Ladies and Gentlemen – The April 10 Cambridge City Council Meeting
Please excuse the perceived microaggressions. Here’s what I found most interesting this week (other than the Red Sox, the history of the Cambridge City Charters, springtime, and partying for socializing and libations):
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-71, regarding placing a cricket field in one of the Cambridge parks.
pulled by Siddiqui; Toner asks about public process in determining uses for City-owned property; Mallon says site would be perfect for an affordable housing development; Zondervan proposes that tall affordable housing towers be built on this site on Larch Road; Carlone prefers mixed use w/o towers and proposes stormwater storage under buildings with zero parking; Placed on File 8-0-1 (MM – Absent)
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Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a communication from DCR to the City regarding Memorial Drive closures.
pulled by Nolan; Nolan and Azeem Late Order appealing DCR decision – Charter Right – Simmons; Zondervan and Nolan attempt to define “environmental justice”; Simmons notes that even with motor vehicles on Memorial Drive there are ample opportunities to “walk, bike, and crawl”; Mallon addresses “the elephant in the room” noting that incoming DCR Commissioner may provide opportunities to call in political favors to restore Saturday closures, suggests that Covid measures like outdoor patios, eviction protections, and Saturday road closures should all be continued; Carlone debunks suggestions by QZ,PN that Memorial Drive users are primarily suburban upper crust [the truth is that the Harvard Square area is like a mid-city blockage that pushes traffic to the periphery and that it’s largely local traffic that uses the Riverbend Park section of Memorial Drive]; Placed on File 8-0-1 (MM – Absent)
Late Order #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments and state agencies to mitigate traffic impacts and to formally request DCR to reconsider its decision to not close Memorial Drive on Saturdays. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem
Charter Right – Simmons
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a 2023 Quarter One update.
pulled by Zondervan who uses opportunity to call for disarming of Cambridge Police and diverting 911 calls to HEART; Nolan wants more City Council control of City Budget before City Manager proposes it to City Council [I expect she will want to change the City Charter to gain more “executive” control over City Budget]; City Manager Huang recommends using summer months to work out a plan for deciding Goals & Objectives prior to developing the next Budget; Placed on File 8-0-1 (MM – Absent)
146 Communications covering topics on this and and mainly on the previous agenda.
Resolution #17. Resolution on the death of Ned Handy. Councillor Carlone, Councillor Toner
Resolution #22. Thanks to Nancy Woods for her service to the Cambridge Public Library. Mayor Siddiqui
Order #1. City Manager Performance Review Ad Hoc Committee. Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Siddiqui; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (MM – Absent)
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor to provide the City Council with a legal opinion on the earliest possible date that potential changes to the charter could be voted on by the electorate, assuming the Charter Review Committee submits proposed changes to the City Council by the new Dec 31, 2023 deadline. Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (MM – Absent)
Committee Report #1. The Health and Environment Committee conducted a public hearing on June 7, 2022 to discuss the adverse impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers and recent bans on their use in other jurisdictions. [text of report]
Report Accepted; Placed on File 8-0-1 (MM – Absent)
Committee Report #2. The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebrations Committee held a public meeting Mar 22, 2023 to discuss potential amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay. [text of report]
Report Accepted; Placed on File 8-0-1 (MM – Absent)
Committee Report #3. The Finance Committee held a public meeting Mar 23, 2023 to review the FY24 Police Department’s budget before it is submitted to the City Manager, and to review any budget proposal items related to body cameras. [text of report]
Report Accepted; Placed on File 8-0-1 (MM – Absent)
Note: The meeting opened (after Public Comment) with remarks by Fire Chief Thomas Cahill, City Manager Yi-An Huang, and Deputy City Manager Owen O’Riordan about the Faith Lutheran Church fire the previous day, and that although the steeple will have to be removed on Tuesday, most of the church building can likely be saved even though there was extensive damage. – Robert Winters