Executive Summary
At its September 28, 2026 regular meeting, the Cambridge City Council recessed briefly to conduct a tax rate classification hearing and subsequently adopted eight City Manager agenda items. The Council engaged in extensive public testimony regarding contract negotiations with the Cambridge Education Association, the rollout of separated bike lanes on Outer Huron Avenue, sex work decriminalization, and proposed amendments to the Multifamily Housing Ordinance. Official actions included defeating a policy order requesting executive session updates on school collective bargaining (with Mayor Siddiqui recusing herself), adopting a coordinated interdepartmental safety order addressing illegal fireworks around the Fletcher Maynard Academy, referring the preparation of Multifamily Housing Ordinance zoning text amendments to the Community Development Department on a 9-0 vote, and honoring notable community figures, while policy orders concerning Outer Huron Avenue bike lanes and sex work decriminalization were held over under the charter right.
Meeting Opening and Roll Call
- The regular meeting of the Cambridge City Council was called to order on September 28, 2026, by Mayor Denise Siddiqui.
- A quorum was present with six members recorded as present and three members recorded as absent initially (Councilor Timothy Flaherty, Councilor Marc McGovern, and Councilor Catherine Zusy). Councilor Zusy and Councilor McGovern arrived shortly thereafter.
- Remote participation was authorized pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025.
- Announcements were made regarding community events including the MIT Metropolitan Warehouse opening, Cambridge Disability Pride, and the Meow Fest and cat tour at Dana Park.
Public Comment (Initial Session)
- Public comment was opened in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A Section 20G and City Council rules.
- Multiple members of the public testified regarding the proposed pause on the Outer Huron Avenue separated bike lanes. Supporters of the bike lanes emphasized cyclist safety and regional connections to Belmont, noting: "This stretch, although it's small, has been in the bike plan since 2015... and it's a very important safety feature." Opponents argued that eliminating on-street parking disproportionately affects seniors, golfers, and low-income residents at Parkside Place.
- Several speakers addressed the Multifamily Housing Ordinance (MFHO). Multiple residents expressed concern over tenant displacement, loss of tree canopy, and developer incentives, with one resident noting: "Housing production cannot be measured only by the number of units created. Displacement should matter to this council." Other speakers urged preserving multifamily zoning to enhance accessibility and expand citywide housing options.
- Jessica Van Meer, Policy Chair of the Boston Sex Workers and Allies Collective (BSWOC), and Mary Carol MacKinnon, Co-Chair of BSWOC, testified in favor of Policy Order 10 supporting full decriminalization of sex work to allow workers to safely report crimes and labor exploitation.
- Claudia Veronica Torres-Patino, employment law attorney at Justice at Work, spoke in support of Policy Order 10, citing international evidence that decriminalization reduces vulnerability to violence, extortion, and health risks.
- Chris Montero, President of the Cambridge Education Association (CEA), alongside educators and community members, testified in favor of Policy Order 6 (Item 179) seeking living wages, affordable health care, and dedicated paraprofessionals in pre-K through 5th-grade classrooms, noting that starting pay for aides is $32,000 annually.
- Andrew King, representing Our Revolution Cambridge, urged support for the CEA's requested budget increase of at least 6% to ensure living wages for paraprofessionals.
- At 6:30 PM, the City Council voted by voice vote to recess the regular meeting to convene a scheduled public hearing on property tax rate classification. The ayes have it.
City Manager's Agenda (Items 1-8)
- Following the conclusion of the tax rate hearing, the City Council reconvened its regular meeting with nine members recorded as present.
- Councilor McGovern moved to suspend the Council rules to bring forward the City Manager's agenda.
- Motion to suspend the rules: Passed 9-0.
- The Council considered City Manager Agenda Items 1 through 8 collectively, including all associated orders and appointments.
- Motion to approve, adopt, and place on file all eight City Manager items: Passed 9-0.
Public Comment (Resumed Session)
- Public comment resumed with additional testimony on school funding, zoning reform, Outer Huron Avenue, and sex work decriminalization.
- Multiple educators, parents, and union members spoke urging the Council to assist in funding Cambridge Public Schools wage adjustments, emphasizing that educators should not have to work second or third jobs to survive.
- Miriam Cohen, Associate Director of the New England Jewish Labor Committee, and Ryan Black of Branch 34 of the National Association of Letter Carriers testified in solidarity with the Cambridge Education Association's contract campaign.
- Audra Doody, Co-CEO of Safe Exit Initiative, and Dr. Stacey Reed-Barnes testified against Policy Order 10, asserting that decriminalization increases demand for commercial sex, complicates anti-trafficking law enforcement, and conflicts with state anti-trafficking strategies.
- Andrew Kim, representing the Democratic Socialists of America, urged the City Council to support living wages for school employees and working-class residents.
- Public comment was officially closed on a motion by Councilor Zusy. The ayes have it.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
- Acceptance of the records and minutes of the City Council meetings of June 1, 2026, and June 22, 2026.
- Motion by Councilor E. Denise Simmons to accept the reports and place them on file. The ayes have it.
- Unanimous consent was granted for Councilor McGovern to be recorded in the affirmative on the record submission. The ayes have it.
Adoption of Consent Policy Orders and Resolutions (Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9)
- Councilors pulled Policy Orders 6, 8, and 10 for separate discussion.
- Motion to adopt the remaining consent policy orders (Policy Orders 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9). The ayes have it.
Status Report on Collective Bargaining Between Cambridge School Committee and Cambridge Education Association (Policy Order 6)
- Requesting the City Manager to report back within 30 days on the status of negotiations between the Cambridge School Committee and the Cambridge Education Association in executive session if advised by the Law Department.
- Recusal: Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui recused herself from discussion and voting because of her position on the School Committee; Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem assumed the chair.
- Co-sponsor Councilor Ayah Al-Zubi noted that the order did not mandate an appropriation but sought clear communication regarding the school department's financial needs for living wages.
- Opposing councilors stated that collective bargaining and school budget allocations fall strictly within the jurisdiction of the School Committee, citing the existing $293 million FY27 school budget (roughly $39,000 to $40,000 per pupil) and concerns over setting a precedent of Council intervention.
- Motion to adopt Policy Order 6: Failed 2-4-2 (Councilor Al-Zubi and Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler voting Aye; Vice Mayor Azeem, Councilor Flaherty, Councilor Patricia Nolan, and Councilor Zusy voting Nay; Councilor McGovern and Councilor Simmons voting Present; Mayor Siddiqui recused).
Postponement of Outer Huron Avenue Bike Lanes (Policy Order 8)
- Proposed delay of the rollout of separated bike lanes on Outer Huron Avenue under the Cycling Safety Ordinance until neighborhood parking mitigation is resolved.
- Discussion centered on the loss of over 40 parking spaces near Glacken Field, the Fresh Pond Golf Course, the Russell Youth Center, and the 250-unit Parkside Place development (30% low-income occupancy).
- City administration clarified that DPW curb and drainage work would occur in the fall, while lane marking and final configuration would not take place until spring, allowing time to evaluate parking regulation options such as overnight resident parking and golf course lot management.
- Councilor McGovern and Mayor Siddiqui drafted a substitute order directing the administration to continue exploring parking mitigation without halting the bicycle safety project timeline.
- Councilor Zusy exercised her charter right on Policy Order 8, postponing further action to the next meeting.
Implementation of Human Services Recommendations and Sex Work Decriminalization (Policy Order 10)
- Motion by Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler to extend the meeting by one hour:
- Passed (the ayes have it, with Councilor Simmons voting Nay).
- Policy Order 10 requested the City Manager to confer with relevant staff to implement recommendations from the May 2025 Human Services and Veterans Committee, including anti-poverty measures, a care team referral line, prevention of sexual exploitation, and support for sex work decriminalization.
- Councilor Nolan exercised her charter right on Policy Order 10, deferring the matter to the next regular meeting.
Coordinated July 4th Interdepartmental Response Plan (Unfinished Business Item / Calendar)
- Order regarding safety, enforcement, and mitigation of illegal fireworks around the Fletcher Maynard Academy and The Port neighborhood, carried over from the September 14, 2026 meeting.
- Councilor Al-Zubi moved to withdraw an earlier amendment and offered a new compromise amendment clarifying that the Cambridge Police Department, Emergency Communications Department, and Community Safety Department would collaborate on the response plan. Withdrawal of the prior amendment was approved by voice vote (the ayes have it).
- Councilors debated whether the Cambridge Police Department should be designated as the sole lead agency given Massachusetts laws prohibiting consumer fireworks.
- Mayor Siddiqui suggested an amendment to strike the designation "as lead" to enable equal interdepartmental collaboration.
- Roll call vote on the proposed amendment:
- Failed 4-3-2 (Councilor Al-Zubi, Councilor Nolan, Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Mayor Siddiqui voting Aye; Councilor McGovern, Councilor Simmons, and Councilor Zusy voting Nay; Vice Mayor Azeem and Councilor Flaherty voting Present).
- Motion by Councilor Simmons to adopt the original policy order designating the Cambridge Police Department and Emergency Communications Department to lead the planning effort:
- Passed 7-0-2 (Vice Mayor Azeem, Councilor Flaherty, Councilor McGovern, Councilor Nolan, Councilor Simmons, Councilor Zusy, and Mayor Siddiqui voting Aye; Councilor Al-Zubi and Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler voting Present).
- Councilor Simmons moved to suspend the rules to take an immediate reconsideration vote:
- Motion to suspend rules: Passed (the ayes have it).
- Roll call vote on reconsideration: Failed 0-9 (reconsideration disposed of).
Applications, Petitions, and Communications
- Motion by Councilor Nolan to adopt one pending application. The ayes have it.
- Motion by Vice Mayor Azeem to accept and place on file 25 communications. The ayes have it.
Ceremonial Resolutions
- Congratulations to Timothy Toomey on being honored by Amigos de Turca at their annual gala (Resolution 2):
- Amended by voice vote to add Councilor Flaherty as a co-sponsor. The ayes have it.
- Adopted as amended by voice vote. The ayes have it.
- Resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of Dr. Felton "Tony" James Earls III (Resolution 6):
- Amended by voice vote to add Councilor Simmons and Councilor McGovern as co-sponsors. The ayes have it.
- Adopted as amended by voice vote. The ayes have it.
- Congratulating Marvin Gilmore on his 102nd birthday (Resolution 3):
- Reconsidered by unanimous consent, amended by voice vote to add Councilor Flaherty as a co-sponsor, and adopted as amended by voice vote. The ayes have it.
Committee Report and Proposed Multifamily Housing Ordinance Amendments (Committee Order 1A)
- Report of the September 16, 2026 Joint Housing and Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning Committees accepted and placed on file on a roll call vote: Passed 9-0.
- Consideration of Committee Order 1A requesting the City Manager to coordinate with the Community Development Department (CDD) and city departments to draft zoning text amendments based on the joint committee's recommendations.
- Assistant City Manager Melissa Peters confirmed that CDD will prepare draft zoning language within six to eight weeks and can bring forward past modeling scenarios (including "3 plus 3" scenarios) for committee review.
- Councilors discussed balancing dimensional requirements, setbacks, tree canopy preservation, and open space standards against financial viability and housing production targets.
- Roll call vote on adoption of Committee Order 1A: Passed 9-0.
Communications from City Officers and Adjournment
- Motion by Councilor Simmons to place two communications from city officers on file. The ayes have it.
- Motion by Councilor Simmons to adjourn the meeting. The ayes have it.
- The meeting was adjourned.