City Council
Council Chambers
Agenda — 88 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, June 26, 2024 at 12:13 PM. President Louijeune in the Chair. All Councilors Present. Reverend Dr. Ingrid Tucker, Awaken Christian Church, delivered the invocation and the meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. President Louijeune moved to adopt the minutes from the June 12, 2024 meeting. Motion Prevailed.
- 2 ROLL CALL
- 3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
- 4 COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:
- 5 Councilor Santana called Docket #1043, 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, for the Youth Sports Fund, awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to be administered by Neighborhood Services. The grant will fund referee training, payments for travel expenses related to sports and purchase of sport equipment for Boston School students, from the Committee on Education. No objection being heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Santana, the order was passed.
- 6 PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND REMONSTRANCES
- 7 REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:
- 8 The Constable Bonds of Scharett Barbour, Yolanda Stinson-Tubbs, Taschetta Stephens-Weston, TaWonya Morris-Williams, Natalia Lovasco, AnnMarie Flaherty, Nhat-Thanh Dao, Ismael Cruz and Baraa Fadel Mohamed having been duly approved by the Collector-Treasurer were received and approved under the usual terms and conditions.
- 9 Communication was received from Councilor Ed Flynn regarding his follow-up letter on the Boston Police Crime Laboratory.
- 10 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Adrian Jordan as Chief of Emergency Preparedness, effective June 1, 2024.
- 11 Notice was received from Lynn W. Smiledge regarding her resignation from the Boston Landmarks Commission and Fort Point Landmark District Commission, effective June 30, 2024.
- 12 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 June 5, 2024.
- 13 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 June 12, 2024.
- 14 MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD-FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:
- 15 Message disapproving the Annual Appropriation and Tax Order for FY2025, (Docket #0670), passed by the City Council on June 05, 2024. I am filing an amended Annual Appropriation and Tax Order.
- 15 On motion of Council President Louijeune, Docket #1056 was taken out of order:
- 16 MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
- 17 Ordinance to establish an internal discretionary incidentals fund for each Council office.
- 18 Order for a hearing regarding gender-neutral bathrooms in City-owned buildings. On motion of Councilors Santana and Durkan, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Louijeune as an original co-sponsor.
- 19 Order for a hearing to discuss ways to ensure the operations of the 911 system and contingency plans in case of a 911 system outage.
- 20 Order for a hearing to discuss protections for workers during extreme heat.
- 21 Order for a hearing to create more affordable homes and invest in our local communities with district improvement financing (DIF). Councilor Pepen moved to substitute language. Motion prevailed.
- 22 Resolution to recognize and celebrate the independence of Cabo Verde and to declare July as Cabo Verdean Heritage Month. On motion of Councilor Fernandes Anderson, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted; yeas 13.
- 23 Resolution calling for commitment from the state government to ensure the preservation of all Steward hospitals in Boston. On motion of Councilor Flynn, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors FitzGerald and Breadon as original co-sponsors. On motion of Councilors Flynn, FitzGerald and Breadon, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 24 Resolution to rename the Jamaica Plain Branch Library's Children's Room after Barbara Rhodes. On motion of Councilor Weber, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 25 Resolution designating a Hero Square at the intersection of Humboldt Ave. and Humboldt Court in recognition of Curtis W. Herron, Jr. On motion of Councilor Fernandes Anderson, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 26 WITHDRAWN
- 27 Resolution recognizing the advocacy of the 55 Bus Coalition by declaring June 26, 2024 as “#55 Bus Day" in the City of Boston. On motion of Councilor Durkan, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 28 Order requesting certain information under Section 17F relative to chronic absenteeism in Boston Public Schools.
- 29 WITHDRAWN
- 30 Order requesting certain information under Section 17F relative to "BPS Sundays."
- 31 Order requesting certain information under section 17F re: information relative to the 2022 and 2023 Boston Police Department promotional exams.
- 32 PERSONNEL ORDERS:
- 32 On motion of President Louijeune, Docket #0990 was taken out of order. Councilor Worrell, on behalf of the Committee on Ways and Means, submitted the following:
- 33 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Santana offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Gabrielle Waiter in City Council, effective June 29, 2024.
- 34 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Skarlett Abreu Martinez, Francis Gonzalez and Bolivar Hiciano in City Council, effective June 29, 2024.
- 35 GREEN SHEETS:
- 36 Legislative Calendar for June 26, 2024.
- 37 CONSENT AGENDA:
- 37 The Chair stated that in absence of objection, twelve late file matters would be added to the agenda. No objection being heard, the following items were added:
- 38 Resolution honoring James "Fitzy" Fitzgerald.
- 38 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Murphy offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Caroline O’Neill, effective June 22, 2024.
- 39 Resolution recognizing Sonia Sanchez.
- 39 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Dulce M. Bernal-Sandoval and Beatrix Knight, effective June 22, 2024.
- 40 Resolution recognizing Luis Flores.
- 40 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Beatrix Knight, effective June 29, 2024.
- 41 Resolution recognizing Millie Garcia.
- 41 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Dulce M. Bernal-Sandoval and Julisa Curet Rodriguez, effective June 29, 2024.
- 42 Resolution recognizing Emily Munguia.
- 42 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Fernandes Anderson offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Angie Brutus and Yuqing Sun, effective June 22, 2024.
- 43 Resolution recognizing Lorena Rodriguez.
- 43 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Fernandes Anderson offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Angie Brutus and Yuqing Sun, effective June 29, 2024.
- 44 Resolution recognizing Amparo Doribel Tejada Ruiz.
- 44 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Pepén offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Dianna Bronchuck, effective June 22, 2024.
- 45 Resolution recognizing Jose De La Cruz.
- 45 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Pepén offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Dianna Bronchuck, effective June 29, 2024.
- 46 Resolution recognizing Angie Bautista.
- 46 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Breadon offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Malaya Hayes, effective July 6, 2024.
- 47 Resolution recognizing Philippine American Mainstream Advocacy for Nonpartisan Associations inc.
- 47 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Brian Swett as Chief Climate Officer.
- 48 Resolution in memory of Donna Broderick Gleavy.
- 48 Message transmitting certain information under section 17F relative to legal spending, docket #0937, passed by the Council on June 5, 2024.
- 49 Resolution recognizing Kwong Kow Chinese School.
- 49 Message transmitting certain information under section 17F relative to school athletics transportation, Docket Number #0939, passed by the Council on June 5, 2024.
- 50 Resolution recognizing fourteen Haitian fathers and community leaders.
- 51 Resolution recognizing the 55 Bus Coalition.
- 51 Councilor Coletta Zapata called Docket #0867, message and order for your approval an Order authorizing the Parks and Recreation Commission, on behalf of the City of Boston, to acquire by an eminent domain taking a parcel at 0 Dale Street in Hyde Park adjacent to the Sherrin Woods urban wild, as permanently protected parkland to be managed in coordination with Sherrin Woods, and to use Community Preservation Fund monies appropriated to the Parks and Recreation Department to award damages as determined by the Commission from the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency and Parks. No objection being heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Coletta Zapata, the order was passed.
- 52 Resolution recognizing Coach Ortiz and the English High Eagles.
- 52 Councilor Pepén called Docket #0746, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) in the form of a grant, the Multilingual Digital Experience Grant, awarded by the MA Executive Office of Administration & Finance to be administered by the Department of Innovation and Technology. The grant will fund the development of programs and services that improve the experience of digital government services for multilingual communities from the Committee on City Services and Innovation and Technology. No objection being heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Pepén, the order was passed.
- 53 Resolution recognizing the thirteen 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Builders.
- 53 Councilor Worrell called Docket #0676, an appropriation order in the amount of One Hundred Eighty-Four Million Seven Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($184,780,000.00) for various capital improvement purposes for city departments including the Boston Center for Youth and Families, Boston Housing Authority, Boston Planning and Development Agency, Boston Public Library, Environment, Fire, Mayor’s Office of Housing, Office of Arts and Culture, Parks and Recreation, Police, Property Management, Public Works, and the Transportation Departments, from the Committee on Ways and Means. Hearing no objection, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Worrell, the order was read a second time and again passed; yeas 12, nays 1 (Breadon). Councilor Mejia motioned to reconsider her vote; Yeas 12, present 1(Pepen). Docket #0676 received a second reading and again passed; yeas 11, nays 2 (Breadon, Mejia).
- 54 Resolution recognizing Sarah Cleary.
- 54 Councilor Worrell called Docket #0677, authorizing an appropriation order in the amount of Two Hundred Forty Million Three Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($240,375,000.00) for various capital improvement purposes for the Boston Public Schools, from the Committee on Ways and Means. Hearing no objection, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Worrell, the order was read a second time and again passed; yeas 11; nays 2 (Breadon, Mejia).
- 55 Resolution recognizing Jessica Tantin.
- 55 Councilor Worrell called Docket #0678, an order authorizing the City of Boston to enter into one or more lease, lease-purchase or installment sales agreements in Fiscal Year 2025 in an amount not to exceed Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00). These funds are to be used by various City departments for the acquisition of equipment in furtherance of their respective governmental functions. The list of equipment includes: computer equipment (hardware and software), motor vehicles and trailers, ambulances, firefighting equipment, office equipment, telecommunications equipment, photocopying equipment, medical equipment, school and educational equipment, school buses, parking meters, street lighting installation, traffic signal equipment and equipment functionally related to, and components of the foregoing, from the Committee on Ways and Means. Hearing no objection, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Worrell, the order was read a second time and again passed; yeas 11; nays 2 (Breadon, Mejia).
- 56 Resolution recognizing Ren Pillinger.
- 56 Legislative Calendar for June 26, 2024.
- 57 Resolution recognizing Katani Sumner.
- 58 Resolution recognizing Chris Sumner.
- 58 The Chair moved adoption of a Consent Agenda containing the following matters:
- 59 Resolution recognizing Al Horford.
- 60 Resolution recognizing Sharon T. Callender.
- 61 Resolution recognizing Museum of the National Center of Afro-Americans.
- 62 Resolution recognizing Boston Juneteenth Committee.
- 84 The Chair stated in absence of objection, one late file matter would be added to the Consent Agenda. No objection being heard, the following item was added:
- 85 Resolution in memory of Reverend Daniel J. Mahoney.
- 86 The matters contained within the Consent Agenda were severally adopted.
- 87 Adjourned at 12:45 a.m. on motion of President Louijeune, and in memory of Boston Fire Chief Chaplain Emeritus Daniel J. Mahoney, Edward Bonner, Veronica Jean (Haskins) Waters, Dorothy Mahoney, William "Biff" Leary, Ines Louis-Jeune, BFD Mathew Troy, and Justin Waithe, to meet again on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Attest: Alex Geourntas City Clerk