3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Charles J. Marquardt as an Election Commissioner for a four-year term, effective through March 31, 2029. (CM25#253)
Placed on File 9-0

CM25#253     Oct 20, 2025
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby transmitting notification of the appointment of Charles J. Marquardt as an Election Commissioner for a term expiring on March 31, 2029.

Mr. Marquardt was first appointed as an Election Commissioner in 2016. He has been active in the Cambridge community for over 3 decades through his family’s and then his own personal ownership of small businesses. As an election commissioner, Charlie has been working to ensure all Cambridge residents have the ability to cast their ballots with safety, security and privacy in a rapidly changing election environment supported by the professional staff at the Election Commission. This recommendation is also supported by the Cambridge Republican City Committee.

Yi-An Huang
City Manager

7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-53, regarding a request that the City Manager consult with relevant departments about the implications of deploying license plate readers and provide recommendations as to whether adjustments in plans for deployment should be made in light of changes since approval in February. (CM25#257) [text of report]
pulled by Toner; comments by CPD Commissioner Christine Elow (noting how license plate readers may have helped sole Charlene Holmes murder case) , Pauline Wells (CPD), Peter Vellucci (CPD), Councillor Toner proposes referral to Public Safety Committee; McGovern to propose Late Order to suspend use of license plate readers for now; Mayor Simmons comments; Councillors Nolan, Azeem, Zusy, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui, Wilson, Toner comments; Referred to Public Safety Committee 9-0; Placed on File 9-0; Toner asks if a policy is currently in place (CPD - Yes), comments by McGovern, Nolan, Toner, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy (how can we know that they’re really off?), Commissioner Elow; Late Order (McGovern et.al.) “That the City suspend or revoke using Flock cameras and all ALPR technology currently in use, until a meeting is held by the Public Safety Committee of the City Council and a vote is taken to allow it.” Adopted 9-0

8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment and reappointment of members to the Committee on Public Planting for terms of three years. (CM25#258) [text of report]
Appointments Confirmed 9-0

CM25#258     Oct 20, 2025
I am writing to inform you that I am reappointing & appointing the following as members of the Committee on Public Planting for a term of three (3) years, effective October 4th, 2025:

• Christina Mann

• Paola Massari

• Rachel Eva Tine

• Rob Vandenabeele

• Carrie Burke

These new members will join the additional eleven (11) members who are seeking reappointment at this time.

The Committee on Public Planting was established in 1998 and is charged with the responsibility of promoting and improving the quality and diversity of plantings throughout all areas of Cambridge. This includes reviewing planting plans for new public work in the city; advising the city on effective maintenance of public plantings; supporting the role of the Urban Forestry Division; and encouraging interest in public plantings in all neighborhoods.

The Committee currently has sixteen (16) serving members representing 8 out of 13 Cambridge neighborhoods.

The City Manager’s office posted a request for applications for the Committee on Public Planting on the City website which stayed open for 30 days. During that time, members of the Committee conducted outreach with their networks. The call for applicants was also posted in several of the City’s daily email updates and in postings on the City website. There were 11 applicants, 5 of whom were interviewed. The interviewers consisted of Andrew Putnam, Superintendent of Urban Forestry, David Lefcourt, City Arborist/Tree Warden, and Abigail Bentley, Assistant City Arborist.

I am pleased to welcome these five new members whose expertise and experience will enable them to contribute to this committee’s important work.

Christina Mann (Neighborhood Nine)
Christina works as a horticultural and landscape designer. She has previous experience working with the New York Botanical Garden. Christina currently serves as a Trustee with the Mount Auburn Cemetery, and is an active member of the Cambridge Plant & Garden Club.

Paola Massari (Riverside)
Paola has a degree in Biology from the University of Naples, Italy. She has a strong passion for plants and is looking for an opportunity to give back to the city.

Rachel Eva Tine (Port)
Eva is a long-time resident of Cambridge. She does a lot of advocacy work around homelessness, housing and health issues and would like to bring her experiences to the Committee on Public Planting. She is interested in community engagement around trees and plants.

Rob Vandenabeele (Mid-Cambridge)
Rob is a Forest Friend and would love to get more people involved as Forest Friends. He would like to work on reducing the heat islands throughout the city. Rob would contribute more to the outreach goals for the Committee on Public Planting.

Carrie Burke (Mid-Cambridge)
Carrie has been a resident of Cambridge for 18 years. She is an avid gardener and board member of a prison garden program. She understands the importance of green spaces in the urban environment.

In addition to the five (5) new members above, i would be pleased to put forward these eleven (11) returning members whose expertise and experience will enable them to continue to contribute to this committee’s important work.

Raymond Fahrner (Cambridgeport)
Mr. Fahrner is a retired Cambridge resident who has cultivated a rare native plant garden at his home in Cambridgeport. He has been an active member on the Committee on Public Planting with helping the city improve its urban tree canopy.

Gretchen Friesinger (North Cambridge)
Ms. Friesinger has been a long-time advocate for preserving trees in Cambridge. She has coordinated many tree care volunteer events in her neighborhood and beyond. She has been very good with outreach efforts with the committee.

Robb Johnson (Cambridgeport)
Mr. Johnson is avid gardener and has promoted the Back of Sidewalk in his Cambridgeport neighborhood. He has been active with the Committee on Public Planting by advocating for the committee and the Urban Forestry Division.

Margaret Booz (Strawberry Hill)
Ms. Booz is a longstanding member of the Committee and past chairperson. Ms. Booz was a member of the UFMP Task Force. She is a engaged resident who has tirelessly advocated for the highest standards regarding tree planting and preservation.

Cindy Carpenter (Strawberry Hill)
Ms. Carpenter is currently the co-chair of the Committee. Under her leadership, members have been engaged to further enhance the effectiveness of the CPP. Her primary focus has been public outreach and awareness.

Sara Cohen (Port)
Ms. Cohen is a landscape architect by trade. Ms. Cohen actively reviews landscape plans presented to the committee.

Chantal Eide (Mid-Cambridge)
Ms. Eide is a passionate member of the Committee with an interest in the Tree Fund and best management practices for tree planting within the City.

Sophia Emperador (North Cambridge)
Ms. Emperador is currently the co-chair of the Committee and a member of the Cemetery Masterplan Advisory Committee. Under her leadership, members have been engaged to further enhance the effectiveness of the CPP. Ms. Emperador is committed to improving the working relationship between the CPP, Public Works and the Public.

Ahron Lerman (Neighborhood 9)
Mr. Lerman has worked for DCR with the Greening the Gateways project. He was a member of the UFMP Task Force and is interested in improving his city by assisting with reviewing landscape plans and tree planting.

Tracy Orr (Neighborhood 9)
Ms. Orr is the owner and designer for Tracy Orr Landscape Design. She has also worked as a research plant biologist. She values the City’s parks and open spaces. Ms. Orr is interested in reviewing park plans.

Cynthia Smith (Baldwin)
Ms. Smith Landscape Architect, who owned and operated a business that completed many streetscape, park and public planting projects within Cambridge.

I appreciate the willingness of these community members to serve and look forward to their contributions as members of the Committee on Public Planting.

TAX RATE HEARING [6:30pm]  [Charter Right - Toner, Oct 6, 2025]
1. Tax Rate Letter from City Manager
Comments by City Manager Yi-An Huang, Asst. City Manager Claire Spinner, Assessing Director Gail Willett, Budget Director Taha Jennings, Councillors Toner, McGovern, Azeem, Nolan, Zusy, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Wilson; Tax Rates Adopted 9-0

2. Tax Rate Orders
Both Orders Adopted 9-0

Agenda Item Number 1A     Oct 6, 2025
ORDERED: That the City Council classifies property within the City of Cambridge into five property classes allowed for the purpose of allocating the property tax levy.
Additionally, that the City Council hereby adopts a minimum residential factor of 0.600298 for the purpose of distributing the property tax levy.

---

Agenda Item Number 1B     Oct 6, 2025
ORDERED: That the City Council approves a thirty (30) percent residential exemption for owner-occupied homes.

3. Tax Rate Executive Summary

4. Commercial Tax Rate Examples

CHARTER RIGHT
1. 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. [Charter Right – Azeem, Sept 29, 2025]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #3 (Sept 29, 2025). 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.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on Sept 25, 2025 to discuss whether the City should reinstate something similar to the exemption of the Dover Amendment to regulate the density and impact of institutional development within residential districts. The 1979 & 1980 exemption was eliminated Feb 10, 2025 with the passage of the Multifamily Housing Ordinance. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Nolan, Zusy
Remote Present: Sobrinho-Wheeler
Also Present: McGovern, Wilson, Toner
Absent: Azeem, Siddiqui

2. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Oct 7, 2025 on a Zoning Petition by Martin Bakal, et al., to amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance in Sections 4.30 and 4.40 with the intent to restrict increasing pavement in Open Space districts by establishing “Paved way greater than 10’ wide” as a principal use within the Table of Use Regulations that would be prohibited in Open Space districts and permitted in all other zoning districts, with a footnote providing further clarifications and restrictions on the establishment of “paved ways.” [text of report]
Comments by Zusy, McGovern; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Unfavorable Recommendation Adopted 9-0
Present: McGovern, Nolan, Zusy
Remote Present: Azeem, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner
Absent: Wilson, Simmons

A. An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to the Martin Bakal, et al. Zoning Petition. (ORD25#25)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Oct 20, 2025
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Community colleges and state universities play an integral role in fostering the public good in Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS: Public colleges and universities provide the education and career training to allow for social and economic mobility; and
WHEREAS: Public colleges and universities across the state are major employers, provide a highly trained and educated workforce for businesses and industries based in Massachusetts, and the students attending public colleges and universities generate significant economic activity; and
WHEREAS: Public colleges and universities in Massachusetts are conducting research and studies that benefit people all around the world and have a responsibility to ensure costs to students are not prohibitive or do not require going into debilitating debt; and
WHEREAS: Public colleges and universities are experiencing severe disruptions in funding as federal grants that pay for research that benefits society and supports academic pursuits are being paused and canceled; and
WHEREAS: The federal budget under consideration is proposing severe reductions in funding for Pell Grants that students can use to pay for college; and
WHEREAS: In 2022, Massachusetts voters approved the Fair Share surtax on annual income above $1 million to generate revenue specifically for public education and transportation, which has generated more than $2 billion for the Commonwealth so far; and
WHEREAS: Governor Healey recently introduced the Discovery, Research and Innovation for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) Initiative, with an Act to set aside $200 million from revenue generated by the Fair Share surtax to stabilize public higher education funding; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record voicing its support for Massachusetts’ community colleges and state universities; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record urging the state Legislature to pass the DRIVE Act with an amendment to cover student supports and other cuts beyond research grants as a first step toward public higher education funding that adequately supports students, faculty and staff; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record urging the state legislature and governor to strategically increase funding for public colleges and universities to lessen their reliance on grants, privatization, and student tuition and fees; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in support of Massachusetts having public colleges and universities that students can attend without incurring debt and that provide the salaries and benefits necessary to retain and attract the faculty and staff needed to maintain the quality of education our state deserves; 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 members of the Cambridge delegation to the General Court on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-2     Oct 20, 2025
MAYOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Cambridge residents are once again facing rising electricity and heating bills, with these increases coming just as colder winter months approach – months in which utility usage, and the financial burden it imposes, typically intensifies for individuals and families; and
WHEREAS: These increases are particularly difficult for seniors, low-income residents, and those on fixed incomes, many of whom already struggle to afford basic living expenses, and who may not be fully aware of what support options and assistance programs are available to them; and
WHEREAS: Eversource, as the region’s primary utility provider, is in a position to offer clarity on the causes of these rate hikes and to help residents understand their bills, discuss payment plans, and connect with affordability and hardship programs; and
WHEREAS: The City has a responsibility to help facilitate direct engagement between impacted residents and utility providers, while also ensuring that municipal departments are proactively sharing information on heating assistance programs such as LIHEAP, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, and other local supports; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to reach out to representatives from Eversource to coordinate at least four public open-house meetings in the coming weeks: one at the Cambridge Senior Center, one at the North Cambridge Senior Center, and two others in strategically chosen locations that serve high-need populations; and be it further
ORDERED: That these meetings be designed to allow residents to raise concerns, better understand their energy usage and billing, and learn about options for assistance, payment plans, and financial relief programs; and be it further
ORDERED: That the appropriate City departments, such as the Department of Human Service Programs, the Multi-Service Center, and any others with direct involvement in heating assistance efforts, be on hand at these meetings to distribute materials, assist with applications, and provide personalized guidance; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.

O-3     Oct 20, 2025
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR WILSON
WHEREAS: Nearly $15 billion was spent on elections nationwide in 2024, marking it as one of the most expensive election cycles in recent decades, and highlighting the growing influence of money in politics; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts campaign finance laws cap individual donations for local elections at $1,000 but do not provide public matches for small-dollar donations, giving large donors a significantly greater impact on local elections than small-dollar donors; and
WHEREAS: H.811, An Act authorizing cities and towns to provide for citizen-funded election campaigns, which is scheduled for a hearing before the Joint Committee on Election Laws at the State House on October 21, 2025, would allow municipalities to create public election financing programs that match small-dollar campaign donations; and
WHEREAS: Public campaign financing is a proven tool for strengthening democracy, with the federal government providing funds to presidential campaigns, and several communities across the country, including New Haven, New York City, and Portland, Maine, having some form of public financing for local elections; and
WHEREAS: Particularly at the local level, these funds have been instrumental in allowing residents from underrepresented communities to run for office, empowering the voices of small-dollar donors, conducting voter outreach, and getting more people involved in local elections; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in support of H.811; 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 the Cambridge delegation to the Massachusetts General Court on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-4     Oct 20, 2025
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR WILSON
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Legislative staff at the Massachusetts State House play a vital role in ensuring effective government, supporting constituents, and advancing public policy, and a workplace culture grounded in equity, transparency, and respect directly strengthens the Commonwealth’s ability to serve the people of Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS: Since 2019, State House legislative staff have organized to advance necessary workplace reforms, and in 2020, Black staffers formed Beacon BLOC (Building Leaders of Color) to address systemic racism, inequity, and lack of representation within the legislative environment; and
WHEREAS: On March 31, 2022, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2222 notified the President of the Massachusetts Senate that a majority of Senate legislative staff had signed authorization cards supporting the formation of a Massachusetts Senate staff union, with House staff preparing similar efforts; and
WHEREAS: Despite this support, Senate leadership has not formally recognized the Massachusetts Senate staff union, citing that state law does not explicitly grant legislation employees collective bargaining rights; and
WHEREAS: H.2093/S.1343, An Act relative to collective bargaining rights for legislative employees, currently before the Massachusetts Legislature, would amend state law to provide collective bargaining rights for legislative employees, establishing a clear framework for formally recognizing a Massachusetts State House Employee Union; and
WHEREAS: If recognized, the Massachusetts State House Employee Union would become one of the first state legislative staff unions in the nation, following Oregon’s 2021 precedent; and
WHEREAS: Staff organizers have identified several goals of unionization, including:
  • the creation of a workplace free from discrimination and sexual harassment;
  • health insurance coverage beginning on the first day of employment;
  • fair and consistent pay grades across offices;
  • measures to recruit, support, and retain a diverse workforce;
  • clearly defined job roles and responsibilities;
  • comprehensive professional development opportunities; and
  • the right to collective bargaining to provide staff a voice in matters concerning their workplace; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have long supported unions and organized labor, affirming that every worker deserves the right to a union and the ability to advocate for fair working conditions; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in support of the unionization efforts of Massachusetts State House legislative staff and urge the recognition of the Massachusetts State House Employee Union; and be it further
RESOLVED: That this City Council go on record in support of H.2093/S.1343; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this Policy Order to the Massachusetts Senate President, the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and the Cambridge delegation to the General Court on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-5     Oct 20, 2025
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR TONER
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
WHEREAS: Poison ivy grows mostly unencumbered along much of the perimeter fence at Fresh Pond posing a public health threat to people that come into contact with the plant or with dogs that have brushed against it, and rashes from poison ivy can be transmitted through direct contact with the plant or through secondary contact through animal fur; and
WHEREAS: 2025 MassTrails Grant awards have been recently announced with several projects related to poison ivy control, including grants for removal of poison ivy along the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway in Watertown and the Minuteman Path in Arlington; and
WHEREAS: The Fresh Pond Master Plan (FPMP) describes known issues of current conditions, including “widespread presence of invasive species, notably… poison ivy,” and indicate “poison ivy dominate[s] stretches of the Reservoir shoreline;” and
WHEREAS: While there are small laminated poison ivy warnings posted on the fence around the pond, installed to warn the public after visitor concerns expressed several years ago, existing signs are insufficient; and clear, visible signs in English and in other commonly spoken foreign languages in Cambridge identifying the plant and the risks it poses will help to keep park users safely away from poison ivy; and
WHEREAS: A petition calling for yearly poison ivy remediation at Fresh Pond was signed by over 150 park visitors, demonstrating public support for a plan of action focused on an effective poison ivy mitigation strategy and improved signage around Fresh Pond; and
WHEREAS: Unchecked poison ivy growth extending onto the walking path around Fresh Pond in many places, without an on-going remediation strategy and without adequate signage warning visitors of its dangers, presents a public health risk to users of the park; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments to report back to the City Council on current efforts towards poison ivy control in the FPMP as well as recommended improvements for signage and regular maintenance planning; 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-6     Oct 20, 2025
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Cambridge has a Net Zero Action Plan and is committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; and
WHEREAS: Under the current Massachusetts Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP), local gas companies are spending billions to replace existing methane gas pipelines with new pipelines, despite the mandate to retire gas infrastructure by 2050; and
WHEREAS: Under GSEP, Massachusetts gas ratepayers paid $1.5 billion last year in added charges and will be paying off the costs of planned new replacement pipelines for 50 years, placing an unfair burden on ratepayers, especially those who struggle with heating costs and cannot opt for non-gas alternatives, and locking in decades of further reliance on fossil fuels; and
WHEREAS: Eversource has filed plans for 54 GSEP projects in Cambridge over the next four years, affecting major streets such as Columbia Street, Harvard Street, Massachusetts Avenue and Walden Street; and
WHEREAS: None of these projects has thus far been evaluated by Eversource as suitable for less disruptive and costly non-pipeline alternatives (NPA), such as advanced leak repair or retiring sections of gas infrastructure, despite binding orders from the Department of Public Utilities that they do so; and
WHEREAS: Under current state law, city and town officials have no authority to access and review gas company information about the state of gas infrastructure in their community and no right to be informed about conditions that might or might not warrant pipeline replacement; and
WHEREAS: Under current state law, city and town officials are not guaranteed full information about planned pipeline replacement work early enough and in enough detail such that municipal projects including street repairs, water system repair, and bicycle lane work can be planned and coordinated with gas company GSEP work in a cost-effective manner; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council supports House Bill H.3564, An Act Relative to Infrastructure Replacement Projects, and House Bill H.3446 /Senate Bill S.2248, An Act Relative to Municipal Voices in Gas Utility Work that are currently before the Massachusetts Legislature and require provision of more timely and full information to municipalities about planned GSEP work and in addition, expand the role of city and town officials in reviewing and offering feedback and alternatives to gas company GSEP plans, where appropriate and with oversight by the Department of Public Utilities; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Clerk be and hereby is requested to send a copy of this resolution to Governor Maura Healey, Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, Massachusetts House Speaker Ronald Mariano, each member of the Cambridge delegation to the legislature: Senators William Brownsberger, Sal DiDomenico, and Patricia Jehlen, Representatives Michael Connolly, Marjorie Decker, Michael Moran, Steven Owens, David Rogers, and Daniel Ryan, Secretary Rebecca Tepper of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and Department of Public Utilities Chair Jeremy McDiarmid.

O-7     Oct 20, 2025
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
WHEREAS: Cambridge has ambitious goals to decarbonize, outlined in the Net Zero Action Plan, and is committed to making energy more affordable and building clean energy production; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge is a municipal leader in clean energy, having net metered over 7.3 megawatts of solar so far; and these projects reduce emissions, save money for taxpayers, and advance solar development across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS: Legal barriers like the 10 MW per-municipality net metering cap and the regional limit across each utility service territory are no longer aligned with today’s needs and the regional allocation will be exhausted within a few years, resulting in shovel-ready solar projects limited due to metering caps; and
WHEREAS: With additional projects planned for schools and municipal buildings, Cambridge is quickly approaching the 10 MW cap, which will limit net new meter projects, resulting is a loss of taxpayer savings and stalled progress on our Net Zero Action Plan; and
WHEREAS: The regional cap is just as concerning, as Eversource territory has only about 133 MW of municipal allocation left, which will likely be used up in under three years at the current pace, severely limiting solar projects in the region; and
WHEREAS: It is critical that the municipal exemption in S.2269 — which exempts municipal projects from the regional limit—be adopted, and that the 10 MW per-town cap be lifted, and folding these provisions into H.4144 would ensure that municipalities across the Commonwealth can continue to scale solar quickly; and
WHEREAS: With these reforms, municipalities like Cambridge can keep delivering clean, affordable energy at scale, while supporting the Commonwealth’s climate and resilience goals; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council supports adding municipal solar cap relief to H.4144 by including the provisions from S.2269, including exempting municipal solar from the regional limits and lifting the municipal cap; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a copy of this resolution to Governor Maura Healey, Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, Massachusetts House Speaker Ronald Mariano, each member of the Cambridge delegation to the legislature: Senators William Brownsberger, Sal DiDomenico, and Patricia Jehlen, Representatives Michael Connolly, Marjorie Decker, Michael Moran, Steven Owens, David Rogers, and Daniel Ryan on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-8     Oct 20, 2025
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: Education, research, and academic inquiry are values intimately connected to the lives, careers, and passions of Cantabrigians; and
WHEREAS: The Trump administration’s attacks on education, research funding, and academic freedom threaten the integrity of higher education as well as the broader Cambridge community; and
WHEREAS: The Trump administration has taken actions targeting Harvard University, Cambridge’s largest employer and a cornerstone of the city’s academic and economic life; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge stands with Harvard University and its students, faculty, and staff, against all attacks on higher education, including those targeting international students; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge continually recognizes the importance of labor unions to workplace and economic justice; and
WHEREAS: The Harvard University administration is attempting to strip union protections away from over 1000 workers in the Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU) and Harvard Academic Workers (HAW) bargaining units, many of whom are in tenuous positions in science research, taking advantage of Trump’s anti-worker National Labor Relations Board and leaving the union with little ability to seek recourse through unfair labor practice charges; and
WHEREAS: Additionally, the Harvard University administration is refusing to recognize a subset of HAW members based on their funding sources; and
WHEREAS: The Harvard University administration has resisted other mechanisms of redress, namely HGSU’s contractual grievance and arbitration process, through which they have denied recourse; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in strong opposition to Harvard University’s efforts to strip union protections from workers in the Harvard Graduate Students Union bargaining unit, and to all forms of union busting; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record urging the Harvard administration to engage in good faith with the demands of our residents organizing with HGSU, HAW, and the Harvard Undergraduate Workers Union (HUWU), including fair pay, healthcare, and workplace harassment and discrimination protections; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Harvard University administrators and President Alan Garber on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-9     Oct 20, 2025
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR WILSON
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
ORDERED: That the City suspend or revoke using Flock cameras and all ALPR technology currently in use, until a meeting is held by the Public Safety Committee of the City Council and a vote is taken to allow it.