CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-6, which requested a report on expediting the demolition and rebuilding permit process in the event of a natural disaster. (CM22#73)
pulled by Mallon; Placed on File 9-0

Apr 11, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-6, which requested a report on expediting the demolition and rebuilding permit process in the event of a natural disaster, please be advised of the following:

Immediately following a natural disaster, the City works closely with affected residents to secure housing and resources for those impacted. The Cambridge Fire Department Office of Emergency Planning and Coordination (EPAC) responds to fires and other emergencies which result in the displacement, either short or long term, of residents and/or businesses. EPAC personnel working in tandem with Inspectional Services Department, the American Red Cross, the Multi-Service Center and the City Manager’s Housing Liaison Office, work with the occupants and property owners to ensure people are provided with assistance in the retrieval of personal property (if safe to do so), relocation and communications needs.

When initial building permit applications are submitted, the City is in the process of finalizing a “flagging” process for properties that have been affected by a natural disaster that will initiate an early notification to staff that a building permit application has been received. Properties that have been significantly impacted by fire or other natural disasters will be flagged in the City of Cambridge Permitting and Licensing system. Location flags will enable staff to identify and, if possible, prioritize inspections and approvals. This will allow staff in multiple departments to track the progress of relevant permits associated with flagged properties.

In addition to the flagging system, I will be recommending the creation of a new position in the Inspectional Services Department FY23 budget. This position will include permit coordination duties, and the new staff member will work both internally with all relevant departments and also directly with individual applicants throughout the permitting process.

Until the position is filled, individuals can continue to work with my office for assistance with permit coordination and with staff from the Inspectional Services, Public Works, Historical Commission and Fire Departments to keep the process moving forward as efficiently as possible.

Building permit applications for properties in need of significant work are, in most cases, submitted long after the actual fire or disaster happens. This is due to the time it takes for property owners to work with their insurance companies, hire contractors and architects, and any other related planning needs prior to applying for a building permit. A number of these steps that must take place prior to the process of acquiring a building permit are not within the City’s jurisdiction and unfortunately cannot be expedited. Our goal is that with the addition of the new coordinator position and the “flagging” process, we will be able to minimize delays where we have the ability to.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on MassAve4 and request for approval for the approach and timeline for implementing separated bike lanes on these critical segments of Massachusetts Avenue. [Cover Letter] [Report] [Order] (CM22#74)
pulled by Carlone; Kathy Watkins says median removal to be considered more generally as part of “partial build” as opposed to “quick build”, removal of catenary wires; Joseph Barr suggests that some parking could be retained; Zondervan says that if this modified timeline is not approved then Quick Build is the only option under the ordinance; Mallon reads prepared statement, proposes amendment; Toner notes that Ordinance could be changed and that self-imposed deadline is detrimental, cannot support any of the proposals; Simmons notes past promises that bike projects would later be evaluated but never were, notes great impacts on local businesses; McGovern asks about timelines; Nolan expresses shock re: $55 million cost for 2.5 miles of bike project, Kathy Watkins explains; Nolan emphasizes need to reduce number of cars; Toner suggests shifting some sidewalk space; Siddiqui supports Order as a “pre-step”; Mallon amendments approved 9-0; Charter Right - Carlone

Apr 11, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am writing to provide you with an update on the MassAve4 project and am asking for your approval for the approach and timeline for implementing separated bike lanes on these critical segments of Massachusetts Avenue, as outlined in the attached cover letter and report.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

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Agenda Item Number 2     Apr 11, 2022
ORDERED: That the City Council approve of the approach and timeline for implementing separated bike lanes on the segments of Massachusetts Avenue identified as the MassAve4, as set forth in the City Manager’s recommendation submitted to the Council on this date, pursuant to the Cycling Safety Ordinance, Chapter 12.22 of the Municipal Code.

Mallon Proposed Amended Order
ORDERED: That the City Council approve of the approach and timeline for implementing separated bike lanes on the segments of Massachusetts Avenue identified as the MassAve4, as set forth in the City Manager’s recommendation submitted to the Council on this date pursuant to the Cycling Safety Ordinance, Chapter 12.22 of the Municipal Code, which states:
(a) Massachusetts Avenue between Beech Street and Dudley Street by December 31, 2026;
(b) Massachusetts Avenue between Waterhouse Street and Roseland Street by December 31, 2026;
(c) Massachusetts Avenue/Peabody Street northbound from Church Street to Garden Street by June 30, 2025, and
(d) Massachusetts Avenue between Plympton Street and Dunster Street by June 30, 2025.

3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-10, regarding a report on conducting a study to collect relevant economic data relating to business impacts from bike lane installations. (CM22#75)
pulled by Toner; concerned expressed about hearing from business owners; Placed on File 9-0

Apr 11, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

Please find attached a response to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-10, regarding a report on conducting a study to collect relevant economic data relating to business impacts from bike lane installations, received from Assistant City Manager for Community Development Iram Farooq and Traffic, Parking & Transportation Director Joseph Barr.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

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To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager
From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development; Joe Barr, Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation
Date: Apr 5, 2022
Re: Awaiting Report #22-10, Policy Order 5, dated February 28, 2022, on conducting a study to collect relevant economic data relating to business impacts from bike lane installations

In response to this order, the Community Development Department’s Economic Development Division, in collaboration with other City departments, has begun working on a scope of services to hire a consultant to help gather data and conduct this analysis. We expect that the consultant will develop a methodology on conducting its research and consider a variety of data used in bike lane installation economic analyses. The metrics should include data that is easy to acquire, updated quarterly or annually, objective, and quantitative. The consultant could consider data such as sales and meal tax, pedestrian/bike counts, and sidewalk and in-store customer intercept surveys.

Because the small business economy is multifaceted, it’s important to note that changes in sales for individual businesses can be the result of many different factors, and street design is just one of them. Therefore, we will want the consultant to approach the study accordingly, and include the following evaluations in their analysis:

1. capture data from commercial corridors where separated bike lanes have yet to be installed to enable ‘before and after’ comparisons, as appropriate, and

2. evaluate comparable previous separated bike lane installations.

We also know that it is important to look at data sets over time, rather than just single ‘pre-installation’ and immediate ‘post-installation’ points. By capturing data that is accurate, easy to gather over time, and objective, the study can best evaluate impacts.

As mentioned in the CMA 2022 #47 discussion at the March 7, 2022, Council meeting, the Community Development and Traffic, Parking, and Transportation departments, in collaboration with other City departments including Assessing, Law, Public Works, and the City Manager’s Office are finalizing a scope for the economic data analysis study and the hiring of a consultant to conduct it. It is anticipated that some data collection will begin this spring, with an initial economic analysis report done by fall 2022. In addition to the economic data study, Economic Development will continue to work with all business associations and individual businesses to discuss possible mitigation efforts as the Cycling Safety Ordinance implementation continues.

4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-70, regarding the feasibility of purchasing property from Lesley University to address City goals. (CM22#76)
pulled by Nolan; Placed on File 9-0

Apr 11, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

Please find a response to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-70, regarding the feasibility of purchasing property from Lesley University to address City goals, received from Assistant City Manager for Community Development Iram Farooq.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

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To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager
From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Date: Apr 7, 2022
Re: Awaiting Report #21-70, Policy Order #4 dated Oct 18, 2021 regarding the feasibility of purchasing property from Lesley University to address City goals.

In response to the above referenced Policy Order, we submit the following.

When Lesley University announced its new Campus Plan last fall, and then offered several buildings for sale, Community Development Department (CDD) staff worked with local affordable housing builders to determine if it would be feasible to create new affordable housing at any of the properties. This achievement is the direct result of the collective efforts of numerous City staff, the Mayor and City Council, Homeowner’s Rehabilitation, Inc., the Affordable Housing Trust, and Lesley University.

We are pleased to report that Lesley University has agreed to sell its property at 1627 Massachusetts Avenue to Homeowners Rehab, Inc. (HRI) so that HRI can create new affordable housing there. The Affordable Housing Trust will finance this acquisition, which we expect to be completed in the coming months.

CDD Housing staff and the affordable housing builders looked at several of the available properties and determined that the property at 1627 Massachusetts Avenue presented a unique opportunity to add new affordable housing in the Baldwin neighborhood. The site consists of a historic building on a 14,400 s.f. lot and presents an opportunity for residential development (market or affordable) given the zoning potential of the site. The development potential of the site makes it quite valuable on the market. We discussed this at great length with HRI, the Affordable Housing Trust, and Lesley University. We are pleased that HRI was able to offer an amount that the University accepted from among other offers, and that the Affordable Housing Trust approved funding for the full amount of HRI’s pending purchase.

Housing staff are now working with HRI to prepare for their purchase of the property. Once the purchase is complete, HRI will begin planning for development of the property as affordable housing. The plan will be to renovate the existing structure for residential use and to build additional homes on the rear portion of the lot. HRI will hold community meetings and work with City staff as it begins to develop its plans to ensure the best possible outcome for the community.

5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Planning Board to adopt with additional considerations, the Alewife Overlay Development Zoning Petition. (CM22#77)
Referred to Petition 9-0

Apr 11, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

Please find attached a recommendation from the Planning Board to adopt with additional considerations, the Alewife Overlay Development Zoning Petition.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

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Date: Apr 5, 2022
Subject: Alewife Overlay Development Zoning Petition
Recommendation: The Planning Board RECOMMENDS adoption, with additional considerations.

To the Honorable, the City Council,

On March 8, 2022, the Planning Board (the “Board”) held a public hearing to discuss a Zoning Petition by the City Council to amend Section 20.90 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance to temporarily prohibit office and laboratory uses listed in Table 4.34 in Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 until December 31st, 2023, or “…until such time as new Alewife District zoning is ordained by the Cambridge City Council, whichever shall be sooner” (the “Petition”). The Board heard a presentation from Councillor Carlone and Councillor Nolan, representing the petitioners, and received written materials from staff in the City’s Community Development Department (CDD).

Following the presentation, public comment, and discussion among Board members, the Planning Board voted to transmit a favorable recommendation on this Petition to the City Council, with some additional comments. The Board was generally supportive of the concept of a pause in development in the Alewife districts for the purpose of developing appropriate zoning. Many Board members expressed that it should be done urgently and with speed, and that a shorter one-year prohibition may be more appropriate given the recent completion of the Envision Alewife Planning study in 2019 and the general availability of existing urban design and zoning analysis. The Petition should additionally clarify that the prohibition is intended for all “new” office and laboratory development, as it might be read to also impact existing buildings and uses.

Some Board members questioned whether the pause should be a true moratorium applicable to all new development, and not limited to specific use categories. That approach might be more fair and might help lend a sense of urgency to implementing final zoning. However, other Board members noted that such a change could require readvertising the Petition and holding additional hearings, which would take more time.

Board members encouraged additional input from the Law Department on the issue described above as well as the following questions:

• Because it is written to temporarily prohibit all office and laboratory uses, how would the Petition impact existing office or laboratory uses that might propose modifications, as well as buildings or uses that have received a special permit or building permit but not a certificate of occupancy?

• Are there limitations on the length of a temporary use prohibition, and can it later be extended? Some Board members expressed concerns that the prohibition might be extended beyond the specified timeframe if there is no resolution on final zoning.

• The Petition only affects one group of uses, and additional “carve-outs” were suggested during the public hearing that might make exceptions for development meeting certain criteria. How could such “carve-outs” affect the enforceability of the Petition?

• If this Petition impacts property values, potentially benefitting some property owners over others, does this raise specific concerns over the legal defensibility of the Petition?

The Planning Board voted with 6 members in favor of transmitting the above recommendation. One member voted “present,” and two members were absent.

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

6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to MBTA Communities Draft Guidelines presentation. [CDD Memo] [MBTA Communities Draft Guidelines] [MBTA Presentation] (CM22#78)
pulled by Carlone; Cambridge likely in compliance when guidelines are finalized; Placed on File 9-0

Apr 11, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

Please find attached a communication from Assistant City Manager for Community Development Iram Farooq, relative to a presentation of the MBTA Communities Draft Guidelines, which is required by the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development to be presented to the City Council by May 2, 2022.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

ON THE TABLE
1. 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]

2. 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]

3. 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]

4. 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]

5. 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]

6. 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]

7. 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]

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Apr 11, 2022  Amended
VICE MAYOR MALLON
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: Picking up after your pet can have a profound effect on the environment; and
WHEREAS: Pet waste that is not picked up can runoff into drinking water supply, carrying harmful diseases with it, among other negative impacts; and
WHEREAS: In Cambridge, it is illegal to leave pet waste on both public and private property for these reasons; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge provides free pet waste bags at City parks and dog parks to encourage owners to properly dispose of their pet waste, but these bags are not at any other known locations around the City; and
WHEREAS: Increasing the number of sites that carry free pet waste bags would help owners conveniently and properly pick up after their pets, no matter where they are in the City; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with the Department of Public Works and the Animal Commission to look into placing free pet waste bags at other sites around the City; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Communications Department to use the municipal signs at City Hall and other locations for an educational campaign on how to properly dispose of pet waste and why; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on this matter to the City Council in a timely manner.

O-2     Apr 11, 2022
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
VICE MAYOR MALLON
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Idling of vehicles is known to be harmful to public health and contributes to the climate crisis; and
WHEREAS: The Massachusetts Anti-Idling Law is in place to reduce air pollution by limiting unnecessary idling of vehicles to five minutes; and
WHEREAS: There are three exemptions to this law: when an engine is being repaired and operating the engine is necessary for the repair; when a vehicle is making deliveries and associated power is necessary; and when the engine is used to provide power to another device; and
WHEREAS: Around Cambridge, on any given day there are many idling vehicles, and residents have written to the City Council asking that the Anti-Idling Law be better enforced; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has discussed the issue of enforcement in the past, yet it is a problem and residents and others have noted that idling happens regularly, with a negative impact on air quality; and
WHEREAS: New York City has recently developed a citizen-outsourcing program, which invites citizens to report trucks that are idling for more than three minutes, and pays the citizen 25% of the fine collected for a video of the idling vehicle; and
WHEREAS: This program has been successful; complaints against trucks increased from only a few to over 12,000 last year, incentivizing drivers to turn their car off instead of idling; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relative City departments, including the Community Development Department and the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to consider the feasibility of implementing a similar program and any other ways to enforce the anti-idling law; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council by no later than June 1, 2022, whereupon the matter will be referred to the appropriate committee(s).

O-3     Apr 11, 2022  Amended
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: Boston Calling is an annual music festival that takes place over the course of three days on the Harvard Athletic Complex; and
WHEREAS: Thousands of people are in attendance for the 50 performances, food vendors, ferris wheel, and other attractions; and
WHEREAS In previous years, residents surrounding the Harvard Athletic Complex, and as far away as Fresh Pond, have noted that the noise level from the concert seemed excessively loud; and
WHEREAS: The noise level of the concert should also not be loud enough to have an adverse health effect on concert attendees; and
WHEREAS: The venue confirmed that certain performers had deliberately overrode agreed upon sound settings during the festival in 2019; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with Boston Calling, Harvard, and any other relevant parties to ensure that noise does not exceed the permitted level at the concert; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to communicate to the community what steps will be taken to ensure a concert that is enjoyable without creating a noise issue for residents.

O-4     Apr 11, 2022
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: On Jan 10, 2022, the City Council adopted an order “[t]hat the Mayor be and hereby is requested to schedule a training session within the month of January for the purpose of reviewing Robert’s Rules of Order with the entire City Council”; now therefore be it
ORDERED: The City Council hold a virtual Roundtable meeting on Tues, May 24, 2022 at 6:00pm to receive a training on Robert’s Rules from parliamentarian Ann G. MacFarlone.

O-5     Apr 11, 2022  Amended
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: The COVID-19 pandemic had an outsized impact on families in poverty, both in Cambridge and across the country; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge RISE (Recurring Income for Success and Empowerment), one of the first guaranteed income pilots in the country, has already shown success in addressing the immediate financial and health needs of participants, while also providing opportunities for economic stability, the first step towards long-term economic empowerment and growth; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge RISE pilot included 130 single-caretaker households, but there is a widespread need in Cambridge for all families in poverty to receive assistance; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has a high cost of living, and research indicates that our lowest income households, households of color, and immigrant families are concentrated in the bottom two income quintiles, with households below 200% of the federal poverty level, which is not enough to cover rent and basic expenses; and
WHEREAS: These are the families most affected by COVID – having borne the brunt of service job losses; high food and utility costs as kids were home due to school closures; the inability to work from home due to childcare reasons, as well as the lack of technology skills and access; and
WHEREAS: On June 28, 2021, the City Council approved an initial appropriation of $65,019,211, received from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the new Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund established by the American Rescue Plan Act, to the Grant Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account; and
WHEREAS: These funds can be used to address the economic impacts of the public health emergency, including efforts to mitigate economic harm to workers, households, small businesses, affected industries, and the public sector; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has a unique opportunity to further address family poverty in Cambridge by providing direct cash assistance building on the work done with Cambridge RISE; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has advocated for these funds to be spent to advance racial and economic justice in Cambridge; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with relevant staff to consider a guaranteed income program that expands on Cambridge RISE and targets families in poverty in Cambridge; 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-6     Apr 11, 2022
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge shares a strong concern for children and families fighting Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH); and
WHEREAS: CDH is a birth defect that affects 52,000 babies each year, occurring when a baby’s diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth where 50% of babies born with CDH do not survive; and
WHEREAS: Many locations around the world light up on April 19th for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness to raise awareness and honor those children and families that fight so hard in testing circumstances; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to light up City Hall blue, pink, and yellow on April 19, 2022, for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness.

O-7     Apr 11, 2022
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: Most of the high school and upper school students are responsible for getting themselves to and from school every day; and
WHEREAS: There are approximately 742 students or 40% of the total student body at CRLS currently using the M7 transit cards provided by the City which are designated for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch benefits; and
WHEREAS: Students are continually penalized for being tardy their first period regardless of transportation circumstances; and
WHEREAS: Many high school students hold summer jobs through the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP) or other job opportunities; and
WHEREAS: All students deserve a safe and reliable means of transportation to and from school; and
WHEREAS: The School Committee adopted this motion with guidance from the Cambridge Youth Council at its Apr 5, 2022 Regular Meeting; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on the feasibility of providing all CRLS students free Charlie Cards throughout the school year.

O-8     Apr 11, 2022
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: A June 2021 Policy Order called for a study of the city’s parking policies, including specifically for an examination of “curb cut policies and their impact on encouraging car use and reducing green space”; and
WHEREAS: A February 2022 Policy Order proposed ending the practice of requiring City Council approval of all curb cuts; and
WHEREAS: As the City Council considers amending the curb cut approval process, it would be helpful to have a sense of the degree to which curb cuts have contributed to a loss of available residential parking over time; and
WHEREAS: It would also be helpful to understand the administration’s current procedures for notifying and conducting outreach to abutters and neighbors and the criteria for evaluating curb cut applications before they are transmitted to the City Council for approval; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate City departments to provide the City Council with 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; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with this information as soon as possible.

O-9     Apr 11, 2022
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: In 1991 the United States Congress declared the second week of April to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, celebrating 911 professionals who serve as public safety telecommunicators; and
WHEREAS: National Telecommunicators Week honors those who are the first point of contact in an emergency, who work 24/7 and 365 days of the year in a range of emergencies; and
WHEREAS: Every year, we celebrate and uplift the work of the Cambridge Emergency Communications Department, but over the last two years their work has been more important than ever as they responded to a public health crisis; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers (ETD) during the COVID-19 response screened patients with over 4,600 calls for COVID symptoms, responded to social distance violations and provided residents with information to safeguard them from exposure to the virus in addition to their day-to-day duties and responsibilities associated with supporting Police, Fire and EMS operations; and
WHEREAS: In FY21 the ETD staff responded to 100,000 calls for service and answered 137,000 emergency and non-emergency calls with further increased projections for FY22; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: The City Council go on record celebrating the work of 911 professionals who work tirelessly every single day, and recognizing the week of April 10 - April 16 as National Telecommunicators Week.

O-10     Apr 11, 2022  Amended
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR TONER
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the City Council that the Fair Share Amendment will be on the November 2022 statewide ballot; and
WHEREAS: The Fair Share Amendment would amend the Massachusetts Constitution to create an additional tax of four percentage points on annual income above one million dollars and dedicate the funds raised by this tax to quality public education, affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges, and public transportation; and
WHEREAS: Major investments in public transportation are needed to improve the safety, reliability, affordability, accessibility, and expansiveness of the network, and to shift many more people from driving to public transit, thereby reducing greenhouse gas and other harmful emissions; and
WHEREAS: Major investments in public education are needed to help students recover academically, socially, and emotionally from the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts needed new investments in our transportation and public education systems even before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now those investments are needed more than ever to lift our economy into an equitable and long-lasting recovery; and
WHEREAS: The Fair Share Amendment would only impact the state’s highest income earning residents, who have seen their collective net worth skyrocket in recent years; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of the proposed Fair Share Amendment and in urging the voters of Cambridge to support it at the ballot box in 2022.

O-11     Apr 11, 2022  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The City Council stands for equity and seeks to ensure that all students in Cambridge regardless of which school they attend have access to a safe and reliable means of transportation to and from school; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the city Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on the feasibility of providing all Cambridge high school students with free Charlie Cards throughout the school year.