Economic Development & University Relations Committee
A committee of five City Councillors. Three members are a quorum. Charge per the Rules of the City Council, adopted June 1, 2026.
What it takes up
- To consider all issues regarding the relationship between the City, educational institutions, employers, business associations, and other partners within the City, to develop policies and programs that will enhance economic development, tax revenue, and expand career and employment opportunities for Cambridge residents;
- To develop policies that will facilitate the regular and timely exchange of information between educational institutions, employers, business organizations, and other partners in the community, and the City administration and City Council, and monitor implementation of agreed on policies and programs;
- To review and evaluate agreements between the City and institutions for payments made by institutions in lieu of property taxes (PILOT), develop policies to ensure that the agreements are fair and equitable, and monitor implementation;
- To monitor and improve existing employment, diversity of opportunity, career, and workforce development programs.
Current members 2026–27
Tim FlahertyCo-Chair
Cathie ZusyCo-Chair
Ayah Al-ZubiMember
E. Denise SimmonsMember
Patty NolanMemberMembership per City Council Committee Assignments 2026-2027 (City of Cambridge) · sources & meeting inventory
Meetings
Every meeting since 2018, newest first. 6 meetings known but lacking minutes: see Missing minutes.
2026 (1 meeting)
June
9TueMeetingThe purpose of this meeting is to convene a roundtable of representati · COF 2026 #87 · A communication was received from Pardis Saffari, Direc2025 (6 meetings)
December
16TueMeetingsCOF 2025 #161 · the meeting agenda · COF 2025 #162 · a presentation on the Cambridge Office of Tourism · POR 2025 #117 · That the City Manager is requested to wOctober
8WedMeetingsCOF 2025 #130 · A communication was received from Pardis Saffari Direc · Accepted by the City Council on 2025-11-03 · Accepted [Unanimous]June
23MonMeetingsPOR 2025 #49 · That the City Council send a formal invitation to Mr. G · Accepted by the City Council on 2025-08-04 · Accepted [Unanimous]May
6TueMeetingsCOF 2025 #74 · a presentation titled "Workforce Development Update" · Accepted by the City Council on 2025-06-23 · Report Accepted [UnanimouMarch
20ThuMeetingsCOF 2025 #43 · a presentation related to the Cannabis industry · COF 2025 #44 · a presentation from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control · Accepted by the City C11TueMeetingsCOF 2025 #40 · a presentation related to vacant storefronts · Accepted by the City Council on 2025-04-07 · Report Accepted [Unanimou2024 (8 meetings)
December
17TueMeetingsCOF 2024 #160 · a presentation regarding Retail Cannabis Industry Upda · POR 2024 #116 · That the City Manager is requested to direct the appro · Accepted by thOctober
31ThuMeetingsCOF 2024 #137 · the meeting agenda for the October 31, 2024 Economic D · COF 2024 #139 · a presentation regarding housing, zoning, and the impa · Accepted by thAugust
5MonMeetingsCOF 2024 #100 · the Agenda for the Economic Development and University · COF 2024 #101 · the Harvard Town Grown Report · COF 2024 #102 · the EXECUTED Amendment June
26WedMeetingsCOF 2024 #95 · the Agenda · COM 2336 #2024 · a Town Gown presentation · COM 2335 #2024 · the 2023 Town Gown presentationMay
29WedMeetingsCOF 2024 #76 · a presentation regarding the supplier diversity update · Accepted by the City Council on 2024-06-24 · Report Accepted [UnanimouMarch
6WedMeetingsCOF 2024 #25 · presentation relative to the CSO Economic Impact Study · CMA 2024 #21 · A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Mana · Accepted by theFebruary
15ThuMeetingsCOF 2024 #13 · an article titled "Economic uncertainty impacted Cambri · Accepted by the City Council on 2024-03-04 · Accepted6TueMeetingsCOF 2024 #10 · a presentation titled "Harnessing the Innovation Econom · COF 2024 #12 · materials regarding Development Cost Analysis · Accepted by the City Cou2023 (6 meetings)
September
27WedMeetingsa presentation regarding the Disparity Study Update · Accepted by the City Council on 2023-10-16 · AcceptedJuly
20ThuMeetingsCOF 2023 #128 · a draft data table · COF 2023 #129 · a presentation regarding the Cycling Safety Ordinance · POR 2022 #29 · That the City Manager is requested May
2TueMeetingsPOR 2022 #29 · That the City Manager is requested to confer with the E · COF 2023 #83 · the 2023 Online Business Survey · COF 2023 #84 · the 2023 Cambridge BusiApril
4TueMeetingsCOF 2023 #59 · A communication was received from Senior Zoning Manager · Accepted by the City Council on 2023-05-01 · Accepted [Unanimous]February
7TueMeetingsCMA 2023 #24 · A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Mana · POR 2022 #161 · That the City Council refer the zoning petition regard · COF 2023 #28 ·January
18WedMeetingsCOF 2023 #13 · a Status Update on Cannabis Industry · COM 44 #2023 · the Hoffman presentation · Accepted by the City Council on 2023-02-27 · Accepted [Unanimous2022 (3 meetings)
November
22TueMeetingsCOF 2022 #144 · detailed agenda · COF 2022 #145 · A communication was received from Iram Farooq, Assista · COM 1034 #2022 · Cambridge Transmission and DistributJune
15WedMeetingsCOF 2022 #76 · the Circular Cambridge Study 2022April
13WedMeetingsCOF 2022 #47 · the Agenda · a presentation for the Economic Development Committee meeting on April2021 (3 meetings)
June
8TueMeetingsa presentation regarding a review of services and programs City staff · opening remarks for the June 8, 2021 Economic Development and Universi · Accepted by th1TueMeetingsCOF 2021 #54 · A communication was received from Lisa Hemmerle, Direct · Accepted by the City Council on 2021-06-28 · Accepted [Unanimous]January
13WedMeetingsCOF 2021 #4 · Vacant Storefront Registration Policy Findings and Recom2020 (3 meetings)
November
19ThuMeetingsCOF 2020 #70 · an overview of current WBE/MBE programs from · COF 2020 #71 · the Commonwealth’s Operational Services Division Presen · COF 2020 #80 · attachmentAugust
11TueMeetingsA presentation was received from Cynthia Barnhart, Chancellor Massachu · A presentation was received from Thomas J. Lucey, Director, Government · A presentationJuly
30ThuMeetingsAccepted by the City Council on 2020-10-19 · Placed On File [Unanimous2019 (2 meetings)
April
30TueMeetingsAccepted by the City Council on 2019-06-10 · Report Accepted And PlaceFebruary
13WedMeetingsAccepted by the City Council on 2019-03-18 · Report Accepted And Place2018 (5 meetings)
December
12WedMeetingsAccepted by the City Council on 2019-02-04 · Report Accepted And PlaceOctober
3WedMeetingsAccepted by the City Council on 2018-12-03 · Report Accepted And PlaceSeptember
12WedMeetingsAccepted by the City Council on 2018-10-15 · Report Accepted And PlaceJune
20WedMeetings March
28WedMeetingsAccepted by the City Council on 2018-04-30 · Report Accepted And Place