Cambridge City Council meeting - January 9, 2017

CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA
1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Acting Police Commissioner Brent B. Larrabee, effective Jan 9, 2017.
Placed on File

Jan 9, 2017
To the Honorable, the City Council:

Effective Jan 9, 2017, I am appointing Brent B. Larrabee as Acting Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department. Mr. Larrabee is taking over for Acting Commissioner Christopher Burke who is retiring on Jan 6, 2017 after 32 years of service on the Cambridge Police Department and 8 months as Acting Commissioner. Incoming Acting Commissioner Larrabee is expected to serve for the next 6-8 months until a permanent Commissioner is appointed, a position that he is not pursuing.

Brent Larrabee holds a Master of Public Administration from Framingham State College, has assisted in the selection of numerous Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, and has served as:

Chief of Police, East Haven, CT Police Department (February 2012-June 2016);

Chief of Police, Stamford, CT Police Department (2005-2010);

Interim Chief of Police, Westwood, MA Police Department, (2003); and

Chief of Police, Framingham, MA Police Department (1987-2001)

Former Commissioner Haas has known and worked with Brent Larrabee for many years. He highly respects him and strongly recommended Brent for appointment as Acting Commissioner for the Cambridge Police Department.

Very truly yours, Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager

2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following person as a Constable Without Power for a term of three years, effective the first day of Jan, 2017: Darrel Todman
Placed on File

3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt with suggested modifications, the zoning amendments to Article 19.000 related to lighting in project review.
Referred to Petition (see Order #4)

Date: Jan 3, 2017
Subject: Zoning Amendments to Article 19.000 Related to Lighting in Project Review
Recommendation: The Planning Board recommends ADOPTION with suggested modifications.

To the Honorable, the City Council,

On Nov 1, 2016, the Board heard a presentation of the proposed municipal Outdoor Lighting Ordinance as well as proposed amendments to Article 19.000 of the Zoning Ordinance, which provides standards for the review of significant development projects. The Board’s recommendation relates only to the proposed zoning amendments, since review of other municipal ordinances is not within the Board’s purview.

The proposed zoning amendments would specifically call out façade, landscape and rooftop lighting as elements of the Planning Board’s review of projects that are required to seek a special permit (which generally includes developments of at least 50,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area, as well as some smaller developments). While this review currently includes a broad range of design considerations, the Board believes that making these specific references would provide a valuable tool in our project review toolkit, and that it would provide clearer notice to developers that light trespass and light pollution are key public concerns that will be addressed in the review of new development.

Another part of the proposed zoning amendments would add provisions to the Building and Site Plan Requirements in Section 19.50, which are applied administratively to projects of 25,000 square feet or more that do not automatically require a special permit from the Planning Board. A developer may choose to seek a special permit in order to waive any of the requirements of Section 19.50, but developers are not expected to do so, and typically do not choose to undergo a special permit approval process if none is required. (Board members also understand that the provisions of a municipal Outdoor Lighting Ordinance, if ordained as currently proposed, would place additional restrictions on any new lighting and could not be modified or waived by the Planning Board.)

While the Board is generally supportive of the proposed changes to Section 19.50, there is some concern about the provision disallowing any lighting above the roof of a building, absent a special permit. There may be functional reasons why lighting above a rooftop is needed, such as for patios or decks, or for upper levels of parking garages, as opposed to lighting that is meant only to serve a decorative purpose or to increase the visibility of the building. Rather than a complete prohibition, the Board believes it would be better to specify the allowed purposes of such “functional lighting” and incorporate standards to prevent light trespass, light pollution or other nuisance. The alternative is that projects that would otherwise not require special permits would have to appear before the Planning Board for a waiver, which is not necessarily in the public’s interest since the purpose of Section 19.50 is to provide clear design standards that can be applied administratively without requiring discretionary review. A special permit would still be required for those instances where it is appropriate or desirable to allow decorative or visibility purpose lighting above a rooftop, subject to the terms of an Outdoor Lighting Ordinance.

Therefore, the Board recommends that if the City Council advances these proposed zoning changes, then the Council should ask staff to develop alternative language to the proposed Section 19.511 with clearer standards for non-decorative lighting above the roof of a building, specifying the uses for which such lighting could be allowed (e.g., usable open space, parking) and standards for its design (e.g., shielding, directing away from abutting properties).

Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board,
H Theodore Cohen, Chair

4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt with some minor modifications, the Central Square Restoration Zoning Petition (Sater, et al).
Referred to Petition (see Order #4)

Date: Jan 3, 2017
Subject: Central Square Restoration Zoning Petition (Sater, et al.)
Recommendation: The Planning Board recommends ADOPTION, with some minor modifications.

To the Honorable, the City Council,

On Nov 29, 2016, the Board held a public hearing on the Central Square Restoration Zoning Petition. George Metzger and Patrick Barrett presented on behalf of the petitioners, and many interested members of the public appeared to comment.

The Board is generally supportive of the petition and its goals of enlivening Central Square, producing additional housing and turning around the current “stagnation” in development. The Board appreciates that the petition follows the recommendations of the “C2” study and Red Ribbon Commission undertaken by the City in recent years. The Board also appreciates that this petition was developed through a thoughtful, inclusive community process and reflects a compromise among different groups with varying opinions. As a result, the petition does not address some issues that might be more controversial, particularly allowed building heights. While the Board believes this is a topic that will need to be addressed at some point in the future if significant new housing development is desired, nonetheless the Board believes that the current petition is a positive step that could help tilt the balance toward creating additional housing and retail in some circumstances.

The Board discussed the key provisions of the petition and is in favor of the proposed amendments to the current Central Square Overlay District, including increasing the allowed residential FAR to 4.0 (by special permit outside the Business B district), exempting from FAR outdoor spaces and small-scale retail establishments, allowing bar and nightclub entrances on side streets by special permit, limiting bank frontage, removing the “cap” on fast order food establishments, and allowing private open space requirements to be modified by special permit in addition to setback requirements, which can be modified under current zoning. The Board also supports the introduction of “formula business” requirements. While some commenters suggested that stricter requirements should be included, the Board notes that some local businesses might fall under the “formula” definition, and in some cases formula businesses can provide benefits to the community that other businesses do not. The Board believes that the proposed special permit review is a good way to ensure that such new businesses would fit with the desired character of Central Square without being overly restrictive.

The Board offers only the following considerations for change:

Parking: The petition suggests higher parking ratios for non-residential uses and lower parking ratios for residential uses than the recommendations of the C2 study. Though it was suggested that such an approach might help to incentivize housing over commercial use, the Board believes it is preferable to set parking requirements based on the City’s transportation policies and objectives and not as a strategy to attempt to influence land use decisions. While the Board’s current preference is to implement the parking recommendations from the C2 study, this topic could also be studied further by the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to determine if any of the recommendations should be revisited based on any new understanding of transportation patterns in the area. The Board is otherwise supportive of the proposed provisions to allow parking off-site and to allow a reduction of required parking by special permit in exchange for an in-lieu-of fee to the City for public improvements.

Rooftop Open Spaces: In allowing a special permit to exempt rooftop spaces from FAR, the Board recommends explicitly including “lighting” as one of the listed aspects of the design that may be restricted when issuing the special permit. This was suggested by commenters at the hearing.

Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board,
H Theodore Cohen, Chair

CHARTER RIGHT
1. An application was received from Mundo/Lux, requesting permission for a sandwich board sign in front of the premises numbered 2 Bow Street. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor Cheung on Dec 19, 2016.]
Tabled - Cheung

2. City Council support of asking the Cambridge Historical Commission to initiate a landmark designation study process on the Abbott Building in Harvard Square. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey on Dec 19, 2016.]
Tabled - Cheung

ON THE TABLE
3. An application was received from CareWell Urgent Care, requesting permission for a sandwich board sign in front of the premises numbered 601 Concord Avenue. [Tabled on a motion by Councillor Devereux on Apr 25, 2016.]

4. The City Manager is requested to confer with the appropriate departments to organize regular suppers on the second Saturday of each month, starting on the 13th of August, with free food for the Cambridge community in open public spaces throughout the various Cambridge neighborhoods. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor Mazen on June 20, 2016. Tabled on a motion by Councillor Mazen on June 27, 2016.]

5. An application was received from the Boston Ballet, 19 Clarendon Street, Boston, requesting permission to hang twenty-three temporary banners on electrical poles in Harvard Square. These banners will promote the Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker. The temporary banners will be hung from Nov 17, 2016 to Jan 3, 2017. Approval has been received from the Electrical Department. [Charter Right exercised by Mayor Simmons on Aug 1, 2016. Tabled on motion of Councillor Toomey on Sept 12, 2016.]

6. The City Manager coordinate with the Finance Department, Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, and community stakeholders to outline a proposed system of governance, management, and stakeholder engagement for the Foundry, to be discussed in a public forum with the Council and community. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey on Oct 31, 2016.]

APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
1. An application was received from Sweetgreen, requesting permission for a projecting sign at the premises numbered 39 JFK Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department, Historical Commission and abutters.
Adopted

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Rebecca Rutenberg, Vice President, Public Affairs, The Novus Group, transmitting a copy of the recently released Airbnb Policy Tool Chest.

2. A communication was received from Carol O'Hare, supports study regarding landmarking the Abbott Building.

3. A communication was received from Marilyn Wellons, 651 Green Street, regarding Policy Order #1 from Dec 19, 2016 asking the City Manager and others to work to allow retiring Officer Peter Neal to purchase his canine partner Rumba.

4. A communication was received from E.J. Graff, 88 Standish Street, requesting to keep Standish Street one way in the current direction from Vassal Lane to Huron Avenue.

5. A communication was received from Peter Valentine, requesting that the wisdom of the Cambridge City Council does not allow the money worshiper developer forces to destroy the historical memories and building characteristics, right in the center of Harvard Square.

6. A communication was received from Suzanne Blier, regarding the Abbott Building.

7. A communication was received from Paula Sharaga, 234 Columbia Street, in opposition to the lighting ordinance.

8. A communication was received from George Metzger, 90 Antrim Street, requesting the Ordinance committee schedule another hearing on the Central Square Restoration Petition.

9. A communication was received from Patrick W. Barrett, III, 41 Pleasant Street, regarding requested information in Policy Order #6 of December 19, 2016 relating to the Central Square Restoration Petition and transmitting information requested by the Policy Order.

10. A communication was received from Hasson Rashid, 820 Massachusetts Avenue, relating to homelessness.

11. A communication was received from Kenneth E. Taylor, 2 Craigie Street, regarding the Planning Board Zoning Amendment for lighting review.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution on the death of Charles J. Giacobbe, Jr. Mayor Simmons, Councillor Maher

2. Resolution on the death of William D. Solberg. Mayor Simmons, Councillor Maher

8. Retirement of Patricia “Patty” Renna from the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department. Mayor Simmons

11. Congratulations to NuTonomy Inc. on the beginning of on-street testing of self-driving cars in Boston. Councillor Cheung

12. Congratulations to the Mount Auburn Hospital Auxiliary on its 81st Annual Thursday Morning Talks Series. Councillor Cheung

13. Congratulations to Casey Affleck for his Golden Globe win for Best Actor in a Motion Picture. Vice Mayor McGovern

ORDERS
1. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Water Department and any other relevant City departments to determine if the City tests its’ water for Perfluorooctanoic acid. Councillor Cheung
Adopted

2. That the City Manager is requested to consult with the Director of Communications and Community Relations and the Information Technology Department to provide the City Council with an update on the launch of the City’s redesigned website. Councillor Devereux
Adopted

3. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Department of Public Works and any other relevant City departments to determine the feasibility of starting a pilot program to install such receptacles in areas in Cambridge. Vice Mayor McGovern
Adopted

4. That the City Manager instruct Community Development to develop more specific standards for facade and any above the roof of a building lighting design and implementation as it pertains to Article 19.000. Councillor Carlone
Adopted

COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a communication received by Mayor E. Denise Simmons regarding the Notice of Tier Classification Submittal for 88 Ames Street and the public involvement requirements of the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MPC).

2. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a communication from Councillor Nadeem Mazen, relating to Council Goals and capacity building for the Community Development Department.

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you've had a restful and reflective holiday. I look forward to an exciting and collaborative new year.

There are two issues highly germane to a fresh start in 2017 that I've been trying to gain some momentum on, over these last three years. I believe the Council is in agreement on these issues, given that we discuss them so frequently, yet I do not believe that my overtures have resulted in a concrete plan. My hope is that this letter will initiate a clear response from both the Mayor and the City Manager about how we plan to operate differently in the new year.

Council Goals

1. I've been in the habit of reaching out with quarterly updates over the past three years asking the Mayor and/or the City Manager how we should approach Council goals. I now believe that frequent reminders are not enough. Let's assume that this is such a weighty exercise that knowing where to place it in our timeline requires an explicit conversation with the full body present, which is why I’ve written this letter and added it to the agenda.

2. As you know, Council goals are extremely important for the City Manager and his proposal of the budget. The Council Goals are also important for City staff in adjudicating between competing interests and competing funding needs. In my last attempt to move this issue, the City Manager and I both mentioned to the body that the ideal window for the City Council goals in 2016 is October/November (latest, early December) and I believe we've now missed that window. I am asking you today whether we can have a conversation on when we can do a late breaking Council Goals session late in January of 2017, or whether we prefer to wait until after the next election cycle, at a time perhaps more relevant to the next budget season's cycle. This is critical work that is very much at the foundation of what we do, and is also very much overdue.

Community Development

1. Our Community Development Department is appreciated for their breadth of knowledge, intuition, experience, and aptitude. In fact, it's not unusual to see the same CDD officials first thing in the morning and again at City meetings past 8:00 PM - not just on Mondays, but throughout the week. lt's clear that this work has been taxing on many in the department, but everyone is grinning and bearing it with incredible grace. In particular, I see and benefit from Jeff Roberts and Iram Farooq so much that I feel it necessary to pay them special regard for their hard work and everpresence. And though she is not in CDD, Kathy Watkins is often seen planning at the same meetings and community-oriented events, juggling the needs of many stakeholders in many departments. The list of those I ought to thank here is too long to reproduce and so I'll just thank the department as a whole.

2. a. The challenge I'd like to communicate seems to be one of capacity-building within the Department. This applies to proactive outreach in under-served communities around planning priorities and community-led goal setting, as well as proactive planning and proactive zoning reform around the City's own goals. The city is also engaged in an Envision Cambridge process that the council has not received a report on in some time. My hope is that by engaging the council regularly, we may all process some of the more difficult aspects of the process, including equitable community engagement and the synthesis or aggregation of zoning (and non-zoning) reports and studies.

b. Irrespective of the Envision Cambridge process, there are many in the City who wish to update our zoning, use tables, startup business procedures, licensing, and a whole host of interconnected issues that center on CDD. I believe I can speak along with the Council when I say the whole body wishes to see more dynamism, more proactive planning, and more structure in our approach to these questions - without impugning the city's leadership. Again, I believe that with increased capacity, the department will be able to bolster equitable outreach and community participation in planning, bolster planning for equity and economic mobility, and bolster its own proactive reform of zoning (currently seen by many as problematic for neighborhood and developer alike). This body has previously communicated that if the problem is funding or hiring, that we are behind CDD and the City Manager in appropriating that funding.

c. What I'm requesting now is a clear answer from The City Manager about the current shortfalls in capacity being experienced by CDD (which positions are needed), the hiring process and hiring goals for 2017, and a vision statement for how CDD will run differently in the year 2020.

Sincerely, Nadeem Mazen

HEARING SCHEDULE
Mon, Jan 9
5:00pm Special Presentation to the Cambridge All Stars Travel Baseball Team (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Jan 11
3:00pm The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss a proposed Municipal Code amendment to Chapter 2.125 to change the name to “Cambridge Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Plus Commission.” (Sullivan Chamber)

Thurs, Jan 12
2:30pm The Economic Development and University Relations Committee will conduct a public hearing to review City Ordinance 12.08.010 Encroachments onto streets – Permit required – Fee – Exceptions to discuss the City’s policies towards permitting sandwich board and A-frame Signs, and what improvements can be made. (Ackermann Room)

Tues, Jan 17
3:00pm The Human Services and Veterans Committee will conduct a public hearing to receive an update from the Homelessness Task Force, updates on the creation of a Homelessness Trust Fund, sobering centers, an emergency cold weather plan for the homeless and how the City and Police Department work with homeless enclaves in the City, including at the Route 2/Route 16 intersection. (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Jan 25
5:30pm The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the FY18 Operating and Capital Budget. (Sullivan Chamber)

Thurs, Feb 2
5:30pm The Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the FY18 School Budget. (Sullivan Chamber)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1 Jan 9, 2017
COUNCILLOR CHEUNG
WHEREAS: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a carcinogen which has a wide variety of use and is known to cause liver and kidney diseases , immune system problems, certain types of cancer and other health problems; and
WHEREAS: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a drinking water health advisory on PFOA; and
WHEREAS: Towns and cities across the Commonwealth and the country have tested positive for levels of PFOA that are above the health advisory; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Water Department and any other relevant City departments to determine if the City’s water is tested for PFOA.

O-2 Jan 9, 2017
COUNCILLOR DEVEREUX
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with the Director of Communications and Community Relations and the Information Technology Department to provide the City Council with an update on the launch of the City’s redesigned website.

O-3 Jan 9, 2017
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Cambridge residents have expressed concern over the cleanliness of Cambridge streets, particularly our squares; and
WHEREAS: Cigarette butts make up a great deal of the litter found on our sidewalks; and
WHEREAS: Other communities, such as the City of Salem, MA and the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston have installed cigarette butt receptacles in highly utilized areas, such as around bus stops, city squares and outside of restaurants; and
WHEREAS: These efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in cigarette litter on city streets; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Public Works and any other relevant City departments to determine the feasibility of starting a pilot program to install such receptacles in areas in Cambridge and to report back to the City Council regarding these discussions.

O-4 Jan 9, 2017
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct Community Development to develop more specific standards for façade and any above the roof of a building lighting design and implementation as it pertains to Article 19.000.

AWAITING REPORT LIST
16-24. Report on what additional measures can be taken to ensure that pedestrians are able to safely cross at the intersection of Cameron Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue.
Mayor Simmons (O-2) from 4/4/2016
Referred back to the City Manager on June 6, 2016 by Mayor Simmons.

16-26. Report on the possibility of the City Council implementing a zoning change, on the permitting of all new restaurants where a wood-fired oven is used as a significant method of food preparation.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Devereux, Councillor Carlone (O-5) from 4/4/2016

16-42. Report on plans for the former Riverside Community Health Center on Western Avenue, including transfer of ownership of the building to the City and the process for determining future usage.
Vice Mayor McGovern (O-1) from 5/2/2016

16-47. Report on ways to improve the public noticing of proposed building demolitions consistent with the outreach used for variances and special permits and to consider extending the amount of time to consider whether a property is historically significant.
Councillor Carlone, Councillor Devereux (O-6) from 5/23/2016

16-50. Report on the use of City office and meeting space for non-City appointed functions by non-City officials.
Councillor Kelley (O-4) from 6/6/2016

16-51. Report on the City's policies and best practices in the use and supervision of City Council interns.
Councillor Kelley (O-5) from 6/6/2016

16-52. Report on the City’s use of push-button caution lights at crosswalks and to determine any decrease in pedestrian legal rights should they be hit.
Councillor Kelley (Calendar Item #3) from 6/13/2016

16-53. Report on the feasibility of either using City funds to subsidize the cost of installing and removing air conditioning units from Cambridge Housing Authority-owned apartments at a reduced cost.
Mayor Simmons (Calendar Item #4) from 6/13/2016

16-56. Report on creating Sobering Centers and a Cold Weather Plan prior to the winter of 2016.
Councillor Cheung, Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern (O-7) from 6/20/2016

16-64. Report on reinstating trash and recycling pick up for small businesses.
Councillor Toomey, Councillor Maher (O-8) from 8/1/2016

16-66. Report on how traffic laws pertaining to crosswalks are currently enforced throughout the City and whether there can be stricter laws to ultimately increase pedestrian safety.
Mayor Simmons (O-12) from 8/1/2016

16-68. Report on implementing a nomination based "Artist of the Month" program along with a $2,000 grant and to remove the long-form application in favor of a nomination-based system.
Councillor Mazen (O-15) from 8/1/2016

16-71. Report on the feasibility of creating a temporary jobs program geared toward Cambridge’s homeless population and/or determine the feasibility of awarding homeless with priority in the City’s 9-week temporary jobs program.
Vice Mayor McGovern, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Cheung, Councillor Mazen (O-8) from 9/12/2016
Referred back to City Manager on motion of Vice Mayor McGovern

16-72. Report on resolving the audio and visual issues in the Sullivan Chamber.
Councillor Devereux, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Mazen (O-10) from 9/12/2016

16-74. Report on producing a new status report that reviews the Harvard Square Conservation District’s effectiveness since 2005, and that considers whether new zoning regulations may be necessary to fulfill the community’s goals.
Councillor Devereux, Councillor Carlone (O-18) from 9/12/2016

16-75. Report on a suitable replacement for the crumb-rubber turf used on City playgrounds.
Councillor Cheung (O-3) from 9/19/2016

16-76. Report on implementing an electronic public comment display in the Sullivan Chamber, listing the speaker’s name and affiliation as well as a timer.
Councillor Cheung, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Mazen (Calendar Item #1) from 9/26/2016

16-82. Report on testing for any presence of chromonium-6 in the City's drinking water and plans to deal with this issue.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Devereux, Mayor Simmons (Calendar Item #2) from 10/31/2016

16-83. Report on drafting possible legislation and other recommendations for interim actions to identify and address the public health impacts of any commercial wood-fired ovens.
Mayor Simmons (Calendar Item #4) from 10/31/2016

16-84. Report on determining which pedestrian crosswalks are in need of additional on street signage.
Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Cheung, Mayor Simmons (O-6) from 10/31/2016

16-86. Report on which public campaign finance options are legal for municipal elections in Cambridge.
Councillor Mazen (O-14) from 10/31/2016

16-89. Report on conducting a traffic safety review of the Brattle Street, Sparks Street, and Craigie Street intersection.
Councillor Devereux (O-1) from 11/7/2016

16-90. Report on requesting permission from the DCR to continue Sunday closings on Memorial Drive year-round, starting in early 2017.
Councillor Devereux, Councillor Carlone (O-4) from 11/7/2016

16-94. Report to consider higher frequency enforcement in key transit junctions and corridors.
Councillor Mazen (O-8) from 11/7/2016

16-95. Report to make street markings and street signage more ubiquitous in an effort to market the rules of the road to the users of all transportation modes.
Councillor Mazen (O-9) from 11/7/2016

16-87. Report on creating or procuring a portrait of Barbara Ackermann, with the goal of unveiling this portrait for display in the Sullivan Chamber by March 2017.
Mayor Simmons (Calendar Item #2) from 10/31/2016

16-97. Report on which City programs and projects, including School Department, Cambridge Housing Authority and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, rely on the support of federal funds and how changes in federal funds could affect the viability of these programs.
Councillor Cheung, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Kelley (O-4) from 11/21/2016

16-99. Report to instruct the Law Department, Community Development Department, License Commission and the Health Department to report back to the City Council regarding Medical Marijuana Dispensaries.
Councillor Cheung (O-11) from 11/21/2016

16-100. Report on suggested changes to Cambridge’s policy regarding advertising revenue that could help support the continuation and expansion of Hubway in the City of Cambridge.
Councillor Toomey (O-1) from 12/12/2016

16-101. Report on the potential of building below market rental housing on City-owned parking lots along Bishop Allen Drive.
Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern (O-4) from 12/12/2016

16-102. Report on the intention of ensuring that zoning and building code restrictions will not prohibit the rebuilding of the damaged structures and ensure a straightforward process for families and current property owners to rebuild.
Councillor Toomey (O-5) from 12/12/2016

16-103. Report that all money raised during this campaign is distributed to the Wellington Harrington residents impacted by this incident and when all funds are distributed.
Councillor Toomey (O-6) from 12/12/2016

16-104. Report on making Appleton Street one-way from Highland Street to Huron Avenue, preferably before the start of winter storms.
Councillor Devereux, Councillor Maher (O-7) from 12/12/2016

16-105. Report on what measures can be taken to fast-track the rebuilding of homes impacted by the fire that may be non-conforming with the current zoning code in a timely manner and what actions can be considered.
Councillor Devereux (O-9) from 12/12/2016

16-106. Report on an outreach and communications plan for renters in Cambridge about the importance and availability of renters insurance and assist low- and moderate-income tenants in acquiring affordable renters insurance policies.
Councillor Devereux (O-10) from 12/12/2016

16-107. Report on whether Office Peter Neal is allowed to purchase police dog "Rumba" upon his retirement.
Councillor Cheung (O-1) from 12/19/2016

16-108. Report on whether people displaced and qualify for Emergency Status who are using Section 8 in other cities or towns can retain their resident preference for the purpose of Inclusionary Housing.
Councillor Toomey, Mayor Simmons (O-4) from 12/19/2016

16-109. Report on the Cambridge Housing Authority list of elevator breakdowns, what issues led to the breakdowns, how long the repairs took and safety measures put in place during these breakdowns.
Vice Mayor McGovern (O-5) from 12/19/2016

16-110. Report on the Central Square Restoration Zoning petition.
Councillor Carlone, Councillor Mazen (O-6) from 12/19/2016