, and renovating the the VFW on Mystic Avenue.
On the planning and sustainability front, we've completed the draft version of our Comprehensive Plan, a 50,000-foot view that guides City policies and investment over the next ten to 20 years. The plan reflects community vision and values; community engagement is critical to the success of a comprehensive planning process.

We've also made it easier to find outdoor dining options, and publicly accessible Electronic Vehicle charging stations with two interactive maps. While we're making tremendous strides creating a more climate friendly City, we're unfortunately facing potential service cuts and interruptions to our bus network due to a new proposal from the MBTA. While some of the changes are welcomed and will result in some more efficient options, many of the cuts will result in loss of service for our more vulnerable residents. Director of Traffic and Transportation Todd Blake and I wrote a letter to the MBTA urging them to rethink this proposal and consider a few compromises we came up with that will create a more equitable and accessible bus network for Medford riders.

There's a ton of things happening in the City and we're not slowing down! If you have any questions, comments or want to learn of ways you can get involved, please email me at mayor@medford-ma.gov.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Recent News
Mayor Lungo-Koehn Signs Host Community Agreement with City's Third and Final Retail Marijuana Dispensary

The City of Medford has officially signed a Host Community Agreement with its third marijuana dispensary company. Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn recently signed a formal agreement with Victory Gardens for a retail cannabis dispensary to be located at 114 Mystic Avenue.

The site, currently home to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) facility, will be fully renovated and house both the retail shop and a separate space for the City’s veterans.

Read more here.
Help Us Water Our Young Trees!
Tree Warden Aggie Tuden, our TreesMedford volunteer group and Mayor Lungo-Koehn invite residents and business owners to help support our young City trees by watering them through the current drought and high heat conditions, and possibly until the drought is expected to subside in the fall.

Contractors who planted new Medford trees in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 have been filling the green irrigation bags (gator bag shown) several times in the last two weeks. Our City Forestry, Parks and Highway departments have also assisted with watering and removing outdated tree stakes, guy wires and gator bags, when staffing and time allow.
Still, the drought conditions across 90% of Massachusetts, including Medford, have persisted for over four months, leaving our young trees, especially those beyond contractor warranty, 2-3 years old now, at high risk.

If there’s a young tree in your area that you could water once a week for the next few weeks, you could literally save a young tree that we might otherwise lose!

Find a map of tree locations here.
City Takes Next Step Toward Reimagining Fire Stations Headquarters

A request for qualifications has been issued by the City to solicit design plans to determine the most effective and sustainable outcome for the future of the Medford Fire Headquarters, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced.

The City is seeking input on a design and feasibility phase where a design architect will provide a recommendation to the City on whether to renovate the existing building which includes the Fire Headquarters, former Police Station, and former 911 center or to demolish the existing building and replace the building with a new Fire Headquarters.

Looking for Summer Fun? Check Out Medford Recreation Programs!

Don't forget to check out Medford Recreation programs and opportunities this summer! Wright's Pond and Tufts Pool are open all summer for residents of all ages, and there is a free summer park program you can also take advantage of. Find more information at www.medfordrecreation.org.
City Partners with Pest Control Company to Mitigate Rodent Issues

With the use of $60,000 of ARPA funding, the City of Medford has partnered with professional licensed pest control company, Yankee Pest Control, to assist the Board of Health with rodent complaints, investigations, and compliance, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced.
 
Staff from Yankee Pest Control will investigate areas the Board of Health have defined as problematic based on calls the city has received from residents and from their inspections. They will be sent to identify sources of food, water or harborages in neighborhoods that create ideal living conditions for rodents. 
 
The pest control specialists will report all findings to the Board of Health. More info here.

Housing Updates

The City teamed with partner agencies Action for Boston Community Development, Metro Housing Boston, Housing Families Inc. and the Medford Housing Authority to hold a community meeting on June 22 on housing resources available to the public.
Panelists offered insights and information on assistance programs, affordable housing applications and where to go if you're worried about becoming unhoused.

For more info on housing resources, programs and information, and to get an overview of the services offered by the groups mentioned above, visit www.medfordma.org/covid-19-housing-resources/, or call our multilingual resource line at 781-475-5644.
Watch the Meeting Here
Private Ways Parking Meeting

The City held a public meeting in June for residents of Private Ways to go over parking procedures, enforcement issues and answer questions.

About 40 percent of the roads in Medford are Private Ways, meaning the City doesn't maintain many aspects of the roads, namely parking enforcement, road maintenance upkeep and towing.

Read more about private here
Watch the Meeting Here
City Outlines Road Repair Strategy and Timeline
Starting this fall, the City will treat roughly one third of roads that have cracks and gaps identified in the Pavement Assessment plan as most in need, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced.

This type of weathering occurs when water infiltrates roadway surfaces causing the asphalt to expand, leaving gaps in the pavement which can potentially cause damage to vehicles and injuries to pedestrians. Through a process called ‘crack sealing’, these narrow cracks in the roadway are filled with liquid asphalt that seal the opening and prevent water and other liquids from infiltrating the surface.

We Want Your Feedback on How to Spend COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Funding

The City has published community input surveys to engage and solicit feedback from the public on where to invest federal COVID-19 response funding as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced. 

Medford is receiving over $48 million in APRA funds, distributed in installments until 2025, and after allocating a percentage to existing fiscal needs such as revenue replacement (over $19 million), some of the over $20 million remaining will be invested directly into community projects, programs and initiatives.

The surveys are available in 5 languages.



Over the course of the last year, the Mayor, along with Department of Public Works and Department of Planning, Development and Sustainability staff have been assessing the waste removal needs of the community and talking with residents and environmental advocates about where the City can best improve its operations. Last year, the City applied for and was awarded a Community Compact Grant for $30,000 from the state to develop waste contracts that are fiscally, environmentally and otherwise beneficial to the community. 

More info here.
STATE DEP ISSUES NEW GUIDANCE ON ALERTING PUBLIC OF HAZARDOUS WATER QUALITY FOLLOWING RAINSTORM

In accordance with new Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulations on combined sewer and sanitary sewer overflow notifications, the City of Medford will be installing permanent signage at all public access points to the Mystic River informing the public of potentially hazardous water conditions following significant rainfall.

In the event of a storm, a warning will be issued by the City to avoid contact with the Mystic River for a period of 48 hours upon receiving the alert. Storm water runoff has the potential to contain harmful bacteria and other hazardous materials following a substantial rainstorm.

By having this water drain into the Mystic River, it creates unsafe conditions in the water for a two-day period and when such an event occurs, boating, swimming and fishing are prohibited for the following 48 hours.

Read more here.
Parking Department: Reminders + Updates on Procedures

The Medford Parking Department has been issuing tickets, accepting payments and granting permits to residents and visitors for over two months and with the process in full swing, the City is providing an update to residents on parking procedures and violations.

Beginning July 1, the City will be issuing yearly parking permits on a pro-rated basis for 2022. In the past, permits were issued for an entire calendar year based on the date in which it was purchased. In an effort to streamline this process, the City’s parking department will be offering a reduced rate for people buying permits this late into the year. For example, a permit issued on July 1 will be valid until December 31, 2022 but offered at a discounted price.

For a full list of parking policies and other important information, visit www.medfordma.org/parking.
Reminder: Plan Ahead for Fall Street Sweeping!

We're still a few months away from the "Big Sweep" fall street sweeping, but it's never too early to plan ahead!

As a reminder, the "Big Sweep" is conducted on all side streets twice each year - once in the spring and once in the fall. Usually beginning in mid-November and continuing for approximately 3 weeks, the Medford DPW will conduct street sweeping on all secondary roads in the city. During scheduled street sweeping, street parking is restricted on the day your street is assigned to be swept. Plan ahead by making sure you're signed up for city alerts at www.medfordma.org/alerts,
Mayor Lungo-Koehn, Director of Traffic and Transportation Todd Blake Urge MBTA to reconsider Service Cuts to Medford Bus Routes

The MBTA Bus Network Redesign proposal is proposing changes to all bus routes in Medford with some being very significant. While some of these updates are needed and will make commuting more efficient, a few of the changes will greatly impact ridership, reduce reliance on public transportation and lead to more congestion on our City streets.

MBTA's current plan calls for a number of routes to be eliminated (some in favor of new options), service reduced, or routes changed.
Director of Traffic and Transportation Todd Blake and the Mayor sent a letter to Steve Poftak, General Manager of the MBTA, and outlined our concerns with some of the changes, and offered our own recommendations on how to avoid service disruptions for our residents.

Read the letter here. And for more info on the MBTA's proposal click here.
National Night Out: Fun for the Whole Community!

National Night Out hosted by the Medford Police Department was a huge success thanks to the sponsors (Bianco & Sons Italian Sausage and Wegmans to name a few) volunteers and city partners like the Medford Fire Department!

The Chief of Fire and Chief of Police both were great sports and let the littles dunk them in the dunk tank, Officer Manke took down my son in tug-o-war, our K-9 officer did an awesome demonstration, there was a dance off with Wally and so much more!!

Thank you to all who made it an amazing night for our community!!!

See more City news at www.medfordma.org/news

New Businesses Opening in Medford
Reimagym is officially open (and has been for exactly 2 years) so the Medford Chamber of Commerce, Representative Donato, Councillor Caraviello and Mayor Lungo-Koehn cut the ribbon to welcome this incredible business and also say Happy Anniversary!!!

Reimagym is located at 215 Salem Street and is an inclusive gym where all are welcome to join, train and build a healthier lifestyle!
Mayor Lungo-Koehn joined the Medford Chamber of Commerce to officially welcome Monogram Foods to Medford and to cut the ribbon on this renovated facility.

Thee Mayor and her staff worked with the City Council to approve a 10-year TIFF agreement with Monogram that forges a 10 year partnership, brings 250 jobs to our City, a $40 million investment into the property on Middlesex Avenue and about $475,000 in projected new property tax growth.

Congratulations to the Mongoram team for setting up shop here in Medford!
New Green Energy Company Sets up Shop in Medford
Welcome to Medford, Electrified Thermal Solutions! The team at ETS is developing a way to create renewable electric heat for large scale industrial companies. Medford is quickly becoming a hub for new and emerging technology companies and another business has decided to call Medford home!
Sign up for City Alerts!
Want to stay up-to-date with all the lastest news, events and info from the City?

Sign up to receive alerts through our reverse 911 system. You can receive notifications by phone, text or email, or all three!

Visit medfordma.org/alerts for more info!
Planning + Sustainability

Medford Releases Draft Version of Comprehensive Plan

The City has released a draft version of its Comprehensive Plan, a document that will guide Medford and help create a long-range vision for development and policy over the course of decades, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced.

Creating a Comprehensive Master Plan for Medford is a key step in understanding the vision and goals for the City, and community input is essential for this process. Over the past year, this draft has been shaped by Medford residents, the community Steering Committee, City Staff, and local and regional partners.

Emphasis has been placed on public participation throughout the planning process, but public input is still needed as adjustments are made to the draft over the next few months before the Plan is finalized this fall.

The plan engages seven core areas:

 
  • land use
  • housing
  • economic development
  • history, arts, and cultures
  • open space and recreation
  • public services
  • mobility

These areas will be assessed under the themes of resilience, equity, and health. The plan will help guide City staff with policy decisions, future investments, regulatory changes, and ongoing community discussions.

The public can submit feedback, comments, or questions by clicking here, or by emailing compplan@medford-ma.gov. To view the draft plan, access past meeting recordings, an interactive map, draft details, and more, visit medfordcompplan.org.
Read the Draft Plan Here
Interactive Outdoor Dining Map!
Our office of Planning, Development and Sustainability has created a super useful map of all of our outdoor dining locations in Medford.

We're constantly updating as more applications come in, but if you're looking to take in a meal outside this summer, let this map be your guide.

Find the map here.
Find all the Public EV Charging Stations in Medford
Our Office of Planning, Development and Sustainability created a useful map of all City-owned, publicly accessible EV charging stations in Medford (with more coming!)

Check out the map here.
The City is launching FindMedford, a new pedestrian wayfinding pilot program aimed at promoting walkability, reducing traffic congestion and limiting emissions by encouraging the public to access points of interest by foot, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced. 

The FindMedford wayfinding signage program will ultimately create a comprehensive city-wide plan for signage to help people safely navigate points throughout the City. These signs can highlight Medford’s history, including landmarks and buildings, give squares and destinations a boost, and assist with the transition between car, pedestrian, and transit use.

“Medford has so many amazing destinations that are all accessible by foot,” Mayor Lungo-Koehn said. “By installing these wayfinding signs, we’re encouraging people to walk through our squares, green spaces and downtowns to experience everything our City has to offer.”

The City will be releasing a survey on the program to gauge community interest, solicit feedback and answer questions. The survey can be accessed by scanning the QR code on the signs and will also be available on the City’s website and social media channels. Please reach out to the Office of Planning, Development, & Sustainability at ocd@medford-ma.gov or (781) 393-2480 with any questions or comments regarding the pilot program.

A map of destinations and walking routes can be found here.

More info here.

COVID-19 News + Updates
Booster Shot/Vaccine Clinic on August 24 at Council on Aging
The Board of Health is hosting a vaccine and booster shot clinic for all people ages 5 and up on Wednesday, August 24 at the Council on Aging from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome from 3pm to 4pm but registration is preferred.

Please visit medfordma.org to register, or click here, and if you’re getting a booster shot or a second shot, please remember to bring your vaccination card with you.
Rapid Tests Available for Residents
In need of a COVID-19 Rapid Test? The City has secured kits and is distributing them to the public at the following locations:


Each kit consists of two tests and there's a limit of two kits per person. If you need help acquiring a kit, please call our multilingual resource line at 781-475-5644.
Upcoming Events + Meetings
All events and meetings are listed on the City's online events calendar at www.medfordma.org/city-events. Meetings are added frequently, so please check the calendar for updates.
EVENTS

August 9th

August 11th


August 18th

  • 3:00 - 7:00pm: Medford Farmer's Market (Condon Shell)

August 25th

  • 3:00 - 7:00pm: Medford Farmer's Market (Condon Shell)

August 27th
  • 9:00 - 3:00pm: First day of early voting
MEETINGS

August 8

  • 7:00pm: Historical Commission Meeting

August 9th:

  • 7:00pm: City Council Meeting

August 10th

  • 6:00pm: Committee of the Whole Meeting

August 11th

  • 6:00pm: Historic District Commission Meeting

August 16th

  • 5:00pm: Traffic Commission Meeting
  • 6:00pm: Parks Commission Meeting

August 18th

  • 7:00pm: Adult use Cannabis Meeting (Kindly Delivery LLC)

August 24th

  • 7:00pm: Bicycle Advisory Commission Meeting


Job Opportunities
The City of Medford currently has several open job opportunities, and we encourage residents of all backgrounds to apply! Open positions, job descriptions, and materials are available at www.medfordma.org/departments/personnel/jobs/. The webpage is updated regularly, but current opportunities include:

Full-Time Positions:
  • 911 Public Safety Dispatcher
  • Assistant Assessor
  • Assistant Civil Engineer (Engineering)
  • Chief Assessor
  • COVID-19 Public Information Officer (Mayor's Office)
  • Elections Manager
  • Facilities Director (DPW)
  • Land Use Planner (PDS)
  • MVPHC Prevention Coordinator (Board of Health)
  • Technology/Reference Librarian (Library)

Part-Time Positions:
  • Circulation Assistant Youth Services (Library)
  • Information/Reference Librarian (Library)
  • Social Worker (Council on Aging)
  • Zamboni Driver/Rink Supervisor (DPW)

Non-Permanent Positions:
  • Program Instructor (Recreation Department, non-permanent)
  • Veterans Services Work Study Position (Veterans Services)

Other/Ongoing Positions:
  • Firefighters
  • Female Detention Attendant/Police Matron (Police Department)
  • Police Officers
  • Traffic Supervisors

To apply, visit www.medfordma.org/departments/personnel/jobs, or contact the City’s Office of Human Resources at 781-393-2406.

Medford city services are available to all residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, age, language ability, economic situation, or immigration status.
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