Cambridge City Council meeting - March 20, 2023

CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the new appointments of Maria Guadalupe Arlotto and Brendan Koscher as members of the Police Review and Advisory Board for terms of five years. (CM23#75)
Appointments Approved 9-0

Mar 20, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am writing to recommend the appointment of the following persons as members of the Police Review and Advisory Board (PRAB) for a term of five years:

• Maria Guadalupe Arlotto

• Brendan Koscher

The Board serves as a fair and impartial body that provides oversight of the Cambridge Police Department. It was established by Cambridge City Ordinance in 1984 to:

• Provide for citizen participation in reviewing Police Department policies, practices, and procedures;

• Provide a prompt, impartial and fair investigation of complaints brought by individuals against members of the Cambridge Police Department; and

• Develop programs and strategies to promote positive police/community relations and to provide opportunities for expanded discussions, improved understanding, and innovative ways of resolving differences.

The Board consists of five Cambridge residents who fairly and accurately represent the City’s racial, social, and economic composition.

The selection process began on Nov 9, 2022 when the vacancies were posted. Outreach to seek applicants included City website postings, press releases, Cambridge daily update emails, as well as additional targeted outreach to communities of faith, nonprofit agencies, neighborhood and community organizations, and other individuals. The posting closed on Dec 12, 2022, at which point there were 29 applicants. Eleven of these applicants were interviewed, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion has confirmed that the interview pool was sufficiently diverse. Final selection was based on the interest, skills, perspective, and life experience each applicant will bring to the Board’s work, as well as a desire to have a Board that is broadly representative of the Cambridge community.

The next anticipated vacancy for this board will come in 2025.

I am pleased to recommend these two candidates whose expertise and experience will enable them to contribute to the work of PRAB.

1. Maria Guadalupe Arlotto is an attorney who was born and raised in Los Angeles, went to law school in Chicago and began her career there, and has lived in Cambridge for 12 years. She has two children attending Cambridge Public Schools, and lives in East Cambridge. She works at a major law firm where she has moved from litigation to doing training and professional development for other attorneys in the firm. She would bring her own lived experience including negative interactions with the police, while also being trained in and committed to weighing all the information carefully before making any conclusions.

2. Brendan Koscher is an HR professional who has lived in the Boston area for a decade but is relatively new to Cambridge, and lives here with his partner. He has a long-standing interest in and passion for local government, stemming from his upbringing in central Connecticut where he served as a student member of his town’s board of education and later interned in the office of the town’s “first selectman” (the office of the town executive). In his work he has focused on ADEI and mitigating implicit bias, and has been an active mentor for LGBTQIA+ individuals, as an openly gay man who is particularly interested in supporting other young professionals and millennials.

I appreciate the willingness of these community members to serve on the Police Review and Advisory Board and, with your approval, look forward to their appointments.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 23-05, regarding a report on beginning the process of obtaining police body worn cameras (BWC) for the Cambridge Police Department, and to work with all appropriate departments to produce policy recommendations that would allow body worn camera usage while also not violating civil liberties in compliance with the City’s Surveillance Ordinance. (CM23#76)
pulled by Toner; comments by PT, DS, MM, PN (critical of previous city managers), QZ (opposed to body cameras); responses by Commissioner Christine Elow, and Superintendent Freddie Cabral; Placed on File 9-0

Mar 20, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 23-05, regarding a report on beginning the process of obtaining police body worn cameras (BWC) for the Cambridge Police Department, and to work with all appropriate departments to produce policy recommendations that would allow body worn camera usage while also not violating civil liberties in compliance with the City’s Surveillance Ordinance, please find attached a response from Police Commissioner, Christine Elow.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

To: City Manager, Yi-An Huang
From: Police Commissioner, Christine Elow
Date: Mar 15, 2023
Ref.: Awaiting Report 2023-05 – Beginning the Process of Obtaining Body Worn Cameras

The purpose of this response is to address Awaiting Report #2023-05 that the City Manager report on beginning the process of obtaining police body worn cameras (BWC) for the Cambridge Police Department, and to work with all appropriate departments to produce policy recommendations that would allow body worn camera usage while also not violating civil liberties in compliance with the City’s Surveillance Ordinance.

After community support was most recently expressed and a policy order was adopted, the Cambridge Police has made steady and significant progress towards implementing a body worn camera program. Building off the preliminary work that was conducted by the CPD in 2020, the Department has been guided by the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force report and has aggressively initiated several processes that are required to implement a program.

The processes include:

• Assembling a team of employees within the police department and City to research current technologies, understand what resources would be needed short and long-term to best support a program, draft policy pertaining to the deployment and use of body worn cameras, and draft a Request for Information (RFI) to be published for vendors to respond with suitable options for the CPD. The team consists of sworn command staff members, professional staff members within the CPD, as well as staff from Public Safety IT (PSIT) and the Law Department.

• Drafting and submitting an RFI to the Purchasing Department for review and advertisement. This extensive document is designed to provide the CPD with as much information on BWC technology and data storage as possible. The Department and PSIT met preliminarily with some leading vendors in the field regarding hardware, IT infrastructure, use, and implementation, but determined that an RFI would be the most useful method of gathering as much information regarding BWCs and their implementation as possible.

o CPD will review RFI responses along with PSIT and support them through the process. The information obtained through an RFI will allow proper scope for finalizing a possible RFP and implementation in Cambridge.

o The advertisement for the RFI is anticipated to be posted by the end of March 2023. Vendor responses are expected to be submitted within four weeks of the posting.

• Conducting site visits with local and state departments who have implemented BWCs. Much was learned from a visit with the Malden Police, who recently deployed BWCs. Malden is less than half the size of CPD. Additional site visits are planned for March 2023 with the Boston Police and the Massachusetts State Police to determine scope and staff resources needed for implementation and operations of a successful BWC program. These larger departments are expected to provide greater insight on the possible challenges with implementing this technology on a larger scale.

• Drafting a recommended policy on the implementation and use of BWCs. The draft was written following a site visit and extensive research of BWC policies from nearly 20 agencies locally and around the country, so best practices and protocols are reflected in the initial draft. The policy was also drafted with the recommendations of the Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force in mind. An initial draft policy was shared with the Law Department in March 2023 for review. Members of the community will have an opportunity to provide input in the policy development process through advisory groups, boards and commissions. It is anticipated that the policy will need to be refined to reflect the operating procedures for the BWC system that is ultimately selected by the CPD.

• Engaging both the Cambridge Police Patrol Officers Association (CPPOA) and the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association (CPSOA) in bargaining. Once the Law Department review is complete, the Department and city administration will send a draft policy to both unions to begin negotiations.

• Beginning the application process in order to secure a grant from the Department of Justice. The application is expected to be submitted in April 2023. The grant covers up to $2,000 per camera and has a dollar-for-dollar match requirement.

o Anticipated budgetary impacts will be determined following further research and identifying needs, such as leasing rather than purchasing and/or additional resource requirements.

• Submitting a Surveillance Technology Impact Report (STIR) to the City Council for review and approval once a BWC vendor, costs, and other key factors have been identified.

• Evaluating several future decision points as progress is made towards the implementation of BWCs. Those decision points include reviewing the responses associated with the RFI process, conducting a field trial with prospective vendor(s) to identify hardware and software needs and resource requirements, training needs and development, records and retention fulfillment, and establishing a robust community engagement plan that effectively involves the community and other stakeholders in the implementation process.

o A goal is to implement a 1–3-month field trial as soon as practical.

o A separate goal is to initiate a robust community engagement process once a vendor is selected.

The BWC team remains committed to steadily moving this important program forward as much of the work is being conducted concurrently. The City Council should expect additional updates on the status of this initiative as the CPD reaches milestones on the way to the full implementation of BWCs.

We hope that this overview provides sufficient insight into the work we are doing as a city to implement a successful body worn camera program. The implementation of this program is one of many that the CPD and City are doing to address increased transparency and accountability. If there are any additional questions or more information is needed regarding this matter, please let me know.

Respectfully,
Christine Elow
Police Commissioner

3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 23-09, regarding a report on engaging a third party, independent firm/consultant or university partner to review and examine the Cambridge Police Department’s policies and practices regarding de-escalation methods, mental health calls for service, training, and more. (CM23#77)
pulled by Zondervan; questions from Siddiqui; comments by QZ (concerned about bidding process for contract - curious that no such concerns about HEART funding and contract; also challenging use of a police entity doing review), DS (noting that CPD already intentional about deescalation methods), AM, DC, PN, SS; responses by Elow, City Manager Huang; Placed on File 9-0

Mar 20, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 23-09, regarding a report on engaging a third party, independent firm/consultant or university partner to review and examine the Cambridge Police Department’s policies and practices regarding de-escalation methods, mental health calls for service, training, and more, please find attached a response from Police Commissioner, Christine Elow.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

To: City Manager, Yi-An Huang
From: Police Commissioner, Christine Elow
Date: Mar 15, 2023
Ref.: Awaiting Report 2023-9 – Third Party Review of the Cambridge Police

The purpose of this response is to address Awaiting Report #2023-09 that the City Manager report on engaging a third party, independent firm/consultant or university partner to review and examine the Cambridge Police Department’s policies and practices regarding de-escalation methods, mental health calls for service, training, and more.

After careful research and consideration, it is recommended that the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) lead this important work. PERF has extensive experience assisting state, county, and local police departments and sheriffs’ offices, as well as federal and international law enforcement agencies. Their breadth of experience includes evaluating law enforcement agencies to ensure they are employing best practices. For instance, PERF has recently reviewed policies and practices (including use of force) for police departments in Paterson, NJ; Fredericksburg, VA; Fayetteville, NC; Virginia Beach, VA, and Washington, DC. Their long history includes working with law enforcement agencies to improve, develop long and short-term goals, and provide measurable benchmarks to track progress.

The work that PERF will conduct for the City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Police Department will involve three major means of collecting information: collection, review, and analysis of available information; personal interviews; and personal observations. PERF will closely evaluate the CPD’s current training programs - from content to delivery to implementation – and identify areas of improvement, as well as areas of superior performance. To the extent they impact the CPD’s training, PERF will evaluate associated policies, protocols, and practices. Ultimately, PERF will determine whether the CPD’s training sufficiently embraces, instills, and teaches the sanctity of life as its guidepost, and whether CPD officers are able to put their training into action by using the least amount of force necessary to achieve their goals and lawful objectives.

Initially, PERF will focus exclusively on collecting and reviewing relevant training protocols and related policies and procedures. PERF will also interview stakeholders around crisis response within the City of Cambridge, such as trainers, dispatchers, and response team members, to determine if and where areas for improvement exist, and how training or additional less than lethal options could be beneficial.

Additionally, once completed, PERF will analyze the fatal Cambridge Police officer shooting of Sayed Faisal on January 4, 2023. An evaluation will be conducted against the backdrop of the incident to determine:

- If there is an opportunity to improve the CPD’s crisis response training and specifically what that may entail.

- Whether CPD could benefit from additional less-lethal equipment, associated training, or other resources.

- Whether the recent fatal shooting revealed how and where community response can be enhanced – potentially by training and protocols that might involve multiple stakeholders in the City of Cambridge.

At the conclusion of this work, PERF will detail its findings and recommendations. In addition to highlighting areas that may be in need of improvement and providing detailed recommendations, PERF will also note areas where the CPD meets or exceeds national best practices. A report will be delivered within three months of PERF conducting their last interview and/or receiving their last requested item(s) once the independent inquest has been completed. It will be made available to the public through the Cambridge Police website.

We look forward to fully cooperating with PERF and their view of areas of opportunity, improvement, and how we can best respond or support complex, challenging incidents.

We hope that this response provides sufficient background and illustrates how thoughtful we intend to be in order to accomplish this important work. If there are any additional questions, information needed or concerns regarding this matter, please let me know.

Respectfully,
Christine Elow
Police Commissioner

4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to relative to Cost of Living Adjustment for retirees. (CM23#78)
Order Adopted 9-0

Mar 20, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

Chapter 188 of the Acts of 2010 contained several items that impact Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 32 and public retirement systems. Among those are Sections 18 and 19 which allow cities and towns to increase the maximum base amount upon which the Cost-of Living Adjustment (COLA) is calculated in multiples of $1,000. The current base amount upon which the COLA is calculated for retirees is $16,000 or a COLA increase of $480 annually. The City Council adopted the base increase from 14,000 to $16,000 in 2017.

The Cambridge Retirement Board (CRB) is recommending an increase to the COLA base to $18,000 effective July 1, 2023. The CRB, at its Mar 6, 2023, meeting voted unanimously to approve increasing the base from $16,000 to $18,000. For the retiree, this recommended COLA base increase would translate into an increase of $60 to $540 from the current $480. It should be noted that the average annual retirement benefit received is $43,644. With this recommended increase to the base amount, the $60 increase translates into a .14 percent increase to the average benefit.

The amount needed to fund this COLA base increase will be included in the FY24 Submitted Budget, subject to City Council approval of the increase to $18,000.

It is my recommendation that the City Council approve this increase so it can take effect July 1, 2023.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to relative to Cost of Living Adjustment for retirees for fiscal year 2023. (CM23#79)
Order Adopted 9-0

Mar 20, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

On Nov 16, 2022, the Governor signed Chapter 269 of the Acts of 2022 into law. This act provides the local retirement systems with a local option to increase the Cost of Living Adjustment (“COLA”) for Fiscal Year 2023 to up to 5 percent on the base amount specified pursuant to G.L. c. 32, § 103.

The approval of the increase can occur at any time during the fiscal year and will take effect as of July 1, 2022. The local approval mechanism is different than traditional COLA increases and COLA base increases. In order for a system to adopt a COLA increase pursuant to this act, the retirement board must vote for the increased amount and then it must also receive local approval. For purposes of this act, local approval in a city having a Plan D or Plan E charter, the City Manager must recommend the increase to the City Council and the Council must vote in favor.

The Cambridge Retirement Board (CRB) considered this increase at its Mar 6, 2023 meeting and voted unanimously to approve the one-time increase of an additional 2% for all eligible retirees. A 3% increase has already been implemented and reflects a COLA increase of 3% on $16,000 or $480. If approved, this additional increase will add another 2% on the $16,000 COLA base or $320. It should be noted that the average annual retirement benefit received is $43,644. With this recommended percentage change, the $320 increase translates into a three-quarter percent increase to the average benefit. However, of the 2,365 retirees, 1,013 retirees, or 43%, receive a pension benefit under $32,000 where this increase would be even more beneficial.

It is my recommendation that the City Council approve this percentage increase.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to recommendations for the block rates for water consumption and sewer use for the period beginning Apr 1, 2023 and ending Mar 31, 2024. (CM23#80)
pulled by Nolan; comments by PN; responses by Owen O'Riorden, Kathy Watkins (DPW); Placed on File 9-0

Agenda Item Number 6 Mar 20, 2023

ORDERED: That the following block rate for water consumption and sewer use in the City of Cambridge be in effect for the period beginning Apr 1, 2023 and ending Mar 31, 2024:

Annual Consumption* FY23 Water Rate FY24 Proposed Water Rate FY23 Sewer Rate FY24 Proposed Sewer Rate

Block 1 0 – 40 CcF $3.11 $3.32 $14.59 $15.34

Block 2 41 – 400 CcF $3.33 $3.55 $15.42 $16.21

Block 3 401 – 2,000 CcF $3.54 $3.77 $16.57 $17.42

Block 4 2,001 – 10,000 CcF $3.76 $4.01 $17.84 $18.75

Block 5 Over 10,000 CcF $4.08 $4.35 $18.96 $19.93

*All rates are per CcF. CcF is an abbreviation of 100 cubic feet. One CcF is approximately 750 gallons; and be it further

ORDERED: That the Senior Citizens Discount Program gives either a 15 percent or 30 percent discount on water/sewer bills, depending upon certain qualifications. Any resident who owns and occupies his/her own home and who is 65 or older on July 1 qualifies for the 15 percent discount. This discount may not exceed $90 for the fiscal year.

To qualify for the 30 percent discount, a homeowner must be 65 years of age or older and must have been granted the Clause 41C Elderly Real Estate Exemption, which is based on the demonstrated financial need. This discount may not exceed $180 for the fiscal year.

7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments and reappointments of Danielle Jones-McLaughlin, Deepti Nijhawan, Loring Brinckerhoff, Avril dePagter, Mary Devlin , Dan Stubbs as members of the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD). (CM23#81)
Appointments Approved 9-0

Mar 20, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am writing to recommend the following appointments and reappointments of members to the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) for a term of three years:

• Danielle Jones-McLaughlin (appointment)

• Deepti Nijhawan (appointment)

• Loring Brinckerhoff (reappointment)

• Avril dePagter (reappointment)

• Mary Devlin (reappointment)

• Dan Stubbs (reappointment)

The Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) was established under Ch. 2.96 of the Cambridge Municipal Code. The eleven (11) member board consists of: one representative from the Department of Public Works, one representative from the Department of Human Service Programs, at least five people with disabilities, and up to four individuals who are family members, friends, or otherwise connected to people with disabilities.

The City Manager’s office posted a request for applications for the CCPD board on the City website and via a news release on Nov 28, 2022, with a closing date of Dec 28, 2022. During that time CCPD sent the notice out to its electronic newsletter recipients (about 1000 e-mail addresses) and reached out to anyone who had inquired with us about board openings since the last application period in early 2022. The call for applicants was also posted in several of the City’s daily email updates and in postings on the City website. Of the eight applicants, four provided complete applications and responded to interview requests. All applicants identified as people with disabilities and/or as parents of children with disabilities, and are broadly diverse based on their responses to demographic questions. An interview team consisting of CCPD staff and two members of the board conducted virtual interviews with each of the remaining four candidates. The Committee was very impressed with Deepti Nijhawan and Danielle Jones-McLaughlin and recommended their appointments.

CCPD also recommends the reappointment of four current members to a second term. They have made valuable contributions in their first terms and would appreciate the opportunity to continue serving.

I am pleased to recommend these six individuals whose expertise and experience will enable them to be valuable members of CCPD.

1. Danielle Jones-McLaughlin (appointment) has worked in several healthcare administrative positions. She self-identifies as a person with disabilities and is both the parent and sibling of individuals with disabilities.

2. Deepti Nijhawan (appointment) is a retired architect and the parent of two adult children with severe disabilities. She has significant experience advocating for disability rights in education, employment, and housing.

3. Loring Brinckerhoff (reappointment) has had a long career in education, specializing in the needs of students with learning disabilities and other hidden disabilities.

4. Avril dePagter (reappointment) is an educator and identifies as a person with a disability. She is the board’s current Chair.

5. Mary Devlin (reappointment) has decades of work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and is the board’s current Secretary.

6. Dan Stubbs (reappointment) is a person with a disability and an architect with experience in accessible and universal design.

I appreciate the willingness of these community members to serve on the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities and, with your approval, look forward to their appointments.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Salvation Army Shelter and Daytime Program. (CM23#82)
pulled by Zondervan; comments by QZ, MM, PT; responses by Yi-An Huang, Ellen Semonoff (annual cost $1,080,000); Placed on File 9-0

Mar 20, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am pleased to inform you that the Salvation Army Shelter and Daytime Program will not be closing at the end of March. The City has reached an agreement with the Salvation Army to provide funding beginning April 1 to ensure the continued operation of the 35 overnight beds and the daytime programming.

The City is taking on the current funding of the Salvation Army Shelter because of the significant loss to the community that would result from the closure of these current shelter beds. While there is no current guarantee that the State will be able to refund the Shelter in the future, we have been in communication with the State about the critical importance of these beds. The most recent procurement process included within it the possibility that the procurement might be reopened if there was additional state funding or if all the current projects were not continued. The Salvation Army and the City will continue to collaborate to seek sustainable funding from the State or other sources to replace or supplement City funds that permit the Salvation Army to meets its institutional requirements related to sobriety for overnight residents.

The City funding will support the continued operation of the daily lunch meal as well as the clinic operated by Healthcare for the Homeless. The City’s coordinated access team will also continue to be on site to support shelter guests in seeking permanent housing.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to PO23#35, related to the Allocation Plan for Cambridge’s HOME-ARP funds. (CM23#83)
pulled by Nolan; comments by PN, QZ, MM, DC, SS; responses by Yi-An Huang, Iram Farooq; Placed on File 9-0

Mar 20, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Policy Order 2023 #35, related to the Allocation Plan for Cambridge’s HOME-ARP funds, please find attached a response from Assistant City Manager for Community Development Iram Farooq.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

To: Yi-An Huang, City Manager
From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Date: Mar 16, 2023
Re: Policy Order-O-7, dated Feb 13, 2023, related to the Allocation Plan for Cambridge’s HOME-ARP funds

The City of Cambridge was awarded $2,325,283 by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) via the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319). This is a one-time award and in order to receive the funds, the City must submit a HOME-ARP Allocation Plan (Allocation Plan) by Mar 31, 2023.

The Allocation Plan provides an assessment of the populations targeted by HOME-ARP and general strategies the City would employ. The Allocation Plan does not identify any specific projects.

Potential Use of Funds

HOME-ARP funds are a one-time allocation, not subject to annual renewal. These funds are available for expenditure until September 30, 2030. Given this singular nature of the allocation, using funds to support creation of permanent supportive housing for homeless and other vulnerable populations rather than for operating purposes that would be at risk of facing a cliff effect upon expiration of funds may make the most sense. While it is difficult to predict what projects may emerge in the period when funds are to be spent, one possible use would be for a future new development or redevelopment similar in nature to 116 Norfolk St or 35 Harvey St, i.e. projects that would cater to underserved populations such as homeless persons and families, those at risk of becoming homeless, victims of domestic violence, and other populations as defined in the HOME-ARP Notice.

However, we are leaving all categories of authorized uses of HOME-ARP funds in the allocation plan to maintain flexibility over time. These are:

• Affordable Rental Housing

• Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)

• Supportive Services

• Acquisition & Development of Non-Congregate Structures

We would welcome input from the City Council on its priorities. Permanent supportive housing has been identified by City Councilors in prior discussions on housing and homelessness and through Envision Cambridge and Addressing Homelessness in Cambridge, MA, the report of the Cambridge Ad Hoc Working Group on Homelessness.

Public Comment Period and Public Hearing

HUD requires that the City provide the public with the amount of the award and the range of activities it may undertake and provide 15 calendar days for public comment. The HUD-ARP Notice specifically requires that grantees consult key agencies that address the needs of qualifying populations, and public or private organizations that address fair housing, civil rights, and the needs of persons with disabilities. The City followed the HUD process as required. We will continue to consult with key constituencies as we move forward to identify specific uses and projects.

Conclusion

We do not recommend holding a Finance Committee hearing on the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan since we are leaving open the possibility of using the funds for all of the allowable purposes. We look forward to hearing from the City Council now and as we identify specific uses for the monies.

10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a summary of a Planning Board Meeting on the 2022 Town-Gown Reports and Presentations. (CM23#84)
pulled by Carlone; comments by DC (graduate student housing, etc.), PN; Placed on File 9-0

Mar 20, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

Please find attached a summary of the 2022 Town-Gown Reports and Presentations to the Planning Board.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

Date: Feb 28, 2023
Subject: 2022 Town-Gown Reports and Presentations

To the Honorable, the City Council,

On Feb 7, 2023, the Cambridge Planning Board met to hear the annual Town Gown presentations from educational institutions. Four schools reported to the Board: Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lesley University, and Hult International School of Business.

The Town Gown reporting process enables the Planning Board to better understand the educational missions of the universities and how they relate to programmatic needs and, in turn, future development of the physical campus. The reports, presentations, and comment period all provide valuable insight into the institutional planning process and help set expectations for future growth. On a practical level, this knowledge prepares the Planning Board to review cases involving institutional development. The information gained from Town Gown provides the Board with a clearer understanding of where individual projects fit into an institution’s programmatic and physical plans.

The presentations centered around each institution’s long-term plans for campus assets, sustainability, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Overall, Planning Board members expressed appreciation to the institutions for their contributions to the Cambridge community, and for the ways they continue to advance their planning and development work in a way that aligns with the City’s broader planning and policy goals.

Following presentations and public comment, the Planning Board offered observations and asked additional questions of the institutions. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Planning Board voted to send the following summary of Board questions and comments to the City Council for its own consideration:

• For all of the institutions, meeting the housing needs of students, particularly graduate students, remains a primary concern. Board members asked each institution to elaborate on how a long-term goal is established for the number of new graduate housing beds to be built, and what factors influence how that goal may change over time, such as changing housing needs of the student population.

• Board members acknowledged that all of the educational institutions wield significant purchasing power, and asked each school to describe how it planned to use that purchasing power locally to help drive economic growth and community development. Board members observed that each institution appeared to be expanding its efforts each year in the Cambridge community, but noted it would be helpful to document that in the Town Gown report each year so it could be tracked and discussed in more detail.

• Matriculation of Cambridge residents into each of the institutions remains of interest to Planning Board members, who asked the schools to continue to report on the number of Cambridge students who are accepted and provide additional context by reporting on the number who apply, enroll and ultimately graduate.

• Board members requested that Harvard University share its plans for the future of the Loeb Drama Center at 64 Brattle Street and for the Inn at Harvard “swing house” at 1201 Mass Ave. In both cases Board members expressed a strong interest in retaining some public function or use with a future redevelopment.

A few additional questions and observations came up as well, related to how schools continue to plan and respond to the challenges brought forward by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, Board members were interested in learning more about changes in employee numbers, demand for on-campus facilities, including parking, and changes in planning for certain types of classrooms, work spaces, and student amenities. Board members also expressed concern about the need for improved handicapped access to the Harvard-owned Weeks footbridge and plans for the Lesley-owned parking lots on Massachusetts Avenue. In their next report, MIT was asked to discuss the relationship between their campus and the adjacent Charles River Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board,

Mary Flynn, Chair.

CHARTER RIGHT
1. That the City Manager is requested to fund the HEART initiative and negotiate a contract for services with HEART, to include but not limited to HEART responding to certain 911 calls. [Charter Right – Nolan, Mar 6, 2023] (PO23#48)
Siddiqui again says “charterwritten”; Toner moves to also discuss Comm. & Rpts. #3; Nolan reads prepared statement, says HEART expects to be ready in Fall, proposes amendments; Zondervan supportive of amendments; Toner OK with amendments but questions HEART, prefers to develop a scope of services for others to bid on, questions about liability; McGovern says that Manager believes that contracts with a non-profit entity do not need to go out to bid, floats notion of $8 million funding for HEART, fully supports Community Safety Department but wants HEART to be outside of any City department; Simmons notes her letter with Toner expressing concerns about HEART, notes model for non-police response that grew from Task Force, wants assurance that any entity chosen is actually equipped to do the job; Zondervan expresses support w/o any questions; Amendments Adopted 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 7-1-0-1 (Simmons - Present; Toner - No)

O-7 Mar 6, 2023 Charter Right - Nolan (with Nolan amendments)
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The presence of an armed police officer during a non-violent encounter, especially with a person experiencing a severe mental health crisis, can potentially escalate tensions and lead to injury or death; and
WHEREAS: In response to the murder of George Floyd in 2020, The Black Response Cambridge worked with local community members and national experts to create the Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team (HEART), which has commenced services in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: The City Manager has committed to funding HEART through the ARPA funds being allocated by the City, and through a potential contract for services to be mutually agreed upon; and
WHEREAS: Separately, the new Community Safety Department (CSD) was funded in the FY23 budget, but has yet to hire any first responders; and
WHEREAS: Even with both CSD and HEART operational and responding to crisis calls, the police would still likely be the primary first responders in situations that involve a person holding an object that could be considered a weapon; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to ~~fund~~ [distribute the ARPA funds allocated to] the HEART initiative and ~~negotiate~~ [complete negotiating] a contract for services with HEART [as quickly as possible], to include but not limited to HEART responding to certain 911 calls [starting in the fall of 2023] ~~as quickly as possible~~; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to present a plan for how the city will ensure the safety and well-being of community members when CSD and/or the police are dispatched as first responders to persons in crisis; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter as soon as possible.

2. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the appropriate City departments to ensure multi-family properties on the market are reviewed as quickly as possible as potential affordable housing acquisitions. [Charter Right - Simmons, Mar 6, 2023] (PO23#49)
Remarks by Simmons, Nolan; Amendments Adopted 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

O-8 Mar 6, 2023 Amendments Proposed; Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
[COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN]
[COUNCILLOR CARLONE]
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has demonstrated commitment to providing high quality, affordable housing for residents; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has urged the city to consider any available properties, and explore opportunities to purchase properties that might be used for affordable housing, and leading to assurances that all future opportunities would be considered; and
WHEREAS: Opportunities have been lost in the past, including two properties identified last year with potential that were not purchased; and
WHEREAS: The City Council is on record asking that more affordable housing units the city develops should include home ownership opportunities, which are a necessity to ensure that all residents have the opportunity to build wealth and have a place to call their own; and
WHEREAS: Multi-family properties that would make excellent candidates for homeownership opportunity are on the market currently -- for example on the market now is a 13 unit building for $7.7 million, and a building with 6 residential units and 3 retail units for $5.4 million; and
WHEREAS: The per unit price in the listing prices of these two examples of about $600K/unit is below many recent affordable housing projects which have been as high as $900K/unit; and
WHEREAS: If purchased by the City, these properties could expand access to affordable housing, and likely homeownership for residents and possibly add community space on the ground floor; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the appropriate City departments [and affordable housing providers to determine the feasibility and efficacy of creating a program that would] to ensure multi-family properties on the market, [and those that may be headed toward the market in the near future,] are reviewed as quickly as possible as potential affordable housing acquisitions; 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.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
3. An Ordinance has been received from Diane P. LeBlanc City Clerk, relative to a Zoning Petition from Patrick Barrett et al. North Mass Ave BA-5 Zoning District Petition (Ordinance #2022-21). [Passed to 2nd Reading, Mar 6, 2023; To Be Ordained on or after Mar 20, 2023; Expires Apr 3, 2023] (ORD22#21)

4. An Ordinance has been received from Diane P. LeBlanc, relative to Ordinance # 2022-6 Article III Green Jobs 2.66.100 Definitions. [Passed to 2nd Reading, Feb 27, 2023; To Be Ordained on or after Mar 20, 2023] (ORD22#6)
pulled by Zondervan; Ordained 9-0

APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
1. A Zoning Petition Has been received from Charles Jessup Franklin et al., regarding allowing new construction that is similar in size and shape as existing buildings for the purpose of promoting housing and first floor retail. (AP23#11)
pulled by McGovern; comments by MM, BA (not enthusiastic, wants even higher density); Referred to Planning Board and Ordinance Committee 8-0-0-1 (Carlone - Present)

2. A Zoning Petition Has been received from Michael Monestime et al. regarding Outdoor Use Zoning Petition for the Central Square Cultural District. (AP23#12)
pulled by McGovern; comments by MM, QZ, PT, PN, DS; Referred to Planning Board and Ordinance Committee 9-0

3. An application was received from Martha Davis of the MIT Museum requesting permission for seventy (70) temporary banners from Sidney Street to Memorial Drive and Main Street announcing Curious from Apr 3, 2023 through the summer of 2023. (AP23#13)
Order Adopted 9-0

4. An application was received from Kevin Richard, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 149 Upland Road; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. Response has been received from the neighborhood association. (AP23#14)
Order Adopted 9-0

5. An application was received from Chuck Martins representing Kwench Juice Cafe, requesting permission for two (2) projecting signs at the premises numbered 678 Massachusetts Avenue approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutters proof of mailing has been provided. (AP23#15)
Order Adopted 9-0

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Ali Sullo, regarding Garden Street conversion to one-way.

2. A communication was received from Marie Hobart, regarding support for Cambridge HEART.

3. A communication was received from Kavish Gandhi, regarding comments on several agenda items from the March 6 City Council meeting.

4. A communication was received from Jeanne Heiple, regarding the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO).

5. A communication was received from Ashley J Thomas, regarding support for HEART.

6. A communication was received from Richard Krushnic, regarding support for the Emissions Accounting zoning petition.

8. A communication was received from Erin Howell, regarding support for PO#7 to fund HEART.

9. A communication was received from Jacqueline Kung, regarding support for the Cambridge HEART program.

10. A communication was received from Sahithi Madireddy, regarding the Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition.

11. A communication was received from Marianne F. Potvin, regarding support for PO#7 for funding Cambridge HEART.

13. A communication was received from Pei Pei Ma, regarding opposition to the Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance and the massive AHO up-zoning petition amendment.

14. A communication was received from Catalina Arboleda, regarding opposition to the “Historical Buildings and Landmarks” proposed Ordinance.

15. A communication was received from Carolyn Shipley, regarding Unfinished Business #4 - ORD22#20.

16. A communication was received from L. Elliot, regarding support for the Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team (HEART).

17. A communication was received from Susan Markowitz, regarding Unfinished Business #4 - ORD22#20.

18. A communication was received from Nancy Pendergast, regarding support for the Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition.

19. A communication was received from Cristina Sciuto, regarding support for PO#7 - HEART.

20. A communication was received from Becky Sarah, regarding support for Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition.

21. A communication was received from Susan Redlich, regarding support for PO#7.

22. A communication was received from Jane Zimmerman, regarding opposition to high rise buildings.

23. A communication was received from McKelden Smith, regarding opposition to the “Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance” and AHO Upzoning.

24. A communication was received from Pattie Heyman, regarding opposition to the Affordable Housing Overlay that proposes 25 story buildings.

25. A communication was received from Paul E. Fallon, regarding support for PO#7 – Contract with Cambridge HEART.

26. A communication was received from Mary Ellen Wynn, regarding opposition to the Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance and AHO up-zoning proposal.

27. A communication was received from Shelley Rieman, regarding PO#7 and Unfinished Business #4 ORD22#20.

28. A communication was received from Mary Jane Kornacki, regarding opposition to the Historic Buildings Ordinance.

29. A communication was received from Jacquelyn Smith, regarding support for the HEART program.

30. A communication was received from Shelagh Hadley, regarding opposition to the “Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance” proposal.

31. A communication was received from Sheli Wortis, regarding support for PO#7 urging the City Manager to fund HEART by entering into a contract for services with HEART.

32. A communication was received from Marilyn Frankenstein, regarding support for Policy Order calling for funding HEART.

33. A communication was received from Kennie Lyman, regarding opposition to high-rise apartment buildings in Cambridge city squares.

34. A communication was received from Cambridge Mothers Out Front, regarding support for PO23#40.

35. A communication was received from Cambridge Mothers Out Front, regarding support for PO22#20.

36. A communication was received from Richard Goldberg, regarding Unfinished Business #4 ORD22#20.

37. A communication was received from Lynne Reiss, regarding opposition to the Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance and the massive AHO up-zoning petition amendment.

38. A communication was received from Shreya Chowdhary, regarding PO#7: Funding HEART.

39. A communication was received from Pamela Winters and Harry Shapiro, regarding opposition to upzoning in Cambridge.

40. A communication was received from Dr. Erica Brooks, regarding support for PO#7 - Cambridge HEART.

41. A communication was received from Teresa Cardosi, regarding support for PO#7 - fund and contract with HEART.

43. A communication was received from Richard Goldberg, regarding support for PO#7 - HEART.

44. A communication was received from Tara R. Greco, regarding opposition to the Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance and the massive AHO upzoning amendment.

45. A communication was received from Sarina Canelake, regarding support for PO#7 to fund Cambridge HEART.

46. A communication was received from Nonie Valentine, regarding opposition to the Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance and the AHO up-zoning amendments.

47. A communication was received from Jack Hanson, regarding support for the Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition.

48. A communication was received from Sue Wentworth, regarding opposition to the “Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance” and the AHO up-zoning petition amendment.

49. A communication was received from Elizabeth Camacho, regarding AHO size and community.

51. A communication was received from Robert Camacho, regarding Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance and the AHO up-zoning petition amendment.

52. A communication was received from Dr. Gleb Bahmutov, PhD, regarding support for Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition.

53. A communication was received from Rachel Wyon, regarding POR 2023 #48 (on agenda 3/6/23) – Fund Cambridge HEART.

54. A communication was received from David Buck, regarding support for the Emissions Accounting zoning petition.

55. A communication was received from Susan Ringler, regarding support for PO#7.

56. A communication was received from Carolyn Magid, regarding PO#7 and PO#4 (from 3/6/23 agenda).

57. A communication was received from Louise E. Parker, regarding PO#7: Fund HEART.

58. A communication was received from Peter Lowber, regarding low-income housing.

60. A communication was received from Neil Miller, regarding support for municipally funded vouchers and acquisition multifamily properties.

61. A communication was received from Maya Milic-Strkalj, regarding support for PO#7.

62. A communication was received from Ruth Ryals, regarding support for the proposed zoning amendment by the HSNA.

63. A communication was received from Lee Farris, regarding support for the Emissions Accounting zoning petition.

64. A communication was received from Lee Farris, regarding support for PO#7 to fund HEART.

65. A communication was received from Heather Hoffman, regarding AAA bond rating.

66. A communication was received from Stephen Cellucci, regarding HEART (Mar 6, 2023, PO#7).

67. A communication was received from Dennis Carlone, regarding AAA bond rating.

68. A communication was received from Adrian Zupp, regarding having a Green New Deal for Cambridge.

69. A communication was received from Elizabeth Camacho, regarding AHO size and community.

70. A communication was received from Patricia McGrath, regarding opposition to the “Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance” and the massive AHO up-zoning petition.

71. A communication was received from Helen Walker, regarding potential changes to Chapter 2.78, Historic Buildings and Landmarks.

72. A communication was received from Yukari Perrella, regarding support for historic architecture and reject 25 story skyscrapers.

73. A communication was received from Suzanne Preston Blier, regarding letter on NCD proposal.

75. A communication was received from Francesca Gordini, regarding opposition to changes to Chapter 2.78, ORD #2022-11.

76. A communication was received from Annette LaMond and Joseph Moore, regarding opposition to the proposed Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance and the AHO up-zoning amendment.

77. A communication was received from Jacqui Fahey Sandell, regarding the proposed changes to Neighborhood Conservation districts.

78. A communication was received from K. Gormley, regarding opposition to the “Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance” and the AHO up-zoning petition amendment.

79. A communication was received from Charles R. Norris, regarding opposition to the proposed “Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance” and related “Affordable Housing Overlay” proposed amendments.

80. A communication was received from Thomas C. Owen and Sue A. Owen, regarding opposition to proposed changes in the Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance.

81. A communication was received from John Whisnant, regarding opposition to Policy Order before the Ordinance Committee intended to gut architectural preservation efforts in Cambridge.

82. A communication was received from Zack Goldberg, regarding opposition to the “Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance” and the AHO up-zoning amendment.

83. A communication was received from Marie Elena Saccoccio, regarding opposition to proposed amendments to NCD’s landmarks and historic districts.

84. A communication was received from Rosalind Michahelles, regarding the Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance and the AHO up-zoning amendment.

85. A communication was received from Sam Burgess, regarding support for the proposed AHO amendments.

86. A communication was received from Amina Sheikh, regarding support for expansion of AHO.

87. A communication was received from Rosella Cohen, regarding affordable housing.

88. A communication was received from Betsey Chace, regarding support for PO#7, Cambridge HEART.

89. A communication was received from Mark Steffen, regarding support for Councillor Simmons’ amendments to the AHO.

90. A communication was received from Emily Goldsmith, regarding support for proposed amendments to expand the 100% Afford Housing Overlay.

91. A communication was received from Jenny Netzer, regarding the proposed amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay.

92. A communication was received from Charles Teague, regarding Open Meeting Law and Committee on Public Planting: updated comments.

93. A communication was received from Ethel Delgado, regarding update on the Manning Apartments petition to the City to pay for additional security.

94. A communication was received from Dominick Jones, regarding building upwards.

95. A communication was received from Masato Kocberber, regarding support for expanded Affordable Housing Overlay.

96. A communication was received from Rachel Sandalow-Ash, regarding expanding the 100% Affordable Housing Overlay.

97. A communication was received from Phil Rinehart, regarding a construction suggestion from the Simmons/Toner BEUDO condo listening session 2/21.

98. A communication was received from William Bloomstein, regarding opposition to the AHO up-zoning amendment and to the anti-Historical ordinance.

99. A communication was received from Catherine Hoffman, regarding Sister City returning to El Salvador.

100. A communication was received from Susan Carter, regarding the proposed Historical Buildings and Landmarks Ordinance and the AHO up-zoning petition amendment.

101. A communication was received from Kavish Gandhi, regarding support for fast movement on municipal broadband.

102. A communication was received from Kavish Gandhi, regarding support of the project at 75 First Street.

104. A communication was received from Rabbi Yoni, regarding support of the City of Cambridge establishing a municipal broadband network.

105. A communication was received from Rabbi Yoni, regarding support for municipal broadband for inclusionary housing program tenants, and all Cambridge residents.

106. A communication was received from Marilee Meyer, regarding the Crowe Petition.

107. A communication was received from Saul Tannenbaum, regarding preliminary comments on the Broadband Feasibility Study.

108. A communication was received from Rabbi Yoni, regarding a different model for municipal broadband.

109. A communication was received from Jodi Ekelchik, regarding comment on Volpe Study.

110. A communication was received from Joao Andrade, regarding illegal parking that is causing a disturbance and obstruction to the driveways on 229 - 237 Elm Street.

111. A communication was received from Sophia Emperador, regarding Open Meeting Law and Committee on Public Planting: updated comments.

112. A communication was received from Judith Nathans, regarding follow up to Municipal Broadband Roundtable.

113. A communication was received from Catherine Hoffman, regarding an invitation to the Sister City Send-off.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Congratulations to Sara Reese on receiving the 2023 Exemplary School Champion Award for her leadership in workforce development in Cambridge. Councillor Toner

R-1 Mar 20, 2023

COUNCILLOR TONER

WHEREAS: The City Council has learned that Sara Reese has received the 2023 Exemplary School Champion Award through the ACE Mentor Program of America, of note the only school champion nominated from Massachusetts for this honor; and

WHEREAS: Sara is the Career Counselor & Cooperative Education Advisor at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in the Rindge School of Technical Arts as well as a Graduate of CRLS; and

WHEREAS: Since becoming involved in ACE in 2020, Sara has deepened ACE’s relationship with Cambridge and has helped the ACE Mentor Program reach more students than in previous years, increasing participation from 10 in 2020 to 25 in 2023; and

WHEREAS: On Nov 19, 2022, Sara organized an extremely successful and well-attended ACE Trade Day at CRLS, with 65 high school students from 17 high schools, 20 mentors, and 25 tradespeople; and

WHEREAS: Sara has been described as a fierce advocate for careers in the trades, and she has strong connections not only with ACE, but also with various employers, unions, and trade schools that employ and train tradespeople, and ensures that students know about opportunities offered by ACE and encourages them to get involved; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record congratulating Sara Reese on receiving the 2023 Exemplary School Champion Award and for her leadership in workforce development in Cambridge; and be it further

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

2. Gratitude to Margaret Drury for her many years of tireless service to the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority and to the City of Cambridge. Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Simmons (notes Margaret’s three decades of service to the City); remarks by McGovern, Carlone; Adopted as Amended 9-0

R-2 Mar 20, 2023
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR MALLON
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN

WHEREAS: Margaret Drury, who has been a valued member of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority since 2012, has recently announced her decision to step down at the end of her current five-year term in April; and

WHEREAS: Margaret Drury has served the City of Cambridge with distinction and dedication for over three decades as a former City Clerk and as a board member of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority; and

WHEREAS: Over the past decade, Margaret Drury has been instrumental in the rebuilding and strengthening of the CRA and she has been a passionate advocate for affordable housing and underrepresented populations throughout Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: Margaret Drury’s knowledge of parliamentary procedures, relevant municipal ordinances, and state law has been invaluable in guiding policy and partnering with the City on interagency projects; and

WHEREAS: Margaret Drury has played a key role in advancing urban redevelopment projects that have transformed Kendall Square and other areas of the city into vibrant hubs of innovation, culture and community, and she has been a valued colleague and friend to many city officials, staff members, residents, and stakeholders who have benefited from her wisdom, professionalism and kindness, and her exemplary work shall continue to be felt in this community for many years to come; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record extending its gratitude to Margaret Drury for her many years of tireless service to the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority and to the City of Cambridge, and for her contributions to the redevelopment of Kendall Square and beyond, and the City Council wishes her well as she begins her next chapter; and be it further

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

3. Congratulations to Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services for 50 years of service to the City of Cambridge and its residents. Councillor Toner

ORDERS
1. That the City Council go on record supporting Enabling Legislation for a Real Estate Transfer Fee. Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan (PO23#50)
pulled by Carlone; remarks by Carlone (would generate $23 million more per year for affordable housing); Order Adopted 9-0

2. That the Executive Assistant to the City Council is requested to confer with the Dedication Committee to consider the request to dedicate a street corner in honor of Ned Handy. Councillor Carlone, Councillor Toner (PO23#51)
pulled by Carlone; remarks by Carlone; Order Adopted 9-0

3. Policy Order for Garden Street Accommodations. Councillor Toner, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone (PO23#52)
pulled by Zondervan; remarks by Toner; notable that there were many nearly identical comments during Public Comment from the “bike lobby” opposing this Order; Charter Right - Zondervan

4. That the City Manager work with the Central Square Business Improvement District and provide a license agreement, as well as direct financial and regulatory support for the continued and uninterrupted operation of Starlight Square. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Toner, Councillor Nolan (PO23#53)
pulled by Siddiqui; remarks by Siddiqui, Simmons, McGovern, Nolan, Zondervan, Carlone (consider redevelopment of the edges as well), Azeem, Mallon; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to light up City Hall in light blue, light pink, and white from March 26, 2023 until April 2, 2023, in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toner (PO23#54)
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Diane LeBlanc, City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative activity. (COF23#45)
Placed on File 9-0

2. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee. (COF23#46)
Placed on File 9-0

3. A communication was received from Councillor Toner, transmitting Questions regarding Requests to Fund Heart Using City Funds. (COF23#47)
Discussed along with Charter Right #1; Placed on File 9-0

To: Cambridge City Council and City Manager
From: Councillor Paul Toner
Date: Mar 16, 2023
Subject: Questions regarding Requests to Fund HEART Using City Funds

On Dec 22, 2022 Councillor Simmons and I submitted the attached letter to City Manager Huang outlining our questions and concerns about proposals to have the City Manager directly fund HEART. We continue to raise these concerns and seek answers from the City Manager, City Solicitor, and Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department before committing any City funding to HEART.

Before voting to commit any funding to HEART or any other alternative response provider, we believe that the Council needs answers to these essential questions and ask that the City Manager, City Solicitor and Commissioner provide responses before the Council votes on any funding proposals for any alternative response provider.

Sincerely,
Councillor Paul Toner

Date: Dec 22, 2022
Re: Concerns About the HEART Proposal

Dear Mr. Huang,

We are writing to express a number of concerns we share about the potential adoption of the HEART proposal, which as you know has been the focus of a number of Public Safety Committee hearings dating back to May 2021, and which a number of residents have urged the City to adopt. We certainly agree that not all emergency calls to the City should be handled by uniformed and armed police responders, and indeed, that very notion is something that Councilors Simmons and McGovern spent the better part of a year diligently exploring via the City Manager’s Re-imagining Public Safety Task Force in 2021. Yet the idea of outsourcing even a portion of the City’s public safety obligations to an untested, outside, and unaccountable group raises a number of significant concerns that must be fully reviewed prior to your making any final decisions on the matter.

First and foremost, if the City Manager and the Police Commissioner are, indeed, in agreement that some portion of the City’s public safety apparatus should be outsourced to an outside contractor, it is important that any contractor be procured through the bid process. Any amount of funding over a certain threshold (we believe it to be $50,000) will trigger the bid process, and if the new Office of Public Safety is to engage the services of any outside contractors for this work, then the cost of these efforts must either remain below that triggering threshold, or the Purchasing Department must open up a fair and transparent bid process, to which the HEART organization would be welcome to apply. This would mean, of course, that the HEART program might not necessarily be the contractor that ultimately wins this contract with the City.

Should the bid process be required, and should HEART not end up with the winning bid, we do have concerns that those members of the community who have so vociferously urged for its adoption could be deeply disappointed – to the point that they could potentially sow distrust in the bid process itself, or that they could otherwise seek to puncture public confidence in how this process has been handled by the Purchasing Department and by your office. We also have concerns that this could negatively impact the ability of whichever contractor does win the bid to carry out their work with the full support and cooperation of the community.

Another issue that we are concerned with is the notion of using City funds to outsource a portion of public safety to an organization that has been very open in stating that it should have little to no oversight from, or accountability to, the City. This would mean that the actions of HEART responders, acting in the City’s name and with taxpayer funding, would not be subject to the same level of scrutiny and transparency as the actions of our own police department. We are concerned that this could lead to instances where potential abuses of power, corruption, or other forms of misconduct by these first responders would be difficult for the City to address. We find this incredibly problematic.

A third issue we have concerns with is that outsourcing portions of our public safety obligations could create issues in terms of liability and legal responsibility. For example, if a HEART responder were to be injured in the line of duty, or if they were to injure someone while engaged in their work, how would it be determined who is ultimately responsible? Where would the accountability ultimately reside for any accidents, injuries, or other incidents that may occur? Would this land upon the individual responder, on the HEART organization, or with the City? This could lead to costly and time-consuming legal disputes that the City would need to resolve.

A related concern to the aforementioned point is that we have not yet learned what plans are in place to ensure that, if an unarmed first responder is dispatched to an emergency call and the situation quickly deteriorates, the police can be quickly and reliably dispatched to provide necessary backup. Such a plan will be critical to ensure the safety of the unarmed first responders and the safety of the people they are administering services to.

Finally, outsourcing public safety to HEART or any other outside contractor could potentially undermine the trust and relationships that have been built over generations between the members of the Cambridge community and the police department. The Cambridge Police Department is an integral part of our community, and outsourcing their duties to an outside group, even in a limited capacity, could sow confusion among the public as to what the precise role of the CPD is intended to be, and could potentially generate negative feelings towards the Police if it is felt that they are the department that is only brought in to “bring the hammer down” on residents.

We urge you to strongly consider the concerns we have raised, before you make any final decisions on whether or not to move forward with the HEART proposal. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss our concerns more thoroughly, and we thank you very much for your thoughtful consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,
City Councilor E. Denise Simmons
City Councilor Paul F. Toner

Wed, Mar 22
3:00pm City Council Special Meeting
5:30pm The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebrations Committee will hold a public meeting to discuss potential amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay.

Thurs, Mar 23
1:00pm The Finance Committee will hold a public meeting to review the FY24 Police Department’s budget before it is submitted to the City Manager, and to review any budget proposal items related to body cameras.

Tues, Apr 4
12:30pm The Economic Development and University Relations Committee will hold a public meeting to the discuss the practical impact of various city policies, regulations and ordinances on commercial and residential development and construction projects in Cambridge.

Tues, Apr 11
12:30pm The Health and Environment Committee will hold a public meeting to review plans for solar and renewable energy installations in the city, including report on solar expansion and works by the CEA (Cambridge Energy Alliance) and potential for solar on city owned water supply land, and any other items related to renewable energy.
5:30pm The Charter Review Committee (Zoom only)

Wed, Apr 12
5:30pm The Ordinance Committee will hold a public meeting to continue the discussion on the proposed amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance, Ordinance #2021-26.

Wed, Apr 26
12:30pm The Ordinance Committee will meet to continue the discussion on potential changes to Chapter 2.78 Historical Buildings and Landmarks, Proposed Ordinance #2022-11, as amended in Committee on Mar 7, 2023.

Wed, May 3
3:00pm The Ordinance Committee will hold a public hearing on Citizens Zoning Petition from Craig Kelley, et al. – Cambridge Transportation Emissions Reduction and Car Sharing Act (APP 2023 #9).

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1 Mar 20, 2023
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: On Mar 16, 2020, the Cambridge City Council unanimously approved a Real Estate Transfer Fee Home Rule petition; and
WHEREAS: The corresponding legislation, House bill No. 4282, expired on January 3, 2023; and
WHEREAS: Enabling Legislation has now been filed in the fourth consecutive legislative session as SD.1982 by Senator Comerford and HD.2857 by Representative Connolly; and
WHEREAS: The version of the Enabling Legislation filed in the 2019-2020 session died despite being favorably referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling with the statement that it “ought to pass”; and
WHEREAS: Roughly a dozen municipalities sought to enact Real Estate Transfer Fee bills this past session, but were unable to do so in the absence of a statewide bill granting authorization; and
WHEREAS: According to the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center, a Real Estate Transfer Fee of the specifications outlined in House bill No. 4282 could raise over $23 million this year to support affordable housing development in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: The housing crisis that motivated Cambridge’s original Home Rule petition has only grown more severe since the petition was first approved; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record strongly supporting the Enabling Legislation in the House and in the Senate; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this policy order to House and Senate leadership and to the Cambridge delegation on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-2 Mar 20, 2023
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: Ned Handy was employed by the City of Cambridge Planning Department for 30 years before retiring in 2000; and
WHEREAS: Ned was a veteran of WWII and was one of 4,300 American fliers who were shot down over Germany to become prisoners of war at Stalag 17, where he was held for 13 months; and
WHEREAS: During his imprisonment, Ned and the men in his barracks devised an escape plan and after months of relentless work, dug a tunnel they dreamed would lead them to freedom but instead, the tunnel became a beacon of hope, and camaraderie, actually saving the lives of others; and
WHEREAS: In 1940, Ned had been accepted at MIT and Harvard but was unable to afford the tuition. Following the war and determined to attend MIT, the alma mater of his grandfather, Ned was accepted into a five-year program, subsequently graduating and began his career as a city planner; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Executive Assistant to the City Council is requested to confer with the Dedication Committee to consider the request to dedicate a street corner in honor of Ned Handy; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward this order to the Dedication Committee for review and approval.

O-3 Mar 20, 2023
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
WHEREAS: The recent changes of part of Garden Street from a two-way to a one-way for automobile traffic has caused concerns in the community about overflow traffic and safety on neighboring side streets: and
WHEREAS: On Nov 14th 2022 the Council voted 9-0 to have the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department continue to monitor the situation via traffic counting and other methods and to conduct additional listening sessions in December, 2022 and January, 2023 and return with recommendations to the City Council by Mar 27, 2023; and
WHEREAS: Many residents throughout the winter months at the feedback meetings and through emails have continued to express concerns to the City Council about the Garden Street installation and the negative impact it has had on neighboring side streets, but have also offered reasonable solutions including, but not limited to:

• restoring the section of Garden Street from Linnaean to Huron as two ways for automobile traffic

• making a bidirectional bike lane on the north/Harvard side from Huron Avenue to Chauncy Street

• moving all parking to the north/Harvard side of Garden Street from Linnean to Chauncy Street

• install street signs on the corner of Raymond Street restricting traffic to abutters only between 7-9 and 4-6 along with other traffic calming measures

• continue to make adjustments to Walker Street to address the concerns of residents regarding cut-through traffic, excessive noise, and dangerous buses, trucks/large vehicles by improving traffic calming and signage; and

WHEREAS: These changes will maintain separated bike lanes as required by the Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance, will improve safety and navigation for all, reduce cut-through traffic in the neighborhood, and would make neighborhood residents feel heard and understood; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and the Department of Public Works to implement the above listed recommendations as soon as possible but no later than May 30, 2023.

O-4 Mar 20, 2023 Amended
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: For forty years, City of Cambridge planning studies, including Envision Cambridge, the Red Ribbon Commission on the Concerns and Delights of Central Square, C2K2, as well as the Arts Task Force, have called for the activation of City-owned parking lots in Central Square to support its cultural identity and establish a civic center; and
WHEREAS: Starting in March 2020, one week before the COVID-19 pandemic emergency was declared in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the temporary installation known as Starlight Square put into action these forty years of planning, finally creating a square in the Square on Municipal Lot #5 at 84 Bishop Allen Drive; and
WHEREAS: Since its inception, Starlight Square has been a partnership between the Central Square Business Improvement District and the City of Cambridge, hosted on City-owned land and facilitated by a license agreement between the two parties and operated with the collaboration of the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department; and
WHEREAS: For three successful seasons, Starlight Square has been a safe and free, outdoor home for cultural life in Cambridge, with over a quarter million dollars given directly to performers and event organizers; and
WHEREAS: Essential community and civic events are often hosted at Starlight Square, including the 2022 City Council inauguration, high school prom, and countless others; and
WHEREAS: Concurrent with the arts and cultural programming, Popportunity, now a 501c3, developed and grew roots at Starlight Square, creating a home for local entrepreneurship to flourish in the neighborhood, serving hundreds of entrepreneurs, predominantly local, women of color (WOC), and resulting in five WOC opening their own brick-and-mortar businesses; and
WHEREAS: Continued regulatory and financial support for Starlight Square is a City Council priority, so that it cannot only continue to serve its essential function to the public life of the City, but also expand on it, continuing the district-wide priority of transforming space for cars into places for people; and
WHEREAS: Establishing a permanent building that houses the essential functions supported by Starlight Square is a City Council priority; and
WHEREAS: The ongoing regulatory and financial support of the temporary installation shall run in parallel with an urgent investigation of said permanent building in the Cultural District, so as to not delay the timeline and keep partners and abutters in limbo, including a transparent answer to Square in the Square applicants regarding the ARPA application from January 2022; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Central Square Business Improvement District and provide a license agreement, as well as direct financial and regulatory support for the continued and uninterrupted operation of the temporary installation; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to urgently pursue the establishment of the permanent building on Lot 5 that delivers the essential benefits and functions demonstrated by the temporary installation, beginning with the release of ARPA funds awarded to perform a study; 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-5 Mar 20, 2023 Amended
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: Transgender Day of Visibility occurs every March to honor and celebrate transgender and non-binary people and their contributions to society; and
WHEREAS: We acknowledge that International Transgender Day of Visibility was first created in 2009 by transgender advocate, Rachel Crandall. Ms. Crandall, the head of Transgender Michigan, created Transgender Day of Visibility in response to the overwhelmingly negative media narratives about transgender people; and
WHEREAS: We acknowledge the adversity, poverty, discrimination, and violence that the transgender and non-binary communities continue to face across the world, especially towards communities of color. We also acknowledge the discrimination against youth and older adults, which causes social isolation, anxiety, depression, and even suicide; and
WHEREAS: In recent years, landmarks around the world participated by turning their lights to colors to show their support for Transgender Day of Visibility, the lived experiences of transgender and non-binary people, and the continued fight for equal rights under the law; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record recognizing March 31, 2023 as the annual Light the World in Color initiative for Transgender Day of Visibility; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to light up City Hall in light blue, light pink, and white from March 26, 2023 until April 2, 2023, in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility.

AWAITING REPORT LIST
19-66. Report on whether it is possible to reduce or eliminate Building Permit Fees for 100% affordable housing development projects, through an exemption or other means and investigate what types of real estate tax abatements are possible for 100% affordable housing moving forward.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern (O-3) from 6/3/2019

19-147. Report on installing hearing loop technology inside the Sullivan Chamber as part of the upcoming renovations to City Hall, and in other critical City meeting venues wherever possible and other accessibility improvements.
Councillor Zondervan (O-4) from 10/28/2019

20-6. Report on the acquisition and implementation of interpretation services for City Council meetings and other public City meetings.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern (O-8) from 1/27/2020

20-27. Report on the advantages and disadvantages of continuing with Civil Service, and the process by which Cambridge could exit Civil Service.
Councillor Nolan (O-5) from 6/22/2020

20-60. Report on analyzing eviction data from 2018 through 2021 and come back with a plan on how to use this data to inform our next action steps.
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-8) from 11/2/2020

20-72. Report on the condition of 105 Windsor Street and cost estimates of any repairs needed and provide recommendations on how to develop any other underused properties based on an inclusive public process centered in the Port neighborhood.
Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #1) from 12/14/2020

21-9. Report on providing an overview of various programs and services that are designed to assist the City’s chronically unhoused population and those in danger of becoming unhoused, along with the metrics by which the City determines the effectiveness of these programs.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-1) from 2/22/2021

21-10. Report on whether or not the City can require written notice be sent to all abutters, both property owners as well as tenants, regarding the scheduling of a hearing regarding the extension of a building permit request to the Planning Board.
(O-5) from 2/22/2021

21-14. Report on presenting options to the Council to ensure that the staff at Albany Street are properly compensated for their work, and that guests are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (Calendar Item #3) from 3/8/2021

21-29. Report on updating the Parental Leave Policy for employees.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons (O-7) from 4/26/2021

21-30. Report on increasing the affordable homeownership stock over the next 10 years by financing the construction of affordable homeownership units through a bond issue of no less than $500 million.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #1) from 5/3/2021

21-36. Report on developing a holistic plan for managing the traffic and congestion in the Alewife area.
Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-2) from 5/17/2021

21-43. Report on referring the Cambridge HEART proposal for funding consideration and to engage in a public community process to discuss this proposal and its implementation.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan (Calendar Item #1) from 6/7/2021

21-46. Report on the feasibility of purchasing properties for sale in the Alewife area to address City goals.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone (O1) from 6/14/2021

21-50. Report on providing an update on the cost of each license and permit required by businesses, which business license and permit fees are set under state law, which are set by ordinances, and which are determined administratively, as well as which licenses and permits the City has the discretion to waive entirely.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan (O-9) from 6/14/2021

21-60. Report on reviewing the residential parking permit program to determine whether the criteria for this program can be modified to limit the issuance of residential permits to vehicles that are primarily utilized for personal, non-commercial use.
Councillor Simmons (O-3) from 9/13/2021

21-67. Report on working with the staff at the Cambridge Historical Commission, the DCR Commissioner, and members of Cambridge’s state delegation to approve, fund and execute the design and installation of a suitable historic marker by April 2022 to recognize the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted and others in transforming the Cambridge riverfront landscape.
Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan (O-6) from 9/27/2021

21-71. Report on placing a cricket field in one of the Cambridge parks.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-5) from 10/18/2021

21-74. Report on supporting the Uplift the Solar Energy Industry in Massachusetts coalition.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan (O-12) from 10/18/2021

21-94. Report on proposing possible zoning language that would achieve the goals of incentivizing all construction to be fossil fuel free through a possible special permit process.
Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-1) from 12/13/2021

21-98. Report on Reaffirming Commitment to the Goal of 100% Renewable by 2035.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan (O-5) from 12/13/2021

22-2. Report on meeting with the impacted residents and businesses on northern Massachusetts Avenue to discuss their ideas and suggestions for addressing their concerns.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey (Calendar Item #2) from 1/10/2022

22-7. Report on providing a legal analysis of what uses are currently permitted on the golf course land, information on the history, residency and other demographic information on membership data of golf course users, and any environmental constraints.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem (Calendar Item #1) from 1/31/2022

22-8. Report on determining the feasibility of establishing additional compensation for the City’s essential employees in accordance with the considered State legislation framework.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Toner (O-1) from 2/7/2022

22-13. Report on determining how to better integrate more parent response into their decision-making process as they make changes that can have undue impacts upon the families they serve.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern (O-3) from 3/7/2022

22-14. Report on the findings of the “Future of Telework” Committee, and to explain the city’s current policy regarding a remote work policy.
Vice Mayor Mallon (O-5) from 3/7/2022

22-23. Report on providing an analysis of the impact of current curb cut policies, including (but not limited to) an explanation of the administration’s current procedures for notifying and conducting outreach to abutters and neighbors, the criteria for evaluating curb cut applications, and an approximation of the number of residential parking spaces that have been lost to new curb cuts each year over at least the last decade.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Toner (O-8) from 4/11/2022

22-24. Report on determining what repairs to 205 Western Avenue would be needed to inhabit the space to allow the Cambridge Community Center to house their program.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan (O-1) from 4/25/2022

22-28. Report on looking into the feasibility of placing a covered bike rack at City Hall using FY23 Capital Budget Funding. Report Received and Accepted In Council Feb 27, 2023
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem (O-2) from 5/2/2022

22-29. Report on introducing a pilot program to open two of our youth centers during the evening and weekend hours during the summer.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui (O-1) from 5/9/2022

22-30. Report on adding $1.94 linkage fee to Housing Contribution Rate that is specifically targeted for job training.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern from 5/9/2022

22-33. Report on consulting with the Executive Director of the Council on Aging, Somerville and Cambridge Elder Services, and the Executive Director of Cadbury Common to determine the feasibility of re-establishing some form of the Kate’s Café Monthly LGBTQ+ Community Dinners either at Cadbury Common or at another suitable location.
Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui (O-2) from 5/16/2022

22-35. Report on ensuring that every possible material used in construction projects are as safe and healthy and free of potential toxins as possible, and ensure that all construction and manufacturing vendors commit to disclosing all ingredients and using non-toxic materials.
Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-6) from 5/16/2022

22-36. Work on Implementing Recommendations from Working IDEAL Report.
Councillor Simmons (O-2) from 5/23/2022

22-38. Report on establishing a method of ensuring that anti-bias training is incorporated into the City’s hiring process at all levels.
Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 5/23/2022

22-40. Report on developing a standardized, transparent, and cohesive community engagement plan for the entire, department-wide municipal government.
Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 6/6/2022

22-42. Report on directing the appropriate City staff to establish a “community healing initiative” plan to address the issues in our city.
Councillor Simmons (O-3) from 6/13/2022

22-43. Report on establishing a notification system to all neighborhood residents, regardless of whether they own or rent their homes, within a set area where neighborhood disruptions such as infrastructure work or demolitions are scheduled to occur.
Councillor Simmons (O-4) from

22-44. Report on working with DCR and all relevant City departments to expand Memorial Drive closures in the summer and fall of 2022. Report Received and Accepted In Council Dec 5, 2022
Councillor Zondervan (O-6) from 6/13/2022

22-46. Report on a plan for piloting more street closures for pedestrianization in Harvard Square.
Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon (O5) from 6/27/2022

22-49. Report on Establishing a Task Force on Cambridge’s African American/Black Residents.
Councillor Simmons (O-7) from 8/1/2022

22-50. Report on establishing Black Men and Boys Commission.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons (O-8) from 8/1/2022

22-55. Report on the status of the long term water projections and on what measures could be taken to conserve water.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon (O14) from 8/1/2022

22-57. Report on Policy Order to investigate shared EV or Hybrid free bus service.
Councillor Toner, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan (O-16) from 8/1/2022

22-61. Report on communicating to the Cambridge Health Alliance the City Council’s support for the reopening of the Cambridge Birth Center for deliveries as soon as possible and City Council support for the protection of existing birth centers and the creation of new birth centers in Cambridge.
Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-9) from 9/12/2022

22-64. Report on t detailing how other comparable municipalities handle their street corner dedication processes and on ways to honor those individuals who may not ultimately have a street corner named after them but who nonetheless deserve to have their names and accomplishments recognized.
Councillor Simmons (O-2) from 9/19/2022

22-66. Report on a plan to install “Walls of Honor” at each home baseball and softball field honoring past and current coaches and volunteers.
Councillor Toner, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 9/19/2022

22-67. Report on necessary preparations for the next Housing Committee meeting in the discussion on potentially allowing multifamily housing to be built citywide.
Councillor Azeem, Councillor Simmons (O-6) from 9/19/2022

22-68. Report on touring the facility at 2222 Massachusetts Avenue regarding transitioning the facility into a non-congregate homeless shelter with accompanying services.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem (O-10) from 9/19/2022

22-69. Report on a community process on the future use of 105 Windsor Street.
Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone (O-11) from 9/19/2022

22-70. Report on the legislation passed by the Somerville City Council banning limited services pregnancy centers.
Vice Mayor Mallon (Calendar Item #3) from 10/3/2022 Committee Report

22-71. Report on convening an advisory group to determine ways in which the City can work to lift up the voices and experiences of the descendants of the Indigenous People who currently reside in our community.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toner (O-1) from 10/3/2022

22-73. Report on working with the Law Dept., to automatically provide an initial legal opinion to the City Council and the City Clerk at least three business days in advance of the first Public Hearing on any amendment to the Code of Ordinances formally introduced in the City Council.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern (O-7) from 10/3/2022

22-74. Report on installing a new irrigation system in Danehy Park as soon as possible and better prepare for tree watering efforts in the future and report on any needed or ongoing irrigation improvements to other parks across the city.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone (O-9) from 10/3/2022

22-75. Report on receiving input from the Vision Zero, Pedestrian, Bicycle Committee, the Council on Aging, the Transit Advisory Committee, the Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board, Cambridge Police Department, and any other departments, to review and revise the Cambridge Street Code, promulgate the updated guide throughout the city, and develop recommendations for staffing and methods of improving traffic enforcement.
Councillor Toner, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern (Calendar Item #2) from 10/17/2022

22-80. Report on providing a comprehensive list of current Cambridge policies that impact the cost of local commercial and residential development and those that are known to be in the pipeline, to note whether similar policies exist in the neighboring cities of Boston and Somerville.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem (Calendar Item #2) from 11/14/2022

22-83. Report on determining how the City could adopt G.L. c. 40, sec. 60B, created under the Municipal Modernization Act, which allows cities and towns, through their respective legislative bodies, to provide for Workforce Housing Special Tax Assessments Zones (WH–STA) as an incentive to create middle-income housing.
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern (O-16) from 11/21/2022

23-2. Report on the need for a special permitting process for cannabis dispensaries, special permitting fees and bicycle parking requirements that are required of local recreational cannabis dispensaries, to provide a report on how the special permit process, and these requirements may impact these businesses, to determine whether these requirements may need to be modified or eliminated.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner (O-3) from 1/23/2023

23-3. Report on determining the feasibility of purchasing the property located at 37 Brookline Street, former home of Peter Valentine, with the intent of utilizing this as a community arts space.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem (O-4) from 1/23/2023

23-4. Report on establishing the framework that will allow for the immediate elimination of the bicycle parking fees imposed upon Economic Empowerment and Social Equity applicants and cannabis dispensary operators.
Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #2) from 2/6/2023

23-5. Report on beginning the process of obtaining police body worn cameras for the Cambridge Police Department, and to work with all appropriate Departments to produce policy recommendations that would allow body worn camera usage while also not violating civil liberties in compliance with the City’s Surveillance Ordinance. See Mgr #2
Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner (O-2) from 2/6/2023

23-6. Report on determining the best ways to promote bike safety with a particular focus on expanding the distribution of bike lights throughout the City.
Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Zondervan (O-3) from 2/6/2023

23-7. Report on providing publicly-accessible traffic stop, arrest and citation police data on a new Procedural Justice Dashboard.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern (O-4) from 2/6/2023

23-8. Report on exploring additional less-than-lethal alternatives that pose the smallest risk of injury when deployed for standard issue in the Cambridge Police Department.
Councillor Azeem, Councillor Toner, Councillor Simmons (O-7) from 2/6/2023

23-9. Report on engaging a third party, independent firm/consultant or university partner to review and examine the Cambridge Police Department’s policies and practices regarding de-escalation methods, mental health calls for service, training, and more. See Mgr #3
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem (O-10) from 2/6/2023

23-10. Report on engaging with community groups and the City’s existing multi-member bodies to design the next iteration of the Cambridge Community Electricity Aggregation program.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-11) from 2/6/2023

23-11. Report on reviewing the current state of mental health resources, particularly for underserved communities, within the Cambridge Health Alliance.
(O-12) from 2/6/2023

23-12. Report on options of how to increase overnight resident street parking in the vicinity of Rogers Street.
Councillor Zondervan (O-13) from 2/6/2023

23-13. Report on evaluating the feasibility of financially supporting free meals for all students for the School Year 2023/24.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern (O-4) from 2/13/2023

23-14. Report on expanding public process on services and offer new opportunities based on recommendations from the Council using HOME-ARP funds. See Mgr #9
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan (O-7) from 2/13/2023

	Annual Consumption*	FY23 Water Rate	FY24 Proposed Water Rate	FY23 Sewer Rate	FY24 Proposed Sewer Rate
Block 1	0 – 40 CcF	$3.11	$3.32	$14.59	$15.34
Block 2	41 – 400 CcF	$3.33	$3.55	$15.42	$16.21
Block 3	401 – 2,000 CcF	$3.54	$3.77	$16.57	$17.42
Block 4	2,001 – 10,000 CcF	$3.76	$4.01	$17.84	$18.75
Block 5	Over 10,000 CcF	$4.08	$4.35	$18.96	$19.93