City Council Meeting – March 2nd, 2026

Meeting Link

City Manager’s Agenda

Reports and Communications

• #1 (CMA 2026-34) A federal update
• #8 (CMA 2026-33) An update on the Municipal Supportive Housing Voucher Program
• #9 (CMA 2026-35) Amendments to the transfer fee home rule petition

Appropriations and Grants

• #2 (CMA 2026-36) $84,500 from the MA DEP Recycling Dividends Program grant to fund various zero-waste initiatives and programs
• #3 (CMA 2026-37) $214,766.64 from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Community Connections Grant to replace seven Bluebikes stations
• #4 (CMA 2026-38) $6,007 from the MA Housing and Shelter Alliance grant to fund the Carey Men’s Permanent Supported Housing Program operated by the Multi-Service Center
• #5 (CMA 2026-39) $9,115 from the Center for Families grant to the Cambridge Public Health Commission, Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative
• #6 (CMA 2026-41) $200 from a private donation to the Home Energy Assistance Program
• #7 (CMA 2026-42) $500 from a private donation to support the Cambridge Recreation Junior Golf Program

Policy Orders

Requests that the city…

• #1 (POR 2026-37) improve the transparency and consistency of publication of meeting agendas and materials
• #2 (POR 2026-38) present, “a consolidated capital lifecycle reconciliation for all major capital initiatives at or above $15,000,000”
• #3 (POR 2026-39) stop all official posting and engagement and X/Twitter
• #4 (POR 2026-40) explore the potential for a Cambridge Snow Corps program
• #6 (POR 2026-43) review guidance from the IRS to simplify payment of election workers
• #7 (POR 2026-44) change the regular city council meeting scheduled for Monday, April 6, 2026 to, “be a roundtable/working meeting to discuss the best future uses of city-owned properties”

That the council…

• #8 (POR 2026-45) recognize March 15, 2026 as International Long Covid Awareness Day
• #9 (POR 2026-46) recognize May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness month
• #10 (POR 2026-47) support S.2726/H.3594: an act regarding free expression
• #11 (POR 2026-48) recognize May 14, 2026, as MEF2C Awareness Day
• #12 (POR 2026-49) support S.428/H.4207: an act relative to school libraries

Other

• #5 (POR 2026-42) That the council support house bill H.3754, and senate bill S.2344 that would enable cities to use automated traffic enforcement, and that the city prepare to use said enforcement as well as prepare a related home rule petition
• #13 (POR 2026-50) That the Ordinance Committee include discussion of these additional items at their
  upcoming meeting about amendments to the recent Cambridge Street Zoning
  • setbacks
  • step backs at the 4th floor and where buildings abut side streets
  • the impact of wet labs being as of right
  • other ways that the City can incentive local retail
  • Incentivize the creation of pocket parks
  • design review for buildings over 4 stories
  • that CDD produce an annual report on the impacts of the new zoning detailing
    how many housing units (affordable IZ and market rate) have been built, how
    many residents and local businesses have been displaced; and impacts on ground
    floor retail

Charter Rights

• #1 (POR 2026-32) raise the parking permit fee to $75 with exemptions for income qualifying residents, remove the senior exemption, and lower the number of cars that individuals are allowed to permit for from four to two
• #2 (POR 2026-34) investigate, “[expanding] free early child care offerings, including models for means-tested programming, and exploration of non-City funding sources, from the state or foundations.”