Cambridge City Council/2026

What the Council decided, and how each councillor voted

Every Cambridge City Council meeting in 2026, filed by date and searchable by keyword: each item the Council acted on, the result, and every councillor's recorded vote.

34 items

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E. Denise Simmons

Named on 35 roll-call votes in these results: 22 yes, 12 no, 1 present. Sponsor of 5 items.

Cambridge City Council, Oct 28 2026

Special Meeting·Wed, Oct 28, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsVideo
POR 2026-196

That the City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor to provide the Ordinance Committee, before its hearing, with an opinion on the proposed ordinance under M.G.L. c. 30B and applicable federal law to boycott companies complicit in Israel's Apartheid, Genocide, and Illegal Occupation of Palestine.

FailedAdoption Failed
Roll call 4 yes · 5 noE. Denise Simmons: No
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Marc McGovern, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Patricia Nolan, E. Denise Simmons, Catherine Zusy

Cambridge City Council, Oct 19 2026

Regular Meeting, continued Oct 20·Mon, Oct 19, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsVideoVideo, Oct 20
Item 13 · POR 2026-203 · Policy Orders

That the Mayor work with the City Council Office, the City Clerk’s Office, and other City staff to call and notice a special meeting to take place the week of October 26, 2026, to continue discussion on POR 2026-195 and POR 2026-196.

Sponsors Sumbul Siddiqui, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, E. Denise Simmons
PassedAdopted as Amended
Roll call 8 yes · 1 noE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, E. Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Ayah A. Al-Zubi

Cambridge City Council, Oct 5 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Oct 5, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsVideo

Cambridge City Council, Sep 28 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Sep 28, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsVideo
Item 6 · POR 2026-179 · Policy Orders

That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council within thirty days on the status of the negotiations between the Cambridge School Committee and the Cambridge Education Association, in executive session if the Law Department advises that a report in open session would disclose collective bargaining strategy Support for Cambridge Public Schools paraprofessionals, substitutes, and clerks.

Sponsors Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Failed
Roll call 2 yes · 4 no · 2 present · 1 absentE. Denise Simmons: Present
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
No
Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Patricia Nolan, Catherine Zusy
Present
Marc McGovern, E. Denise Simmons
Absent
Sumbul Siddiqui

Cambridge City Council, Sep 14 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Sep 14, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsVideo
RECON 2026-03 · Submission Of The Record

Councillor Patricia Nolan has filed Reconsideration for POR 2026-140 "That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the City Solicitor and the License Commission to draft and submit a Home Rule Petition to authorize one additional Section 15 all-alcoholic beverages license not to be drunk on the premises."

Failed
Roll call 4 yes · 5 noE. Denise Simmons: No
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Patricia Nolan, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, E. Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler

Cambridge City Council, Aug 3 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Aug 3, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsVideo
Item 23 · CMA 2026-219 · City Manager's Agenda

A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to edits to the Cambridge Street Active Use Zoning Petition.

Placed on fileCMA Placed on File
Failed Amended by Substitution Language
Roll call 2 yes · 7 noE. Denise Simmons: No
Who voted how
Yes
Burhan Azeem, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
No
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, E. Denise Simmons, Sumbul Siddiqui, Catherine Zusy
Roll call 9 yesE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, E. Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
Item 1 · POR 2026-136 · Calendar

That the City Manager is requested to take all necessary steps to temporarily restore and reactivate ShotSpotter within the areas of Cambridge previously covered by the system.

Sponsors E. Denise Simmons, Timothy R. Flaherty
PassedAdopted by Substitution
Roll call 6 yes · 3 noE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, E. Denise Simmons, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Patricia Nolan, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Item 1 · APP 2026-39 · Applications

An application was received from Matt Hayes, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 61 Pleasant Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. Response has been received from the neighborhood association.

PassedAdopted
Roll call 8 yes · 1 noE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, E. Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Patricia Nolan
Item 2 · APP 2026-41 · Applications

An application was received from Adam Siegel, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 1740 Massachusetts Avenue; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association.

PassedAdopted
Roll call 8 yes · 1 noE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, E. Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Patricia Nolan
Item 3 · APP 2026-43 · Applications

An application was received from Patrick Conte, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 55 Fayerweather Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association.

PassedAdopted
Roll call 8 yes · 1 noE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, E. Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Patricia Nolan

Cambridge City Council, Jun 8 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Jun 8, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsVideo
Item 4 · POR 2026-122 · Policy Orders

That the City Council shall complete the required review and determinations prescribed by Section 2.128.060(c) before taking any future vote regarding the continued use of ShotSpotter or any other surveillance technology.

Sponsors Timothy R. Flaherty, E. Denise Simmons
Failed
Roll call 2 yes · 6 no · 1 absentE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Timothy R. Flaherty, E. Denise Simmons
No
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
Absent
Patricia Nolan

Cambridge City Council, Jun 1 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Jun 1, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsMinutesVideo
Item 8 · POR 2026-115 · Policy Orders

That the City Council disapprove further use of SoundThinking’s Acoustic Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter) by the City pursuant to the Surveillance Technology Ordinance 2.128.060 (C).

Sponsors Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan
PassedAdopted
Roll call 5 yes · 2 no · 2 presentE. Denise Simmons: No
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Timothy R. Flaherty, E. Denise Simmons
Present
Burhan Azeem, Catherine Zusy

Cambridge City Council, May 18 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, May 18, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsMinutesVideo
Item 2 · POR 2026-98 · Calendar

That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments including the Law Department to ensure that there is no new data collected by ShotSpotter devices and all existing data shall be kept, used, or deleted only as required by law under our Welcoming Community Ordinance and Surveillance Technology Ordinance.

PassedAdopted
Roll call 5 yes · 2 no · 2 presentE. Denise Simmons: No
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Timothy R. Flaherty, E. Denise Simmons
Present
Burhan Azeem, Catherine Zusy
Item 3 · POR 2026-99 · Calendar

That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Mayor’s Office, Law Department, Election Commission, and other relevant City Departments to engage the Collins Center in assisting the City in reviewing policy options for allowing Cambridge voters to directly elect the City’s Mayor.

PassedAdopted as Amended
Roll call 7 yes · 1 no · 1 presentE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, E. Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Catherine Zusy
Present
Ayah A. Al-Zubi
Item 5 · POR 2026-102 · Calendar

That a special Committee of the City Council be formed to conduct a full and complete analysis of each of the proposed changes to the Rules of the City Council, with the goal of a transparent understanding of each of the proposed changes and the implications.

Failed
Roll call 3 yes · 5 no · 1 presentE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Timothy R. Flaherty, E. Denise Simmons, Catherine Zusy
No
Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Sumbul Siddiqui
Present
Ayah A. Al-Zubi
Item 6 · COF 2026-73 · Calendar

A communication from City Councillor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler transmitting the proposed 2026- 2027 Rules of the Cambridge City Council. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY IN COUNCIL MAY 11, 2026 TABLED IN COUNCIL MAY 18, 2026

Tabled or heldTabled
Roll call 6 yes · 3 noE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, E. Denise Simmons, Catherine Zusy
No
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Sumbul Siddiqui

Cambridge City Council, May 11 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, May 11, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsMinutesVideo

Cambridge City Council, Apr 27 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Apr 27, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsMinutesVideo
Item 1 · POR 2026-76 · Calendar

That the City Manager is requested to direct the Cambridge Department of Transportation (CDOT) and any other relevant departments to halt any further design, engineering, procurement, or construction activities related to implementing a reconfiguration of Garden Street to restore two-way motor-vehicle traffic.

PassedAdopted
Roll call 5 yes · 4 noE. Denise Simmons: No
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Timothy R. Flaherty, Patricia Nolan, E. Denise Simmons, Catherine Zusy

Cambridge City Council, Mar 30 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Mar 30, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsMinutesVideo
Item 8 · POR 2026-32 · Calendar

That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to raise the fee of the parking permit program for all residents to $75, consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP or are low income, remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program and lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two

PassedAdopted as Amended by Substitution
Roll call 7 yes · 2 noE. Denise Simmons: No
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Timothy R. Flaherty, E. Denise Simmons

Cambridge City Council, Mar 23 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Mar 23, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsMinutesVideo
Item 2 · ORD 2026-01 · Calendar

AMEND SECTION 4.50 OF THE CAMBRIDGE ZONING ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS WITH THE INTENT OF PERMITTING THE USE OF LAND FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES AS-OF-RIGHT IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS: RELIGIOUS PURPOSES; EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ON LAND OWNED OR LEASED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OR ANY OF ITS AGENCIES, SUBDIVISIONS OR BODIES POLITIC OR BY A RELIGIOUS SECT OR DENOMINATION, OR BY A NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION; AND FOR A CHILD CARE CENTER, SCHOOL-AGED CHILD CARE PROGRAM, FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME, OR LARGE FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1A OF CHAPTER 15D OF MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS.

PassedORDAINED
Roll call 8 yes · 1 noE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, E. Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Timothy R. Flaherty

Cambridge City Council, Mar 9 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Mar 9, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsMinutesVideo
Item 6 · CMA 2026-51 · City Manager's Agenda

Transmitting a communication from City Manager, Yi-An Huang, regarding a free cash appropriation in the amount of $400,000 to the General Fund Law Dept Travel and Training (Judgement and Damages) account for the settlement payment relating to Ahern v. Sig Sauer, Inc. and City of Cambridge (United States District Court District of Massachusetts, Docket No. 1:21-cv- 11007-DJC).

PassedAdopted
Roll call 6 yes · 2 no · 1 absentE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, E. Denise Simmons, Catherine Zusy
No
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Sumbul Siddiqui
Absent
Ayah A. Al-Zubi

Cambridge City Council, Feb 9 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Feb 9, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsMinutesVideo
Item 1 · Calendar

A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-69, regarding a review of the previous home rule petition and prepare a new petition that would allow Cambridge to enact a Real Estate Transfer Fee to be sent to the state legislature.CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR NOLAN IN COUNCIL JANUARY 26, 2026 TABLED AS AMENDED IN COUNCIL FEBRUARY 9, 2026

Tabled or heldTabled as Amended
Roll call 6 yes · 3 noE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
Burhan Azeem, Timothy R. Flaherty, Marc McGovern, E. Denise Simmons, Catherine Zusy, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Patricia Nolan, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler

Cambridge City Council, Jan 26 2026

Regular Meeting·Mon, Jan 26, 2026·Final actions published
AgendaFinal actionsMinutesVideo
Item 2 · Calendar

That the City Manager is requested to conduct a comprehensive review of existing safety and security measures at Cambridge City Hall, which shall include an assessment of physical access controls, visitor screening practices, on-site security staffing and training, emergency response and evacuation protocols, and the use of security technologies such as surveillance systems and alarm monitoring.

PassedAdopted as Amended
Roll call 7 yes · 1 no · 1 presentE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
E. Denise Simmons, Marc McGovern, Burhan Azeem, Patricia Nolan, Sumbul Siddiqui, Timothy R. Flaherty, Catherine Zusy
No
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Present
Ayah A. Al-Zubi
Item 3 · Calendar

Ordinance has been received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, relative to amend the Zoning Map and Articles 3.000, 17.000, and 19.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of establishing four new zoning districts for the Cambridge Street corridor

PassedOrdained as Amended
Roll call 6 yes · 3 noE. Denise Simmons: Yes
Who voted how
Yes
E. Denise Simmons, Marc McGovern, Burhan Azeem, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Patricia Nolan, Sumbul Siddiqui
No
Ayah A. Al-Zubi, Timothy R. Flaherty, Catherine Zusy
Coverage and sources
Meetings
27 of 31 with Final Actions
Jan 12, 2026 to Nov 9, 2026
Votes
787 items, 508 roll calls
Latest Final Actions: Nov 2, 2026

No Final Actions published for: Regular Meeting, Jan 12, 2026; Special Meeting, Jun 23, 2026; Roundtable, Aug 6, 2026; Regular Meeting, Nov 9, 2026.

Where this comes from

Every item and vote here is read from the City Clerk's Final Actions for each meeting, published on the city's PrimeGov portal. They list every item the Council acted on, its sponsors and reference number, the result, and on a roll call each councillor under yeas, nays, present and absent. Items carried by voice vote show as voice votes, with any absent councillors named.

Each meeting links to its agenda, Final Actions, minutes once they are approved, and video. A meeting appears before its Final Actions do, and its items fill in once the clerk publishes them. Planning Board and Board of Zoning Appeal meetings are not included yet.

Meetings from Jan 1, 2026 to Nov 11, 2026. Built Nov 12, 2026 by Ingest from the City of Cambridge's public records.