City Council β Regular Meeting, January 27, 2025
City Manager's Agenda (9)
- CMA 2025 #12A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Ronald DiGiorgio as a Constable for a term of three years
- CMA 2025 #13A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments and reappointments of members to the Transit Advisory Committeetransit-traffic
- CMA 2025 #14A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order Number 2024 #154, regarding the Cityβs Sanctuary/Trust Act City status, the protections provided by the 2020 Welcoming Community Ordinance, and the importance of ensuring non-citizens are treated with dignity and respectπ read π PDF
- CMA 2025 #15A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update on negotiations with Harvard University regarding PILOT payments
- CMA 2025 #16A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an updated drought regulation ordinanceπ read
- CMA 2025 #17A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to changes in the Animal Commission ordinance regarding a fee increaseπ read
- CMA 2025 #18A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-54 , regarding a review of Curb Cut Policiesπ read
- CMA 2025 #20A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-60 regarding grant funding through Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing)affordable-housinghousing-generalπ read
- CMA 2025 #21A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Potential amendments to required setbacks for additions and alterations to existing buildings in the Multifamily Housing Zoning Petitionshousing-generalzoningπ read
Communications (114)
114 resident communications received for this meeting β zoning (96) Β· housing general (87) Β· affordable housing (18) Β· trees (13) Β· transit traffic (12). Individual letters are summarized in the city's agenda and are not republished here, by policy.
Policy Orders (5)
- POR 2025 #3That the City Council go on record urging Eversource to prioritize considerations and implement them wherever possible as part of the Greater Cambridge Energy Program
- POR 2025 #4That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council with a update on the status and timeline for the completion of the Grand Junction Multiuse Path and how implementation between Gore Street and Little Binney could coincide with Phase 2 of the CSO implementation on Cambridge Streetbike-lanes
- POR 2025 #5City Council opposition to Congressional Voter-Suppression SAVE Bill
- POR 2025 #6That the City Manager is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to install "Bicycles Must Yield" signs along the Linear Park Parkway, Russell Field, Cambridge Commons, and any other shared use pathway determined appropriate by the City Manager and staff. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED IN COUNCIL JANUARY 27, 2025 BY COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELERbike-lanestransit-traffic
- POR 2025 #7That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to develop zoning recommendations, pursuant to M.G.L. c.40A Β§9B, for regulations to encourage the use of solar energy systems and protect solar access for Registered Solar Energy Systems that have been in existence for one year, per Ordinance Ch. 22.60, specifically on structures over 4 storiesclimatezoning
Resolutions (12)
- RES 2025 #14Congratulations to Helen Gibbons on her retirement from the Cambridge Health Alliance
- RES 2025 #15Congratulations to Judith Rolph on her retirement from the Cambridge Health Alliance
- RES 2025 #16Congratulations to Jan Snyder on her retirement from the Cambridge Health Alliance
- RES 2025 #17Thanks to Iram Farooq for her 25 years of commitment, service, and leadership at the City of Cambridge Community Development Department and best wishes as she joins Harvard University
- RES 2025 #18Condolences on the death of Robert V. Travers
- RES 2025 #19Condolences on the death of Henry Edward (Ted) Tierney
- RES 2025 #20Condolences to the family of Janet Roseπ read
- RES 2025 #21Resolution on the death of Sterling Zen Singletary
- RES 2025 #22Condolences on the death of Alfred Marazzo
- RES 2025 #23Condolences on the death of Robert Lenkauskas
- RES 2025 #24Condolences on the death of David Bertrand
- RES 2025 #25Resolution on the death of Ms. Joella Bieber
Ordinances (3)
- ORD 2025 # 3Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to Animal Commission Ordinance 2025 #3 Changes - Feesπ read
- ORD 2025 # 1An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to Ordinance 2025 #1 Multi Family Zoning Petition-Part 1affordable-housinghousing-generaltransit-trafficzoningπ read
- ORD 2025 # 2An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to ORDINANCE 2025 #2 Multi Family Zoning Petition-Part 2affordable-housinghousing-generaltreeszoningπ read
Applications & Petitions (4)
- APP 2025 #2Request has been received from Mike Kimball representing Bank of America, regarding Revocation of Bond #14BSBDG6280 for Bank of America, 600 Technology Square. Response from the Inspectional Services Department has been received confirming said sign has been removedπ read
- APP 2025 #3An application was received from Mahmood Firouzbakht, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 38 Hubbard Avenue; 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-trafficπ read
- APP 2025 #4An application was received from Stuart Pitchel representing Petunia, requesting permission for a projecting sign at the premises numbered 73 Mount Auburn Street approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutterπ read
- APP 2025 #5An application was received from Xin Shangguan representing TOO HOT, requesting permission for a projecting sign at the premises numbered 16 Eliot Street approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutterπ read
Other Business (7)
- ARS-25-2Awaiting Report Status Update 01.27.25affordable-housingbudgethousing-generalπ read
- AR-25-1That the City Manager report back on additional multi-family zoning considerations, along with the other amendments put forward by the City Council on December 23, 2024zoning
- a response to Policy Order 2024 #163 and Policy Order 2025 #1, regarding amendments to the Multifamily Housing Zoning Petitions π PDF
- an update regarding legislative activity π read π PDF π PDF
- a letter to the Council with a response to the Ortiz Open Meeting Law Complaint π PDF π PDF π PDF
- CMA 2025 #19 : A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-31 regarding an update to the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan (MFIP)
including revised cost estimates to help inform the FY26 and ongoing capital budget priorities [budget, climate, police-safety, schools, transit-traffic] π read
- POR 2025 #8 : That the City Council Amend Petition One, Section 5.40, Footnote (2) to add paragraph (c) to read:
(c) If the building does not require a Planning Board Advisory Consultation per Section 19.40 of this Zoning Ordinance and does not require any special permit from the Planning Board, then before applying for a building permit, the applicant shall: (I) schedule a meeting to show plans or renderings of the proposed building, answer questions and gather feedback from abutters; (ii) prepare a notification flyer including, at a minimum, a general description of the project, the date, time, location, and other information necessary for people to attend the meeting, and contact information (telephone and e-mail, at minimum) for the developer; (iii) provide that notification by mail to βparties in interestβ as that term is defined in the Zoning Act, G.L. c40A, s.11, to the Community Development Department electronically for posting on the City of Cambridge website, and to others whom the applicant may choose to contact; (iv) erect and maintain for a minimum of 20 days, beginning at least 10 days before the date of the meeting, a notification sign on the site of the proposed building containing the information in subparagraph (ii) above and meeting the Location and Number and Graphic and Construction Standards in Section 10.42.1, Paragraphs (a) and (d) of this Zoning Ordinance; and (v) include with the building permit application a copy of the notification and mailing list, a photograph and site plan showing the location of the notification sign(s), a summary of the meeting, who attended, and what questions and feedback were received [zoning] π read
Committee Reports (7)
- Neighborhood & Long Term Planning Committee hearing of 2025-01-08 β Accepted [Unanimous]
- Neighborhood & Long Term Planning Committee hearing of 2025-01-08 β Accepted [Unanimous]
- Ordinance Committee hearing of 2025-01-16 β Accepted [Unanimous]
- Committee hearing of (unknown date) β Passed To A Second Reading As Amended [8 To 1]
- Committee hearing of (unknown date) β Passed To A Second Reading [8 To 1]
- Committee hearing of (unknown date) β Placed On File [Unanimous]
- Committee hearing of (unknown date) β Placed On File [Unanimous]