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call to order connected city council
committee meeting for Tuesday September
2nd 2025. We're going to begin uh with a
presentation by our engineer chief uh
Chris Wallen.
[Music]
Thank you. Uh due to the length of the
agenda and all that I would just not
going to be a presentation public
information meeting talk about the
presentation. So as you see in your
legislative request form I have a the
background summary there. So what we did
is this as part of um the infra
infrastructure act a couple years ago
there was a safe streets for all SS4A
grants that came out through the DOS. um
our MO the Capital Region Transportation
Council um applied for one for the
region uh which we participated in. Um
so they uh held the agreement with the
consultant and we were a participant in
that. Um what they did was they looked
at um crash hotspots in the communities
in each community. Um to Skenctity's
credit, they actually came and we met
and I believe Alex was at the meeting as
well and they came through and they said
um here's a list of the hotspots, Crane
Street, Albany Street, um State Street,
Erie Boulevard. We went through and we
went down and said we did a Crane Street
linkage study. We have an Albany Street
project. We have an Erie Boulevard
project. So we actually are working on
most of what their list was, but one of
the streets was also Eastern Avenue.
has seen a lot of
development in various ways and also a
lot of change. So, we decided to focus
on Eastern Avenue. So, the study area
was Eastern Avenue from Not Terrace up
to Elmer Avenue. Um, that area, like I
said, has gone through a lot of changes.
And what it is hard, I'll just try to be
as brief as possible with it, is for
people today to understand why certain
things existed who might not have been
here 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 40
years ago. So if you were to drive the
corridor, you would find two traffic
lights on the corridor. Um, one at
Mcurving and one at Elmer. Both of those
lights were installed when there were
two active elementary schools. So we had
a school at St. Mary's, we had a school
Elmer Avenue. The schools have changed,
neighborhood has changed, but the
signals remain. So part of this was
looking are those signals actually
warranted and to bring something into
more perspective would be um over at
Becker and Brandy Wine we had an
automobile accident that took out a
signal right at that intersection. I'm
working with our signal superintendent
who is not a local person and we're
trying he's looking through he's saying
this signal really doesn't make a lot of
sense. I said well what you don't know
is where the parking lot is where it
seems like a very odd large parking lot
that was a school. So, this is another
signal that was put in during a school.
So, we are looking at putting something
back at that intersection that might not
be a signal. We're looking at a
different uh rapid flashing beacon,
something else so that you can cross the
street. But, as the city changes, we
don't need to develop it the way that it
was 40 years ago or 20 years ago. So,
that is what this is. Um, we will be
holding and I will leave these out even
though this was also developed. Uh, we
are holding a virtual meeting. This is
the preferred venue for this type uh for
this type of project. They've done
virtual meetings for the Albany project
and Saratoga project. So this is
Skenctities. Uh it's a week from now
virtually Tuesday, September 9th, 5:30
to 7:00. And we'll be discussing uh two
concepts that we have. The first concept
is fairly uh simple to implement and
requires um new new crosswalks at
certain areas. U painting some new
crosswalks where we see a lot of
pedestrian activity. the removal of
those signals, insulation of um rapid
flashing beacons and things because, you
know, if you were to if you were to live
in the St. Mary's converted, you know,
that's a timed signal. It's not even
actuated. You just wait. Um and I've
never videoed it. We don't want to, but
you know, people might not wait just
because they're there. And then you get
into are people actually paying
attention to the signals. And that
actually for colleagues of mine who work
at um engineering areas in the DOT,
they've actually noted those signals as
being just completely outdated. Same
thing with Elmer Avenue. Elmer Avenue is
actually green for the entirety until
you activate it on Elmer and then it
will go into a flash system. So now that
it's not there, now it is a senior
housing. Is that really necessary? And
then the second option, which is the
more to a consultant, uh the more
alluring option is to actually turn
Eastern Avenue into a one-way street
from not terrace to essentially ranking.
Um and the idea with something like that
is if you were to do that, then you
could take that real estate second and
you could implement a bike lane for
both. Um and then you would have uh a
neighborhood bike lane and you would
still use Union Street as your two-way.
And most streets then we'd have to, you
know, the side streets would have to be
looked at. But um it gives you a lot of
opportunity. Uh parking on one side,
bike lane on one side and then and then
the traffic uh one way up. But that is
the the interesting uh the interesting
concept. Um I think it does have some
merit and I would look to hear from
people on the corridor what they think
of it. Um you know the corridor has
changed quite a bit. We do have quite a
bit of blocks in between that you would
be able to get on and off of it. the
bike lane would be two-way two-way just
to make sure it wouldn't be just up with
that. It would be an actual two-way bike
lane. And then there's, you know,
multiple ways to do it. You could do it
the way that we're looking on Craig
Street, which is a completely separated
raised bike lane, or you could do it
just through striping, which is similar
to what we did on Washington Avenue with
a a bright painted or delineated thing
uh lane up the side. So, that's what
we'll be uh discussing on September uh
9th. Um there is no implementation
money. This is something that just like
uh the Crane Street projects and Albany
Street and that this is going to you
know it's a study. I know people
sometimes get frustrated with studies
because it you know it took us a very
long time to implement Craig Street.
That's a $13 million project. This isn't
that but we also have to work together
as the council development engineering
and the mayor's office to see what are
our priorities. Um, if the reviews of
something like this are positive and we
think that there is a way to to
implement a one-way cheaply with paint
and we really think it'll have a
positive on the community, we could do
that. Um, if we think that it's
positive, but we want to do the
separated, well, now we're talking about
a multiple seven figure job and then
we'd have to go after funding. But do we
want to do that or we want to work on
Albany Street? You know, we really have
to weigh where we are. Um I don't know
how uh public works projects fit into
the comprehensive plan that we're
working on, but you know that's
something that we do have going on right
now is this comprehensive plan for the
entire city. And I'm hoping that there's
a little bit dedicated to the direction
of public works and where we put uh our
money. But um this is where we are. If
you have any questions, you can ask me
now or I encourage everybody to uh to
attend virtually in a week.
» Okay.
Now, we're going to leave these uh
on the counter outside the clerk's
office and then we're going to be
posting it. I believe there was already
a press release. Uh so, everything's
going to be going through with the
mayor's office and the CRTC going
forward just for public.
>> All right. Thank you.
» Okay. Our first committee is claims.
>> So, I'd like to call to order the claims
committee. We have two items on the
agenda tonight with the inclusion of the
new energy letter of intent to negotiate
at the mayor's request. It was in uh
city development and planning
previously. Um and I believe all three
of those items need to be discussed in
executive session. So I have a motion.
I will second. All those in favor I. Um
we are now in executive session
>> and members of the public will have to
leave. We will be going back into public
session after this.
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Okay.
» Okay. I would like to call to order the
finance committee and the first item is
grant award New York State Highway
safety program
almost.
[Music]
» Good evening. Uh I'm not quite chief
lieutenant Scott. Um so tonight uh here
to
uh present that the city of connected
police department has been awarded
$45,600
um in state funding from the governor's
uh traffic safety committee GTSC.
They're in partnership with DMV. Uh this
is for
um
I lost my place. Uh the highway safety
program. basically their uh in some
substance their initiative and goals to
reduce the number of crashes uh injuries
and deaths on New York New York's
roadways. Um so what this money does
we've been uh a recipient of this grant
for multiple years. Uh ultimately in a
nutshell this is just a supplement to
our already uh daily traffic enforcement
efforts. Um, this kind of gives us a
little bit of flexibility um with some
directed attention and patrol to certain
areas if we're getting certain
complaints in different areas. Uh, it
allowed us to supplement the efforts of
the speed limit change when that took
place. Um, and obviously we'll continue
to do so. Um there's also money set
aside for training to attend yearly
conferences, uh DR training, the drug
recognition expert, um things of that
nature. And then it also funds
specifically
um there's a breakdown in there for
certain initiatives that the state holds
throughout the year like clicking or
ticket, um you know, distracted driving.
You've all heard these before. Um so
during those times, whether they're
months, weeks, whatever, certain monies
are allotted specifically just for that.
It's all in the breakdown under this. Um
there's an education portion of this. Uh
during pedestrian safety, um typically
what we'll do is we'll send out um
officers
to just educate people, educate
pedestrians in some of the high traffic
pedestrian areas uh with just pamphlets
like you know notifying them that either
they were in the wrong or the driver was
in the wrong. giving them uh proper
documentation and education on the laws
um and just sending them on their way
without any tickets, just more of a
verbal warning. So, there's pieces in
place for that.
» Any questions?
>> Not a question, but a comment. I mean, I really appreciate that the police
department has um is getting so many of
these grants. um in particular, I
appreciate this one um because it is um
will add to some of the other traffic
calming measures that we've been talking
about and and putting into place. So,
>> Lieutenant Colin, who's in charge of
that division? He's uh there's more on
the docket. Things haven't been decided
on yet. So,
>> thank you.
>> Any other questions come in?
>> Seeing none, may I have a motion to move
this item forward?
>> So, moved.
>> Second. All in favor? I. Thank you.
The next item is amended and restated
bond ordinance for the Washington Avenue
pump station and the water resource
recovery facility.
» Hello, good evening. Um, we are looking
to amend and restate the Washington pump
station and the water resource uh
recovery facility. As you can see in the
analysis, we're looking to increase that
by approximately $7.6 million to a
maximum cost of 29 million
approximately. Uh we're requesting that
the U council approve this. Um it was
originally adopted on July 10th, 2023.
So we're looking to just continue the
process. Um if you need further
information, I I do have Commissioner OB
with me here to discuss any details with
you.
>> Any questions coming? Go ahead, please.
>> So, um, since we adopted this in 2023
and I my question essentially is it's
two years and, um, if you just can
clarify why we're at this point now and
where is the, um, the work that's being
done, where are we with that?
>> I you sent a couple questions, so I'll
try and answer them if that's okay.
>> Oh, sure.
>> Sure. Does um, what what are the
projects entail? Okay. Well, there's two
projects, the Washington Avenue pump
station and the WRF, which is the
wastewater treatment plant that pumps.
Uh, what this is going to do is help
with the resiliency program and increase
the redundancy of the city's
infrastructure to reduce the inflow to
the treatment plant. And that's going to
be done by the old Washington Avenue
pump house, which is the round building
that sits over by county college.
>> That has been unfunctioning for years.
Okay. It will help with the flooding
issues there. It will reduce the flow
going to the wastewater treatment plant.
Um and it'll be part of the climate
water related adoption um report that
was done for the city. Now the river
pumps uh because the the wastewater
treatment plant now takes more flow in
to the plant. The river pumps were put
in in 1972. They were designed to take
roughly 30 some million gallons out of
the plant when there's flooding. Well,
we now receive up to almost 50 million
gallons. So in the times of flooding
along the river is high, we force feed
the river. On normal days, we gravity
feed the river. Water comes in, gravity
flows out. But if there's a storm when
the river comes up, we have to force
feed the river. So that means we have to
activate river pumps to come on. So the
river homes currently that are there are
inadequate cuz they won't pump the flow
that's coming into the plant nowadays.
So they were installed, like I said, it
was with um money on the Clean Water Act
in 1972. So they're from 1972. So
they'll be upgraded to as part of this.
Um the second project was the rice road
um treatment plant the water wells and
that would be phase two and that's the
next phase of the development of rice
road is the capital improvement plant
utilized um and we put three wells in a
couple years ago. So this project is two
phases. The wells were put in the well
houses are being installed now with some
of the piping. In phase two, the
$300,000 increase, um, we will apply for
bond money. It does have to be applied
for in September this month. So, we do
have some money out there. We will put
in on the grant application. We were not
awarded grant money for that. First
time, we were awarded over a million
dollars to put the wells in. We were
awarded um almost 950,000
to do the flidation system. So, we did
have grant money for that. So, we will
be applying for more grant money to help
with the $300,000 um difference there.
As for the Washington Pump Station and
the Ethone Pump Station, um the increase
for $7 million is because we've been
awarded $26 million in grants. So, we
will maximize the expenditure by
increasing the bond to to match those.
Out of that $26 million that we've
already awarded, we're responsible for
25% of the $10 million grant, which is
2.5 million, and the closing costs on
the loan. Um, but that loan because
we'll be a um a um
we'll get zero interest on the loan. So,
that $20ome million, we're only um
responsible 2.5 million and at 0%.
>> And that will be part of the Washington
Avenue.
and the WRF which is the river homes. So
we have fully, you know, grant money for
that up to, like I said, other than 25
2.5 million. Um, the projects you would
ask when they would be starting,
um,
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He's
here somewhere. Just
Washington County Public Station. Um
that is the design now. It should be bid
in 26 pending regulatory review and
approval. I'll have to go through their
part of it. Work is anticipated to be
completed by December of 27.
The rice road project city is presently
finishing construction on phase one
improvements to at the water plant and
the design phase improvements will
commence in 26. project in the space of
the bid in early 27 pending regulatory
review and approval and construction
should be completed by the end of 27
early 28.
That's going to encompass um
a totally redundant system. We currently
have I know I went over this when we did
the bond first time. We currently have
one main sort of control building. All
the power comes into one main building
at the water wells. This will add
another uh power service coming into the
water wells. The three new wells out of
the three new wells, two wells and one
old good producing well will be tied to
one complete new system with its own
power, its own chemical feed system. So
if something was to happen to the main
building and we lost power there, the
city will still be able to provide water
to the residents um through the
redundant system. So there'll be a
separate coronation system, a separate
redundant power system. So, um, it'll
provide the resilience and the
redundancy we need going into the future
to keep a water supply to the residents
of the city of Scanity.
>> Okay.
>> Are there any questions?
>> So, number one, I just want to say kind
of to piggy back off what Miss Patrick
said, you are constantly coming forth
with like these grants that are really
extremely impressive. Um, and and I can
imagine us being able to do the things
we do without them. So, that's one of
the notes. I something that's slightly
un is related issues. I I would love to
see I remember uh a conversation talking
about um helping our residents where
when their mainline breaks from the city
and I was wondering if there's as you're
pursuing any grants is there anything
that kind of could fall under that?
Well, we do have on the IUP $22 million
um and the intended use plan uh for leg
service line replacements. So, um it's
on the intended use plan. We'll apply
for it again. We applied for it last
time because we do know the federal
regulations change in 26. We will have
to have a comprehensive plan of um how
we go from 26 to 36. and whatever lead
services have to rep be replaced, we
have to let them know that if it's a
thousand and we got 10 years to do it,
you know, we're going to do, you know,
100 a year. Um, we have to report the
pay. So, we are going to request
funding. Again, it's all on the funding.
So, um, and there was a time when I did
come up with a a program to try and
offer,
I'll call it an insurance policy years
ago, uh, when I first came back as, um,
director of water and sewer, that the
residents would pay a fee, audits fee,
um, for that policy, um, and the city
would do some of the work to do some of
the service lines or repairs. Um, but it
was turned out.
>> Thank you.
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Oh, it's my
» gohead, sir. I just got a wing of that
when you just mentioned that it was
turned up. It was turned up because we
were asking it to be a revolving fund.
So you're asking a taxpayer to pay into
a fund to repair broken means but at the
end of the year that money moved into
the general fund and you have to start
all over again
>> and we ask that it be a revolving um the
funding remains throughout the lifetime.
>> Mr. Chairman with all due respect I put
forth the proposals Mr. Leavon outline
so that we would do the repairs and yes
it would be treated as a general fund.
It's solely the discretion of the
council if you wanted to set it up as a
revolving fund. So my recommendation was
to to get in those first years see what
the actual utilization was there would
have been a
I don't know dollar increase in the fee
but that final decision solely the city
council in terms of how you account for
that how you expend the money and how
you retain the money
>> I think that was that was the sore point
at that point in time why didn't win
because of that not being revolving
where where it's going to happen Who's
how do we fund it? I mean, if you if I
have to bring it back and make it a a
revolving um fund
>> be a little more expensive.
>> No, we can revisit it.
>> I don't think we we want people to pay
into something and they're not getting
the benefit.
>> And I think that was that was one of the
reason why it was it wasn't shut down.
It was it was question was asked.
>> Well, Mr. Chairman, so my thought was
because Mr. So far's been uh relatively
successful securing grant fundings for
the city. I was thinking that's what my
question was along those lines. Is there
something that maybe we could even
leverage that if there's something
existing that aligns with that maybe we
could leverage it bring the cost lower
even for participants and then and then
obviously we can you know talk about
what it looks like revolving or not.
That's just something that, you know,
I'd like to see it come back if indeed
there's something out there.
>> So, we got $22 million on the intended
use plan. We have to see how we score
for that. Again, that's a request. They
can say you get four. You can say you
get one. It's not going to help a lot
because we know there's probably quite a
few lead services still within the city.
>> Um, but also if you have this policy,
it's a fund to draw off of rather than,
you know, we don't own the services
currently. They're owned by the
residents. So the thing is is okay we got to replace
them but they're not our responsibility
but the federal government's going to
say they are our responsibility and if
we have to do it by 2037 which somebody
else here but um it's going to have to
get done and the funds are going to have
to be found. So I don't know how you
know I mean I have my ideas but I'll
keep them for myself right now.
>> Um how many surveys did we get back in
the mail? Um we're still doing it. We're
going to start a round of um we'll call
boots on the ground because a lot of
people have not responded. A lot of
people um they um they they just don't
want to us in their homes or you know
when we have to get into the home uh to
determine what's coming through the
seller wall, whether it's copper,
whether it's lead, whether it's
galvanized. Um so there is a um a group
that's going to come in put some boots
on the ground for us. Leave cards. uh
will accommodate them even if it's and
we know some people are working u but
we've had some guys in the water wells
that have gone out after 5:00 to meet
with people but it's been very very slow
um the response just isn't there
>> thank you Mr. I I think that this would
be I know I brought this up briefly
before. I don't know um if anyone acted
on it, but I think especially right now
as kids are returning to school, people
are coming in, parents are filling out a
lot of paperwork, so they we have a
little bit of a, you know, a very uh
audience that's paying a lot of
attention to what these communications
are not are like. So, I think that that
would be a really good opportunity for
the city to kind of work with the school
district to say, "Hey, this is the
information that we're trying to get.
Could you put this in your, you know,
registration packets, uh, your back to
school type of thing?" I think that if
we did it, attached it to that probably
have the greatest success rate.
>> Probably possibly do some flyers to
students to bring home. I mean, just to,
you know, get the attention and again
scheduling an appointment. Um, you know,
and I know a lot of people work, but
we're willing to do it, you know, in the early evening hours when we do
get home, you know, and we do send two
people um to a property.
» Any other go?
>> Yeah. So, you said you have you're
hiring a firm or you have a firm to the
boot.
>> There is a firm. Yes.
>> So, that we've already hired.
>> Yes. It's a minority firm local here in
Connecticut um that is willing to um put
some individuals out to work with us.
Yes. And that's been going through Alpha
Harbor Associates and interviewed them
and we did meet with them um in room 9.
So, okay.
>> Um, and you said the 22 million
requests. Could you just
>> 26 million?
>> 26.
>> Yes. There
>> four million. Go ahead.
>> There's different grants. There is the u
the the bill money, the WEIA money. Um,
there's different funding um areas that
we got the money. So, out of the $26
million um you know, and you know, the
loan, we had to increase the bond so
that we maximize the loan in a sense.
Um, so all the loan will be dedicated to
the project.
>> Okay.
>> So we could, you know, we couldn't have
the the project being less than the
loan. So we're going to, you know, so
that's where it is. And like I said, the
last $10 million, the one final grant is
for $10 million and that is the 25%
match. So we'll be responsible for 2.5
million, but uh we'll get a 0% interest
because we qualify for hardship loan. So
it'll be payback is 0%.
>> Thank you.
>> Are there any other question on item
number two?
>> Seeing none, we have a motion to move
forward. Item number two.
>> So moved.
>> Second. All in favor?
>> I
next item is amended and restated.
First supplemental bond ordinance for
Rice River Road.
I think I believe commissioner fond
every ready to tackle this issue.
So we talked about them together.
>> Yeah.
>> Are there any question regarding this?
>> Seeing none may have a motion to move
forward.
>> So move second.
>> All in favor?
>> I thank you. Um
>> thanks for coming.
>> Mr. Chairman, I just want to bring to
the council's attention the bond
ordinances both for items two and three
were previously prepared by bound bond
council for next week's uh meeting and I
think you got that a couple weeks ago
just for the record. Thank you.
>> The next item is the 2026 budget calling
for public hearing. Mr.
>> Can you believe it's that time of the
year again? Um, we're looking to uh do a
public hearing October 14, 2025 for the
2026 uh budget.
>> This is straightforward.
Are there any question? Seeing no, may I
have a motion to call for public hearing
October 146
budget?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> All in favor? I
>> may I have a motion to adjourn?
>> Can I ask a question?
>> Go ahead, please.
This is um actually kind of it's about
finances. So um
I I this is kind of I just saw this
recently and it has to do with how we're
collecting um a certain amount of money
and how I want to know how that figured
into our budget where it showed on the
line. But the um stickers that we're
selling for trash. Yes.
um the the infant leads I came to get to
some to hand out to people because they
weren't doing it properly and on the
bottom it says that you can only pay for
those in cash. So I wasn't really clear
on why that is.
>> Not 100% sure on that. Um I talked to
receipts
on um wasn't aware of that. Um, I wasn't
until the other day when I was trying to
give it to someone and they were like,
"Well, you know, I want would prefer to
pay it by credit card and do all that,
but it clearly says you can only buy it
with cash." So, and then and I didn't
know how that showed up in the budget.
>> There's a budget. There's a line item in
the budget um for that specifically. I
sent that to you.
>> So, there's a line item for the
stickers.
>> Both items
for the bold items.
>> Yes. Okay. All right.
So, who should I ask about or or will
you ask about the cash?
>> Well, I could ask ours department issue.
>> All right. If you would let us know.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
>> Motion to adjourn finance.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Thank you.
>> Good time.
>> Like to call to order government
operations. We have one item on the
agenda that is announcing the court
order council.
>> Thank you. Uh so I'm very excited to be
before you all at this juncture. Um I'd
like to say definitely had it uh
growth uh for me specifically with uh
respect to identifying select group of
individuals to take on a task that's
never been like identified before and
just grow together. Uh so I'm pleased to
announce that uh I received uh five
votes um from the committee who is
looking to select Adonis Richards as
this connect's inaugural pro laureate.
Um before I get into the background of
how they arrive at that juncture, I
would say at this point what I'm asking
of the council is to support that
nomination and then it would continue
along to our council meeting for a full
vote next week. Um, sincerely, I am not
one that says that they know everything.
Um, I think it started with an idea of
how do we capture another voice for our
community. Um, I think in identifying in
all of our roles, how do we get into
that uh absent any bias I think from all
of our seats and positions and that was
creating a space with community
representation from our local academic
institutions and then some community
members. Um, one of the takeaways that I
noticed was doing that with our academic
institutions during the summer where
they have time off and then as they get
back to school made the timeline uh a
little more challenging. Um, but I would
say is throughout the discussions it has
been nothing short of just very
authentic collaboration. Um, and all the
members were understanding that this is
a process that is meant to grow and
develop over time. Um
I would say uh the intent never was to
start with a perfect process but was one
of how do we just continue to move and
position the efforts forward. Um so one
of the key takeaways was communication
and I think naturally that is an area of
concern we've always identified um with
any of our efforts just how do we
properly inform the community and the
hope is with this position uh they would
serve as an additional just century with
just communicating things um providing a
different perspective um but also one of
the takeaways was expectation and I
think that is something that doesn't
fall short of anyone um it's going to be
essential that this individual although
it is currently unpaid um understands
that this is a multi-directional
opportunity, one that allows them to
leverage the title of Pope Lori um but
also one that comes with a series of
expectations because you'd be taking on
a role that allows you to speak to a
lesser degree for this city of Skenctity
in certain efforts. Um so I'm happy to
answer any questions or concerns. Um but
sincerely I think uh from where this
started to where we arrived uh I can
confidently sit here before you all and
say that this is uh I think the best
candidate out of who applied and I would
like to say out of the individuals who
were presented with the opportunity. I
think it was nothing um was recognized
of a missed opportunity. It was more or
less of how do I stay engaged throughout
this process? how do I contribute in
different facets to ensure that they are
supporting whoever uh the council elects
to further support moving forward. Um
that was one thing that I noticed uh was
very ethic that everyone had the best
intent for the city at their hearts. So
I just want to say congratulations
>> Mr. Williams. I think that this and I
initially I um wasn't necessarily a
naysayer but I didn't really appreciate
I understand the gravity of this which
is saying a lot you know as you know I
do my one of the largest poetry shows in
the state here right here in Skenctity
but I couldn't understand um how it
would really um what it would look like
in this capacity but going through this
process and and and and learning more
about it this is this isn't just
something that is really for um you
know, you know, expression, but it's
also this is like a a a way that you
what they call keepers of culture in the
city. And I think that that is a is
something that is extremely valuable.
So, I really appreciate that this is um
something that's happening and I'm proud
of the entire council and and and
supporting this. Patrick,
>> congratulations on coming to a decision.
I was just wondering how many people did
apply um for the position.
>> So, I'd say four. Um and I think that is
a number that's not missed on um I think
the
that is very very new. Um what I would
say is it was not surprising but
definitely a point of consideration for
two individuals who stayed tuned in
throughout the duration of all these
discussions. I thought that that
identified that there are people that
continuously watch our council meetings
which I thought was a very important
fact to underline but one that showed
their deep rooted just interest in
seeing this forward. Um I was very
intentional at keeping um boundaries
between um interested parties and
ensuring that my only comments to them
was uh keeping them breast of moving. Um
but even myself I have not looking
looked at the packets. I think truly
wanting to trust the process and trust
that the committee members made these
decisions based on uh the materials that
put before them and also the criteria
that they were looking to grade these
individuals on. Um what I've seen in
other municipalities is there's been a
very key uh structure and I think that
is one that we can build here should
this position be as viable as I know it
can be but one that the community is
going to receive also. So I think with
some renditions in mind I think we can
get to the level that uh St. Louis was a municipality looked at a lot. We had a
very well structured polaroid program. I
think Saratoga is there as well. So I
think we can get there.
>> A couple more comments. Um I do think um
obviously we have to see how successful
this is. Um, but I we had talked about
this earlier, but I think if we want to
move forward with this in future future
years, and that was my other question is
when when will we officially like start
doing some work and really be in the
schools and and that kind of thing, but
I think in the future again I think a
small stipend um almost like an
honorarium. I know the budget's really
uh bad, so we're not talking about a lot
of money. And again, it's something
where you might be able to get we might
be able to get grant funding for
something like this. Um, so I just want
to be on the record saying that as we
move forward and then um, also I hope
that in the f I mean I think it's really
important we should reach out to the New
York State Writers Institute who handles
our state poet laurate and our state uh,
author and at least you know say hey
we're on record we've got this uh, young
person that's going to be our poet
laurate and you know who knows they may
want to have um, Adonis come and you
know be part of their schedule at some
point as well.
» I I I would add that I think that what
was really helpful what I saw as far as
how the council operated this process
was that there were um questions and
rooted in genuine interest in ensuring
that this was something that is really
uh
valuable for the city. And I think that,
you know, when Miss Patrick brought up a
question before around like being like
published author and that, you know,
initially that was like I think that
that's something cuz I wanted to make it
inclusive and then it it it developed
into the dialogue of like well what does
publish mean and really added depth and
value to the conversation. So again, I'm
really happy the way that that happened.
Um, I think that this is something that
we could grow and and and to grow and
adapt and I think that there is some
unforeseen pro value as once this once
it went gets wrong and I think that
we'll see. So I just want to add that
and we'll close up. So uh so I do want
to go on record saying I was not opposed
to having an honorarium. I think having
that expectation be in addition to the
magnitude of this I think that would
>> unfortunately I think it would be a very
big expectations going into this. I
think for me personally and my
perspective wasn't included. This was
truly the the committees wanted to have
someone that was authentically uh in
this this mode of communication and it
was one that the two applicants that it technically boiled down to that
they both possessed. Um, but I also
wanted to add in what I thought was very
organic was uh the desire to after this
selection was publicized or or made
public that the committee would invite
to hear from the selected polar in a
social gathering
>> just to have that um um I think natural
development of communication under
underway. uh in our legislation
identified like uh touch points of 6
months
>> looking for an assessment back and they
were like we can't be effective if we
wait 6 months like we would like to do
much. So it was it was beautiful to see
them understanding the expectations and
then developing these along the way and
I'm happy to let them kind of take this
and run with it and I look forward to
what they're going to report back in 6
months.
Um my question is so will we get like
some timeline or expectation or how this
is going to move forward where this
person will present you know those kind
of things is that that kind of timeline
been u worked out or will it be worked
out so we have a way to like put it out
there for people to let them know it's
connecting out poet Lauren who will be
performing here or doing or what's where
do they do their interural thing and if
you don't have those answers that's fine
but I just want to know if that kind of
thing is going to be mapped out uh as as
we move forward.
>> I can take that note. What I've
identified in other municipalities is
there's like a formal ask for them to
create uh a body of work to speak at
certain engagements. Um but I think
there was also an intentionality to uh
having um partnerships with the school
districts um and our academic
institutions naturally. Um but to answer
your point, I think we can develop a
calendar or I'll present that to the
committee and they can have discussions
with the lawyer and then report back to
us.
>> Thank you.
>> Uh so we think that we have to think
about what as we our expectation should
at least be close relative to our
investment, right? So if we're having
this person and having an expectation
for them to
have this level of commitment, then we
have to really start asking ourselves
like what are you know how are we going
to be able to come up with you know some
level even if it's not maybe like even
grants like you were saying like
something to at least be active to make
sure that there's some level of
compensation. I know we're not there
yet. I'm just saying something to keep
in mind while we start to have
expectations for people. You know that's
a lot of time and preparation to do it.
Any of Mr. Sir,
>> thank you. So I guess my how many I
forget how many individuals were on the
board to select that. You had five votes
for Adonis. How many?
>> So I'd say there were originally six.
One of the areas of concern or one of
the areas that we noted was trying to
look at it from a unique lens from the
perspective of union. Uh so they
identified a student that was in the
loyal uh program. It's very very
prominent. Um, I think the nature of the
bases, they were a student that did not
live in the area and they went through
some tough circumstances. So, it made
their ability to weigh in on these
discussions very difficult. And what I
didn't want to do was to replace someone
mid discussions. Um, especially without
having that discussion with the council
because we are we were already in a
tight deadline. Um, I think with
consideration to the process, I think
having an odd number was uh valuable.
Um, but I would like to have discussions
again with Union to see if that is
something that we can replace, which I'm
confident we are. I just wanted to be
respectful of the natural or the organic
chemistry that already happened absent
their uh feedback and then not just want
to throw them into the process last
minute just to fill a seat.
>> Thank you. So, I guess my other question
was I had put forward about copyright uh
Adonis comes up with this big uh has
that been addressed was
>> uh copyright. So with that put comes up
well he's the poet laurate for the city
of Skenkity um and he writes a poem
that's or you know puts a poem out there
that goes
big time he gets accreditation for it um
a lot of royalties
who's deserving of those royalties in
addition to himself because he wrote it
for the city
>> um question I had put that forward prior
I I I don't know I'm just saying
>> I would say it wasn't presented to
formally. I think it was just a matter
of discussion at and then I we laid in
on it. Uh
>> uh in all of my review I've never seen
it as a point of concern. Uh so I
naturally haven't recognized an instance
in which that would be a matter of
issue. Um to me personally it would be
the body of work of the the author. But
I think if something rose to that level
where we were requesting to be a
recipient of truly something that was
their work, I think that that could be a
disc or I would imagine that'd be a
discussion with the committee to to
discuss internally and then we would
kind of hear back from them. I I would
think that
when you if the city we had requests for
um an artist to I I guess in our world
sometimes you can hire artists to
commission some work like we can say or
we can request that you know there's a
piece of work that's done that is um
done for a specific reason for something
that's for the city and I think that might sometimes land outside the
scope of what we're talking about here.
A poet um often times isn't necessarily
always reciting their own original work.
Depending on what the circumstance is, a
poet could you know recite another piece
that is relevant to whatever uh event or
with whatever happens is going on. Um,
so I think that to I would say
I would give a a high level of caution
have to consider like ourselves as a
city as someone who can take ownership
of any level and anyone's like art or
intellectual property for that matter. I
have this Patrick and I right.
>> Yeah, I guess that's something that I
guess could involve, but I'd want to
hear from councel and I mean will we be
having a letter of commitment to Mr.
Richards?
>> Um,
you know what I'm saying? like I mean he
obviously would have to be told that
he's going to become the poet laurate he
was accepted he was selected um so that
would probably be something in writing
but I don't know and I guess also what do other municipalities you know
since we do have other models out there
um
but I think that's a good point about
they could be reading somebody else's
poem depending on the ceremony that we
invite them to read at
>> um Mr. Chairman, I mean this was, you
know, looking at your legislation, this
is an or honorary designation, neither
an employee nor
an officer of the city of Skenctity. And the legislation doesn't say that
there was any commission works.
>> Correct.
[Music]
>> If this was a comm if if if you
commission then that would be, you know,
then the ownership would be from the
person who's commissioning the work.
>> Absolutely. Mhm. Yep.
>> Um the only thing the thing that I can
um compare this to is like several years
ago there was someone who wrote a new
song, the city song.
>> Um so the question what else can I call
it? So who owns that work? I guess
becomes my question and my understanding
is the person that wrote the song. They
were just writing it about city. So I
think this is a similar circumstance but
we certainly can take a look at who owns
that particular song. And when you come
back and tell us, could you please sing
it as well?
>> That wasn't a song. I wasn't here song.
I think that song was commissioned by
the city and the official song has been
adopted through the city code.
>> So that was a city song. Okay.
>> Wasn't commissioned, but it was written
by there was some formal adoption.
So,
>> so the city owns
>> we should be singing that every
>> Yes, we should.
» So there's I think that's then it shows
the difference between what's been
discussed here and what happened with
the song.
>> Okay. Any further questions, comments on
that? We don't need to take a number of
them.
>> I'm sorry. I just want to point CL.
>> Yes, if I can just follow. Do you have a
name? The resolution calls for at your
first council meeting, the council
designates the person. So, a brief
resolution. I can do a brief resolution
formally doing that.
>> Okay. I entertain the motion. Oh, did
you have questions?
>> No. I entertain a motion to
>> I will um
>> second
>> I'll make the motion that we uh accept
the committee's recommendation of Adonis
Richards as the uh inaugural poet
laurate for the city of Sket.
>> All those in favor
>> I
nothing else to come before government
operations
motion to close.
>> So move second. Those in favor, you're
return.
>> Thank you. I'd like to call to order
city development and planning. We have
11 items on the agenda now. And the
first one is review proposed 202526 HUD
annual action plan. The public hearing
was uh held on August 25th. We did have
one speaker.
Good evening, city council mayor. I'm
here before you asking for you to accept
the proposed final um the proposed
annual action plan allocations as our
final
>> allocations.
Are there any questions? Yes, M.
>> I I have several. I'm sorry I wasn't
here last week, although I did watch it,
so I did see the person that that spoke.
Um so I have a couple of general
questions and I have some specific
questions about the source the uh
funding allocations.
>> Sure. Um so the first is um when we talk
about Habitat for Humanity which is on
um well page 15 of our packet I guess
was the second page of the the grid. Um
I was just wondering it says funds will
be used to construct one twostory house
but then later it says both houses will
meet Energy Star standards. So I just
wasn't sure if it was one house or two.
>> It's a typo. originally was two, but
they got funded for one because they
went into a contract for one of the
units which is which is a choice
limiting action and not allowed for the
funding source being used.
>> Okay. So the $239,232
is for one.
>> No, it was cut in half, right?
>> No, the Let me get to the page. My
apologies.
>> That's okay. The I can tell you that the
requested funding was 47.
>> Yes. So that is half of Yes. So that is
correct. That is for one. Okay. Do we
need to um
Oh, I guess we need to change the
description or are we okay?
>> I can I can change I can change that
directly.
>> And then um under city property rehab
and ownership program. Um well no now
that question I don't need to ask
because so that money is okay for one
house $200,000.
>> That's correct. have as a party it's
earmarked for one particular project.
>> Okay. And then um under on page the next page um
so the Hamilton Hill Arts Center went from
last year 40,000 to 150,000. Um is so is
it because of the number of children or
um
>> the number of children their record with
they have they had a one of the top
applications okay submitted.
>> Okay very thorough they've shown
significant um improvement in reporting
and spending now.
>> Excellent. Excellent. And then uh the
next one
same thing. It was a a very large um
increase for the um Skencti Youth
Coalition and I just was wondering if we
had a sense of again is it because
numbers served or what the
>> So with the youth coalition which serves
12 organizations they had organizations
apply outside of the youth organization.
So what we did was we didn't separate
them from the youth organization. We
just increase the youth coalition amount
to fund.
>> Okay. Great. So they had about four
organizations that are part of youth
coalition that applied separately.
>> Excellent. Okay. Um sorry, I just wanted
to get this
>> absolutely the number. So the next page
on the mom starts here program. I
actually just hadn't heard of that um
program yet. And um
is it out of the hospital? Is it is it
with another healthcare organization?
And is it a 501c3 or
>> It is a 501c3 and is in the city's
connected me. They do partner with the
hospital but it is not part of the
hospital.
>> Thank you. Um
>> and that is a new that is a new fund a
new
>> Yes. I I I and the same with the next
one, Strong Owls. That's a new
organization also, right?
>> Yes, it is.
>> Okay. I look forward to hearing more
about about these
>> new
>> Oh. Oh, not a new organization
just
>> meaning like newly established but a new
organization for the city supporting the
funds.
>> Okay. And then um
this is a minor point but for the boys
and girls club you know I was just
wishing that we could have found the
other 3,860.
It's such a small amount of money that I
was kind of hoping we
>> you know what it is a small amount of
money but we have cats. They're public
service caps. So, we have to once we
find the amount we take from where to
kind of make to make it work.
>> Okay, that was good for me to know. Um,
and that is all of my specific
questions. Um, my other questions just
um are more general around um do we help
the organizations that we didn't fully
fund? Do we try to give them any
technical assistance in terms of grant,
you know, trying to look for other
grants? Um, I was kind of thinking does
do you think that your office might
sometimes do like a grants development
workshop and invite the invite
nonprofits to come and and maybe
>> we we currently do not do that. I would
say that would be something our
affirmative action officer could
possibly do as far as development, but
we currently don't do that. And most of
the organizations that didn't get
funded, the amount that were asked are
they have multiple funding sources. That
was actually one of my other um
questions was whether there was some
divers, you know, if they were
diversifying their funding. So great.
Thank you. I Good work and I appreciate
all the work that goes into this. So uh
thank you very much. you knew about
the other side of it.
>> So, I want to just say and I hope I
don't steal any thunder from anyone else
aside from them being a really nice polo
and city council
as well. That's my plug. Um I I know we
heard from BC and I at our last council
meeting and I know that they do good
work within the city. Um but I think
it's important to make a clarification
and then also just a statement. I think
the one it's um no is not a no. It's
making room for others. And I think you
did a really good job at snapshotting
one new program or organization that was
funded. Uh what I've come to appreciate
about our city is that it's about
opportunities. So sincerely, I
appreciate the work that you and your
leadership um with your your team has
identified um creative approaches to
offer people those opportunities. I know
you spoke sincerely about uh the YW.CA
CA during our ARPA application
discussions and how do we empower other
lesser known organizations to get to
that level. Um uh and I think it starts
by just gradually. Um so I know some
targets were short of what they were
asking. Uh but I think it presents the
question to them of
>> who else or what other steps can you
take because the expectation cannot
continuously fall on the city.
it will short change some other
organizations. Not to discredit the work
that those that have been doing it for a
long period of time. I think part of it
is just how do we provide some
additional opportunities to some new
people. Um and I think you did well with
that. So sincerely I think this was the
first year that I've recognized those
efforts coming to fruition. So thank you
and I look forward to what this means
for the city moving forward.
>> Um so yeah and I want to um you know
we've had these discussions before in
terms of CDBG and I do remember once Mr.
Rudon was saying that we should be
looking at different organizations doing
similar things and why aren't we trying
to make sure that we ask them to come
together and it sounds to me like you
did that with the coalition that even
though they applied outside of that that
you said you know working together works
better
I'm going to take the county uh so thank
you for that and for all the work and I
appreciate the fact that you didn't just
do this based it on just your staff but
you asked other people to um to actually
to take a look at some of the
applications. I don't know if you were
all aware of that process and and uh a
couple council members did so and and
others as well and other me staff in the
city outside of department of
development. So there was a broad look
because you know what happens in
development happens you know impacts the
entire city. So I appreciate you know
how you address that. We're excited
about what we're doing and I feel really
proud of the equitable process that was
put before this year. When I came into
this role 18 months ago, I said we're
going to do we're going to have
everything online. We're we're we're
building our own CRM, customer relation
management system. And this year we have
done that from start to finish, meaning
our applications were online. how the
applicants were scored was online, how
it was um randomly selected and matched
with a person was online, our risk
assessment. So, we're really proud of
that um approach this year.
>> Great. Any other questions or comments
on this Mr. B? I was just um
I I think about like kind of like a I
know that doing this process in an
equitable manner is something that is
extremely difficult to do
>> and also um it doesn't leave everyone uh
cheering it. Honestly, it just is what
it is. Um and I know that in process you
know sometimes there there was a saying
that around that equity can feel like
restriction to those in positions of
privilege. Meaning that if that
privilege is that you've been um
supported historically from the city,
when that time comes where you know we
are owning up to our values of equity
and opening the door for other people to
kind of take some of that opport to get
some of that opportunity to build the
organization as well. That can that can
feel, you know, people can feel
slighted, but that's really the price
you pay to do the job the way that
you're supposed to be doing it. saying
we do it and based on our express value.
So I I greatly appreciate that. And my
question is how many how many new uh
first time I guess recipients do you
know I know
>> we had five new in total and three were
funded. The other two were incomplete
applications. So we didn't have all of
the information needed to score them
properly.
In total we had 39 applicants this year.
So 12 applicants 12 applications were
not scored but of those 12 applications
nine had other applications that receive
funding.
>> Oh okay. Okay.
>> Thank you.
>> Are there any other questions Mr.
>> um page 14A
house homeless homeless housing and
eviction prevention.
>> Do you have the 2024 outcome report for
this program?
>> Yes. Would you mind sharing to the
council?
>> Yes. Yes.
>> And just a follow up on on the new uh
agency that we're funding. Are all the
agency have based?
>> Yes. All agencies are have based. Yes.
>> Thank you.
>> Any other questions, concerns?
>> All right.
>> See no m I move this.
>> All right. It's moved by Miss Lair.
Second. Second. Second by Miss Patrick.
All in favor?
>> I I thank you very much.
» All right. Our next item is discussion.
City of Connecticut Metroplex parking
services agreement. Lasal mobile payment
technology. Mr. Wall is present.
» Hello. As some of you may know, the city
of Sky uh utilizes a payment of cash
called Passport. um it is our mobile
paying app. We are utilizing it through
a mutual agreement with Metroplex.
Agreement's been in place for 5 years.
Metroplex I have David can't believe me
has uh gone out for a new RFP uh done an
evaluation and is looking to move
towards a new platform called Glasgow um
which is outlined briefly in your
legislative request. So um I wanted uh
Dave to come over here today and explain
uh where Metroplex is. Um the city uh
has the option to continue to work with
Metroplex and have a unified parking at
downtown or the city could go off and
continue to use Passport um as it as it
is. Um but that's what we're here to
talk with you about uh today. Um and
just so you're aware the kiosk would
remain kiosk would be remaining in both.
So uh David, if you'd like to just give
a recap of
everybody. Uh yeah, we're here to talk
about uh Lazo. So I I think most of you
know Metroplex has operated downtown
parking system since 2004. Uh you know
system was operated by the city the
parking garage uh there's a $4 million
debt on it. We signed it over to
Metroplex and took it over and then we
had the service lots uh uh taken over as
well. So you know really proud of our
parking operation. It's important to our
downtown services providing uh downtown
businesses residents. We have a
residence program now as well. Um and
then visitors to uh destinations like
Proctor's Clean, efficient parking. Uh
since we were resumeing up for an RFP
park services uh to manage the parking
lot in 2005, Les Parking has been our
provider. Uh periodically through time,
we keep going out asking new uh folks to
uh take a crack at it. Uh and um we did
this in May and uh Laz again u came
forward with a a strong proposal for us.
uh and their proposal included uh their
own uh payment technology. Uh payment
technology does a few things. One, it
gets rid of uh the need to download an
app which is uh sometimes difficult for
people. Uh a lot of people, you know,
you do that QR code now and just hit it.
A lot of people have Apple Pay, so that
new technology exists. They've
incorporated that. Uh and then it's also
just uh cheaper for us, too. the less uh
administrative costs um so that we can
continue to offer good quality parking
uh for us on our uh off street locations
and then if you approve it we continue
to offer the same service uh for the on
street locations as well. Um, Lasco is
one of the biggest uh parking providers,
44 states, 639 cities. Um, great uh
company. Their local presence and
management has done a terrific job
taking over some of our landscaping and
property maintenance activities. So, um,
we're very pleased that they uh um
responded to the RFQ and uh that the
metroplex board would like to move
forward with it. Any questions?
>> Yes. my um in ter now there's right now
if you have the the app on your phone
and you your time runs out you can add
money with the scanning this QR code is
that still an option
>> it still works the same way it'll still
push updates to your phone uh you won't
need to know your zone anymore once
you're in ask you yeah that would be
nice right uh but you can still the same
pricing you know we met with all the
department heads about this uh the
backend enforcement side uh still stays
the same for them so they're they're all
in good spirits about this But yeah,
it'll have do those same services uh
that passport has.
>> Okay, that's a question that was raised
from me. Um, Miss Patrick, just want to
say I was in uh Buffalo last week and
had to download their app and it turned
out I didn't have to download their app
really because I did, but it was
actually the passport.
>> Okay. So, because all my information was
already in my phone for Skenctity, um it
just was a and I was able to pay for the
parking in Buffalo.
>> But you still have to kind of figure
that out. The nice thing about Laso is
if you just um you can there is still an
app there. People are comfortable using
apps. Uh but it really is you just look
up there's a sign.
>> Uh and then you just point your phone at
it and then you don't even have to store
your you talked about your credit card
information being stored. People don't
like that. uh you can do that or it's
just if you have Apple Pay, you double
click on the side or Samsung Pay or you
download on this side of your phone uh
tap on your phone and then it's taken
care of. So LZ is a great company. They
have you know a great track record and
um making sure the technology is safe
and and secure for everyone as well. So
they would um you know no cost to to the
city to make this uh transition. Uh some
of the devices that the enforcement team
uses will continue to work on the
enforcement side. Um, so we'd love to
have one system. I think that people
appreciated that both on street and off
street. Uh, uh, you know, we are going
to be moving forward with Lazo. Uh, you
we'll start making that transition on
the off streetet locations, the
metroplex lots in the fall. And then,
you know, making sure that there's a
good uh, public campaign, people
understand it. We'd look sometime around
January 1 uh if you approve to enter
into management agreement to make that
change over on the um on that street
locations.
>> Mr. Farley then
>> so
partnering with partnering with
Metroplex and it saves seems like it
saves the city some money. Um and I was
just wondering what is this like what is
our contribution to this as for the city
cost like right now? So we have covered
all of the administrative costs to have
um the technology and uh what we do is
it gets um allocated into where does the
funding come uh where does the revenue
come from city controlled uh areas on
street and then what is allocated
because it's all geoloccated uh from the
metroplex facilities and at the end of
each month we reconcile it and send it
over to finance for the check for your
share. So, we cover all the costs. Um,
you know, it's it's minimal work for us.
Um, and we want to offer this service
anyways and make it an efficient place
to go downtown. So, um, you know, we
don't pass any cost on to the city.
>> One more question.
>> Yeah. So, Miss Patrick made me think of
something. Um, do we know like what Laz
goes does with people's information? Is
there like as when we're cuz I know
they're a large company and anytime that
you do that you sometimes do you know
like if they like do they sell
>> they sell it or something like that?
>> Yeah. Like
>> yeah we'll check through the their
policies to make sure we're comfortable.
You know we only contract um you know
obviously uh by law there's only certain
things you can do. If that is a a
concern, we'll address it and before we
enter into the management agreement, um
we'll just make sure that it meets all
city guidelines of what you can do with
uh uh individual information.
>> Thank you,
>> Mr. Toro. Thank you. So, the kiosk will
stay,
>> correct?
>> So, people can put uh change into there?
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Um because my my passport app on
my phone has about 15 different license
plates from people standing there in
front of the machine going like this and
I put their license plate on my on my
phone so I can help them out. And I'm
just worried because there's so many uh
individuals that I encounter daily uh
walking around that have no clue um how
to work a passport or download an app or
how to even probably hold a phone up to
anything and Apple Pay or some type of
payment. I mean um
>> yeah. So all the the kiosks, we have
some in our main uh lots as well. Those
will continue to be there. They'll
accept cash. Um yeah, you know,
downloading an app is not for everybody
and uh not only can you uh take pictures
with the QR code, but you can also just
text and most people do text now. It'll
say text this number and then the link
will pop up on your phone. But yes, you
know, people who don't have a
smartphone, uh they'll continue to be
able to use the kiosks that are around.
Uh you know, Metroplex the garage also
accepts uh cash as well. Also, you know,
Metroplex lots are free nights and
weekends as
>> I was going to ask you. I just wrote
down free here. So to to make sure you
advertise that that you know I I yell at
people all the time you know after 4:00
you don't have to pay and
>> I don't pay
>> I think it's later than that
>> nights and weekends are free
[Music]
cuz they go off but they go off duty at
4. So I'm figuring that's safe
for but that needs but people need to I
see people all the time just you know
trying to put money in or pay when it's
night. So we're going to do that's huge
for our city with everything we have
that's going on here.
>> Yeah. And so Laz will do some uh they've
done some customer appreciation events
where they come out they'll table. Uh we
also have parksconnecty.com our website.
We'll update all the information of how
to use it. There's a good promotion
video. Uh and then uh some of the
signage for passport is uh faded now. So
it'll be all new fresh signage. We'll
work with the city team to make sure it
has the look and style that uh that the
city would like.
>> Sounds good,
>> Mr. Williams.
>> Uh so I definitely want to say um thank
you and kind of expanding from your
point just point of reflection. I've
never met anyone who's gone. I've loved
passport. So I think it's a struggle
even to to meet myself. Um, so I think
it's very appreciative to find uh
applications that take away the burden
of like downloading a software. Um, but
I do want to add to M to point about the
kiosk. I when I also have catch people
and it is just you feel so bad and
you're glad you're not in that position
yourself but going to help them. Is
there any considerations for more
streamlined kiosk? And then uh my second
question was how do we map to identify
to tell people you're in this area here
is where you can pay if you want to pay
with money. I feel like that's always
been a challenge as well.
>> So this is an on street question. I'd
like Chris handle you know off street
you know we're going to do some uh
additional banners that draw attention
to you know free nights and weekends and
things like that. The point is to try to
parking is expensive. This used to be an
annual million-doll deficit in 2004. I
think above what that's valued now for
the city. So, um you know, we don't run
it as a money making business, but we do
try to get as close to being um you
know, revenue neutral on it so that we
can keep it nice and and make sure it
meets the standard that we want. Um
we'll continue to look at our kiosk. I
think that there are some things you can
do to make it a little bit more
efficient. Um, you know, but the more we
can get people comfortable with this
technology, just the, you know, the
better it would be for for everyone
while still supporting our last given
data on on street.
Um, you'll see more of a presentation on
the kiosk come budget time. Um, we are
looking to purchase some upgraded
kiosks. Um, you know, the screen
technology gets better every year. I'm
not saying we buy kiosks every year. Um
there's also um we do have to start
transitioning. One of the things that
we're always at um odds with is
technology itself. So I like this
transition, but I would just advise that
you know going to Glasgow that the
commitments how many years?
>> Uh it's 5 years.
>> So five I would you always advise we
don't go less than 5 years unless
there's some reason to just because it
is hard to keep up with technology. Um,
you know, we've had to invest in the
kiosk to replace all the 3G antennas
with 4G antennas because of the switch.
And now what we're looking at is making
sure that they have chips uh chip
readers. So, the new ones will have chip
readers because swiping is going away in
the next
>> within the next 5 years. I believe it's
going away. We've opened kiosks last 10
years. We're also looking at kiosks that
are underperforming and moving away from
having kiosks that cost us $40 a month
and service fees that generate $5 a
month. So, that is something and but
those areas we still are looking at
pushing trying to push people to the app
and that's kind of the conversation is
that um where we want to go also maybe
reducing the amount of kiosk but trying
to make it so that you do know where
they are. loan for instance. We do have
four in this area right in front of city
hall where it could we get away with two
just trying to get more efficient. And
you know we do get requests for cash for
people to actually use cash at the
kiosk. Cash is complex. Um you get into
using golf dollar coins as as change.
You get into counting differently now.
You just don't have a change box. You
have something else. So it does add that
complexity. And I don't know, you know,
we've made a decision to go away from
cash 10 years ago. And if you've gone to
any event centers or public locations,
you know, they're going totally away
from cash, credit card only. Um, so I I
think that we stick with where we are
because coin is simpler, but I do know
that we have uh people that are and I do
know Metroplex uses cash at theirs, but
I think it's less kiosks than what we
have. So, I just want to point that out
that the the kiosk when I propose them
right now, they're still coin and
credit, not not cash, but it could be
added if it was needed. But once again,
you'd be left you'd be left with some
habits, some not. So you might get some.
>> That's perfect. As the technology
continues to evolve, is there a way to
Miss Doro's question where after I
thought it was 6 p.m. but okay 5:00 p.m.
that you wouldn't be able to actually
input anything into uh you know I feel
like I feel like I've experienced that
also on a night or a weekend where it's
not going to let you use the app um
because you don't have to pay. So
>> there that may be possible. I haven't
looked into it. May be possible, but
yeah, we would be
>> not receiving ancillary revenues.
>> That's true.
>> Yeah, I do think the app will have it
not anymore, right? It'll just say it's
not. You don't want to confuse people
more cuz I've been there in places as
well where I'm like, well, it worked and
it didn't work and you just don't know
cuz the sign's not around. So,
>> um, you don't want to just say it's not
functioning at this time.
>> I need that ding when it tells me that I
made my payment. Ding.
>> So, um, Mr. Well, you you you talk about
coin versus cash. Are you just talking
about people putting in dollar bills or
like dimes and nickels?
» Yeah. Um, the other thing is, um,
because this happens, and this might be
what you're experiencing, um, Miss
Patrick, there are times when coins will
not go in because I never download the
app and so I use coins on my credit
card. But there's times when coins go
in. Is that because it's full or that it
won't set?
>> It could be a jam.
>> Yeah, they get jammed.
>> Yeah, they do get jam and then Mike and
our department will go and and do it.
But yes, that that happens. Or someone
tries to put something in. It might not
be a coin to try to trick it and then it
gets in because it is a it is you know
you put something a little bit bigger
and it can get caught and I'm sure if uh
Mike Fa was here he would tell you all
about
operating the kiosk.
Um my other uh thing is this is actually
a concern because you talked about
reducing the number of kiosks perhaps
and my concern in that is that um that
people who are have mobility problems
have you know in the distance they may
have to walk now from their car to the
kiosk and then back again. So I just
want to make sure we take into
consideration as we're reducing this and
I know we're trying to make it more
efficient but I believe we're also
trying to make things okay for our
residents. So that would be a concern
for me especially around city hall where
a lot of people come to pay their taxes
do various things that they don't do
online they come and pay it. So I just
want to you know that's something you
can take. So to that point, right, like
as we're reooking at things, if you're
saying trying to guess, so you could put
one key, we have, let's say, seven
kiosks around city hall because we're
trying to pick you up. Instead, we could
put a kiosk at the entrance to city hall
and a kiosk at the entrance pedestrian
jet. There's two.
>> Now, you might say, "What about the post
office?" Then you put one at that
corner. There's three,
>> you know. So I that's what I just want
to look at. instead of two and two and six, you know, if if we think
the generator is city hall, then I mean
to the point of metroplex, when you go
to the metroplex, the kiosk is usually
at the entrance exit.
>> Mhm.
>> Um now they're not trying to bet what
entrance exit you're going to. They
don't have, you know, one at every side.
Correct. And you have usually one
>> kios. Yeah.
>> Right. So you walk to that and then you
go
>> a sign.
And and this is just, you know, once
again me putting on my engineer hat and
trying to do things efficiently. If the
government and government is so
efficient, I know it's terribly
efficient government. Uh if we want to
put them all over the place, put them
everywhere. It's great. We'll put them
wherever you want. I'll buy more kiosks.
It's not a problem. We'll just have more
kiosks. We just have to budget for more
kiosks. And they do come with fees cuz
they're cellular. And so, you know, and then once again, if you put two
kiosks where one is, they're going to
split the revenue and, you know, it just
it is what it is. But I have no problem,
you know, accommodating people and
putting them out there. I would just,
like I say, I get the revenue reports
and we're looking and we're trying to
just find where we can put them to make
them more efficient.
>> I understand. And let me just be be
clear, I'm not advocating for more. I'm
just also not advocating for less. just
want to make sure that people have what
they need uh in terms of being, you
know, um you compared to Metroplex, but
they have parking lots and you pull into
the parking lot and there's the kiosk
and then you park in the lot. That's a
little bit different for us. So,
>> well, I mean, so the zoo lot, the
Liberty Lot, you're going to pull into
the lot and park, right?
>> And the kiosk is at the entrance. So, if
you pulled into that lot and wanted to
go to 20 north,
>> that is over here. The kiosk is over
here. So you will have to walk over to
pay to go. So just like it's it's very
similar to off street. There will be a
little bit of a little bit of a walk
either way to do it.
>> Um
>> yeah. So I could have misunderstood
this. Isn't like so people who like who
have mobility issues who like um like
stickers or facts on their car on their
license plate um they are required to
pay the same fee that everyone else
pays.
>> Yeah. I wasn't sure. Not everybody
thinks they do cuz I've seen they put
their flashlight up and walk away like
I'm good. Mary, did you have something
you want to add to this?
>> It's part of the change in technology.
When people go to the kiosk, they don't
have to go back to their car,
>> right?
>> You put your license plate in, it goes
in the system and enforcement knows that
you paid for it. That's even like
>> some businesses are very gracious. They
may be paying for more than just their
tie. you know, restaurants, other things
that say they uh it's a problem for
people having to pay to park. If they
want to pay the 50 cents or the dollar,
they can put in the license plate, pay
for that car, and
>> it is something that we can do
>> off street. I would never broadcast it
to take away from revenue from the city
though. So, but if there's a business
that wants to maybe they have a great
lunch crowd or um you know there's
certain events going on, it is something
that we we have uh one business that
already has expressed interest and is
going to move forward with they'll have
a promo code. You can go into their
business, you can snap, you can maybe
you've already paid there and like I'm
going to go have lunch and uh I can get
my 2 hours of free parking. So, it is
something that we can certainly do to um
with this new technology and again it's
just easier and more simpler and you
know I think everyone's texting
nowadays. So if you see you know text uh
you know 421 to this number and then it
snaps in much easier than downloading an
app and making sure you downloaded the
right app.
» Any further discussion?
So this is just just informing us this
is just up to the secondary end as well.
>> Yeah, this is to have an upgraded
updated management agreement now that we
moved from passport to the last system.
>> So you you ask for res this to be move
forward because it's on the agenda
simply as discussion. So that's why I
wanted to be clear.
>> So the next step would be we would have
a res agreement
parking service agreement. It's a
professional services agreement and
follows the same pattern that was put in
place in 2020.
>> But you um I'm just I'm curious.
>> Do you want to send that out first? I
mean after this and this was kind of a
broad overview of what what the plan is.
I don't and there was some questions by
council members regarding some
specifics.
>> Um perhaps next cycle we'll have to
draft for the council's consideration.
This was this is still going to
metroplex board correct.
>> So we wanted to get in before that and
we wanted to make sure that the council
was
>> amable to going this way if there were
any concerns so that we could look this
is the next step would be after there
that we would come back okay
>> with agreement for so this was just
informing the council in principle
what's going on so that everybody's on
the same page and then the agreement
after Metro it then we'll take a look at
it and then for final council action.
>> All right. Okay. Okay. All right. Thank
you very much, Mr. Lion.
>> Thank you.
very much for coming.
Appreciate it.
>> Uh the next item number three is the
issuance of a revocable permit number
691 to Synthesis Architects
for a sign that will overhang the city's
rights.
>> Synthesis Architects is a longtime
architecture firm on J Street. Um they
have a old uh sign attached to their
building. Um, we looked to see and they have a revocable permit that's very old. Uh, insurance expired
under different formats. So, they were
amicable to coming in and getting a new
revocable permit for their new sign,
which will hand you a similar location.
So, we'd like to move forward with that.
>> Any questions or concerns? I'll move it.
>> Second.
>> All those in favor? I
>> Thank you. Uh item number four is uh
award bid in contact with the city's
connecting fire station number three and
number four generators.
Mr. Wallen.
So uh in an effort to increase the
city's resilience in emergency
situations. Um we are trying to or
looking to fix a a thing that we have
which is no emergency backup power at
two of our fire stations or two of our
older fire stations. Um, you know, the
city, we're fortunate where we actually
don't lose power very often. We have a
strong grid here. However, um, one of
the things that's brought to light is we
have new doors at the fire stations.
They are called screw style doors that
use, uh, almost exactly what it is, like
a screw. You go like that. Uh, and
they're slower open. Um, if your house,
you would have a pole with a spring and
your door would slide open. These are a
screw style door because how much we use
they're more wearable. However, when
there is no power,
>> they are extremely tedious to open
>> and it's brought to light that it really
should have it. And so we uh did a
review of the facilities and agreed that
they uh they should have backup power.
The facilities aren't large. Um so the
generators are just slightly larger than
uh you would have at home, maybe double
the size of that. Uh we put out a bid
for these and uh we got three bids from
three engineers that we work with. Uh
and the low was Burke Engineering. Um so
we're comfortable going with Burke for
the installation of these generators and
uh I really think um those that are
stationed at station three and four
would appreciate it.
>> Any questions or concerns?
>> I'll second. All those in favor?
>> Thank you.
very much for coming.
Uh we moved item number five. It's a
claim. So that's already been discussed.
And item number six is ceremonial
resolution for the honor of veteran. Uh
the person that we received the letter
from Mr. Frank is Michelle Johnson. So
um we finally got our information. Did you put a copy of the final
resolution? Okay. I did print that.
>> All right. So the um what was in the
packet was not the final resolution. So,
but that's
everybody else.
Okay. So, um we just uh got the final
information. We did get some things, but
I knew it wasn't complete because most
many of you may even know who this is.
Um, so I knew there was some things in
English and rather than us presenting
something that didn't have all the
information asked for u her to fill in
the blanks. So um it just it tells you
about her and this is a ceremonial
resolution that will be resetted I
believe 13 when the county is doing
their honor program. So just looking for
a motion for
second.
>> All right. Thank you very much. Uh all
in favor?
>> I.
>> Okay. Item number six, uh excuse me,
item number seven is the moratorium for
health and wellness spas. Mr. Toro.
>> Yes. Thank you. So I I'd like to propose
a six-month moratorium on um health and
wellness spas uh here in the city. Um so
that the uh code department um I'd like
to uh put forward that the uh the
specific health and wellness spas be
issued a certificate of occupancy to
what that does is it ensures that the
businesses and facilities are operating
safely legally and in compliance with
zoning
building fire and health codes. Um
they're not currently required at this
time uh to have a CEO. Um
other businesses in the city um
have to have a CEO. Uh barber shops um I
do have a list of them here. I can't
find them at this moment. So I'll just
continue with why it's important. So
some of the key points are um these
spawn wellness centers frequently
provide services um involving direct
physical contact and using specialized
equipment, massage oils and treatments
of things uh for skin treatment. Um
without oversight through a co there's
no guarantee that the facilities meet
the basic health, fire safety,
ventilation, sanitation, and structural
requirements.
Uh the CO would also require facilities
to demonstrate compliance with safety
codes uh protecting both patrons and
employees. Um some of the consumer uh
protection would be inquire uh requiring
a certificate of occupancy
um is a signal to our residents that
this particular building uh and this
particular business has been uh visited
by um our code department, fire
department, the mayor's office and a
certificate of occupancy is issued um
fostering um and encouraging um u
business growth for that particular for
that particular particular business. Um,
other here it is. Other uh
establishments that have a seal that
require a seal in our our our city are
um salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors.
So those are all um businesses that
require a certificate of occupancy.
Um
uh many uh another another reason is
professional accountability. So many of
the spa and wellness uh centers uh use a
massage uh therapist. So by um a
certificate of occupancy being issued by
our code department, it also um
uh ensures that the professionals who
work there um meet proper city
standards.
um at at the moment um our uh our code
for massage parlors um and that's what
it is uh in our in our our code book um
is just for massage parlors and there's
nothing in here um saying that they need
a certificate of occupancy. Um we've
noticed that there's quite a few just
popping up in the city. um one in
particular in in almost a residential
area with a small sign in the window
that says uh spa that's kind of lit and
um encouraging people to go there. So, I
think it's important at this time that
the um we we have a a 6-month moratorum,
a pause on uh all spa, health and
wellness spas in the city um and
prohibit any from opening until we can
uh uh go in and ensure uh that these
buildings and these places are safe um
and issue a certificate of occupancy
through our code department.
>> Yes, Miss Patrick.
>> Um
interesting. I I didn't know that we
didn't have to have the CO in these in
these places. So, this is good
information to know. Um I'm wondering if
they have to be licensed by New York
State. I mean,
>> like a like a what?
>> Yeah, I just want to chime in on
clarification. I I think clarification
before anybody who's masseuse
>> has to be licensed by the state
education department. Yeah, the legend
you know chapter 177 of the city code
defines massage paras any establishment
or business by whatever name call where
massages are administered. It's a broad
definition
>> and it also goes into you know it also
uh has some exceptions there. Um, but
you know, a licensed mass or a license
masseuse is any person that's licensed
to practice massage in accordance with
the provisions of article 155 of the
education law
>> to vi to do the violation of this city
code regarding that is an unclassified
misdemeanor subject to a penalty of up
to $500. It's also it's a it's a
licensed profession under the state
education law which makes it a classy
felony which may if somebody's
practicing that profession. Mhm.
>> Um, so there's a broad definition in in
chapter 177. Now, if there's going to be
a certificate of use, you know, there's
a certificate of use. Um there are
certain businesses over the years that
have been added to the certificate of
use which is a banquet facility, bar
business, cannabis or tobacco retailer
consumption or convenience store or
drugstore, private club or lodge,
restaurant or secondhand dealer store.
So um the the issue is the definition we
don't know the definition is broad for
our massage tolerance but whatever it's
called and and there's certain ex
exceptions regarding that.
>> Um but
>> the the you know the spa definition you
know what does that include?
>> What does that include? Because if you
if we're going to regulate something,
>> we got to define it,
>> right?
>> And such a definition isn't in our
zoning code. The only thing we can find
here is, you know, the massage parlor in
chapter 177. So
if if it's if we're going to do a
certificate of use procedure as well as
want to incorporate this into our zoning
code, we probably should have one
definition.
So
you in talking with planning and talking
to the zoning officer we don't you know
the health and and this as defined here
or or not defined here but uh health and
wellness spa establishments is not
defined in our code.
>> Okay.
>> So we need to define that and then work
from there because do you include gyms
in that? You know what do you include in
that? cuz they
>> I mean but the thing is if it's massages
that you're you're you've already got a
broad
>> brought something already in the code
that covers that.
>> Mhm.
>> That covers that and makes it you know
if if you're it says you know if you're
if if you're if if you're uh it shall be
unlawful this is 177-2. It should be
unlawful for any person to practice a
massage in a massage parlor who's not a
licensed mass or licensed masseuse.
>> So um that's that's a broad definition
but it goes on to you know talk about
this you know who doesn't practice
medicine etc etc.
>> This our code in chapter 177 mirrors
what's in the state education law as far
as the licensing exceptions what the
requirements are. So, um, if it's adding
a certificate of use to those list of
businesses,
we've got to figure out how we're going
to do that. And if you want to add that,
I would suggest you also add that
definition to the the zoning off the
zoning code as well. Um and
uh regarding you know application for a
certificate views has a whole laundry
list of requirements that have to be you
know um various you know security licenses
etc etc. There's a whole under 183-6
there's a whole list of requirements
that when somebody's applying for a
certificate of use has to provide the
city in order to get the certificate of
use.
>> So I just wanted to kind of in broad
brush say that 177 if if it's illegal
massage parlors the definition is is
very it doesn't have to be called a
massage parlor under our city code. It's
a very broad definition.
>> All right. So, let me just um So, let me
just clarify. So, don't don't all
businesses have to get a certificate of
occupancy for the building that they're
in?
>> Well, yeah, they have to use.
>> So, they have this certificate of use,
>> but they don't necessarily need a
certificate of use for that particular
purpose.
>> Okay. Just to be clear, oh, Miss Patrick
and then uh cuz she wasn't finished, Mr.
And then Mr. Ma, Miss Patrick.
>> Yes. Um so, I guess I think there I
think what we're talking about right now
is a moratorum. Um I think there's a lot
of questions and a lot of research and a
lot of uh things that will have to be uh
discussed. So I think having the
moratorum on new
businesses of this sort um I could
support um because I think there's a lot
of questions. I mean I think when you
think about all the independent salons
that might have somebody coming over and
massaging I mean there's a lot of stuff
that can get
involved here. So I think the moratorum
would be okay while we try to
investigate all that stuff.
>> Well, I'm going to ask Mr. M to speak,
but I'm not sure how we do a moratorium
on something that doesn't really exist
yet. So Mr. M.
>> Yeah, just what I was going to ask on
the legal side, can we do something like
that? The council recommends something
like talking to the planner and the
zoning officer. If you recall, if you
recall, you know, our moratoriums for
the vape shops and and and the to, you
know, the cannabis shops, we had a
definition.
>> Mhm.
>> You had a definition in which to say
this is the type of estab, you know,
that that that's going to be um the
subject of a moratorum for 6 months or
we we work out what the zoning code is.
>> What I'm you know, I've got to get you
know, we've got you've got to get you
know, get a definition
before we even get to the moratorum
stage and
do we work off of what's in chapter 177
do we look at other localities we don't
mean we like I said you know how we
don't want to put gyms in this but you
know what how do you define what you
want to do and then once we get a
definition
>> that's that's workable
um then you can look at putting a
regulatory scheme in various chapters of
the code. But I am I I you know I talked
to the planners today. I talked to the
zoning all we don't have a definition of what is referred to here that
wellness and spot is not definition in
our code but we can work one out.
>> Yeah just follow Mr. Torio mentioned
during your presentation certificate of
occupancy and certificate of use. It is
my understanding that once a permit is
pulled, inspection is done, then a
clearance is given to occupy that space
or building. So if you're opening a
business, that should follow the
protocol. So I'm not sure if a
certificate of occupancy or are you
requiring a certificate of use?
occupancy because
>> not a certificate of use.
>> The certificate of use is the more
detailed detail
>> more detailed one, but at this time I'm
being told that a lot of them are
popping up without a certificate of
occupancy.
>> But I think the certificate of use may
get you where you want to go. Yes.
>> So that's why I want to clarify
certificate of occupancy. the permit
pull that protocol in place for
inspection approval
>> and then um the certificate of user
follows in terms of the regulation once
it's adopted
>> right
>> I just want to clarify
>> absolutely yes because I don't think the
mayor you wanted to make a point Mr.
here.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh
these businesses that are popping up are
creating
really some adverse situations and
there's been some arrests made in some
of these some adjacent communities. So
that I would encourage the council to
uh go forward on this and is it Mtor
what you're outlining is like a two-step
process. you have to come up with a
definition, but could you come up with a
definition and incorporate it in the
moratorum? So, it's a one-step process
where it's not reflected in the code
until the end of the moratorum,
>> right, mayor? I mean, you could do it
all one. The point we can do a moratorum
legislation which you all did before and
in that it can have the definition but
what I want you know and that's the
moratorium langu which we can build off
of what we used previously that's
>> but I I what I'd like to do is for a
couple of weeks you know for our next
cycle to work on that definition give
you a definition maybe work that into a
moratorum piece of legislation where
this is all going to fit and give you a
working draft,
>> right?
>> To look at
>> that.
>> Just just as a working draft, so you
have a the definition we can you can add
to it, subtract to it, whatever.
>> That makes sense to me. Um, Mr. Barley.
>> Yeah. So, I think the mayor is talking
about some things that were happening.
You said in some adjacent communities.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, and I think that that was some real
>> sky police and the state police have
made similar arrests in the city of Sky.
>> Okay. At a spot. Um my so I my my
question would be um where's this
where's the spa at that you're talking
about that you were saying that
>> I haven't reported it to a co our code
department.
>> Okay. All right. So
>> do you not want to say
>> no there's a number of them throughout
which you don't want to say which ones
you're reporting.
>> Yeah. Exactly. I don't think we should
Sorry. I don't think we should do that
publicly call one or two because there's
a lot.
>> Sorry.
me.
>> Well, I just when we had a smoke shop
conversation, we were pretty descriptive
actually. We were saying there's one
here and there's one here and one here.
We were talking about that. So, that's
why I was asking about that. I'm trying
to get a better understanding. Okay.
>> All right. Um, so and and the other
thing I want to add to this conversation
is that we we're mentioning spas and so
there are places that you go that people
they call them spas and people women and
men go get their toes done, their nails
done and they're calling those spas. So
I think that we have to be clear that
what we're talking about otherwise you
know you're not going to be able to get
your nails done.
>> So um you know because it was mentioned
massage pallet and spas. So I think in
our whatever we put into the code you
have to be
>> or or you can I'm just thinking you just
use the definition that you've you know work off of the definition in
chapter 177.
>> Okay.
>> That will narrow it down to what you
want to do. Okay.
>> And it's already a regulated field via
our code and as well as the state.
>> Right. Right.
>> So we can work off of that and maybe
narrow it down so it doesn't go into
areas that you you all don't want to go
into.
>> Right. And I want to ask one other
question, Mr. O'Brien. So um for
individuals who are there their license
muse in wherever they work, uh does that
particular place need the health
department to come in and inspect at
all?
I I can't speak for the county health
department, but they, you know, they
have to have a state a licensed masseuse
is is is licensed and has to, you know,
by the state ed education department,
they have to keep their requirements up
and and and maintain to be licensed.
>> Okay. to them and if they're doing
something without
>> some of these businesses, madam chair,
are positions of convenience which
technical review might require the
department of health might require the
department of state some I think are
department of education some of the
licenses
>> right I mean this is all department of
education with sus it's all it's it's
one of the listed professions by state
ed or so there
>> yes Mr. Sure.
>> Thank you. So, I just want to say, you
know, when we do what spas you were
talking about, we all went to spas, you
know, we get our nails done or whatever,
but always on the wall are their
certificates, you know, from New York
State Department of Health, uh, county
health department, the New York State
Health Department. Um, so everyone has
their picture and things on there. So
again, we don't want to,
you know, implement this on businesses
that are doing uh, you know, better or
have certificates of use and
certificates of occupancy. This is just
to prevent um, businesses from popping
up in the city that aren't aren't quite
legal
and legal in the sense that they're not
registered with us. That's the only
thing that I mean, absolutely.
I didn't think you met anybody else. Mr.
M, do you have a hand up?
>> No, no. Because I mean, we can't blame
them because we don't have it in.
>> So that's okay because I mean I'm glad
that it's being brought forward now in
terms of moving forward for a certain
views.
>> Well, we don't have that in the unlisted
this kind of business.
>> Well, we do.
>> So then why are we even Well, we do, but
it's not under certificate of use. if
you want to take it up and and then put
into zoning area and what about areas
that there is a license masseuse that's
you know where you want to have that.
>> So he's saying that we have massage pol
in her code already. So but Mr. Toro
says so it's a so the certificate of
occupancy happens but she's asking for a
certificate of use
>> and it's not a bad idea to put that in
the zoning code. So I mean between the
certificate use and and put that
definition into the code the zoning code
as well
>> and but right now we don't have that
there. So
>> it's just it's just in that one chapter
>> the next step is your hand up.
>> Yeah. question. And so like and then we
just talking about actual brick and
mortars or are we talking about people
who like go to people's houses like what
if that's also illegal
if they're
any p practice massage
um it doesn't you know um any person's
it is the application of scientific
system of activity to the it goes
through a whole definition
Um,
but it also has certain exemptions under the code.
>> I'm pretty sure that in New York State
that they have traveling mass. There's
people who pack up and go to people's
houses. That's traveling masseuse. Um,
>> right. But they need to still be
licensed.
>> Oh, 100%.
Without question. Because the issue is you've got to be licensed,
>> right?
>> That's the that's the key under our code
and under the state law.
>> See, that's my question. So, but we're
not So,
obviously, are we saying that that
there's people who are doing this right
now? The question is that they're not
licensed massage therapist. Yeah. And they're
doing this and I and there's is there a
difference between massage therapist?
True. Is that is that a important
distinction to make?
>> Well, the arrests have been made on
prostitution.
>> Well, that's where Okay. and and
>> we're already pretty clear that that's
right and Mr. Finally to mass mass or
massage shed service or pursuant to the
state education law are all grouped
together under uh under the uh practice
they're interchangeable.
» Yes.
>> Oh yeah.
>> That's okay.
>> So since we're we're we're talking about
reforming this to zoning should we
consider location like how we did with
the smoke shops and you know business? I
think
>> in terms of zoning location for these
type of business.
>> I think what we need to do is probably
work with the planners and the zoning
officer and then work with the
definition and then get a moratorum uh
framework together then come back to
you.
>> Okay. All right. Miss Patrick again.
That's exactly what I was going to I was
just going to remind us that
um council that had suggested suggested
that I think it's important to remember
that we're trying to um this would be to
try to um make sure that folks are legal
and also I think the health aspect is
very important. Um that those two things
that institutions
» and so Mr. So Brian, what what time
frame would you um
>> um let's let's give it a go for two
weeks.
>> I mean, you know, the next one uh next
month committee cycle. We give it a go
and see if what we can present to you.
>> Okay. So, Mr. Tro, this is going to come
back in two weeks.
>> Thank you. Okay. Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
>> All right. The final items have to do
with property sales and uh so therefore,
we'd have to go into executive session.
Um I make a motion to executive session.
All right.
>> I need a second for the executive
session.
>> So
>> all those in favor? We are in executive
session and members of the public will
have to leave. I will be right back.
Okay.
Heat. Heat.
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