That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to explore the feasibility of crafting a policy that will ensure that the City is notified whenever a high-rise building over six floors experiences elevator failures

O-1 FIRST IN COUNCIL March 6, 2023 City of Cambridge COUNCILLOR SIMMONS WHEREAS: In recent years, a number of residents living in high rise buildings in the City have reported issues with their elevators being out of service, which can result in extended periods of time without easy access to their homes and which can pose significant difficulties for residents – particularly those with serious health issues, mobility issues, or seniors – who reside on the upper floors; and WHEREAS: In some buildings, there may be only one functional elevator at a time, and in those instances when even that elevator is out of service, those who live on the upper floors can become virtual prisoners in their own homes until elevator service is restored; and WHEREAS: Reports of recent elevator outages have tended to come to the City from the building residents, rather than from management companies, and it is important that the City be immediately notified when high-rise buildings over eight floors experience such outages so that appropriate steps can be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of those who live in these buildings; and WHEREAS: Having a mechanism in place to temporarily re-locate those with serious health issues, mobility issues, or those who are seniors into accessible units or hotel rooms in those instances when elevator service has become completely disrupted, and until the elevator service has been restored, would be an important tool for helping to mitigate the worst impacts of these elevator failures; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to explore the feasibility of crafting a policy that will ensure that the City is notified whenever a high-rise building over eight floors experiences elevator failures, and that requires that the City work to work with management companies to temporarily re- locate those with serious health issues, mobility issues, or those who are seniors into accessible units or hotel rooms until the elevator service has been restored; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter within 90 days with recommendations on how to implement this policy, including any necessary changes to existing ordinances or regulations, and with a timeline for implementation.