This week in Somerville
What's coming up at City Hall, what was decided, and how the city is doing. Updated every morning.
Coming up
All meetingsPublic hearings: residents can speak
- Land Use Committee, 6:30 PMPublic hearings on zoning text amendments for Boynton Yards, affordable dwelling units, Zoning Board of Appeals rules, and backyard cottages.
- Licenses and Permits Committee, 6:00 PMPublic hearing on a new garage license for Toucan Auto Center Inc at 619 Somerville Avenue.
4 public meetings this week.
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Legislative Matters Committee
Proposed ordinances on protecting private significant trees during construction, short-term rentals, condominium conversions, and an Artificial Intelligence Ordinance.
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Finance Committee
Contract with Boston Carting Services LLC for 60 months of municipal solid waste, recycling, and yard waste hauling; $72,824.03 for two special elections.
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Land Use Committee
Zoning ordinance amendment to align with state law on protected accessory dwelling units.
Recently decided
All decisionsFrom the latest minutes the city has posted. Minutes come out after a board approves them, usually a few weeks after the meeting.
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City Council
Approved $2,500,000 settlement from Free Cash and $3,143,557 bond for Poplar Street Pump Station; referred AI ordinance and upzoning overlay district.
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Finance Committee
Recommended approval of $3,143,557 bond for Poplar Street Pump Station and a $35,000 Mental Health grant for police crisis training.
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Land Use Committee
Recommended approval of zoning changes on ground story elevation, principal entrances, parking maximums, and affordable dwelling unit terminology; kept accessory dwelling unit rules in committee.
What's happening on your street?
How the city is doing
- Open 311 requests 7,754 ↓ 24 from last week2,108 with no update in over a year
- Time to close a 311 request 30 hours Median, past 12 months
- Average single-family tax bill $9,376 ↑ 7.1% from last yearFiscal year 2026 · Mass. Division of Local Services (opens in new tab)
- Unemployment rate 3.3% ↓ 0.4 pts from August 2025August 2026 (preliminary) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (opens in new tab)