CITY COUNCIL MEETING
All weekly City Council meetings are held at 12 p.m. (noon) in the Christopher A. Iannella Chamber on the fifth floor of Boston City Hall, unless otherwise noted.
Discussion Topics
- APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
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COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:
0236 Message and order for your approval a new home rule petition to the
General Court, “Petition for a Special Law Re: An Act Relative to
Residential Tax Relief in the City of Boston.0237 Message and order for your approval an Order to reduce the FY25
appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by One Hundred
Twenty Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($128,700.00) to provide
funding for the Boston Police Department for the FY25 increases contains
within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and
the Boston Police Detective Benevolent Society (BPDBS) Forensic Group.
0238 Message and order for a supplemental appropriation Order for the FY25
appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by One Hundred
Twenty Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($128,700.00) to cover the
FY25 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreements
between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detective Benevolent
Society (BPDBS) Forensic Group. The terms of the contracts are October
1, 2023 through September 30, 2027. The major provisions of the contract
include a market adjustment to base wages in FY25, as well as base wage
increase of 2% to be given in January 2026 and 2027 and flat amounts of
$900 and $800 to be added to annual salaries in January 2026 and 2027,
after the percent increases.
Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on January 13, 2025.0239 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the
amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the form of a
grant, for the FY25 Training Academy Earmark, awarded by the
Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to be administered by the Fire
Department. The grant will fund the purchase of equipment and supplies,
and to fund training initiatives for the Boston Fire Training Academy to
ensure the department remains current in the firefighting services.0240 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend for
the benefit of the City of Boston, a donation from the National Nuclear
Security Administration’s Office of Radiological Security (ORS) of 2024
GMC Sierra 4WD Crew Cab Pickup valued at SixtyThousand Two
Hundred and Thirty Three Dollars ($60,233.00). The truck will be used as a
Radiological Security Awareness and Response (RSAR) support truck and
will allow the Boston Police Department to continue the sustainment of
RSAR training programs.0241 Message and order temporarily extending Urban Renewal Plans in the City
of Boston until March 31, 2027 or passage of a proposed relevant Home
Rule Petition. -
REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:
0242 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Midori
Morikawa, as a member of the Boston School Committee Nominating
Panel, effective immediately.
0243 Communication was received from Councilor Flynn regarding
discrepancies in the 2024 Boston Detainer Requests.0244 Communication was received from Councilor Flynn regarding the Boston
Crime Lab Director.0245 Communication was received from Councilor Breadon regarding her
absence from the City Council meeting on January 15, 2025.0246 Communication was received from Councilor Breadon regarding the
passage of Chapter 360 of the Acts of 2024, An Act increasing the
maximum amount of penalties which may be imposed for violations of
ordinances in the City of Boston.0247 Communication was received from Kenzie Bok, Administrator of the
Boston Housing Authority regarding and update on the elevator situation at
several Boston Housing sites.0248 Notice was received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of
the Ordinances of 1979 re: action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon
by the City Council at its meeting of December 4, 2024.
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MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:
0112 Message and order for your approval an Order to reduce the FY25
appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by Six Million Six
Hundred Thirty Seven Thousand Four Hundred Eighty Six Dollars
($6,637,486.00) to provide funding for the Boston Public Schools (BPS) for
the FY25 impact of increases contained with the collective bargaining
agreement between the Transdev and its bus drivers.0113 Message and order for a supplemental appropriation Order for the FY25
appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by Six Million Six
Hundred Thirty Seven Thousand Four Hundred Eighty Six Dollars
($6,637,486.00) to cover the impact of FY25 cost items contained within
the Collective Bargaining agreement between Transdev and its bus drivers
on the City’s transportation contract with the vendor, Transdev. The term of
the contract is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028. The major provisions of
the contract include a market rate adjustment, an increase for regular wages
and an increase in minimum weekly hours from 31 to 35.
Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on January 6, 2025.
0114 Message and order for your approval an Order to reduce the FY25
appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by Four Hundred
Twenty One Thousand Three Hundred Eighteen Dollars ($421,318.00) to
provide funding for the Mayor’s Office of Housing for the FY25 increases
contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of
Boston and SEIU Local 888, Mayor’s Office of Housing.0115 Message and order for a supplemental appropriation for the Mayor’s Office
of Housing for FY25 in the amount of Four Hundred Twenty One
Thousand Three Hundred Eighteen Dollars ($421,318.00) to cover the
FY25 cost contained within the collective bargaining agreements between
the City of Boston and SEIU, Local 888 Mayor's Office of Housing. The
terms of the contracts are October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2027. The
major provisions of the contracts include base wage increases of 2% to be
given in January of each fiscal year of the contract term and flat amounts of
$250.00, $500.00, $900.00, and $800.00 to be added to annual salaries in
January of each fiscal year.
Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on January 6, 2025.0116 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the
amount of Eight Hundred Sixty Thousand One Hundred Sixty Nine Dollars
and Seventy Cents ($860,169.70) in the form of a grant for the One Stop
Career Center grant, awarded by MassHire Department of Career Services
to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will
fund comprehensive career services and resources to unemployed job
seekers such as reviewing job postings, career counseling and job coaching,
education/skills training, and job placement assistance.0108 Message and order for your approval an Order authorizing the City of
Boston to appropriate the amount of One Hundred Ten Million Dollars
($110,000,000.00) for purposes of funding the Housing Accelerator
Program. The expenditures related to the program are one time in nature
and are assumed to be non recurring costs of the City, therefore, are
appropriate to be funded with non recurring revenue.
Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on December 2, 2024. -
MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
0249 Councilor Worrell offered the following: Ordinance amending City of
Boston Code 18 1.2B to make certificates of birth and death free.
0250 Councilor Durkan offered the following: Order for a hearing regarding
the feasibility and impact of a Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax in Boston.0251 Councilor Durkan offered the following: Order for a hearing to
investigate the use, impact, and potential ban of algorithmic price setting in
the Boston rental housing market.0252 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss
expanding the urban tree canopy in District 2.0253 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss the
goals and priorities of the City of Boston's Office of Veteran Services.0254 Councilor Worrell offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss
long term city job vacancies.0255 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss new
cancer presumptions announced by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.0256 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss
discrepancies in Boston's 2024 detainer requests.0257 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss
accessibility in Boston City Hall.0258 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss
exploring Nickerson Field and other facilities for a Women's Professional
Soccer Team.0259 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss the
status of the elevators at the BHA Ruth Barkley apartments.0260 Councilor Worrell and Breadon offered the following: Order for a
hearing to discuss the use of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the
City of Boston.0261 Councilor Weber offered the following: Order for a hearing to address
programming needs for older adults in the City of Boston.0262 Councilor Durkan offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss
the creation of a Parks Administrator for Downtown Parks including the
Boston Common, Public Garden, Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Copley
Square and Christopher Columbus Park.
0263 Councilor Durkan offered the following: Order for a hearing to explore
the creation of a City Wide Merchandise Licensing Program.0264 Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for a hearing regarding
strategies to expand homeownership programs in Boston.0265 Councilor Murphy and Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing
to discuss the preservation of historical artifacts in Boston Public Schools
slated for closure or merger.0266 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss
pedestrian safety, traffic calming, and expanding the safety surge program
in the City of Boston.0267 Councilor Murphy and Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing
to discuss Boston Public Schools transportation for student athletes.0268 Councilor Murphy and Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing
to address the plans underway to do facilities work this summer at several
of our buildings that may impact the services we provide0269 Councilor Murphy offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss
residential property values and the assessing process0270 Councilor Coletta Zapata offered the following: Order to adopt the Good
Landlord Tax Abatement as a local option in the City of Boston.0271 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Resolution in support of the
replacement of concurrent traffic signal at Dorchester Avenue and
Dorchester Street
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GREEN SHEETS
Legislative Calendar for January 15, 2025.
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CONSENT AGENDA:
0272 Councilor FitzGerald offered the following: Resolution recognizing
Maura Doyle.0273 Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Resolution congratulating
Evangeline Roussel Lucien.0274 Councilor Durkan offered the following: Resolution recognizing Nakama
Kamara.0275 Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Resolution congratulating
The Chery Family.0276 Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Resolution congratulating
Samuel Luxama.0277 Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Resolution congratulating
Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts.0278 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Resolution recognizing Flynn
Foley.0279 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Resolution recognizing Xiamen
University Alumni Association in New England.0280 Councilor Flynn offered the following: Resolution recognizing the
National Asian Women's Association.0281 Councilor Weber offered the following: Resolution recognizing PN
Transportation0282 Councilor Worrell and Santana offered the following: Resolution
recognizing January 20 as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the
City of Boston.