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Hello, everyone. Good evening. Welcome to the Monday, August 3rd, planning, economic development and land use meeting. I'm Deborah Zamer, the chair. We are joined by committee members, Tom Holy, a fatal dollar in, limanzo Jones, Arthur Lumpkin, our staff, Brian Hemenez, Carly Johnson, Robert Winner.

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And we have two items on the agenda tonight.

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First is there any public comment, Carly?

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So our first item we're going to take up is resolution.

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I got everybody introduced.

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Our first item is resolution 78, 72, 26 are a resolution

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of the Common Council consenting to the re-appointment of Serena White Lake to the board of

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zoning appeals. We are joined by Ms. White Lake. Would you mind coming up and having a seat?

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Thank you for taking the time to come in this evening. If you wouldn't mind just giving us sort of

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a brief introduction, how your time has been on the board of zoning appeals and why you would like

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to continue with your work.

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Hi, I'm Serena Joyce White Lake from City of Albany.

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I've been a member of the Board of Zoning of Pills since 2017.

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And I enjoy serving on the board

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because we make important decisions

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about giving variances to different businesses

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or entrepreneurs or homeowners

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who want to build an area or they need a variance

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for many different reasons.

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and we as a board have been able to work together,

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we usually, and effectively, we've been able to give the minimum

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variance that is being requested.

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And I feel as though I'm fulfilling my duty as a resident of the city

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of Albany who cares deeply about where I live.

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I've learned a lot about the USDO and the code learned a lot about zoning

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and the rules and regulations that help shape Albany.

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And I have enjoyed working with the staff

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and my colleagues on the board.

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I'm a attorney and still I've been able to use the skills

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that I have acquired over the years

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in order to analyze the applications

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that come before the board.

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And I enjoy the public comment

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and the discussions that we have.

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And I feel like, when I'm walking around the city, I can see our impact.

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I can see, okay, this is a sign that, you know, we discuss as part of our deliberations.

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I see, you know, new development in the area.

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I see the changes, and I see that the way that the U.S.

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The O.S. being followed and it's impact in our city.

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And so, though they're the main reasons why I want to continue to serve the city as a member

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of the Board of Zoning.

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Thank you.

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Thank you very much. Any committee members have a question? Council member Holy.

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Thank you. Any other questions?

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I'll just ask you briefly if you don't mind.

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What for your next term? Do you have a challenge or a goal or something that you are hoping for?

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to accomplish that either hasn't been wasn't finished yet in your first term or might possibly

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in the future require some policy change, some lodging, I don't mean to put you on the spot.

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I can always get back to me about it, but if there is anything I'd be curious to hear.

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Well, I feel as though the board has been operating very effectively, so let's say,

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In terms of going forward, now that I've been on for several years, I'm definitely more confident when it comes to asking drilling questions of the applicants to come before us because they do submit their presentation beforehand and then we review it beforehand.

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But sometimes when they're in the hot seat, right, they can kind of clam up a little bit.

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And I think it's important to, while the public is in attendance and while we're live streaming and all of that,

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to make them explain, even if they're explaining it again, in the public forum, why they need this variant,

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and making them go through each of the considerations that they take.

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Because in the past, I've kind of just, um,

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project, but I think it is important to make them say it again in the public forum.

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And so I think that going forward, I will continue to have our do more in terms of asking

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more of those specific drilling questions for our applicants during our meetings, our BVA meetings.

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Thank you.

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No, that's a great answer.

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I mean, it's basically what you're saying is you need the experience of a term in order

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to know sort of what direction to go, and the right things to ask and how to ask them.

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So thank you, we appreciate your service.

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Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. We're also joined by council member, Sergio Adams.

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Sergio, I know you're just coming in, but do you have a question at this point from his white lake?

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Good evening. Thank you, Ms. Lake. We're joining us. Thank you for your continued service on serving on the board of zoning appeals.

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My question refers to the upcoming meetings for the BZA and the meeting minutes.

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So when the meeting minutes and stuff are recorded,

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the person who's in charge of that

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does that are those meetings shared with the group before they go out or do you get to review anything

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before those meeting minutes go out?

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Yes, so yes, the staff, they're very, very good about providing the minutes from the meeting, they give us a chance to review and make sure, you know, if there are

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Corrections that need to be made we're able to tell them that and then we review the minutes and have a of a vote to

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approve those minutes

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In person at the meeting. So they do a very very good job of that we haven't had any issues since I've been on the board

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with respect to the minute.

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I think maybe one time someone was marked absent.

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When they were actually the abstaining,

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I think they had to abstain from a vote

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and they were, they had to correct that.

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But other than that, which was easily corrected,

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there hasn't been any issues with the minutes.

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And I do want to take a chance to say that.

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I do really value the help of the BVA staff.

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They also spend a lot of time on their recommendations.

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And I can tell that they're extremely thorough.

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they bring their expertise, they go through their recommendations during the meeting, they take

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our questions, but they definitely defer to us in terms of our decisions on the application.

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So the BBA staff has been very effective in terms of drafting minutes, drafting recommendations,

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listening to our questions and helping to applicants during the process.

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Thank you for their response.

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Final question in the last year, have you seen an increase in the amount of applications that

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have come in or do you see a increase in a foreseeable future as to applications come in

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for this upcoming year?

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Yeah, I would say I've kind of seen a decrease I would say.

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We see familiar faces, so a lot of the same developer coming in.

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But I've seen a noticeable decrease in the applications.

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I think part of that might have to do with, again, the effective work of staff, where they are working with the applicants before they go before us.

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way they have a full application package and they don't have to go back and we have to table

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their applications because they don't have everything that they need for their presentation.

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So I think that we've made the process a lot more streamlined and so the meetings actually run

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better and when applicants do come before us they have a full application they're ready to present

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and they've done their due diligence with the help of the staff. Thank you for your responses.

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I'll give you my questions.

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And if there are no further questions?

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Okay, thank you so much for your time.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Is there a motion to move resolution?

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Tom?

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Yeah, I think a motion there.

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I'll do the presentation.

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Second.

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Sorry, who second did?

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Okay, Council Member Baller in second, all in favor, I, any opposed, any abstentions.

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Okay, Resolution 78-72-26R has been moved out of committee with a unanimous favourable

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recommendation.

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Okay, moving on to our next item, which is Resolution 79-72-26R, a resolution of the Common Council

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consenting to the appointment of Celeste Knight to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Ms. Knight, would you

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mind joining us up here? Thank you.

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Thank you for joining us. If you wouldn't mind, would

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you just take a moment to introduce yourself and tell us why you would like to continue serving

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on the Board of Zoning. Oh, you're new. There is sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Yes. Yes. Yes.

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I know. My apologies. So okay, a full introduction and please give us some indication as to why you would like to serve.

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My name is Celeste Knight. I am a lifelong Albany resident.

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I currently work for the New York State Senate. I've been there for just about 30 years in various capacities.

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I served as the ward leader.

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I've been the State Committee person for my district,

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so I've been very active in the community in Albany for over 20 years.

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The reason that I want to serve, I think I bring a unique perspective.

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Being that I've seen what Albany was, I've seen what Albany became,

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I've seen what Albany is, and I definitely know what Albany can become.

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I would like to work with this administration as I trust this administration to move the city forward and the direction that we need to go in.

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I think that we need a perspective on the board because we get a lot of pushback about redevelopment.

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And I don't think we see all the time both sides of the argument, not necessarily that's an argument, but both sides of the issue.

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And I think that I can just be fair, I am not a little greater, so I'm a type of person

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that follows the law to the T. So I think that just having someone who will follow the

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letter of the law, somebody who will look at both sides fairly,

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I think I can bring that

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the table and serve in that capacity.

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Well, thank you so much, I mean, obviously, I thought you may already be serving because

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you are well known in the community, you obviously, given a lot of service to the city

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and we appreciate it.

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Are there any questions from committee members?

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Council Member Ballern.

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Thank you, sir. I just wanted to thank you for your willingness to take this on and all the work that you've done for our city 12 years.

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It is truly appreciate.

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What are your knowledge and experience of what are some thoughts that you have regarding? I was prone to zoning policies

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and how they should be implemented as we look to grow and give our city the best opportunity as we move forward?

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But when it comes to zone and I think it is actually a case by case, you have to look at each case differently because we've got a variety of different neighborhoods and communities in the city of Albany.

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So I don't think that there's like a blanket answer.

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I believe in redevelopment, I would love to see reinvestment in the communities.

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Like I said, I've seen a flourishing south end since I've been living in Oregon.

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I've seen the Henry Johnson corridor flourishing and vibrant since I've been here.

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So I know what it can become, I know what it has been, and I think I'm very open to all

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the opportunities that it will present in terms of job growth, economic development, bringing tourism

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to the city of Albany. There's a variety of things that can happen in possibilities that are

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on the horizon. And I think if we just deal fairly with the people that are coming and not

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treat everybody like an outsider, but rather what's the benefit for the city of Albany. So I think

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to put up things from that perspective. Thank you. Thank you again for all of you don't

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force it. You welcome.

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For the questions?

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Well, seeing none. Do you have any questions for us

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before we let you return to your seat? No, I'm very familiar with the board.

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Okay. Well, thank

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you appreciate your time. Absolutely thank you so much. And with that, Council Member Lumpian,

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I believe.

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Second.

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Second, from Council Member Adams, all in favor.

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Aye.

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Aye.

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Any opposed?

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Any abstentions?

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Okay.

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Resolution 79, 72, 26, R has been moved out of committee with a unanimous positive recommendation

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congratulations.

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Thank you.

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Seeing no more businesses, is there any discussion by the motion to adjourn?

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Second.

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I'll in favor, meeting adjourn, thank you very much everyone.

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Good evening everyone.

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Welcome to caucus. I'm fine if you could go through the roll and say who's here to be wonderful.

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Addams.

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Anane.

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Present.

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Brody Ferrell.

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Flynn.

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Johnson.

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Jones.

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Present.

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Keegan.

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Here.

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Lumpkin.

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Present.

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Powell.

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Here.

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Robinson.

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Williamson.

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Present.

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Zamer.

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Here.

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All of them present.

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We're also joined by a city clerks in the projects and senior assistant corporation council

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Martha Mahoney, Legislative Director of Rhinomeness, Council and Director of Policy

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Robert Winner, junior policy and list, Carly Johnson.

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Thank you so much.

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So, we will go through the agenda.

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All of our local laws will be held this evening.

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We do have minutes, Carly, which minute?

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we have the minutes from July 25th

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that will be passing and then in ordinances introduced we have

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from councilmember balleron ordinance 1581-26 which will go to the law committee that is in ordinance

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amending article five domestic partnerships of chapter 245 of the code of city of Albany in

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relation to updating the fee and documentation requirements for domestic partnerships.

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Is that anything you want to say anything about Councilmember Rowland?

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We'll be discussing it in committee.

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And that came to us via our clerk and our council kind of updating things to ensure that our fee structure is fair,

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but also bringing in revenue to appreciate.

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And the rest of the ordinances will be held and resolutions introduced from Councilmember Jones,

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Resolution 82-81-26R, a resolution of the Common Council recognizing and celebrating my

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and our culture and expressing support for the capital, and I'm not going to try to pronounce

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that apologies to anyone who is here for that festival on August 15, 2026, is that something

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everybody would like to be co-sponsors on. That looks like that is an all-play, and did you

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want to say anything on that right now, Council Member Jones? And are there people here from

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that? Should we take that out of order?

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That's not like it. I'll check in later. From Council Member

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Medicaid and Medicare. Is that something we would all like to be co-sponsors on?

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Art's like, yes.

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That will, everyone will be voting on that. Council Member

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01:06:09,830 --> 01:06:11,970
Valorant did you want to say anything about that?

232
01:06:14,810 --> 01:06:16,210
Next from Council Member Robinson,

233
01:06:16,650 --> 01:06:22,670
Resolution 84, 81, 26 are a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Nathaniel.

234
01:06:23,210 --> 01:06:26,990
Colleem and renaming a portion of Henry Johnson Boulevard in his honor that will go to

235
01:06:28,910 --> 01:06:33,970
Council Member Lumpkin, resolution 85, 81, 26, are a resolution that comes in Council honoring

236
01:06:33,970 --> 01:06:36,850
the lives and legacies of George and Helen Torian.

237
01:06:37,190 --> 01:06:40,570
And we're naming, of course, the 10th for a place in their honor that will go to general services.

238
01:06:40,790 --> 01:06:42,450
Did you want to say anything about that at this time?

239
01:06:42,570 --> 01:06:43,190
No, it's just fine.

240
01:06:43,550 --> 01:06:43,770
Thank you.

241
01:06:44,770 --> 01:06:56,970
Next, from me, resolution 86, 81, 26, are, which is impacting salaries and positions that is for the

242
01:06:56,970 --> 01:07:04,710
register our vital statistics, that will be assigned to finance, so we will discuss that in committee.

243
01:07:05,570 --> 01:07:10,850
Next from Councilmember Keegan, resolution 87-81-26R, a resolution that comes in Council.

244
01:07:12,230 --> 01:07:17,130
We're requesting the City of Albany's budget office to provide various documents to allow for a sound review of the

245
01:07:17,130 --> 01:07:23,190
2027 proposed budget. That was something that was discussed before it was introduced in committee. Did you want to say anything

246
01:07:23,190 --> 01:07:24,570
and that comes from Brickigan.

247
01:07:25,410 --> 01:07:29,970
Yeah, I mean, this is just sort of minor change to how we...

248
01:07:30,000 --> 01:07:54,840
Conduct the budget process so rather than asking for a whole slew of documents after the budget's been announced, we are requesting those upfront so that hopefully we can have them by the end of September so that we have those documents in hand as we're debating the budget is coming fall. Thank you.

249
01:07:54,840 --> 01:07:58,980
And do any council members have any questions on that?

250
01:07:59,680 --> 01:08:04,140
We did discuss it in committee, but as it didn't go through the general committee process,

251
01:08:04,360 --> 01:08:07,840
it doesn't have to as a resolution, but I figured I could give an opportunity.

252
01:08:09,420 --> 01:08:09,580
Excellent.

253
01:08:10,280 --> 01:08:17,660
And for anybody that is interested that's listening, you're welcome to go back and watch the finance committee meeting where we discuss that in depth.

254
01:08:18,620 --> 01:08:20,140
So we'll be voting on that this evening.

255
01:08:20,140 --> 01:08:24,600
Next, from Councilmember Zamer, Resolution 88-81-26R,

256
01:08:24,620 --> 01:08:27,820
a Resolution Common Council can send to the appointment

257
01:08:27,820 --> 01:08:30,480
of Chester Bennett to the Albany Parking Authority

258
01:08:30,480 --> 01:08:32,780
Board of Directors that will go to planning

259
01:08:32,780 --> 01:08:34,620
did you want to say anything on that?

260
01:08:35,280 --> 01:08:35,920
Thank you.

261
01:08:36,520 --> 01:08:37,000
Members, Zamer.

262
01:08:37,400 --> 01:08:41,540
Resolution is held from Councilmember Zamer,

263
01:08:41,720 --> 01:08:46,340
a Resolution 78-72-26R, a Resolution consenting

264
01:08:46,340 --> 01:08:48,100
to the reappointment of Serena White Lake

265
01:08:48,100 --> 01:08:51,680
to the Board of Zoning Appeals that passed through

266
01:08:51,680 --> 01:08:53,760
with a positive recommendation this evening?

267
01:08:54,620 --> 01:08:56,440
Yes, unanimous positive recommendation.

268
01:08:57,600 --> 01:08:59,140
And we'll be going right into

269
01:08:59,140 --> 01:09:02,400
from Councilman for the name of Resolution 79, 72, 26

270
01:09:02,400 --> 01:09:04,520
are Resolution the Common Council of Consenting

271
01:09:04,520 --> 01:09:05,880
to the appointment of Celeste Knights,

272
01:09:06,040 --> 01:09:07,000
the Board of Zoning Appeals,

273
01:09:07,180 --> 01:09:08,680
which was also discussed this evening.

274
01:09:08,820 --> 01:09:10,700
And it was also voted out

275
01:09:10,700 --> 01:09:12,820
with a unanimous favorable recommendation.

276
01:09:13,180 --> 01:09:13,560
Excellent.

277
01:09:14,260 --> 01:09:17,960
So we will be voting on that this evening as well.

278
01:09:25,410 --> 01:09:26,050
The

279
01:09:36,160 --> 01:09:46,960
leadership meeting last week with the mayor's office, we discussed speedhumps and requested

280
01:09:48,180 --> 01:09:53,480
that we potentially have someone come in and just have a broader discussion about that.

281
01:09:53,700 --> 01:10:00,400
As we all know, because of fiscal situations, we're not doing speedhumps this year, which we all totally understand,

282
01:10:00,400 --> 01:10:07,160
but wanted to have a more full conversation on that and what the best process would be moving

283
01:10:07,160 --> 01:10:14,920
forward because I'm sure everyone is getting the same request that we have gotten and just to

284
01:10:14,920 --> 01:10:18,920
kind of figure out how to navigate that as council members and advocates and really speak

285
01:10:18,920 --> 01:10:24,300
to our constituents. So we'll be working with the mayor's office and that we might be doing that

286
01:10:24,300 --> 01:10:28,960
in a general services committee meeting that might be the best spot for it because we could have

287
01:10:28,960 --> 01:10:33,140
more in depth discussion that way, so if that's something that is impacting you

288
01:10:33,140 --> 01:10:36,880
stay tuned and we can kind of circle back with that once that's together.

289
01:10:39,480 --> 01:10:45,720
We checked in on the hiring freeze for the city, we are still in a hiring freeze

290
01:10:45,720 --> 01:10:52,620
however as before any essential positions they are hiring for, so I know that we've

291
01:10:52,620 --> 01:10:57,900
gotten pretty much everybody has gotten a lot of requests and discussion

292
01:10:57,900 --> 01:11:07,440
And about engineering and there's a lot of vacancies there, they are still actively recruiting

293
01:11:07,440 --> 01:11:08,080
for that.

294
01:11:08,120 --> 01:11:16,740
And they actually said, at this stage, they've done a lot of things and they've also asked

295
01:11:16,740 --> 01:11:20,980
council members if anybody is aware of engineers that might be willing to work for the

296
01:11:20,980 --> 01:11:23,260
city, please have them apply.

297
01:11:25,080 --> 01:11:33,020
They are gearing up for the mid-year report so we expect to have a more full discussion

298
01:11:33,020 --> 01:11:35,840
after August 15th on that.

299
01:11:37,400 --> 01:11:42,940
We did discuss the capital city collective and making sure that there was an appropriate

300
01:11:42,940 --> 01:11:49,880
council voice involved in that and said that once that was together we would happily promote

301
01:11:49,880 --> 01:11:53,540
that and work on getting that to constituents.

302
01:12:00,180 --> 01:12:04,920
They are in the next phase of budget.

303
01:12:05,460 --> 01:12:08,740
So when they were going through the budget process,

304
01:12:08,940 --> 01:12:12,200
the first stage was operational to see where

305
01:12:12,200 --> 01:12:15,500
the operational needs were, where the cost

306
01:12:15,500 --> 01:12:18,260
were, the second stage was staffing.

307
01:12:18,440 --> 01:12:21,140
So they've been trying to do a granular look

308
01:12:21,140 --> 01:12:28,700
And then take a step back to a broader look to see how services can be shared, what can

309
01:12:28,700 --> 01:12:30,300
be kind of brought together.

310
01:12:31,500 --> 01:12:35,740
And then now they're in the last phase, which is the capital phase to kind of get that

311
01:12:35,740 --> 01:12:41,020
five-year capital plan together and check in on the past plans to see what next steps are.

312
01:12:41,780 --> 01:12:46,700
So those are the high-level pieces that they will be talking way more in-depth and committee

313
01:12:46,700 --> 01:12:47,500
on.

314
01:12:47,500 --> 01:12:48,340
Come to remember, Keegan.

315
01:12:49,080 --> 01:12:54,820
Do you know if they're going to send us back, like a fully flushed out budget for the council

316
01:12:54,820 --> 01:13:01,740
because I know we submitted documentation, but it's not the way it's submitted is necessarily laid out

317
01:13:01,740 --> 01:13:06,720
the way we typically see it so we can ensure everything translated.

318
01:13:07,440 --> 01:13:13,380
I believe we're going, there's another meeting with them, Brian, is that accurate?

319
01:13:13,380 --> 01:13:20,380
I believe so. I'm looking for the calendar invite right now. I think that might be the August 20th.

320
01:13:21,100 --> 01:13:25,880
Okay. Yeah, so there's there's additional meetings on it. It is a new process.

321
01:13:26,440 --> 01:13:37,860
Yeah, I just wanted to make sure that the pieces that we put together and submitted earlier and July translated properly to whatever this new format is.

322
01:13:37,860 --> 01:13:39,160
We will see.

323
01:13:45,200 --> 01:13:53,760
So those are the high points of things to anybody. We still have about 15 minutes. Does anybody have anything that they'd like to discuss?

324
01:13:56,540 --> 01:13:59,480
Council member, and also I should not happy birthday Council member Keegan.

325
01:14:00,460 --> 01:14:11,360
On that note, I made cake tennis in the back, since I'm going to be here when it's normally time for a studio cake.

326
01:14:12,040 --> 01:14:16,380
So, please, please feel free to go get a piece cake.

327
01:14:20,620 --> 01:14:24,220
Thank you very much and we appreciate you bringing in a cake for your own birthday.

328
01:14:24,600 --> 01:14:25,740
Very fine.

329
01:14:30,150 --> 01:14:32,550
Was there anything else that anybody wanted to bring up?

330
01:14:42,610 --> 01:14:44,990
That's not appropriate for this place.

331
01:14:45,930 --> 01:14:50,070
You're welcome to talk to him offline on that.

332
01:14:50,850 --> 01:14:51,950
We appreciate that.

333
01:14:52,810 --> 01:14:55,070
Is there anything else Council related?

334
01:14:56,750 --> 01:14:59,970
Now, with that, please feel free to stretch your-

335
01:15:19,920 --> 01:15:20,520
Thank

336
01:15:22,980 --> 01:15:32,440
you very much. I would like to note that it is actually in our rules, that no one is supposed to come on the other side of the council.

337
01:15:32,440 --> 01:15:38,240
defense unless they are speaking public comment. We obviously are relaxed in that in some ways,

338
01:15:38,640 --> 01:15:43,460
but it is, there are, we have had, there are reasons why those rules are there, unfortunately.

339
01:15:44,020 --> 01:15:48,480
So if you could respect that, and our staff is very happy to disseminate any information.

340
01:15:51,800 --> 01:16:01,440
Anything else? Then we will allow caucus to fade and we will re-adjurn in seven o'clock.

341
01:28:57,920 --> 01:29:05,940
Okay, is now 7 p.m. welcome to the Albany Common Council's Monday, August 3rd, 2026 meeting.

342
01:29:08,170 --> 01:29:09,290
Adam Putz, please call the roll.

343
01:29:09,470 --> 01:29:10,150
Addams.

344
01:29:11,250 --> 01:29:11,310
Pleasant.

345
01:29:11,570 --> 01:29:12,090
Anani.

346
01:29:13,030 --> 01:29:13,710
Valorant.

347
01:29:14,710 --> 01:29:15,050
Pleasant.

348
01:29:15,350 --> 01:29:15,810
Brody.

349
01:29:16,510 --> 01:29:17,430
Pleasant. Farrow.

350
01:29:17,770 --> 01:29:18,030
Here.

351
01:29:18,630 --> 01:29:18,850
Glenn.

352
01:29:23,180 --> 01:29:23,360
Holy.

353
01:29:25,340 --> 01:29:25,580
Pleasant.

354
01:29:26,300 --> 01:29:26,660
Pleasant.

355
01:29:27,080 --> 01:29:27,460
Keegan.

356
01:29:29,240 --> 01:29:29,580
Here.

357
01:29:31,640 --> 01:29:32,420
Excuse me, Jones.

358
01:29:32,900 --> 01:29:33,160
Pleasant.

359
01:29:33,860 --> 01:29:34,500
Lumpkin.

360
01:29:34,820 --> 01:29:34,860
Present.

361
01:29:35,680 --> 01:29:36,320
Howell.

362
01:29:36,380 --> 01:29:36,820
Present.

363
01:29:37,460 --> 01:29:37,740
Robinson.

364
01:29:39,380 --> 01:29:40,020
Williamson.

365
01:29:40,220 --> 01:29:40,580
Present.

366
01:29:40,980 --> 01:29:41,380
Zaymer.

367
01:29:41,880 --> 01:29:42,040
Here.

368
01:29:42,380 --> 01:29:42,640
14.

369
01:29:43,020 --> 01:29:43,220
Present.

370
01:29:43,300 --> 01:29:43,420
One.

371
01:29:43,740 --> 01:29:45,860
Thank you.

372
01:29:48,060 --> 01:29:48,500
Next.

373
01:29:49,020 --> 01:29:53,500
Please join me in saying of the pledge of allegiance of followed by a moment of silence.

374
01:29:57,660 --> 01:29:59,040
But...

375
01:30:19,470 --> 01:30:21,530
Thank you. You see it?

376
01:30:30,460 --> 01:30:34,320
Again, welcome to our one of the Augusto meeting. We'll begin.

377
01:30:37,880 --> 01:30:41,070
We'll do our public comment.

378
01:30:42,350 --> 01:30:47,910
This public comment is a process in which we receive the comment from you.

379
01:30:48,390 --> 01:30:55,210
The public is not meant to be a back and forth. Once you take the seat, you have five minutes to speak on any topic.

380
01:30:56,210 --> 01:31:06,630
So desire, be respectful, follow the timer, or lights on the panel there, and when I ask you to stop, please, please stop speaking.

381
01:31:07,650 --> 01:31:08,330
Okay, did that?

382
01:31:09,170 --> 01:31:10,430
Madam Clerk, please call the first speaker.

383
01:31:10,890 --> 01:31:12,250
Our first speaker is Daniel Platte.

384
01:31:26,540 --> 01:31:26,980
Cha cha.

385
01:31:28,080 --> 01:31:29,660
Dan Platte, one, eight, seven, Oak Street.

386
01:31:31,900 --> 01:31:37,320
Okay, so Dan Platte, I'm also chair of the Albany County Green Party.

387
01:31:37,320 --> 01:31:57,860
I'm here to speak on support of the proposal of ranked choice voting Albany, first I'll start with our public statement on the subject that the Green Party has always supported reform, like ranked choice voting, to increase people's choices on the ballot and break the defense of politics that are played in our stagnant elections.

388
01:31:57,860 --> 01:32:05,320
Ranked choice voting in a unified election will allow voters to choose but they truly want to represent them and allow us and

389
01:32:05,320 --> 01:32:11,120
others the opportunity along with further needed reforms to provide that choice on the ballot.

390
01:32:13,270 --> 01:32:21,030
This effort in particular is exciting to me because it is the first time a group in our city has pursued using the citizen lead referendum.

391
01:32:21,570 --> 01:32:28,430
Regardless of the proposal, this is a historic and positive act because it is a tool of democracy that is structured

392
01:32:28,430 --> 01:32:35,230
It's tested by the petition process and it's done by citizens for citizens.

393
01:32:36,090 --> 01:32:39,710
And as I petitioned for it and did my part gathered about 200 signatures,

394
01:32:40,370 --> 01:32:43,830
I found many eager residents excited for this reform,

395
01:32:44,010 --> 01:32:48,890
ranked choice voting in general, and the unified general election beyond it.

396
01:32:49,170 --> 01:32:53,530
Even more were excited for the reform that didn't live in the city,

397
01:32:54,150 --> 01:32:56,430
even though they identified as residents of Albany.

398
01:32:57,350 --> 01:33:07,650
Now, when I did relate to people signing or as they were before, as I was making the pitch they would end local party primaries, half did not care.

399
01:33:08,390 --> 01:33:18,870
The other half were even more supportive. About 1% that I was asking, turn down signing for the sake of their concerns over losing the primary process.

400
01:33:18,870 --> 01:33:22,150
But let's consider the history we're working with then.

401
01:33:22,430 --> 01:33:26,510
The primary was originally in progressive movement tool

402
01:33:26,510 --> 01:33:31,850
to rest control of party candidates from bosses,

403
01:33:32,290 --> 01:33:33,750
some oakville drones, and whatnot.

404
01:33:34,690 --> 01:33:38,350
Now over time, the shifted control of parties themselves

405
01:33:38,350 --> 01:33:41,850
from bosses to fundraisers in Albany.

406
01:33:41,930 --> 01:33:47,150
That was a bit slower, but we have a continuation

407
01:33:47,150 --> 01:33:51,150
of majority voters, not participating in our elections.

408
01:33:52,010 --> 01:33:56,330
Reform is needed, and it needs to focus on expanding voter participation and choice,

409
01:33:56,890 --> 01:34:02,830
not only of the diversity of candidates, but the ideologies in backgrounds that are there on the ballot,

410
01:34:03,210 --> 01:34:08,090
because people do not show up. If there is no one there who is actually representing them,

411
01:34:08,130 --> 01:34:13,050
speaking to their issues, or actually fighting for their shared interests.

412
01:34:14,490 --> 01:34:19,110
The objections themselves, and ended up furthermore on the petitioning, I did so in my

413
01:34:19,110 --> 01:34:24,750
ward the third one myself, participation in interest is a bit lower for reform there.

414
01:34:25,130 --> 01:34:29,350
I found because concerns that the people face are more deeper and desperate than that

415
01:34:29,350 --> 01:34:37,090
local politics can address or is willing to, but we also collected generally roughly 90 to 100 signatures

416
01:34:37,090 --> 01:34:39,090
in Sheridan Hallow.

417
01:34:40,730 --> 01:34:46,530
So a form, an expansion of new options and possibilities of this reform, sorry, that this reform,

418
01:34:47,330 --> 01:34:51,670
an expansion of options, of new possibilities of organizing and empowerment can then occur.

419
01:34:53,610 --> 01:34:58,250
And we also welcome the objections I've been raised because they're kind of good for this,

420
01:34:58,410 --> 01:35:06,130
because they bring up further questions about the meaning of representation, organizing voters, and generally our government.

421
01:35:06,130 --> 01:35:11,910
It's true, ranked choice voting, and the single unified election are a disruption to the way things are done.

422
01:35:12,190 --> 01:35:18,150
They mark an end of the current tactics on offer for representation within the confined constraints of our current election system.

423
01:35:18,610 --> 01:35:24,330
High bars to access, pay to play, limited, media reach, atomized civil society.

424
01:35:26,540 --> 01:35:30,760
Thus, raises a question for the need for further reforms that I mentioned.

425
01:35:31,680 --> 01:35:36,700
Professional representation, multi-member districts, campaign block grants for qualifying

426
01:35:36,700 --> 01:35:42,040
candidates, which is more simple than the matching money system than New York City uses.

427
01:35:43,240 --> 01:35:44,060
It's wrapping up.

428
01:35:44,400 --> 01:35:46,720
We thank you for certifying our petition.

429
01:35:47,320 --> 01:35:52,220
We urge you to take prompt action within the lawful time frame to send our publicly

430
01:35:52,220 --> 01:35:55,100
support proposal to the voters as a whole.

431
01:35:55,360 --> 01:35:58,360
Reform is popular, it's needed, and it needs to happen.

432
01:35:58,820 --> 01:35:59,500
Thank you very much.

433
01:35:59,500 --> 01:36:01,640
Thank you.

434
01:36:06,170 --> 01:36:07,290
A net brown.

435
01:36:21,220 --> 01:36:22,620
I'm into my key to testing.

436
01:36:23,740 --> 01:36:24,620
Good evening, everyone.

437
01:36:24,760 --> 01:36:31,540
My name is a net brown and I was invited to speak by Councilman John Williamson from Ward 1 where I live.

438
01:36:31,780 --> 01:36:34,020
But I was Ward 7 where I work.

439
01:36:34,800 --> 01:36:40,060
But I also represent Ward 7 with my friend.

440
01:36:41,080 --> 01:36:41,560
Sergio.

441
01:36:42,540 --> 01:36:49,300
I'm coming to just bring awareness about our organization, parents of Angel Children.

442
01:36:50,140 --> 01:36:58,000
We are a new organization that was founded in 2024, after 10 years, anniversary of the loss

443
01:36:58,000 --> 01:36:59,780
of my son, due to gun violence.

444
01:37:00,560 --> 01:37:07,780
Our organization has since, has a location at 2-2-0, second avenue here in Albany, New York.

445
01:37:07,780 --> 01:37:15,440
Our mission is to make sure that no parent or people that live in trauma have to walk this journey alone.

446
01:37:16,180 --> 01:37:24,440
Since we have moved into the Village Community Resource Center owned by Reverend Reginald Graham at 2-2-0 second avenue.

447
01:37:25,020 --> 01:37:29,960
A lot of people in the city of Albany do not know what we offer, but we do.

448
01:37:30,000 --> 01:37:59,980
We do offer services to our community every Thursday. We do a free here cut day. We have a senior program. We have a youth program. We have the feed, the homeless community program. We do a grief support group for parents who have lost the child on any circumstances, not just homicide, like a loss of my son. We just want to bring to the city of Albany Awareness that there is an organization that's out here. I do have just a couple of brochures.

449
01:38:00,000 --> 01:38:05,540
I didn't bring a lot with me, but we are in the building for the community to stay

450
01:38:05,540 --> 01:38:14,420
through Saturdays from 10 to 2 or beyond if we need it to, what else did I want to bring

451
01:38:14,420 --> 01:38:15,120
to the community?

452
01:38:15,620 --> 01:38:19,720
We were asking the city of Albany, we're not looking for any money, we know money makes

453
01:38:19,720 --> 01:38:24,400
the world go around, but we're asking for the city of Albany to just recognize parents

454
01:38:24,400 --> 01:38:29,940
of angel children, of being an organization out here for people who are suffering from grief

455
01:38:29,940 --> 01:38:30,620
and trauma.

456
01:38:31,060 --> 01:38:37,210
For two years now, we have been going down to the city by gift school and I believe that

457
01:38:38,140 --> 01:38:44,860
is your award and talking to the people at the bus stop and talking to the people at the

458
01:38:44,860 --> 01:38:45,160
mission.

459
01:38:45,580 --> 01:38:52,340
We have made an impact in lives down there, and I have testimonies and stories from people

460
01:38:52,340 --> 01:38:55,180
we actually changed their life by just coming down the

461
01:38:55,180 --> 01:38:57,480
and feeding them and giving them good hope,

462
01:38:57,640 --> 01:38:58,660
the words of encouragement.

463
01:38:59,340 --> 01:39:02,120
So we're acting the city of Albany to just recognize

464
01:39:02,120 --> 01:39:03,900
parents of angel children.

465
01:39:04,420 --> 01:39:08,080
We look at the city calendar, our senior program,

466
01:39:08,380 --> 01:39:10,440
which our seniors love, and I do believe,

467
01:39:10,640 --> 01:39:13,660
and we want to thank our friend back here, Keith,

468
01:39:13,940 --> 01:39:17,400
for getting the seniors aware of our program.

469
01:39:17,400 --> 01:39:19,860
I think we've been doing that over six months now,

470
01:39:19,860 --> 01:39:24,480
And we're not in any calendars for the city, the county, for anything.

471
01:39:25,040 --> 01:39:32,180
And we're going on over two years now that we've been doing things for the residents of the city of Albany and beyond.

472
01:39:32,700 --> 01:39:35,680
So that's all that I come to speak about tonight.

473
01:39:35,800 --> 01:39:40,340
And I do thank you, Councilwoman John Williamson, for inviting me to speak.

474
01:39:40,940 --> 01:39:43,800
And once again, we are parents of angel children.

475
01:39:44,840 --> 01:39:45,880
Thank you so much.

476
01:39:46,580 --> 01:39:47,260
Thank you.

477
01:39:52,370 --> 01:39:53,970
I rain, do I agree?

478
01:40:05,220 --> 01:40:06,460
Good evening everyone.

479
01:40:07,340 --> 01:40:08,740
That's a hard speech to follow.

480
01:40:08,980 --> 01:40:10,180
My name's Irene Gullier.

481
01:40:10,420 --> 01:40:11,480
Do I depress this?

482
01:40:12,300 --> 01:40:12,720
Okay.

483
01:40:17,640 --> 01:40:22,300
I lost a child, but it was too abortion because my husband didn't want it.

484
01:40:22,440 --> 01:40:27,580
I can't imagine losing a child to violence like in Rochester over the weekend.

485
01:40:28,340 --> 01:40:29,600
I'm sure you're aware of it,

486
01:40:34,670 --> 01:40:34,670
right?

487
01:40:34,670 --> 01:40:36,530
Right? Yes?

488
01:40:37,170 --> 01:40:41,510
You're not too busy on your phones. Are you over with your day jobs, correct?

489
01:40:42,330 --> 01:40:43,690
There's no violence in Albany.

490
01:40:43,850 --> 01:40:47,310
We never lost a child in Albany or in SchemeckTV or Troy, correct?

491
01:40:49,440 --> 01:40:53,400
Do you think putting police in the schools is the answer to that violence?

492
01:40:54,060 --> 01:40:54,760
Yes or no?

493
01:40:55,980 --> 01:41:00,460
Do you think defunding the boys and girls club and big brothers and big sisters?

494
01:41:03,040 --> 01:41:04,360
Is the answer to that?

495
01:41:07,880 --> 01:41:20,300
I cannot imagine, but anyway, I digress, I would have voted for Ralph Nader in 1999, you know why?

496
01:41:20,580 --> 01:41:21,960
Because I believe in Ralph Nader.

497
01:41:22,740 --> 01:41:27,380
I knew Ralph when he was, you know, unsafe at any speed.

498
01:41:28,040 --> 01:41:32,300
And he forced me all the mode of industry to put a seatbelting cars.

499
01:41:33,060 --> 01:41:34,440
My sister had a core there.

500
01:41:34,440 --> 01:41:38,440
I'm so proud of any speed. We were native's rotors.

501
01:41:45,100 --> 01:41:47,140
I believe in the Robo Carolition.

502
01:41:47,680 --> 01:41:55,560
I believe in the Reverend Jesse Jackson. I believe in I am somebody for

503
01:42:02,980 --> 01:42:03,760
you for forty

504
01:42:03,760 --> 01:42:08,460
fifty years. Doing corporate crap,

505
01:42:11,420 --> 01:42:12,320
working two jobs,

506
01:42:16,000 --> 01:42:18,880
I hate it when you're on your phones.

507
01:42:18,880 --> 01:42:23,320
And you're not paying attention and you get paid by the tax dollar.

508
01:42:24,960 --> 01:42:28,580
I hated when the mayor leaves his $20 million dollars.

509
01:42:28,600 --> 01:42:30,120
The rest $20 million dollars.

510
01:42:30,300 --> 01:42:31,840
Holy Mother of God.

511
01:42:32,940 --> 01:42:33,880
Nobody would help me.

512
01:42:35,060 --> 01:42:37,280
They would call me a panhandle in West.

513
01:42:39,980 --> 01:42:42,060
I was in the building of Lancaster,

514
01:42:42,340 --> 01:42:45,000
893 Lancaster, purple one.

515
01:42:45,760 --> 01:42:47,320
I built over the management.

516
01:42:47,320 --> 01:42:48,840
It was a pig style.

517
01:42:48,840 --> 01:42:55,260
And I've gotten frozen, I've not eaten the front room, I've to pay my own utility still

518
01:42:55,260 --> 01:42:57,800
of my national good bill here.

519
01:42:58,400 --> 01:43:01,380
You have to pay, do you

520
01:43:06,060 --> 01:43:06,240
hear?

521
01:43:06,360 --> 01:43:07,680
Your personal bulk,

522
01:43:11,010 --> 01:43:11,770
the athlete,

523
01:43:16,400 --> 01:43:19,160
my brother, if it didn't go the way I've made, I wouldn't

524
01:43:19,160 --> 01:43:19,740
want to go.

525
01:43:20,960 --> 01:43:27,860
You wouldn't have to count a hanging child or son of a doucheat part of my language in

526
01:43:27,860 --> 01:43:28,320
Florida.

527
01:43:28,980 --> 01:43:31,420
You don't have to register today.

528
01:43:35,660 --> 01:43:38,920
I've been voting since I was, whatever the age of voting

529
01:43:38,920 --> 01:43:43,320
is 18. I don't want to tell you, 1978.

530
01:43:45,970 --> 01:43:49,510
And I've been voting Democratic ever since,

531
01:43:51,710 --> 01:43:57,990
but I hope you'll tell you today. If Governor Jerkel doesn't come through,

532
01:44:02,650 --> 01:44:03,330
if she will

533
01:44:03,330 --> 01:44:07,530
and Chris Iran and others don't come through.

534
01:44:07,750 --> 01:44:10,790
I read the words of Republican, I'm an independent.

535
01:44:12,550 --> 01:44:15,850
And she will tell others what she is.

536
01:44:17,310 --> 01:44:18,650
Because that's plenty of money.

537
01:44:20,840 --> 01:44:22,500
You guys are getting paid to be here.

538
01:44:22,660 --> 01:44:23,600
I am not.

539
01:44:29,830 --> 01:44:30,750
Stand up.

540
01:44:31,590 --> 01:44:34,010
I don't care what party belong to.

541
01:44:35,810 --> 01:44:37,650
I want people to believe in government.

542
01:44:38,530 --> 01:44:46,030
So, Governor, all the people, all the people, all the people, all the people, shall not perish from both plain.

543
01:44:47,770 --> 01:44:48,310
Kobyish?

544
01:44:50,970 --> 01:44:55,250
Now, I know it's inappropriate to say this, but do you have any questions?

545
01:45:00,110 --> 01:45:02,210
I served 13 seconds.

546
01:45:05,770 --> 01:45:15,650
All right? Let's stand together. And we don't hang together surely. We all hang apart. And then, and then.

547
01:45:15,650 --> 01:45:16,650
Thank you.

548
01:45:17,570 --> 01:45:17,890
Thank you.

549
01:45:19,370 --> 01:45:19,490
Thank you.

550
01:45:23,310 --> 01:45:24,590
Mariana Arthaluk.

551
01:45:38,580 --> 01:45:39,840
Truly, I don't know how.

552
01:45:42,050 --> 01:45:46,110
Truly, I do not know how to follow up with that, but let's go.

553
01:45:46,810 --> 01:45:48,650
So my name is Mariana Aschaluk.

554
01:45:48,890 --> 01:45:52,050
I am the organising chair for indivisible Albany.

555
01:45:52,610 --> 01:45:53,910
I just recently moved.

556
01:45:54,010 --> 01:45:57,810
So I believe I am in deodorant Brody's district.

557
01:45:58,510 --> 01:46:12,790
So, I'm here to speak about ranked choice voting and the moratorium because that seems to be the thing that I come here for every single time now and guess what I'll be coming back soon to talk about flock.

558
01:46:13,470 --> 01:46:24,490
So, get used to seeing us and a lot more of us activists because we're not going away, which I think is symbolized by how many ranked choice voting signs are behind me.

559
01:46:25,630 --> 01:46:32,630
2,600 plus, Albany City residents have asked that a ranked choice unified election proposal

560
01:46:32,630 --> 01:46:34,570
will be put on the ballot this November.

561
01:46:35,610 --> 01:46:41,530
If members of the common council think that a ranked choice unified election is a bad idea,

562
01:46:42,070 --> 01:46:47,470
they are free to campaign against it and try and persuade voters not to approve it.

563
01:46:47,670 --> 01:46:54,250
But to refuse to even put the measure on the ballot because you are afraid in my past is blatantly

564
01:46:54,250 --> 01:46:58,310
on Democratic and demonstrate to sustain for your constituents.

565
01:46:59,250 --> 01:47:00,230
So here we go.

566
01:47:00,630 --> 01:47:01,930
Let the people decide.

567
01:47:02,770 --> 01:47:05,550
This is how a citizen ballot initiative works.

568
01:47:06,170 --> 01:47:08,770
Citizens getting of signatures to call for vote.

569
01:47:09,150 --> 01:47:12,610
This is an question of whether you, or personally,

570
01:47:12,870 --> 01:47:14,590
or not personally, support it.

571
01:47:14,850 --> 01:47:17,890
It's a question of whether you respect your constituents enough

572
01:47:17,890 --> 01:47:20,570
to respect their asking to vote on this.

573
01:47:20,570 --> 01:47:31,410
It comes down to communication and respect and believe you me, I believe the city, the people of Albany have spoken by rights of their signatures on the petition.

574
01:47:32,250 --> 01:47:40,530
New York State Law states that the voters in each municipality have the right to decide by vote how they want to structure their local elections.

575
01:47:40,530 --> 01:47:45,850
Don't block or impede the voters this right, pretty straight forward.

576
01:47:46,650 --> 01:47:51,490
In the amount of time that this body has dedicated to stifling reform,

577
01:47:52,270 --> 01:47:57,910
zero energy has been dedicated to fighting or even evaluating the amount of invasive tech

578
01:47:57,910 --> 01:48:01,130
that is right in our doorstep with things like Kenwood,

579
01:48:01,570 --> 01:48:03,790
flock cameras, or even Waymo.

580
01:48:05,430 --> 01:48:07,690
This is, even with indivisible Albany,

581
01:48:07,690 --> 01:48:11,910
writing this council more to our legislation again said data center.

582
01:48:12,970 --> 01:48:17,410
The priorities it seems are misguided and quite frankly silly.

583
01:48:18,430 --> 01:48:21,570
So again, I sit here and tell you to again,

584
01:48:21,870 --> 01:48:29,710
reject, trickle down politics, and really truly evaluate where your alliance is

585
01:48:30,510 --> 01:48:38,510
people, party, because at the end of the day, this system of government, regardless of party

586
01:48:38,510 --> 01:48:46,050
affiliation, are two sides of the same coin, are the halves and the half-notts, and the

587
01:48:46,050 --> 01:48:51,990
quite frankly, it's how this society and culture and American society has gotten to where

588
01:48:51,990 --> 01:48:58,670
it is in the first place. It's stifling reform like ours. It's putting party politics in front

589
01:48:58,670 --> 01:49:05,550
people. It's making people choose, well, if I have to get my voice heard, I have to sign up to be a

590
01:49:05,550 --> 01:49:10,690
Democrat and a democratically controlled area. Oh, I guess the same could be said for Republicans,

591
01:49:11,130 --> 01:49:15,810
as well, instead of the party or the politicians or the elected officials are either listening

592
01:49:15,810 --> 01:49:24,070
to the people. So again, I ask you and I will continue to say so, reject party politics,

593
01:49:28,650 --> 01:49:28,650
reject

594
01:49:28,650 --> 01:49:34,730
Because at the end of the day, we are the ones that put you here and we put our trust in you.

595
01:49:35,110 --> 01:49:37,630
So now pay us the same due diligence of respect.

596
01:49:38,450 --> 01:49:39,650
Thank you.

597
01:49:40,610 --> 01:49:41,650
Thank you.

598
01:49:43,830 --> 01:49:44,190
Nora?

599
01:50:08,180 --> 01:50:10,540
Good evening, Members of the Common Council.

600
01:50:11,160 --> 01:50:16,100
My name is Nora, and I'm a homeowner and a investor in Albany's First Ward.

601
01:50:16,100 --> 01:50:23,140
I'm here today because I want to address the ongoing sanitation issue in my neighborhood.

602
01:50:24,160 --> 01:50:29,780
I appreciate the hard work our sanitation crew do, but I have personally witnessed garbage

603
01:50:29,780 --> 01:50:33,420
bags breaking while they are being emptied into the truck.

604
01:50:33,960 --> 01:50:40,100
When that happens, trash falls onto the street and too often it is simply left there instead

605
01:50:40,100 --> 01:50:41,200
of being picked up.

606
01:50:41,200 --> 01:50:46,840
I'm not repeating something I've heard, I've seen it with my own eyes on multiple occasions.

607
01:50:47,720 --> 01:50:53,620
What concerns me even more is that when I drive through other neighborhoods such as the Whitehall area,

608
01:50:53,960 --> 01:50:58,100
which is left in two minutes from the First Ward, I don't see the same problem.

609
01:50:58,820 --> 01:51:03,960
The streets appear much cleaner and loose trash isn't left behind after collection.

610
01:51:04,520 --> 01:51:09,480
Every neighborhood in Albany deserves the same level of service and attention.

611
01:51:09,480 --> 01:51:13,700
I also want to ask what happened to the street sweepers.

612
01:51:14,100 --> 01:51:16,300
I remember when they regularly cleaned our streets,

613
01:51:16,640 --> 01:51:18,920
but I really see them in the first ward anymore.

614
01:51:19,540 --> 01:51:23,180
If the program has changed, I'd like to understand why.

615
01:51:23,500 --> 01:51:26,960
If it still exists, I respectfully ask that our neighborhood

616
01:51:26,960 --> 01:51:29,900
we see regular street sweeping as well.

617
01:51:30,380 --> 01:51:34,820
When trash is left on the ground, it creates unsanitary conditions.

618
01:51:34,820 --> 01:51:41,080
a track's rodents and discourages investment in our community.

619
01:51:41,600 --> 01:51:47,580
As a homeowner and investor, I want to see the first word continue to improve and clean

620
01:51:47,580 --> 01:51:50,240
streets are a basic part of that effort.

621
01:51:50,880 --> 01:51:56,660
I respectfully ask the Common Council to work with the Department of General Services to ensure

622
01:51:56,660 --> 01:52:01,220
a sanitation cruise pick up any trash that falls during collection.

623
01:52:01,220 --> 01:52:08,440
That street sweeping services are provided consistently and that every neighborhood, including the first ward,

624
01:52:08,820 --> 01:52:11,900
received the same standard of cleanliness and care.

625
01:52:12,520 --> 01:52:17,160
Clean streets should not depend on what part of the city you live in.

626
01:52:17,360 --> 01:52:19,240
Thank you for your time and consideration.

627
01:52:21,120 --> 01:52:21,820
Thank you.

628
01:52:25,190 --> 01:52:26,010
Lee Nubberg.

629
01:52:45,380 --> 01:52:52,520
Hello, my name is Lee Newberg, and I'm a resident in the 14th ward, a voter in the 14th ward.

630
01:52:53,880 --> 01:53:05,660
Now that the petition asking for ranked choice voting with a single unified election has been certified, the question comes down to how we might want to do ranked choice voting in the city of Albany elections.

631
01:53:06,420 --> 01:53:12,460
There are many localities in the United States that do this, but the trend is clear, and

632
01:53:12,460 --> 01:53:14,540
I'll mention only three.

633
01:53:15,820 --> 01:53:21,020
Berkeley, California, a very progressive place, has had ranked choice voting and a single

634
01:53:21,020 --> 01:53:26,140
unified election since 2004 for mayor, city council, and auditor.

635
01:53:27,340 --> 01:53:33,360
That's pretty clear, but maybe you think that voters have evolved since 22 years ago, so I'll

636
01:53:33,360 --> 01:53:36,400
to examples of efforts currently underway.

637
01:53:38,360 --> 01:53:42,680
The effort in Sacramento, California is quite similar to Albany's petition.

638
01:53:43,640 --> 01:53:47,160
Better ballots, Sacramento was collecting signatures to get a ballot measure,

639
01:53:47,400 --> 01:53:53,280
implementing ranked choice voting in a single unified November election for the city of Sacramento.

640
01:53:54,220 --> 01:53:58,980
The proposal aims to eliminate the standalone primary system for city offices.

641
01:53:58,980 --> 01:54:06,080
Instead, all candidates would run directly in the high turnout November general election using ranked choice voting.

642
01:54:08,520 --> 01:54:12,720
The effort in Honolulu Hawaii is only a little different from the Albany petition.

643
01:54:13,700 --> 01:54:19,300
The Honolulu Charter Review Commission voted to place a ranked choice voting measure on the November ballot.

644
01:54:20,300 --> 01:54:26,760
If there are five or fewer candidates for an office in the nonpartisan open primary, then the primary is canceled,

645
01:54:26,760 --> 01:54:30,720
and ranked choice voting is used in the November General Election.

646
01:54:33,170 --> 01:54:39,190
In summary, what the petition asking for here is neither new nor obsolete.

647
01:54:40,310 --> 01:54:46,590
Thousands of city of Albany voters have asked you via petition for the chance to vote this ballot measure up or down.

648
01:54:47,510 --> 01:54:49,170
Please honor that request.

649
01:54:53,360 --> 01:54:53,850
Thank you.

650
01:54:57,690 --> 01:54:58,390
Michael Becker.

651
01:55:15,690 --> 01:55:17,430
Thank you for having the upper tone.

652
01:55:17,910 --> 01:55:20,690
Sorry for giving us the opportunity for public comment.

653
01:55:20,690 --> 01:55:24,290
And it's always easy to take unfiltered comments

654
01:55:24,290 --> 01:55:25,870
from the public to maybe here criticisms

655
01:55:25,870 --> 01:55:27,290
from the public sometimes.

656
01:55:27,990 --> 01:55:30,590
So I appreciate you all taking the time to listen to us.

657
01:55:30,610 --> 01:55:33,070
I am happy birthday to Council Member Keegan.

658
01:55:34,470 --> 01:55:35,210
My name is Michael Becker.

659
01:55:35,330 --> 01:55:36,650
I live in the fourth board.

660
01:55:37,150 --> 01:55:39,390
And this is my first time giving public comment

661
01:55:39,390 --> 01:55:42,210
at this Council or really any public council.

662
01:55:43,110 --> 01:55:46,050
But this is something that I feel very strongly about.

663
01:55:46,190 --> 01:55:48,610
As you can probably guess, I'm speaking in support

664
01:55:48,610 --> 01:55:50,710
of the rank-choice-booning ballot initiative.

665
01:55:52,750 --> 01:55:55,150
I think it's important to bear in mind a few things

666
01:55:55,150 --> 01:55:57,530
that first, that supporting the initiative

667
01:55:57,530 --> 01:55:58,910
and voting, it's a part of the initiative

668
01:55:58,910 --> 01:56:00,210
doesn't decide the question.

669
01:56:00,410 --> 01:56:04,510
It isn't even deciding definitively what election

670
01:56:04,510 --> 01:56:05,330
model will choose.

671
01:56:05,490 --> 01:56:08,670
It's just allowing the people of Albany the chance to decide.

672
01:56:09,450 --> 01:56:11,970
And people of Albany have made a great effort

673
01:56:11,970 --> 01:56:15,130
to express their support for this for getting this on the ballot.

674
01:56:15,710 --> 01:56:17,190
We've collected thousands of signatures.

675
01:56:17,190 --> 01:56:23,690
This campaign has collected, and again, 2600 signatures, or how many of the Talias exactly

676
01:56:23,690 --> 01:56:31,830
after, you know, it was verified in a city with 55,000 registered voters is no small

677
01:56:31,830 --> 01:56:37,050
amount, just over 100,000 people is no small amount, it's a significant show of support, I would

678
01:56:37,050 --> 01:56:37,710
say.

679
01:56:38,550 --> 01:56:42,570
And it also shows that your constituents are mindful of this, that this has popularity and

680
01:56:42,570 --> 01:56:47,450
this is something that they're going to, you know, watch and be concerned how they're

681
01:56:47,450 --> 01:56:49,510
representative to side on this.

682
01:56:51,850 --> 01:56:54,250
We've been talking about this proposal for some

683
01:56:54,250 --> 01:56:59,750
time people from ranked-trice voting, all many have been speaking about this proposal

684
01:56:59,750 --> 01:57:05,930
for some time and they've talked about the demographics of people who are unafiliated

685
01:57:05,930 --> 01:57:09,130
voters of it. It's the second largest group of voters in Albany. It's the second

686
01:57:09,130 --> 01:57:12,170
largest party status because it's a very democratic city.

687
01:57:13,310 --> 01:57:16,030
I believe it's about 25, about one in four voters

688
01:57:16,030 --> 01:57:16,970
are unafiliated.

689
01:57:18,510 --> 01:57:22,690
And because there's such a large democratic advantage

690
01:57:22,690 --> 01:57:25,490
in Albany, it effectively excludes many of these voters,

691
01:57:25,650 --> 01:57:27,530
many of these younger voters, many of these voters

692
01:57:27,530 --> 01:57:29,550
in communities of color.

693
01:57:31,230 --> 01:57:35,030
And voters who are often the most unmotivated

694
01:57:35,030 --> 01:57:37,090
and left out of our democracy whose perspectives

695
01:57:37,090 --> 01:57:38,630
are often not included.

696
01:57:41,530 --> 01:57:43,750
Turn out an Albany elections has been very low in recent years.

697
01:57:43,870 --> 01:57:50,270
Out of those 55,000 people, about 15,000 people voted in the last election in 2025.

698
01:57:51,550 --> 01:57:54,310
So less than 30% just over one in four voters.

699
01:57:55,070 --> 01:57:56,330
And it's not hard to figure out why.

700
01:57:56,490 --> 01:58:01,110
Interview members of the county board of election who said that the race really takes

701
01:58:01,110 --> 01:58:05,910
pace in the primary or a political science professor Kevin Barron at Standing University who said

702
01:58:05,910 --> 01:58:08,210
that people already feel like they know the outcome

703
01:58:08,210 --> 01:58:09,970
of the election, and they won't show up.

704
01:58:10,330 --> 01:58:13,410
And in many cases, it's not hard to see why they would think

705
01:58:13,410 --> 01:58:14,830
that the outcome was already decided,

706
01:58:14,850 --> 01:58:16,990
because there was only one candidate effectively

707
01:58:16,990 --> 01:58:18,030
contesting the race.

708
01:58:19,010 --> 01:58:22,270
Or that, again, because there's a very large democratic voter

709
01:58:22,270 --> 01:58:24,110
advantage, or registration advantage,

710
01:58:24,270 --> 01:58:26,510
many of those elections in the general election,

711
01:58:27,250 --> 01:58:28,170
are not really competitive.

712
01:58:28,970 --> 01:58:31,630
And that means that the primary, which excludes all those

713
01:58:31,630 --> 01:58:34,650
unread, unafiliated voters, and excludes many Democrats

714
01:58:34,650 --> 01:58:36,970
to jump simply for whatever reason.

715
01:58:37,590 --> 01:58:39,230
Don't participate in those primaries.

716
01:58:39,870 --> 01:58:41,450
They effectively don't get a say.

717
01:58:43,910 --> 01:58:46,570
Now, and I say all of that, our organization

718
01:58:46,570 --> 01:58:49,430
is nonpartisan, the campaign that's been behind this

719
01:58:49,430 --> 01:58:51,090
has been people with different parties.

720
01:58:51,190 --> 01:58:52,810
Most of them might imagine our Democrats

721
01:58:52,810 --> 01:58:55,430
because most people in the city of Albany are Democrats.

722
01:58:56,010 --> 01:58:57,470
I myself am a registered Democrat.

723
01:58:58,430 --> 01:58:59,850
And I believe in Democratic values.

724
01:58:59,990 --> 01:59:01,210
I believe in aggressive values.

725
01:59:02,170 --> 01:59:04,010
I think the same that you've heard some people

726
01:59:04,010 --> 01:59:06,390
talking about that primaries or progressive reform

727
01:59:06,390 --> 01:59:08,350
and this can be a progressive reform.

728
01:59:08,830 --> 01:59:09,770
I believe in equal rights.

729
01:59:10,010 --> 01:59:13,890
I believe in equal access as a value and access

730
01:59:13,890 --> 01:59:15,230
to the political process.

731
01:59:15,670 --> 01:59:19,810
I grasp roots and bottom up political process being important.

732
01:59:20,850 --> 01:59:23,630
And I believe in the politics that are elected officials

733
01:59:23,630 --> 01:59:26,290
and the process that we choose are elected officials

734
01:59:26,290 --> 01:59:27,410
should represent everyone.

735
01:59:27,570 --> 01:59:29,810
All of us, all of our perspectives, all of our communities

736
01:59:29,810 --> 01:59:31,170
and all of our voices.

737
01:59:31,670 --> 01:59:40,010
And it's so same values that really lead me to, again, support ranked choice voting and the single unified primary, general election November election.

738
01:59:41,570 --> 01:59:47,170
And I hope that those same values that you all share as members of the Democratic Party, I believe, all of the members of the council.

739
01:59:48,350 --> 01:59:59,030
The evidence that myself and others have put forward hopefully not at Nazium and the thousands of voters in the city of Albany who have endorsed this proposal encourage you all to support it as well.

740
01:59:59,030 --> 01:59:59,970
And stop it.

741
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:05,120
Anything else to support continuing that discussion by letting it be on the ballot for an next year's election?

742
02:00:05,740 --> 02:00:10,020
Continue that conversation and let the people of the city of Albany make that choice in the final decision.

743
02:00:10,520 --> 02:00:13,000
Again, thank you all for taking the time listening to us.

744
02:00:14,380 --> 02:00:14,800
Thank you.

745
02:00:19,480 --> 02:00:20,660
That was our last speaker.

746
02:00:21,740 --> 02:00:24,820
So our public comment is officially closed.

747
02:00:26,020 --> 02:00:28,200
Any members want to speak?

748
02:00:29,400 --> 02:00:29,900
Mr. Johnson.

749
02:00:31,500 --> 02:00:31,900
Thank you.

750
02:00:33,520 --> 02:00:41,240
And, you know, in no ways am I apologize if I ring our speaker, but for me I was just happy

751
02:00:41,240 --> 02:00:41,860
to see her.

752
02:00:41,940 --> 02:00:43,380
I haven't seen her in a long time.

753
02:00:43,480 --> 02:00:49,660
She's somebody from the second board who, you know, if you ever get a chance to know or you

754
02:00:49,660 --> 02:00:57,040
a lover, I just, you know, just wanted to go on record and say that I was happy to see

755
02:00:57,040 --> 02:00:57,740
her today.

756
02:00:57,740 --> 02:01:02,740
And then I also want to speak about parents of angel children.

757
02:01:03,020 --> 02:01:09,580
I believe in the sister's name, Ms. Brown, and she has been a huge present in all of

758
02:01:09,580 --> 02:01:10,900
any since she's been here.

759
02:01:11,680 --> 02:01:17,240
When I leave work, I actually see them interacting with the kids on the daily basis, you

760
02:01:17,840 --> 02:01:24,940
know, whether it's, and in our ice cream, they feed them something at the bus stop of

761
02:01:24,940 --> 02:01:34,700
singland and second half and you know I apologize for not highlighting the work that she's been

762
02:01:34,700 --> 02:01:41,760
doing because she's consistent. She's a heavy presence in the second word and the first word and

763
02:01:41,760 --> 02:01:50,490
you know I appreciate her after and I'm sat in that she had to come down here and bring it to our

764
02:01:50,490 --> 02:01:58,530
but definitely she's doing the work that is needed in the neighborhood and people actually

765
02:01:58,530 --> 02:02:05,090
appreciate her presence and I also would like to say to the people that's coming down here

766
02:02:05,090 --> 02:02:12,330
it's talking about ranked choice low. I hear you loud and clear and I stand on the side and any

767
02:02:12,330 --> 02:02:17,730
conversation I have about this is I'm going to go with the consensus of the people and my

768
02:02:17,730 --> 02:02:27,690
and so our here you and thank you thank you Mr. Johnson, Mr. Robinson

769
02:02:31,760 --> 02:02:33,620
thank you Mr. President.

770
02:02:36,340 --> 02:02:51,520
I'd just like to address the art give an answer to the organization that came and said and acts that the city just recognized the organization.

771
02:02:52,700 --> 02:02:56,600
through the mayor's violence prevention initiative

772
02:02:56,600 --> 02:02:59,460
through the Office of our Violence Prevention,

773
02:02:59,760 --> 02:03:01,940
there's a website dedicated

774
02:03:02,520 --> 02:03:04,880
because one thing we all understand

775
02:03:04,880 --> 02:03:07,740
that we all have organizations that does the work,

776
02:03:08,700 --> 02:03:11,100
okay, and the organization's working silos.

777
02:03:11,960 --> 02:03:17,660
And this is the full scope of the mayor's attention

778
02:03:17,660 --> 02:03:25,980
of intentions to actually come back violence in the city of Albany, to bring all the

779
02:03:25,980 --> 02:03:30,680
organizations that's doing the work, but they're doing the work in silos.

780
02:03:31,320 --> 02:03:41,500
On the one umbrella where all the information is being stored in document where now, when someone

781
02:03:41,500 --> 02:03:48,340
who has programs, that's doing the work in the community.

782
02:03:49,180 --> 02:03:55,140
There's a dedicated website that they can go and they can put the information of the organization,

783
02:03:55,640 --> 02:03:59,380
what their organization does, and what brings to the community.

784
02:03:59,740 --> 02:04:05,220
And that's orbiting NY.gov slash OVP.

785
02:04:05,940 --> 02:04:11,000
So once they go on that website, I'm saying that'd be directed to just register the organization,

786
02:04:11,000 --> 02:04:16,800
to work their organization, though, because that's what it, you know, I'm saying the whole

787
02:04:16,800 --> 02:04:27,440
initiative is in this infant stage, okay, but it's gonna grow, it's gonna work, and it's

788
02:04:27,440 --> 02:04:36,600
gonna change the projectivity of how our city address new violence. So I just wanted, you know,

789
02:04:36,600 --> 02:04:41,900
make sure that I go on record to let her know that there is a starting point in some place

790
02:04:41,900 --> 02:04:50,940
that she can go to actually get her organization onto the city's radar and again that's

791
02:04:50,940 --> 02:04:52,440
Good evening, N.Y.

792
02:04:53,580 --> 02:04:56,720
Doggub, Slash, O.V.P.

793
02:04:57,140 --> 02:04:57,880
Thank you.

794
02:04:57,900 --> 02:04:58,720
Thank you Mr. Robinson.

795
02:04:59,040 --> 02:04:59,600
Mr. Holy.

796
02:05:52,590 --> 02:05:52,810
Okay.

797
02:05:53,170 --> 02:05:54,050
Any other?

798
02:05:55,170 --> 02:05:58,990
Comments from members is over.

799
02:05:59,790 --> 02:05:59,930
Okay.

800
02:06:00,150 --> 02:06:03,670
Moving on to approval minutes from previous meeting.

801
02:06:04,350 --> 02:06:04,890
Mr. Ferrell.

802
02:06:05,230 --> 02:06:06,110
Thank you, Mr. President.

803
02:06:06,110 --> 02:06:08,090
I noticed that July 25th,

804
02:06:08,310 --> 02:06:11,730
2026 meetings and minutes and asked for their approval.

805
02:06:13,310 --> 02:06:14,990
All in favour?

806
02:06:15,010 --> 02:06:15,290
Aye.

807
02:06:16,230 --> 02:06:17,830
Any names or extensions?

808
02:06:18,930 --> 02:06:19,690
Motion passes.

809
02:06:23,640 --> 02:06:25,720
We're on to reports of standing committees.

810
02:06:26,780 --> 02:06:27,420
Mr. Holy.

811
02:06:41,470 --> 02:06:42,270
Thank you, Mr. Holy.

812
02:06:43,090 --> 02:06:44,770
Any other?

813
02:06:46,350 --> 02:06:46,790
Ms. Hammer.

814
02:06:48,190 --> 02:06:49,090
Thank you, Mr. President.

815
02:06:49,930 --> 02:06:55,410
The planning economic development and land use committee met this evening.

816
02:06:57,690 --> 02:06:58,890
August 3rd.

817
02:06:58,890 --> 02:07:10,690
and voted resolution 78, 72, 26 are and resolution 79, 72, 26 are both out of committee with unanimous favorable recommendations.

818
02:07:12,270 --> 02:07:13,050
Thank you.

819
02:07:14,410 --> 02:07:14,750
Tuskegee.

820
02:07:16,350 --> 02:07:17,450
Thank you, Mr. President.

821
02:07:18,330 --> 02:07:23,930
Our finance meeting, which was scheduled for last week, unfortunately, has be canceled due to weather.

822
02:07:23,930 --> 02:07:29,970
Finance will be meeting on August 12th to address a number of bills.

823
02:07:41,560 --> 02:07:48,560
All right, let's move on to consideration of local laws.

824
02:07:48,560 --> 02:07:52,600
Thank you.

825
02:07:53,300 --> 02:07:53,640
Thank you.

826
02:07:53,960 --> 02:07:55,080
Thank you.

827
02:07:55,100 --> 02:07:56,640
All right.

828
02:07:59,540 --> 02:08:02,760
Moving on to consideration of local laws.

829
02:08:05,670 --> 02:08:08,020
The local laws are held at this time.

830
02:08:08,930 --> 02:08:10,170
Thank you.

831
02:08:10,230 --> 02:08:11,010
Two ordinances.

832
02:08:11,870 --> 02:08:14,110
Mr. Boweren.

833
02:08:14,250 --> 02:08:14,810
Thank you, Mr. President.

834
02:08:15,130 --> 02:08:23,010
I asked that ordinance 15 that 81 that 26 begins to do, please.

835
02:08:24,170 --> 02:08:25,050
Thank you, Mr. Boweren.

836
02:08:25,410 --> 02:08:25,870
Madam Court.

837
02:08:26,430 --> 02:08:28,090
In ordinance and mending article five,

838
02:08:28,370 --> 02:08:32,710
domestic partnerships of chapter 245 licenses of the cold of the city of Albany.

839
02:08:32,710 --> 02:08:37,850
in relation to updating the fee and documentation requirements for domestic partnerships.

840
02:08:38,350 --> 02:08:39,790
Thank you, Ms. Ferrell.

841
02:08:41,670 --> 02:08:43,270
That will go to the law committee.

842
02:08:44,990 --> 02:08:45,340
Thank you.

843
02:08:46,730 --> 02:08:48,950
And the rest of the residents are helped.

844
02:08:49,690 --> 02:08:50,000
Thank you.

845
02:08:51,990 --> 02:08:55,210
Okay, you're on to resolutions Mr. Jones.

846
02:08:56,050 --> 02:08:56,910
Thank you, Ms. President.

847
02:08:56,910 --> 02:09:04,410
I'd like to notice resolution 82, 81, 26 are and as far as introduction and passes.

848
02:09:06,210 --> 02:09:07,050
Thank you, Madam Court.

849
02:09:07,570 --> 02:09:13,130
A resolution of the Common Council recognizing and celebrating my, my and our,

850
02:09:13,130 --> 02:09:17,170
I'm proud to say I'm all cultural and expressing support for the capital,

851
02:09:17,750 --> 02:09:20,970
thinking, festival on August 15, 26.

852
02:09:22,470 --> 02:09:23,910
Thank you, when discussion.

853
02:09:23,910 --> 02:09:25,050
Okay.

854
02:09:29,160 --> 02:09:31,980
All right. See you in none.

855
02:09:35,290 --> 02:09:39,870
We'll have a visit. All in favor say aye.

856
02:09:41,650 --> 02:09:42,550
These extensions,

857
02:09:45,300 --> 02:09:46,380
not motion passes.

858
02:09:49,330 --> 02:09:51,430
Okay, until the next, this power.

859
02:09:52,330 --> 02:10:02,350
Thank you, Mr. Faisan. I asked that I noticed resolution 83.81 that 26 are

860
02:10:02,350 --> 02:10:05,400
and actually move forward for a vote.

861
02:10:06,770 --> 02:10:07,850
Thank you, Mr. Bowler.

862
02:10:08,910 --> 02:10:14,570
A resolution of the common council celebrating the 61st anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare.

863
02:10:17,220 --> 02:10:18,200
The discussion, Mr. Bowler.

864
02:10:19,360 --> 02:10:23,130
Thank you, Mr. President. Last week, July 30th,

865
02:10:23,940 --> 02:10:29,520
mocked the 61st celebration of Medicare and Medicare.

866
02:10:30,280 --> 02:10:42,800
And I appreciate all the advocates everyone who mocked this and acts for more, because healthcare is something that affects all of us.

867
02:10:43,120 --> 02:10:44,540
It's something that we all deal with.

868
02:10:44,640 --> 02:10:47,680
It's something that all of our loved ones deal with in one way or another.

869
02:10:48,360 --> 02:10:53,740
We've seen some significant cuts to those programs in the last year.

870
02:10:53,740 --> 02:11:04,280
I would hope that one day they get, we funded through the federal government or two, the state can come in and provide the gap in the meantime.

871
02:11:04,840 --> 02:11:11,260
Because it's our families, it's our neighbors, it's our communities that are facing the burden.

872
02:11:12,140 --> 02:11:17,920
The number one reason for bankruptcy is healthcare costs.

873
02:11:17,920 --> 02:11:28,760
And that is very understandable because who wouldn't put every sin they have to keep the ones they love alive and careful.

874
02:11:30,560 --> 02:11:44,940
So I appreciate the support for my colleagues on this. I do hope that our state and our federal government take a stronger stance on something that affects every single human being that lives in our country.

875
02:11:45,680 --> 02:11:46,340
Thank you.

876
02:11:46,340 --> 02:11:49,220
Thank you, Mr. Balleron. Further discussion?

877
02:11:50,420 --> 02:11:51,300
Excuse me.

878
02:11:52,950 --> 02:11:53,870
Thank you, Mr. President.

879
02:11:54,670 --> 02:12:00,950
I want to thank my colleague for introducing this resolution.

880
02:12:01,310 --> 02:12:07,030
And also take all of us in a little bit of a history jump.

881
02:12:07,850 --> 02:12:16,730
So Medicaid and Medicare were the United States alternative to universal health care as the rest of the industrialized world

882
02:12:16,730 --> 02:12:23,210
was creating some system of either universal healthcare coverage or a completely government

883
02:12:23,210 --> 02:12:30,430
run healthcare system. And what most of us don't realize is that that compromise came to

884
02:12:30,430 --> 02:12:36,890
be because we agreed to offset the cost of private health insurance through taxes. So we've

885
02:12:36,890 --> 02:12:41,710
essentially always, always, as a government,

886
02:12:42,890 --> 02:12:45,830
paid for healthcare for everyone.

887
02:12:46,810 --> 02:12:50,110
We've just done it in a very odd and bizarre

888
02:12:50,110 --> 02:12:52,690
and really incredibly expensive way.

889
02:12:53,850 --> 02:13:02,670
And Medicare is something that is incredibly impactful

890
02:13:02,670 --> 02:13:07,630
to families like mine who have profoundly disabled loved ones

891
02:13:07,630 --> 02:13:10,350
who are unable to work,

892
02:13:12,670 --> 02:13:16,870
would that they could, but have never been able to work throughout their lives,

893
02:13:16,990 --> 02:13:31,330
and it is incredibly challenging to be in a country that continually seeks to strip benefits away from people who desperately need them in order to survive.

894
02:13:31,330 --> 02:13:46,670
So, once again, I want to thank Council Member Balloron for bringing this resolution forward and reiterate my hope that at some point this country is going to get itself together on healthcare.

895
02:13:47,310 --> 02:13:48,750
Thank you.

896
02:13:49,250 --> 02:13:50,010
Thank you, Ms. Keegan.

897
02:13:51,090 --> 02:13:57,290
further discussions and none we're all your all co-sponsors on this so we'll do both

898
02:13:57,290 --> 02:14:08,070
avoid waste both so all in favor yeah okay motion passes thank you Mr. Bower

899
02:14:08,070 --> 02:14:13,190
for that moving on Mr. Robinson

900
02:14:15,530 --> 02:14:20,490
thank you Mr. President I recognize resolution

901
02:14:20,490 --> 02:14:25,850
in 84-81-26 are in acts force and adoption, please.

902
02:14:26,190 --> 02:14:27,390
Thank you.

903
02:14:27,490 --> 02:14:28,810
Thank you Mr. Robinson, Madam Clerk.

904
02:14:29,270 --> 02:14:31,810
A resolution of the common council honoring the life and legacy

905
02:14:31,810 --> 02:14:34,170
of Nathaniel Puleum and renaming a portion

906
02:14:34,170 --> 02:14:36,650
of Henry Johnson Boulevard in his honor.

907
02:14:36,970 --> 02:14:37,710
Ms. Farrell.

908
02:14:38,410 --> 02:14:39,150
Thank you, Mr. President.

909
02:14:39,190 --> 02:14:40,470
That will go to General Services.

910
02:14:41,730 --> 02:14:42,690
Thank you.

911
02:14:43,950 --> 02:14:45,210
Mr. Lumpkin.

912
02:14:46,090 --> 02:14:47,090
Thank you, Mr. President.

913
02:14:47,090 --> 02:14:54,370
I know this resolution 85.81.26R and actual introduction.

914
02:14:55,890 --> 02:14:57,270
Thank you, Mr. Lumpkin.

915
02:14:57,430 --> 02:14:57,970
Madam Court.

916
02:14:58,350 --> 02:14:59,970
A resolution of the Common Council Honor.

917
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:06,260
And the lives and legacies of George and Helen Torion and renaming a portion of sin broke place in their honor.

918
02:15:09,660 --> 02:15:10,700
Ms. Ferrell.

919
02:15:11,220 --> 02:15:13,280
Thank you, Mr. President. I look at a general services.

920
02:15:15,320 --> 02:15:16,320
Thank you.

921
02:15:16,660 --> 02:15:17,720
Hey, Ms. Ferrell.

922
02:15:19,260 --> 02:15:24,340
Thank you, Mr. President. I noticed resolution 8681-26R and ask for its introduction.

923
02:15:25,520 --> 02:15:26,720
Thank you, Madam Good.

924
02:15:27,000 --> 02:15:33,240
A resolution of the Common Council approving a change in the authorized positions included in the

925
02:15:33,240 --> 02:15:36,380
which will affect a salary rate or salary total.

926
02:15:36,820 --> 02:15:37,600
This barrel?

927
02:15:38,140 --> 02:15:40,480
Thank you, Mr. President, that will go to the Finance Committee.

928
02:15:44,690 --> 02:15:45,450
All right, Ms. Kiegen.

929
02:15:46,310 --> 02:15:53,630
I notice resolution 87.81.26R and asks for its introduction and pass it to your roll for a vote.

930
02:15:54,830 --> 02:15:56,910
Thank you, Madam Clerk.

931
02:15:57,290 --> 02:16:02,470
A resolution of the Common Council of the City of Albany requesting the City of Albany's budget office

932
02:16:02,470 --> 02:16:09,370
provide various documents to allow for sound and sound for a sound review of the 2027 purpose budget.

933
02:16:09,510 --> 02:16:13,890
Thank you. Discussion. Miss Kigan? No? No?

934
02:16:14,490 --> 02:16:16,670
Hold the discussion. Okay.

935
02:16:18,390 --> 02:16:23,270
We'll do a roll call vote. Call the roll.

936
02:16:23,730 --> 02:16:32,370
Yes. Adams. Yes. Anani? Yes. Valorant? Yes. Brody? Yes. Ferro? Yes.

937
02:16:33,510 --> 02:16:34,190
Yes.

938
02:16:34,670 --> 02:16:34,990
Yes.

939
02:16:35,890 --> 02:16:36,570
Yes.

940
02:16:37,150 --> 02:16:37,430
Jones.

941
02:16:38,350 --> 02:16:38,410
Yes.

942
02:16:38,970 --> 02:16:39,310
Kegan.

943
02:16:40,590 --> 02:16:40,790
Yes.

944
02:16:41,090 --> 02:16:41,490
Lumpkin.

945
02:16:41,930 --> 02:16:42,170
Yes.

946
02:16:42,730 --> 02:16:43,050
Powell.

947
02:16:43,610 --> 02:16:43,850
Yes.

948
02:16:46,070 --> 02:16:46,710
Williamson.

949
02:16:46,870 --> 02:16:47,150
Yes.

950
02:16:47,470 --> 02:16:47,810
Zaymer.

951
02:16:49,210 --> 02:16:49,450
Yes.

952
02:16:49,550 --> 02:16:50,290
Cosponsor police.

953
02:16:50,830 --> 02:16:51,790
14 in the affirmative.

954
02:16:52,470 --> 02:16:53,990
Motion passes.

955
02:16:56,930 --> 02:16:57,310
Okay.

956
02:16:58,910 --> 02:16:59,090
Yes.

957
02:16:59,090 --> 02:16:59,250
The same.

958
02:16:59,850 --> 02:17:00,870
Thank you, Mr. President.

959
02:17:00,870 --> 02:17:05,530
And I know it is resolution 88, 81, 26R, and ask for its introduction.

960
02:17:07,070 --> 02:17:07,750
Thank you, Madam Court.

961
02:17:08,150 --> 02:17:12,630
A resolution of the Common Council consenting to the appointment of Chester Bennett to the

962
02:17:12,630 --> 02:17:15,630
Albany Park Authority Board of Directors.

963
02:17:15,890 --> 02:17:16,850
This fellow?

964
02:17:17,410 --> 02:17:19,030
Thank you, Mr. President. That would go to planning.

965
02:17:20,470 --> 02:17:21,490
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

966
02:17:22,470 --> 02:17:29,650
Thank you, Mr. President. I notice resolution 78, 72, 26R, and ask for its passage.

967
02:17:30,550 --> 02:17:31,670
Thank you.

968
02:17:31,710 --> 02:17:32,210
Not in court.

969
02:17:32,430 --> 02:17:33,830
A resolution of the common council

970
02:17:33,830 --> 02:17:36,590
concentrating to the re-appointment of Serena White Lake

971
02:17:36,590 --> 02:17:38,210
to the board of zoning appeals.

972
02:17:39,230 --> 02:17:39,810
Scusion?

973
02:17:40,670 --> 02:17:41,250
No.

974
02:17:43,570 --> 02:17:44,150
Well...

975
02:17:44,150 --> 02:17:44,410
Adams?

976
02:17:47,090 --> 02:17:47,710
Yes, cosmon.

977
02:17:48,290 --> 02:17:48,750
Anani?

978
02:17:49,230 --> 02:17:49,490
Yes, cosmon.

979
02:17:50,690 --> 02:17:51,270
Valorant?

980
02:17:51,530 --> 02:17:52,410
Yes, cosmon's a police.

981
02:17:52,930 --> 02:17:53,410
Brody?

982
02:17:53,870 --> 02:17:54,710
Yes, cosmon's a police.

983
02:17:55,190 --> 02:17:55,570
Ferro?

984
02:17:56,010 --> 02:17:56,990
Yes, cosmon's a police.

985
02:17:57,510 --> 02:17:57,950
Hoi?

986
02:17:59,510 --> 02:17:59,810
Johnson?

987
02:18:00,530 --> 02:18:01,450
Yes, cosmon's a police.

988
02:18:01,450 --> 02:18:09,250
Jones. Yes, co-faster police. Kigan. Yes, co-sponsor police. Lumpkin. Yes, co-sponsor police.

989
02:18:09,970 --> 02:18:19,490
Howell. Yes, co-sponsor police. Robinson. Yes, co-sponsor police. Williamson. Yes, co-sponsor police.

990
02:18:21,750 --> 02:18:23,610
Yes, for it's in the affirmative.

991
02:18:24,330 --> 02:18:25,670
The motion passes.

992
02:18:28,080 --> 02:18:29,380
I'm in the same room.

993
02:18:29,560 --> 02:18:30,560
Thank you, Mr. President.

994
02:18:31,120 --> 02:18:35,940
I noticed resolution 79-72-26R and asked for its passage.

995
02:18:36,780 --> 02:18:37,900
Thank you, Madam Court.

996
02:18:38,380 --> 02:18:39,700
A resolution of the Common Council

997
02:18:39,700 --> 02:18:41,980
consensing to the appointment of the last night

998
02:18:41,980 --> 02:18:43,460
to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

999
02:18:44,240 --> 02:18:44,800
discussion?

1000
02:18:46,000 --> 02:18:46,180
None.

1001
02:18:47,640 --> 02:18:48,260
Please follow me.

1002
02:18:48,460 --> 02:18:48,780
Adams?

1003
02:18:52,160 --> 02:18:52,560
Yes, goes.

1004
02:19:22,560 --> 02:19:30,080
before it's seen in the infirmant and the motion passes and that's it for legislation

1005
02:19:30,080 --> 02:19:38,420
we're on to miscellaneous or unfinished business this is Johnson yes I make this quick

1006
02:19:38,420 --> 02:19:47,180
I wanted to follow up earlier when the personal was talking about the Garbis cans and the

1007
02:19:47,180 --> 02:19:52,360
street sweeper because I'm my way to the meeting tonight someone yelled at me and

1008
02:19:52,360 --> 02:19:58,560
regards to the sweet, sweet, sweet sweeper, not coming, and you know that old argument about

1009
02:19:58,560 --> 02:20:05,480
people having to move their cars. So if we could talk to DGS and see if we can get some

1010
02:20:05,480 --> 02:20:11,920
consistency with the street sweepers, I think that would be appreciated as well as how they

1011
02:20:11,920 --> 02:20:19,460
handled the garbage cans in our neighborhood. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Anyone else?

1012
02:20:19,460 --> 02:20:21,120
So, what?

1013
02:20:21,900 --> 02:20:22,860
Motion to return.

1014
02:20:24,360 --> 02:20:25,020
All in favour?

1015
02:20:25,420 --> 02:20:26,100
All right.

1016
02:20:26,480 --> 02:20:27,060
Okay.

1017
02:20:40,490 --> 02:20:41,270
All right, got to go too.