City Council - Regular Meeting

Recording in progress

Good evening, everyone. Thank you. The time is now 6.02, and we will start the public proclamation and tributes portion of our city council meeting. Please forgive me, I do have an ear infection, so if I don't hear everybody's name and I ask you to repeat it, that's the reason why. When you go to the mic to speak, please press the button that looks like a head with a mic. So we are recording you and we can hear you properly. We will start our proclamations with girls flag football by counselor Zeta-Govan. I will turn the floor over to you.

Thank you, Madam President. And I have this distinct honor of presenting the girls, the mass young Queens, all girls flag football team with this proclamation, power, purpose, and pride honoring the mass young Queens. This proclamation is kind of long, so I'm not going to read the whole thing, but I am going to read your names. So The founder is Dontrell Brown, are they here? Hi Dontrell, good job. Ricardo Cumba, Devon Cumba. Ricardo, Devon. Amanda Carlson. Hi Amanda. And Dwayne Reed.

Excellent.

And we have a proclamation for each player. I'm going to call your names. Anaya Kumba. Amaya Rivera. Shanaya Colon. Aliyah Pagan. J. Deliz Jimenez. Alana Kadiku. Kayaneo Iglesias. I'm sorry if I messed that name up. Did I mess it up? I'm sorry. Camila Maldonado. Kalisha Rivera. Jayliany Fivera. Emily Beliz. Elisa Castrejon Cianca. Charisbel Guero. Jonalise Ruiz Salaman. Nisha Sidhoe. Audache Hickson. I know I messed that one up. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Charity Brown. Anya Elise Vasquez. Sinai Rivera-Hallett. Ivana Torres. Viviana Rosa-Vives. Excellent. So we proclaim that the Springfield City Council proudly recognizes and honors the Mass Young Queens all-girls flag football team for their outstanding commitment to empowerment, inclusion, and excellence through sport. Sponsored by City Councilors Zeta Govan, Tracy Whitfield, and all the City Councilors.

Should I call their names? We'll go around and let the counselors, if any of the counselors want to say anything to the team, to the founders, to the coaches. Anyone want to say anything? Counselor, click Bruce.

Thank you, Madam President. Really just want to say congratulations to the young Queens flag football team. I believe in, you know, athletics. It brings some camaraderie. It brings a sense of teamwork. And it brings so much more. Also, I'll ask the young Queensers, clap it up for your parents. Because I know what it is to travel and get up and pack up and do whatever needs to be done. So I know the parents play a pivotal role, whether it's grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, whatever the case may be. So, again, congratulations to you. to Devon. I know she reached out to me a few months ago, probably now. She needed an indoor space, and we were able to help her out. I don't want to take any of the credit. It was just God's work, and I'm so thankful that I was able to play a small part in helping out the young Queens be able to practice while the wintertime came. So thank you to Zyda for doing this and Council President Whitfield for doing this because I'm always going to be for the youth. So thank you. Congratulations.

Thank you, Councilor Click-Bruce. Before I go any further, I would be remiss if I didn't welcome all the councilors that are here today. Councilor Jerry Martin of Ward 7, of course, Councilor Zeta-Govan of Ward 8, Councilor Mike Fenton of Ward 2, Councilor Jose Delgado at Large, Councilor, Councilor LaVar Click-Bruce of Ward 5, and myself, City Council President Tracy Whitfield at Large, City Councilor. So thank you all for being with us. And who would you point to? Okay. Counselor Jose Delgado would like to say some words.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to first off thank my colleagues for doing this citation. But I'm just sitting here because I have a really good friend of mine who also coaches flag football for girls in the eastern part of the state. And I've been watching his journey over the last kind of few years in terms of kind of putting this together. I mean, for many who don't know, flag football is one of the fastest growing sports, particularly for young girls. And so I'm so glad that there are parents and coaches and whoever you're, you know, Grandparents, abuelas that are like getting involved and really doing this, especially for young women to have an outlet and to play this sport. And like Counselor Click Bruce said, I mean. You know, athletics teaches so much. It teaches you how to work with other people and how to, you know, solve problems and issues. And these are all skill sets that you will use in your future. But most importantly, you guys are out there having fun. So congratulations to the parents, to the coaches, and the folks who stepped up to start this league to represent Springfield or represent 413. But most importantly, to the young ladies who are going to be out there just tearing up the field. And I can't wait to watch your game. You guys are going to have to let me know next time because I want to check that out. So congratulations.

Before we call up the founder of the team, I would like to say that I am so happy to look out when it comes to football and see a row full of young ladies. That is amazing. I remember when I was younger, I used to want to play football with the boys and my brother wouldn't let me play and I was sad. There was no girl football league and I would just watch on the sideline, run and get the ball and stuff like that. So I am so proud. Thank you founders for thinking of this. It takes a lot of time and commitment to coach anything and it takes time away from your family and your life, but you all thought so much of the young ladies in our community to put this league together and give of your time. So thank you for that. And thank you to the parents, as Councilor Klickbrew said, and the village, because I know many a times I had to ask my mother, I'm a sports mom too, when my son was younger and my daughter was younger, that my village had to come in, even the coaches, and pick up the kids and drop them off, make sure they eat and everybody got water. Some people forget it and all these things. So it's just amazing to see this. I'm glad, very proud of all of you who you young ladies that said, I'm going to go out here and I'm going to play me some football. I wanted to play. So I'm just like living vicariously through all of you. Okay. So go out, have fun, make it fun. I'm competitive, but don't take it too serious. Okay. Just have fun and it'll all flow. So that's what I wanted to say. And thank you all. And you really deserve this. Thank you.

Please, Devon. So one of the coaches, Dee Kumba, is going to be saying something. Oh, you can stand at the mic up there, mommy. Turn the mic on. Yes. She lives in Ward 8, too. I could retire. They have a game after today, so good luck in the game. It's going to be great. And you can speak, and then we'll take a picture.

Good evening, everyone. First, we want to say thank you for this recognition and for allowing us to share the heart behind what we do. There have been many conversations between myself and my husband where we've asked, which bill do we have to pay late in order to afford the sports payment? As a family with four children, we understand the reality that many families face. Too often we hear parents say they couldn't afford team pictures, registration fees, or other opportunities for their children. And the truth is this happens far too often. That is why our coaching unit came together with one shared mission. No young athlete should miss out on an opportunity because their family cannot afford it. we have a commitment that our team would not have a fee because we believe access to sports should not be determined by family's financial situation. Flag football is about so much more than a game. Sports create a community, build confidence, teach discipline, and give young people a place where they feel supported. Many youth need a safe space, a place where they can be themselves, build relationships, learn life skills, and feel like they belong. For many of our athletes, this program becomes that safe space. Our values are simple. We believe in opportunity, inclusion, teamwork, accountability, confidence, and creating a positive environment where every athlete is valued. We want our young people to know they are capable, they are supportive, and they have a place in this community. We also know this work could never be done alone. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has helped us get to this point. Thank you to our sister team, CT Young Queens and its founder, Dontrell Brown, Thank you for believing in this vision. Thank you to the Springfield City Council. Couldn't have done this without you. So many calls to Ayanna and Lavar and Zaida. You guys have really been the glue to this team. And even the indoor space allowed us to continue practicing. Without that, we would have fallen apart. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts. This recognition belongs to the entire village that continues to show up for our youth. Thank you.

So we would like the opportunity to take pictures with the team and the coaches and the founders. So now you can come through the doors. All future city councilors, come on through so we can take a picture. Yes, the whole team.

I'm sorry? Through you. I just wanted to do a quick shout out. Seeing that this is about football, I wanted to recognize Denise Jordan, who's in the crowd, who's also somebody who's spearheaded a lot of things for youth in our community, is one of the helpers of 5A football, founders of 5A football for our youth. So I just thought it was fitting to shout her out while we have this pivotal moment here. Thank you.

Congratulations. The next proclamation and tribute we have is for Jose Jojo Feliciano, basketball coach, sponsored by City Councilor Lavar Click Bruce. If you go in the hallway and you want to take pictures, we just ask that you keep the noise level down for us as we have two more proclamations. Correction, Jose Jojo Feliciano will be introduced by Vice President of City Council, Jose Delgado.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm really honored to be part of this. When Councilor LeBarclay and Bruce, we both chatted about this. So thank you for double teaming this. But this is a gentleman who's spent a lot of years coaching young men and ladies, excuse me, on the basketball court. I've seen him throughout the years really build consistent, you know, tough teams. And so I'd love for Jose Jojo Feliciano to just come up to the mic while we're talking about him. I know I saw you. There he is.

Oh my gosh, I didn't know it was you.

Coach, my son too. See, as you can tell, you've had an impact on our community, our youth, our kids, and so we have a citation just recognizing you for for your years of service to our youth. Whereas the Springfield City Council proudly honors Jose Jojo Feliciano for his dedication to mentoring and inspiring young athletes throughout the city of Springfield. And whereas Jose Feliciano has become a respected leader and role model in the local basketball community through his commitment to teaching discipline teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance, both on and off the court. And whereas through his work with the Springfield Migs organization, he has helped guide and develop countless youth athletes by creating a supportive and competitive environment focused on growth, confidence, and personal achievement. And whereas, as the girls basketball coach at the Springfield Commonwealth Academy, Jose Feliciano helped lead and mentor student athletes while representing Springfield with pride, including traveling internationally to China, and contributing to the program's historic first NEPSAC championship victory. And whereas Jose Jojo Feliciano's impact extends far beyond basketball, as he continues to uplift, encourage, and inspire the next generation through leadership, accountability, character building, and his unwavering dedication, excuse me, to the youth of Springfield. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Springfield City Council proudly honors Jose Jojo Feliciano in recognition of his outstanding commitment to the youth of Springfield, his passion for mentorship, and the positive impact he continues to make within the community. And it extends sincere gratitude and best wishes for your continued success in all your future endeavors. Proclamation signed by our city clerk, Glass Oyola-Lopez, sponsored by city councilors LaVar Click-Broof, Barclay Bruce, excuse me, Jose Delgado, Councilor Tracy Whitfield, and all other Councilors.

Councilor Click-Bruce.

Thank you, Madam President. JoJo, listen, man, I can go on and on. I know this young man for many years when I was running the Dunbar Community Center, also coaching our different teams, but I've watched him. And when I called him, he actually saw humbly is he didn't even want the recognition. He said it's always about his kids. It's not about him. So I said, nah, man, we got to recognize you for all the hard work that you've done in the city of Springfield. Sometimes, you know, because I know you get a bad rap, but I want to let you know personally, I appreciate all the work that you put in. You and your family have put in a lot of work here in the city of Springfield. So we want to salute you and congratulate you on today and for all the hard work that you have done. I know the Lady Migs teams are very, very competitive. You also coach at Commonwealth Academy. And I know you have some boys team as well. Your boys teams were tough. I hated playing against you guys, man, because it's always going to be a tough out. But JoJo, man, again, just wanted to say, man, we appreciate you. We love you. And continue to do the good work when nobody's watching. So thank you.

You know I gotta speak. You know I gotta speak. It's been like 18 years or something. You've been doing this for a long time. And now you're going to China and stuff. That is fantastic, but my son Jelani, played with the Migs, and we went from Wilshire to the Migs, and it was like the best move I ever made. You and Angel were fantastic. This was the village that would pick up and drop off and help out and make sure everybody had what they needed, and it became a family. I appreciated y'all because there was times I was not going out on the road, and you guys would pick up my son, and you would take him, and made sure he got home safely. And I am so proud, blessed to see that you are still here doing this work. I can't believe you're still doing this work. This is fantastic. I am so glad. I really hope I'm on that proclamation. But if not, in my heart, I'm on the proclamation because you were a family to me when my son played for the Migs. Congratulations. And I know he's a blessing, isn't he, Coach JoJo? Yeah. And was always quiet. Like, quiet right now. It was always like that silent storm, but my son really, really loved you all. It was a family. Part of the family. And really just loved playing with you all. And like I said, you were a blessing to me, and I don't know how to thank you. This isn't enough. You should get more recognition than this, but This is a start. So thank you, Coach Jojo.

I just want to congratulate the team and the coach for this recognition. I think this is something that our city needs more of. So thank you for doing the work all these years. And thank you for continuing to do the work all these years. Like Counselor President Whitfield said, you know, the sacrifices that coaches make a lot of times is unseen a lot of the times. So I'm really glad that that's happening and that you continue to do that. And I'm just hoping that the young people will see this as an example and they can aspire to be like that as well. So thank you again and congratulations.

You have the floor if you want to say some words. I know you're not a man of many words except for your team, but you have the floor.

I'm just honored to be here today. People that came out here to support what I've been doing for the last 20 years. And like you guys said, I hope they appreciate it. It takes a lot of time off my family to do what I do. And without their support, I won't be able to do what I do. So I want to thank my family as well for supporting me of what I do with the youth. And thank you again.

All right, we want to offer you to come behind the podium so we can take a picture of your family as well. Because your family did stand behind you many a days. Thank you.

14.

All right, thank you.

All right, last but certainly not least, I'm a little bit jealous that LaVar beat me to the punch on this one. I've been trying to get it done, but nonetheless, it's very well deserved. LaVar, with a proclamation in tribute to Justin Haynes, appointed as the Parade Grand Marshal. LaVar. Counselor, click Bruce.

Thank you, Madam President. So, you know, this proclamation really wanted to set aside for a young man who's done tremendous work. I've known Justin, I think Justin's younger than me. I'm 48, so I know Justin's younger than me, but I've known him for over, for 20 years now, and watched him grow as an individual, not only in his business, but spiritually, and that's what keeps him. I also want to shout out his mother, who's my pastor, Overseer Gwyneth Sainz. Because truly, Without her, I know all the Haynes. I know Elder Haynes is here, and Sarah might be somewhere. But all of her kids, I'm going to say well-behaved, right? But they are just stand-up people, good people. But particularly, you know, the leader of the flock is his mother. And I've said this countless times at our church that I wouldn't be where I'm at today without Overseer Gwen Haynes. I truly thank God for her because she's a praying lady and woman. And anybody who can pray for me and get me straight is doing a lot. So I truly thank God for her. I know my wife thanks God for you, too, as well, overseer. But this is about Justin. Justin also opened up his studio. He moved from Enfield back to Springfield, and he's at Tower Square, which he did a really big cut into that. And I am going to read a part of his accolades because I think it's important. And I think it's important. And when we do these proclamations, somebody may say, well, why are you doing this? Because it tells us a story in the history of the city of Springfield that we have some great people doing amazing work. And sometimes we don't know about it, particularly with the women's flag football coach, Jojo doing good work and brother Justin Haynes doing tremendous work, not only here in the city of Springfield, but throughout the country. And he is so amazing. He's actually done work for the bishops that be on TV and all over the place. He's been on talk shows. He's been all over this world. And he always talks about the city of Springfield. So what I believe in with my sports, he does with fashion. If you dress good, feel good, look good, smell good, you're going to perform good. And he makes sure that he does that. He emphasizes perfection. So, Brother Justin, again, we want to honor you, honoring vision, courage, and global excellence in fashion. Whereas the city, the Springfield City Council proudly recognizes clothing designer Justin Haynes, founder of Just 10H, a proud native of Springfield, who has been named Grand Marshal for the Springfield Public Schools Parade, the first annual, I want to add, public schools parade, an honor that reflects his leadership, achievement, and lasting impact on his community. And whereas Justin Haynes has shown exceptional vision and courage by stepping away from his career stability to pursue his passion for fashion design, building a globally recognized brand known for vibrant custom creations that elevate everyday style, into artistic expression. And whereas, as a bioglobal designer, tailor, vice chairman of the Tokyo Fashion Council Board of Directors, the first African American recognized as a Japanese industrial leader and vice president of West Africa Fashion Council, he has earned, I'm going to say that again, he has earned international distinction. while proudly representing the city of Springfield on the world stage. Whereas he is the first designer from Springfield to present collections in major global fashion capitals, including Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Dubai. And he also with the help of Denise Jordan, he actually hosted the first and only fashion show here at City Hall. And whereas his many accomplishments include major industry awards, national recognitions, global collaborations, and extensive media coverage, all while remaining deeply grounded in the support of his family, friends, and community. Now, therefore, it be proclaimed that the Springfield City Council hereby honors clothing designer Justin Haynes for his outstanding achievements, his global contributions to fashion, and the pride he brings to the city of Springfield. And we extend heartfelt congratulations on his appointments as grand Marshall of the Springfield public schools. This is a, uh, in our record and tests, but our, by our city clerk, Gladys Lopez, and this is sponsored by all city counselors. I'm not going to take the credit for this. Uh, I think everybody here respects you, Brother Justin, and we want to honor you on tonight and make sure you receive your flowers while you can still smell them. And anything that you need from us, we're here to support you in any way that we can. We love you and continue to do the good work. Thank you.

Anyone? We're a bit late for our regular city council meeting, so if you do have remarks, we're just gonna keep them really brief. Councilor Govan.

I may. Thank you, Madam President. I just want to congratulate Justin on his proclamation and all the work that he's done. I see him all over Facebook and internationally known. So congratulations. Keep up the good work. And maybe I'll come and see you downtown.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.

Councilor Delgado.

Thank you. I just want to say thank you for what you're doing. You know, you said international. I'm like globally recognized, man. And from right here from the city of Springfield and you're making an impact. But the greatest thing is that there's probably some kid out there. who's from Springfield, who's looking at like what they want to do. And they're looking at Justin and saying like, man, he's doing it. Like I can do it too. And it's funny because my daughter's recently gotten into like wanting to like design her own stuff. So I already started pointing, like, hey, there's people that are doing it. I'm like, Justin's doing it. I even saw that there's a class at Stick that he's going to be teaching. So I'm like, I'm going to sign her right up for that. So I would encourage everybody who can check out his shop. But just thank you for everything you're doing and, you know, leading us with pride everywhere you go, man. So really just kudos to you and your family and your village that's helped you to get to where you're at. So thank you for that.

Well, I would be remiss if I didn't get my remarks because he designed my 50th birthday dress. Wonderful to work with, listens to what you want in your design, but also I tried to do this proclamation for October 27th, which is your birthday, and I couldn't, right? Yeah, I couldn't get it, make it happen because I couldn't get the bio together and I was also traveling that whole year of being 50. But you have put Springfield on the map. Every time I go to your shows, I buy clothes and gain weight and can't fit them anymore. And everybody be like, well, can I get that jacket? No, I'm going to lose weight. And I'm going to fit it one day. But I love your style. I love your designs. I can never get the new balances. So if they ever come back around, make sure you put a pair up for me. I'm a size 8. OK? All right. But you, I see you on like the Kelly and I don't know who her partner is because it changes. But I see you on Kelly Ripa show and you're like on TV and you're in Times Square and you're like everywhere. And you have your fashion shows and your invitation only. And I remember reaching out to you saying, how come I don't get an invitation? And you was like, you want an invitation? So now I get the invitation. I can go to the special shows. So it's just really amazing. You're doing great work. Thank you for what you do. Thank you for representing the city of Springfield. We love you, and I had an opportunity to meet your mother, and she got an award a few weeks ago, and what a beautiful woman she is, and I know she's raising outstanding children, so thank you. I know I'm talking the longest, but we want you to come up if you wanna say a few words, Justin.

I just want to first thank God, number one, for allowing me to even stand here and accept this award. And to Councillor Bruce and to Madam President Whitfield and to all of the council, thank you so much. I was stating to someone In 17 years, I've been all around this world and I felt I can go to the streets of New York and people know my name. I can go to Paris, I can go to Jersey, I can go wherever and people know who I am and it feels like home. But in the 17 years that I've been in Springfield, this particular year I was able to feel what I feel in other states. So I want to say that I'm very thankful and honored that I finally can feel this way in Springfield where I grew up and then also too where I proudly tell everyone that I'm here because this is not where I'm from, this is where I am and I don't want to get too big where I forget where I've come from, the Springfield Public Schools, long as the streets of Springfield and the area of Springfield is what kind of groomed me to be on this fashion designer and this tailor to the world that I am so I want to say thank you to all of my supporters here everybody that's here traveled near and far some people that came from Boston tonight just to kind of see me and I'm really really really I'm grateful and to my mom There would not be me without my mom. Y'all knew that. So I want to thank her, too, because when I came home the day that I quit my job, and I quit my job from a huge salary, I came home, and I told her, and I just cried because I left all of that, and I knew I couldn't leave her and my dad in that situation because my father was very ill. And I came home, and I told her I quit. I wasn't going back. And I cried, and she didn't... know most parents would be like well what are you going to do next all she did was to tell me you're going to be okay i was worried because i'm like how am i going to start this multi-million dollar company that i want to that i see in my head with nothing so i left my job with all i had was four weeks of vacation calm days and some sick days and um what you saw there is what you see here so i'm thankful that i did step out and do what i needed to do and then i was there for my parents when i needed to be So I'm very thankful. But last but not least, not only do I thank the mayor, but I do thank Ms. Denise Jordan, because as Council, y'all can give her a hand. As Council Click said, and she said it this morning, there's a lot of things that I did in the city of Springfield, and there were a lot of people that promised me certain things that did not come through. But she was one of them that came through. As you saw, the reason why I was at the museums, the reason why I was at the City Library, the reason why I was downstairs here in this and the only fashion show in the City Hall was because of Miss Denise Jordan. So I wouldn't be remiss as all these great shows that you see, it was because of her and I want that to be nationally known. So again, I wanna thank everybody that's here. I am in Tower Square now. Tower Square has been great to me. We had an opening today and when I leave here, Those who need to come see the store, you can come over and see it real quick. But other than that, I want to say thank you so much, and thank you, City Council. Thank you.

So we, before you leave, we do want to take a quick picture. I want to remind counselors that we are late for our city council meeting, but it's okay. We want to ask the family to come. Denise, please. Denise is the best chief of staff that any mayor ever had in my lifetime. And I'm glad she's getting all this recognition tonight because her hands are in so many pots and she was always there, especially for the black community. Thank you, Denise.

Thank you. you can remove it Amen.

We're going to take a quick two-minute recess. We'll start at 6.46. Today is Monday, June 22nd, 2026. The time is now 6.47, and we will start the hearings meeting of the Springfield City Council. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Councillor Santanello.

Present.

Present. Councillor Martin.

Present.

Present. Councillor Perez. Present. Present. Councillor Brown.

Present.

Present, Councilor Govan. Absent, Councilor Walsh. Present. Present, Councilor Hurst. Can you go back to Councilor Brown? Councilor Brown.

Present.

Present. Councilor Govan absent, Councilor Walsh present, Councilor Hurst. Present. Present, Councilor Davila. Present. Present, Councillor Fenton.

Present.

Present, Councillor Delgado.

Present.

Present, Councillor Klick-Bruce.

Present.

Present, Councillor Edwards.

Present.

Present, Councillor Whitfield. Present. Present.

Will councillors and our guests please stand for a moment of silence? Councillor Govan, was there someone you wanted to recognize at this moment of silence? Not today. Okay. Will counselors and our guests please continue standing for the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. This is a hearings meeting, how the hearings meetings run. This one's different because it has EPA, but there will be orders first, and then we will go into our special permit. During our special permit time, there will be 20 minutes from the proponent to hear about your special permit. Right after that, city councilors have the opportunity to ask the proponent questions. Then there will be 20 minutes for the opposition to present. Then city councilors will have opportunity to ask opposition questions. From there, there will be a 10-minute rebuttal period for both sides. And counselors will also have time to ask questions. Then we will close the hearings and deliberate amongst our body and make a determination from there. Madam Clerk, will you please call the first item on the agenda?

If you'd give me one second, I'd like to acknowledge Councilor Govan.

Yes, please.

Thank you.

Present.

Present.

Now Madam Clerk.

The first item is the CPC FY2027 budget.

Please state your name and address for the record.

I'm Bob McCarroll. I'm the chair of the Community Preservation Committee, and I live at 96 Elliott Street. So the first item is presenting the budget for the fiscal year that will begin on July 1. And if you could advance the slide one more, there we are. We've worked with the comptroller's office, and they've estimated that the local surcharge will raise approximately $2,600,000. that the annual distribution from the state will be $424,000 and that there will be about $150,000 of interest earned on the account for a total revenue of $3,232,757 of CPA revenue for the coming year. As you know, the state law requires that we set aside for future spending 10% for housing, historic, open space, and recreation. So $323,276 is being set aside for each of those items. of the committee is 150,200, and that leaves 2,112,729. That's the undesignated reserves. Any questions from council on the budget? Councillor Santanello? Yeah, just a question on the 300,000 set aside. We're taking all these at once?

We're taking the first one first?

The first one is the budget for next year. After that, we begin the recommendations for this year, and I defer to the President as to how you want to do it. Some years they've taken them all at once, sometimes they've taken them individually, but right now we're just on next year's budget. Okay, thank you.

I'll hold off.

Thank you, Counselor. Any other questions or comments on the budget? All right. Seeing none. Bob, I don't know. This is my first time with CPA. Do we normally approve the budget? Then you go into the projects. All right. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll on the budget?

On approval, Counselor Santanello.

Yes.

Yes, Counselor Martins.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Perez. Yes. Yes, Councillor Brown.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Govan. Yes. Yes, Councillor Walsh. Yes. Yes, Councillor Hurst.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Davila.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Fenton.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Klick-Bruce.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Whitfield.

Yes. Yes. Is there any objection to hearing all of the items and then voting? Is there any objection? Council member?

I did want to ask a question about one of the items on there. So would that be at the end after we hear them all or would we hear them and then talk about an individual item? Does that make sense?

You can ask questions on the item as it comes up. If you have any questions. Councilor Govan.

Just for point of information, we did have a finance committee meeting and we reviewed all the items that are before you today.

Thank you, Councilor Govan. Councilor Hurst.

So what I'd like to do, if at all possible, is take item number 14, if no one else has any other concerns, separately. And then I'm certainly prepared to vote for items 1 through 16, with the exception of 14.

Okay, and I'm just going to repeat what I said earlier. I have an ear infection, so I can't hear that well, so I might even be talking loud. So if you guys can, like, talk louder so that I can hear you, because I didn't hear the first part of what you said, Councilor Hurst.

I have some questions and concerns about item number 14, and so I don't mind taking every other item with the exception of item number 14 together.

Councilor Walsh?

Yes, thank you. I hope you feel better. I would like, I don't mind taking them all at once, but I would like an explanation of what they are.

Yes, we're definitely going to hear all of them, Councilor Walsh, and I hope you feel better as well. Thank you for letting me know.

Thank you.

Okay, so we'll hear all items except 14. We'll vote on all of them if there's no objection, and then we'll circle back to item 14. So you have the floor, Bob.

Oh, I have to hit it again.

One moment, Bob. Councilor Martin?

So, yeah, I wanted to address specifically number three as well. So can we take that one out of order as well so I can speak to that as well?

We can speak to all of them. I just want you all to know that. But, yes, let's take item three and 14 out of the list and save those to the end. Okay, Bob? Okay.

I guess I'm confused in terms of there's the numbering that's in the handout that's now projected, and there's the numbering that's in your agenda. So it would be helpful to know when we say three, which three are we talking about?

Oh, yeah, you're right. Is three the tennis court? All right. Two is one. So, yes, it's two. It's item number two. And then item number, is it the Bella Apartments redevelopment? And 13, two and 13 will hold off.

So Nahorniak and Bella Apartments you want to do separately?

Yes. Huh? Nathan Bills? Turn on the mic. I can't. I'm struggling.

Yeah, so three. Oh, three on the screen. Three on the screen, four on here.

So three and 13. The threes. We got it.

All right. Okay. Very good.

Thank you. One more. He can read them. All right, Bob, I think we're ready.

All right. All right. So, you know, I always like to lead off the presentation with the thank you to City Council, who in 2016 voted to put CPA on the ballot so that the residents of Springfield could decide whether they wanted to pay a little more and to, as we say, get a lot. And had you not done that, we would not have been able to raise the more than $20 million that has been raised since CPA began. So thank you very much. So item number one is the City of Springfield Down Payment Assistance Program with a recommendation of $300,000 coming from the Housing Reserve. This is a program which the Office of Housing has run for several years. It is for income-eligible households who are buying their home in Springfield, and it is to provide them assistance toward that end. It is a secured, soft loan that is forgiven over a 10-year period. So if someone lives here the full 10 years, the $10,000 is entirely forgiven. If they live there for only eight years and then sell the house and move elsewhere, 20% or $2000 comes back to the city and as you can see over the years, the City Council has approved prior uses of this program.

Any questions from counselors on that item? Seeing none, Bob.

All right, the next is Nahorniak Park Pickleball and Tennis Courts. This is for the park up on Breckwood Boulevard. The neighborhood council, in conjunction with the Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreational Management, has put forth this plan. It is to renovate one of the existing tennis courts and to convert the other tennis court into three pickleball courts. And we are recommending 300,000 that's coming out of the open space and recreational reserve.

Councilor Clink-Bruce.

Thank you, Madam President. This is more of a comment and a thank you to Karen Lee and to you as well, Bob, for helping push this through. I think it's needed for the neighborhood. It'll be an added value. So thank you all for putting this money aside for us and granting us the $300,000. So again, I just wanted to say thank you.

So just to clarify, we've recommended. You're maybe going to grant it, not us.

Take that back. I thank you for your recommendation.

All right. Thank you, Counselor Click-Bruce. Is this your award? All right. Counselor Davila.

Thank you, Madam President. Bob, good to see you. And Bob, I just have, I guess, a clarifying question. And thank you and to your team for putting this together, because I know that you guys spent months doing this. And it's an arduous process to allocate all this money, because I know you have more applications than you do a budget to give out. And I know you guys have to be conservative. With that being said, if you could, and you guys make the decisions, we are going to be approving this, but you guys put in front of us what you guys think is the best projects that should be approved. And so I guess a picket ball is a thing now. And I know there's Holyoke, maybe Westfield. And I saw here that you have two, if I saw correctly, two picket ball projects. programs, recommendations for the Nihonia PAC for $300,000. I feel like I'm missing one right now somewhere, but... Councilor Dalva, can I just ask you to speak up a little bit? Yeah. Okay.

I'm trying to hear you.

I was just thinking about that because I know I'm mumbled perhaps too. So I just, because I, if I may, for clarification purposes and to help you understand how you guys do it, So I'll cut to the chase. My own district, I know that we had a group of citizens had a polling application for Picketball, and I don't see it here. Can you speak a little bit to that as to how did you guys make that decision? Why wasn't, you know, if you could just walk me through it briefly, 30 seconds or less.

We had three pickleball applications this year. They were all good applications, but as Councillor Davila pointed out, we had $3.2 million to recommend and we had 7.5 million in requests. So we had to make a decision. In the discussion that the committee had, the feeling was that in Forest Park, we have funded the trolley pavilion restoration, we funded the rustic picnic pavilion, we funded the aquatic gardens gazebo, and we funded last year, you funded last year, a fitness center that's being a fitness track that's going in this construction season. both for Nahorniak and for East Forest Park. We've not done that much in Pine Point or East Forest Park, and we're always conscious that CPA needs to spread across the city, and therefore, you know, we've told the folks that reapply next year.

Right, and thank you, Bob. In other words, I realize we've got to spread the word and spread the Spread the love around. And I see that at least my district has two recommendations, 52 Sumner Avenue and the Arboretum at Forest Park. So I thank you. I agree with you. I just wanted to, because people are going to ask me, Bob, and I need to tell them something when they ask me. So thank you. Thank you for that. And I do wholeheartedly appreciate the work that you and your team does because I know it's not easy. when you're overwhelmed with so many requests and so little money, for lack of better words. But thank you, Bob. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilor Dabla. Any other comments or questions, concerns on item number, our item number four? All right, Bob, you can move on.

Okay, so skipping over Nathan, Bill, then we go to the Historic Homes Restoration Program. This is the program that the committee itself runs. It is a lottery that is open to owner-occupants in any one of the city's residential historic districts, and we're recommending $300,000. coming from the undesignated reserve. If this is approved by City Council, we will probably be having the lottery in December.

Councilor Santanella? Yeah. How much do you set aside for each home that wins the lottery?

It is a sliding scale based on income. The minimum grant, and this is only for exterior work to the house, is $15,000, and the maximum can be $30,000. So that's sort of the parameters, and then based on where they are income-wise, they could be somewhere in between.

And what falls under restoration?

Roof replacement, chimney or foundation work, restoration of original windows. We do not do replacement windows. We do storm windows, carpenter repairs to the porch, painting the house.

So if someone has a slate roof and it's not fully covered by the amount, they come up with the difference?

they would have to come up with the difference, correct?

Thank you.

Any other comments on that one? For item number six, I am going to recuse myself and step down. I'm going to ask Councillor Delgado to please come up. I am on the advisory board.

Good evening, Bob. Good evening.

So the next one is the affordable housing trust fund, a redevelopment of vacant city owned properties. Um, and we're recommending 300,000 coming from the undesignated reserve. This is the trust fund that was established by city council a couple years ago. It's never really been funded. They are interested in working with the vacant deteriorated apartment building at 2612 Main Street, the corner of Arch Street. And what they're hoping to do is to put together a financial package that they can then use to attract the developer to renovate the building into affordable housing. If by some chance this building doesn't work out for them, they would then be looking to work with the former Eastern Avenue School at the corner of Alden Street and Eastern Avenue.

Any questions from the council? I have a hand. Go ahead, Councillor Perez.

Yes. I have to emphasize that this building has been in the development for almost 10 years. And I hope that this time it will come forward when housing is so crucial. Thank you. Thank you, President.

Thank you, Councilor Perez. I've been asked to do a separate vote on item number six, so we're gonna pull that one up from the list here as well, but I think we're gonna take that one first if there's not any objections. Councilor Hayes.

Just a point of clarification, which number six?

Excuse me, number six on our list. Number six is the one that we just finished hearing about, affordable housing trust fund for 26123 Main Street renovation.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Any questions on that? Are you good with that, Bob?

Fine.

All right. So I guess we'll call the roll and vote for item number six. Can you read that one for city clerk?

Point of information.

Go ahead, Councilor Brown.

I had a question about the Eastern Avenue project, if you could explain that one a little bit more in detail.

Well, the Eastern Avenue project is a backup, assuming that this project at 2612 doesn't work out. It could be that when the Housing Trust Fund, which is staffed by the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, they may not be able to find enough money or a developer to develop it, in which case they would then look to working with the former Eastern Avenue School, once again, to renovate for affordable housing?

And that would be who? A potential person that you would look for?

Well, once again, the building on Main Street is a tax foreclosed property. The city would have to put it out for a request for proposal. The intent is to be able to build up an incentive packet that when it is put out for redevelopment, there are developers who can see, oh, there's CPA money involved.

there's maybe home money there's maybe arpa money i i don't know i'm not a housing specialist um and you know you answered it you answered my you answered my question no i appreciate all your work i was just curious uh how this project broke down but uh thank you for all your work thank you thank you all right any other questions for my colleagues

I can't find the button to raise my hand.

Go ahead. The floor is yours, Councillor Walsh.

Thank you. Is this your largest grant?

The committee has set a policy that the largest grant we will give to anyone, we will recommend for any one project in any one fiscal year is 300,000. So the ones that I've presented already are those that are at the maximum recommendation level.

And what's the recommendation for this one? Because it's a small print here.

I didn't hear that, Councillor.

Yes, what is the recommendation for this one? Oh, this one is 300,000.

I perhaps didn't say that. It's 300,000 from the undesignated reserve. Okay. All right. Yeah.

It's hard to read on my screen.

Yeah, yeah. And also to clarify, folks can come back the next year and ask for more money. And there have been applicants that we've worked with over several funding cycles. But in general, the committee's policy is any one funding cycle, no more than $300,000 for a recommendation.

Okay. Thank you, Bob.

Thank you, Councilor Walsh. Last call. All right, Madam Clerk, can we call the roll for item number six to dispose of this?

So item six is the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Main Street renovation for the amount of $300,000. Councillor Santanella?

Yes.

Yes. Councillor Martin?

Yes.

Yes. Councillor Perez? Yes. Yes. Councillor Brown?

Yes.

Yes. Councillor Govan? Yes. Yes. Councillor Walsh? Yes. Yes. Councillor Hurst?

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Davila.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Fenton.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Whitfield recused. Counselor Click-Bruce.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Delgado.

Yes. This passes. All right. Give me one second to grab Madam President back.

I did recuse myself from that vote. I stepped down and before I could come back, we had to dispose of the item. Not supposed to come back up to the podium before the item is disposed of. That's why the vote had to be taken. Okay. I think I want the clerk to call each item because we need to go by our agenda. So, Madam Clerk, can you please call each item to keep us according to our agenda?

Sure thing, Madam President. The next item is item seven. Bob, do we agree Old First Church exterior restoration in the amount of $300,000?

Yes, so this is an application that came from the Office of Planning and Economic Development and Facilities Management to do exterior renovation to Old First Church, carpentry repairs and painting, and it is a recommendation of $300,000 from the undesignated reserve.

Comments, questions from council? Councilor Santanella.

Thank you, Madam President. What's the future of the church?

I don't believe they necessarily know that yet. I mean, there have been various options talked about. But so this is, I think, an interim getting the church in better condition than it currently is.

Because I really think that you're on the right track here because we put $6 million into Court Square and we got the church right on that property. So I think I'd love to see it developed. I really would because I don't know how far that money's going to go, but that church needs a lot of work.

Thank you. Madam Clerk. The next item is the gun block stabilization and exterior restoration in the amount of $300,000.

So this is the gun block at the corner of State and Walnut Street. Urban impact initiatives. A local developer purchased the building late last year. There was already an allocation made by city council from several years ago to a developer who never performed. And I was here back in December. in a sense have that money then transferred for the new to the new developer and this is the Continue to fund the project. So this will be more work to the exterior of the building Her goal ultimately is to have apartments on the second and third floor with office space on the ground floor and

Any questions?

Madam Clerk, next item. Item 9 is the Mulberry House roof replacement in the amount of $200,000.

So the Mulberry House is a iconic 1950s apartment building that looks like it belongs in Miami Beach. It's part of the Ridgewood Local Historic District. It is now condominiums, and it's very large roof. You can see the size of the building with the four different Ls coming out of the center needs to be replaced, and we are recommending $200,000 from the from the undesignated reserve.

Madam item item 10 is a street.

We haven't for I'm sorry, Madam President. I didn't raise my hand. Thank you. Bob it. So this is a this one seems like a little bit of an outlier to me. I'm sorry to gum up the works here. But so we're I know that this property is in a historic district, but what category of CPA funding did this one fall under? Sorry?

This would count as a historic resource.

Okay. And the committee feels, I know it's in the district, but the committee feels that this structure is a historic structure?

It's not the committee. The state law, chapter 44b, requires that if a building is not on the state register of historic places, the local historical commission must make a determination that it is important for purposes of history, architecture, archeology, or culture. So all of the folks that come to us under the category of historic, unless they are individually listed on the state register, we tell them to go off to the Springfield Historical Commission to get a determination. And indeed, the Springfield Historical Commission voted a determination that the building is significant. And then it's not up for the committee to determine that the commission was wrong.

You guys do terrific work. I can't. thank the volunteerism and the hard work and the difficult decisions that go into this. So I don't mean to diminish that in any regard. I hold you in the highest of esteem, especially the rest of your group and the work that they do. But for me, a roof on a structure built in 1955 that people aren't going to see because it's not a part of the facade or otherwise a part of the exterior of the facility that you would see from Mulberry Street or the surrounding historic district doesn't seem to square with me in the overall spirit and intent of funding historic projects. So I'll be honest, I don't really like this one, but I understand that the Historic Commission has decided it's a historic resource and appreciate your diligence in making these difficult decisions. at the, so Madam President, so that I can, so that I can voice my, so I can at the appropriate time voice my opposition in the form of my vote, I'd ask that this one also be separated from the rest of them, please.

Thank you. So now I have decided we're gonna vote on all of these individually.

That's fine too.

I changed my position as the meeting goes along. So we're gonna vote on each of these individually because there could be more opposition as we go along. So we're gonna change the format just a bit.

Thank you.

With that being said, should we go back up to the Nathan bill? Pickleball, tennis court. Is that person okay? You need water?

Okay.

Okay. We're gonna get you some water. One moment, council. Ready? Clerk, please read item number four. Counsel Davila.

Thank you, Madam President. Just a point of clarification. I agree with you. But just shouldn't we, unless I missed something, start voting on two down?

Should we start voting one by one? Okay, let's start. One moment. Let's start voting one by one on what we've heard. We're going to go back down. You don't have to restate the ones that we've heard, but we're going to vote individually and then move it along. I think that's the better format because there's questions, oppositions on each individual one. I was trying to get it so we can vote all in one lump sum, but that's not going to happen. So let's vote on the ones we talked about based on Council Davila's recommendation, and then we'll just continue down the line. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. on item number two.

On item two, which is the CPC down payment assistance in the amount of 300,000, Councillor Santanello.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Martin. Yes. Yes, Councillor Perez. Yes. Yes, Councillor Brown.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Govan. Yes. Yes, Councillor Walsh. Yes. Yes, Councillor Hurst.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Davila.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Fenton.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Click-Bruce.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Whitfield.

Yes. Yes. Item approved.

Item three is the CPC Nahorniak Park Pickleball and Tennis Courts in the amount of $300,000.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Councillor Santanello. Yes. Yes, Councillor Martin. Yes. Yes, Councillor Perez. Yes. Yes. Yes, Councilor Brown.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Govan. Yes. Yes, Councilor Walsh.

Yes.

Yes. Yes, Councilor Hurst.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Davila. Yes. Yes, Councilor Fenton. Yes. Yes, Councilor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Klick-Bruce. Yes. Yes, Councilor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Whitfield.

Yes.

Yes. Next item.

Next item we need to discuss.

Item number four, which is a Nathan bill pickleball and tennis courts in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars Okay, so this is Renovation of tennis courts at Nathan bill and the conversion of one tennis court to numerous Pickleball courts. It's an application that came to us through the neighborhood of civic association and parks buildings and recreational management we're recommending 300,000 and that will come from 25,000 590 from the recreation reserve and the remainder from the undesignated reserve Thank You madam president and Bob thank you for the hard work that you guys do and in

and the CPA. And I'm really grateful for some help at Nathan Bill Park and in Ward 7. But I'm really just curious as to how you guys came across pickleball courts. I've heard of several other things as it relates to Nathan Bill Park from the Civic Association particularly that I felt like was much more on their radar. Improving like the walking trail that already exists there, creating like an ADA compliant ramp, upgrade to the playground equipment, installing a gate. And forgive me for my ignorance, as I might not know the process as being the freshman counselor here, but I'm just, how has that come down to pickleball courts?

That's what the neighborhood in conjunction with Parks, Buildings and Recreational Management asked for in their application. And so we granted, we voted to recommend their application to you. um so they made obviously they made some sort of decision as to what they were asking for this year last year they asked for a larger variety of things to be done and they were not one of the recommended projects but this year they asked for just pickleball and tennis and that's what we voted to recommend right because i i was on the civic association that for that first round was like a hundred thousand dollars and that

assortment of things that you had suggested. I've just, if all of that fell into a $100,000 budget, and then this, pickleball courts for $300,000, I'm just surprised that that came forward. So my next question to you is, I know that I believe to qualify for CPA, Grants certain neighborhoods is there like a financial or like an economic threshold that you can't exceed to get the grant No, you're you may be thinking of community development block grant money.

Yeah, that's restricted to lower-income neighborhoods CPA does not have income requirements for historic resources for open and recreational spaces. They can go anywhere. When it comes to community housing, the state law defines community housing as for households that are under 100% of area median income. But so for recreation, it can go anywhere. And I think one of the draws of CPA is those neighborhoods that are not eligible for CDBG money can come to CPA.

So what would the likelihood be if the Civic Association came back next year with a request like that, given that we've just received the $300,000 this year?

There are no guarantees, Councillor. I mean, it all is based on what's the pool next year. Clearly, there are times that we have funded up at Myrtle Street Playground. One year we funded a children's playground, and then this year we're recommending fitness equipment. So there certainly are neighborhoods that have come back

over several years um to get other things done but i can't guarantee what the likelihood of being recommended is okay because i just again i was a part of that hundred thousand dollar grant request a couple years ago and to not get that but then 300 000 for pickleball i was just caught my eye you know i was surprised that

Yeah, so Karen Lee, our administrator, says you may have, because I think you said $100,000? Yeah. That was not CPA. She thinks that was the ARPA money that every neighborhood council got $100,000 to spend however they wanted. That ain't us.

Okay. All right. No, so I'll vote in favor of that, but I appreciate the clarification, Bob. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Martin. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

On approval of item number four, Councilor Santanello.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Martin.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Perez. Yes. Yes, Councilor Brown.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Govan. Yes. Yes, Councilor Walsh. Yes. Yes, Councilor Hurst.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Davila. Yes. Yes. Counselor Fenton.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Whitfield.

Yes. Item approved. Madam clerk, please call the roll on. What item are we on? Five. Item number five.

Item five is historic home restoration program in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Sorry, Councillor Fenton.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Click-Bruce.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Whitfield.

Yes. Item approved. Madam Clerk, please call the roll on seven and eight together.

On items seven and eight, which is Old First Church exterior restoration and the gun block stabilization and exterior restoration, each in the amount of $300,000, Councillor Santanello.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Martin.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Perez. Yes. Yes. Counselor Brown. Counselor Brown.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Govan. Yes. Yes. Counselor Walsh. Yes. Yes. Counselor Hurst.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Davila.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Fenton.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Click-Bruce.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Edwards. Yes.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Whitfield.

Yes, items approved. Discussion on item nine.

Item nine, Councillor... Fenton, did you want to say anything else?

No, I said my piece. You said what... Councillor Govan.

I'm sorry, point of order. We didn't do number seven on our list? Are we going to do that, or did we already do it?

We just voted on six and seven. Oh, we did vote on both of them? We just voted on seven and four. and eight together.

Really? Yes.

Where was I?

No, sir.

Which was number six. Yeah. Yeah. And so the next item would be the Mulberry house roof replacement on approval for 200,000 councilor Santanello.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Martin?

No.

No. Counselor Perez? Yes. Yes. Counselor Brown?

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Govan? Yes. Yes. Counselor Walsh? Yes. Yes. Counselor Hurst?

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Davila? Yes. Yes. Counselor Fenton?

No.

No. Counselor Delgado?

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Klick-Bruce?

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Woodfield.

Yes, item approved. Madam Clerk, please call the roll on the next, I mean, not the roll, we got to discuss the next item.

Item 10 is this straight way to heaven for Garfield Street exterior restoration in the amount of $185,500.

This is the former First Park Memorial Baptist Church, which is part of the Forest Park Heights Historic District. It's now under the care of a different congregation, and there are a variety of exterior deterioration items that need to be remedied, and we are recommending 185,500 from the undesignated reserve.

Councilors? Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

An approval. Councilor Santanello?

Yes.

Yes. Councilor Martin?

Yes.

Yes. Councilor Perez? Yes. Yes. Councilor Brown?

Yes.

Yes. Councilor Govan? Yes. Yes. Councilor Walsh? Yes. Yes. Councilor Hurst?

Yes.

Yes. Councilor Davila?

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Fenton.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Click-Bruce.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes. Counselor Whitfield.

Yes. Item approved. Madam Clerk, next item.

The next item is 52 Summoner Stained Glass Restoration and Sprinkler Study in the amount of $153,810.00.

This is the former Faith United Church on Sumner Avenue at the corner of Fort Pleasant, and it is now functioning as a performing arts center. And last year, they had asked for help with the windows, and we made a partial recommendation to you, which you granted. and they returned again this year with a request to complete the renovation, the repairs to the leaded glass windows in what is now the performance space. And so we are recommending that as well as a small amount which will be to put together a plan for a fire suppression system in the performance space.

Any, Councilor Govan. Thank you, Madam President. Bob, so I understand the glass restoration, the historic piece of it, but the sprinkler study, would that be historic or? How are we justifying that?

That falls under the preservation of a historic resource. And in fact, oh, I'm gonna say six years ago, we recommended and you granted money to the drama studio on Oakland Street to do things to upgrade their fire suppression system.

Okay. OK, thank you for that. And I just want to this is one of my favorite taxes to pay. So I'm really glad that we're doing this. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Council. Council.

Thank you, Madam President. I was going to compliment you, Bob, and your team again for this project. This is an icon in my district in Forest Park. And I'm very glad that we're putting a little effort and time and effort into this. to restore and keep this iconic building in Forest Park. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Councillor Sancinello. Just a quick question. This is a performing arts facility.

So what used to be the sanctuary is for performing arts. They have had concerts there put on by musicians from the Springfield Symphony. They've formed a community theater group that has put on several plays here. And it's available, they also program, let's call it more popular music there.

I believe I read an article in the Springfield paper about this facility. What happened to the Bing Theater?

Well, other than to say that I think they gave up the ghost and sold it, and it's now a child daycare center, I don't know the specifics. But they, in a sense, have taken up where the Bing stopped. producer of the events at the Bing, now does some things at Trinity United Methodist Church. So there's still programming going on, but not physically at the Bing Theater.

So did your organization ever give the Bing Theater money?

No, I think the being the being has never put in an application to us and therefore it's not something that's ever come before you either. OK, thank you.

Thank you. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

On approval, Councillor Santanello.

Yes.

Yes. Councillor Martin.

Yes.

Yes. Councillor Perez. Yes. Yes. Councillor Brown.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Govan. Yes. Yes, Councillor Walsh. Yes. Yes. Yes, Councillor Hurst.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Davila.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Fenton.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Klick-Bruce.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Whitfield.

Yes. Item approved. Madam Clerk, next item.

Item 12 is the Myrtle Street Park Fitness Course in the amount of $150,000.00.

All right, so this is for fitness equipment to be installed at Myrtle Street. They had a more extensive application, but by the time we were considering this project, we were running out of money. So this is a partial recommendation of $150,000 for the fitness equipment, and obviously they will be probably returning to us next year to get the other things they asked for.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

On approval, Councilor Santanello.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Martin.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Perez. Yes. Yes, Councilor Brown.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Govan. Yes. Yes, Councilor Walsh. Yes. Yes, Councilor Hurst.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Dopula. Yes. Yes, Councillor Fenton.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Click-Bruce.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Whitfield. Yes.

Item approved. Madam Clerk, next item.

The next item is the Rainville and New Court Terrace Exterior Renovation in the amount of $100,000.

The Rainville and New Court Terrace is a group of four older apartment buildings up on Byers Street that currently serve as affordable housing. And their owners, Wayfinders, is planning a multi-million dollar renovation. And they asked us for the maximum amount, but we are recommending $100,000. 17-100 from the Housing Reserve and the rest from the Undesignated Reserve.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Oh, Council Fenton.

I'm going to recuse from this one. I'm not 100% sure, but I think my law firm is involved in this project somehow, so I'm going to abstain.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Unapproval, Councillor Santanello. Yes, Councillor Martin. Yes, Councillor Perez. Yes. Yes, Councillor Brown.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Govan. Yes. Yes, Councillor Walsh. Yes. Yes, Councillor Hurst.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Davila. Yes. Yes, Councillor Fenton recused. Councillor Delgado.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Click-Bruce.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Edwards.

Yes.

Yes, Councilor Whitfield.

Yes. Item approved. Madam Clerk, next item.

Item 14 is Bella Apartments Redevelopment of Wrightwood School in the amount of $100,000.

So this is the redevelopment of the now closed Brightwood School to be renovated for affordable housing and to also build a new wing that will also be affordable housing. It is a multi-million dollar project and they had once again asked us for the max 300 but we are recommending 100,000. from the undesignated reserve.

Councillor Hurst.

I'm just going to recuse from this one as well. For the same reason.

Thank you, Madam President. Bob, if I recall correctly, for this particular project, was the... The proponents concerned with funding, why am I getting my projects confused? I could swear that somebody had any concern with whether or not they were going to secure the project.

Well, certainly when the finance committee met, they were present remotely on that meeting, and they were disappointed that... The committee had only recommended 100,000 when they had asked for 300,000, and I reminded the committee that the city council has the right to approve as recommended, to approve with less funding than recommended or not to approve, but they didn't have the ability to approve. increase the recommendation and we as the committee had spent all the money so it wasn't like we could go back and reconsider and come up with additional money so they and then they asked if they could return next year and we said yeah absolutely right that is that is it's a good project it is a big price tag thirty nine point six million dollars but if for whatever reason they don't secure the funding

What happens with this $100,000 if we approve it?

The money does not get contracted until they are the owners of the building. At this point, the city, this is surplus city property. There must have been a request for proposal process. They were chosen. The mayor has designated them. The city will not transfer the property until they have all of their financial ducks lined up. So if indeed they fail to get all of the financing they need, the city will not be transferring the property and we will not be having a contract with them. And at some point, the committee will vote to terminate the commitment and the money flows back into whatever pot it came from.

If that was the case, Bob, do you guys will vote amongst yourself or do you come back to us?

Say that again, please.

If that was the case, I hope not, but if that was the case and you guys recommend to rescind, do you do that yourself internally or do we have to take a vote to rescind that vote? No, we do that ourselves. So you feel pretty comfortable that we can move forward with this and we're not going to lose the money?

There will certainly not be any loss of money because the money will not be contracted with this entity if they do not go forward with the project.

I understand.

And just a reminder, councillors, for any of these non-municipal grantees, they don't get the money up front. They do the work, give us canceled checks and receipted bills, and then we reimburse them.

All right. Thank you, Bob. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilor Hurst.

Thank you, Madam President. I have some serious concerns about this particular project. And the problem I'm having is that the more information I receive, the more questions I end up having. And so I'll start by telling you what it is that I discovered and and what I know from the information I've received. And then I'll conclude with some questions that still remain, all of which should substantiate why this item ought to go to committee, at the very least, and probably should be voted down. So, Madam President, I do know that we're being asked to approve $100,000 for a project that New North Citizens Council is going to benefit directly from. I also know that our clerk has a financial interest in us approving this money as the President of the Board of Directors for the New North Citizens Council. I also know that she has yet to disclose to the City Council anyway, and I'm probably assuming didn't disclose to those reviewing the application that she has a direct connection to New North Citizens Council as Board President. And if she did happen to file disclosure, I haven't and I'm sure my colleagues haven't been made aware of it. I know she sets the agenda and she set this agenda with the item on it knowing that she stands to benefit from its passage and thus far has yet to recuse herself as the clerk for this item that she stands to benefit from. I also know that according to the application for this item, Madam President, that the clerk, as the president of the Board of Directors for the New North Citizens Council, has already benefited from a commitment of $400,000 and City of Springfield Home Funding. They also have benefited from a commitment from the City of Springfield and $500,000 of ARPA funding. I also was able to find out and made aware of that a company by the name of Brightwood Elderly Living Loving Assistance LLC went before the Zoning Board of Appeals in October of 2025 and requested waivers from the requirements of the Springfield Zoning Board of Appeals so that they could redevelop and add on to the existing building for the use of affordable senior housing apartment building at the same address that we are set to approve for $100,000 in funding. And when I went a little further, Madam President, and looked up that company on the Secretary of State's website, it had our clerk as one of the managers, which would mean that she is benefiting not just as president of the board, but also as a partner of an LLC that is poised to buy city-owned property. Needless to say, our city clerk and election commissioner is intimately entangled in this project, raising serious questions as She stands to benefit from close to a million dollars in city funding and It raises serious questions to me Like did she disclose her involvement to the city? Did the city know She had an interest in it and ignored it was there an RFP for this property and if so were there inside dealings to ensure our clerk won the bid? How did the city commit 900K to a project knowing that our clerk stood to benefit? And there are a ton of other questions that if I had the time, I think would be relevant to be asked. But since I don't have the time, I'm asking for more time in that we send this to committee, I'm also asking, or going to ask, and will be requesting a legal opinion from our solicitor as to the obvious ethical violations, but also to any potential criminal violations. This, Madam President, reeks of corruption, and I think for transparency purposes, it would behoove this city council not to vote on this particular property tonight, or if we do vote, like I said previously, to vote it down. But there is no doubt that we need some legal counsel in terms of what has transpired. And, you know, I know our solicitor has gotten good at Reporting things to the athletes Commission and so I'd imagine that he ought to be able to handle Something like this and give us a detailed analysis as to what the potential violations are and What it is that we should do as a body, but what we can't do is approve this tonight Thank You madam president Is that a motion to committee? That is a motion to commit.

Is there a second? I Motion to committee from Councillor Hurst, seconded by Councillor Perez. Any discussion on the motion? Councillor Davila.

Thank you, Madame President. I will admit to you that my beloved colleague laid a lot of stuff on the table. I don't know to the extent, the first time that I hear any of this, myself, the one comment that I have, well, two comments. From what I know, I think that it is public knowledge that the Madame Clerk does sit on the board of the Northern Citizen Council. Now, why do I say that? I'm assuming that you all read the paper. I hope you do. It was blasted over the paper that she was the interim president, chairman, chairwoman of the board after an incident at the New York Citizen Council. So I don't know what the legal distinction, but to me, that's public knowledge once it gets printed on the paper. That's my perspective how it's read. And look, we all disagree. We all have our own opinion. We all think the world should be one way. And through all the turmoil that this council has been through recently, nobody that I'm aware of has used the word that was just used now. Corruption. Nobody has used the word here in this chamber, corruption. I don't know what has happened outside. But in this chamber, nobody has used the word corruption. And I do take concern with that. We do need to find out, and obviously, I'm assuming it's a good local meeting. I'm just putting that out there. Don't spit up in the air when it comes back to, what's that? Don't spit up in the air when it comes back and hit you. So I'm making that statement that I do take concern with that, that our colleague has been accused of corruption. Thank you.

Madam.

Hold on. I have Councillor Walsh, followed by Councillor Perez, Hands are up before the rest of the councilors. Councilor Walsh, you have the floor followed by Councilor Perez.

Thank you, Madam President.

On the motion.

On the motion. I'm going to vote to support the motion just because we need to clear the air. But I want to say it first, that I have total confidence in our city clerk and council. do not think a lot of these concerns that have been raised are valid, but I think we have to have the council look like they're doing the right thing, send it to committee. I have a hundred percent confidence in our city clerk, her ethics and her honesty. And I want to make that statement.

Thank you, Councilor Walsh, Councilor Perez.

I second it because, I mean, what has been raised, it needs to be assessed and then have a thorough report on the matter. That's why I second it to committee. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilor Perez. Councilor Santanello.

Yeah, just briefly, I agree with Councilor Davila. Those are strong words, criminal. and corrupt, and to say that in front of everyone live on TV, I hope that can be backed up. Thank you. Councilor Govan.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank Councilor Hurst for bringing this to light. I don't read the paper. because there's so much negativity in there. I hear the news from the people who report it to me. Sometimes they send me articles and things like that. So this is the first, actually this morning, honestly, I got a call from someone who expressed to me that our clerk was the president of the New North Citizens Council Board. So I didn't know that until this morning. So I agree that we should... SENATE'S COMMITTEE SO WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MY OLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEVELOPED AND TURNED INTO APARTMENTS, ALTHOUGH THE QUESTIONS I THINK NEED TO BE ANSWERED SINCE THE ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GOVAN, COUNCILOR MARTIN, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILOR BROWN.

Thank you, Madam President. And I'm going to come to the defense of the clerk like I have for other members of this chamber, and I would be happy to do it again. But Madam Clerk has been an outstanding public servant of the city. I want to echo a lot of the sentiment that was made by Councilwoman Walsh. I have full confidence in her as a person and as a public servant. And I know any discrepancy, if it is to exist, will be quickly remedied. And again, I stand by her 100%.

Thank you, Councilor Martin. Councilor Brown.

Thank you, Madam President. I kind of, I would have to concur with my colleague, Councilor Walsh. I would want to see it in committee just to at least, um, clear up some of the allegations. Um, but I have total faith in our clerk. Um, I believe she does an excellent job. Um, so I would just still just to, to, to clear the air of, uh, just some serious allegations, but, um, just like my colleague counselor Walsh, I, I definitely, um, do believe in our clerk. I think she does an excellent job, and I believe that she has high standards and morals. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Brown. Councillor Delgado.

Thank you. I just want to be put on the record as well, because those are really serious allegations, and I think we are doing the proper thing in reviewing it. But I get this feeling that this year is like the years of just allegations all the way around. And I think before we do anything like that, we should just have the proper reviews. So I thank Councilor Davila for flagging it first. Thank you, Councilor Hirsch, for bringing it up. But again, these are serious allegations that we're throwing here. And to being the president of a nonprofit organization or asked to be stepped in, I don't know how someone I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO RECUSE OR NOT, BUT THAT IS ONE THING. THE OTHER PIECE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUR PROPER VETTING BEFORE WE PUT THIS OUT PUBLICLY, BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO PUT IT OUT PUBLICLY, BUT YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY SAYING SOMEBODY DID SOMETHING WITHOUT. SO I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE AS WELL IN OUR CITY CLERK. SHE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE, AND SO I HOPE THAT THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE UNFOUNDED, AND THAT'S WHERE I WANTED TO PUT THAT FOR THE RECORD.

Counselor Hearst.

Let me just clarify a couple things from my colleagues and you know I I don't take these things lightly. When I bring them up. I've done a significant amount of research. Because the implications are far reaching. For Mr. Forge, who was in the audience, and I'd imagine will probably write something on this, I want to be very clear as to what it is that I said in case folks missed it. I said potential criminal violations. I said it reeks of corruption. Let the attorney, who has been very quick with his pen lately, do his own due diligence. And let's make sure it's thorough. What I have here is what went before the Zoning Board of Appeals. What I have here is an annual report from 2025 and 2026 that has names on it of individuals who are part of the organization who went before the Zoning Board of Appeals that says manager and lists names. I'm also an attorney. I know something is wrong. I know it's wrong. Now, To the depth of which it is wrong, I'm not sure. But at the very least, somebody's got to look into it. And before we proceed as a body, it would behoove us as an attorney to get in recommendation, a legal recommendation from another attorney. Thank you, Madam President.

I'm going to make a point of information.

One moment. One moment, counselor. One moment. Can we still follow procedures? Because I don't want everybody to start just talking out. Counselor, what is the point of information, please?

Point of information takes precedence. I'm going to make a point of information as a senior member.

Okay, but I cannot hear you because I have an ear infection, so I just want to slow it down a little bit.

All right. Well, let me go as far as I can.

Okay. Now, what is your point of information, counselor?

As a senior member of this council, I am making a point of information to end discussion, vote on the motion to committee before we all say things we regret. and cannot take back. This is getting close to character assassination and the city council rules do not permit that. It is time to call the question.

Well, as the city council president, I'm not calling the question because that was information that was being provided for us to make a decision and to deliberate. the there were points in there that happened to be some information that was researched and it was put out there and nothing else was said everything else was in the defense of our city clerk everything else was in the defense of our city clerk so as the senior member you still cannot overstep the city council president And there was a hand up, there was a hand up, one moment, there was a hand up in the queue that I want to recognize Councilor Brown. I don't know if his hand was put up again or left up from before. Once he says what he would like to say, I will turn the floor back to you and you can make the motion to call the question if that's what you would like to do. Councilor Brown, the floor is yours. I think it's important to do that.

floor. I'll yield the floor. You yield the floor.

Counselor Walsh, are you making a motion to call the question? Yes. Is there a second? Second. Counselor Walsh made the motion to call the question. Seconded by Counselor Edwards. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

On the motion to call the question, Counselor Santanello.

As a senior member, yes.

Yes, Counselor Martin. Yes. Yes, Councillor Perez. Councillor Perez. Yes. Yes, Councillor Brown.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Govan. Yes. Yes, Councillor Walsh. Yes. Yes, Councillor Hurst.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Davila.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Fenton. Away, Councillor Delgado.

Yes.

Sorry, he's recused. Yeah, he's recused from item nine. I mean item 14. Councillor Edwards.

Yes.

Councillor Klick-Bruth.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Edwards. Yes. Yes, Councillor Whitfield. Yes.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll on sending this item to committee.

On sending item 14 to committee, Councillor Santanello.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Martin.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Perez. Yes. Yes, Councillor Brown.

Yes.

Yes, Councillor Govan. Yes. Yes, Councillor Walsh. Yes. Yes, Councillor Hurst.