CITY COUNCIL MEETING

0822  Message and order for Annual Appropriation and Tax Order for FY2026. 

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 7, 2025.

0823 Message and order for Annual Appropriation for the School Department for FY2026.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 7, 2025.

0824 Message and order approving an appropriation of Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) to the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Liability Trust Fund authorized under Chapter 32B, §20, as added by Chapter 479 of the Acts of 2008. The latest available OPEB actuarial valuation as of June 30, 2023 estimated the City’s unfunded liability at $2.68 billion.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 7, 2025.

0825 Message and order approving an appropriation of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) from the City’s Capital Grant fund to address the impact of transportation network services on municipal roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure or any other public purpose substantially related to the operation of transportation network services in the city. Such funds will be transferred and credited to the Capital Grant Fund from revenue received from the Commonwealth Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Trust Fund.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 7, 2025.

0826 Message and order approving an appropriation order in the amount of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000.00) from Surplus Property Disposition Fund, credited to the Capital Fund for planning, design, and construction, for Dorchester Field House, General Parks Improvements, Restroom Facility Improvements at the Boston Common, and the Municipal Animal Shelter.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 7, 2025.

0827 Message and order approving an appropriation order in the amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) from the Parking Facility Fund, credited to the Capital Fund for planning, design, maintenance and construction, for the parking facilities.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 7, 2025.

0828 Message and order approving an appropriation order in the amount of Two Hundred Sixty-Six Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($266,100,000.00) for various capital improvement purposes for city departments including the Boston Center for Youth and Families, Boston Housing Authority, Boston Planning and Development Agency, Boston Public Library, Innovation and Technology, Environment, Fire, Mayor’s Office of Housing, Office of Arts and Culture, Parks and Recreation, Police, Property Management, Public Health Commission, Public Works, and the Transportation Department.

0829 Message and order approving an appropriation order in the amount of One Hundred Ninety-Six Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($196,900,000.00) for various capital improvements purposes for the Boston Public Schools.

0830 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to enter into one or more leases, lease-purchase or installment sales agreements in Fiscal Year 2026 in an amount not to exceed Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00). These funds are to be used by various City departments for the acquisition of equipment in furtherance of their respective governmental functions. The list of equipment includes: computer equipment (hardware and software), motor vehicles and trailers, ambulances, firefighting equipment, office equipment, telecommunications equipment, photocopying equipment, medical equipment, school and educational equipment, school buses, parking meters, street lighting installation, traffic signal equipment and equipment functionally related to, and components of the foregoing.

0831 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to support the maintenance and repair for BPS facilities, including custodial and utility costs for extended building time, floor refinishing, landscaping and building repairs. Receipts from Lease, Permit for Use and Parking Fees for BPS facilities will be deposited in the fund. BPS facilities will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall not exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00).

0832 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for the Fiscal Year 2026 for Boston Public School Transportation costs, including bus and public transportation costs. This revolving fund shall be credited with revenue received by Boston Public School Department for the provision of transportation to groups and entities for field trips and activities other than transportation to and from school. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00).

0833 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to repair and purchase Boston Public Schools computer technology, including computers, mobile devices, and instructional software. This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from equipment sales and repair fees for Boston Public School technology. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00). 

0834 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Mayor's Office of Tourism revolving fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to purchase goods and services to support events and programming on and around City Hall Plaza to advance tourism and promote participation in public celebrations, civic and cultural events. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from payments for the use of City Hall Plaza pursuant to City of Boston Code, Ordinance, 11-7.14. The Mayor's Office of Tourism will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at One Hundred Fifty Thousand ($150,000.00).

0835 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Environment/Conservation Commission revolving fund for the Fiscal Year 2026 for the purpose of securing outside consultants including engineers, wetlands scientist, wildlife biologists or other experts in order to aid in the review of proposed projects to the Commission, per the City’s ordinance protecting local wetland and promoting climate change adaptation. The revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from fees imposed by the Commission for the purpose of securing outside consultants. The Environment Department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00).

0836 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Distributed Energy Resource Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to facilitate the purchase of offsets of greenhouse gas emissions which shall be associated with a portion of the electricity consumed by the City annually; and to operate, maintain, monitor and expand the City's existing solar arrays and Boston Public Schools' combined heat and power facilities. This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from the sale of renewable and alternative energy certificates and demand response program revenues produced by combined heat and power units located at Boston Public Schools sites and solar renewable energy certificates produced by the City's photovoltaic arrays. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00).

0837 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to pay salaries and benefits of employees and to purchase supplies and equipment necessary to operate the City Hall Child Care. This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from tuition paid by parents or guardians for children enrolled at the center. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($900,000.00). 

0838 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Law Department Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to purchase goods and services for repairs to city property. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from recoveries for damages to city property caused by third parties. The Law Department will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00).

0839 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Boston Police Department Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to pay salaries and benefits of employees and to purchase supplies and equipment necessary to operate the Police Department Fitness Center. Revenue for this fund is derived from monthly membership fees. Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000.00).

0840 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Boston Police Department Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to support the Canine Unit's training program for officers and police dogs from non-City of Boston law enforcement agencies. The Special Operating Division will charge tuition and other fees to outside law enforcement agencies for the Canine Unit. The tuition and other fees by outside agencies will be used to purchase training equipment, certify instructors, update facilities and provide funds for other training needs not otherwise budgeted. The Special Operations Division will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000.00).

0841 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to purchase goods and services to support public art to enhance the public realm throughout the City of Boston. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from easements within the public way granted by the Public Improvement Commission. The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000.00). 

0842 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to purchase goods and services to support the operation of the Strand Theatre. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from rental fees for the use of the Strand Theatre. The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00).

0843 Message and order authorizing a limit for the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2025 to purchase goods and services to support the operation of the Strand Theatre. This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from rental fees for the use of the Strand Theatre. The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00).

0844 Message and order approving an appropriation of Three Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,600,000.00) from the 21st Century Fund, also known as the Public, Educational, or Governmental (PEG) Access and Cable Related Fund. Pursuant to Section 53F 3/4 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, the funds may be used to support PEG access services, to monitor compliance with the cable franchise agreement, and for preparation of renewal of the franchise license.

0845 Message and order authorizing the appropriation of One Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,300,000.00) from the income of the George Francis Parkman Fund. The funds are to be expended under the direction of the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the maintenance and improvement of Boston Common and Parks in existence since January 12, 1887.

0846 Message and order approving an appropriation of One Million Five Hundred Fifty-Four Thousand Two Hundred Twenty-Eight Dollars ($1,554,228.00) for the administrative and operating expenses of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee (“CPC”) for the Fiscal Year 2026, and a further appropriation order in the amount of Thirty-Five Million Two Hundred Thirty-Five Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Two Dollars ($35,235,992.00) from the Community Preservation (“the Fund”) estimated annual revenues for Fiscal Year 2026, to be appropriated and reserved for future appropriation.

0850 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Robbie Adams as ex-officio member of the Task Force on Literacy Rates, effective immediately.

0851 Notice was received from the Mayor of the reappointment of John Smith as a member of the Boston Cannabis Board, for a term expiring on March 4, 2027.

0852 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of John Kenslea as a member of the Boston Cannabis Board, for a term expiring on March 27, 2027.

0853 Notice was received from the Mayor of the reappointment of Lisa Holmes as a member of the Boston Cannabis Board, for a term expiring on March 4, 2027.

0854 Notice was received from the Mayor of the reappointment of Patricia Boyle-McKenna as a member of the Residency Compliance Commission, for a term expiring on January 3, 2026.

0855 Communication from Councilor Flynn regarding the South End Branch of the Boston Public Library.

0294 The Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, to which was referred on January 29, 2025, Docket #0294, Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) in the form of a grant, from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund services to underserved populations in the hardest-to-reach areas, both urban and non-urban, in basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals, submits a report recommending that the Order ought to pass.

0295 The Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, to which was referred on January 29, 2025, Docket #0295, Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Boston Tax Help Coalition Santander Bank Grant, awarded by Santander Bank, N.A. to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund the Boston Tax Help Coalition to provide pathways from poverty to financial empowerment by maximizing the impact of tax credits through free tax preparation, financial education, and economic stability opportunities, submits a report recommending that the Order ought to pass.

0400 The Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, to which was referred on February 5, 2025, Docket #0400, Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Four Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($410,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Funding, awarded by the MA Executive Office for Administrative & Finance to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund to support the Center for Working Families’ Boston Tax Help Coalition in assisting low-income taxpayers with personal income tax filing for the 2024 tax session, submits a report recommending that the Order ought to pass.

0405 The Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, to which was referred on February 5, 2025, Docket #0405, Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) in the form of a grant for the Friends of Youth Opportunity Boston Grant, awarded by The Baupost Group to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund opportunities for young people ages 12-24 to work and learn along with intensive staff support, submits a report recommending that the Order ought to pass.

0454 The Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, to which was referred on February 12, 2025, Docket #0454, Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Forty-Three Thousand Three Hundred Twelve Dollars and Fifty Cents ($43,312.50) in the form of a grant for the FYOB MLK Scholars Program Grant, awarded by the Boston Foundation, passed through the Philanthropic Initiative, to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund summer jobs, financial education, and professional development opportunities for Boston youth, submits a report recommending that the Order ought to pass.

0526 The Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, to which was referred on February 26, 2025, Docket #0526, Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million One Hundred Ninety Thousand Seventy-One Dollars and Sixty-Four Cents ($1,190,071.64) in the form of a grant for the Carry-in WIOS Adult Program, awarded by the United States Department of Labor, passed through the MassHire Department of Career Services, to be administered by the Office of Workforce Department. The grant will fund services to help job seekers access employment, education, skills, training, apprenticeships and support services, submits a report recommending that the Order ought to pass.

0529 The Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, to which was referred on February 26, 2025, Docket #0529, Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Ninety-Five Thousand Dollars ($95,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Workforce Training Fund Grant, awarded by MassHire Department of Career Services to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund programming to help address business productivity and competitiveness by providing resources to Massachusetts businesses for training current and newly hired employees, submits a report recommending that the Order ought to pass.

0531 The Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, to which was referred on February 26, 2025, Docket #0531, Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Forty-One Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty-Eight Dollars and Sixty Cents ($41,828.60) in the form of a grant for the Shelter Supplemental Funding Grant, awarded by MassHire Department of Career Services to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund MassHire career centers with supplemental funding to support emergency assistance (EA) shelters residents with training and employment opportunities, submits a report recommending that the Order ought to pass.

0642 The Committee on Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development, to which was referred on March 12, 2025, Docket #0642, Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Hundred Eighty-Two Thousand One Hundred Sixty-Three Dollars and Fifty-Nine Cents ($382,163.59) in form of a grant, for the Carry-In Wagner Peyser Program Grant, awarded by the United States Department of Labor, passed through the MassHire Department of Career Services, to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund the individual reemployment needs of Unemployment Insurance claimants, as well as prevent and detect improper benefit payments, and application assistance for, training and education resources and programs, submits a report recommending that the Order ought to pass.

0292 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00), awarded by the Donor Group to be administered by the Parks & Recreation Department. The grant will fund the maintenance of the City of Boston Animal Shelter, and assistance with medical care for sick or injured animals (whose owners are Boston residents), through donations in an amount not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00).

0395 Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the UCFC-Program, awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture, passed through The Corps Network, to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund the historic workforce investment of boosting the City’s tree cover in various neighborhoods.

0857 Councilor Santana offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss public safety and public health updates related to the crises of mental health, substance use, and homelessness and housing instability concentrated in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

0858 Councilor Worrell and Flynn offered the following: Order for a hearing to discuss opioid-related overdose deaths in the older Black population in the City of Boston.

0859 Councilor Coletta Zapata offered the following: Order requesting certain information under Section 17F relative to towing contracts for District 1. 

0865  Councilor FitzGerald offered the following: Resolution recognizing 41 Local 718 retirements.

0866  Councilor Pepén offered the following: Resolution recognizing Cathy Smalls.

0867  Councilor Pepén offered the following: Resolution recognizing Cecily Graham.

0868  Councilor Pepén and Louijeune offered the following: Resolution recognizing Ben Trapanick.

0869  Councilor Durkan offered the following: Resolution recognizing April 4 2025 as 1975 Red Sox Day.

0870  Councilor Weber offered the following: Resolution recognizing Kanessa Alexander.

0871  Councilor Weber offered the following: Resolution in memory of Willard.

0872  Councilor Flynn offered the following: Resolution recognizing Pastor Bruce Wall.