5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $5,717,250 from the Mitigation Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account. Funds were received from contributions to the East Cambridge Open Space Fund and will be used will be used to fund the design and construction of three new parks in the East Cambridge/Kendall Square area; Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. Park, Triangle Park and Binney Street Park.
Order Adopted 9-0

Feb 1, 2021
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $5,717,250 from the Mitigation Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account. Funds were received from contributions to the East Cambridge Open Space Fund.

These funds are dedicated for open space purposes in the East Cambridge area per an agreement with Alexandria Real Estate Equities outlining the commitment of these funds. These funds, in combination with previous contributions from Alexandria Real Estate Equities ($9,500,000) and Boston Properties Inc. ($2,000,000), will be used to fund the design and construction of three new parks in the East Cambridge/Kendall Square area; Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. Park, Triangle Park and Binney Street Park.

Use of Funds:

• Construction of the Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. Park (formerly Rogers Street Park) is currently underway and is expected to be completed by fall 2021. This new 2.2-acre neighborhood park includes play areas, sand and water play, a new permanent dog run, and picnic seating areas and benches around the park. The project also includes a park maintenance storage area that will facilitate the use of green park maintenance equipment in the East Cambridge area.

• Construction at the 2/3-acre Triangle Park is anticipated to begin in spring 2021 and be completed by late 2022. The proposed design has been updated to emphasize tree plantings and canopy growth in an area of the city that has relatively less canopy coverage, in accordance with the recommendations of the Urban Forest Master Planning process, while retaining the passive quality that was the intent of the original park design. Nearly 400 new trees will be planted, creating an urban grove of trees to provide high quality natural shade over movable seating and furniture.

• The 1-acre Binney Street Park is to be a future dog park and will include a portion of the Grand Junction Multi-Use Path. The design and construction documents for this project are substantially complete. The schedule for the construction of this project is being finalized, pending coordination with adjacent improvements on Binney Street and the routing of Eversource transmission lines in the area.

This funding, in combination with previous appropriations, is anticipated to cover the design and construction of all 3 new parks, based on current project estimates. Those estimates were created by professional designers and include standard construction contingencies. However, if the bids come in higher than estimated, I anticipate coming back to the Council for an additional appropriation in order to complete these 3 critical new public open spaces in East Cambridge.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-142, regarding a report on determining the feasibility of expediting the demolition and rebuilding permitting process in the event of a natural disaster.
Placed on File 9-0

Office of the City Solicitor
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

February 1, 2021

Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager
City Hall
Cambridge, MA 02139

Re: Response to City Council Awaiting Report Number 19-142, report on determining the feasibility of expediting the Demolition and Rebuilding permitting process in the event of a natural disaster.

Dear Mr. DePasquale:

This is in response to Awaiting Report Number 19-142, which requests that "the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Inspectional Services Department, the Department of Public Works, the Cambridge Historical Commission and other relevant City departments to determine the feasibility of expediting the Demolition and Rebuilding permitting process in the event of a natural disaster, including but not limited to: instituting a committee with members from the aforementioned three Departments, and creating a dedicated point person within Inspectional Services to serve as a liaison to assist property owners throughout the process."

We have reviewed the Cambridge Municipal Code and the Massachusetts State Building Code (the "Building Code") and conferred with the relevant City departments. There is no formal mechanism available under the Building Code that would authorize City departments to waive all requirements needed to obtain a building or demolition permit in the event that a building is destroyed in a natural disaster. However, there is nothing that would prevent the City Manager from instituting a committee with members of the above departments and other relevant departments or to create a dedicated point person within the Inspectional Services Department to assist property owners throughout the building permit application process in such circumstances. In addition, if any building is unsafe or dangerous, the City is permitted under state law to issue orders to immediately ensure the safety of the building or property and its occupants. While Chapter 2.78 of the Cambridge Municipal Code ("Historical Buildings and Landmarks") imposes legal requirements generally applicable with respect to the issuance of building and demolition permits, Section 2.78.110 entitled "Emergency demolition" authorizes emergency construction, reconstruction, alteration or demolition which the Commissioner of Inspectional Services certifies is required for public safety because of an unsafe or dangerous condition.

Therefore, while the requirements of the Building Code and the Municipal Code may not be waived in cases of extreme urgency or emergency, the Commissioner of Inspectional Services has the powers described above to take such measures as may be required for public safety to protect people and property in cases of such extreme urgency or emergencies. In addition, the City Manager through this response has committed to convening a task force comprising relevant City staff from the Inspectional Services Department, the Department of Public Works, the Cambridge Historical Commission and other relevant City departments to make sure that all efforts to expedite the legally required review and approvals for any building or demolition permits will be made to the fullest extent possible.

Very Truly Yours,
Nancy E. Glowa
City Solicitor

8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-63, which requested a review of the granting of an extension for the 605 Concord Avenue project.
Charter Right - Nolan

Office of the City Solicitor
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

February 1, 2021

Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager
City Hall
Cambridge, MA 02139

Re: Response to Awaiting Report No. 20-63 Re: Report on reviewing the granting of an extension for the 605 Concord Avenue project.

Dear Mr. DePasquale:

With respect to the above referenced Council Order, my response is as follows.

I. The Number of Affordable Units for the Project was Calculated Pursuant to Article 11, Section 11.203 of the Zoning Ordinance.

On December 21, 2016, the Planning Board Decision in PB Case No. 319 re: 605 Concord Avenue, granting a special permit with conditions for the development of 605 Concord Avenue (the "Project") was filed with the Office of the Cambridge City Clerk (the "Decision"). In accordance with the provisions of Article 11 , Section 11.203 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance ("Ordinance") fifteen percent (15%) of the total Dwelling Unit Net Floor Area within the Project was required to be devoted to affordable dwelling units. [See Note 1] The Dwelling Unit Net Floor Area of the Project as defined in Article 2 of the Ordinance, was determined to be 37,290 square feet. [See Note 2] The recorded covenant for the Project requires that seven (7) units totaling fifteen percent (15%) of the Dwelling Unit Net Floor Area, or 5,594 square feet, be provided as affordable dwelling units. The seven (7) units designated as affordable units in the recorded covenant include one studio unit, three (3) one-bedroom units, two (2) two-bedroom units and one (1) three-bedroom unit. Therefore, the number of affordable units for the Project was calculated as seven (7) units totaling 5,594 square feet.

2. The Planning Board Granted Extensions for the Project in Accordance with G. L. Chapter 40A and Section 10.46 the Ordinance.

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, section 9, ("Ch. 40A, s. 9") zoning ordinances or by-laws "[s]hall provide that a special permit granted under this section shall lapse within a specified period of time, not more than 3 years ... " In accordance with the statute, Article 10, Section 10.46 of the Ordinance ("Section 10.46"), provides that a Special Permit shall lapse within two years, not including the time to pursue an appeal, if construction was not begun by such date except for good cause. [See Note 3] Here, the Project developer applied to the Planning Board on three (3) occasions for extensions of time to commence construction of the approved development and was granted three (3) separate extensions. On November 1, 2018, November 20, 2019 and October 29, 2020, the Planning Board issued decisions granting one-year extensions of time to commence construction for good cause. In each instance the extensions were granted at a public hearing in accordance with law. Extensions for good cause are permitted pursuant to Ch. 40A, s. 9 and as noted above, pursuant to Section 10.46 of the Ordinance. Good Cause is a discretionary determination made by the Planning Board and may include but is not limited to an applicant's pursuit of other required permits. See e.g. Ware Real Estate LLC v. Town of Ware, 81 Mass. App. Ct. 1120 (2012) (Rule 128 Decision); lappini v. Dakota Partners, LLC, 87 Mass. App. Ct.1103 (2015) (Rule 1:28 Decision).

3. Residential Projects that sought Special Permits but Have Not Obtained Building Permits.

I have been informed by the Community Development Department ("CDD") that there are no other residential projects that were granted Special Permits after December 1, 2016 but before June 30, 2017, that have not yet obtained building permits. CDD has informed me that there are some mixed-use PUD projects that received a special permit prior to the amendments to the Ordinance but have a longer timeframe to obtain building permits.

Very Truly Yours,
Nancy E. Glowa
City Solicitor

---

Note 1: Article II , Section 11.203 of the Ordinance states: "For lnclusionary Housing Projects issued a special permit or, if no special permit has been issued, a building permit on or after December 1, 2016 (the date of the first advertising of the most recent amendment to this 11.203) but on or before June 30, 2017, fifteen percent (15%) of the total Dwelling Unit Net Floor Area within the project shall be devoted to Affordable Dwelling Units."

Note 2: The accuracy of the Dwelling Unit Net Floor Area for the Project was certified by the architect on July 15, 2019 and is so referenced in the recorded covenant, Book 73999, Page 198.

Note 3: Section 10.46 provides: "A special permit granted under this section shall lapse within two years, not including such time required to pursue or await the determination of an appeal to the Superior Court or to the Land Court as provided in Section 10.22 from the grant thereof, if a substantial use thereof has not sooner commenced except for good cause or, in the case of a permit for construction, if construction was not begun by such date except for good cause."

9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt with comments and suggested modifications, the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay District (Srinivasan, et al.) Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Date: Jan 19, 2021
Subject: Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay District (Srinivasan, et al.) Zoning Petition
Recommendation: The Planning Board recommends ADOPTION, with comments and suggested modifications.

To the Honorable, the City Council,
On Dec 8, 2020, the Planning Board (the “Board”) held a public hearing to discuss the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay District (Srinivasan, et al.) Zoning Petition (the “Petition”). The proposed changes include a new section, 20.95.5, that would allow increased building height to a maximum of 85 feet, enabling of a 0.25 FAR “infrastructure bonus” for construction or accommodation of a pedestrian/bicycle railroad crossing (currently available only in AOD-2, AOD-4, and AOD-6 Districts), and exemption of certain building floor area from Gross Floor Area (GFA) calculations in the AOD-1 District upon granting of a special permit from the Board. The proposed new section also sets forth procedures for Master Plan Special Permit review and approval of developments involving the redevelopment of three (3) or more acres of land and the construction of three (3) or more new buildings. The stated intent of the new section is, “To encourage landowners to create spaces suitable for light industrial tenants and other, consumer-facing tenants requiring increased floor-to-floor heights.” This is the fourth version of this Petition, in concept, referred by the City Council; the Board held hearings on prior versions on Oct 22, 2019; Dec 17, 2019; and Sept 8, 2020. Representatives of Cabot, Cabot and Forbes (CC&F), an owner of land in the affected district, have been the lead presenters of the Petition.

Following the hearing held on Sept 8, 2020, the Board directed staff from the Community Development Department (CDD), in consultation with the Law Department, to draft revised language that reflected the intent of the Petitioner as well as the goals and concerns of the Board. Language from City staff was included in the CDD memo dated Dec 2, 2020. In response to CDD’s memo, CC&F sent a communication to the Board dated Dec 4, 2020 suggesting modifications to the language from staff. The Board’s discussion focused on the language suggested by staff and the response from CC&F.

The majority of Board members expressed support for CDD staff’s version of the zoning petition, though Board members identified some sections in which the language could be better clarified.

Regarding the modifications suggested by CC&F, Board members expressed a range of views. In particular, some Board members raised concerns that CC&F’s modifications would not guarantee the construction of a bridge over the MBTA railroad tracks, which Board members generally agreed is a crucial aspect of this proposal. The following summarizes some of the comments made by Board members:

• Regarding the request for a “Bridge Financial Backstop,” some members indicated that if development is allowed to proceed but the bridge is not constructed, it would not be a favorable outcome for the City even if a financial contribution is made. Others heard the concerns raised by CC&F about financial risk, but suggested that the alternative contribution, if permissible, should be substantial enough to make the construction of the bridge a more favorable option. One Board member suggested stronger language requiring that the Planning Board may approve an alternative to bridge construction only if it determines that construction of a bridge is infeasible and that equivalent public benefits are being provided.

• Regarding “Other Bridge Contributions,” Board members expressed concerns about the proposal to expand the 0.25 FAR bonus to sites that only make financial contributions to the construction of a bridge. The Alewife District Plan recommends that new development should make financial contributions for public infrastructure, but not for additional density bonuses above the current amounts.

• Regarding “Garage Heights,” Board members supported a maximum building height of 85 feet for structured parking without requiring light industrial uses at the ground story only if it is part of an otherwise predominantly residential building.

• Regarding “Ground Floor Activation,” Board members were generally supportive of CC&F’s recommendation to allow restaurants, coffee shops, and similar neighborhood retail uses as a portion of ground-story spaces, though some members suggested a limit on the square footage based either on an absolute number or a ratio to retain the emphasis on light industrial space.

As demonstrated above, Board members agreed that the construction of a bridge across the MBTA railroad tracks is highly desirable and preferable to a financial contribution. The Board encourages the City Council to carefully consider to what extent a bridge may or may not be guaranteed as part of a Quadrangle Northwest Master Plan Special Permit and what types of alternatives would be acceptable to the City. With these considerations in mind, the Board voted to recommend that the City Council adopt the Petition, after substituting the suggested zoning language from City staff and with consideration to the issues discussed above, with all eight members present voting in favor.

Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board,
Catherine Preston Connolly, Chair

10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $3,174,389 from Free Cash to the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund which will be used to fund specific future projects, which will require separate individual appropriations by the City Council.
Order Adopted 9-0

Feb 1, 2021
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $3,174,389 from Free Cash to the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund. During FY20, the City received mitigation revenues from various developers as a result of commitments related to zoning ordinance amendments and special permit conditions. By law, all mitigation revenues must be deposited into the General Fund and can only be appropriated after the Free Cash Certification is complete.

Therefore, the $3,174,389 appropriated to the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund is the only appropriation from Free Cash attributed to Mitigation and will be used to fund specific future projects, which will require separate individual appropriations by the City Council.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

11. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $115,300 received in donations received from MIT Real Estate, Museum of Science, and CambridgeSide to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenses account which will be used for costs associated with the BlueBikes bikeshare system.
Order Adopted 9-0

Feb 1, 2021
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting an appropriation of $115,300 received in donations to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenses account. Funds have been received from the sources below and will be used for costs associated with the BlueBikes bikeshare system.

Source	Amount
MIT Real Estate	$48,600.00
Museum of Science	$36,000.00
CambridgeSide	$30,700.00
TOTAL:	$115,300.00

These funds will contribute to the purchase, installation and maintenance of replacement docks and bicycles, to update the oldest equipment to ensure that the Bluebikes bikeshare system is in a state of good repair.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

12. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $452,600 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund received from various sources to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used for the purchase and expenses of Bluebikes bikeshare equipment.
Order Adopted 9-0

Feb 1, 2021
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $452,600 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account. These mitigation funds have been received from the sources below and will be used for the purchase and expenses of Bluebikes bikeshare equipment.

Source	Amount
Bullfinch Discovery Park	$54,000.00
Sage Cannabis	$25,000.00
Hanover Real Estate	$50,000.00
MIT Real Estate	$93,000.00
Boston Properties	$130,600.00
Abodez Acorn	$25,000.00
Alexandria Real Estate	$75,000.00
TOTAL:	$452,600.00

These funds will contribute to the purchase, installation and maintenance of approximately 8 additional stations and bicycles, pending identification of acceptable locations in addition to those associated with specific development projects.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

14. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number Awaiting Report 19-75, regarding the feasibility of partnering with a local research institution to conduct a study that determines how many ridehail vehicles are on the roads during both on and off-peak times and their impacts on congestion and safety.
Placed on File 9-0

Feb 1, 2021
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report 19-75, regarding the feasibility of partnering with a local research institution to conduct a study that determines how many ridehail vehicles are on the roads during both on and off-peak times and their impacts on congestion and safety, Director of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Joseph Barr and Assistant City Manager for Community Development Iram Farooq report the following:

Over the past few months, City staff have entered into initial discussions with research staff from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to explore the feasibility of obtaining more detailed data on trips made in ridehail vehicles (also known as Transportation Network Companies, or TNCs). Currently, the only information directly available to cities and towns is the total number of passenger pick-ups within each municipality in each calendar year, which is reported as part of the10¢ per ride fee that is transferred to each municipality from the Department of Public Utilities (which is responsible for regulating TNCs in Massachusetts). Because the City does not have the authority to further regulate TNCs, access to any data beyond the aggregate yearly total of passenger pick-ups would require voluntary participation on the part of the TNCs. Although the recently passed Transportation Bond Bill (H.5248-An Act Authorizing and Accelerating Transportation Investment) included language requiring additional detailed data reporting from TNCs, those sections were vetoed by the Governor and it is unclear if and when such requirements might be considered again in the future.

As members of the City Council may be aware, the two principal TNCs that operate in Massachusetts are Uber and Lyft, and both have been reluctant to share detailed data about the pick-up and drop off locations of trips that are enabled by their applications, for both customer privacy and competitive reasons. This is particularly the case with government agencies, since the data would then be subject to a public records request, potentially leading to the disclosure of information that the TNCs consider confidential and/or proprietary. However, as the original policy order notes, there have been some cases in other locations where the TNCs have been willing to share data with private research institutions that are not subject to public records requests, who can then analyze and present data to government agencies in a form that can be released publicly without compromising private and/or sensitive information.

Based on these successful examples, we have begun discussion with MIT researchers on this topic, since there are multiple faculty who have prior experience working with TNCs on research and data issues, although not in exactly the same manner as contemplated in this policy order. Based on these discussions, there are potential overall questions that could be explored if the TNCs were willing to provide access to additional data:

• More detailed information on pick up and drop off locations, including data that is stratified by time of the day, day of the week, or time of the year. In addition to helping the City understand where we may want to establish pick up and drop zones for TNCs, this could also help us understand the variability of demand and the locations where TNCs may be causing congestion.

• Information about TNCs operating without passengers, either when traveling to a pick-up or when they have completed a drop off and have not yet picked another trip. It’s important to note that analyzing these so-called “deadhead” trips can be complicated by the fact that many drivers operate for both TNCs, such that these trips can sometimes be double counted across both networks, or an active trip being made on one TNC might appear as deadhead time on the other TNC.

• Information about what percentage of TNC rides are shared, as well as details about the fares that are charged to customers. This information would be helpful in understanding current trends and future potential for ridesharing. Maximizing the number of trips that can be shared is an important goal for the City.

Based on these initial discussions, the MIT research staff we have been talking to are working on drafting an initial data request letter to be sent to representatives of both Uber and Lyft, asking to initiate more detailed discussions regarding the potential to share data of various types and levels of detail. Working with MIT has the potential to create a partnership with researchers who are highly skilled in data analytics and will be able to analyze and synthesize the data to help us develop technical conclusions and policy recommendations. Based on discussions with regional partners, we also believe that there is the potential to successfully apply for grants for this project, to support the technical research that MIT staff and students would be performing.

Although we are not assured of success in developing this data sharing partnership, we believe that it is an effort worth pursuing. We will continue to keep the City Council updated on the progress that we make, both in setting up the data sharing and analysis partnership, and in the results of the analysis. We are also interested to learn more about any specific questions that the Council may be interested in answering with this data, and the types of policy initiatives that you may be interested in pursuing, as these will help guide both the data that we request and the analyses that we pursue.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

15. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-151, regarding the feasibility of making Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue between Roseland Street and Beech Street a quick-build complete street with bus priority.
Placed on File 9-0

To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager
From: Joseph E. Barr, Director
Date: Feb 1, 2021
Subject: Awaiting Report 19-151 – Feasibility of making Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue between Roseland Street and Beech Street a quick-build complete street with bus priority.

This memo is in response to Order 10 from the Oct 28, 2019 City Council Meeting (Awaiting Report 19-151), requesting a report on the feasibility of making Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue between Roseland Street and Beech Street a quick-build complete street with bus priority.

The Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department is currently in the process of hiring a consultant to support the design of quick build separated bike lanes along Massachusetts Avenue from Roseland Street to Beech Street through Porter Square. Planning for this project—including design and public engagement components—will start by late winter/early spring of this year.

This stretch of Massachusetts Avenue is included on the separated bicycle lane network and is subject to the provisions of the amended Cycling Safety Ordinance. As such, the inclusion of separated bicycle lanes is mandatory within this section and must be implemented by Apr 30, 2022. This segment of roadway is also a key component of the public transit system (including MBTA bus routes 77, 83, and 96) and all designs will need to address transit operations. As a result, all efforts will be made to incorporate transit priority to mitigate negative impacts on transit.

CHARTER RIGHT
1. That the City further investigate renting space from the New England School of English to house appropriate members of our unhoused community. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL JAN 11, 2021]
Adopted as Amended 7-0-0-2 (DS,TT - PRESENT)

Calendar Item # 1     Jan 11, 2021     Feb 3, 2021  Amended (Zondervan, 8-1, TT - NO)
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Many unhoused community members in Cambridge have lower level needs and are capable of living independently and
WHEREAS: Other communities have been able to create non congregate spaces, and created assessments to determine who would best be served in those spaces and
WHEREAS: President Biden has increased the FEMA reimbursement for non-congregate shelters and other spaces to 100% through September 2021; and
WHEREAS: Space at New England School of English has been rented by the State of Massachusetts, but the state funding may run out this spring; and
WHEREAS: New England School of English has potential space. Now therefore, be it further
ORDERED: That the City further investigate renting space from the New England School of English and other locations in or near Cambridge to house appropriate members of our unhoused community.

[Note: Toomey wanted to delete "or near" from "in or near Cambridge". That failed 4-5 with DC, AM, DS, and TT voting YES.]

7. Retirement of CCTV Executive Director, Susan Fleischmann.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons

R-7     Feb 3, 2021  Adopted as Amended on Feb 8, 2021
VICE MAYOR MALLON
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY

WHEREAS: CCTV Executive Director, Susan Fleischmann, has announced her retirement from her position as Executive Director after 32 years of dedicated service; and

WHEREAS: Susan was a founding staff member of CCTV when it opened its doors in 1988, succeeded to be its Executive Director in 1993, and has served CCTV and our City with great distinction in that capacity for the past 27 years; and

WHEREAS: Susan, who had been involved with community media since 1976, leveraged her considerable knowledge of media, her adroit people skills, and her vision and drive to have CCTV reflect her strong social justice values; and

WHEREAS: During her almost three decades of service at CCTV, Susan transformed our City’s fledgling community media center into a nationally and internationally recognized and award winning powerhouse in the world of community media; and

WHEREAS: Under Susan’s leadership, CCTV’s outpouring of superior work has been recognized for its innovation and excellence, receiving the Overall Excellence in Public Access Award a dozen times from the Alliance for Community Media, and earned top awards in the Hometown Media Festival, Interlochen Film Festival, New England Video Festival, Boston Center for the Arts Youth Film Festival, MFA Youth Film Festival, WGBH Shorts Festival, and the Annual Northeast Video Festival; and

WHEREAS: Susan, having guided CCTV into its role as the pre-eminent voice of our community, protecting the rights of free speech and equitable access to information, harnessed the communication reach of CCTV as the COVID pandemic compromised many of our City and community centers, and with her guidance, CCTV pivoted to be the nexus of COVID information in our City, dispersing accurate local information, documenting the impacts of the pandemic within our community, and providing much-needed programming to both educate and entertain our City during this difficult year; and

WHEREAS: Susan, described by the CCTV Staff and Board as a visionary leader who managed CCTV with compassion, authenticity, kindness and humility, will be most remembered by those who worked closest with her for her unflagging encouragement to grow and see possibility where they thought it did not exist; and

WHEREAS: Susan’s leadership will be sorely missed, likewise her passion for community media, her belief in the youth, seniors, immigrants, and all those she nurtured when they came into the CCTV studios, and the mark of self-reflection and social justice she imprinted into our Cambridge community; and

WHEREAS: Her inspiring legacy will influence Cambridge media creators for decades to come; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record expressing its deepest appreciation to Susan Fleischmann for her many years of dedicated service to the residents and to the City of Cambridge, and wish her much happiness in her retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this Resolution to Susan Fleischmann on behalf of the entire City Council.

14. The Cambridge City Council, hereby assembled, urges Amazon to meet and confer with the Cambridge community, included, but not limited to, representatives of labor unions including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25.   Councillor McGovern, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey

R-14     Feb 3, 2021
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY

WHEREAS: COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the health, safety, and well-being of the residents of the City of Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: The preventative measures put in place to combat COVID-19 by state and local agencies to prevent the spread and curtail transmission of the coronavirus have had a devastating economic impact on local retail establishments, and have changed the retail options for the residents in the City of Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: Existing retail and e-commerce delivery networks currently operate in the City of Cambridge and set community standards for every family with sustaining wages, benefits including but not limited to quality health insurance and secure retirement; and

WHEREAS: Cambridge’s retail and e-commerce delivery options coexist in diverse neighborhoods, while adding value to the fabric of the community, including offering good careers for Cambridge residents to provide for their families; and

WHEREAS: Existing e-commerce delivery options have aptly served the residents of the City of Cambridge throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining the highest of standards for its’ essential workforce; and

WHEREAS: Amazon, which does not conform to area standards for wages, benefits, and working conditions, has targeted the Cambridge area for expansion of its e-commerce operations; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: The Cambridge City Council, hereby assembled, urges Amazon to meet and confer with the Cambridge community, included, but not limited to, representatives of labor unions including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25, locally impacted neighborhood groups, local residents, and other interested parties to discuss how Amazon can expand delivery operations, warehouses, and fulfillment centers in a way that is beneficial to the City of Cambridge and its residents while guaranteeing sustainable growth for the City and helping to ensure that fair and equitable employment standards are maintained for all e-commerce delivery networks; and be it further

RESOLVED: Prior to any expansion into the City of Cambridge, Amazon commits to and presents sufficient evidence to the Cambridge City Council that its operations meet or exceed current Community Standards established by existing e-commerce delivery networks. This commitment would include that all delivery drivers will be direct employees of Amazon and not independent contractors. Amazon must commit that all of its delivery drivers will be competent, safe drivers, that Amazon and its delivery drivers will maintain the utmost professional conduct in their day to day operations in the neighborhoods of the City of Cambridge.

15. Thank You to Lisa Peterson.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted as Amended

R-15     Feb 3 2021  Amended
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN

WHEREAS: In 2001, Lisa C. Peterson began her work in the City of Cambridge as a Public Works Commissioner and was promoted to Deputy City Manager in 2013. She has also served as acting City Manager from October 1, 2016 to November 14, 2016; and

WHEREAS: Lisa Peterson has done a remarkable job serving both as Commissioner of Public Works and as Deputy City Manager. In both roles, she has prioritized the needs and concerns of the residents of City of Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: During her time as Deputy City Manager, she has undertaken to oversee many of the City’s major public construction projects, like $160 million King Open and Cambridge Street Upper Schools and Community Complex. Her strong leadership and valuable insight have been a key to the success of these projects; and

WHEREAS: Lisa Peterson has always devoted her time to the betterment of the community and of its residents by serving as a Chair of the Community Benefits Advisory Committee and as a Chair of the Community Preservation Act Committee, where she worked tirelessly to ensure City’s most vulnerable populations are being supported and included in City’s decision making process; and

WHEREAS: In 2019, Lisa Peterson was awarded with Brian Murphy Award for her hard work, unwavering dedication and resolute commitment to serving the City of Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge have been fortunate to have Lisa Peterson as a Deputy City Manager and Public Works Commissioner, serving our community and our residents with an inclusiveness and compassion, and contributing to City’s many successes; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council unanimously thanks Lisa Peterson for her long-term service and many invaluable contributions to the City of Cambridge and its citizens, and wishes her well on her retirement.

17. Thank You to Elizabeth “Liza” Malenfant Paden.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Toomey

R-17     Feb 3, 2021
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY

WHEREAS: Elizabeth (“Liza”) Malenfant Paden has devoted 37 years of exemplary service to the City of Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: During that time, Liza has sustained the work of the Planning Board, ensuring the integrity of the public process, diligently managing public notification, communication, and record-keeping, and overseeing over 300 development projects that have been subject to Planning Board approval and ongoing review; and

WHEREAS: With her extensive knowledge of Cambridge planning and zoning processes, Liza has served as an educator, guide, mentor, and friend to colleagues in the Community Development Department and to City officials across all departments, bringing great humor and joy to the work of the City; and

WHEREAS: Liza excelled in the simple art of answering the phone, displaying a love of conversation and a talent for simplifying complex issues, which she used to answer countless questions from all members of the community to the benefit of the public at large; and

WHEREAS: In the course of her work, Liza provided clear guidance to developers, designers, homeowners, business owners, institutional representatives, contractors, sign fabricators, and all manner of other community members and professionals, with a constant focus on completing the task at hand; and

WHEREAS: Liza grew up in Cambridge, raised her family in Cambridge, and has continually played an active role in the Cambridge community, supplementing her strong sense of professionalism with an invaluable community perspective; and

WHEREAS: By modeling efficient, responsive public service, Liza has created a lasting legacy that will sustain Cambridge’s planning and zoning for years to come; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council unanimously thanks Liza Paden for her long-term service and many invaluable contributions to the City of Cambridge and its citizens, and wishes her well on her retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Liza Paden on behalf of the entire City Council.

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Feb 3, 2021
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: During the Nov 19th, 2020 Economic Development and University Relations Committee meeting, committee members discussed the possibility of conducting a spending disparity study on City purchasing; and
WHEREAS: A spending disparity study would determine if disparities exist in City purchasing for businesses owned by minorities, women, and other historically disadvantaged groups; and
WHEREAS: While the Purchasing Department recently began the process of creating a system to track how much spending is done with minority and women-owned businesses, this data was not previously captured, and a spending disparity study would provide clear, quantitative proof of any potential disparities occurring in City purchasing, enabling us to address any disparities in a data-driven way; and
WHEREAS: Boston is currently conducting its own spending disparity study, which has uncovered that of the $664 million spent on contracts in 2018, just 1% went to minority and women-owned businesses; and
WHEREAS: Several other municipalities across the United States, including San Diego, Houston, and Chicago, have completed or will complete spending disparity studies as well; and
WHEREAS: The Supplier Diversity Office, which is a part of the Commonwealth’s Operational Services Division, could serve as a valuable partner in conducting this spending disparity study, as it offers municipalities support with data analytics assistance, determining how much money is spent with diverse businesses, and how their spending with diverse businesses compares to other municipalities; and
WHEREAS: With a total budget of over $1 billion for Fiscal Year 2021, the City infuses a substantial amount of money into our local economy, and to truly achieve economic equity and close racial and gendered wealth gaps, we must ensure historically disadvantaged businesses are not being systemically prevented from accessing those funds; and
WHEREAS: Promoting equity in City purchasing is not a new concern, as the City Council adopted a policy order on Oct 29th, 2018, asking the City Manager and City staff to review the City’s bidding process to improve access, outreach, and clarity for local businesses, many of whom are MWBEs, seeking to contract with the City, and conducting a spending disparity study could help guide those improvement efforts; and
WHEREAS: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate our local small businesses, especially minority-owned businesses, it is crucial and timely that we uncover and address any roadblocks that diverse businesses may encounter in contracting with the City; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Purchasing Department, the Supplier Diversity Office, and other relevant City departments to conduct a spending disparity study on City purchasing with businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, disabled persons, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other historically disadvantaged groups; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely fashion.

O-2     Feb 3, 2021
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Public Health Department has spoken of its intention to reach out to underrepresented groups in Cambridge to ensure they are vaccinated in due order; and
WHEREAS: The Affordable Housing Providers of Cambridge have acknowledged a desire to assist the City with reaching out to their residents, particularly their senior residents, in establishing a firm plan of action to getting them vaccinated; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Public Health Department and the local affordable housing organizations to develop a vaccination plan to reach out to the City’s senior population, as well as to the City’s minority communities and other underrepresented communities, that will establish a framework for the orderly onsite vaccination of these groups; and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.

O-3     Feb 3, 2021
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
WHEREAS: During the course of the Housing Committee hearing that was held on Jan 12, 2021, representatives of the Cambridge Housing Authority, Home Owners Rehab, Inc., Just a Start, and the Community Development Department shared information about projects in various stages of development in order to provide Committee members a greater understanding of each organization’s plans for their housing portfolios; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to have the appropriate City staff obtain written documentation from the Cambridge Housing Authority, Homeowners Rehab, Inc., Just a Start, and the Community Development Department updating the City Council on the locations, unit sizes, number of units, overall costs, populations served, and expected dates of completion for each of the projects they reported on during the Housing Committee hearing held on Jan 12, 2021; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with this information in a timely manner.

O-4     Feb 3, 2021
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: A number of residents have reported concerns that construction personnel in affordable housing buildings undergoing renovations have not always been strictly adhering to the Covid-19 safety protocols established to keep contractors and residents safe; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to coordinate with the Public Health Department and the Inspectional Services Department to establish random check-ins and assessments of public and private affordable housing sites currently undergoing renovations to ensure proper compliance with Covid-19 safety protocols, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.

O-6     Feb 3, 2021  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: A number of residents who live on Fairmont Avenue have raised concerns that, with requests for deliveries from the likes of Amazon and other out-of-town businesses dramatically increased over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, a significant amount of deliveries have not made it to their intended destination due to the packages being instead delivered to the similarly named Fairmont Street; and
WHEREAS: While local food delivery services tend to understand the differences between these two streets, and tend to utilize drivers who are familiar with the distinction between Fairmont Avenue and the much lengthier Fairmont Street, too many businesses located outside of Cambridge have apparently been using these street names interchangeably, leading to far too many packages not reaching their intended destinations; and
WHEREAS: A growing chorus of voices from Fairmont Avenue residents have been urging that their street’s name be changed so that it will no longer be confused with Fairmont Street, and deliveries to these residents will be more likely to arrive unimpeded; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with the appropriate City personnel to determine what actions would need to be taken in order to rename Fairmont Avenue, to engage with residents of Fairmont Avenue to include their voices on any street re-naming process that may go forward, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.

O-7     Feb 3, 2021
VICE MAYOR MALLON
WHEREAS: Governor Baker recently announced that the Commonwealth will move into Phase 2 of its COVID vaccination plan on Feb 1st; and
WHEREAS: Early education and K-12 workers were recently pushed back to be part of the third priority group included in the Phase 2, meaning they will have to wait longer than anticipated to be vaccinated; and
WHEREAS: With an expansion of in-person learning slated to begin on March 1st and concerns among Cambridge Public School (CPS) educators and staff over their personal health, ensuring these employees are vaccinated as soon as possible is paramount; and
WHEREAS: CPS educators and staff being vaccinated will also help restore families’ confidence and trust in schools and in-person learning as being a safe option for their children, helping parents return to the workforce while ensuring their children can access high-quality in-person education; and
WHEREAS: Given the ensuing delays in education workers’ vaccination, and the need for both staff members and scholars to feel safe in in-person classrooms, it is critical that the City remains proactive and has a plan in place to rapidly vaccinate CPS educators and staff in convenient locations with ready availability when the times comes; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Public Health Department recently vaccinated all Cambridge first responders, including firefighters, police officers, and EMTs in Operation Nightengale, making it easy for first responders to obtain a vaccine locally and a similar plan could be created to ensure timely delivery of vaccinations to CPS staff; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Public Health Department, the School Department, and other relevant City departments to develop a comprehensive plan to vaccinate CPS educators and staff, similar to Operation Nightengale for first responders; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager report back to the City Council on this matter by the Feb 22nd general meeting.

O-8     Feb 3, 2021  Amended
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
WHEREAS: The COVID-19 pandemic, and the remote learning that followed, has taken a toll on the mental health and well-being of many students; and
WHEREAS: There is now extensive evidence available on the harm done by complete school closures and remote learning, and the adverse impact on low-income students and vulnerable populations, including students with disabilities and special education needs, will negatively impact them for years to come; and
WHEREAS: The School Committee’s decision to move forward with the reopening plan in light of this evidence was a difficult decision, but one that will help our students recover from a year of remote learning; and
WHEREAS: The City Council appropriated millions of dollars in funding for additional safety measures to protect students and staff in our schools, many of which are not available in districts across the state and country that are offering in-person learning, including voluntary, free, biweekly individual COVID testing for all in-person staff; testing of symptomatic in-person students and staff; ventilation improvements; an abundance of PPE, including high-quality masks independently tested for filtration effectiveness; enhanced cleaning procedures; additional health aides; robust protocols, outlined in our Safety, Health, and Facilities manual; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record supporting the School Committee in their decision to reopen schools for in-person learning for all families who choose and their tireless work throughout the pandemic; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to send a copy of this resolution to the School Committee upon passage.

O-9     Feb 3, 2021  Charter Right - Nolan
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Hostile architecture is an urban design strategy that uses elements of the built environment to purposefully guide or restrict members of the unhoused community from sleeping or resting; and
WHEREAS: Examples of hostile architecture are found in nearly every park and public space in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge should design and build public spaces in a way that is more consistent with our values as a city that is welcoming to all; and
WHEREAS: The City Council passed a resolution calling on the MBTA to remove newly installed bench bars from the Central and Harvard stations; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate departments and staff to not use and to remove hostile architecture whenever public spaces are designed or redesigned, including in the upcoming redesign of Carl Barron Plaza, and to create design guidelines that ensure our public spaces are truly welcoming to the entire community; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate departments and staff to prioritize the removal of existing hostile architecture as expediently as possible; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager report back to the council as soon as possible.

  
L to R: Bishop Allen & Green; Greene-Rose Heritage Park; Sennott Park

Note: Prior to the exercise of the Charter Right, the following amendments had been proposed:

Zondervan’s amendment to next-to-last "ORDERED":
ORDERED: That the City Manager work with the appropriate departments and staff, including the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, to not use and to remove hostile architecture whenever public spaces are designed or redesigned, including in the upcoming redesign of Carl Barron Plaza, and to create design guidelines that ensure our public spaces are truly welcoming to the entire community; and be it further.

Mallon’s replacement amendment for next-to-last "ORDERED":
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Human Services, the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and the Council on Aging to determine how existing bench fixtures can be addressed to support all residents who use them and report back to the Council with recommendations as soon as possible. (This amendment strikes the second order entirely)

Nolan’s amendment to next-to-last "ORDERED":
ORDERED: That the City Manager work with the appropriate departments and staff, to not use and to remove hostile architecture whenever public spaces are designed or redesigned, including in the upcoming redesign of Carl Barron Plaza, and to create design guidelines that ensure our public spaces are truly welcoming to the entire community making sure to include the perspective of seniors, families and the disabled community to ensure inclusion of the perspective of all community members some of whom rely on armrests for mobility and ability to feel welcome; and be it further

O-10     Feb 3, 2021
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Along with many cities and states across the country, Cambridge has begun in recent years to recognize that criminalizing users of substances such as cannabis is neither a just or effective legal approach; and
WHEREAS: Drug policy in the United States and the so-called “War on Drugs” has historically led to unnecessary penalization, arrest, and incarceration of vulnerable people, particularly people of color and of limited financial means, instead of prioritizing harm-reduction policies that treat drug abuse as an issue of public health; and
WHEREAS: Entheogenic plants, which include a spectrum of natural plants, fungi, and natural materials, have been used for centuries by people in different cultures to address conditions including substance abuse, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), elements of Persistent Traumatic Stress Environment (PTSE) conditions, chronic depression, end-of-life anxiety, grief, cluster headaches, and tendencies toward recidivism, as well as to improve mental and socio-emotional health; and
WHEREAS: The pandemic has led to a wave of heroin and opioid overdose deaths and depression in Massachusetts communities, two ailments that entheogenic plants have been shown to have particular strength in treating according to peer-reviewed medical research; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council has adopted goals that include:

Goal 10: Ensure City’s budget allocates resources responsibly and responsively.
Goal 11: Ensure Public Safety efforts reflect current and emerging challenges and opportunities in a way that incorporates Cambridge’s core values; and

WHEREAS: Cities in the United States have long possessed an inferred constitutional right to regulate commerce and public safety within their jurisdictions, a principle acknowledged by the Cole Memorandum produced by the U.S. Department of Justice that permitted states and localities to deprioritize law enforcement of cannabis charges; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to direct city staff to work with the City’s state and federal partners in support of decriminalizing all Entheogenic Plants and plant-based compounds that are listed on the Federal Controlled Substances Schedule 1, Classes A-E of Chapter 94C § 31 of Massachusetts law and Schedules I-V of 21 U.S.C. § 812 of the Controlled Substances Act; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council calls upon the Middlesex County District Attorney to cease prosecution of persons involved in the use, possession, or distribution of entheogenic plants and the use or possession without the intent to distribute of any controlled substance; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council hereby maintains that the use and possession of all controlled substances should be understood first and primarily as an issue of public health by city departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and all employees of the city; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council hereby maintains that it should be the policy of the City of Cambridge that the arrest of adult persons for using or possessing controlled substances shall be amongst the lowest law enforcement priority for the City of Cambridge; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council hereby maintains that no City of Cambridge department, agency, board, commission, officer or employee of the city should use city funds or resources to assist in the enforcement of laws imposing criminal penalties for the use and possession of entheogenic plants by adults; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council hereby maintains it should be the policy of the City of Cambridge that the investigation and arrest of adult persons for planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with, and/or possessing entheogenic plants listed in Classes A-E of Chapter 94C § 31 of Massachusetts law or Schedules I-V of 21 U.S.C. § 812 of the Controlled Substances Act shall be amongst the lowest law enforcement priority for the City of Cambridge; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council does not have the power and this resolution does not authorize or enable any of the following activities: commercial sales or manufacturing of entheogenic plants and fungi, possessing or distributing these materials on school grounds, driving under the influence of these materials; or public disturbance.

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Health & Environment Committee will meet to discuss the Net Zero Action Plan FY20 progress report and to receive a general update on the plan including the upcoming 5-year review process.

Date: Tues, Aug 11, 2020, 2:30pm, Sullivan Chamber

Present: Zondervan (Chair), Sobrinho-Wheeler, Carlone, Nolan
Absent: McGovern

Councillor Zondervan called the meeting to order and opened the floor to representatives of the administration.

Susanne Rasmussen, Director of Environmental and Transportation Planning Director, explained that the report was delayed due to COVID-19. She made a PowerPoint presentation which is attached to these minutes. The City’s goal is to become carbon neutral by 2050. She explained that the City conducted 30 stakeholder meetings with 45 distinct stakeholder groups that represented large and medium building developers, affordable housing entities, universities, utility companies, designers of buildings, energy efficiency experts, and green advocates.

Seth Federspiel, City of Cambridge Net Zero Energy Planner, explained that the City’s climate action plan was adopted in 2015. One of the key principles of the plan was an ongoing accountability in providing annual progress reports.

The first part of the plan implements plans to increase the efficiency of existing buildings. The second category of action is focusing on new construction, using both requirements and incentives to move those buildings toward net zero emissions. The third category focuses on renewable energy supply and transitioning the City away from fossil fuels to power its buildings and onto carbon free energy sources. The fourth category is focused on market mechanisms that can help buildings have greater flexibility in their approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions over time. The fifth action category is about engagement and capacity building. The City wants to create this voluntary support network so that the buildings can be prepared to meet eventual performance requirements. The administration will eventually submit proposed amendments to the City Council.

The City has moved forward with mandatory requirements under the existing article 22 green building review process. The amendments increase the LEED certification requirements for new buildings, and require building owners to explain how they will move to net-zero carbon emissions.

Mr. Federspiel explained how the City has successfully moved forward with the construction of multiple net-zero municipal buildings. The City is developing strategies to help building owners transition away from fossil fuels over to more efficient clean energy sources.

Councillor Nolan confirmed that the net-zero goals are tied to the City’s sustainability dashboard. She stated that the City should move faster than net-zero by 2050. She expressed concern about certain items on the dashboard that do not have goals.

Ms. Rasmussen explained that the net zero action plan only relates to buildings because 80% of the emissions in Cambridge come from building operations.

Councillor Nolan encouraged the administration to include concrete goals in the next 5-year review and to add more information to the dashboard.

In response to a question from Councillor Nolan about the delay in implementing performance requirements, Ms. Rasmussen explained that they have been working with stakeholders to resolve any legal issues. She stated that there is conversation around the issue of what constitutes renewable energy.

Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler asked why the energy efficiency assessment program for renters only provides LED light bulbs, showerheads, and programmable thermostats for buildings with more than four units.

Ms. Rasmussen explained that the program is run by Eversource and the City does not create the eligibility requirements.

Mr. Federspiel further explained that this is a state program and the state sets the eligibility requirements.

Councillor Carlone encouraged the administration to meet the net-zero goal before 2050. He suggested that applicants for increased zoning could potentially have to meet increased net-zero requirements.

Ms. Rasmussen, stated that the city of Copenhagen has a 2025 carbon neutral city goal. The reason that the goal is so soon is because Denmark generates much of its electricity from ocean windmills (offshore wind turbines), on some days, more than 100%.

Councillor Zondervan stated that no one signed up for public comment.

In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan about how often the City conducts an inventory of buildings’ fossil fuel emissions, Ms. Federspiel stated that the inventory is performed periodically but not on an annual basis.

Ms. Rasmussen stated that the intention is that every five years a full inventory for all emissions in the city will be conducted. She stated that the challenge is that they cannot just get a data dump from Eversource. The other part of the inventory is proxy information that has to be put together, especially in transportation.

In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan about 100% renewable electricity, Ms. Rasmussen, stated that the City has engaged with a consultant to develop a strategy over the next 12 months to develop a strategy to replace all the municipal electricity consumption with clean electricity.

She further explained that in speaking with the consultant that it would be highly unlikely that the city could arrive at something any sooner than two years into the future.

In response to a question from Councillor Quinton Zondervan about the electrification of buildings, Mr. Federspiel explained that the City is committed to reviewing the technical and economic feasibility of net-zero new construction in two years. Over the next six months a consultant will review the feasibility for one to three-unit residential buildings. The City will work on pathways to being fossil fuel free. The City has conducted a series of interviews and a survey with stakeholders to further refine the pathways and the proposals.

In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan about legal obstacles to the imposition of these requirements, Mr. Federspiel explained that the Attorney General recently struck down a fossil fuel ban ordinance in Brookline. The City along with advocates, experts and the building community are pushing very actively to add clean energy requirements to the stretch energy code.

Ms. Rasmussen stated that they will submit a Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO) amendment reflecting energy reduction policies to the Council in the fall. However, there is still some work to be done.

In response to a question from Councillor Zondervan about solar requirements, Mr. Federspiel stated that they have identified a number of different technical pathways. They are analyzing the cost and the equity impacts, making sure that there are not unintended consequences of such a requirement. And then they will write an ordinance or zoning regulatory mechanism.

Ms. Rasmussen added that the City was developing a process to match solar equipment to roofs on participating property owners.

In response to a question from Councillor Nolan about identifying properties as candidates for solar panels, Mr. Rasmussen stated that the City has worked with Eversource on a number of strategies to identify properties for solar installation. She stated that one of the most effective strategies has been Eversource offering 100% subsidies for installation.

Councillor Carlone moved to adjourn.
Yea: Carlone, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan – 4
Absent: McGovern

A presentation was received from Seth Federspiel, Net Zero Energy Planner, for the Health and Environment Committee meeting on Aug 11, 2020.
RESULT: PLACED ON FILE