[0:36] i can't scour all the way [0:48] [Applause] [0:50] yes i did [0:54] you didn't notice [2:07] it's a call to order the schenectady [2:08] city council committee meeting for [2:10] monday march 7th 2022 [2:13] and um we've had some we have some [2:15] absences tonight so we're going to have [2:16] we've changed our agenda um let me just [2:18] be clear since these are public servants [2:20] mr move aaron will not be here this [2:22] evening [2:23] mr farley [2:24] had a family emergency and illness in [2:26] the family and miss patrick will have to [2:28] leave early so we've changed the agenda [2:30] to accommodate the members that are here [2:33] and we've moved claims to the beginning [2:35] of the agenda otherwise we would not [2:36] have a quorum so at this um time [2:40] i'll turn over to ms patrick whose share [2:42] of claims i'd like to open claims [2:44] and i would like to call for a motion to [2:46] go into executive session [2:53] okay [29:51] all right [29:52] go back [29:54] i'd like to open up the finance [29:56] committee the first item on the agenda [29:58] is the 2020 [30:01] to 2022. [30:04] uh emergency solutions grant esg cv [30:09] mr good evening everyone this is just um [30:12] in relation to a contract amendment with [30:14] cares of new york and bethesda house and [30:16] it's related to the emergency solutions [30:18] grant that was awarded through the cares [30:20] act it's just a transfer of funding [30:23] from the rapid rehousing and homeless [30:24] prevention to the street outreach [30:26] program so they're requesting to [30:28] transfer 25 000 [30:32] to the street outrage program so this is [30:34] just a resolution accepting this [30:36] amendment and um [30:38] authorizing the mayor is designated to [30:40] enter a contract to effectuate the [30:42] agreement are there any questions [30:45] seeing none have emotion [30:47] second all in favor i have a motion to [30:50] adjourn [30:51] second all in favor [30:53] like the open administrative efficiency [30:55] the first item on the agenda is the [30:57] seeker for barrack street and south [30:59] avenue mr yoke [31:01] this is the secret determination [31:04] for the rezone of approximately 3.91 [31:06] acres from r2 to the c4 downtown zoning [31:10] the the planning commission made a [31:12] recommendation [31:14] at their last meeting and this is this [31:17] first revolution for the city council to [31:19] adopt the negative uh seeker deprivation [31:22] the determination of non-significance [31:25] are there any questions [31:29] there was a little bit more opposition [31:33] the planning commission that i than i [31:35] expected but this was going to be more [31:38] simple and straightforward and i don't [31:40] know if the council [31:42] just [31:43] to take that into consideration [31:46] as you move forward [31:48] i thought this was going to be kind of [31:50] simple and straightforward some of the [31:51] neighborhood in fact [31:55] is not unified in this [32:00] undertaking [32:04] this part of you so um [32:06] do we have information that you know [32:09] kind of talks about that any place [32:11] uh i don't have the minutes from the [32:14] planning commission [32:16] [Music] [32:19] but it could be made available to the [32:21] council [32:23] but they they but they had enough they [32:25] had the majority that voted it through [32:26] is that's why it's back here with us [32:29] correct [32:31] yes [32:35] um [32:36] now the one they did so this would be [32:39] separate from this rezon record but the [32:41] planning commission did recommend [32:43] that this in the seaport downtown makes [32:45] use that um convenience stores would be [32:48] required to obtain a special use permit [32:50] so that was kind of one of the [32:51] recommendations along with this i think [32:53] some of the concerns were just around [32:54] that [32:55] and just the unknown of what would be [32:57] developed in the area um [32:59] you know again the reality is that it is [33:02] adjacent to the c4 and if the zoning [33:05] kind of changes mid block um but yes i'm [33:07] aware that there were comments just [33:09] around the uncertainty [33:11] and the other recommendation from the [33:13] planning commission was to for the [33:15] consideration of [33:17] requiring that convenience stores get a [33:19] special use permit [33:20] to open [33:22] is there any time sensitivity to this [33:26] um [33:29] not i mean this is just this is [33:30] something that's been in alignment with [33:32] the comprehensive plan just other things [33:34] that we're looking at and the just the [33:35] lack of kind of use of the lots there so [33:38] there's no immediate time constraint if [33:41] you wanted to wait to see [33:44] you know something else um [33:46] that's possibility my recommendation is [33:48] we hold off until we get the minutes of [33:50] the planning commission we can look at [33:52] those and then [33:54] proceed i would agree [33:58] so motion to table [34:02] second oh favorite [34:03] thank you [34:18] multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation [34:20] plan mr walling [34:29] hello [34:31] so [34:32] every five years the county [34:35] updates our regional hazard mitigation [34:37] plans effort is led by [34:39] ema at the county with all the local [34:42] jurisdictions in the county taking place [34:44] we have to vote and outline our [34:47] objectives goals and [34:50] agree on kind of just a general [34:53] work plan for not only the city for the [34:56] county this plan is then updated we work [34:58] with fh hwa [35:00] i think it's land on it and then it goes [35:02] on to the record we have it and then [35:04] we're eligible for federal funding to [35:06] actually implement part of the plan one [35:08] of the things that we've done is uh we [35:10] put a berm around the water wells years [35:12] ago we're looking at doing some things [35:14] at the wastewater treatment plant there [35:16] was a plan at one point maybe put a [35:17] generator at city hall it's all [35:19] mitigation plans [35:21] so that [35:22] we are prepared when hazards do come and [35:25] we have to evaluate what hazards that we [35:26] would have you know so we're not birth [35:28] defective [35:30] lately even tornadoes we've had [35:32] you know power outage we actually [35:34] identified trees in the plan [35:36] like for the first time because when we [35:38] do have these [35:39] issues with high winds the trees are the [35:41] villain when they take down power then [35:43] they cause the issues [35:45] so [35:46] we put together that plan it is i did [35:48] have the link it's a very large way so i [35:50] don't know if you had a chance to look [35:52] at the link but the link is is there for [35:54] the entire county the city just has an [35:56] extra [35:57] um but i didn't want to provide it to [35:58] these [35:59] several hundred pages that would be [36:01] printed [36:02] so [36:03] um this is a good bedtime reading [36:05] tonight yeah [36:07] well is there any questions on it this [36:09] is something that's required for the [36:10] city to be able to receive federal [36:12] funding [36:14] are there any questions [36:16] have a motion [36:18] second second all in favor all right [36:21] thank you next is to authorize the mayor [36:23] to go into agreement with metroplex for [36:26] the [36:27] mohawk harbor dock project grant [36:30] yep [36:31] so [36:32] several years ago [36:34] actually metroplex made mr dillon here [36:37] working with the blessing group and the [36:38] city [36:39] completed and was successfully awarded a [36:41] cfa for the construction of a large [36:45] vessel dock and trail along the mohawk [36:48] river [36:49] as you may be aware mohawk harbor [36:51] currently has a harbor but the harbor [36:53] typically has a limitation of roughly 40 [36:56] feet in length for boats i know that [36:58] sometimes they get a little bit larger [36:59] than 40 in there however the boats that [37:02] traverse between uh say chicago and new [37:05] york city some of them can be upwards of [37:06] over 100 feet [37:08] these boats will not fit there [37:10] so the idea is that we would be able to [37:12] capture this as a tourist destination [37:14] also use this as possibly something for [37:17] recreational boating and also what is [37:20] the term commercial where we would have [37:22] a maybe a larger vessel like a dutch [37:24] apple or something where we can actually [37:26] do cruises and this is all possible [37:28] using this [37:29] part of that is public access to the [37:31] dock [37:32] so that the public can use it for [37:34] working at kayaking fishing general access to the dock [37:40] and we're looking to incorporate it [37:41] directly into the alko heritage trail [37:44] which goes along the river [37:47] so to do this we put out an rfp last [37:50] year we received two proposals we [37:52] selected a team of [37:55] waterfront solutions in mj engineering [37:58] we entered into a contract with them [38:02] late last year [38:03] part of that was working out this [38:05] agreement here between the city and [38:07] metroplex due to the complexities and [38:10] the in the design and getting the [38:11] agreements together [38:13] we have just started surveying a project [38:15] we have geotech lined up because these [38:18] docks are going to require footings to [38:19] anchor them to the river [38:21] so we don't have any plans we don't have [38:24] anything i know that there was some [38:25] conversation about renderings or renderings they were used [38:29] as part of the grant application they're [38:31] you know they're nice to look at but [38:32] they're not really representative of [38:34] what we're doing because we don't know [38:36] what we're doing [38:37] so [38:39] this agreement here [38:40] is to cover those design costs that we [38:43] talked about that was part of the thing [38:45] that [38:45] the discrepancy was [38:48] our original estimate [38:50] had a design cost that was slightly less [38:52] metroplex agreed to cover that [38:54] difference which is what we're talking [38:56] about here so that we can move forward [38:58] there is no city costs um this is paid [39:01] for by the cfa this metroplex share and [39:04] then the local share is actually being [39:06] covered by the gillessy group through a [39:08] partnership [39:09] so um so that our local share is [39:12] actually uh nothing [39:14] so that's what this agreement was for i [39:16] know i've got a chance to look through [39:17] it i don't know [39:22] you did a great job as always chris i [39:24] just uh [39:26] you know we have uh [39:28] we have the biggest waterfront project [39:30] in upstate new york and mobile carver [39:32] it's a huge success dr brian stratton he [39:34] trumpets it all the time it's [39:36] the biggest most successful waterfront [39:38] project [39:39] and for so many years skanky was cut off [39:41] from our waterfront i grew up here of [39:43] course alco playing close at 69. gary [39:46] talks about elvis all the time right for [39:48] 50 years and sat there rusting and no [39:50] one could recreate no one could connect [39:52] to the river we've connected to the [39:54] river again we have a marina people rent [39:56] kayaks and boats there they can dock [39:59] their boats there they go to restaurants [40:01] they go to the casinos and two hotels [40:04] we really didn't have a dock for as [40:06] chris said a large tour boats could tie [40:09] up prior to covid we had some real [40:11] interest from some of these boats they [40:12] call them loopers they go around to [40:14] chicago off the mississippi and that [40:17] would be really exciting to bring you [40:18] know some tourism dollars but also for [40:21] people here that want to go out on the [40:23] river and fish go out and launch their [40:26] own kayak or canoe set a renting one at [40:28] the marina it's really for the people to [40:30] be able to go out and and also like the [40:33] ski teams are really excited about it [40:36] the other groups that want to recreate [40:37] the river [40:39] we really thank the galessi group for [40:41] providing over 300 thousand dollars that [40:43] would have otherwise been the city's [40:45] match [40:46] we had a little bit of a overage on the [40:50] design costs that's where metroplex is [40:52] putting in 75k the rest is funded by a [40:54] state grant no cost to the city [40:57] except for chris's time uh and he's been [41:00] great well i think the mayor because we [41:02] actually had secretary of state rosada [41:04] rosado come out and torah and gary's [41:07] really made a plea for this for this [41:09] grant to be awarded and that really made [41:12] a critical difference in getting the [41:14] grant so we're really excited about this [41:15] a couple of questions came in we did [41:17] some answers for you and sent those [41:19] around but it's [41:20] we're really at early stage this year [41:22] it'll be a year of design work there'll [41:24] be public input sessions [41:27] as part of the contract and hopefully we [41:29] build this next year [41:31] and connect our community back to the [41:33] waterfront [41:35] in a way we've really never had before [41:37] so we're really excited about this [41:38] appreciate the council [41:40] moving forward to accept 75 000 from [41:43] metroplex are there any questions [41:46] no gladly except 75. [41:52] second on paper [41:53] thank you [41:55] next is the authorize the mayor to go [41:59] into an agreement with metroplex for [42:01] pedestrian safety action [42:05] more comfortable [42:08] so what this is another agreement with [42:09] metroplex i actually was here i believe [42:12] two weeks ago maybe four talking about [42:15] the psat and there was a question about [42:17] uh the shares and we talked when i said [42:19] i believe the metroplex share was [42:21] between 200 and 300 so this is it is [42:24] 300. so what this is is that the psat is [42:27] a federally a 100 eligible project [42:29] however due to the location of it being [42:31] around city hall and the combined [42:33] efforts of metroplex in the city to do a [42:35] two-way j in front of the post office we [42:38] thought that we would want to do that [42:39] all and the same project at the same [42:41] time instead of two contractors two [42:42] things so [42:44] it was decided that the [42:46] share would be split between metroplex [42:48] and the city um the local share is [42:50] approximately six hundred thousand [42:52] dollars three hundred of it uh [42:54] to the city three hundred to metroplex [42:56] was a disagreement so at the end of that [42:58] project we will have upgraded pedestrian [43:01] signals around uh two-way j from the [43:03] post office and then decorative [43:04] crosswalks and pedestrian refuge areas [43:08] are any questions this park field so [43:10] we've already had we ever had the funds [43:12] already uh allocated for this yeah 300 [43:15] 000. [43:16] yeah our funds are allocated correct yes [43:18] we have [43:19] yeah [43:20] we have all of our paying funds i manage [43:22] those we have we have more than enough [43:24] money to cover this and our paving [43:26] program okay yeah we were in good shape [43:28] and then metroplex of course is in good [43:29] shape so we're we're ready to go this [43:31] contract is actually already going to [43:32] award the calendar uh of course we've [43:34] already had meetings they're looking to [43:36] start you know the beginning of the [43:37] spring so this is just accepting of [43:41] accepting someone okay okay [43:44] anything else [43:45] kind of a motion [43:48] second call [43:50] thank you [43:51] next is to authorize the issue as a [43:53] revocable permit to unique lounge for a [43:57] sign [44:00] this is our local permit unique cloud is [44:03] on duane avenue it was it has been [44:05] historically a bar and restaurant [44:08] i believe they have an owner's name [44:11] same owner [44:12] i believe that's what it is and so what [44:14] we're looking is we're vocal current for [44:17] the sign that overhangs it right away [44:19] and the on [44:25] i believe this property is still owned [44:26] by the city uh the city council [44:27] previously authorized a um [44:31] an option agreement [44:32] uh for princess rollins on this so in [44:35] order for her to exercise that option [44:36] she needs to [44:38] get all of her ducks in a row before we [44:40] transfer the property so this is part of [44:42] that [44:43] okay [44:44] any other questions oh so we didn't [44:47] she's not owning it yet then not yet but [44:50] she's trying to get everything that was [44:52] part of the option was that she had to [44:53] um [44:54] get certain approvals before we transfer [44:56] to her property [45:02] have a motion [45:05] second [45:06] favorite thank you [45:08] next is a ceremonial resolution for [45:10] saint patrick's day mr williams uh [45:13] thanks for mr paul [45:15] uh the investments of irish americans in [45:18] the city of sanectity and also [45:19] throughout the country is [45:21] something that does not need any [45:23] discussion [45:24] i am very excited to work on this [45:27] project [45:28] i know [45:29] trying to get the proper words to say me [45:31] being a proud um african-american [45:34] definitely supporting [45:36] the legislation last month was was [45:38] something that was near my heart but [45:40] that definitely exceeds beyond [45:42] my specific race so i'm excited to take [45:46] into consideration the proposed [45:48] resolution that was submitted by mr owen [45:50] wilson i had the opportunity to attend [45:52] their last meeting at the hibernian [45:54] they're a group of and passionate and uh [45:57] motivated individuals [45:59] that they had a uh [46:01] i think it was a [46:02] cabbage dinner or something like that or [46:04] not a fish didn't fish any fish thing [46:07] but [46:08] staying on task uh definitely excited i [46:10] want to make sure the resolution that we [46:12] do pass forward as a council is a [46:14] message that we can adopt as the city of [46:16] schenectady so i've already had [46:17] discussions with mr wilson uh there will [46:20] be some adjustments uh i can forward [46:22] those out to the council members for [46:23] their consideration but unless there are [46:26] any questions [46:28] i think we'll do a motion um [46:30] and [46:32] we'll assume everything's be okay we'll [46:35] wait till we get this but do a motion to [46:38] move it along and then [46:40] if there's some issue with the second [46:42] all in favor [46:43] thank you [46:44] uh next is your planning commission [46:46] appointments mr carter [46:48] [Music] [46:50] can uh some vacancies on the city [46:52] planning commission [46:54] submitted [46:55] two names for your consideration today [46:58] uh diary [47:00] tall or junior and colin [47:02] evers [47:04] that's the council's favorite [47:07] consideration [47:09] any questions [47:10] no i just um [47:12] do a statement um so i'm glad to see [47:14] that the um planning commission is [47:15] getting more members because they were [47:17] you know there were people leaving [47:19] unfortunately we had someone pass away [47:21] so [47:22] they do important work so i'm glad to [47:24] see that we [47:25] are filling those seats so i would [47:27] definitely uh make that motion have a [47:29] second second all in favor aye thank you [47:32] next is the advisory committee on our [47:35] funding is portfolio okay so just to to [47:38] kind of give an update of where we were [47:40] um at our last meeting we um we asked [47:42] for people to submit their names and at [47:44] this point and we still have a week to [47:46] go there are 24 people who have [47:48] submitted their names which is really [47:49] not a bad that's a bad number um [47:52] i sent out uh because we may have to based on what the correct [47:56] you know recommendation or may have to [47:58] cut it down so i sent out um an email [48:01] with um [48:02] the draft [48:04] application so i did get some um [48:07] responses to that and just uh so you [48:09] know we really um i would like to [48:11] any final edits by tomorrow so we can [48:14] actually put together the final document [48:16] and be ready because we have said that [48:18] on the 14th all names need to be to sam [48:21] so um i think that by the 15th we should [48:24] be in a position that we can actually [48:25] email out all of the um [48:28] the applications [48:29] i know there was a suggestion to put it [48:31] on the city website however we're [48:34] targeting specific people and i don't [48:36] want people to get the impression that [48:37] if it's on the city website that they [48:39] still have an opportunity to [48:41] um to to [48:43] apply because that's not what we what we [48:45] agreed on so um that's where we are and [48:48] of course there'll be a cover letter to [48:49] go with that application [48:51] and um [48:53] so i'm just excited to see that people [48:54] are [48:55] lining up that's great so just an update [48:59] um [48:59] all right [49:00] thank you so i was the person that [49:02] suggested putting it on the website but [49:04] um [49:05] and that's fine i that that's a good [49:07] point um but it would be great if we [49:09] could make it a fillable pdf so even [49:11] when it gets sent back out [49:13] to the people that are sending their [49:14] names to uh ms maiku that at least would [49:18] be easier for them to just fill in the [49:20] application instead of having to hand [49:21] write it or anything like that [49:23] um [49:24] i don't know how to do that but i'm [49:26] assuming there's someone with it hear [49:29] that well we did have a discussion based [49:31] on that recommendation and um for those [49:34] who can do this syllable pdf that's [49:36] great there's some people that cannot as [49:37] you said and sometimes with fillable [49:39] pdfs when you send them from one [49:41] application to the next the information [49:43] doesn't exactly gel because i i talked [49:45] to ms michael about that because based [49:47] on your recommendation so that was the [49:49] concern [49:50] so that to make sure that the when the [49:52] um [49:54] that was you know for miss michael who's [49:55] going to be receiving all of these that [49:57] make sure that the information [49:58] translates correctly so um we're [50:01] standing out in hard copy we're going to [50:02] ask [50:03] them to then return to her [50:05] we don't want any [50:07] more [50:08] challenges [50:10] you know if somebody's application [50:11] doesn't come through properly or [50:12] something like that so [50:14] um and a lot of people can't do the [50:16] fillable pdf you'd be surprised [50:19] so that was um that was you know as i [50:22] said i discussed with mike miss michael [50:23] based on your recommendation and she [50:25] also got that as well and that was her [50:27] concern since she is the one who will [50:28] have to do the work on that okay i know [50:30] there were a couple of other questions [50:32] still um i [50:34] do agree i think if we're going to have [50:36] them [50:36] um last time we talked about folks [50:39] needing to reside in the city of [50:40] schenectady i think that should probably [50:43] i think that should be right here that [50:44] should be a um [50:47] put that on there well it would be [50:49] actually on the cover letter because [50:50] there'll be a cover letter over there so [50:52] people know they won't even have to get [50:54] to the application and once they reach [50:55] the cover letter they'll know this [50:56] doesn't apply to me i don't even need to [50:58] go any further okay and then i just [51:00] really do think that probably asking mr [51:02] colton to look at the pieces that are [51:05] more sort of legal [51:06] um i think would be a good idea in terms [51:09] of the language that we put into this [51:10] well when i sent out the original email [51:12] i specifically asked mr colton to do [51:14] that when i sent out the email that all [51:15] of you got i specifically said to said [51:17] mr andrew could you look at this though [51:19] that was in there [51:21] i sent uh this afternoon i sent um [51:24] proposed provisions to the conflict of [51:26] interest statement to ms mikey and [51:28] president porterfield for their review [51:30] great thank you welcome [51:32] thank you and that's the only thing that i had other [51:36] than that so little ones little copy [51:38] edits [51:39] we'll um so we'll incorporate um there [51:41] were other members who had some concerns [51:43] oh um i'll speak to this one which they [51:46] said about hobbies and interests so um [51:48] part of it is um from i see this as [51:51] developing a volunteer base [51:53] uh we made from some of these people who [51:55] send in their applications maybe people [51:56] that would eventually sit on other [51:58] committees that when we have vacancies [52:00] because that's another conversation [52:01] we're gonna have to have a little bit [52:02] down the road in terms return fulfilling [52:03] vacancies [52:04] so having that information and it could [52:06] we could put it as optional which was a [52:08] also recommendation one person just put [52:09] it as optional [52:11] um that kind of gives us a little bit [52:12] more about people um we're not you know [52:15] trying to you know we don't want to like [52:16] hang out with them necessarily or maybe [52:18] we do but um but just to have that [52:20] information and and most people and that [52:22] to me is an easy part to fill out you [52:23] know what your hobbies and interests are [52:24] and again just to be able to have a base [52:26] of people that we can if they don't get [52:28] to sit on this committee because it's [52:30] conceivable if we get way too many right [52:32] now we're at 24 and we talked about 15. [52:34] um we could still have those people and [52:36] then be able to reach out to them [52:37] because based on their interests would [52:39] you be interested in sitting on this [52:41] committee or that committee so that's [52:42] just a way that we don't always have to [52:44] start recruiting people and looking for [52:46] names when we have vacancies so [52:48] that was the thought behind that [52:54] my only concern was the last little bit [52:56] but i was waiting to see what the final [52:59] thing is because i knew it was being [53:00] worked out so [53:02] otherwise i was relatively okay with you [53:04] know there are some typos and whatnot [53:06] that's easy to clean up [53:09] anything else [53:10] mr williams oh so just for clarification [53:13] uh it's 24 [53:14] names in total or is it 24 additional to [53:17] the 15 previously [53:19] total [53:20] and then just a common more or less i [53:21] would just recommend having hard copies [53:23] available at city hall in case [53:25] individuals don't have access to the [53:26] internet and then i definitely i don't [53:29] want to recommend uh additional actions [53:31] if i'm not willing to put myself forward [53:33] so if anyone has any issues filling it [53:35] out i will volunteer myself to get on [53:38] the phone with you and help fell out [53:40] just to make sure everyone feels like [53:41] they uh [53:42] have their voice being considered [53:47] i'm not sure that we should probably [53:49] offer that from you maybe that should [53:50] come from the staff or something [53:52] yeah i think that would be [53:54] i don't know it just seems like on the [53:56] edge there [53:58] yeah with a council member don't get it [54:01] and just to the earlier point i think if [54:03] uh when ms michael gets the name she'll [54:04] be sending out the application so if we [54:07] have extra hard copies available here [54:09] it's the same thing as having it on the [54:11] website you know what i mean that um [54:13] other people passed the deadline of [54:15] march 14th could just pick up the [54:18] hard copy so [54:20] sorry i've had a very hard kill yeah no [54:21] i mean i'm feeling the same way um [54:24] so anything further [54:27] all right i'd like to go uh have a [54:30] motion to go into executive session for [54:32] sale properties so [54:34] kind of second [54:36] favorite