These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Parking removal for trees
Traffic Commission, 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The commission discusses removal of two curbside parking spaces on Goreham Street in Davis Square for bumpouts around trees that will make the sidewalk accessible to people with disabilities. Also on the agenda: changing the uses of three parking spaces on Broadway in West Somerville to allow for a loading zone and an accessible parking spot. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Housing film screening
Somerville Public Library, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. A Fair Housing Month screening of “Segregated by Design,” an examination of the “forgotten history of how our federal, state and local governments unconstitutionally segregated every major metropolitan area in America through law and policy.” In an event sponsored by the library, Somerville Fair Housing Commission and Department of Racial and Social Justice, the short film is followed by a conversation about fair housing and discrimination in Somerville, including topics covered in Richard Rothstein’s book, “The Color of Law.” Registration is required, as only 20 to 40 spots are available. In the auditorium of the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill.
Nepali flag raising
Office of Immigrant Affairs, 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The mayor raises the flag of Nepal to wish a happy new year 2082 on a calendar founded by the emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain after his victory over the Sakas in 56 B.C.E., which is why the calendar is 56.7 years ahead. On the concourse at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Central Hill.
Child safety and income pilot
Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families and Vulnerable Populations Committee, 6 p.m. Wednesday. The committee discusses child safety concerns as it asks city directors to update a count of crossing guards and comment on whether four children have been hit by vehicles “on their paths to school” over the past few months. “Let’s have some action steps to not have that happen again,” councilor Kristen Strezo said at a March 13 meeting of the City Council. The committee also asks information about a universal basic income pilot and its future. At Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Central Hill and watchable via videoconferencing.
Codifying greener buildings
Land Use Committee, 6:30 p.m. April 17. A joint session with the Planning Board as the mayor and staff continue to update zoning language to include a “platinum” standard” for environmentally smart design and change wording about buildings that produce and remove the same amount of greenhouse gas (called net-zero ready). The changes reinforce the administration’s push for greener buildings and are necessary to avoid conflict with the state building code. The committee seeks to waive certain provisions for accessible entry and exit ways in dwellings with three units or fewer or in an existing building if “no other compliant design solution is possible.” At Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Central Hill, and watchable via videoconferencing.
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