City Council

June 17, 2013 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Pre- Agenda Meeting PRESENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Matthew Veitch, Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, Supervisor STAFF PRESENT: Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Sharon Kellner-Byrnes, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Matt Dorsey, City Attorney EXCUSED: John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 9:36 a.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS Amend 2013 Capital Budget – Waterfront Park No comments. EXECUTIVE SESSION There is no Executive Session scheduled. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of 6/11/13 City Council Minutes 2. Approval of 6/3/13 Pre-Agenda Meeting Minutes 3. Approve Budget Amendments (Increases) 4. Approve Budget Transfers - Regular 5. Approve Payroll 06/7/13 $414,063.70 6. Approve Payroll 06/14/13 $399,572.59 7. Approve Warrant: 2013 Mid – 13MWJUN1 $510,288.79 8. Approve Warrant: 2013 Reg – 13JUN2 $528,648.34 No comments. City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting June 17, 2013 MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Discussion: Comprehensive Plan Review Update Mayor Johnson advised Cliff VanWagner, chair of the committee will be here tomorrow night to give a brief update. Discussion: 2013 Community Development Block Grant Funding Update Brad Birge of the Planning and Economic Development Department advised there has been a 4.7% increase in funding. Each applicant who received funding will therefore see a small increase. Appointment: Complete Streets Committee No comment. Discussion and Vote: Amend 2013 Capital Budget – Waterfront Park No comment. Discussion and Vote: approval of the Hoop-It-Up Grade 9 – 12 Division Program at Recreation Center John Hirliman of the Recreation Department advised this is a new program they are adding. Discussion and Vote: Approval of Summer Adult Basketball League with Team Fee John Hirliman advised they have received more requests for adult programs. The fee will be $200 with no referees. Commissioner Madigan advised she will be bringing back all fees to the Council in August. Discussion and Vote: Update Recreation Department Fees – Summer Adult Basketball Program and Hoop It Up Grade 9 – 12 Division No comment. Discussion and Vote: Accept Donations for Camp Saradac Scholarships John Hirliman announced there were 3 donations received. Discussion and Vote: Approval for the Mayor to Sign the 2013 Transportation Agreement for Camp Saradac John Hirliman advised this is an annual agreement to transport the kids. The only increase is mileage. Announcement: Recreation Registrations No comment. Announcement: Saratoga Springs Recreation Center Playground Expansion Complete John Hirliman advised the expansion at the southside has been completed. Mayor Johnson advised all the funds used to complete this project came from the Community Development Block Grant. Discussion and Vote: Accept Donation for Summer Concert Series Page 2 of 6 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting June 17, 2013 No comment. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Agreement with Skip Parsons Clarinet Marmalade Quartet for Summer Concert Series No comment. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Agreement with Peg Delaney for Summer Concert Series No comment. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Agreement with Fresh for Summer Concert Series No comment. ACCOUNT’S DEPARTMENT Award of Bid: Pre-Cast Curbs to Fort Miller Co., Inc. No comment. Award of Bid: Sale of Used Vehicles and Equipment to Various Bidders No comment. Award of Bid: Pre-Cast Manholes, Catchbasin, Risers, Dry Wells and Frames/Covers to Pallette Stone Corp. No comments. Set Public Hearing: Amend Chapter 215 of the Code of the City of Saratoga Springs – Taxicabs Tony Izzo, assistant city attorney advised there are operators who are not drivers or owners who lease a vehicle from someone else. The code did not address that issue. The amendment will take care of that. There is also a procedure to deal with individuals who have violated the ordinance. Marilyn Rivers advised the definitions in the code have been updated in accordance with the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law. We also took a look at fingerprinting and suspensions as they pertain to DMV. Drivers will now also be enrolled in the LENS program and a Rider’s Bill of Rights has been instituted. Supervisor Yepsen stated there are a lot of inconsistent fares being charged. She asked if that is addressed in the amendment. Marilyn Rivers advised the definition for fees for multiple passengers has been cleared up. Tony Izzo stated if different fairs are being charged, that is a violation of the ordinance. Supervisor Yepsen advised this is typically the difference in fairs happening during the month of August. Is there a tip line that people can contact to notify if different rates are being charged? Marilyn Rivers advised contact information will be on the Rider’s Bill of Rights. Commissioner Scirocco asked if that will be posted in the cabs. Marilyn Rivers advised the Bill of Right’s has to be posted in each cab. Page 3 of 6 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting June 17, 2013 Deputy Mayor Shauna Sutton asked what complaints have come in to the Department of Public Safety in regards to being overcharged or not being charged correctly. Deputy Commissioner Sharon Byrnes stated she can find it out. We have had a small handful of verbal complaints. Sometimes complaints come in to our department and other times they go to Public Safety. Commissioner Mathiesen thinks the LENS program is a good idea. He asked if there has to be a seatbelt for every person in a cab. Marilyn Rivers confirmed that is correct. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion: City Housing Initiatives Commissioner Madigan advised last September the City approved the investigation of City Housing initiatives by the Planning Department. She will have an update on the 2 properties they set aside from the in-rem process; Cherry Street and Division Street. She confirmed Brad Birge will be at the meeting tomorrow night to provide an update. Mayor Johnson stated he would be present. They have been working with Brad to finalize the details especially with Cherry Street. They have an agreement on Cherry Street that will allow them to move forward. Discussion and Vote: 2013 Finance Policies and Procedures Update Commissioner Madigan advised everyone should have received a memo last week regarding changes to the financial policies and procedures. The most significant change is to the Fund Balance Policy. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Agreement with SunEdison the Spa Solar Park Development Project – Feasibility Study No comment. Discussion and Vote: Use of Reserve – Water System Reserve Funds No comment. Discussion and Vote: Resolution – Saratoga Springs Housing Authority FY 12-13 Commissioner Madigan advised this item is tied to the next one. She received correspondence from Dr. Weller late Friday and provided a copy to the Council. Discussion and Vote: Resolution – Saratoga Springs Housing Authority FY13-14 No comment. Announcement: 2013 Bond Rating and Sale Commissioner Madigan advised the bond sale took place on June 12th. Announcement: 2014 Budget Call Letter Commissioner Madigan advised this will go out next week. Discussion and Vote: Capital Budget Amendment – Waterfront Park Page 4 of 6 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting June 17, 2013 No comment. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll No comment. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Benefits No comment. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign a Changer Order with Jersen Construction Group – Time Extension Tim Wales, city engineer, advised this is for an extension of time. They are going to put the project on hold during the track season and pick it back up mid September. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Agreement with the City Center for the Display of the En Pointe Sculpture Commissioner Scirocco stated these lease agreements are for placement of the figures on City property. There are 6 in total. He would like to add Il Forno and N. Fox to this agreement. Announcement: Paving Schedule No comment. Discussion: Update on Ballston Avenue Traffic Safety Improvement Project No comment. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Announcement: DPW Forum on June 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Room No comments. Commissioner Mathiesen added 1 item to his agenda: Propose Adjustment to Hourly Wage from $12 per Hour to $13 per Hour. This is for the person who works at night to stripe the paving. SUPERVISORS JOANNE YEPSEN Supervisor Yepsen added the following to her agenda: Update on County Board Meeting; Sale of County Landfill; Update on Racing Committee; Update on Social Program Committee; Veteran Peer to Peer Program; and International Win of Saratoga Rowing Association. MATTHEW VEITCH Page 5 of 6 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting June 17, 2013 Supervisor Veitch advised he will be adding the following to his agenda: Trails Committee Update; Public Safety Committee Update; Sale of County Landfill; and Racing Committee Update. ADJOURN Mayor Scott Johnson adjourned the meeting at 10:04 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Secretary to City Council Approved: 7/2/13 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 6 of 6