2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Zhonghe Li and Jean Dany Joachim and the re-appointment of David Daniel, Aliyah Gary, Lori Lander, Calvin Lindsay Jr., Ann Lawson, Stella Aguirre McGregor, Michael Monestime, Diane Charyk Norris, Katherine Megumi Shozawa and Christine Lamas Weinberg to the Cambridge Arts Advisory Board for a term of three years. (CM24#259)
Appointments Approved; Placed on File 9-0

CM24#259     Dec 9, 2024

I am writing to inform you that I am appointing the following people identified below as members of the Cambridge Arts Advisory Board for a term effective 12/02/2024:

• Zhonghe Li     Appointment

• Jean Dany Joachim     Appointment

These new members will join the additional ten members who were appointed in December 2021.

The Cambridge Arts Advisory Board was established under Chapter 2.114.050 of the Cambridge Municipal Code and consists of 9-15 members. The function of the Advisory Board is to provide guidance and advice on enhancing the lives of citizens of Cambridge through the arts; to stimulate public awareness of the arts; and to develop ways to improve the aesthetic experience of people living, working, playing, and passing through the city. Members are experienced in some forms of artistic expression, creation, performance, production, finance, organizational management, or connected to economic development and audience engagement through the arts. The Advisory Board also serves as a sounding board for ideas on strengthening the City’s outreach efforts, information-sharing, and development of programs and policies that support and ensure that residents’ lives are enhanced through the arts. The Advisory Board meets approximately once a month for an estimated eight to ten times a year. The membership represents a range of artistic, business, and organizational experience and reflects the full diversity of the Cambridge population.

The City Manager’s office posted a request for applications for the Cambridge Arts Advisory Board on the City website and via a news release on May 15, 2024, with a closing date of June 17, 2024. During that time, members of the Cambridge Arts Advisory Board and Cambridge Arts department conducted outreach within their networks. The call for applicants was also posted in several of the City’s daily email updates and in postings on the city website. There were ten applicants, four of whom were interviewed. The interview panel, made up of City staff members and current members of the Cambridge Arts Advisory Board have recommended the appointment of two of those applicants.

The Cambridge Arts Advisory Board also recommends the reappointment of ten current members. They have made valuable contributions and would appreciate the opportunity to continue serving the City in this capacity.

The next anticipated vacancy for this commission will come in 2028.

I am pleased to recommend the reappointment of these ten individuals whose expertise and experience will enable them to be valuable members of the Cambridge Arts Advisory Board.

David Daniel is a poet and educator whose book, Seven-Star Bird, won the Larry Levis Reading Prize for the best first or second poetry book of the year. Another of his published works, Ornaments, inspired poet Tom Sleigh to write, “No one in any generation is writing poems like these: smart, visceral, and immensely pleasurable to read.” Harold Bloom celebrated David’s work by calling him, “An authentic heir to Hart Crane.” David’s newest book, What Love Is, was published in the fall 2023. Daniel served as the poetry editor of Ploughshares for more than a decade while teaching at Emerson College. David directs the undergraduate creative writing program at Fairleigh Dickinson University and is also the creator and producer of FDU’s WAMFest: The Words, Art, and Music Festival. WAMFest has been celebrated for its progressive arts programming by the National Endowment for the Arts and has featured some of the most important artists and writers of our time, including Bruce Springsteen, Robert Pinsky, Chuck D, Rosanne Cash, Talib Kweli, Neil Gaiman.

Aliyah Gary is a business entrepreneur and real estate professional living in East Cambridge. Aliyah is the founder and Broker/Owner of iCare Realty, an instructor with The Cambridge Real Estate Collaborative, and a travel author and photographer. Most recently, Aliyah founded Brixstory, a mobile application and wayfinding service that supports individuals and groups to discover, experience, and learn about the history and current day context of buildings, landmarks, and public art in locations nationally and internationally. Prior to her work with and service with Cambridge Arts, Aliyah also served as a member of the Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women and was an educator for the community with the City’s First-time Homebuyers Program.

Lori Lander is a powerful advocate for community building in Cambridge. She is one of the founders of Cambridge’s Many Helping Hands/MLK, Jr. Day of Service, an annual event that draws over 5,000 residents of all ages and from all walks of life to work together on projects that benefit others and with a particular focus on lifting many of the most vulnerable residents and populations based in the city. Lori also hosts monthly gatherings and conversations that focus on the most urgent issues facing Cambridge. Over the past decade, Lori has convened community members to discuss a wide range of topics, including: women on the margins, local action on climate change, victims of domestic violence and abuse, social entrepreneurship, people transitioning from homelessness to jobs, financial literacy, planning for the death of a family member, race and education in Cambridge, food insecurity, caring for aging parents and being the aging parent cared for, the challenges facing immigrants, arts, culture and social cohesion, and reducing gun violence and its effects on the community. Lori lives together with her husband and family in Huron Village.

Calvin Lindsay, Jr is the Founder & Producer/Director of Centurion Filmworks. Calvin began his professional career at WGBH-TV, Boston’s Public Broadcasting Station affiliate. He is a seven-time Emmy Award winner who served as Series Producer for Say Brother, one of public television’s longest running local series. His credits include myriad projects ranging from political coverage to documentary and dramatic treatments. Calvin conceived the award-winning documentary series Reflections that chronicled the lives, seminal moments, and motivations of artists and cultural innovators, including Judith Jamison, James Earl Jones, the Nicholas Brothers and Henry Hampton. In addition to his work creating, producing, and directing video series and film, Calvin serves as the Director for Cambridge’s 22-CityView, the City of Cambridge Municipal Channel.

Ann Lawson is a resident of Mid-Cambridge and a member of the founding team for Many Helping Hands/MLK, Jr Day of Service, an annual event that draws over 5,000 residents of all ages and from all walks of life to work together on projects that benefit others and with a particular focus on lifting many of the most vulnerable residents and populations based in the city. Ann has provided direct support with Many Helping Hands projects that have a direct impact and engagement with seniors who are homebound or benefiting from assisted living situations where they may not have full access to community-based events or services.

Stella Aguirre McGregor is an artist, curator, and cultural worker with over 30-years of experience creating groundbreaking programs both nationally and internationally. Her practice explores the role of art in society, as part of everyday life, and as a catalyst for social change, culminating in the founding of Urbano in 2009. Prior to founding Urbano, Stella served as executive director for the Cloud Foundation and served as program manager for Individual Artists at the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Stella also served as Senior Arts Administrator for the Boston Central Artery/Tunner Project Public Art Program. Upon arriving in Boston in 1986, Stella founded Space, an award-winning nonprofit artist-run experimental gallery in Boston’s South End. Stella has received the Massachusetts College of Art & Design’s Excellence in Arts Education Award and was named one of Boston’s “Top 10” Women in the Arts. Stella was also recognized with the Community Builder Award by Egleston Main Street in Jamaica Plain. Stella is a resident of Mid-Cambridge on Antrim Street.

Michael Monestime is the President & CEO of Central Square Business Improvement District (BID), a 501c3 nonprofit organization that together with the City of Cambridge oversees the care, maintenance, safety, and cultural expression of Central Square. In addition to cultural programming and annual and pop-up events, the BID manages a team of Block-by-Block Ambassadors, and aids local retailers, residents, and visitors to showcase the uniqueness represented in Central Square. Mike is an accomplished marketer, entrepreneur, urban planner and community-builder. Monestime has worked to maintain and uplift what makes communities special, leveraging longstanding, intergenerational relationships to create spaces and opportunities for Cambridge residents, artists, and entrepreneurs to benefit from the richness of the Central Square community. Michael is a resident of North Cambridge where he lives with his wife Sara and two daughters.

Diane Charyk Norris is a visual artist focusing on landscape painting and printmaking and has been a Cambridge resident for over 35 years. Diane also has over twenty years of professional experience as an architect in design, planning, renovation, and interiors of art museums and other cultural buildings. Diane is a strong advocate for collaborating and expanding the role of arts and culture across the city. In 2020 and 2021, Diane served on the Advisory Committee for the City of Cambridge Arts Reopening Group to assist and advocate for supporting arts organizations and individual artists recover and understand best practices coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Diane was a community grant reviewer for the Cambridge Arts Artist Relief Fund and Cultural Capital Fund both funded through a partnership between the City of Cambridge and Cambridge Community Foundation. Prior to 2020, Diane participated on the boards of the Chandler Gallery at Maud Morgan Arts and Fayerweather Street School. While her children attended Cambridge Public Schools, Diane was Co-Chair of the Haggerty School Arts Council where she enjoyed leading all school art projects with the librarian. To support STEAM programs for Cambridge students, Diane was also the Parent Liaison for the launch of the Cambridge Creativity Commons. As an artist, Diane works at 11 Miller Street Studios and is a member of Mixit Print Studio. As an architect, Diane was a Principal of Norris & Norris Associates with her husband and worked at Ann Beha Architects and Cambridge Seven Associates. Diane is a resident of Huron village and lives together with her architect/artist husband and two daughters, Katherine and Hanna.

Katherine Megumi Shozawa is an interdisciplinary artist whose socially engaged art practice begins with intimate examinations of stories and qualities of memory in marginalized communities in the U.S. and Canada, including her own. She belongs to a generation of post-Redress artists and recipients of government Reparations dedicated to restoring and developing her community and adjacent communities in Vancouver, BC. Spanning more than 25 years, her work is diverse in scope while linked by a common focus on the visual and cultural vitality of inclusive public space. Since 2015, Shozawa served as inaugural director of community engagement at Lesley University’s College of Art and Design, partnering with the City of Cambridge and local orgs to: establish the first art and design incubator to connect students to communities in Cambridge and Greater Boston, co-develop an arts and operating plan for the forthcoming Harvard Square Kiosk, and co-lead a community-based planning process for The Foundry in East Cambridge. Her recent collaborative work with students and the North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB) Acknowledge + Listen: Undoing Colonial Design in Massachusetts (2022) is reinstalled on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Downtown Boston. Shozawa teaches at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.

Christine Lamas Weinberg is an Associate Director at Harvard University’s Alumni Affairs and Development department where she manages a portfolio of stewardship projects for Harvard’s most generous donors. Christine’s previous experience includes working as a grant manager for foundations in New England including the Barr Foundation, the New England Foundation for the Arts, and the Linde Family Foundation; planning events such as the centennial celebration of the Harvard Lampoon building; and working in marketing and communications for multinational corporations in Peru. Christine holds a BS in communications from the Universidad de Lima and a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Boston University. She lives in Cambridge with her husband Matt, her two sons Noah and Milo, and their Siberian Husky Tucker. Christine is from Lima, Peru; in her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and traveling.

I am pleased to welcome these two new members, whose expertise and experience will enable them to contribute to the important work of the Cambridge Arts Advisory Board:

• Zhonghe Li     Appointment

• Jean Dany Joachim     Appointment

Zhonghe (Elena) Li is a multimedia artist with a background in health services. Elena’s primary artistic practice focuses on visual artmaking through watercolor and the ancient practice of Chinese Paper Cutting. With over 70 participatory art-making workshops to her credit, Elena has successfully engaged diverse community members from young children to seniors at local and regional venues such as the Cambridge Foundry, Cambridge Plays Initiative, CCTV, Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge Arts River Festival, Cambridge Science Festival, and the Harvard Art Museums. She also focuses on creating art-making opportunities for children and teens from low-resource families. As an artist deeply committed to addressing environmental challenges and fostering cultural inclusivity, Elena collaborates with organizations like Mass Audubon and has secured multiple grants to deliver impactful and inclusive public art programs. She is excited to contribute her passion for art’s transformative power to support Cambridge’s mission of enriching Cambridge’s vibrant cultural landscape.

Jean Dany Joachim is a poet, fiction-writer, actor and playwright. Jean Dany has five published collections of poetry and a one play, including: Chen Plenn (2007), Crossroads/ Chimenkwaze (2013), Avec des Mots (2014), Quartier (2016), Your Voice Poet/Ta Voix Poète (2017), and La Camisa Blanca (2024). Jean Dany created the “Many Voices Project”, inspiring conversations about race and equality and serves as the Founder and Director of Cambridge’s longtime City Night Readings, a live, literary series featuring diverse poetic and artistic voices and talents. Jean Dany also serves as a Board member for the New England Poetry Club and Jean Appolon Expressions Dance Company. Together with his spouse and partner, Joseline, Jean Dany owns and operates the Little Crepe Café located at 102 Oxford Street in the Baldwin Neighborhood of Cambridge.

I appreciate the willingness of these community members to serve on the Cambridge Arts Advisory Board and, with your approval, look forward to their appointments.

5. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,117,356 funded by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($163,078.01), and to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($954,277.99). The program assists with heating bills between Nov 1, 2024 - Apr 30, 2025. (CM24#262)
Order Adopted 9-0

CM24#262     Dec 9, 2024
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting an appropriation of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) grant in the amount of $1,117,356 funded by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($163,078.01), and to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($954,277.99).

The Department of Human Service Programs operates the HEAP program serving Cambridge and Somerville. The program assists with heating bills between Nov 1, 2024 – Apr 30, 2025. HEAP helps eligible clients receive discounted rates on their utility bills. In 2024, the program served over 1,322 clients in both cities. Eligibility is based on household size, annual income, and where the household falls within the Federal poverty guidelines. Eligibility includes those households at or below 60% of State median income. For example, annual income for a household of 1 must be at or below $49,196 to qualify. A household of 4 must be at or below $94,608. Benefit levels for this year will range from $630-$1,050.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the proposed Bluebike bike share system contract term. (CM24#263)
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Yi-An Huang, Stephanie Groll, Wilson, Simmons, Megan Bayer; Order Adopted 9-0

CM24#263     Dec 9, 2024
To the Honorable, the City Council:

The City of Cambridge, along with other nearby municipalities, owns the Bluebikes bikeshare system that is operated by Lyft through a 5-year agreement with an option for 2 extensions. In 2026, the City’s contract with Lyft, formerly Motivate, formerly ALTA, as operators of the Bluebikes public bikeshare system will expire. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (“MAPC”) is putting this contract out through a request for Proposal (“RFP”) process on behalf of all the municipalities part of the Bluebikes system to select a new operator in 2025. MAPC will select one operator to manage the entire system to ensure that it continues to operate regionally. Each municipality will then have the opportunity to contract with the selected operator separately or enter into a joint contract.

It is the intention of the Bluebikes municipalities to enter into a five (5) year term with two (2), two (2) year options to renew with the future operator. A longer-term contract will encourage the future operator to provide a higher level of service to users and help secure more funding through the system’s title sponsorship, which will then allow the service to continue growing throughout the region.

Since this procurement will follow public bidding laws, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30(b) requires a majority vote of the City Council authorizing the award of a contract for a duration longer than three (3) years. Authorization by the City Council of the full, requested contract duration does not require the City to contract with the future Bluebikes operator for that entire period of time. For example, the City still retains discretion to decline to renew the contract for either one (or both) of the recommended renewal periods.

I am requesting that the City Council authorize the Purchasing Agent to pursue and award a five (5) year contract, with two (2), two (2) year options to renew the contract to the successful proposer on the MAPC Bike Share System RFP. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

ON THE TABLE
1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and encourage the state Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the MBTA to adhere to Cambridge local ordinances, including the Cambridge Asbestos Protection Ordinance, during Alewife Construction. [Tabled Nov 25, 2024] (PO24#151)
Removed from Table 9-0; comments by Nolan; Order Adopted 9-0

O-2     Nov 25, 2024  Tabled 9-0 (Nov 25); Order Adopted 9-0 (Dec 9)
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Asbestos Protection Ordinance, Chapter 8.61, was passed unanimously by the Cambridge City Council in 1999 in order to protect Cambridge residents from the hazards of asbestos, and was designed to fill in the gaps left by state and federal standards involving air pollution; and
WHEREAS: At the time of its passing, the Cambridge Asbestos Protection Ordinance (CAPO) was the first of its kind in the nation and filled an important loophole in state and federal law, which only regulated asbestos in buildings and enclosed areas, rather than in the soil and open areas; and
WHEREAS: Asbestos is a particularly dangerous contaminant because:

• Asbestos does not degrade in the environment; if inadvertently carried offsite, it may remain there as a threat for later exposure;

• Once lodged in the body, asbestos fibers remain as a carcinogenic irritant without being cleared, and adding to the cumulative lifetime exposure; the effects last long after the incident which caused exposure has ended;

• Asbestos has been repeatedly and irrefutably proven to cause a cancer in humans called mesothelioma and is painful and causes death within a few months, with no known cure;

• No level of exposure has been shown to be safe, despite numerous studies;

As such, there are very strict laws concerning the removal and disturbance of asbestos products in buildings, and in general, if asbestos is not in a form that is a current health risk, it is often advised to leave it undisturbed rather than creating a potentially very serious risk; and
WHEREAS: CAPO defines asbestos contaminated soil, and disruptive activities that would be covered by the ordinance; the property owner would be required to either:

• Place a structure (e.g. a tent) over the area where contaminated soil will be disrupted while the activities take place; or

• Cover the area with clean fill so that the contaminated soil will not be disturbed during construction activities;

These provisions match the regulation of asbestos containing materials in buildings; and
WHEREAS: On Monday, September 30, the MBTA held its first public meeting for an improvement to tunnel access for red line maintenance and concerns were raised about the tunnel’s location on a highly contaminated area; and
WHEREAS: To protect the community and future residents from harmful asbestos exposure, it is essential that construction projects on all potentially contaminated sites follow safety rules and regulations promulgated by federal, state, and local authorities; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments and encourage the state Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the MBTA to adhere to our local ordinances, including the Cambridge Asbestos Protection Ordinance, during the project; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council by December 2024; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this policy order to the Cambridge delegation and to the MBTA on behalf of the entire City Council.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Congratulations to CHA Board Commissioner Gerard J. Clark on his retirement.   Mayor Simmons

R-1     Dec 9, 2024
MAYOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: Gerard J. Clark has served with exceptional dedication and distinction on the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) Board of Commissioners since 1974, and his stepping down from this role on January 1, 2025, will mark an extraordinary 50-year legacy of improving the lives of Cambridge residents; and

WHEREAS: During his tenure on the CHA Board, Gerard J. Clark attended over 900 Board Meetings, served 10 terms as Chairperson, and played a pivotal role in developing 677 new affordable housing units while overseeing the rehabilitation of over 2,000 units; and

WHEREAS: Gerard J. Clark spearheaded initiatives that revamped the tenant selection process to make it more equitable by installing guardrails to ensure fairness and inclusivity, and he also revitalized the organizational structure of the CHA, effectively empowering the executive leadership by relieving the board of day-to-day management and creating a more efficient governance model; and

WHEREAS: A distinguished professor of law at Suffolk University Law School for over 40 years, Gerald J. Clark has specialized in Constitutional Law, Civil Rights, and legal ethics, earning a reputation as a scholar, mentor, and advocate for justice; and

WHEREAS: His commitment to fair housing extended beyond Cambridge through his work as counsel for the Boston Citywide Tenants’ Association, where he supervised the Boston Housing Authority’s five-year receivership; and

WHEREAS: Gerard J. Clark has also participated in programs to train housing authority commissioners statewide, and he has contributed scholarly articles on housing, constitutional law, and ethics, thereby advancing public understanding and policy development in these critical areas; and

WHEREAS: As Chair of the CHA Conference Panel, Gerard J. Clark presided over applicant appeals with fairness and integrity, ensuring that all applicants had their voices heard in a just process, and he has been a steadfast supporter of the CHA’s affirmative action efforts, working to ensure equal opportunity and diversity within the agency and the communities it serves; and

WHEREAS: Gerald J. Clark’s decades of service on the CHA Board of Commissioners shall continue to have positive ripples throughout our community for many generations to come, and it is only fitting that his work be acknowledged by the City; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record extending its deepest gratitude to Gerard J. Clark for his five decades of extraordinary service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to the Cambridge Housing Authority and the residents of this city, and in wishing him well as he embarks upon his next chapter; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Gerard J. Clark on behalf of the entire City Council.

3. Recognition of Cambridge Investment in Renewable Energy.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui
pulled for comments by Nolan

R-3     Dec 9, 2024
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI

WHEREAS: Thanks to an innovative partnership among multiple local institutions and a new wind power project in North Dakota, all of the electricity used by Cambridge city buildings, schools, and operations will be 100% carbon neutral starting in 2026, finally fulfilling a City Council goal established by several policy orders including PO19#312, PO17#109, PO21#272, and championed and advocated for by the city’s Climate Committee; and

WHEREAS: The work to form this partnership that allowed for the investment in a new renewable energy project required deep collaboration between many City departments and local institutions, and the long-term virtual power purchase agreement (vPPA) will aid clean electricity production at a national scale and required significant coordination of end users, energy advisors, and wind project developers; and

WHEREAS: The financing of this project will allow the Cambridge city government to take advantage of renewable energy certificates, helping to make the City of Cambridge’s electricity use carbon neutral, and will benefit the residents of North Dakota with cleaner air and local economic investments; and

WHEREAS: New renewable energy projects outside of our own region have the ability to reduce more carbon, nitrous oxide, and other pollutants than similar projects in Massachusetts due to the nature of grids in other areas, and this vPPA is an impactful way to purchase renewable energy credits on a national scale and can expedite development of new renewable energy projects in targeted regions across the country to advance large-scale clean energy development; and

WHEREAS: This project is an important piece of the City’s Net Zero Action Plan and will be a helpful tool in getting to carbon neutrality citywide; and will hopefully be a model for a future vPPA to provide clean electricity to all users in the city and to the city’s community aggregation program; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in appreciation of the work done by the staff at Public Works, Community Development, Finance, Sustainability, and Law Department and especially note the coordination and collaboration with outside partners in coming to this important agreement; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the Office of Sustainability for distribution to staff who have played key roles in advancing this impactful project on behalf of the entire City Council.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Ordinance Committee - Committee Meeting - Aug 13, 2019, 12:00pm - proposed Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to create an Affordable Housing Overlay district [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Carlone, McGovern, Siddiqui, Mallon, Devereux, Zondervan, Kelley, Toomey, Simmons

2. Ordinance Committee - Committee Meeting - Aug 14, 2019, 5:30pm - proposed Amendment to the Municipal Code to create a Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Kelley, Carlone, Siddiqui, Simmons, Mallon, Devereux, Zondervan, Toomey, McGovern

3. The Public Safety Committee met on Oct 14, 2021 to hear from outside experts on specific details being considered by the HEART team to implement a public safety response. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Zondervan, Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Sobrinho-Wheeler

4. The Ordinance Committee met on Nov 16, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on the Advancing Housing Affordability (AHA) Zoning Petition by Francis Donovan, et al (Ordinance #2021-17). [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Carlone, McGovern, Mallon, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan
Absent: Toomey

5. The Public Safety Committee met on Nov 17, 2021 to hear an update on the City’s implementation of the HEART proposal as part of an alternative public safety response. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Zondervan, Carlone, Mallon, McGovern
Absent: Sobrinho-Wheeler

6. The Public Safety Committee met on Dec 21, 2021 to hear an update on the City’s implementation of the HEART proposal as part of an alternative public safety response. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Zondervan, Carlone, McGovern, Sobrinho-Wheeler
Also Present: Nolan
Absent: Mallon

7. The Public Safety Committee met on May 18, 2022 to discuss the City’s implementation of the 988 program with City staff and other subject matter experts Safety. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Zondervan, Azeem, Nolan, Toner
Absent: McGovern

8. The Finance Committee held a public hearing on Nov 20, 2024 to review and discuss the Operating Budget in advance of the FY26 budget season. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, Wilson, Zusy
Remote Present: Azeem
Absent: Simmons

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Dec 9, 2024  Amended
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR WILSON
WHEREAS: Garden Street was reconfigured from a two-way street for automobile traffic to a one-way street in November of 2022; and
WHEREAS: Since this change was made, residents from the neighborhood have continued to experience and express concerns about safety, traffic jams, congestion, and cut through traffic on Linnaean, Concord, Huron and many surrounding side streets; and
WHEREAS: School buses, Harvard delivery trucks, and other large vehicles have been diverted to side streets that had commonly used Garden Street posing some safety hazards; and
WHEREAS: Massachusetts Avenue is currently being scheduled for significant road redesign to install permanent separated bike lanes while preserving parking through reducing the number of traffic lanes which will add to traffic congestion at rush hour; and
WHEREAS: Garden Street is currently being repaved and is scheduled for repainting and installation of further bicycle infrastructure; and
WHEREAS: The Tobin School will be reopened in September of 2025, promising even more traffic in the area; and
WHEREAS: Garden Street can be reopened to two-way automobile traffic while maintaining separated bike lanes; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department and Harvard University to restore Garden Street to two-way automobile traffic while preserving two-way protected bike lanes, preserving as much parking on and/or near Garden Street as possible and identifying potential areas for resident parking on neighboring streets and communicating the changes to the affected neighborhood; and be it further
ORDERED: That the work be completed as soon as possible but no later than Apr 1, 2025.
ORDERED: That the City Manager report back with analysis and implementation options as soon as possible but not later than Apr 1, 2025.

O-2     Dec 9, 2024  Amended
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
MAYOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR WILSON
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge was one of the first cities in the United States to declare itself a Sanctuary City on April 8, 1985, and reaffirmed that commitment in 2006, 2016 and 2020; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge is a city proud of its diversity, immigrant population, and its role as a welcoming community to people from around the world; and
WHEREAS: Non-Citizen residents of Cambridge are integral members of our community, contributing as workers, taxpayers, caregivers, students, and law-abiding neighbors; and
WHEREAS: According to recent U.S. Census data, 28% of Cambridge’s population is made-up of foreign-born residents; and
WHEREAS: Non-citizens, in Cambridge and across the nation, have been subjected to heightened threats and discrimination, both verbally and physically due to the divisive rhetoric and policies being promoted by President-Elect Donald Trump; and
WHEREAS: In February 2020, the City of Cambridge further strengthened its commitment to immigrant protections by passing the Welcoming Community Ordinance, which codifies practices already followed by the Cambridge Police Department and other city agencies; and
WHEREAS: The Welcoming Community Ordinance states that Cambridge police officers will not inquire about an individual’s immigration status or voluntarily participate in federal immigration enforcement; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge has a deep and unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of immigration status, can live in peace, safety, and dignity, while and being protected from physical and emotional abuse, intimidation and discrimination; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record reaffirming its commitment to being a Sanctuary City and a welcoming community to immigrants from around the world, and encouraging residents of Cambridge, as well as people across the United States, to treat one another with kindness and respect, and to value the diversity that strengthens both Cambridge and the nation; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to forward a letter to all Cambridge organizations working with immigrant populations, as well as all City Departments, reminding them of the city’s Sanctuary/Trust Act City status, the protections provided by the 2020 Welcoming Community Ordinance, and the importance of ensuring noncitizens are treated with dignity and respect; and be it further
ORDERED: That the letter should also include detailed information on available resources for individuals experiencing physical or emotional abuse, intimidation, or discrimination, and outline the city’s ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all residents.

O-3     Dec 9, 2024  Amended
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR WILSON
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
MAYOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The City Council recently learned that 230 Cambridge Health Alliance attending physicians, physician associates, and psychologists, signaled their intent to unionize, with over 70% of these healthcare professionals signing union authorization cards; and
WHEREAS: Citing a lack of a voice and participation on the job, top-down management, and challenging working conditions, the clinicians hope to build a constructive and collaborative relationship with CHA leadership through their new union with SHARE CHA to ensure the strength and longevity of this important institution; and
WHEREAS: These CHA clinicians collectively care for over 140,000 patients across the Greater Boston region and want to ensure the continuation of the high-quality care they provide; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record congratulating SHARE CHA and its members on filing for union certification with the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations; urging CHA management for a fair process, to recognize their bargaining unit without delay, and to begin good-faith negotiations expeditiously; and supporting the ratification of a just contract that considers the financial stability of the Cambridge Health Alliance and reflects the value of these clinicians and the patients they serve; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Cambridge Health Alliance CEO Dr. Assaad Sayah on behalf of the entire City Council.