Finance, Assessment and Taxation Committee

ALBANY COMMON COUNCIL FINANCE, ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION COMMITTEE MINUTES Sonia Frederick, Chair Meeting called by: Sonia Frederick, Chair | Date: July 19, 2023 | Time: 5:37PM Committee Members Present: Frederick, Chair ☒ Balarin ☒ Farrell ☒ Adams ☒ Keegan ☐ City Personnel Present: Shaniqua Jackson (Deputy City Clerk), Bryan Jimenez (Senior Legislative Aide), Juliette Geraghty (Junior Legislative Aide), David Galin (Chief of Staff, Mayor's Office), Ann Marie Salmon (Department of Administrative Services) Invitees/Speakers Amy Klein, CEO of Capital Roots, Inc. Minutes Agenda Item(s):  Ordinance 33.82.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CITY-OWNED PARCELS AT 34 IRVING STREET (TAX MAP PARCEL NUMBER 76.40-2-10), 38 IRVING STREET (TAX MAP PARCEL NUMBER 76.40-2-9), AND 181 MYRTLE AVENUE (TAX MAP PARCEL NUMBER 76.40-2-37) TO CAPITAL ROOTS, INC.  Resolution 89.82.23R (MC) A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF ANN MARIE SALMON AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Questions and Discussion:  The chair called the meeting to order.  Ordinance 33.82.23 o Amy Klein spoke on Capital Root's community garden work on vacant lots. o Amy also spoke on grant funding being sought for expansion of work on the lots in the ordinance. o Council Member Adams spoke on the specific lots and the impact of the garden and Capital Root's work in the area. o Council Member Adams asked what the grant timelines and deadlines were to which Amy responded, stating that the grant deadline is coming up and an extension of the deadline is contingent on the transfer of the property to Capital Roots. o Council Member Adams asked if there were set plans for improvements to the existing parcels to which Amy responded with specific improvements that Capital Roots has planned for the garden. o Council Member Farrell spoke on due diligence on the part of the Common Council with regards to reviewing an assessment of the parcel. o Council Member Frederick asked Senior Legislative Aide Bryan if an assessment was done for the property to which Bryan responded that no assessment had been done for the property. o Council Member Balarin requested that the committee receive an assessment or other documentation with regards to the parcels. o Council Member Frederick thanked Amy and Capital Roots for their community work. Council Member Frederick also mentioned that Capital Roots is currently involved in a labor dispute and that the ordinance can be held until the labor dispute is resolved as an option. Council Member Frederick also mentioned that the City of Albany is pro-union. o Council Member Hoey spoke on his discomfort with voting in favor of the ordinance while the dispute is on- going. Council Member Hoey asked if Amy would be willing to comment on Capital Root's current situation to which Amy responded. o Council Member Frederick asked for additional information on the grant deadlines to which Amy responded. o Council Member Farrell spoke on the general discomfort with voting on the ordinance at this time due to the lack of information and asked Amy about a more definite timeline for the grant. o Council Member Frederick and Amy discussed the upcoming Finance committees where this ordinance could be discussed again after engaging in further fact-finding. o Council Member Balarin spoke on consistency with receiving the information needed to make decisions on similar ordinances. o Council Member Adams asked the committee to consider the grant opportunity itself and spoke on his support for the ordinance in relation to its impact on the local community. o Council Member Frederick asked again for a specific timeline to which Amy responded that the grant will sunset at the end of September. o Council Member Adams reiterated the need for quick action by the committee and Common Council on this matter. o Council Member Farrell spoke on the role of the Common Council in ensuring fiscal responsibility. Council Member Farrell also spoke on the possibility for a Finance, Assessment and Taxation committee meeting on September 18th where this ordinance can be discussed again after receiving the necessary information on the property. Amy spoke on the history of property transfers to Capital Roots from the City of Albany with regards to fiscal responsibility. o Council Member Frederick spoke on her comfort with having a meeting on September 18th after receiving the necessary property information. o Council Member Farrell spoke on the usual receipt of assessments and requests for additional information. o Council Member Frederick spoke on working with Corporation Counsel to ensure that Common Council has the information needed to hold a vote on the ordinance.  Resolution 89.82.23R (MC) o Ann Marie Salmon provided a brief personal and professional history, speaking specifically on her role in the structure of the Department of Administrative Services and growth of the department with her assistance. o Council Member Frederick thanked Ann Marie for her work for the city. o Council Member Adams asked what this appointment would mean for her and if there were any plans or projects that Ann Marie would want to implement to which Ann Marie responded, detailing her view of leadership and assurance of including more staff in department decision-making. Ann Marie also spoke on  plans for increasing outreach of each department under the Department of Administrative Services, following through on projects currently underway, and increasing a focus on sustainability. o Council Member Adams asked about the potential implementation of a Municipal Internet department or office under Information Technology to which Ann Marie responded on the need to work with federal and state initiatives as well as the desire to draft plans for the implementation of recommendations over the coming weeks. o Council Member Farrell thanked Ann Marie for the work she does in the city. Council Member Farrell asked if there are other sustainability projects that the city could be doing now and how we could focus on larger goals in that realm. Ann Marie spoke on the Director of Sustainability and the plans underway in that office, including a Community Climate Action Plan which would start with building a roadmap with stakeholders and the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure. Ann Marie also discussed one idea provided by an intern to focus on highly reflective rooftops as well as another idea for exploring geothermal technology in Albany. o Council Member Farrell spoke on the Council needing to be a supportive partner of progress in the Department of Administrative Services to which Ann Marie responded. o Council Member Balarin spoke on employment vacancies and asked Ann Marie if there were any additional initiatives the department should implement to increase staffing and diversity across positions to which Ann Marie responded that there should be a reassessment of job requirements that would allow for people to work their way up in their career to ensure the retention of institutional knowledge. Ann Marie also spoke on greater hiring outreach, including going to career fairs and providing a City of Albany employee toolkit that can be provided to council members when they conduct outreach. o Council Member Frederick discussed the mayor's support for Ann Marie's appointment and asked Chief of Staff David Galin if there was anything he would like to say to which David responded that Ann Marie has been a valuable asset in city government. o Council Member Kimbrough discussed projects that Ann Marie has been involved in and spoke on his appreciation for the role she has played. o Council Member Hoey voiced his support for Ann Marie's appointment. Council Member Hoey also asked what Ann Marie's thoughts are on residency requirements to which Ann Marie responded that niche specialties may need the exception as otherwise the roles may stay open for longer than necessary delaying the provision of a city service. o Council Member Hoey also spoke on upward mobility and diversity throughout the city structure and his concerns regarding city equipment storage and location. o Council Member Farrell moved to pass Resolution 89.82.23R (MC) out of committee with a positive recommendation, seconded by Council Member Adams, and passed by voice vote. Public Comment: There was no public comment. Adjourn: The chairperson asked for a motion to adjourn, Council Member Adams moved to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Balarin, and the motion passed by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:35PM. Respectfully Submitted, Bryan Jimenez Senior Legislative Aide