City Council ▸ 2025-09-15
City Council · Regular Meeting, September 15, 2025
13 City Manager's Agenda2 Communications & Reports from Other City Officers7 Communications5 Policy Orders5 Resolutions1 Applications & Petitions9 Other Business
City Manager's Agenda (13)
- City Manager's report2025 · #224 Order adopted, unanimousrecommendations of the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) for FY2026Submitted by Yi-An Huang, City Manageraffordable housinghousing general📖 read CMA 2025 #224
- City Manager's report2025 · #225 Placed on file, unanimousAwaiting Report Item Number #25-50, regarding a Deadline for Charter ChangeSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City ManagercharterCMA 2025 #225
- City Manager's report2025 · #226 Approved, unanimousa recommendation from the Cambridge Election Commission regarding the assignment of twenty-six (26) police officers and any additional officers as required to the City’s polling locations for the 2025 Municipal Election, pursuant to G.L. c. 54, §72Submitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managerpolice safety📖 readCMA 2025 #226
- City Manager's report2025 · #227 Order adopted, unanimousthe appropriation of an FY26 State 911 Department Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Grant in the amount of $28,512 to the Grant Fund Emergency Communications Other Ordinary Maintenance Account, which will support quality assurance (call review) of the emergency medical protocol used by staff to provide pre- and post-dispatch instructions for medical emergenciesSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City ManagerCMA 2025 #227
- City Manager's report2025 · #228 Placed on file, unanimousAwaiting Report Item Number 25-45, regarding the siting of needle drop boxes and Naloxone boxes in high priority locations throughout the citySubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managerhomelessnesshousing generalpolice safetytransit traffic📖 readCMA 2025 #228
- City Manager's report2025 · #229 Order adopted, unanimousa transfer in the amount of $1,703,731.64 from the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund to the Opioid Settlement Special Revenue FundSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City ManagerCMA 2025 #229
- City Manager's report2025 · #230 Placed on file, unanimousAwaiting Report Item Numbers 25-38, 25-39 and 25-41, regarding issues related to parking in the area surrounding the eastern end of BroadwaySubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managertransit traffic📖 readCMA 2025 #230
- City Manager's report2025 · #231 Placed on file, unanimousAwaiting Report Item Number 25-27, regarding the City Manager investigate bike pod storage options to be placed in suitable areas in the city to provide residents and visitors safe storage optionsSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managerbike laneshomelessnesstransit traffic📖 readCMA 2025 #231
- City Manager's report2025 · #232 Placed on file, unanimousAwaiting Report Item Number 25-42 regarding pedestrianization of Lower Bow StreetSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managertransit traffic📖 readCMA 2025 #232
- City Manager's report2025 · #233 Placed on file, 8–0Awaiting Report Item Number 25-32, regarding a request that the City engage in discussions with leadership from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA) regarding a proposal to explore the feasibility of repurposing the long-abandoned MBTA tunnel in Harvard Square into a commercial or cultural spaceSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managertransit trafficCHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR AZEEM IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2025CMA 2025 #233
- City Manager's report2025 · #234 Order adopted, 8–1the transmission of the Cambridge Street Zoning PetitionSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managerbike laneshousing generalzoning📖 read CMA 2025 #234
- City Manager's report2025 · #235 Order adopted, 8–1the transmission of the Massachusetts Avenue Zoning PetitionSubmitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managerbike laneshousing generalzoning📖 read CMA 2025 #235
- City Manager's report2025 · #236 Placed on file, unanimousAwaiting Report Item Number 25-43, regarding a request for an interim report on demolition and building permit applications received during the six-month period following the City Council’s adoption of the Multifamily Housing Zoning Amendment on February 10th, 2025Submitted by Yi-An Huang, City Managerhousing generalzoning📖 readCMA 2025 #236
Communications & Reports from Other City Officers (2)
- City officer's report2025 · #120an update regarding legislative activityartsclimatehousing generalpolice safetyzoning📖 read COF 2025 #120
- City officer's report2025 · #121(untitled)climate📖 read 📖 read 📖 readCOF 2025 #121
Communications (7)
7 resident communications received for this meeting, on police safety (3) · budget (1) · schools (1). Individual letters are summarized in the city's agenda and are not republished here, by policy.
Policy Orders (5)
- Policy order2025 · #125 Order adopted, unanimousAsks the City Manager to provide an update to the City Council at the September 29, 2025 City Council meeting regarding the status of discussions with the MBTA and HSBA, the potential allocation of funds for the tunnel feasibility RFP, and any anticipated next steps in this processCouncil requesttransit trafficPOR 2025 #125
- Policy order2025 · #126 Order adopted, unanimousAsks the City Manager to work with the Cambridge Police Department to review current crisis prevention protocols, strengthen them by clearly defining the role and deployment of mental health professionalsCouncil requestpolice safetyPOR 2025 #126
- Policy order2025 · #127 Order adopted, unanimousAsks the City Manager to work with the Commission on Immigrant Rights & Citizenship, the City Solicitor, the Police Department, the Mayor’s Office, and other relevant stakeholders to evaluate and implement ICE Encounter GuidanceCouncil requestpolice safetyPOR 2025 #127
- Policy order2025 · #128 Order adopted as amended, unanimousAsks the City Manager to work with relevant departments to provide an update on rodent control measures citywide and especially how the City addresses rodent mitigation through large construction projects, both public and privateCouncil requestbike lanes📖 readPOR 2025 #128
- Policy order2025 · #129 Order adopted, unanimousAsks the City Manager to work with the Cambridge Police Department, the Law Department, and relevant stakeholders to develop and present to the City Council a proposed policy for the timely release of body-worn camera footageCouncil requestpolice safetyPOR 2025 #129
Resolutions (5)
- Resolution2025 · #204 Order adopted, unanimousCongratulations to Steve McAuliffe who will be honored as the Massachusetts Red Sox Volunteer of the Year on Saturday, September 27, 2025 for his outstanding volunteer service with the Cambridge Girls Softball LeagueRES 2025 #204
- Resolution2025 · #205 Order adopted, unanimousCondolences on the death of Phyllis S. SageRES 2025 #205
- Resolution2025 · #206 Order adopted, unanimousCity Council go on record recognizing and commending Priyota for her leadership in creating the Mother Language Poetry Contest, her ongoing advocacy for language preservation, and her contributions to celebrating the diversity and cultural richness of CambridgeCouncil orderRES 2025 #206
- Resolution2025 · #207 Order adopted, 8–0Congratulations to Cambridge Day and Michael FitzgeraldRES 2025 #207
- Resolution2025 · #208 Order adopted, 8–0Happy 101st Birthday to Marvin GilmoreRES 2025 #208
Applications & Petitions (1)
- Application / petition2025 · #36 Order adopted, unanimous22 temporary pole banners around Cambridge Commons, Quincy Street and Cambridge Street announcing the Master brand Campaign from September 15, 2025 through January 15, 2026Application from Harvard Art Museumsarts📖 readAPP 2025 #36
Other Business (9)
- Report status2025 · #23Awaiting Report Status Update 09.15.25schoolstransit trafficzoning📖 readARS-25-23
- Awaiting report2025 · #46 Report received and acceptedThe City Manager is requested to coordinate with the Community Safety Department, the Cambridge Police Department, and other relevant parties to ensure that the overnight use of the garden area between St. James Episcopal Church and the Beech Street condos is actively monitoredpolice safetyAR-25-46
- Awaiting report2025 · #47 Report received and acceptedthe City Manager is requested to confer with the Department of Transportation, the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and any other relevant City departments to assess the current accessible parking capacity in the vicinity of Kendall Square and identify potential solutions, which may include adding dedicated accessible parking spaces, creating short-term accessible loading/unloading zones, or implementing other reasonable accommodationstransit trafficAR-25-47
- Awaiting report2025 · #48The City Manager is requested to consult with the appropriate City departments, including the City Solicitor’s Office, to establish a formal policy that clearly defines the City’s role and financial responsibilities in supporting large-scale public events hosted by Cambridge-based non-profit and not-for-profit organizationsAR-25-48
- Awaiting report2025 · #49 Report received and acceptedthe City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department, the City Assessor, and all other relevant departments to develop a comprehensive policy for future private development projects in the cityAR-25-49
- Awaiting report2025 · #50 Report received and acceptedThe City Manager is requested to confer with the Election Commission, the City Solicitor, and the City Clerk, and report back to the City Council no later than the September 15, 2025 City Council meeting on the Policy Order regarding the deadline for Charter ChangecharterAR-25-50
- Awaiting report2025 · #51The City Manager is requested to work with all relevant departments to seek input from the community as well as direct outreach to condo owners and short-term rental operators and develop additional recommendations based on the discussion in the Ordinance CommitteeAR-25-51
- Awaiting report2025 · #52 Report received and acceptedThe City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments and multi-member bodies to report back to the City Council and inform the community of the work of, and when the recommendations coming from the Micromobility Commission will be availableAR-25-52
- Awaiting report2025 · #53 Report received and acceptedThe City Manager is requested to consult with relevant departments about the implications of deploying license plate readers and provide recommendations as to whether adjustments in plans for deployment should be made in light of changes since approval in FebruaryAR-25-53