Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

September 11, 2023

Back to School – September 11, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Central Square,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 4:36 pm

Back to School – September 11, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

There are 169 communications from members of the public. When few if any of the elected officials and City administration are listening, is there a sound? Here are a few noteworthy things on this week’s agenda:City Hall

Note: I will provide additional comments as soon as I have a chance to review the recording of the meeting. For now, here are the actions taken for those who are curious.

Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal Program Grant, in the amount of $1,000,000, received from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) to the Public Investment Fund Water Extraordinary Expenditures account, for the repair of the Cambridge Reservoir Dam – Hobbs Brook Gatehouse and Culvert Outlet.
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to 135 Fulkerson Street parcel and its transfer to the City for public use.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #14. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order #23-133 [Awaiting Report 23-49], regarding possible projections of build-out of the Alewife Quadrangle under the proposed AOD-Q zoning petition. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #15. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order #23-135, regarding standards for henkeeping. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0; Zoning Petition Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #16. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to updates to the City of Cambridge’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) process for the upcoming 10th cycle (PB10) of the program.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #17. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to extending the prior authorization for the City Manager or their designee to grant street obstruction approvals, along with any other necessary approvals for temporary obstructions until June 30, 2024.
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #18. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Victoria Bergland as a member of the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) Board of Commissioners as the resident Representative for a term of 5-years.
Referred to Housing Committee 9-0

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department and CPD to report to the City Council on all outstanding and recent (last 5 fiscal years: FY’23,’22,’21,’20,’19) lawsuits involving the CPD or individual members of CPD that the City is expending or has expended resources on, including an estimate of how much has been spent on these lawsuits to date in FY24. [Charter Right – Simmons, Aug 7, 2023]
Order Adopted 5-4 (BA,AM,PN,QZ,SS-Yes; DC,MM,DS,PT-No)

Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments and agencies to design and implement a pilot program providing subsidized, on-demand transit to low-income residents, people with disabilities and seniors, with a goal of expanding the program to service the region in ways that supplement the MBTA system via fare-free, on-demand transit for everyone. [Charter Right – Toner, Aug 7, 2023]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Charter Right #3. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on whether change in language to the CSO is necessary to enable installation of permanent, seasonal, and/or temporary outdoor dining and pop-ups alongside separated bicycle lanes consistent with Cycling Safety Ordinance that address concerns about the current situation. [Charter Right – McGovern, Aug 7, 2023]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Unfinished Business #4. Amendment to Chapter 2.78 of the Cambridge Code of Ordinance, entitled “Historical Buildings and Landmarks.” (Ordinance #2022-11). [Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended Aug 7, 2023; To Be Ordained on or after Aug 28, 2023] (ORD22#11) [text of report (revised)]

Unfinished Business #5. An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to amending Article 4.30 and Article 11.800 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge. [Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended Aug 7, 2023; To Be Ordained on or after Aug 28, 2023] (ORD23#4) [text of report]

Unfinished Business #6. An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to the Alewife Overlay District: Quadrangle (AOD-Q) Zoning Petition and Design Guidelines. [Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended Aug 7, 2023; To Be Ordained on or after Aug 28, 2023] (ORD23#5) [text of report]
Ordained as Amended 9-0 – Final Publication

169 Communications

Resolution #16. Congratulations to Nancy Glowa on her Retirement.   Councillor Toner, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to establish and implement a regular maintenance schedule for tree wells, bump outs, crosswalks, and other pedestrian areas to prevent overgrowth and ensure consistent upkeep.   Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #4. Policy Order to design and affix a commemorative plaque in honor of Atieno Simmons on one of the Pride benches in front of City Hall.   Councillor Toner, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #5. Policy Order re: Improving the Quality of Life In and Around Central Square.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner
Charter Right – McGovern

Order #6. Rodent Control Update.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #7. Reviewing the Short-Term Rentals Ordinance.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #8. Changes to the Amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #9. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments including the Affordable Housing Trust, Community Development Department and Law Department to review the attached zoning proposal and report back to the City Council with an initial assessment regarding the feasibility and efficacy of such an approach no later than Oct 31, 2023.   Councillor Zondervan
Charter Right – Toner

Order #10. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the relevant departments, including Community Development and Law to review the attached proposed amendment language and propose any adjustments no later than the Oct 2, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan
Charter Right – Toner

Order #11. That the City Council go on record in opposition to the Cambridge Police Department and the City of Cambridge government sending trainees to, participating in any collaborations with, or supporting the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center or any similar facilities, in any way.   Councillor Zondervan
Not yet sure what was voted; Reconsideration Filed (likely by Zondervan)

Committee Report #2. A public meeting of the Cambridge City Council’s Ordinance Committee was held on Mon, July 31, 2023. The call of the meeting was to hold a public hearing on a City Council Zoning Petition relative to amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO). The meeting was recessed, and it was reconvened on Aug 3, 2023. The Committee voted to send the proposed ordinance language to the Full Council with a favorable recommendation to pass to a second reading. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Petition Passed to 2nd Reading 6-3 (Carlone, Nolan, Toner – NO)

References:
Nov 21, 2022 City Council Order
Feb 8, 2023 Housing Committee Report
Mar 22, 2023 NLTP Report
May 1, 2023 Order/May 8 Charter Right
June 12, 2023 CDD memo
Aug 7, 2023 AHO Annual Report
July 21, 2023 Ordinance Committee Report

Communications & Reports #1. A communication from Councillor Simmons Re: Seeking Reconsideration of PO23#146.
Placed on File 9-0

Comments and additional details to follow

June 11, 2023

BEUDO + AHO = Performance Art

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — PatrickWBarrettIII @ 7:40 pm

BEUDO + AHO = Performance Art – a message from Patrick Barrett

June 11, 2023

Mayor Siddiqui and Cambridge City Council,Patrick Barrett

I am asking you to do a couple of things tomorrow night but first and foremost I ask that you attempt to take a look at the current state of our city. We are teetering on breaking into a billion dollar budget where our schools consistently underperform and nearly 8% of families have abandoned the system in just the last couple of years, small and large businesses are still failing at an accelerated rate burdened by excess pandemic debt and an ecosystem that has evaporated, Kendall Square is facing a 30% vacancy rate, drug dealers own Central Square emboldened enough to mug and strip a man naked in broad daylight for failure to pay a drug debt, and the general sense among those who do the work is that we are currently leaderless. Where in all of this is our City Council, Manager, and Department Heads? In truth many of you have little to no substantive connection to the City at all. Most of you do not have young or school aged children. Most of you do not now nor have you ever run a business in Cambridge. Most have not built the home they live in or any structure in Cambridge. Some have lived here generationally and that is terrific but we are talking policy and whether you’ve lived here for a day or seven centuries there are those with “skin in the game” and those that have none. Most, if not all of you, are activists each having their own area of “expertise” where the actual power to drive policy on these issues rests with the State or Federal government not the Cambridge City Council. Thus as stewards of the city you’ve very little that directly impacts you regarding schools, business, development, crime or even the lofty goals of your activism. Do any of you own or live in a BEUDO property? Are any of you currently on the waiting list for affordable housing? Do any of you have a child waiting to take algebra in 8th grade only to find out that has been taken off the table? I could go on for days … this takes me to Monday night:

1) The AHO has always bothered me. It is a set of rules specially designed for a small group of developers with direct access to municipal funds that allows them to ignore anachronistic and obtuse zoning rules everyone else has to obey. If you are a homeowner and want to add additional bedroom or play room for your growing family it likely means a variance or special permit you’re never going to get but for the AHO developer there is no such impediment. It seems an odd result that home owners and property owners should face such steep headwinds for minor quality of life adjustments and that for a small group of developers they can simply do whatever they like. The amendment to the AHO is another reminder to me that when it comes to housing policy and zoning we really are just winging it. Anyone who builds anything (which is none of you currently on the Council) knows very well that 12-15 stories or infinity stories as previously contemplated is highly likely to produce nothing. Your current inclusionary zoning is so horribly broken your director of CDD is doing backflips to hide this fact. When San Francisco reduces from 25% to 12% and says it still doesn’t work you can bet the same rules apply here or worse. Lastly, you received a communication from Susan Connelly last week that is the most coherent salient and informative communication I’ve ever read on the subject and you’d all be wise to read what she says and listen to her. 100% spot on. I hope you hit the pause button on this one and become a serious legislative body again. I do not care about heights, density, or anything else the so called NIMBY folk are accused of (the whole nimby v yimby game is another level of performance art) but I do care about results and like the 99.9% of Cambridge citizens who are not City Councillors it is baffling that we should face so many real immediate issues and yet you’ve chosen to not address any of them but instead have spent a year or more on what is essentially small town theatre.

2) BEUDO is another performative piece of legislation on the docket for Monday night. Will it reduce greenhouse gases in commercial and residential buildings? Of course not. The grid is 80-85% fossil fuel based and likely to stay so well past the 2030’s. CDD identified 20 buildings as the largest producers of GHGs in the city all of which are labs that will be exempt of gas hook up bans and are well capitalized enough to weather this new tax. Why focus on 20 buildings producing more than 50% of our GHGs when you can draft an incoherent set of rules that will devastate the least able to bear it? BUEDO will make residents and business owners rip out perfectly functional HVAC equipment, displace commercial and residential tenants, and further compress our economy during the worst commercial financing conditions of our time. This is obviously the work of people who do not trouble themselves with the details. Further, the amount of resources Eversource will now have to redirect to Cambridge will deny essential resources to other communities on the State’s 2050 timeline and create more havoc when the infrastructure we need rapidly needs to be located within our communities. You still haven’t even addressed the building to building or citywide infrastructure needed for any of this to work; unless of course this was all just about the tax. One billion dollar budget and you need a new tax? Really? Further, our 6.32 square mile billion dollar city will be pushing the remaining 10,559 square miles to the side so we can not only be “first” but the only one out in front of the State. This isn’t “green washing,” it’s “green bullying” and something as a City and as individual residents we should only feel shame in being a part of. To anyone watching, and there weren’t many, the entire “process” was a sham. CDD has ceased to adequately function for at least a decade now but their “work” on BEUDO highlighted a deep and powerful incompetence that I personally found stunning. However I think much like the Council, CDD is also primarily comprised of activists. Thus we have lots of policy and very little substance. In the end this will hurt any individual with a commercial or residential property swept up in a tax scheme they cannot comply with. In effect Cambridge is sending a message through this Council to pack up and leave … only MIT and Harvard need apply. Message heard. In the meantime I ask that you vote Zondervan’s amendment down. CDD did not include it for good reason and what little policy was shaped by a transparent process with actual stakeholders ought to be preserved if for no other reason to not add more drama to the second act.

3) Gas Hook-Up ban. The final act in local theatre production is another light on substance heavy on pain for small businesses and especially those in the restaurant industry. I do not think there is anyone on the City Council who works in or owns a restaurant; yet another example of no skin in the game. We should absolutely NOT sign on the pilot program. We passed the specialized stretch code and we are about to pass BEUDO. We do not need any further constraints on small businesses. The pain of the pandemic which this Council absolutely exacerbated in yet another performative opera of incompetence is still very much with us. Restaurants will be feeling this pain for a generation. In Central Square only 11% of restaurants received any relief and even the ones that did closed. Gas hook-ups are essential to many different types of cuisine and are still industry standard though I do recall Councillor Nolan and Susan Rasmussen both stating the “high end” chefs prefer induction. I asked at the time for a source and am still waiting. It might be worth mentioning that induction stoves cost more, require specialized pots and pans, and are about 4-5 times more costly to fix … I know I know … details right? This type of prohibition was blocked by the Ninth Circuit court fought by a Restaurant lobby only a few short months ago. Lastly, the pilot will not affect medical facilities nor will it affect labs and that is how we know that this is yet another piece of performance art. Gas stoves are used by many Cambridge residents and chefs, and it’s hard to imagine in the home of Julia Childs we could be so neglectful to this industry. Do not approve this policy order and do not join this so called pilot program … you’ve all done enough damage for one Monday.

There is so much more going on in our city besides affordable housing and regurgitated faux environmental policies that are currently failing everywhere they’ve been adopted. No matter what we do we cannot be “The First.” However we do have it within us to be The Model, but only if we pull back and get serious people in the room. We can get to better places on housing, environmental issues, crime/policing, and more but not with activists who only read the CliffsNotes nor a Community Development Department that is at its core broken. In the meantime please vote down Zondervan’s amendment and put the breaks on any AHO amendment to merge this policy with a comprehensive strategy that includes market rate housing and fixes inclusionary; a real housing policy for Cambridge. I would be remiss in not mentioning that this year will be C2’s tenth birthday. Ten years have passed since we had the chance to rezone and create thousands of new housing units in one of the last places in Cambridge to truly redevelop, but instead of working on that we push a bunch of nonsense that will produce nothing but distrust and enmity among residents; why? I’m not really much of a critic of the arts but this is absolutely the worst play I’ve ever seen.

PS: to those who act, perform, sing, and dance in actual theatre I love you and mean no harm.

Respectfully,
Patrick W. Barrett III

June 9, 2023

Preview – June 12, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Charter,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:05 am

Preview – June 12, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

Tis the season for pushing through political agendas prior to the ever-important business of gathering nomination signatures and soliciting support during the lead-up to the November municipal election. Here are the items that struck me this week like a velocipede blowing through a red light:City Hall

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the proposed structure for the Cambridge Community Electricity program (CCE) for the period 2024-2025. [presentation]
pulled by Nolan; comments by PN, QZ, BA, DS; Placed on File 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 23-31, regarding potential amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO).
pulled by Zondervan; comments by QZ, MM, DC, Iram Farooq explains that CDD supports disparate zoning standards for different developers; Mallon cuts off Carlone’s questions; Carlone explains that City purchasing land for the purpose of building mixed-use projects would be the preferred route; Simmons and Azeem are all-in for “sky’s the limit” amendments to AHO; Nolan expresses concern about changes to open space and setback requirements; Farooq comments sound almost like she works for the housing developers; AM comments; Amended language adopted as a City Council zoning petition 8-0-1 (SS-Absent); Referred to Planning Board and Ordinance Committee 5-3-1 (BA,AM,MM,DS,QZ-Yes; DC,PN,PT-No; SS-Absent)

The ABC propagandists have been lighting up their mailing lists over this proposal to accelerate the transition from relatively dense residential housing to extra-high density subsidized housing in the Squares and along all of the major “corridors” in Cambridge. Expect a long line of Zoom speakers reading scripted comments. It should be noted that this proposal is not currently in the queue of proposed zoning amendments. It is likely that some version of this will now be put in the queue to be considered during the next several months and likely be woven prominently into upcoming political campaign propaganda and used to malign anyone who opposed or even questions to “wisdom” of the proposal.

A sampler of what is proposed:

  • There shall be no maximum FAR for an AHO Project within an AHO Square or AHO Corridor.
  • There shall be no minimum lot area per dwelling unit for an AHO Project.
  • Where the District Dimensional Standards set forth a maximum residential building height of more than 65 feet, an AHO Project shall contain no more than 13 Stories Above Grade and shall have a maximum height of 150 feet. [The proposal had called for buildings in areas zoned for heights above 50 feet to go up to 9 stories with a maximum height of 80 feet, but after “consultation with local affordable housing builders”, CDD jacked up all of the proposed maximums.
  • An AHO Project within an AHO Square shall contain no more than fifteen (15) Stories Above Grade and shall have a maximum height of one hundred and seventy (170) feet….
  • An AHO Project within an AHO Corridor shall contain no more than twelve (12) Stories Above Grade and shall have a maximum height of one hundred and forty (140) feet….
  • An AHO Project shall have no minimum front yard setback.
  • An AHO Project shall have no minimum side yard setback.
  • An AHO Project shall have a minimum rear yard setback of 15 feet. [CDD revised this down from 20 feet.]

We really need to ask that a new hand be dealt in this November’s municipal election.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order 2023 #81 directing City staff to recommend what new city regulations and council action or changes to existing regulations or ordinances are needed to put in place in order to implement the Craig Kelley et al. Zoning Petition for residential car sharing and renting of EV charging stations. [cover letter] [CDD memo] [Solicitor’s Legal Opinion]
pulled by Nolan; Unf. Bus. #2 before Council; comments by Nolan; Petition language amended by substitution of CDD language 8-0-1 (SS-Absent); QZ, DC comments; Ordained as Amended 7-1-1 (DC-No; SS-Absent)

Unfinished Business #2. An Ordinance has been received from Craig Kelley et al, relative to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge regarding EV and car share Zoning change. [Passed to 2nd Reading May 15, 2023; To Be Ordained on or after June 5, 2023; Expires Aug 1, 2023] (ORD23#2) [First Publication]
Petition language amended by substitution of CDD language 8-0-1 (SS-Absent); QZ, DC comments; Ordained as Amended 7-1-1 (DC-No; SS-Absent)

As I have stated before, this is a fundamentally good idea with potential unintended consequences – not the least of which would be resident homeowners with parking spaces relocating their vehicles to on-street parking in order to operate their EV-equipped driveways and yards as a commercial enterprise. I am sure that apps will follow to direct people to these addresses just like Airbnb and Waze. Another question would be whether a portion of the residential property should then be taxed at commercial property tax rates.

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 23-27, regarding the Charter Review Timeline Legal Opinion Request. [Solicitor’s Legal Opinion]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Zondervan, Azeem; responses by City Solicitor Nancy Glowa, Election Commission Exec. Director Tanya Ford-Crump; Nolan expresses desire to have a Special Election in 2024; Placed on File 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

Late Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to have the Legal Department answer several questions related to the timeline on voting a possible charter change.   Councillor Nolan
comments by PN, MM, DC; Order Adopted 6-1-1-1 (QZ-No, SS-Absent, DS-Present)

Under G.L. c. 43B, §11, a proposed charter amendment approved by the City Council pursuant to a two-thirds vote and approved by the Attorney General shall be submitted to the voters for their approval or disapproval at the “first regular city election” … “held at least two months after the order proposing such charter amendment becomes effective.” (Nov 4, 2025 at the earliest) An alternative would be that “Upon local approval by vote of the City Council, the charter or charter change can be filed as a bill by a member of the City’s delegation to the General Court, with the bill proceeding through the legislative process in the same manner as other legislation. … The special legislation, if passed by the Massachusetts General Court and enacted and signed by the Governor, would then go before the voters on the next municipal ballot.” … “The election on potential amendments to the City’s charter could theoretically be conducted during either the City’s biennial municipal election or the City’s biennial state election, depending on the final language in the home rule petition that the state legislature approves and the Governor signs. Likewise, the language … does not preclude the City from requesting a special election on potential charter amendments in its home rule petition to the state legislature. … The state legislature may object to a local election detracting from the state/federal election in the state’s fourth largest municipality. Tanya Ford, the Executive Director of the Election Commission, has noted that conducting two simultaneous separate elections on the same day would also require increasing staffing and resources.”

I don’t believe that the current City Council would be so reckless as to rush through such an important matter, but there are clearly precedents for such recklessness.

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the recommendation of the following appointments and reappointments of members to the Avon Hill, Half-Crown-Marsh, and Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) Commissions. These appointments are for three years and are effective June 12, 2023 unless otherwise noted; Levin Campbell, Ruby Booz, Aaron Kemp, Donna Marcantonio, James Van Sickle, Kathryn Moll, Nan Laird, Catherine Tice and Charles Redmon
Appointments Adopted 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments and reappointments of the following person as members of the Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship (CIRC) Commission for a term of three years effective June 12, 2023; Maximus Daniel De Medici, Debra Klein, Vanessa Sarmiento, Tsamchoe Dolma and Ana D. Mejia
Appointments Adopted 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as members of the Public Arts Commission (PAC) for a term of three years, effective June 12, 2023; Diana Smith, John Ravenal, Frank Shirley, Jennifer Lawrence, Gabrielle Domb and Keisha Greaves.
Appointments Adopted 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

Will this be the moment when the City Council invokes its veto power to reject volunteers to City boards who fail to meet their ideological and other tests? Even more problematic (and as suggested in prior meetings of the Government Operations Committee), are city councillors quietly vetting candidates prior to the City Manager’s appointments? Inquiring minds would like to know. How might that jibe with the usual claims of “transparency” – let alone the Open Meeting Law? We are currently in unchartered waters.

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the establishment of a Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Stabilization Fund.
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #11. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $10,000,000 from Free Cash to the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Stabilization Fund. Funds appropriated to and held by the UPK Stabilization Fund, will be expended for the provision of programs and services related to establishing, maintaining and expanding a Universal Pre-Kindergarten program and other early childhood programs in the City of Cambridge.
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #12. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,000,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account for technical assistance in assessing and implementing the City’s Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO) for new and existing City-owned buildings.
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #13. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $250,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account, for a conditions assessment and preliminary feasibility study for the City’s property at 119 Windsor Street.
pulled by Zondervan; comments by QZ; responses from Deputy City Manager Owen O’Riordan; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #14. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $660,866.80 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account. Funding will support projects to convert inefficient lighting to energy-saving LEDs at the Healy Public Safety Building, Main Library, Alice K Wolf Building, Longfellow-Broadway School and First Street Garage.
pulled by Nolan; comments by PN, BA, DC, QZ; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

“As of June 12, 2023, the City’s Free Cash balance is $142,269,242 from an initial certified amount of $199,259,756.” These appropriations would further reduce that. Many people have also suggested that substantial commercial tax abatements may be forthcoming which would, presumably, further reduce our unreserved fund balance.

Charter Right #1. That the Transportation and Public Utilities and Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration Committees work with the City Manager and appropriate city departments and staff, to hold a joint hearing to receive input from city staff and the community to review the effectiveness and develop recommendations on methods to collect data and establish measurable benchmarks and standards as it relates to the Cycling Safety Ordinance. [Charter Right – Azeem, June 5, 2023]
Azeem comments and amendments; Toner, Nolan, Zondervan, Carlone, McGovern comments; original sponsors added to substitute order 7-1-1 (QZ-No, SS-Absent); Amendments Adopted 7-1-1 (QZ-No, SS-Absent); Order Adopted as Amended 7-1-1 (QZ-No, SS-Absent)

This should again bring lots of public comment. The only real question is what particular phrasing Councillor Azeem will propose to effectively say “that under no circumstance shall any data collected, benchmarks, or standards in any way alter any provisions or timelines of the Cycling Safety Ordinance. “and the Judge wasn’t going to look at the twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence…”

Unfinished Business #3. Ordinance entitled “Building Energy Use,” Chapter 8.67 of the Municipal Code of the City of Cambridge Building Energy Use Disclosure and Emission Reductions BUEDO (Ordinance 2021-26) [Passed to 2nd Reading June 5, 2023; To Be Ordained on or after June 26, 2023] [First Publication]

Order #1. Proposed amendment to BEUDO.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Zondervan; comments by QZ who wanted to exercise Charter Right (cannot), Tabled 7-1-1 (PT-No, SS-Absent)

Order #2. Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Pilot.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Zondervan; comments by MM, QZ; Charter Right – Zondervan

Regarding these proposals, I refer you to the remarks of Patrick Barrett who understands these issues far better than any of the currently elected city councillors. It’s getting beyond tiresome when late amendments arrive with virtually zero time for members of the public and affected property owners to digest them.

Order (withdrawn). That the City Manager is requested to work with the Executive Director of the Cambridge Housing Authority to extend the deadline for submitting applications to fill the Resident Board Member vacancy on the CHA Board of Commissioners, and to invite the Alliance of Cambridge Tenants to submit a list of names for this position.   Councillor Zondervan

The deadline has already been extended. Meanwhile, the “Alliance of Cambridge Tenants” is in chaos with some of its most prominent figures either resigning or being excluded. It would seem that the Cambridge Housing Authority is exercising an alternative option by posting the open position in the common spaces of all of its properties. It’s also quite possible that the current board member may be reappointed which would make this whole matter moot.

Order #3. Golf Course Demographic Information PO.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Toner; comments by QZ, PT, PN, DC, MM, AM; Charter Right – Zondervan

I don’t really know how we got to the point of recording racial and other characteristics of people who choose to play golf. This is madness. Let’s also not forget that City Council Order from January 2022 that suggested closing part of the golf course in favor of such things as high density affordable housing development. That original Order was proposed by Councillors Nolan, Carlone, Zondervan, and Azeem.

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to amend the Cambridge Math Circle budget up by $100,000 annually.   Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Carlone; comments by DC, PN (add as cosponsor), PT; Charter Right – Toner

This is a worthwhile proposal definitely worth funding, but the real question is: “Why is this proposal coming from three city councillors?” Isn’t this the province of the Cambridge School Committee? I would really like to better understand the background of why this is coming in as a City Council Order.

Order #5. City Council support for MIT GSU’s right to a fair contract.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Toner; comments by BA, PT; Charter Right – Toner

Order #6. That the Home Rule Petition titled “PETITION FOR AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TO EMPLOY AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE” be forwarded to the state delegation in order to forward to the General Court for adoption.   Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Zondervan; comments by PN; QZ motion to make unanimous adopted 8-0-1 (SS-Absent); Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

I love the contradictory positions of this City Council being suspicious of surveillance and now potentially in favor of automatic traffic enforcement. That said, the background of this Order is pretty clearly an effort to jump on yet another nationwide bandwagon questioning the use of uniformed police officers to enforce traffic laws. It’s worth noting the provision: “No photographs taken in conformance with this chapter shall be discoverable in any judicial or administrative proceeding other than a proceeding held pursuant to this chapter without a court order. No photograph taken in conformance with this chapter shall be admissible in any judicial or administrative proceeding other than in a proceeding to adjudicate liability for such violation of this chapter without a court order.” In contrast, when a police officer does a traffic stop there’s always the possibility that there may be outstanding warrants (or worse).

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Wed, May 24, 2023 on the Citizens Zoning Petition received from Charles Jessup Franklin et al., regarding allowing new construction hat is similar in size and shape as existing buildings for the purpose of promoting housing and first floor retail. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (SS-Absent)

I’m not sure where this is headed, but I would love to read what the Planning Board has to say. As I stated last week: “The Franklin et. al. Petition would essentially double and triple allowable densities broadly across all residential zones and mixed-use zones. Though it claims to be an effort to “restore” the right to build structures similar in size and shape as existing buildings, this is entirely not the case in most areas that would be affected by the proposed zoning change. It also substantially reduces setback and open requirements. It also would require ground floor nonresidential uses in many settings – even as retail continues to struggle. … This proposal needs a lot more than just a review for consistency.” If you add this on top of the proposed AHO amendments, I can’t even begin to describe what a miserable urban environment may be in our future. The sheer dishonesty and misrepresentation of it all is enough to make you retch. – Robert Winters

March 4, 2023

The Gathering Storm – March 6, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Charter,City Council,Deaths — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 2:24 pm

The Gathering Storm – March 6, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

Municipal Election Year dynamics are gradually emerging in the form of policy orders, social media chatter, and topics being emphasized or scrupulously avoided. There’s even a chance to chime in on where you stand on the endless state of war that is Rent Control (always an opportunity to turn friends into enemies and enemies into friends). Here are a few agenda items that may prove interesting (possibly in Zoom if the egocentrists of PSL continue to stamp their feet and display their ignorance):City Hall

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order 2022 #181, regarding convening a North Mass Avenue Corridor District Zoning Proposal Working Group.
pulled by Toner; remarks by Toner, Iram Farooq, Carlone on urban design, Nolan, Simmons on outreach and who will Chair committee – Farooq says City staff; Placed on File 8-0-1 (McGovern Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $150,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account to be used for professional services for a planning study for Massachusetts Avenue from Cambridge Common to Alewife Brook Parkway. Funds will be combined with existing balances from prior related projects.
pulled by Carlone; Farooq says $400,000 estimated total cost; Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Azeem, McGovern – Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-78, regarding safety concerns at the LBJ Apartment building.
pulled by Simmons; Commissioner Elow responds; Zondervan objects to deploying Police rather than a security service at public housing; Huang notes that private security don’t play as engaged a role as Police and commends Cambridge Police; McGovern notes that tenants often let people in building who should not be there; Simmons notes that residents (correctly) equate Police with safety and security; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a transfer of $40,000 from the General Fund Reserves Other Ordinary Maintenance account to the General Fund City Council Other Ordinary Maintenance account to cover current and anticipated costs related to the work of the Charter Review Committee.
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the City of Cambridge retaining its AAA rating from the nation’s three major credit rating agencies. [S&P] [Moodys] [Fitch]
pulled by Carlone; David Kale (Finance) explain about savings of $1.4 to $2 million interest; McGovern asks about ability to issues bonds, Kale says you can bond anything but the market decides the rates (recently 3.06%); Nolan notes ESG ratings in each of the reports; Toner notes value of stability in staff with change in City Manager, asks about effect of commercial vacancies and possible effects, Kale notes range of revenues and healthy reserves and notes what may happen with office space as leases expire and uses possibly change, $1 billion in new growth last year in lab space, uncertainty in office space (Gayle Willett – Assessing); Azeem about limitations on spending that might occur w/o AAA ratings, Kale explains value of strong and consistent management, long-term capital plan, ongoing leadership and bench strength in financial team, strength of local economy; Huang relates City budget to personal budgets, what might happen if City simply spent a lot more money – financial stewardship and optimization; Azeem notes about trade-off of pay-as-you-go vs. borrowing; Simmons remarks on potential downturn, Kale notes that revenues support expenditures, stable tax rates, managing debt, scheduled to pay off pension liabilities by 2026, more to do with long-term pension liabilities, history of bond ratings from Prop 2½ (early 1980s) until today; Zondervan dismissive of AAA ratings and focuses on the negatives of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and equity; Kale thanks Manager and Finance team, CDD, and other department heads and staff – echoed by City Manager Huang; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Annual Surveillance Report concerning City Departments’ use of Surveillance Technology or Surveillance Data.
pulled by Zondervan (who has issues with Shot Spotter); Reports Approved and Placed on File 9-0

My question is simply this: “How much staff time is occupied assembling these reports?”

Charter Right #2. That the joint Economic Development and University Relations and Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebrations Committees forward the amended proposed Policy Order regarding Labs and Neighborhood Planning to the full City Council. [Charter Right – Zondervan, Feb 27, 2023]
Siddiqui again says this was “charterwritten”; Zondervan amendments Approved 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Charter Right #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City Departments to work with Eversource to include in their annual reporting, updates on their work to move forward with providing the infrastructure required to move Cambridge toward electrifying the city. [Charter Right – Nolan, Feb 27, 2023]
Siddiqui again says this was “charterwritten”; Nolan added as sponsor and McGovern amendments Adopted 9-0; Carlone comments on monopolies like Eversource; Adopted as Amended 9-0

Unfinished Business #4. An Ordinance has been received from Diane P. LeBlanc City Clerk, relative to Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition (Ordinance #2022-20) [Passed to 2nd Reading Dec 19, 2022; To Be Ordained on or after Jan 9, 2023; Expires Mar 6, 2023; Ordinance Amended Feb 27, 2023]
Comments by (Abundant Housing Treasurer) Azeem on embedded emissions accounting such as materials used in construction, proposes amendments exempting some housing; Zondervan prefers version w/o amendments saying it has been fully vetted and that Planning Board wants this accounting for all projects w/o special exemptions for housing; Toner supports Azeem amendments; (Sky is Falling) Carlone says software already out there for embodied emissions accounting and that this is all just common sense and wants version w/o amendments; Nolan now trying to appear as a “moderate” and will support amendments; Siddiqui aligns with Zondervan, Carlone; Azeem amendments Adopted 5-4 (BA,MM,PN,DS,PT – Yes; DC,AM,QZ,SS – No); Ordained as Amended 9-0

Resolution #1. Congratulations to Robert Steck on his retirement from the City of Cambridge.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Carlone who lauds Rob Steck as a playground designer and more

Resolution #3. Congratulations to Sam Corda on his retirement from the Cambridge Water Department.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons

Resolution #4. Resolution on the death of David Leslie.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon

Order #3. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to direct CDD to provide language that would amend the Patrick Barrett et al. North Mass Ave BZ-5 Zoning District Petition to include the amendments proposed by the petitioner and report back to the City Council by Mar 13, 2023.   Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #4. The Ordinance Committee, chaired by Councillor Zondervan, met on Feb 28, 2023 to continue the discussion of Citizens Zoning Petition from Patrick Barrett et al. North Mass Ave BZ-5 Zoning District Petition – AP22#52. [text of report]
pulled by Zondervan; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Passed to 2nd Reading 6-3 (BA,AM,MM,PN,DS,PT – Yes; DC,QZ,SS – No)

Order #4. That the City Council go on record in support of the Tenant Protection Act HD.3922/SD.2368.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon
pulled by Toner; Zondervan notes that this is about rent stabilization and “just cause” evictions; Siddiqui says this is similar to one Council previously supported; Toner will vote NO because he does not want to bring back divisiveness of rent control and observes that this will cause preemptive rent increases and thwart housing production; Nolan wants local control and says that (20 years ago) Cambridge voted overwhelmingly against rent control; McGovern will also support this with double-talk about how this is not actually rent control (which it obviously is); Mallon also double-talks and stresses “local control” rather than what this is really about, lauds Rep. Connolly; Siddiqui adds to the double-talk about “options; Order Adopted 8-1 (Toner NO)

Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the City Manager’s Housing Liaison, Community Development Department, and the Cambridge Housing Authority [and the City Solicitor] on the feasibility of municipally-funded housing vouchers.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan (PO23#47)
pulled by Simmons; remarks by Siddiqui, Simmons, Mallon about how Somerville is doing this (with ARPA funds) but without any estimate of how costly this would be; Toner asks about legal issues and wants opinion of City Solicitor; Carlone (aggressively) suggests this should be made unanimous; McGovern says this would eliminate homelessness of veterans; Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to fund the HEART initiative and negotiate a contract for services with HEART, to include but not limited to HEART responding to certain 911 calls.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Nolan; remarks by Zondervan, Nolan; Charter Right – Nolan

Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the appropriate City departments to ensure multi-family properties on the market are reviewed as quickly as possible as potential affordable housing acquisitions.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
pulled by Nolan; Amendments proposed to add MM,DC; Charter Right – Simmons

Committee Report #1. The Finance Committee conducted a public meeting to discuss the FY24 Capital Budget, and future investment priorities in Cambridge’s physical infrastructure ahead of the FY24 budget cycle. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #3. The Housing Committee met on Wed, Feb 8, 2023 from 12:30-2:30pm to discuss potential amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay district as outlined in the Nov 21, 2022 policy order adopted by the City Council. [text of report]
pulled by Simmons; remarks by Simmons (meeting recessed, not adjourned, so no public comment), Carlone (NLTP meeting on Mar 22), Azeem says time needed for robust discussion; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Wed, Mar 8
3:00pm   The Housing Committee will hold a public meeting to continue the recessed meeting from Feb 8, 2023 to continue discussing potential amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay district as outlined in the Nov 21, 2022 policy order adopted by the City Council. No Public Comment.

Tues, Mar 22
5:30pm   The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebrations Committee will hold a public meeting to discuss potential amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay.

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