Traffic and Parking Committee — Minutes, Apr 27, 2026

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Traffic and Parking Committee Meeting Minutes 6:00 PM Monday, April 27, 2026 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Sait at 6:15pm and adjourned at 7:30pm on a roll call vote of 3 in favor (Councilors Wheeler, Mbah,Sait), 0 opposed. Others present: Brain Postlewaite - Director of Engineering, Suzanne Rinfret - Director of Parking, Madalyn Letellier - Assistant City Clerk. Roll Call City Councilor At Large Ben Wheeler, City Councilor At Large Wilfred N. Mbah and Ward Five City Councilor Naima Sait Present: 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Traffic and Parking Committee Meeting of March 16, 2026. Committee Minutes (ID # 26-0499) ACCEPTED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Wheeler, City Councilor At Large Mbah and Ward Five City Councilor Sait AYE: 2. By Councilor Ewen-Campen and Councilor Scott That the Director of Mobility update this Council on the intersection improvements at Webster Avenue and Prospect Street. Order (ID # 26-0123) This item was discussed with item # 26-0634. KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: 3. 64 residents submitting comments re: parking on Oak, Houghton, Bolton, and Prospect Streets. Public Communication (ID # 26-0634) This item was discussed with item #26-0213 and item #26-0373. Councilor Wheeler sponsored resident Serena Bodnar to address the committee and share the concerns outlined, including ongoing parking and safety issues from neighboring construction projects. The communication requested consistent enforcement and towing, withholding parking permits, contractor parking solutions, more safety around construction, and more proactive action from the city on practice enforcement. Director Rinfret spoke to the concerns outlined and what the department is currently doing in Ward 2 to mitigate some of the concerns. She shared that officers are surveying and ticketing daily, various parking permits are no longer accepted on Prospect Street and require Page 1 of 3

Traffic and Parking Committee Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 plate-specific permits to contractors. Councilor Sait raised the issue of multiple projects occurring at one time and what considerations are put in place when that occurs. Director Postlewaite spoke to the permitting process for site construction work and the complexities of construction on public ways, noting that every project must have a construction management plan. He acknowledged the increased construction that has occurred on Bolton, Oak, Houghton, and Prospect Streets over recent years and the difficulty in restricting the access of contractors to properties. He commented on an internal effort to track requests for contractors, but it is largely impractical to schedule deliveries and know exactly when each element of construction is going to be addressed. He emphasized the inability to control when property owners are developing their property, but this Ward may be experiencing more construction in a shorter amount of time than has previously been seen. Councilors Mbah and Sait discussed how the Police Department interacts with construction, parking permits, and towing. Director Rinfret clarified the process to tow a car is through Police and residents must contact them directly. Director Postlewaite said the contractor is required to contact Police if they require a detail and then the Police Department has responsibility to determine what are the highest priority locations on a given day. Director Postlewaite shared that the Police Department and the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) are the only authorities that can compel contractors to stop work. There is communication between Engineering and the Police and ISD when there are clear violations of safety protocols or when critical issues arise. Councilor Wheeler asked questions about what types of parking permits are available, if violations are tracked, and if there are time constraints associated with permits. Director Rinfret stated there is one contractor permit available that can either be address-specific with various plates or plate-specific with various addresses, which helps contractors who may have more than one contract going on in the city. Permits are issued monthly for $35, with the ability to request a permit for 3, 6, or 9 months. Starting July 1, 2026, all permits in the city will be raised to $50. To receive a permit, the plate associated must be in good standing and is required to abide by all parking rules like any other constituent. KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: 4. By Councilor Wheeler That this Council review construction-related parking in the area of Oak Street and Bolton Street. Order (ID # 26-0373) This item was discussed with item # 26-0634. KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: Page 2 of 3

Traffic and Parking Committee Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 5. Conveying the 2026 Safe Streets Ordinance Annual Report. Mayor's Communication (ID # 26-0303) KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: 6. By Councilor Ewen-Campen That the Director of Mobility pilot the installation of dedicated bicycle YIELD signals to operate during the walk cycle at several intersections throughout the city, including Washington Street and Somerville Avenue, and Prospect Street and Somerville Avenue. Resolution (ID # 26-0121) KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: 7. By Councilor Clingan That Director of Mobility evaluate opportunities for improved pedestrian safety at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street. Resolution (ID # 26-0363) KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: 8. By Councilor Link That the Director of Public Works and the Director of Mobility update this Council regarding plans to keep bike lanes, protected bike lanes, and other separated micromobility facilities clear and passable on major throughways, with particular attention to school routes, timelines after snowfall, staffing, and equipment capacity. Resolution (ID # 26-0279) RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK COMPLETED RESULT: Page 3 of 3