These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Plan to spend federal dollars
Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, 6 p.m. Thursday. The city presents its 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan on how to spend federal dollars to create affordable housing for low-income households and through community development block grants. The city discusses the application for a $9.8 million loan on Phase II of the Clarendon Hill project, which aims to replace and expand a public housing development in West Somerville. The development of an action plan is required by the Office of Housing and Urban Development. In the auditorium of the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill. Memorial Day parade rolls on
Memorial Day events
Veterans Services Department, 11 a.m. Sunday. The city honors U.S. veterans who lost their lives in war with a Memorial Day parade and ceremony. Up to 80 groups are expected to participate. The parade starts in the center of Davis Square at the 9/11 Memorial, heads up Holland Street and turns left to end at Broadway and North Street. Folks then gather for a remembrance ceremony at Veterans Cemetery, 1332 Broadway, West Somerville. The ceremony is watchable afterward on GovTV and the city’s YouTube channel.
Slice of the City for Ward 5
Mayor and city councilors, 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The mayor, city councilors and officials, and state representatives drop into Ward 5 for an al fresco evening of connecting with community, conversation and, of course, pizza. “Slice of the City” events are a “chance to share a slice, share a story and further build community in a place we all call home. I can’t wait to see familiar faces and meet new neighbors,” the mayor said. This event was rescheduled from earlier in May due to rain; only an event for Ward 4 remains in June. Refreshments and youth activities are provided. Trum Field, 541 Broadway, Magoun Square.
Water and sewer proposed rates
Water and Sewer Department, 6 p.m. Wednesday. The city holds a hearing about proposed water and sewer rate changes to start July 1. Last year, the City Council approved no increases to water and sewer rates and instead turned to retained earnings and free cash as a “stopgap measure.” Ratepayers saw 11 percent and 13 percent increases in water and sewer rates, respectively, in 2023 and 2024. This year, the city needs to pay down debt obligations for the Poplar Street pump station project and other ongoing and future infrastructure upgrades, so many are curious not if the rates will go up, but by how much. At the Tufts Administrative Building, 167 Holland St., in the Tufts neighborhood near Teele Square, or watchable via videoconferencing
Community Preservation spending
Community Preservation Committee, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The committee reviews its Community Preservation Act final report and next year’s expected revenue. The committee estimates $6.2 million will be raised and spent in 2026 on community housing, historic resources and open space and recreation projects as part of a state law that allows the city to fund projects that can greatly affect a community’s character and quality of life. Projects included upgrades to the Mystic Waterworks, Prospect Hill Tower, more than 80 units of affordable housing and a pollinator garden near the Mystic River and Ten Hills. Property owners are charged a 1 percent to 3 percent surcharge on yearly property tax bills to support the act; voters supported increases in 2024. Watchable via videoconferencing.
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