Summer Camp – August 4, 2025 Cambridge City Council meeting
Incumbent councillors will take a break from their election-related fundraising and glad-handing to take up the following items and more:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments of members to the Commercial Parking Control Committee (CPCC).
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $704,800, received from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission Community Mitigation Fund …
Order Adopted 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item #25-15 regarding the creation of plaque upholding the separation of church and state and gender equality.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of John Nardone as a member of the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) for a term of five years.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-28, regarding an update on the status of potential civilian flagger operations in the Cambridge Police Union contract.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #10. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $30,000, received from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) Jail Diversion Program, to the Grant Fund Police Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($30,000). This appropriation if approved represents funding through the first quarter of FY26. These funds, if approved will enable the department to continue the current co-response program with one clinician through September 2025.
Order Adopted 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #19. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-26, regarding a list of public and private spaces available to the public, indoors and outdoors. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #20. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the submission of the 2025 Affordable Housing Overlay Annual Report. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #21. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-35, regarding a request that the City Manager explore and establish a City of Cambridge Electronic Records Archiving Policy. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #22. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-36, regarding a further response to the request that the exception language in Chapter 2.129.040 Section J of the Cambridge Municipal Code be revised with language clarifying that Cambridge city employees shall not participate in federal immigration enforcement operations and that the sole role of Cambridge city employees during any action by ICE is only to protect public safety and not to assist or facilitate the work of ICE. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
Unfinished Business #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-36, regarding a request that the language of the Welcoming Community Ordinance be amended to clarify that City employees shall not participate in federal immigration enforcement operations and that the sole role of City employees during any action by ICE is only to protect public safety, and be amended to clarify that if Cambridge Police Department Officers respond to the scene of ICE action, CPD Officers should document the actions of ICE including their badge numbers. [Passed to 2nd Reading, Referred to Ordinance Committee June 30, 2025; Eligible To Be Ordained July 21, 2025]
Placed on File 9-0
Unfinished Business #9. An Ordinance has been received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, relative to Chapter 2.129 Welcoming Community. [Passed to 2nd Reading June 30, 2025; Eligible To Be Ordained July 21, 2025]
Ordained as Amended 9-0; Reconsideration Fails 0-9
Committee Report #7. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on July 28, 2025 to discuss updates to the City’s Welcoming Community Ordinance. The Committee voted favorably to forward the proposed amendments to the Welcoming Community Ordinance to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #23. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report regarding the Marasao, et al., Zoning Petition (Religious Uses). [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #24. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order Number 25-101, regarding Marasao, et al., Zoning Petition. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
Unfinished Business #8. An Ordinance has been received from Paula M. Crane, Interim City Clerk, relative the Mushla Marasao et al Zoning petition in regard to Article 5.28.21, 8.22.1, 8.22.2, Tbl 5.1. [Passed to 2nd Reading June 30, 2025; Eligible To Be Ordained July 21, 2025; Expires Aug 18, 2025]
Ordained as Amended by Substitution 9-0; Reconsideration Fails 0-9
Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department, in collaboration with the Finance Department, to conduct a comprehensive review of current permitting fees for residential development projects, with a focus on identifying opportunities to create a tiered fee structure that reduces or eliminates fees entirely particularly for smaller-scale and affordable housing developments. Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to allocate $25,000 in feasibility funds to support an exploratory process – potentially including stakeholder engagement, legal and technical assessments, and community outreach – to evaluate the creation of a Business Improvement District in Porter Square. Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor McGovern
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #4. Declaring August 9, 2025, as Rocky Horror Day in the City of Cambridge. Vice Mayor McGovern, Mayor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #7. That the City Council go on record urging Governor of the Commonwealth Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Legislature to act without delay to safeguard the constitutional rights of indigent defendants and preserve the integrity of the Commonwealth’s criminal justice system by increasing compensation rates for bar advocates to ensure adequate participation statewide, and establishing pay parity with neighboring states and competitive future rates to prevent recurring crises. Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Wilson, Vice Mayor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0
Unfinished Business #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a revised draft of the “Eastern Cambridge Community Enhancements” Zoning Petition. [Placed on Unfinished Business, June 9, 2025]
Placed on File 9-0
Unfinished Business #6. An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to East Cambridge Community Enhancement Overlay District (“ECCE Overlay District”), which is governed by the regulations and procedures specified in this Section 20.1200. It is the intent of this Section that these regulations will apply to land within the ECCE Overlay District. [Passed to 2nd Reading, June 9, 2025; Eligible To Be Ordained June 30, 2025; Expires Aug 18, 2025]
Ordained as Amended 8-1 (Toner – No); Reconsideration Fails 0-9
Manager’s Agenda #25 (Late). A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a revised Letter of Commitment dated August 4, 2025 submitted on behalf of BMR-320 Charles LLC that will be incorporated by reference in the East Cambridge Community Enhancement Overlay District (ECCE District) if the Council adopts the zoning petition. [text of report]
Placed on File as Amended 8-1 (Toner – NO)
Applications & Petitions #4. A Zoning Petition has been received from Martin Bakal in regard to Table 4.30, Sec. 4.40 Footnote with the intent of Restrictions on increasing pavement in Open Space Districts. [text of petition]
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 9-0
Resolution #5. Condolences to the family of William Bruce “Bill” King. Mayor Simmons, Councillor Toner
Resolution #6. Resolution on the death of Tom Lehrer. Mayor Simmons
Resolution #9. Retirement of Dr. Lisa Dobberteen from the Cambridge Public Health Department. Vice Mayor McGovern
Committee Report #4. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee and the Housing Committee held a joint public hearing on June 17, 2025 to discuss draft zoning recommendations for Cambridge Street and Massachusetts Avenue. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #6. The Economic Development and University Relations Committee held a public hearing on June 23, 2025 for the purpose of inviting representatives from the 23 long term vacant properties (defined as has been vacant for more than five years) on the record, to share updates on their tenancy efforts, short and long-term plans, and to provide the community with an opportunity to weigh in on this important discussion. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Late Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillors Sobrinho-Wheeler, Nolan, Azeem, and Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding shared questions and concerns regarding the recent incident at 243 Broadway involving the Cambridge Police Department on August 2, 2025. [text of report]
Referred to Public Safety Committee and City Manager’s Office 9-0