City Council - Regular Meeting

Agenda — 44 items

1. 1 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a request for authorization to allow the Purchasing Agent to award a five (5) year contract to a successful bidder on the School Bus Transportation Bid.
2. 1 That the City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor to provide the City Council with a legal opinion on the City Council’s ability to levy a tax or fine on store fronts and commercial properties that remain vacant for more than two years, including any applicable definitions of “vacancy” and relevant legal precedents, and provide such opinion no later than the February 17th City Council meeting.
3. 2 That the City Manager is requested to direct Community Development Department (CDD) staff to draft proposed amendments to the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance that would accomplish adding select HCA requirements into the ordinance so the city can waive the HCA requirement and that the City Manager is requested to ask the CDD staff to draft a zoning amendment to remove the repackaging prohibition.
4. 3 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct Community Development to prepare updated Multi Family Housing Zoning language and report back to the Ordinance Committee, not later than January 16, 2025.
5. 1 1. ORDD-2023-8B : Ordinance 2023 #8B Amend Chapter 14.04 – Fair Housing
6. 1 An application was received from Katinka Jeffs, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 6-R Eaton Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association.
7. 2 An application was received from John Winslow, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 8 Whittier Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. Response has been received from a neighborhood association not in the area of the application address.
8. 1 A communication was received from Amanda Van Vleck, regarding In Support of Policy Order #1.
9. 2 A communication was received from Annie Park, regarding Please support Policy Order #1.
10. 3 A communication was received from Asha Daniere, regarding Comment to Policy 2024 #141.
11. 4 A communication was received from Beth Adams, regarding Opposition to Multifamily Zoning Ordinances.
12. 5 A communication was received from Caleb Kim, regarding Regarding CPP.
13. 6 A communication was received from CARE Housing, regarding Considerations for MFH City Council Meeting.
14. 7 A communication was received from Carrie Bates, regarding Policy Order #1 (2).
15. 8 A communication was received from Carter Williams, regarding Vote NO on the Cambridge Multifamily Housing Zoning Petition.
16. 9 A communication was received from Charlotte Dobbs, regarding Regarding Policy Order #1 _ universal pre-k program.
17. 10 A communication was received from Daniel Norman, regarding Vote NO on the Cambridge Multifamily Housing Zoning Petition (3).
18. 11 A communication was received from Denise Jillson, regarding Mayor Simmons Late Policy Order re_ Whitney's Bar .
19. 12 A communication was received from Heather Snowdon, regarding Support for _ Policy Order #1 - POR 2024 # 157.
20. 13 A communication was received from Ilisa Hurowitz, regarding Objection to Multifamily Ordinance petitions.
21. 14 A communication was received from Jeremy Cohen, regarding Support for _ Policy Order #1 - POR 2024 # 157 (4).
22. 15 A communication was received from Jimena Bermejo, regarding Citywide Residential Upzoning.
23. 16 A communication was received from Justin Smoltz, regarding Conversion of Garden Street in Cambridge to Two-Way Traffic.
24. 17 A communication was received from Kate Johnson, regarding Defeat Policy Order #1 Restoring Two Way Garden Street.
25. 18 A communication was received from Kate Murphy, regarding Support for Policy Order #1.
26. 19 A communication was received from Lital Lumbroso, regarding Support Policy Order #1.
27. 20 A communication was received from Mariah Villarreal, regarding Multifamily Zoning and Inclusionary Units.
28. 21 A communication was received from Marilee Meyer, regarding Please re-examine multifamily upzoning and data.
29. 22 A communication was received from Martin Breu, regarding Writing in Support of Policy Order #1.
30. 23 A communication was received from Megan and Daniel Cuzzolino, regarding Support for a Joint Roundtable to Discuss CPP.
31. 24 A communication was received from Parents' Nursery School, regarding CPP concerns.
32. 25 A communication was received from Patrick McNeal, regarding Support for Field Improvements and Permitting Process_ Cambridge Youth Soccer.
33. 26 A communication was received from Ryan Cherry, regarding Policy Order #1 _ Support of Garden St_ current configuration.
34. 27 A communication was received from Sam Harrington, regarding CPP concern.
35. 28 A communication was received from Sarah Happel, regarding CPP vote.
36. 29 A communication was received from Suzanne Blier, regarding 4 Policy Orders and communications.
37. 30 A communication was received from Suzanne Blier, regarding Agenda Items 1-4 & Reports - Please read (I also thank you)_ .
38. 31 A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding HELP! Urgent Request to postpone this week's hearings on MFH Petitions.
39. 1 Condolences on the death of Francine H. (Salvato) Giannasca.
40. 2 Congratulations to Doug Johnson on his retirement from the Kennedy School and the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University.
41. 3 Congratulations to CRLS Alum Andrew Millar for NCAA Championship
42. 1 A communication was received from Diane LeBlanc, City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative.
43. 1 Awaiting Report Status Update
44. 2 1. 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.