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um
urban renewal agency first item on the
agendas the acceptance committed from
the February 6 2023 meeting moved by Mr
palamini second second Mr motivator in
all in favor signify by saying I any
opposed
next items resolution
2023-03 the acceptance of the investment
report for 2022 with Mr palomini Mr
motiv Baron all in favor any opposed
resolution is adapted
next item resolution
2023-04 the acceptance of our
procurement report for 2022 moved by Mr
palomini second by Mr motiviran all in
favor any opposed
Solutions carry next site in
2023-05 acceptance of the measurement
report for 2022 moved by Mr palomini
secondly Mr motiviran all in favor any
opposed next item resolutions
2023-06 the acceptance of the annual
report for 2022 boomed by Mr palomini
seconded by Porterfield all in favor
any opposed resolutions carried next
item the authorizations enter into an
option agreement with the city of
Schenectady in land utility
reutilization Corporation the capital
region and we referred to as the land
bank for multiple Parcels on Summit
Avenue Westover Avenue Hamilton Street
and Mumford Street by Mr palomini second
line supporterfield all in favor any
opposed resolutions carried next item
resolution
2023-08 authorization to release certain
covenants and restrictions imposed upon
parcel stemming from the prior interim
foreclosure process
all in favor
any opposed items that's carried any
other business come before the agency
entertain a motion to adjourn move us to
palomini Second Language
Solutions carried all
businesses done thank you sorry it took
so long
it's also all the Schenectady city
council committee meeting for Tuesday
September 5th 2023. we'll begin with the
presentation by the Schenectady Police
Department you know initiative Mr Mayor
and thank you for modifying your
schedule uh have Parts been working on
for a period of time coming out of
form items creating transparency and
going to go live it is live it is live
the council president justification
reported on the agenda that they've been
wasting at times or pulled it back from
the public so this will be the actual
site and turn it over to Chief Clifford
thank you mayor
come out of the map I want to just I
want to introduce Matt Douglas he's our
director of
crime intelligence and he's been doing
this is his baby he's been doing all the
work on this before we turn it over to
him I wanted to just point out that if
everybody remembers this document here
that we all did a couple years ago
recommendation number 26 was our
commitment to transparency the
Schenectady police department will
commit to fully integrating police calls
reported crime and enforcement activity
within a customized designed application
that will be shared on the department
website this commitment to a
public-facing application will reinforce
the Department's commitment to
transparency to the community
when you further go on to the actual
document itself environmental systems
Research Institute which is the active
or which is what esri is the senior
scanty envisions building out its use of
the world's leading geospatial software
esri by publishing to the public a uh by
publishing to a public to data share
this platform will greatly Aid in
transparency by displaying
years of city and police data including
real time
all and easy to search website that also
has easy to navigate dashboards or
commonly requested queries
so this was done a couple years ago I'm
not sure why there are so many typos in
there but we do have a demonstration
here for you of our now
active public spacing dashboard I'll
turn it over to director Douglas to go
through a short PowerPoint telling you
how we got here and then we'll give you
a demonstration
test test close enough
all right thank you as the chief
mentioned this is a project that we've
been working on for quite some time now
that we actually got everything together
we're looking forward to showcasing you
some of the things that we've been able
to put together regarding really
enhancing uh transparency with the
police department and with the community
all right so a couple little slides to
go over here real quick but transparency
itself really what it is is sharing
information and data and making it
easily accessible to the public all
right there are a couple reports that
went out one in particular recently of
2022 that showed that 42 percent of
Americans find that there is a gap in
transparency with policing in the
community which really impacts the
perception that the community has with
law enforcement with the Technologies
and software that we now have in the
city of Schenectady we've been able to
create different ways to kind of
generate a platform to further enhance
that transparency which is about what
I'm going to show you a couple of our
slides here
um now Schenectady the city itself is
very data driven we use data for so many
different things it's a smart City
initiative again very data based sound
for the Schenectady Police Department
which is more my wheelhouse we create
actual products on a weekly basis
um whether it be a crime pattern or
Trend or seeking to identify a criminal
suspect um a variety of products that we
put on a weekly basis and that's
tactical analysis and then you got the
Strategic analysis analysis which is
like the long-term initiatives and
Analysis analysis that goes into it and
that falls under our evidence-based
approaches which are strategically
placed uh initiative so to be a good
doctor that have been nationally
recognized such as hot spot policing
ddacs data driven approaches to crime
and traffic safety uh crime prevention
through environmental design right so as
we start to get all this information
we're trying to figure out different
platforms that we can share what we're
doing and how we deploy our resources to
the community
all right now today we're primarily
going to talk about the dashboard but
just as a brief example of something
that we recently were able to create was
a link that really showcased uh
showcased the success that we had with
our Schenectady Hub platform which was
done by Lieutenant Brian mascheron and
Sergeant Nick Mannix and different
support from molecular officials and
Command Staff we able to generate this
with the Azure Technologies to really
showcase again the successes that we've
been having in a very professional
format and platform that can go for
different statistics and contacts on a
different way to visually share what's
been done and then the community to now
access this type of information
all right now if we switch gears and go
more towards the agenda we will go to
the current slide
all right now we're talking about crime
statistics how can we share crime
reported crime to the community and have
them easily access that information
um sure enough we do create internally
uh weekly crime statistical reports but
with the technologies that we now have
we were looking to create interface uh
something that the community could
interact with and look up certain
information that they are interested in
regarding our crime and that's what's
going to bring us now to the
public-facing crime dashboard that we're
able to implement and put together uh
use utilizing the esri Technologies
all right so as this loads um what
you'll end up seeing here is that it
brings up a map of the city of
Schenectady and then it brings up a
variety of tables and charts all of
which have the interactivity and
configuring that the end user can choose
what to look at so right now what I'm
doing is I'm looking at select a date
range now keeping in mind what we have
put together is 28 days of recorded
criminal activity this would be a
dashboard that will be updated on a
weekly basis currently this is looking
at July 31st to October or I'm sorry to
uh August 27th of this year so if we
wanted to look at just let's say July
31st we'll go for a full week and we'll
go to August 6th you'll start to see
that the charts and configurations will
change based on the new parameters that
the person was looking for you can also
zoom in and zoom out of the map and you
can say okay this is great information
but let's say I'm owning interested in a
different activity that occurred in the
downtown area and Hamilton Hill so as
you change those filterings the charts
and tables will also reflect the changes
that that person is looking for
um very similar if you're only
interested in all right let me look at
all uh neighborhoods within the city of
Schenectady there's another drop down
that showcases the reported Prime types
and currently we have them all selected
if we're only interested in say motor
vehicle thefts and burglaries you're
only going to see that based on the
filters that you put in place so again
very interactive I can show you quite a
bit of information and then the other
cool interesting tool is if you select
all neighborhoods and all crimes
you can also zoom into the city
and as you zoom in it's going to
Showcase what you're looking at on the
charts and tables and then in addition
if maybe someone's moving in or they
want to know what's going on in a
particular area there's a drop down menu
where you can literally click
lasso select out the crimes that's my
circle guys and it'll basically show you
how many of those crimes you selected
and give you Italian like top left of
the chart on the bottom of the dashboard
there is information on schenectady's
police tip line on different information
of the community can provide to the
police department and then also below
that there's a disclaimer on the
accuracy of the data um
City attorney can take a further look at
that but basically the bypass we
validated the data that's coming through
a trusted Source it's our internal data
but we've taken the correct measures to
make sure that it's validated
so that is the dashboard how it works
how it's set up again a lot of
interaction uh that you can have with
this particular dashboard
definitely go back if you have questions
I just got a couple quick slides to wrap
this up
all right so this took quite some time
to really get up and running and as we
started we had different visions and
different goals so as we started to
accomplish One Vision and meet that
expectation such as the public-facing
dashboard now we're coming up with a
variety of other missions so we have
more goals to achieve while using this
different type of Technology this slide
is more or less a thank you for the
community the elected officials council
members yourself and support throughout
this transition
and then we also ended off looking at
different action items to further
promote and enhance the things that
we're now capable of producing utilizing
these very similar Technologies
um so that pretty much wraps it up and
we open it up for questions
and I can easily navigate back to that
dashboard if there's anything of
interest there as well
I know Steve was there something that
you know that's closely rolled up called
Patrol finder I didn't notice anything
on here that interacts with that or that
mentioned at all is that's part of it is
that working where are we back so Patrol
finders is my understanding more
internal uh for a lot of different
operations with Patrol
um the dashboard that you're showing now
that we're kind of showing is really
more for public-facing use
okay because my understanding part of
the patrol finder was that for the
Department to be able to find out where
the control cars were okay
that is the case for the public at some
point we're not saying we're ready to do
that yet but once we implement it at
some point this the public it could
become part of this dashboard for the
public to be able to see when the last
time a police car drove by their house
so so but we're not there yet we're
still we're still working out the
Kingston Patrol finder and
fully employment okay thank you
yes is this on the website the city
website now great question so yes and I
will be able to attend the lawsuit we
can provide a little bit more
information on how that is embedded into
the website and launched
Lieutenant McLaughlin from the police
department I uh
she had a little bit of a hand in this
about
10 minutes before the meeting we
published the link and ensured that
everything worked appropriately so it is
in fact live on the city's website as of
about 5 30 this evening so you can
actually navigate to this the data we
did in the last minute validation make
sure that the links work appropriately
and that it was publicly accessible in
ADA compliance so it is in fact live uh
the tutorial is also live on how to
navigate it so there are directions in
case it isn't clear to the end user
immediately so with a graphical link to
try to explain to you the different
parts of the dashboard itself so it is
there and to your previous point we can
start incorporating other layers as they
become available to us that's the
advantage of esri is that we can
continue to incorporate layers and
evolve and add that for both the public
and everybody else
okay thank you
um so number one I want to say this is really a good stuff that we have
and I'm thinking about
um you know I just I want to know first
of all that it's something new that's
rolling out so I'm sure that there will
be things that you know she tweaked
along the way which are you know I think
the public should know that I guess my
question is
um kind of similar uh are we like
how does this work in partnership with
um you know do you see a way that this
will translate someone like the the new
body cams things like that that have
also been uh
are you as a tool that's going to be
used for more transparency and Community
engagement how do you see the tool kind
of working together and also is there a
place for a community so the problem
with somebody in the community and I go
on and there's some information that uh
might be specific to what I'm looking
for but isn't available as one of the
drop down boxes is there an opportunity
for me to kind of or correspond and say
hey I was looking for this and then
what's our capacity to kind of be
responsive to that
so uh historically speaking for us as an
agency that we use the foil process a
ton which to some may seem like a
barrier to entry so we wanted to try to
reduce that barrier and work on reducing
all of them so uh we are going to still
be responsive we are monitoring I
actually oversee all of the Department's
foils now that come into the police
department so we kind of take a gauge of
what people are asking for to try to be
able to find a way to provide that as
you know efficiently as possible and to
try to be as transparent so yes I think
as we see not only that but the feedback
that comes generally through the records
department which I also oversee those
are the things that we use as like a
feedback and kind of a sounding board
but as we hear it we are working towards
that the advantage of esri is the depth
of the platform allows for us to even do
surveying which is some another
initiative we're currently working on
just not ready to publish right now but
to be able to survey the public uh it's mainly a March decree to create a
database in a public-facing portal that
has everything and it's not just limited
to the police department it's not just
limited to just crime data so yes I
think as we get there and we can do you
know figuring out what's going to be the
easiest way to display that we're also
trying to use other communities
throughout the country it's kind of like
the the backboard of what works and what
hasn't worked so that we're not wasting
resources time or money and developing
something that is unsuccessful but at
the same time still trying to innovate
so yes I think to your point we are
going to 100 see the evolution but as
those things come in if more than one
person who's requested it is something
that's on our radar and there are
probably a good eight or nine projects
currently in the hospital
I do see us adding more to this this is
just what is 100 ready for today we vet
it and we know is
to the point where we feel comfortable
in saying that this product is is ready
for the public to be able to answer the
questions that we feel otherwise would
have been months or weeks in the making
which would normally be the full
turnaround time which could be
now they can get in about two to three
minutes I've said before that we want
the community to become active in public
safety and driving that to the website
and getting them involved and looking at
crimes in their neighborhoods help
helping us police the community let the
community be a part of it so that's
really what we're hoping to do is to
drive members of our community to our
website we'll get information get the
ability to look things up and of course
we're going to take feedback on making
that the community wants to
want to uh sorry to plan some questions
but first and foremost thank you for for
being here and providing us this
presentation
of roughly how long is information
stored and are residents able to export
so in the way of the current dashboard
right now uh we have 28 days worth of I
would say vetted quality data that we're
able to display in this type of format
from a foil perspective obviously we
maintain data beyond that back when we
probably were not as diligent in always
ensuring that reporting was done
correctly you know I walk into the
police department unfortunately
sometimes would be labeled as 531
Liberty Street when in fact maybe a
crime didn't occur there so as a result
of that we've had to put new measures in
to make sure that it's easily
displayable and it makes sense and it
corresponds to a neighborhood as opposed
to the police station over and over
again so right now older data is
available from foil still but moving
forward the option would be to continue
to add to the database and be able to
expand it as we see as we go along as
for uh you know to the other point of
exporting the data like any other
website you can take the data that's
there it's been cleaned it is sieges
compliant it's enough you know Anonymous
enough that it would be very challenging
for somebody to really figure it out
unless they were an active participant
in that particular crime because it's
not specific to a set address just a
block if you will so they could export
what they see on the screen by doing
screen capturing but in the way of data
security it meets or exceeds FBI and
State's damage
go check things one more question I know
with becoming more transparent everyone
assumes that people digest information
the same which is not always the case
for an individual that's looking at more
information than less is there someone
available to discuss some aspects of
what they're seeing
so we we do we have obviously our public
information officer program does do
community outreach but also speaks on a
regular basis to people that have
inquiries and normally what happens is
if a records inquiry comes in where
somebody's asking a specific question
that can be at that point we triage and
then send it to the appropriate person
in the police department so the tips
line also acts that way if a person
calls in with something that's not
necessarily a law enforcement tip for
more or less a inquiry we may route that
to either a Pio the community police
officer that's assigned to that zone
um and you know and then maybe have that
person go and speak to them directly if
they don't want to talk to somebody on
the phone whether it's for help
navigating this or for other things that
we can Aid them with but if if it seems
to be a common occurrence then we'll
work on clarifying a dashboard or
creating another document just to try to
make sure that we get over that barrier
hurdle as well thank you I'll add one
more thing to that that um every fall
spring and fall but Falls approaching I
try to make my way out to all the
neighborhood association meetings so
this fall all I'm scheduling to go out
to them so pay attention if the public
pay attention to when the next one is
when I go there I want to talk about
technology and policing so this would be
one of the things that we talk about and
be a good opportunity to ask questions
at that point
and in terms of so um in terms of the
crimes we're hearing a lot about car
accidents and speeding it's it's huge so
is that capturing that so people could
look within their neighborhood those
kinds of things happening
So currently this dashboard is
specifically a part one problem
eight top serious crimes but crashes
absolutely is actually one of those
things that we actually had on our
mission action items is because the data
is there and we can actually create
another layer or a separate dashboards
simple looking at crashes so that
capability does exist this was just kind
of like the initial launch to kind of
showcase the platform itself of what it
can do and now it's really opening up
before the case to figure out what is it
that the community bonds like officials
okay thank you
um Chief will this help in terms of the
police response time
addressing Primes
will just help it anyway
this this specifically well that that
would be more of a patrol finder thing
but this is more of a reporting
dashboard than anything
no answer your question no display
cannot be used to identify hot spots and
then Target those areas
well this is this is more of we'll
explain to the terms of historical event
the actual
initial response wouldn't have an effect
any other questions
yeah and there's a lot of information
here when you look at it again Matt's
put a lot of time and effort in it
it's just starting so it's a dynamic
process you know there's some things on
there at least say oh well this is great
well anyway look at it nobody's going to
look at that one subset of data to maybe
something else that they want to see
every day and so it's how do we modify
that to again to put the information out
there that people want that makes sense
and there's an unusual usable format and
then is to layer it with other things
whether it's code enforcement whether
it's dog licenses street closures some
of the things that we're doing with
c-click fix so it's really a dynamic
process that's going to grow over time
okay
thank you thank you thank you very much
yes
thank you I would like to call the
finance committee to Carter and of
course item is purchase of the new fire
truck Chief Marino
good afternoon everyone
thank God it's cool
all right so this evening uh coming to
you to ask for you to allow us to accept
somebody from the state
we reached out to the state several
months ago we had an idea of purchasing
a spear apparatus to replace two
apparatus that are 20 I think 23 years
old America La France they are no longer
being produced we can't get parts for
them very difficult
so our goal was to purchase one new
apparatus
take the two Miracle of France make a
decent one out of that and that would
still be a spare rig and the other rig
that was comparable but not worthy for
the street we would bring up to our
training Tower which is just we're just
completing reconstruction there so that
apparatus will be able to remain there
when our crews go up there to train they
don't have to take equipment off of
their
Frontline apparatus and if A call came
in they would be able to respond in the
time they land so we reached out to some
women in Santa Barbara and some of them
instead and they were able to help us in
post
um post budget funding
so some of them in Santa Barbara is has
secured 675
000 and some women stacked 125 000 for a
total of 800 000.
um there's no Financial liability to the
city
we filling out the paperwork if you can
see okay we'll move forward we won't see
the money until probably July of 2024.
questions
all in favor hi thank you thank you well the next item is
requested proposal for 2023 Harley
Davidson
good evening
I requesting uh to accept the request
for proposal we had from Brunswick
Harley-Davidson in 2002 I believe it was
PCC bird came in and requested that we
accept a grant from Jack and now we
would like to use those funds to
purchase a Harley-Davidson put out the
RFP and we only had one bid the bid with
the amount of 29 851.75
and our grant funding that we had given
to us
was 24 390. so we propose to use to pay
for the remaining
5461.75 through our operating budget we
are not requesting any further funds
questions
Cummins sing good so I I asked that the
meeting but I want to ask for the group
um because I don't see many motorcycle
cops around and so we're buying a new
motorcycle so we're going well how we're
going to be using that yeah so we are
more shakes we have now are bought in
1998 in
um so 1999 for receiving 1998 so they
haven't been very operational we have
let the parades connected the sprays
every year the holiday parade they've
been at several community events um
showing that the children the different
bikes and with this one we would put a
computer on it and it would use a
traffic enforcement as well okay thank
you
the next item is your 2022 Consolidated
annual performance and evaluation
reports Mr ferrariable
information okay so those of you who
have an Alexandria Carver she is in our
development department natural community Development supervisor so
welcome everybody thank you thank you
welcome aboard thank you good evening I
am asking for approval for our request
on the 2022 Consolidated annual
performance evaluation report
um the
202-23 Consolidated annual performance
evaluation report addresses the
implementations of three goals that we
established in our Consolidated plan for
2020 through
2012 which were to enhance housing
opportunities expand economic Workforce
Development and strengthen local
neighborhoods our cebg funds CD funds
were used for rental subsidies including
rental cars for those at risk
homelessness security deposit and rents
for those moving out of homelessness and
that was how we move forward in
enhancing housing opportunities our CD
cdbgcb funding which is for soil
business grants for businesses impacted
by coping 19 free business training and
workshops were held to enhance the
skills of business owners and
strengthening local neighborhoods to
streetscapes beautification project
Planet nearly 100 trees throughout the
nrsa and urban neighborhoods of
Schenectady local youth were taught
about various tree types soils and how
trees impacted the environment and the
city they live in the Jerry Burrell Park
was also restored this year new
playground equipment basketball courts
trees will directly impact 10 000
residents that live near the park safe
house ain't the only China City also had
a front walkway and retained wall
completed with the use of the cdbg funds
so we are our presentation of the report
and announcement we have an additional
call for public hearing so that we can
get public comments on our Cape 2000 on
22 2023 cases report thank you
yeah
for a public area of this item yes
thank you
September 25th yeah
okay any questions
to call for public hearing September
25th for this item second all in favor
all right thank you
the next item is the 2024 budget so I'm
important for public hearing here
hello
this is just a call for a public hearing
before it proposed budget
uh we're requesting its recommended that
the council uh
for October 10 20 21st
[Music]
thank you
the next item is the supplemental Bond
ordinance for large Ferry Street Pump
Station
so I believe Anthony Ferraris and a
bunch of information to council
president Harry Porter in regards to
this we're increasing the foreign
so it's respectfully recommended that
city council approve of this
supplemental bottle is an amount of 25
million 275
000 for this project
right just to give some clarity
in terms of I did have some questions
because this would have been our third
supplemental Bond ordinance so I just
want to make sure that we had enough
money in place and we weren't seeing
this again and the reason actually for
the entry so Mr Ferrari sent that
information that's why I think we moved
it forward to be on the agenda before it
didn't get there so now they're bringing
it back because all the information is
here
thank you any other questions
all in favor all right thank you any
other business for finance
all in favor
aye thank you
development and planning we have eight
items on the agenda the first item is
authorization of an easy mix and
national grid for the installation of an
overhead electrical service in Central
Park for the new pools and splash pads
as well
a larger three-phase service we have
three-phase power at
facility in Greenhouse uh this is an
easement to bring uh to a new line with
two new polls two approximity on Ashmore
Avenue where we'll then meet up and be
able to power a new uh pool complex
any questions
thank you
the next time uh I'll begin this
discussion Zoning for cannabis
dispensary and smoke and vape shops bait
shop
so we've been talking about a lot about
vape shops smoke shops and also about
the cannabis dispensary when we opted in
we didn't have zoning in place that
covered this so we've been talking to
the Law Department here they've invited
everyone to actually come and have a
discussion so that we can talk about
throughout the city where we'd like to
see these or or not like to see those so
at this point in time it's really
discussion around where we've um how the
council what the council would like to
see Mr colon you can experience found
that a little bit more
um wanted to just kind of discuss what
you'd like to see from the council in
order to move this forward sure
first I just want to thank the constant
people who've stopped by to discuss
zoning in I think a grander scale and
also specific to these particular issues
facing the city
um
and I've been in contact with the
development department to talk about you
know best practices obviously and
certain constant people have let it be
known to me
um their thoughts on you know what
districts to allow it or whether or not
the best route is an overlay
um you know I think
it's really on the council to determine
what is in the best interest of the City
by and also rely on the expertise of the
development department and the other
applicable departments
you know I there are other
municipalities still grappling with this
issue
um you know Rochester has already
codified how they're approaching
um cannabis dispensaries and obviously
something that we've talked about is
that smoke shops and vape shops for the
purposes of zoning have to be treated
similarly similarly to cannabis
dispensaries that came from New York
State's regulations
and as it currently exists we don't have
anything when our zoning code was
established there was nothing that
foresaw this change in the Law related
to cannabis dispensaries and smoke shops
and vape shops becoming more common
um
currently as you're all aware there's
this cannabis dispensary that's open on
Upper Union
certainly we're at a point now where it
would be very difficult for the city to
do anything to stop that one
establishment however
you know the council decided that you
know the Upper Union Corridor where that
current dispensary is is not somewhere
where you want to see other dispensaries
and you zone for that that would be a
pre-existing non-conforming business and
they could still operate
so you know I continue to encourage the
council people to come in and talk to us
talk to the development department
particularly Christine premiano who
knows zoning very well
um you know obviously
there are aspects to this that are more
complicated
um you know not just where are you going
to allow it but then what restrictions
are you going to place on the businesses
is it going to be as of right or you
know in a particular District they could
operate as of right or are you going to
require these types of businesses to get
for example special use Improvement so
um you know I I would prefer obviously
that you know the council to
come forward or counsel people to come
forward with a proposal
certainly the Law Department can draft
something but we don't you know to be
honest we don't want it to be coming
from us we want it to be the council's
decision and changing the code and
obviously this is going to be something
that is probably not going to pass right
away without quite a bit of discussion
to um you know figure out where the
consensus is in terms of where it's
going to be and then what restrictions
um you know the council will place on
the establishment of those types of
businesses
happy to answer any questions you know
either here or if anybody you know has a
question later on you know you know how
to reach out to me I'll try to make
myself as available as necessary if you
want to come in to you know talk to me
or talk to Mr Marnie talk to Ms primiano
we want to make ourselves available so
that you know we can have something in
our code sooner rather than later
I think making it clear uh
differentiation to anyone listening or
also in the room regardless of where we
put uh zoning that doesn't restrict its
usage throughout our city
generally that's correct yeah
um you know for example if you go to The
Dispensary on Upper Union you certainly
you can make a purchase there and then
you know go through downtown and you
know have whatever you purchase and and
smoke it right or anywhere else in the
city for that matter well we have a
restrictions in the park right right
um you know so long as this is not
prohibited in certain places
um and obviously we've you know the
council has taken action to restrict it
in in Central Park
right and and all the other parts for
that matter right
um but certainly you know barring any
other statute
um you can you know use it in another
place
um so it I know that I appreciate the
question because I know some people
think that it will create a limitation
on where it can be used limitations
already exist
um but where it's not limited it would
therefore be permitted to be used
as far as yeah I would just uh invite my
council members to consider um the
spirit in which this legislation was
drafted with the state
um I think it's Unique in the way that
there is a you know uh social uh justice
component to this that um people who um
for marginalized communities who have
been disproportionately impacted by
prohibition laws
um there's right written right in the um
in the legislation that you see from the
state
um that uh you know there is an effort
to correct a historical wrong there so I
think that um as we consider zoning
um and we're you know prohibited uses
things like that that we just are
mindful of we're looking through that
same lens of the spirit of the
legislation from the state
do you know right now where they are
there was a there was a stay on that a
hold on that because there was a lawsuit
so do you know where that lawsuit is
right now I think it currently is at a
place where uh there's an injunction
preventing uh the safe from issuing
licenses right now
um I have no idea what the timetable is
for you know that lawsuit
so I I and I'm not aware of any other
entities seeking to do business in the
city of Schenectady that do have in hand
a license other than the one that's
currently open
um
so you know
whether or not you know that lawsuit is
dragged out or
um or ends tomorrow uh obviously you
know as you all know and I'm sure you
know people at home know
um the zoning is going to have to
obviously be put in place we'd like it
to happen sooner rather than later but
you know we wanted to be relatively
comprehensive to address the concerns
that you all have and people of
Schenectady have
so in terms of timeline I mean how how
soon would you like all council members
to come and have discussions for us to
bring things to you so that we can have
this done in somewhat of a timely manner
obviously you know I think that's really
a question for the council
um you know the sooner you come to us to
discuss it and kind of you know figure
out you know where your fellow council
members stand on it and you know propose
something to the council you know
something tangible and to discuss and you know negotiate over the better
off I think will all be
um you know I couldn't tell you that you
know
next week is it you know a deadline I I
can't create that this is really a
question for the council in terms of you
know and I've only spoken to some of you
about this where you stand on this and
you know um what you see both in terms
of locations where you're going to you
know where you believe we should allow
it and then what restrictions we should
put in place and I say restrictions I
mean that not to say you can't do
something but what types of permissions
is the city going to Grant whether it's
a special use permit certainly so I
think that site plan approval if you're
going to open a new business
that's going to be a question for the
council but why you know I've been
saying it for a little while now you
know I encourage you to reach out to me
and you know share your thoughts I know
some of you have and I appreciate that
um you know the way I would view it is
start with the geographic areas in the
city where you think you know you're
okay with having those types of
businesses and then once you've
identified that
start thinking about the restrictions or
the requirements they're going to in
place put in place for the sense of
businesses to operate
and there's already existing
restrictions in certain I mean for
example I keep hearing 11 000 puts in
terms of like not within a thousand
people to school I think I mean those
must be state regulations that we'd also
have to but I will give you a call I
wasn't aware that um
doing that so that so we reach out to
you try to come in and have a one-on-one
but there are existing restrictions
right the state has put in place certain
restrictions
um and they do they have made those
determinations when they've granted
licenses
um you know in other words you know if
you're within so many feet of a school
the state will not issue a license to
begin with
um it's based on the location not
necessarily just the entity that's
looking to open it
mayor
in that
with a thousand feet from school sounds
logical makes sense it actually reads a
thousand feet and the Second Street
right so where we had the
facility open uh or Union Street
schools around the corner of Baker
Avenue within that distance but it's not
on the same street and so again I think
the state's intent who's in the right
direction but some of the actual
implementation was flawed yeah and so I
totally agree we have to look at that
like we have
no smoking Zone around City Hall Ellis
Hospital has one around their facility
so there are some facilities like the
city parks we're getting I think people
accept it and make sense it's logical uh
in general it's not enforcement people
are compliant and how do we get that
message out and so that it's not
creating a negative impact for
other businesses or people who are in
the community
any other questions regarding this Miss
Williams I would say I know that
councilman on palomini recommended the
specific districts and I think just put
it out there for digestion I think my
only issue with that is just I feel like
it was very restrictive
um
and my conversations that I've had with
Mr Colton he's mentioned
probably leaning closer towards full
release just because of how our city is
currently district and how putting it in
any one zoning can
make things difficult moving forward for
us to manage within the city
and I think also
going on his recommendation of using our
special use permits in a particular way
I know for myself whenever I look at
potentially opening up the downtown area
one of the issues that we currently hear
from not only
business owners but also residents and
people patronizing it is limited parking
so I think uh understanding where we
would not want to see these areas is a
place to start and trying to make sure
that we make the most of each of these
conversations I think everyone
recognizes this is a big topic but I
think in addition to having our
one-on-one discussions I'm looking
forward to having a discussion with
Kristen I keep hearing how she's the
subject matter expert in this area I
think I would like to hear if everyone
feels comfortable where you do not feel
comfortable with these types of
businesses existing in the city
I certainly appreciate the concerns I
think they're valid
however the
recommendation for industrial zones is
similar to that that's been used for
other businesses and types of activities
in the city it's nothing new secondly
we've also looked at things like for
instance specific neighborhoods with
liquor stores and we said we didn't want
them there so to
I guess
to say that we can't put those
restrictions or put those businesses in
certain areas where quite frankly the
parking issue is taken care of it
doesn't prevent people from using it
throughout the city it's a large space
in order for a business to operate it's
safe to meet the m1m2 zoning makes sense
but
and it's been done for other other
businesses in other types of activities
so I think
perhaps we need to take a little bit of
a further look into some of the things
that have happened previously in order
to really understand the zoning aspects
so that we can all be on the same page
so whatever that's all council members
to do is to submit is the 14th good
enough for the right time first half is
our next meeting the 14th okay to submit
your concerns your what you would like
to see you know all of that to Mr Colvin
and also make sure miss Mike who's
included on that email to by the 14th so
that we can then have this more in-depth
discussion on the 18th which is our next
committee meeting
you know to definitely send in you know
some of your thoughts I think that this
is a situation where we want to be
really uh mindful that we're giving
input from the community
um so we're not making decisions based
on our limited scope I think that it's
really important that we engage your
community
um and talk to people so when we come to
the table we're not just bringing our
own ideas but maybe ideas that we can
agree with or even disagree with just so
we know that I'm worthy for discussion
right so when we get to that you know
we're going to have a public discussion
absolutely yeah between now and four
teams I think that it's worth it's
nobody for people to you know reach out
to the council member absolutely okay
any further discussion
okay so we'll bring this back in two
weeks
our next item exception is establishing
a six-month moratorium
uh the submission and processing the
Builder building permits for uh Smoke
Shop Safe shops and tobacco and the
consumption businesses there was a
public hearing on uh the 14th during the
public hearing we had four speakers and
the speakers were mostly talking about
um the fact that what I got something
from it that to close them or to not
have them but this is really a
moratorium on the existing ones are
there and they're not that's not going
to change but the moratorium would be
that during that time no new ones could
open so um open news up for a discussion
again at this point in time Mr Colden
can explain what would the process be
if we were to move forward the
ordinance would be presented to the
planning department at the County uh for
review
they have roughly 30 days to provide us
with their opinion on the moratorium
whether they're in favor of it or
against it or as I suppose have no
opinion of it
based on
the response from the county if the
county was to not be in favor of it that
doesn't prevent the city council from
moving ahead with the ordinance but you
need a super majority to approve it if
the county were to come out in favor of
it
then it could pass by simple majority
fun especially if we are in that
questions
I know part of the discussion was
evaluating how important it was
continuing on
Mr Woodbury is not here at the moment Mr
May are able to speak to any progress
made in that department
they continue to do that not only in
these shops but other venues who need a
certificate of occupancy need of
excuse me a public assembly permit
don't have a summary on that but I told
Jen that would have naeem call him
tomorrow if you want that put together
for the council as a whole we have it
set out assume tomorrow or first thing
the following morning
and if I'm going to say if people get
any complaints
call them into naive because again we
can generally know all the places some
have popped up and are trying to be
compliant other ones are
going down with a classified's an
interesting pathway for opening business
Miss Williams and the only reason why I mentioned that and please chairman is
to call them if I summarize anything you
say inaccurately moving forward with the
moratorium is a very serious action that
the city is going to undertake and I
think it is important for us to hedge
our vets and continue moving forward
with that as an action item however if
it is not needed I absolutely would like
to stress the importance of cautioning
and then if we're identifying that the
enforcement is curbing a lot of those
concerns that we've had and been
receiving from the public I think that is something that should be taken
into consideration when we essentially
approve or deny move forward with
Mr Farley I would just um kind of echo
what Mr Williams was saying I believe
that it's best for us to graduating
interventions and I think that we'll
know um once we get the um information
um from the name I think that we're in a
better position to make a more informed
decision on what we're going to do
moving forward and I think that that um
would just be a wise choice to make sure
that we have the information in front of
us before we uh make a decision
the moratorium only makes sense I mean
we're talking three four months at the
most if we do our business
um those that are already in the
pipeline of being
granted ability to open business they're
not impacted at all it would just be
those who are looking that's going to
take some time anyway probably a couple
months so we're talking about maybe a
month or two of the most we've done
these in the past there's been no
comment about these being Extreme
Measures we've done them with with other
activities like convenience stores it's
been no issue you can quite frankly you
probably didn't do a very good job on
that in my opinion of what the
convenience stores of getting the zoning
done in an effective and efficient
manner but if we did our business an
appropriate manner here we're talking a
matter of three four months it helps the
enforcement aspect because if a new
store pops up you automatically know
they're illegal um and it allows the
enforcement aspect of ketchup to those
businesses that are out there to the
mayor's point of dealing with those
businesses that are doing
appropriate map we have a number of
business who are but there's also those
who aren't so this just gives us the
time to catch up get our act together
get the zoning done relatively rapidly
and figure out how to go down that road
and make sure that the complaints we're
getting from the neighborhoods stop
because there is significance of concern
has been brought up with several
neighborhood association meetings
particularly Bellevue and some other
neighborhoods of there's too many smoke
shops within this area we know some of
them weren't properly open and this
gives us the chance to
really catch up with the enforcement but
also deal with the zoning issue
Mr Golden to the
Barney actually that mentions something
about
um
that we're if we talk about doing some
moratorium on smoke shops and do we have
to consider
um other shops that have like use like
we're talking about the Cannabis so can
you talk about how that all interacts
sure and the way Mr Marne had phrased it
previously is called a drastic measure
which it is
[Music]
this only applies to vape shops smoke
shops and similar youth shops it doesn't
apply to cannabis the state has occupied
that space in regulating cannabis
lounges and dispensaries so this would
not apply to those types of businesses
so be limited to the smoke shops vape
shops and similar crops that do not
include cannabis dispensaries
so what's before us now is that we would
if we were to move forward it would go
30 days they would have their knees have
to come back to the council once again
correct so the
presumably if the council were to move
ahead with this next week
um it would then and if it passes it
would then go to the county development
Agency for review and they have 30 days
and then it would come back and during
that time period obviously you know the
council can you know obviously be
getting the the zoning process of these
types of businesses and it could be that
30 days from now or 30 days from when
you send it to the count the account
date
um
you know you've established zoning and
you have something set you don't have to
move forward with the moratorium at that
time however at least you know you start
the process by sending into the county
that doesn't require you to take action
if the county were to come out in favor
of a moratorium or be supportive of it
Council can still say we're not going to
move ahead to them Mr Farley I would say
just um in to be responsive to what
we're hearing from the community and um
uh definitely neighborhood association
meetings and they're expressing as a
concern I guess to Mr Coleman's point of
moving forward what uh
take away the opportunity for us to get
the information from name and we still
have the opportunity to look at that
information and then decide whether we
want to move forward or not and if we're
already you know but I guess it would be
wise to move forward therefore you still
have that opportunity if not we can just
you know we'll be somewhat wasting time
where we don't need to waste time
because we decide that's the action we
need to take try to give us the
opportunity to make a definitive
reaction but again I just really want to
stress the importance of making an
informed decision based on the
information that we're getting from
Uncle enforcement
so at this point in time we would still
want to um just for clarification to
make get the information from naive and
the motion that the question before us
now is whether or not we move this
forward to refer to accounting
come here thank you my personal purpose
would be sending to a county get their
input
and I could not asked anybody in terms
of the towns or Villages within the
county or I think they're there's
similar activities whether it have risen
to the point of being an irritant
whether it's under review but Canada
County look at it and send it back in a
fairly quick turnaround and then the
council could act an appropriate Banner
having had you know another set of eyes
on it in another level of input
the lovely commotion that we send we
send it forward to the county for review
take the next steps from there good
I second that all in favor
okay our next sign on the agenda is the
ceremonial resolution for junior
League's International Mr palomini yes
they have a
inaugural finally birthday on September
14th and uh they would just like to call
some attention to this so it's a
ceremonial resolution to recognize that
thing
five times
is to follow up on the arbor context
um where we are at this point and to be
sent in information so it's probably
going to be a pretty lengthy discussion
Mr
um Mr Ferrari has sent everyone every
council member a packet in addition to
emailing it to you that in hard copy
um so rev I know that maybe you know if
there's a specific order here but I
noticed that there are a lot of people
here
from the Miracle on Craig Street and so
for that reason I will move it up to the
top of this discussion so we can do that
so you don't have to stay through our
entire discussion unless you want to
okay
so at this point in time council members
you all have the information of uh how
much has been allocated
um what date is appropriated and where
that particular project stands right now
there is one other thing I want to bring
up before we get to that discussion I
sent the email to Mr um Holden always
today though to ask him to take a look
at at the overview of the arbor uh arpa
guidelines because there's based on what
I'm seeing there's a possibility that
there may be a shorter time frame three
months shorter time frame in in
2026 for people to actually spend the
money so I was getting I read it and
before I sent out the alarm I wanted Mr
Colton to read it to make sure that I
interpreted that correctly so that we
stay on time in terms of the money that
we've allocated and what people are um
and how people are spending it making
sure we need that timeline so you can
let me know I will let you know I
haven't come up with a conclusion yet I
want to look at some backup information
so that you know I don't want to give
you the wrong answer obviously okay
so could you start with bear plant where
all that Romeo with that oh yeah of
course
um today I believe we have some
representative representatives from
Miracle Craig to discuss uh their
project today I don't know if you'd like
me to come up and then go over every
other project
after that or if you would like to start
so I'd like you to start with how much
invalidated um of course yeah where we
are with that and what the request is
uh as a date from the documents that
Anthony Ferrari commissioner provided
you the certification of 1.25 million
dollars and
I know that we had there's one year from
822 you get the secure Financial
commitments from other sources
um and that's all I have for now they
let
tonight
okay
so according to the documentation
provide to us with the estimate of
construction uh the probable estimate of
the project cost of approximately three
million dollars and it looks like
there's an area one and area two uh two
different phases of that
so we appropriate 1.25
and I know that the this stuff is really
small so I brought my laptop so I can
read it so the contingency was one year
from 822 22 to get to secure Financial
commitments and other resources and
um
and right now then there was an ass by
tat
for a in process maybe the extension
okay so go yeah
for the extension
um well we'll want to hear from them
yeah
this is
for the public
all right so um
so the status of the project is that the
estimate has been growing as the months
pass as you're aware of code sent all of
our construction costs into the
stratosphere and we've been trying to
contain the electrons as possible what
we've done is uh
we have finished the construction
documents so everybody's welcome to leak
through that video issues the whole
project is activated and I you just feel
that we don't really know what the
actual cost could possibly be until we
get to this so we had to walk through
coming through on Friday we have
contractors
um
that we've restructure from every corner
and we're hoping to get some good dollar
bids and then we ignorance actually
what's the deficit is so my
understanding right now is that you're
requesting a four-month extension from
the council okay
so
yes so that four-month extension is to
come up they need to come up with the
rest of the money to the 3 million or
whatever it is that you're estimating as
the project budget we believe that in
those four months we will know what the
actual costs are and Rosa's here to tell
you about the other
possible sources that have been
approached and how that will
um
contingency I believe that we put on the
project was that they one point the rest
of the yeah is yes the rest of money
that they would have to come up with and
now that money is more because the
project costs have decreased
so I just wanted to be clear about that
um
well first of all do any other
councilman just have questions regarding
that um what's been said so far in terms
of the project and considering that
they're asking for an extension to the
end of the year to get through your get
through the bidding process get some
contractors on board you can work with
you can go down the cost to quickly if
we can usually contractors separate
ideas on that and if we have to put the
project into occupancy in two phases
um we fit it that way so we'll know that
how much we could actually accomplish
with your 1.25 and we've designed it such that the
building is occupiable at that point
so it may not be fully occupied but it
is fully accessible toilets or match the
occupancy and many of the programs would
be able to
answer I haven't been called before
Smithfield I think we've already set
with code enforcement and looked at the
two
kind of a base approach okay okay
so you wanted you wanted to tell us
where your other funding is coming from
if that is a that's a that's a huge
question
what's the date you have the bids coming
back in 26th September 26th okay
um
[Music]
my name is Rosa Rivera I'm the director
of Miracle On Christ Street
um so right now I really uh was planning
to talk a little bit about programming
but I'll jump into sustainability perks
um so what we're looking at to bring in
the rest of the money for the capital
project is
um
two Grant applications one is the
historical preservation program grant
for African-American spaces this grant
is a state Grant and it's up to you can
apply up to five hundred thousand
dollars for Capital Renovations we've
had our eye on this for quite a while
and we've gotten some letters of support
to apply for this grant it's opening
back up September 9th and we're also
looking at a niska grant which is also
for Capital Improvements
which Barb had sent us it's I believe
you can apply for up to 250 000 so those
are both opening up this week
and
um we've met with some of our County
legislators
um hoping that they will support us and
piecing together the rest of this
funding to open a building they're
supposed to be discussing our project
with the rest of the county legislators
this week as well
we were really hoping when we started
our bid process that you know the 1.25
would be like the majority of the money
for this project and as you have heard
the crisis have went up
and have increased quite a bit so we've
kind of had to switch gears a little bit
getting just kind of the budget back
from Barb and then going into the bid
process a few you know last week or so
um
so that's our plan
um I think that nobody wants to wrap up
this Capital project more than me
um I'm really hoping that these next
four months can
um help us to bring in the rest of this
money that we're successful with these
Grant applications of course having the
Arca award really is a point of Leverage
or the other applications and also for
the county to support us so we're really
hoping that we can close that Gap and
make it happen
by January
um
so that's what our plan is for bringing
the capital money yes it's the other two
Grant applications when will you hear
about the result of those Grant
applications within this four-month
period you'll know whether you're going
to get that funding yeah we should hear
from them by the end of the quarter in
December
and do you know how much you're asking
for from the county
so
[Music]
um
we have the 500 000 for the
African-American preservation Grant 250
from the capital and then we do have a
hundred and fifty thousand dollar award
for Metroplex that's still on the table
kind of waiting for the bids to come
back in
um as well they're kind of you know
waiting for the same thing that you guys
are waiting for
um so it would be the Gap to that I
don't have that number in my mind right
now
any other questions Mr palomini in this
past year how much money have you
actually raised
for the capital projects
so we've got some small grants I think I
put them in the cover letter for
um kind of like maintenance
um painting the building doing
um
you guys know we have had
um kind of like a quasi site control of
the property so we we have had to
maintain the property since the pandemic
and you know begin to do some volunteer
Renovations there were new things we
have shown a little bit of kind of like
our progress in the presentation that we
sent to you guys
so it's about 44 000. that's probably
the number that I had yeah I just wasn't
sure if there was another
so at this point in time on the requesty
forces to give a four-month extension to
get the bids all in and also to
um get that Gap and funding closed
Mr Farley I guess my question would be
um because number one I appreciate you
know the primaries and efforts and the
things that you're doing because you
guys are basically working in the
community right now which I think says a
lot to your commitment
um and already offering some Services
some pretty uh amazing things happening
right now so I want to congratulate you
on that definitely I'm just thinking um
is the four months a lot of time going
to be enough time because I think that
as we see you know places materials are
coming up and I know that um
covert has impacted a
significant impact on their ability and
kind of forecast when things can get
done and whether to fall within you know
what the expected price range was I was
wondering do you think that maybe even
um offering yourself a little more
cushion time so you don't have to come
back and ask your mother I don't I just don't know anything that that would
be possible and I know you want to get
this done and believe we have our own
deadlines ever working with them as well
I just wanted to um put that out there
and see what you're doing
um well Barb actually thought that six
months would be better and we kind of
went back and forth on that
um for the purpose of the vids I think
the purpose of
raising the rest of the capital I'm
really pushing for that four months
I don't know if you wanted to say a word
well just my concern is is if we don't
get enough Bitters and we feel like we
need to go back up to bed
you know at least we'll have some sense
of
dollar Valley Ranch
to you guys I think more time is always
a little more cushion is always safe
perfect
well I just want to remind you that
we're working within time frame no the
federal government has given us a time
frame right so we that's not that
doesn't change it won't change so we
have to stay within that the question
for Mr Google I don't remember the
legislation is it need to be allocated
2024 right and the 25th yes I'm gonna
answer that
man hey man president
yeah the reality is that
the financial plan is somewhat weak here
we're also seeing that with the
Empowerment Center
there's supposed to be some discussion
to see whether miracle and Craig and
Empowerment Center could work together
in a joint project
where we take some of the money that
we're going in both directions put it in
one project to get something that's
successful as opposed to two that we're
not able to finance and just wondered
what your position was on that or any
discussion it's been having on that
topic
yeah so
um can I just go into a tidbit about
programming correctly and circle into
that no I don't think that we don't do
that okay very many many times okay whoa
so I guess in short
um we're really looking at uh our
programming spoke has changed to focus
on kind of like holistic Women's Health
I think that we would be of course open
to collaborating with the Empowerment
Center I don't know fully what their
scope is I think it's around Workforce
Development so it's definitely kind of
very different uh what we're doing I
think we could you know put it all Under
One Roof I don't know if
um it would make the most sense
programmatically kind of having people
come in for
uh Women's Health Services and dual
services and lactation counseling and
yoga and Workforce Development
um maybe I'm open to the conversation
and I express that to Ron and Kristen so
I'm happy to to have that and talk about
it more so now I have to step back
because I thought that the programming
was really focused on youth programs
a community center I mean that is what
we have heard in the past I think that
was the Grant application that we
received from the Carver Community
Center the arbor application I don't
think talked to women's holistic health
so although I just said Gee we don't
need to hear about the programming it
now sounds like there's a change in
emphasis
on what condition of the cargo Community
Center is as close to what you have been
coming to us for in the past they said
did you get to read through the yeah
okay
I just wanted to make sure that you had
it yeah okay well yeah all right did you
want to speak for that
um
sure I
um so in the past
we have kind of expressed not a youth
center was always a family center but
more of like a catch-all kind of Center
where we would rely more on Partners to
come in and run programming but over the
past four years or so I've been
practicing as a doula and a yoga
instructor prenatal yoga instructor
there's a large kind of Public Health
Initiative around maternal health and
there's some big legislation happening
next year with some
reimbursements around dual services and
getting people access to some of the
resources that we've been piloting over
the last two years I've kind of put in
the packet a little bit about that and
some of the grants that we received from
those pilot programs
um so I think that it has shifted a bit
um but we never kind of um we're
planning to be like a youth Drop in
Center
um but I think as we came
um back to the council and we spoke
several times and just working with our
board you know we really needed to have
a foundation and work from our strengths
and you know be able to have programs
that we can sustain and then we can have
additional Partners come in and you know
the community come in and utilize the
center but we really needed a game plan
to you know keep the center open Mr
Farley So to that point
um um yes with the large initiatives
that we see on the state and federal
level on what you're talking about I
think that that speaks to sustainability
so we're not so what we described as a
shift
um I think is also it was not only being
responsible for sustainability but
responsive to the community and I would
um
foreign
some of the benefits from being
Grassroots and I know we're used to
funding kind of big box nonprofits
um who've been around and been operating
for some time I think the reason why we
want to make sure that we're supporting
these type of things just for that
reason because you have the ability to
be responsible to the community and need
and it's also clearly an issue of equity
which is why we have to be mindful in
our approach when we're funding things
that we're doing in the heck of a manner
that we're not um just funding again our
large big box non-profits because that's
what we think some oil that's been done
and I think this coven money
um there's language in in the
legislation that speaks to um
communities that are greater impacted by
covert which Hamilton Hill is one of
those communities so I just wanted us to
be mindful and um and make sure that
we're being intentional about the way
we're receiving this information and
never allowing you to operate with them
at school and it seems like that's what
you're doing so thank
okay
Mr William uh first and foremost the
efforts that you and your team have
taken on our affordable uh you
continuing this narrative over the past
few years has required a lot of strength
and energy and that should not go
unnoticed I think where we're currently
at as a council and then correct me if
I'm wrong man McCarthy this project has
to be of success not just because the
impact it'll have within this
neighborhood but also the resounding
impossible in the community this has to
work whenever I hear of extensions my
mind immediately goes through all right
what is this success rate now as we're
functioning with a shortened timeline
and I hope that you appreciate just my
frankness
definitely there's going to come a
conversation topic ordinary of
is this project success succeedable
under its current management
and please I would like to hear everyone
else's opinion and I don't think that is
doing a discredible to what has been
continuing on but I think with hearing
as we're then getting closer to this
December 2024 date my fear is will we
then not have an opportunity to
reallocate this money as equitably as a
as we need to so that it's not lost Miss
Patrick I would like to Echo that
because I think that we've had I mean
I've only
just in the time that I've been on
Council we've had extensions before
um I think but none of our non-verbal
money not on our but on other other
things related so my question so I hear
what Mr Williams is saying and I share
that concern
um and I guess I was going to flip the
question that Mr Farley had which is so
you get to the end of the four months
um if you haven't received these other
grants what is your you what is your
plan
yours and the boards in terms of when do
you say okay we've been working on this
now for I think eight eight or nine
years
um like what's your next step if you
don't get this funding
so I think that you know
um
I think the next step if we don't
receive the funding right and we don't
um
and we lose the award right that's what
we're talking about
um I think we would
um have to scale back and and look at a
different space I think the thing that
we're already doing and we're working
out of the stocking and inner Bliss you
know it's not quite in the neighborhood
in the community that we want to work in
and that we live in and so we have to
really look at that and you know but
yeah I'm
and I I say that with all respect to the
effort that you as as Mr Williams did
you know the efforts that you've put in
um I hope you're hearing that because I
certainly have watched and seen the word
that work they're doing over these last
several years
um but I just do have that concern Mr
Farley well number one I appreciate the
concerns of the council members I think
that it's important that we are
considering you know what the forecast could
possibly look like
um again I would just you know say that
you know the same way that you know any
other project that um we have funded in
the city um there's contingencies and
the contingencies aren't met then our
responsibility to the city of
Schenectady is to move forward
accordingly and I don't see
um anything being different from Miracle
on Crabtree and I'd also just uh you
know just in plain language I mean like
you know it's important that you know if
we want this project to be successful
when we think this as a valuable project
you know Miracle correctly exactly is
asking for you know a specific amount of
money in a specific amount of timeline
if you feel that um the money
um if they need more money you know and
we have more money to support them
that's always an option
um so I I welcome that on from federal
council members if you feel that this is
a project that's important and speaks to
the our needs of the community and again
it's a very unique project
um and again and we talk the language of
equity a lot and and what we do about
this is a way to demonstrate equity and
to make sure that we're getting the
project what it needs to be successful
um and I think that we have an
obligation to do that and I think that
Our obligation stops once we come to our
reasonable agreement and if Marathon
pressure is unable to make uh fulfill
the agreement they're no different than
anyone else who's not able to fulfill
the agreement then um they want to
receive the funding but I think that um
it's important that we demonstrate
equity in our practice right now not
just again talk about it
so again sorry I just wanted to
piggyback off that um you know how do
you know my boyfriend here
manufacturing team
um five times News basketball champion
um I just wanted to I know we said we
weren't going to talk about programming
but that seems to be coming up a whole
lot here at this table and I just wanted
to um touch on the programs that are
existing uh without being in the
physical building
um use mural program that I run myself
um also the community and police
basketball league that has ran
successfully uh six years straight we
haven't done in the past year obviously
because of the construction we had done
in Jerry Burrell Park
um so just wanted to touch base on that
also the Partnerships I mean we're kind
of getting into the weeds but again
questions have arised at this table that
you said we weren't going to talk about
but you guys have valid concerns so just
want to make sure that we address them
so Community fathers we plan on housing
men in the space which they'll bring
their own programming in that rooms are
spoke to along with we've been talking
to Schenectady City School District
about their continuing ed programming
and Barbara mentioned a very important
part about
so as Mr Farley stated we are Grassroots
so we're not you know we have to treat
this project
not differently but kind of right we
have to if we're talking about Equity
um you know support will look kind of
different
um so I just wanted to speak to what we
have done already I don't know if you
guys got a chance to kind of browse
through our slideshow but we've done a
lot over the years and especially in the
past year
um so there hasn't been like a huge
shift in programming it just looks
different because it's it's being geared
more towards family and not just you if
that makes sense I just wanted to add
that
so our discussion right in this point in
time is whether we whether we give the
four-month extension and then see where our miracle-under in four months
I'd make a motion to give the full month
extension oh second all those in favor
aye thank you thank you extension you're
welcome is this for you
don't give feedback
yeah
okay Derek you can come back
did you continue
okay it is it's right right even for me
so do you want to go in order for things
and we'll follow you
looks like they're still going to be
sure uh 795 000 if they get all that
money
approximately
but those amounts they say that they
said up until up to so it doesn't mean
they're going to get a 250 yeah I just
wanted to throw that up there and um the
accounts I didn't realize that so
um I think so Anthony Ferrari sent you
this great worksheet except worksheet
with all the updates from all the
projects that are going on
um I think really the contest to make
some big decisions on what they're going
to move forward with there's a lot of
commitments and contingencies that some
of these organizations have to come up
with so
if there are any questions or that or
anything that I think maybe reach out to
an organization to hopefully again if
you have any questions
she was wondering what uh funding what
has going on with the funding for the
project I did reach out to Lauren
Gardner to see if we need updates on
that since those two are linked uh begin
to respond so
no there's a couple things I want to be
very specific about there were a couple
of things that I think we really need to
take a look at there were requests for a
change of use of funds there were
requests for extensions of time we just
heard one and there's also requests for
additional funds so
um I can start with the YWCA if you um
all right so the YW yeah the YWCA I
think let me just be clear that Mr
Ferrari sent us all the emails as he got
them and then last Thursday in
preparation for this meeting he sent it
all as one packet so and then it's also
printed out for you in front of you
um so the YWCA is asking for a six-month
extension and they're also asking for an
additional 750 000 dollars
the original request was to build
something called the Harbor House which
is
a building that's behind the current why
and and now they're asking for the
additional 750 to do some Renovations of
42 units within their existing property
but we haven't um I have not gotten I've
asked for but I have not gotten kind of
some detail on what that really would be
and where women would be housed while
they're renovating and all that stuff
um they did uh the mayor hosted the
meeting here a couple weeks ago and so
they came and asked that so one of the
follow-ups was to say you wanted the
addition 150 extension they'd already
asked for excuse me at 150 7.50 but how
was the exact Amusement so we hadn't
gotten that yet
so I open that Alexa discussion
Mr Farm yeah so so there
are not changing their what they wanted
to do with their initial the funds that
were granted they're saying that they
want to do what they're not to do with
the initial funds
um for a harbor house and then the
additional funds that they're requesting
would be for a separate project correct
separate Gifts of their existing
building at um whatever number
Washington Avenue yes so their existing
building that they have and it's been
there for 135 years they want to do some
renovation in that building as well and
that's what they're asking for the
additional 754 and we don't have all the
details of that correct okay but the
initial Harbor House project could
stand alone from this project
do you understand what you're saying
yeah
so I see this then
piggybacking what Mr Crowley says as two
separate requests the request that we
have already approved which was Grant
they applied WE Post we agreed to it
this is almost like asking for another
Grant without going through a Grant
application process right somebody oh my
misunderstanding well I wouldn't call it
I guess you people get it like that but
I see it as a requesting additional
funds to make sure that their facilities
what's needed to cancel William the
women and
um as we've said costs have gone up and
so there's the Harbor House and then
they wanted they wanted to make sure
since they're creating this new facility
that they upgrade where people women
currently live as well so I don't know
if it's necessarily a new Grant request
but I understand how you can see it like
that
to do some do something yeah
if they had done two applications for
the classified as a nine percent
financing package
competitive process
Ary bhcr in the state they did not think
the cut set up so
what looking at now is a four percent in
the nine percent is a competitive
package you have to go out and compete
against projects within the community
within the region within the state
the four percent is more of a negotiated
process it's not as lucrative for the
developer but the Senators there that
make it work
and so they're approaching an ounce of
four percent and it will be again dhcr
which stole me the lead in terms of
reviewing it make sure it makes sense to
them that they would Grant those tax
credits to allow it to go forward and
then the city's money would be
uh to close the deal to do uh council
president pointed out some of the
original proposals and then some
necessary work in the building proper
that has been there
probably 60 years without major
Renovations maybe longer
so that they would have a new building
and then have the upgrades to the
existing facility it's
at this point it
and more optimistic about it than under
the competitive proposal or the four
percent again it's negotiated so we're
working with them working with the state
they're of course making requests
because anytime you get money from some
other source it makes it easier to put
it together and gives a greater level of
competitiveness
having said that it's no different than
miracle and pregnancy
the Empowerment Center this one until
you go out and have the final bid and
you've got a firm price from the
contractor there's widely varying
numbers of what the original assumptions
are and what we could actually do these
projects we don't want to get into
something where we don't have enough
money on the table to be able to finish
it and so as we're working with these
groups it's yes we want them to raise
money I want them to step up but at the
same time is
kind of like the city's money to close
the deal not to put it into your
starting and then only getting it
halfway done and you have something that
really doesn't serve anybody's needs
down
and so if you need um do you need are
you asking for additional information to
the other new 750 that Edition 715
do you need more clarity on how they
wanted to send that are you still at new
Grant application well I mean so they
right now
we've
700 said 750 000 dollars
they need an extension the six months
um so the total cost is 21.5
million 1.5 million oh that's a good
question
versus the 750.
yeah it says yeah 21 points
I guess I mean can they do the project
that we initially awarded them in the
750 000 can they do that project at 750
000.
Derek do you know the answer to that
um
my understanding is
that to get the numbers to work for the
four percent package you have to do
bigger project within the building the
four percent it's going to be tougher
than just the new addition
even though some of that is still fluid
and
they're working with
dhcr to go through those scenarios and
options
I would at this point encourage the
council to
approach it is
you got to do the whole thing you can't
do the new building and leave the
existing building
kind of in a backward state that it's
not code compliant and it's only going
to have other issues going forward just
routine maintenance they've had issues
where pipes have broken
home ownership and everything too a
Basics very easy basis not quite as
cleanse
a do you have cancer sir
yeah so I it sounds to me like
so yes I would like to give more
information on that just because I want
to to draw just a little more clearly as
to how connected the projects are and if
the projects are connected and it's one
of those things that the mayor's saying
that we need to do it all or do nothing
you know I
you know mine's but my limited
information that I have I would think
you'd be better off to fund something in
a way that it can move forward and
actually produce their uh service their
Community then under fund it and then
again let it kind of be a waste of
resources but I I think that it's fair
to say like those are some questions
that I think for them to because I
didn't see that
so are you asking for them to come like
here and explain it or do you want it in
writing it'd be good if they could just
maybe send something you know just send
something over and we can reach out you
know definitely I can reach out
or are you looking for a funding
material and see exactly where they are
and then I'd rather them just give us
you know more information than needed
yeah you know they're not less but I
just kind of really want to see how the
two projects are connected and are they
uh
depending on one another
important mayor
my suggestion Council would be issue
like agree upon an extension and I don't
know if they could like give me the
information tomorrow I understand
they're working through that and it
might be two weeks it might be six weeks
before they have the numbers together
and what the uh
scope of the work is in what
would meet the standards for dhcr where
they would actually be able to assist in
the finances
so at this point I'm sorry no I'm saying
I agree but so are you being with the
accenting and the additional money
information um
I have a problem with this whole thing
and it's not just one project or another
the overall scope I mean you created a
process you created
contingencies
and now they're basically meaningless so
we talk about Equity we have 70 percent
80 percent of the city that is a Justice
boarding community and you know it's
we've created these aspects to be put in
place and we're disregarded
so what does that say to the other
organizations and I think that's
something that we need to address
because that to me is is very
problematic because why create the
contingencies why have those things in
place as far as a process if we're not
even going to follow what we've put out
there
so my response is that we create the
process at that time and things ever
where they as they were things have
changed since then in terms of cost of
things all those things and additionally
the opportunities for every single
person who was going to funding would
send a letter saying where are you they
had an opportunity to come back and say
this is where we are we need a lot more
time we need more money we need whatever
so it's not like no one had the
opportunity they had the opportunity so
it's not like we said to one group you
can't come and talk to us or send us
additional information but to this other
group we can because because that's sort
of like what I'm hearing you say and
that's what I'm saying you know is we've
created these contingencies you guys
I've already known you put these
contingencies in place and then you're
saying that doesn't matter here let's
just do whatever as each one comes up
we're looking at each one as a one-off
instead of as a whole and now we don't
have a good track of where the money
stands we don't have a very good ex I
idea of how these costs are going to go
forward we knew when these projects came
that much of the costs were quite
frankly not even close to what they
would be
so we knew that going in
and so we granted the money anyway but
now we're saying that it doesn't matter
I think that's a problem for other
organizations and I think just being
consistent is important
in terms of
um go ahead not only the organizations
that we did Grant Arbor funds to but
everyone who put in an application as
well
um seeing that you didn't follow what we
some guidelines that we put forward
but the restrictions and guidelines went
towards the one that we've done
absolutely so but they're thinking now
you know I just don't think it's
appropriate I I understand the point I I
have not had any organization come back
and say why didn't we we get funded but
I understand your point Thank you so far
well again I you know I can appreciate
the concern but I think that you know uh
especially around the president that it
says but I think we need to be clear
that even like whether some of our city
projects that uh people voted in
unanimous yes for
um have
uh budgets have almost doubled
um and we still owe it yes in
consideration
um for because of Ontario costs and
things of that nature so I think that if
we're going to give that level of
um of Grace understanding and responding
to what's happening with our city
project City projects I mean surely we
you know we'd be suited to do the same
for our organizations and especially the
smaller organizations in particular
because again some of our city
um projects which are great projects
what we all stood behind um unans people
yes have a cost to have almost double
and we still supported them unanimously
we're always talking about Community
input we want to talk about the cost of
going for the pool largely a lot of
those costs increase because of input
from the community asking for a splash
pad asking for all their stuff so that's
where a lot of the costs increase and
secondly if you have put contingencies
on the city projects then okay we're
comparing apples apples but we're not
those contingencies weren't put on so
that's the issue and so when we talk
about these organizations we talked
about the ones who weren't funded and
they're looking at well hey you know
we're granting money to a project that
wasn't even applied for that's a problem
when we look at
getting rid of contingencies which we
put in place and saying now we'll give
this one five months we'll give this one
eight months we brought into a
credibility problem
in order to give an extensions prior to
this
so this is not the first time which
projects which what did we would gave an
extension um where there was a
particular extension that we gave it's
like probably almost all the projects of
like a top almost a year that was from
last September right to this September
right so that was the contingency
emotionally uh contingencies and by 9 23
right yeah
so yeah I I understand what you're
saying but I don't think that you're
actively represent representing block
was set so when you say when you say
like there's a contingency and then
we're just saying oh that contingency no
longer doesn't matter that's definitely
not what I'm saying but what I'm saying
is that the same way that we made
reasonable decisions based on new
information that was presented when we
looked at some of our city progress even
if the cost doubled without a
contingency on it
um that's still the pretty significant
thing to double the cost of a project
but collectively we understood how that
could happen and when you numerously
supported that so I just think that we
need to have the same metric when we're
looking at some of our community
organizations if not we do have a
problem with credibility but it might
not be the one you jerk on
so
at this point in time the question
becomes they want they're asking for a
six-month extension but they're also
asking for additional 600 750 000 so
um
but what I'm hearing is that you
consider the extension but want
additional information about this other
part of the project is that
I think so although I think what I'm
also hearing from the mayor
meeting that you had is that part of the
issue with this additional 750 is so
that they can get that better 40 I mean
it's that my understanding that
correctly four percent is not a better
rate you could say yes competitive
it's an option that's out there
English but to get the numbers who are
kept to a larger project and so they're
still going through some of the cost
analysis and it has the meat
criteria Within bhcr's review so where
they didn't make the cut and the nine
percent they're now oh I see okay reach
out to DHA arts and was can't we do this
on a
four percent
again where the nine percent is you put
it in it's yes you get it no you don't
the four percent is more of a negotiated
process so we go in and say well you
know if you had
extra assistance from the city council
you could do part of this or do we have
to finance the whole amount through a
developer
and it's uh
it's not as lucrative for the developer
but it's a process that I believe will
allow that project to go forward but I
can't sit here and tell you to say give
them an extra dollar give them an extra
million dollars and they don't need
all these the costs are going up
Fair
you know
tight budgets we want to try and work
with them to make it happen so if this
point that my recommendation will be if
the council agreed on
an extension
it's like miracle and Craig one and they
really wanted six months you gave them
four months maybe let's be clear they
ask for four months
and so you know it's how do you workers
build at the same time keep a little bit
of pressure on them to move the project
forward get things lined up to be able
to again move forward a successful yeah
Mr Williams I can only speak for myself
I think looking at all these projects
when we receive them in whole I may
certain determinants based on criteria I
selected various projects based on the
benefits that they have to the community
which are still
um
true to today so as we Now function and
a new reality where covet is still very
much affecting a lot of qualities of
life it's understanding how do we
salvage some of these projects which
that truth still holds true that their
impact on the community is such
so getting to this point I agree with
the mayor of how do we hold these types
of additional requests accountable and I
think it's the manner in which we do it
I have no issues with this extension and
hearing this information although I'd
like to hear from the YW YWCA
spokesperson I would feel more
comfortable going through the remainder
of these projects and then understanding
what other additional requests that we
are making
uh before allocating this additional
money so I'm not opposed to giving them
this increase however I want to make
sure if we're doing that what are we
doing at the expense of
thank you
so actually right before it's now before
we really discuss um
additional fund we want to know talk
about whether there'll be an extension
or not did you yes just an additional
question so at the end of December for
Miracle on Craig and now the end of
February for them yeah if they're asking
for another extension where do we stand
on that well I can't answer for everyone
but I'm just saying things that well
something we need to consider and we
will consider and there's already as
I've said a number of times as I start
this conversation we're looking at the
federal
um the Federal
guidelines in the federal timelines so
we will keep that in mind if it's not reasonable that they can do it
then of course we will consider that
so um again are we we're talking about
the six month extension but not
additional money at this point in time
without the additional information I'm
more comfortable
so are you going to be getting each of
these organizations that are requiring
extensions the same amount of time
um
except except well we'll wait till we
get there I mean I don't
think we should we should make decisions
for them they they made that decision
yeah
for all these organizations to have
their contingencies and funding
employees
please speak out the should make the
decision whether to be allocate that to
whether a city project or Consolidated
project so yeah I think that's a good
idea so timeline that we we decide all
of the projects that we have to make I
think that's an excellent idea so at
this point in time if we're talking
about six months we're saying nobody
goes beyond six months
our timetable and you inhibited if not
then you know that's what I'm saying so
right now so before we get into looking
at everything as a whole because I don't
want to have like two different
conversations if we're talking about the
YWCA right now which is what I'm talking
about I'm comfortable
um with the mayor's recommendation to
offer the extension
um allowing them some time to give us
you know a more full view of what is
happening
so it's two different things they would
get the six month extension but they
would have to come to talk to us or send
this information about the 750 rules
we don't need a we don't need to vote on
something then we are
the six month extension yes then I'll
make a motion to give the YWCA a
six-time extension I'll second always in
favor
all right
um can we uh so the next one is cats
scat has not asked for additional money
or a Time
they are asking for an amendment of use
of their funds do you want to you want
to talk about that here it is
oh
yes
the agencies that requested me give them
the opportunity to come before
I'm not sure how that would take that
here to to come um because it was we
this was just a discussion for the
council but um they were there so I gave
them the opportunity to say a couple of
words
um it would be a much longer meeting and
I don't think you could fight for
everybody
yeah
make those decisions
right here
can you see it bigger here
all right so what I have up to date
which accounts already seen on their
documents
they want to change their work detail on
that
um they originally were appropriated a
hundred thousand dollars
let's go pick
supports including testing vaccination
education and safety services for
homeless individuals and that's hard to
read there so at this point in time we
all have the letter from them yep and
they are asking to change all of that
funding to go towards rent
um for to keep prevent homelessness
which is what we've just given them I
think the cbdg yes
I mean especially regarding that changes
use so your point
they're a community blocking we just
paid them for that correct yes so it's
such a nice problems
but I can find that information now
um and this is
last year rental subsidy subsidies what
we just also have given money producing
thank you
two weeks ago
I can't remember when it was okay this
was a few weeks ago and um addition let
me just everyone needed her
that housing that rental assistance as
we know is a critical need right and uh
Miss Dia did uh send this back on August
17th but it was to change the Arca but I
wanted to include it and make a
discussion with all of them as opposed
to just bringing that one forward
I guess I would just note that this is
you know you know they're changing the
scope of services somewhat it's still um
directive impact in the same uh
population which is um population that's
a Diaries
I trust their
approximation to where how those funds
can be allocated
I think it's a different plan of attack
for the same problems how kind of how
I'm saying it I don't know
anyone else
yes Mr Williams I think regardless of
whether it's different or not or how
different I think we've all recognized
the systemic impacts of covid and how
it's affected only our renters but also
our landlord Community I think
previously when we had this presentation
they highlighted I believe was 250 000
or something how that was a drop in the
bucket that's what this issue truly is
for not our city Charlotte County and I
was hopeful and wanting to designate for
that so seeing that there's an
opportunity for them to leverage their
current project
it is not a black and white scenario Mr
promeny but I think this honestly is
very much how do we provide more
resources to a community and so much
need and I think that this is an
absolute yes
so Mr Golden so do we if we're talking
about a change in U2 we have to
do we have to roll them into that or is
it that just a special we just made that
decision
you're going to have to change the
resolution
um you know so you'll have to amend just
like you did with the timeline
um the resolutions that were previously
passed with the allocations were
specific to a project
without looking at their resolution I
don't think could Encompass this
particular type of change so I think you
would have to actually have a resolution
to do it because we haven't ever done to
a contract well we have nots right okay
yeah
this is a complete different use I
understand this has applications it's a
need but how does that look in terms of
all the projects that we looked at it's
a completely different project and yes
it might have gotten funded anyway
but we don't know that because we're not
looking at that scope we're just well oh
they asked for something else so let's
give it to them
it's a little facetious but the reality is it's a different
project and we're not considering it
into the scope of all the projects that
we received and that's the problem by
going one by one instead of looking at
everything a whole and saying well we
like this 510 these ones probably don't
fit that's the problem we're running
into and that's the lack of consistency
Miss Williams well I have to push back
that is why we prepared to have that
type of discussion I took detailed notes
sir and I have in my mind a template of
what I'm willing to adjust to with my
single vote and I'm taking that into
consideration with hearing from the rest
of my council members
from my standpoint the amount of details
that I've looked at I feel comfortable
with that decision and as you do like so
I think as this can as this conversation
develops I think that is where we're
currently at right now
so in in their letter they say the
reason they're asking for the change
what they originally asked for they were
able to get funding from a different
source so
um they said they still need the funding
however they'd like to use it for
another need that that's already there
so
um we certainly couldn't let them give
them the funding and then use
um and then pay for something that they
already had another grant for that we
could not do so they simply said well no I mean at some point in your
mind but they've said you still need the
funding but we'd like to allocate it to
a different use
okay actually I think you've said this
in the past I think that these things
are existing both are existing at the
same time both of you are saying can
exist and be true at the same time
because I get both of your points it is
that we are actually
I mean not everyone had the same
opportunity to come in here and talk to
us or to give us a new
scope or a new proposal clearly if they
got funding for covet testing which they
probably got in a very timely way which
we were not necessarily timely in making
our decisions
right in terms of How It's not allowed
out they are performing to begin with so
they obviously took care of what they
needed with the you know so so yes we're
looking at them one at a time instead of
looking at
um big picture exists with the same at
the same time that this is such a
critical need
um at least this one is
um in our community that how do we so I
guess I'm saying to both of you how do
we reconcile the fact that we all sit
here and know because we had this
discussion already about scap
previously
um we know what this this need for for
rental assistance for people that are
home you know just about homeless how do
we reconcile these two things with the
fact that right now we're making
judgment calls
and going outside of a process that we
already had set up which I think is what
you're saying
um because for example let's let's face
it we're going to get to the other the
other folks uh in this pile
um and even miracle and Craig Street I
mean they totally changed the scope of
their project from what they asked us
for originally because
to fit into the amount of money we gave
them as opposed to I mean one of the
contingencies that we had originally
given them was
um that they had to come up with the
rest of the funding I can't remember the
whole total of their project when in
that first application but it was like
double what we gave them instead they
came back to us and said okay we've
actually narrowed the scope of the
project so that we can do the project
with what you you are giving us so they
already changed
what they already did what now for
example scaff is asking us about and
pretty soon you're going to see if we
get to Cocoa house that cocoa house is
asking us I mean you know
at the same time I think we have to
recognize that
like a year has gone by or more since
these folks originally gave us their
application so you know a lot has
changed uh in the external environment
in which they are operating
all of them
every single one of these you know
organizations but every the letter was
sent to everyone everyone had the
opportunity to come back and ask the
same questions these are the responses
that we got just I want you to so it's
not that everyone didn't have an
opportunity to speak oh right oh I
thought just the one yeah just the ones
that we still didn't have
to have fun everyone got the letter and
then then that's how let me just also
say that
um it when Mr Ferrari took this over
yeah that's right that's right so he
asked everyone and then some of the
contracts got in place
um so yes and you're right it did take a
year I don't I don't
I can't speak to why but until he sent
out the letters and say you must move or
we will take our money back that's when
things started moving forward right
that's right so
um
again the you know the question on the
table and and in terms of us looking at
I think that we're looking at each
project and we have to I mean we're
looking at he fends out everything on
every single sponsors right yes yes
so um so there's to my knowledge there's
no one that's left out
no there shouldn't be uh you send emails
it's down
these organizations so
um
99 of them did respond
um like I said Anthony was in charge of
the Soul amongst us so uh if you have
any questions I could try to reach out
to them or dig into his files and um
see if there's any uh questions that
could be answered
so the question before is now is is the
change of use for the 100 000 for um
yeah I'm just going around isn't
supposed
but we can do that we can if no one has
sloppy treats up forward
so and just well yeah
well then I'll make the motion that we
do a serious opposition is there serious
opposition it's a serious opposition to
this guy
for me
I'll speak into the sense that I mean
yes homelessness is a crisis so is
domestic violence and we just asked for
six months extension for that they would
want to know why we're changing the
scope of asking for an extra 750 by then
so I and again to stay consistent I use
almost everybody wants to change their
application now and what they need it
for I think we need to stay consistent
and I'm sorry that's just my feeling you
never have to be sorry for your opinion
thank you
Mr pulmonary settings
I
support it
my support
well I'm going to make the motion that
we that we do it I'll second all those
in favor all right
um do you want to okay so I think I'm
going to just stick with most of these
items
to turn by Council or push them through
most information is here if there's
questions or if there's information that
yeah I want us to talk about the
electricity Co-op
because that's another one that has an
extension but they're asking for a year
and an additional 250 000.
so
um
yes
so when their update it's just like they
really outlined it for us
um they're our original resolution was
12 months from September 12 2022 they're
asking for 24 months from that date
which is really another year from this
date and um
they're asking for another 250 thousand
dollars
and also since the the scope of their
project has lowered the amount that
they're going through probably where our
project is going to be they've um the
resolution asset we asked that they
match 5.7 million and so since the scope
of the project is lower the cost of the Project's lower they're
asking that the proposed requirement
from us the lower
do you have this I just
so
that's kind of the overview of that one
right when we were still looking for the
5.7 million
additional communities
they're still looking for money
oh it looks like they're just looking
for four they're asking us to say they
want they want another 250 000 from us
but they're also asking for another year
in which to come up with the money that
they need but we have to keep in mind
that we're looking at a deadline from uh
from the federal government that we
really from the treasury Department that
you know and
um to Mr to Tara's point we may want to
try to stay pretty consistent
what we're doing
so a discussion around this particular
one
Mr Wayne although I feel uh
uncomfortable with that
here is where it pushes this up I
trust the judgment and the involvement
of Metroplex I think in evaluating that
they're looking at an entirely new site
I think it makes sense to give them a
portion of that but again I wouldn't
want us to push myself into the deadline
where we're we're treating and trying to
shuffle last night so I would I think
they said two 24 months which is a year
from now so we're truly talking about a
year
they're also asking for additional 250
thousand dollars
um
not that the scope of the project has
changed but they just asked them for
addition on Sunday
on the I would support six month
extension but I don't
feel badly though
um
and so um but not the not the 200 not
the additional funding what do you guys
I don't think so
anyone can come and ask for more money
no absolutely not
well we're not in contracts so I think
we should be able to be okay
employees
I was just raising the question so that
we're negotiating the terms of this and
whether not only happened
Electric City Co-Op now with some of
these
are some of these discussions
appropriate in executive session
as opposed to public session
so I thought if I was talking about
contracts we had to
so that's a question it's awarding the
contract has to be done in a public
essentially when you're negotiating the
terms and conditions of the contract
depending on what it is appropriate for
executives
like you're going to do some housing
sales
you might take the dollar amount that's
put forth you might ask for more
whatever you're negotiating that's
executive session
so yes you're like you get I don't
necessarily agree with that
um with housing is slightly different
because
I can get to the reasons why here
there's no contract
you're talking about the terms of that's
already been made public that the
council has required and you're simply
talking about modifying the terms of you
know the financial obligations that they
have to meet and the time in which
you're going to allow them to meet those
requirements there's currently no
contract between the city and these
entities
not modifying an existing contract
all right
and so the ones that are We There are
some that we're under contract with so
we will not discuss those
um so we're back to uh electricity Co-op
whether we're sorry we're interested in
granting the extension
yes no Mr pong meaning I'm sorry this is
just so arbitrary how we're going about
this and you know if I'm one of these
other organizations and I'm looking at
this
I'm thinking
you know potential lawsuits I'm thinking
all kinds of things that we're opening
ourselves up to and you know
it's just very arbitrary and very
problematic
um you know we're saying well this one
has four months we'll give it to them
this one after six months we'll give it
to him this one asked for 12 months nope
they're not going to give it to them
we'll give them six and I understand the
reason why but I'm just saying the
arbitrary aspect of it is very
problematic and and
I'm telling you if I was one of these
organizations I would
very much be looking at a lawsuit yes or
no it's definitely I'm not
I don't well we allow people to come to
us and say this is what we want so we're entertaining what they want so I
don't see the lawsuit I'm not saying
that you're not right I'm not but I
don't see that and um and in times in
terms of the time frame we still we've
made it very clear to the organizations
that we have a time frame that we have
to stick with so if they ask isn't what
we can reasonably do then it's an ask
it's not a demand it's not saying you
know you we can't do without this it's
an ask but we've already set forth the
timeline for when we have to meet for
the federal government that's not going
to change we may be talking about three
months left if you know once we read
through that information so we have to
stick to our timelines and making these
decisions we also have to consider that
as far as I mean I know people can
pursue litigation for any reason that
they see are you sharing the same
concern that you're hearing about
organizations of possibly uh assuming
that's what the process that we're
engaging in right now
I mean it's a hypothetical and I don't
want to get down the road of
hypotheticals I don't necessarily see a
cause of action unless the city is doing
something that is irrational
generally this you know the work that
the city council does as it relates to
this has to stand up to having a
rational basis
thank you
so what we're discussing is again
well they're asking for a year extension
we have to make a decision on that
keeping in mind what our time frame is
an additional 250.
it was clear over here and I think you
said no I just want to be clear since
we're training extensions
across the board I'll go with six months
but additional money at this point you
know okay since we're denying everyone
else
uh Miss Williams
with with the extension and withholding
the additional phone calls what's going
on in agreement with the extension and
not entertaining the additional funds
request see
Habitat for Humanity to me there wasn't
enough information I wasn't really it
just said I don't think they're asking
for anything yeah they're saying
I'm not really
oh they're saying they still have to get
us the paperwork all right so so we have
100
000. I'm looking this is what they said
this is a Contracting place it's the
contract in place okay well then I guess
that means that we can't discuss it
they only have one
all right there's a Contracting place
yeah this one I think is we don't have
to discuss it
um
I think it's the same as what they asked
for I mean yeah right so the Green
Market though I do think that they are
their information that needs to be
updated that they sent us okay it was it
was the information needs to be updated
if you notice that it referred to 2022
and 24 so their information needs to be
updated
we'll put that on the side also excuse
me please should we put that aside then
yeah okay I think they need to be
updated
you said that jewelry reached out to you
um yeah so she reached out to me uh
Esther and he reached out
um they warning about their funding
um
emailed Ron Garner to see
the updates on that and to see if he had
a cost of the project
[Music]
yes
so the seat centers income they were in
contract right so we don't have to talk
about that one
right yes no no we do not
um and cocoa house is not in contract is
that correct
is correct Okay so all right football
house um was awarded 500 000 and now
they want to change their the use
um which they asked us they asked us
about that a long time ago we just we
didn't get that yeah because we hadn't
had that conversation right it didn't
come back quite frankly and uh so
they're asking for for new staff
asking for 200 000 year one in year two
if I'm interpreting this correctly and
then 100 000 in year three
is that what you have uh
here
it's the same as Carver basically their
original project was I think 3.5 million
if I'm reading this correctly without my
glasses I gave them five hundred
thousand dollars they're basically
saying
they want to change because they want to
use the 500 000 but not towards that
the changing the scope abroad so
changing the scope of what their money
used to learn for well okay yes it was
exactly that they produced yeah a budget
and they're asking for
two hundred thousand dollars for the use
of for 200 200
I don't know how they came okay so I'm
guessing this is just with the salary
that they're going to say is going to be
used they really haven't broken down
oh yes I have 240 the first year the
Arca 160 the second year and a hundred
thousand third year
I guess um for me the question would be
Staffing I see that there's only one
stash so
I think that what they came back to us
with
um was increasing their Staffing so that
they could provide additional
programming so that's what they're now
asking us for as opposed to the capital
project which is what they originally
asked someone and
it's probably they're not asking for
additional funds they're just asking for
children James Grace
all right
so I am in agreement with the
development property aspect based on
their timeline which I think was very
well thought out I think it's clear how
they intend to use that portion of the
money and with respect to the personal
hires I think it just highlights the
executive director so I would like to
know is there additional positions that
they're planning on hiring or is it
truly sitting within that one position
which I imagine is not the case so I
would like more information about that
other people so perhaps what we should
do with this one is the same that we're
saying we're doing with the YW which is
having them come in also in a future
meeting and talk to us about to change
the scope right I think what is
I thought we said we just get in writing
and look at it but oh okay whichever way
all right although so but I would I
would say we definitely um would need to
have those questions answered
so yeah okay it saves as well
oops
and um the Proctors is under in contract
that is correct
well I think Anthony told us that the
last 10 hours I do have some questions
so we would have to do that in uh okay
um did we have anymore or are there more we
have the um
extension for the Empowerment Center and
the extension to the Stars Hamilton
the Staffing Association the North
Street Station the old one my
understanding is that's something that's
being done in house map
as opposed to the sake Associates some
of the money to do a little bit of
facade work the reality is you got to
rescind that original resolution so
it's a city property we're not good
to go up contract somebody else to come
back in and deal with them the problem
is that
the decision stole hasn't been made is
what the Adaptive reuse of that building
is going to be
and that's and so is that where The
Stockade Association is talking to the
development about
a firm
plan of what it would be and some of
that because when you go in and there's
no real first floor there's okay so you
have to establish
a floor there
do it but what we've done is taken a
little bit of the money and done decide
more to preserve the windows other
things that would deteriorated just to
maintain the outside
I'm just wondering why we need to be
saying this a long time ago because it
already came back in house
because I was told by the stocking
Association that they were told by
development that they could not do it
because they were not a 501c3 in
development
okay we're appropriating money for we
don't appropriate it to a third-party
group to come back in and so that
resolution is still there okay so my
recommendation something like the
council has to resume that okay come
back and I would hope that we have a
formal plan is what we can do with it
when we take that action when you take
that action
okay okay well
um so I guess that in this case we have
to continue motion to resend that um
it's about the resolution the
Appropriations yeah that's contained in
that resolution okay all right I'll make
that motion to
um
the
uh 750 000 through the stock case to The
Stockade Association yeah I'll second
that all in favor
all right
was there other ones that's who else
I'm sorry
Hamilton hill art center I think they're
in contract aren't they enough
they require additional 300 000
commitment really I don't know okay
I didn't see that
I had
thank you
yeah I don't think they're asking us for
that money though my reading of this
email they're not asking us for that
money they're basically saying that
they're getting them
so I don't think we really have are they
looking for an extension though it says
establishing for an extension but I
don't see that
I know I don't see the information they
sent to us is that Anthony's handwriting
that's at the top of this yeah
so I don't think we have to do anything
with us here honestly I think we have to
get clarity on there because
so can we get clearly from the article
Center exactly what they're yeah if they
need because it says
that's Anthony's but they didn't say
that
right that's right
the boys and girls club is under
contract
okay so we can put the Hamilton Hill
Arts Center aside yes and move on
oh
the Empowerment Center
great discuss that
so they're asking for an extension as
well right
so I do have a question about the
unconference center mayor and I guess
it's really questions for you this
property of City owned so are we in the
same situation as we are with um
conversation
so this we have a plan for it okay we
don't have money to fund the plan
you have a plan but you don't have money
to fund the plan the numbers the
estimates are just coming in okay
greater amounts
of what is your consumptions
so um Mr he didn't really give us an
update on those changes Mr Gardner did
not give us any update on that I did
reach out to him today
if there's any updates
well there's no action you can take
without knowing the last time the
projected estimates were way over what
we were
upon this project
yeah
we don't know any of it so we can't
did she have your hands up
so I had a question about the master
contract agreement I didn't know if
there was an estimate and we can get on
when that would be completed I know they
said
foreign right
he's definitely not a contract when we
begin or when we begin
when we can expect it back
and then uh you said the next step of
identifying executive director would
that be a position within the city Mr
maybe you speak to that or
so my question was how would that
position be funded
I don't know at this point
I think my memory of the application was
that the executive director was part of
the money that we rewarding to them
I think but I'd have to go back into the
application
and I just want to point out that we
gave them
one point
75 5 million and that is what they're
needing if you add 875 and
200 doesn't that come up to 107.550
so there's no question we already
awarded we already did that
appropriation so I don't think there's
anything
unless it comes unless they need more
money I think well mayor's saying that
the cost is increasing am I understand
that correct um
foreign
except
um
yeah I wanted to have a discussion about
that
is it there's furthermore Mr um yes
that we should discuss
um
of course it was just like so we're
discussing I don't understand why we
have to go into executive session to
discuss
contract
that practice is already under contract
you know I I understand that
I still think that that falls in this
particular session
I don't necessarily I actually agree
with Mr Charlie but I think it's
possible that an executive session it
does not it does not follow the
executive stuff in there
articulated items that would fall with
an executive session
reason why we do property sales an
executive session that came up as a
comparison is because it's very specific
into real property sales as a matter of
executive session because it could
impact if the council doesn't move
forward how we sell Properties or that
particular property not approved it's
something that somebody already under
contract is not subject to
Executive session unless something comes
up in the discussion at a specific to
something that would be a matter of
executive session
all right
so my question regarding where is this
is we appropriated the money when
9 12 2022
and the props that we're asking to cover
are previous to that date
that's what Mr Ferrari told us
so they basically I think you can work
ahead with them both saved again I'm
sorry but the same with the Cardinal
Community Center they're looking to get
these two grants
they were they're hoping to get the 500
000 and the 250 000 of them
it's a very difficult
I guess what I'm saying is it sounds
like Proctors thought they were going to
get the money so they went ahead and did
the work no no
and then figured they could get article
funding for it well they put in me on
vacation after the work was done
completely
believe that's really against the
guidelines in terms of the harbor money
that you can't you can't we can't cover
cost of something that's already been
done I'm pretty I'm pretty sure I'm
clear on that
um
so
that's my concern there I mean others
you know we can certainly have that
discussion around that they do have two
um yeah
912 correct you have three cars so those
could be considered
against me I said this before I say it
again
this is problematic
um you know they're spent the money
they obviously had the money to do the
project and now they're asking for money
besides
no
okay
yes Mr Probz
Excellence you don't know I'd say based
on the pretense at which all of this was
submitted I would agree as well
yes I will make emergency
so yes that is what we did so so yes
that is what we did with uh the North
Street pump Ferry Station
yeah
yes okay so what is your motion to
rescind the appropriation all right did
you do that that's what we must have
done with the Aquatic Center as well
then yes
uh I'll second it all in favor
aye
all right is that the last one yes I
believe so
um
the next couple days
okay um
three items are about properties
foreclosures are About Properties I
understand but it depends on on the
context of this is a discussion item
right I'm sorry so I don't know the
context of
this item to know
if it's going to be a discussion on
selling Properties or if it's a
discussion on the foreclosures so I
would say it's a prop it's a discussion
on selling them based on the information
that we're receiving okay that's
okay
um
though we have to just recess claims oh
okay I mean we said development oh right
that's right because we have current
score yeah okay okay so I will make the
motion for you development planning okay
thanks all in favor um now I'm going to
open up claims and
um we need to discuss this in executive
session so I need a motion to go into
executive sessions
thank you thank you all right executive
session and
public would have to leave