Cambridge City Council meeting - June 1, 2026

CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases. (CM26#160) [text of report]
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)

2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to amendments to the FY27 Submitted General Fund Budget. (CM26#166) [text of report]
Recommendations Adopted, Referred to Committee Reports #3 and #3A; Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
General Fund Adopted as Amended 8-0-0-1 (Al-Zubi - Present)
Water Fund Adopted 9-0
Public Investment Fund Adopted 9-0

3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Conrad Crawford to the Board of Directors of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority for a term of five years. (CM26#161) [text of report]
Appointment Confirmed 9-0

4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the transfer in the amount of $200,000 from the General Fund Fire Salaries and Wages account to the General Fund Fire Other Ordinary Maintenance account. (CM26#163) [text of report]
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)

5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $500,000 from the General Fund Employee Benefits Salaries and Wages Account to the General Fund Fire Department Travel and Training Account. (CM26#162)
Order Adopted 9-0

6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to reappointments to the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) [Chandra Harrington, Mary Flynn, Kevin Foster, Ellen Schacter]. [text of report]
Appointments Confirmed 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)

7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-25 regarding a review of the City’s social media platform usage policies. (CM26#169) [text of report]
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)

8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a summary of Surveillance Technology Impact Reports (STIRs) in calendar year 2025. (CM26#164) [text of report]
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)

9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a grant in the amount of $65,000 received from the Harvard Business School Leadership Fellows Program to the Grant Fund Executive Salaries and Wages account. (CM26#165) [text of report]
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)

SUPPLEMENTAL CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to proposed changes to the City’s Zero Waste Master Plan. (CM26#170) [text of report]
Tabled 9-0

ORDERS
1. That the Cambridge City Council go on record expressing support for UNITE HERE Local 26 in the boycott of the Hyatt Regency Cambridge. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zusy (PO26#108)
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

2. That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate City departments to ensure that the LGBTQ+ Pride-themed crosswalks in front of Cambridge City Hall are refreshed in advance of the City’s annual Pride Celebration in June and lighting City Hall For Pride 2026. Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui (PO26#109)
Order Adopted 9-0

3. Zero Waste Master Plan Ordinance changes. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zusy (PO26#110)
Charter Right - Simmons

4. That the City Manager, in collaboration with the Urban Forestry Division, DPW, CDD and Inspectional Services, is requested to develop recommendations for updates to the Tree Protection Ordinance that will provide further protection to the City’s significant public and private trees for the greater good of the City. Councillor Zusy, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Flaherty (PO26#111)
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

5. That the City Council hold a joint Roundtable/Working Meeting with the Cambridge School Committee on Mon, June 29, 2026, from 4:00-6:00pm, to discuss the Cambridge Preschool Program. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Azeem (PO26#112)
Order Adopted 9-0

6. That the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Mon, June 15, 2026, be and hereby is canceled. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Azeem (PO26#113)
Order Adopted 9-0

7. That the City Council approve of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for Open Architects student data platform as discussed in the May 20, 2026, hearing. Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Nolan (PO26#114)
Order Adopted 9-0

8. That the City Council disapprove further use of SoundThinking’s Acoustic Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter) by the City pursuant to the Surveillance Technology Ordinance 2.128.060 (C). Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan (PO26#115)
Order Adopted 5-2-0-2 (Al-Zubi, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui - Yes; Flaherty, Simmons - No; Azeem, Zusy - Present)
[Ms. Al-Zubi was recognized by our problematic mayor and Al-Zubi immediately “called the question” forcing a vote - even though Councillor Flaherty had proposed some amendments that had been circulated to the councillors and to the public prior to the vote. The same five councillors who had voted to ban ShotSpotter on May 18 voted in favor of calling the question and preventing the Flaherty amendments as well as any discussion on the matter. The Al-Zubi Order was then passed in the same 5-2-0-2 vote as May 18 with only Flaherty and Simmons voting “No”, and Zusy and Azeem again voting “Present”.
I have been Council-watching for nearly four decades, and this ranks way up there in my list of obnoxious actions by city councillors. The five councillors who disdained democracy so much that they would not even allow their colleagues to speak are Al-Zubi, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui, Nolan, and McGovern. If ever you hear people chant “This is what democracy looks like” at a rally, these five councillors should not even enter the picture.]

9. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments and community organizations to provide the City Council with a comprehensive Food Access Report that includes, but is not limited to, an accounting of existing programs, expenditures, outcomes, and unmet needs to inform a public hearing on food insecurity and related City policies, programs, and expenditures. Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui (PO26#116)
Order Adopted 9-0

10. That the City Council go on record recognizing June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth in the City of Cambridge, and in urging all Cambridge residents to reflect upon the meaning of this important day. Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui (PO26#117)
Order Adopted 9-0

11. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Cambridge Police Department and Law Department to develop and implement a policy requiring the posting of “Know Your Rights” informational and educational materials in all police department facilities. Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan (PO26#118)
Order Adopted 9-0

ON THE TABLE
2. A communication from City Councillor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler transmitting the proposed 2026-2027 Rules of the Cambridge City Council. [Charter Right – Flaherty, May 11, 2026; Tabled May 18, 2026] [COF26#73]
Rules Adopted as Amended 9-0

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $10,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of improvements along Massachusetts Avenue and vicinity between Bigelow Street and Sindey Street. (CM26#95) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $13,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks. (CM26#96) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $12,000,000 to provide funds to replace and modernize the City’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. (CM26#98) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 8-1 (Al-Zubi - No)

6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $14,000,000 to provide funds for remediation and improvements at Gold Star Mothers Park. (CM26#99) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $28,500,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan. (CM26#100) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $12,795,000 to provide funds for financing school building upgrades. (CM26#101) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $8,375,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of surface enhancements and sewer and drainage infrastructure improvements in the Baldwin neighborhood. (CM26#102) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $500,000 to provide funds for the City’s Climate Change Program to improve protection against flooding and extreme heat. (CM26#103) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

11. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $7,500,000 to provide funds for the sewer Combined Sewer Overflow Control Program. (CM26#104) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

12. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,000,000 to provide funds for design and construction of the Harvard Square sewer separation and stormwater management program. (CM26#105) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

13. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $310,000 to provide funds for the replacement of Ozone generators at the Water Department. (CM26#106) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

14. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $2,000,000 to provide funds for water works construction projects for repairs and replacement of water distribution infrastructure. (CM26#107) [text of report] [Passed to 2nd Reading Apr 27, 2026; Eligible to be Adopted May 18, 2026]
Order Adopted 9-0

APPLICATIONS & PETITIONS
1. An application was received from Justin Kelly representing Urban Hearth, requesting permission for one (1) projecting sign at the premises numbered 1281 Cambridge Street approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutters proof of mailing has been provided. (AP26#29)
Order Adopted 9-0

2. An application was received from Thomas Ferte representing Michette, requesting permission for one (1) projecting blade sign at the premises numbered 305 Webster Avenue approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutters proof of mailing has been provided. (AP26#31)
Order Adopted 9-0

COMMUNICATIONS
1. Amanda Mackie – Cancel ShotSpotter!
2. Andrew King – remove my name from the public comment list
3. Andy Nash – ShotSpotter testimony
4. Anna Frebel – NO artificial turf on Ahern field!
5. Barbara Anthony – Boston Herald article on Cambridge Council’s ridiculous assessment of ShotSpotter
6. Gaurab Basu, MD, MPH – Ahern Field
7. Belinda Pang – Please Preserve Ahern Field as Natural Grass
8. Carolyn Shipley – River Street Reconstruction Wrong Design of Access to Three Streets Not Workable
9. Catherine Hoffman – ShotSpotter and gastro-artificial turf
10. Dana Grotenstein – ShotSpotter
11. David Mankins – In support of expanded housing opportunities
12. Gail Charpentier – Charter Right Item number 2. my public comment
13. Harriet Lindeman – End Cambridge’s Participation in ShotSpotter
14. Kathy Watkins – Support for Charter Right #2, support for Charter Right #3
15. Kelly Dolan – CRA and Social Housing
16. LaQueen Battle – Response towards 5/11 Memorial Drive Shooting
17. Lee Farris – Appreciation for Social Housing Task Force
18. Madeline Lee – End Cambridge’s Participation in ShotSpotter
19. Maya Doig-Acuña – End Cambridge’s Participation in ShotSpotter!
20. North Cambridge Neighbor (Caitlin) – Splash pads turning off at 5pm, PLEASE FIX BEFORE TUESDAY
21. Pamela Pecchio – Keep Ahern Field a Grass Field
22. Paola Rebusco’s – public comment 5/18
23. Pete Warrington – Ahern Field
24. Susan Ringler – PO26#98, Please remove shot spotter devices
25. Sara Lubin – End Cambridge’s Participation in ShotSpotter
26. Shannon Canavin – End Cambridge’s Participation in ShotSpotter
27. Sheli Wortis – ShotSpotter, please support the Policy Order that was charter righted
28. Valerie V – What About Rivermark, Anyone Someone
29. Valerie Ann Bonds – Senior Parking Fee Exemption
30. Yadi Yadi – Public comment Cambridge City Council Meeting 5/18/26
31. Yadi Yadi – Public Comment Cambridge City Council 5/18/26, ShotSpotter
32. Young Kim – Capital Funding Reconciliation Before FY27 Capital Budget
33. Young Kim – My Comment for 5/18/26 City Council Meeting
34. Marie Saccoccio – Boston Herald article on Cambridge Council’s ridiculous assessment of ShotSpotter
35. Rep. Mike Connolly – Cambridge responds to the shooting on Memorial Drive
36. Young Kim – Proposed 2026-2027 City Council Rules (Tabled May 18, 2026)

RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution in Memory of Ann Whitford Lewis Austin. Councillor McGovern
Charter Right - Simmons

2. Condolences to the family of Barney Frank. Councillor Simmons
Charter Right - Simmons

Res #2 June 1, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: The City Council was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Congressman Barnett “Barney” Frank on May 19, 2026; and

WHEREAS: Barney Frank was a towering figure in Massachusetts politics and American public life, serving more than three decades in the United States House of Representatives, where he represented the people of Massachusetts with intelligence, tenacity, humor, and an unmistakable voice that cut through pretense like no other; and

WHEREAS: Born in Bayonne, New Jersey in 1940, Barney Frank came to Massachusetts as a student at Harvard University and built a life and career inseparable from this Commonwealth, first as a political aide, then a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and later as one of the most influential members of Congress of his generation; and

WHEREAS: Congressman Frank was known not only for his sharp wit and formidable debating skills, but for his commanding grasp of public policy, his mastery of the legislative process, and his unshakable conviction that government could and should serve as an instrument to improve people’s lives; and

WHEREAS: As Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Congressman Frank helped lead the nation through the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and was a principal author of the landmark Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which strengthened financial oversight, protected consumers, and sought to prevent another devastating economic collapse; and

WHEREAS: Congressman Frank was a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ Americans, making history in 1987 as the first sitting member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay, and later becoming the first sitting member of Congress to marry a same-sex partner, acts of personal courage that advanced the cause of dignity and equality at a time when such openness carried profound personal and political risk; and

WHEREAS: Throughout his career, Congressman Frank championed civil rights, affordable housing, economic fairness, AIDS research and treatment, consumer protection, and the rights of those too often pushed to the margins, bringing to each fight a combination of moral seriousness, political skill, and plainspoken candor that made him one of the most consequential public servants of his era; and

WHEREAS: Congressman Frank’s famously blunt public life was grounded in a conviction that democracy demands honesty, engagement, and the willingness to do the hard work of governing, and his legacy endures in the laws he helped shape, the barriers he broke, and the generations of public servants and advocates he inspired; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record honoring the life, service, and legacy of former Congressman Barnett “Barney” Frank; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record extending its deepest condolences to Congressman Frank’s husband, Jim Ready, to his siblings and extended family, to his friends and former colleagues, and to all who mourn his passing.

3. That the City Council go on record congratulating the 2026 retirees of Cambridge Public Schools, thanking them for their many years of dedicated service, and extending best wishes to each of them for a happy, healthy, and fulfilling retirement. Councillor Simmons
Charter Right - Simmons

4. That the City Council go on record celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Cambridge Community Chorus and recognizing the Chorus for its extraordinary artistic achievements, community service, and commitment to making choral music accessible to all. Councillor Zusy
Charter Right - Simmons

5. Resolution on the retirement of Michael Rowell. Mayor Siddiqui
Charter Right - Simmons

6. Congratulations to the CRLS Boys Baseball team on winning the Dual County League Championship. Mayor Siddiqui
Charter Right - Simmons

COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Interim City Clerk Paula Crane, regarding an update regarding legislative activity. (COF26#83)
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Azeem - Absent)

2. A communication from Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding information from the School Committee. (COF26#80) [text of report]
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Azeem - Absent)

3. A communication from Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding updates to the 2026-2027 City Council Committee Appointments. (CO26#81) [text of report]
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Azeem - Absent)

4. Communication from Finance Co-Chairs: Process for Identifying Future Budget Priorities, Part 3. (COF26#82) [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0

Tues, June 2
3:00pm The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss possible changes relating to setbacks, stepbacks, open space and wet labs to the recently adopted Cambridge Street Zoning.

Tues, June 9
3:00pm The Economic Development and University Relations Committee will convene a roundtable of representatives from the Cambridge and Greater Cambridge startup ecosystem to provide insight into current conditions, emerging needs, and specific ways the City can strengthen its support for startups and enhance the local innovation environment.

Tues, June 16
3:00pm The Ordinance Committee will hold a public hearing on two City Council zoning petitions to amend Article 17.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map regarding active use requirements on North Massachusetts Avenue and Cambridge Street, including a special permit requirement for Formula Businesses on Cambridge Street.

Mon, June 22
11:00am The Health and Environment Committee will hold a public hearing to review and discuss the 5-year update to the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) including recommendations from the analysis and evaluation and feedback from community meetings.
5:30pm City Council Meeting

Tues, June 23
10:00am The City Council shall hold a Special Meeting for a mid-year check-in on the City Manager’s 2026 Performance Review Process and progress towards annual goals.

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1 June 1, 2026 amended
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
WHEREAS: Hotel Workers at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge are ambassadors for the City and are among the first to welcome travelers and tourists to Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: The thousands of UNITE HERE Local 26 hotel workers reflect the strength and diversity of the City of Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: On March 26, 2026, a majority of Hyatt Regency Cambridge employees asked their employer for a fair process to choose whether or not to join a union; and
WHEREAS: Believing that one job should be enough to live in the city they work in, on May 8th Hyatt Regency Cambridge workers voted to begin a Boycott of their own hotel until management agrees to a fair process regarding unionization; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record expressing support for the Boycott of the Hyatt Regency Cambridge and to honor the boycott by not eating, meeting or sleeping at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge while a labor dispute is in effect, to join picket lines and to encourage all city employees to do the same; 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 General Manager of the Hyatt Regency Cambridge.

O-2 June 1, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has long celebrated and supported its LGBTQ+ community, and has sought to make visible its commitment to inclusion, dignity, equality, and belonging for all residents; and
WHEREAS: The Pride-themed crosswalks in front of Cambridge City Hall serve as a public and highly visible symbol of the City’s support for LGBTQ+ residents, workers, families, visitors, and allies; and
WHEREAS: The City’s annual Pride Celebration, scheduled for June 20, provides an important opportunity to reaffirm Cambridge’s commitment to standing with the LGBTQ+ community and celebrating the diversity that strengthens this city; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate City departments to ensure that the LGBTQ+ Pride-themed crosswalks in front of Cambridge City Hall are refreshed in advance of the City’s annual Pride Celebration in June; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to ensure that Cambridge City Hall is illuminated with appropriate Pride colors in advance of the City’s June 20th Pride Celebration; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on the status of these efforts in sufficient time to ensure that the work is completed prior to the June 20th celebration.

O-4 June 1, 2026 amended
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
WHEREAS: The City Council recognizes the vital role of tree canopy in supporting environmental health, public well-being, climate resilience, and natural beauty; and
WHEREAS: Many trees on private and even public property are now being cut down (or having applications filed for removal) as an unintended consequence of the Multifamily Ordinance; and
WHEREAS: This counters the City’s stated intentions in its 2020 Urban Forest Master Plan which was developed to grow our tree canopy which provides shade, cooling, carbon sequestration, biodiversity while increasing community health; and
WHEREAS The 2004 Tree Protection Ordinance, amended in 2019 and revised and expanded in 2021 to support the Urban Forest Master Plan, was drafted to regulate the protection and removal of ~~both public and~~ private trees, requiring permits to remove ~~significant or exceptiona~~l trees of 6” diameter and greater; and
WHEREAS The updated plans call for increasing canopy coverage from 30% to 35%, focusing most of all on neighborhoods with fewer trees. Accomplishing this will require adding more trees on private property and mitigating existing canopy loss, particularly from new development; and
WHEREAS: On May 19, 2026, the Department of Public Works held a meeting at Millers River Apartments to update the community on progress towards the Cambridge Urban Forest Master Plan 5-Year Update; and
WHEREAS: It is now urgent to consider potential amendments to update the Tree Protection Ordinance, including:
• enhancing enforcement of requirement for property owners to apply for special permits to cut down ~~Significant~~ Exceptional Trees.
• requiring developers to have their building plans approved before receiving tree removal permits.
• protecting street trees including those that are endangered due to developments.
• ensuring that any excavations for developments do not compromise abutters’ trees.
• requiring developers to pay for tree removal and replacement of abutter’s trees harmed by development within a reasonable time period.
• requiring property owners to submit a Tree Protection Plan by an Arborist and subject to the approval of the Forestry Division before submitting their building permit application if the building or any utility is within 3 times the DBH of a Significant Tree; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager, in collaboration with the Urban Forestry Division, DPW, CDD and Inspectional Services, be and hereby is requested to develop recommendations for updates to the Tree Protection Ordinance that will provide further protection to the City’s significant public and private trees for the greater good of the City for initial review at the June 22 meeting of the Health and Environment Committee on this topic.
ORDERED: That the City Manager is directed to send this policy order to the Community Development Department for consideration in their annual Multi-Family Housing report and only put forward recommendations that do not negatively impact housing development.

O-8 June 1, 2026
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: On May 18th, 2026 the City Council voted to express its desire that the City discontinue the use of ShotSpotter technology in the City by directing the City Manager to work with the relevant departments to rescind prior approval of ShotSpotter; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has direct authority pursuant to the Surveillance Ordinance to approve or disapprove of the use of surveillance technology by the City; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council disapprove further use of SoundThinking’s Acoustic Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter) by the City pursuant to the Surveillance Technology Ordinance 2.128.060 (C).

Proposed Councillor Flaherty AMENDMENT – To be inserted after the second Whereas of PO26#115
[all discussion and consideration of these amendments was preemptively blocked by Councillors Al-Zubi, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Mayor Siddiqui]

WHEREAS: Pursuant to 2.128.060 (c), as a condition precedent to determining whether the City shall continue or discontinue the use of SoundThinking’s Acoustic Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter), the City Council must undertake an examination of the information provided in the Annual Surveillance Report;

WHEREAS: Further, pursuant to 2.128.060 (c), as a condition precedent to determining whether the City shall continue or discontinue the use of SoundThinking’s Acoustic Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter), the City Council shall make a determination, based upon the information contained in the Annual Surveillance Report, whether the benefits to the Police Department and the community of the continued use of SoundThinking’s Acoustic Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter), outweighs its financial and operational costs;

WHEREAS: Further, pursuant to 2.128.060 (c), as a condition precedent to determining whether the City shall continue or discontinue the use of SoundThinking’s Acoustic Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter), the City Council shall also determine whether reasonable safeguards exist to address reasonable concerns regarding privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights impacted by continued use of SoundThinking’s Acoustic Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter);

WHEREAS: Finally, pursuant to 2.128.060 (c), as a condition precedent to determining whether the City shall continue or discontinue the use of SoundThinking’s Acoustic Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter), if the City Council determines the benefits or reasonably anticipated benefits do not outweigh the financial and/or operational costs, or civil liberties or civil rights are not reasonably safeguarded, the City Council may then consider a vote on the following three options;

(1) recommend modifications to the Surveillance Use Policy that are designed to address the City Council’s concerns to the City Manager for his consideration;

(2) request a report back from the City Manager regarding steps taken to address the City Council’s concerns;

(3) disapprove further use of the Surveillance Technology.

ORDERED: That the City Council shall comply with the Surveillance Technology Ordinance 2.128.060 and schedule a special meeting of the whole in order to conduct an examination of the Annual Surveillance Report, and further make the required balancing determinations between benefits and cost, the required determination of the existence of reasonable safeguards to protect civil rights, and whether if no safeguards exist and the cost outweighs the benefit, then make a determination of which or all of the three options shall be voted upon.

O-9 June 1, 2026
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Equitable access to affordable, nutritious food is essential to the health, wellbeing, and economic stability of Cambridge residents; and
WHEREAS: Despite Cambridge’s status as one of the wealthiest cities in the Commonwealth, food insecurity falls hardest on residents of color, families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities, with Black and Latino residents experiencing poverty at two to three times the rate of white residents, and these disparities are closely linked to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension; and
WHEREAS: The 2022 Cambridge Food Action Plan (CFAP), produced by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council for the Cambridge Food and Fitness Policy Council, found that healthy and affordable food options are most limited in The Port and Mid-Cambridge neighborhoods, areas that overlap substantially with historically redlined districts, and that residents in these neighborhoods face significant transportation barriers to reaching preferred grocery stores; and
WHEREAS: Neighborhood markets, which are often the most accessible food retail option for lower-income residents, are on average 50 percent more expensive than supermarkets and grocery stores, and the City’s Healthy Markets Program lost funding for the supplies that most motivated store participation; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has a robust food pantry network, with the majority of pantries concentrated around Central Square and surrounding neighborhoods, and the network has experienced steadily increasing utilization over the past several years and limited physical capacity to keep pace with demand; and
WHEREAS: Despite a nearly 48 percent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment gap, with roughly 7,000 Cambridge residents likely eligible but unenrolled, the City has limited capacity for targeted outreach, enrollment support, and bundled service connections for SNAP-eligible residents outside of the nonprofits and community partners already doing this work; and
WHEREAS: Approximately one in five Cambridge rental households is severely cost-burdened, spending 50 percent or more of income on rent, leaving little for food and other basic necessities; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Community Foundation has invested significantly in food access, including a $1.9 million multi-year Food Access and Security Initiative launched in 2023 and a joint $500,000 emergency commitment with the City to support food pantries and grocery store gift cards for SNAP recipients during the 2025 federal government shutdown, which caused SNAP benefits to be suspended in November; and
WHEREAS: Given the scale of public need and ongoing municipal and philanthropic investment, and continued uncertainty around the future of SNAP benefits, the City Council seeks a comprehensive accounting of existing programs, expenditures, outcomes, and unmet needs; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments and community organizations to provide the City Council with a comprehensive Food Access Report that includes, but is not limited to, an accounting of existing programs, expenditures, outcomes, and unmet needs to inform a public hearing on food insecurity and related City policies, programs, and expenditures; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to engage with community organizations, food justice advocates, schools, healthcare institutions, and residents with lived experience of food insecurity during the preparation of the report; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide the report to the City Council no later than four months from the passage of this Order.

O-10 June 1, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: On the 19th of June, people throughout the country shall be celebrating Juneteenth, which commemorates the day in 1865 during which slavery was formally abolished in the State of Texas, and which has come to be regarded as the final, formal date of emancipation of all remaining enslaved people throughout the United States of America at the end of the Civil War; and
WHEREAS: On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed into law legislation declaring Juneteenth to be a federal holiday, and we celebrate this holiday each year in acknowledgment of the ending of one of the most shameful chapters in this country’s history, and in the continual hope that the United States shall forever strive to become a more perfect union, and shall forever work to move closer to its founding ideals of being a nation where all citizens are considered equal; and
WHEREAS: In the 161 years since the end of the Civil War, the United States has unquestionably made great strides, and has also suffered numerous, at times heartbreaking setbacks, in the long march towards true civic equality for all its citizens; and
WHEREAS: In these tumultuous times, when the hard-won progress of generations faces renewed challenge and uncertainty, it is particularly important that we pause to commemorate Juneteenth and to reflect upon its meaning and enduring value – not merely as a remembrance of what was overcome, but as a reaffirmation of the principles of freedom, dignity, and equality to which this nation has pledged itself; and
WHEREAS: Juneteenth remains an important date for us to pause each year to reflect upon the progress we have made, and to contemplate the work that remains as we seek to create a more just country for the generations yet to come; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record recognizing June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth in the City of Cambridge, and in urging all Cambridge residents to reflect upon the meaning of this important day.

O-11 June 1, 2026
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is committed to protecting the civil rights, dignity, and safety of all residents, regardless of immigration status; and
WHEREAS: Ensuring that individuals are informed of their constitutional rights when interacting with law enforcement promotes transparency, accountability, and public trust; and
WHEREAS: “Know Your Rights” materials, including those modeled after the widely used “Red Card” framework developed by organizations such as Immigrant Legal Resource Center, provide clear, accessible guidance regarding individuals’ rights during encounters with law enforcement or immigration authorities; and
WHEREAS: Individuals in custody or detention settings may be particularly vulnerable and benefit from readily visible, multilingual information explaining their rights; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has a diverse population with many residents who speak languages other than English, making multilingual access to rights-based information essential for equitable treatment; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Cambridge Police Department and Law Department to develop and implement a policy requiring the posting of “Know Your Rights” informational and educational materials in all police department facilities; and be it further
ORDERED: That such postings shall be placed prominently in areas accessible to the public and in all areas where individuals may be detained, held, or interviewed, including but not limited to booking areas, holding cells, and interview rooms, to the extent consistent with legal considerations; and be it further
ORDERED: That the materials shall be written in clear, plain language similar to the “Red Card” and “Know Your Rights” frameworks that is translated to the most commonly spoken languages in Cambridge, including but not limited to Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Arabic, and Chinese; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on how this has been implemented within 30 days.

AWAITING REPORT LIST
25-29. That the City Manager is requested to work with the School Department, the Department of Public Works, and other relevant departments to ensure that all city owned parking lots, with a focus on school complexes, including the still under construction parking at Tobin/Darby Vassal school complex, could be made available for after-hours use by residents.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Zusy, Councillor Wilson (O-2) from 5/12/2025. [forwarded by Councillor Nolan as AR26-2]

25-51. The City Manager is requested to work with all relevant departments to seek input from the community as well as direct outreach to condo owners and short-term rental operators and develop additional recommendations based on the discussion in the Ordinance Committee.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui (O-8) from 9/8/2025. [forwarded by Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui as AR26-4]

25-69. Review the previous home rule petition and prepare a new petition that would allow Cambridge to enact a Real Estate Transfer Fee to be sent to the state legislature.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern (O-6) from 12/8/2025. [forwarded by Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern as AR26-6] [This item no longer appears on the City Clerk’s Awaiting Report list.]

26-7. Restricting Eligibility for On-Street Resident Parking Permits in New Transit-Oriented Developments.
Councillor Zusy, Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor Nolan (O-2) from 12/22/2025, Charter Right #2 of 1/12/2026

26-14. That the City Manager conduct a comprehensive review of existing safety and security measures at Cambridge City Hall, including an assessment of physical access controls, visitor screening practices, on-site security staffing and training, emergency response and evacuation protocols, and the use of security technologies such as surveillance systems and alarm monitoring.
Councillor Flaherty, Councillor Simmons (O-3) from 1/12/2026, Charter Right #2 from 1/26/2026

26-15. The City Manager is requested to direct the relevant City staff and departments to examine if and how the City may prevent the hiring by the Cambridge Police Department of any sworn officer who was hired by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, or Customs and Border Patrol, and report back to the City Council in a timely manner.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Al-Zubi (O-1) from 2/9/2026

26-16. The City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department (CDD) to examine the feasibility, legal considerations, and administrative requirements of permitting qualified third-party guarantors or co-signers for applicants to Inclusionary Housing units and provide recommendations as to whether such a policy could responsibly expand access to these units.
Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Simmons (O-3) from 2/9/2026

26-19. That the City Manager is requested to assess opportunities to improve the consistency of how meeting information is posted and accessed on the City’s website.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zusy, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-1) from 3/2/2026

26-22. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments as well as the Election Commissioners to review guidance from the IRS and consult with other municipalities in order to simplify our processes for paying election workers.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zusy (O-6) from 3/2/2026

26-25. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct all City departments, boards, commissions, and offices to discontinue all official posting and engagement on X within 60 days; and to include an explanation of why the City will no longer use X. See Mgr #7
Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Nolan (O-3) from 3/2/2026

26-26. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department and the Transportation Department to meet with Harvard’s Office of Community Relations and the Longwood Collective (MASCO) to harmonize institutional bus protocols with public-facing commitments.
Councillor Al-Zubi, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan (O-3) from 3/23/2026
[Apparently Report Accepted and Placed on File: Monday, June 1, 2026]

26-27. That the City Manager is requested to direct relevant City departments and staff to examine and report back on whether the city can require single-stall public bathrooms to be gender-neutral.
Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Azeem (O-4) from 3/23/2026

26-28. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to review the current legal landscape and provide recommendations for how to regulate construction of large data centers in Cambridge.
Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zusy (O-5) from 3/30/2026

26-29. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to raise the fee of the parking permit program for all residents to $75, consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP or are low income, remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program and lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zusy, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern (O-5) from 2/9/2026, Substitute Order Adopted 3/30/2026
[Apparently Report Accepted and Placed on File: Monday, June 1, 2026]

26-30. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested work with relevant City departments to provide a report on how the decision to install artificial turf was made, the rationale for artificial turf, and what process was taken to ensure community concerns and public health considerations were fully addressed, and to ensure that construction will not move forward until a report is delivered.
Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern (O-3) from 4/13/26

26-31. That the City Manager is requested to update the City’s “Succession Planning and Employee Ownership Workbook” and any comparable written or online guidance so that worker buyouts and worker cooperatives are clearly presented as standard succession options for retiring business owners.
Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan (O-1) from 4/27/26

26-32. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant City staff to review City ordinances regulating the operation of food vendors in City parks.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Azeem, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Al-Zubi (O-3) from 5/4/26

26-33. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant staff to explore options for commissioning a comparable housing needs study through a qualified research institution.
Councillor Zusy, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Flaherty (O-5) from 4/27/26 (Charter Right #1 from 5/4/26)

26-34. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to do extensive outreach to residents, businesses, and property owners to communicate the current water level status and take all measures to reduce nonessential water use citywide, and provide a report on citywide water usage and water supply.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Siddiqui (O-4) from 5/11/26

26-35. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments to review the state bills referenced as well as the previously filed Home Rule Petition and prepare a new Home Rule Petition that would allow Cambridge to install and operate cameras to enforce red light, speeding, or other moving violations as outlined in H.3754 and S.2344 and the prior home rule.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern (O-5) from 3/2/26

26-36. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments stop using ShotSpotter, including turning off and physically removing the surveillance tools no later than 90 days.
Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan (O-2) from 5/11/26 and Charter Right #2 from 5/18/26

26-37. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Mayor’s Office, Law Department, Election Commission, and other relevant City Departments to engage the Collins Center in assisting the City in reviewing policy options for allowing Cambridge voters to directly elect the City’s Mayor.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern (O-3) from 5/11/26 and Charter Right #3 from 5/18/26

26-38. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments to keep unchanged the current fee treatment for senior citizens, as for persons with handicap permits, by maintaining the existing exemption for seniors with respect to the proposed new charges.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zusy (O-6) from 5/11/26 and Charter Right #4 from 5/18/26

26-39. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Cambridge Department of Transportation (CDOT) and any other relevant departments to halt any further design, engineering, procurement, or construction activities related to implementing a reconfiguration of Garden Street to restore two-way motor-vehicle traffic or relocate the existing Bluebikes station and provide the City Council with a written update within six months of passage of this Order describing an alternative set of safety improvements that do not restore two-way motor vehicle traffic on Garden Street.
Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-2) from 4/13/26 and Charter Right #1 from 4/27/26