City Council - Regular Meeting

Agenda — 147 items

1. 1 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Surveillance Technology Impact Report (STIR).
2. 2 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Anne B. Odera as a member of the Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship for a term of three years.
3. 3 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,700.00, to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account. These funds were awarded to the Moses Youth Center and will be used to support the safe option filled closet where teens in the community will feel welcomed to use.
4. 4 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $54,360.00 received from the Cambridge Community Foundation Alice Wolf Early Education and Care Fund to support the city’s early childhood efforts, to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($34,360.00) and to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Travel and Training account ($20,000.00). These funds will be used to provide continuing support for training and professional development for early childhood educators and those entering the field.
5. 5 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $55,000.00 received from the Cambridge Community Foundation to support the Agenda for Children Out of School Time Initiative to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($5,000.00) and to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($50,000.00). The Foundation supports a small portion of the salary of the Agenda for Children Youth Connector who works with the Upper Schools and Youth Programs to support young people and their
6. 6 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Preservation Restriction at 90 Brattle Street.
7. 7 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Half Crown-Marsh NCD Decennial Review Report.
8. 8 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to request that the City Council authorize the purchase of a parcel of land located within the town of Lexington identified as 0 Cambridge/Concord Turnpike in Lexington, Massachusetts.
9. 9 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-52, regarding an evaluation of the legal feasibility of the following proposals and analyze how much housing could be created under the following proposals.
10. 1 City Council support of a fair union contract for Cambridge Hospital residents and calls on CHA leadership to swiftly and thoughtfully settle a contract that reflects the value of the resident physicians, the patients they serve, and the crucial importance of Cambridge Hospital to our community.
11. 2 The City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City departments to assess the feasibility of installing speed control bumps on Antrim Street.
12. 3 City Council support of the Week Without Driving challenge and specifically designate October 3, 2024 as a day in which participants are encouraged to use alternative transportation options such as public transit, biking, carpooling, and walking.
13. 4 That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate departments to produce the petition(s) necessary to accomplish the goal of lowering the speed limit as much as possible on all state highways that fall within Cambridge’s geographic boundaries, including and especially Memorial Drive.
14. 5 That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to report back to the City Council on the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) NOFO as soon as possible.
15. 1 1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-52, regarding draft zoning language based on the proposal discussed at the Housing Committee to eliminate exclusionary zoning and allow up to six stories of multifamily housing in all residential districts.
16. 2 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
17. 3 1. ORDD-2023-8B : Ordinance 2023 #8B Amend Chapter 14.04 – Fair Housing
18. 1 An application was received from Craig Murphy representing THE COMEDY STUDIO, requesting permission for a projecting blade sign at the premises numbered 5 JFK Street approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and proof of abutter's mailing and response has been provided.
19. 1 A communication was received from Michael Whelan, regarding Please support POs 117 and 118.
20. 2 A communication was received from Ajay Sonalkar, regarding Affordable Housing.
21. 3 A communication was received from Amina Sheikh, regarding Please end exclusionary zoning!
22. 4 A communication was received from Amira Valliani, regarding Sending the upzoning proposal to ordinance committee.
23. 5 A communication was received from Andy Nash, regarding CMA #5.
24. 6 A communication was received from Annalisa Martinek, regarding Please don't send current zoning proposal to the Ordinance Committee.
25. 7 A communication was received from Annette LaMond and Joe Moore, regarding Upzoning Proposals Need Further Study.
26. 8 A communication was received from Beth Gamse and Judy Singer, regarding Please build in sufficient time and process for vote on city-wide up-zoning.
27. 9 A communication was received from Bill McAvinney, regarding End the Cruel Housing "Musical Chairs" Displacement Support the CDD's proposed zoning changes.
28. 10 A communication was received from Bob Dall and Margaret Ann Brady, regarding CMA #5: Multifamily up-zoning
29. 11 A communication was received from Brennan Waters, regarding End Exclusionary Zoning- Make Cambridge A Better Place To Live.
30. 12 A communication was received from Candace Young, regarding housing.
31. 13 A communication was received from Carla Ashton-Cohen, regarding City Neighborhood Upzoning Proposal at City Council Monday Sept. 16, 5:30.
32. 14 A communication was received from Carol Greenwood, regarding upzoning.
33. 15 A communication was received from Carolyn Fuller, regarding In Support of Bold Action on Housing.
34. 16 A communication was received from Carolyn Magid, regarding Please send draft multifamily zoning to a special meeting CMA#5.
35. 17 A communication was received from Carolyn Shipley, regarding Six Stories everywhere (75 feet) and destruction of All Open Space.
36. 18 A communication was received from Casey Szilagyi, regarding Ending exclusionary zoning.
37. 19 A communication was received from Catherine Hoffman, regarding Solidarity with the Salvadoran People - a sister city connection since 1987.
38. 20 A communication was received from Charles Franklin, regarding Praise for the CDD's Zoning Overhaul Draft (CMA #5).
39. 21 A communication was received from Crystal A. Leslie, regarding Upzoning.
40. 22 A communication was received from Dan Phillips, regarding In support of more housing.
41. 23 A communication was received from Daniel Hidalgo, regarding New Zoning Language.
42. 24 A communication was received from Daniel Mascoop, regarding In Support of the Zoning Petition under Consideration - Forward to Ordinance Committee.
43. 25 A communication was received from David Halperin, regarding Support multi-family zoning citywide.
44. 26 A communication was received from David Hattis, regarding In support of Ending Exclusionary Zoning.
45. 27 A communication was received from David Levy, regarding Against Upzoning Proposal without Responsible Guardrails.
46. 28 A communication was received from Diana Yousef, regarding Please don't send current zoning proposal to the Ordinance Committee.
47. 29 A communication was received from Dominick Jones, regarding upzoning tonight.
48. 30 A communication was received from Doug Brown, regarding Zoning Concerns.
49. 31 A communication was received from Elisabeth Meurer, regarding Opposition to current upcoming proposal with no responsible guardrails.
50. 32 A communication was received from Elizabeth Kon, regarding The impact of upzoning in Cambridge.
51. 33 A communication was received from Esme Martinek, regarding Please don't send current zoning proposal to the Ordinance Committee.
52. 34 A communication was received from Ethan Frank, regarding Exciting new zoning language.
53. 35 A communication was received from Francesca Gordini, regarding Opposition to Zoning Proposal.
54. 36 A communication was received from Guillemette and William Simmers, regarding Up-zoning petition.
55. 37 A communication was received from Helen Walker, regarding Oppose stealth changes to AHO through Multifamily Housing Citywide.
56. 38 A communication was received from Hilary McGhee, regarding Upzoning Blog and Ordinances.
57. 39 A communication was received from Jacqui Fahey Sandell, regarding Please oppose upzoning proposal.
58. 40 A communication was received from Jerome Ryan, regarding Support for more housing.
59. 41 A communication was received from Jessica Sheehan and Quentin Smith, regarding please pass zoning proposal to Ordinance - people need homes.
60. 42 A communication was received from John Buten, regarding Draft Zoning Language.
61. 43 A communication was received from John Trever, regarding Please hold off sending the 6-story up-zoning proposal to the Ordinance Committee.
62. 44 A communication was received from Jonathan Cohen and Sienna Durbin, regarding Please forward zoning language to ordinance committee.
63. 45 A communication was received from Joyce Klein, regarding STOP the zoning petition.
64. 46 A communication was received from Julia Schlozman, regarding Support Ending Exclusionary Zoning.
65. 47 A communication was received from Justin Saif, regarding Please Send Zoning Language to End Exclusionary Zoning to Ordinance!
66. 48 A communication was received from Karan Arakotaram, regarding Sending the upzoning proposal to ordinance committee.
67. 49 A communication was received from Karen Falb and Peter Falb, regarding We want responsible zoning - based on taking enough time for the right decision - we need to trust Councilors and our city government.
68. 50 A communication was received from Kate Regal, regarding Please don't advance "up zoning".
69. 51 A communication was received from Katherine F. Watkins, regarding Tree removal in violation of City Municipal Code allowed.
70. 52 A communication was received from Kathy Watkins, regarding CM#5.
71. 53 A communication was received from Kesara Martinek, regarding Please don't send current zoning proposal to the Ordinance Committee.
72. 54 A communication was received from Laura Blacklow, regarding stop the zoning.
73. 55 A communication was received from Linda Moussouris, regarding Decisions at tonight's City Council about Implementation of the Affordable Housing Overlay.
74. 56 A communication was received from Marilee Meyer, regarding council policy cases.
75. 57 A communication was received from Marilee Meyer, regarding Please do not send housing PO to Ordinance.
76. 58 A communication was received from Marilee Meyer, regarding thank you for Dyslexia Awareness month.
77. 59 A communication was received from Marilyn Wellons, regarding Cambridgeport Six Stories everywhere (75 feet) and destruction of All Open Space.
78. 60 A communication was received from Mark Goodman, regarding Today’s vote on up-zoning language.
79. 61 A communication was received from Mark Kon, regarding upzoning and its effects on us in Cambridge.
80. 62 A communication was received from Mary Tittmann, regarding Please support and end to exclusionary zoning in Cambridge.
81. 63 A communication was received from Michael Gidding, regarding Homeowner Support for Inclusive Zoning and More Housing in Cambridge.
82. 64 A communication was received from Michael Weymouth, regarding Support for advancing new zoning language.
83. 65 A communication was received from Molly O’Brien, regarding zoning ordinance under discussion today.
84. 66 A communication was received from Muireann Glenmullen, regarding Rezoning proposals.
85. 67 A communication was received from Neil Miller, regarding Don't delay ending exclusionary zoning.
86. 68 A communication was received from Nancy Seidman, regarding Opposing upzoning throughout Cambridge.
87. 69 A communication was received from Omar Eton, regarding AGAINST Cambridge City Neighborhood Up-Zoning Proposal by Cambridge City Council.
88. 70 A communication was received from Ottavio Siani, regarding In support of 6 story zoning city wide.
89. 71 A communication was received from Pamela Lipson, regarding Opposition to upzoning proposal.
90. 72 A communication was received from Patrick Ledwith, regarding Support for new zoning language; send to ordinance.
91. 73 A communication was received from Rabbi Yoni, Central Square Tenants, regarding Enthusiastic Support for Ordinance Language Implementing Six Stories Residential Housing in All of Cambridge.
92. 74 A communication was received from Rachel Plummer, regarding Testimony in SUPPORT of Policy Order #131 131 to Explore the Feasibility of a successor Program to Rise Up Cambridge.
93. 75 A communication was received from Raffi Freeman, regarding Support for ending exclusionary zoning.
94. 76 A communication was received from Rev. Kate Layzer, regarding In Support of Bold Action on Housing.
95. 77 A communication was received from Richard Krushnic, regarding Do not pass to Ordinance.
96. 78 A communication was received from Robert Camacho, regarding City wide up-zoning proposal.
97. 79 A communication was received from Robin Just, regarding Monday zoning change petition.
98. 80 A communication was received from Ronald Suleski, regarding City-Wide Up-Zonging, Not My Idea of Good Government.
99. 81 A communication was received from Rosalind Michahelles, regarding city-wide up-zoning petition.
100. 82 A communication was received from Sam Cohen, regarding Please end exclusionary zoning!
101. 83 A communication was received from Sandra Tropp, regarding What Responsible Zoning Entails--PLEASE Study This Document.
102. 84 A communication was received from Santhi Hariprasad, regarding Discussion of zoning language for efforts to end exclusionary housing.
103. 85 A communication was received from Sarah Stone, regarding Please adopt the zoning amendments.
104. 86 A communication was received from Sharon Mombru, regarding UPZONING PROPOSAL.
105. 87 A communication was received from Sharon Stichter, regarding Please stop massive citywide upzoning.
106. 88 A communication was received from Shelagh Hadley, regarding City-wide up zoning.
107. 89 A communication was received from Sophie Fisher, regarding Please send the new zoning language to ordinance!
108. 90 A communication was received from Stephen Moss, regarding Ending Exclusionary Zoning.
109. 91 A communication was received from Susan Carter, regarding Radical Citywide Upzoning.
110. 92 A communication was received from Suzanne Blier, regarding Please read this one - re Housing and more.
111. 93 A communication was received from Suzanne Watzman, regarding PLEASE hold off sending this petition to the Ordinance Committee.
112. 94 A communication was received from Theodore Live, regarding Multifamily upzoning proposal needs study, input.
113. 95 A communication was received from Tyler Etzel, regarding Support for advancing new zoning.
114. 96 A communication was received from Vickey Bestor, regarding Proposed zoning changes.
115. 97 A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding CM Agenda #5 & Calendar Item #1 on 9/23/2024 City Council Meeting.
116. 98 A communication was received from Emily Goodling, regarding Continued strong support of affordable housing!
117. 99 A communication was received from Abbie Cohen, regarding Please end exclusionary zoning!
118. 100 A communication was received from Alex Jaffe, regarding In Support of Multi-family Housing.
119. 101 A communication was received from Alex Lesman, regarding Proposed email.
120. 102 A communication was received from Annmarie Flynn, regarding Tonight's meeting.
121. 103 A communication was received from Emma Bouton, regarding Vote to approve the language to end exclusionary zoning.
122. 104 A communication was received from Erica Yuen, regarding Support for multifamily housing everywhere in Cambridge.
123. 105 A communication was received from Fiona Qu, regarding Support for advancing zoning language.
124. 106 A communication was received from Henry H. Wortis, regarding Rezoning petition.
125. 107 A communication was received from Jess Sheehan, regarding [Cambridgeport] Six Stories everywhere (75 feet) and destruction of All Open Space.
126. 108 A communication was received from Katy Hartman, regarding Approve proposed zoning language for multifamily homes.
127. 109 A communication was received from Lee Farris, regarding Multifamily zoning concern and support for Rise Up.
128. 110 A communication was received from Perry Wasserbauer, regarding In Support of Bold Action on Housing.
129. 111 A communication was received from Saranesh, regarding Support multifamily housing in Cambridge.
130. 112 A communication was received from Sharone Small, regarding Ending Exclusionary Zoning.
131. 113 A communication was received from Yunwei Sun, regarding Ending exclusionary zoning.
132. 114 A communication was received from Shelly, regarding Approve 6 story buildings in Cambridge.
133. 115 A communication was received from Dan Totten, regarding murder on memorial drive.
134. 116 A communication was received from Ian Rudnick, regarding Take action to prevent more deaths due to dangerous roads.
135. 117 A communication was received from Federico Muchnik, regarding REQUEST THAT WINN DEVELOPMENT AND THE CDD WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD THE PEOPLE'S PROPOSAL AT WALDEN SQUARE ROAD.
136. 118 A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Reject Awaiting Report Item Number 24-52, CMA #4 from 9_23_24.
137. 119 A communication was received from Annette LaMond & Joe Moore, regarding Walden Square – Please Support Muchnik Alternative to Winn Proposal.
138. 120 A communication was received from Liz Merrill, regarding Corcoran Park concerns.
139. 1 Resolution on the death of Roberta Beckford.
140. 2 Condolences to Susan Pacheco on the passing of her brother.
141. 3 Congratulations to Debra Copeland-Montout on her retirement.
142. 4 Late Condolence Resolution For Esther Adler
143. 5 Wishing Mayor E. Denise Simmons a Happy Birthday
144. 1 A communication was received from Diane LeBlanc, City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative activity.
145. 2 A communication was received from Mayor E. Denise Simmons, transmitting the 2024-2025 Committee assignments.
146. 1 Awaiting Report Status Update
147. 2 1. Report on zoning language that effectively promotes multi-family housing, including income-restricted affordable housing with the goal of having viable housing for everyone especially lower-income residents.