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Regular City Council Meeting

April 27, 2026 ·05:30 PM Final
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Agenda — 57 items

  1. 1 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to submission of the FY2027 budget and appropriation orders for the General Fund, Water Fund, and Public Investment Fund.
  2. 2 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $10,000,000.00 to provide funds for the design and construction of improvements along Massachusetts Avenue and vicinity between Bigelow Street and Sindey Street
  3. 3 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $13,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks.
  4. 4 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $12,000,000 to provide funds to replace and modernize the City’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
  5. 5 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $14,000,000 to provide funds for remediation and improvements at Gold Star Mothers Park.
  6. 6 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $28,500,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan.
  7. 7 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $12,795,000 to provide funds for financing school building upgrades.
  8. 8 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $8,375,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of surface enhancements and sewer and drainage infrastructure improvements in the Baldwin neighborhood.
  9. 9 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $500,000 to provide funds for the City’s Climate Change Program to improve protection against flooding and extreme heat.
  10. 10 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $7,500,000 to provide funds for the sewer Combined Sewer Overflow Control Program.
  11. 11 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,000,000 to provide funds for design and construction of the Harvard Square sewer separation and stormwater management program.
  12. 12 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $310,000 to provide funds for the replacement of Ozone generators at the Water Department.
  13. 13 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $2,000,000 to provide funds for water works construction projects for repairs and replacement of water distribution infrastructure.
  14. 14 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 26-20 regarding a report on major capital initiatives at or above $15,000,000 for the period from FY21 to FY26.
  15. 15 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a response to Awaiting Report Item Number 26-23 regarding the Cambridge Preschool Program.
  16. 16 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the re-appointments for the Cambridge Library Board of Trustees.
  17. 17 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Family Policy Council appointment and reappointment.
  18. 18 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Fiqir Worku to the Human Rights Commission.
  19. 19 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Peace Commission Appointments.
  20. 20 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the FY26 Mass Cultural Council Cultural Investment Portfolio grant made by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) in the amount of $1,100 to the Grant Fund Arts Council salaries and wages account.
  21. 21 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $5,000 to the Grant Fund Arts Council Other Ordinary Maintenance account.
  22. 22 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Shannon Grant received from the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition/Shannon Community Safety Initiative through the Executive Office of Public Safety in the amount of $29,376.89 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($28,800.00) and to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($576.89).
  23. 23 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Mass Ave Active Use zoning petition.
  24. 24 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Cambridge Street Active Use zoning petition.
  25. 25 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Surveillance Technology Impact Report (STIR) for SMS Non-Emergency Alert Notifications requested by the Cambridge Police Department.
  26. 1 That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council within ninety (90) with a brief written update describing: (a) the updates made to succession-planning and employee-ownership materials; (b) the status of the worker-cooperative technical-assistance referral pipeline; (c) any guidance issued or planned regarding below-threshold quote-seeking from worker-owned cooperatives and related vendor-outreach steps; and (d) any additional low-cost, staff-feasible next steps the City Manager recommends for expanding support for worker-owned cooperatives in Cambridge.
  27. 2 That the City Council go on record endorsing the May Day Strong national day of action on May 1, 2026, as an expression of Cambridge’s support for workers’ rights, economic justice, and the tradition of peaceful civic engagement.
  28. 3 That the City Council encourage MassDOT to implement infrastructure improvements to the Museum Way and Charles River Dam Road intersection.
  29. 4 That the City Manager is requested to direct appropriate departments to develop an accessible “Neighbors’ Guide to the MFH Ordinance.”
  30. 5 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant staff to explore options for commissioning a housing needs study through a qualified research institution, to establish a clear evidence-based understanding of existing housing conditions, resident needs, and measurable housing goals to guide future decision-making.
  31. 1 That the City Manager is requested to direct the Cambridge Department of Transportation (CDOT) and any other relevant departments to halt any further design, engineering, procurement, or construction activities related to implementing a reconfiguration of Garden Street to restore two-way motor-vehicle traffic.
  32. 1 Chapter 2.129 Welcoming Community Ordinance
  33. 1 PublicComment 20260423132049
  34. 1 Resolution on the retirement of Mary Greene from the City of Cambridge.
  35. 2 Resolution for National Library Week
  36. 1 The Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee held a public hearing on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 to discuss the 2026 City Manager's Annual Goals and Review Process.
  37. 2 The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Monday, March 30, 2026 to review the Community Benefits Ordinance and discuss potential updates including allowing the allocation of funding to community organizations for capital projects. The Ordinance Committee voted favorably to forward the proposed amendments to the Community Benefits Ordinance to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation.
  38. A Chapter 2.127 Community Benefits Advisory Committee Ordinance.
  39. 1 A communication was received from Interim City Clerk Paula Crane, regarding an update regarding legislative activity.
  40. 1 Awaiting Report Status Update 4.27.26
  41. 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
  42. 2 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
  43. 3 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
  44. 4 Restricting Eligibility for On-Street Resident Parking Permits in New Transit-Oriented Developments.Original Awaiting Report 31839
  45. 5 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.
  46. 6 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.
  47. 7 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.
  48. 8 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.
  49. 9 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.
  50. 10 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.
  51. 11 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.
  52. 12 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.
  53. 13 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.
  54. 14 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.
  55. 15 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.
  56. 16 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.
  57. 17 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested work with relevant City departments to provide a report on how the decision to install artificial turf was made, the rationale for artificial turf, and what process was taken to ensure community concerns and public health considerations were fully addressed, and to ensure that construction will not move forward until a report is delivered.