Cambridge City Council meeting - June 15, 2020 - AGENDA
CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA
1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Placed on File 9-0
2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Surveillance Technology Impact Report for A to Z Databases requested by the Library.
Approved 9-0
3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Kaija Langley as a new member of the Library Board of Trustees effective June 15, 2020 for a term of three years.
Placed on File 9-0
June 15, 2020
To the Honorable, the City Council:I am hereby transmitting notification of the appointment of Kaija Langley as a new member of the Library Board of Trustees for a term of three years, effective June 15, 2020.
Ms. Langley has been the Director of Development at the MIT Libraries since 2013. Prior to that she was the Associate Director of Philanthropy at The Nature Conservancy, an Individual Gifts Officer at the Museum of Science. Ms. Langley holds a Bachelor's in Journalism from Morgan State University and a Master's in Public Relations from Towson University. She lives in North Cambridge and is an avid user of the library and has gone of out of her way to make it to many library events and to be a personal ambassador for her local O'Neill Branch and the Library system overall.
Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager
4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $60,000 received from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program income to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures Account which will increase funds available to continue the development of affordable housing for residents.
Order Adopted 9-0
5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Partnership Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in the amount of $15,000 to the Grant Fund Human Rights Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used for Fair Housing outreach efforts.
Order Adopted 9-0
6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Cambridge Food Pantry grant received from the Cambridge Health Alliance for $15,000 to the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used to support the Cambridge Food Pantry Network.
Order Adopted 9-0
7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $228,505 to the Grant Fund Human Services Salary and Wages account ($17,137) and to the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($211,368) which will be used for shelter operating costs, providing essential services to homeless persons outside of the shelter setting; rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention case management; short and medium-term rental assistance; and financial assistance needed to gain or retain permanent housing.
Order Adopted 9-0
8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $4,994,743 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Grant Fund Human Services Salary and Wages account ($339,527), and to the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($4,655,216) and will be used to contract with homeless services providers and cover the costs related to serving homeless persons in Cambridge.
Order Adopted 9-0
9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a response to the City Council forwarding the ITD budget with an unfavorable recommendation.
Referred to Committee Report #1
June 15, 2020
To the Honorable, the City Council:During the May 26, 2020, hearing on the submitted FY21 Budget, the City Council’s Finance Committee voted to move the Information Technology Department (ITD) budget forward with an unfavorable recommendation. The proposed $10,087,610 ITD budget maintains and secures critical IT infrastructure and systems and supports IT systems that staff and the public use daily to conduct their city business, as has been particularly evident during the COVID-19 crisis. The Finance Committee’s vote was obviously not about the ITD budget, but rather the Committee’s desire for a municipal broadband feasibility study.
Since and prior to becoming City Manager, I have clearly stated my serious financial concerns with a City-owned and taxpayer-funded municipal broadband system, and the potential financial risk of such an endeavor. It is my understanding that most communities with successful municipal broadband systems have some combination of a municipal electrical plant and/or a substantial broadband market failure.
In 2016, when the Broadband Task Force concluded its work, the body advocated for an in-depth examination of digital equity issues. To that end, we procured the services of CTC Technology and Energy (CTC) to carry out a research project to further inform our understanding of the inequities and challenges with broadband in Cambridge. As you know, this year-long study began in July 2019, and we expect the final report by October, but potentially by the end of summer. While this date is a delay from the original timeline due to the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate some improved findings since the pandemic has heightened the City’s understanding and the public’s awareness of gaps in broadband connectivity, access to devices, and IT education and training.
I am committed to addressing the digital divide in Cambridge and ensuring there is digital equity in our City, and I know that this is a shared goal with the City Council. I also believe that targeted interventions can help address specific issues that exist in Cambridge. In fact, tonight, you will see a Free Cash Appropriation request for a new initiative to help qualified residents, particularly our school families, to receive broadband access at home.
Access to quality and affordable broadband is an important issue to the City Council, our residents, and me. Over the summer, staff will draft a scope of work, and in the fall, I am prepared to recommend a Free Cash appropriation for a feasibility study on municipal broadband. It is my hope that the data from a feasibility study will allow us to find common ground on the best approach to addressing broadband access and affordability for our residents. I look forward to further discussion with the City Council regarding steps we can take to address the outstanding questions from the 2016 Broadband Task Force Report.
Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager
10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $50,000 from Free Cash to the Grant Fund Executive Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used to support the City’s digital equity efforts to support qualifying families during the COVID19 pandemic who do not have internet access at home.
Order Adopted 9-0
June 15, 2020
To the Honorable, the City Council:I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $50,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Executive Extraordinary Expenditures account.
Funds will be used to support the City’s digital equity efforts to support qualifying families during the COVID-19 pandemic who do not have internet access at home. The initial priority focus will be on supporting households of Cambridge Public School students and Department of Human Service Programs participants. The City is entering into a sponsored service agreement with the Comcast to provide 12 months of broadband internet service to eligible households through the Internet Essentials program. Individuals may qualify for this pilot program if they are eligible for public assistance programs such as Housing Assistance, National School Lunch Program, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others; live in the City of Cambridge; do not have any outstanding Comcast debt under 1 year old; and, are not an existing Comcast internet customer or a subscriber to Comcast internet within the last 90 days. The City is working with the Cambridge Public Schools and the Department of Human Service Programs to identify priority eligible households. Through this pilot program, the City expects to provide over up to 400 households with broadband access for 12 months.
Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager
CHARTER RIGHT
1. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to report back to the Council on how some, or all, of the $4.1 million dollar increase in the Police Department budget between FY20 and FY21 may be redirected towards measures that promote public health and safety in other departments. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER IN COUNCIL JUNE 10, 2020]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Calendar Item # 1 June 15, 2020 [was Order #7 of June 8, 2020] Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVANWHEREAS: In response to the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 and Breonna Taylor in Louisville on March 13 – as well as the deaths of numerous other Black Americans murdered in the name of law enforcement – a wave of massive and sustained protests has erupted nationwide; and
WHEREAS: The same communities of color leading these protests have been the hardest hit by COVID-19 and the ensuing economic recession; in Cambridge, Black residents are testing positive at a rate three times higher than white residents; and
WHEREAS: On May 30, reflecting some demands many Black movement leaders have begun to coalesce around, Black Lives Matter launched a new combined campaign to #DefundThePolice and #InvestInCommunities hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic; and
WHEREAS: On June 1, the City Council unanimously passed POR 2020 #126, describing horrifying instances of police violence across the country, condemning police brutality wholesale, and affirming its solidarity with people of color who have suffered under unjust criminal justice systems; and
WHEREAS: Because of COVID-19, the City is anticipating less revenue for FY21 than originally anticipated and is expecting to delay the hiring of new positions, including in the Human Services and Community Development Departments; and
WHEREAS: Commitment to anti-racism in Cambridge requires material policy changes away from using policing as a response to our city’s problems and toward addressing the human services issues of poverty, healthcare and education that are the underlying causes of those problems;
now therefore be itandWHEREAS: Reallocations from the Police Department budget can be accomplished through funding changes to proposed positions in the FY21 budget that are currently vacant and will not require layoffs; and
WHEREAS: The council does not want to see any reallocations from the Youth and Family Services (SRO/YRO), Community Relations, Procedural Justice, School Crossing or other community building programs in the FY21 budget , or any other cuts that would jeopardize the hiring of Cambridge community members into the police department in FY21, or that would otherwise reduce the diversity of the police department; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to report back to the Council on how some, or all, of the $4.1 million dollar increase in the Police Department budget between FY20 and FY21 may be redirected towards measures that promote public health and safety in other departments; and
ORDERED: That the City Manager report back to the Council in time for the June 15 City Council meeting at which the Council will vote on whether to adopt the proposed FY21 budget.
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record stating its intention to support a proposed FY21 budget only if it includes a significant reallocation of funds towards measures that promote public health and safety other than policing.ORDERED: That the City Manager commit to placing a temporary hold on filling police department vacancies while beginning the hiring process for the following positions currently budgeted for only three months. These vacancies equal the $2.5 million Police Department budget increase. These positions which reflect City Council priorities include:
- The hiring of a new case manager in the City Manager’s Housing Liaison Office,
- The hiring for a new Associate Housing Planner, Preservation and Development Housing Planner, new Compliance and Asset Manager, parttime inclusionary Housing Assistant,
- The hiring for a social worker in the Central Square library,
- To provide funding for additional leadership for Equity and Culture,
- The hiring for two new Birth to Third Early child positions
ON THE TABLE
2. That the City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor, Community Development, Public Works, Inspectional Services and any other related departments to review the proposed amendments regarding the prohibition of Natural Gas Infrastructure in New Buildings. [TABLED ON JAN 27, 2020]
3. An application was received from Duncan MacArthur, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 56 Creighton Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association. [TABLED IN COUNCIL JUNE 1, 2020]
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-108, regarding a report on offering early voting in City Council and School Committee Elections. [PENDING RESPONSE FROM LEGISLATURE]
5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $6,500,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of various water pollution abatement projects, including but not limited to Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts. [ON OR AFTER JUNE 15, 2020 THE QUESTION COMES ON ADOPTION]
Order Adopted 9-0
6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for various Schools for repairs to electrical service, roof replacement, chiller replacement, floor replacement and replacement of bi-directional amplifier and antenna in various school buildings. [ON OR AFTER JUNE 15, 2020 THE QUESTION COMES ON ADOPTION]
Order Adopted 9-0
7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $5,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks. [ON OR AFTER JUNE 15, 2020 THE QUESTION COMES ON ADOPTION]
Order Adopted 9-0
8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $16,000,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan which will support improvements at the Department of Public works Complex including the Ryan Garage, Lafayette Square Firehouse structural repair, and other municipal buildings. [ON OR AFTER JUNE 15, 2020 THE QUESTION COMES ON ADOPTION]
Order Adopted 9-0
9. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $9,000,000 to provide funds for the construction of improvements of the Lexington Avenue and River Street Firehouses. [ON OR AFTER JUNE 15, 2020 THE QUESTION COMES ON ADOPTION]
Order Adopted 9-0
10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $237,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper School. [ON OR AFTER JUNE 15, 2020 THE QUESTION COMES ON ADOPTION]
Order Adopted 8-1 (Zondervan - NO)
APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
1. An application was received from Central Square Business Improvement District requesting permission for 45 temporary banners along Inman Square, Central Square, Kendall Square and Cambridge Rindge and Latin School along Broadway. Celebrating the graduating class of 2020 from June 16, 2020 through Aug 16, 2020.
Order Adopted 9-0
COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Cameron Russell, regarding support Moses family statement on Police.
2. A communication was received from Jae Storozum, 16 Whittier Street, regarding a response to Police Commissioner Bard's statement.
From: Jae Storozum jsstoroz@gmail.com
Sent: Thurs, June 11, 2020 9:40am
To: City Council
Cc: Clerk; City Manager
Subject: Regarding Last Night's MeetingDear Councillors and Mayor Siddiqui,
I would like to submit a response in writing regarding Police Commissioner Bard's statement at the City Council meeting last night.
Commissioner Bard said that many of the emails sent to the City Council regarding defunding the Police Department appear to have been form letters from a "national website". Indeed I am sure that many people did use the defund12.org/cambridge website to send emails to the City Council and the City Manager. That is because I, a Cambridge resident and activist, wrote and posted the "form letter" listed on that website. Its contents are a mix of language taken from the letter to the Boston City Council and my own research on the Cambridge Police Department based on data found on our open data portal.
You can check out the link to the issue request I made on code sharing site GitHub here: https://github.com/defund12/defund12.org/issues/130 and cross reference the handle on the post (jsstoroz) with my name in this email and on this account: https://github.com/jsstoroz
I am personally offended and disgusted by the Police Commissioner's insinuation that my work organizing our community around an issue which they feel passionately and the #DefundThePolice hashtag is some kind of disinformation campaign staged by outside aggressors. The Commissioner does not get to decide whose voices count as "authentic". In addition, as Councillors Zondervan and Sobrinho-Wheeler pointed out in the footnotes of their Policy Order 2020 #133, the movement to defund the police was literally started by Black Lives Matter leaders.
To the Mayor and the Clerk specifically - I thank you for your calm and rational handling of the proceedings last night. I am disappointed to find, however, that while there are procedural rules about the use of offensive language there is no similar procedural way to handle blatant lying and misrepresentation of the truth. I am disappointed that Councillor Zondervan's interruption was met with such hostility. I understand that interrupting a speaker is impolite, but I believe that the Council has the right and the responsibility to hear the truth at all times. Allowing Commissioner Bard to make inaccurate claims on top of allowing him such a long amount of time to speak without time for rebuttal, either from the public or from the Council, was unconscionable.
Although he is an expert with a PhD, Police Commissioner Bard is by no means a "neutral party" in this debate. He is first and foremost a spokesperson of the Cambridge Police Department and has a vested interest in seeing that institution carry on its business as before. If the Council wishes to have expert testimony, it would behoove them to invite experts in the fields of prison abolition, decarceration, and racial justice to speak, as racial justice is the goal we are trying to accomplish! There are many such experts who indeed also live in Cambridge and the greater Boston area. Seek them out, and listen!
Do you realize that last night was, for many Cantabridgians, the first time they ever watched a City Council meeting? Is this the kind of image you want to portray to the people who elected you? Frankly, it was embarrassing to see Councillors so blatantly reveal their personal enmity towards each other in an official meeting of our City's government.
As my elected representatives, I urge you to spend less time arguing over supposed infractions of decorum and your personal feelings. Spend more time listening to the message that speakers are trying to convey and listening to the message that the people are sending you. Over 400 people signed up to speak on Monday and thousands of emails flooded your inboxes. Listen to that voice - your citizens, the people who elected you, who have no "agenda" except to tell the City Council and the City Manager how they feel and what they think ought to be done.
Thank you,
Jae Storozum
16 Whittier St
3. A communication was received from Ashley Brown, expressing strong support of removing funds from the policy department and using those funds more appropriately.
4. A communication was received from Carl Rothenhaus, regarding POR 2020 #133.
5. A communication was received from Charles Franklin, regarding the charter righted policy order.
6. A communication was received from Charlotte Cooper, regarding investing more in our community health and future, not policing.
7. A communication was received from Dana Bullister, 155 5th Street, regarding policy on public safety in Cambridge.
8. A communication was received from Denson Staples, 60 Linnaean Street, regarding support for proposal to reallocate resources.
9. A communication was received from Felix Minos, regarding rethinking Cambridge police.
10. A communication was received from Emma Bryson, regarding needing a budget that represents us.
11. A communication was received from Kelsey Hanson Woodruff, regarding support for POR 2020 #133.
12. A communication was received from Mac Loftin, regarding abolishing the Cambridge Police Department.
13. A communication was received from Malaika Moses, regarding support of Policy Order #7.
14. A communication was received from Maria Suarez, 8 Bishop Allen Drive, regarding Commissioner Bard's remarks on Policy Order 7.
15. A communication was received from Michael James Roberson, 94 Richdale Avenue, regarding Policy Order 7.
16. A communication was received from Michelle Bentsman, 97 Beacon Street, regarding reducing the Cambridge Police Department budget.
17. A communication was received from Nadia Colburn, 48 Cedar Street, regarding Policy Order 7.
18. A communication was received from Natalie Taylor, regarding demanding a change in budget.
19. A communication was received from Naohito Miura, regarding concerns about the Cambridge Policy Department budget.
20. A communication was received from Paul Clarke, regarding Policy Order #7.
21. A communication was received from Rebeccah Stromberg, 220 Putnam Avenue, regarding reducing the Cambridge Policy Department budget.
22. A communication was received from Richard Whalley, regarding the Cambridge Police Department budget.
23. A communication was received from Saul Tannenbaum, regarding City Manager Agenda items #9 and #10.
24. A communication was received from Thabiti Brown, regarding Policy Order 7.
25. A communication was received from Yasmeen Abdel-Ghaffar, regarding concerns on Cambridge's Policy Order #7.
RESOLUTIONS
1. Thanking School Meal Sites Captains. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toomey
2. Thanking Y2Y Volunteers Resolution. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
3. Congratulations to Colonel Judy Rattan for her promotion in the 97th Air Mobility Wing. Councillor Toomey
4. Ding Ho Comedy Club 40th Reunion. Councillor Toomey
5. Resolution on the death of Maria Fatima da Silva. Councillor Toomey
6. Resolution on the death of Dorothy Zinberg. Councillor Nolan
7. Thanking School Bus Drivers Resolution. Vice Mayor Mallon
8. That the City Council go on record congratulating the CRLS Black Student Union Graduating Class of 2020, in recognizing their strong advocacy of and commitment to social justice, and in recognizing the tremendous positive ripples these young adults will continue to create in the decades to come. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey
9. Resolution on the death of Aubri Esters. Councillor McGovern
ORDERS
None.
1. On June 1st, this City Council went on record recognizing the importance of June 19th and urging all Cambridge residents to reflect upon the meaning of this important day. The City Manager is hereby requested to find the appropriate City staff to raise the Juneteenth Flag on June 19th at City Hall. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons and Councillor Dennis J. Carlone, Co-Chairs of the Finance Committee, for a public hearing held on May 26, 2020, June 2, 2020 and on June 3, 2020 to discuss the General Fund Budget.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-1 (Zondervan - NO)
2. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons and Dennis Carlone, Co-Chairs of the Finance Committee, for a public hearing held on June 2, 2020 to discuss the Water Fund.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
3. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons and Councillor Dennis Carlone, Co-Chairs of the Finance Committee, for a public hearing held on June 2, 2020 to discuss the Public Investment Fund.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2021 submitted budget appropriation orders.
Water Fund Order Adopted 9-0
Public Investment Expenditures Order Adopted 9-0
Operating Expenditures Order Adopted 8-1 (Zondervan - NO)
[Note: Zondervan moved to reduce Police Department Budget to level of FY2020 Projected Budget (a $4.5 million decrease). This motion was defeated 1-7-0-1 (Zondervan - YES; Sobrinho-Wheeler - PRESENT]
Operating Revenues Order Adopted 8-1 (Zondervan - NO)
COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting Amendments to Policy Order 2020 #133.
Placed on File 9-0
To: Cambridge City Council
From: Quinton Y. Zondervan, City Councillor
Date: June 11, 2020
Subject: Amendments to Policy Order 2020 #133I’m planning to introduce these amendments on Monday night to make it absolutely clear that Policy Order 2020 #133 is not asking for any layoffs in the Police Department, and that we want to protect and increase the diversity and community representation of the Department.
Insert the following WHEREAS and RESOLVED after the last WHEREAS of the existing order:
WHEREAS: The FY21 proposed Police budget includes $3.7 million in vacant positions (not counting the vacant school crossing guard positions), including $1.7 million in the Day Patrol, Night Patrol and Traffic cost centers, and the budget also includes $1.1 million in the Tactical Operations unit, one of the more militarized aspects of the department; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: The City Council does not want to see any cuts to Youth and Family Services (SRO/YRO), Community Relations, Procedural Justice, School Crossing or any other community supporting programs, or any other cuts that would jeopardize the hiring of Cambridge community members into the police force in FY21, or that would otherwise reduce the diversity of the police force; and
So that the full Policy Order would read as follows:
WHEREAS: In response to the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 and Breonna Taylor in Louisville on March 13-as well as the deaths of numerous other Black Americans murdered in the name of law enforcement-a wave of massive and sustained protests has erupted nationwide; and
WHEREAS: The same communities of color leading these protests have been the hardest hit by COVID-19 and the ensuing economic recession; in Cambridge, Black residents are testing positive at a rate three times higher than white residents; and
WHEREAS: On May 30, reflecting some demands many Black movement leaders have begun to coalesce around, Black Lives Matter launched a new combined campaign to #DefundThePolice and #InvestInCommunities hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic; and
WHEREAS: On June 1, the City Council unanimously passed POR 2020 #126[iii], describing horrifying instances of police violence across the country, condemning police brutality wholesale, and affirming its solidarity with people of color who have suffered under unjust criminal justice systems; and
WHEREAS: Because of COVID-19, the City is anticipating less revenue for FY21 than originally anticipated and is expecting to delay the hiring of new positions, including in the Human Services and Community Development Departments; and
WHEREAS: Commitment to anti-racism in Cambridge requires material policy changes away from using policing as a response to our city’s problems and toward addressing the human services issues of poverty, healthcare and education that are the underlying causes of those problems; and
WHEREAS: The FY21 proposed Police budget includes $3.7 million in vacant positions (not counting the vacant school crossing guard positions), including $1.7 million in the Day Patrol, Night Patrol and Traffic cost centers, and the budget also includes $1.1 million in the Tactical Operations unit, one of the more militarized aspects of the department; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: The City Council does not want to see any cuts to Youth and Family Services (SRO/YRO), Community Relations, Procedural Justice, School Crossing or any other community supporting programs, or any other cuts that would jeopardize the hiring of Cambridge community members into the police force in FY21, or that would otherwise reduce the diversity of the police force; and
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to report back to the Council on how some, or all, of the $4.1 million dollar increase in the Police Department budget between FY20 and FY21 may be redirected towards measures that promote public health and safety in other departments; and
ORDERED: That the City Manager report back to the Council in time for the June 15 City Council meeting at which the Council will vote on whether to adopt the proposed FY21 budget.
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record stating its intention to support a proposed FY21 budget only if it includes a significant reallocation of funds towards measures that promote public health and safety other than policing.
HEARING SCHEDULE
Mon, June 15
5:30pm City Council Meeting - Budget Adoption (Sullivan Chamber –TV, web, Zoom)
Mon, June 22
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber –TV, web, Zoom)
Mon, June 29
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber –TV, web, Zoom)
Mon, July 27
5:30pm Special City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber –TV, web, Zoom)
TEXT OF ORDERS
None.
O-1 June 15, 2020
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: On June 19th, people throughout the country will be celebrating Juneteenth, which commemorates June 19, 1865, the day in 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 former slaves throughout the United States of America at the end of the Civil War; and
WHEREAS: 45 states in the union currently recognize Juneteenth and celebrate this holiday each year in acknowledgement of the ending of one of the most shameful aspects of 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 the citizens truly are considered equal; and
WHEREAS: In the 155 years since the end of the Civil War, the United States has unquestionably made great strides, and has also suffered from numerous setbacks, in the long march toward civic equality for all its citizens; 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 to come; and
WHEREAS: On June 1st, this City Council went on record recognizing the importance of June 19th and urging all Cambridge residents to reflect upon the meaning of this important day; now therefore it be
RESOLVED: The City Manager is hereby requested to find the appropriate City staff to raise the Juneteenth Flag on June 19th at City Hall.
TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, comprised of the entire membership of the City Council, to which was referred the GENERAL FUND BUDGET for the City of Cambridge for Fiscal Year 2021 in the amount of $674,574,330 held public hearings on this matter on May 26, 2020 and June 2, 2020 commencing at 9:00am and on June 3, 2020 commencing at 6:00pm in the Sullivan Chamber.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE has referred the GENERAL FUND BUDGET for the City of Cambridge for Fiscal Year 2021 in the sum $674,574,330, except for the budget for the Information Technology Department, to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE has referred the BUDGET for the INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT for Fiscal Year 2021 in the sum $10,087,610 to the full City Council with an unfavorable recommendation.
For the Committee,
Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair
Councillor Dennis J. Carlone, Chair
Committee Report #2
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, comprised of the entire membership of the City Council, to which was referred the WATER FUND for the City of Cambridge for Fiscal Year 2021 in the amount of $12,831,240 held a public hearing on this matter on June 2, 2020 commencing at 9:00am in the Sullivan Chamber.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE has referred the WATER FUND for the City of Cambridge for Fiscal Year 2021 to the full City Council for the adoption of the enclosed order in the total amount of $12,831,240.
For the Committee,
Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair
Councillor Dennis Carlone, Chair
Committee Report #3
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, comprised of the entire membership of the City Council, to which was referred the PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND for the City of Cambridge for Fiscal Year 2021 in the amount of $36,985,940 held a public hearing on this matter on June 2, 2020 commencing at 9:00am in the Sullivan Chamber.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE has referred the PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND for the City of Cambridge for Fiscal Year 2021 to the full City Council for the adoption of the enclosed order in the total amount of $36,985,940.
For the Committee,
Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair
Councillor Dennis Carlone, Chair
AWAITING REPORT LIST
16-101. Report on the potential of building below market rental housing on City-owned parking lots along Bishop Allen Drive. On a communication from Councillor McGovern requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Vice Mayor McGovern, Mayor Simmons (O-4) from 12/12/2016
16-108. Report on whether people displaced and qualify for Emergency Status who are using Section 8 in other cities or towns can retain their resident preference for the purpose of Inclusionary Housing. On a communication from Councillor Kelley requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Mayor Simmons, Councillor Toomey (O-4) from 12/19/2016
18-38. Report on inventory of all City-owned vacant buildings and lots and the City's plans for them, if any.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor Siddiqui (O-2) from 3/26/2018
18-60. Report on a small business parking pilot that would allow temporary on-street employee parking during typical daytime operating hours.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #1) from 5/14/2018
18-73. Report on establishing and implementing a dynamic new initiative that will seek to place Port residents (ages 18 and over) on paths to jobs with family-sustaining wages.
Councillor Simmons (O-6) from 6/25/2018
18-119. Report on evaluating the existing capacity of fire stations in the Kendall Square area and whether a new fire station is needed, and if so, determining the feasibility of locating a plot of land for this use.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-2) from 11/5/2018
19-3. Report on establishing a Central Square Improvement Fund and allocate no less than 25% of funds generated to the arts.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern (O-6) from 1/7/2019
19-21. Report on the process for establishing a formal, thorough review of the City’s Affordable Home Ownership programs, incorporating a plan for obtaining and analyzing substantial quantitative data inclusive of all types of units.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-3) from 2/25/2019
19-22. Report on the feasibility of allowing small businesses to host live acoustic music performances without a license, and if feasible, present the City Council with a proposal to allow such performances.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern (O-5) from 2/25/2019
19-45. Report on compiling a full accounting of streets, schools, and public buildings that may be named in honor of those who have ties to the American slave trade, and to work towards renaming all of these streets, schools, and buildings.
Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 4/8/2019
19-49. Report on recommending restrictions on signage specific to retail establishments that sell e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-15) from 4/8/2019
19-58. Report on working with the Recycling Advisory Committee and other stakeholders to draft an ordinance banning single-use plastic items in Cambridge.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone (O-6) from 5/13/2019
19-62. Report on drafting a formal Anti-bias /Cultural Competency Strategic Plan for eventual adoption and implementation.
Councillor Simmons (O-2) from 5/20/2019
19-66. Report on whether it is possible to reduce or eliminate Building Permit Fees for 100% affordable housing development projects, through an exemption or other means and investigate what types of real estate tax abatements are possible for 100% affordable housing moving forward.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern (O-3) from 6/3/2019
19-74. Report on establishing a working committee to review the monuments, memorials, and markers throughout Cambridge to determine whether any of these commemorate those who were linked to the slave trade or engaged in other similarly shameful acts and to determine which individuals should be newly recognized with a monument, memorial, or marker.
Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Devereux, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-2) from 6/10/2019
19-75. Report on exploring the feasibility of partnering with a local research institution to conduct a study that determines how many ridehail vehicles are on the roads during both on and off-peak times and their impacts on congestion and safety.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux (O-4) from 6/10/2019
19-86. Report on developing a Vacant Storefront Registration Policy.
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan (O-5) from 6/24/2019
19-100. Report on the feasibility of implementing an additional regulatory requirement for listing a registration/license number for Short-Term Rentals.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons (O-19) from 7/30/2019
19-106. Report on conducting City directed environmental testing on the Sullivan Courthouse building and water in basement, to determine the risk posed to the public, and provide a timeline of completion and to establish an operational understanding directly with DCAMM officials and ask for a state designee for communication/coordination on how the building will be secured and monitored.
Councillor Toomey, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-5) from 9/9/2019
19-123. Report on the feasibility of closing some portion of Harvard Square to vehicular traffic on a select number of days during the summer of 2020 to have open market-style events.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan (O-1) from 10/7/2019
19-127. Report on instituting regularly scheduled public conversations between Public Utilities' representatives from Eversource, the Water Dept. Comcast, Verizon and any other appropriate entities to keep the City and public informed.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone (O-8) from 10/7/2019
19-130. Report on requesting to allocate more funds in the FY21 budget for the small business improvement grants and to confer with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office on whether other cities in Massachusetts have been facing similar issues with ADA compliance and what can be done to protect the small businesses.
Councillor Toomey (O-14) from 10/7/2019
19-132. Report on planting new trees in Magazine Beach Park in the Spring of 2020 with a special focus on the eastern end of the park and the grove area.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-18) from 10/7/2019
19-134. Report on increasing funding to the City’s HomeBridge program so that access to homeownership may be made available to a wider range of incomes, as the program intends.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toomey (O-20) from 10/7/2019
19-137. Report on determining if ISD can be given the authority to issue citations for smoking in non-smoking buildings and to report back to the City Council.
Councillor McGovern (Calendar Item #4) from 10/7/2019
19-139. Report on determining whether it would be possible to allow a permitted area for serving alcoholic beverages on Danehy Park property during special community-wide events.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #5) from 10/7/2019
19-141. Report on looking into the idea of hiring a social worker in the FY2021 budget for the Central Square Library branch.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern (Calendar Item #8) from 10/7/2019
19-142. Report on determining the feasibility of expediting the Demolition and Rebuilding permitting process in the event of a natural disaster.
Vice Mayor Mallon (O-1) from 10/21/2019
19-144. Report on determining the feasibility of instituting and funding a Fire Cadet Program.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toomey, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 10/21/2019
19-145. Report on reviewing all the City’s policies and procedures related to the procurement, installation and disposal of artificial turf.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Zondervan (O-7) from 10/21/2019
19-147. Report on installing hearing loop technology inside the Sullivan Chamber as part of the upcoming renovations to City Hall, and in other critical City meeting venues wherever possible and other accessibility improvements.
Councillor Zondervan (O-4) from 10/28/2019
19-151. Report on the feasibility of making Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue between Roseland Street and Beech Street a quick-build Complete Street with bus priority.
Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux (O-10) from 10/28/2019
19-153. Report on plans designed to mitigate the impact of the closing of Windsor House upon Cambridge seniors.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern (O-4) from 11/4/2019
20-1. Report on the work that has been done to Support Small Business and the Arts through Tourism.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern (O-2) from 1/13/2020
20-4. Report on the feasibility of instituting and funding a fare-free pilot bus program.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui (O-5) from 1/27/2020
20-5. Report on the potential for implementing sufficient traffic-calming solutions on Upton Street.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern (O-7) from 1/27/2020
20-6. Report on the acquisition and implementation of interpretation services for City Council meetings and other public City meetings.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern (O-8) from 1/27/2020
20-7. Report on reviewing the roles, responsibilities, and compensation of City Council Aides with an eye toward designating this as a full-time position.
Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone (O-1) from 2/3/2020
20-8. Report on working with the residents in the vicinity of Eustis Street to implement traffic calming measures on this street.
Councillor Toomey (O-4) from 2/3/2020
20-9. Report on allocating the necessary funds, and develop a comprehensive public safety plan, including contingency plans so that the event can take place in a secure time and place, even in the presence of significant threats that can be anticipated.
Councillor Zondervan (Calendar Item #2) from 2/3/2020
20-10. Report on renaming the Agassiz neighborhood.
Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui (O-1) from 2/10/2020
20-11. Report on the process for renaming the maintenance area within the Ryan Garage at 147 Hampshire Street in honor of Sydney Cox, with this becoming known as the “Sydney James Cox Maintenance Facility.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey (O-2) from 2/10/2020
20-12. Report on the feasibility of instituting a program to install rings on parking meters to expand bicycle parking options.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui (O-4) from 2/10/2020
20-13. Report on expanding the Head Start program hours and adding additional scholarships to improve access to high-quality, early childhood educational resources.
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern (O-6) from 2/10/2020
20-15. Report on the feasibility of limiting the number of Saturdays and holidays any one developer can be permitted for any one construction project.
Vice Mayor Mallon (O-2) from 2/24/2020
20-16. Report on the feasibility of eliminating Library fines.
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-3) from 2/24/2020
20-18. Report on the feasibility of implementing additional dedicated bus lanes, as well as fully separate protected bicycle lanes.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui (O-6) from 2/24/2020
20-19. Report on producing a Request For Proposal for the municipal broadband feasibility study that was called for by the City's Broadband Task Force in August 2016.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan (O-7) from 2/24/2020
20-21. Report on preparing a report on any steps the city has taken to work towards developing a Vacant Storefront Registration Policy.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone (O-4) from 3/2/2020
20-22. Report on working with the Inspectional Service Department to increase the fines for absentee property owners who continue to have violations stemming for rodent infestations.
Councillor Toomey (O-4) from 3/16/2020
20-23. Report on implementing Simple Recycling' s curbside textile recycling program and report back to the Council on this matter in a timely manner.
Councillor Toomey (O-1) from 5/11/2020
20-24. Report on working with DPW to begin distributing Gator Bags.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone (O-8) from 5/18/2020