Regular City Council Meeting

Agenda — 58 items

1. 1 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the assignment of 32 officers for the State Primary, September 1, 2026 and 26 for the State Election, November 3, 2026.
2. 2 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appointments to the Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women.
3. 3 A communication transmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a response to Awaiting Report 26-39 relative to preparations for the City's LGBTQ+ Pride celebration on June 20.
4. 4 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriations to the Combined Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Management Advisory Committee (CSO Advisory Committee) for a term of five years, effective June 8, 2026.
5. 5 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to reauthorization of a spending limit of $3,800,000 for Fiscal Year 2027, for the Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction revolving fund (Revolving Fund).
6. 6 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to authorization of a spending limit of $240,000 for Fiscal Year 2027, for the Fresh Pond Golf Course Pro Shop revolving fund (Revolving Fund), pursuant to Chapter 3.24 of the Municipal Ordinance titled “Departmental Revolving Funds”.
7. 7 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a five-year progress review of the Affordable Housing Overlay.
8. 8 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $18,970.32 from the HOME Grant Program.
9. 9 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a response to Awaiting Report 26-31 regarding updates to succession-planning and employee-ownership. materials.
10. 10 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to authorization to transfer appropriations from the allotments with available balances to those needing implementation.
11. 11 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 26-25 regarding a report on how the decision to install artificial turf was made.
12. 1 That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Cambridge Historical Commission, the Law Department, the Department of Public Works, Inspectional Services, the Cambridge Public Health Department, Community Preservation Act staff, the Harvard Square Business Association, and the owners of properties abutting the Old Stone Wall, for the purpose of developing a practical plan to stabilize, preserve, and restore this historic resource.
13. 2 That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Police Department, the Community Safety Department, the Emergency Communications Department, the Department of Human Service Programs, the Department of Public Works, the Law Department, and any other relevant City departments and community partners to develop a Neighborhood Safety Additions Plan for the areas of the City previously served by ShotSpotter technology.
14. 3 That the City Manager is requested to use the Federal Stabilization Fund to provide one-time stabilization payments to Cambridge-based and Cambridge-serving organizations impacted by FY27 MOVA cuts, report back to the City Council with a proposed funding plan, and work with the Mayor's Office and other relevant City staff to engage with the broader Cambridge nonprofit community to assess the full scope of federal and state funding reductions and their impact on the City's safety net services.
15. 4 That the City Council shall complete the required review and determinations prescribed by Section 2.128.060(c) before taking any future vote regarding the continued use of ShotSpotter or any other surveillance technology.
16. 5 That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department, and other relevant City departments, to examine and report back to the City Council with a feasibility analysis with findings, options, and recommendations regarding the following proposed amendments to the multifamily zoning ordinance.
17. 1 Zero Waste Master Plan Ordinance changes.
18. 2 Resolution in Memory of Ann Whitford Lewis Austin.
19. 3 Condolences to the family of Barney Frank.
20. 4 That the City Council go on record congratulating the 2026 retirees of Cambridge Public Schools, thanking them for their many years of dedicated service, and extending best wishes to each of them for a happy, healthy, and fulfilling retirement.
21. 5 That the City Council go on record celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Cambridge Community Chorus and recognizing the Chorus for its extraordinary artistic achievements, community service, and commitment to making choral music accessible to all.
22. 6 Resolution on the retirement of Michael Rowell.
23. 7 Congratulations to the CRLS Boys Baseball team on winning the Dual County League Championship.
24. 8 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to proposed changes to the City's Zero Waste Master Plan.
25. 1 A Zoning Petition has been received from Doug Brown to amend the current Article(s) and/or section(s) numbered and entitled Articles 2, 5, 6, 11 and 19 height, setback, parking, open space and design review requirements.
26. 1 City Council thanks and warmest congratulations to S&S owners Gary Mitchell, Aimee Baum, and the entire Mitchell-Wheeler family on 107 extraordinary years of service to Cambridge and the Inman Square community, and in expressing its profound admiration for their dedication to preserving a beloved neighborhood institution across six generations.
27. 2 Congratulations to Simply Erinn's on their 24th Anniversary.
28. 3 That the Cambridge City Council go on record congratulating Transition House on the occasion of its 50th anniversary and extending its deepest gratitude for five decades of leadership and service to survivors of domestic violence and their families.
29. 1 The Human Services and Veterans Committee held a public hearing on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 to review and discuss the final research report on Rise Up Cambridge, CMA 2026- 28.
30. 2 The Finance Committee held a public hearing on Thursday, April 9, 2026 to continue the discussion from February 25, 2026, on establishing future Budget Priorities.
31. 1 A communication was received from Interim City Clerk Paula Crane, regarding an update regarding legislative activity.
32. 2 A communication from Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding information from the School Committee.
33. 1 Happy 101st Birthday to True Miller Bacon
34. 1 Awaiting Report Status Update 6.8.26
35. 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
36. 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
37. 3 Restricting Eligibility for On-Street Resident Parking Permits in New Transit-Oriented Developments.Original Awaiting Report 31839
38. 4 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.
39. 5 The City Manager is requested to direct the relevant City staff and departments to examine if and how the City may prevent the hiring by the Cambridge Police Department of any sworn officer who was hired by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, or Customs and Border Patrol, and report back to the City Council in a timely manner.
40. 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.
41. 7 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.
42. 8 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.
43. 9 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.
44. 10 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.
45. 11 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.
46. 12 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.
47. 13 That the City Manager is requested to update the City’s “Succession Planning and Employee Ownership Workbook” and any comparable written or online guidance so that worker buyouts and worker cooperatives are clearly presented as standard succession options for retiring business owners.
48. 14 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant City staff to review City ordinances regulating the operation of food vendors in City parks.
49. 15 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant staff to explore options for commissioning a comparable housing needs study through a qualified research institution.
50. 16 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to do extensive outreach to residents, businesses, and property owners to communicate the current water level status and take all measures to reduce nonessential water use citywide, and provide a report on citywide water usage and water supply.
51. 17 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments to review the state bills referenced as well as the previously filed Home Rule Petition and prepare a new Home Rule Petition that would allow Cambridge to install and operate cameras to enforce red light, speeding, or other moving violations as outlined in H.3754 and S.2344 and the prior home rule.
52. 18 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments stop using ShotSpotter, including turning off and physically removing the surveillance tools no later than 90 days.
53. 19 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Mayor’s Office, Law Department, Election Commission, and other relevant City Departments to engage the Collins Center in assisting the City in reviewing policy options for allowing Cambridge voters to directly elect the City’s Mayor.
54. 20 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments to keep unchanged the current fee treatment for senior citizens, as for persons with handicap permits, by maintaining the existing exemption for seniors with respect to the proposed new charges.
55. 21 That the City Manager be and hereby 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 or relocate the existing Bluebikes station and provide the City Council with a written update within six months of passage of this Order describing an alternative set of safety improvements that do not restore two-way motor vehicle traffic on Garden Street.
56. 22 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to ensure that Cambridge City Hall is illuminated with appropriate Pride colors in advance of the City’s June 20th Pride Celebration and report back to the City Council on the status of these efforts in sufficient time to ensure that the work is completed prior to the June 20th celebration.
57. 23 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments and community organizations to provide the City Council with a comprehensive Food Access Report that includes, but is not limited to, an accounting of existing programs, expenditures, outcomes, and unmet needs to inform a public hearing on food insecurity and related City policies, programs, and expenditures
58. 24 That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Cambridge Police Department and Law Department to develop and implement a policy requiring the posting of “Know Your Rights” informational and educational materials in all police department facilities.