City Council — Regular Meeting, March 18, 2024

City Manager's Agenda (12)

• CMA 2024 #38A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update on the Safety Net Family Shelterhomelessness
• CMA 2024 #39A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Eric Williams as Constable without Power
• CMA 2024 #40A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Tahir Kapoor as a member of the Cambridge Water Board📖 read
• CMA 2024 #41A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Larry Ward as an Election Commissioner for a term of 4 years
• CMA 2024 #42A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the City of Cambridge retaining its AAA rating from the nation's three major credit rating agenciesbudgetschools📖 read 📄 PDF 📄 PDF
• CMA 2024 #43A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to recommendations for the block rates for water consumption and sewer use for the period beginning April 1, 2024 and ending March 31, 2025budget📖 read 📄 PDF
• CMA 2024 #44Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $2,000, to the Grant Fund Public Works Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account, for a donation received from the Kemp family for the Alexander W. Kemp playground at the Cambridge Common📖 read
• CMA 2024 #45Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $110,500, to the Grant Fund Public Works Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account. This program provides payments to municipalities that have implemented programs and policies proven to maximize reuse, recycling and waste reduction. The funds will be used to support the City’s recycling programs such as purchasing toters for residential and business recyclingbike-lanes
• CMA 2024 #46Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $680,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account to update equipment associated with winter snow and ice operations. This funding will support replacing two aging dump trucks with plows and salters and the purchase of two sidewalk machines to clear sidewalks and bike lanesbike-lanes
• CMA 2024 #47Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $468,295 from the General Fund Public Works Department Salary and Wages account to the General Fund Public Works Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account, for snowstorm related expenses associated with snow plowing and snow removal contracts
• CMA 2024 #48Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,000,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures account for street repairs required due to significant winter weather damage
• CMA 2024 #49Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $75,000, from the General Fund Public Works Salary and Wages account to the General Fund Public Works Travel and Training (Judgment and Damages) account to cover costs related to medical bills and settlements for Public Works personnel injured in the course of their job

Communications (42)

42 resident communications received for this meeting — tenants rent (22) · housing general (17) · bike lanes (12) · transit traffic (10) · budget (7). Individual letters are summarized in the city's agenda and are not republished here, by policy.

Policy Orders (11)

• POR 2024 #31That the Executive Assistant to the City Council confer with the Dedication Committee to consider a request from Vice Mayor McGovern for a suitable dedication in the vicinity of Copley Street and Walden Street in honor of Luke B. Santos
• POR 2024 #32That the City Manager is requested to work with the relevant departments and the United States Postal Service to examine whether a new street name for 91, 93, and 95 Pearl Street and 4 William Street and accompanying sign can be given to these houses
• POR 2024 #33That the City Manager is requested to work with the Animal Commission, the Law Department, and any other City departments, to amend Cambridge Code of Ordinances §6.08.010 (“Regulation of vicious dogs”) to bring into compliance with State law and creation of Kennel Licenses
• POR 2024 #34That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and meet with the MBTA and City of Boston in advance of the July Red Line shutdown about the implementation of a fare-free 1 bus programtransit-traffic
• POR 2024 #35That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department and Community Development Department to study whether the City Council could add maximum lot area per dwelling unit, maximum setback requirements, and minimum floor area ratios in some districts or as part of an overlay in the Zoning Ordinance and whether the City Council could require a special permit for a down conversion in developments that would result in a net loss of housing units. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR PICKETT IN COUNCIL MARCH 18, 2024affordable-housinghousing-generalzoning📖 read
• POR 2024 #36That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to investigate and determine what measures, if any, can be taken to mitigate the noise impacts of waste management disposal operations on residents in the North Point District while remaining compliant with existing legal requirements
• POR 2024 #37That the City Manager is requested to work with the chairs of the Housing Committee to create zoning language that effectively promotes multi-family housing, including income-restricted affordable housing with the goal of having viable housing for everyone especially lower-income residents. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR PICKETT IN COUNCIL MARCH 18, 2024affordable-housinghousing-generalzoning📖 read
• POR 2024 #38That the Executive Assistant to the City Council confer with the Dedication Committee to consider a request for a dedication in a suitable location to honor Roderick L. “Kito” Jackson
• POR 2024 #39That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and report back to the City Council with recommendations for adjusting parking permit fees to better align with associated coststransit-traffic
• POR 2024 #40That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to develop ways to fund support of decarbonization and clean energy projects and technical assistance for property owners of all types especially those with limited resources, with an initial focus on work associated with BEUDO emissions reduction requirementsclimate
• POR 2024 #41Policy Order to Edit City Council Rule 21A, 21B and add 21C Requiring Two City Councilors to Sponsor Policy Orders and Resolutions to be Filed and Placed on Council Agenda. TABLED IN COUNCIL MARCH 18, 2024

Resolutions (1)

• RES 2024 #42Congratulations to Christiana Malgwi on her retirement from the Cambridge Health Alliance

Applications & Petitions (2)

• APP 2024 #8An application was received from MIT Museum requesting permission for seventy (70) temporary banners across Massachusetts Avenue, Sydney Street to Memorial Drive and Main Street inviting visitors to the MIT Museum from April 2024 through December 31, 2024📖 read
• APP 2024 #9An application was received from Fernando Dalfior, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 131 Sherman 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 association proof of abutters has been providedtransit-traffic📖 read

Other Business (6)

• ARS-24-5Awaiting Report Status Update 3/18/2024affordable-housingbudgetclimatehousing-generaltenants-renttransit-traffic📖 read
• AR-24-11Report on dispatching the appropriate City personnel to assess the sidewalks in and around Carl Barron Plaza, paying particular attention to those areas that may be hazardous for seniors and those with mobility impediments
• AR-24-12Report on the recommended ordinance amendments to the City of Cambridge Tenant Rights and Resources Ordinance, Chapter 8.71 of the City Code, to ensure that all Cambridge landlords and tenants receive annual notice from the City, for example in October, of these and other rights and resources; include in the FY25 budget amounts sufficient to carry out these policies; report back to the Housing Committee on progress within a reasonable time before filing the city FY25 budgetbudgethousing-generaltenants-rent

• (untitled) 📖 read
• an update regarding legislative activity 📖 read 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF
• the announcement of participation in the Mayor's Alliance to End Childhood Hunger 📖 read

Committee Reports (3)

• Government Operations Rules & Claims Committee hearing of 2024-02-15 — Tabled
• Finance Committee hearing of 2024-02-28 — Report Accepted
• Economic Development & University Relations Committee hearing of 2024-03-06 — Report Accepted