City Council — Regular Meeting, September 29, 2025

City Manager's Agenda (5)

• CMA 2025 #237A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases📖 read
• CMA 2025 #238A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Preservation Restriction at 44 J.F. Kennedy Streetarts📖 read 📄 PDF 📄 PDF
• CMA 2025 #239Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $94,531, received from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, State 911 Department, to the Grant Fund Emergency Communications Department Other Ordinary Maintenance accountpolice-safety
• CMA 2025 #240Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $7,000.00 to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Travel and Training account. The Children's Trust Concrete Support funding will be used to provide gift cards to families to help access nutritional and other concrete supports (diapers, wipes, and other child/family supplies)
• CMA 2025 #241A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-05, regarding a report on the use of M.G.L Ch. 40U to determine which local statutes can be enforced by the Local-Option Procedure in order to better collect fines in violation of Cambridge Ordinances📖 read

Communications (25)

25 resident communications received for this meeting — zoning (12) · transit traffic (10) · schools (6) · housing general (6) · police safety (5). Individual letters are summarized in the city's agenda and are not republished here, by policy.

Policy Orders (8)

• POR 2025 #130That the City Manager is requested to work with the City Council to establish a Seal Review Committee with the charge of recommending an updated city seal and motto in time for adoption prior to the 400th anniversary of the City of Cambridge in 2030
• POR 2025 #131That the Housing Committee will be convened to discuss the concrete details of social housing; that the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Community Development Department, Finance Department, Law Department, and other relevant departments to explore all steps towards advancing social housing in Cambridgeaffordable-housingbike-laneshousing-generaltenants-rent📖 read
• POR 2025 #132That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to provide a recommendation on the site conditions of 25 Lowell Street and considerations and process for determining the future use of the property
• POR 2025 #133That the City Manager is requested to illuminate Cambridge City Hall in purple lights on Sunday, October 5, 2025, in recognition of Rett Syndrome Awareness Month and to demonstrate the City’s support for individuals and families affected by this disorder
• POR 2025 #134That the City Council go on record in recognizing October as National Women's Business Month in Cambridge
• POR 2025 #135Proclaim September 30, 2025, as “Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Day” in the City of Cambridge and encourages all Cambridge residents to recognize this day by learning more about LGMD, supporting advocacy and research, and helping build inclusive communities with compassion and understanding for those living with neuromuscular diseases
• POR 2025 #136That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and the recently formed coalition to consider options including consideration of costs and benefits to meet a 2050 25 year storm level of control of CSOs, update regulations for private development of stormwater, use of green infrastructure, and improve meaningful public outreach regarding ongoing sewer and stormwater investments, including the creation of a Combined Sewer Overflow Commission
• POR 2025 #137That the City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department to draft zoning language based on the proposed recommendations, review the feasibility of the proposed recommendations with developers, and consider the possibility of having AHO construction be exempt from the proposed zoning. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR AZEEM IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 29, 2025 FROM COMMITTEE REPORT #3affordable-housingzoning

Resolutions (9)

• RES 2025 #209Condolences to the family of Red T. Mitchell
• RES 2025 #210Congratulation to Kevin Treanor and Joe McCabe on their 30 year anniversary of the Phoenix Landing
• RES 2025 #211Condolences on the death of Carlos M. Coelho
• RES 2025 #212Celebrating 50 Years of the Cambridgeport Children’s Center
• RES 2025 #213Condolences on the death of Joao M. Lopes
• RES 2025 #214Congratulations to Dr. Maria McCauley on her election as 2026-2027 President of the American Library Association, for which she was recently honored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation
• RES 2025 #215Commending Dr. Maureen McCormick, Ph.D., for her exemplary professional and volunteer service, and celebrating her retirement from volunteer work with De Novo
• RES 2025 #216Thanks to the organizers of the inaugural Celebrating Disability Pride community event which will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Joan Lorentz Park in front of the Cambridge Public Library at 449 Broadway from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
• RES 2025 #217Condolences on the death of Nancy Joan Lange

Applications & Petitions (2)

• APP 2025 #37An application was received from Maggie Booz, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 10 Blanchard Road; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. Response has been received from the neighborhood associationtransit-traffic📖 read 📄 PDF
• APP 2025 #38An application was received from Raymond Thill representing Moona, requesting permission for a projecting sign at the premises numbered 750 Main Street approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutters proof of mailing has been provided📖 read

Other Business (6)

• ARS-25-24Awaiting Report Status Update 09.29.25schoolstransit-trafficzoning📖 read
• AR-25-54The City Manager is requested 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 professionalspolice-safety
• AR-25-55The City Manager is requested 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 Guidancepolice-safety
• AR-25-56The City Manager is requested 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 private
• AR-25-57The City Manager is requested 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 footagepolice-safety

• an update regarding legislative activity 📖 read 📄 PDF 📄 PDF 📄 PDF

Committee Reports (4)

• Health & Environment Committee hearing of 2025-09-09 — Report Accepted [Unanimous]
• Public Safety Committee hearing of 2025-09-10 — Report Accepted [Unanimous]
• Health & Environment Committee hearing of 2025-09-16 — Charter Right
• Committee hearing of (unknown date) — Charter Right