City Council
Council Chambers
Agenda — 103 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, October 23, 2024 at 12:08 PM. President Louijeune in the Chair. All Councilors Present. Reverend JD Mangrum, Christ Church, delivered the invocation and the meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. President Louijeune moved to adopt the minutes from the October 9, 2024 meeting. Motion Prevailed; yeas 12, nays 1 (Flynn).
- 2 ROLL CALL
- 3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
- 4 COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:
- 5 On the message and order, referred on October 23, 2024, Docket #1542, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million Three Hundred Forty-Nine Thousand Five Hundred Thirty-One Dollars and Twenty-Four Cents ($1,349,531.24) in the form of a grant, for the FFY24 Shelter & Service Program Competitive (SSP-C) grant, awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, passed through Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), to be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Housing. The grant will fund the increase of capacity to shelter non-citizen migrants recently released from DHS custody, including renovations and modifications to existing facilities, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; Yeas 12, Nays 1 (Flynn).
- 6 Councilor Santana called Docket #1543, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million Two Hundred Two Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Dollars and Ninety Cents ($1,202,560.90) in the form of a grant for the FY2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be administered by the Fire Department. The grant will fund critically needed resources that equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operational efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience, from the Committee on Public Safety & Criminal Justice. On motion of Councilor Santana, the order was passed.
- 7 On the message and order, referred on October 23, 2024, Docket #1544, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-Six Dollars ($999,896.00) in the form of a grant, for the FFY24 Shelter & Services Program Allocated (SSP-A) grant, awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, passed through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), to be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Housing. The grant will fund the increase of capacity to shelter non-citizen migrants recently released from DHS custody, including renovations and modifications to existing facilities, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; Yeas 12, Nays 1 (Flynn).
- 8 On the message and order, referred on October 23, 2024, Docket #1545, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Hundred Seven Thousand Three Hundred Four Dollars ($307,304.00) in the form of a grant, for the FY25 DMH CIT TTAC Grant awarded by the MA Department of Mental Health to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund the implementation of 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for officers under the umbrella of the BPD Street Outreach Unit, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass.
- 9 On the message and order, referred on October 23, 2024, Docket #1546, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Two Hundred Eighty Thousand Sixty-Five Dollars ($280,065.00) in the form of a grant, for the FY24 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program, awarded by the United States Department of Justice to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund two Criminalist positions, overtime, lab supplies, equipment, and continuing education expenses.
- 10 Councilor Murphy called Docket #1547, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Dollars ($166,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the VBS Senior Center grant, awarded by the Donor Group to be administered the Age Strong Commission. The grant will fund the support of the Senior Service Center expenditures, from the Committee on Strong Women, Families & Communities. On motion of Councilor Murphy, the order was passed.
- 11 On the message and order, referred on October 23, 2024, Docket #1548, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Twenty-Nine Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-Six Dollars ($29,496.00) in the form of a grant, for the FY24 Port Security Grant Program, awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund the purchase of a new collar for the 38' Safeboat duty vessel, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 12, (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, Fernandes Anderson, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepen, Santana, Webber and Worrell), present 1 (Mejia).
- 12 Councilor FitzGerald called Docket #1549, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the LGBTQ Mental Health Plan, awarded by United Healthcare Community Plan of Massachusetts to be administered by the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement. The grant will fund community efforts to combat substance abuse and mental illness disparities among the LGBTQ+ community, from the Committee on Public Health, Homelessness & Recovery. On motion of Councilor FitzGerald, the order was passed.
- 13 Message transmitting certain information under section 17F pertaining to school bus data, Docket #1446, passed by the Council on September 25, 2024.
- 14 PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND REMONSTRANCES
- 15 REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:
- 16 Communication was received from the Mayor regarding the Home Rule Petition on property tax classification passed by the City Council on June 5, 2024.
- 17 Notice was received from the Mayor of her absence from the City on Monday, October 21, 2024 from 11:20 a.m. returning at 9:17 p.m.
- 18 Notice was received from the Scott Finn, City Auditor, of the appointment of Timothy Mathis as Deputy City Auditor, effective October 26, 2024.
- 19 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 September 25, 2024.
- 20 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 October 2, 2024.
- 21 Communication was received from the City Clerk of the filing by the Boston Planning and Development Agency regarding "Proposed Minor Modification to the Washington Park Urban Renewal Plan, Project No. Mass. R-24, with respect to Parcels S-12B and S-12C."
- 22 Communication was received from Councilor Flynn regarding Docket #1303, Property Tax Exemption for Veterans.
- 23 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
- 24 On the message and order, Docket #1165, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Seventy-Five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Commonwealth Builder Program, awarded by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency to be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Housing, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass in a new draft.
- 24 Councilor Breadon, on behalf of the Committee on Housing and Community Development, submitted the following:
- 25 MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD-FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:
- 26 Order for a hearing to support the creation of lending libraries to benefit residents and reduce wasteful purchases.
- 27 Order for a hearing to discuss causes of increases in Boston Police overtime spending.
- 27 Councilor Pepén, on behalf of the Committee on City Services & Innovation Technology, submitted the following:
- 28 Order for a hearing to discuss ways to provide critical public safety support and address quality of life issues relating to the crisis at Mass and Cass.
- 29 Order to increase Veterans property tax exemption. On motion of Councilors Worrell and Louijeune, the order was passed (not present, Flynn).
- 29 Councilor Worrell, on behalf of the Committee on Ways & Means, submitted the following:
- 30 MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
- 31 Order for a hearing regarding the establishment of a municipal climate bank in Boston.
- 31 Councilor Santana, on behalf of the Committee on Public Safety & Criminal Justice, submitted the following:
- 32 Order for a hearing on winter weather preparation and safety.
- 33 Order for a hearing to discuss financial literacy programs in Boston Public Schools. On motion of Councilor Flynn, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors Mejia and Murphy as co-sponsors.
- 33 Councilor Worrell, on behalf of the Committee on Ways & Means, submitted the following:
- 34 Order for a hearing to explore how changes to planning, development, zoning, and land use policies in Austin, TX have increased housing production and affordability, and the potential to apply similar policies in Boston.
- 35 Order for a hearing regarding public safety and quality of life issues in Downtown & Boston Common.
- 36 Order for a hearing to explore the effectiveness of high-dosage tutoring and other academic recovery strategies. Councilor Worrell in the chair. On motion of Councilor Louijeune, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors Durkan and Weber as original co-sponsors.
- 36 On motion of President Louijeune, Docket #1571 was taken out of order:
- 37 On the message and order, referred on October 23, 2024, Docket #1564, Order for a hearing regarding nominations for the Civilian Review Board and Internal Affairs Oversight Panel within the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, submits a report recommending that the enclosed nominations be forwarded to the Mayor, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 11 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepen, Santana, Webber and Worrell), present 1 (FitzGerald), not present 1 (Fernandes Anderson). Councilor Louijeune in the Chair.
- 38 Order requesting certain information under Section 17F regarding all newly created job positions.
- 38 On motion of President Louijeune, Docket #1570 was taken out of order:
- 39 Resolution designating a Hero Square at the intersection of Blue Hill Ave. and Quincy St. in recognition of Rinaldo L Sestito. On motion of Councilor Fernandes Anderson, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 40 Resolution standing in solidarity with pregnant patients and medical professionals in Texas. On motion of Councilors Coletta Zapata and Durkan, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Louijeune as an original co-sponsor. On motion of Councilors Coletta Zapata and Louijeune, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted; yeas 11, not present 2 (Fernandes Anderson, Mejia).
- 41 Resolution celebrating the Declaration of Republic of Türkiye and the 29th Annual Boston Turkish Arts & Culture Festival. On motion of Councilors Coletta Zapata and Louijeune, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 42 Resolution in support of our local restaurants in the City of Boston. Referred to the Committee on Labor, Workforce & Economic Development.
- 43 Resolution recognizing October 26, 2024 as Intersex Awareness Day. On motion of Councilor Santana, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted; yeas 13.
- 44 Resolution standing in solidarity with UNITE HERE Local 26 Boston Hotel Workers. On motion of Councilors Coletta Zapata and Flynn, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Weber as an original co-sponsor. On motion of Councilors Coletta Zapata, Flynn, and Weber, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted; yeas 13.
- 45 GREEN SHEETS:
- 46 Legislative Calendar for October 23, 2024.
- 47 CONSENT AGENDA:
- 48 Resolution recognizing Christian Rosa & Rosa Liquors.
- 49 Resolution recognizing Mather Elementary School.
- 50 Resolution recognizing Jose Ruiz.
- 51 Resolution recognizing Brenda Figueroa.
- 52 Resolution recognizing Ayesha Lawton.
- 52 Councilor Murphy called Docket #0116, 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 the Boston Healthy Child Care Initiative and the Office of Early Childhood's Connect, Learn and Explore Initiative, from the Committee on Strong Women, Families and Communities. On motion of Councilor Murphy, the order was passed.
- 53 Resolution recognizing Robert Carrera.
- 53 Councilor Coletta Zapata called Docket #1475, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Clougherty Pool Project, awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury passed through the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to be administered by the Public Facilities Department. The grant will fund the Clougherty Pool replacement and bathhouse renovation project, from the Committee of Environmental Justice, Resiliency & Parks. On motion of Councilor Coletta Zapata, the order was passed.
- 54 Resolution recognizing Geovani Rodriguez.
- 54 Councilor Pepén called Docket #1386, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the MBI Digital Equity Partnership Program, awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury, passed through the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, to be administered by the Department of Innovation & Technology. The grant will fund services and support for residents of the Commonwealth who cannot afford broadband service and/or internet connected devices or lack the digital literacy skills needed to utilize the internet, from the Committee on City Services & Innovation Technology. On motion of Councilor Pepén, the order was passed.
- 55 Resolution recognizing Gethro Montperouse.
- 55 Councilor Worrell called Docket #1430, message and order for your approval an Order authorizing the City of Boston to appropriate the amount of Two Million Two Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($2,225,000.00) for the purpose of paying the cost of a feasibility study and schematic design associated with a project for the Pauline Agassiz Shaw-Charles H. Taylor Elementary School, Mattapan, MA 02126. 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 & Means. On motion of Councilor Worrell, the order was read a second time and passed; yeas 12, not present 1 (Fernandes Anderson).
- 56 Resolution recognizing Alejandro Castillo.
- 56 The Chair stated in absence of objection, one late file matter would be added to the Agenda. No objection being heard, the following item was added:
- 57 Resolution in memory of Dante Webb.
- 57 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: order for the appointment of temporary employee Kiara Montes De Oca in City Council, effective October 21, 2024.
- 58 Resolution recognizing Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
- 58 GREEN SHEETS:
- 59 Resolution recognizing St. Peter's Church.
- 60 Resolution recognizing Royce Cross.
- 61 Resolution recognizing Kaitlyn Keaney Fund.
- 61 Councilor Louijeune moved adoption of a Consent Agenda containing the following items:
- 62 Resolution recognizing El Grito de Yara Heritage Day.
- 63 Resolution recognizing Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence.
- 64 Resolution recognizing An Evening of Remembrance and Hope.
- 65 Resolution recognizing Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.
- 66 Resolution recognizing Mary Susan DeLaura.
- 67 Resolution recognizing Brenda Rodriguez "Pilares de la Hispanidad 2024."
- 68 Resolution recognizing Wilson Martinez "Pilares de la Hispanidad 2024."
- 69 Resolution recognizing Enilda Lovo.
- 70 Resolution recognizing Alexis Cervasio.
- 71 Resolution recognizing Tommy Welch.
- 72 Resolution recognizing Nick Free.
- 73 Resolution recognizing Brian Lynch.
- 74 Resolution recognizing the eight District 5 graduates of Immigrants Lead Boston.
- 75 Resolution recognizing Lee Blasi.
- 76 Resolution recognizing Juan Chavez.
- 77 Resolution recognizing Ayanna Lorde.
- 78 Resolution recognizing the Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative.
- 79 Resolution recognizing the Panlyfe Project.
- 80 Resolution recognizing the Daily Table.
- 81 Resolution recognizing the Greater Boston Food Bank.
- 82 Resolution recognizing Liz Vizza.
- 83 Resolution recognizing the Mattapan Food and Fitness Colaition.
- 84 Resolution recognizing Women's Lunch Place.
- 85 Resolution recognizing Kwong Kow Chinese School.
- 86 Resolution in memory of Glenn Inghram.
- 101 The matters contained within the Consent Agenda were severally adopted.
- 102 Adjourned at 3:33 p.m. on motion of President Louijeune, and in memory of of Lina Capogreco, Michele Morgan, Kathleen Elliot, Sister Evelyn Hurley, Jean Marie Whelan, Robert (Bob) Julien, Kathleen McDonough, Bill Matheny, Alex Olmedo Soto, Freddie Mendes, Richard Chalfin, Dante Webb, Alma Smith, Glenn Inghram, and Aileen Gloria Castillo, to meet again at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Attest: Alex Geourntas City Clerk