City Council Meeting – October 21st, 2024

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Meeting Link

City Manager’s Agenda

Reports and Communications

  • #1 (CMA 2024 #221) – A general update on human resources
  • #3 (CMA 2024 #223) – The CHA already has large screens in community rooms for watching council meetings and need instruction more than digital resources
  • #4 (CMA 2024 #224) – Short-Term Rental ordinance report and recommended changes
  • #5 (CMA 2024 #225) – All city garbage trucks are to be inspected and seals replaced where necessary to prevent leaking
  • #6 (CMA 2024 #226) – The city likely won’t be able to create an ordinance preventing housing associates from “unreasonably restricting” use of solar energy systems
  • #7 (CMA 2024 #227) – The Planning Board recommends adoption of the Dormer Zoning Petition with amendments
  • #8 (CMA 2024 #228) – It is unlikely that the city can use automated parking enforcement such as ALPR without seeking special legislation
  • #9 (CMA 2024 #229) – Flexible Parking zoning amendment to allow easier sharing of parking lots between businesses to mitigate loss of on-street parking
  • #10 (CMA 2024 #230) – Changes to the Cycling Safety Ordinance (CSO) to extend one deadline by a year to 2027 and prevent the installation of bike lanes on Cambridge Street, Main Street, and Broadway until July 2025 or after the Flexible Parking zoning amendment is adopted

Appointments

  • #2 (CMA 2024 #222) – Diane Smith to the Cambridge Human Rights Commission

Policy Orders


All comments are from members of our comment team.

One response to “City Council Meeting – October 21st, 2024”

  1. Charles J. Franklin Avatar
    Charles J. Franklin

    The Council reversed its decision made earlier this year that delayed bike lane implementations until 2027 for Main St, Cambridge St, and Broadway. The deadline is now Nov 30th, 2026. Responding to questions from Vice Mayor McGovern, the city made it clear that they can build the bike lanes by 2026 and do not need the additional time to complete them. When asked if they’d complete the bike lanes early regardless of deadline, they also made clear that deadlines are important for getting work done as there’s often pushback against various work from some in the community. In other words, if the deadline is 2027, the city will finish the bike lanes in 2027 and no sooner. The 4 councilors who voted for the original delay again asserted that it wasn’t a delay and just extra time for the city, even though it was clearly a de facto delay.

    The four councillors who voted against the delay were joined by new member Councillor Catherine “Cathie” Zusy in undoing the delay. Councilor Nolan initially voted present and Councillor Willson nay on removing the delay, but both changed their votes to yea after the initial vote passed. Willson’s reversal was particularly perplexing as she made it pretty clear that she felt that 2016 was too soon, and unlike Nolan, at least in my opinion doesn’t seem to be a supporter of separated bike infrastructure. She often speaks in council about continuing prioritize personal car travel over other forms of transportation.

    The adjusted deadline now moves to the Ordinance Committee for further discussion and potentially more amendments.

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