[laughter]
Yeah, some trees today.
To the flag of the United States of
America to the republic for it stands
one nation
indivisible with liberty and justice for
all.
here.
>> Councelor Ky
>> here.
>> Councelor Smith
>> present.
» Thank you everyone for coming to our
special meeting tonight.
Um,
do you want to discuss
how does
Item number one, approve the revised 30%
design submission for the Veterans
Memorial Park and authoriz
Yeah.
>> Okay, cool.
>> Yeah. So, Steve, you want to come on up?
Grab the
[clears throat]
All right. Good evening.
>> Good evening.
All right. So I have a
paper prescue.
All right. So slide one, the
keep this pretty short. Back in March, I
gave the council a much more detailed
update that went through every project.
Since then, I've also contin
since March and what we need to do to
keep moving forward. Slide two. What has
changed since March? A few things have
changed since March. Veterans Park has
gone through a lot of work and now we
have a 30% design fit within the VR
award. The
projects are no longer moving forward
the way they are originally planned and
street and soccer field still moving but
outside funding is going to affect what
we ultimately are able to do rest of the
projects are continuing to move along
slide three
projects at a glance this slide is just
really a quick snapshot of the whole
projects are all in very different
phases right now some are moving into
construction some are still in design
some are programs are already helping
businesses and we now have a couple of
projects that need to be reworked with
the state. It's pretty normal with a
program this large, especially when
projects take several years from the
original application to construction.
Slide four, streetscape and soccer
fields. For streetscape, we're still
waiting on some outside funding we've
applied for. Because of that, we've been
trying to be very careful about how far
we move the design forward. We don't
want to pay for design or design
something and then turn around and have
to redesign it and pay more money. For
the soccer fields, the 900,000 NPR grant
uh that we applied for earlier this year
was not awarded. And I did another
$200,000 grant application through the
New York program for supplemental
funding for soccer. So both projects are
still very much alive and we're just
trying to make sure the final design
matches the money.
Slide five and the business assistance
fund hotel is still moving forward. A
lot of the interior demolition has been
done and we continue to stay in contact
with the project team as they work
through the next steps. The business
assistance fund is moving as well. Some
of those projects are done, some are
construction and some are still working
through changing paper. I give you guys
updates on each one.
There's also a lot going on behind the
scenes in both of those, but the
important thing is council public.
Slide six, comprehensive plan and
forbased code. The comprehensive plan
and form based code projects are also
underway. We have committee in place.
The consultants are working and we
started the community work that will go
into both those documents. This one's a
little different from the construction
projects because there isn't a building
or a park to point to, but it's
important because it's going to help
guide how grows and development is going
to look like and the kind of changes we
want to encourage over the next several
years. Debor and slide seven. This is
[snorts] probably the biggest change to
the overall DRI since March. Debor and
are no longer moving forward as they
were initially awarded. The money
doesn't just automatically move
somewhere else. We don't get to simply
pick.
So just make that very clear. So we're
working with the Department of State on
what happens now. They have a process.
So for them on some
I bought Park and Cal Theater were two
of the original projects on the
strategic investment plan. Those are
what initially is we think the state is
going to move on and ask that those
projects be funded first before anything
else.
But until the state tells us exactly how
they want to handle it, I don't want to
tell council or the public anything that
I don't have complete information.
Slide eight, veterans memorial park.
For the best part, we now have a 30%
design. It fits within the DRR award.
The current working number is1,58,696
and the DRI award is $1,59,000
saving $34.
That includes the splash pad, the court
work, the reduced bath house work, and
the veteran. The F-16 is separate. The
aircraft itself, moving it, mounting it,
the special foundation, train work, and
all other costs tied directly to the
aircraft are not being paid with DRRI
money. Not being paid with DRRI money.
And I want to keep saying this because
it matters.
This is still a 30% design. We are not
approving a construction contract
tonight. Slide N. What does 30% mean? I
think this is one of the biggest things
that has gotten confused during this
whole discussion. A 30% design is still
and currently designed. A yes vote tells
us and tells CNS that this is the
direction council wants us to keep
working from. It does not approve the
old 1.7 million estimate. It does not
award a construction contract. Does not
pay for an F-16. And it does not mean
the project can never change again.
There are still final design, state
review and bidding. Another round of
discussion before anything else is
built. Slide 10. Where do we go from
here? From here, the different VR
projects are going to keep moving on
different trends. Some need more design
work. Some need state approval. Some are
waiting on grant decision. Some are
already being built or implemented. My
job is to keep all of that moving.
It's moving on different tracks.
Keep the state and consultants
coordinated, keep the council updated,
and bring things back when council
actually decisions. That's really where
we are today.
This is the end of my DR updates. I have
more slides and I have more things that
we'll dig into the whole park, but I
think I've given this this council, the
city, and the community more than enough
information on what actual facts are out
there and what has been put out as
misinformation. I'm happy to go round
and round with this stuff over the next
four or five slides, but I think it's in
the city's best interest move
if um and I didn't know if Luke was
gonna get to talk a little bit about um
you know I know some of the projects
have shifted since we started right and
something come out and I had I had um
families reach out with um some of the
popcornies specifically that we're just
concerned about the bathroom and I know
we don't have it's not in this project
now um that added in the future or if
not for this can we think about in
beyond the like focusing on just
preparing a couple of the total
foramilies
um the feedback I got from a couple that
we have 75 people to have the one potty
it just gets really challenging for the
players so just specifically the
bathroom
>> I mean it sounds original might
something you guys want to
Yeah, [clears throat]
>> just to clarify too
because there was two distinct elements
attached to the plane
side and the bath house.
>> Right.
>> So the original scope of work only had
the bath house connected to the pool,
not plumbing attached to the bathroom.
My original understanding was it was
that was incorrect. Not an original
bathroom. It was only the bath house. So
the original design that we had in
discussion with Victor we had targeted
design that whole thing part of that was
you know we didn't have any turnover the
stuff came in we didn't know what was
where so when we got the original
[clears throat]
understand the bath house is the
designated
rooms is a separate activity
>> I think that was
Yeah,
» if you have any technical questions.
» Nice job.
All right.
» You want to clarify further about the $1.7 million
discussion. So that came from our wish
list of items back in August when we
walked the field. The bathrooms were in
there. house. We had everything top
shelf that we had designed in that which
is where the 1.7 obviously that initial
design was not where we needed to be and
we had to go back and revise the scope
inputs from council as well to say hey
got to get back closer to the mark.
That's where went back to the drawing
board and do the redesign the new 30%
design which is what is currently in the
packet. So the one that's in the packet
currently is the 30% design that was
done with the input from council as well
as recommendations from engineering team
with a firm eye towards the financial
considerations. So, it's within scope
and cost right now with those
considerations all [clears throat]
I just wanted to briefly just discuss
why that number went up to 1.7 and then
why it's back down to 1.05.
>> Was there any movement on reaching out
to Corman or Chapman for donations
or anything like that?
>> Well, we emailed them for a discussion.
I haven't heard response u but we did
reach out to them asking if they had any
I know a thing out of Connecticut is
where the nonprofit is actually now the
families over there but it's out of
state but I did reach out with an email
asking specifically if there's any
interest in continum
[clears throat]
I think I
in June.
>> Yeah, the one you sent that was not the
link though to the to the application.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah,
>> it was their website.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was just their
>> I can find the application if you want
me to.
>> If you have an application like more
than happy to look at it apply for any
additional funding, you know, we're I
think this too just to mention this uh
we have grants that we are working on
for this as well because we do want
additional funding for this. Um those
grants come in annual cycles for the
So, we don't know exactly what we're
going to be getting, but applying for
the swims grant, you know, that's
essential to this to see how much money
we can get. We can get more, we can do
more. Same with ao fields. We applied
for the kicks grant. Um, and that was
again, thank you, Counciloman McHugh.
That was actually a really nice
suggestion. He was like, "Oh, that that
works out great." And when we reached
out to our state partners about it, um,
Alyssa, who's been great to work with,
she really, you know, thumped the table
and she's like, "The kicks program,
right?" So, I think we might have a
little success there. So hopefully
there's some more. But we are actively
pursuing these grants very aggressively
because we want to get as much money as
we can. That annual appropriation cycle
puts us a little bit behind, but we're
hopeful that what we've submitted will
come back. So that's where the states
where we're standing with the grants
right now.
>> One more question.
>> Yes.
>> Um to do some of these projects, do we
have to match and put up any money? Does
the city have to have money to put up to
start construction on any of these once
we get them through?
>> Not to start construction. We did have a
match 20% match originally. The original
scope of work specifically called out AR
funding before my time whatever happened
to it. And so there's no more commitment
from the city. You know that being said,
you know, we went back and designed it
underneath the
capture.
» Correct.
I'm also a couple
trying my hardest to try to get that.
» That's a great idea, but also we could
use some money for
So sorry I can get you guys. [laughter]
» Any other discussion?
>> Mayor.
>> Um,
>> no.
>> With this special meeting, we're trying
not to we have public comment today.
We're not going to have any.
>> Sorry.
>> Sandy.
>> Oh, all in favor is me. All in favor?
No. Any obstensions? Motion pass.
>> Item number two, receive and place on
file
3.7
receive on file observed
section 3.7.
This is just the rece.
» Is there no discussion?
» 3.7 of the charter
that has to do with a past resolution.
That resolution failed.
>> So it's it's not the veto authority. The
dean explained this to me. She will not
be here tonight. Spoke with her this
morning.
It's a separate authority under 3.7 note
authority which is a but
>> right back on the agenda for
>> I quoted it will be every resolution is
passed by the common council and then it
goes on to say what they can do which
would be put it back on I've got no
objection to have it back on just that
way the agenda reads citing something
>> I'm just I just want you to know I did
go through this whole thing resolution
on the
>> I asked when they brought that up
because he said he received legal advice
elsewhere and I spoke I spoke to Peter
>> oh that's why I asked you had any
relevant information to share with us a
little bit about it
>> just by
procedurally you can't
>> bounce back something unless I got
nothing against reoting on it, but to
have a written objection, right?
This is just
>> Can I ask do you still have the detail
power?
>> Even though you vote with the council,
you have
to have the executive legislative branch
in the same
>> kind of interesting. And I just wonder
if maybe that was just when we were um
drafting the um referendum and the
language when we moved to a city manager
form of government, you know what I
mean? That maybe this also kind of came
up last year with the tax cap override,
right? It got to be a hiccup because
twothirds of seven is confusing.
>> You know, it might be a conversation
>> for another
[clears throat]
topic.
Yes.
» Item number three, reconsiderations.
Approve the budget transfer set forth in
resolution 2613
originally considered and rejected.
motion.
>> Any discussion?
>> I move to amend the resolution113
by changing the set amount to 40,000.
» I think it's a good compromise.
I think I talked to Kyle.
» I just think we're
pretty much
>> because any unused balances go back into
the general fund.
>> So we're talking about
kids baseball Halloween parties
[clears throat] want to cut um
everything to do with kids. And I not
agreed to that.
>> I'm just saying that's those are the
you're trying to pick from. Correct.
>> And that's the only options that we're
given this one.
>> It's not our place to pick the lines.
We're just trying
>> It definitely is your place when you're
when you don't do a budget transfer. It
is your place to tell us where are we
going to take that money to pay for gas
first for our
You guys
can only transfer
>> otherwise anybody
that's hoping you guys could identify.
Is that what she
>> So when we the way I understood it was
to look at the budget as it is and if
there's money available to be moved into
that gas line I can move that gas.
So
>> but I can only do that within the
confines of 16. I can't go like water
department.
» Yeah, I I can't do that. But I can I
mean I'm happy
transfers.
>> I'll sit down with because I identified
60 lines that halfway through the year.
Okay. Again
though like there are a lot of things
that don't get used until the end of the
year and like again like put music and
vendors in there as well
comes up. A lot of these things don't
get used till the end of the year and
again if we don't use them they go back
into the general fund right back where
we're trying to take out and again I
don't want to have our employees coming
back and forth to us saying back for gas
because they are going to run out. That
[clears throat] question, why did we let
the tanks practically get dry within six
days of dry?
» Again, the tank's not big enough. We
talked about that last time, but so if
the tank dry all day, it doesn't really
matter.
>> But I don't think it's okay because we
never expected them not to accept this
general fund transfer. This is how the
government has worked since long as I'
been a part of it. Long
when there's an emergency.
» Hey, excuse me.
We at least I council was given no heads
up whatsoever.
>> That's another great point I was gonna
mention. I'm sorry. Um, in December,
every department had probably most
employees knew they got a fraction of
their requested budget. So, conservation
on all spending should have been enacted
in December.
>> Um, and just one other thing I noticed
in Le's last month report, 81 of our
budget lines were already below 50%
halfway through the year. So, this is
going to keep happening for the next
five months. And the general fund, we
know we can't let it drop below. We
should let it 15. If it drops below 10,
the state's in here.
>> If those lines are not used, then we go
right back here. So, we're doing good.
Again, we're halfway through the year
and we're
so
>> 81 lines are below 50%. There's less
than 50% less like I'm talking 30%, 14%.
>> Some of those lines might be seasonal.
>> Correct.
» Or you can try to pick and choose. I
would love to have more money from the
council.
I'll certainly be requesting it. Um but
it was a very difficult season last year
and gas was up gas is up a dollar year
over a dollar year today. Diesel's up
almost $2%
above what you budget though. I don't
think the gasation
>> I I agree. I think it's we were beholden
to the last council to get to that 5%.
>> There was nothing we could do
>> essentially whatever they wanted they
said this is what you have to do to get
us to 5%.
[snorts]
You're right it is under budget. It
should be higher. You know that
completely agree with you. You know we
are one disaster away from you know all
this financial issues with the gas and
lo and behold we go to war with the rent
you know which I consider to be a
disaster. Look what happens. So it
definitely impacted us.
We did build a cost increase into the
last budget before gas and diesel but
again that increase was rejected or more
lines because we had to get it to a
certain percentage working with council.
I I think it's a fair compromise just to
give you some time to look over the last
baref
[clears throat]
about cutting things like I believe the
Christmas extravaganza the Halloween the
Halloween party
Luke's here I I didn't feel comfortable
even with that
department
>> even the last council kept that
>> $100 in
our
[clears throat]
operationally this is really challenging
to look at how we do things as a city
and that the way we've done things to
this point, we've gotten here, so we
know something has to be different. And
you're an expert on knowing how cities
function, how to build these systems and
efficiency, you know, all those things.
And so I would defer to your expertise
to know can we change the way we do
things to cut cost. So not concretely
cutting out no saying cutting out
children's happiness like just so you're
creative and you have a lot of
experience. So maybe something
operationally we can shift.
>> Absolutely.
>> You know, and I think that's what I'm
envisioning here. Not just slashing
lines, but is there a way we can do
things differently to maybe save some
money? That's what I'm thinking.
>> Absolutely. And those are the right
questions, right? And and looking at our
operations and how we do things, the gas
savings restriction I put in place last
week.
>> Did you folks have a chance to look at
the tracker that I built in the butt,
but
every week, every Thursday, I'm going to
get a gas report. So, I'm generating so
I have a to go with 20% reduction across
all my departments. That's a little
aggressive, but I want them to get as
close to that as possible. You know, if
we do that, we'll be way under 40,000.
So, that's my goal, right? Even with
having compromise and getting some money
in place, I will continue to keep the
gas restrictions in place to the end of
the year, maybe even beyond if we have
to, depending on how things are going.
[clears throat] Because, and I say this
to all my department heads, even if we
get money in that line and it's an if, I
want to see money put back, right?
That's what I want to see and that's my
directive to them because if you just
spend spend spend down, you have to
answer to me why you're doing that. You
shouldn't just be spending down just for
the sake of it. I I refuse to accept
that. You know, I need a justification
as to why. So, we're looking at ways
that we can push back against a lot of
the spending. Um, to council Jill's
earlier point, you know, $1.6 million
last year was
too much too much. This year we're at
about 273
decay which is over 80% almost 81%
reduction in general fund spending that
is thanks to the discipline fiscal
discipline my department has monitoring
everything working with Leanne working
Jessica getting all our ducks in a row
is a testament to the fact that we
recognize the last year is not a
sustainable practice we can't rob our
savings bank anymore to to kick the hand
down the road. Unfortunately, as I think
we all understand, we have some tough discussions to have. We got to
make some tough decisions. And I think
that's just the reality right now. So,
um I am more than willing to look at
anything and and review anything, look
at process improvement, how we can get
ourselves much more effective
operations. There certainly is a lot we
can do right now looking at my DPW
that we can do. Um but stuff takes time.
It takes time and I think as we begin
some of these directives and more
austerity measures, we'll see the
dividends pay off down the road in five,
six months. And again, you know, back to
the fuel track, right? 30 days from now,
we're going to know if the policy is
helping and how much it's helping. So my
hope is we continue to go in these
directions. So it's not just us saying,
"Okay, it's a crisis right now. How do
we fix it right now?" It's us saying,
"We have a structural issue structural
issue. organization. We need to correct
it. And it's going to be a multiaceted
approach. It's not one thing. It's not
just raising taxes. It's not just
cutting services. It's not just cutting
positions. It's doing all those things
in a way that makes sense if it makes
sense that provides real benefit back to
the state. So, it's a much more holistic
approach and that's kind of what I'm
looking at. And certainly right now with
budget season underway, we're working
through a lot of our departments and
through those budgets right now to
identify what is the absolute need. You
know, and last year, yeah, we we were
very austere and I think, you know,
department heads were, you know, not
thrilled, but it's going to be a lot of
the same again this year. And I'm just
very honest with them. So, and I I say
it here and and they hear me out there
and it's it's what I tell them every
day. So, we have to make these decisions
and we have to get a rain on this and
keep the spending. You know, again,
we're looking at our spending, but next
year
we can rain in even more. Maybe there's
a chance to further go down. So, I am
more than willing to engage in those
discussions and give my recommendations
and suggestions. I've already put out
some, you know, feelers and some emails
originally with some of my general fund
ideas. And I call them my hammock
thoughts, right? Something will just
come to me and I'm like, "Oh, I got to
write that down." share with council. So
any of those ideas that I bring up or
approaches, if one of those, you know,
speaks to you, you're like, "Hey, that's
a good idea." By all means, you know,
shoot me an email, let me know, "Hey,
Kyle, I think you're on to something."
And we could flush it out.
>> I would say anything.
» Definitely begun.
All right. So, being here
[laughter and snorts] because motion to
amend it and it was seconded by
>> unfortunately because there's two budget
items, you can't just throw out a
I have to have the separation
propos amendment proposed amendment. Um
so you can do the allocated to each one
of those right now if that makes sense
and then you
decide you want to do the amended one
then that's a regular vote. If you
decide no, we don't want to do the
amended one, we're just going to go for
it. Then we'll go back to the roll call.
So I first I need to know
>> how you want to split up the 40,000
>> 2020.
>> And just for point of clarification, you
can transfer between
[laughter]
» just for everybody's happiness.
>> Can I just ask this? voting. I want
>> Well, I think everyone kind of gets my
opinion again. Um, we are literally just
doing things in a circle. If the money
we don't spend the money in those lines,
they go back in the general fund anyway.
Why not just give our employees the gas
now instead of having them fight for it?
>> I keep asking and I don't know how many
times
the plan's [clears throat]
I don't know about you guys, but I was
nervous. had to listen to that thunder
Sunday night going off thinking you guys
generators the power there's all these
old air conditioning
>> I'm sorry I would assume that now that
Kyle's tracking it he'll know
>> right now tomorrow if we leave here
tonight the tornado hits we lose power
do we have enough gas to keep going
>> so we so I'll clarify this
>> what if we go to zero in gas and these
guys get
fire goes out and they don't have enough
gas to pull a fire truck out of the
housing. What is our plan?
>> You got 40,000 given to you and you run
out the next day. I think there's bigger
problems about
>> we're not going to pass another 40,000
next day
coming up though. It's not like all of a
sudden you go through 40,000
>> again.
So doesn't really matter. You know, we
don't have an answer. You got lines in
here that are
>> we still haven't heard from Luke.
>> Adult softball, Halloween party,
Halloween extravaganza, right?
Playground mulch, youth baseball
contracts, concert and entertainment
contracts. These are the lines we're
trying to pull out.
>> You guys want to see that?
>> Someone was already canled. That was in
the last
>> You're corre correct. They didn't have
enough people. But that's also a revenue
attached to it. So it's a wash
>> that we don't
>> if we don't. There was a revenue on one
side as
we didn't have revenue. We didn't have
the expenditure. You pull that now. You
actually pulled
that money didn't exist before.
>> We said last meeting we cut this budget
to the bone. There is nothing else to
cut. So I'm just pointing out there's
these things on it. We feel that that
can't be cut. That is the bare bones.
That's fine.
>> But there's a revenue on the other side
that offsets it. So it wasn't money we
were taking out of general fund to begin
with.
>> It was money that would have been
revenue come in.
>> So if you now try to take that expense
now
[laughter]
>> we're just arguing about whether it is
20 or 10.
Can we just take a vote?
>> So this is voting on the motion to amend
the budget transfers from
0912
separated 20,000 to each one is going to
gasoline 401 and one is going to
amendment.
» Okay. All in favor?
>> I do a roll call.
>> Well, this one is this one is on the
» council.
>> Yes.
>> Councelor Ki.
>> No.
» Yes.
>> I mean, no. Oh my gosh. I'm a No. Wait.
Holy crap. I'm a no. Yes.
>> Oh my god. I'm sorry.
>> Are you in favor?
>> I'm in favor for
so
» now.
to vote on it as it was 2613
to leave it with figures as they are.
>> Council,
>> no.
>> Council,
>> yes.
>> Councelor Smith,
>> yes.
>> Council Jones,
>> no.
>> Council,
>> yes,
Thank you guys all for coming.
» I'm gonna stay for a little bit.
Anybody's got questions about they want
updates. I'm going to hang out and just
talk to anyone.
How are you?
>> Oh, not much. How are you doing?
How are you