City Council — Regular Meeting, May 1, 2023

City Manager's Agenda (19)

• CMA 2023 #105Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the FY2024 submitted budget and appropriation ordersbudgetpolice-safetytransit-traffic📖 read 📄 PDF
• CMA 2023 #106A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $50,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of the Mass Avenue between Waterhouse Street and Alewife Parkwaybike-lanes📖 read
• CMA 2023 #107A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriation and authorization to borrow $35,350,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan. Funds will support upgrades to the 689 Mass Avenue Interior; upgrades at the Moses Youth Center; Interior fit-out of Rindge Pre-K building; electric vehicle charging station infrastructure at several municipal buildings; and additional work at Inman and East Cambridge Fire Houses; First Street Garage upgrades to stairs and elevator; and other City building upgrades📖 read
• CMA 2023 #108A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriation and authorization to borrow $2,500,000 to provide funds for the construction of the Peabody School Playground and Corcoran (Raymond Street) parkschools📖 read
• CMA 2023 #109A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for financing school building upgradesclimateschools📖 read
• CMA 2023 #110A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $51,500,000 to provide funds for the construction of sewer separation, storm water management and combined sewer overflow reduction elimination improvements within the Port and River Street areas as well as the Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness effortsclimate📖 read
• CMA 2023 #111A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $26,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets, sidewalks and bike facilities. $15,000,000 of this loan order is attributable to the improvement project related to sewer infrastructure upgrades on River Street, which include full depth roadway reconstruction, new sidewalks, new street trees and various other street improvementstrees📖 read
• CMA 2023 #112Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $758.00 from a preschool family fundraiser to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account. The funds are being used for field trips and classroom supplies for the program
• CMA 2023 #113Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a grant from the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in the amount of $33,301.72 to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($22,683.34) and to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($10,618.38). Funds from the grant support the Carey Men’s Permanent Supported Housing Program operated by the Multi-Service Centerhomelessnesshousing-general
• CMA 2023 #114Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Community Learning Center (CLC) grant funded by Friends of the Community Learning Center through individual donations in the amount of $4,000.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($4,000.00), funds will support English for Speakers of Other Languages classes at the Community Learning Center
• CMA 2023 #115Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Friends of the Community Learning Center (CLC) grant, funded by Friends of the Community Learning Center through a First Literacy mini grant, in the amount of $5,000.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($5,000.00), funds will support one or two ESOL part time teachers to offer professional development and develop materials for teachers to use in their classes on a project regarding gender identitiesschools
• CMA 2023 #116Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $9,615.00 for the Center for Families program received from the Cambridge Public Health Commission, Agenda for Children to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account, funds will be used to provide Family programming and curriculum development, pre-bagged refreshments for outside and in-person events and activity bag giveaways
• CMA 2023 #117Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Adult and Community Learning Services grant received from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in the amount of $12,646.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($6,646.00) and to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($6,000.00), funds will be used to pay for additional hours for professional development, career advising and participation in the Digital Literacy Advisory Group
• CMA 2023 #118Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $255,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Public Works Other Ordinary Maintenance account. Funds will be used for snowstorm related expenses associated with snow plowing and snow removal contracts
• CMA 2023 #119Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of 845,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account to fund the procurement of five pieces of equipment for use in snow and ice operations
• CMA 2023 #120Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $500,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account to fund snowstorm related street repairs
• CMA 2023 #121A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-74, regarding needs assessment of the Danehy Park and recommendations for improvements; and irrigation updates
• CMA 2023 #122A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment and reappointment of the following persons as a members of the Board of Zoning Appealszoning📖 read 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF
• CMA 2023 #123A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report with no positive or negative recommendation on the Michael Monestime et. al. Zoning Petitionaffordable-housinghousing-generalzoning📖 read

Communications (32)

32 resident communications received for this meeting — trees (13) · transit traffic (11) · climate (6) · housing general (6) · bike lanes (4). Individual letters are summarized in the city's agenda and are not republished here, by policy.

Policy Orders (6)

• POR 2023 #75That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department to promptly draft a zoning petition to be considered for filing by the City Council, based upon the proposed Affordable Housing Overlay amendments now before the Housing Committeeaffordable-housingbike-laneshousing-generaltransit-trafficzoning📖 read
• POR 2023 #76That the City Manager is hereby requested to work with the Community Development Department and neighboring cities and agree to a non-binding framework that Cambridge can use to work towards a more diverse real estate development industry
• POR 2023 #77Recognize Turquoise Takeover Week from May 8-14, 2023 to raise awareness for lung cancer
• POR 2023 #78That the City Manager is requested to work with CDD, Law Department, the Assessor’s Office, and any other relevant departments to produce final draft ordinance language for the BEUDO amendments based on the CDD proposal as amended by the Ordinance Committee at its April 26, 2023 hearing; and that the City Manager report back on this matter, including presenting final draft language to the City Council no later than May 31st, 2023climate📖 read
• POR 2023 #79That the City Manager is requested to work with DPW and relevant City departments and the Committee on Public Planting to consider ideas proposed during the Health and Environment Committee meeting on April 25, 2023, and to prepare a brief report outlining action items within the City’s UFMP which can be implemented as soon as this year and develop recommendations to update regulations regarding native species planting practices in light of climate change affecting the species that should be planted in the Cityclimate
• POR 2023 #80City Council support of letter on strong Clean Heat Standards

Resolutions (1)

• RES 2023 #129Congratulations to Debra Wise on her appointment as Associate Artistic Director of Revels, Inc

Applications & Petitions (2)

• APP 2023 #21An application was received from Lesley University requesting permission for 48 temporary banners on Massachusetts Avenue from Everett Street to Upland Road announcing Lesley University with Student Artwork from May 4, 2023 through May 23, 2023📖 read
• APP 2023 #22A Zoning Petition has been received from Ian Ferguson, et al. regarding Pitched Roofs Zoning Petitionzoning📖 read

Other Business (3)

• AR-23-28Report on bringing together a working group to conduct outreach through neighborhood groups including the Fresh Pond Residents Alliance, and any other nearby neighborhood groups and city departments, in order to discuss and review options for use of the BB&N Field

• an update regarding legislative activity 📖 read 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF
• information from the School Committee

Committee Reports (1)

• Economic Development & University Relations Committee hearing of 2023-04-04 — Accepted [Unanimous]