Council to order.

Uh, please note as the longest serving city counselor and not the oldest, pursuant to our new charter.

I hereby call this meeting of the city council to order on this Thursday, May 14th, 2026.

Please note that video and audio of this meeting will be recorded and maybe shown live on local cable access government channels and the City of Somerville website.

I am pursuant to Rule 32.

Let it be known that the City Council salutes the flag of the United States of America, and let us recall our oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth to the best of our abilities and understanding.

This is roll call.

Counselor Ewan Campen?

Here.

Counselor Link.

Here.

Counselor Scott.

Here.

Counselor Klingon?

Present.

Counselor Streso?

Present.

Counselor Saeed?

Counselor Said.

Here.

Counselor Wheeler.

Here.

Counselor Hart.

Counselor McGolf.

Oh.

Yeah.

Well.

Yep.

Sorry.

That's my own edit.

Counselor Mau and Counselor Davis.

With eight counselors present, we have quorum.

All right.

Roll call has been taken by the clerk.

Please note that Councillor Hart has entered the building.

Uh, in order to have a presiding officer for the remainder of this meeting, the first item of business this evening will be the election of a president pro temper to the city council.

The floor is open for nominations.

I nominate Matthew McLaughlin for President Pro Temp.

Thank you.

Councilor Young Campan nominates Councillor McLaughlin as their second.

Second.

Or second option.

I move to close nomination.

Close the nomination.

Seeing no further nominations, it is now closed.

Will the clerk please call the roll?

It's roll call on the nomination.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor Link.

Councillor McLaughlin.

Counselor Scott.

Council McLaughlin.

Counselor Klingon.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor Streso.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor Said.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor Wheeler.

Council McLaughlin.

Counselor Hart.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Thank you.

You'll you'll never get rid of me now.

For those of you in the audience who don't know what's going on, uh President Davis and Vice President Mabaugh could not be here today, so as the oldest counselor, I am going to be the president for this meeting.

Council Astrezo.

I wish to have in our thoughts, our prayers, and our minds.

Vera Ventura who passed a couple of weeks ago.

She was an incredible woman and a friend.

And she was someone who just was just this incredible advocate in so many directions in so many ways.

She was a community builder.

She was not just like she was the real deal.

And she was this fierce uh spirit that just will never be able to be replicated.

Um it's been uh a long couple of weeks just crying, and I think very deeply about her family and her friends and her loved ones as well, who are trying to make sense of this loss.

Um uh for me personally, what I witnessed her as a woman who reminded women of their power, she reminded others of the universal spark in all of us, including me.

And to me personally, pausing and meditating with her changed the energy of my weeks and months.

She never stopped presenting ideas, never.

Um she was uncompromising in her vision, which is exactly what you need to be when you want your dreams to happen.

But we are human forms born of matter, energy, and spirit, and she was a force that will always be a force, whether in physical form or spirit form.

I'm grateful that her babies were gifted to see that first hand, that spirit, her determination, her dedication.

Um, although I know it wasn't easy.

And biology is tricky though.

Her physical form, her body had other plans.

Um she had survived and kicked cancerous butt so many times that it was just kind of assumed that she would just always continue to just persevere.

And so we got comfortable in the fact that it's it was still cancer.

Um she was always busy.

She was a teacher, a media teacher, even in one of her, I don't know, fourth rounds of cancer, teaching at the high school.

She's incredible.

She inspired all these high school kids.

It was it was great.

Her body may have caused her to pause or recalibrate sometimes, but she never stopped and until she had to stop.

But she's gone in her physical body now in this lifetime.

Her essence, her spirit, her reminders, for balancing and centering oneself will live on.

I know she'll still be around.

Those who knew her will know that.

But for now, we just grieve.

May her memory be for a blessing.

And she will continue blessing others in her memory and the legacy she left behind.

Council Clungen would like to sign on.

Sign on as well.

The whole council would like to sign on.

Any further moments of silence, Council Klingon?

Uh Mr.

President, I'd like to ask that we keep Doris Powinski Landry in our thoughts and prayers this evening and her family.

Doris was born in Canada.

She's the daughter of the late Willie and the late Francois Cormier.

Doris came to America from Canada at age 16 and became a U.S.

citizen at the age of 24.

She was a homemaker and worked doing daycare to be able to stay home and raise her family.

If you recognize the last name, it's because multiple members of her family are on the fire department.

She is survived by her three sons, Joseph Powinski and wife Francina Bill Ricca, James Powinski and his wife Peggy of Somerville, Michael Powinski and his wife Linda of Medford, son-in-law is Thomas Evans, sister-in-law Therese Cormier.

She had 12 grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her daughter Deborah Evans, her first husband Ernest Joseph Powinski, and her second husband, Leonard Landry.

Her six sisters, Olivia, Yvonne, Rita, Bernadette, Darilla, and Aldina, four brothers, Leo, Edward, Armand, and Francis, as well as many cherished brothers and sister-in-laws.

And as I said, I think Jimmy is retired.

And then sorry, okay.

I was just gonna say I'd like to sign on as well.

And then the second one is uh i it's not for a death, but I do want to keep the Felix family in our thoughts and prayers this evening.

Uh Mr.

Felix Um is the father of eight children.

He lives in Ward 4.

Um I'm sure some many people might know a family member.

I know my daughter went to school with his youngest son.

Um, and I know uh his one of his daughters went through teen empowerment.

Um actually I reached out, I spoke to uh through text recently, um, and she just said that she was she appreciated it and that her dad was recovering.

Uh we thank God he is alert, awake, and talking.

We're doing our best we can with this experience as it impacted our family, and I did hear from the news outlet that he was released from the hospital.

And this is you know, this this tragic occurrence that happened the other day uh where you had this gentleman just doing his job, working uh doing the for the ride.

He's a local 25 member.

Uh he drives for the MBTA's The Ride.

Uh he was shot while just carrying out his duties and then drove himself to the hospital.

Um this is an amazing person who who has raised a lovely family in our city, and I um I just I keep him in our I want to keep him in our thoughts and prayer this evening.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Council Cameron.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um I would like a moment of silence as well for Steve McCluskey.

Um Steve McCluskey was 40 years old when he died uh in March.

Uh but many of us became aware of this only this week because the news media reported that he died after becoming stuck at the bottom of an escalator at the Davis Square train station.

Um truly devastating, unthinkable circumstances.

Um Mr.

McCluskey was the father of two carpenter, ran a home improvement business, beloved by his family, his community.

Um it's particularly difficult because as many of us have now seen from the the footage that was reported.

Um this happened very early in the morning, five in the morning, but many people walked by as this man was stuck in the escalator.

It took 18 minutes before anyone called 911.

The elevator wasn't stopped for 22 minutes.

It's hard to imagine how this could have happened.

You can watch people pass by.

And in the end, it was too late before someone finally did.

And so please keep the Buclusky family in our thoughts tonight.

Are there any further moments of silence?

If not, uh those who are able, please rise for a moment of silence.

Please be seated.

Agenda item 1.3, approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of March 26, 2026.

Seeing no discussion, this item is approved.

Agenda item 1.4, approval of the minutes of the special meeting of April 14th, 2026.

Seeing no discussion, this item is approved.

Agenda item 1.5, approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of April 9th, 2026.

Seeing no discussion, this item is approved.

Agenda item 2.1, a citation by Councillor McLaughlin commending Lillian Bartolucci on the auspicious occasion of her 100th birthday.

I look forward to presenting this uh to the family, and this item is approved.

Agenda item 2.2, a citation by Councilor Ewan Campen commending the Salvation Army for their dedicated commitment and generosity in supporting the city.

Council Ewan Campen.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um the Salvation Army has provided an immense amount of support to the city, and in particular, um this citation is to recognize their support over the previous winter at the warming center, um, where the salvation army provided really, really important support um uh ex during the extended hours when there was excess snowfall uh and and and many other times over the last two years, and in addition, on several occasions um uh assisting people who are displaced by fire.

So I would like to welcome uh um the Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director uh Lauren Mahoney to say a few words and introduce um the recipients.

Council Young Campbell would like to sponsor a speaker.

I'm trying to keep this on.

It's a live mic, okay.

Thank you, Counselor.

Through you, Mr.

President.

Um during this National Salvation Army week, Somerville Emergency Management extends our sincere appreciation for the Salvation Army's valued partnership and commitment to service.

Many thanks to you and your team for your unwavering dedication and willingness to answer the call, usually my call and a short notice call, and step up even more beyond the occasions mentioned by counselor uh you encamp in this evening, but to support all residents here in Somerville.

The Salvation Army support continues to make a meaningful difference, and we are so grateful for your partnership.

Thank you very much.

Could you mind recrapping our section?

Yes.

Okay, that'd be wonderful.

And brief if you would love to be in it as well.

There we go.

You're welcome to be done.

I'm I'm a little shy, but not really.

Um I haven't been.

Please give you a name, sir.

I was having been to a council meeting since my father was a city counselor in Waltham.

But I would like to say thank you to the to Somerville, and uh, we continue to uh look forward to uh working with you and helping the community as much as we can.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can we have your name for the record?

Oh, my name is Andrew Duffy.

Andrew Duffy, goodness.

We're gonna have another Duffy coming up soon.

Uh-oh.

Thank you.

Agenda item 3.1, a grant of location from EverSource, applying for a grant of location to install 10 feet of conduit in Hudson Street from utility poll 202 over 9 to a proposed new handhold next hand hole next to 135 Hudson Street.

All right, so we have three public hearings for utilities.

I declare this public hearing open.

Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to testify on this item?

Please step forward and give us your name and address.

My name is Katcha Henderson.

I live at 135 Hudson Street.

I am in a butter to the location where the EV parking is going in.

Um I'm supportive of the EV parking.

My concern is there are driveways for 135 and 139, and so I just want to make sure that we are um keeping those in mind when we're thinking about where the parking goes.

I think the current plan shows the parking potentially shifting closer to those driveways.

And so I just have concerns about egress in and out of those active parking spaces.

I see that we are near 135.

I think that was a misprint.

On the um, if you look at the plan, the the feed is going from poll 202 over four over to 17 Hudson Street.

I think 135 was a misprint.

Okay, it says next to 135.

Yeah, I'm seeing 19 Hudson Street, 17 Hudson Street.

That's not what the drawings show.

The drawings show the kind of labyrinth as it's called.

I'm sorry, can you speak into the mic?

We got a little echo too.

Yeah, there's a little echo.

Um the drawings show the labyrinth, uh, as it's called in Hudson Street, which is where Hudson Street zigs.

That is my house.

It's 135.

The drawings show 135 and 139 Hudson Street.

Okay.

Uh, which ward is this?

I believe Council Said.

Yeah, uh, through you, Mr.

President.

It says 135 Hudson Street on the City Council agenda, item 3.1.

And um, so I'm not sure why we're talking about 17 Hudson.

I'm not too sure.

Could we lay this one on the table and have a side discussion about this?

Are you able to do that, Jackie?

Sure.

Okay, we're gonna lay this on the table, do the other two public hearings, and we won't uh take it up until your issue is addressed.

Okay.

Thank you.

That'll work.

Uh this item is laid on the table.

Next item.

Next item 3.2, a grant of location from Verizon New England, applying for a grant of location to install four feet of conduit in Pearl Street from existing manhole 44 over 52A to proposed new handhole next to 115 Pearl Street.

I now declare this public hearing open.

Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to testify on this item?

I can't hear this hard.

Alexander, uh come in remote.

Uh yes, good evening.

Name is Alexander Lasse Morero, M-A-R-R-E-R-O.

I'll be representing Verizon on this petition.

All right.

Is there anyone in the audience who has any questions or comments on this item?

Seeing none, this public hearing is closed.

Uh, any discussion from the council?

This is my ward.

And I will move to approve.

Next item.

Agenda item 3.3, a grant of location from Verizon New England, applying for a grant of location to install 61 feet of conduit in Medford Street from existing manhole 44 over 440 to a proposed new handhole next to 350 Medford Street.

All right, and now declare this public hearing open.

Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to testify?

Alexander.

Yeah, we represent the Verizon again.

Basically, we are requesting to place 61 feet of new four-inch conduit to meet a new shared handhold at the base of the street like that.

Was everyone able to hear that?

Basically read the uh order item.

Uh any other comments from the public on this item.

Seeing none, I declare this public hearing closed.

Any discussion from the council?

Council Clingen?

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, um, I know this is technically ward three, but I'm just curious what exactly is this for.

Yeah.

So this is for an existing sill site located at the intersection of Medford and Pearl Street.

Basically, right now it's being fed by Crown Castle Fiber, so we're trying to get it over to Verizon Fiber.

So we need a new conduit to connect it to the Verizon network.

Okay.

So it's just for a cell service.

Yeah, a small 5G cell site.

Is it for cell service, sir?

Yes.

Oh, okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

See no further discussion.

This item is approved.

Are we all set or do you need more time, Council Said?

Um Mr.

President, I would like to send item 3.1 to licenses and permits for discussion.

Okay, item 3.1 will be further to licenses of permits.

So this will be referred to a separate committee for discussion, and no vote will be taken until it comes back from Jackie Duffy.

I I it was my I apologize.

That was my fault.

I had the wrong plan in the in my folder.

It is for 139 and 135.

That was my bad.

And it's um 10 feet of conduit.

Okay.

This one still says 135 and not 139, so it sounds like this is a good thing.

It is 135, but wasn't that a better from 139.

Okay.

Uh through you, Mr.

President to Jackie Duffy.

Uh Jackie Ducky, it is 135.

Um, however, we're talking about an um a concern regarding the plans that were um designed and approved by uh the engineering department.

I'm sending it to committee so that we can have staff from engineering uh in committee to uh speak to the concern before uh we approve it as a council.

Okay, perfect.

Thank you, but that part was my bad about the other.

I had the wrong sketch in the air.

All right, thank you.

So this item we refer to the license and permits committee.

I'd like to take a couple items out of order.

Item 6.8.1, which is a confirmation of appointments report, and item 2.3, which uh has to do with uh octaf.

Uh seeing no discussion, uh Madam Clerk, please read the next item.

Agenda item 6A1, a report of the committee on confirmation of appointments and personnel matters meeting on May 4th, 2026.

Councillor Hart.

And if we can, uh number of firefighters in the audience.

Uh if they someone can tell them to come in.

Sorry, counselor you and camp, and you're the chair.

I thought you were the chair.

Mr.

President, I am not the chair, but the chair is not here.

Um I'm the vice chair.

Uh the confirmation um uh uh confirmation committee has a number of recommendations before us tonight.

Um we're thrilled to have uh before us tonight.

Three candidates for promotions within the fire department, Dennis Sullivan to District Fire Chief, Michael Marino to fire captain, and Sean Marquis to fire lieutenant.

We'll take them up in just a minute.

And I also just want to mention we have a number of other important uh confirmations.

We uh approved the confirmation of Logan Brill and Valerie Locker to the Conservation Commission.

Eric Weisman to be the commissioner of the Department of Public World, and Courtney Henderson to be our next city clerk.

This is the last city council meeting with Kim Wells as our clerk.

We are very lucky to be in good hands and we are very sad to not have uh Kim Wells as our city clerk anymore.

We love you, Kim.

With that, I ask that the committee report be accepted as submitted.

Seeing no discussion, the committee report is accepted as submitted.

So now I know we have a number of families here for the promotions.

You want to take it, Clerk?

And if there are folks who want to take pictures, please make yourselves at home, come right up, come wherever you need to.

You're all welcome to come up and take pictures.

And we'll also do a recess after this to take uh family photos.

Thank you.

Let me have you raise your right hand.

You solemnly affirmed to faithfully perform the duties incumbent on you as district chief for the fire department in the city of Somerville, Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the pains and penalties of perjury.

I do.

All right, then I'm gonna have you sign right next to where your name is printed up there.

And then give me one second to sign.

Congratulations.

Do you sold me affirm that you'll faithfully perform the duties incumbent on you as captain for the fire department in the city of Somerville, Commonwealth, Massachusetts under the pains and penalties of perjury?

Okay, then you'll sign right next to where you're name as printed.

I do.

And you'll sign right next to your name is present right there.

And then I will sign a brief recess if anyone wants to take photos in the middle of the

All right, I call this meeting back to order, seeing that we have a quorum.

I don't care, please read the next item.

Financing Uctif zone plan and form of agreement for Assembly Square and East Somerville.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

My name is Katie Weiss.

Um I am an economic development planner with the OSPCD.

So UCTIF is a tool to incentivize affordable housing development, particularly on vacant lots and vacant commercial spaces.

Um and we are proposing this tool for parts of East Somerville and Assembly Square.

Uh we recommend this to be forwarded to the land use committee since there are no financial components at this time.

We are simply looking to define a geographic zone within which this tool could be used in the future.

Um and I look forward to hearing more questions and talking about this further at a committee.

Thank you.

So there's no uh presentation today, correct?

Not today.

Uh there are any general questions about this before I refer to committee.

Council Union Campan.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

So through you, just so I understand and the public understands, this is not like a TIFF for a project.

And if this were ultimately to be approved by the city council, individual projects would then come to the council for consideration for does the city want to enter into a TIFF agreement with a specific project.

But in order to get there, we need a map first.

Okay.

And second question through you.

Um most things that go into land use are zoning amendments.

Um most things that have to do with TIFFs go to finance committee.

Can you just explain why we think land use is appropriate?

Sure, thank you, Mr.

President.

Um there are no financial components as uh you counselor noted to this specific item at this time.

It is only to define a geographic area of um the city where we could potentially in the future look at financial agreements, um, but at this point there are no specific projects that we would be passing as part of this item.

Council Scott.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um Mr.

President Pro Tim.

Uh seen as how not on land use, I just want to be crystal clear.

So this is a this is creating an area within which uh projects would be eligible to apply for an UCTIF.

We have entered into several UCTIF agreements in on previous projects.

Uh is it would it be correct to assume that there was a special UCTIF zone created for each one of those that was just kind of bundled in as part of the process for approving the UCTIF for example the Broadway project?

Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

The 299 Broadway project was the UCTIF that was previously utilized in Somerville, and that zone was um the entire zone was the basically the entire project.

Uh the purpose of this tool through the Commonwealth Um Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is to define a broader zone within which small you know projects within that can be passed, but um it's uh it's it's intended to create a a larger zone within which that tool can be can be applied.

Right.

So thank you for that, uh Ms.

Fresh.

Uh through you.

This is uh basically uh uh saying that the city is open to negotiate on uh tax relief for major projects that might be uh pursued in within a given geographical area.

So uh I appreciate it.

I look forward to listening to the conversation in land use, but uh I can appreciate that the city is looking to find ways to encourage more uh major housing construction uh in the area.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Yes.

Oh council Strashaw uh through you to um director Katie Weiss, economic development plan.

Uh thank you thank you for being here tonight.

Uh yeah so but so we're clear that uh the city then negotiates uh project by project.

How many, if any um affordable housing um uh units could be per building, meaning project by project.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, Mr.

President, uh to counselor Staso.

Um any project that to even qualify for this program underneath the Commonwealth's requirements, it has to um qualify for it.

The the intention is to create affordable housing, and one of the ways that we can do that is to meet existing inclusionary zoning requirements, which in Somerville is 20 percent.

So any project that does come through the program would have to be approved by the council, and any project that comes through would need to meet minimum affordable housing requirements.

Through you to okay.

Am I missing something from what I understand?

Pardon me through to Katie, and this is not a grilling.

But uh that means that certain projects with economic development can negotiate to have no uh affordable housing or units uh at 110 uh percent AMI or only 110 percent AMI, or only are certain, I don't know, three units of 30 percent AMI with each uh potential project is pardon me through you.

Am I missing that because everything that I have uh uh thank you through Mr.

President.

Um I I that is not the case to it they would have to meet Somerville's inclusionary requirement, which is 20 percent affordable inclusionary units on the the tiered system that we have with the city of Somerville uh according to the zoning ordinance, which is um at multiple different tiers, not just one ten.

This is not to override our existing inclusionary zoning ordinance.

It is a minimum that must be met.

Through you uh to uh um our our presenter.

Um that's we can talk further about this from what I understand then then each project will be negotiated with the yes, thank you, Director Tom Kellogg.

I mean no, it's great to work together, but uh yeah, through you, Mr.

President.

This program has nothing to do with our existing inclusionary housing zoning ordinance.

So nothing we would enter into an agreement about would have any impact on our existing 20 percent inclusionary requirement.

Okay, separate.

Okay.

And so um and and so each uh project that is negotiated is negotiated with the city, uh correct.

And so I am asking through you to um OSP C D who is at the table representing the city does include our housing department uh and um our Office of Housing Stability, uh both the housing director and Office of Housing Stability in that negotiating table.

I think that uh with them on the ground, knowing all of the um very variables uh of what's going on with housing housing and security, housing displacement, et cetera, I think that um opinion is essential.

Can we get a commitment to that?

Through the president.

Um we have had a team approach to develop uh this zone that included housing stability, including members of the community, including some elected officials, and including staff in economic development and in OSPCD.

Um so that that's the approach we take because this is a project that would have economic development impacts and housing impacts.

But like I mentioned before, this has no impact at all on our existing rules regarding inclusionary housing.

Okay, and so when we get into when we get deeper into this, I'm sorry, through you to Director.

When we get deeper into this, very much want to make clear that I I want those two departments in addition, please.

Um I don't want to say you want, but I am requesting that those two departments are are their voices are brought forward with this because that does have impacts uh or I'm sorry, they they know the the short-term impacts of what's going on with housing as well.

Where are you looking to utilize this tool on vacant properties?

Vacant lots where there's no existing housing.

I know.

Thank you.

If I could just add to this as someone who has been a part of this conversation, uh and not speaking for or against the item, uh, but as I understand it, the octave is to ensure that housing gets built with the 20 percent inclusionary rate, as opposed to the opposite option, which would be to allow housing without uh an inclusionary rate.

Uh would you say that's correct, Director?

Okay.

That is correct.

And I want to be clear too.

So you anticipate no discussion on percentages or numbers or any money in if this was referred to the land use committee.

That is correct.

Okay.

Councilor or President Davis uh did previously um want us to, I'm sorry.

Uh uh that is the minimum.

We are definitely open to um having discussions and incentivizing using this tool to maybe reach deeper levels of affordability beyond what our existing inclusionary housing ordinance requires.

So you to be very precise, yes.

We're looking to go a little bit deeper.

That's the mayor's intention to go a little bit deeper than our existing framework.

So the intention is to go higher, not lower.

Yes, okay, more affordability.

I just so I want to be clear.

So counselor Davis did previously uh wanted this to be referred to the finance committee.

I want to be very clear that the no math, no numbers, no money is going to be discussed in legislative math and land use.

Otherwise, I would agree that it should be referred to the finance committee.

Mr.

President, that is true.

There's one extra piece that I I neglected that that I forgot, and that the land use committee is set up to do um public hearings, and we need to have a public hearing in order to create this district.

So that work for you, uh Chair Ewan Campen.

Okay.

Any further discussion, Councillor Wheeler?

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, just a few quick notes.

One thing is that even though the finance committee did not uh decide on an item related to this, we did have the honor of having a presentation by Planner Wees and others um about the Octif, um, which I think was very helpful.

Uh that doesn't mean that we couldn't handle having more hearings or something, but from my perspective, I am perfectly fine with this going to land use.

Um I also I had been wanting to make the point that Director Galligani just did that um it's not just that the UCTIF does not interfere with the 20 percent inclusionary uh requirement, which it does not, that remains in place.

Um it also offers this opportunity to uh to go for more affordability.

Um and you know that comes at a cost.

It comes at a cost of these deferred uh taxes.

Uh but as part of a vision that's been articulated by the mayor and others of um trying to go above the 20 percent inclusionary uh 20 percent affordable uh subsidized units in new housing developments in order to try to get the city as a whole uh to to have a higher percentage of affordable units.

Um this is a really important tool uh if that's uh a goal that we're serious about.

And I'll add to that any future negotiations would have to be approved by the mayor and the city council, correct?

That is true.

And um our intention is to bring it uh recommend that this come to land use, but any agreement that we negotiate, we expect would go through the finance committee because there would be financial implications.

Okay.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none of this item is referred to land use.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next item That brings us back to the order of the agenda.

Agenda item 4.1, a resolution by Councilor Mbaugh and Counselor Hart that the administration, the executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, the Director of Health and Human Services, the Director of the Office of Housing Stability engage with leadership of St.

James Church to explore opportunities for partnership between the city and the church to activate underutilized space for community serving purposes.

Councilor Hart.

Thank you.

Um the St.

James Church is right in Teal Square, and they have a beautiful uh building and space and that is um underutilized, and they're very open to um working with the city.

So we'd love to see this conversation happen.

Um and which would that be I I would suggest sending it to um HCDE if the chair is open to that.

Wonderful.

See no discussion.

This item is referred to housing and community development and all the other letters involved.

It's approved with the copy sent to the co approved with a copy.

Thank you so much.

Agenda item 4.2, a resolution by Councilor Mbaugh and Councillor Hart that the director of mobility install speed bumps on Elmwood Street and assess whether closing the street to non-residents during rush hours would be possible and useful to reduce the cut through traffic to and from Cameron Avenue.

Counselor Hart.

Thank you so much.

Um so um since we've gotten the speed speed reduction on um Cameron Avenue, unfortunately, many drivers tried to avoid Cameron by going um through to Elmwood, which is a narrow two-way street um with increasing amount of potholes and um dangerous conditions and especially with with speeding drivers.

So uh Counselor Mobile and I would just like some attention given to um assessing what can be done on Elmwood uh to make the street safer and cut down on the cut through traffic.

So um can we refer this to traffic and parking?

Seeing no further discussion, the item is approved with a copy sent to traffic and power code.

Agenda item 4.3, a communication by Councilor Mbaugh conveying a report of the job creation and retention trust fund.

This item is placed on file.

Agenda item 4.4, a resolution by Councilor Saeed and Councillor Klingon that the Director of Public Works place a portable restroom at Hoyt Sullivan Playground.

Council of Say.

Um President, I would like to send this to sustainability and infrastructure.

Parents have reached out to both myself and Council Klingon uh on the on um asking why this uh playground was not selected.

So we'd like to hear from PISAF on that.

And uh yeah, and also figure out a solution if ADA compliance is the reason why this playground was not um selected.

Um Cameron.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, thank you very much.

As the parent of two children who spend a lot of time there, I'd like to co-sponsor this.

Um and I'd also just like to put on the record for this discussion right across the street is beautiful junction park, which has a lot of flat ADA accessible.

So if it's not possible for a truck to back in to Hoyt, that's another perfect location that's you know across the street.

All right, no seeing no further out, Councilor uh Link would like to sign on.

I'd like to add that my son goes to this park as well.

He refers to it as the Woods Park.

See not the train park, it's the Woods Park.

Uh seeing no further discussion, this item is approved, and we'll refer to a public health and safety.

Oh no, wait, you sustainability and infrastructure.

I apologize.

Um agenda item 4.6 4.5, excuse me, a resolution by counselor state.

I'm sorry, point of order.

Council Will, I'm not sure at what point to interject.

Uh I want to just ask about item 4.3, the report of the job creation and retention trust fund.

I understand that councillor Mbaugh's not here.

Uh I was looking forward to hearing that, and there isn't an item attached, I believe, uh in Legislature.

Is that something where we'll get a chance to hear that report?

Or am I just wrong about it not being there?

Madam Clerk.

Yeah, the major there are medium minutes available.

Okay, thank you.

All right, thank you.

Council Clingen.

Uh Ms.

Predt, those are also video recorded as well.

Okay, there we go.

Thank you.

Everybody ready?

Next item.

Next item, please.

Agenda item 4.5, a resolution by counselor Sait that the Director of Mobility install a speed bump on Vernon Street.

Council of Saeit.

Mr.

President, I would like to send this to traffic and parking.

This item is approved.

Copy sent to traffic and parking.

Agenda item 4.6, a resolution by Councilor Streso that the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator submit a written report to this city council regarding the timeline for ADA web content accessibility guidelines 2.1 under Title 2 and the plan for its completion.

And uh can you please uh read uh 4.7 as well and then additionally other ADA uh agenda items 4.17.

Yes.

Please read item 4.7 and 4.17.

Agenda item 4.7, a resolution by Councilor Stres Strezzo that the administration submit a written report to this council regarding the timeline and process for staffing the ADA coordinator role and update this council on the plan to process ADA complaints and accessibility coordination when this position is vacant, and agenda item 4.17, a resolution by counselor link that the chief information officer provide this council with a summary report on the current accessibility status of city operated digital properties, including websites, platforms, and portals, and share any plans to ensure new properties comply with the web content accessibility guidelines using principles like accessibility first design.

Counselor Streso.

Thank you.

Uh I at least I I would prefer to send these all to committee, however, in addition, I'm open to having if don't want to put anyone on the spot, but if the administration has any input on who is taking the ADA uh accessibility complaints, ideas or uh information in the vacant uh position.

I know this is important for all of us to get back to our constituents.

So happy to create that space.

If not, we can just talk about in committee.

However, we're here now, might as well talk about it this second.

I got a head nod that says uh not pro um Senator Committee.

Okay, no problems.

I'll send this uh these items all approved and sent to Council Clingen and Council Link.

Sorry.

Um thank you, Mr.

President Three.

Um I want to thank the counselor for bringing this forward.

I know I don't want to misspeak, but uh my understanding is that the deadline for compliance was recently we recently passed, and uh, you know, I have full of faith that the administration is is working on this.

Uh I just like to know, you know, how close we are and what exactly um, you know, how long before we're in full compliance on our websites.

Um as for the ADA coordinator, uh again, I don't want to misspeak, but I'm not it's not 100% clear to me because this was brought to my attention as well, and it's been said that you can't you have to it aims in the legislation specifically having an individual human person that you can talk to and not just like a generic email address.

So uh it's important that we get that position, you know, whether it's somebody that's currently in the administration who could you know be listed as the uh ADA point of contact uh for ADA compliance.

Uh thank you, Council Stressville.

Council Link.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh so the yeah, for um I'm really hoping that we can get kind of uh just it sounds like so the the wig cac or whatever, however you pronounce it.

Um it's my understanding is that uh it passed and was extended.

Um, but uh we still have to do it because it's we're we're gonna run into the bit again.

Um and regardless of whether or not uh it's the deadline is extended, it's just a it's a service that we should be making sure that our our our uh residents should have access.

Uh you know, I I spent a little time kind of poking around um different websites, uh different uh uh that are city council or not city council, uh city properties, and some of them uh failed pretty miserably, honestly.

So I I definitely want to see what the plan is uh and I want to make sure more importantly, you know, things happen, people rush to get stuff out, it happens, but we need a plan to make sure that going forward we're we're always stepping in there with the right foot uh and not um kind of working backwards uh and trying to to um you know fix the cart as it's rolling down the hill.

Thank you.

And council Wheeler.

Uh thank you, Chair.

Um I am aware that there is an ADA task force that the city has that has been working on a digital transition plan.

I just uh am eager in committee to hear about the status of that from the administration.

Uh the task force has commenced the it's kaput, it's finished for the time.

It's done.

I was on that, I was one of the members of the sounds like a council Wheeler.

Oh, uh thank you to my colleague uh through the president.

The other comment I wanted to make was um I've done some work in the past uh in my career on uh web accessibility.

And I just want to encourage us to keep in mind, like with any set of rules, the web content accessibility guidelines are a combination of wonderful total common sense uh needs that we should absolutely no question do to the letter, and some formulas that are mathematical and approximate some needs, but not perfectly.

And in some cases, there have been uh claims by some people in the disability community uh that some of the WCAG guidelines, when followed to the letter, can make accessibility worse.

Now I'm not saying most of them do, but there are some in there.

Um I just want to make sure, as with any tool that we use, any set of rules that we use, that we are keeping in mind that the ultimate goal here is accessibility, and we're using all these tools in service of accessibility, not as a substitute for it.

Thank you.

Seeing no further discussion, we'll have a lively discussion in public health and safety.

These items are approved and referred to public health and safety agenda item 4.8, a resolution by Councillor Ewan Camp and Councillor Wheeler supporting the governor's executive order facilitating safe and affordable single stair multifamily residential buildings.

Council Ewan camping.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

This is a resolution about single stair buildings, which sounds like an incredibly boring topic.

Um, but is actually incredibly exciting.

So I want to explain why.

We are in an affordable housing crisis, and we need to protect tenants from displacement, and we also need to build a lot more housing.

And the housing that needs to get built really needs to happen across the region.

Obviously, not just in Somerville.

The state estimates that we need 220,000 uh new homes statewide in the next 10 years.

Up to 180,000 of those have to be in the greater Boston area.

These are minimums.

Um obviously, this is not just Somerville.

This is a really regional issue.

There are a lot of things that make it difficult to build new housing.

Um, particularly what we refer to as the missing middle housing, modest sized apartment buildings, things, you know, you think of five, ten, fifteen apartments.

Um zoning is obviously a key part of this, as are tariffs and interest rates.

Um, but there are many other challenges too.

Um earlier this year, Governor Healy signed an executive order looking at one particular um aspect of this issue, which is called single stair buildings.

Currently, the building code in Massachusetts requires two staircases for basically all buildings above three stories, and this requirement makes it particularly hard to build these missing middle apartment buildings, especially on smaller lots.

Think of you know nine to twenty unit apartment buildings.

The geometry really doesn't work on smaller units if you're required to have two large staircases.

Um there was a recent study from uh a group called Boston Indicators, it was actually authored by a member of our planning board, Luke Schuster, which concluded, and this kind of blew my mind this number that single stair construction, if it was allowed, could unlock a hundred and ten thousand new units in greater Boston alone.

So this is really significant in theory.

But there's also concerns about this, and I really want to acknowledge these.

The concern, of course, is fire safety.

That that's why there's a multi-stair requirement.

Um I know that many firefighters, including here in Somerville, are really concerned about the idea of single stair buildings.

I very much respect that.

There is also a lot of evidence that this code was written before the invention of a lot of modern fire suppression technology that has made single stair, um, some argue just as safe.

Um and on that side of the argument, we can see many countries, many countries in the world, many states in our country have now um legalize single stair buildings, and there are studies showing that you know the safety is indistinguishable.

Um but we obviously on the city council are not in a position to make that call.

So that's not what this resolution does.

This resolution does not say let's do single stairs.

This supports the governor's executive order from earlier this year, which creates a technical advisory group to do that work, to analyze that data for real rigorously, and then to provide recommendations to the building code.

And I obviously I know that we can all agree that we should be following facts here.

Um and so that's what this resolution is doing.

It's supporting these efforts wherever they might lead.

And I am I'm really looking forward to seeing whether this is something that can get traction in Massachusetts.

Um I think it could make a real difference.

And I also want to submit for the record um uh a letter of support from a local architect named Sean Selby, who he couldn't be here tonight to speak.

Um, but I've I've shared this with the clerk, and it'll be attached to this agenda item, um, and that'll be attached for future reference.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

I saw Council Link wanted to sign on.

Council uh Hart, Council Said, and Council Willie, do you want to speak?

Council Wheeler.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President, and uh with appreciation to my colleague from Word 3.

Um, as my colleague, Councilor Ewan Campen said, uh this resolution and the governor's executive order uh call for research and group process to explore this question.

Uh they don't and shouldn't have a pre existing pre-existing conclusion.

Um as my c my colleague did.

I want to recognize that some firefighter groups, including Somerville Firefighters Local 76, oppose single steer design.

Uh this working group that's being formed, uh, and this is very important to me and and I believe to many others, um, is including the fire chief of Massachusetts or their designee, uh representative of the professional firefighters of Massachusetts, a representative of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, a practicing fire safety engineer, and a a number of other members with fire protection expertise.

Um this is something that uh I I feel confident is going to be to really be looked at from all angles.

Um we have a declared uh housing emergency in this city and uh and clearly a housing emergency state in the Greater Boston area.

Uh so everything that we can safely have that helps with that we need.

Thanks.

Any further discussion?

See none of the setups approved.

Do you want to refer to anyone, Council Ewan Campen?

Copies sent to the governor.

Uh there's copies sent to the delegation in the resolution.

Thank you.

Next item.

Agenda item 4.9, a resolution by Councilor Ewan Campin that the administration work with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to ensure that extremely loud construction does not occur overnight.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um there was recently work done called test borings for the McGrath Highway for the eventual grounding of that.

And I reached out to the city, obviously, and the city said the mass DOT, they impose this condition on us, and we will advocate, but they impose these conditions.

They don't want to block traffic.

I understand.

Construction that blocks traffic is very disruptive.

No one wants to do that.

You can't do this kind of work at night.

It's unbelievable to me.

I mean, they're clearly just taking advantage of the fact that we can't do anything about it.

There are kids that can't sleep, little kids.

It's just completely outrageous.

This is not an acceptable option.

Council Link.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and thank you for my colleague in Ward 3.

Um I uh that's this happens not too far from me.

I uh uh I luckily was away while it was happening.

Um, but many of my friends who live in that area um described how awful it was for and it's just to be clear this isn't just one terrible night.

This was like 10 nights.

Um that kind of prolonged sleep deprivation um is like actually has truly like measurable impact bad impacts on people physically and mentally.

Um so I I I do think that while I'm uh sympathetic to the fact that it might make traffic um bad for those 10 days, uh I am much less uh I don't think that there was a proper balance, and I do believe that um you know it it's supposedly it was this is for the work for the um the grounding of McGrath, uh which uh we've been told time and time again is to um kind of heal wounds that were um you know inflicted upon this our residents and uh having uh it's ironic then that this new wound would be inflicted on residents.

Thank you.

Council Scott.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I'm happy to co-sign uh sign on to this, and uh I just say I'm sure that the residents of uh of the hill there are uh have the sympathies of the residents of Brick Bottom who endured uh midnight work on the GLX uh for a very very long time without even the excuse of blocking a public right away.

So uh this is uh just to say cheekily that uh it's an ongoing disrespect that happens, and uh I'm hopeful that this administration will be better at interfacing with uh the state uh than previous ones were to help spare uh our neighbors from some of these disruptions.

Thank you.

Any further discussion seeing none, the item is approved.

I'd like to uh make a motion to take item number two point uh seven point two three out of order, please.

We have some people in the audience for this clerk, please read item 7.23.

7.23, a mayor's communication proclaiming that the week of May 10th through May 17th, 2026 is Taiwanese American Heritage Week.

And the text of the language.

Yes, whereas the United States has long been shaped and strengthened by immigrants who arrived here to build their lives, and whereas each brought part of their own heritage, which over time became part of our common heritage, and whereas more than 20,000 Taiwanese Americans have made at their homes in Massachusetts, including a vibrant community in Somerville, and whereas Taiwanese Americans have played pivotal roles in shaping the cultural and economic landscape in Massachusetts, achieving excellence in academia, science, medicine, and entrepreneurship, and whereas the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as the pioneering state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage, shares a profound connection with Taiwan, the first country in Asia to make such strides in the pursuit of equality and freedom.

And whereas the year of 2026 marks the 47th anniversary of the enactment into law of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which together with the 1982 six assurances forms the cornerstone of U.S.

Taiwan relations, and whereas Taiwanese Americans are proud of their roots and heritage defined by a quest for freedom, democracy, and self-determination, and whereas Taiwan has consistently demonstrated resilience and perseverance in the face of ever growing geopolitical challenges, and whereas this week recognizes the long-standing friendship between the United States and Taiwan.

Now, therefore, be it known to all those present that the mayor of the city of Somerville respectfully proclaims May 10th through the 17th, 2026 as Taiwanese American Heritage Week proclaimed on this 14th day of May 2026 by Mayor Jake Wilson.

Thank you.

Seeing no further discussion, the item is approved.

Thank you all for attending.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

You could speak if you like.

I don't want to put you on the spot.

Thank you for the question.

I'll come to the podium.

And please introduce yourself.

I would like to sponsor a speaker.

My name is Sonia Huang.

I live on 435 Washington Street, and I just want to express gratitude for everyone for being, you know, such a supportive and diverse community.

And I'm very proud to be a Taiwanese American living in Somerville.

Great.

Thank you very much.

Thank you for coming.

This item is approved.

Back to the regular.

Agenda item 4.10, a resolution by Councilor Hart that the executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development develop a share with the public, develop and share with the public a list of all the spaces that are available for community use, including and especially those that are part of private developments.

Councilor Hart.

Thank you, President.

So I know in Ward 7, we have the Kala building, which is private uh development, but there are spaces that are part of it that are available for public use.

But I think not enough people know about that to take advantage of it.

And my understanding is that this is true throughout the city in a lot of private developments.

So I would love to see a centralized location where people can find out and you take full advantage of these spaces that have been negotiated, uh, maybe one off, but um are a big benefit.

So yes, oh sorry.

You have a floor.

Um I was just gonna say to uh H C D.

All right.

Council Klingon and then Council Strezzo.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like to sign on to this, and uh like I say um and hopefully uh again I'm hopefully I'm not misspeaking, but um my understanding is is that uh it's been said to me in the past, and I've actually utilized this, was um when a project when when an entity takes CPA money uh that also um opens the door to public use, like I had meetings at the temple before at Temple Panai Vrith, um, who we helped get an elevator installed there.

So um, and I don't know that that's every probably that takes CPA, so that's probably something that will come out of that conversation that could be helpful that it may unlock other spaces that people um may not even realize that they could uh hold a public meeting at so long as it's ADA compliant.

Council Strezzard.

Uh thank you.

And and I want to think and would like to sign on to this as well.

I want to thank uh Councilor Hart for putting this forward because this is one of those historical knowledge um fun facts of the city, like counselor uh Klingon, I forgot your name for a second.

Through you to Mr.

President, I found forgot your name for a second, Councilor Klingon.

Anyhow, um and and that's true, and you're so right, and I'm so glad you brought this forward because right, it it's like those that know or remember, and those that that don't, because you just have lost the conversation or been in the conversation or not.

For instance, um, that the public um public storage building, that that little room in ward one, that that is technically one of those spaces, ADA accessible.

Um the partners building has a space.

Um for a long time, and I don't know if this is still uh Mr.

President, uh I don't know if this is still accurate, but the stop and shop over on McGrath Highway had a space on the second floor that sometimes way back in the day, community groups used to have meetings in.

Uh and so just random weird spaces, but are totally accessible to as community spaces.

And you're right, we should be using these.

We should at least know about them.

And I'm very happy to have the conversation in my committee, but also I'm hoping that we can find uh the a city employee to not only keep the database up, but a website that is accessible, or heck, maybe posting at a library every so often or updating once or twice a year or something.

Uh, I think we definitely should be finding ways that we can enhance the community and and find spaces for each other to connect.

So, right on.

Thank you.

Council Link.

Uh thank you, Ms.

President.

Uh I was just gonna basically say that we should have a website that has this uh the end result, but yeah.

But yeah.

Thank you.

Council Clang.

Thank you, Ms.

President.

Just for the record, the storage place, that was part of the mystic um task force settlement, and that actually requires a little bit of a fee for the guy to come down.

So that's not completely uh, but it is available to the public to use, but it's not free.

Council Wheeler.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh someone discussing this with me uh pointed out that events at these uh private public places would help bring people in who could then be familiar and come back.

So one of the many great ideas that this conversation opens up.

Thanks.

Seeing none, this item is approved and sent to housing community development.

Agenda item 4.11, a resolution by Counselor Hart that the director of water and sewer provide an overview of the water and sewer metering and building practices.

So I heart.

Thank you.

Um so we've had some great discussions in some of the committees lately in terms of uh that have really been useful to me.

Um about uh crossing guards and 311 and and I thought uh uh the water and sewer and the metering and the bills are things that constituents have asked me about, and I wish I knew more about.

Um so I thought it would be great to have a public kind of educational uh moment about these issues and in um I would like it sent to sustainability and infrastructure where there are other issues related to water metering and billing um before the committee.

Any discussion?

Council site.

Uh three, Mr.

President, Council Hart, thank you for putting this resolution forward.

Um yeah, earlier this year, like January, February, March, uh so many of my constituents have reached out about water bills interest, uh they're accumulating and yeah, I have to have to help every single one of them and you know make sure that's sorted out.

So one request they would like to make is for the uh for staff to speak to the uh bill the folks who have a W on their bill.

So these are the old meters.

My colleagues know the whole story of the old meters, but we still have constituents you know who are not aware that if you have a W on your bill, it means that you have an old meter and it you've it's not uh replaced, um, then yeah, I would like staff to speak to that because we know that those bills are increasing and also the accumulating interest if you don't pay them.

Um so yeah, making sure that's you know made very clear.

Um yeah, thank you.

See no further discussion, the items approved and sent to sustainability and infrastructure.

Agenda item 4.12, a resolution by Councillor Wheeler, Counselor Link, Counselor Klingon, and Counselor Mbaugh that the director of planning, preservation, and zoning zoning consider revising the demolition review cutoff date to 1945 rather than a date relative to the present year.

Council Wheeler.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I will try to keep this brief and not go down too many rabbit holes.

Um as just a bit of background, uh people are probably familiar that like a lot of cities, Somerville can designate specific properties and sort of sets of properties in an area as historically preserved.

But in addition to that, there is what's called the demolition review ordinance, uh, which was originally passed in the 90s and then revised in the late uh 20 teens and 2020.

And that says that um you know, for buildings that are not on that specific uh historical preserved list, but are are old enough to make you want to double check first.

Uh that before you might demolish a build uh a house or or a building and build a new one there, uh you have to file with the city and indicate this intention and it gives uh our friends at OSPCD a chance to do a little research, find out is there some historical significance here, uh do a report.

Uh that does not obligate the owner of the property to uh to not demolish, but uh if they want to work with OSPCD on this, they can work out a plan uh right away in a timely fashion.

If they don't, there is an 18-month waiting period.

Now when this was originally passed in the 90s, the cutoff for what's included was 50 years ago.

Uh so at that time that that 50 years ago was uh I think 1946, maybe.

I may be getting the the year wrong by a year or two.

Uh then when it was the years went on, that 50-year window advanced and advanced and advanced and started going into the 1950s, uh, meaning that more and more buildings in Somerville were covered by this, even though those buildings didn't hadn't gained in historical significance.

And that I think was not really an intention of the original ordinance.

Then in the in the late 20 teens, it was picked up sort of uh among other intentions to say we should revise this to kind of move the date back.

And it was changed from a 50-year window to 75 years, um, so that it would not include quite so many more recent buildings built in the 50s.

But now the same problem's happening.

The year marches forward, and uh it seems to me that the original intention was to sort of pick a time roughly in that World War II era when there was not a lot of building, and to say, you know, by by default, we're not considering buildings built after that to be very likely to be historically significant.

By default, at some point before then, they they're more likely to be.

So this is just an attempt uh suggesting to planning preservation and zoning, uh, who are currently doing some revision uh of how they approach historical preservation rules in their process to consider instead of having this 75-year window just saying, you know what, we'll pick a date, for example, 1945, which is approximately what it was at the time that these ordinances were passed.

Thank you.

Council Scott.

Thank you, Mr.

President Pro Tim, through you to my colleague at large.

I appreciate you bringing this.

Uh the demo ordinance has been one of my favorite topics uh over the years.

And uh you know, uh not for nothing.

Uh the vast majority of the structures in Somerville were built prior to 1920 when the Somerville's uh first zoning code was built.

So um I appreciate this resolution.

Obviously, I'd like to support it.

Um but while we're rethinking our demo delay ordinance, uh I would encourage the planning department to uh think bigger, uh particularly given the amount of friction that it provides in the housing production process and how uh nearly every structure in Somerville uh currently falls under that extensive delay provision.

So uh I'm glad to hear that the planning department is revisiting those rules and hopefully we can make some progress.

Uh I perhaps we can collaborate on a further amendment.

Thank you, sir.

Further discussion.

Did you want this referred to committee or just approved?

I would be happy to have this approved.

Um it is a suggestion for consideration, not an ordinance.

Very good.

Seeing no discussion, the item is approved.

Agenda item 4.13, a communication by Counselor Wheeler conveying the existing body worn camera policy.

Council Wheeler.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

This is entirely just an FYI.

I don't have any point that I'm making by filing this.

Uh quickly as backstory, back as I understand it in 2021, the mayoral administration did create an initial body worn camera policy.

Body worn cameras were not implemented that year, but the policy remained, though to my knowledge, it was not posted on the city website.

In the course of recent conversations about body worn cameras, some keen-eyed members of the public have pointed out that the city's recent grant application about body worn cameras mentions including the existing body worn camera policy, which raises the question of wait, what is that policy?

Where is it?

Um I asked, and the city attorney's office readily and helpfully provided it to me and pointed out it's a public record.

It's not uh needing to be redacted at all.

Not seeing any other way for me to promptly make this document available to people who have been asking about it and are interested.

I'm submitting it as a communication today.

Thanks.

Any discussion.

Seeing none, the items place no file.

Agenda item 4.14, a zoning ordinance by Counselor Davis, Counselor Ewan Campin, Counselor Klinging, Counselor Link, and Counselor Mbaugh proposing amendment to section 211 of the zoning ordinance regarding homeless shelters.

Council Ewan Campen.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um this was led by Councillor Davis, uh, and he reached out to me today just to ask me to say just a very brief introduction to this before we sub uh send it to land use.

Um so as many of us are aware, there was a lot of attention around a potential homeless shelter in Davis Square recently.

Um this amendment does not directly speak to that situation whatsoever.

That situation is covered by what's called the Dover Amendment because it's happening in a church.

But uh it started a conversation right around should we relook at where and we do and don't allow uh homeless shelters in the city.

So this is Councillors Davis's uh attempt to put that into ordinance um so that we can have a discussion about it um about changing those rules.

Um and that's what this is, and I ask that it be referred to land use with a copy to planning board, please.

Thank you.

Council Hartwan has sign on, as well as Council Said and Wheeler.

I guess we can just approve it right now.

Now we will refer this to the land use committee with a copy sent to the planning board.

Agenda item 415, a resolution by Councilor McLaughlin that the Commissioner of Public Works install a street light at the corner of Tufts and Washington Streets near the East Somerville Station Crosswalk to increase visibility and pedestrian safety.

If I can speak from the floor, because I do not we do not have a vice president right now.

Um I would like this to just be approved, and I'm looking at liaison Radasi.

Uh that this is a simple request that I don't need a full discussion on, but I hear the DPW is more open to it.

Uh could I get a head nod that you will talk to the DPW Commissioner?

Thank you very much.

This Adams approved.

Agenda item 416, a resolution by Councillor McLaughlin that the director of mobility use urban neighborways art on Perkin Street in front of the playground to increase pedestrian safety.

So I would like this one to refer to traffic and parking, and the reason why is uh this is a little playground in the neighborhood.

I've been told that we can't put a crosswalk there.

A speed bump is on the list for maybe a year, but some community artwork I think would go really far in uh slowing down traffic on this two-way street.

So I would like to get input from the city on this.

Uh this item is approved with a copy sent to traffic and parking.

Agenda item 4.18, an order by Councillor Lincoln, Councillor McLaughlin that the Commissioner of Public Works provide an update to this council on improvements made to custodial staffing at the East Somerville Community School.

Council Link.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

This is just a follow-up item uh to conversations that we've been having in the school buildings facilities and maintenance committee uh to you know um make sure that we're we're taking care of our kids.

New one sorry if we could refer that to the school buildings facilities and maintenance committee.

Okay.

This seen no discussion, the side is approved, was sent to the schools committee.

Agenda item 4.19, an order by Councillor Link and Counselor McLaughlin that the Commissioner of Public Works provide an update on the improvements made to the temperature in the Edgerly Education Center, cafeteria, and kitchen following the installation of the air conditioning unit.

Council Link.

Uh school buildings facilities and maintenance, please.

This item is approved, copy sent to school building maintenance.

Agenda item 4.20, a resolution by Counselor Link and Counselor Ewan Campen.

That the Director of Mobility evaluate the feasibility of implementing a raised intersection or crosswalk at the intersection of Columbus Avenue, Prospect Hill Parkway, and Stone Avenue, and report findings to the city council.

Council Link.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

So this one um is near and dear to my heart because it's uh um a place that I go regularly, but it's a place that my neighbors talk about regularly.

Um that there is uh a lot of different problems, one of which is that people will regularly go the wrong way down a one-way street.

Um the other problem is of course that um people speed and don't stop at the stop sign.

Um and it also happens to be the road that um funnels everyone in my neighborhood uh to the Argenziano School.

So it is a pretty um major school route.

Um so yeah, it I would love to see uh some some attention paid here at how to make this safer for the kids.

All right, would you like this referred to committee or uh yes, please?

Uh traffic and parking.

This items approved, copy sent to traffic and parking.

Agenda item 4.21, a resolution by Counselor Link and Councillor Saeed that the director of public space and urban forestry consider snow clearing requirements to maintain inclusive winter use when selecting turf materials for the new Kennedy School inclusive playground.

Councilor Link.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

So through this is um a uh we've heard from the uh from various parties that uh uh the materials that we have at some of our schools cannot be maintained um uh as they stand uh in the winter.

Uh so we should at when we're reviewing this whole uh park right now, uh we should maybe be looking at how to make sure that we can maintain that through the winter, um especially given the fact that uh it's meant to be a uh accessible playground.

Uh we want to make sure that that all kids um you know, regardless of their abilities are able to use it throughout the year.

Um so if we can send that to school buildings facilities and maintenance, please.

See no discussion, the items approved, sent to school buildings.

Agenda item 6B1, a report of the committee on land use meeting on May 7th, 2026.

Councilor Ewan Cameron.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The land use committee has two ordinances recommended for the full council tonight, but one of them we cannot act on because we do not have the recommendation from the planning board yet.

So we're gonna lay that one on the table and I'll talk you through this.

Um just one moment, excuse me.

So the first amendment is uh to the affordable housing overlay.

Um among other things, this will allow a hundred percent affordable buildings to go to eight stories from the current seven, and the reason for this is to accommodate mass timber, a new building construction technology.

Uh that is very wonderful, and you should Google Mass Timber buildings, they're extremely beautiful.

Um it also removes upper story stepbacks, so above the third story, like you no longer have to jut back because we were losing affordable units because of that.

And uh they're maintained if you are directly abutting uh much smaller buildings, so like a neighborhood residence, for example.

Um but in in most of these there's no longer upper story stepbacks.

That was serious feedback that we were hearing from the affordable housing community.

Um there are a few other relatively minor fixes.

I'm excited to say that this was unanimously approved.

I'm excited to have that before us for a vote tonight.

And the second item, which was unanimously recommended um after several amendments has to do with dormers.

So this um was proposed by members of the public who worked with the planning department for well over a year.

Um we also have many letters of support on tonight's agenda um regarding this dormer amendment.

But I just want to say it's it's not common that members of the public propose uh zoning amendment um that is ultimately recommended for approval because it's really hard to do zoning, and these folks really really put in a lot of work with the planning staff and with the community.

Um so basically, for folks who don't know, dormers, if you have a house with a slanted roof, dormers are like those things that give you a little bit extra room that kind of stick out of the slanted roof.

Um right now in our current zoning, there is a lot of restriction on how dormers can be built, and in particular, they can only be 50% of the width of the house, and they're required to be basically covered in windows.

Um it's created a lot of hardships for people who want to build you know more space for their kid or a family member or rent an apartment.

Um the applicants did a really compelling job of showing the challenges that these pose, and just to you know, residents that are trying to get more livable space in their house.

And they also did a great job showing across the city non-conforming examples that no one finds offensive, you know, that just you couldn't build these, but no one has a problem with them.

Um but the committee did make three changes to the public's proposal, and I just want to walk through these quickly.

Um these all followed recommendations from planning staff.

So the first change that we made is to require a two-foot setback from the front of the house.

Now this sounds minor, I think it is minor, but basically, without a front stepback, you basically you can turn any building into a cube, is what that would mean.

You know, not exactly a cube, but basically a cube.

Um not to say there's never a time and place for that, but we really felt like these are dormers.

They should look like dormers.

You still have a house like this that has dormers.

So it's two feet.

Um but I think it does actually make quite a big difference, a bit of difference in the architecture, and the committee agreed.

Um the second change that we made, um this is actually not really even related to dormers, but there was an independent part of the proposed amendment that would allow any building in NR, except backyard cottages, to be three stories, just uh a you know, flat cube, basically.

The the issue that we had with this was that first of all, it moots everything we're doing with dormers.

So like we we're we're changing, making it easier to build dormers, but then we're saying forget all that, you can just do full three stories.

And what that would mean in practice is that all these regulations are fully mooed because you go to ISD and they'd say, yeah, you could do anything up to three stories.

That's how zoning works.

You know, if the if the maximum is like a flat roof, you can do anything under that.

So we felt like if we do, as a city council, want to basically get rid of slanted roof houses as a building type in Somerville, okay.

But we should take that up separately as a meaningful conversation because kind of just slipping it into this dormer amendment did not seem like the appropriate way to have that conversation.

And last, we we removed these new dormer allowances from backyard cottages.

So there's a separate conversation that's gonna happen, you know, in the coming months around backyard cottages, ADUs.

Um we did not feel like this was the time to make them significantly bigger, um, which is what this amendment would have done.

So we're gonna have a separate conversation about ADUs in the future.

We removed that.

Um so before I asked for the acceptance, in order to actually make those amendments, we had staff uh prepare those changes, and the director of planning has submitted item 10.2 on tonight's agenda, 260851.

So I'd like to move to replace the dormer amendment with uh that item from Director Bartman.

Discussion on the motion.

Uh the motion is approved.

Excellent.

And the affordable housing overlay, there was like a very minor amendment that we made, but that was actually made to the text.

So with that, I think I'd like to ask for the committee report to be accepted.

All right, cool.

Several amendments.

Several items.

Okay, so I move to sever um the dormer amendment, which is Do you have the item for that, Madam Clerk?

The one that is that we're not going to do tonight is the dormers, excuse me.

It's uh 6B3.

So I'd like to sever this so that we can lay it on the table because we cannot act on it tonight.

Seeing no discussion, the item is severed.

And now we'll approve the committee report.

Uh seeing no discussion.

The committee report is approved to submitted.

So that puts the ordinance before us, right?

The affordable housing overlay ordinance.

I think we're 6B3 is the dormers that we are laying on the table.

Oh, your reference.

Your referring to the end of the I think 6B2.

Yes, and that puts 6B2 260204 in front of the body for enrollment and ordainment.

And on enrollment.

Counselor Unan Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon.

Yes.

Counselor Streso.

Yes.

Counselor Saeed.

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler.

Yes.

Counselor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Yes.

Counselor Mbaugh is absent and Counselor Davis is absent.

And on ordainment.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott.

Yes.

Counselor Klingon.

Yes.

Counselor Strazo.

Yes.

Counselor Said.

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler.

Yes.

Counselor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Yes.

Counselor Mbaugh is absent and Counselor Davis is absent.

The item is ordained.

All right.

Well, now we have the seventh item in front of us.

Mr.

President, if I may, that was our first zoning amendment of this city council.

I'm glad that it has to do with affordable housing.

It'll lead to more affordable housing getting built.

Congratulations to us.

And yes, I move to lay item 6B3 on the table till our next meeting, please.

Okay.

Seeing the discussion, the items laid on the table for the next meeting.

Next item.

Agenda item 6C1, a report of the committee on legislative matters meeting on April 28th, 2026.

Councillor Scott.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

We met for a uh brisk and productive two hours on that evening.

All members were in attendance.

At this meeting, the topic of conversation were the uh 2025 surveillance technology annual report as well as two surveillance technology impact reports.

One for something called crime tracer and one for uh body worn cameras.

The surveillance technology annual report is a very interesting document that I encourage everybody in the community to read, which goes through all of the different surveillance technologies that have been approved for use within the city of Somerville.

How many times, for example, they were used, in what manner they were used, what was done with the data.

Uh it's very helpful.

And it's also intended to include some uh information about how much it costs us to operate these surveillance technologies.

Uh there was a lot of conversation there.

Uh and at the conclusion of that conversation, the committee had various amendments that we were requesting in terms of additional data that we felt should be included in that annual report.

So that annual report was kept in committee.

It is my anticipation that uh the administration will be submitting a new revised one, I believe, at our next meeting.

Uh then uh for our surveillance technology impact reports, these are somewhat different.

These are specific to uh any given technology that a city department wants to employ in the city, and the city council must approve that impact report uh before that technology is used.

Now, in the case of our first submission here, which is for crime tracer, that's a database technology that was previously known as Coplink.

And uh the city has been using that for uh well longer than we've had this ordinance.

So this is a let's say uh the delayed compliance with the ordinance to have a surveillance technology impact report filed for it.

Uh and it is a uh actually a stunningly large piece of surveillance software.

So um there was a lot of conversation around that.

There were some questions made to um to update that and uh update the uh impact report.

I believe a version, a revised version has been submitted this evening, uh which will be referred to legislative matters for further discussion and potentially adoption at that point.

Uh finally, there was a surveillance technology impact report uh for body worn cameras.

Uh there was an extensive discussion there.

My thanks to uh Derek Rice, who came and gave a presentation on body worn camera policies, uh, and in particular an analysis of the one before us.

Uh there was no appetite from the committee to move forward uh on that that evening, so that also remained in committee.

Uh it is my understanding, just as a further uh note that the administration has uh has not communicated an intention to provide an amended body worn camera impact report.

So they're going with what they sent us.

Uh with that said, I would request that this uh committee meeting be accepted as submitted with all items uh either remaining in committee or marked work completed for the items that were sent the the public comment items.

Any discussion on the committee report?

Seeing none, the committee report is accepted as submitted.

Agenda item 61, a report of the committee on legislation.

Next one.

Oh, sorry, I'm reading the wrong legislative matters report.

There we go.

I got another one coming for you, sir.

Agenda item 61, a report of the committee on legislative matters meeting on May 5th, 2025.

Council Scott.

Thank you.

Back to back because we had a bonus week uh this month, and we've had a lot of items.

Uh so this meeting was a brisk uh hour and 23 minutes.

Uh one councilor absent, everybody else in attendance.

Uh and this was all about a variety of amendments to the rules and operations of the city council.

Um most of this is in the weeds for those of you who are particularly interested.

Uh it went into uh modifying the submission deadlines for agenda items, uh, which is now making it uh giving us actually a little bit more time to submit our items for agendas.

I believe now it's Tuesday at 12 30 when they have to be in by and uh also uh constrains when items will be accepted from the administration so that we uh remedy uh prevent for all time in the future, I hope, uh the practice of past administrations of uh heavily loading our agendas with late uh late/slash supplemental items.

Um there was also a uh ordinance uh that we discussed, which uh has been put forward by Councilor Davis with the uh well, I guess you're still our clerk for a few days, uh, to s recommend changing the date of our city council meetings to Tuesdays.

So there was some discussion around that.

I encourage you to check in on that uh and we will be talking about it again before too long.

Uh but for now that remains in committee.

We would love to hear everybody's opinions about that at some point before we bring that back for a vote.

Uh we also discussed a secondhand dealer license ordinance, which uh was a great discussion.

I know there are a few more items that are being worked on there, and so while that will not be on our next legislative matters agenda, I do anticipate um wrapping that up and getting it out of committee soon.

Uh and then the final thing to be kept uh in committee was the uh prohibition on the use of taxpayer funds for self-promotion.

I know that was something that Councillor Davis and uh then counselor Wilson put forward.

Uh but comms still wants to go over it and make sure that they they understand all the guidelines and what the exceptions are.

So I guess we'll hold on to that one as well, sir.

So that does give us one item for a roll call vote that was recommended to be approved.

That would be the uh deadline for submission of agenda items.

And with that, I request the report be accepted as submitted.

All right.

On the committee report.

I would like to add my two cents about the Tuesday versus Thursday uh meeting change.

I personally think if it's not broke, don't fix it.

I'm satisfied with Thursdays.

I think the whole city uh the schedule operates around this Thursday, late Thursday, early Friday schedule.

Um that's just my opinion.

I would love to hear the city's opinion in these meetings.

Uh so I just want to share my two cents on that.

Seeing no further discussion, the committee report is accepted as submitted.

And that puts agenda item 64 260354.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott.

Yes.

Counselor Klingon.

Yes.

Counselor Strazzo.

Yes.

Counselor Sae.

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler.

Yes.

Counselor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Yes.

Counselor Mbaugh is absent.

Counselor Davis is absent.

The item is approved.

All right.

Next item.

Agenda item six E1, a report of the committee on licenses and permits meeting on May 13th, 2026.

That's Councillor Hart.

There we go.

Yes.

Thank you.

Right committee this time.

Yes, we had a short um meeting yesterday evening with one item agenda.

Um we did uh recommend approval for the Eversource grant of location on Kent Street.

And we did put in a condition for the uh leaning poll uh which is slated to be repaired soon, we understand.

Through you, Mr.

President.

Council Scott.

Uh so could you could you read us the condition that's uh that was added to the permit?

Pardon me.

I actually don't have it with me at the moment.

Could um through you, Mr.

President.

Would it be possible for the clerk to read that?

Which item?

Uh the condition on the grant of location, item 26-0525.

You got that, madam clerk.

Yes, give me one moment and I can pull it up.

Apologies, the system is loading over zero.

All right, so the condition just for anybody who didn't have a microphone there, it was for uh poll one nine one-zero to be repaired.

Is that before the work on that grant allocation is conducted?

All right.

This seems like a grand experiment, Mr.

President Pro Tem.

Uh let's see if a condition requiring a poll to be repaired uh actually results in that poll being repaired.

Uh just through you to the chair.

Um, when would you like to circle back around on the completion of that work?

I I will check in at the next meeting.

Great.

Um you know what I'll also just uh keep my eye on the area, and if they dig the trenches before they actually fix that poll, I guess we'll have to get more pointed in our language next time.

I mean, I could, but I trust, I trust the chair.

Okay.

All right.

Let's see how this works, Mr.

President.

Madam Clerk, this will be the last time I ever tell you you should step up to the podium when you speak.

Don't let me make me say it again.

Next uh uh can we continue with the report.

I apologize.

Yes, uh I move to accept the report as submitted.

All right, seeing no discussion.

The committee report is accepted as submitted.

Agenda item six F1, a report of the committee on school building facilities and maintenance meeting on April 30th, 2026.

Council Link.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

So we met for just over an hour.

Um, and we continued our conversation um about the potential of using the coming school as a teen center, learning um that it may cost as much as thirty million dollars to bring uh so that the coming schools to actually two buildings kind of stuck together, um, which adds a lot of different complications uh and bringing both those buildings uh up to code would uh cost maybe as much as thirty million dollars.

And bringing both those buildings up to code would cost maybe as much as 30 million dollars.

And we learned that there's a five-ton AC that is going to be added to control the temperatures in the kitchen so that meals can be prepared year-round without anyone having any risks of fainting or anything like that.

Speaking of temperature control, we also spoke to Commissioner Weisman about uh fixing a faulty radiator that led to uh an especially hot classroom.

Um we talked about some uh concerns uh for mold and humidity in a uh closet in the Kennedy building.

Uh and um one of the things we learned from that is that kind of there's not really uh a um there hasn't been a process put in place for how to deal with that kind of concern.

Uh so uh in addition to um DPW going to investigate the problem, they also are gonna be work on uh a way to systematize um dealing with these kinds of um uh uh potential issues.

Uh and then um finally we uh also got uh an update on uh the MSBA MSBA process at uh 115 Sycamore Street for the new school.

Uh we learned that the MS MSBA wanted um more information, uh and the really great news was um that uh uh director Rish and his department uh foresaw that request, had the information ready, um, and was able then to therefore uh you know skip what could potentially have been months of delay.

Uh and interestingly, um one of the questions that was asked um was what a school the size that is proposed for 115 sycamore, what if that was um put onto uh the Brown School instead, which would have resulted in something like a 17-story school, um, which obviously nobody really wants.

Um, but uh it was an interesting little fun fact.

Uh with that, uh I submit that this report be accepted as submitted.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, the committee report is accepted as submitted.

6G1 report of the committee on sustainability and infrastructure meeting on April 29th, 2026.

Council Klingon.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, all members were present.

Um we had a two-hour and twenty-two-minute meeting.

We discussed a variety of things.

Um I had a couple of snow-related items that I sent back to committee.

Uh, they were all related to um ADA compliance and and um making sure that our streets and sidewalks are cleared for people with disabilities.

I didn't feel at the first meeting that we um gave it its proper attention, uh, seeing as it's such a huge issue, especially with regards to curb cuts.

So that was the bulk of the conversation.

I'll I'll get into that in just a second.

But um the first thing we one of the things we discussed was uh an order by counselor Hart as far as about uh street sweeping.

Uh director post away stated that uh one of the reasons is consistency, but the other big reason why we uh street sweep so much, like so often, and we don't go to a once a month uh system is because it prevents uh debris and chemicals like salt and gas and just vehicle uh chemicals, oil, et cetera, from entering the public waterways.

Uh so it helps keep water quality uh in our waterways better.

We discussed um an order by counselor wheeler to 311 about constituent services.

Um Director Craig came and gave a good presentation on uh the process of how they route 311 calls and other things they have in the works to improve uh 311's ability to help people when they call, especially with regards to the example that was given around um people that are maybe trying to help someone who is unhoused or looking to get into substance abuse treatment.

Um we discussed the process for disposal of surplus items.

Uh we were given a memorandum with a legal explanation as to why we cannot readily give away uh items to city staff or the general public if an item is valued more than $50.

Definitely check out the video on that.

That was good.

And then the like I said, the bulk of it was regards to these to to the snow removal and also to putting dumpsters in if a dumpster ends up in a handicapped spot.

That c the contractors are supposed to, if if if it if there's a handicapped spot in front of where their project is, and naturally that's the closest location, you know, they're not gonna want to be across the street lug and stuff.

They should they are not allowed to put it there in a handicapped spot.

They are supposed to work with traffic and parking to temporarily early relocate the uh the spot.

As for the snow removal, you know, I I really just wanted to have a conversation.

Essentially, um, we had Holly Simeone was on the call.

She had supplied me with some uh really uh uh a bunch of photos uh that she took around the city um with her where where there was snow in uh put into handicapped spots or they weren't properly cleared.

Um and so you know obviously the DPW does a great job when they do the best they can.

I mean the plow guys are out there to keep the roads clear and safe.

We all agree that there needs to be a much bigger effort um as far as keeping the curb cuts safe.

And the mayor um my understanding is they're working on a potentially like a you know, sort of a shovel brigade that would would help uh go out where um there are like business district curb cuts or like like areas where the city is is definitely uh on the hook for, but obviously we need enforcement around uh getting the message to people that if they are but a curb cut that it technically is their responsibility.

But um it wasn't to sort of you know beat up uh director Weissman was what gave a a ton of time to this uh in this committee.

Uh the first one being uh a really long presentation um about how they go through this process.

And then this one was really just eye-opening, I think, for everybody just really to do a check and say we can do a lot better.

I mean, certainly it's gonna cost more money, it's gonna take more resources and more labor, but right now, you know, we're getting the bare minimum done, which is making sure vehicles can get around safely.

Uh, but we have so much more to do, and I think if we work together, and certainly I think it was really educational and eye-opening.

Uh obviously we're coming into the summer, so I think like a revisit um discussion, you know, as we approach winter, I think would be really helpful to just kind of re remind people.

It's you know, when you look at some of the pictures, you just realize that um if you're trying to traverse the city as somebody either in a wheelchair or with a disability, um, you know there's just a lot to be desired.

We have a long way to go before we're we can safely say that we're doing all we can to make sure that that's the reality on the ground.

Um, and everybody's on the same page as far as getting there.

It's just like I said, it's gonna take time, money, and res uh resources and labor.

So um we had a good discussion about that, and uh hopefully we'll have some solutions going forward.

With that, I asked that the committee report be accepted or submitted.

Any discussion on the committee report?

Seeing none, the committee report is accepted or submitted.

Agenda item 6H1 report of the committee on traffic and parking meeting on April 27th, 2026.

Council Said.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

The traffic and parking committee met with all three members present.

Most items were kept in committee due to clerk coverage issues.

We met for just about we took up three items related to parking on Oak Bolton and Prospect Streets.

Uh we heard from constituent who spoke on behalf of 64 neighbors who submitted the letter to the committee that outlines ongoing parking and safety issues from neighboring construction projects.

And um what they described as insufficient enforcement.

Uh we heard from Director Rinfret.

Um she said that traffic on parking um have been issuing tickets and have this area as high priority.

Uh we heard from Director Pulse Wait, he shared that the projects have traffic plans and there's communication between engineering and the police, uh, and also ISD when there's clear violation of safety protocols.

He added that when a developer doesn't follow traffic plan, the enforcement is done by ISD.

Um, and SPD is in charge of uh towing.

Uh we kept these items in committee so we can take them up this month, next week, actually, um, so that we can hear from ISD and SPD regarding enforcement.

Uh we kept the rest of the items in committee.

Um they mentioned we only had an hour and a half as the clerk had to leave.

Uh with that, I ask that this committee report uh be approved as submitted.

Uh council Scott.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President Pro Tem.

Through you, I just want to thank the chair and the members of the committee for uh uh devoting such time and attention to uh very ward two issue in some ways, but also a citywide issue.

I mean, the wherever we up zone, there will be construction as what we want to happen.

But uh I think it's clear from the experience of these neighbors and the research that they've done uh that we need more proactive mechanisms here.

So um while folks are appreciative for the discussion, I believe there are still more questions to be asked and uh perhaps more of a discussion to be had.

I've already heard tell that some of them are motivating for a public hearing about some of these issues.

So hopefully I look forward to the discussion in the next time uh traffic and parking meets.

And I just wanted to extend my gratitude to the chair and members for uh for really diving in and taking that constituent letter and going through point by point.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair, uh, to to these points and with appreciation to uh my committee chair, counselor Saeed.

Um I wanted to to appreciate the participation from city staff and from the traffic and parking department on this.

Uh one of the things they explained uh that they take very seriously is that uh when there are contractors whose vehicles have outstanding tickets and they are coming asking for uh a parking permit for a new project uh or a new parking permit for an existing project that they're insisting that they they pay off these tickets, that they they can't just accumulate tickets more and more and more.

Um thing they're not currently doing, but they were patient about entertaining the idea around is uh is connecting the uh contracting project that a uh a given contractor vehicle might have a hanging green uh parking permit uh for the ticket itself.

And uh they shared that that would require some different procedures.

It could be a more uh complex complex process.

Uh but uh I think many of us were were curious about the possibilities for that moving forward of saying uh whether it's this particular vehicle that's got a bunch of tickets or it's a a contractor uh or a developer who has a project, and that project as a whole is frequently getting lots of parking tickets um and perhaps not taking parking rules in the neighborhood terribly seriously, uh, that that be something that's taken into account when they are coming and asking for parking permits.

We want to reward people who are trying to do right by the community as they're juggling all the things they're juggling.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none of the committee report is accepted as submitted.

Agenda item 7.1, a request of the mayor.

Requesting approval of an amendment to the assembly square district improvement financing district map and program to include the assembly square fire station, 45 Middlesex Avenue, and improvements to the intersection of Middlesex Avenue and Mystic Av.

And this item we refer to finance Agenda Item 7.2, request of the mayor requesting your approval of a home rule petition to authorize the city of Somerville to regulate leases and tenancy at will agreements.

So we refer to legislative matters.

Agenda item 7.4.

A request of the mayor.

See no discussion, these items will be referred to the finance committee.

7.17, a request of the mayor requesting approval of the 2026-2027 housing and urban development, one-year action plan for the community development block grant, home investment partnership, and emergency solutions grant programs.

This item referred to housing community development.

And equity.

Yes.

Agenda item 718, a request of the mayor requesting approval of the surveillance technology impact report for crime tracer.

Agenda item 719, a request of the mayor requesting approval of an exemption for Lindsay Buffington as required by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 268A, Section 20B.

Finance.

Mr.

President.

Yes, Council Ewan Cameron.

Can we take up this with items 720, 21, and 22 and take them all as well?

Council Wheeler move Council U and Cameron moves to a waive the readings of 720, 21 and 22 to discuss in no discussion.

The items are before us.

Did you have a comment?

Council Wheeler.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Just being new, I was curious about exactly what these types of items are.

Are they requests by Councillor Scott?

Council Scott.

And I was also waving to uh liaison Rodassi.

Yeah.

These are uh routine requests from the administration uh to basically provide a disclosure um of financial conflict under conflict of interest law.

Uh it's to allow somebody who works for the city to also uh have a second job at the city or um somebody who does volunteering.

So these are usually very routine.

Um, but I'd encourage you to take them into finance uh since they are financial conflict of interest matters, and you can look them over there if you like.

I see liaison rodasse moving to the front.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you to Councillor Scott, thanks for the explanation.

Um I just wanted to say we would like to seek immediate consideration on all four of these items.

As Councillor Scott explained, um, I think all four uh SPS staff that would like to have coaching jobs with parks and recreation.

Um it says recreation specialists and out Council McLaughlin, you would ask about that, so it's coaching jobs um that are usually seasonal.

Council Wheeler.

Well, I move to approve these items.

All right, seeing no further discussion, these items are approved.

Agenda item 7.24, a mayor's communication proclaiming May 2026 to be Jewish American Heritage Month.

Uh the mayor's office asks for us to lay this on the table for full discussion at the next meeting.

Is there any uh discussion on that?

Sound we lay it on the table for next meeting.

Agenda item 725, a communication from the mayor proclaiming May 2026 to be Haitian American Heritage Month.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, this item is placed on file.

Agenda item 7.26, a request of the mayor requesting confirmation of the appointment of Christopher Kamara to the position of police officer.

Seeing no discussion as uh item to approve or refer to confirmation of appointments.

Does anyone have a preference?

So the chair is not here right now.

Liaison Rodasse.

I'm sorry, I should speak on these.

Uh I'm vice chair.

Uh I move to recommend to we approve item 726 and tonight.

Uh and 27 and uh send 728 to committee.

Any discussion.

Seeing none, items 7.26 and 7.27 are approved, and item 7.28 is referred to confirmation of appointments.

Agenda item 7.29.

A mayor's communication conveying the appointment of Gregory Cohen to the public financing of campaigns committee.

This item is placed on file.

Agenda item 8.1, an officer's communication from the city clerk conveying her resignation effective May 17th, 2026.

We've come a long long way.

No.

Clerk Wells, please uh come up and submit your resignation for us.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and I appreciate the recognition.

I'm shaking a little for like probably all the wrong reasons because this is an emotional moment for me.

So I want to take a moment to thank you all.

It has been truly an honor to work for this council for the past almost five years.

You've challenged me, you've encouraged me, and you've supported me to move this city forward.

I want to extend a special thank you to the presidents that I've served under, Councilor McLaughlin, Councilor Ewan Campen, Counselor Davis, former Councilor Panita Newfeld.

You've been true partners in public service, and I appreciate the trust that each of you placed in me to shape and guide the council's path.

I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to my team in the clerk's office.

You helped me pave this path.

This my success here in this role is because you were behind me.

I was able to build these skills and be ready to take on the role of CAO because you are an absolute powerhouse of a team.

You're welcoming, you're diligent, and you're receptive to new ideas.

Your consistent and exceptional public service is a true testament to this city, and the residents and customers are so lucky that we have you.

I will deeply miss serving alongside you every day, but I look forward to championing and supporting your work as part of the administration.

I would also, though, like to take this opportunity to celebrate with you all because we've had a lot of wins during my tenure, and I could not have had even a fraction of this success without the unyielding support of this city council.

So, in no particular order, I'm happy to share that together we have increased access and transparency to city government and information.

We implemented new legislative management software, and we migrated all the data to maintain access to records dating back to 2010.

We implemented a transition to the Zoom platform for the city council and over 40 boards and commissions.

We implemented new vital records software.

We implemented a new marriage process, removing the requirement for gender, and then we pushed the state to do that for everyone.

We created internal trainings for city staff on municipal government, on meeting management and records access.

We designed and implemented a citywide outdoor dining program.

We implemented new dog licensing software.

We implemented a genealogy search process.

A lot of people love Ancestry these days.

We implemented new ordinance hosting software.

And so now we can make real-time updates for both zoning and the code of ordinances.

We secured grant funding for and we implemented records management program that will soon be citywide.

We completed a scanning and archiving project for all special permit granting authority and board of alderman records that opened up an entire basement worth of space for other uses.

You'll see those online very soon.

I was not quite able to get that across the finish line, but I promise it's really close.

We created and hosted the first municipal civics academy in the city.

We hired and trained the first ever staff for the city council, and now we have a legislative and policy analyst, a finance analyst, a land use analyst, and project assistants.

We streamlined block party and public event and special alcohol license processes.

We revamped the marijuana process.

I'm almost done.

We passed a comprehensive charter.

We draft, we uh created a drafting manual and new legislative processes.

We onboarded three new classes of city counselors, and we created a new format for councillors college.

We provided alternative communication cards and telephonic interpretation for counselors to better serve your constituents.

We began providing braille agendas and closed captioning.

We even added a city council section to the newsletter.

I will in fact stop there because I know that you have a meeting to finish.

But really the point is that I'm going to very deeply miss engaging with you on matters large and small.

And I hope that you'll continue to consider me a resource, a sounding board, and a friend.

I look forward to continuing to be in regular contact with the team and to working together for the benefit of the city of Somerville.

I also want to say to the constituents of this city that it has been a joy to serve you in City Hall, and I look forward to serving you in new ways.

I am going to very much miss chatting at the counter with small business owners and celebrating joyous wedding occasions, but I can't wait to focus more on improving systems and services to help ensure that every single engagement with our city is a great one.

I am so excited to enter this next phase of my governance career and to work alongside all of you for hopefully many years to come.

Your trust in me as your city clerk has meant the world to me, and I hope to continue to earn it in my role as CAO.

Thank you.

Council Clergan.

Thank you, Ms.

President.

Through you, um Kim, you know how much we're gonna miss you.

Um, I had the pleasure of serving under John Long as clerk for a period of time.

Um and then you and you just you just brought a whole different vibe to the clerk's office.

Um you brought this clerk's office into you know the 2nd century or whatever we're on.

Um but seriously, that you're I mean, you're you're an overachiever, you're a com consummate professional.

I mean, I can't uh say enough good things about you, and I'm glad that you're not going very far.

Um, but certainly, you know, it is definitely gonna be um a loss for us as as a council.

Um but like you said, you'll still be close by and a resource, and I know that you did a really great job picking your predecessor, so I look forward to working with them as well.

But um thank you for your service and thank you uh for your uh friendship and for everything you've done for the city and will do for the city.

I appreciate it.

Counselor Campus.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um one of the really crazy things about our time on the city council has been that it's been for me post-Trump, right?

Like I joined after 2016.

Um and he's had this crazy assault on civil servants, you know, the swamp, all this poll uh BS.

And um, you know, working with you uh uh through the president.

It's hard to like describe to the public what it means to work with a true civil servant, you know.

Um I've just watched you work with everybody.

Doesn't matter what their priorities are, what their politics are, where they're coming from.

Um it's so I mean it's so helpful on a day-to-day basis, but it's also just so like edifying and inspiring and moving.

Um, you know, the the years I spent as president just working really up close with you, it was just mind-boggling every single time we worked here.

Anytime there was anything a little bit complicated or super complicated.

Um it was always you know, watching your expertise and kind of just humanness through all that was you know incredibly inspiring.

So thank you for everything you do.

I'm very glad you're not really leaving.

Thank you.

I just want to say briefly uh through you, Mr.

President, to Clerk Wells.

Um just to appreciate you when I started, you know, kind of um at an unusual time, and you were just so helpful and your attitude of really joy, I would say, about just everything and such um enjoyment in solving problems um was just so appreciated, and so thank you so much for everything Council Say.

Uh through you, Mr.

President, Kim.

Thank you.

Thank you for your service.

Thank you for your dedication to our city, to our constituents.

Um yeah, so my experience is getting on the council, as you all know.

This is that kind of job where you know you don't really get drained, you're learned to do it, you know.

Um the go.

And you were always there for anything they asked, you know, small or big.

You were always there trying to look for a solution.

Uh always be grateful uh when you got on the council, as you know, partially deaf and it works here in eight, and you know, it was nervous, and and Kim was just like, I'm looking into it.

We're gonna have close captioning in a week.

It made it happen.

So for you know, not just me, but everyone uh, you know, who attends our meetings now has this.

I don't know if it was in your list, but that's like one that's really important.

Uh so thank you for everything you do, and I'm excited for you and for the next chapter.

Councillor Wheeler and Strasbourg, Council Stressor and Wheeler.

Through the president.

Uh Kim, I've only caught the tail end of your your many years of service.

But that's all I I needed to uh to see how incredibly valuable you've been uh to everyone who's been on the council, to so many people from the community and to the entire city.

Uh I had a teacher once who liked to say, of course, like teachers always do.

She said this like 40 times while I had her, that the most important thing in the world is patience.

But the second most important thing in the world is impatience for nonsense.

And that's a hundred percent what popped into my head about uh how great it's been to work with you, how much I've gotten out of working with you.

Um just just deeply appreciate your your service to all of us.

Thank you.

Clerk Wells.

Um thank God we didn't lose you to Boston.

Um thank you for your integrity, your grace.

Um you inspire.

And the city is a better place with you here, with your presence.

Um yes, what you've done um is incredible, but what you're going to do in the next years to come, I can't wait to see and just crank the dial because I know you will, and delighted that we can still continue to work together.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you to our esteemed clerk.

Um I'm not sure I can say anything complimentary uh that I haven't said to you before.

Um I can be quite effusive.

But I just want to say uh you're a consummate civil servant.

Uh just absolute top class in the way you approach the job and the the responsibilities of it.

Uh in addition to all the work that you've done to move the city and the processes of the city forward uh with the uh minimal patience for uh nonsense.

Um I also want to say I I have always appreciated the humor that you have brought to this job, and uh it has sometimes sustained me through some very difficult meetings.

I think one of the things that's maybe understated about you is the amount of eloquence that with which you've been able to communicate your feelings just by seeing your eyes poking over the top of those monitors then over the years.

So I've always appreciated it.

And uh it has been literally the only thing that's gotten me through some of these meetings.

So uh thank you for all of your service, and I look forward to your continued service to the city of Somerville.

Council Link.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, through you to our amazing clerk now CAO.

Um, you know, I spent a lot of time watching and listening to these city council meetings, and I was always so excited uh when I thought about like you know, the people I was gonna work with, and that included you and um I uh I begrudgingly will not mourn the the loss of that opportunity because I know that it this is really a huge win for the city, but um, you know, I uh I just I can't say anything better than what everyone else has already said.

So I just want to say that um you know from my heart that it it's I I've feel so thankful that that you're you're part of the this city.

The city is very fortunate to never know how truly inept and incompetent this council would be.

We're not for Clerk Wells.

Um the entire clerk's department as well uh that prop all of us up every day.

Um I listened to Clerk Wells and now CAO Wells talk about the many list of accomplishments that that department had, and those are many accomplishments that I brag about all the time and say I did this.

But I put an order in, and a team of people made this happen.

People who don't get the recognition and they don't get to go out and campaign and put on their campaign literature that they passed a charter, that they got a land use analyst, that they got all these different things.

Uh we put in the work, we put in the request, but other people do all the work.

And Kim has led the way for several years on this.

Uh, as the president of the council for three years, you really propped me up.

Uh, we even just as simple as knowing what to read next.

Uh is very helpful.

And even as the president, you would sometimes forget all the other work that goes into it outside of odd day-to-day tasks.

So I feel strange saying goodbye to you because I'm gonna keep seeing you and you're moving on to bigger and better things, but we're all very grateful for you.

If I may, please.

I'll just close with thank you all for saving the trash talk until after the meeting, so the public doesn't know all the bad things you think about me.

Um and if the legacy that I leave is to be remembered for not suffering nonsense, I'm good with that.

Thank you.

This item is placed on file.

Agenda item 8.2 and offers communication from the city clerk conveying block party licenses issued.

This item is placed on file.

Agenda item 9.1.

Councillor Hart.

Thank you.

I would like to wave the meetings of 9.1 to 9.43.

And 10 point 3 and 10.4 and approve them this evening.

Seeing no discussion, these items are approved.

9.44, a public communication from 25 residents submitting comments regarding item number 26-0287, a zoning text amendment to amend the zoning to amend multiple zoning ordinance sections.

This item is placed on file.

Agenda item 9.45 a public communication.

I'd like to weigh the readings of 9.45 to 9.49 and place them all on file.

Any discussion?

Seeing none of these items are placed on file.

Agenda item 10.1, an officer's communication from the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management conveying that a public hearing on proposed FY27 water and sewer rates will be held on May 28th, 2026, pursuant to Section 11 125 of the code of ordinances.

Discussion on this item.

Council Strezzo.

Thank you.

You know it.

Um is this I is this hybrid?

What's the location again?

Uh this is uh communication.

Right.

Uh but where is it going to be held?

It doesn't say on the Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, so the uh officers communication before you is just a um uh a courtesy so that it would be on the agenda.

Um Rich uh Director Rage did send out an email yesterday um informing you of the date, and his team is currently working on public noticing the hearing.

Um from what I understand, it will be held both virtually via Zoom and in person at the water conference.

They said water.

They told me water to what that's what it's called, water conference.

Water conference.

Um so those will be posted on the city's website and in the local newspaper.

Yep.

Okay.

Further discussion.

See none of this items placed on file.

Agenda item 10.5, a public communication from Urban Forestry Committee submitting comments about 90 Washington Street.

This item is placed on file.

Agenda item 10.6, a public communication from John Henderson submitting comments about item 26 0750, a grant of location to install 10 feet of conduit next to 135 Hudson Street.

This item is placed on file.

Let's send this to um the license and permits committee to go with that item.

Brings us to the end of our agenda.

Are there any late items?

There are no further items before the body.

Seeing no further items, this I uh council is adjourned.

I move to adjourn the