City of Cambridge

The meeting covered project updates, including identifying personnel to produce preliminary sketches and the plan to add a Traffic & Safety Complaint Form to the CivicPlus portal, categorized by Traffic Violations & Driving Behavior or Physical or Design Constraints. Follow-up was scheduled for Hambrooks Centerline striping. Under Grants & Planning, there was no update on the SS4A Grant, though its scope involves a Citywide Traffic Safety Action Plan and implementing components from the Bikeways Study; the draft budget for the Traffic & Safety Committee for FY26 was noted at $80,000. New business touched upon the ongoing Comprehensive Plan Process and updates regarding lighting issues, including notification that 9 lights out on Muir have no arrival date for replacement parts.

The key discussion topics for this meeting include receiving the quarterly update from the Mayors Accessibility Committee and the presentation of a Proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month. The agenda features several ordinances for first and second readings, specifically addressing the registration and inspection of vacant residential structures (Ordinance No. 1265) and vacant commercial storefronts (Ordinance No. 1262), as well as amending general provisions and rules of procedure for council meetings (Ordinance No. 1263). New business involves informational presentations on the Cambridge Resilience Initiative and Flood Mitigation Projects. The session also includes discussions on Congressionally Directed Spending Grants, departmental updates, and a request for the appointment of a Lobbyist. The meeting concluded with a closed session to discuss personnel matters and potential business location considerations.

The Commission meeting covered several agenda items, including an administrative note regarding the rescheduling of the January 26, 2026 meeting to the current date. Key discussions included a presentation on violence in the school system. The consent agenda involved requests for community events: Zion Baptist Church Community Day in September 2026, requiring a road closure, and the Families of Smithville Road Music Festival in July 2026, requiring road closure, city services, and a noise variance. The Commission also addressed the first reading of an ordinance amending the Property Maintenance Code concerning inspections and registration fees for non-owner occupied residential dwelling units. New Business included an amendment request for CDBG MD-22 funds for the Douglas to High Street Sidewalks project, the presentation and request for approval of Resolution 26-01 establishing Primary Policy Goals for the 2026 Calendar Year, and the appointment of a lobbyist. The session concluded with informational presentations on the Cambridge Resilience Initiative, including DNR Risk Assessment Methodology and Flood Mitigation Project updates, followed by public comment, City Manager comments, and a closed session to discuss negotiation strategy prior to contract award.

The Traffic & Safety Committee meeting included updates on ongoing traffic demonstrations. Key demonstrations under review involved traffic circles, raised crosswalks at several locations including the Empowerment Center and near the Boys and Girls Club, and a redesign consideration for the intersection at Academy/Muir at City Hall. The committee also reviewed the status of the Traffic & Safety Complaint Form updates, postponing the update until the October meeting. In the Grants & Planning section, discussions centered on the SS4A Grant, which will be used for citizen complaints, and the Traffic & Safety Committee budget balance for FY26.

The Board of Appeals meeting addressed two primary new business items. The first involved an appeal (BOA-26-0001) by Jhan Tangires regarding the Zoning Official's decision to prohibit an eleven-foot-tall ice machine installed in the front corner of the commercial parcel at 501 Maryland Avenue due to code violations concerning setbacks and lack of required permits. The second item (BOA-26-0002) was a request for a Special Exception by Dimple Manor, Noel Duhaney & Damion Folkes to permit an Intermediate Care Institution housing five residents at 506 South Regulator Drive in a Residential zoning district. Staff provided detailed analysis for both cases, including code sections for the appeal and standards for the Special Exception request, noting the Planning Commission's prior denial of the Special Exception recommendation due to neighborhood concerns versus staff's recommendation to approve based on city code compliance.