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[6:29] >> Heat. Heat.
[6:48] Hey, hey.
[7:02] Heat. Heat.
[7:46] Hey, hey, hey.
[8:29] Heat.
[8:32] Hey, heat.
[8:37] Heat.
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[16:27] >> Heat.
[16:33] Hey, Heat. [music]
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[23:00] >> Heat. Heat.
[24:20] I can do it.
[24:33] I can't
[24:53] Good evening. I'd like to call to order
[24:54] this Skenctity City Caucus meeting for
[24:56] Monday, May 11th.
[24:59] We have 11 items for consideration. If
[25:01] the clerk would please read item number
[25:02] one. Item number one under final
[25:04] consideration, an ordinance amending
[25:06] section 9-6 of the Skenctity city code
[25:10] to increase the membership of the
[25:11] downtown special assessment district
[25:13] board from 9 to 15 members and to amend
[25:16] such membership qualifications.
[25:18] >> Discussing committee without objection
[25:20] on consent. Item number two.
[25:21] >> Item number two for original
[25:22] consideration. A resolution calling for
[25:24] a public hearing on the proposed 2026
[25:26] 2027 annual action plan.
[25:28] >> Discussing committee without objection
[25:30] on consent. Item number three. Item
[25:32] number three for original consideration,
[25:33] a resolution calling for a public
[25:35] hearing to amend certain sections of
[25:37] chapter 161 of the Skenctity City Code,
[25:40] garbage, rubbish, rubbish, and refues
[25:43] regarding the requirements and standards
[25:45] for the collection of solid waste and
[25:47] recyclables and the setting of rates and
[25:49] penalties.
[25:50] >> Discussing committee without objection
[25:51] on consent. Item number four.
[25:53] >> Item number four for original
[25:54] consideration. A resolution calling for
[25:56] a public hearing to amend section 186-25
[25:59] Central Park tennis court fee and
[26:01] reservation system.
[26:03] >> Discuss in committee without objection
[26:04] on consent. Item number five.
[26:06] >> Item number five for original
[26:07] consideration. A resolution accepting
[26:09] the 2026 2027 US Department of Housing
[26:12] and Urban Development allocations.
[26:15] >> Discussing committee without objection
[26:16] non-consent. Item number six.
[26:18] >> Item number six. under original
[26:19] consideration a resolution authorizing
[26:21] the mayor to enter into an agreement
[26:23] with the USA for the installation and
[26:26] operation of the smart access lock set
[26:29] system in coordination with serve tennis
[26:31] management program
[26:32] >> discussing committee without objection
[26:34] non-consent item number seven
[26:35] >> item number seven for original
[26:37] consideration a resolution com
[26:39] confirming the reappoint of Harleen
[26:41] Andrews and the primary as a primary
[26:44] representative of the skenctity
[26:46] municipal housing authority to the
[26:48] civilian Police Review Board
[26:49] >> discussing committee without objection
[26:51] on consent. Item number eight.
[26:53] >> Item number eight for original
[26:54] consideration. A resolution confirming
[26:56] the reappoint of Megan Hayes as the
[26:59] primary representative of the League of
[27:01] Women Voters of Skenctity County to the
[27:03] Civilian Police Review Board.
[27:05] >> Discussing committee without objection
[27:07] on consent. Item number nine.
[27:08] >> Item number nine for original
[27:10] consideration. in a resolution
[27:11] rescending resolution 2025 173 sale to
[27:15] vacant lot 1856 Foster Avenue.
[27:18] >> Discussing committee without objection
[27:20] non-consent. Item number 10.
[27:22] >> Item number 10 for original
[27:23] consideration. Resolution recognizing
[27:25] National Police Appreciation Week.
[27:27] >> Discussing committee without objection
[27:29] on consent. This item will be presented
[27:32] May 12th.
[27:34] Item number 11.
[27:35] >> Item number 11 for original
[27:36] consideration. and a resolution
[27:38] recognizing National Teacher
[27:40] Appreciation Week.
[27:41] >> Discussing the committee without
[27:42] objection on consent and this item will
[27:43] be passed May 14th. I have no other
[27:46] items to come before the city caucus.
[27:47] I'd ask for a motion to adjurnn. Moved
[27:49] by Mr. Chair, seconded by Mr. Ingert.
[27:51] All those in favor?
[27:52] >> I we are journ.
[27:55] >> I'd like to call to order this Skenctity
[27:56] City Council meeting for Monday, May
[27:58] 11th. Uh the invocation and a moment of
[28:00] silence will be presented by Mr. Cheers.
[28:09] If you would join me in a moment of
[28:11] silence for the lives lost this past
[28:13] week of youth members and elders.
[28:26] Dear Lord, thank you for another week.
[28:28] Thank you for the opportunity to
[28:30] continue to grow our city and to bless
[28:32] us in a way that we can be good members
[28:33] for each other. Allow us to clear our
[28:34] minds and to move forward collectively
[28:37] in the right direction so that we can
[28:38] continue to produce positive outcomes
[28:41] for this city and continue to guide
[28:42] those across the nation to do the right
[28:45] things. We pray all these things in your
[28:46] name. Amen.
[28:48] >> Amen. And I ask for Elizabeth Wolf to
[28:50] provide the pledge of allegiance.
[28:57] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[29:00] United States of America and to the
[29:03] republic for which it stands, one nation
[29:07] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[29:11] justice for all.
[29:19] » If the clerk could please complete the
[29:20] role.
[29:22] >> Mr. Chairs
[29:23] >> present.
[29:24] >> Mr. Sto Toro
[29:25] >> present.
[29:26] >> Mr. Enger.
[29:28] >> Mr. Mutu
[29:29] >> present.
[29:30] >> Miss Patrick is absent. Miss Wiggins is
[29:32] absent. Mr. Williams
[29:34] >> present.
[29:37] » I will ask for approval of the minutes
[29:38] from Monday, April 27th. Moved by Mr.
[29:41] Chairs, second by Mr. Ingert. All those
[29:44] in favor? I.
[29:47] If the deputy clerk can please read any
[29:49] communications or petitions
[29:59] » communications presented
[30:01] >> corrected I'm I apologize if the city
[30:04] clerk would please read any uh
[30:05] communications and petitions.
[30:07] >> Communications presented to the city
[30:09] council for Monday May 11th 2026. Under
[30:12] official there were none. Under General
[30:14] from Carl Arbach, Sam Laria, Post 106 of
[30:18] the Jewish War Veterans of the United
[30:20] States, a thank you letter for the
[30:21] donation to their post. And under
[30:24] petitions, there were none.
[30:25] >> I'd like to call on the council members
[30:27] for their committee reports.
[30:30] Hearing none, I'll move to privilege of
[30:31] the floor concerning matters of
[30:32] legislative agenda. We have four
[30:34] individuals signed up to speak. I'd like
[30:37] to remind them that you have three
[30:39] minutes
[30:40] to speak. First of which will be Anita
[30:43] Russo.
[30:49] » Good evening, Mr. Mayor and city council
[30:52] members. I am Anita Russo, president of
[30:55] the Skenctity Tennis Association. STA is
[30:58] a nonprofit community tennis association
[31:02] recognized by the United States Tennis
[31:04] Association, USA Eastern Division for 66
[31:09] season. STA has provided tennis
[31:12] opportunities to players of all ages and
[31:15] levels at Central Park. While we support
[31:19] an electronic lock system to protect the
[31:21] new facilities from v vandalism, we are
[31:25] concerned about the proposed function
[31:27] and implementation.
[31:29] We believe the system may create
[31:31] barriers to play, particularly the
[31:35] requirement to manage online accounts
[31:37] and passwords that may deter spontaneous
[31:40] play and disadvantage those with limited
[31:44] resources or technology challenges.
[31:47] We hope to see a balance between
[31:49] maintaining public lowcost access and
[31:53] hosting tournaments that support our
[31:55] local economy.
[31:57] Before committing to the USDA's grant
[32:00] proposal, it is essential that STA
[32:03] understands exactly how the system will
[32:06] function. While SDA supports the lock
[32:09] system, we advise the council to be
[32:12] vigilant regarding the agreement with
[32:14] USA. Thank you,
[32:19] » John Nudson.
[32:27] Per a search per a search of AI clog in
[32:31] New York state only New York City
[32:34] charges for public tennis courts.
[32:37] New York City charges $100 for adults,
[32:40] $20 for seniors, $10 for youth per
[32:45] season.
[32:47] Generally across the USA there is no
[32:48] charge for public course use unless one
[32:51] wants to reserve a particular court at a
[32:53] particular time for one only particular
[32:56] use.
[32:58] Although item six of this meeting is
[33:00] supposed to be a discussion about the
[33:01] installation of the smart access lock
[33:03] system. The lock system locks are
[33:06] already in the being installed. So it
[33:10] becomes a question is are they open and
[33:12] close the courts each day or is it to
[33:15] charge $15 an hour to use the courts?
[33:19] In 1984, my youth on now 84, I played
[33:23] tennis Monday through Friday at 9:00 am
[33:26] again with a different group at 5:00 PM
[33:29] and once on Saturday and Sunday, 12
[33:31] times a week, an average of two hours or
[33:33] more
[33:35] from June 1st through September 30th,
[33:38] about 16 weeks, $15 an hour, that would
[33:40] be $5,760
[33:43] for the season
[33:46] from 2010 to 2025. Before the cost is
[33:50] connective to for Central Park courts
[33:51] was close to zero. Jim Neil voluntarily
[33:55] opened and closed the courts. Got
[33:57] various people to contribute num money
[33:59] for nets and rollers to remove water.
[34:01] Discourage dog walkers from having the
[34:03] dogs dirty up the courts.
[34:06] Uh he
[34:09] he's uh was fired from that job. Um,
[34:14] when city hall took it over, they were
[34:16] very upset or we were very upset because
[34:18] they wanted to close the courts at 5:30
[34:21] every night. Most people didn't get
[34:23] there to play tennis until quarter after
[34:25] 5 or 5:30 and you used to play until
[34:27] 9:00. So, after a lot of arguing, they
[34:30] set the time to 8:45.
[34:33] The problem is is when you have people
[34:35] that never play tennis making decisions
[34:38] on how the tennis courts are run, you're
[34:41] not going to get good decisions
[34:43] generally. And I I just would like very
[34:47] much to be able to have some of that
[34:49] done. Um
[34:52] the access lock system, USA clearly
[34:55] states that they do not want it to be a
[34:58] barrier to play or to exclude players.
[35:01] If you put them in and charge a fee in
[35:04] Senki, you're doing both because the
[35:05] only times the courts are used where
[35:07] there's any question is from five to
[35:10] 8:30 or nine o'clock at night when every
[35:13] once in a while you get they get filled.
[35:16] Uh there just a lot of questions that
[35:18] are going to come up as the courts are
[35:20] used. We may get tremendous number of
[35:22] used groups coming in from other places.
[35:27] the uh
[35:30] um the question is is it used to be
[35:34] understood and I'm not sure it's right
[35:35] that they had they had first decision on
[35:38] 10 courts if they now have first choice
[35:42] on all 18 courts it may be that on
[35:45] Tuesday and Thursday night nobody else
[35:47] plays there are other things that will
[35:48] come in should connectity county city
[35:51] residents get
[35:52] >> excuse me I'll need you to summarize
[35:53] >> treatment should double players get
[35:56] access over single players. There are
[35:58] just numerous little things that will
[35:59] come up. Right now, we hardly, except
[36:03] for that evening hours, we have the
[36:05] courts are empty. If you put in $15 an
[36:08] hour charge, how is someone supposed to
[36:10] come in to learn how to play tennis? How
[36:12] are you going to get people coming in
[36:14] for random times during the day or city, you know, youth coming in to play
[36:19] tennis? I don't think that's what you're
[36:21] after. Maybe you are.
[36:25] Thank you very much. Can I get someone
[36:27] to
[36:32] » Thank you,
[36:33] Jonathan Sims.
[36:42] » Good evening. Uh Jonathan Sims, I'm a
[36:45] city resident. I play tennis. And uh I
[36:48] can I could just echo John's sentiment,
[36:51] sentiments that he shared. Uh, and then
[36:55] just add a little bit to that. One, one
[36:57] of the things I would really like for
[36:59] you as mayor and council members to try
[37:03] to do is to is to get grass this time
[37:07] with this project instead of grass seed
[37:09] and weeds. Uh, it's invariably we spray
[37:14] the the grass seed right at the time
[37:17] when the rain has stopped and then it
[37:20] doesn't grow. Look at the grass around
[37:22] the new uh swimming complex and it's
[37:25] terrible. It's terrible. Any anywhere
[37:27] we've done with the new bike trail going
[37:29] up towards Central Park Middle School,
[37:32] it's weeds all around where grass was
[37:34] planted. It's if attention could be paid
[37:36] to that wall, whoever negotiates the
[37:39] contract, it would be great to ensure we
[37:41] get grass. Secondarily about tennis in
[37:44] particular, I live right near the park
[37:47] and I have very much a similar
[37:48] experience to John with the amount of
[37:50] tennis that I play there. Uh he he
[37:54] mentioned every point that I would make
[37:56] and I would just add to that that it's really concerning to me to think
[38:01] about walking over to the tennis courts
[38:03] in the summer during the day when
[38:05] virtually nobody's playing anyway and
[38:08] having to pay $15 for an hour if I just
[38:11] want to practice my serve by myself. If
[38:13] I want to play with my grandkids and
[38:15] help get them excited about tennis, you
[38:18] know, yes, maybe I can afford it, but
[38:21] $15 every time, it just doesn't make
[38:23] sense for a city park that I'm already
[38:25] paying for.
[38:27] So, that's that's it. Thank you for
[38:29] hearing me,
[38:33] » Marian Porterfield.
[38:39] Good evening, council president, council
[38:41] members, mayor. Um, my name is Marian
[38:43] Porterfield and I also am a tennis
[38:44] player. Play with a lot of the folks
[38:46] that you see here. And I do want to also
[38:48] talk about the tennis court. Um, in
[38:51] August 2025, the city council awarded a
[38:54] bid of $3,69,000
[38:57] to to build the tennis court in the city
[38:59] of Skenctity. Um, USA is giving
[39:03] approximately 1 million to that and 2.5
[39:06] million was from ARPA funds, taxpayer
[39:08] money. So,
[39:11] I don't think it's fair that taxpayers
[39:14] in the city of Skenctity residents
[39:15] should have to pay those fees. The pool
[39:17] was built. It cost about $10 million and
[39:20] there's no cost for the pool to be um
[39:22] for pe people to use the pool. So, that
[39:25] is for me is it just really doesn't make
[39:27] sense. It's a diff a smaller amount of
[39:28] money, but yet and still people are
[39:30] being asked. I know it was said that
[39:32] it's to main do the maintenance of the
[39:34] courts. However, my understanding of
[39:37] this state-of-the-art court that's been
[39:38] built, it will last 25 years with very
[39:41] little maintenance. A lot of money was
[39:43] spent on that. In addition to that, for
[39:45] the USA, for the uh almost $1 million
[39:48] that they have spent towards this, they
[39:50] get to use the courts for 20 years with
[39:53] no fee. So, that's about 500 about
[39:57] $50,000 a year. And it's not fair to
[39:59] residents that they have to pay for
[40:00] maintenance, but an organization that's
[40:02] coming in, I know they gave money
[40:04] towards it, but so so did the taxpayers.
[40:06] So the taxpayers should receive the same
[40:08] level of consideration and not be
[40:10] charged a fee um to to use the courts.
[40:13] I've been to visit the courts, they are
[40:14] absolutely beautiful. Can't wait to play
[40:16] there. Um and the other part that was
[40:19] said, if you you could play at other
[40:21] courts, you could play at Michigan
[40:22] Avenue or you could play at Jerry Bell
[40:24] Park. And I've been to both parks.
[40:26] Neither of them compared to what Central
[40:27] Parks look looks like. Now, Michigan
[40:29] Avenue has a lot of cracks. I know
[40:31] they're fixing it, but there's no
[40:32] comparison. And the message to me is
[40:35] that uh if you are in a certain income
[40:38] bracket and you simply can't afford it,
[40:39] then you are relegated to pay play pay
[40:41] on courts that are not quite as
[40:43] wonderful as the new courts that are
[40:44] built. So, I think all of that needs to
[40:46] be taken into consideration when we talk
[40:48] about um how much US is given as well as
[40:51] how much the city has given towards this
[40:53] project. And so residents should be able
[40:55] to benefit from the amount of taxes that
[40:57] they pay and to be able to use this very
[40:59] nice public facility um that's being
[41:01] built in Central Park. Thank you for
[41:03] your time.
[41:06] >> Thank you. [applause]
[41:10] » I have no one else signed up to speak,
[41:12] so I'll declare public comment on the
[41:13] legislative agenda closed.
[41:16] >> I will ask for approval of the
[41:17] legislative agenda.
[41:19] >> Moved by Mr. Min, seconded by Miss Toro.
[41:21] All those in favor? Hi.
[41:23] >> Hi.
[41:25] >> So, we will now have privilege of the
[41:26] floor concerning general city business.
[41:29] I have six individuals signed up to
[41:31] speak. I'd like to remind the public
[41:33] that there will be three minutes.
[41:36] First of which is John Cton or
[41:41] Nutson, excuse me.
[41:59] So from I don't know from 2010 to 2024
[42:04] the coast it cost the city nothing for
[42:07] the courts tenants the nets were paid
[42:10] for the the um push uh things to get
[42:16] water off the courts were paid for and
[42:19] uh they were open and closed by an
[42:21] individual.
[42:22] If it makes a difference to the city, we
[42:25] can get people to do that again. So your
[42:28] court's costs go to zero. Those courts
[42:30] are put in and designed to last 25 years
[42:34] without anything done to them.
[42:37] So your costs are not going to be
[42:39] anything. And so how do you char how do
[42:42] you justify charging $15 an hour for
[42:45] people to come teach their children,
[42:47] their grandchildren to play with other
[42:49] people?
[42:51] Um
[42:54] again
[42:56] you can the argument was we going to
[42:58] keep track of people or we're going to
[43:01] charge people because there's a usage.
[43:03] The only time the courts are filled are
[43:06] from 5 to 9 o'clock at night and
[43:09] sometimes two or three weekends during
[43:12] the summer when you have a perfect day
[43:13] for playing tennis. You get the really
[43:16] crowded courts. But other than that,
[43:18] it's only those hours. And so you can't
[43:21] charge. How's somebody going to come in
[43:23] at 9:00, 10 o'clock in the morning when
[43:26] nobody's there? And you're going to say,
[43:27] "Oh, you can only get on the court if we
[43:29] charge you $15 an hour."
[43:32] Nobody does that. The only place that
[43:33] they charge in the country is in cities
[43:36] or or places where they're really low uh
[43:39] few courts for all the people that want
[43:40] to play and then they charge something
[43:42] for the courts or if you want to make a
[43:44] reservation to hold particular courts.
[43:47] Um
[43:49] I'm really after
[43:53] I live near Central Park. It's amazing.
[43:56] We have unbelievable baseball diamonds,
[43:58] soccer fields, basketball courts, and
[44:01] now tennis courts.
[44:03] And as far as I know, the city does
[44:06] nothing for bringing in really excellent
[44:08] teachers so that our youth have an edge
[44:11] and getting to be really good at these
[44:13] sports, which they should be doing. And
[44:16] I just hope that somehow you can get
[44:17] work work with some foundations or
[44:20] something so you bring in some really
[44:22] good teachers so that our city has our
[44:26] city youth has the ability to make take
[44:28] advantage of all these wonderful
[44:30] features that Central Park has.
[44:36] » Thank you.
[44:37] >> Rachel Ward.
[44:44] » Hi. Good evening. I just wanted to take
[44:46] a minute tonight to give thanks to the
[44:48] city um employees and the city council
[44:51] for all the beautiful beautiful um
[44:53] efforts going on in Central Park. I know
[44:54] that that's a little bit contrary to
[44:56] stuff going on tonight, but I
[44:57] [clears throat] I spend my weekend
[44:58] basically over in Central Park and just
[45:00] want to highlight the Rose Garden, the
[45:02] new pool, music haven, um upgrades to
[45:04] the playground, the new A diamond. I
[45:06] learned today that we're actually
[45:07] hosting the AAA baseball championship
[45:11] playoffs with Russell Sage College.
[45:12] These are all a real testament to the
[45:15] people that have worked really hard to
[45:16] make Central Park the crown jewel once
[45:18] again. Um, and I just wanted to propose
[45:21] another addition to the beautifification
[45:23] efforts and that would be again
[45:24] investigating the rehabilitation of the
[45:26] Central Park flyer. I went on the ride a
[45:29] lot as a child and I think that it
[45:31] really would be a nice addition to the
[45:33] park um and something to consider.
[45:34] Obviously, you'd have to look into the
[45:36] cost of that, but I do think it would be
[45:37] a nice addition to everything else going
[45:39] on there. Thank you.
[45:43] Sean Ratigan.
[45:54] » Yeah. Hey, good evening. Um, so I'd like
[45:58] to once again ask the city uh to release
[46:01] the city budget as a spreadsheet. Um, I
[46:04] just requested this via email uh April
[46:07] 29th uh as of this year and
[46:11] um I haven't really heard anything back
[46:14] from the finance department. So I did
[46:16] submit a foil request tonight. Um
[46:19] Skynctity markets itself as a smart city
[46:22] and from January 2020 to July 2021
[46:26] monthly reports were released with
[46:28] yearly reporting at the end of each
[46:31] year.
[46:32] Um, and so like what happened to that?
[46:35] As a smart city, like we would think
[46:38] that we would want to staff a position
[46:40] to ensure that the city has prompt,
[46:42] accurate, and public reporting. Um,
[46:46] which you would think would be
[46:48] important. Um, it's important to me as a
[46:51] taxpayer because it's already an
[46:54] enormous amount of work to analyze the
[46:56] information, but then additionally
[46:59] acquiring, formatting, cleaning the
[47:01] data, it's that's a whole other job and
[47:05] it's so much easier for the city to do
[47:08] because you're the source of the data.
[47:11] So having this information at hand is
[47:13] important for public discourse and
[47:15] understanding. currently is manifest in
[47:18] the discussion around waste disposal. Uh
[47:21] to understand all the facts and figures,
[47:23] please just post all of the collected
[47:26] data publicly. Waste is about 4.5% of
[47:30] our budget and that's like not an
[47:33] insignificant amount. It's, you know,
[47:35] there's still bigger budget items, but
[47:38] four four and a half% is not nothing.
[47:41] Um, we should understand the problem at
[47:43] hand and we should understand how our
[47:46] taxes are paying to solve that problem.
[47:48] So, publish the budget as a spreadsheet,
[47:52] resume publishing data monthly, and just
[47:55] make sure that the public's informed.
[47:57] Thanks.
[48:00] » Thank you.
[48:02] >> Eric Johnson.
[48:08] » Good evening. Eric Johnson, uh, city
[48:10] resident, mayor, council president,
[48:13] council members, city staff. Uh, I just
[48:16] came to talk a little bit more about
[48:18] garbage. I applaud the work that you all
[48:20] are doing to get some organization
[48:22] around what seems to me to be a little
[48:25] bit of an outofcrol
[48:27] uh, garbage operation and reeling in the
[48:31] cost because it's untenable to maintain.
[48:34] I understand that there was a 30%
[48:36] increase in the collection of solid
[48:39] waste and I see that as a tax increase
[48:41] for our residents because there really
[48:43] aren't other options.
[48:45] Um, and also if I could ask a favor of
[48:47] you, you have this term called uh
[48:50] jackpots, but that doesn't mean anything
[48:53] to a regular citizen. Uh, if it was able
[48:56] to be quantified and measured, that
[48:58] would be very helpful. uh it's just not
[49:00] a useful terminology and certainly going
[49:03] off of something that you can't measure
[49:05] isn't um a good way to proceed with our
[49:08] business.
[49:11] Um and then to our I have a neighbor who
[49:14] told me that there's no problem with the
[49:15] trash and we should just keep doing the
[49:18] same thing. But the reality is is that
[49:20] we all I think that you all as council
[49:22] members rec re uh recognize there's some
[49:25] insolveny issues within the trash and
[49:28] I'd hate to see for people going towards
[49:31] private trash collection options when we
[49:33] have the potential to be very efficient
[49:36] here. Uh lastly uh on the issue of well
[49:40] maybe two things. Uh it's very
[49:43] concerning to me how hard the garbage
[49:46] men and women work and throw their
[49:48] bodies around and if there's anything
[49:50] you can do to preserve their well-being.
[49:53] Uh and so they're not becoming a
[49:55] liability for their health and for the
[49:58] uh insurance policies that you guys keep
[50:00] the workman's comp. And then lastly uh
[50:03] somewhat sadly I think just to report
[50:05] that there's been some more dumping at
[50:07] WY Street. So, uh, I know that you guys
[50:09] are working forward to come up with a
[50:11] solution for that. Um, but we just en
[50:14] encourage the positive teamwork of city
[50:18] council and staff to move forward with
[50:20] this serious problem. Thank you.
[50:25] » Thank you,
[50:28] >> Elizabeth Walsh.
[50:36] Greetings, Mayor McCarthy, esteemed city
[50:39] council members, and everyone else. Uh,
[50:41] I come with greetings and thanks in
[50:44] celebration of being part of such a
[50:46] leaderful community here in Skenctity. I
[50:49] thank each of you on this side of the
[50:51] rail for being willing to lead lives of
[50:53] public service, to run for election, and
[50:56] then maintain the work, do the work, and
[50:58] keep going. want to acknowledge a couple
[51:01] of folks running for offices behind me
[51:04] too. Um, and thank for the staff to make
[51:07] all of these visions reality along with
[51:09] Central Park. Rachel Ward mentioned some
[51:11] great things in Central Park, but I also
[51:13] wanted to call out thanks for the
[51:14] Skenctity Environmental Education Center
[51:17] that the city's been investing in
[51:18] that'll be an incredible resource there.
[51:21] Um, wearing Skenctity Foundation hat. I
[51:23] want to invite everyone um to join us on
[51:26] Thursday at the Stockgate Inn from 5:30
[51:29] to uh about 8 um to celebrate the 10
[51:35] creative change makers circle. Uh it's
[51:37] been a cohort that launched in November
[51:40] and they're beautiful ideas that are
[51:42] transforming into actionable plans and
[51:44] we'll have presentations by uh 10 of
[51:46] these creative change makers with nine
[51:49] different projects that you can learn
[51:50] about and see how you can help move
[51:52] those possibilities forward. Uh but what
[51:55] a gift it is to be part of a community
[51:57] doing so much creative collaborative
[51:59] work together. Um, also want to uh flag
[52:03] an invitation. Uh, the Skinnctity
[52:05] Foundation Create Community Studios is
[52:08] partnering with Evolucid Creative uh to
[52:10] host a couple of events leading up to
[52:13] Declaration Day on July 4th to celebrate
[52:16] the 250th anniversary of the signing of
[52:18] the Declaration of Independence. Uh, but
[52:20] there'll be fun events that are about uh
[52:23] moving into the futures that we most
[52:25] desire. And we'll also have a community
[52:27] art project around Stones of Hope. Um,
[52:30] but thank you everyone for showing up,
[52:33] for participating in making the city a
[52:35] great place to live. Thanks.
[52:41] » Thank you,
[52:43] Orlando Otis Hunley.
[52:51] » Greetings. Uh, hello. My name is Orlando
[52:53] Otis Hunley. Um recently this week I've
[52:56] been uh visiting a lot of our small
[52:58] businesses and interacting with them and
[53:01] understanding a little bit of the recent
[53:03] history uh where post the pandemic where
[53:06] it was probably hard to get store. Am I
[53:09] getting in there? I feel like I'm
[53:10] getting in there. um when it was really
[53:11] hard to store um a lot of the solutions
[53:14] that were found were us spending money
[53:16] on these plastic shields that really
[53:18] didn't do much when in that moment we
[53:21] could have built out a delivery system
[53:24] and understanding so many live in
[53:26] Skenctity right now around my age range
[53:29] are doing driving as a job and with gas
[53:31] prices as steep as they are printed in
[53:34] the Daily Gazette the paper record
[53:36] thanks to you all uh today we have to
[53:39] understand that vocalizing these things
[53:41] and uh we have to nip it in the butt the
[53:44] fact that across this country California
[53:46] tech companies are robbing the working
[53:50] class. Um and there are many things that
[53:52] we could do um just by working with
[53:55] local software developers to open up
[53:59] pathways for people to keep dollars
[54:01] circulating locally. uh the fact that
[54:03] around $3 million is leaving yearly in
[54:06] fees Uber um for people to be driven
[54:09] right up the street. Um this is one of
[54:12] the most devastating things happening uh
[54:15] to working people. People just want to
[54:17] store reliably. Uh they just want to be
[54:19] able to go out and enjoy the town and
[54:22] not have a steep price attached to that.
[54:26] Um,
[54:31] » I feel really good about that. Thank
[54:32] you.
[54:34] >> Thank you.
[54:35] >> I have no one else signed up to speak,
[54:36] so I'll declare public comment on
[54:38] general city business closed.
[54:42] At this time, I'll entertain any
[54:43] miscellaneous business from the council.
[54:47] Hearing none, Mr. Mayor.
[54:51] Thank you, Mr. President. appreciate
[54:52] everyone coming out and your thoughts
[54:54] and uh ideas on the tennis uh courts and
[54:58] just other facilities within the city.
[55:01] Uh I would just remind people that uh
[55:04] property owners and business owners,
[55:06] everybody makes a difference and if you
[55:08] can just clean up a little bit around
[55:10] your own business, around your own home,
[55:13] it has a dramatic impact on the overall
[55:16] image of the city. So, everybody just
[55:18] doing a little really has that big
[55:21] impact and uh as we get into spring, the
[55:24] flowers are blooming, the grass is
[55:25] greener, and uh we're going to have a
[55:27] bright and uh good summer for the whole
[55:29] city. Thank you, Mr. President.
[55:32] >> Thank you. Uh before I begin my
[55:33] comments, uh based on the recommendation
[55:35] from corporation council, just want to
[55:37] outline that the Memorial Day resolution
[55:39] has been tabled that will be presented
[55:40] at a later date by Mr. Chairs. Uh just
[55:43] for clarification moving forward, I'd
[55:45] like to first wish uh all of our mothers
[55:47] a belated Mother's Day. I hope everyone
[55:48] had the opportunity to celebrate u those
[55:51] pillars in our families throughout our
[55:52] community. Uh truly there's a treasure
[55:54] that needs to be constantly reminded of.
[55:56] I also wanted to take an opportunity to
[55:58] give early congratulations to Cocoa
[56:00] House. They'll be celebrating their 30
[56:01] years of light at an upcoming gala
[56:03] that'll be hosted at uh uh the Glen
[56:06] Peters Jewelers um May 13th. I'm beyond
[56:10] excited uh for the reopening of Dailies
[56:12] on the Yates. I don't know if you've had
[56:14] an opportunity to uh visit that that
[56:16] restaurant, but truly one of our
[56:18] greatest treasures throughout the city
[56:19] is just our small businesses and
[56:20] restaurants. So, please uh make way
[56:22] think that announcement is coming uh
[56:24] midweek. Um also, I'd like to remind uh
[56:27] as we are talking a lot about trash, um
[56:30] Friday marks the second annual trash
[56:32] parade. Uh so that does not mean you can
[56:34] throw trash out into the streets. uh
[56:35] sincerely it means and it's just a
[56:37] reflection of just how much waste and
[56:40] recycling efforts that need to be
[56:41] improved moving forward. Uh so please if
[56:43] you have your float ideas or your
[56:44] costume ideas uh come prepared. There
[56:46] were some really uh innovative um
[56:49] costumes and that'll be taking place May
[56:51] 15th at 6:30 right at our downtown uh
[56:54] Dr. Seuss Park. Um and then there were
[56:57] some comments around the USA. Sincerely
[56:59] thank you for providing that
[57:00] perspective. You are correct in that I
[57:02] am not a golfer but sincerely you bring
[57:04] in your comments forward. I know I do
[57:06] not speak only for myself but uh
[57:08] transparency and making sure that we
[57:09] have conclusion in our decision-m is
[57:11] important to ensure that we are making
[57:12] the right decision for your best
[57:14] efforts. And then lastly wanted to
[57:16] comment on making some of our documents
[57:18] more public facing. Uh sincerely
[57:20] transparency is the essence of what we
[57:21] do and if you do not understand our
[57:23] actions as city residents what are we
[57:25] doing? So I know that there are some
[57:27] barriers in place for good reason. Uh
[57:28] but I think with the right conversation
[57:30] we can see about returning to some of
[57:32] those previous uh well-received efforts.
[57:34] So without further ado, I would ask for
[57:36] a motion to adjurnn. Moved by Mr. Miver,
[57:38] seconded by Mr. Ingert. All those in
[57:40] favor? I we are journed. Have a good
[57:42] evening.
[57:58] » [music]