City Council

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY COUNCIL ROOM TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2004 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Commissioner Thomas Curley, DPS Michael Lenz, Mayor Commissioner Matthew McCabe, Finance Commissioner Thomas McTygue, DPW Commissioner Stephen Towne, Accounts SUPERVISORS: Phil Klein, Supervisor ABSENT: Anthony Scirocco, Supervisor STAFF PRESENT: Matthew Dorsey, City Attorney Erin Dreyer, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Debbie Harper, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Alicia Wardell, Deputy Mayor CALL TO ORDER Mayor Michael Lenz called the special City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Mayor Michael Lenz opened the public comment period. Gary Pluto, 164 Kaydeross Park Road, said he lives in the Waters Edge Development and there were many problems with their assessments saying there were major mistakes. Many of the homeowners went to CLTbut got no relief. They attended the meeting with the attorneys to learn how to complete the grievance process and they believed they had legitimate grievances. He said that there are about 12 homeowners in this development that may choose to go through the Article 7 proceedings. There being no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Michael Lenz closed the public hearing. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Adoption of the 2004 Final Assessment Roll (04-152) Commissioner Stephen Towne welcomed the assessment team members as follows: Bob Aiken, Northern Regional Manager, ORPS; Beth Cervanak, Saratoga County, Customer Relationship Manager; JoanneBosley, Saratoga County Real Property Tax Services; Eric Hardy, Area Manager, Northern Region; Joe Williams, Assistant Assessor and Elaine Cogan, Real Property Technician. Commissioner Stephen Towne said this process began in 2001. He said there was a problem recognized by the consultant and confirmed by ORPS on two separate occasions that the City had surpassed the coefficient disbursion in 2001 and the City’s equalization rate fell. This information had been distributed to Council members. The packet of material explained the reasons and objectives of this process. He said a letter at recently been received from ORPS that shows that the City is once again at 100 percent. Commissioner Stephen Towne said the Board of Assessment Review saw approximately 600 property owners with a total of approximately 700 grievances which resulted in about 300 adjustments. He said those property Page 1 of 4 City of Saratoga Springs City Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 11, 2004 owners who are still not happy can go to small claims court or proceed with an Article 7. Commissioner Stephen Towne said that the City’s assessed value went from approximately $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion which equates to about a 65 percent increase. Commissioner Stephen Towne then moved and Commissioner Thomas Curley seconded to adopt the 2004 final assessment roll as previously distributed, presented and discussed. Mayor Michael Lenz called for a roll call vote: Commissioner Stephen Towne: aye. Commissioner Matthew McCabe: He understood that this was a courtesy meeting with a courtesy vote. He did not want to thwart the budget process and therefore would support this motion because it would cost the City more dollars if the assessment roll was not adopted. He wanted to look at ways to protect the senior citizens of the community though. Aye. Commissioner Thomas McTygue: He the City did this assessment review cheaply. The City needs a more comprehensive assessment than a drive by. There are major mistakes with the assessment roll and there needs to be a voice for those property owners who are not happy. Nay. Commissioner Thomas Curley: He said there was a major effort by the City to correct the situation. The City needs to work with the property owners and review those areas of concern. He did not want to pay twice for a reassessment. He would support the motion, although he was not entirely happy with the roll. We need to move forward but we need to work with the individual property owners. Aye. Mayor Michael Lenz: He said this has been a lengthy process. There are areas of concerns from property owners and in hindsight it was easy to look back, but it was time to move forward. This is a difficult issue but the Council needs to adopt roll. He reminded everyone that the budget process begins in September this year. The cost to not accept the roll is too great. He commended the Assessment Department for all of their work in this project. He said he too was concerned for those on fixed incomes and the senior citizens. Aye. Commissioner Stephen Towne said it is important for the Council to know that the process does not end here. He reminded Council members that this item had been on the Accounts Department agenda at least 15 times, 13 press releases and 9 presentations to the public. The next step is the development of an annual reassessment plan. The third step is to discuss the avenues of protection for those who need it. He thanked all who worked on this project. Commissioner Thomas McTygue commended the Assessment Department for their work but said there were still hundreds of inequities. There are entire subdivisions that were ignored. There are lawsuits in other communities because of this firm and lawsuits in this community would cost the City twice as much. Ayes: four; Nays: one (Commissioner Thomas McTygue). Motion carried. MAYOR=S OFFICE Temporary Concession workers for East Avenue Vending (04-153) Mayor Michael Lenz moved and Commissioner Thomas Curley seconded to approve the concession workers (up to 20 positions) with a salary range between $6 and $10/hour. These are temporary positions for the track season (August 13 through September 10). Ayes all. Page 2 of 4 City of Saratoga Springs City Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 11, 2004 Sale Items and Prices for Vendor Stand Mayor Michael Lenz moved and Commissioner Stephen Towne seconded to approve the sale items and prices as presented (hats and shirts, no water). Ayes all. Linda Terricola thanked all Council members for assistance and support in this vending project. She said that there were many departments involved to get them to this point. Authorize Mayor to sign a contract with CRDN Matthew Dorsey said that in connection with the vending issue and through negotiations by Deputy Mayor Alicia Wardell an agreement had been reached with the owners of the parking lot on Frank Sullivan Place to allow vendors in that location. He said this provides spaces for vendors and also allows ingress/egress for the vehicles. Mayor Michael Lenz moved and Commissioner Stephen Towne seconded to authorize the Mayor to sign the contract with CRDN as presented. Commissioner Thomas Curley said that next year some of these issues need to be looked at in more detail because of public safety concerns. Mayor Michael Lenz said the policy will be reviewed at the conclusion of this season. Commissioner Stephen Towne said there is a trigger in the existing vendor ordinance for review in September. Commissioner Matthew McCabe said that he would like some discussion on the revenues coming into the City in connection with the vending/parking/recreation issue. He said there needs to be some direction on the excess revenue and he would like some discussion at Tuesday’s Council meeting. Ayes all. Behan Planning Associates B SEQR documents (04-154) Tony Izzo said that there was a previous decision by the Council to rezone an area of land near Weibel Avenue. Subsequently the courts have overturned the Council’s decision. Therefore, there is now a proposal to engage Behan Associate to review the area in question and prepare SEQR documents for the Council’s review. He said their proposed fee is $3,500 and an additional $1,500 for appearances before the various Boards. Tony Izzo said generally professional services contracts may be sought through the RFP process and the process can be waived to allow the company in the best position to be hired. Mayor Michael Lenz moved and Commissioner Matthew McCabe seconded to authorize the Mayor to sign the necessary documents with Behan Associates for the preparation of SEQR documents. Ayes all. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Sick Bank Request Commissioner Thomas McTygue moved and Commissioner Matthew McCabe seconded to approve the request from Kevin Older for 10 1/2 sick days from the sick bank. Ayes all. Donation -- Saratoga Racing & Gaming & Harness Persons Association Page 3 of 4 City of Saratoga Springs City Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 11, 2004 Commissioner Thomas McTygue said he would like to thank both the Saratoga Racing & Gaming and the Saratoga Harness Persons Association for their donations of $15,000 each to cover the shortfall created when NYRA did not renew the lease with the City for the parking area near Siros. He said both of those organizations were happy to step forward with no request from the City and make this donation. Commissioner Matthew McCabe said that there needs to be some discussion on where those revenues are to be placed. Mayor Michael Lenz agreed and said that could be done at Tuesday’s meeting. He said there also needs to be a motion to accept the donation. Commissioner Thomas McTygue said there needs to be some discussion on where the money will go -- parking solution fund and/or to the recreation department. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Michael Lenz moved and Commissioner Matthew McCabe seconded to adjourn the meeting at 5:45 p.m. Ayes all. There being no other business, Mayor Michael Lenz adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kathy Moran Clerk Approved: Page 4 of 4