Cambridge City Council meeting - October 25, 2021 - AGENDA
CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA
1. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $745,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund, Emergency Communications Extraordinary Expense account which will be used for site maintenance and the replacement of critical infrastructure to support the City of Cambridge radio system.
Order Adopted 9-0
2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of the following persons as a members of the Conservation Commission: Kathryn Hess, David Lyons and Elysse Magnotto-Cleary.
Placed on File 9-0
Oct 25, 2021
To the Honorable, the City Council:I am hereby transmitting notification of the reappointments of the following members of the Conservation Commission:
Kathryn Hess - Term Expires 11/1/2024
Ms. Hess worked for 21 years as a practicing hydrologist with the US Geological Survey (USGS). For the last 17 years, she has worked for the Inspector General, US EPA, evaluating the effectiveness of EPA's environmental programs, with a primary focus on water and contamination issues. Ms. Hess is knowledgeable of the Wetlands Protection Act. Ms. Hess is a resident of Neighborhood 9.David Lyons Vice-Chair - Term Expires: 8/1/2024
Mr. Lyons is a Huron Village resident with municipal and environmental law expertise. He is an Energy and Environment Attorney at Anderson & Kreiger LLP. He has experience with the Wetlands Protection Act as well as a full spectrum of environmental compliance legislation. In addition, Mr. Lyons is familiar with the municipal open meeting law.Elysse Magnotto-Cleary - Term Expires 3/1/2024
Ms. Magnotto-Cleary is a Cambridge resident just outside of Harvard Square for over 15 years with environmental regulatory and restoration experience. She managed a fund established in the Town of Dennis to develop a protected barrier beach and sits on the panel that oversees the decommissioning of the Plymouth Nuclear Power Plant. In addition, Ms. Magnotto-Cleary has worked collaboratively with municipalities on the uses of herbicides and pesticides in sensitive areas.Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager
3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $180,500 from Free Cash to the General Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account to support the expansion of Equity Roadmap’s Friday Night Hype program in Cambridge. This appropriation also responds to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-54.
Order Adopted 9-0
Oct 25, 2021
To the Honorable, the City Council:I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $180,500 from Free Cash to the General Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account to support the expansion of Equity Roadmap’s Friday Night Hype program in Cambridge. After hearing the strong support of this program from the Mayor and the Council, and after numerous discussions with the Co-Founders of Friday Night Hype, the Department of Human Services and I are pleased to recommend this appropriation to the Council.
Friday Night Hype provides Upper School students with a safe space, a warm meal, mentorship, and various enrichment opportunities. Friday Night Hype was created to target inequities such as the opportunity and achievement gaps for young people and families. The program operated both in person and virtually during the pandemic providing support to young people from the Upper Schools. The program includes mentors who engage with the young people, monthly enrichment workshops, meals, and activities. The funds also support programming with caregivers of the young people. These funds support the Friday Night Hype Program’s ability to provide youth with positive adult and peer relationships at a critical developmental stage.
This appropriation also responds to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-54.
Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager
CHARTER RIGHT
1. A communication was received from the community, regarding Carl Barron Plaza reconstruction. [CHARTER RIGHT - ZONDERVAN, OCT 18, 2021]
Referred 8-1 to Policy Order #4 (TT - NO)
ON THE TABLE
2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-13, regarding next steps on implementation of Universal Pre-K. [PLACED ON THE TABLE - MAY 17, 2021]
3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-41, regarding a report on closing Mass Ave from Prospect Street to Sidney Street on Friday and Saturday evenings. [CHARTER RIGHT - MCGOVERN, JUNE 28, 2021; PLACED ON THE TABLE AUG 2, 2021]
4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-56, regarding improvements to Jerry's Pond and along Rindge Avenue. [PLACED ON THE TABLE BY MAYOR SIDDIQUI - SEPT 13, 2021]
COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Re Porter square every one of us needs to dial it back.
2. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Delay Implementation until feedback from 2nd community meeting is incorporated.
3. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Porter square Delay Implementation until feedback from 2nd community meeting is incorporated.
4. A communication was received from Roger May, regarding planned redesign Mass Ave.
5. A communication was received from Rochelle Zapol, regarding Objections to Plans to Expand the Bike Lane on Mass Ave Dudley Street to Alewife Brook Parkway.
6. A communication was received from Jeff Borrelli, regarding Mass Ave - Dudley St to Alewife Brook Pkwy.
7. A communication was received from Robert J. La Tremouille, regarding Massive Environmental Destruction_10.25.2021.
8. A communication was received from Linda Moussouris, regarding Porter Square Delay Implementation until feedback from 2nd community meeting is incorporated.
9. A communication was received from Javier Matamoros, regarding communication to be read at Monday's City Council Meeting with support for the separated bike lane project known.
10. A communication was received from Susan Connelly, regarding Please submit as a communication to be read at Monday's City Council Meeting regarding the Mass Ave Bike Lane plan and implementation.
11. A communication was received from Jeanne Oster, regarding Public Comment must be allowed at the Community Meeting - Mass Ave Dudley St to Alewife Brook Pkwy.
12. A communication was received from Jeff Borrelli, regarding Mass Ave Zoom Meeting 10/28.
13. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding why Implementation of Bike Safety plan should be modified based on feedback from 2nd community meeting.
14. A communication was received from Kavish Gandhi, regarding Support PO #232.
15. A communication was received from Justine Clements-Morgan, regarding Policy Order #232.
16. A communication was received from Jeanne Oster and Annette Osgood, regarding 24 Comments from our online petition for Dudley to Alewife.
17. A communication was received from Marilyn Wellons, regarding leaf blowers.
18. A communication was received from Monty Montero-Elliott, regarding comment in support of Policy Order 232.
RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution on the death of Myron Levine. Councillor Simmons
2. Resolution on the death of Gerald G. “Tubba” Gomes, Sr. Councillor Toomey
3. Resolution on the death of Jeannie “Jennie” Mammola. Councillor Toomey
4. Congratulations to Brian Corr. Councillor Simmons
5. Congratulations to the Margaret Fuller House Honorees. Councillor Simmons
6. Thank You Ms. Merline Sylvain-Williams For 17 Years Of Service. Vice Mayor Mallon
7. Congratulating Sofra Bakery. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon
8. Thank You to Sandy Gould and Jason Targoff for Dedication to Cambridge Youth Soccer. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
9. Congratulations to Amy Saltzman. Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
R-9 Oct 25, 2021
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
VICE MAYOR MALLON
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of this City Council that Amy Saltzman has served as Editor of the Cambridge Chronicle since 2012; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Chronicle is one of very few news sources covering local news and keeping residents informed about their community; and
WHEREAS: Local news coverage is invaluable and extremely difficult work, and essential for a functioning democracy, and providing unbiased local news has been made especially challenging in this time of economic uncertainty with hundreds of local newspapers ceasing publication over the last decade; and
WHEREAS: As the oldest surviving weekly newspaper in the U.S., first published in 1846, the Cambridge Chronicle has a long history that is unheralded and too often neglected; and
WHEREAS: Amy Saltzman has contributed engaging, unbiased, and thoughtful pieces of journalism throughout her time at the Chronicle, helping the publication to maintain its reputation of being the newspaper of record for Cambridge; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That this City Council go on record congratulating Amy Saltzman, in recognition of her achievements as editor of the Cambridge Chronicle for almost a decade; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Amy Saltzman on behalf of the entire City Council.
10. Resolution on Herter Community Garden. Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
R-10 Oct 25, 2021
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of this City Council that the Herter Community Garden, founded in 1976, is a 45-year-old community garden situated along the Charles River that has provided organic, urban community gathering for decades, including providing 13 current Cambridge residents with a garden plot; and
WHEREAS: Gardeners in the community garden are largely older, immigrants, and people of color who rely on the gardening community for both sociability and food security, and provide a true community of well-being and support for each other; and
WHEREAS: The Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) unveiled a plan to remove the garden and replace it with a “picnic lawn” on September 29, 2021; and
WHEREAS: An outpouring of opposition to the DCR plan emerged, with a petition to save the Herter Community Garden gathering over 2000 signatures; and
WHEREAS: The DCR proposed solution of moving the garden to a different spot along the river has been characterized as impossible by experts - 45 years of soil enrichment and features such as trellises and paths are not transferable; and
WHEREAS: The new proposed site is sloped, filled with invasive vegetation, and contains depleted soil with poor drainage; and
WHEREAS: Removal of the Herter garden and construction of an inadequate garden elsewhere would decrease accessibility and equity for the vulnerable communities which rely on it; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That this City Council go on record strongly opposing the DCR plan to remove the Herter Community Garden and stands behind the Herter Community Gardeners; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution as soon as possible to the leadership of DCR, to the Cambridge delegation, and to the organizers of the “Save Herter Community Garden” petition on behalf of the entire City Council.
ORDERS
1. That the City Manager is requested to confer with relative City departments on ways to report pedestrian and cyclist accidents in real time to residents. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department that in addition to stricter parking enforcement in this area, a viable long-term strategy must be developed to mitigate the issues created by the removal of the metered parking spaces along Massachusetts Avenue Mt. Auburn Street near Banks Street to ensure that those providing home-based services to seniors in this neighborhood are fully able to do so. Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the City Solicitor and the appropriate staff to review the language of this proposed ordinance amendment [regarding gasoline service station regulations] and to report back to the City Council in advance of the next City Council meeting. Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted; Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0
4. Public Hearing on Carl Barron Plaza Redesign. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone
Adopted as Amended 7-2 (DS,TT - NO)
5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with the Community Development Department, the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, and any other appropriate City department to discuss implementation of a plan which charges EV customers for electricity and not parking at municipal EV charging locations. Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0
6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with DCR on the possibility of again extending closures until at least the final Sunday in December 2021, if not longer, weather permitting. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Toomey - ABSENT)
7. Debt-Free Public Higher Education. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
8. That the City Council go on record in support of implementing key safety improvements on the Harvard Bridge, including flex post-protected bike lanes by the end of the year and bus lanes as soon as can be feasibly coordinated with the MBTA. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0
9. That the Cambridge City Council go on record supporting the Harvard Graduate Student Union in their continued efforts to negotiate a fair contract that is worthy of the value they bring to Harvard University and the protections from harassment and discrimination, which all people deserve, and that the City Council supports the HGSU in their potential work stoppage. Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. The Ordinance Committee met on Sept 21, 2021 to continue a hearing on an amendment to Article 22 of the City of Cambridge Zoning Ordinance “Emissions Accounting” (Ord # 2021-13).
Report Accepted, Placed on File, Adopt Order 9-0
Policy order from Sept 21 Ordinance Committee. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting Information on Broadband Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
Placed on File 9-0
To: Cambridge City Council
From: Mayor Siddiqui and Vice-Mayor Mallon
Date: Oct 21st, 2021
Subject: Communicating information on 21st Century BroadbandTo the Honorable City Council,
We have been meeting regularly with the City Manager and other city staff to discuss a pilot program to bring broadband access to Cambridge Housing Authority properties. This initiative has been in the works for the last six months and we are excited that it is moving forward. The program includes high-speed wired broadband service at one or more of 3 CHA sites. Although the decisions around the service provider and business model have not yet been made, the City is planning to release a Digital Equity Initiative status update later this year that will include additional information.
The City also recently announced that CTC Technology & Energy has been awarded the contract to conduct the City’s 21st Century Broadband project. The cost of this $465,000 project will be covered by Cambridge’s American Rescue Plan Act funds. The Purchasing Department and CTC Technology & Energy are in the process of completing the contract which will hopefully be done soon. Providing residents with reliable broadband has been a Council priority and we hope the work can move forward in the near future.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, suggestions, or concerns.
Respectfully,
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
2. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee.
Placed on File 9-0
HEARING SCHEDULE
Mon, Oct 25
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
Mon, Nov 1
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
Mon, Nov 8
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
Mon, Nov 15
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
Wed, Nov 17
4:00pm The Public Safety Committee will meet to hear an update on the city’s implementation of the HEART proposal as part of an alternative public safety response. (REMOTE HEARING)
Mon, Nov 22
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
Mon, Nov 29
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
Mon, Dec 6
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
Mon, Dec 13
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
Mon, Dec 20
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
Mon, Dec 27
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1 Oct 25, 2021 Amended
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
WHEREAS: Pedestrian and cycling accidents are an ongoing issue throughout the City; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge makes some crash data available on its open data portal but it can be hard to navigate or understand the impacts on the residents and others who are involved without some explanation; and
WHEREAS: City officials and City Councillors are informed in real time via email when such traffic accidents occur, but because residents are not informed these incidents are largely invisible; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relative City departments on ways to report these accidents, in real time using a public method of reporting; 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-2 Oct 25, 2021 Amended
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: It has come to the City Council’s attention that the recent removal of metered parking spaces near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Banks Street has created significant difficulties for home health aides and other service providers to access the housebound seniors living in that neighborhood who rely upon them; and
WHEREAS: This concern had been recently communicated to the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and this led to stricter parking enforcement in the area, which appeared to ease the problem for a brief period, but seniors in this neighborhood report that the problem persists, with home health aides regularly unable to find parking near their clients and ultimately canceling their appointments; and
WHEREAS: It has become clear that stricter parking enforcement alone will not solve this problem, and that a more thoughtful, creative solution is required of the City to ensure that housebound seniors living in this neighborhood can continue to be easily accessed by their home health aides and other visitors; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department that in addition to stricter parking enforcement in this area, a viable long-term strategy must be developed to mitigate the issues created by the removal of the metered parking spaces along Massachusetts Avenue Mt. Auburn Street near Banks Street to ensure that those providing home-based services to seniors in this neighborhood are fully able to do so; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on this matter to the City Council no later than December 1, 2021.
O-3 Oct 25, 2021
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
WHEREAS: As a leader in climate progress, Cambridge has ambitious climate goals in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS: Around 20% of Cambridge’s emissions comes from transportation; and
WHEREAS: On June 13, 2016, the City Council passed a policy order requesting that the City Manager “confer with the appropriate City departments to determine the feasibility of requiring gas pump labels with information about the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels at all gas stations in the City”; and
WHEREAS: The Council Order states “Requiring these labels at the gas pump will provide consumers with information about the impact of fossil fuel consumption, which may encourage them to use alternative forms of transportation when appropriate”; and
WHEREAS: The City Solicitor provided a legal opinion that requiring labels was feasible and provided guidance on how labels could be created; and
WHEREAS: A subsequent order including an ordinance amendment to article 8.12.010 of the Municipal Code was ordained on January 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS: Article 8.12.010 of the Municipal Code only regulates self-serve gasoline stations, excluding full-service stations; and
WHEREAS: The Council intended to include all gasoline pumps in the original policy order, not limited to self-service pumps; and
WHEREAS: The presence of labels on all gas pumps, including at full-service pumps, will allow further public education, for the workers at the stations and the customers in their cars; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the proposed amendment to article 8.12 of the Municipal Code (as attached) be adopted by the council 2021; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the City Solicitor and the appropriate staff to review the language of this proposed ordinance amendment and to report back to the City Council in advance of the next City Council meeting.
Ordinance Amendment
Chapter 8.12 - GASOLINE SERVICE STATIONS
8.12.010 - Self-service station regulations.A. The dispensing of motor fuel by means of self-service automated dispensing systems shall be permitted at any authorized gasoline station. All installations shall comply with the regulations promulgated by the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations in the Commonwealth.
B. Each self-service automated dispensing system shall display a clear warning label explaining that burning gasoline, diesel and ethanol has major consequences on human health and on the environment, including contributing to climate change. The text, image, or graphics of this warning label shall be approved by the City Manager.8.12.020 - Mobile On-Demand Fueling Service. [Section UNCHANGED]
8.12.030 - Gasoline station regulations. [New Section]
Each gasoline dispensing system shall display a clear warning label explaining that burning gasoline, diesel and ethanol has major consequences on human health and on the environment, including contributing to climate change. The text, image, or graphics of this warning label shall be approved by the City Manager.
O-4 Oct 25, 2021 Amended
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
WHEREAS: At the October 18, 2021 meeting the City Council received a petition from 37 community members who use Carl Barron Plaza on a daily basis, including both housed and unhoused people; and
WHEREAS: The petitioners express frustration that their “input, ideas, and vision” for the plaza have not been sought up to this point; and
WHEREAS: The petitioners assert that the current design options are hostile to them, including by replacing permanent seating options with temporary furniture as a potential means of controlling who may take refuge in the park and what time of day they may do so; and
WHEREAS: The petitioners make a number of constructive suggestions for the redesign, including (but not limited to) the addition of Narcan boxes, sharps containers, and electrical outlets, repairing the sidewalk, and protecting the existing mature trees; and
WHEREAS: Some of the suggestions included in the petition may already be completely or partially included in the redesign proposal, further underscoring the need for better communication and collaboration with these important stakeholders; and
WHEREAS: The ideas contained within this petition would enhance the plaza redesign, and the stated request for a community meeting is entirely reasonable and within precedent; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Health & Environment Committee and the Human Services & Veterans Committee will schedule a joint hearing on the redesign of Carl Barron Plaza with a special focus on the needs of the unhoused community and the ideas presented within Communication #10 from the October 18, 2021 regular meeting; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate City Departments on implementing the suggestions in the petition and report on this matter at the committee hearing.
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the full Council on all work done on the redesign proposal and all feedback from the community including the unhoused community in conjunction with the petition as soon as possible, and within two weeks.
O-5 Oct 25, 2021
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
VICE MAYOR MALLON
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: It behooves the City of Cambridge to promote the use of electric vehicles (EV) as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation to meet the City’s aggressive emission reduction goals; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge owns a total of 14 publicly available EV charging stations in parking lots, though several of these stations have limited access in terms of the amount of time they are available; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge charges the customer for both parking at the charging station as well as the electricity used while charging their vehicle; and
WHEREAS: The Cities of Somerville and Brookline charge for parking in their municipal lots but do not charge for the electricity at charging ports, while the City of Boston allows free parking for EV charging customers; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge is lagging behind its neighbors in terms of increasing accessibility and equity for EV owners and incentivizing others to purchase or otherwise use electric vehicles; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with the Community Development Department, the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, and any other appropriate City department to discuss implementation of a plan which charges EV customers for electricity and not parking at municipal EV charging locations.
O-6 Oct 25, 2021
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: State law requires DCR to open Riverbend Park by closing a portion of Memorial Drive to vehicular traffic on Sundays from April through the second Sunday in November; and
WHEREAS: In 2020, DCR implemented Saturday closures and extended the season through December 27, including a complete shutdown from December 24 at 10am through December 28 at 7am; and
WHEREAS: These expansions were by all accounts an overwhelming success; and
WHEREAS: The pandemic remains a public health emergency and residents benefit immensely from the safe outdoor recreation space offered by Riverbend Park, especially during the colder months when the options for spending time outdoors dwindle; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with DCR on the possibility of again extending closures until at least the final Sunday in December 2021, if not longer, weather permitting; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to offer up city resources for the purposes of implementing these closures to the extent that DCR continues to have resource constraints that render them infeasible; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter no later than Monday, November 8, 2021, which is the final regular meeting before the date that Riverbend Park is currently scheduled to close for the season.
O-7 Oct 25, 2021 Amended
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the City Council that the Joint Committee on Higher Education is considering H.1339/S.829, An Act to Guarantee Debt-Free Public Higher Education; and
WHEREAS: H.1339/S.829 would address the twin crises of college unaffordability and student loan debt by guaranteeing tuition-and-fees free public college to all Massachusetts residents while offering additional cost-of-living grant money to low-income families to cover the cost of housing, transportation, and child care; and
WHEREAS: Historic barriers to wealth creation and retention drive families of color into debt-reliance for higher education at disproportionate rates, and nationally nearly two-thirds of Black borrowers owe more than they originally borrowed 12 years after beginning school; and
WHEREAS: In 2017, the average cost of attendance at public colleges in Massachusetts accounted for a much larger portion of Black and Latinx household income (38% and 43%, respectively) compared to white household income (21%); and
WHEREAS: Women hold nearly two-thirds of the country’s student loan debt, which totals $1.7 trillion dollars, and women are often forced to pay back their student loans at a slower rate than men due to the gender pay gap, which can result in women paying more than men overall for their right to learn; and
WHEREAS: Since FY01, per-student spending on public higher education has been cut by 32% and state scholarship spending has also been cut by 32%, increasing the burden on students and their families who now pay more than 50% of total public college revenue across the Commonwealth’s community colleges, state universities, and UMass campuses; and
WHEREAS: As state spending on public higher education has declined, public colleges and universities have turned to private financing, and tuition and fees more than doubled at these institutions between 2001 and 2016; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in enthusiastic support of H.1339/S.829, An Act to Guarantee Debt-Free Public Higher Education, and in urging the Joint Committee on Higher Education to advance the bill as quickly as possible; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to Cambridge’s Statehouse Delegation and the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Higher Education on behalf of the entire City Council.
O-8 Oct 25, 2021 Amended
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The City Council has adopted goals including “Goal 6: Make it easy to move safely through the City, especially by sustainable modes of transportation.”
WHEREAS: The Harvard Bridge is an important regional connection between Cambridge and Boston for people who walk, bike, use transit, and drive; and
WHEREAS: Vehicles travel at excessive speeds, particularly upon entering Cambridge, and make turns onto Memorial Drive that endanger pedestrians and people who bike; and
WHEREAS: The #1 bus is identified by the MBTA as one of their 15 key bus routes due to its high ridership, reflecting its importance in transit connectivity, but the route also currently experiences some of the highest delays in the MBTA system as well; and
WHEREAS: There are already bus and protected bike lanes implemented on the Cambridge side and a protected bike lane implemented on the Boston side of the Harvard bridge, making the Harvard bridge a gap in this network that, if filled, could extend all the way from downtown Boston to the Red Line terminus at Alewife; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in support of implementing key safety improvements on the Harvard Bridge, including flex post-protected bike lanes by the end of the year and bus lanes as soon as can be feasibly coordinated with the MBTA; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with MassDOT on the possibility of making these changes, and report back to the City Council on this matter as soon as possible; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, MassDOT secretary Jamey Tesler, as well as all members of Cambridge’s State Legislative Delegation and Governor Baker.
O-9 Oct 25, 2021
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: After seven months of negotiations, through their union, United Auto Workers Local 5118, the Harvard Graduate Student Union remains without a fair contract and
WHEREAS: Harvard graduate students deserve fair compensation that reflects their value to the university and
WHEREAS: Like all workers, Harvard graduate students deserve protections against all forms of discrimination and harassment, wages reflective of cost of living and inflation increases and an agency shop where all students can build a strong and sustainable union and
WHEREAS: Harvard University could not function without these student workers who educate its students, assist its faculty, and produce research for Harvard’s benefit and
WHEREAS: Throughout the pandemic, these student workers were essential to Harvard’s continued operation and
WHEREAS: According to UAW, the Harvard Graduate Student Union “deserves to join every other union on Harvard’s campus with an agency shop provision included in their contract and access to neutral third-party grievance and arbitration for all cases of harassment and discrimination. Additionally, they deserve to have majority third-party hearing panels in the decision-making process for Title IX cases, as well as access to financial assistance for lawyers in these cases” and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council has a long and proud record of standing up for worker’s rights, therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record supporting the Harvard Graduate Student Union in their continued efforts to negotiate a fair contract that is worthy of the value they bring to Harvard University and the protections from harassment and discrimination, which all people deserve, and that the City Council supports the HGSU in their potential work stoppage and further be it
RESOLVED: That a suitably engrossed copy of this order be sent to the President of Harvard University and to the Harvard Graduate Student Union.
TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Ordinance Committee met to continue a hearing on an amendment to Article 22 of the City of Cambridge Zoning Ordinance “Emissions Accounting” (Ord # 2021-13).
Date: Tues, Sept 21, 2021, 3:30pm, Remote Meeting
Present: Carlone, Mallon, Nolan, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan
Absent: McGovern, Simmons, Toomey
Councillor Carlone called the meeting to order and gave the floor to Councillor Zondervan.
Councillor Zondervan provided a PowerPoint presentation which is included with these minutes. He stated that the city’s vulnerability assessment has identified both heat and flooding as impacts from climate change. The data shows the disparate impact that heat from climate change has on low income and minority communities.
Santos Carrasquillo, a member of Cambridge City growers, stated that access to the innovation economy has been tough for our poor residents with the lack of skills and education to get into these industries and careers. The green new deal will create new jobs for the neediest residents.
Councillor Zondervan stated that there is dual injustice of the disparate impacts of climate change on low-income minority communities in Cambridge, and then the lack of economic opportunity.
Councillor Carlone stated that emissions in the city have increased due to the level of construction. He stated that proposal will not stop development but acknowledge the cost of emissions.
Councillor Zondervan provided some background on the net zero initiative. This proposal modifies the green building zoning ordinance. The modification only applies to commercial buildings. Commercial buildings over 25,000 square feet would produce a calculation of the total expected emissions from the building and a mitigation payment plan to offset those emissions. Laboratory buildings have an outsize contribution in terms of their energy use intensity, which is how much energy is used per square foot from those buildings. The proposal accounts for the embodied emissions generated by the construction of the materials of the building itself. The ordinance provides free of cost training, and certification for low income and minority community members in particular, who can take advantage of these training programs to build a career in green jobs.
Councillor Carlone noted comments from the Planning Board and Community Development that not everything in the original proposal was appropriate for zoning.
Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, explained that the city is wrapping up its five-year review under the net zero action plan and recommendations will be forwarded to the council.
Jeffrey Roberts, Director of Planning and Development, summarized the discussion at the Planning Board. In general, the board was very supportive of the petition’s goals. However, board members were concerned about at different aspects of the petition and whether the petition as proposed would effectively meet its stated goals. The board's overall suggestion was that with some additional study, in consideration, a more effective proposal might be formulated and brought back to the board for its review.
Seth Federspiel, climate program manager, provided an update on the net-zero action plan. The building energy use disclosure ordinance currently applies to commercial buildings larger than 25,000 square feet, and residential buildings larger than 50 units and requires those buildings to report their energy use and water use every year. The proposal here is to amend that ordinance to require the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from those buildings over time. These performance requirements would be in line with a number of other cities, including Boston, which is moving forward to adopt similar emissions. On five-year compliance periods, beginning in 2025, buildings would be expected to reduce their emissions by 20% and maintain that level until 2030, at which point, they would have to achieve a 40% or greater emission reduction, and then so on and so forth until achieving that zero no later than 2050.
Mr. Federspiel explained that buildings can meet these performance requirements by switching off of fossil fuels and onto clean electrical fuel sources and by producing on site renewable electricity. Buildings could also comply by procuring offsite renewable electricity to reduce the greenhouse gas impact of their electricity use. And then a third pathway is the possible use of an alternative compliance credit flexibility mechanism wherein buildings would make payments into a local Fund, which could enable carbon reduction projects.
In response to a question from Councillor Carlone, Ms. Farooq explained that staff is working on the building energy use disclosure ordinance.
Councillor Carlone opened the floor to public comment.
Esther Cull-Kahn stated she often feel helpless when thinking about the climate crisis. She urged the council to adopt the petition.
Jonathan Behrens stated that developers will have to pay the fee generated by the ordinance. He asked for more detail about the accounting of transportation emissions.
Chloe Duncan-Wald spoke in support of the zoning petition. The petition addresses net zero emissions.
Andrew Bellows spoke in support of the petition.
Catherine LeBlanc spoke in support of the zoning petition.
Kathryn Rauh spoke in support of the petition. Allocating the money from the fees will go directly into a green job program, and sustainable energy projects that will provide more jobs for minority groups in low-income communities.
Matthew Page-Lieberman stated that he understands that some of the ordinance is not appropriate for zoning. He supports moving forward with the remainder.
Sarah Gallop, representing the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated that climate change is an urgent issue, but the zoning petition is an example of policymaking that is taking place outside of a thoughtful City-governed framework. She expressed concern with a number of piecemeal zoning petitions that have been passed recently. Each of these new zoning efforts has been advanced in a vacuum rather than in a comprehensive manner. She asked the council to return to a more collaborative approach to policymaking.
Tom Lucey, representing Harvard University, asked the chairs of the committee to get some city staff, some stakeholders together, to answer some questions, to share ideas, and to really collaborate.
Lee Ferris stated that she worries about climate change every day. The petition is a chance for Cambridge to be at the leading edge and to locally addressing climate change.
Councillor Carlone moved to close public comment.
Yea: Carlone, Mallon, Nolan, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler
Nay: Zondervan
Absent: McGovern, Simmons, Toomey
In response to a question from Vice Mayor Mallon about what portions of the petition are beyond zoning, Nancy Glowa, City Solicitor, stated the petition measures emissions and sets these standards for payments. Issues that are properly governed by zoning have to do with standards for building or land use.
Vice Mayor Mallon requested a formal memorandum from the law department about the petition regarding what is appropriate for zoning. consider to be zoning and not to be considered zoning with, you know, the typical memo where the solicitor cites cases and opines on how to proceed. I think that would really be helpful as we continue this conversation to have that in front of us to know exactly which path to choose for any of the items that are listed in a petition.
In response to a question from Vice Mayor Mallon about plans to incorporate embodied emissions into the zoning ordinance, Suzanne Rasmussen, Director of Environmental & Transportation Planning, stated that the net-zero action plan update contemplates embodied emissions into focus by looking at three-time horizons. The early time horizons are in the next one to two years, it would be a requirement to account for embodied emissions and then following that it would move towards an ever-increasing requirement to reduce embodied emissions.
Vice Mayor Mallon stated that she was attracted to the piece of the petition that required payments for emissions.
Councillor Nolan stated that even if all the new building were zero emission, the city would still have to get a 60% reduction from every single existing building across the city in eight and a half years to meet the state target. She stated that the states emissions targets are more aggressive that than the city’s targets.
In response to a question from Councillor Nolan about building emissions, stated that an updated inventory for buildings in Cambridge will be included in the Net Zero report that will be available in the next several weeks. He referred to a portion of the PowerPoint presentation that referenced projections for various policy options.
Councillor Nolan that the city has to increase all of it actions 20-fold in the next five years to have any chance of meeting some of the net zero goals.
Councillor Carlone moved to suspend the rules to extend the meeting to 6pm.
Yea: Carlone, Nolan, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan
Absent: Mallon, McGovern, Simmons, Toomey
In response to a question from Councillor Nolan about performance requirements, Seth Federspiel stated that the proposal would then set a trajectory upon which buildings need to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions. So, the proposal is that by 2025, a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2018-2019 baseline would need to be achieved. And the expectation is that is that buildings would use the intervening period to take measures to reduce their emissions to reach that 20% level.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler stated that staff indicated that the $2 per square foot linkage fee was recommended in the Nexus report is not enough to justify the administrative hurdle of setting up a jobs linkage fee, and that there are other ways to find jobs training programs. He would be happy to go beyond the $2 per square foot of the linkage fee for a higher number that. Both Boston and Somerville have jobs linkage fees. He stated that the law department argues that the council has to stick to the numbers in the report.
Councillor Zondervan stated that the petition specifies embodies emissions and includes a pathway to zero emissions for a building by 2050. He stated that the have already starting the process of removing items that are not appropriately in a zoning ordinance. He stated that some of the planning board members pointed out that steel, concrete, aluminum, and glass essentially account for the embodied emissions. He hoped that the council could amend the ordinance to require reductions in energy use intensity for existing building buildings, as well as assessing mitigation fees on new construction. He stated that he is working on other proposals for parking minimum and maximum requirements, and reductions in the zoning, which will help to also reduce those emissions over time. The focus of this proposal is on the commercial buildings, because that is the largest component of the city’s emissions.
Vice Mayor Mallon moved that the city manager being hereby is requested to instruct the law department to draft a memorandum describing what activities in the emissions accounting petition can be regulated through zoning.
Councillor Zondervan moved to add the following language to the Vice Mayor's motion: "and the best way to implement the remaining components, as well as how a jobs linkage fee higher than $2 could be assessed."
Yea: Carlone, Mallon, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan
Absent:, McGovern, Siddiqui, Simmons, Toomey
Vice Mayor Mallon's motion as amended :"That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct the law department to draft a memorandum describing what activities in the "Emissions Accounting" petition can be regulated through zoning and the best way to implement the remaining components, as well as how a jobs linkage fee higher than $2 could be assessed"
Yea: Carlone, Mallon, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan
Absent:, McGovern, Siddiqui, Simmons, Toomey
Vice Mayor Mallon’s motion to adjourn at 5:45pm.
Yea: Carlone, Mallon, Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan
Absent:, McGovern, Siddiqui, Simmons, Toomey
That the City Council amend the Article 22 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge entitled “SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT” to insert a new section 22.24.4 (Ordinance #2021-13)
A communication was received from Seth Federspiel, Sustainability Planner, Community Development, transmitting a presentation for the Special meeting of the City Council regarding NZAP 5-Year Review for Ordinance Committee.
Proposed Order Oct 25, 2021
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
WHEREAS: The Ordinance Committee held a meeting on September 21, 2021 to discuss an amendment to Article 22 of the City of Cambridge Zoning Ordinance “Emissions Accounting” (Ord # 2021-13).
WHEREAS: The committee voted to send the following order to the full city council; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct the law department to draft a memorandum describing what activities in the "Emissions Accounting" petition that can be regulated through zoning and the best way to implement the remaining components, as well as how a jobs linkage fee, higher than $2, could be assessed.
AWAITING REPORT LIST
16-111. Report on the potential of building below market rental housing on City-owned parking lots along Bishop Allen Drive. On a communication from Councillor McGovern requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Vice Mayor McGovern, Mayor Simmons (O-4) from 12/12/2016
18-38. Report on inventory of all City-owned vacant buildings and lots and the City's plans for them, if any.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor Siddiqui (O-2) from 3/26/2018
18-60. Report on a small business parking pilot that would allow temporary on-street employee parking during typical daytime operating hours.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #1) from 5/14/2018
18-73. Report on establishing and implementing a dynamic new initiative that will seek to place Port residents (ages 18 and over) on paths to jobs with family-sustaining wages.
Councillor Simmons (O-6) from 6/25/2018
18-119. Report on evaluating the existing capacity of fire stations in the Kendall Square area and whether a new fire station is needed, and if so, determining the feasibility of locating a plot of land for this use.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-2) from 11/5/2018
19-3. Report on establishing a Central Square Improvement Fund and allocate no less than 25% of funds generated to the arts.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern (O-6) from 1/7/2019
19-49. Report on recommending restrictions on signage specific to retail establishments that sell e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-15) from 4/8/2019
19-62. Report on drafting a formal Anti-bias /Cultural Competency Strategic Plan for eventual adoption and implementation.
Councillor Simmons (O-2) from 5/20/2019
19-66. Report on whether it is possible to reduce or eliminate Building Permit Fees for 100% affordable housing development projects, through an exemption or other means and investigate what types of real estate tax abatements are possible for 100% affordable housing moving forward.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern (O-3) from 6/3/2019
19-100. Report on the feasibility of implementing an additional regulatory requirement for listing a registration/license number for Short-Term Rentals.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons (O-19) from 7/30/2019
19-130. Report on requesting to allocate more funds in the FY21 budget for the small business improvement grants and to confer with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office on whether other cities in Massachusetts have been facing similar issues with ADA compliance and what can be done to protect the small businesses.
Councillor Toomey (O-14) from 10/7/2019
19-145. Report on reviewing all the City’s policies and procedures related to the procurement, installation and disposal of artificial turf.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Zondervan (O-7) from 10/21/2019
19-146. Report on reviewing the existing internal mechanisms for City staffers in all departments to report grievances, to determine if this system is functioning as it should or whether changes should be considered.
Councillor Simmons (O-3) from 10/28/2019
19-147. Report on installing hearing loop technology inside the Sullivan Chamber as part of the upcoming renovations to City Hall, and in other critical City meeting venues wherever possible and other accessibility improvements.
Councillor Zondervan (O-4) from 10/28/2019
20-6. Report on the acquisition and implementation of interpretation services for City Council meetings and other public City meetings.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern (O-8) from 1/27/2020
20-27. Report on the advantages and disadvantages of continuing with Civil Service, and the process by which Cambridge could exit Civil Service.
Councillor Nolan (O-5) from 6/22/2020
20-30. Report on establishing a plan designed to provide a thorough, system-wide review of the entire municipal government to identify and remove any vestiges of systemic racism and/or racial bias in any and all City departments, to establish clear, transparent metrics that will help further this critical endeavor.
Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toomey (O-3) from 6/29/2020
20-31. Report on determining how to best protect and preserve our commercial spaces that support our small business operators and maintain continuity in our commercial districts.
Councillor Toomey, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui (O-5) from 6/29/2020
20-36. Report on generating a report detailing the Sole Assessment Process, the Civil Service HRD process, the reason for choosing the Sole Assessment Process over the Civil Service HRD process, and the projected costs associated with both processes.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-5) from 7/27/2020
20-60. Report on analyzing eviction data from 2018 through 2021 and come back with a plan on how to use this data to inform our next action steps.
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-8) from 11/2/2020
20-61. Report on an update on City-Owned Vacant Properties Inventory.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Toomey (O-2) from 11/16/2020
20-65. Report on exploring the feasibility of hiring a consultant to perform an Equity Audit on the Cambridge Arts Council.
(O-1) from 11/23/2020
20-69. Report on formulating an RFP for a public arts project that will acknowledge the unfinished work of the 19th Amendment, the importance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and how the two pieces of legislation ultimately complemented one another in helping to shape a more perfect union.
Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan (Calendar Item #2) from 11/30/2020
20-72. Report on the condition of 105 Windsor Street and cost estimates of any repairs needed and provide recommendations on how to develop any other underused properties based on an inclusive public process centered in the Port neighborhood.
Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #1) from 12/14/2020
21-6. Report on obtaining written documentation from the Cambridge Housing Authority, Homeowners Rehab, Inc., Just a Start, and the Community Development Department updating the City Council on the locations, unit sizes, number of units, overall costs, populations served, and expected dates of completion for each of the projects they reported on during the Housing Committee hearing held on Jan 12, 2021.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan (O-3) from 2/3/2021
21-8. Report on removing hostile architecture whenever public spaces are designed or redesigned and to create design guidelines that ensure our public spaces are truly welcoming to the entire community and determine how existing bench fixtures can be addressed to support all residents who use them.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui (Calendar Item #3) from 2/8/2021
21-9. Report on providing an overview of various programs and services that are designed to assist the City’s chronically unhoused population and those in danger of becoming unhoused, along with the metrics by which the City determines the effectiveness of these programs.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-1) from 2/22/2021
21-10. Report on whether or not the City can require written notice be sent to all abutters, both property owners as well as tenants, regarding the scheduling of a hearing regarding the extension of a building permit request to the Planning Board.
(O-5) from 2/22/2021
21-14. Report on presenting options to the Council to ensure that the staff at Albany Street are properly compensated for their work, and that guests are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (Calendar Item #3) from 3/8/2021
21-17. Report on initiating a process to begin chronicling the rich and vibrant history of people of color in Cambridge, similar to other City-commissioned books such as “We Are the Port: Stories of Place, Perseverance, and Pride in the Port/Area 4 Cambridge, Massachusetts 1845-2005” and “All in the Same Boat” and “Crossroads: Stories of Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1912-2000”.
Councillor Simmons (O-2) from 3/15/2021
21-19. Report on providing an update on progress made towards including information from the Cambridge Minority Business Enterprise Program in the Open Data Portal.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 3/22/2021
21-29. Report on updating the Parental Leave Policy for employees.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons (O-7) from 4/26/2021
21-30. Report on increasing the affordable homeownership stock over the next 10 years by financing the construction of affordable homeownership units through a bond issue of no less than $500 million.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #1) from 5/3/2021
21-32. Report on exploring and implement strategies to enhance safety at the intersection of Memorial Drive and DeWolfe Street.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan (O-2) from 5/3/2021
21-35. Report on providing options to update the HomeBridge and Affordable Home Ownership Programs to better align with the City’s values, and promote racial equity and socioeconomic justice.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui (O-6) from 5/3/2021
21-36. Report on developing a holistic plan for managing the traffic and congestion in the Alewife area.
Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-2) from 5/17/2021
21-37. Report on consulting with relevant Department heads and the non-profit community on "Digital Equity" and provide an implementation plan, schedule, and request for appropriation.
Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan (O-4) from 5/17/2021
21-38. Report on consulting with relevant Department heads on other broadband benefits programs offered by the Federal government, and the City’s plans to leverage these funds in pursuit of Digital Equity.
Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan (O-5) from 5/17/2021
21-40. Report on implementing a heavy truck traffic ban on Roberts Road from Kirkland Street to Cambridge Street.
Councillor Toomey, Mayor Siddiqui (O-8) from 5/17/2021
21-42. Report on reviewing Cambridge’s corporate contracts and purchases to identify any vendors or manufacturers whose products are used to perpetuate violations of International Human Rights Laws and Cambridge’s policy on discrimination.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #2) from 5/25/2021
21-43. Report on referring the Cambridge HEART proposal for funding consideration and to engage in a public community process to discuss this proposal and its implementation.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan (Calendar Item #1) from 6/7/2021
21-45. Report on taking all necessary steps to waive the dog license fee for all senior citizens and examine options for reducing the fees for low-income residents.
Councillor McGovern (Calendar Item #1) from 6/14/2021
21-46. Report on the feasibility of purchasing properties for sale in the Alewife area to address City goals.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone (O1) from 6/14/2021
21-47. Report on exploring the feasibility of expanding services at the senior centers, especially by adding clinical staff.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons (O-3) from 6/14/2021
21-48. Report on determining if the City has the discretion to waive the Commonwealth's housing sanitary code requirements and the circumstances in which the City could administer this waiver.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui (O-4) from 6/14/2021
21-49. Report on making immediate improvements at the intersection of Cardinal Medeiros Avenue, Binney and Bristol Streets and to all intersections in the city that are similarly malfunctioning, and to implement longer term changes.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan (O-8) from 6/14/2021
21-50. Report on providing an update on the cost of each license and permit required by businesses, which business license and permit fees are set under state law, which are set by ordinances, and which are determined administratively, as well as which licenses and permits the City has the discretion to waive entirely.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan (O-9) from 6/14/2021
21-51. Report on examining and implementing a flexible, permanent remote work policy for City employees who can perform their tasks remotely.
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan (O-5) from 6/28/2021
21-52. Report on examining stipend models for the City's multi-member bodies.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan (O-8) from 6/28/2021
21-53. Report on examining safety improvements at the intersection of Ware and Harvard Streets.
Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-9) from 6/28/2021
21-54. Report on exploring the feasibility of providing Equity Roadmap with regular funding for Friday Night Hype. See Mgr #3
Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Toomey (O-1) from 8/2/2021
21-58. Report on addressing increased gun activity.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-4) from 8/2/2021
21-55. Report on assessing what is driving this new activity, and to deploy the necessary resources to tamp down on the gun violence being seen in the above-referenced areas.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-4) from 8/2/2021
21-57. Report on how the city is working to get City staff to 100% vaccinated and decrease the likelihood that COVID-19 spreads via City staff and in City Buildings.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon (O-10) from 8/2/2021
21-60. Report on reviewing the residential parking permit program to determine whether the criteria for this program can be modified to limit the issuance of residential permits to vehicles that are primarily utilized for personal, non-commercial use.
Councillor Simmons (O-3) from 9/13/2021
21-61. Report on the City’s rodent and pest control efforts since February 2020, to outline what metrics are being used to determine the effectiveness of these efforts, and to issue recommendations as to whether increasing the budget for these efforts, as well as creating new incentives and penalties to ensure community compliance with regulations around rodent control, would lead to a greater level of success in resolving this issue.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan (O-4) from 9/13/2021
21-62. Report on the feasibility of installing lights at all Cambridge dog parks.
Councillor McGovern (O-4) from 9/13/2021
21-63. Report on using only locally sourced produce, farmers, and resident gardeners to study the feasibility of spending Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to address food insecurity by installing raised garden beds throughout Cambridge and providing free, fresh, locally-grown food for residents in need.
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone (O-9) from 9/13/2021
21-64. Report on the efforts the City has made toward creating LGBTQ+-Friendly Housing over the past decade, to state what impediments had been identified in realizing this effort, and to outline recommendations for how the City may successfully create such housing within the next three years.
Councillor Simmons (O-1) from 9/20/2021
21-65. Report on the milestones that will be used to determine when the indoor mask mandate will no longer be needed.
Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui (O-4) from 9/20/2021
21-66. Report on reaching out to the owner of 689 Massachusetts Avenue to inquire about the prospect of selling this building to the City of Cambridge.
Councillor Simmons (O-2) from 9/27/2021
21-67. Report on working with the staff at the Cambridge Historical Commission, the DCR Commissioner, and members of Cambridge’s state delegation to approve, fund and execute the design and installation of a suitable historic marker by April 2022 to recognize the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted and others in transforming the Cambridge riverfront landscape.
Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan (O-6) from 9/27/2021
21-68. Report on re-establishing the Community School Neighborhood Councils.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-4) from 10/4/2021
21-69. Report on determining the feasibility of creating a uniform process for aiding the resettlement of refugees in Cambridge.
Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-3) from 10/18/2021
21-70. Report on determining the feasibility of purchasing property from Lesley University to address City goals.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 10/18/2021
21-71. Report on placing a cricket field in one of the Cambridge parks.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-5) from 10/18/2021
21-72. Report on appointing a task force that will hold regular public meetings to solicit ideas and feedback from residents on the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan (O-6) from 10/18/2021
21-73. Report on confirming with the State if the Truck Restriction map is up to date, who should be enforcing the ban on Alewife Brook Parkway, and what actions can be taken moving forward.
Councillor Toomey (O-9) from 10/18/2021
21-74. Report on supporting the Uplift the Solar Energy Industry in Massachusetts coalition.
Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan (O-12) from 10/18/2021
21-75. Report on examining the Safety at the Intersection of Cambridge and Felton Streets.
Vice Mayor Mallon (O-14) from 10/18/2021
21-76. Report on providing an explanation of the incident, including whether legal requirements and department policies for arrests were properly followed.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (O-15) from 10/18/2021