Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

Is This an Essential Public Meeting? – March 16, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda Items

I will not be attending this meeting even if it goes forward on schedule. Whether or not the City comes up with some mechanism for public input relating to what would otherwise be public meetings, the simple truth is that it will be inadequate; and any city councillor who chooses to push any significant public policy agenda unrelated to the current emergency or basic maintenance of city affairs should reconsider his or her priorities/ethics. Now if this meeting actually does go forward as scheduled, here are some of the agenda items of significance:

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-20, regarding a response on coronavirus preparedness.

Order #1. Coronavirus mitigation.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Councillor E. Denise Simmons transmitting Coronavirus Preparation.

Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to take all necessary actions to protect the population, including, but not limited to, cancelling all non-essential events and gatherings, allowing staff to work from home when possible, providing visitor screening at senior living facilities, and preparing emergency medical facilities for treating respiratory infections.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui regarding COVID-19 Student Supports and Resources List.

These are the only agenda items that should even be addressed at this meeting.

Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $4,000,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account to support the Complete Streets Reconstruction Program and for repaving portions of streets that are part of the separated bicycle network.

Order #2. That the “2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance” be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for discussion and recommendation.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, transmitting comments on the 2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance.

Other than the expenditure for street repaving, none of these significant matters should be forwarded at this time. Many of the people who could be adversely impacted will simply not be willing to come to a public meeting at this time. In addition, any gathering of 25 or more people is prohibited under the current state of emergency.

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $7,250,000 for the reconstruction of Glacken Field and playground with an update on lighting. This is also in response to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-17.

Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-66, regarding establishing a Young Adult Civic Unity Committee.

Glad to hear it.

Unfinished Business #3. That section 11.202(b) of Article 11.000, entitled SPECIAL REGULATIONS, of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge, be amended the table as follows: Jan 28, 2020 (Annual Adjustment) $19.10 per square foot (amended to $20.10) [Passed to a 2nd Reading on Feb 24, 2020, to be Ordained on or after Mar 8, 2020.]

If the inclination is to ordain this now, just do it and adjourn.

Applications & Petitions #2. A Zoning Petition has been received from Salvatore Zinno Vice President, BMR-Third LLC, to Amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by adding section 13.200 Planned Unit Development at Canal District Kendall PUD-CDK Amendment.

Applications & Petitions #5. A Zoning Petition Has been received from Tom Hartingson, requesting that the City Council Ordain the Zoning language set forth relative to the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay District.

I personally welcome both of these zoning petitions (though I have yet not reviewed all the details), but they can be referred and action delayed for the time being.

Order #3. That the City Council approve a Real Estate Transfer Fee Home Rule Petition.   Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler

There are competing bills in the state legislature. There are significant details yet to be worked out.

Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Inspectional Service Department to increase the fines for absentee property owners who continue to have violations stemming for rodent infestations.   Councillor Toomey

I’m still interested in the previous Council order that called for negligent property owners to cover some of the costs of neighbors impacted by rodent infestations.

Order #5. That the City Council go on record stating its intent to have Cambridge be one of the pilot communities if Senate Bill 2553 passes.   Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone

This is a pilot program of automated traffic enforcement, i.e. cameras catching drivers running red lights and committing other infractions. I’m just curious how this will fit into the current campaign against surveillance technologies. – Robert Winters