City Council

November 18, 2013 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Pre- Agenda Meeting PRESENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS Matthew Veitch, 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 ABSENT: Joanne Yepsen, Supervisor CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. PRESENTATION Outstanding Service Awards No comments. EXECUTIVE SESSION CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of 10/31/13 Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes 2. Approval of 11/4/13 City Council Meeting Minutes 3. Approval of 11/4/13 Pre-Agenda Meeting Minutes 4. Approve Budget Amendments – (Increases) 5. Approve Budget Transfers - Regular 6. Approve Payroll 11/08/13 $410,173.93 7. Approve Payroll 11/15/13 $424,135.06 8. Approve Warrant: 2013 Mid – 13MWNOV1 $92,175.26 9. Approve Warrant: 2013 REG – 13NOV2 $297,832.60 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting November 18, 2013 MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Determination of SEQRA for Proposed Zoning Map Amendment at 3368 South Broadway (Turf Hotels) Kate Maynard of the Planning Department advised this is zoning amendment from the existing OMB-1 to TRB. This is for consideration of determination for SEQRA. The action item for this is the next agenda item. Discussion and Vote: Proposed Zoning Map Amendment at 3368 South Broadway (Turf Hotels) No comments. Discussion and vote: Determination of SEQRA Evaluation for Waterfront Master Plan Brad Birge of the Planning Department advised the City has received 2 grants through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. A SEQRA evaluation and the adoption of a plan needs to occur for these grants. Mayor Johnson confirmed the City cannot draw down any of the NYS grand funds until a plan has been adopted. Brad advised that is correct. Discussion and Vote: Adoption of Waterfront Park Master Plan Commissioner Madigan stated she has concerns about this as there are only renderings and no financial plan. Mayor Johnson stated the financial plan was rolled out in 2009. Things have changed such as phasing in the project. The overall cost projection is the same. They need to adopt the plan so they can access the funds. They will build out when funds are available. Tomorrow night they are not committing the City to build out a $1.8 million project. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Contract with Saratoga Springs Preservation foundation for Grant – Funded East Side Historic District Properties Survey Update Mayor Johnson stated this item is being withdrawn. Set Public Hearing: Amend the 2013 Capital Budget and Program for Bicycle/Pedestrian Accommodation on I-87 Exit 15 Bridge Brad Birge explained this bridge is slated for preservation instead of reconstruction. This is the opportunity to have accommodations on that. A separate bike/pedestrian accommodations can be made across the bridge. Mayor Johnson stated part of the project is to build a bike and pedestrian access between Excelsior Avenue and the bridge; and to reconfigure the bridge’s travel lanes to widen the pedestrian/bicycle portion of it. Our costs is for the City owned portions of the route; approximately $125,000. Discussion: Proposal for Agreement with General Schuyler Emergency Squad for EMS on the Eastern Plateau Mayor Johnson advised his office has been working on this proposal since mid August. This proposal is a potential agreement. He and his deputy met with the General Schuyler Emergency Squad to see if they would be interested in partnering with us to provide services. They indicated they would be interested. They also spoke with the Town of Saratoga and the Town of Northumberland; all have given him a Page 2 of 5 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting November 18, 2013 primary go ahead to sit and discuss if they can reach a deal. This is not designed to interfere with our fire coverage out there; this is for EMS services only. This is an interim solution. Commissioner Mathiesen stated he is surprised that he is just finding out about it now since it was being discussed in August. He confirmed that this would be services in addition to the mutual aid services they already have with them. Mayor Johnson advised that is correct. Commissioner Mathiesen asked if there is a financial requirement on the part of the City to bring their services into the City. Mayor Johnson stated that will be part of the next discussions. They are looking at maybe charging a flat rate per call or an availability fee. We are looking at about 30 calls per year. Commissioner Mathiesen stated all 911 calls within the City go through our dispatch system. Would these calls then have to be transferred to the County system or General Schuyler? Mayor Johnson stated he can’t speak for them but he would imagine they would have to be transferred to General Schuyler. Commissioner Mathiesen asked if our fire trucks would continue to respond to the calls as they do now with the ambulance. Mayor Johnson stated that would be part of the details that need to be worked out. This may not work out but it is worth sitting down with them. He is being told our City does not provide ample service to that part of the City. He also stated his department knew about this as his firefighters work out there and the word came back that very day. Commissioner Mathiesen stated that is different than talking to him about it. According to Google maps, the distance from the General Schuyler station on Route 29 to the eastern plateau is a little more distance than from our Lake Avenue station to there so he is not sure how the response times would improve. Mayor Johnson stated he drove the route after their meeting and the first subdivision accessible from General Schuyler is Knoll Spring Park; the turn off is 1 mile. The other portion he is talking about is about is 6 miles to Horizon/Vista Drives. Commissioner Mathiesen stated the proposal for the station on Union Avenue would provide more than adequate coverage for the eastern plateau in terms of response times as well as for the eastern core of the City. The whole point of that is the people on the eastern plateau would receive the same level of service and response. ACCOUNT’S DEPARTMENT Award of Bid: 1978 GMC Pick p to Jeffrey Dado No comments. Award of Bid: Water Treatment Plant Emergency Generator to Stilsing Electric, Inc. No comments. Award of Bid: Casino First Floor Reinforcing and Basement Moisture Remediation to Bunkoff General Contractors, Inc. No comments. Page 3 of 5 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting November 18, 2013 FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: 2014 Tax Rate Approvals Commissioner Madigan advised these are the tax rates that were presented with the 2014 budget. Discussion and Vote: Affordable Care Act Policy Commissioner Madigan stated the director of finance has attended workshops and conferences where this has been a topic of discussion. It has been recommended that municipalities establish policies to deal with the requirements that will be arising from this legislation. Discussion and Vote: Web and Social Media Policy Commissioner Madigan advised that Kevin Kling was made aware that engagesaratoga.com is being used for the comp plan review policy. This falls outside of the existing policy we have. The policy was revised to accommodate the outside surveys/links that could be beneficial to the City. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Benefits No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Contingency No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Amendments – Interfund No comments. Commissioner Madigan added an item to her agenda: Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Health Care Plan Rate Renewals. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Set Public Hearing: Amend the Capital Budget – Ballston Avenue Traffic Improvements Project No comments. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign a Change Order with Precision Environmental Solutions, Inc. Commissioner Scirocco stated this is for the Water Treatment Plant. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign an Agreement with the Unified Court System No comments. Discussion and Vote: Street to be Snowplowed – McKenzie’s Way and Maria Lane No comments. Page 4 of 5 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting November 18, 2013 Discussion and Vote: Resolution for Urban Forest Tree Planting Program Grant Application Brad Birge advised the City received a grant through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to develop an Urban Forest Master Plan. This plan was adopted by the Council. The plan included to seek additional funds; a matching grant for up to $25,000. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Set Public Hearing: Amend Chapter 225 Article IX, Sub-Section 225-81, Schedule XVI, Parking Prohibited at all Times Commissioner Mathiesen stated this involves the area on Church Street between Woodlawn Avenue and Clinton Street on the south side of the street. This is to prohibit parking at all times. Announcement: DWI Recognition Award Commissioner Mathiesen stated he will be announcing the award Officer Leffler received. Commission Mathiesen advised he is adding an item to his agenda: Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Change Order for Titan Roofing for the West Avenue Firehouse Roof Replacement. The requested amount for approval is $536.90. SUPERVISORS MATTHEW VEITCH 1. 2014 Saratoga County Budget 2. TIP Strategies Economic Development Strategic Plan 3. Saratoga County Board Meeting 4. Casino Referendum ADJOURN Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 10:07 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Secretary to City Council Approved: 12/17/13 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 5 of 5