That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on efforts made to ensure that at least one public building at an accessible location can be open on a Sunday or holiday that coincides with an extreme heat event

City of Cambridge O-4 ORIGINAL ORDER IN CITY COUNCIL July 30, 2018 VICE MAYOR DEVEREUX MAYOR MCGOVERN WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge experienced an extreme heat event at the end of June and beginning of July 2018, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit for several consecutive days; and WHEREAS: In Massachusetts, a “heat wave” is usually defined as a period of three or more consecutive days above 90 degrees Fahrenheit; and WHEREAS: This extreme heat event occurred across a Sunday and the Independence Day holiday, resulting in many of the public buildings that are used by the public to cool down being closed; and WHEREAS: The public regularly uses libraries, senior centers and youth centers as cooling centers during extremely hot weather events, but these locations are closed on Sundays and holidays, leaving no public buildings open to serve as a refuge from the heat; and WHEREAS: DCR pools are open seven days a week and many playgrounds offer spray decks for cooling, but these are not practical to some members of the public as a way to cool down; and WHEREAS: Communication is made to the public about these events including safety tips, but there is a lack of cooling centers available on Sundays and holidays; and WHEREAS: With climate change, heat waves will be longer and hotter, and the City must factor in the need for cooling centers and related communication into climate change planning and budget planning; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on efforts made to ensure that at least one public building at an accessible location can be open on a Sunday or holiday that coincides with an extreme heat event; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on what efforts will be made to communicate the above information to the public, as a way to ensure public safety during an extreme heat event.