City Council

August 24, 2009 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Meeting Agenda Public Hearing for Capital Program/Budget 2010 - 2015 7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL SALUTE TO FLAG PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD / 15 MINUTES PRESENTATION(S) EXECUTIVE SESSION CONSENT AGENDA None MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Economic Recovery Agreement and Resolution Spring Run Trail Ped and Bike Facility ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT None FINANCE DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Amend 2009 Capital Budget – Geyser Crest Wellfields 2. Discussion and Vote: Bond Resolution – Geyser Crest Wellfields PUBLIC WORKS DEPARMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Amend the 2009 Capital Budget – Geyser Crest Wellfields 2. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Contracts for Geyser Crest Well Fields PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARMTENT None SUPERVISORS ADJOURN City Council Meeting 8/24/09 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY COUNCIL ROOM MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2009 7:00 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 STAFF PRESENT: Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor Kate Jarosh, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Patrick Design, Deputy Commissioner, DPW Joe Scala, City Attorney EXCUSED: Michele Boxley, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Matthew Veitch, Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, Supervisor RECORDING OF PROCEEDING The proceedings of this meeting were taped for the benefit of the secretary. Because the minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings, the minutes are not a word-for-word transcript. PUBLIC HEARINGS Capital Program/Budget 2010 – 2015 Mayor Johnson opened the public hearing at 7:02 p.m. John Krause of 227 Grand Avenue stated he appreciates the new approach used this year where the capital program is presented prior to a public hearing so that the public can review the material and comment appropriately. He is also thankful for being able to ask questions prior to the public hearing. There are 2 items in the capital program for DPW regarding the vacuum trucks that he questioned should be there versus the operating budget. He was informed that these items are appropriate for the capital budget because they are stand alone and not part of a specific project. The fire truck bothers him as it is either needed now or not. If it is not needed now, it should be moved into next year – it is a fairly pricey item. There is ‘noise in the system’ of a double digit tax increase. He suggested no more than a 5.0% tax increase. Pick a tax rate target and work backwards. He thanked the Council for their time and attention. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:13 p.m. Page 2 of 5 City Council Meeting 8/24/09 PUBLIC COMM IENT PERIOD Mayor Johnson opened the public comment period at 7:14 p.m. Mayor Johnson said the public comment period is limited to a total of 15 minutes and individuals are limited to two minutes each according to the rules approved in February of 2004 by the City Council. Peter Davis of 28 George Street stated he is the Program Director of the Dance Flurry Festival and a music contractor for the Saratoga Race Track. He is here regarding the rental of the music hall; his understanding is that the music hall will no longer be rented on weekends in the future. The Flurry has brought in 5,000 people each February. It is a jewel of a venue that is underutilized. There are groups of dancers that would love to use that space. He wanted to plant the seed in the Council’s mind that this is a great place to hold an event. Keep it affordable for people to use it. Libby Smith Holmes of 3 Collins Terrace spoke on the issue of the Spring Run Trail. In 1979, Julie Stokes and she put together a feasibility study for what became the Saratoga Springs Urban Cultural Park. The Spring Run Trail was the last piece of what they put together. Many people have been working to complete this. She feels it is a wonderful opportunity and urged the Council to vote in favor of the funding for it. Al Callucci of 9 Lexington Road stated with the severe storm we had on Friday evening, traffic lights were down from 5 pm Friday until this morning. This created a serious situation downtown. He has been told all efforts were made to overcome it, but he wonders what can be done in the future to prevent such a situation. Commissioner Scirocco stated he is going to meet with Mr. Wolf regarding the dance that goes on in the music hall. He was the one who brought it to the Council last year and set up a special rate so that the dance could operate yearly. The problem is they have to pay people overtime on the weekends to cover it and the rent doesn’t compensate for the overtime they have to pay out. He thinks they will sit down this week and try to work the whole issue out. He wants to see the music hall get used. Consent Agenda None Mayor’s Department Discussion and Vote: Economic Recovery Agreement and Resolution Spring Run Trail Ped and Bike Facility (09-254) Mayor Johnson moved and Commissioner Franck seconded to authorize the mayor to enter into the agreement/resolution as required by DOT as previou sly presented to the Council. Mayor Johnson explained the funding at issue is about $1.5 million dollars. This is being earmarked as part of the federal stimulus funding that is available. If we receive that funding, it is 100% funding of federal money and no cost to the City. Tonight deals with paperwork that is required to be signed by the City to continue our application for the grant funding. The Council waived the reading of the resolution (attachment A). Ayes - All Accounts Department None Finance Department Page 3 of 5 City Council Meeting 8/24/09 Discussion and Vote: Amend 2009 Capital Budget – Geyser Crest Wellfields (09-255) Commissioner Ivins moved and Commissioner Scirocco seconded to amend the 2009 capital budget for the Geyser Crest Well fields for $364,457 as previously distributed to the Council. Commissioner Ivins stated the Geyser Crest Well Fields were originally budgeted for $550,000 for the 2009 capital budget. Upon inspection by the consultants hired, additional items needed to be included. Those items are: insulation, pump motors, pressure reducing valves, heating and ventilation system repairs, storage tank repair, and a pressure tank replacement. A $214,000 grant has been applied for. Award announcements have not been made. This is contingent upon approval of DPW agenda item #1. Roll Call: Commissioner Franck - Aye Commissioner Ivins - Aye Mayor Johnson - Aye Commissioner Scirocco - Aye Commissioner Kim - Aye Discussion and Vote: Bond Resolution – Geyser Crest Wellfields (09-256) Commissioner Ivins moved and Commissioner Scirocco seconded to approve the bond for $364,457 for the Geyser Crest Well fields as previously distributed to the Council. Commissioner Ivins stated this is contingent upon approval of DPW agenda item #1. Roll Call: Commissioner Franck - Aye Commissioner Ivins - Aye Mayor Johnson - Aye Commissioner Scirocco - Aye Commissioner Kim - Aye Public Works Department Discussion and Vote: Amend the 2009 Capital Budget – Geyser Crest Wellfields (09-257) Commissioner Scirocco moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded amending the capital budget to include $364,457 for the Geyser Crest Wellfield project. Commissioner Scirocco stated the current funds available for this project is $535,543. Commissioner Ivins advised that his office sat with Commissioner Scirocco and Rich Straut to review everything. He feels this project should move forward. Roll Call: Commissioner Franck - Aye Commissioner Ivins - Aye Mayor Johnson - Aye Commissioner Scirocco - Aye Commissioner Kim - Aye Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Contracts for Geyser Crest Well Fields (09-258) Commissioner Scirocco moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to authorize the mayor to sign a contract with Stilsing Electric in the amount of $38,000 for the electrical phase of the Geyser Crest Wellfield improvement project. Page 4 of 5 City Council Meeting 8/24/09 Ayes – All. Commissioner Scirocco moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to authorize the mayor to sign a contract with Iota Construction in the amount of $668,624 for the construction phase of the Geyser Crest Wellfield improvement project. Ayes – All. Public Safety Department None Supervisors None ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to adjourn the meeting. Ayes - All There being no further business, Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 7:29 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 9-1-09 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 5 of 5