City Council

June 2, 2014 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Pre- Agenda Meeting PRESENT: Joanne Yepsen, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance John P. Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS Peter Martin, Supervisor Matthew Veitch, supervisor STAFF PRESENT: Joe Ogden, Deputy Mayor Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Sharon Kellner-Byrnes, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Sarah Burger, City Attorney EXCUSED: Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW CALL TO ORDER Mayor Yepsen called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS Establish Weibel Avenue Landfill Gas Project in 2014 Capital Program and Budget Commissioner Scirocco stated they would like to put the gas project into the capital program. Tim Wales, city engineer, advised that Fred Wehran plans to give a presentation. He would like to move the presentation before the public hearing. PRESENTATION Friends of the Saratoga Springs Library Mayor Yepsen advised someone from the library will be here as they would like to work more closely with the City. Saratoga Springs City Center Parking Garage No comment. Weibel Avenue Landfill Gas Project No comment. City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting June 2, 2014 CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of 5/6/14 City Council Meeting Minutes 2. Approve Budget Amendments (Decreases) 3. Approve Budget Transfers – Regular 4. Approve Payroll 05/30/14 $417,138.83 5. Approve Warrant: 2014 REG – 14JUN1 $221,518.50 6. Approve Payroll 05/23/14 $410,004.86 7. Approve Warrant: 2014 Mid – 14MWMAY2 $532,297.23 No comments. MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Discussion: Saratoga Springs Business Advisory Council Update Mayor Yepsen advised the Saratoga Springs Business Advisory Council has been hard at work. Joe Ogden has been running the group. Deputy Mayor Joe Ogden advised they hope to have a power point at the next meeting. Discussion: Racino Expansion Mayor Yepsen advised there is a special public comment period tomorrow evening. The deadline for correspondence to the Gaming Commission is June 13th. She thanked the Casino and Raceway for being extremely cooperative. Discussion: City Center Parking Garage Public Meeting Schedule No comments. Discussion: Gift from John Hendrickson and Mary Lou Whitney – Centennial Park Mayor Yepsen advised John Hendrickson is working on a special gift he and Mary Lou are offering to the City. Mike Ingersoll will be here tomorrow night to present the gift. This has been run by and approved by the Design Review Commission. Discussion: Quarter Pole Gift Mayor Yepsen stated the 150 Committee is having quarter poles built to be installed on Broadway. This has gone before DRC; there will be 6 – 8 poles. Discussion: Doten Avenue Neighborhood Association Mayor Yepsen stated the Doten Avenue Neighborhood Association is coming in regarding a planning issue. They are concerned about the growth and flooding going on out there. Announcement: National Community Action Award No comments. Discussion: Vietnam Commemoration Committee Update No comments. Discussion and Vote: Resolution Authorizing the City to Apply for TAP Funding to Construct Geyser Road Bike Pedestrian Trail Page 2 of 5 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting June 2, 2014 Mayor Yepsen stated this project has been in the works for about 10 years. It is a shovel ready project. There is new funding available through the governor’s office. Kate Maynard, Planning Department, stated this is another means of moving forward with this project. They have put in applications in the past but have not been successful. This is another opportunity for funding and the state parks are committing a match as part of this overall application. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign a Contract with GPI, Inc. for Geyser Road Safe Routes to School Design and Construction Inspection Services Kate Maynard of the Planning Department advised the City submitted for funds for this project. They were successful in receiving $246,617. The school has been a partner in this. There has been recommendation that Greenman-Pedersen complete both the design and construction inspection services. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Merit for Review of Zoning Amendment: PUD Provisions Commissioner Franck advised this relates to the Saratoga National Golf Course property. Stephanie Ferradino, attorney for the applicant, advised the original proposal was basic and asked the Council in the rural residential zones – PUDs. They heard the concerns of people about this and came up with a new proposal which allows PUDs in certain instances that are beneficial to the City and don’t impact so many other properties. The proposal is to allow in the rural residential zone for PUDs to be in limited circumstances where there are recreational uses as the primary use of the site; they also placed a minimum acreage requirement – at least 100 acres total, not developable. If the golf course is not successful, it will turn into Meadowbrook. With this proposal, only 11 properties would be affected. Commissioner Mathiesen stated PUDs were allowed in other zoning categories but not in rural residential. We need to think about what the motive was to limit PUDs in rural residential. Commissioner Scirocco asked what else could be put out there. Stephanie Ferradino advised they are talking about a spa, walking trails, skiing in the winter, etc. Commissioner Madigan asked for confirmation that they submitted their proposal to the Comprehensive Plan. Stephanie Ferradino advised they submitted to the Comprehensive Plan Committee about 1 year ago. Commissioner Madigan asked if the current proposal has been submitted. Stephanie Ferradino advised they have not; this is a zoning amendment. Announcement: Grievance Day Update No comments. Discussion and Vote: Commissioner Franck Along with Commissioner Scirocco Propose Naming the Geyser Road Baseball Field the Ed Valentine Field Commissioner Franck brought this up last fall in conjunction with the building of a stadium. Raising of money for that project is going to take a couple years. He is co-working with Commissioner Scirocco on this. It is the main diamond where Spa Catholic plays. Page 3 of 5 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting June 2, 2014 Award of Bid: Extension of Bid for Chemicals to Slack Chemical Company No comments. Award of Bid: Extension of Sodium Hypochlorite to Surpass Chemical Company, Inc. No comments. Award of Bid: Extension of Bid for Polyaluminum Chloride to Holland Company, Inc. No comments. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Capital Budget Amendment – Landfill Flaring Project #1228 No comments. Discussion and Vote: Bond Resolution – Landfill Flaring Project #1228 No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll No comments. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Agreement Addendum with Wehran Energy Corporation Tim Wales, city engineer, stated this is to allow Fred Wehran to continue work on landfill. This will be for the planning and design of the flare system. Discussion and Vote: Establish the Weibel Avenue Landfill Gas Project in the 2014 Capital Program and Budget No comments. Discussion: Letter to the Gaming Commissioner Establishing the City as an Involved Agency in the SEQRA Process Commissioner Scirocco stated he is aware they have a deadline. In 2006 the City lost their suit but was able to maintain an involved agency status. He believes the City should write a letter to the Gaming Commission to establish the City as an involved agency so we can have some oversight as to what happens over there. He doesn’t believe there is anything wrong with this. Mayor Yepsen stated she believes it is important that the City speaks with one voice. Commissioner Mathiesen agreed that the City should be an involved agency. Discussion: Progress Report on the American Elm Trees in the City Threatened by the Dutch Elm Tree Disease Page 4 of 5 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting June 2, 2014 Commissioner Scirocco advised he is working with Tony Izzo on a letter that will be sent to residents who have diseased trees on their property. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization to Pay Invoice to Gerald Sabloski Commissioner Mathiesen advised Gerald Sabloski performs the polygraph tests for applicants for the Police Department. There were 7 tests done in May for a total of $2,450.00. SUPERVISORS Matthew Veitch 1. Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership 2. Technology Committee 3. Saratoga County Airport Master Plan Peter Martin 1. County airport Runway Expansion Proposal 2. Recycling Operations Proposal 3. Maple Wood Manor ADJOURN Mayor Yepsen adjourned the meeting at 10:43 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 7/1/14 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 5 of 5