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2026-06-25 - City Council

Summary

Older meeting (Thursday, June 25, 2026). Built from the Legistar minutes only; no video or transcript is recorded. The minutes are the Legistar versions, which carry the City's notice that they are not the official version; check with the City Clerk before relying on them.

  • Called to order 7:05 PM by President Davis; all eleven councilors present (except Councilor McLaughlin for a few votes); recess 7:28 to 7:30 PM; executive session on a settlement item; adjourned 10:05 PM. No votes were taken in executive session other than to adjourn.
  • Main business was the Fiscal Year 2027 budget: General Fund (amended) passed 9-2, enterprise funds 11-0, plus a large set of year-end appropriations and transfers.
  • Four public hearings on utility conduit grants, all approved.
  • Zoning: the voters' petition 26-0287 was ordained 11-0; the Union Square rezoning petition was withdrawn.
  • Many new items referred or sent to committee: a pet store animal sale ban, Prospect Hill traffic calming, skating access, thirteen Climate Action Commission appointments.
  • Mayor Wilson told the Council the Administration would collaborate on body-worn cameras and offered a July special meeting (held July 27).

Fiscal Year 2027 City Budget

  • Amended General Fund (26-1151) approved 9-2 (no: Scott, Strezo; Davis stepped out of the chair for part of the school budget discussion and Councilor Mbah presided). Original 26-0950 placed on file.
  • Enterprise budgets approved 11-0: Sewer $39,633,688, Water $24,672,499, Kennedy School Pool $794,782, Dilboy Fields $237,500.
  • Six Finance Committee reports approved (June 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 and a June 23 Committee of the Whole); a motion by Councilor Wheeler to reconsider all financial items failed 0-11.
  • Resolutions approved 11-0: SomerBaby home visitor, $20,000 for teen programming, crossing guard 10 percent raise, restore Racial and Social Justice positions, Small Business Stabilization Fund.
  • The Assistant City Clerk-Vital Records & Licensing position was eliminated with Council approval.

Fiscal Year 2026 Snow Removal Deficit

  • $1,624,494 free cash approved 11-0 plus $1,840,000 in Public Works transfers.

Assembly Square Fire Station Purchase

  • $18,850 closing costs and $201,495 settlement payments approved; $360,000 lease settlement placed on file. After executive session the Council approved $120,000 of free cash to settle an employment case (26-1109).

Police Body Worn Camera Program

  • Mayor Wilson said the Administration would collaborate on implementation and call a special meeting in July; a resident's comments were placed on file.

Youth Skating Access at Veterans Memorial Rink

  • Order approved and sent to the Housing, Community Development and Equity Committee after remarks by Annette McKee. A related resolution on the City's volunteer policy (26-1077, by Councilor Strezo) was sent to the same committee.

Prospect Hill Traffic Calming

  • Resolution approved and sent to Traffic and Parking.

Pet Store Animal Sale Ban

  • Ordinance referred to the Legislative Matters Committee after remarks by Bethany DeZolt.

Utility Conduit Grants of Location

  • Hearings on Eversource (Mt. Vernon Street) and three Verizon New England grants, all approved; three more Eversource grants approved on the Licenses and Permits report.

Union Square Rezoning Request

  • Petition 26-0257 withdrawn.

Backyard Cottage Zoning Rules

  • Planning Board recommendations on the cottage zoning text amendments placed on file. Land Use report on the June 18 joint session with the Planning Board approved; Councilor Ewen-Campen reported hearings on homeless shelter locations and on the Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing map.

Teen Empowerment Youth Grants, Licensing Commissioner Salaries, Social Justice Department Funding

  • Teen Empowerment update order marked work completed and the $400,000 add withdrawn; Licensing Commissioners' salaries raised; Racial and Social Justice positions resolution approved 11-0.

Wings Over Somerville 2 AM License

  • New 2 AM license referred to Licenses and Permits.

Other business

  • Zoning text amendment from 26 registered voters (26-0287, sections 3.1.8c, 3.1.9c, 3.1.10c, 3.1.13k, 3.1.13l, 3.2.12l, 3.2.12m): ordained 11-0 at Councilor Ewen-Campen's request after the Planning Board's recommendation arrived; it had been laid on the table.
  • Traffic and Parking Committee report (June 22) approved; nine mobility resolutions marked work completed (colored bus and bike lanes on Prospect Street, crosswalk daylighting, speed bumps on Vernon and Elmwood Streets, Perkins Street neighborways art, Teele Square and Whitfield Road enforcement). A Director of Parking communication was sent for discussion to Traffic and Parking.
  • Heat island resolution for the East Somerville Community School and Edgerly School grounds approved (Councilor Link).
  • Appointments referred to the Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters Committee: one to the Affordable Housing Trust, one to the Fair Housing Commission and eleven to the Climate Action Commission, including Larry Yu.
  • Grants approved include $222,502 for Blue Bikes state of good repair, $500,000 for Western Pearl Street, $58,642 for YouthWorks, $110,280 tobacco control, $50,000 Youth Climate Action Fund, $23,040 emergency management software and $14,974.64 for World Cup community events. Other approvals: $8,367,344 Community Preservation Act appropriation, $144,235 opioid fund projects, $78,900 Jail Diversion Clinician, $350,000 Immigrant Legal Services fund, $405,000 for boiler controls, and a Salary & Wage Stabilization appropriation of $196,086 for a union contract.
  • Public comments placed on file: 18 on the budget, several on zoning, the red line closure, and the draft combined sewer overflow plan (see Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan); the Council also noted the City Attorney's update on the Charter question about the school budget.
  • Remembrances for three deceased community members; a citation for a retiring longtime school-system employee.

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