ON THE TABLE
1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to raise the fee of the parking permit program for all residents to $75, consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP or are low income, remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program and lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two. [Charter Right – Simmons, Feb 9, 2026; Tabled Mar 2, 2026] (PO26#32)
No Action Taken

Original Order
O-5     Feb 9, 2026  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The fee for participation in the Resident Parking Permit program was raised in 2011 from $8 to $20 with a built in raise to $25 in 2013, where the rate currently stands, despite requests by council to increase the fee; and
WHEREAS: In 2023 the City Council passed PO23#137 which led to a Joint Health and Environment and Transportation committee meeting, and PO24#39 which requesting recommendations for adjusting parking permit fees to better align with the costs of operating the program; and
WHEREAS: In CM24#106 from May 2024 Cambridge DOT staff indicated that the cost of administering the parking permit program, including printing the stickers and processing applications, is at least $75 per permit, per year, and so every dollar charged below that cost is subsidized by the general fund, which is paid by all Cambridge taxpayers; and
WHEREAS: Senior residents have previously been exempted from paying the minimal fee for the cost of a parking permit, regardless of income or financial situation at the expense of all Cambridge taxpayers, including non-drivers; and
WHEREAS: $75 per year, or just over $6 per month, for unlimited on-street parking access is a nominal fee for car-owners and amounts to less than 1% of the annual cost of owning a car, including car payments, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and taxes, which is estimated at $11,500 annually; and
WHEREAS: Previously, the City Council requested a tiered fee structure for residential parking permits for income-eligible residents; however, after two years, City staff have indicated that implementing a tiered structure would include making significant adjustments to the vendor program and would likely result in much higher administrative costs, at only a marginal savings for residents; and
WHEREAS: The Zero Emissions Transportation Plan, published in October 2025, outlines SMART Goal 7, which is to reduce the number of resident parking permits issued over time, and in 2023 the City created a limit of four cars on the number of vehicles that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for; and
WHEREAS: The cost of operating the parking permit program should be paid by users and not pushed onto all residents including those who do not own cars and the city should seek to ensure fees charged match costs; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to:

• Raise the fee to receive a residential parking permit program for all residents to $75, to more accurately reflect the cost of administering the program, and consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP or are low income; and

• Remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program; and

• Lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council before June to ensure that changes are communicated prior to the next cycle of permit issuance.

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Simmons Amended Version (Mar 9)
O-5     Feb 9, 2026  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The fee for participation in the Resident Parking Permit program was raised in 2011 from $8 to $20 with a built in raise to $25 in 2013, where the rate currently stands, despite requests by council to increase the fee; and
WHEREAS: In 2023 the City Council passed PO23#137 which led to a Joint Health and Environment and Transportation committee meeting, and PO24#39 which requesting recommendations for adjusting parking permit fees to better align with the costs of operating the program; and
WHEREAS: In CM24#106 from May 2024 Cambridge DOT staff indicated that the cost of administering the parking permit program, including printing the stickers and processing applications, is at least $75 per permit, per year, and so every dollar charged below that cost is subsidized by the general fund, which is paid by all Cambridge taxpayers; and
WHEREAS: Senior residents have previously been exempted from paying the minimal fee for the cost of a parking permit, regardless of income or financial situation at the expense of all Cambridge taxpayers, including non-drivers; and
WHEREAS: $75 per year, or just over $6 per month, for unlimited on-street parking access is a nominal fee for car-owners and amounts to less than 1% of the annual cost of owning a car, including car payments, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and taxes, which is estimated at $11,500 annually; and
WHEREAS: Previously, the City Council requested a tiered fee structure for residential parking permits for income-eligible residents; however, after two years, City staff have indicated that implementing a tiered structure would include making significant adjustments to the vendor program and would likely result in much higher administrative costs, at only a marginal savings for residents; and
WHEREAS: The Zero Emissions Transportation Plan, published in October 2025, outlines SMART Goal 7, which is to reduce the number of resident parking permits issued over time, and in 2023 the City created a limit of four cars on the number of vehicles that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for; and
WHEREAS: The cost of operating the parking permit program should be paid by users and not pushed onto all residents including those who do not own cars and the city should seek to ensure fees charged match costs; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to:

• Raise the fee to receive a residential parking permit program for all residents to $75, to more accurately reflect the cost of administering the program, and consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP or are low income; and

• Remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program; and

• Lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to ensure that senior residents remain exempt from being charged for the permit parking fee by default, unless they voluntarily self-identify by checking a box on their permit application attesting that the $75 fee would not constitute a financial hardship, in which case they shall be charged the full fee; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council before June to ensure that changes are communicated prior to the next cycle of permit issuance.

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Al-Zubi Amended Version (motion not yet made)
O-5     Feb 9, 2026  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The fee for participation in the Resident Parking Permit program was raised in 2011 from $8 to $20 with a built in raise to $25 in 2013, where the rate currently stands, despite requests by council to increase the fee; and
WHEREAS: In 2023 the City Council passed PO23#137 which led to a Joint Health and Environment and Transportation committee meeting, and PO24#39 which requesting recommendations for adjusting parking permit fees to better align with the costs of operating the program; and
WHEREAS: In CM24#106 from May 2024 Cambridge DOT staff indicated that the cost of administering the parking permit program, including printing the stickers and processing applications, is at least $75 per permit, per year, and so every dollar charged below that cost is subsidized by the general fund, which is paid by all Cambridge taxpayers; and
WHEREAS: Senior residents have previously been exempted from paying the minimal fee for the cost of a parking permit, regardless of income or financial situation at the expense of all Cambridge taxpayers, including non-drivers; and
WHEREAS: $75 per year, or just over $6 per month, for unlimited on-street parking access is a nominal fee for car-owners and amounts to less than 1% of the annual cost of owning a car, including car payments, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and taxes, which is estimated at $11,500 annually; and
WHEREAS: Previously, the City Council requested a tiered fee structure for residential parking permits for income-eligible residents; however, after two years, City staff have indicated that implementing a tiered structure would include making significant adjustments to the vendor program and would likely result in much higher administrative costs, at only a marginal savings for residents; and
WHEREAS: The Zero Emissions Transportation Plan, published in October 2025, outlines SMART Goal 7, which is to reduce the number of resident parking permits issued over time, and in 2023 the City created a limit of four cars on the number of vehicles that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for; and
WHEREAS: The cost of operating the parking permit program should be paid by users and not pushed onto all residents including those who do not own cars and the city should seek to ensure fees charged match costs; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to:

• Raise the fee to receive a residential parking permit program for all residents to $75, to more accurately reflect the cost of administering the program, and consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 $0 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP, are enrolled in a program such as Medicare or are low income; and

• Remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program; and

• Lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council before June to ensure that changes are communicated prior to the next cycle of permit issuance.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. The Finance Committee held a public hearing on Feb 25, 2026 to receive a status update on Federal Grants (including ARPA) and the Federal Grant Stabilization Fund, as well as a discussion on establishing future Budget Priorities. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui
Remote Present: Al-Zubi, Flaherty, Simmons
Absent: Azeem

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Mar 23, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: Transgender Day of Visibility was created by Trans activist Rachel Crandall-Crocker to increase awareness of the challenges gender-diverse communities face while also celebrating their courage and contributions to society; and
WHEREAS: The Trans and gender-diverse community has experienced numerous attacks through the year from bans on Trans girls in sports to removing Trans people from the military; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is committed to equity, inclusion, protection and celebration of all its residents including transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse residents, employees, workers, and visitors; and
WHEREAS: Visibly celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility confirms the City of Cambridge’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive community that affirms the dignity and personhood of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people and their invaluable contributions to our society; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge community is committed to ensuring that transgender and nonbinary individuals feel seen, heard, valued, and appreciated; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record recognizing March 31 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 direct the appropriate City staff to light up City Hall in light blue, light pink, and white from March 31, 2026, until April 6, 2026, in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility.

O-2     Mar 23, 2026
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
WHEREAS: Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) access programming, such as CCTV, CEA-TV and CityView 22, provides residents with direct access to local government, reliable public information, and community voices, serving as a critical safeguard against misinformation, a trusted source of communication during emergencies, and a cornerstone of a healthy democratic process; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge relies on cable franchise fees to fund PEG programming, including the broadcast and archiving of government meetings and other public resources; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts is experiencing a steady decline in cable subscriptions, due to an increase in the use of streaming services, reducing the revenue that supports these essential services; and
WHEREAS: Streaming platforms use public rights of way to deliver content but are not currently required to provide comparable compensation, creating an inequitable system; and
WHEREAS: H.91 and S.2556 would modernize the Commonwealth’s funding framework to reflect current technology and ensure sustainable support for community media; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council hereby expresses its strong support for H.91 and S.2556, An Act to modernize funding for community media programming; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council urges the Cambridge Delegation to advocate for the passage of this legislation and support its favorable consideration by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to the members of the Cambridge Delegation to the Massachusetts General Court and to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-3     Mar 23, 2026
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council is dedicated to mobility justice and ensuring that all residents, especially seniors, people with disabilities, and those in transit-underserved neighborhoods, have access to reliable transportation; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has been working to address citywide transportation needs and is waiting for the results of the requested “Citywide Shuttle + Transit Gap Study” (Awaiting Report Item 25-23), which incorporates all shuttles, including university shuttles; and
WHEREAS: Harvard University leadership has stated on the public record as recently as June 2024 that its shuttle network is a “free of charge” resource for anyone in the City to use; and
WHEREAS: While earlier agreements focused on the “study” of public access, the 175 North Harvard Street Cooperation Agreement (formalized April 4, 2024) and the University’s own 2024–2025 Annual Report now list “Allston/Brighton/Cambridge resident access to the Harvard Shuttle” as a specific, ongoing commitment; and
WHEREAS: Despite these commitments and public promises, many residents continue to report being denied boarding on buses due to an operational “ID-only” protocol enforced by drivers; and
WHEREAS: The M2 (Cambridge-Boston) shuttle, which provides a vital connection to the Longwood Medical Area, remains effectively inaccessible to many because it requires a pre-purchased physical ticket from obscure locations rather than modern digital or onboard payment; and
WHEREAS: Harvard’s transition to zero-emission electric buses was supported by public grant programs from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, establishing a clear public interest in the equitable use of these assets; and
WHEREAS: This request is a logical next step that builds on the City’s Parking and Transportation Demand Management (PTDM) Ordinance; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Community Development Department and the Transportation Department to meet with Harvard’s Office of Community Relations and the Longwood Collective (MASCO) to harmonize institutional bus protocols with public-facing commitments, specifically by ensuring shuttle drivers are formally instructed to allow residents to board without an institutional ID; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to take all reasonable steps to leverage existing municipal communication channels to bridge the current information gap, focusing on low-overhead implementation through tools such as: updating the CDD “By Transit” webpage to include a dedicated section on resident access and links to real-time tracking via the PassioGo! app; using the Daily Updates from the City Manager, the Transportation Monthly newsletter, and official social media to remind residents of their rights as riders; tasking the Civic Outreach Squad with sharing route information during their regularly scheduled community engagement with seniors and low-income households; and working with the Longwood Collective to implement more accessible or digital ticketing options for the M2 shuttle; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to ensure these efforts are integrated into the final results of the “Citywide Shuttle + Transit Gap Study” and to report back to the City Council on progress in a timely manner.

O-4     Mar 23, 2026  amended
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: Members of the public, regardless of their gender, should be granted access to safe, clean bathrooms in public accommodations throughout Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Cities and states across the United States require single-stall public bathrooms to be gender-neutral, including the cities of Denver, Colorado; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Washington, D.C. and the states of California, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont; and
WHEREAS: In 2012, Cambridge adopted a city-wide policy to encourage the establishment of gender-neutral bathrooms in City-owned buildings and privately-owned public use buildings, in line with the State Plumbing Code; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has been unable to require that single-stall public bathrooms be gender-neutral due to the State Plumbing Code, as city ordinances cannot conflict with the Plumbing Code; and
WHEREAS: On December 8, 2023, changes to the State Plumbing Code went into effect, including new regulations regarding gender-neutral bathrooms; and
WHEREAS: Given the recent changes to the State Plumbing Code, the City should revisit this issue to determine whether the City can require single-stall public bathrooms to be gender-neutral; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Community Development Department, the Inspectional Services Department, the Law Department and any other appropriate City departments and staff to examine whether the City can enact an ordinance requiring all new public buildings and places of public accommodation in Cambridge that is required to have public restrooms with one or more single-stall bathrooms to have at least one single-stall bathroom with gender-neutral signage, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.

O-5     Mar 23, 2026  amended
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The MA Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR), MassDOT, the Museum of Science and over 30 environmental, walking and biking groups have been working on a proposal to create a Boston-Cambridge Riverwalk Construction at Science Park for many years; and
WHEREAS: This visionary idea to physically connect Boston and Cambridge with an engaging river walkway connecting the loop of the Paul Dudley White Bike Path has been percolating for decades; and
WHEREAS: It would spur economic development on both sides of the river while providing a unique experience and benefiting the river’s ecology; and
WHEREAS: The proposed project would improve the safety and mobility of residents and visitors as they walk, run and bike along the riverfront without needing to traverse on the Charles River Dam Road, a main thoroughfare with heavy and frequent motor vehicle traffic; and
WHEREAS: A 2023 feasibility study led by the Museum of Science and funded by a $209,427 grant from the Federal Economic Development Administration has proved it possible; and
WHEREAS: This MassDOT project #614025 requires further funding to take it to a 25% Design stage which would include, but not be limited to a site investigation, alternative analysis, robust public outreach and engagement activities, development of conceptual designs, cost estimates, and advancement of a preferred alternative; and
WHEREAS: DCR now seeks a $3 million Federal earmark for this, through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account in the FY2027 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill; therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of funding this Boston-Cambridge Riverwalk Construction at Science Park Project; and
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a copy of this resolution to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator Edward Markey, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch, U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley, and all Massachusetts U.S. Representatives.