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City Council - Regular Meeting

September 15, 2025 ·03:30 PM Final
Agenda PDF Minutes PDF Official record ↗

Agenda — 60 items

  1. 1 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to recommendations of the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) for FY2026.
  2. 2 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number #25-50, regarding a Deadline for Charter Change.
  3. 3 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Cambridge Election Commission regarding the assignment of twenty-six (26) police officers and any additional officers as required to the City’s polling locations for the 2025 Municipal Election, pursuant to G.L. c. 54, §72.
  4. 4 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of an FY26 State 911 Department Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Grant in the amount of $28,512 to the Grant Fund Emergency Communications Other Ordinary Maintenance Account, which will support quality assurance (call review) of the emergency medical protocol used by staff to provide pre- and post-dispatch instructions for medical emergencies.
  5. 5 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-45, regarding the siting of needle drop boxes and Naloxone boxes in high priority locations throughout the city.
  6. 6 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a transfer in the amount of $1,703,731.64 from the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund to the Opioid Settlement Special Revenue Fund.
  7. 7 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Numbers 25-38, 25-39 and 25-41, regarding issues related to parking in the area surrounding the eastern end of Broadway.
  8. 8 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-27, regarding the City Manager investigate bike pod storage options to be placed in suitable areas in the city to provide residents and visitors safe storage options.
  9. 9 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-42 regarding pedestrianization of Lower Bow Street.
  10. 10 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-32, regarding a request that the City engage in discussions with leadership from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA) regarding a proposal to explore the feasibility of repurposing the long-abandoned MBTA tunnel in Harvard Square into a commercial or cultural space. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR AZEEM IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2025.
  11. 11 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the transmission of the Cambridge Street Zoning Petition.
  12. 12 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the transmission of the Massachusetts Avenue Zoning Petition.
  13. 13 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-43, regarding a request for an interim report on demolition and building permit applications received during the six-month period following the City Council’s adoption of the Multifamily Housing Zoning Amendment on February 10th, 2025.
  14. 1 That the City Manager is requested to provide an update to the City Council at the September 29, 2025 City Council meeting regarding the status of discussions with the MBTA and HSBA, the potential allocation of funds for the tunnel feasibility RFP, and any anticipated next steps in this process.
  15. 2 That the City Manager is requested to work with the Cambridge Police Department to review current crisis prevention protocols, strengthen them by clearly defining the role and deployment of mental health professionals.
  16. 3 That the City Manager is requested to work with the Commission on Immigrant Rights & Citizenship, the City Solicitor, the Police Department, the Mayor’s Office, and other relevant stakeholders to evaluate and implement ICE Encounter Guidance.
  17. 4 That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to provide an update on rodent control measures citywide and especially how the City addresses rodent mitigation through large construction projects, both public and private.
  18. 5 That the City Manager is requested to work with the Cambridge Police Department, the Law Department, and relevant stakeholders to develop and present to the City Council a proposed policy for the timely release of body-worn camera footage.
  19. 1 1. That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate City staff to ensure that, effective immediately (and for each fiscal year in which the Office for Tourism continues to receive TDMD funding) that the City shall redirect its municipal funding to distribute those funds equally among the Central Square Business Improvement District (BID), the East Cambridge Business Association, the Harvard Square Business Association, and the Kendall Square Association. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR TONER IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 8, 2025. REFERRED TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & UNIVERSITY RE
  20. 2 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
  21. 1 An application was received from Harvard Art Museums requesting permission for 22 temporary pole banners around Cambridge Commons, Quincy Street and Cambridge Street announcing the Master brand Campaign from September 15, 2025 through January 15, 2026
  22. 1 A communication was received from Candice Beaulieu, regarding CIVITAS- TDMD FAQ Sept 2025. REFERRED TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & UNIVERSITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2025.
  23. 2 A communication was received from Susan Leite-Bowers, regarding Letter in Support of Policy Orders #116 and #117.
  24. 3 A communication was received from Carlos Loya, regarding [urgent] Please help open - Elizabeth’s Daycare and Preschool Center in Cambridge.
  25. 4 A communication was received from Denise Jillson, regarding Letter of Support for POR 2025-116.
  26. 5 A communication was received from Gerald Bergman, regarding Axe wielding incident on August 10…hate crime charges brought!.
  27. 6 A communication was received from Selin Kubali, regarding License plate readers in Cambridge.
  28. 7 A communication was received from Susan Miller-Havens, regarding PO #108 Comment.
  29. 1 Congratulations to Steve McAuliffe who will be honored as the Massachusetts Red Sox Volunteer of the Year on Saturday, September 27, 2025 for his outstanding volunteer service with the Cambridge Girls Softball League.
  30. 2 Condolences on the death of Phyllis S. Sage.
  31. 3 That the City Council go on record recognizing and commending Priyota for her leadership in creating the Mother Language Poetry Contest, her ongoing advocacy for language preservation, and her contributions to celebrating the diversity and cultural richness of Cambridge.
  32. 4 Congratulations to Cambridge Day and Michael Fitzgerald
  33. 5 Happy 101st Birthday to Marvin Gilmore
  34. 1 A communication was received from Paula Crane, Interim City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative activity.
  35. 2 A communication was received from Councillor Nolan transmitting a report on the Cambridge Zero Emission Transportation Plan. PLACED ON THE TABLE IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2025.
  36. 1 Awaiting Report Status Update 09.15.25
  37. 1 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.
  38. 2 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.
  39. 3 That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Community Development Department to develop a timeline for the next Incentive Zoning Nexus Study.
  40. 4 That the City Manager investigate bike pod storage options to be placed in suitable areas in the City to provide residents and visitors safe storage options.
  41. 5 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.
  42. 6 That the City Manager is requested to meet with the leadership of the Harvard Square Business Association to discuss the proposal and to take the necessary steps to facilitate the release of $72,000 to fund the RFP development for the tunnel engineering study.
  43. 7 The City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to provide a legal opinion outlining, in light of current zoning including the most recent Multifamily Zoning Amendments, the ability of Cambridge to regulate institutional and religious uses in C-1 residential districts and what state and federal law allows in terms of local restrictions, if any, for institutional and religious uses.
  44. 8 The City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to determine whether the City Council can revoke an already approved curb cut application if said application was incomplete due to applicant failure.
  45. 9 The City Manager is requested to work with the Department of Transportation to evaluate adjustments to meter enforcement hours on Broadway Segment A, designating 25 spaces as residential permit parking overnight to increase overnight parking access for residents.
  46. 10 The City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Cambridge Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of modifying non-resident parking permit fees for households in within the Broadway Segment A project area, including offering a discounted rate structure for permits that are requested by residents with low- income residents.
  47. 11 The City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the City Solicitor, in consultation with relevant City departments and the Community Benefits Advisory Committee, to draft amendments to the Community Benefits Ordinance that allow for the use of funds for capital expenses, provided that such expenses clearly advance the goals of the Community Benefits program.
  48. 12 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.
  49. 13 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.
  50. 14 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.
  51. 15 The City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department, in collaboration with the Finance Department, to conduct a comprehensive review of current permitting fees for residential development projects, with a focus on identifying opportunities to create a tiered fee structure that reduces or eliminates fees entirely particularly for smaller-scale and affordable housing developments.
  52. 16 The City Manager is requested to work with the Department of Public Health, the Department of Public Works, and any other relevant City departments to develop a plan to install needle drop boxes in identified problem areas throughout the city.
  53. 17 The City Manager is requested to coordinate with the Community Safety Department, the Cambridge Police Department, and other relevant parties to ensure that the overnight use of the garden area between St. James Episcopal Church and the Beech Street condos is actively monitored.
  54. 18 the City Manager is requested to confer with the Department of Transportation, the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and any other relevant City departments to assess the current accessible parking capacity in the vicinity of Kendall Square and identify potential solutions, which may include adding dedicated accessible parking spaces, creating short-term accessible loading/unloading zones, or implementing other reasonable accommodations
  55. 19 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.
  56. 20 the City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department, the City Assessor, and all other relevant departments to develop a comprehensive policy for future private development projects in the city.
  57. 21 The City Manager is requested to confer with the Election Commission, the City Solicitor, and the City Clerk, and report back to the City Council no later than the September 15, 2025 City Council meeting on the Policy Order regarding the deadline for Charter Change.
  58. 22 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.
  59. 23 The City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments and multi-member bodies to report back to the City Council and inform the community of the work of, and when the recommendations coming from the Micromobility Commission will be available.
  60. 24 The City Manager is requested to consult with relevant departments about the implications of deploying license plate readers and provide recommendations as to whether adjustments in plans for deployment should be made in light of changes since approval in February.

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