City Council

The meeting was called to order at 12:00 PM by Council President Liz Breadon.

Attendees:

• Present: Councilors Liz Breadon, Gabriela Coletta Zapata, Miniard Culpepper, Sharon Durkan, John Fitzgerald, Edward Flynn, Ruthzee Louijeune, Erin Murphy, Enrique Pepén, Henry Santana, Benjamin Weber, and Brian Worrell.
• Absent: Councilor Julia Mejia (attending a conference in Washington, D.C.).

The Council presented two official resolutions:

1. Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Recognition of Principal Dr. Michelle Eisen-Smith as the first deaf leader in the school's history. Councilor Flynn noted, "In recognition, as the first deaf leader in the school's history, you have set a powerful example of excellence, representation and possibility."
2. Vineet Gupta Retirement: Recognition of Vineet Gupta, Director of Policy and Planning for the Streets Cabinet, for 37 years of service to the City of Boston. Councilor Durkan highlighted his role in pioneering policies like fair-free buses and EV charging.

The following dockets were referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice:

• Docket 0320: Message and order authorizing the City to accept and expend a $577,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the Police Department to purchase a 31-foot life-proof boat and replace engines on existing vessels.
• Docket 0321: Message and order authorizing the City to accept and expend a $140,426 grant from FEMA for the Fire Department to strengthen port-wide risk management and protection of critical infrastructure.

The Council voted on two major school improvement appropriations (First Reading):

• Docket 0128: Authorizing $6,500,000 for window and door replacements at Edward Everett Elementary School and Richard J. Murphy K-8 School.
  • Vote Outcome: Passed (11-0).
  • Affirmative: Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell.
• Docket 0129: Authorizing $3,000,000 for roof replacements at Thomas J. Kenney Elementary School and Hugh Roe O'Donnell Elementary School.
  • Vote Outcome: Passed (11-0).
  • Affirmative: Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell.

Councilor Flynn introduced several ordinances aimed at urban management and road safety:

• Docket 0324: Ordinance establishing the Office of Pest Control (creating a "Rat Czar"). Referred to Government Operations.
• Docket 0325: Ordinance amending City Code 17-22 to remove mopeds and e-bikes from third-party food delivery services. Referred to Government Operations.
• Docket 0326: Ordinance regulating all e-bikes in the City of Boston, specifically targeting those exceeding 20-28 mph. Referred to Government Operations.

The Council addressed academic outcomes and student support:

• Docket 0330: Hearing regarding MassCore graduation requirements and student supports in BPS. Councilor Santana noted a "worrying trend" of students not meeting requirements.
• Docket 0337: Hearing to consider a full independent audit of BPS finances, operations, and program effectiveness (sponsored by Councilor Murphy). Murphy cited the $1.7 billion annual budget and a $52 million budget shortfall.
• Docket 0340: Hearing to examine student academic outcomes and return on investment in BPS, specifically citing low MCAS proficiency among Black and Latino students.
• Docket 0342: Hearing to examine graduation requirement implementation waivers and equity in BPS.

Several matters regarding housing access and zoning reform were introduced:

• Docket 0343: Hearing to explore strategies for mixed-income social housing.
• Docket 0345: Hearing to explore amending the Boston Zoning Code to shift residential use to "allowed" by right where appropriate, building on the Bullfinch Triangle model.
• Docket 0347: Hearing to prevent illegal discrimination by landlords against tenants using Housing Choice Vouchers.
• Docket 0349: Text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code to change adult entertainment from an "allowed" use to a "conditional" use in Article 43.

The Council discussed protections for immigrant communities:

• Docket 0328: Hearing on a scalable funding model for an Immigrant Emergency Response Fund.
• Docket 0356: Resolution in support of an Executive Order to protect Bostonians from "unconstitutional and violent federal operations." Councilor Flynn objected to an immediate vote, requesting a hearing to understand the impact on city departments. Referred to Public Safety.
• Docket 0357: Resolution supporting U.S. Discharge Petition Number 15 to advance federal legislation providing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
  • Vote Outcome: Adopted (11-0).

The Council passed several resolutions regarding community welfare:

• Docket 0351: Resolution in support of reopening the South End Branch of the Boston Public Library, which has been closed since 2021 due to flooding.
  • Vote Outcome: Adopted (9-0).
• Docket 0353: Resolution urging the City and MBTA to adopt compassionate cold weather emergency shelter policies following the death of Carvel Curry outside South Station. Councilor Culpepper stated, "No one should be forced onto the streets without a safe alternative."
  • Vote Outcome: Adopted (Voice Vote).
• Docket 0354: Resolution to establish a Crossing Guard Corps at Trotter Elementary School to address staffing shortages.
  • Vote Outcome: Adopted (11-0).
• Docket 0358: Resolution recognizing Irish American Heritage Month (March 2026). Adopted (11-0).
• Docket 0359: Resolution recognizing the sacred month of Ramadan. Adopted (11-0).

The Council approved two grants for the Fire Department:

• Docket 0130: $1,700,000 for the Training Academy Earmark Grant to provide instruction for public safety agencies.
  • Vote Outcome: Passed (11-0).
• Docket 0136: $100,000 for the Delta Unit Earmark Grant to fund emergency services at Castle Island, Pleasure Bay, and Carson Beach.
  • Vote Outcome: Passed (11-0).

The Council addressed the following late-filed items:

• Edward Ingersoll Brown Fund: Authorized $650,000 for historic markers and the 250th anniversary of the nation. Passed (11-0).
• Emergency Hearing Order: Hearing regarding chronic school bus delays and special education transportation failures. Councilor Murphy cited reports of students in wheelchairs waiting over two hours for pickup. Referred to the Committee on Education.