Turf War – April 29, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting
The turf war of competing mailing lists continues this week with the number of email communications generated by mailing lists blowing past all previous records. Sure, they’re all just variations on the dual themes of “Don’t touch any aspect of the divinely inspired Cycling Safety Ordinance or the Charles River will turn to blood” or “Consider compromise.” Unfortunately, there are many people who think that representative democracy should be governed by how many virtual pounds of vox populi arrive as a result of email blasts to lists of disciples. Ideas don’t matter. Practicality doesn’t matter. Effectiveness doesn’t matter. Truth doesn’t matter. It’s all about preaching to your respective choirs asking them to drown out the other.
Meanwhile, there’s still a City to run and bills to pay. The FY2025 Budget and the annual parade of loan authorizations have arrived.
Manager’s Agenda #1. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the FY2025 submitted budget and appropriation orders. [text of report]
The overall FY25 Proposed Budget shows an 8.2% increase over the FY24 Adopted Budget. It also shows the previously announced rearrangement of some departments – most noticeably the Community Development. The FY25 Budget shows a 72% decrease in the CDD Budget, but this is due to two separate new departments being hatched out of CDD – the new “Housing Department” and the new “Office of Sustainability”. The combined budgets of these three departments is rising from $40,890,300 to $42,235,895 – an overall increase of 3.3%.
The other spinoff is within the Executive Department (Office of the City Manager). The FY25 Budget shows a 19.2% decrease, but this is due to the new “Equity and Inclusion Department” being spun off as a separate department. The combined budgets of these two departments is rising from $8,467,495 to $9,115,455 – an overall increase of 7.7%.
The proposed Public Investment budget is going up from $18,056,905 to $38,432,720. The total amount of proposed Loan Authorizations (see below) is $36,460,000 which is a considerable drop from last year’s $167,150,000.
The Budget Hearings begin May 7. I hope that this year’s Budget Message from the City Manager will include projections of what the Residential and Commercial Tax Rates might be based on the FY25 Proposed Budget and, more importantly what that might translate into in actual dollar increases for the four primary residential categories – condos, single-family, two-family, and three family homes. We usually only learn about this in October/November – long after the FY25 Budget has been adopted. Though condo owners will likely continue to get the sweetest deal in town, the sticker shock for other homeowners could be significant.
Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the appropriation and authorization to borrow $11,500,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks.
Manager’s Agenda #3. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of appropriation and authorization to borrow $4,350,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan. Funds will support significant building improvements and deferred maintenance projects. Proposed projects include but are not limited to upgrades of Public Works facilities, municipal offices, youth centers, branch libraries and fire stations, renovations to 105 Windsor Street and upgrades of HVAC and electrical systems.
Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $3,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of open spaces at the Peabody School Playground, Corcoran (Raymond Street) Park, Rafferty Park, Wilder-Lee Park, and 359 Broadway.
Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $2,560,000 to provide funds for financing school building upgrades.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of and authorization to borrow $6,550,000 to provide funds for the Ozone Generator Replacement; Water Treatment Plant equipment and systems upgrades and water works construction projects in coordination with DPW street restoration projects, which include Massachusetts Ave 4, Chestnut, Dana, Sciarappa and Winter Streets.
Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $8,500,000 to provide funds for the sewer Capital Repairs Program and projects related to climate change preparedness efforts.
Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a recommendation received from City Engineer James Wilcox to name four new private ways: Jackson Place, Clifton Place, Clifton Circle and Graham Place. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #15. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $249,900, received from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to the Grant Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account. Funds will be used to coordinate the design of an off-road, multi-use path connection between the Grand Junction Path in Cambridge and the Community Path Extension in Somerville, including traffic analysis, topographical and geotechnical surveys, community engagement sessions and final design phasing.
Manager’s Agenda #16. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number #2024-13, regarding fare free Bus Program and Planning for Red Line Shutdown.
Manager’s Agenda #17. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order Numbers 24-49 & 24-50, regarding additional information on amendments to the Parking and Transportation Demand Management (PTDM) Ordinance and the Zoning Ordinance to allow flexibility for property owners to share off-site parking with nearby uses, as well as information on potential changes to the timeline of the quick build elements of the Cycling Safety Ordinance. (CM24#89) [text of report]
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Department of Public Works, the Community Development Department, and the Law Department to draft proposed amendments to the Cycling Safety Ordinance to extend the deadline associated with the completion of those sections of the ordinance that are required to be completed by May 1, 2026. [Charter Right – Sobrinho-Wheeler, Apr 8, 2024]
Committee Report #4. The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee held a public hearing on Apr 10, 2024 to discuss how the City factors potential street congestion into street re-design, monitors and adjusts for street congestion (especially in newly reconfigured areas such as North Mass Ave., Garden Street, and Inman Square/Cambridge Street) and understand its impacts on residents, businesses, and public safety. In addition, the Committee will review and learn how the City is planning for potential impacts on Cambridge streets of DCR’s plan to reduce Memorial Drive from four lanes to two lanes between JFK Street and the Eliot Bridge. [text of report]
744 Communications which include a petition with 22 pages of signatures of people supporting some delay in the Cycling Safety Ordinance and another 549 emails “in support of building separated bike lanes with no delay.”
Order #3. Request that the Foundation for Civic Leadership reconsider their plans for the Democracy Center meetinghouse and meet with the affected organizations and organizers to reach a suitable resolution. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Wilson
The moral of the story is that renting to Leftists or providing them with free space (even if you’re as progressive or liberal as the day is long) comes with the risk that they will one day either try to take your building or prevent you from doing anything that might offend them – including necessary renovation of the building.
Charter Right #2. City Council support of H.2963, An Act relative to payments in lieu of taxation by organizations exempt from the property tax, to ensure municipalities are fairly compensated and their long-term budgetary needs are preserved. [Charter Right – Toner, Apr 8, 2024]
Charter Right #3. That the Amendments to the Tenants’ Rights Ordinance recommended by the Law Department, in CM24#68, be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for hearing and report. [Charter Right – Toner, Apr 8, 2024]
Resolution #6. Congratulations to the Blue Bottle Independent Union. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor McGovern, Mayor Simmons
Let’s hope this doesn’t win a Darwin’s Award.
Resolution #9. Resolution in memory of Corporal Manuel John Pimentel. Mayor Simmons
Committee Report #1. The Finance Committee held a public hearing on Mar 26, 2024 to receive a status update on ARPA funding in Cambridge, as well as to review and discuss the Police Department budget for FY25 before it is submitted to the City Manager, as required under Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.74.040. [text of report]
Committee Report #2. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on Mar 27, 2024 to discuss regional coastal flood resilience interventions required to address increased vulnerability due to climate change risk. [text of report]
This was one of the more interesting committee meetings in a very long time. It included regional assessments and plans for addressing potential coastal flooding and over-topping of dams with particular focus on exactly where the greatest points of vulnerability are located.
Committee Report #3. The Public Safety Committee held a public hearing on Apr 2, 2024 regarding the State of Policing in Cambridge, and safety in the community with an update from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) report. [text of report]
Committee Report #5. The Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee held a public hearing on Apr 12, 2024 to discuss the 2024 City Manager’s Annual Goals and Review Process. [text of report]
Comments and additional details to follow.
