The End Is Near – December 13, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting – T Minus One Meeting
This will be the next-to-last meeting of the 2020-2021 City Council which may best be remembered (at least by me) as The Nine who operated under the Shadow of Zoom to carry out agendas that likely would never have flown had there been actual public meetings. I fully expect that any partially hidden agendas of this term will be on full display in the upcoming term.
Here are the things that appeared this week in my personal palantír:
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Kimberly Massenburg, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House as a member of the Community Benefits Advisory Committee for a term of three years, effective Dec 13, 2021, as recommended by the Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Police Department Deputy Superintendent Frederick Cabral as a member of the Human Services Commission for a term of three years, effective Dec 13, 2021.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to new appointments and reappointments of the following persons as members of the Cambridge Immigrant Rights & Citizenship for a term of three years, effective Dec 13, 2021 – New Appointments: Eva Gottschalk, Abhishek Raman and Joe Manok. Reappointments: Karim El Razzaz and Jennifer Sparks.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to new appointments and reappointments of the following persons as a members of the Human Rights Commission for a term of three years, effective Dec 13, 2021 – New Appointments: Stephen Curran and Judith Laguerre and Reappointments: Yasmin Padamsee Forbes.
Placed on File 9-0
…and the councillors collectively sighed in anguish for being denied their opportunity to grill the appointees on their worthiness…
Charter Right #1. That the City Clerk is requested to forward the Home Rule Petition establishing a Net Zero emissions requirement for building construction in Cambridge in accordance with its Net Zero Action Plan, adopted in 2015, to the entire state legislative delegation for immediate adoption. [Charter Right Exercised By Councillor Zondervan In Council Dec 6, 2021]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting proposed amendments to Calendar #1.
Placed on File 9-0
Order #1. Fossil Fuel Special Permit Policy Order. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #5. Reaffirming Commitment to the Goal of 100% Renewable by 2035. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0
Though I may agree with many of the goals, there is still something unsettling to me about rigid mandates that take rational economic decisions out of the equation. Energy efficiency saves money in the long term and most people will make good economic choices accordingly. Cars are much more environmentally friendly than in years past. Heating systems are also getting more efficient and home insulation programs are available. I do not agree with outright bans on natural gas options. Some people, including me, prefer to cook on a gas stove and I have no intention of changing my heating and hot water systems over to electric any time soon. Fortunately, most of the mandates apply only to new buildings (for now), so I suppose I won’t be hounded just yet.
Communications #6. A communication was received from Lori DiLiddo, regarding To Human Services Veterans Meeting Re: Carl Barron Plaza.
Placed on File 9-0
This is a breath of fresh air.
Order #3. COVID19 Expert Advisory Panel. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Director of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation and Divco West regarding the spending plan and possible reallocation for the anticipated GLX refunds, and to report to the City Council on the use of GLX Project Participation Agreement funding in a timely manner. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Sept 9, 2021 to discuss the possibility of amending the ordinance to extend the preference period, and to explore what additional financial assistance the City may be able to help Economic Empowerment applicants obtain during that extended period, and to provide an opportunity to hear from stakeholders on this.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Two Orders Adopted
Suffice to say that I really don’t think local legislatures should be leaping through flaming hoops to pick the winners in the cannabis contest. Incentives and competitive advantages are one thing, but there are limits beyond which it becomes a matter of government dictating who is permitted to be successful.
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Simmons, transmitting an update to the members of the City Council and to the public on the process around the search for the City’s next city manager.
Placed on File 9-0
I heard that the City’s Request for Proposals for a search firm drew just one bidder. If that’s not correct, please let me know. As for the process yet to come, I do not have great expectations. On the other hand, perhaps the ideal candidate is already near at hand. – Robert Winters