City Manager: Letter to the Editor

Dear Interested Citizens:

We have spent much of the past two years talking about moving to a city manager form of government. On Saturday a friend sent me a link to a video done in Michigan about the benefits of a city council-city manager form of government. It says in minutes what we have been trying to say these past two years.

Please watch it. Please share it with others no matter their position on the issue. It is important that everyone understand what we are seeking for Cambridge and the benefits that will come with having a city council-city manager form of government.

The only things that I saw in the video that were different about our story in Cambridge are these:

1. They do a comparison between a "strong" mayor form of government and a city council-city manager form of government. The current form of government for Cambridge is what is called a "weak" mayor form of government. The commissioners in Cambridge are the strong part of our governmental structure. In my view this difference only shows how much better our proposal is because it brings the mayor and commissioners together to develop the vision for the city rather than possibly placing them at odds with one another.

2. The video talks about cost savings because the salary of the full time mayor in Michigan would be moved over to pay the city manager. As we do not have a full time mayor who is paid a full time salary, there would be no savings in salary as we are not proposing that the  salary of any elected official be reduced. The savings come, as explained in the video, by a better run and more efficient government that is managed by the city manager.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbZlrXW2BJg&feature=youtu.be

submitted by Steve Rideout

Schooner Rendezvous, This weekend, October 25, 26, Dinner with the Crews

Friends of the Rendezvous,

You are invited to attend a dinner with the captains and crews of the Schooner Rendezvous Fleet.

Saturday Evening.

Jimmie and Sooks Restaurant.

527 Poplar St.

Cambridge, MD

6:00 PM for Cocktails;

6:30 PM Dinner;

$40 per individual / $75 per couple.

Tickets can be purchased at the Richardson Information Table or

on the Richardson Museum Web Site:

www.richardsonmuseum.org

The fleet is arriving.

Unified Development Code- Cambridge

Here's the direct link to the UDC.
It is not easy to find on the Choose Cambridge Website.

http://www.choosecambridge.com/uploads/Planning/UDC/Cambridge-UDC-FINAL-City%20Council%20Draft%20for%20PH.pdf



The UDC link is on the following web page.
You will find links to other documents that may also be of interest.

http://www.choosecambridge.com/index.php/extensions/dept-public-works/planning-zoning/  

Cambridge Public Hearing for comments on the Zoning Code

West End Citizens Association
Active WECA Member
	From: Kathy Foster - Cambridge City Hall [mailto:kfoster@choosecambridge.com] Subject: Public Hearing - Monday Oct 20 Public Hearing The Cambridge City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, October 20th at 6:00 pm in the Dorchester County Library (303 Gay Street) for the purpose of receiving public input and comments on the Unified Development Code.  The UDC is the proposed zoning ordinance that will replace the current one that was adopted in 2003.  The proposed UDC can be viewed on the City’s website www.choosecambridge.com. Kathryn Foster Cambridge City Hall kfoster@choosecambridge.com 410-228-1211

Cambridge Historic Preservation Commission: Thursday, October 30th, November 6th, 2014

The Cambridge Historic Preservation Commission has released a draft set of Historic District Design Guidelines and is seeking public input on this material until November 14^th, 2014 (30 day public comment period). The document can be found on the City’s website by clicking on the following link.

http://www.choosecambridge.com/index.php/historic-preservation-district/

A copy of the Design Guidelines is also available for review at the Dorchester County Library (303 Gay Street), City Hall (410 Academy Street) and the Department of Public Works main office (1025 Washington Street). In addition, two public meetings to obtain public feedback have been scheduled as follows:

>Thursday, October 30th   (Public Safety Building, 8 Washington Street, 2nd floor- 7:00PM)

>Thursday, November 6th (Dorchester County Public Library-7:00PM)

Please contact City of Cambridge Planning Staff at 410-228-1955, if you have any questions.

Comments? Send your emails to mc900@comcast.net

City Manager Matters - the day after. A letter from Steve Rideout

	From: Steve Rideout [mailto:swrideout@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2014 7:46 AM Subject: City Manager Matters - the day after Dear Cambridge Citizens and Friends of Cambridge: I waited to send this email to take some time to reflect on last evening's work session regarding the city manager proposal. It was certainly a great night for Cambridge but it is not the end of this effort to achieve better, more efficient, more effective, fairer, and economically sound government for this community. I am thankful for everyone who came last night or sent emails or spoke to the mayor or commissioners and am particularly thankful for everyone who spoke either for or against the proposal. Last night is what government is and should be about - the people letting their elected leaders know their thoughts. What I heard from most of those who spoke were reasonable and legitimate issues of concern and some of which will make any changes to our proposal even stronger than it currently is. What was being discussed last night was a proposal, and with all legislation there needs to be give and take on issues where there is legitimate disagreement. I took notes on those issues and believe that we can draft reasonable compromises that will not diminish or harm the underlying core values of what is before the commissioners for decision. At one point, for those who were not there, I briefly spoke about the differences between leadership and management. What the City of Cambridge received from 4 of our commissioners last night was leadership, and we need to remember that when the next local election takes place. Attached is a slightly modified handout I provided last evening for those who did not attend or did not get a copy last evening. For next steps, I spoke with Mr. Pinkett, who heads the local NAACP chapter for Dorchester, and offered again to meet with him and members of his organization to discuss this initiative. About a month ago I had contacted him about meeting prior to last evening, but that could not be arranged. I hope that you will send a letter to the editor of our local papers expressing your views, whatever they may be, as this discussion needs to continue so that as many people in Cambridge understand the benefits that will come to the entire community when we have a city manager on board. All the best.  Steve

Volunteeers Needed! October 25, 26, 2014: Schooner Rendevous

Much work takes place before the first vessel arrives.  Whether you wish to join the crew for prep work or the event days - we need you! Many hands make light work ! For more information, please call Jane Devlin @ 410-221-1871 or email info@richardsonmuseum.org.   Schooners and other historic vessels from around the country gather in Cambridge for the ninth annual Schooner Rendezvous at Long Wharf Park (at the end of High Street on the Choptank River), Oct. 25-26. On Saturday and Sunday,try a dockside tour aboard a schooner in this gathering of stately ships from all over the country. Take a day sail, and enjoy delicious local fare. Enjoy listening to maritime musical entertainment and purchase one-of-a-kind maritime-related items. Schooners begin arriving on Friday--and there will be an evening reception and after party that night. Opening festivities begin at 10am on Saturday. Parade of Sail set for 11am (weather permitting). Sit down for a tasty Eastern Shore dinner with the Captain and crew on Saturday evening.  James B. Richardson Foundation, Inc. 401 High Street P O Box 1198 Cambridge, Maryland 21613

Flood Insurance: Do we need it?

900 Marshy Cove is outside of the FEMA defined flood zone.
Our need for insurance is optional. The MC Board of Directors has a quotation in hand and is considering insurance. A decision will most likely be made at the next meeting.

For this report, I make no recommendations regarding the need for flood insurance. Just the facts will be presented. You should read this and make up your own mind regarding the risk of flood damage. 

Here is measurement data and observations to consider regarding flood risk.

Observations:

The highest water level that I have seen in Cambridge Creek was just above the marina finger piers. That occurred during a Nor'easter on December 21, 2012.

See photographs.

Hurricane Sandy on October, 2012: the water was even with the tops of the finger piers or a few inches lower than 12/21/2012. 

Hurricane Isabel on September 19, 2003, was measured as the highest since the early 1970's. (I haven't been able to find data before 1970 for Cambridge.)

Some charts from NOAA.

MHHW = Mean High-Higher Water Level = "typical highest tide"

The blue lines represent normal lunar predicted tides.

The green lines represent verified measurements.

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December 21, 2012 - 2.64 feet = 32 inches above MHHW 

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Hurricane Sandy: October 29, 2012 - 2.49 feet = 30 inches above MHHW

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Hurricane Isabel: September 19, 2003 - 4.14 feet = 49.6 inches above MHHW

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Summary of facts and calculations.

These historic records came from NOAA’s site http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/

For water to enter 900 Marshy Cove at floor level, the water would have to rise to 50 inches above MHHW.

• MHHW is 33 inches lower than the bulk head
• The nor'easter of December 21, 2012 shown in the photos was 32 inches above MHHW.
• Hurricane Isabel reached 49.6 inches above MHHW or 1/2 below our doorway.
• Accuracy of my measurements and NOAA are estimated to be within one inch.

Conclusion:

• Isabel is the record  High Water Level measured by the Cambridge Weather Station since its installation in 1971. 
• It would take another worst case storm for us to experience water entry at 50 inches above MHHW.
• A storm surge of 33 inches would spill over the bulkhead.
• Above 33 to 40 inches, perimeter damage to gardens and surroundings would occur along with flotsam debris.

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Sea Level Rising?  

Yes, It is confirmed that a long term trend has been clearly confirmed by measurement since the 1940’s. This data from Cambridge shows a steady rise of 3.48 millimeters per year with a statistically certainty of 95%. 3.48 millimeters equals 0.137 inches. A little more a than an eighth of an inch.

At this rate, which seems to be continuing, the water level will rise about one inch every 7 1/2 years.  For our purposes today, this is not significant enough to consider.

In fifty years, it may be concerning.

What do you think? Express your opinion at the next board meeting.

Send your comments to mc900@comcast.net

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

THE PUBLIC WORK SESSION OF

THE CAMBRIDGE COMMISSIONERS

TO DISCUSS

THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CITY CHARTER

TO ESTABLISH

A

CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT

TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 6, 2014 AT 6:00 P.M.

GOVERNOR’S HALL AT SAILWIND’S PARK

on Franklin St.

----------------

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS WILL BE WELCOMED

---------------

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT CAMBRIDGE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT STEVE RIDEOUT AT SWRIDEOUT@AOL.COM

http://www.sailwindscambridge.com/index.html

Send your comments to mc900@comcast.net