CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Jessica Eshleman as a new member of the Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees for a term ending on 6/30/2026, and would be eligible for reappointment for an additional three (3) three-year term. (CM24#5)
Placed on File 9-0

Jan 22, 2024
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby transmitting notification of the appointment of Jessica Eshleman as a new member of the Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees for a term ending on 6/30/2026. Ms. Eshleman would then be eligible for reappointment for an additional three (3) three-year terms. This appointment is to fill a vacant “Somerville Representative” seat and requires notification to the City Council only.

Jessica Eshleman is a Somerville, MA resident with 20+ years of nonprofit experience and specialized leadership and organizational skills. Ms. Eshleman is the Executive Director of Union Square Main Streets in Somerville, where she serves as the principal spokesperson for promoting initiatives and securing new funding opportunities to ensure support and long-term sustainability. Jessica provides a strategic vision and leadership to develop strategies to advance place-based economic development for community partners. Jessica is engaged and connected throughout the Somerville community. Ms. Eshleman holds a Master’s of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate and Recipient of the Catherine Fisk Humanities Award from Franklin Pierce University.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Massachusetts Avenue Planning Study Working Group -- Cambridge Common to Alewife Brook Parkway. (CM24#6)
pulled by Pickett; comments by Joan Pickett, Iram Farooq, Paul Toner; Placed on File 9-0

To: Yi‐An Huang, City Manager
From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Date: Jan 17, 2023
Re: Massachusetts Avenue Planning Study Working Group – Cambridge Common to Alewife Brook Parkway

The City is starting a land use planning study for the Massachusetts Avenue corridor from Cambridge Common to Alewife Brook Parkway. This planning process is part of the implementation of Envision Cambridge, the City’s comprehensive plan. Massachusetts Avenue serves as a hub for the city and connects many independently-owned businesses, neighborhoods, and institutions. This plan will study various aspects such as land use, zoning, urban design, housing, climate resiliency, small business support, mobility, and public space. We anticipate a focus on Envision Cambridge priorities of increasing housing along major corridors and supporting a thriving local business community. The team will work with the community to develop a shared vision to shape future type and scale of development.

The Community Development Department (CDD) will lead a representative community engagement process. In addition to multiple engagement strategies, CDD is convening a working group to advise and provide feedback to the planning team. This will include feedback on community outreach, issues and opportunities, community vision, and planning recommendations.

WORKING GROUP
The working group will comprise residents from the surrounding neighborhoods – Neighborhood Nine, Baldwin, and North Cambridge– along with representatives of the business community, local institutions, property owners, and developers.

The City received 46 applications from interested community members. The selected members bring broad, holistic, and insightful perspectives on Mass Ave’s future. The candidates range in age, income, profession, gender identity, race and ethnicity, tenure, and relationship to Mass Ave. They are long‐time and newer residents, business owners, employees, advocates, students, parents, and importantly, people that want Mass Ave to be a place where all residents and visitors can thrive. Committee members include the following.

• Janet Arevalo – Janet is a younger resident and renter in the area. She is an urban designer/architect.

• Josiah Bonsey – Josiah grew up in the neighborhood, went to school and college locally, and his family continues to live in the area. He brings the perspective of a younger resident. He is also a small business owner on Beacon Street in the Baldwin neighborhood.

• James Burns ‐ James is a resident and parent of two young children. He commutes and gets around by all modes of transportation. He has a background in commercial real estate.

• Polly Carpenter – Polly is an architect, who has lived in North Cambridge for 24 years. Much of her work as an architect revolves around youth engagement and education in the architectural profession. She is a member of the Boston Society of Architects and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

• Camilla Elvis – Camilla grew up along Mass Ave and is a current resident in the neighborhood. Historically, she worked for a small local retailer along Mass Ave. She is also a member of A Better Cambridge and commutes by bicycle.

• Magdalena Gomez – Magdalena is a current graduate student at Tufts in urban planning and previously worked as a community organizer with the unhoused community, as well as renter’s assistance programs in Somerville. She brings the perspective of an immigrant to this project. She is also a renter.

• Crystal Klaahsen – Crystal is the owner of General Optical, a business that has been operating since 1979. She took ownership in 2015 after working there since 2002.

• Sharmil Modi ‐ Sharmil is the co‐founder and principal of The East Cambridge Company, an owner, operator, and (re)developer of commercial properties with a focus on creating modern workspaces for start‐up tenants including office, life science, and tough tech users. His company owns property on Mass Ave in North Cambridge.

• Anna Restuccia – Anna is a newer resident of Cambridge (5 years) and moved here from Italy. She works locally at Harvard Law School. She has two young children.

• Michael Rome – Michael is a long‐time resident of the Mass Ave area and Cambridge resident since 1973. Michael is a former small business owner, serving the neighborhood for 35 years.

• Ruth Ryals – Ruth is a long‐time resident and neighborhood activist. She is currently the president of the Porter Square Neighborhood Association and serves on the Partial Construction Working Group for DPW’s project on Mass Ave.

• David Sullivan – David is former Cambridge City Councilor. He has been a homeowner in North Cambridge for 31 years. He lives a few hundred yards from North Mass. Ave. and often runs, walks, and bikes along and across it.

• Neheet Trivedi – Neheet is the parent of young children and intends to stay in North Cambridge and raise his family there.

• Mark Verkennis – Mark Verkennis has been a Senior Campus Planner at Harvard University for the past 18 years. He is directly involved with the management and oversight of development projects by the university. Mark provides expertise in planning and development.

A multidisciplinary staff team led by CDD will provide support to the group. Working group meetings are expected to start in early February. It is anticipated that approximately eight working group meetings, occurring approximately every 6 weeks, will be needed to complete the planning study.

2. Condolences to the family of Louis J. Bacci Jr.   Mayor Simmons, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Toner
Comments by Pickett

R-2     Jan 22, 2024
MAYOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR PICKETT
COUNCILLOR TONER

WHEREAS: The City Council was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Louis J. Bacci Jr., a respected and cherished member of the Cambridge community, on January 17, 2024 at the age of 65; and

WHEREAS: Known to his friends and family as Lou, he was a lifelong resident of Cambridge residing in the Wellington Harrington neighborhood; and

WHEREAS: Louis Bacci dedicated himself to the service of his community as the President of Laborers Local #151 and as a longtime board member of the Planning and Zoning Board of Cambridge, exemplifying a commitment to public service and community betterment; and

WHEREAS: Louis Bacci was the Planning Board’s Representative to the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority’s Design Review Committee on projects in the Kendall Square area and represented the Planning Board on the Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force, and he saw it as part of his responsibility on the Planning Board to represent both the perspective of the construction trades and long-term Cambridge residents; and

WHEREAS: The loss of Louis Bacci Jr. is deeply felt by many within the Cambridge community, who shall remember him for his dedication, compassion, and enduring contributions to the lives of those around him; and

WHEREAS: Louis Bacci leaves behind to mourn his wife Paige, his children, Louis J. Bacci III and, Dorothy Bacci, his adored grandchildren Calliope Acosta-Bacci, M.J. Acosta-Bacci, and Hunter Bacci, his siblings Nancy Bacci, Amy Mirra, Joanne Anderson, Anna Avakian, Mary Bacci, Dominic Bacci, Frank Bacci, and Peter Bacci, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives and friends who shall forever cherish his memory; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council formally go on record in extending its deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Louis J. Bacci Jr. for their tremendous loss; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the family of Mr. Louis J. Bacci Jr. on behalf of the entire City Council.

3. Resolution on the death of Rachael Solem.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Pickett, Mayor Simmons
Comments by Nolan, Pickett

R-3     Jan 22, 2024
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR PICKETT
MAYOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: The City Council was saddened to learn of the death of Rachael Solem, a dedicated, respected, compassionate, and successful small business leader and a cherished community member, who passed away on January 15, 2024; and

WHEREAS: Rachel was born in New York City in 1955, and lived in Cambridge before moving to Wellesley, Massachusetts, but stayed invested and involved with the Cambridge community after moving her residence; and

WHEREAS: In 1990, Rachael started a career as a business woman, in her first venture, when she recruited investors to purchase the Kirkland Inn and successfully transformed the building into a warm and inviting bed and breakfast through hard work and a community-driven team; and today the Irving House is a staple of the Mid-Cambridge neighborhood and is a model for environmentally conscious amenities and operations; and

WHEREAS: Rachael was an early supporter of socially responsible business practices, and led the way in New England as a small business leader with an emphasis on environmental sustainability and worker fairness decades before the movement spread to most industries and states; and

WHEREAS: Rachael was known for supporting and mentoring other small local business owners, especially women and others often marginalized by society and her thoughtful presence in numerous places and spaces will be missed; and

WHEREAS: Rachael was incredibly active in the community, serving on the Cambridge Local First board and over the years working with the Harvard Square Business Association, Chamber of Commerce, History Cambridge, Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Association as well as the Cambridge Hotel Association and Massachusetts Lodging Association in addition to supporting a wide range of non-profit organizations and causes; and

WHEREAS: Rachael is survived by her husband of 23 years, John Barry Herring; children, Briana and John Peterson; and her six beloved grandchildren; she also leaves her sisters, Melanie and Pam Burrows; as well as brothers, Kris, Vik, and Leif Solem; and legions of friends, fans, and people whose life she touched deeply; and

WHEREAS: Rachael Solem will be remembered as vibrant community advocate, a small business icon and role model, a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, wife, sister, a friend whose generosity knew no bounds; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council formally go on record in expressing its deepest condolences to the family of Rachael Solem, for their tremendous loss; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the family of Rachael Solem on behalf of the entire City Council.

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Jan 22, 2024
MAYOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Council schedule a Roundtable on Mon, Feb 5, 2024, from 3:00pm-5pm to review the results of the 2023 Resident Survey.

O-2     Jan 22, 2024  Amended
MAYOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The building located at 727 Massachusetts Avenue presents a significant opportunity for the City to acquire much-needed office space for City departments; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the relevant City staff to evaluate the possibility of acquiring the property located at 727 Massachusetts Avenue, and that this evaluation should include, but not be limited to, an analysis of the cost, and potential office uses for the City; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.

O-3     Jan 22, 2024
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR WILSON
WHEREAS: Until recently it was often difficult for municipal governments and other tax-exempt entities to access federal funding for local renewable energy projects because the nature of the federal tax-credit funding; and
WHEREAS: The passage of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) included a Direct Pay provision that now allows local governments to access federal funding for renewable energy projects and clean energy projects that will cover up to 30% of the cost of the project; and
WHEREAS: There are a wide variety of renewable energy projects that are eligible for federal funding through the federal Direct Pay program including the installation of heat pumps or geothermal systems in public buildings, the addition solar panels to school buildings or affordable housing, the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the purchase of electric municipal vehicles, and the weatherization of senior centers; and
WHEREAS: Public renewable energy projects like those enumerated above can save local governments and taxpayers money by reducing energy costs, enhance air quality, reduce emissions, and improve environmental justice; and
WHEREAS: Federal funding through the IRA’s Direct Pay provision is available until 2032 and there is no cap on the amount of federal funding a city can receive through the Direct Pay provision for renewable energy projects; and
WHEREAS: There are a number of federal resources available to help cities prepare renewable energy projects and apply for federal funding through the IRA Direct Pay provision; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant City departments on potential public renewable energy projects that could receive funding through the IRA Direct Pay provision; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council in a timely manner.

O-4     Jan 22, 2024
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: On Dec 6, 2023, the Health and Environment Committee and the Transportation and Public Utilities Committee held a public hearing to discuss POR 2023 #137, and to discuss options for amending parking fees and regulations throughout the City in order to further support the City’s goals of low carbon travel; and
WHEREAS: Several ideas were discussed in the committee meeting including changing parking permitting fees and other transportation-related fees to accurately reflect the real costs associated with car travel within the city while continuing to support the needs of low-income residents; and
WHEREAS: City staff indicated further legal research was necessary to determine if other fee structures would be permissible to account for large vehicles, multiple personal vehicles, and other cases; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments and report back to the City Council with recommendations and legal opinions for adjusting transportation related fees and other considered changes based on the conversations in committee on Dec 6, 2023.

O-5     Jan 22, 2024  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge recognizes the importance of Electric Vehicle infrastructure and acknowledge that electric vehicles (EVs) create less greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution than traditional gasoline-fueled vehicles and that EV drivers benefit from better fuel economy and financial incentives and contribute to cleaner air and better health for the community; and
WHEREAS: There are over 5,000 EVs registered in Cambridge and the City should continue to work to expand access to charging citywide and EVs can be cheaper to operate than fossil fuel cars despite costing more initially; and
WHEREAS: In response to the work of the Climate Committee, the City Council and the Climate Crisis Working Group, which recommended taking steps to expand EV charging options, on July 12, 2023, the City announced a new EV charging pilot program that will allow residents to apply for a permit to charge EVs across City sidewalks with proper protections to ensure safety and accessibility; and
WHEREAS: This charging pilot program supports the City’s continued commitment to increasing public EV charging access and could act as a transitional piece for meeting the overall publicly accessible EV charging goals; and
WHEREAS: To receive a permit, residents have to follow strict guidelines, buy an approved cover, and have appropriate outdoor electric outlet which can be expensive to install and pay an annual fee of $200, and live more than half a mile from a public charging station, all of which make the program less accessible and more costly restricting equitable access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure for all residents; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has worked to advance city goals of equity and support for residents and small businesses, and remove financial and other barriers when possible; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to review the Across Sidewalk Electric Vehicle Charging (EV) Permit Pilot Program, eliminate the $200 annual permit fee and determine if the process can be simplified and report back to the City Council in a timely manner.