CHARTER RIGHT
1. That the City Manager is requested to take all necessary steps to temporarily restore and reactivate ShotSpotter within the areas of Cambridge previously covered by the system. [Charter Right – Al-Zubi, July 23, 2026] (PO26#136)

O-1     July 23, 2026   Charter Right – Al-Zubi
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY

WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge utilized ShotSpotter gunfire-detection technology beginning in 2014 as one component of the City’s response to incidents of suspected gunfire, particularly in circumstances in which no resident or witness called 911 to report that shots had been fired; and

WHEREAS: On May 18, 2026, the Cambridge City Council voted to discontinue the City’s use of ShotSpotter gunfire-detection technology following concerns raised about its effectiveness, privacy implications, and impact upon the community; and

WHEREAS: The tragic fatal shooting that occurred in Cambridge during the early morning hours of July 4, 2026 has renewed concern regarding the City’s ability to identify and respond promptly to incidents of gunfire that are not reported through a 911 call; and

WHEREAS: In the days following this tragedy, residents have expressed significant concern regarding the discontinuation of ShotSpotter and whether the voices of those living in neighborhoods most affected by gun violence were sufficiently heard and considered before the technology was removed; and

WHEREAS: The City Council must take seriously both the concerns raised regarding ShotSpotter and the concerns of residents who believe the technology may have provided an added layer of protection, particularly in circumstances in which gunfire might otherwise go unreported; and

WHEREAS: No single technology can prevent gun violence or substitute for sustained investments in violence prevention, youth engagement, community outreach, trauma-informed services, effective policing, and neighborhood safety, but an existing public safety measure should not be removed without a clear understanding of whether residents wish to retain it and what additional or alternative protections will take its place; now therefore be it

WHEREAS: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to take all necessary steps to temporarily restore and reactivate ShotSpotter within the areas of Cambridge previously covered by the system; and be it further

ORDERED: That ShotSpotter remain in operation until the City has completed a robust and inclusive public process regarding its continued use, with particular attention given to the views of residents from neighborhoods most affected by gun violence, and until the City has developed and begun implementing additional or alternative measures to ensure that those neighborhoods are not left with fewer layers of public safety protection; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to develop and present to the City Council a comprehensive neighborhood safety and gun violence prevention plan identifying the measures the City will employ to detect and respond to unreported gunfire, prevent violence, support affected residents and families, and provide additional protections within communities facing the greatest risk of gun violence; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council within ninety days with the results of the public process, the proposed neighborhood safety and gun violence prevention plan, and recommendations regarding the continued use, modification, or replacement of ShotSpotter.

2. That the City Manager is hereby requested to report on progress of the February 2026 report’s recommendations, and plans for ensuring appropriate levels of support and staffing for the Community Safety Department, including continued expansion of CSD’s violence prevention program, the number and types of calls handled by the CARE team, and the timeline for more comprehensive staffing for the CARE team emergency response program and is requested to report back to the City Council in a timely manner. [Charter Right – Simmons, July 23, 2026] (PO26#137)

O-2     July 23, 2026   Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN

WHEREAS: In 2023, the City of Cambridge established the Community Safety Department, which includes the Community Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) team for emergency crisis response, case management supports, and violence prevention efforts; and

WHEREAS: Since that time, the Community Safety Department has become a critical part of the City’s public safety resources and response, alongside the Cambridge Police Department, the Emergency Communications Department, the Multi-Service Center, the Department of Human Services Programs, and other City departments.; and

WHEREAS: Violence interrupters and violence prevention programs such as those used by Community Safety Department have been deployed as one method to reduce gun violence in cities across the country, and their effectiveness has been noted consistently in reducing gun violence; and

WHEREAS: The Community Safety Department’s violence prevention work has included partnering with community organizations including Cambridge HEART, Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, My Brother’s Keeper, InnerCity Weightlifting, and On the Rise based in Cambridge on violence prevention services; and

WHEREAS: The Community Safety Department’s CARE team was launched in 2024 and provides crisis intervention and ongoing case management services and had responded to more than 1,200 crisis calls by the end of 2025; and

WHEREAS: While the Community Safety Department’s CARE team is eligible to respond to a range of 911 calls for crisis response and ongoing case management, recent reporting highlighted that the team is eligible to respond to more than twice as many 911 calls as it is currently being dispatched to; and

WHEREAS: While the Community Safety Department’s CARE team has expanded their hours since launching in 2024, the team is currently staffed only for Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm, which is less than half of all hours, and the City has not yet outlined a goal timeline for the team to expand beyond these staffing levels or for 24/7 crisis response; and

WHEREAS: In February 2026, the City submitted a violence prevention recommendations report to the Council outlining the following recommendations:

1. That the Community Safety Department work with Cambridge-based organizations to expand coverage, services, and evaluation of effectiveness;

2. That the Community Safety Department establish a case management service for individuals most likely to be involved in gun violence;

3. That the City revise the RFP process currently used to partner with organizations on violence prevention; and

4. That the City hire an Assistant Director of Violence Prevention to oversee violence prevention programming, which the City has since done;

now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to report on progress on the February 2026 report’s recommendations, and plans for ensuring appropriate levels of support and staffing for the Community Safety Department, including continued expansion of CSD’s violence prevention program, the number and types of calls handled by the CARE team, and the timeline for more comprehensive staffing for the CARE team emergency response program; 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.

3. That the City Manager is requested to provide a comprehensive evaluation of violence response and prevention strategies, along with survivor support services, across City departments including CPD, CSD, CHA, and DHSP and come with recommendations before the City Council’s Public Safety Committee and report back to the City Council in a timely manner. [Charter Right – Simmons, July 23, 2026] (PO26#138)

O-3     July 23, 2026   Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI

WHEREAS: While Cambridge has had significantly fewer homicides per capita than the national average in recent years, including among cities in Massachusetts, when violence does occur it is devastating and unacceptable; and

WHEREAS: Along with state and federal policies related to public safety and firearms, the public safety work and programming run by the City of Cambridge including by the Police Department, the Department of Human Services Programs, the Community Safety Department, the Housing Department, the Multi-Service Center, the Public Health Department, and the Cambridge Health Alliance have had significant impacts in preventing and responding to violence in Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: It is imperative for the City to holistically evaluate what methods have and have not been successful in responding to violence in order to strengthen policy making around public safety across City departments; and

WHEREAS: Cambridge’s current public safety policies include a Surveillance Technology Ordinance passed by the City Council that authorizes the City to use more than 30 different surveillance technologies, including more than a dozen surveillance technologies requested by the Police Department over the years; and

WHEREAS: Alongside these important traditional public safety responses, City and community resources including mental and behavioral healthcare, affordable housing, education, and job training programs have proven to be critical tools in reducing violence in cities across the country; and

WHEREAS: While these public safety resources across City departments have been critical, it is important to review which programs, policies, and technologies have worked and have not worked in preventing and responding to violent crime, including solved and unsolved murders in Cambridge, and what additional resources or changes would be impactful across City departments; and

WHEREAS: Community engagement is critical in advancing public safety and new approaches or adoption of technologies must begin with robust community engagement and outreach to communities impacted prior to adoption in order to be effective; and

WHEREAS: While City departments and community organizations such as Transition House, Remembering Our Cambridge Kids and Kin, and BARCC have done tremendous work to support survivors of violence and their families in Cambridge, there remains work to be done to ensure that survivors and their families have the resources and support they need; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to provide a comprehensive evaluation of violence response and prevention strategies, along with survivor support services, across City departments including CPD, CSD, CHA, and DHSP and come with recommendations before the City Council’s Public Safety Committee; 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.

4. That the City Manager is requested to investigate directing the appropriate City departments to install security cameras overlooking Cambridge public parks, with such cameras operational only between the hours of 8:00pm and 8:00am. [Charter Right – Simmons, July 23, 2026] (PO26#139)

O-4     July 23, 2026  Charter Right - Simmons
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN

WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is committed to ensuring public safety for all residents; and

WHEREAS: The City must balance public safety interests with residents’ reasonable expectations of privacy and civil liberties; and

WHEREAS: Use of technology, if implemented, should be narrowly tailored in time, scope and access to avoid unnecessary intrusion into the privacy of park users; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to investigate directing the appropriate City departments to install security cameras overlooking Cambridge public parks, with such cameras operational only between the hours of 8:00pm and 8:00am; and be it further

ORDERED: That any footage captured by such cameras shall be accessible only to the City of Cambridge and its authorized personnel, and shall not be shared with, sold to, or made accessible by any third party absent a valid legal process; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Law Department to review this order and provide recommendations on privacy safeguards; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager report back to the City Council on the results of this review in a timely manner.

3. Happy Birthday to Evan!   Mayor Siddiqui

Res-3     Aug 3, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Evan Teplensky is incredible.
RESOLVED: The City Council recognizes that Evan Teplensky is incredible.

4. Condolences to the family of Xavier Bautista.   Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui

Res-4     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
MAYOR SIDDIQUI

WHEREAS: The City Council was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Xavier Bautista on July 4, 2026, at the age of 32; and

WHEREAS: Xavier was a lifelong member of the Cambridge community and a valued employee of the City of Cambridge, who brought dedication, hard work, and a bright and generous spirit to his service on behalf of the community in which he was raised; and

WHEREAS: Xavier was known for the importance he placed upon loyalty, friendship, and human connection, and he leaves behind a close-knit circle of lifelong friends who shared a deep history with him and who will forever cherish the laughter, joy, and friendship he brought into their lives; and

WHEREAS: Above all, Xavier was a devoted family man whose greatest joy and proudest legacy was his beloved five-year-old son, Rossie Mario Bautista, and who was building a beautiful life with his loving fiancée, Demetris Grimsley; and

WHEREAS: Xavier is also survived by his loving parents, Gladys Angeles and Bernardo Bautista; his siblings, Michael Bautista, Victoria Angeles, Reynaldo Bautista, and Diana Bautista; and an entire community of relatives, lifelong friends, colleagues, and advocates who fiercely loved him and remain committed to ensuring that his name, his story, and his legacy are never forgotten; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record extending its deepest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones of Xavier Bautista for their tremendous loss; and be it further

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

7. Congratulations to Glenn Koocher on his retirement.   Councillor Simmons

Res-7     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council is pleased to congratulate Glenn Koocher, a distinguished Cambridge public servant and one of the Commonwealth’s most respected voices in public education, upon his retirement as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees; and

WHEREAS: Glenn served on the Cambridge School Committee from 1974 through 1986, including service as Vice Chair and as Chair of the Committees on Budget, Special Education, Student Concerns, and Personnel Policy; and

WHEREAS: In 2000, Glenn became Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, beginning more than a quarter-century of leadership on behalf of locally elected school committee members, public school districts, educators, students, and families throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS: Through his leadership of MASC, Glenn has provided generations of school committee members with training, practical guidance, institutional knowledge, and steady counsel on matters ranging from school governance and budgeting to policy development, superintendent searches, and effective community leadership; and

WHEREAS: Glenn’s contributions have earned recognition throughout the Commonwealth, including the 2024 Friend of MASBO Award, and his inclusion in the Cambridge Museum of History and Culture’s Cambridge Mosaic, which presents the stories of individuals who have helped shape the life and history of this city; and

WHEREAS: Glenn’s retirement brings to a close an extraordinary chapter of public service spanning more than five decades, while the countless school committee members he has advised, the institutions he has strengthened, and the students whose interests he has championed will remain an enduring part of his legacy; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record congratulating Glenn Koocher upon his retirement from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, thanking him for his remarkable service to Cambridge and to public education throughout the Commonwealth, and extending its warmest wishes to him for a happy, healthy, and fulfilling 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 Glenn Koocher on behalf of the entire City Council.

9. That the Cambridge City Council go on record thanking Michele Kincaid for her many years of service to the City of Cambridge and wishing her a happy retirement.   Mayor Siddiqui

Res-9     Aug 3, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI

WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council has learned that Michele Kincaid, Deputy Finance Director in the Finance Department, is retiring after 28 years of service to the City; and

WHEREAS: Michele began her career at the City in 1998 as Manager of Financial Reporting in the Auditing Department, became Director of Financial Systems and Operations in the Finance Department in 2008, assumed her role as Deputy Finance Director in 2012, and twice served as Interim Assistant City Manager for Fiscal Affairs, in 2016 and again in 2023; and

WHEREAS: Michele oversees the City’s day-to-day financial operations with exceptional professionalism, resolving complex financial issues, strengthening financial systems, and providing thoughtful leadership that has enhanced the City’s ability to deliver essential services; and

WHEREAS: After the 2016 Berkshire Street fire, Michele developed an emergency financial distribution system, enabling displaced residents to quickly receive assistance; during the COVID-19 pandemic, she ensured that relief funds reached low-income residents efficiently and equitably; and her leadership implementing ARPA funding helped the City direct unprecedented levels of federal resources into the community; and

WHEREAS: In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, Michele was honored with the 2026 Brian Murphy Award for Leadership in the Workplace and Public Service, an award presented annually to a current or former City employee who has exemplified outstanding leadership and set a standard of excellence in public service; and

WHEREAS: Michele has served as a mentor, colleague, and leader whose generosity and guidance helped her colleagues succeed and serve Cambridge residents; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record thanking Michele Kincaid for her many years of service to the City of Cambridge, celebrating her as a role model in public service, and wishing her a happy retirement surrounded by her husband Byron, her sons, John, Matthew, and Zachary, and her six beloved grandchildren; and be it further

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

11.   Condolences to the family of Vincent “Vince” Lawrence Dixon.   Councillor Flaherty

Res-11     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY

WHEREAS: The City Council is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Vincent “Vince” Lawrence Dixon on July 11, 2026, at the age of 74; and

WHEREAS: Vince was a passionate historian and civic advocate whose love for Cambridge and commitment to public engagement shaped his work across the region, including his membership in the Cambridge Historical Society; and

WHEREAS: During his thirteen years in Winchester, Vince served on the Finance Committee from 2015 to 2019 and participated in numerous civic organizations, consistently advocating for strong municipal services; and

WHEREAS: Vince was a devoted educator who held multiple Harvard degrees and shared his expertise widely through historical and civic presentations and his work as a columnist for Winchester News; and

WHEREAS: Vince operated Cambridge Advantage for twenty years, offering guided tours in Cambridge and Boston, that explained not only history but transportation, real estate, economics and how cities work, and later founded Mass Presentations and launched The Vince Dixon Show on WinCAM, Winchester, MA’s public access television station, to share historical insight and promote civil discourse; and

WHEREAS: Vince believed deeply in volunteer-driven government and valued respectful, informed participation in civic affairs; and now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record extending its sincere condolences to his partner, Emilieanne Koehnlein, his family, his friends, and all who appreciated his thoughtful engagement and spirited debates; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Council honors the memory of Vincent Lawrence Dixon for his service, scholarship, and enduring contributions to civic life in both Winchester and Cambridge; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the family of Vincent “Vince” Lawrence on behalf of the entire City Council.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. The Public Safety Committee held a public hearing on Apr 29, 2026 to review the Cambridge Police Department’s use of ShotSpotter technology, also known as SoundThinking, which was referred to the Public Safety Committee through the Annual Surveillance Report, CM26#44, on Mar 9. 2026. [text of report]
Present: Al-Zubi, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler
Remote Present: Simmons

2. The Public Safety Committee held a public hearing on May 20, 2026 to review specific items from the Annual Surveillance Report as required under Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.128, Section 2.128.060, CMA 2026-44, submitted to the full City Council on March 9, 2026. In addition, the Committee will also be reviewing CMA 2026-120, relative to a Surveillance Technology Impact Report (STIR) for the Open Architects student data platform. [text of report]
Present: Al-Zubi, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Simmons

3. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on May 26, 2026 to review and discuss implementation of Zero Waste Master Plan (ZWMP) 2.0, adopted by Council in June 2025, including review of draft ordinance changes as recommended by the ZWMP 2.0. [text of report]
Present: Nolan, Zusy
Remote Present: Al-Zubi, McGovern
Absent: Azeem

4. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on June 2, 2026 to discuss possible changes relating to setbacks, stepbacks, open space and wet labs to the recently adopted Cambridge Street Zoning. [text of report]
Present: Nolan, Zusy
Remote Present: Al-Zubi, Azeem
Also Present: McGovern
Absent: Flaherty

5. The Ordinance Committee held two public hearings on June 16, 2026 and July 7, 2026 on two City Council zoning petitions to amend Article 17.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map regarding active use requirements on North Massachusetts Avenue and Cambridge Street, including a special permit requirement for Formula Businesses on Cambridge Street. [text of report]
Present: Flaherty, McGovern, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy
Remote Present: Azeem, Simmons
Absent: Al-Zubi, Siddiqui

Massachusetts Avenue Active Use Zoning petition (ORD26#5)

Cambridge Street Active Use Zoning petition (ORD26#6)

6. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on July 21, 2026 on a Zoning Petition by Douglas P. Brown, et al., to amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance in Articles 2.000, 5.000, 6.000, 11.000, and 19.000 with the intent of amending height, setback, and open space requirements, adding step back and building depth and width requirements, and adding minimum off-street parking requirements for residential uses in Residence C-1 districts, including the Affordable Housing Overlay, as well as reducing the Project Review Special Permit threshold from 75,000 to 20,000 square feet for residential uses in Residence C-1 districts, among other changes. [text of report]
Present: Al-Zubi, Flaherty, McGovern, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui, Nolan, Zusy
Remote Present: Azeem, Simmons

A Zoning Petition has been received from Doug Brown to amend the current Article(s) and/or section(s) numbered and entitled Articles 2, 5, 6, 11 and 19 height, setback, parking, open space and design review requirements. (ORD26#8)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: The 2026 Cambridge Dance Party, held on June 26, 2026 in Central Square, was a tremendous success and once again demonstrated the power of joyful, inclusive public programming to bring residents, families, workers, students, visitors, artists, and local businesses together in the heart of the city; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Dance Party has become one of the City’s signature civic celebrations and serves as an unofficial kickoff to summer in Cambridge, filling Massachusetts Avenue with music, dancing, community spirit, and civic pride; and
WHEREAS: From 1993 through 2005, the Central Square World’s Fair similarly served as one of Cambridge’s signature community festivals, bringing thousands of people to Massachusetts Avenue and nearby side streets for food, music, crafts, performances, community booths, family activities, and a broad celebration of Central Square’s diversity, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural life; and
WHEREAS: For more than a decade, the Central Square World’s Fair transformed the heart of Cambridge into a vibrant gathering place, generating economic activity for local businesses while showcasing the City’s commitment to inclusion, civic engagement, arts, culture, and community; and
WHEREAS: Central Square remains one of the Commonwealth’s most diverse commercial districts and is home to the state-designated Central Square Cultural District, which celebrates arts, culture, innovation, and the many communities that call Cambridge home; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge, Cambridge Arts, the City’s Arts and Culture Division, the Central Square Business Improvement District, local businesses, residents, artists, and community partners have demonstrated the ability to successfully produce large-scale public events in Central Square that strengthen community, support local businesses, and celebrate Cambridge’s unique identity; and
WHEREAS: Reviving the Central Square World’s Fair would honor the legacy of the original festival while supporting today’s goals of strengthening local restaurants and retailers, uplifting artists and cultural organizations, activating public space, creating opportunities for intercultural exchange, and celebrating the many communities that make Cambridge unique, while also serving as a natural September bookend to the summer season alongside the Cambridge Dance Party; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with Cambridge Arts, the City’s Arts and Culture Division, the Central Square Business Improvement District, relevant City departments, neighborhood organizations, local businesses, artists, residents, and other community partners to explore and plan for the revival of the Central Square World’s Fair in September 2027; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consider the revived Central Square World’s Fair as a major multicultural street festival celebrating the food, music, art, small businesses, cultural traditions, innovation, entrepreneurship, educational institutions, community organizations, and civic life of Central Square and Cambridge as a whole; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to examine how a revived Central Square World’s Fair could build upon the successful partnership between the City, Cambridge Arts, and the Central Square Business Improvement District, including lessons learned from the annual Cambridge Dance Party and other large-scale public events; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with an initial feasibility update no later than December 31, 2026, including possible event models, governance structure, estimated costs, potential funding sources, recommended City and community partners, community engagement opportunities, programming concepts, permitting needs, public safety coordination, logistical considerations, and an implementation timeline for launching the revived Central Square World’s Fair in September 2027.

O-2     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: In June 2026, the Commonwealth temporarily authorized municipalities to allow certain licensed establishments to remain open until 3:00 a.m. and to permit alcohol-to-go consumption in designated outdoor districts, and Cambridge opted into portions of that program; and
WHEREAS: The temporary state authorization expires on July 31, 2026, and Cambridge cannot continue or establish a new extended-hours program without further authorization from the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS: On June 22, 2026, the City Council adopted PO26#130, supporting permanent municipal authority over last-call hours and outdoor alcohol-consumption policies and requesting an evaluation of Cambridge’s temporary summer program by October 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS: A preliminary assessment of the summer program’s economic effects would help the Council, local businesses, and the public understand the program’s results while the City continues to seek the legal authority needed for any future action; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide a preliminary assessment of the economic effects of Cambridge’s 2026 summer program, using available data and feedback from participating businesses and relevant partners; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to advocate for an extension of the temporary state authorization or for permanent authority allowing municipalities to set their own last-call hours and related alcohol policies, including working with Cambridge’s state legislative delegation and other interested municipalities; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to include in the report already requested under Policy Order 2026-130: (1) the preliminary economic assessment described above; (2) an update on state advocacy and the legislative options available to Cambridge; and (3) a preliminary outline of the policy options the City Council could consider if the necessary state authority is granted, including possible program scope, eligibility, safeguards, and timing, with the report due no later than October 1, 2026.

O-3     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has a strong interest in preventing wage theft and ensuring that workers performing labor in Cambridge are paid fully, fairly, and on time; and
WHEREAS: Eversource and contractors and subcontractors working on Eversource’s behalf frequently perform utility work within the City of Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Such utility work frequently requires access to Cambridge streets, sidewalks, and other public ways through City permits, approvals, and coordination; and
WHEREAS: Eversource has indicated its support for paying prevailing wages on work performed in Cambridge, and the City appreciates that commitment; and
WHEREAS: Weekly certified payroll reports, or similar payroll documentation, would provide a straightforward means of verifying that prevailing wage standards and other applicable wage protections are being followed by contractors and subcontractors performing this work; and
WHEREAS: Such reporting would promote transparency, protect workers, and give the City confidence that work being performed in Cambridge’s public ways complies fully with applicable wage laws; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Law Department, the Department of Public Works, the Transportation Department, and any other appropriate departments to determine whether the City may require Eversource, and any contractors or subcontractors working on Eversource’s behalf in Cambridge, to submit weekly certified payroll reports or similar payroll documentation for work performed in Cambridge’s public ways; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested, while this legal and operational review is underway, to seek voluntary weekly payroll reporting from Eversource covering work performed by Eversource and by its contractors and subcontractors, consistent with Eversource’s stated support for prevailing wage compliance; and be it further
ORDERED: That said review include a determination of whether utility work performed by or on behalf of Eversource in Cambridge’s public ways is presently subject to Massachusetts prevailing wage and certified payroll requirements and, where such requirements do not presently apply, whether the City may establish payroll-reporting or wage-compliance requirements through permits, regulations, agreements, ordinances, home-rule legislation, or other legally available mechanisms; and be it further
ORDERED: That said review include whether payroll reporting may be required as a condition of street-opening permits, trench permits, obstruction permits, utility permits, traffic management approvals, or any other City approval connected to work in the public way; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council within 60 days, with an interim status update if additional legal or intergovernmental review is required, and that said report include, but not be limited to:
  • the City’s legal authority to require such reporting;
  • whether and under what circumstances work performed by or on behalf of Eversource is presently subject to prevailing wage and certified payroll requirements;
  • the permits, approvals, agreements, or other mechanisms that could be used to require such reporting;
  • the information that could legally be required in weekly payroll reports;
  • the measures necessary to protect workers’ private information;
  • the enforcement options available if Eversource, its contractors, or its subcontractors fail to comply; and
  • whether an ordinance amendment, regulation, permit condition, home-rule petition, or state legislative change would be necessary or advisable to implement such a requirement; and be it further
ORDERED: That, if the City Manager’s review concludes that an ordinance amendment, regulation, permit condition, agreement, home-rule petition, or state legislative proposal is necessary or advisable, the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide the City Council with appropriate draft language.

O-4     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: Ferro’s Food Town, located at 336 Rindge Avenue, is a longstanding neighborhood grocery business with roots dating back to the mid-20th century and formally incorporated in the 1980s; and
WHEREAS: For approximately 70 years, the store was operated by the Ferro family and served as a multi-generational, family-run business that became a trusted and reliable presence in North Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Following a transition in ownership in 2021, Ferro’s Food Town has continued to operate in that same tradition, maintaining its role as a neighborhood-serving food retailer; and
WHEREAS: Ferro’s Food Town serves a dense, diverse, and working-class population, including residents of Jefferson Park public housing, Rindge Towers, and surrounding apartment communities; and
WHEREAS: The neighborhood has experienced significant growth in affordable housing, including the redevelopment of Jefferson Park from 57 units to 278 affordable multifamily units and the addition of Rindge Commons, which provides 101 affordable multi-family units, increasing the need for accessible neighborhood food options; and
WHEREAS: Many residents, including seniors and families without access to a vehicle, rely on Ferro’s Food Town as a primary, walkable source of groceries and everyday necessities; and
WHEREAS: The store provides culturally relevant and affordable food options and functions as an essential part of the neighborhood’s daily life; and
WHEREAS: The store currently operates under a Section 15 wine and malt beverages license, limiting its financial sustainability; and
WHEREAS: Authorizing a narrowly tailored additional license would support the continued operation of the business and allow for reinvestment in food and nonalcoholic offerings; and
WHEREAS: Supporting Ferro’s Food Town aligns with the City’s goals of promoting food access, equity, and small business preservation; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the City Solicitor and the License Commission to draft and submit a Home Rule Petition to authorize one additional Section 15 all-alcoholic beverages license not to be drunk on the premises, subject to the following conditions:
  1. The license shall be issued for use at 336 Rindge Avenue,
  2. The license shall be issued only for a grocery-based establishment,
  3. The license may be transferred to another individual, partnership, or corporation operating the grocery business at that location,
  4. The license shall not be transferable to any other location except in the event the business is displaced,
  5. The license shall not be reissued if it is surrendered, revoked, or otherwise terminated.

O-5     Aug 3, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
ORDERED: That the City Council hold a Roundtable/Working Meeting on Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 1:30-3:30pm, to discuss the City of Cambridge’s ongoing and future work in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve services—including comparative examples—while ensuring any AI use aligns with City values, complies with legal and privacy requirements, and benefits both employees and the public.

O-6     Aug 3, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
ORDERED: That the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2026, be and hereby is canceled in observance of Yom Kippur.

O-7     Aug 3, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
WHEREAS: After confusion around a preliminary working draft of proposed changes to the Cambridge alcohol regulations, the City Council filed PO26#124, requesting a clear engagement process with stakeholders to help reduce barriers and ensure the City’s licensing framework is as efficient and accessible as possible; and
WHEREAS: During Council discussion, several recommendations were suggested including structural reforms to the Cambridge License Commission to modernize and improve its functions in supporting City staff; and
WHEREAS: Several limitations exist in reforming the License Commission, which was established by state law, passed in the Special Acts of 1919, amended by Chapter 95 of the Acts of 1922, and further amended by Chapter 84 of the Acts of 1949, and modernizing the Cambridge License Commission will likely require a home rule petition; and
WHEREAS: The structure of Cambridge’s License Commission is unusual among Massachusetts municipalities and as it was established over a century ago, its composition should be reviewed to ensure alignment with modern standards and best practices; and
WHEREAS: The City Council should consider opportunities to modernize the License Commission carefully and meet to discuss priorities, membership composition, and the impacts on the function of the License Commission; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to explore options for reforming and modernizing the License Commission, including through the home rule petition process; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the Economic Development and University Relations Committee of the City Council in a timely manner.

O-8     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: For approximately forty years, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church has partnered with the Hildebrand Family Self-Help Center and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide shelter and support to families experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS: This longstanding partnership has provided vulnerable families with safe shelter, continuity of care, and connections to services within the Cambridge community; and
WHEREAS: St. Paul AME Church has been informed that the properties located at 41–43 Columbia Avenue and 39 Bishop Allen Drive will no longer be operated as Hildebrand family shelter sites beyond October 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS: The loss of these established shelter locations would reduce family shelter capacity in Cambridge and disrupt a partnership that has served families successfully for four decades; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of maintaining the St. Paul AME Church properties as approved family shelter sites; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council respectfully urge Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and the Hildebrand Family Self-Help Center to work collaboratively with St. Paul AME Church to preserve these shelter locations and continue this longstanding partnership; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this order to Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, the Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities, the Hildebrand Family Self-Help Center, and Reverend Ellis I. Washington on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-9     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The City keeps track of some tree related permits on its Open Data Portal, but it’s hard to navigate [link]; and
WHEREAS: Critical data fields – such as “Number of Trees” and “Reason for Removal” – are frequently left blank, preventing clear compilation of total number of significant and exceptional trees removed; and
WHEREAS: The City has long celebrated its tree canopy and, in 2018, commissioned highly respected landscape architects Reed Hilderbrand to conduct an Urban Forest Master Plan to ensure the forest’s robust health; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager, working in collaboration with the Urban Forestry Department, Inspectional Services and IT, be and hereby is requested to devise a fuller, easier to navigate public accounting system that is searchable by neighborhood and explicitly records:
  1. Tree removals categorized by project type and/or reason for removal
  2. Total count of significant and exceptional trees lost per permit; and
  3. Potential Critical Root Zone impacts on preserved on-site trees, adjacent private trees, and public city street and park trees; and be it further
ORDERED: That this tracking system include an automated monthly public reporting summary detailing tree removal permits, number of trees removed, and project associations dating back to 2023; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council regarding improved tree loss accounting and reporting systems by October 1, 2026.

O-10     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: On numerous occasions, the City Council has requested forms of automated parking enforcement, including PO23#209 and PO24#123; and
WHEREAS: Per CM24#228, delivered on October 21, 2024, the City Solicitor recommended special legislation as the safest approach to authorize adoption of automated parking enforcement technology, and per PO24#148 and CM25#69, the City of Cambridge filed a home rule petition to request the ability to mail tickets and use automated parking enforcement; and
WHEREAS: Bill H.4231 was recently passed and signed by the governor on July 7, 2026, as Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2026, authorizing the City of Cambridge to expand the options available to issue notices of violation for parking enforcement; and
WHEREAS: A number of other cities, in Massachusetts and elsewhere, have begun ticketing using camera-equipped bollards; parking violations can affect disability parking access, transit service, loading zones, bicycle safety, and emergency vehicle access, and it is important for Cambridge to continue to improve street safety through enforcement of parking violations; and
WHEREAS: This technology would be implemented at little or no cost to the City and could prove especially useful for enforcement in commercial squares, where parking violations are typically more prevalent and disruptive to other users of the space, and where parking enforcement officers may not be able to keep pace with the volume of infractions; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to take steps to implement as soon as possible a program for automated parking enforcement which could be piloted in targeted areas of the city to evaluate different technologies, different functionalities for various locations, and publicize regulations, ensuring that all programs are done in the most cost-effective way for the City; 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-11     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
WHEREAS: In February 2025 the City Council passed PO25#10 requesting a report on potential uses of M.G.L. Ch. 40U, which allows municipalities to better collect fines for violation of ordinances regulating sanitation, housing, and snow and ice removal as a means to obtaining compliance with ordinances; and
WHEREAS: In September 2025, the City Manager responded with CM25#241, which outlined local options for Chapter 40U, including a list of ordinances and regulations within the scope of Ch. 40U, including Short-Term Rentals; and
WHEREAS: Collection of fines for violations of local ordinance can be difficult for municipalities as many disputes can result in lengthy and difficult battles in state court for otherwise minor dollar amounts, and the Ch. 40U procedure works similarly to the process in place for hearings on parking citations which allows for appeals of citations outside the judicial system, allows penalties for late payments, and allows municipalities to impose sanctions for failure to pay fines by assessing additional penalties and interest, eventually allows municipalities to place a lien on a property based on the number of violations and/or dollar amount; and
WHEREAS: One barrier to collecting fines for ordinance violations though the City’s existing mechanism, G.L. c.40, §21D, is that online payments are not allowed, which is currently being addressed via state legislation by Amendment #157 of the currently pending Economic Development Bill S.3178, which would allow any city or town to use an online payment mechanism as an alternative to payment by mail; and
WHEREAS: Even if changes are made to the City’s existing enforcement mechanism, G.L. c.40, §21D, Chapter 40U will provide an additional enforcement tool to the City, and will likely be particularly helpful for certain ordinance violations like violations of the Short-Term Rental Ordinance; and
WHEREAS: In order to use and operationalize Chapter 40U, the City Council needs to vote to accept the statute and relevant ordinances and applicable regulations need to be updated to outline the relevant procedure, and City staff will need to work to operationalize the function, including to allow for online payments of all fines; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council hereby accepts and authorizes the use of M.G. L. Ch. 40U, as a method for enforcement of certain ordinances; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to provide a recommendation and outline procedures for implementing Ch. 40U for Short-Term Rental violations, and provide recommendations for any other ordinance violations to enforce with Chapter 40U; 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-12     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge relies on coordinated work across multiple departments to review, approve, advise on, and manage booming business and residential development, including renovations, demolitions, and new construction; and
WHEREAS: Departments, including but not limited to Inspectional Services, Community Development, Public Works, the Urban Forestry Division, the Fire Department, the Water Department, and the Historical Commission, are integral at ensuring development occurs safely, protects infrastructure, and minimizes disruption to the surrounding community; and
WHEREAS: Homeowners and developers regularly navigate complex and interdependent processes requiring direction, review, or approvals from multiple departments, yet there is currently no clearly communicated workflow outlining the complete sequence of steps, responsibilities, timelines, and review criteria; and
WHEREAS: Constituents remain unclear on how the development process works, which contributes to confusion; and
WHEREAS: Improving communication within the City, and then outwardly to community members, will support responsible and much-needed housing creation by reducing delays, setting clearer expectations, strengthening coordination, and ensuring that projects advance while respecting neighbors and upholding City standards; and
WHEREAS: City departments would benefit from a more structured, predictable process for sharing information, coordinating reviews, and publicly sharing data; and
WHEREAS: While the pending “Neighbor’s Guide to the Multifamily Housing Ordinance” will provide helpful general information, a broader effort is needed to reflect internal workflows and provide developers and residents with a clear, step‑by‑step explanation of how projects move from initial inquiry to permit issuance to construction oversight; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to convene all departments involved in permitting, reviewing, advising on, or overseeing building related activities to develop a coordinated, transparent, and consistently communicated process outlining:
  • a point of contact from the City and for each project
  • the full sequence of permit and review steps for altering, constructing, or demolishing a building
  • the responsibilities of each department, including points of interdepartmental coordination
  • the requirements and responsibilities for developers and property owners at each stage of review
  • the expected timelines and decision points within the process
  • mechanisms for notifying abutters and community members
  • the consequences of noncompliance and how issues or complaints should be addressed
  • clarification on City and state responsibilities and communication; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager further be and hereby is requested to produce a publicly accessible resource that clearly communicates this interdepartmental workflow to residents, and developers, ensuring that all parties understand the process from start to finish; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager report back on progress and preliminary recommendations to the appropriate Council committee at the September 14th Council meeting.

O-13     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: Facilities workers represented by SEIU 32BJ perform essential work throughout the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as custodians, grounds workers, desk associates, and skilled tradespeople; and
WHEREAS: SEIU 32BJ and MIT are currently negotiating a successor collective bargaining agreement, seeking fair wage increases, more affordable healthcare, protections for immigrant workers, and strong union benefits; and
WHEREAS: As one of Cambridge’s largest employers, MIT has an important role in promoting fair labor standards and constructive labor relations; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of the SEIU 32BJ facilities workers at MIT and their efforts to secure a fair contract; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council respectfully urge MIT to reach a fair and timely agreement that provides family-sustaining wages, affordable healthcare, strong benefits, and appropriate workplace protections; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this Policy Order to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, Provost Anantha P. Chandrakasan, Chancellor Melissa Nobles, Executive Vice President and Treasurer Glen Shor, and SEIU 32BJ on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-14     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
WHEREAS: Julia Child was a pioneering chef, author, and television personality whose work helped introduce French cooking to American audiences, and recognizing her longstanding connection to Cambridge would help preserve and share an important part of the city’s cultural history; and
WHEREAS: Julia Child lived at 103 Irving Street in Cambridge from 1961 to 2001, making the residence her home for approximately 40 years; and
WHEREAS: During her time at 103 Irving Street, Julia Child filmed several nationally televised cooking programs inside the residence, including Cooking with Master Chefs, In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs, Baking with Julia, and Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home; and
WHEREAS: Julia Child held free demonstrations for the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Harvard University, and the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, among other organizations, and raised $17,000 for the Rindge School of Technical Arts Culinary Scholarship Fund; and
WHEREAS: Julia Child frequented various local businesses, most notably purchasing the meats for her show The French Chef from Savenor’s Market, which now has her trademark phrase, ‘Bon Appetite,’ inscribed outside the building in her honor; and
WHEREAS: Julia Child gave much of herself to the people of Cambridge throughout her life, donating an extensive collection of correspondence, photographs, recipes, professional records, and other materials to the Schlesinger Library at Radcliffe, allowing students, researchers, and members of the public to continue studying her life and work; and
WHEREAS: Julia Child’s Cambridge kitchen was acquired and preserved by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, reflecting the national historical and cultural significance of the work conducted in her home; and
WHEREAS: An appropriate historical marker at or near 103 Irving Street would provide permanent public recognition of Julia Child’s life, work, and lasting connection to Cambridge; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Historical Commission, the property owner, and other appropriate parties regarding placing a historical marker on 103 Irving Street in recognition of Julia Child’s life, work, and connection to Cambridge; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on the available options, necessary permissions, anticipated costs, and proposed next steps in a timely manner.

O-15     Aug 3, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is home to thriving commercial districts, cultural institutions, public spaces, educational institutions, and neighborhood destinations that attract residents and visitors from across the region and around the world; and
WHEREAS: Visitors and residents increasingly rely upon digital technology to navigate cities, locate local businesses, access transportation information, discover cultural destinations, and obtain information regarding public services and community events; and
WHEREAS: Wayfinding has consistently been identified as a desirable asset by business owners, residents, and visitors through multiple Economic Development studies, District Assessments, Commercial Area Plans, and Commercial Intercept Surveys conducted throughout Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has demonstrated its ability to attract significant numbers of visitors through public events, festivals, arts programming, and cultural initiatives in partnership with neighborhood business associations and Business Improvement Districts; however, additional tools could better connect those visitors with local businesses, restaurants, retailers, cultural institutions, and neighborhood destinations, extending the economic benefit of these events throughout the commercial district; and
WHEREAS: Many municipalities, such as Atlanta and St. Louis, have successfully implemented digital wayfinding and information kiosk networks that provide maps, directions, event information, public art, transportation resources, emergency notifications, and business directory information in a highly accessible public format; and
WHEREAS: Communities have demonstrated that digital kiosk networks can improve visitor experience, support local businesses, strengthen commercial districts, and activate public spaces by making neighborhoods easier to explore and discover; and
WHEREAS: Such systems provide opportunities to promote local businesses, cultural destinations, municipal services, public events, and neighborhood assets while reducing reliance on commercial search platforms that often prioritize paid advertising over local relevance; and
WHEREAS: Many digital kiosk programs are structured through public-private partnerships requiring little or no municipal capital investment while generating revenue to support maintenance, public realm improvements, and ongoing operations; and
WHEREAS: Appropriate privacy protections, accessibility standards, multilingual functionality, data governance policies, and any limitations on data collection or tracking can be established through the City’s procurement process and incorporated into any future Request for Proposals to ensure consistency with Cambridge’s policies and values regarding privacy and surveillance technologies; and
WHEREAS: The identification of appropriate kiosk locations should be informed through a public planning process involving municipal departments, neighborhood organizations, business districts, accessibility advocates, and other stakeholders to ensure installations complement the public realm and neighborhood character; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has long been recognized as a leader in innovation, technology, sustainability, and public engagement and should explore opportunities to modernize its public information infrastructure; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to explore the feasibility of establishing a citywide digital wayfinding and information kiosk program on public property throughout Cambridge; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to engage the Community Development Department, Law Department, Information Technology Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Transportation, Cambridge Arts Council, Office of Tourism, neighborhood Business Associations, Business Improvement Districts, accessibility advocates, and other relevant stakeholders in developing the scope, objectives, and requirements of any potential Request for Proposals related to such a program; 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, including whether the City should proceed with the development and issuance of a competitive Request for Proposals for a citywide digital wayfinding and information kiosk network.

O-16     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Housing costs are often burdensomely high for Cambridge residents, but energy efficiency and electrification upgrades can significantly reduce these costs; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has included energy upgrades at points of transition in climate plans for more than a decade, including the Net Zero Action Plan adopted by the City Council in 2015; and
WHEREAS: For large commercial and industrial buildings, Cambridge already has ambitious emissions reductions policies, such as the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO); and
WHEREAS: Energy efficiency and electrification upgrades for residential buildings are a goal of the City, and one way to advance that goal is by incentivizing energy audits, which provide clear recommendations on possible actions to take; and
WHEREAS: In addition to potentially reducing the cost of housing, decarbonization of dwelling units can achieve health benefits for Cambridge residents; and
WHEREAS: Emissions from one-to-four-family residences alone account for approximately 8% of total emissions in Cambridge, and all residential buildings account for approximately 20% of total emissions in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Residents who seek to address citywide emissions, as well as their own individual emissions, have one main avenue for direct action and impact, which is their own household energy footprint; and
WHEREAS: Residents in one-to-four unit buildings can lower their household emissions by taking advantage of energy-saving programs, including free energy audits available through MassSAVE; and
WHEREAS: The time a building is sold is an optimal moment to make energy efficiency upgrades; and
WHEREAS: There is interest in helping renters in addition to homeowners, by incentivizing landlords to install energy upgrades that generate energy savings for renters; and
WHEREAS: Plans adopted by the City Council, including Net Zero Action Plans and the Climate Crisis Working Group report, recommended doing more to engage residential properties in climate action, and Cambridge could follow the lead of cities such as Austin, Texas, which for more than a decade has required energy audits upon the sale of all buildings, including residential and commercial; and
WHEREAS: Buyers of, and renters in, residential buildings should be informed about a building’s energy efficiency, its energy use requirements, and its expected utility operating costs; and
WHEREAS: Electrify Cambridge provides residents and property owners with free support for home energy and efficiency upgrades; now therefore be it
ORDERED That the Health and Environment Committee hold a public hearing on the recommendations from past City Council and City adopted climate plans that have yet to be enacted, beginning with discussion of a possible requirement for an energy audit at the time of sale, along the same lines as Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Berkeley, California, and including how to address energy costs with renters and landlords; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate staff to work with the Committee to discuss a time-of-sale energy audit and review possible ordinance language, for potential adoption after deliberation and refinement; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct appropriate City staff to work with the Committee to conduct outreach to all stakeholders, including homeowners, condo owners, realtors, MassSave, and any other relevant group, as part of this effort.

O-17     Aug 3, 2026
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: The Massachusetts 2026 legislative session is considering many climate-related issues that will impact municipal operations, ratepayer bills, energy production, and the climate crisis more broadly; and
WHEREAS: The Office of Sustainability as well as local advocates have followed these bills closely and have continued to advocate for strong climate legislation and will continue to as bills are sent to conference committee; and
WHEREAS: It is important that there are no budget cuts to Mass Save and ACP funding: this critical funding is important for every municipality, and helps fund much of the work in Cambridge for residents of all incomes; and adequate funding of $500 million over five years for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program is necessary for environmental justice; and
WHEREAS: Saving ratepayers money through utility accountability: the Senate version phases out the Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP) by 2030, saving ratepayers $1.46 billion and prohibits utilities from using ratepayer money for lobbying expenses; it would be best for the commonwealth to phase out GSEP which had good intentions and recently has contributed to costs without reducing emission pollution, counter to our collective goal; and
WHEREAS: Stronger data center protections: Cambridge is starting to explore how to regulate data centers of the size that operate in our city now and in the future and it is essential for the legislature to ensure widespread protections from the energy, noise, water, and energy bill impacts the data centers bring; and
WHEREAS: Third party electric supplier protections: in Cambridge, disproportionately low-income residents are convinced to sign up for predatory third-party electricity supplier contracts, and that environmental injustice needs to be corrected, and it would be best for our city to be able to ban competitive electric suppliers and keep our existing, cost-effective and climate-friendly municipal aggregation plan; and
WHEREAS: Environmental Bond Bill: support a provision in the Senate version of the Environmental Bond Bill (S.3050) that provides $15 million for the development of thermal energy networks (TENs), especially ones operated by municipalities; and the need to ensure that TEN financing will be paid by entities benefitting from the TEN which may be expanded over time and all steps should be taken to allow utilities to develop TENs; and
WHEREAS: Energy Affordability Bill: support a provision in the Senate version of the Energy Affordability Bill (S.3143) establishing a working group to recommend legislative and regulatory changes to enable municipalities and public entities to own, install, operate, or bill for clean thermal energy systems; this working group would begin to resolve the current legal ambiguity surrounding local government ownership; and
WHEREAS: It is important that the City Council continue to advocate for state action that can support our own climate goals and City operations targeted at carbon emissions reduction and energy affordability for residents; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of the initiatives in the above-referenced House and Senate bills as priorities for the deliberation of the conference committee and for inclusion in the final bill, in order to support the climate and affordability initiatives of the City of Cambridge; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to send a copy of this resolution to each member of the Cambridge delegation to the state legislature, the members of the conference committee, as well as the House Speaker and the Senate President on behalf of the entire City Council.