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City Manager’s Agenda

Reports and Communications

• #1 (CMA 2026-211) A federal update including an update on relevant court cases
• #2 (CMA 2026-212) A response to the council’s request regarding election workers
• #14 (CMA 2026-216) Police Review & Advisory Board Quarterly Report – Second Quarter 2026
• #16 (CMA 2026-220) The city will prepare a new Home Rule Petition that would allow Cambridge to install traffic enforcement cameras if the acts at the state legislature do not pass
• #17 (CMA 2026-214) Potential alternative methods of curb cut review
• #18 (CMA 2026-213) The Sixth Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report
• #19 (CMA 2026-215) The 2026 Annual Report of the Affordable Housing Overlay
• #21 (CMA 2026-224) Opportunities to streamline the permitting process
• #22 (CMA 2026-218) Amendments to the Massachusetts Avenue Active Use Zoning Petition
• #23 (CMA 2026-219) Amendments to the Cambridge Street Active Use Zoning Petition

Appropriations and Grants

• #3 (CMA 2026-221) $94,531 from the State 911 Department Support and Incentive Grant to support Emergency Communications Department operations
• #4 (CMA 2026-222) $24,336 from the FY27 State 911 Department Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Grant to support Emergency Medical Dispatch operations
• #5 (CMA 2026-223) $9,800.60 from the Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) Grant to support fire safety education programs
• #6 (CMA 2026-225) $3,606.43 from the State Executive Office of Public Safety Department of Fire Services Grant to support fire department operations
• #7 (CMA 2026-226) $30,000 from the MA Department of Mental Health’s Jail Diversion Program Grant to support diversion services
• #8 (CMA 2026-227) $6,823,498 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Grant to support homeless assistance programs
• #9 (CMA 2026-228) $506,088 from the Summer Food Service Program for Children Grant to support summer meal services
• #10 (CMA 2026-229) $117,000 from the GROW Early Childhood Education (ECE) Grant to support early childhood education programs
• #11 (CMA 2026-230) $263,815 from the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant to support family engagement and community programming
• #12 (CMA 2026-231) $154,491 from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Adult and Community Learning Services Grant to support adult education programming
• #13 (CMA 2026-232) $161,982 from the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Grant to support heating assistance for low-income households
• #15 (CMA 2026-233) $179,500 from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission Community Mitigation Fund to support community programs and services

Appointments

• #20 (CMA 2026-235) Social Housing Task Force: Will MacArthur

Policy Orders

Requests that the city…

• #1 (POR 2026-133) examine how a revived Central Square World’s Fair could build upon the successful partnership between the City, Cambridge Arts, and the Central Square Business Improvement District
• #2 (POR 2026-134) direct the Economic Development Division and the License Commission to jointly evaluate a limited pilot program from Fall 2026 through Fall 2027 allowing certain eligible licensed establishments to serve alcohol until 3:00 a.m
• #3 (POR 2026-135) confer with the Law Department, the Department of Public Works, the Transportation Department, and any other appropriate departments to determine whether the City may require Eversource, and any contractors or subcontractors working on Eversource’s behalf in Cambridge, to submit weekly certified payroll reports or similar payroll documentation for work performed in Cambridge’s public ways
• #4 (POR 2026-140) draft and submit a Home Rule Petition to authorize one additional Section 15 all-alcoholic beverages license not to be drunk on the premises
• #7 (POR 2026-143) explore options for reforming and modernizing the License Commission, including through the home rule petition process
• #9 (POR 2026-145) report on improved tree loss accounting and reporting systems
• #10 (POR 2026-146) implement a program for automated parking enforcement, which could be piloted in targeted areas to evaluate different technologies and functionalities
• #12 (POR 2026-148) produce a publicly accessible resource that clearly communicates interdepartmental workflow to residents, and developers
• #14 (POR 2026-150) confer with the Cambridge Historical Commission, the property owner, and other appropriate parties regarding placing a historical marker on 103 Irving Street in recognition of Julia Child’s life, work, and connection to Cambridge
• #15 (POR 2026-151) explore the feasibility of establishing a citywide digital wayfinding and information kiosk program on public property throughout Cambridge
• #16 (POR 2026-152) discuss a time-of-sale energy audit and possible ordinance language with the Health and Environment Committee

That the council…

• #5 (POR 2026-141) hold a Roundtable/Working Meeting on Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 1:30–3:30 PM, to discuss the City’s ongoing and future work in using Artificial Intelligence to improve services while ensuring any AI use aligns with City values, complies with legal and privacy requirements, and benefits both employees and the public
• #6 (POR 2026-142) cancel the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2026, in observance of Yom Kippur
• #8 (POR 2026-144) urge Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and the Hildebrand Family Self-Help Center to work collaboratively with St. Paul AME Church to support the continued use of St. Paul AME Church properties as Family Shelter sites
• #11 (POR 2026-147) accept M.G.L. Ch. 40U as a method of collecting some fines
• #13 (POR 2026-149) support SEIU 32BJ facilities workers at MIT in their efforts to secure a fair contract
• #17 (POR 2026-153) support the initiatives in the House and Senate Environmental Bond Bill and the Energy Affordability Bill as priorities for the conference committee

Charter Rights

• #1 (POR 2026-136) temporarily restore and reactivate ShotSpotter within the areas of Cambridge previously covered by the system
• #2 (POR 2026-137) report on progress of the February 2026 report’s recommendations, and plans for ensuring appropriate levels of support and staffing for the Community Safety Department, including continued expansion of CSD‘s violence prevention program, the number and types of calls handled by the CARE team, and the timeline for more comprehensive staffing for the CARE team emergency response program
• #3 (POR 2026-138) provide a comprehensive evaluation of violence response and prevention strategies, along with survivor support services, across City departments including CPD, CSD, CHA, and DHSP with recommendations
• #4 (POR 2026-139) install security cameras overlooking Cambridge public parks, operational only between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Petitions

• #1 (PET 2026-03) Zoning Amendment – Michelle Lower of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc – Creation a new district “Technology Square Transfer Receiving District”