City Council

OFFICE OF CITY CLERK SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK AGENDA FOR THE COUNCIL CAUCUS AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 14, 2022 Room 209 7:00 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING 001 Regarding the Abandonment of 0.15 Acre Paper Street Behind 588 Broadway Not Being Used by the City ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 01 Council Member A RESOLUTION Calling for a Public Hearing on the 2023 Downtown Special Assessment District Budget (PH 11-28-22) Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 02 Council Member A RESOLUTION Calling for a Public Hearing on the 2023 Upper Union Street Business Improvement District Budget (PH 11-28-22) Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 03 Council Member A RESOLUTION an Agreement with Catholic Charities to Provide a Senior Adult Meal and Activity Program Known as the Schenectady Social Club Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 04 Council Member A RESOLUTION Declaring Support for the New York State Climate Action Council Scoping Plan Votes Required 4 1 Thursday, November 10, 2022 Page 1 of 2  Monday, November 14, 2022 Room 209 7:00 p.m. ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 05 Council Member A RESOLUTION Authorizing the Reimbursement of Expenses by the Rose Garden Restoration Committee Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 06 Council Member A RESOLUTION Authorizing the Sale of 13 Odell Street for $40,500.00 Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 07 Council Member A RESOLUTION Authorizing the Sale of 808 Stanley Street for $32,000.00 Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 08 Council Member A RESOLUTION Authorizing the Sale of a Vacant Lot at 1467 Broadway for $5,500.00 Votes Required 4 CONTRACT & SUPPLY 09 Council Member A RESOLUTION Awarding the Bid and Contract for the "Schenectady Park Connector Trail: Wayfinding & Signage" to W.S. Sign Design Corp. in the Amount of $31,975.10 Votes Required 4 2 Thursday, November 10, 2022 Page 2 of 2  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING DATE: October 13, 2022 TO: Mayor Gary McCarthy City Council President Marion Porterfield City Council Members FROM: Ray Gillen SUBJECT: Purchase of .15-acre city-owned parcel behind 588 Broadway Background Information: More than a decade ago, Metroplex worked with the City and Highbridge Development to transform a vacant and blighted lot at 588 Broadway into a new building for a company called Paragon Energy Solutions. Paragon provided engineering consulting services to the power generation industry with a special focus on the nuclear energy sector. Paragon leased the building on Broadway from Highbridge Development. As New York and most other Northeastern states have moved away from nuclear power, the company decided to relocate to Texas and not renew their lease at 588 Broadway. This left a vacant building that we have been marketing. We are pleased to inform the Mayor and City Council that we have a contract on the building with a leading company called F.W. Webb. This firm sells equipment to contractors including parts for plumbing, heating and cooling systems. The company is the largest supplier of this type of equipment in the Northeastern United States with 3,000 employees in nine states. The company was founded in 1899. In Schenectady, F.W. Webb plans to open a retail/wholesale operation at 588 Broadway creating twelve new jobs. This is an ideal fit with other operations nearby including the Marcella Appliance Store. F.W. Webb’s contract on the property is contingent upon City Council approval of the sale of a .15-acre parcel that is owned by the City immediately behind the existing building and parking lot. The company needs this for additional parking. They will not buy the new building unless this additional parking area is included. 3 Before Paragon decided not to renew their lease, the City Council on April 27, 2020, approved the lease of this same .15-acre parcel to Paragon for $1,000 a year for 20 years. F.W. Webb does not want to lease the parcel – they want to own it. To bring this new company to Schenectady we are asking the City Council to approve the sale of this parcel to F.W. Webb for a total of $25,000. We have attached an aerial map of the .15-acre lot, a legal description of the property and a survey. Chris Wallin has no objection to selling this land. This parcel is not used by the City. We are hopeful of City Council’s approval of this sale so that we can attract this major company to Schenectady. We strongly urge the Council to support this measure and we appreciate the City’s help and cooperation in closing this deal. Please call me if I can provide additional information. Evaluation/Analysis: The sale of the now vacant 588 Broadway building to a leading regional wholesale company will be a positive addition to Schenectady. Legislation will be Prepared By: Metroplex is pleased to assist in preparing needed resolutions/contract documents. cc: Chris Wallin, Andrew Koldin 4  PARCEL DESCRIPTION LANDS TO BE CONVEYED TO SEA OF MONSTERS, LLC CITY OF SCHENECTADY, SCHENECTADY COUNTY ALL THAT TRACT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, situate, lying and being in the City of Schenectady, County of Schenectady and State of New York, being at the southerly terminus of Van Guysling Avenue and being more particularly bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point, said point being the southwesterly corner of the southerly terminus of Van Guysling Avenue; thence from said point of beginning along said southerly terminus of Van Guysling Avenue South 48 47’40” East, 43.97 feet to a point, said point being the southeasterly corner of the southerly terminus of Van Guysling Avenue at its intersection with the division line between lands now or formerly of Highbridge 890, LLC on the east and lands now or formerly of the City of Schenectady on the west; thence along said division line South 24 00’25” West, 167.12 feet to a point in the division line between the aforementioned lands of the City of Schenectady on the north and lands now or formerly of the People of the State of New York (Interstate I-890) on the south; thence along said division line North 25 17’51” West, 55.40 feet to a point in the division line between the aforementioned lands of the City of Schenectady on the east and other lands now or formerly of the People of the State of New York on the west; thence along said division line North 24 00’25” East, 144.00 feet to the point and place of beginning and containing 6,534 square feet of land more or less. Subject to any enforceable easements, rights, restrictions and/or covenants of record. Subject to any state of facts an up-to-date abstract of title would disclose. 5  P AM -R ON 0 89 I- ENGINEERS, LLP 411 Union Street Schenectady, NY 12305 518-377-0315 Fax 518-377-0379 www.abdeng.com 6  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: RESOLVED, that the City Council will conduct a public hearing in relation to: The Downtown Schenectady Assessment District 2023 Budget Said Public hearing shall be held on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at Council Chambers, Room 209, Schenectady City Hall, 105 Jay Street, Schenectady, New York – for the purpose of discussing the Downtown Schenectady Assessment District 2023 Budget; and be it further D RESOLVED, that the City Clerk shall have the following notice published in the appropriate manner: RA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Downtown Schenectady Assessment District 2023 Budget FT On Monday, November 28, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., the Schenectady City Council shall conduct a public hearing in relation to the above-referenced matter. Said public hearing shall be held in Council Chambers, Room 209, Schenectady City Hall, 105 Jay Street, Schenectady, New York – for the purpose of receiving public comment relative to the above-referenced matter; and be it further RESOLVED, that copies of the proposed Downtown Schenectady Assessment District 2023 budget be made available at the City Clerk’s Office and the City of Schenectady website at www.cityofschenectady.com for public inspection beginning no later than November 23, 2022; and be it further RESOLVED, that all interested parties may also be heard by submitting written comments to the City Clerk via www.cityofschenectady.com/158/City-Council, by email at mailto:smykoo@schenectadyny.gov, or mail at City Clerk, 105 Jay St., Schenectady, NY 12305, by 12:00 p.m. on November 25, 2022. Approved as to form this 14th day of November, 2022. __________________________ Andrew B. Koldin, Esq. Corporation Counsel 7  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: RESOLVED, that the City Council will conduct a public hearing in relation to: The 2023 Upper Union Street Business Improvement District Budget Said Public hearing shall be held on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at Council Chambers, Room 209, Schenectady City Hall, 105 Jay Street, Schenectady, New York – for the purpose of discussing the 2023 Upper Union Street Business Improvement District budget; and be it further D RESOLVED, that the City Clerk shall have the following notice published in the appropriate manner: RA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The 2023 Upper Union Street Business Improvement District Budget FT On Monday, November 28, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., the Schenectady City Council shall conduct a public hearing in relation to the above-referenced matter. Said public hearing shall be held in Council Chambers, Room 209, Schenectady City Hall, 105 Jay Street, Schenectady, New York – for the purpose of receiving public comment relative to the above-referenced matter; and be it further RESOLVED, that copies of the proposed 2023 Upper Union Street Business Improvement District budget be made available at the City Clerk’s Office and the City of Schenectady website at www.cityofschenectady.com for public inspection beginning no later than November 23, 2022; and be it further RESOLVED, that all interested parties may also be heard by submitting written comments to the City Clerk via www.cityofschenectady.com/158/City-Council, by email at mailto:smykoo@schenectadyny.gov, or mail at City Clerk, 105 Jay St., Schenectady, NY 12305, by 12:00 p.m. on November 25, 2022. Approved as to form this 14th day of November, 2022. __________________________ Andrew B. Koldin, Esq. 8 Corporation Counsel DRA FT 9  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION No. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Authorizing an Agreement with Catholic Charities to Provide a Senior Adult Meal and Activity Program Known as the Schenectady Social Club WHEREAS, to fight food insecurity and improve the physical and emotional health of the City of Schenectady’s senior adults, the City’s 2022 and 2023 operating budgets included funding for three new neighborhood senior adult centers; and WHEREAS, the City of Schenectady will partner with Catholic Charities of Schenectady to provide meals and programs at sites in the Bellevue, Goose Hill, and Hamilton Hill D neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, in addition to the nutritional benefits of providing access to low-cost meals, RA these programs will provide important opportunities for senior adults to socialize and help to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness: NOW, THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement with FT Catholic Charities to provide meal and activity programs for senior adults in an amount not to exceed the amounts previously authorized in the 2022 and 2023 operating budgets. Approved as to form this 14th day of November, 2022. ____________________________ Andrew B. Koldin, Esq. Corporation Counsel 10  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION No. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Declaring Support for the New York State Climate Action Council Scoping Plan WHEREAS, the Sixth Assessment of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) finds that climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world; and WHEREAS, the IPCC Assessment concludes that rapid, deep and sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are necessary, including accelerated action in this critical D decade, to limit global warming to within 1.5°C and 2°C in this century; and WHEREAS, New York State recognizes the urgent need to reduce and eliminate GHG RA emissions in the atmosphere, passing the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act ("Climate Act") committing the State to:  reduce GHG emissions by 40 percent by 2030 below 1990 levels, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050;  meet 70 percent of electricity needs from renewable resources by 2030, and 100 percent of FT electricity needs from zero-emissions resources by 2040; and  ensure a just and equitable transition that leaves no one behind, and dedicate up to 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to Disadvantaged Communities; and WHEREAS, the New York State Climate Action Council has approved for public comment a Draft Scoping Plan to meet New York's climate and equity goals; and WHEREAS, the Scoping Plan calls for shifting to energy-efficient electrification in buildings and transportation as the primary solution to replace fossil-fuel combustion in these sectors, which together account for 60 percent of the state's carbon emissions; and WHEREAS, the Scoping Plan calls for a phase-down of emissions from fossil fuel-fired electricity generation, while ensuring support and protections for impacted workers as they transition to clean energy jobs; and WHEREAS, the 2021 Jobs Study by the Just Transition Working Group for the NYS Climate Action Council estimates that meeting New York's climate goals will result in a net gain of 189,000 jobs across the state by 2030, alone, with a ratio of jobs gained to jobs displaced of 10 to 1; and WHEREAS, the Scoping Plan includes measures that would expand the development of 11  renewable resources and battery storage, encourage "agrivoltaics," or the co-location of agricultural activities with solar and wind, and provide resources to communities to assist with renewable siting and land-use planning; and WHEREAS, the Scoping Plan recognizes the critical role that rural landscapes play, both natural and working lands, in sequestering carbon emissions and enabling the state to achieve net- zero emissions, and the importance of agricultural land preservation, open space protection, support for farmers to improve soil health, and policies that expand afforestation and reforestation and incentivize and assist private landowners in implementing sustainable forest management practices; and WHEREAS, the Integration Analysis for the Scoping Plan finds that meeting emissions reduction goals of the Climate Act is technically feasible and will have the additional and significant benefit of improving public health by eliminating co-pollutants from fossil fuel combustion, resulting in an estimated $50 to $120 billion in health-related savings by 2050: NOW, THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, the City of Schenectady affirms the critical importance of meeting the emissions and equity goals of the Climate Act, which will help mitigate dangerous warming while delivering the additional benefits of improving public health, economic opportunities, agricultural land open space protection, and quality of life for the people of the City of Schenectady; and be it D further RA RESOLVED, the City of Schenectady supports a planning process for a managed transition of the utility gas system that maintains affordable, safe, and reliable utility service and protects low- and moderate-income households from an undue burden in the transition; and be it further FT RESOLVED, the City of Schenectady supports the recommendations of the Scoping Plan for advanced building codes that will improve the energy efficiency of new buildings, creating healthier living and work environments while reducing monthly energy costs; and be it further RESOLVED, the City of Schenectady shall forward copies of this resolution to the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, President of NYSERDA, Chair of the NYS Public Service Commission, the NYS Climate Action Council, and Members of the State Senate and Assembly representing the City of Schenectady. Approved as to form this 14th day of November, 2022. ____________________________ Andrew B. Koldin, Esq. Corporation Counsel 12  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION No. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Authorizing the Reimbursement of Expenses by the Rose Garden Restoration Committee WHEREAS, the award-winning Rose Garden in Schenectady’s Central Park is a treasured attraction enjoyed by residents and visitors alike; and WHEREAS, the Restoration Committee submitted a reimbursement request, based on certain proof of expenses incurred by the Committee in order to maintain the Rose Garden in 2022, in the amount of $5,839.03; and D WHEREAS, in 2022, the City received $5,745.00 in revenue from permits and event fees charged to the public for use of the Rose Garden: RA NOW, THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, that the Mayor, Gary R. McCarthy, and City Council do hereby authorize the Commissioner of Finance to reimburse the Rose Garden Restoration Committee in the amount of $5,745.00. FT Approved as to form this 14th day of November, 2022. ____________________________ Andrew B. Koldin, Esq. Corporation Counsel 13  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Authorizing the Sale of 13 Odell Street for $40,500 WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Schenectady to sell parcel numbered SBL 49.50-5-25; and WHEREAS, there is no municipal use for the property: NOW, THEREFORE BE IT, D RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes the Mayor to enter into a contract to transfer the RA title of parcel numbered SBL # 49.50-5-25 to Kevin Rosenbloom and/or assign for the sum of Forty Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($40,500.00); and be it further RESOLVED, that the terms of the contract for sale shall contain a clause requiring that purchaser pay $500 at closing for building, electrical, plumbing and other applicable permits, that FT rehabilitation of the property begin within thirty days of the purchase, and that total rehabilitation of the property, requiring compliance with the State Building Code and securing appropriate building permits with necessary inspections be completed within six months of purchase, as well as any other terms deemed necessary by the Corporation Counsel. Approved as to form this 14th day of November, 2022. ____________________________ Andrew B. Koldin, Esq. Corporation Counsel 14  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Authorizing the Sale of 808 Stanley Street for $32,000 WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Schenectady to sell parcel numbered SBL 49.41-2-7; and WHEREAS, there is no municipal use for the property: NOW, THEREFORE BE IT, D RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes the Mayor to enter into a contract to transfer the RA title of parcel numbered SBL # 49.41.2-7 to Pooran Sudat and/or assign for the sum of Thirty-Two Thousand Dollars ($32,000.00); and be it further RESOLVED, that the terms of the contract for sale shall contain a clause requiring that purchaser pay $500 at closing for building, electrical, plumbing and other applicable permits, that FT rehabilitation of the property begin within thirty days of the purchase, and that total rehabilitation of the property, requiring compliance with the State Building Code and securing appropriate building permits with necessary inspections be completed within twelve months of purchase, as well as any other terms deemed necessary by the Corporation Counsel. Approved as to form this 14th day of November, 2022. ____________________________ Andrew B. Koldin, Esq. Corporation Counsel 15  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Authorizing the Sale of a Vacant Lot at 1467 Broadway for $5,500 WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Schenectady to sell parcel numbered SBL # 49.37-1-11; and WHEREAS, there is no municipal use for the property: NOW, THEREFORE BE IT, D RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes the Mayor to enter into a contract to transfer the RA title of parcel numbered SBL # 49.37-1-11 to 1487 Broadway 2 LLC and/or assign for the sum of Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($5,500.00); and be it further RESOLVED, that the terms of the contract for sale shall include a clause requiring the vacant lot be consolidated with the adjoining property, as well as any other terms deemed necessary by the FT Corporation Counsel. Approved as to form this 14th day of November, 2022. ____________________________ Andrew B. Koldin, Esq. Corporation Counsel 16  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Awarding the Bid and Contract for the “Schenectady Park Connector Trail: Wayfinding & Signage” to W.S. Sign Design Corp. in the Amount of $31,975.10 WHEREAS, in partnership with Metroplex and Schenectady County, the City has developed a project to install wayfinding signage between Central Park and Vale Park; and D WHEREAS, the Engineering Department solicited and received bids for “Schenectady Park Connector Trail: Wayfinding & Signage.” A low bid was received on October 26, 2022, from W.S. Sign Design Corp. of Springfield, MA in the amount of $31,975.10, which will be RA provided through local funding. NOW THEREFORE BE IT, FT RESOLVED, that this Council, acting as a Board of Contract and Supply under Section C5-9 of the City Charter, authorizes the Mayor or his designee to enter into an agreement with W.S. Sign Design Corp. for the “Schenectady Park Connector Trail: Wayfinding & Signage” in the amount of $31,975.10, the terms of which shall be set by the Corporation Counsel. Approved as to form this 14th day of November 2022. __________________________ Andrew B. Koldin, Esq. Corporation Counsel 17