MassVoter.com← Cambridge City CouncilCambridge City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Meeting night
October 20, 2025
2 meetings this evening, 31 recorded votes in all, in the order they were held.
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Start my ballot →Cambridge City Council · Special meeting
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Meeting video · City meeting page
Attendance
Present: Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, Sumbul Siddiqui, Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Paul Toner, Ayesha Wilson, Catherine Zusy
Absent: None
5 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
CMA 2025 #250
OCTOBER 20, 2025 THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC SULLIVAN CHAMBER (CITY HALL, SECOND FLOOR), 795 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, CAMBRIDGE Burhan Azeem Remote Marc C. McGovern ...
TAX RATE FOR FY2026 APPROVED [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: TAX RATE FOR FY2026 APPROVED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
ORDERED 1A ADOPTED [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDERED 1A ADOPTED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
ORDERED 1B ADOPTED [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDERED 1B ADOPTED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Place on file: OCTOBER 20, 2025 THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC SULLIVAN CHAMBER (CITY HALL, SECOND FLOOR), 795 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, CAMBRIDGE Burhan Azeem Remote Marc C....
CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
OCTOBER 20, 2025 THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC SULLIVAN CHAMBER (CITY HALL, SECOND FLOOR), 795 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, CAMBRIDGE Burhan Azeem Remote Marc C. McGovern ...
APPROVED RECONSIDERATION FAILED [0-9-0]
No: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, Wilson, Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED RECONSIDERATION FAILED [0-9-0] NAYS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Cambridge City Council · Regular meeting
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Meeting video · City meeting page
Attendance
Present: Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, Sumbul Siddiqui, Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Paul Toner, Ayesha Wilson, Catherine Zusy
Absent: None
26 recorded votes, 11 with disagreement. This meeting on its own page
City Manager's Agenda · CMA 2025 #251
Place on file: A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases.
CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
City Manager's Agenda · CMA 2025 #252
Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $24,020 received from the Office of the Attorney General, Local Consumer Aid Fund, to the Grant Fund...
ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
City Manager's Agenda · CMA 2025 #253
Place on file: A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Charles J. Marquardt as an Election Commissioner for a four year term, effective through...
CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
City Manager's Agenda · CMA 2025 #254
Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $274,577.93 received from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, State 911 Department, to...
ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
City Manager's Agenda · CMA 2025 #255
Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $48,000.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salary and Wages account ($40,398.00), to the Grant...
ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
City Manager's Agenda · CMA 2025 #256
Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $275,237.00 to the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance account. The funds are...
ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
City Manager's Agenda · CMA 2025 #257
Refer: A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-53, regarding a request that the City Manager consult with relevant departments about...
REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
City Manager's Agenda · CMA 2025 #258
A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment and reappointment of members to the Committee on Public Planting for terms of three years.
APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
City Manager's Agenda · CMA 2025 #259
Place on file: A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-34 regarding curb cut disputes.
CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: CMA PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Policy Order And Resolution List · POR 2025 #144
City Council support for Massachusetts’ community colleges and state universities and urging the state Legislature to pass the DRIVE Act with an amendment to cover student supports and other cuts...
ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0]
Yes: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, WilsonNo: Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Zusy.”
Policy Order And Resolution List · POR 2025 #145
That the City Manager is requested to reach out to representatives from Eversource to coordinate at least four public open-house meetings in the coming weeks regarding heat and electricity costs.
ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0]
Yes: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, WilsonNo: Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Zusy.”
Policy Order And Resolution List · POR 2025 #146
City Council support of H.811, An Act authorizing cities and towns to provide for citizen-funded election campaigns.
ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0]
Yes: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, WilsonNo: Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Zusy.”
Policy Order And Resolution List · POR 2025 #147
City Council support of the unionization efforts of Massachusetts State House legislative staff and H.2093/S.1343, and urge the recognition of the Massachusetts State House Employee Union.
ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0]
Yes: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, WilsonNo: Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Zusy.”
Policy Order And Resolution List · POR 2025 #148
That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to report back to the City Council on current efforts towards poison ivy control in the Fresh Pond Master Plan as well as...
ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0]
Yes: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, WilsonNo: Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Zusy.”
Policy Order And Resolution List · POR 2025 #149
That the City Council supports House Bill H.3564, An Act Relative to Infrastructure Replacement Projects, and House Bill H.3446 /Senate Bill S.2248, An Act Relative to Municipal Voices in Gas...
ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0]
Yes: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, WilsonNo: Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Zusy.”
Policy Order And Resolution List · POR 2025 #150
City Council support of Bill Lifting Caps on Municipal Solar.
ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0]
Yes: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, WilsonNo: Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Zusy.”
Policy Order And Resolution List · POR 2025 #151
City Council opposition to Harvard University’s efforts to strip union protections from workers in the Harvard Graduate Students Union bargaining unit, and to all forms of union busting, and go on...
ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0]
Yes: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Siddiqui, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, WilsonNo: Zusy
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-1-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons NAYS: Councillor Zusy.”
Policy Order And Resolution List · POR 2025 #152
That the City suspend using Flock cameras, and all ALPR technology currently in use, until the City Council votes to reinstate or revoke the use of such devices.
ORDER ADOPTED AS AMENDED [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED AS AMENDED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Calendar – Charter Right
Place on file: The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on September 16, 2025 to review and discuss solar impact analysis and zoning options to encourage the use of solar energy...
REPORT ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: REPORT ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Applications And Petitions · APP 2025 #39
An application was received from Brian Albrecht, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 239 Brookline Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services...
ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Communications
Communications placed on file together (23 communications, COM 3376 #2025 to COM 3398 #2025)
PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
The Final Actions record the same result and vote for each of these 23 communications (COM 3376 #2025, COM 3377 #2025, COM 3378 #2025, COM 3379 #2025, COM 3380 #2025, COM 3381 #2025, COM 3382 #2025, COM 3383 #2025, COM 3384 #2025, COM 3385 #2025, COM 3386 #2025, COM 3387 #2025, COM 3388 #2025, COM 3389 #2025, COM 3390 #2025, COM 3391 #2025, COM 3392 #2025, COM 3393 #2025, COM 3394 #2025, COM 3395 #2025, COM 3396 #2025, COM 3397 #2025, COM 3398 #2025); MassVoter lists them as one vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Resolutions
Resolutions adopted together (10 resolutions, RES 2025 #227 to RES 2025 #236)
ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0]
The Final Actions record the same result and vote for each of these 10 resolutions (RES 2025 #227, RES 2025 #228, RES 2025 #229, RES 2025 #230, RES 2025 #231, RES 2025 #232, RES 2025 #233, RES 2025 #234, RES 2025 #235, RES 2025 #236); MassVoter lists them as one vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Committee Reports
Place on file: The Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on September 25, 2025 to discuss whether the City should reinstate...
REPORT ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: REPORT ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Place on file: The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on October 7, 2025 on a Zoning Petition by Martin Bakal, et al., to amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance in Sections 4.30 and 4.40 with...
REPORT ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: REPORT ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Committee Reports · ORD 2025 # 15
An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to the Martin Bakal, et al. Zoning Petition.
DEFEATED [9-0-0]
The Final Actions record this as "DEFEATED [9-0-0]" but list every councillor voting under YEAS, so it is not clear how each voted; MassVoter shows the result only and will ask the City Clerk.
From the minutes
“RESULT: DEFEATED [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
Communications And Reports From Other City · COF 2025 #131
Place on file: A communication was received from Paula Crane, Interim City Clerk, transmitting an update regarding legislative activity.
PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0]
From the minutes
“RESULT: PLACED ON FILE [9-0-0] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons.”
From the Cambridge City Council’s official Final Actions, posted by the City Clerk on the city’s meeting portal (and, for meetings before late January 2026, the Open Meeting Portal), linked from the City Council page. We check every vote against the councillors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councillor photos: City of Cambridge (cambridgema.gov), from the official headshots on each councillor’s City Council page. Former councillors show initials.
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