Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

On Boiling Frogs and Showdowns Pending – May 2, 2022 at the Cambridge City Council

As expected, the FY2023 City of Cambridge Budget has arrived just in time for the Budget Hearings to get underway. As the potholes grow larger and cash falls like manna from heaven, I’m buckling my seat belt for several weeks of emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, climate change, municipal broadband, alternatives to policing, de-funding the police and, of course, bikes lanes. Public Comment will likely bring cries that the City Budget has no HEART (but plenty of CARP), plus outrage from the Left (and especially Councillor Zondervan) about the ~$5 million increase in the Police Dept. budget.

Though not on this agenda, I can’t help but speculate how things will play out politically ~18 months from now when the funds for the promised $22 million in ARPA funds to be paid in monthly $500 installments directly to eligible residents runs out (just in time for the next municipal election). I’m very curious about who will be making the eligibility decisions. I also fully expect there will be a lot of pressure to extend or even expand the program permanently out of local taxes – though that would require state legislative action.

Here are the items that boiled up from the firmament this week:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2023 submitted budget and appropriation orders.
pulled by Nolan; Referred to Finance Committee 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

Here’s a spreadsheet showing how things have changed from last year, from 2 years ago, and from 18 years ago.

Here’s an alternate version that shows proposed vs. actual and projected budgets.

And the annual raft of Loan Orders:

Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for the replacement of existing gas boilers at the Morse and Cambridgeport schools.
pulled by Nolan; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $13,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets, sidewalks and bike facilities.
pulled by Carlone; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $78,500,000 to provide funds for the construction of sewer separation, storm water management and combined sewer overflow reduction elimination improvements within the Port, Alewife and Central Square areas as well as the Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts.
pulled by Carlone; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $15,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of a multi-use paths Danehy/New Street Path, Linear Park and Grand Junction Path, which runs from Henry Street to Gore Street on both City, MIT and MassDOT property.
pulled by Nolan; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $14,600,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan.
pulled by Nolan; Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $37,000,000 to provide additional funds for the construction of improvements at the Fire Station Headquarters Building located at 491 Broadway.
Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

That’s $159.9 million in loan authorizations on top of $41.2 million in the Public Investment category.

Manager’s Agenda #11. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,500,000 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account from MIT Development for Volpe Project ($500,000) and Alexandria RE Equities/Design & Construction ($1,000,000) and will be used to support the design and construction of the Grand Junction Multi-use Path.
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

Together with Manager’s Agenda #5 (above), it looks like we’ll be seeing some movement on the Grand Junction Path real soon – perhaps in time for it to link up with the Somerville Community Path. Ultimately, it would be great if the path can also cross the Charles River on the other half of the RR bridge that runs under the BU Bridge and ultimately will connect with future (pretty damn exciting) amenities in Allston that will come with the realignment of the Mass. Pike.

Manager’s Agenda #13. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $23,100,176 received from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the new Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), to the Grant Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used for a number of projects related to City Council priority areas particularly: homelessness and housing support, COVID testing, mental health services, job training, food insecurity, small business support, and infrastructure including items related to water, and broadband.
pulled by Zondervan; Charter Right – Zondervan

I’m looking forward to a more complete accounting of all of the ARPA appropriations, including the initiative announced at the recent “State of the City” event. I hear echoes of former City Manager Bob Healy saying “one-time non-recurring expenditure” and wonder how much tax-supported permanence may end up being baked into these ARPA allocations.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on the feasibility of providing all Cambridge high school students with free Charlie Cards throughout the school year. [Charter Right – Simmons, Apr 11, 2022]
Simmons motion to refer to Transportation Committee Fails 3-4-1-1 (DS,PT,QZ – YES; DC,MM,PN,AM – NO; SS – ABSENT; BA – PRESENT)
Tabled 7-1-1 (Nolan – NO; Siddiqui – ABSENT)

On the Table #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Emergency Management Performance Grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in the amount of $39,600 to the Grant Fund Fire Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to support the purchase of a new vehicle for the Emergency Preparedness and Coordination office. [Charter Right – Nolan, Mar 7, 2022; Tabled – Mar 21, 2022]
Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT); Note: Revised to be a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle

Councillor Nolan continues her audition for Purchasing Agent.

Resolution #4. Congratulations to the Outstanding Employee Award Winners.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Mallon; Resolution Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

I have often attended this award ceremony (May 13, 10am, Sullivan Chamber) which will presumably also include the presentation of the (not yet announced) Brian Murphy Award. Past recipients include Owen O’Riordan (2015), Ellen Semonoff (2016), Jeana Franconi (2017), Richard Rossi (2018), Lisa Peterson (2019), Branville Bard (2020), and Claude Jacob (2021).

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to look into the feasibility of mailing “Watch for Bikes” stickers to residents who have applied for a residential parking permit for the next application cycle in 2023.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan – ABSENT)

Needless to say, if you’re already checking your side rear-view mirror you are likely already watching for bikes. The issue is whether you are so callous that you don’t care. Perhaps we need a sticker that says something like “Be Thoughtful”.

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department, the Traffic, Parking & Transportation Department and the Department of Public Works to look into the feasibility of placing a covered bike rack at City Hall using FY23 Capital Budget Funding.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan – ABSENT)

I will simply note that half of the parking spaces along Dorothy “Dottie” Doyle Way behind City Hall are now reserved for city councillors regardless whether or not they are in the building or if they drive a car. Perhaps those spaces should again be made available to all City Hall employees in conjunction with the installation of a covered bike rack.

Order #3. City Council support of H.938 and H.998/S.569, Extended Producer Responsibility for Paint and Mattresses.   Councillor Azeem
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan – ABSENT)

Order #4. City Council support of H.R.2644, the Green New Deals for Cities Act of 2021.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan – ABSENT)

Although there are some worthy priorities floated in this bill, it is for the most part a boondoggle authored by the extreme Left – including the whole “Squad”. A trillion here, a trillion there and at some point you’re talking real money. This being Cambridge, of course, the only question is whether or not this resolution passes unanimously.

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate staff to light up City Hall and painting crosswalks for Pride Month 2022.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zondervan – ABSENT)

I have a related question: For how long does a flag or other decoration marking a particular holiday (or sentiment) remain on City Hall after the holiday has passed? Mr. Frederick Hastings Rindge (1857-1905) would like to have a word with you.

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Mar 9, 2022 to conduct a public hearing on a petition to amend Article 20.90 – Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by inserting a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 – Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). [Text of Committee Report #1]
Report Accepted, Placed on File; 5 Orders Adopted 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee met on Apr 7, 2022 to continue a public hearing on a petition to amend Article 20.90 – Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by inserting a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 – Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). [Text of Committee Report #2]
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT), Petition Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended 8-0-1 (Siddiqui – ABSENT)

Though this should have been addressed several years ago when concepts for the Alewife Quadrangle were discussed in some detail, it sure looks like the City Council is on the verge of passing their proposed development moratorium. Needless to say, a moratorium is not an actual plan. – Robert Winters