Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

July 31, 2022

Summer Simmer – What’s Cookin’ on the Aug 1, 2022 City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,Central Square,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:29 pm

Summer Simmer – What’s Cookin’ on the Aug 1, 2022 City Council Agenda?

Summertime and the livin’s easy, but the boys and girls of summer are back for their annual Midsummer meeting this Monday. Here are a few notable votables:City Hall

Manager’s Agenda #1. Transmitting communication from Owen C. O’Riordan, Acting City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 and Monkeypox update.
Placed on File 9-0

Order #13. That the City Manager report back on ways in which we can prepare for a Monkeypox outbreak in the City of Cambridge.   Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled early by Azeem; Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #18. A communication transmitted from Owen C. O’Riordan, Acting City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-31, regarding funding received through the housing linkage program.
pulled by Zondervan; Placed on File 9-0

Order #10. Incentive Zoning Program Data.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #15. That the City Manager work with the City Solicitor to ask for a legal opinion on whether a tiered linkage fee system by square footage and/or a marginal rate system would be permitted under the current petition parameters and what was previously advertised.   Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

The Incentive Zoning Program has been in existence now for decades and the only changes have been the relatively recent increases in the linkage fees. If commercial development was the great concern back in the late 1980s that justified Incentive Zoning, it’s pretty clear that a lot has changed since then and that a deeper dive than just uniformly jacking up the rates is overdue.

Manager’s Agenda #19. A communication transmitted from Owen C. O’Riordan, Acting City Manager, relative to the submission of the Affordable Housing Overlay Annual Report.
pulled by Mallon; most AHO projects (as many of us predicted) are on existing properties of CHA, Just-A-Start, etc.; McGovern celebrates the lack of any process; Referred to Housing Committee 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #20. A communication transmitted from Owen C. O’Riordan, Acting City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-35 regarding options to update the HomeBridge and Homeownership Programs.
pulled by Mallon; notable that CDD shows at best lukewarm support of increasing homeownership opportunities and building of wealth; Referred to Housing Committee 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #21. A communication transmitted from Owen C. O’Riordan, Acting City Manager, relative to a request that the City Council extend its prior authorization for the City Manager to grant street obstruction approvals, which are required for restaurants to operate outdoor dining on the sidewalk or street until June 30, 2023.
pulled by Toner; Order Adopted 9-0

As much as I would like to see Covid retreat into obscurity by next season, it’s pretty clear that some of the accommodations made in the state of emergency have worked out pretty well in some places (like Central Square) and should continue.

Charter Right #1. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of appropriation and authorization to borrow $4,500,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of building renovations to the vacant City owned property at 105 Windsor Street. [Charter Right – Zondervan, June 27, 2022]
taken w/Order #11 and Comm. & Reports #8 by Zondervan; debate primarily about nature of community process; allocation is primarily for design, much more money expected later for construction; Azeem suggests expanding building; Tabled (Mallon) 9-0

Order #11. 105 Windsor Community Process.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
pulled early by Zondervan; Tabled (Zondervan) 9-0

Communications & Reports #7. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting historical information about the city-owned property at 105 Windsor Street.
pulled early by Zondervan; Placed on File 9-0

This definitely reminds me of what Bob Healy was reported to have said when informed that The Foundry building was being donated to the City: “This is going to be a problem.” As soon as the asset became available political people and activists alike all began competing for it. I hope things are more rational (and quick) with 105 Windsor.

Applications & Petitions #5. An application was received from Andy Layman representing Tasty Burger, requesting permission for three (3) projecting signs at the premises numbered 21 Prospect Street. approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Department of Public Works, Community Development Department and abutter. [Note: The agenda brief gives the address as 353 Prospect Street (near the intersection with Cambridge Street), and one of the included maps suggests this, yet all of the photos indicate the address as 21 Prospect, in the large building at the corner of Mass. Ave.]
Address Corrected, Tabled 9-0 to allow for proper notification of abutters

Lotsa Communications opposing the planned Brattle Street Separated Bike Lanes.

Resolution #36. Resolution on the death of Rosemary Dorothy O’Neill.   Councillor Toner

Resolution #39. Congratulations on the Retirement of Maryellen Carvello from The City Manager’s Office.   Councillor Toner

I will simply say that for people like me who have been in and out of City Hall for over 3 decades you make a lot of friends, and retirements always bring a touch of sadness and a sense of the relentless passage of time.

Order #1. That the Ordinance Committee of the City Council meet to amend the Cambridge Municipal Code by adding a chapter numbered 6.24, titled Sale of Fur Apparel Products.   Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

Memories are dancing in my head of a past Order calling for the banning of large sugary drinks. I really wish city councillors would spend as much time winning people over to their point of view rather than enacting bans to force people to do as they’re told.

Order #5. City Council support of additional MBTA bus service in Alewife and East Cambridge.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Nolan; Order Adopted 9-0 as Amended (details to follow)

I met some of the MBTA staff involved in planning these changes. Fresh out of “planning school” with little grasp of how people actually use public transportation or how they’ll be using it in the future.

Order #6. Policy Order re ID Badges For City Employees.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Azeem
Order Adopted 9-0

Badges? We don’t have to show you no stinking badges!

Order #7. Policy Order re Establishing a Task Force on Cambridge’s African American/Black Residents.   Councillor Simmons
pulled by Simmons; Order Adopted and Referred to Civic Unity Committee 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Order #8. Black Men and Boys Commission.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
pulled by Simmons; Order Adopted and Referred to Civic Unity Committee as Amended 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Order #9. Cannabis Industry Information PO.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Azeem
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #14. Water Drought Emergency.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
pulled by Nolan; Order Adopted 9-0

Order #16. Policy Order to investigate shared free bus service and E bike delivery program.   Councillor Toner, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Zondervan; Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Order #18 (separated from Order #16). That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to develop a pilot program in which the city would purchase E Bikes and hire city residents to create a city-based delivery service for our restaurants and local businesses to reduce the costs paid by businesses and customers of current home delivery services.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Order #17. That the City Council goes on record in support of the alternative route (S11C) instead of the preferred route (S1A) for Eversource’s plans to connect the proposed substation to existing substations.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Azeem; Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Committee Report #1. The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration Committee met on Mar 17, 2022 to conduct a public hearing to discuss the appropriateness of laboratories in neighborhood retail districts. [Text of Committee Report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Committee Report #2. The Human Services and Veterans Committee met on Mar 23, 2022 to hold a public hearing on Wed, Mar 23, 2022 at 5:00pm to discuss the final report from the Ad Hoc Working Group on Homelessness released on Jan 31, 2022. [Text of Committee Report]
Report Accepted as Amended, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Committee Report #3. The Ordinance Committee met on June 22, 2022 to continue a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (Ordinance #2021-26). [Text of Committee Report]
Report Accepted as Amended, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Nolan, transmitting updated version of the final CCWG report, amended per the last Health & Environment Committee meeting.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui and Councillor Azeem, transmitting information regarding the Fare Free Working Group. [Ridership Information] [Cost-Estimate] [Bus Routes and NRS Areas] [Fare-Free Bus Report]
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Communications & Reports #4. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information regarding the Charter Review Committee.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

There is apparently a first meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 16 at 5:00pm (remote meeting – how very disappointing). Time will tell if this group turns out to be objective, rational, and reasonable.

Communications & Reports #6. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting updates from the UPK Ad-Hoc meetings.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Nolan ABSENT)

Additional comments may follow as the spirit moves. – Robert Winters

July 19, 2022

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 557-558: July 19, 2022

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square,City Council,planning — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:47 pm

Episode 557 – Cambridge InsideOut: July 19, 2022 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on July 19, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: Sounding the alarm on BEUDO, perverse incentives, and bad design; Linkage and Incentive Zoning w/o incentives; thinking creatively. Hosts: Patrick Barrett, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 558 – Cambridge InsideOut: July 19, 2022 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on July 19, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: BEUDO, condos, and older buildings; Cambridge is not Ithaca; carrot vs. stick; non-inclusive process – policy-making in isolation; ARPA misspending; Cambridge policies, inequality by design, and market distortion; re-creating Central Square; new city management and departmental restructuring; Charter review update. Hosts: Patrick Barrett, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 21, 2022

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 553-554: June 21, 2022

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:30 pm

Episode 553 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 21, 2022 (Part 1) – BEUDO

This episode was recorded on June 21, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO) – history, purpose, proposed amendments, concerns. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 554 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 21, 2022 (Part 2) – LINKAGE

This episode was recorded on June 21, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: Incentive Zoning Ordinance (LINKAGE) – history, purpose, nexus studies, proposed amendments, concerns. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 9, 2022

Giving and Taking – June 13, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Central Square,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 8:53 pm

Giving and Taking – June 13, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

Temple and Mass Ave - 1910The FY2023 Budget may have been adopted last week, but the Big Money continues this week with an order requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $49,000,000 to provide additional funds for the construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools project AND an Order to take by a so-called “friendly” eminent domain proceeding a 3-story office building located at 689 Massachusetts Avenue. The latter Order comes as a consequence of City Council Order #2 of Sept 27, 2021. The net cost of the purchase is expected to be $13,763,557 plus an additional $2.75 million in funds for building fit-out as the City develops its plans to occupy the office space. One of the planned uses of this property will be to house the newly created Community Safety Department.

Here are the agenda items that piqued my interest this week:

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report with no positive or negative recommendation on the Craig Kelley, et. al. Zoning Petition. [CDD staff report]
pulled by Zondervan; Referred to Petition 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt, with additional comments, the Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition.
pulled by Zondervan; Referred to Petition (Zondervan) 8-0-1 (Simmons – ABSENT) – expected to be allowed to expire, amended, and resubmitted

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the second Progress Report due under the Cycling Safety Ordinance (Chapter 12.22 of the Cambridge Municipal Code), which is required to detail “…progress towards meeting the requirements set forth in Subsections C, D, E, F, G, and H.
pulled by Toner; Placed on File 9-0

In a related matter, the group “Cambridge Streets for All” filed a lawsuit on June 10 against the City of Cambridge challenging various aspects of the Bicycle Safety Ordinance – especially the process of how it was amended in 2020 and its implementation. I have no idea if this lawsuit has any chance of prevailing. I do, however, have some questions about whether the Ordinance takes management decisions out of the hands of the City Administration in violation of the City Charter. [Think about a scenario in which the City Council passed an ordinance mandating that all roads and sidewalks must be painted gold with rigid timelines for implementation regardless of cost or sense.] I also have a question about the fact that the City is supposed to have an appointed Traffic Board (established in 1961 by Special Act [Chapter 455] of the State Legislature) that provides an appeal process for all regulations promulgated by the Traffic Director. There is no record of there ever having been the necessary two-thirds vote of the City Council to revoke the provisions of this Special Act.

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to order requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $49,000,000 to provide additional funds for the construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools project located at 197 Vassal Lane.
pulled by Nolan; Appropriation/Loan Order Passed to 2nd Reading 8-1 (Zondervan – NO) [Note that this would bring the total cost to $299 million]; Reconsideration Fails 0-9

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-15, which requested a review of recent crashes at the intersection of Broadway and Highland Avenue.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation that the City Council approve an Order to take by a so-called “friendly” eminent domain proceeding a 3-story office building comprising approximately 25,385 square feet (30,227 square feet with usable basement space) on a 0.23 acre lot located at 689 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139.
pulled by Mallon;

(1) Appropriation of $11,551,208 from Free Cash to pay the pro tanto, as set forth above and below (Order Adopted 9-0)

(2) Approve the Order of Taking (Order Adopted 9-0)

(3) Appropriation of $2,212,349 from Free Cash to settle the eminent domain damages claim and to pay the remainder of the purchase price of $14,500,000 after subtracting the pre-paid five year initial lease payment of $736,443 which will enable the City to acquire the Property and thereby resolve UUSC’s damages claim (Order Adopted 9-0)

(4) Appropriate $2,750,000 from Free Cash to develop plans, acquire the fit-out and furnishings and to undertake minor renovations for City departments to use and occupy the building. (Order Adopted 9-0)

(5) Reconsideration Fails 0-9

Manager’s Agenda #11. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Drinking Water Supply Protection (DWSP) Grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) for $102,968.50 to the Public Investment Fund Water Department Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used for the for the Twin Pond Land Acquisition Project.
Order Adopted 9-0

Charter Right #2. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting a communication about the Charter Review Committee. [Charter Right – Azeem, June 6, 2022]
Placed on File 9-0

Charter Right #3. Creation of an Ad-Hoc Committee for the purpose of reviewing and selecting self-nominated residents and stakeholders to be on the Charter Review Committee. [Charter Right – Azeem, June 6, 2022]
further Amended (9-0) and Adopted 9-0 on June 13, 2022, Reconsideration Fails 0-9

Please note that applications to serve on the Charter Review Committee are due no later than Tues, June 28, 2022 at 11:00pm, and the names of those appointed to the Charter Review Committee will be announced no later than July 1, 2022.

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to establish a “community healing initiative” plan to address the issues in our city.   Councillor Simmons
pulled by Simmons; notes recent anti-vax disruptions at Starlight Square event; Order Adopted 9-0

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to establish a notification system to all neighborhood residents, regardless of whether they own or rent their homes, within a set area where neighborhood disruptions such as infrastructure work or demolitions are scheduled to occur.   Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #5. Recognize June 19, 2022 as Juneteenth in the City of Cambridge, and in urging all Cambridge residents to reflect upon the meaning of this important day.   Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with DCR and all relevant City departments to expand Memorial Drive closures in the summer and fall of 2022.   Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Simmons; Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #8. Proclaim June 25, 2022, to be “Pit Rat Day” to honor the history of The Pit and all of those who called it home.   Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

June 7, 2022

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 551-552: June 7, 2022

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Cambridge InsideOut,City Council,covid,planning — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:54 pm

Episode 551 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 7, 2022 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on June 7, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: City Council appoints Yi-An Huang as new City Manager; review of process; public perceptions and misunderstandings; born and raised in Cambridge treated as a liability; role of Deputy City Manager; all 3 appointments completed with commendable results. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 552 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 7, 2022 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on June 7, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: Graduations, commencements, festivals, students moving out, road closures – perfect storm for Covid and traffic; Bikes Lanes, Memorial Drive closure and subtext of anti-car movement, class distinctions, ageism; Alewife Moratorium ordained without Triangle; fading Envision with shifting politics; trash toter rollout; communication breakdowns; BEUDO proposals unknown to stakeholders. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

May 21, 2022

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 549-550: May 17, 2022

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Cambridge InsideOut,City Council,schools — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:25 pm

Episode 549 – Cambridge InsideOut: May 17, 2022 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on May 17, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: Hiring the City Auditor (Joseph McCann), City Clerk (Diane LeBlanc), and City Manager (4 finalists); the ability to say NO as an essential quality in a city manager; reports on the Budget Hearings; councillors on their best behavior – especially in regard to Police Dept. and Community Safety budgets. Apologies for the poor audio/video quality. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 550 – Cambridge InsideOut: May 17, 2022 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on May 17, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: Alewife Moratorium pending – Quadrangle and Triangle, roadway connections, bridges, and some history – connecting the cul-de-sacs; blurred Envision; YIMBY cult vs. thoughtful consideration of where density makes sense; Cambridge schools, vocational education, and opportunities; discussion of municipal broadband continues to ignore Cable TV; broadband options and financial risk. Apologies for the poor audio/video quality. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

May 16, 2022

Mid-May in the Mines of Moria – May 16, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:13 am

Mid-May in the Mines of Moria – May 16, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

City Auditor James Monagle and City Clerk Anthony Wilson will be making their exit at the end of this month with City Manager Louis DePasquale following in early July. Three simultaneous processes have been underway seeking their successors, but one of them seems headed to a conclusion this week with a communication that Joseph McCann from the City’s Auditing Department is being recommended to the full City Council to be elected as our new City Auditor. [Note: There is now a Special Session scheduled for Mon, May 23 at 10:30pm to conduct interviews and potentially appoint the next City Auditor and City Clerk.]One Ring To Rule Them All

Meanwhile, the Screening Committee for the City Manager position has been meeting “to interview 8-10 selected priority candidates, from which they shall select 3-4 finalists for presentation to the City Council.” Public interviews of the finalists are expected the first week of June. The rumors have been flying like saucers. It will be interesting to see if the intergalactic search yields a candidate from Rigel VII or a more familiar face from closer to home with or without managerial experience. As Tim Toomey would often say, “It just takes 5 votes” regardless of any promise, public process, or other window dressing.

Meanwhile, back here in the dark Mines of Moria, here are a few items on this week’s menu:

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, in response to a question raised at the May 9, 2022 Council Meeting concerning the Alewife Overlay Development Zoning Petition. [Solicitor’s Response]
pulled by McGovern; Referred to Petition (Unf. Bus. #2) 9-0

Unfinished Business #2. That Article 20.90 – Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance be amended to insert a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 – Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). [Tabled May 2, 2022; To Be Ordained on or after May 23, 2022]
Councillor Carlone noted that he felt that the Alewife Triangle should not be included in the proposed moratorium

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to confer with all relevant City departments, consultants, and the Alewife Quad Working Group on any and all progress on the Terminal Road connection and any related projects.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Carlone; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Terminal Rd connection (1979 plan)   Terminal Rd connection (Envision)
Terminal Rd connection:   1979 (Fishbook) plan or Envision Plan?

I still haven’t seen much evidence of any consistent vision from this City Council (or previous City Councils) regarding what they want for this area of the city. There’s the predictable knee-jerks for housing, but it generally seems as though all that Envision stuff (light industrial, etc.) was just an excuse for getting together to aspire. I personally will not be satisfied until I see multiple access routes in and out of this area and at least one bridge over the RR tracks as well as a simple pedestrian bridge over the Little River in the area of the Alewife Constructed Wetland.

On the Table #1. Section 11.202(b) of Article 11.000 Special Regulations linkage fee, be amended by substitution (Ordinance #2022-14). [Tabled May 9, 2022]

Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to allocate the remaining ARPA funding, in compliance with the Final Rule, across community-serving applicants.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Nolan;
Azeem notes that he cannot support the original policy order because he wants subsidized housing proposals to be fully funded;
Zondervan wants the applicants to be funded rather than the projects proposed;
McGovern would prefer to not allocate this all at once, concerned about proposal from Nonprofit Coalition to be given $20 million to spread around;
Toner will not support order as proposed;
Mallon notes that there are already $190 million worth of proposals – well in excess of available funding, also concerned about proposals made at the Finance Committee;
Amended 6-1-0-2 (QZ – NO; AM,DS – Present);
Charter Right – Zondervan

There are a couple of councillors who continue to be unable to resist the urge for political patronage.

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon, transmitting information regarding the City Auditor Search.   Vice Mayor Mallon
Placed on File 9-0

See above. A vote is expected next week on the appointment of Joseph McCann from the City’s Auditing Department as our new City Auditor. [Note: There is now a Special Session scheduled for Mon, May 23 at 10:30pm for this purpose.] One down, two to go. There’s also the question of whether the City Council wishes to update the job description.

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee.
Placed on File 9-0

“Due to an increase in the number of COVID cases and COVID-related hospitalizations within our community, we are encouraging our entire school community to mask, particularly when we are indoors. Please note that CPS is NOT reinstating a requirement but advising mask use based on current data.”

“Dr. Turk will be leading the process for the Math Coordinator position and is currently compiling an interview committee. Interviews will begin on May 20th. CPS is also screening applicant resumes to begin the process for the Chief of Academics & School position to prepare for upcoming interviews over the next couple of weeks.”

Math… good to hear they’re still doing that – with or without masks. – Robert Winters

Order #8. That the City Council delegate the drafting and finalization of the questions for the interviews of the City Clerk finalists scheduled for May 23, 2022 to the co-chairs of the City Clerk Preliminary Screening Committee.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #9. That the City Council delegate the drafting and finalization of the questions for the interview of the City Auditor finalists, scheduled for May 23, 2022, to the chair of the City Auditor Preliminary Screening Committee.   Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0

May 9, 2022

A Very Few Highlights of the May 9, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:40 pm

A Very Few Highlights of the May 9, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

If all goes well, this meeting should go quickly. The Budget Hearings start the next morning at 9:00am. Here are a few things that might stir some interest:City Hall

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-99, regarding GLX project funding.
pulled by Mallon; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-26, regarding a report on trash bin sizes.
pulled by Nolan; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $200,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account to support the rollout of standardized trash bins and the collection and recycling of old trash bins.
Order Adopted 9-0

I will do a little virtue-signaling here and say that although two 65-gallon toters are recommended for my triple-decker, I will instead be requesting two 35-gallon toters, and I expect that one of them will remain unused in my backyard except for extraordinary circumstances. Some of us take that whole Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra seriously. I’m also glad that there will be a collection of the old barrels. I’ll hold onto the intact ones for other uses (like Yard Waste) but this will be a good time to lose the cracked ones.

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-16, regarding Alewife Overlay District Zoning Proposal Working Group and POR 2022 #84 contained in Committee Report Item Number 1 of May 2, 2022 regarding CDD’s current workload. [text of response]
pulled by Carlone; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to updated information that was requested by the Ordinance Committee at its hearing on Apr 7, 2022, relative to the Alewife Overlay Districts Zoning Petition as well as a legal opinion from City Solicitor Nancy E. Glowa, regarding legal questions raised by the Ordinance Committee at the same Apr 7, 2022 hearing. [CDD Memo] [Zoning Opinion (May 9)] [Alewife Opinion (Apr 7)]
pulled by Zondervan; Rules suspended to bring forward Unfinished Business #9; Amendment Adopted 9-0; Communication Referred to Petition 9-0

Unfinished Business #9. That Article 20.90 – Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance be amended to insert a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 – Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). [Passed to 2nd Reading May 2, 2022; To Be Ordained on or after May 23, 2022]
Amendment Adopted 9-0

Not much to do with this until ordination on May 23, but I am a bit confused as to why ordination cannot happen at the May 16 meeting – two weeks after the matter was Passed to a 2nd Reading. [The reason is that the Cambridge Chronicle has a Friday afternoon deadline for submission of Legal Notices for the following week and they no longer allow any leeway on this.] In any case, I still see no great vision (or Envision) from the City Council about what they want to see in the Quadrangle, and I have no idea why the proposed moratorium also includes the Alewife Triangle.

Charter Right #1. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $23,100,176 received from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the new Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), to the Grant Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used for a number of projects related to City Council priority areas particularly: homelessness and housing support, COVID testing, mental health services, job training, food insecurity, small business support, and infrastructure including items related to water, and broadband. [Charter Right – Zondervan, May 2, 2022]
Zondervan wants to Table; Nolan disagrees; Carlone ready to approve and notes that councillors not consulted on $22 million on RISE; Azeem asks Manager how he sees this and what would happen if Tabled; Azeem will vote to approve; Zondervan has expectation that HEART would be funded under contract through new Community Safety Department (based on what?); Siddiqui suggests that Council wants HEART funded even though it would duplicate proposed services; Motion to Table Fails 1-8 (Zondervan – YES); Appropriation Adopted 9-0

There seems to be an organized effort to divert some of this ARPA money toward the ill-founded “HEART proposal” – simply because the ARPA money doesn’t have the same Ant-Aid Amendment protections against political patronage that ordinary tax revenue has. There are messages on various listservs encouraging people to engage in Public Comment on this topic. I am forbidden to comment on at least two of these democracy-challenged listservs, but I did manage a response on one of them. Here it is:

I don’t wish to get into a back-and-forth on this topic, but I do want to emphasize that the FY2023 City Budget has already allocated $2,874,570 in creating a new Community Safety Department that includes 6 full-time budgeted employees.

As the budget narrative says: “The Community Safety Department (CSD) is a newly established department that coordinates community driven solutions to enhance safety and wellness in the community by providing key services and programs targeted at the most vulnerable populations. Based on identified needs in the community for an alternate non-police response to non-violent and behavioral crisis calls and reducing or preventing violence in the community, the Department’s mission is to support the community through a trauma-informed framework and evidence-informed solutions… The Department will be responsible for overseeing the Cambridge Alternative Response Program, as well as other efforts to make the community a safer place to live, work, and experience for all.”

In addition, there are 2+ new budgeted positions in the Emergency Communications Department that appear to be related:
To provide funding for a new Assistant Director of Public Safety IT position.
To provide funding for a new PSIT Project Manager position.
To provide funding for a new Licensed Social Worker position (1/2 year).

Any additional ARPA funding for the so-called “HEART Program” would be nothing more than redundant political patronage.

Robert Winters

The Budget Hearings begin tomorrow and will, in particular, cover the Police Department and the new Community Safety Department.

Tues, May 10

9:00am   The City Council’s Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY2023 City Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Budget Overview
Mayor’s Office
Executive – Leadership
Executive – Diversity
Executive – DGVPI
Executive – Equity and Inclusion    
Public Information Office
Tourism
Housing Liaison		 City Council
City Clerk
Law
Finance Admin.    
Budget
Personnel
Purchasing
Auditing
Assessing		 Treasury/Revenue
Information Technology    
General Services
Employee Benefits
Election Commission
Public Celebrations
Reserve
Animal Commission		 Community Safety (new)
Fire Department
Police Department
Traffic, Parking & Transportation
Inspectional Services
License Commission
Electrical
Emergency Communications

Committee Report #1. The Housing Committee met to conduct a public hearing on Jan 25, 2022 to receive updates from the Community Development Department, the Cambridge Housing Authority, Homeowner’s Rehab, Inc. and Just A Start on the work they are currently engaged in, and the continuing challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic upon their operations. [Committee Report #1]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Housing Committee met Mar 16, 2022 to conduct a public hearing to continue discussions around potentially raising the linkage fee rates. [Committee Report #2]
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Orders A and B Adopted, Order C strategically Tabled 9-0

This City Council has never seen a fee increase it hasn’t liked and maintains a desire to increase fees to the maximum regardless of any other factors (unless, of course, it might cost them votes). – Robert Winters

Note: Mayor Siddiqui announced at the end of the meeting that the MBTA has responded to the City Council’s request and that the catenary wires in the Porter Square area would be removed in July 2022.

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