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HomeMy Public PortalAbout04-14-2015 Human Services report_201504100940593206Meeting of the Committee on Human Services Monday, March 2, 2015 Philip Pane Lower Hearing Room The Committee on Human Services met at 7:00 on Monday, March 2 to discuss the establishment of an Ad Hoc Watertown Olympic Committee. Attending: Councilor Tony Palomba (Chair), Councilor Aaron Dushka (Vice Chair), Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director of the Department of Community Development and Planning, State Representative Jonathan Hecht, Barbara Miranda, Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Will Brownsberger, and Xuedong, Graduate Student, Boston University. The Chair called meeting to order and reminded the public that the purpose was to discuss the possibility and need of forming an ad hoc 2024 Olympic committee to represent Watertown. Resident Bob Erickson gave a broad presentation on the past and present activities of the Boston 2024 Organizing Committee, Inc. (Boston 2024), its leadership, and its plans to hold 20 meetings in 20 weeks throughout Massachusetts. He reminded the public that the last 4 US Olympics have been profitable ventures. He shared that Boston 2024 has promoted the games in Boston as a sustainable event and that the nature of Boston's public transit and compact footprint have lead many to refer to it as a 'walking Olympics'. Boston 2024's budget is estimated to by $4.7 billion. One of the central areas of activity of the games will likely be the Harvard Stadium complex on Soldier's Field Road —very close to Watertown. He noted that many of the teams coming to compete will likely be arriving well before the games and will be in need of practice facilities and lodging accommodations like the ones that Watertown can presently offer and might possibly offer in the future. He explained that there would be a large number of international visitors to the Boston area including spectators and staff (coaches, trainers, security) for the individuals competing in the Olympics and the Paraylmpics. Councilor Palomba noted that Mr. Erickson has been attending many of the meetings sponsored by Boston 2024 as well as the community meetings sponsored by Mayor Walsh. He has been researching past US Olympics and compiling materials from Boston 2024. Representative Hecht spoke about the current discussions in the legislature about Boston 2024's bid and shared details of legislation (House Docket No. 3463) proposed by Representatives Michael Moran and Aaron Michlewitz which would establish a temporary "Massachusetts 2024 Commission on the Summer Games and would add financial transparency to the bid and the planning. He said that there is widespread concern about the Commonwealth being stuck with unanticipated expenses from the Games and that Legislature wants a measure of oversight and control if state money is spent to host the Games. Barbara Miranda, Chief of Staff from Senator Will Brownsberger's office seconded Representative Hecht's appreciation to the Committee for holding this meeting and agreed that a Watertown committee would be a good idea. She expressed the Senator's support of the Boston 2024 initiative. She spoke briefly on the transportation bond bill and how certain items within it may float to the top as a result of the Games being held here but that there was still no guarantee of their funding. Councilor Palomba shared a timeline and a brief explanation of the role of Boston 2024 and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Beginning on September 15, 2015 and extending to January 8, 2016, Boston 2024 will deliver a plan to the IOC. In April or May 2016, the IOC will select a group of candidate cities from the pool of applicant cities. The candidate cities will be asked to respond to questions and appear before the IOC. In the summer of 2017 the full membership of the IOC will select the city that will host the 2024 Summer Games. He noted that it would be wise to establish the Ad Hoc committee as soon as possible given that the first in a series of documents would be presented to the IOC in seven months. He also mentioned the fact that Watertown was not included in a list of cities (Somerville, Cambridge, Revere, Brookline, Newton and Quincy) referenced in a Boston 2024 document about where Boston 2024 employees and volunteers from across the Commonwealth might stay as well as rent space and patron local businesses and hotels. Ms. Georgopoulos expressed interest in promoting Watertown's local culinary offerings and historic landmarks as destinations for national and international visitors. Mr. Friedman expressed interest in the transportation enhancements including a possible water taxi on the Charles River from Watertown which would yield long-term tourism benefits to Watertown businesses. The committee members discussed the proposed composition of the ad hoc committee and recommended reducing the committee to 13 individuals but increasing the number of Town representatives to 2. Councilor Dushku made the following motion: The Committee on Human Services recommends that the full Town Council approve the creation of a Ad Hoc Watertown Olympic Committee (WOC) whose members would be selected by the President of the Town Council, in cooperation with the President of the School Committee and the Town Manager, and include 2 members of the Town Council, 1 member of the School Committee, 2 representatives of the Town (ideally from the Department of Community Development and Planning and the Recreation Department), a representative from the Watertown -Belmont Chamber of Commerce, a representative from Watertown Local First, and 6 Town residents. The primary goal of the WOC would be to determine how Watertown can participate in, contribute to and benefit from the Boston 2024 planning process and bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralymics Games (Games). The WOC would develop relationships with the leadership and staff of Boston 2024 as well as work closely with our State Senator and State Representatives and, if established, the Massachusetts 2024 Commission on the Summer Games. Specifics tasks and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: - determining how Watertown's public transit needs might benefit from the transportation improvements proposed by Boston 2024 and how our public school students might benefit from the presence of athletes and visitors from around the globe as well as contribute to the Games by serving as interns and/or volunteers. - exploring how our athletic facilities might be used as practice facilities for Olympic teams and how the Games would benefit from a water taxi on the Charles River from Watertown to Boston. - determining how best to market Watertown's restaurants and retails businesses, historic sites, and cultural offerings to the thousands of athletes, support staff, and spectators as well as Boston 2024 employees and volunteers. - assessing how Watertown can work with similar organizations or committees in cities that are adjacent to Boston, how to involve Watertown residents as volunteers in the Games, and how to keep Watertown residents informed of the workings of the Committee. Councilor Palomba seconded the motion and it was passed 2 — 0.