Cambridge City Council meeting - June 22, 2026

CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. A communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a request to approve the use of electronic poll pads on election day. [text of report] (CM26#185)

2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to reappointments to the Biosafety Committee. [text of report] (CM26#203)

3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of donations received in honor of Frances Antupit, in the amount of $10,563.98, to the Grant Fund Historical Commission Other Ordinary Maintenance account. [text of report] (CM26#193)

4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $10,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Grant to the Grant Fund Department of Public Works Other Ordinary Maintenance account. [text of report] (CM26#191)

5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of donations received for the Police Department Secret Santa for Seniors Program, in the amount of $2,750, to the Grant Fund Police Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account. (CM26#192)

6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of various donations to the Council on Aging in the amount of $4,101 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account. (CM26#190)

7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriation of MASSCAP Inc. funds in the amount of $1,821.91 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account. [text of report] (CM26#195)

8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to donations to The Cambridge Program for Individuals with Special Needs in the amount of $5,013.96 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account. (CM26#196)

9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation, in the amount of $625,000, from the Federal Grant Stabilization Fund to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account. [text of report] (CM26#197)

10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriation of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) grant in the amount of $137,222 funded by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salaries and Wages account ($23,951) and to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($113,271). [text of report] (CM26#198)

11. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation, in the amount of $68,980, received from the Cambridge Housing Authority for the Cambridge Employment Program, to the Grant Fund Human Services Programs Salary and Wages account. (CM26#200)

12. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriation of a Sports and Entertainment Events Fund Grant, in the amount of $26,000, received from the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism to the Grant Fund Executive Department Salaries and Wages account. [text of report] (CM26#201)

13. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-34 regarding a report on citywide water use and water supply. [text of report] (CM26#189)

14. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update regarding a Boards and Commissions Ordinance Review and Modernization Initiative. [text of report] (CM26#199)

15. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a response to AR26-2 [AR25-29] regarding school parking access. [text of report] (CM26#187)

16. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-38 regarding changes to the resident parking permit price. [text of report] (CM26#183)

17. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-7 regarding restrictions to eligibility for on-street resident parking. [text of report] (CM26#202)

18. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Home Rule Petition that would increase the personal property tax exemption threshold to $30,000 in assessed value for Fiscal Year 2027 and onward. [text of report] (CM26#184)

19. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-4 [AR25-51] regarding updates to the Short-Term Rental Ordinance. [text of report] (CM26#188)

20. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-33 regarding a housing needs study. [text of report] (CM26#186)

21. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Massachusetts Avenue Active Use Zoning Petition Planning Board report. [text of report] (CM26#194)

22. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Cambridge Street Active Use Zoning Petition Planning Board report. [text of report] (CM26#204)

23. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appointments and reappointments of members to the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Committee. [text of report] (CM26#206)

ORDERS
1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to develop a plan for inclusive and robust engagement on any proposed licensing changes, and to ensure that the City’s licensing framework remains as efficient, accessible, and streamlined as the law allows, without imposing unnecessary barriers or burdens on licensees. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zusy (PO26#124)

2. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the relevant departments to explore the ability of the City to prohibit, restrict, or otherwise regulate the use of algorithmic price fixing in its rental housing market, including the potential drafting of ordinance language that would regulate algorithmic price fixing and report back to the City Council in a timely manner. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor McGovern (PO26#125)

3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Cambridge Police Department to prepare a report for the City Council regarding the causes of the significant decline in traffic enforcement since 2015, current departmental priorities, and recommendations for enforcement. Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern (PO26#129)

4. That the City Manager is requested to evaluate the impacts of the temporary extended last call and public outdoor drinking district measures during the authorization period, consult with the License Commission, Cambridge Police Department, and other relevant stakeholders on the feasibility and desirability of making these measures permanent, and identify any necessary changes or actions required for implementation beyond the current authorization. Vice Mayor Azeem, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor McGovern (PO26#130)

5. City Council support of An Act to protect Massachusetts public health from PFAS. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Azeem (PO26#131)

CHARTER RIGHT
1. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Police Department, the Community Safety Department, the Emergency Communications Department, the Department of Human Service Programs, the Department of Public Works, the Law Department, and any other relevant City departments and community partners to develop a Neighborhood Safety Additions Plan for the areas of the city previously served by ShotSpotter technology. [Charter Simmons – Nolan, June 8, 2026] (PO26#120)

O-2 June 8, 2026 Charter Right - Simmons; one Al-Zubi/JSW amendment approved (as amended by McGovern), more to follow
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
WHEREAS: The City Council recently voted to discontinue the City’s use of ShotSpotter technology following concerns regarding the accuracy, reliability, privacy implications, civil liberties impacts, and overall efficacy of the technology, yet the underlying public safety concerns that led to the original deployment of the technology have not disappeared; and
WHEREAS: Residents in every neighborhood of Cambridge deserve to feel safe in their homes, on their streets, in their parks, and in their public spaces, and they deserve to know that the City is taking practical, visible, and effective steps to prevent violence and respond quickly when serious incidents occur; and
WHEREAS: The discontinuation of any public safety tool should be accompanied by a serious review of what additional resources, strategies, staffing, partnerships, or investments may be needed to ensure that the City is ~~not merely removing an existing tool, but~~ actively and concurrently strengthening its broader approach to neighborhood safety; and
WHEREAS: Such a strategy may include, but need not be limited to, targeted and community-oriented patrol presence, expanded violence prevention and youth outreach efforts, improved coordination following serious incidents, environmental safety improvements such as lighting and visibility upgrades, strengthened community reporting practices, and any technology alternatives that may be considered in compliance with the City’s Surveillance Technology Ordinance; and
WHEREAS: Any future public safety strategy should be evidence-informed, transparent, equitable, respectful of civil rights and civil liberties, and subject to meaningful public accountability; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Police Department, the Community Safety Department, the Emergency Communications Department, the Department of Human Service Programs, the Department of Public Works, the Law Department, and any other relevant City departments and community partners to develop a Neighborhood Safety Additions Plan for the areas of the City previously served by ShotSpotter technology, as well as any other areas where residents, neighborhood groups, or City departments have identified recurring concerns regarding gun violence, violent incidents, or serious public safety conditions; and be it further
ORDERED: That this plan should identify concrete resources, investments, staffing strategies, operational changes, interdepartmental protocols, community partnerships, and public-space improvements that may be added or expanded to improve neighborhood safety following the discontinuation of ShotSpotter; and be it further
ORDERED: That this plan should specifically address the feasibility and potential impact of increased foot and bicycle patrols in targeted areas, expanded community-based violence prevention and youth outreach resources, improved follow-up after serious incidents, strengthened public reporting and communication practices, environmental safety improvements such as lighting and visibility upgrades, and any technology alternatives that may be considered in full compliance with the City’s Surveillance Technology Ordinance; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council within sixty days with a written report that includes recommended actions, estimated costs, implementation timelines, responsible departments, opportunities for community input, and proposed metrics for evaluating whether these added investments are improving neighborhood safety.

2. That the City Manager is requested to use the Federal Stabilization Fund to provide one-time stabilization payments to Cambridge-based and Cambridge-serving organizations impacted by FY27 MOVA cuts, report back to the City Council with a proposed funding plan, and work with the Mayor’s Office and other relevant City staff to engage with the broader Cambridge nonprofit community to assess the full scope of federal and state funding reductions and their impact on the City’s safety net services. [Charter Right – Al-Zubi, June 8, 2026] (PO26#121)

O-3 June 8, 2026 Charter Right - Al-Zubi
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
WHEREAS: The Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) provides critical funding, supported by federal dollars, for services to victims and survivors of crime, including domestic violence, sexual assault, housing instability, legal advocacy, counseling, crisis response, and related supports; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge-based and Cambridge-serving organizations have reported significant FY27 MOVA funding reductions, affecting Transition House, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers, De Novo Center for Justice and Healing, Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, and On The Rise; and
WHEREAS: The City has been in communication with representatives of affected organizations that requested a combined total of $4,224,675 for FY27 and were awarded $2,548,104, resulting in an estimated funding gap of $1,676,570; and
WHEREAS: This gap will have serious impacts on direct services, including reductions in clinical support, legal advocacy, housing stabilization, food and transportation assistance, culturally responsive services, multilingual services, and staffing capacity; and
WHEREAS: Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, immigrant survivors, unhoused residents, youth, LGBTQIA+ residents, elder survivors, and transgender survivors may face longer wait times, fewer available supports, and greater barriers to safety as a result of these reductions; and
WHEREAS: These reductions are the result of a federal funding crisis and not a reflection of reduced community need, organizational performance, or importance of these services to Cambridge residents, and the City recognizes the need to engage the wider nonprofit community to fully understand the scope and consequences of federal funding reductions on Cambridge’s safety net services; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has a responsibility to protect essential safety net services and ensure that residents that rely on them are not left without support during a period of federal disinvestment; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to use the Federal Stabilization Fund to provide one-time stabilization payments to Cambridge-based and Cambridge-serving organizations impacted by FY27 MOVA cuts; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with a proposed funding plan, including the balance of the Federal Stabilization Fund and a proposed timeline for disbursement; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Mayor’s Office and other relevant City staff to engage with the broader Cambridge nonprofit community to assess the full scope of federal and state funding reductions and their impact on the City’s safety net services; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council go on the record reaffirming its commitment to standing with victims and survivors of crime, and preserving Cambridge’s network of victim services, violence prevention, legal advocacy, housing stabilization, and culturally responsive community-based support during this extraordinary period of federal disinvestment.

ON THE TABLE
3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to proposed changes to the City’s Zero Waste Master Plan. [Tabled June 1, 2026] (CM26#170)

APPLICATIONS & PETITIONS
1. An application was received from Patrick Conte, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 87-101 Blanchard Road; 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. (AP26#33)

COMMUNICATIONS (there may be some duplication)
1. Abigail Lewis-Bowen – Comments submitted on behalf of the East Cambridge Open Space Trust re agenda item 11 - turf on Ahern Field.
2. Abigail Lewis-Bowen – Statement from the East Cambridge Open Space Trust regarding Ahern Field
3. Adri Haus – Ahern field
4. Adriana Hausmann – CMA 2026-174 Ahern Field Report - keep grass
5. Alex Turner – Comment supporting fewer restrictions in the summer pilot
6. Alison Sanders-Fleming – Expand the citywide food diversion program
7. Amina Sheikh – Support for keeping the multi-family housing ordinance
8. Amy Perlmutter – Comments on Zero Waste Plan Ordinances for June 8 agenda
9. Andrew Nolan – Support for Multi-Family Housing and Rejection of proposed Amendments
10. Ann Fleck-Henderson – copy of my public comment remarks on Policy Order #3 today
11. Ann Stewart and Ann Tennis – Supporting PO#5 And Brown et al. Petition
12. Annette LaMond – Please Support PO#5
13. Aram Harrow – oppose PO26#123
14. Barbara Elfman – Amend zoning
15. Barbara Rubel – Housing
16. Becky Harmon – Zoning Amendment Request & Evidence
17. Beth Gamse – Please support PO#6 moderating amendments and support the Brown zoning petition!
18. Beverly Seidenberg – Public comment-Zusy/Flaherty PO#5
19. Bjorn Poonen – PO26#123
20. Suzanne Blier – 4 important reasons to support PO#5 and the Brown Amendment
21. Brennan Waters – Please do not amend Multi-Family Zoning
22. Brian Pfeiffer – June 8th Agenda - PO#5 & Doug Brown's Citizens' Petition
23. Buck Ewing – Citizens who MUST park on the street: Where now!
24. Buck Ewing – Please pause Ordinance allowing zero off‑street parking – protect on‑street parking for existing residents
25. Carol Greenwood – Multifamily housing ordinance amendments
26. Carol Lynn Alpert – READ THIS - Powerful commentary from the Amend the MFH Ordinance Petition
27. Carol Waldo – In support of moderating amendments to MFH zoning ordinance
28. Carolyn Hsu – PO#3 public comment
29. Carrie Blazina – Support Multifamily Housing and Reject Amendments
30. Catalina Arboleda – PO#5 by Councillors Flaherty and Zusy and Doug Brown’s Citizens’ Petition
31. Catherine Ahearn – Written Comment, CM26#174 Ahern Field Report
32. Charles Kekeh – Ahern field decision - Thank you!
33. Cynthia Hibbard – Comment for Tonight's City Council Regular Meeting - Zero Waste Master Plan - Ordinance Changes
34. Dan Sterner – PO#6 moderating amendments and the Brown zoning petition
35. Young Kim – My Comment for 6/8/2026 City Council Meeting
36. Xi Yu – Letter Request to Amend Zoning
37. William Bloomstein – Stop the pro-developer obsession
38. Dana Bullister – Oppose Amendments to Cambridge's Multifamily Zoning
39. Dave Halperin – Support Multifamily Housing and Reject Amendments
40. Wenyong Chen – Proposed Amendment Concept Regarding PO26#123 Multifamily Zoning Review
41. Dave Slaney – protect inclusionary zoning
42. Virginia Pye – A citizen strongly agrees with PO#5
43. David Hattis – Support Multifamily Housing and Reject Amendments
44. Debby Shapiro – For the Record MFHO
45. Vanessa Azzone Dhanji – CM26#174 Ahern Field Report - keep grass
46. Marjorie Decker – Letter to City Council 6/8/26
47. The Garbanzo – CM26#174 Ahern Field Report - Keep Natural Grass
48. Teresa Cardosi – please oppose MFH changes (PO#5)
49. Su Chiang – opposition to amendments blocking MFH development
50. Steven Miller – Another Voice Against Misinformed Housing Roll-Back PO#5
51. Stephanie Wasiuk – ZWMP 2.0
52. Jacquelyn Smith – Housing issues
53. Jacquelyn Smith – Councilor Flaherty's Second job
54. Sharon Stichter – zoning adjustments
55. Shannon Larkin – Artificial turf at Ahern Field
56. Sarah Block – Support Multifamily Housing and Reject Amendments
57. Sarah Baker – Pause Multi-Family Housing Ordinance
58. Sam Polzin – Oppose Amendments to Block Multifamily Housing (PO26#123)
59. Sam Cohen – Support for keeping the multi-family housing ordinance
60. Roxann Mascoll – PO#3 on The Cambridge City Council Agenda
61. Robson Goulart – City Manager Ahern Report
62. Robert O’Neil – Comments MFH Ordinance, 8Jun26 City Council Mtg
63. Reeva Meyer – A Better Cambridge
64. Raymond and Karolyn Park – Ahern Field
65. Phil Renzi – Public Comment submission -June 22 Council Meeting re: ZWMP PO26#110
66. Phillip Sego – Yogman Communication; Brown Petition
67. Peter Jones – Don't ban multifamily housing!
68. Paula Phipps – Artificial turf
69. Paula Cortes – PO#6
70. Paul E Fallon – Public Comment in Opposition to PO#5 - City Council Meeting 6/8/2026
71. Patrick McNeal – Oppose the Zusy/Flaherty Policy Order and Brown Zoning Petition
72. Patricia Mcgrath – PO#6 & Brown zoning petition
73. Paola Rebusco – Ahern Field/Park and its importance as an open space to East Cambridge
74. Pamela Blau – CM26#174 Ahern Field Report - keep grass.
75. Eileen McCullough – Do not accept CM26#174 Ahern Field Report
76. Elaine Spatz-Rabinowitz – PO#5 and Brown
77. Elisabeth Lyn – Ahern field report, community input
78. Elizabeth Cavicchi – Grass on Ahern Field! Community Respect!
79. Elizabeth Van Ranst – 9 Wyman Road
80. Ellen C. Minnihan – Please keep Ahern Field natural grass!
81. Emma Goddery – Support Multifamily Housing and Reject Amendments
82. Eric Yablonowitz – Support Multifamily Housing and Reject Amendments
83. Ethan Frank – Zero Waste Master Plan 2.0
84. Nora Allen-Wiles – Full Comments in support of PO#3 (CM26#121)
85. Nonie Valentine – PO#5, Doug Brown petition - in support
86. Noah Stapp – Support multifamily housing and reject amendments
87. Ethan Frank – Please stop attacking the multifamily housing ordinance
88. Nancy Pendergast – Zero Waste Master Plan
89. Nancy Donohue – Zero-Waste Master Plan
90. Momchil Tomov – CM26#174 Ahern Field Report - keep grass
91. Marlene Lundberg – PO#6 for Multi-Family Housing rule
92. Mimi Elmer – Support for Restricting Rodenticides Legislation
93. Federico Muchnik – City of Cambridge, MA Invoice Payment Confirmation
94. Genevieve Coyle – Hearing June 8 MFH Ordinance
95. Dan Totten – Clarifying the voucher program.
96. Heddi Siebel – PO#5, Doug Brown petition - in support
97. Heddi Siebel – Save Ahern Field from artificial turf
98. Heather Hoffman – Councillor McGovern is spreading misinformation about Inclusionary Zoning
99. Helen Snively – Zero Waste Master Plan
100. Hubert Murray – PO#5, Doug Brown petition
101. Ilisa Hurowitz – PO#5, Doug Brown petition - in support
102. Ira Nichols-Barrer – protect multifamily zoning
103. Irene Kang – Ahern Field and its importance as an open space in East Cambridge
104. Jana Odette – I support Zusy and Flaherty’s proposed amendments to the MFO!
105. Jacquelyn Fahey Sandell – Support Zusy/Flaherty policy order
106. Jax Crerer – Comments on proposed Cambridge License Commission Regulations
107. Janet Ghattas – Ahern Field
108. Jessica Sheehan – Reject attempts to re-establish exclusionary zoning
109. Jean Spera – Ahern Field
110. John Wofford – Strongly support PO#5 to pause demolitions
111. John R. Frank – Please amend MFH to protect trees and children’s access to nature
112. Judith Wheelock – Save our city, amend the zoning
113. Jonathan Haber – PO#5
114. Kiril Alexandrov – Please amend zoning and turf Ahern Field
115. Kirs Jen – Thank you for your decision to keep Ahern Field as a natural grass field
116. Kate Skubecz – Keep Ahern Field grass
117. Kevin Wolfson – Oppose MFH zoning amendments
118. Kirs Jen – Do not accept City Manager’s Ahern Field report
119. Kari Crawford – Ahern Field
120. Kate Gilmore – HRI’s written comments to PO#5
121. Larry Field – Oppose PO#5
122. Laura Clawson – Do not accept City Manager’s Ahern Field report
123. Lisa Dobberteen – Support amendments to the Multi-Family Housing Ordinance
124. Neal Leavitt – Health and Ahern Field
125. Louide Henri – Mass Ave feces and Central Station safety issues
126. Louide Henri – Support multifamily housing and reject amendments
127. Lizzie Feigenbaum – Support Zusy/Flaherty policy order
128. Lou Soltys – Save our city
129. Lisa Glover – Support PO#5
130. Luca Poth – Overdevelopment in Cambridge and support PO#5
131. Louise Venden – ABC exaggerated claims, pass PO#5
132. Liz Byron Loya – Support amending the MFH Ordinance; Simmons and McGovern conflicts of interest
133. Lyle Kantor – Support for restricting rodenticides
134. Luke Winslow – Oppose Zusy/Flaherty policy order and Brown Petition
135. Luisa Ferralis – Ahern Field; What about half turf, half grass?
136. Lynne Reiss – moderating MFH Ordinance and Brown Petition
137. Margaret Goreau – Support PO#5 and Brown Petition; oppose microplastics from plastic grass
138. Malcolm Bliss – Support multifamily housing and reject amendments
139. Marina Atlas – Support PO#3, PO#5, Brown Petition; oppose plastic grass
140. Maria Vivienne – Support PO#5 and Brown Petition
141. Mark Goodman – moderating MFH Ordinance and Brown Petition
142. Marina Kapes – support grass for Ahern Field
143. Marlene Lundberg – Support amending the MFH Ordinance
144. Mimi Elmer – Support for restricting rodenticides
145. Michelle Chiu – Support amending the MFH Ordinance
146. Michael Yogman – Support amending the MFH Ordinance
147. Momchil Tomov – Keep grass on Ahern Field
148. Michael Yogman – moderating MFH Ordinance and Brown Petition
149. Michael Hoff – Reject Housing Rollback
150. Petition with 2748 signatures to modify the MFH Ordinance
151. Martine Voiret – Zero Waste Master Plan
152. Mary Tittman – Oppose MFH zoning amendments
153. Nonie Valentine – Support PO#5 and Brown Petition
154. Nora Allen-Wiles – Support PO#3 to stabilize critical victim services for Cambridge survivors
155. Nancy Donahue – Letter from Chamber of Commerce on proposed changes to the Zero Waste Master Plan
156. Nora Allen-Wiles – Support PO#3
157. David Maher – Letter from Chamber of Commerce on proposed changes to the Zero Waste Master Plan
158. Nancy Pendergast – Zero Waste Master Plan
159. Noah Stapp – Support multifamily housing and reject amendments
160. Paul Fallon – Oppose PO#5
161. Patrick McNeal – Oppose Zusy/Flaherty policy order and Brown Petition
162. Patricia McGrath – Protect Cambridge from unchecked Outside profiteers
163. Paolo Rebusco – Ahern Field and its importance as an open space in East Cambridge
164. Pamela Blau – Keep grass on Ahern Field
165. Paula Cortes – PO#6, the MFH Ordinance as it exists today is creating havoc in our neighborhoods
166. Paula Phipps – concerns about artificial turf at Ahern Field
167. Peter Jones – Oppose policy order to amend MFH Ordinance
168. Philip Sego – Yogman communication and Brown Petition; MFH Ordinance as a developer enrichment plan
169. Robson Goulart – Do not accept City Manager’s Ahern Field report
170. Robert O’Neill – Comments on PO#5 and Brown Petition
171. Roxann Mascoll – Support PO#3
172. Ron Vandenabeele – Support Zero Waste Master Plan amendments
173 Raymond and Carolyn Park – Keep grass on Ahern Field
174. Reeva Meyer – “A Better Cambridge” and confessing her privilege
175. Sam Polzin – Oppose MFH zoning amendments
176. Sam Cohen – Support multifamily housing and reject amendments
177. Sarah Block – Oppose policy order to amend MFH Ordinance
178. Sarah Baker – Pause Multifamily Housing Ordinance; unintended and disruptive impacts
179. Sharon Stichter – Support amending the MFH Ordinance
180. Shannon Larkin – Keep grass on Ahern Field
181. Steven Miller – Another voice against misinformed housing rollback PO#5
182. Stephanie Wasiuk – Support Zero Waste Master Plan amendments
183. Su Chiang and Yakov Bart – Oppose policy order to amend MFH Ordinance
184. Jacquelyn Smith – Councillor Flaherty’s Second Job as a criminal defense attorney
185. Jacquelyn Smith – Housing Issues; condos not affordable, City removing street parking
186. Teresa Cardosi – Oppose policy order to amend MFH Ordinance
187. The Garbanzo – Keep the natural grass.
188. Vanessa Azzone Dhanji – Keep the grass.
189. Virginia Pye – Support Zusy/Flaherty policy order
190. Wenyong Chen – Proposed amendment to the MFH Ordinance – Balancing Housing Growth, Neighborhood Stability, and Preservation
191. William Bloomstein – Stop the pro-developer obsession; Be adults and pull back from this obsession
192. Xi Yu – Amend the MFH Ordinance; stop this wholesale giveaway of our city to profit-driven investors and developers.
193. Young Kim – Multifamily Housing Ordinance concerns

RESOLUTIONS
1. Retirement of Susanne Rasmussen from the City of Cambridge. Mayor Siddiqui

Res #1 June 22, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI

WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council has learned that Susanne Rasmussen, Deputy Climate Chief in the Office of Sustainability, will retire in June 2026; and

WHEREAS: Susanne Rasmussen, born and raised in Denmark, moved to Cambridge where she completed a graduate degree in city planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); and

WHEREAS: Susanne began her career with the City over three decades ago, first tasked with leading and implementing the Lead-Safe Cambridge program, which removed lead paint from affordable housing; and

WHEREAS: She later became Director of the then-named Environment and Transportation Division, where she led the implementation of a wide range of environmental and transportation initiatives including introducing Zipcar, Bluebikes, dedicated bike lanes, and public EV charging stations to Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: As Deputy Climate Chief, she spearheaded long-term strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand access to solar energy, and implement the Cambridge Community Electricity Program—key initiatives that have helped keep Cambridge on track to meet the ambitious goals of its Net Zero Action Plan; and

WHEREAS: Her dedication efforts earned her the Brian Murphy Leadership in the Workplace and Public Service Award in 2025; and

WHEREAS: Susanne’s extensive work has had a profound impact on the daily lives of Cambridge residents and will continue to shape the City of Cambridge for generations to come; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record thanking Susanne Rasmussen for her many years of service to the City, celebrating her as a role model in public service, and wishing her a happy retirement; and be it further

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

COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Interim City Clerk Paula Crane, regarding an update regarding legislative activity. (COF26#90)

2. Communication from Councillor Nolan providing a summary of public engagement and ordinance changes under discussion for the Zero Waste Master Plan Update. [text of report] (COF26#91)

3. A communication from Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding information from the School Committee. [text of report] (COF26#92)

4. A communication from Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding the Family Policy Council 2025-2026 Year in Review. [text of report] (COF26#93)

5. A communication from Councillor Timothy Flaherty relative to City Council Order PO26#115 and Discontinuation of ShotSpotter Technology. [text of report] (COF26#94)

HEARING SCHEDULE
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.

Wed, June 24
3:00pm The Transportation & Public Utilities Committee will meet to discuss micromobility in Cambridge – including current safety trends, the recently filed State legislation “Ride Safe Act,” and next steps for education and enforcement considerations.

Thurs, June 25
12:30pm The Housing Committee and the Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee will hold a joint public hearing to continue discussion of the 2025 Multifamily Zoning Amendments and consider potential modifications. In addition, the Committees will also be reviewing PO26#123, relative to proposed amendments to the Multifamily Zoning Ordinance, which was referred to the Committee hearing at the Regular City Council meeting held on June 8, 2026.

Mon, June 29
4:00pm The City Council will hold a Joint Roundtable/Working Meeting with the School Committee to discuss the Cambridge Preschool Program, including means testing and program expansion, as outlined in CM26#92, originally referred to the Human Services and Veterans Committee.

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1 June 22, 2026
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
WHEREAS: At a recent meeting of the Cambridge License Commission, the Board discussed updating its current rules and regulations after a review of many years of changes to state law and a review of observed issues by the Board, and published a draft document with suggested changes that were sent to each licensee in May; and
WHEREAS: The License Commission indicated that the proposed changes are a preliminary working draft and have since begun actively soliciting input from licensees through a series of listening sessions; and
WHEREAS: Despite these efforts to solicit feedback, many affected businesses are not aware of the proposed changes and some affected licensees who have asked to meet to discuss changes have not been invited to do so; and
WHEREAS: Many of the proposed changes are unnecessarily restrictive and would impose significant operational and management changes on licensees; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge’s business community, bars and restaurants in particular, is currently devoting time and resources to ensure the success of World Cup programming, including the temporary pilot programs for extended hours and designated public consumption districts, with very little notice, which means that any additional changes to the alcohol licensing framework should not be considered until after the summer season is over so businesses and City staff can focus on the success of already planned events including the Cambridge United soccer watch parties, Citywide Dance Party, Porchfest, and other signature events; and
WHEREAS: The City should take great care to ensure that changes to the City’s licensing framework are informed by outreach to all affected business associations, community groups, and members of the public; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to develop a plan for inclusive and robust engagement on any proposed licensing changes, and to ensure that the City’s licensing framework remains as efficient, accessible, and streamlined as the law allows, without imposing unnecessary barriers or burdens on licensees; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council in a timely manner.

O-2 June 22, 2026
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Businesses colluding to set prices artificially high has long been recognized as anticompetitive behavior that is harmful to consumers and illegal under U.S. law; and
WHEREAS: In the modern era, there is growing concern about businesses employing shared pricing software, AI algorithms, or data analytics platforms to fix prices, restrict supply, or manipulate markets to facilitate tacit collusion and attempt to circumvent federal and state antitrust law; and
WHEREAS: In rental markets, third parties can now serve as intermediaries for colluding businesses by aggregating market conditions, vacancy rates, and other property-owner-provided, nonpublic data to recommend or automatically fix uniform prices; and
WHEREAS: According to the United States Department of Justice’s 2024 lawsuit against the country’s largest provider of rent-setting software, and a ProPublica report, this data collection resulted in double-digit rent increases in many markets throughout the country, and is cited as a main contributor to the astronomical rent increases; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge residents, two-thirds of whom are renters, regularly rank housing affordability as their top issue in the biennial resident surveys; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa’s bill H.1564, An Act relative to preventing algorithmic rent fixing in the rental housing market, seeks to ban the use of algorithmic price fixing in the rental housing market throughout the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS: Algorithmic rent fixing is already being regulated in several locations in the United States, including the cities of Providence and San Francisco; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant departments to explore the ability of the City to prohibit, restrict, or otherwise regulate the use of algorithmic price fixing in its rental housing market, including the potential drafting of ordinance language that would regulate algorithmic price fixing; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council in a timely manner.

O-3 June 22, 2026
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Traffic safety is fundamental to ensuring that Cambridge’s streets are safe and accessible for all; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Police Department provides citation data through the City of Cambridge’s open data portal; and
WHEREAS: Analysis of that data reveals a sustained decline in traffic citations, approximating a decline of about 57% from the peak year of 2014, across nearly every category of moving violation; and
WHEREAS: The most dramatic decline in categories of violations are in unsafe door opening, speeding, crosswalk violations, failure to stop or yield and blocking a bike lane; and
WHEREAS: By contrast, other citation categories, such as bicycle violations and texting while driving, have declined comparatively less; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has a responsibility to understand the causes of this trend and to ensure that enforcement policy reflects the City’s stated commitments to Vision Zero and the safety of all road users; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Cambridge Police Department to prepare a report for the City Council regarding the causes of the significant decline in traffic enforcement since 2015, current departmental priorities, and recommendations for enforcement; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with this overview and set of recommendations.

O-4 June 22, 2026
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge recently opted in to temporary measures authorized by state law, effective through July 31, 2026, to extend last call for alcohol service to 3:00am and to permit alcohol-to-go consumption within designated public outdoor districts; and
WHEREAS: These measures were adopted to support local businesses and enhance the visitor and resident experience during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge’s nighttime economy and cultural districts benefit from flexible, modernized alcohol service policies; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City of Cambridge go on record in support of granting municipalities full and permanent authority to set their own last call hours and outdoor consumption policies so that Cambridge and other cities retain the flexibility to expand, modify, or roll back these policies as community needs evolve; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to evaluate the impacts of the temporary extended last call and public outdoor drinking district measures during the authorization period, consult with the License Commission, Cambridge Police Department, and other relevant stakeholders on the feasibility and desirability of making these measures permanent, and identify any necessary changes or actions required for implementation beyond the current authorization; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with findings and recommendations no later than October 1, 2026.

O-5 June 22, 2026
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: The City and City Council have been active in monitoring and addressing issues related to PFAS within the city including within the water supply, plastic products, turf fields, and other sources as research has improved and as federal and state regulations continue to be developed; and
WHEREAS: Significant parts of Massachusetts drinking water has been contaminated by toxic PFAS, increasing our risk of cancer and other health threats, and the Cambridge Water Department has been monitoring and taking action on this for years, at significant cost to local residents; and
WHEREAS: Costs paid by citizens, businesses, and local governments to manage products at the end of use including contaminants from PFAS are, in effect, subsidies to producers that enable and encourage producers to design products for disposal and without regard to end-of-life management; and
WHEREAS: To protect our health and water we must stop PFAS at the source; stop industrial discharges of PFAS; eliminate PFAS from consumer goods; and provide more resources for testing and mitigation; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of House Bill H.4870 and Senate Bill S.3034, An Act to Protect Massachusetts Public Health from PFAS; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to each member of the Cambridge delegation to the state legislature on behalf of the entire City Council.

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. See Mgr #15
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. See Mgr #19
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]

26-7. Restricting Eligibility for On-Street Resident Parking Permits in New Transit-Oriented Developments. See Mgr #17
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

26-26. 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

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

26-30. 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. See Mgr #11 of June 8, 2026 meeting
Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern (O-3) from 4/13/26

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. See Mgr #20
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. See Mgr #13
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. See Mgr #16
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zusy (O-6) from 5/11/26 and Charter Right #4 from 5/18/26

26-41. 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.
Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui (O-9) from 6/1/26

26-42. 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.
Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan (O-11) from 6/1/26

26-43. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Historical Commission, the Law Department, the Department of Public Works, Inspectional Services, the Cambridge Public Health Department, Community Preservation Act staff, the Harvard Square Business Association, and the owners of properties abutting the Old Stone Wall, for the purpose of developing a practical plan to stabilize, preserve, and restore this historic resource.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Flaherty (O-1) from 6/8/26