[00:00:08]
[ROLL CALL]
PRESENT.I WANTED TO CALL TONIGHT'S MARCH 16TH, 2026, REGULAR MEETING OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESSES A RULE.
PRESENT, PRESENT, VICE MAYOR ABSENT COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
ABSENT COUNCILLOR SABRINA WHEELER.
THAT'S FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT FOR RECORD AS ABSENT, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE AND PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT JARED'S ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, I JUSTICE FOR ALL PER CHAPTER TWO OF THE ACTS OF 2025, ADOPTED BY MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL COURT AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE CITY'S AUTHORIZED TO USE REMOTE PARTICIPATION AT MEETINGS OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL.
IN ADDITION TO HAVING MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL PARTICIPATE REMOTELY, WE'VE SET UP ZOOM TELECONFERENCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU CAN ALSO VIEW THE MEETING VIA THE CITY'S OPEN MEETING PORTAL OR ON THE CITY'S CABLE.
CHANNEL 22 TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP AT WWW.CAMBRIDGEMA.GOV/PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD TO THE CITY CLERK AT CITY CLERK@CAMBRIDGEMA.GOV.
WE WELCOME YOUR PARTICIPATION AND YOU CAN SIGN UP UNTIL 6:00 PM PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDS THIS MEETING AND MAKES IT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR FUTURE VIEWING.
IN ADDITION, THIRD PARTIES MAY ALSO BE AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING.
THIS MEETING, VICE MAYOR PRESENT, PRESENT.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
PUBLIC COMMENT MAY BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS.CHAPTER 30 A SECTION 20 G, AND CITY COUNCIL RULES 20 3D AND 37.
ONCE YOU FINISH SPEAKING, THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CALLED, INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ALLOCATE THE REMAINDER OF THEIR TIME TO OTHER SPEAKERS.
I ASK THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND THE ITEM THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ON.
WE HAVE SEVEN SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND START CALLING ON THEM.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JACQUELINE WILSON.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EVA PADDOCK.
UM, YES, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS, OH, SORRY.
EVA PADDOCK, THREE 12 WALDEN STREET, CAMBRIDGE, OBVIOUSLY, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ASK THAT THE COUNCIL RECONSIDER THE PROPOSITION OF INCREASING OR CHARGING SENIORS, UH, FOR PARKING PERMITS.
UM, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING CONVERSATION AND THERE'S SOME COMMENT THAT $75 ISN'T VERY MUCH AND IT'S SO MUCH PER, UH, MINUTE OR, YOU KNOW, PER WEEK, BUT $75 GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS, UM, MEDICAL THINGS LIKE, UM, COPAYS.
UM, AND SO I'M REQUESTING THAT WE DO NOT CHARGE SENIORS, UH, FOR PARKING PERMITS.
UH, I'M ON THE, UM, OH, THERE IT SAYS, BOARD ON THE COUNCIL OF AGING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNIE MICHAEL.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KIT LILLY.
I LIVE AT 58 B HAMMOND STREET.
I'VE LIVED IN CAMBRIDGE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.
UH, I HAVE BEEN DOING ANIMAL RESCUE WORK, UH, FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS AFTER I RETIRED FROM MY CORPORATE JOB.
AND, UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE PET INCLUSIVE RENTAL HOUSING.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HELPED OVER 22,000 CATS, UM, IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SINCE I FOUNDED CHARLES RIVER CATS.
AND, UH, FROM BEING ON OUT ON THE STREET, WORKING IN COMMUNITIES, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THIS INITIATIVE IS.
THERE ARE SO MANY PETS, AND I, I'LL SPEAK TO CATS SPECIFICALLY SINCE THAT'S WHAT I KNOW, UH, THAT ARE AT RISK OF BEING ABANDONED OR HAVE BEEN ABANDONED BECAUSE THEIR OWNERS FIND THEMSELVES IN THE SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE TO MOVE AND THERE ARE NOT
[00:05:01]
PET FRIENDLY RENTALS AVAILABLE.WE ALSO GET REQUESTS TO TAKE SURRENDERED CATS.
UM, AND THIS IS, UH, SINCE COVID, ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED.
SO I WOULD REALLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO STRONGLY CONSIDER ADOPTING THE PET, PET INCLUSIVE RENTAL HOUSING, UH, INITIATIVES THAT ARE, THAT ARE UP FOR VOTE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST GOOD FOR THE ANIMALS, BUT, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HEARTBREAKING WHEN YOU SEE THE IMPACT ON AN OWNER WHEN THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP A PET BECAUSE THEIR, THEIR HOUSING WILL NOT ALLOW IT.
SO IT'S, IT'S GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE AND IT'S GOOD FOR THE PETS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JOHN PITKIN, FOLLOWED BY VICTORIA RUFF.
WE WILL GO TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER, VICTORIA RUFF, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER HOFFMAN, VICTORIA HAS NOT JOINED.
WE WILL GO TO HEATHER HOFFMAN.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HELLO, HEATHER HOFFMAN, TWO 13 HURLEY STREET.
MIGHTY EARLY FOR GETTING TO ME.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WHAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID ABOUT PETS.
PETS ARE, ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE, UM, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING OF MANY PEOPLE, UM, AND ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHOSE, WHOSE LIVES ARE KIND OF A PROBLEM OTHERWISE BECAUSE THEY, THEY FAILED TO HAVE RICH PARENTS OR SOMETHING.
UM, AND SO I I HOPE THAT THIS WILL PASS AT BOTH LEVELS.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO PERMITTING, I, I JUST LOVE TO SEE ALL OF THESE THINGS ABOUT HOW RULES GET IN OUR WAY.
UM, I AGREE THAT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THE RULES, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT RULES AND SEE IF THEY'RE FULFILLING A NEED AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT THAT NEED IS BEING MET.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO, UH, PLANS, I POINT OUT THAT HUMANS DON'T JUST EAT PLANTS.
UM, WE ALSO BURN ANCIENT PLANTS IN THE FORM OF FOSSIL FUELS.
AND WE, UM, AND WE ALSO BENEFIT FROM PLANTS, CLEANING OUR AIR, HELPING TO DEAL WITH THE WATER THAT FALLS FROM THE SKY, UM, AND OTHER THINGS.
AND THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TENDS TO BE PRETTY HOSTILE TO THOSE, THOSE TYPES OF PLANTS, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE CITY TALKS A GOOD GAME ABOUT TREES AND THEN CUTS THEM DOWN, RECLASSIFIES THEM AS NOT TREES AND OTHER THINGS SO THAT THEY CAN CUT THEM DOWN.
SO I HOPE THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO DEAL WITH THAT PARTICULAR ASPECT, YOU WILL NONETHELESS HEAR ABOUT TREES AND RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH GOOD THEY DO FOR US.
UM, I HAVE MY USUAL COMMENT ABOUT LITIGATION.
I'M SO HAPPY THAT THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY HAVE MONEY AND TIME TO SPARE ON ALL OF THIS LITIGATION, WHICH I NONETHELESS SUPPORT, BUT I WISH THAT THEY WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO SOME OTHER THINGS.
AND WITH RESPECT TO MICRO MOBILITY DEVICES, WE NEED TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE ON WHEELS.
AND THE CHANGE THAT I CAN FEEL IN MYSELF AND SEE IN OTHERS OF ENTITLEMENT.
MICRO MOBILITY DEVICES ARE JUST FINE, BUT THEY'RE ALSO DANGEROUS AND WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT ASPECT.
I'M GOING TO RECALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE SKIPPED.
[00:10:04]
MADAM MAYOR, THAT IS ALL.WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON WHO SIGNED UP.
HARRIET, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO UNMUTE YOU FOR THE ZOOM.
YOU MAY NEED TO LOG OUT AND LOG BACK IN.
MADAM MAYOR, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HEAR FROM HARRIET.
AND NOW THAT IS ALL THAT WE'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WE WILL LEAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT OPEN UNTIL SIX, UH, AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE'S NO SUBMISSION OF THE RECORD.
THERE ARE NO RECONSIDERATIONS.
[CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA]
CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA.WELL, LET'S PULL NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS THE FEDERAL UPDATE.
AND THEN ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO PULL? I'LL PULL NUMBER THREE AND THEN ON A MOTION BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS TO DO A ROLL, ROLL CALL ON THE BALANCE OF TWO, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN.
VOTING YES TO RECORDED AS ABSENT BALANCE IS ADOPTED.
WE'LL GO TO CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, TRANSMITTING A COMMUNICATION FROM CITY MANAGER YAN WONG, REGARDING A FEDERAL UPDATE, INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON RELEVANT COURT CASES.
UH, THANK YOU, UM, THROUGH YOU, MAYOR SIDIKI.
UM, I THINK WE'VE BEEN HOLDING TO OUR BI-WEEKLY UPDATES JUST TO ENSURE THAT THE FEDERAL LITIGATION TRACKER IS UPDATED.
UM, AND EVERYBODY KIND OF GETS TO SEE WHETHER THERE ARE ANY NEW THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP.
UM, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY NEW SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENT, UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
OBVIOUSLY DEEPLY CONCERNING THINGS HAPPENING MORE INTERNATIONALLY THAN DOMESTICALLY.
UM, AND AS OF TODAY, WE'RE STILL SEEING CONTINUED CONGRESSIONAL NEGOTIATION OVER, UH, HOW TO FUND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND WHAT KIND OF, UH, RESTRICTIONS OR CONSTRAINTS OR REGULATIONS MAY BE IMPOSED UPON ICE.
UH, AND SO I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE KNOW OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS WORKING REALLY HARD ON.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE LITIGATION TRACKER, UM, THIS IS UPDATED.
THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES, UM, BUT WE ARE INVOLVED IN SOME ADDITIONAL AMICUS BRIEFS OVER THE LAST MONTH.
UM, AND SO HAPPY TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE.
UM, OR ALSO JUST, UH, SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE CASES THAT ARE WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
EACH GROUP PLEASURE OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE.
MEETING, MEETING DURING THE SUMMER.
I THINK, I GUESS I'LL BRING UP, UM, YOU KNOW, CITY MANAGER, YOU AND I HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION AROUND, UM, IMMIGRATION ISSUES.
AND WE KNOW THAT BOSTON, THERE'S BEEN, UM, DEFINITELY WITH, UM, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO DIED IN ICE DETENTION.
UH, THERE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CONCERNS, UM, YOU KNOW, AROUND WHAT'S MAY BE COMING AND KNOW THE BOSTON HAS, UM, TAKEN ACTION WITH UNITED WAY AND THE BOSTON BAR ASSOCIATION, UH, FOR A KIND OF A FUND.
UM, I THINK WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER TO YOU IS TO SEE, CHECK IN WITH OUR, UH, FOLKS, HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND, UM, IMMIGRANT, UH, RIGHTS COMMISSION AND KINDA SEE WHAT THEY'RE SEEING, WHAT THEY'RE SEEING, UH,
[00:15:01]
AND ANY SUPPORT THAT THEY MAY NEED, MAY NOT NEED.YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE IF YOU COULD JUST CHECK IN ON THAT, UH, THROUGH YOUR MAYOR SIDIKI.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR CONVERSATION WAS TALKING ABOUT, UM, HOW ONE OF THE NEW PATTERNS WE'RE SEEN IS PEOPLE ARE BEING DETAINED, SHIPPED OFF OUT OF STATE, AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED, UH, THEY'RE JUST BEING LEFT THERE.
AND SO, UM, WE'RE CERTAINLY IN TOUCH WITH A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING SOME OF THOSE SUPPORTS.
UM, BUT I THINK WE ARE, WE ARE CERTAINLY INTERESTED IN PROPOSALS FOR WAYS THAT THE CITY COULD HELP WITH SOME OF THIS.
SO, UM, WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION THROUGH, UH, CIRC AND THEN HAPPY TO REPORT BACK.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS UP ON THIS.
AND SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PLACE CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE ON FILE.
THOSE AGAINST A A, THE AYES HAVE IT.
CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE IS PLACED ON FILE.
I THINK WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S COME BACK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN PITKIN.
JOHN, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YOU HAVE TO TURN THE MIC ON BUTTON.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, CITY COUNCILORS.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH RAISING THE FEE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE RESIDENT PARKING PROGRAM, UH, FROM $25 TO $75.
UH, AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRAFFIC AND PARKING, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNCIL UNDERSTAND THE FACTS, UH, THAT, SO SOME OF THE FACTUAL BASIS FOR THIS ORDER SEEM TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH MY KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HAS BEEN THE CASE IN THE PAST.
AND I, I BELIEVE IS STILL THE CASE.
UM, IT STATES THE ORDER STATES THAT, UH, THE COST OF OPERATING THE PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM SHOULD BE PAID BY USERS AND NOT PUSHED ONTO ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO DO NOT OWN CARS.
AND THE CITY SHOULD SEEK TO ENSURE FEES, CHARGE MATCH COSTS.
UH, THE CITY USED TO, ACCORDING TO UNDER GENERAL LAW 8 44, THE CITY USED TO OPERATE WHAT'S CALLED A PARKING FUND.
SO ALL OF THESE, ALL THESE, ALL THESE FINANCES WERE VERY CLEAR.
I LOOKED UP THE SITUATION IN 2008, SO THAT'S ALMOST, ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO.
UM, AND IT STATES IN THE BUDGET, THE PARKING FUND IS A CRITICAL SOURCE OF CITY REVENUE, PROVIDING FUNDS TO 13 BUDGETS, INCLUDING ALLOCATION TO CAPITAL AT THAT.
IN THAT YEAR, THE TOTAL OF THE PARKING FUND WAS $18.6 MILLION.
IT INCLUDED $9.4 MILLION IN FINES, PRESUMABLY MANY OF THOSE WERE FOR RESIDENT PARKING.
AND $9.2 MILLION WAS USED FOR OPERATING THE TRA WITHIN THE TRAFFIC PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
$6 MILLION WENT TO OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
HOW HAS THIS CHANGED? THE PARKING FUND WAS CLEARLY A CASH COW FOR THE CITY YEARS AGO.
WHY IS THAT NOT TRUE TODAY? IT JUST, THE, UH, THE NOTION THAT THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, THE CITY FUNDS ARE SUBSIDIZING DRIVERS IS, SEEMS PREPOSTEROUS IN IN THAT CONTEXT.
UM, I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE, THAT THE, UH, ESTIMATE OF $75 COST FOR ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM SEEMS FAR OUT OF LINE.
GIVEN THAT THE STATE BUREAU, UH, RE RMV CHARGES $25 TO REGISTER A CAR, HOW IT SEEMS TO BE A SIMILAR SIZE PROGRAM.
WHY IS IT THAT THE CITY, IT COSTS THE CITY $75 TO DO ROUGHLY THE SAME JOB PER PER PERMIT.
SO I URGE YOU TO, TO CONSIDER THESE FACTS BEFORE UPPING THE FEE.
BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO CITY MANAGER.
THIS IS TRANSMITTING A COMMUNICATION FROM CITY MANAGER IAN WONG REGARDING RESPONSE TO WAITING REPORT 26 DASH OH FIVE RELATIVE TO THE STREAMLINING THE RESIDENTIAL PERMITTING PROCESS.
UH, I PULLED THIS, UH, JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS KIND OF MORE OF A INTERIM, UM, UPDATE AND SHARING HOW, UH, YOU ARE ALL THINKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
UH, AND THEN THINKING THROUGH WHAT YOU'LL BRING TO THE COUNCIL AND WITH A FOCUS ON ACTUALLY WHAT CAN, CAN ACTUALLY BE DONE LOCALLY, RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG FACTOR HERE WHERE THERE'S BROADER STRAIGHT LEVEL POLICY CHANGES, UM, THINGS LESS THAN LESS IN OUR CONTROL.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD WALK US THROUGH, UH, THE MEMO.
THANK YOU, UH, TO YOU MAYOR SIDIKI.
FIRST I WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE JEN KAIRA, WHO SOME
[00:20:01]
OF YOU HAVE MADE, HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING.SHE'S OUR NEW DEPUTY CHIEF OF PLANNING AT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND JEN IS TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, SO THIS PROJECT REALLY IS AN EFFORT ALONG WITH, UM, ALL THE OTHER WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING ON ZONING, UM, AND FEES, UM, OF WHAT LEVERS THE CITY HAS THAT IT CONTROLS TO HELP FACILITATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO CERTAINLY AS WE'VE WANTED TO LOOK AND REVIEW ALL OF, UH, THE CITY'S CODES POLICIES, UM, AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN AND THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT AS WELL OF, OF, OF HOW THEY'RE BEING ADMINISTERED AND WHAT THAT IMPACT IS ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THESE THROUGH, UH, TWO LENS, THOSE THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT COST AND TIME ASSOCIATED WITH ADD, WHICH ADDS RISK AND UNCERTAINTY TO DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND WE WANNA, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CODES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE, UM, OBVIOUSLY WERE PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE OF GOOD POLICY OR GOAL THAT'S BEING ACHIEVED.
SO WE REALLY WANNA REASSESS THAT, UH, GOAL STILL MAKES SENSE AND CAN WEIGH THAT AGAINST THE COST, UM, OF, OF THAT ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND, AND, AND THEREFORE THE, THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON DEVELOPMENT.
SO WANTED TO PROVIDE THIS UPDATE ON KIND OF THE SCOPING, HOW WE'RE WORKING WITH OTHER DEVELOPMENTS TO IDENTIFY THAT LIST, COME UP WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT THE CITY COULD DO TO, UM, REMOVE SOME OF THOSE POLICIES OR STREAMLINE THOSE POLICIES OR EVEN THE PROCESSES ITSELF.
UM, AND THEN ON THE STATE SIDE, LOOK AT THINGS WHERE THAT WE COULD ADVOCATE ON THE STATE SIDE TO HELP.
UH, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE DIRECT CONTROL, BUT COULD INFLUENCE AND USE OUR ADVOCACY ROLE, UH, TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
AND THIS IS BEING INTERNALLY LED, THERE'S NO KIND OF OUTSIDE CONSULTANT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THEN THE UPDATE YOU SAID WE'D GET IS LATE SPRING.
WE'RE TARGETING MID-JUNE, MID JUNE.
AND I'LL ASK ANOTHER QUESTION.
UH, ARE YOU ENVISIONING SOME OF THIS TO COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEES HOUSING COMMITTEE, NEIGHBORHOOD LONG-TERM PLANNING? WHAT DO YOU ENVISION? THERE CERTAINLY WILL BE A, A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, AND WE CERTAINLY WOULD WANT TO TALK WITH COUNCIL ABOUT HOW WE, UH, EVALUATE THOSE.
UM, AND CERTAINLY WE CAN COME BACK TO COMMITTEES OR FULL COUNSEL WITH THE FINAL REPORT.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, I THINK THIS IS A IMPORTANT DISCUSSION TO HAVE AND, UH, WE'LL SEE WHERE WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? YES, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
I DON'T HAVE MY COMPUTER, SO I DIDN'T HAVE, I DON'T SEE WHERE THE BACKUP IS THAT YOU ARE TALKING TO.
I DON'T SEE THE MATERIAL BECAUSE IT'S NOT, I CAN'T FIND IT IN THE WRITTEN AGENDA.
THANK, I'M NOT GONNA READ IT NOW, BUT I THANK YOU.
I JUST DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE, UH, HARD COPY.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PLACING CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE ON FILE, SAY AYE.
THOSE AGAINST SAYING NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
WE HAVE PLACED CITY MANAGER AGENDA NUMBER THREE ON FILE.
SO WE ARE DONE WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA FOR TODAY.
BUT PLEASE STAY
AND I BELIEVE COUNCILOR SUZI HAS JOINED US.
AND COUNCILOR SUZI AND COUNCILOR, UH, NOLAN ARE AT THE NATIONAL EAGLE CITIES CONFERENCE.
[POLICY ORDERS]
POLICY ORDERS.UM, JUST, I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING, BUT JUST QUICKLY, THIS POLICY ORDER IS REGARDING THREE BILLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT THE STATE HOUSE, UH, SENATE BILL 10 22 AND HOUSE BILL 1559.
UM, OUR BILLS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, PET OWNERS ARE NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OR DENIED HOUSING.
UM, AND, AND WAYS TO WHICH OFTEN HAPPENS.
AND HOUSE 48 35 IS A BILL SPECIFICALLY FOR SENIORS.
UM, DIFFERENT HOUSING AUTHORITIES HAVE, UH, DIFFERENT RULES AROUND SENIORS HAVING PETS.
AND I THINK, I THINK CAMBRIDGE DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, A LOT OF SENIORS IN OUR SENIOR HOUSING, UM, THAT ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE PETS AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS IN THAT COMPANIONSHIP IS FOR THEM.
BUT IT'S VERY DIFFERENT ACROSS THE
[00:25:01]
STATE.SO THESE WOULD BRING PARODY, UH, ACROSS THE STATE.
UM, I WAS NEGLECTFUL IN FORGETTING TO ADD THE MOST CAT FRIENDLY MAYOR AND MAYBE THE NATION, UM, OUR VERY OWN, UH, MAYOR SIDIKI.
UM, EVERY TIME WE ARE OUT OF TOWN, SHE MAKES ME VISIT A CAT CAFE, UM, WHICH IS ALWAYS FUN.
AND I NEGLECTED TO PUT YOU ON THIS, SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADD YOU, UH, AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADDING ME.
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS WELL.
SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND ADD MYSELF AND COUNCILLOR SIMMONS ON A VOICE VOTE TO THIS POLICY ORDER.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MCGOVERN FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD AND FOR ADDING ME AND COMING TO THE CAT CAFES.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS? HEARING? NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THE AMENDED ORDER, SAY AYE.
THOSE AGAINST SAY AND A, THE AYES HAVE IT.
WE'VE ADOPTED POLICY ORDER NUMBER ONE AS AMENDED.
WE NOW MOVE ON TO THE CALENDAR.
I THINK WE CAN PASS OVER THE CALENDAR.
WE'LL GO TO APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS.
[COMMUNICATIONS]
THERE ARE 24 COMMUNICATIONS ON A MOTION BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS TO PLACE ALL COMMUNICATIONS ON FILE.THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PLACED ON FILE.
[RESOLUTIONS]
RESOLUTIONS.ARE THERE ANY RESOLUTIONS? NUMBER EIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO PULL.
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS, NUMBER EIGHT, PLEASE.
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS WILL PULL NUMBER EIGHT.
AND THEN, UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER FIVE RESOLUTIONS NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER FIVE? YES.
SO IF WE PULLED TWO, FIVE, AND EIGHT AND ON THE BALANCE OF 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, AND NINE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ON COUNCILOR SIMMONS MOTION, ADOPT THEM, MAKING THEM UNANIMOUS UPON ADOPTION.
THOSE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.
WE NOW MOVE ON TO THE OTHER RESOLUTIONS THAT WE'VE PULLED.
SO NUMBER TWO WAS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF FRANCIS E MCCAULEY.
THIS WAS FILED BY COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
I WAS GONNA ASK COUNCILOR FLAHERTY IF, FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO SEE, UH, SEEK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO BRING TWO AND FIVE TOGETHER 'CAUSE THEY'RE SIMILAR AND WE WANTED TO MARRY THEM.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCILOR FLAY WANTS TO YES, PLEASE DO.
ON THAT MOTION BY COUNCILOR SIMMONS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE TO TAKE TWO AND FIVE TOGETHER? AYE, THOSE AGAINST SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
TWO AND FIVE WE CAN TAKE TOGETHER.
AND THE REQUEST IS TO ADD COUNCILOR SIMMONS, YOU'D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO NUMBER TWO N NO, I WANT TO TALK TO COUNCIL FLAHERTY TO SEE IF WE COULD OKAY.
COUNCIL FLAHERTY'S ON NUMBER TWO AND THEN HE'S ON NUMBER FIVE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TALK THROUGH YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PREFERENCE? DID YOU WANNA TRY TO ASK? WELL, COUNCIL NOLAN'S NOT IN PERSON, BUT WE COULD EITHER KEEP NUMBER FIVE OR IF, IF IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE THE LEAD, I COULD DEMURE AND YOU COULD BE THE LEAD AND WE COULD STILL KEEP NUMBER FIVE.
MY PREFERENCE IS TO FOLLOW THROUGH YOU, UH, MADAM MA'AM, MY PREFERENCE IS TO FOLLOW YOUR ADVICE AND COUNSEL AND DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU ASKED ME TO DO.
SOMEONE'S LEARNING NOTHING MORE OR NOTHING LESS.
WITH, WITH THAT, I WOULD, I RESPECTFULLY ASK IF WE DELETED, UH, NUMBER TWO OR RESEND IT AND THEN JUST HAVE NUMBER FIVE UNDER THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT OR ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO BE, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK IN, DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MS. MCCAULEY? GO AHEAD.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND PER UM, THE RULES, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO, WE'LL WITHDRAW PAUL, UH, THE RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO, UH, BUT WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL ON WITHDRAWAL.
UM, COUNCILOR SABRINA WHEELER.
RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
WE WILL MOVE ON AND GO AHEAD AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER FIVE, MAKING UNANIM ALL THOSE IN MAKING IT UNANIMOUS UPON ADOPTION.
RESOLUTION NUMBER FIVE IS ADOPTED.
[00:30:01]
THANK YOU.WE'LL MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER EIGHT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM BEHIND EASTERN EDGE FOOD HALL ON THE OPENING OF THIS NEW SPACE IN KENDALL SQUARE.
THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY MYSELF, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT? UH, YES.
I WANTED TO FIRST ASK TO AMEND IT BY BEING ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
AND TWO, JUST VERY BRIEFLY WANTED TO SAY IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT.
UH, IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN TO THE EASTERN EDGE FOOD HALL, YOU ARE MISSING A REAL TREAT.
IT HAS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UH, VENDORS THERE.
IT HAS A GREAT PRICE POINT, WONDERFUL AMBIANCE.
AND SO I'M HOPING THAT TO GET BACK THERE SOON.
AND, AND AGAIN, IT WAS, IT'S QUITE LOVELY MANOS THERE.
UH, OUR FAVORED FAVORITE AND FAVORITE, UH, CHEF PLUS A NUM NUMBER OF OTHER, UH, VERY NICE RESTAURANTS.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PRESENTING AGAIN.
UH, HAPPY TO HAVE SEEN IT, THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT ITS BEST DIVERSITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
SO I'M GOING TO, I ASKED THIS TO BE ADDED, AND WITH THAT I YIELD THE FLOOR.
AND I'LL JUST, UM, SAY THAT WHAT'S, UH, ALSO AMAZING IS THAT THESE ARE ENTREPRENEURS THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE CITY'S SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS. UM, VARIOUS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
UH, AND FOR SOME OF THEM IT'S THEIR FIRST KIND OF BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATION.
AND, UH, WANT TO KIND OF JUST APPRECIATE ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED, UM, IN MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
IT'S AT TWO 90 MAIN STREET, SO RIGHT OFF KENDALL SQUARE.
SO DEFINITELY CHECK IT OUT AND GO THERE.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADD COUNSELOR SIMMONS ON A VOICE VOTE TO THE RESOLUTION.
WE HAVE AN AMENDED RESOLUTION NOW ON ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED, MAKING IT UNANIMOUS UPON ADOPTION.
THE AMENDED RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
WE CAN NOW GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON A MOTION BY COUNCILOR MCGOVERN TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[COMMITTEE REPORTS]
REPORTS.PLEASURE OF THE CITY COUNCIL PLACE ON FILE ON A MOTION BY COUNCILOR MCGOVERN TO PLACE COMMITTEE REPORTS ONE AND TWO ON FILE.
THOSE TWO COMMITTEE REPORTS ARE PLACED ON FILE.
WE NOW MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATION REPORTS
[COMMUNICATIONS FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS]
FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS.THERE ARE TWO ON A MOTION BY COUNSELOR SABRINA WHEELER, TO PLACE THESE TWO COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS ON FILE.
THESE TWO COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS ARE PLACED ON FILE.
[LATE AGENDA ITEMS REQUIRING SUSPENSION OF THE RULES PER RULE 36A]
LATE RESOLUTIONS.WE HAVE TWO LATE RESOLUTIONS, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL ON SUSPENDING THE RULES TO BRING THOSE FORWARD.
SO WE HAVE TWO LATE RESOLUTIONS.
UH, WE HAVE ONE FROM COUNSELOR FLAHERTY ON VINCENT J BELLI.
AND THEN WE HAVE ONE FROM COUNSELOR SIMMONS ON EDWARD ON THE PASSING OF EDWARD BERNICE.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY FIRST AND THEN COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
I JUST WANNA, UH, NOTE THE PASSING OF MR. BORELLI FATHER OF JOE AND ANTHONY, WHO SPENT HIS ENTIRE LIFE IN MOUNT AUBURN.
UH, AND THIS MAN WAS, UM, TRULY A, UH, A GIFT TO THAT ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD AND A GIFT TO ANYONE WHO KNEW HIM.
UM, HE WAS A GENTLEMAN, THOUGHTFUL, KIND.
EVERY KID WHO WENT TO THE HAGGERTY SCHOOL KNEW HIM 'CAUSE HE LIVED RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO IT.
AND, UH, HE MAINTAINED A GARDEN IN HIS BACKYARD, A VEGETABLE GARDEN, AND HE HAD A FIG TREE THERE.
UH, AND IT WAS THE MOST PEACEFUL, SERENE PLACE, PLACE, UH, I THINK I'VE EVER VISITED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, I HAD THE, THE HAPPY OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH HIM, UH, IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IN HIS BACKYARD.
AND IT WAS TRULY A MOMENT OF GRACE.
UM, AND, UH, HE JUST WAS A DIGNIFIED MAN.
AND IT'S A, IT'S A, UH, IT'S A REAL LOSS FOR THE ENTIRE MOUNT AUBURN COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, HE WAS A TRUE FRIEND, A REAL GENTLEMAN, A CARING, KIND, THOUGHTFUL, COMPASSIONATE MAN.
AND, UH, FOR ANY PERSON THAT HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT UNDER, UH, MR. BURLEY'S FIG TREE FOR A FEW
[00:35:01]
MINUTES OF CONVERSATION WITH HIM, YOU LEFT A BETTER PERSON.UH, YOU LEFT MORE WORLDLY, MORE UNDERSTANDING, AND YOU LEFT AS A KINDER, MORE COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING PERSON.
AND I GUESS IN THE FINAL, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, UH, WE'RE ALL MEASURED BY THE LOVE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES.
AND BY THAT MEASURE, MR. BORELLI WAS A GIANT.
SO, UH, GOD BLESS HIM AND TO HIS FAMILY, MY DEEPEST, DEEPEST CONDOLENCES.
COUNCILOR FLAHERTY, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE NEXT ONE? YEAH.
NOT VOTE FOR HIS, WE CAN VOTE FOR YOURS.
SO OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION, MAKING IT UNANIMOUS ADON UPON ADOPTION.
MAY UNANIM COUNCILOR SIMMONS, UNANIMOUS MAY AND IS UNANIMOUS UPON ADOPTION.
UH, I RISE IN, UH, RESPECT AND REMEMBRANCE OF EDWARD ED C BURNES.
UH, ED MAY, YOU MAY HAVE KNOWN AND WORKED FOR US, THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
AND THAT IS A WONDERFUL TESTIMONY TO HIS LOVE FOR THE JOB, LOVE FOR THE CITY, COMMITMENT TO THE, TO THE DUTY THAT HE WAS CHARGED WITH.
BUT THAT WASN'T ALL THAT HE DID.
AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 20, HE, UH, WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY, ARMY AND SERVED FOR ONE YEAR IN VIETNAM.
VIETNAM, IN THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION.
UM, AFTER HE LEFT VIETNAM, HE MET HIS WIFE FOR LIFE, UH, SOME OF A RESIDENT, AND THEY RAISED THEIR TWO CHILDREN.
UH, A VERY TYPICAL NEW ENGLANDER.
LOVED THE CELTICS AND THE PATRIOTS.
UH, BUT WHAT, WHAT I'M SAD ABOUT, AND IT'S BEEN A PERIOD OF, IT'S REALLY BEEN A SEASON OF INTENTION, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING, YOU KNOW, TRANSITIONED.
UH, IT'S SAD TO SEE I GO AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 77, BUT I THINK IT'S QUITE FITTING THAT WE, UM, REMEMBER HIM, REMEMBER HIS WORK, UH, WHO HE WAS AND WHO HE CONTINUES TO BE IN OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR MINDS.
AND SO I'M HOPING MY COLLEAGUES WILL SEE FIT TO ADOPT THIS LATE RESOLUTION, MAKING IT UNANIMOUS UPON ADOPTION.
AND I WILL THEN YIELD THE FLOOR WITH THAT.
THANK YOU COUNCILLOR SIMMONS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
WE CAN GO AHEAD ON YOUR MOTION TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION, MAKING IT UNANIMOUS UPON ADOPTION.
THOSE AGAINST SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE RESOLUTION THAT IS UNANIMOUS IS ADOPTED.
WE HAVE NO LATE POLICY ORDERS.
SO WE MOVE ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE BODY? NO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
PATRICK'S DAY, AND WE WERE VISITED TODAY BY THE MAYOR OF GALWAY, OUR SISTER CITY.
AND, UM, I HAD THE LUCK TO BUMP INTO HIM AND SPEAK TO HIM.
AND HE HAD HIS PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN HERE, UH, IN FRONT OF MY DESK AND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A MEMBER OF THERE, THE, THE SIMILAR FORM OF GOVERNANCE IN GALWAY.
UH, THERE WAS A MEMBER ON THERE, UH, CITY COUNCIL NAMED O FLAHERTY, TERRY O FLAHERTY, A WOMAN.
UM, AND HE SAID, UH, MAYBE IT'S A SIMILAR TRAIT THAT, UH, IN SHORT ORDER SHE TOOK OVER THAT BODY, UH, AND CONDUCTED BUSINESS.
UH, AND EVERYONE FOLLOWED, UH, HER, HER LEAD.
UH, SO HE SAID, OBVIOUSLY THIS WILL HAPPEN IN SHORT ORDER FOR YOU ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL FEAR WARNING THAT THE MAYOR OF GALLWAY HAS, UH, HAS DEEMED, UH, THAT THIS WILL TAKE PLACE.
SO I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY, UH, AND, UH, PROSPEROUS ST.
AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MCGOVERN AND COUNCILLOR SABRINA WHEELER FOR JOINING THE VISIT TODAY FROM, UH, THE MAYOR OF GALWAY.
I WAS JUST GONNA, UH, NOTE THAT THE, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS FROM THAT MEETING WAS THE COUNCILORS IN GALWAY.
SO THEY ALSO HAVE LOTS OF FIGHTS OVER BIKE LANES, SOLES.
WE THINK IT IS JUST, UH, CAMBRIDGE OR JUST THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS A, A CROSS, UH, CROSS COUNTRY CROSS, UH, SHARED EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE SHARES BE BACK.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? UH, I THINK WE HAVE A FEW, UM, COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
NOT THIS WEEK, BUT THAT GUY, THERE WAS GOING TO BE ONE, BUT THAT ON THE 18TH, BUT
[00:40:01]
THAT GOT MOVED TO THE NEXT WEEK.GO AHEAD ON A MOTION BY COUNCILOR MCGOVERN TO ADJOURN.