City Council - Regular Meeting

Agenda — 67 items

1. 1 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update and the Law Department will provide an update on relevant court cases.
2. 2 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Board of Election Commissioners for the City Council to vote to authorize in-person early voting for the November 4, 2025 Municipal Election, in accordance with "The VOTES Act".
3. 3 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the 2024 Transportation Demand Management Program Report.
4. 4 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-30, regarding a review of barriers to housing production, a timeline for next Inclusionary Housing Study, and the feasibility of additional development incentives.
5. 5 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-36, regarding a request that the language of the Welcoming Community Ordinance be amended to clarify that City employees shall not participate in federal immigration enforcement operations and that the sole role of City employees during any action by ICE is only to protect public safety, and be amended to clarify that if Cambridge Police Department Officers respond to the scene of ICE action, CPD Officers should document the actions of ICE including their badge numbers. PASSED TO SECOND READI
6. 6 An Ordinance has been received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, relative to Chapter 2.129 Welcoming Community. PASSED TO SECOND IN COUNCIL JUNE 30, 2025 ELIGIBLE TO BE ORDAINED JULY 21, 2025
7. 7 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update on the first half of 2025.
8. 8 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the 2025 Goals and Metrics for the Annual City Manager Performance Review.
9. 9 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Florrie Darwin, Scott Kyle, and Michael Rogove; and the reappointments of Chandra Harrington, Joseph Ferrara, Kyle Sheffield, Gavin Kleespies, Paula Paris, Elizabeth Lyster, and Yuting Zhang as members of the Cambridge Historical Commission.
10. 1 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to explore creative solutions that reduce car dependency, while expanding access to parking options nearby Broadway.
11. 2 That the City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor to ensure that the wording for the proposed amendment to Section 5.40 Footnote #2 is in line with the City Council’s intention to continue to include the inclusionary requirement for any nonreligious use property that is going above four stories, and to strike “except for religious purposes” used from Section 5.40 Footnotes #1 and #37.
12. 3 That the Mayor is hereby appointing a committee, to be announced in the coming days, to screen applicants for the position of City Clerk.
13. 4 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to continue to work with stakeholders in the area including Harvard University and the Harvard Square Business Association to pursue options for pedestrianization on Lower Bow Street and to report on the option for automatic bollards for Winthrop and/or Bow Street.
14. 5 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to prepare an interim report on demolition requests and building permit applications, in order to facilitate a discussion on the outcomes observed during the first six months of the new Multifamily Housing Zoning.
15. 6 That the Human Services and Veterans Committee hold a meeting in Fall 2025 and extend an invitation to the Superintendent of Cambridge Public Schools and the School Committee to discuss the progress and future direction of the Cambridge Preschool Program.
16. 1 1. 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
17. 2 1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a revised draft of the “Eastern Cambridge Community Enhancements” Zoning Petition. PLACED ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN COUNCIL JUNE 9, 2025
18. 1 An application was received from Yung Chen, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 527 Green 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.
19. 2 An application was received from representing Lou's Harvard Square, requesting permission for a projecting blade sign at the premises numbered 13 Brattle Street. approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutter.
20. 3 An application was received from Michel Dahan, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 45 Holden 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.
21. 1 A communication was received from Aaron Rosenthal, regarding Policy Order #94 (Apex Clean Energy) Written Testimony and Report.
22. 2 A communication was received from Ashley Gaschk, regarding ND AFL-CIO comments on Policy Order #94 (Apex Clean Energy).
23. 3 A communication was received from Catherine Forde-Augustine, regarding Policy orders 2025-88 & 89 rejected.
24. 4 A communication was received from Darrin Korte, regarding Letter of Support for Amendment to Community Benefits Ordinance.
25. 5 A communication was received from Erin Shackelford, regarding Support for Policy Order #94 (Apex Clean Energy).
26. 6 A communication was received from Heather Hoffman, regarding Larkin v. Grendel's Den, Inc., 459 U.S. 116 (1982).
27. 7 A communication was received from Kirsten Spalding, regarding Policy Order #94 (Apex Clean Energy),
28. 8 A communication was received from Luis Mejias, regarding Reject pending NCD appointments.
29. 9 A communication was received from Marilee Meyer, regarding Government Operations rules... term limits CHC NCDs.
30. 10 A communication was received from Marilee Meyer, regarding vetting in public NCDs and CHCs.
31. 11 A communication was received from Nonie Valentine, regarding Support historical commission and conservation districts.
32. 12 A communication was received from Rachel Plummer, regarding In Support of Policy Order #3 Amendments to Community Benefits Ordinance.
33. 13 A communication was received from Sarah L. Merin, regarding Please!! The Heat Is On.
34. 1 Congratulations to Caron Courier on her retirement from the Cambridge School Department.
35. 2 Congratulations to Jimmy Hamamoto on his retirement from the Cambridge Public Schools.
36. 3 Congratulations to Margaret Ranstrom on her retirement from the Department of Transportation.
37. 4 Congratulations to Linda Vierboom on her retirement from the Water Department.
38. 5 Congratulations to Dennis Vigilante on his retirement from the Cambridge Fire Department.
39. 6 Congratulations to Firefighter Donald Johnson on his retirement from the Cambridge Fire Department.
40. 7 Congratulations to Robert Anderka on his retirement from the Department of Transportation.
41. 8 Congratulations to Joseph Grassi on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.
42. 9 Congratulations to Captain Robert Jutras on his retirement from the Cambridge Fire Department.
43. 10 Congratulations to Steven Kelley on his retirement from the Cambridge Fire Department.
44. 11 Congratulations to Lieutenant Miguel Torres on his retirement from the Cambridge Fire Department.
45. 12 Congratulations to Sergeant Beth C. Halloran on her promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in the Cambridge Police Department.
46. 13 Congratulations to Sergeant Timothy P. Lawton on his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant with the Cambridge Police Department.
47. 14 Congratulations Sergeant Sean Norton on his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant with the Cambridge Police Department.
48. 15 Congratulations to Officer Michael A. Bonilla on his promotion to the rank of Sergeant with the Cambridge Police Department.
49. 16 Congratulations to Officer Stephen Lenkauskas on his promotion to the rank of Sergeant with the Cambridge Police Department.
50. 17 Congratulations to Officer Kyle Galuski on his promotion to the rank of Sergeant with the Cambridge Police Department.
51. 18 Congratulations to Officer Robert P. Reardon on his promotion to the rank of Sergeant with the Cambridge Police Department.
52. 19 Congratulations Officer Pamela Morris on her promotion to the rank of Sergeant with the Cambridge Police Department.
53. 20 Congratulations to Superintendent Pauline Wells on being awarded the 2025 Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement Organization Heritage Award.
54. 21 Congratulations to Kelly Tarney on her retirement from the Cambridge Public School Department.
55. 22 Congratulations to Richard Kelly on his retirement from the Cambridge School Department.
56. 23 Condolences to the family of John Diamond.
57. 24 Congratulations to Donald "Ducky" Down on his retirement from the Department of Public Works.
58. 25 That the City Council go on record congratulating Shakeel Rajwani and Lin Wang on the birth of their son, Jasper Wang Rajwani
59. 26 Resolution Wishing Peter and Lorna Johnson a Happy 40th Anniversary
60. 27 Resolution Celebrating the 2025 Wilson and Bourne Family Reunion
61. 2 An Ordinance has been received from Paula M. Crane, Interim City Clerk, relative the Mushla Marasao et al Zoning petition in regard to Article 5.28.21, 8.22.1, 8.22.2, Tbl 5.1. PASSED TO A SECOND IN COUNCIL JUNE 30, 2025 ELIGIBLE TO BE ORDAINED JULY 21, 2025
62. 4 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments of Florrie Darwin, Scott Kyle, and Michael Rogove and the reappointments of Chandra Harrington, Joseph Ferrara, Elizabeth Lyster, Yuting Zhang, gavin Kleespies, Paula Paris, and Kyle Sheffield.
63. 5 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment Sarah Holt, Emily Oldshue, and Ruth Webb and the reappointments of Marie-Pierre Dillenseger, Donna Marcantonio, and Peter Schur to the Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission.
64. 6 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Nondita Mehrotra, and the reappointments of Constantin von Wentzel, Heli Meltsner, McKelden Smith, Theresa Hamacher, and Freweyni Gebrehiwet to the Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission.
65. 1 A communication was received from Paula M. Crane, Interim City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative activity.
66. 1 AwaitingReport Status Update
67. 2 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.

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