Common Council Meeting Minutes

City of Utica Common Council – Special Meeting February 9th, 2026 The meeting is called to order at 6:03 P.M. Andrew Castilla, Deputy City Clerk; Joseph Betar, 3rd District Councilmember & President Pro-Temp Present: Katie Aiello, 1st District Councilmember; Venice Ervin, 5th District Councilmember; Joseph Betrus, 6th District Councilmember; Heather Wasielewski, Councilmember at Large; Samantha Colosimo-Testa, Councilmember at Large; Jack LoMedico, Councilmember at Large Also Present: Anthony Garramone, Esq., Common Council Attorney; Dave Short, Commissioner, Parks Department; Chet LoConti, Assistant Director, Youth Bureau PRO. ORD 1 – AMENDING SECTION 2-18-58 A motion by Councilmember Aiello to amend Pro. Ord. 1 to state that all fees will be waived until the end of the 2026 ski season Motion seconded by Councilmember Wasielewski Ayes: Aiello, Betar, Ervin, Wasielewski – 4 Nays: Betrus, Colosimo-Testa, LoMedico – 3 Amended A motion by Councilmember Aiello to move as amended Motion seconded by Councilmember Wasielewski Ayes: Aiello, Betar, Ervin, Wasielewski, LoMedico – 5 Nays: Betrus, Colosimo-Testa – 2 Defeated PRO. ORD 2 – AMENDING SECTION 2-18-58 A motion by Councilmember Aiello to place Pro. Ord. 2 in Committee of the Whole Motion seconded by Councilmember Wasielewski Ayes: Aiello, Betar, Ervin, Wasielewski, LoMedico – 5 Nays: Betrus, Colosimo-Testa – 2 Placed in Committee of the Whole A motion to adjourn made by Councilmember Aiello Motion seconded by Councilmember Colosimo-Testa A motion to reconvene made by Councilmember Aiello Motion seconded by Councilmember LoMedico A motion to adjourn made by Councilmember Aiello Motion seconded by Councilmember LoMedico Adjourned: 6:56 P.M.  Submitted to council by: Councilmember Colosimo-Testa Proposed Ordinance No. 1 Submitted to council on: 02 / 06 / 26 Proposed Resolution No. Sent to Council Attorney on: 02 / 06 / 26 Thursday Rule Waiver Required? N Date of Legislation: 02 / 09 / 26 Explanation provided to council on: / / ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY OF UTICA Department of Legislation Common Council Sponsored by: Councilmember Colosimo-Testa Ordinance Amending Section 2-18-58 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Utica Relative to Fees for the Val Bialas Ski Area WHEREAS, the Val Bialas Ski Area is a municipal recreational facility owned and operated by the City of Utica; and WHEREAS, the fee schedule for the Val Bialas Ski Area has not been substantially updated to reflect increased operational, maintenance, staffing, and utility costs; and WHEREAS, the Common Council seeks to maintain affordability for City of Utica residents while ensuring the continued safe and sustainable operation of the ski facility; and WHEREAS, the establishment of differential resident and nonresident fees recognizes the financial contribution of City taxpayers toward municipal recreational facilities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council for the City of Utica that Section 2-18-58 of the City of Utica Code of Ordinances is hereby amended as follows: Sec. 2-18-58. Val Bialas Ski Area Fees SECTION 1 The following fees are established for the use of lifts and facilities at the Val Bialas Ski Area: (a) Season Passes – Residents Adult: $110.00 Child (18 years of age and under): $65.00 Second through fourth child in the same household: $35.00 each Fifth child and each additional child in the same household: $25.00 each (b) Season Passes – Nonresidents Adult: $220.00 Child (18 years of age and under): $130.00 (c) Daily Tickets – All Lifts, Monday through Friday Residents: Adult: $10.00 Child: $7.00 Nonresidents: Adult: $20.00 Child: $14.00 (d) Daily Tickets – All Lifts, Weekends and Holidays Residents: Adult: $12.00 Child: $8.00 Nonresidents: Adult: $24.00 Child: $16.00  (e) Daily Tickets – Rope Tow Only Residents: Adult: $7.00 Child: $5.00 Nonresidents: Adult: $14.00 Child: $10.00 (f) Seniors Persons sixty (60) years of age or older shall be permitted to ski free of charge. (g) Proof of Residency Proof of residency shall be required for purchase of resident passes or tickets and shall be determined by the Parks and Recreation Department. SECTION 2. Severability If any portion of this ordinance shall be deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions. SECTION 3. Effective Date This ordinance shall take effect for the 2026–2027 ski season beginning on November 1, 2026 and upon filing with the Secretary of State as required by law. No fees established by this ordinance shall be charged or collected at the Val Bialas Ski Area during the remainder of the 2025–2026 ski season ending on March 31, 2026. MEMBERS AYES NAYS MEMBERS AYES NAYS ADOPTED OR DISAPPROVED BY 1 K. Aiello 6 J. Betrus THE FOLLOWING VOTE: 2 R. Burmaster 7 H. Wasielewski AYES _______ NAYS _______ 3 J. Betar 8 S. Colosimo-Testa DATE ADOPTED _____/_____/ 2026 4 F. Carcone 9 J. LoMedico 5 V. Ervin 10 R. Giruzzi  Submitted to council by: Councilmember Aiello Proposed Ordinance No. 2 Submitted to council on: 02 / 06 / 26 Proposed Resolution No. Sent to Council Attorney on: 02 / 06 / 26 Thursday Rule Waiver Required? N Date of Legislation: 02 / 09 / 26 Explanation provided to council on: / / ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY OF UTICA Department of Legislation Common Council Sponsored by: Councilmember Colosimo-Testa ORDINANCE Amending Section 2-18-58 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Utica Relative to Fees for the Val Bialas Ski Area WHEREAS, the Val Bialas Ski Area is a municipal recreational facility owned and operated by the City of Utica; and WHEREAS, the fee schedule for the Val Bialas Ski Area has not been substantially updated to reflect increased operational, maintenance, staffing, and utility costs; and WHEREAS, the Common Council seeks to maintain affordability for City of Utica residents while ensuring the continued safe and sustainable operation of the ski facility; and WHEREAS, the establishment of differential resident and nonresident fees recognizes the financial contribution of City taxpayers toward municipal recreational facilities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of Utica, that Section 2-18-58 of the City of Utica Code of Ordinances is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 2-18-58. Val Bialas Ski Area Fees Section 1 The following fees are established for the use of lifts and facilities at the Val Bialas Ski Area (a) Season Passes Residents: Adult: $110.00 Child (18 years of age and under): $65.00 Second through fourth child in the same household: $35.00 each Fifth child and each additional child in the same household: $25.00 each Nonresidents: Adult: $220.00 Child (18 years of age and under): $130.00 (b) Daily Tickets – All Lifts, Monday through  Friday Residents: Adult: $10.00 Child: $7.00 Nonresidents: Adult: $20.00 Child: $14.00 (c) Daily Tickets – All Lifts, Weekends and Holidays Residents: Adult: $12.00 Child: $8.00 Nonresidents: Adult: $24.00 Child: $16.00 (d) Daily Tickets – Rope Tow Only Residents: Adult: $7.00 Child: $5.00 Nonresidents: Adult: $14.00 Child: $10.00 (e) Seniors Persons sixty (60) years of age or older shall be permitted to ski free of charge. (f) Proof of Residency Proof of residency shall be required for purchase of resident passes or tickets and shall be determined by the Parks and Recreation Department. SECTION 2. Severability If any portion of this ordinance shall be deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions. SECTION 3. Effective Date This ordinance shall take effect for the 2026–2027 ski season beginning on November 1, 2026 and upon filing with the Secretary of State as required by law.  No fees established by this ordinance shall be charged or collected at the Val Bialas Ski Area during the remainder of the 2025–2026 ski season ending on March 31, 2026. MEMBERS AYES NAYS MEMBERS AYES NAYS ADOPTED OR DISAPPROVED BY 1 K. Aiello 6 J. Betrus THE FOLLOWING VOTE: 2 R. Burmaster 7 H. Wasielewski AYES _______ NAYS _______ 3 J. Betar 8 S. Colosimo-Testa DATE ADOPTED _____/_____/ 2026 4 F. Carcone 9 J. LoMedico 5 V. Ervin 10 R. Giruzzi