The Boston City Council met on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 12:14 PM in the Christopher A. Iannella Chamber, adjourning at 4:49 PM. The meeting covered a wide range of business including approval of August 26 minutes, multiple grant acceptances, collective bargaining agreements for police unions, new ordinances, resolutions, and a failed 17F information request. All 13 councilors were present except where noted.
Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. Good to see so many folks in the chamber this afternoon. I call to order today's meeting of the Boston City Council. Viewers can watch the council meeting on YouTube at Boston.gov backslash city dash council dash TV. At this time, I ask my colleagues and those in the audience to please silence their cell phones and electronic devices. Also, pursuant to rule 40, I remind all in the chamber that no demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public will be permitted. Thank you. And also per council rules, I know we're welcoming uh folks from the Encore uh workers. Um, and just a reminder that per council rules, displaying of signs is not permitted within the chamber. So I appreciate your um all being here. We know why you're here, we're supportive. Uh but uh this council rules is no sign, so thank you for your cooperation with that. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, could you please call a role uh to ascertain the presence of a quorum? Councillor Braden. Here, Councillor Kaletta Zapata. Councilor Calpepper, Council Jerkin. Council Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louisiane, Councillor Mihia, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Pepin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and Councilor Warell. A quorum is present. Thank you. It's been informed by the clerk that a quorum is present. Now it's my pleasure to uh ask uh counselor sentana to come forward and introduce today's clergy. Following uh the remarks from the today's clergy, we'll we'll pledge we'll take the pledge of we'll recite this pledge of allegiance. Thank you, everyone. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you, Madam President. It's my pleasure to introduce Wilson Santos, a pastor and dedicated public servant, to lead today's invocation. Mr. Santos is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who has been an active member of the Congression Leon de Juda, a bilingual church based in Roxbury since 1991. There he served as youth pastor for 12 years and became a full-time associate full-time associate pastor in 2025. Not only has he been deeply involved in the church, but he has shown his dedication to serving the youth of our city through his work with the Department of Youth Services, the Department of Children and Families, and as the supervisor of the attendance uh for Boston Public Schools. He also serves on the board of the Boston Higher Education Resource Center. And he celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife this past May. I know too much. Yeah. Please join me in giving me a warm welcome, someone who's been here in this chamber to Pastor Wilson Sandos. Thank you for being with us. Thank you. Well, he knows me pretty well. I don't know how he got that information that I just celebrated my 25th anniversary. I wanted just to read a quick verse and I want to just to pray over everyone who's in this room, especially our city councilors, because I know that you have a tough job representing the city of Boston, and you have a lot of pressure. So I'm gonna a very simple verse that you find it in James 1.5. Um the two things I want to pray about. I wanted to pray over wisdom and unity. That I think that's something that we desperately need in these times. So James 1 5, it says, this is when you get older in your reading glasses. But if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be giving to him.