City Council

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS CAPITAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING MUSIC HALL – 3rd Floor WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 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. He advised that following the last public hearing, a workshop was held on the RFP for the mixed use of City owned lots for the public safety building plus other options. The Council will be meeting again in the future on this. He also stated the capital budget is a 6 year program; however the committee is making recommendations for 2009 for bonding. The Charter designates the Mayor as the Chair of the Committee, and who will make up the 10 member Committee; this is not an ad-hoc committee. The public was referred to the City’s website for the Mayor’s message regarding what the Committee did or did not do. The Committee’s job is to identify and prioritize the projects. The source of funding for each project is listed. The Committee received a total of 32 requests for 2009 totaling $22 million. By vote or consensus the number of projects was reduced to 22. Money is subject to long term debt bonding which is limited to 2%. The Committee ranked the projects from 1-22. They were charged to not overspend and reviewed money. The entire 6 year program can be found on the City’s webpage. Mayor Johnson went through each of the 22 projects ranked. He explained the east side EMS station was proposed as a $4.4 million dollar project but the Committee had reduced it to land purchase since the Council hasn’t identified what is needed there. Number 11 addresses all the City owned buildings. He explained that phase 1 of the Waterfront project would entail about 2/3 of the property. The compost facility is a 2 phase project scheduled for 2009 & 2010. He also advised the public of all the capital budget public hearing dates that have been held plus the upcoming public hearing on September 12 at 2 p.m. The Council must vote to adopt or reject the capital budget by September 15, 2008. The Mayor opened the meeting up to the public for comment. Linda Terricola spoke on behalf of David Spingarn of Leaward Way and read the following: “As a citizen of Saratoga Springs for the last 16 years, a member of the Recreation Commission for nearly 2 years I would like to lend my support towards the development of the Waterfront property purchased by Capital Budget Public Hearing September 10, 2008 the City several years ago. This property will afford the citizens of Saratoga Springs rightful access to the Lake that is named for our City. Citizens will be able to recreate, relax, and enjoy the property that was purchased at the recommendation of a bipartisan group of citizens with monies that were bonded with over whelming citizen support. The issue that now confronts the present City Council should be how to fund these improvements so that Saratogians can use land that is already ours. I truly believe that the City Council along with the recently established Friends of Recreation can develop a strategy to fund this project that will have minimal impact on the tax rate and should have not impact on other very worthy projects such as the new recreation center and new public safety building, both of which the City sorely needs. It is my expectations that the City Council can work together in the interests of the citizens of this City and proceed in a timely manner on all three projects. Thank you for taking the time to listen and reflect on my thoughts. I truly wish I could be here to present them personally, but please feel free to contact me individually or the Recreation Commissioner if you think that we can assist you in any way.” Dana Serbolick of Crescent Avenue stated she supports the Waterfront project. It will be nice for people to see their children enjoy this property. She also stated that whenever she or her family has needed the assistance of the fire department or EMS, they have always been prompt, professional and never have been stuck in traffic. Nancy Goldberg of 66 Sarazen Court stated she was here as a private citizen. She questions a couple of projects – is the beach fiscally responsible when economy is unstable, the infrastructure is crumbling, need a new police station, and water on Gilbert Road? She would rather see the $500,000 for the recreation center wasted than be put $6 million in debt for a non essential project. She will never support drinking the Hudson water; but why not remove the $15 million for the use of the lake as a water source and replace funding for public safety and Gilbert Road water? She also asked what has been done with the money that has been raised for the public safety building. Mayor Johnson advised the Waterfront project qualified for inclusion in the capital budget. Jim Chapfield of 9 Lakeview Road stated the recreation facility is necessary. He doesn’t consider either project unnecessary or a ‘feel good’ project. Logistical issues can be worked out. Need to do the best we can to keep spending down and address the needs of the City. Sue Chapfield read a note from Wilma Koss of 160 Kaydeross Park Road. It stated Wilma is in support of Commissioner Kim and is disappointed the public safety building is not in the capital budget; however, there is no need to reject the Waterfront or the recreation center. She doesn’t see the trade off but stands on our merits. Michael O’Donnell of 60 Rip Van Lane states he agrees with Nancy Goldberg’s comments about the infrastructure and need to allocate money. The public safety building is part of that. It’s time to act now. The City has to find money and can’t afford to not act on infrastructure. The beach should not come before public safety or infrastructure. Show respect for the firefighters and the police. Mark Lawton of 209 Nelson Avenue stated he has 45 years of public finance experience at the local, state, and federal level. He was disappointed that notice to the public was not until public hearing started. Notice was inadequate and should have been no later than 5 days prior. The material showed up today. He said it was an insult to have the budget recited. It is not a simple matter to change the capital budget. It requires a 4/5 vote not a simple majority. You can afford to do both but need to be careful in timing. No one looked at the state law for capital plans; it talks about requirements and need to have a 6 year plan. The charter says if it is not in the 6 year plan, it can’t be in the capital program. Is public safety a capital project or not? Kyle York of 59 Railroad Place stated a comment was made to him about what he said at the last public hearing he attended. He said as Commissioner McCabe once said, ‘we need to build what we need and build what we can afford’. He did approach Commissioner Kim’s wife and stated he supported the public safety building but has changed his mind since he saw that the cost is more like $12-$13 million. He asked how much money is needed for tables, chairs, and janitorial staff. Parking spaces are disappearing. He also asked if money is included to update the existing facility. The $9.7 million dollars Page 2 of 3 Capital Budget Public Hearing September 10, 2008 buys the building only, not a public safety facility. He also stated he approached Commissioner Kim to speak with him at the break at the last public hearing and was told ‘I don’t need to talk to you’. Kyle also stated he witnessed the Council working together as the workshop and would see a bright future for this project. Chief Moore stated he felt there was a little politics going on. They deserve a better police station. A report from 1957 criticizes the infrastructure of the police department, the conditions of the police station and not having enough cells for males arrested. He also served on the capital construction committee and knows what was presented and what is needed from 33 years of service. Based on the needs, he knew $8 million wasn’t going to be enough. Now they are down to the bare bones. This police station has been needed for 30-35 years. He watched the locker rooms which were originally in the basement flood with raw sewage and have the sewage seep into their clothes until the locker room was moved to the 1st floor. He said this station is not set up for modern law enforcement. If something should happen to one of the officers or himself due to the current infrastructure of the police station, he and his officers will sue. Maureen McDonald of Saratoga Springs stated she has never been to a City Council meeting. Her great uncle was the police chief 60-70 years ago and the facility has not changed since then. She also stated she misses Kaydeross Park, so the Waterfront project would be welcomed. The recreation center would also be great, but the police station should be the number 1 priority. We are not a poor city. Laura Trudeaus stated she is struck by the citizen’s comments tonight. We need to work together to build a state of the art public safety building. Public safety can serve all. Clara Perez of 20 Avenue G, Malta, NY stated she agrees with Chief Moore. She works with law enforcement in 9 counties and has visited the City for decades. She works with children and families around Saratoga Springs. She has been in this jail numerous times on field trips. She has contacted Jim Tedesco’s staff to have them think of ways to raise money for the public safety building. She is concerned for the female officers. She would also do anything in the form of volunteer work to help with this project. Mark Lawton stepped up to the microphone again. Mayor Johnson advised him of the rules of public hearings; each person can speak one time. Mr. Lawton became verbally belligerent towards the Mayor. The Mayor repeatedly asked him to sit down or leave the room. Public Hearing was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 10-7-08 5-0 Page 3 of 3