Recording in progress.

We now call this meeting of the summer of the city council to order.

Pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2025.

This meeting of the summer of the city council may be conducted via remote participation.

Please know we will post an audio recording, audio video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of this proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Samavi website and local cable access government channels.

And will be available for future review.

Would the clerk please call the role?

That's his roll call.

Councilor Ewan Campen.

Here.

Councillor Link.

Here.

Counselor Scott.

Present.

Councillor Klingon.

Present.

Councillor Strazzo.

President.

Counselor Said.

Here.

Counselor Wheeler.

Counselor Hart.

Here.

Councilor McLaughlin?

Here.

Councillor Mbaugh?

Present.

And Counselor Davis.

With nine members present, we have quorum.

Thank you.

Pursuant to our Rule 32.

Let it be known that this city council salutes the flag of the United States of America.

Let us recall our oaths to uphold the constitutions and the laws of the Commonwealth to the best of our abilities and understanding.

We'll begin with a moment of silence.

Are there any counselors who wish to speak about community members?

Councillor Klingon.

Mr.

President, thank you.

Scott Michael McPherson.

He's of Cambridge, but he is somewhat of a relative of mine.

So Scott was the chair son of the late Robert McPherson and the late Barbara Duquette McPherson.

He leaves behind a loving family who will forever hold him in their hearts, including his sisters, Patricia Brown of Beverly, Tammy Brown Perez of San Francisco, and his brothers Robert Bobby McPherson of Marlborough and Sean McPherson of Salem.

Scott took great pride in his career as a union laborer and scaffolder.

He genuinely loved his work and was grateful for many lifelong friendships he built along the way.

He was known for his kind heart, easygoing nature, and loyalty he showed for those to those fortunate enough to call him a friend.

Outside of work, Scott found joys and life's simple pleasures.

He loved spending time on his boat, trying his luck with lottery tickets and never missed a daily Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee.

Though Scott faced health challenges throughout his life, he met them with remarkable strength, determination, and courage.

He was a true fighter who refused to let adversity define him.

Scott's memory will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.

His kindness, quiet strength, and unwavering love for his family and friends will never be forgotten.

Scott leaves behind uh two children, my half-nephead, who passed away a few years ago, and uh his and Scott's other child, his daughter Jessica uh Trombley of Methuman, I think.

Uh and I ask that we remember uh Scott in our thoughts and prayers this evening.

Thank you.

Any other counselor Wheeler?

Uh thank you through the president.

Um I want to uh to recognize the passing of a community member uh Fernanda Ferrara Um who uh was for a long time an unhoused individual uh did find housing with the help of some of uh some of our wonderful local organizations and uh passed away recently.

Her passing, she she was a mother, a beloved community member, and uh her passing is a reminder of the commitment that we all need to make to uh the most vulnerable among us.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Wheeler.

Any other would everyone in the chamber, you know, with above please rise for these individuals.

Thank you.

And these items are thank you, Maddie.

And 7.7.

I may um I apologize for this for not flagging it earlier.

But items 4.2 and 4.4 are items that uh residents are here for, and I don't believe it will take that much time.

I don't know if it's possible to take those out of out of order.

Which items?

Uh 4.2 uh about the Mass Nurses Association and 4.4 about the uh disability act.

Okay.

I don't think they will take that long.

Absolutely.

And so 4.

Yeah, I mentioned 4.2.

We can we can take 4.4 as well.

Yeah, of course.

You know.

So next item, Madame Clerk.

Next item is 1.3 approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of June 11, 2026.

See no objection, that item is approved.

Oh, so this there's an amendment to the item.

Yes, there was amendment to Chris Duan's name.

It's spelled incorrectly in the minutes.

So this uh an amendment to you know amend the honorable duan, you know, to his correct name.

So any objection to the amendment.

I think the amendment is approved.

And so do we need any?

I don't think there's any roll call anymore for that.

I I don't think so.

I believe because we have one member remote, we would have to do a roll call.

Okay.

Oh no, never mind.

Just motion to make uh approve the amended minutes.

Um absolutely thank you.

So next item, the item is approved.

So the next item is 2.1 by Councillor Umba commending Janine Pagliaro on the auspicious occasion of her retirement after over 38 years of dedicated service.

So this is an item from the clerk's office, and I would just read it so that you know uh it's always good that we recognize the hardworking, you know, uh employees of the city in the office of the city clerk.

So this is this citation is for Janine.

And the citation reads be a year by known to all that the sum of the city council and the mayor offer their sincerest commendations to Janine Pagliaru on the auspicious occasion of her retirement after over 38 years of dedicated service to the city, most of which was served in the office of the city clerk.

She capably served four city clerks along with numerous ordermen, city councillors, licensing commission, members, and the public, and was a constant welcoming face in the office.

Her calm guidance, expertise, and thoughtful insight were appreciated by those who work with her.

So we congratulate Janine.

I think I don't think she's she's here today, but uh we'll we'll hand this citation to her.

So the item is approved.

Next item, Madam Clerk.

Next item is 3.1, Everstource applying for a grant of location to install seven feet of conduit in Wheatland Street from utility poll four one forty-one slash two to a point of pickup at six Wheatland Street.

This public hearing is now open.

Is there anyone who wish to speak on the item?

Mr.

President, we have uh Miss Jackie Duffy here to speak.

Jackie Duffy.

You have the floor, Jack Duffy.

How are you?

It's Jackie Daphne Eversewers.

We'd like to install approximately seven feet of conduit from poll fourteen over two to service six Wheatland Street.

Thank you, Jack Fidafi.

Uh anyone else who wish to speak on this item.

Is there anyone online, Madam Clerk?

You can rate use the raise hand function if you have anything to say.

I'm saying no one, Mr.

President.

Okay, so this public hearing is now closed.

Any discussion on the item?

Councillor Strezzo.

Uh thank you, Ms.

President.

Uh I this is in Ward 4, and I'm seeing that uh actually all of these items, if I may, through you to uh Jackie Duffy of Ephersource.

Good evening, uh Ms.

Duffy Good evening.

I'm hearing a lot from constituents not in any of these words, looks like uh on tonight's agenda, but uh uh having um issues with Eversource and the ability to consistently give power uh in and consistent energy with the summer.

So as we have these three items on on this, uh has there been any any thoughts on on how we're going to manage this summer with Eversource and these three items.

Uh what you mean by give power.

Give with the outers with the summer time you mean okay.

That um I that's not my area.

We'll we're gonna have to come back to you on that.

Yes, and for these three, but I can I can't bring it back to the division.

In its you uh in its word four, you said uh actually six, unfortunately, not on this agenda.

But um I will be uh waiting for an email from you and okay and we can take this offline.

Definitely want to discuss this.

Thank you.

Okay.

Yep.

We've had a lot of outages this summer with all the storms and everything.

Correct.

I'm not hearing about this in word four.

I mean you have the word counselor here, but having a ward six, and we don't have a word six counselor here tonight.

Okay, Councillor Strazo?

Okay.

Any other discussion on the item?

The item is approved.

Next item, Madam Clerk.

Next item is 3.2.

Eversource applying for a grant of location to install 4.5 feet of conduit in Line Street from utility poll 211 slash seven to a point of pickup at 62 Line Street.

I declare this public hearing open.

Is there anyone who wishes to speak on the item?

Yeah, Jeffy Source would like to install approximately five feet of conduit in Line Street to provide electric service to 62 Line Street.

Anyone online?

Is there anyone not in clerk?

There is no one, Mr.

President.

Okay, so this public hearing is now closed.

Any discussion on the item?

Ms.

President.

Councillor Scott.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

This is in Ward 2, and uh I am sad to say uh I'm happy to say poll two and one slash seven is a perfectly fine utility poll.

Unfortunately, the very next poll down the street 211 slash eight is a doubled poll.

It has been for many years.

Uh through you to Ms.

Duffy.

What is the replacement schedule on poll 211 slash eight?

Uh that I I do not know.

I'd have to go back to the division and ask them.

Can you give me the poll number again, please?

211 slash eight.

211 slash eight.

Okay.

Uh Ms.

President, I am considering whether or not to recommend this go to committee so that we can get that answer before we proceed on it.

Okay.

Uh uh is this uh Jackie, is this to support new construction at 62 lines?

Yes, it is.

Yes, it is, and this customer's been waiting.

And you're on your session too, right?

Not we won't have anything to lock to August.

Yeah, normally I would send this to committee given that we have uh meetings every two weeks of that committee, thanks to the good good counselor from Ward 7.

But we are about to enter a six-week legislative recess, and so I don't want to overly burden the homeowner.

Uh that said, uh Ms.

Duffy, I would appreciate an answer to that, follow up by email.

Uh sure.

And we will uh hopefully get that poll address shortly, or we can address it in September when we return.

Thank you.

Okay.

I'll send you an email.

Okay.

See any other discussion on the item?

Since none, the item is approved.

Next item, Madam Clerk.

Next item is 3.3.

Eversource applying for a grant of location to install a total of 199 feet of conduit in Elm Street from utility poll 112 slash 31 to manhole 18932, an additional conduit from a manhole 18932 to a point of pickup at 199 Elm Street.

I declare this public hearing open.

Is there anyone who wish to speak on the item?

Jackie.

Jackie Deffy Eversource.

Uh would like to install approximately 154 feet of conduit um on Elm Street to provide electric service to 199 Elm Street.

Anyone else who won who wish to speak on this item?

Hope there's nobody online.

Just give it an eye.

I don't see that.

Okay.

So I declare this public year in closed.

Any discussion on this item?

See none.

The item is approved.

Thank you.

Have a nice summer session.

Mr.

President, before Jackie leaves.

Can I just ask a question?

Oh, I should have do we need do we can reconsider the item?

Thank you, yeah, Ms.

President.

This would be on item number um three point one.

I I should have spoke up sooner.

I could just make a call.

Okay, so 3.1.

So uh Madame Clerk.

So we'll we'll move to reconsider the I uh item number 3.1.

Okay.

Can you read the item?

Yes.

3.1 Everstor is applying for a grant of location to install seven feet of conduit in Wheatland Street from utility poll 141 slash two to a point of pickup at six Wheatland Street.

So the item is being reconsidered.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I appreciate that.

Through you to Miss Duffy.

Um Ms.

Duffy, uh six Wheatland.

Um what is the nature of the line that's being is this for the the the current owner to uh I'm on I'm unclear.

It's a it's an abandoned house that they're waiting to do work on that they said probably won't happen until the fall.

I'm just curious what this line achieves.

And they're proposing it for a multifamily residential building.

Okay.

Um we get we get the pro we get the request, so that's why it came before you before they did anything.

That's what happens.

Okay.

Um I actually would ask that this gets sent to committee.

I have some concerns um around this particular uh connection and this particular property.

So if it's too late, it's too late, but I don't know.

No, no, no, no.

So we will refer this item to licenses and permits.

But we will not be able to make any roll call vote on this item because Councillor Link is online, so we will wait at the end to vote on.

Okay.

Thank you, Ms.

President.

Sure.

So that item will be referred to licenses and payments.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next item, Madame Clerk.

Next item is 9.4 and 4.6.

Oh, yes.

So this is so we'll be taking our first items out of order.

So item item nine.

Item 4.6 and 9.4.

Madame Clerk, would you read this item?

Yes.

Uh 9.4, Davis Square Neighborhood Council submitting comments regarding formal recognition by this council as a neighborhood council under Chapter 7, Article 9 of the Code of Ordinances.

And then item 4.6 is by Councillor Davis conveying support for formally recognizing the Davis Square Neighborhood Council.

Hello.

Welcome, Ellen and Chris.

And uh Hello.

Yes, so I want to acknowledge our other board members and many members who are in the room with us tonight.

Um we do have a slide deck.

Should we sure you don't have access to it?

Chris can Chris, can you go to your email?

Uh it does.

I can fix that very quickly.

Sure.

So probably take a two-minute recess for them to get the slide in order to do that.

So Madame Clerk, could you call a vote to reestablish a quorum?

Yes.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Here.

Counselor Link.

Here.

Counselor Scott.

President.

Councillor Klingon.

President.

Counselor Strazzo.

Present.

Councilor Said.

Here.

Counselor Wheeler?

Here.

Councilor Hart?

Here.

Councilor McLaughlin.

Yeah.

Councilor Mbaugh.

President.

And Counselor Davis.

With ten members present and one absent, we have quorum.

And then you have the floor.

Well, first I want to just say how humbled I am to be here representing the hundreds of members of the Davis Square neighborhood council who have come together over the last few years.

So that we can continue the work that we have built over the last few years.

And uh we put together a presentation to tell you a little bit about how we got to where we are, what we've been up to.

Um, and hopefully you can kick the tires a little bit and see that we are worthy of this designation.

So um I'll be co-presenting with my vice chair and our treasurer as well, so I'll call them up at uh a couple of points.

But I think we can move forward in the slide deck, please.

Um we are made up of uh residents, workers, business owners in Davis Square area, and we have formal nonprofit recognition from the state of Massachusetts.

We work very hard for that.

We work to advocate for the residents of our neighborhood to represent their needs and desires to improve the community and to inform uh our our members and our neighbors of what's going on and make sure that they're connected to the decisions that are being made about our neighborhood.

Next slide, please.

So all of our meetings are open.

We have membership available to residents, workers, business owners, people who own property in our catchment area, uh people who volunteer at the organizations that do good work in our area, and also anybody who is unhoused who receives services within our catchment area as well.

Next slide, please.

So the city of Somerville designates uh the Davis Square neighborhood.

We have decided that in many cases the residents who live uh directly in Davis Square were not in the blue uh designated area, so we have gone a half a mile out for residents, and we pay attention to the developments that are happening within that blue map.

Our half mile welcome is it it is a little odd because we're in a corner of Somerville.

So within that half mile includes um Medford, Cambridge, and Arlington.

But the vast majority of our members, which we'll see later on, are Somerville residents.

Next slide, please.

So the reason why we're coming to you all now to seek uh recognition is because there are multiple things going on.

We came together about two and a half years ago uh when there was a community meeting about neighborhood planning for Davis Square.

It started with 11 people who exchanged email addresses.

Um but now our membership has grown tremendously.

Um I do believe that we were a big part of why the new administration and the mayor is prioritizing finalizing the Davis Square neighborhood plan.

So that is ongoing.

The city is actively engaging us in how we plan for our future right now.

We also have major developments being proposed for our neighborhood that we want to participate in.

Um this is a decisive time for us.

We have um we have plans coming to us, and we want to be ready to meet those plans with an understanding of what our needs and desires are so that we can negotiate in good faith on behalf of our neighborhood.

Next slide, please.

And there are there are seven projects that we're actively monitoring in our catchment area.

Um I'm gonna turn it over now to PJ Kim Santos, who's our treasurer to go through a little bit of our history of how we got here.

Wonderful.

Thank you very much.

Uh my name is PJ Kim Santos, um, uh, and I'm the treasure of the Davis Square Neighborhood Council.

Um yeah, so I guess um a little more than two years ago.

Um I actually was not one of the original uh people who were trying to propose the organization, but Elaine and a bunch of others were interested in trying to start a neighborhood council, somewhat inspired by the ones that exist in uh Union and Gilman Square, um, and began understanding like what it would actually take to uh um to make that all happen.

Uh shortly thereafter, um, they began recruiting and growing.

Um, first meeting in the uh basement of the Davis Square branch of the uh Somerville Library and then expanding out to the uh as we were meetings called larger and bigger to the Baptist church across the street.

Um a big part of the originalization process was developing our bylaws.

So we sought to uh get buy-in from a wide variety of different people and try to integrate in all the different stakeholders who have a lot to say about uh what makes Davis Square and how we actually want to try to organize ourselves.

Um at some point uh we elected our first board um and began pursuing the process for becoming an officially recognized organization.

Some of that involved filing to be a 501c for a nonprofit, some of it involved making sure that we uh uh comply with all the different city ordinances that uh declare neighborhood councils to be um um appropriate organizations and amending and adjusting ourselves as um either new opinions or uh new people join and want to reform and make us a uh uh a more welcoming and uh a useful organization.

Um at this point, uh we've now had two full elections of the board.

Um we have uh more than more than 600 members of uh registered um um as part of our organization.

Um and we're here coming in front of you all to uh um to be recognized.

Thank you.

Thank you, DJ.

Thank you.

Uh next slide, please.

We have a couple photos here.

Uh I want you to see our beautiful neighbors that we pass all the time and work with.

So we began meeting, like we said, um actually our very first meeting was at one of the tables outside of JPLix in Statue Park.

And at the first meeting, everybody got to sit down.

Uh that's how small we were, and we have grown tremendously.

We very quickly outgrew the West Branch Library.

Um, and now we've been meeting in the Crystal Ballroom because there's not really a venue big enough to hold all of our members when we have exciting local news to discuss.

Uh next slide, please.

We have uh public bylaws, they're on our website, like PJ mentioned.

We have elected leadership.

We have had now two elections of our board of directors.

This past uh election we actually added uh secure online voting to incorporate more people into the decision making process, which I think was um a learning process for us, but it turned out really well for our members.

We also have built-in balance.

We have um different stakeholders incorporated into our discussions, and we have a lot of different opinions.

We have a diverse community, and we try to conduct ourselves by listening to all the different opinions we have in a neighborly fashion, discuss those things and come to consensus on them.

Um next slide, please.

Here's our board of directors.

Most of them, I think, are here except for one.

He had a conflict.

Don't think we can need to spend time on that.

Next slide, please.

And for the outreach and membership section, I'm gonna call on our vice president Chris Bieland to discuss this.

So, yeah, um, we've put up a lot of posters around town, uh, at least every other month, and for our big meetings.

Um, our meetings are advertised on the giant sign on the Middlesex Federal Bank so that people walking around know that there's something happening.

Um we have uh various overlapping interest groups, um, whether David Square Village, Somerville Gimbees, Somerville Homeless Coalition, uh Summerville Foundation that uh get notifications.

Um we have our own social media.

We have a very active outreach committee that's committed to letting everyone know uh that we exist.

So they table in Statue Park, um, they're gonna be at the uh Davis Square Farmers Market and Artbeat uh and other places.

Um we've done pretty much everything that we can think of.

Um and when there's something that's high stakes, people do show up in the in the hundreds, as you saw, photos for.

Um and next slide.

I think there's uh statistics.

Um I was just looking at our uh official spreadsheet, uh, and it's somewhat complicated because people can qualify in different ways.

Uh so we have 642 verified uh voting members right now.

Uh and as Lane said, the vast majority are Somerville residents, 567.

Uh, there's a handful of Cambridge residents.

The Cambridge border is only a thousand feet away from the main Davis Square intersection.

Um, and uh in the outlying areas, uh some uh you know, four uh residents of Medford and two of Arlington.

Uh and then you know, dozens and dozens of business owners uh and workers, uh, some volunteers, a few people that have um taken a strong interest in the square and have been approved by the board.

Um next slide, please.

You want to talk about that?

Sure, I can talk about the committees as well.

I I go to a lot of um committee meetings.

Uh so in addition to the development uh projects um and negotiating community benefit agreements with uh developers, um as the ordinance asks us to.

We take an interest in everything that our community tells us they care about.

Um so we have Greening Davis volunteers going putting uh plants in the ground and working with the city on maintenance.

Um the Elmway Action Group has just submitted a recommendation to the city for uh you know pedestrian and parking improvements to the first block, uh a couple blocks of Elm Street.

Um let's see, we have this very small text.

Oh, yes, people who are very interested in redeveloping the city-owned a little white church on College Street across from the library.

Um we're we have uh an annual summer social and uh our programming committee is trying to have more fun events um and also raise money to keep us going.

We have infrastructure needs, as you can imagine.

Um, just and the um oh the zoning committee is also interested in uh homeless shelters.

Um we're you know there's a uh the there's a committee on the Davisquare neighborhood plan, so like housing is a uh a theme that goes through the neighborhood, I think.

And there's a lot of um small ideas like public art and things that people are always bringing to us.

And so um you know, when we have volunteer capacity or people are excited about that, we give it to them or um former committee.

I don't know, it's very democratic as it is here, so that's what we're we're doing on the round.

Uh next slide, please.

And oh, yeah, one of the things we did uh we had a big meeting um up at Tufts just to get a room that was big enough about how like the um development process works uh in Somerville, and we've uh especially for the Copper Mill Project.

There's been a lot of questions from the community, um, answers, answers and non-answers from the developer.

Um so we've just been uh doing a lot of coordinating and um a lot of people ever we have new members every meeting, uh sometimes dozens of them, and everyone needs to get up to speed on uh the facts of development and how they can influence it democratically.

So we're providing that as a service as well.

Uh next slide, please.

There's a photo of the the meeting we had uh during storm.

Those are our breakout groups.

And yeah, as we've been talking about, uh we have Coppermill as our uh main project.

Um we're tracking smaller projects, some of them are already under construction.

We did endorse a zoning change on Highland Av uh and Whipple, which was partly um approved by the city council already, um, which is going to be producing more uh housing and a misuse development.

And we do have volunteers that monitor the ZBA and the planning board for projects in our jurisdiction, and uh we update our our membership at our monthly meetings about that and everything else that's going on.

Next slide, please.

And yeah, uh, these are some of the smaller projects, community fridge, public art, um transit improvements, uh someone suggested uh an oral history project, so one of our board members is volunteering to find out more about the history of Davis Square.

Next slide, please.

And yeah, did you want to talk about community?

I think that's your fault.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chris.

Um, one of the more important things I think that we've done is really to help strengthen the social bonds as a community uh organization in Davis Square.

So everyone, actually many of you counselors um have been to one of our meetings, and so you know that we spend the beginning of our meeting introducing each other to each other.

Uh everybody gets introduced and with their name, their pronouns, and how they're connected to the square so that we all get to know each other.

We make sure that we have a social after all of our business meetings, and truly I think that's where the real work gets done, where neighbors talk to each other and discuss what their ideas are.

Um, and we are like uh Chris said, trying to have more fun together.

So last year we had uh really wonderful community social at Sacos, and we're planning another one for July 20th.

It's free, free bowling, free pizza, it is cash bar.

Uh sorry we can't do that for you, but please join us.

It's a great way to just have fun and get to know your neighbors better.

So we are actively building the social bonds of our community as well.

Uh there's not much left, so I think next slide.

Yes, we are open public and easy to join.

Uh, one takeaway from this is that we actually create a we've been hosting monthly member meetings.

They are on a regular schedule, they're posted widely, they're open to anybody, even if you're not a voting member.

Um, and we also have a new member welcome handout that we give out at each meeting.

We anticipate new people coming and not knowing everything, and we want them to get up to speed.

So we uh are proactive about that.

Next slide.

And that's it.

We respectfully ask the Somerville City Council to grant us recognition.

We know there's additional steps in this process.

Like I said, we're looking forward to you all kicking our tires and making sure we're doing a good job, open to suggestions.

It's our understanding that the next steps are referral to committee and in a public hearing, and we're looking forward to that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Elaine.

As uh um as as you know, as someone who has attended your meetings, I'm really impressed by the level of you know, work that your team has put together.

You guys have activated the entire Davisquare neighborhood.

You know, I've never seen you know an organization that evolved like organically.

Everybody in Davisquare is talking about David Square Neighborhood Council.

It just reminded me of the Union Square Neighborhood Council, how it all started, you know, in Duman Square, also now David Square.

It's always very important to have community groups come together and activate the neighborhood so they can have a say in what happens, you know, within that you know, neighborhood.

So thank you so much for to you and Chris and the entire team, you know, in the neighborhood council.

So with that, um I will you know actually my colleagues, so counselor you encumb.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, uh I just want to shower you all with praise as well.

Um so you know, forming the Union Square Neighborhood Council, that was really the first community process that I was ever involved with with politics.

Um and it was really, really hard.

And it took an enormous amount of work.

Um so I just have a really profound and deep respect for the work that you all did.

Um it really shines through in the presentation tonight, but just grinding it out.

Um, and it is really a public service.

I just want to thank you all for that.

And I also just want to say, looking back on you know, 10 years ago when we were setting this up, this it's like beyond, I think, our wildest dreams that we would see additional neighborhood councils form and not only form, but you know, at this level of kind of transparency and accountability.

And I also just want to note, you know, for the public, I think we often get a lot of questions.

What is this process of recognition?

I I do think it's important to just say this does not confer any magical or legal powers on any group of people, they can get together and start calling themselves a neighborhood council, right?

Anybody can do that at any time, and they have the same legal authorities that any other group of people has.

What this does is this is just a way of saying the city council, as you said, has kicked the tires.

That this is not an exclusionary group of people.

This is not a group of people that they just get together and make decisions, you know, in a one-off way.

This is a democratic group.

This is a group that has bylaws that has elections, that actually does the work to do outreach, that has open meetings.

So what we're doing here is kind of just a stamp of approval that this is not just a group of people that's gonna say it's our way or the highway.

This is a group of people that's actually gonna listen to the neighborhoods.

So I'm very much looking forward to recognizing um this group.

I look forward to the public hearing.

Um and thank you all for the work you've done.

Thank you.

Council Ewing.

Uh Council McConsor Hart, Councillor McLaughlin.

Thank you, President.

Um, through you to uh Elaine and the rest of the Davis Square Neighborhood Council.

I also want to just appreciate all of the work um that has been done, just hours and hours and hours of work, I know, and beyond um over the past couple of years.

So I really appreciate your dedication and commitment and just all of the hard work, as my colleagues said.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Hass, Councillor McLaughlin.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I also appreciate all this hard work from the community so that we don't have to do the work.

Uh you know, you're welcome.

We are we are representatives of the community, and you know, we're expected to represent the interests of the neighbors.

It's not possible to always know what everyone wants at all times, and that's why it's great to have these neighborhood councils to do the really heavy work of figuring out what the community actually wants.

Uh we've seen it work out great in Union Square.

It's working out very well in Gilman Square.

I'm trying to help people get one started in East Somerville, but I'm not in charge of it.

It's the community that is in charge of it, which is what I love about the neighborhood councils.

And I'm sure we all know that you know this got a little expedited uh because of the copper mill development.

Uh and Davis Square has been long overdue for a neighborhood council.

So this is a great opportunity, and I'm gonna be happy.

Like I represent the other side of town.

I grew up outside of Davis Square, and people when I'm knocking doors talking to them, everyone wants to talk about that 26-story building.

Uh whether they're for or against it, that is the subject.

And it's gonna be great for people to have an outlet to actually voice their opinions on it uh in the neighborhood council.

So I look forward to approving it as well.

Thank you.

Councilor Klingon.

Thank you, Ms.

President Pylon.

Thank you all so much for all the work that you put into this.

It's very impressive.

Um, what I really want to say is that um I feel like this could be this is sort of part of uh the legacy of those of us that got on in 2018 around as far as um in this in this ordinance as far as codifying neighborhood councils, as counsel you and camp and said, I also was in the early days of the uh Union Square Neighborhood Council, or Union United, it was before it was the council.

But the point is is that um before that people felt like development happened in a vacuum and you needed to use the courts, maybe like they did at Mystic View Task Force.

Uh we are getting better projects, we are a better city because of residents that step up and create these councils uh like you all have.

So I just want to thank you and uh look forward to seeing you all uh do the work.

Thank you, Councillor McClinken.

Councilor Strasbo, then Councillor Scott.

Hey, man.

Congratulate through you too.

Uh thank you.

And to the Davis Square neighborhood council, thank you.

I know it's a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and love.

And I remember a time not long ago where Davis Square was really sleepy and uh much to be desired of connecting people and a lot of community going on in pockets, but not like this.

And whenever constituents come to me and say I have a feeling or I want to get more connected, I always guide them to you to you, Davis Square neighborhood counselor, what's about to become even stronger.

Uh stronger than even what you are now to say, well, do something about it.

Everybody can have thoughts and feelings and what are you going to do about it?

How are you going to engage with your community?

How are you going to get involved?

And those things matter.

So with that, uh happy to get this uh to enjoy this moment and happy to go forward with the next steps and see where we go from there.

Thank you, Councillor Straza.

Counselor Scott.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

I will save my effusive praise for a future meeting because we have more meetings to be had on this topic.

Uh although I I will uh also uh certainly congratulate uh the Davis Square Neighborhood Council on this submission, this very thorough submission.

Uh although I I will uh also uh certainly congratulate uh the Davis Square Neighborhood Council on this submission, this very thorough submission, uh, and uh thank the members of the Union Square Neighborhood Council past and present for bringing us to this point.

Uh I anticipate holding a public hearing on this public communication, uh similar to as was done for uh Gilman Square and for Union Square Neighborhood Councils.

I would like to do that at the first uh available opportunity after our recess, our next meeting uh is in August 27th.

That would put the next legislative matters meeting on uh if we follow the regular cadence on September 1st, which I understand is a date of heightened uh importance and great public interest, uh at least for three members of this chamber.

Uh so perhaps I can prevail upon the uh chair of finance and we can find a way to to make a different date for that.

So uh date pending, but I anticipate early September for this public hearing.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Scott.

There you have it.

You know, uh Council Said.

Yeah, through you, Mr.

President.

Thank you so much for being here tonight uh for the presentation and for all the work you have been doing.

This is truly inspiring.

Um, and I'm very excited for you know this to take off and to see the community, you know, getting organized, you know, around issues and figuring out what's best um for David Square.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Said, Council Wheeler.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair, just to echo what my colleagues have said.

Uh I have seen in the meetings of the DSNC that I have attended how patiently and thoroughly um the DSNC has been building your capacity as a forum for including many community voices and earning trust and buy-in through your commitment to fair and open procedures.

I I really feel like uh this civic, this level of civic dedication, it's a real reflection of something special in Somerville.

Uh and I wholeheartedly support our moving forward with our processes around uh considering this seriously, hearing from the public, and I I hope that ends with recognition and uh and full steam ahead.

Thank you.

Thank you, Consular Wheeler.

Uh I see an enthusiastic member of US also that's you know.

Please introduce yourself a directly.

Hi, my name is Edward Gall.

I'm at 80 Winslow Avenue, just off of Davis Square.

Uh my wife has been here and I have lived here for about four years right now, and Davis Square is really a major center of our activity, and we walk through there, we go to the restaurants there, we get coffee and pastries, and we see a number of you there from time to time.

And we've now been involved in helping people get elected and involved in other activities.

And in fact, uh, as I pointed out to Ben You and Kapan, I even saw a Barrett Owl on the park on the walk one day, and I sent you an email or a picture of it.

So uh one birder to another.

Um I got involved in Davis Square about oh, a year and a half ago or so.

Uh and during that period of time, uh we have uh grown from really the start of the first of this year from about 150 members to over 600.

And what that has done is that has created a very different organization than the 10 or 11 that met in October 2024, who met with Tom Galligani, um, I think Elaine might have been there, um Alan Dana, uh and a number of other people when the issue and and and Andrew Flynn.

When Andrew Flynn came to the group and said, uh what do you want?

And it turned out at that point that's where the 26-story tower building idea arose.

And since that time, there's been a major change in the membership of the organization, where we now have probably four over 400 new members uh this year who have a vision of Davis Square that uh they want to share.

Uh and right now we're dealing with uh I'm looking forward to having this go to the legislative committee uh to go ahead and thrash through the compliance issues and also deal with the number of issues we're wrestling with right now, which is how many people do you need to have to vote and attend a meeting to go ahead and do something.

Uh right now, the quorum provision in this bylaws is eight.

And a majority of eight could go ahead and appear and pass something.

Given the fact that might have been good for when the membership was of 50 or 100, but it's not appropriate for a membership that is now over 600 people.

So there's a there's a debate right now going on, and that debate should be resolved so that it's it so that we meet the real intent of the statute here or the ordinance, which seeks a broad participation, active participation in the decision making.

And so this whole debate we're having right now about quorums and voting and how many it takes to appear at a meeting in order to have a vote on a bylaw on a on a benefits package, or how many do you have to have at a meeting to vote on a bylaw change?

Uh can't be eight anymore.

It's got to be something different.

And so we're working through that right now.

So uh I'm glad this is going.

And I understand it's going to the legislative committee, and that gives us the time to go ahead before this board to wrestle with this issues which are wrestling with right now.

Some are going to come up at the end of the end of January, end of June, end of July, the next meeting, in terms of how many you need to vote to pass a benefits committee.

And then there's another whole issue of how do you deal with assuring that a large number of the membership of this greater uh this uh Davis Square uh neighborhood uh take place and have an opt in take place.

And it's up to the board.

It's up.

I'm on the bylaws committee.

Uh I was on the nominating committee.

I've been a member for a period of time.

And we have to be make sure that we go out there to the community and keep not only get people interested, but keep them interested.

And that means having a vibrant affair.

And the more people we have and the way people we have in the actual decision making in Davis Corps will make Davis Square more vibrant.

So we need that activity.

And we have 600 people now we have to engage further, and we need to go ahead and figure out how to do that through these bylaw provisions and these quorum provisions, because when the bylaws are laws were passed, they didn't have as many as people we have for now.

But we have now many, many more.

So we need this several months over the summer to go ahead and work these things through and work then with the ordinance the ordinate the ordinance committee in the in September, I guess, has been the next meet, and then come back.

And I look forward to the day when we have that sorted out and have this organization uh approved.

Uh I've enjoyed tremendously working with this group.

It's a great group of people.

And as we grow and get bigger, and we have a new board right now, different people on the board, it gets even more vibrant, and it's exciting to go ahead and see this come out and now to participate in the Davis Square Neighborhood Plan and then incorporate the DSNC in that process as well as other organizations like Davis Square Village and the Davis Square Foundation and other organizations get involved in this process, many of which are part of the 600 that haven't had the opportunity to be involved, as I have had now over a year now.

So we have to integrate those people and get them involved.

So really appreciate the opportunity for this meeting tonight and to hear about this exciting development that I've I didn't author, but I've been part of uh and it's excited me and our my wife and and uh gotten to know and talk with various councils about this.

So uh we look forward in the fall having a pub, hopefully a public hearing, so you can see the people who were affected by Davis Square uh uh who they are, hear from them, and take your measure of who they are so you can then consider the approval uh of this as a neighborhood association.

So thank you very much uh for the opportunity to be here and thank you for your attention.

Thank you, Ed.

See no for that discussion on this item, we will refer this item to legislative matters.

Thank you so much for all the work you've done for the neighborhood, Council.

Thank you.

Council Astrazo.

Not on this.

Uh I wanted to I think we should acknowledge that there's an issue with the closed captioning for anybody either online or in the room, and that uh the city, the clerk and city staff are working to fix that.

And with the vendor, from what I understand, and it's still ongoing.

Thank you for bringing that up.

Is that okay?

Thank you.

Next item, Madam Cliff.

It's 4.2 here.

So we'll move to 4.2.

Yes.

My counselor, Councillor McLaughlin, and Councillor Ewan Campin, in support of the nurses and health care workers of Mass General Brigham Home Care and Brigham and Women's Hospital.

I see, I don't see.

Okay.

Everybody counselor, the whole council wants to sign on this item.

So wonderful.

Um I will you and Council Labar.

Mr.

President.

Uh this resolution recognizes the essential role that nurses and healthcare clinicians are Brigham and Women's Hospital and Mass General Bringham home care play in protecting the health and well-being of some of the residents and the brother Middlesex County.

And the resolution also encourages Mass General Bringham to negotiate in good faith and reach agreement that value the expertise and dedication of frontline healthcare professionals who provide compassionate care to our community members every day.

So I will wanna sponsor they are all here, my friend Shannon, Vera, and Karen Estee to speak to this resolution.

Council Bower would like to sponsor two speakers.

You have no objection.

Hi, I'm Shannon Vieira.

I'm a nurse and um chair of the home care's uh bargaining committee, and this is Karen Estee.

Hi, I'm the speech therapist with MGB Home Care and uh the secretary of our uh union.

So we are um on day two.

We just wrapped up day two of a strike.

We authorized a seven-day strike.

We are uh we have been negotiating for our first contract since March of 2025, and um Mass General Brigham has refused to come to the table on key issues that we're facing.

Um I myself has have actually provided care for patients in Somerville many times over the years.

I've worked with Mass General Brigham for 12 years now.

And um, we are looking for really basic things.

We're looking for productivity metrics that allow us to work our eight-hour day and be done at the end of the day.

Currently, we take home two, three, four hours of work with us every night, depending on our caseloads.

We're we're looking for caseload limits related to how many patients we can safely care for.

Um in home care, there's no limit to how many beds a facility has.

In the hospital, you're limited to how many beds you physically have in home care.

Everybody comes with their own bed.

So we are asking management to implement limits so that we can safely provide care for our patients when um nurses and therapists have 30 or more patients on their caseloads.

These patients need to be seen two to three times a week, usually.

It's unmanageable in a 40-hour work week.

So we're asking for that, and we're asking for competitive wages.

We are unable to retain qualified clinicians in home care because of the work-life balance issues, but also um most of our clinicians, a lot of our clinicians are working second jobs to maintain their quality of life.

Um we currently cap out uh at a wage of about $35 less than hospitals like Brigham and Women's and Mass General, which Mass General likes to continue to tell us we're all one system, but yet they won't pay us the same.

So we really appreciate your support.

We saw a lot of you today at our picket.

We really appreciate it.

Yes.

And you know, um, over the years, like we haven't been able to have even cost of living increases.

Um so we get a standard raise every year, and meanwhile, our uh CEO has had her pay increase by 40% in four years.

Ours have increased two and a half percent every year, so and no more.

Um one of the really important issues for us is truly that patient care aspect of things, and the way that we can manage that is by capping our caseloads and getting that productivity language into the contract.

We don't feel like anything we've asked for has been outrageous, and um the resistance we're meeting is truly frustrating.

Um and I do apologize about my voice.

I've been screaming for two days.

I mean I've been screaming for 20 years, but two days in a row.

The support that we've had from Somerville City Council has been outstanding.

So we really can't tell you how much we appreciate it.

Um Mass General is really trying to union bust not just us and Brigham and Women's, but we've had multiple new unions formed within Mass General Brigham in the past several years.

The primary care doctors formed a union, um, the residents and interns have formed a union, occupational health nurses have formed a union, and there are more to come.

And this is them trying to say no more unions, we're done, we're not gonna let you win.

Um, so having you behind us really shows that we are unstoppable and we won't give up.

Yep.

And our PTAs, our LPNs and our uh CODAs and phlebotomists actually just unionized too.

So we are excited for them.

We're happy to support them.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

I just I just want to say thank you, you know, for your courage.

You show every day, you know, and as you can see, the entire city council has signed on to this resolution, so we are with you all the way.

And Madame Clerk, I would like you to just read the resolution for the record, and then I will offer the opportunity for my colleagues, you know, the co-signers, and then any other members that wants to make some remarks.

Absolutely.

Okay.

Whereas nurses are a fundamental resource for a healthy community, and whereas MGB Home Care and Brigham and Women's Hospital are essential providers for of health care services for the residents of Somerville in Middlesex County, and whereas registered nurses at BWH have been engaged in contract negotiations with Mass General Brigham and are seeking a fair union contract that protects patients from providing competitive cost of living increases, affordable health insurance choices, and safe limits on temporary staff to protect high-quality patient care.

And whereas clinicians at MGB home care and have been engaged in contract negotiations with Mass General Brigham and are seeking their fair market competitive first union contract that protects patients, uh preserves access to high-quality local care with supporting recruitment and retention.

And whereas weakening these staff and staffing protections would risk patient safety, increase nurse burnout, and make it more difficult to recruit and retain experienced nurses.

Oops.

Sorry, I hit the wrong screen here.

Apologies.

We were as the community depends on BWH nurses and MGB home care clinicians to provide high-quality, compassionate care to neighbors, families, and residents across Middlesex County.

And whereas a fair contract can support staffing, wages and working conditions will strengthen patient care and help ensure that health care services remain accessible locally.

Now, therefore, it be it resolved that the cat this council supports the efforts of the clinicians of MGB home care and securing a fair market competitive first union contract and supports recruitment and retention and protects access to high-quality patient care and provides.

Sorry, my computer's freezing here.

And this council encourages Mass General Brigham to negotiate in good faith to reach such agreements and be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution shall be delivered to the CEO of Mass General Brigham and chair of the MGB Board of Directors, the state and federal legislative delegation present representing Somerville and any other appropriate stakeholders.

Thank you, Madame Clerk.

Council McLaughlin.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

As a counselor who represents Assembly Row, uh that is where part of Mass General currently is.

So to hear that now it's Mass General and that they're not paying their nurses, and we're not getting our card either, and you're getting to operate as a for-profit organization, basically, when you are a nonprofit.

So this is what bothers me the most when it comes to places like uh Mass General, Telsa University, Harvard University, all these places that have billions and billions of dollars, and they can't pay the people who are doing the work.

I go to the hospital, I am almost always treated by a nurse.

I people get home care, they're being treated by a nurse.

Uh, you can't see a doctor half the time.

It's the nurse is doing all the work.

Uh this organization would not exist were not for nurses.

Uh so I expect them to treat their nurses uh the way that they should and pay them what they deserve.

Thank you, M.

Councillor McGroven.

I know the the right word for it.

Greed.

Counselor you encompassion.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, through you, thank you all so much for being here.

You know, myself, everyone here is a thousand percent with you, as you mentioned, has been on the picket line, will be on the picket line.

Um I just want to say it's just a shameful day in in Boston in Somerville.

One of, if not the largest employer in Somerville, um mistreating nurses and healthcare professionals to the point that they're walking out and then they're locking them out.

It is just profoundly disgusting.

Um this is also incredibly inspiring because you all are showing the way that we fight back.

This is happening, this is not just happening, right in the healthcare space.

This is in every sector of the economy, you know, people leading these companies are screwing over workers, and this is the way to fight back.

So thank you for the leadership that you're throwing showing.

Um we have your back 100%.

We'll be with you until you guys win.

Thank you, Consumer UN Company.

Counselor just Oklingen.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, uh I just want to thank the um healthcare professionals who came up.

I uh was proud and uh to walk the picket line and speak to them yesterday.

Um I know it's been noted that um you know partners or formerly partners, it's now MGB um master and will bring them.

And one of the things I mentioned to the to the healthcare workers yesterday was the fact that um when they merged, you know, that same year, they they did not give uh many nurses who were non-union at the time.

My landlady was one of them.

Uh they did not give them their bonus, they said they had a tough year, they gave them cookies and thank yous.

And uh, you know, that's the type of uh thing that you you you just you just they spent millions to change the name, millions to change the sign, all of the the the stationary, this is where the priorities are.

While we have uh people who are caring for our loved ones, the the the way that they're treated directly impacts the way I love when they're treated.

So yet while there are many unions forming in different sectors, I think it's extremely important to make sure that healthcare professionals are treated properly and able to care for their patients properly.

Um I heard a couple of different scenarios uh specifically around the fact that they're told you know they have five patients a day.

Um that's all that management cares about.

It doesn't matter if it takes you an hour to get from, you know.

I mean, we all hear people complain about traffic in Somerville.

You know, if you have a patient in Somerville, it might take you 40 minutes just to get across town, then you've got to find a parking spot.

Um they're not even they're not getting paid for the time that they're on the clock, essentially.

Um so you can imagine they might, you know what happens to when they get to that location, they're you know, they they're up against the clock.

Um it just creates a really bad situation for everybody except the people that are getting paid a million, you know, whatever it was, 2.3 million dollars uh that they're CEOs.

So um, you know, I'm I'm happy and proud to stand with these healthcare professionals, and I you know, had the opportunity to speak to some of them yesterday, specifically around the fact that I, you know, some of these acronyms um like uh LPNs or well, I know what that one is, but um for instance, speech language pathologist, um, until you have somebody, maybe an elder or a child with a disability, you don't realize you think that that's just you know, simply about helping somebody, you know, speak properly.

But you know, when my father was going through dementia care before he passed, um, it was the speech pathologist who helped him to be able to make sure he could swallow food.

As we know, many people with dementia end up um you know, essentially aspirating because they lose the ability to swallow.

And so those people gave him the utmost care.

And so I just think that you know until you have that up close experience, you don't realize that you know these people are the ones going to people's homes, caring for them in their homes so that they can stay in their homes.

So shame on Mass General Brigham.

And you know I stand with these health care workers, I stand with the nurses, I stand with Labor um always, and you know, we have you back, we will continue to have you back.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councillor McKingan.

Um, Councillor Schrott, we're gonna go to Councillor Link and then come back to Councillor Link is online.

You've been waiting for for a while.

Counselor Link.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, um, I just want to say uh so as a person who comes from um a family of of healthcare workers, um, both past and president and grew up you know with my grandmother um as a working as a nurse, um, my mom working as a secretary at the same hospital.

Uh the it's it's so important.

The the these jobs are so important um and they're so underappreciated, and uh I I think we're all recognizing that now um here, all my colleagues.

Um but I also you know want to point out too that we um we know that uh when we have at-home care that it's um it's superior uh to having someone um go into you know a home um when they're able to get at home care it's cheaper for the the the state, it's cheaper for um the families, and it's the outcomes are better.

So these are essential workers.

This the work that they're doing is extremely essential, and uh we absolutely have to to be behind them.

Uh in the final thing I'll say is you know, um I'm not able to be to be in person today because I'm um I've got a family reunion.

Um, but you know, we have uh we were all just talking um uh you know, unprompted uh about unprompted by me uh about this strike um and about how we're all cheering on um you know, all these people here are just uh you know are just cheering for um the the right outcome of this strike, and I'm really um I'm I'm I'm looking forward to getting back into Somerville um and hopefully everything's resolved by them, but if it's not uh I will be there with you.

Thank you, Councillor Link.

Counselor Straza.

Thank you, Mr.

President, three of you, two our nurses and uh the MA and Mass General Brigham's uh crucial staff.

I want to say that uh I I follow every year just uh how the pay increases of our our top uh CEOs and and board of of Mass Jen.

Uh how it increases and and what's the latest of them and you're right, Councillor Mr.

Chair Three to Councillor Klingon, you're right, it is definitely some millions, and we know that uh well while um they're giving cookies to Mass Jen is giving cookies to nurses and uh turning their pockets inside out and saying, gosh golly, and while moths fly out and say, gosh golly, we just don't have it this year.

I do know that there was a bump up of of executive pay that uh according to the Boston Globe reached new heights in 2023, and then a 40% increase uh in the year after that.

Uh the uh highest paid hospital executive in Massachusetts, Mass General Brigham's uh executive receives 8.4 million in total compensation that was in just 2023.

And then uh currently it has been bumped up to over eight thousand eight, I'm sorry, pardon me, eight million dollars.

And I think it is insulting that uh they would try to nickel and dime you with all the hard work you do with all the consistency, devotion, care, compassion, and the fact that we rely on you in our community, and you show up for us always.

The fact that your caseloads are increasing, your hours are increasing, and you're just expected to persevere through that while the top executive and this is old, so I'm sure it's increased a little bit, makes eight million, I'm sorry, six million dollars.

No, no, no, eight million, eight million dollars.

That's right.

That's scandalous and insulting.

It's an insult to you, it's an insult to the patients, it's an insult to our community here in Somerville.

We absolutely stand with you.

I was proud to be there talking with you there.

I'll be back again to talk with you and stand with you and walk with you, and we all will here in Somerville.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Streso.

Thank you.

You know, it's it's really a shame that we have to sit there and be talking about this.

This is like just basic stuff.

You know, investment in health care, welcome, you know, it's just an investment in patient safety, like quality care and a strong local health care system.

So that is that basic fundamental counselor say.

Uh very shameful indeed, uh, Mr.

President, through you.

Uh, I just want to take a moment to thank you for being here today after two long days on the picket line.

I was there today.

It was like 90 plus degrees.

Um, yeah, and just to say uh you know, as my colleagues have shared, we're with you there, we're with you all the way.

Literally, everyone, you know, despite their working conditions, the challenges in their working conditions that we just heard about.

Uh all they were talking about is their patients and how worried they were about them.

And these patients are our community members, our neighbors.

Um again.

Thank you.

Uh brief recess to take a solidarity for the colour.

I know I know some of these nurses I talked about, Marma Shlear yesterday um came pretty far to be here.

Absolutely.

This council was done in recess for five minutes.

Thank you.

So we will come back, would you call the road to establish a quorum?

Yes.

This is roll call.

Counselor Uwen Campen.

Counselor Link.

Here.

Counselor Scott.

Present.

Counselor Klingon?

President.

Counselor Shazo?

Here.

Counselor Saeed.

Counselor Wheeler?

Here.

Counselor Hart?

Here.

Councilor McLaughlin?

Yeah.

Counselor Umbaum?

President.

And Councillor Davis.

With nine members present, we have quorum.

Next item, Madame Clinton.

Next item is seven point seven.

Requesting the appropriation of two hundred four thousand four hundred from the salary contingency salaries account to the Department of Public Work School Custodians Personal Services Account to fund a memorandum of agreement with the service employees international union chapter three school custodians.

Oh yes.

Uh Matt Syracuse, uh assistant city solicitor of labor council.

Uh we're here to seek funds to uh fund the fiscal year twenty-seven costs associated with a collective bargaining agreement reached with local three.

Uh this is the union that represents the school custodians.

They work in our schools every day.

They are city side employees, but they are uh school custodians.

This contract is a three-year contract covering fiscal years twenty-six, twenty-seven, and twenty-eight.

In fiscal year twenty-six, uh they're going to move to a new salary scale that will achieve uh equity or parity along with the SMEU custodians, building custodians.

Then in fiscal years twenty-seven and twenty-eight will have two percent calls in each of those years.

Uh along with those financial pro uh components, there is a conversion to uh vacation accrual system and a vacation payout for those with high vacation balances, uh similar to other items we've had with other uh bargaining units recently.

And the contract also includes some additional staffing flexibility to allow us uh the DPW uh to better address the changing needs in the Somerville school and various schools, so we've created a swing shift and we've increased the number of floaters and uh the group was just really there to work with us to help achieve the the goals of the schools uh in maintaining a safe, clean, secure environment.

Um so with that I'll be happy to answer any questions the council has you.

Any discussion on these item?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

No question, just um happy to uh always happy to fund a union contract and uh give people their money.

Um and uh congrats and thank you for your patience, gentlemen who came up here and um for this and waited.

Any question for Tony Surkis?

Councilor Wheeler.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I'm excited to see this agreement.

Uh it sounds like a wonderful coming together, and I'm glad to get these funds to people doing hard work for our schools.

Um just a question about uh sort of procedure for tonight.

Uh I gather that this is something that the administration is interested in having immediate action on if possible.

And uh if so, is that something that you might speak to the you know the the value of doing that now?

Uh certainly, Council President, through you, yes, the administration is seeking immediate approval.

Um the value is twofold.

Uh it is getting people their raises and their money as soon as possible, and also the way we seek the appropriation, it's based on a sum of money that will cover the increased wages for the balance of the fiscal year.

So the appropriation amount, the appropriation requested is to cover this week or next week going forward in the fiscal year.

So that is the uh another financial basis for the immediate request, the request for immediate approval.

Councilor Wheeler.

Good.

Any other questions for Tennessee?

See none that item is approved, I believe.

Oh, Councillor Ling, sorry.

Okay, take that motion back.

Forget about it.

Mr.

President, Councillor Ling, uh I totally get it.

This is not ideal.

Um I just want to say a real quick thank you because um it in the school building facilities and maintenance committee.

We've we've talked several times about um needing these like swing ships uh and the the floaters and that we have that now is fantastic.

Um so huge round of applause.

Um thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Link.

And uh yeah, no, this is really exciting.

Counselor Scott, do you have any?

Uh Mr.

President, uh given the request for immediate consideration.

Uh I would uh move to approve, hoping to have a roll call vote so that they can get their approvals.

Thank you, Councillor Scott.

So that motion is approved.

Um I believe there requires a roll call vote, sir.

Yep, I believe, yeah.

Uh Clerk, would you do a roll call vote, please?

Mrs.

Roll Call on item 7.7.

Counselor Ewing Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Councillor Strazzo?

Yes.

Counselor Said?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Councilor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Councilor Mba?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

With ten counselors in favor, that motion passes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next item, Madame Clerk.

Next item is a 7.17 and 4.4.

7.17 is proclaiming July 26th to be disability pride month.

And then 4.4 by Council McLaughlin and Councillor Klingen reaffirming this city council's recognition of July as disability pride month in light of the recent Supreme Court rulings and legal memorandum on the Olmstead decision from the Department of Justice.

Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, through you, Honorable Council, uh, Honorable Duan.

Um you've heard me say this a lot that uh everybody deserves to feel pride in in who they are, uh, where they come from.

Uh unfortunately, society seems just hell-bent on uh making folks with disabilities uh you know devalu feel devalued, feel feel less than.

That's why it's so critical that we have events uh like Disability Pride Month, uh, which is July.

Uh we need to make sure that people feel feel seen, feel heard, feel valued, feel like they matter.

Uh and in Somerville, that's just it's part of who we are.

So I was thrilled earlier today to be part of uh a ceremony uh raising the disability pride flag out there.

The Commission for Person with Disabilities put together a really really great ceremony.

Um Councillor Wheeler and Councillor Strasso.

We're part of that, Councillor Strasso spoke on behalf of the council.

Uh and it was uh it was a fitting occasion.

So uh really happy to proclaim this month.

Uh this Blue Pride Month here in Somerville.

And uh just really appreciative of people who do that fight every single day uh to make sure that we're living up to our values.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um Councillor McGrawman.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh glad that the city is on top of this already, and I wanted to submit a s the basically similar order, uh, which is the positive side is recognized recognizing this month, but there is an important uh issue that came up recently uh with the federal government uh regarding the Department of Justice and the previous Supreme Court decision on the Olmstadt decision, which uh made sure that there was unnecessary uh to prevent unnecessary segregation of persons with disabilities.

And this is very concerning, uh undermines a lot of the work that's already been done for decades now.

And we've been a worldwide leader on addressing disability issues in this country.

Uh so I wanted to raise that up and not only just discuss recognize it, but also think about what we have to do as a city in order to compensate for the loss we may have on the federal government level.

I was hoping to sponsor uh disability commission member Holly Simone uh to speak for a moment so she can give a better explanation about what's happening.

Holly Snian?

Would you introduce yourself for the record?

Sure.

My name is Holly Simeoni, lifetime resident of Somerville, and current chair of the Disability Commissioner.

I'm here as a resident to talk about events in July.

Thank you, Councilman McLaughlin, thank you, Councillor Klingon, thank you, President Mbaugh for allowing me to speak tonight.

Um I would like to explain first uh and acknowledge that not every adult with a disability embraces the term disability pride.

And that's okay.

That's a personal choice.

People don't necessarily feel proud that they have a disability.

But I would like to clarify something.

Being disability pride month is about recognizing and honoring the decades of advocacy, sacrifice, and courage that secured the Civil Rights Act that many of us rely on today.

And that culminated in the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act into law by President George Bush on July 26, 1990.

So you don't have to be proud to be disabled, but it's very important in my personal opinion that we tell children that it's okay to be different, and you can be proud about being disabled, and you shouldn't be shamed for it or made to feel less or different.

So children may embrace being proud of being disabled, and adults can choose what they'd like to do.

But I'd like to just talk a little bit about what Council McLaughlin talked about today.

Um I think there's a big misnomer that the ADA is the law.

It is the tiniest of all of the laws, and it came much later.

There is so many other laws that impact what is legally right to do in a city, a state, a government, a job outside of the ADA.

Um I'm just gonna start a little bit about this.

And uh as you said, there was a place called Willowbrook.

And our good old favorite Geraldo Rivera did a big expose by climbing through a fence, and he got cameras in there.

And if any of you have ever seen the story about Willowbrook, you would not be smiling or laughing right now.

It was an institution where people were housed.

They sat two on a cot in a cart.

They were bone skinny thin, they were not fed well, many were not clothed, they weren't medicated properly, and they had no education.

And that was in 1972 in America.

And what happened after that at the Willow Willowbrook state school was there was a movement in 1977 to adopt where where advocates occupied federal offices and demand that Section 504 of the rehab act be passed.

What also happened was a crawl on March 12th of 1990, where people dumped their wheelchairs at the bottom of the Capitol building in DC and crawled up to get our president at the time to sign it into law.

But what happened that shuddered Ohm that shuttered Willowbrook is the Olmsted Act.

And that's what is in jeopardy right now.

That act said it is against the law to institutionalize a person that people have rights to live in their homes with nurses that we talked with earlier today.

They have a right to be participating in civic government, to go to a flag raising, and it actually costs less to keep people at home than what it costs to institutionalize them until what happens to them.

So right now, someone said, I I think you misinterpreted Olmstead, and actually it is perfectly fine for us to institutionalize people.

Most those with the most needs with those with simple needs.

Imagine a person or a child with autism who's high functioning, high masking, receive services at home.

If the government says Olmstead's misinterpreted, they lose their services at home, and they're told you can go live in Willowbrook.

And I'm not over explaining this.

That is how easy it is.

Parents who have children like I did face that every day because we have more medically complex children, they are heavy users of insurance, and they would immediately be sent to the next willow brook.

So there's a lot going on.

I don't have a solution.

I don't really have an ask of you, but I just appreciate the opportunity to share what is happening at our federal government and how it impacts us every day.

And but there are times where being a part of the disability commission feels like crawling up those steps one by one, fighting things at every single level every day.

Trying to get a seat at the table and to do what we are chartered to do by the law that this that the city of Somerville accepted.

And it's great to be recognized for doing the work as a resident, and it's an honor to represent others, but we need to give us the ability to do that work and to intersect things that are happening, not to take it away from people that own it, but to give you some personal insight.

How's a wheelchair get by?

Did it did anyone think to measure how far that is?

It took me asking three different people where the closed captions.

I wear bilateral hearing aids, and I'm not the only person in this room that relies on closed captions.

If all the microphones went off, would you have stopped the meeting?

But you didn't stop the meeting when I couldn't hear what was being said.

Because you don't know how hard that is to be a person who wears bilateral hearing aids.

And I'm not here to make you feel bad or sad.

I'm explaining what it's like to be a person with a disability or to be the parent of a child or an individual.

And I appreciate all the things that you have done and all the progress that we have made and what this administration is doing, but there will always be more that is needed.

And one thing that we were talking about was fair housing and affordable housing.

And what we've have forgotten is where affordable housing intersects accessible housing.

That does not mean financially accessible, that means wheelchair accessible, which is a federally mandated requirement that we have not been keeping an eye on until we had a change somewhere in the city, and now we have variances coming in by the dozens at various stages.

So I I think um you know I'm appreciative that we soon will have a fully staffed commission, but I really wish we had the support of more leadership of in this room to do the work and to give you some advice.

I'll take any questions.

I don't see anybody wearing your hat except Ben.

I got a ponytail.

I couldn't put it on, but yeah.

I got a ponytail.

I can't put the hat on, Kristen.

All right.

Thank you for your work and uh for really shedding light you know on this issue.

I it's unfortunate that we live in a society where when if you're a senior or your person with disability or almost invisible.

But we'll continue to do better as uh as a city and as a community.

You don't understand it because you don't see it, and it's not your fault, but you have soon to have a 13-member body who is willing to tell you how you can do it and make it easier, not more expensive.

But we are we take up more space, and we sometimes cost more, and that's okay.

I'm proud of that.

I'm proud that I need more room to get in this building.

I'm do you know this isn't accessible?

And it doesn't go up or down.

No one in a wheelchair can come in here.

And it's pretty sad to think you have to stand to the side or hold a different microphone.

It there's there's so many little things that make people feel less that no one ever intends.

But we want to make that go away if you let us.

Well, I'll yield if there's any questions for the speaker.

I just I have as the co-sponsor of this, I did have something I wanted to say after.

Anyone have any question for I don't see any.

So Councillor Klingon, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I want to thank uh my colleague from Ward One who brought this forward.

Um it was after I think conversations that we had had regarding this is the second so in 2024 we brought forth um disability pride, the flag raising and recognition of the month through a resolution.

This is a reaffirming of that resolution.

We also had to do last year the same thing when uh there was a a strange interpretation of the 504 plans, and and that seemed to be under attack.

Now we're back here uh reaffirming because of this Department of Justice uh determination uh surrounding uh institutionalized living.

Um so once again we are here and thank you, Mr.

President.

I tonight I'm proud to join my colleagues in recognizing disability pride month and reaffirming the city of Somerville's commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities who live, work, and visit our community are respected, supported and fully included in all aspects of civil life.

Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate achievements, contributions, leadership and advocacy of people with disabilities.

It's also reminder that disability rights are civil rights, they're human rights.

Uh that work uh and that the work of creating a truly accessible and inclusive community is ongoing.

And I really appreciate what you said.

I I I know I know activist communities and I know that sometimes there are deviations, and some people might say uh the whole sort of like aspect of pride, but I think it really speaks volumes in the sense that there used to be a ton of shame and stigma attached to being uh to having a disability um to the point where we put people away, and that's what that's what happened um with places like Willow Brook.

So I do think it's important to, in the same way that um gay pride is like we're here, and you need to see us and recognize the fact that we are here.

Uh but this year feels uh this reminder feels especially important across the country.

Disability advocates have expressed concern about recent actions by the U.S.

Department of Justice to seek uh that seek to narrow the long-standing interpretation of the Supreme Court's landmark uh homestead.

For more than 25 years, homestead has been widely understood to affirm that unnecessary segregation of people with disabilities can constitute discrimination under the American with Disabilities Act.

Uh here in Somerville we have an obligation to continue moving forward.

We must recognize that compliance with the American Disabilities Act is the floor, not the ceiling.

Uh our goal should not simply be to meet minimum legal requirements, but to build a city where accessibility, inclusion, and equity are part of every decision we make.

I want to acknowledge that uh I have been encouraged by this administration's commitment.

Oh, I actually should have cut this part out because I was under the impression that the ADA transition plan was supposed to be on the agenda, but I guess it's been pulled back for uh some more work.

So that's okay.

We'll hold off on can on um acknowledging that.

But I do I am encouraged that um that plan there has been a lot of movement on that plan and the mayor has it is is one of his um priorities so much so that like he said that he has questions and and concerns um so I just want to reaffirm the reaffirm the importance of ensuring that voices of people with disabilities are not only heard but actively included in decisions that affect them.

The principle of nothing about us without us should continue to guide our work as a city because the people who most affected by the decisions deserve a meaningful seat at the table.

And so I'll just say as we celebrate disability pride month let us recommit ourselves to building a summer role where everybody has the opportunity to participate fully in community life where accessibility is viewed as a shared responsibility and where every resident is valued and welcomed together we can continue to work for creating a city that is more accessible, equitable and inclusive.

And I just want to say that you know Willowbrook's been been named a few times but I I worked for many years at the Department of Developmental Services through the period where the commissioner and through the through the department was closing the Fernal Center.

If you don't know the Fernal Center uh was closed finally in 2014 um it was founded in 1848 it's uh it was a school for the feeble minded uh it was the first of its kind in the Western hemisphere it's founding uh 180 acres up in Waltham um humanitarian innovation the care of idiots and feeble minded individuals uh photos from the early days show girls in starched white dresses and boys in white shirts with black ties sitting erecting classroom desks uh over time fernal residents also included orphans abandoned children unmarried pregnant young women physic visually and or physically impaired individuals as well as individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the out of sight out of mind approach may have helped to mollify the minds of family members um but Walter Fernal was a eugenicist um he didn't want uh certain people um re uh procreating um but through the advocacy that was mentioned uh the Fernal Center was finally closed um but yeah we we uh you know uh we can't go back to the days of of uh being able to uh indiscriminately and uh lock people up with uh indefinitely um that uh the things that I've witnessed at the Department of Developmental Service with regards to community based living which is the model that we moved when we moved away from this the the enrichment and the just the the sheer um uh joy and uh sense of empowerment that these individuals who once were were were institutionalized are now living in their own apartments with roommates uh and all these different situations that it's just it's just been amazing and they used to just wallow in you know as in Willowbrook be chained to radiators so this is really important that we uh recognize this and I appreciate the mayor doing a proclamation versus just our resolution that was really um that was really a great thing by the city and I'm sorry I missed the flag raising today but you know I would have been there if I could thank you Mr.

President thank you Councilman any other discussion as I said then Councilman Hunt you Mr.

President and I would like to sign on in support of this as well and through you to appreciate Ms.

Simeoni for being here and and for the counselors uh for raising this up um our whole society and our city owe such a debt of um you know such a debt to the activists um and advocates for decades who have worked for the rights of people with disabilities and um we know that that's a group that one of the many groups that our current federal administration is targeting and we absolutely need to be standing up against that and it's horrifying to hear about um the rollbacks of the OMSED decision and yeah just really appreciate um everybody bringing that to light and drawing attention to it thank you thank you Council Hutt any other discussion on this item Council Strezzo I'm just going to make this very brief but as I said earlier today at the at the council to uh commissioner your commissioner no sorry and call you chair I'm here as a resident chair simeone um as I said earlier at the at the disability pride flag raising that when it comes to either advocating for someone with special needs or disabilities or having disabilities um it becomes extraordinarily frustrating and every day just all the different ways that the world is has been that our community our our processes are just designed differently and that advocacy becomes every single day an act of not falling into the cynicism the that goal to not fall into this cynicism is an act of everyday resistance.

And that's very much how I feel about that.

So I want to to really leave that resonating.

That it's constant.

And these moments matter.

And conversations matter.

And what we choose to do when we wake up in the morning tomorrow on this matters.

Okay, thank you, Consider Clink.

And before that, um Claire, four point four item is approved.

Seven point one seven place on five, the proclamation.

And uh, thank you.

And so we will stand in recess for five minutes.

So this is Council's back from R says Madame Club, would you please call the road to establish the quorum?

Is his role call to re-establish quorum?

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Here.

Counselor Link?

Here.

Counselor Scott?

Present.

Counselor Klingen?

Councilor Schozo?

Counselor Said?

Here.

Counselor Wheeler?

Here.

Councilor Hart?

Here.

Councilor McLaughlin?

Here.

Councilor McBock?

President.

And Counselor Davis.

With nine members present, we have quorum.

Next item, Madame Clerk.

Next item is 7.3 requesting authorization to borrow 130 million 392,395 and a bond and to appropriate the same amount to participate in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the Morrison Avenue Linear Storage Project.

Anyone Dr.

Edge.

Good evening, Council President, members of the City Council for your record.

Richard Rach, Director of Infrastructure.

Thank you.

So what is linear storage?

So this is primarily a flood relief project.

And our route for that is Morrison Ave, therefore Morrison Ave linear storage.

One in uh outside of assembly to the Somerville Marginal, uh, and another to the Alewife conduit along Alefe Brook.

Uh the area of Davis Square uh is is landlocked.

It has a number of regulators in it.

Under dry weather conditions, uh everything flows into Union Square to the Cambridge branch.

Uh during high weather, uh, there are overflows that then carry that uh combined sewage to the alewife brook.

Uh so that proposes a challenge for any improvements in that area.

On the next slide, the project components here are of course that large sort of box culvert uh relocation of a bunch of other sewers and water.

Uh while we're there, we also rehabilitate other pipes uh that don't have to be relocated and are uh in sufficient condition that we can simply re-rehabilitate them in a bunch of manhole um rehabilitation.

The project limits on the next slide are primarily along Morrison Ave from Cedar almost all the way uh to uh College Av.

It sort of cuts off uh near Winslow uh just because of the way that the system works.

We'll also be doing some work on Pearson and Highland Road.

Uh one of the things that we found, again, with the complicated way that our sewer system works is that improvements in this area could actually lead to downstream flooding uh really by Buena Vista.

Um so we had to do had to include other uh improvements sort of outside of that localized zone.

Uh so we've got work along uh Potterhouse Boulevard uh and um also some work uh on J Street that balances out the system.

We can move forward to the project benefits uh on the next slide.

Uh this actually winds up being uh uh a very positive project for the the overall system health.

Uh if you if you look at um flood reduction benefits, as we've been it we're we're currently at 60 percent design.

Uh right now, under a 10-year storm, uh we see 1.33 million gallons of uh flooding in that Morrison neighborhood.

Uh the improvements here will bring that down to 0.17 uh million gallons.

And uh you see there are also uh benefits in the uh J Street and Packard Ave uh areas as well.

Uh next slide sort of illustrates the the mapping of the flooding.

Um again for that 10-year, 2030 event, um, as you see the the flooding is pretty pervasive throughout that neighborhood uh and this uh project would eliminate uh most of that and and what remains is uh relatively shallow compared to what existing conditions are.

Uh on the next slide, this project also has CSO benefits.

Um it's important, it's important to uh highlight that this is not one of the projects that we were putting forward in the CSO plan to the state because we didn't want to commit ourselves to having to do this uh on the schedule.

This is sort of an intellective uh project for us to do, um, along with other similar uh projects that we intend to do.

Um, but the the benefits are uh nevertheless fairly um substantial.

Uh in that typical year, the 2050 typical year, we go from 13 events to 11.

Um, you know, that reduction of two is a 15% reduction in frequency, um, but more importantly, it reduces the volume from 8.5 million gallons in that typical year down to 6.4, and that's a 24% reduction.

Um, and it's sort of uh illustrative to point out that you know this this is sort of our plan uh along with the CSO plan.

The CSO plan has a lot of storage in it.

Uh the storage tunnel is the solution for the ale wife, um, and to make that more resilient, we can continue doing other projects like this to maximize the effectiveness of that uh tunnel.

Uh as I said earlier, this area of Davis Square is an interesting part of our system uh which you know primarily uh flows down through Union Square to Cambridge Branch.

We had to be very careful with the design of this, um, you know, increasing that um flood storage but also conveyance in the Davis Square area that we didn't inadvertently flood out um union square uh and the the long-term simulation says you know essentially there's no increase to Union Square.

So from a hydraulic perspective, we're balancing the benefits in Davis, but not at the expense of union.

Um so it's uh you know a success from a hydraulic standpoint.

Uh moving on to project schedule and funding.

Um the reason I'm here tonight asking for council action is not my usual way of going about these projects.

Um, you know, June or July is a strange time to be doing this.

You usually see me in in November and December lining up for the next construction season, at which point we will have done uh brought the design to 100% and we will have value engineered it and had a really tight budget.

Um what has changed for this is uh, and we can go to the to the next slide uh to to see the timeline on this.

We submitted an application for the state revolving fund, the SRF back in July of last year.

Uh that submission to the state for funding uh was based on the 30% design, which at the time was 30 million dollars.

Uh we decided to move forward with that application at that time uh because the Biden administration had put an influx of money into the SRF program, and the SRF program was going to give us better um uh uh uh percentage than our commercially available bonds.

Um at a minimum, it is a 2% uh long-term loan, 30-year loan.

Uh and because we are a disadvantaged community uh in many respects, we will also be eligible for loan forgiveness.

The amount of that loan forgiveness is not known now, it's not locked, it won't be until we get uh closer to the actual construction date.

Um, but the program offers us um much better financing terms and some loan forgiveness, which would be essentially a grant that we otherwise wouldn't be eligible for.

Um the the downside uh in in terms of council action is that um uh for us, city council approval was due and the paperwork is due to DEP on June 30th.

Uh because of budget, we were not able to fit this request in.

Uh we did uh request and they gave us an extension to July 15th, which is like next week.

Um and so the the council action tonight uh is to authorize us to get into the SRF program and borrow up to 30 130 million dollars.

Um so that's the the item before you right now.

Uh as I say that this isn't my normal way of doing this.

Usually I will have uh gone through the process, value engineered it down, usually getting the price down.

You'll see on the bottom half of the schedule.

We we currently have the 60% design in hand.

We've got the cost down to uh 11.

I'm hoping that by the time we get to bid we're gonna be even lower than that.

Um but you know that that notwithstanding, we've got this opportunity to get into the program now.

The indication um, or is not even an indication, Trump has cut this program.

So right now we are in the pipeline to um essentially benefit from a Biden administration appropriation and an influx of cash.

Were we to delay this by a year, this would not be here for us.

It would go to other communities, we would lose our place in line.

Um so that's why we're asking for an action tonight.

Um we will continue doing what we normally do in advancing the design, cutting costs.

My anticipation is that in December of this year, rather than coming to you for an appropriation as I normally would do, I will instead come to rescind whatever we managed to cut out of the cost.

So we're asking tonight for the authorization for 130.

In December, at this point, you know, uh we we should be able to cut 19 at least.

I think we're gonna be able to cut more than 19, um, but I don't know exactly where those numbers lie.

Um and then that would set us up for what we normally do is is bid over the winter and then break ground next summer on this project.

So it's a complicated ask, it's a big one.

Um it the this number, the 130 number, was what we were holding in our rate projections.

So when we got the the rate approval um last month, we were anticipating spending this money on this schedule, you know, essentially starting uh in summer of next year.

Um so the this doesn't have any um uh need to increase rates any higher than what we were already projecting, it's baked into uh what we were uh um asking for on the rate approval.

Uh so you know that that's that's sort of the situation we're in.

As always, uh if you just go two slides ahead, if you want more information, uh this is one of many projects that was uh you know, sort of a follow-on from the citywide drainage uh uh and water quality master plan.

We've got the summer voice link for that.

Um it is also a sister project to the Mystic River outfall and sewer separation project, uh which we also have summer voice for, and of course the summer voice for this project uh is linked there.

Um so with that, I'd uh happy to answer any questions.

Thank thank you, Director Ridge.

Um before I go to council you encampment.

Just curious, like so.

When I was looking at uh when I saw this number uh uh early on, I went to like the the capital improvement plan fiscal year between 2023 and 2029.

I didn't see this on this, so I wasn't sure if it was like a new project or why it wasn't part of you know how we always have these master leads to the other.

Yeah, to the president, the last time we posted the um capital improvement plan, as we discussed in uh finance committee um is three years ago.

Um and this project started three years ago.

Um so it was just sort of on the planning horizon, uh so it wasn't posted on on that.

Um it it as an outgrowth of the drainage quality master plan.

Um it was uh sort of on the radar, but it hadn't been defined uh to a point where we could put it on the capital plan.

But in the time since then, it has been in the capital plan um that we use to project the rates.

Thank you.

Counselor UN Gump in.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh through you, um I think we've uh been watching this project for the last three years, you know, I especially with wrapping up Spring Hill, which was this huge project in my award.

I've been aware that this is the next big one.

Um so you know, I I'm I don't really have personal strong feelings about exactly the details of the the financing.

You know, I've it's I've been aware that this is coming.

Um can you through you, Mr.

President, can you just say one more time the the amount of money we're gonna get from the feds?

So uh to the chair, we're uh because we submitted the application about a year ago now on uh at what at that time was a hundred and thirty million dollar project, they have earmarked 130 for us.

So that would be the upper limit.

Um and what it it's it is a uh borrowing program um that is at a two percent over 30 years, um, which is much better than what we're getting commercially right now.

Uh Director Bean would have it off the top of his head, but as I recall, the last time we went out long term, which was around uh was last month, I think it was something like 4.3, something like that.

Um so uh significantly better rate.

Um and also we don't know exactly what the number is going to be um, but based on um our EJ population, we will be eligible for loan forgiveness for for some undisclosed amount.

I would I wouldn't imagine it to be, you know, a hundred million dollars, but you know, it it could be a significant amount that we wouldn't even have to pay back.

Got it.

Mr.

President, so yes, that I mean to me that's extremely significant, right?

Two two points on an interest rate over 30 years on a project of this size is a lot of money.

It makes sense to me to do it now.

Um it's just a kind of stark reminder of how long these three years were at 60 percent construction starts next year, and then it's four years of construction.

I mean, it just kind of boggles the mind.

And this is a project as I understand it, Mr.

President, there's no streetscapes component of it, right?

For financial reasons, right?

We don't even get to nice in the street, which is through the president, that's correct.

That's that's one of the ways that we went from 130 to 11.

Yeah, was cutting the streetscapes.

I mean, Mr.

President, I I obviously always wish there were streetscapes.

I also understand we're in a really constrained environment.

It's really difficult.

Um just uh to the extent that you can do this briefly.

Can you just remind me how this geographic region was chosen?

Um you know, there's a lot of parts of the city that flood, we all get emails, etc.

etc.

Not this is incredibly important.

I support this, but just for for my uh explaining this to constituents.

Thank you for the question through the president.

Um there one of the reasons or or the primary reason why we prioritize this is that um it also allows us uh to renew and provide redundancy for a pipe that we know is in poor condition, that is in the bike path, um uh you know, uh in into Davis Square.

Um and it provides connectivity for a large portion of of the city.

So all the way up into Gilman Square, or not not Gilman Square, uh to Magoon Square.

So Magoon Square, DPW area actually flows under the tracks um and then into the that Morrison Avenue uh um neighborhood, and then connects down at a point uh right outside of Somerville Theater and continues on down.

That pipe's in poor condition, and were that pipe to fail, we'd have a very large portion of the city that would essentially be on a water ban um for a long time while we tried to excavate this pipe in the in the bike lane.

Um so because of that, that high risk and the fact that this project addresses that risk and retires that risk.

This project was one of the ones that was prioritized over a lot of the others in the drainage master plan.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I'm all set.

I'm in support of this.

Any other counselor wheeler?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I uh appreciate all of the long-term planning that clearly has gone into this.

Uh and I have some questions, um, some of them are ones that I think I already know the answer to.

Um so uh one of the things is uh I know the idea of borrowing 130 million dollars sounds sort of inconceivably huge.

Uh and so first of all, I appreciate your your clarity on the benefits of being able to get uh a low interest rate for this.

Um my little back of the envelope suggested suggests that we're talking about something like six million dollars annually, but I know that depends on is that the full amount are we on a sort of standard uh even amortization schedule?

Uh one question I have is uh just to sort of get clear on why this is necessary.

Uh it's certainly, you know, I know about flooding being uh a problem I hear from lots of people uh over by Morrison Ave.

Uh is this something that is really explicitly and absolutely required for the city under our commitments to reducing sewer overflow and improving some stormwater drainage?

Uh another good question through the president.

Um again, while this has CSO benefits, um this is largely seen as uh a flood mitigation project and a risk mitigation project for for the failure of that pipe that I just um described for for the Ward 3 counselor.

Um and but also acknowledging that it is a very large price tag and not wanting to commit the city to having to do this, because again, with the CSO plan, we will be under consent order and we have no choice but to do it.

Um so strategically, we did not put this into the CSO plan because I didn't want to put us in a position where we had to do it that we elected to do it for for those the uh other reasons.

And uh through the president, uh why does it help for us to be electing to do it?

Is there an amount where if it was part of the CSO plan, could a greater amount of the funding of that be coming from MWRA and from other sources?

Um through the president, again, there's there's a lot to be negotiated between Somerville and MWRA on uh you know the overall payment of the CSO plan in the state, frankly.

Um because this is primarily a flood relief and system risk reduction, uh MWRA would not be very interested in in um paying for any of this.

It would it would be eligible for their other local assistance programs um that they do, like that we already take advantage of mostly on the water side.

Um and we would get a a you know it would not qualify for the furlough mount because we don't we don't get that much.

Um but this isn't a thing that MWRA would um fund.

And then finally, through the president again, um you know, for an item like this, uh can you just give uh a sense of uh I'm assuming there has been discussion of this for quite some time uh among your staff among our city's excellent uh finance staff and uh and a relative prioritization of given limited resources.

Is this the next thing that we really need to do?

And this isn't really much of a question, but I'd love to just hear uh you know hear a summary of that from you.

Yeah, so you know the the water and sewer prioritization is sort of uh we always acknowledge that it's the same kitchen table impacts, but the the um prioritization of water and sewer things isn't usually in competition with the general fund um because that we have different sort of funding sources and limitations.

Um that said, we do take that prioritization very seriously and and only put forward projects that have um definitive benefits.

Um and again, in terms of the the risk reduction, um that pipe in the in the um bike path is going to fail.

I mean it it it already has uh failed once back in 17.

Um and it was uh very difficult repair, um, very invasive in that area.

Um and the rest of that thing is is sort of a ticking liability.

Um so it is very much a priority for us as a city to take care of that.

Um the flooding in that area has also been highlighted as a problem and and one that uh we've had relatively dry few years, so you haven't heard that much about it, certainly since you've been on the council.

Um, but in the years before that, uh councillor Davis can attest that that neighborhood has been very vocal about the flood.

I'll just say through the president, I heard about it from many people in that neighborhood who uh had disturbed recent memories of those problems.

Um and and to you know, to be completely frank, that when when I saw the 130 number, I said we can't we can't do this, we have to start cutting costs.

And we were down to 11.

I I'm still trying to cut more cost out of this to make this more um palatable.

Um but the at the same time the benefits are are clear.

The risk retirement, the the flood reduction benefits.

That I I can't express what a great job the hydraulic engineers.

It's it's a very complicated system um that they've put in, and it's entirely passive.

We don't have to have any pumps in it, it's just weirs and elevations and it it works very well.

And the fact that it also shaves off combined sewer overflow, like this it's it's doing three big things.

Um so it's still a priority project.

I just want to shave another 11 off of it.

Uh finally, through the president.

Um if we were to take uh a different approach to this and say, hey, let's just do the minimum repairs that we need to on that problematic pipe or deal with it when it becomes a problem.

In the long term, would that approach be more expensive?

Uh through the president, like, yeah, so bless you.

Um so were we just to do the repair, the repair of that um pipe is a very expensive part of this and offers no additional benefits other than retiring the risk.

It doesn't reduce CSOs or address any of the flooding issues.

Um as a standalone project, because of the mobilization to do it, and it's all the bypass pumping that would have to be in place for for this project anyway.

There are a lot of associated costs that would then be doubled were we to split it into two.

Um so my thinking is if were we to split it into two, we'd never do the flood reduction um project.

And through the president, that that would leave us in a uh more of a debt, so to speak, in the sewer overflow component.

Through through the chair, yeah.

We wouldn't be reducing the CSO or addressing the the flooding problems in that area at all.

Thank you.

I appreciate uh your answering my questions through the president.

Uh I I am also ready to support this.

Uh it's a a big ticket item.

My back of the envelope may or may not be quite on the money, but we're probably talking about something roughly in the ballpark of six million dollars a year.

That's that's a lot of money uh for us.

I appreciate the the work that's gone into getting this proposal to this point, and that this uh is a relative savings compared to other approaches we could take.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Wheeler.

Councillor Hutt?

Thank you.

Um through you to Director Vage, thank you so much for this presentation.

And um uh I'm it's it's great to know that this is happening, and I'll I appreciate all of the work that's gone into it, and it's great to hear that there might be um some loan forgiveness and some help with the price tag.

So um that's wonderful.

I was wondering I have a couple of questions.

And first, if you could just say a little bit more about the streets in Ward 7, the powder house, Packard, and J, and like um the the benefits to those neighborhoods and um and the need in that area.

Uh yeah, so both of both of those areas are also subject to localized flooding.

Um I think our the flooding map really just focused on the um Morrison Av once, unfortunately.

Uh I um probably should have got the other maps from my consultant.

But um J Street in particular uh is uh one that historically has had a lot of flooding.

In fact, um there when I first started here almost 10 years ago, um there had been uh some condos that were permitted that probably should not have been because they're actually sort of lower than the street, um, and they had constant problems.

Like every time it rained, it would back up into the condos.

Um the the sewer department has uh has it on their list, like every time a large rainstorm is coming, they go down and jet that line as as a preventative maintenance measure measure.

So um this also addresses that that J Street.

Um there's flooding on that corner on Potter House.

Uh usually it ponds because you've got that sort of grass strip and the um you know uh sidewalk behind.

Um it creates rivers back there.

Um so this this addresses that in Ward 7 as well.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Um and through you, um another question.

Um so I'm uh I'm uh learning all of this.

I'm a beginner and understanding these issues, um, so I appreciate your explanations.

Um and I know during the budget hearings um you were telling me about the the difficulties in doing um stormwater management as part of streetscapes and things like that.

Um and I'm just wondering in terms of other ways of attenuating rainfall, um, like gray water systems or things that uh property owners could do.

Um I know that's a very different thing from engineering this sort of project.

But what since we're on the topic, what sort of um opportunity or limits do you see in strategies like that?

Uh to the president, um there was some talk at budget of the the stormwater fee, which uh counselor um Scott has been involved with since he was on the um the uh council.

Um we're looking to roll that out once we have all the billing issues we're targeting January, and we just had a meeting with that team yesterday, and January seems really close to us now because there's a lot of work that has to be done.

Um but the one of the purposes of that is to make payment fair because stormwater is the um sort of root cause of most of our costs.

Um and and so is there's some you know uh payment fairness.

But more importantly, in my mind, is there's an incentive there to reduce your stormwater fee by deep having and by holding stormwater on site.

Uh and the modeling that that we see that we we've run modeling on you know different um percentage of of people buying into that on a level of intervention that we know can happen because we require it for uh any building permits.

Um it can it it will reduce um CSOs by 25 percent.

Uh it'll significantly reduce flooding.

Um and so that's we're we're moving that in parallel um to incentivize folks to um store their stormwater on site.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Council.

Um through you, Mr.

President.

Thank you for the presentation.

I am very supportive of this part of this.

You might have to recuse yourself because your house is one of those ones that would be affected if that that pipe breaks.

Yeah.

I'm still gonna speak to it.

But um so see Cedar Street all the way to it's all part of it.

Yeah, I mean I'm very familiar with this area because one, you know, I live there and um but I'm glad to see, you know, that we're looking for ways to reduce the cost and uh keep the project all we're keeping the project going.

Um yeah, I want to understand this uh uh slide uh on flood reduction benefits.

It just because you just made the point that this will not address the flooding when uh counselor Wheeler asked the question.

So so just to clarify, Counselor Wheeler asked if we were to split the project in two, just do the pipe rehab by itself and not do the linear storage.

So that yeah, the the the linear storage is what gets that flood reduction.

Okay, and this project has it has that okay.

Sorry.

Um okay, so I I just want to say that when I first got on the council, so this almost three years ago, this is one of the very first things that I you know I had to like you know learn about and uh obviously was hearing about it from neighbors.

Um, but it's not the same to meet with the director of also wait and say that this is actually one of the areas that keeps him up at night.

Uh it's like that bad where sewer water, imagine all along the bike path in this area, and uh just I mean right now we know that most of the basements on these streets they're flooding and um some neighbors uh on cedar even has like sewer water coming out of you know like their bathrooms and all that, which is just horrifying.

Like people just lose everything overnight.

So um this is just to say this is a really important project uh for us to address and um yeah, I just had um yeah, a few questions.

So it says here for the timeline is four years, so is that only during the is it does it include just construction seas season or is it more of like uh all your launching?

Through the president, I mean as as the good word three counselor knows, we try to work round the season um snow permitting.

Um so if we have a snow-free winter, we'll keep on going.

Um if the snow falls, we'll have to shut down.

Um the the four years.

It's it's probably slightly conservative.

Um I don't see this getting done in three years.

I think there's spillover into year four.

How much of the fourth year is actual construction is really hard to predict right now until we start digging.

Okay.

Just you know, trying to get a sense of um also like the impact it will have on the community path.

It's like heavily used by you know neighbors, families.

Um when we get there, we're not there yet to make sure like we prepare for that and have alternatives and all that.

Obviously, this is like really important because I mean we all use the community path and we know this area, like when it rains, you literally cannot get through there.

I mean, if you're on a bike, yeah, but if it's icy, you know, there's ice, you know, it freezes overnight and all that, it just becomes you know impossible to get through.

Um yeah, and then just back to the uh first slide.

I think I missed um where it says where is linear storage.

Can you tell us one more time?

Like all the different things that will be addressed in this project.

Just yeah, through through the through the president, especially for Morrison, and then we do a little jog and go down onto Winslow.

Um we we will pretty much be touching every underground utility that's our currently there.

Um as as you know, ever sources out there right now replacing um the gas line, and we've already coordinated with them on the corridor that we want them to be in.

Um coordinated is uh a polite term for the way that has gone.

Um but you we're we're getting we're getting the gas line out of the way now.

We will have to relocate the water line.

Uh there will we will be putting in a new um sanitary sewer alongside uh the the larger box culvert.

Um so pretty much everything gets moved to make way for uh a large culvert that has the volume.

So you know it in simplest terms, what you see is surface flooding will now be underground in in a large box culvert.

Um and we gotta do a lot of work to make room for that.

Yeah, thank you uh through you, Mr.

President.

I think here I'm glad to hear this.

The request is just to make sure as we dig up the street, we get everything done because the challenge, you know, it's you know, this is gonna be you know coming for years that making sure that after four years we're not digging up the street again.

Yeah, so I'm glad to hear this and um you know look forward to learning more as we move uh yes, you know, we get the funding to keep going with this project.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Said.

Any other question on this?

Mr.

President, uh these we need eight votes for this.

There's only seven of us, so can we call the other counselors back before actually voting?

We all use the same system.

It was just none, we will approve this item and then we'll wait to do a roll call vote.

Okay.

Councillor McLaughlin.

Waiting to is Councillor Lingst on?

Okay.

Yeah, it's like saying that we'll be in the school neighborhood.

That's true.

So you were yes.

So Madam Clerk, can you do a roll call vote on this item?

Yes.

This is um roll call on item 7.3.

Councilor Ewan Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Councilor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Strazzo?

Yes.

Counselor Saeed?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Councilor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Councilor Mba?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

With 10 counselors, um, it is approved.

Thank you.

Next item, Madame Click.

Yes.

Next item is 7.4, requesting the appropriation of 834,595 and 5 cents from the facility renovation stabilization fund for continuing building design and construction services.

Council President, uh if you'd like, you can also take up four uh 7.5 at the same time.

It's the same um discussion.

Yeah, Madame Clerk, can you read the Yes?

7.5 requesting the appropriation of 185,352 and 58 cents from the street reconstruction stabilization fund for continuing street sidewalk and pavement condition assessment and design services.

Thank you.

So as we discussed in infrastructure's uh budget hearing, um every year um because our projects are tied to the construction slash calendar year and bridged fiscal years.

We start projects in one fiscal year, knowing that uh we're gonna then need to continue uh on those projects in the next fiscal year.

Um we do that by taking um all of our active projects that have active POs.

Uh we take that money out of the previous fiscal year, put it into stabilization, and then appropriate out of stabilization back so that we can then uh wreck against them on new POs.

Um we typically do that uh as you recall at the end of uh budget night on the 25th.

Um there were a number of items that were taken up.

The first half of that thing was in those items.

Um this second half uh was just missed.

We couldn't get all the math in and get all the items uh on the agenda.

Um so the uh on the 25th, the council already took our money from fiscal twenty-six and put it into stabilization.

We now have to take it out of stabilization uh and put it into accounts that we can wreck against and continue all these POs.

Thank you, Councillor Scott.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

This is just basic bookkeeping uh catch up.

Uh if you notice on these memos, they were issued on June 20th.

Uh so I would recommend approval this evening.

And any other questions?

Counselor Klingon.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'm just curious.

So um did you say there were there's a list of like what what projects are?

Yeah through through the president.

We um submitted a memo along with the the items that were already voted on that that took it out of the budget and out of fiscal twenty-six and into um uh stabilization.

Uh so for the facilities, it's a bunch of the stuff with the schools.

It's our ongoing work at the Argenziano boilers, the West Roof, the all that stuff.

Yeah, no, I actually knew that when I was looking more to the um sidewalks and street.

Yeah, so the the street rehabilitation um are in the the way that we've been funding it for the past many many years is that we do bond and use chapter 90 for the construction.

Um, but for the engineering design, engineering oversight, uh, and and all the consulting work we use our annual budget.

We don't bond for that.

Um so this is basically the the the design oversight checking, um all that kind of stuff that we rely on consultants for.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Klingon.

Any other question?

See none, the item is approved.

I think we require two roll call votes on this.

Yes.

Uh we can bundle them together, Mr.

President, if that's okay with you.

So this is roll call on 7.4 and 7.5.

Counselor Ewan Campen?

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Strazzo?

Yes.

Counselor Saeed?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Councilor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Councilor Mbaugh?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

With 10 mem 10 council members, it is approved.

Thank you.

Next item, Madame Clerk.

Next item is 7.6.

Requesting approval to appropriate 50,000 from the salary and wage stabilization fund to establish a police detail revolving fund for superior officers.

Good evening, Attorney Sirigu to speak on this item again for the record.

This is $50,000 in relation to an item included in this superior officers' recent uh MOA that was approved by the council a few weeks ago.

This $50,000 will be used to create something of a revolving fund so that uh superior officers can be paid in a more timely manner when they work in detail.

So the fifty thousand dollars is used to make a payment to an officer after they work in detail, and then when we receive payment from the vendor or the contractor, that money goes into the account.

Um so it's it's it's self-sustaining in in that sense, I suppose.

Thank you.

And a question, Council Ewan Company.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, so this is no new money.

This is just a way to get people paid a little faster.

Uh council president, through you, uh yes, that's accurate.

The patrol officers have had an account like this for for a number of years.

The superior officers will now just have one too.

But yes, it's not the city paying the detail fund, it's just putting some money forward, a capped amount of money forward so that the officers can be paid in a more timely manner.

Got it, I'm all set.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Council.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

And following on that question, uh, I I know there are some revolving funds that the city has where uh from time to time there's a need to infuse the revolving fund with more money.

Is it your understanding, Attorney Sirigo um through the president, that uh that is not the case with this fund, that instead there's an agreement, you know, as as part of this memorandum of understanding uh that uh $50,000 is sort of the capacity of this fund.

Uh there's a one-to-one correspondence of money that will be coming in and money that will be going out.

There's no reason to expect that there would be a need to infuse this fund with more money unless at some future date there's a a new and different agreement with a union.

Uh council president, through you, y yes, that's correct.

Right now it's capped at 50,000.

The money should come back as long as we manage the account well and account for the money uh and track down our vendors.

It should not it should not be a problem.

We should not need more funds for it uh unless one day it were negotiated to be a higher amount if the detail rate went up for the there could theoretically be reasons in the future why the amount increases, but right now by contract it's capped at $50,000.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

See none, that item is approved.

I think we require roll call vote on that item.

Yes, Mr.

President.

This is roll call on item 7.6.

Councilor Ewan Campen?

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Strazzo?

Yes.

Counselor Saeed?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Council McLaughlin?

Yes.

Councilor Umba?

Yes.

And Counselor Davis.

Thank you.

Next item, Madam Clerk.

Next item is 8.1, Director of Economic Development conveying an update on the 90 Washington Street request for proposals, and we have Mr.

Dimmers online to give a presentation.

Hello.

Mr.

Dimmers, you should be able to share your screen.

There we go.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Will you introduce yourself at a direct?

Yes, sorry.

Just one second as I get up the correct view.

Okay.

Um hi everyone.

My name is Ben Demers.

I'm a senior planner with the economic development division of the strategy and development department.

Um so I am here this evening.

Sorry, I'm just place my things down.

Um I'm here this evening to give an update on the request for proposals or RFP process for selecting a developer at 90 Washington Street.

Um so as a reminder, the Summer Redevelopment Authority or the SRA released an RFP to find a development partner for this site this past January that was open until April.

Um the SRA had two responses to that RFP from Wood Partners and North River Learn.

Um last time that we met with the council, the council voted to move those two finalists forward into what we call a best and final offer period, during which staff were able to negotiate to improve both proposals based on feedback from the council from the 90 Washington Street Civic Advisory Committee, uh, from staff and from the redevelopment authority.

So I'm here this evening to give an update, so I will spend this evening giving an update, and then we are also requesting that the council convene in executive session specifically to talk about the updated financial portion of the proposal.

And then for I'll give a summary of the proposal, but in the memo that was shared with this item this evening, there's also a link to the city's webpage on this project, which also has the link to the full updated proposal from Wood Partners.

Okay.

So the first thing that I want to note, so as I mentioned, we received two responses from Wood Partners in North River Laring.

At the end of the Best and Final Offer period, which ended on June 29th, so last Monday, Wood Partners did, or sorry, North River Laring did withdraw their proposal.

We had gone back and forth with them a few times during the best and final offer period.

Ultimately, they cited that due to the difficulties meeting both the programmatic goals and the required return for their investors on the project.

They ultimately decided that they needed to withdraw.

Obviously, this is disappointing to be at the end of a best and final offer period where we thought we would have two proposals improved at the end and to have one.

So I do want to name that.

However, I will say through the back and forth with wood partners, uh, we saw a lot of improvements and changes to their proposal that I'll talk through this evening.

So still feel successful coming out of that process.

Um and obviously North River still a big uh player within the brick bottom neighborhood, um, big landowner in that area, and so learned a lot through this process about what the neighborhood wants to see for development in this area.

So shifting into the wood partners proposal, um you can see here that a significant amount has changed within the site plan, and I apologize for the the size of this.

I'm gonna blow up the updated proposal in a second.

Um you can see here on the left the original proposal that was shared.

So this was the large building that included some amenity space, and you can see the parking structure in the center, uh, which was a six to seven-story parking structure, which the building wrapped around.

And then on the right here, you can see the updated site plan.

So this updated site plan breaks up the building.

So you can see in the kind of the main portion of the site, you have building 1A to the north and building 1B to the south, which comes along New Washington Street.

Um, and so by breaking that up, they've allowed for kind of more pedestrian networks within the site.

And then along what we call the tail portion in the southeast of the site, you see building two.

So they added a third building to the development.

I'm gonna zoom in a little bit.

Sorry, it's clicking through.

Um, so as I mentioned, by breaking up the site, they were able to add kind of more pedestrian connections throughout.

Uh so you can see they've maintained a um civic plaza in the northwest corner at the corner of Washington and New Washington Streets, and then the pedestrian plaza that kind of goes through the site and exits onto New Washington Street in the southeast corner.

So creating a new point of connectivity through the site.

And then you can see here some renderings of the buildings.

Um, so the image, both of these images being shown from the northwest, so from the intersection of Washington and New Washington Street.

Um, and so you can see the two main buildings, buildings 1A and 1B.

Uh, these are both seven-story buildings.

They have ground floor community retail and amenities space, and then primarily residential rental units above.

Um, and then you can see a bit in the background of the image on the right, building two, so the smaller building on the tail portion, which is a five-story building.

And you can also see in the rendering these buildings in relation to the um Cobble Hill Apartments buildings, which are generally six-story buildings.

Okay.

There we go.

So here is also a summary of the program.

So you can see what the program was originally and then the updated program.

So the unit count has increased from 324 units in the original program to 418 units.

Um, that's achieved both through efficiencies in the building design, but also through the addition of that third building on the tail portion.

They've also decreased the number of parking spaces from 398 spaces to 244, and they have moved those parking spaces below ground, essentially by adding one level of underground parking across much of the main portion of the site.

The idea here is to go as shallow as possible to have to remove as little dirt as possible.

They've kept the retail space roughly the same, so it's about 15,000 square feet of retail.

Um, and you can see they uh have kind of grouped the retail, which is the purple space in the site plan at the top.

Um, they've grouped that space around the plaza in the northwest corner, and they have also increased the size of one of the retail spaces to be up to 11,000 square feet.

And the idea is that that could potentially house a neighborhood grocer, which generally looks for a floor plate around that size.

Um and then the community space, which the shown in blue has stayed roughly the same.

So it's about 7,000 square feet of community space.

Um we did talk a lot in the best and final offer process with this team about how to improve the boundary with Cobble Hill Apartments, which is the apartment complex shown to the east.

So I want to talk about a few of the things that they did.

Um the they have kept the access drive, which you can see along the eastern edge.

So this adds a new crossing from Washington Street to New Washington Street, which itself serves as a barrier, but they also added additional landscaping, particularly adjacent to building 1A, so the northern building between the street and the building.

And then it's a little difficult to see here, but I'll they've also just north of what's called building 84, so the westernmost building at Cobble Hill Apartments, where currently there is a connecting route from the kind of center Cobble Hill Circle to the western side of this building.

They've also added additional landscaping where that road currently is, since now it's accessible from Washington Street.

But then the southern portion of this space would be primarily pedestrian-oriented.

We heard a lot in this process about a desire for Cobble Hill seniors to be able to walk through the site and walk in general in this area.

So we want to make sure that we have spaces that they can do that that come into as little conflict with cars as possible.

However, this space does still allow for southern access from Washington to New Washington Street for emergency and trash vehicles, which maintains access for those vehicles to the western edge of building 84, which is also a priority that we heard throughout this process.

So this is a 7,000 square foot space that they have proposed could be programmed by the city's council on aging.

Currently, the Council on Aging has programming at the Tufts Administration Building in Teal Square, and then also at the Ralph and Jenny Center, which is just further east along New Washington Street.

But that's an older and smaller space, and so the intention is that potentially in the future this space could replace uh that other senior center use with a newer space.

Obviously, many future conversations around that, but that's part of what they propose in the response.

Um and then one other note on this.

So Wood Partners has also left an option for the redevelopment authority to forego the third building on the southeast tail portion of the site.

So again, this is the smaller building called building two in the site plan.

Um this would not affect the square footage of retail or community space at all, since those are just housed within buildings 1A and 1B in the western portion of the site.

It would mean a reduction in the number of residential units from um 418 to 374, so a 44 number reduction in those units.

Uh and it would also mean a reduction in the value that is offered for the land.

Again, we are gonna be discussing the financial portion of this offer in executive session since that will continue to be negotiated up until um if the redevelopment authority chooses to move forward with this team, that would be negotiated up until the point that a land disposition agreement is agreed upon.

Um but just to give a sense that would have about a 10% reduction.

Um I do want to note also so we spoke with members of the 90 Washington Street Civic Advisory Committee earlier this week on Tuesday about these updated proposals.

Just want to share a bit of what they said.

So definitely expressed disappointment having North River Learning uh withdraw from the RFP process.

Um there had been a positive response to their uh renderings in the initial part of the process.

Uh but in terms of wood partners update a proposal, they did mention appreciation for the fact that the team did make a lot of changes based on the feedback.

So they increased the number of residential units, they did reduce the amount of parking and put that parking underground, um, and they did appreciate the place of placement of the retail space around the Northwest Plaza.

And they also noted that the site plan maintained access to the western edge of building 84 of Cobble Hill apartments, and that this was a big priority.

Um they did still note some concern about the lack of ownership opportunities within the residential units and within the amount of space still dedicated to resident amenities that were not available to the public.

Um we talked a bit about the decision to include or exclude building two, so the building on the tail portion from the final development.

Generally, the CAC was fairly neutral on this decision.

There was some preference expressed for including it to increase the number of housing units and the amount that the city would receive from the land offer.

Um, but obviously this building is uh closer to Cobble Hill Apartments, so um warrants further discussion.

Okay.

Um so just looking ahead.

The redevelopment authority will be meeting next Monday evening.

Uh the intention is that at that meeting they are making a decision around whether to select wood partners as the designated developer for this RFP process or to reject all proposals altogether.

If they are to choose to move forward with wood partners, then we would immediately begin to negotiate what's called a land disposition agreement.

So this is really through the RFP process, selecting a negotiating partner and a concept for a project.

It's the land disposition agreement that would really lock in the details of the project.

Um and then that land develop that land disposition agreement would need to come back in front of the council for final approval before being signed.

So just want to flag that.

Okay.

So as I mentioned, we will ask the council to convene an executive session to discuss some financial portions of the project, but I do just want to take time now to answer any questions or clarify any uh any points.

Thank you.

Is it director Demas?

Uh senior planner demers, yes.

Senior planner demands, thank you for your presentation.

Any question for Council McLaughlin?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Several questions are but first, is there a slide of uh an aerial view of the current lot of 91?

Um through you, Mr.

President to Councilor McLaughlin.

I don't have a current aerial view in the slideshow.

We back up to uh the one of the aerial views.

Yeah, I can also um just go to Google really quickly and pull it up if uh Yes, please.

Three Mr.

President to Councilor McLaughlin.

So this is now showing an aerial view on Google Maps.

Yeah.

I wish I could I'm trying to visualize both of them at the same time, but my main question revolves around the new road that's being built.

Where is the new road on this map?

So if you follow my cursor, the new road would come in roughly in the kind of center portion of the parking lot, and then would move southwest and then come along the western edge of building 84 and then exit onto New Washington Street.

And why is this new road necessary for the development?

So the new road provides um a few things.

It provides it maintains access to the western edge of building 84, uh, and then it also allows for access down to the below ground parking structure.

And is that not possible without building a new road?

You can't get there from New Washington Street or Washington Street.

Meaning get into the parking structure or through Mr.

President, uh, Council McLaughlin, feasibly you could have a a separate entrance along New Washington Street that would lead down into the underground parking.

Okay.

So raising this as an issue.

As I have consistently brought up, this berm that you can c clearly see separates 90 Washington from the rest of Cobble Hill, uh, which is not only some of the only green space on the street, but also protects the seniors from the development we're having.

Where it looks like we're building a road over it now.

Uh so that's a concern of mine right off the bat of that.

Well, I'll back up and say that like I I think the proposal that I've seen is better than the previous proposal.

So I'll say that much.

Uh, but that that's a concern of mine that we're gonna get rid of green space to build a road.

Um, especially if we don't need to do that.

Uh I know I know I understand we're trying to allow access to the back area, but they currently have that access right now.

So uh we will if we left it as is, would that wouldn't be an issue.

Uh that's just the immediate thing that stood out to me was immediate removal of a lot of green space to build a road.

And then building two is definitely a concern to me.

You can see nothing but trees there right now.

And it literally looks like a shoehorn, the building itself.

So I feel like we're shoehorning in a property uh to to make this work, which has been my line in the sand, literal line uh separating the properties.

That's been my top concern.

So I'm not sure if you have a response, that's fine through the chair.

Uh but I'm just stating my immediate uh reaction to what I see.

Oh, sorry, three, Mr.

President.

Um was just making the note that the I I don't think this counters your point necessarily, just that the the fire department requires that western access and that the um the access road through would uh help to maintain access for those fire trucks because the current way of I I think probably the more important point here is that the access road coming down here.

Um so the space where the berm is located on the site is likely more taken up by a portion of the building, um so the community space and then residential units above within building 1A, so the northern most building within the new design.

A lot of us ask questions for now.

Uh I've just stated my my immediate visual reaction to what I'm seeing and uh my concerns, but if other people have thoughts, I'd like to open it up to them.

Sure.

Thank you, Council McMahon.

Counselor Strezzo.

Thank you.

Through you to uh Mr.

Demers.

Um quickly, please remind me how many retail space uh opportunities are there with this latest project.

You know, there's the expanded one of uh square footage and one of them.

Um through you, Mr.

President to Councilor Streso.

So they're offering roughly 15,000 square feet of retail space.

Um that's shown in this split as essentially two retail spaces, so one being around 4,000 square feet a little under, and then one being roughly 11,000 square feet.

But the team does call out that if 11,000 square feet is more than is needed, um, which you know that might be larger than even a neighborhood grocer might need, that that could be subdivided further into additional retail spaces.

Thank you.

Um through you.

Uh one of the things that I've heard over the past years from residents and in what they desired is a laundromat.

Uh has that feedback been given yet?

And if not, if that is a possibility, would there be a a special conversion of the retail space that would be required if that was?

And I know that's a very specified retail opportunity.

Um through Mr.

President to Councilor Streso.

I haven't heard the specific request around a laundromat.

In general, I have heard the request around um so definitely seeing grocers, seeing food options, but also seeing neighborhood services, which I think you could categorize laundromats under.

Um I'm not sure the specifications that would be needed for adding a laundromat to the site.

I do know that the development team has started some conversations with potential um with potential tenants.

Um but if that was a tenant of particular interest, then it's something we could definitely flag for them to start conversations early.

Thank you.

If you can please ask that to see if that's still a priority in the past uh numerous times.

It's been laundromat, a small grocer or convenient grocery store of some capacity and a bank or some kind of like bank access to where they can walk to.

Thank you.

Um one more question.

And with that, if this ends up being a community space, would that be in place of the Ralph and Jenny Center, or what would be the plans that the city is envisioning with the Ralph and Jenny Center?

Um through you, Mr.

President to Councilor Streso.

I can't speak to it's definitely very early in the um even in the suggestion of this taking the place of the Ralph and Jenny Center.

The intention here being how proximate it is to the Cobble Hill apartments and with the kind of um the size of the Ralph and Jenny Center compared to the amount that of the 7,000 square feet that they're able to offer here for community space.

Um it seemed like a a natural idea.

Um but those conversations are so early along, so there'd be many more opportunities to have that conversation.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Strozo, Councillor Klingon.

Thank Oh no, no, Tim Ascot, please, please.

Sorry.

Mr.

Mr.

President, through you, um so it sounds like this is pretty early on in the process is this a general um outline of what will be to come.

But when so because this is a currently sort of a city-owned parcel, if you will, well, SRA, um, you know, I would think that would give us a decent amount of leverage as far as you know, and of course making all the numbers work is a whole nother stumbling block, but as far as um you know, making sure that we're getting the maximum amount of um ADA accessible apartments, maybe some like you know, social housing units or something like that.

Um when can those when will those discussions take place as far as like once we sell the if we sell them the land?

I mean, we don't w what leverage do we have then?

Um through you, Mr.

President to Counselor Klingon.

Can I just ask on the social housing piece what exactly you're referring to?

Like what exactly you would be imagining?

Uh just uh the possibility of some social housing.

I mean, social housing being the the concept that I uh uh would identify it being as income restricted restricted to say 30 percent of your income or something like that.

But I'm just wondering when would the when is a good time for those conversations to take place?

Um through Mr.

President to Councilor Klingon.

So what they have proposed for the site is um so it's the 418 rental units and then essentially the standard inclusionary zoning set aside.

So 20 percent of the units being set aside at 50, 80, and 110% of uh area median income.

Um so there are potential, you know, nothing is locked in until a land disposition agreement is agreed to.

Um so we are not at that point yet.

However, the um uh any additional asks around um different kind of housing configurations likely will have an impact on the financial value that is offered for the land.

Um this team has also been quite realistic in the conversations that we've had with them that you know they deliver roughly this size of rental housing.

Um that is kind of their their wheelhouse.

Um and so part of what is uh appealing and realistic about this team is that they have delivered this before, um, but they also do kind of stay within this space of um rental housing generally.

Uh so you know there are future conversations to be had, but they have not posited currently, and we have not brought up actively in conversations um the idea of having social housing units, um we or necessarily deeper levels of affordability.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, yeah, I know I I was actually I just kind of threw out a couple of different things again because it it's sort of not being a public project, but you know, whereas we're uh heavily involved, uh it's more going back to the conversation we haven't earlier about um about ADA accessibility and in apartments, because I've always struck kind of struggled with you know the ADA ready apartments versus fully ADA compliant apartments or you know.

Um so that's always been sort of a uh trying to understand what the work around is a lot of times developers will build stuff that they claim is accessible ready, uh, in case if somebody I guess wins a lottery or something or or happens to rent from them that they can accommodate.

Um is that as far as we can go with this, or can we at least get some apartments that are fully uh ADA ready and accessible?

Through Mr.

President to Councillor Klingon.

I will be honest, I'm not exactly sure what our process is for ensuring accessibility within residential units, just in terms of my role in the process.

Um, but something I'm happy to talk more about with staff for understanding when we bring that up in the conversation with the development team.

Thank you.

Okay, that's all, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Klingon.

Counselor Scott, you have the floor.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I just I had one quick question and then some comment.

Uh through you to senior planner de Mars.

Uh, it was a few slides back in.

Uh I just want to make sure I read it right.

Uh the bottom bullet on a page said financial proposal that allows the city to recoup a significant portion of funds spent on the taking.

Now I know we're gonna get into details in executive session.

Uh but that that sounds like uh not recouping the total amount that we spent on acquiring the site.

Is that is that accurate?

Um through the president to counselor Scott, I cannot discuss details of the financial offer publicly, we'll discuss them in executive session.

Okay.

Well, you know, Mr.

President, if I eat three slices of pizza, I have eaten a significant amount of that pizza.

So I I just I I have to presume this wording is intentional.

Um so I just I want to start with that that concern right there.

I I when I look at this, I first I want to extend my compliments to wood partners.

Uh this is a significantly improved uh project from their initial proposal.

I I appreciate the hard work from city staff that went into refining and making this as good as it can be.

Um unfortunately, I can say that this is an absolutely excellent project that would really enhance detham.

Right?

It might be great in Milford.

This is uh, you know, top notch for Norwood.

So uh but this is in the heart of Somerville.

This is an enormous amount of square footage uh for density that uh uh could practically be matched by uh our some of our back streets in the back side of Lincoln Park.

Uh I I think this to move forward with this would be uh a real loss of an opportunity, uh regardless of how much money the city is going to recoup from uh the let's say uh problematic process that has gone undergone uh at 90 Washington.

I know that just across the railroad tracks in Brickbottom, there's uh folks who want to do 10 to 15 story buildings.

Uh I think moving uh rashly, I understand the city council doesn't get a say in this.

Uh but I would urge the SRA when they are having that discussion to walk away from this.

Uh I know everybody wants to see development on that site, but a fire sale is not the right time uh to sell property.

Uh if we are interested in social housing, if we are interested in seeing better there, this is uh a place where the city holds the most valuable resource that we have here in Somerville, at least in terms of material goods, and that's real estate.

This could be an opportunity to say, hey, look, we already went all in, we bought this site.

It's time to figure out how while we're passing 130 million dollar bonds and investments, how we really put our money where our mouth is in terms of housing production that we could then ensure would be accessible, that we could then ensure uh had multi-generational use.

We we could we could pursue an entirely new model here as opposed to uh uh conducting a fire sale uh for the sake of recouping some of our investment on this site.

When I think about our triple A bond rating, I wonder what is it for.

I think it is time for us to challenge ourselves.

I think it is appropriate for us to take a big swing.

Uh and this, unfortunately, is not that big swing.

Uh you know, I'd feel I guess I'd feel different about it if I was on the Milford City Council.

But I'm here in Somerville.

So uh obviously looking forward to executive session, but I wanted to make sure that these remarks were held in open session.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilman Scott.

Any other questions on this side down?

Council Owheeler.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um procedural thing I wanted to just clarify the uh the step in the process if the the council and the SRA and the 90 Washington Civic Advisory Committee uh all agree to move forward with the the Wood Partners proposal um there is an additional step, which is uh creating this land disposition agreement.

Uh is that correct?

And uh and that itself would require approval by the council again.

Is that correct?

Yes, through you, Mr.

President to Councillor Wheeler.

So the decision around designating a developer is within the process solely the redevelopment authority is making that vote.

Um so we're we're collecting feedback from the council and from the CSC, and obviously we want to get as much of that feedback as possible for the decision on Monday.

It is technically in the process the redevelopment authority's decision.

However, that would immediately start the process, as you mentioned, of negotiating a land disposition agreement, and that land disposition agreement is what would actually lock in the project and allow it to move forward, and that document would need to be approved by the city council prior to being executed.

Thank you.

And um just to sort of uh uh as a frame of reference, um one thing I think that it's important for us to keep in mind here is uh this in some senses a large plot of land.

In some senses it's a small plot of land.

I mean you can see on the aerial map how much smaller it is than the Cobble Hill uh development.

And even though this was not originally conceived in our request for proposals process as specifically a a social housing uh project, we are talking about 85 uh income restricted units uh out of you know 418, I believe, was was the proposal if we're including that building to the sort of tail building.

Um with uh with apologies to my colleague from Ward 2.

Uh I don't think that's happening in Milford.

Is it as dense as I would ideally like to see?

No.

Uh but the original proposal from North River Learn, which did include uh a significantly tall tower, um, that had about this number of total housing units.

Uh an unfortunate aspect of the sort of context here is this particular developer, as I've come to understand it, uh please correct me if I'm wrong, uh senior planner, uh, doesn't have experience building towers.

It's not something they do as developers.

Uh that that is unfortunate that we lost a developer who does have that experience.

Uh this is right by the uh the Somerville Green Line Station.

This is fairly close to the uh the Orange Line station just across the border in Charlestown, uh and it's on uh bus routes.

And this, as I've said before, is a great place for density.

Um I won't say this is exactly as dense as I would ideally like it to be, but uh but it's pretty close.

And uh yeah, I I just want us to keep in mind we do have an opportunity here as a city uh to have uh a bunch more housing, a bunch more housing near transit, a bunch more housing where people will not need to have cars and 85 income restricted units.

Um would we could we get something even better?

Uh I don't know.

And and and that is a significant thing for me that I don't know.

Uh so that's part of what I'm keeping in mind at this time.

Thank you, Councillor Wheeler.

Uh you're in lock because I would have uh as a point of privilege, I would have invoked the counselor to respond since you mentioned him.

But we'll move on.

Counselor Hadd.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I would just have a quick question.

Um through you to Planner Demers.

Did the proposal specify the mix of the 418 rental units in terms of numbers of bedrooms?

Um through the President uh Counselor Hart, it did.

Um I apologize, I don't have it within the slide, but if you go to the full proposal on the web page, um it's the one thing that I can note about it is that um there is a fairly high proportion of um affordable three bedroom units in particular.

So if you look at the ratio of studio one to and three bedroom units across the project, and then you look also at those ratios um across the income restricted units within the building.

The ratio of three-bedroom income restricted units is much higher than the ratio of three bedroom units overall.

Um so they have tried to add more larger income restricted uh units, which is in line with conversations we've had previously around wanting to see more income restricted family-sized units specifically.

Thank you.

Um I'll just add a comment in terms of um I think it's great that uh the developer is considering um the community space for seniors, and of course I support that.

Um it also would be great to see amenities with families and young children in mind.

Thank you.

Thank you, uh Council Hunt.

And also for what is what I've had conversation from the folks that sit on that bachelor bought the excited about this project, even though the I mean, not though I've loved to see the whole thing that they I've spoken to a few of them and I think you know it's not a bad project any counselor Clinton?

President, just a comment, not any more questions.

So I I just want to say on this particular project, you know, I I will stick with what I've been saying from the beginning.

I certainly would would look to the ward counselor on this.

Um if and when we decide what we just you know decide we're gonna do.

Uh I I mean I love the idea that the city currently or the SRA currently, somebody we currently own it, um, that we could get dreamy with it, and uh, but I know there's real financial concerns and constraints with this.

Um I know that nobody's really building.

We could be sitting with this empty lot for a long time.

Um so I'm not, you know, I'm I'm having a trust city staff and and different people as to sort of what the best direction to go in is here.

Um I guess you know, we'll hear an executive session, the actual dollars, but uh, you know, I struggle with this because we're down to only one, we don't even have an option, we're down to one one uh developer, and I heard concerns from the Ward Council about the berm and uh I hear density concerns, and of course, just generally, you know, what could be um uh but that may not be uh necessarily a luxury that we have to play around with.

So um I I I you know how I s I struggle with this.

Thank you, Councillor McClingen.

Yeah, I agree with you, Councillor McLaughlin.

You have so much influence in bringing you know uh leading the direction of this project for sure.

Any other discussion or question on this item?

See no place this item on fire.

Thank you.

Next item, Madame Club.

Next item is seven point one requesting that this council convene an executive session to discuss 90 Washington Street.

Mr.

President, I'm sorry, can I just interrupt?

In terms of the order of the meeting.

I'm curious if it makes sense for us to break for executive session right now as opposed to continuing to address other items that might be of interest to uh people who are either watching at home or attending in person.

Um and if it might not make more sense for us to you know, even though this is obviously rele relevant to the previous item, if it might not make sense for us to break for executive session later in the meeting.

Uh no.

Okay.

And and um but thank you for that remark.

Any members of the public, is there any item that you want to discuss?

Body worn cameras, I believe is what I heard.

Which would be the finance committee uh report.

Counselor Wheeler, this is we don't this is this is uh we we've had this protocol and so we will it's it's uh I think is it Councillor Straza, you you have a comment?

Oh, you're the you're the president.

Uh right.

We have our we have our uh agenda items and the plan that you've had to go through with this in this order.

Right?

Mr.

President, if I may executive session.

Our staff's been waiting here for a while for this.

That's that's what I intended to do, but I want to yield to my colleague to hear what I would just say, obviously I have great respect for for members of the public that are here.

Typically the way this works is we have if they're members of the public here to speak to an item, they work with the counselor to submit them.

We take those up first.

We also respect the city staff's time.

The president typically works with the staff to set the order of the meeting.

You know, it's up to you.

But my view is it's ten thirty at night, it's an appropriate time for us to get executive session while our brains still work.

Um, thank you.

I I guess this is exactly what I was trying to to say.

I mean, we already have we've I came in early, we organized the agenda.

If I there was some thing that you know had to be taken out of order, a colleague was submitted.

If I also take consideration for members of the public, if there's any item, uh but I this is at this point, I think it is we need to respect the staff time, you know.

So um Atoni Amara, is it is this an item that's appropriate for executive session?

Yeah, it's appropriate for the exact session that should prepare to be at first.

Yes.

Okay.

Yes, counselor you and campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Councillor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Councilor Shozo?

Yes.

Counselor Saeed?

Yes.

Councilor Wheeler?

Yes.

Councilor Hart?

Yes.

Councilor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Councilor Humba?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

With 10, we are adjourned for executive session.

And we will return back and no vote will be taken in executive session.

So we'll be back.

I appreciate your patience.

So we're about from executive session, no votes were taken.

And Madame Club, would you call the road to establish a quorum?

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Counselor Link.

Here.

Counselor Scott.

Present.

Counselor President.

Counselor Klingon?

Oh, yep.

Councilor Strazo.

Present.

Counselor Said.

Here.

Counselor Wheeler.

Here.

Counselor Hart.

Here.

Counselor McLaughlin?

Here.

Counselor Mamba?

Present.

Counselor Davis.

Would ten members present?

We have quorum.

Thank you, Madame Clerk.

Counselor Wheeler.

Mr.

President, I move to take the Finance Committee report out of order.

Actually, Mr.

President, if we can please just address this next item and in the regular order of business four point uh one, which will just be quickly placed on file.

Yeah, Councillor Strozel, you know, when does a motion on the deposit take an item out of order?

I had just asked before you this and asked the clerk to handle this before we went back in session.

Mr.

President, I'm happy to withdraw my motion.

Thank you.

So it's thank you.

It'll be quick.

Councillor Wheeling.

I'm happy to withdraw my motion.

So that motion is withdrawn.

And Councilman Strazo.

Yes, just need the item read.

Yes.

We are now back in or regular order.

That is now bringing us to item 4.1 by Councillor Streso that the strategy and development department and all relevant city departments conduct an economic analysis on the potential impact to the city's finances, including investigating all potential service providers, the impact of the city's bond rating, and the cost of enforcing the proposed ordinance amendment to Chapter 2, Article 7, Division 1 of the Code of Ordinances.

I'm so sorry.

Several counselors spoke in favor in support of the cameras as a tool for transparency and public safety and as useful for public defenders.

The committee discussed continuing concerns about the proposal, including the fact that the grant would only cover initial costs while implementation would create substantial ongoing costs for the city totaling by my math.

446,000 per year.

Plus $18,000 additional for batteries.

And $117,000 for salary for a technical administrator.

The committee voted four to one to recommend that the grant not be accepted.

Before I ask that this committee report be accepted as submitted, I want to move to sever this grant item 26-0378.

As the administration has indicated an intention to hold a public hearing soon on the matter, and it's my intention to move that we lay this item on the table pending that hearing.

Chair, besides that severance, uh I would ask that this committee report be accepted as submitted.

Any discussion on the report.

See none, the report is approved.

So we need to is the item then the I did two items before us that several one one item.

So I am moving to sever item 26-0378.

So the item will be laid on the table.

Okay.

Madame Claire.

Okay, so yeah, we need to take a roll call to sever the item.

Yes.

And then we'll put the item before before us and then before we deliberate and then before laying it on the table.

So move to select it.

So this motion, yes, is this ever item number 26-0378?

Councilor Ewan Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

No.

Councillor Scott?

No.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Chazo?

Yes.

Counselor Said?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Councilor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Umba?

Yes.

And Counselor Davis.

With eight members, um, that motion passes.

Mr.

President, can I request a clarification?

Yes, please.

Uh I believe the Chair of Finance just said the administration intends to schedule a public hearing.

Could you please clarify?

Um through the president.

Uh I'm referring to the communication that was given by the administration to this council in the last meeting that included uh you know mention of uh the there being a plan to do a public hearing around this.

I know there's been a petition for a public hearing by members of the public.

Council Scott, I guess we'll we have discussing that on the several item.

So it's is appropriate to ask that in the axe or question because the item is before us.

Mr.

President, public hearings are uh matters of the city council, they're scheduled by the city council uh and by the committee chairs.

This public hearing is scheduled to be held in early September.

That has not changed.

I uh just for clarification, Mr.

President.

I'm not assuming that there's any other schedule.

Um I apologize for saying it wrong.

I think that so the item will be laid on the table.

There's there hasn't been a motion to do that, but I I do move to lay the item on the table.

And so Madam Clerk, so we're gonna take that motion at the end.

Okay.

It's a little straight.

All the things that we approve have to be a roll call vote.

So I just we're gonna bundle all of them that are approved late on the table, based on file, et cetera.

All right, okay.

Because Councillor Link is online, so we will have to change the Mr.

President.

We can take a roll call vote on a motion at any time.

If a counselor wants to lay this on the table, that motion is before us.

We can deliberate on that motion and then we can take a roll call vote.

That would be in order now if folks want to do that.

Thank you.

Did you just make a motion?

Okay.

I did present.

Okay.

So roll call.

Any deliberation on that motion?

See not Councillor Scott.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I see no reason to lay this item on the table.

I'm prepared to vote on it tonight.

I would be inclined to vote on this item tonight.

Okay.

So there's a counter motion to vote on it tonight.

And then there's a motion to lay it on the table.

So which motion supersede?

Uh the lay on the the motion before us is is the motion that would prevail.

Uh, yes, so okay.

So okay, so the motion to lay on the table is in order.

Madame Clerk, could you call the role?

Yes.

Yes, please.

Um, just to because we're discussing this.

So the the the question as I see it is do we want to just put an end to the discussion of body worn cameras tonight?

You know, and then we can't take it up for six months, whatever the number is.

Or do we want to leave open the possibility that at some point in the future, you know, financial situation changes and we do want to take it up?

Something changes.

Um my view is if we were to vote tonight, I'm no.

I don't want to pay for this this year.

It's too hard.

Um, I think that's what the finance committee said very clearly as well.

I appreciate that.

Um, but I I don't want to shut down conversation about body one cameras for good for you know the foreseeable future.

Um so that's not my view on this.

If there is a way to make this happen that doesn't cost a lot of money, I'm certainly open to that.

Um I'm skeptical that that happens, but we'll we'll see, right?

So that's why I'm in support of laying it on the table.

Um we'll see what happens is is my view.

Um that that's why it's uh I'll be voting in support.

Councillor Klingon.

Oh, Councilor McLuhan.

I support laying it on the table, so we don't have 30 minutes of speeches at 1130 at night.

Thank you, Councilor McGuffin.

Okay.

Any other conversation?

So Madame Clair.

The motion is to lay item number 26-0378 on the table.

Councilor Ewan Campen.

Yes.

Councillor Link.

No.

Councillor Scott?

No.

Councillor Klingon?

Yes.

Councilor Shazo?

Yes.

Counselor Said?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Councilor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Umba?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

Okay, with eight members, uh, that is approved.

Thank you.

And then Mr.

President, uh, I'm not sure procedurally, uh, I ask that the committee report uh be accepted and submitted um overall, which includes absolutely that completely purchases accepted.

Thank you.

Next item, Madame Clerk.

Next item is 4.3 by Councillor Davis in his capacity as president canceling the regular meetings of this council schedule for July 23 and August 13, 2026.

I think it's uh so we are it's self-explanatory, and so you know we this is uh last council meeting before we go on recess.

Next next next item is for Councilor Clinton.

Never mind.

I was just gonna make a joke.

Council Clinger, we don't have time.

No, no, no jokes.

We have like this is like we're gonna go past midnight here.

Are you ready for the next item?

Next next item, Madame Clerk.

Next item is 4.5 by Council McLaughlin in support of state auditor Diana DeZiglio in her efforts uh to audit the general court.

Council McLaughlin.

Baby.

Where the hell is my audit?

Motion to approve.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh uh the item is approved.

Next item, Madame Clerk.

Next item is 4.7 by Councillor Umba conveying the protocol for consideration of appointments by the committee on confirmation of appointments and personnel matters.

Colleagues, you can check that out and uh if you have any questions, reach out.

Item is approved.

Next item, Madame Clerk.

Next item is confirmations, uh report of the committee on confirmations of appointments and personnel matters meeting on July 6, 2026.

Vice President UN Camping.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I ask that this committee report be accept approved.

Thank you.

Next I the that report is approved.

Next item, Madame Click.

Next item is 6C1 report of the Committee on Housing Community Development and Equity meeting on July 1, 2026.

Council.

Take a look at the minutes, colleagues.

It's wonderful stuff, but I do have to sever an item due to a misfiling of one of the items.

So I need to severam clerk, uh Mr.

Chair through you, uh Mr.

President through you to Madam Clerk.

Is it six is it order 260082?

That is correct.

Correct.

Okay, can I uh move to sever that item uh and move to approve well sever it first and then move to market or complete and approve?

So counselor stroze will move to sever the item 260082.

Yes on the agenda.

This motion is on to sever item number 26082.

Counselor Ewan Campin.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Counselor Scott.

Yes.

Yes.

Thank you.

Counselor Klingon.

Yes.

Councillor Strazzo?

Yes.

Counselor Saeed?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Mumba?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

To members, it is approved.

So the several items before.

Mr.

President, if we have to take the additional step to market work complete, then shall so be it.

But it it's it's fine to be discharged for through committee.

Fine.

Council Strazo.

Would you repeat what you just said?

Mr.

President, I said it's it's aimed to be marked work complete.

It was a discrepancy with uh the filing of this.

Oh, I see.

Thank you.

So that so does have an item is marked work complete.

Okay.

All righty.

And also place on five.

Okay.

Okay.

Next item is 6D1, report of the Committee on Legislative Matters meeting on June 30, 2026.

Councillor Scott.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh we met for four hours, and I anticipate this uh report will take no more than 10% of that time.

Uh we did cover a great many substantive issues in an overstuffed agenda, uh, several of which are going to be before this body for roll call votes this evening, so I hope my colleagues will allow me to at least explain what we'll be voting on briefly.

There was a home rule petition uh presented by Director Alan Shachter about um allowing Somerville to regulate leases and tenancy at will agreements.

Uh it's it also known as the early leasing um home rule petition.

This is basically to say that you cannot have your landlord tell you nine months in advance that you have to sign a new lease uh or else they're gonna start showing your apartment.

Uh it provides a very clear timeline that uh three months in advance is is as early as that can go.

Uh and really provides more stability and privacy for tenants.

So this is uh this is something that uh I encourage you to uh listen to the discussion, but it was an excellent policy uh and one that I hope our state delegation will be able to get through uh the state house.

There was also uh another uh this one was an ordinance presented by Director Schachter, an amendment uh that requires property owners to provide a notice of busin building sale to tenants.

So uh if uh a if an owner is going to be selling the building, you have to let the tenants know.

Seems good.

If you're gonna leave if you're gonna list your building, just you have to let the tenants know that that is a possibility.

Um this is similar to the housing stabilization notification act.

Uh and this is something that because it operates uh on a purely notification basis, uh it we believe it doesn't uh interfere in the tenant landlord relationship.

So it's something that we can pass as uh a city by ourselves.

Uh so those are two tenant rights items uh that we will be voting on tonight.

Then we also had a uh brief conversation, relatively brief about the ethical purchasing ordinance that was proposed uh with the uh that item being kept in committee.

Uh there was a uh discussion of the surveillance technology annual report, which item will need to be severed because uh no, it was it was marked work completed.

That should be just fine.

Um, that's the updated surveillance technology report.

Uh I made a mistake and we took a vote to recommend to approve it.

I'll need to sever it that item uh to place it on file instead uh because it is a communication and not something that requires uh council action.

There was review of surveillance technology impact reports for various items, one that was approved, the smart tree inventory software, uh, and several that were kept in committee, uh, or one that one for crime tracer that was kept in committee.

Uh and then uh the items related to body worn cameras uh were voted to be discharged without recommendation, which uh on acceptance of this will place them once again before the council.

That is the surveillance technology impact report and the technology specific surveillance use policy for body worn cameras.

Uh oh, the final ordinance that will be before us tonight is the uh counselor Davis uh ordinance that the code of ordinances be amended to prohibit the use of tax fair funds for self-promotion.

So uh that's been discussed uh and has the clearance from communications and everybody else uh to be approved.

So uh with that, Mr.

Chair, I would ask to sever uh item number two six oh nine three six with which it's uh number six two six oh nine three six okay so may you could you read that item item closer?

Yes, this is a motion to sever item number 26-0936.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Yes, Counselor Link, yes, Counselor Scott, yes, Counselor Klingon?

Yes, Counselor Staso?

Yes, Counselor Saeed, yes, Counselor Wheeler, yes, Counselor Hart, yes.

Counselor McLaughlin?

Yes, Councilor Imbo?

Yes, Counselor Davis 10 members uh approved to severing the item.

Uh we I request that item be placed on file.

Okay.

So the item will be placed on file.

Yes.

All right, and then I request that the uh committee report be accepted and submitted.

Any discussion on the community report?

Sinon the committee report is approved.

I believe we have we have a couple of roll call posts.

We have to enroll and ordain uh 6d2, the ordinance, and then the home rule petition and the amendment to the code of ordinance.

So Madame Clerk, would you know call it role on those?

Yes.

So this is a roll call to uh approve the home rule petition.

That is item number six D5 Councilor Ewing Campen.

Yes, Councilor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Stasho?

Yes.

Counselor Said?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler.

I'm sorry, Clerk, can you remind me what we're voting on?

Yep, 6 D5.

Yes, uh requesting the approval of the home rule.

Thank you.

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Council McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Mba?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

That is approved.

And I'm clerk with uh we need to enroll and uh the the Court of Ordinance to amend amended to prohibit the use of taxpayers' funds for self-promotion.

What number is that, Mr.

President?

Uh 6d2.

Yes.

Okay, this is a roll call vote to um approve item number 25-1762.

Oh, we get we can do it all together too.

Enroll approve enroll and ordain all together.

Counselor and campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link?

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Straso?

Yes.

Counselor Saeed?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Council McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Imbo?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

So Madame Clint, so this this is so the report is already approved.

So this this is so the report is already approved.

So we just enrolled this.

We would need another roll call for ordainment.

We took them all together.

Okay.

All right.

This is still on the same item to ordain.

Counselor Ewan Campen?

Yes.

Counselor Link?

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Strazo?

Yes.

Counselor Saeed?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Council McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

That item is approved.

So one last item to enroll and ordain uh 6 D7.

That is correct, Mr.

President.

This is to approve item number 6 D seven.

Counselor Ewen Campen?

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Strazzo?

Yes.

Counselor Said?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Councilor?

Yes.

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Yes.

All right, Counselor Davis.

With 10 members, that is approved.

Enroll or now we're down to or in enroll and ordain for the same item.

Counselor campin?

Yes.

Counselor Link?

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor?

Yes.

Counselor Said?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Mbaugh?

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

With 10, that is enrolled and ordained.

Okay.

Do you have we ordain the stuff?

Yes.

This is to ordain Counselor Ewan Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Strazzo?

Yes.

Counselor Saeed?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor?

Yes.

Counselor Davis?

10.

10 for ordainment.

Thank you.

Next item, Madam Clint.

Next item is 6E1, report of the committee on public health and public safety meeting on July.

Mr.

President.

I think there are two items that were discharged without a recommendation, 6D9 and 610.

These are the body worn camera surveillance technology impact reports.

They came out of committee without a recommendation.

I would move to send them back to the committee.

So thank you, Councillor Ewan Campen.

Yep.

So there are two items before us, and there's a motion to send them back to committees.

Councilor Wheeler, on the motion.

I'm just curious about my colleagues thinking for why it would make sense to send those back to the committee.

What the committee discharged them.

Um the how to summarize this.

And after some confusing procedural stuff, they made it out without a recommendation.

Um we could vote on them tonight.

I think they would lose.

I don't think that's the outcome anyone wants.

Um well, I don't think that's the outcome the administration of majority of the council wants.

So while we continue to work on body one cameras, let's keep them in committee.

Keep discussing them.

Councilor Wheeler.

Um I'm sorry, Mr.

President.

I'm I'm just confused.

I uh I watched portions of the meeting.

Uh I thought I got the gist, uh, but I I'm just still confused.

The majority of the committee did not want to discharge them, but voted to discharge them.

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be a tip.

A single counselor voted to recommend approval.

Four counselors voted against that, or said they would vote against that.

Then the motion was changed to uh uh discharge without a recommendation.

Um there was a discussion of should a committee do that.

Here we are.

Uh a majority of the council does not want to approve these of the committee, does not want to approve these as they are.

Mr.

President.

Ms.

On the motion, Councilor Strazo.

Yes, I think it's hypothetical to make an assumption that the entire council would or wouldn't vote.

That's up for a vote.

Um Mr.

President, I would like to edit my statement.

The majority of the legislative matters committee is not in favor of these uh surveillance technology impact reports as they stand.

Counselor Klingon.

Council Strezzo, are you are you?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you just again to those of you who are more um knowledgeable than me.

If we were to throw the do a roll call vote right now and it was to get voted down, we wouldn't be able to take it up for how long?

So for six months?

Okay.

So I also listened to the meeting, and I heard Councillor Um Davis's concerns.

And I don't think it would be wise to call a role.

I I wouldn't be ready to vote uh to you know to to vote in approval uh on these items uh right now.

So um, you know, I just want to state that for the record.

I I heard a few concerns that made sense to me.

Um, and so I think there needs to be some more work needs to be done.

Um I think the administration is probably aware of that.

I'm sure they listened to the meeting as well.

Um so if you know I don't think time is necessarily of the essence with this particular piece.

I know there's a public hearing scheduled in a couple months.

Um, so I would not be inclined to vote tonight.

Thank you, Councilman Klingon.

Again, as somebody who also sat in that you know committee.

You know, I wasn't I was also one of those people that didn't vote to approve it.

So I still had some consents.

Councillor Scott Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

As the chair of the committee, uh I want to raise two issues, one of which um councillor Davis's strong objection uh to approving these as they stand.

Uh I would also point out that there are two duplicate items that have been submitted by the administration, a new surveillance technology impact report and a new technology specific surveillance use policy that are on our agenda later tonight.

To move these to a vote would be to vote on a prior draft, even before the most recent one that the administration has submitted.

I can't imagine that that is the course of action anybody wants.

I think uh it is advisable to refer all of these items, including the new ones submitted to committee, so that the committee can do its work.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Council Council Strozo.

Sure.

Thank you.

Then why don't we uh if I may to the councilor of Ward 3 uh uh proposed to withdraw the motion and lay this item on the table to be discussed so it's still uh at a future whole body council later, we still have the conversations we could still send the other items to legislative matters.

Um it's still the item is still here for us in the council to talk about at later time.

As I said before, I want to hear what my entire body of counselors said about this.

Uh I do not withdraw the motion.

I'd like to call the roll on it.

So this is motion on the table.

Madame Clark.

Could you call the role?

Is this a motion to send Mr.

President?

There is uh just I just wanted clarification.

I wasn't sure uh if we were gonna immediately go to a vote, but I wanted to hear what we were voting on.

So it sounds like that was what the clerk was starting to say.

So thank you.

Okay.

Thank you, Councillor Hunt.

Counselor Clair.

Yes, this is a motion to refer item number 26-0999 and 26-1000 to the legislative matters committee.

Counselor Ewan Campin.

Yes, Councilor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott.

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Strazo?

No.

Counselor Said.

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Council McLaughlin?

Yes.

Councilor Mbaugh.