Post-Apocalyptic Gathering – November 18, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting
We’ll have to wait to see what the fallout will be of a changing federal picture on left-leaning “sanctuary cities” like Cambridge. I can easily imagine changes in both funding and eligibility for public housing and perhaps some economic repercussions for life sciences and pharmaceutical companies that dominate Kendall Square. Will there be efforts to replace lost federal money by jacking up local property taxes? It’s all just a big guessing game right now. I don’t believe we will be receiving too many federal favors for the next several years.
Here are the items that drew my local attention this week:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the findings of the 2024 Cambridge Resident Satisfaction Survey. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Yi-An Huang, Lee Gianetti, survey rep., Zusy, Azeem, Toner, Wilson, McGovern; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the City Manager’s LGBTQ+ Friendly Housing Task Force Final Report. [text of report]
pulled by Simmons; comments by Simmons, Maura Pensak, Carolina Almonte, Phoebe West, McGovern, Zusy; Placed on File, Referred to Civic Unity Committee 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments of members to the Cambridge Street Safety Improvement Project Working Group.
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Brooke McKenna (TPT), Toner (asks if there will be a similar group for Broadway – yes), Wilson; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Erik Sarno and Andrea Taylor and the reappointment of Saffana Anwar, Christopher Fort, Robert Winters, Tahir Kapoor, and Esther Hanig to the Central Square Advisory Committee for a term of three years.
pulled by Zusy; comments by Simmons, Yi-An Huang (on update to add RW), Zusy (notes only 9 applicants for 7 positions on CSAC; for HSAC only 12 applicants for 11 positions – suggests advertising more broadly), Iram Farooq (notes how prescriptive categories are for CSAC and HSAC, mechanism for applying for all open boards and commissions); Zusy asks if a broad range of perspectives is sought; Appointments Approved as Amended, Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments of Gareth Dohety, Ivy Moylan, Henry Grabar, Chad Bonney, and Ryan Clinesmith Montalvo and the reappointments of Matthew Simitis, Kari Kuelzer, John DiGiovanni, Nicola Williams, Alexandra Offiong, and Allison Crosbie to the Harvard Square Advisory Committee for a term of three years.
Appointments Approved, Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-36, regarding coordinated and timely communication related to interjurisdictional transportation projects. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan (bus shelters, green roofs, shade, Alewife maintenance tunnel, Asbestos Ordinance; Iram Farooq, Owen O’Riordan, City Solicitor Megan Bayer (noting that state/MBTA not subject to City’s ordinance), Nolan (Draw One Bridge), Farooq (state not currently planning to add bike/ped connection to bridge); Nolan (bridge over Fitchburg commuter rail and addition of station in Alewife area), Farooq (reconstruction of Alewife garage may have possibility of commuter rail station); Zusy (I-90 project coordination, impact of construction on traffic, Eversource projects, asbestos concerns at Alewife, Draw One Bridge, need for commuter rail station at Alewife and bridge); Sobrinho-Wheeler (start date for Memorial Drive reconstruction, Riverbend Park impacts), Owen O’Riordan; Zusy on plans for Transportation Committee; Referred to Transportation Committee 9-0
Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to prepare a draft home rule petition to authorize the City of Cambridge to implement automated parking enforcement technology; and to continue to work with the City of Boston to collaborate on the home rule process. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan on special status of Boston and Cambridge that necessitates a home rule petition, notes that this would be cost-neutral; Siddiqui added as sponsor 9-0; Wilson asks why Boston, Cambridge are exceptions; Megan Bayer explains; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #2. Resolution in Support of H.823 and S.551, Paint Stewardship and Recycling. Councillor Wilson, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to prepare a Home Rule Petition to enact legislation which would allow the City of Cambridge to prohibit associations from unreasonably restricting the use of a solar energy system. [Charter Right – Nolan, Nov 4, 2024]
Nolan notes why home rule petition may be needed; Megan Bayer explains why state law on this matter is insufficient; Toner asks about enforcement; Bayer suggests that this could be done as either a zoning amendment or a municipal ordinance; McGovern suggests sending this to a committee for larger discussion; Zusy seeks clarification of intention, Nolan explains, Zusy notes how things could get “messy” with condo associations; Referred to Health & Environment Committee 9-0
Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department to draft a home rule petition for the creation of a Cambridge Jobs Training Trust, and report back to the City Council in a timely manner. [Charter Right – Toner, Nov 4, 2024]
Sobrinho-Wheeler explains at authorization doesn’t obligate Council to implement, no need to send to Ordinance Committee; Amendment to strike “to be sent to the Ordinance Committee for a hearing” Adopted 9-0; Toner proposes sending to Economic Development Committee for further discussion (on 11 questions) and how this relates to how things are done now; comments by Yi-An Huang expresses concerns about raising linkage fees now, Ellen Semonoff, Toner asks whether setting up a Jobs Trust bank account would create obligation to fund it; Yi-An Huang notes last increase in Linkage Fee was from $22 to $33 based on 2019 Nexus Study, next Nexus Study to start in 2025, notes that Council will have to decide how Linkage Fee is to be allocated; Toner proposes referring to Economic Development Committee; Zusy notes inadequate options for CRLS students; McGovern has questions on how this would be implemented – wants to preserve all affordable housing allocation and increase Linkage Fee to add allocation for jobs training, but suggested that if the fee went up to something like $45 he would not support that; Sobrinho-Wheeler proposes amendment to have an Econ. Dev. meeting in addition to filing home rule petition promptly; McGovern notes RSTA initiatives; Siddiqui OK with further conversation in committee; Wilson, Zusy, Nolan, McGovern comments; Adopted Order as Amended 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Committee Report #1. The Housing Committee held a public hearing on Apr 30, 2024 to discuss the feasibility of municipally funded housing vouchers as referenced in PO24#24. The meeting was recessed and reconvened on Oct 15, 2024 to continue the discussion. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Committee Report #2. The Human Services and Veterans Committee held a public hearing on Oct 23, 2024 to discuss issues facing homeless shelters in Cambridge and concerns raised by the unhoused community. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Committee Report #3. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on Oct 23, 2024 to hear specific ideas from neighborhood leaders about revisions to the Multifamily Housing Proposal. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Committee Report #4. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on Oct 24, 2024 to discuss research on four-day work week pilot programs with businesses, government agencies, and non-profits and models for a four-day work week that have been implemented locally. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Committee Report #5. The Economic Development and University Relations Committee held a public hearing on Oct 31, 2024 to discuss the Economics of Real Estate: Housing, Zoning, and the Economic Impact of Zoning. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Before the city tries to overrule condo associations on solar panels, I think they should change their own policy which makes many solar projects less feasible.
A recent change to the national fire code requires that large strips of the roof have no solar panels, so firefighters can walk up the roof to cut holes in it.
The city didn’t ask for this code change, and dozens of solar projects were built before it went into effect. While the state has adopted this code, it’s up to the local jurisdiction to decide whether to enforce it, and not every city does. But Cambridge does.
As a result, new solar arrays have to be smaller. This makes many projects financially unviable, especially for small or unusually shaped roofs which are common in Cambridge.
The city should work with the fire department to waive this requirement, in parallel with advocating for a revision of the code at the state level.
Note: Normally, anonymous comments are not permitted, but this comment seems informative.
Comment by anonymous — November 19, 2024 @ 12:41 pm