Cambridge City Council meeting - April 4, 2022

Cambridge City Council meeting - April 4, 2022 - AGENDA
[all 9 councillors present]

CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA
1. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $50,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Inspectional Services Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account to provide funds to implement a pilot of SMART Box and SMART Pipe rodent control technology in the City. This appropriation also is in response to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-12. (CM22#63)
pulled by Mallon; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Toner ABSENT)

Apr 4, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $50,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Inspectional Services Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account to provide funds to implement a pilot of SMART Box and SMART Pipe rodent control technology in the City. In March, the City Council requested that I work with the Department of Public Works to introduce the SMART Box rodent control system in Cambridge. Since then, staff in the City Manager’s Office, Department of Public Works, and Inspectional Services Department have researched this system, conferred with the City’s Rodent Taskforce, and spoken with a representative from the City of Somerville about their experience with this technology.

Funds will be used to support a pilot project of both above ground SMART Boxes and SMART Pipes used in sewers. The pilot of this new technology will be in addition to the City’s ongoing efforts through our Rodent Taskforce, Private Property Rodent Control Program, investments in new City-issued trash carts and our curbside compost program, and ongoing outreach and education through community meetings, resident interactions, and informational handouts as we continue to do everything we can to mitigate the impacts of rodents on the quality of life of our residents.

It is anticipated that this new technology will help to collect meaningful data and results to allow us to add another rodent control option to the City’s toolkit. With City Council approval, the procurement of this technology will happen this spring with deployments of SMART Boxes and SMART Pipes expected later this spring and summer.

This is also in response to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-12.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-69, regarding a report on creating a uniform process for aiding the resettlement of refugees in Cambridge. [Uniform Resettlement Process response] [New Resident Overview] (CM22#64)
pulled by Siddiqui; Placed on File 8-0-1 (Toner ABSENT)

3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the transfer of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education grant funds from the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account in the amount of $30,404 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will enable the Community Learning Center to purchase laptops and Chromebooks for students and staff. (CM22#65)
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Toner ABSENT)

4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of new Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) funds in the amount of $91,054 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($4,641); and to the Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($86,413) which will be administered by the Fuel Assistance Program and will help eligible households pay water and sewer bills to restore or maintain access to drinking water and wastewater services. (CM22#66)
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Toner ABSENT)

5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-63, regarding food insecurity. [Food Insecurity response] [ARPA Funds Food Insecurity opinion] (CM22#67)
pulled by Siddiqui; Placed on File 9-0

To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager
From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development; Owen O’Riordan, Commissioner, Public Works Department; Derrick Neal, Chief Public Health Officer, Cambridge Public Health Department
Date: Mar 30, 2022
Re: Policy Order #9 dated Sept 13, 2021, regarding addressing food insecurity by installing raised garden beds throughout Cambridge and providing free, fresh, locally grown food for residents in need

Introduction
The City of Cambridge is committed to building equitable access to fresh, locally grown food and to providing opportunities for growing food. The City currently operates two successful programs – the community garden program and the SNAP Match incentive program – that are being evaluated for opportunities to increase access to free, locally grown food, as described below:

Community Garden Program
The Cambridge Conservation Commission operates a Community Garden Program, supporting 14 community gardens. Plots have historically been assigned to Cambridge households on a rotating, lottery-based system, with preference for residents who do not have land on which to garden. Given the desire to expand and diversify access to community agriculture in Cambridge and to prioritize food insecure families, City staff are working on a public engagement process with garden coordinators to rewrite the garden policy (last revised in 2015) to address operations, maintenance, and plot turnover.

During a focus group session held in October 2021, a set of stakeholders, including garden coordinators, Green Cambridge, Cambridge City Growers, Poets in the Garden, and Cambridge Plant and Garden Club, identified the following strategies, among others, to reduce barriers and increase access to community agriculture:

• Constructing temporary raised beds on parking lots and land waiting for development.

• More strongly enforcing a 5-year term limit for garden plots.

• Sharing single garden plots among neighbors.

• Expanding community agriculture outreach and communication.

This focus group also supported the establishment of new food growing spaces based on the community farm model. Distinct from the conventional community garden model, within which members are assigned and tend one garden plot, the community farm model has no limitations to membership and thereby can facilitate access to gardening and fresh food by more people. This model includes staff oversight and is an optimal setting to provide training and support for residents new to gardening. As the City looks at options for expanding the community farm model in Cambridge, it will be important to prioritize neighborhoods with the greatest need.

It is also recognized that as part of this effort the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) and the Department of Public Works (DPW) will need to work closely with the garden coordinators and those others involved in operating these spaces to ensure that they are adequately resourced to ensure waste is properly dealt with and that they don’t give rise to an increased level of rodent activity in the surrounding neighborhoods. The ISD Department works seasonally to inspect the gardens with DPW staff for rodents and rodent activity. DPW has overseen the installation and maintenance of bait boxes as well as deploying carbon monoxide treatment. This collaboration will continue annually.

Two examples of the community farm model in Cambridge are sites managed by Green Cambridge, a nonprofit organization: the Hurley Street Neighborhood Farm and a farm at Riverside Press Park. Both sites invite collective participation in growing food, run mostly through volunteer efforts of neighbors and partner organizations. The Hurley Street farm is also supported by a part-time farm manager. Green Cambridge is actively working in partnership with the City and developers to expand this model to additional sites. Cambridge City Growers, a group of residents that formed in 2020, has also worked to establish garden beds across the city.

Nutritional Incentive Programs
Cambridge has limited land on which to grow food, especially considering competing land uses and open space needs. Nutritional incentive programs like SNAP Match, however, provide broad, consistent access to healthy food for a wide range of people. These programs don’t typically require people to engage in agricultural activities as a precondition to accessing the benefit, and access is not constrained by the growing season. Additionally, these programs can more easily be scaled up, by expanding the locations and partners that administer the benefit or by increasing the incentive amount. Increasing the SNAP Match benefit available to SNAP-eligible shoppers would be quick and easy to implement and a straightforward way to expand access to healthy food.

The Cambridge SNAP Match program doubles the buying power of SNAP-eligible shoppers at the Central Square Farmers Market, Harvard University Farmers Market, and the Cambridge Community Center Winter Farmers Market, and the Central Square Winter Farmers Market. Each SNAP shopper is eligible for up to $15 per visit in matching benefits at the participating markets, offering $30 in purchases while using only $15 of their SNAP benefits. Since its inception in 2012, the SNAP Match program has issued $181,977 dollars in matching funds to SNAP shoppers.

The Central Square Farmers Market, which issues the most in SNAP matching funds of all participating markets, saw 487 unique SNAP shoppers at the market throughout the 2021 season, an increase from 303 unique SNAP shoppers in 2020. 2021 has seen a significant increase in SNAP match usage, with an increase of over 43% in the amount of SNAP match issued compared to 2020. This increase resulted in the highest amount of match issued in one year to date – $34,049 – which now exceeds the amount of annual funding made available to the program.

Another nutritional incentive program that Cambridge could consider is the Double Up Food Bucks program, which provides additional funds to SNAP shoppers when purchasing fresh fruits or vegetables from a food retailer. Funding for this program is available through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), and additional funding is required to be contributed by, or on behalf of, an applicant to the program. Eligible applicants are local governments and non-profit organizations, while eligible retailers include corner stores, neighborhood markets, grocery stores, mobile markets, and farmers markets. Double Up Food Bucks is currently available in Cambridge at The Daily Table, a non-profit organization which applied for this program independently. Another store, Pemberton Farms, has reached out to the Cambridge Public Health Department with interest in participating in this program. Double Up Food Bucks is currently available at nine food retail locations in Boston, and the City of Boston is actively looking to expand this program to more food retailers. This approach is an option for Cambridge to consider if required additional funding was available to enable an application to this program.

Conclusion
The City will continue to work on expanding its Community Garden and nutritional assistance programs. Of significance, the City will introduce the community farm model to new areas of Cambridge to expand and diversify access to community agriculture, and the City will work to identify additional funding for the SNAP Match program to keep pace with increased demand for affordable, healthy food.

7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $500,000 from Free Cash to the Public Works Public Investment Fund Extraordinary Expenditures account to fund snowstorm related street repairs. (CM22#69)
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Toner ABSENT)

8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $915,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account to fund the procurement of five pieces of equipment for use in snow and ice operations. (CM22#70)
pulled by Nolan; questions why John Deere hybrid vehicles not chosen; DPW Dep’y Comm. John Nardone explains; Nolan questions purchase because fossil fuel vehicles will soon not be permitted, suggests leasing instead; Zondervan suggests using bio-diesel fuel; Nardone says they already do; Order Adopted 9-0

Apr 4, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting an appropriation of $915,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account to fund the procurement of five pieces of equipment for use in snow and ice operations.

Funds will be used to purchase a new, large salter that will replace a 13-year-old salter. The vehicle which will be replaced is the oldest in the fleet and used for every snow and salting event during the winter season.

Funds will also be used to purchase a new front-end loader which will replace a 30-year-old loader. The loader is used for plowing and loading road salt into salter trucks as well as for roadwork and construction services.

In addition, funds will be used to purchase three sidewalk/bike lane tractors which will be important additions to the fleet. One tractor will replace an older vehicle that is used in every winter weather event. The other two new tractors are additions the fleet that will allow for the clearing of up to 5 additional miles of protected bike lanes, which are planned to be installed prior to the 2022/2023 winter season.

Public Works continues to strive to incorporate more sustainable equipment into our fleet and as part of this process explored both hybrid and all electric options for these vehicles. Because all of the requested equipment is used primarily for winter operations, all electric applications are not viable. While some manufacturers are making strides to offer hybrid options, the current models and sizes do not work for the vehicles we are requesting. DPW staff will continue to explore these options for all their vehicle purchases, keeping in mind environmental impacts, operational and functional needs, and cost effectiveness.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

CHARTER RIGHT
1. The Ordinance Committee met on Feb 9, 2022 to conduct a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (2021-26). [Charter Right – Zondervan, Mar 28, 2022] [Committee Report]
Tabled - Zondervan (voice vote)

ON THE TABLE
2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for new appointments and reappointment to Open Data Review Board for a term of two year. [Charter Right – Mallon, Feb 28, 2022; Tabled Mar 7, 2022]

3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for reappointment and new appointment to the Water Board. [Charter Right – Mallon, Feb 28, 2022; Tabled Mar 7, 2022]

4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for reappointments to the Fresh Pond Master Plan Advisory Board. [Charter Right – Mallon, Feb 28, 2022; Tabled Mar 7, 2022]

5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for new appointments and reappointments to the Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission. [Charter Right – Mallon, Feb 28, 2022; Tabled Mar 7, 2022]

6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for a new appointment and reappointments to the Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission. [Charter Right – Mallon, Feb 28, 2022; Tabled Mar 7, 2022]

7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for reappointments to the Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission. [Charter Right – Mallon, Feb 28, 2022; Tabled Mar 7, 2022]

8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for a new appointment and reappointments to the Historical Commission. [Charter Right – Mallon, Feb 28, 2022; Tabled Mar 7, 2022]

9. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Emergency Management Performance Grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in the amount of $39,600 to the Grant Fund Fire Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to support the purchase of a new vehicle for the Emergency Preparedness and Coordination office. [Charter Right – Nolan, Mar 7, 2022; Tabled – Mar 21, 2022]

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Please introduce a Policy Order for Moving Van regulations in areas with no loading parking zone.

2. A communication was received from Sarah White, regarding Cambridge Green New Deal.

3. A communication was received from Janie Katz-Christy, regarding unknown woman killed by truck in Porter Square (25 years ago) and rest of project area.

4. A communication was received from Hasson Rashid, regarding death of a homeless man in Harvard Square!.

5. A communication was received from Hasson Rashid, regarding A Statement on the Start of Ramadan 2022 And Ramadan allows us to really put our priorities in place.

6. A communication was received from Dr. Gleb Bahmutov, PhD, regarding strong support for Green New Deal and accurate fossil fuel building accounting.

7. A communication was received from Lee Farris, regarding Residents Alliance supports Climate Crisis WG recommendations.

8. A communication was received from Annette Osgood and Jeanne Oster, regarding Petition signed by over 1050 names requesting changes to the Cycling Safety Ordinance

9. A communication was received from Andrew Ray, regarding Parking minimums (Transportation Committee Hearing 4/5/22).

10. A communication was received from Caroline Lamanna, regarding Please keep parking mandates in place for new housing.

11. A communication was received from John Pitkin, regarding We Are All Climate People flyer.

12. A communication was received from Gabriela Cipriano, regarding In Support of Ordinance #2022-8.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Congratulations to Gilda M. Nogueira for being named MAPS 2022 Person of the Year. Councillor Toner

2. Congratulations to Julia Evora for being awarded the MAPS Jorge Fidalgo Community Service Award. Councillor Toner

3. Congratulations to Debora Guimaraes for being awarded the MAPS Manuel Coutinho Outstanding Volunteer Award. Councillor Toner

5. Congratulations to Dr. Norma Finkelstein on her Retirement. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons

6. Congratulations to George R. Greenidge, Jr. on being American Sociological Association's Community & Urban Publicly Engaged Scholar Award Recipient 2022. Councillor McGovern

R-6 Apr 4, 2022
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN

WHEREAS: It has come to the City Council’s attention that Cambridge native and 1988 CRLS graduate, George R. Greenidge, Jr., has been awarded the inaugural 2022 American Sociological Association's Community & Urban Publicly Engaged Scholar Award for his convening and advocacy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programming efforts in urban communities/cities; and

WHEREAS: George R. Greenidge, Jr. is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School; and

WHEREAS: George is a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at Georgia State University, where his current research focuses on the economic development of urban cities and the impact of displacement and gentrification on its residents; and

WHEREAS: George has served in several capacities throughout his career in the nonprofit, government, philanthropy, and education fields including as an Economic Fellow at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and Urban Fellow with the GSU College of Law's Center for the Comparative Study of Metropolitan Growth and with GSU’s inaugural field school research projects as a team leader and interviewer in urban housing policy; and

WHEREAS: George holds a Master's Degree in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor’s in Political Science/International Studies from Morehouse College; and

WHEREAS: George was President of the Boston Empowerment Zone, a federally funded HUD initiative aimed at economic investment in U.S. urban neighborhoods, and the Founder and Executive Director of the Greatest MINDS/National Black College Alliance, Inc., a nonprofit focused on providing alumni mentors to college and high school students; and

WHEREAS: George was recently recognized by the United Negro College Fund and the Boston Red Sox with their inaugural Homecoming Award for his life-long commitment to providing mentorship to over 10,000 high school and college students pursuing college degrees in Cambridge and Boston, MA, and Atlanta, GA; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record congratulating George R. Greenidge, Jr. for being awarded the inaugural 2022 American Sociological Association's Community & Urban Publicly Engaged Scholar Award; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to George R. Greenidge, Jr. on behalf of the entire City Council.

COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Anthony Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative activity. (COF22#37)
Placed on File (voice vote)

2. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee. (COF22#38)
Placed on File (voice vote)

3. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui and Councillor Nolan, transmitting a report from the Climate Crisis Working Group. (COF22#39)
Pulled by Nolan; Referred to Health & Environment Committee (voice vote)

Tues, Apr 5
12:00pm The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on Ordinance #2022-8, an ordinance amending Parking minimums and maximums.

Wed, Apr 6
5:30pm The Ordinance Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on a petition to amend the zoning ordinance entitled “Article 22 Sustainable Design and Development” (Ordinance #2022-7).

Thurs, Apr 7
5:30pm The Ordinance Committee will meet to continue a public hear on a petition to amend Article 20.90 - Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by inserting a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 - Temporarily prohibited uses. (ORDINANCE #2022-1)

Tues, Apr 12
10:00am The Government Operations, Rules and Claims committee will meet to discuss new guidelines for Boards and Commissions appointments.

Wed, Apr 13
11:00am The Ordinance Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on Ordinance #2022-2 charter change municipal code amendments.
3:00pm The Economic Development and University Relations Committee will hold a public hearing with the universities and business associations to have a dialogue about reopening post pandemic, current needs, updates, and how the City can be supportive to these organizations.

Thurs, Apr 14
5:30pm The Civic Unity Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report by Working IDEAL.

Wed, Apr 20
5:30pm The Ordinance Committee will meet to continue a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (Ordinance #2021-26)

Tues, Apr 26
11:00am The Health and Environment Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on a proposal to amend Section 2.66 of the Municipal Code to add a new section titled “Article III Green Jobs”.

Wed, May 4
5:30pm The Ordinance Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on the Cambridge Transportation De-Carbonization and Congestion-Mitigation Petition (Ordinance #2022-10).

Tues, May 10
9:00am The Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY 2023 budget

Wed, May 11
6:00pm The Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY 2023 school budget

Tues, May 17
10:00am The Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY 2023 budget.

Thurs, May 19
9:00am The Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY 2023 budget (if needed)

AWAITING REPORT LIST
16-111. Report on the potential of building below market rental housing on City-owned parking lots along Bishop Allen Drive. On a communication from Councillor McGovern requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Vice Mayor McGovern, Mayor Simmons (O-4) from 12/12/2016

18-38. Report on inventory of all City-owned vacant buildings and lots and the City's plans for them, if any.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor Siddiqui (O-2) from 3/26/2018

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

19-145. Report on reviewing all the City’s policies and procedures related to the procurement, installation and disposal of artificial turf.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Zondervan (O-7) from 10/21/2019

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

20-61. Report on an update on City-Owned Vacant Properties Inventory.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Toomey (O-2) from 11/16/2020

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

21-8. Report on removing hostile architecture whenever public spaces are designed or redesigned and to create design guidelines that ensure our public spaces are truly welcoming to the entire community and determine how existing bench fixtures can be addressed to support all residents who use them.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui (Calendar Item #3) from 2/8/2021

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

21-35. Report on providing options to update the HomeBridge and Affordable Home Ownership Programs to better align with the City’s values, and promote racial equity and socioeconomic justice.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui (O-6) 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

21-45. Report on taking all necessary steps to waive the dog license fee for all senior citizens and examine options for reducing the fees for low-income residents. See Mgr #9
Councillor McGovern (Calendar Item #1) from 6/14/2021

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

21-49. Report on making immediate improvements at the intersection of Cardinal Medeiros Avenue, Binney and Bristol Streets and to all intersections in the city that are similarly malfunctioning, and to implement longer term changes.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan (O-8) 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

21-52. Report on examining stipend models for the City's multi-member bodies.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan (O-8) from 6/28/2021

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

21-63. Report on using only locally sourced produce, farmers, and resident gardeners to study the feasibility of spending Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to address food insecurity by installing raised garden beds throughout Cambridge and providing free, fresh, locally-grown food for residents in need. See Mgr #5
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone (O-9) 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

21-69. Report on determining the feasibility of creating a uniform process for aiding the resettlement of refugees in Cambridge. See Mgr #2
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-3) from 10/18/2021

21-70. Report on determining the feasibility of purchasing property from Lesley University to address City goals.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 10/18/2021

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

21-90. Report on working with partners including the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) and the Central Square Business Improvement District on identifying spaces in Central Square that would support the creation and protection of cultural and human service spaces that align with the City’s goals.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toomey (O-3) from 11/22/2021

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

21-99. Report on spending plan and possible reallocation for the anticipated GLX refunds, and to report to the City Council on the use of GLX Project Participation Agreement funding in a timely manner.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toomey (O-6) 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

22-6. Report on the feasibility of expediting the Demolition and Rebuilding permitting process in the event of a natural disaster.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern (O-4) from 1/24/2022

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

22-9. Report on options for spending ARPA money on direct support for households and individuals facing eviction, housing instability, and/or homelessness.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone (O-5) from 2/7/2022

22-10. Report on conducting a study to collect relevant economic data relating to business impacts from bike lane installations, positive or negative, which will help inform future installations of bike lanes along commercial corridors.
Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone (O-5) from 2/28/2022

22-12. Report on introducing the SMART Box rodent control system. See Mgr #1
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui (O-2) from 3/7/2022

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

22-15. Report on looking into specific pedestrian safety interventions that can be placed at the intersection of Broadway and Highland Avenue.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan (O-1) from 3/21/2022

22-16. Report on convening an Alewife Overlay District Zoning Proposal Working Group comprised of all stakeholders (community members, commercial property owners, businesses, developers, city staff and other parties as deemed appropriate) to engage stakeholders and City leaders in a process similar to that employed in developing zoning principals for the Volpe Center that will lead towards drafting new zoning for adoption.
Councillor Toner, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-2) from 3/21/2022

22-17. Report on working with the American Red Cross to establish a workforce development program for life guarding that includes free certification and recertification courses throughout the year for anyone who can pass the swim test and include incentives that may entice qualified applicants including (but not limited to) higher wages, retention and signing bonuses, and the option to work more than 19.5 hours per week if desired.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone (O-3) from 3/21/2022

22-18. Report on working with staff of the BB&N school to provide a solution to cars idling beyond the five-minute legal limit, stalled traffic, blocked driveways, and a forced one-way path up Buckingham Street toward Concord where drivers face the risk of coming head-to-head with a vehicle trying to bypass the pickup line; and, such as a tiered drop-off system, a parking area for parents, or more drop-off and pick-up locations.
Councillor Nolan (O-4) from 3/21/2022