City Council

August 3, 2015 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Pre- Agenda Meeting PRESENT: Joanne Yepsen, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS STAFF PRESENT: Joe Ogden, Deputy Mayor Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Maire Masterson, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Matthew Vetch, Supervisor Peter Martin, Supervisor EXCUSED: Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW Vince DeLeonardis, City Attorney CALL TO ORDER Mayor Yepsen called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m. PUBLIC HEARING Amend Chapter 148 of City Code - Noise Commissioner Mathiesen advised this deals with construction noise immediately adjacent to the Oklahoma Track. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of 6/16/15 City Council Minutes 2. Approval of 7/7/15 City Council Minutes 3. Approve Resolution for the Use of the Insurance Reserve – 21 4. Approve Budget Amendments – Insurance Reserve 5. Approve Budget Amendments (Increases) 6. Approve Budget Transfers – Regular 7. Approve Budget Transfers – Debt Service 8. Approve Payroll 07/24/15 $439,538.84 9. Approve Payroll 07/31/15 $458,307.32 10. Approve Warrant: 2015 Mid – 15MWJUL3 $27,370.22 11. Approve Warrant: 2015 REG – 15AUG1 $1,735463.96 Commissioner Madigan advised the warrant is so large this time due to hospitalization, second quarter school tax, and HMA contracting for the Waterfront project. City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting August 3, 2015 MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Appointment: Recreation Commission No comments. Discussion: Apprenticeship Language Resolution Mayor Yepsen advised she will send around the draft resolution. This is not up for vote tomorrow. Announcement: Selection of Unified Development Ordinance Consultant Mayor Yepsen advised they will be announcing the firm they have chosen to be their planning and zoning consultant. The award of bid and contract approval will go on the next City Council agenda. Announcement: Centennial Day at Saratoga Race Course Mayor Yepsen stated Centennial Day at the track will include free admission for all. Announcement: Downtown Parking Task Force Mayor Yepsen advised this is an extension to what the Special Assessment District has been working on with her already. This would bring a group of stakeholders together to bring to the Council where additional parking can be. She would like to collaborate the efforts of this and what Commissioner Madigan has on her agenda. Commissioner Madigan advised they did get the draft study from Camoin. They need to make decisions as a Council how and if they want to move forward. She believes there should be a Council committee made up of mainly City employees. She has been approached about a parking authority. Commissioner Scirocco asked who will be appointing the members of the committee. Mayor Yepsen advised they starting to reach out and each organization would appoint a representative to this committee. Discussion and Vote: SEQRA for Berry Purchase of City Land Tony Izzo, assistant city attorney, advised this item and the next have been reviewed by the Real Estate Committee. The Committee has determined there is no longer a public interest to retain title of these properties. Discussion and Vote: SEQRA for Yates Purchase of City Land No comments. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Approve Revisions to Pedalbus Ordinance No comments. Discussion and Vote: Waive Fee for NYS Recreation and Park Society Event Commissioner Franck advised there is a $50 fee per day that he is looking to have waived. This will be free movies for the residents. Page 2 of 5 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting August 3, 2015 Commissioner Franck added 3 items to his agenda. The first is a Discussion and Vote: Award of Bid for Insurance Brokerage Services to Adirondack Trust Insurance. Marilyn Rivers advised this award of bid is for 3 years. Commissioner Franck also added Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Contract for Insurance Brokerage Services; and Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign an Agreement with Kodiak Construction. Marilyn Rivers explained the contract with Kodiak is for the repair of the ceiling in the Assessor’s Office. The ceiling was damaged due to a water leak. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Resolution for Non-Union Full Time Personnel for 2016 Commissioner Madigan advised the Council is required to review the resolution each year. This resolution would be in effect for January 2016. The CPI index is at zero. We have to decide how we are going to deal with union and non-union employees; we have to be fair to both. Commissioner Scirocco would like to see it follow the union contracts a little more. Commissioner Mathiesen stated the steps make sense as the longer an employee is here the more valuable they become. Commissioner Madigan stated she will pull this from tomorrow’s agenda and bring it back when there is a final draft for discussion and vote. Commissioner Franck added that there should be categories as some of the positions in this resolution are appointed and others have to take an exam and are here for a long period of time. Discussion: 2nd Quarter Financial Report Commissioner Madigan reported we are on target. Discussion: Parking – Council Committee; Draft Revenue Study Commissioner Madigan advised the draft study was recently delivered to her. She would like to discuss tomorrow. She agreed with Commissioner Mathiesen that there should be members of the public involved on the committee. She asked the mayor if she wanted to do this as one group instead of having 2 groups working at it. Mayor Yepsen stated that would be fine. Commissioner Madigan stated a broader scope would be better. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Contingency No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Benefits Page 3 of 5 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting August 3, 2015 No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers (Revenue) Benefits No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Amendments – Benefits No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Amendments (Decreases) Benefits No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Amendments – Assignment for Refund of Prior Year Taxes No comments. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Accept Donation from the Chamber of Commerce and the Saratoga 150 Commissioner Scirocco advised there is a new sign on Rt. 50 and North Broadway. The sign, valued at $22,000 was donated by the Chamber of Commerce and Saratoga 150. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Change Order with Mid-State Industries, Ltd. – Spirit of Life Deb Lebreche of the Engineering Department advised this change order deals with the sidewalks and extra plantings around the Spirit of Life. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Addendum Two with Nixon Peabody Commissioner Mathiesen advised this change order is for additional legal fees regarding the suit against the city by former Commissioner Thomas McTygue, former Commissioner Remijia Foy, and form Mayor Ray Watkins. SUPERVISORS MATTHEW VEITCH 1. Nothing at this time. PETER MARTIN 1. Equalization and Assessment Committee 2. Racing and Gaming Committee EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Yepsen moved and Commissioner Scirocco seconded to adjourn to executive session at 10:18 a.m. Page 4 of 5 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting August 3, 2015 Ayes – All Council returned at 11:04 a.m. Mayor Yepsen announced the Council discussed a legal matter regarding a breach of contract. There is nothing to report at this time. ADJOURN Mayor Yepsen adjourned the meeting at 11:05 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 8/18/15 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 5 of 5