City Council — Special Meeting, August 7, 2023

City Manager's Agenda (25)

• CMA 2023 #193A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to new appointments and reappointments of the following persons as members of the Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees: Jane Licurse (appointment); Rae Simpson, Paula Paris, Michael Shear, Ben Milligan, Bill Lahey,
• CMA 2023 #194A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Ethridge King as an Election Commissioner for a term of four years
• CMA 2023 #197A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Scott Walker to the Open Data Review Board as a City staff member
• CMA 2023 #198Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $494,531 to the Grant Fund Emergency Communications Salaries and Wages account ($401,853), and to the Grant Fund Emergency Communications Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($92,678).This formula-based reimbursement grant will support the costs of Emergency Communications Center personnel salaries, overtime and annual maintenance costs of dispatch-related software
• CMA 2023 #199Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $15,603.12 to the Grant Fund Emergency Communications Other Ordinary Maintenance Account. Funds will be used for quality assurance (call review) for the emergency medical protocol used by staff to provide pre and post-dispatch instructions for medical emergencies
• CMA 2023 #200Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a grant from the Cambridge Public Health Department in the amount of $1,000.00, to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account. Funds will be used for Windsor’s Let’s Get Moving: Play Through Motion! Project
• CMA 2023 #201Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of$5,000.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account. These funds are used annually to supplement fuel assistance payments
• CMA 2023 #202Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $557,720.00 to the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance account. Funds will be used to provide nutritious meals to Cambridge youth at over 50 meal sites throughout the City during the summer months when schools are closedschools
• CMA 2023 #203A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments and reappointments of the following persons as a members of the Climate Committee; Appointments: Joseph Adiletta, Mallorie Barber, Wendy DeWolf, Hajer Hyte, Michelle Holmes, Pasang Lhamo, Katharine Lange, Catarina Martinez, Rachel Mural, Joel Nogic, Tom Rawson, Vandana Sareen, Allie Shepard, Ming Su, and Neheet Trivedi. Reappointments: Keith Giamportone, Lyn Huckabee, Steven Nutter, and David Rabkinclimate
• CMA 2023 #204A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Cannabis Amendments Special Permit zoning petitionzoning📖 read
• CMA 2023 #205Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $735,939.00 to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account ($662,346) and to the Grant Fund Community Development Salary & Wages account ($73,593). Development activities may include acquisition, moderate rehabilitation, substantial rehabilitation and new construction of housing units for low- and moderate- income families and individualshousing-general
• CMA 2023 #206Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $2,443,644 received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the Housing Opportunities for People with Aids (HOPWA) Grant to the Grant Fund Community Development Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($2,358,117) and to the Grant Fund Community Development Department Salaries and Wages Account ($85,527). Funds will be used for assisted living programs and supportive services, shelter services, rental assistance and housing search serviceshomelessnesshousing-general
• CMA 2023 #207A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-53, regarding a request that the City Manager work with relevant City Departments on how Cambridge might participate in PACE Massachusetts pursuant to the PACE Act, including exploring all Options for incentivizing participation📖 read 📄 PDF
• CMA 2023 #208A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the project update on the Central Square Municipal Property Needs Assessment and Planning Studyaffordable-housingartshousing-generalzoning📖 read
• CMA 2023 #209A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the submission of the 2023 Affordable Housing Overlay Annual Reportaffordable-housinghousing-generalpolice-safetyzoning📖 read
• CMA 2023 #210Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $34,000, funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), to the Grant Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account. The equipment purchased through this grant will enhance operations, advance data reliability, and improve real time reporting capabilities
• CMA 2023 #211A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 23-42, regarding irrigation at Danehy Park
• CMA 2023 #212A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments and reappointments of the following persons as a members of the Committee on Public Planting for a term of two years; Appointments: Uriel Bulow, Raymond Fahrner, Gretchen Friesinger, Robb Johnson, Amira Valliani, Achana Venkataraman, and Angela Zhong. Reappointments: Margaret Booz, Cindy Carpenter, Sara Cohen, Chantal Eide, Sophia Emperador, Sandra Fairbank, Ahron Lerman, Ruth Loetterle, Tracy Orr, and Cynthia Smith
• CMA 2023 #213A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a report from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) which makes recommendations regarding the release of an officer’s name after a critical incidentpolice-safety📖 read
• CMA 2023 #214A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a response to Policy Order 2022 #278, regarding the legal opinion for a public speaker to state their name name, address, and phone number for the record📖 read
• CMA 2023 #215Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $113,479.79 in unexpended Public Investment balances from capital projects related to public buildings that have been completed, the balances from which are now available for redistribution to other projects. These funds will support deferred capital improvements consistent with the Municipal Facilities Capital Improvement Plan (MFIP)
• CMA 2023 #216Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $46,510.75 in unexpended Public Investment balances from capital projects related to equipment, that have been completed, the balances from which are now available for redistribution to other related projects. These funds will support capital expenditures related to equipment purchases
• CMA 2023 #217Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Transfer of $72,252.17 in unexpended Public Investment balances from capital projects related to streets and public ways, that have been completed, the balances from which are now available for redistribution to other related projects. These funds will support capital expenditures related to streets and public ways
• CMA 2023 #218A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to possibility of acquiring the property at 450 Concord Avenue, owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“Commonwealth”) and utilized by the National Guard Armory of Cambridge📖 read 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF
• CMA 2023 #219A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a request to move to Executive Session to discuss the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property as discussion in an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body

Communications (114)

114 resident communications received for this meeting — climate (89) · housing general (10) · bike lanes (9) · transit traffic (6) · zoning (5). Individual letters are summarized in the city's agenda and are not republished here, by policy.

Policy Orders (18)

• POR 2023 #131That the City Council go on record recognizing August to be "National Black Business Month."
• POR 2023 #132That the City Council recognize August 7 as Purple Heart Day on an annual basispolice-safety
• POR 2023 #133That the City Manager is requested to work with the relevant departments to provide the City Council with possible projections, based on stated assumptions, of expected outcomes in Alewife for total housing, commercial, open space and public amenities, over the next twenty years, if the proposed zoning were adoptedhousing-generalzoning
• POR 2023 #134Canopy Loss & Developing a Replacement Strategytrees
• POR 2023 #135Standards for Chicken Keepinghousing-generalzoning📖 read 📄 PDF
• POR 2023 #136Encouraging De-Paving Throughout The City
• POR 2023 #137Aligning Parking Fees With Climate and Transportation Goalsclimatetransit-traffic
• POR 2023 #138Recognize September 2023 as Suicide Prevention Month in the City of Cambridge and that the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to light up City Hall purple for the week of September 18, 2023 in honor of Suicide Prevention Month
• POR 2023 #139Recognize August 31, 2023, as International Overdose Awareness Day and September 2023 as National Recovery Month in the City of Cambridge and that the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to light City Hall up purple from August 31 through September 30, 2023, in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day and National Recovery Month
• POR 2023 #140That the City Manager is requested to work with the Cambridge Public Library to create an Induction Stoves Loaner Program and help residents access experience using induction stoves
• POR 2023 #141That the City Manager is requested to finalize the grant agreement with Bunker Hill Community College and appropriate the $50,000 in contributions made by MIT and Harvard University to the College Success Initiative to provide scholarships for 30 students entering Bunker Hill Community Collegeschools
• POR 2023 #142That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department and CPD to report to the City Council on all outstanding and recent (last 5 fiscal years: FY’23,’22,’21,’20,’19) lawsuits involving the CPD or individual members of CPD that the City is expending or has expended resources on, including an estimate of how much has been spent on these lawsuits to date in FY24. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL AUGUST 7, 2023
• POR 2023 #143That the City Manager is requested to consult with relevant departments on an enhanced communication strategy to inform residents about the implementation of the Cycling Safety Ordinancebike-lanes
• POR 2023 #144That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to review the Across Sidewalk Electric Vehicle Charging (EV) Permit Pilot Program and remove the $200 permit fee associated with the pilot program
• POR 2023 #145That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments and agencies to design and implement a pilot program providing subsidized, on-demand transit to low-income residents, people with disabilities and seniors, with a goal of expanding the program to service the region in ways that supplement the MBTA system via fare-free, on-demand transit for everyone. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR TONER IN COUNCIL AUGUST 7, 2023transit-traffic📖 read
• POR 2023 #146That the City Manager is requested to meet with Governor Healey, DCR Commissioner Arrigo and Secretary Rebecca Tepper to discuss resuming Saturday closures to traffic this summer and mitigating the traffic impacts, including by making potential traffic signal adjustmentstransit-traffic
• POR 2023 #147That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on whether change in language to the CSO is necessary to enable installation of permanent, seasonal, and/or temporary outdoor dining and pop-ups alongside separated bicycle lanes consistent with Cycling Safety Ordinance that address concerns about the current situation. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN IN COUNCIL AUGUST 7, 2023bike-lanestransit-traffic📖 read 📄 PDF
• POR 2023 #148City Council support of graduate student workers of Northeastern University and their effort to form a unionlabor

Resolutions (28)

• RES 2023 #197Congratulations on the retirement of Patricia Royster-Peterson from the Cambridge Public Schoolsschools
• RES 2023 #198Resolution on the death of Agnes M. Dattero
• RES 2023 #199Congratulations to Superintendent Pauline Wells of the Cambridge Police Department on her recent promotionpolice-safety
• RES 2023 #200Congratulations on the retirement of Oral Bynoe from the Cambridge Police Departmentpolice-safety
• RES 2023 #201Resolution on the Death of Edward J. “Ted” Hoff
• RES 2023 #202Congratulations to Ingrid Nowak on her Retirement
• RES 2023 #203Thanks and appreciation to Cambridge School Committee Member Fred Fantini for his service to the students and families in Cambridge for 40 yearsschools
• RES 2023 #204Congratulations to Superintendent Rob Lowe on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department and on his new Appointment as Chief of the Boston University Police Departmentpolice-safety
• RES 2023 #205Congratulations to Heidi Lyle on her retirement from the Cambridge Health Alliance
• RES 2023 #206Congratulations to Fernanda Botelho on her retirement from the Cambridge Health Alliance
• RES 2023 #207Congratulations to Firefighter Robert A. Walsh on his retirement
• RES 2023 #208Congratulations to Miriam Figueroa on her retirement from the Cambridge Health Alliance
• RES 2023 #209Congratulations to Pauline McGrath on her retirement from the Cambridge Public Schoolsschools
• RES 2023 #210Congratulations to Paul Tully on his Retirement from The Department of Public Works
• RES 2023 #211Congratulations to Henry Williams on his retirement of The Department of Public Works
• RES 2023 #212Resolution on the death of Dominic P. Calioro
• RES 2023 #213Resolution on the death of Edward Hoff
• RES 2023 #214Resolution on the death of Dolores F. DiBiase
• RES 2023 #215Resolution on the death of Eugene A. "Geno" Walcott Jr
• RES 2023 #216Resolution on the death of Margaret Burnieika
• RES 2023 #217Resolution on the death of Edward T. Cheevers
• RES 2023 #218Resolution on the death of Antonio J. De Sousa
• RES 2023 #219Resolution on the death of Mary Ann Mangone
• RES 2023 #220Resolution on the death of Donald W. "Don" Holland Sr
• RES 2023 #221Congratulations To Organizers of Jazz Fest 2023
• RES 2023 #222Condolences to the family of Mary Travers
• RES 2023 #223Congratulations to City Councillor E. Denise Simmons on receiving the 2023 Pride Freedom Trailblazer Award
• RES 2023 #224Condolences To The Family of Charles Ogletree

Ordinances (1)

• ORD 2023 # 4An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to amending Article 4.30 and Article 11.800 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridgezoning📖 read

Applications & Petitions (9)

• APP 2023 #38An application was received from Pardis Saffari, Director of Economic Opportunity and Development, Community Development Department requesting permission for twenty-five (25) temporary pole banners along Inman Square to celebrate and promote the Inman Square commercial district. The banners will be hung in the Summer 2023 and be taken down around the Summer 2025📖 read
• APP 2023 #39An application was received from Denise A. Jillson, Executive Director, Harvard Square Business Association requesting permission for six (6) temporary banners along Harvard Square to celebrate and welcome people from across the globe to Harvard Square. The banners will be hung from August 15, 2023 through December 31, 2024📖 read
• APP 2023 #40An application was received from Andrew Baldizon, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 100 Main Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood associationtransit-traffic📖 read
• APP 2023 #41An application was received from Andrew Baldizon, requesting permission for a curb cut (1 of 4) at the premises numbered 200 Main Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood associationtransit-traffic📖 read
• APP 2023 #42An application was received from Andrew Baldizon, requesting permission for a curb cut (2 of 4) at the premises numbered 200 Main Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood associationtransit-traffic📖 read
• APP 2023 #43An application was received from Andrew Baldizon, requesting permission for a curb cut (3 of 4) at the premises numbered 200 Main Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood associationtransit-traffic📖 read
• APP 2023 #44An application was received from Andrew Baldizon, requesting permission for a curb cut (4 of 4) at the premises numbered 200 Main Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood associationtransit-traffic📖 read
• APP 2023 #45An application was received from Stuart Pitchel representing Vico Style, requesting permission for a projecting blade sign at the premises numbered 73 Mt. Auburn Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutters📖 read
• APP 2023 #46An application was received from John Peterson representing Union Square Donuts, requesting permission for a projecting blade sign at the premises numbered 15 JFK Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutterslabor📖 read

Other Business (14)

• AR-23-45Report on the issuing of an RFP calling for an agency that will lead the City through a community process with all stakeholders that will include community education, feedback, location possibilities, and potential legal issues as it relates to Overdose Prevention Centers
• AR-23-46Report on the coordination between relevant departments, local business associations, and local businesses to communicate to all retail businesses operating in Cambridge to encourage them to keep doors closed when operating cooling systems and inform them of other energy saving tools

• an update regarding legislative activity 📖 read 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF
• a Police Review & Advisory Board Report for the First Quarter of 2023 📄 PDF
• an update to the Cambridge City Council 📄 PDF
• information regarding the Cambridge Promise Pilot 📖 read
• Proposed Amendments to the Fossil Fuel-Free Demonstration Ordinance Language 📖 read
• questions regarding commercial kitchen amendments
• CMA 2023 #195 : A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order #23-123, regarding an explanation of the legal standard that is used to compel changes or deny projects reviewed by the Historical Commission or Neighborhood Conservation District Commissions.

REFERRED TO PETITION ON AUGUST 7, 2023 📖 read

• CMA 2023 #196 : A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to proposed amendments to Ch. 2.78, Art III of the Cambridge Municipal Code, the Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCD) and

Landmarks Ordinance.

REFERRED TO PETITION ON AUGUST 7, 2023 [arts, zoning] 📖 read

• ORD 2023 # 6 : An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to proposed changes to Cannabis Business Permitting Proposed Ordinance 2023-6. PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL OCTOBER 16, 2023.

ELIGIBLE TO BE ORDAINED 📖 read

• ORD 2022 # 11 : Amendment to Chapter 2.78 of the Cambridge Code of Ordinance, entitled “Historical Buildings and Landmarks.” (Ordinance #2022-11). PASSED TO A SECOND READING AS AMENDED IN COUNCIL AUGUST 7, 2023. FURTHER AMENDED IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2023.

ELIGIBLE TO BE ORDAINED - NO EXPIRATION [affordable-housing, housing-general] 📖 read

• ORD 2023 # 5 : An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to the Alewife Overlay District: Quadrangle (AOD-Q) Zoning Petition and Design Guidelines. PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL AUGUST 7, 2023

ELIGIBLE TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER AUGUST 28, 2023 - EXPIRES OCTOBER 17, 2023 [transit-traffic, zoning] 📖 read

• AR-23-47 : Report on the Law Department's review of the proposed amended ordinance language and provide an explanation of the legal standard that is used to compel changes or deny projects reviewed by the Historical

Commission or Neighborhood Conservation District Commissions

Committee Reports (18)

• Government Operations Rules & Claims Committee hearing of 2019-12-04 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Government Operations Rules & Claims Committee hearing of 2020-11-17 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Government Operations Rules & Claims Committee hearing of 2021-03-16 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Government Operations Rules & Claims Committee hearing of 2021-04-07 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Government Operations Rules & Claims Committee hearing of 2021-07-12 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Government Operations Rules & Claims Committee hearing of 2021-08-04 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Civic Unity Committee hearing of 2022-09-29 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Health & Environment Committee hearing of 2022-11-16 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Ordinance Committee hearing of 2023-04-26 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Committee hearing of (unknown date) — Passed To A Second Reading As Amended [Unanimous]
• Public Safety Committee hearing of 2023-06-07 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Committee hearing of 2023-06-22 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Ordinance Committee hearing of 2023-06-27 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Committee hearing of (unknown date) — Passed To A Second Reading As Amended [Unanimous]
• Ordinance Committee hearing of 2023-07-19 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Committee hearing of (unknown date) — Passed To A Second Reading [Unanimous]
• Economic Development & University Relations Committee hearing of 2023-07-20 — Accepted [Unanimous]
• Ordinance Committee hearing of 2023-08-01 — Accepted [Unanimous]