City Council

City Council
February 4, 2026
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Executive Summary

The Boston City Council meeting held on February 4, 2026, focused primarily on the adoption of the City Council Rules for the 2026-2027 municipal years (Docket 0157). Following extensive debate and several amendments regarding committee jurisdictions—specifically the oversight of the Boston Public Schools budget and facilities—the Council ultimately adopted the rules in a unanimous vote after reconsideration. Additionally, the Council unanimously approved significant collective bargaining agreements for the Boston Firefighters IAFF Local 718 and the Boston Association of School Administrators and Supervisors (BASAS), totaling over $19 million in supplemental appropriations. Other major actions included the establishment of a District 7 White Stadium Task Force and resolutions supporting Haitian residents under Temporary Protected Status.

Meeting Information

  • Governing Body: Boston City Council
  • Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
  • Date: February 04, 2026, at 12:00 PM
  • Location: Iannella Chamber, Boston City Hall
  • Presiding Officer: Council President Liz Breadon
  • Attendees: Councilors Gabriela Coletta Zapata, Miniard Culpepper, Sharon Durkan, John Fitzgerald, Edward Flynn, Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Erin Murphy, Enrique Pepén, Henry Santana, Benjamin Weber, and Brian Worrell.

Presentations and Memorials

  • Invocation: Delivered by Reverend Laura Reyes, Pastor of the United Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain.
  • Youth Engagement Resolution: Councilors Murphy and Fitzgerald presented a resolution to Pedro Cruz and the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement recognizing the 2026 Mayor's Youth Summit (the third annual summit).
  • In Memoriam: The Council adjourned in memory of several individuals, including BPD Officer Scott McIsaac, Mary Kirkpatrick, Louise Davis, and Bruce Conley.

Adoption of Council Rules (Docket 0157)

The Council engaged in a lengthy debate regarding Docket 0157: Order to adopt rules for the Boston City Council for municipal years 2026 and 2027.

Key Amendments to Rule 36 (Committee on Education):

  • Amendment A: Inserted language regarding services for BPS teachers, staff, and administrators. Passed 12-1 (Councilor Durkan voting No).
  • Amendment B (Revised): Granted the Education Committee oversight of BPS facilities, closures, mergers, reconfigurations, and moves. Passed Unanimously (13-0).
  • Amendment C: Explicitly included oversight of early childhood education, higher education, HBCUs, and community colleges. Passed 12-1 (Councilor Durkan voting No).
  • Amendment D: Proposed moving the BPS budget from the Committee on Ways and Means to the Committee on Education. Failed 6-7 (Yes: Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Worrell; No: Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, Louijeune, Pepén, Santana, Weber).
  • Amendment E: Clarified oversight of BPS personnel except for individual personnel matters. Passed 11-2 (Councilors Breadon and Durkan voting No).

Other Rule Amendments:

  • Rule 35 (Transparency): Proposed requiring all committee events to have records/minutes posted online. Tabled 8-3-1.
  • Rule 36 (Terms): Clarified that Chair/Vice Chair terms are coterminous with the two-year Council term. Passed 10-2 (Councilors Breadon and Durkan voting No).
  • Rule 39 (Speaking Limits): Proposed removing limits on speaking for non-sponsors. Failed 6-7.
  • Rule 4 (Appeal Threshold): Proposed lowering the threshold to appeal a Chair's referral from two-thirds to a simple majority. Failed 6-7.

Final Outcome: Docket 0157 passed in a new draft as amended. Initially passed 11-2, it was reconsidered and passed 13-0 to show unified support for the President.

Collective Bargaining Agreements

The Council unanimously approved the following financial dockets related to labor contracts:

  • Dockets 0124 & 0125 (Boston Firefighters IAFF Local 718): Supplemental appropriation of $18,118,488 for FY26.
    • Terms: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027.
    • Wage Increases: 2.5% (July 2024), 2% (July 2025), and 2% (July 2026). Includes longevity adjustments (TCAP).
  • Dockets 0126 & 0127 (BASAS - School Administrators): Supplemental appropriation of $1,307,901 for FY26.
    • Terms: September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2027.
    • Wage Increases: 2% annually.

Ordinances and Resolutions

  • Docket 0306: Resolution in support of establishing a District 7 White Stadium Task Force to ensure community oversight and equity in contracting for the stadium's redevelopment. Adopted Unanimously (12-0).
  • Docket 0319: Resolution denouncing the federal termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Adopted Unanimously (13-0).
  • Docket 0266: Ordinance regarding the use of Boston City property for civil immigration enforcement (ICE). Referred to Government Operations.
  • Docket 0301: Resolution recognizing Black History Month in Boston. Adopted Unanimously (13-0).
  • Docket 0305: Resolution declaring February 8, 2026, as New England Patriots Day. Adopted.

Grants and 17F Information Requests

  • Dockets 0258 & 0259: Accepted grants totaling approximately $99,652 for workforce development and veterans' employment services.
  • Docket 0296 (17F): Request for all Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between the Boston Police Department and external entities (specifically regarding the Boston Trust Act). Passed.
  • Docket 0297 (17F): Request for information on the cost of out-of-district vocational placements for BPS students. Passed.
  • Docket 0298 (17F): Request for information regarding traveling BPS employees and parking access. Passed.

Public Comments and Discussion

  • Snow Removal: Councilors Pepén, Worrell, and Flynn filed various orders (Dockets 0270, 0291, 0292) to explore snow removal relief for seniors, 'Snow Pro' volunteer models, and the purchase of industrial snow melters following recent heavy snowfall.
  • BHA Oversight: Councilor Flynn emphasized the 'civil rights issue' of broken elevators at the Ruth Barkley Apartments (Dockets 0264, 0271) and proposed an Elevator Safety Commission (Docket 0307), which was referred to committee.

Last updated: Feb 14, 2026

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