[SPEAKER_07]: City Council, Administration and Finance Committee, May 21, 2024. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.
[SPEAKER_06]: Vice President Collins. Councilor Lazzaro. Present. Councilor Leming.
[SPEAKER_03]: Present.
[SPEAKER_06]: Councilor Sands. Present. President Bears. Present. I also see Councilor Scarpelli here.
[SPEAKER_07]: For present one absent meetings called to order. There'll be a meeting in the Medford City Council Administration Finance Committee, May 21st, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Medford City Council Chamber, second floor, Medford City Hall 85, George P. Hassett Drive, Medford M.A. and by Zoom. Purpose of this meeting is to discuss paper 24-025 offered by Councilor Leming regarding commercial vacancy tax. The full description is whereas the City of Medford has many commercial storefronts that are either vacant or for that are either vacant for unacceptably long periods of time, or are rarely and inconsistently open for business. And whereas there exists insufficient incentive for owners of such property to maintain and rent storefronts to active businesses. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Medford City Council discuss the adoption of a commercial vacancy tax that can be applied to disincentivize these storefront properties from remaining unoccupied indefinitely. Be it further resolved that this matter be referred to committee for further discussion with the chief assessor, finance director, and economic development director.