Finance, Assessment and Taxation Committee

ALBANY COMMON COUNCIL FINANCE, ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION COMMITTEE MINUTES Sonia Frederick, Chair Meeting called by: Sonia Frederick, Chair | Date: November 2, 2023 | Time: 5:37 PM Committee Members Present: Frederick, Chair ☒ Balarin ☒ Farrell ☐ Adams ☒ Keegan ☒ Council Members Present: City Personnel Present: Shaniqua Jackson (Acting City Clerk), Jake Eisland (Research Counsel), Bryan Jimenez (Senior Legislative Aide), Juliette Geraghty (Junior Legislative Aide), Zvi Gomez (Albany High Intern) Minutes Topic(s) of Discussion:  Budget discussions  Possible vote on recommendations  Ordinances (as many as time permits): 42.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $4,039,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $4,039,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (DGS – MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT) 43.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $291,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $291,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (DGS – VEHICLES) 44.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $700,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $700,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (DGS – SECURITY FENCE INSTALLATION) 45.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $539,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $539,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (DGS – EQUIPMENT & FIXTURES) 46.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $600,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $600,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (DGS – FUEL STORAGE & DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM) 47.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $200,000 AND  AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $200,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (DGS – CAPITAL HILLS REHABILITATION & IMPROVEMENTS )⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 48.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $1,000,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $1,000,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (DGS – WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN ) 49.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $1,984,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $1,984,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (DGS – SOLID WASTE VEHICLES) 50.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $2,000,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $2,000,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (ENGINEERING – RENOVATIONS TO CITY BUILDINGS) 51.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $1,000,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $1,000,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (TRAFFIC ENGINEERING – SPEED REDUCTION) 52.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $330,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $330,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (TRAFFIC ENGINEERING – MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT) 53.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $700,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $700,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (ENGINEERING – STREETLIGHT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 54.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $500,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $500,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (TRAFFIC ENGINEERING – ROADWAY STRIPING) 55.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $450,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $450,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (TRAFFIC ENGINEERING – TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERAS) 56.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $500,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $500,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (ENGINEERING – ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE ) 57.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $250,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $250,000 SERIAL  BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (TRAFFIC ENGINEERING – STUDIES ) 58.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $1,800,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $1,800,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (TRAFFIC ENGINEERING – SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS ) 59.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $250,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $250,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (AFD – FIRE STATION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS) 60.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $1,500,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $1,500,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (AFD – FIRE APPARATUS) 61.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $1,567,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $602,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY SERVICES – TIVOLI PARK IMPROVEMENTS) 62.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $300,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $300,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY SERVICES – HUDSON RIVER GATEWAYS) 63.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $1,300,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $1,300,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (APD – POLICE STATION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 64.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $600,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $600,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (APD – MOBILE COMMAND UNIT) 65.102.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PURCHASES BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $1,000,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $1,000,000 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF (APD – PUBLIC SAFETY I.T. SYSTEMS) Discussion:  The chair called the meeting to order.  Public comment was heard.  Council Member Farrell spoke on the following: o Stated that the first three of the Department of General Services bond ordinances, 39.102.23 through 41.102.23, should not be addressed until the Council receives streets and sidewalk information from the Department of General Services.  Council Member Balarin spoke on the following:  o Spoke on his concerns for how the City will be able to address the debt service from the additional bonding. o Spoke on the need among city departments represented by the bond ordinances.  Council Member Keegan spoke on the following: o Asked what bond ordinance, if any, would the Council not pass. o Spoke on the bond ordinances representing the needs of city departments and desires of city residents.  Council Member Balarin spoke on the following: o Spoke on the need to consider additional sources of revenue to offset upcoming expenditures. o Spoke on the imbalance between Aid and Incentives for Municipalities funding the City of Albany receives compared to that received by other municipalities, particularly with regards to the difference in taxable land between municipalities due to the City of Albany serving as the capital city. o Spoke on the need to seek out new ways of increasing city revenue using the landfill.  Council Member Frederick spoke on the following: o Spoke on the budget intent memo being drafted. o Spoke on department and resident needs being represented by the bond ordinances. o Spoke on urging the administration to find additional revenue to offset the debt service to be incurred.  Council Member Farrell spoke on the following: o Agreed with Council Member Frederick’s general assessment of the bond ordinances before the Council and elaborated that some of the bond ordinances are present due to the availability of grants funding. o Suggested that if the committee were to not pass a bond ordinance, the committee should discuss that with the administration.  Council Member Frederick spoke on the following: o Spoke about the choices before the committee, pass the bond ordinances or discuss with the administration what is able to be cut before voting on the ordinances.  Council Member Balarin spoke on the following: o Spoke on the need for revenue enhancements and the need for fiscal restraint where possible.  Council Member Farrell moved to pass Ordinance 42.102.23 through Ordinance 49.102.23 out of committee with a favorable recommendation, seconded by Council Member Keegan, and passed by voice vote.  Council Member Keegan moved to pass Ordinance 50.102.23 through Ordinance 58.102.23 out of committee with a favorable recommendation, seconded by Council Member Farrell, and passed by voice vote.  Council Member Balarin moved to pass Ordinance 59.102.23 and Ordinance 60.102.23 out of committee with a favorable recommendation, seconded by Council Member Keegan, and passed by voice vote.  Council Member Balarin spoke on the following: o Spoke on his appreciation that Tivoli Park is receiving improvements and resources.  Council Member Balarin moved to pass Ordinance 61.102.23 and Ordinance 62.102.23 out of committee with a favorable recommendation, seconded by Council Member Farrell, and passed by voice vote.  Council Member Farrell moved to pass Ordinance 63.102.23 through Ordinance 65.102.23 out of committee with a favorable recommendation, seconded by Council Member Keegan, and passed by voice vote.  Council Member Keegan spoke on the following: o Asked what caused the increase in the Lincoln Park pool bonding to $20 million. o Asked how the increase to $20 million factors into the $15 million discussed during the October 23rd Recreation budget presentation.  Council Member Frederick held Ordinance 66.102.23 through Ordinance 73.102.23.  Council Member Keegan spoke on the following: o Asked that the City provide a list of all locations where there are AEDs to which Council Member Frederick responded.  Council Member Farrell spoke on the following: o Stated that a number of recommendations from Council Members are either currently existing bond ordinances or tasks the city must take on or items that would be best suited for discussions with the administration to which Council Member Frederick responded.  Council Member Keegan spoke on the following: o Spoke on funding received by Traffic Engineering to collect traffic data points prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that have not been used yet to address issues with parking rules and that the Albany Parking Authority can be partnered with at no cost to the city to which Council Members Farrell and Frederick responded.  Council Member Keegan discussed including language in the budget intent memo that would detail an expanded role for the new Department of Engineering.  Council Member Keegan discussed language drafted for a micro-grant program for Council Member Anane that would depend on the development of an ethics law and that the program would not be intended for 2024. The program may be included in the 2025 budget intent memo.  The Finance, Assessment and Taxation committee members discussed various items on the council member request list: o AEDs in Municipal Buildings: further discussion should be had with the administration; already an item available at certain municipal buildings. o Crosswalk Restriping: concerns about foregoing current process for addressing street conditions. o Crosswalk Pedestrian Signal Changes: concerns about budgeting for legislation not yet passed. o Police Officer Allocation Increase: concerns about existing vacancies in the department. o Animal Control Officer Allocation Increase: to be included on an upcoming agenda for discussion. o Street Sign Repair/Replacement: to be included on an upcoming agenda for discussion. o Municipal Internet: an item included on the list in advance of the final report of the Commission on Municipal Internet Service that has since been included in the budget as an increased allocation to the Department of Administrative Services; will not be further considered. o PEG Access Funding Increase: to be included on an upcoming agenda for discussion. o Vacancy Study: to be included on an upcoming agenda; discussion had on an in-house vacancy study due to issues with the RFP process. o Department of Social Services Specialist: to be included on an upcoming agenda; discussion that this role could be housed under the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services as a support position for the Housing Services Advocate, but further clarification needed.  o Peace Officers: to be included on an upcoming agenda. o Parking Rules Reassessment: to be included in the budget intent memo. o APD Community Policing Partnership Grant Program: concerns about administration capabilities to fully implement; may be included in the budget intent memo. o Wheelchair Accessible Equipment: more information was to be requested from the Department of Recreation regarding wheelchair accessible equipment and inclusion of those considerations in park plans and builds.  Council Member Frederick and Farrell discussed specific plans for the upcoming Finance committee meetings. Public Comment: Judy Doesschate, 5 Prospect Terrace, Albany, NY 12208 – Vacancy Study, Inclusionary Zoning, Tax Levy Adjourn: Council Member Farrell moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council Member Keegan, and passed by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:01 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Bryan Jimenez Senior Legislative Aide Albany Common Council