2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Home Rule Petition seeking special legislation from the Legislature which would authorize the City of Cambridge to provide police, fire and other emergency services (“Emergency Services”) to portions of the Cambridge Crossing project that are partially located in the cities of Boston and Somerville, with one such property wholly located within Somerville.
Charter Right - Sobrinho-Wheeler

Dec 7, 2020
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am forwarding for your consideration a Home Rule Petition seeking special legislation from the Legislature which would authorize the City of Cambridge to provide police, fire and other emergency services (“Emergency Services”) to portions of the Cambridge Crossing project that are partially located in the cities of Boston and Somerville, with one such property wholly located within Somerville. As you know, Cambridge Crossing is a large mixed-use project situated on over 45 acres of land located in the cities of Cambridge, Boston and Somerville, and containing residential, office, laboratory and retail uses (the “Project”). Portions of the Project are not accessible by streets located in either Boston or Somerville and are only accessible by emergency responders by streets located in the City of Cambridge.

The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts generally prohibit municipalities from providing emergency services to properties located outside of their municipal boundaries. While there are certain exceptions for instances of mutual aid, the municipality in which a specific parcel of real estate is located is generally responsible for the provision of police, fire and other emergency services to such parcels and the buildings located on the parcels and the occupants of those buildings.

In addition, Massachusetts law prevents municipalities from assessing taxes or other municipal charges against properties not situated within its municipal boundaries. Therefore, the special legislation that is enclosed here also would authorize the City to impose fees on the owner of any parcel located within the Project for the provision of these Emergency Services.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

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AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TO PROVIDE POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY AND OTHER MUNICIPAL SERVICES TO CERTAIN PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE AND THE CITY OF BOSTON.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the City of Cambridge is hereby authorized to provide police, fire and other services and the City of Somerville and the City of Boston are authorized to acquiesce in the delegation of such services to the City of Cambridge relative to the certain identified portions of the City of Somerville and the City of Boston and to take such other actions as are provided for in this Act.

SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

WHEREAS, Cambridge Crossing (also known as North Point) is a mixed-use, smart growth master plan development containing 20 separate and distinct building parcels and comprised of approximately 45.37 acres of land, situated in the Cities of Cambridge, Boston and Somerville (the “Development”) or (“Cambridge Crossing”); and

WHEREAS, the majority of the Development, (approximately 38.77 acres), is situated in the City of Cambridge, with the balance of the land located in the City of Boston, (1.29 acres), and the City of Somerville, (5.28 acres), with the majority of the buildings constructed or to be constructed (with the exception of one building which is wholly situated in the City of Somerville) to be located in whole or in part in the City of Cambridge (collectively, the “Serviced Parcels”, and each individually, a “Serviced Parcel”); and

WHEREAS, emergency access to the Serviced Parcels is only feasible by public ways situated in the City of Cambridge and the City of Cambridge will be providing the water, sewer and other municipal services to the entirety of Cambridge Crossing and neither the City of Boston nor the City of Somerville will be providing those municipal services to Cambridge Crossing; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of a Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Cambridge and the current owner of the Cambridge Crossing, the roadway network and municipal infrastructure being (or to be) constructed therein by the current owner, will be conveyed to the City of Cambridge and become part of the City of Cambridge municipal system; and

WHEREAS, the Cities of Cambridge, Somerville and Boston each desire to enter into agreements with one another to have the City of Cambridge (i) provide police, fire and other emergency services, including but not limited to, emergency communication and ambulance services (“Emergency Services”), and (ii) offer and provide such other municipal services to the Serviced Parcels as may be reasonably required and/or requested from time to time as a result of the Serviced Parcels being accessible solely from roadways situated in the City of Cambridge and the utilities owned, or to be owned, by the City of Cambridge located therein, including, without limitation, the provision of water, storm sewer and sanitary sewer (and the ability to charge normal and customary fees associated therewith) and services provided by the fire department (such services, “Other Municipal Services”); and

WHEREAS, the Cities of Cambridge, Somerville and Boston agree that having Cambridge provide the above services to the entirety of Cambridge Crossing will enable increased efficiency in, and the expeditious delivery of, public safety responses; and

WHEREAS, the Cities of Cambridge, Somerville and Boston agree that the City of Cambridge requires the authority to assess any unpaid fees for Emergency Services to a Serviced Parcel. Specifically, the Cities seek authority to allow the City of Cambridge to (a) assess any unpaid fees for these services that are attributable to (i) a Serviced Parcel situated partially in the City of Cambridge to the real estate tax bills of such Serviced Parcel issued by the City of Cambridge and (ii) the Serviced Parcel situated entirely in the City of Somerville against tax parcels located in the City of Cambridge containing only the common open space areas of Cambridge Crossing, but not any tax parcels containing occupiable buildings (collectively, the “CX Open Space Parcels”), and to issue a real estate tax bill to such assessing parcel(s), and (b) make such assessments, pursuant to its assessment and collection authority contained in Chapters 59 and 60 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

THEREFORE, the purposes of this Act are to:

1. authorize the City of Cambridge (a) to provide Emergency Services within the Serviced Parcels as if such parcels were entirely situated within the City of Cambridge; (b) to make assessments against any Serviced Parcel to reimburse the City of Cambridge for the provision of such services to such Serviced Parcel, against only the portion of such Serviced Parcel situated in the City of Cambridge; (c) to make assessments against the Serviced Parcel situated entirely in the City of Somerville to reimburse the City of Cambridge for the provisions of such services to such Serviced Parcel, against one or more of the CX Open Space Parcels; (d) to collect and enforce, including, without limitation, the rights to pursue takings for nonpayment of such assessments allocable to (i) a Serviced Parcel, against the owner of such Serviced Parcel, or (ii) in the event of the Serviced Parcel situated entirely within the City of Somerville, against the owner(s) of the CX Open Space Parcels; and (d) to offer and provide the Other Municipal Services as if the same were situated entirety within the City of Cambridge; and

2. authorize the City of Somerville and the City of Boston to delegate the Emergency Services and Other Municipal Services related to the Serviced Parcels to the City of Cambridge.

SECTION 2. The City of Cambridge is hereby authorized to provide the Emergency Services to the Serviced Parcels, specifically including, but not limited to, authorizing Cambridge Police Officers with full arrest powers, as if those parcels were wholly located in the City of Cambridge.

SECTION 3. The City of Cambridge shall have the right to provide such Other Municipal Services as are reasonably necessary to be provided to the Serviced Parcels and as are otherwise agreed to with any other municipality in which a particular Serviced Parcel may be located.

SECTION 4. The City of Cambridge, the City of Somerville and the City of Boston are each hereby authorized to enter into agreements with one another, to the extent such Cities deem such agreements to be necessary and/or convenient, concerning Cambridge’s provision of Emergency Services and, to the extent applicable, Other Municipal Services to the Serviced Parcels, upon such terms and conditions as the Cities may agree. In the event that the Cities fail to or have not entered into an agreement and the provision of Emergency Services or Other Municipal Services are required by a Serviced Parcel, the City of Cambridge shall be permitted to provide the services in connection with specific Serviced Parcels.

SECTION 5. The City of Cambridge shall have the authority to charge fees to the owner of a Serviced Parcel relative to the provision of Emergency Services or Other Municipal Services provided and allocable to such Serviced Parcel (“Assessments”).

SECTION 6. The City of Cambridge shall have the right (a) to assess and collect such assessments against each of the Serviced Parcels in such amounts as will be set forth in the agreement identified in Section 5 above, in a manner consistent with the manner in which it assesses real estate taxes in the City of Cambridge under M.G.L. c. 59, and (b) to enforce the collection of such amounts in the same manner in which it is entitled to enforce the collection of real estate tax assessments pursuant to M.G.L. c. 59 and c. 60, including, without limitation, the rights of the City of Cambridge to pursue takings for any unpaid amounts and foreclose on such takings pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. c. 60, § 53. The City of Cambridge shall (i) with regard to the Serviced Parcels situated partially in the City of Cambridge, make such assessments against the City of Cambridge tax parcel(s) containing a portion(s) of such Serviced Parcel; and (ii) with regard to the Serviced Parcel situated entirely in the City of Somerville, make assessments against one or more of the City of Cambridge tax parcels containing the CX Open Space Parcels. Any and all such assessments have the force and effect of real estate tax assessments made under the provisions of M.G.L. c. 59 and c. 60.

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Agenda Item Number 2     Dec 7, 2020
ORDERED: That the City Council go on record favoring the filing of the attached Home Rule Petition entitled: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TO PROVIDE POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY AND OTHER MUNICIPAL SERVICES TO CERTAIN PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE AND THE CITY OF BOSTON.

3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-12, regarding the feasibility of adding bike parking rings to parking meters.
Charter Right - Nolan

To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager
From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development; Joseph Barr, Director, Traffic, Parking, and Transportation
Re: Awaiting Report 20-12 dated Feb 10, 2020 regarding feasibility of adding bike parking rings to parking meters.
Date: Dec 2, 2020

This response addresses the request to examine the feasibility of adding bike parking rings to automobile parking meter poles in order to increase the availability of bike parking without having to add stand-alone bike parking infrastructure.

The demand for bike parking continues to rise as the city grows and more people are choosing to bike. The City of Cambridge allocates funds in its capital budget to install up to 150 new post and ring bike racks each year, in addition to providing some larger bike shelters at public facilities and providing seasonal bike parking corrals in priority locations in place of car parking spots. The racks and corrals are placed in places of high demand for bike parking, such as in the city’s main squares, along retail corridors and near educational facilities and high-density housing districts. Racks are also installed upon request from residents or business owners. New development projects are required to provide bike parking on their property not only for employees but also short-term visitor parking, which adds significant numbers of new bike parking spaces throughout the city each year. In combination, these different approaches to increase the availability of bike parking in the city each year are intended to address the growing demand.

We recommend not adding bike parking rings to active automobile parking meter poles for several reasons. First, meters are placed closer to the curb than the typical standard for bike racks. This could mean, if one or more bikes are parked at a rack, that vehicles would end up being parked further away from the curb, intruding into bike or travel lanes and reducing overall travel safety. In addition, accessing the meters to empty the coin compartment and service the meters could become more difficult. A larger bike, a badly parked bike, or a tipped over bike would impede the collection of coins or maintenance of the parking meter. However, there are some “orphaned” meter poles where curbside parking has been removed to install bike lanes for other reasons. These poles might be good candidates for attaching rings as they do not affect how cars would park or coin collection/meter servicing. These empty poles will be examined and bike parking rings, or replacement racks, installed where feasible and where demand exists.

4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-134, regarding increasing funding to the City's HomeBridge program.
Placed on File 9-0

Dec 7, 2020
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-134, regarding increasing funding to the City's HomeBridge program, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Iram Farooq reports the following:

The City has worked with the Affordable Housing Trust to plan for expanding the HomeBridge program to serve homebuyers earning between 100% and 120% of area median income (AMI). The Affordable Housing Trust recently approved changes which will allow for this program expansion.

HomeBridge is a component of the City’s homebuyer assistance programs which offers direct funding to homebuyers purchasing homes on the market. Through HomeBridge, the City provides buyers with between 40% and 50% of their home purchase price. HomeBridge, and similar prior assistance programs, have been funded by the Trust with Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. CPA funds can be used to assist households whose incomes are less than 100% AMI. Homes purchased with HomeBridge funding become part of the City’s stock of deed-restricted affordable housing.

At its meeting on November 19th, the Trust approved measures needed to expand HomeBridge to households earning up to 120% AMI. The Trust also approved $3 million in funding for households earning between 100% and 120% AMI, which is expected to serve at least 8 to 10 homebuyers. CDD is now planning for the launch of this new program component which is expected to be available in January.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of Federal CARES Act funds in the amount of $1,256,118 to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to assist residents and small business owners who are impacted by the virus, and to support emergency housing assistance efforts.
Order Adopted 9-0

Dec 7, 2020
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the appropriation of Federal CARES Act funds in the amount of $1,256,118 to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account.

This is the second round of funding that the City has received through The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act; a law intended to address the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The City plans on using the funds to assist residents and small business owners who are impacted by the virus, and to support emergency housing assistance efforts.

Half of the funding ($628,059) will support the Small Business Relief Grants program. Funding will provide short term financial assistance to approximately 100 eligible businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides grants of up to $6,000 and may be used for commercial mortgage/rent, inventory, payroll, or purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The other half of funding ($628,059) will support the continuation of the City of Cambridge COVID-19 Housing Stabilization program which provides up to 6 months of housing assistance to eligible Cambridge residents. These additional dollars will support approximately 150 households who have not already received 6 months of assistance through this program.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of new Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $2,268.869 to the Grant Fund Department of Human Services Programs Salary and Wages account ($106,013) and to the Grant Fund Department of Human Services Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($2,162,856) and will be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic among individuals and families who are homeless and will support shelter operating costs and provision of essential services to homeless persons outside of a shelter setting.
Order Adopted 9-0

Dec 7, 2020
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the appropriation of new Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $2,268.869 to the Grant Fund Department of Human Services Programs Salary and Wages account ($106,013) and to the Grant Fund Department of Human Services Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($2,162,856).

These funds are received from HUD as an entitlement grant awarded to the City, and are authorized by the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Funds will be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic among individuals and families who are homeless and will support shelter operating costs and provision of essential services to homeless persons outside of a shelter setting.

Funds for the initial ESG-CV award were appropriated in July and October 2020. The current appropriation of $2,268,869 will support: BayCove’s enhanced medical street outreach, HomeStart Rapid Rehousing project, support for the daytime expansion of the seasonal Warming Center, Rapid Rehousing assistance through the Multi-Service Center, and HMIS costs to ensure compliance with reporting requirements.

Very truly yours,
Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager

2. A Zoning Petition has been received from Amy Oliver, regarding that the City require the installation of GREEN ROOFS vegetated or BioSolar on future construction and significant rehab of buildings that are 20,000 square feet and larger.
Referred to Planning Board & Ordinance Committee

Petition submitted to City Clerk on Nov 23, 2020 at 11:52am

To the Honorable Cambridge City Council:

The undersigned registered Cambridge voters respectfully request that the City Council ordain the zoning language set forth below relative to the Green Roofs ordinance.

GREEN ROOFS in CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge Mothers Out Front invites you to join us in asking our city to require the installation of GREEN ROOFS (vegetated or BioSolar) on future construction and significant rehab of buildings that are 20,000 square feet and larger. Cities across our country require that GREEN ROOFS be put on large constructions with a primary goal of increasing climate resiliency, especially in frontline neighborhoods. Cambridge's residents deserve to experience the multiple benefits of rooftop gardens, meadows, farms and pollinator greenery.

Green (vegetative) Roofs:

• Absorb carbon dioxide
• Cool urban heat islands
• Conserve a building's energy use by providing insulation
• Extend the life of roofing materials
• Reduce flooding by holding rainwater
• Provide urban habitats for pollinators
• Can include food crops – providing local healthful produce

BioSolar Roofs: combine vegetation with solar panels

• Generate clean, renewable energy, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels
• A solar array's efficiency can be increased by up to 16% if vegetation is planted within it. In return, the panels help shade and protect the plants.

Cambridge Zoning Ordinance 22.30 - GREEN ROOFS

Highlighted sections show Mothers Out Front, Cambridge's proposed new wording of the Green Roofs ordinance

We presume the wording of the City's current Greenn Roofs ordinance and then our suggested changes appear as highlighted words.

Definition of terms: (Section 2 of zoning code)

GREEN ROOF: a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system that is installed on top of a flat or slightly-sloped roof (also know as vegetated roof).

FUNCTIONAL GREEN ROOF: Green roofs with a minimum of 4 inches of growth medium needed for storm water management.

BIOSOLAR ROOF: Green roof and solar technologies integrated in a seamless fashion that provides greater energy efficiency, as solar panels generate an average of 1.4% more energy when combined with plants.

31. [Current wording] 22.31 Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to remove potential impediments to the development of green roof systems on new and existing buildings by clarifying that such systems should not count against a building's Gross Floor Area, and by providing for limited access and enjoyment of green roofs by occupants of a building.

[REVISED wording] 22.31 Purpose: The purpose of this Section is to require new construction of buildings and significant rehabs of 20,000 square feet or more of gross floor area to install green roof systems (vegetative and/or BioSolar). Green Roof areas designed with enjoyment of building occupants and community members in mind must be accessible to them.

22.32 Functional Green Roof Area shall be defined as area atop a roof surface on a building, open to the sky and air, which is surfaced with soil and living plant materials for the purpose of retaining rainwater and absorbing heat from sunlight. The depth of soil and planted material shall provide a minimum of 4 inches of growth medium to be considered Functional Green Roof Area. For the purposes of maintaining the plant material, Functional Green Roof Area must be accessible by means of a roof entrance.

[REVISED/ADDED] 22.32.1 Functional Green Roof Area should be vegetative or BioSolar, which is a functional combination of PV panels and vegetation. (BioSolar increases the efficiency of rooftop PV by up to 16% and generate an average of 1.4% more energy when combined with plants.)

[REVISED/ADDED] 22.32.2 A Functional Green Roof Area serves to insulate buildings, thus reducing cooling and heating costs; cool urban heat islands; absorb rain and storm water to reduce flooding; filter air pollution and produce oxygen; extend the life of roofing materials; create community farming and gathering spaces; provide habitat for pollinators and increase urban biodiversity; and create an additional layer of green infrastructure and beauty for the city.

[REVISED/ADDED] 22.32.3: A contractual commitment must be shown that provides on-going maintenance to ensure continued functionality.

[REVISED/ADDED] 22.32.4: The green roof must cover 100% of the roof, which includes appropriate vegetated free zones and roof gravel, with up to 40% exemptions for rooftop mechanical equipment. Rooftop parking areas are exempt.

[REVISED/ADDED] 22.32.5 If the requirements, above, cannot be met, then a payment in lieu of will be calculated based on square footage of the rooftop and this amount will be paid into a city-controlled Green Roofs fund. From this fund, grants to building owners and homeowners will be made by application for the creation of green roofs on existing buildings in Cambridge.

There are several additional sections of the City's green roof ordinance. In those, we offer no revisions. You can read the Green Roof ordinance on the City's website:
Article 22, beginning at Section 22.30
https://library.municode.com/ma/cambridge/codes/zoning_ordinance?nodeId=ZONING_ORDINANCE_ART22.000SUDEDE_22.30GRRO

Respectfully submitted by the undersigned registered Cambridge Voters:
.................

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Dec 7, 2020
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
WHEREAS: Envision Cambridge includes the following goals:

• Shared Community Prosperity: Provide opportunities for Cambridge residents of all educational backgrounds and skill levels to access jobs that pay a living wage in Cambridge and the surrounding region so that they can share in the city’s prosperity

• Equity and Fairness: Support efforts to erase racial and gender disparities in economic opportunity; and

WHEREAS: Cambridge owns an underutilized property at 105 Windsor Street; and
WHEREAS: The activation of this property is a clear opportunity to create business opportunities for Black and brown community members in the Port neighborhood; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide a report on the condition of the building and a cost estimate of any repairs needed; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to initiate a community process to develop the property at 105 Windsor Street with an eye towards using the building as a community space that will create economic opportunity in the neighborhood, as part of an overall neighborhood plan that includes looking for ways to create affordable housing, open space and urban agriculture opportunities; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back by Dec 31, 2020.

Calendar Item #1     Dec 7, 2020 Dec 14, 2020  Substitute Order Approved 9-0 on Dec 14, 2020
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: Envision Cambridge includes the following goals:

• Shared Community Prosperity: Provide opportunities for Cambridge residents of all educational backgrounds and skill levels to access jobs that pay a living wage in Cambridge and the surrounding region so that they can share in the city’s prosperity

• Equity and Fairness: Support efforts to erase racial and gender disparities in economic opportunity; and

WHEREAS: On March 26, 2018, the City Council passed a policy order asking that the City “…compile and publish an inventory of all City-owned vacant buildings and lots with the City’s plans for them,” and having not received a response on this, the City Council passed a policy order requesting an update on this process on November 16, 2020;
WHEREAS: Receiving the City’s response on this matter could be of particular benefit to the Port neighborhood, where momentum has been growing for establishing a museum of Cambridge’s history, and a number of other projects that could reinvigorate the area have likewise been percolating; and
WHEREAS: In addition to breathing new life into the Port neighborhood by providing a neighborhood/community anchor, the activation of properties such as 105 Windsor Street would present a clear occasion to create economic opportunities for Black and brown community members in the Port neighborhood and elsewhere; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide a report on the condition of the building at 105 Windsor Street and cost estimates of any repairs needed; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to issue recommendations to the City Council on how to develop 105 Windsor Street and any other underused properties based on an inclusive public process centered in the Port neighborhood.
ORDERED: These recommendations should be focused on creating economic opportunity in the neighborhood, and they should be part of a larger, more comprehensive neighborhood plan that also includes but is not limited to seeking ways to create affordable housing, open space, and urban agriculture opportunities; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter by Jan 31, 2021.

O-2     Dec 7, 2020
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ripple across our community, and thanks to the swift actions of the City, programs like the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund for Small Businesses have offered a lifeline to numerous businesses that have been struggling to survive until this crisis abates; and
WHEREAS: While the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund for Small Businesses stopped accepting new applications from businesses seeking relief on May 29, it remained an open question as to whether this program might be opened back up to new applicants at some point in the future; and
WHEREAS: As we near the one-year mark of this pandemic, the need from many businesses for financial assistance remains as great as ever; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Mayor’s Office, the Finance Department, and any other pertinent City staff to determine the remaining balance in the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund for Small Businesses, to determine whether this fund will be opening a second round of fiscal assistance to local businesses, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.

O-3     Dec 7, 2020
VICE MAYOR MALLON
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: As the pandemic has caused widespread layoffs and business closures, food insecurity has skyrocketed, with Massachusetts experiencing the highest increase in food insecurity of any state across the country, rising from 1 in 13 Massachusetts residents being food insecure pre-pandemic, to 1 in 7 residents currently, a 59% increase; and
WHEREAS: Food insecurity has drastically increased within the two Congressional districts Cambridge is a part of as well, with the Seventh Congressional District rising from 13.7% in 2018 to 18.8% in 2020, and the Fifth Congressional District rising from 6.9% in 2018 to 12.0% in 2020; and
WHEREAS: Food insecurity in Cambridge is currently estimated by the Greater Boston Food Bank to be 13% of all residents, or approximately 15,000 residents; and
WHEREAS: With community need soaring, especially around the holidays, food pantries are struggling to keep up; and
WHEREAS: The Greater Boston Food Bank, for example, currently distributes 2.5 million pounds of food to 660,000 people each week, significantly more than the 1 million pounds of food they distributed to 415,000 people each week before this public health crisis began, and the numbers have only been growing; and
WHEREAS: Anecdotally, food pantries in Cambridge are reporting a 10-15% increase in food pantry usage in recent months, and use has been increasing steadily as we head into what is likely to be another COVID-19 surge, with many unemployment benefits due to expire on Dec 31, 2020; and
WHEREAS: In order to meaningfully intervene and help fight food insecurity in our community during this critical time, we must learn more about what our local food pantries are experiencing and how the City can support them as they fill in this critical resource gap; and
WHEREAS: 7,338 residents are impacted by the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Gap, which is the difference between the number of low-income residents receiving MassHealth who are likely SNAP eligible and the number of people actually receiving SNAP, creating a City-wide SNAP Gap of 46%; and
WHEREAS: One way the City may help alleviate the skyrocketing burden on local food pantries is by launching an educational outreach campaign to close the SNAP Gap in Cambridge and encourage more low-income residents to take advantage of long-term, sustainable government assistance programs; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Department of Human Service Programs, Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC), local food pantries, and food access organizations to gain firsthand insight on what these organizations are seeing on the ground, and to develop ways to provide increased support for the food pantry network; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Department of Human Service Programs, the Public Information Office, and other relevant City departments to develop a comprehensive outreach campaign centered on closing the SNAP Gap in Cambridge, and educating low-income residents on how they may access government assistance benefits; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on this matter by the December 21st regular City Council meeting.

O-4     Dec 7, 2020
VICE MAYOR MALLON
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS: Across Massachusetts and in the City, food insecurity has skyrocketed amid mass layoffs and business closures, and 15,080 Cambridge residents, or 13% of all Cambridge residents, are currently experiencing food-insecurity; and
WHEREAS: Of these residents, 7,338 are impacted by the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Gap, the difference between the number of low-income residents receiving MassHealth who are likely eligible for SNAP, and the number of people actually receiving SNAP; and
WHEREAS: The SNAP Gap places an immense burden on our local food pantries, who have, anecdotally, seen a 10-15% increase in pantry use during the past few months, and who are struggling to keep up with the growing need in our community; and
WHEREAS: Government food assistance programs, like SNAP, serve as a longer-term, more sustainable intervention to hunger that also accommodates recipients’ cultural and medical dietary needs more easily and provides economic stimulus in the communities they are used in, but many residents may not fully understand how to access the benefits they are eligible for, or may struggle to complete the tedious process of filing an application for SNAP; and
WHEREAS: On December 4th, the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Conference report passed in the Massachusetts Legislature, which would authorize the Baker administration to use $5,000,000 to develop a ‘common application’ that would allow MassHealth applicants and recipients to submit an application for SNAP at the same time they are applying for medical assistance, and which is currently awaiting approval from the Governor; and
WHEREAS: The Massachusetts Legislature also authorized the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to use $5,000,000 to create such a common application system enabling MassHealth applicants to simultaneously submit a SNAP application in An Act Financing the General Governmental Infrastructure of the Commonwealth (“IT Bond Bill”); and
WHEREAS: By streamlining the application process and making it easier for residents to access critical food assistance benefits, a common application would help support our low-income, food-insecure residents during their time of great need; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record as urging Governor Baker to adopt the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Conference report and move forward with creating a streamlined “common application” to help expand access to and participation in SNAP; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Governor Baker, Secretary Sudders, Assistant Secretary Tsai, and the Cambridge legislative delegation on behalf of the entire City Council.