City of Binghamton, NY City Council Meetings, 2 May 2022

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From YouTube: 2022.05.02 City Council Work Session

Description

Chapters
00:00:00 Call to Order
00:02:45 RL22-132
00:05:30 Indigo Golf — Ely Park
00:11:00 Ely Park Fees
00:23:30 RL22-134
00:41:00 RL22-136 & 137
00:53:00 RL22-135
00:54:50 Pending Legislation
00:56:00 Grant Opportunity — Safe Streets for All

A

B

Good evening welcome everyone to the city council work session, bring it to city council monday may 2nd 2022. Please stand for the pledge of flag.

C

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, the republic for which it stands, one.

D

Nation and justice for all liberty.

C

And justice bro.

B

Thank you everyone, mr clerk. You please do a real call for us.

E

Yes, um councilman scoring, it looks like he's absent, councilwoman reznetti, I believe it's absent as well. uh Councilwoman riley is also absent.

E

uh Councilwoman friedman.

F

E

Councilman burns.

E

Councilman scanlon.

G

E

And president strong president, that's four here: three absent scrunchy resident, eddie and riley.

B

Okay, um I do not see our guests and I think uh pat mcginnis is going to join him as one out there. You don't wanna, actually belly.

B

Mix and match here a little bit.

B

Unless you check either uh billy you're out there.

H

B

All right: let's, um let's, let's just let you go ahead and um then you can. You can be on with your evening all right, everyone, we'll probably just mix and match here a little bit tonight as we kind of so we have some some late people coming in, so we'll make the best of it um so billy. Why don't you go ahead and tell us about rl 22 132, please all.

H

Right good evening, council members, I am requesting twelve thousand six hundred dollar increase to um architectural and design services from giannis anderson. We received a letter from the mets organization asking us for designs to include three female locker rooms for the umpires trainers and coaches.

H

We I'm asking that this be expedited, because we have a really tight schedule. We need to get the design done and bid packets out, so we can break ground in october as soon as the season is over, so that we can get substantial completion by the opening day of 2023.

H

Have any questions.

B

Okay, um does anybody have any questions for billy on rl22132.

E

We'll let the record show that uh councilwoman riley has just arrived.

G

Excuse me councilman yeah who's. All the people walking around down there.

B

Yeah I'll tell just a second: our guest give us billy, give us one. Second, I apologize. We have a little bit of a late arriving crowd here, so give us give.

A

B

Second, to reorganize ourselves: what's that, I'm not saying any reason why I'm just telling them.

B

All right um I'll announce the people in one. Second, let's let's let billy finish that. Let's finish this since we started this, um does anybody have any questions for billy on rl22132.

B

Okay, thanks billy, we appreciate it.

H

Thank you for, for your time, have a.

B

Good evening, absolutely okay, all right for anybody uh watching out there. I think we're we're settled here now at the at the desk down here um from your right to left. We have councilwoman riley, we have councilwoman friedman, we have our clerk lee rogers phil, strong, our corporate council sharon, sorkin councilman joe burns, and then we have pat mcginnis and chris strand um from uh indigo golf and, of course, pat's our guy and they're, going to present here just shortly on the ely park to have a little discussion about ely park.

B

So those are the people at the table down here. um So we'll go back to the top and chris and pat go ahead. um Go ahead.

I

uh Thank you for the invitation um just want to give a little recap on kanye lee park, where we've been now that we've uh indigo sports has taken over management for the last uh just over a year um and the big, the big thing I can say is uh what a difference a year makes um so, obviously what we took over in spring of 2021, the course was in rough shape, needed a lot of work and it had a bad reputation. I mean in the field to to get golfers to come and enjoy the facility.

I

um It's it's kind of crazy to think you know we opened may 1st of last year um and we were standing on. You know this morning on on the golf course, and you know how it looks night and day different. uh You know the conditions was the number one reason you know the court wasn't doing well.

I

So, as we fix a lot of things up last year got things going, you know we steadily saw uh rounds, improve revenue improve, um and then you know to point to this year we were able to open as soon as we had decent weather. You know foot of snow in the middle of april is not always the best, but uh at least um when we have been open. The day's been good. We've had four days over 150 rounds already, including um last sunday, not yesterday, the sunday before we did 201 rounds.

I

We didn't do 200 rounds any day last year, so.

H

I

You know a positive sign that we're already doing that in april when the days are short- and you know we don't run into mid-summer season, so um golfers are coming back they're enjoying again we're getting every day just tons and tons of positive feedback um that everything is is is so much better. You know we held the triple cities, golf association, um tournament saturday, which included 116 golfers.

I

Those are die, hard, tournament players and again nothing, but you know positive remarks on on porch conditions and everything else, and that's good feedback, because that's a lot of people that probably want to play it unless there was a tournament and that's only going to spread the word too. So you know this year. You know our our goals are: keep the making a comeback kind of marketing theme around it right. We got to get more people coming back to play it um to change their reputation and people to see that things are getting better.

I

You know we have a new cart fleet et cetera, and I know we're going to get into rates in a second. But you know last year we we had a rate schedule, but we found right off the bat we had to discount off those just to get people to come and play it, but we needed that we needed people to come experience it again and see it again. It's a better shape. So you know this year. The rates you know we're.

I

um You know we're gonna hold fast on those and set. You know be at a rack rate. You know for the whole season um and maybe even find pockets where we can make a little bit more, but um that's kind of kind of goal for for this year, as we keep improving things, you know we thank. You, know the city for helping us with some capital improvements and things over last year and this year um to kind of continue that momentum going forward.

I

I'm happy to answer any questions.

B

What other, let me ask you a quick question, then. Well anybody can as welcome, of course, um what others obviously generally, that's a great news that it's already early in the year and people are coming. What other major initiatives from turn tournaments leagues um is food service going to be back at any level things like that.

B

That's that you're doing on purpose other than, of course the course in the word of mouth is just going to bring people back, but the other thing initiatives that you might be doing in year, two as well, knowing that you have a good course to back up other events and people coming up there.

I

Yeah I mean another positive sign: is our our annual pass holders? Last year we had 94. this year, where we did 114 so already 20 more annual pass holders up compared to last year, and the leagues are just starting right. A few started last week. A lot start this coming week. Some will pay for their memberships uh right as we start up so that'll. We see we plan.

I

We expect to see a boost in that we're already over membership dollars for what we had last year and uh well on our way to hitting that budgeted number. um We also have the kitchen plans in place. um You know we're not gonna be able to open right away. You know we're really doing the pouring in the kitchen and all that stuff there, um but at least we'll be able to start with the horizons right away, still serve hot dogs and drinks.

I

You know um so our daily golfers but plan to you know, hopefully by end of this month. If you know we finish off the flooring and plumbing, we can at least start with a basic menu and start serving drinks in the grill. uh You know we're upgrading some of the bar tables and stools and we painted it and changed the ceiling fans again, make it more attractive, change the perception and get that better um and then, as the kitchen equipment arrives, which everything in the world is delayed right now um over the course of summer.

I

You know we're hoping by july, sometime kind of be fully open up there with everything, so that'll be an added amenity that will definitely generate more revenue and help the bottom line, um and- and uh definitely you know, last- we only held a few outings. We already got. You know a couple thousand more outing rounds on the books for this year and plan to keep growing.

I

That again, you know that's going to grow as we do more with um the golf course being better shape, but also once we can do more of that food and drink, I think that'll become more attractive as well.

B

Thank you, uh questions for uh mr strand and pat and or pat councilwoman riley go ahead absolutely.

J

Thank you guys for being here and thank you for presenting that information. So what we have in the in our packet is the current rate for season passes and the various different payer levels. Correct. Is this the discounted rate that we see here or is that our expectation.

I

That's that's. The plan set rack rates for this season. um Just just so everyone's aware.

I

The planned rates for last year were basically the same walking rates, and then we took all the riding rates up one down, so all our nine hole and our 18 0 fees. We have the new cart fleet, you know all went up one dollar so compared to last year, race, car riding rates are up a dollar and our walker rate stayed exactly the same.

I

um That's the plan for 2022., what's going to be different from an apr standpoint, is we're thinking now that the course is in good shape. We can actually get this rate last year. You know we were discounting down to 29 during the week and we were at 33 to 35 on the weekend.

I

So we were discounting it down that three four five dollars um you know so this year the plan is go back to what we were hoping to get last year and realize we couldn't quite get there and actually go for that and then get a little bit more out of the cart and riders, whether you're a member uh or a public or lead you're all going to pay a dollar more for cards. Also, our memberships across the board on the our annual passwords on the bottom.

I

We took up the singles at 100 couples 150, um you know for this year as well, so we raised our annual pass over fees.

J

Thank you, and for those of us, not professional, golfers, outing around what do you? What is an outing round? I.

I

Think would be a pre-booked, bigger group right, so not just regular tea time play that's booking uh foursome at the time. So this is. uh This could be anything from 20 players to 100 players, that's kind of pre-booking, a package rate um and, and that rate is all determined based on kind of what time and date you need right week and mornings more expensive than monday afternoon.

F

I

That's kind of we give a predetermined rate on that. Usually it's discounted a little bit off of these, because they're buying a whole bunch of golfers at one time. So you usually want to get a little bit of a break for that, but especially if they end up adding uh food or other drinks, or things like that. You know that we can build that into the package.

J

Now repeat for me, because I think when you said this before you said, we have about a thousand outing round requests.

I

No so outing total outing rounds. We're already have a couple thousand more outing rounds projected for this year than we did last year. Okay,.

J

That could be different.

I

Group wise that could mean I don't have a group number in front.

J

I

J

Could be like five groups of 200. correct.

I

My guess is it's more in the closer um range of 20 groups that are 30 groups that are more like 50 to 80, that type of stuff. So smaller you know, usually that's what ely park's really good for with that. It's a fun outing events course and getting more of those tournaments again. This weekend was a perfect example. Having that tri-cities golf association, you know last year were the conditions that would never happen right. I.

A

Mean that group.

I

Would have never even thought about company lee park and that they were interested to come at the end of april right out. The start of the season is a huge, positive sign and I'm glad we were able to get on the schedule early, because that again only can help build momentum of wow. We played elite, it was in great shape. We should go there again right. That's the whole idea.

J

Now tell me this: when we have large organizations or associations coming to the park, is there a post-use assessment or evaluation, where they're giving us feedback on the quality of service and the standards? What have you.

I

We have a um so we have actually two different things so for outing. Why, specifically uh brad our general manager will send out kind of a a review of what did you like? Not like? You know a thank you as well, of course, as part of that, so we'll get some of that feedback, but every golfer general public that plays our golf course. um They'll get a email if we have their email address it's attached to their profile, literally the night they play they'll get an email saying, thank you for playing unity park.

I

uh What was your feedback and there's only two there's two questions. Well, three questions. One rate us on a scale one to ten on how likely you'd come back um or recommend us to a friend and then two. What what's? What can we improve on and what did you like, and so that gets that goes in my email, the general manager's email the next day or if they fill it out, we get the next day it can go through.

I

um So that's great feedback that we get instantaneously with our golfers every day. To that completely parked to say, what's been good and what's not last year was a lot of bad conditions, but as it went through the years, it's getting better, it's getting better it's getting better.

I

This spring has been nothing but uh wow force is a great shape. It's better than it's been in years. I haven't seen it like this in a decade I mean literally that's the comments. Every time we open an email with that, it's nothing but positive, which is tremendous um every day. I I visit when I'm here, it's funny how many I'm guessing most memorandum pass holders, but just regular golfers that go out of their way to go wow. You guys have done a tremendous job, while the golf courses way better shape.

I

I actually even kid with brad that he must be paying off people to say it to me constantly. I'm like this is getting a little brad. You can stop, you know, but um but no it's good. I mean brad and jeff have done a tremendous job on changing the perception, changing the conditions and that's being seen by you, know the regulars, the leagues and now more people that are coming back to play.

J

Well, thank you for that information, that's very, very helpful and we hope to visit and tour very soon. We were not privy to the tour of some people, but.

I

We would love to have you it'd be great to have you up. I mean I think we've talked about once the kitchen was kind of fully operational, maybe having a kind of a field trip day there and doing something. You know to kind of kick it off, and everything too so um well yeah, but glad to have you any time.

J

Awesome, please keep us in the loop. Thank you. Yeah.

B

That would be good. Actually I lived it because I've been in the league, we did stay, but we lost teams now we're gaining teams back again. So when I was up there, the one time I was in I was there to play just like anybody else, regardless of this role, but that's good news. You said the carts are the carts are in and being used or they're on their way. Okay, good.

I

B

Okay, this year.

I

um We got them in the storm for the winter good, um but yeah we've as soon as we open this year. We've had the new cars coming.

A

D

I've been getting the same feedback that you can get people I see them see. People out there hey, I play dealing, looks great.

I

Yeah I appreciate that it's uh it's been a fun golf course. Year round I mean it. You know when there's a lot that positivity and people excited about it again and wanting to come back and you know telling their friends. That's that's great.

I

We also kidded last year, you know when we were here fine which usually as a golfer, you know, like everyone hates the word verification. It was funny how many people actually were, like. Oh, my god, your airplane, that's so great right.

B

Because they didn't do it.

I

For so long before, people understood that the maintenance practices need to be caught up again and doing more of those things. So it was uh it's good to see for sure and it's fun to be part of that positive story.

B

Yeah anything to anything to add.

A

Yeah, I got a call uh this week a gentleman from scotland was driving through the area pulled over for lunch saw. The sign went up said he spent about six hours up there playing it, took him so long he's taking so many pictures.

B

A

Such a beautiful place.

B

It's definitely a beautiful beautiful area. There's no question about that. That's cool.

K

B

Exactly uh council and friedman go ahead.

F

Thank you president. I just have a quick question regarding this schedule to make from understanding correctly so the on the table, where there's the two columns walk and ride, and then underneath it has the cart rates so that fourteen dollars and eight dollars, that's already included in the ride calculation, correct.

A

F

That correct, so it's not! It doesn't cost more to ride in an additional to use. The golf cart right, correct.

I

Okay, the reason we separated the carts is because our annual pass holders have to pay the carts as they go, so they bought the greens fees up front at zero well and then they pay zero dollars for green seas when they come to play that day, and they only pay the cart.

I

We have to break that out, but you're correct. The walk adds that card automatically to those rates.

F

Right, okay, that makes sense. Thank you for explaining. I was wondering why they were separated out if they were already included.

I

It kind of goes along with the seeds. It passes right below it right so right, you know in theory, it probably could have the season passes and then the carts listed underneath that um but yeah, that's how the that's how it struck. Okay,.

F

That makes sense, and I know.

I

On the agenda, we talked about actually approving rates that were 40 dollars a week day and 45 on weekend. The reason for that is that you know, let's say we're having a great year. Conditions are great and we're seeing the market justify that we're doing even better than what these rates are. We'd love to be able to even increase it, a dollar to in season.

I

If we can, I think what we have here presented here is is a should be- probably, you know really good for the season again since last year, we're kind of going back to those rates and not discounting, um but we want to have that flexibility as well. uh Just in case I mean a day like father's day we're packed and we can get a couple dollars above rack. I mean you want to do those things right. You want to maximize every dollar, you can get.

I

That's exactly right: yeah.

A

Right, yep ahead.

J

One more thing.

A

Again, I'm sure.

J

Promos and all these things that we're talking about are currently on the website, so is: is there social media all those things too? So we can kind of look out for it and.

I

Yeah absolutely we started a brand new facebook page last year. That's been very popular um brad's, been doing a great job of uploading that with pictures and updates and different things as we go, um the brand new website that we started last year as well golfilypark.com um that that's been uh upgraded with all these things online raid structures. So you could you know book online at any time. You know morning noon and night, um so all those things are um have been kind of upgraded. uh You probably remember.

I

Last year we changed the logo or included a new logo to try to again just change perception that things were new and different and I think that's gone a long way too. So that's in every email we send out. It has the tagline of all that stuff in it um you know, click our facebook, little icon.

I

You know log into those things um you know promoting the website. They literally have a post from the first key that says, use this qr code to download. You know that and go right into our facebook go right to our website, all those things and it's just training. The golfers that you know were much more accessible.

B

Okay, any other questions or comments for chris or a pep.

B

Okay, thanks guys for some good uh good news for this work session. Thank you.

B

um We kind of already did it, but does chuck or megan do. Is there anything to add to the fee schedule that we've that we've seen we kind of already talked about that a little bit.

B

Okay, does anybody have any other questions? I think it was pretty well explained and then the peacekeeper? Okay, I'm not sure if they're gonna suffer okay, um all right, um we have paul and tito paul you that's you right out there. Yes, tito was here and then I don't know where he went.

K

Oh okay, uh he was kind enough to give me his link to you, because somehow I must have deleted janine's link to me. You get older and you forget these things. So thank you. Tito.

B

Okay, um well he'll, be on. I guess back in a second. Why don't you go ahead and tell us about rl22134, okay,.

K

Well, thank you. So, from your perspective, okay, okay, um just uh a brief overview. um Off-Premise signage requires a uh europe approval of city council um and um uh we have had um kind of our signs in that one location along route, uh 1781 and then a couple on the brandywine.

K

And if you remember that a number of years ago the d.o.t put up noise barriers, that negatively impacted our signs, and it was unfortunate because we thought we had coordinated well with the d.o.t.

K

But that didn't prove to be true. We do have one digital sign that faces west on this exact location, on griswold and historically, there's been a static board facing east we'd like to get your approval to switch that static board from static to digital, because the market works, and we think that will help us save some business and also contribute to the business community.

K

So it's uh I think the uh planning uh council uh seemed to be an agreement um and uh we would really appreciate uh the opportunity to go forward. You can use it for public service announcements and amber alerts and that type of thing they're very successful. In fact, a child in buffalo was saved directly because of a billboard that flashed an amber alert so we're open to the city advertising any of its functions and welcome the opportunity to go forward.

K

It does need dot approval. um We know that that would not be unduly withheld. It meets all the criteria that they have for the electronics and the spacing and the sizing um it it dims at night, much like a candle can be seen a long distance at night in the daytime, the cyan competes with the sun.

K

So um in that context it does brighten up a bit. The sign is self-aware. If anything goes wrong with it. uh We monitor it quickly and we've had great success to date uh with the existing signs. um So any questions you might have for me.

B

Councilwoman freeman go ahead.

F

Thank you, president hi. How are you.

K

Hi, how are you.

F

Good, thank you um so in this uh supplement in the memorandum there underneath the broom county's recommendation, it says please see enclosed letter dated february 14th. um That's not in my packet. I wonder. Is there a separate, enclosed letter.

K

um Well, that would have come from the planning department. The only letter that I am aware of was a letter from the broome county government office. I do have one of those in my possession and it if you want me to briefly highlight it. If you don't have a copy.

F

Yeah, that would be great.

K

Okay, it's uh direct it's uh sent to assistant director martinez and it's referencing, the property and our application, and their summary level was unfortunately reads. The planning department has reviewed the above cited case. Our 2019 comments recommending denial of the static and digital boards in this corridor still stand including the following, and they reference excessive signs in the area. That's I'm just politizing and based on previous efforts of bruin county city of binghamton, d.o.t and stakeholders.

K

They wanted to I'm sorry, I'm kind of highlighting a whole paragraph. It seeks it's an important gateway and they think there's a visible vision issue there and then it references. We should include photos of the existing east-facing sign and then it was the case was rooted. According to this letter, it was rooted to the state dot for review and they just commented that we should not be on the right of way we're fluent with dot requirements.

K

I must say a few things here: one is I'm retiring in 60 days, and I've worked with the city and broome county for all. You know. Well, over 20 years I have never had broome county planning recommend approval of a sign. So so I know that we have had success with the city and it does require a majority plus one vote from the deciding uh body of voters which would be city council.

K

um So if there's any more specificity, you'd like from this letter I'll do my best.

F

uh I think that's okay, thank you for summarizing. If I would love to see a copy of it, just yeah.

B

If this is, this is an expedited, would that be something we could get back to the clerk's office and they could distribute it to us absolutely.

K

Okay, should I uh I'll do it tonight, should I um send it both to tito and to janine? Would that be appropriate sure that would be fine, very good. Okay,.

B

Thank you thank.

F

B

F

All right, thank you. That was my only question.

B

Any other questions for paul.

F

Go ahead, one other question.

F

uh Sorry, I'm checking okay, so under.

F

uh Under city count, city council action right, it says within 30 days or such longer period as may be agreed upon by the applicant blah blah blah blah um in action by the city council within the aforementioned time period shall be deemed the final denial of the permit. So within 30 days of march 7th that date has already passed. That would have been april 7th. I'm wondering have we agreed upon a longer time period or has this have we done in action?.

K

Historically speaking, we have uh both parties have uh a sent confirmed an extension. We would welcome an extension given the time frame here. um Sometimes, paperwork just gets lost in the office, which was the case in in in this particular uh request.

K

So I I had been asking both the mayor and the planning department of status and it kept slipping and it was unfortunately.

K

Delayed so from park outdoors perspective, we would welcome the required extension.

F

Okay, so I wonder: is there anything that we have to do on our part to approve that extension?

F

What questions in the world for the room.

A

B

This is 30 days of action for the park outdoor, but this original memorandum from the planning department's march 7th.

A

Goes back to who.

B

What do you mean goes back to.

A

L

I apologize, I was saying the 239 statement comes from the county, so if there's any additional review by the applicable board, uh that would go back to them, but no further action will be required on the part of city councils. My understanding.

F

No further action from city council in order to extend.

F

The period of time.

L

I'm just I'm just I'm just.

B

Says agreed upon it says, inaction would would would be a final denial. We haven't acted yet, but so a lot longer period may be agreed upon by the applicant oversee overseas.

K

If I might interject, historically speaking, when attorney frank, was it, this has has happened in the past and it um uh seemed that it was reasonable that the parties, just you know, affirm with each other that they're willing to extend, um and that is what I'm hoping to have happen.

K

um So I don't know if uh brian secrets, just in the room with you or another attorney sorry, I can't yeah.

B

We know um sharon's from corporate council offices. Look I'm.

L

Just taking a look at the 239 or I want.

F

Maybe within 30 days of receipt and review of the recommend written recommendations of the planning commission. So would that be 30 days from right.

A

L

F

L

30 days from the date of the letter, it appears to be done. Okay,.

K

I just received the um the from your department of planning this friday I received for the first time the summary of the proposal. So I wonder if the date that he had on the heading was started beforehand, but.

L

Earlier than that yeah I mean, I think I and I apologize. I wasn't answering the question directly. I mean I think, what's before you with the in front of the rl, requires your approval.

F

Within 30 days of today,.

L

I think it's a period between the the period of 30 days can be extended between the city and the applicant. So that's not what's at issue. I think the issue is whether or not count the city council common council is going to vote to approve it. Despite the county's denial.

D

I think that's correct.

A

L

And then, if you, if you don't it just defaults.

F

L

Don't know what the time period I don't know if tito is available to speak on what the time period between us and the applicant is, uh but I should say after the period of time it then goes back to the applicable board with jurisdiction, um absent the 239. That's the only issue. That's before you.

F

Right: okay, I just wanted to make sure that we were within that time period so that we haven't defaulted to inaction, they're, thereby denying this. But I guess it seems like it's a non-issue.

K

Thank you, um then. My last comment from my side of it would be.

K

um You know how sometimes people might be concerned about safety and all that sort of thing and we've never had an issue with any of our signs, but in order to get a new york state permit, which is required after receiving a local permit from the city as part of that agreement, if, in any unlikely event, if a sign has been approved and for some reason is proven to be dangerous for unforeseen circumstances, after safety tests by d.o.t et cetera, then we're obligated to take it down and we would readily honor that because no one wants anything unsafe, but we think it's going to be fine.

B

Yeah councilman burns go ahead. Yeah.

D

Hi, uh thank thanks for uh being here, so just so. I get this uh completely straight in my head. That is the sign that is there now is going to be replaced with the electronic sign. Is that correct.

K

Yes, sir um one side is already digital, the other is static. Okay, and so, if you drive by uh eastbound on 1781, you will see it on the uh north side of 81, and that is a digital sign. We're we're hoping to back that up on the other side and.

D

This is identical, okay and the sign already is lit at night. Yes, sir correct- and we went through this last year with a sign and if I'm correct, that the the the the the light that's given off at night from the electronic sign is actually less than the light from the current signs.

K

It's counter-intuitive, but that is correct. There's no reflectivity on the digital sign. It's only one way right. The um uh halogen lights actually bounce. So I know a little bit about dark and sky technology. I don't know if these signs are are compliant with dark and sky technology, but they are definitely uh sensitive to well-being of neighbors.

D

Right, but it is the bottom line for me anyway: it's not it's not we're, not adding signage somewhere in the city, we're actually just replacing a sign that already exists, that if you don't get approved, that sign will still be there. Yes, sir, all right thanks! Thank you.

B

Any other questions for uh for uh paul. As he's with us president strong go ahead. Councilman scanlon.

G

Hi paul, how are you good, sir? How are you very good? um Did you encounter any stumbling blocks from the planning commission when you give them this proposal.

K

um No, I didn't well, um I have to be honest and say the chairman. He is a gentleman uh and I like him very much and we kid each other, but he is the uh he he laughs when he votes against the sign. He said sorry paul, it's just a habit, you know uh absent his vote. I don't recall any negatives.

K

uh He just historically, um you know he's he's thorough and well thought out as a person, but he was the only person that I remember having any negative comments. um I think he's just historically anti-sign.

G

Actually, I was on a planet commission with him, and I understand what you're saying there: yeah thorough's a good word for him. Thank you.

B

Okay, thank you very much. Okay,.

K

Thank you so much for your time. uh This may be my sign off to the city of binghamton. It's been a pleasure. Thank you very much. Yep.

F

Unhappy retirement.

K

All right, I guess I'll, hang up then good night.

B

Do we have uh dr burlinger megan? Are you gonna do this? um I don't see her.

B

uh Megan, are you doing rl 22 135.

M

Sorry, council, I'm strong. I walked away from my computer, um which one is that I don't have the agenda pulled up.

B

I just don't. I don't see dr burling on the phone, it's the usdot award for ross park.

M

I am not, and I'm not sure which thought which one that is, let me reach out to her real, quick and see if she can jump on.

B

Okay, um in the meantime, sharon do you want to do uh 22, 136 and 22 137.

L

Yes, hi put my director personnel hat on, so the city's excited to re-title these positions. These went before civil service commission last wednesday.

L

Some of you may be aware that approximately 10 12 years ago, the office of personnel and safety and the office of civil service were two separate entities, and we had someone who specialized as the civil service administrator who developed expertise and was able to serve as a resource not only for the civil service commission, which we, uh which we administer independently here, as well as for candidates and employees regarding their civil service rights.

L

In addition to other rights they may have under contract or under labor law, and thanks to that matter, we have someone in our office right now. uh Jamie allen, who's been with the city about 15 years, who, for the last six years, has been developing this specialty about 10 years ago.

L

The civil service administrator passed away and the director of personnel and safety took over those responsibilities, and so, as with the case, most offices in city hall, often the tasks assigned to a particular person relate to that person and not so much to the appropriate function of the office.

L

Therefore, the proposal is to change the assistant director personnel and safety position to a civil service administrator position to better create independence here at the city, with regards to those rights under civil service law and eligibility, lists and hiring, and similarly, instead of a program assistant, which is a general title which has office functions here at the city, to essentially cultivate a deputy position that would serve as a second in command to both the personnel director and the civil service administrator.

L

Who would be able to be trained for institutional knowledge carrying over in the event of a vacancy?

L

uh You may see in the civil service administrator a position. That's rl22137 that we're pitching changing the hours from an eight-hour day to a seven-hour day. Similarly, this change happened some years ago as a means to obtain a raise for an employee here at the city. However, the eight hour day doesn't not make sense with regards to civil service administrator functions. For example, we had a civil service test that we administered over the weekend that ran from 8 am until 3 pm.

L

So in the past that had been taken with a 30-minute, lunch and flex time here, we're pitching that that is part and parcel of the salary as a civil service administrator and every other employee at the city of binghamton is required to be here monday through friday, seven hours a day and therefore flex time does not suit the needs of our population.

L

Does anybody have any questions.

B

Councilman riley go ahead.

J

Before that sharon that really helped a lot.

M

J

Clarify for me um in this amendment, why does it say confidential next to that title, change.

L

Sure so, right now, the program assistant uh in the office is a confidential position. So what that means is personnel and roster cards contain confidential data related to city employees, including their social security numbers. um Personal addresses things of that nature, as well as serves in kind of a confidential function to the civil service commission.

L

Much like the office of corporation council or the city clerk's office might serve in a confidential capacity to city council members because of that dual role were required to designate a competent it as a confidential title in the code, at least that's how we've done it in past practice. So, even though we're changing the title of the position from program assistant to per assistant uh personnel and safety uh assistant, I should say I'll read that correctly um personnel and civil service assistant. It shall remain in a confidential capacity.

J

Okay, and now is this being ranked higher now in terms because it is management tested, so is it a higher rank with this new combination than would the program assistant.

L

So the program assistant is also a management tested position, but the short answer to your question is: yes: it is a higher rank and, in the sense that it requires a expertise and a specialty that are not currently required in that title, which primarily serves that title primarily serves as like secretarial and payroll functions in other offices, like our planning department, has a program assistant, for example our fire department, and they do payroll. This position is part of certifying minimum qualifications certifying eligibility lists.

L

uh It's it's more complex work, and we want to make sure that, when we're hiring that for that position and maintaining a title in that position, um that that employee continues to train and be educated and that the city put the resources into that title,.

J

Well, thank you for that. Also now, when you were explaining it, you talked about the benefit of moving and I may have misinterpreted from x to civil service.

J

So one was a different category.

L

The title of the prior position and I'll separate them out the prior position was assistant director of personnel and safety. About 13 years ago we had no assistant director of personnel and safety. We had a director of personnel and we had a civil service administrator. So this is taking us back to that structure. So we can develop some amount of expertise and independence in the office.

L

Then the other title, we're switching from program assistant to personnel and safety assistance, will essentially serve as a second in command to both of those positions such that you continue to create institutional knowledge on the labor side and also institutional knowledge on the civil service administration side.

L

As a lawyer and having been in that office for a year and a half now, I think that the city has woefully underestimated uh the necessity of continuing to cultivate knowledge with regards to civil service over the course of the last five years, it's complex and it's important that if we maintain these management tested positions, we're willing to put our money where our mouth is and develop and train accordingly.

L

J

All right well, thank you for that clarification. Oh.

L

It's my pleasure, and you know I will say I did pull comparables. um I did full comparables in light of our conversation last time and uh not every municipality um runs its own civil service department, for example. Many are run through the county, but when you think of comparable cities with civil service departments that are unique and not lumped in with human resources, the salary associated with civil service administrator ranges um from approximately 67 000 per year. That's the city of troy to 93 000 a year.

L

That's ithaca, so jamie allen, with five years of experience, is willing to do this. Job continue to develop that expertise for 55 000 a year. That is a bargain and I'm so excited to be able to uh to be able to promote up from within from somebody. Who's really worked their way up through the city for the last 15 years.

J

I wasn't on the mic that the assistant position compared to the recreated dual title position is not the 55. That's the 43.. Yes,.

L

J

We also assess merging of responsibilities in terms of.

L

So that's a very good question, so I'll give you a good example of schenectady who does not in fact have run their own civil service. They have it through the uh the county. So the way that schenectady is structured, they're, comfortable size. They have a human resources administrator for seventy four thousand dollars a year, an affirmative action officer for eighty thousand dollars a year, an employee health and safety coordinator for sixty five 000 a year, as well as a general hr manager for 52 000 a year.

L

So when you're talking about a comparable city, they have about six people, doing the job that three people are in hours without the civil service. uh Without the civil service aspect, we take a city like troy, for example, which is also a comparable about 49, the equivalent of the person who would be performing the personnel and civil service assistant.

L

Title makes 56 or really it's a range of 53 to 70 000 a year for somebody who would be known as kind of a personnel, tech or an hr coordinator, and those are not people who do payroll. So um when you talk about kind of merging, let's say what the civil administration is administrator would do and what um the personnel and civil service assistant would do. You very much need three roles, but you need an increased responsibility for that third person in the in the chain that isn't just office functionality.

L

It needs to be somebody who can be responsive to members of the public who can review qualifications who can assist department, heads with establishing eligibility lists and navigating the world of civil service, as well as union contracts.

J

Thank you again that helps tremendously. Oh.

L

It's my it's my pleasure and actually it's my pleasure to be able to do this, restructuring here and kind of get first-hand experience with how we have been operating and to see where we need to go, um and I'm very excited to be able to strengthen this office.

J

Go ahead me again so now that this person for us for in terms of knowing who we're talking to who we're talking about, is there a new hierarchy, a picture to demonstrate where these new positions are going? How who they report to and how everything has shifted.

L

Yeah, so the city keeps organizational charts on each department, but we will be doing a revised organizational chart after city council approves the structure, and one of the things we're talking about, for example, is obviously you have a civil service administrator and a personnel director, and this deputy position that's going to support both of them, but also what we're going to have is that the department is under the general supervision or guidance.

L

Supervision may be a little bit of a overstatement of the office of corporation council labor specialists, which is actually how the city has been operating for the last eight to ten years. It's just never been formalized.

L

Oh no problem, um we do every time we hire somebody. We create a new position, we actually do add it to the organizational chart and, if council ever wanted to see those on a regular basis, be happy to provide them.

L

Yes, they're on arcade drive, you should have access to them.

M

But I'll check with laurie sure.

B

Okay, anything else for sharon on 136 137; okay, um last one megan's going to take rl 22 135.

M

Thanks councilman and I apologize the uh the d.o.t part of this- threw me off, but I'm at least somewhat familiar, so I hope to be able to give an overview and answer any questions. So, as the rl says, this is authorizing the mayor to accept a grant of 250 000 to be used at ross park. uh The grant is for basically the creation of recreational trails, primarily at the southern end of the park, so um back south of where the zoo is.

M

There are acres of woods that have some trails, but they're, pretty under-maintained or not quite where they need to be so. This grant money will help us build those out, um get them up to where they are, hopefully, a a attraction and a destination for hikers or just people who want to use the space for recreation.

M

The total cost of the project is estimated at 300 and twelve thousand five hundred dollars, and it's the city's intention to budget that twenty percent match into the 2023 budget likely out of the parks, department um or cdbg. I would imagine.

B

Okay, questions or comments for megan on rl22135.

B

Okay thanks megan thank.

M

B

Appreciate it, um mr clerk, anything noteworthy on the pending legislation that we'll be uh looking at uh on the agenda for wednesday. Yes, we.

E

Have 12 items for wednesday.

E

I won't go through them, but there's there's a lot on here.

E

Does anyone have any questions.

L

Hey this is sharon, and council doesn't have to make its decision tonight, but we would like to uh get our roles started and with personnel and posting and hiring as soon as possible, and if there's no objection, I'd love both of those items to be added to wednesday. If the majority agrees.

B

I'm okay with that is anybody else. Was everybody else? Okay, with that, okay go ahead! Mr clerk and add that to the uh yep. Add that to the agenda for wednesday night okay um motion to adjourn: oh, go good.

F

I have a discussion, that's so I I sent an email out to everyone um a few days ago about a potential grant opportunity, and I'm I'm just bringing this up. I haven't done too too much research into it, but I just wanted to flag it as something that we might um want to pay attention to. And so again I'm just saying this as someone who's like just starting to learn about this.

F

But there's a um I attended, like one third of a webinar today about the safe streets for all um initiative, which the um the the federal department of transportation, I believe, is offering grant funds for cities that have proposals to expand the safe streets initiative and that could include basically well.

F

Their goal is to reduce pedestrian and motorist deaths, so that could include anything like updating infrastructure or um I'm trying to think like signage bike lanes like anything like that, and so the the thing that came to my mind was something that I I brought up when we took a tour of the avre facility and I had asked about the um those tactile paving tiles, which are the ones that are at the corners of sidewalks and they're.

F

They have bumps to alert people who are using uh white cane to um people who are um visually impaired is not the right word. What's the right term blind or it is visually, that's the price. Okay, so people who are blind or visually impaired, using a white cane to get information about the the environment around them and avre even has a little section where they train people on how to use those tools.

F

So I've been to other cities where they have quite an extensive network of those paving tiles, not just at the corners of the sidewalk, but also ones that guide users along parallel to the sidewalk or um provide other information about curbs and things like that, um and so that's that's. What came to my mind with that?

F

I was wondering what people's thoughts were in general and again, I'm not totally sure what like how involved it would be to apply for those funds, but it seems like it would fit because it would be a um a tool to help us increase pedestrian safety. um So I'm happy to look more into that. Unfortunately, I had a conflict with work, so I missed the beginning of the webinar. I gave most of the information and I was there for the q and a sessions.

F

It's not like super useful, um but I just wanted to gauge thoughts about that. If anyone had like initial reactions, I think this is a worthwhile pursuit or maybe.

J

So, thank you, councilwoman friedman, I did see your email. um I do think you know, as a body council has not been actively involved in grant writing procedures and when I approach another grant from the city's perspective, we may have to do more internal digging to even formally submit so I would encourage um us working investigating the process first, so it wouldn't add extra time to your pursuit of the grant. Now again, I support anything that adds revenue to I mean anytime.

J

We get a brand and we know agencies and departments within that have pursued grants, so it should not be that heavy of a lift, but I would need to investigate further to determine if it's worth, although not worth, but I can allocate time.

B

Okay, that sounds good, maybe reach out to megan as well, and she might have some ideas from the mayor's office to us to grants and what certainly anything for safety or, if there's grand money out there. I think I don't think anybody would be opposed to having that conversation at all, especially if we can get some money to help us fund that.

A

Good. Thank you.

J

Until we get a resolution I said I was going to bring up the fact that we cannot have public in our work session end or our business meeting, and we are approaching a deadline and we know that again, every time we meet, we talk about the 60 days to have broom.

A

J

And that time is neat.

B

Sharon do we have any. I know we were going to have it on the agenda tonight and they pushed it back because they were trying to get more information or clarification. You have any. I mean we certainly can reach out to lori to get this on the agenda with the the security downstairs. So we don't miss. You know.

L

Yes, I believe that I I believe that lori has already reached out uh in preparation, potentially for, if we're coming back in perfect person um to ensure that we kind of get the steps set up for in person. The one thing that I believe uh methism is researching now is there's a provision in the oml that has to do with the ability to continue like nothing.

L

It says nothing uh essentially in the article she'll interfere with the ability during a state of emergency right declared by a governor or a a local official to prevent virtual meetings, and so the open question is if governor hopeful continues to extend the state of emergency.

L

Is our authorization to continue remote meetings uh remain in place, and then uh the other kind of open question is if members of the public are participating remotely. Does that convert the whole thing into a video conference in which then you need to create a local law with regards to exceptional circumstances?

L

So I'm hoping that matheson will have those two answers, kind of nailed down this week. I know she had done her independent research and she was just reaching out to some other kind of resources, nikon and the committee on open government to make sure that her reads of those questions were correct.

L

I don't want to speak for her or for the office, but those are the two things they're looking at, but I will tell you that as far as infrastructure kind of planning for what 60 days would look like or 45 days would look like if we needed security, those steps are being taken.

J

Same on that same note, um brian, when he was here last, talked about the safety and security of this room, knowing that our primary focus was completed, but he also mentioned hazard. Is that a focus who's taking the lead with those parts of preparing for this transition? I will.

L

Tell you that, as the director of personnel and safety hat uh corporation council and lori who's, the director of it, we walked the room last friday, so those steps are being taken.

J

So we won't be, someone will instead of me, making this announcement or request every meeting. There will be some type back and forth correspondence kind of update that we receive so that we can plan appropriately as well. As I know, for uh open meetings. We have to publish or post.

H

J

uh Meeting format date and time, but can we be notified in advance of a planned transition date.

L

Anticipate that all members of council will be updated with regards to corporation council's determinations on open meetings law, its recommendations with regards to how to proceed and, for example, potentially room capacity within the next two weeks.

L

So, probably by the time you return for your next work session. Okay,.

D

Can we clarify.

D

The public's participation public, the public comment- part, I guess, is the main part right. No, even if people wanted to appear in front of us can we talk about, we know that it's going to be we let the public in. We have to be here in person for except for the special circumstances, but is it?

D

How are we going to determine how the public can can participate? So if it's nothing, if it's not against the law, any law for them to be at home and do it the way we've been doing it? Do we, as a city council, then pass something to to say that that's the way that if we, if you know how we're going to do that, we have to are we if we're going to change the way it was done in the past?

D

Do we have to make a law on that, or do we just say we're going to allow it.

L

As the methodology for public comment right now is prescribed by city code, there's various provisions in city code that relate to the public comment period. I'm going to allow corporation council secres to give you a final determination on whether or not it needs to be a code amendment. I think that's an open question.

B

Yeah I mean, from my perspective, we're going to take corporate council's advice.

B

And then you know meet all the deadlines at that point,.

B

So hopefully, next work session we'll have that as an agenda item, and then we can have some concrete milestones or steps that next steps, whether it's you know, official action or.

K

Or what it is so.

B

And then we'll go from there all right motion to adjourn.

B

You say something.

G

One quick comment I would be this is my personal opinion. I would be against a hybrid of allowing people to come in and speak and people remotely do it from home, I'm all for putting it back the way it was people want to speak, they can come down and talk or they can submit a letter to the clerk's office. That's my opinion. Thank you.

A

B

Thank you. We had the most going.

J

You guys we also, I sent an email about the butterflies. Did you guys see that? So we can do it as a council. I also talked to jared about it and he can do it with us or separately. So just take a look at that email because it keeps coming back, um so we can make a motion and act on.

D

It to get back to the people that they speak remotely or not.

D

We never had this technology before so so because it now is open to us we have to. I would like to have the discussion about. Should we do it? If we, you know, would they have done it 100 years ago? If they were able to? You know, I I don't know so uh you know that's where I'm at on. That is what is the best way to go about it.

B

I I agree, I think I think in my mind, is I'm I'm not totally thinking about it until I know exactly what our options are, then I'm thinking about it, but once because, if that's not an option, then it's a move point. But if it is an option, then we need to have a discussion and possibly vote on that. So go ahead.

J

And I just like to add that separate from recording the meeting and having them publicly available on youtube, because that was something we talked about early on right.

F

J

Came with the uh zoom and the uh executive order, but it's separate so we should be able to still record.

B

Absolutely I would 100 agree with that on you. People should be able to watch and and yeah, and that's good for us when they're archived. If we need to go back together.

J

Okay, but I want to make sure we separate the two right and make sure we're advocating for what's best for our constituents.

A

J

All right, thank you.

B

Okay, do we have a motion to adjourn.

B

All right have a good night. Everyone see you wednesday.