Budget Amendment ID: FY2015-S4-270-R1

Redraft ENV 270

Metropolitan Beaches Commission

Mr. McGee, Ms. Forry, Messrs. Petruccelli and Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended move that the bill be amended by inserting after section 4 the following section:-

“SECTION 4A. Said chapter 3 is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

Section 70.  There shall be a permanent commission on the future of the metropolitan beaches to consist of 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair of the commission and 1 of whom shall be the minority leader or the minority leader’s designee; 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair of the commission and 1 of shall be the minority leader or the minority leader’s designee; 1 member to be appointed by the secretary of  environmental affairs or the secretary's designee; 1 member to be appointed by the commissioner of conservation and recreation or the commissioner's designee; 2 members to be appointed by the mayor of the city of Boston who shall be from the East Boston section of the city of Boston, the Dorchester section of the city of Boston or the South Boston section of the city of Boston; 6 members to be appointed by the chief executives or board of selectmen from the cities and towns of Hull, Nahant, Quincy, Revere, Lynn and Winthrop; 1 member to be appointed by the Boston Foundation; 1 member to appointed by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; and 1 member to be appointed by the Boston University School of Public Management. The commission shall be under the jurisdiction of the department of conservation and recreation. The commission shall conduct an annual review of the state of metropolitan beaches which shall include a comprehensive study examining the existing maintenance, operational and infrastructure needs for those beaches including, but not limited to, any security and capital-intensive repairs necessary to ensure future recreational use of those beaches. The commission shall also examine best management practices and funding alternatives for each beach, including, but not limited to, public-private partnerships, non-profit entities or other financial means that shall ensure access, quality recreational activities, programming, and improved water quality and beautification efforts at any of those beaches. Said commission shall also analyze and make recommendations on alternatives and methods to improve access from metropolitan beaches to the Boston harbor islands.

For the purposes of this section, the beaches shall include, but not be limited to: Malibu beach, Constitution beach, Carson beach, City Point beach, M Street beach, Pleasure Bay, Savin Hill beach and Tenean beach in the city of Boston; Nantasket beach in the town of Hull; Nahant beach in the town of Nahant; Winthrop beach in the town of Winthrop; Wollaston beach, Pleasure Bay and Squantum Point park in the city of Quincy; Revere beach and Short beach in the city of Revere; and Red Rock park and Lynn beach in the city of Lynn.

The commission shall hold annual hearings within close proximity to Boston harbor beaches to solicit testimony from interested stakeholders including but not limited to: the executive office of environmental affairs, the department of conservation and recreation, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Massachusetts Port Authority, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Boston Harbor Association, the Boston Harbor Island Alliance, Save The Harbor,Save The Bay, local municipalities, non-profit organizations, friends' groups and business and community leaders.

The commission shall submit a report containing its recommendations by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the chairs of the joint committee on the environment, natural resources and agriculture annually, on or before June 1."