City Council ▸ 2026-02-27

City Council — Regular Meeting, February 27, 2026

6 City Manager's Agenda 7 Communications & Reports from Other City Officers 12 Policy Orders 3 Ordinances 2 Applications & Petitions 16 Other Business

City Manager's Agenda (6)

CMA 2026-34TRANSMITTING A COMMUNICATION FROM CITY MANAGER, Yi-An HUANG, RELATIVE TO A FEDERAL UPDATE INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON RELEVANT COURT CASES📖 read
CMA 2026-35TRANSMITTING A COMMUNICATION FROM CITY SOLICITOR MEGAN BAYER REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE TRANSFER FEE HOME RULE PETITIONaffordable-housinghousing-general📖 read
CMA 2026-35TRANSMITTING A COMMUNICATION FROM CITY SOLICITOR MEGAN BAYER REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE TRANSFER FEE HOME RULE PETITIONaffordable-housinghousing-general📖 read
CMA 2026-35TRANSMITTING A COMMUNICATION FROM CITY SOLICITOR MEGAN BAYER REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE TRANSFER FEE HOME RULE PETITIONaffordable-housinghousing-general📖 read
CMA 2026-43AWAITING REPORT STATUS UPDATE 3.2.26schoolstransit-traffic📖 read
CMA 2026-44A COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED FROM YI-AN HUANG, CITY MANAGER, RELATIVE TO THE 2025 ANNUAL SURVEILLANCE REPORT CONCERNING CITY DEPARTMENTS’ USE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY OR SURVEILLANCE DATAartspolice-safety📖 read

Communications & Reports from Other City Officers (7)

COF 2026-15A COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM DAVID MURPHY, SUPERINTENDENT CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. REGARDING PRIORITIES DRIVING OUR FY27 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLSbudgetschools📖 read
COF 2026-15A COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM DAVID MURPHY, SUPERINTENDENT CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. REGARDING PRIORITIES DRIVING OUR FY27 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLSbudgetschools📖 read
COF 2026-15A COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM DAVID MURPHY, SUPERINTENDENT CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. REGARDING PRIORITIES DRIVING OUR FY27 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLSbudgetschools📖 read
COF 2026-20COMMUNICATING INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOL COMMITTEEbudgetschools📖 read
COF 2026-19UPDATE REGARDING LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITYzoning📖 read
COF 2026-19UPDATE REGARDING LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITYzoning📖 read
COF 2026-19UPDATE REGARDING LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITYzoning📖 read

Policy Orders (12)

POR 2026-37ORDER IN SUPPORT OF TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENT PUBLICATION OF MEETING AGENDAS AND MATERIALS📖 read
POR 2026-38ORDER RE CAPITAL BUDGET LIFECYCLE RECONCILIATION PRIOR TO FY27 APPROVALbudget📖 read
POR 2026-39THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HEREBY IS REQUESTED TO INSTRUCT ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND OFFICES TO DISCONTINUE ALL OFFICIAL POSTING AND ENGAGEMENT ON X WITHIN 60 DAYS; AND TO INCLUDE AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THE CITY WILL NO LONGER USE Xpolice-safetyschoolstransit-traffic📖 read
POR 2026-47CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT OF S.2726/H.3594: AN ACT REGARDING FREE EXPRESSIONschools📖 read
POR 2026-46RECOGNIZE MAY 2026 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER DIRECT THE APPROPRIATE CITY STAFF TO ILLUMINATE CITY HALL IN GREEN FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH FROM MAY 4 – MAY 10, 2026📖 read
POR 2026-45THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZE MARCH 15, 2026 AS INTERNATIONAL LONG COVID AWARENESS DAY IN THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND THAT CITY HALL BE ILLUMINATED IN TEAL AND GRAY ON MARCH 15, 2026📖 read
POR 2026-48RECOGNIZE MAY 14, 2026, AS MEF2C AWARENESS DAY IN THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO ILLUMINATE CITY HALL ON MAY 14, 2026 IN RECOGNITION OF MEF2C AWARENESS DAY📖 read
POR 2026-49CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT OF S.428/H.4207: AN ACT RELATIVE TO SCHOOL LIBRARIESschools📖 read
POR 2026-42THAT THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS HOUSE BILL H.3754, AND SENATE BILL S.2344, “AN ACT RELATIVE TO TRAFFIC REGULATION USING ROAD SAFETY CAMERAS; AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HEREBY IS REQUESTED TO WORK WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW THE STATE BILLS REFERENCED AS WELL AS THE PREVIOUSLY FILED HOME RULE PETITION AND PREPARE A NEW HOME RULE PETITION THAT WOULD ALLOW CAMBRIDGE TO INSTALL AND OPERATE CAMERAS TO ENFORCE RED LIGHT, SPEEDING, OR OTHER MOVING VIOLATIONS AS OUTLINED IN H.3754 AND S.2344 AND THE PRIOR HOME RULEtransit-traffic📖 read
POR 2026-43THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HEREBY IS REQUESTED TO WORK WITH RELEVANT CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS THE ELECTION COMMISSIONERS TO REVIEW GUIDANCE FROM THE IRS AND CONSULT WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN ORDER TO SIMPLIFY OUR PROCESSES FOR PAYING ELECTION WORKERS AND PAY WORKERS BY STIPEND WITHOUT MANDATORY WITHHOLDINGS OR MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONSlabor📖 read
POR 2026-40THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS REQUESTED TO CONFER WITH RELEVANT CITY STAFF AND REPORT BACK WITH INFORMATION AS THE FIRST STEP IN THE EXPLORATION OF A POTENTIAL CAMBRIDGE SNOW CORPS PROGRAMhousing-generalschoolstransit-traffic📖 read
POR 2026-44THAT THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2026 BE A ROUNDTABLE/WORKING MEETING TO DISCUSS THE BEST FUTURE USES OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES AND ASSOCIATED REDEVELOPMENT PROCESSES, AS REQUESTED IN POLICY ORDER 2026 #5📖 read

Ordinances (3)

ORD 2026-01AMEND SECTION 4.50 OF THE CAMBRIDGE ZONING ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS WITH THE INTENT OF PERMITTING THE USE OF LAND FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES AS-OF-RIGHT IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS: RELIGIOUS PURPOSES; EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ON LAND OWNED OR LEASED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OR ANY OF ITS AGENCIES, SUBDIVISIONS OR BODIES POLITIC OR BY A RELIGIOUS SECT OR DENOMINATION, OR BY A NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION; AND FOR A CHILD CARE CENTER, SCHOOL-AGED CHILD CARE PROGRAM, FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME, OR LARGE FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1A OF CHAPTER 15D OF MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS. PASS TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL MARCH 2, 2026
ORD 2026-01AMEND SECTION 4.50 OF THE CAMBRIDGE ZONING ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS WITH THE INTENT OF PERMITTING THE USE OF LAND FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES AS-OF-RIGHT IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS: RELIGIOUS PURPOSES; EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ON LAND OWNED OR LEASED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OR ANY OF ITS AGENCIES, SUBDIVISIONS OR BODIES POLITIC OR BY A RELIGIOUS SECT OR DENOMINATION, OR BY A NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION; AND FOR A CHILD CARE CENTER, SCHOOL-AGED CHILD CARE PROGRAM, FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME, OR LARGE FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1A OF CHAPTER 15D OF MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS. PASS TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL MARCH 2, 2026
ORD 2026-01AMEND SECTION 4.50 OF THE CAMBRIDGE ZONING ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS WITH THE INTENT OF PERMITTING THE USE OF LAND FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES AS-OF-RIGHT IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS: RELIGIOUS PURPOSES; EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ON LAND OWNED OR LEASED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OR ANY OF ITS AGENCIES, SUBDIVISIONS OR BODIES POLITIC OR BY A RELIGIOUS SECT OR DENOMINATION, OR BY A NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION; AND FOR A CHILD CARE CENTER, SCHOOL-AGED CHILD CARE PROGRAM, FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME, OR LARGE FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1A OF CHAPTER 15D OF MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS. PASS TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL MARCH 2, 2026

ORD 2026-01 [schools, zoning] 📖 read (assigned by posting date)

Applications & Petitions (2)

APP 2026-13AN APPLICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM KENDALL SQUARE ASSOCIATION REQUESTING PERMISSION FOR FOURTEEN (14) TEMPORARY BANNERS ALONG THIRD STREET, GALLILEO GALILEL WAY AND MAIN STREET ANNOUNCING KENDALL SQUARE ASSOCIATION BANNER ARTWORK FROM FEBRUARY 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 2026📖 read
APP 2026-13AN APPLICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM KENDALL SQUARE ASSOCIATION REQUESTING PERMISSION FOR FOURTEEN (14) TEMPORARY BANNERS ALONG THIRD STREET, GALLILEO GALILEL WAY AND MAIN STREET ANNOUNCING KENDALL SQUARE ASSOCIATION BANNER ARTWORK FROM FEBRUARY 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 2026📖 read

Other Business (16)

CC 2026-17 — MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 20, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-17 — MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 20, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
26-87006 — Hearing Scedule [budget, homelessness, housing-general] 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-18 — MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 20, 2025 TAX RATE CLASSIFICATION PUBLIC MEETING [budget] 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-18 — MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 20, 2025 TAX RATE CLASSIFICATION PUBLIC MEETING [budget] 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-19 — MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 27, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-19 — MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 27, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-20 — MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 17, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-20 — MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 17, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-12 — A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL’S CITY CLERK PRELIMINARY SCREENING COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2025. THE COMMITTEE MOVED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITION OF CITY CLERK, BECAUSE DOING SO IN OPEN SESSION WOULD HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT IN OBTAINING QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-16 — THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2026 ON A ZONING PETITION BY THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL. THE PETITION PROPOSES CHANGES TO SECTION 4.50 OF THE CAMBRIDGE ZONING ORDINANCE TO ALLOW AS OF RIGHT IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS, RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL USES, AND CHILDCARE USES. CMA 2025 #288 THE COMMITTEE VOTED FAVORABLY TO FORWARD THE PETITION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO PASS TO A SECOND READING. [schools, zoning] 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-16 — THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2026 ON A ZONING PETITION BY THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL. THE PETITION PROPOSES CHANGES TO SECTION 4.50 OF THE CAMBRIDGE ZONING ORDINANCE TO ALLOW AS OF RIGHT IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS, RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL USES, AND CHILDCARE USES. CMA 2025 #288 THE COMMITTEE VOTED FAVORABLY TO FORWARD THE PETITION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO PASS TO A SECOND READING. [schools, zoning] 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-15 — THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND UNIVERSITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 16, 2025 WITH THE OFFICE OF TOURISM TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE TOURISM OFFICE’S EFFORTS AS IT RELATES TO DESTINATION MARKETING, VISITOR SERVICES, AS WELL AS AN UPDATE ON THE TOURISM DESTINATION MARKETING DISTRICT PROGRAM. 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-13 — A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL’S CITY CLERK PRELIMINARY SCREENING COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2025. THE COMMITTEE MOVED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITION OF CITY CLERK, BECAUSE DOING SO IN OPEN SESSION WOULD HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT IN OBTAINING QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-11 — A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL’S CITY CLERK PRELIMINARY SCREENING COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2025. THE COMMITTEE MOVED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITION OF CITY CLERK, BECAUSE DOING SO IN OPEN SESSION WOULD HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT IN OBTAINING QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. 📖 read (assigned by posting date)
CC 2026-14 — A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL’S CITY CLERK PRELIMINARY SCREENING COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON OCTOBER 10, 2025. THE COMMITTEE MOVED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITION OF CITY CLERK, BECAUSE DOING SO IN OPEN SESSION WOULD HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT IN OBTAINING QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. 📖 read (assigned by posting date)