City Council · Regular Meeting, January 27, 2025
City Manager's Agenda (10)
- City Manager's report2025 · #12 Placed on file, 8–0the reappointment of Ronald DiGiorgio as a Constable for a term of three yearsSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City ManagerCMA 2025 #12
- City Manager's report2025 · #13 Placed on file, unanimousthe appointments and reappointments of members to the Transit Advisory CommitteeSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managertransit trafficCMA 2025 #13
- City Manager's report2025 · #14 Placed on file, unanimousPolicy Order Number 2024 #154, regarding the City’s 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 respectSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managerlaborpolice safetyschools📖 read CMA 2025 #14
- City Manager's report2025 · #15 Placed on file, unanimousan update on negotiations with Harvard University regarding PILOT paymentsSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City ManagerCMA 2025 #15
- City Manager's report2025 · #16 Referred, unanimousan updated drought regulation ordinanceSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Manager📖 readCMA 2025 #16
- City Manager's report2025 · #17 Placed on file, unanimouschanges in the Animal Commission ordinance regarding a fee increaseSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Manager📖 readCMA 2025 #17
- City Manager's report2025 · #18 Referred, unanimousAwaiting Report Item Number 24-54 , regarding a review of Curb Cut PoliciesSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Manager📖 readCMA 2025 #18
- City Manager's report2025 · #19CMA 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)CMA 2025 #19
- City Manager's report2025 · #20 Placed on file, unanimousAwaiting Report Item Number 24-60 regarding grant funding through Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing)Submitted by Yi-An Huang, City Manageraffordable housinghousing general📖 readCMA 2025 #20
- City Manager's report2025 · #21 Placed on file, unanimousPotential amendments to required setbacks for additions and alterations to existing buildings in the Multifamily Housing Zoning PetitionsSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managerhousing generalzoning📖 readCMA 2025 #21
including revised cost estimates to help inform the FY26 and ongoing capital budget priorities [budget] [climate] [police-safety] [schools] [transit-traffic] 📖 read
Communications & Reports from Other City Officers (3)
- City officer's report2025 · #8a response to Policy Order 2024 #163 and Policy Order 2025 #1, regarding amendments to the Multifamily Housing Zoning Petitionsaffordable housinghousing generalzoningCOF 2025 #8
- City officer's report2025 · #12an update regarding legislative activitycharter📖 read COF 2025 #12
- City officer's report2025 · #13a letter to the Council with a response to the Ortiz Open Meeting Law Complaint📖 read COF 2025 #13
Communications (114)
114 resident communications received for this meeting, on zoning (96) · housing general (87) · affordable housing (18) · trees (13) · transit traffic (12). Individual letters are summarized in the city's agenda and are not republished here, by policy.
Policy Orders (6)
- Policy order2025 · #3 Order adopted, unanimousCity Council go on record urging Eversource to prioritize considerations and implement them wherever possible as part of the Greater Cambridge Energy ProgramCouncil orderPOR 2025 #3
- Policy order2025 · #4 Order adopted as amended, unanimousAsks the City Manager 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 StreetCouncil requestbike lanesPOR 2025 #4
- Policy order2025 · #5 Order adopted, unanimousCity Council opposition to Congressional Voter-Suppression SAVE BillPOR 2025 #5
- Policy order2025 · #6 Order adopted, 8–1Asks the City Manager 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 staffCouncil requestbike lanestransit trafficCHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED IN COUNCIL JANUARY 27, 2025 BY COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELERPOR 2025 #6
- Policy order2025 · #7 Order adopted as amended, unanimousAsks the City Manager to work with relevant City departments to develop zoning recommendations, pursuant to M.G.L. c.40A §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 storiesCouncil requestclimatezoningPOR 2025 #7
- Policy order2025 · #8POR 2025 #8 : That the City Council Amend Petition One, Section 5.40, Footnote (2) to add paragraph (c) to read:POR 2025 #8
(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 “parties in interest” 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] 📖 read
Resolutions (12)
- Resolution2025 · #14 Order adopted, unanimousCongratulations to Helen Gibbons on her retirement from the Cambridge Health AllianceRES 2025 #14
- Resolution2025 · #15 Order adopted, unanimousCongratulations to Judith Rolph on her retirement from the Cambridge Health AllianceRES 2025 #15
- Resolution2025 · #16 Order adopted, unanimousCongratulations to Jan Snyder on her retirement from the Cambridge Health AllianceRES 2025 #16
- Resolution2025 · #17 Order adopted as amended, unanimousThanks 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 UniversityRES 2025 #17
- Resolution2025 · #18 Order adopted as amended, unanimousCondolences on the death of Robert V. TraversRES 2025 #18
- Resolution2025 · #19 Order adopted, unanimousCondolences on the death of Henry Edward (Ted) TierneyRES 2025 #19
- Resolution2025 · #20 Order adopted as amended, unanimousCondolences to the family of Janet Rose📖 readRES 2025 #20
- Resolution2025 · #21 Order adopted, unanimousResolution on the death of Sterling Zen SingletaryRES 2025 #21
- Resolution2025 · #22 Order adopted, unanimousCondolences on the death of Alfred MarazzoRES 2025 #22
- Resolution2025 · #23 Order adopted, unanimousCondolences on the death of Robert LenkauskasRES 2025 #23
- Resolution2025 · #24 Order adopted, unanimousCondolences on the death of David BertrandRES 2025 #24
- Resolution2025 · #25 Order adopted, unanimousResolution on the death of Ms. Joella BieberRES 2025 #25
Ordinances (3)
- OrdinanceORD 2025 # 3 Ordained, unanimousOrdinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to Animal Commission Ordinance 2025 #3 Changes - Fees📖 readORD 2025 # 3
- OrdinanceORD 2025 # 1 Ordained as amended, 8–1An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to Ordinance 2025 #1 Multi Family Zoning Petition-Part 1affordable housinghousing generaltransit trafficzoning📖 readORD 2025 # 1
- OrdinanceORD 2025 # 2 Ordained, unanimousAn Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to ORDINANCE 2025 #2 Multi Family Zoning Petition-Part 2affordable housinghousing generaltreeszoning📖 readORD 2025 # 2
Applications & Petitions (4)
- Application / petition2025 · #2 Order adopted, unanimousRequest 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 removed📖 readAPP 2025 #2
- Application / petition2025 · #3 Order adopted, unanimousa 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 associationApplication from Mahmood Firouzbakhttransit traffic📖 readAPP 2025 #3
- Application / petition2025 · #4 Order adopted, unanimousa projecting sign at the premises numbered 73 Mount Auburn StreetApplication from Stuart Pitchel representing Petunia📖 readapproval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, CommuniAPP 2025 #4
- Application / petition2025 · #5 Order adopted, unanimousa projecting sign at the premises numbered 16 Eliot StreetApplication from Xin Shangguan representing TOO HOT📖 readapproval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, CommuniAPP 2025 #5
Other Business (2)
- Report status2025 · #2Awaiting Report Status Update 01.27.25affordable housingbudgethousing general📖 readARS-25-2
- Awaiting report2025 · #1 Report received and acceptedCity Manager report back on additional multi-family zoning considerations, along with the other amendments put forward by the City Council on December 23, 2024Council orderzoningAR-25-1
Committee Reports (7)
- Neighborhood & Long Term Planning Committee hearing of 2025-01-08 · Accepted [Unanimous]
- Neighborhood & Long Term Planning Committee hearing of 2025-01-08 · Accepted [Unanimous]
- Ordinance Committee hearing of 2025-01-16 · Accepted [Unanimous]
- Committee hearing of (unknown date) · Passed To A Second Reading As Amended [8 To 1]
- Committee hearing of (unknown date) · Passed To A Second Reading [8 To 1]
- Committee hearing of (unknown date) · Placed On File [Unanimous]
- Committee hearing of (unknown date) · Placed On File [Unanimous]