Council Meeting March 18th, 2024

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Meeting Link

City Manager’s Agenda

Updates

  • #1 (CMA 2024 #38) – Update on the Safety Net Family Shelter
  • #5 (CMA 2024 #42) – Update on retaining AAA bond rating
  • #6 (CMA 2024 #43) – Report on the new block rates for water and sewer

Appropriations

  • #7 (CMA 2024 #44) – $2000 for the Kemp Playground
  • #8 (CMA 2024 #45) – $110,500 for various recycling efforts
  • #9 (CMA 2024 #46) – $680,000 for winter snow equipment
  • #10 (CMA 2024 #47) – $468,295 for snow removal expenses
  • #11 (CMA 2024 #48) – $1,000,000 for spring street repairs
  • #12 (CMA 2024 #49) – $75,000 for personnel issues 
Appointments
  • #2 (CMA 2024 #39) – Reappointing Eric Williams as Constable without Power
  • #3 (CMA 2024 #40) – Appointing Tahir Kapoor to the Water Board
  • #4 (CMA 2024 #41) – Reappointing Larry Ward as Election Commissioner

Applications

  • #1 (APP 2024 #8) – MIT Museum banners along Mass Ave
  • #2 (APP 2024 #9) – Curb cut, Fernando Dalfior, 131 Sherman

Policy Orders

  • #1 (POR 2024 #31) Establishing a dedication in honor of Luke B. Santos
  • #2 (POR 2024 #32) Renaming 91, 93, and 95 Pearl Street and 4 William Street to improve mail delivery
  • #3 (POR 2024 #33) Create kennel licenses and amend local code around vicious dogs
  • #4 (POR 2024 #34) Piloting a Fare Free 1 Bus 
  • #5 (POR 2024 #35) Regulating “down-conversions” and other zoning changes
  • #6 (POR 2024 #36) Mitigating waist management noise disturbances in Cambridge Crossing
  • #7 (POR 2024 #37) Draft zoning language to legalize multifamily housing citywide
  • #8 (POR 2024 #38) Establishing a dedication in honor of Roderick L. “Kito” Jackson
  • #9 (POR 2024 #39) Adjusting parking permit fees, “to better align with associated costs while incorporating a tiered structure that takes into account low-income users and larger vehicles”
  • #10 (POR 2024 #40) Supporting decarbonization and BEUDO efforts

All comments are from members of our comment team.

2 responses to “Council Meeting March 18th, 2024”

  1. charles Avatar
    charles

    CMA #6
    Finally, the city is looking into maybe doing something about how hard our water is. Long overdue

    PORs #5 and #7
    Councillor Picket charter righted both housing POs today that aimed to increase housing via zoning changes. She spoke about “holistic planning”. Before the charter right, Vice Mayor McGovern and Councillor Wilson spoke in favor of #7. In particular McGovern spoke about how many people have criticized citizen’s petitions as not being from the city, and now this PO is asking the city to draw up a new petition. Before charter righting PO #7, Picket criticized how the city has done zoning changes in the past. She’s probably referring to the AHO and AHO 2.0. In my view, the city has done plenty of out reach before those changes.

    As someone who’s submitted a citizens petition to change zoning for more housing, I can say that I’m really happy to see the council moving forward with this. There was at least one commenter who mentioned my petition, so that also made me happy. I don’t understand the delay in discussing the POs tonight. I’m sure Councillor Picket had a good reason, but I don’t feel that she explained it well.

    PO #9
    Councillor Nolan spoke in favor of increasing the parking permit fee and potentially charging more for larger vehicles as a public good. Councillor Toner said he could support raising the fee, but said he wouldn’t support a “tiered system” for larger vehicles. Councillor Picket also said that she wouldn’t support a tiered system stating that some people need larger cars, pointing out work vehicles in particular. Mayor Simmons voiced a similar concern and pointed out that families sometimes use larger vehicles. Nolan pushed back a little on this stating that station wagons and minivans used to transport families just fine.

    I’m personally of the opinion that free or cheap street parking is theft of public property. Beyond that, larger cars do take up more space on the street and cause more wear and tear to roads. To not charge larger vehicles more for parking is to ask everyone else to subsidize their parking.

  2. Charles J. Franklin Avatar
    Charles J. Franklin

    I missed counsellor Pickett saying that she wanted the head of the CDD to be present. I actually think that’s quite reasonable given the scope of the requested changes.

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