City Council Meeting – April 27th, 2026

Meeting Link

City Manager’s Agenda

Reports and Communications

• #1 (CMA 2026-93) Submission of the FY2027 budget
• #14 (CMA 2026-91) A report on major capital initiatives at or above $15,000,000 for the period from FY21 to FY26
• #15 (CMA 2026-92) A report on the second year of the Cambridge Preschool Program
• #23 (CMA 2026-112) Zoning amendments to strengthen active use requirements on North Mass Ave
• #24 (CMA 2026-113) Zoning amendments to strengthen active use requirements on Cambridge Street
• #25 (CMA 2026-111) An STIR report for SMS Non-Emergency Alert Notifications requested by the Cambridge Police Department

Requests to Authorize Borrowing

• #2 (CMA 2026-95) $10,000,000 for the design and construction of improvements along Massachusetts Avenue and vicinity between Bigelow Street and Sindey Street
• #3 (CMA 2026-96) $13,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks
• #4 (CMA 2026-98) $12,000,000 to provide funds to replace and modernize the City’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system
• #5 (CMA 2026-99) $14,000,000 to provide funds for remediation and improvements at Gold Star Mothers Park
• #6 (CMA 2026-100) $28,500,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan
• #7 (CMA 2026-101) $12,795,000 to provide funds for financing school building upgrades
• #8 (CMA 2026-102) $8,375,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of surface enhancements and sewer and drainage infrastructure improvements in the Baldwin neighborhood
• #9 (CMA 2026-103) $500,000 to provide funds for the City’s Climate Change Program to improve protection against flooding and extreme heat
• #10 (CMA 2026-104) $7,500,000 to provide funds for the sewer Combined Sewer Overflow Control Program
• #11 (CMA 2026-106) $1,000,000 to provide funds for design and construction of the Harvard Square sewer separation and stormwater management program
• #12 (CMA 2026-106) $310,000 to provide funds for the replacement of Ozone generators at the Water Department
• #13 (CMA 2026-107) $2,000,000 to provide funds for water works construction projects for repairs and replacement of water distribution infrastructure

Appointments

• #16 (CMA 2026-94) Library Board of Trustees – Reappointments: James Roosevelt, Elisabeth Werby, Risa Mednick, Michael Baenen, Karen Kosko
• #17 (CMA 2026-97) Family Policy Council – Reappointment: Yoyo Yau
• #18 (CMA 2026-114) Human Rights Commission – Fiqir Worku
• #19 (CMA 2026-117) Peace Commission – Appointments: Paul Knott, Heather Rivera, Katherine E. Stevenson, Pamela Howard, Muna Kangsen, Karim L. Razzaz, Julie Ayaz. Reappointments: Larry Kim, Elka Kuhlman, Annie Brown, Bonnie Talbert, Sarah DeMott, Kazimiera Fraley

Appropriations and Grants

• #20 (CMA 2026-108) $1,100 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support general operating costs for salaries and wages in the “Arts Council” department
• #21 (CMA 2026-109) $5,000 from the Universal Participation Innovation Fund Grant to support “the design and creation of interpretive signage for new and existing artworks in the municipal art collection”
• #22 (CMA 2026-110) $29,376.89 from the Shannon Grant to be used for the Cambridge Youth Programs Boys II Men Internship (created in 2012) and the Blooming into Womanhood Internship Program

Policy Orders

Requests that the city…

• #1 (POR 2026-78) take actions to strengthen worker cooperative narratives and policies, support the use of worker owned businesses, and report back to the council in 90 days on the adoption of this order
• #5 (POR 2026-82) “explore options for commissioning a housing needs study”

That the council…

• #2 (POR 2026-79) endorse, “the May Day Strong national day of action on May 1, 2026, as an expression of Cambridge’s support for workers’ rights, economic justice, and the tradition of peaceful civic engagement.”
• #3 (POR 2026-80) “encourage MassDOT to implement infrastructure improvements to the Museum Way and Charles River Dam Road intersection.”
• #4 (POR 2026-81) develop an accessible “Neighbors’ Guide to the MFH Ordinance.”

Charter Rights

• #1 (POR 2026-76) “halt any further design, engineering, procurement, or construction activities related to implementing a reconfiguration of Garden Street to restore two-way motor-vehicle traffic”