Mid-May in the Mines of Moria – May 16, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

City Auditor James Monagle and City Clerk Anthony Wilson will be making their exit at the end of this month with City Manager Louis DePasquale following in early July. Three simultaneous processes have been underway seeking their successors, but one of them seems headed to a conclusion this week with a communication that Joseph McCann from the City’s Auditing Department is being recommended to the full City Council to be elected as our new City Auditor. [Note: There is now a Special Session scheduled for Mon, May 23 at 10:30pm for this purpose.] A Special Meeting of the City Council to conduct interviews and appointment of the next City Clerk is also scheduled for the following Monday, May 23 at noon.

Meanwhile, the Screening Committee for the City Manager position has been meeting “to interview 8-10 selected priority candidates, from which they shall select 3-4 finalists for presentation to the City Council.” Public interviews of the finalists are expected the first week of June. The rumors have been flying like saucers. It will be interesting to see if the intergalactic search yields a candidate from Rigel VII or a more familiar face from closer to home with or without managerial experience. As Tim Toomey would often say, “It just takes 5 votes” regardless of any promise, public process, or other window dressing.

Meanwhile, back here in the dark Mines of Moria, here are a few items on this week’s menu:

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, in response to a question raised at the May 9, 2022 Council Meeting concerning the Alewife Overlay Development Zoning Petition. [Solicitor’s Response]
pulled by McGovern; Refer to Petition (Unf. Bus. #2) 9-0

Unfinished Business #2. That Article 20.90 - Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance be amended to insert a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 - Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). [Tabled May 2, 2022; To Be Ordained on or after May 23, 2022]
Councillor Carlone noted that he felt that the Alewife Triangle should not be included in the proposed moratorium

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to confer with all relevant City departments, consultants, and the Alewife Quad Working Group on any and all progress on the Terminal Road connection and any related projects.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Carlone; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

   
Terminal Rd connection:   1979 (Fishbook) plan or Envision Plan?

I still haven’t seen much evidence of any consistent vision from this City Council (or previous City Councils) regarding what they want for this area of the city. There’s the predictable knee-jerks for housing, but it generally seems as though all that Envision stuff (light industrial, etc.) was just an excuse for getting together to aspire. I personally will not be satisfied until I see multiple access routes in and out of this area and at least one bridge over the RR tracks as well as a simple pedestrian bridge over the Little River in the area of the Alewife Constructed Wetland.

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On the Table #1. Section 11.202(b) of Article 11.000 Special Regulations linkage fee, be amended by substitution (Ordinance #2022-14). [Tabled May 9, 2022]

Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to allocate the remaining ARPA funding, in compliance with the Final Rule, across community-serving applicants.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Nolan;
Azeem notes that he cannot support the original policy order because he wants subsidized housing proposals to be fully funded
Zondervan wants the applicants to be funded rather than the projects proposed
McGovern would prefer to not allocate this all at once, concerned about proposal from Nonprofit Coalition to be given $20 million to spread around
Toner will not support order as proposed
Mallon notes that there are already $190 million worth of proposals - well in excess of available funding, also concerned about proposals made at the Finance Committee
Amended 6-1-0-2 (QZ - NO; AM,DS - Present)
Charter Right - Zondervan

There are a couple of councillors who continue to be unable to resist the urge for political patronage.

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon, transmitting information regarding the City Auditor Search.   Vice Mayor Mallon
Placed on File 9-0

See above. A vote is expected next week on the appointment of Joseph McCann from the City’s Auditing Department as our new City Auditor. [Note: There is now a Special Session scheduled for Mon, May 23 at 10:30pm for this purpose.] One down, two to go. There’s also the question of whether the City Council wishes to update the job description.

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee.
Placed on File 9-0

“Due to an increase in the number of COVID cases and COVID-related hospitalizations within our community, we are encouraging our entire school community to mask, particularly when we are indoors. Please note that CPS is NOT reinstating a requirement but advising mask use based on current data.”

“Dr. Turk will be leading the process for the Math Coordinator position and is currently compiling an interview committee. Interviews will begin on May 20th. CPS is also screening applicant resumes to begin the process for the Chief of Academics & School position to prepare for upcoming interviews over the next couple of weeks.”

Math… good to hear they’re still doing that - with or without masks. – Robert Winters

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Order #8. Late policy order asking councillors to forward questions for City Auditor candidate to Vice Mayor Mallon.   Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #9. Late policy order: Delegate the drafting and finalization of the questions for the interviews of the City Clerk finalists scheduled for May 23, 2022 to the Co-Chairs of the City Clerk Preliminary Screening Committee.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

Comments?

A Very Few Highlights of the May 9, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

If all goes well, this meeting should go quickly. The Budget Hearings start the next morning at 9:00am. Here are a few things that might stir some interest:

Manager's Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-99, regarding GLX project funding.
pulled by Mallon; Placed on File 9-0

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Manager's Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-26, regarding a report on trash bin sizes.
pulled by Nolan; Placed on File 9-0

Manager's Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $200,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account to support the rollout of standardized trash bins and the collection and recycling of old trash bins.
Order Adopted 9-0

I will do a little virtue-signaling here and say that although two 65-gallon toters are recommended for my triple-decker, I will instead be requesting two 35-gallon toters, and I expect that one of them will remain unused in my backyard except for extraordinary circumstances. Some of us take that whole Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra seriously. I'm also glad that there will be a collection of the old barrels. I'll hold onto the intact ones for other uses (like Yard Waste) but this will be a good time to lose the cracked ones.

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Manager's Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-16, regarding Alewife Overlay District Zoning Proposal Working Group and POR 2022 #84 contained in Committee Report Item Number 1 of May 2, 2022 regarding CDD’s current workload. [text of response]
pulled by Carlone; Placed on File 9-0

Manager's Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to updated information that was requested by the Ordinance Committee at its hearing on Apr 7, 2022, relative to the Alewife Overlay Districts Zoning Petition as well as a legal opinion from City Solicitor Nancy E. Glowa, regarding legal questions raised by the Ordinance Committee at the same Apr 7, 2022 hearing. [CDD Memo] [Zoning Opinion (May 9)] [Alewife Opinion (Apr 7)]
pulled by Zondervan; Rules suspended to bring forward Unfinished Business #9; Amendment Adopted 9-0; Communication Referred to Petition 9-0

Unfinished Business #9. That Article 20.90 - Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance be amended to insert a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 - Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). [Passed to 2nd Reading May 2, 2022; To Be Ordained on or after May 23, 2022]
Amendment Adopted 9-0

Not much to do with this until ordination on May 23, but I am a bit confused as to why ordination cannot happen at the May 16 meeting - two weeks after the matter was Passed to a 2nd Reading. [The reason is that the Cambridge Chronicle has a Friday afternoon deadline for submission of Legal Notices for the following week and they no longer allow any leeway on this.] In any case, I still see no great vision (or Envision) from the City Council about what they want to see in the Quadrangle, and I have no idea why the proposed moratorium also includes the Alewife Triangle.

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Charter Right #1. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $23,100,176 received from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the new Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), to the Grant Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used for a number of projects related to City Council priority areas particularly: homelessness and housing support, COVID testing, mental health services, job training, food insecurity, small business support, and infrastructure including items related to water, and broadband. [Charter Right – Zondervan, May 2, 2022]
Zondervan wants to Table; Nolan disagrees; Carlone ready to approve and notes that councillors not consulted on $22 million on RISE; Azeem asks Manager how he sees this and what would happen if Tabled; Azeem will vote to approve; Zondervan has expectation that HEART would be funded under contract through new Community Safety Department (based on what?); Siddiqui suggests that Council wants HEART funded even though it would duplicate proposed services; Motion to Table Fails 1-8 (Zondervan - YES); Appropriation Adopted 9-0

There seems to be an organized effort to divert some of this ARPA money toward the ill-founded “HEART proposal” - simply because the ARPA money doesn’t have the same Ant-Aid Amendment protections against political patronage that ordinary tax revenue has. There are messages on various listservs encouraging people to engage in Public Comment on this topic. I am forbidden to comment on at least two of these democracy-challenged listservs, but I did manage a response on one of them. Here it is:

I don’t wish to get into a back-and-forth on this topic, but I do want to emphasize that the FY2023 City Budget has already allocated $2,874,570 in creating a new Community Safety Department that includes 6 full-time budgeted employees.

As the budget narrative says: “The Community Safety Department (CSD) is a newly established department that coordinates community driven solutions to enhance safety and wellness in the community by providing key services and programs targeted at the most vulnerable populations. Based on identified needs in the community for an alternate non-police response to non-violent and behavioral crisis calls and reducing or preventing violence in the community, the Department’s mission is to support the community through a trauma-informed framework and evidence-informed solutions… The Department will be responsible for overseeing the Cambridge Alternative Response Program, as well as other efforts to make the community a safer place to live, work, and experience for all.”

In addition, there are 2+ new budgeted positions in the Emergency Communications Department that appear to be related:
To provide funding for a new Assistant Director of Public Safety IT position.
To provide funding for a new PSIT Project Manager position.
To provide funding for a new Licensed Social Worker position (1/2 year).

Any additional ARPA funding for the so-called “HEART Program” would be nothing more than redundant political patronage.

Robert Winters

The Budget Hearings begin tomorrow and will, in particular, cover the Police Department and the new Community Safety Department.

Tues, May 10

9:00am   The City Council's Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY2023 City Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Budget Overview Mayor’s Office Executive - Leadership Executive - Diversity Executive - DGVPI Executive - Equity and Inclusion     Public Information Office Tourism Housing Liaison

City Council City Clerk Law Finance Admin.     Budget Personnel Purchasing Auditing Assessing

Treasury/Revenue Information Technology     General Services Employee Benefits Election Commission Public Celebrations Reserve Animal Commission

Community Safety (new) Fire Department Police Department Traffic, Parking & Transportation Inspectional Services License Commission Electrical Emergency Communications

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Committee Report #1. The Housing Committee met to conduct a public hearing on Jan 25, 2022 to receive updates from the Community Development Department, the Cambridge Housing Authority, Homeowner’s Rehab, Inc. and Just A Start on the work they are currently engaged in, and the continuing challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic upon their operations. [Committee Report #1]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Housing Committee met Mar 16, 2022 to conduct a public hearing to continue discussions around potentially raising the linkage fee rates. [Committee Report #2]
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Orders A and B Adopted, Order C strategically Tabled 9-0

This City Council has never seen a fee increase it hasn’t liked and maintains a desire to increase fees to the maximum regardless of any other factors (unless, of course, it might cost them votes). - Robert Winters

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Note: Mayor Siddiqui announced at the end of the meeting that the MBTA has responded to the City Council’s request and that the catenary wires in the Porter Square area would be removed in July 2022.

Comments?

City Manager Louis A. DePasquale Submits Proposed FY23 Budget to Cambridge City Council

On May 2, 2022 the City Manager submitted the proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), as well as the proposed FY24-FY27 Operating and Capital Plans.

The Operating Budget of $801,451,870 represents an increase of $48,754,799 or 6.5% over the FY22 Adjusted Budget. The proposed Capital Budget is $164,063,235.

The public is encouraged to review the budget document, which contains a special joint City Manager and Mayor COVID-19 message; Consolidated Spending information across departments on key priority areas; City Council Goals; Key Initiatives for FY23 (Section I); narratives for each Department (Section V); and FY23 Capital projects (Section VI).

There will be public hearings on the FY23 Budget at the City Council Finance Committee on Tuesday, May 10 at 9:00am; Wednesday, May 11 at 6:00pm (School Department); and Tuesday, May 17 at 10:00am.

Link to Open Meeting Portal

The projected budget adoption date is Monday, June 6, 2022.

Link to FY23 Submitted Budget (PDF)     Significant Budget Modifications (2-page PDF)

Links to Specific Sections of FY23 Submitted Budget (PDF)

On Boiling Frogs and Showdowns Pending - May 2, 2022 at the Cambridge City Council

As expected, the FY2023 City of Cambridge Budget has arrived just in time for the Budget Hearings to get underway. As the potholes grow larger and cash falls like manna from heaven, I’m buckling my seat belt for several weeks of emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, climate change, municipal broadband, alternatives to policing, de-funding the police and, of course, bikes lanes. Public Comment will likely bring cries that the City Budget has no HEART (but plenty of CARP), plus outrage from the Left (and especially Councillor Zondervan) about the ~$5 million increase in the Police Dept. budget.

Though not on this agenda, I can’t help but speculate how things will play out politically ~18 months from now when the funds for the promised $22 million in ARPA funds to be paid in monthly $500 installments directly to eligible residents runs out (just in time for the next municipal election). I’m very curious about who will be making the eligibility decisions. I also fully expect there will be a lot of pressure to extend or even expand the program permanently out of local taxes - though that would require state legislative action.

Here are the items that boiled up from the firmament this week:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2023 submitted budget and appropriation orders.
pulled by Nolan; Referred to Finance Committee 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

Here’s a spreadsheet showing how things have changed from last year, from 2 years ago, and from 18 years ago.

Here’s an alternate version that shows proposed vs. actual and projected budgets.

And the annual raft of Loan Orders:

Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for the replacement of existing gas boilers at the Morse and Cambridgeport schools.
pulled by Nolan; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $13,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets, sidewalks and bike facilities.
pulled by Carlone; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $78,500,000 to provide funds for the construction of sewer separation, storm water management and combined sewer overflow reduction elimination improvements within the Port, Alewife and Central Square areas as well as the Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts.
pulled by Carlone; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $15,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of a multi-use paths Danehy/New Street Path, Linear Park and Grand Junction Path, which runs from Henry Street to Gore Street on both City, MIT and MassDOT property.
pulled by Nolan; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $14,600,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan.
pulled by Nolan; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $37,000,000 to provide additional funds for the construction of improvements at the Fire Station Headquarters Building located at 491 Broadway.
Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

That’s $159.9 million in loan authorizations on top of $41.2 million in the Public Investment category.

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Manager’s Agenda #11. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,500,000 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account from MIT Development for Volpe Project ($500,000) and Alexandria RE Equities/Design & Construction ($1,000,000) and will be used to support the design and construction of the Grand Junction Multi-use Path.
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

Together with Manager’s Agenda #5 (above), it looks like we'll be seeing some movement on the Grand Junction Path real soon - perhaps in time for it to link up with the Somerville Community Path. Ultimately, it would be great if the path can also cross the Charles River on the other half of the RR bridge that runs under the BU Bridge and ultimately will connect with future (pretty damn exciting) amenities in Allston that will come with the realignment of the Mass. Pike.

Manager’s Agenda #13. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $23,100,176 received from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the new Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), to the Grant Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used for a number of projects related to City Council priority areas particularly: homelessness and housing support, COVID testing, mental health services, job training, food insecurity, small business support, and infrastructure including items related to water, and broadband.
pulled by Zondervan; Charter Right - Zondervan

I’m looking forward to a more complete accounting of all of the ARPA appropriations, including the initiative announced at the recent “State of the City” event. I hear echoes of former City Manager Bob Healy saying “one-time non-recurring expenditure” and wonder how much tax-supported permanence may end up being baked into these ARPA allocations.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on the feasibility of providing all Cambridge high school students with free Charlie Cards throughout the school year. [Charter Right – Simmons, Apr 11, 2022]
Simmons motion to refer to Transportation Committee Fails 3-4-1-1 (DS,PT,QZ - YES; DC,MM,PN,AM - NO; SS - ABSENT; BA - PRESENT)
Tabled 7-1-1 (Nolan - NO; Siddiqui - ABSENT)

On the Table #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Emergency Management Performance Grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in the amount of $39,600 to the Grant Fund Fire Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to support the purchase of a new vehicle for the Emergency Preparedness and Coordination office. [Charter Right - Nolan, Mar 7, 2022; Tabled - Mar 21, 2022]
Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT); Note: Revised to be a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle

Councillor Nolan continues her audition for Purchasing Agent.

Resolution #4. Congratulations to the Outstanding Employee Award Winners.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Mallon; Resolution Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

I have often attended this award ceremony (May 13, 10am, Sullivan Chamber) which will presumably also include the presentation of the (not yet announced) Brian Murphy Award. Past recipients include Owen O’Riordan (2015), Ellen Semonoff (2016), Jeana Franconi (2017), Richard Rossi (2018), Lisa Peterson (2019), Branville Bard (2020), and Claude Jacob (2021).

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to look into the feasibility of mailing “Watch for Bikes” stickers to residents who have applied for a residential parking permit for the next application cycle in 2023.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan - ABSENT)

Needless to say, if you’re already checking your side rear-view mirror you are likely already watching for bikes. The issue is whether you are so callous that you don’t care. Perhaps we need a sticker that says something like “Be Thoughtful”.

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department, the Traffic, Parking & Transportation Department and the Department of Public Works to look into the feasibility of placing a covered bike rack at City Hall using FY23 Capital Budget Funding.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan - ABSENT)

I will simply note that half of the parking spaces along Dorothy “Dottie” Doyle Way behind City Hall are now reserved for city councillors regardless whether or not they are in the building or if they drive a car. Perhaps those spaces should again be made available to all City Hall employees in conjunction with the installation of a covered bike rack.

Order #3. City Council support of H.938 and H.998/S.569, Extended Producer Responsibility for Paint and Mattresses.   Councillor Azeem
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan - ABSENT)

Order #4. City Council support of H.R.2644, the Green New Deals for Cities Act of 2021.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan - ABSENT)

Although there are some worthy priorities floated in this bill, it is for the most part a boondoggle authored by the extreme Left - including the whole “Squad”. A trillion here, a trillion there and at some point you’re talking real money. This being Cambridge, of course, the only question is whether or not this resolution passes unanimously.

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate staff to light up City Hall and painting crosswalks for Pride Month 2022.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan - ABSENT)

I have a related question: For how long does a flag or other decoration marking a particular holiday (or sentiment) remain on City Hall after the holiday has passed? Mr. Frederick Hastings Rindge (1857-1905) would like to have a word with you.

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Mar 9, 2022 to conduct a public hearing on a petition to amend Article 20.90 - Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by inserting a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 - Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). [Text of Committee Report #1]
Report Accepted, Placed on File; 5 Orders Adopted 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee met on Apr 7, 2022 to continue a public hearing on a petition to amend Article 20.90 - Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by inserting a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 - Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). [Text of Committee Report #2]
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT), Petition Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended 8-0-1 (Siddiqui - ABSENT)

Though this should have been addressed several years ago when concepts for the Alewife Quadrangle were discussed in some detail, it sure looks like the City Council is on the verge of passing their proposed development moratorium. Needless to say, a moratorium is not an actual plan. – Robert Winters

Comments?

FY2023 Budget Summaries/Appropriation Orders now available

City Manager's Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2023 submitted budget and appropriation orders.

Here's a spreadsheet showing how things have changed from last year, from 2 years ago, and from 18 years ago.

Here's an alternate version that shows proposed vs. actual and projected budgets.

The biggest changes:
Mayor's Office budget increased 29.7% - reasons unknown
Election Commission budget increased 23.7% - likely related to costs of Early/Mail-In Voting
Human Rights Commission budget increased 32.1% - reasons unknown
Peace Commission budget increased 20.2% - reasons unknown
New budget category for “Community Safety” with a proposed budget of $2,874,570 - Details
Overall City Budget increase of 7.2% over FY2022 Adopted Budget
Loan Authorizations increased from $83,910,865 to $159,900,000 [Note: it was $275,300,000 in FY2021]

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FY2023 Budget Book Coming Soon

Apr 28, 2022 – I am expecting the City of Cambridge FY2023 Budget Summary to be included in the City Council’s May 2 meeting materials available later today. I am especially interested in what the document says about the proposed new “Community Safety” budget category and whether this includes patronage funding for the “HEART proposal” that has been advocated by several political entities. My main question is whether any allocation for a purpose such as this is subject to M.G.L. Chapter 30 (Uniform Procurement Act) which would require competitive bidding from qualified vendors for services such as this. I am hopeful that the City administration will propose a better model that works in conjunction with the Cambridge Police Department.

The full FY2023 Budget Book should be available on Monday, though it might be available online before that. Budget Hearings start May 10.

Tues, May 10

9:00am   The City Council's Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY2023 City Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Budget Overview Mayor’s Office Executive - Leadership Executive - Diversity Executive - DGVPI Executive - Equity and Inclusion     Public Information Office Tourism Housing Liaison	City Council City Clerk Law Finance Admin.     Budget Personnel Purchasing Auditing Assessing	Treasury/Revenue Information Technology     General Services Employee Benefits Election Commission Public Celebrations* Reserve Animal Commission	Community Safety (new) Fire Department Police Department Traffic, Parking & Transportation Inspectional Services License Commission Electrical Emergency Communications
Those marked in bold are the ones pulled for discussion. *may appear at May 17 hearing

Wed, May 11

6:00pm   The City Council's Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY2023 School Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Tues, May 17

10:00am   The City Council's Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY2023 City Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Cambridge Health Alliance     Public Works Water Community Development Historical Commission	Peace Commission / PRAB     Cable TV Debt Service Library Human Services	Women’s Commission Human Rights Commission     Veterans’ Services MWRA Cherry Sheet	City Overview Section Financial Summaries Section Revenue Section Public Investment Section
Those marked in bold are the ones pulled for discussion.

Plague Report (May 17) - Daily increases remain very high, and wastewater counts continue to rise

There were 114 new COVID positive tests reported on Tuesday, and the 7-day daily average decreased to 123.6. The total number of residents who have tested positive is now 27,104. The main Omicron wave crested over three months ago, and the Omicron BA.2 subvariants (especially BA.2.12.1) are now the predominant threat (97.2%) with the BA.1 and BA.1.1 totaling 2.8% and the Delta variant at 0% as detected in wastewater samples in Middlesex County. The Cambridge total increased by 114 on Tuesday in addition to 283 on Monday (covering 3 days) and 178, 234, 194, 114, 304 (covering 3 days), 203, 264, 157, 175, and 95 in recent days. Time will tell how long this rocky road continues. The percentage of positive tests (measured over the last two weeks) stands at 6.11% (previous rates 4.65%, 4.2%, 3.85%, 3%, 2.3%, 1.94%, 1.63%, 1.71%, 1.56%, 1.09%, 0.87%). Most importantly, the effects of the virus appear to be much milder than previous variants.

Note: Starting May 7, the City of Cambridge began providing Covid updates Monday-Friday only - no longer on weekends or holidays. As a result the number of additional reported Covid cases will likely be significantly larger on Mondays since they will include the new cases from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Cases will still be recorded according to onset date, including weekend dates.

A new Omicron variant, BA.2.12.1, has taken over in Massachusetts. Here’s what you need to know.
(Boston Globe, May 13, 2022)

New omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 on the rise in New England, COVID strain appears to be ‘even more transmissible’

The subvariant accounts for 20% of new cases (Boston Herald, Apr 20, 2022)
“The subvariant BA.2.12.1 — an offshoot of the BA.2 omicron “stealth” variant — now accounts for 20% of new COVID cases in New England, according to the CDC tracker. That’s almost double from 11.5% during the previous week.”

Most Americans have been infected with the coronavirus at least once, the C.D.C. says (New York Times, Apr 24, 2022)
“By February 2022, roughly 64 percent of adults 18 to 49, about half those 50 to 64, and about one-third of older adults had been exposed to the virus, according to the study.”

Click on graph above for latest Cambridge data.

May 17, 2022 Breakdown of Cases:
27104 tested positive (total) - an increase of 114 from the previous day
164 confirmed deaths - 84 in long-term care facilities, 80 in general community

Thanks to vaccinations, even though the 7-day averages were dreadful
the impacts were not as bad as they could have been.

City of Cambridge Covid Information     Harvard University COVID-19 data     MIT COVID-19 data

The surge in new positive tests has been due to a combination of the Delta and Omicron variants.
High vaccination rates have helped to blunt what might have been a larger surge and far more deaths.

Covid Cases by Age Group - through May 16, 2022

(click on above graph for the latest)
MWRA Biobot wastewater data - May 16, 2022

MWRA Biobot recent wastewater data - North System - May 16, 2022
Note the recent rise due to the BA.2 variants - still increasing. Further note that
the 7-day average once reached as high as 8644, now stands at 1170 and is heading upward.

Sample Date	4/25	4/26	4/27	4/28	4/29	4/30	5/1	5/2	5/3	5/4	5/5	5/6	5/7	5/8	5/9	5/10	5/11	5/12	5/13	5/14	5/15	5/16
North System (copies/ml)	471	426	623	505	833	697	493	662	561	751	953	789	797	952	853	922	995	1670	1285	1356	982	1143
Northern 7-day Avg.	532	502	525	516	537	560	564	592	615	632	692	687	700	769	797	856	891	965	1035	1117	1122	1170

Initial Screening Committee for the City Manager Search Finalized (Apr 14, 2022)

Brian Burke - Resident Advocate Kathleen Moore - Resident Advocate Susan Fleischmann - Resident Advocate Banti Gheneti - Resident Advocate Mo Barbosa - Health & Human Services Representative Rachel Weinstein - Cambridge School Committee Representative     Christine Elow - Public Safety Advocate Michael Monestime - City Planner

Vernon Walker - Non Profit Representative Thomas Lucey - Higher Education Representative B. Kimmerman - Large Business Representative Jason Alves - Small Business Representative Elaine DeRosa - Affordable Housing Advocate Chris Cassa - Arts/Recreation Advocate James Kaufman - Municipal Finance Representative

Cambridge City Manager Search

2022 Cambridge City Manager Leadership Profile (final revision of job posting)

There was an Ordinance Committee meeting on April 13 “to conduct a public hearing on Ordinance #2022-2 charter change municipal code amendments.” At this meeting the following language was proposed by the City Solicitor and amended by the City Council:

Be it ordained by the City Council as follows:
That Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.02 entitled “City Council” shall be amended by the addition of the following two sections:

Section 2.02.090 Annual Review of City Manager’s Performance

A. As provided in G.L. c. 43, § 116(a) the City Council shall prepare and deliver to the City Manager an annual written performance review of the City Manager’s performance.

B. The annual written performance review shall address the City Manager’s performance during the prior year and the issues work that the City Council would like to be addressed performed by the City Manager in the following year.

C. The written report of the annual performance review of the City Manager conducted by the City Council should be based upon written information submitted to the City Council by the City Manager in the regular course of the business of the City, and upon an oral performance review meeting conducted individually or severally by and between the City Councillors and the City Manager.

D C. The annual written performance review shall be completed and delivered to the City Manager by no later than March 30 of each year and shall encompass the City Manager’s performance during the preceding calendar year.

Section 2.02.100 Special Committee to Review the City Charter Every Ten Years

A. As provided in G.L. c. 43, §116(b), no later than July 1 in each year ending in 2, beginning in 2022 and every 10 years thereafter, the City Council shall establish a special committee tasked with reviewing the City Charter and recommending any proposed changes the special committee deems necessary or desirable.

B. The special committee shall:

(i) be made up of [NUMBER] 12-18 of registered voters of the City, not currently holding any elective office in the City;

(ii) include [NUMBER] [be made up of members selected by an ad hoc committee of four councillors appointed by the Mayor] of special committee members appointed by the Mayor, [NUMBER] of special committee members appointed by the City Manager, and [NUMBER] of special committee members appointed by the Superintendent of Schools;

(iii) hold all of its meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law and keep written minutes of all meetings which shall be submitted to and approved by the special committee at its next meeting;

(iv) hold not less than [NUMBER] of duly posted and advertised public meetings to seek input from members of the community on whether any changes to the City Charter should be made and the reasons why any proposed changes would be desirable, the beneficial effects that any such changes would have upon the electorate and the community in general, and the beneficial effects that any such changes would have upon the reasonable operation and effectiveness of City government;

(v) submit a written report to the City Council within one (1) year of its appointment, unless the special committee seeks an extension of the one-year period for enumerated reasons stated by the special committee and the City Council approves the requested extension of the one-year period by majority vote. The written report shall include any charter changes the special committee recommends as necessary or desirable by a two-thirds vote of the special committee, and shall include the reasons for the recommended changes to be made and the anticipated effects of the changes as set forth in subsection (iv) above; and

(vi) dissolve once it files its written report with the City Council.

C. Action on any proposed Charter changes shall be as authorized by law.

Both sections (as amended) were forwarded unanimously to the full City Council with positive recommendations.

Featured recent stories in the Cambridge Chronicle (the paper of record) - with some comments:

If you would like to subscribe or pick up a free paper copy at various sites, I encourage you to do so. It really is The Paper of Record.

The Chronicle Companion: Week of May 16-22, 2022 (posted May 16, 2022)

Cambridge art installation to tackle Brattle Street slavery (posted May 13, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of May 9 - 15, 2022 (posted May 9, 2022)

3 top fishing spots around Cambridge (May 6, 2022)

10 municipalities endorse state Fair Share tax to address budget needs (May 5, 2022, Medford Transcript)

Baseball season kicks off with special parade in North Cambridge (May 4, 2022)

Body of man known as 'Michael' remains in limbo under state law (May 4, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of May 2 - 8, 2022 (posted May 2, 2022)

Cambridge Community Foundation awards $516K in grants to 73 nonprofits (Apr 28, 2022)

Cambridge earmarks $22M in APRA funds for basic income program (Apr 28, 2022)

Full text of City Manager Louis DePasquale's 2022 State of the City Address (Apr 28, 2022)

Full text of Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui's 2022 State of the City Address (Apr 28, 2022)

PHOTOS: Scenes from Cambridge's 'state of the city' addresses (Apr 28, 2022)

In Cambridge, Hubba Hubba gets a makeover (Apr 28, 2022)

Cambridge children's librarian retires after 40 years (Apr 21, 2022, updated Apr 27)

Cambridge relief grants help keep restaurants afloat (Apr 27, 2022)

Advocates call for Baker to extend pandemic rental assistance (Apr 25, 2022, updated Apr 26)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 25 - May 1, 2022 (posted Apr 25, 2022)

Will the image on the MA state seal change? Here's why the commission may need more time (Apr 25, 2022)

Cambridge councillors endorse proposed 4% tax on wealthy (Apr 20, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 18-24, 2022 (posted Apr 17, 2022)

Cambridge salutes Rumba as Police Dept. retires K9 officer (Apr 15, 2022)

Boston Marathon's 'Original 8' women ran on 'momentous day' in 1972 (Apr 13, 2022, subscribers only)
Very nice to see my friend and neighbor Sara Mae Berman quoted and in several of the photos!

Kathrine Switzer still rewriting Boston Marathon history 50 years later (Apr 12, 2022)

Time to expand bottle bill has come, Cambridge lawmaker (Marjorie Decker) argues (Apr 13, 2022)

Campaign to change the perception of survivors of sexual assault, abuse (Apr 12, 2022)

Cambridge not doing enough to reduce carbon footprint, report argues (Apr 12, 2022)

Grant ensures continuation of trauma-informed law enforcement training in City of Cambridge (Apr 12, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 11-17, 2022 (posted Apr 11, 2022)

New book celebrates, documents Cambridge community gardens (Apr 6, 2022, updated Apr 7)
I highly recommend this article and the referenced online publication (and not just because I'm pictured in it back when I had long hair!)

Mystic River trails project to focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety (Apr 6, 2022, Arlington Advocate)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 4 -10, 2022 (posted Apr 3, 2022)

City leaders: Bishop Allen Drive project exemplifies Cambridge values (Apr 3, 2022, updated Apr 4)