City Council
Council Chambers
Agenda — 69 items
- 1 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Boston was held in the Christopher A. Iannella Chamber, City Hall on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 12:14 PM. President Breadon in the Chair. Present Councilors Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, and Worrell. City Clerk Alex Geourntas delivered the invocation, and the meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. The Chair moved to adopt the minutes from the March 11, 2026 City Council Meeting. Motion prevailed.
- 2 ROLL CALL
- 3 APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 11, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
- 4 COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:
- 5 Message and order for your approval an order to reduce the FY26 appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by Thirty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred Fifty-Nine Dollars ($33,759.00). This Order is necessary to provide funding for the Property Management Department for the FY26 increases contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and the New England Police Benevolent Association, Local 174. Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on March 16, 2026.
- 6 Message and order for a supplemental appropriation order for the Property Management Department for FY26 in the amount of Thirty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred Fifty-Nine Dollars ($33,759.00). This Order is necessary to cover the FY26 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and New England Police Benevolent Association, Local 174. The terms of the contracts are July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026 and July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The major provisions of the contracts include a market rate adjustment to wage scales, effective July 2025, as well as increases to the detail rate.
- 7 On the message and order, referred on March 18, 2026, Docket #0569, approving an appropriation of Thirty-Two Million, Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($32,600,000.00) from Fiscal Year 2026 community preservation fund revenues for community preservation projects at the recommendation of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee (“CPC”). The upcoming projects will aim to improve the quality of life across Boston neighborhoods. Plans include renovating playgrounds and enhancing or creating recreational spaces such as parks, community gardens, and urban farms. In addition, these projects will plant trees to grow the city’s tree canopy, preserve historic buildings and artifacts, support a program for affordable first-time home buyers and construct new affordable housing units for residents. Together, these efforts are expected to deliver a meaningful and lasting positive impact on Boston’s neighborhoods and communities, the committee submitted a report that the order ought to pass.
- 8 Councilor Weber called Docket #0570, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to appropriate the amount of Twenty Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($20,200,000.00) for the purpose of paying costs for the window and door replacement projects at the following schools: Adams Elementary School. This includes the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto, and for which the City of Boston may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of the Public Facilities Department on behalf of the Boston Public Schools, from the Committee on Ways and Means. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body.
- 9 Councilor Weber called Docket #0571, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to appropriate the amount of One Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,100,000.00) for the purpose of paying costs for the heat pump conversion and roof replacement projects at the following schools: Margarita Muñiz Academy, Mildred Avenue K-8 School, and Orchard Gardens School. This includes the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto, and for which the City of Boston may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of the Public Facilities Department on behalf of the Boston Public Schools, from the Committee on Ways and Means. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body.
- 10 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Two Hundred Fifty-Six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($256,500.00) in the form of a grant, the Community First Partnership Grant, awarded by Mass Save to be administered by the Environment. The grant would fund outreach and engagement with environmental justice communities to drive increased awareness and measurable participation in energy efficiency programs.
- 11 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) in the form of a grant, FY26-Earmark - West End, awarded by MA Office of Travel & Tourism to be administered by the Age Strong Commission. The grant would fund older adult programs in the West End neighborhood.
- 12 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) in the form of a grant, FY26-Earmark - East Boston, awarded by MA Office of Travel & Tourism to be administered by the Age Strong Commission. The grant would fund older adult programs in the East Boston neighborhood.
- 13 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) in the form of a grant, FY26-Earmark - Dorchester, awarded by MA Office of Travel & Tourism to be administered by the Age Strong Commission. The grant would fund older adult programs in the Dorchester neighborhood.
- 14 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) in the form of a grant, FY26-Earmark - South End, awarded by MA Office of Travel & Tourism to be administered by the Age Strong Commission. The grant would fund older adult programs in the South End neighborhood.
- 15 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) in the form of a grant, FY26-Earmark - Roxbury and Dorchester, awarded by MA Office of Travel & Tourism to be administered by the Age Strong Commission. The grant would fund older adult programs in the Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods.
- 16 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Thirty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Twenty-Nine Dollars and Thirty Cents ($38,229.30) in the form of a grant, the State Literacy Program Grant, awarded by MA Department of Education to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant would fund the infrastructure costs for the Adult Community Learning Services at the MassHire Career Centers.
- 17 PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND REMONSTRANCES
- 18 REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:
- 19 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Andrea Lane Hennelly as Executive Director of People and Culture of the Office of Human Resources, effective January 24, 2026.
- 20 Notice was received from Eneida D. Tavares regarding her resignation as Chair of the Board of Election Commissioners, effective January 30, 2026.
- 21 Communication was received from Councilor Flynn requesting early street sweeping following the Evacuation Day/St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston.
- 22 Communication was received from Ashley Groffenberger, Chief Financial Officer and Collector Treasurer, regarding recent developments in the collective bargaining process.
- 23 MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD-FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:
- 24 Order for a hearing to discuss pest control and the discovery of leptospirosis in the City of Boston.
- 25 Order for a hearing on government accountability, transparency, and accessibility of decision making protocols in city government.
- 26 Order for a hearing to review construction costs associated with the White Stadium project.
- 27 MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
- 28 Home Rule Petition for an Act Relative to Voting For All Legal Residents in the City of Boston.
- 29 Order for a hearing to examine telehealth access and digital health equity in the City of Boston. On motion of Councilor Culpepper, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors FitzGerald and Durkan as original co-sponsors.
- 30 Order for a hearing to examine access to primary care physicians in the City of Boston. On motion of Councilor Culpepper, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors FitzGerald and Durkan as original co-sponsors.
- 31 Order for a hearing to review discrepancies between market value and tax assessed value for residential properties in the City of Boston and to evaluate the City's tax assessment practices.
- 32 Order for a hearing to review administrative transparency, equitable student representation, and student freedoms in higher education.
- 33 Order for a hearing to discuss City of Boston transportation philosophy and status of infrastructure projects.
- 34 Order for a hearing to discuss the status of state and federal funding allocated for transportation and streets projects.
- 35 Order for a hearing to review nightlife industry safety training and the role of the Office of Nightlife Economy.
- 36 Order for a hearing to review funding, reimbursement, and accountability for police overtime details in the City of Boston.
- 37 Order for a hearing to discuss the impact of the FIFA World Cup fan marches on basic city services.
- 38 Order regarding a text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code relative to requiring on-site affordable housing in PLAN: Downtown.
- 39 Order regarding a text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code to establish Boston Investment Zones: An Anti-Displacement Tool.
- 40 Order requesting certain information under Section 17F regarding the City of Boston's efforts to address drink spiking and drug-facilitated sexual assault in nightlife establishments, including safety training programs, prevention initiatives, communications with licensed venues, and the status of records maintained by the City regarding these efforts.
- 41 Resolution in support of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.
- 42 Resolution recognizing March 18, 2026 as "Transit Driver Appreciation Day" in the City of Boston.
- 43 Resolution recognizing the 40th Anniversary and naming March 18, 2026, "Boston Groundwater Trust Day" in the City of Boston.
- 44 Resolution against the approval and construction of additional roof decks in residential areas of South Boston.
- 45 GREEN SHEETS:
- 46 Legislative Calendar for March 18, 2026.
- 47 CONSENT AGENDA:
- 47 The Chair moved adoption of a Consent Agenda containing the following items:
- 48 Resolution in memory of James "Jim" McIsaac.
- 49 Resolution recognizing Lynda Hosea.
- 50 Resolution recognizing Marianne Curley.
- 51 Resolution recognizing Mary Doherty.
- 52 Resolution recognizing the Lynch Family.
- 53 Resolution recognizing Ni Lun Welfare Association.
- 54 Resolution recognizing Mr. Takahashi Seiichiro.
- 55 Resolution recognizing 12 South Boston Citizens' Association Scholarship Poster Contest finalists.
- 56 Resolution in memory of Anibal Montañez and Alex D. Santiago Sierra.
- 57 Resolution recognizing Khalid Jama and Polly Doogue.
- 58 Resolution recognizing 5 individuals for completing the Entrepreneurship Apprenticeship Practicum.
- 59 Resolution recognizing Robert Sullivan.
- 60 Resolution recognizing Kurt Edwin Okraku.
- 61 Resolution recognizing Robbyn Paradis.
- 62 Resolution recognizing Anita Maxineau.
- 63 Resolution recognizing Otto Addo.
- 64 Resolution recognizing Anthony Amoah.
- 65 Resolution in memory of Taylor Wornum, Jr.
- 66 Resolution in memory of Philbert Roland Cummings.
- 67 The items contained within the Consent Agenda were severally adopted.
- 68 Adjourned at 3:06 p.m. on motion of President Breadon, and in memory of Anita Maxineau, Sincere Allah, Philbert Roland Cummings, Edmund “Ricky Gill” Guillory, Mark Harris, Rico Reece, Dan McCole, Alexander Nguyen, and Dr. Brenda Gael McSweeny to meet again on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Attest: Alex Geourntas City Clerk