City Council
Council Chambers
Agenda — 79 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, February 11, 2026 at 12:11 PM. President Breadon in the Chair. Present Councilors Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, and Worrell. Absent Councilor Mejia. Reverend Reginald Smalls, Bethel Pentecostal Church, delivered the invocation, and the meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. The Chair moved to adopt the minutes from the February 4, 2026 City Council Meeting. Motion prevailed.
- 2 ROLL CALL
- 3 APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 4, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
- 4 COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:
- 5 On the message and order, referred on February 11, 2026, Docket #0320, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Five Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($577,500.00) in the form of a grant, the FY25 Port Security Grant Program, awarded by United States Department of Homeland Security to be administered by the Police Department. The grant would fund the purchase of a new 31' LifeProof boat, the replacement of engines on the 31' Safeboat and 38' Safeboat, and finally, the re-collaring of the Kvichak patrol boat, and ice rescue training, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.
- 6 Councilor Santana called Docket #0321, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Forty Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-Six Dollars ($140,426.00) in the form of a grant, the FY25 Port Security Grant, awarded by Federal Emergency Management Agency to be administered by the Fire Department. The grant would fund strengthened port-wide risk management and protection of critical surface transportation infrastructure from acts of terrorism, major disasters, and other emergencies, from the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body.
- 7 PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND REMONSTRANCES
- 8 REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:
- 9 Communication from Councilor Coletta Zapata regarding the Boston Logan International Airport 2023/2024 Environmental Data Report (EEA #3247).
- 10 Communication from Councilor Murphy re: Public access to City Council working sessions and hearings.
- 11 MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD-FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:
- 12 Councilor Weber called Docket #0128, message and order for your approval an Order authorizing the City of Boston to appropriate the amount of Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($6,500,000.00) for the purpose of paying costs for the window and door replacement projects at the following schools: the Edward Everett Elementary School and the Richard J. Murphy K-8 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. On motion of Councilor Weber, the order was read a second time and again passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).
- 12 Councilor Weber, on behalf of the Committee on Ways and Means, submitted the following:
- 13 Councilor Weber called Docket #0129, message and order for your approval an Order authorizing the City of Boston to appropriate the amount of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) for the purpose of paying costs for the roof replacement projects at the following schools: the Thomas J. Kenny Elementary School and Hugh Roe O’Donnell 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. On motion of Councilor Weber, the order was read a second time and again passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).
- 14 MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
- 15 Ordinance establishing the Office of Pest Control in the City of Boston.
- 15 Recess.
- 16 Ordinance amending City of Boston Code, Ordinances, 17-22, Road Safety and Accountability for Delivery Providers.
- 17 Ordinance Regulating all E-bikes in the City of Boston.
- 18 Order for a hearing to explore the creation of safe school zones to improve pedestrian safety around all schools in the City of Boston.
- 19 Order for a hearing on a scalable funding model for an immigrant Emergency Response Fund.
- 20 Order for a hearing to review the mission, goals, objectives, and challenges at the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT).
- 21 Order for a hearing regarding MassCore graduation requirements and student supports in Boston Public Schools.
- 22 Order for a hearing to discuss ways to repair and maintain private ways.
- 23 Order for a hearing to discuss the importance of the cruise industry in the City of Boston.
- 24 Order for a hearing to discuss pedestrian safety, traffic calming, and Vision Zero in the City of Boston.
- 25 Order for a hearing on community college access and student success for Boston residents.
- 26 Order for a hearing to discuss accessibility in Boston City Hall.
- 27 Order for a hearing to discuss the impact of CORI on access to employment and other opportunities.
- 28 Order for a hearing to consider a full independent audit of Boston Public Schools' finances, operations and program effectiveness.
- 29 Order for a hearing to discuss property tax relief for long-term residents and essential municipal employees.
- 30 Order for a hearing to discuss the goals and priorities of the Office of Arts and Culture and the Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment in the City of Boston.
- 31 Order for a hearing to examine student academic outcomes and return on investment in Boston Public Schools.
- 32 Order for a hearing to discuss the status of the City of Boston's application to certify with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Ranking System (CRS).
- 33 Order for a hearing to examine graduation requirement implementation, waivers, and equity in Boston Public Schools.
- 34 Order for a hearing to continue exploring strategies for developing mixed-income social housing to increase housing access and affordability for all Bostonians.
- 35 Order for a hearing to discuss the educational and workforce development past successes and future opportunities of youth jobs offered by the City of Boston.
- 36 Order for a hearing to explore amending the Boston Zoning Code to shift residential use to allowed where appropriate.
- 37 Order for a hearing to explore the inclusion of pollinator corridors as part of sustainable development.
- 38 Order for a hearing to explore programs the City of Boston offers or could establish to prevent illegal discrimination by landlords and real estate brokers against prospective tenants utilizing housing choice vouchers.
- 39 Order for a hearing regarding LGBTQIA+ youth and young adult homelessness in the City of Boston.
- 40 Order regarding a text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code relative to adult entertainment.
- 41 Order for a hearing on the status of the South End Branch Library reopening.
- 42 Resolution in support of reopening the South End Branch of the Boston Public Library and recognizing the contributions and efforts of Marleen Nienhuis to Improving the South End Branch Library.
- 43 Resolution recognizing June 2026 as Pride Month.
- 44 Resolution recognizing the avoidable tragic death of Carvell Curry and urging the City and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to adopt compassionate cold-weather emergency shelter policies.
- 45 Resolution in support of establishing a crossing guards corps at Trotter Elementary School.
- 46 Resolution affirming Boston’s Ranked Choice Voting Home Rule Petition.
- 47 Councilor Santana called Docket #0356, Resolution in support of "An Executive Order to Protect Bostonians from Unconstitutional and Violent Federal Operations", from the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body. The report was accepted; the resolution was adopted: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta, Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Mejia, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).
- 48 Resolution supporting U.S. Discharge Petition No. 15 to advance federal legislation providing Temporary Protected Status for Haiti.
- 49 Resolution recognizing Irish-American Heritage Month.
- 50 Resolution to embrace and extend heartfelt wishes to the beloved Muslim community in Boston, Massachusetts, throughout the United States, and across the globe, invoking blessings upon them as they embark upon the sacred journey of Ramadan, a month revered for its rituals of prayer, fasting, charity, and deep reflection.
- 51 PERSONNEL ORDERS:
- 52 Councilor Breadon for Councilor Flynn offers the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Charles Levin, Melissa Lo, Sydney Scanlan, and Ashley Lavey in City Council, effective February 7, 2026.
- 53 Councilor Breadon for Councilor Santana offers the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Juan De Jesus Concepcion in City Council, effective February 14, 2026.
- 54 GREEN SHEETS:
- 55 Legislative Calendar for February 11, 2026.
- 56 CONSENT AGENDA:
- 57 Resolution recognizing eight (8) individuals upon their receipt of the Propa City Community Outreach Angel Award and Lighthouse Award.
- 57 Councilor Santana called Docket #0130, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,700,000.00) in the form of a grant, the FY26 Training Academy Earmark Grant, awarded by Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to be administered by the Fire Department. The grant would fund the Boston Fire Department Training Academy to provide training and instruction for public safety agencies in the City of Boston and municipal and political subdivisions across the Commonwealth, per line item 8324-0000 of the FY26 General Appropriations Act, from the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body.
- 58 Resolution recognizing Paul Goodnight.
- 58 Councilor Santana called Docket #0136, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) in the form of a grant, the FY26 Delta Unit Earmark Grant, awarded by Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to be administered by the Fire Department. The grant would fund the Boston Fire Department to conduct dedicated emergency services through its Delta Units, consisting of 3 Delta Unit vehicles assigned to Castle Island, Pleasure Bay and Carson Beach respectively, within the Old Harbor Reservation in the South Boston section of the City of Boston, seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day, inclusive, per line item 8324-0050 of the FY26 General Appropriations Act, from the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body.
- 59 Resolution in memory of Judge Leslie Harris.
- 59 The Chair stated that in absence of objection, 8 late-filed matters would be added to the Agenda. No objection being heard, the following matters were added:
- 60 Resolution recognizing Vineet Gupta.
- 60 Message and order for your approval an Order appropriating from the Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund in the sum of Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($650,000.00) for projects described in the attached order. The Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund Commissioners voted to approve these projects. On motion of Councilor Flynn, the rules were suspended; the order was passed: yeas 11 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Santana, Weber, Worrell), absent 2 (Mejia, Pepén).
- 61 Resolution celebrating the inaugural opening of the Frostival Lodge.
- 61 Councilor Breadon offered the following: Order for the appointment of central staff employees in City Council, effective February 27, 2026.
- 62 Resolution in memory of Edward T. Donovan.
- 62 Councilor Breadon offered the following: Order for the appointment of central staff employees in City Council, effective March 13, 2026.
- 63 Resolution in memory of Rev. Msgr. Francis H. Kelley.
- 63 Councilor Breadon offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Alexander Rocha in City Council, effective March 13, 2026.
- 64 Councilor Breadon for Councilor Santana offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Daniel Idemudia in City Council, effective March 13, 2026.
- 65 Emergency Hearing Order regarding chronic school bus delays and special education transportation failures.
- 66 Notice was received from Councilor Mejia regarding her absence from the February 11, 2026 City Council Meeting.
- 67 Notice was received from Councilor Pepen regarding his absence from the February 11, 2026 City Council Meeting.
- 69 The Chair moved adoption of a Consent Agenda containing the following items:
- 77 The items contained within the Consent Agenda were severally adopted.
- 78 Adjourned at 3:42 p.m. on motion of President Breadon, and in memory of Edward T. Donovan, Rev. Msgr. Francis H. Kelley, Philip Cohen Myrick, James Van Der Beek, Judge Leslie Harris, and Carvell Curry, to meet again on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Attest: Alex Geourntas City Clerk