The Tax Bills Are Coming! The Tax Bills Are Coming! – October 21, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting
‘Tis the season of anticipation. Property tax bills may already be in the mail. There’s a rather consequential US Presidential Election coming up in two weeks (with some having already voted). The Yankees will soon be playing the Dodgers (or maybe the Mets) in the World Series. The only things that seem settled are that the Boston Celtics are looking really great and the New England Patriots currently suck.
Here are the things on this Monday’s agenda that stirred some interest:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update from the Human Resources Department. [text of report]
pulled by Wilson, comments by Wilson, Yi-An Huang, Chief People Officer Raecia Catchings, Nolan, Siddiqui, Azeem; Referred to Human Services & Veterans Committee 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-50, regarding a review on the Short Term Rentals Ordinance in Cambridge. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan w/late policy order with proposed amendments, Azeem, Toner, Peter McLaughlin (Commissioner, Inspectional Services), Jimmy DeAngelo (Housing Inspector), Sobrinho-Wheeler, Megan Bayer (City Solicitor), Zusy, Yi-An Huang, Owen O’Riordan; Rules Suspended to take up late policy order; Late Order Adopted 9-0; Placed on File 9-0
Late Order #4. Short-Term Rentals Ordinance Amendments. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem (PO24#143)
Order Adopted 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-44 regarding a legal opinion on restricting the use of a solar system. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
This is noteworthy only because most of us think of the “solar system” as something other than what you might mount on your roof.
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Planning Board Report regarding the BZA Dormers Zoning Petition.
pulled by McGovern noting that Ordinance Committee meeting on this had to be recessed; Planning Board Report Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0
Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Law Department and the Community Development Department to work with the Board of Zoning Appeal to clean up language and come back to the Ordinance Committee with clarifications and amendments to requirements related to adding dormers to nonconforming one- and two-family dwellings. Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (MM,AW-Absent)
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-51 regarding automated parking enforcement. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Megan Bayer on possibility of joint Home Rule Petition w/Boston, Yi-An Huang, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Wilson, Toner, Simmons, Zusy, Nolan; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-20, regarding recommendations for amendments to the Parking and Transportation Demand Management (PTDM) and Zoning Ordinances. [text of report]
pulled by McGovern; comments by McGovern, Iram Farooq, Zusy, Toner, Megan Bayer, Azeem, Siddiqui, Owen O’Riordan, Nolan, Stephanie Groll (TPT), Sobrinho-Wheeler, Brooke McKenna (TPT); Adopt Proposed Zoning Amendments as a City Council Zoning Petition 8-0-1 (Azeem Absent); Refer amendments to PTDM Ordinance and Commercial Parking Space Permits Ordinance to Ordinance Committee 9-0; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order Number 24-50, regarding proposed amendments to the Cycling Safety Ordinance to extend the deadline associated with the completion of those sections of the ordinance that are required to be completed by May 1, 2026. [text of report] [as amended Oct 21, 2024 to reflect new Nov 30, 2026 date]
pulled by McGovern; comments by Azeem, McGovern (proposing date change from Nov 1, 2027 to Nov 30, 2026), Brooke McKenna (on no loss of parking for Newtowne Court residents), Toner, Nolan, Owen O’Riordan, Yi-An Huang, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui, Simmons, Wilson; Amendment to change Nov 1 to Nov 30 Adopted 9-0; Amendment to change Nov 30, 2027 to Nov 30, 2026 Initially Adopted 5-3-0-1 (BA,MM,SS,JSW,CZ-Yes; PT,AW,DS-No; PN-Present), then votes changed to Adopted 7-2 (PT-DS-No); Referred to Ordinance Committee as Amended 9-0
Order #1. That the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Oct 28, 2024 is changed to a Joint Roundtable with the City Council and School Committee to discuss macro-economic trends in Cambridge and the City’s budget. Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Siddiqui; Order Adopted 9-0
Communications & Reports #2. A communication from Councillor Nolan and Councillor Toner, transmitting the Fall Schedule for Finance Committee Meetings. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department to provide an update on the status of the [Resident Experiences of Inclusion and Bias in Inclusionary Housing in Cambridge] report’s recommendations, including progress on implementation and planned next steps. Councillor Siddiqui, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Wilson
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (MM,AW-Absent)
Committee Report #1. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on Oct, 8, 2024 to receive and update from City staff on BEUDO implementation and to review and discuss regulations, elements of BEUDO, and possible future updates. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Late Resolution #13. Happy 90th Birthday to Larry Berman. Mayor Simmons