Council Meeting August 5th, 2024

Meeting Link

City Manager Agenda

Appropriations and Grants

• #1 (CMA #151) – $24,020 to allow the Consumers’ Council to continue the mediation of consumer complaints
• #5 (CMA #155) – $263,815 from the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grant to fund the Center for Families
• #6 (CMA #156) – $180,000 from the Children’s Trust Fund grant to fund the Center for Families
• #7 (CMA #157) – $1,148,777 from the Adult and Community Learning Services grant to fund core ESOL and ABE services
• #8 (CMA #158) – $213,494 grant received from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to the Human Service Programs account
• #9 (CMA #159) – $100,000 from the Mass DoE Community Learning Center grant to fund 2 CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) training programs for second language learners
• #10 (CMA #160) – $7,000 from the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program grant to supplement fuel assistance payments
• #11 (CMA #161) – $1,999.31 from the MASSCAP Inc. funds to provide assistance to residents with natural gas heating bills
• #12 (CMA #162) – $85,000 from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program grant
• #13 (CMA #163) – $98,214 from the Cambridge Housing Authority for the Cambridge Employment Program
• #14 (CMA #164) – $513,500 from the Summer Food Program grant to provide nutritious meals to Cambridge youth
• #17 (CMA #165) – $243,689.30 from the Office of Grants and Research to support the purchase of some of the hardware for the Department’s Body Worn Camera (BWC) Program
• #18 (CMA #166) – $120,000 from the Mass Dep of Mental Health’s Jail Diversion Program to fund a specially trained clinician that is responding to mental health calls
• #20 (CMA #168) – $175,000 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund to partially fund the design of the Cambridge Street separated bike lanes and other associated street improvements
• #22 (CMA #170) – $527,800 from the Mass Gaming Commission Community Mitigation Fund for various projects and purchases
• #24 (CMA #172) – $634,165.54 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to financially assist municipalities in expanding their supply of decent, safe and affordable housing
• #25 (CMA #173) – $2,420,070 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund assisted living programs and supportive services, shelter services, rental assistance and housing search services
• #26 (CMA #174) – $43,431 increase in the allocated amount for the FY25 Community Development Block Grant

Communications and Updates

• #2 (CMA #152) – Recommendation from the Election Commission that 32 police officers or more be assigned and any to the City’s polling locations for all elections this fiscal year
• #3 (CMA #153) – An update on the Safety Net Family Shelter
• #4 (CMA #154) – An update on the Cambridge Preschool Program
• #15 (CMA #149) – Surveillance Technology Impact Report
• #16 (CMA #150) – Submission of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report: NameUs Technology
• #19 (CMA #167) – An update on Vision Zero
• #21 (CMA #169) – Response to the council’s request to look into providing financial incentives to not own a car
• #23 (CMA #171) – 2024 Annual Report of the Affordable Housing Overlay
• #27 (CMA #175) – Update on the RFI for Central Square lots at 84 & 96 Bishop Allen Drive

Policy Orders

Requests of the City Manager

• #1 (POR #96) – Explore the feasibility of using large screens at CHA buildings so seniors may participate in municipal meetings
• #2 (POR #97) – Schedule a hearing to discuss current shelter operations and potential improvements
• #3 (POR #98) – Ensure the Gold Star Pool remains open through the end of September and reopen at the start of June 2025
• #4 (POR #99) – Work with Somerville to address the parking signage on Seven Pines Avenue
• #5 (POR #100) – Amend the Do Not Enter sign near Whittemore Avenue and Alewife Brook Parkway to include exception for abutters
• #9 (POR #104) – Urge the necessary departments to reconsider plans for the Upstream Bridge/Draw One Bridge to include a pedestrian/bicycle pathway
• #11 (POR #106) – Conduct outreach to Cambridge colleges and universities about the pilot University Pass Program
• #12 (POR #107) – Create a listserv that automatically emails an alert to subscribers when a board or commission vacancy occurs
• #13 (POR #108) – Provide a legal opinion enacting an ordinance to prohibit associations from unreasonably restricting the use of a solar energy system
• #14 (POR #109) – Create a policy to ensure that City operated buildings have default temperatures that align with health and sustainability best practices
• #15 (POR #110) – Work directly with the MBTA regarding the redevelopment of the Alewife garage and advocate for City priorities

Other Orders and Resolutions

• #6 (POR #101) – That the council only consider Charter Review Committee recommendations which received a 2/3rds vote
• #7 (POR #102) – That the council must vote by 2/3rds majority to forward charter amendments to the legislature and voters
• #8 (POR #103) – That the Mayor hold a meeting to discuss the Charter Review Committee recommendations
• #10 (POR #105) – Recognizing August as “National Black Business Month”
• #16 (POR #111) – Endorsement of S.750, Primary Care for You (PC4YOU) legislation that doubles Primary Care investment and increases health equity