City Council - Regular Meeting

December 22, 2025 ·03:30 PM Final

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF Official record ↗

Agenda — 91 items

1 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases.
2 Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,172,577.00 to the Grant Fund Fire Extraordinary Expenditures account. Funds will be used to purchase detection and metering equipment which will help identify the newest biological and chemical hazards as well as detect radiation. Funds will also support the acquisition of new firefighting gear which will allow the department to outfit front-line firefighters with updated safety gear.
3 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following members to the Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA) effective December 22, 2025.
4 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-61, regarding cleanliness and safety in the area on Alewife Paths near Russell Field.
5 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to combined sewer overflows.
6 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a revised Massachusetts Avenue zoning petition.
7 A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a revised Cambridge Street zoning petition.
1 That the City Manager works with the Government Operations and Civic Unity Committee to hold hearings to discuss new ideas to honor and remember individuals (i.e. communal memorial garden, wall or path), criteria for eligibility, a committee structure with diverse representation of the city residents, and a means for recording and maintaining our current and future memorials.
2 Restricting Eligibility for On-Street Resident Parking Permits in New Transit-Oriented Developments.
1 1. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the Community Development Department to reduce the recommendations for the Massachusetts Avenue subdistrict (MAS-12) from a maximum of 12 stories to 11 stories with ground floor active use/retail as consistent with the recommendation of the Mass Ave Planning Study. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI IN COUNCIL DECEMBER 15, 2025
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
3 1. An Ordinance has been received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, relative to amend the Zoning Map and Articles 2.000, 3.000, 4.000, 5.000, 6.000, 11.000 17.000, and 20.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of establishing four new zoning districts for the Massachusetts Avenue corridor.
1 An application was received from Reed Sisson, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 138 Irving Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood associations.
1 A communication was received from Amy Thompson, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (11).
2 A communication was received from Andy Nash, regarding Policy Order 2025 #131.
3 A communication was received from Andy Zucker, regarding Cambridge is not Manhattan.
4 A communication was received from Ariella Katz, regarding Support 12-story zoning on N_ Mass Ave (PO #2).
5 A communication was received from Arthur Strang, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (9).
6 A communication was received from Arti Pandey, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (2).
7 A communication was received from Beth Gamse, regarding Please hit pause on upzoning.
8 A communication was received from Carole Stern, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (4).
10 A communication was received from Charles Hinds, regarding Cambridge St_ Zoning Amendment .
11 A communication was received from David Halper, regarding in Oppose reducing heights on Northern Mass Ave.
12 A communication was received from David HattisIn, regarding Support of 12 Stories of Height for Housing in Porter Square.
13 A communication was received from Elisabeth Werby, regarding zoning.
14 A communication was received from Estelle Disch, regarding Firing the Women's Commission.
15 A communication was received from Ethan Frank, regarding Strong support for Roadway Safety Audit Program.
16 A communication was received from Frank Scibilia, regarding NO to Up-Zoning Mass Ave and Cambridge Street.
17 A communication was received from Heather Hoffman, regarding upzoning--improved list of questions you should get answers to.
18 A communication was received from Hermine Muskat, regarding Recent Women's Commission Firings.
19 A communication was received from Hunter Aldrich, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (6).
20 A communication was received from Jack Silversin, regarding vote no to up-zone north Mass_ Ave and Cambridge St.
21 A communication was received from Janet Reckman, regarding MassAve & Cambridge St zoning petitions .
22 A communication was received from John Hanratty, regarding Vote YES for lower building heights for Mass Ave (Po#2)& Cambridge Street (POR 2025 #165).
23 A communication was received from John Klensin, regarding Mass Ave building height petitions.
24 A communication was received from John Trever, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (13).
25 A communication was received from Joseph Rose, regarding Cambridge St Zoning Amendment (ORD 2025 #17).
26 A communication was received from Judith D. Singer, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (12).
27 A communication was received from Kathy Greeley, regarding Attacks on the Women's Commission_ Peace Commission and others.
28 A communication was received from Kelsey Harris, regarding I continue to support increasing housing (and retail) density in squares and corridors.
29 A communication was received from Kenneth Kronenberg, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (14).
30 A communication was received from Kimberly Simonsen, regarding Vote NO to upzoning.
31 A communication was received from Laney Bank, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (16).
32 A communication was received from Laura Zimmerman, regarding Unjust firings of seven valuable city employees.
33 A communication was received from Lois Markham, regarding Policy Order 2025 #131 (10).
34 A communication was received from Lynne Hall, regarding The Outrageous Firing of 7 Cambridge Employees (5).
35 A communication was received from Margaret Ann Brady, regarding Allow the zoning proposals to expire!.
36 A communication was received from Marjory Wunsch, regarding upzoning.
37 A communication was received from Martha Stasa, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning NO.
38 A communication was received from Mary Jane Kornack, regarding iIn support of Policy Order 2025 #131.
39 A communication was received from Molly Trowbridge, regarding letter to the council.
40 A communication was received from Mrs. Martha Stasa, regarding NO on upzoning Massachusetts Avenue.
41 A communication was received from Nadia Mykolayevych, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (15).
42 A communication was received from Nan Steinthe, regarding shocking elimination of the Women's commission and other commissions_.
43 A communication was received from Neil Miller, regarding Support 12-story zoning on N_ Mass Ave (PO #2) (1).
44 A communication was received from Nicolai Cauchy, regarding Here’s why ___ they’re leaving Mass_ in 2026.
45 A communication was received from Nonie Valentine, regarding Pause on extreme upzoning on Mass_ Ave_ and Cambridge St_.
46 A communication was received from Peter Crawley, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning of Cambridge Street.
47 A communication was received from Phyllis Bretholtz, regarding Let Up Zoning on Cambridge Street expire.
48 A communication was received from Richard Krushnic, regarding zoning amendments and general zoning compromise position.
49 A communication was received from Robert C McCarthy, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (3).
50 A communication was received from Ruth Hobeika, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (8).
51 A communication was received from Steve Fitzsimmons, regarding Manhatonization of Cambridge.
52 A communication was received from Tine Christensen, regarding Social Housing Support.
53 A communication was received from Valerie A. Bonds, regarding Social Housing_ Towards the Betterment of our Community .
54 A communication was received from William A. Graham, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning.
55 A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding ADA Accessibility Concerns — Mass Ave & Cambridge St Zoning Petitions.
56 A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Oral Comment Dec_ 15_ 2025.
57 A communication was received from Zion Sherin, regarding Please vote NO on the proposed upzoning (17).
58 A communication was received from Nadia Colburn, regarding I oppose the new zoning.
59 A communication was received from Nella LaRosa-Waters, regarding dismantling of commissions.
1 Congratulations to Susan Cyr on her retirement from the Cambridge Public Schools.
2 Congratulations to Migdalia Garcia on her retirement from The Cambridge Public Schools
3 Congratulations to Floride Noelsaint on her retirement from the Department of Human Services.
4 Congratulations to Kathleen Rawlins on her retirement from the Historical Commission.
5 Congratulations to Patrol Officer Nicole Pacheco on her retirement from The Cambridge Police Department
6 Congratulations to James Ryan on his retirement from the Department of Public Works.
7 Congratulations to James Shaughnessy on his retirement from the Department of Transportation.
8 Congratulations to Sergeant Angel Barbosa on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.
9 Congratulations to Patrol Officer to Devon Brooks on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.
10 Congratulations to Patrol Officer David Szeto on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.
11 Congratulations to Sergeant Stephen Sennott on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.
12 Congratulations to Cecilia Stevens on her retirement from the Cambridge Retirement Department.
13 Congratulations to Nicholas Vella on his retirement from the Department of Transportation.
14 Congratulations to Paul Villeneuve o his retirement from The Department of Human Services
15 Condolences on the death of Brian G. "Duke" Walsh
16 Congratulations to Christopher Brown
1 A communication was received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, transmitting a memorandum regarding COF 2025 #154 in Council December 8, 2025 regarding pending Awaiting Reports that it wished to be carried forward to the newly elected City Council for their consideration in the next legislative terms.
2 A communication was received from Paula Crane, Interim City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative activity.
1 Awaiting Report Status Update
2 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.

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