City Council Committees

SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA for Monday, May 17, 2021 5:30 p.m. Teleconference The Council President reserves the right to add or delete any agenda item prior to Committee Meeting. View on Live on: Spectrum CHANNEL 1303 or on Verizon FiOS CHANNEL 38 You can also view the meeting LIVE at: http://www.openstagemedia.org/ (On the home page, select Government from the play window.) Or on YouTube.com (under Open Stage Media) Webex: https://schenectadyny.webex.com/schenectadyny/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb4c0d90414b2136f1febaab92f7ad0cd Webex Meeting Phone #: 1-415-655-0001; Meeting #: 161 893 8430; Meeting Password: CityCouncil Public Safety PH Discussion – Amending Chapter 248 of the Administrative Code of the City of Schenectady 1 Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas Related to the Impoundment and Redemption of All-Terrain Vehicles (PH was on 5/10/2021) 2 CR – Recognizing the Month of May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas 3 Discussion – City Council In-Person Meetings John Mootooveren Health & Recreation 1 Grout Park Usage / Lease Agreement Marion Porterfield City Development & Planning 1 PH Discussion – Proposed 2021-2022 HUD Annual Action Plan (PH was on 5/10/2021) Marion Porterfield 2 Authorize the Issuance of Revocable Permit No. 661 to Schenectady County Community Chris Wallin College for a Sign that Will Encroach the City’s Right-of-Way at 108 State Street 3 ABAC – for the “Forest and Francis Intersection Improvements” to Callanan Industries, Inc. Chris Wallin 4 Resolution Issuing a Negative Declaration for the Parkland Alienation on Front Street Kristin Diotte 5 Resolution Requesting that the NYS Legislature Enact Special Legislation Alienating Front Kristin Diotte Street Park 6 A Request for Approval of CDBG Funding for Youth Training & Employment Program Kristin Diotte 7 Amend Chapter 183 of the City Code Related to Business Certificates of Use Andrew Koldin 8 Sale of 313 Front Street Maurice Brown, III 9 Sale of 430 Hulett Street Maurice Brown, III 10 Sale of 825 Emmett Street Maurice Brown, III Friday, May 14, 2021 1  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: Public Safety Committee Date: Monday, May 17, 2021 From: Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas Subject Discussion - Amending Chapter 248 of the Administrative Code of the City of Schenectady Related to the Impoundment and Redemption of All-Terrain Vehicles (PH - was held on 05-10-2021) Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, May 14, 2021 2  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: Public Safety Committee Date: Monday, May 17, 2021 From: Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas Subject CR - Recognizing the Month of May as Motorcycle Saftey and Awareness Month Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, May 14, 2021 3  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: Public Safety Committee Date: Monday, May 17, 2021 From: John Mootooveren Subject Discussion - City Council In Person Meetings Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, May 14, 2021 4  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: Health & Recreation Committee Date: Monday, May 17, 2021 From: Marion Porterfield Subject Grout Park Usage/ Upgrade / Lease Agreement Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, May 14, 2021 5  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: City Development & Planning Committee Date: Monday, May 17, 2021 From: Kristin Diotte Subject Discussion - Proposed 2021-2022 HUD Annual Action Plan (PH - was held on 05-10-2021) Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, May 14, 2021 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: City Development & Planning DATE: 5/13/21 TO: COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: Kristin Diotte SUBJECT: Resolution issuing a Negative Declaration for the parkland alienation on Front Street. Background Information: On April 12, 2021 the City Council passed a resolution declaring lead agency for SEQR and opened a thirty (30) day public comment period regarding the proposed alienation of parkland located in the Stockade Historic District. The public comment period is over and an environmental determination can be made. Evaluation/Analysis: Under SEQR it is a requirement that a Negative Declaration be determined and subsequently issued before an action such as parkland alienation can occur. Based on the Short Environmental Assessment Form submitted by the City staff for this Unlisted Action there will be no adverse environmental impacts as a result of this alienation. Recommendation: The City Council shall pass a resolution issuing a Negative Declaration for the requested parkland alienation of the Front Street Park. LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY _____Law Dept._____ 19  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: City Development & Planning DATE: 5/13/21 TO: COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: Kristin Diotte SUBJECT: Resolution Requesting That the NYS Legislature Enact Special Legislation Alienating Front Street Park. Background Information: The City seeks to make the land available as a site to be used to relocate historic Stockade neighborhood buildings from Ingersoll Avenue to a location outside of the floodplain to reduce extreme flood risk to people and property. The Front Street Park parcel is the only site that can accommodate reuse that is outside of the Special Flood Hazard Area and still inside of the Stockade National Register Historic District. The City will replace parkland with the open space on the former Ingersoll Avenue which will be assembled and added to an enlarged Riverside Park enabling the City to construct new amenities. Evaluation/Analysis: The City will explore other opportunities for parkland replacement and reserve funds adequate to acquire land of comparable value for new parkland if necessary subject to fair market appraisal. If the relocation project does not advance, the City is committed to rededication of Front Street Park as municipal parkland. The use of designated parkland for non-park or private sector use requires that the alienation of parkland process be undertaken with the New York State Legislature. The City is working with NYSHPO to determine if any additional consultation is needed, but given timing of the State Legislative session, its best to proceed based on the best available information. Recommendation: The City Council shall pass a resolution authorizing the Department of Development to pursue the process of alienating the Front Street Park with the New York State Legislature and for authorization by the Governor, pursuant to the Municipal Home Rule Law (MHRL) §40, requesting that the NYS Legislature enact special legislation authorizing the alienation of Front Street Park. LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY _____Law Dept._____ 20  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: City Planning + Development DATE: May 13, 2021 TO: City Council FROM: Kristin Diotte, Director of Planning + Development SUBJECT: A request for approval of CDBG funding for Youth Training + Employment Program Background Information: The City’s goals outlined in the 2020-2024 HUD Consolidated Plan prioritize the expansion of workforce development and strengthening local neighborhoods. This includes promoting summer recreational programs, youth employment and fostering training-to-work pipelines connected to the local employment sector while supporting workforce and leadership diversity. The City of Schenectady will partner with Schenectady Job Training Agency (SJTA), Community Fathers, Inc., ReTree Schenectady and Schenectady County on a collaborative tree planting initiative. This will create opportunities for youth employment, skills training, and workforce development while improving the City's green infrastructure. Evaluation/Analysis: CDBG funding of $25,000 is requested to be allocated to this program. Matched funds received by The City of Schenectady and Schenectady County for tree restoration and planting through National Grid’s Capital Tree Program and 10,000 Trees Program will be utilized. ReTree Schenectady and local M/WBE’s will be assisting with design, skills training, planting of trees and landscaping as part of this collaboration throughout the summer months. The City of Schenectady continues to work with our partners, service providers and community to support the economic growth and job training needs in the City and to carry out the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan to serve low-to-moderate income neighborhoods throughout the City of Schenectady. Recommendation: City Council approval for the $25,000 budget allocation to SJTA in partnership with Community Fathers, Inc. for this initiative. LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY _______Law Department________ 21  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: May 17, 2021 TO: City Council FROM: Andrew Koldin, Corporation Counsel SUBJECT: Amend Chapter 183 of the City Code Related to Business Certificates of Use Background Information: Certain types of business are required to obtain a certificate of use on an annual basis in order to conduct business within the City of Schenectady. In order to obtain the certificate, the business must, among other things, submit an application to the City with additional required documentation. One such document that is required for LLCs and incorporated entities is a certificate of good standing, which is issued by the NYS Dept. of State Division of Corporations. Obtaining this certificate has proven to be a difficult process since requests cannot be made online. In addition, this certificate has limited usefulness to the City since the status of the business (whether active or dissolved) may be viewed on the Division of Corporations website. The City Code states that a business may not be issued a certificate of use if the premises at which the business is located has delinquent taxes, administrative fees, or water, sewer, or waste collection fees. Many times, the businesses or their owners seeking certificates of use do not own the properties where the businesses are located. Therefore, those businesses owners are not responsible for paying the above-identified taxes and fees. In addition, many businesses have been denied certificates of use solely because those taxes and fees are not paid. The City has other means to better encourage property owners to pay taxes and fees on time, namely the accrual of interest and the potential for in rem foreclosure. Evaluation/Analysis: Amending the City Code to remove the requirement that business must submit a certificate of good standing does not expose the City to liability. In addition, the City has access to the Division of Corporations website to verify that the LLC or incorporated entity has not been dissolved. Amending the City Code to remove the requirement that all taxes and fees are paid prior to the issuance of a certificate of use will allow business owners who are not responsible for paying the same to obtain a certificate of use and operate in compliance with the City Code. In addition, the City has the ability to foreclose on the liens related to the unpaid taxes and fees on those properties through its in rem proceedings. 22 Recommendation: The Law Department recommends that the committee approve the legislative request for a resolution calling for a public hearing related to amending Chapter 183 of the City Code as described above. LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY_____LAW DEPARTMENT_________ 23  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: City Development & Planning DATE: 05/17/21 TO: COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: Development SUBJECT: Sale of 313 Front Street Background Information: Evaluation/Analysis: Recommendation: LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY Development 24  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: City Development & Planning DATE: 05/17/21 TO: COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: Development SUBJECT: Sale of 430 Hulett Street Background Information: Evaluation/Analysis: Recommendation: LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY Development 25  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: City Development & Planning DATE: 05/17/21 TO: COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: Development SUBJECT: Sale of 825 Emmett Street Background Information: Evaluation/Analysis: Recommendation: LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY Development 26