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 13, 2023 | Time: 6:25 PM Committee Members Present: Frederick, Chair ☒ Balarin ☒ Farrell ☒ Adams ☒ Keegan ☒ Council Members Present: Hoey, Kimbrough, Romero, and Zamer City Personnel Present: Shaniqua Jackson (Acting City Clerk), Brett Williams (Assistant Corporation Counsel), Jake Eisland (Research Counsel), Bryan Jimenez (Senior Legislative Aide), and Juliette Geraghty (Junior Legislative Aide) Minutes Topic(s) of Discussion:  Budget Requests from Council Members o Animal Control Officer o Street Sign Repairs/Replacements o City Clerk Funding  Resolution 111.111.23R A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OUTLINING ITS ACTIONS AND EXPRESSING ITS FINDINGS AND INTENT CONCERNING THE CITY OF ALBANY 2024 BUDGET AS PROPOSED IN ORDINANCE 37.101.23  Ordinance 37.101.23 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CITY OF ALBANY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, AS PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 Discussion:  The chair called the meeting to order.  No member of the public provided comment.  Council Member Hoey discussed his request for increasing support for Animal Control, speaking on a specific situation related to a canine in his Ward.  Council Member Farrell discussed issues with canines in her Ward.  Council Member Hoey spoke on his thoughts on having the Albany Police Department reallocate resources for open positions to Animal Control to support increasing the number of Animal Control officers.  Council Member Frederick and Council Member Farrell discussed previous vacancies in the department.  Council Member Frederick spoke on adding strong language to the Budget Intent Memo emphasizing the Council's desire to see the issue addressed.  Council Member Hoey spoke on the need for the City to appreciably address the deterioration of street signs in areas around the City. Council Member Hoey also discussed the possibility of partnering with Albany County to increase capacity.   Council Member Keegan discussed work being done in her ward, Ward 9, to replace signage in a systematic manner.  Council Member Adams discussed constituent requests for electronic signage in higher-risk areas for pedestrians.  Council Member Farrell spoke on the difficulties with replacing signage when the capacity for undertaking this specialty work may not be there. Council Member Farrell also recommended that constituents use SeeClickFix to report issues with signage – especially blocked/hidden signs that the Department of General Services can address.  Council Member Frederick spoke on including a discussion about signage into the development of the Department of Engineering.  Council Member Romero spoke on reassessing alternate side parking and how changes there may affect signage replacement.  Council Member Balarin spoke on improving City capacity for sign repair/replacement even if contracting out to ensure that signage around the City is in a good state.  Council Member Farrell spoke on encouraging that additional work is undertaken to maintain signage, but also spoke on her concerns with allocating additional funding for this purpose at this time as the Department of Engineering will be newly created and needs to organize itself first.  Council Member Hoey spoke on his support for increasing funding toward street sign repair/replacement.  Council Member Frederick spoke on drafting language that could be included in the Budget Intent Memo that may align well with Council Member Hoey's thoughts on street sign repairs/replacements.  Council Member Frederick spoke on the City Clerk's office requiring additional funding to support the programs used in the office, offering an increase of $8,050.  Council Member Keegan spoke on her support for increasing the budget by $8,050.  Council Member Balarin spoke in support of increasing the budget by $8,050.  Council Member Farrell spoke in favor of increasing the budget to the City Clerk's office and on her support for increasing funding for new office furniture for either Fiscal Year 2024 or Fiscal Year 2025.  Council Member Frederick spoke on the need for increasing funding for office furniture.  Council Member Balarin spoke on the possibility of adding $1,950 to the City Clerk's budget for office furniture.  Council Member Hoey noted that additional funding can be added under a new budget line: Furniture and Fixtures. Council Member Hoey spoke on needing to account for inflation when increasing the amount allocated to the City Clerk's office.  Council Member Frederick spoke on allocating $1,950 to the Office Equipment account, increasing Supplies and Materials to $10,000, and increase Contracted Services to $1,550, called for a straw poll and the Council Members in attendance assented.  Council Member Frederick discussed an outline for the Budget Intent Memo.  Council Member Balarin asked about the inclusion of the planned housing specialist contracted services amendment under the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services in the Budget Intent Memo to which Council Member Frederick responded. Public Comment: No member of the public provided comment. Adjourn: Council Member Keegan moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council Member Farrell, and passed by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:11 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Bryan Jimenez Senior Legislative Aide Albany Common Council