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August 27, 2025 ·12:00 PM Final

Council Chambers

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Agenda — 103 items

  1. 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, August 27, 2025 at 12:08 P.M. President Louijeune in the Chair. Present Councilors Breadon, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, and Worrell. Absent Councilor Coletta Zapata. Franklin Hobbs, delivered the invocation and the meeting was opened with the pledge of allegiance. The Chair moved to adopt the minutes from the August 6, 2025 meeting. The Chair moved to adopt the amended minutes from the December 11, 2024 meeting. Motions prevailed.
  2. 2 ROLL CALL
  3. 3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ▶ jump to 23:16
  4. 5 COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:
  5. 6 On the message and order, referred on August 27, 2025, Docket #1548, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Four Million One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($4,125,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the FY26 Public Safety Answering Point Support and Incentive Grant, awarded by MA Executive Office of Public Safety & Security to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund costs associated with providing Enhanced 911 services, the committee submitted a report recommending that this order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed. 2025-1548 Referred to ▶ jump to 24:08
  6. 7 On the message and order, referred on August 27, 2025, Docket #1549, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Five Hundred Twenty-Eight Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Six Dollars and Thirty-Two Cents ($528,156.32) in the form of a grant, for the FY26 State 911 Training Grant, awarded by the MA Executive Office of Public Safety & Security to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund the training and certification of Enhanced 911 telecommunications staff, the committee submitted a report recommending that this order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed. 2025-1549 Referred to ▶ jump to 24:40
  7. 8 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) in the form of a grant for the BHCCI/Connect, Learn & Explore Grant, awarded by Boston Children’s Hospital to be administered by the Office of Early Childhood. The grant will fund work that promotes equity and access to programs that promote healthy lifestyle changes through physical activities, as well as work related to the impacts of extreme heat affects on early childhood development and health. 2025-1550 The rules were suspended; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 25:23
  8. 9 Councilor Weber called Docket #1551, 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 for the Impact Driven Collaborative Project Grant, awarded by Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc. to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund the Boston Tree Equity Asset Mapping (BTEAM) project, in partnership with American Forest and Speak for the Trees. BTEAM aims to enhance urban forestry in Boston by identifying local collaborations and creating job opportunities in green infrastructure, from the Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body. On motion of Councilor Weber, the order was passed. 2025-1551 Referred to ▶ jump to 26:42
  9. 10 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Forty-Five Thousand Dollars ($45,000.00) in the form of a grant for the Extreme heat/climate resilience grant, awarded by the United Way to be administered by the Office of Early Childhood. The grant will fund work related to extreme heat/climate resilience as it impacts early childhood development in the City of Boston. 2025-1552 The rules were suspended; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 27:37
  10. 11 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) in the form of a grant for the United Way's Discretionary Grant, awarded by the United Way to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund the City of Boston’s Center for Working Families (CWF) to build an internal database for service delivery. 2025-1553 The rules were suspended; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 28:05
  11. 12 PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND REMONSTRANCES
  12. 13 REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:
  13. 14 Notice was received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 re: action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of May 14, 2025. 2025-1554 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 29:17
  14. 15 Notice was received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 re: action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of May 21, 2025. 2025-1555 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 29:33
  15. 16 Notice was received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 re: action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of August 6, 2025. 2025-1556 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 29:50
  16. 17 Communication was received from the City Clerk of the filing by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding “Proposed Minor Modification to the Downtown Waterfront-Faneuil Hall Urban Renewal Plan, Project No. Mass. R-77, with respect to Parcel J-1." 2025-1557 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 30:07
  17. 18 Communication was received from the City Clerk of the filing by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding “Proposed Minor Modification to the Charlestown Urban Renewal Plan, Project No. Mass. R-55, with respect to Parcel R-59-B2.” 2025-1558 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 30:31
  18. 19 Communication was received from the City Clerk of the filing by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding “Proposed Minor Modification to the Charlestown Urban Renewal Plan, Project No. Mass. R-55, with respect to Parcels P-15B-1A and P-15B-1B.” 2025-1559 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 30:50
  19. 20 Communication was received from Councilors Murphy and Flynn regarding a request for an investigation into the Boston Police Department Radio System Failure at Franklin Park. 2025-1560 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 31:18
  20. 21 Communication was received from Councilor Flynn regarding continued difficulties to hold scheduled hearings at the Boston City Council. 2025-1561 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 31:32
  21. 22 Communication was received from Council President Ruthzee Louijeune regarding the Attorney General’s response to the Open Meeting Law complaint dated January 11, 2025. 2025-1562 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 31:42
  22. 23 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
  23. 23 Councilor Weber, on behalf of the Committee on Government Operations, submitted the following:
  24. 24 On the message and ordinance, referred on January 8, 2025, Docket #0135, to protect workers from heat-related illness and injuries in the City of Boston, the committee submitted a report recommending the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. The report was accepted, the ordinance was passed in a new draft; yeas 11 (Breadon, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), absent 1 (Coletta Zapata). 2025-0135 The report was accepted; the ordinance was passed in a new draft. ▶ jump to 32:47
  25. 25 On the message and order, referred on February 26, 2025, Docket #0527, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the BPS Sunday’s Phase 2 Grant, awarded by the Pilot House Philanthropy to be administered by the Office of Arts and Culture. The program will fund the learning and evaluation components of the BPS Sundays pilot program, the committee submitted a report recommending that this order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed: yeas 11 (Breadon, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), absent 1 (Coletta Zapata). 2025-0527 The report was accepted; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 42:56
  26. 25 Councilor Flynn, on behalf of the Committee on Arts, Culture, Entertainment, Tourism and Special Events, submitted the following:
  27. 26 On the message and order, referred on June 25, 2025, Docket #1262, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Boston Family Day Grant, awarded by the Boston Foundation to be administered by the Office of Arts and Culture. The grant will fund the Boston Family Day program from 2025-2026, provided by the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation, the committee submitted a report recommending that this order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed: yeas 11 (Breadon, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), absent 1 (Coletta Zapata). 2025-1262 The report was accepted; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 43:38
  28. 27 On the message and order, referred on June 25, 2025, Docket #1258, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend a grant not to exceed One Million One Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($1,170,000.00) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program. The grant is awarded to the City of Boston through the Parks and Recreation Department for renovations to Moakley Park located in the neighborhood of South Boston, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed: yeas 10 (Breadon, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Mejia), absent 1 (Coletta Zapata). 2025-1258 The report was accepted; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 51:29
  29. 28 On the message and order, referred on July 9, 2025, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Six Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Four Hundred Fifty-Eight Dollars ($644,458.00) in the form of a grant, for the US Inflation Reduction Act, awarded by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund to grow an accessible, inclusive, and resilient urban forest, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed: yeas 10 (Breadon, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Mejia), absent 1 (Coletta Zapata). 2025-1345 The report was accepted; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 52:16
  30. 28 Councilor Weber, on behalf of the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency and Parks, submitted the following:
  31. 29 On the message and order, referred on July 9, 2025, 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, for the MVP Planning 2.0 Grant, awarded by the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs to be administered by the Office of Climate Resilience. The grant will fund the work climate resilience communities have done to date and support communities with new methods, tools, and resources for building climate resilience, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. 2025-1347 The report was accepted; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 53:00
  32. 30 On the message and order, referred on July 9, 2025, Docket #1356, in accordance with the Ordinance on Surveillance Oversight and Information Sharing, Boston City Code Section 16-63 (“the Ordinance”), I hereby transmit for your review and consideration the proposed Surveillance Use Policy for the Rodent Monitoring Camera System, submitted in partnership with the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. 2025-1356 The report was accepted; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 61:26
  33. 31 On the message and order, referred on July 9, 2025, Docket #1357, in accordance with the Ordinance on Surveillance Oversight and Information Sharing, Boston City Code Section 16-63.(b)(3), I hereby transmit for your review the Boston Police Department's report on three "Social Media Analysis Tools," the "Surveillance Use Policy" questionnaire, and the relevant Department policies that govern the use of these tools, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. 2025-1357 The report was accepted; the order was passed. ▶ jump to 62:07
  34. 32 MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD-FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:
  35. 32 Councilor Santana, on behalf of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, submitted the following:
  36. 33 Order for a hearing to review expenditures associated with the nominating panel and the school committee appointment process. 2025-1442 Remains in ▶ jump to 137:34
  37. 34 Order for a hearing to discuss public authority-ordered towing practices in the City of Boston. 2025-0554 Remains in ▶ jump to 135:48
  38. 35 Order for a hearing to bring a Historically Black College or University Satellite Campus to Boston. 2025-1283 Remains in ▶ jump to 145:12
  39. 36 MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
  40. 37 Order for a hearing to review federal funds received by the City of Boston and discuss the establishment of a task force to prevent or mitigate funding cuts. On motion of Councilors Pepén and Weber, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Louijeune as an original co-sponsor. 2025-1563 Referred to ▶ jump to 158:34
  41. 38 Order for a hearing to discuss appropriate uses of Boston 311 and 9-1-1 emergency. 2025-1564 Referred to ▶ jump to 163:41
  42. 39 Order for a hearing regarding how the Boston Police Department collects, uses, protects, and shares information that may be requested by external entities. 2025-1565 Referred to ▶ jump to 168:31
  43. 40 Order for a hearing regarding nitrous oxide abuse and its impact on community health and safety. Councilor Worrell in the chair. 2025-1566 Referred to ▶ jump to 173:45
  44. 41 Order for a hearing to review the City of Boston's use of federal and state grant funds. President Louijeune in the chair. 2025-1567 Referred to ▶ jump to 178:19
  45. 42 Order for a hearing to discuss improvements to Cleveland Circle. 2025-1568 Referred to ▶ jump to 181:42
  46. 43 Order for a hearing to discuss an investigation into the breakdown of the Boston Police Department's main radio channel. 2025-1569 Referred to ▶ jump to 188:54
  47. 44 On the motion and order, referred on August 21, 2025, Docket #1570, an order to hold a meeting to interview applicants for the Community Preservation Committee, the committee submitted a report recommending that the appointment of Michelle Holmes Foster, ought to be confirmed. 2025-1570 Referred to ▶ jump to 201:49
  48. 45 Councilor Weber called Docket #1571, Resolution in support of Mayor Michelle Wu's letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, from the Committee on Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Immigrant Advancement. Objection by Councilor Flynn. Committee members polled; yeas 5 (Weber, Pepén, Worrell, Santana, Mejia), nays 1 (Flynn), not present 1 (Murphy). The matter was properly before the body. On motion of Councilors Breadon, Mejia and Weber, the resolution was adopted; yeas 11 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), not present 1 (Murphy). 2025-1571 Referred to ▶ jump to 204:21
  49. 46 WITHDRAWN 2025-1572 Withdrawn. ▶ jump to 216:42
  50. 47 Resolution calling for reconsideration of the Boston School Committee nomination process and affirming the need for greater City Council involvement. On motion of Councilor Mejia, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted; yeas 9 (Breadon, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepen, Santana, Weber, Worrell), nays 1 (FitzGerald), present 1 (Durkan), absent 1 (Coletta Zapata). 2025-1573 The rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted. ▶ jump to 220:40
  51. 48 Resolution recognizing August as National Black Business Month. Councilor Worrell in the Chair. On motion of Councilors Louijeune and Worrell, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted. 2025-1574 The rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted. ▶ jump to 226:00
  52. 49 WITHDRAWN 2025-1575 Withdrawn. ▶ jump to 231:16
  53. 50 Resolution in support for an independent investigation into the city's July 4th payroll failure to determine if state or federal employment laws were broken. President Louijeune in the chair. On motion of Councilors Flynn and Murphy, the rules were suspended; the resolution was not adopted; yeas 2 (Flynn, Murphy), nays 9 (Breadon, Durkan, FitzGerald, Louijeune, Mejia, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), absent 1 (Coletta Zapata). 2025-1576 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 231:51
  54. 51 Resolution standing in solidarity with UNITE HERE Local 26 food and beverage workers at Fenway Park. On motion of Councilor Durkan and FitzGerald the rules were suspended; the resolution was passed; yeas 11 (Breadon, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), absent 1 (Coletta Zapata). 2025-1577 The rules were suspended; the ordinance was adopted. ▶ jump to 240:34
  55. 52 Resolution recognizing September as National Recovery Month. On motion of Councilors FitzGerald and Murphy, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted. 2025-1578 The rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted. ▶ jump to 251:33
  56. 53 PERSONNEL ORDERS:
  57. 54 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Santana offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Alexander Kokovidis, Matthew Lyder and Carliz Y Manana in City Council, effective September 6, 2025. 2025-1579 Passed under suspension of the rules. ▶ jump to 255:44
  58. 55 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Katerina Helfrich in City Council, effective August 30, 2025. 2025-1580 Passed under suspension of the rules. ▶ jump to 255:46
  59. 56 Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Karishma Chouhan, Ron Cobb, Meagan Corugedo, Arnita Flint, Meghan Kavanagh, Michelle A.L. Goldberg, Cora Montrond, Candace Morales, Shane Pac, Lorraine Schettino and Ethan Vara in City Council, effective August 23, 2025. 2025-1581 Passed under suspension of the rules. ▶ jump to 255:52
  60. 57 GREEN SHEETS:
  61. 58 Legislative Calendar for August 27, 2025. GS-8/27/25
  62. 59 CONSENT AGENDA:
  63. 60 Resolution recognizing Dawn Panos. 2025-1582 ▶ jump to 287:16
  64. 60 The chair stated in absence of objection, eight late file matters would be added to the Agenda. No objection being heard, the following items were added:
  65. 61 Resolution recognizing Friends of DeFilippo Playground. 2025-1583
  66. 61 Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Dorah Pierre Louis, effective September 12, 2025. 2025-1611 Passed under suspension of the rules. ▶ jump to 256:57
  67. 62 Resolution recognizing Gregg D. Bodell. 2025-1584
  68. 62 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Kori-Reign Tyler, effective September 12, 2025. 2025-1612 Passed under suspension of the rules. ▶ jump to 257:01
  69. 63 Resolution recognizing Nadine Pellicio. 2025-1585
  70. 63 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Santana offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Joaquim Lombos, effective September 5, 2025. 2025-1613 Passed under suspension of the rules. ▶ jump to 257:04
  71. 64 Resolution recognizing Boston Unity Cup. 2025-1586
  72. 64 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Santana offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Joaquim Lombos, effective September 12, 2025. 2025-1614 Passed under suspension of the rules. ▶ jump to 257:08
  73. 65 Resolution recognizing Isabelle Nelson. 2025-1587
  74. 65 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Coletta Zapata offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Stephan Marin Betancurt, effective September 12, 2025. 2025-1615 Passed under suspension of the rules. ▶ jump to 257:11
  75. 66 Resolution recognizing Brieajah Ayers. 2025-1588
  76. 66 Notice was received from Councilor Coletta Zapata regarding her absence from the August 27, 2025 City Council Meeting. 2025-1616 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 257:43
  77. 67 Resolution recognizing 17 individuals for their dedication to Acts Ministries' Community Health Day and their community engagement efforts in the Four Corners neighborhood. 2025-1589
  78. 67 Communication was received from Councilor Mejia regarding White Stadium. 2025-1617 Placed on file. ▶ jump to 258:41
  79. 68 Resolution recognizing Margarita Lebron. 2025-1590
  80. 68 Hearing Order regarding Immediate Reforms to Background Checks, Sex-Offender Screening, and Ongoing Stability Reviews for City of Boston Hiring and Employment. 2025-1618 Referred to ▶ jump to 263:24
  81. 69 Resolution recognizing Sonya Owens. 2025-1591
  82. 70 Resolution recognizing Ro'Shawn Brooks-Graham and Zoleeya Diamond Joseph. 2025-1592
  83. 71 Resolution recognizing five youth for demonstrating exceptional leadership in sports and academics, and for displaying discipline, teamwork, and resilience in athletics while also pursuing excellence and exhibiting curiosity in the classroom. 2025-1593
  84. 72 Resolution recognizing Captain Mark Morrison. 2025-1594
  85. 72 The Chair moved adoption of a Consent Agenda containing the following items:
  86. 73 Resolution recognizing Asian American Association of Boston. 2025-1595
  87. 74 Resolution recognizing Warren Insurance Agency. 2025-1596
  88. 75 Resolution recognizing Ethos on National Seniors Day. 2025-1597
  89. 76 Resolution in memory of Tiffany Horne. 2025-1598
  90. 77 Resolution in memory of Anne "Nana" Scanlon. 2025-1599
  91. 78 Resolution in memory of Mary "Colette" Burke. 2025-1600
  92. 79 Resolution in memory of Joseph F. Shone. 2025-1601
  93. 80 Resolution recognizing Nuevo Dia Adult Day Health. 2025-1602
  94. 81 Resolution in recognition of Fisherman's Feast. 2025-1603
  95. 82 Resolution in recognition of Ai Li Tanmorin. 2025-1604
  96. 83 Resolution in memory of Ricardo Miguel Zeferino Barbosa. 2025-1605
  97. 84 Resolution in recognition of the family of Edward Kenney. 2025-1606
  98. 85 Resolution in memory of Edward Kenney. 2025-1607
  99. 86 Resolution in recognition of William Driscoll. 2025-1608
  100. 87 Resolution recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 2025-1609
  101. 88 Resolution recognizing the 20th anniversary and naming August 23, 2025 "Jonas Brothers Day" in the City of Boston. 2025-1610
  102. 102 The items contained within the Consent Agenda were severally adopted.
  103. 103 Adjourned at 4:56 p.m. on motion of President Louijeune, and in memory of Joseph Casper, Marie Turley, to meet again on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. Attest: Dassie Bheecham Assistant City Clerk