These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City Calendar and in the city’s Open Meetings Portal.
Civic assembly lottery selection
Special events presentation, 5 to 5:30 p.m. Monday. The city randomly selects 40 residents to participate in a civic assembly initiative – the first such municipal process in Massachusetts and one of the first in New England – about the gunfire-detection system ShotSpotter and other surveillance technologies. The City Council voted May 18 to disable ShotSpotter in Cambridge, with a five-member majority saying there was no evidence the system keeps anyone safe, and a fear that the system could be used for surveillance by the federal government. Reconsideration was brought on by the July 4 killing of Xavier Bautista when ShotSpotter was off; the council voted 6-3 at an Aug. 3 special meeting to turn the system back on for 90 days, and to convene residents to take on the issue. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Report on Inclusionary zoning
City Council, 5:30 p.m. Monday. Councillors get a report on what to do about the inclusionary zoning rate, which compels developers of big residential projects to turn over 20 percent of new square footage to be affordable homes but may be high enough that it discourages production, and staff considers a test of allowing food vendors in city parks. There are policy orders to explore a “tenant notification of property sale” law like the one just enacted in Somerville and urge a better control plan for combined sewer overflows – the term for releasing waste into public waterways when sewer and water systems get overwhelmed – than one now being considered. Returning from last week are debates about whether to delay a short stretch of bike lanes near Belmont by five years, because they would reduce parking in the area, and act on recommendations from a Human Services & Veterans Committee meeting in 2025 that includes support for decriminalizing sex work. The council meets at City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square. Televised and watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
CSO plan community office hours
Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan Community office hours, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Comment is being taken on the $1.3 billion draft control plan for combined sewer overflows, the term for releasing waste into public waterways when sewer and water systems get overwhelmed. At the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill.
English and civics test scores
School Committee, 6 p.m. Tuesday. A presentation on standardized test data for English-language arts and social studies, including year-over-year comparisons and how the district is doing against state averages. The committee meets in the Dr. Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 459 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Televised and watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Six stories, 85 home proposed
Planning Board, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. A six-story building with 85 apartments proposed between Fresh Pond and Danehy Park returns from July, when got a generally positive review but a few design notes. The 91,585-square-foot project, at 9 and 25 Birch St. and 30-36 Bay State Road in Neighborhood 9, is proposed under multifamily zoning passed last year, with 80 percent of the homes as studios and one-bedroom units and 16 of the homes being set aside as affordable. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Transportation, Amigos play area
School Committee Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. This meeting chaired by member Arjun Jaikumar gets an update on transportation and discusses the Amigos School playground. The committee meets in the Dr. Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 459 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
