Nov 03, 2021 City Council

[1. Roll Call.]

[00:00:48]

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: OKAY, SO WE'RE MISSING ONLY GRAD.

[2. Draft unapproved minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council held October 20, 2021.]

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: RICH IS IFFY.

OKAY.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: HE'S NOT FEELING WELL.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: OKAY.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 3.

[3. Post Ida Storm Update.]

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO CAROLYN ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: ABSOLUTE COUNCILWOMAN GODDARD.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: HERE COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: HERE COUNCILMAN MECCA I WILL MARK IS ABSENT, IF HE COMES I WILL NOTE THAT COUNCILWOMAN SOUZA.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: HERE COUNCILMAN STACKS.

YO.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: MAYOR COHN HERE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: WE HAVE THE DRAFT.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: UNAPPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL HELD OCTOBER 20 2021.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: ANY COMMENTS.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: CAROLYN IF ANY COME DIRECTLY TO YOU.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY MR. JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: KEVIN MAY MAY HAVE EMOTION.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I'LL MAKE IT.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: UP SECOND.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: ALL IN FAVOR.

AYE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO THE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: POST IS STORM UPDATE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ACCOMPANIED US IN OUR MEETINGS WITH THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BACK IN 2019.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THOSE MEETINGS RESULTED IN THE FEDERAL INTEREST DETERMINATION THAT WE NOW HAVE, AND THAT WE NOW HAVE TO DECIDE HOW TO USE HOW WE HAVE TO DECIDE HOW TO USE HOW TO USE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: YES.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: A.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: DC IS GOING TO MEET WITH US NEXT WEEK.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND GIVE US DCS THOUGHTS ON.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: WE'RE NOT SURE EITHER CORPS RELATED PROJECTS OR OTHER SORTS OF PROJECTS THAT THEY THINK MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: IN OUR FLOOD MITIGATION EFFORTS SO WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THEN WE HAVE IS, AS MENTIONED BEFORE BEEN WORKING WITH.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF STORM RECOVERY IN TRYING TO RELIES ON OUR NEW YORK RISING GRANT FROM SOME YEARS AGO.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AS, AS NOTED IN PRIOR MEETINGS, THE $3 MILLION GRANT HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY DEPLETED WITH SOFT COSTS AND AS AGAINST RISING PROJECT COSTS AND SO.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THOUGH THE MOUNTAIN ROAD DRAINAGE PROJECT IS BEGINNING OR HAS BEGUN TO THE EXTENT THAT THE STATE HAS PUT UP A SIGN OUT AT THE END OF MIDDLETON ROAD SAYING THAT THE PROJECT HAS BEGUN.

[00:05:07]

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND WE'RE WHERE WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF STORM RECOVERY, AND WE HAVE ASKED OUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO HELP US WITH THAT.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO I MENTIONED THAT THE MILTON ROAD DRAINAGE PROJECT HAS BEGUN AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE GREG TO.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: ON HIS WAY TO TELLING US MORE ABOUT STAFF EFFORTS.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: POST DATA TO DESCRIBE TO US A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THE MILTON ROAD DRAINAGE PROJECT SO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: GOOD EVENING EVERYONE UM THERE'S THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS TO THE MILTON PROJECT AND AS AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: STAGING OF EQUIPMENT HAS ALREADY BEGUN AND CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BEGIN IF IT HASN'T ALREADY BEGUN WILL BEGIN IN THE NEXT IN THE NEXT WEEK.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS TO THE PROJECT, ONE IS A THE INSTALLATION OF A 40 I'M SORRY A 400 FOOT DRAIN LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE END OF MILTON ROAD THROUGH THE HARBOR HOUSE PROPERTY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WITH A NEW DISCHARGE BOW TIE VALVE THAT GOES INTO THE BOAT BASEMENT ITSELF, THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS TO SEPARATE THE CITY'S DRAINAGE OF MILTON ROAD FROM THE DRAINAGE OF THE HARBOR HOUSE PROPERTY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND ISOLATE THE DRAINS FROM THE TITLE BACKWATER THE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IS COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE THE INSTALLATION OF TIDE VALVE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IN THE HERE IN CLEVELAND AVENUE AT THE BOAT BASIN PARKING LOT THAT IT PREVENTS TITLED BACKWATER INTO THE SAME THE CITY'S DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WHAT HAS HAPPENED, HISTORICALLY, IS WHEN WE HAD A HEAVY RAIN, AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN WE WERE HAVING AN INCOMING TIDE OR A HIGH TIDE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THAT LINE WAS OVERWHELMED SO, EVEN THOUGH THE PIPE ITSELF IS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE END OF THE END OF THE ROAD INTO THE HARBOR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THAT DISCHARGE ABOUT OR THAT TITLE VALVE IS WHAT IS GOING TO SAY ELIMINATE BUT CERTAINLY AUGMENT OR PREVENT THE BACKWASH THAT RESULTS IN THE IN THE FLOODING THAT HAPPENS AROUND DEARBORN.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: ALL THE WAY DOWN ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ROAD, SO IT DIDN'T AFFECT WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING DRAIN LINE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I'M NOW IN TERMS OF OTHER ACTIVITY OF THE CITY AND THIS KIND OF GOES BACK TO AN UPDATE I GAVE A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AS WE NOTED, THERE WERE AFTER IT OR DURING IT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 12 NEIGHBORHOODS OR AREAS OF TOWN THAT WERE UNUSUALLY IMPACTED BY THE STORM, AND I SAY UNUSUALLY, THIS WAS NOT COASTAL FLOODING, IT WAS NOT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: BEAVER OR BLIND BROOK RELATED THESE WERE ISOLATED NEIGHBORHOODS OR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN IMPACTED.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THE PROCESS WITH THOSE THOSE 12 AREAS, THE NUMBER ONE IS WE'VE WE'VE GONE TO CAMERA THOSE LINES, TO SEE IF WE CAN UNCOVER ANY EITHER BREAKS OR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YOU KNOW PIPE FAILURES THAT WOULD WOULD HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT AND THAT THAT HAS ALREADY BEGUN HAPPENING, A NUMBER OF THOSE LOCATIONS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE ARE UNDERTAKING SOME SURVEY WORK DONE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME DRAIN LINES THAT EITHER ARE PRIVATE OR NEVER ON THE PUBLIC RECORDS SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND THE THE EXPECTATION IS THAT BY THE FIRST OF JANUARY, IF NOT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE CITY ENGINEER WILL HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT OF ALL 12 OF THOSE LOCATIONS IN TERMS OF A PULMONARY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I WON'T SAY FULL DESIGN, BUT A PLANETARY DESIGN OF THE OF THE ISSUE, AS WELL AS WHAT THE POSSIBLE WE'RE MEDIATIONS WILL BE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I CAN'T TELL YOU, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY WITH THAT COST OF THAT IS GOING TO BE A MILLION DOLLARS OR $30 MILLION, BUT STEP NUMBER ONE IS TAKING EACH OF THOSE LOCATIONS AND COMING UP WITH WHAT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WHAT POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES THERE ARE, IF THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES, I CAN TELL YOU IN A COUPLE OF THE LOCATIONS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE THE SOLUTION COULD BE A VERY, VERY LENGTHY ROCK CUT OF GREAT DEPTHS, WHICH IS WE'LL.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: LOOK AT THE COST IS PRETTY PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SO I'M NOT UNFORTUNATE I'M NOT HERE REPORT THAT WE HAVE A SOLUTION FOR ALL OF THESE THAT'S COST EFFECTIVE, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT EACH OF THOSE LOCATIONS IS REVIEWED.

[00:10:08]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE HAVE, AS PART OF OUR REGULAR STORE IN PREPARATION, WE ARE CHECKING ALL OF THOSE DRAINS AHEAD OF EVERY STORM OR EVERY MAJOR EVENT WE DID THAT 10 DAYS AGO WITH THE WITH A NOR'EASTER.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: A CREW OF APPROXIMATELY SIX PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY SERVICING ALL OF THE DRAINS CATCH CATCH BASINS IN THE NORMAL SPOTS, AS WELL AS NOW IN THESE ADDITIONAL 12 NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT THAT IS ALREADY THAT IS ALREADY TAKING PLACE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AT LAST COUNT, I THINK WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY KRISTEN IS IT 12 TO 14 HOUSE RAISINGS THAT ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DESIGN AND PROCESS WITH THE LAND NEW SPORT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THAT IS UNDERWAY, REMINDING EVERYONE AGAIN ALL OF THE BUILDING PERMIT FEES BY THIS COUNCIL WERE WERE WADE THROUGH MARCH OF NEXT YEAR THAT'S, NOT JUST FOR HOUSE REASONS BUT THAT'S ALSO FOR ANY SORT OF STORM RELATED DAMAGE REPAIRS OR REMEDIATION.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND I THINK THAT'S IT FOR THE MOMENT.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: I JUST LIKE TO CHECK BACK WITH YOU ON ONE THING GREG.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: WHEN YOU WERE DESCRIBING THE MILTON ROAD DRAINAGE PROJECT, YOU SPOKE ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF MILTON HARBOR HOUSE, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO A MILTON AND HEWLETT ASPECT TO IT IS, IS THAT INCORRECT.

[4. Thanks to Lt. Anfuso.]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE HUMAN ASPECT WELL THAT'S I MEAN THAT'S THE HUGE AVENUE WAS WHERE THE TITLE BACKWATER VALVE IS GOING TO BE SO THAT THE POINT OF ALL THAT IS THAT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE FLOODING THAT'S HAPPENING IS IS CAUSED BY THAT DRAINAGE LINE, BUT WE WERE THE VALVE ITSELF IS GOING TO BE A HUGE WHICH IS PREVENTING THE BACK THE BACKWATER ARE THEY YOU KNOW BACKWASH COMING FROM THE HARBOR.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO THE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: FLOODING THAT WE FREQUENTLY HAVE SEEN.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: BETWEEN THE BOAT BASIN AND MILTON POINT PROVISIONS FORMERLY DUCK DAILY THAT ST FLOODING, SHOULD BE USED BY THIS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YEAH THAT'S THE THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT THAT THE WHAT I WAS MENTIONING IN TERMS OF THE CAPACITY OF THAT DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS IMPACTED DURING HIGH TIDES AND SO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE THE REASON THAT YOU GET BACK UP OR I'M TOLD I'M NOT THE ENGINEER, THE REASON WE'RE GETTING BACK UP IN THAT AREA.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IS BECAUSE THAT ENTIRE DRAINAGE IS OVERWHELMED AND IT'S FURTHER EXACERBATED WHEN WE HAVE A HIGH TIDE SO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: EVEN THOUGH THE LINE ITSELF IS GOING TO GO AT THE END OF MILTON THROUGH THE HARBOR HOUSE PROPERTY THERE'S ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS BEING DONE FURTHER UP THE LINE TO COMPLETE THE TO ELIMINATE THAT OR TO REDUCE THAT.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: OKAY, SO, THEN WE HAVE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THIS CURIOUSLY NAMED ITEM THANKS TO LIEUTENANT AND FIELDS SO AND THIS THIS ITEM IS IS TO CURE AN OVERSIGHT OF MINE, AND THAT IS WHEN I ATTENDED.

[5. Presentation of the proposed FY 2022 Budget by the City Manager.]

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND THAT, OF COURSE, BEGAN IN THE LATE SPRING AND WENT THROUGH THE SUMMER AND INTO THE FALL AND IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, LIEUTENANT AND FEW SO.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: ALONG WITH WHATEVER OTHER CHALLENGES, HE MAY HAVE FACED HAD BOTH HENRI AND IDA AND IN THE COURSE OF IDA I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH HIM FREQUENTLY AND GOT TO SEE CLOSE UP WHAT A VERY GOOD JOB, HE WAS DOING.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND HE, OF COURSE, WAS DOING THAT VERY GOOD JOB IN CONCERT WITH.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: FIRE CAPTAIN DWYER AND RYAN COIN OF DEEP W BUT IN LIEUTENANT AND FEW SERVES CASE HE HAD JUST STEPPED UP TO A NEW TEMPORARY ROLE AND HE HE WAS HE WAS PERFORMING ADMIRABLY AND REALLY TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND SO I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK HIM.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: GREG THE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: PRESENTATION PLEASE OF THE 2022 BUDGET GREG AND JOE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I'M GOING TO KICK THIS OFF WITH A FEW MINUTES TO COMMENTS AND THEN JOE WILL COVER A POWERPOINT I'LL, LET ME JUST SAY THIS IS ALL THIS MATERIAL IS HAS BEEN POSTED TO THE WEBSITE.

[00:15:04]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: BY THE CITY CHARTER, THE MANAGER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO THE COUNCIL TENTATIVE BUDGET EACH NOVEMBER.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: ALONG WITH THE BUDGET, THE MANAGERS REQUIRED TO OUTLINE THE PROPOSED FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR THE CITY FOR THE ENSUING YEAR DESCRIBING THE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE TENTATIVE BUDGET AND INDICATING THE MAJOR CHANGES FROM THE CURRENT YEAR, ALONG WITH THOSE THAT RATIONALE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THIS OVERVIEW, ALONG WITH JOE'S PRESENTATION TONIGHT IN THE MATERIALS THAT ARE ON THE WEBSITE MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: FURTHERMORE, THIS COLLECTIVE INFORMATION IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE ALL THE RESIDENTS WITH A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WITH THIS TENTATIVE BUDGET, THE CITY FINDS ITSELF AND THEN HISTORICALLY STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION WITH THIS BUDGET, THIS PROPOSED BUDGET TONIGHT I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: ONE THAT NUMBER ONE MAINTAINS THE COUNCIL'S 10% POLICY FOR THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND, SECONDLY TRANSFERS AND ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: PROVIDES FUNDING OF 1.85 MILLION FOR ROAD RESURFACING FOR NEXT YEAR BEGINS A LONG TERM FLEET MANAGEMENT PLAN AND PROVIDES THE REQUIRED ANNUAL FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S SAVE THE SOUND SETTLEMENT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: ALL THIS IS DONE WITH A TAX CAP COMPLYING INCREASE OF 1.58%.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AS WE ALL RECALL RESULTS IN THE 21 PROPOSED BUDGET WERE LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE DYNAMIC EVENTS SURROUNDING THE PANDEMIC.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: ARE CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING, COUPLED WITH THE ABILITY OF STAFF TO ALTER AND REDUCE SPENDING AND THE COUNCIL'S WILLINGNESS TO REPOSITION SHORT TERM PRIORITIES HAS LEFT US IN AN EXCELLENT FINANCIAL POSITION FOR 22 WITH THIS BUDGET, WE LOOK TO AND EXPECT A MORE NORMALIZED YEAR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IN ADDITION TO NORMAL OPERATIONS AND THE REGULAR DELIVERY OF SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY, THIS COUNCIL IS IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF AREAS FOR REINVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: SIMILAR TO RECENT YEARS CAREFUL THOUGHT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO MAXIMIZING OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO MEET THIS GOAL.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I EXPECT THE CITY WILL NEED TO BORROW IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2022 IN ORDER TO FUND THIS PLAN, THIS BORROWING A COMPANY BY THE SELF FUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS RESERVE FUND AND CONFIRM GRANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THE LARGEST CAPITAL PROGRAM IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: ON A SOUR NOTE THIS PROPOSED BUDGET AND MY RECOMMENDED USE OF FUN BALANCE BEGINS TO ADDRESS A LONGSTANDING SHORTFALL AND PLANNING AND FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S VEHICLE FLEET.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WITH APPROXIMATELY 150 CITY VEHICLES, RANGING FROM PARKING ENFORCEMENT CARS TO FIRE DEPARTMENT APPARATUS AND PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT, THE CITY IS LONG OVERDUE AND CREATING THE FLEET PLAN.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: BEFORE I GET INTO THE MAJOR CITY FUNDS, I WANT TO KNOW, THREE SPECIFIC AREAS OF FOCUS IN THIS BUDGET, IN TERMS OF OUR ASSUMPTIONS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: NUMBER ONE STAFFING REPRESENTING 63% OF THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET STAFFING IS A CONTINUOUS FOCUS AND.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE EXPERIENCED A LARGE NUMBER OF RETIREMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AS A RESULT, WE ARE EXPECTING TO A TO INCUR SOME ADDITIONAL OVERTIME EXPENSES IN 2022 AS WE HIRE NEW OFFICERS AND THEY UNDERGO THE REQUIRED TRAINING AND ATTENDANCE AND THE FIRE AND POLICE ACADEMY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WITH THE HIRING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMISSIONER, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS, THERE ARE NO INTERIM OR ACTING POSITIONS IN THE CITY FOR THE SENIOR STAFF ON THE ONLY REMAIN HIGHER IS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, I EXPECT THIS POSITION WILL BE FILLED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IN THIS BUDGET I'M INCLUDING TO MOVE POSITIONS THAT HAVE AN ASSISTANT CITY PLANNER AND AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE IN IN THE IT DEPARTMENT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WITH THE EVER GROWING REGULATORY DEMANDS, COUPLED WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF LAND USE PROJECTS ARE PLANNING DEPARTMENT MUST BE STAFFED ACCORDINGLY SIMILARLY, THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND EVOLVE WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AND THE STAFF MUST GROW IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: SECOND, TO FOCUS ON SALES AND USE TAXES SALES AND USE TAXES ARE KEY COMPONENT OF THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET, REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 9% OF TOTAL REVENUES IN FORECASTING SALES TAXES FOR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE CHANGE IN THE COUNTY TAX RATE, COMBINED WITH THE UNKNOWN IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC CAUSED US TO BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY FOR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE'RE NOW MORE COMFORTABLE BUDGETING BASED UPON A NORMALIZED YEAR THE PROPOSED 22 BUDGET ASSUMES $3.8 MILLION IN SALES TAX REVENUES UP FROM 3.2 MILLION IN.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: FOR THE 2021 BUDGET AND IN LINE WITH THE PROJECTED 21 ACTUAL RESULTS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND FINALLY FEES AND PERMITS FEES DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY WERE HEAVILY IMPACTED IN 2020 BY THE BY THE PANDEMIC.

[00:20:04]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: FOR THE PROPOSED 22 BUDGET WE'RE PROJECTING THAT FEES AND PERMITS WILL FULLY RECOVER, AS A RESULT, THE PERMITS AND THE AND THE FEES AND PERMITS BUDGETED ARE UP $390,000 VERSUS THE 21 BUDGET AND IN LINE WITH EXPECTED RESULTS FOR THIS YEAR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND FOCUSING ON FOUR PARTS OF THE BUDGET, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE GENERAL FUND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUN BUILDING VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND THE SEWER FUND.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE 2020 GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS $45.9 MILLION 40.6 MILLION OF THIS ARE FROM OPERATING EXPENDITURES UP 1.4 OR 5 MILLION OR 3.7% OVER THE 21 ADOPTED BUDGET.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WITH THIS PROPOSED BUDGET I'M RECOMMENDING THAT A PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND AND ASSIGN FUND BALANCE BE UTILIZED FOR CERTAIN LONG TERM CAPITAL AND VEHICLE RE INVESTMENTS TO REINFORCE ORIENT REEMPHASIZE THESE ARE NON OPERATING USES.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE PROJECT, THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY A MILLION DOLLARS, AT THE END OF 2021.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: BASED UPON THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND POLICY OF MAINTAINING A RESERVE EQUAL TO 10% OF THE PROJECT EXPENSES, THERE IS APPROXIMATELY $3.8 MILLION A SURPLUS FOR 2022 I'M RECOMMENDING THE FOLLOWING TRANSFER AND USE OF SURPLUS MONIES.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: 1.2 MILLION TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND THIS INCLUDES $800 MILLION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONIES WHICH IS THE FIRST HALF OF WHAT WE WERE RECEIVED THERE'LL BE ANOTHER $800,000 RECEIVED, WHICH AGAIN MUST BE USED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS NEXT YEAR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: SECONDLY, 1.6 MILLION FOR THE FOR BUILDING AND VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS THE CITY'S FLEET WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A MINUTE AND THEN FINALLY $700,000 OUT OF THIS SURPLUS WILL GO FOR ST RESURFACING.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND IN RECENT YEARS, THE CITY'S FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE HAS ALLOWED US TO INCREASE THIS FUND, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE CITY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: COUNCIL ACTION IN 2019 THE GENERAL FUND ON ASSIGN FUND BALANCE WAS SET AT 10% OF TOTAL EXPENSES.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: FURTHERMORE, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUN WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE EXCESS GENERAL FUND RESERVE MONIES.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AS A RESULT OF THESE POLICIES, THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE CITY OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, THE GENERAL FUND UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE WILL, IN THE YEAR AT $4.2 MILLION ASSUMING TRANSFERS AND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS BEEN WILL TOTAL 7.15 MILLION.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IN ADDITION TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT SPENDING IN THIS BUDGET, INCLUDING THE US TO FUND BALANCE WE'RE PROVIDING FOR A TOTAL OF 1.85 MILLION OF STREET RESURFACING FOR 2022 SAYS THE CITY HAS SPENT 5.1 MILLION ON STREETS OR AN AVERAGE OF $1.7 MILLION ANNUALLY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE BUILDING AND VEHICLE FUND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOR THE COST OF ACQUIRING AND SERVICING THE CITY'S VEHICLE FLEET, ALONG WITH BUILDING MAINTENANCE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: ALTHOUGH THERE ARE ANNUAL TRANSFERS INTO THIS ACCOUNT EACH YEAR FROM THE BUDGET A LARGE PORTION OF THE FUND BALANCE WAS A ONE TIME OF THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE OF 1037 POST ROAD.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS THE FUND HAS BEEN UTILIZED ANNUALLY TO FUND VEHICLE PURCHASES, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPARATUS OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL REPLACEMENT OF POLICE CARS AND THE PW EQUIPMENT, THE CITY IS REQUIRED, AND WILL BE REQUIRED OVER TIME TO PURCHASE LARGER VEHICLES, THIS INCLUDES FIRE APPARATUS PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE POLICE PATROL MARINE BOAT ETC THESE THESE REPLACEMENTS ARE PREDICTABLE BASED UPON FORECASTS OF USE AND APPRECIATION AND SHOULD BE PROACTIVELY FUNDED.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: BEGINNING WITH THIS BUDGET $400,000 WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE TAX RATE FOR THE CITY'S FLEET THIS AMOUNT SHOULD BE INCREASED OVER TIME FOR THE CITY TO ADEQUATELY PLAN FOR FUTURE NEEDS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND THEN, FINALLY, THE SEWER, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A FUND, IT IS AN OPERATING EXPENSE OF THE CITY THAT AS A RESULT OF THE OF THE SUIT WITH SAVE THE SOUND, WE ARE AGREEING TO INCLUDE IN THE IN THE TAX RATE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AS PART OF THE SAY THE SOUND SORRY SAVE THE SOUND SETTLEMENT, WE AGREE TO CERTAIN SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS AND COMMITTED OURSELVES TO AN ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND MONITORING OF THE SYSTEM.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT FURTHER ACQUIRED THAT THIS COST BEING INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET AS A RESULT, THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL HUNDRED AND 50 $150,000 OF OPERATING EXPENSE FOR THE SEWER SYSTEM AND THAT'S FOR AGAIN FOR SURVEILLANCE AND MAINTENANCE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WITH THIS PROPOSED BUDGET WE RETURN TO A MORE NORMALIZED APPROACH TO REVENUE AND EXPENSES, THERE ARE CLEARLY AREAS SUCH AS RECREATION, WHERE THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC WILL CONTINUE TO BE EFFECT WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT PROGRAMMING.

[00:25:09]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: BECAUSE WE HAVE ACCUMULATED A FUND BALANCE THAT WILL HELP US TO ADDRESS THE LONG DEFERRED CAPITAL PROJECTS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO STAY WITHIN THE TAX CAP, WHILE MAINTAINING CITY SERVICES INVESTED IN CAPITAL PROJECTS AND BEGINNING A FLEET INVESTMENT PROGRAM.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE CITY COMPTROLLER LOOK CRITICALLY AT EVERY ASPECT OF THE CITY OPERATION AND EXPENSES.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE DO NOT TAKE THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TRUSTED US LIGHTLY, THIS BUDGET, LIKE ALL CITY OPERATIONS IS THE RESULT OF THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SENIOR STAFF.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: MY THANKS TO EACH OF THEM FOR THIS WORK AND FOR THE CONSCIENTIOUS WORK EVERY DAY AS AS AS ALWAYS JEFF IS YOU KNOW AND HIS STAFF HAVE DONE THE HEAVY LIFTING TO PRODUCE THIS PLAN.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: JOE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THANK YOU GREG APPRECIATE IT, THANKS TO THE COUNCIL GRADUATIONS EVERYBODY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SO YEAH THIS IS MY 10TH BUDGET AND SPEAKING TO GREG EARLIER IT'S A IT'S A GOOD ONE TO IT'S A GOOD IT'S A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS COMING OUT OF THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR SO WITH THAT SAID WE'LL JUMP INTO THE SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION AND I'LL SHARE MY SCREEN.

OKAY.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: WAS THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING ALONG AT HOME TO WRITE WITH OUR OKAY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: YES, YOU SHOULD HAVE COPIES OF EVERYTHING FROM EARLIER TODAY.

CAN YOU SEE MY SCREEN.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OKAY, SO.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND LOOKING AHEAD, I WILL STOP.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THIS WORKS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SO OKAY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SO FIRST PAGE PRETTY MUCH IS PAGE THREE DASH THREE OF YOUR BUDGET DOCUMENT IT'S THE MAIN PAGE OF THE BUDGET HIGH LEVEL, YOU KNOW CLIFF NOTES VERSION OF THE BUDGET.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THIS IS THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY CALCULATION AND.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: FOR 2022 TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE 45,000,918 OH 919,000 WE HAVE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, OTHER THAN PROPERTY TAXES OF 14,274,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WE ARE USING APPROPRIATE FUND BALANCE OF 4,452,000 WHICH LEAVES US BALANCE IS THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET COMING IN AT 22 TO 22 LEVY IS $27,192,174.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THIS IS BASED ON A TAXABLE ASSESSED EVALUATION OF 140 2,000,470 $6,564.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THIS PROPERTY TAX LEVY IS $636,060 OVER THE 2021 BUDGET A TAX LEVY THAT, ALONG WITH THE TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION TRANSLATES TO A TAX RATE OF $190 95 CENTS PER THOUSAND OF ASSESSED VALUE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND THIS IS THE CALCULATION, I CHOSE YEAR OVER YEAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THE 1.58% TAX RATE INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THE OVERALL LEVY INCREASE WHICH INCLUDES SPECIAL DISTRICTS IS $768,584 YOU'LL KNOW THIS YEAR, THERE IS NO RETIREMENT EXEMPTION AND THERE IS NO CARRYOVER FROM LAST YEAR, SO THIS BUDGET WAS PRETTY TIGHT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO GO OVER IT WAS BASED ON A.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: TAX BASE GROWTH FACTOR OF POINT NINE 1% AND A TAX LEVY GROWTH FACTOR OF 2% SO THAT'S 2.91%, AS YOU CAN SEE OUR INCREASE IS 2.89% SO IT FALLS RIGHT UNDERNEATH THAT AND.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WE ARE UNDER THE CAP BY $9,573 THIS ALSO TRANSLATES THE AVERAGE HOUSE IN THE CITY OF RIGHT AS A $92 INCREASE FOR THE YEAR HOME WITH A MARKET VALUE OF ABOUT $1.9 MILLION.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: I'M MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE THOUGHT AGAIN ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO SHOW HOW WE COME UP WITH THE INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY WHICH I JUST MENTIONED, THE 630 6000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OPERATING EXPENSES ARE UP 1,458,000 OVER LAST YEAR, THIS EXCLUDES OBVIOUSLY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: REVENUES, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY ARE UP ABOUT 1,450,000 SO HIGHER REVENUES OTHER THE PROPERTY TAXES WILL OBVIOUSLY LOWER THE PROPERTY TAXES USED TO FUND BALANCE MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT IS IS UP THIS YEAR, SO WE USE FUND BALANCE FOR THAT SO THAT WILL DROP THE TAX LEVY BY 170 2000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: PROPERTY TAXES TO FUND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES GREG TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER, WE HAVE AN INCREASE THEIR A 400,000 WHICH INCLUDES.

[00:30:09]

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: ALSO $400,000 MORE PROPERTY TAXES TO FUND THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM SO THOSE ITEMS A LITTLE LESS THAN 2% TAX RATE INCREASES RIGHT THERE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR TAX RATE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SO THAT GETS US TO OUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY INCREASE OF 636,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND, AS ALWAYS DO BEFORE WE JUMP INTO 2022 I LIKE TO SEE WHERE WE FINISHED 2021 AND HOW WE GOT TO THIS $808 MILLION FUND BALANCE THAT WE SPOKE OF EARLIER SO WE'LL START ON THE EXPENSE SIDE AND AS IN PRIOR YEARS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THE CITY, WE EXPECT THE CITY TO HAVE A NET NET INCOME THIS YEAR OF $2.5 MILLION.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: GIVEN THE 2021 BUDGET WE PLAN TO USE $1.2 MILLION OR FUND BALANCE ON OPERATING EXPENDITURES CAPITAL ITEMS AND SUCH SO AGAIN.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AS IN YEARS PAST WE'VE OUT DONE OUR BUDGET WE FINISHED THE YEAR ABOUT $3.7 MILLION BETTER THAN BUDGETED.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: FOR AND AGAIN COMBINATION OF EXPENDITURES BEING LOWER THAN BUDGET EIGHT AND REVENUES AGAIN OUTPERFORMING.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THEIR BUDGETS, OBVIOUSLY WE WERE VERY CONSERVATIVE IN 2021 WITH THE REVENUES, GIVEN THE PANDEMIC AND NOT REALLY KNOWING WHERE WE WOULD BE, ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO WITH THAT I'LL JUMP INTO THE EXPENSES FIRST.

YEAR.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND IT'S A LONG LIST OF ITEMS OR HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THEM HERE, THE LARGEST ONE AGAIN SALARIES AND WAGES LESS FIRE OVER TIME AND RECREATION, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT MINUTE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OVERALL, THESE NUMBERS, THE SALARIES ARE DOWN ABOUT $764,000 DUE TO VACANCIES ACROSS NUMEROUS DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT POINTS OF YEAR THERE WERE ADDITIONAL RESIGNATIONS RETIREMENTS CREATING FURTHER POSITIONS THAT REMAINED ON FILM ABOUT PORTIONS OF THE YEAR.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WE HAD DONE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS THIS YEAR ON OUR FINANCIAL STATUS SAYING IT WAS PROJECTING SOME KIND OF SAVINGS, SOME OF THESE POSITIONS REMAINED UNFILLED LONGER THAN WE GET NOTED THAT THE TIME SO AGAIN ADDITIONAL SAVINGS THERE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: FICA EXPENSE KIND OF IS IN CANADA AND CORRELATION WITH THE SALARIES BEING DOWN SO THAT'S ANOTHER 80,000 THEIR.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: FIRE DEPARTMENT OVERTIME UP ABOUT 225,000 OVER BUDGET AGAIN ADDITIONAL RETIREMENTS THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS, WHERE PEOPLE ARE OUT AND USE THOSE SHIFT NEEDS TO BE FILLED WITH OVER TIME AGAIN WE HAVE SOME STORE EMERGENCY RESPONSES AS WELL.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: ONE ITEM TO KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT IS UP THIS YEAR IT IS DOWN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR BY 260 $1,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: BIG ITEM THAT JUMPS OUT IS OUR COMPUTERS AND SYSTEMS, WHICH REPRESENTS THE PURCHASE OF THE POLICE CAD SYSTEM COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONTRACT EARLIER IN THE YEAR CAD STANDS FOR COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH, THANK YOU FOR THAT GREG.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OTHER ITEMS SUCH AS POLICE PATROL EQUIPMENT TENNIS COURT IMPROVEMENTS AND SALT COSTS INCLUDE FUNDS THAT WE ENCUMBERED LAST YEAR IF YOU'LL REMEMBER WE WEREN'T REALLY SURE HOW MUCH MONEY WE'D HAVE DURING THE PORT PORTION OF THE YEAR, SO WE KIND OF.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: INCOME OR DAD MONEY ROLL THOSE FUNDS INTO.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND THE EXPENDITURES ARE TAKING PLACE THIS YEAR.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAIN, MS EXPENSES, THE COUNCIL HAD APPROVED ABOUT A $50,000 INCREASE BASED ON ADDITIONAL NEEDS FROM THE MLS SO THAT WAS FUNDED THROUGH CONTINGENCY AND SO THAT NUMBER IS UP MISCELLANEOUS SERVICE CONTRACTS IS JUST DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: ANOTHER ITEM IS CONSULTANTS, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT 150,000 THAT WAS ORIGINALLY BUDGETED FOR IN 2020 AGAIN NOT SURE IF WE'D BE ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY IN 2020 SO WE ROLLED IT OVER AND PLAN ON USING IT IN 2021 INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBERS ABOUT 20,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: FOR IT SECURITY CONSULTATIONS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: BOTTOM NUMBER HE ACTUALLY GOT SOME MORE STUFF ON THE NEXT PAGE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THE 2021 BUDGET INCLUDED A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF 10% FOR INCREASED EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE HEALTH CARE COSTS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THE ACTUAL RATES FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE WENT UP BY ONLY 3% AND THE 2021 PREMIUM FOR RETIREES WERE FLAT COMPARED TO THE 2020 RATES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SAVINGS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAIN 2020 ON BUDGET CAN CERTAINLY CALL FOR 10% INCREASE IN WORKERS COMPENSATION OVER THE 2020 PREMIUM.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR THE CITY'S EXPERIENCE RATING HAS GONE DOWN SO 2021 PREMIUM WAS ACTUALLY 14% LESS THAN 2020 PREMIUM GIVE US SOME SMALL PAYMENTS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, THE WORKERS COMP NUMBER SHOULD BE ABOUT 230,000 UNDER BUDGET.

[00:35:11]

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SO THAT WAS DOWN AGAIN THE EXPENSES WERE DOWN AS WELL, REGARDING CAMP THEY RAN A LOT OF OTHER GREAT PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, BUT, OVERALL, THE COST THE NET COST WAS UP ABOUT 45,000 COMPARED TO THE BUDGETED AMOUNT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND AGAIN, THERE WILL BE SOME EXPENSES RELATED TO COVE IT AND IDA, SOME OF WHICH WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED RIGHT NOW WE HAVE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: PROJECTED ABOUT $70,000 WORTH OF EXPENSES SOME OF THAT MAY BE RELATED TO FEMA AND REIMBURSEMENT BY FEMA AND WE MAY HAVE MORE COMING BUT WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: UM.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: TENNIS COURTS IN THAT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AH YES, IT IS THESE ARE FUNDS THAT WE HAD ROLLED OVER, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A NUMBER FOR TENNIS COURTS JUST YET, SO YOU WILL BE SUBMITTING SOMETHING AT SOME POINT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN THE NUMBER I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE CAN ALWAYS UPDATE OUR PROJECTIONS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: BUT GENERALLY THE WE ARE, WE ARE INCLUDING THE TOAST FOR REPAIRS IN THE FAMOUS ADMISSION.

OKAY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: ANY QUESTIONS I EXPENSES.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OKAY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: NEXT SLIDE IS THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH IS THE REVENUE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT ALL AT RISK REVENUES THAT WE IDENTIFIED LAST YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OTHER THAN OBVIOUSLY INTEREST INCOME HAVE EXCEEDED ACTUALLY HAVE MET OR EVEN EXCEEDED THE BUDGETED AMOUNTS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: PRETTY MUCH ALL THIS INFORMATION WAS SHARED TWO WEEKS AGO, SO I'LL KIND OF MOVE THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY GREG SPOKE THIS LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT SALES TAX CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING ALLOWED FOR SALES TAX TO CRUSH THE BUDGET EXPECTATIONS BY ABOUT $700,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: GIVEN THAT WE'RE STILL KIND OF IN THE PANDEMIC AND THERE'S A SUPPLY SHORTAGE IN OTHER AREAS I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE FULL EFFECTS OF THIS 1% TAX RATE INCREASE UNTIL 2022 THINGS KIND OF GET BACK TO NORMAL HOPEFULLY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW WE DID BUDGET VERY CONSERVATIVELY LAST YEAR, NOT KNOWING MUCH INFORMATION AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE $700,000 OVER BUDGET AMOUNT THERE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: PARKING METER REVENUE UP ABOUT $100,000 ACTIVITY HAS KIND OF RETURNED TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS, YOU ALSO HAVE THE AFTER SIX PARKING BEING ENFORCED, SO THERE ARE THEY ARE REVENUE FROM THERE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND THAT'S ABOUT 34% FROM LAST YEAR.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AS DISCUSS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BILLING DEPARTMENT REVENUES ABOUT 96% TO THE SAME POINT LAST YEAR WITH TWO MONTHS AGO WE'VE ALREADY HIT OUR BUDGET NUMBER WE CAN EXPECT TO EXCEED THAT BUDGET BY ABOUT $400,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: ANOTHER BIG NUMBER IS THE STATE AID REVENUE SHARING.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAIN, IT WAS SLASHED AND THANKS TO ARPA AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WE RATE WILL BE MADE IN MAY FALL FOR 2020 AND GOING FORWARD, WE WILL GET OUR FULL AMOUNT FOR 2021 BASED ON INFORMATION AT THE TIME WE BUDGETED DOWN 20% SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE LARGE NUMBER THERE AS WELL.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: MORTGAGE TAX, AGAIN, I THINK, COUPLED WITH THE LOW INTEREST RATES, COUPLED WITH THE INCREASED ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSING MARKET AGAIN THAT'S A HUGE NUMBER, THEY ARE $806,000 THAT'S AN ACTUAL NUMBER, WE KNOW THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER AND.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAIN, THAT WILL HELP US LATER ON DURING BUT THE 2022 BUDGET PROCESS AS WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A FEW MINUTES GREG MENTIONED EARLIER, WE SEE THE FIRST HALF OF THE HUNDRED OF THE AMERICAN REST OF PLAQUE FUNDS, WHICH IS $801,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THESE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CAPITAL RESERVE AS THEY ARE STRICTLY FOR CAPITAL USE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AT THIS POINT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ON REVENUES, IF YOU HAVE OR ANY OF THE 2021 RESULTS.

OKAY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK SLIDES BEFORE WE JUMP INTO 2022 THIS IS OUR FUN BALANCE SNAPSHOT OF WHERE IT'S FUN BALANCE FOR OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS 2011 SHOWS THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY COMING OUT OF.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THE GREAT RECESSION, YOU SEE THE FUND BALANCE CLIMBS ABOVE 15% HOWEVER, WE WERE REALLY WE'RE NOT INVESTING IN CAPITAL ITEMS AT THE TIME, SO KIND OF DELAYING SOME OF THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS WHICH IS KIND OF WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE NOW.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: YOU CAN SEE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE WERE YOU KNOW, USING THE UNOFFICIAL 10% AS WHERE WE WANTED TO KEEP THE FUND BALANCE AND THE BALANCE WOULD BE PUT INTO CAPITAL PROJECTS WE.

[00:40:06]

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SORRY BACK HERE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THIS IS A HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: IT'S INCREASED BY ABOUT $7 MILLION IN THE LAST 11 YEARS ABOUT A 3% LEVY INCREASE ANNUALLY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THIS IS THE CHANGE IN THE TAX RATE SINCE 2011.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THERE WAS ONLY FOUR YEARS, WHERE IT WAS ABOVE 3% 2017 OBVIOUSLY 3% OF THAT NUMBER WAS THE INCLUSION OF STREET RESURFACING OF $600,000 ANNUALLY INTO THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, SO WE COULD GUARANTEE OURSELVES THAT THERE ALWAYS BE SOME STREET RESURFACING.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: LAST YEAR, WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EXCESS MONEY IS CARRIED OVER FROM THE PRIOR YEAR BECAUSE WE STAYED UNDER THE CAP AND WE KEPT THE TAX RATE LOW FOR 2021 2020 SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE BIG NUMBER IN 2021 AND AGAIN THIS YEAR 1.58% TAX RATE INCREASE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND THIS IS A TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: BIG THE BIG JUMP HERE IS THE INCLUSION OF 120 OLD POST ROAD IN THE TAX BILL SAYS VALUATION ON THE TAX ROLL.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AS YOU SEE IT KIND OF FLATTENED OUT THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME, WHERE A LOT OF CHALLENGES WE'RE GOING ON, SO VERY MINIMAL INCREASES AND YOU SEE A SPIKE AND KIND OF FLATTENS OUT AGAIN, AND THEN THE BIG JUMP HERE IS THE INCLUSION OF ONE 20TH POST ROAD.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OK SO MOVING ON TO.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: PROPOSED OPERATING EXPENDITURES, THEY ARE UP ABOUT $1.46 MILLION OVER THE ADOPTED EXPENDITURES.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: QUICKLY FOR YOU.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: MAJOR CHANGES TO THESE EXPENDITURES FIRST ONE IS INCREASING SALARIES 840 $2,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL OF THE CONTRACT ID STEP INCREASES UNION CONTRACTS AND THE THREE NEW POSITIONS MENTIONED EARLIER BY GREG.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAIN, VARIOUS NO ASSUMPTIONS, OR YOU KNOW ESTIMATES OF NEXT YEAR, THESE ARE ALL SETTLED CONTRACTS, WE HAVE ONE MORE YEAR OF BUDGET CERTAINTY WHEN IT COMES TO BENEFITS AND SALARIES SO 2023 WILL BE THE SIMILAR SITUATION.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: NEXT, ONE IS INCREASING FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT OF $100,000 THIS IS PART OF A THREE YEAR SCOTT PACK REPLACEMENT PROGRAM HE WILL BE A $100,000 HUNDRED 93,000 AND CONSULTANT COSTS AS WHICH IS RELATED TO ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BILLING DEPARTMENT BY THEIR CONSULTANTS.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: SO ARE THOSE CONSULTANTS FEES FOR ALSO FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS, OR IS THIS SEPARATE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: NOW THIS IS SEPARATE RIGHT NOW FOR THE BILLING DEPARTMENT IF GREG WANTS TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: JUST ASKED ME FAVORITE.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: APPROPRIATE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YEAH IT'S THE SARAH THIS IS THIS IS RELATED TO A COUPLE THINGS ONE IS TO THE NEW SORE LATERAL HOOKUP.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THAT WE'RE NOW GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DO, STARTING IN THE NEW YEAR AND JUST, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE COMPLEXITY OF SOME OF THE OF THE PROJECTS ARE MANY OF THE PRIZES GOING ON IN TOWN REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES AND SO WE'RE JUST WE'RE PROVIDING SOME OF THAT NOT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THAT BASICALLY JUST A SUPPLEMENT AND SUPPORT THE BUILDING INSPECTORS IN THEIR WORK.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND THANK YOU.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OKAY, HEALTH INSURANCE AGAIN WE CONSERVATIVELY BUDGET ABOUT A 10% INCREASE IN THE PREMIUM RATES AND THE ADDITION OF THE NEW POSITIONS LEADS TO ABOUT A 360 $5,000 INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE FOR BOTH EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WHICH IS NICELY OFFSET BY THE DECREASE IN NEW YORK STATE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT AND POLICE AND FIRE RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AS AFTER LAST YEAR IN NEW YORK STATE WHERE DOES WITH DOUBLE DIGIT CONTRIBUTION RATE INCREASES TO BOTH RETIREMENT SYSTEMS AS IT TRIED TO COPE WITH THE PANDEMIC RATES HAVE DROPPED DRAMATICALLY THIS YEAR 25% FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AND ABOUT 5% FOR POLICE AND FIRE AS A RESULT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: FOR TIME AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS ARE BUT JUST TO BE DOWN ABOUT 320,000 $320,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THE RATE INCREASES LAST YEAR JUST FOR YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE WERE 11% FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND 16% FOR THE POLICE, FIRE.

[00:45:07]

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: BUDGETED WORKERS COMPENSATION IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE DOWN ABOUT 140 $3,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WE ALSO HAVE A DECREASE IN FUNDING FOR DEBT SERVICE OF 130 $2,000 WHICH REPRESENTS THE 2021 I'M SORRY 2001 DEBT MATURING, THIS IS THE LAST YEAR OF PAYMENTS FOR THAT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: JUST TO NOTE, WE ARE TAKING $600,000 THROUGH THE TAX RATE AND WE SO WE DID WE DID 350 LAST YEAR WE'RE GONNA TAKE ANOTHER.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: 250 THIS YEAR WHICH WILL THEY ADD UP TO 600,000 IN DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS AS A PLACEHOLDER BASICALLY FOR WHEN WE ACTUALLY GO OUT TO GET THE $600,000 IS ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD COST US TO FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO USE ALL OF THEIR $13.6 MILLION OF THAT IS SUBJECT COUNCIL VOTE RIGHT NOW.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND AGAIN JUST ONE OTHER POINT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, ROUGHLY $845,000 HAS COME OFF THE CITY'S BOOKS OF ANNUAL GET PAYMENTS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WE HAD A LOT OF DEBT, ENSURING THE LAST TWO YEARS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OR ANY QUESTIONS ON EXPENDITURES.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND PRESUMABLY GOING FORWARD THE DEBT SERVICE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER DO YOU ANTICIPATE TOE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: BUT ONCE WE GO I FORGET SURE ONCE THAT HAPPENS THAT WILL BE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THE CASE, BUT AGAIN WHAT DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING IS IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE TAXPAYERS, BECAUSE WE'RE KEEPING IT IN THE BUDGET WE DIDN'T WANT TO REDUCE THE BUDGET BY THAT AMOUNT AND THEN HAVE A LARGE TAX INCREASE WHEN WE ACTUALLY DO OUT GO OUT FOR DEBT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: SO SARAH THE THE SECTION OF THOUSAND DOLLARS, YOU SEE, AT THE BOTTOM.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IS IN THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUN, BUT IT'S IN THE TAX RATE IN ANTICIPATION OF ISSUING DEBT, WHETHER IT'S IN MARCH OR, AS IN SEPTEMBER OR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IT'S JUST SO THAT IS IT'S FULLY BAKED INTO THE TAX RATE GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE BORROWING THE MONEY AND AS JOE SAID.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: $600,000 IS APPROXIMATELY WHAT DEBT SERVICE WOULD BE RIGHT NOW FOR THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THAT WHICH IS A 13.6 PLUS THE MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS, THAT WILL HAVE TO ISSUE TO REIMBURSE THE GENERAL FUND FOR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: FOR MONIES THAT WERE SPENT BUT NOT EVER BONDED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AGO, SO IT'S IT'S MEANT SO THAT AS JOE SAID THERE'S NOT A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM IT'S NOT A SHOCK TO THE TAX SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, AT WHATEVER POINT WE ISSUE, THE DEBT WE'RE MAKING IT AND THAT.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: MAKES SENSE, THANK YOU.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: UM WE KNOW EXACTLY WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GO FOR DEBT OR IN LIKE HAVE YOU HAVE PENCILED IN HOW MUCH OR YOU'RE NOT THERE YET.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I DON'T KNOW.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IT'S IT THE WE WERE IN THIS FUNNY PLACE, THEN YOU KNOW FUNDING FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT WE HAVE NOW ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY $7 MILLION IN THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: OUR PROJECTS ARE JUST GETTING READY TO START INCURRING SOME HARD COSTS SO FROM A STANDPOINT OF JUST CASH FLOW, WE COULD PUT THIS OFF PROBABLY INTO AS LATE AS THE THIRD QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A YIN AND THE YANG HERE OF WHEN TO DO IT FROM A CASH FLOW STANDPOINT AND WHEN TO DO IT, GIVEN THE STATE OF THE MARKET, WHICH IS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE REASON WHY WE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE BUDGETED A LITTLE BIT LESS LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: ONE WE KNEW WE DIDN'T NEED THE MONEY AND, SECONDLY, WE WERE NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATIONARY PRESSURES AND RATES.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNING TODAY THAN IT WAS SO I YOU KNOW I'VE IN MY OWN MIND I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT BY THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, WE SHOULD ENTER THE DEBT MARKETS AS WE SIT HERE TODAY WE'RE STILL AT RATES THAT ARE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AS LOW AS THEY WERE AT ANY POINT LAST YEAR AT ARE AT THE LOWEST POINT THEY'VE BEEN IN PROBABLY 50 YEARS, SO YOU KNOW WE'RE STILL BORROWING AT ONE AND A HALF PERCENT FOR 30 YEAR MONEY, BUT WE ARE EFFECTIVELY READY SUBJECT TO JUST MAKING A MARKET CALL.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THANK YOU.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: OKAY, JUST A COUPLE OTHER SLIDES AGAIN GREG MENTIONED EARLIER, SALARIES AND BENEFITS MAKE ABOUT 62% OF OUR OVERALL EXPENDITURES FOR THE GENERAL FUND ACTUALLY NUMBER GETS A LITTLE BIT THANKS TO ALL THE CAPITAL TRANSFERS WE'RE MAKING THAT NUMBERS KIND OF WENT UP BUT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: STILL, THE HIGHEST TO.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SPEND EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION LARGEST COMPONENT IS PUBLIC SAFETY, OBVIOUSLY, POLICE, FIRE WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME BILLING DEPARTMENT AND.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: IN THAT NUMBER AS WELL.

[00:50:01]

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: POSITIONS FILLED AS OF NOVEMBER 1 THAT'S WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THERE ARE SOME RETIREMENTS IN THEIR RESERVATIONS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SO THESE POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, NUMBERS TO LOOK AT HERE ARE THE 160 4021 VERSUS THE NUMBER FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS 163 WHICH ARE THE THREE POSITIONS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: YOU CAN FIND THIS INFORMATION IN GREATER DETAIL ON PAGE 12 S3 OF YOUR BUDGET DOCUMENT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, WHILE WE'RE ON THE SLIDE BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION, A FEW YEARS AGO ON THIS AS JOE SAID, THIS IS AS OF NOVEMBER 1 SO IN A COURSE OF ANY GIVEN YEAR WE LOSE EMPLOYEES TO RETIREMENT CHANGING JOBS, WHATEVER IT IS, AND WE HIRE EMPLOYEES.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I'M TOLD THAT ALL OF THE PUBLIC WORKS POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THOSE ARE IN PROCESS, FOR EXAMPLE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE YOU KNOW, POLICE AND FIRE THAT WE OBVIOUSLY, AS WE SAID BEFORE, THERE WERE SOME RETIREMENTS THIS YEAR, AND THOSE ARE IN PROCESS AS WELL, SO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I FULLY ANTICIPATE AND WE WILL BE UTILIZING ALL OF THE BUDGETED POSITIONS THAT ARE HERE, IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE THIS FOR SOME REASON HAPPENS IN THE FALL OF EVERY YEAR WE JUST HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE RETIRED OR OR LEFT LEFT THE CITY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YEAH I THINK I MEAN THE ONLY THING JUST A YOU CAN SEE, ON THOSE LINE ITEMS, THERE ARE A COUPLE A COUPLE OF ADS THAT I NOTED.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: NAMELY, IN IN PLANNING AND AND IN IT, AND OBVIOUSLY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER POSITION, WHICH WILL BE FILLED SHORT LITTLE.

WELL.

OKAY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAIN, THIS IS JUST SOME TRENDS SHOWING MEDICAL EXPENSE ACROSS THE LAST 11 YEARS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: MEDICAL EXPENSE SCRIPTS DOES A GOOD JOB, WHERE THE CITY WAS SO AWESOME INCREASES AT THE END OF THE GREAT RECESSION KIND OF LEVELS OFF AND THEN YOU SEE THIS DIP HERE BETWEEN.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WHEN THE CITY WAS MOVED OVER TO NEW YORK STATE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAINST SLIGHT INCREASE IN 21 WE'RE JUST BUDGETING CONSERVATIVELY FOR 22, THIS IS THE RETIREMENT EXPENSE DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES FOR THE END OF THE GREAT RECESSION.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: RATES KIND OF LEVEL OFF HERE AND, AGAIN, YOU SEE THIS HUGE JUMP FROM 19 FROM 20 TO 21 WHICH IS REALLY THE DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES, WE SPOKE OF, AND THEN YOU SEE IT STRUCK DOWN AS THE RATES WENT DOWN THIS YEAR.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: MOVING ON TO THE REVENUE SIDE GET A LOT OF INFORMATION IS IT BASICALLY IS IS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 2021 THE END OF THE PANDEMIC AND.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAIN, IN TERMS OF BUILDING PERMITS AND MORTGAGE TAX WE'VE REALLY LOOKED AT THE LAST 10 YEARS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: INCLUDED THE OUTLINE YEARS WITH THE PANDEMIC WITH THE END OF THE GREAT RECESSION AND EVEN SO, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE MORTGAGE TAX BY $150,000.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: NUMBER WE REALLY HAVEN'T TOUCHED OVER THE YEARS, BUT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY AT LEAST 1,000,007 50 EACH YEAR, WE FELT COMFORTABLE IN THAT NUMBER.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: BUILDING PERMITS WE HAD REALLY KNOCKED DOWN DUE TO THE SALT LIMITATIONS, A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK, REALLY NEVER FELT THE EFFECTS OF THAT AGAIN HAD THE ONE BAD YEAR LAST YEAR, BUT WE HAVE REALLY OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS WE AVERAGED OVER $1.8 MILLION IN BUILDING PERMIT YOU.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: GREG SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE SEWER LATERAL CERTIFICATE AS KIND OF JUMPING AROUND HERE NEW FEE BASED ON SOME INFORMATION FROM THE CITY PLANNER WE CAN EXPECT $70,000 IN REVENUE IN THAT LINE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: INCREASE SALES AND USE TAX IS IN LINE WITH WHAT WE ARE PROJECTING FOR 2021 AGAIN, YOU KNOW I THINK STILL CONSERVATIVE AS WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT A FULL YEAR'S NORMAL YEAR WILL BE WORTH.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: INCREASE IN STATE AID REVENUE SHARING 240 1000 IS BASICALLY A 240 1000 WE KNOCKED OUT LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE BELIEVED WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A 20% REDUCTION WHICH NEVER CAME ABOUT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: THIS NUMBERS BEEN RECEIVED THE SAME NUMBER FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS SO AGAIN IT'S NUMBER WE'VE GOTTEN EVERY YEAR.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAIN, THE THE ONE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: KNOCK IS THE INTERESTING COME DOWN $50,000 IT'S REALLY JUST AS BOTTOMED OUT AND BACK TO WHERE IT WAS YOU KNOW, LIKE FIVE YEARS AGO.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: NEXT CHART JUST SHOWS ARE MAJOR REVENUES SALES TAX MORTGAGE TAX BUILDING PERMITS ARE AS HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN THE HIGHEST THREE.

[00:55:11]

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AS IT WAS ACTUALLY THE FOURTH HIGHEST LAST YEAR, THESE NUMBERS REPRESENT ABOUT 30% OF ALL CITY REVENUES.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: IT'S UP ABOUT 31% AND THIS NUMBER KIND OF COVERS BETWEEN 25 AND 30 IN THE LAST DECADE OR SO.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS EXPENDITURES VERSUS REVENUES OBVIOUSLY YOU WANT TO SEE THE GREEN ABOVE THE RED.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WAS THE ONE YOU KNOW YEAR WE WERE DOWN, WE HAD PLANNED TO USE FUND BALANCE SO WASN'T A SHOCK TO US BUT TYPICALLY WE DO BETTER THAN BUDGET SO AS YOU CAN SEE 2021 THAT REPRESENTS THE $2.5 MILLION SURPLUS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SO, GIVEN ALL OF THAT GOOD NEWS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 2022 PROPOSED CAPITAL SPENDING GREG MENTIONED EARLIER, THESE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: PULL UP ANOTHER NUMBER HERE, SO WE HAVE $1,850,000 AND STREET RESURFACING 600,000 OF THAT IS THROUGH THE TAX RATE ANOTHER 700,000 IS USE OF FUND BALANCE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WE HAVE 450,000 OF STATE AID IN THAT NUMBER, AS WELL AS $100,000 IN ST OPENING SURCHARGES.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: 1.2 MILLION TRANSFERRED A GENERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT'S ALL USED TO FUND BALANCE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW $600,000 TRANSFER GENERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS AS A PLACEHOLDER FOR DEBT SERVICE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: $150,000 IN ANNUAL SEWER MAINTENANCE PER THE AGREEMENT WOULD SAVE SOUND HUGE NUMBER HERE IS THE $2 MILLION GOING INTO CITY VEHICLE AND PLACEMENT PROGRAM 1.6 MILLION COMING FROM FUND BALANCE AND $400,000 AS PART OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX RATE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: JUST TO KNOW ON THAT OF THIS TRANSFERS OF CAPITAL, HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE 800,000 IS COMING FROM THE MONEY RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THANK YOU, IT ALL LOOKS GREAT I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION IS WE I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON FLOOD MITIGATION.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND WORRISOME WELL.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: CARROT CAROLINA IT I THINK THEY YOU KNOW MY WORKING ASSUMPTION IS THAT YOU KNOW THAT'S THAT IS A GOING TO BE A PRIORITY SET BY DESTIN THE NEXT COUNCIL.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND THINGS LIKE FLOOD MITIGATION DEPEND UPON THE NATURE OF THE PROJECT WOULD ALL BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE CAP X RESERVE SO YOU KNOW YOU IT'S IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A MATTER OF.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR FLOOD MITIGATION IT IS THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNCIL FOR A PARTICULAR PROJECT OR FOR YOU KNOW, FOR THAT YOU KNOW AS A POLICY MATTER.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AS GREG MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE IS, WE AFTER THESE TRANSFERS THERE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT SOME POINT $6 MILLION IN THE CAP EXTRAS OR.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO RESTATE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: GREG OR JOE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE NOW SPENDING ANNUALLY ON VEHICLES SURE, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY WE WANT, WE MIGHT WANT TO ESTABLISH THIS THIS FUN SHARP.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YEAH SO YEAR A YEAR AND I GUESS I WOULD DIVIDE DIVIDE THAT ANSWER INTO TWO PIECES ANNUALLY, YEAR IN YEAR OUT, WHERE WE SPEND BETWEEN FOUR AND $500,000 ON VEHICLES AND THAT'S POLICE CARS THAT'S.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: USUALLY ONE MAJOR PIECE OF APPARATUS OF PUBLIC WORKS THAT'S A JUST AN AVERAGE, YEAR IN YEAR OUT TIME PERIOD.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE HAVE 150 VEHICLES YOU EVER TAKEN THE CITY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: COST UPWARDS OF SOME OF THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, A LADDER TRUCK COST $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS A GARBAGE FLEET COST $1.2 MILLION, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT REPLACED EVERY YEAR, BUT WHEN THEY ARE REPLACED IT'S A BIG NUMBER.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND SO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS FUN TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF THIS FUN TO TO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: TOP IT OFF, IS THAT WE KNOW, BASED ON DEPRECIATION AND USE THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED A NEW PIECE OF FIRE APPARATUS IN 10 YEARS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED A NEW GARBAGE FLEET IN 10 YEARS, WE KNOW THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR, THERE NEEDS TO BE REINVESTMENT IN THE FLEET, SO THAT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THIS OR FUTURE COUNCIL DOESN'T WAKE UP ONE DAY AND NEED TO FIND A MILLION BUCKS IN A IN AN ANNUAL IRREGULAR BUDGET LIKE YOU DID WITH THE WITH THE GARBAGE TRUCK SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

[01:00:08]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THAT FUND IS ALMOST EMPTY, IT WILL BE EMPTY AT THE AFTER THIS YEAR, SO THE REASON WHY WE'RE APPROACHING IT THIS WAY IS TO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: BUILD IN $400,000 INTO PROPERTY IN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO AT THE BEGINNING FUN AS ANNUAL PURCHASES BEGINNING NEXT YEAR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: BUT ALSO SEE THE FUND SO THAT WE CAN BEGAN ANTICIPATING THE LARGER PURCHASES THAT WILL HAPPEN.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YEAR AFTER YEAR AND I GUESS THE BEST WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS, AS WE DEPRECIATE A VEHICLE, WE SHOULD ALSO THEN BE REINVESTING APPROXIMATELY THAT SAME AMOUNT OF DEPRECIATION AND INTEREST OF HAVING TO FUND IT, YOU KNOW FOUR OR FIVE OR 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: YEAH AGAIN, YOU KNOW THIS, THIS FUND HAS BEEN THERE FOR US, YOU KNOW AGAIN OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS WE'VE KIND OF BEEN FUNDING THIS WAY, AND YOU KNOW, FORTUNATELY, AS GREG SAID, WE WERE ABLE TO FUND YOUR FIRE TRUCKS AND WE WERE ABLE TO FUND YOUR.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: GARBAGE TRUCKS THROUGH THE BUILDING VEHICLE FUND BALANCE, YOU KNOW WE'VE DONE A LOT WITH THAT MONEY IT'S YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S TIME TO START REPLENISHING IT.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: ON THE GOT A QUICK FEW SLIDES HERE, NOTHING CRAZY HERE, THIS IS SHOWS TAX RATES OBVIOUSLY CITY OF RISE LOWEST AND IT'S LIKE THE FLATTEST CURVE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE HIGHEST COUNTIES IN THE MIDDLE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SAYS HOW YOUR AVERAGE TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT, WE TALKED ABOUT THE AVERAGE HOUSE IN THE CITY OF RYE EARLIER.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: 61% OF THE SCHOOL 16% IS THE CITY AND 1% OF THE LIBRARY.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND THE 22% IS COUNTING TAXES.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AND THIS IS HOW THE CITY KIND OF STACKS UP AGAINST YOU KNOW NEIGHBORING THIS VALUE SAME TYPE OF MINISTRY PENALTIES, THIS INCLUDES THE RATE FOR THE CITY AS AND, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LOWEST OF THIS GROUP.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WAS COME TO MY SUMMARY SLIDE AS EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TAX RATE INCREASE OF 1.58% TAX RATE INCREASES $202 97 CENTS PER THOUSAND ASSESSED VALUE.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WHICH TRANSLATES TO $92 FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSE IN THE CITY OR $8 A MONTH TAX CAP FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WAS 2.91% WE HAD NO CARRYOVER WE ARE $9,573 UNDER THE TAX CAP.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SEX WILL VALUE INCREASED AGAIN 120 OLD POST ROAD EQUIVALENT TO $212 $212,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES INCREASE IN TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR 2022 HAVE OVER $5.3 MILLION OR 13 POINT 14% BUT A LARGE CHUNK OF THAT ALMOST $3.9 MILLION IS INCREASING CAPITAL AND VEHICLE FUNDING.

[6. Consideration to set a public hearing on the 2022 Budget for December 1, 2021.]

[7. Set a public hearing to adopt a Local Law to override the State enacted tax levy limitation for December 15, 2021, if necessary.]

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: SALES TAX INCREASES STABILIZATION OF HEALTH INSURANCE RATES DROP IN RETIREMENT RATES HAVE ALLOWED US TO DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITY AND THE FUTURE WE HAVE TAX COMPLYING BUDGET WITH A FIVE 1.58% TAX RATE INCREASE SO LOTS OF GOOD NEWS HERE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU, THANK YOU GREG ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO ON.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: SORRY WE'LL CERTAINLY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DISCUSS THIS IN DETAIL THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS JUST.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: WORSE PUBLIX CLEAR YES.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YES, THE LAST THING I WOULD KNOW SORRY TO INTERRUPT IS THAT ON THE WEBSITE, THERE IS A THERE IS A SUMMARY THERE'S A ONE PAGE SUMMARY THAT ALSO NOTES THE TIMES AND THE DATES FOR FOR THE WORKSHOPS FOR FOR EVERYONE AND THAT'S THAT'S ALL PROVIDING.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: OKAY, SO WE GET TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET FOR DECEMBER 1 2021 MAY HAVE EMOTION.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: SO MOVED.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND JULIE, YOU SECONDED.

[8. Continue the public hearing to create a new local law, Chapter 122, “Landscapers and Leaf Blower Regulations” requiring all landscapers to obtain an annual permit in order to operate as a landscaper and restrict the use of leaf blowers.]

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: HI.

I.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND THEN WE GET TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE LOCAL LAW TO OVERRIDE THE STATE ENACTED TAX LEVY LIMITATION AND PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS, GIVEN THAT WE ARE NOT OVERRIDING.

[01:05:03]

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: YOU KNOW, ADD SOMETHING TO THE BUDGET THAT WOULD PUT US OVER THE CAP, IT JUST GIVES US THE ABILITY TO OVERRIDE IF WE HAVE TO JUST THINK IT'S UPROOTING.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: DECISION TO PUT THAT ITEM FORTH BECAUSE, JUST IN CASE.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: WE DONE THIS BEFORE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YES, YOU DO THAT YOU DO THIS EVERY YEAR AND ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, SO THAT YOU DIDN'T YOU DO HAVE TO SET THE PUBLISHER.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THAT'S MY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MOST I SAID IT, FOR ME, BUT I'M IN IT MORE FOR PUBLIC.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: GOOD WE'RE GOOD WE'RE GOING TO SET THIS PUBLIC HEARING WITH OUR FINGERS.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: CROSSED BEHIND OUR BACKS.

JOE FAZZINO, CITY COMPTROLLER: AGAIN 10 BUDGETS, I THINK ONE YEAR, WE WOULD ONLY SEE THE CAP AND WE WENT EVERY BUDGET WE'VE GONE AND OTHER THAN THAT ONE UNDER THE CAP SO JUST CROSSING.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: ALL RIGHT, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

SECOND.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: ALL IN FAVOR ALL RIGHT.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: OKAY, SO WE GET TO MOVE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: ON TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CREATE A NEW LOCAL LAW CHAPTER 122 LANDSCAPERS AND LEAF BLOWER REGULATION REQUIRING ALL LANDSCAPERS TO OBTAIN AN ANNUAL PERMIT.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: IN ORDER TO OPERATE AS A LANDSCAPER AND RESTRICTING THE USE OF LEAF BLOWERS AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND UNLESS THE COUNCIL FEELS VERY STRONGLY OTHERWISE NOT VOTE THIS EVENING, BUT CONTINUE IT ON INTO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING I'M ASSUMING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A GREAT DEAL, THIS EVENING, AND HAVE A LOT TO THINK ABOUT AND WE SHOULD BE MAKING A CONSIDERED DECISION SO.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: JUST BEFORE WE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, I MENTIONED, WE HAVE OUR THREE THREE MINUTE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: CONVENTION, WE ASK SPEAKERS.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: TO SPEAK FOR NO MORE THAN THREE MINUTES TO IF THEY HAVE MULTIPLE QUESTIONS ASK THEM WITHIN THE THREE MINUTES AND.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT ALL THIS EVENING, BUT IF PEOPLE WANT WANT TO ASK THEM OR POST THEM.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: PLEASE DO IT IN THE THREE MINUTES, AND THEN, IF PEOPLE FEEL THE THREE MINUTES IS TOO SHORT AND WANT TO COME AROUND AGAIN AFTER OTHERS, HAVE HAD THEIR CHANCE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THEN, ASSUMING THAT THERE'S TIME THEY ARE WELCOME TO AND JUST A PERSONAL NOTE, I HAVE AN OBLIGATION, THIS EVENING, THAT WILL REQUIRE ME TO TO DROP OFF AT NINE O'CLOCK AND I'VE ASKED.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: IN THE ABSENCE OF THE DEPTH THE DEPUTY MAYOR RICH MECCA I'VE ASKED JULIE, TO STEP IN AND AND PRESIDE IF IF WE'RE NOT DONE BY THAT TIME.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO OKAY KRISTIN IF YOU'D BE ARE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: OUR SPOTTER AND TIMER.

KRISTEN WILSON: SURE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING, YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND.

KRISTEN WILSON: RICHARD RUINOUS.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: RICHARD WELCOME.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: PLEASE SPEAK.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: RICHARD ARE YOU MUTED.

KRISTEN WILSON: MUTED, BUT I CAN'T HEAR HIM.

KRISTEN WILSON: STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU.

RICHARD RUNES: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW.

RICHARD RUNES: YES, OKAY I'M SORRY.

RICHARD RUNES: THE INFORMATION I GIVE YOU A COMES FROM THE YEARS THAT I WAS A RICE CITY COURT JUDGE.

RICHARD RUNES: I CAME ACROSS THIS ISSUE WHEN, AS A JUDGE, I WAS APPROACHED.

RICHARD RUNES: ABOUT.

RICHARD RUNES: THE ISSUE OF LEAF BLOWERS, AND WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, APPARENTLY, SOME OF THEM THEY'RE STILL AROUND FOR WHOM THIS WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE ABOUT 10 OR 1210 OR 12 PEOPLE.

RICHARD RUNES: AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO WAS THEY WOULD GO AROUND THE CITY OF RYE.

RICHARD RUNES: FOLLOW LANDSCAPERS CREWS OBSERVE THEM CALL THE RIGHT CITY POLICE OBSERVE WHETHER THE POLICE ISSUED A SUMMONS OR NOT.

RICHARD RUNES: AND THEN PURSUE THAT THE MATTER WATCHING IN COURT, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE SUMMONS AND IF THE POLICE DIDN'T GIVE ENOUGH SUMMONSES THEY WOULD GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SPEAK TO THE.

[01:10:05]

RICHARD RUNES: AND YOU ARE NOW PROPOSING A STATUE WHICH WOULD REQUIRE LANDSCAPERS.

RICHARD RUNES: TO GET A LICENSE FROM THE CITY OF RIGHT, AND IF THEY RECEIVED OR WERE CONVICTED OF TOO MANY.

RICHARD RUNES: VIOLATIONS OF A LEAF BLOWER STATUTE, THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR LICENSE SO SOMEONE WHO'S INVESTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EQUIPMENT.

RICHARD RUNES: HAS DOZENS OF EMPLOYEES WOULD LOSE THEIR INVESTMENTS LOSE THEIR PLACE LOSE THEIR LIVELIHOOD, BECAUSE 10 OR 12 PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF RIGHT.

RICHARD RUNES: ARE ANNOYED BY THE NOISE THEY'RE NOT ANNOYED IN THEIR HOMES THEY'RE NOT ANNOYED IN THEIR PROPERTY.

RICHARD RUNES: THEY WERE ANNOYED BY THE ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ANNOYED BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO IMPOSE THEIR WILL.

RICHARD RUNES: ON THE CITY OF RIGHT AND ALL OF THE HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT THEIR LANDSCAPERS TO GATHER THE LEAVES AND GET RID OF THEM, BUT CERTAINLY YOU HAVE TO JUDGE.

RICHARD RUNES: WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE TO CREATE A STATUTE WITH A SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF TAKING AWAY PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING THAT 10 OR 12 PEOPLE IN THE CITY ABROAD DON'T LIKE.

RICHARD RUNES: THESE FOLKS ARE FRANKLY BEHAVING POORLY THEY'RE OBSESSED WITH THE ISSUE OF LEAF BLOWERS, AND WHILE I COULD BE OFFENDED BY THE NOISE I WOULDN'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY A PERSON'S LIVELIHOOD.

RICHARD RUNES: AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO AMANDA STATUTE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO REMOVE THE LICENSE FORFEITURE PROVISIONS, YOU WANT TO HAVE FINES, YOU WANT TO CREATE GREATER FINES FOR MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS FINE.

RICHARD RUNES: BUT TO TAKE AWAY A PERSON'S BLYTHEWOOD TO TAKE AWAY THE INVESTMENTS THEY'VE MADE, I MEAN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR A FIRE ENGINE HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK DUMP TRUCKS COSTS, HOW MANY DO YOU THINK ALL THE OTHER EQUIPMENT COSTS AND BECAUSE SOMEBODY A NOISE THERE.

KRISTEN WILSON: SORRY.

RICHARD RUNES: THANK YOU FOR THE TIME I THINK I'VE MADE MY POINT.

RICHARD RUNES: YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: SO PAM HOSTAS UP NEXT AND, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY HER COMPUTER HAS NOT BEEN UPGRADED SO SHE ACTUALLY COMES IN, AS A PANELIST SO PAM YOU WILL BE YOUR VIDEO WILL BE ABLE TO BE SEEN.

PAMELA HAAS: THANK YOU KRISTEN I AM UPDATED, BUT I USE GOOGLE CHROMEBOOK, AND THAT IS THE REASON THAT I HAVE TO BE INCLUDED AS A PANELIST I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

PAMELA HAAS: I AM SPEAKING AS A RYE RESIDENT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO RISE GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWER LAW, AM NOT ONE OF THE 12 PEOPLE THAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER WAS REFERRING TO.

PAMELA HAAS: JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THE REVISED LEGISLATION IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR HEALTH.

PAMELA HAAS: OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, NOT ONLY ARE THEY EXCESSIVELY LOUD, BUT THEY ALSO, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT SPEW TOXIC ADMISSION EMISSIONS AND PARTICULATE MATTER AND THEY EXPOSE LANDSCAPE CREW AND RESIDENTS TO THE RISK OF HEARING LOSS AND ILLNESS.

PAMELA HAAS: NOT ONLY IS THE LAW AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, INADEQUATE EVEN A CURSORY GLANCE AT THE POLICE BLOTTER TELLS ME THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HAVING TROUBLE ENFORCING IT.

PAMELA HAAS: THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE FINES AND PERMITTING SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE REVISION, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING IMPORTANT IT STICK FOR BOTH THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE OWNER OF THE LANDSCAPING BUSINESS.

PAMELA HAAS: GAS POWERED LAWN CARE EQUIPMENT AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GAS POWERED HERE NOT BATTERY POWERED ACCOUNTS FOR AS MUCH AS 12% OF ALL US EMISSIONS, TODAY, WE SIMPLY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO THIS EGREGIOUS PROBLEM, THANK YOU.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: BROOKE PACKARD.

BROOK PACKARD: GOOD EVENING UM I I SUPPORT MORE LIMITATIONS ON LEAF BLOWERS IN THE CITY OF RYE, THERE WAS A NEW GENERATION OF FAMILIES MOVING TO THE SUBURBS AND THEY FEEL BETRAYED THEIR CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN IN PEACE AND QUIET BABIES AND TODDLERS CANNOT NAP.

BROOK PACKARD: WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT LEAF BLOWERS KICK UP PARTICULATE MATTER 2.5 THESE ARE PARTICULATE SO SMALL THAT ONCE INHALED THEY NEVER LEAVE THE BODY INCLUDED IN.

[01:15:03]

BROOK PACKARD: A CLOUD OF TOXINS FROM A LEAF BLOWER HAVE A RADIUS OF APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOMES IT LINGERS IN THE AIR FOR HOURS, THE NEIGHBOR WHO USES A LEAF BLOWER.

BROOK PACKARD: WILL AFFECT THE HEALTH OF A CHILD PLAYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER SCHOOL IS OUT IT'S BEEN NOTED THAT HOUSING PRICES IN CITIES, BANNING LEAF BLOWERS ARE INCREASING.

BROOK PACKARD: IT IS COMMENDABLE THAT, WITH THIS NEW LAW HOMEOWNERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRACTORS WHO DEPLOY LEAF BLOWERS.

BROOK PACKARD: THAT LAW CAN BE MADE STRONGER BY EMPOWERING CITIZENS TO REPORT VIOLATIONS, THIS IS EASY THERE'S A LOT OF PRECEDENCE FOR THAT THE POLICE ARE NOT STEPPING UP TO THE JOB, THIS GOES BEYOND AN ANNOYANCE, THIS GOES BE ICE GOES TO THE VERY LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE FUTURE.

BROOK PACKARD: THANK YOU.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND I JUST REMIND FOLKS TO PLEASE RESET YOUR ADDRESS, WHEN COMING ON THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: THANK YOU BEN.

KRISTEN WILSON: LORI.

LORI FONTANES: HI LORI MONTANA'S NOW 11 HAYWARD PLACE I.

LORI FONTANES: HAVE ALREADY SENT YOU GUYS THIS LADDER, SO THIS IS REALLY JUST TO READ IT INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD I DON'T THINK OUR LETTERS ARE BEING POSTED.

LORI FONTANES: MAYOR COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION REGARDING ONE OF THE MOST ANNOYING ASPECTS OF LIFE IN OUR SUBURBAN COMMUNITY.

LORI FONTANES: IT MAY HAVE TAKEN A STATEWIDE LOCKDOWN BUT I'M GUESSING THAT MANY COMMUTERS NOW SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO DEAL WITH THE AUDITORY ONSLAUGHT.

LORI FONTANES: TO WHICH WE WORK FROM HOME ARE CONSTANTLY SUBJECTED ALMOST EVERY DAY IN ADDITION TO WHAT SEEMS LIKE NON STOP CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

LORI FONTANES: THEY'RE NON ESSENTIAL SOUNDS OF THE LANDSCAPERS GOING TO WAR WITH NATURE FOR PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN RETIREES THE SICK OR THOSE WHO LIVE ON SMALL PROPERTIES.

LORI FONTANES: THE LEAF BLOWER HAS COME TO REPRESENT A TRUE BLIGHT ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, NOT TO MENTION THE MANY DOCUMENTED ENVIRONMENTAL DOWNSIDES TO THE GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWER IN PARTICULAR.

LORI FONTANES: THIS LEGISLATION IS LONG OVERDUE THEREFORE I'M THRILLED TO SEE MANY PROMISING ASPECTS TO THE PROPOSED LAW.

LORI FONTANES: AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE RIGHT PD RECOMMENDED SOME KIND OF LICENSING SYSTEM TO INCREASE THEIR ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE EXISTING NOISE ORDINANCE.

LORI FONTANES: REGARDING THE FLOWERS, AND SO THE IDEA OF A REGISTER HE SEEMS LIKE A REASONABLE SOLUTION.

LORI FONTANES: THE SLIGHT REDUCTION HOURS OF USAGE JUST WELCOMED THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HOMEOWNERS WOULD ENCOURAGE ACTIVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE COMPANY THEY HIRE.

LORI FONTANES: AND MOST SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANTLY TO PHASE OUT OF GAS POWERED EQUIPMENT WITH CONCOMITANT THEM IT'S ON ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWER NOISE LEVELS.

LORI FONTANES: THAT'S REALLY AN IMPROVEMENT GUYS AND I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THAT SO AS A LONG TIME, HEALTHY YARD ADVOCATE I MAKE ONLY TWO SUGGESTIONS ONE.

LORI FONTANES: WHY NOT WORK WITH THE EXISTING MUNICIPAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO RAMP UP THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH REGARDING HOW TO IMPROVE LANDSCAPING DESIGN, SO WE CAN AVOID SO MANY LEAF BLOWERS.

LORI FONTANES: AND OTHER UNSUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND THEN TO SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THIS AREA OF ENFORCEMENT, I MEAN THIS IS GOING TO BE FRAUGHT BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.

LORI FONTANES: AND DESPITE BEST EFFORTS WE'RE NOT GOING TO REACH EVERYBODY RIGHT AWAY, THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE SO MAYBE IN GOOD FAITH, WE COULD GIVE OFFENDERS.

LORI FONTANES: ONE WARNING YOU KNOW BEFORE EVEN ASSESSING BINDS AND YOU KNOW IT'S SINCE IT'S SUCH A BIG SHIFT I THINK IF WE ERR ON THE SIDE OF GENEROSITY UNTIL THE WORD GETS OUT THIS MIGHT MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES, A LITTLE MORE PALATABLE SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

JOHN LEONARD: JOHN LEONARD ONE APP WALLACE AVENUE OKAY, CAN YOU HEAR ME.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: YES, OKAY.

JOHN LEONARD: THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT I THINK TWO QUESTIONS I'D LIKE TO RAISE ONE IS IF THIS IS A GOOD IDEA FOR THE COMMUNITY, I THINK IT IS, WHY SHOULD THERE BE AN EXEMPTION FOR THE CITY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF.

JOHN LEONARD: OTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THIS IS A GOOD IDEA CITY SHOULD BE LEADING FROM THE FRONT AND NOT EXEMPTING ITSELF FROM THE ROLE.

JOHN LEONARD: THE SECOND QUESTION RELATES TO THE PENALTY ON A HOMEOWNER IF A LANDSCAPER THAT THEY HAVE TIRED.

JOHN LEONARD: CREATE GETS GETS BROUGHT INTO COURT.

JOHN LEONARD: MY MIND, I CANNOT BE A SUPERVISOR OF EVERY EMPLOYEE EVERY TIME THE LANDSCAPER IS ON MY PROPERTY AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE IN MY STATION IS EITHER.

[01:20:13]

JOHN LEONARD: THEN HE MIGHT BE LIABLE, OTHERWISE, IF THE HOMEOWNER CAN SHOW THAT HE IS PROPERLY INSTRUCTED THE.

JOHN LEONARD: LANDSCAPE ARE EITHER BY HIRING A LICENSED ONE OR BY SENDING THEM A LETTER, IF NECESSARY, KNOWLEDGE, SAYING, THESE ARE THE RULES, PLEASE LIVE BY THEM THERE SHOULD NOT BE A LIABILITY TO THE HOMEOWNER FOR VIOLATIONS.

JOHN LEONARD: COMMITTED BY OTHERS IN IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE HOMEOWNERS INSTRUCTIONS, THANK YOU.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: KIRA KIRA YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROMOTED AS A PANELIST AS WELL, SO YOUR VIDEO TO IT'S ON WE WILL SEE YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: YOU'RE STILL MUTED.

CIARA SMYTH: I'M CURIOUS SMITH AND I'M A RESIDENT OF 39 PALISADE ROAD I'M A MOTHER ONE YEAR OLD AND HAVE BEEN WORKING FROM HOME FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

CIARA SMYTH: I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ON THIS, BUT I APPLAUD THE COUNCIL FERMENTING THE LEAF BLOWER LAW, IT IS ABOUT TIME IT'S BEEN WAY OVER TO DO SEE SOME FLAWS, THOUGH, AS A LAWS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, FIRST, I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT'S BEING DELAYED UNTIL 2023.

CIARA SMYTH: IT'S TO GO INTO EFFECT BY THE LATEST.

CIARA SMYTH: THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITY ABSOLUTELY HAS TO BE FOR SAFEGUARDING THE RESIDENCE WELL BEING AND HEALTH AND SAFETY.

CIARA SMYTH: AND YOU CAN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARM THAT THESE MACHINES ARE DOING AND THEN TELL US THAT WE NEED TO SHELVE OUR HEALTH, ESSENTIALLY FOR ANOTHER YEAR SO THAT LANDSCAPING COMPANIES.

CIARA SMYTH: HAVE TIME TO GET THEIR BUSINESS MODELS IN ORDER, THE PRIORITIES ARE WRONG HEALTH FIRST LANDSCAPERS BUSINESS MODELS, NOT EVEN RELEVANT.

CIARA SMYTH: SECOND BALL, I THINK THAT THE FEATURE, WHERE THE HOMEOWNER IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO GIVE THIS LAW ANY BITE.

CIARA SMYTH: IN EVERY OTHER FACET IN LAW, A HOMEOWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHO THEY HIRE TO WORK ON THEIR HOME, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LANDSCAPING COMPANIES HAVE BEEN CARVED OUT FROM THIS.

CIARA SMYTH: SO THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE, IF A POLICE OFFICER IS GOING TO GIVE A TICKET TO SOMEBODY TO A LANDSCAPER WHO'S WORKING ON A PROPERTY.

CIARA SMYTH: THAT PERSON CAN SAY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IDENTIFICATION ON THEM LANDSCAPING TRUCKS COME IN, THEY OFTENTIMES DON'T EVEN HAVE THE COMPANY'S LOGO ON THE TRUCK SO THE ONE STANDING FEATURE, THE ONLY THING THAT WILL HELP YOU THIS LOVE BITE IS TO GO AFTER THE HOMEOWNER.

CIARA SMYTH: AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHO YOU BRING INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR THEM FOLLOWING LAWS OF THIS.

CIARA SMYTH: SECOND OR THIRD LEE AT AN OPENING THE FLOODGATES FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AT 8AM IS WAY TOO EARLY IT'S ARCHAIC ACTUALLY I DON'T KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH 8AM BUT IT DOESN'T REFLECT TODAY'S POSTCODE LIFESTYLE AND WORK ARRANGEMENTS.

CIARA SMYTH: IT'S SO DETRIMENTAL TO BE WOKEN UP BY THAT SOUND AND IT'S AN ABSOLUTE QUALITY OF LIFE HORROR, FOR ME, MY FAMILY MY CHILD IS WOKEN UP BY THE SOUNDS OF LEAF BLOWERS RAGING OUTSIDER HOME ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY.

CIARA SMYTH: SO IT ENDS BE TOO LATE, NEEDS TO BE PUSHED BACK AT 930 AND ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS, THEY ARE STILL LOUD THEY'RE NOT QUIET, SO THAT AT ANY TIME IT'S STILL TOO LOUD AND LASTLY IT'S THE IP WE ABSOLUTELY NEED OTHER WAYS TO ENFORCE THIS LAW.

CIARA SMYTH: I HAD SENT AN EMAIL, TO THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK, BECAUSE I WAS SO FRUSTRATED AT MY BABY WAS WOKEN UP BY RAGING LEAF BLOWERS.

CIARA SMYTH: AND THE RESPONSE I GOT, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM CAROLINA JOHNSON WAS THAT I SHOULD CALL THE POLICE, IF I HEAR HIM BEFORE 8AM.

CIARA SMYTH: AND I ASKED YOU GUYS, IF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY CALLED THE POLICE ON THIS, BECAUSE I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, TODAY, ALONE, I HAD A CALL THREE TIMES FOR 11AM AND NOT A SINGLE ISSUE.

CIARA SMYTH: I'M ALMOST CERTAIN WAS ISSUED.

OKAY.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: LESLIE WINTERS.

LESLIE WINTERS: CAN YOU HEAR ME, YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY I'LL TRY TO NOT BE REDUNDANT APPROXIMATELY.

[01:25:04]

LESLIE WINTERS: IT TAKES HOURS AND EVEN DAYS TO SETTLE A TYPICAL GAS POWER BLOWER PUSHES BETWEEN 307 HUNDRED CUBIC FEET OF AIR PER MINUTE SPEED OF 150 TO 280 MILES PER HOUR.

LESLIE WINTERS: THE PARTICULAR MATTER CAN EXACERBATE ALLERGIES ASTHMA ATTACKS AND CAUSE LUNG CANCER.

LESLIE WINTERS: INTERESTINGLY, THERE WAS A BILL BEFORE THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE SENATE BILL 1113 WHICH IS NOW IN COMMITTEE THAT IS LOOKING TO EXPAND GAS POWER BLOWERS.

LESLIE WINTERS: SECONDLY, WATER POLLUTION IS ANOTHER PROBLEM IT'S COMMON PRACTICE FOR THESE LANDSCAPERS TO BLOW SOME OF THE DEBRIS INTO THE STREETS AND ONTO NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES CLOGGING DRAINS INCREASING FLOODING AND EROSION.

LESLIE WINTERS: GRASS CLIPPINGS ARE HIGH IN NITROGEN INCREASING ALREADY HIGH NITROGEN LEVELS, A COUPLE OF STATISTICS ALREADY 16 TOWNS IN WESTCHESTER HAVE RESTRICT.

LESLIE WINTERS: USE OF BLOWERS THE NATION OF ISRAEL HAS BANNED GAS OR BLOWERS 400 MUNICIPALITIES AND GROWING IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BANNED OR RESTRICTED THEIR USE.

LESLIE WINTERS: THE CITY OF TORONTO IMPOSES A $5,000 FINE FOR THE US.

LESLIE WINTERS: AND HUNTINGTON HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK, HAS JUST RESTRICTED THEM OUT OF HEALTH CONCERNS FOR THEIR CLIENTS AND THEIR PATIENTS ANOTHER FACT.

LESLIE WINTERS: IS THERE IS THERE IS AN ACTUAL WRITTEN WARNING LABEL ON ALL GAS POWERED BLOWERS WITH READS.

LESLIE WINTERS: THE ENGINE EXHAUST FROM THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS CHEMICALS KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER BIRTH DEFECTS AND REPRODUCTIVE HARM, I MEAN IT'S JUST BEYOND CLEAR.

LESLIE WINTERS: I ALSO SUPPORT THE FACT THAT THE HOMER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE, I JUST ENGAGED, A NEW LANDSCAPER I SPOKE TO HIM AND I TEXTED HIM DAY ONE, I SENT HIM A SCREENSHOT OF THE RYE LAW IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT TO GET THE COMPLIANCE THANKS SO.

LESLIE WINTERS: MUCH.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

BOB ZAHM: THANK YOU UM I HAVE TO, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE LANGUAGE.

BOB ZAHM: IF A HOMEOWNER WHO IS NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR OR A LICENSED LANDSCAPER HAS A GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWER WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO USE IT WITHOUT ANY REPERCUSSIONS FROM THE NEW ORDINANCE.

BOB ZAHM: I'M SORRY SO SHOULD I EXPECT AN ANSWER, CAN YOU HEAR ME.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I COULDN'T HEAR YOU VERY WELL BOB CAN YOU.

BOB ZAHM: REPEAT IT.

BOB ZAHM: I'M SURE WHAT A HOMEOWNER OR ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OR PROPERTY OWNER LIKE A CLUB OR SOMETHING WHO USES A GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWER WITHOUT BEING A LICENSED LANDSCAPER BE AFFECTED BY THIS ORDINANCE.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: YEAH IT'S GONNA APPLY TO ALL.

BOB ZAHM: AND BOB ZAHM: I DON'T THINK IT'S WRITTEN THAT WAY IT TALKS ABOUT LICENSED LANDSCAPERS IT DOESN'T SPEAK ABOUT INDIVIDUALS OR PROPERTY OWNERS NEEDING TO BE LICENSED.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: GOOD QUESTION.

KRISTEN WILSON: YESTERDAY CORRECT CURRENT CURRENTLY IS WRITTEN, SO THAT IF YOU ARE WORKING ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY, YOU WILL NOT, YOU ARE NOT A LICENSED LANDSCAPER.

BOB ZAHM: SO AN EMPLOYEE OF A GOLF CLUB OR SOMETHING USING THE LEAF BLOWER WOULD NOT BE.

BOB ZAHM: WOULD NOT FALL WITHIN THE REMIT OF THIS LAW.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I THINK THAT'S EXEMPT ANYWAY RIGHT.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THAT'S EXEMPT ANYWAY, BUT THE QUESTION YOU RAISE BOB IS A GOOD ONE, ABOUT YOU KNOW IF YOU IF YOU'RE A HOMEOWNER AND YOU'RE USING IT.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: SO I TAPE IT.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I MEAN, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE REALLY LIKE.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: BECAUSE, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

BOB ZAHM: IT WILL THE POINT BECAUSE IT ALSO.

BOB ZAHM: APPLIES TO THE GOLF CLUBS, THE CHURCHES AND.

BOB ZAHM: THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED LAST TIME IS WISE, IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THEM SECOND OBSERVATION IS THE FIRST GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE SAID THAT.

BOB ZAHM: THIS ORDINANCE COULD CAUSE A COMPANY TO LOSE ITS BUSINESS AND ALL ITS INVESTMENT.

BOB ZAHM: IN POINT OF FACT MOST LANDSCAPERS WORK IN MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES, AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS VALID THEY MIGHT LOSE THEIR AUTHORITY OR THEIR PERMISSION TO WORK IN CITY OF RYE.

BOB ZAHM: BUT THEY WOULDN'T GO OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THAT THEY CAN WORK IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, THANK YOU, I HOPE THAT YOU DO ADDRESS WHAT I PERCEIVE THIS GAPS IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

BOB ZAHM: BOTH IN TERMS OF THE PARKS, EXCUSE ME, THE GOLF CLUBS CHURCHES THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS.

[01:30:06]

ERICA CORDAZZO: HI ERICA FROM EIGHT SHARON LANE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: HELLO.

ERICA CORDAZZO: HI OKAY.

ERICA CORDAZZO: SO I WAS JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE COST OF THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FOR LANDSCAPERS I DIDN'T SEE ANY DOCUMENTATION OF THE ACTUAL AMOUNT.

ERICA CORDAZZO: AND THEN YOU KNOW AS ARRIVED RESIDENT WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT.

ERICA CORDAZZO: THAT THIS NEW REGULATION IS GOING TO HAVE ON SMALL BUSINESSES, BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE AMOUNT OF LAWNS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO REMAIN SOLVENT.

ERICA CORDAZZO: AND THEN MY OTHER PIECE IS THAT, IF THIS IS THE HAZARD.

ERICA CORDAZZO: AND THE ISSUES THAT EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING THESE RULES, WHY AREN'T THE SCHOOLS, FOLLOWING THESE RULES, WHY AREN'T THE GOLF CLUBS, FOLLOWING THESE ROLES, IT FEELS LIKE YOU KNOW IT WE'RE ONLY PENALIZING HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

ERICA CORDAZZO: AND THAT'S ALL.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: AS FAR AS THE FEE GOES, I THINK THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THAT.

KRISTEN WILSON: AS PART OF YOUR ANNUAL FEE SCHEDULE.

KRISTEN WILSON: SUED ROWAN.

SUE DROUIN: HI EVERYBODY SAY GERMAN 57 MOREHEAD DRIVE.

SUE DROUIN: I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED STRENGTHENING OF THE LEAF BLOWER LAW, SHOULD IT BE ADOPTED, IT WOULD BE A POSITIVE STEP AND REDUCING NOISE POLLUTION AND IMPROVING OUR HEALTH AND AIR QUALITY, BUT ALSO REGARDED AS AN INCREMENTAL BECAUSE PARTICULATES ARE STILL GOING INTO THE AIR.

SUE DROUIN: AND THERE ARE CARVE OUTS, FOR SOME OF OUR OFFENDERS.

SUE DROUIN: THE MODIFICATION IF ENFORCED PROPERLY WOULD INCREMENTALLY IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, BY ELIMINATING THE GASOLINE ASPECT AND SOME OF THE HIGHER DECIBEL NOISE FROM GAS BLOWERS.

SUE DROUIN: SOME PRIOR COMMENTERS DETAILED ABOUT THE NOISE IN THE AIR POLLUTION ISSUES SO I'M NOT GOING TO REHASH THAT BUT I WOULD REITERATE THAT THE LANDSCAPE WORKERS BREATHE AND THE GAS FUMES PARTICULATES AND SUFFER FROM THE EARSPLITTING NOISE ALSO.

SUE DROUIN: REGARDING THE SAM BLOWING AND THE OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES SOME REFLECTION IS MERITED ON WHY THOSE ENTITIES ARE EXEMPTED.

SUE DROUIN: I SAID EARLIER, THIS MODIFICATION TO EXISTING LAW SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS INCREMENTAL BECAUSE PRIVATE CLUBS OFTEN DON'T EMPLOY OUTSIDE LANDSCAPE COMPANIES, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CREATE A SEPARATE DIVISION UNDER THE LAW.

SUE DROUIN: SECOND.

SUE DROUIN: DON'T LET LANDSCAPERS SCARE YOU INTO THE IMMINENT COLLAPSE OF THEIR BUSINESS IT'S A BIT SAD THAT IT HAS COME TO THIS BUT LANDSCAPERS SHOULD HAVE CONVERTED TO ELECTRIC A LONG TIME AGO, WHEN THE INITIAL LEAF BLOWER LAW WENT INTO EFFECT WAY BACK IN 2009.

SUE DROUIN: IT'S TIME TO GET ON BOARD AND COMPLY WITH THE LAW, THE PEOPLE OF RICE SUPPORT IT OBVIOUSLY MORE THAN 10 OR 12 PEOPLE AND WILL SUPPORT YOU, WHEN YOU CONVERT TO ELECTRIC.

SUE DROUIN: LANDSCAPERS NOW THAT RAKING SWEEPING AND MULCH MOWING REDUCE THE HEALTH SCRIPT HEALTH RISKS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES, IN FACT, THE MULCH MILLING REQUIRES NO NEW EQUIPMENT AT ALL JUST COVERING THE DISCHARGE SHOOT THE CHOPPED UP LEAVE SPEED NUTRIENTS TO THE SOIL AS THEY BREAK DOWN.

SUE DROUIN: IN MY SMALL HOME GARDEN I SWEEP THE LEAVES FROM MY DRIVEWAY AND DEPOSIT THEM IN A PERENNIAL BED TO BE MULCHED AND LEFT IN PLACE.

SUE DROUIN: IN RESPONSE TO A CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED AT THE LAST MEETING THAT MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT WANT TO PLANT A TREE BECAUSE OF THE LEAF CLEANUP.

SUE DROUIN: TO MY FELLOW HOMEOWNERS HOW MANY OF US ON THIS CALL TONIGHT LOOKED OUTSIDE TODAY AND APPRECIATED THE GLORIOUS FALL COLORS.

SUE DROUIN: THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL REASONS TO PLANT A TREE THAT MIGHT OFFSET THE PERCEPTION OF A DOWNSIDE OF OWNING A TREE AMONG THEM FLOOD MITIGATION CO2 REDUCTION SHADE HABITAT CREATION FOOD OXYGEN PRODUCTION AND THEY INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES, AND OF COURSE THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

SUE DROUIN: AND IF THE THOUGHT OF LEAVES STILL IRKS YOU WHY NOT TRY A NATIVE EVERGREEN TREE, SUCH AS A HOLLY SPRUCE OR PINE EITHER WAY TREES ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR HOME LANDSCAPES AND WILL BE FOR DECADES TO COME, THANK YOU.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: TAKE BREAKS, THANK YOU.

[01:35:09]

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: CAN BARELY HEAR YOU.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: CAN BARELY HEAR YOU.

BETTER.

KRISTEN WILSON: BETTER NOW.

HELLO.

KRISTEN WILSON: OKAY.

KRISTEN WILSON: MAYBE WE'LL MOVE ON, KATE WILL COME BACK TO YOU, THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: CURTIS OH NO.

KRISTEN WILSON: SORRY.

KRISTEN WILSON: MY QUALITY CAN REMOVE THAT PHONE NUMBER THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

KRISTEN WILSON: CURTIS.

KRISTEN WILSON: CURTIS SPECK OF ANTO.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: CAN YOU HEAR ME.

KRISTEN WILSON: YES.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: YES, CURTIS.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: HOW DO YOU DO MY NAME IS CURTIS BAG, THE RENTAL AND I HAVE A LANDSCAPE COMPANY AND RYE PRIOR TO COVEN MYSELF AND OTHER LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: WITH COMMISSION POLICE COMMISSIONER FALK, OUR AIM WAS TO MUTUALLY AGREED UPON A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE CONTRACTORS TO PRESERVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE CITY OF RYE, WHILE PERFORMING NECESSARY SERVICES.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: I THINK CONTINUING WITH THE NEW COMMISSIONER, WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO EVERYONE.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: BEING IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY, I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, WE ALL CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT, A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND DO OUR BEST TO PRESERVE IT.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: WE REMOVE LEAVES FROM OUR CLIENTS PROPERTY TO ACCOMPLISH PSYCH WARD AND THE USE OF PAPER BAGS BEING PLACED AT THE CURB AND, ULTIMATELY, SOMETIMES END UP IN A STORM DRAINS.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: WE RECEIVED LAST MINUTE CALLS FROM CUSTOMERS TO CLEAR DRAINS AND TO BREEZE FROM DRIVEWAYS CATCH BASINS STEPS GOING DOWN BEFORE RAINSTORM TO READ FLOODING, WHICH HAS CAUSED MUCH OF A HEARTACHE IN THE CITY OF RYE.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: THIS WOULD BE A DIFFICULT TASK, USING A RAKE.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: WHERE WE'RE POSSIBLE WE MINIMIZE AND SOMETIMES AVOID THE USE OF GAS POWERED EQUIPMENT.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: COMPARE THE FUTURE REGULATIONS PROPOSED TONIGHT TO A GOVERNMENT MANDATE, FORCING EVERYONE TO OBTAIN AN ELECTRIC CAR BY A CERTAIN DATE.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: IS IT FEASIBLE TO REQUIRE EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF RIDE TO ABANDON THEIR GAS POWERED CAR WHEN THE ELECTRIC ALTERNATIVE IS NEITHER NOT ADEQUATE, NOR IN THEIR PRICE RANGE.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: ULTIMATELY, THIS IS WHAT THE LEGISLATION IS ASKING US TO DO AND FIND A WAY TO DO OUR JOB EFFICIENTLY EFFICIENTLY USING INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: WE ALL AGREE, THE ENVIRONMENT IS THAT A TURNING POINT AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO PRESERVE IT WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY HAS ADVANCED, TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN REPLACE OUR EQUIPMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES, WE WILL BE HAPPY.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: TO OBLIGE, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE HAVING.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: THE OPEN DIALOGUE WITH THE AUTHORITIES UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLAINTS ON BOTH SIDES AND WORK TOGETHER ON A SOLUTION AS THEIR TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BLOWER'S OR ANYTHING ELSE ELECTRIC IS NOT THERE AND I KNOW THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT ALL THE BUDGETS FOR THE CITY OF RYE.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: IS WE'RE GOING TO BUY ELECTRIC POLICE CARS AND FIRE TRUCKS FOR THE EMISSIONS.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: IT'S NOT THERE, THE TECHNOLOGY IS NOT THERE YET, IF YOU COULD GIVE IT SOME MORE TIME, POSSIBLY, WE COULD MAKE IT WORK.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: ALL RIGHT, HEY I'M GOING TO TRY YOU AGAIN.

GOOD EVENING, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW.

KRISTEN WILSON: THERE'S STILL VERY IT'S VERY HARD TO HEAR YOU.

[01:40:11]

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: CAN ANYBODY HEAR ANYTHING.

KRISTEN WILSON: VERY DISTANT VOICE AT FIRST.

KRISTEN WILSON: KATE IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO CALL IN I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S.

KRISTEN WILSON: THERE'S A NUMBER THERE'S A PHONE NUMBER ON THE AGENDA TO CALL INTO THE ZOOM MEETING.

OKAY.

KRISTEN WILSON: THANKS, SHE WAS GOING TO TRY AND CALL AND.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I ALSO SAY TO PEOPLE ARE SENDING EMAILS AND WE'RE GETTING THOSE SO THAT'S SUPER HELPFUL AND SOME OF IT'S COMING DIRECTLY TO US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SOME IS COMING TO THE CITY ITSELF AND THE CITY IS COMPILING THAT AND SENDING THOSE PACKETS TO US SO WE'RE GETTING TO THE EXTENT THAT.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: YOU DIDN'T SAY EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY, OR YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEAK PUBLICLY, PLEASE DO FEEL FREE TO SEND.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: YOU KNOW YOUR YOUR THOUGHTS IN BY EMAIL.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: IF HE DOESN'T GET ON I GUESS.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: WHAT IT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE COMMISSIONER COOL PEEK AT THE NEXT MEETING, SO HE CAN GIVE US HIS INPUT.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: HAPPY TO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE CAN CERTAINLY INCLUDE ANYBODY, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN THE CONVERSATION.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA CAROLINA.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: BECAUSE THAT THE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE HAS BEEN.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: YOU KNOW, A BIG ONE, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ARE BRINGING UP ON IN IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND YOU DON'T WANT LIKE VIGILANTISM RIGHT ITS NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR ANYTHING YEAH YEAH.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND ALSO ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENFORCE THE LAWS OF THE CD RIGHT THAT'S WHY I TOLD THE PERSON BEFORE TO CALL THE POLICE, BECAUSE WHENEVER THERE'S A NOISE VIOLATION THAT'S IT THAT'S WHAT THE CITY MANAGER TELLS US TO COMMUNICATE TO OUR RESIDENTS, NO.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I'M NOT SORRY THING RIGHT WE WENT OUT THERE AND ISSUING A TICKET OR YOU CAROLINA.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: DO WE HAVE MORE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: IF WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PUBLIC HEARING DO.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: WHAT CAN WE COME BACK TO IT FOR CATER SHE COMES BACK AND.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: MOVE ON.

KRISTEN WILSON: WE HAVE CURIOUS SMITH, WHO IS RAISED HER HAND AGAIN AND WE ACTUALLY JUST HAD ANOTHER PHONE JOIN US IF THAT IF THAT NEW PHONE NUMBER IS KATE BRIGGS YOU HAVE TO PRESS STAR NINE TO RAISE YOUR HAND AND THEN I CAN ADMIT YOU OKAY LOOKS LIKE THAT IS.

OK.

KRISTEN WILSON: SO, IF YOUR PHONE NUMBER ENDS AND 737 YOU ARE NOW ELEVATED TO SPEAK.

1914****737: GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: WE CAN HEAR YOU WHO ARE YOU.

1914****737: MY NAME IS KATE BRIGGS HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING, THANK YOU.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE, KATE.

1914****737: I LIVE IN RYE WHAT'S YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE FOR THE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: RECORD AND WALK.

ON WALNUT STREET.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: DO YOU HAVE A HOUSE NUMBER.

1914****737: ONE WALNUT STREET.

1914****737: THANK YOU.

1914****737: GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, I AM CALLING IN REGARDS OF THE LEAF BLOWER LAW WHY I THINK THERE IS SOME GREAT ASPECTS TO THIS LAW I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW.

1914****737: WHY THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN TRANSLATED IN SPANISH, WE HAVE A LARGE LATIN COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE SERVICING HOUSES HERE AND THEY ARE NOT REALLY AWARE OF IT.

1914****737: NUMBER TWO IS IS, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION THAT I USED TO HAVE WITH ROBERT FLOCK AND COME TO SOME SOLUTIONS AND TO SOME AGREEMENTS, I AM.

1914****737: FOR CHANGING OVER TO ELECTRIC BUT IN DUE TIME, WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE AMOUNT OF USE THAT LANDSCAPERS USE IS MORE READILY AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE COST IS HIGH.

1914****737: I ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT HOMEOWNERS ARE ARE GOING TO HAVE INCREASED COSTS FOR LANDSCAPING BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO TAKE MORE TIME FOR US TO DO CERTAIN CHORES AT PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES.

1914****737: AND IT'S JUST GOING TO END THEN IT'S ALSO GOING TO DELAY OUR ABILITY TO SERVICE THE VOLUME THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN A TIMELY MATTER.

1914****737: LASTLY, I WANT TO DO BRING UP THAT WE ARE A CITY OF TREES IN THIS RIGHT NEW YORK, AND I THINK WE NEED TO PROMOTE DIFFERENT TREES LIKE LONDON'S AND OTHER THINGS, I DO HAVE DEBRIS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR AND.

[01:45:08]

1914****737: IF MORE TOWNS FALL, THEN IT BECOMES VERY CUMBERSOME AND THEN IT BECOMES A PATCHWORK OF REGULATIONS FOR US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TOWN IS FOR WHAT TOWN, WHAT WE CAN DO SO IF WE CAN TRY TO UNIFY TIMES BETWEEN TOWNS AND UNIFY THE FEES THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL THANK YOU.

1914****737: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: YOU'RE A SMITH.

KRISTEN WILSON: BEING PROMOTED AS A PANELIST AGAIN.

CIARA SMYTH: HERE, WITH AGAIN 30 POWERFUL STATE ROAD JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY SUMMARIZE WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING, WHEN I CALL THE POLICE WHEN THREE.

CIARA SMYTH: LEAF BLOWERS WE'RE GOING OFF JUST AFTER EATING EM OUTSIDE MY HOUSE, IT WAS PRACTICALLY SHAKING MY HOUSE WITHOUT MY CHILD WHEN I CALLED THEY SAID THAT THE OFFICER SAID A POLICE WOULD BE RIGHT OVER.

CIARA SMYTH: NOTHING HAPPENED OVER 20 MINUTES LATER I CALLED AGAIN AND THE ANSWERING POLICE OFFICER AT THE DESK WHO WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE FIRST ONE VERY STRICT.

CIARA SMYTH: ME TOLD ME THAT THE PENDING ON SIRENS ARE LIGHTS FOR LEAF BLOWER CALL, AND THAT IS THE RESPONSE THAT I CAN TELL YOU, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED TIME IN AND TIME OUT GET.

CIARA SMYTH: SO, BY THE TIME THE OFFICER FINALLY GOT THERE AFTER I GOT CHASTISED THE OFFICER WHO DID RESPOND WAS VERY NICE, BUT OF COURSE HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, BECAUSE THE LANDSCAPING CREW WAS ALREADY PACKING UP.

CIARA SMYTH: THEIR EQUIPMENT AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAD IT ALL RECORDED ON MY CELL PHONE NO TICKETS WERE ISSUED.

CIARA SMYTH: AND THAT IS THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENS, AND IF YOU ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, THEN YOU WERE WILLFULLY TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE FACT THAT POLICING THE ONLY ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ON THIS LAW BASICALLY RENDERS IT MEANINGLESS AND JUST TO GO OVER FOIL REPORT THAT HAD ACCESS TO.

CIARA SMYTH: THE POLICE AND FORCED THE LEAF BLOWER VIOLATIONS LEE IT FAILS ME TODAY, JUST LIKE IT HAS FAILED.

CIARA SMYTH: TO HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT 2019 AND 2020 WHO CALLS FOR HELP AND NO TICKETS WERE ISSUED, AND THIS IS FROM A FOIL REPORT FROM THE RIDE P VIEW THEMSELVES 268 PEOPLE CALL FOR HELP, AND NONE WAS DELIVERED THAT'S NOT AFFECTED ENFORCEMENT.

CIARA SMYTH: THANK YOU.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: ROB PACKARD.

BROOK PACKARD: YES, I JUST HAVE A QUICK POINT TO MAKE, AND THAT IS IT'S BROKE PACKARD 26 OAKWOOD AVENUE FOR 21 YEARS AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT CURTIS SPECK OF ANTO LIVES IN ARMONK.

BROOK PACKARD: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HIS CONTRIBUTION IS APPROPRIATE HERE, THIS IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND.

BROOK PACKARD: IF YOU WANT TO GET DOWN TO HOUSING PRICES, YES, THAT TOO, SO YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO RESIDENTS AND NOT PEOPLE WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN PROFITING OVER OUR ILL HEALTH, THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: WE HAVE A PATTY.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: IDENTIFY YOURSELF, PLEASE.

PATTI: YES, HI EVERYONE ITS PATTY CAP RALLY I'M AT 18 BULKELEY MANNER.

PATTI: AND PATTI: SO ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THAT I THINK WE'RE LIKE WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LAW THAT WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD GET FIVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WITHOUT.

PATTI: HAVING A LOT OF NOISE FROM THE LEAF BLOWERS, AND THEN IT JUST NEVER HAPPENED THE LANDSCAPERS SOME YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THERE WAS A BIT OF UNFAIRNESS FOR THE LANDSCAPERS THAT ACTUALLY ADHERE TO THE SEASONAL BAN.

PATTI: AS OPPOSED TO THE LEAF BLOWERS, WHO DO NOT ADHERE TO THE BAND, AND SO I THINK THIS IS NOW WHY WE ARE HERE, YOU KNOW, COUPLED WITH THE REALLY IMPORTANT MISSION OF REDUCING EMISSIONS AND RYE.

PATTI: I THINK THAT GOING TO ELECTRIC IS WHAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DO MY HUSBAND AND I WE OWN ELECTRIC MOTOR WHERE WE HAD A LANDSCAPER AND WE ASKED THEM THREE TIMES TO STOP BLOWING OUR LAWN.

[01:50:12]

PATTI: WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN PROPERTY AND WE USE AN ELECTRIC MOWER AND IT ACTUALLY TAKES LIKE 15 MINUTES.

PATTI: SO I DON'T AND I JUST WE DON'T USE AN ELECTRIC BILL OR NOW WE USE A BREAK, AND I DO THINK THAT THE ELECTRIC BLOWERS ARE PRETTY COMPARABLE TO THE GUEST POWER BLOWER SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY RELEVANT.

PATTI: YOU KNOW I DON'T THINK IT'S RELEVANT TO THE TO THE CONVERSATION, THERE IS A LANDSCAPER MO GREEN THAT HAS AN ALL ELECTRIC BUSINESS AND HE HAD A 30% INCREASE IN BUSINESS.

PATTI: IN ONE YEAR JUST BECAUSE SO MANY RESIDENTS, NOT NECESSARILY BRY BUT IN OTHER PLACES WANT ELECTRIC ON THEIR PROPERTY, BECAUSE THE NOISE REDUCTION IS AWESOME SO THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY SO THANK YOU.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: CURTIS BETTER THAN SO AGAIN.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: HELLO, ARE YOU THERE.

YES.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: WELL, YOU KNOW JUST FOR THE RECORD EVERYBODY'S SAYING THAT YOU KNOW I LIVE IN ARMAND BUT JUST FOR THE RECORD I DO OWN PROPERTY AND RYE, AND I DO PAY TAXES AND RIGHT.

CURTIS SPACAVENTO: AND I AM A LANDSCAPER AND THAT'S ALL MY POINT WAS SO I DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WAS VERY FAIR THAT SOMEBODY BROUGHT MY NAME INTO A SUBJECT WHEN I AM PROPERTY OWNER RIGHT AND I SAID I WAS A LANDSCAPER OKAY, I HAVE A TAXPAYER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: ME THIS IS KATE BRINGS AGAIN.

KRISTEN WILSON: YOU'RE 737.

1914****737: YOU'RE.

1914****737: GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

1914****737: HELLO, YES.

1914****737: HI THIS IS KATE BRIGGS AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND REALIZE THAT A LOT OF THE LANDSCAPERS.

1914****737: UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE NOT BEEN BLESSED WITH A LOT OF EDUCATION IN THEIR LIFETIME, AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER WITH SOME WAYS OF TEACHING AND COMMUNICATING WITHIN THEIR CULTURE AND WITHIN THEIR LANGUAGE INTO A SYSTEM AND TO UNDERSTAND.

1914****737: HOW THEY CAN KEEP THEIR BUSINESSES AND TRANS YOU KNOW TRANSFER OVER TO ELECTRIC AND TO KEEP ON GOING I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR PEOPLE WHO DO COMPLY AND.

1914****737: I THINK IT'S NOT FAIR FOR THEM AT ALL AND THAT'S PART OF THAT'S PART OF THE INDUSTRY, RIGHT NOW, AND IF WE'RE NOT WORKING ON THAT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT ASPECT OF THAT I THINK THAT'S REALLY SAD THANK YOU.

1914****737: THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND.

KRISTEN WILSON: YOU HAVE NOW THEIR HANDS RAISED RIGHT NOW.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: OKAY, SO JUST BEFORE WE WE GO ON GREG YOU AND I HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT SEEKING RYAN'S ADVICE ON CITY USE OF ELECTRIC FLOWERS AND IF, IF YOU COULD SHARE WITH US WHAT.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: DP W THINKS OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE THAT MAY BE HELPFUL TO THE OVERALL CONVERSATION.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: SURE, AND THIS IS, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY BASED ON OUR PUBLIC WORKS EXPERIENCE AND CANNOT I CAN'T CAN'T EXPRESS IT OUTSIDE THAT THE CITY IN THE IN THE REGION.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT WE ARE IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY CONVERTING THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE USE AWAY FROM GAS TO TO ELECTRIC I MEAN, I THINK THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE THAT IS A THE THE ELECTRIC.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: RIDING LAWN MORE THAT WE NOW USE ON THE TOWN GREEN AND WE USE ON CERTAIN LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND THEN, IT IS ALSO FAIR AND WE'VE DONE THE SAME AS IT RELATES TO EVERYTHING FROM CHAINSAWS TO LEAF BLOWERS TO OTHER OTHER TYPES OF EQUIPMENT TO TRY TO MOVE AWAY FROM TO STROKE ENGINES TO TO TO BATTERY OPERATED.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THERE IS A THERE IS A DELAY IN TECHNOLOGY WITH ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT, THE SAME WAY THERE IS FOR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AUTOMOBILES OR ANYTHING ELSE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO MOVING TOWARD ELECTRIC FLEETS, AS WELL AS EVERYTHING ALL THE EQUIPMENT, BUT THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE INDUSTRY CATCHING UP.

[01:55:06]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THERE IS A CHALLENGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, GIVEN THE VOLUME OF LEAVES GIVEN THE WETNESS AND LIKE THAT IN HIS VIEW THAT THE CURRENT ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: EITHER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT OR GOING TO HAVE TO BE AUGMENTED IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE CITY BUSINESS, BUT THE EXPECTATION IS THAT, LIKE ALL THE OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT IS IMPROVING CONSTANTLY AND THAT WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE, WE WILL YOU KNOW WILL BE WILL BE ACQUIRED.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: GREG, IS IT POSSIBLE TO ASK RYAN, TO LOOK AT WHAT'S OUT THERE WHAT'S NEW OR COMING DOWN THE PIKE SO THAT.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: WE CAN HAVE THAT SORT OF ADVICE THERE, THERE ARE SOME WHO'VE WHO'VE SAID ON IN THE HEARING SO FAR THAT ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS ARE NOT FULLY UP TO THE TASK AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: WE'LL TRY I'LL I'LL GET WITH THEM AND TRY TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, I MEAN YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY TOPICAL ITEM.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I THINK HE WAS WAS MENTIONED THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING CALIFORNIA, IS IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING LAWS THAT WOULD REQUIRE IT STATEWIDE, BUT IT IS ALSO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: OVER A PERIOD AND ACTUALLY AS A DRAFT LAW AT THIS POINT I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN PASSED.

[9. Consideration of a resolution authorizing the City Manager and City Staff to make necessary accommodations to allow for the continuation of outdoor dining facilities on sidewalks through the end of 2021.]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND THE EXPENSE OF THAT CONVERSION, SO THIS IS ALL VERY TOPICAL BUT I'LL YOU KNOW WE'LL TRY BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO DO SOME TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND PERSPECTIVES.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: BUT GREG JUST A COUPLE THINGS FIRST OF ALL, IT CALIFORNIA HAS PASSED THE LAW BUT BUT YES OF COURSE IT'S YOU KNOW THE THE RESOURCES IN THE END THE FUNDING AT THE STATE LEVEL IS OBVIOUSLY THE FASTER THAN, THEN WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE, BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONTACT AND I'M HAPPY TO.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: PUT YOU IN TOUCH OR OR RYAN IN TOUCH WITH THE FOLKS THAT SUSTAINABLE WEST CHESTER BECAUSE YOU KNOW AS THE CITY IS A MEMBER, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THEIR RESOURCES THEIR INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES AS WELL, AND THEIR TECHNICAL KNOW HOW AND THEY THEY DO DO QUITE A BIT OF TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE ON THIS VERY THING SO.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: YOU KNOW THAT YOU, YOU CAN PROBABLY CONTACT THEM YOURSELF, BUT IF YOU NEED HELP THEM I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT TOO, BUT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THANK YOU WILL DO.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: OKAY, SO THIS THIS HEARING IS GOING TO REMAIN OPEN.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND WE'LL COME BACK TO IT AT THE NEXT MEETING.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND WE CAN ROLL ON TO A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUATION OF OUTDOOR DINING FACILITIES ON SIDEWALKS THIS IS REALLY INTENDED JUST TO ALLOW THE CONTINUATION OF LET'S CALL CALL THEM TO TABLES AGAINST THE STOREFRONTS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YES, THAT'S CORRECT WHEN WHEN I REALIZED AFTER THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING THAT WE WAIVE THE NORMAL PLANNING COMMISSION PERMITTING REVIEW EVERYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THIS SEASON.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: AND FAILED TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE TABLES THE NORMAL I CALL THEM THE NORMAL TABLES, SO THIS IS JUST SIMPLY TO ALLOW.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, JUST TO AUTHORIZE THE NORMAL SETUP FOR THE JUST THE REST OF THIS YEAR, SO IT WILL GO THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER, AND THEN THE PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR WILL REVERT BACK TO THE NORMAL PERMIT PROCESS.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO THIS IS NOTHING IN PARKING SPACES, NO PARKING LOTS OR OR EXPANDED SIDEWALK SPACE, THIS IS, THIS IS JUST AGAINST STORED FRIENDS THAT'S CORRECT.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THIS IS WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER IN THE SPRING AND THE SUMMER ANYWAY AND WE'RE JUST SAYING YOU CAN DO THAT YEAR ROUND SUBJECT NORMAL RULES OF ENGAGEMENT YEAH.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: JUST JUST JUST FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR, BECAUSE NORMALLY GOES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, SO THIS JUST GETS GETS FOR THE NICE WEATHER FOR THE NIGHT, WHATEVER NICE WEATHER, WE HAVE FOR THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YOU CAN CONTINUE ON AS LONG AS IT'S A NORMAL SETUP THAT'S APPROVED BY THE BY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT RIGHT.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND I GUESS, I GUESS, MY QUESTION IS.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: GOING FORWARD, THIS HAS BEEN MORE SEASONAL BUT AS PEOPLE'S COMFORT LEVELS OF CHANGE AND INVESTMENTS AND HE OUTDOOR HEATERS, AND THINGS HAVE HAPPENED AND WHATNOT IS IS THE.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THESE ARE WE ACTUALLY BOUND TO A SEASON FOR THAT OR NOT, IS IT JUST THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST AND NOW COKE HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING AND IF PEOPLE WANTED TO HAVE THOSE FEW YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE TABLE TOPS OUTDOORS YEAR ROUND, SUBJECT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION COULD THEY DO THAT.

[02:00:09]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THEY WOULD APPLY FOR A PERMIT AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR OR FOR THE SPRING OR WHENEVER THEY WANT TO DO THE SETUP AND IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION PROCESS.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THANK YOU.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: OKAY, SO IN A CHRISTIAN I THINK THERE'S ONE TWEAK.

[10. Residents may be heard on matters for Council consideration that do not appear on the agenda.]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YOU'RE ON MUTE PERSON.

KRISTEN WILSON: THANK YOU, IF YOU REMOVE THE REFERENCE TO CYCLISTS, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT DISCRETION TO ALLOW THIS TO OCCUR TO ALLOW FOR SAFE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS BUT IT'S LIKE LET'S TURN ON THE SIDEWALKS THESE DAYS.

KRISTEN WILSON: ARE THEY SHOULDN'T BE.

KRISTEN WILSON: WELL.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS MAY HAVE A MOTION.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: TO MOVE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SECOND, SECOND ALL IN FAVOR AYE.

AYE.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AYE AND.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I'M SORRY.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: TO INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND DO WE NEED AN ACTUAL VOTE TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LIKE ON THE LEAF BLOWER OR YOU KNOW WE JUST KIND OF DID IT WE JUST KIND OF AGREED, BUT DO WE NEED AN ACTUAL MOTION AND A VOTE, OR ARE WE JUST KEEPING IT OPEN.

KRISTEN WILSON: YOU'RE JUST YOU KEPT IT OPEN YOU DIDN'T CLOSE IT.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: OKAY, FINE.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: THANKS OKAY.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: SO AS, AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DROP OFF.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: AND JULIE WILL.

JOSH COHN RYE CITY MAYOR: PRESIDE, THANKS TO EVERYONE.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: GOOD LUCK JOSH THANK YOU.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: ALRIGHT.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: SO I THINK THIS BRINGS US TO.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: PRESENT ITEM NUMBER 10 ON THE AGENDA RESIDENTS MAY BE HEARD ON MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION THAT DO NOT APPEAR ON THE AGENDA.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND THEY'RE IN THEIR HANDS.

KRISTEN WILSON: YES, QUITE A FEW HANDS BROOKE PACKARD.

BROOK PACKARD: YES, GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS BROOKE PACKARD I'VE LIVED AT 26 OAKWOOD AVENUE FOR 21 YEARS I AM A CITIZEN OF RYE.

BROOK PACKARD: I AM CALLING ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO DECLARE CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND JOIN IN OTHER COMMUNITIES ENTITIES, WHATEVER IN DECLARING THIS CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE NOW.

BROOK PACKARD: THE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE ARE HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD.

BROOK PACKARD: FIRES MASS EXTINCTION FLOODING INCREASING SUPERSTORM SUCH AS SANDY WHICH WAS NINE YEARS AGO FOOD SHORTAGES ARE ON THE SHORTLIST OF THE IMPACT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL HEATING HAS ON ALL OF US.

BROOK PACKARD: WHEN THE CITY OF RIDE DECLARES CLIMATE EMERGENCY ALL POLICIES WILL REFLECT THAT DECLARATION MUNICIPAL PROJECTS SUCH AS PAVING ROADS WITH PERMEABLE MATERIALS AND REQUIRE BAIL BIO SWALES WILL BE PART OF THAT.

BROOK PACKARD: OUR BUDGET WILL REFLECT CLIMATE CHANGE IF WE'RE NOT FACTORING THAT INTO OUR BUDGET, WE ARE NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE.

BROOK PACKARD: WE CAN ORGANIZE TOGETHER FOR SHELTER, MUTUAL AID, AND WE CAN LOCALIZE OUR FOOD DECLARING CLIMATE EMERGENCY IS AN OPPORTUNITY, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY SO ALL STAKEHOLDERS STAKEHOLDERS, THAT IS, EVERY CITIZEN OF RYE, NOT JUST CONSULTANTS HAVE A SAY IN SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT.

BROOK PACKARD: AND THE CITY COUNCIL THAT DECLARES CLIMATE EMERGENCY WILL BE REMEMBERED AS TRUE LEADERS AND NOT JUST FOLLOWERS THANK YOU.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THANK YOU.

LORI FONTANES: HELLO AGAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER GREG AZZURRI MY NAME IS LORI MONTANA'S I LIVE AT 11 HAYWARD PLACE AND I'M ALSO A CITIZEN OF RYE.

LORI FONTANES: I ACTUALLY JOINED THIS MEETING TONIGHT TO MAKE A SIMPLE YET URGENT REQUEST, I JUST WANT THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL WILL DECLARE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY NOW BECAUSE WESTCHESTER COUNTY HAS DONE SO SO IT'S KIND OF A NO BRAINER.

LORI FONTANES: WE ARE JOINING GOVERNMENT BODIES FROM HAWAII TO HOBOKEN AND IT'S IT'S TIME FOR OUR COASTAL COMMUNITY TO DO THE SAME.

[02:05:09]

LORI FONTANES: IT COULD BE EXCESS RAIN RATES DEVASTATING HEAT WAVES, EVEN MORE POWER OUTAGES THAN WE ALREADY HAVE WIND EVENTS LIKE SANDY AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CHALLENGES.

LORI FONTANES: SO I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED A MORE PROACTIVE, COMPREHENSIVE AND APPROACH INSTEAD OF YOU KNOW SORT OF REACTIVE ONE STORM, AT A TIME GAME PLAN.

LORI FONTANES: WE DECLARE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY, THIS WILL HELP US FOCUS ORGANIZED AND PREPARE AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT SHOWS THE CITIZENS OF RYE, THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE TAKING THE CRISIS SERIOUSLY.

LORI FONTANES: IT'S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT FOR FOR RYE, AND FOR THE PLANET SO LET'S JUST MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THANKS.

KRISTEN WILSON: PHILLIP YAKI.

PHILIP BIANCHI: HI EVERYONE I LIVE ON EIGHT ELDRIDGE PLACE WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE GOLF COURSE OF A TWO PARTER ON THE RIDE GOLF COMMISSION'S PROPOSE REDESIGN OF HOLES FOUR THROUGH SIX.

PHILIP BIANCHI: AS INTEL'S REMOVAL OF 120 TREES AND THE REAL CONCERN FOR VARIETY OF REASONS TO MOST OF THE FAMILIES ON ALLENDALE AND ELDRIDGE PLACE IN COURT, WHO HAVE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BOUGHT THE GOLF COURSE.

PHILIP BIANCHI: GIVEN THE POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF THE DESIGNS IMPACT AND NOTING THAT IT'S STILL IN THE WORKS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE REDESIGN.

PHILIP BIANCHI: AND A LETTER TO MEMBERS IN RESPONSE TO PETITION LAUNCHED BY THE CONCERN NEIGHBORS THE RYE GOLF CLUB CLAIM THAT THE REDESIGN WOULD IMPROVE GOLF FOR SAFETY.

PHILIP BIANCHI: NOTABLY, GOLF FOR SAFETY WASN'T A REASON THE RTC SIDE WHEN IT UNVEILED THE PROPOSAL AND IT HAS INVESTED IN MEASURES THAT MITIGATE THE RISK THAT A GOLFER IT'S HIT BY A GOLF BALL BALL ON THE COURSE.

PHILIP BIANCHI: SO I'D LIKE TO ASK IF YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY THERE BEEN ANY INJURIES REPORTED ON THE GOLF COURSE BY PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN HIT BY GOLF BALLS AND IF THERE'S ANY INJURY RELATED TO LITIGATION.

PHILIP BIANCHI: SECONDLY, WANTED TO ASK ABOUT OTHER NEIGHBORS ON ALLENDALE ELDRIDGE WHETHER ANYONE HAS EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE REDESIGN TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

PHILIP BIANCHI: ARE THERE BEFORE AFTER THE GOLF COMMISSION UNVEILED ITS PROPOSAL AND, IF THEY HAVE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE EXTENT OF THAT SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL IS.

PHILIP BIANCHI: AND WHERE I ONE DAY RUN ALLENDALE, IN PARTICULAR, HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE WITH AARON BALLS AND WAS WONDERING WHETHER THAT NEIGHBOR HAS PROVIDED ANY INPUT ON THE PLAN AND, IF SO, WHAT POINT.

PHILIP BIANCHI: THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

BOB ZAHM: THANK YOU, MY NEGLECTED TO GIVE MY ADDRESS BEFORE SEVEN RICH BOOK DR SINCE 2001.

BOB ZAHM: GREG I WANTED TO SAY THAT I NOTICED TODAY THAT THE UTILITY POLE, ABOUT WHICH I.

BOB ZAHM: SPOKEN TWICE IN THE SESSION WAS BEING WORKED ON TODAY THE KIPLING HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM IT, I DIDN'T GO BACK LATER IN THE DAY TO SEE HAS BEEN PUT DOWN BUT YOU'RE RAISING ATTENTION TO THE UTILITY SEEMS TO THAT WORK AT AN IMPACT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BOB ZAHM: SECOND QUESTION, WHAT IS THE TIMING AND PLAN FOR REPAIRING THE BRICK SIDEWALK ON ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF LOCUST.

BOB ZAHM: ADJACENT A THE SIDE OF THE BROOK RIGHT, BY THE WAY, I'M READY FOR THE FIREHOUSE THOSE ARE THE BOTH OF THOSE ARE FREQUENTLY TRAVEL SIDEWALKS AND I'VE NOTICED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND RYE MUCH MORE SEVERE SIDEWALK DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: SO BOB THE ANGEL THAT YOU ALSO NOTICED, WE HAVE TEMPORARILY CREATED A PEDESTRIAN LANE ON LUCAS FOR THAT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE LAST DISCUSSION I HAD WITH RYAN ABOUT IT, HE HAD HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT THE BRIDGE AND THE FOUNDATION, THERE WAS ALSO SOME CONSIDERATION FOR SOME UTILITIES I DON'T HAVE AN ETA, IT CERTAINLY IS IS ON THE LIST, I CAN.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT IT AND GET BACK TO YOU, BUT.

BOB ZAHM: IT GREG GREG MY SPECIFIC QUESTION IS THE SIDEWALKS THAT GO AWAY FROM LUCAS, NOT THE LOCUS SIDEWALK THERE ARE TWO BRICK BASED SIDEWALKS ONE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, ONE THAT GOES TO THE Y FROM LOCUST AND ONE THAT GOES TO THE GAZEBO IN THE RIGHT FREE READING ROOM.

BOB ZAHM: LET'S SAY I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH UTILITIES, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I'M SORRY I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU I THOUGHT YOU'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE Y IN FRONT OF THE FIRE STATION.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: I DON'T KNOW I'LL I'LL HAVE TO REPORT BACK I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ETA IS THAT, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE AND I'M AS I TALKED TO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: EARLIER IN THE MEETING WE HAVE 12 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALL EXPRESSING GREAT CONCERN OVER THE FLOODING.

[02:10:01]

BOB ZAHM: KNOW JUST TO BE CLEAR IT'S TO ONE TO THE Y AND ONE OF THE READING ROOM AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION I'VE NOTICED, FOR MONTHS, IF NOT A YEAR OR MORE.

BOB ZAHM: EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING THE HEARING ON CHANGES REQUESTED BY THE I WAS BORN HOME HAS BEEN DEFERRED.

BOB ZAHM: I MAY HAVE MISSED WHERE YOU DISCUSS WHAT'S CAUSING THAT REPEATED REFERRALS BUT I'M POSTING THAT QUESTION NOW I'D APPRECIATE KNOWING IF IT'S NOT LITIGATED LITIGATION RELATED WHY THAT KEEPS BEING POSTPONED AND WHAT'S ON YOUR AGENDA.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THE AT THE IF THE APPLICANTS RIGHT TO ASK FOR A CONTINUATION, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND WHAT WHAT WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO.

BOB ZAHM: SO IT'S THE IT'S THE OSBORN HOME REQUESTING THE DELAY KNOW CITY COUNCIL.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: SO IT'S IT'S DEFINITELY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IT'S NOT IN THE CITY COUNTY GIVE IT TO US FOR THAT.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: IT'S THE.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: GREG AND ARE WAITING FOR MAYBE FEMA AND INSURANCE OR YOU KNOW HOW ARE WE GOING TO RECOVER THE MONEY THAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED TO FIX THE SIDEWALKS IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR TO SEE WHAT COMES IN, TO FIX OR.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: NO OKAY IF IF WE WERE WAITING ON THAT CAROLINA WE WERE STILL GETTING SANDY MONIES SO WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT, AND MOST OF THE CITY WOULD FALL INTO DISREPAIR SO.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE ADVANCING AND DOCUMENTING AND RECORDING IN HOPES OF GETTING MONEY AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD BUT BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A PARENT.

THANKS.

KRISTEN WILSON: CARRIE BE.

KARI B.: HI THANK YOU KRISTEN I AM ALSO ONE OF THE RIGHT GOLF CLUB NEIGHBORS WHO HAS BEEN ATTENDING THE RYE GOLF CLUB COMMISSION MEETINGS.

KARI B.: REGARDING THE PROPOSED REROUTING OF HOLES FOUR THROUGH SIX AND THE REROUTING PROJECT IS PART OF A LARGER OUR GC MASTERPLAN THE FIRST PART OF WHICH INVOLVES THE REMOVAL.

KARI B.: OF OVER 120 TREES AND THE PIPING OVER OF A BROOK ON THE RTC PROPERTY AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE ARE ONE OF THE 12 NEWLY IMPACTED FLOOD AREAS THAT GREG MENTIONED EARLIER.

KARI B.: BUT OUR HOME, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, SUSTAINED UNIMAGINABLE DAMAGED DURING IDA WE HAD NINE FEET OF WATER IN OUR HOME THE BROOK ON THE RTC PROPERTY RAGED OUT ONTO ALLENDALE GRIFFIN FULLERTON AND ONTO OAKLAND BEACH AVENUE BY SITTING IN ON THE RYE GOLF COURSE COMMISSION.

KARI B.: NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL TOPICS OF CONCERN, ONE BEING THE WAY THAT THE CURRENT WAITLIST IS BEING MANAGED.

KARI B.: AS WELL AS THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF REPAIRS AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, THAT THE GOLF COURSE FACILITY IS FACED WITH.

KARI B.: AS THE RTC MOVES FORWARD WITH ITS MASTER PLAN AND DURING THIS HISTORIC POST IT TIME I ASKED THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL CONSIDER.

KARI B.: THAT, RATHER THAN WAIT FOR INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS TO ARRIVE FROM THE RIGHT GOLF COURSE FOR REVIEW.

KARI B.: NOW MIGHT BE THE MOMENT TO HAVE LARGER AND MORE OPEN AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, AS WELL AS OVERSIGHT BETWEEN THE COUNCIL, THE COMMISSION AND RESIDENTS ABOUT THE FOLLOWING THREE TOPICS.

KARI B.: ONE THAT THE RTC IS NO LONGER PRIORITIZING RY RESIDENTS ON THE OVER 400 APPLICANTS WAITLIST TO PLANS TO PAY FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR REROUTING PROJECT FOR JUST THREE HOLES WHEN THERE IS A LONG LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS AND REPAIRS, INCLUDING THE POOL.

KARI B.: AS WELL AS AN OVERALL MASTER GOLF COURSE PLAN AND THREE SHOULD THERE BE A NATURALIST EITHER ON STAFF AT THE RTC OR IN THE CITY OF RYE THAT OVERSEAS AND APPROVED OR REJECTS TREE CUTTING.

KARI B.: AS WELL AS REPLANTING REQUIREMENTS WE WANT I WANT MY HUSBAND AND I WANT THE RTC TO SUCCEED AND REMAIN ONE OF THE JEWELS BRY AND IN THE SPIRIT I ASKED THAT YOU CONSIDER THESE POINTS, AS WELL AS A WALKTHROUGH OF THE COURSE WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, THANK YOU.

CHRIS DONLEY: HI EVERYONE CAN YOU HEAR ME.

CHRIS DONLEY: YES.

CHRIS DONLEY: MY NAME IS KRISTA ONLY I LIVE AT 78 TO ALLENDALE DRIVE, I AM A NEIGHBOR OF KERRY WHO JUST SPOKE AND ALSO A PHILBY ON BIANCHI MY HUSBAND AND I, AS YOU KNOW.

CHRIS DONLEY: ARE EXTREMELY OPPOSED TO THE REROUTING OF HOLES, FOUR, FIVE AND SIX WE LIVE ON THE BACK OF WHOLE FIVE, THERE WAS A GROVE OF 75 TO 80 TREES.

CHRIS DONLEY: NEAR OUR PROPERTY THOSE TREES ARE TO BE CLEAR CUT JUST FELT THEIR LARGE TREES.

CHRIS DONLEY: THEY ARE PART OF 120 TREES TO BE CUT DOWN.

[02:15:01]

CHRIS DONLEY: AND THAT IS TODAY, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S 472 PEOPLE ON THE WAITLIST TO GET INTO RYE GOLF.

CHRIS DONLEY: AND THIS IS UNHEARD OF.

CHRIS DONLEY: YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT RESIDENTS HAVE TO WAIT FOR THREE FOUR.

CHRIS DONLEY: MAYBE NINE YEARS TO GET IN IT'S JUST OUTRAGEOUS I I DO WANT THE CITY TO GET INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE.

CHRIS DONLEY: THAT PEOPLE LIKE.

CHRIS DONLEY: WHO BOUGHT AT ST REGIS.

CHRIS DONLEY: CAN GET IN THERE THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE CHART OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO WRITE TAXES THEY CANNOT GET INTO RIGHT OFF.

CHRIS DONLEY: AND I PLAY THERE A LOT I'VE BEEN A MEMBER THERE FOR 35 YEARS.

CHRIS DONLEY: I'M PLAYING WITH PEOPLE WHO GOT IN ON MARCH 30 OF THIS YEAR.

CHRIS DONLEY: AND NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS.

CHRIS DONLEY: WHO DON'T WHO UBER TO RIDE GOLF AND ASKED ME FOR THE TRAIN SCHEDULE, BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE FOUR OF MY NEIGHBORS HERE CAN'T GET IN.

CHRIS DONLEY: TO NEIGHBORS A FEW DOORS AWAY FROM ME, HAVE BEEN RIGHT RESIDENCE FOR DECADES NOW ONCE I RETIRE DOCTOR AND HIS WIFE, THEY WANT TO PLAY SOME GOLF THEY CAN'T.

CHRIS DONLEY: CARRY HERSELF IS WHITELISTED AFTER BEING AWRY RESIDENT.

CHRIS DONLEY: AND YET THERE'S THIS PEOPLE THAT I PLAY WITH AT RYE COMING IN FROM NEW YORK CITY FROM BROOKLYN FROM YORKTOWN STANFORD.

CHRIS DONLEY: AND THEY GOT IN LAST YEAR DURING COVEN AND THEY ARE GRANDFATHERED IN AND OUR KIDS OUR FAMILIES OUR NEW RESIDENCE.

CHRIS DONLEY: THE ENTIRE ST REGIS WHEN THEY FIND OUT.

KRISTEN WILSON: THEY CANNOT.

KRISTEN WILSON: SORRY, CHRIS YOUR TIME IS UP.

CHRIS DONLEY: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU GUYS.

KRISTEN WILSON: EJ SCOTT.

EJ SCOTT: HI CAN YOU HEAR ME.

KRISTEN WILSON: YES.

EJ SCOTT: GREAT THANKS, THIS IS EJ SCOTT'S I LOOKED AT THREE L'S WHICH CAUGHT AND THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TONIGHT.

EJ SCOTT: BUT LIKE TO READ FROM A LETTER I SENT TO THE RIGHT GOLF MANAGER WITH THE REQUEST THAT IT BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.

EJ SCOTT: AT THE SEP TEMBER GOLF COMMISSION MEETING AND, TO DATE, A RESPONSE TO MY QUESTION IS OUTSTANDING MY FIRST REQUEST WAS FOR A COMMISSION LIAISON OR A SUBCOMMITTEE TO WORK WITH US NEIGHBORS TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSED PROJECT.

EJ SCOTT: GIVEN THAT MOST IF NOT ALL THE NEIGHBORS ON THE FIFTH FAREWELL FIRMLY OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT AND THE CATASTROPHIC FLOODING.

EJ SCOTT: AS PROTO INHERENT RISKS OF THIS LANDSCAPE GUARANTEE FOR CLEARLY INTO FOCUS AND THAT REPORTS COMMISSIONED BY THE GOLF COURSE DON'T ADDRESS ANY OF THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS.

EJ SCOTT: RAISED BY NEIGHBORS SOME KEY ANALYSES ARE SET TO BE COMPUTER GENERATED ACTUALLY LOOKED AT BEEN DRAWN BY HAND.

EJ SCOTT: LIKE IN LIGHT OF THAT I JUST ASKED FOR A COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A DIALOGUE WITH US AND HAVE RECEIVED AN ANSWER, AND THE SECOND COMPLAINT IS COMPLAINT ON THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY TO MEMBERS.

EJ SCOTT: THE 2021 COMMISSIONER ELECTION PROCESS AS MULTIPLE ISSUES WHICH EFFECTIVELY EXCLUDE PEOPLE AND MEMBERS FROM VOLUNTEERING TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION, THE CHARTER POSTED ON THE MEMBERS WEBSITE IT'S OUR CONDITIONS AND LEAD TIMES FOR THE PROCESS WHICH HAS ALL BEEN MISSED THIS YEAR.

EJ SCOTT: THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA SENT TO AN EMAIL AT THE LAST MINUTE SEPTEMBER EFFECTIVELY EXCLUDE MEMBERS I'VE ONLY RECENTLY BECOME AWARE OF THE PROPOSAL.

EJ SCOTT: AND THE ABSENCE OF MINUTES FOR MOST OF THE PAST TWO YEARS, MEANS THAT ANYONE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING WILL NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OR LONG TERM MATTERS.

EJ SCOTT: AT THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING ON, IN ADDITION TO THOSE POINTS THAT I RAISED TO THE GOLF CLUB MANAGER I'D LIKE TO RAISE TWO OTHER ITEMS. EJ SCOTT: MEETING VENUES FOR THE OCTOBER FINANCE WORKSHOP WOULD CHANGE AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE FROM ZOOM TO IMPERSONATE THAT PEOPLE COULDN'T ATTEND AND THEN TONIGHT, THE COMMISSION MEETING THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT WAS CONFIRMED ON MONDAY AND CANCEL THIS AFTERNOON.

EJ SCOTT: AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE GOLF COURSE ON THESE MATTERS.

EJ SCOTT: AND I ASKED THAT THE CITY LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT THESE ESCALATING PROBLEMS AND TASK THE COMMISSION TO WORK WITH ALL INTERESTED PARTIES BEFORE THESE ISSUES BEGIN TO BLIGHT AN IMPORTANT CITY ASSET OF WHICH WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[02:20:05]

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND IF I COULD JUST MAKE A GENERAL STATEMENT TO REALLY QUICKLY, I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTARY FROM THE NEIGHBORS.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THIS ISSUE HAS NOT COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL YET, SO I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE HEARING HERE IS IS CERTAINLY GOOD FEEDBACK AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR IT.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THE COUNCIL HAS NOT, FOR THE MOST PART, BEEN BRIEFED ON ANY OF THIS STUFF YET THE CLUB HAS NOT COME TO THE COUNCIL TO PRESENT THIS PLAN AND ASKED FOR ITS APPROVAL SO.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I KNOW THERE'S OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE BEING RAISED HERE, AND YOU KNOW WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THOSE AND SEVERAL OF US HAVE MET WITH.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THE CONCERN RESIDENTS AND YOU KNOW, WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE OPEN CONVERSATIONS, BUT A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS THAT ARE BEING PUT TO THIS COUNCIL RIGHT NOW.

BEN STACKS RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: ARE NOT ANSWERABLE BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN NO FORMAL PROPOSAL MADE TO THE COUNCIL YET SO I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP THANKS.

KRISTEN WILSON: TO RUIN.

SUE DROUIN: MY SUBARU AND 57 MOREHEAD AGAIN I'M HERE.

SUE DROUIN: I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL PLEASE DECLARE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY.

SUE DROUIN: TROPICAL STORM, IT WAS JUST THE LATEST GUT PUNCH TO OUR FRAGILE COASTAL CITY PEOPLE LOST THEIR HOMES CARS APPLIANCES AND CHERISH PERSONAL POSSESSIONS HERE IN RYE.

SUE DROUIN: GLOBALLY, IT WAS THE SIXTH COSTLIEST TROPICAL CYCLONE ON RECORD, WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE IN A COSTLY AND UNFORTUNATE CYCLE.

SUE DROUIN: AND CONNECT TO OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE TAKEN THIS STEP AND DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY, WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT SUSTAIN US.

SUE DROUIN: TAKE ACTIONS THAT REDUCE OUR NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR DELICATE ECOSYSTEMS INCREASE RESILIENCY AND PLAN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS SEA LEVEL RISE CONTINUES TO WREAK HAVOC ON OUR STRESSED AND OFTEN OUTDATED SYSTEMS. SUE DROUIN: THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO RY ALL OVER THE NORTHEAST AND AROUND THE GLOBE CITIES ARE GRAPPLING WITH AGING AND INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUT OF CONTROL, INCREASES IN CARBON EMISSIONS.

SUE DROUIN: I LIVED IN HOBOKEN NEW JERSEY FOR 16 YEARS LIKE RAY THEY ARE NORTHEASTERN COASTAL COMMUNITY THAT IS ON THE FRONT LINES OF SEA LEVEL RISE.

SUE DROUIN: AND ARE ALSO DEALING WITH AN EXPLOSION AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE HOBOKEN DECLARED A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND CREATED A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IN 2017.

SUE DROUIN: OTHER CITIES ARE REALIZING THAT THEY NEED TO COMMIT TO RESILIENCE PREPAREDNESS AND CREATE AGGRESSIVE TARGETS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES AND PRESERVE AND PROTECT OPEN SPACE WE SHOULD TO, WE NEED TO TAKE FORWARD THINKING STEPS TO SUSTAIN OUR COMMUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, THANK YOU.

KRISTEN WILSON: PAMELA HOUSE.

KRISTEN WILSON: YOU'RE GOING TO BE A PANELIST AGAIN.

PAMELA HAAS: THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME A PANELIST.

PAMELA HAAS: I AM I'M PAMELA HAS I'M A RESIDENT OF RIGHT AT THREE PACK AVENUE APARTMENT 35 SEE, I JUST WANT TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE WHO ARE REQUESTING THAT WE DECLARE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY HERE IN RYE, IN KEEPING WITH THE RECENT RESOLUTION BY THE COUNTY.

PAMELA HAAS: OUR FAMILIES VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE MANY FLOOD EVENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN, AND WE WANT TO KNOW THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS FULLY ON BOARD WITH THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE THREAT THAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS REPRESENTS.

PAMELA HAAS: FOR US, RIGHT HERE TODAY AND IN THE YEARS TO COME WE NEED THIS CLIMATE EMERGENCY DECLARATION NOW.

PAMELA HAAS: NOT AFTER SPEAKING TO LAWYERS OR HIRING CONSULTANTS A DECLARATION NOW WILL REASSURE THE PUBLIC.

PAMELA HAAS: AND IT WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO SET AN AGENDA FOR DEALING WITH THE CRISIS IN ITS ENTIRETY, NOT JUST FOR FLOODING AND THEN CARRY OUT THAT AGENDA AS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, THANK YOU.

[02:25:03]

1914****737: YES, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

1914****737: BREAKS ONE WALNUT STREET REAL QUICK AGAIN IN REGARDS TO THE WHOLE CLIMATE AND EVERYTHING I WAS WONDERING IF WE CAN PUT FORTH A TREE LAW THAT IF HOMEOWNERS WANT TO TAKE DOWN A TREE THAT TREES BE PUT BACK, AND THIS WOULD HELP WITH SOAKING UP WATER AND FLOODING AND.

1914****737: SCARSDALE AND RYE BROOK HAVE SOME VERY GOOD ONES HARRISON HAS A GOOD ONE GREENWICH HAS A GREAT LIST OF TREES, FOR WHAT AREAS, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT KNOWN THANK YOU.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: WE HAVE A TREE LAW JUST FOR.

1914****737: BUT I DON'T HAVE A PERMIT TO TAKE IT PEOPLE DON'T PUT BACK THE TREES AND THERE'S NO PERMIT PROCESS I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S A PERMIT PROCESS, TO PUT IT BACK A TREE, THERE IS, BUT WHEN WE ARE.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: WE ARE WORKING ON REVISING THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME TWEAKS TO BE HAD BUT THOSE THOSE PROVISIONS ARE ARE IN THERE.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: BUT WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE IT.

1914****737: BETTER FOR SURE.

1914****737: THANK YOU, THAT WAS GREAT TO HEAR.

KRISTEN WILSON: HEAR US SMITH.

KRISTEN WILSON: YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO BE A PANELIST.

CIARA SMYTH: HI CAN CURE SMITH, I LIVE AT 39 PALISADE ROAD, I TOO WOULD REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DECLARE CLIMATE EMERGENCY.

CIARA SMYTH: HAVING WITNESSED THE CONSTANT LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE CITY THROUGH OVERDEVELOPMENT FREE CUTTING AND THE CONSTANT BATTLING OF THE RHYTHMS OF MOTHER NATURE THROUGH UNSCRUPULOUS LANDSCAPING.

CIARA SMYTH: OUR MAJOR CONCERNS THAT ARE TAKING THEIR TOLLS THAT CAN'T BE IGNORED ANY LONGER A COMPREHENSIVE AND SERIOUS APPROACH IS THE ONLY APPROPRIATE REMEDY AND THAT CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED.

CIARA SMYTH: THROUGH THE DECLARATION OF A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AGAIN.

KRISTEN WILSON: LINDSAY LORRAINE.

KRISTEN WILSON: LORRAINE.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: HI GUYS SO SORRY, CAN YOU HEAR ME OK NOW.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH LINDSAY LORRAINE, I MET SUCCEED ALAN BILL DRIVE, AND THIS IS IN REGARD TO THE PROPOSED REDEFINE OF HOLES FOUR OR FIVE AND SIX THAT RIGHT GOLF.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: WHEN THIS PLAN IS FORMALLY PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR GC, I JUST WANTED THE COUNCIL OF PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT OUR TAXES HOME PRICES.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: AND OUR HOME PURCHASE DECISIONS WERE ALL BASED ON THE VERY LONG STANDING CURRENT COURSE DESIGN WHEN WE ABSOLUTELY ASSUME SOME LEVEL OF RISK BEING ADJACENT TO THE COURSE.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: WE PURCHASED OUR HOME WITH THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION IN MIND, INCLUDING LOCATION OF TEE BOXES FAIRWAYS GREENS AND CART PATHS ALL IN RELATION TO OUR HOME AND ITS LOCATION.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: CHANGING THE PLACEMENT OF THESE ELEMENTS CHANGES RISK LEVELS AND HOME PRICING WHEN WE PURCHASED THAT 16 ALLENDALE WE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT OUR LOCATION ON OUR FAIRWAY NEXT TO THE FIFTH OLD TOOLBOX.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: THE PROPOSED REDESIGN SHIFTS BURDEN SLIP LIKE THE AARON PAUL ISSUES AND DIRECTLY CHANGES WHAT WE BOUGHT, WHICH IS A HOME WITH A FAIR, WE VIEW NEXT TEE BOX NOT UNMAINTAINED PIECE OF LAND NEAR A NEW PUTTING GREEN.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: THE PROPOSED PLAN ALL ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OUR HOME PURCHASE DECISION IT'S THE SAME FOR NUMEROUS NEIGHBORS THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM TONIGHT.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: WHAT'S MORE IS THAT THE PLAN INCLUDES REMOVING A LARGE GROVE OF TREES BEHIND MY HOME THAT CURRENTLY HOUSES AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: WE HAVE RED TAILED HAWKS IN THE TREES BEHIND THE HOME COYOTE EVERY NIGHT DEER EVERY MORNING AND OTHER WILDLIFE WHICH I'M VERY CONCERNED WILL BE PUSHED FURTHER INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: SHOULD THESE TREES COME DOWN I'D ALSO LIKE IT POINTED OUT THAT OUR GC HAS NEVER HAD A COMPREHENSIVE TREE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: AND IT DOES NOT CURRENTLY IN RELATION TO THIS PROPOSED REDESIGN I KNOW THAT THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY WILL HAVE ONE, BUT THIS HAS NEVER BEEN THE CASE, HISTORICALLY, THIS FEELS LIKE AN UNNECESSARY VANITY PROJECT WITH NO CLEAR OBJECTIVE.

LINDSAY LORRAINE: THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE IT.

KRISTEN WILSON: AND

[02:30:01]

MOWENS: YES, YET HI I LOVE IT ALLENDALE DR I'D LIKE TO ECHO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE PREVIOUSLY BY MY NEIGHBORS.

MOWENS: PERSON WHO JUST SPOKE AND ALSO CHRIS WHO SPOKE EARLIER, SO MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS HERE FOR OVER TWO DECADES.

MOWENS: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ATTRACTED US TO RIDE, TO BEGIN WITH, WAS THE AVAILABILITY OF THE GOLF CLUB SWIM POOL AND THE GOLF COURSE.

MOWENS: WHAT ATTRACTED US TO PURCHASE OUR HOME HERE AND TO SETTLE HERE SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN EDUCATED IN THE RICE CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM WE STAY IN THE COMMUNITY.

MOWENS: YOU'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE RIGHT GOLF CLUB.

MOWENS: HAS GONE SORT OF OFF SITE IN TERMS OF IT SHOULD BE A COMMUNITY CENTERED.

MOWENS: RECREATION CENTER GOLF CLUB.

MOWENS: THEY JUST SEEM TO HAVE ALLOWED IT TO DRIFT AWAY FROM THAT I, FOR ONE USED TO BELONG TO A GOLF LEFT BECAUSE MY PROFESSION JUST DIDN'T GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME TO GET TO PLAY GOLF.

MOWENS: I NOW HAVE THE I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO JUST RECENTLY RETIRED AND TRIED TO GET BACK IN, AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN REJOIN THE GOLF CLUB.

MOWENS: BECAUSE I'M TOLD THAT THERE'S JUST NO ROOM AND THERE'S A WAITING LIST THAT IS JUST RIDICULOUSLY LONG.

MOWENS: AND PREFERENCES ARE BEING GIVEN NOT TO RIDE RESIDENCE OR EVEN A NEARBY RESIDENCE, BUT TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE VICINITY.

MOWENS: SO I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME OVERSIGHT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OVER THE GOVERNANCE OF TRY.

MOWENS: TO KEEP THIS, A THING THAT IS FOCUSED ON THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THOSE OF US WHO CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS.

[11. Resolution to declare certain City equipment as surplus.]

MOWENS: AND AREAS OF FLOODING IN CHAMBERLAIN IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF THE GOLF COURSE THAT HAVEN'T FLOODED IN DECADES.

MOWENS: AND I WONDER IF IT'S NOT DUE TO SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE COURSE AND I THINK THE DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE.

MOWENS: RIGHT GOLF CONDITION WE'RE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REALLY NEED TO HAVE SOME OVERSIGHT, SO THAT WILL CARE IS GIVEN TO ALLOW THE RESIDENTS HAVE RIGHTS TO ENJOY.

MOWENS: FACILITY AND TO PREVENT SOME CHANGES THAT I THINK ARE DETRIMENTAL TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED IN HERE TO RESALE VALUES OF THE HOMES TO ONGOING REAL ESTATE VALUES WHEN YOU KNOW NEW COMMENTS COMING IN AND FINDING OUT THAT THEY CAN PLAY GOLF IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

MOWENS: BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY IN ROCKLAND COUNTY AND A FURTHER NORTH.

MOWENS: USING YOU KNOW, A GOLF COURSE THAT I THINK IT WASN'T.

MOWENS: OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH YOU'RE HEARING.

KRISTEN WILSON: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE, THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK UNDER RESIDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND.

[12. Adjourn until November 17, 2021 the public hearing for consideration of a petition from The Miriam Osborn Memorial Home to amend the text of the City of Rye Zoning Code Association to create new use and development standards for “Senior Living Facilities” in the R-2 Zoning District.]

KRISTEN WILSON: NO HANDS ARE RAISED.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: OKAY WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 11 ON THE AGENDA RESOLUTION TO DECLARE CERTAIN CITY EQUIPMENT AS SURPLUS GREG.

[13. Old Business/New Business.]

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: DAMAGED IN THE STORM, SOME OF IT IS JUST OBSOLETE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND DISPOSED OF, SO THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, THIS WOULD ALL BE DECLARED A SURPLUS, BY THE SAME COUNCIL AND THEN WE'LL BE DISPOSED OF IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S POLICY.

GREG USRY CITY MANAGER: YOU KNOW OF EITHER AUCTIONING THE PRODUCTS IF THEY HAVE A VALUE OR DISPOSING THEM IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER IF THEY'RE IF IT'S DAMAGED AROUND US.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: CASE THAT THIS A ROLL CALL MOTION AND THEN.

KRISTEN WILSON: YES, I NEED A ROLL CALL.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: SO MOVE.

CHICKEN.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: OR CANCEL WOMAN GODDARD.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: YES, COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: YES, COUNCILMAN MECCA ABSENT COUNCILWOMAN SOUZA.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: YES, COUNCILMAN STACKS.

CAROLYN D'ANDREA RYE CITY CLERK: YES, MIRACLE IS NOW ABSENT.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: OKAY.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: UM NEXT UP IS A JOURNEY UNTIL NOVEMBER 17 THE PUBLIC CARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF A PETITION FROM US FOREIGN OIL HOME TO AMEND THE TEXT OF THE ICE ZONING CODE.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING THEY'RE JUST ACKNOWLEDGE IT YEAH.

[02:35:02]

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AND THAT.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: ANY OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I WILL JUST SAY THAT MISTLETOE MAGIC IS BACK THIS YEAR, IT IS THE SUNDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING FROM 12 TO THREE DOWNTOWN.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: SO COME ENJOY.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: THEIR EMOTION ADJOURN.

CAROLINA JOHNSON RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: MIXED EMOTION.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: SECOND.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: ALL IN FAVOR.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: AYE.

JULIE SOUZA RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: NIGHT EVERYBODY.

SARA GODDARD RYE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: GOOD NIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.