Special Meeting of the City Council

Meeting Details

• Governing Body: Cambridge City Council
• Meeting Type: Special Meeting
• Date: June 23, 2026
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Location: Remote Participation via Zoom and Cable Channel 22

Attendance

Present:

• Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui
• Vice Mayor Marc McGovern
• Councilor Patricia Nolan
• Councilor Denise Simmons
• Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
• Councilor Catherine Zusy

Absent:

• Councilor Ayah Al-Zubi
• Councilor Burhan Azeem
• Councilor Timothy Flaherty

Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM. A roll call was conducted to establish a quorum.

Roll Call Results:

• Councilor Al-Zubi: Absent
• Vice Mayor Azeem: Absent
• Councilor Flaherty: Absent
• Councilor McGovern: Present
• Councilor Nolan: Present
• Councilor Simmons: Present
• Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler: Present
• Councilor Zusy: Present
• Mayor Siddiqui: Present

Outcome: 6 members present, 3 members absent. Quorum established.

Mayor Siddiqui noted that no individuals had signed up for public comment by the start of the meeting. The public was reminded that comments could be submitted via the city's portal or emailed to the City Clerk.

Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Chair of the Government Operations Committee, provided an overview of the City Manager evaluation process as required by the City Charter.

Key Dates in the 2026 Evaluation Cycle:

1. June 23: Mid-year check-in and rubric review.
2. November 13: Delivery of City Manager’s self-review, resident survey results, employee engagement survey, and feedback from direct reports.
3. December 4: Deadline for City Councilors to submit individual evaluation templates to the Chair.
4. December 18: Delivery of the consolidated Performance Review in a special City Council meeting.

Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler emphasized that this process is a time for the Council to provide feedback on city operations and the City Manager's role as the sole director of city staff.

City Manager Yi-An Huang presented an update on the first six months of 2026, noting a shift in focus toward community outcomes rather than internal administration.

Major Initiatives and Progress:

• Social Housing: The Social Housing Task Force was created and scheduled its first meeting for June 24, 2026.
• Childcare Expansion: A joint City Council and School Committee roundtable is scheduled for June 29, 2026, to discuss universal pre-K and childcare options.
• FY27 Budget: The budget process was completed using a new system and included the first community engagement meetings. The City maintains a AAA bond rating for the 25th consecutive year.
• Economic Development: Focus has increased on the city's economic base, specifically addressing empty lab and office space and the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Vibrancy: Highlighted the success of World Cup watch parties and the use of the License Commission to allow open container zones and extended hours.

Councilors provided individual feedback on the City Manager's performance and city operations:

• Councilor Patricia Nolan: Praised the use of SMART goals and the delivery of long-term work plans from the Department of Public Works (DPW) and Community Development Department (CDD). She expressed concern regarding a culture where the Council is viewed as an "impediment" rather than a partner and noted the challenge of sudden department head departures in the Police and Public Health departments.
• Councilor Catherine Zusy: Expressed concern over the 4.1% budget increase and the city's total debt of approximately $1 billion. She questioned the high cost of universal pre-K ($31,000 to $50,000 per pupil) compared to other communities ($23,000 to $25,000) and urged the city to match startups with empty lab spaces.
• Vice Mayor Marc McGovern: Questioned how to fairly evaluate long-term goals like social housing within a six-month window, suggesting a focus on "milestones." He noted the complexity of the City Manager's role in balancing nine different council opinions.
• Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler: Noted the health of the city budget and requested faster progress on the curb cut policy and the maximum unit size policy within the Multi-family Housing Ordinance.
• Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui: Acknowledged the completion of the Class and Compensation study for non-union employees and urged proactive collaboration on the Federal Stabilization Fund and AI regulations.
• Councilor Denise Simmons: Emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating, "The people that are closest to the pain should be closest to the power." She encouraged the City Manager to "stand his ground" on professional recommendations, such as the choice between turf and grass at Ahern Field.

Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved via a voice vote with all members present voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:15 AM.