City Council - Regular Meeting

We're ready to go when you are. testing. Okay.

Okay. This is uh city council business meeting um sorry April April 8th, 2026. The time is 603. Can we please all stand for the pledge of allegiance? Oh, I call this meeting to order. Thank you. Clerk, can you please call the role? Council member Murray is absent. Council member Kavanagh,

present. Council member Hodkins, present. Council Mavetsky is absent. Council member Rathell present. Council member Dunn is absent. Council President Proa Middleton present. Thank you. Thank you so much. We will begin by approving the minutes from the business meeting of 3:25 2026 and the special business meeting on uh 33126. Do I have a motion? A motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Thank you. We have two appointments to announce for the the community development advisory committee. I have selected uh Maggie Gregory. She lives um in my district. She is a school teacher at West Middle School. Um she is also on the Habitat for Humanity board and she really cares about our community. So that is my appointee for the second uh district uh CADC uh appointment. Uh Councilman Kavanagh, would you like to state your appointment onto the record?

Yep. So, uh, I would like to appoint Lindseay Sullivan, uh, to the community development advisory committee. Uh, Lindsay is a, uh, parent in the district, a, uh, parole officer. Uh, very interested in, uh, getting involved and and kind of, uh, doing some more community engagement. I think she's going to be a nice voice to have on Sedak, and I'm happy to appoint her. Thank you so much for that. And we have one appointment that was held over from our last business meeting to consider. Jonathan Schwarz has been nominated by the mayor for the appointment of the human rights commission. Do I have a motion? Motion to Oh, do I have a second?

Confirm the appointment. We I have a well motion and a second. Second. Thank you. Motion and a second. Uh any discussion regarding this appointee? Clerk, can you please take the role? Council member Rathmemell. I. Council member Madavitzki is absent. Council member Hodkus. Hi. Council member Kavanaaugh. I. Council Murray is absent. Council member Dundan is absent. Council President Prom Middleton. Hi. Thank you. That is 4 Z.

Thank you so much. Uh we have no public hear uh no public hearings to set tonight and we're going to move on. Uh, and no public hearings. We're going to move on to public comment. Residents wishing to submit a public comment may do so electronically by emailing their comments prior to 1 p.m. on the day of the evening to clerk@city of bingmpington.gov or in person to the meeting. We have no public uh hearings to set or hold today. So, we'll move on to the public comment. Please come please come down to the microphone, introduce yourself by first name, and indicate if you live or work in the city of Bingmpington. Each speaker has five minutes to address the city on city council issues.

Okay. And it looks like we have no one tonight. And clerk, you have one to read into the record from Amanda Fierce. Upon landing on Pine Street on my perch for the last two years, it's afforded me the time to get to observe this wonder hidden gem of a city. When I landed here, I was seeking refuge. I love the way this place looked. I still do. I wish you could see what I see. When I first got here, the fireworks were delightful. Seeing them felt like a celebration of my new starting point. However, it did not take long to realize all that glitters is not gold. Flashbang starts are traumatic for PTSD victims. They can mimic many kinds of other sounds that often lead to unexpected traumatic memory recall. This can be especially difficult for people trying to move forward with their healing and are working to have the productive lives we have already invested so much time into. That's just poor stewardship. It is also cruel that this housing we gave these well-deserving vets also happens to be within two city blocks of the stadium as well as the VA center itself. To have them constantly expose exposed to this isn't thinking things through. It is not reasonable to expect fireworks to stop. No one is expecting that. No one even wants that. They are wonderful. We are asking for it to be more reasonable. Remember, your fun time is in our front yard. Not even our backyard. It's in our faces. We cannot have fireworks at every event. This has to be reviewed and revised. We need to have a discussion with a pyrochnics company about the use of flashbang concussion explosives. Fireworks and how loud they are. We must talk about how these flashbang concussion starts to the shows are awful for people living here daytoday. Because of rain delays and other issues, the times of shows are never predictable. Being thrown out of your out of your couch or out of sleep to these shock blasts at 10:45 p.m. is terrifying. Residents with a certain radius would should be able to meet with the pyrochnics company and have a say in the limits of how loud these can be. That's if it's past this time. Sorry, no show that we are going to have fireworks. Yes, but maybe not for every home game. Maybe just the big events.

Remember, we are not trying to take away your fun. However, you are walking through our home to get to your good time. Also, as this really only affects us because we are the only people who have to deal with this issue day in day out, over and over, does it not make sense to listen to those who have to most experience it? In other words, don't listen to them. They don't even have a dog in this fight. Thank you for your time.

Thank you so much to everyone who spoke tonight. We will now move on to our first read legislation. First we have um first we have introductory ordinance 026-35 an ordinance to amend the 2025 general budget for ARPA ARPA expenses considered in finance with council member Kavanagh.

Ah yes so um this is an ordinance to uh transfer some money to um just kind of clean up the ARPA budget lines um the controller. Oh right thank you. Sorry. Like a motion to adopt uh 02635 known as the 2025 general fund budget for ARPA expenses. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second motion and a second. Any uh discussion?

Right. So this again is an ordinance to essentially clean up the ARPA lines and make the uh expenses uh match up with the revenues properly. The comproller provides a report of those uh lines are getting cleaned up. It's pretty straightforward. Okay. Any other discussion?

The um I think I wasn't uh anticipating this being on the agenda. Um and my understanding was different that it was um anything that hadn't been allocated would be put into a different line. Um so I'm not comfortable with voting on this right now. Um seeing as there's currently negotiations and conversations about spending um ARPA funds that we allocated. So I would make a motion to hold over. You have a motion uh and a second to hold over. Yeah.

I'm sorry. I didn't hear I didn't I didn't understand the I couldn't hear the why. Um I my understanding was that this was cleaning up all the unspent lines and putting it and like re allocating it into a different line. So it wouldn't be it would no longer be allocated to where where it was prior. So these uh these would be lines that might have res residue in them that would not be further spent at this point. We can hold it over. I guess it's not going to Sorry. Sorry. I was talking. So we're going to hold that over to our next business meeting. Thank you so much. And then we're going to move next we're going to move on to introductory ordinance 026-36 an ordinance to amend the uh the 2025 insurance budget for legal expenses considered in finance with council member Kavanagh.

I'd like to motion to adopt uh 0 2636 in order to the 2025 insurance budget for legal expenses. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. A motion in a second. Any discussion?

Um, this is supporting uh our outside uh council expenses. Uh report was provided by corporation council kind of detailing the uh matters that uh we've spent this considerable amount of money on uh and went into some detail and has been open to answering questions about those. Uh, and I think we had an adequate opportunity to ask those questions. So,

anyone else?

Oh, these are also all transfers um within the within the M fund within the insurance fund, not not from general fund or contingency or anything. Okay. We don't have any more questions. Clerk, can you please take the role? I was going to say the insurance fund also contains our PIFA money. Take the role, please. Thank you. Council member Dunan is absent. Council member Rathmo. Hi. Council member Mavetski. Hi. Council member Hodkus. Hi. Council member Kavanagh. Hi. Council Murray is absent. Council President Prom Middleton. Hi. Thank you. There's 50.

Thank you so much. Uh, next we have introductory ordinance 026-38, an ordinance to amend the 2026 DPW budget for personal service services considered an employees. Council member Rathmemell, can you introduce that motion, please? Sure. like to make a motion to adopt introductory ordinance 02638, an ordinance to amend the 2026 DPW budget for personal services. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. I have a motion and motion and a second. Any discussion?

Sure. So, these are adjustments to salaries for a handful of department leadership positions. There are increases for the commissioner of public works to 95,000, an increase to the first deputy commissioner to 85,000 for the superintendent of streets to 75,000. Um those increases will be paid out from the unused salaries for for unfilled superintendent uh positions and this will take effect next week. I believe the reasoning we were given um is primarily to rightsize salary differentials for the leadership positions so that those with the highest levels of responsibility are essentially making more than those below them and then right sizing it moving downward.

Yeah.

Okay. Any other discussion? I just I would restate what I said during the the work session. I don't think the the increase to the commissioner of public works is adequate to um attract a a new commissioner of public works. I think there's a lot of responsibility in the job and um if they've had difficulty attracting applicants um right around $90,000. I I don't think we're going to get there by increasing it to 95. I think it makes a lot of sense to increase the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of streets. So, I'm supporting it for that reason, but I still think this um fall short of being an effective solution for attracting a commissioner of public works.

I think so. I think I think so too. Okay, clerk. Um if we don't have any other discussion, clerk, can you please take the role? Council Dunan is absent. Council Rathmo I. Council Mavetski, I. Council member Hodkus. Hi. Council member Kavanagh. Hi. Council Murray is absent. Council President Prom Middleton. Hi. Thank you. That is 5 Z. Thank you so much. Next we have introductory ordinance 026-3039 an ordinance to amend the 2026 capital fund budget for Ross Park considered and finance with council member Kavanaaugh. I'd like to motion to adopt 0639 ordinance from the 2026 capital fund budget for Ross Park. I have a motion. Do I have a second?

Second. A motion in a second. Any discussion?

Um, um, this is, uh, the hopefully last ask for carousel restoration funds. Um, we had some detailed explanation at work session on Monday. Um, we've got the shelter at like 99% done. The horses are all done and waiting to go on. This is kind of getting the mechanicals, the actual central shaft and all the crank shafts the horses sit on kind of uh checked out and uh uh prepared and and uh inspected and so uh hopefully we have a carousel by what Memorial Day is the plan. Yes.

Yeah. Any other discussion regarding this? I guess I I the way I understood the discussion Monday was that it's likely that there'll be additional bills coming, but I I can't hear. I said the way I understood Monday's discussion is that there will likely be more bills coming, but there hoping this would be the last. But uh yes, we would very much like our carousel running at our park. Okay, clerk, can you please take a role? The the only other thing is that this uh these transfers don't match the transfer sheet that was given to us on Monday. Um they don't match.

No, I'm not going to fight it, but it's just it's not what we were presented. We had a we amended it. Amended transfer sheet came in. Um there was an email from that went I think to all He sent to all of us. Yes, we had an email that came in to all of us. Um there was some of the uh some of the originally identified money was encumber is intended for other purposes. Um and uh there was uh ample um ample funding left in the uh parking garage uh buildout line. Did you you had questions about that? Yes. I didn't get to my emails. Sorry.

Um but that's it's good to know that there's there's funding there. There's funds in the water street parking garage.

Yeah. So essentially the you have to read the whole thing. here I can actually I can't right um so essentially there's uh this was general fund money allocated for parking ramp construction so I'm sorry capital fund money um allocated for parking ramp construction there's still some in there and even after this spend there's still a bit in there um but then we have money in the uh bond for future repairs if necessary. It doesn't come out of the capital fund. It stays in the ramp fund.

Thank you. And again, the other two I think the other two lines that were in there had had have purpose already. So, any other discussion? Clerk, can you please take the role? Council member Dunan is absent. Council member Rathol. Council Medit. Hi. Council member Hodkus. Hi. Council member Kavanagh. Hi. Council member Murray is absent. Wow. Uh, Council President Prom Middleton. I. Thank you. That is 5 Z.

Thank you so much. Next, we have introductory ordinance 026-40, an ordinance to amend the 2026 police budget for recruitment and retention services considered considered in municipal and public affairs. Council member Medavetszki, can you um introduce this? Um make a motion for uh ordinance 026-40, an ordinance to amend the 2026 budget for recruitment and retention services. Okay, I have a motion. Do I have a second? I'll second.

Motion and a second. Discussion. So, um there's multiple pieces of legislation relating to uh both recruitment and retainment and uh to in improving our um community policing. Um and this this is uh the one that moves moves the money uh for the recruitment and retention piece um for Well, we didn't separate them, right? I didn't. So, this is this is for for both uh logo wise and for um the recruitment and retainment for 21 CP.

The I would point out so you mentioned the other legislation. So, it would be R2610 and R 2611 that are also on the agenda for this evening. It is $89,134 for a contract with 21 CP um and 36,249,000 for logo wise which includes marketing activities primarily includes website update social media campaign. So that's where the 125 383 total comes from. Okay. Any other any other discussion regarding that?

I think I mean I'm generally we've had over a month of discussion on these two pieces of legislation. Um, I am interested in amending 02640 to change the dollar amount in that budget transfer from the 125 to cover just the 89 in change for 21 CP. Um, at the same time, I wouldn't want to not move the transfer forward. I don't want to hold up 21 CP. Uh I I guess if we're including kind of both in this broader discussion, particularly with logo wise, to my knowledge, we've no evidence that the join BPD website or BPD social media accounts have been a recruitment deterrent. When I spoke with Mr. Smute. Uh, however, he is one of the 21 CP managing partners and so a national law enforcement expert. He shared that recruitment is significantly impacted by potential officers receiving negative impressions from current officers and the local prevalence of negative community impressions. This is exactly why we took time to request a an addendum for recruitment and retention services for 21 CP's contract. This will give us a third-party look into the department. I think the conversations members have had with BPD rank and file have consistently raised concerns about the culture. Uh so getting at Mr. mutes note relative to current officers impressions um being negative for potential officers. It also doesn't take much

Googling of BPD activity in the last 5 years to unveil how many community members feel. So I think it I mean in my opinion our website and social media updates can wait until we have actual recommendations to point to relative to retention and recruitment. Anyone else?

I think the second concern consistently raised with logo wise is that this this is not something that went out to bid. Um, I'm very much in favor of the 21CP. uh firm uh to come in and uh look at our uh police department and uh how we're approaching policing in the city of Bingmpington and provide a report. And then I'm also strongly in favor of the uh recruitment into retention piece that we've kind of uh identified and discussed with them and are bringing into the bring into the fold. I think it is well worth the effort. I hope it will provide a uh you know a valuable resource to build on in coming years for recruitment and retention which we all know is a major issue. Um as far as the public relations spend that's also tied in with this um that the mayor feels is an important tool to keep us at least at the level we're at. Um I agree the amount is a little high um for something that we didn't go out to bid. I also think that there is justification within the bid uh within the uh procurement uh within the procurement regulations as far as uh going to creative agencies and agents we already have and agents we already have a relationship with. They have been doing social media for a number of years. uh that it's I think ideally would have gone out to bid, but I think there's enough justification to have it uh under those circumstances. Uh I'm

guess I'm willing to defer to them to uh the mayor's point of view on this is what he feels that we need for recruitment for this year and the materials are a little tired uh for sure when you look at them. Um, I don't want the one of my favorite phrases, I don't want the perfect to be the enemy of the good here. Um so I am absolutely enthusiastically in favor of doing the 21CP work and if the cost of that is uh uh you know plotting along with some of the uh uh public relations stuff that we've done in the past um when perhaps ideally we would update it next year given the need to get recruits uh test takers and then recruits uh for this year. I remain in favor of kind of the whole package as it stands.

I question is it possible for us to require bidding process? Should we do this again next time? Um given you know timelines um or does it basically if we go with it lock us in and in a situation where now it's even more likely it won't go out to bid in the future and I think this council pushed responsible bidding forward for a reason. Um I know council president Dundan feels strongly about that. We have other members here who have strong feelings that aren't able to represent them at this time. Correct me if I'm wrong. on 026-40 it would approve the if it moves forward and approves a total amount there's still the potential to just pass 21 CP and either I mean we have a not on the floor but a a interest in holding over logo wise for other members to be able to share their opinions, make their votes on record.

So, so you want to hold over 02640. Is that what you're saying? No, no, I don't want to hold up the 21 CP moving forward. The hold over would be on R2610 logo wise. So, Bob, correct me if I'm wrong, but this would move this would move the money from uh personnel services, professional services. So the money that full amount would be moved, but then it would need the authorization for each of the individual contracts for those contracts to be to spend that money.

Correct. They're separate. So you can move the money, that's one piece. And then authorizing the agreements is obvious separate pieces, right? So if the money gets moved, it wouldn't hold. If the money gets moved in 02640 without an amendment and we keep that 125 total, that would allow the funds to transfer for 21CP if we approve R 2611-11, but would still give us the opportunity to hold over R 2610 for additional member representation and votes on record toward logo wise.

So let's Okay, so let's vote on If anybody hasn't any other discussion, let's vote on 026-40. Um, clerk, can you please take the role? Council member Rathbell. Hi. Council Medit. Council member Hodkas. Hi. Council member Kavanagh. Hi. Council members Murray and Dunan are absent. Hi. Council President Pro Middleton. Thank you. That is 5 Z. Okay.

Thank you. Um, then would you like to move those other ones up so we can just have the discussion now? I'll make a motion to amend the agenda to move R26-10 and R26-11 up to just under 026-40. I have a motion a motion and a second. Any discussion regarding the amendment to the agenda? Clerk, can you please take a role regarding the amendment agenda? Council member Rathmemell. Hi. Councily, hi. Council member Hodkas. Hi. Council member Kavanagh. Hi.

Council members Marie and Dunan are absent. Council President Prom Middleton. Thank you. I think that's okay. So now we will move on to RL I mean R 26-10. Um a resolution to authorize the agreement with local wise and police recruitment services and is considered a municipal and public affairs. Uh, Council Member Medvestki, can you introduce this motion? Make a motion for R26-10, a resolution to authorize an agreement with Logo Wise for Police Recruitment Services. I have a motion. Do I have a second? I'll second.

Motion and a second. Any discussion? Um, as Councilwoman Rathmo mentioned, this uh proposed logo wise contract would be for website uh photos, social media uh for uh creating a pipeline to get people to speak with Captain Flanders um and try and funnel them into signing up for the civil service exam. Um they There's been many requests um for this to have gone out to bid. Um bid process is somewhat lengthy but might have been done by now um had it been done at the beginning. Um so I know that there's uh frustrations uh over that. Um but here we are. Um, and this is my not my summary, but kind of my my personal I I did uh run explicitly on recruitment and retainment. Um, so, uh, should this not be held over tonight, um, I intend to vote for it, but I also, um, very much empathize with the strong feelings relating to the bidding and to the order of operations in terms of not having the results from 21 C 21 CP before um, starting a marketing operation. So, I intend to vote one way, but I sympathize with folks who may choose other ways. Thank you.

Any other discussion regarding this? I'm going to make a motion to hold over resolution R26-10. I think there's other council people that would prefer to be here for this vote. Um, and I hope they can do so at the next business meeting. I'll second motion and a second. Um, I have a motion in a second. Any discussion regarding the holdover? Okay.

Yeah. I guess the besides the holdover, I think the um I'm not too concerned with um the use of logo wise. I think it makes sense to update um some of the the photos um and materials that they're using for promotion. Um, and if they had if the city has had success using logo wise in the past, I could see why they'd want to use them again. And if I was no longer in the the police department, um, I don't think I'd want my face to be used in promotional materials. Um, the same way if I'm if there was ever a campaign to recruit people for city council and I'm I'm not on city council and I'm just my face is being used to promote um, civic engagement, I I don't I'd be in favor of that. So, I understand the updates. Um, but ultimately, I think the the recruitment effort, whether it's in spending in advertising or um social media promotion efforts, I think that's going to happen in conjunction with any type of reforms that you see in the department. Um, so I think I think they're going to go hand inand at the end of the day. So that's all.

Okay. All right. So we are going to move on uh to introductory um next we have introductory resolution 26-11 a resolution to authorize the agreement with 21 CP for community policing asset and strategic planning considered in municipal and public affairs and council member Rathme I mean excuse me can you introduce that for me? Y uh make a motion for uh R26-11, a resolution to authorize agreement with 21CP for community policing assessment and strategic planning. I have I have a motion. Do I have a second?

Second. Motion and a second. Any discussion?

Great. So, this is uh the mentoring of our new police chief. um the study assessment report development relating to how our police department is doing regarding community policing which um we will be able to as council members um suggest folks for them to interview and engage with. Um this will be like a basically a big study. Um and then as mentioned we've added on um a recruitment and retainment um look inward for the department to um try and uh create the best environment for our workers as well as uh for the community.

Any other discussion

there? Um there was a committee meeting on this. I also had the opportunity to meet um individually with Mr. Smoot, one of the managing partners, I had a mix of comments and questions. Um, in that conversation, the my initial and primary feedback upon reading the original proposal that was introduced in February is that the position positioning of Bingmpington in that proposal, so terms like positioning Bingmpington as a guide for other communities, quote, um, the priority on finding quote opportunities to share Bingmpington's story on national platform forms. There was one piece uh offering a roadmap that helps other cities see what's possible when leadership meets commitment and progress meets transparency. What I asked Mr. Smoot directly is whether or not so none of that felt like it aligns with the current state of the department as we understand it. Um and he did share that that was kind of their proposal template. Uh they had had a brief conversation with Mayor Cra. They had not looked into uh whether it was the, you know, our last police chief. um the 2021 report that sat on a shelf uh without follow through the an officer kneeling on the neck of a young man of color in January 2023 and Mayor Cra disregarding the investigative findings from our attorney general. Um there it was just very clear that the 21CP had not been made aware of the challenges within our department which is why the

language was so much about um again positioning Bingmpington as this guide. What I really appreciated about that discussion with Mr. Smoot though and clearly there's not only national expertise but he has a labor relations background. He was a former uh P PBA president. Um he was very willing to revamp the scope scope to meet the needs of what council and community concerns were brought up. Um I shared that there are several components of the scope they presented. the landscape assessment, the stakeholder engagement, the impact framework, uh even the roadmap for sustainability that had all been identified previously in the 2021 reform and reinvent reinvention report but not followed through on. Um and he really shared that this is a third an opportunity to get a third party expertise and insight. the purpose is to shine a light on things as they are. Um to make sure that the changes that need to happen can happen and are sustainable. Um so that honest assessment piece is one of the primary reasons I'm interested in 21 CP as an opportunity. Um he was extremely receptive to the idea of a retention and recruitment um assessment being a part of this for the reasons I gave earlier. He said there's so much impact specifically departments across the United States are struggling with recruitment and retention. And he identified and attributed that to very often potential officers have a lot of options because there are a lot of vacancies and they tend to go to the ones where current police officers represent positive impressions of the existing culture. Um, and because we

know uh that that has come up over and over again with current officers, the culture challenges that it just it makes so much sense to me to do this before we drop 36 plus grand on a social media marketing rebranding kind of attempt that we don't know will be effective.

Any other discussion? I'll speak really quick. Um like council member Rathmemell stated, we met we had a committee meeting regarding this um the people that um do 21 CP. They were very informative mostly on this and I think we made some amend we did make some amendments. So also after we have um the the assessment and the planning we want to see results. So, it's we can get a bunch of these assessments and plings, but like council member said, council member Rathn said, if we're not effectively doing the work and seeing the progress, it just goes nowhere. It the money really goes down the drain. And I think that's kind of been the hold up on what we're honestly worried about, not about the community policing, about how effective and how they're going to use it after and what we're going to do after. And you know, it's going there's a lot of moving parts to this and I as long as I'm on council, I'm committed to making sure that these that this goes through and that we are interacting not only with the police department, but the community because we know in the past and recent uh headlines that there is a disconnect between the community and our police department and we want to bridge that gap. So, I think this is a start and also continuing to work on this and getting the community on board. So, if anybody else does have anything else to say, clerk, can you please take a role?

Council member Rathmo, I council Mavetski, I council member Hodkus, hi. Council member Kavanagh, hi. Council members Murray and Don are absent. Council President Prom Middleton, thank you. That's 5. Thank you so much. So, we are going to go back, excuse me, to uh O uh next we'll go back to 026-41, an ordinance an ordinance to accept grant funds for the World Cup events considered in municipal and public affairs. Council member Rathmemell, I'd like to make a motion. I know. Is is everybody's off? Yeah. A time limit on these. Okay.

Just just I'd like to make a motion to adopt testing. Yeah, go ahead. Introductory Ordinance 026-41, an ordinance to accept grant funds for World Cup events. Second.

Second. I have a motion and a second. Discussion. Uh this would authorize an agreement with Empire State Development to accept $25,000 for the city of Bingmpington to uh I would say promote. We don't necessarily have details of what it'll be used for, but to uh toward advancing events around the FIFA World Cup June 2026 schedule. Okay. So yeah, um

we did get some some of the details. It's like uh jumbotron, uh marketing, uh staff time for both city employees and Rumble Pony's employees. Um we had we got the three locations, Recre Park, uh Moravo Stadium and uh downtown. Um, so I think they and and it is match it is match money which was the other big piece from the discussion but they believe they'll be able to get sponsors um to cover our half of the match money.

That's my recollection. Yeah, that one. Thank you. Yeah, it's it it's going to be a great time um for the community to come together during the World Cup. Go USA clerk, can you please call the role? Council member Rathmo, I. Council member Medavki, I. Council member Hodkus, I. Council member Kavanagh, hi. Council members Murray and Dundan are absent. Council President Prom Middleton. Hi. Thank you. That is 5-0. Thank you so much. Next up,

one more comment on it though. Um, I don't believe that they're planning to have any sort of advisory committee or community committee, but I if people in city hall are watching, um, I have had people reach out about being involved and helping. I know I brought up an interest in, um, being involved as well. Um, but, uh, if it's not going to be a solo mission by our economic development department, um, there's interest for community involvement. I'm sorry. I would just add to since I wasn't here at Monday's work session, if there's any discussion of potentially including fireworks in the festivities, I would just like to say that we need to schedule that town hall before we get to to June.

Yeah, that's fine. Okay, clerk, thank you so much. Oh, we don't have we already did. Okay. Next up, we're going to go to our um it's introductory resolution R26-26. It's a resolution to authorize the agreement with NPASS for the mobile crisis service considered in municipal and public affairs. Council member Rathmau, can you introduce this motion? Sure. I'll make a motion to adopt introductory resolution R26-26, a resolution to authorize an agreement with the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier for mobile crisis services.

I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. A motion and a second. Discussion. Uh so the services the agreement in question would be $100,000 to support the mental health association's expansion of their existing mobile crisis services. Um the we first learned of this effort to support the county's RFP for mobile crisis services during budget season. So last October, um this was the city's effort given the fact that the city will likely be the location for a high density of calls that are made for uh mobile crisis support. I think one of the things that uh that I and other advocates and others on this council have stressed and and been interested in is when we're expanding mobile crisis support um that we're making it accessible to vulnerable individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. And previously we've known that its direct connection to law enforcement can be a deterrent for vulnerable individuals that have had negative either impressions or contact with law enforcement. So I appreciate that this expansion is really intended to provide that direct support, reduce the barriers. Um and the transport model is I think compelling. There's there's a lot that I'm really excited to see this move forward in for our community.

Yeah. Um I'll speak to we had a committee meeting um last week, myself, uh Council Member Rafel, I mean, excuse me, Council Member Mavavezky and Robert, uh Council Member Kavanagh was there also with finance. Um I think this is going to be really great. One of the things they did state is that they're going to go to where there's a need. So, more importantly, and just like with the work I do at the store, they're going to figure out there'll be some some bumps and there they'll figure out where the most need is. And um the the great thing about this is that Bingmpington is like one of the first municipalities to kind of join on with this. So, we're the first to do it. So, hopefully other municipalities will join because a lot of the times people come from other places and really use a lot of our services in the city. So hopefully people will start to allocate and budget for the things that we need. But what they did say too that was really compelling during this meeting was that they not only are they helping like you out with you know the services that you need right then and there, they're also giving you other resources directing so you're not just left alone there. So you'll be able to kind of it'll all be kind of connected in one. And I think that's a lot of the times people who are going through a crisis or going through something they miss one thing and then everything is kind of connected. So what you know what they're doing here is they're kind of connecting all the pieces and that's going to actually help people with their journey on healing. So thankful for them for that.

Any more discussion on that?

Well, just to remind people that with this service, there's going to be a phone number that will be a um advertised to people um everybody. People being everybody um you know a 911 alternative for mental health crisis. Um, and that, you know, I know that's something that a lot of people have been asking for. Um, I had I had someone uh call me today about, you know, what can I do um and so this will be a concrete answer for folks um to do some take an action that will actually help people.

Yeah. And uh one last thing uh they also also the two women that spoke the health um I can't think of her name. in charge of the health department. Um the health mental health mental health like thank you Liz. Yeah, Liz was stating that um Broom County has one of the highest like calls when it comes to the suicide hotline. Um so that's that just tells us that there is a need here and that we really need to start investing in that and just finding like different ways to kind of help out our community because we know that there is a high need. So clerk, can you please take a role? Council member Rathmo. Hi. Council member Mavetski. Hi. Council member Hodkus. Hi. Council member Kavanagh. Hi.

Council members Murray and Dundon are absent. Council President Proto Middleton. Thank you. That is 50. Thank you so much. Now we are going to move on to R26-27. Um an ordinance uh um excuse me, no I'm wrong. Yep. We have an introductory resolution R26-27. A resolution to authorize an agreement with Highland uh with Highland Planning considered in planning with council member Rathnau. Thank you. I'd like to make a motion to adopt introductory resolution R26-27, a resolution to authorize an agreement with Highland Planning. Second. A motion and a second. Discussion.

Uh appreciate the enthusiastic second. Uh, Council Member Matavitzky and I have been uh heavily involved in this process to identify an entity to complete the Conklin Avenue neighborhood business district plan. Highland Planning came up as both of our top choices. Um, we were impressed for several reasons. Their past experience locally, uh, certainly their community engagement focus came strongly through. Um, so this will be an agreement that uh for around $50,000 uh for a focused look at opportunities in the conclave corridor uh neighborhood business district plan, but the intention is to include um other opportunities. So whether it's residential, recreational, the scope is broad. The stakeholders and community members, resident feedback will be targeted, but also uh hopefully as inclusive as we can can get. And council member Matavetski and I will continue to be involved with the um economic development department in all of this as it moves forward. We're anticipating a launch starting next week. Thank you. Any other discussion?

Clerk, can you please take a role? Council member Rathmemell. I. Council member Mavetski. I. Council member Hodkus. Hi. Council member Kavanaaugh. I. Council members Murray and Dundan are absent. Council President Prom Middleton. I. Thank you. That is 5-0. Thank you so much. Uh last we have uh um we have introductory resolution 26-28. A resolution to enter into an amended agreement with Brown and Cotwell considered in planning with council member Rathn.

So this should be public works. I apologize. Oh yeah, sorry. You should be with me. I was not actually at the I'm I'm assuming this was introduced on Monday. Could somebody else take it? Okay. Thanks. Thank you so much. Make a motion to adopt introductory resolution R26-28. This is a resolution to enter into an agreement. Um, no, excuse me. A resolution to enter into an amended agreement with Brown and Cadwell. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Motion and a second. Discussion.

So, this is just an updated um service agreement um for efforts to comply with MS4. And if I recall right, this is the work that in the future we're expecting to pull in house, but we're not at that state. Am I remembering correctly? Yes. The idea is to eventually pull this. This is the bridge the bridge to getting to pulling this type of work. Any other questions, comments? Clerk, can you please take a role? Council member Rathmemell. Hi. Council member Metsky.

Hi. Council member Hodkas. Hi. Council member Kavanagh. Hi. Council members Marund are absent. Council President Prom Middleton. Hi. Thank you. That is 5. Thank you so much. Uh and thank you everyone. Now we will move on to communications from council. Tonight we will start with Council Member Rathmo.

Thank you. Just two quick events. Uh checking my calendar here. The Southside Neighborhood Association will meet April 21st at its regularly uh scheduled monthly meeting 700 p.m. at MacArthur Elementary. And the Bingmpington Tenants Union has uh two upcoming open meetings for local tenants. Uh on Tuesday, April 14th is an open meeting. There's uh always a housing attorney present at those meetings. And then on the 28th, those both start at 5:30 and they are at the Broom County Library. Council member Rathma, I mean Medavitzki,

sorry. Uh, all right. Well, first, thank you all for your your votes on Ross Park and Conklin A tonight. Um, that will be some good news for us to bring back um to that uh April 21st uh Southside Neighborhood Assembly meeting. Thank you all on that. Um, this week has uh been spring break. Um, and uh there's been a lot of fun happening at the Discovery Center. Uh, I'd like to thank the Discovery Center for inviting me to be one of their guest readers for Readathon. Uh, it was a really positive experience. um signups for the Friday, April 24th uh greenway cleanup um that I'm captaining is still going on. Um if you don't know how to find um the global day of service for through the Bingmpington Alumni Association, send me an email. It is open to friends, family, good nicks, people who want to help volunteer. Um it is not restricted to Bingmpington alumni, but that is um how you register if you're interested in helping with the 434 Greenway cleanup over kind of near U MacArthur area. Um so email me if you want a link. Um, I was excited to see that the fire department's going to have a Lieutenant Scott Pavick Heartstrong Festival in the Southside. Um, feel like the the Southside is has a strong connection to the fire department. Um, and uh, I'm I'm happy that there's going to be a a positive memorial um, for him that it's going to involve both a 5K and a

festival. Um, he was very athletic, very um, very physically active um, from everything I've learned of him. Um, so it's uh, will be a nice tribute. Um, that will be June 7th at MacArthur. Um, and so, uh, you'll start seeing more advertisements, uh, for that. Um, and I'm looking forward to, uh, knock on wood, being there, um, with all the, you know, during the summer here. Um, thank you to everyone who came out for the Southside neighborhood cleanup the Saturday of Easter weekend. Um, sorry I was out of town uh, for the holidays. Um but uh very much appreciate everyone who did come out. Um April is also PAL camp signup. Um and there, as I mentioned last year, is busing throughout the city, but multiple stops in the southside, both Southside West and Southside East. Um so if you're looking for a free uh summer camp uh for kids, I think it's six to 13, I want to say. um that that camp provides busing um and can be quite convenient. It's outdoors, there's a lake, there's boating, um there's frog catching, there's um arts and crafts and snacks and all the camp campiness that is uh what hopefully more of more of us can enjoy and remember as our childhood. So, thank you Okay. Uh, Council Member Hodkas,

no comments this evening. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member.

Thank you. Um, just really quick, I just wanted to thank everyone. I had a chance to volunteer this weekend at the Easter egg hunt at Rec Park. It was a lot of fun. There was like over a thousand people. It's a really good time to connect with the community, all of the kids having fun. Um, thank you to Liz Buchcci Burns and everybody else that puts on the um this event every year. It's it's great for the community, but also some kids who may not experience Easter. They have that moment. And um everything's free for them at the park. So, thank you to everyone who participates in that. Make sure you reach out to me because I'll do it again next year. Uh we have a cleanup coming on the west side. But um I haven't locked down the date. We'll do it. Um it's going to be this month probably. Um I'm thinking the 25th because the 26th is Earth Day, but I'm still going to get some things finalized with that. So there there will be a neighborhood westside um cleanup and we have our meeting on April 23rd. So come out to that. And I don't have anything else. Uh and I will take a motion to adjurnn. motion, a second.

Um, we have a motion and a second. You got that? All in favor?