City Council Committees

SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA for Monday, July 17, 2023 5:30 p.m. Room 110 The Council President reserves the right to add or delete any agenda item prior to Committee Meeting. Finance 1 Follow-up: ARPA Contracts Anthony Ferrari City Development & Planning 1 Authorize the Abandonment and Sale of a Portion of Larch Street Chris Wallin 2 Discussion – Zoning Cannabis Shops and Possible Moratorium on Smoke Shops Marion Porterfield Amending Resolution 2023-136 Endorsing the Schenectady Inner Ministry’s Application to the Marion Porterfield 3 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 4 Amend Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFSCME Council 66 Local 1037A Andrew Koldin Thursday, July 13, 2023 1  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: July17, 2023 TO: City Council Members FROM: Council President Marion Porterfield SUBJECT: Amendment to resolution 2023-136 Background Information: On July 10, 2023 the City Council passed a resolution Endorsing the Schenectady Inner City Ministry’s Application to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the “Southern Pine Community Recovery Program. We received an email that the name of the grant provided to us was incorrect. Evaluation/Analysis: In order to submit the resolution to DEC in support of the grant the language identifying the grant must be corrected. Recommendation: To amend the language in resolution correcting any language referring to the grant opportunity to reflect the correct name and the final resolved be as follows: NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Schenectady hereby does approve and endorse the application of Schenectady Inner City Ministry for a grant under the Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant Program For Communities Exposed to Multiple Environmental Harms and Risks in New York State DEC01‐EJCIG‐2023‐00009 for a project known as “Schenectady Community Compost Project” and located within the City of Schenectady. WILL BE PREPARED BY_____LAW DEPARTMENT_________ 2 3 4 5 6 7  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: July17, 2023 TO: City Council Members FROM: Council President Marion Porterfield SUBJECT: Discussion - Zoning for Cannabis Shop and Moratorium on Smoke Shops Background Information: In June 2023 Gov. Hochul’s office announced that the $200 million fund meant to provide resources for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) operators is fully banked after asset management firm Chicago Atlantic invested $150 million. The state’s 2023 budget included $50 million toward the Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund, so Chicago Atlantic’s investment covers the entirety of the private money needed to be raised. With the social equity fund fully financed, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) plans on completing buildouts and redesigns for storefronts that they will provide to some CAURD licensees as part of a loan program. The Cannabis Control Board in March doubled the size of the CAURD program, increasing the maximum number of dispensaries to 300. Under the expanded program, the first 150 businesses to receive CAURD licenses will be guaranteed a DASNY space if they need one. Evaluation/Analysis: In anticipation of additional Cannabis Shops opening, Schenectady needs to have zoning in place which regulates where they can be located. Additionally, there are numerous Smoke Shops opening in the city which sell paraphernalia consistent with the use of cannabis. There are some neighborhoods seeing more of a saturation of these establishment. Recommendation: City council discuss and recommend creating zoning ordinances as it relates to the location of Cannabis Shops and Smoke Shops within the city. Additionally, call for a moratorium on Smoke Shops while we these zoning ordinances are being developed. WILL BE PREPARED BY_____LAW DEPARTMENT_________ 8  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: City Development & Planning Committee Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 From: Andrew Koldin Subject Amend Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFSCME Council 66 Local 1037A Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, July 14, 2023 9  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: Finance Committee Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 From: Kristin Diotte / Anthony Ferra Subject Follow-up: ARPA Contracts Background Info: This is a follow-up discussion from December 5, 2022. This discussion is to get an update on time-line for letter of commitments, contracts that were fully funded, and those that have contingencies and what the contingencies are, and the release of funds. Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, July 14, 2023 10