docketcity.com
Home › Cambridge › Meetings

Regular City Council

March 30, 2026 ·05:30 PM Final
Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 41 items

  1. 1 Minutes of the Joint Roundtable/Working Meeting of the Cambridge City Council and the School Committee was held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
  2. 1 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases.
  3. 2 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Will MacArthur as a new member of the Open Data Review Board for a term of two years, effective March 30, 2026.
  4. 3 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to plans for replacement of the City's legacy Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software system.
  5. 4 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an overview of the City's initial Artificial Intelligence efforts.
  6. 5 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 26-12 regarding Harvard Square pedestrianization.
  7. 6 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 26-03 regarding establishing a formal policy that clearly defines the City’s role and financial responsibilities in supporting large-scale public events hosted by Cambridge-based non-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including criteria for fee waivers.
  8. 7 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 26-09 regarding and report back to the Council on (i) legal parameters related to City funding and Tourism Destination Marketing District restrictions, and (ii) oversight and accountability related to the operation of the visitor information kiosk, and related governance expectations, including alignment with City priorities.
  9. 8 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 26-17 regarding proposed updates to the City's Welcoming Community Ordinance.
  10. 1 That the City Manager is requested to direct the Law Department to work with the Cambridge Public Health Department to amend and update language in Chapter 8.28 of the Cambridge Municipal Code.
  11. 2 That the City Manager is requested to initiate the planning process for Cambridge 400 and as part of this, to convene a Cambridge 400 Advisory Committee composed of members representing the range of stakeholders whose participation is needed to guide this work.
  12. 3 City Council support of An Act promoting housing stability for older adults across the Commonwealth.
  13. 4 City Council support of S.2721/H.5217, An Act restricting the use of rodenticides in the environment.
  14. 5 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to review the current legal landscape and provide recommendations for how to regulate construction of large data centers in Cambridge.
  15. 6 That the City Council go on record proclaiming April 6–12, 2026 as Cambridge Public Health Week in special appreciation of the dedicated work of City government, community organizations, health professionals, businesses, and residents in advancing health equity and building a healthier, more resilient Cambridge.
  16. 7 That the City Council go on record proclaiming April 13–20, 2026 as International Dark Sky Week in the City of Cambridge, and calls upon all residents, businesses, institutions, and City departments to join in observing this important week by raising awareness of light pollution, adopting responsible outdoor lighting practices, and supporting the protection of our shared night sky as a precious and finite resource.
  17. 1 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to raise the fee of the parking permit program for all residents to $75, consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP or are low income, remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program and lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two.
  18. 1 A communication was received from Interim City Clerk Paula Crane, regarding an update regarding legislative activity.
  19. 2 A communication from Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding information from the School Committee.
  20. 3 A communication from Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding updates from the City Clerk Preliminary Screening Committee.
  21. 1 Awaiting Report Status Update 3.30.26
  22. 1 That the City Manager is requested to work with the School Department, the Department of Public Works, and other relevant departments to ensure that all city owned parking lots, with a focus on school complexes, including the still under construction parking at Tobin/Darby Vassal school complex, could be made available for after-hours use by residents. Original Awaiting Report Item AR-25-29
  23. 2 The City Manager is requested to consult with the appropriate City departments, including the City Solicitor’s Office, to establish a formal policy that clearly defines the City’s role and financial responsibilities in supporting large-scale public events hosted by Cambridge-based non-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Original Awaiting Report Item AR-25-48
  24. 3 The City Manager is requested to work with all relevant departments to seek input from the community as well as direct outreach to condo owners and short-term rental operators and develop additional recommendations based on the discussion in the Ordinance Committee. Original Awaiting Report Item AR-25-51
  25. 4 Review the previous home rule petition and prepare a new petition that would allow Cambridge to enact a Real Estate Transfer Fee to be sent to the state legislature. Original Awaiting Report AR-25-69
  26. 5 Restricting Eligibility for On-Street Resident Parking Permits in New Transit-Oriented Developments.Original Awaiting Report 31839
  27. 6 Direct the City Solicitor and the Community Development Department to review and report back to the Council on (i) legal parameters related to City funding and Tourism Destination Marketing District restrictions, and (ii) oversight and accountability related to the operation of the visitor information kiosk, and related governance expectations, including alignment with City priorities. Original Awaiting Report ID #31841
  28. 7 Work with relevant departments to prepare for a Council discussion on best future uses for City-owned properties and the processes for redevelopment. Original Awaiting Report #31842
  29. 8 That the City Manager work with relevant City departments to prioritize pilot projects in 2026 without the use of a consultant for an extensive pedestrianization study, and in the medium-term consider how additional pedestrianization of a section of Brattle Street by restoring two-way traffic to JFK Street could enhance the Square.
  30. 9 That the City Manager conduct a comprehensive review of existing safety and security measures at Cambridge City Hall, including an assessment of physical access controls, visitor screening practices, on-site security staffing and training, emergency response and evacuation protocols, and the use of security technologies such as surveillance systems and alarm monitoring.
  31. 10 The City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate departments to review the city’s digital equity work to date, including the study’s recommendations and all steps taken since the study conclusion in order to update the evaluation of existing internet access programs, assessing whether residents’ digital needs are or could be better provided for and to propose how we can better meet their needs and to report back to the Council by June 2026 on internet access programs.
  32. 11 The City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department (CDD) to examine the feasibility, legal considerations, and administrative requirements of permitting qualified third-party guarantors or co-signers for applicants to Inclusionary Housing units and provide recommendations as to whether such a policy could responsibly expand access to these units.
  33. 12 The City Manager is requested to direct the Law Department to draft ordinance language restricting the use of City-owned or City-controlled property, facilities, resources, and personnel for the purposes of federal civil immigration enforcement, and that the Law Department evaluate whether these protections should be adopted as an amendment to the Welcoming Community Ordinance.
  34. 13 That the City Manager is requested to assess opportunities to improve the consistency of how meeting information is posted and accessed on the City’s website.
  35. 14 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to produce and deliver to the City Council, prior to the adoption of the FY27 Capital Budget, a consolidated capital lifecycle reconciliation for all major capital initiatives.
  36. 15 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments as well as the Election Commissioners to review guidance from the IRS and consult with other municipalities in order to simplify our processes for paying election workers.
  37. 16 That the City Manager is requested to work with the City Council and relevant City departments on the process by which Cambridge can expand free early child care offerings, including models for means-tested programming, and exploration of non-City funding sources, from the state or foundations.
  38. 17 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Community Development Department, Finance Department, Law Department, and other relevant departments to explore all steps towards advancing social housing in Cambridge. Original Awaiting Report Item AR-25-58
  39. 18 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct all City departments, boards, commissions, and offices to discontinue all official posting and engagement on X within 60 days; and to include an explanation of why the City will no longer use X.
  40. 19 That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department and the Transportation Department to meet with Harvard's Office of Community Relations and the Longwood Collective (MASCO) to harmonize institutional bus protocols with public-facing commitments.
  41. 20 That the City Manager is requested to direct relevant City departments and staff to examine and report back on whether the city can require single-stall public bathrooms to be gender-neutral.