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October 23, 2025 ·7:00 PM Final

City Council Chamber and Remote Participation

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 76 items

  1. 1 Published October 21, 2025, 12:30 PM. Revised published October 23, 2025 12:00 PM.
  2. 1 NOTICE: This is NOT the official version of the City Council's minutes. While reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the data provided, do not rely on this information without first checking with the City Clerk.
  3. 2 NOTICE: Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, this meeting of the City Council may be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audiovideo recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels. Register at the following website to listen to this meeting live or to testify at any public hearing: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SKI4k05nRZyp7bxtMYsErA Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e. CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or ada@somervillema.gov.
  4. 1. OPENING CEREMONIES
  5. 3 The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM by Ward Six City Councilor Lance L. Davis. The City Council entered recess at 8:51 PM and returned at 9:00 PM.
  6. 1.1. Call of the Roll. 25-1608 Placed on file ▶ jump to 0:41
  7. 1.2. Remembrances. 25-1609 Approved ▶ jump to 1:11
  8. 1.3. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 25, 2025. 25-1610 Approved ▶ jump to 6:54
  9. 2. CITATIONS
  10. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
  11. 3.1. Eversource applying for a Grant of Location to install a total of 7 feet of conduit in White Street, from Cambridge/Somerville line to a point of pickup at White Street Place. 25-1583 Approved ▶ jump to 7:02
  12. 10 page break
  13. 4. ORDERS, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS OF MEMBERS
  14. 4.1. In support of public higher education in Massachusetts. 25-1578 Approved ▶ jump to 7:50
  15. 4.2. That the Director of Engineering and the Director of Mobility work to block off the end of Virginia Street and Aldrich Street to through traffic. 25-1589 Approved ▶ jump to 188:55
  16. 4.3. That the Director of Mobility provide an update on the Kensington Connector. 25-1590 Approved ▶ jump to 188:55
  17. 4.4. That the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development direct that all funds generated from Assembly Row community benefits funds be used in East Somerville. 25-1592 Approved ▶ jump to 188:55
  18. 4.5. That the Director of Human Resources and the Chief of Police work with state officials to provide crossing guards on McGrath Highway. 25-1593 Approved ▶ jump to 188:55
  19. 4.6. That the Administration collaborate with East Somerville Main Streets and the Ward 1 City Councilor to promote Eat Out in East to support East Somerville immigrant-owned businesses. 25-1591 Approved ▶ jump to 188:55
  20. 17 page break
  21. 4.7. That this City Council commends the members of the Charter Review Committee on their years of volunteer service to the community. 25-1588 Approved ▶ jump to 19:48
  22. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
  23. 6. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
  24. 6.A. FINANCE COMMITTEE
  25. 6.A.1. Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on October 21, 2025. 25-1602 Approved ▶ jump to 189:16
  26. 6.A.2. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $13,084.20 using available funds in the Parks & Recreation Department Recreation Supplies Account for pool chemicals. 25-1504 Approved
  27. 6.A.3. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $1,533.75 using available funds in the Parks & Recreation Department Recreation Supplies Account for pool chemicals. 25-1508 Approved
  28. 6.A.4. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $500,000 grant with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to the Office of Sustainability and Environment for six no-cost electric vehicle charging station installations. 25-1520 Approved
  29. 6.A.5. Requesting approval to appropriate $56,215.42 from the Bike Share Stabilization Fund for installation and startup costs of a Blue Bike station at the 495 Columbia Street development site. 25-1538 Approved Pass ▶ jump to 190:10
  30. 6.A.6. Requesting approval to appropriate $147,724.07 from the COVID-19 Stabilization Fund for the 2026 Warming Center. 25-1543 Approved Pass ▶ jump to 190:10
  31. 6.A.7. Requesting approval of a time-only extension until 12/31/2028 for the contract with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners for design services on the Building Master Plan. 25-1545 Approved
  32. 6.A.8. Requesting approval of a time-only extension until 12/31/2028 for the contract with Kleinfelder Northeast Inc. for design services on the Morrison Avenue Linear Storage Sewer project. 25-1546 Approved
  33. 6.A.9. Requesting approval to create the BrickBottom Infrastructure Stabilization fund and accept a payment to the fund of $763,814.81, from off-site infrastructure and other contributions outlined in the BrickBottom district project development covenants, for the purpose of funding public infrastructure projects that mitigate the impact of large-scale development in the BrickBottom district. 25-1557 Approved Pass ▶ jump to 190:10
  34. 6.A.10. Requesting approval to create the Boynton Yards Infrastructure Stabilization fund and accept a payment to the fund of $384,025, from off-site infrastructure and other contributions outlined in the Boynton Yards district project development covenants, for the purpose of funding public infrastructure projects that mitigate the impact of large-scale development in the Boynton Yards district. 25-1559 Approved Pass ▶ jump to 190:10
  35. 6.B. LEGISLATIVE MATTERS COMMITTEE
  36. 6.B.1. Report of the Committee on Legislative Matters, meeting on October 20, 2025. 25-1601 Approved ▶ jump to 191:58
  37. 6.B.2. Requesting approval of a Home Rule Petition to raise the sound business practices and written quote contract thresholds under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30B for city contracts with certified disadvantaged businesses. 25-1407 Approved Pass ▶ jump to 193:10
  38. 6.C. PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
  39. 6.C.1. Report of the Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works, meeting on October 15, 2025. 25-1580 Approved ▶ jump to 193:39
  40. 6.C.2. That the Commissioner of Public Works increase sanitary maintenance of the streets and sidewalks in Magoun Square. 25-1133 Work completed
  41. 6.C.3. That Eversource explain the reasons behind repeated power outages in Magoun Square, and share what they have done to address them in the near term and what is being done to prevent long term recurrence. 25-1177 Work completed
  42. 6.C.4. That the Commissioner of Public Works discuss with this Council the recent snagging of overhead wires by a semi-truck, that took out the electricity in Ward Seven, and what plans have been put in place to prevent a similar occurrence. 25-1456 Work completed
  43. 7. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MAYOR
  44. 7.1. Requesting authorization to enter into a Tax Increment Financing Agreement with a full building occupant of a laboratory building. 25-1606 Approved Pass ▶ jump to 25:20
  45. 7.2. Requesting approval of the amended 90 Washington Street Demonstration Project Plan. 25-1594 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 166:00
  46. 7.3. Requesting approval of an amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement between the City Council and Redevelopment Authority regarding the redevelopment of 90 Washington Street. 25-1595 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 166:00
  47. 7.4. Requesting approval of the development objectives for the redevelopment of 90 Washington Street. 25-1596 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 166:00
  48. 7.5. Requesting approval to create the Community Benefits Stabilization fund and accept a payment to the fund of $3,946,742.98 from the community benefit contributions outlined in project development covenants. 25-1560 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 194:40
  49. 7.6. Requesting approval to create a Housing Assistance Stabilization fund under the provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40, Section 5B. 25-1599 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 194:40
  50. 7.7. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $1,110,000 grant with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and Police Department for the development of the Union Square Plaza and Streetscape Phase 1. 25-1600 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 194:40
  51. 7.6. Requesting approval to create a Housing Assistance Stabilization fund under the provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40, Section 5B. 25-1599 Referred for recommendation
  52. 7.8. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $3,000 grant with no new match required, from Somerville Cambridge Elder Services to the Council on Aging for senior transportation. 25-1584 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 194:40
  53. 7.9. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $23,109.33 using available funds in various Department of Public Works Accounts for various services. 25-1585 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 194:40
  54. 7.10. Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for use of an Unmanned Aircraft System at the High School. 25-1579 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 194:51
  55. 7.11. Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for Under Door Cameras. 25-1603 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 194:51
  56. 7.12. Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for Thermal Imaging Monoculars. 25-1604 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 194:51
  57. 52 page break
  58. 7.13. Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for Ball Cameras. 25-1605 Referred for recommendation ▶ jump to 194:51
  59. 8. COMMUNICATIONS OF CITY OFFICERS
  60. 8.1. Chief Assessor requesting to appear at this Council's November 13, 2025 meeting for the Tax Classification Public Hearing and the determination and adoption of tax levy percentages for FY 2026. 25-1587 Approved ▶ jump to 195:20
  61. 8.2. Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development conveying a summary of the 90 Washington process review and development objectives. 25-1607 Placed on file and sent for discussion ▶ jump to 166:00
  62. 8.3. Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management conveying the draft Combined Sewer Overflow Plan. 25-1451 Placed on file and sent for discussion ▶ jump to 116:52
  63. 58 page break
  64. 9. NEW BUSINESS
  65. 9.1. Tufts University conveying its Fall 2025 Accountability Report. 25-1597 Placed on file ▶ jump to 195:37
  66. 9.2. Harvard University conveying its Fall 2025 Accountability Report. 25-1598 Placed on file ▶ jump to 195:46
  67. 10. SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS
  68. 10.1. City Clerk conveying Block Party Licenses issued. 25-1613 Placed on file ▶ jump to 195:54
  69. 10.2. New Drainlayer's License, American Site Corp. 25-1614 Approved ▶ jump to 196:24
  70. 10.3. New Drainlayer's License, Despres Landscape & Excavation. 25-1615 Approved ▶ jump to 196:24
  71. 65 page break
  72. 10.4. Somerville YMCA applying for a Public Event License for Community Bike Giveaway on October 26 from 2:30pm to 5pm. 25-1616 Approved ▶ jump to 196:24
  73. 10.5. Office of Immigrant Affairs applying for a Public Event License for 102nd Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye Flag Raising Ceremony on October 29 from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. 25-1617 Approved ▶ jump to 196:24
  74. 10.6. Bill Valletta submitting comments re: item #25-1557, requesting approval to create the BrickBottom Infrastructure Stabilization fund. 25-1618 Placed on file ▶ jump to 196:34
  75. 11. ADJOURNMENT
  76. 72 The meeting was Adjourned at 10:21 PM.