Summer in the City – June 24, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting
This will be the last regular meeting until the Midsummer meeting on August 5. A rally is expected in front of City Hall prior to the meeting in response to the most recent cyclist fatality this past Friday morning.
Cambridge woman killed in bike crash remembered by family for ‘unbreakable spirit’ (Boston Globe, June 23, 2024)
“The woman killed in a bicycle crash in Cambridge last week was identified by her family on Sunday as Minh-Thi Nguyen, a graduate student at MIT.”“Nguyen’s death came just two weeks after a Florida woman was killed while bicycling in Cambridge. Kim Staley, 55, of Naples, was riding a Bluebike on June 7 when a box truck turned right onto DeWolfe Street from Mt. Auburn Street at about 4:30pm.”
Here’s my first pass at the interesting stuff on the regular agenda:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments of Rayna Jhaveri and Emma Pan as members of the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
Appointments Approved 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Kathleen Kelly to the Cambridge Water Board.
Appointment Approved 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Tom Stohlman as an Election Commissioner for a term of four years.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-22, regarding a request for an update on City efforts related to PFAS concerns. (CM24#137) [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, DPW Commissioner Kathy Watkins; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the 2023 Transportation Demand Management Program Report. (CM24#142) [text of report]
pulled by Pickett; comments by Stephanie Groll (CDD), Ryan McKinnon (CDD), Nolan, Iram Farooq (CDD), City Manager Yi-An Huang, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Wilson, Azeem, Toner; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-17, regarding a report on adding maximum lot area per dwelling unit, maximum setback requirements, and minimum floor area ratios in some districts or as part of an overlay in the Zoning Ordinance and whether the City Council could require a special permit for a down conversion in developments that would result in a net loss of housing units. (CM24#143) [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler (who advocates prohibiting or requiring a Special Permit for any “down-conversion”, i.e. a conversion of a building to fewer residential units), City Solicitor Megan Bayer; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-27, regarding a list of current zoning initiatives and a timeline for completion. (CM24#144) [text of report]
pulled by Toner; comments by Toner (who wants to put greater focus and shorter timelines for Central Square), Azeem, Pickett, Siddiqui, Iram Farooq (CDD), Simmons, Wilson, Yi-An Huang, Nolan, McGovern; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-29, regarding providing the Request for Information (RFI) for the 84 & 96 Bishop Allen Drive to the City Council for review and comment. (CM24#145) [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Melissa Peters (CDD), Azeem, Wilson, Yi-An Huang, Iram Farooq, Siddiqui, McGovern, Deputy City Manager Owen O’Riordan; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-28, regarding an outreach plan for Central Square rezoning. (CM24#146) [text of report]
pulled by Wilson; comments by Wilson, Melissa Peters (CDD), Marlees West Owayda (Community Engagement Manager), Simmons, Yi-An Huang, Azeem, Nolan; Referred to Civic Unity Committee 8-0-1 (Sobrinho-Wheeler – Absent)
Manager’s Agenda #14. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update from the City Manager. (CM24#147) [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Toner, Yi-An Huang, Siddiqui; Placed on File 9-0
Order #2. The City Manager is directed to provide a plan for keeping residents, businesses and public safety officials informed about the status of current and future inter-jurisdictional transportation projects. Councillor Pickett, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (PO24#88)
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #3. City Council commitment to providing high quality health care to all residents and in strong support of H.1239/S.744. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson (PO24#89)
pulled by Toner; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Nolan; Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Toner – Present)
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to provide a report to the City Council on the status of PILOT discussions about its PILOT agreement with the City with Harvard at the summer Council meeting and a plan for regular updates going forward. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan (PO24#90)
pulled by Toner; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner; Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Toner – Present)
Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to consider a number of City application processes and find ways to reduce paper and printing waste. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (PO24#93)
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #8. City Council support of the Massachusetts State Ballot Question to Decriminalize Natural Psychedelics For Therapeutic Use. Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Toner; comments by McGovern, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, Pickett, Wilson; Add Nolan as sponsor 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 5-0-0-4 (Pickett, Toner, Wilson, Simmons – Present)
Late Order #9. Policy Order regarding Truck and Intersection Safety Improvements. Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons
Comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Azeem, Siddiqui, Toner, Brooke McKenna (TPT), Owen O’Riordan, City Solicitor Megan Bayer (on Interstate Commerce Clause limitations on regulating trucks), Pickett, Nolan, Yi-An Huang, Wilson, McGovern (on change of culture needed); Add all as sponsors 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Resolution #3. Congratulations to Catherine Woodbury on her retirement from the Department of Public Works. Councillor Toner
Resolution #31. Appreciation to Catherine Preston Connolly for her dedicated service to the City of Cambridge and its citizens. Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson
Resolution #34. Gratitude to City Workers at DPW. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern