Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

Shoveling Snow Against The Tide – January 31, 2022 Cambridge City Council Meeting

If you don’t dig what’s going down (or coming down), Zoom in to Monday Night Live. In addition to the meeting agenda, there will plenty of other agendas on display – some hidden, some not. Amid mixed precipitation and metaphors, here are some potentially stormy items:

Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and committees to present a report to the Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee which includes information on the history, membership data of golf course users, environmental conditions, and a legal analysis of what uses are currently permitted or what would be involved in changing use for other city needs. [Charter Right – Toner, Jan 24, 2022]
Substitute Order Adopted 9-0

The public comment on the proposed “study” of the golf course will likely be just as plentiful this week as it was last week. I’m sure Councillor Zondervan supports this because it’s just one more chapter in his revolution book. Councillor Azeem knows so little about the people of Cambridge that he thinks that desiring “abundant housing” to grow on the golf course will score him big points in his YIMBY circles. Councillor Nolan will be playing both sides of the issue – as usual. As for Councillor Carlone, that’s anyone’s guess. I suppose if your whole goal in life is to be seen as “progressive”, then nothing should ever be left as is. That, in my opinion, is a stupid point of view. There are many great things that are best left alone save for the maintenance.

Substitution for Policy Order submitted by Councillors Toner, McGovern and Simmons as amended
O-3     Jan 24, 2022   Jan 31, 2022   Adopted 9-0
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Golf Course, also known as the Fresh Pond Golf Course, in West Cambridge is the largest open space in Cambridge and has been enjoyed as welcome green space for since 1933; and
WHEREAS: Golf is an important and safe outdoor activity, with many residents participating, and has operated in a manner to ensure the sport is accessible to an increasingly diverse community of residents, including keeping course fees low to ensure affordable to all users, and supporting the CRLS golf team when most urban high schools charge fees or do not have a golf team due to barriers; and
WHEREAS: The golf course is self-sufficient and operates on member fees and receives no additional funding from the city,
WHEREAS: The City seeks to encourage outdoor activity and physical activity among residents,
WHEREAS: Considering these trends, it makes sense review if other outdoor uses could be incorporated into golf operations without interfering with its current and primary purpose as the only low cost municipal golf course in Cambridge; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with all appropriate departments, as well as the Cambridge Water Board and Fresh Pond Advisory Committee, and present a report to the Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee, which includes but is not limited to a legal analysts of what uses are currently permitted, information on the history of the golf course, residency and other demographic information about membership data of golf course users, and any environmental constraints; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council request that the Chair of the Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts, and Celebration Committee schedule a public hearing to discuss what other complementary uses, if any, might be made of the space that do not interfere with the regular operations of the golf course, and encourage greater usage by all Cambridge residents; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council by March 30, 2022 to enable a committee hearing this spring.

Note 1: Zondervan stated that he does want to change/limit golf operations.

Note 2: Carlone scolded his colleagues for having scolded the original authors of the policy order.

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-93, regarding proposed amendments to the Municipal Code relative to recent charter changes.
Charter Right – Nolan

The City Solicitor has provided partial language on the matters of City Manager review and how a charter review committee might be formed. There is still no word on how the City Council will go about reviewing board appointments or even which City boards and commission would be subject to Council review. More and more I am coming to the conclusion that city residents may have to soon form their own charter review movement independent of this City Council.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-85, which requesting a report on potential modifications or adjustments to the recent improvements that were made on the segment of Massachusetts Avenue from Dudley Street to Alewife Brook Parkway.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-1, regarding the feasibility of creating a Cycling Safety Ordinance Advisory group.
Placed on File 9-0

The repercussions of The Pledge continue. How many City ordinances are there that come with a pledge that they must never be reviewed or changed? Very progressive. As for the proposed membership of the “Cycling Safety Ordinance Advisory group”, will they be subject to City Council review? More significantly, will this group have any ability to do anything other than to inform the public that little or nothing can or will be done to alter the course of the juggernaut. As the Manager’s communication says, “we educate the community on what elements of the projects are flexible and open to change and which elements are constrained.” Is the only change possible the color of the flexi-posts?

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to not adopt the Cushing, et al., Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation not to adopt the Yamin, et al., Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 8, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on the Yard Setback Zoning Petition (Ord # 2021-22). [PDF of Committee Report #1 – unedited software-generated transcript with many errors]

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation not to adopt the Francis Donovan, et al., Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

The bottom line these days is that unless zoning changes are blessed by an elite few, they don’t stand a chance, and it doesn’t really matter if they have merit. Pretty soon it won’t even be possible to serve on the Planning Board unless you have been pre-approved by that same elite.

Order #2. Wage Theft Ordinance.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

I still don’t fully understand this proposal, though my suspicion, based on the proposed language, is that it may simply be a way to block the hiring of independent contractors or to ensure that only union members can be hired. The term “wage theft” is very provocative, but perhaps not necessarily accurate.

Order #3. That the City Council and School Committee hold a joint virtual roundtable on Tues, Feb 8, 2022 to discuss priorities for the FY23 Budget.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

I’m a little confused about whether this is meant to have the City Council advise the School Department about their priorities or vice-versa. Their respective budgets have no intersection except perhaps in the shared use of some facilities, e.g. for polling locations or community school programs. – Robert Winters

7. Late Resolution for David Albert.   Councillor Toner
Late Resolution Adopted 8-1 with Councillor Zondervan (unbelievably) voting NO

Res #7     Jan 31, 2022
WHEREAS: Officer David Albert announced his retirement after 33 years of service to the Cambridge Police Department; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert served as a Patrol Officer for 27 years and ended his last 6 years as a Detective in the Criminal Investigations Department; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert dedicated his energy and focus to serving the citizens of Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert grew up in North Cambridge on Magoun Street and comes from a large family dedicated to public service to the City of Cambridge serving as police officers, firefighters and nurses, including his youngest daughter, Delaney Albert who recently joined the force; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert has earned a long and happy retirement with his wife Kathleen;
RESOLVED: That the City Council and City of Cambridge go on record thanking Officer Albert for his long and honorable service to the City of Cambridge.