Council Meeting September 9th, 2024

The council is back from its Summer hiatus.

Meeting Link

City Manager’s Agenda

Communications and Reports

• #1 (CMA 2024 #176 ) – Surveillance impact report for the Patron Incident Tracking System (PITS), requested by the Library
• #7 (CMA 2024 # 182) – Report from the Board of Zoning Appeals with proposed zoning amendments concerning dormers
• #9 (CMA 2024 #184) – The city will not be able to keep the Gold Star Pool open beyond Labor Day
• #19 (CMA 2024 #194) – Report on recommendations for how to improve the housing permitting process
• #21 (CMA 2024 #196) – Clarification on the City’s Wage Theft Ordinance

Appointments

• #2 (CMA 2024 #177) – Cambridge Library Board of Trustees – Irene Monroe
• #3 (CMA 2024 #178) – Open Data Review Board – Avanti Tilak
• #8 (CMA 2024 #183) – Family Policy Council – Appointments: Interim Superintendent David Murphy. Reappointments: Tina Alu, Michael Johnston, Michelle Lower, Geeta Pradhan, Bridget Rodriguez, Elizabeth Stapleton (Formerly Elizabeth Hill), Tagesech Wabeto
• #14 (CMA 2024 #189) – Conservation Commission – Reappointments: David Lyons and Elysse Magnotto-Cleary. Appointments: Khyati Saraf and Lorie Graham. Associate Appointments: Jim Gerstle and Sean Bedingfield

Grants and Appropriations

• #4 (CMA 2024 #179) – $15,603 from the State 911 Department Emergency Medical Dispatch grant for quality assurance (call review) for the emergency medical protocol used by staff
• #5 (CMA 2024 #180) – $300,027 from the State 911 Department Training Grant to support training of Emergency Communications Center personnel, classroom fees, and training materials
• #6 (CMA 2024 #181) – $574,531 State 911 Department Support and Incentive grant to support the costs of Emergency Communications Center operations
• #10 (CMA 2024 #182) – $11,500 donation from the T. Baker Fund, Inc for the City of Cambridge STEAM Initiative
• #11 (CMA 2024 #183) – $10,000 received from the Cambridge Community Foundation to support a college success coach
• #12 (CMA 2024 #187) – $18,711 grant from the MA Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) for HEAP client benefits
• #13 (CMA 2024 #188) – $6,505 in donations to The Cambridge Program for Individuals with Special Needs to purchase supplies and equipment
• #15 (CMA 2024 #190) – $15,101.85 grant from the Mass. Recycling Dividends Program to support the City’s waste reduction and outreach programs
• #16 (CMA 2024 #191) – $416,991 from the Volkswagen and Refuse Truck Electric Solicitation Grant to support the purchase of an all-electric rubbish packer
• #17 (CMA 2024 #192) – $200,000 transfer from the Public Works Salary and Wages account to the Travel and Training (Judgements and Damages) account to cover current and projected costs related to on job injuries
• #18 (CMA 2024 #193) – $276,800 grant from the Mass. Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program to support work on reducing the risk of extreme heat
• #20 (CMA 2024 #195) – $350,000 transfer from Employee Benefits Salaries and Wages account to the Travel and Training Account to cover the anticipated costs of workers compensation medical bills

Requests

• #22 (CMA 2024 #97) – Request to extend the authorization of the City Manager to grant street obstruction approvals, which is notably used to authorize outdoor seating at restaurants

Policy Orders

Requests

That the city…

• #1 (POR 2024 #112) – prioritize the repair of the water bubbler at Anderson Tennis Courts on Pemberton Street
• #4 (POR 2024 #115) – provide a comprehensive report outlining known issues of the garbage chute at 1 Leighton Street
• #5 (POR 2024 #116) – enact a policy that will extend the priority period for Social Equity and Equity Empowerment cannabis business applicants
• #6 (POR 2024 #117) – draft zoning language based on the proposal from the Housing Committee to eliminate exclusionary zoning and allow up to six stories of multi-family housing city wide
• #7 (POR 2024 #118) – hold public meetings to inform the Cambridge community about the proposed zoning changes before any future public hearings
• #8 (POR 2024 #119) – provide a status update on the implementation of the PACE program
• #9 (POR 2024 #120) – provide an update on progress towards providing a recommendation for changes to the existing ordinance and a report on the impact of the Short-Term Rentals in Cambridge
• #10 (POR 2024 #121) – provide an update on the status of the Vail Court property and associate litigation
• #12 (POR 2024 #123) – provide a status Update on Automated Parking Enforcement.

Declarations

• #2 (POR 2024 #113) – Acknowledging September as Suicide Prevention Month
• #3 (POR 2024 #114) – Declaring September as National Recovery Month
• #11 (POR 2024 #122) – Calling for MIT’s dissociation from the fossil fuel industry in the Climate Project

Charter Rights

• #1 (CMA #149) – Surveillance Technology Impact Report
• #2 (APP 2024 #26) – Curb cut – Ryan Boucher – 55 Harvey Street