2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of School Committee Member Caroline Hunter as a member of the Family Policy Council. (CM23#99)
Appointment Approved 9-0

Apr 24, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am writing to inform you that I am appointing School Committee Member Caroline Hunter to the Family Policy Council for the remainder of the 2022-24 term in office, based on the recommendation of Mayor Siddiqui. Her appointment will fill a vacancy among the Mayor’s three recommended members who serve on this council.

I look forward to her contributions as a member of the Family Policy Council.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as member of the to the Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women for a term of three years: • Jean Connor (appointment) • Caitlin Dube (appointment) • Rhonda Greene (reappointment) • Mara Horwitz (appointment) • Natalie Le (appointment) • Judith Tumusiime (appointment) (CM23#100)
Appointments Approved 9-0

Apr 24, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am writing to recommend the following appointments and reappointments of members to the Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women for a term of three years:

• Jean Connor (appointment)

• Caitlin Dube (appointment)

• Rhonda Greene (reappointment)

• Mara Horwitz (appointment)

• Natalie Le (appointment)

• Judith Tumusiime (appointment)

The Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women (CCSW) was established by ordinance of the City Council in 1977. CCSW works to promote equity for all women and girls and advocates on their behalf with other City departments, officials, and local organizations to increase their opportunities through policy recommendations and program development and builds public awareness in key issue areas. CCSW recognizes, supports, and advocates for all who self-identify as women or with womanhood, including transgender, gender fluid, and non-binary persons. We stand with and for all women and girls regardless of immigration status, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability or religion.

The City Manager’s office posted a request for applications for the CCSW on the City website and via a news release on Nov 7, 2022, with a closing date of Dec 12, 2022. During that time, the Women’s Commission sent the notice out to their listserv, posted the openings on various social media platforms, and reached out to anyone who had inquired about board openings since the last application period in late 2020. The call for applicants was also posted in several of the City’s daily email updates and in postings on the City website. The Commission received 20 applications. An interview team consisting of staff and CCSW members conducted virtual interviews with eight (8) applicants. The Committee chose Jean Connor, Caitlin Dube, Mara Horowitz, Natalie Le, and Judith Tumusiime and recommend their three-year appointments.

The CCSW also recommends the reappointment of Rhonda Greene to a second term. She has made valuable contributions in their first term and would appreciate the opportunity to continue serving.

I am pleased to recommend these six individuals whose expertise and experience will enable them to be valuable members of the Women’s Commission.

1. Jean Connor (appointment) is a third generation Cantabridgian. Now retired from the dental field, she remains a strong advocate for oral health. Jean has also been active in Cambridge Girls Softball.

2. Caitlin Dube (appointment) is a gender equity specialist who has worked with Cambridge Rindge and Latin School to provide instruction to students on consent and other topics. She is a single mother of a CPS elementary schooler and volunteers with Cambridge Youth Soccer. Caitlin currently serves on Harvard University’s Office of Gender Equity Student Advisory Committee.

3. Rhonda Greene (reappointment) is a lifelong Cambridge resident who has contributed to many sectors including education and non-profit. Currently working for the court system, Rhonda is a strong advocate for Cambridge women, overseeing a program to help women in need secure bicycles as affordable transportation.

4. Mara Horwitz (appointment) is a primary care physician in the Women’s Health Unit at Boston Medical Center as well as an assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. Her focus is postpartum care, ensuring that women’s needs are heard and addressed, and quality care is accessible regardless of race, ethnicity, language, income, insurance, or education.

5. Natalie Le (appointment) is a policy analyst and graduate student focusing on policy impacts on women at the national and international level. An avid rower and Tae Kwan Do competitor, her experience growing up in the American south informs her interest in contributing to the Cambridge community.

6. Judith Tumusiime (appointment) currently works in the Community Development Department as a Federal Grants Manager. She has served in high-level government positions internationally as well as right next door in Somerville. Her work encompasses the impact environmental factors have on communities and, in particular, marginalized women.

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

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as members of the the Mass Ave Partial Construction Working Group: • Sukia Akiba • Steven Beaucher • Darren Buck • Christopher Cassa • Makayla Comas-Race • Gary Dmytryk • Debby Galef • Diane Gray • Denise Jillson • Timothy Keefe • Ruth Ryals • Eitan Normand • Daniel Stubbs • Laurie Pessah (CM23#101)
Appointments Approved 9-0

Apr 24, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am writing to inform you that I am appointing the following persons as members of the Mass Ave Partial Construction Working Group.

• Sukia Akiba • Steven Beaucher • Darren Buck • Christopher Cassa • Makayla Comas-Race • Gary Dmytryk • Debby Galef • Diane Gray • Denise Jillson • Timothy Keefe • Ruth Ryals • Eitan Normand • Daniel Stubbs • Laurie Pessah

Working Group Schedule and Scope

The Working Group will meet over a period of 12 months to advise City staff on key issues related to the planning, design, and construction of this important project.

Working Group members will have two overall responsibilities:

• Serve as a community representative to advise the City Manager and staff on key issues related to the design of improvements on Mass Ave;

• Help communicate the process and design of the project back to the larger community.

There are several key elements where the Working Group will be asked to help shape the design of the Mass Ave corridor:

• Design of separated bicycle lanes;

• Evaluation of existing crossing locations for pedestrians and recommendations for additional crossing opportunities;

• Curb use regulations (i.e., understand where parking/stopping/loading is possible and not possible, and advise on curb use regulations);

• Options for bus priority

Additional Community Outreach

In addition to the Working Group meetings (which will be open to the public), the community process for the North Mass Ave Partial Construction project will include:

• Community meetings

• Outreach and “pop-up” events at various locations along the corridor and at the North Cambridge Senior Center

• Visits to individual businesses

• Meetings with relevant neighborhood groups.

Working Group Selection Process

The selection process began on Nov 9, 2022. Outreach to seek applicants over subsequent weeks included City and project-specific website postings; a news item on the DPW main web page; a press release; inclusion in the City’s daily email; and direct emailing to nearly 200 persons who had signed up for notifications regarding MassAve 4 Cycling Safety Improvements. A total of 43 people applied for the committee and staff from the Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department interviewed 18 people.

Working Group Members

Sukia Akiba - Sukia is CEO of The Soul Supplier, a real estate and financial planning firm. She has served on the City’s Commission on the Status of Women and BIPOC Business Advisory Committee. Sukia is currently an Executive Board Member of Green Cambridge, and is interested in bringing her perspective as an active environmentalist to the Working Group.

Steven Beaucher - Steven is the owner of WardMaps located at 1735 Mass Ave, and resides nearby. He is a founding member of Mass Ave for All. He is interested in the opportunity to work with a diverse set of pedestrian, bicycle, and business advocates, as well as residents, to implement the project in a way that best balances the needs of all users.

Darren Buck - Darren is Pedestrian/Bicycle Program Manager for USDOT, and a resident of North Cambridge. He looks forward to bringing his professional expertise, as well as daily experience as a multi-modal user of the corridor, to the Working Group.

Christopher Cassa - Christopher is a lecturer and researcher at MIT and Harvard Medical School. He is interested in transportation issues, and has served on several relevant groups, including the Grand Junction Path Working Group and the Memorial Drive Alliance. He is currently a member of the Mass Ave for All Working Group, working with business owners, residents, and advocates to build consensus.

Makayla Comas-Race - Makayla is a community organizer trained in urban planning, with a focus on racial and economic development and advocacy. She is the Community Engagement Manager for the Livable Streets Alliance, and also serves on the Cambridge Transit Advisory Committee.

Gary Dmytryk - Gary is a past President of the Association of Cambridge Neighborhoods, and a former Board Member of the City’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities. He resides directly on Mass Ave and is interested in understanding the detailed technical aspects of design decisions and trade-offs.

Debby Galef - Debby is a resident of the Baldwin Neighborhood and is current Chair of the Cambridge Pedestrian Advisory Committee. She is interested in working with the group to ensure a project that provides as much benefit for multi-modal users as possible while respecting the perspectives of businesses and other stakeholders.

Diane Gray - Diane is a Senior Campus Planner at Harvard University. She currently serves as Harvard’s representative on the Cycling Safety Ordinance Advisory Group. Diane will bring the perspective of Harvard’s multimodal users, and of campus operations such as shuttles.

Denise Jillson - Denise is the Executive Director of the Harvard Square Business Association, and a Cambridge resident. She is interested in bringing the perspective and concerns of the larger local business community to the Working Group discussions, and to help communicate information back to that community.

Timothy Keefe - Timothy is the owner and director of Keefe Funeral Home, located at 2175 Mass Ave. Keefe Funeral Homes is a third-generation family business which has operated in Cambridge since 1951. Tim has expressed interest in bringing the perspective of a small business owner/operator to the Working Group.

Eitan Normand - Eitan is a civil engineer with the MBTA, currently specializing in accessibility improvements, and is a member of the Cambridge Bicycle Advisory Committee. Eitan is interested in bringing a combination of bicycle, transit, and accessibility perspectives to the Group, as well his experience balancing technical and physical trade-offs to develop feasible projects.

Laurie Pessah - Laurie is Board Member and Administrator at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. She was formerly a bicycle and pedestrian planner in both the public and private sectors. Laurie is interested in bringing her perspective as a daily multi-modal user of Mass Ave, and her experience managing and participating in public advisory meetings, to the Working Group.

Ruth Ryals - Ruth is President of the Porter Square Neighbors Association and formerly owned her own business. She is also a co-founder of the group Mass Ave for All. Ruth is interested in helping to implement the project in a way that balances the needs of multi-modal corridor users, with the needs of the local business community.

Daniel Stubbs - Dan is a Sr. Project Manager at the architectural firm Perkins + Will, and a member of the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities. He is interested in bringing the perspective of the disabled community to the planning and implementation of the project, as well as his experience as a design professional.

I appreciate the willingness of these community members to serve and look forward to their contributions as members of the Working Group.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, requesting that the City Council authorize an agreement to partner with the Town of Arlington (“Arlington”) in its receipt of a federal planning grant (“Grant”) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”). (CM23#102)
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, DPW Commissioner Kathy Watkins, Zondervan, Deputy City Manager Owen O’Riordan (Roundtable suggested); Nolan offers a committee hearing and Siddiqui agrees; Order Adopted 9-0 (after Siddiqui misstep of merely calling for a vote to accept report and place on file)

Apr 24, 2023
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am writing to request that the City Council authorize me to enter an agreement to partner with the Town of Arlington (“Arlington”) in its receipt of a federal planning grant (“Grant”) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”). The City has been leading regional efforts to identify interventions to safeguard communities from increased coastal flooding. The Grant is to conduct a study in furtherance of this work undertaken by Arlington and the City as members of the Resilient Mystic Collaborative (“RMC”). The RMC is a partnership among neighboring communities in Greater Boston’s Mystic River Watershed, working to protect our people and places from climate-intensified risks. Because this is an inter-municipal agreement, it needs your approval.

The Grant concerns the Amelia Earhart and the Charles River (the Island End River and the Draw 7 Park) dams that protect Arlington, the City, and other communities from coastal flooding. Unfortunately, the City couldn’t be the grant recipient because its Hazard Mitigation Plan is outdated. Arlington’s Hazard Mitigation Plan recognizes coastal hazards as high and serious for Massachusetts but not currently applicable because of dams that turned the upper Mystic and Charles Rivers from tidal estuaries to freshwater impoundments. However, climate projections show the dams at risk of being overtopped by 2030 and failing by 2050. As a result, nine upstream communities (including Arlington and Cambridge) will be at risk of coastal flooding from a projected 2070 1% coastal storm through dam failure, plus eight other coastal flood pathways. The Grant will further this work and better position application(s) for future federal funding.

The Grant’s scope of work includes managing and hiring a consultant to conduct an analysis, allowing Arlington, the City, and the State to assess each flood pathway and develop a benefit-cost analysis to pursue an effective regional solution. The project will take approximately 36 months to conduct. Arlington is the “sub-applicant” of the Grant that comes from the federal government, specifically FEMA. The “applicant” is FEMA’s state affiliate, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Arlington received FEMA award funding of $742,500 for the Grant, and the City is providing the federally-required match of $250,000; thus, the Grant total amounts to $992,500. The $250,000 from the City is a portion of the $500,000 climate change funds appropriated by the Council through its typical budget process for FY23.

To facilitate the City’s performance and to ensure that there is privity between the City and Arlington, the City will need to enter a “joint operations” agreement with Arlington pursuant to G.L. c. 40, § 4A. Under that statute, the City Council must authorize the City to enter such an agreement. Accordingly, I respectfully request that you authorize me to enter the above-described agreement with the Town of Arlington on behalf of the City.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

2. Riverbend Park on Memorial Drive. [Charter Right – Simmons, Apr 10, 2023] (PO23#68)
Simmons notes comments by Riverside residents who feel disrespected by Council intentions to ask DCR reconsideration - “people closest to the pain should be closest to the power” - asks Councillors Nolan and Azeem to rescind or table this Order; Nolan fully supports Order and claims that only a small number of people object, suggests that people in Riverside support all-weekend closure, proposes amendment to seek legal justification for full weekend closure; Carlone says all sides are right, City has insufficient open space, DCR controls the land and road, compliments Suzanne Blier (and others) suggestion to close from Eliot Bridge to JFK Street on Saturdays; Zondervan notes that DCR has decided against Saturday closures so Riverside residents were heard, calls traffic on Memorial Drive environmental injustice, says eventually it will be closed all weekend; Azeem notes that Order expresses disappointment about DCR decision to not consider other options; McGovern is dismissive of Blier proposal if this is a matter of legal authority, notes that neighborhood is divided on issue, wants traffic mitigation regardless; Siddiqui on defense over neighborhood concerns, agrees with need for traffic mitigation; Carlone notes that Blier proposal would still need DCR approval, notes that City has insufficient capacity for studying traffic; Simmons notes that compromise proposal for Eliot Bridge to JFK St. was suggested by multiple people; Nolan protests Simmons suggestion that a cover letter include minority view - Simmons takes exception; Order Adopted 7-2 as Amended (DS,PT - No)

O-5     Apr 10, 2023  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
WHEREAS: During the past three years, Memorial Drive’s Riverbend Park was extended to Saturdays in addition to Sundays and for longer time period than statutorily required, to the benefit of residents across the area, especially in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: On February 27, 2023, the Cambridge City Council voted 7-2 to direct the City Manager to work with state agencies to ensure Saturday and Sunday operation of Riverbend Park starting in the first weekend of Spring 2023 and ending on the last weekend of Fall 2023; and
WHEREAS: On March 3, 2023, the City Manager delivered a formal request to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) requesting full weekend closure of Memorial Drive and offering the City’s services to mitigate traffic impacts on neighboring streets, but despite this request, DCR made the decision to limit Riverbend Park access to Sundays from 11:00am to 7:00pm from the last Sunday of April though the second Sunday on November; and
WHEREAS: In their letter to the City Manager, DCR cites environmental justice concerns which should be considered, and yet environmental justice would lead to expanding Riverbend Park hours and days as closing Memorial Drive to cars leads to less noise, air pollution in the neighborhood and fewer people driving cars; and
WHEREAS: Over half of Cambridge is considered an environmental justice neighborhood which means dedicated open spaces like Riverbend Park provide for cleaner air, opportunities for outdoor recreation, and thus greater environmental justice for many residents of the city, especially those living with less open space including the neighborhoods along Riverbend Park
WHEREAS: DCR has not released data on air or noise pollution or traffic impacts due to Saturday operation of Riverbend Park which makes it impossible to determine the impact of Riverbend Park; and
WHEREAS: In their response, DCR cites Chapter 457 of the Acts of 1985 to defend this decision, but the state law governing the closure of Memorial Drive issues a minimum number of closures and does not limit DCR’s ability to provide additional closures, consistent with the fact that the state closed portions of Memorial Drive to cars starting in 1975, for ten years prior to the bill’s enactment; and
WHEREAS: The City’s survey data from residents showed that 94% of Riverside respondents use the open space multiple times a year, while only 24 individuals (10%) described that they “experienced bad traffic”; and
WHEREAS: The overwhelming majority of residents and elected leaders in Cambridge have publicly supported Riverbend Park being open on Saturdays and Sundays for much of the year; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record expressing its disappointment at the DCR decision, and to ask the DCR to release information about the evaluation framework, including legal justification, which was used to reach this decision, including any studies of traffic counts, measurements of noise or air pollution impacts, details of written community feedback received by the DCR, and discussions with elected officials and how they were factored into this framework; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments and state agencies to mitigate traffic impacts and to formally request DCR to reconsider this decision, in line with the will of the City Council; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and is hereby requested to forward a copy of this policy order to the incoming DCR Commissioner, and the entire Cambridge state delegation.

2. Resolution on the death of Ruth Hill.   Councillor Simmons
pulled by Simmons with comments of great respect; Adopted 9-0

R-2     Apr 24, 2023
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: The City Council was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of distinguished scholar, oral historian, and educator Ruth Edmonds Hill on April 15, 2023; and

WHEREAS: Ruth Edmonds Hill, affectionately known as Sister Ruth, was born to Florence Edmonds of western Massachusetts and obtained her academic degrees from Simmons College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst; and

WHEREAS: Ruth Edmonds Hill’s oral history office was affiliated with the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, where she became a prominent figure in the oral storytelling community, both nationally and internationally, providing guidance to various storytelling organizations; and

WHEREAS: Ruth Edmonds Hill gained recognition for leading the Black Women Oral History Project at the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of American Women within the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, which has been extensively referenced and acknowledged as a groundbreaking work in its field; and

WHEREAS: Ruth Edmonds Hill made significant contributions by creating oral history field recordings for Cambodians, Chinese Americans, and other ethnic and sociolect communities, she touched the lives of so many people, and her memory shall be forever cherished by all who knew her; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record extending its deepest condolences to the family of Ruth Hill for their tremendous loss; and be it further

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

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. The Health and Environment Committee met on Mar 1, 2022 to receive an update on the Net Zero Action Plan. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Zondervan, Carlone, Nolan, Azeem
Absent: McGovern

2. The Health and Environment Committee met on Mar 8, 2022 to conduct a public hearing on proposed BEUDO amendments. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Zondervan, Carlone, McGovern, Nolan, Azeem, (Siddiqui, Toner)

3. The Health and Environment Committee met on Mar 23, 2022 to continue discussion on the Net Zero Action Plan. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Zondervan, Carlone, McGovern, Nolan, (Mallon)
Absent: Azeem

4. The Health and Environment Committee met on Mar 29, 2022 to receive a report from the Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Zondervan, Carlone, McGovern, Nolan, Azeem (late)

5. The Health and Environment Committee met on Tues, Apr 11, 2023 to review plans for solar and renewable energy installations in the city, including report on solar expansion and works by the CEA (Cambridge Energy Alliance) and potential for solar on city owned water supply land, and any other items related to renewable energy. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Nolan, Carlone, Zondervan
Remote Present: Azeem
Absent: McGovern

6. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Apr 13, 2023 on the Citizen’s Zoning Petition received from Michael Monestime et al. regarding Outdoor Use Zoning in the Central Square Cultural District. [text of report]
pulled by Zondervan; Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended 9-0; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Zondervan, Nolan
Remote Present: Azeem, McGovern, Simmons, Toner, Siddiqui
Absent: Carlone, Mallon

A. A Zoning Ordinance has been received from Diane P. LeBlanc, City Clerk, relative to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge be amended on a Zoning Petition by Michael Monestime, et al., to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge by creating new footnotes in the Table of Permitted Uses in Section 4.30 for Outdoor Retail or Consumer Service Establishment, not otherwise defined and Outdoor Entertainment and Recreation Facility” in the Business B, B1 and B-2 column which read, “For the Central Square Overlay see section 20.304.5 (5)” and “For the Central Square Overlay see section 20.304.5 (6)”; and by amending Section 20.304.5 of the Central Square Overlay District to allow Outdoor Retail or Consumer Service Establishment, not otherwise defined by Special Permit from the Planning Board, with associated approval criteria, and to permit Outdoor Entertainment and Recreation Facility as-of-right within the Business B District of the Central Square Overlay District. (ORD23#1)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Apr 24, 2023
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the City of Cambridge is focused on supporting and promoting mental wellness to all its residents; and
WHEREAS: Every May, mental health organizations encourage individuals, organizations, and cities to expand their efforts to provide resources and support aimed at helping break the stigma associated with mental health disorders; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Health Department, mental health service and advocacy organizations are dedicated to reach all residents and underscore the universal importance of mental health; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge continues to look for ways to raise awareness about mental health while promoting empathy and care to change the perception of mental illness, encouraging those who may struggle with mental health issues to seek help; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record recognizing May 2023 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Cambridge; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to light City Hall up green from May 1 through May 7, 2023 in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.

O-2     Apr 24, 2023
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The aging LGBTQ+ community in Massachusetts faces unique challenges and requires specialized services and resources to address their needs; and
WHEREAS: Amendment #685 to House Bill H3900, sponsored by Rep. Samantha Montano, aims to provide funding for a Virtual LGBTQ+ Senior Center called OutStanding Life, which will offer vital socialization, recreational, and educational activities to underserved LGBTQ+ elders; and
WHEREAS: The OutStanding Life initiative, named after the late David Stevens, a dedicated leader of Massachusetts’s senior center movement, seeks to bridge the existing “equity gap” in state-funded aging services, ensuring that LGBTQ+ seniors have access to essential support; and
WHEREAS: Amendment #1333 to House Bill H3900, sponsored by Rep. Ron Consalvo, proposes an allocation of $500,000 to LGBTQ Senior Housing, specifically, The Pryde, in order to establish the first LGBTQ-friendly and affirming affordable senior housing in Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS: The funding provided by Amendment #1333 will support the development and maintenance of programs and services at The Pryde, offering a safe and welcoming environment for all seniors to live authentically; and
WHEREAS: Supporting these amendments will ensure that our aging LGBTQ+ population receives the care, resources, and support they need to thrive; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record expressing its strong support for Amendments #685 and #1333 to House Bill H3900 and in urging that the members of the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee ensure their inclusion and passage in the final bill; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to the members of the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee and to the Cambridge Delegation to the Massachusetts House of Representatives on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-3     Apr 24, 2023
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The Harvard Observatory, founded in 1839, was a foundational institution engaged in Astronomical research. The observatory’s director, Edward Charles Pickering, formed a group of skilled women called “Computers” who helped catalog and analyze thousands of early photographs of many different stars. Most of these women started primarily as calculators, and despite obstacles, many made significant contributions to astronomy, and collectively as a group their accomplishments fundamentally changed the entire field of astronomy; and
WHEREAS: During this time, men were paid more than women, as a result although some of the Observatory female staff were astronomy graduates, their wages were similar to those of unskilled workers at the Harvard Observatory. These women astronomers earned between 25 to 50 cents an hour when measuring the brightness, position, and color of stars manually; and
WHEREAS: The group of women astronomers called the “Computers” were representative of the demographics of Cambridge in the 1920s. The 1920 census data show that 30% of Cambridge residents were immigrants, an additional 30% were children of immigrants and 10% had one immigrant parent. The city should recognize this group, and in particular the extraordinary astronomers both of whom were immigrants, Williamina P.S. Fleming and Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin; and
WHEREAS: Williamina P.S. Fleming was a single mother and worked as a maid for the director of Harvard’s observatory, Edward Charles Pickerling. Pickering’s wife taught Williamina how to analyze different stars which helped her become a “Computer” at Harvard’s observatory; and
WHEREAS: Williamina became the leading female astronomer of her day as she cataloged more than 10,000 stars and discovered other astronomical phenomena; and
WHEREAS: Among several career achievements, Williamina established the first photographic standards of magnitude which became an important tool for astronomers. Her discovery helped astronomers measure the brightness of different stars; and
WHEREAS: Her achievements opened up the field of astronomy for many women. She was honored by a national gathering of astronomers for her contribution to the field where she was named a Curator of Astronomical Photographs at Harvard; and
WHEREAS: Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin left England in 1923 to pursue Astronomy in Massachusetts. She then lived several years at 52 Garden Street near the Harvard Observatory in the late 1920s; and
WHEREAS: Cecilia was Harvard’s first female professor and first woman to become a chair of the Astronomy department. Her work on the nature of stars was foundational to modern astrophysics and she profoundly changed what we know about the universe today; and
WHEREAS: Cecilia contributed widely to the physical understanding of variable stars. She was able to discover that the sun and other stars in the universe are composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium; and
WHEREAS: Cecilia was one of the most brilliant and creative astronomers of the twentieth century. She was awarded the prestigious Henry Norris Russell Prize by the American Astronomical Society, which showed her lifetime of excellence in the field of astronomical research; and
WHEREAS: Both women meet the requirements for a dedication request, and both lived and worked near Observatory Hill in Cambridge, overcame obstacles in life, and made significant contributions to the field of astronomy which were groundbreaking and are not celebrated sufficiently. By honoring these two stellar STEM pioneers together, the city could inspire residents; and
WHEREAS: Jolie Jourdan, an intern to the City Council worked on identifying appropriate people to honor from among many accomplished and noteworthy astronomers and selected Williamina P.S. Fleming and Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin after consultation with the Harvard Observatory, the Historical Commission, and other historians, is requested to confer with the Dedication Committee to consider the request to dedicate a street corner jointly in honor of these remarkable women; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Executive Assistant to the City Council confer with the Dedication Committee to consider the request for a dedication in the vicinity of the Harvard Observatory on Concord Avenue or Garden Street to this pair of remarkable women as one dedication; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward this order to the Dedication Committee for review and approval.

O-4     Apr 24, 2023
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
VICE MAYOR MALLON
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
WHEREAS: In December 2020, the City Council voted 8-1 to approve an Order to take by eminent domain a parcel of land consisting of approximately 4 acres, located at 185 Larch Road, owned by Buckingham Browne and Nichols School (BB&N) and known as Buckingham Field that was being used as a playing field by BB&N; and
WHEREAS: For several decades the City Council has been asking the City to actively pursue opportunities to acquire land and increase access to open space for all residents, but unfortunately, this goal has been very difficult to achieve due to the lack of availability of land suitable for open space use in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: The Order of Taking gave the City Council flexibility to determine the use of the land for “open space use or any other municipal uses or purposes;” and
WHEREAS: In April 2023, the City Manager informed the Council that a temporary use of the field was to be dedicated to cricket playing, an important sporting and cultural activity for so many Cambridge residents, and the City should continue to look for opportunities to develop a permanent location for a cricket pitch; and
WHEREAS: With the city controlling the land after the seller, BB&N, successfully transferred their recreation and athletics to their new field, now is an optimal time to have a robust community process to identify possible uses and recommend the best long-term use; and
WHEREAS: Such a large parcel is rarely available and this property could be utilized by the City in a variety of important ways, including: a location for the City’s operations, affordable housing development, preschool use, open space, and other uses which would benefit the larger Cambridge community; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to bring together a working group of members of the entire Cambridge community, including residents from all parts of Cambridge, to conduct outreach through neighborhood groups including the Fresh Pond Residents Alliance, and any other nearby neighborhood groups and City departments, in order to discuss and review options for use for the land to be reviewed by the City Council; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with the status of the working group as soon as possible.

O-5     Apr 24, 2023
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
WHEREAS: The use of gas-powered lawn equipment contributes to negative public health outcomes as well as emissions pollution; and
WHEREAS: The current ordinance language on leaf blowers from 1998 established that the reduction of noise and emissions of particulate matter resulting from the use of leaf blowers is a public purpose that protects the public health, welfare and environment of the City of Cambridge and its citizens; and
WHEREAS: With the technological advancements that have been made in green lawn equipment since 1998, the use of electric lawn equipment could be an effective way for the City to carry out its numerous landscaping and outdoor maintenance needs; and
WHEREAS: The use of gas powered lawn equipment causes numerous physical injuries including (but not limited to) back pain, muscle aches, headaches, and hearing loss, emits volatile organic compounds which join with nitrogen oxide in warm seasons to form “smog”, a well-known contributor to heart and lung disease, stroke, and premature death and the workers who handle this gas-powered equipment also inhale fine particulate matter exhaust which can lodge deep in the lung and enter the bloodstream, causing conditions ranging from heart and lung problems, to stroke, cancer, and death, and other exhaust compounds like carbon monoxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons further exacerbate the hazards for landscape workers and bystanders alike; and
WHEREAS: Lexington, Arlington, Marblehead, and other Massachusetts municipalities have limited their use of gas-powered lawn equipment and have developed plans to prohibit their use in the future; and
WHEREAS: California has implemented a statewide ban on the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers beginning in 2024 and the municipality of Pasadena, California passed legislation that officially banned gas-powered leaf blowers starting on April 28th, 2023; and
WHEREAS: MassSave has an incentive program for Massachusetts residents to purchase electric lawn equipment through their residential battery powered lawn equipment rebates up to $75 for a lawnmower and $30 for other lawn equipment; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has requested the City on numerous occasions to develop working groups and to investigate the use of non-gas-powered lawn equipment; and
WHEREAS: In June of 2022, the Health and Environment committee held a hearing to discuss with local business owners and workers the possibility of banning gas-powered leaf blowers, and since then, healthier alternatives have continued to become increasingly available, while the ongoing injustice to landscaping workers remains acute; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge can and should take action to protect the lives and health of landscape workers, neighbors, and children, while also taking into account the needs and financial concerns of residents and business owners in the city; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct relevant departments to work together to develop a policy that would lead to a ban on the use of gas-powered lawn equipment in Cambridge in line with the municipalities outline above, developing incentive programs to layer on existing MassSave benefits, and direct CDD to work with the Health and Environment Committee Chair to develop possible ordinance language limiting the use of gas powered lawn equipment by residents, businesses, and city operations; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Health and Environment Committee of the City Council is requested to hold a hearing on the above topic as soon as possible.

O-6     Apr 24, 2023
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with a group of developmental conditions, comprising a wide range of symptoms, skills, and abilities; and
WHEREAS: In March 2021, the Autism Society announced it was formally shifting references of “Autism Awareness Month” to “Autism Acceptance Month,” to foster acceptance and ignite change through improved support and opportunities in education, employment, accessible housing, affordable health care, and comprehensive long-term services; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has proudly observed Autism Acceptance Month for several years now and recognizes and accepts Cambridge’s autistic students and residents; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record declaring April 2023 as “Autism Acceptance Month” in the City of Cambridge; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to light up City Hall red for Autism Acceptance Month and to notify the City Council of when this will take place.