City Council

July 17, 2017 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting 9:30 AM 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: Meg Kelly, Deputy Mayor Maire Masterson, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Mike Sharp, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Peter Martin, Supervisor Vince DeLeonardis, City Attorney EXCUSED: Frank Coppola, Jr., Deputy Commissioner, DPW Matthew Veitch, Supervisor CALL TO ORDER Mayor Yepsen called the meeting to order at 9:37 a.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Amend Chapter 148 - Noise – Commissioner Mathiesen advised this is a corrected version for the south side of Fifth Avenue. 2. Capital Budget Amendment to Utilize Open Space Bond Funds for Acquisition of Crown Oil Property – Tina Carton, sustainability coordinator, advised the use of the $7,000 is for the title search, etc. There is no lean on this property or financial responsibility for the spill. 3. Donation of Land Utilizing Open Space Bond – no comments. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of 7/5/17 City Council Meeting Minutes 2. Approval of 7/5/17 Pre-Agenda Meeting Minutes 3. Approve: Use of Insurance Reserve Resolution #7 4. Approve Budget Amendments – Use of Insurance Reserve #7 5. Approve Budget Amendments – Regular (Increases) 6. Approve Budget Transfers – Regular 7. Approve Payroll 7/7/17 %578,669.46 8. Approve Payroll 7/14/17 $511,317.66 9. Approve Warrant: 2017 Mid – 17MWJUL1 $57,355.64 10. Approve Warrant: 2017 – 17JUL2 $ No comments. City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting July 17, 2017 MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Appointment: Complete Streets Advisory Board No comments. Appointment: Design Review Commission No comments. Appointment: Zoning Board Alternate No comments. Set Public Hearing: Capital Budget 2018 – 2023 No comments. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Contract with Catholic Mutual John Hirliman of the Recreation Department stated this is an agreement for the use of the fields. Discussion and Vote: Resolution Authorization Exemption and Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes Agreement for Intrada Saratoga Springs Affordable Housing Project John Hartzel stated this is for the proposed 158 unit multi-family affordable housing project on Washington Street. The state process is moving along and they hope to close financing this fall. The amount of payment in lieu of taxes is $85,000 per year. Discussion: Americans with Disabilities Act Vince DeLeonardis, city attorney, advised an update of the ADA Committee will be provided. They are looking into getting a consultant to assist with this. Commissioner Madigan asked if this person would be paid through a grant. Vince advised there is no grant and will be looking for a funding source. Discussion: Human Resources Administrator – Public Sector HR Consultant Mayor Yepsen advised she will be providing an update on the search and the expansion of it. Discussion: Communications Clerk Mayor Yepsen stated she wanted to make everyone aware Rachel was injured during a fire drill since her position affects all departments. She stated Rachel is back to work full-time today so this item is being removed from her agenda. Discussion and Vote: Resolution Authorizing the City of Saratoga Springs to Seek Funding Through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application for Climate Smart Communities Category 2 Certification Project Climate Smart Land Use Planning Tina Carton stated this is for a small grant for a natural resource inventory. This inventory allows us to compile information on naturally occurring resources. Quotes range between $20,000 - $30,000 and the City will need to match funds up to $15,000. Commissioner Madigan asked Tina if she had a timeframe for the grant being awarded. Page 2 of 6 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting July 17, 2017 Tina advised it would be awarded around November so funds wouldn’t be needed until 2018. Discussion and Vote: Amend the 2017 Capital Budget for Crown Oil Donation at 209 South Broadway Mayor Yepsen stated they are looking to amend the capital budget by $7,000. Commissioner Scirocco stated if we take the property as a donation there are no restrictions. If we take the property using Open Space money, there will be restricted uses on this property. Tony Izzo stated it is appropriate to do a title search and title insurance. The $7,000 is to be sure the property doesn’t have any liens on it. It is appropriate to use Open Space funds for this purpose. Commissioner Scirocco confirmed by using the Open Space funds, the use of the land becomes restricted. Tony Izzo advised that is true; limitations would be put on the land. Commissioner Scirocco would like to know what the intended use is of this land. The property is not safe and tractor trailers continually drive over the property. There also needs to be an environmental study done on the land if it is going to be used for more than just a park. There may be issue with the soil and remediation becomes very costly. Tony Izzo stated the state has given the property a “clean bill of health”, but the City can still look into it. Mayor Yepsen stated there is no clean up to be done per DEC. (copy attached) Commissioner Scirocco stated it makes sense to have our own consultant come in and state if the property is clean or not. There may be issues there that we are not aware of. Commissioner Madigan stated it is no unreasonable or cost prohibitive to have a consultant come in and check the property. Council agreed to have a consultant do an environmental study. Discussion and Vote: Approval to Utilize $7,000 of Open Space Bond Funds for Associated Expenses Necessary to Accept the Donation of the Crown Oil Property at 209 South Broadway No additional comments from above. Discussion and Vote: Short Form SEQRA – Accept Donation of the Crown Oil Property at 209 South Broadway Mayor Yepsen pulled this item from her agenda. Announcement: Update on Human Rights Task Force No comments. Announcement: Saratoga Springs 2016 Tree City Mayor Yepsen announced Saratoga Springs has been named the Tree City USA of 2016. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Gas Contract Page 3 of 6 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting July 17, 2017 Commissioner Franck stated they will try to load the contract by noon today. This contract is similar to the electric contract. The gas prices too change day to day. Commissioner Franck advised the Council he will not be in attendance at the first meeting in August. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign CSEA Employee Benefit Fund Agreement Commissioner Madigan advised this agreement is for the vision plan. Announcement: Appointment and Oath of Office Deputy commissioner of Finance, Mike Sharp No comments. Announcement: 2018 Budget No comments. Discussion and Vote: Capital Budget Amendment – (Increase) Open Space Bond Acquire Property Crown Oil No comments. Discussion and Vote: Capital Budget Amendment – (increase) Woodlawn Avenue Water Project No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Amendment – Use of Unassigned Fund Balance – Correction of Grant Encumbrance No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Amendment – Use Contingency Salaries Commissioner Madigan stated a couple of positions were impacted by the Department of Labor change. This is to correct the executive assistant to the mayor in the amount of $8,479 and the other is the parks, open space, and historic preservation position. That position was a 2 year grant where the City was responsible for 50% of the salary. This year the salary was not budgeted appropriately through the requested budget and is now in the red. The only place to take the money from is contingency. Beginning 2018 this position is 100% responsibility of the City. Contingency is now very low. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll and Retirement No comments. Commissioner Madigan stated she is adding an item to her agenda: Discussion: Sales Tax Distribution. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Amend the 2017 Capital Budget – Woodlawn Avenue Water Main Project Page 4 of 6 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting July 17, 2017 Tim Wales, city engineer, advised they have completed their waterline project. They had an opportunity to complete an additional section at the same contract prices. At the next meeting he will have the actual change order from the contractor. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Agreement with BPI Mechanical for the Saratoga Arts Council Air Conditioning & Ventilation Project No comments. Discussion and Vote: Authorize Commissioner of Public Works to Sign Grant of Easement to Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Tony Izzo stated he thought the Council had approved the Commissioner of Public Works to sign the agreement but that was not stated in the motion. That needs to be done to allow for his signature. Commissioner Scirocco stated he is adding 1 item: Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Change Order #1 with Restore Masonry, Inc. for the Canfield Casino Dining Room Restoration Project. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization to Pay Nixon Peabody Invoice Commissioner Mathiesen advised the agreement with Nixon Peabody ended in February but they received one more invoice for $1,953. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Contract with Saratoga Springs School District for 2017 – 2018 High School Resource Officer No comments. Discussion and Vote: Amend Chapter 148 – Noise No comments. Announcement: Parking Changes on Wright Street and Frank Sullivan Way Commissioner Mathiesen stated the taxi and limousine zones will be shifted to alleviate congestion where people leave and enter the track. Commissioner Mathiesen added 2 items to his agenda: Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign End User Agreement Regarding ID Detection; and Discussion: Pedestrian Safety in the City. SUPERVISORS Matthew Veitch 1. Racing and Gaming Committee 2. Equalization and Assessment Committee Peter Martin 1. Saratoga County Airport 2. Youth Bureau 3. Saratoga County Shared Services Panel Page 5 of 6 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting July 17, 2017 4. Sewer District Improvements Mayor Yepsen advised she will be adding 1 item to her agenda: Set Public Hearing for Geyser Road EDPL. ADJOURN Mayor Yepsen adjourned the meeting at 10:51 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 8/15/17 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 6 of 6