[0:00] [Music] [0:28] yeah [0:31] [Music] [1:58] yeah [2:02] [Music] [2:58] he [3:00] [Music] [3:58] yeah [4:02] [Music] [4:58] yeah [5:01] [Music] [5:28] he [5:34] [Music] [6:58] yeah [7:01] [Music] [7:28] yeah [7:31] [Music] [8:28] yeah [8:31] [Music] [9:28] he [9:30] [Music] [10:28] yeah [10:29] [Music] [10:58] yeah [11:03] [Music] [11:27] yeah [11:31] [Music] [13:27] yeah [13:31] [Music] [13:57] yeah [14:00] [Music] [14:52] meeting for Tuesday January 16th 2024 [14:56] the first item on the agenda is a [14:57] presentation i' like to turn over to [14:59] Mayor McCarthy Madam president uh thank [15:02] you uh being here there been a lot of [15:05] interest in Mohawk Harbor of uh Focus [15:08] was put on the uh potential of an [15:11] aquatic center there which didn't quite [15:13] work out to the team has still been [15:15] exploring options and looking at uh [15:18] scenarios that will add value not only [15:20] to that site but the community as a [15:22] whole and with that I'll turn it over to [15:25] David buo the CEO of gesi to start with [15:29] their [15:31] presentation thank you [15:33] Mr come up here [15:36] surec president thank you you're welcome [15:38] if you use microphone then the people [15:40] out there can hear you terrific you're [15:42] welcome no you don't worry about it they [15:44] can hear they can hear I can't even hear [15:47] me those of you who don't know me [15:49] members of the city council I'm David [15:50] buo president CEO of the gesi group uh [15:53] been doing this now for 42 years before [15:56] most of you were born uh what I've got today I want to [16:00] introduce members of our team here that [16:02] uh can answer questions uh first and [16:05] foremost uh uh David Harris president of [16:08] Union College uh joela dice general [16:11] manager of the Rivers Casino Resort my [16:14] team my Chief Operating Officer David [16:16] all and the general counsel and vice [16:18] president Thomas Owens uh we appreciate [16:21] you putting this on the agenda today and [16:23] we'll try and keep it as brief or as [16:24] long as you want it uh with the [16:26] inclement weather uh but we have here is [16:29] a proposed project uh as you as you well [16:31] know we've developed uh well there go of [16:33] building MVP Building Center City 797 [16:36] Broadway and then attacked M haror uh [16:40] and invested a lot of time and effort in [16:42] there we still have some vacant land and [16:44] we went through evaluating what we [16:46] wanted to do with it whether it was [16:47] Apartments whether it was a hotel [16:49] whether it was Bard Office Buildings uh [16:53] and uh then we talked to the Aquatic [16:55] Center about possibly coming out there [16:57] and bringing that from ex 12 where they are going to be in Clifton or [17:01] Saratoga County uh and uh we evaluated [17:06] that and looked on the impact on our [17:07] site uh uh we worked with them to pursue [17:12] another alternative at the viaport and [17:14] we're playing around with what ideas we [17:16] could do for this site we decided we [17:18] wanted to do something more Community [17:20] oriented than profit oriented believe it [17:22] or not for business to say that it's [17:24] unusual uh but from that standpoint uh [17:26] what I'd like to do is walk you through [17:28] the project I'm going to have Ray Gillan [17:30] come up and do a little bit before and [17:31] after and then we can uh answer any [17:33] questions that anybody [17:37] [Music] [17:41] has thank you thank you council [17:43] president new members returning members [17:45] welcome uh thank you for having us [17:47] tonight go through a couple of quick [17:49] slides some of you w don't may not [17:52] remember what the outo site looked like [17:54] before sat vacant for about 50 years [17:57] something the mayor talks about a lot [17:59] didn't pay any taxes cuz it was in tax [18:02] foreclosure there were about 50 jobs [18:04] there at one [18:05] company and many many people um [18:09] including some past city leaders who [18:11] have been in this room [18:13] recently uh prior to 2004 said you could [18:16] never do anything with this site and and [18:18] publicly scoffed at it at me personally [18:21] at at the teen when we brought forward a [18:24] proposal to redevelop the outgo site and [18:27] uh so we glory in the success of this [18:30] project because there were so many [18:31] doubters and so many people who said you [18:34] can't do anything there and our motto [18:36] was you can and we proved them uh we [18:39] proved that you could do it in fact the [18:41] Grand Vision for the site prior to 2004 [18:44] is really scary uh they were looking at [18:47] storing medical waste there they were [18:49] looking at storing construction debris [18:51] there and they had signed a lease with a [18:54] tire recycling company and their plan [18:57] was to make this the biggest tire [18:59] recycling facility in the United States [19:02] and I had to threaten to condemn that [19:04] lease with the powers we have in [19:06] Metroplex to stop that project that was [19:08] a reality imagine 60 Acres of [19:12] Waterfront turning out with the fumes [19:15] with the dust with the pollution with [19:18] the [19:19] problems uh tire recycling and compared [19:22] to what we have and what was really [19:24] Troublesome is there was no respect for [19:26] the alcohol Legacy the the fact that [19:29] this facility built [19:31] 90,000 locomotives that this facility [19:33] played a key role in winning World War [19:35] II in one month during World War II in [19:38] one 30-day period they built 100 tanks [19:42] and 200 locomotives they played a [19:45] critical role in the war effort and [19:47] these Visions for this site prior to [19:49] 2004 that were discussed right in this [19:51] room a all about medical waste [19:54] construction debris treating the site as [19:56] a junkyard not as a sacred ground [19:58] that we know uh when it was the outgo [20:02] facility we've had huge success here [20:05] everybody knows the story we really help [20:07] SKC have a waterfront reconnect our city [20:10] to the Waterfront to our beautiful [20:13] Waterfront uh we put up and we worked [20:16] with the council president the [20:18] Porterfield uh when it came to naming [20:20] the streets we remember that we decided [20:23] we've got to memorialize this aloh [20:25] Heritage here we did a I think a [20:27] beautiful job of putting the trail [20:29] system in place and putting the signs [20:32] along the trails uh that Mark the [20:34] various highlights of the ALCO history [20:37] of course we developed the leadership of [20:39] the glassi group Casino it's been hugely [20:43] successful two hotels 100,000 square ft [20:45] of Technology office space the new [20:48] Regional headquarters to the SI group [20:50] just opened Apartments Town Homes [20:52] restaurants retail Marina everybody goes [20:55] there summertime to to watch the [20:57] concerts and we have a new dock that [20:59] we're working closely with Chris Wallen [21:01] and the city on um right on the [21:03] riverfront so we can pull big touring [21:05] boats in and have them Dock and come in [21:08] and visit [21:09] SKC our former mayor Stratton who was a [21:12] huge supporter of this project today [21:14] loves to tell people that the largest [21:16] and most successful Waterfront [21:18] development along the Erie Canal is it's [21:21] connected to new [21:24] york, 1500 jobs on site and growing [21:28] Casino pays $4 million a year in [21:31] property tax it's the only Casino of the [21:34] four licensed casinos in New York state [21:36] that did not get a pilot and uh the [21:40] property pays full taxes in addition the [21:43] city and the county each get a share of [21:45] the casino slots Revenue that amounted [21:47] to $2.6 Million last year that's an [21:50] addition to the property tax and of [21:53] course the city benefits from sales tax [21:56] the community benefits from occupancy [21:57] tax [21:58] tourism spending has increased [22:00] dramatically in scany county and there's [22:02] been a tremendous amount of development [22:04] around the harbor frankly we would have [22:06] not gotten the new train station if it [22:08] wasn't for M Harbor and the [22:12] casino this project we feel is it you [22:14] know really epitomizes smart growth and [22:17] one of the things that um Chris Wallen [22:20] will remember the mayor is that [22:22] everything was done when you build these [22:25] projects there's more infrastructure [22:26] work there's more Underground stuff than [22:29] there is stuff above ground it's really [22:32] the the base of the project is built [22:34] first excuse me and uh we put in all new [22:38] working with Paul Leon the city engineer [22:42] all new water and sewer infrastructure [22:44] was put in place at the developer's [22:46] expense prior to the the the the project [22:49] getting built and that coupled with what [22:52] you've all done to improve the sewer [22:54] system that $50 million sewer line which [22:57] is one of the greatest achievements in [22:59] infrastructure that I've seen in my [23:01] career and I've been doing this a long [23:02] time is the reason why the water quality [23:05] has improved so much and we have hardly [23:08] any outflows at all into the river this [23:09] used to happen every day in skank there [23:11] would be all kinds of municipal waste [23:13] going right into the river well it [23:16] doesn't happen anymore it wasn't an [23:18] accident it was planned it was planned [23:20] smart growth it was a joint effort with [23:24] uh the city the gesi group Metroplex and [23:27] what we have here today on site is the [23:30] number one Regional tourism attraction [23:34] in the Capital District according to the [23:36] Aly Business Review is M haror we have [23:39] almost 2 million people a year visits [23:42] connected um to come to Mo Harbor and to [23:46] the casino and to the other attractions [23:48] on the site so it's been a really fun [23:50] and exciting project a lot of hard work [23:53] by a lot of people in this room and [23:55] we're very grateful to their assistance [23:57] but it's been a big big success want to [23:59] give it back to Dave at this point to [24:01] talk about how we put the team together [24:03] to make it [24:05] successful thank you right yeah this [24:08] project uh and and like many others [24:10] actually started in this room but you [24:13] had every agency involved that I've ever [24:15] been involved with you had esdc do the [24:19] Secretary of State's office uh you had [24:23] uh the county you had the the health [24:25] department you had dec of course were [24:28] the Brownfield credits I I think we we [24:30] dotted every ey and crossed every te [24:31] with every agency going but it showed [24:34] how much if everybody worked together [24:36] you can really create such an [24:38] environment that that a project does is [24:40] successful uh actually I was very proud [24:43] that the governor highlighted this in [24:44] her State the state this year and said [24:46] MOA carber is the epitome and the poster [24:50] child for uh justifying Economic [24:53] Development by the state so that's [24:55] pretty impressive she's she brags about [24:57] connected when she talks about success [24:59] which is which is terrific um one of the [25:02] things we we we came up with was looking [25:05] at this thing and saying you know by the [25:07] way our gesi projects and the casino [25:09] project we pay taxes of over $20 million [25:12] a year in city and county and school so [25:14] that's a big number so just we we do our [25:17] fair share uh but the fact is that we [25:21] wanted to come up with something that we [25:22] felt was a little bit different that [25:24] could impa benefit the [25:26] community and benefit uh uh other [25:29] stakeholders uh when we looked at the [25:31] Aquatic Center we said what do we need [25:33] to drink bring more people to SKC and [25:36] they did a really nice job in terms of [25:37] convincing me that this would bring a [25:39] lot of people but when we looked at it [25:42] and what some of their needs were these [25:44] were bringing a lot of kids and swimming [25:45] and all that stuff it was more [25:47] beneficial to be a theia port and then [25:49] we started talking to U Dr Harris at [25:52] Union College about the needs of Union [25:54] College that had a very upy gentle [25:56] obsolete rink is that the right way to [25:59] say it I was around in 1977 I believe it [26:02] was when Achilles rink was built so it [26:05] is it is a dinosaur so they they were [26:07] looking for for a place to uh have their [26:10] home games uh the stiming by space on [26:14] campus uh we looked at it there was a [26:17] need to Albany County rink is going to [26:19] be closing probably sometime soon with [26:21] the expansion of the airport so he said [26:23] let's come up with a project that could [26:25] benefit uh can bring in trade shows [26:27] bring in uh the ability to uh to house [26:30] Union College men's and women's to [26:32] complement what's already out there most [26:34] of these projects are done in all [26:36] honesty by municipalities I don't know [26:39] any of them that are not done by [26:41] municipalities if you go right across [26:43] the board Glenn Falls Albany County [26:46] udica Rochester Syracuse they're all [26:49] being run by municipalities and owned by [26:51] municipalities this is kind of unique uh [26:55] we sort of took a step back and said how [26:57] do we we get this done by the private [27:00] sector it's not easy to do these things [27:01] don't make money they cost money but we [27:04] don't want to put the burden on any of [27:05] the municipalities to do it so we [27:07] decided to uh uh lay out a plan that [27:10] maximizes uh the use gives a lot of [27:13] flexibility creates a a facility that [27:16] could host D1 hockey men's and women's [27:19] and be proud for the community we can go [27:21] after other sports we've talked to [27:23] people with hockey basketball soccer uh [27:26] trade shows I I think we can compete [27:28] with and some of the other casinos in [27:31] the state particularly Turning Stone [27:32] they've increased their Event Center and [27:34] I go down there and I see all these [27:35] trade shows and conventions that are [27:38] going to Verona which I'm originally [27:39] from R out in that area but we should [27:41] have them here in the capital region [27:43] have them this connected those are going [27:44] to have such a huge impact uh for our [27:47] restaurants for our hotels for our [27:49] businesses and having people put us on [27:51] the map here uh again when Union playing [27:55] here you've got uh teams coming coming [27:57] in from all over the [27:59] Northeast coming here seeing this a [28:01] brand new facility here and the rest of [28:03] the development in moak Harbor is just [28:05] one that's going to turn people's heads [28:06] and make people really be aware of [28:08] what's going on it's connected in New [28:10] York uh this is a the hodge podge of [28:13] financing we've got a commitment from uh [28:15] Carl Hasty and and U um Kathy hokel uh [28:20] we've got uh some commitments from uh [28:22] Metroplex Angelo s barbar has been [28:24] supportive of it uh from our standpoint [28:27] this is this is not an easy thing to [28:29] finance we've got to do pilings this is [28:32] a an expensive project so we're looking [28:35] for uh uh the community to step up SKC [28:38] has not put any money into M Harbor a [28:41] lot of support from the Departments Etc [28:44] so from that standpoint we would look to [28:46] just reposition the money that was [28:48] allocated uh from the arpa for uh the [28:51] Aquatic Center to can keep it at Mok [28:54] Harbor because I think this will be [28:56] really it the payback and the return on [28:59] investment we feel will be dramatic for [29:02] the city and if you really look at it [29:04] the dollars are even less than one years [29:05] of the one year of the casino tax [29:09] alone next thankk [29:12] you I talk no that's okay uh I'm going [29:17] to wrap it up here because we know you [29:18] have a busy meeting [29:20] ahead this new attraction We Believe [29:23] will continue to boost tourism spending [29:25] in sked sked County [29:28] it'll keep SKC in the Forefront we want [29:30] to keep that number one ranking as far [29:33] as a [29:34] visitorship and uh tourism we want to [29:37] stay in first place in Capital Region [29:39] and compete with communities all over on [29:42] New York State and the Northeast go to [29:44] uica they just built a major new sports [29:47] complex downtown major basketball other [29:50] activities there over the holidays teams [29:52] from this area going out to UA we want [29:54] to attract that kind of event here as [29:57] Dave mentioned the facility can be used [29:59] for hockey basketball soccer lacrosse [30:01] special events trade shows uh all kinds [30:05] of um uses so that's one of the the [30:07] benefits of this the more activity there [30:10] is at the harbor the more Revenue comes [30:13] into the city it's as simple as that you [30:15] have to spend a little money to make a [30:17] little money but it's certainly proven [30:20] the case that more activity more [30:22] visitors more spending get more revenue [30:25] for the city so our request tonight [30:28] respectfully is that we'd asked the [30:31] council and the mayor uh to look at [30:33] keeping the arpa funding that was [30:35] allocated for m caror at M caror it's as [30:40] simple as that the money will be used in [30:42] total for infrastructure doesn't go into [30:45] the building itself it's going to be [30:47] used for infrastructure to handle the [30:50] growth that is needed water sewer roads [30:54] uh all of the underground work that has [30:56] to be done the [30:58] foundations um all of the work that has [31:00] to be done to put this new building in [31:02] place the new building is being paid for [31:05] in large vast majority of the funding is [31:08] coming from the gassi group Dave [31:11] mentioned we do have some State support [31:12] we thank the governor speaker Hasty and [31:15] assembly Angela s barara for their help [31:18] but what we really need is a commitment [31:20] by the city so that we can sign that [31:22] agreement with President Harris and uh [31:26] move forward [31:28] all the approvals are in place we we had [31:30] a very thorough we went through the [31:32] secret process we've been through the [31:34] planning uh zoning board of appeals we [31:37] went through your whole process here it [31:39] was a very good process it was very [31:42] positive and there were a lot of good [31:43] detailed discussions so the project is [31:46] shovel ready as we say in our business [31:48] all the approvals are in place um we [31:51] just need this last couple [31:53] commitments think about it as building [31:56] for the future it's it's an investment [31:57] by the city in the future of the city [32:00] it's infrastructure we need this to stay [32:03] competitive with other entertainment [32:05] venues other sports complexes that are [32:07] being developed by uh other cities in [32:10] the Northeast and the New York State and [32:12] if you think about it the 2.5 million is [32:14] less than one years's worth of your [32:17] share of the casino revenue we're asking [32:20] you to commit less than one year see [32:22] it's a one onee [32:25] commitment uh with this federal dollars [32:27] that you have invest in this and it'll [32:30] pay dividends for years to come happen [32:33] to answer any questions I think just a [32:36] couple of tidbits to by the way um Dr [32:40] Harris is here Union College is making [32:42] if the project happens a substantial [32:44] Financial commitment and a long-term [32:46] commitment for 25 years uh in putting [32:51] substantial dollars into the project uh [32:54] the casino has donated the land this is just a a mix and match of trying [32:58] to create something that usually the [33:01] state will write a check for $1.1 [33:02] billion for Buffalo Bills maybe but uh from that standpoint this is on a lot [33:08] smaller scale but it's one that if we if [33:11] we put it all together I think there's there's a great probability that [33:15] this will work and we can be shovel [33:17] ready and put shovels in the ground soon [33:20] so we've got d Ray myself Dr Harris Joe [33:23] any any questions from anybody on the [33:25] floor the toal cost of the project $50 [33:29] million and R mentioned that the other [33:32] or maybe we I'm sorry mentioned that the [33:34] other Arenas Etc are owned by [33:37] municipalities and who will own this one [33:39] uh a subsidiary of the gesi group I [33:42] really don't want [33:44] to okay it was one of those where I said [33:47] who wants to own it the city the county [33:49] the union Metroplex everybody took a [33:51] step back I was the only one that didn't [33:54] move I think this is a really important [33:56] point that the council president's [33:57] raised she usually does is all the [33:59] operational risk profit and loss [34:01] expenses booking that usually falls on [34:04] the communities as it does in Aly at the [34:06] MVP Arena well falls on Aly County we [34:09] did not have the county here or anyone [34:11] else really willing to step up and take [34:13] that profit and loss responsibility so [34:16] the bless group stepped up and did it so [34:18] we're looking for a one-time Capital [34:20] infusion versus an [34:23] ongoing contribution to the operations [34:25] of the center so that's a real good [34:27] question you asked it do you have an [34:29] idea of the um tax revenue will [34:33] generate we haven't done a complete like [34:36] economic impact statement because we're [34:38] trying to make sure that um we have um a [34:43] consensus commitment from some of the [34:44] funding sources including the city Dave [34:47] mentioned the city to date has not put [34:49] any contribution into the success of M [34:52] Harbor so this is the first time we're [34:53] asking for that and um but it we believe [34:57] it'll be a very uh [35:01] expansive um impact as far as visitors [35:05] increasing traffic at the casino [35:07] increasing traffic at the hotels there [35:09] were a couple announcements behind this [35:11] that are pending about future [35:14] Investments That U May spin off from [35:17] this Arena moving forward so we capture [35:19] all of that and put it into an economic [35:20] model but we have not completed that at [35:22] this point how many Jabs do you think [35:25] this will provide for [35:27] [Music] [35:29] you it's kind of an interesting one it's [35:31] a very good question uh Joe I mean on a permanent basis you're probably [35:36] talking 15 to 20 jobs but if if you take [35:38] a look at like the MVP Center then [35:40] downsizing it for instance they have 500 [35:43] jobs that come in depending on what what Advent you're having but it's it's [35:47] going to be a lot of uh ups and downs [35:49] along those lines but to run the [35:51] facility it's not this is this is not a [35:53] job Creator this this is designed to [35:55] bring people in whether it's increasing [35:57] the revenue uh for the city for [36:00] occupancy taxes for sales taxes for uh I I would Envision the casino revenue [36:06] hopefully going up we got a little [36:08] challenge New York City's going to have [36:09] casinos we've got to compete with those [36:11] type of things too and we we've got some [36:13] uh other areas um the the Indians for [36:16] instance in Verona are keep expanding [36:19] and and trying to cut into our business [36:22] which impacts the city and the county [36:23] and ourselves but th those are the [36:26] reasons for it honesty I I Envision us [36:28] going after some of the State High [36:30] School championships and various Sports [36:32] to really bring people there and this really will will create a game [36:36] changer because it's a it's a right siiz [36:38] venue uh we're not competing with the [36:40] MVP Arena that's that's big that's [36:43] 13,000 so that'll help gener jobs the [36:46] restaurants areas around oh absolutely [36:50] but again there's 1500 jobs now at the [36:52] harbor good paying jobs and we're 50 [36:54] before and we think this going to [36:55] continue to grow and it helps retain [36:57] jobs as [37:00] well so thank you for that presentation [37:02] uh two questions first of which is you [37:05] briefly were talking about the [37:06] construction timeline um is there any [37:08] definite of when you would break ground [37:10] and part partly the question is uh for [37:12] the the Union College is there any [37:14] anticipations of next hockey season or [37:16] when is the expectation to [37:18] be well that's a good question but [37:21] there's no way I can build it for next [37:23] hockey season uh uh on [37:29] uh um but but it's to [37:33] answer so my joke Contin to we can do it [37:36] next season if we switch to roller [37:38] hockey I think you can get roller hockey [37:41] in time um but I think you're ready to [37:43] we're ready to engage the his project [37:45] but ready to go said shovel ready the goal would be for un unions [37:51] 2025 inaugural season which I think [37:54] would be perfect TimeWise if we if we [37:56] put shovel in the ground over the next [37:59] 30 to 60 days which is what we'd like to [38:01] do uh councilman we'd we'd love to uh [38:04] left to just literally have a [38:07] groundbreaking and get everybody [38:09] involved in the thing and all the all [38:11] the stakeholders and uh fortunately [38:14] we've had a mild winter so far and we've [38:16] be able to do some planning and doing [38:17] some things there we've actually uh sunk [38:20] a lot of time and effort into it it's [38:22] not a done deal yet because of we're [38:23] putting the funding together but if we [38:25] can do this I'm excited about and [38:27] starting as quickly as [38:28] [Music] [38:29] possible just kind add to that just [38:31] quickly the other thing to think about [38:33] with the Union piece we between men's [38:35] and women we have two division one [38:36] programs we have about 30 home games a [38:38] year I love hockey I love Union hockey [38:41] but it's not the greatest Fan Experience [38:43] instead of Park in terms of parking [38:45] right but if we have an opportunity for [38:48] people to come down to Mohawk Harbor [38:49] attend the game easily access then [38:52] there're at restaurants and other venues [38:54] there and around town so we want them to [38:56] stay here and spend their dollars [38:58] disconnect not get in the car and go off [39:00] to Clifton Park or back home or wherever [39:01] so I think there to the question about [39:03] jobs and so forth just from the union [39:05] hockey partners and everything else I [39:06] think there are definitely positive [39:09] externalities and the people around [39:10] Union will be happy when they don't have [39:12] to deal with the parking [39:14] there question second question was the [39:16] building is going to be built with the highest expectations in mind [39:21] Renovations and continuing to make this [39:23] be a beautification in the city uh you [39:26] speak to just where that uh funding will [39:29] be expected to come from it's coming [39:31] from [39:32] us there's it's a very unique structure [39:36] and one that uh uh we're gambling that [39:40] the the rest of the impact and the [39:42] accretion to the rest of the property [39:44] will provide us the ability to fund [39:46] those operations but it's only on us [39:48] there is no responsibility for Union [39:50] pays their proportionate share of [39:51] expenses so they're they're they're part [39:53] of the funding operation as well uh but [39:56] the fact is there's no City County [39:58] Metroplex continuing obligation good [40:01] question so I just uh thank you for the [40:04] presentation very informative um I I [40:06] guess something I kind of want to talk [40:08] about was what I liked about the Aquatic [40:11] Center was the the social impact and and [40:14] having opportunity for young people um [40:17] especially young people from [40:19] marginalized communities to you know [40:20] there were some um uh I guess I would [40:24] say uh uh preliminary commitments if you [40:27] will around like making sure that um [40:30] people from margin Comm communities get [40:32] the access that space and young people [40:34] you know learn how to swim and things [40:35] like that as I'm hearing that this is a [40:37] multi-use space you know it seemed like [40:40] there would be even more opportunity for uh you know maybe some Youth Sports [40:45] and um maybe even some you know business [40:47] internships and things like that um I [40:49] just will just kind of get you have you [40:51] know what's your willingness or really [40:53] flexibility to make sure that there's [40:54] kind of you know a clear community [40:56] benefit outside of the economic pie this [40:58] is a Community Asset first and foremost [41:00] it really is if it was economics I'd be [41:02] building apartments tomorrow we're full [41:04] in the apartments so this is one uh this [41:08] is a way for the gesi group to give back [41:10] Union to give back the casino to give [41:12] back uh but if if it was isolated to [41:16] swimming they're great people at the [41:18] Aquatic Center I think that's great [41:19] they're going to they're going to do a [41:20] nice job over there but this you're [41:21] going to be able to do learn to skate [41:24] learn to play hockey look cross soccer [41:27] basketball uh let's say connected high [41:30] as a big basketball game that they can't [41:32] fit here you can move it here we can do [41:34] some local stuff that's going to be [41:36] pretty cool for the people and and and [41:38] having another venue to practice inside [41:40] uh you got to remember there's a lot of [41:42] daytime nonuse uh so from that [41:44] standpoint and then non hockey season [41:46] too I mean you you've got let's just say [41:50] we do we do summer night in SKC range we [41:52] can do summer night over there too so [41:54] you can you could have have some other [41:55] events that this is this is a Community [41:57] Asset my lasty graduations for Community [42:00] College for instance they they they've [42:02] been looking for venues for a long time [42:05] so something or even a rain date if you [42:07] get rained out at the campus so there's [42:09] so many different things that uh that we [42:11] can do but I I also really think uh this [42:14] is something that's going to draw more [42:16] people kids are going to be able to have [42:18] access to uh uh some some sports and [42:22] access to things the the the people [42:24] watching the hockey games I some it's [42:27] tough to get to no matter what I've [42:28] tried a couple times it's not easy to [42:30] get there so it's also going to bring up [42:32] Union colleges stature as well as the [42:34] cities and but I I really do think that [42:37] we can really go after some of these [42:39] Regional events that that are important [42:41] and you see well some of the stuff uh [42:44] that's up in Glen's Falls they get a lot [42:46] of those things I mean we're a little [42:48] better located if you want my [42:50] opinion Mr I just want one final point [42:54] if you don't mind Todd G here tonight [42:56] he's in Cancun [42:59] boo but he's [43:02] already looking at events that he could [43:04] attract here and there's a lot of [43:05] interest I mean you know Regional [43:07] tournaments there's so many so much [43:10] Youth Sports has become an economic [43:12] development um program so to attract [43:16] them here you get the hotel movs Etc so [43:18] Todd is not here tonight but he's [43:20] already trying to poke events here Mr [43:22] Toro had a question s i I think it would [43:25] be a great com compliment to our already [43:27] um famous a diamond and Central Park and [43:30] the collegate sports that are happening [43:32] over there thanks to the the college and [43:34] the tennis as well the yes and the [43:36] promoters that that uh fill that the a [43:39] diamond every year so thank you John you [43:41] got a question yeah um can you briefly [43:43] touch on um the seating and the parking [43:46] to go with the seating sure uh well [43:50] there there is part plenty of parking on [43:51] site uh we do have access to parking [43:54] across the street as well uh on the [43:56] corner of not and uh uh not and Max and [44:00] actually we own Maxon as well uh we've [44:04] done the parking study so there's enough [44:06] to accommodate and really even the only [44:08] challenges and uh I know Joe and Dave [44:11] can help me out on that one the only [44:13] really challenge you would probably have [44:14] on on parking is on a probably Friday [44:17] night a little bit it's going to be [44:18] because the casino's busy and Union [44:20] College hockey games are busy Union [44:22] College Saturday hockey games are at [44:24] 4:00 increasingly uh so from that [44:26] standpoint but we we balanced it off if [44:29] you go on site got remember our our [44:31] office parking nobody parks there at [44:34] nighttime so there's there's a lot of [44:36] parking on site we've got all the [44:39] specifics on the capacity for the arena [44:41] is David I'm going to David all as far [44:43] as seats go the capacity for the arena [44:45] is 2250 seats for hockey events and then [44:49] up to 3600 for other events when there's [44:52] seats on the floor but you know it's [44:55] 2250 is primarily what we're looking at [44:58] and we size this to make it still very [45:00] comfortable not not a big or you know [45:02] want one probably couldn't afford [45:05] building any any bigger but from that [45:06] standpoint you want you want to still [45:08] maintain the atmosphere that Achilles [45:10] ring has speak to that at all well I [45:13] just want get back to this whole [45:15] Community piece I mean part of what [45:16] excites me about this is having Union [45:19] really be engaged with the community I [45:21] think it's a win for Union it's a win [45:23] for SKC um some of you may be aware that [45:26] we had this program we've Run for the [45:27] last few years now on Friday evenings in [45:29] the fall our field hockey team runs a [45:31] program for local youth show up with [45:33] sneakers it's all you need they provide [45:35] a stick and the women are really excited [45:36] to give you a free clinic in field [45:38] hockey from little kids up through e8th [45:39] grade or so when it comes to the [45:41] question about how we engage more [45:43] broadly in the community last year Union [45:45] College hosted an event talking about [45:47] diversity and iceo there are fewer than [45:49] five African-American coaches in all of [45:51] division one ice hockey two of them work [45:53] at you college and we've talked about [45:55] the fact that we've can partner with [45:56] Will revas in the past and others to try [45:58] and figure out how we take this game [46:00] that so many people love at Union and [46:03] help a broader group Po Folks learn to [46:05] enjoy it and even to get out on skates [46:08] and you know skate around a little play [46:09] a little plenty Patty and helmets and [46:11] whatnot so we think this allows us to do [46:13] even more of those kinds of activities [46:14] we've been doing in [46:16] col I think it's important we work with [46:18] the school district uh and and Community [46:21] groups to determine how we maximize it [46:23] whether it's the boys and girls club or [46:25] whether it's the y or whether it's the [46:27] uh the the schools I mean the the sky's [46:30] the limit this this is something you [46:32] don't want to say if you build that they [46:34] will come but this is going to be a [46:35] great asset and a lot of communities [46:37] don't have [46:40] this um so we had a document from esdc [46:44] which they kind of laid out what the [46:45] funding was and um so they laid and [46:49] based on this all of them funding is [46:50] there so um but there was one part [46:53] called Community company Equity so I [46:57] guess that's you it doesn't show though [46:59] that um which is 33 million but it [47:01] doesn't show at all what's put in by [47:03] Union College which I understand is 20 [47:06] million so I you're all aware of the [47:08] document right yeah yes so it doesn't it [47:10] breaks it down but according to based on [47:12] this which all the council members did [47:13] get um it shows that the entire cost is [47:16] covered but um so but you're you're [47:20] saying tonight that there's still a [47:21] funding Gap so if you could just I'm [47:24] just going they sent me you could just [47:26] you know the funding Gap got increased [47:28] by over $2 million by Pile in alone that [47:31] we just brought out we have to deal with [47:33] uh so we're we're probably we're going [47:35] to end up if the project happens and we [47:37] have we've not decided right now uh [47:40] whether the Project's happening or not [47:42] we need we need these sources of we need [47:44] these sources of funding we will make a [47:46] decision pretty quickly one way or the [47:48] other but it's got it right now the [47:51] funding by Union by the state uh by [47:54] ourselves is is significant but it [47:56] doesn't close the [47:58] gap okay I'm just going on the doc I [48:01] understand unfortunately numbers are moving every time you bid [48:04] things out we have a place it's a very [48:07] good question coun president uh I used [48:09] to work at ESD so did David all and you [48:12] have to balance the sources and uses in [48:14] a document like this the public hearing [48:15] is going to be Friday on the state's [48:17] Grant uh and they have us down as in [48:20] Metroplex I believe for to to you know [48:24] and that's a placeholder [48:26] that we put in hoping that we would [48:28] secure this additional funding so that's [48:30] where the money shows up um because you [48:33] in a in a document like this the [48:35] expenses have to mirror the sources and uses are the kind of the the [48:40] foundation of of these Grant documents [48:43] but the state understands exactly where [48:45] we are with this project they're very [48:47] supportive of it the governor supportive [48:49] speaker Hy supportive uh Angelo S [48:51] Roberts done a spectacular job in in uh advocating for this money it's such a [48:57] welcome change for SKC to have an [49:01] aggressive member of the majority in the [49:04] New York State Assembly where for so [49:06] many decades we did not and we weren't [49:09] able to compete for funding like this so [49:12] uh it's it's something that the state is [49:14] extremely supportive and they're aware [49:16] of all of our funding challenges and and [49:19] opportunities at this point because we [49:20] disclosed everything to the [49:22] state so what shows up as Metroplex is [49:25] really which is 2 million it's our [49:27] placeholder for the for for for the [49:29] hopeful hopeful from the city um so will [49:32] there be a pilot at all with this [49:34] project we're looking at a Pilot yes [49:35] that takes advantage of the Brownfield [49:37] program that the the site is in the [49:39] brown Brownfield program and we we have [49:43] yet to to to uh determine the exact [49:45] amount of uh funding that'll be [49:48] available from that but something we're [49:49] looking at but it's a community center [49:51] we're not looking for this to be a huge [49:53] property taxpayer that's not what it's [49:54] about it's about bringing people in the [49:58] casino pays a huge property tax thank [50:00] you Joe thank you Rush Street and rivers [50:04] um this site in in total pays an [50:06] enormous amount of property taxes uh and [50:09] we've done a great job on that this [50:10] building is not uh as a community center [50:13] as an event center that they're not you [50:15] know the MVP arena is not paying taxes [50:17] these Arenas are not um uh big property [50:21] tax generators their value is from [50:23] visitation hotel stays sales tax and [50:27] other revenue and again if some some of [50:29] the folks who come here go over to the [50:31] casino and their revenue increases the [50:33] city gets a direct benefit from [50:38] that P I just want to say I think that [50:40] the project certainly has that economic [50:43] benefit and um I think it would be [50:45] fantastic and a fantastic compliment to [50:47] what already exists at Mohawk Harbor [50:49] which obviously has been such a great [50:52] Boom for our city of skty and you know [50:55] we can't can't I just think it's [50:56] fantastic that we have that but I think [50:58] the connection with the college is [51:00] fantastic I think the connection in [51:02] terms of the school district but also [51:04] with younger you know with with kids in [51:06] general um that it will expose our our [51:09] youth to um a great deal of other [51:12] activities um that might be available to [51:14] them but I'm really thrilled about what [51:16] I think will be the impact on the [51:18] restaurants and the rest of the other [51:21] types of Tourism attractions that we [51:23] have here in skincity so it just [51:24] continues to raise us higher and higher [51:28] um in in terms of our place in the state [51:30] so I appreciate the work that you put I [51:32] think this really give is a very good [51:34] comment I think this really gives [51:35] another arrow in the quiver of uh [51:38] discover concy really to go after a lot [51:41] of those those people that are going to [51:43] other places that we could have come [51:45] here to our city uh to because then then [51:48] they're going to see other things [51:49] happening here they're just not going to [51:51] an event center they just don't go to [51:53] Union College hockey games they're going to go to all sorts of [51:56] places and Todd Todd we have is a great [51:59] guy great asset and he's totally excited [52:02] about what the how we can compete [52:04] throughout the [52:08] [Music] [52:09] state any other questions [52:12] app I I do want to just point out one [52:15] thing just because just so that [52:16] everybody knows that when we talked [52:17] about the arpa funding in terms of the [52:19] Aquatic Center it was through an [52:21] application process so I just want [52:22] everybody to be aware that that is how [52:25] we defin we allocated that money [52:26] initially [52:28] so [52:30] okay I I think and again just you won't [52:34] find another bigger supporter than the [52:36] Aquatic Center than daveid I we we're [52:37] the ones who recruited them to the ALCO [52:39] site or the harbor site and we're uh [52:43] working very very hard to make their [52:45] vision and reality at vport uh what [52:48] we're asking is that that funding which [52:50] is really set aside for the harbor to do [52:53] a sports entertain tainment Event Center [52:57] related to Aquatics that it be allocated [53:00] to this project which has [53:02] multi-dimensional uses and that's our [53:03] respectful request thank [53:06] you I can just ask one question you're [53:10] you know it's gone to the Planning [53:11] Commission gone through the approval [53:12] process uh some of your word choice was [53:15] that like this is not 100% done what [53:18] does it take to close the deal so that [53:22] we can move forward with it we need [53:25] one we have a public hearing with the [53:28] state on Friday Friday uh we need uh a [53:32] vote whenever you can do it here from [53:34] the city uh Union uh deal is contingent [53:40] on these these funding [53:42] sources um uh in the county is uh we're [53:46] having a resolution and meeting with the [53:47] county too to for them to provide [53:49] support as [53:50] well so is it okay so I'm just going by [53:53] the document so 5 mil at the county the county is yet to act on [53:59] that okay so the county is that's onist [54:02] it's we're working closely with the [54:04] county and again as a host the tourism [54:06] Bureau and uh have been extremely [54:09] supportive we're supportive of the [54:10] Aquatic Center continue to be support of [54:12] the Aquatic Center get the fundamental [54:14] role that Sports tourism plays so we're [54:16] working with the county and esdc Grant [54:19] is 10 million that's just the money that [54:21] was provided in the state budget by the [54:24] governor speaker Hasty and ass in Santa [54:27] Barbara so again my question comes back [54:29] to I don't see the the the um here Union [54:33] College is not is not just here at all [54:36] it's in the equity section oh okay [54:37] you're you're including them there okay [54:40] under company Equity okay the thing to [54:44] keep in mind we're not an owner we're a [54:45] tenant think we're effectively a [54:47] lieutenant so that's guarantee that's [54:50] part of that money that you see okay so [54:53] Union's commitment is 25 years for use [54:57] and they're prepaid for a lot of this to [54:59] help fund the project okay so they 20 [55:02] million paids for all that would you [55:03] just explain so the okay and the other [55:05] 13 million then is that the colesy group [55:08] Yes actually it's 15 and five but I we [55:11] can get into the nuances they paid it [55:13] over some over time but yes all right [55:15] thank you and again because it's not [55:17] municipally owned any construction risk [55:20] any overage it's the responsibility of [55:22] the GL the way this is structured which [55:24] is very [55:26] unique I mean it really wants to leave [55:29] at this [55:30] point no that story about Mo car Dave [55:34] closed on the property on April Fool's [55:36] Day on April 1st and early on there were [55:38] a lot of challenges in the project and [55:40] he used to always say to me I don't know [55:41] if we made the right decision and we we [55:43] all hearkened back to April Fool's Day [55:45] but it turned out to be a wonderful [55:47] project for commun again please don't [55:49] forget that activity level prior to 2004 [55:53] which is a long time ago I know people [55:55] say R look forward don't look back but [55:57] it needs to be said tire recycling [56:00] imagine that beautiful site imagine that [56:02] Alco Legacy being lost imagine the fumes [56:06] the dust imagine the negative impact on [56:08] Union College from having the world's [56:10] largest or the country's largest tire [56:12] recycling facility at their front door [56:15] separating them from the river it it [56:17] would have been a disaster and when this [56:20] when we started working on Long Harbor [56:22] we had to can't do attitude prior 2004 [56:26] we were told this will never happen this [56:27] cannot happen and we Pro them wrong and [56:30] this project is another key step in [56:33] moving the ball forward we cannot stand [56:35] still we have to move the ball forward [56:37] or the puck in this case you know you [56:39] know the easiest thing for us to do is [56:41] not do this project this is probably I'm [56:45] old you guys are a lot younger than me [56:47] but the fact is that if you look at what [56:50] we're doing for connecting Investments [56:52] whether it was the investment in MVP [56:54] when the first started the thing back [56:55] when it jump started Ray convincing us [56:58] to do Center City which I'm not sure why [57:00] or how but we did that the movie theater [57:03] 797 Broadway gob's headquarters there's [57:07] so many things that uh we did and this [57:09] is one way and I'll honesty uh to give [57:12] back I mean it is I mean we can those [57:16] apartments our apartments are full we [57:17] can we can fill up apartments on the [57:19] other side but this is one that I think [57:21] to tie Union College more into the [57:23] community when we first came here before [57:26] David was here Union College was an [57:27] island now they're part of our community [57:29] he's done a nice job in terms of [57:30] integrating it in and I really believe [57:32] that I think it it's one that it's just [57:35] an opportunity that we can create and it [57:38] just puts a bow on creating a nice [57:40] Entertainer District question Mr Farley [57:44] so um would it be uh pretty accurate to [57:47] say that as amazing as it sounds and um [57:51] certainly um there's a level of [57:53] excitement in the room that without the city council support for [57:56] this project it likely doesn't happen is [57:59] that pretty accurate [58:04] okay anybody else so I just want to you [58:08] did say that we didn't the city did not [58:10] um give any money towards towards the [58:12] casino any Financial but I just have to [58:15] say that the staff did a lot of work [58:16] down there our know engineer was really [58:18] involved I just got say some of some of [58:20] them right here as a matter of fact did [58:21] I see Chris Wallen here somewhere [58:24] Anthony just saying this is the first [58:26] time we've asked for a financial [58:27] commitment of any kind in doing this [58:29] project which I think is a significant [58:31] point but we cannot say enough good work [58:33] and when I talked about the sewer [58:34] improvements how transformational that [58:36] whole project is it doesn't get enough [58:38] recognition and the Chris Rolland [58:40] traffic circle that's right [58:42] award-winning the awardwinning [58:44] infrastructure improvements that were [58:45] made outside the game uh really won the [58:49] State Transportation award that year for [58:52] the um not Street uh rail pass and the [58:55] traffic [58:56] circle but the other thing as you said [58:58] earlier though think about when we first [59:00] came we had raw sewage because you had [59:03] infiltration storm water it was mixed [59:06] with sewage going into the Mohawk River [59:08] we saw it it is probably one of the [59:10] cleaner sections of the river now and it [59:13] it's it it is working with the city and [59:15] working with Paul F and you're right the [59:18] this could not have been done without a [59:21] c do attitude on the part of the city [59:24] really very very pleased you won't get [59:26] anything right right from police chief [59:29] fire chief every department head it was [59:31] uh uh a lot of hard work but you know [59:34] what they're proud too and when we drive [59:36] through there and see all those [59:37] employees I mean holy cow that that [59:40] really that there's a lot of people's [59:42] lives we impacted whether it's at Mok [59:45] Harbor or the casino I mean with the [59:46] amount of disc connected employees uh [59:49] they've got raises very significant over [59:52] the past years and they're doing very [59:53] well you don't find many people leaving [59:55] the employment that just you don't [59:57] know yes Mr Williams has question then [1:00:00] just in kind with your sentiment about [1:00:02] Pride I had a conversation with the [1:00:04] county legislator Omar mcel who um [1:00:06] recounted that his uncles were integral [1:00:09] in building the Empire Plaza in Albany [1:00:12] and as we talk about similar projects [1:00:14] where we can have opportunities for [1:00:15] members of this community to be very [1:00:17] involved in these types of uh [1:00:19] development efforts I would love to see [1:00:21] uh some of our local programs such as [1:00:23] seat Center uh but other uh just better [1:00:26] suited small businesses with [1:00:27] opportunities to truly uh put their [1:00:29] sweat and tears into these types of [1:00:31] items so that they can see this the [1:00:34] generationally their impact in the [1:00:35] community absolutely the seat Center I [1:00:37] know Joe we we hire a lot of people with [1:00:39] the seat center right we so we we work [1:00:41] with them but even on the construction [1:00:43] side absolutely I mean some of this is [1:00:45] going to be very specialized of course [1:00:47] but uh uh from that standpoint uh we use [1:00:50] a lot of local vendors I mean even the [1:00:51] general contractor that we would pick [1:00:53] with is locally here the Chas is [1:00:55] headquarter right in SKC with our [1:00:57] regional office SKC Hardware those are [1:01:00] people that have been involved in this project from the start so you're [1:01:04] absolutely right there will be major mwb [1:01:06] contracts thank that was my question so [1:01:09] this is you write you look in my paper [1:01:12] yeah I'm going to write some more I [1:01:14] can't [1:01:15] read because I know the state has a 30% [1:01:18] commitment for mwb and that's in the $10 [1:01:20] million for sure yes oh so it's only 30% [1:01:23] of the 10 million it'll be and other [1:01:24] parts of the funding streams as [1:01:29] well okay that's it I didn't have any [1:01:31] other questions we really thank you for [1:01:33] taking the time it's uh it's exciting [1:01:35] and uh Dr Harris Joe and the team thank [1:01:38] you again for taking the time all right [1:01:40] thank you coming thank you thank you I [1:01:43] think that's [1:01:45] your oh okay that's way the [1:01:53] end [1:01:55] Finance what fin [1:01:59] yes [1:02:04] friend thank [1:02:15] you next on the agenda is [1:02:18] finance thank you I would like to call [1:02:21] the finance committee to order and we [1:02:23] have one item and that is change in the [1:02:25] CSA contract [1:02:29] language [1:02:31] thank all I got an easy War for you [1:02:33] tonight here uh this is just an mou [1:02:37] between the Citys connecti and uh CA uh [1:02:40] it's just clarifying language uh in [1:02:42] section 9 and section three uh regarding [1:02:45] the call outs emergency call outs uh for [1:02:48] specific group of CCA uh [1:02:53] employees [1:02:54] any [1:02:56] questions it's just a substitution of [1:02:58] language as far as there's no there's no [1:03:00] change it's just clarification in [1:03:02] language and this has to do with for DM [1:03:05] or call it's for call outs and emergency [1:03:07] call outs it's a 3-hour window uh [1:03:10] specifically uh for code enforcement [1:03:12] officers okay go ahead please so um [1:03:16] since there's a clarification then um [1:03:18] something must have come up to prompt [1:03:20] that there was a some misunderstanding [1:03:22] of it I believe there was a scenario uh [1:03:24] a few years ago um there was uh [1:03:27] miscommunication between the department [1:03:30] and payroll on what was uh shouldn't be [1:03:32] exactly paid out um and the the code [1:03:35] enforcement officer um wasn't [1:03:37] understanding what was actually written [1:03:39] um in the agreement so um we made [1:03:42] clarification language and different [1:03:44] scenarios um so they could bridge that [1:03:46] gap of [1:03:47] understanding so in the past did we pay [1:03:50] out based on the misunderstanding of the [1:03:52] language um I'm not 100% sure on that [1:03:54] out to look take a look at our records [1:03:57] but and is anyone go ahead [1:04:00] ma' the evolution of this is it used to [1:04:03] be a 4-Hour call [1:04:04] out the contract we modified that number [1:04:07] of years back to go to a 3-hour call out [1:04:11] is the employee uh is at time and a half [1:04:14] at that [1:04:15] point uh so we gained some savings on it [1:04:19] and most times their call out uh can be [1:04:23] adequate handled within a 3-hour window [1:04:28] what was happening is when there are [1:04:31] multiple call outs M so that if another [1:04:35] event happens during that 3-hour [1:04:39] window there was a question whether they [1:04:42] were treating it as a separate call out [1:04:44] and we get time and a half for another 3 [1:04:46] hours or they were still on call from [1:04:49] the original call out and so this [1:04:52] clarifies that so that anything that [1:04:54] happens when they're called in in that [1:04:56] 3-hour [1:04:58] window that's the time they get so they [1:05:01] might handle one call they might handle [1:05:03] two calls could handle three calls after [1:05:07] that they would be they go home or back [1:05:10] on their own time in another call out [1:05:12] that would reestablish another 3-hour [1:05:15] window so prior to the clarification [1:05:18] were we paying it out like there were [1:05:19] times there were times [1:05:22] when I will say the was not as accurate [1:05:26] as it maybe should have been or may have [1:05:28] been interpreted to different [1:05:31] individuals benefit where yes the the [1:05:35] payouts were [1:05:36] not consistent with what I've just [1:05:38] articulated okay and is there any [1:05:41] individual that's expecting now to be [1:05:43] reimbursed at the the old way before we [1:05:46] um change this no this will clarify it [1:05:49] and move forward everybody's on the same [1:05:52] page and when was the actual document [1:06:01] signed like September was 2023 September [1:06:05] 25 925 2023 [1:06:09] okay I guess I'm just wondering why it's [1:06:11] just coming Council action now I don't [1:06:14] have an answer for so it had to go back [1:06:16] to the there was a question whether we [1:06:18] could do anou without going back to the [1:06:21] full membership they wanted to take get [1:06:24] back to the full membership so that in [1:06:26] fact uh it did do that and then it came [1:06:30] back and so now it's coming to the [1:06:32] council okay but it's still the original [1:06:35] signature date of September 2020 we [1:06:39] have the terms and conditions of [1:06:42] employment since that time in whatever [1:06:45] it's September in fact a little bit [1:06:47] before that have been consistent with [1:06:49] what's outlined in the agreement [1:06:53] okay those are my questions any other [1:06:55] questions sen may I have a motion Mo [1:06:59] second second all in favor I I thank you [1:07:02] any other business before [1:07:03] Finance may have a [1:07:05] motion second all in favor I thank you [1:07:09] uh I'd like to call to oh I'd like to [1:07:12] call to order City development and [1:07:13] planning uh we have 12 items on the [1:07:16] agenda and I know that we have people [1:07:19] here for the Central Park sidewalk so Mr [1:07:22] M do you want to call that out of order [1:07:23] so [1:07:24] home if you don't mind I would [1:07:25] appreciate I hope everyone else we do [1:07:27] have uh people you want stay home [1:07:30] meeting fine [1:07:33] okay you are number eight so you can [1:07:36] just stay right there you want to stay [1:07:39] no [1:07:40] you okay so um Mr M yeah thank you on [1:07:45] the agenda thank you for putting this on [1:07:46] the agenda this um going to ask Mr wall [1:07:49] to give us an update on the Central Park [1:07:51] sidewalk project and where we are at [1:07:54] this point in time so that the resident [1:07:56] there can get an [1:08:01] update hello so where we are with this [1:08:04] project right now is that we have a a [1:08:06] petition in and we have looked at [1:08:08] preliminary design options for the [1:08:10] project um so to compare it what we [1:08:13] wanted to do was we just successfully [1:08:15] completed a similar project on North [1:08:17] College Street in The Stockade that [1:08:20] project was approximately 630 ft long uh [1:08:23] with 1260 ft of curb and it cost uh [1:08:27] $425,000 with uh some of those costs [1:08:30] being assessed back to them at the rate [1:08:31] of $55 a foot um for Central Parkway uh [1:08:36] it is a unique Street being much longer [1:08:38] twice as long wider with a median with [1:08:41] the lights down the middle um so the [1:08:43] length we actually is almost exactly two [1:08:45] times that so costing wise um we looked [1:08:49] and we estimating that the project will [1:08:51] cost uh between 1 and 1 .2 million for a [1:08:55] street uh reconstruction we have several [1:08:58] options that we've been discussing [1:09:00] internally um the options R all from um [1:09:03] essentially put it back the way it is [1:09:05] the street is two lanes with a center [1:09:08] median but does not uh technically have [1:09:10] on street parking people attempt to park [1:09:12] on street but most of the time they uh [1:09:15] park on the sidewalks and we're trying [1:09:17] to avoid having people park on the [1:09:19] sidewalks so we have options of um [1:09:23] essentially do nothing put it back the [1:09:24] way it is and post it for no parking um [1:09:27] residents on one side have driveways on [1:09:29] the other side have an Alleyway with [1:09:31] driveways in the back and then we have [1:09:33] uh several options uh the one uh one of [1:09:36] which is parking on one side and one of [1:09:38] which is parking on both sides but as we [1:09:41] explore our options our costs and the [1:09:43] impact of the neighborhood expand uh [1:09:45] pretty significantly so uh right now we [1:09:48] have no actions other than we have some [1:09:50] plinary ideas um and the thought was [1:09:53] then to um discuss that uh those costs [1:09:56] and the impact that would be uh at this [1:09:58] meeting and then possibly call a meeting [1:10:00] with the residents to discuss what they [1:10:02] would be in favor of going forward okay [1:10:06] any questions so so you mentioned 1.5 [1:10:09] million 1.2 million that's the high high [1:10:11] side yes that's the high side if we were [1:10:13] to do essentially a complete Street [1:10:15] reconstruction with parking with parking [1:10:18] adjusting the the island yes uh it would [1:10:20] be curbs parking lighting land [1:10:24] Landscaping um it would be uh [1:10:26] essentially complete Street [1:10:27] reconstruction um haven't done one of [1:10:30] those in my tenure here yet the [1:10:32] residential area it would be almost akin [1:10:34] to what we've been doing on Erie [1:10:35] Boulevard where the entire Street would [1:10:37] be reconstructed right now the lanes are [1:10:41] um 15 ft so a typical travel Lane is 11 [1:10:45] ft and then we want an 8T on street [1:10:47] parking linee for 19 ft total we have 15 [1:10:50] ft which leaves 4T um if someone were to [1:10:53] Park uh really now people are kind of [1:10:55] smart about it if they Park they Park [1:10:57] where a turnaround is try to get around [1:10:59] it but if you park where the curbing is [1:11:01] you're impediment you're blocked so [1:11:04] that's why people are parking on the [1:11:05] sidewalk um you know there are options [1:11:09] out there that uh that could be [1:11:11] discussed but they weren't really pushed [1:11:13] too far down the road which is um for [1:11:16] possibly uh budget savings you could [1:11:18] eliminate the island Al together and [1:11:20] then if you eliminate the island then [1:11:22] you have that 10 ft to use but the [1:11:23] character of the street significantly [1:11:25] changes um so and then there are you [1:11:29] know we have we have quite a few things [1:11:31] um but the street is significantly [1:11:35] different um I know that uh for most [1:11:38] people looking at it you would think [1:11:39] it's very similar to right and de camp [1:11:41] but right and de Camp already had the [1:11:43] width to allow for parking so we [1:11:46] essentially put it back there was no [1:11:48] RightWay impacts there were no impacts [1:11:50] to Residents um one of the things that [1:11:52] we that we do have prepared for our [1:11:54] meeting uh when it's called is you know [1:11:56] impacts to the public um there would be [1:11:58] several uh impacts to trees um [1:12:01] essentially all um full grown trees [1:12:04] within 5 ft of the existing sidewalk [1:12:06] would have to be removed um most trees [1:12:09] within the median would be removed so [1:12:11] the street would be kind of starting [1:12:13] from scratch it's not to say we wouldn't [1:12:15] put Landscaping in but you do not [1:12:16] replace a fully mature 60ft tree with a [1:12:20] tree you replace it with a new tree so [1:12:22] the impact would be that um the other [1:12:25] thing just talking about you know [1:12:27] positives and negatives as we would go [1:12:28] forward is if the lanes get wider uh I [1:12:32] drove the street in the last week six [1:12:34] times I did not see a vehicle on the [1:12:36] street at any point when I drove um an [1:12:40] 18t Lane with no one parked on it is [1:12:43] very wide so it will be also uh on us to [1:12:49] you know try to Harbor the the speed [1:12:51] issues that we always have because the [1:12:53] lanes will be wider and the trees will [1:12:55] be gone and trees tall trees help create [1:12:57] that narrowing effect so there's a lot [1:12:59] of you know positives and negatives that [1:13:01] uh that we'd have to discuss with the [1:13:02] residents on the street before moving [1:13:04] forward in so do you have an estimate on [1:13:07] uh keeping it the same way like the same [1:13:10] if we were to put it right back the [1:13:12] street if we were to put it right back [1:13:14] the way it is I would say essentially a [1:13:16] little south of a million dollar we [1:13:19] probably have around a $250,000 savings [1:13:21] to put it back the way it is you have to [1:13:22] remember if we span two what we're doing [1:13:25] is we're building a road where there [1:13:26] wasn't a road so we have to do a full [1:13:28] construction of a road where we're [1:13:29] talking about subbase base binder all [1:13:32] the way up uh to to expand that [1:13:34] similarly if the island moves the island [1:13:35] is grass we'll have to go down you know [1:13:37] you go down 24 in to build up a road bed [1:13:39] so that you have a consistent surface to [1:13:41] run traffic on um so yeah so Mr um so if [1:13:50] I'm understanding this correctly it's roughly million dollars to put it [1:13:55] back to its to what was that really [1:13:59] didn't meet maybe the needs of the [1:14:01] people in the neighborhood but for a [1:14:03] million two you can greatly change and [1:14:06] increase the yeah that's [1:14:09] what Fred Fred is uh he's our engineer [1:14:12] on the project he did North College with [1:14:14] us so he put some of this together so [1:14:15] yeah $250,000 to give or take would give [1:14:18] us would give us more but the impact [1:14:20] would be [1:14:22] noticeable and would it take so if [1:14:25] rather than just kind of like fixing [1:14:26] what there to how much longer would it [1:14:29] take to do and to make all the changes [1:14:32] that you've [1:14:33] described uh it would probably factor of [1:14:37] weeks I mean these are it's pretty [1:14:38] simple it's not you know as complex as [1:14:40] say the Central Park Pool project or the [1:14:42] event center it's flat work uh if we [1:14:44] were allowed to give them the site you [1:14:47] know close the road to one side and [1:14:49] allow them to work they probably work [1:14:50] pretty expediently it wouldn't be the [1:14:51] same amount but 3 weeks maybe only 3 [1:14:54] weeks longer um Granite curb is [1:14:56] available so that's good the lighting is [1:14:58] a little tricky because we probably have [1:15:00] to replace the lighting which gets [1:15:02] involved with now we're metering the [1:15:04] lights because we probably take [1:15:05] ownership of the lights and doing a [1:15:07] little bit so maybe putting a a [1:15:08] different kind of light in there like a [1:15:10] park light um so it's not it's not as [1:15:14] simple as it seems like every time we do [1:15:16] a sidewalk program they're getting more [1:15:18] complex not less complex I haven't [1:15:20] figure that out yet cuz it's not you [1:15:22] know that many streets like this but [1:15:24] this is a complex project uh it's also expensive uh you know for a neighborhood street and the [1:15:32] impacts are are going to be large to the residents because what we would [1:15:35] like to do what we're recommending is [1:15:37] that we would expand essentially to the [1:15:40] West the side where the alley is because [1:15:42] it's flat so that we would essentially [1:15:45] hold the side with the hill and expand [1:15:47] West so the The Neighbors on the west [1:15:49] side with the alley would be impacted a [1:15:51] little bit more than the Neighbors on [1:15:52] the other side because we think that would be the best for the economy [1:15:55] of scale um so that we're not cutting [1:15:59] into the hill and affecting there's a [1:16:00] retaining wall and stairs and some [1:16:02] things on the on the east side of the [1:16:03] roadway but these are all just things [1:16:04] that we've looked at we have a lot of [1:16:06] information um and we're just waiting on [1:16:09] a call to have a public meeting with the residents which we actually [1:16:12] don't have not had a format to do we've [1:16:14] done that or via zoom and I think that [1:16:18] Mr mut and you called that together [1:16:19] before we we can do one you can do one [1:16:21] of that should get them informed did you [1:16:25] want to are you are you plan on doing [1:16:26] Zoom again though with are you going to [1:16:28] try we can do either Zoom or whatever is [1:16:31] preferred I will reach out to the [1:16:32] residents and prefer will do infor or [1:16:35] Zoom whatever the choice I would suggest [1:16:39] an iners meeting okay I think it would [1:16:42] be better if people are a lot of elderly [1:16:44] they're having a hard time with this [1:16:46] it's complicated lot of the [1:16:49] resents so AR we'll arrange um since you [1:16:53] the point person we'll arrange an in [1:16:55] person meeting and get some schedule [1:16:57] some some timeline and provide it to the [1:17:00] staff and the city council and the [1:17:02] [Music] [1:17:03] administration Mr William you have a [1:17:05] question yes uh so putting on my [1:17:06] resident uh frequent driver in scany had [1:17:09] on uh it's nothing more depressing than [1:17:11] seeing these efforts put forth they [1:17:13] repaying streets similar to Eerie [1:17:15] Boulevard and uh if you wouldn't mind [1:17:17] just educating uh and then seeing the [1:17:20] utility companies or seeing sections of [1:17:22] the roads torn up and then having to [1:17:25] kind of do a a so use the proper [1:17:27] language just peace mealing pwk [1:17:30] Patchwork Patchwork job which sort of [1:17:33] kind of like negates the whole intent of [1:17:36] redoing it is there any instance where [1:17:39] that is going to be an issue with this [1:17:41] on this project uh Central Parkway has [1:17:43] been completed uh the parkway streets [1:17:46] have been um we try to have [1:17:48] coordinations with National Grid [1:17:50] coordination meeting at the beginning of [1:17:51] every year the issue becomes it's just [1:17:55] um they have so many miles they do about [1:17:57] 8 Miles so they essentially put as many [1:18:00] miles of pipe in as we pave streets and [1:18:02] as much as that we like to overlap and plan there is [1:18:06] always an outlier um and so some of the [1:18:09] commercial streets for example this is [1:18:12] uh you know one of the things that we're [1:18:13] looking at is I know that Upper Union [1:18:15] Street business district is becoming [1:18:18] Warn and that sooner than later we will [1:18:21] be getting complaints about Paving that [1:18:23] so that is an area that National Grid [1:18:25] has not yet been in so we are working [1:18:27] with National Grid to get in there and [1:18:29] do it so that they can disrupt it and [1:18:31] then we can come in and make it whole um [1:18:34] and that is what we try to do um but we [1:18:38] are not successful in every turn uh and [1:18:41] then sometimes there was a issue uh on [1:18:44] Albany Street where they actually had to [1:18:45] put in a second main cuz the first main [1:18:48] didn't adequately Supply the [1:18:49] neighborhood with gas there was an issue [1:18:51] on De camp uh where I was there and we [1:18:55] ran out of gas and they had to put an [1:18:56] emergency gas line in to connect to [1:18:58] service more gas so there things that [1:19:01] come up and we do get a lot of [1:19:03] complaints about National Grid [1:19:04] specifically right up behind me here on [1:19:07] not Terrace where we did a Paving job to [1:19:09] have them come and do a reinforcement [1:19:11] there um [1:19:13] and I I guess not to you know complain [1:19:16] about it more but these are you know an [1:19:19] $8 million project that requires [1:19:21] coordination and I have a staff of two [1:19:24] now if I had a full-time Road inspector [1:19:28] that was tasked with managing grid maybe [1:19:31] that gains us you know a little bit of [1:19:32] Leverage but right now um the [1:19:34] responsibility of managing this is [1:19:36] shared between myself codes signals uh [1:19:39] you know Metroplex sometimes gets [1:19:41] involved with complaints uh we we've had [1:19:43] complaints from County legislators you [1:19:45] know we all kind of team to try to [1:19:47] supervise that because there's not one [1:19:49] person that's tasked with it and that is [1:19:52] a difficult because for them National [1:19:54] grd has about as many people in this [1:19:55] room managing that project and we don't [1:19:59] so it is challenging but and we hear [1:20:03] about it but for Central Parkway we're [1:20:05] not going to allow them to to go in and [1:20:07] rip we'll make sure that the the gas Ms [1:20:09] are done and if it seemed as if I was [1:20:12] just I I truly appreciate the work your [1:20:14] office no it's okay I I it pains me just [1:20:17] as much but you get numb to it after 10 [1:20:19] years ripping the road [1:20:21] apart I just want to add that when we um [1:20:24] when we allocated a million dollar last [1:20:26] year I think um we had set aside $55 per [1:20:29] linear feed I think at that point in [1:20:31] time if I'm not mistaken we set aside [1:20:33] $55 pinear feed for basic sidewalk not [1:20:36] for a project that is so complex like [1:20:39] Central Parkway so we might want to [1:20:42] reconsider that portion of either $55 or [1:20:45] up it a little because of the [1:20:48] complex this project being so complex [1:20:50] but with including Island we moving ra [1:20:53] expanding it if we were to go the full [1:20:57] design $1.2 million correct we might [1:21:00] want that would be that would be the [1:21:02] prerogative of the city council I'm [1:21:04] Comfort I'm just thr that on table [1:21:05] because I'm comfortable in the $55 a [1:21:08] foot for the residents yes Miss oh sorry [1:21:12] um I guess I when I my understanding [1:21:15] when we did that I thought that that was [1:21:17] you know we were trying to keep it at [1:21:18] the $55 for our residents regardless of [1:21:21] the of the um [1:21:23] project but I think um and I would [1:21:25] support staying at the $55 I mean I [1:21:28] think that's we had a lot of discussions [1:21:30] at that point um around this issue but I [1:21:33] guess when there is a public meeting um [1:21:37] if that's if that's not going to be the [1:21:39] case I think we would need to have you [1:21:41] know ducks in a row by the time of that [1:21:44] public meeting because I just don't want [1:21:46] to see see us going back to what [1:21:48] happened when first we started I mean I [1:21:50] wasn't on the council when we first [1:21:52] started sidewalk program but I certainly [1:21:54] remember um the issues that we had when [1:21:57] you know folks expected one um amount of [1:22:00] money that they were going to be charged [1:22:02] and then they got charged a different [1:22:03] amount of money so I think the idea that [1:22:05] we were trying to [1:22:06] standardize um you know I I think it's [1:22:10] still really valid yeah no my and I just [1:22:12] want to add to that because we only [1:22:14] allocated a million dollars toward [1:22:15] sidewalk so if we were to the Central [1:22:18] Parkway that's a million 1.5 so we might [1:22:21] we would have to [1:22:23] reallocate more money towards the [1:22:25] sidewalk um program there for Central [1:22:27] Parkway only which exceed our allocation [1:22:30] of $1 million set asde so that's why I [1:22:33] want to bring that to us to brainstorm [1:22:36] and we did we've done the number so the [1:22:38] estimate is is let's say we went and and [1:22:40] this is also from a residential [1:22:42] perspective you're paying the same no [1:22:43] matter what option so there is no [1:22:45] consequence of picking whatever option [1:22:47] because the 55 is the 55 that's what I [1:22:49] think right okay so and then that [1:22:52] translates to roughly the entire block [1:22:54] putting forward roughly [1:22:56] $175,000 would be the assessment on the [1:22:58] 1.2 million so then the the Gap is a [1:23:03] little over a million [1:23:06] dollar [1:23:08] so if we were to S to 55 we would have [1:23:11] to reallocate additional funding right [1:23:13] so you know I want to bring that to the [1:23:15] table so we are aware of that if we [1:23:17] decide to move on that um [1:23:20] fee okay [1:23:23] so in terms of timeline um Mr [1:23:26] W I'm I'm ready you ready I'm ready yep [1:23:30] Ready schedule the meeting and we'll be [1:23:32] there yeah so if I may so let me just [1:23:35] understand the 1 million if you leave it [1:23:38] at that that means no reconstruction [1:23:40] you'll just put it back the way it is no [1:23:42] it's a reconstruction but it goes back [1:23:44] the way it actually would probably be a [1:23:45] little narrower it would be within the [1:23:47] footprint but no parking but that's the [1:23:50] issue the parking is an issue for the [1:23:52] residents on my side um the cars are [1:23:56] getting hit we're getting tickets [1:23:58] there's large vehicles that come up and [1:24:00] down [1:24:02] Park okay so um yeah but that's the kind [1:24:06] of stuff thank you those a good point to [1:24:07] bring up that's why they're going to [1:24:08] have the public meeting because that's [1:24:10] when that that's that discussion will [1:24:12] take place and you can decide what is [1:24:14] best for the yeah and there'll be other [1:24:16] people obviously there at the meeting to voice their and then I'm sure the [1:24:20] public can come not just Central par [1:24:23] and then before we even do anything with [1:24:25] these petitions I believe there's a [1:24:26] public [1:24:27] hearing so that there's a public hearing [1:24:29] so that other residents once it's [1:24:31] decided can Advocate if they think that [1:24:33] this is an investment you know there [1:24:35] it's it's a process yeah yeah we'll try [1:24:38] to schedule the inperson meeting and [1:24:40] then we move forward from there and then [1:24:42] schedule U the public hearing and all [1:24:45] the necessary um right items that need [1:24:48] to be put in place to move forward with [1:24:49] this project so we won't make decisions [1:24:52] we the council will not make decisions [1:24:53] without public input so I don't want [1:24:55] that to be a concern for you what's our [1:24:57] timeline with that the last meeting we [1:25:00] had last year okay so Mr moonar is going [1:25:03] to reach out and they're going to set a [1:25:05] meeting we'll try to schedule something [1:25:06] as fast as we can okay before somebody [1:25:09] gets killed on the Block cuz around D [1:25:12] ni's House That Sidewalk is really [1:25:16] bad micophone you can't [1:25:20] hear all right no cuz then we don't [1:25:22] we're going to do it as best as we can [1:25:23] as Mr W mentioned he's ready to go we'll [1:25:25] just need input from the the resident [1:25:28] and then the council need to do right we [1:25:30] need to get our action in order and move [1:25:33] forward right okay so we'll take care of [1:25:36] that thank you uh any other questions no [1:25:39] all right okay [1:25:43] you so thank you for indulging so you [1:25:45] guys get home [1:25:50] safe so the first item on the agenda is [1:25:53] fcal house [1:25:55] car Miss [1:25:59] car good evening city council Mr Mayor [1:26:03] um the department of development and [1:26:05] planning received a request from the [1:26:07] Coco house asking that the city council [1:26:10] revisit um their presentation that was [1:26:13] presented in September of [1:26:15] 2023 asking for a change in use of fund [1:26:19] Coco house is asking that the $500,000 a [1:26:22] fund allocated to them be used for [1:26:24] salary and fr they provided an updated [1:26:28] layout on how those funds would support [1:26:30] salaries um I believe there are six [1:26:32] employees one of them including the [1:26:34] executive um director in addition to [1:26:38] that they are also asking for the [1:26:40] leverage fund requirement included in [1:26:43] the resolution be removed to move [1:26:45] forward with [1:26:50] contract all right um so as Miss Carver [1:26:53] laid out they initially were going to [1:26:55] asking for 500,000 to do some [1:26:58] construction work however um after [1:27:03] because it took so long for their [1:27:04] allocation they were able to get that [1:27:06] funding other [1:27:07] places and so now they're asking that [1:27:10] the what we initially allocated towards [1:27:13] that would now be moved over um to to [1:27:16] use for salaries right all right when [1:27:19] the last time they were there um I and [1:27:22] everyone did you give this to everyone [1:27:24] for in terms of the layout of the [1:27:26] salaries that we have this here [1:27:28] no all right so the one of the things [1:27:31] that they came the last time when they [1:27:32] asked for the allocation of the salar [1:27:34] was that the 100,000 be all of it be [1:27:37] towards the salary for the executive [1:27:40] director um and then the other salaries [1:27:42] I don't really they didn't really lay [1:27:44] out how they were going to um to pay [1:27:46] that and what I asked at that time was [1:27:49] if you could just if there's a way that [1:27:51] there could you in addition to the money [1:27:52] that we would allocate that there would [1:27:54] be other funding to go towards that so [1:27:56] not all of the funding our funding went [1:27:58] towards um just executive director [1:28:00] salary and I was told at the time that would happen I haven't seen that so [1:28:05] um I'm not opposed to reallocating uh [1:28:08] toward salaries but I think the [1:28:10] structure of it needs to be taken in [1:28:11] consideration of how we structure [1:28:15] it Miss Patrick I think um well don't [1:28:18] you mean I mean they have provided us [1:28:20] with how they would allocate the the funding so um I mean I'm in [1:28:26] favor of this I I want to point out that [1:28:28] it's not I mean the idea is [1:28:30] that we remember that we're trying to do [1:28:33] an expansion of their program offerings [1:28:35] so it's not just about it is about [1:28:37] salary I get that that that's they're [1:28:38] spending the money but they're doing it [1:28:40] because they want to expand the options [1:28:42] that they're providing to the youth that [1:28:44] they Ser so I just want to make sure we [1:28:46] get that on the record here um but I [1:28:50] don't I I guess if we we are to move [1:28:52] forward with this I don't want to you [1:28:55] know sort of uh I don't know better word [1:28:57] use but I don't think we need to [1:28:58] micromanage what they do internally I I [1:29:01] don't know um I I'm I'm satisfied with [1:29:05] the way that they have laid it out here [1:29:07] on this chart that they provided well [1:29:08] this is new it wasn't laid out like this [1:29:10] before before Oh no okay I guess I [1:29:12] thought you just were I thought you were [1:29:15] looking for more information no no [1:29:17] originally it was laid out that um the [1:29:19] entire amount that would come from arpa [1:29:21] would go only towards the executive [1:29:23] director's [1:29:25] salary right so what I was saying is if [1:29:28] we're going to provide that salary that [1:29:30] it needs and you're you're planning on [1:29:31] bringing in all these different other [1:29:33] positions that don't currently exist [1:29:35] that that amount that we allocate should [1:29:37] be spread amongst all of those those [1:29:40] positions so those people actually we [1:29:41] make sure that there's salary for when [1:29:43] they're hired gotcha okay so that was my question so that is my only [1:29:47] concern that we we spread it out this [1:29:49] answers that for my in my opinion [1:29:52] does the arbor fund allow to draw down 3 [1:29:55] years from now the salar um it has to be [1:29:58] allocated by the end of 2024 this year [1:30:01] and then has to be spent by the end of [1:30:05] 2026 so um we're already in 2024 and by [1:30:08] the time they execute contracts it may [1:30:11] not even be the full 500,000 just [1:30:13] because they're already I don't know [1:30:15] that we can really um I know that we [1:30:18] cannot I should say pay retroactively so [1:30:20] it would be have to would be after the [1:30:22] contract is [1:30:26] signed yes Mr Toro um what has Coco [1:30:29] house been doing prior to this for [1:30:32] salaries they got other grants and they [1:30:35] let me just say they're getting ready to [1:30:36] I think it's 27 years now Mr let me just [1:30:38] be clear that Mr um Rebus was not there [1:30:41] for 27 years but since he's taken over [1:30:44] it stayed open [1:30:45] consistently and you know he's uh the [1:30:49] Community Foundation I know has been a [1:30:50] part of it so they they look for money [1:30:52] in order to continue their program to [1:30:54] run and how will they continue after [1:30:57] 2026 what they did probably before 20824 [1:31:00] is to continue um looking for Grants um [1:31:05] to to continue the program as many [1:31:06] nonprofits in our city do absolutely and [1:31:10] what about how many how many [1:31:13] um um students is he facilitating after [1:31:16] school uh did he come here and speak [1:31:19] something about yes he did September last um [1:31:22] the r the ratio of it has gone down [1:31:25] after qu I I kind of forgot what he said [1:31:28] if you can just help me with that he the [1:31:31] amount of students that are coming after [1:31:33] school has [1:31:34] decreased um he may have alluded [1:31:37] something during Co which everybody saw [1:31:39] a decrease in all programs but but [1:31:41] there's another program that's being uh [1:31:44] that's happening in the school district [1:31:45] where most of the students are going [1:31:47] after school and his has decreased a [1:31:49] little [1:31:50] bit not familiar with that Mr far yeah [1:31:53] so I think [1:31:54] um and just my best understanding of [1:31:58] what the request is to um you know again [1:32:02] to uh fund uh the salaries for program [1:32:06] expansion and I think that the program [1:32:07] expansion then you expand your capacity [1:32:09] to serve uh of the students uh that um [1:32:12] are attending cabs and I think also like [1:32:15] there are you know a lot of different [1:32:17] variables as to why you know program [1:32:19] attendance um could increase or disc [1:32:22] decrease but I think that that doesn't [1:32:24] necessarily change the um uh the ex [1:32:29] expectation for robust programming for Youth and it so I think that that [1:32:33] can um I appreciate what your [1:32:36] in my best understanding kind of [1:32:39] recollect what he was saying was that Co [1:32:41] did impact as it did all but looking to [1:32:44] um increase yeah looking to increase capacity to serve uh kids in [1:32:53] Mr so so the funding here that is [1:32:55] breaking out here the back here is that [1:32:57] the full funding in terms of the salary [1:32:59] allocation here yes so they're asking us [1:33:04] to readjust the allocation the [1:33:07] allocation and to fund [1:33:10] these the Staffing position full time [1:33:13] two full-time and four part-time part [1:33:15] time is so the question to follow by [1:33:18] that is [1:33:19] that if we were [1:33:22] I'm just saying this if you were not a [1:33:23] fund us where would they receive the [1:33:25] funding from well in the letter of [1:33:27] support and in the presentation that [1:33:29] they presented if I recall correctly his [1:33:31] act was for him if he gets this funding [1:33:34] he can become a full-time employee [1:33:36] currently he is not full-time so that he [1:33:38] could go after the funds um for [1:33:40] sustainability after the funding and [1:33:42] then the letter of support they said [1:33:43] between now and 20 27 if they would have [1:33:47] fully replenished um the arpa arpa funds [1:33:50] to move forward [1:33:52] Mr fley so and I would just uh kind of [1:33:56] maybe reate I probably see some some [1:33:58] variation of this in the past especially [1:34:00] when we're dealing with um you know [1:34:02] smaller smaller nonprofits um you know a [1:34:06] lot of times the smaller nonprofits [1:34:08] don't have the capacity they don't have [1:34:09] a development department they don't have [1:34:11] some of the things that these real [1:34:12] larger big boxing field nonprofits have [1:34:14] so and so sometimes our line of [1:34:17] questioning for them is a little [1:34:19] different than what it is for larger uh [1:34:22] nonprofits because they don't have that [1:34:25] they don't they don't have that capacity [1:34:26] and I think that what if I again what my [1:34:29] understanding is that this money would [1:34:32] um allow uh for staff to do some [1:34:35] capacity growing capacity in order to [1:34:38] sustain you know it's kind of one of [1:34:39] those things that you can't go after [1:34:41] grant money you know as as we all know [1:34:44] grant money is extremely competitive [1:34:46] process when you're deal competing with [1:34:50] you know a couple nonprofit Prof who [1:34:51] have full development departments and [1:34:53] people who are making just their payroll [1:34:55] the development department is uh [1:34:57] exceeding um this ass probably you know [1:35:00] twofold sometimes so I just something [1:35:02] that we should keep in mind M Patrick [1:35:04] well I'm going to say that a similar a [1:35:06] similar statement which is I think that [1:35:08] um part of this is that if we grow if he [1:35:11] grows the capacity if the organization's [1:35:13] able to offer more programming it is [1:35:16] going to make them more attractive to [1:35:19] private funders so I think that was what [1:35:22] he was trying to present to us I mean [1:35:23] he'd have three years to uh be he's he's [1:35:27] a pretty successful fundraiser if you [1:35:29] ask me based on my experience as a [1:35:31] fundraiser um I mean I think we've all [1:35:33] watched this organization grow by Leaps [1:35:35] and Bounds over the last several years [1:35:37] and a lot of that has to do with he's [1:35:39] able to show the success that he you [1:35:42] know I think that's key to development [1:35:44] is being able to prove the outcomes that [1:35:46] you're you're getting um and so he's [1:35:49] been able to pretty much sustain his [1:35:51] fundraising um because he's able to show [1:35:54] um what he accomplishes for the Youth [1:35:56] that he is serving so I think that if he [1:35:59] is able to hire in particular I think [1:36:02] these part-time people but um if he [1:36:04] really is able to expand his program [1:36:07] offerings I think that's just going to [1:36:08] add to the level of outcomes that he's [1:36:11] going to be able to continue to show to [1:36:12] private funders I mean he gets a [1:36:14] tremendous amount of support from many [1:36:16] of our prominent uh private foundations [1:36:21] uh including the SKC Foundation um and [1:36:24] others in in the region so I think [1:36:26] that's where that's how I would answer [1:36:29] that that's how I see the sustainability [1:36:31] happening after the ARA funding and I [1:36:34] guess just to quote Mr Gillan from [1:36:36] earlier but you do have to spend money [1:36:37] to make money even from a nonprofit uh [1:36:41] development standpoint I can't tell you [1:36:42] how many times I argu with bosses about that particular piece that that [1:36:47] you do have to kind of you know step up [1:36:49] to the plate if you want to really grow [1:36:51] as a [1:36:52] nonprofit and I think PA go ahead Mr for [1:36:56] Alex I know we've had issues before with [1:36:58] how we can spend our money I mean when [1:37:01] we want it to put it in our budget is [1:37:02] this acceptable Alex okay the my [1:37:05] question yes and again I want to just [1:37:08] reiterate that uh they asked for funding [1:37:10] to use on a particular thing and because [1:37:12] the funding wasn't forthcoming we they went had to do it anyway and I [1:37:16] don't know if any of you have been there [1:37:18] but the work that they wanted to do [1:37:20] actually got done and so there therefore [1:37:22] asking that you know now we still [1:37:24] support um the efforts that are being [1:37:26] done there in the community in a um a [1:37:28] much needed community that we just use [1:37:31] it in a different way so and my only [1:37:34] concern like I said was that it just not [1:37:35] all of One salary that we spread it out [1:37:37] to all the positions that they said they [1:37:38] want to [1:37:41] hire anybody else so we so at this point [1:37:46] in time we would um the the motion would [1:37:49] be to we move to take away the match is [1:37:52] what they're asking and to also to [1:37:54] reallocate this to um to use for salary [1:37:58] as outlined in the document they [1:38:00] submitted to us [1:38:03] so Mr [1:38:09] M I'm going to pass okay I'll second all [1:38:13] those in [1:38:15] favor okay all right um bcni she's going [1:38:19] to be she's going to be up here for a [1:38:22] while um our department received a [1:38:25] request from Better Community [1:38:27] neighborhoods in regards to their [1:38:28] Hamilton Hill infill are for funding [1:38:31] they are asking the city council to [1:38:33] revisit um their requests um to lower [1:38:38] the leveraged amount of funds needed to [1:38:40] move forward with contract um in their [1:38:42] in the resolution they had 18 to one [1:38:45] match and they are looking to do a [1:38:47] onetoone match um and they are ready to [1:38:50] move forward with the project if that is [1:38:52] to [1:38:53] be as you remember um Shane BG who is [1:38:57] the new executive director came before [1:38:59] us a few couple Cycles ago to explain [1:39:01] the project saying that we're really [1:39:03] ready to go uh when it came time to drop [1:39:05] the contract we know that what happened [1:39:07] was the previous executive director made [1:39:09] a 18 to1 match for the ARA funds that we [1:39:12] were um willing to to allocate which is [1:39:15] pretty significant actually I'm [1:39:16] surprised that that was offered but um [1:39:19] but having revisiting it um and they [1:39:22] really to get this project moved for 18 [1:39:23] to1 is just it's difficult to manage [1:39:27] yeah I've never heard of that never [1:39:28] heard okay so um so he's just asking [1:39:31] that the match now be um one to one one [1:39:34] to one and the approval of the use of [1:39:37] arpa funds is needed for them to move [1:39:39] forward with their New York State home [1:39:40] AR [1:39:42] application any amount of their arpa [1:39:44] funds they were getting 500 is it [1:39:46] 500,000 right, and I just want to point [1:39:49] out that they do have that one match SEC [1:39:53] they already have that secure they just [1:39:54] need us to move on [1:39:55] this are you scratching [1:39:59] okay so so the ask is to uh to to change [1:40:05] the leverage fund amount from 8.5 [1:40:08] million to [1:40:10] 500,000 any discussion about [1:40:13] that any all right all motion I'm moov [1:40:18] second all in favor I [1:40:21] okay all right and now item number three [1:40:24] is going to be a followup on arpa follow [1:40:26] up on arpa [1:40:28] okay we are almost [1:40:31] there we are [1:40:34] 95% um in contract with all uh approved [1:40:39] organizations with the exception of [1:40:42] those who have requested [1:40:44] extension those extensions are as [1:40:47] follows and our department is actively [1:40:50] working with these organizations already [1:40:52] to make sure that um they have what they [1:40:54] need by the time their extension expires [1:40:57] we have Coco house bcni Electric City [1:41:01] Co-Op and YWCA extensions will be [1:41:04] expiring on March 12th [1:41:07] 2024 the only contract that is not been [1:41:10] a we have not executed is the Habitat [1:41:13] for Humanity contract and that is [1:41:15] because habitat still has additional [1:41:18] funding sources spread all around that [1:41:21] they have un been unsuccessful with [1:41:23] spending down at this time so once we [1:41:26] can get them with the strategy to spend [1:41:29] down the money we'll move forward with [1:41:30] executing the ARA contract but our staff [1:41:33] is working with them actively right now [1:41:35] and this is really surrounding the New [1:41:37] York State um home funding that they [1:41:39] have so they have a lot of money kind of [1:41:42] sitting on a table right [1:41:44] now U the Coco house which just did the [1:41:47] presentation the 12th BC and I will be [1:41:49] moving forward before their extension is [1:41:52] up the Electric City Co-Op the [1:41:54] department has met with them to see what [1:41:56] their plans are and making sure that we [1:41:57] just give them all the necessary um [1:41:59] tools that they need to present if they [1:42:01] need another extension or just be [1:42:03] prepared to move forward after March [1:42:05] well Electric City [1:42:08] Co-Op and the YW and YWCA YWCA has an [1:42:14] extension and then they requested [1:42:15] additional fund arpa funding we did put [1:42:18] a request into the executive director to get that um request formally in [1:42:23] writing so once I get that request I'll [1:42:25] be able to do a legislative request for [1:42:27] it right did you me to Bethesda I'm [1:42:29] sorry if I missed it Bethesda no didn't [1:42:31] get Toda I'm sorry I'm sorry Bethesda is [1:42:33] in [1:42:35] contract um you read did you mention a [1:42:38] miracle and Craig I missed it or do you [1:42:41] have any up I didn't get there yet [1:42:44] Mr I thought you were up I just was [1:42:46] talking about the ones who had the [1:42:49] extension they have an EXT they had an [1:42:52] extension but with okay she's going to [1:42:54] get to it mirac miracu on Craig will not [1:42:58] be moving forward they have put in a [1:43:01] formal request to remove to transfer [1:43:03] title back to the city of skty so our [1:43:07] department is working with law um to [1:43:10] ensure that that happens [1:43:14] properly mayor do you have anything you [1:43:16] want to say about that [1:43:18] you okay at this point we're yeah [1:43:21] working then we'll take title back I [1:43:24] shouldn't say we take title say a use [1:43:26] agreement so that we'll clear that up [1:43:28] and then uh uh Alex is looking at other [1:43:32] scenarios and we'll try and see what the [1:43:35] future of that building [1:43:37] is we we have an appointment to go look [1:43:40] into we're meeting with Rosa and we're [1:43:42] meeting with t Maurice myself and Rod [1:43:45] Garner we are going to view the [1:43:47] properties and the additional um [1:43:49] properties that are associated with [1:43:51] marac break sometime next week okay Miss [1:43:53] Patrick so the can you remind me Alex um [1:43:57] the funding was like 2.5 [1:44:00] million2 what is [1:44:02] it2 1.2 1.25 okay so that money would [1:44:07] come back to us in terms of well we're [1:44:10] not sure yet we're going to have to so let me just um state that part of [1:44:13] this project and I think we all knew [1:44:15] that the community was really looking [1:44:16] for a community center and um there have [1:44:19] been and there not for conversation so [1:44:21] there's there's only so much that um I [1:44:23] can talk about um but there's other [1:44:26] groups who as that was working with mlc [1:44:29] that didn't have they weren't totally [1:44:31] formalized yet um kind of found out [1:44:34] about this afterwards and so that that [1:44:36] group was thought through their moving [1:44:38] ahead so more conversations will have to [1:44:41] take place in terms of does that group [1:44:42] take it over and what does it look like [1:44:43] with the city working and I'm not sure [1:44:46] what that looks like so it's it's very [1:44:47] informal conversations right [1:44:49] now the SKC Kanas house declined their [1:44:54] funding they had [1:44:55] $110,000 in ARA funds that was allocated [1:44:59] and they we went we sent over the [1:45:01] contract and they declined and said they [1:45:03] would not like to move forward they were [1:45:05] building benches [1:45:07] room tables okay they [1:45:11] did I know and lastly um we received a [1:45:16] formal request from the Bethesda house [1:45:19] um who was currently in contract um they [1:45:22] receive funding towards the car house [1:45:25] they are looking for an additional [1:45:27] $200,000 and arpa funding um to pay some [1:45:32] outstanding um bills associated with the car [1:45:37] house so um go ahead Mr I think you're [1:45:40] probably to ask the same question retro [1:45:43] payments retro payments no oh sorry my [1:45:47] question is I think we ran into a [1:45:49] similar scenario with the [1:45:51] um Can U pro um can they is that [1:45:55] appropriate use them to submit the they [1:45:58] haven't I haven't seen the dates of the [1:46:00] invoices yet but their contract is still [1:46:02] valid okay so if it has happened within [1:46:04] the last 12 months um it would be [1:46:08] acceptable use thank you um so there's some other things that um some [1:46:13] emails that we've receiv received [1:46:14] regarding beesa house so I think and [1:46:16] since they're under contract any [1:46:18] discussion about that would want to do [1:46:20] an executive session so um I would [1:46:23] suggest that we just discuss the rest of [1:46:25] it in executive session yes Mr turo [1:46:28] thank you um Alex you spoke about um [1:46:31] someone wanting a second extension I was [1:46:34] under the assumption that from March the [1:46:36] end of March no more extensions correct [1:46:39] we kind of put because did we are you [1:46:42] asking about this particular one um not [1:46:44] that particular I think I said it for [1:46:46] Electric City Co-Op just because I met [1:46:48] with them and they they threw that in [1:46:50] the air so I'm prematurely sing that [1:46:52] Council I think we discussed that [1:46:54] Council that we had to put a dead uh uh [1:46:57] an end dat on extensions um so right am [1:47:02] I right I believe you we did say that [1:47:05] because we have to get the money [1:47:06] allocated right and we can't keep [1:47:07] kicking the can down the road right yeah I think I think we spoke on [1:47:11] that in terms of extension that to allow [1:47:13] any more extension let's give them [1:47:16] adequate time the last extension and [1:47:18] then take about moving the the funding [1:47:20] to the city uh to the city projects [1:47:22] thank yes right you have more I have [1:47:26] none okay so we'll take up um Bethesda [1:47:31] house carara house discussion in [1:47:33] executive [1:47:34] session [1:47:36] okay and so oh Mr wall my back item [1:47:41] number [1:47:48] four 56 M okay okay police station [1:47:53] server room HVAC Chiller replacement so [1:47:56] what we have uh in the police station we [1:47:58] have both the computer server room and [1:48:00] what is affectionally known as the CRA [1:48:01] room which is the city's camera [1:48:03] surveillance room the rooms are um air [1:48:08] conditioning independently of the rest [1:48:09] of the building they have separate units [1:48:11] the two units that service them are well [1:48:15] P pass their service life one unit is [1:48:17] been down for over a year and its parts [1:48:19] are being used to keep the other unit [1:48:21] running um it's just a precarious [1:48:24] position we don't want to have um so we [1:48:26] have a bid to put a new called a crack [1:48:29] unit and then a split unit crack is a [1:48:32] computer room specific unit um we had [1:48:35] two bids and the low bid was from R&B [1:48:39] mechanical who does uh a lot of work [1:48:42] with the city the bid was uh actually [1:48:45] wellin our budget and we're comfortable [1:48:47] with awarding [1:48:48] it so do we already we have this money [1:48:51] is already yes this is from capital I [1:48:53] believe from capital budget yes this is [1:48:56] capital money we uh set aside money for [1:48:58] Capital Improvements in our 2023 capital [1:49:01] budget so that's coming out of there all [1:49:03] right any questions it that's second all [1:49:06] in favor I thank you and item number [1:49:08] five item number five is court agreement [1:49:12] correct yes y 5year term from 2023 to [1:49:17] 2028 yep so as you're aware um the city [1:49:20] now houses the state courts so courts [1:49:23] are no longer run by the city they're [1:49:24] run by the state under the unified court [1:49:26] system we have to sign a 5e revolving [1:49:28] agreement with them through that [1:49:30] agreement they agree to pay us for um [1:49:34] the maintenance and upkeep of the [1:49:35] facilities utility costs things like [1:49:37] that essentially as a tenant and us as [1:49:40] the landlord um this 5year agreement uh [1:49:43] is up and then after this five during [1:49:45] this 5-year agreement we do one-year [1:49:47] reviews and quarterly reports um all [1:49:50] through throughout the year so I have uh [1:49:53] I work with the chief Clerk of the city [1:49:55] doing quarter reports and I work with [1:49:57] their office of administrative [1:49:58] management once a year through the end [1:50:00] of your reports [1:50:02] so any questions how do I know that like [1:50:06] court system may say let's we want you [1:50:09] to build another additional courtroom [1:50:11] and and typically is AAL fund it you [1:50:16] know you need to expand you need you [1:50:17] know it's a requirement you need another [1:50:19] judge [1:50:20] um having this agreement how's that I [1:50:22] mean how do we anticipate that or you [1:50:25] know anticipate that the potential tax [1:50:27] increased after do that so they they I I [1:50:30] have had some experience at the county [1:50:32] where they like this is no longer an [1:50:33] appropriate facility you need to do a [1:50:36] new courtroom um I mean anything any way [1:50:40] to kind of um in that agreement is any [1:50:43] kind of language about that if they say [1:50:46] add another courtroom how that would be [1:50:48] funded no well it doesn't address that [1:50:51] specifically um we are in you know [1:50:55] conversations with them about a hearing [1:50:56] room um and they are you know talking to [1:50:59] us about the hearing room in the court [1:51:00] facilities always uh we have a unique [1:51:03] Court situation here at the city where [1:51:04] we have two buildings which is uh unique [1:51:08] uh to some but that this is more of an [1:51:11] operating agreement for the 5 years and [1:51:13] it and uh it just kind of goes back to [1:51:16] our reimbursement which is in the [1:51:17] appendices in the [1:51:18] back [1:51:20] other [1:51:22] questions a motion Some Mo second all in [1:51:26] favor I and item number six the [1:51:29] revokable permit for wh Kett yep so what [1:51:32] we'd like to do with this one is [1:51:33] essentially amend uh the revocable [1:51:35] permit which has already been issued um [1:51:37] this is very simple they're going to be [1:51:40] screening off their uh recessed outdoor [1:51:43] space as they get a lot of uh bancy in [1:51:46] that area and uh one of the things is [1:51:49] the door is kind of right on the right [1:51:51] away because of the the property line so [1:51:53] we have the easiest thing is just to [1:51:54] make sure the door is added in to the to [1:51:57] the revokable permit and so that's what [1:51:59] we're looking to do is just amend it so [1:52:00] it includes the retractable awnings and [1:52:02] the overhangs and now the patio door so where the patio is currently where [1:52:07] you can just kind of go in and sit [1:52:10] without anything you know they're not [1:52:11] opening a door now they're going to [1:52:12] actually put in a door it's going to be [1:52:14] like a big [1:52:16] screened almost like a screen [1:52:18] transparent wall then there's going to [1:52:20] be a screen door oh okay so the issue is [1:52:23] you know at night they put all the [1:52:25] tables in there but it was open but [1:52:27] people would go into the space secluded [1:52:30] area and then they were having issues [1:52:32] with that so they like to be able to [1:52:33] keep people out of the the space that's [1:52:35] out of site [1:52:37] okay any other questions no I'll it [1:52:41] second all in [1:52:43] favor and so item number seven [1:52:47] is revokable for the RB Lounge uh right [1:52:51] down the street the rabbit Lounge uh is [1:52:53] a rebranded uh it's going to be a salon [1:52:55] I had to ask what the rabbit Lounge was [1:52:58] I was [1:52:59] intrigued uh but it is for uh a sign on [1:53:02] an existing sign post so what is the [1:53:04] rabbit La I I believe it's a beauty [1:53:06] salon oh that is taking place in the [1:53:08] existing there was a former beauty salon [1:53:10] there and they're just uh going under [1:53:13] like new management or new operat so so [1:53:16] for historic information there was [1:53:17] another facility named the rabbit Lounge [1:53:19] it's connected and it was not a bey so [1:53:21] oh so I thought it might be like a cat [1:53:23] cafe you know where you go into the [1:53:25] rabbit's [1:53:27] run not exactly so uh any [1:53:31] questions a [1:53:33] [Music] [1:53:35] motion all in [1:53:37] favor thank you very much wall [1:53:41] um so we already did the update for the [1:53:46] uh for the sidewalk so the next is a [1:53:49] ceremonial resolution recognizing black [1:53:51] history months um and actually this will [1:53:53] be Mr Harley um something we do every [1:53:57] year for black history month so just [1:53:58] looking for um Mr you want to speak to [1:54:01] that I'm sorry sure something we do [1:54:03] every year uh celebrating in Black [1:54:05] History Month um just uh looking uh to [1:54:08] put have another resolution recognizing [1:54:10] Black History Month and all the uh [1:54:13] contributions um uh made by uh people of [1:54:17] color uh in the city is concy and [1:54:19] Nationwide and also not just recogn also [1:54:22] recognizing that black history is [1:54:24] American history and um the way we [1:54:27] acknowledge our history um will inform [1:54:30] our future so very important our [1:54:32] resolation just look for support for [1:54:35] that second all in favor thank [1:54:39] you uh the remainder are property sales [1:54:43] yes so for that we would go into [1:54:46] executive [1:54:48] session and also we would also continue [1:54:51] um discussing the Bethesda House of [1:54:53] three that session just so to make sure [1:54:55] that everyone understand that being done [1:54:57] so uh ask for motion to go on Executive [1:54:59] session second all in favor okay we'll [1:55:03] go on Executive session the public would [1:55:05] have to leave [1:55:10] [Music] [1:55:14] and