City Council Committees

SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA Monday, January 7,2013 5:30 p.m. Room 110 The Council President reserves the right to add or delete any agenda item prior to Committee Meeting City Development and Planning 1. Gateway Plaza (Liberty Park) Study - Steve Strichman, Mary Moore Wallinger. 2. Northside Neighborhood - Designate Survey Area - Steve Strichman. 3. CPH - Abandon Paper Streets in Cheltingham Avenue Landfill and Kailberg/Steinmetz Park - Steve Strichman. 4. MCTAP Bridge Loan - Steve Strichman. Government Operations 1. Election of a New Council President 2. Appointment of Official City Newspaper Claims 1. Planned Parenthood - John Polster 2. Harripersaud, Rauti v. Schenectady - John Polster 3. Jasinski v. Schenectady - John Polster  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: December 2,2013 TO: City Council FROM: Steven Strichman SUBJECT: Gateway Plaza (Liberty Park) Study TO BE PLACED ON COUNCIL AGENDA OF January 7 (presentation) Adopt January 21 & 28 Background Information; The City has undertaken two studies of the Lower State Street area bounded by Erie Boulevard, State Street and the Community College, both funded by CDTC, the City and Metroplex. The recently completed "implementation study" looked at ways to enhance Liberty Park to become a catalyst for redevelopment of the area. Public meetings were held on June 12, and September 11, 2012 Mary Moore Wallinger from Synthesis will make a short presentation to the Council Phase 1 - expansion to include Water Street Phase 2 Evaluation/Analysis: jjp/bs/2/04  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: January 3,2013 TO: City Council FROM: Steven Strichman SUBJECT: Northside Neighborhood - Designate Survey Area TO BE PLACED ON COUNCIL AGENDA OF January 7 & 14,2013 Background Information; In July, Mayor McCarthy discussed his HOMEs initiative in the Northside Neighborhood. A discussion followed to designate the area bounded by the Bike Trail, Nott Street, Seneca Street, and properties on both sides of Carrie Street as a Survey Area, to conduct the necessary investigations to determine the feasibility of a redevelopment project(s) using Tax Increment Financing. Council appeared to be in agreement, but no resolution was produced. The survey will examine existing conditions, potential costs, project benefits, and overall feasibility. Much of the supporting documentation will come from a Geographic Mapping analysis of the existing conditions in the neighborhood and the community profile component of the Comprehensive Plan. The study will be conducted in house. The Survey is a Type II action that requires no SEQR review. LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY Steven Strichman jjp/bs/2/04  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: C D & P DATE: January 2,2013 TO: City Council FROM: Steven Strichman SUBJECT: Abandon Paper Streets in Cheltingham Avenue Landfill & Kailberg/Steinmetz Park Call for public hearing to be held January 21,2013 TO BE PLACED ON COUNCIL AGENDA OF January 7 & 14, 2013 Background Information; Cheltingham Avenue consists of 34 tax parcels traversed by 6 paper streets. Kailber/Steinmetz Park consist of 6 parcels traversed by 3 paper streets . >' /' Steinmetz Park Cheltingham Ave Landfill Kailberg/Steinmetz Park The tax parcels and roads were "platted" at a time when it was anticipated that development would occur in these areas. Since that is not able to happen, it is requested that the paper streets be abandoned in order to consolidate all tax parcels into one lot in each locations. This allows for more efficient record keeping for city staff, and less confusion to the general public, especially those looking to develop housing. Recommendation; Declare Lead Agency Call for public hearings to be held on January 21, 2013 LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY Steven Strichman jjp/bs/2/04  (2DP-Y CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: January 2,2013 TO: City Council FROM: Steven Strichman SUBJECT: MCTAP Bridge Loan TO BE PLACED ON COUNCIL AGENDA OF January 7 & 14,2013 Background Information; The Minority Contractor Technical Assistance Program (MCTAP) was approved for $87,439 through New York State's Empire State Development (BSD) Enterprise Community grant program. The funds have been used for interior and renovation and facade enhancement of their building at 818 Albany Street. Two payments totaling $67,440.70 have been, or are in the process of being advanced to the City from BSD. The City has then cut checks to MCTAP, which in turn pays the contractor who has purchased the materials and performed the work allotted under this program. Up until this point, BSD has advanced the monies with the subsequent proof of payment to the contractor being provided to BSD. BSD requires this proof of payment as part of the program. BSD will only release the final payment of $19,999.30 to the City on a reimbursement basis and cannot advance it as was the case for the first two payments. MCTAP does not have the capital available to pay the contractor out of pocket and wait for a reimbursement. Evaluation/Analysis: BSD has stated that if the City were able to provide MCTAP a short-term bridge loan, the monies could be reimbursed by BSD approximately two weeks after receiving proof the  contractor was paid. The building is now complete with a C.O. and had 5 prospective tenants awaiting rental agreements from the Board of MCTAP. Recommendation; Approve a short-term bridge loan to MCTAP in the amount of $19,998.30. LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY Steven Strichman jjp/bs/2/04  City of Schenectady, New York LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: Claims DATE: 1/2/13 TO: Members FROM: John R. Polster, Esq. SUBJECT: Harripersaud, Rauti v. City of Schenectady TO BE PLACED ON COMMITTEE AGENDA OF: 1/7/13 TO BE PLACED ON COUNCIL AGENDA OF: 1/14/13 Background Information: Evaluation/Analysis: Recommendation: LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY: Law  City of Schenectady, New York LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: Claims DATE: 1/2/13 TO: Members FROM: John R. Polster, Esq. SUBJECT: Charles Jasinski v. City of Schenectady TO BE PLACED ON COMMITTEE AGENDA OF: 1/7/13 TO BE PLACED ON COUNCIL AGENDA OF: 1/14/13 Background Information: Evaluation/Analysis: Recommendation: LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY: Law