City Council

hlIIVfJTES OF THE REGULARLY SGHEIIULED MEETING OF THE SGHEXECTADY CITY COUNCIL June 8,2015 Tbe City Council Meeting was called to order by the City CounciI President Margaret King at 7:04 p.m. in Room 209, City Council Chambers at City Hall. Ms. King asked Rev. James Bookhout firom the Bridge Christian Church to provide the invocation. Ms. King then called on David Gade to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The Deputy City Clerk called the roll and the following members of the City Council answered to be present: Present - Council members, Margaret King, Ed Kosiur, John Mootooveren, Leesa Perazzo, Marion Porterfield, and Vincent Riggi Excused - John Ferrari Also Present - Deputy City Clerk Chad Putman, Corporation Counsel Carl Falotico and Mayor Gary Mecarthy At this point, Ms. King asked if there were no objections, she would like to take agenda item number 10, 11, 12 bt 13 out of order. There were no objections. Resolution No, 2015 - 144 - A Resolution Recognizing to Celebrate the 20th Allniversary of the Rose Garden Restoration Committee and to Honor David Gade for his Contribution to the Central Park Rose Garden, - Representatives including David Gade from the Rose Garden Restoration Committee were on hand and extended their gratitude for the recognition by the -Mayor and City Council. The Committee also announced a hndraising event taking place on June 19 at the River Stone Manor in Scotia. The resolution was moved by Mr. Kosiur and seconded by Ms. Perazzo The resolution passed unanimously. At this point, Mayor McCarthy then made a special presentation of the Patroon Award to David Gade for his service to the community. Mr. Gade was very appreciative and thanked the Mayor -for this special recognition. Resolution No, 2015 - I45 - A Resolution Declaring the ~l'loatho f June as Gun Violence Awareness NIonth, Assistant Police Chief Seber was on hand and extended his ga"lbde for the recopition by the Mayor and City Council. He added this resolution relates to the GIVE Grant hnding resolution before the City Council this evening, The resolution was moved by Mr. Mootoo~erenand seconded by Ms, Porlerfield, The resolution passed unanimously, Resolution No. 2015 - 146 - A Resolution SondraPsFine J e w e l q as an Cl)srtstandirrg Local Business, ---- Sondra Stephens and her son Anthony were on hand md extended their gpath-tudef i r the recornition by the Ma-\iorand City Council, Sondra noted her small-business on Upper Union Street i s committed to Schenectady fol%owingrecent renovations to the store. She added Sondraas will also be maintaining its pzdlanerships with area ncin-profits including the SZCM summer lunch program and Toys for Tots. The resolution was moved hs) Ms. Perazzo and seconded by Mr. Rlootsoveren. The sesol~t~urr passed unanimously. S c h e n e c t a d y Gity Council Minutes J u n e 8,2015 / Page 2 of 6 Resolution No. 2015 - 147 - A Resolution Recognizing the 15th Anniversary of the Ralph and Marjonie Kenney Center at Union College. - Dr. Gretehel Hathaway and Angela Tatem were on hand and extended their p t i h z d e for the recowition by the Mayor and City Council. The resolution was moved by Ms. Poderfield and seconded by Mr. Mootooveren. The resolution passed unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Regarding an Amendment to Chapter 86 of the Schenectady City Code regarding the Parks and Recreation Administration. Seeing no speakers come fornard, Ms. King declared the Public Hearing to be closed. APPROVAL OF I\.IINUTES: Ms. King asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the May 27,201 5 Council meetings as submitted by the Gity Clerk; Mr. Riggi made a motion to approve the minutes, Mr. Mootooveren seconded the motion, Official: From the Mayor a list of appointnnents dated June 8,2015. A letter from Paul LaFond, Director of Water & Wastewater recommending the award of the ""Sludge Transportation and Disposal Contract" to New England Waste Services of ME, Inc. A letter from David Fronk, Director of Operations recommending the award of the "Demolition and Debris Removal of Select Vacant Buildings in the City of Schenectady pursuant to the HUD 108 Loan Guarantee Demolition Program" to Jackson Demolition Services. General: None None COM32fTTEE REPORTS 14arion PorterGeld, Health & Recreation - Noted the Recreation Advisory Commission has cnmpIeted its assessments sfCity parks and will host a review meeting on June 9 at 6100 p,m, in mom i10. More infomation related to the outcome of the assessments to be announced. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (LEGISLATIVE ITEMS) Ms K ~ n g~nvrtedall who wrsked to address the Leglslat~veAgenda to come fo~xard: Schenectady City Council Minutes June 8, 201 5 1 Page 3 of 6 Seeing no speakers come forward, Ms. King declared the Privilege of the Floor on the Legislative Agenda closed. INTRODUCTION OF AND ACTIOX UPON LOCAL LAWS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: Mr. Kosiur made a motion that Council approves the Consent Agenda and the motion was seconded by Mr. Mootooveren. Consent Agenda - Ordinance No. 201 5 - 08 .......................................A d o Unanimously Resolution No. 20 f 5 - 148 .................................. Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 20 15 - 149 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 20 15 - 150 ...................................&fop ted Unanimously Resolution No. 20 15 - 151 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 20 15 - 152 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 20 15 - 153 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2015 - f 54 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No, 20 15 - 155 ................................... M t e d Unanimously Resolution No. 20 15 - 156 ....................................&lop ted Unanimously Resolution No. 201 5 - 2 57 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2015 - CS - 17 ............................. Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 20 15 - CS - 18 ..............................Adopted Unanimously PRTVILECE OF THE FLOOR: Ms. King invited all who wished to address the City Council on any matter of City business to come fornard. The following speakers rose to be heard and their remarks are summarized: Anthony Carota, Schenectady - Praised the Police Department for their handling of the Michigan Avenue incident. He also extended praise to the City related to the Arts Fest that was held downtown on June 13. He noted concerns related to violence in Hamilton Hill that was posted on Facebook. He then noted Affordable Housing is the wrong idea. Rather he suggested the City should follow Council member Vince Riggi's position related to zero tolerance regasding violence and graffiti. He added that New York City has a drug pipeline to Schenectady wirnch creates a dangerous environment for City residents. He closed by reiterating the City should focus on zero tolerance and not affsrdable housing, Joe Rodriquez, Sehenectady - Noted the State Street camash is good for the City, He then suggested the City step up more related to sanitation and appears to be avoiding e e ~ a i nislands. He then noted concerns related to nei&borhosd convenient stores and the promotion o f cigarette sales*He questions if the store on Aitamont Aveme was in compliance related to signage. He also made a note related to paving of Ailment Avenue. 3"fmIsarrcs, Sehenectady --- Noted the Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association will host its r?ei@borhiiodblock party on S;tturday, Sucre 27""%om I : O O p.m. to 5:00p,m, which is open to the community, FOPmore Infomiltion she noted residents can t i s i t the Hamilton Hi11 ,Arts Center website. Judy Atchinsoat, Schenectady - (with two chrlbren, Lexis & Anthony from the Quest program) noted Queststarted o i er 23 years ago and has an annual budget o f S90,000per year, She added she does not recelte s siilart from the Quest program, She noted Quest has cleaned-up a lot next 10 their property on State Street .i.,h~chuse to be cluttered wrth debns and garbage, She noted that Quest has reee~vedass~staneefrom the Buhmaster famrly related to the ~nsrallauonof a Schenectady Gity Council Minutes June 8,201 5 1 Page 4 of 6 community garden on the vacant lot. She added she is interested in buying the tot from the City and that she bas the community suppod behind her efforts. She closed by noting that Quest will be hosting a bakeoff in July along with an open house. She added all events are free and open to the public. P.D. Voorhis. Schenectady - Noted she was attacked afier a city Council mee"tng and recently again by a non-verbal attacker. She added Mr. Ferrari came to her rescue. She noted she spoke to the Fire Chief who said historically she could have pulled the fire box alarm and the police would have come. She noted she could not pull the fire alarm box now due to the boxes being covered after they were decommissioned from service. She noted the Police Department would not take a report that she had written up for the last two months. She added she had copies that she was going to turn over to the Gity Council which included a write up on ""Union College and the Lincoln Assassination"'. Mohamed Hafez, Schenectady - Spoke on a host ageement another municipality in upstate New York has with a casino developer. He noted the Mayor provided a short response. He noted the City taxpayers do not want to pay for the increase expenses that will come as a result of the Rivers Casino. With regards to the other municipality ageement he noted the town will not be responsible for additional costs incurred as a result of the new casino related to public safety. He added our Mayor did not sign a similar a g e m e n t to protect residents. He noted the residents elected the Mayor to look out for the best interest of the residents, not the developers. He closed by asking why the residents should re-elect the Mayor. Chris Gibbs, Schenectady - Noted the City waited for Judy Atchinson from Quest to clean up the lot before taking ownership of the Lot. He added Council member Kosiur has not been responsive, but Council member Riggi has been. He added that Judy has worked with a generation of children. He noted the more people who care the work will focus on our town. He added Nott Terrace seems to be the other side of the tracks. He noted that be is originally from New York City and that he has worked daily to help clan parks and nei&borhoods. Mary MeClaine, Schenectady - "I want to address the issue of beautification and the new sign at Ellis Hospital. Mihen I take a position on an issue at this microphone it is done from an educated perspective. In the case of beautification, I have taken flower arranging classes for the past 25 years. In one of my very first classes, the teacher told her students don't just look at a tree and find the prettiest branch on it for your arrangement. t have been conditioned to look for beauty and found it at the corner of Nott Street and Rosa Road until the City let Ellis Hospital destroy the site. Whoever sisned off on that ugly project owes the people of the Goose Hill nei@borhoad an explanadon. Beautification wasn't on anyone's radar when the project was proposed, desimed and approved. Why would the Gity allow the hospital to expand a pasking lot smack in the middie of prime real estate. When the hospital was simultaneously building a 5 story parking garage Just a few feet away'? As if that wasn't bad enough a metal guard rail was installed around the lot. Guard rails belong on the hi&way, not in a primary residential area sf the City, That corner went from beautik1 to a cheaply shokvy mess. 1 saw the initial picture for the project, The finished poduct does not look like the picture because the backgound conditions were not included. Things such as guard rails, parked cars, larger parking 101, etc, Someone either wasn9tpaying attention or got hood winked on the project, The new Ellis Hospital s i g n degrades rather than enhances the nei&borhsod. That is not what the comprehensive plan is all about. Council members may work hard hut they don't uork well, hfediocrxity i s the mantra sf the administration. Go rake a look at what the Crty did on rnj street, It doesn9t make sense." Schenectady City Council Minutes June 8,200 5 1 Page 5 of 6 Seeing no other speakers to come before the City Council, Ms. King declared the Privilege of the Floor closed regarding City Business. h4ISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL Ms. Porterfield - Noted her disappointment that some of the memorial flags used as part of the display at Veterans Park were taken. She added this is unfortunate because her goal was to leave the memol-ial display out until Flag Day. She noted due to the change in circumstances she will be ending the memorial early. She then noted the Arts Fest was a great success on June 13t". She added that today she was a guest at a special gospel service that recognized the bicyclists from Kaming, China, Schenectady's sister City. She then noted that Affordable Housing and Zero Tolerance can occur at the same time. She noted her intentions to send out invitations to the amual Juneteenth event which will be taking on June 2othin Vale K: Central Park. She added more information can be found on the Hamilton Hill Arts Center's website. She noted the Hamilton Hilt Neighborhood Association firill also be hosting a neighborhood block party in Jerry Burrell Park the same weekend as the neighborhood garage sale. She added the block party will take place on Saturday, but the garage sale will be all weekend. Mr, Riggi - Noted that he finds the sihation related to the memorial flags despicable. He added that he hopes someone will either report the incident or return the flags. He then asked about whether the emergency call boxes that are ctrwently out of service and covered would be operational again. He then encouraged the Council and Mayor to consider the Quest request related to the vacant lot which the organization is looking to use for a community garden. He then noted concems about the impact of neighborhood bars on residents with regards to loud music. He added these neighborhood bars have been in the community for years and it appears issues arise with the change of ownership. He then noted the Bellevue Neighborhood Preservation will host its monthly meeting on June 17 at 7 9 0 p.m. with special guest, Erie Shilling, Director of Code Enforcement. He added the Bellevue Farmers Market will start on June I Ithand will take place every Thursday on Broadway in Bellewe. Ms. Perazzo - Noted the Kids Arts Fest was a great success over the weekend. She added the Give Graffiti the Brush program is up and running for the summer, every other Saturday. She encouraged residents and property owners to contact her with locations that have been tagged by graffiti so the program can add the location to the list. She noted attending the recent Kenney Center volunteer recognition dinner and was really impacted by the number of hours of community senice the Union College students provide to Schenectady. She added the volurntem hours often involve some dirty and difl"reu1t ivork. She noted the Scheneetady Prrde festival will be taking place on June 20 on the Jay Street Marketplace. She then encouraged residents to register with http:~~www,92 1ai.com to assist emergency responders with contacting emergency contacts, LVayorMcCartlty - Noted the call h o e s have been replaced with a central dispatch. He noted that letters h a ~ e There has keen no response from the building been sent to the building 0~7~ners. owners and it's currently under review, He added the City has received a $500,000grant for neiaborhood revitalization, plus an additional S100,000 for the Land Tmst which focuses on owner occupied grope~ies,He noted the Sehenectady Police Depafiment has received two donated bullet proof vests for the K-9 depadment. We added the City has a new business in town called Furlocity ~vhlcllbwill be located in the New York State BizLab, Regardkg the proposed casino host benefit agreement he noted certain proponents are taking positions o f convenience. He added especially those who originally opposed the casino coming to fchenectady to begin with. He added the brg difference between the T y ~ eand Schenectady projects i s that an Fyre,the Seneca County IDA awarded the project generous incentives. These included a 516 million Schenectady City Council Minutes June 8,2015 1 Page 6 of 6 exemption from sales taxes, an exemption from mortgage recording tax worth another $3.35 million, and propefly tax savings worth about $10 million for a total of almost $30 million. He added the new casino in Schenectady does not include any IDA benefits. The Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady is paying 100 percent of sates tax, 100 percent of mortgage recording tax and 100 percent of property tax. He noted the direct p a p e n t to the host community is expected to generate over $8.2 million each year, with $4.1 million going to the city of Schenectady and $4.1 million going to Schenectady County, according to the formula established by state law. He added in addition, Schenectady stands to benefit from approximately $6.7 million in taxes each year from property tax, hotel tax (also known as bed tax) and sales tax. He closed by noting the annual estimated total tax payment to the city of SchenectadyiSchenectady County is $14,900,000. This figure does not include tax payments from the adjacent A%ohawkHarbor development. Ms. King - Noted the Art Festival was a great success. She extended her appreciation to Karen Johnson and all those involved with the event. She added that Jay on Jay is taking place every Thursday on the Jay Street fvIaketplacefrom 12:00 p,m. to 1:00 p.m. She encouraged residents and patrons o f downtown to check out the event, She closed by wishing Mayor McCarthy happy birthday. Adjourned: Seeing no hrther business to come before the City Council, Ms. King asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was moved by Mr. Mootooveren and seconded by Mr. Riggi and the meeting_adjoumed at 8:15 p.m. Schenectady Deputy City Clerk