City Council

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS CAPITAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL ROOM MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Ken Ivins, Commissioner of Finance Ron Kim, Commissioner of DPS Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW PRESENT: Matthew Veitch, Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, Supervisor STAFF PRESENT: Michele Boxley, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Kate Jarosh, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor Joe Scala, City Attorney Tony Izzo, Assistant City Attorney Mayor Johnson welcomed the public and introduced Mike Ingersol of the LA Group to present the Waterfront Park project. Commissioner Kim advised the public that he just learned about the presentation about 2 ½ hours ago. His concern is only one project is being addressed, the most expensive one. He feels this process is highly irregular. He wanted to know if there was going to be a presentation of all the projects in this budget that have been funded or defunded as in the public safety building. Mayor Johnson advised there was a press release sent last Friday (September 5, 2008) to all the press. He realized that public safety was not notified by error. He feels it is important for the public to hear and see the project of how the public’s money is being spent. Commissioner Kim agrees process is important and it hasn’t been followed with the capital program. The proposal was not available in the Accounts Department 5 days prior to the public hearings. It also wasn’t publicly announced according to the open meeting law of 72 hours. Mayor Johnson advised the public hearing announcements were handled through the City Attorney’s office. He advised a legal notice was in the paper for this meeting. The floor was turned over to Mike Ingersol of the LA Group for his presentation. Mike stated the Waterfront property is a jewel to the City. The presentation showed a map of the location of the property and historical pictures of how the property once looked (gardens existed on the ridge). Mike mentioned that the topography map done by the City helped move things along. There is a 50’ grade change in elevation from the top of the property to the bottom. He went on to show the proposed layout of the property done by the original Waterfront Committee to what the design (master plan) is today. Phase 1 will consist of the upper level parking, overlook, Capital Budget Public Hearing September 8, 2008 restrooms and park office. In addition, Phase 1 will also include the lower level dock, beach, restrooms, and changing area. Phase 2 will be the middle level ‘amphitheatre’. Estimates have been done as if this was the plan. These are ‘on the street’ prices: Phase 1 will cost $987,000 and Phase 2 will cost $467,000. Grants have been put out to seek money on this project. Commissioner Kim asked if the operating costs have been computed. Mike Ingersol advised the beach cost is between $30,000-$40,000 per year; $50,000 per year including beach, staff and maintenance. Commissioner Franck asked if there was any room to use open space money. Mayor Johnson advised the open space bond in 2002 states previous acquisition improvements. Items that could fall under the open space bond are the majority of Phase 1 for approximately $523,000 and $224,000 of Phase 2 in 2010. The Open Space Advisory Committee prioritized this project as #1 to make the property available to the public and complete the project. Commissioner Ivins stated money is not bonded, just the ability to bond. We won’t go against the 2% limit. Mayor Johnson stated we will know about the $210,000 grant in October. Commissioner Kim stated the Waterfront proposal is beautiful and an asset to the City but he doesn’t think this should come before public safety. He stated the firemen and policemen can’t get there during July and August from their current stations. This shouldn’t be built until the right infrastructure is in place to support it. Commissioner Franck asked why not focus on EMS on the east side. Commissioner Kim stated he was open to discussing it. Mayor Johnson stated there was a $4.4 million dollar request for the east side station. The committee thought it was more prudent to set enough money aside to purchase land as we don’t know yet what is going to be built. Commissioner Kim advised that when he took office in 2006 a bipartisan committee was appointed to address the infrastructure needs of the fire department and the police department. The Committee hired a consultant to look at the needs and cost estimates. Commissioner Franck stated his big concern is the $1 million dollar operating budget for the fire station. It is heavy with payroll, benefits, equipment, etc. Commissioner Kim advised they can go to the federal government for a safer grant. It is more important to have trained EMS and fire personnel than someone to hand out basketballs. Mayor Johnson responded that the operating costs of the recreation center can’t be compared to the fire department. Need to also look at costs down the road for retirement, etc. Commissioner Ivins stated the EMS should be #1 if the money was bonded. Commissioner Franck stated that last year Commissioner Kim’s priorities were different. Unfunded liabilities are going to get increasingly worse. The first priority is ambulance service out there. Commissioner Kim stated he is putting the public on notice that they can’t get there (east side). Page 2 of 5 Capital Budget Public Hearing September 8, 2008 Mayor Johnson stated the revenue side of the Waterfront park is being developed. A five minute break was taken at this point. Mayor Johnson went through the steps taken by the capital budget committee. He advised that the City Charter mandates who will be part of the committee. He recommended the public read his message that is posted on the City’s website. He also explained what the capital budget is and that the Committee focused primarily on 2009. The Mayor went through his presentation that is on the City’s webpage. Theresa Capozzola of 57 Gilbert Road thanked the Council for the opportunity to speak. She was there again to ask for water on Gilbert Road. If the Council changes again, this project can be put off indefinitely. She also stated that Paul Male, the City’s Engineer stated that a 2nd ‘loop’ would allow continuous water if there was a break in the waterline. At this point they can’t sell their homes as mortgages aren’t given on homes with no water. She doesn’t feel the numbers in the capital budget are firm enough that they can’t be altered. Valarie Keehn of 41 Benedict Street stated her street is like a lake each time it rains. High school students have to walk past it. She also asked what the process was that was followed to put $140,000 in the budget for the Franklin Community Center. It is one of many non-for-profit agencies. Mayor Johnson advised Valarie Keehn that the Franklin Community Center is owned by the City. Valarie Keehn went on to ask why Behan Planning, who was employed by the City was not here to present the Waterfront project. Jim Martinez of 15 Fifth Avenue read the attached letter to the Council. He stated this letter was also sent to the newspapers. He considers the Waterfront project an investment in our community. Barb Trypaluc of 211 Circular Street stated the condition of the police station is deplorable. She finds it ironic that the new Mayor is promoting the Waterfront. This is a slap in the face to the community, the staff, and the policemen that have to go to a worksite that is ¼ of the size that it should be. She will address additional comments in writing. John Goldberg of 66 Sarazen Street stated he served with the Mayor on the City Center Committee. Good ideas shouldn’t be rejected because you didn’t think of them first. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue, this is a City issue. Do it because it is the right thing to do. William Chesiview of 12 Red Spring Drive stated he was speaking on behalf of the Southwest Neighborhood Association. He has an extensive police background and believes the conditions are worse than what he saw in Mexico in the 60’s. Will Connelly of 28 Stockholm Road stated he was on the original Waterfront Committee. He feels this is a big undertaking and the citizens need this. He also feels a new public safety building is needed. Ray Harrington of 207 Circular Street stated he does understand Commissioner Franck’s and the Mayor’s concerns with operating costs and retirement costs. Unfortunately that’s the cost of having a city; those are things we have to do. He finds it interesting that there was news about the park (state) had to shut down portions of their water facilities because they didn’t have enough life guards. Are we going to have enough life guards for the Waterfront or are we going to spend a lot of money for a park we can’t use anyway. He asked how people are going to get to the lake. Is transportation going to be provided? He also wanted to talk about leadership. He said it only takes one of the Council to make a choice of what is more important. He asked the Mayor if he wanted his legacy to be a beach and the recreation center. Maybe if you bridge some differences, Commissioner Kim may let you put your name on the public safety building. That would be a legacy. Mike Odunne of 60 Rip Van Lane stated he felt it was irresponsible to have Mike Ingersol here this evening. Public safety should be first so it shouldn’t be said that we can’t afford it. The beach comes Page 3 of 5 Capital Budget Public Hearing September 8, 2008 when everything else is taken care of. The spigot should be turned on and left on within reason of whatever Commissioner Kim wants until our police have everything they need and it should be state of the art. John Kirwin of 94 Lincoln Avenue stated the fire inspection report listed 100 violations that can’t be corrected due to the age of the facility. How can risk and safety allow them to be subjected to this? Interrogation doesn’t allow for privacy. He urges that the money be returned for the public safety building. Kyle York of 59 Railroad Place states he begs to differ on the public safety case. He feels the other gentlemen of the Council have said public safety matters. What they are voting against is that particular project. We all know how bad the police department is. As Matt McCabe our former Finance Commissioner said, build what we need but build what we can afford. If you look into moving closer to the Mouzon House, you can build into the cliff. You can get 4 levels of parking; 2 for the convention center, 2 for the police center and would have a separate entrance for emergency vehicles and police offices. That is another open way of thinking. Barbara Kolapakka of 7 Cassidy Drive stated she is in favor of the Waterfront project. She stated 78 parking spaces are not enough, maybe it should be limited to Saratoga residents only. She is concerned that parking may overflow on to Cassidy Drive. She now understands there could be a tour boat. If this does happen, then we will have non-residents using the park. This should be a resident facility only. Kristie Keegan, formerly of 99 Church St. stated she is the rape crisis coordinator. She has had to fight for her clients and asked that people consider what it is like for her victims and the police when they have to interview a victim. Nancy Goldberg of 66 Sarazen Court stated she had to challenge the Committee’s priorities. Before a beach or the recreation center is build, we first need to make sure we can get there is someone gets hurt. Andrea Hyde-Rogers of Raymond Watkins Apartments stated she is divorced due to cruel treatment. She feels the City is built enough and it’s time to think about public safety. We need a new station with more privacy. Donna Martin of 23 Cassidy Drive stated she feels the Waterfront project is a win/win situation and she fully supports the project. She thinks everyone will be proud of it and will enjoy it. Margaret Chretien of 8 Wagner Road stated she likes the water park but public safety building is the big priority. She believes putting the public safety building behind City Hall is a bad idea; it needs to get out of the center of town. We need to plan well for every inch of space for the public safety building. The City should consider building a training academy with the public safety building. Molly Gagne of 22 Vichy Drive stated public safety building is part of infrastructure. Everyone is talking about how we get to the Waterfront. Our way of resolving problems for the Waterfront is trails and the CDTA bus. As you consider the trails that will get to the Waterfront area, all that parking will not be needed and people can ride their bikes. She would like to everyone to think of our infrastructure, our water, our public safety and trails that can be used to get from point A to point B. Dan Mullan of 111 5th Avenue stated he had been on the police force for 27 years. He can’t believe the biggest project has been taken off the table. He thought from everyone’s campaigns that they were all on board with the public safety project. It is a shame. Commissioner Kim said he has heard some good ideas here. The public safety committee looked at alternatives. If the courts remain here (City Hall) then the public safety building needs to be near them. There is additional risk with more movement of prisoners. November 2007 money was put in the capital budget ($8 million) to build the public safety building. City Council approved the design contract. With the $8 million from last year plus $1.7 million from this year, we could build a police station. He met with all Council members except Commissioner Franck and asked them to put someone on his committee. Commissioner Ivins and Mayor Johnson declined to appoint anyone. He doesn’t have the authority to Page 4 of 5 Capital Budget Public Hearing September 8, 2008 cancel the design contract, this council can vote to do that. They need to come together with a budget to set priority. All they need is $1.7 million to do this project. If the money is not in the 2009 budget, we will lose 3 more years as it is a 24 month design construction schedule. Commissioner Franck stated based on the inside & outside district rates, there was $51 million dollars more on the tax rolls which equates to $274,000 in taxes. He stated safety isn’t solely Commissioner Kim’s issue. He also doesn’t feel the public safety building project needs to be put out 3 years. Instead of bonding money, develop property to get what the City Center needs, get what the police need and get tax revenue to defray some costs. Need to build for revenue neutral. If we fall short, we can amend the capital budget next year. The police station can go in the back. Commissioner Franck suggested a workshop to come up with a proposal to show to Commissioner Kim’s committee. We can make this the first RFP to go on line to open up responses. It can also go to the Association of General Contractors of America. Commissioner Ivins stated he did not appoint anyone to the Public Safety Committee as the design was already set. With all these projects, he is getting priced right out of the City. We are looking at double digit tax increases. Commissioner Scirocco stated public safety is the life of the community. He feels they should see the proposal through to determine if they like it or not. He suggested they look at the tax base of the cities that deal with drive by shootings and asked who would want to pay those taxes and live there. Public safety should be the priority, health and welfare of the City. Commissioner Kim sent the RFP out 2 other times. The Council never considered those RFPs. He said last year $8 million was put in the capital budget to build that building. Commissioner Ivins stated the taxes were raised to cover that $8 million. Commissioner Franck stated it was to cover interest for a portion of the year. Commissioner Ivins stated being the money was not bonded for this project, they broke even. If the money was bonded, taxes would have to be raised to cover the interest on the $8 million dollar bond for the first year ($200,000-$300,000). Mayor Johnson stated the vote not to include the public safety project is not to be confused with the need for public safety. The vote should not be seen as an opinion of pubic safety need. Public hearing was adjourned, and the Council moved into a workshop for the public safety building RFP. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 10-7-08 5-0 Page 5 of 5