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September 10, 2026 ·7:00 PM Final

City Council Chamber and Remote Participation

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF Official record ↗

Agenda — 99 items

  1. 1 Published September 8, 2026, Revised Published September 10, 2026 1:45 P.M., Revised Published September 10, 2026 2:20 P.M.(Committee Reports and Supplemental Items)
  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_Eb_iIip3TyKo2dUgQ7pYPg Persons 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, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should contact the ADA Coordinator in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.
  4. 1. OPENING CEREMONIES
  5. 3 The meeting was called to order at 7:06 PM by Ward Six City Councilor Lance L. Davis. The City Council entered recess at 7:17 PM and returned at 7:18 PM. The City Council entered recess at 7:45 PM and returned at 7:47 PM. The City Council entered Executive Session at 8:05 PM and returned at 9:22PM.
  6. 1.1. Call of the Roll. 26-1370 Placed on file
  7. 1.2. Remembrances. 26-1371 Approved
  8. 1.3. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of July 9, 2026. 26-1372 Approved
  9. 2. CITATIONS
  10. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
  11. 4. ORDERS, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS OF MEMBERS
  12. 4.1. Recognizing the seriousness of myotonic dystrophy and expressing support for the designation of September 15, as ‘‘International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day’’. 26-1217 Approved
  13. 4.2. In support of striking Encore Boston Harbor workers. 26-1359 Approved
  14. 4.3. That the Director of Engineering and the Commissioner of Public Works discuss with the Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works the City’s current requirements for restoration of streets following utility and other permitted excavations, including whether the City has the authority and ability to require full-lane, expanded, or curb-to-curb restoration on streets that have passed the five-year street opening moratorium but remain in good condition. 26-1360 Approved and sent for discussion
  15. 4.4. That the Director of Engineering and Commissioner of Public Works discuss with the Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works the feasibility of establishing a Street Preservation Offset Fee or similar pavement-degradation fee, modeled on programs such as Cambridge’s, to help offset the City’s costs associated with utility and other excavations in public streets. 26-1361 Approved and sent for discussion
  16. 4.5. That the Director of Engineering, the Commissioner of Public Works, and the Chief Procurement Officer discuss with the Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works the City’s current practices for establishing, monitoring, and enforcing construction timelines for municipal projects, including the use of project milestones, completion deadlines, contractor staffing levels, liquidated damages, and other tools to ensure that projects are completed in a timely manner. 26-1362 Approved and sent for discussion
  17. 4.6. That the Director of Engineering, the Commissioner of Public Works, and the Chief Procurement Officer explore best practices used by other municipalities and public agencies to encourage timely completion of public construction projects, including performance incentives, liquidated damages, milestone requirements, recovery schedules, and cost-plus-time or “A+B” bidding, and discuss which approaches could be appropriate for Somerville. 26-1363 Approved and sent for discussion
  18. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
  19. 6. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
  20. 6.A. FINANCE COMMITTEE
  21. 6.A.1. Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on September 3, 2026. 26-1355 Approved
  22. 6.A.2. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $65,000 grant with no new match required, from the Mass Department of Mental Health to the Police Department for operational funding for the Metro Boston Crisis Intervention Training and Technical Assistance Center. 26-1219 Approved
  23. 6.A.3. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $12,000 grant with no new match required, from the Mass Department of Mental Health to the Police Department to partially fund the operation of the jail/arrest diversion program. 26-1220 Approved
  24. 6.A.4. Requesting approval of a transfer of $315,000 from the Sewer Enterprise Debt Service Account to the Morrison Avenue & Greater Davis Square Area Sewer Separation Design Capital Fund to fund required project expenditures. 26-1226 Approved
  25. 6.A.5. Requesting approval to use available funds in the Police Salaries account in the amount of $8,800 to fund Fiscal Year 2027 cost of living increases for the Deputy Chief positions. 26-1234 Approved
  26. 6.A.6. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $284,700 grant with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to the Strategy and Development Department for Eastern Washington Street Transit Priority Project. 26-1241 Approved
  27. 6.A.7. Requesting approval to pay a prior year invoice totaling $3,572 using available funds in the Professional & Technical Services Account for the implementation of ArcGIS Urban module. 26-1242 Approved
  28. 6.A.8. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $85,933.60 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization to the Mobility Division for the Bluebikes state of good repair equipment replacement. 26-1243 Approved
  29. 6.A.9. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $366,729.25 grant with no new match required, from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to the Mobility Division, for new e-bikes, replacement batteries and two new docking stations as a part of the Bluebikes bikeshare system. 26-1248 Approved
  30. 6.A.10. Requesting approval to create the Tufts Street Soil Project Stabilization Fund and accept a payment to the Fund of $332,497 from the Unifirst Corporation to pay for cleanup and soil disposal costs associated with remediation work at 50 Tufts Street. 26-1249 Approved Pass
  31. 6.A.11. Requesting approval to appropriate $332,497 from the Tufts Street Soil Project Stabilization Fund for remediation efforts at 50 Tufts Street. 26-1250 Approved Pass
  32. 6.A.12. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $187,200.00 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Grant with no new match required, from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to the Public Space and Urban Forestry Division for the Green and Cool Somerville: Sustainable Sidewalk and Tree's project. 26-1255 Approved
  33. 6.A.13. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $20,239 grant with no new match required, from the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance to the Police Department for overtime related to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association In World Cup 2026 summer games. 26-1256 Approved
  34. 6.A.14. Requesting approval of a transfer of $60,000 from the DPW-Admin Salaries & Wages Temp Account to the DPW-Admin Professional & Technical Services Account to support temporary clerical staffing. 26-1316 Approved
  35. 6.B. LAND USE COMMITTEE
  36. 6.B.1. Report of the Committee on Land Use, meeting on September 3, 2026. 26-1356 Approved
  37. 6.B.2. Requesting approval of the Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing (UCH-TIF) Zone, Plan, and Form of Agreement for Assembly Square and East Somerville. 26-0746 Approved Pass
  38. 6.B.3. Proposing an amendment to Section 2.1.1 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding Homeless Shelters. 26-0835 Ordinance ordained as amended Pass
  39. 6.C. SCHOOL BUILDING FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE
  40. 6.C.1. Report of the Committee on School Building Facilities and Maintenance, meeting on September 8, 2026. 26-1357 Approved
  41. 6.C.2. That the Commissioner of Public Works and the Director of Engineering explore the feasibility of establishing a teen center at the Cummings School, accessible via School Street, considering current building uses and provide this Council with an analysis on space availability, operational considerations, community impacts, and potential next steps. 26-0063 Work completed
  42. 6.C.3. That the Commissioner of Public Works provide an update to this Council on improvements made to custodial staffing at the East Somerville Community School. 26-0839 Work completed
  43. 6.C.4. Recognizing and expressing appreciation to the Department of Public Works, the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, and the Inspectional Services Department for their work in addressing rodent issues at the West Somerville Neighborhood School. 26-1022 Work completed
  44. 7. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MAYOR
  45. 7.1. Requesting that this Council convene in Executive Session to receive an update on collective bargaining negotiations. 26-1364 Approved
  46. 7.2. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 3.2.17, 4.1.15, 4.2.15, 4.3.15, 4.4.15, 5.1.16, 6.1.13, 6.2.14, 6.3.13, 6.4.16, 6.5.13 of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to correct parking maximums. 26-1258 Referred for recommendation
  47. 7.3. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 2.4.4, 3.1.7, 3.1.8, 3.1.9, 3.1.10, 3.1.11, 3.2.7, 3.2.8, 3.2.9, 3.2.10, 3.2.11, 4.1.7, 4.2.7, 4.3.7, 4.4.7 of the Somerville Zoning Ordinances to remove ground story elevation requirements. 26-1259 Referred for recommendation
  48. 7.4. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 3.1.5, 3.2.5, 6.3.5, 6.4.6, 7.3.5, 8.3.6, 10.10.3, 15.2.1, 15.3.2, 15.7.2 of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to streamline the jurisdiction of review boards. 26-1261 Referred for recommendation
  49. 7.5. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 3.1.3, 3.1.6, 3.1.8, 3.1.9, 3.1.11, 3.1.12, 3.1.13, 3.1.16, 3.2.6 of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to align with State Law regarding protected accessory dwelling units. 26-1336 Referred for recommendation
  50. 7.6. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 2.4.5, 3.1.17, 3.2.16, 4.1.8, 4.1.9, 4.1.14, 4.2.8, 4.2.9, 4.2.14, 4.3.8, 4.3.9, 4.3.14, 4.4.8, 4.4.9, 4.4.15, 5.1.7, 5.1.8, 5.1.9, 5.1.16, 6.1.12, 6.2.7, 6.2.8, 6.2.14, 6.3.12, 6.4.9, 6.4.15, 6.5.7, 7.2.8 of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to clarify requirements for principal entrances. 26-1337 Referred for recommendation
  51. 7.7. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 2.1.1, 2.4.5, 3.1.16, 3.2.8, 3.2.9, 3.2.10, 3.2.11, 3.2.15, 4.1.3, 4.1.7, 4.1.8, 4.1.9, 4.1.10, 4.1.13, 4.2.3, 4.2.7, 4.2.8, 4.2.9, 4.2.10, 4.2.13, 4.3.3, 4.3.7, 4.3.8, 4.3.9, 4.3.10, 4.3.13, 4.4.3, 4.4.7, 4.4.8, 4.4.9, 4.4.13, 5.1.3, 5.1.7, 5.1.8, 5.1.9, 5.1.10, 5.1.11, 5.1.14, 6.1.3, 6.1.7, 6.1.8, 6.1.11, 6.2.3, 6.2.7, 6.2.8, 6.2.9, 6.2.12, 6.3.3, 6.3.8, 6.4.3, 6.4.9, 6.4.11, 6.5.3, 6.5.7, 6.5.8, 6.5.11, 7.2.7, 7.2.10, 7.4.3, 7.4.6, 7.4.7, 7.4.8, 7.4.11, 8.1.1, 8.1.2, 8.1.4, 8.1.5, 8.1.6, 8.2.2, 8.2.4, 8.2.5, 8.4.16, 8.4.17, 8.4.19, 9.1.7, 12.1.1, 12.1.2, 12.1.4, 12.1.5, 12.1.6, 12.1.7, 12.3.5, 12.3.6, 12.3.7 of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to update terminology for affordable dwelling units and commercial spaces. 26-1338 Referred for recommendation
  52. 7.8. Requesting approval to appropriate $350,000 from the Immigrant Legal Services Stabilization Fund for legal services for immigrants and asylum seekers seeking permanent residency. 26-1334 Referred for recommendation
  53. 7.9. Requesting approval to appropriate $255,045 from the Transportation Network Receipts Reserved Account to the Transportation Network Revolving Account for Fiscal Year 2027 Vision Zero efforts. 26-1240 Referred for recommendation
  54. 7.10. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $295,463 grant with no new match required, from the State 911 Department to the Police Department for E911 dispatcher personnel costs. 26-1322 Referred for recommendation
  55. 7.11. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $215,919.15 grant with no new match required, from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to the Health and Human Services Department for a Shared Services Coordinator and a Clinical Community Health Worker. 26-1254 Referred for recommendation
  56. 7.12. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $159,754.04 grant with no new match required, from the State 911 Department to the Police Department for training costs for E911 dispatcher certification and recertification. 26-1323 Referred for recommendation
  57. 7.13. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $24,500 grant with no new match required, from the State 911 Department to the Police Department for emergency medical dispatch. 26-1320 Referred for recommendation
  58. 7.14. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $9,809.81 grant that requires a match, from the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance to the Somerville Police Department for body armor vests. 26-1221 Referred for recommendation
  59. 7.15. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $80,852.95 using available funds in various Department of Public Works accounts for various services. 26-1341 Referred for recommendation
  60. 7.16. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $1,687.50 using available funds in the Fire Department Professional and Technical Services Account for medical screening services. 26-1271 Approved
  61. 7.17. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoice totaling $19.76 using available funds in the Immigrant Advancement Professional and Technical Services Account for on demand phone interpretation services. 26-1328 Approved
  62. 7.18. Withdrawn. 26-1335 Withdrawn
  63. 7.19. Proclaiming that the week of September 10 through September 19, 2026 is Welcoming Week. 26-1365 Placed on file
  64. 7.20. Proclaiming that September 15, 2026 is International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day. 26-1366 Placed on file
  65. 7.21. Conveying an update on Civilian Oversight. 26-1353 Placed on file
  66. 7.22. Conveying the appointment of Lena Warnke to the Somerville Arts Council Board. 26-1330 Placed on file
  67. 7.23. Conveying the appointment of Josh Breeden to the Somerville Arts Council Board. 26-1331 Placed on file
  68. 7.24. Conveying the appointment of Sharon Lacey to the Somerville Arts Council Board. 26-1332 Placed on file
  69. 7.25. Conveying the appointment of Bess Paupeck to the Somerville Arts Council Board. 26-1333 Placed on file
  70. 7.26. Conveying the appointment of Christopher Oates to the Ranked Choice Voting Committee. 26-1367 Placed on file
  71. 8. COMMUNICATIONS OF CITY OFFICERS
  72. 8.1. Director of Emergency Management conveying the 2025-2026 Cummings School Winter Warming Center After Action Report and Improvement Plan. 26-1339 Placed on file and sent for discussion
  73. 8.2. City Clerk conveying Block Party Licenses issued. 26-1352 Placed on file
  74. 9. NEW BUSINESS
  75. 9.1. Theatre@First applying for a Public Event License for Iphigenia by Euripides on various dates between September 26 and October 11 from 3pm to 7:30pm. 26-1349 Approved
  76. 9.2. Saint Benedict Parish applying for a Public Event License for Journey to World Youth Day 2027 Fundraiser on September 12 from 11:30am to 2pm (raindate September 19). 26-1351 Approved
  77. 9.3. Matthew Taylor applying for a Public Event License for 21st Honk! Festival on October 9, 10 & 11 for various times. 26-1348 Approved
  78. 9.4. Bow Market applying for a Public Event License for Bow Market Renaissance Faire on November 7 from 8am to 8:30pm (raindate November 14). 26-1346 Approved
  79. 9.5. Somerville Road Runners applying for a Public Event License for 30th Annual Gobble Gobble Gobble Road Race on November 26 from 6am to 1pm. 26-1347 Approved
  80. 9.6. Mayor's Office applying for a Public Event License for City Hall Truck O' Treat 2026 Spectacular! on October 29 from 4pm to 8pm (raindate November 5). 26-1350 Approved
  81. 9.7. New Drainlayer's License, Valor Excavation, LLC. 26-1342 Approved
  82. 9.8. New Livery License, Lubana Coach, 2 Snow Terrace, operating 1 vehicle. 26-1343 Approved
  83. 9.9. New Second Hander Dealer License, Somerville Communications, 52 Broadway. 26-1344 Approved
  84. 9.10. Renewing Taxi Medallion License, Country Club Transportation Inc, Med. #3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,46. 26-1345 Approved
  85. 9.11. Bruce Schulman submitting comments re: snow emergencies. 26-1368 Placed on file
  86. 9.12. Marianne Walles submitting comments re: item #26-1268, comments related to Zoning Ordinance Sections 3.1.7c, 3.1.8c, 3.1.9c, 3.1.10c, 3.1.11c, 3.1.15a.i, 3.2.7c, 3.2.8c, 3.2.9c, 3.2.10c, 3.2.11c, 4.1.7c, 4.2.7c, 4.3.7c, 4.4.7c. 26-1369 Placed on file and sent for discussion
  87. 10. SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS
  88. 10.1. That Section 3.1.7.c of the Zoning Ordinances be amended as detailed within. 26-1373 Referred for recommendation
  89. 10.2. Requesting approval to enter into lease agreements with various tenants to provide commercial arts space at the Somerville Armory Building, 191 Highland Avenue. 26-1354 Referred for recommendation
  90. 10.3. Veteran Services applying for a Public Event License for 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on September 11 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. 26-1379 Approved
  91. 10.4. Junkyard LLC applying for a Public Event License for Junkyard Davis Square on September 19 from 10am to 11:30pm. 26-1377 Approved
  92. 10.5. New Drainlayer's License, Knight Excavation Co. Inc. 26-1375 Approved
  93. 10.6. New Second Hand Dealer License, The Heartland Roadshow, 30 Washington Street. 26-1376 Approved
  94. 10.7. President of Tufts University submitting comments re: #26-1302, in support of a fair and dignified resolution for an international graduate student at Tufts University. 26-1374 Placed on file
  95. 12. ADJOURNMENT
  96. 11. LATE ITEMS
  97. 11.1 Councilor Ewen-Campen resignation. 26-1388 Placed on file
  98. 11.2 Councilor Scott resignation. 26-1389 Placed on file
  99. 97 The meeting was Adjourned at 10:44 PM.

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