City Council - Regular Meeting

Agenda — 58 items

1. 1 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Federal update.
2. 2 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-14, regarding a home rule petition allowing Cambridge to end the practice of property owners passing on broker’s fees to tenants.
3. 3 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-19, which requested that the City Manager provide a report that includes a summary of all requests for approval of Surveillance Technology Impact Reports (STIRs) received by the City Council since the last summary report date.
4. 4 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-16, regarding MBTA bus issues.
5. 5 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-22, regarding a request to work with the School Department, the Department of Public Works, and other relevant departments to open the publicly owned parking at the King Open/Cambridge Street Upper School Complex for either residential free parking or commercial parking opportunities during “off” hours. PLACED ON THE TABLE IN COUNCIL MAY 5, 2025
6. 6 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Subandha Karmacharya as a member of the Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship for a term of three years.
7. 7 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Carolyn Zern as a member of the Planning Board for a term of five years.
8. 8 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Planning Board recommendation on the AHO Heights Zoning Petition.
9. 9 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the prioritization of zoning priorities.
10. 1 City Council support of the completion of the Mass Central Rail Trail.
11. 2 That the Cambridge City Council go on record recognizing May 2025 as National Water Safety Month.
12. 3 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant staff to investigate bike pod storage options to be placed in suitable areas in the City to provide residents and visitors safe storage options.
13. 4 That the City Manager is requested to prepare an update with details on the status of potential civilian flagger operations in the Cambridge police union contract and work with relevant city staff to explore a civilian traffic flagger program and update the current police union contract on the City's website.
14. 5 The City Manager is requested to confer with the Community Development Department to develop a timeline for the next Inclusionary Housing Study, explore remedies to address the lack of housing starts and provide for consideration draft amendments to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, and explore other incentives to encourage developers to include affordable units beyond the requirement voluntarily.
15. 6 That the City Manager is requested to include in the FY26 Operating Budget a continued commitment to Emergency Housing Vouchers for Permanent Supportive Housing and Mixed Status Families, and the Transition Wellness Center, as well as allocate the necessary resources to establish a municipal successor to Rise Up Cambridge that builds on its mission of providing direct, dignified economic support to families.
16. 7 First floor retail policy order. RECONSIDERATION FILED BY COUNCILLOR TONER
17. 1 1. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the FY 2026 submitted budget and appropriation orders for the General Fund, Water Fund, and Public Investment Fund. PLACED ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IN COUNCIL APRIL 28, 2025
18. 1 An application was received from Matt Mayo, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 49 Alpine Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. Response has been received from the neighborhood association. RECONSIDERATION FILED BY COUNCILLOR NOLAN IN COUNCIL MAY 12, 2025
19. 1 A communication was received from Edward Loveall, regarding Municipal Broadband POR #13.
20. 2 A communication was received from Ethan Frank, regarding Supporting automated traffic safety.
21. 3 A communication was received from Nate Sharpe, regarding Broadway Safety Improvement Project.
22. 4 A communication was received from Stan Rivkin, regarding Petition Regarding Budget Priorities.
23. 5 A communication was received from Catherine Forde-Augustine, regarding City ordinance to remove parking on Broadway.
24. 6 A communication was received from Carlos Loya, regarding City Finance questions for City Manager Huang.
25. 1 Condolences on the death of Marguerite "Doris" Magliozzi.
26. 2 Condolences on the death of Philomena (Durso) Donovan.
27. 3 Condolences on the death of Sandra L. "Cookie" Saltman.
28. 4 Condolences on the death of Alice C. Wadden.
29. 5 Condolences on the death of Antoinette "Dolly" Frammartino.
30. 6 Congratulations to Jose Aponte on his retirement from the Cambridge Housing Authority.
31. 7 Congratulations to James Carvello on his retirement from the Cambridge Housing Authority.
32. 8 Condolences on the death of Carol (Mingace) Basile.
33. 9 Congratulations to Officer Eric Helberg on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.
34. 10 Congratulations to Sergeant Thomas Maldonado on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.
35. 11 Congratulations to Cheryl Wilson on her retirement from the City of Cambridge.
36. 12 Congratulations to Lieutenant David Brown on his promotion to the rank of Deputy Superintendent with the Cambridge Police Department.
37. 13 Congratulations to Lieutenant Michael Logan on his promotion to the rank of Deputy Superintendent with the Cambridge Police Department.
38. 14 Resolution on the death of Doane Perry.
39. 4 An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk Diane P. LeBlanc, relative to amend certain subsections of the Affordable Housing Overlay, Section 11.207 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL MAY 5, 2025 ELIGIBLE TO BE ORDAINED MAY 26, 2025
40. 1 A communication was received from Diane LeBlanc, City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative activity.
41. 1 Awaiting Report Status Update 05.05.25
42. 1 The City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to prepare a Home Rule Petition to enact legislation which would allow the City of Cambridge to prohibit associations from unreasonably restricting the use of a solar energy system.
43. 2 The City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to prepare a draft home rule petition to authorize the City of Cambridge to implement automated parking enforcement technology; and to continue to work with the City of Boston to collaborate on the home rule process.
44. 3 The City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council with a update on the status and timeline for the completion of the Grand Junction Multiuse Path and how implementation between Gore Street and Little Binney could coincide with Phase 2 of the CSO implementation on Cambridge Street.
45. 4 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to develop zoning recommendations, pursuant to M.G.L. c.40A §9B, for regulations to encourage the use of solar energy systems and protect solar access for Registered Solar Energy Systems that have been in existence for one year, per Ordinance Ch. 22.60, specifically on structures over 4 stories.
46. 5 The City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to prepare a report on the use of M.G.L. Ch. 40U to determine which local statutes can be enforced by the local-option procedure in order to better collect fines in violation of Cambridge ordinances and provide a recommendation to the City Council for implementation of Ch. 40U procedures.
47. 6 The City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to coordinate with the MBTA in finding ways in which to strengthen safety measures.
48. 7 The City Manager is requested to exert all appropriate influence on EZ Ride and Passio to take immediate and concrete steps to fully resolve tracking deficiencies and improve real-time transit accuracy for riders.
49. 8 The City Manager is requested to work with all appropriate Departments to develop language to create an “Affordable Rent Incentive Program” program for Cambridge and to report back to the City Council with option, including the percentage of possible tax abatements.
50. 9 The City Manager is requested to commit to prioritizing snow removal from crosswalks and pedestrian islands for the rest of this and future snow seasons and direct appropriate City staff to generate a policy for prioritizing snow removal from crosswalks and pedestrian islands after snow storms.
51. 10 The City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to create a plaque to be placed at the entrance of or inside City Hall that demonstrates the values that the Cambridge City Council upholds of the separation of church and state and gender equality.
52. 11 The City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City departments to draft language to create an Ordinance to insure that vacant store fronts and commercial properties keep their properties in safe and clean conditions.
53. 12 The City Manager provide the Council with a report before May 31, 2025, that includes a summary of all requests for approval of Surveillance Technology Impact Reports received by the city council during the prior year pursuant to Section 2.128.030 or Section 2.128.040 of the Surveillance Ordinance, including whether the City Council approved, disapproved, or required modifications to the Surveillance Technology Impact Reports received, for the Council to review and adopt
54. 13 That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Community Development Department to develop a timeline for the next Incentive Zoning Nexus Study.
55. 14 at the City Manager is requested to work with the School Department, the Department of Public Works, and other relevant departments to open the publicly owned parking at the King Open/Cambridge Street Upper School Complex for either residential free parking or commercial parking opportunities during “off” hours.
56. 15 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to do more outreach to residents, businesses, and property owners to communicate the drought status and take all measures to reduce nonessential water use citywide, and provide a report on citywide water usage and water supply.
57. 16 That the City Manager is requested to establish a Lost and Found program at Cambridge City Hall.
58. 17 That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Community Development Department to assemble a list of public and private spaces available to the public, indoors and outdoors, noting contact information and any associated requirements, ensuring that there are public meeting places identified in each neighborhood.

Watch Cambridge

This is one agenda. Cambridge publishes another every few weeks, and the thing you care about is rarely on the one you happened to find. Name it and we will email you when it appears.

Watch this

Free for 14 days, no card — and nothing charges itself: at day 14 the emails simply stop unless you choose to subscribe ($19 a month). One email when something matches, and nothing else. Unsubscribe from any of them. Searching stays free — it is public record.