5. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $20,000,000 from Free Cash to the Debt Stabilization Fund. This appropriation will be used to mitigate anticipated debt service costs in future years for the City’s major capital projections. (CM24#71)
pulled by Pickett; comments by Pickett, Finance Director Claire Spinner explains rationale, Simmons asks for clarification, City Manager Yi-An Huang notes anticipated increases in debt load, Taha Jennings provides additional information re: role of Covid; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (BA-Absent)

CMA 2024 #71     Apr 8, 2024
To the Honorable, the City Council:
I am hereby requesting an appropriation in the amount of $20,000,000 from Free Cash to the Debt Stabilization Fund. This appropriation will be used to mitigate anticipated debt service costs in future years for the City’s major capital projects. The Debt Stabilization Fund is a reserve that was established to offset increases in debt service costs, which otherwise would be funded from property taxes. The last time the City appropriated funds to the Debt Stabilization Fund was in FY20. The estimated balance in the Debt Stabilization Fund is $20,425,251. We anticipate using $17,756,620 as a revenue source in the FY25 budget, consistent with our practice in prior years.

As of April 8, 2024, the City’s Free Cash balance is $167,871,757.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a summary of a Planning Board Meeting on the 2023 Town-Gown Reports and Presentations. (CM24#72) [text of report]
Place on File 8-0-1 (BA-Absent)

Date: Mar 26, 2024
Subject: 2023 Town-Gown Reports and Presentations

To the Honorable, the City Council,

On February 13, 2024, the Cambridge Planning Board met to hear the annual Town-Gown presentations from Lesley University, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Each of these schools had submitted a 2023 Town-Gown report, which were reviewed by the Planning Board and made available to the public. Hult International Business School provided a report but did not give a presentation, because they are only asked to present every other year.

The Town-Gown reporting process provides information about the educational missions of the universities, their current and future programs, and development plans for the physical campus. The presentations and reports cover topics such as enrollment and staffing, housing, facilities needs, sustainability and resilience, connections with the broader community, and efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion. This knowledge gives the Planning Board a better understanding of how individual projects fit into an institution’s broader plans.

After the institutions’ presentations and public comment, Planning Board members made observations and asked 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:

• Overall, Planning Board members thanked the institutions for their participation and for their contributions to making Cambridge a wonderful place. Board members were impressed by the institutions’ reports and presentations and were encouraged by their commitment to the Town-Gown process over more than two decades. It was noted that the relationship between the institutions and the community had been much more contentious in the past, and that relationship has improved due to better communication on the part of the institutions.

• There is much to be gained from institutions working together on important planning issues both locally and globally. Board members would appreciate more focus on how institutions work with each other on shared issues such as sustainability.

• Board members appreciated the overview provided by Scott Walker, the City’s new Senior Manager for Data Services. It would be interesting to know more about how Cambridge’s characteristics compare with other communities that are home to major educational institutions.

• The ability for community members to visit shared spaces, often at no charge, is one of the valued contributions the universities make to Cambridge. Board members praised the recent decision to make the Harvard Art Museums open to the public and asked if other institutions would consider similar policies. MIT’s “open house” event held years ago was hailed as an example of a positive way to connect with the community, along with everyday campus spaces like food courts and open spaces that are open to the public. Some campus spaces have felt less accessible since the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Harvard and MIT were commended for their focus on independent, local, women-owned and minority-owned businesses as a way to promote economic inclusion in campus programming and procurement. Board members also praised the institutions’ support of longstanding community service organizations such as Food for Free. A Board member recognized the contributions of Paul Parravano, MIT’s Co-Director of Government and Community Relations, who passed away recently.

• As large owners of land, institutions play an important role in supporting retail. Board members noted that vacant ground-level space has had a negative impact. The retail character in Porter Square was raised as a particular concern. To benefit their own campuses and the community at large, institutions should work to activate ground-level retail, even if some subsidy is needed.

• Board members asked about the future of other important institutionally owned sites. One is Harvard’s Loeb Drama Center, currently home to the American Repertory Theater which is moving to a new facility in Allston. The Lesley-owned surface parking lots on Massachusetts Avenue at Porter Square were also identified. Lesley’s representatives said they were working with a broker to market those sites.

• It would be helpful to hear more about the institutions’ vision and approach to the public realm, not just building projects, in future Town-Gown reports and presentations. Board members appreciated Lesley’s focus on landscape, native plants, and accessibility for people with disabilities as it goes through substantial campus transformation.

• While the institutions’ tree inventories are very helpful, Board members would appreciate more information on tree canopy and how it has changed over time, reflecting the goals of the City’s Urban Forest Master Plan.

• The institutions have shown strong leadership on sustainability and climate resilience. In the spirit of collaboration, Board members encouraged institutions to measure the overall impacts of their efforts and share data with each other and the larger community. Other institutions and entities could learn lessons to make campus environments more resilient. MIT was also commended for mitigating environmental impacts on the Charles River as an example of how similar efforts could be undertaken.

• Board members asked for more information about how on-site renewable energy is being implemented on campuses. Board members also encouraged more indoor secure bicycle parking to encourage bicycling as an option for community members.

• Affordable housing remains a major priority of the city. The institutions were commended for recent actions to support housing production for their own communities and the larger community; they were encouraged to keep up those efforts. In future reporting it would be helpful to clarify how student housing for families is counted in the institutions’ housing supply.

• The proliferation of telecommunications antennas on significant campus buildings remains a concern because of their visual impact on neighborhoods. Institutions were again encouraged to reconsider what they have allowed in the past and what they will allow in the future.

Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board,
Mary Flynn, Chair

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication from Ajay Sonalkar, regarding Cycling Safety Ordinance- BUILD LANES ASAP.

2. A communication from David Wintermeyer, regarding Bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

3. A communication from Ed Ford, regarding Bike Lines.

4. A communication from Graeme Peel, regarding Bike infrastructure delay.

5. A communication from Henry Lieberman, regarding Bike Safety Ordinance.

6. A communication from Ian Orbinson, regarding Please don’t delay the installation of lifesaving bike and pedestrian infrastructure!

7. A communication from Jennifer Frutchy, regarding Bike lanes thank you.

8. A communication from Jesse Winch, regarding Please keep the separated bike lanes on schedule.

9. A communication from Joshua Hartshorne, regarding Don’t delay bike lane installation - Accelerate the process!

10. A communication from Nate Sharpe, regarding Please continue implementing the Cycling Safety Ordinance as planned.

11. A communication from Rob Vandenabeele, regarding Please Support PO#4.

12. A communication from Ryan Houlette, regarding no delays to the Cycling Safety Ordinance.

13. A communication from Ty Wilson, regarding Please stop the delay of bike lane projects.

14. A communication from Young Kim, regarding Traffic Congestion at Mass Ave & Alewife Brook Pkwy Intersection.

15. A communication from Darren Buck, regarding No more Cycling Safety Ordinance delays.

16. A communication from Aaron Greiner, regarding Please don’t delay safe bike infrastructure.

17. A communication from Clyve Lawrence, regarding Do not delay on safe, sustainable mobility in Cambridge.

18. A communication from David Read, regarding Bike safety improvements.

19. A communication from Guillaume Bouchard, regarding Enough with the bike lane delays! Build life-saving infrastructure now.

20. A communication from Jessie Lan, regarding Support Bike Infrastructure.

21. A communication from John Leo, regarding Support of bike lanes on Cambridge Street.

22. A communication from Len von Morze, regarding Cycling Safety Ordinance (1).

23. A communication from Luis Mejias, regarding Cycling Safety Ordinance.

24. A communication from Martin Breu, regarding No more delays!

25. A communication from Mike Rowland, regarding Don’t delay a safer Cambridge Street.

26. A communication from Walter Willett, regarding Cycling Safety Ordinance.

27. A communication from Meredith Moore, regarding No Delay in Cycling Safety Ordinance.

28. A communication from Randy Stern, regarding Do not delay the Cycling Safety Ordinance.

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Apr 8, 2024  Amended
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR PICKETT
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Residents and business owners in commercial areas impacted by current and proposed installation of separated bicycle and bus lanes have advocated for the city to provide parking mitigation; and
WHEREAS: City staff, our recent Economic Impact Study, and CDD 2022 Parking Study all recommended the development of zoning amendments to allow the use of existing underutilized accessory parking spaces along and near commercial corridors as an option to mitigate the loss of metered on-street spaces; and
WHEREAS: Members of the City Council have requested that the city reexamine and provide changes to our current zoning to allow greater access to alternative parking options; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Community Development Department and the Law Department to draft proposed near-term amendments to the Parking and Transportation Demand Management Ordinance and the Zoning Ordinance to allow flexibility for property owners to share off-site parking with nearby properties, if necessary, to mitigate the loss of parking resulting from the installation of separated bicycle facilities due to implementation of the Cycling Safety Ordinance; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back in a timely manner with a timeline for when these proposed amendments will be available [and that we have these recommended ordinance changes before the City Council no later than the first meeting in October 2024] for review and discussion.

O-2     Apr 8, 2024  Charter Right - Sobrinho-Wheeler
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR PICKETT
COUNCILLOR WILSON
WHEREAS: Residents and business owners along the Cambridge Street, Main Street and Broadway commercial corridors have expressed significant concerns regarding the potential negative impacts to their businesses due to the loss of significant parking as the result of the proposed installation of separated bicycle lanes and have advocated that the city provide parking mitigation alternatives prior to installation of the new bike lanes; and
WHEREAS: After several meetings with the Deputy City Manager, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, Commissioner of Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Commissioner of Public Works and other essential staff to discuss these concerns and seeking their assistance in drafting this policy order to provide more time to provide parking and other mitigation against any negative impacts of the installation of separated bike lanes in the impacted areas; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Department of Public Works, the Community Development Department, and the Law Department to draft proposed amendments to the Cycling Safety Ordinance to extend the deadline associated with the completion of those sections of the ordinance that are required to be completed by May 1, 2026 to a new deadline of November 1, 2027 for the City Council’s consideration, with any such amendments requiring City Council approval and passage by December 31, 2024; and be it further
ORDERED: That if the City Council passes such amendments of the Cycling Safety Ordinance by December 31, 2024, that the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic Parking and Transportation Department not to begin installing Quick-Build Separated Bicycle Lanes on
  (a) Main Street between Sydney Street extension and Osborne Street
  (b) Cambridge Street between Oak Street and Second Street; and
  (c) Broadway between Hampshire Street and Quincy Street
Until after July 1, 2025, or until after passage of amendments to the Parking and Transportation Demand Management Ordinance and the Zoning Ordinance allowing for the sharing of off-site parking with nearby properties, if necessary, to mitigate the loss of parking resulting from the installation of separated bicycle facilities due to implementation of the Cycling Safety Ordinance, whichever is sooner. Community engagement, planning, and design of these corridors may proceed in advance of these dates.

O-3     Apr 8, 2024
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR PICKETT
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Over the past several months, residents of Appleton Street have communicated to the City Council and the Commissioner of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation their concerns about an increase in speeding, cut through traffic, especially during the afternoon and evening commute; and
WHEREAS: The Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department has been gathering data regarding traffic in the area and is finalizing their analysis; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department to hold a community meeting with residents of Appleton and surrounding streets in the Huron and Brattle Street neighborhoods to review their findings and discuss options for addressing the neighbors’ concerns, including the possibility of restricting traffic entering from the Brattle onto Appleton Street from the hours of 3-7pm; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back in a timely manner with a report on final recommendations for addressing the neighborhood concerns.

O-4     Apr 8, 2024  Charter Right - Toner
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR WILSON
WHEREAS: Currently under state law, all non-profit organizations in Massachusetts are exempt from paying property taxes to local municipalities—including institutions with significant land-holdings and multi-billion-dollar endowments; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts State Bill H.2963, An Act relative to payments in lieu of taxation by organizations exempt from the property tax, was filed last year requiring tax-exempt organizations that own more than $15 million in assessed land value to pay municipalities 25% of what their assessed tax levy would be; and
WHEREAS: This would add significant funds to municipalities’ budgets to provide and expand necessary services, while continuing to exempt the vast majority of nonprofits in Cambridge and statewide, which do not have significant land holdings; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record in support of H.2963, An Act relative to payments in lieu of taxation by organizations exempt from the property tax, to ensure municipalities are fairly compensated and their long-term budgetary needs are preserved; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this Policy Order to State House leadership and to the Cambridge State House delegation on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-5     Apr 8, 2024
MAYOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: In 1991, the United States Congress proclaimed the second week in April to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, recognizing the invaluable role of 911 professionals in emergency response; and
WHEREAS: The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) has been instrumental in promoting National Telecommunicators Week nationwide, honoring the commitment and diligence of these professionals; and
WHEREAS: Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers (ETD) in Cambridge operate the City’s Emergency Communications Center tirelessly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, providing an essential service in times of need; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge’s ETDs have consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism, answering an average of 152 emergency calls and approximately 350 non-emergency calls per day in 2023, amounting to approximately 181,000 calls annually; and
WHEREAS: The forecasted increase in dispatched calls for service and processed calls in 2024 highlights the growing importance and demand for these skilled telecommunicators, and the City recognizes that the unwavering commitment of its public safety telecommunicators warrants our profound gratitude and appreciation, not just during a designated week but throughout the year; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record acknowledging April 14 - April 20, 2024, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Cambridge; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the Emergency Communications Center on behalf of the entire City Council.

Substitute Order Adopted
O-5     Apr 8, 2024
MAYOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: The Emergency Communications Department serves as the primary agency for receiving, transmitting, and dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls for law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, other public safety services, after-hours City services, and for supervising employees who perform those functions; and
WHEREAS: Emergencies requiring immediate police, fire, or medical response can happen at any time, making it vital for Emergency Communications Center personnel to quickly and accurately assess and relay information, contributing significantly to public safety and emergency response; and
WHEREAS: The Emergency Communications Department seeks to ensure that all Communications Center personnel are properly classified within the City of Cambridge as public safety-first responders, in order to comport with the extensive regimen of training, education, and certification necessary to carry out these roles; and
WHEREAS: The Emergency Communications Department strives to fully staff the Emergency Communications Center with fully trained, certified personnel committed to their crucial public safety roles, and to make the Emergency Communications Center an attractive workplace that offers career growth and public service opportunities for Telecommunicators; and
WHEREAS: The City seeks to confer upon the Emergency Communications Center personnel the recognition, dignity, and respect due to them for their devotion to an exceptionally difficult and demanding profession; and
WHEREAS: The City understands that the designation of the Emergency Communications Center personnel employees as public safety employees requires a change in state law to become effective, but believes that this is nonetheless an important step for the City of Cambridge to take at the municipal level; and
WHEREAS: The City recognizes that the second week of April each year is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, a time to celebrate and thank telecommunications personnel across the Nation who serve our communities, citizens, and public safety personnel twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate City staff to ensure that, going forward, all Emergency Communications Center personnel shall be classified and recognized as first responders, whose roles and functions are pivotal to the public safety operations of the city, rather than solely being classified as clerical or administrative workers; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council formally go on record in declaring the week of April 14 - April 20, 2024 to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in the City of Cambridge, in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our city and citizens safe.

O-6     Apr 8, 2024  Charter Right - Toner
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
ORDERED: That the amendments to the Tenants’ Rights Ordinance recommended by the Law Department in CM24#68 be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for hearing and report.