Regular City Council

• Meeting Date: March 23, 2026, at 05:30 PM
• Governing Body: Cambridge City Council
• Meeting Type: Regular City Council Meeting
• Attendees:
  • Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui
  • Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem
  • Councilor Ayah Al-Zubi (Arrived during public comment)
  • Councilor Timothy Flaherty
  • Councilor Marc McGovern
  • Councilor Patricia Nolan
  • Councilor Denise Simmons
  • Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
  • Councilor Catherine Zusy

• Joe Quest-Newbert (1222 Cambridge Street): Spoke in support of Policy Order #4 regarding gender-neutral bathrooms. Quote: "Policy Order 4 is a critical step in moving us closer to the action of ensuring that everyone in our community, regardless of gender identity or expression, can meet their biological needs safely."
• Suzanne Blier (5 Fuller Place): Expressed concerns regarding the Dover Amendment and institutional expansion into residential areas. Also opposed increasing parking permit fees for seniors.
• Josephine Mullen (40 Gold Star Road): Supported Policy Order #4 and Policy Order #1.
• Valerie Bonds (Cambridgeport): Opposed the increase in parking permit fees from $25 to $75 for seniors on fixed incomes, noting that cars often function as mobility tools for the elderly.
• Emily Dexter: Encouraged the Civic Unity Committee to maximize voter information and registration for the 2026 elections.
• Heather Hoffman (213 Hurley Street): Supported the Riverwalk project and gender-neutral bathrooms, but raised concerns about the Dover Amendment and snow removal around bus shelters.
• Gary Mello (Franklin Street): Opposed the parking permit fee increase, citing poor management and lack of accountability in the Traffic and Parking department.

The Council discussed recommendations for block rates for water consumption and sewer use for the period of April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.

• Key Discussion Points:
  • Councilor Zusy inquired about projected rate increases in FY30 and FY31, which staff attributed to Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) projects.
  • Councilor Nolan questioned the city's PFAS mitigation. Mark Gallagher (Water Department) confirmed that Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) filters are effective, keeping PFAS levels below 6.5 parts per trillion, well under the MassDEP standard of 20.
  • The city is currently in a Level 3 Critical Drought; water consumption in 2025 was down 4.3%.
• Official Action: Order to adopt the rates and the discount program.
• Vote Outcome: 9-0 (Adopted).
  • Yeas: Al-Zubi, Azeem, Flaherty, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui.

Communication regarding the appropriation of $900,000 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund to support a new off-road bridge over the Fitchburg Line.

• Key Discussion Points:
  • The project faced a setback when federal Reconnecting Communities Grant funds were clawed back by the federal government.
  • The city is now working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to secure funding through the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
  • Environmental permitting and design are expected to take approximately 18 months.
• Official Action: Appropriation adopted and communication placed on file.
• Vote Outcome: 9-0 (Adopted).
  • Yeas: Al-Zubi, Azeem, Flaherty, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui.

The Council considered three items related to snow removal and the potential for a "Snow Corps" program.

• Financials:
  • Item #5: $5,234,379 from free cash for snow operations.
  • Item #6: $700,000 from free cash for road repairs related to snow operations.
• Key Discussion Points:
  • Commissioner Nardone noted that while snowfall was high, inflation has increased the cost of contractors and hauling (approx. $250,000–$300,000 per night for hauling).
  • The city has reduced salt usage from 1,000 lbs to 200 lbs per lane mile through automated salters and brine treatment.
  • Item #7: A report on a potential "Snow Corps." The city currently uses a student shoveler program (17 students signed up) and a snow shoveling exemption program for low-income seniors.
• Official Action: Items #5 and #6 adopted; Item #7 placed on file.
• Vote Outcome: 8-0-1 (Adopted; Councilor Al-Zubi absent for this vote).
  • Yeas: Azeem, Flaherty, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui.

The Council voted to support House Bill 91 and Senate Bill 2556, an act to modernize funding for community media programming.

• Summary: The legislation seeks to require streaming services to contribute to local cable access funds (supporting channels like CCTV), as traditional cable subscriptions decline.
• Official Action: Policy Order adopted.
• Vote Outcome: 9-0 (Adopted).
  • Yeas: Al-Zubi, Azeem, Flaherty, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui.

A request for the City Manager to report on the feasibility of requiring single-stall public bathrooms in new buildings and places of public accommodation to be gender-neutral.

• Key Discussion Points:
  • Councilor McGovern introduced an amendment to clarify that the requirement would apply to new construction, not retrofitting existing businesses.
  • Councilor Zusy expressed concern regarding costs for local businesses but supported the amended version focusing on new buildings.
• Official Action: Policy Order adopted as amended.
• Vote Outcome: 9-0 (Adopted).
  • Yeas: Al-Zubi, Azeem, Flaherty, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui.

The Council considered an amendment to Section 4.50 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance regarding institutional use regulations.

• Summary: The amendment aligns city ordinances with state law regarding the Dover Amendment, which limits municipal authority over certain educational and religious uses.
• Official Action: Motion to ordain the amendment.
• Vote Outcome: 8-1 (Ordained).
  • Yeas: Al-Zubi, Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui.
  • Nays: Flaherty.

A policy order supporting the East Cambridge Planning Team’s request for a federal earmark for the Boston-Cambridge Riverwalk construction at the Science Park project.

• Summary: The Council supports a $3 million earmark for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to advance the project to 25% design. The project includes floating wetlands and a pedestrian/cycling path on the riverside of the Museum of Science.
• Official Action: Policy Order adopted as amended to include the full Massachusetts congressional delegation.
• Vote Outcome: 9-0 (Adopted).
  • Yeas: Al-Zubi, Azeem, Flaherty, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui.