CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments of Rayna Jhaveri and Emma Pan as members of the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities. (CM24#134)
Appointments Approved 9-0

CM24#134     June 24, 2024

I am writing to recommend the following appointments of members to the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) for a term of three years:

• Rayna Jhaveri

• Emma Pan

The Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) was established under Ch. 2.96 of the Cambridge Municipal Code. The eleven (11) member board consists of: one representative from the Department of Public Works, one representative from the Department of Human Service Programs, at least five people with disabilities, and up to four individuals who are family members, friends, or otherwise connected to people with disabilities.

The City Manager’s office posted a request for applications for the CCPD board on the City website and via a news release on Nov 21, 2023, with a closing date of Feb 5, 2024. During that time CCPD sent the notice out to its electronic newsletter recipients (about 1000 e-mail addresses) and reached out to people who had inquired with us about board openings since the last application period. The call for applicants was also posted in several of the City’s daily email updates and in postings on the City website. Of the seven applicants, four provided complete applications, lived or worked in Cambridge, and responded to interview requests. Three of those applicants identified as people with disabilities and/or as parents of children with disabilities. The applicants are broadly diverse based on their responses to demographic questions. An interview team consisting of CCPD staff and three members of the board conducted virtual interviews with each of the remaining four candidates. The Committee was very impressed with Rayna Jhaveri and Emma Pan and recommended their appointments.

I am pleased to recommend these two individuals whose expertise and experience will enable them to be valuable members of CCPD.

Rayna Jhaveri (appointment) is a person with disabilities who is deeply committed to engaging in outreach on disability resources and services.

Emma Pan (appointment) is a computer engineer and designer who is passionate about inclusive and accessible design.

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

2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Kathleen Kelly to the Cambridge Water Board. (CM24#135)
Appointment Approved 9-0

CM24#135     June 24, 2024

I am writing to recommend the following reappointment to the Cambridge Water Board for a term of five years, effective June 24, 2024: Kathleen Kelly.

Kathleen Kelly was first appointed to the Water Board in 2016 and she continues to be dedicated to the Fresh Pond Reservation, Water Department, and the City of Cambridge. Kathleen has served on the Cambridge Public Planting Committee and has volunteered for the Friends of Fresh Pond. Ms. Kelly is a Professor at Northeastern University.

The Cambridge Water Board is comprised of five resident members who serve in an advisory capacity to the City Manager and the Managing Director of the Water Department. The Water Board was established under Chapter 2.70 of the Cambridge Municipal Code and is regulated under federal and state drinking water laws.

I appreciate Ms. Kelly’s willingness to serve on the Cambridge Water Board and, with your approval, look forward to her appointment.

3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Tom Stohlman as an Election Commissioner for a term of four years. (CM24#136)
Placed on File 9-0

CM24#136     June 24, 2024

I am hereby transmitting notification of the appointment of Tom Stohlman as an Election Commissioner for a term of four years, effective June 24, 2024: Tom Stohlman.

Mr. Stohlman is a practicing Architect, with multiple degrees from MIT. He first voted as an 18-year-old in 1972 and has participated in our Democracy as a candidate, campaign manager, volunteer, election official, and voter ever since then.

6. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $437,333.33 in Cable Franchise Fees received from Comcast to the Public Investment Fund Cable Television Extraordinary Expenditures account to support the local Public, Educational and Government cable television stations. Funds are part of a negotiation with Comcast to provide capital funding as part of their license agreement. A portion of this appropriation will go to Cambridge Community Television with the remainder to the City’s 22-CityView and the Cambridge Public School’s educational cable station, CEA-TV for capital equipment purchases and upgrades. (CM24#139)
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan because of Public Investment Fund appropriation; Order Adopted 9-0

CM24#139     June 24, 2024

To the Honorable, the City Council:
I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $437,333.33 in Cable Franchise Fees received from Comcast to the Public Investment Fund Cable Television Extraordinary Expenditures account to support the local Public, Educational and Government cable television stations.

Funds are part of a negotiation with Comcast to provide capital funding as part of their license agreement. A portion of this appropriation will go to Cambridge Community Television with the remainder to the City’s 22-CityView and the Cambridge Public School’s educational cable station, CEA-TV for capital equipment purchases and upgrades.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

8. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a request for authorization of a spending limit of $250,000 for Fiscal Year 2025, for the Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction revolving fund (Revolving Fund), pursuant to Chapter 3.24 of the Municipal Ordinance titled “Departmental Revolving Funds”. (CM24#141)
Order Adopted 9-0

Agenda Item No. 8     June 24, 2024
ORDERED: That the City Council authorize the spending limit of $250,000 for Fiscal Year 2025, for the Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction revolving fund (Revolving Fund), pursuant to Chapter 3.24 of the Municipal Ordinance titled “Departmental Revolving Funds.”

15. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a request for authorization of a spending limit of $300,000 for Fiscal Year 2025, for the Fresh Pond Golf Course Pro Shop revolving fund (Revolving Fund), pursuant to Chapter 3.24 of the Municipal Ordinance titled “Departmental Revolving Funds”. (CM24#148)
Order Adopted 9-0

Agenda Item No. 15     June 24, 2024
ORDERED: That the City Council authorize the spending limit of $300,000 for Fiscal Year 2025, for the Fresh Pond Golf Course Pro Shop revolving fund (Revolving Fund), pursuant to Chapter 3.24 of the Municipal Ordinance titled “Departmental Revolving Funds.”

3. Congratulations to Catherine Woodbury on her retirement from the Department of Public Works.   Councillor Toner

R-3     June 24, 2024
COUNCILLOR TONER

WHEREAS: The City Council has learned that Catherine Woodbury has retired from the City of Cambridge after 38 years, 6 months of dedicated service; and

WHEREAS: Catherine was most recently a Senior Project Manager with the Department of Public Works, with her prior work being with urban planning and transportation projects with the Community Development Department; and

WHEREAS: Catherine established the City’s Stormwater Management Program including design guidelines and maintenance procedures for infrastructure on public and private property also managing efforts around the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit; and

WHEREAS: As the project manager for the City’s Urban Forestry Master Plan, Catherine was responsible for incorporating the policies and procedures to protect and increase the city’s tree canopy; and

WHEREAS: Catherine has been managing efforts for the City’s Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan (CSO LTCP) as well as Federal and State permitting requirements and compliance around that effort; being the primary planner for the Alewife Sewer Separation Program which began in the late 1990s, and resulted in a significant portion of west Cambridge having sewer and stormwater flows separated and the construction of a much appreciated and award-winning wetland near Alewife Station that now receives stormwater that was removed from the combined sewer system; and managed 2 construction contracts that made up that program; and

WHEREAS: Catherine has developed many of the community relations and engagement strategies used by DPW on a variety of projects; and

WHEREAS: Up until her retirement, Catherine was also the DPW Project Manager for the ongoing Tobin School site which includes the new school building and a 1.25 million-gallon underground stormwater holding tank; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: The City Council go on record thanking Catherine Woodbury for her exceptional commitment to the City of Cambridge and wishes her continued good health and happiness in her retirement; as her contributions continue to be invaluable, she will continue to work as a part-time consultant for the city; and be it further

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

31. Appreciation to Catherine Preston Connolly for her dedicated service to the City of Cambridge and its citizens.   Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson

R-31     June 24, 2024
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR PICKETT
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR WILSON

WHEREAS: Catherine Preston Connolly is stepping down after devoting over 11 years of exemplary service to the City of Cambridge as a member of the Planning Board; and

WHEREAS: Prior to serving on the Planning Board, Catherine served as the City’s first Parking & Transportation Demand Management (PTDM) Officer from 1999 to 2005; and

WHEREAS: During her tenure on the Planning Board, Catherine has drawn upon her deep expertise as both an urban planner and an attorney to provide valuable input into a wide variety of development proposals throughout the City and zoning petitions on myriad policy topics of significant impact on the life and work of Cambridge’s residents, businesses, and institutions; and

WHEREAS: In addition to the numerous hours dedicated to her work on the Planning Board, Catherine also served as the Board’s representative on the Alewife Working Group during the Envision Cambridge comprehensive planning study, undertaken from 2016 to 2019; and

WHEREAS: Catherine was elected Chair of the Planning Board from 2019 to 2022, and in this role she provided wise and unwavering leadership, facilitating discussion and guiding the Board through many complex and difficult cases; and

WHEREAS: Project proponents, residents, colleagues on the Planning Board, and city staff concur that Catherine has been a tremendous asset on the Planning Board – she is unafraid to ask difficult questions, fair and even-handed in her dealings with all parties, skillfully balances input from diverse perspectives, enriching the Board’s deliberations on many important planning projects; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council unanimously conveys its highest appreciation to Catherine Preston Connolly for her dedicated service to the City of Cambridge and its citizens; and be it further

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

34. Gratitude to City Workers at DPW.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern
pulled by Nolan for comments; Adopted 9-0

R-34     June 24, 2024
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
MAYOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN

WHEREAS: The city has experienced its first and likely not last heat wave of the year since climate change is already leading to more extreme heat days in Cambridge, which puts a burden on the entire city: residents, workers, and City staff; and

WHEREAS: The staff at the Department of Public Works who collect our trash, recycling, compost, and yard waste do so through every possible weather condition, with the extreme heat creating additional burdens and challenges; and

WHEREAS: The residents count on these essential workers who cannot work remotely and must be outside, no matter the conditions, and the City Council recognizes that these services are essential for public health and safety; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in appreciation of the work done by the staff at DPW in all conditions, and especially note that the extreme heat poses additional challenges that the staff meets exceedingly well; and be it further

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

35. Late Resolution re: National Community Development Association Conference.   Mayor Simmons

R-35     June 24, 2024
MAYOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The National Community Development Association (NCDA), a nationwide organization of community development professionals, hosted its Annual NCDA Conference in Cambridge from June 11-14, 2024, marking the first ever time this conference was held in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS: The conference commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program that provides local and state governments with the resources to develop viable urban communities by providing decent affordable housing and a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council formally go on record in congratulating the NCDA for the successful 2024 Annual Conference, one of the largest ever, with over 375 attendees having come from across the nation; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council formally go on record in thanking City staff and all the local partners who made the NCDA conference a resounding success:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Sarah Gallop and Anya Alexandra Bear from the Office of Government & Community Relations; Ezra Haber Glenn and Jeffrey Robert Levine from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning; Claudette Palmer from Campus Activities

• Harvard University: Jorrit de Jong, Katharine Robb, and Maddie Meister from The Bloomberg Center for Cities

• Homeowners Rehab Inc.: Sara Barcan, Kate Gilmore, Susan Twomey, and Will Monson

• Just a Start: Carl Nagy, Korynn Stoyanoff, Miriam Ortiz

• Wingate: Sarah Chambers

• City of Lawrence: Cate King and Sue Fink

• City of Bangor: Robyn Stanicki

• City of Somerville: Julie Melgar and Miranda Rubin

• City of Boston: Tina Griffith and Mary Paolucci

• City of Brookline: Ewana Lindo-Smith

• City of Cambridge Staff: Iram Farooq, Sandra Clarke, Judith Tumusiime, Robert Keller, Patricia Tuccinardi, Debra Copeland-Montout, Annie Shawn, Lynn McEnaney, Allyson Allen, Tyrone Fells, Christina DiLisio, Marlees West Owayda, Drew Kane, Ryan McKinnon, Daniel Messplay, Sarah Jane Huber, Sefanit Hidug, Rona Abrams, Scott Walker, Swaathi Joseph, and Daniel Messplay from the Community Development Department, Chris Cotter, Cassie Arnaud, Janet Haines, Christine Yu, Michelle Moran, Emily Salomon, and Atetegeb Fekade Bekele from the Housing Department, Ellen Semonoff, Sue Walsh, Liz Mengers, Michael Payack, and Anthony Wood from the Department of Human Service Programs, and Meghan Shaw from the Office of Sustainability.

37. Retirement of Roslyn Shoy from the City of Cambridge.   Mayor Simmons

R-37     June 24, 2024
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the City Council that Roslyn Shoy, Division Head for DHSP Community Schools, shall be retiring effective June 28, 2024; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record thanking Roslyn Shoy for her many years of service to the Cambridge Community, and in wishing her a very happy and restful 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 Roslyn Shoy on behalf of the entire City Council.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. The Economic Development and University Relations Committee held a public hearing on May 29, 2024 to follow up on its Sept 27, 2023 meeting on the City’s recent Disparity Study focused on the procurement of goods and services. The purpose of this hearing was to receive and update from City staff on any progress made in developing strategies to reduce barriers and promote City efforts to contract with more minority and women owned businesses identified in the Disparity Study. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Toner, Wilson
Remote Present: Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler
Also Present: Pickett, Nolan
Absent: McGovern

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     June 24, 2024
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: Disability Pride Month is a time to recognize, celebrate, and honor the contributions, achievements, and diverse experiences of individuals with disabilities; and
WHEREAS: This month serves as an important opportunity to promote awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the disability community, advocating for equal rights, inclusion, and accessibility for all; and
WHEREAS: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990, has been instrumental in ensuring the civil rights of people with disabilities, promoting their full participation in society, and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability; and
WHEREAS: Individuals with disabilities enrich our communities, schools, workplaces, and social environments with their unique perspectives, talents, and contributions; and
WHEREAS: Disability Pride Month is a time to celebrate the diversity of the disability community, including people of all ages, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds; and
WHEREAS: We acknowledge the ongoing efforts and dedication of advocates, organizations, and allies who work tirelessly to advance the rights, inclusion, and well-being of individuals with disabilities; and
WHEREAS: Fostering an inclusive and equitable society requires the collective effort of all citizens to remove barriers, challenge stereotypes, and support the rights and dignity of individuals with disabilities; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record recognizing July, 2024 as “Disability Pride Month” in Cambridge, Massachusetts and encourages all citizens to join in celebrating the achievements and contributions of individuals with disabilities and to promote a more inclusive and accessible society for all.

O-2     June 24, 2024
COUNCILLOR PICKETT
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: There are a number of important transportation projects currently underway and more are being planned around Cambridge that will impact traffic throughout Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: These projects include the MassDOT’s Reid Overpass Project, MassDOT’s Cambridge-Alewife Brook Parkway Bridge replacement project and DCR’s Memorial Drive (Road Diet) Project; and
WHEREAS: While these are not Cambridge projects, they impact the operation of our streets and, as such, the City should monitor and proactively inform residents, businesses and public safety officials as to the ongoing status of these projects; and
WHEREAS: The City should have a means for clear communication with the project managers of these inter-jurisdictional projects in order to ensure the timely sharing of information with residents, businesses, and public safety officials, and for the City to provide feedback and input as may be appropriate on these protects; now therefore be it
ORDERED: The City Manager be and hereby is directed to provide its plan for keeping residents, businesses and public safety officials informed about the status of current interjurisdictional transportation projects; and be it further
ORDERED: The City Manager be and hereby is directed to develop for future inter-jurisdictional transportation projects a system to ensure coordinated and timely communication between multiple parties involved in such projects and report back to the Transportation and Public Utilities Committee in a time fashion.

O-3     June 24, 2024
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR WILSON
WHEREAS: Access to affordable, quality health care is a human right and a fundamental component of a decent and just society; and
WHEREAS: Currently 200,000 Massachusetts residents lack health insurance, while many more are unable to access care, even with insurance, due to high out-of-pocket costs; and
WHEREAS Lack of health insurance may cause residents to defer care, which can lead to worse individual and public health outcomes and greater expenses as lower cost preventative care is replaced by higher cost interventions when individuals become severely ill; and
WHEREAS: The money spent by municipalities to cover their employees and retirees is a large cost to both the employer and the employees, as well as a cause of difficult collective bargaining; and
WHEREAS: The continued rise in costs of employment-based health insurance negatively affects our local economy by incentivizing businesses and municipalities to reduce staffing, defer raises, and hire more workers on a part-time basis; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts Senate Bill 744 and House Bill 1239, An Act establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts, sponsored by Senator Eldridge and Representative Sabadosa, would establish the Massachusetts Health Care Trust, funded through a payroll tax that is less costly to Massachusetts residents than their current premiums, deductibles, and copays; and
WHEREAS: The legislation would cover all necessary preventive care and medical treatment, enable people to see their current–or any–in-state provider for health care and providing for out-of-state emergency care, and ensure health decisions are made between patients and their health care providers, not insurance adjusters; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record as being committed to providing high quality health care to all residents and in strong support of H.1239/S.744; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the Cambridge State House delegation and State House leadership.

O-4     June 24, 2024
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR WILSON
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide a report to the City on the status of PILOT discussions about its PILOT agreement with the City with Harvard at the summer Council meeting and a plan for regular updates going forward; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the City Auditor, Assessor’s Department, and relevant staff to provide the City Council with an analysis of the current valuation of tax-exempt property owned by Harvard University at the summer City Council meeting.

O-5     June 24, 2024
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR WILSON
MAYOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: In the United States, last year it was estimated that 15,190 children and teenagers between 0 and 19 years of age were diagnosed with cancer, leading to the deaths of 1,590 children and adolescents due to the disease, not including other health complications that occur later in life; and
WHEREAS: Although pediatric cancer is rare, it remains the leading cause of death by disease for children after infancy in the United States, becoming even rarer thanks to investments and advances in cancer research; and
WHEREAS: September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, with events happening across the country to raise awareness of this disease, including the 1Million Families March in Washington, DC and 11 other cities across the country to call for an increase in funding toward pediatric cancer research; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in honor of the countless lives lost to and friends and families affected by pediatric cancer; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the Ahmad Butler Foundation on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-6     June 24, 2024
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR WILSON
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: In 2021, to help families begin investing in children’s future, the City of Cambridge, and Cambridge Public Schools partnered with East Cambridge Savings Bank to open savings accounts for Kindergarten students and deposit $50 on their behalf; and
WHEREAS: This program encourages young children to save early and learn about the importance of having a financially secure future and savings for college, vocational school, or post-secondary education; and
WHEREAS: The goal is that all Kindergarten students and their families will have the opportunity to learn about important financial habits, banking, saving, and spending; and
WHEREAS: Since the program’s inception, there have not been any updates regarding how many families have participated each year or any adjustments made; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with an update on the Children Savings Accounts Program that includes how many families are using the account, what the impact has been for families, and any feedback or recommendations families or partners might have.

O-7     June 24, 2024
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge and its various departments process applications and petitions for a number of different purposes and many application requirements require hardcopy printing of many copies, which can lead to wasteful consumption of paper; and
WHEREAS: The City Council goal of sustainability has led the City to improve operations wherever possible, for example efforts to reduce unnecessary plastic bottle waste at city sponsored events and the City Council’s own efforts to reduce unnecessary printing of agendas, though the City should be making more of an effort to reduce unnecessary paper and printing waste; and
WHEREAS: Given the prevalence of virtual and hybrid meetings, and given the ability, and often preference, to view application documents online, many printed documents are not even used; this waste runs counter to City sustainability and waste reduction goals; and
WHEREAS: The Planning Board Special Permit Application Checklist requires 10 hardcopies of narrative pages and 4 hard copies of all appendices submitted; appendices alone have eleven required submission categories and submitted applications can be hundreds of pages long, all of which can be viewed electronically; and
WHEREAS: Other City operations can also involve application materials, all of which should be reviewed to see if fewer hardcopy submissions can be used, including Board of Zoning Appeals, License Commission, Curb Cuts, ISD Permits and any other paper-based filing systems; and
WHEREAS: Circumstances do exist where paper filing is required and/or useful and a limited number of hardcopies can be produced; however, for the majority of circumstances, cutting down on the number of hardcopies delivered can be helpful to both applicants as well as to City sustainability and waste reduction goals; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to consider a number of city application processes and find ways to reduce paper and printing waste; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council by September 2024.

O-8     June 24, 2024
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: One in three Massachusetts residents struggles with mental health challenges; and
WHEREAS: Pioneering research from Johns Hopkins and Harvard Medical School finds that natural psychedelics can be effective in managing treatment-resistant depression and other forms of mental illness; and
WHEREAS: The FDA recently granted psilocybin, one of the psychedelics, a “breakthrough therapy” designation for treatment-resistant depression; and
WHEREAS: Natural psychedelics have been found to treat severe forms of mental illness including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and some forms of addiction; and
WHEREAS: A ballot question, “Initiative Petition for a Law Relative to the Regulation and Tax of Natural Psychedelics,” has been filed for the 2024 statewide election that would decriminalize the use of certain psychedelic substances for psychedelic-assisted therapy for adults 21 and older, similar to ballots passed in Colorado (2022) and Oregon (2020); and
WHEREAS: The ballot question would create a regulated therapeutic framework for psychedelic-assisted therapy, decriminalize the personal possession of five naturally occurring psychedelic substances, create a Commission, supported by an Advisory Board made up of subject-matter experts, allow for licensed psychedelic therapy centers to provide psychedelic services to individuals on-site only, and create a rigorous safety prescreening requirement for individuals to qualify for psychedelic-assisted therapy; and
WHEREAS: The ballot question would create a responsible regulated program for therapeutic access to natural psychedelics that would allow veterans with PTSD and seriously ill patients to find relief from the anxiety, depression and existential distress they commonly experience; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of the natural psychedelics ballot question, “Initiative Petition for a Law Relative to the Regulation and Tax of Natural Psychedelics.”

O-9     June 24, 2024
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: On June 21, 2024, a cyclist was killed while biking in a crash with a truck at the intersection of Hampshire and Portland Streets; and
WHEREAS: This death comes two weeks after another cyclist was killed in a crash with a truck at Mt Auburn and DeWolfe Streets; and
WHEREAS: There remain many injuries in addition to the recent tragic deaths, including 208 people who were injured on our streets last year, and it is clear that more work needs to be done to improve the safety of roads and intersections for all users; and
WHEREAS: The number of residents cycling has grown considerably with the development of new infrastructure, which has provided valuable safety benefits; and
WHEREAS: In 2020, the City Council passed the Truck Safety Ordinance requiring side guards and other safety features on City-owned or contracted trucks; and
WHEREAS: In addition to the two recent fatalities, there have been a number of other pedestrians and cyclists killed in crashes with trucks in Cambridge in the past several years; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to (1) work with our state and federal delegation to request legislative changes requiring truck side guards and other measures and report back on this matter; (2) report back on the feasibility of a program to distribute information to educate truck operators about challenges and best practices for driving in Cambridge given the high volume of people walking and biking, including for companies that do business directly with the city, as well as part of the permitting process for construction projects that may involve trucks; (3) report back on what additional truck safety requirements and traffic regulations directed at large vehicles the City may enact on its own or with the state and federal delegation; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to begin the process to make immediate changes to the 5 most dangerous intersections across the city, or more if possible, with a special focus on reducing the risk posed by trucks to pedestrians and cyclists, and report back on this matter by the first council meeting in September, 2024, providing a timeline to the City Council for completion of these projects and intersection improvements over the rest of this construction season, as well as for plans for a continuous program of safety audits for dangerous intersections or following severe crashes.