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[19:44] connect the urban renewal agency
[19:47] first item on the agendas the acceptance
[19:49] of the minutes of May 16th meeting
[19:51] entertain a motion to approve of my Mr
[19:54] palomini seconded by Mr motivir and all
[19:57] in favor I stay opposed next items
[20:01] resolution
[20:02] [Music]
[20:04] 2023-01 authorized Elise of 100 J Street
[20:09] to Metroplex
[20:10] it's a lot across the street to the fire
[20:12] was we've talked about before but it's
[20:15] in the title of Surah so that it would
[20:18] entertain a motion to approve that move
[20:20] with Mr palamini thanks I got a
[20:23] Porterfield all in favor any opposed
[20:27] resolution is adapted next to the
[20:30] resolution is
[20:32] 2023-02 authorizing the transfer of
[20:35] property currently owned by Surah to the
[20:38] city of Schenectady again in this this
[20:41] would be a general authorization where
[20:43] when we take property in in rev
[20:46] foreclosure we then transfer it to Surah
[20:49] where there's some accounting and tax
[20:52] advantages to the city this and what we
[20:55] do now is do an individual resolution to
[20:58] transfer it back when we sell it this
[21:00] would just authorize a blanket transfer
[21:03] upon the authorization of the city
[21:04] council to sell those properties
[21:07] entertain a motion to approve
[21:11] so when we when the individual
[21:13] properties come you're saying we'll see
[21:14] them as individual properties say that
[21:16] once again you're saying that when the
[21:17] properties come individually you will
[21:19] see them
[21:21] to the city council the city council
[21:23] would have to authorize it and this
[21:25] would pre-authorize returning it back to
[21:27] the city when we actually sell it thank
[21:31] you entertain a motion move by Mr
[21:33] palimini secondly Mr motiviran all in
[21:36] favor
[21:37] aye any opposed any other business to
[21:39] come before the agency
[21:44] by Mr motivaren agency stands adjourned
[21:48] thank you
[21:50] all right the first item on our city
[21:53] council agenda
[21:54] um meeting to order for Monday February
[21:57] 6 2023 first item on the agenda
[21:59] presentation Mr Colony yes um there's a
[22:04] company called create about door they do
[22:07] garbage cans with basically garbage can
[22:10] recycling bins that they can put
[22:14] throughout the city
[22:16] these bins would be maintained by them
[22:19] they sell ads on them we would get some
[22:22] money in exchange but to give a
[22:25] presentation we have Jim diamond from
[22:28] creative outdoor and you should all have
[22:30] that in your packet unfortunately we're
[22:33] unable to get the computer equipment
[22:35] going but if you want and he just has a
[22:37] short presentation to let everybody know
[22:42] about what the garbage can
[22:45] deal with thank you counseling thank you
[22:48] for allowing me to speak tonight
[22:51] as he mentioned you have the uh packets
[22:55] in front of you with general information
[22:56] about the program I'm going to go over
[22:58] that very quickly and then I would like
[23:01] to answer any questions that you might
[23:02] have most importantly again thank you
[23:05] for the time to speak tonight so
[23:08] creative outdoor
[23:09] started in the 1980s we have over 250
[23:14] Municipal relationships and Partnerships
[23:17] throughout North America we have over 17
[23:20] 000 units in place and 5 000 sponsorship
[23:23] clients that utilize our units on a
[23:27] monthly basis
[23:28] we only offer TurnKey amenity programs
[23:33] to municipalities that are cost free 100
[23:38] cost free the municipality and to the
[23:41] citizenry
[23:42] so our core philosophies are that the
[23:44] street Furniture blend in and keep the
[23:49] integrity and the community standards in
[23:52] both appearance and advertising on all
[23:54] of the units these units will be three
[23:57] units wide about six feet wide by two
[24:00] feet deep with sponsorships on both
[24:02] sides and as Mr palomini had mentioned
[24:06] we handle everything
[24:09] installation procurement installation
[24:12] maintenance
[24:14] handling the advertising and the
[24:17] collection there is no responsibility by
[24:19] the city the the program is completely
[24:22] controlled by the city 100 both in
[24:25] locations and who is allowed to sponsor
[24:28] these programs
[24:30] so we don't we don't allow big National
[24:33] companies it's all local business
[24:35] advertising that would take part in this
[24:38] there's also an element with this
[24:41] program in which Schenectady could take
[24:43] advantage of
[24:46] five percent generally of the units for
[24:49] local community messaging at no charge
[24:52] so whatever
[24:54] it may be a large Festival that's going
[24:56] on or a a big push for recycling in a
[25:00] lot of cases they do recycling education
[25:03] information on them as well as we have
[25:06] reached out to local community
[25:08] organizations and schools in which we
[25:12] Supply them with local with recycling
[25:14] educational materials so that they can
[25:18] promote this message throughout the city
[25:22] again the city controls 100 of the
[25:25] locations of these as well as who is
[25:29] allowed to sponsor them we handle
[25:31] everything else it completely
[25:33] indemnifying the city of any liability
[25:35] we have insurance on each every one of
[25:37] them if you desire that they're in a
[25:40] location where let's say there's no
[25:41] concrete at the time we will put the
[25:44] concrete pad in and install it all with
[25:47] ADA compliance all keeping site
[25:50] triangles in mind at all busy
[25:52] intersections so the safety is the
[25:54] priority
[25:56] that is the broad Strokes of this
[25:59] program I don't want to take up too much
[26:01] time so I'd like to answer any questions
[26:03] that you might have about the program if
[26:05] I can so would you speak a little bit to
[26:08] the revenue sharing piece of it and just
[26:12] to clarify there are two options for
[26:16] garbage collection one our city Crews
[26:18] would pick it up the other
[26:21] um would be I'm your responsibility
[26:23] absolutely so there is a revenue sharing
[26:25] portion of this a port a percentage of
[26:28] the monthly Revenue that is generated by
[26:30] the local sponsorship would come back to
[26:32] the city that percentage is purely based
[26:35] on how much work we are doing as a
[26:38] company versus how much the city is
[26:41] taking on and by work I mean emptying
[26:44] and collecting these units we will
[26:46] always maintain them we will always
[26:49] fix any repairs and all of that
[26:52] 100 of the time collection if we are
[26:55] going to collect we will collect all of
[26:58] them
[26:59] and it will be a lower percentage that
[27:01] the city will receive as far as Revenue
[27:04] let's just say for round numbers five
[27:06] percent of the revenue would be
[27:08] generated would come to the city monthly
[27:10] now if we were going to do the
[27:13] collection we it would probably be about
[27:15] five percent if Schenectady was going to
[27:18] continue doing the collection as you
[27:20] have you and you have containers
[27:23] throughout the local city here if DPW is
[27:27] going to do collection
[27:28] we may it may be a 15 of Revenue would
[27:33] be coming into the city each month it's
[27:36] all gonna that's a little fluid in the
[27:38] agreement just based on how many units
[27:40] we're placing and how much collection
[27:43] we're doing
[27:47] are there any other questions that
[27:49] are there municipalities around the fed
[27:52] or are you already working with yeah yes
[27:54] so I'm working with in this stage quite
[27:58] a few I was brought in with creative
[28:00] outdoor to bring this into the New York
[28:02] Market we have a great concentration in
[28:06] the Florida area that's where our home
[28:08] headquarters is and we have a great com
[28:11] uh
[28:13] number of units and relationships in the
[28:17] Massachusetts Long Island
[28:20] Rhode Island and New Jersey areas it's
[28:24] my job to expand us into the New York
[28:27] Region so we're your first year contact
[28:29] which you're essentially saying yeah not
[28:32] contact but yes and we're in this
[28:35] process I can't use any as reference
[28:37] because we're in the contract
[28:39] negotiation process or we're in the
[28:41] presentation processes right now but
[28:43] other municipalities that are looking at
[28:46] this all the way down to the up and down
[28:47] the Thruway including my hometown
[28:50] Syracuse which
[28:51] they've got a they've got a a different
[28:54] aspect of this program
[28:56] based on the picture that I this
[28:58] particular picture yes it looks like I
[29:00] mean they're very large I thought the
[29:01] dimension said 71 inches actually
[29:04] um it does so
[29:06] that's that's pretty weird
[29:08] um this is and you can there's three
[29:10] collection there's recycling trash
[29:14] that is actually whatever the city wants
[29:17] it to be so I mentioned Syracuse has a
[29:19] little bit different of a program
[29:21] they're solely interested in litter
[29:24] abatement they don't want to go the
[29:26] recycling route because litter is such a
[29:28] problem they're doing all three litter
[29:30] all three are going to be trash we'll
[29:33] move into the recycling as the education
[29:35] gets better but they need stuff up off
[29:38] the ground so they're going Litter with
[29:40] all of them right now and they're using
[29:41] some of their own cans to supplement
[29:44] that as well because that's their main
[29:46] issue okay so I'm sorry to interrupt
[29:49] those three can be whatever the city
[29:53] wants it can be commingle glass Plastics
[29:55] and trash it can be co-mingle uh glass
[29:59] paper and trash whatever you want it to
[30:03] concentrate on and so they're locked in
[30:05] they are a lot of things yes because
[30:07] people try to collect the recyclables
[30:09] absolutely
[30:10] my other quick question is um you said
[30:13] that they that Syracuse has their own
[30:16] recycling has their own trash bins as
[30:18] well in conjunction with this because
[30:20] the information we said that you would
[30:22] want us to remove all the trash cans
[30:24] which has been said thousands of dollars
[30:26] over the last couple years absolutely no
[30:28] I I would not want you to
[30:30] do away with your Cur we can replace
[30:33] some of them and we can you can relocate
[30:36] some that you currently have uh usually
[30:39] those the ones that I have seen
[30:41] throughout the city are the 45 gallon
[30:43] steel containers
[30:45] um or 50 gallon steel containers
[30:48] we can re-locate those with DPW and to
[30:52] other locations if you want these units
[30:55] to be in specific locations we this is
[30:58] completely controlled by the city so we
[31:00] will be fluid to whatever your needs are
[31:03] with that we we don't want to just put
[31:05] them in the landfill for sure we want to
[31:07] utilize them as best we can
[31:09] so uh if I understand correctly like
[31:12] there's you know there's different costs
[31:13] associated with um the proper you know
[31:15] processing of trash or and you know
[31:17] recycling tickets so just that
[31:20] um impact uh the proper sharing so in
[31:22] other words if we say we want to go
[31:25] um you know recycling you know um but
[31:28] that you know recycling versus Trash
[31:31] um will that impact the profit share or
[31:34] what what our operations team that's a
[31:37] great question our operations team is
[31:41] has that all under control and it's all
[31:44] kind of baked into the program now I
[31:47] don't know how familiar you are with
[31:49] landfills and that process but there is
[31:51] a tipping fee when we when you bring
[31:53] this bag of recycling or trash to the
[31:58] landfill there's a tipping fee for that
[32:00] bag of trash that would still have to be
[32:03] covered by this city because it's the
[32:05] city's refuse
[32:08] um we will take it there and we will
[32:10] provide receipts for everything that's
[32:12] brought in tipping fees would
[32:15] wouldn't change at all you're currently
[32:17] paying for them and that would continue
[32:19] we just cover everything else
[32:22] so just for some further information
[32:25] there's been some conversations with
[32:28] commissioner Lafond the mayor a couple
[32:31] other individuals the idea is to replace
[32:35] some of the garbage cans in the city
[32:37] that just aren't very good
[32:40] obviously to keep in mind the what the
[32:43] neighborhoods have done with some of the
[32:45] newer garbage cans and their programs to
[32:48] keep those in place
[32:50] and to try to do that in a mixture so
[32:54] that work that the neighborhoods have
[32:56] done to put those those nice garbage
[32:59] cans in still remain but the other ones
[33:03] that are probably in disrepair do get
[33:05] replaced it wouldn't be an extra load
[33:08] for the garbage Crews I think Mr Lafond
[33:13] is there so that was a discussion to
[33:17] take place to make sure that one
[33:20] burden our workers even more and so
[33:24] that's kind of what has taken place up
[33:28] until now
[33:31] so do they would how would the unions
[33:34] play into this at all in terms of
[33:35] someone else doing that work I guess
[33:37] that's more of a question for Mr LaVon
[33:39] in terms of collection which is
[33:42] something that our I think is we're
[33:44] collecting it now you know the city was
[33:47] open to it we will continue collecting
[33:49] it that way our share of the revenue
[33:51] would be greater we're collecting them
[33:52] now
[33:54] um throughout the city and you know
[33:56] depending on that but about 500
[33:58] difference
[34:00] you know we talked we can handle the
[34:05] extra load of picking this trash up if
[34:07] it was trash or if it was recyclables
[34:09] that we're doing the current
[34:11] so that means that our our staff our
[34:14] city staff would need uh keys to oats
[34:17] because a lot so they would need key
[34:18] said that'd be part of them their work
[34:20] to open it okay
[34:24] another question um about the the size
[34:26] of these and where these are based on
[34:28] the pictures I've seen they look like
[34:29] they're mostly in downtown areas or
[34:31] shopping malls or those kind of things
[34:32] are these also located in neighborhood
[34:35] high traffic areas is where we like to
[34:38] concentrate both for the recycling
[34:41] portion of it and the sponsorship end of
[34:45] it because those sponsors want the
[34:47] highest traffic that they can
[34:50] receive based on their locations now
[34:52] some might like the entrance to to a
[34:57] not a not a not a neighborhood itself
[35:00] but uh on a higher traffic portion
[35:04] because they're on that side of town or
[35:06] they're on the other side of town and
[35:07] they want more traffic being generated
[35:09] that way how the very briefly how this
[35:12] process works is if this is something we
[35:14] move forward with once the arrangements
[35:17] and the agreement is reached percentage
[35:20] and things like that then
[35:22] once we have the agreement signed by
[35:25] both parties we send in our auditor and
[35:28] he would come here and he would spend a
[35:32] day looking at the high traffic areas he
[35:35] would speak to whoever the point person
[35:37] was going to be and he would also
[35:39] utilize a Google Maps because you can do
[35:42] street view now and we would put
[35:44] together a list we've been doing this
[35:46] for going on 45 years we would put
[35:49] together a list of where we know that
[35:52] these units would be
[35:54] in the best interests of the city and
[35:59] our sponsors our two partners in this we
[36:01] would submit that list to the city for
[36:04] your approval now you may say yes these
[36:07] 40 spots are perfect these ten no we
[36:10] don't want them here we want them here
[36:11] and we would just go back and forth with
[36:14] that you're in complete control 100 of
[36:16] the time and everything would be hashed
[36:19] out that way so there would never be a
[36:21] question of what we do want to hear also
[36:23] they can be moved at any point in time
[36:26] if there's a DPW project and you're
[36:28] widening a street we have to take three
[36:30] hours we take them out we hold them and
[36:33] then we put them back in when that
[36:34] project is done or we relocate them it's
[36:37] based on whatever Schenectady would need
[36:40] at that time
[36:50] that need to be
[36:53] in this in a city this size I would say
[36:56] that 40 would probably be a safe minimum
[37:00] um we don't want to exceed one per
[37:03] thousand people population generally one
[37:06] per thousand is a perfect fit for both
[37:10] the sponsorship and the city needs you
[37:13] know in in the higher traffic areas I
[37:17] have
[37:18] quite a few municipalities one that's
[37:21] being started installation in the next
[37:23] two weeks they're doing two phases
[37:26] they're doing a phase one with their
[37:28] first 47 and then they're adding 20 more
[37:31] probably in six months just because they
[37:34] want to do it in phases like that that
[37:36] was what council wanted so again we can
[37:39] adapt to anything like that but in order
[37:42] for this program to work we do need
[37:46] we're going to hire someone in
[37:49] Schenectady to do this the maintenance
[37:53] to take care of these units in order to
[37:57] pay that person what they deserve and
[38:00] what they have earned you gotta have at
[38:02] least 40 in the city this size to make
[38:04] it worth their while and then the second
[38:06] question art is uh perceptual but uh
[38:08] vandalism is pretty straightforward are
[38:10] very considerations to like us
[38:12] maintaining the Integrity of the the
[38:14] devices or is there an expectation where
[38:17] something was continuously destroyed or
[38:19] damaged you yourself would identify this
[38:22] as no longer a viable location so this
[38:25] is a partnership uh we are going to be
[38:28] 100
[38:30] replacing repairing they they're going
[38:33] to get power washed at minimum monthly
[38:36] if they need it more they're going to be
[38:38] seen weekly and they're going to be kept
[38:40] up
[38:42] the technology around the maintenance is
[38:44] one of the most impressive parts of this
[38:46] program
[38:49] whoever is in control of this will
[38:51] actually have a website for each and
[38:53] every unit and they will be able to go
[38:55] on and see real-time maintenance data so
[38:58] let's say there's a loose bolt that's
[39:00] popping out of one of the feet they
[39:02] would take a before picture they would
[39:04] fix it they would take an after picture
[39:05] and all of that data would be uploaded
[39:08] immediately so whoever is in charge of
[39:10] that can view it as much as they want
[39:15] if we have a unit that just becomes a
[39:18] problem now one gets hit by a car we're
[39:20] going to come in within 24 hours and
[39:22] we're going to have that replaced
[39:23] especially when it's a safety
[39:25] if there's vandalism let's say it's
[39:28] no man 11 no vandalism is appropriate
[39:31] but let's say it's really inappropriate
[39:34] that's going to be handled within 24
[39:36] hours we're not going to let that stay
[39:38] other maintenance concerns everything
[39:41] can be done over the Internet we also
[39:43] have a live person that will answer the
[39:46] phone in operations that can handle any
[39:48] concerns if we have a problem with one
[39:50] specific unit that just keeps getting
[39:53] vandalized and damaged we may just have
[39:56] a conversation of is this worth it for
[39:58] either of us to have this unit in this
[40:00] place can we move it somewhere else it's
[40:03] a partnership you're always going to be
[40:04] in control of that
[40:06] yeah
[40:08] one question uh cooperation Council if
[40:12] we were to move forward with this
[40:13] program do we need to amend the city
[40:14] ordinance to accommodate for outdoor
[40:17] advertising
[40:19] for this program
[40:20] I've looked into this very briefly
[40:23] um I think it's worthy of me taking a
[40:25] deeper dive into it and look at some of
[40:27] the case Law related to this
[40:30] um so what I would say is I would like
[40:34] that opportunity part of it is I it has
[40:37] to do with essentially what what we're
[40:39] putting it on rather than you know the
[40:43] billboard or you know a sign on premises
[40:46] you know case law generally says and we
[40:49] can discuss it you know in Greater
[40:51] detail that the city is not required to
[40:53] follow
[40:54] every aspect of the zoning ordinance
[40:59] um I know Mr Marty and I have talked
[41:02] briefly about this but it's certainly
[41:03] worth a deeper dive the other thing I
[41:06] just want to add as it relates to
[41:08] advertising because this has come up to
[41:10] um
[41:12] the city would be hands off on
[41:14] determining who gets to advertise
[41:16] um and or who doesn't get to advertise
[41:18] that has to be handled strictly by the
[41:22] company so as to not
[41:26] essentially violate anybody's First
[41:28] Amendment rights so the company would be
[41:31] handling all aspects of Lucas to
[41:33] advertise
[41:35] can I just speak to that momentarily so
[41:38] I really appreciate you bringing that up
[41:40] it always comes up
[41:42] uh the first amendment is a it's the
[41:46] first of the Amendments it's a very
[41:48] important one
[41:50] we have very high standards when it
[41:52] comes to who can sponsor these
[41:55] no tobacco no alcohol family-friendly
[41:58] local business there's one caveat to
[42:01] that
[42:02] with marijuana being in on everyone's
[42:06] mind and these local dispensaries and
[42:08] things like that we typically will leave
[42:11] that up to the city if the city says we
[42:14] don't want a part of that we want to be
[42:16] hands off we will that will not be
[42:19] something that we would allow a
[42:20] sponsorship it's it has to be wholesome
[42:23] family friendly local
[42:26] the dog groomer the doggy day care the
[42:29] daycare the the diner that's the
[42:32] businesses that our advertising team has
[42:35] the most success with we stay away from
[42:38] political we stay away from we we stay
[42:41] away from anything that can be a hotbot
[42:43] okay
[42:44] so if I understand what you're saying
[42:46] correctly but even in that circumstance
[42:48] the city wouldn't be saying you know we
[42:52] you know it would be this industry yes
[42:55] it's not allowed you know we're not
[42:56] interested in advertising for this
[42:58] industry not a particular
[43:00] uh a company that's in such what you
[43:04] know we wouldn't be in by at least you
[43:07] know if someone's first amendment was
[43:08] right is that how you understand it
[43:09] again I can speak more you know in terms
[43:13] of like legal advice obviously
[43:16] um an executive session if the council
[43:18] would like but just as a blanket matter
[43:22] the city shouldn't be involved in any
[43:23] determination on legal lawful activities
[43:26] for the purposes of advertising if
[43:29] something was obviously you know
[43:31] advocating for the use of not advocating
[43:34] but you know illegal drug you know trade
[43:38] obviously that would be against the law
[43:40] and that would not be something that
[43:41] would be a lot we could say no you can't
[43:43] advertise that but for anything that is
[43:45] lawful my recommendation is the city
[43:47] does not make any determinations we
[43:49] leave it up to whomever we're going to
[43:50] contract with to make those decisions
[43:52] and we don't say yes or no it's going to
[43:56] be decision of whomever we are
[43:58] Contracting with
[44:04] questions
[44:06] so I'd just like to I can follow along
[44:09] with uh
[44:11] with Mr palomini after this but I just
[44:14] want to just mention the process
[44:16] um as we're talking about legal I can
[44:20] submit a blank sample copy of the
[44:23] agreement
[44:24] for so you can see what it's all about
[44:27] and what is what letters what's
[44:31] our responsibility versus uh what's on
[44:33] the city I can supply any information
[44:35] that Council would request and I thank
[44:39] you for your time oh yes please so you
[44:42] know you said this is absolutely no cost
[44:44] to us actually we're going to get
[44:45] Revenue how do you generate your revenue
[44:48] from the local sponsorship sponsorship
[44:50] yep that's it yes local sponsorship and
[44:53] I can just speak to that a little bit
[44:56] because a lot of times I will get what
[44:58] happens if you don't get a sponsorship
[45:00] what do we do then we will it is one of
[45:04] the lowest cost advertising avenues for
[45:07] a small business small businesses can't
[45:10] get the high highway billboard the
[45:12] television and radio ads and the
[45:14] newsprint are tough expensive these are
[45:17] very affordable for the local business
[45:19] that's why they're so popular with the
[45:22] local business our average sponsorship
[45:25] client stays with us for 7.2 years
[45:28] and that's the Mom and Pops that they
[45:31] stay with us that long so it's very
[45:33] popular with them and we have we will
[45:35] have in specifically in Schenectady we
[45:38] will have a waiting list for these units
[45:41] within a year
[45:42] once our uh advertising team gets a hold
[45:47] thank you absolutely thank you for your
[45:49] time I appreciate it thanks for coming
[45:55] over government operations we have three
[45:58] items on the agenda
[46:00] the first is regarding the frequency
[46:02] question of white votes in this qualify
[46:11] good evening thank you who's here again
[46:14] to answer any questions you may have and
[46:16] then we have this discussion about a
[46:17] month ago no white jokes the frequency
[46:20] is that we're looking to do a public
[46:22] hearing between moving frequency
[46:24] reflection for white goods the monthly
[46:26] basis versus the weekly and stated in
[46:28] the state code currently
[46:30] somebody was under your dentist
[46:33] came in to see if I can answer any
[46:34] questions
[46:37] so yeah some questions
[46:41] so we we talked about the last time and
[46:43] I guess it wasn't clear for me anyway
[46:45] that this had already moved forward
[46:46] without the public hearing that they were printed with this change on
[46:51] there already correct they were praying
[46:53] because yes I authorized the printing
[46:55] with the modification on it we did not
[46:58] change the procedure in the fields but
[47:02] the timeline would have put it that we
[47:04] would have to either reprint it or put
[47:06] it back another year and we've talked
[47:08] about this for a year about Shifting the
[47:11] white goods collection to a more
[47:13] efficient manner so it's going to be one
[47:16] day a month again it is opposed to the
[47:20] random operation that we use now and so
[47:23] it's just trying to build some
[47:24] efficiency into it uh it's created a
[47:27] little inconvenience or uh question by
[47:30] the public again but the service has not
[47:33] been shifted and again asking the
[47:35] council to move ahead with this so in
[47:38] fact we can modify it so it builds a
[47:40] little operational efficiency into the
[47:43] system having said that the way the
[47:46] market is now with recyclables with
[47:48] white goods
[47:49] there's actually a premium on it so most
[47:53] of the Scrappers go out and pick it up
[47:55] and we're in fact not picking up much in
[47:58] all of the curve is that correct and a
[48:00] lot of times you know when appliances
[48:01] are delivered the delivery guy is taking
[48:04] them and you can call somebody they're
[48:06] going to come get your appliances for
[48:07] freeze lines so you can have them but
[48:08] we're seeing very few you know large
[48:11] household appliances if they're doing
[48:13] washer dryers out there on the curb and
[48:15] we have a truck out there on a weekly
[48:17] basis and it's just an efficient
[48:19] operation you just be out there on a
[48:20] weekly basis waiting for a call because
[48:22] we may have one you know some of them
[48:26] well it is because
[48:28] um the I'm sorry
[48:30] because we I we all started hearing from
[48:32] the public like what's changed what are
[48:34] white goods even was the question and I
[48:35] know we had a discussion that we should
[48:37] say what like what goods really were
[48:39] because
[48:40] I know what the industry says it is I
[48:43] understand that we understand what it is
[48:45] but the public journalism because I got
[48:47] phone calls water wipers the further
[48:50] um confusion was that people didn't
[48:52] understand based on the new schedule
[48:54] that white goods and their garbage
[48:57] collection day would like fall on the
[48:58] same day sometimes and furthermore what
[49:01] was the process because there was no
[49:02] explanation as to what was the process
[49:04] going to be
[49:05] Pride there was just new um a new
[49:08] schedule put out and there was no
[49:10] explanation I asked you about that about
[49:12] what we're going to be doing some public
[49:13] service announcements so all this has
[49:15] come back because the process the proper
[49:17] procedures that this would have changed
[49:19] the code and then we would have printed
[49:21] that and that didn't happen so that's
[49:23] why we're back today to get some a
[49:26] better way to roll this out to get more
[49:28] information out to the public
[49:30] um and you know to figure out how we do
[49:33] this so that the council so it comes to
[49:35] the council at the appropriate time
[49:37] before we move forward with doing the
[49:38] work we've had some calls you know
[49:40] downstairs and we've directed them to
[49:42] the city code
[49:43] 161-21 where it defines white goods and
[49:46] has bulky washers dry refrigerators it
[49:49] is in the city code it's always been in
[49:50] the city code
[49:52] and we have not a mayor stated we have
[49:55] not enforced anything it was on the
[49:57] schedule and it's highlighted on the
[49:59] schedule as a normal pickup day with the
[50:01] weight Goods attached
[50:04] um but anybody who's putting white goods
[50:05] out right now we're collecting them on a
[50:07] weekly basis if they're out there
[50:08] there's been no change in service but we
[50:12] were getting to the end on time slip by
[50:14] we're getting that we had to get the
[50:15] schedule out if we put the schedule out
[50:17] without that on the schedule it would
[50:20] have been costly because then we had to
[50:21] fall and schedules back in and then
[50:23] recruit them with the white goods on so
[50:25] we did print it with the white goods
[50:27] designation on once a month so if we did
[50:31] not everything would have been out
[50:32] nobody would have known and we won this
[50:34] would have waited until 24 to do it and
[50:36] gone through another year of putting the
[50:37] truck out there on a weekly basis
[50:39] so we did you know we did put it out a
[50:43] little prematurely because we were under
[50:44] the gun to get the schedules out
[50:49] just a concern so we're asking for a
[50:52] public hearing here
[50:54] so if the public were to come out and
[50:55] say we're against this once per month
[50:57] pick up I'm just using that what are we
[51:00] going to do we're going to go back and
[51:01] print this reprint this
[51:03] we'll have to put the word out that
[51:04] we're just going to continue to do what
[51:05] we're doing and that's it I don't know
[51:07] how the public would you know it's
[51:09] weekly versus monthly when does it come
[51:11] up like we said we hardly pick up any of
[51:15] these anyway and these big bulky items
[51:17] are being taken by The Scrappers in the
[51:19] middle of the night
[51:22] yeah that was my concern I mean is like
[51:24] uh we you know we are doing it we're
[51:26] confident public but we already did the
[51:28] work
[51:28] so what is the purpose of the console
[51:30] here at this point what is the purpose
[51:32] of the council at this point in time
[51:34] will they show that we can actually
[51:36] change the operations in the field and
[51:39] reduce the cost of garbage collection
[51:41] that's correct but then we already
[51:42] printed this we're telling the public
[51:44] it's once per month pickup but now we're
[51:46] doing the the work to make it the
[51:50] legality of it
[51:51] bro
[51:55] so would so
[51:57] what was the like is there you know
[52:00] being that we're in the position that we're in here is this you know is
[52:05] there a way to kind of uh you know
[52:07] transition it kind of it sounds like
[52:09] you're you're saying that there's no
[52:11] change of service
[52:12] so other than let's print it on the card
[52:14] we have not changed the collection
[52:16] service for the white goods we are still
[52:18] going out if we're called because we
[52:20] have a rack truck that goes up if they
[52:23] uh the truck calls and says there are
[52:25] way Goods out and then truck goes and
[52:27] picks it up
[52:29] we have not changed the actual service
[52:32] provided to the taxpayers of the city of
[52:33] sanctity based on the schedule we're
[52:36] still picking up on weekly basis
[52:41] but how do people know that how would
[52:43] they know they sell the schedule how
[52:45] would they know
[52:48] there's a lot of things we didn't
[52:50] discuss in the code I mean we're not
[52:51] supposed to pick up trash that's in a
[52:52] dark bag right now we pick up
[52:54] everybody's Treasures in a dark pack
[52:55] city code States it should be in a clear
[52:57] bag
[52:58] I pick it up
[52:59] pick up every trash bag that's a black
[53:01] bag that I can't see what's in there
[53:03] city code does say we have to pick up
[53:05] clear bags I don't think you can buy
[53:06] clear bags anymore
[53:08] so maybe it's time that we really look
[53:10] at our city code and make some
[53:12] adjustments to this whole city code
[53:17] [Music]
[53:19] any other questions comments on that
[53:22] yeah so so we want to go to public
[53:25] hearing into Mr Moon Baron's point if
[53:27] the public says absolutely not
[53:29] then our recourse is to still move
[53:31] forward with what we printed on the if if the public hearings is absolutely
[53:37] not in the city council wants to not do
[53:38] it like this will reprint the cards and
[53:40] we'll take it off the car
[53:41] well we're just going to continue to do
[53:43] what we're doing now
[53:45] to put it up it gets picked up
[53:48] and so then this then the car becomes
[53:51] non-void
[53:52] um that that particular thing on which
[53:55] your garbage is picked up is marked on
[53:57] that car and again we have talked about
[54:00] this for over a year of trying to
[54:02] improve efficiencies in the garbage
[54:04] collection and this is one of the items
[54:08] I'm asking the council to move this
[54:10] forward and hold a public hearing aid I
[54:13] don't disagree we've been talking for a
[54:14] year unfortunately though the process
[54:16] didn't go the way the process should
[54:17] have we have been talking about for a
[54:19] year and it didn't come before the
[54:20] council in order to change the code so I
[54:22] have to tell you that I am taking
[54:23] exception to that
[54:28] and I there's other ways that we could
[54:29] have like worked with Scrappers perhaps
[54:31] to make a list have them fall I mean
[54:33] there's there's innovative ways that
[54:35] have actually been given to me since
[54:36] I've been doing phone calls and all of
[54:38] this would have come forward in the
[54:39] public hearing before we printed our
[54:41] schedules so that mayor I have to tell
[54:44] you is is bothersome for me that you
[54:46] know that it didn't come from the
[54:48] council in order to change the code
[54:49] which is how it's supposed to happen
[54:51] and that's why I came back again because
[54:53] there were people that didn't understand
[54:55] of the council
[54:57] so at any time in the last year you
[54:59] wanted to go before the council you
[55:01] could have put it on the agenda it
[55:03] wasn't for me to put on the agenda I was
[55:04] I went to one meeting and that was the
[55:06] only meeting I was ever invited to and
[55:08] so those talks obviously continued and
[55:11] then it came here and when it got to the
[55:13] agenda it was not me who put the engine
[55:15] No Agenda items are forwarded to me and
[55:17] then we can say yes or no and going
[55:19] forward
[55:20] we'll have to make sure that everything
[55:22] has been done properly before it gets on
[55:23] the agenda
[55:28] any other questions or comments concerns
[55:30] around this item
[55:36] Okay so
[55:42] I guess yes
[55:48] I just want to make sure so I'm only
[55:50] taking that moment to pause because I'm
[55:53] but it seems like what we're talking
[55:54] about is
[55:56] um just the the timeline into what the
[56:00] cards had to be printed versus in the
[56:03] process of what usually
[56:05] um what is supposed to happen in order
[56:07] to do that that's just kind of source so
[56:09] work but as a body we're not
[56:14] um
[56:15] we're we are in agreement that with uh
[56:20] input from the public hearing or in
[56:22] agreement that this might be a more
[56:25] efficient way to collect the white goods
[56:27] it's just the process of what we've got
[56:28] here what we're saying that's correct
[56:30] okay all right well I just wanted to
[56:32] meet you there for viewers and everyone
[56:34] that it's more about the process than
[56:37] what we're saying so
[56:39] um it entertaining motion to uh for
[56:41] public hearing
[56:50] okay
[56:52] hold us a favor
[56:59] okay next item on the agenda is a
[57:03] reminder of modification for article two
[57:06] of the city code for partner
[57:08] certifications use public hearing loss
[57:10] on the 9th Chris morning
[57:20] good evening everyone it's just a
[57:22] reminder for the changes for the
[57:24] certificate of use ordinance this has
[57:27] already been through public hearing it's
[57:29] already been through committee once
[57:30] before
[57:31] it had been adjourned from the last
[57:33] committee meeting so that we could take
[57:35] this together with the zoning changes
[57:37] that busy I'll be presenting later for
[57:39] medical facilities
[57:40] the proposed revisions haven't changed
[57:43] much since the first committee meeting
[57:45] that this went through we did updates in
[57:47] the gender language
[57:49] some of the Antiquated language on the
[57:50] code which we could try to do we're
[57:52] going to be
[57:53] a piece of the city code and we did
[57:56] provide a more specific definition for
[57:58] the Cannabis uses and the tobacco uses
[58:02] some of the internal feedback that we
[58:04] had received was that it was perhaps
[58:07] convey that it would Encompass all the
[58:09] businesses we were trying to collect my
[58:11] understanding has noticed didn't go out
[58:13] before the public hearing or all of the
[58:16] existing vape shops and CBD shops that
[58:19] may be affected by the ordinance and
[58:22] that there was very limited comment
[58:24] received from the public with respect to
[58:26] the changes
[58:30] could you just talk a little bit about
[58:31] the language change like what was for
[58:34] people were more specific
[58:36] um so no maybe not I shouldn't say
[58:38] specifically just to give a better idea
[58:40] sure for sure yeah the code um uh the
[58:42] code used a lot of language that was
[58:45] gender
[58:46] um and then it also often referred to
[58:48] servants so we didn't strike that
[58:50] language and change it to something a
[58:52] little bit more generalized
[58:54] uh and then with respect to the actual
[58:56] definition
[58:57] we just wanted to be clear that
[59:01] uh you know with regard to the tobacco
[59:04] and cannabis uses that
[59:06] it cannabinoid as well just based off of
[59:08] some of the state definitions and how
[59:10] they've been treating the uses what we
[59:13] had originally provided just wasn't
[59:14] specific enough which it would have left
[59:16] out businesses that should be included
[59:20] so we just kind of broaden it to cast
[59:22] The Wider neck yeah yeah okay let's go
[59:24] based off of uh based off of what the
[59:27] business is primary source of income is
[59:29] so it would be considered you know a
[59:33] vape or a tobacco retail or a tobacco
[59:36] consumption or cannabis consumption in
[59:39] retail if if their primary source of
[59:42] income at retail are part of those
[59:44] specific products for the perfect
[59:46] paraphernalia related to those products
[59:48] and then they would be required to get a
[59:50] certificate of use there are some
[59:52] businesses that they might sell those
[59:54] products ancillary to what their Prime
[59:55] like the grocery store that has
[59:57] cigarettes or a convenience store that
[59:59] has cigarettes even though convenience
[1:00:01] stores are bad examples to register but
[1:00:05] um uh you know if it's their primary
[1:00:07] source of income at retail the festival
[1:00:09] we want to capture is particularly use
[1:00:13] how do we determine that because it's
[1:00:16] one thing to say the primary you know
[1:00:18] what their what their what they had to
[1:00:20] stop primarily or what they you know but
[1:00:23] like the primary source of retail they
[1:00:24] would have to uh
[1:00:26] [Music]
[1:00:28] the kind of disclose those records to
[1:00:30] the city so we can see okay you're
[1:00:31] selling you know 70 of your sales are
[1:00:34] you know CBD or something like that
[1:00:36] that's how we read the determination
[1:00:37] sure yeah it would be something that
[1:00:39] would come up during the enforcement
[1:00:40] process so if one of our officers had
[1:00:43] determined that it appears that they
[1:00:45] have their primary income Source would
[1:00:47] be one of those items you know they
[1:00:48] would be ticketed as part of their
[1:00:50] defense that they provide that
[1:00:52] documentation to the city to show that
[1:00:54] fact that they will be required to
[1:00:55] register or if they go to notice a
[1:00:57] violation even without a ticket to court
[1:01:00] they could provide that documentation to
[1:01:02] show that they would not be required to
[1:01:03] register same kind of the same thing no
[1:01:06] appreciate it and any other comments
[1:01:08] questions on this
[1:01:10] [Music]
[1:01:24] so third and uh final agenda item from
[1:01:26] government operations is clearing the
[1:01:28] sport New York State Clean Slate act
[1:01:30] that's Mr Williams thank you so after
[1:01:32] careful consideration and reflection on
[1:01:34] the comments that were provided during
[1:01:36] our previous council meeting if that was
[1:01:38] appropriate to bring this item back with
[1:01:40] the full presence of the council I know
[1:01:43] one of the comments that were made by
[1:01:45] Miss tutorial one of the first thing
[1:01:46] here tonight was with respect to just
[1:01:49] languages and how this as a legislative
[1:01:51] item that's evolving the language could
[1:01:53] continue to change and I just wanted to
[1:01:55] make it blindly clear putting forth this
[1:01:57] declaration of support would be into
[1:02:00] what this text currently is at this day
[1:02:03] so
[1:02:04] [Music]
[1:02:04] um
[1:02:06] that's that's my comment I'd like to see
[1:02:07] this Florida Lottery committee open to
[1:02:10] discussion
[1:02:12] any other comments concerns around that
[1:02:16] you know
[1:02:18] so second who's in favor fine
[1:02:23] operations
[1:02:30] call to order finance and the fourth
[1:02:32] item is the healthcare workers bonus
[1:02:34] program Grant Chief Mourinho
[1:02:39] foreign
[1:03:04] healthcare workers bonus program
[1:03:08] um it's really the state legislation it
[1:03:12] was rolled out in August of 22.
[1:03:16] where the uh for governor Coco
[1:03:19] and everybody will go off decided to get
[1:03:22] back to the healthcare workers and it's
[1:03:25] a program where people that work certain
[1:03:29] times both a pandemic certain investing
[1:03:32] periods could receive up to three
[1:03:34] thousand dollar bonus and there's all a
[1:03:36] lot of
[1:03:37] criteria that you have to be
[1:03:39] Schenectady fire department meets the
[1:03:42] criteria to be an employer that offers
[1:03:45] both doesn't offer that participates
[1:03:48] here's the thing with this
[1:03:51] um it's legislation you really got to do
[1:03:53] it if you don't do it you can choose not
[1:03:56] to do it
[1:03:57] um but then there's a thousand dollar
[1:03:59] per employee required
[1:04:02] so I don't think you want to get a job
[1:04:05] uh so what it is is there certain dozen
[1:04:09] periods we've done all the groundwork
[1:04:11] um so we know who's going who's eligible
[1:04:15] for the fullness there are two vesting
[1:04:17] periods that it'll be three thousand
[1:04:19] dollars per person the state once we get
[1:04:21] all the paperwork in the state will send
[1:04:23] the money to the city and then be
[1:04:25] distributed to all the members
[1:04:31] so that's the presentation I don't know
[1:04:33] if there are any questions in the
[1:04:34] legislation I kind of spelled it out
[1:04:36] better questions
[1:04:42] oh no I was just saying this um
[1:04:45] it seems like a really great thing and I
[1:04:47] know that this uh
[1:04:49] I think this was like maybe like the
[1:04:51] second version of this that was supposed
[1:04:52] to come out from the state if I remember
[1:04:53] I'm not really sure
[1:04:55] um but I just knew that um in the
[1:04:56] earlier conversations after you know
[1:04:58] during the pandemic
[1:05:00] um you know us taking the opportunity to
[1:05:03] demonstrate the value of our healthcare
[1:05:05] workers I think we should do that almost
[1:05:06] every chance that we get
[1:05:08] um and this is State money that's coming
[1:05:11] into the city
[1:05:12] um so you know you know I think that
[1:05:15] that's a really good thing
[1:05:17] I did have a question and I did look
[1:05:19] over at them so I appreciate you sending
[1:05:21] the link and giving the opportunity to
[1:05:22] look at that and my question was about
[1:05:24] uh employees who were hired like
[1:05:28] um within that time not at the beginning
[1:05:30] of the time framework within that time
[1:05:31] frame and so
[1:05:33] um what would their opportunity to
[1:05:36] benefit from this be that was a great
[1:05:37] question and I did look into that
[1:05:40] um those employees have different
[1:05:42] investing periods too to
[1:05:46] so they may not be able to participate
[1:05:48] in the first one the second one that's
[1:05:50] where the vast majority of the
[1:05:51] membership will participate in but there
[1:05:54] are I think a total of five right so so
[1:05:57] we'll be watching that and when they
[1:05:59] attend to those dressing periods we'll
[1:06:01] be applying for them
[1:06:02] [Music]
[1:06:03] and there's no match for the city this
[1:06:05] is all at State given the money thank
[1:06:07] you and
[1:06:10] see when this was rolled out there was a
[1:06:12] lot of confusion it took um originally they said the city
[1:06:17] was going to have to first pay the money
[1:06:20] and then be a reimbursed but that's not
[1:06:22] the case
[1:06:23] oh great that's great yeah and that's
[1:06:26] right there's a time frame uh that we
[1:06:29] have to we have to get all this stuff so
[1:06:31] everything's got to be into this state
[1:06:34] it's by March 2nd okay and um and then
[1:06:37] we have to distribute the money here to
[1:06:40] these out there we receive federal so
[1:06:42] it's a neural time frame
[1:06:47] go ahead please I want us a comment uh
[1:06:49] covet has
[1:06:51] [Music]
[1:06:53] significantly affected the workforce in
[1:06:55] general and I think there's no other
[1:06:57] industry
[1:06:58] Health Care industry that has seen the trends negatively with keeping
[1:07:02] workforces in place and a lot of
[1:07:05] hospitals are struggling but I think
[1:07:07] this program that I've been recipient of
[1:07:09] and being a worker in the healthcare
[1:07:11] industry a very small consideration for
[1:07:14] the work that year firefighters have
[1:07:16] done and continue to do on a continuous
[1:07:18] basis so thank you for taking the
[1:07:20] ownership to submit this program and
[1:07:21] make sure that your your staff will run
[1:07:23] for it thank you
[1:07:26] Chief thank you for all the importance
[1:07:28] of this program and always thank you for
[1:07:30] looking out for your department and your
[1:07:32] startup and two senior Department
[1:07:33] appreciate it
[1:07:35] thank you if there's no other question I
[1:07:38] may have a motion please for the
[1:07:40] purposes of passing this
[1:07:42] um there hasn't been I thought to Mr
[1:07:44] Ferrari about this a budget line that's
[1:07:46] been created for this so my suggestion
[1:07:48] would be what gets passed would be
[1:07:52] um creating the budget line for the
[1:07:54] funds having been received for the
[1:07:57] healthcare worker bonus program and
[1:07:59] authorizing the expenditure to those
[1:08:01] employees who are eligible
[1:08:04] to receive set funds pursue into the
[1:08:07] terms of that that program
[1:08:10] absolutely
[1:08:12] second all in favor aye thank you again thank you
[1:08:19] um
[1:08:26] the next item is the 2023 capital budget
[1:08:29] reappropriation Mr Ferrari
[1:08:34] thank you president borderfield to the
[1:08:36] Council of the mayor what we're doing
[1:08:38] here in this legislation as you know as
[1:08:40] a part of the 2023 adopted capital
[1:08:43] budget there was a million dollars set
[1:08:45] aside for the purchase of four Packers
[1:08:47] of garbage trucks for the cities
[1:08:49] connecting
[1:08:50] um
[1:08:51] and as you know that we uh we don't go
[1:08:54] out to ban these things so we won't get
[1:08:56] the money until May of of this year and
[1:08:59] Manufacturing delivery of the trucks
[1:09:00] have taken 18 to 24 months so if we wait
[1:09:04] a minute we won't get these trucks till
[1:09:06] October 2024. uh we do this I think last
[1:09:09] year too when we did we we're a plan is
[1:09:12] to borrow the money from our fund
[1:09:14] balance uh and you guys so that we
[1:09:16] cannot put the purchase order in as soon
[1:09:19] as possible and get the trucks delivered
[1:09:22] uh you know before you know before
[1:09:24] anybody else can that's the whole secret
[1:09:25] of this thing and put the purchases in
[1:09:28] so we can get an earlier delivery uh
[1:09:30] once we make the sale in um of May of
[1:09:33] this year we return the money back to
[1:09:35] the general fund for that
[1:09:39] questions
[1:09:42] if there's a question so second all in
[1:09:45] favor
[1:09:46] the next item is the 2023 budget and
[1:09:49] position and reappropriation yes uh this
[1:09:52] is uh this is from the ID Department
[1:09:55] what we're looking to do here is uh uh
[1:09:57] is to uh move the land administrator
[1:10:01] which is mostly uh software type guy and
[1:10:04] what we're looking to do is uh is due to
[1:10:07] the increase of like cyber threats and
[1:10:09] greater need for communication between
[1:10:11] the city and departments especially now
[1:10:13] with the police department the new
[1:10:14] accent accent system uh the ID
[1:10:17] Department believe that they need a
[1:10:19] higher level of Technology person in it
[1:10:21] so what we're looking to do is to remove
[1:10:25] the land administrative position and
[1:10:26] increase it to a chief technology
[1:10:29] officer which which has been approved by
[1:10:31] Civil Service
[1:10:32] we've we've posted a job we've got some
[1:10:36] applications what we're looking to do is
[1:10:39] uh uh create this Chief technology job
[1:10:42] officer one of the things I want to note
[1:10:44] is that there's no change in the salary
[1:10:45] or the budget line but we're just just
[1:10:48] moving things around the new uh the new
[1:10:51] technology officer and his biggest thing
[1:10:54] will be a disaster recovery fault
[1:10:56] tolerance Sonic managing Sonic walls
[1:10:59] managed in the Cisco Tyler networks
[1:11:02] cyber security preparedness anti-spyware
[1:11:05] and the list that goes on and on because
[1:11:08] of Marriott I think you know the number
[1:11:10] of threats that we see every day is
[1:11:12] increasing uh at a large number
[1:11:15] so we're asking to to make this change
[1:11:18] for us
[1:11:20] go ahead please uh the rest of your
[1:11:22] knowledge this change will be able to
[1:11:25] address any future I.T needs that the
[1:11:27] police department will have we're hoping
[1:11:29] that's what we're hoping for uh you know
[1:11:30] I know what you have the specialized ad
[1:11:32] of course uh you know we also hoping
[1:11:35] that in the future also get more it guys
[1:11:37] involved with that too
[1:11:39] thank you thank you
[1:11:41] so is this a civil service position the
[1:11:44] um yes the Civil Service yep
[1:11:46] [Music]
[1:11:49] thank you
[1:11:52] any other questions
[1:11:55] second all in favor all right thank you very much thank you the next
[1:12:01] item and announcement for cdbg slash CV
[1:12:05] small business grant is the other
[1:12:09] good evening everyone
[1:12:11] um this request is related to the cdbg
[1:12:14] CV funds that we received through the
[1:12:16] cares act from the housing of the
[1:12:18] Department of Housing and Urban
[1:12:19] Development so we are requesting to
[1:12:22] allocate two hundred thousand dollars
[1:12:25] for small business grants so as part of
[1:12:27] the economic recovery aspect of what we
[1:12:30] are doing with that Grant you might
[1:12:32] remember we've already funded this in
[1:12:34] partnership with the Community Loan Fund
[1:12:36] in the past the assisted over 64 local
[1:12:39] small businesses with grants of up to
[1:12:41] ten thousand dollars we're finding that
[1:12:44] many businesses still identify the
[1:12:46] effects of copin 19 as a as a barrier to
[1:12:49] their success and have needs that have
[1:12:51] you know shifted slightly since 2020 but
[1:12:54] are still needs and impact from the
[1:12:56] pandemic so we're basically just looking
[1:12:59] for
[1:13:00] um right now we're just looking for a
[1:13:02] five-day public comment period
[1:13:04] um to allocate this funding for the
[1:13:07] small business assistance program it's a
[1:13:09] five-day comment period because it's
[1:13:11] cares act funding so it's emergency
[1:13:13] funding essentially usually would be a
[1:13:16] 30-day common period as you know when we
[1:13:18] make changes to our regular HUD
[1:13:20] allocations so this is just for the
[1:13:22] comment period and then we will come
[1:13:23] back to you to ask to authorize the
[1:13:26] mayor to enter a contract with the
[1:13:28] community along one
[1:13:31] go ahead please so in discussing this
[1:13:34] um we talked about you know how you how
[1:13:36] businesses know that it's available so
[1:13:38] it's just not businesses were just
[1:13:39] really familiar with us and
[1:13:42] um so can you talk a little bit about
[1:13:44] how to make sure we do our public
[1:13:45] Outreach to make sure small businesses
[1:13:47] are aware yeah I mean the Community Loan
[1:13:49] Fund has a large network of businesses
[1:13:51] that they work with them and provide
[1:13:53] training for and that's also part of
[1:13:55] this program that businesses who
[1:13:57] um work through the grant also have the
[1:14:00] opportunity to attend different
[1:14:01] trainings and things that they offer and
[1:14:03] then we also have a list of businesses
[1:14:05] and a network that's building
[1:14:08] um and we would yeah we would intend to
[1:14:09] put it out in a lot of different
[1:14:11] platforms whether it be a newspaper or
[1:14:13] you know social media to make it public
[1:14:16] that you know that their systems is
[1:14:18] available so we'll we will definitely
[1:14:21] put in the newspaper yeah yep
[1:14:25] question any other questions
[1:14:28] motion to move forward is second all in
[1:14:30] favor
[1:14:32] the next item is authorization to enter
[1:14:35] an agreement that this is the house for
[1:14:37] 100 000 for neighborhood stabilization
[1:14:39] rental rehab program Miss Diaz thank you
[1:14:43] yes along the same line CBG CD funds
[1:14:46] we're looking at our new
[1:14:48] our neighbor area funding and this
[1:14:51] wasn't
[1:14:52] um to a specific project at the time
[1:14:54] that was just allocated and we are going
[1:14:55] to see sort of what goes to the top as
[1:14:57] priorities one of the things that a lot
[1:15:00] of our housing Partners have been
[1:15:01] expressing is the lack of availability
[1:15:03] of affordable housing and some of the
[1:15:06] challenges and difficulties with rental
[1:15:09] arrears that accrued over the course of
[1:15:11] the pandemic the eviction moratorium and some of the issues that are facing a
[1:15:16] lot of our our housing developers our
[1:15:18] housing Partners like the Bethesda house
[1:15:20] who is really working with our most
[1:15:23] vulnerable populations so what this
[1:15:26] proposal is is to allocate a hundred
[1:15:28] thousand dollars in cdbg CB funding to
[1:15:30] the Bethesda House of Schenectady to pre
[1:15:33] and administer new affordable housing
[1:15:35] landlord assistance program so this
[1:15:38] program would essentially support
[1:15:39] landlords to address some of the issues
[1:15:42] that prevent them from from placing
[1:15:45] families and individuals into housing
[1:15:48] there would be a set of criteria that
[1:15:52] would be set up to ensure that the forms
[1:15:54] and required documentation
[1:15:57] for the eligibility of the program or
[1:15:59] met and was in you know in accordance
[1:16:01] with the with the CB funding
[1:16:02] unfortunately Kim Shepard couldn't be
[1:16:04] here tonight she was Ill so she would
[1:16:07] have been able to explain a little bit
[1:16:08] better around some of the issues that
[1:16:10] they're dealing with I know we just got
[1:16:13] updated numbers from the coordinated
[1:16:16] entry
[1:16:17] um through cares and there are currently
[1:16:20] 334 households and which includes 94
[1:16:24] families that are eligible for housing
[1:16:26] assistance program and they're on the waiting list essentially
[1:16:30] we're just waiting for units to be
[1:16:32] available for housing so there is this
[1:16:35] is really um you know deals with housing
[1:16:38] instability
[1:16:39] um I think I included some of the
[1:16:41] information vetted landlords will be
[1:16:43] provided financial assistance this would
[1:16:45] total no more than ten thousand dollars
[1:16:47] per unit
[1:16:48] it would come with a period of
[1:16:51] affordability in that agreement so this
[1:16:53] would ensure that the assisted units
[1:16:56] remain affordable and accessible to
[1:16:58] individuals and families at or below 50
[1:17:01] percent of the area median income and
[1:17:04] this would be for at least three years
[1:17:05] that period of affordability would be
[1:17:08] tracked so that we can ensure that you
[1:17:10] know it's it's serving the population
[1:17:11] that we would need it too
[1:17:16] any other questions good so I'm just
[1:17:21] it seems like if the the families that
[1:17:24] we're speaking of that were around that
[1:17:25] waiting list
[1:17:27] I'm wondering if the resources will be
[1:17:30] better
[1:17:31] um allocated directly to their families
[1:17:33] or because it seems like if we're
[1:17:35] talking about landlords this is too
[1:17:38] um
[1:17:40] assist landlords with their property in
[1:17:42] order to to is this thing to get into
[1:17:44] the code or get it to a place where
[1:17:45] families can
[1:17:47] um you know live within it and then
[1:17:48] safely or it's like yeah so the issue is
[1:17:51] that so there's the codes there's the codes issues where we would
[1:17:55] any money that we invest in we will make
[1:17:58] sure that the the property is up to code
[1:18:01] um so there's that issue but then
[1:18:02] there's the housing quality standards
[1:18:04] which through the Section 8 program
[1:18:06] units have to meet in order to to house
[1:18:08] anybody in the unit so sometimes it's
[1:18:11] kind of minor repairs that need to be
[1:18:14] made in order to make a unit available
[1:18:17] and that's really what we're talking
[1:18:18] about because because of the housing
[1:18:21] instability right now like there's a lot
[1:18:23] of people with vouchers that just there
[1:18:25] is literally no unit for them to go into
[1:18:27] so we're we're trying to address it and
[1:18:30] I think it's working with the landlord
[1:18:32] specifically that work with Bethesda
[1:18:35] house and scap and the other housing
[1:18:36] Partners so that they they know who they
[1:18:39] are
[1:18:39] um and they're going to make sure that
[1:18:41] they're vetted and that you know it's meeting the requirements that we
[1:18:46] need to move to use the funding towards
[1:18:48] um towards that effort of just getting
[1:18:50] more units available I think a lot of um
[1:18:53] you know with the eviction moratorium
[1:18:55] and the rental of years that build up
[1:18:57] during coven the landlords just don't
[1:18:59] have the funding to kind of fix some of
[1:19:02] these sometimes it's a minor thing
[1:19:05] um and that's why this is only up to ten
[1:19:06] thousand if the scope of work is larger
[1:19:09] than that the landlord would have to
[1:19:10] provide that match to actually pursue
[1:19:12] the work
[1:19:13] um so it's it's kind of trying to
[1:19:15] instead of a incentivize making housing
[1:19:18] available for the people who need it the
[1:19:19] most in the city
[1:19:24] my one question was just due to language
[1:19:27] I think similar to what Mr Farley
[1:19:29] constantly identifies I think committee
[1:19:32] and then showing a proven history of
[1:19:34] renting to low income or low to moderate
[1:19:37] families is important so would you be
[1:19:39] open to adjusting the language yeah and
[1:19:42] that is something that we'll be working
[1:19:44] on like once this gets approved then we
[1:19:46] really have to work on a contract and
[1:19:48] finalize the criteria and that will be
[1:19:50] absolutely something that we would we
[1:19:52] could incorporate and then secondly uh
[1:19:55] always trying to make sure we take care
[1:19:58] of the the city first I think that's a
[1:20:00] powerful narrative so would you be
[1:20:02] opposed to having
[1:20:05] homeowners prioritize using construction
[1:20:07] agencies that originally within the city
[1:20:10] so you might have noticed there was some
[1:20:12] language about that in here we did have
[1:20:14] the conversation about Bethesda house
[1:20:17] working with um the affirmative action
[1:20:19] office and the construction skills
[1:20:21] program to kind of incorporate into
[1:20:24] these repairs where possible so that is
[1:20:26] definitely something that has been in
[1:20:28] discussion and will likely also be part
[1:20:30] of the agreement once we get to that
[1:20:31] point thank you
[1:20:34] go ahead please so since we're assisting
[1:20:37] landlords with these funds and I know
[1:20:39] that your the language here says that
[1:20:41] we'll keep them affordable but is there
[1:20:43] anything in place
[1:20:44] um to say that they can't raise the rent
[1:20:46] more than a certain percentage like you
[1:20:48] know five percent of some other
[1:20:49] municipalities do I know we can't we do
[1:20:51] that can't do that with everything but
[1:20:52] in terms of this funding because
[1:20:55] um generally speaking when people
[1:20:56] improve their property then they tend to
[1:20:58] want to raise the rent because the
[1:21:00] property has been improved but they're
[1:21:01] improving the new property for the
[1:21:03] benefits coming from the city so will
[1:21:05] there be anything in place that says you
[1:21:06] cannot raise the rent
[1:21:09] um you know the numbers we've heard 200
[1:21:10] or whatever uh and there or is there a
[1:21:13] stipulation is can there be a
[1:21:15] stipulation how much within a certain
[1:21:17] time frame you cannot raise the rent so
[1:21:19] much
[1:21:20] yeah I think that that's probably
[1:21:22] already built into the agreements that
[1:21:25] with the subsidies that they're
[1:21:26] currently that Bethesda house currently
[1:21:28] uses with landlords I I would assume
[1:21:30] that that's already we would we could
[1:21:32] confirm that but I would think that that
[1:21:35] would already be built into their
[1:21:37] agreement with landlords when they're
[1:21:38] working with them but we can confirm
[1:21:40] that with um Bethesda yep all right
[1:21:43] thank you
[1:21:43] here sorry go ahead please let's send a
[1:21:46] comment on that question uh that
[1:21:48] President Porterfield brought up in my
[1:21:50] experience in dealing with HUD in a
[1:21:51] prior life if
[1:21:53] um the units have to be are geared
[1:21:56] towards affordability to a certain Ami
[1:21:59] which 50 50 there's an equation that has
[1:22:04] to be done at the HUD level to determine
[1:22:07] based on the area median income what
[1:22:09] affordability would be for rental prices
[1:22:11] for those units so it's already baked
[1:22:14] into the Ami for the Target groups
[1:22:18] so the rent can be it can't go up so
[1:22:21] much it's always based on what the area
[1:22:24] made in immediate income is for the
[1:22:27] particular group that's being targeted
[1:22:29] 50 Ami or below
[1:22:33] go ahead and we'll just say that
[1:22:35] um maybe it's been updated recently but
[1:22:38] that formula that was using
[1:22:40] um for some time now uh I don't know if
[1:22:43] it really reflects you know someone's
[1:22:46] true uh means quality in life as far as we look at that threshold I think
[1:22:50] it was a little outdated um you know if
[1:22:55] I remember correctly
[1:22:57] um also
[1:22:59] it was ten thousand dollars
[1:23:02] per unit right so but not for up two
[1:23:06] tenth of two again so I guess I'm always
[1:23:10] trying to think about you know when I
[1:23:14] say you know landlord and you know it's
[1:23:16] connected you're thinking about that you
[1:23:18] know you know more mom and pop landlord
[1:23:21] right right I mean that's you know I'm
[1:23:24] just trying to see that you know that
[1:23:25] this is something that benefits that
[1:23:27] because if it's up to ten thousand per
[1:23:29] unit but not per landlord then I if I
[1:23:32] have multiple units and you know I can
[1:23:35] take up a lot of this resource right I
[1:23:38] mean and I think and this is actually a
[1:23:41] very limited amount of funding so we're
[1:23:43] requesting 100 000 so that could be ten
[1:23:45] properties a little more depending on
[1:23:46] and it really is going to be a
[1:23:48] case-by-case Solutions into looking in
[1:23:50] that but no I I wouldn't think that it
[1:23:52] would go to like one landlord with 10
[1:23:54] units so that's not the intention
[1:23:56] um and I also just want to clarify that you
[1:24:00] know Bethesda house is really working
[1:24:02] with the most vulnerable populations
[1:24:03] these are this is specifically for
[1:24:05] homeless prevention so it's not really I
[1:24:09] mean that's the targeted population
[1:24:12] I agree and appreciate that the
[1:24:15] population I'm thinking more on the uh
[1:24:18] landlord I'm just you know receiving of
[1:24:20] these funds I just think about like you
[1:24:22] know how do we make sure that we are
[1:24:24] maximizing these type of programs
[1:24:26] because anytime reality is anytime we're
[1:24:27] working with systems um people who are
[1:24:30] you know
[1:24:32] uh you know
[1:24:33] inequitable outcomes are produced due to
[1:24:36] the nature of the system itself right so
[1:24:38] kind of to president porterfield's
[1:24:39] earlier Point around people who are very
[1:24:42] familiar with us as a city
[1:24:44] um it's being big landlords who might be
[1:24:47] very familiar with um
[1:24:49] Bethesda housing or not just them but as
[1:24:52] far as you know in the know around these
[1:24:54] greens and how it's fine so I just want
[1:24:55] to make sure that you know and I don't
[1:24:57] think that that's necessarily a
[1:24:58] conversation for you here and now but I
[1:25:00] think it's important to note that we
[1:25:02] just want make sure that we are
[1:25:03] maximizing this by uh how can people
[1:25:07] yeah no that's that's definitely been
[1:25:09] part of the discussion as well and I
[1:25:11] think
[1:25:12] it's um yeah I think it's going to be I
[1:25:16] think that this is really responds until
[1:25:17] a set of prices yes
[1:25:20] and is trying to also address some of
[1:25:24] the tension that's built up right
[1:25:25] between and there's a lot of landlords
[1:25:27] who don't want to work with you know
[1:25:29] some of our housing providers because of
[1:25:31] what happened in the last couple of
[1:25:32] years and we really need to rebuild
[1:25:35] those relationships and do something
[1:25:37] that's actually going to produce results
[1:25:39] for getting people housed in the city of
[1:25:41] Schenectady so that's what this really
[1:25:43] is and it's not a lot of funding but
[1:25:46] we're hoping that if it's successful and
[1:25:48] it's something that makes sense that and
[1:25:50] it's still needed that we can look to
[1:25:53] other resources to help support in the
[1:25:56] future very well done thank you thank
[1:25:59] you
[1:26:00] any other questions
[1:26:04] foreign
[1:26:18] yeah so this item was um we had an
[1:26:21] application in our last year's uh annual
[1:26:23] action plan and it was a proposal by the
[1:26:25] Schenectady Guyanese Community Center
[1:26:27] for fifty thousand dollars although it
[1:26:29] was something that I think you know was
[1:26:32] supported they really just needed to do
[1:26:34] a couple of things in order for us to be
[1:26:36] able to fund the initiative with one of which was getting city council
[1:26:40] approval so on January 18th this past
[1:26:43] month 2023
[1:26:45] um thus the Planning Commission approved
[1:26:47] project with that news we're we're
[1:26:50] looking to move forward to allocate 50
[1:26:53] 000 towards the community center and
[1:26:55] offer the mayor to enter an agreement
[1:26:58] with the Douglas community center this
[1:27:01] is to renovate their vegan building
[1:27:02] that's at 1218 6th Ave and it would
[1:27:06] provide a food pantry to Residents in
[1:27:09] Mount Pleasant and additionally provide
[1:27:11] traditional cultural programming for the
[1:27:14] community
[1:27:15] questions is there any contingencies
[1:27:18] attached to this
[1:27:20] or something so I think there is a
[1:27:22] budget attached as well
[1:27:25] um which it shows kind of what they've
[1:27:27] put in already so they've already done a
[1:27:29] significant amount of work
[1:27:30] um there's there's so you can see there
[1:27:33] that we're basically contributing 50 000
[1:27:36] to the remaining 115 000 project scope
[1:27:39] to complete the construction
[1:27:43] so the other funding is in place yes yep
[1:27:45] thank you
[1:27:47] any other questions
[1:27:50] some second all in favor all right
[1:27:54] the next item is a mending resolution
[1:27:58] 2022-214 to apply a one year time frame
[1:28:01] to Aquatic Center and Miracle on Craig
[1:28:05] Street Harbor allocation
[1:28:08] back in August of last year when we
[1:28:15] there were two agencies that we didn't
[1:28:18] apply near timeline
[1:28:20] we discussed this several weeks ago and
[1:28:23] we put it on hold because we wanted to
[1:28:25] make sure that we looked for both our
[1:28:28] locations and to make sure we're
[1:28:30] capturing all the agency that didn't
[1:28:33] have the timeline and these are the only
[1:28:34] two agencies that didn't have a timeline
[1:28:36] so the proposal proposal is to amend
[1:28:40] this resolution and to apply a one year
[1:28:43] Times line to these two agencies as was
[1:28:47] previously discussed
[1:28:48] since not only things
[1:28:53] questions
[1:28:56] seeing on morning second all in favor
[1:29:00] aye thank you
[1:29:02] the next item is a request authorization
[1:29:04] for 1.5 million dollars in hard mode
[1:29:07] funding for sidewalk Improvement
[1:29:10] I am a party
[1:29:11] thank you Mr chairman again submitting
[1:29:15] to the council request for some funding
[1:29:18] but the more I believe is a pragmatic
[1:29:22] component of this request is to put a
[1:29:25] fixed dollar amount on
[1:29:28] a sidewalk Improvement so that a
[1:29:32] homeowner knows what the number is uh
[1:29:36] it's kicked around now for four years
[1:29:40] maybe longer of doing these improvements
[1:29:45] on the streets where residents would
[1:29:47] petition come back to the city council
[1:29:50] after they got a number of signatures
[1:29:52] and then trying to come up with a
[1:29:55] formula that reflects
[1:29:59] something the city is going to
[1:30:00] contribute and there's something that's
[1:30:02] going to be the responsibility of the
[1:30:03] property owner
[1:30:06] engineering spends a lot of time doing
[1:30:08] calculations on these going back and
[1:30:11] forth everybody's is a little bit
[1:30:13] different uh
[1:30:15] we end up wasting a lot of time and
[1:30:18] effort on this and what I'm asking the
[1:30:22] council to do is put in place
[1:30:25] a fixed dollar amount per foot
[1:30:29] on the Frontage of your sidewalk and
[1:30:33] then when we go out to bid you know some
[1:30:35] are going to come in a little bit higher
[1:30:36] some will be a little bit lower but the
[1:30:38] city would pick up that variable cost
[1:30:42] and the council would again set the
[1:30:45] fixed dollar amount so the homeowner
[1:30:47] would know if you have a 50 foot
[1:30:51] Frontage if you have 100 foot front edge
[1:30:54] what your fee is and again the past
[1:30:58] practice has been when the work is done
[1:31:00] the homeowner could either pay for it
[1:31:03] in total really at the end of the year
[1:31:06] with that first tax bill or it goes on
[1:31:08] the tax bill for a period of time
[1:31:12] determined by the city council which I
[1:31:14] think you've used 10 years for the past
[1:31:17] their sidewalks could go easily 15 years
[1:31:21] depending on making it affordable and I
[1:31:24] think we've used the last one an
[1:31:27] interest rate of four percent but
[1:31:31] it's a good program there's a lot of
[1:31:34] interest in it in the city but we've
[1:31:37] gotten bogged down in the minutia of
[1:31:39] going back and forth arguing about these
[1:31:41] let's say an arguing discussing
[1:31:44] variations in
[1:31:47] what are minor
[1:31:49] uh design features on each individual
[1:31:53] property and I believe that's just
[1:31:56] holding up the ability of some
[1:31:58] neighborhoods or streets to move ahead
[1:32:00] with this and so asking for the council
[1:32:02] to come out uh send a message that
[1:32:06] you're agreeable to a fixed dollar
[1:32:08] amount and move ahead so that we can
[1:32:11] again take some of the streets that are
[1:32:13] in the pipeline now and then also
[1:32:15] encourage other
[1:32:17] streets to petition and commit and work
[1:32:21] with them to replace the sidewalks
[1:32:27] go ahead please so for um the fixed recommendations
[1:32:31] fixed cost of 55 per linear foot
[1:32:34] correct I think the ones that we've done
[1:32:36] in the past have been just above 55
[1:32:40] so it's
[1:32:43] very close to that
[1:32:47] um
[1:32:48] you could do 49.99 it's a sale tonight
[1:32:56] Mr wall can answer this question if not
[1:32:58] so
[1:32:59] um is there a like can would you be able
[1:33:02] to tell like an average cost of what it
[1:33:03] would be for an average home or is it
[1:33:05] just so different from all the homes and
[1:33:07] the properties in today's market yes
[1:33:14] yeah in today's market what we're
[1:33:16] looking at the camp and Earth's League
[1:33:17] the ones that we have done and then the
[1:33:19] average cost of somewhere between 80 and
[1:33:22] 115 depending on the complications
[1:33:27] but if you didn't find one in your phone
[1:33:29] okay
[1:33:31] and then and so we're seeing the city we
[1:33:33] cost it would cover 55 of them we would
[1:33:36] do 55 per month
[1:33:39] and
[1:33:40] then I just want to make sure that what
[1:33:43] we're doing is this would affect both
[1:33:45] programs we have the program this would
[1:33:46] be supplemental with that program
[1:33:48] because we already have a capital fund
[1:33:51] that is already created for sidewalks
[1:33:54] and these two would work together then
[1:33:56] okay
[1:33:59] go ahead please so
[1:34:01] it seems like this is is a matter of
[1:34:04] like just the way of the formula we've
[1:34:06] been using as a city just this is way
[1:34:09] more efficient effective way to do this
[1:34:11] and get it done we're doing a very
[1:34:12] complicated way and coming out with
[1:34:15] about 55 dollars I'm saying or I should
[1:34:20] say a little bit above or a little bit
[1:34:21] of low you can just set a fixed out is
[1:34:25] it 50 is it 55 something so that the
[1:34:29] homeowner
[1:34:31] they want their sidewalks done they want
[1:34:33] to know what it's going to cost them and
[1:34:36] adding 100 bucks here or taking
[1:34:39] something off there it complicates it
[1:34:42] and slows it down and I think it adds an
[1:34:44] element of frustration
[1:34:46] for the homeowners
[1:34:50] um answer
[1:34:53] we have a million dollars set a size of
[1:34:55] revolving one million views set aside
[1:34:58] it's basically this one by five little
[1:35:00] company van deck or are we going to do
[1:35:01] away with the Hamptons and again with
[1:35:04] the amount of need that is out there
[1:35:08] believe that that it's a step in the
[1:35:12] right direction but hopefully we would
[1:35:13] again use that and be coming back to you
[1:35:16] seeking more funding in the future that
[1:35:19] would get us you know the rate we've
[1:35:21] been doing it
[1:35:22] uh
[1:35:24] be able to do it for a period of Time
[1:35:26] begin to get a broader buy-in from
[1:35:29] residents in the city
[1:35:31] go ahead so I guess I want to see how I
[1:35:34] can appreciate doing things in a way
[1:35:37] that just makes sense for people and
[1:35:39] increases access unless they get it done
[1:35:40] I guess my my question would be
[1:35:43] um why are Harper funding is there any
[1:35:45] other existing funding that
[1:35:48] would uh
[1:35:50] that we could use to do this
[1:35:53] you know we have some that is previously
[1:35:55] bind the dealing mechanism would be
[1:35:58] either
[1:36:00] put in another budget or to
[1:36:03] Bond it going forward
[1:36:05] so the so the money that's there um in
[1:36:09] the capital budget right now so so the money is so the money isn't the
[1:36:13] problem the money is there
[1:36:15] not not talking about the arbor money
[1:36:17] the money is there it's just the process
[1:36:19] is needs to be fixed and therefore
[1:36:23] people can access the money that you're
[1:36:24] saying to fix the process and then add
[1:36:27] um to show that we're in fact serious
[1:36:30] about addressing the problem
[1:36:33] I'm picking up in more uh a larger
[1:36:36] Shield because the previous one we did
[1:36:37] at 30 percent somewhere around Europe
[1:36:39] cities here on the second box of uh you
[1:36:43] get it depending on yes so this would be
[1:36:46] pretty much be upload towards like 50
[1:36:47] percenters right so it just came good
[1:36:50] for the hormones
[1:36:52] any other question of this
[1:36:54] is it's known as a column and definitely
[1:36:58] identifying appropriate dollar amount to
[1:37:01] the various Point helps to increase the
[1:37:03] Streamline this process definitely
[1:37:05] sidewalks are quality of like issue that
[1:37:07] many schenectadians experience
[1:37:09] and I want to make sure that we're being
[1:37:11] intentional as a council where if this
[1:37:13] is funds that we're putting forth to
[1:37:15] assist homeowners with making sure their
[1:37:16] sidewalks are up kept I want to make
[1:37:19] sure these aren't costs that are being
[1:37:20] transferred to renters
[1:37:22] so I don't know if there's any way of
[1:37:24] not suggesting that I just want to make
[1:37:26] sure as a council we're identifying some
[1:37:29] indirect uh
[1:37:32] issues that we could be transferring on
[1:37:35] to internal directed community
[1:37:39] I'm in favor
[1:37:41] making sure everyone knows that we're
[1:37:43] taking into consideration all aspects of
[1:37:45] what this how this can lead to them
[1:37:50] [Music]
[1:37:52] Mr Holton is the way that that can be
[1:37:54] addressed or is that if when you fix
[1:37:56] your sidewalks that's whatever you want
[1:37:57] to do you want to do with the rent it's
[1:37:59] essentially outside of you know how
[1:38:02] we would essentially be interfering with
[1:38:05] you know the ability of a landlord to
[1:38:07] negotiate a contract with a tenant in
[1:38:09] the form of police thank you
[1:38:12] but this again originates
[1:38:15] via a petition process by Property
[1:38:18] Owners on the street
[1:38:21] so people petitioned in one house happen
[1:38:26] to be rental in their sidewalk is
[1:38:28] non-compliant either they would be
[1:38:33] incorporated in it or under today's code
[1:38:36] we can go in and cite them and replace
[1:38:41] the sidewalk and put it on their bill
[1:38:43] their tax bill is a municipal voucher
[1:38:46] which in fact is a more expensive way to
[1:38:50] do it and again is it individual
[1:38:53] property owner fixing the sidewalk in
[1:38:55] front of your property is more expensive
[1:38:58] than when we're doing this as a major
[1:39:02] Municipal project of replacing the whole
[1:39:05] street we're getting better value in
[1:39:08] terms of the quantities we're buying in
[1:39:12] the end result adds more value to the
[1:39:15] properties as a whole so I understand Mr
[1:39:18] Williams concern but I believe that the
[1:39:22] impact of this actually benefits people
[1:39:24] to a higher level than some who
[1:39:27] potentially might be inconvenienced by
[1:39:30] it
[1:39:36] any other questions are coming in
[1:39:39] motion to move forward
[1:39:41] second all in favor
[1:39:44] aye
[1:39:47] the next two item is our provocation for
[1:39:50] stymet spark Improvement and Road Park
[1:39:53] Improvement
[1:39:55] back when we discussed our second
[1:39:58] um sorry
[1:40:00] we second allocation our publication we
[1:40:04] question was raised as to why um money
[1:40:07] was not set aside first time it's far
[1:40:09] and it's probably brought us up and
[1:40:11] drilled Park and was probably myself was
[1:40:13] Porterfield and then we looked at it and
[1:40:15] then we went back to the stakeholders
[1:40:17] them and they provide us a
[1:40:20] to-do lists of things what they need at
[1:40:22] both parts I'm sure each one of you are
[1:40:24] happy and things here so proposing based
[1:40:28] on the estimates that was provided
[1:40:31] we're asking or suggesting um to the
[1:40:34] council my colleagues that we set aside
[1:40:36] five hundred thousand dollars each so
[1:40:38] same as part and Grove Park 500 000 and
[1:40:41] to leave that with the mayor and the
[1:40:43] city staff to look at how they can work
[1:40:45] with these two parks with all the
[1:40:48] additional parks that already have
[1:40:49] received funding and able to take care
[1:40:51] of the basic needs of these two
[1:40:53] operational parts
[1:40:55] so with you here we're asking for that
[1:40:57] amount of money to be set aside from our
[1:40:59] location for these two parts
[1:41:02] misfortable
[1:41:09] so one of them came from Mr palomini
[1:41:12] where he's um there's funding that's
[1:41:15] outlined
[1:41:17] for
[1:41:18] Simon's park for a five thousand four
[1:41:20] hundred four five thousand five hundred
[1:41:22] thousand forty two dollars and so you
[1:41:25] can look through that um and then
[1:41:27] additionally something that came from
[1:41:29] the grass Park Cricket Association who
[1:41:31] is the group that uh it's mostly Cricket
[1:41:34] played in grab Park I believe we all
[1:41:36] know that so they've submitted some
[1:41:38] information to what's actually back in
[1:41:40] October that we're bringing forward now
[1:41:42] as we're talking about these parts
[1:41:45] to see what the things need to be done
[1:41:47] there is no price tag attached to this
[1:41:49] we would need to work with the
[1:41:51] engineering department to see you know
[1:41:54] what the price would be and all of that
[1:41:55] however we wanted to be able to bring
[1:41:57] this forward now because we are making
[1:41:59] uh Investments and improvements in Parks
[1:42:02] throughout the city wanted not to
[1:42:04] overlook any parks especially that
[1:42:07] they've already come to us and master so
[1:42:08] as we've been doing this and we're
[1:42:10] getting to the season where people are
[1:42:11] going to start wanting to use the park
[1:42:12] we wanted to make sure we brought this
[1:42:14] forward and started moving ahead on this
[1:42:16] so that's why you're seeing this today
[1:42:29] to help with some work out there
[1:42:32] so I'm not sure if that is part of this
[1:42:34] also here
[1:42:35] no we can inquire everything
[1:42:37] so listen to set aside money and put
[1:42:40] that there so that the city can start
[1:42:42] moving forward to address some of these
[1:42:44] concerns at these parks
[1:42:51] any other questions regarding setting
[1:42:54] aside five hundred thousand dollars for
[1:42:55] assignment spark 500 000 for Ground Park
[1:43:02] so can we move them together and have
[1:43:04] one resolution
[1:43:06] you can certainly do that but you need
[1:43:09] to do it separately as well yes I think
[1:43:11] we should move separately because if we talked about the money from um sex
[1:43:16] that we may not believe that funding
[1:43:17] unless it will still come back that way
[1:43:19] yeah
[1:43:24] okay so we'll start this part all right
[1:43:28] motion so it moves like our problems and
[1:43:30] second all in favor
[1:43:32] aye and a motion to move real far
[1:43:34] allocation second all in favor
[1:43:38] the next item is allocating additional
[1:43:41] art of funding for the Central Park Pool
[1:43:43] spray pad and facility Mr wall
[1:43:48] thank you
[1:43:52] I need another hand uh good evening so
[1:43:57] what we have here is as you're aware of
[1:43:59] the city council appropriated 4.95
[1:44:02] million dollars for the design and
[1:44:04] construction of a pool in Central Park
[1:44:07] um that project was designed wet bid and
[1:44:11] we received the bids the bids were more
[1:44:14] than the funding which was 4.95 I
[1:44:16] provided you with a cost summary in your
[1:44:19] package so the total cost of the project
[1:44:23] considering all soft costs and money
[1:44:25] spent to date is approximately 10.1
[1:44:28] million dollars which is really unless
[1:44:30] with a short poll of approximately 5.2
[1:44:32] million dollars over the 4.95 that was
[1:44:35] allocated so what we like to do is make
[1:44:37] a request to allocate the additional
[1:44:39] Harper funding so that we can award and
[1:44:43] constructible
[1:44:55] who
[1:44:58] why is it coming up now to additional
[1:45:01] 5.5 million dollars is it added warrant
[1:45:04] scope of work or is it costs over a
[1:45:07] um I would say that it's probably a
[1:45:11] little of each thing as we started with
[1:45:13] the project
[1:45:15] um you know it was a Central Park Pool
[1:45:16] had the location we worked to develop
[1:45:19] the location back when we started as we
[1:45:22] started the developable location we
[1:45:23] started to find the needs of the
[1:45:25] facility so the facility that was there
[1:45:27] previously was a tennis Stadium what a
[1:45:29] lot of people didn't know as a tennis
[1:45:30] Stadium did not have a sanitary line it
[1:45:33] had actually septic tanks in the ground
[1:45:35] so this is a public facility that we're
[1:45:37] looking to use essentially from May 1st
[1:45:40] to October 31st so things like sanitary
[1:45:43] affirmative water line more robust
[1:45:46] Electric System all those things needed
[1:45:48] to come in those were substantial we
[1:45:51] started getting into the code
[1:45:52] requirements for the pool parking we
[1:45:54] were hoping to use Fair Avenue parking
[1:45:56] requirements need to be closer to the
[1:45:58] building for buses and things like that
[1:45:59] to come than it was mechanical we have a
[1:46:03] separate mechanical building we have a
[1:46:05] splash pad because the pool can only be
[1:46:07] from usually July and August and two
[1:46:09] months so we wanted a facility that was
[1:46:12] more readily available for people who
[1:46:14] are maybe there for the tennis or for
[1:46:15] some other events they're like the
[1:46:17] baseball if it is a May season or later
[1:46:20] on because we usually have our splash
[1:46:21] pads open from Labor Day Memorial Day
[1:46:25] past Labor Day and then as you see as we
[1:46:28] got into it and we actually bit it the
[1:46:30] cost that came back were substantially
[1:46:32] higher you know we sat with our
[1:46:34] Consultants on that steel epoxies
[1:46:37] materials a lot of things went up I
[1:46:39] actually have a list of other things
[1:46:41] regarding the utilities the supporting
[1:46:44] facilities the cap we did have some
[1:46:46] issues with our apprenticeship program
[1:46:48] and the specialty contractor mainly the
[1:46:51] pool contractor
[1:46:52] there were really only one pool
[1:46:55] contractor who could meet our cap
[1:46:57] requirement so we had that
[1:46:59] also as we got into it the building is
[1:47:03] built as a municipal building which is a
[1:47:05] higher grade than even a commercial
[1:47:06] building we have van
[1:47:08] the whole building is CMU which is a
[1:47:11] concrete block with a finish on it it
[1:47:13] also has steel trusses not wood trusses
[1:47:16] so it is a stronger Municipal Building
[1:47:19] compared to maybe what a community
[1:47:21] center built for their facilities so all
[1:47:25] these things cumulative
[1:47:27] tick tick tick added off to kind of what
[1:47:29] we have today and you know in
[1:47:32] discussions with the committee it was
[1:47:34] you know we had estimates but the
[1:47:36] estimates were always with large
[1:47:38] asterisks as it could be this it could
[1:47:39] be this so the thought was let's bid it
[1:47:41] let's get a hard number of what this
[1:47:43] would actually be in real dollars we
[1:47:45] actually were concerned at one point
[1:47:47] that no one would bend the pool because
[1:47:49] no one was qualified we actually did a
[1:47:51] lot of back and forth with contractors
[1:47:54] Law Department purchasing at the time
[1:47:56] and we actually were able to find one
[1:47:58] that was applicable to do it and uh and
[1:48:01] that's kind of up to speed where we are
[1:48:03] right now with the project but uh we
[1:48:06] wish it was less but the number we feel
[1:48:09] is in there also not to be forgotten is
[1:48:12] the soft cost of that which are
[1:48:14] construction Administration and
[1:48:15] construction inspection so those
[1:48:17] typically run between 10 and 20 percent
[1:48:19] that's why on your summaries I actually
[1:48:21] provided you with the percent of
[1:48:23] construction because that is like an
[1:48:26] industry standard for all my federally
[1:48:28] projects which we do I'm usually right
[1:48:30] around 15 percent for design and 15 for
[1:48:33] construction so I just wanted to show
[1:48:35] that you know
[1:48:37] Saratoga Associates their design fee was
[1:48:40] essentially five percent and our other
[1:48:42] fees are six and three percent so
[1:48:44] they're all well under kind of what the
[1:48:47] industry standard would be I also would
[1:48:50] bring up the fact that I just am about
[1:48:52] to let the King's Road Bridge Project
[1:48:54] which is a bridge replacement and in
[1:48:57] order to actually let that project I had
[1:48:59] to seek approval and funds from the cdtc
[1:49:01] committee which was an additional two
[1:49:03] million dollars so that was a four
[1:49:05] million dollar project and I needed
[1:49:07] additional two million dollars to be
[1:49:09] able to do that that was approved last
[1:49:11] week so we are moving forward with that
[1:49:12] but that kind of puts you in the realm
[1:49:14] of the market that we're in we were
[1:49:17] fortunate in that case to have that
[1:49:18] resource to go to for the bridge for
[1:49:21] this with the pool we have our own
[1:49:24] resources so with that I'll open it up
[1:49:26] to questions and the marriage here
[1:49:28] according to it
[1:49:32] so you said that they're so you've
[1:49:34] mentioned two things committee and then
[1:49:36] you also said that some of these are
[1:49:37] added things but are not a part of the
[1:49:38] original plan yeah uh the original plan
[1:49:41] it was a the pool with the associated
[1:49:43] pool house but as we went I mean the
[1:49:45] splash pad was probably the one that
[1:49:47] would be the ad because it was discussed
[1:49:49] you know the pool season is so short
[1:49:51] we're making these investments in the
[1:49:53] splash pads and other Parks is now the
[1:49:55] time to have one at Central Park and the
[1:49:57] pool committee decided that now you know
[1:49:58] now is the time to have a splash pattern
[1:50:01] if it's going to be somewhere it's going
[1:50:02] to be there we have the space if you've
[1:50:04] been to the site it's quite large but
[1:50:06] now that it's clear so that was a
[1:50:08] decision by the committee to to do that
[1:50:11] um because that's the biggest you know
[1:50:13] another thing is we move the
[1:50:16] mechanical room out from inside the main
[1:50:19] building to a separate mechanical
[1:50:21] building we thought that would be more
[1:50:23] efficient to have everything you know so
[1:50:25] that we're not integrating public and
[1:50:27] everybody into there another decision
[1:50:29] that was made was that
[1:50:32] the building should be more prominent to
[1:50:36] the tennis courts so as you know the
[1:50:39] tennis Association USTA uses those
[1:50:41] tennis courts a group of 18 Courts for a
[1:50:44] lot of their tournaments they bring
[1:50:45] about 300 people in
[1:50:46] um they rent a fleet of porta potties
[1:50:50] for those events and they've actually
[1:50:52] asked us to build them a facility we
[1:50:54] actually had it designed by the lake
[1:50:56] Freight Gilmore and bid but that
[1:50:59] facility came in at over half a million
[1:51:00] dollars in 2016. and we couldn't justify
[1:51:03] the investment just the bathroom it was
[1:51:05] just a bathroom with a roof so we we
[1:51:08] scrapped it we said that it's too much
[1:51:09] for bathrooms for the tennis court so
[1:51:12] with this opportunity in this location
[1:51:13] what we did was we decided okay well do
[1:51:16] we really want to have this million
[1:51:18] dollar bath house that we use July and
[1:51:20] August so we hold it towards the tennis
[1:51:23] courts so it was you know closer to the
[1:51:26] road which was also ideal for security
[1:51:28] purposes and now what we're doing is
[1:51:31] part of that other allocation of the
[1:51:33] harp up outside defense Central Park
[1:51:35] money we're going to improve the
[1:51:36] intersection there with stop signs
[1:51:38] crosswalks so that if people who are
[1:51:40] playing tennis want to use the
[1:51:41] facilities along with people who are
[1:51:43] running or using the baseball field or
[1:51:45] other things we have that building now
[1:51:48] there and we're looking to use it from
[1:51:50] May to October similar to the other
[1:51:52] buildings and that building will have
[1:51:53] changing rooms bathrooms family
[1:51:56] bathrooms which are not available in the
[1:51:58] other bathrooms and we know that family
[1:52:00] bathrooms are a thing because we're
[1:52:01] trying to move away from gender
[1:52:03] discriminatory bathrooms so this
[1:52:05] building will have three family
[1:52:06] bathrooms available as well as the
[1:52:09] standard male and female rooms so that
[1:52:11] was a change because that actually made
[1:52:13] the building a little bit bigger because
[1:52:15] we wanted to make sure that we could
[1:52:16] accommodate all these uses and use it
[1:52:19] more through the year it has an entryway
[1:52:22] it's it's a very nice building you know
[1:52:24] we talked internally you know did we
[1:52:26] want the building to look like a you
[1:52:28] know it was always going to be made of
[1:52:30] masonry there's always going to be a CMU
[1:52:32] building but this is C you with a steel
[1:52:35] truss it's not a CMU flight roof bunker
[1:52:37] you know it's an attractive building
[1:52:40] um
[1:52:41] so that was those were some of the main
[1:52:43] changes that led to this I don't think
[1:52:45] we were going to get away with the
[1:52:46] parking it was discussed originally to
[1:52:48] really try to use Fair Avenue but even
[1:52:50] if we push the facility all the way to
[1:52:52] the back of the site Fair Avenue is
[1:52:54] still down the slope and across the
[1:52:57] field to get to there it was a little
[1:52:59] far especially if we're thinking about
[1:53:01] there's going to be we're hoping that
[1:53:02] there's going to be swim meets and buses
[1:53:04] and people uh coming and handicap
[1:53:06] accessibility so that's why we decided
[1:53:08] to pull it forward and that made the
[1:53:11] parking lot we met with music Haven on a
[1:53:13] gold she liked the idea of the parking
[1:53:15] lot if you saw the layout of the parking
[1:53:17] lot we also have it set up so that we
[1:53:19] can close if we needed to the road prior
[1:53:23] to music Haven and use the parking lot
[1:53:25] as a turnaround right now if you were to
[1:53:27] go down to music Haven there's a just a
[1:53:31] terrible not a roundabout it's just a
[1:53:32] dead end so people go down there and
[1:53:34] they just stop so this parking lot was
[1:53:37] thought that okay if you put a fence
[1:53:39] here and we put it here you can actually
[1:53:40] turn around and we wouldn't have to have
[1:53:42] people go down towards the Pavilion in
[1:53:44] that area to kind of stop the congestion
[1:53:47] so these are you know a lot of different
[1:53:50] discussions that were had with the
[1:53:52] committee we had a great committee we
[1:53:53] had members from music Haven and we had
[1:53:57] you know a diamond and we had uh Pam
[1:53:59] Perlman with the greenhouse and the Rose
[1:54:01] Garden also so it was that it was a good
[1:54:03] committee but you know as the the
[1:54:06] desires and the talks and how this is
[1:54:08] going to integrate into the park we did see the costs encryption
[1:54:18] [Applause]
[1:54:22] so I appreciate the
[1:54:25] um background so definitely I can
[1:54:27] understand that the changes were
[1:54:29] warranted in scope I think for me
[1:54:31] personally it changes my understanding
[1:54:33] of how this was going to be a phased in
[1:54:35] approach I thought this is something
[1:54:37] that we were going to gradually step
[1:54:38] into and I apologize for my
[1:54:41] misunderstanding that that was such but
[1:54:44] I thought this was going to be a good
[1:54:46] year so in my understanding of
[1:54:49] advocating or communicating this to the
[1:54:52] entire community that we are now
[1:54:53] investing
[1:54:56] hundred percent more dollars into this
[1:54:58] one area of the city and understandably
[1:55:01] this is
[1:55:02] the conjula of Schenectady and we all
[1:55:04] agree on that are there any other
[1:55:06] funding methods to support this and the
[1:55:09] only reason I want to ask is if this
[1:55:11] truly is the opportunity moment to put
[1:55:14] forward all these dreams because we now
[1:55:16] have this money available are we
[1:55:18] evaluating alternatives
[1:55:20] before just saying yes because the money
[1:55:22] is available now
[1:55:25] it always look to use arpa money for
[1:55:28] this project and again we are under
[1:55:30] pressure to close the existing swimming
[1:55:34] facility because it just does not need
[1:55:37] current code issues we were able to keep
[1:55:42] it open in 22 working with the county
[1:55:46] and
[1:55:47] more attendant monitoring this timeline
[1:55:51] will probably not get it open as early
[1:55:54] as I would like even though until we
[1:55:56] award the contract sit down with the
[1:55:58] contractors who won't have a definite
[1:56:01] timeline but the option becomes we're
[1:56:04] going to have to close that other
[1:56:06] sewing facility in want to get this open
[1:56:10] as quick as we can get it built and have
[1:56:14] it as a facility that reflects
[1:56:17] the quality that we're putting in a
[1:56:20] diamond to music Haven and golf course
[1:56:23] the Rose Garden
[1:56:24] this will fit in there and it is part of
[1:56:28] The Branding of Schenectady
[1:56:35] the previous issue with the garbage
[1:56:38] schedules I think it'd be important to
[1:56:40] kind of take a take a pause and make
[1:56:42] sure we make make sure we're considering
[1:56:44] all of their aspects of how we can
[1:56:47] financially fund this project but also
[1:56:49] it's giving us an opportunity to remind
[1:56:51] the scantalians that we are putting
[1:56:53] splash pads in other areas of the
[1:56:54] community so although this would not be
[1:56:57] a resource available at Central Park
[1:56:58] there are other entertainment areas
[1:57:03] for them to be able to
[1:57:05] have recreational water water fun
[1:57:13] a question of
[1:57:14] I don't know where are any updates on
[1:57:18] the federal infrastructure funding
[1:57:20] that we were supposed to receive
[1:57:25] those are on an application basis either
[1:57:27] competitive or
[1:57:30] going through the state we have not
[1:57:32] received any additional funding at this
[1:57:35] point
[1:57:36] thanks
[1:57:37] so we we submitted an application but
[1:57:40] nothing yet no some are based on
[1:57:43] application so you have to apply for a
[1:57:45] water funding you have to apply for
[1:57:47] Broadband you have to apply for
[1:57:49] different areas so we have is there
[1:57:52] something open where we could apply for
[1:57:54] a water and have we
[1:57:55] for water well you said water funds so
[1:57:58] if you reduce water and sewer primarily
[1:58:01] it would not
[1:58:02] well at this point for a swimming pool
[1:58:08] okay even if we have to put more um you
[1:58:10] said we haven't divert what we have to
[1:58:12] put in pipes now there are some things
[1:58:14] some utilities we have to put in yes but
[1:58:16] that wouldn't come under that that's
[1:58:18] what you say
[1:58:20] those components have not been looked at
[1:58:22] for other funding yeah I think if we
[1:58:25] I don't think it would be the right
[1:58:27] application of that grant for this
[1:58:29] particular project that is more for I
[1:58:32] would say large distribution or a
[1:58:34] Mainline these are essentially larger
[1:58:37] style laterals like you would have in a
[1:58:39] house they're not you know water mains
[1:58:41] so if we were going to go through the
[1:58:43] effort of filling out an application for
[1:58:45] that you know like for instance I know
[1:58:47] that they try to do one for the water
[1:58:48] wells you know that's almost a
[1:58:50] multi-million dollar project so that's
[1:58:51] worthy of that kind of an effort because
[1:58:53] it is competitive funding this kind of
[1:58:56] thing would be I don't think is
[1:58:58] competitive if you're doing it in a in a
[1:59:00] solicitation like that
[1:59:03] my further question is there's been talk
[1:59:05] and there was an application that was
[1:59:07] submitted for doing something at the
[1:59:08] casino which is in the park but this
[1:59:11] none of this includes trying to do
[1:59:12] anything
[1:59:14] to that for that building now
[1:59:16] correct it does not and we're going to
[1:59:19] meet with the group uh
[1:59:23] I think Mr Kerry's talking about coming
[1:59:25] in next week
[1:59:27] where they've modified their proposal
[1:59:29] and concept and I'm not aware of what
[1:59:32] details they have
[1:59:34] look forward to meeting with them
[1:59:37] I know there was another
[1:59:39] uh there were some other community
[1:59:42] interest in that uh building
[1:59:45] um
[1:59:46] that there's a possibility of maybe a
[1:59:48] collaborative effort so I just want to
[1:59:49] make sure that we make sure that we
[1:59:51] extend that invitation or you know
[1:59:54] and I think they're open to that yeah
[1:59:57] to put
[2:00:00] more utilization in there gives
[2:00:02] everybody benefits off you know each
[2:00:05] other's involvement in time here
[2:00:09] we've we've investigated that facility
[2:00:12] years ago it will need significant
[2:00:15] improvements so if we decide to do those
[2:00:18] improvements for one of the association
[2:00:19] you'll most likely see me in the next
[2:00:22] Capital requests here with that in a
[2:00:25] facility request because it will be
[2:00:27] significant but it's worthy it will
[2:00:29] restore and put it what it will be
[2:00:32] significant
[2:00:44] 5.5 million already for this pool ad
[2:00:48] project
[2:00:50] I I have two Capital codes set up that
[2:00:53] I've been using for 4.95 million so if
[2:00:57] there is an additional one I'm
[2:00:58] I I missed it we haven't needed it we
[2:01:00] have the money but I can I can look I
[2:01:02] don't believe we have that so you're
[2:01:04] thinking there's another 500 yes
[2:01:09] correct
[2:01:11] about 500 000 yeah is it 5.5 million set
[2:01:15] aside for an additional we originally
[2:01:17] 4.5 of them has about a million dollars
[2:01:22] it was 450 000 4.9 right
[2:01:26] I I may be wrong I had my codes as 404.5
[2:01:31] million remaining out of 4.95 because
[2:01:35] 495 was for the design so or 450 for the
[2:01:39] design but I could have it if it's there
[2:01:40] it's fine there's two codes that are set
[2:01:42] up for the project you might want to
[2:01:45] look into that because I think um we did
[2:01:46] pass in one of the allocations an
[2:01:49] additional an additional one million on
[2:01:51] demands request to set aside now there
[2:01:54] was an additional one million
[2:01:58] dollars pass for arpa for what we what
[2:02:02] we staff Call outside the fence
[2:02:05] so this project is what we're calling
[2:02:07] the inside defense project which is the
[2:02:09] pool facilities the outside defense
[2:02:12] project is for the intersection the
[2:02:15] parking areas you're going to develop a
[2:02:17] path between Fair Avenue and music Haven
[2:02:19] with white it's for the improvements to
[2:02:22] bring people to the park safer so you
[2:02:26] are correct that we did pass that but
[2:02:28] that is while it's related to the pool
[2:02:31] it's also more for the general
[2:02:33] improvements of the Park yeah because it
[2:02:35] I'm looking at my document always has a
[2:02:37] Central Park Pool General site one
[2:02:39] million dollars on top of the 4.5
[2:02:42] million correct that one getting it
[2:02:45] though is you are correct but the
[2:02:47] intention of that was for for so with
[2:02:50] that money we were going to do the
[2:02:51] intersection over like I'd explained
[2:02:54] earlier we were going to clean up the
[2:02:56] parking area in front of the tennis lots
[2:02:58] and we were going to officially make
[2:03:00] that path uh that right now is kind of
[2:03:02] more of a dirt road that goes behind a
[2:03:04] dime and that people walk on when they
[2:03:06] go to music Haven with with lights and
[2:03:08] things like that
[2:03:10] um so that was what that one million is
[2:03:12] and that's what we would that's why we
[2:03:13] call it General site improvements
[2:03:15] because it's for the park as a general
[2:03:17] area so bear in mind we have they are
[2:03:19] also allocated funding for the tennis
[2:03:21] court yes or the tennis facility yep can
[2:03:24] you just mention about doing some work
[2:03:25] with this million dollar there
[2:03:28] tennis court so no
[2:03:30] um so the tennis court half a million
[2:03:32] dollars was for the repair and
[2:03:34] restoration of the courts themselves the
[2:03:37] courts themselves have bird baths and
[2:03:39] cracks and things like that which occur
[2:03:41] over the time
[2:03:42] um last time we did work on those courts
[2:03:44] was 2016 and enabled in order to keep
[2:03:48] them in the USDA condition we have to do
[2:03:50] that and that was the estimate that we
[2:03:53] have to to do that we had a meeting with
[2:03:55] them but yeah so I could I mean I could
[2:03:58] put together a summary of what all this
[2:04:00] is for but that 500 was for inside the
[2:04:04] fence of the tennis courts yeah then the
[2:04:05] million was for outside of everything to
[2:04:07] kind of make the connectivity
[2:04:09] yeah if you can just look into the
[2:04:10] millionaire like look at the narrative
[2:04:12] here it's saying Central Park Pool in
[2:04:13] general side yep that's why we look at
[2:04:16] it and we pass it based on adding
[2:04:18] additional funding towards a pool
[2:04:20] because
[2:04:21] I have a slide of what I use to talk
[2:04:24] about a little bit and what that was for
[2:04:26] but it's more of a connectivity uh
[2:04:28] surrounding the park it was uh pool and
[2:04:31] this is the pool itself
[2:04:35] good please so these profits you're
[2:04:39] giveness I often with projects like this
[2:04:40] there's change orders this is not even
[2:04:42] taken to consideration because we won't
[2:04:44] know it yet if any change orders come
[2:04:46] about so that is if you look into the
[2:04:48] middle of the sheet uh contingency for
[2:04:51] change orders eight percent so that's
[2:04:53] okay so that is in in there I'm not
[2:04:56] saying that we're going to spend all of
[2:04:58] that but the idea with that is that I
[2:05:01] have something to spend if we have
[2:05:03] change we're going to have change with
[2:05:05] this it's just the you know the amount
[2:05:06] so given the fact that we have already
[2:05:09] done a lot of due diligence we've taken
[2:05:11] down the trees we've done site we have
[2:05:13] all borings and we know that the soils
[2:05:15] in the area are good we don't think
[2:05:17] we're going to uncover any Boulders or
[2:05:19] oil tanks or anything like that usually
[2:05:22] contingencies 10 to 12 percent so we
[2:05:24] felt safe enough to bring it down to
[2:05:26] eight percent and that is in here so
[2:05:29] that I don't have to come back and ask
[2:05:31] for additional applications because you
[2:05:33] know the difference between money like
[2:05:34] this and saving money is the payment
[2:05:37] money I kind of have we get from the
[2:05:38] state in federal money I it's kind of
[2:05:40] like my this is different this is hard
[2:05:43] because there's not money set aside in
[2:05:45] the budget for pools so that you know
[2:05:48] anything pulls in Parts have always been
[2:05:49] hard for us in the capital because you
[2:05:51] have to set aside that money
[2:05:52] specifically
[2:05:54] muscle only just for us so you know for
[2:05:57] us to keep up our record can you list
[2:05:59] all that added facilities or anything
[2:06:02] that comprise that follows on the
[2:06:04] facilities where you say Central Park
[2:06:05] pools spray bad and Facilities
[2:06:08] yeah the facilities were and if you
[2:06:11] cannot today but you can listen and send
[2:06:13] it to the college okay another idea of
[2:06:14] what your what do you mean by facilities
[2:06:18] it's what we're calling the bath house
[2:06:19] yeah and then Palm Hospital
[2:06:31] any other questions
[2:06:36] this icon is just a discussion
[2:06:39] purpose no I'm asking you for
[2:06:41] authorization for funding
[2:06:43] I think it's in on the city that I'm not
[2:06:46] planning here
[2:06:49] you have it here as icam number two
[2:06:52] item number two so yeah
[2:06:56] so these already have gone out today
[2:06:58] you're asking them for the money but the
[2:07:00] bid's already been done right the
[2:07:02] just came in
[2:07:03] yeah just to be clear this particular
[2:07:06] piece of legislation the recommendation
[2:07:08] is to authorize the finance commissioner
[2:07:10] to allocate an additional 5.2 million in
[2:07:13] arpa funds for the Central Park full
[2:07:15] spray pattern facility project so it was
[2:07:17] not a discussion item
[2:07:19] no no if you look on this city
[2:07:21] development planning there's an item
[2:07:24] there it's an experience
[2:07:26] item number one and two is for them yeah
[2:07:29] discussions for Revere Avenue
[2:07:34] so one or two are to award-bidden
[2:07:37] contract
[2:07:39] right
[2:07:41] correct
[2:07:43] okay
[2:07:45] any other discussion
[2:07:48] I've you know I'd like to see I mean
[2:07:50] you've explained a lot today and I would
[2:07:52] like to say like this is more than we
[2:07:55] had initially when it came before the
[2:07:57] council I'd like to see it as a con as a
[2:07:59] comprehensive package and then we do
[2:08:01] have three council members in this thing
[2:08:02] tonight
[2:08:03] um who didn't get to hear all this
[2:08:05] discussion so
[2:08:07] um that's where I am with it right now I
[2:08:09] just like to see is there something that
[2:08:11] we don't have to
[2:08:12] um that we don't have to do these bids
[2:08:15] are good for 45 days and
[2:08:21] yeah what's the timing on that yeah so
[2:08:24] we got caught in a little bit of a
[2:08:26] catch-22 that I wasn't really prepared
[2:08:28] for but
[2:08:29] um we had the bids out on December 2nd
[2:08:32] um we had some questions so we pushed
[2:08:34] out the return date to Thursday January
[2:08:37] 12th so that we could give everybody
[2:08:39] time because there were a lot of
[2:08:40] questions like I said with the cap and
[2:08:42] with some of the things with regard to
[2:08:44] the pool uh January 2nd was legislative
[2:08:46] conference so we didn't have time to
[2:08:49] review the bids and get them in the
[2:08:51] legislative conference on top of that as
[2:08:53] you'll see in your uh
[2:08:55] what is your agenda today we did not get
[2:08:58] a mechanical of it so then we also
[2:09:01] wanted to have that together we only got
[2:09:03] three of the four so then we held off
[2:09:06] until the next but there was a dark
[2:09:07] Monday on January 30th that pushed us
[2:09:10] out the extra actually you know two
[2:09:13] weeks almost so now uh 45 days this is
[2:09:17] the best cycle to do it if we wait for
[2:09:19] the 45 days it's Jan February 26th is
[2:09:23] when that 45 days is over but the next
[2:09:25] council meeting is February 27th and
[2:09:27] then we would still have to get the
[2:09:29] signatures on the agreements so that's
[2:09:31] why we thought to bring them both to you
[2:09:33] today was to try to stay within the 45
[2:09:35] minutes
[2:09:40] timelines here
[2:09:42] and they ask on the table is to get more
[2:09:45] details get a list of all these things
[2:09:47] here I'm sure
[2:09:48] Madam President we can schedule a
[2:09:51] special meeting a finance meeting and a
[2:09:54] special city council meeting to
[2:09:55] accommodate that you meet your timeline
[2:09:58] to get this done before the 26th so it
[2:10:01] will be proven that you give us that
[2:10:03] information okay and we have the council
[2:10:05] member the next meeting and we can
[2:10:07] discuss it in more detail and have a
[2:10:09] look at all the added facilities and the
[2:10:13] scope of work
[2:10:14] and we can move forward I don't think it
[2:10:16] would be a issue having special meetings
[2:10:18] to accommodate this
[2:10:20] absolutely
[2:10:21] I'm not available
[2:10:41] um I would like all of the council
[2:10:43] members to to at least hear the
[2:10:44] conversations today and we have three
[2:10:46] people that are missing I I knew that
[2:10:48] two I didn't know the third
[2:10:50] um so I would really if we could just
[2:10:52] move along and we'll have a special
[2:10:54] meeting and with finance and counseling
[2:10:56] to make sure that everyone is clear and
[2:10:58] again this what we understood when this
[2:11:01] initially was brought to us has grown
[2:11:05] tremendously so um that for me is a
[2:11:09] concern that we heard about it after the
[2:11:12] growth of it as opposed to on the front
[2:11:14] end of it
[2:11:15] so just want to take a little bit more
[2:11:17] time to absorb all of that
[2:11:22] yeah so is that oh yeah we'll get to it
[2:11:25] the same with items one and two City
[2:11:27] development planning all three rules at
[2:11:29] the same time so we wouldn't be able
[2:11:31] until we make sure we have the funding
[2:11:33] all the funding in place we can't award
[2:11:34] bids of contracts but we would hope to
[2:11:37] do all of them special meeting yes
[2:11:40] that's correct yes so he will be
[2:11:43] discussing our allocation and then
[2:11:46] contract
[2:11:48] for these um
[2:11:54] and he had a question regarding this
[2:11:56] item
[2:11:57] [Music]
[2:12:00] all right
[2:12:05] um
[2:12:07] make sure we work with the clerk we will
[2:12:10] call for the special meetings and make
[2:12:11] sure the council members get it and get
[2:12:14] the information once you receive the
[2:12:16] official documentation we'll schedule
[2:12:17] and call the yes yes I'll send all the
[2:12:20] information to Sam tomorrow
[2:12:23] okay okay
[2:12:24] all right thank you for your time
[2:12:29] and obviously Ron Gardens office on our
[2:12:33] ewbe
[2:12:36] um
[2:12:37] goes on this project as well
[2:12:41] yeah
[2:12:42] [Music]
[2:12:43] he said yes yes
[2:12:46] all right the next item updates on our
[2:12:49] phones powerful allocations the best
[2:12:52] Quarterfield
[2:12:53] yes um
[2:12:55] so you know we've allocated a lot of
[2:12:58] money so at this point in time I'd like
[2:13:00] to know where we are with that
[2:13:02] um where our contracts are within I did
[2:13:04] send an email out and so let me just
[2:13:06] also say that Mr Ferrari did provide for
[2:13:08] us the remaining funds uh about 8
[2:13:12] million in our for funds so this point
[2:13:14] in time for those the money that we have
[2:13:16] allocated the council is allocated I'd
[2:13:18] like to know where we are with the
[2:13:19] contracts what's been sent out so
[2:13:22] looking for the update from
[2:13:24] um thank you from development and uh
[2:13:28] also I sent the email to Mr Golden so
[2:13:31] I'm not sure how we're going to who's
[2:13:33] going to take one role
[2:13:35] yet
[2:13:39] um yeah so just to give a brief update
[2:13:41] without going into every single
[2:13:43] um awardee of the arpa funding um we we
[2:13:46] did execute the contract fully with YWCA
[2:13:49] which is great because that was a
[2:13:50] critical needs project for some of their
[2:13:53] critical repairs of the facility we have
[2:13:56] the same thing has their contract
[2:13:58] they're reviewing it and that should be
[2:13:59] executed I would say very shortly
[2:14:03] um we will be coming back next cycle
[2:14:05] with the food Council
[2:14:09] allocation I think we need to get
[2:14:11] approval from the council to go to
[2:14:12] contract so we we um we will be bringing
[2:14:17] that back on the next cycle for approval
[2:14:20] based on discussions with the foundation
[2:14:21] and sitcom and the other partners to
[2:14:23] come up with a final budget
[2:14:26] um I believe in addition to that we are
[2:14:29] just still waiting on the pre-contract
[2:14:31] requirements from various organizations
[2:14:33] before we can actually enter into
[2:14:37] contracts for those projects and we
[2:14:41] still have some awards who who really
[2:14:44] haven't responded to the request for
[2:14:47] that information so far so I think you
[2:14:50] know
[2:14:51] after some time we should start to I
[2:14:54] mean I know we have the year timeline
[2:14:55] placed on a lot of the projects but I do
[2:14:57] really think we should probably come up
[2:14:59] with a you know a timeline of when we
[2:15:03] can receive these pre-contract
[2:15:05] requirements and you know what to do
[2:15:07] beyond that
[2:15:09] um do you have any other I mean I got
[2:15:11] those
[2:15:12] unless you guys are good questions yeah
[2:15:13] so yeah I only heard you mentioned like
[2:15:16] two people so far yeah
[2:15:18] we gave a lot of requirements for people
[2:15:21] for the pre-contract stuff I'm thinking
[2:15:24] it'll save us a lot of time and effort
[2:15:25] and the tail end after we get these
[2:15:28] contracts executed just making sure
[2:15:29] everybody has you know a good shape
[2:15:33] and they're prepared to move forward and
[2:15:34] effective efficient manner so I think
[2:15:36] people are trying to get their their
[2:15:38] stuff together
[2:15:39] so we definitely need a timeline so
[2:15:42] specifically those who didn't have any
[2:15:44] contingencies
[2:15:46] um
[2:15:47] none of this like nobody has responded
[2:15:49] they have no contingencies and still I
[2:15:50] haven't gotten the information to you
[2:15:51] they're they're getting it together um
[2:15:54] there's some back and forth they don't
[2:15:55] necessarily have all the documents they
[2:15:57] need to have
[2:15:58] um there's polish procedures in place
[2:15:59] that we ask them put in place they're
[2:16:02] working to get together and aspects yeah
[2:16:05] so there's been a lot of communication
[2:16:06] and contact with a lot of the
[2:16:08] organizations but we're just not at a
[2:16:10] point to enter a contract yet
[2:16:12] um and some of it is you know some of
[2:16:13] the projects are also you know we're
[2:16:15] waiting for them to add final budgets
[2:16:17] and things like that so there's just a
[2:16:20] lot of moving Parts with a lot of the
[2:16:21] projects and also getting you know the
[2:16:24] organizations to get together those documents so that's kind of where
[2:16:28] we are but we do have you know the
[2:16:29] contract we've worked with the law
[2:16:30] Department we have the template we're
[2:16:32] working with the organizations we're
[2:16:34] just not really in a position to to
[2:16:36] execute on the ones that we don't have
[2:16:39] all the information for
[2:16:40] oh
[2:16:42] go ahead with this would you stand there
[2:16:44] at this time are there any projects that
[2:16:46] you are more worried about than being
[2:16:49] that deadline
[2:16:51] and if so I think that would be
[2:16:53] appropriate to provide the listing or
[2:16:55] update to the council as
[2:16:57] well we can we can look more more into
[2:16:59] that game
[2:17:00] yeah and like I mean I would say the
[2:17:03] ones who just haven't responded I mean
[2:17:05] we can actively reach out but you know
[2:17:08] there's a limited time that they're
[2:17:10] going to spend doing that you know
[2:17:13] um you know we want to be proactive
[2:17:15] about executing these projects we also
[2:17:17] can't you know just continuously reach
[2:17:20] out if we're not really getting a
[2:17:21] response so yeah at a certain point
[2:17:23] we're going to have to evaluate that and
[2:17:25] then
[2:17:26] I imagine like bootcampus but so much
[2:17:28] hand-holding but based on my scope and
[2:17:31] uh
[2:17:33] viewing comparatively with what you have
[2:17:35] been receiving from other projects I
[2:17:36] would just like to know what monies
[2:17:38] could potentially be returning to the
[2:17:40] council that we need to then focus on
[2:17:41] how do we reallocate that in the worst
[2:17:43] case scenariants I think this point in
[2:17:45] time it's gonna you know we don't have
[2:17:47] that number yet
[2:17:48] um most the big ticket items that you
[2:17:51] had large allocated dollars to
[2:17:53] um had a significant number of
[2:17:55] contingencies cash them any other money
[2:17:56] they need to raise so once we get a
[2:17:59] better idea of where they're going to
[2:18:00] stand with those projects
[2:18:02] give you a better idea of how much money
[2:18:04] you'll get back you know most most of
[2:18:07] there's some that are fairly
[2:18:08] significantly small
[2:18:10] um you know ten fifty thousand dollars
[2:18:11] which is a small amount of money I was
[2:18:13] gonna say but for this for 52 million
[2:18:16] dollars it's not it's not a significant
[2:18:19] amount but so we'll we'll have a better
[2:18:20] idea probably in a few months of what
[2:18:23] money is probably could be reallocated
[2:18:25] yeah we definitely need to know that and
[2:18:28] uh so I would like to post it to the
[2:18:30] council that we discussed getting a um
[2:18:32] because it sounds like you're kind of
[2:18:34] extreme amount of work to do and it's
[2:18:36] beyond what you normally do that we um
[2:18:38] talking about using some of the arpa
[2:18:40] funds to actually hire Consultants who
[2:18:42] keep track of this money
[2:18:44] um it's a lot for our you know it's
[2:18:46] additional it's an additional um job to
[2:18:49] do beyond what staff is already doing
[2:18:51] and so I would like to propose that we
[2:18:54] look at how to consultant to keep track
[2:18:55] of keep track of the projects keep track
[2:18:57] of the money and just you know um
[2:19:01] we're looking at that internally to
[2:19:03] match it up to be able to do the
[2:19:06] allocation and then do the monitoring
[2:19:09] so you're not you're you're saying
[2:19:11] you're not interested in doing an
[2:19:12] outside consultant to bring in I didn't
[2:19:15] say that they said we're doing it we're
[2:19:17] looking at one
[2:19:18] house or
[2:19:20] actually have somebody else as a
[2:19:23] consultant
[2:19:24] [Music]
[2:19:26] so as far as the timeline goes um
[2:19:30] obviously we'll be looking at are you
[2:19:33] know depending on again project scope
[2:19:35] amount you know the contingencies that
[2:19:37] are put in place
[2:19:39] um we should probably have like a
[2:19:42] timeline thing this is the deadline but
[2:19:44] that deadline then would have to take
[2:19:46] into all those considerations so I just
[2:19:48] wouldn't you know want to have an
[2:19:51] expectation for
[2:19:52] um a project with no contingencies or
[2:19:56] maybe some small contingencies put them
[2:19:58] at the same timeline as a project with
[2:20:00] lots of contingencies because that was
[2:20:02] just you know be setting them up for
[2:20:04] failure so I'm just concerned about that
[2:20:05] kind of
[2:20:07] maybe you guys put the ones with
[2:20:09] contingencies you did actually put a
[2:20:11] timeline in place fourth and
[2:20:13] um so okay I was talking about
[2:20:16] um people that are like we're not
[2:20:18] hearing back from or saying or like
[2:20:20] there's some there's some figuring out
[2:20:22] why you know yeah some documentation
[2:20:24] that needs to uh that needs to be
[2:20:26] produced
[2:20:27] um yeah so I was just thinking around
[2:20:29] those you know if we put together so we
[2:20:31] have that that overarching timeline
[2:20:33] where we talked about adding in an
[2:20:35] additional timeline for paperwork
[2:20:37] compliance is that what we're saying
[2:20:38] it's about you know right related like
[2:20:40] an intern deadline to get that stuff in
[2:20:43] so that will make sure
[2:20:45] that's right and if that was going to
[2:20:47] happen those are just the considerations
[2:20:49] that we've obviously implemented but I
[2:20:51] think is worth enough
[2:20:54] so um so thank you for that we were very
[2:20:58] intentional about how we were spending
[2:20:59] money make sure that certain
[2:21:00] organizations got money however we are
[2:21:02] also held to a timeline so if we can't
[2:21:05] if we everything can be gotten in the in
[2:21:08] within our time frame then we have to
[2:21:10] make sure that we're understanding that
[2:21:11] we would have to recapture some of those
[2:21:13] funds so it's important that's why I
[2:21:15] think it's important that we have
[2:21:16] someone who's extremely dedicated to
[2:21:18] making sure that that work is done so
[2:21:21] um that we've you know allocate the
[2:21:22] money and we're not giving any of it
[2:21:24] back
[2:21:25] um so what I'm going to ask for you is
[2:21:27] like probably every couple of weeks now
[2:21:29] at this point in time every Community
[2:21:31] needs to just see where we are I think
[2:21:33] we really have to stay on top of this
[2:21:34] and um
[2:21:38] if you could if it's just those couple
[2:21:40] months if you would just be specific
[2:21:41] with the ones just send an email and
[2:21:43] I'll make sure sure yeah I didn't know
[2:21:45] if we wanted to go through like every project but yeah we can we can
[2:21:49] send that information so that
[2:21:50] everybody's aware and if someone reaches
[2:21:52] out that
[2:21:53] it hasn't gotten in touch or something
[2:21:55] we can we can you know
[2:21:57] be able to to talk to them yes because
[2:22:00] people are asking we do receive phone
[2:22:02] calls so just like but so where things
[2:22:04] are that would be great yeah
[2:22:11] so we'll have this back
[2:22:13] uh two weeks okay any other icon before
[2:22:16] Finance
[2:22:17] I have a motion to a driver second all
[2:22:20] the paper uh thank you call to order
[2:22:23] City development and planning and based
[2:22:25] on our prior discussion
[2:22:27] um items number one and two will be
[2:22:29] considered when we have a special
[2:22:31] meeting
[2:22:33] that will be called regarding the
[2:22:35] allocation of funds
[2:22:38] item number three discussion of uh
[2:22:41] Revere Avenue paper Street development
[2:22:43] feasibility studies
[2:22:49] thank you uh so if you recall several
[2:22:53] months ago I came before you with a
[2:22:56] proposal from CT mail to discuss the
[2:23:00] scoping an investigation if the Revere
[2:23:03] Avenue could be developed from paper
[2:23:05] Street into an actual road we reviewed
[2:23:08] the document together and the question
[2:23:11] was brought forth about how future costs
[2:23:14] would be handled and what the I guess
[2:23:19] what the owner the owner of the
[2:23:21] property's commitment would be as we go
[2:23:23] forward with the investigation I believe
[2:23:25] it is the property owners desire that
[2:23:27] the city front this cost for CT mail to
[2:23:32] do the investigation and then at that
[2:23:34] point on to go forward they would be an
[2:23:37] active partner in the development of the
[2:23:39] area the owner of the property has
[2:23:42] written a letter that is in here and the
[2:23:44] owner is here today to discuss the
[2:23:47] development and moving forward with the
[2:23:49] project it so it would be great if we
[2:23:52] could have a conversation today about
[2:23:54] how we want to move forward with this
[2:23:58] and I would welcome would you want to
[2:23:59] come up with Frank and uh if there's any
[2:24:01] questions we can discuss together
[2:24:09] you do have
[2:24:12] my uh proposal uh Chris had asked me to
[2:24:17] submit something to you so that you can
[2:24:19] see you know what our involvement it
[2:24:21] would be just so you understand I'm not
[2:24:23] the owner my wife is
[2:24:27] um
[2:24:27] she allows me to you know to make
[2:24:30] condemnments for her anyways what we would like to do here is we we
[2:24:36] have tried to develop this ourselves and
[2:24:38] we found that we you know there were
[2:24:40] environmental issues that needed to be
[2:24:41] addressed and in doing so we weren't
[2:24:45] proposing necessarily to put the road
[2:24:47] through so what I'm asking for is a
[2:24:50] feasibility study to see if the road can
[2:24:52] go in and at that point then we will
[2:24:55] determine you know how we're going to
[2:24:57] perceive this because the development
[2:24:59] team still is interested in the property
[2:25:01] [Music]
[2:25:06] so you're asking us to pay the six six
[2:25:09] thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars
[2:25:11] to for this visibility yeah
[2:25:15] and these properties have all paid taxes
[2:25:18] oh yes
[2:25:21] many other properties have been owned by
[2:25:23] the family for almost 50 years now and
[2:25:26] uh
[2:25:27] my wife's inherited you know this he's
[2:25:30] the 17 icon 17 Labs you guys have it
[2:25:34] split up on third view that's because
[2:25:36] some of them have been combined
[2:25:38] but anyways
[2:25:39] um over the course of that time over the
[2:25:42] course of the last 30 years I've been
[2:25:43] looking at several different projects
[2:25:45] you know what we can do with this what
[2:25:47] we can't do
[2:25:48] and with the zoning change you know to
[2:25:51] the uh what was it R3
[2:25:55] we were allowed you know to do the
[2:25:58] multiple dwelling which is this is
[2:26:00] surrounded by apartments from R1 correct
[2:26:03] from a single single-family photographer
[2:26:05] if you know the area the area is
[2:26:07] multi-family homes
[2:26:09] actually at the time when the zoning was
[2:26:13] done I'm surprised that it wasn't
[2:26:14] changed then you know just because
[2:26:16] everything around it was an organ
[2:26:20] so uh at any rate we found you know we
[2:26:25] did find some developers that were very
[2:26:27] interested in the property and that's
[2:26:29] when we ran into some of the
[2:26:31] environmental issues
[2:26:32] and I feel pretty strongly that I think
[2:26:35] that the city has a better chance of
[2:26:38] getting those approved than we would as
[2:26:40] private investor private Developers
[2:26:49] [Music]
[2:26:52] oil spills or anything like that you
[2:26:55] know these property uh it has What was
[2:26:58] seen as some unclassified Wetland areas
[2:27:01] you know what we want to do is we're
[2:27:03] talking about a very small area within
[2:27:05] the right-of-way on adjacent to his so
[2:27:08] what we want to do is to figure out the
[2:27:10] feasibility see team mail the reason
[2:27:12] that we are looking to work with TT mail
[2:27:14] the CT mail is the city's ms4 and storm
[2:27:17] water consultant they're very uh versed
[2:27:20] in both the city and regionally how to
[2:27:22] work with local Army Corps of Engineers
[2:27:24] and the DDC
[2:27:27] um because even though on any map that
[2:27:29] exists because we've done the research
[2:27:30] these are not uh classified they do not
[2:27:33] exist on paper they still exist
[2:27:35] physically as a wet area in the city and
[2:27:38] we do our due diligence to see if this
[2:27:40] can be developed if it cannot be
[2:27:42] developed that's going to take us down a
[2:27:44] different road because if we come into
[2:27:45] the terms of this area cannot be
[2:27:47] developed then these Parcels are
[2:27:50] essentially
[2:27:52] right well one one thing to keep in mind
[2:27:55] is these parts that were part of a
[2:27:57] subdivision of the city probably I would
[2:27:59] say 70 or 80 years ago these properties
[2:28:02] were set up paper streets
[2:28:05] Lots were established Lots were sold
[2:28:08] resold sold over again sold at tax sales
[2:28:11] and so on on Down the Line
[2:28:13] and that's how it was developed
[2:28:16] now Wetlands act didn't come in a big
[2:28:19] play until 1971 and they never really
[2:28:21] came around with any real program on
[2:28:24] that until the late 80s early 90s
[2:28:27] so I mean you know actually if we had
[2:28:29] done something with it in the 70s you
[2:28:31] know maybe this wouldn't even be there
[2:28:33] but I think that's where we had where
[2:28:36] the city has an opportunity to work with
[2:28:39] you know other agencies the federal
[2:28:41] agencies and the state agencies to keep
[2:28:43] this on the tax maps the way you want
[2:28:50] um and it does say including
[2:28:51] reimbursable expenses so
[2:28:54] uh yeah so reimbursable expenses in
[2:28:57] regards to this is technically if they
[2:29:00] print a very large map where they do
[2:29:02] mileage that's a reimbursable expensive
[2:29:05] it's it's usually percentages more than
[2:29:08] that it's we're not you know 35 cents a
[2:29:11] mile they come from our office to here
[2:29:12] so it's not it's not anything we're you
[2:29:14] know we're not paying for a trip to
[2:29:16] Vegas or running of a helicopter it's going to be they're usually well
[2:29:20] climbed and it's not Central Park no
[2:29:39] any questions any other questions from
[2:29:41] Council Members I will say so I would
[2:29:44] pay for this out of a operating code in
[2:29:47] the engineering department that is
[2:29:49] called fees for services I do keep a
[2:29:52] fees line with money for hiring of
[2:29:55] consultants and surveyors and things so
[2:29:57] while this is not 100 budgeted when I
[2:30:00] came to you there is budget to pay for
[2:30:03] this portion of it so this is not
[2:30:04] something that you know is outside the
[2:30:07] realm of anything I don't have to you
[2:30:08] know go digging it up I'll be able to
[2:30:13] all right any questions
[2:30:16] Mr Williams I know um do your recent uh
[2:30:20] updates on the existence of paper
[2:30:22] streets we're saying they're far in
[2:30:23] between right
[2:30:25] sorry as my follow-on question is making
[2:30:27] sure this is seen as an opportunity and
[2:30:29] not necessarily an obligation to do a
[2:30:31] consideration too with
[2:30:33] Chris
[2:30:35] an opportunity not up yeah this is very unique and the uniqueness of it is
[2:30:43] typically our paper streets are actually
[2:30:44] around like Cal Brook Parks diamonds
[2:30:47] Park Woodlawn they're around the park
[2:30:49] area we do still have some but they can
[2:30:51] be developed a little bit simpler this
[2:30:53] particular street is entirety between
[2:30:56] two streets next to two developed pieces
[2:30:58] of land it's very unique because if for
[2:31:01] some reason it could not be developed
[2:31:03] then all the parcels on either side of
[2:31:05] this are landlocked by all of their
[2:31:08] neighbors and hence unusable and then I
[2:31:10] would have to work with the property
[2:31:11] owners and the assessor and possibly
[2:31:14] Andrew to find okay well now you know is
[2:31:17] it really how do we how do we do that
[2:31:19] because the parcels then are you know
[2:31:21] I'm not saying that every empty parcel
[2:31:23] should not be a park you know we don't
[2:31:24] have we don't really have a need to make
[2:31:26] another Park in the area but this is a
[2:31:29] it's a conversation um I can't remember
[2:31:31] how many years ago it was it was
[2:31:32] somewhere around six or seven years ago
[2:31:34] Steve strickman did a very large study
[2:31:36] around a little while and he just
[2:31:38] started consolidating paper streets
[2:31:40] around the Woodlawn preserve because
[2:31:41] Woodlawn preserve was turning and
[2:31:43] working with the Albany Pine Bush This
[2:31:46] is not that I think that given the
[2:31:48] location of this and giving that it
[2:31:51] cannot be incorporated into other
[2:31:53] aspects of parks or public lands I think
[2:31:56] that it would be in the city's best
[2:31:58] interest to work with a property owner
[2:32:00] and just see this to its natural
[2:32:02] conclusion
[2:32:03] and if you know wherever that may be you
[2:32:06] know and work with them and work with a
[2:32:08] property owner because otherwise I I
[2:32:10] don't know what you know what we would
[2:32:11] do with it and it would be better to
[2:32:12] keep this on the tax roll than to have
[2:32:14] some things and have it justice
[2:32:16] you know undevelopable area
[2:32:19] thank you any other questions
[2:32:23] well I will I will just say one thing
[2:32:25] there's one volume up because it came to
[2:32:26] me you guys didn't bring this up but uh
[2:32:29] we built did talk with Metroplex and
[2:32:31] given the location that it is solely uh
[2:32:34] residential they at the moment are
[2:32:37] saying that you know they'd like the
[2:32:39] city to to work on it because they
[2:32:41] prefer downtown mixed-use with a little
[2:32:43] commercial just that that came up I did
[2:32:45] uh when I talked with Mr irva I did go
[2:32:48] and have a meeting with the Metroplex
[2:32:50] Development Authority because I thought
[2:32:52] that this was uh and then the whole city
[2:32:54] is in Metroplex but they had talked with
[2:32:56] him previously or were aware of it and
[2:32:58] they said that they're just not this
[2:33:00] isn't in their wheelhouse as of right
[2:33:02] now so maybe down the line as we get
[2:33:04] things going there'll be something but
[2:33:06] right now they ask that the city takes a
[2:33:08] lead on us there is the potential that
[2:33:11] you know you could have some commercial
[2:33:12] development in there as part of the
[2:33:14] mixed use so I mean that is allowed in
[2:33:17] the zoning so that is a possibility also
[2:33:24] are there any other questions you have
[2:33:25] anything else no I'm sorry I just wanted
[2:33:27] to put that out there I did my due
[2:33:28] diligence
[2:33:30] any questions
[2:33:32] um
[2:33:41] the next item on the agenda is a Seeker
[2:33:44] for building changes for banquet
[2:33:45] facilities Miss DIA
[2:33:53] [Music]
[2:33:55] so we've completed the 30-day secret
[2:34:00] review city council as the lead Agency
[2:34:02] for the zoning coaches for Bank
[2:34:04] facilities been discussed before with
[2:34:06] the public hearing is held and so the
[2:34:09] first action would be
[2:34:11] um like issuing the negative declaration
[2:34:13] for Seeker
[2:34:18] have any questions
[2:34:26] and next item agenda remind you donate
[2:34:28] for change the language facility and
[2:34:30] private clubs for a lot of them it's
[2:34:33] just a reminder yep so reminders um once
[2:34:35] The Seekers passed then you would pass
[2:34:38] the amendment to his own program as
[2:34:40] outlined anybody have any questions
[2:34:42] around that
[2:34:44] Mr Chipotle clarification the city
[2:34:48] council approved the um
[2:34:51] I think what Mr Marty presented earlier
[2:34:53] related to the change to the certificate
[2:34:56] of use process that referred to a
[2:34:58] definition that is part of this code
[2:35:00] change there's nothing that would
[2:35:03] prevent the council to issue the deck
[2:35:05] and also pass the ordinance at the
[2:35:07] meeting on Monday that the council isn't
[2:35:10] going to be doing the the passage to the
[2:35:14] amendment to the zoning ordinance
[2:35:17] at that time I would request that the
[2:35:19] council again wait on the change to the
[2:35:22] certificate of use because it does again
[2:35:25] refer to a section that doesn't yet
[2:35:28] exist in the code as it relates to the
[2:35:30] definition so the set the council can
[2:35:33] take action at this next meeting on
[2:35:35] Monday to do the negative declaration
[2:35:37] for the resolution and then pass the
[2:35:39] ordinance
[2:35:41] look at the Zone chair the zoning change
[2:35:43] oh so you at first I thought you said we
[2:35:45] should you no I'm saying you can what
[2:35:47] I'm saying is it I wouldn't you have to
[2:35:49] I wouldn't move ahead with a certificate
[2:35:50] of use if you're in a change
[2:35:52] if you're not going to move ahead with
[2:35:54] the zoning change for death defining big
[2:35:56] wood facilities private clubs and lodges
[2:35:59] because the certificate of use refers to
[2:36:03] this change so maybe this should be done
[2:36:05] first so that way but what I'm saying is
[2:36:07] I'm sorry what I'm saying is
[2:36:10] um the council can move ahead with
[2:36:14] um both doing the negative declaration
[2:36:16] and passing the ordinance amending the
[2:36:19] zoning code at Monday's meeting and that
[2:36:22] wouldn't necessitate then holding off on
[2:36:24] the certificate of use uh ordinance
[2:36:26] change
[2:36:28] um
[2:36:29] yeah
[2:36:30] but if the council is going to wait on
[2:36:32] the zoning change then it should also
[2:36:34] wait on the certificate of use change
[2:36:37] I don't think we're waiting on the
[2:36:38] zoning change I just wasn't sure because
[2:36:41] it was it was a reminder and the
[2:36:44] implication I want to make sure the
[2:36:45] application wasn't uh to wait no no that
[2:36:49] was just saying the public hearing just
[2:36:50] reminded the public hearing already
[2:36:51] happened
[2:36:52] okay sure all right
[2:36:57] so that was it for the Builder
[2:36:59] facilities yes
[2:37:01] um
[2:37:04] oh yeah so I need a motion to okay so
[2:37:09] second
[2:37:11] all right that's the only changes item
[2:37:13] number five
[2:37:15] item number six you're gonna be here for
[2:37:18] a little while
[2:37:19] um the secret Amendment to the
[2:37:21] overlaying Historic District 308 State
[2:37:23] Street yep
[2:37:25] um
[2:37:26] so this is related to the overlay
[2:37:28] District at three-way State Street once
[2:37:30] again
[2:37:31] um we've completed the 30-day secret
[2:37:33] review with the city council estate
[2:37:35] agency you would pass the negative
[2:37:37] declaration in terms of environmental
[2:37:39] impacts
[2:37:41] any questions
[2:37:45] so second all's in favor all right item
[2:37:49] number seven is the reminder with the
[2:37:51] amendment to the oh
[2:37:53] it's really State Street in the public
[2:37:55] hearing is held on January 9th perfect
[2:37:57] so this is just approving that Amendment
[2:38:00] I'll understand oh are there any
[2:38:02] questions
[2:38:04] so second all those in favor
[2:38:09] item number eight
[2:38:10] purchase option agreement for various
[2:38:13] properties with uh Capital Region land
[2:38:15] bank for the revitalization of Summit
[2:38:18] Avenue this year
[2:38:21] okay so we um we're here tonight we have
[2:38:24] some of our partners here in the room as
[2:38:26] well
[2:38:27] um the city of Schenectady and the land
[2:38:29] bank have partnered on various
[2:38:31] neighborhood Improvement projects that
[2:38:33] resulted in removing over 2 200 flighted
[2:38:36] properties in the creation of over 250
[2:38:39] minutes of new housing in multiple
[2:38:41] neighborhoods
[2:38:42] um there is as you are well aware of the
[2:38:46] situation in Summit Ave where the city
[2:38:48] owns a concentration of many vacant
[2:38:51] inflated properties we've been for a
[2:38:53] long time trying to find the right
[2:38:56] opportunity that was a comprehensive
[2:38:58] strategy for redevelopment in this area
[2:39:01] we are working with Partners at MLB and
[2:39:05] kfk who are here tonight as well as
[2:39:07] David from the land bank to discuss this
[2:39:10] proposal which we are excited about
[2:39:13] because it's it's for home ownership so
[2:39:16] this isn't for you know a large
[2:39:19] development this is to create it is
[2:39:21] ourselves but it's for it's for home
[2:39:23] ownership and we're excited about that
[2:39:25] aspect of it so
[2:39:27] um I want to invite Pam swanigan from
[2:39:30] AFA and Damien
[2:39:33] um we have a quick there's just a quick
[2:39:34] presentation here that I'll that will
[2:39:37] let them go through and then we can talk
[2:39:39] about the actual
[2:39:40] um options
[2:39:44] absolutely I'm looking at the pan first
[2:39:46] so
[2:39:48] um aik Property Group
[2:39:58] in general thank you very much this is a
[2:40:01] once in a generation opportunity from my
[2:40:04] perspective as a small uh
[2:40:08] African-American developer in the area
[2:40:12] we're able to create generational wealth
[2:40:16] through creation of new homes
[2:40:19] it's not rentals and the most important
[2:40:22] and exciting part about it is that the
[2:40:25] homes that we sell will be the first
[2:40:29] individuals who live in the neighborhood
[2:40:31] and then we will cast The Net wider but
[2:40:34] we want to focus
[2:40:36] primarily on those who've lived in the
[2:40:38] neighborhood for a while and so um I'm
[2:40:41] gonna
[2:40:43] the gentleman over there I don't
[2:40:45] remember your name you were talking
[2:40:46] about Ami the homes would be affordable
[2:40:50] um 80 Ami and that will make it more
[2:40:57] available and possible for the Neighbors
[2:41:00] so we've been listening to the
[2:41:01] neighborhood and this is what they
[2:41:03] wanted not rentals well we made rentals
[2:41:06] of course but they also need homes that
[2:41:09] they can pass on to the next Generation
[2:41:11] so with that I'll let
[2:41:13] um
[2:41:14] Daniel talked more about the technical
[2:41:17] pieces
[2:41:18] um thank you very much you don't mind
[2:41:19] going back on this live for a moment I
[2:41:22] think that you know I'm especially
[2:41:24] excited about being able to have this
[2:41:26] partnership with aik I think MLB's
[2:41:28] Mission and aik's Mission are very
[2:41:32] synergistic in this particular situation
[2:41:34] and between the two of us what we're
[2:41:36] really looking at doing is improving the
[2:41:37] city is connected in one neighborhood at
[2:41:39] a time we're hoping to create a program
[2:41:41] that's going to be reused throughout all
[2:41:44] Schenectady and have something that is
[2:41:46] going to be successful and as Pam said
[2:41:48] really create that generation of wealth
[2:41:50] that Equity those homeowner ownership
[2:41:52] homeowner opportunities that we're
[2:41:55] looking to create thank you
[2:41:57] so moving on to some of the specifics of
[2:41:59] it we're looking at 19 Parcels in and
[2:42:01] around 7th Avenue there are 18 that the
[2:42:04] city owns one we're working with the
[2:42:05] park with the county
[2:42:08] um you know we are still looking at
[2:42:09] potentially adding additional if that
[2:42:12] works but from the moment we really want
[2:42:13] to get these under control
[2:42:15] the district is R1 and R2 zelding we
[2:42:18] have a little over 12 Hertz total linear
[2:42:20] photo Frontage you know kind of
[2:42:23] hearkening back to the sidewalk
[2:42:25] initiative we're going to be replacing
[2:42:27] the sidewalks in front of the homes that
[2:42:29] were renovating but obviously we would
[2:42:31] still love to see kind of a continued
[2:42:33] Community Renewal and support so having
[2:42:36] something that allows you to kind of
[2:42:38] redo that whole streetscape would really
[2:42:41] be beneficial across the board
[2:42:43] we're looking to do 21 proposed
[2:42:45] structures of those structures that will
[2:42:48] be 41 living units so we're looking at
[2:42:50] doing about 20 attached duplex style but
[2:42:54] they will be built and sold as single
[2:42:56] families with a full two-hour rate in
[2:42:58] between the two families we've seen this
[2:43:00] done in some larger instances in the
[2:43:02] suburbs we're trying to make home
[2:43:04] ownership a little bit more affordable
[2:43:05] and we're kind of paring it down and
[2:43:07] focusing on you know targeting people
[2:43:10] who are making between 40 and 65 000 a
[2:43:13] year to be able to afford that so we're
[2:43:16] targeting schenectadys 80 Ami not the
[2:43:19] whole census trap and we're essentially
[2:43:23] performing
[2:43:25] home ownership opportunities where you
[2:43:28] can own your own home less than twelve
[2:43:30] hundred dollars a month Piti working
[2:43:32] with Metroplex on on some of the
[2:43:34] particulars of it but we're really
[2:43:36] excited to be at that Target price point
[2:43:39] so you know that's kind of the overall
[2:43:42] we are working on several different
[2:43:44] initiatives with this program uh we are
[2:43:47] examinating examining modular housing as
[2:43:49] an opportunity we're examining smarter
[2:43:52] networks we are examining we had really
[2:43:54] anything that we can do to bring the
[2:43:57] cost of living and the cost of home
[2:43:59] ownership down for the end user the main
[2:44:01] goal at the end of the day is to provide
[2:44:04] affordable TurnKey solutions for again
[2:44:07] that Target popular is 40 to 65 000 a
[2:44:11] year and one thing that's very near and
[2:44:14] dear to Ron Gardner and of course the
[2:44:16] mayor and everyone else's heart is the
[2:44:19] need to make sure that the mwve
[2:44:21] community is included during the
[2:44:24] construction process and we're going to
[2:44:27] try what we can to have
[2:44:30] workers from seat
[2:44:32] and also
[2:44:35] movement of protege opportunities where
[2:44:37] we can to make sure that not only are we
[2:44:42] creating new housing opportunities but
[2:44:45] we want to teach and show those that are
[2:44:48] interested how to actually
[2:44:51] build these homes especially if we're
[2:44:53] able to get the modules
[2:44:59] so from a timeline standpoint you know
[2:45:02] we're looking to essentially get the
[2:45:04] option agreement approved so that we can
[2:45:06] begin to move forward and spending some
[2:45:08] hard cash doing due diligences getting
[2:45:10] our drawings together environmentals
[2:45:12] working on the actual entitlement
[2:45:15] um you know the process and David will
[2:45:16] of course directly if I'm wrong but you
[2:45:19] know we're essentially asking for the uh
[2:45:21] an option with the city for the land
[2:45:23] bank and then they're looking off from
[2:45:24] the rnt to kind of turn around and we'll
[2:45:27] close all of that at once and we're
[2:45:29] looking to be closing in July
[2:45:36] we've already had a lot of discussions
[2:45:38] with financing Partners already we do
[2:45:40] have turn sheets in place from Banks
[2:45:42] we've met with HCR on the particular
[2:45:45] subsidy that we're looking at using this
[2:45:46] is going to be a new subsidy to
[2:45:48] affordable home ownership opportunity
[2:45:49] program
[2:45:50] we're really excited to be able to take
[2:45:53] that subsidy and push the sale prices
[2:45:55] down very aggressively like I said 150
[2:45:59] 000 for home ownership and really we
[2:46:03] want to get shovels in the ground and
[2:46:05] start kind of working this July and
[2:46:07] August so that's kind of we've prefaced
[2:46:09] ourselves to do and then be able to have
[2:46:12] housing up and running in the first
[2:46:14] quarter of next year
[2:46:17] exactly I I just wanted to to clarify
[2:46:20] that we're so we're looking to enter an
[2:46:22] option agreement with the capital region
[2:46:24] land bank for these properties they are
[2:46:26] going to be working on the demolitions
[2:46:28] and some of the demolitions and asbestos
[2:46:30] have been in different things like that
[2:46:32] so that that is the ask is that we enter
[2:46:36] um an option agreement with the land
[2:46:38] bank
[2:46:41] closer so David at The Landings on David
[2:46:45] at Metro Place yeah so you might want to
[2:46:48] know why why are we really involved here
[2:46:49] so the governor obviously has put a lot
[2:46:51] of money into affordable housing uh the
[2:46:53] ahop program affordable home ownership
[2:46:55] program is is a new initiative that
[2:46:58] allows you to build Roundup housing
[2:47:00] which is great you know it's more energy
[2:47:02] efficient it's very very hard to get
[2:47:03] some of our properties up to energy code
[2:47:05] so it's it's a new program also there's
[2:47:08] been a new commitment from the state for
[2:47:10] land Banks we started receiving some of
[2:47:12] our operations funding again we added
[2:47:14] about a year or two off from when some
[2:47:16] of our original funding had uh had dried
[2:47:18] up and we have a phase two uh program
[2:47:21] that was just announced and we'll be
[2:47:23] applying for it in March for additional
[2:47:26] Project funding so you know there's I
[2:47:28] think we identified a ninth uh property
[2:47:30] that should come down it's unsafe uh
[2:47:34] it's been sitting there blighted for too
[2:47:35] long it will allow the land bank to
[2:47:37] participate in taking that demolition
[2:47:39] Mountain you know we're pretty good at
[2:47:41] and we'll be very excited and you know
[2:47:43] make our uh our application even more
[2:47:46] successful the state knowing that we
[2:47:47] have two terrific developers partnering
[2:47:50] uh behind us to uh to make this new
[2:47:52] homeownership opportunity so if you have
[2:47:54] any questions for me please let me know
[2:48:03] so um I know that Miss swanigan talked
[2:48:07] about like Partnerships and making sure
[2:48:09] homeownership and people from the
[2:48:10] community can you talk more about the
[2:48:12] initiatives that you really talked about
[2:48:14] doing parallel in terms of Preparing
[2:48:16] People while you're doing the work oh
[2:48:18] thank you for that question
[2:48:21] um that's really important
[2:48:23] not only will we be partnering with bcni
[2:48:27] to do the initial first-time homebuyer
[2:48:31] workshops but we've reached out to you
[2:48:34] Inc because once you get in the home you
[2:48:37] also want to be able to stay in the home
[2:48:39] so that means you want to learn the
[2:48:42] basics of budgeting and so we have
[2:48:45] partnered with uh Angela Tatum and and
[2:48:49] her husband there's a non-for-profit organization and they
[2:48:54] do such terrific work you should go to
[2:48:55] the website it's a beautiful website and
[2:48:58] we will be partnering with them and
[2:49:00] making sure it's um eight or 12 week
[2:49:05] Workshop where they break down their
[2:49:07] budget know how much they need in order
[2:49:10] to meet with the mortgage so we want
[2:49:13] them to not just be able to buy the home
[2:49:16] we want them to be able to pay the bills
[2:49:18] and and stay in the home and one last
[2:49:23] thing I know that you've probably even
[2:49:25] talked about it that much but there's
[2:49:26] Energy Efficiency Focus from the state
[2:49:29] for that ahot program so we're able to
[2:49:31] maximize the amount per unit and so we
[2:49:36] will be focusing on that to help to help
[2:49:38] keep the utility costs down so I'm not
[2:49:40] sure that that answers your question it does it does okay I just want to
[2:49:45] clarify we want to clarify that you're
[2:49:47] paying for these properties they
[2:49:49] purchased by one time oh
[2:49:58] so the intent is 3 500 uh per lot uh
[2:50:03] what would happen is uh if we move
[2:50:05] forward uh and the problem which it will
[2:50:07] uh the 3500 will come back to the city
[2:50:10] the land bank is not trying to get any
[2:50:11] proceeds from this we're just trying to
[2:50:12] bring in some additional resources I
[2:50:14] just wanted to make sure that it was
[2:50:16] good enough very good point yeah
[2:50:20] and you did talk about
[2:50:23] um hiring local women and the
[2:50:25] organizations that you you were looking
[2:50:27] at
[2:50:27] and then the sidewalk so thank you for
[2:50:30] bringing that up because that was
[2:50:31] another part of our conversation and
[2:50:32] also
[2:50:33] you you'd mentioned that you would want
[2:50:35] people to maybe kind of um
[2:50:38] kind of give it kind of publicizes where
[2:50:41] he's looking for people who are looking
[2:50:42] to die
[2:50:44] um to be homeowners in this process so
[2:50:46] will there be a way that we we can be of
[2:50:49] assistance with that how would that work
[2:50:50] yes so
[2:50:52] um working in the m and wbe field for
[2:50:55] decades with the state I know how
[2:50:57] important Outreach is in the community
[2:50:59] and so we're looking to partner with any
[2:51:04] of the local influencers or people who
[2:51:08] have nice oh who have the reputation and the stature in the community to help
[2:51:13] bring this program to them so we can
[2:51:17] start the bedding we'd like to start the
[2:51:19] vetting tomorrow
[2:51:21] because we really need to sell the homes
[2:51:23] once we built and and we expect that it
[2:51:26] may take up to nine to 12 months to get some people ready to actually
[2:51:31] purchase their own prospective home
[2:51:33] buyers so we're looking for you to
[2:51:35] recommend
[2:51:36] um individuals in the community not
[2:51:39] necessarily just from the churches but
[2:51:41] other community activists who would like
[2:51:45] to partner with us I would love to sit
[2:51:47] and have coffee with them and we can go
[2:51:48] from there
[2:51:54] neighborhoods Incorporated the first
[2:51:57] time home ownership classes uh they have
[2:51:59] a wealth of information that can be get
[2:52:01] people prepared so that when they're
[2:52:03] looking uh to make their first home
[2:52:04] purchase hopefully one of these uh
[2:52:06] they'll have some down payment
[2:52:07] assistance and other resources available
[2:52:09] so those programs already exist and if
[2:52:12] people were to contact me or Christians
[2:52:14] department or better neighborhoods
[2:52:15] directly they could attract you to them
[2:52:17] so the homes you described early similar
[2:52:19] to the ones where you said that because
[2:52:21] you said that you could do they be side
[2:52:22] by side but you could buy one or the
[2:52:24] other are they similar to what they did
[2:52:25] on Hamilton Street with those houses
[2:52:27] there are you familiar with them
[2:52:32] so if you're still there yeah I think
[2:52:35] it's a similar model I'm particularly
[2:52:39] excited a few of the duplexes would be
[2:52:40] sold to a single buyer so they could
[2:52:42] possibly have some rental income or you
[2:52:45] know a different multi-generational
[2:52:47] situation or something like that but
[2:52:49] yeah I think if you're still little bit
[2:52:51] of work to do in the design
[2:52:52] but that is the concept
[2:52:56] another question can't remember this
[2:52:58] love so um I'm wondering and I'm
[2:53:01] wondering you're talking about focusing
[2:53:04] on people that live in the neighborhood
[2:53:07] so I'm all for that I think that's a
[2:53:10] great approach
[2:53:12] um wondering like how are we defining
[2:53:14] those in the neighborhood and are we
[2:53:16] able to do that I guess that was kind of
[2:53:18] my question for you for you if
[2:53:31] fair housing laws take precedence
[2:53:34] equipment right but we do Outreach and
[2:53:40] we start we start with the people in the
[2:53:43] neighborhood who asked
[2:53:45] to be able to buy homes where many of
[2:53:47] their families have lived for decades
[2:53:49] and generations and I think it's only
[2:53:52] right to bring it to them and then we
[2:53:54] cast The Net as wide as the market will
[2:53:57] allow
[2:53:58] okay yeah I I agree I agree with that at
[2:54:01] least I'm going to I just you know for
[2:54:03] me
[2:54:04] quite frankly I want to know because
[2:54:06] this sounds great this sounds amazing
[2:54:08] you know and I'm very excited I share
[2:54:10] your excitement around the project I
[2:54:11] just I'm looking for those um what you
[2:54:14] know what we might describe as the guard
[2:54:16] rails of equity for this to actually
[2:54:18] play out in its intended purpose
[2:54:21] um you know other scenarios you know not
[2:54:25] hearing the financing is connected of
[2:54:27] course just another scenario sometimes
[2:54:29] um these projects are taken out in with
[2:54:32] a certain energy and a certain uh
[2:54:34] culture about it and then
[2:54:37] you know hear things like well the
[2:54:38] Market's not there kind of like some of
[2:54:40] the feedback we hear and we talk about
[2:54:41] like section free workers like well
[2:54:43] there's none here so you know even
[2:54:45] though this money should be invested in the community which are often
[2:54:50] marginalized communities that money
[2:54:52] um as a matter of
[2:54:54] uh you know kind of practice ends up
[2:54:57] leaving so that's what my last question
[2:54:59] was about not about the great and
[2:55:01] amazing work that you're planning to do
[2:55:03] here
[2:55:05] um I I think I would like to respond by
[2:55:07] saying that
[2:55:08] you know aik's track record
[2:55:11] and even relatively short of that time
[2:55:13] has been very terrified and it's been
[2:55:15] very good in what they're bringing to
[2:55:16] the table
[2:55:17] on MLB has a 75-year track record of
[2:55:21] integrity and working with people and
[2:55:24] delivering on what we've promised that's
[2:55:25] why I've nobody's been able to be around
[2:55:26] for 75 years so I would say that you
[2:55:30] know your concerns are not invalid you
[2:55:33] know there's a lot of times where you
[2:55:34] know it feels like a mating switch
[2:55:36] sometimes there's there's a reason that
[2:55:38] sometimes the developers the bad guys
[2:55:39] are the RoboCop movies right like you
[2:55:41] don't want to have that you know massive
[2:55:44] just flip of expectations
[2:55:46] um so I think we're very sensitive to
[2:55:48] that and we're really looking forward to
[2:55:50] the opportunity to deliver on the
[2:55:51] product that they're uh that we're
[2:55:53] presenting today
[2:55:56] yeah
[2:55:58] um so definitely thank you for the
[2:55:59] presentation and the background and
[2:56:01] context to what the intent is with this project Endeavor and definitely
[2:56:05] have a lot of the efforts to see
[2:56:07] replicated throughout the community I
[2:56:09] definitely think it's important to
[2:56:10] highlight how we can partner with some
[2:56:12] of the other Generations but I think
[2:56:14] part of the uh
[2:56:16] um the Allure of New York City is how
[2:56:19] there are families that can cite that my
[2:56:22] grandfather built or worked on that
[2:56:24] skyscraper and I think that that's an
[2:56:26] important aspect to reach this next
[2:56:29] Generation to let them know and have
[2:56:31] that buy-in to be those boots on the
[2:56:34] ground for like a better words but um
[2:56:36] definitely the Schenectady has a
[2:56:38] plethora of resources available so are
[2:56:39] you still open to other Workforce
[2:56:42] Development programs that might be
[2:56:44] interested in partnering with you
[2:56:46] similar to how you envision apartment
[2:56:48] with the seat yeah absolutely I think
[2:56:50] that we you know we have the opportunity
[2:56:52] with this program to work on training
[2:56:55] and those skill sets to the populations
[2:56:58] you know we're currently factoring you
[2:57:01] know building these with union labor
[2:57:03] which is probably something unheard of
[2:57:06] that you're seeing with affordable
[2:57:07] housing and it does cost a little more
[2:57:08] to use Beauty labor but the benefit of
[2:57:10] that is that we can bring people in and
[2:57:12] have them be trained by Union Tradesmen
[2:57:16] who have been Carpenters who have really
[2:57:18] been able to do that and get that true
[2:57:20] experience on site and that was one of
[2:57:23] our founding principles when when we
[2:57:25] even first started talking about this
[2:57:26] project with rock Gardner and the
[2:57:28] affirmative action office is to make
[2:57:30] sure that we have a piece of it and
[2:57:32] we're going to continue to add anyone
[2:57:35] who is interested in working with us on
[2:57:36] that that portion of it as well
[2:57:40] Kevin I just want everyone to know how
[2:57:42] only we need it over here I'm sorry I
[2:57:44] just want everyone to know how unique
[2:57:45] this partnership is and how necessary it
[2:57:49] is because a traditional developer won't
[2:57:52] necessarily see enough meat on the bones
[2:57:54] if you will to go into
[2:57:57] an interested in neighborhood
[2:57:59] and build new housing that's quality
[2:58:03] sustainable and energy efficient and the
[2:58:08] ahop program as I said before is a once
[2:58:11] in a generational life
[2:58:13] opportunity for all of us to get behind
[2:58:16] to make sure we make impactful change
[2:58:19] over the next five years because this is
[2:58:22] one of hopel's initiatives
[2:58:24] it
[2:58:25] last I read it will be around for at
[2:58:28] least five years so we need to strike
[2:58:30] while the iron is hot get as many homes
[2:58:33] built as possible and get as many people
[2:58:36] engaged as possible
[2:58:40] and you mentioned unions and so I
[2:58:42] remember in the prior conversation said
[2:58:44] there may be opportunities for people to
[2:58:46] get into
[2:58:47] the union with your assistants through
[2:58:50] working on this project
[2:58:51] uh yeah that's correct we actually we've
[2:58:54] already assisted one individual getting
[2:58:56] into the Union from around the center
[2:58:58] where Jim dazi our president has
[2:59:01] sponsored them and you know that is
[2:59:04] going to or anticipate in continuing
[2:59:06] that initiative as well is that if
[2:59:08] people if you put the work in you have
[2:59:11] to you should have the same
[2:59:12] opportunities that everybody else has
[2:59:13] had and sometimes access to those
[2:59:15] opportunities is not really there so you
[2:59:18] know we really want this to provide the
[2:59:21] access to the opportunities so that you
[2:59:22] put the work in you either do the
[2:59:24] training you're doing the program if
[2:59:26] you're meeting with us you're doing the
[2:59:27] Empowerment Center doing C and you know
[2:59:30] you're not just doing it and they're
[2:59:31] turning around and going okay what now
[2:59:37] skills training program
[2:59:39] um that we started you know this past
[2:59:41] fall and I think I don't know the there
[2:59:44] was maybe just under 30 participants of
[2:59:46] that and then it's always a question of
[2:59:48] what is the next step so being able to
[2:59:50] actually engage them on a project that's
[2:59:51] happening in Schenectady to learn to
[2:59:53] continue to learn those skills in the
[2:59:55] field will be really really impactful I
[2:59:58] think sometimes we forget that we're
[3:00:05] not only having a conversation with
[3:00:07] ourselves there's also a number of
[3:00:08] viewers who are being engaged also if
[3:00:13] someone was looking into this
[3:00:14] conversation wanting to get more
[3:00:15] information can they reach out to
[3:00:18] YouTube and also how in contact with you
[3:00:22] um
[3:00:26] they can call me
[3:00:28] um I don't know if it's appropriate to
[3:00:30] give my number out um well you do have
[3:00:33] you have people work in the public
[3:00:34] sector too they can always contact you
[3:00:36] yeah
[3:00:41] uh yeah so um you can contact me at
[3:00:44] Metroplex that's where the land bank is
[3:00:46] operated out of Christians Department of development I didn't even
[3:00:49] explain how to you know get involved
[3:00:51] with the Union get a job in this but
[3:00:53] it's the same hard work to be mortgage
[3:00:54] ready here because at the end of the day
[3:00:56] what the state is doing is they're
[3:00:58] filling a gap because it's not always
[3:01:00] economically uh workable it's not a
[3:01:03] model that works to build these houses
[3:01:04] so the state is filling the Gap they're
[3:01:07] responsible for filling it at the end of
[3:01:09] the day they need mortgage qualified
[3:01:11] individuals to buy these because that's
[3:01:13] going to really improve the whole entire
[3:01:15] neighborhood we want as many of those
[3:01:17] folks who are already living in the
[3:01:19] neighborhood already call us home whose
[3:01:20] families call home but you need to start
[3:01:23] the work today you know you need to call
[3:01:25] me you need to call Kristen and we can
[3:01:26] direct you to the right people to take
[3:01:29] the steps you need to do to be
[3:01:30] financially prepared and have that
[3:01:32] commitment letter so that when they're
[3:01:34] done and they have the keys they have
[3:01:36] someone ready to move in and make this a
[3:01:37] great home and it's a terrific Street
[3:01:39] you look over those views uh you know it
[3:01:43] was out there today there's tremendous
[3:01:45] opportunity and the people who are
[3:01:47] already living there should be the first
[3:01:48] to get the opportunity but they need to
[3:01:50] start that work today
[3:01:52] thank you
[3:01:55] well I want to thank you for the work
[3:01:56] you've done for the partnership you've
[3:01:58] put together and because I I think it
[3:01:59] also is a very exciting project I'm
[3:02:01] looking forward to it and uh so thank
[3:02:03] you and you know waiting for the ground
[3:02:05] to be several big round in June
[3:02:09] so thank you for the bill for always
[3:02:11] over commitment
[3:02:15] and I think I could speak for all of us
[3:02:17] as council members we would want to
[3:02:19] partner and make sure that we have
[3:02:20] people from the community to uh to
[3:02:22] assist getting connected with you and
[3:02:25] I'll share my card with you okay if
[3:02:28] anyone wants okay
[3:02:31] so thank you so they ask us to authorize
[3:02:34] the city of Schenectady to enter into an
[3:02:37] option agreement with the capital region
[3:02:39] land bank for the parcels that were
[3:02:40] listed there was one parcel that wasn't
[3:02:43] on that list and the request that we had
[3:02:46] forwarded to Sam so I just wanted to
[3:02:47] make sure when we do move forward that
[3:02:49] it's included in the can you tell the
[3:02:51] resolution I believe it's 546. I have it
[3:02:54] right here yeah it's yeah it's 549 uh
[3:02:57] Summit Avenue session block and law
[3:02:59] 49.31-3-46.1
[3:03:04] 49 49 that coin Thirty Thirty-One Dash
[3:03:09] three dash 46.1 okay everybody knows
[3:03:14] that block right yeah it's also known as
[3:03:16] 559 Summit Avenue
[3:03:18] what's the number 549 Summit Avenue I
[3:03:21] believe that's what Mr Brown said in his
[3:03:23] email okay
[3:03:24] um the only
[3:03:26] um question I have for the council in
[3:03:28] terms of drafting this if it's going to
[3:03:29] be approved is
[3:03:31] um it's an assignable purchase option
[3:03:33] agreement with the land bank assignable
[3:03:35] to either aik or this is the development
[3:03:39] team or uh MLB
[3:03:42] um and then obviously the length of time
[3:03:43] to exercise that option so it's not a
[3:03:45] never-ending option and
[3:03:50] [Music]
[3:04:18] all right
[3:04:23] how long the council wants to keep the
[3:04:25] option open so it doesn't run
[3:04:27] indefinitely which
[3:04:29] and we have an existing access agreement
[3:04:31] uh where we can
[3:04:33] request to the mayor to allow us to
[3:04:35] access the property so we can move
[3:04:37] forward with removal at the same time
[3:04:39] okay so that doesn't it's you want to
[3:04:42] know the length of the options yeah
[3:04:46] uh 18 months I think is a is a fair
[3:04:49] consumption yeah okay that sounds good
[3:04:51] we won't need 18 months
[3:04:55] does that answer your questions yes it
[3:04:58] does thank you and you know we'll try to
[3:05:00] keep everyone updated too as as projects
[3:05:02] move along and you know we'll just try
[3:05:05] to keep everyone updated on the progress
[3:05:06] obviously
[3:05:08] I think we're committed to making
[3:05:10] something happen on Summit and we're
[3:05:12] happy to have the partners that we have
[3:05:14] right now so
[3:05:15] any other questions or comments
[3:05:18] not contain a motion second all those in
[3:05:22] favor thank you
[3:05:25] forward to it
[3:05:28] okay the next item in the agenda is a
[3:05:31] change to the public assembly
[3:05:32] application and fees
[3:05:45] thank you
[3:05:50] all right so I just want to change the
[3:05:53] language for the public assembly fee and
[3:05:55] add a new line for having Affordable
[3:05:58] Feed to the public because I need to
[3:05:59] currently have the reason for this is
[3:06:03] when we do our daily report was reported
[3:06:05] by state we have a hard time
[3:06:08] um
[3:06:20] so by adding these fees we'll be able to
[3:06:22] run more accurately
[3:06:27] are there any questions everyone has the
[3:06:29] information center for the fee changes
[3:06:33] so just to be clear there's the highest
[3:06:36] fee was 250 dollars and that has not
[3:06:39] gone up so it's not been a fee increase
[3:06:41] in that in that way that's great it's
[3:06:43] just that there was an additional fee
[3:06:45] included so it started 75 and then it
[3:06:48] was 125 and then they're adding 200 to
[3:06:51] ensure that they can capture it
[3:06:52] correctly for the reports that you have
[3:06:54] to run is that correct that's correct
[3:06:59] are there any questions
[3:07:08] hi thank you oh thank you
[3:07:14] he's the only one first time
[3:07:16] okay the next time I'm Gonna Get You
[3:07:18] there's a ceremony resolution
[3:07:19] recognizing Black History Month Mr
[3:07:22] Farley thank you president
[3:07:25] um as we all are aware of Black History
[3:07:28] Month is here on black history is
[3:07:30] American history
[3:07:31] um it's just uh this is just another
[3:07:33] opportunity for us to uplift recognize
[3:07:37] on the contributions
[3:07:39] um made by uh black people in this
[3:07:42] country
[3:07:43] um and and abroad and I think that you
[3:07:45] know every time you get an opportunity
[3:07:46] you should do that um
[3:07:48] resolution
[3:07:50] um and doing and recognizing black
[3:07:52] history again as American history
[3:07:54] any questions
[3:07:58] so second Alan Baker aye
[3:08:02] uh the next item is a ceremony
[3:08:05] resolution recognizing Foundry foundry's
[3:08:07] Day for the NAACP so the NAACP is
[3:08:12] celebrating 114 years anniversary of
[3:08:15] being founded and uh so the the
[3:08:18] legislative request is there in front of
[3:08:20] you so what I'd like the council to do
[3:08:22] and there is going to be a celebration
[3:08:24] this year held by the NAACP uh and
[3:08:27] Schenectady so I just wanted to make
[3:08:29] sure that we had a resolution to be a
[3:08:31] part of that celebration and recognition
[3:08:33] so I'm asking for a resolution for that
[3:08:38] so second I was in favor um
[3:08:42] okay the rest of the items on the agenda
[3:08:46] are for property sales so we would have
[3:08:49] to go into the access to that so this
[3:08:52] time I'm going to recess City
[3:08:54] development and planning
[3:08:56] so second all in favor all right we're
[3:08:59] recess
[3:09:00] I'd like to call over the claims
[3:09:02] committee we have three episodes in
[3:09:04] Genesis active sessions so I'd like to
[3:09:07] ask for a motion
[3:09:10] litigation
[3:09:12] publicly