City Council Meeting June 17th 2024

Meeting Link

City Manager’s Agenda

Appropriations and Grants

• #1 (CMA 2024 #125) – $15,000 grant from Massachusetts Cultural Council to, “support District-based initiatives that drive economic growth and strengthen the distinctive character of the Central Square Cultural District.”
• #2 (CMA 2024 #126) – $5000 grant from Massachusetts Cultural Council to support Universal Participation Initiative priorities
• #3 (CMA 2024 #127) – $228.471 grant from the HUD Emergency Solutions Grant fund for shelter operating costs, homeless essential services, rapid re-housing, and homelessness prevention services
• #4 (CMA 2024 #128) – $11,358 grant from the MA Office of Housing and Livable Communities to supplement our current LIHEAP grant award
• #5 (CMA 2024 129) – $6,404,386 grant from HUD over Ground Fund Human Services administrative costs

Responses and Updates

• #6 (CMA 2024 #130) – In response to a request by the Council to increase parking enforcement on Norman and Belmont Streets, the city has stated that the area is, “part of [their] regular enforcement,” and will, “will continue to actively monitor and enforce,” parking regulations.
• #7 (CMA 2024 #131) – A review of Appleton St. near Huron and Brattle has determined that traffic was, “significantly higher than we would expect to see on a relatively narrow neighborhood street,” and is considering interventions such as adding a no left turn sign.
• #8 (CMA 2024 #132) – An update on the City’s efforts to support the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Track Improvement Program during upcoming redline closures in June and July
• #9 (CMA 2024 #133) – An update on summer programs

Policy Orders

• #1 (POR 2024 #81) – Requests that the city work with the MBTA to preserve the Gift of Wind art installation in Porter Square
• #2 (POR 2024 #82) – Requests that the city develop a policy and systems to perform safety audits of intersections when a crash results in a serious injury
• #3 (POR 2024 #83) – Appointing the Chair off the Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee to head the city manager performance evaluation process
• #4 (POR 2024 #84) – Requests that the CDD look into having community events to inform residents of efforts to improve driving, cycling, and pedestrian safety
• #5 (POR 2024 #85) – Support of the June delegations mission to, “strengthen the contact between Cambridge and El Salvador”

Charter Rights

#1 (POR 2024 #78) – Requesting that the City Manager support local news production by conducting a $100,000 per year city-backed news fund pilot for up to three years

Applications and Petitions

• #1 (APP 2024 #21) – Curb Cut – Raghu Chivukula – 12 Linnaean Street
• #2 (APP 2024 #22) – Projecting Sign – Eric Franco representing Northpond Ventures – 8 Brattle Street
• #3 (APP 2024 #23) – Projecting Sign and Awnings(2) – Chip City – 1 Brattle Square a