City Services on October 23, 2026

The Boston City Council Committee on City Services held an October 23, 2026 hearing on the status of the Boston Rodent Action Plan (docket 1804). City staff described a cross-department effort involving more than 18 departments, reporting 785 rodent-related violations, about 3,000 dumpster inspections, and 25 community walk-throughs since January 1. The city is piloting data and detection tools, including camera sensors developed with XtraSense and audio monitoring with Basis AI, and plans to publish an evaluation of interventions. Rodent-resistant Victor Stanley barrels have been installed in several locations, and future park designs are expected to incorporate rodent-resistant features. Boston Water and Sewer has deployed more than 25 sewer traps in the North End and Back Bay; additional sewer monitoring is planned. The Boston Housing Authority also described a dedicated rodent-reduction team and a holistic pilot at its Commonwealth site. No contract awards, procurement votes, or specific spending amounts were identified; vendors and products were discussed in the context of pilots and equipment already in use.