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City Council - Regular Meeting

June 10, 2024 ·05:30 PM Final
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Agenda — 54 items

  1. 1 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $60,000, received from the Harvard Business School Leadership Fellows Program to the Grant Fund Executive Salaries and Wages account.
  2. 2 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $21,023 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance Account. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CDBG entitlement program allocates annual grants to larger cities to provide affordable housing, revitalize neighborhoods, and expand economic opportunities to low and moderate-income persons.
  3. 3 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $31,428.45 to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account. This appropriation will increase funds available to continue the development of affordable housing to assist low and moderate income residents.
  4. 4 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $9,988 to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account. This appropriation will increase funds available to continue the development of affordable housing to assist low and moderate income residents.
  5. 5 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an order authorizing the City Manager to transfer necessary funds needed to maintain appropriation control as part of the fiscal end-of-year closeout process.
  6. 6 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the fourth annual Cycling Safety Ordinance (CSO) Progress Report.
  7. 7 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-30, regarding Youth Center Tuition Rates.
  8. 1 The City Manager is requested to provide an update to the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan (MFIP) including revised cost estimates to help inform the FY26 and ongoing capital budget priorities in a timely manner.
  9. 2 That the Cambridge City Council go on record requesting that MassDOT begin engaging with Cambridge residents and the Cambridgeport neighborhood early and often throughout the BU Rotary/Reid Overpass Reconstruction.
  10. 3 That the City Manager is requested to support local news production as a public good by conducting a $100,000 per year city-backed news fund pilot for up to three years to be administered through an independent intermediary that will decide on funding criteria and selection of local newspapers that provide material coverage of Cambridge news. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR AZEEM IN COUNCIL JUNE 10, 2024 TABLED IN COUNCIL JUNE 17, 2024
  11. 4 That the City Council go on record urging Fenway Health to reconsider the closure of the Central Square Boomerangs thrift store, that the organization is requested to provide a detailed explanation to the community regarding the reasons for the closure of these thrift stores, and that the organization is requested to explore all possible alternatives to maintain this vital community resource.
  12. 5 In Support of Neville Center
  13. 1 1. That the City Manager is requested to explore the feasibility of delaying the Mass Avenue reconstruction project to minimize its impact upon the busy season for restaurants and other affected businesses, and, should this not be found feasible, a method of providing financial assistance to the impacted businesses to cover the costs of removing their outdoor dining structures, designed to mitigate some of the financial impacts upon them, should be established. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY MAYOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL JUNE 3, 2024 TABLED AS AMENDED IN COUNCIL JUNE 10, 2024
  14. 2 1. ORDD-2023-8B : Ordinance 2023 #8B Amend Chapter 14.04 – Fair Housing
  15. 1 A communication was received from Andrew Ray, regarding Policy Order #4_ 6_3.
  16. 2 A communication was received from Andy Nash, regarding Central Square rezoning meeting.
  17. 3 A communication was received from Elinor Actipis, regarding POR 2024 #75--youth centers.
  18. 4 A communication was received from Ian Rudnick, regarding Opposed to POR 2024 #70.
  19. 5 A communication was received from Jimena Bermejo, regarding Central Square.
  20. 6 A communication was received from Kate Gakenheimer, regarding 84 and 96 Bishop Allen Drive.
  21. 7 A communication was received from Kathy Watkins, regarding Development of city property in Central Square.
  22. 8 A communication was received from Marianna Leavy-Sperounis, regarding DHSP Youth Centers.
  23. 9 A communication was received from Marie Elena Saccoccio, regarding I am concerned about CM appointments to Planning Board CM 2024 #114.
  24. 10 A communication was received from Nancy E. Phillips, regarding city-owned lots in Central Square.
  25. 11 A communication was received from NellaLaRosa-Waters, regarding Central Square Zoning.
  26. 12 A communication was received from Prabal Chakrabarti, regarding Appleton St response.
  27. 13 A communication was received from Stratos Idreos, regarding Broadway.
  28. 14 A communication was received from Vickey Bestor, regarding Support PO #4_ expand PO #2 citywide.
  29. 15 A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Business As Usual Budget Process Should be Rejected.
  30. 16 A communication was received from Mark Goodman, regarding Vote “No” on FY 25 budget.
  31. 17 A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Business As Usual Budget Process Should be Rejected.
  32. 18 A communication was received from Frances Peace Sullivan, regarding Policy Order regarding price hike for youth centers.
  33. 19 A communication was received from Jamie Lichtenstein, regarding Policy order #75.
  34. 20 A communication was received from Paola Cappellaro, regarding DHSP Youth Centers Cost.
  35. 21 A communication was received from Tris Anzells-Hopson, regarding Afterschool tuition.
  36. 22 A communication was received from Alex Gourevitch, regarding after school pricing.
  37. 23 A communication was received from Michelle Izadi, regarding Youth center price raises.
  38. 24 A communication was received from Central Square Tenants Union, regarding POR 2024 #72 & #30 - Is it time for a Tenant-Centric Perspective on Affordable Housing.
  39. 1 Congratulations to Robert J. Medeiros Jr. on his retirement from the Cambridge Public Schools.
  40. 2 Resolution wishing Denise Montgomery a swift recovery.
  41. 3 Resolution for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program's 50th Year.
  42. 4 Congratulations to Lynne Cayford on her retirement from the City of Cambridge.
  43. 5 Congratulations to Firefighter Thomas S. MacNeil on his retirement from the Cambridge Fire Department.
  44. 6 Congratulations to Lois Josimovich on his retirement from the Massachusetts Alliance for Portuguese Speakers.
  45. 7 Congratulations to Susan Pahigian "Shushie" on her retirement from the City of Cambridge.
  46. 8 That the City Council formally go on record in wishing Esther Scantlebury a swift and
  47. 3 An Ordinance has been received from the Ordinance Committee, relative to proposed: Zoning Petition to amend Articles 2.000, 4.000, 5.000, 6.000, 11.000, 13.000, 14.000, 17.000, 20.000, and 22.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL JUNE 10, 2024 TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER JUNE 24, 2024 EXPIRES AUGUST 20, 2024
  48. 1 A communication was received from Diane LeBlanc, City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative activity.
  49. 1 Awaiting Report Status Update 6.10.24
  50. 10 Requested to clarify why the Wage Theft Enforcement Committee has not yet been appointed and to swiftly appoint the committee as called for in the Wage Theft Ordinance.
  51. 11 Provide a list of current zoning initiatives along with CDD’s recommendations for a timeline for completing each of the zoning initiatives in order for the Council to confirm zoning priorities.
  52. 12 Provide a written outreach plan for engaging the community related to the processes underway in Central Square.
  53. 13 Requested to provide the draft Request for Information for the 84 & 96 Bishop Allen Drive to the City Council for review and comment.
  54. 14 Requested to provide to the City Council a detailed justification for the increased fees for Youth Centers for the 2024-2025 school year.