Quick Take – December 16, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting
Here’s my quick take on this week’s agenda highlights:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Judith Laguerre, Yasmin Padamsee Forbes, and Stephen Curran as members of the Cambridge Human Rights Commission for a term of three-years.
Appointments Approved 8-0-1 (Wilson-Absent)
“Nevertheless I persist” in encouraging residents to volunteer to serve on City boards & commissions and highlighting all such appointments.
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to PO24#141, regarding the BZA Dormers Petition. (CM24#266) [text of report]
pulled by McGovern; Unfinished Business Brought Forward 8-0-1 (Wilson-Absent), McGovern Motion to Amend by Substitution Adopted 8-0-1 (Wilson-Absent); Nolan comments suggesting language still too restrictive (suggests deleting sub-paragraph 3); Jim Monteverde (BZA Chair) responds; Toner agrees w/Nolan amendment; Zusy defers to wisdom of Historical Commission and BZA; Monteverde explains that language would not prohibit a longer dormer – they would have to seek variance, as is required now; Azeem agrees w/Toner-Nolan; Nolan motion to delete 8.22.1.i.3 and renumber Adopted 7-1-1 (Zusy-No, Wilson Absent); Adopted as Amended 9-0; Placed on File 9-0
Unfinished Business #5. An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to ARTICLE 2.000 DEFINITIONS Dormer. A roofed projection built out from a sloping roof, containing a window or windows. ARTICLE 8.000 NONCONFORMITY 8.22.1h. Construction of a dormer or dormers to a nonconforming one- or two-family dwelling. [Passed to 2nd Reading Nov 4, 2024; Eligible To Be Ordained on or after Nov 25, 2024] (ORD24#9)
Taken up w/Managers Agenda #2; Nolan motion to delete 8.22.1.i.3 and renumber Adopted 7-1-1 (Zusy-No, Wilson Absent); Ordained as Amended 9-0; Placed on File 9-0
Seems ripe for ordination.
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Planning Board Report regarding the flexible parking zoning petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0
372 Communications – most regarding the proposed corrections to Garden Street traffic patterns (caused by the Untouchable Cycling Safety Ordinance).
It’s worth noting that the proposal for “flexible parking” (a real departure from the environmental priorities leading up to the City’s PTDM Ordinance) was necessitated by the complete inflexibility of some city councillors regarding the Cycling Safety Ordinance. If anyone actually believes that the right to pay a substantial fee for parking is a fair trade for loss of on-street parking, I have a bridge for sale at a great price.
Order #1. That the City Council meeting scheduled for Jan 13, 2025 be designated as a Joint Roundtable of the City Council and School Committee to discuss the City’s universal pre-kindergarten program. Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0
I am just a bit curious what is to be discussed. The Order gives no indication.
Order #2. That the City Council approve and issue the City Manager’s Performance Evaluation. Councillor Toner, Councillor Nolan
pulled early by Toner along w/Dec 10 Minutes; Minutes Accepted 8-0-1 (Wilson-Absent); Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Wilson-Absent)
Order #3. That the City Council intends to renew the City Manager’s employment beyond Sept 5, 2025, and initiate negotiations for a successor employment contract, which contract, if agreed to, shall become effective Sept 6, 2025. Councillor Toner, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zusy
pulled early by Toner along w/Dec 10 Minutes; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Wilson-Absent)
Order #4. That the City Council immediately suspend new requests for memorial dedications and that the Government Operations and the Civic Unity Committee, working with the City Manager, hold hearings to discuss new ideas to honor and remember individuals (i.e. memorial garden, fountain, wall or path), criteria for eligibility, a more robust committee structure, and a means for recording and maintaining our current and future memorials. Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Zusy
pulled by Toner for explanation; Nolan comments; Order Adopted 9-0
Good idea.
Resolution #3. Resolution honoring John Tagiuri. Councillor Zusy
Late Resolution #4. Resolution Re: Whitney’s Bar. Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Wilson
comments by McGovern re: Gerald Chan’s properties in Harvard Square and elsewhere (including Harvard Square Cinema, Dickson’s Bros. Hardware locations); McGovern, Wilson added as sponsors 9-0; Nolan comments (will vote Present based on letter from Chan’s lawyers re: court order and rent forgiveness); Toner reluctant but will support, notes insane and threatening comments by supporters; Wilson supports noting proprietor Dan Maguire is a friend; Simmons notes important history of this business; McGovern notes that some people who express support for business rarely patronize them; Simmons expresses hope that Gerald Chan will reconsider; Siddiqui decries personal threats that have been expressed; Azeem comments; Resolution Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Nolan-Present)
12 Committee Reports – 10 from previous City Council terms (9 never previously reported) and 2 current reports. These follow 8 reports the previous week (Dec 9) and 14 at the (infamous) Nov 25 meeting.
All Reports Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Committee Report #12 – CSO Amendments Passed to 2nd Reading
I really want to take everyone from the City Clerk’s Office out for a beer. They have been cleaning up the mess left by negligent City Council committee Chairs dating back 6 years. Prior to that I don’t recall a single committee meeting that went unreported for more than a few months.
As City Council salaries and personal staff have increased (and reserved parking spaces and private offices provided), responsibility has diminished. Some of this should have been part of the City Charter discussion, but instead they choose to focus on things like longer terms and greater Council control over the City budget process. Curiously, all proposals for possible mechanisms for “Redress of Grievances” were recently unanimously dismissed. – (the real) Robert Winters
It seems like Deja Vu all over again. As I was grabbing links to past Sanctuary City resolutions, I stumbled upon my notes from the 
We’ll have to wait to see what the fallout will be of a changing federal picture on left-leaning “sanctuary cities” like Cambridge. I can easily imagine changes in both funding and eligibility for public housing and perhaps some economic repercussions for life sciences and pharmaceutical companies that dominate Kendall Square. Will there be efforts to replace lost federal money by jacking up local property taxes? It’s all just a big guessing game right now. I don’t believe we will be receiving too many federal favors for the next several years.
Perhaps the biggest action item on this week’s agenda is the “emergency” amendment to the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance to extend the permitting preference period during which the politically connected “social equity” and “economic empowerment” applicants can have an advantage in selling recreational marijuana without any competition from their medicinal marijuana counterparts. This isn’t the first time this ordinance was extended as an “emergency” since its original adoption over 5 years ago.
