CHARTER RIGHT
1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-32, regarding a request that the City engage in discussions with leadership from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA) regarding a proposal to explore the feasibility of repurposing the long-abandoned MBTA tunnel in Harvard Square into a commercial or cultural space. [Charter Right – Azeem, Sept 15, 2025] (CM25#233)
comments by Azeem, Yi-An-Huang, Nolan, Zusy, Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins, McGovern, Siddiqui, Wilson; After an excruciatingly long and repetitive discussion, Placed on File 8-0-1 (DS-Absent)

Mgr #10 (Sept 15, 2025). A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-32, regarding a request that the City engage in discussions with leadership from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA) regarding a proposal to explore the feasibility of repurposing the long-abandoned MBTA tunnel in Harvard Square into a commercial or cultural space. (CM25#233) [text of report]
pulled by Simmons; comments by Simmons (disappointed), Zusy, Azeem; Charter Right - Azeem

5. That the City Council go on record expressing its profound disappointment over Apex Clean Energy’s decision to forgo the use of local union labor on the Bowman Wind Project. [Tabled as Amended June 23, 2025] (PO25#94)
Removed from Table (Toner); Order Adopted as Amended by Substitution 8-0-1 (DS-Absent)

Toner Substitute Order
O-1     June 23, 2025  Amended; Tabled
MAYOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR WILSON
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has long been a national leader in advancing climate action, sustainability, and carbon neutrality, and has sought to ensure that its clean energy investments also uphold principles of social justice, fair labor practices, and equitable economic transition; and
WHEREAS: One of the numerous actions the City has taken in advancing climate action, sustainability, and carbon neutrality in recent years has included entering [into] several virtual power purchase agreements with private entities to support the development of clean energy facilities; [and]
WHEREAS Municipalities and institutions across the country have entered into such virtual power purchase agreements for similar reasons, but also sought to uphold principles of social justice, fair labor practices, and equitable economic transition; [and]
WHEREAS: As part of the Consortium for Climate Solutions, the City entered into a virtual power purchase agreement in 2024 with Apex Clean Energy’s Bowman Wind Project in North Dakota, in good faith reliance on Apex’s stated commitments to supporting strong local labor practices and advancing a just transition for fossil fuel workers; and
WHEREAS: It has since come to the City Council’s attention that the private entities who are parties to several such virtual power purchase agreements with municipalities and institutions across the country have failed [to] prioritize the hiring of qualified, local, union workers for the development and construction of the clean energy projects that are the subjects of such agreements, and Apex Clean Energy has failed to incorporate a credible plan to prioritize the hiring of qualified, local North Dakota workers—particularly, unionized workers who have historically been engaged in the state’s energy sector; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has been made aware that contracts have instead been awarded to entities with a documented history of employing primarily non-union, out-of-state workers, thereby undermining the local economic benefits promised to host communities and directly contravening the spirit of the just transition the City was led to believe would be central to this project; and
WHEREAS: Based on the labor-related concerns that have been raised in this order instance, and the fact that they persist, should serve as a significant warning to other municipalities and institutions considering partnerships with Apex Clean Energy, as investments in clean energy should never not, to the extent reasonably practical, be done at the expense of skilled, qualified local laborers who are seeking to support themselves and their families; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record expressing its profound disappointment in such private entities’ over Apex Clean Energy’s decisions to forgo the use of local union labor [in] clean energy projects that are the subject of virtual power purchase agreements across the country and on the Bowman Wind Project, an omission that stands in stark contrast to Cambridge’s longstanding values of fairness, economic justice, and support for a skilled, local workforce; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record urging other municipalities, governmental bodies, educational institutions, and private entities to exercise extreme caution before entering into any similar agreements with Apex Clean Energy, and to seek ironclad assurances that labor and local hiring practices will align with the highest standards of social responsibility; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this Order to Ken Young, President and CEO of Apex Clean Energy, to all Consortium for Climate Solutions member institutions, and to relevant stakeholders within the Massachusetts state government and the broader renewable energy community.
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record requesting that the City Manager and relevant City departments, where appropriate, negotiate more forcefully for local union preference in future contracts.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Condolences to the family of Red T. Mitchell.   Mayor Simmons
Charter Right - McGovern (to give Mayor Simmons and others an opportunity to speak to this resolution next week)

R-1     Sept 29, 2025
MAYOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: The City Council has learned with great sorrow of the passing of Red T. Mitchell, a proud veteran, accomplished professional, and tireless advocate for historical justice, on September 18, 2025 at the age of 97; and

WHEREAS: Born on October 2, 1927, Mr. Mitchell enlisted in the United States Army in 1946, serving honorably as a medic in Germany until 1949, and upon his return earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from Duquesne University; and

WHEREAS: Mr. Mitchell distinguished himself in the insurance industry, serving as Agency Director of Wright Mutual Insurance Company in Detroit, and later as a senior leader in Sales and Management with Supreme Life Company, the largest Black-owned business in North Chicago, before moving to Massachusetts in the mid-1970s, where he became the first person of color hired as Staff Manager in Sales and Management at John Hancock’s Boston office; and

WHEREAS: In the early 1980s, Mr. Mitchell co-founded a Cambridge-based insurance agency dedicated to helping neighbors secure brighter futures, and later extended his commitment to service by volunteering with Meals on Wheels in Plainville and with HESSCO Elder Services, ensuring seniors were treated with dignity and kindness; and

WHEREAS: Mr. Mitchell’s lasting public legacy is enshrined on the Cambridge Common, where he spearheaded the successful campaign to erect the Prince Hall Monument – honoring the Colonial-era abolitionist, mason, and freedom fighter whose contributions had, for far too long, gone unrecognized – installed in 2010 as the first such monument in the nation; and

WHEREAS: Mr. Mitchell was honored by the Cambridge City Council on multiple occasions, including for his 95th birthday, when his perseverance, humility, and leadership were celebrated by all; and

WHEREAS: Red Mitchell will be remembered as a devoted friend, mentor, and neighbor whose presence enriched every room and whose legacy endures in the countless lives he touched, the communities he strengthened, and the monument that stands as a permanent testament to truth and justice; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record extending its deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and community of Red T. Mitchell for their loss; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to the family of Red T. Mitchell on behalf of the entire City Council.

2. Congratulation to Kevin Treanor and Joe McCabe on their 30 year anniversary of the Phoenix Landing.   Councillor Zusy, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson
pulled by McGovern; Add McGovern, Toner, Wilson as sponsors

R-2     Sept 29, 2025
COUNCILLOR ZUSY

WHEREAS: Friends, Kevin Treanor and Joe McCabe, opened Phoenix Landing at 512 Massachusetts Avenue, Central Square on September 17, 1995, eager to open an authentic Irish pub with great music; and

WHEREAS: It has been celebrated since as one of “America’s Best Soccer Bars,” for decades drawing fans from around the world to watch the World Cup; and

WHEREAS: It has also been a center for music, with great jazz, rock and DJ talent; and

WHEREAS: Its patrons have witnessed history, watching the Patriots win their first Super Bowl, the Red Sox break the curse, the Celtics and Bruins win championships, and the beloved Liverpool Football Club win the League for the first time in 30 years; and

WHEREAS: The Phoenix Landing has hosted the Liverpool Football Team, not just once, but three times, inspiring the LFT to name it one of their two “official” US bars; and

WHEREAS: The Phoenix Landing has served as a welcoming watering hole and gathering place for decades; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record congratulating Kevin and Joe for their thirty years at the Phoenix and for creating this center for community at Central Square; and be it further

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

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on Sept 9, 2025 to review and discuss ongoing work to mitigate and reduce Combined Sewer Overflows within Cambridge and the surrounding area and other mitigation efforts to address extreme weather events that affect city residents and future infrastructure projects. [text of report]
pulled early Nolan; comments by Nolan, Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins, Toner, McGovern; Report Accepted, Placed on File, Order Adopted 8-0-1 (DS-Absent)
Present: Nolan
Remote Present: Azeem, Wilson, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler
Also Present: McGovern, Zusy

Proposed Order: That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and the recently formed coalition to consider options including consideration of costs and benefits to meet a 2050 25-year storm level of control of CSOs, update regulations for private development of stormwater, use of green infrastructure, and improve meaningful public outreach regarding ongoing sewer and stormwater investments, including the creation of a Combined Sewer Overflow Commission.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem (PO25#136)

2. The Public Safety Committee held a public hearing on Sept 10, 2025 to discuss COF25#106, including questions that were submitted by City Council members regarding an incident at 243 Broadway on Aug 2, 2025 and the public safety response. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (DS-Absent)
Present: McGovern, Siddiqui, Wilson, Zusy
Also Present: Sobrinho-Wheeler (remote), Azeem (remote), Simmons (remote), Nolan
Absent: Toner

3. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on Sept 16, 2025 to review and discuss solar impact analysis and zoning options to encourage the use of solar energy systems and protect solar access for Registered Solar Energy Systems. (PO25#137) [text of report]
pulled early by Nolan; comments by Zusy (with proposed Substitute Order), Azeem; Charter Right - Azeem
Present: Nolan
Remote Present: Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Wilson
Also Present: McGovern, Zusy
Absent: Azeem

Zusy proposed Amendment by Substitution  Charter Right - Azeem
WHEREAS: The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on September 16, 2025 to discuss solar impact and zoning; and
WHEREAS: The Committee voted favorably;
WHEREAS: Since, it has been brought to our attention that the average height of current solar installations is actually probably about 25'-30' high, not the 45' used as the average height in the 9/16/25 CDD presentation, so the proposed solution may actually render ineffective many of the 1,000 existing solar installations – that are a critical part of our achieving carbon neutrality by 2050; therefore be it:
ORDERED: That the City Manager is requested to work with CDD to provide the Council with the following data no later than October 30 so that it can inform draft zoning language relating to the protection of solar installations:

• The average height of the residential rooftop solar arrays in the City, supplied as a bell curve and as much raw data as can be obtained. The “height” of a system shall be the halfway point between the top of the upper row of panels to the bottom of the lower row of panels.

• The average age of existing residential rooftop solar arrays in the City, supplied as a bell curve and as much raw data as can be obtained.

• The output in MWh of the existing solar arrays in the City in each if the following categories: residential, commercial, and municipal.

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Sept 29, 2025
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The official seal of the City of Cambridge was designed in 1846 by Harvard President Edward Everett and has served as a symbol of the community for nearly two centuries; and
WHEREAS: The seal depicts Gore Hall and the Washington Elm, two features that no longer exist in the city; and
WHEREAS: The seal’s imagery no longer reflects the breadth of Cambridge’s history, diversity, or broader identity; and
WHEREAS: The Latin motto “Literis Antiquis Novis Institutis Decora” translates as “Distinguished for classical learning and new institutions,” language that reflected the priorities of 1846 but is not widely understood by Cambridge residents today; and
WHEREAS: The city would benefit from a motto expressed in clear, inclusive English that honors Cambridge’s heritage while speaking directly to its diverse contemporary community; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge will celebrate the 400th anniversary of its founding in 2030, providing a timely opportunity to update the city seal to reflect its past, present, and future; and
WHEREAS: It is in the public interest to form a representative committee to lead this process, ensuring that the city seal embodies inclusivity, historical accuracy, and civic interests; and
WHEREAS: Such a committee should include individuals representing our various communities including the Indigenous population, as well as European, African diaspora, Latin American, and Asian immigrant groups, historians, representatives of one or more key institutions, members with media backgrounds, representatives from the Cambridge Historical Commission and the Cambridge Arts Council, city staff, and others; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the City Council to establish a Seal Review Committee with the charge of recommending an updated city seal and motto in time for adoption prior to the 400th anniversary of the City of Cambridge in 2030.

O-2     Sept 29, 2025  Amended
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR WILSON
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: There is an affordability crisis in Cambridge, especially for low-income residents, where over 70% of Cambridge households below 50% AMI are rent-burdened according to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)’s most recent Housing Needs Assessment; and
WHEREAS: Over the last three decades, tens of thousands of people had to leave Cambridge, largely because of the high cost of housing, reducing the economic, racial, and ethnic diversity of long-term residents of the city; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has made significant efforts on housing affordability and the creation of new affordable and market rate housing over the last several years, including with the Affordable Housing Overlay, the increase to the City’s Affordable Housing Linkage Fee, a municipal housing voucher program, and the Multi-Family Housing Ordinance; and
WHEREAS: New market-rate housing construction alone is not sufficient to address this crisis for low and moderate-income families, and a commensurate dramatic increase in the construction of affordable housing is also needed; and
WHEREAS: Major European cities have addressed their housing needs for the past century through substantial construction of “social housing”; and
WHEREAS: Social housing means mixed-income, government-owned or -controlled rental housing in which at least 40% of the units are affordable to households below 80% AMI, a significant portion of which are reserved for low-income households below 30% AMI; in which affordability is achieved through cross-subsidization from the higher income units and low-interest capital from government funding; and in which community and tenant control are maintained; and
WHEREAS: Social housing’s financial success is achieved through low-interest loans and higher-income rents cross-subsidizing the lower-income units, allowing loan repayment and the recycling of funds in excess of costs to invest in the next project; and
WHEREAS: Tenant control means that residents have democratic control of the housing they live in, and community control means that the board overseeing the developer of social housing is composed of the community served by the housing, possibly in a manner similar to Seattle’s social housing ordinance, where a 13-person social housing board is composed of a majority of renters with lived experience of housing insecurity; and
WHEREAS: Many cities and states in the United States, including Maryland, Rhode Island, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, and Boston, have initiated efforts to establish social housing, including creating social housing development agencies, capitalizing hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds towards social housing, and passing dedicated tax revenue for social housing; and
WHEREAS: Boston established the Boston Acquisition Fund, a revolving loan fund providing low-interest debt for affordable housing; Massachusetts seeded $50 million in the Momentum Fund, a revolving loan fund to support the development of mixed-income housing; and Massachusetts passed a social housing pilot as part of its $275 million Sustainable and Green Initiatives line item in the most recent Housing Bond bill; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Housing Committee will be convened to discuss the concrete details of social housing, including but not limited to the affordability and composition of a social housing portfolio; mechanisms of funding social housing, including the establishment of a revolving loan fund, use of bonding capacity, and dedicated funding sources from the operating budget; who will develop social housing in Cambridge; and how social housing will achieve democratic governance in its buildings; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Community Development Department, Finance Department, Law Department, and other relevant departments to explore all steps towards advancing social housing in Cambridge, including but not limited to: (a) creating a revolving loan fund to support the development of social housing, (b) identifying a preferred public or quasi-public developer of social housing in Cambridge, either an existing agency/agencies or the establishment of a new one; (c) identifying possible dedicated funding mechanisms based on the models of other cities, including Seattle’s compensation tax and Chicago’s municipal bond issuance; (d) establishing preferential zoning for social housing; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council before January 2026.

O-3     Sept 29, 2025
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR TONER
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has been considering best uses for all City-owned property, and has recently done work to reassess a large portfolio in the Central Square area as part of the Central Square Lots Study; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has been engaged in discussions about all City-owned properties, including the property at 25 Lowell Street which is currently occupied by the New School of Music and the Cambridge Arts Association [Cf. POR 2021 #35] and considering the highest and best use for the properties; and
WHEREAS: Some building issues at 25 Lowell Street have come up recently including repairing external fire damage and how to improve access through a possible elevator, and the need for more attention to repair and maintenance is an important capital consideration for the property; and
WHEREAS: It is good governance and accepted best practice that leases of City buildings and properties should be reviewed on a regular basis, which has not happened for decades with 25 Lowell Street; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments to provide a recommendation on the site conditions of 25 Lowell Street and considerations and process for determining the future use of the property; 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-4     Sept 29, 2025
MAYOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: October is designated as Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, an annual observance dedicated to educating the public, supporting families, and advancing research into this rare and devastating disorder; and
WHEREAS: Rett syndrome is a rare, non-inherited genetic neurological disorder that almost exclusively affects girls, typically emerging between 6 and 18 months of age, with symptoms that may include developmental delays, loss of motor and communication skills, seizures, and breathing difficulties; and
WHEREAS: Approximately 1 in 10,000 girls worldwide are affected by Rett syndrome, and while there is no known cure, research continues to bring hope for future treatments that will improve quality of life for individuals and families impacted; and
WHEREAS: Since its designation in 2007 by the International Rett Syndrome Foundation, Rett Syndrome Awareness Month has been recognized by states and municipalities across the country, with the color purple serving as a symbol of solidarity and awareness; and
WHEREAS: Awareness activities include wearing purple, participating in fundraising events, sharing stories on social media using the hashtag #RettSyndromeAwareness, and lighting public buildings purple to highlight the urgent need for education, advocacy, and research; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record recognizing October 2025 as Rett Syndrome Awareness Month in the City of Cambridge; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to illuminate Cambridge City Hall in purple lights on Sunday, October 5, 2025, in recognition of Rett Syndrome Awareness Month and to demonstrate the City’s support for individuals and families affected by this disorder; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to representatives of Rett syndrome advocacy and research organizations on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-5     Sept 29, 2025
COUNCILLOR WILSON
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: October is recognized nationally as Women’s Business Month, a time to celebrate and uplift women entrepreneurs and the vital role they play in local and national economies; and
WHEREAS: National Women’s Business Month commemorates the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988, which authorized the federal government to issue loans to businesses controlled by women and removed barriers such as the requirement of a male co-signer for access to capital; and
WHEREAS: According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, women-owned businesses represented over 42% of all U.S. businesses by 2019, accounting for more than 13 million businesses across the nation; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge is home to a diverse and growing community of women-owned businesses that enrich our neighborhoods, create jobs, and foster innovation; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge will host a series of events during October 2025, including the Women’s Business Month Kick-Off Event at Asaro Bakery on October 9 and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Network Fall Meet Up at Page & Leaf Cafe on October 29; and
WHEREAS: These events will provide opportunities for networking, resource-sharing, and community support while highlighting the accomplishments of women business owners in Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to support women-owned businesses in Cambridge during the month of October and throughout the year by exploring the Cambridge Business Diversity Director and shopping locally; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record recognizing October 2025 as Women’s Business Month in the City of Cambridge and celebrating the contributions of women-owned businesses to the City’s culture, economy, and community.

O-6     Sept 29, 2025
COUNCILLOR WILSON
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: September 30, 2025, marks the eleventh annual Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD) Awareness Day, a global effort to recognize and support individuals living with LGMD; and
WHEREAS: LGMD is a group of rare neuromuscular diseases that cause progressive muscle weakness, most often impacting the hips, shoulders, and surrounding muscles, and can significantly impact mobility, independence, and quality of life; and
WHEREAS: Individuals and families living with LGMD face significant medical, physical, and emotional challenges that require greater community awareness, education, and support; and
WHEREAS: Raising awareness of LGMD is essential to promoting earlier diagnosis, advancing research, improving treatment options, and fostering inclusion and accessibility for those affected; and
WHEREAS: Recognizing LGMD also highlights the importance of education, inclusion, and accessibility for residents living with neuromuscular diseases and other rare conditions; and
WHEREAS: While no cure or treatment currently exists for LGMD, scientists and medical researchers are carrying out promising studies that may lead to future breakthroughs and improved treatment options; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record proclaiming September 30, 2025, as “Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Day” in the City of Cambridge and encourages all Cambridge residents to recognize this day by learning more about LGMD, supporting advocacy and research, and helping build inclusive communities with compassion and understanding for those living with neuromuscular diseases.