A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-60, regarding the review of the Parking Permit Program

Nancy E. Glowa Assistant City Solicitors City Solicitor Paul S. Kawai INSTEVTIS Sean M. McKendry FRIS ANTONE Diane O. Pires Megan B. Bayer Kate M. Kleimola Deputy City Solicitor Sydney M. Wright Elliott J. Veloso Evan C. Bjorklund 2000.367 First Assistant City Solicitor Franziskus Lepionka Andrea Carrillo-Rhoads CITY OF CAMBRIDGE Public Records Access Officer Office of the City Solicitor 795 Massachusetts Avenue Seah Levy Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 June 26, 2023 Yi-An Huang City Manager City Hall Cambridge, MA 02139 Re: Awaiting Report No. 21-60; Council Order No. O-3 of 9/13/21 Re: Request that the City Manager be and hereby is directed to direct the Director of the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department and the City Solicitor to review the City's residential parking permit program to determine whether the criteria for this program can be modified to prevent commercial ventures from renting out vehicles utilizing residential parking, and to develop recommendations that speak to these modifications. Dear Mr. Huang: This is in response to Awaiting Report No. 21-60; Council Order No. O-3 of 9/13/21, attached hereto, which requests that the City Manager direct the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and the City Solicitor to review the City's residential parking permit program to determine whether the criteria for this program can be modified to speak to the concerns related to use of residential parking permits for commercial motor vehicle leasing and rentals. It has come to the City Council's attention that one or more individuals have obtained residential parking permits for multiple vehicles and is parking such vehicles on residential streets, and that at least some of these vehicles are being rented out on a peer to peer car sharing model as part of a business enterprise. The City Council would like to prevent this sort of use of residential parking permits in the future. After consulting with Transportation Commissioner Brooke McKenna and upon review of Chapter 10.12 of the Cambridge Ordinances, it is our opinion that the use of residential parking permits for a commercial enterprise as described above is prohibited, as the Ordinance states that "residential parking stickers issued by the Cambridge Traffic Director... are intended only for the personal use of the person to whom they are issued." Section 10.12.010, Cambridge Municipal Code. Commissioner McKenna has indicated that the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department will take steps to enforce Section 10.12.010 and will work on updating the City website to make clear that residential parking permits are allowed to be used exclusively for residential parking purposes by residents living at the residential address listed. Facsimile [phone removed] Telephone [phone removed] TTY/TTD [phone removed]

Commissioner McKenna has also indicated that the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department will post the above language of Chapter 10.12 on its website and will explain the prohibition against use of such residential parking permits for commercial purpose. Further, the Department will make necessary changes to the Traffic Regulations to limit the number of residential parking permits that will be issued to any individual resident, to take effect for the 2024 resident parking permit renewal period. Very Truly Yours, Nancy City Solicitor