The Return – September 14, 2026 Cambridge City Council meeting
There are no Big Controversial Issues to pitch to a Resident Assembly this week, so I suppose The Nine will have to face the challenges of representation (or misrepresentation) on their own after their summer vacation. Here are a few items that piqued my interest:
To Drink the Impossible Drink
Reconsideration #1. Councillor Patricia Nolan has filed Reconsideration for PO26#140: “That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the City Solicitor and the License Commission to draft and submit a Home Rule Petition to authorize one additional Section 15 all-alcoholic beverages license not to be drunk on the premises.”
Communications & Reports #4. A communication from Councillor Nolan Regarding Reconsideration of the Alcohol License Home Rule Policy Order. [text of report]
Federal Policies Trickling Down
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an appropriation, in the amount of $500,000, from the Federal Grant Stabilization Fund to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account, to support a citywide response to federal changes affecting SNAP and MassHealth benefits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3). [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #20. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, regarding Welcoming Community Ordinance Reporting from the Cambridge Police Department. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #21. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, conveying a response to AR26-15 regarding hiring of former Federal immigration enforcement agents by the Cambridge Police Department. [text of report]
Order #10. City Council support of protecting and strengthening Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Councillor Zusy, Mayor Siddiqui
Order #12. That the City Council urge the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts General Court to prioritize the hiring of additional DTA case workers to ensure those eligible for SNAP are able to receive and maintain benefits and taking other steps needed to end the SNAP access crisis. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Azeem
Hey Big Spender (with apologies to Peggy Lee)
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Community Preservation Act Appropriations. [text of report]
Committee Report #2. The Finance Committee and Economic Development and University Relations Committee held a joint public hearing on Apr 30, 2026 with Harvard University to discuss and receive and update on the Harvard University Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement. [text of report]
Communications & Reports #5. A communication from Councillors Nolan and Al-Zubi Regarding a Proposed Schedule for Budget Related Finance Committee Hearings. [text of report]
Excuse me, but we have some Appointments to make
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appointments to the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of five members to the Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship for terms of three years. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of David Canavan to the Police Review and Advisory Board for a term of five years. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appointments to the Fresh Pond Advisory Board. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #24. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, regarding the Cambridge Preschool Program and the establishment of a Task Force charged with identifying policy solutions to expand supports for families with young children. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #25. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appointments to the Joint Childcare Access Task Force. [text of report]
We know where the bodies are buried
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $250 in donations in support of the Old Burying Ground. [text of report]
Buildings and Stuff
Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, requesting that the City Council amend the City of Cambridge’s Authorized Revolving Fund Ordinance to establish a new revolving fund for the Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) Reduction to serve the City’s municipal energy use. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-27, requesting that the City Manager direct staff to examine whether the City can enact an ordinance requiring public buildings and places of public accommodation in Cambridge with one or more single-stall restrooms to have at least one single-stall restroom with gender-neutral signage. [text of report]
Traffic & Transportation
Manager’s Agenda #18. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the 2025 Transportation Demand Management Program Report. [text of report]
Manager’s Agenda #19. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-45, regarding a review of decline in traffic enforcement. [text of report]
Committee Report #1. The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee held a public hearing on Apr 28, 2026 to review and discuss the Residential Permit Parking Program, associated costs, and the relationship between the program, the services it provides, and the general use of the public ways in Cambridge. [text of report]
Committee Report #5. The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee held a public hearing on June 24, 2026 to discuss micromobility in Cambridge, including current safety trends, the recently filed State legislation “Ride Safe Act,” and next steps for education and enforcement considerations. [text of report]
Charter Chatter and Appointment of the City Clerk
Manager’s Agenda #23. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-37, which requested that the City Manager work with the Mayor’s Office, Law Department, Election Commission, and other relevant City departments to engage the Collins Center in reviewing policy options for allowing Cambridge voters to directly elect the City’s Mayor. [text of report]
Order #11. That the City Solicitor engage the services of a suitable law firm, in consultation with the City’s Chief People Officer and with approval of the City Solicitor, to negotiate an employment contract with Paula M. Crane on behalf of the City Council. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zusy
I emphatically support the move to elevate Acting City Clerk Paula Crane to City Clerk – joining a long line of wonderful people who have held that position going back to the establishment of Cambridge as a city in 1846 (and even earlier as a town).
As for the matter of direct election of the mayor, I think this is a very bad idea in a city with a city manager form of government. I will add that the current practice of having the City Council exclusively deciding all possible changes to the city’s Charter (subject only to a formal plebescite) – where every iteration concentrates more power and privileges into the hands of city councillors – is a dreadful state of affairs.
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Cambridge Police Department and other relevant departments to develop a coordinated July 4th response plan for the Cherry Street, Harvard Street, and Fletcher Maynard Academy area to ensure that this spot not be utilized for the illegal use of fireworks. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Flaherty
Order #8. Recognize September 2026 as Meet Your Neighbor Month in the City of Cambridge, commending the Peace Commission for its leadership, and encouraging all Cambridge residents to take this opportunity to meet a neighbor, share stories, and build the connections that strengthen our community. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Azeem
Riding that Streamliner Train
Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to develop a coordinated initiative to improve and streamline the permitting and licensing process for small businesses. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
Committee Report #3. The Economic Development and University Relations Committee held a public hearing on Tues, June 9, 2026 to convene a roundtable of representatives from the Cambridge and Greater Cambridge startup ecosystem to provide insight into current conditions, emerging needs, and specific ways the City can strengthen its support for startups and enhance the local innovation environment. [text of report]
Communications & Reports #2. A communication from Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding information from the City of Cambridge participation in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. [text of report]
Zoning Out
Unfinished Business #1. Cambridge Street Active Use Zoning petition. [Passed to 2nd Reading Aug 3, 2026; Eligible to be Ordained Aug 24, 2026]
Unfinished Business #2. Massachusetts Avenue Active Use Zoning petition. [Passed to 2nd Reading Aug 3, 2026; Eligible to be Ordained Aug 24, 2026]
Committee Report #4. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on June 22, 2026 to review and discuss the 5-year update to the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) including recommendations from the analysis and evaluation and feedback from community meetings. [text of report]
Communications & Reports #3. A communication from Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Al-Zubi and Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler transmitting a memorandum regarding information from the Social Housing Task Force. [text of report]