CMA 2026-187 · Agenda item attachment · Jun 22 2026

To: Yi-An Huang, City Manager From: Brooke McKenna, Commissioner Date: June 22, 2026 Subject: Awaiting Reports 2026-02 In response to Awaiting Report 2026-02 requesting that the City Manager work with the School Department, the Department of Public Works, and other relevant departments to ensure that all City Owned Parking lots, with a focus on school complexes, including the still under construction parking at Tobin/Darby Vassal school complex, could be made available for after-hours use by residents, we report the following: In response to this policy order, the City has engaged in conversation with the School Department, who have in turn spent significant time evaluating the request and determining if it is possible to make school parking facilities available to residents in off-hours, while limiting access to the school building and maintaining safety. The School Department has indicated they have serious safety concerns regarding opening underground parking facilities at the schools to the public. City staff joined School Department staff for a site visit at the King Open garage and shared some of the same safety concerns. As of now there has been no indication from the School Committee that they plan to take action to make the facilities available. We are including here Superintendent David Murphy’s response on this issue, as well as a memo from Chief Operating Officer Damon Smith laying out the physical safety concerns. Also included are the minutes from the June 12, 2025 School Committee Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee at which this topic was discussed. While it does not seem like there is a path forward to make School parking available at this time, we will continue to look for opportunities to encourage and help private property owners to make privately owned parking more widely available.