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2023 and the first committee is
claims I'd like to open claims um we
have one item on the agenda um and uh
we're going to need to discuss this item
in executive session so I'd like to call
for um a motion to go into executive
session second all in favor I I okay so
at this point in time uh all members of
the public will have to leave and we'll
call you back in after we uh finish our
claims committee thank
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fure what the temperature of the town
is terms of they going
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uh next we have um are you ready okay
all right we have uh two presentations
um miss
starver good evening good evening our
first on presentation will be from
Better Community neighborhoods they'll
be here presenting on the Ark of funds
for the Hamilton Hill info project they
previously submitted an extension
request for the council so today's
presentation hopefully will provide a
little bit of clarity and support for
that
Amendment
ready
can those are for
people on
TV good you can hear me okay yeah okay
hi I'm Chad kilborn I'm the president of
the board of Better Community
neighborhoods Incorporated and um I will
talk through the um what we call the
Hamilton Hill infill project which the
arpa funds were allocated for then
answer any of your questions and you
want this to be like 5
minutes
oh well okay yeah yeah quick okay so
the my grandfather always told me to be
brief and be
seated U all right so this we're talking
about rehabbing 26 uh units all of them
in Hamilton Hill all of them currently
substandard uh along the streets um Page
Street Germania and SKC Street and in um
all of them are in the city households
to be served to find us houss with
incomes of 80% of area medium
income so um what here's how I'm going
to go through this I'm going to tell you
what's happened so far and then where
it's headed and then I'll answer your
questions um thus far um BC and I had uh
about a $200,000 Grant from the
Enterprise Foundation to all the to do
all the prep work which is required to
get the big state money to come in to
round the whole project out um um I I've
worked with most of you on stuff before
but not all of you so um you know as
general context I would say what this
starts with the federal government what
the federal government set as guidelines
and rules for funding affordable housing
is incredibly complicated um and it
takes a long time so all of that is
within that context so so far um on
those uh properties um with the
Enterprise funds the site control has
been achieved integrated pH physical
needs assessment has been done by it
looks like K building Consultants the
environmental review was done by CT mail
the is bestos Leed and radon testing was
done by CT mail the certified property
surveys was done by L cilene Associates
the schematic design drawings were done
by Troy architecture practice the shipo
the historic preservation review um was
done um the zoning analysis was done um
and variances were granted bcni did that
the market study analysis and property
appraisals um the new market valuation
Consultants that that that has been done
by them the construction cost estimates
were done by Christa the identification
of the financing partner will be
Community preservation corporations BC
and I did that
um
um you know there are a couple different
I'm a path to Victory guy and so you
always have to figure out what pots of
money does the state have and how are
they going to do it I think we're this
is going to track towards home ownership
opportunity for most of the units um
I'll talk more about that in a
minute
um all right so then the rest of this is
now is
all that's the key stuff that you need
to know so the the funding secured to
date um the Enterprise funds I mentioned
is $194,000 $960 was that Grant with
possibility for more Community Loan Fund
of $84,200 the arpa friends from the
city um Congressman Taco has uh advanced
$750,000 in in um Congressional funds
pending a um actual federal
budget um and um all right now I don't
need my notes anymore I can talk from
here so from this point forward
um the local foundations have come in
we've have we have two offers from local
foundations one of them for home
ownership this is a softer one that
would be north north of a half a million
dollars another one a harder one which
would be a seven figure Grant if we used
all of the units to
place um single mothers who
with children who needed somewhere to go
so this means we have you know this is
kind of when you think back to how we
got Boys and Girls Club done and uh
Bethesda house funded it was City County
working together with local foundations
to identify a need get the right not for
profit involved then allocate our
resources strategically the state loves
that they come in the state has said to
us at this point we like the basis of
this and um a lot of you have worked
with Darren Scott who's the regional
director of HCR for this part of the
state he has said he's going to come and
sit down and plot out which of the state
pots is most ripe for this so um I think
I should stop it's a lot of talking for
me so I'll stop talking and answer your
questions but I think where we are at
this point is a lot of this Spade workor
I read that whole boring list because
it's all the stuff that um people in the
public don't see but it's the
prerequisite for the state to come in
we've got all that done we have um the
various different pots of local money
lined up and the state is now saying
yeah we like the trajectory this is
going on we'll sit down and figure out
um how you know which path to go down
they have to rank and score them but if
you think back to um the Craig Street
project Hillside view um Mosaic which
got funded in Mount Pleasant last year
Bethesda house all those went through
one or two applications and I think on
um Hillside view it was actually the
fourth time it was funded so I think
where we are is the worst thing that can
happen here is that maybe the state says
apply here we apply once they don't fund
it but they say here's what you do to
get the points to get it over the Finish
Line um all
right it's a lot of minutia for me so
I'll be quiet and answer your questions
so what is your shortfall on funding for
the project what is the overall cost of
the project and what is the um what's
the Gap in funding you know it's an
affordable housing project so that
number always moves
around we're probably going to ask the
state in the neighborhood of5 or $6
million I would
say for the total project for the state
so I think total would be between eight
and nine
okay but I'm I'm doing I'm doing
estimates because I mean when you do
these affordable housing things until
the
closing
there's no number
okay so when would you know about the
state
funding um it depends what route would
they go they have their own big
um RFP they're getting ready to put out
with with what they're calling home arpa
money I actually think that's what they
hired Kristen de to write and they're
like more than 6 months behind schedule
on issuing it so um um I you know they
they the funding Cycles take six to n
months they generally
do
okay and so I think part of the other
thing is you're asking for an
extension yeah I think yeah go ahead so
so how long is the extension
request sure I hear that's for a year
all right so then what I would what
request is for a year and then we work
with Brian Lawler who was the state
housing commissioner and did for 30
years the closings for the state on
these things um he's an expert on all of
the rules so we would ask Brian to sit
with um whoever you wanted him to sit
with to make sure all the rules were
followed and you know what I mean
because you've got on the arpa funding
you've got your set of rules from the
treasur treasury has their set of rules
yeah yeah yeah so I do I do think that
with
um your staff involvement and Brian's
involvement Bri very good at making sure
the rules are followed So within a year
we we'd have a path the state
would have it on a path so funing path
that satisfied the rules well the rules
are that it has to be allocated by the
end of 2024 and then spent by the end of
I'm confident we can figure that out
other questions Mr Mr Williams Mr
Williams to the C okay um so you would
mind clar you said at one point that
there were two different directions the
project could go in one being home
ownership and the other one single uh
single mother households is that a
decision that bcni has come to or are
you still evaluating the funds that
you're going to receive and does that
affect the project
scope that will have to a lot to do with
the timing of what the state
says they have funds available for sort
of first second third and
fourth I think that from my seat as
president of the board of bcni and my
seat at the foundation I think we have
critical mass to do both over the next
couple of years it's a matter of which
funding path presents itself first we
have a we have a need for both we have
some government funding set up for both
we have strong commitments from local
foundations for both the another one of
the tricks of these affordable housing
projects is that um smaller is harder to
do if you do 10 units it's harder to do
than 60 units so we're talking about 26
units here you know one thing we could
do is break it and do you know 15 of one
and 11 of another but that actually
makes it harder to fund so we have to
flesh that out with a state um does that
answer your question absolutely yeah CU
it's not it's not there's not um Clear
Cut Black or
White on some of the stuff so I will do
the best I can to give you a correct
answer yes and like with previous
requests that we've had um in terms of
the state funding and the point system
that that Grant would go through is it
your opinion that um obviously what we
do here would help in terms of the
points that you might need to approve
from that state yeah I think I think
there's two answers to that you know
this is what we learned from the library
branches from Boys and Girls Club from
Bethesda house from bunch of the other
projects they do have SC 0 to 100 they
they give you points if you have um
Foundation funny if you have City money
if you have County money all of that
counts but they also like it better they
they you know I think what's motivating
State officials to say we're going to
come meet with you and figure out how to
get this done as they see that skincity
has started to be really successful at
this Formula One and they see it coming
together here and then you know once
they do that they help you choose the
path that's most likely to succeed which
is why I feel comfortable that the worst
thing that will happen is maybe the
first application goes in uh like with
Bethesda house and they came back and
said we're not funding it this year but
you're close and here's what we want you
know if you do one two and three you'll
get it over the Finish Line um and Kim
Shepard and her team did a great job of
doing
that
mayor thank you uh again this project in
the Y W you know are getting some State
attention they good projects uh our
rapport with those agencies is very good
you know the team that's here has uh
good connections good track record and
so I would recommend that some extension
be given in this funding scenario it one
of these things that puts us under
pressure to get them done but at the
same time pointed
out we're not just uh going into a
vacuum and the state weighs other
projects across the
state uh I think we're in a position to
score very high uh in this in the things
that we've done laning up to uh this
application of this process where we've
Consolidated uh two groups brought
together under bcni it's the one
uh time it's been done in the
State uh the governor the legislature
keeps talking about doing housing
initiatives so there's some of the money
that's on the table now and in the
pipeline and there's going to be
something in the next Governor's budget
one way or the other I don't have any
inclination what that is but we want to
be positioned to Advocate and follow up
on any opportunity that exists there so
it's somewhat of a again a dynamic
process but I think we're in Fairly good
shape for a number of things that we're
doing here and our track record of doing
things in the past of actually being
able to implement get things built get
the construction done get the uh
buildings open and get people moved into
them I think the YWCA project that's
been in three times but I think it's not
a path to get funded now yes yeah
I do have one one other tiny question um
has the county contributed any money to
um the project you mentioned so I've
been in Asia for two weeks I'm fresh off
the plane which is not a good use of the
word fresh um I can't remember off the
top of my head but Metroplex is going to
come they're going to now that the
state's coming they're going to come and
figure out what what they have to do to
help get it over the Finish
Line um but does I can't do County have
any money in yet no no thank but we'll
they'll figure it out they'll be part of
the solution thank Madam
president the other feature of this in
terms of the bigger impact is we've done
projects of doing one where it's you
know it's one building that's one site
this is a number of houses throughout
the neighborhood that it's a little bit
more complicated to put it all together
but the impact is going to be far
greater in the overall transition and
visual aspect that's going to happen
within that's complet that's completely
correct I know he brought some visuals
off if you want oh you want to put up
yeah this is sort of what the what the
um all the prep work has yielded that's
absolutely that's that's correct and and
just to to pick up on the mayor's point
you know most
cities this is New York state right and
we have Brooklyn in it we have the Bronx
in Buffalo and most good
most most cities of affordable housing
is all about apartment buildings and
most of the programs are designed for
that kind of construction but for our
city it's very much about single and two
family homes and and taking fixing up
these houses that have been vacated or
left empty and so it does take a little
longer to put the financing together
that is part of it but we but the state
recognizes that they're committed to it
we will figure it out so here's a
cluster here on Germania there's a
cluster on uh SK Street and cluster on
on page okay so this isn't all of them
this is just sampling this is the
sampling the pictures are just a sampl
this just a sampling of the vacant so
the VAC most of them are two family
houses most them are two families just
one single family I kind of like that
for home ownership opportunity for
first-time home buyers because if they
then the person who buys the house as a
firsttime home buyer that is someone who
is for the maybe the first time in
Generations creating an opportunity for
the family to generate savings and
wealth that can be passed on but if it's
a two family home and we do it right the
income they get from the other unit
significantly helps make sure that they
can keep that mortgage those mortgage
payments coming and stick through it see
it all the way through and would have
impact that's another unique feature of
this yeah so that's I mean right now I
I'm kind of cheering for the home
ownership opportunities for this if the
state can do it fast enough because of
what I just said so that's that is I do
have that question are you planning on
keeping any of those properties and then
renting them to people and bcni
remaining the owner proper I mean if if
if if we go the home ownership route for
these properties no if we go the route
of um of developing them so that they
are rented and they are rented for
targeted population like for example
single mothers who need a place to go
those would be rentals that would DC and
I would manage and and they would have
like a u like the isshi program would
come in and fund some of that and there
would be an agreement with scap to
provide the services um and the and the
isshi money would would pay for
something like 65 75% of the
rent so um two paths okay all right Mr
Farley so I guess I'm pretty excited
about the ownership path like I'm I'm
sure that that's probably a little more
complicated um from what I'm got what
you're saying but I definitely think
that that that would be something that I
I would be more excited about as far as
Community impact um I know the federal
guidelines for like U uh lowincome
housing or is a bit dated um and I'm
just wondering is this is the state
guidelines the same as the federal
guidelines and how much autonomy do you
have in that as far as that process like
I know that they have been
um I don't know when the last time they
were updated but last I looked it was it
was it didn't seem like it was really uh
in line with
um kind of today's world numbers I think
you always have to follow the federal
guidelines you guys agree yeah Federal
ground trunk the states if the states
want to do something so I think that
yeah I think the federal ground you have
to follow they probably are out of date
even though my official position is our
colleagues at the federal government are
great Americans and I support
them um it really comes into play when
you rent cuz then the rents have to be
set according to all those rules um when
you do home ownership it's less of an
issue uh because you're qualifying
people for mortgages and helping them
get down payment assistance and then
getting them into the home and then
their payment is based on the mortgage
um very often those mortgage payments
come out to be less than the rents do um
so I agree with you if we can figure out
how to make the home ownership
work that on this that would be great
but if we don't on this one we'll figure
it out on the next one it that that's
coming the the the feds have set that as
a policy priority it's showing up in a
lot of the grant programs where you get
extra points to do it um so we'll see
when the state comes if they say yeah
yeah you've got this this this the three
pots you can go for the incentives are
there for home ownership do it they'll
they'll help us figure out and how to
get it done and you know I hope we're
getting to a point where um the mayor
referenced the YWCA project you know I
feel like that may be the turning point
where we get to
where're connecti is now at a point
where we know we can make these things
happen even if it takes a few years we
have to be patient and persistent and
push through it sometimes people get mad
there are tempered TS and you know but
um we get we get around the corner where
we know what projects we want to do and
it's just a matter of figuring out which
one goes first second and third the
state helps us make sure it happens and
we're we're our track records pretty
good I mean we won Elmer Avenue we won
Mosaic recently they came back with a
good plan on the YWCA this scap campus
looks like it's on a good track State's
coming back and saying they like the
direction this is going so I think we
can feel good about it one question yes
so um too long I'm sorry um it's good
information I'm so I guess my question
would be is how much of what are some of
the other I mean I'm sure it depends on
which path you you know would go down
but could you share like some of the
other considerations being made as far
as like outside of income um who would
be uh would be your targeted population
um and I'm asking that question just for
clarity around like um are we looking at
um what are some of the other factors
that are are kind of calculations that
are made to see like who's who Le this
type of housing would be accessible to
yeah I mean the plain reality is
unfortunately we have to react to what
the funding streams tell us to do so
when we do things like like Elmer Avenue
or Renaissance square or mosaic um those
projects are all tax credit projects and
tax credit projects by law have to be
rentals period and a discussion we don't
have any choice and so if you're going
to do a you know conversion of a of a
white elephant old school that's empty
and it's going to be 60 units you're
kind of stuck with tax credits there you
are um that's a so that's a reason why I
kind of agree with you if we could go
down the home ownership path here that
would be great because this is an
opportunity to do that and we're not
doing a tax credit project that
prohibits it um in the ca you know we
have groups like young parents United
tesda house they tell us that we have a
demographic need to deal with homeless
on a bunch of levels and so we do our
best to try to get that I mean you know
um the bethesa house project
took four four years in you know it's
probably longer than it should take but
we got it other communities didn't get
it and and did it because Bethesda house
needed to double their capacity to House
people coming out of the homeless sector
so I think you know I think for the root
for the um young families that need
somewhere to go we know we have that
need and we will figure out one way or
another how to do it and we have um
already a couple of State commitments
for isi to do that and we have a local
Foundation ready to do that and the
state has already said okay then
that's that's the connected formula for
Success we will help you figure it out
I'm I'm sorry to your time just I have
one other question uh so regarding the
the projects that you're doing um
assuming part of this will be doing the
sidewalks that are around these
properties or um I I think in she's
asking whether the sidewalks are
included in the funding for this and I
don't know I'm going to turn to the
staff off the top of my head I believe
they are but I I can't be 100% sure but
I do believe that that was part of that
okay when we did the last things uh when
we did the surgy project we did all the
sidewalks as well so I do believe that's
that's part of it but I can certainly
get back to you specifics if you like
yes I would thank you
pleas more questions um if you could
though just all the information that you
gave us today in terms of the funding
Etc if you could provide that to us in
writing so that the entire all right so
I think Alex has like a 40 page thing
that's shows all the um the boring stuff
that was done and then we can get you a
summary too yes unless people want to 40
page you can you know if you have
insomia it's a great C thank you for
coming our second presentation is the
Coco house we have the executive
director real bz with us the COC house
previously um submitted an amendment
that included a change in the use of
funding so today he will be presenting
um and providing Clarity to the Council
on the use of fund
change thank
you to take one pass down
you you're welcome do you need
this all right I'll take one just in
case okay fair enough thank you you're
welcome pretty
sure okay thank
you hello thank you guys uh my name is
William Reas um executive director of
coc house what you have in your hand is
a brief presentation on the uh ARA
project um the beginning um only we
submitted uh the purpose was we were
looking to get the funding so that we
could uh complete the purchase of exra
property so that we could expand program
um in that time uh what we were able to
do with the help of uh the Metroplex
community landbank and R fund and some
other supporters we were actually able
to raise the money to complete uh the
funding needed to execute our program um
our project so as of right now uh the
new C house team Empowerment Center 867
sing Street my old childhood home um is
due to be completed on October 30th of
this year um interesting enough uh you
stop right there um is that
tomorrow couple
weeks October
30 yes so um you should get ready to be
there during this project what we've
learned is uh in the very beginning I
had really lofty goals my goal was to
raise
$250,000 and put it in the hands of the
community um through local contractors
who would hire local workers and they
would train uh local youth you know that
was my goal my the intent being um to
make sure that the funding for the
project was going back directly to the
community and we did that you know we we
tried to go that route and it was uh a
task um I like to think that throughout
this process I learned a lot about uh
development contracts and a lot of stuff
I just really had no clue about um we've
gone through two contractors we're our
third contractor right now uh NPR
locally um and as of right now the front
porch and the back porch has have been
completed and inspected they both passed
um as of right now um and you can kind
of scroll down um these are the plans
the original plans for the project uh
so 20 years ago Rachel had an idea of
connecting both houses when I took over
Copa house uh 5 years ago I I looked at
that and understood that that was going
to be quite the task so what we did was
we decided to next slide morce please uh
to connect them through the porch um the
reason why I thought this was a good
idea was um in understanding what that
neighborhood used to be um specifically
my house
um I wanted to build something that
would last uh for the Youth in the
community and would serve as an
inspiration to the kid to attend uh
Martin Luther King school and just youth
who live in our community um you can go
to next slide
please uh the next few slides are
pictures of the process and where we're
at so that first slide you'll see is the
very beginning 5 years ago uh those
young men in blue shirts those are seats
out so keeping up with the theme that
from the very beginning my intent was to
take this money raise and put it
directly back into the hands of the
community in training and funding and in
jobs uh that second slide you see Union
college students uh here you see Brian
from the seat Center again as we're
going through this process there were
three breaks in the project that really
were out of our hands one being co uh
which you know there was really nothing
we could do um we did have to let go of
a contractor because the work wasn't up
the par and in that process we brought
on this great group um who as you can
see the transition from the third and
fourth slides you can see the project
took shape literally overnight um all
the siding was gone all the roofing was
gone all brand new shingles and as of
right now this last slide you'll see
this is the brand new porch and this is
the inside as of this time last week the
insulation is up right now the sheet
rock is inside and the walls are ready
to go up we have all the plumbing
purchased um the group that that we have
now working with NPR they actually work
six six days they work Monday through
Saturday rafie and his team are
absolutely amazing um the request came
for us to Pivot for the arpa because
what I realized throughout this project
was it's been 25 years and coko house
never had a full-time staff coko house
has survived solely for 25 years off of
volunteers so what I thought about um
this time last year that's my wife with
the kids was that we have this great big
project and it's going to get done and
we're going to have this program space
but we need staff we need people from
the community to hire to work with these
youths people that we can train and that
we can pay pay adequately um because
again the pivot with the article was
that we raised the money for the
building and but we're still putting
money back into the community uh the
money the pivot for us is really is
taking this money and hiring uh local
families um because what we're also
doing which I I took a lot of stuff
context out the slide is uh what's also
going to be in this program is we're
building the first Broadview financial
literacy Center in the Hamilton Hill so
Broad View we have a partnership with
them in which they're going to provide
financially literacy classes to the
community to families and youth as well
um because we believe it's uh important
to have a financial institution like
Broadview to invest long-term education
financial literacy courses and
opportunities for people that in our
community uh why amend a contract we've
already raised the money needed to
complete a 67 projects 60,000 from the
city of SKC thank you guys uh C for the
cdbg 60,000 from Metroplex 50,000 from
Community landbank 25,000 from Amber
mother fund uh and we are due to be
completed like I said at the end of the
month grand opening of the first week of
November we have raised the money to
complete the community Green Space
Project Union College student jesselin
was awarded 9,000 for the project in
2022 that is due to be completed first
week of November as well uh we have
currently met with and there is an
agreement in place for the purchases of
28 Sten in place for them to donate it
to Coco house should the purchase go
through at which time we will demolish
the property and add it to our community
Green Space on the corner and we have
already have a letter of intent that's
been approved and agreed upon with the
SKC Foundation uh should 28 St Bend be
secure and given it to C house we have
the money in place for the demolition at
this time biggest need for the expansion
of the program and the services we
provide and want to continue to provide
our staff to be on site and available to
the youth and the families we serve on a
regular basis um the reason being is for
20 years we have served younger kids we
have served a younger generation and
with the expansion uh we're going to be
working into uh larger population uh
families older youth teens and we want
to make sure that we have services on
site readily available uh for the
people that we're going be working with
to have access to on a regular basis so
uh what does this look like um increase
in wages from so for 2023 we'll spend
$30,000 in wages um we're looking to
increase that to
$200,000 $70,000 for a full-time
executive director 50,000 for a
part-time director 30,000 for a program
assistant and 50,000 for program staff
up to 2 and three part-time staff
currently uh $30,000 in wages 15,000 in
occup cost 5,000 program and direct cost
$220,000 in administrative expenses uh
we get a lot of support from the
community Union College is really great
about helping us out with supplies food
and stuff for the program um throughout
the week um during the summertime we
have to raise the money to make sure we
ensure that um here's a nice long thank
you list um of everyone who's really
been a part of this project for the last
5 years since I've been a part of it and
uh again we would not be where we are at
this point Point um at a point of
completion and grand opening and uh you
know I'm thankful to say that this is
actually going to get done and I'm glad
that you guys are all a part of it thank
you well questions well first of all let
me just commend you on the work that
you've completed it's pretty substantial
and admirable and so I know you sent me
one picture but there's a lot more
that's been done since then so I I want
to just say cl to you and everyone that
works with you to get this done and um
get it to this point so thank you for
that and morce if you could go back to
the next slide CU I um I do have some
questions right there all right so
currently the 30,000 wages um I
understand what is the 20,000
administrative expenses could you
explain with that deal is yeah uh we
have uh services that we utilize lawyer
uh
training um insurance is cost like that
oh okay okay and so
your your initial ask from from us was
from city council was I believe the
original ask was 1.5 million over 5
years um and that it was adapted to
500,000 so you've lowered the request is
that what you say no I didn't lower the
quest it was when it was sent to us it
was lower oh okay okay so 5,000 was what
we allocated gotcha okay and so you're
asking us to
do could you break it down over the
years yes so the way we looked at it is
uh larger amount the first year and
gradually scale off 200,000 200,000
100,000 uh the third year um the reason
being with our growing capacity what we
found is we have access to more grants
and stuff outside the C because we're
offering more program um what's really
been great about this process is uh we
found a way to sustain our program and
grow it without stepping on the toes of
any other the other programs of what
they're doing we found ways to
collaborate partner um and find find
Space where we can all being part of
this connected youth Coalition being
part of the 22 youth organizations we're
supporting each other so we're not
recreating program that's going to take
away from other programs what we're
finding is that we're all sustaining by
we're serving the same same families and
same kids but there are still some
things that we can do differently and
ways that we can work together so by
stepping to this Niche working with the
older kids um we're fting is there's a
generation of Youth who just for some
reason um they just you know as many as
we have they tend to not come sometimes
it's it's mental health sometimes it's
sub sometimes it's just for decision
making so we have found a space where we
can uh work with everyone to provide the
best service
possible thank you yes ma'am
um go go Miss pck okay yeah sure so
first I want to Echo um uh president
Porterfield uh uh congratulatory words
around what you've been able to
accomplish thus far um I really would
like to see more nonprofits not only um
you know make that type of investment to
serve youth but then when you when you
kind of compound the fact that you're
making an investment back into the
community um that's something that I
wish a lot more nonprofits had that did
that model um so I just want to say
that's really important as far as it
speaks of sustainability um and if I'm
understanding correctly it's like um
this will not only help you serve the
youth that you serve now but you be able
to kind of expand upon that and also
that you know influx of resources what
because I'm sure as being a executive
director you're doing a lot of different
things um a lot of you know so you're
saying it's parttime but we all know we
work with you we know it's full-time
right so um I so I imagine that you you
could see that expanding your ability to
um go after more funding right Your
Capacity to do so so even within this
it's not you know there's some
sustainability to that with things up
okay I just want to be clear about that
that's that was the goal long term um we
planned this was to what we found was
with the UN with um Coco house we have
kids who age out and sixth seventh grade
and then you know boys and girls plus
phal I think the great thing about sa
connected we don't La for resources but
we always find those kids who find
themselves kind of in between so what we
thought about in this process was well
what if we can create uh job
sustainability long term we can take
some of these kids we can put them in a
team program we can educate them on how
to work with the younger kids and again
you know we have the summer youth
program we have all these different
programs that we have the ability to
work with let's create more
opportunities for youth like myself
because again without r a gram I'm not
the executive director of C- so if we
can take more use and more opportunities
and more intentional investment long
term we can create more opportunities to
get some of these kids off these corners
and do some phenomenal things in these
programs because they can reach their
friends better than we
can you have question I do so this
obviously the the um rer funding from
the city is completely about Staffing
and Sals so what will be your capacity
around um you know the programs I mean
in terms of uh no I'm I'm glad you asked
so right now uh with just volunteers my
wife who's sitting on the hallway um
prior to co we were operating at full
capacity 35 you a day prior to co once
Co hit uh of course we had numbers had
to drop and then after that um you know
the school district opened up their
after school program again which kinds
of change the dynamic and again we're
not in competition for to serve the
Youth of our community we're looking to
come across and work with each other so
uh we partner with the school district
and we find local families who are in
need of you know so this with the team
program opening up the way we have it
set up we have the capacity to take on
another 30 35 you per day
and um so do you find that the 30 to 35
students per day are um consistent the
same students or are you
seeing no it's it's changed right now
that we just opened up uh first day was
today and I think we had uh I believe
our numbers were 10 but this is our
first day opening up and again the
school district is running they have
school B 5 days a week so you know we're
not looking to really compete with them
but we're looking to create a a
situation to reach those hard to reach
youth specifically um because we really
feel like that's where we can do the
most good um anybody that that wants to
come to cop house of course is welcome
and that's really where this uh
situation was driven from is because we
had youth coming back seventh and eighth
grade and they had no program to go to
because they got kicked out and it's not
because they're bad kids but maybe the
people at the program didn't understand
how to deal with them we've been working
with them for four or 5 years now what
do we do do we turn turn the youth away
no we intentionally create a space so
that they can come back because that
investment long term it keeps them out
of trouble and it keeps them engage in
the community work that we
do Mr to um MZ um the document you
submit to us with regards to this
amendment you are and looking at the
salary line you have $600,000 over 3
years what are your plan to sustain it
into the fourth year what's our plan yes
okay so again as we expect it's cool I
was pray for that um as EX stand program
um what's been great is uh I I've gone
to a couple national conferences um the
geof funders was one in Chicago in which
we met national uh funders who there's
there's more money available and I think
a lot of that was kind of what moved our
Innovation right we found that there's a
lot of youth programs in the city of
skincity and we're kind of all going to
the connecting Foundation into the city
for the same money to serve really the
same kids which is not sustainable for
you guys it's not sustainable to the
concy foundation so in creating a a new
and Innovative program it allowed us to
start to tap into some uh the naal
National mentorship Alliance Mentor New
York in which you know and we have some
um funders uh that are kind of waiting
for uh this piece to get off the ground
so that was the big thing was is we had
some funders in place uh two years ago
but our timeline got pushed back because
the project kind of didn't sustain so
because of that we had to kind of um
pivot our approach and uh focus on
getting the project done before we could
start to ask some of our wealthy friends
for
money so so just a p so you mentioned
that their fundings out there yes and
you are T you're going to be tapping
into these agencies yes is it possible
that you can send us a list of the
agency that you are going to be working
with
in Mr Williams uh definitely again I
think it's I appreciate the presentation
and also the work that you're doing I
think it's safe to say that this project
and what you've been able to achieve so
far actually reflects the tant of what
our community is uh working together
more collaboratively and more
effectively so using and employing the
seat Center which made me smile and
tapping into Union College it's very
very um good to hear uh definitely I
think the sustainability is a strong
consideration the last thing we want to
do is fund positions that are then going
to be dissolved in the next year year or
two um uh my question resounded around
so if ever the ask came back to the city
do you have job descriptions just
clearly outlining what the duties of
each role are because any year working
we are absolutely working on those now U
the interesting thing about this in in
see down spread you kind of alluded to
this is it was the hardest thing to not
give a update on progress and not put
anything on social media because I felt
in all honesty I'm being honest I felt
like I had let everyone down because the
project I pushed back so many times um
we had a lofty goal and we had a
timeline set and when uh we came into
barrier after barrier it was frustra and
so what happened was is our Focus just
became strictly getting this building
done and then building everything else
kind of really around it and now we that
we have the right people in place we
have the timeline in front of us it's
allowed us to go back and focus on those
things which are incredibly important
because again to create sustainability
again like you know
talking about is we have to have those
things in place very clear dialogue very
clear program outlines um and I want to
flesh those out but my priority right
now is just getting this building done
because I just felt like so much was
riding on it thank you but I can send
them over to you it's not a problem
appreciate actually if you send m m
she'll make sure the en account for no
problem thank you Mr yes Mr Harley so I
so um just listening to kind of your
response to to Mr Williams I I think
that
um and kind of also to your point Mr
manian I think if I'm understanding it
correctly part of the the sustainability
is really growing Your Capacity to seek
funding cuz I think a lot of times we
have some of our smaller nonprofits that
make really really big impacts but
necessarily don't have like a
development office if you will right so
I so so so just you know as city council
we're we're moving to try to be more
Equitable in approach that we do things
including funding um so I think it was
just I just invited my council members
to consider that as well that part of
some of this is Su of the sustainability
plan is about giving um some of the
smaller nonprofits that make big impacts
opportunities to grow um and that would
kind of uh help sustain them along the
way and we're actually we're working
with uh Bob and the sky Foundation to
grow exactly that we're actually working
on growing a nonprofit incubator in the
city of skty where nonprofits smaller
nonprofits who order a certain budget
can actually have access to grant
writing and development services without
the the overhead cost that
that's been a part of this process in
the background that we've all really
been working on because it's not to when
you look at this approach I I know it
looks like it's a lot of money it's like
you know what's the dollar verse impact
when we talk about the work that we've
already done and the work we're going to
be committed to doing um when we show
the development model that everybody all
the nonprofits in the city of this conc
are to be able to access these
development approaches it's going to
make it sustainable for everyone long
term well I mean just to Echo what Mr
Farley is saying I guess I'd have to
also say I know that in your um Vision
here that you're going to revamp the
board of directors and activate them yes
we and then in terms of you know
full-time executive director I mean
obviously that would be a huge part of
the executive director's role will be
going out and continuing to look for
money um and that's why the program
people um would be you know working with
the youth Etc but the board's going to
have to you know also have influence our
just joined our board so so we've
actually we revamped our board totally
in last year or so um to really maximize
the potential on Vision again um January
13th we're going to be doing our 25th
anniversary fundraiser at uh Union
College so again there's a lot of
intentional pieces that are tied into
this but again to be mindful of the time
I really stripped a lot
out well congratulations on getting the
building that's the building done is
amazing it is thank you very much no
more questions no yes there is yes ma'am
so you um in terms of the salary mhm you
um
so you um are wanting to spend uh all of
the arpa money like right up front um
however you did mention that you had
other opportunities for funding so um is
there any way for um it's 500,000 so
over 3 years you could it could be a
little bit less is there any way for you
or have you considered making getting
some of that other funding in place or
leveraging the funding this funding to
get some of that other funding in place
so it's not all the AR money spent yes
right at time so is that a possibility
something you consider yes that that's
why we're doing 25th anniversary
fundraising January 13th uh I was kind
of planning
for um because again we we've had lofty
requests and our timeline was pushed
back so again to be mindful and
respectful of the council in the city
and everyone else I'm I've been we've
been committed to doing the work first
ahead of time because it shows that
again we're trying to be collaborative
so you know we do have some
conversations in place about some
outside funding again the bigger thing
was getting the building done because
once I have the building then I can go
back to some of my funders and say Hey
listen we're ready to start program on
this date so that allows us to get some
of that other funding in place but the
building piece was really the
Cornerstone to locking all that stuff in
but again planning out the fundraiser
planning out on some online stuff as
well we do
have yes Mr T hi well thank you Mary so
um you mentioned there were 22 other
youth organizations here in the city
part of connected youth Coalition here
right um is there anyone I know where
your heart is I really do is there any
other one of those 22 that you can
collaborate with that's doing kind of
the same thing you're doing um bring
them on
or you hear what I'm saying we're
collaborating with all of you that's the
purpose of theate Coalition but as far
as the
funding we're all in the same boat
that's that's why we formed this
connected youth coalition to not stress
overstress our budgets our staff our
capacity um and to Not Duplicate
Services you know so that's also the
purpose of I don't know you know if you
guys were part of the uh SKC Foundation
they had they hired the group from
Atlanta that was the feedback that came
back that we have all these organiz
ation doing this great work and there's
not enough funding for everyone so in
creating this nonprofit incubator the
intention is is so that we can actually
shorten our budgets and extend our
capacity by everybody having access to
Brand writers and development offices
that's that's the point because the
truth is there no one can really sustain
what the funding we're receive we're
already doing the best we can absolutely
other questions comments anybody any
more information so if you could just um
like for information that that was asked
for today um and then you move forward
from there so thank you very much for
coming and again impressive the work
that you have done in terms of
revitalizing those buildings which in
turn revitalizes the neighborhood so
appreciate the work that you're doing
thank you very much thank
you okay
uh next committee is Public Safety I'd
like to call the order of Public Safety
Committee we have five items on the
agenda tonight first of which will be
discussed by Chief Clifford that is the
opioid settlement funds
he's right here I guess we can he
is
apologize for that no problem okay good
evening I have 1 two three four five
total legislative requests Lieutenant
dton is going to assist me with the last
one I just one I'm starting with the op8
settlement funds okay the op8 settlement
funds so we have um a total of $ 77,4
33 we are asking uh Council to approve
us to accept that and use that by
funding our scanty County Hub the funds
will be used for temporary housing
$7,495 $3,000 for transportation and
$4,000 for awareness of what the scanty
Hub is
there we're asking for no matching funds
for
this um the temporary housing would be
to uh for us to be able to offer housing
to those individuals that need it where
no other resour sources can be can match
their their need for for one reason or
another any questions or comments so who
would provide the
housing uh well the Hub would make the
phone calls in order to find a place
that we could house the individuals most
likely it would be a hotel
motel that was exactly my
[Music]
question any yeah so do we have any like
guidelines for these hotels motels uh in
terms of you know
habitability the uh scanty County was a
part of the Hub and we would have them
they're they're the ones that would be
making those phone calls and they had
the guidelines that they use through
Social Services it's it's simply um you
know if if if they don't have the
funding available at their for them at
the
time so just as a follow so it would be
the same hotels that the county
currently uses to house the of their
housing that's my understanding right
okay
M yeah if that's going to be the case
there's any chance we could have
somebody look at these facilities
because from all reports they're not
very nice uh just to put it mildly and
quite frankly if we're going to House
people it should at least be appropriate
housing and there's a lot of issues at
these
places can I ask what facility you're
referencing uh some some of the ones
that are used I don't can't remember the
names twins yeah over on state
streety county and does not use that
facility we use other ones that other
entities are using them that we don't
I'll see if I can get some names and Bo
those on so uh um so could you if it
were not using that could you provide us
with the names that would be considered
because uh Mr pal does point that we
hear about a lot that some of the the
mels that people ask and we hear from
the people who've been house there um
some of the places they've been housed
are just really not someplace they would
want to live but have no choice sure so
if we can find out where these places
are that would be awesome I the list of
the places that they used yes thank you
any other questions or comments Mo those
second a second all in favor mov on to
the next agenda item fiscal year 2023
State Homeland secur grant
program okay for for this grant uh it is
the 2023 State Homeland Security Grant
uh this Grant application is filed with
the Capital District urban area working
group which represents Albany rener and
scany counties both the city and the
counties they uh they all have to agree
on what to spend this These funds for
and then the individual recipients can
then choose what to purchase it how to
allocate it so for this 2023 our our
share of the funding is
2,831 and we plan to dedicate that that
money towards
$165,200 for mobile computers
interoperable Communications equipment
and cameras for physical security
enhancements within the city
$2,598 for maintenance costs for
geospatial software which uh we use use
ezri and $155,000 for training costs
involved in active shooter and other
Mass incident training this funding
period is September 1st of 2023 to
August 31st of 2026 and there's no City
match any questions or
comments second
sorry question sorry so could you you
you talked about the cameras CU there's
a lot of like the county does a camera
project and so what part of cameras
would would this be used
towards um it it it varies um I believe
last year one of the cameras we
purchased was a one of our Mobile
Trailer cameras so that gives us the
flexibility to move it around there's
other times that we we we uh use these
funds to put a a camera that we add to
the cam County system uh for a problem
area that we find that there's a need
for them then we're also uh we're also
researching the ability to put cob
cameras in for again for the higher need
areas and then um one of my questions
was I know previously you identified
that with our current technological
Investments a in particular was it these
types of grants that are going to help
offset some of those funds or is this uh
in
addition this this grant is not one of
them but there are similar similar
grants that we apply towards our axon
funding but this this one uh is not one
of them any other questions or comments
may have a motion so second all in favor
five uh next agenda item is the police
traffic Services Program Grant by the
New York State Governor's Traffic Safety
Committee this grant is a another yearly
grant that we we receive for 2023 is
$46,000 there's no match on the side on
behalf of the city and we use these
funds for seat belt mobilization efforts
that are known as click or tick ticket
there's $6,700 for that regular uh pts
enforcement um which is $37,000 520
that's where we go out and we just do
traffic enforcement such as on Kings
Road conso roads in any areas that we uh
you know we have complaints for Speeders
or people running uh lights or red stop
signs and then uh $1,780 for other
Personnel Services uh that that's
allocated for the annual conference that
revolves around the governor's Traffic
Safety Committee for total
46,000 any questions or
comments so this is over and above what
you already do in terms of um
enforcement this is you do that anyway
and this is additional to that that's
correct um we we have regular uh staff
enforcement officers and and this this
funding uh we do details where we bring
them all together on certain periods of
time to do uh you know five or six six
officers at one time in certain areas to
really impact it it's going to be used
towards speeding we going to need a lot
more money yes of
course any other questions or comments
I'll second it all in favor uh and the
last item by Chief cliffer will be the
grant award uh law enforcement
equipment so this is a a grant for
$168,400 it's awarded by the new YK
state division of Criminal Justice
Services DCJS it's through our a close
relationship with DCJS that they offered
us this funding which we will plan to
use for holsters flashlights optic
mounting plates and modular optic
systems there is no match um however um
this equipment that we would be
purchasing would be in conjunction with
upgrading our Firearms which are getting
close to being uh needing to be replaced
and uh we are uh currently researching
moving our firearms from a 40 caliber to
a 9 millimeter and we would um receive a
credit for the ones that we trade in and
that would be off that would offset the
cost of the new ones that we do purchase
this is that is not a part of what we're
asking the grant uh to be accepted for
um and we would be doing our own
research on on uh securing the funding
for whatever else is needed um for those
handguns it's roughly
$30,000 which we would see in C savings
on on purchasing ammunition um but the
the better plan for that decision uh we
we asked for this this funding through
the state and we were awarded it so
we're looking to be able to accept
it he said what's a modular optic
unit so uh this is new technology that
exists now where the officer um who is
using the firearm looks through an optic
and they're able to actually see a uh uh
their target better where they're
shooting to it becomes much more
accurate and and have
a less through training you end up
needing to shoot Less in order to
eliminate the
threat any other questions or comments
I'll second oh no so you you mentioned
it so I don't see anything in here so if
this modular optic system is new is
there anything in here for training on
that yes we would we would provide that
there we would not uh ever switch them
out without doing it during our annual
firearms training which is a week
long okay so just to be clear we would
buy this and we wouldn't use it until
people have been trained on it that's
correct um and and I asked this uh when
we were um having the legislative
conference so I just want to double just
if you could just explain because I had
a question regarding going from the 9 mm
versus the 40 caliber yes and and it's
impact on human life so I want to know
yeah I don't profession to be a
ballistics expert but what I've been
told is that uh the ballistics uh behind
a 9mm are equal to or greater than that
of a 40 caliber but they're more closely
related to being very close um which the
the 40 caliber uh from the past of over
a 9 Miller was was better but the the
technology has gotten such that the 9mm
is just as good and it's much cheaper to
purchase and um and they're they're
smaller um to to put into the weapon so
it means that the the weapon that you're
carrying is lighter you know which which
you know means that you know the the the
P the drag on the waist for the officers
is a lot less um which which helps when
we're adding more technology like tasers
onto their belt so um it's for those
reasons why most police departments uh
even federal agencies are moving towards
this
technology any other questions question
or comments and motion so Mo second all
in favor uh before ask Lieutenant to
come up and be assessed definitely I
hope it doesn't go un notice uh the
grants that this department is able to
get uh should not be U taken for granted
and would you mind as for clarification
is that a credit to just your grant
writers or administrative staff or is it
safe to say you can expect annually
these types of
awards um yeah I want to give credit to
credit do I mean
now retired Chief cber um you know he he
did a really good job networking and and
uh going out and meeting people I also
want to give credit to um you know
Sergeant Weekley he's one of the
individuals that through a uh
relationship with
DCJS um you know we put ourselves in a
position where when we need something we
mention to them they they assist us
Lieutenant Doan who you're about to hear
from same thing he gets involved in the
topic and and that's really what we do
on a regular basis to to achieve these
grants um and then you know we can
expect certain ones every year like the
governor's Traffic Safety the Homeland
Security One um the other ones are those
one-timers like the the one you're about
to hear about and the one with from DCJS
but it's fair to say that our our our
department-wide relationship with DCJS
has brought us lots of funding thanks
you welcome uh and the last agenda item
will be uh Grant award New York State
compan annual Capital fund Grant
by good evening so this is a grant we're
awarded for $200,000 it's comes out of
the um animal containment fund from New
York State this is a fund that has been
increased under the governor I expect
that this fund's probably going to be
increased more in the future um
previously it was one to one match they
dropped it down to I think 25% so uh
right now we we're awarded
$200,000 we had previous $150,000 in
capital funds um for this project we
have another
150,000 and uh in this year's budget so
we have everything we need to complete
the project uh we'll be looking
to um improve or relocate our animal
shelter the state has passed several
laws that are going to go in fact over
the next couple years in reference to
the quality of the shelters and air
quality and certain standards for the
animals uh our shelter is currently
certified but I would say it's not going
to meet those standards so this is going
to help us meet those standards for the
future we are required to either have a
contract with somebody like Mohawk ARS
or have a shelter as a municipality so
this is going to help us greatly with a
relationship with them and should should
they
uh come to a point where they can't
service or can't serve the capacity we
have serve as backup for the animals
that we do take
in
question mfield so is our goal to this
to be backup I thought our goal was for
us to have like a Shel that's ours and
maybe they need to back up um um just
because I know that there's some cost
associated with and I think the city's
taking a lot on that in terms of using
um their
facility yes uh the animal program has
never been a stream of Revenue and I'll
say it probably never will be however
this looks to the Future build
Partnerships to help um lessen that Gap
and and try to build some Revenue I can
say that I've got requests from reram PD
Scotia PD Miss PD um PDS from far as the
Newberg have come to me to house animals
we recently housed an animal for Newberg
Police Department for I think $3,500 so
we did bring some money back um in
reference to this grant once this
project is completed we'll be eligible
to sign up for for another Grant and uh
through that Grant if we partner with
somebody like Mo cson or another
municipality we' be eligible for a
$500,000 Grant so really what we're work
working to do uh shortterm make sure we
have that backup that we need um
longterm build the Partnerships and
build the facilities so we can bring
Partners in and bring Other M
municipalities in hopefully introduce
things like uh training centers for
responsible set or respons excuse me
responsible pet ownership programs and
uh you know rabies clinics and stuff
like that at the
site thank you any other questions or
comments no I want my dogs to be able to
go through those
train second all those in
favor with any other items to fall
before the Public Safety Committee
hearing on have a motion to so second
all in favor
call to finance and just uh one item
it's a reminder for the 2024 operating
budget and capital budget U public
hearing that we have scheduled for
October the 10th 7:00 p.m. reminder
again this is a public hearing for our
operating budget 2024 operating budget
and capital
budget any other item before um Finance
motion toj second all in favor I thank
you thank you I'd like to call to order
City development and planning we have 14
items on the agenda and first is the
followup of ARA contracts Miss
[Music]
car good evening
again um when I last reported to council
I just did a bir ey VI on the thing that
we were waiting for so today I have a
complete list as previously promised in
contract we have the YWCA critical needs
safe house Bethesda house disconnect the
foundation sium bcni foreclosure
prevention and bcni owner occupied rehab
ready for contract and pending um
Council review is Green Market Hamilton
hill art center the YWCA Harbor House
and the habitat from Humanity currently
still awaiting some not all of the
pre-contract documents that are required
is the boys and girls club The Miracle
on Craig Street Coco house electric city
Barn SC
Connected quanis Club Dury and
Empowerment Center we have been making
significant progress though since the
last time I reported we were able to get
three of our subrecipients in full
contract other
questions uh I'd like to know
specifically what are you needing from
the Council on the the I think it's four
that you said you needed something from
the
council well I got it it was just a
followup on the ones that requested the
amendment
anything so BC for the extension um the
COC house and other ones they're just
missing standard documents proof of um
Insurance um some budgets are missing um
the abstract is missing so minor things
but everybody I've been able to make
contact with and follow up on Anthony's
letter previously sent to get the
documents so you're not really waiting
anything because we moved on the things
that you needed to move on we heard from
two organizations tonight yes okay one
of the ones that was waiting to move on
was uh scat but so yeah all that other
questions or any thank you thank
you um and just you know in terms of ARA
we heard from a couple of um
organizations tonight so we're going to
be waiting for their documents and then
we're going to have to discuss whether
we Grant those extensions in those um
chain of use of funds um because there
were some questions that were asked that
were not answered tonight so I think we
have to wait for that in order to make
those those
decisions okay um the item number two is
being pulled it was um this is actually
a sign that's on private property and so
therefore the city does not have to
issue a
permit uh item number three the update
for Zoning for cannabis dispensaries and
smoking bapy shops um I know a number of
the council members I'm not sure if
everyone had an opportunity to speak to
our Corporation Council and uh so at
this time just like to hear where we are
with that sure uh first I'd like to
thank everybody who's uh come and spoken
with um either me or Mr Marney about um
you know what you envision for um this
zoning District um obviously they're you
know we're dealing with obviously you
know seven Council people with generally
seven ways of approaching it um but I
appreciate everybody's patience and in
dealing with this I'm going to turn it
over to Mr Marty um who has worked on
this quite a bit more and I think he has
a handout um to give you all a sense of
um
what presumably you have envisioned um
and we can discuss it further
obviously
thank you hello
everyone um so uh what we've prepared uh
with development in front of you is a
proposed overlay zone for the adult uses
that would include the um cannabis uses
and uh smok and vape shop uses and
consumption uses uh uh uh we did have an
opportunity to meet with many of you and
receive the feedback and and based off
of that feedback uh Christine and Jack
and development worked on this map so we
can get this out today and begin uh
having that conversation um uh largely I
guess I would kind of refer to this as
the commercial te of skincity uh which
includes uh State Street the majority of
State Street the exception of a small
residential Zone down in the middle um
of of course uh Erie Boulevard the
casino development uh and uh uh Broadway
as well um based off of the feedback
that was received from many of the
council members we did um remove many of
the neighborhood retail districts that
were PR previously proposed um so you'll
know that uh uh a lot of the the area
that has been selected has been selected
due to uh it doesn't have a substantial
impact on residential
areas um so uh with that this is just a
working map um and uh as far as the rest
of the zoning is concerned um you know I
know Christine and I spoke a lot um with
the folks that came through and met with
us about kind of what the framework for
that zoning ordinance would look like so
we do have a skeleton that we're working
on and we'll start flushing out a draft
so that we can get that circulated as
well um that will take a little bit of
time for us to do the that is a heavier
lift um you I would say probably about a
month for us to be able to put a draft
together
I just want to piggy back on that um I
recognize that there are some areas on
this map that um maybe more sensitive um
in terms of the businesses that are
there um that you know this is obviously
the first rout that you're seeing of a
map for example you know um there was
concern from at least one council person
about new choices and having allowing um
you know cannabis dispensary
um and or um a smoke shop um close to
New choices um so again you know I don't
know if that was actually covered it
looks like it may be green or red on
here rather so that's something
obviously that you know we certainly
want to take a look at um there may be
other areas in here where you find it to
be more sensitive because of another
business that's there obviously you're
still going to have to work within um
the other regulations that come with the
overlay um plus also those regulations
that the state has set forth for uh
cannabis dispensaries and
lunches Mr you have a question yeah U
thank you for your work Mr Mar I
definitely appreciate this visual uh I
want to direct our attention to that one
area that's on Upper Union Street is the
reason for that inclusion just to
encapsulate encapsulate the current
business that's there um so that is the
Upper Union Street commercial Corridor
um so there is already a business there
uh that would be one uh proposed area
because it is it is largely commercial
that the this these would be permitted
uses um obviously there is footage
restrictions um already imposed for the
Cannabis uses by the state and then we'd
be looking to impose similar footage
restrictions for the vape shop and and
the smoke shop uses as well so there
would be a limitation to the number of
businesses that' be able to go in that
District but it is being proposed uh
that it's a permitted use there and
there a followup question if we did
remove that Corridor um that wouldn't
prohibit their continued business that
would allow us to if they were ever to
close business unfortunately there would
not be a replacement in that area
correct correct if it was not permitted
in the Upper Union Street District it
would become a pre-existing
non-performing use um and unless the
council chose to amortize pre-existing
non-performing uses they would be
permitted to continue as long as they
don't discon thank you Mr B can you send
us a uh version where we electronic
version so we can kind of see the
streets yes we do have a pdf version we
can circulate uh and we could probably
cut off NY and reram to T it up a little
bit but it's just a very large map to
try to get the whole thing on one pie
paper um but uh uh the PDF you can zoom
in and see uh partial detail oh good um
so uh Mr C didn't mention the area
around the choices but then we have
another um um facility that's going up
near Bethesda house it's part of
Bethesda house so are those
considerations those being taken
considerations because again they house
a more vulnerable
population um certainly that's something
that we can take into consideration uh
it wasn't specifically discussed for
purposes of preparing this map but if
there are certain things that the
council would like to see or or changes
or modifications we can certainly take
that um into account and uh and hone in
on those parcels and see where they are
um ideally what we would want to avoid
in a scenario like this is picking and
choosing what Parcels so the overlay
should be continuous um you know unless
we're leaving out a chunk of an area for
specific purpose um like we did here
this is the uh this little spot here is
actually an R2 District um that's just
kind of like left on State Street so we
not do that cuz it's not commercial um
but uh we don't want to spot Z so we
don't want to we don't want to pick in
choose um one parcel versus you know the
parcel next door is not going to allow
but two Parcels down we are going to
allow so it has to be pretty a pretty
large area correct but you know I'm not
familiar with that area that you're
referencing so there may be a reason
maybe that area shouldn't be included um
you know it's just uh um it's certainly
something that we can take a look at
okay Mr Williams but I think to previous
conversations Mr C that could be
something built into an exemption to
incorporate vulnerable populations is
that correct understanding an exemption
um I gu I that there was language also
well you know there's language that can
be used not for the purposes of cannabis
dispensary right because that's already
being regulated by the St um but um as
it applies to the smoke shops and vape
shops uh the city council can certainly
set up you know a number of feet away
from another smoke shop vape shop or
some type of you know a school or
um a reh a rehabilitation facility or
something along those lines for those
non Canabis related um shops that would
be regulated over this uh overlay
District thank
you anything else anybody want to have
them consider look into what we're what
we're moving ahead on this I'm sorry is
there anything further that you would
like to to see as we're moving forward
on this except getting the PDF so that
we can see so we can
see well thank you very much and so you
said within a month then you would be
able to our goal is to have a a solid
written draft of the actual ordinance
itself uh within a month um so that we
can uh we can move forward with that
process because that's going to be the
meat potato so what we do here though
overly the map is just is actually the
small piece it's a
good well thank you glad we're moving
ahead thank you very much and if I can
add on to that um the map is still
something obviously as Mr Marne
indicated we're going to work on the
language for what the silver L what the
requirements will be but this map is
still something that you know will be
modified um over time as you provide us
with additional feedback on um you know
your thoughts as a council on what you
want and what you don't want areas that
you think might be um more sensitive to
having these types of businesses there
um versus other areas that maybe we did
not highlight in red where you think it
would be right to allow these types of
businesses um so obviously we continue
to welcome uh the comments from the city
council so that we can make your Visions
a reality for this
purpose thank you thank you uh so item
number four is
um uh the discussion regarding the
six-month moratorium uh on the
submission and processing of um building
permits etc for for um smoke shops VAP
shops tobacco or V consumption
businesses and we did um send for
a an opinion by uh from the county um
Planning Commission and everybody got
that so um we just take a look at that
and further discussion on on this
particular item
okay
mhm okay
so this point in time um there's no
discussion
no of the what we received from the
county so at this point in time we need
to decide whether we um go forward with
the moratorium
or or
not Mr just a follow up with regards to
our last conversation and the update we
received from McCarthy regarding to the
enforcement and talking to the may this
afternoon and uh with four additional um
shop submit applications so in total um
there's a significant amount of
um shops are submitting their
application to coming
compliance so as I said before I mean
the enforcement is going on let's
look at what's happening and allow these
business to come in compliance I don't
think we should do a moreor at this
point in time the enforcement
significant amount of enforcement is
going
on so that's my point at this
point can I just ask the point of
clarification you mean um four shops
that are coming into compliance that are
already um started or are you saying
this four new shops that based on the
last report that we received two weeks
ago the four more application
certificate of use
application so they're existing already
but they did not have their paperwork in
cor Bas some of the notes you have here
there four more should be updated here
okay so yes Mr T so there just
originally they were just opening
without compliance from the
city like popping up that was one of the
main reasons so I wanted a moratorium to
put a halt on them so um we would know
if one opened up that you know
yeah so so and I and I did um find three
that um weren't on the list um that that
the mayor had issued so I can pass
that's they popped
up na has been out St I send those to na
one was on Michigan Avenue one was on
Broadway I can't recall where the third
one is but I mean I think there's three
on Broadway already but I did check them
off to the rist so okay um but again
they're just popping up wherever they
want to pop up for whatever reason um so
did you forward those um that you found
yeah you already did no I
will so they could have been existing
and we just didn't we didn't know they
weren't on the list correct okay Mr WS
so I think one of my comments is that's
that's one assumption I think would also
I think I I would in infer from them
coming into compliances maybe they were
unaware and I think that as we deal with
the community I think having people that
are actively working towards once
they've been identified so I can respect
that the enforcement seems to be working
at this present time with for coming
back into uh I guess good standings but
definitely I think if there is a a
company that is not being responsive I
think that would be a blatant indication
of just not wanting to follow the
appropriate local
laws Mr Val y we're I mean just given
our previous discussion we're moving
forward on zoning anyway it's going to
be relatively quick to do this um makes
sense to have the moratorium that way if
new shops do pop up and they are popping
up um we automatically know they're
illegal um we can have those shut down
right away um but the zoning process
we're looking at what a month two months
at the most that if there's a
shop that's existing looking to do
something to get their their uh self in
compliance that doesn't impact them so
we can move forward with the moratorium
stop it get the zoning in place help the
enforcement aspect yes there's
enforcement going on but new shops are
popping up just makes sense to do the
moratorium for the few months until we
get the zoning in place so I just want
to uh Mr col if you to clarify um this
for me if there's a shop that's
currently open but not in compliant and
we move forward with this what happens
to that
shop if they're not in compliance then
correct then and they continue to open
after a moratorium has been passed they
will be in violation the moratorium and
they could potentially be cited and we
can see conjunctive relief to
essentially shut them down during the
period of the
moratorium that that's what I want to
know because then then doesn't not allow
them to come in compliance I me they
could get their paperwork in if they
know we're doing a moratorium they could
at least start that process and there's
a cuta language oh I'm sorry I'm sorry
Mr there's cuta language in the
moratorium um where somebody could
potentially make an application to the
city council to explain some type of
hardship uh what should be said about
that hardship is um just the failure to
you know to be in compliance and having
been open without you know know having
been in compliance is not a hardship um
so it would have to be you know really
some extenuating circumstance that the
council sees just and fit to
allow
okay Mr um I know this application will
be uh turning over to your office is
there an application that you received
today uh and take a look off hand um I
don't know I don't have an answer for
you um I'd have to take a look to see
where everything
stands I don't think I have I don't
think so can you can you please um have
a copy of
this may you're going to get an update
for us sometime this
week uh yes
participate
[Music]
okay any other any further discussion so
at this point in time we have to um it's
the motion is going to be before us
forther we moove forward with the
moratorium or continue in the uh with
the enforcement and allowing people to
come into
compliance that is my position
to allow the enforcement
to to work itself
out so you're not in favor of moving
forward with the moratorium that is
correct I feel the same way
okay okay well um then that's then we're
not going to be able to will not be
moving forward the moratorium but we'll
be continuing with the
enforcement thank
you yes uh as a point of clarification
so does that cease the moratorium is it
in a pause status um we never voted it
through so it never started thank you
you're
welcome all right so item number five is
to discuss the process of handling the
outstanding accounts in um from SL slbc
as you remember I brought this forward
before um because there was a um excuse
me a resolution that was passed in 201
um3 I believe um that the language in it
made it sound as though we were the um
administration of it was in the hands of
the city council and so we passed that
that's not what we wanted to happen but
um unfortunately the language was not
was not that ended up in the resolution
was not what um we had discussed at this
table
so um bringing it back for further
discussion and Clarity on what that
resolution needs to look like to make
sure that it's not
responsibility of the um city council
but rather the
city so Mr Cen if you would just sure I
have the opportunity to speak to
president Porterfield about this
resolution and I think we both agree
that you know um the language could have
been better but at the same time I think
it accomplishes what it was meant to
accomplish um the obviously um the city
council acts as uh the body that would
be accepting mortgages for the purposes
of of assignment and that's exactly what
happened in this resolution um the
administration of um what happens once
we take um you know um ownership of
those mortgages um would be something
that would be carried out by City
departments as the city council doesn't
really have the capacity or um the power
to carry out those mortgages
um so that resolved statement here is
that the city council agrees to accept
the assignment is doing so on behalf of
the city um and um what would make sense
related to that is because the city
council isn't signing the assignments
themselves to accept it it was
authorizing the mayor to sign it um so
there was some um confusion on my part I
guess um from the last meeting because
um there was nothing here that I saw
that had to be amended because I think
it accomplished exactly what needed to
be accomplished
um and those mortgages have been and and
accounts have been assigned byc to the
city um I know Mr Brown and I have been
talking frequently about these uh
mortgages because obviously um we have
folks reaching out to us looking for um
satisfactions and um obviously also
there's been a paperwork issue that the
council's aware of um so we can kind of
keep track of what was assigned and what
was previously paid and that's something
that we continue to work through so I'm
happy to answer any questions that you
may have related to this um resolution
and um any questions about any type of
um additional resolution that you see
I'll see fit to uh
pass so my concern was was that the
original resolution in 2013 um was not
did not like for me anyway spell out
that the city council would do it on
behalf of the city but you're saying
that because our only role is that we
would that the city would actually do
the administration the city council
would just approve it is that then
that's 2013 as it stands is fine the one
in
2013 mayor my in reviewing this have
been part of the discussion is that
entity was
dissolved there were some assets that
were out
outstanding uh mortgages most of which
if not all of which had been funded
through City assets that had been given
to
slbc and that transferred those assets
back to the
city and the followup is handled in the
normal course of business if and the
question has come up sometimes if those
mortgages were going to be discharged
absent payment of them so if a mortgage
is paid uh I sign the satisfaction
saying that the city has received it we
do this in uh number of times some of
our
non
uh our paper lanss that we put against
properties to make sure that they're
owner occupied other things when those
terms and conditions are established I
can sign that if there was a situation
where we were going to discharge the
mortgage or wave it absent payment of it
it would have to come back to the city
council and the council would have to
vote on it to
say they've reduced the amount of money
they've waved what's owed or whatever
the final disposition that was being
negotiated
or entertained at that point in time and
so 2013 covers that so we don't need to
do
anything is that what your yes okay all
right that answers that so we don't have
to need to do that all
[Music]
right okay um um just yes the last time
we discuss this we asked we asked for a
list of the outstanding mortgages did we
did we receive that so um that seems
like to be something that's hard to find
um we gone to um
something like Metroplex they thought
some files were there there will be
there um thought we think there may be
some files here so at this point in time
I don't know that there's a list Mr
Brown would you like to speak to that
yes so currently we have a working list
that we're still expanding on um certain
files um through the dissolution went to
Metroplex because they also funded some
of those so the ones that the city
funded most of those all came to the
city so we're still working on getting a
complete list so that we can send you a
complete one instead of like three
versions of mon okay do you have a time
frame on the complete
list um I would say that I should be
able to provide you an update within
maybe two more cycles that minimum a
mon all right thank you thank
you so so is there any further
discussion around uh that this slbc okay
thank you item number six is a reminder
um that there will be a public hearing
regarding amending um 24 excuse me 24818
of the city code to designate J Street
from Liberty Street to to Union a
two-way and the public hearing will be
on October 10th here it says the 9th but
none of us will be here on the 9th it's
it's a day off so on October 10th is
when the public he want to come
early
okay all right item number seven is a
cerem ceremonial resolution for hearts
Family Cleaners Miss Taro yes so I'd
like to uh put that forward do some
research I have already talked to Sue um
and got a whole bunch of stuff together
on the cleaners um they're retiring
after 25 years in service um by a part
of up Upper Union Street and uh so we're
going to present that at a later time so
it would not be at this council meeting
not okay later time
okay need a motion so move second all in
favor I I thank you uh item number eight
is a ceremon ceremonial resolution
recognizing October as domestic violence
Awareness Month Miss Patrick yes so
October is domestic violence awareness
month and um I'd like to bring forth the
ceremonial resolution so that we bring
this issue and the services that are
being provided on our
community to the Public's
attention all ins motion so Mo second
second all in favor I thank you item
number nine is a ceremonial resolution
for connected hardware and electric um
they are uh celebrating their 100th year
anniversary and actually their event is
on the 5ifth so we won't be able to pass
it before that however um um you know
having a centennial anniversary is
pretty significant so I would like the
um the city council to be able to uh
present the resolution so move second
all in favor I thank you um item number
10 a ceremonial resolution for Italian
American Heritage Month Mr palamini as
the title says it's Italian American
heritage month and uh so we recognize
this annually it's just a matter of
waiting I'll let uh Miss Miku know
whether they'll be in person or would
like it at their event they're going to
let me know in the next day or two okay
so we're not sure yet the will know
before Monday perfect so second all in
favor five five I would like to add one
more ceremoni resolution because I think
five is a good number um there's a woman
a young lady um she represented skincity
in um New York State I guess they're
still calling them beauty pageant um and
so we met her at the Caribbean day and I
think her last name is I want to
pronounce it incorrectly so Mr mudar
what is her last name buo buo so uh
would like to um have Miss buo come to
the city council meeting and you can all
meet her and actually present her with a
u a um ceremonial resolution just
honoring her for having received that
distinction so M second all in favor I I
thank you thank you uh council members I
appreciate that uh the last four items
are for property sales and therefore
will be an executive
session so I need a motion to go into
second session second all in
favor bring second session and all
members of the public will have to leave