CHARTER RIGHT
1. Postponing the roll out of the Outer Huron Bike Lanes from the Bicycle Safety Ordinance until we solve the parking problem. [Charter Right – Zusy, Sept 28, 2026] (PO26#181)

O-8     Sept 28, 2026  Charter Right - Zusy
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
WHEREAS: Outer Huron is Cambridge’s recreational hub with Fresh Pond Reservation, Russell Community Center (offering programs for teens, seniors, and disabled youth), the Fresh Pond Golf Course, Glacken Field (two little league fields, home of West Cambridge Little League), a tot lot, waterplay area and a basketball and tennis court and is also the home of VFW Mount Auburn Memorial Post 8818; and
WHEREAS: Many using these public amenities regularly drive and need to park to transport heavy sports equipment, youth and seniors; and
WHEREAS: Parking within the abutting neighborhood, Strawberry Hill, is already limited due to the student drop offs and pick-ups and staff parking at the Haggerty School and Parents’ Nursery School and parking scarcity will increase with more development; and
WHEREAS: On-street parking along Outer Huron Avenue also serves residents of Parkside Place, a large residential development where 30% of residents are low income, garage parking is rented separately for an additional fee, and a 2021 parking analysis found that approximately 22% of vehicle-owning residents parked on-street along Huron Avenue; and
WHEREAS: Over 1,400 people, including 70 of them from Parkside Place, have signed petitions asking to postpone rolling out these bike lanes because of their negative parking impact; and
WHEREAS: As the Outer Huron Ave. survey shows on page 6, very few cyclists ride along Outer Huron and City data documents that no bike/vehicle accidents were reported as occurring there between 2016 and 2024 – and road speed, a concern shared by Cambridge DOT, could be slowed with traffic calming measures rather than separated bike lanes; and
WHEREAS: Given the City’s current fiscal constraints, transportation investments should be carefully evaluated to ensure that available resources are directed toward demonstrated safety needs while minimizing unintended impacts on access to publicly funded municipal amenities, including by prioritizing improvements at intersections and other locations where safety concerns have been identified; and
WHEREAS: These Outer Huron bike lanes were not part of the original Bicycle Safety Ordinance and never prioritized; and
WHEREAS: The argument for them is that they will complete the network, but Belmont won’t be implementing the Grove Street Redesign Project, which will feed into them, until at least 2028; and
WHEREAS: The Cycling Safety Ordinance defines “Connectivity” in terms of routes between major origins and destinations in the City (§ 12.22.030(D)), and the Council should therefore assess whether Outer Huron advances that goal while Belmont’s Grove Street project remains pending, or whether another qualifying segment could do so with fewer parking and access impacts for nearby residents and users of recreational, senior, and disability programs; and
WHEREAS: The proposed design will eliminate approximately 44 on-street parking spaces from a heavily used area where alternative parking options are limited, with Belmont seeking to keep Grove Street from becoming overflow parking for Cambridge, Parkside Place hesitant to lease spaces to the city, and nearby land uses, including the cemetery and golf course, further limiting opportunities to replace the lost parking; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the implementation of separated bike lanes on Outer Huron Avenue be postponed for 5 years as this proposal is predicated on too many alternative parking unknowns, and that another half mile of bike lane be swapped in to fulfill the Bicycle Safety Ordinance 25-mile commitment or that the City reduce the BSO obligation to 24.5 miles due to financial constraints as per the ordinance; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with City staff and the Bicycle Safety Committee to find another solution to fulfilling the City’s obligation to implement 25 miles of separated bike lane network by November 2026 or due to our new financial constraints, modify the commitment.

Proposed Substitute Order – McGovern, Siddiqui
Completing Outer Huron Safety Improvements and Supporting Neighborhood Access
WHEREAS: Outer Huron serves a broad array of people, including residents of Parkside Place and Strawberry Hill and users of the golf course, Russell Youth Community Center, Glacken Field, and Fresh Pond, all of whom need safe and accessible transportation options; and
WHEREAS: A prior parking analysis from Parkside Place estimated that 30-40% of households do not own cars and documented a significant number of unrented garage spaces, suggesting opportunities to improve access through both safer travel connections and better use of existing parking; and
WHEREAS: This 1,200-foot project completes an east-west network link identified for separation in the 2015 Cambridge Bicycle Plan, extending existing facilities near Glacken Field to Belmont’s planned Grove Street bike lanes; and driving speeds along this corridor are among Cambridge’s highest, so the design will benefit all road users by reducing crash risks for people walking, biking, and driving; and
WHEREAS: Following a roughly year-long planning and public process, public input has informed project designs, including retention of the bus stop and youth center loading zone, the addition of accessible parking, and revised parking rules, with preliminary construction work set to begin this fall; and
WHEREAS: The City’s Outer Huron survey and community feedback highlighted the importance of resident parking, accessible loading, and access to recreation and community programs; with 90% of Cambridge residents requesting that the city prioritize permit parking rather than unregulated parking, supporting continued attention to residential parking needs alongside access for Cambridge residents who visit the Russell Youth Community Center, Glacken Field, and other City facilities; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to identify ways to encourage nonresidents to carpool, walk, bike, or take transit where feasible so that there are sufficient numbers of spaces for residents; options may include changing the number or timing of resident permit parking spaces, daytime meter requirements, with time limits suited to golf and community programming, enabling the golf course to manage its parking through permit restrictions or fees, identifying opportunities for golf club storage and drop-off to enable carpooling; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to continue conversations with stakeholders to explore opportunities to make better use of existing unused parking spaces, including through the use of the Flexible Parking Corridors program where applicable; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to keep the Council informed of these conversations and any recommendations as implementation proceeds.

2. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the relevant staff and departments to implement the recommendations following the May 2025 Human Services & Veterans Committee meeting, such as strengthening anti-poverty measures, establishing a dedicated CARE Team call and referral line, prioritizing commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking prevention efforts for LGBTQIA+ youth, and report back to the City Council on progress. [Charter Right – Nolan, Sept 28, 2026] (PO26#184)

O-10     Sept 28, 2026  Charter Right - Nolan
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The Human Services & Veterans Committee held a hearing in May 2025 on sex work and sex trafficking to consult with various stakeholders and community members on these issues; and
WHEREAS: Part of that meeting focused on how the criminalization of consensual adult sex work in Massachusetts has contributed to sex workers’ increased exposure to violence, economic instability, housing insecurity, deportation, incarceration, trafficking, exploitation, and barriers to accessing health care, legal protections, and public safety resources; and
WHEREAS: Empirical research finds that criminalizing consensual adult sex work discourages individuals from reporting violence, exploitation, or trafficking due to fear of arrest or prosecution; and
WHEREAS: Empirical research also finds that people with marginalized identities and societal positionality such as undocumented, transgender, and unhoused people, as well as people who struggle with substance abuse, become sex workers as a means of survival; and
WHEREAS: The City Council expressly opposes sex trafficking, the sexual exploitation of minors, violence, and abuse in all forms; and
WHEREAS: Evidence demonstrates that the vast majority of sex workers enter the sex industry due to economic need, and supporting people in the industry needs to involve a dual approach of providing material resources so people can leave the sex industry if they wish to, and guaranteeing labor rights and protections from discrimination to those who choose to continue working in the industry; and
WHEREAS: The City Council recognizes the legal and factual distinction between consensual adult sex work and sex trafficking, which under 18 USC §1591 involves using force, fraud, or coercion (hereinafter, “unlawful means”) to compel another person to engage in a commercial sex act; and
WHEREAS: Consensual adult sex workers frequently increase their safety by working with other adults, sharing workspaces, sharing housing expenses, hiring security or screening services, and engaging in mutual aid arrangements that reduce vulnerability to violence, theft, and trafficking; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant staff and departments to implement the recommendations following the May 2025 Human Services & Veterans Committee meeting, such as strengthening anti-poverty measures, establishing a dedicated CARE Team call and referral line, prioritizing commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking prevention efforts for LGBTQIA+ youth, and report back to the City Council on progress; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant staff and departments, including the Cambridge Public Health Department and the Domestic and Gender Based Violence Prevention Initiative, to report back on how sex workers can reach health, harm reduction, and victim services without being reported to police; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record to hereby express its belief that the arrest of adult persons for consensual sex work should continue to be amongst the lowest law enforcement priorities for the City of Cambridge; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council expresses its belief that the Middlesex County District Attorney should cease prosecution of persons for consensual adult sex work and cease prosecution of persons who provide support services to sex workers absent unlawful means; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record urging the State House to support efforts to achieve the full decriminalization of consensual adult sex work statewide; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this Policy Order to Cambridge’s delegation to the Massachusetts General Court, the Middlesex County District Attorney, the Massachusetts Governor, and the Massachusetts Attorney General on behalf of the entire City Council.

COMMUNICATIONS
1. Boston SWAC – F. Waters Statement 9/26
2. Boston SWAC – Reckless’ Testimonial- PO#10
3. Boston SWAC – Sarah testimony for Cambridge PO#10
4. Boston SWAC – Genie testimony in support of PO#10
5. Boston SWAC – A. testimony for PO#10
6. Boston SWAC – 20260925 Cambridge Written Testimony Wren
7. Boston SWAC – Molly testimony PO#10
8. Boston SWAC – Serafina Cambridge City Council Testimony
9. Boston SWAC – Rita testimony PO#10
10. Boston SWAC – quid testimony PO#10
11. Boston SWAC – Additional testimonies from sex workers in support of PO#10
12. Aaron Pikcilingis – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
13. Abby McElroy – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
14. Adam Manacher – 9/28 statement to City Council
15. Adam Odzer – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
16. Aziza Ahmed – In Support of PO#10
17. Amy Waltz – Additional Parking Solutions; Please Complete Huron Ave. bike & pedestrian safety connector to Grove St.
18. Amy Waltz – Please pass the CDD MFH Ordinance Amendments as a step towards more affordable units & small reduction of environmental impacts.
19. Andrew Snyder – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
20. Andy Tu – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
21. Annette LaMond – Please Amend the MFH Ordinance
22. Anthony Martin – Opposition to Amendments to the Multifamily Housing Ordinance
23. Art Vandelay – In favor of PO26#179 and PO26#184; against PO26#181
24. Arthur Strang – Cambridge’s 2025 citywide Multifamily Housing Ordinance
25. Audrey Morrissey – Sex Trade Ashley Judd correspondence
26. Ben Howard – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
27. Ben Tyler – New Broadway bike lanes & Outer Huron
28. Blair Webber – Support for PO#10
29. Suzanne Blier – Please Support CDD’s amendments to the MFH Housing ordinance
30. Bob Leigh – PO#8 (Huron Avenue bike lanes)
31. Boro Jovic – Outer Huron Ave bike lanes
32. Brenda Finn – City Council meeting of Sept 28 comments speaking in favor of PAUSING proposed bike lanes
33. Brendan Coffey – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
34. Brendan Hickey – Half Crown-Marsh Decennial Review Comment
35. Brennan Waters – Save Multi-family housing, save bike lanes
36. Brian Hurhula – Formal Lack of Confidence in Community Development Department (CDD) Leadership
37. Brittany Bychkovsky – Fair wage for paraprofessionals and school staff
38. Cara Seiderman – PLEASE VOTE NO ON PO#8, Huron Ave Bike Lane Delay
39. Carol Lee Rawn – Strong opposition to PO26#181
40. Catalina Arboleda – Support CDD’s changes and reject Amendment
41. Caty Simon – In support of PO#10
42. Celeste Ng – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
43. Cenee Enriquez – JDI Testimony in Support of PO#10
44. Charlie Homer – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
45. Chrissi Bates – Cambridge Testimony
46. Christopher Koch – Outer Huron bike lanes
47. Claudia Torres – Written Testimony- Claudia Torres
48. Clyve Lawrence – Request to postpone PO#8
49. Cynthia Broner – Please support PO#6
50. Dahlia Edidin Locke – Decriminalization of prostitution
51. Dahlia Edidin Locke – Written Testimony Submission
52. Dan Phillips – In continued support of multi-family zoning
53. Daria Shlyueva – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
54. Dave Halperin – Support Multifamily Housing, Reject Setback increases
55. Mark P. Eisenberg – Opposition to PO26#181
56. Elijah Cobb – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
57. Elizabeth Gombosi – Amendments to MFH
58. Elizabeth Houghteling – listen to Cambridge residents
59. Elizabeth Kon – Please Stop the Proposed Upzoning of Cambridge
60. Elizabeth Lyster – PO26#173, Adopt the Strongest Amendments Tonight
61. Elke Kramer – Decriminalization of prostitution
62. Elke Kramer – Decriminalization of prostitution
63. Ellen Aronson – Support for CDD Amendments to the Multifamily Housing Ordinance
64. Elliot Slater – Proposed Separated Bike Lanes on Outer Huron Avenue
65. Emily Alice – In Support of PO#10!
66. Eric Connally – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
67. Ethan Frank – Outer Huron bike lanes
68. Francis E. Donovan – City Council Meeting of Monday Sept 28, 2026
69. Frank Egan – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
70. Genevieve Coyle – CDD’s proposed changes
71. Gentle Mothh – In Support of PO#10
72. Gina Casey – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
73. Gleb Bahmutov – Please oppose cutting or cancelling safe bike lanes on Outer Huron Ave
74. Gordon Moore – To the City Council_ Amendments to the multifamily zoning regulations
75. Gowri Vijayakumar – In support of PO#10
76. Janet Halley – In Support of PO#10
77. Hazen Emerson – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
78. Heather Parker – Vote NO on PO#8. Don’t cancel, pause Huron safe biking project
79. Heather Wightman – PO26#184
80. Helen Walker – Please Pass PO26#173 re: Amendments to MFHZ
81. Henri Bynx – Testimony MA act 10 (support)
82. Holly Dunlap – ventures Foster Parent Plea _ Please Reject the Decriminalization Policy Order
83. Itamar Turner-Trauring – Vote NO on PO#8. We are building a network, not just individual bike lanes
84. Jacob Stephens – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
85. James Sullivan – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
86. James Zall – Opposing cuts to MFZ and AHO
87. Jan Edwards – Please SAY NO to Decriminalization
88. Jan Puibello – public comment for City Council mtg 9/28/26
89. Jana Odette – FOR MONDAY EVENING’S MEETING!!!
90. Janie Katz-Christy – Please amend the MFHZ ordinance
91. Jeanne Garrison – MFHO
92. Jeff Luszcz – We need Outer Huron bike lanes now
93. Jennifer Frutchy – Strong opposition to PO26#181
94. Jessica Van Meir – 20260927 Testimony for Cambridge Policy Order
95. Joanna J.M. Hicks – In opposition to the full decriminalization of the commercial sex trade in Cambridge, Massachusetts
96. Joe Tober – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
97. John Buten – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
98. John Hanratty – Vote Yes on PO#8 (PO26#181) Huron Street Bike Lanes
99. Jonathon Powell – Please don’t cancel or delay the Huron Ave Bike lane improvements
100. Joseph Solomon – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
101. Joshua España López – In support of PO#10
102. Ashley Tyler Judd – Ashley Judd Prostitution Ordinance
103. Karan Arakotaram – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
104. Karen Brushett – Written Version of Public Comment Supporting PO26#173
105. Karen Falb – Wyman Rd. status now. Support CDD’s proposed changes. Reject amendment of Azeem McGovern and Sobrinho-Wheeler
106. Katherine Perls – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
107. Kathy Desmond – Policy Order to request delay and reconsideration of Outer Huron Ave. Bike Lanes
108. Kathy Watkins – Support for CEA and Encore workers. Do not delay bike lanes on Huron
109. Kelly Regan – In Support of PO#10
110. Kathleen Kelly – My comments for today’s Council meeting
111. Kelsey Harris – Reject all current multifamily amendments - or increase it, instead
112. Kitty Winter – Testimony in support of PO#10
113. Mark Kon – Please Stop the Proposed Upzoning of Cambridge
114. Kristin Carlson-Vinjamuri – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
115. Kkristin Guyot – Opposition to PO26#181
116. Lauren Blanda – Vote YES on PO#8. Cancel Huron safe biking project
117. Leslie Bliss – Please do not postpone Outer Huron Avenue bike lane
118. Leslie Swanson – amendments to the zoning ordinance
119. Lianne Fisman – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
120. Lindsay Casagranda – Items w3C and 37
121. Lissa Galluccio – Remainder of Statement
122. Louise Venden – Please adopt PO26#125
123. Kim Bishop – In support of PO#10
124. Kavi Gupta – In support of Cambridge PO#10
125. Katherine Kabel – Vote yes on PO#10
126. Chinyere Ezie – Written Testimony of the Center for Constitutional Rights in Support of PO#10
127. Madison Crees – Cambridge Written Testimony – Decrim
128. Maia Onikoroshi – supporting PO#10
129. Mal Malme – In Support of PO#10
130. Malcolm Bliss – Protect resident safety. Do not cancel or postpone the Outer Huron bike lane.
131. Mandy Salley – 2026-09-28 - Cambridge Written Testimony PO#10
132. Maria Amat – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
133. Marjorie Saylor – MA Council Letter_260928_142047
134. Mark Boswell – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe cycling project
135. Mark Keibler – Please vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
136. Mark McCurry – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
137. Mary Carol – support PO#10 Testimony for Cambridge CC
138. Matt Poulsen – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
139. Mauro Morabito – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
140. Meg Stone – Written Testimony in support of PO#10
141. Melissa Sontag Broudo – Letter of Support PO#10
142. Michael Rogove – Complete Outer Huron Safety Improvement Project (PO #8)
143. Michelle Cottingham – Refuse the Ordinance to Decriminalize Prostitution
144. Mickie Jones – In support of PO#10
145. Molly – public comment on policy order PO26#173
146. Ned Biddle – Notes
147. Neil Miller – Prioritize affordability and housing opportunity
148. Nick Adler – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
149. Nicolai Cauchy – Please enter in the records of tonight’s Council meeting - SHOW US THE METRICS!!!
150. Young Kim – 9 survey responses support further analysis public review a temporary MFH moratorium
151. Norman Daoust – Opposition to PO#8
152. Paul Ogilby – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
153. Young Kim – Tonight’s Council meeting—clarification of public comment procedures
154. Paula Cortes – PO26#181
155. Peter Crawley – Amend the MFHO, PO26#173
156. Yasmin Vafa – Rights4Girls Cambridge Testimony 9/28/26
157. Phillip Sego – Please Support CDD’s amendments to the MFH Housing ordinance
158. Raffi Freeman – Opposing Multifamily Zoning amendments
159. Walter C. Willett – PO#8, Huron Ave bicycle lanes
160. Raina Levin – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
161. Randy – Please vote not to delay the Huron Ave bike lanes
162. Wesley Aptekar-Cassels – PO#10 comments
163. Rex LeBeau – In support of PO#10
164. Robert Cowherd – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
165. Robson Goulart – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
166. Rosalind Michahelles – 2025 citywide Multifamily Housing Ordinance
167. Roy Russell – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
168. Sam Christy – Please amend the MFHZ ordinance
169. Sarah B. – Bazarian Cambridge Testimony
170. Virginia Fisher – In Support of PO#10 Decriminalizing Sex Work
171. Sarah Block – No on PO#8 on upper Huron - do not pause Upper Huron
172. Sarah LeHan – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
173. Tracy and Jim – Huron Ave Bike Lanes
174. Sarah Hale – Support Multifamily Housing and Reject Amendments
175. Todd Zickler – Please vote no on PO#8
176. Savannah Sly – Support for PO#10 - Written Testimony
177. Seamus Joyce-Johnson – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
178. Sean McDonnell – PO26#181, dated 9/28/2026
179. Shannon Canavin – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
180. Todd Rogers – Vote NO on PO#8
181. Sheli Wortis – In support of PO26#179
182. Tim Russell – Vote NO on PO26#181. Complete the Outer Huron bike lanes
183. Simon Oster – Vote NO on PO#8. Do not cancel Huron safe biking project
184. Simon Williams – Summary for City Council Meeting 28Sep26
185. Siobhan McDonough – Please Support Sex Work Decriminalization
186. Siu Ping – Vote No on PO#8
187. Thomas Pounds – Comment for 9/28/26 city council meeting - MFHO amendments
188. Jacquelyn Smith – Upzoning
189. Susan Yanow – Support CDD’s amendments to the MFH Housing ordinance
190. Steve Wineman – In support of PO#10
191. Steve FitzSimmons – Please support CCC’s amendments to the Affordable Housing requirements
192. Susan Ringler – In Support of PO#10

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Oct 5, 2026
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Tenants whose building or unit is being sold have legal protections and resources available to them, but those protections may not always be adequately advertised; and
WHEREAS: The Somerville City Council recently ordained the Notice of Building Sale Ordinance to ensure tenants are aware of resources available to them during the selling process; and
WHEREAS: Enacting a similar ordinance in Cambridge would complement the proposed “Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act“ that is currently under consideration in the Massachusetts General Court; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the proposed language be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for hearing and report.

Chapter 8.72 - Tenant Notification of Property Sale

8.72.010 - Purpose.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to inform residents of Cambridge of housing rights and resources available to them when the owner of a property sells the building or unit in which they live and require residential property owners to notify tenants when they sell their property or unit.

8.72.020 - Applicability.
The provisions of this article apply to tenanted residential rental property with the following exceptions:

(1) Rental units in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or health facility.

(2) Rental units in a nonprofit facility that has the primary purpose of providing short term treatment, assistance or therapy for alcohol, drug or substance abuse, meant to last thirty or fewer days, where housing is incidental to the recovery program and the client has been informed in writing at the beginning of their stay of the short term, temporary, or transitional nature of the housing.

(3) Publicly-assisted housing, as defined in M.G.L. c. 40T, § 1.

(4) Public housing units owned or managed by, or with a ground lease from, the local housing authority.

(5) Property owned by a college or university occupied exclusively by students.

(6) Transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law upon the death of a natural person.

(7) City foreclosed on property pursuant to M.G.L. c. 60, § 77B.

(8) Property that is the subject of a government taking by eminent domain or a negotiated purchase in lieu of eminent domain.

(9) Rental units in a nonprofit facility that provides a structured living environment, has the primary purpose of helping homeless persons obtain the skills necessary for independent living in permanent housing, where occupancy is restricted to a limited and specific period of time no longer than two years, and where the client has been informed in writing at the beginning of their stay of the temporary or transitional nature of the housing.

(10) Short term rental units as set forth in Article 4, Section 4.60 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.

8.72.030 - Required notice.
When an owner of residential property occupied by at least one tenant lists the property for sale, they shall, on or before the date on which the property is listed for sale, notify each tenant that the building is available for purchase.

(1) Notice shall be delivered to each tenant, either in person, and the owner shall collect a signed acknowledgement of receipt, or by certified mail with return receipt requested.

(2) The notice shall be in a form approved by the City and obtainable on its website. The form shall contain, at minimum, the following information:

(a) An owner’s statement of intent to sell the property.

(b) The name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the owner.

(c) A description of the property for sale, including the number of units and the number of bedrooms within each unit.

(d) The asking price for the property.

(e) Contact information for the Housing Services Center.

The owner shall post notice in a conspicuous place in a location visible to tenants within forty-eight hours after the unit is posted for sale.

8.72.040 - Enforcement.
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the City by a non-criminal disposition pursuant to M.G.L c. 40, § 21D, by the Department Head/Commissioner or their designee. Each failure to comply with the requirements of this article with respect to an individual tenant shall be deemed a separate offense, triggering a separate warning or fine. A person or entity violating the provisions of this article shall be punished by fine not to exceed three hundred dollars. Each day’s violation shall constitute a separate violation.

8.72.050 - Non-waivability.
The provisions of this ordinance may not be waived, and any term of any lease, contract or other agreement which purports to waive or limit a tenant’s substantive or procedural rights under this ordinance is contrary to public policy, unenforceable, and void.

8.72.060 - Partial invalidity.
If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof is held to be invalid or in conflict with applicable laws, this invalidity or conflict shall not affect other provisions or applications of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end, the provisions and applications of this ordinance are severable.

8.72.070 - Effective date.
This ordinance shall be effective 90 days after passage by the City Council.

O-2     Oct 5, 2026
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge, through the Department of Public Works (DPW), has been working collaboratively with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and the City of Somerville to develop a Draft Updated CSO Control Plan, as required by Water Quality Variances for the Charles River and Alewife Brook issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and
WHEREAS: The Health and Environment Committee of the Cambridge City Council met on September 9, 2025 to bring together representatives from the three watershed advocacy groups (Charles River Watershed Association, Mystic River Watershed Association, and Save the Alewife Brook) to discuss the City’s work to reduce combined sewer overflows and the Draft CSO Control Plan, which led to policy order PO25#136 and a response from the City Manager, CM25#309 and the creation of a CSO Control and Stormwater Management Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS: The Draft CSO Control Plan, published in April 2026, is going through the public review process, which formally ends October 30, 2026, and the Cambridge City Council should use this opportunity to positively influence the Draft Updated CSO Control Plan and advocate for virtual elimination of Combined Sewer Overflows in the future; and
WHEREAS: The Draft Updated CSO Control Plan outlines in detail a number of different CSO Control Alternatives (0 CSOs in 2050 TY, Limited CSOs in 2050 TY, 0 CSOs in 2050 5yr storm, 0 CSOs in 2050 25yr storm, and full sewer separation) and are based on a 2050 typical year calculation that accounts for increased number of intense rainfall events due to the impacts of climate change, but a 2050TY standard, while representing significant progress, would still have allowed CSOs in almost half years in the historical 10-year period from 2015 to 2024, and the City of Cambridge and the entire CSO Control Plan Partnership should work to ensure that CSOs are truly a rare occurrence in the year 2050; and
WHEREAS: The actions required by the various CSO Control Plan alternatives have total estimated costs between $1.3B and $4.74B, across the region, and so costs need to be considered equitably and the cost should be distributed as broadly as possible across the largest ratepayer and taxpayer base for the entire state and MWRA regional waterways system, and the City of Cambridge and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have more work to do to ensure that tax-supported funding is available for large infrastructure projects and to protect low-income residents from rising utility bills; and cost models and financial planning should continue to be expanded to include public health costs, environmental costs, and the costs of work after 2050 beyond the scope of the Draft Plan; and
WHEREAS: Committing to a regional plan that still allows for CSOs 25 years from now ensures that we will have more expensive work to do in the future, and the CSO Control Plan Partnership should spend more time investigating a range of hybrid solutions at higher levels of control than the 2050TY in order to continue to identify different solutions in different impact areas and continue to pursue efficiencies and alternatives to push for a near 25yr level of control, ensuring that CSOs in the year 2050 are truly a rare occurrence; and
WHEREAS: In addition to the action plans considered in the Draft CSO Control Plan, the City of Cambridge have done proactive and important work on sewer separation citywide over the past few decades and introduced novel stormwater and CSO retention tank systems like the project at 135 Sherman Street, that, while not a permanent solution or in lieu of larger sewer separation projects, are good and important projects that will significantly reduce CSOs in Cambridge in the short term and can be converted to an essential part of a long term vision for stormwater management locally, and that the 135 Sherman Street Multi-Use Facility has the potential to result in a 2050TY 2yr storm level of control at CAM401A, the most active CSO Outfall in Cambridge currently, significantly improving public health outcomes and stormwater mitigation for the entire region; and
WHEREAS: This region has a generational opportunity to improve the public health and safety of the region’s waterways and its residents, and failing to take stronger action and ensuring a stronger level of CSO Control will ensure that the cost of improving our regional infrastructure and the public health and environmental costs for improving this system will fall to future generations at greater costs; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record urging the CSO Control Partnership to continue to work to refine the Draft Updated CSO Control Plan to investigate a range of hybrid solutions at higher levels of control, ensuring that Combined Sewer Overflows are a truly rare occurrence in the future, and push for virtual elimination of Combined Sewer Overflows through this Control Plan; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record urging the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to advocate for stronger levels of CSO Control, ensuring that the CSO Control Plan continues to work to investigate a variety of CSO Control Plan options at higher levels of control, ensuring that CSOs in the year 2050 are truly a rare occurrence; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City staff to advocate for a stronger level of CSO Control and virtual CSO elimination by 2050 in the CSO Control Plan and to advocate for broader funding across the state and entire MWRA region, and for additional federal funding; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the CSO Control Partnership, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, each member of the Cambridge delegation to the state legislature, Governor Healey, and Secretary Tepper of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs on behalf of the entire City Council.