Cambridge City Council meeting - October 28, 2019

CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA
1. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $300,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures Account to fund strategic and technical advisory services to position the City to procure a 100% renewable electricity supply.
Order Adopted 9-0

2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $250,000 from the General Fund Employee Benefits (Insurance) Salary and Wages account to the General Fund Public Works Travel & Training (Judgment and Damages) account which will cover medical bills and settlements for Public Works personnel injured in the course of their job.
Order Adopted 9-0

3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $109,376.50 received in energy rebates, to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures account and will be used to supplement the FY20 public investment appropriation to support energy efficiency projects at school and City buildings.
Order Adopted 9-0

4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $245,000 to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account to support the construction of the O’Connell Library Pocket Park. This appropriation is supported through funds received from the following sources: $25,000 from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) Forward Fund Grant; $75,000 from the East Cambridge Open Space Trust; and $145,000 from Free Cash.
Order Adopted 9-0

5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $10,000 from the General Fund Employee Benefits Salary and Wages account (Insurance) to the General Fund Electrical Travel and Training account (Judgments and Damages) to cover medical services and/or prescription reimbursement costs for personnel injured in performance of their duties.
Order Adopted 9-0

6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $50,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Library Extraordinary Expenditures account which will fund the purchase of a new Library truck.
Order Adopted 9-0

8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-30, regarding traffic safety concerns on Madison Avenue.
Placed on File

9. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the request for two appropriations of $23,000,000 from Free Cash and $7,000,000 from Cambridge Redevelopment Authority for the Foundry project.
Two Orders Adopted 9-0

Oct 28, 2019
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the following two (2) appropriations related to the Foundry:

1) First, I am requesting an appropriation of $23,000,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account (the City’s Contribution); and
Order Adopted 9-0

2) Second, I am requesting an appropriation of $7,000,000 committed from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority’s Contribution) to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account.
Order Adopted 9-0

In December 2014 and May 2015, respectively, the Cambridge City Council and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) approved a Demonstration Project Plan to implement the redevelopment of the Foundry, located at 101 Rogers Street (“Project”). The City Council and the CRA amended the Demonstration Project Plan on Sept 13, 2017 and Sept 24, 2017, respectively.

The Demonstration Project Plan states that the vision is for the Foundry to be “a creative, innovation center that offers a collaborative environment with a mix of cultural, educational, manufacturing, and commercial uses. The renovated multipurpose building will be designed for flexibility and is accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to the public. The activities within will be multigenerational and multicultural providing a citywide and neighborhood resource that is financially stable for years to come.”

The Demonstration Project Plan estimated that the total redevelopment costs for the Project were estimated to be $26 million to $31 million, but it further provided that the cost estimates would continue to be refined as it moved through design. The City initially appropriated $6,000,000 for the Project in 2015. At that time, it was estimated that an additional $18 million appropriation would be needed once design and construction estimates were more fully developed.

The City went through Request for Qualification public processes to select Cambridge Seven Associates (the Architect) and WT Rich of Newton, MA (the Construction Manager) for the Project. The City and the CRA have been working closely with the Architect to bring to reality the vision of the Demonstration Project Plan.

Since May 2018, representatives of the City and the CRA met over 80 times with various consultants, City departments, and the Foundry Advisory Committee. Additionally, the City and the CRA sponsored community meetings held in July 2018 and October 2019.

The Architect issued the Schematic Design on May 31, 2019 and subsequently the Construction Manager performed a cost estimate, in which it was determined that the resulting costs were estimated to be much higher than the initial construction budget. Since the initial construction cost estimate was issued, many subsequent meetings and discussions between the City, CRA, the Architect, and the Construction Manager (the Team) have occurred. These meetings were intended to validate the scope of work that was included in the estimate and to discuss changes in the design to establish a cost that was in line with the City’s construction budget of $20M.

Since receipt of the schematic design, the Project’s Structural Engineer has performed extensive building structure surveys including “destructive” testing to open areas of the roof, existing foundation system, as well as drilling into some of the large 130-year old wooden supporting members to determine the limits of deterioration of the existing wooden structure.

The results of these investigations indicate that “piles” are required to support the new foundation system, rather than simple spread footings, due to the seismic upgrade. Further investigation of the 130-year-old wooden beams indicate some with deterioration of the interior cross section. This deterioration of the interior cross section will require additional structural reinforcement of these support members.

Additionally, funds are included for streetscape improvements, connecting the Foundry to Toomey Park on Third Street.

Meetings over the past months with Team members have also included discussions of “value engineering” which resulted in a reduction of the initial construction cost estimate. The Team will continue discussions through the Design Development and Construction Document phases of design regarding value engineering to reduce the construction costs for the Project further.

Although these discussions will continue, the Project currently requires additional funding of $5 million above the original estimate, which would bring the City’s total commitment to the Project to $29 million ($6 million for design, construction, soft costs and fit-out and $23 million to complete the Project) and a total Project cost of $36 million when including the CRA’s contribution of $7 million. The appropriation of $23 million will allow the demolition and foundation work to begin in November 2019.

Additionally, I am requesting an appropriation of the CRA’s $7,000,000 contribution to the City of Cambridge Foundry Project funding, received from the CRA. In addition to this appropriation, the CRA has also committed an additional $2,000,000 to support the initial operations of the building and to provide an operational reserve for the for the Foundry Consortium, a non-profit charged with managing the Foundry building for the CRA. The Foundry Consortium has been created by the Lemelson-MIT Program, which was selected by the CRA, through a public Request for Proposals, to formulate the operational program for the Project as well as to serve as the leasing agent and building manager for the Foundry.

The Foundry Consortium has completed its bylaws, appointed a founding board and has incorporated with the Massachusetts Secretary of State. The organization is awaiting tax exempt status from the IRS. The Board of Directors will start meeting as a formal body in fall 2019, with a focus on fundraising and hiring staff to prepare operationally for the opening of the building.

The current schedule calls for the Project to be completed in June 2021.

I am therefore requesting that you approve the requested appropriation of $23 million to the Project as well as the appropriation of $7 million for the CRA’s contribution to the Project, bringing the total amount appropriated to this Project to $36 million from all sources.

Very truly yours, Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to proposed amendments to the following ordinance: and proposed amendments to Chapter 14.04 of the Cambridge Municipal Code (the "Fair Housing Ordinance”). Fair Housing (passed to a 2nd reading) [AWAITING HOME RULE LEGISLATION-BEFORE PROPOSAL CAN BE ORDAINED]

2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-108, regarding a report on offering early voting in City Council and School Committee Elections. [PENDING RESPONSE FROM LEGISLATURE]

APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
1. An application was received from Brett Owens, requesting permission for a projecting sign at the premises numbered 579 Massachusetts Avenue approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutter.
Order Adopted

2. An application was received from Andrew Lafuente, requesting permission for an awning at the premises numbered 27 Brattle Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutters.
Order Adopted

3. An application was received from Clover Food Lab, requesting permission for one internally illuminated projecting sign at the premises numbered 496 Massachusetts Avenue approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutter.
Order Adopted

4. An application was received from Mark Hanlon, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 90 Jackson Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association.
Failed of Adoption 4-5

5. An application was received from Cambridge Trust, requesting permission for a projecting sign at the premises numbered 353 Huron Avenue approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutter.
Order Adopted 9-0

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Gregg Moree, 25 Fairfield Street, regarding watch out for Vote #1 and Vote #2.

2. An anonymous communication was received, regarding many concerns about the noise and environmental impact.

3. A communication was received from Willa Hammitt Brown, regarding Policy Order #3 and #5.

4. A communication was received from Mark Siebold, regarding support for the surface at Tudor Street dog park.

5. A communication was received from Leigh Netcoh, regarding Policy Order #3 and #5.

6. A communication was received from Robert J. La Tremouille, regarding major expansion of DCR's reprehensible destruction at Magazine Beach.

7. A communication was received from Lorissa Mahoney, regarding Dog park updates.

8. A communication was received from Stoecklein Pierson, regarding Policy Order #8.

2. Congratulations to Brittney Morris on Her New Novel "Slay." Councillor Simmons

7. Welcome wishes to Reverend Efrain Alejandro Mateo of the Nuevo Bethel ll AME Church. Councillor Simmons

11. Congratulations to Sharman Altshuler, David Lucey and entire Moonbox Cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Vice Mayor Devereux

12. Congratulations to Sal and Marie DiDomenico on Flowers by Sal’s 50th anniversary. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons

ORDERS
1. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council with a proposed plan for implementation of a pilot off-leash dog shared use morning hours program at Sacramento Field to start by the end of Fall 2019. Mayor McGovern, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

2. That the Executive Assistant to the City Council confer with the Dedication Committee to consider a request from Mayor McGovern for a suitable public dedication for Vincent and Santa Saia in the vicinity of Inman Square. Mayor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

3. That the City Manager is requested to review 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
Order Adopted 9-0

4. That the City Manager is requested to install 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
Order Adopted 9-0

5. That the City Manager is requested to confer with relevant City staff on the need and feasibility of instituting traffic-calming and safety measures at Magazine Street at Upton Street. Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

6. That the City Manager is requested to confer with relevant City staff regarding the feasibility of reinstituting a stop light or other major traffic-calming safety measures at the Raymond Street and Walden Street pedestrian crossing. Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

7. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the appropriate City staff and report back to the City Council on the feasibility of installing a “Do Not Enter Except Local Residents” or similar sign on Mead Street at Walden Street. Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted 9-0

8. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the appropriate School Department and City Officials as well as organizations such as the Urban Area Security Initiative and the Southern Poverty Law Center to determine Cambridge’s threat level from hate crimes and other related events. Councillor Kelley, Councillor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

9. That the City Manager is requested to confer with relevant City staff on determining the most appropriate signage and messaging that would best educate cyclists on the importance of following traffic laws, particularly stopping at red lights, for their own safety and the safety of other cyclists and pedestrians. Councillor Kelley, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
Charter Right - Siddiqui

10. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department, the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department and the Department of Public Works to determine what facilities, parking changes, and other improvements to the pavement conditions would be necessary and feasible to make Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue between Roseland Street and Beech Street a quick-build Complete Street with bus priority. Mayor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux
Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1

11. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Public Works to make it a priority to repair sidewalks, particularly legacy brick sidewalks and asphalt patches, to ensure full compliance with ADA requirements, and bring any necessary appropriations to the City Council in order to accomplish this purpose. Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. A communication was received from Paula Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Quinton Zondervan, Co-Chair and Councillor Dennis J. Carlone, Co-Chair of the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee, for a public hearing held on Sept 24, 2019 to discuss the City policy on sidewalk surface treatments as discussed in Policy Order #16 of July 30, 2019.
Report Accepted, Placed on File

COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Mayor Marc C. McGovern, transmitting membership of a newly formed My Brothers' Keeper Cambridge Taskforce.
Placed on File

2. A communication was received from Mayor McGovern, transmitting a report, "The Kind of City which is Desirable and Obtainable:" A brief history of zoning in Cambridge.
Placed on File

Mr. Clerk,

For the past several months, my Office has been working with local resident and Harvard University student William MacArthur on a study of Cambridge zoning and its possible impacts on the community. Combing through minutes of the Constitutional Convention that brought forward an amendment to allow local zoning, newspaper reports chronicling the challenges of implementing a new legal precedent, and tracking the major changes in Cambridge’s zoning, we were attempting to answer the following questions:

§              What roles did Cambridge residents play in bringing about zoning in Cambridge and in Massachusetts?
§              How has the zoning map in Cambridge changed since it was initially adopted?
§              How have the stated purposes of the zoning ordinance evolved?
§              How has zoning functioned as a tool of racial and socioeconomic exclusion?

The full report can be viewed digitally here:
“The Kind of City which is Desirable and Obtainable:” A brief history of zoning in Cambridge

In an effort to save paper, hard copies of the full report available for pick up in the Mayor’s Office. You can read the Abstract, Executive Summary, and Conclusion of the report below.

Abstract
While the first proponents of zoning in Cambridge justified land-use restrictions as a scientifically grounded mechanism for maintaining access to light, air, and open space, those goals only thinly veiled social and economic policy objections. Zoning can keep a neighborhood visually attractive to its current residents, but it is also can maintain neighborhood socioeconomic exclusion. Zoning in Cambridge has done both, maintaining exclusive areas, which is the exact outcome that both the original proponents of zoning and their successors sought. This report uses archival sources from Cambridge public agencies and accounts in Cambridge newspapers to trace a history of zoning in Cambridge and employs GIS-based social analysis to elucidate the demographic and socioeconomic traits of the neighborhoods in Cambridge that have been zoned for the lowest residential densities.

Executive Summary
Cambridge residents played central roles in bringing zoning to Massachusetts. Cantabrigians advocated for a constitutional amendment to make zoning legal and then worked to pass the enabling legislation that created a local option for zoning. Later, many of the same residents brought their advocacy back to the local level, making a public argument for the first zoning ordinance and holding key positions in city planning and zoning agencies. These residents framed zoning as a scientifically motivated policy to protect the living conditions of all Cambridge residents, and dismissed concerns that zoning would bring about segregation on the basis of race or income or that it would contribute to a housing shortage, and after zoning was adopted, almost all resident concerns hinged on the zoning of specific plots of land rather than on the broader social impacts of zoning.

Nevertheless, data from the 1940s indicates that areas that were zoned most restrictively had significantly fewer black residents than those zoned less restrictively, and an analysis of the 2017 zoning map shows that this trend has persisted to this day. Additionally, a comparison between historical and contemporary zoning maps shows that land use in Cambridge has become increasingly restrictive since the first zoning ordinance was adopted in 1924, and archival research in the Cambridge Room, the Cambridge Historical Commission, and the digitized archives of Cambridge newspapers reveals that in the first such downzoning push in 1943, the key justification cited by the primary proponents of zoning shifted from protecting access to open spaces and preventing fires to ensuring that some neighborhoods would remain exclusive and wealthy.

In the history of Cambridge zoning, this pattern emerges: nearly all public justifications of zoning rest on the constitutionally permissible goals of protecting the “health, safety, morals, and general welfare,” but zones established under these goals have become more restrictive without substantial justification of the health or safety benefits of lower density, and across Cambridge’s history, the most restrictive zones have unfailingly remained the whitest and wealthiest in the city.

Conclusion (excerpt)
This report does not recommend specific changes to the zoning system in Cambridge. Rather, it suggests that zoning in Cambridge has long been a social and economic policy. As Roy Hammer suggested in his 1969 Cambridge Chronicle letter, zoning is one mechanism through which the city government can bring about “the kind of city which is desirable and obtainable.” In evaluating the traits of such a city, past Cambridge zoning advocates have considered social and economic factors as well as more innocuous aesthetic preferences. The current zoning reflects a preference for socioeconomic exclusionary practices inherited from previous zoning leaders that should not be ignored in setting zoning that aligns with the city’s current values.

Further research on the history of zoning in Cambridge and the contemporary zoning landscape could delve deeper into the relationship between socioeconomic and racial segregation and zoning. An evaluation of potential causality was outside of the scope of this project, but more in-depth investigation of any available Planning Board records from 1958-1962 could reveal more about what motivated the zoning changes in the neighborhoods that were down-zoned. Further research could also explore the micro-level effects of down-zonings on neighborhood demographics and home costs nationwide, as the limited focus on Cambridge in this report does not offer sufficient evidence to claim that down-zoning causes socioeconomic segregation; rather, it demonstrates the existence of a correlation between the two, and further research is needed to investigate the exact nature of the relationship.

In the 1960 Planning Board report presenting the proposed zoning changes to the city, Planning Director Alan McClennan wrote that “[i]n the final analysis, a zoning ordinance cannot be all things to all people. It must compromise, adjust, and balance.” This was especially necessary, he argued, because “[e]valuations of the ideal Cambridge vary.” There is no ideal zoning system for the city to pursue, but instead, the city must consider how any zoning ordinance effectively incorporates the interests of all current, former, and prospective Cantabrigians. The ordinance reflects a past vision of exclusion from certain neighborhoods, and the city can similarly seek to modify it to reflect its current vision of the ideal Cambridge.

Please include this letter in Communications and Reports from Other City Officers for the Regular City Council Meeting agenda of Mon, Oct 28, 2019.

Thanks, Mayor Marc C. McGovern

HEARING SCHEDULE
Mon, Oct 28
5:30pm City Council Meeting (Sullivan Chamber - televised)

Wed, Oct 30
5:00pm The Public Safety Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss Inman Square safety and construction management. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)

Tues, Nov 12
10:00am The Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss claims against the City. The Committee will enter executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the City. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)
12:00pm The Ordinance Committee will conduct a hearing on a proposed amendment to Article 22 of the Zoning Ordinance - Green Building Requirements. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)
1:00pm The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance - Insulation Zoning Proposal. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)
5:00pm The Health and Environment Committee will meet to discuss the findings of the Urban Forest Master Plan task force. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)

Wed, Nov 13
12:00pm The Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet to discuss the following policy order: “That the City Manager is requested to instruct the City Solicitor to draft for discussion several ordinances to reduce or prohibit campaign donations from donors seeking to enter into a contract, seeking approval for a special permit or up-zoning, seeking to acquire real estate from the city, or seeking financial assistance from the city.” (Sullivan Chamber - televised)
3:00pm The Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the final Envision Report. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)

Wed, Nov 20
11:00am The Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet to discuss Policy Order #7, regarding Open meeting law review and Policy Order #11, regarding Council Budget- Private Attorney. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)
3:00pm The Public Safety Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss restrictions and opportunities the City has when working with bargaining units to implement new policies. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)

Tues, Nov 26
3:00pm The Ordinance Committee will conduct public hearings on the City Council petition on an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance entitled “Shared Mobility Zoning”. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)
5:00pm The Ordinance Committee will meet to continue discussions on the petition by Stephen R. Karp, Trustee of Cambridgeside Galleria Associates Trust, to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge by adding a Section 13.100 that creates a new PUD-8 District. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)

Tues, Dec 3
3:00pm The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will meet to discuss the City Manager's report on the Parking and Transportation Demand Management (PTDM) Ordinance. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)

Wed, Dec 4
2:00pm The Public Safety Committee will meet to discuss snow removal. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)
5:30pm The Ordinance Committee will meet to continue discussions on the petition by Stephen R. Karp, Trustee of Cambridgeside Galleria Associates Trust, to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge by adding a Section 13.100 that creates a new PUD-8 District. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)

Wed, Dec 11
5:30pm The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on the Harvard Square Zoning Petition. (Sullivan Chamber - televised)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1 Oct 28, 2019 Amended
MAYOR MCGOVERN
VICE MAYOR DEVEREUX
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
WHEREAS: The City Manager and the Community Development Department provided an update and communication to the public on Aug 28, 2019, that no decision has been made on Sacramento Field off-leash dog pilot program and no further timeline has been communicated; and
WHEREAS: A Sacramento Field community group has formed to support the City and the Agassiz neighborhood in the implementation of an off-leash shared-use morning hours dog pilot program; and
WHEREAS: This community group has had communication and conversation with the Agassiz Neighborhood Council, the Maria Baldwin School, abutters, and neighbors in regards to an off-leash shared-use morning hours dog pilot program at Sacramento Field and found the overwhelming majority to be supportive or a neutral party in regards to such a pilot; and
WHEREAS: Concerns about student safety are addressed by only allowing early morning hours in the pilot program, and by Sacramento Field being across the street and several houses away from the Maria Baldwin School; and
WHEREAS: This community outreach has led to a digital petition signed by 114 individuals (Attached), many of whom are abutters or frequent the park with their children and dogs on-leash already; and
WHEREAS: In 2015, the Off-Leash Working Group published final recommendations in support of further off-leash programs being developed throughout the City, identifying Sacramento Field as a space that should be considered for off leash opportunities (including shared use and or dedicated spaces); and
WHEREAS: The Off-Leash Working Group also recommended the use of social media tools and more proactive outreach; the Sacramento Field community group has already created and regularly use Facebook, Instagram, and Google Groups to communicate updates, current conditions, lost items, and Cambridge dog rules and etiquette; and
WHEREAS: An off-leash dog program is demonstrated to help build community, these efforts have already and will continue to build strong connections and communications between neighbors - both homeowners and renters - and local organizations; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with a proposed plan for implementation of a pilot off-leash dog shared use morning hours program at Sacramento Field to start by the end of Fall 2019.

O-2 Oct 28, 2019
MAYOR MCGOVERN
ORDERED: That the Executive Assistant to the City Council confer with the Dedication Committee to consider a request from Mayor McGovern for a suitable public dedication for Vincent and Santa Saia in the vicinity of Inman Square; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward this order to the Dedication Committee for their review and approval.

O-3 Oct 28, 2019
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: Those who live, work, and conduct business within the City of Cambridge have the right to seek out and access their elected representatives to share their thoughts, voice their concerns, and air their grievances without restrictions; and
WHEREAS: While the City Council does not have a direct role in the City’s personnel matters, and while the City Charter gives the City Manager the ultimate authority in matters related to the hiring, firing, and disciplining of most City employees, City employees have, at times, sought out their local elected representatives to voice concerns about how they have been treated by their supervisors, and about the City’s system for filing, investigating, and resolving employee grievances; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to review 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, and to report back to the City Council on this matter by the end of this calendar year.

O-4 Oct 28, 2019
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has long been invested in making City Council meetings and other public events accessible to the public; and
WHEREAS: Hearing loops bring sound directly into a listeners’ telecoil-enabled hearing aids or cochlear implant, improving clarity and understanding; and
WHEREAS: Hearing loops provide easy, immediate, and discreet communication access for people with hearing loss; and
WHEREAS: An online stenographic record of all City Council meetings, including committee meetings, is optimal for people with hearing loss as it would be more accurate than video captions and more complete than meeting minutes; and
WHEREAS: The City already provides a stenographic record for BZA and other building-related hearings; and
WHEREAS: 22-Cityview began streaming meetings on YouTube in March 2018 at the request of the City Council, but stopped doing so in January 2019; and
WHEREAS: Many municipalities have made use of popular online streaming platforms to improve accessibility and further engage residents who may not subscribe to cable television; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to install 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 be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide an online stenographic record of all City Council meetings, including committee meetings; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with 22-Cityview to restore live-streaming of City Council meetings on YouTube; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on these matters as soon as possible.

O-5 Oct 28, 2019
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
VICE MAYOR DEVEREUX
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Recently, a 10 year old boy was hit by a car while crossing Magazine Street at Upton Street in the crosswalk, as the driver did not yield or was traveling too fast to notice the boy; and
WHEREAS: Pedestrians in the crosswalk crossing Magazine Street at the junction of Upton Street are frequently ignored by motorists, regardless of where the pedestrian is in the crosswalk; and
WHEREAS: This is a commonly traveled route to and from school and other areas in the neighborhood, and the space is very active with children; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant City staff and report back to the City Council on the need and feasibility of instituting traffic calming safety measures to include a “Pedestrian Crossing” sign as currently exist at multiple locations on Huron Avenue or Brattle Street to make the pedestrian crossing of Magazine Street at Upton Street more predictably safe for pedestrians.

O-6 Oct 28, 2019
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
VICE MAYOR DEVEREUX
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Recently, several children were crossing the street at the Raymond Street and Walden Street intersection and were reportedly nearly hit by a car; and
WHEREAS: Even with a raised intersection and other traffic calming measures, pedestrian crossing at that intersection can be very dangerous at times; and
WHEREAS: This is a commonly traveled route to and from the highly utilized and abutting Raymond Park and other areas in the neighborhood, maximized by the railroad underpass by the Tennis and Basketball court complex, and the space is very active with children; and
WHEREAS: In years past, there was a traditional traffic light to help manage motor vehicle and pedestrian flow, but the light has since been removed; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with relevant City staff and report back to the City Council on the feasibility of reinstituting a stop light or other major traffic calming safety measures to make the pedestrian crossing of Raymond Street at Walden Street more predictably safe for pedestrians.

O-7 Oct 28, 2019
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
VICE MAYOR DEVEREUX
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: Motor vehicle traffic in historically low-use residential areas has worsened in recent years, enabled by traffic and navigation smartphone apps that redirect navigation to less used roads; and
WHEREAS: Mead Street, which at times, bottlenecks and can only accommodate one-way traffic, is a prime example of the negative effects of redirected motor vehicle traffic, with traffic moving down Mead Street and filling up Cogswell Avenue; and
WHEREAS: Mead Street and Cogswell Avenue may benefit from a “Do Not Enter Except Local Residents” or a similar sign posted at the intersection of Mead and Walden Streets to limit access during rush hour; and
WHEREAS: Navigation devices create similar traffic patterns at many streets in Cambridge; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the appropriate City staff and report back to the City Council on the feasibility of installing a “Do Not Enter Except Local Residents” or similar sign on Mead Street at Walden Street; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the appropriate City staff and report back to the City Council on how staff works with navigation companies to alleviate traffic in low-use residential neighborhoods or redirects traffic based on preferred or new traffic patterns throughout the City.

O-8 Oct 28, 2019
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
WHEREAS: Counts of hate crimes, hate speech, and other related events have been on the rise in recent years; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge is not immune to these incidents as physical attacks, vandalism and damage to property, and hate speech have been documented or reported in some fashion in recent months, including events in the Cambridge Public School System; and
WHEREAS: Preventing hate crimes, hate speech, and other related events in Cambridge is paramount in cultivating a safe, equitable, and welcoming city; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the appropriate School Department and City Officials as well as organizations such as the Urban Area Security Initiative and the Southern Poverty Law Center to determine Cambridge’s threat level from hate crimes and other related events and what an appropriate response might be; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested report back to the City Council on this issue in a timely manner.

O-11 Oct 28, 2019
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Public Works to make it a priority to repair sidewalks, particularly legacy brick sidewalks and asphalt patches, to ensure full compliance with ADA requirements, and bring any necessary appropriations to the City Council in order to accomplish this purpose.

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration Committee held a public hearing on Tues, Sept 24 beginning at 12:00pm in the Sullivan Chamber to discuss the City policy on sidewalk surface treatments as discussed in Policy Order #16 of July 30, 2019.

Present at the hearing were Councillor Zondervan, Co-Chair of the Committee; Councillor Carlone, CoChair of the Committee; Councillor Siddiqui; Councillor Kelley; Vice Mayor Devereux; Kathy Watkins, Senior Engineer; TJ Shea, Superintendent of Streets and Sidewalks, Department of Public Works (DPW); Rachel Tanenhaus, ADA Coordinator and Executive Director of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities; Charles Sullivan, Executive Director, Cambridge Historical Commission; and Dan Totten.

Also present was Diane Beck, Executive Director, Cambridge Brickwalk Conservancy; Valerie Hammond; Gary Dmytryk; Rosalie Anders; and Heather Hoffman.

Councillor Zondervan convened the hearing at 12:00pm and briefly reviewed the call of the meeting. He noted that the hearing will be recorded both publicly and privately and televised.

Kathy Watkins and TJ Shea began the hearing with a brief presentation from the City (Attachment A).

Councillor Zondervan thanked Ms. Watkins and Mr. Shea for their presentation and opened the floor to questions from committee members.

Councillor Kelley remarked that he thinks the brick sidewalks on Hollis Street are gorgeously created and upkept. He asked about patching and noted that while when Hollis Street was dug up for access to a water line it was replaced within about 4 days, in other cases when brick or concrete is dug up it gets replaced with asphalt. He noted the upside to using asphalt but remarked that it looks horrible and doesn’t last long. The temporary asphalt places seem to never get replaced. He asked how the patches are managed so that asphalt is truly a temporary solution.

Kathy Watkins replied that there are a few different categories of patches. The first type are patches made by the gas company, and in these instances, they are responsible for fixing it, but it is incumbent on the city to track it. She said that the city is improving their systems to make sure they are able to hold the gas companies accountable. The second type of patch is for water work, which is handled internally. The city is building more internal capacity in order to have more ability to keep up with this type of patch internally.

Councillor Kelley said that he understands the situation around the gas and water work, but he doesn’t necessarily consider those patching and he was asking more about another situation - when someone reports a broken sidewalk as hazardous and DPW comes in to replace. He notes that often times in this situation, brick is replaced with concrete and nobody knows what will happen next. He said that people are afraid it will be forgotten, and the city should consider being more transparent about future plans. He said that right now these things seem to get forgotten and then accepted as just how it is. He wants to know if there is any way we can take a look at these “orphan patches” that have become asphalt?

Ms. Watkins said that there are two different buckets within this as well. One is the squares- and she noted that TJ and his crew have been doing quite a bit of work in Central and Harvard Square to repair this kind of patch. She said that the ones on the residential streets are quite challenging because those areas really need to be prioritized for full reconstruction, so it can be hard to do a 5-foot patch. She said that this type of patch is typically asphalt, not concrete. She said that more needs to be done than just pulling it out and replacing the brick.

Councillor Kelley said he is noting the confusion around expectations. He said he thinks neighbors could accept something even if they don’t like it provided there was clarity around what was going to happen and when. He said the thought that a project is finished in limbo is angst provoking for residents.

Councillor Zondervan said he had a similar situation happen where he lives on Cardinal Medeiros where there is a light-colored kind of brick that crumbled, and it was patched with concrete. He confirmed what Councillor Kelley said that sometimes it is concrete instead of asphalt.

Councillor Carlone mentioned that he was a concrete and asphalt inspector one summer and learned a great deal. He said the other reason for spalling is that if you pour concrete during hot days, the top layer dries out and it doesn’t hold. He has seen contractors pouring during hot days, and he can see where those were on Massachusetts Avenue. He asked about why it says 7% asphalt on page 28. He said that asphalt works in a park like setting because the green overwhelms the blackness and it helps cool the black. He said that in 1978 the city manager said there would be no more asphalt sidewalks, and you didn’t see them for 20 years, but they have come back. He said that Councillor Kelley is absolutely right about the patching. He wants to know why 7% of our sidewalks are asphalt.

Ms. Watkins said that these numbers are a couple of years old and it would be interesting to rerun the numbers, because there were a number of sections with asphalt in West Cambridge that have since been replaced.

Councillor Carlone brought up cracking and said that a lot of the new sidewalks on Massachusetts Avenue have cracks in them. He said he understands that if bricks aren’t laid properly on a subsurface, cracks result. But he said it seems counterproductive that we went through the effort without putting wire mesh or rebars. He said he thinks the key is the proportion of brick to concrete, if we are going to use concrete. He said a lot of our contractors cannot tool a straight line, which cheapens the concrete. He said that the proportions are off if we want to make a warm and inviting environment. He said that the orange color used in Kendall Square is off, and we should find a brick that meets the technical standards but is the right color. The orange color seems odd and we need a more traditional color. He said that with respect to asphalt patches, great cities have a constant maintenance crew that is dedicated to patching the brick and nothing takes a long time. Councillor Carlone said we need that, and we shouldn’t see asphalt for more than a week. He noted the policy order he submitted on patches in Central and Harvard Square that have been there for years. We need to do this on a regular basis. If this means an additional crew, or a specific crew, then great.

Vice Mayor Devereux asked Charlie Sullivan about the connection between brick sidewalks and neighborhood conservation districts. She asked for a map of where brick sidewalks are. She wants to know if there are rules within a neighborhood conservation district about maintaining brick.

Mr. Sullivan said that traditionally sidewalk materials have been regulated in the historic districts but not the conservation districts. He said that when a conservation district is also on the national register of historic places, we advise public works to maintain brick if that is the predominant material. He said that in historic districts we have definitely reviewed and approved new sidewalk materials.

Vice Mayor Devereux asked Mr. Sullivan if he meant that within a historic district if a sidewalk is brick it stays brick. Mr. Sullivan affirmed. Jan noted it bothers her when there is a street with a section of brick and then another section of concrete. She asked about the work going on Palmer Street which has a special paver surface. She wants to know the expectations for how they will put that back in order. She noted it had been at least ten years since Palmer Street had been redone.

Ms. Watkins said that the concrete pavers were put in as part of the Palmer Street reconstruction. She said they have held up extremely well, and they will be replacing the pavers as part of the ongoing work. She said that there is a design in the pavers that was done as part of the 1% for the arts, and that design will also be going back.

Vice Mayor Devereux asked about the blue lights on Palmer Street.

Ms. Watkins said that the square lights have not held up well. The electrical department was looking at repair options, but it is not clear where the failures are. She said that is a detail that has not held up at all.

Vice Mayor Devereux said that is not Asana’s responsibility to do that.

Ms. Watkins said that the electrical department is looking at what it would take to repair them- if the problem is at the light, it can be fixed. If it is a deeper problem, it may not be commensurate with the repair. It is being looked at.

Councillor Carlone asked a follow-up question about is the wire for the lights in conduit or not. Ms. Watkins said it is not in conduit, it was designed for the manufacturer to be self-contained units.

Councillor Siddiqui gave some feedback on the poetry program and stated that she loves it. She has heard from residents who have submitted poems that have been accepted, and it has been great. She said she is still confused about how the city prioritizes different reconstruction plans. She said it seems like there are some bad areas that won’t be repaired because they are not on the plan. But if there is an individual who has a disability in that area, they need to be prioritized regardless of the plan. She wants to talk more about it.

Ms. Watkins said that as part of the 5-year plan we take requests from individuals with disabilities and the commission itself. We have prioritized individual requests that have come through the commission through the 5-year plan because we want to make sure that these requests are addressed.

Rachel Tanenhaus said that people do sometimes contact the commission, which has a good relationship with DPW. She says that people are always welcome to call, email, or just show up! The commission is very friendly. She said Kathy presents on the 5-year plan at an annual board meeting so the commission can give feedback. Kathy gives a great presentation! She said she can personally vouch for the responsiveness because when she was living in Cambridge the sidewalk was not accessible, and Kathy came to her house to look at the situation- she has found DPW to be extremely responsive, but folks don’t always know who to call. The board has a specific liaison with DPW, Jerry Friedman.

Diane Beck remarked she sent an email to the City Councillors about the Brickwalk Conservancy’s feelings. That email included a link to study from Lexington. Lexington decided not to replace brick with concrete in the town center. They found it meets the standards when wire cut brick is used. UMass Dartmouth materials lab did a wet test on both wire cut brick and concrete. The lab found that wire cut brick was less slippery than concrete. Diane said she has held focus groups for disabled people, and their biggest concern was wanting dignity as they are going through the city streets. She said wire cut bricks have been shown to have less vibration than concrete. She said the main concerns are vibration and slipperiness, and Diane said she feels it has been proven that wire cut brick is fine for those two concerns. Diane said she thinks there are many ways we can improve both concrete and brick. She said we need contractors who are experts in laying brick. She said that some wire cut brick around the Harvard Art Museum is beautiful. She brought up cost and said that it may be less expensive to install than concrete but more expensive to maintain. She said that concrete has been failing nationwide, and Lexington chose to ban concrete until there was a fix. She said concrete can be cranky, and there may be issues with the supply chain. She said there is no reason why brick cannot be as balanced and good for everybody as concrete, it is just a matter of looking at the design, construction, and maintenance. She doesn’t understand why asphalt is used to patch bricks- why not just put another brick in there? She noted that there are less brick sidewalks than there were years ago. She said we need to do a better job of informing residents, and that color matching is important - hard to color match concrete. She says she took pictures of an asphalt patch in Harvard Square in 2013, and it is still there today, and in even worse shape.

Vice Mayor Devereux asked about the 5-year plan and clarified that it is our repair plan, but not every street gets attention every 5 years.

Councillor Carlone brought up the orange quality of the wire cut bricks. He said it does not match up with the red bricks. He asked if there is a contractor that is closer to the traditional color.

Ms. Watkins said they looked at a number of options, and the pine hole paver is the one that had the best color variation. She said the pine hole pavers on JFK street are not orange. She said she thinks the picture in the presentation is off color. She said the pavers at the Kiosk show good coloration.

Councillor Zondervan opened the hearing to public comment at 12:48 PM. He noted that all speakers have 3 minutes in which to speak.

Valerie Hammond, member of the Commission for persons with disabilities spoke.

Gary Dmytryk, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, 2440 Massachusetts Avenue in North Cambridge, Rosalie Anders, Heather Hoffman, Peter Valentine, and Kenneth Bowles gave public comment.

Councillor Zondervan says he deeply appreciates the comments from the public and he doesn’t believe we are here to discuss whether aesthetics or civil rights are more important, but instead to decide how we can address civil rights and hopefully do so in ways that are more aesthetically pleasing if possible. He noted that aesthetics are not the priority over civil rights. He says he has had mobility challenges himself due to two recent hip replacement surgeries, so he appreciates the challenges of walking around the city and it is important to everyone that we get this right. He said to some extent what we are really suffering from is the dominance of the automobile. He said we devote so much space to cars that we have very little left for things like accessible sidewalks. He also highlighted one problem as metal plates in the sidewalks and he has slipped on a metal plate before, but the city didn’t fix it because it is private property. He also thanked the city for the sidewalk poetry program.

Rachel Tanenhaus said that some people have contacted her office with concern about this proposal. She feels a responsibility to share that for those who cannot be present. She highlighted the need to prioritize the needs of those who use wheelchairs, but there are also other types of disabilities for whom mobility is a significant issue even though they might not use wheelchairs. She said there are people who use canes, walkers, etc. and not everybody with a disability is in a wheelchair. Some folks who have mobility issues do not identify as disabled. Other folks are blind or have low vision, but the public doesn’t always see it as a mobility issue. She said the kinds of surfaces make a huge difference in whether or not we are able to live a fulfilling life. She said she has made decisions about where she lives based on what kinds of surfaces are in the area. She said she does commute here, and so for her this is a big deal in terms of being able to do her job and get around the entire city. She said as public servants we have a responsibility to make programs, sidewalks, and facilities that the entire public can use. She said one of the biggest risk factors for falling is fear of falling. If people are not confident in the materials along the path of travel, they are more likely to fall. The winter also plays a large role here. She said she can appreciate that bricks might look prettier when her face hits them, but that doesn’t work for her. She said this is a significant issue for people with all kinds of disabilities, and for those who are impaired but might not identify as disabled.

Councillor Carlone thanked Ms. Tannenhaus for her comments. He said he doesn’t think anyone wants her to feel like she’s not being considered and at the top of the list. My feeling is it is a workmanship issue, no matter what material we are talking about. The city must take the lowest bid, even if it isn’t the best quality. We need to put money into every foot to make sure it meets the quality that DPW wants and maybe more. He said that from a mobility point of view, there is no doubt that a more precise level field of walking is absolutely prime. How do we get that? Need a balance between tradition and safety. He said he was fortunate to go on a trip to China and he was stunned that the sidewalks were all perfectly laid granite. Big slabs of granite. All flamed and finished so you had a good flat and good traction. He said they are completely outdoing us. He said part of it is because China owns a part of every new company, but he said he felt for a long time that we need to put more into our public spaces and infrastructure.

Vice Mayor Devereux asked about why asphalt is the only choice around a street tree whose roots have heaved it up.

Ms. Watkins said that when there is roots, bricks or concrete does not work unless you are going to grind down the roots of the tree. She said they are expanding the use of Flexipave but can’t do single spot locations, because it is not a material that works like that.

Mr. Shea said the in-house crew is getting certified to have our field crews do the Flexipave ourselves. He said that with Flexipave they must do several locations in one day, not a spot here and a spot there. He explained that asphalt is used temporarily, and we can go back for Flexipave.

Ms. Watkins said she can’t say we will do it everywhere. She said we have to buy in bulk, store, mix, place all in house. She said they are in the process of expanding, but they need to see how it goes, and they cannot commit to everything. She said we can be more flexible about locations if we use an internal crew.

Vice Mayor Devereux asked if brick is getting harder to obtain based on a recent Globe article that indicated a company may be going bankrupt. Kathy says that is not an issue because the wire cut bricks come from far away. Jan asked about more bricks on buildings which would help with aesthetics. She also said that she understands the comments and this Policy Order was just an opportunity to have a discussion and be better informed.

Councillor Kelley mentioned he is colorblind and that has an amazing amount of impact that only people who are colorblind can understand. He said that he appreciates the comments that were made. He said he has a wheelchair that he takes around the block about twice a year and there are issues. He has tried to find a definitive source to understand whether brick is safer than concrete, but there seems to be so much variability, so he is overwhelmed by the lack of authoritative information. He thinks we need to understand that better. He said that his family’s injuries come from slabs of concrete that have been lifted up when there is a 3-inch ledge that is unexpected. He says it is anecdotal, but we do need to consider maintenance. And we need to be better at explaining expectations around patchwork to residents. He definitely agrees that if people from the disabled community cannot use the sidewalks, then we’ve got our priorities backwards.

Ms. Beck pointed out that she is not trampling civil liberties. She wants materials that are properly installed, designed, and maintained. Brick is historic and separates us as a city, if we can do as good as job with brick as we hope to do with concrete, she thinks the issues will be less. She said her partner uses a walker and a wheelchair, so she is very aware of the challenges and she is aware of every little bump. She thinks that with better design, installation, and maintenance, we wouldn’t have as many issues.

Mr. Sullivan said there is no defense for the condition of the legacy brick sidewalks. He says it is obvious that they are in poor condition. He says it is important to distinguish between the legacy brick and the new brick sidewalks that meet access requirements. He said a beautiful example is his own street, the bricks can be cut very precisely to meet everybody’s needs. He thinks that as we replace our sidewalks that this is a perfectly appropriate standard to meet citywide. But he says there are different kinds of legacy materials. He said the original concrete sidewalks on brattle street are still in good condition, which is a lesson to us about how we use concrete today. He said the Historical Commission has worked closely with public works and in Harvard Square to find appropriate solutions, and as legacy brick sidewalks are replaced, the commission would support properly precision-cut, appropriately cut brick replacements.

Ms. Watkins noted that the proportion of brick sidewalks that are the legacy bricks is much smaller percentage than concrete.

Councillor Zondervan thanked members of the public again, and in particular folks who identify as having disabilities. He thanked them for sharing their stories. He points out that there have been several instances where concrete sidewalks caused problems. He gave the example of a stretch where Broadway and Hampshire Street split near his home. He said that stretch was newly laid but quickly deteriorated and had to be redone. He says again it is more of a question of making sure we address everyone’s mobility issues. He notes the happy medium of concrete sidewalks with brick etching as a nod to the historical context.

Councillor Zondervan made the following motion:
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Public Works to make it a priority to repair sidewalks, particularly legacy brick sidewalks, to ensure full compliance with ADA requirements, and to bring any necessary appropriations to the City Council in order to accomplish this purpose.

Councillor Kelley expressed he is very supportive of that motion, but he is still confused on where we go from here in terms of patching that has already happened.

Ms. Watkins said she is not sure she can give a complete answer to the question, but she will definitely rerun the GIS layer to see what percentage of the sidewalks are asphalt. We need a better understanding of what that spread is. She said she is actively working on improving the coordination with the gas company and finding spots within the squares to prioritize for internal crews.

Councillor Kelley asked about the potential for using the “sidewalk defect” category in See Click Fix Commonwealth Connect app.

Ms. Watkins responded that this can be done and that way it can all get tracked.

Councillor Zondervan stated that he would like to amend his proposed motion to include asphalt patches. Councillor Zondervan’s amended motion reads as follows:
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Public Works to make it a priority to repair sidewalks, particularly legacy brick sidewalks and asphalt patches, to ensure full compliance with ADA requirements, and bring any necessary appropriations to the City Council in order to accomplish this purpose.

The motion unanimously passed.

Vice Mayor Devereux mentioned we might need to take a look at what we are asking within the “sidewalk defect” category to get better information out of the public.

Councillor Zondervan reminded people to submit photographs on See Click Fix so DPW can also ascertain the condition that way.

The hearing adjourned at 1:40pm on a motion by Councillor Carlone.

For the Committee,
Councillor Quinton Y. Zondervan, Co-Chair
Councillor Dennis J. Carlone, Co-Chair

AWAITING REPORT LIST
16-26. Report on the possibility of the City Council implementing a zoning change, on the permitting of all new restaurants where a wood-fired oven is used as a significant method of food preparation. On a communication from Councillor Kelley requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Councillor Carlone, Councillor Devereux, Councillor Kelley (O-5) from 4/4/2016

16-42. Report on plans for the former Riverside Community Health Center on Western Avenue, including transfer of ownership of the building to the City and the process for determining future usage. On a communication from Councillor Kelley requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Vice Mayor McGovern (O-1) from 5/2/2016

16-83. Report on drafting possible legislation and other recommendations for interim actions to identify and address the public health impacts of any commercial wood-fired ovens. On a communication from Councillor Kelley requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Mayor Simmons (Calendar Item #4) from 10/31/2016

16-101. 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

16-108. Report on whether people displaced and qualify for Emergency Status who are using Section 8 in other cities or towns can retain their resident preference for the purpose of Inclusionary Housing. On a communication from Councillor Kelley requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Mayor Simmons, Councillor Toomey (O-4) from 12/19/2016

17-22. Report on the potential growth of next-generation wireless technology in the City, to include: the expected footprint of citywide coverage from just one company and what market competition might produce; the integration of public and private infrastructure to support the network; what local standards the City might hope to maintain relative to aesthetics and safety; and how this new technology fits into our Broadband access plans. On a communication from Councillor Kelley requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Councillor Cheung, Councillor Devereux, Councillor Kelley (O-14) from 2/27/2017

17-87. Report on a schedule for resubmitting a revised draft of the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance that incorporates clearer wording and/or more clearly explains each section in less technical jargon and is more coherent in its entirety, with the goal of seeing such an Ordinance adopted by the end of this City Council term. On a communication from Councillor Kelley and Councillor Devereux requesting that this matter be forwarded to the 2018-2019 Legislative Session.
Councillor Carlone, Councillor Devereux (O-8) from 9/18/2017

18-6. Report on information regarding electronic device usage by City-elected officials.
Councillor Toomey (O-7) from 1/22/2018

18-21. Report on the feasibility of initiating a formal transit study and action plan of the Alewife area in response to unanimous concerns of the Envision Alewife Working Group.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Siddiqui (O-7) from 2/26/2018

18-38. Report on inventory of all City-owned vacant buildings and lots and the City's plans for them, if any.
Councillor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui (O-2) from 3/26/2018

18-53. Report on an updated schedule for resubmitting a revised draft of the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance that incorporates suggestions from the Light Cambridge Committee by June 11, 2018.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone (O-1) from 5/14/2018

18-60. Report on a small business parking pilot that would allow temporary on-street employee parking during typical daytime operating hours.
Councillor Mallon, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #1) from 5/14/2018

18-66. Report on establishing a Young Adult Civic Unity Committee to be modeled after the Citizen Civic Unity Committee and to recruit applicants from all across the community and across all socio-economic backgrounds.
Councillor Simmons (O-7) from 6/18/2018

18-68. Report on determining the permitting and legality issues of Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing in the City of Cambridge.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Zondervan (O-11) from 6/18/2018

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

18-96. Report on how the City views internet-based platforms as opportunities for outreach and communication and what sort of guidelines have been, or are being, developed to help everyone understand how the City’s various departments do or do not utilize these communication resources and how any communications on these platforms are managed so that the messaging and information is kept up-to-date.
Councillor Kelley (Calendar Item #10) from 9/24/2018

18-108. Report on offering early voting in City Council and School Committee Elections.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui (O-1) from 10/29/2018

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.
Councillor Mallon, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-2) from 11/5/2018

18-129. Report on conducting a comprehensive, independent planning, and parking study of the neighborhood and use of the First Street Garage within 6months.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone (Calendar Item #1) from 11/19/2018

19-3. Report on establishing a Central Square Improvement Fund and allocate no less than 25% of funds generated to the arts.
Councillor Mallon, Mayor McGovern (O-6) from 1/7/2019

19-5. Report on how to provide public representation to the major project Selection Committees.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone (O-14) from 1/7/2019

19-21. Report on the process for establishing a formal, thorough review of the City’s Affordable Home Ownership programs, incorporating a plan for obtaining and analyzing substantial quantitative data inclusive of all types of units.
Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-3) from 2/25/2019

19-22. Report on the feasibility of allowing small businesses to host live acoustic music performances without a license, and if feasible, present the City Council with a proposal to allow such performances.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Mallon, Mayor McGovern (O-5) from 2/25/2019

19-25. Report on information that is offered to limited equity condominium owners regarding the ability to recoup extraordinary repair and maintenance costs, the procedure that is in place to inform purchasers of existing or possible construction and maintenance issues that may result in higher-than expected condo fees, and the possibility of allowing roommates to cover unexpected expenses.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Simmons, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-10) from 2/25/2019

19-26. Report on communicating directly with the Volpe Center about the possibility of having their staff help the City set up a Micro-Mobility Pilot program in the Kendall Square area.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan (O-11) from 2/25/2019

19-30. Report on how traffic safety concerns may be addressed on Madison Avenue. See Mgr #8
Councillor Kelley (O-4) from 3/4/2019

19-35. Report on the status of any micro-mobility pilot programs or partnerships in Cambridge.
Councillor Kelley (O-12) from 3/18/2019

19-37. Report on moving a Transit Benefit Ordinance proposal to an action plan.
Vice Mayor Devereux (O-18) from 3/18/2019

19-42. Report on plans this construction season to install sidewalk markings that appropriately indicate what types of mobility devices are allowed on which sidewalks.
Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone (O-7) from 4/1/2019

19-43. Report on the types of vendor reporting programs that the City uses and how they are used as well as the ability to modify these programs given the constraints of relevant state and federal laws and similar limitations.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Siddiqui (O-8) from 4/1/2019

19-45. Report on compiling a full accounting of streets, schools, and public buildings that may be named in honor of those who have ties to the American slave trade, and to work towards renaming all of these streets, schools, and buildings.
Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 4/8/2019

19-46. Report on reviewing whether the MBTA is out of compliance with the amended MBTA/BCIL settlement agreement through the delay in completion of the elevator replacement and concurrent hazardous condition of the stairwells related to Central Square.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Mallon (O-9) from 4/8/2019

19-49. Report on recommending restrictions on signage specific to retail establishments that sell e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.
Councillor Mallon, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Toomey (O-15) from 4/8/2019

19-50. Report on clarifying the policy around future installation of new LED street lights and replacement of failed 4000K LED street lights with warmer alternatives 3000K or less.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone (O-17) from 4/8/2019

19-58. Report on working with the Recycling Advisory Committee and other stakeholders to draft an ordinance banning single-use plastic items in Cambridge.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone (O-6) from 5/13/2019

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, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Mayor McGovern (O-3) from 6/3/2019

19-73. Report on reviewing safety issues at City buildings and provide the City Council with relevant recommendations designed to maximize the safety of municipal employees and members of the public while ensuring that City buildings and services remain open and accessible to all.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Mallon, Councillor Kelley (O-1) from 6/10/2019

19-74. Report on establishing a working committee to review the monuments, memorials, and markers throughout Cambridge to determine whether any of these commemorate those who were linked to the slave trade or engaged in other similarly shameful acts and to determine which individuals should be newly recognized with a monument, memorial, or marker.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Mallon (O-2) from 6/10/2019

19-75. Report on exploring the feasibility of partnering with a local research institution to conduct a study that determines how many ridehail vehicles are on the roads during both on and off-peak times and their impacts on congestion and safety.
Councillor Mallon, Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux (O-4) from 6/10/2019

19-76. Report on identifying additional traffic-calming and safety features and to discuss with the Fresh Pond mall owner the potential for creating a formal street connection between Terminal Road and New Street.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone (O-5) from 6/10/2019

19-82. Report on identifying whether a Bluebikes station may be located in the proximity of Rafferty Park or elsewhere in the general vicinity.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan (O-1) from 6/24/2019

19-83. Report on considering the cost and feasibility of improvements to the Danehy Dog Park.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Mallon (O-2) from 6/24/2019

19-84. Report on drafting a zoning amendment that will count a portion of a new or substantially renovated building's rooftop mechanicals (excluding solar installations) toward its allowed height and/or FAR.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan (O-3) from 6/24/2019

19-86. Report on developing a Vacant Storefront Registration Policy.
Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Mallon, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan (O-5) from 6/24/2019

19-88. Report on conferring with the MBTA with the view in mind of increasing the bus service along Concord Avenue.
Mayor McGovern, Councillor Mallon (O-7) from 6/24/2019

19-89. Report on making publicly available, any existing data on Cambridge’s total greenhouse gas emissions between 2012 and 2018.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone (O-9) from 6/24/2019

19-92. Report on coordinating with Somerville in initiating more robust and regional public outreach on the dangers of black swallow-wort and measures that can be taken to eliminate this invasive species.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Siddiqui (O-3) from 7/30/2019

19-93. Report on a plan to restore the fountain dedicated to President John F. Kennedy.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Kelley (O-4) from 7/30/2019

19-96. Report on providing the supporting documentation as it relates to the claim of a decrease in cyclists’ running red lights.
Councillor Kelley (O-9) from 7/30/2019

19-97. Report on posting information about safe needle disposal in city parks and public buildings and to direct the Police Commissioner to establish stricter enforcement of city park hours and direct the Commissioner of Public Works Department to increase the level of hand-sweepers cleaning the city parks and to share what safety precautions the workers are using when cleaning the parks.
Councillor Toomey, Councillor Kelley (O-10) from 7/30/2019

19-100. Report on the feasibility of implementing an additional regulatory requirement for listing a registration/license number for Short-Term Rentals.
Councillor Kelley, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons (O-19) from 7/30/2019

19-101. Report on collecting data on how many households have taken advantage of Cambridge Energy Alliance services.
Councillor Mallon (O-23) from 7/30/2019

19-103. Report on the cost and feasibility of installing a full traffic signal or a pedestrian-activated HAWK signal at the intersection of Garfield Street and Massachusetts Avenue.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Carlone (O-33) from 7/30/2019

19-104. Report on the possibility of having Sacramento Field Off-Leash Dog Pilot Update.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux (O-36) from 7/30/2019

19-106. Report on conducting City directed environmental testing on the Sullivan Courthouse building and water in basement, to determine the risk posed to the public, and provide a timeline of completion and to establish an operational understanding directly with DCAMM officials and ask for a state designee for communication/coordination on how the building will be secured and monitored.
Councillor Toomey, Councillor Mallon (O-5) from 9/9/2019

19-107. Report on providing an update on the Danehy Park homicide investigation and the status of overall park safety efforts including the lighting of pathways within the park.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Siddiqui (O-6) from 9/9/2019

19-108. Report on efforts to keep bus stops appropriately accessible for buses, to include relevant pavement markings and enforcement activity.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Mallon, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Toomey (O-7) from 9/9/2019

19-109. Report on reviewing speeds on Raymond Street, have Raymond Street and adjacent streets posted at 20 MPH as soon as possible and provide a schedule of 20 MPH sign installations citywide.
Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux (O-9) from 9/9/2019

19-110. Report on installing additional safety measures at the intersection of Fayette and Cambridge Streets to decrease conflict between pedestrians and vehicles as they are turning.
Councillor Mallon (O-11) from 9/9/2019

19-111. Report on adding links on the Inspectional Services Department website for archived and pending permit records on the appropriate platform.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone (O-12) from 9/9/2019

19-112. Report on the feasibility of allowing taxicabs to use dedicated bus lanes throughout the City while executing service for fare-paying passengers.
Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Simmons (O-13) from 9/9/2019

19-113. Report on determining whether Boston's Airbnb registration requirements, to include public display of the unit's registration number on the rental platform, could be utilized to maximize compliance and enforcement efforts in Cambridge.
Councillor Kelley, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Toomey (O-16) from 9/9/2019

19-114. Report on the cost implications and the definition of net zero ready buildings as it relates to the AHOD ordinance.
Councillor Zondervan (O-18) from 9/9/2019

19-115. Report on contacting DCAM to test and to provide definitive answers re: Sullivan Courthouse
Councillor Simmons (O-22) from 9/9/2019

19-116. Report on the status of the truck safety ordinance, and if it will be in front of the City Council before the end of this term.
Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan (O-1) from 9/16/2019

19-117. Report on the data from the Summer 2019 meals program, including participation rates and number of meals served.
Councillor Mallon (O-3) from 9/16/2019

19-118. Report on establishing a series of forums designed to inform Cambridge seniors about the recent wave of financial scams that they must be mindful of, with information as to how they can best protect themselves.
Councillor Simmons (O-8) from 9/16/2019

19-119. Report on creating a new water feature in one of Cambridge’s parks for the summer of 2021 and to construct said water feature in a way that conserves water as much as possible and is minimally impactful to the environment.
Mayor McGovern (O-9) from 9/16/2019

19-120. Report on directing enforcement resources towards Bishop Allen Drive and other corridors with lots of vehicular idling and work with rideshare companies to ask them to develop technologies solutions to help alert drivers to the fact that they are illegally idling.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux (O-10) from 9/16/2019

19-121. Report on identifying and plan suitable performances and events for the Harvard Square Kiosk space.
Vice Mayor Devereux (O-12) from 9/16/2019

19-122. Report on obtaining a legal opinion regarding the License Commission's authority with regard to the issuance, denial, suspension or revocation of liquor licenses.
Councillor Zondervan (Calendar Item #9) from 9/16/2019

19-123. Report on the feasibility of closing some portion of Harvard Square to vehicular traffic on a select number of days during the summer of 2020 to have open market-style events.
Councillor Mallon, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan (O-1) from 10/7/2019

19-124. Report on the legal authority of the City to ban the use of natural gas in newly constructed buildings.
Councillor Zondervan (O-3) from 10/7/2019

19-125. Report on the number of free MBTA passes issued to CRLS students in FY20 and to consider expanding the program to include qualifying Cambridge residents of high school age.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor McGovern (O-6) from 10/7/2019

19-126. Report on reviewing the language for Fuel pump warning labels.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan (O-7) from 10/7/2019

19-127. Report on instituting regularly scheduled public conversations between Public Utilities' representatives from Eversource, the Water Dept. Comcast, Verizon and any other appropriate entities to keep the City and public informed.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone (O-8) from 10/7/2019

19-128. Report on allocating more funds in the FY21 budget to Inspectional Services and on the feasibility of providing monetary compensation to homeowners who have had to self-finance traps and what funds could be allocated in the future to help homeowners buy traps.
Councillor Toomey (O-11) from 10/7/2019

19-129. Report on considering directing a portion of future PILOT funds into the Affordable Housing Trust starting in FY21.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan (O-13) from 10/7/2019

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

19-131. Report on Creating a Director of Arts and Culture Position.
Councillor Mallon, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons (O-16) from 10/7/2019

19-132. Report on planting new trees in Magazine Beach Park in the Spring of 2020 with a special focus on the eastern end of the park and the grove area.
Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Mallon (O-18) from 10/7/2019

19-133. Report on the proposed amendments regarding the prohibition of Natural Gas Infrastructure in New Buildings.
Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Devereux (O-19) from 10/7/2019

19-134. Report on increasing funding to the City’s HomeBridge program so that access to homeownership may be made available to a wider range of incomes, as the program intends.
Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Mallon, Councillor Toomey (O-20) from 10/7/2019

19-136. Report on identifying a suitable location on the City website to house information regarding the Municipal Code and to track non-zoning legislation and amendments.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui (Calendar Item #3) from 10/7/2019

19-137. Report on determining if ISD can be given the authority to issue citations for smoking in non-smoking buildings and to report back to the City Council.
Mayor McGovern (Calendar Item #4) from 10/7/2019

19-138. Report on addressing the previously requested investigation of the possibility of entering into an agreement with TransCanada to obtain up to 100% renewable power for all municipal electricity needs.
Councillor Carlone (Calendar Item #5) from 10/7/2019

19-139. Report on determining whether it would be possible to allow a permitted area for serving alcoholic beverages on Danehy Park property during special community-wide events.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Kelley, Councillor Simmons (Calendar Item #5) from 10/7/2019

19-140. Report on ensuring that the redesign of the Harvard Square plaza and its coming renovation be used as an opportunity to further improve the safety of all crossings in the surrounding area.
Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan (Calendar Item #7) from 10/7/2019

19-141. Report on looking into the idea of hiring a social worker in the FY2021 budget for the Central Square Library branch.
Councillor Mallon, Councillor Siddiqui, Mayor McGovern (Calendar Item #8) from 10/7/2019

19-142. Report on determining the feasibility of expediting the Demolition and Rebuilding permitting process in the event of a natural disaster.
Councillor Mallon (O-1) from 10/21/2019

19-143. Report on the feasibility of piloting a program of assigning additional security officers to work collaboratively with and exclusively within Cambridge Housing Authority premises in and near Central Square and the Port.
Councillor Simmons, Councillor Mallon, Mayor McGovern (O-2) from 10/21/2019

19-144. Report on determining the feasibility of instituting and funding a Fire Cadet Program.
Councillor Mallon, Councillor Toomey, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Simmons (O-4) from 10/21/2019

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